Texts

Brevarium Aberdonense ‘Aberdeen Breviary’

prose
Scottish texts
extent: more or less complete

The first book to be printed in Scotland, the Aberdeen Breviary lists offices for the feast-days of Scottish saints. It was compiled by William Elphinstone, bishop of Aberdeen (1483-1514), and others.

Contributors

Elphinstone (William)

Elphinstone (William)

(1431–1514)

Scottish churchman, bishop of Aberdeen (1483-1514), founder of the University of Aberdeen (est. 1451).

See more (compilation)Compiled by William Elphinstone, bishop of Aberdeen, among others.

Language

Latin

Date

1510

Provenance

Scotland

Form

prose (primary)

Classification

Scottish textsScottish texts
...

Sources

Primary sources Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in entries for the relevant manuscripts. For historical purposes, early editions, transcriptions and translations are not excluded, even if their reliability does not meet modern standards.

[ed.] [tr.] Macquarrie, Alan, Legends of Scottish saints: readings, hymns and prayers for the commemorations of Scottish saints in the Aberdeen Breviary, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2012. lviii + 461 pp.

abstract:

Scotland’s first full-scale printed book is the Aberdeen Breviary, published in Edinburgh in 1510. It contains the only major collection of legends of Scottish saints. Many of the saints are of Irish origin, but the book also includes English, Welsh, Pictish and Scandinavian saints. The Breviary of Aberdeen has not been edited for 150 years. The existing facsimile edition is rare and in places untrustworthy; it is very difficult to use, without index, translation, notes or commentary. This edition is intended to make the material more accessible to scholars, local historians and general readers for future research. It is a reliable edition of a fascinating collection of legends of early saints, describing the development of their cult and also their heroic struggles, self-denial and amazing miracles, in a scholarly edition with detailed introduction, text, translation and notes.

(source: publisher (Four Courts Press))

edition, English translation, introduction and notes

[ed.] Blew, William [ed.], Breviarium Aberdonense, Bannatyne Club Publications, 96, London: Toovey, 1854.

Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive – with a preface by David Laing: <link>

Facsimile edition.

Macquarrie, Alan [ed. and tr.], “Lections for St Constantine’s Day (11 March) in the Aberdeen Breviary”, Annual Report of the Society of Friends of Govan Old 5 (1995): 25–32.

Macquarrie, Alan [ed. and tr.], “The Offices for St Columba (9 June) and St Adomnán (23 September) in the Aberdeen Breviary”, The Innes Review 51 (2000): 1–39.

Macquarrie, Alan [ed. and tr.], “The Office for St Blane (10 August) in the Aberdeen Breviary”, The Innes Review 52 (2001): 111–135.

[print] Elphinstone, William [comp.], Breuiarij Aberdonensis ad per celebris ecclesie Scoto[rum] potissimum vsum et consuetudinem, vol. 1: pars hyemalis, Edinburgh: Walter Chepman, 1509.

– National Library of Scotland, copy 1 (Sa.3): <link> – National Library of Scotland, copy 1 (Sa.3): View in Mirador – National Library of Scotland, copy 2 (RB.x.002-003): <link> – National Library of Scotland, copy 2 (RB.x.002-003): View in Mirador

[print] Elphinstone, William [comp.], Breuiarij Aberdonensis ad per celebris ecclesie Scoto[rum] potissimum vsum et consuetudinem, vol. 2: pars estivalis, Edinburgh: Walter Chepman, 1510.

– National Library of Scotland, copy 1 (Sa.3): <link> – National Library of Scotland, copy 1 (Sa.3): View in Mirador – National Library of Scotland, copy 2 (RB.x.002-003): <link> – National Library of Scotland, copy 2 (RB.x.002-003): View in Mirador

Secondary sources (select)

Galbraith, James D., “The sources of the Aberdeen Breviary”, unpublished MLitt dissertation, University of Aberdeen, 1970.

Macquarrie, Alan, The saints of Scotland: essays in Scottish church history AD 450–1093, Edinburgh: Donald, 1997.

Macquarrie, Alan, “Lections for Strathclyde saints in the Aberdeen Breviary: some problems of sources”, Records of the Scottish Church History Society 26 (1996): 31–54.

MacQuarrie, Alan, “Scottish saints' legends in the Aberdeen breviary”, in: Steve Boardman, and Eila Williamson (eds), The cult of saints and the Virgin Mary in medieval Scotland, 28, Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2010. 143–157.