Egerton MS 3318

FLOS TESTAMENTORUM: treatise on Wills by Rolandinus de Passageriis, d. 1300, jurist, of Bologna. Latin. The main text, beg. 'Quamvis in cuiuslibet humani operis', and preceded by the opening couplet 'Hunc avide florem spirantem thuris odorem / Si carpis destra frangabis intus et extra', follows substantially that of the first printed edition, Brescia, 1477. Corrections, additions, and marginal glosses, 14th-16th centt., passim, include extensive notes on 'substitutio', or the nomination of alternative legatees, on the front flyleaf (f. iii). For Rolandinus, and for references to other MSS. of his works, see Storia del diritto romano nel medio evo per F. Carlo de' Savigny, translated and revised by E. Bollati, ii, Turin, 1859, pp. 51O-515. Vellum, except ff. i, ii, iv, v paper; ff. v + 28. 320 mm. x 240 mm. XIV cent. Written in Italy. Gatherings of 8 leaves except iii (last)¹², with catchwords. Second folio 'Testamentum est'. Ruled and written in double columns with red and blue pen-decorated initials, rubrics, etc. The opening initial (f. 1) is painted in pink, blue, and scarlet. The end-papers comprise:-(a) Parts of two paper bifolia from a morality play in Italian, 15th cent. ff. i, ii;-(b) Fragments of accompts, in Latin, 14th cent. ff. iv, v. 'Ex libris' inscription (16th cent.), 'Liber iste est Sr Thome Lodovic. di cedis di urbino', on f. 11; perhaps to be associated with the scribbled date 1595 at the top left-hand corner of f. iv. On f. i there are two indecipherable impressions of a small oval bookstamp or signet (15 mm. x 13 mm.). No. 13 in an unidentified 18th-19th cent. inventory or library catalogue (f. 1). A 19th-cent. title Rolandini Bononiensis Flos' is written in ink in the centre of the top margin of f. 1. From the Farnborough Fund.