MS 207: Composite manuscript containing sixteen texts including the Regiam Majestatem, 15th century
Contents
This 15th-century Scottish manuscript contains a collection of texts about Scottish law, which seem to have been compiled by the same scribe, with some additions in a later hand. The contents are as follows:
ff. 1r-5v: Rubrics for the Regiae Majestatem
ff. 6r-7r: Compositio Carte, exceptiones contra cartam, expositiones quorundam vocabiliorum
ff. 8r-63v: Regiam Majestatem
ff. 64r-70r: Quoddam notabile de Maritagio
ff. 70r-72r: Statutes of King William I
ff. 72r-77r: Statutes of King Alexander II
ff. 77v-81v: Statutes of Robert the Bruce
ff. 82r-86r: Acts of Parliament of James I of Scotland
ff. 86v-112r: Leges Quatuor Burgorum
ff. 112r-112v: Laws of Malcolm MacKenneth
ff. 113r-132r: Leges Forestarum
ff. 133r-151v: Statutes of James I of Scotland
ff. 152r-169r: Leges Baronum
ff. 169v-174v: Unidentified Scots text
ff. 171r-174r: Laws of James I of Scotland
ff. 175r-205v: Liber de Judicibus
The final two folios, ff. 206 and 207, have been partially torn out. The text on them is in a different hand to the rest of the manuscript, but it cannot be identified further than this.
The texts are described separately, under MS 207/ff. 1r-5v; MS 207/ff. 6r-7r; MS 207/ff. 8r-63v; MS 207/ff. 64r-70r; MS 207/ff. 70r-72r; MS 207/ff. 72r-77r; MS 207/ff. 77v-81v; MS 207/ff. 82r-86r; MS 207/ff. 86v-112r; MS 207/ff. 112r-112v; MS 207/ff. 113r-132r; MS 207/ff. 133r-151v; MS 207/ff. 152r-169r; MS 207/ff. 169v-174v; MS 207/ff. 171r-174r; and MS 207/ff. 175r-205v.
The script is very moderate with coloured capitals. Additions, both marginal and other, have been made at various times in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Dates
- Creation: 15th century
Language of Materials
Latin; Middle Scots
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to all. The manuscripts can be consulted in the Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Main Library.
Extent
1 bound MS volume
Custodial History
The manuscript was probably written towards the middle of the 15th century, and soon after it was written it belonged to one Henry Clerk. This we gather from inscriptions on ff. 1r and 8r: pertinet henrico clerk codex iste magistro.
In the 16th century it was in the possession of R. Alexander, a law clerk, who made many legal additions and notes in margins and on blank leaves. His signature, R. Alexander cause clericus, nianu sua, is on ff. 7v and 205v.
Another hand has inserted the name Guthre after Alexander in the above inscriptions, and also on ff. 1r and 6r, from which it is to be presumed that it passed into the hands of an Alexander Guthrie.
It came into the Library with the Aeneas Mackay Collection in 1912.
Previous reference
D. b. VI. 12.
Previous title
Title given to the manuscript in Catherine Borland’s catalogue: Regiam Majestatem.
Bibliography
Physical Facet
Material: Paper - the paper is now very soft and difficult to handle.
Binding: Oak boards uncovered, leather back, lettered 'Regiam Majestatem et Aliae Scotiae Veteres Leges mss.'
Dimensions
27.9 cm x 19.7 cm
General
Secundo folio: de libero
Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 207, 38 lines to a page
Source
- Mackay, Aeneas James George, 1839-1911 (Scottish lawyer, academic and antiquarian collector) (Donor, Person)
- Alexander, R., fl c 1550 (Scottish law clerk) (Former owner, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk