Add MS 8361

MARCO BATTAGLI: 'Marcha' from the creation to 1354; 1439. Latin. A universal history in five books, from the creation to 1354, by Marco Battagli of Rimini (d. circa 1370), dedicated to the Emperor Charles IV. The first book (ff. 1-28v) covers Adam to Nimrod, the second (ff. 28v-35v) continues to Romulus and Remus, and the third (ff. 35v-71v) to the death of Julius Caesar. The fourth book (ff. 71v-173v) covers European history from Octavian to the year 1354 in the reign of the Emperor Charles IV, and the fifth book (ff. 174-222v) covers papal history from St Peter to the death of Clement VI in 1352. Partly printed (ff. 1-2, 135-173v, 215v-222v) in A. F. Massèra (ed.), Marcha di Marco Battagli, in Rerum Italicarum Scriptores, new series, xvi, 3 (1912-1913), from Leipzig, Universitäts-Bibliothek, cod. 1309, which dates from the beginning of the fifteenth century. Massèra describes four manuscripts of the text on pp. xxxiii-xlv and collates the main text [A] with Meiningen, Fürstliche Oettingen-Wallerstein'sche Bibliothek, cod. II (Lat.) 1 [B] and Add. 8361 [C]. Add. 58445, ff. 1-183v, is another 15th-cent. copy of the text. Inc. in preface, 'Vobis domino Karolo de Boemia', inc. in book 1, 'Incipiendum est ergo ab orbis creatione', expl. in book 5, 'de qua venia magnum cumulavit thesaurum etc.' Rubricated headings and initials, with dates and figures underlined in red and capitals touched with red. Copied by Bartholomeus de Rubeis of Verona, 27 Jan. 1439, in Enzersdorf [Enczestorf], Austria (colophon, f. 222v). See A. G. Watson, Dated and Datable Manuscripts c. 700-1600, i (1979), p. 26, who suggests that 'Enczestorf' may be identified with Engersdorf, Germany; but Massèra, op. cit., p. xxxviii, places the scribe in Austria. There are numerous later marginal annotations in two hands, the majority in the hand of Andrea Maffei who notes on f. 134v, 'Ego Andreas vidi picturas in castro pragensi', and whose ownership inscription of the late 15th or 16th cent. (f. 223) reads 'Iste liber croniche est spectabilis comitis Andree Maphei de Corigio Viridi [Correggioverde] Cremonensis diocesis. Utinam.' Armorial bookplate of 5th Earl of Guilford, with shelfmark L/17/D (f. i). Purchased, together with Add. 8512, from R. H. Evans, 8 December 1830, lot 578 (part).

Paper; ff. ii+223. Sec. fol. 'cuncta bona causantur'. 205 x 145mm. Original gatherings, now mounted on guards, 1¹⁰ (ff. 1-10), 2-18¹² (ff. 11-214), 19⁶ (5 cancelled; ff. 215-219), 20⁶ (1-2 cancelled; ff. 220-223). Horizontal catchwords on the lower right verso of gatherings 2-18. Frame ruled circa 170 x circa 97mm. Watermark similar to Briquet, monts, 11882 (A.D. 1457, 1459). British Library binding with light brown covers.