Incipit: ‘Gregorius episcopus servus servorum dei ...’
[Illuminated frontispiece illustrating the papal bull: Pope Gregory IX is depicted enthroned, his left hand laying on a volume held upright on his lap and his right hand reaching to grab another volume offered by two friars kneeling beside him. One of them should probably be identified with Raymond de Peñafort. On both sides, the pope is surrounded by a diverse group of people, including tonsured clerics, bishops and some men dressed as secular lawyers or jurists. These individuals represent the three groups of people to whom the compilation of Canon Law is addressed: the secular clergy, the monks and the university community.]
3v
Incipit: ‘Firmiter credimus et simpliciter confitemur ...’
[Illuminated frontispiece illustrating book I: Representation of the Throne of Grace, i.e. God the Father seated on a throne, spreading his arms and holding a crucifix on which hangs the body of Christ. The crucifix is also held by two haloed figures. God the Father is surrounded by four male saints with a halo. ]
93r
Incipit liber secundus de iuditiis
Incipit: ‘Ex concilio affricano. De quo vult deo ...’
[Illuminated frontispiece illustrating book II: A pope acting as a judge is depicted enthroned in a frontal position, visually suggesting his impartiality in the administration of justice. On the left are a jurist and a secular lawyer, who is holding a written scroll, presumably an indictment act (the libellus, whose delivery marks the beginning of the court case). On the opposite side, a tonsured cleric is pointing in accusation to a bishop, who raises a hand to defend himself. The scene takes place inside an architectural structure, which could represent the interior of a courtroom.]
172r
Incipit: ‘Ut laici secus altare quando sacra ministeria ...’
[Illuminated frontispiece illustrating book III: Inside a church, a priest is depicted in front of an altar with a chalice on it. He raises the Host with both hands to perform the ritual of the Eucharist. Behind him is a group of kneeling tonsured clerics. In front of the altar, to the side, two lay people kneel and join their hands in prayer; they are also witnessing the ritual, but from a separate space.]
240r
Incipit: ‘Ex concilio tribunensi. De Francia quidam ...’
[Illuminated frontispiece illustrating book IV: A man wearing a hood (a notary?) is standing between a man and a woman, officiating their marriage. The groom offers the ring to the bride, who holds out her hand to receive it. Both spouses are escorted by their respective parties, consisting of two men for the groom (one of them is very elegantly dressed in fur) and two women for the bride. Some of the escorts bring a hand to their chest, perhaps to swear as witnesses.]
264v
De accusationibus inquisitiones et denuntiationes
Incipit: ‘Si legitimus non fuerit accusator ...’
[Illuminated frontispiece illustrating book V: A pope acting as a judge is depicted enthroned, his left hand holding a book, which he presumably opens to show the exact law he is about to enforce, and his right hand raised to address the two people in front of him. Before him is a young man with crossed arms, presented by an elderly friar in a grey robe. The latter places his hand on the young man's head and points to the ground, showing both a paternal and firm attitude. They are accompanied by four more clerics; the one standing on the left edge holds a written scroll, perhaps an indictment act. The image might represent the trial of minors, a subject discussed in this book (De delictis puerorum, X 5.23). ]
326v
Explicit: ‘... facere quis homagium compellatur. Explicit liber quintus testus decretalium. Et est finis deo gratias’
2 — Bernardus Parmensis, Glossa ordinaria. Gloss to Gregorius IX's Decretales
Explicit: ‘... de facto vel de iure inducit supra de pactis pactiones’
3 —
Content Analysis:
327r
Incipiunt rubrice decretalium. Incipit liber primus
327v
Explicit: ‘... de regulis iuris. Explicit liber quintus’
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS
Unitary manuscript
Layout: 2 columns; Textus inclusus (Glossa)
Illustrations: Illuminated frontispieces on ff. 3r (illustration of the papal bull "Rex pacificus": Pope Gregory IX receiving the book of the Decretales), 3v (illustration of book I, "De summa trinitate et fide catholica": Throne of Grace), 93r (illustration of book II, "De iudiciis": Judgement scene with pope), 172r (illustration of book III, "De vita et honestate clericorum": Celebration of the Eucharist with clergy and laity) 240r (illustration of book IV, "De sponsalibus": Marriage ceremony) and 264v (illustration of book V, "De accusationibus, inquisitionibus et denunciationibus": Judgement scene with pope and clerics). Illuminated initials (inhabited in the main text, ornamental in the gloss) at the beginning of each titulus. Flourished initials and paragraph signs alternatively in red and blue. Rubrics and running titles.
Iconclass: pope; insignia of the pope, e.g. tiara; bishop's throne; sitting figure; codex; kneeling before a ruler; kneeling on both knees; monk(s), friar(s); tonsure; monastic orders, monastic life: Dominicans; archbishop, bishop, etc. (Roman Catholic); insignia of bishop, e.g. mitre, crozier; lawyer, attorney at law; head-gear: cap; Canon Law; 'Legge canonica' (Ripa); God the Father holding the crucifix, 'Gnadenstuhl', Mercy-Seat, Throne of Grace; the crucifixion of Christ: prelude to Christ's death on the cross (Matthew 27:34-44; Mark 15:23-32; Luke 23:33-43; John 19:18-24); God the Father enthroned, usually with sceptre and/or globe; nimbus, halo ~ radiance emanating from persons or things; saints; 'Giudice' (Ripa); sitting on an elevation; scroll - LL - scroll unfolded; judicial duel; court session (court of justice); accusation (in court); the accused; accusing; court-room; interior of church; priest (Roman Catholic); the Eucharist ~ the fourth of the seven sacraments; chalice; altar-cloths, e.g. veil covering the altar at Lent; altar; 'elevatio', showing the Sacred Host and Chalice; bread, Host; hands with finger-tips against each other; marriage, married couple, 'matrimonium'; exchange of rings ~ marriage; wedding ring; members of bridal party; witnesses; the consent (of marriage); arm or hand held in front of the chest; hand on the heart; head-gear: hood; postures and gestures of the index finger; codex - LL - codex open; child; old man; gripping someone by the head; handwriting, written text; 61B2(GREGORYIX); 11H(RAYMUND); 41D2122(+43) cape (+ fur used for clothes); 31A25521(+932) palm of the hand turned up (+ addressing); 31A25552(+932) index finger forwards, pointing, indicating (+ addressing); 31A25552(+9211) index finger forwards, pointing, indicating (+ accusing); 31A25521(+923) palm of the hand turned up (+ defending oneself); 41D221(CAP)(+43) head-gear: cap (+ fur used for clothes); 31A25212(+92) arms crossed over the breast (+ relations with aggressive, hostile character (expressive connotations)); 31A2555(+64) postures and gestures of the index finger (+ downward)
