Add MS 38644

COMMENTARIES on Canon Law by Giovaniii d' Andrea, the Bologna canonist, viz.: 1. "Incipit nouella Iohannis Andree super Sexto libro decretalium," beg. "Cum eram parvulus . . . Licet diuine maiestatis," to be distinguished alike from the "Glossa in Sextum" and the "Novella in Decretales" of the same author. Printed, Pavia, 1484, etc. (see Schulte, Gesch. der Quellen des can. Rechts, ii, p. 218). f. 1.

2. "Incipit nouella de regulis iuris edita a Iohanne Andree," known also as "Quaestiones Mercuriales" on the regulae iuris of Boniface viii at the end of the Sext. Beg. "Non est novum: Sic incipit glosa." On f. 251 b is "Explicit nouella Iohannis Andree super titulum de regulis iuris. Vinum scriptori debetur de meliori." Another copy is in Arundel MS. 423, f. 26. Printed repeatedly (see Schulte, ii, p. 216). f. 165. Vellum; ff. vii+ 251. 16 ¹/₄ in. x 11 ¹/₄ in. A.D. 1345 : see the couplet on f. 251b, "Si de clam cella iacis v. tunc ista nouella Facta fuit tota . gaudeat ergo rota" (MCCLLL minus v). Double columns. Gatherings of 12 leaves with catchwords. Historiated initial representing the author submitting the volume to the pope, two cardinals standing by, f. 1. Bar-border with ivy-leaves f. 1, and half-borders on ff. 55, 83 b, 123, 165. Illuminated initials and ornamental pen-letters throughout. At the end of the volume are 32 lconiiie hexameters beg. "Hune librum scripsi domini nunc Parisiensis Eius in expensis bene viuere det deus ipsi", where the scribe prays it may cross the sea in safety. (The Bishop of Paris mentioned is Fulco de Chanac, d. 1349). On 251 b is the note "Dono Jacobi Spifame episcopi Niuernensis 1557" (Jacques Spifame, Bishop of Nevers, executed at Geneva 1566). A note on the fly-leaf states that the MS. belonged to M. de Chevannes in 1680 and to M. Ditau 1730. On f. vii is the name Demigieu 1754. Bookplates are: (I) arms and motto of Charles Richard de Vesvrotte, 1809, f. iv (see Pontifical d'Amiens, by V. de Beauvillé and H. Josse, 1885, p. v); (2) another coat: azure, a dexter arm embowed and vambraced holding a pen argent, in the dexter chief a star or, with the motto Excelsior. f. iii; (3) Kelmscott House label of William Morris (also date 10 Oct. 1895). f. ii. Sold at Sotheby's, 20 Nov. 1912, lot 130.