Selections from Bernardus Ayglerius, Expositio in regulam S. Benedicti

Notes:

Corrections in the margin on some leaves., Bound in an unusual binding, probably contemporary, made from two pieces of brown leather, sewn together horizontally, which is stitched over pasteboards formed from ten leaves from other manuscripts (now partially visible at the top, front, and along the fore edge, back). The leather turn-ins are covered with a paper leaf, now fragmentary, in the front, and by leather in the back. Part of this leather is broken off, and is now laid in, sewn on three leather bands, stitched through the inside of the covers in a “v” pattern. Lighter brown leather (sheepskin?) spine, probably later, with three raised bands with the title in gilt between the first and second in a gold square, “Regl de S. Benoit Manuscr 13 Sciecl [sic].” Remains of leather tie, front cover, with a hole in the back cover, presumably from another tie, now missing, and showing considerable wear, including a second small hole in the back cover near the spine, and with corners and some edges of the leather covers worn away. Middle of each gathering reinforced with parchment strips from another manuscript., Some majuscules touched in yellow. Red paragraph marks and rubrics throughout. Two-to-one line red initials with elaborate cursive flourishing., The Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict by Bernard Ayglerius (d. 1282), Abbot of Monte Cassino. Copied widely in the 15th century, especially in Germany and Austria, this copy has an unusual binding made of leaves from other manuscripts. The Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century, was the foundational document for the life in Benedictine monasteries thorugh the Middle Ages. Commentaries on the Rule, like this text, were an important part of the education of monastic novices. Stain from damp on lower corner of f. 79 to end. Wormhole in upper margin of f. 81 to end, with no damage to text. The paper is watermarked with St. Catherine’s wheel, similiar to Briquet 13290, Périgord, 1491; cf. also Briquet 13252, Decizes 1499; 13275, Bourg 1496; and 13281, Châteaudun, 1540., 1 column of 27-30 lines in blind ruling with full length bounding lines (justification: 110-107 x 80-75 mm) written in a cursive gothic bookhand., and From dealer description: Written in the later decades of the 15th century, probably ca. 1480-1500, in central or southwestern France, as indicated by the style of the script and the watermark. This text was very popular in 15th century Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries, and is likely copied for a monastic library. Only one sale of this text is listed in the Schoenberg Database. The manuscript is bound in what appears to be its original binding, an inexpensive binding assempled from pieces of leather sewn together to form the cover with “boards” assembled from ten paper leaves, and reused from other 14th or 15th century manuscripts. Medieval shelf-mark, bottom margin, ff. 1 and 83, “B 63,” in both cases preceded by four erased words, “C de C.” Armorial bookplate, front flyleaf for the Bibliothèque de Monseir le Baron de Caix de Saint-Aymour,” with motto, “Fortior in adversis.” the Baron Amédée Caix de Saint Aymour was the mayor of Corbie (1863-1920), educated at the l’Ecole des chartes and at the l’Ecoles des langues orientales. Octagonal paper label on front cover edged in blue from 19th century French book deal, “Manuscript, 13ième siècle.” Purchased by Western Michigan University Special Collections from Les Enluminures (TM 432).

Date Created:

[1480 TO 1500]

Data Provider:

Western Michigan University. Libraries

Subject Topic:

Manuscripts, Latin (Medieval and modern), Manuscripts, Medieval--France, Monasticism and religious orders--Rules--Early works to 1800, and Gothic cursive

Language:

lat

Rights:

Copyright 2019 Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, all rights reserved. The digital version is available for educational use under 'Fair Use' guidelines. For additional permission and further information contact the WMU Libraries.

URL:

https://luna.library.wmich.edu/luna/servlet/detail/WMUwmu~77~77~1222567~160272