Many of our most outstanding medieval manuscripts have been in the Library for many years. The earliest, acquired before 1710, is a 9th century copy, written in France, of the epigrams of the Latin poet, Martial.
The collection has been strengthened substantially since 1925. It includes devotional manuscripts of great artistic merit and Scottish ownership, like the late 12th century Iona Psalter and the late 13th century Murthly Hours.
Though now housed in Scotland, the Auchinleck Manuscript is an outstanding source for Middle English verse from the time of Chaucer.
Material relating to the history and administration of the medieval Scottish kingdom can be found in our major collection of chartularies of monastic houses, and in large series of royal, baronial and ecclesiastical charters.