Material Diplomacy: A Continental Manuscript Produced for James III, Edinburgh University Library, MS 195

This paper examines a late medieval manuscript produced in northern France and Flanders for a member of the Scottish royal house: Edinburgh University Library, MS 195. The manuscript contains an ornate representation of the royal arms of Scotland, supported by two unicorns. It was commissioned for J...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inScottish historical review Vol. 98; no. 2; pp. 183 - 213
Main Author Coombs, Bryony
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published UK Edinburgh University Press 01.10.2019
Subjects
Historical Studies
illuminated manuscript
Scotland
King James III
diplomacy
France
15th century
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Summary:This paper examines a late medieval manuscript produced in northern France and Flanders for a member of the Scottish royal house: Edinburgh University Library, MS 195. The manuscript contains an ornate representation of the royal arms of Scotland, supported by two unicorns. It was commissioned for James III c . 1464–7. Despite its royal provenance, the manuscript has received limited scholarly attention. The text and illuminations are analysed in order to shed light on their origins and on the circumstances of their production. The manuscript is an important example of a continental work produced for Scottish royalty. By studying the text, heraldry, iconography and historical context of the manuscript, this paper provides new insights into the diplomatic relationship between James III, the French court and the continental manuscript trade. It also provides new solutions to old problems, such as the enigmatic letters ‘P’ and ‘L’ found in the border decoration.
ISSN:0036-9241
1750-0222
DOI:10.3366/shr.2019.0400