Incipit: ‘Gregorius episcopus servus servorum dei ...’
[Illuminated frontispiece illustrating the papal bull: Pope Gregory IX is depicted seated, his left hand grasping (or perhaps handing over) a volume and his right hand pointing to it. The volume is offered to him by a tonsured cleric kneeling before him, who is accompanied by a group of people standing behind him. Among them, one can recognise three clerics and two jurists. The composition of the group may represent the people to whom the compilation of Canon Law is addressed, namely the clergy and the university community.]
Incipit: ‘Rex pacificus pia miseratione disposuit ...’
88r
De iudiciis. Rubrica
Incipit: ‘De quo vult deo centuriensi episcopo ...’
[Illuminated frontispiece illustrating book II: A secular judge is depicted seated in a frontal position, visually suggesting his impartiality in the administration of justice. His right hand and his left index finger are raised to address a cleric on the left (either the plaintiff or the defendant), who is responding to the judge with the same hand gesture. On the opposite side stands another cleric, presumably the opposing party, who joins the discussion by also raising his right hand and left index finger.]
158v
De vita et honestate clericorum. Rubrica
Incipit: ‘Ut laici secus altare quando ...’
[Illuminated frontispiece illustrating book III: A priest is depicted standing in front of an altar with a chalice and an open missal on it. He raises both his hands as he prepares to celebrate the ritual of the Eucharist. Behind him, an acolyte is forcibly expelling a layman from the sacred space (as he is not allowed to witness the ritual), his left hand grasping the man’s arm and his right hand threatening him with a raised stick (an aspergillum?). The layman proceeds to walk away, turning his head to look at the acolyte and raising his hand as a sign of acquiescence.]
232r
Incipit liber quartus. De sponsalibus et matrimoniis
Incipit: ‘Ex concilio triburiense. De Francia ...’
[Illuminated frontispiece illustrating book IV: A priest is standing between a man and a woman, officiating their marriage. He holds the wrists of their right arms, joining their hands to make their union official (dextrarum iunctio). The bride raises her left hand to express her consent, while the groom holds the glove he has removed with his left hand (to be official, the oath must be taken with bare hands).]
258v
Incipit: ‘Si legitimus non fuerit accusator ...’
[Illuminated frontispiece illustrating book V: A pope acting as a judge is depicted seated, his left hand raised to address the people in front of him and his right hand grasping a document. The document is handed to him by a kneeling Benedictine friar, behind whom stand a group of three more Benedictines, one of whom is an abbot (he is holding a crozier). The scene presumably portrays the delivery of the libellus (the indictment act), which marks the beginning of the judicial process. The accusation is presumably directed at the abbot, who raises his hand to deny the claim.]
330v
Explicit: ‘... pro spiritualibus facere quis homagium compellatur. Explicit liber quintus’
2 — Bernardus Parmensis, Glossa ordinaria. Gloss to Gregorius IX's Decretales
Explicit: ‘... de pactis pactiones. Bernardus parmensis. Explicit apparatus magistri Bernardi’
Saint-Omer, Bibliothèque d’Agglomération du Pays Ms. 434, f. 1r
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BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS
Layout: 2 columns; Textus inclusus (Glossa)
Illustrations: Illuminated frontispieces on ff. 1r (illustration of the papal bull "Rex pacificus": Pope Gregory IX receiving the book of the Decretales), 88r (illustration of book II, "De iudiciis": Judicial debate), 158v (illustration of book III, "De vita et honestate clericorum": Celebration of the Eucharist and expulsion of a laic), 232r (illustration of book IV, "De sponsalibus": Marriage ceremony), 258v (illustration of book V, "De accusationibus, inquisitionibus et denunciationibus": Judgement scene with pope). Ornamental illuminated initials; flourished initials in red and blue.
Iconclass: pope; insignia of the pope, e.g. tiara; sitting on an elevation; index finger forwards, pointing, indicating; codex; kneeling figure; kneeling before a ruler; monk(s), friar(s); tonsure; head-gear: cap; Canon Law; 'Legge canonica' (Ripa); ornament ~ geometric motifs; 'Giudice' (Ripa); court session (court of justice); judicial duel; priest (Roman Catholic); the Eucharist ~ the fourth of the seven sacraments; palm of the hand turned up - AA - both arms or hands; chalice; altar-cloths, e.g. veil covering the altar at Lent; altar; missal; codex - LL - codex open; acolyte, chorister, lector, ostiarius, etc. ~ functionaries in Roman Catholic church; other utensils used in the church; pushing something; gripping someone by the shoulder; threatening behaviour, challenging; strife of laity and clergy; marriage, married couple, 'matrimonium'; couple before the priest ~ marriage; shaking hands, 'dextrarum junctio'; gloves, mittens, etc.; gripping someone by the hand or the wrist; clasped hands; the consent (of marriage); kneeling figure; monastic orders, monastic life: Benedictines; insignia of bishop, e.g. mitre, crozier; abbot; the accused; handwriting, written text; 61B2(GREGORYIX); 31A2552(+932) postures and gestures of the palm of the hand (+ addressing); 31A25521(+932) palm of the hand turned up (+ addressing); 31A25551(+932) index finger upwards (+ addressing); 31A2745(+921) grasping something (+ threatening; fury); 31A25521(+923) palm of the hand turned up (+ defending oneself)
Support material: parchment
Measurements: 438x270 mm
Extent (leaves): 330
SEMANTIC INDEXING
Subject: Law-canon (ius canonicum)
Genre: TEXTUS (Can)
Period: late medieval
Language: Latin
DATA SOURCE & REFERENCES
MS:
Saint-Omer, Bibliothèque d’Agglomération du Pays Ms. 434
Completeness: medium — Source: digital copy, bibliography
