Royal MS 12 D XV

TWO TRACTS, in Latin, De regimine principum. An old list of contents at the end shows that art. 2 originally preceded art. I and that a third tract is lost. The title of this is given as 'Libellus de celibatu inter naturam et sophiam Iohannis Iorson [i.e. Gerson, Opera, 1706, ii, p. 618] doctoris'. The volume was probably rearranged by T. Throckmorton, who presented it to James I with complimentary verses in English (f. 1 b). Contents: 1. 'Incipit tractatus de regimine dominorum qui secreta secretorum Aristotilis appellatur': an abridgement of the translation by Philippus clericus of this Pseudo-Aristotelian tract (see above, 12 D. III, art. 1). Beg. 'Liber intitulatur secretum secretorum quem edidit princeps philosophorum'. At the end (f. 22 b) is an added chapter 'De certis signis que supercelestia sunt', beg. 'Nota quod certa signa'. f. 2.

2. 'Incipit liber de administracione principum': often called De informatione principum, the same work as 12 B. XVIII, above. The old table of contents in this MS. (f. 158) says 'et creditur episcopi Belluacensis' [perhaps Jean de Marigny, Bishop of Beauvais 13I2-1347, Chancellor of France 1329]. The reference to Louis X is absent. The extracts from the Fathers are appended as in 12 B. XVIII. Beg. 'Regnabit rex et sapiens erit, &c. [Jer. xxiii. 5]: In verbo proposito dominus per prophetam'. f. 23.

Vellum; ff. 158. 10³/₄ in. x 7 in. Early XV cent. Gatherings of 8 leaves, with catchwords. Sec. fol. 'quod hora' or 'bonitate' (originally 'Prima pars'). English illuminated initials, of fair quality . Not identified in the old catalogues.