LEAF FROM A COPY OF WILLIAM PERALDIS' "SUMMA ON THE VICES" Ref 595(a) recto

This is the first of three leaves from a copy of William Peraldus' “Tomus secundus qui appellatur summa vitorum” that include parts of Tractatus III “De luxuria” (Lust) and Tractatus IV “Avaritia” (Averice). They are all from the same manuscript but they are are independent of each other and do not run consecutively.

 

The text on this leaf is from Tractatus III “De luxuria” Pars 4 “Deremediis contra luxuriam” as follows: -

Opens in Caput 3 “Dechories et quam malum ….”, and Caput 4 “De aliis remediis contra luxuriam”.

Then Pars 5 “De prohibitione simplicis fornicationis”, part of Caput 1 “De ordine dicendorum in ista parte ...”. Plus, in the right column of the verso there is text not yet found.

These texts concern remedies against lechery and the prohibition of simple fornication.

 

The size of this leaf is 160mm x 107mm (6 3/10ins. x 4 2/10ins.).

 

PURCHASE DETAILS: -

Part of Lot 761 at Arenberg Auctions, Brussels on 14th. December 2019.

 

GENERAL COMMENTS: -

Whilst remnants of hinges remain, these leaves show very little age related wear and are in excellent condition.

In the auction house description, these leaves were described as being from a Bible. Images were provided which, because of the headlines, indicated that this was not the case and that the leaves were from a copy of William Peraldus' ““Tomus secundus qui appellatur summa vitorum” (“Summa on the Vices”) and that the texts concerned Lust and Averice. These are superb leaves of small size and the text is not at all common. The only other leaves that I have been able to find on the market are two leaves being offered by that are considerably larger (330mm x 240mm) and are priced at $3,250 each.

 

WILLIAM PERALDIS: -

William Peraldus (c. 1200 - c. 1271) studied at the university in Paris, and became the prior of the Dominican Order in Lyon. He published his treatment of the vices c. 1236, and put it in circulation together with his treatment of the virtues by 1249/1250. For fully ten years he performed all the episcopal functions of the Church of Lyons, having been chosen for this work during the vacancy of the see by Philip I, Count of Savoy who, although not in Holy orders, bore the title of Archbishop of Lyon from 1245 to 1267. Because of Perault's long labours in ministering to the needs of the diocese, he himself came to be known as the Bishop or Archbishop of Lyon.

 

“SUMMA ON THE VICES”: -

Peraldis' “Summa on the vices” is the second Tome of his work “Summa de virtutibus et vitiis”. The Summa is composed of nine treatises of varying length, in the following order: vice in general, gluttony, lechery, avarice, sloth (or acedia), pride, envy, wrath, and the sin of the tongue. As those who consult this site, and the Summa itself, will see, some of these treatises are fairly short (Vice in general, Gluttony, Envy), others are of moderate length (Lust, Wrath, the Sin of the Tongue), and three are massive compositions hundreds of pages in length (Avarice, Sloth, Pride). In all of them, Peraldus gathered together, organized, and analyzed the most current ethical resources of his day for the benefit of preachers and confessors engaged in the pastoral work of the Church following the canons of the fourth Lateran Council.

 

Done