Clementinarum Manuscript Leaf

Description: 

Clementinarum Manuscript Leaf
Italian (Bologna), 14th century

Author: Joannes Andreae, commentary on decretal issued by Pope Clement V (French, 1264-1314)

Language: Latin

Single leaf: Clementinarum Lib. III, tit. VII, chapter ii: De sepulturis cum commentarium

ink on vellum
height 41.5 cm
width 27.5 cm

Portland State University Library Special Collections
Mss. 17, Rose-Wright Manuscript Collection no. 9

 

Victor Soares, Medieval Portland Capstone Student, Winter 2005
This leaf is from a manuscript that is a commentary on a Pope Clement V decretal most likely written by Joannes Andreae, a canonist who lived in Bologna, Italy during the 14th century.  Both sides of the manuscript have larger text in the center of the page framed by two columns of smaller-sized text. The main text is written in faded black with blue and red punctuation marks or paragraph breaks. The glosses (margin notes) on both sides of the manuscript are in the smaller text. The Roman numerals II and III at the top of each side of the manuscript indicate page numbers. On the page III side, there is an illuminated letter "D" in red with purple pen work. A footnote on the bottom right-hand corner of page III is written in a hand different from the glosses. Also on page III, near the top left-hand corner, is a drawing of a little head wearing a periwig.

The content of this decretal commentary has not been translated. The catalog notes on this manuscript leaf from the dealer indicate that the content of the decretal can be found in the Corpus Iuris Canonici, Lib. III, tit. VII, chapter ii. That citation seems to be inaccurate, however, and requires further research.

Joannes Andreae published a collection of decretals issued by Pope Clement V with commentary. Joannes compiled glosses from other decretalists and combined them with his legal interpretations of each decretal. This publication became known as the Apparatus on the Clementines and then became part of the glossa ordinaria, the accepted legal reference on Pope Clement's decretals. This manuscript leaf most likely came from a copy of the Apparatus on the Clementines. During his papacy, Pope Clement V issued many decretals to settle arguments within the Church and establish new Church laws. These decretals were assembled to form the Clementinae or Clement's Constitutions. A lasting influence of the Clementinae is the notion of a centralized Catholic Church with a strong papacy.

Background Essay--Papal Decretals:
A decretal is a letter containing a Papal ruling. The decretal can be small and insignificant, such as a reply to a minor dispute between bishops, or be a far-reaching Church policy, such as the process of canonization. The first decretal was issued in the 4th century, setting a precedent for the way the Pope communicates law.

By the 12th century, decretals evolved into a subject of great study and became a centerpiece of Church law. From 1160 to 1200 decretalists (people who study decretals) focused on collecting decretals and presenting the legal tradition of the Church. During 1200-1234, decretals were compiled into collections and studied at great length. Entire scholastic programs focused on the study of decretals and Church law much in the same way law schools study civic law today. The age of decretal research came to a close once a definitive collection of decretals was approved by Pope Gregory IX. Pope Gregory's definitive collection of decretals became the center of Canon Law, which governed the Church from 1582 until 1917.

Suggestions for Further Reading:

Menache, Sophia. Clement V. pp. 37, 112-119, 205-209.
New Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 3. pp. 41-45, 945-946.
New Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4. pp. 705-711.
New Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 6. pp. 515-518.
New Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 7. pp. 994-995.
Owen, Dorothy M. The Medieval Canon Law: Teaching, Literature, and Transmission. pp. 30-42.

 

Wilma Fitzgerald, PhD, SP - Quoted with permission from an unpublished study
Clemens papa V. Clementinarum Lib. III. tit. VII. cap. i , ii: De sepulturis cum commentarium. Saec. XIV med. Italy. One leaf, 415 x 275 (320/280 x 210/193) mm., two columns of commentary around central text, 65 lines. Red and blue paragraph markings. foliated 41. Headings Li and III [Liber III]. One two-line initial: D[udum]. Corrections in margins and interlinear. One later note in lower margin [III side]: Nota quia sicut tamen. Dealer marks: VM7858 inside margin. Purchased from: Bruce Ferrini, Western Medieval & Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts 754 Kenmore Blvd, Akron Ohio 44314. 330-753-7447. Item #VM 7878. See: Corpus Iuris Canonici, Editio Lipsiensis secunda post Aemilii Ludouici Richteri curas ad librorum manu scriptorum et editionis Romanae fidem recognouit et adnotatione critica instruxit Aemilius Friedberg.  Pars Secunda Decretalium Collectiones. (Bernhard Tauchnitz Lipsiae 1922). Washington D.C. 1990).

[Text]: // forma uerborum concesso aliquantur sufragite. [cap. i] Idem Dudum a Bonifacio pape praedecessore nostro VIII infra scripta edita decretali Benedictus pape XI praedicessori nostri aliam illius reuocationem pro mulgauit que quia ut probavit ... Donifacius [= Bonifacius papa VIII] episcopus seruus seruorum dei ad perpetuam rei memoriam super cathedra preeminenci e pastoralis diuina disponente clemencia .../...  ecclesiarum antistites ad curam et regimen gregis dominici deputatos ceterasque personas quos ordo cleri[calis includit pacis tranquillitas uigeat fervor caritatis exaestuet inualescat concordiae unitas animorum identitas perseueret] //Commentarium: // alueus dicitur uenter fluuiorum dicitur etiam .../... apostolus ante medium de in mundum //