Book of Hours, according to the use of Sarum, written and illuminated in the Netherlands.
Scope and Contents
For further details see ‘Medieval manuscripts in British libraries’ by Neil R Ker, volume 2 (Oxford, 1977), pages 581-583.
The contents are as follows:
(i) Calendar (folio 1). The only English saint, St Thomas Becket (29 December), has been erased.
(ii) Oes of St Bridget. (Folio 13.)
(iii) Prayers. (Folio 23.)
(iv) Memoriae of Saints John the Baptist, John the Evangelist, Thomas Becket, Anne, Mary Magdalene, Katherine, Barbara, and Margaret. (Folio 27.)
Folio 37 verso blank.
(v) Hours of the Virgin (folio 39). Parts of folio 49 recto and 49 verso (end of Matins) are blank. In Lauds there are memoriae of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, the Holy Cross, Saints Michael, John the Baptist, Peter and Paul, Andrew, John the Evangelist, Laurence, Stephen, Thomas Becket (deleted), Nicholas, Mary Magdalene, Katherine, and Margaret, All Saints, and Peace.
(vi) Prayers, including 'O intemerata' and 'Obsecro te'. (Folio 96.)
(vii) The Seven Joys. (Folio 113 verso.)
(viii) Hymns. (Folio 127 verso.)
(ix) Bede's prayer of the Seven Words. (Folio 124.)
(x) Hymns. (Folio 127 verso.)
(xi) Penitential Psalms. (Folio 133.)
(xii) Litany and supplications. (Folio 145 verso). Parts of folios 147-149 have been rewritten.
(xiii) Office of the Dead. (Folio 156.)
(xiv) Various psalms. (Folio 204.)
Additional prayers in several slightly later hands are on folios 131, 155 verso and 253 verso-255. Lacking the leaf containing the beginning of None (after folio 80). Full-page miniatures on inserted leaves with blank rectos, folios 38 verso, 132 verso, 203 verso, 223 verso, and 234 verso. Smaller miniatures on folios 27, 28 verso, 29 verso, 31, 32 verso, 35, 36, 50, 67 verso, 73, 77 verso, 84 verso, 91, 104, 118 verso, 119, 119 verso, 120, 120 verso, 121, 121 verso and 122 (those on folios 23 and 33 verso have been cut out).
Illuminated initials on folios 13, 39, 96, 98, 133, 156, 204, 224, and 235. All illuminated pages except folio 98 have floral borders. Small initials of red and gold throughout, and similar line-fillers in the litany.
Dates
- Creation: 15th century-16th century.
Creator
- Kirk, Robert, Minister of Aberfoyle, 1644-1692 (Former owner, Person)
Language of Materials
Containing annotations by Rev. Robert Kirk in Latin, Gaelic and English.
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.
Extent
255 Leaves ; 110 x 75 millimetres, text area 63 x 38 millimetres.
Arrangement
255 folios.
Collation: 1-2⁶, 3⁸ (-8), 4¹⁰ (-10), 5¹⁰ (-1), 6⁸ (+1 before 1), 7⁴ (-3), 8⁶ (-6), 9-11⁸, 12⁸ (-3), 13⁸, 14⁴, 15-18⁸, 19², 20⁸ (+1 before 1), 21-23⁸, 24⁸ (-2), 25-27⁸, 28⁸ (-1), 29⁸ (+1 before 1), 30⁸, 31⁸ (+1 after 3), 32⁸ (+1 after 5), 33-34⁸, 35².
Signatures (A-Mm) in the centre lower margin of the first recto (often trimmed) are eighteenth-century additions. Ruling in ink. 1 column. 18 lines.
Custodial History
The death of John Edmonstoun of that ilk on 22 November 1564 is recorded on f 11 verso. On folio 12 verso is written in an imitation insular hand, ?17th century, 'Icolmkil 9ber 16 1192 sister Sara Kircham'. A name at the foot of folio 1 may again be Sister Sara Kircham. At the top of folio 1 the first two lines of the calendar are repeated. Some verses on folio 223 are signed 'Dorothe Oxyn[ford]'.
Ownership notes of Robert Kirk, minister of Balquidder (later of Aberfoyle), dated 1676 and 1677, are on folios 13 verso, 37, 90 verso and 211 verso; other marginal notes by Kirk in Latin and English occur throughout; some in Gaelic are on folios 127, 154, and 163 verso. The book-plate of Sir Hugh Paterson, Baronet, of Bannockburn, dated 1709, formerly on the inside top cover, and a label indicating the ownership of the Dean of Edinburgh and St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, are preserved separately.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Bought, 1984.
Bibliography
Physical Description
Vellum.
Genre / Form
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
- Description rules
- International Standard for Archival Description - General
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk