RMGYMss.
WILLIAM DURAND'S "SPECULI CLARISSIMI" Ref 463 page 3
PLEASE NOTE - THE SCANS ARE THE BEST THAT I CAN DO GIVEN THE STATE OF THE MANUSCRIPT.
This is a bifolium from William Durand's “Speculi clarissimi pars tertia et quarta”, also known as the “Speculum judiciale” or “The Illustrious Mirror of Life, Parts III and IV” that was probably produced in Bologna, Italy, in the fourteenth century.
The text is from Book IIII, Perticula III.
Page 1 begins in “ De apostolis seu libel dimissoriis” (The Apostles discharge the libel) which is followed by “De clericis coniugatis” (The married clerics). This continues on to page 2 and is followed by “De clericis non residdentibus in eccllesia, vel praebenda “ (The clerics are not resident or in their given church) and “De praebendis et dignitatibus” (The representatives and dignitaries). Page 3 begins with a different text. It begins in “De actionibus empti et uenditi” (The actions of the bought and sold) and this continues through to, and beyond, the end of page 4
The maximum size of the bifolium is 420mm 568mm (16 1/2ins. x 22 4/10ins.).
The maximum size of a leaf is 420mm x 284mm (16 1/2ins. x 11 2/10ins.).
In the top outside corners of pages 1 and three are page numbers - c and c
ii xxxix ii xliiii
The page numbers 239 and 244 would indicate that the bifolium consists of the second and seventh leaves if it was part of an eight leaf gathering.
OVERALL CONDITION: -
There is no doubt that the condition of this bifolium leavers a lot to be desired. It has evidently been a wrapper of some sort from at least 1557 and it is creased horizontally as well as vertically, has several small holes, vellum has been removed from parts of both outside margins and the bottom margin of pages 1-2, is quite dirty on pages 1 and 4 and the wear to pages 1 an4 makes parts of them difficult to read.
GENERAL COMMENTS: -
Not withstanding the overall condition of the bifolium, it is a very interesting addition to the collection as it is from a significant legal text that I have been unable to find any examples of being sold since before the end of the nineteenth century. It can only be concluded that it must be quite rare in the truest sense.
GUILLAUME DURAND: -
Born c.1230 (at Puimisson near Beziers, in France), died 1st. November 1296, was a French canonist and liturgical writer and Bishop of Mende who studied law at Bologna. By 1264 he was teaching Canon law at Modena. In 1274 he helped to draw up the constitutions of the Second Council of Lyons and in 1278 he received, in the name of the pope, the homage of Bologna and the other cities of Romagna. Amidst various struggles he successfully defended the papal territories by both diplomacy and arms. Although elected Bishop of Mende in 1286, he remained in Bologna until 1291. He refused the archbishopric of Revenna in 1295 and in 1296 withdrew to Rome where he died.
“SPECULUM IUDICIALE”: -
William Durand's “Speculum Iudiciale” (also known as “Speculi clarissimi” and sometimes referred to as “The Illustrious Mirror of Life”) was compiled in 1271 and revised in 1286 and 1291. It is a general explanation of civil, criminal and canonical procedure, and also includes a survey of the subject of contracts. It is a remarkable encyclopedic synthesis Roman and ecclesiastical law, distinguished by its clarity, its method, and especially its practical sense, and its repute was as great and lasting in the courts as in the schools. This work won Durand the nickname “Doctor Speculator”.
WILLIAM DURAND'S "SPECULI CLARISSIMI" Ref 463 page 3
PLEASE NOTE - THE SCANS ARE THE BEST THAT I CAN DO GIVEN THE STATE OF THE MANUSCRIPT.
This is a bifolium from William Durand's “Speculi clarissimi pars tertia et quarta”, also known as the “Speculum judiciale” or “The Illustrious Mirror of Life, Parts III and IV” that was probably produced in Bologna, Italy, in the fourteenth century.
The text is from Book IIII, Perticula III.
Page 1 begins in “ De apostolis seu libel dimissoriis” (The Apostles discharge the libel) which is followed by “De clericis coniugatis” (The married clerics). This continues on to page 2 and is followed by “De clericis non residdentibus in eccllesia, vel praebenda “ (The clerics are not resident or in their given church) and “De praebendis et dignitatibus” (The representatives and dignitaries). Page 3 begins with a different text. It begins in “De actionibus empti et uenditi” (The actions of the bought and sold) and this continues through to, and beyond, the end of page 4
The maximum size of the bifolium is 420mm 568mm (16 1/2ins. x 22 4/10ins.).
The maximum size of a leaf is 420mm x 284mm (16 1/2ins. x 11 2/10ins.).
In the top outside corners of pages 1 and three are page numbers - c and c
ii xxxix ii xliiii
The page numbers 239 and 244 would indicate that the bifolium consists of the second and seventh leaves if it was part of an eight leaf gathering.
OVERALL CONDITION: -
There is no doubt that the condition of this bifolium leavers a lot to be desired. It has evidently been a wrapper of some sort from at least 1557 and it is creased horizontally as well as vertically, has several small holes, vellum has been removed from parts of both outside margins and the bottom margin of pages 1-2, is quite dirty on pages 1 and 4 and the wear to pages 1 an4 makes parts of them difficult to read.
GENERAL COMMENTS: -
Not withstanding the overall condition of the bifolium, it is a very interesting addition to the collection as it is from a significant legal text that I have been unable to find any examples of being sold since before the end of the nineteenth century. It can only be concluded that it must be quite rare in the truest sense.
GUILLAUME DURAND: -
Born c.1230 (at Puimisson near Beziers, in France), died 1st. November 1296, was a French canonist and liturgical writer and Bishop of Mende who studied law at Bologna. By 1264 he was teaching Canon law at Modena. In 1274 he helped to draw up the constitutions of the Second Council of Lyons and in 1278 he received, in the name of the pope, the homage of Bologna and the other cities of Romagna. Amidst various struggles he successfully defended the papal territories by both diplomacy and arms. Although elected Bishop of Mende in 1286, he remained in Bologna until 1291. He refused the archbishopric of Revenna in 1295 and in 1296 withdrew to Rome where he died.
“SPECULUM IUDICIALE”: -
William Durand's “Speculum Iudiciale” (also known as “Speculi clarissimi” and sometimes referred to as “The Illustrious Mirror of Life”) was compiled in 1271 and revised in 1286 and 1291. It is a general explanation of civil, criminal and canonical procedure, and also includes a survey of the subject of contracts. It is a remarkable encyclopedic synthesis Roman and ecclesiastical law, distinguished by its clarity, its method, and especially its practical sense, and its repute was as great and lasting in the courts as in the schools. This work won Durand the nickname “Doctor Speculator”.