Royal MS 10 C IV

ABRIDGEMENT of Gratian's Concordantia Discordantium Canonum, with other collections of canon law, in Latin, viz.:-

1. 'Decreta abreviata': an abridgement of Gratian, the first part divided into twenty-six distinctions, the second following the usual arrangement, the third with. out divisions. Evidently identical with the compilation discovered by Bickell in Codex 68 of the Frankfurt Stadtbibliothek and shown by him to be the work of Gratian's pupil Omnibonus, compiled about 1156 and hence containing no paleae (see Schulte, Gesch. der Quellen des can. Rechts, i, p. 198). The tractatus de poenitentia and de consecratione have, by way of title heading, excellent pen-drawings representing the imposition of penance, and an altar and chalice respectively (see especially f. 119). Beg. 'Humanum genus', &c. At the end (f. 136) is added a decretal of Honorius II (Regesta, ed. Jaffé-Wattenbach, no. 7401). f 1.

2. Decrees of the third Lateran Council, 1179. The text differs slightly in contents, but greatly in order, from that of Mansi (Concilia, xxii). Other versions considerably divergent are in 10 B. IV and in Arund. MS-490, f. 218 b. Begins 'Licet de euitanda'. f. 137.

3. An appendix of decretals following on art. 2 and resembling that printed by Mansi, loc. cit., but apparently without any systematic arrangement. lt contains in all 120 decretals. Three of these are of popes earlier than Alexander III, viz. :-(a) Jaffé-Wattenbach 384, ascribed to Caelestinus [I or II?]. f. 148;-(b) One ascribed to Eugenius III, 'Clerici qui relicto'. f. 146b;-(c) One to 'Benedictus papa' (Jaffé-Watt. 3773), 'Quo pacto per nuda'. f. 152. A few also are later tban Alexander III, viz. four (five, if 14029 of Jaffé is rightly assigned here) of Lucius III, and one (an addition at the end, no. 17019) of Caelestinus III. For similar collections

see 10 A. II, 10 B. IV, 15 B. IV, and Arundel MS. 490 (f. 210). Beg. 'Cum uos plerumque'. f. 139b. Vellum; ff. 155. 14 in. x 83/4 in. Beg. of XIII cent. Gatherings of 8 leaves (last ³) with catchwords. Double columns. Sec. fol., 'Johannem ita'. "One illuminated initial, others in colours, and marginal pen-drawings (see above, and pl. 63 d). Belonged to Rochester Priory, erased inscription (f. 1), 'Decreta abreuiata de claustro Roffensi per A (?) precentorem ', cf. 5 B. XII, where it is apparently entered among the books of Robert, Prior of Walton (or Felixstowe, a cell of Rochester), no. 236 of Rye's catalogue. The precentor meant is probably Alexander. Old Royal pressmark 'no. 262' (Westm. invent. of 1542, Add. MS. 25469, f. 27); cat. of 1666, f. 9; CMA. 8376.