Marston MS 15           Florence, ca. 1450-65
Leonardo Bruni, De bello italico adversus gothos, It. tr.

ff. 1r-82v  Libro primo della gherra [sic] italiana contro agothi composta
per messere lionardo d'areco al R. P. D. Giuliano cardinale di sancto
agnolo. 
[letter:]  Ben che a me molto piu giocondo sarebbe stato riferre la 
felicita che i danni d'italia niente...[final paragraph, f. 2v:]  Nel
tempo di ceneno imperadore...italia.  [rubric wanting, text, f. 3r:]  Dopo 
la morte di ualentiniano minore el quale come per certo si sa fu da suoi 
ucciso in roma l'omperio occidentale comincio a mancare di fermeca...mancando 
loro gia ogni cosa necessaria et non auendo speranca alcuna//  catchwords:  
dauito a totila

	Leonardo Bruni, De bello italico adversus gothos, in the Italian version
by Ludovico Petroni made in 1456, but the text here differs significantly from
that printed in Florence in 1526; ends imperfectly in the first part of Book IV. 
Preceded by the letter of Leonardo Bruni to Giuliano Cardinal Cesarini 
(1398-1444).  

	Parchment, ff. i (paper) + 82 + i (paper), 257 x 160 (143 x 96) mm.  
Written in 26 long lines.  Double vertical bounding lines that do not always
extend the full length of the page (Derolez 13.31); ruled in pale brown ink.
Two single prickings at the top and bottom of inner margin, another single
pricking in outer margin, 5 mm. below final horizontal ruling.
	I 2, II-VIII 10.  Horizontal catchwords with dots and flourishes on either
side in lower margin written across inner vertical bounding line, 
verso (Derolez 12.3).
	Written by a single scribe in fere-gothic script, above top line.
	Partial border in inner margin of white vine-stem ornament, f. 1r, 
on blue, green and pink ground with white and blue dots.  In lower border
terminals extending in ink hair spray with
green, pink and blue flowers and gold balls frame central medallion with
a crude outline drawing of a head in profile (later addition?).  Two decorated
initials, 4- to 3-line, gold on blue, pink and green grounds with white
vine-stem ornament.  On f. 1r initial joined to partial border.  Heading on
f. 1r in red.
	Binding:  Italy, s. xviii-xix.  "Alla rustica" with grey-green paper
added over the spine and part of the boards.  Edges yellow.

Written in Florence ca. 1450-65; early modern provenance unknown.  Signature
of "S. [or L.?] Haas 1894 [?]" on front pastedown.  Modern notations, in
pencil, on front pastedown:  "50" in a circle and "281."  White oval label 
with scalloped edge and "224" in ink on upper cover; plain white round paper 
label ("S. III N/ Leon. Aretino/ XV. Jh/ 4o 73245b") on spine.  Acquired 
from C. A. Stonehill in 1949 by Thomas E. Marston (bookplate).

secundo folio:  furono

Bibliography:  Faye and Bond, p. 66, no. 15.

Barbara A. Shailor