YALE UNIVERSITY
BEINECKE RARE BOOK AND MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY
GENERAL COLLECTION OF RARE BOOKS AND
MANUSCRIPTS
PRE-1600 MANUSCRIPTS
Beinecke MS 188 Germany and Italy [?], s. XV^^2
Pope Pius II, etc.
Articles 1-3 are printed texts that were bound together with the
manuscripts (arts. 4-21) in the 16th century:
I.1. ff. 1r-36v Bulla retractationum; De curialium miseria: printed
by Ulrich Zell (Cologne, ca. 1470); Hain 260 and 194. ff. 37r-38v blank
2. ff. 1r-16v Epistolae de laude poeticae, de differentia inter
scientiam et prudentiam et de poetis, de laude litterarum, cur libri
cumulentur: printed by Printer of "Dictys" (Cologne, ca. 1470-71); Hain
186b (in part).
3. ff. 1r-8v Epistola ad procopium de fortuna: printed by Printer of
"Dictys" (Cologne, ca. 1471); Hain 192.
II.4. f. 1r [title:] Bulla pape pij secundi contra turcos [f. 1v
blank; text on ff. 2r-9v:] Pius episcopus seruus seruorum dei...Vocauit
[nos] pius et misericors dominus ad sacram beati petri sedem...Datum
Rome apud sanctum petrum. Anno incarnationis dominice M^^occcc lviij iij
idus octobris pontificatus nostri anno primo, etc.
Pius II (Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini) Epistulae in pontificatu
editae (Milan: Antonius Zarothus 1481) a1-14 verso; Hain 169.
III.5. f. 10r [heading:] Bulla in qua Sigismundus dux Austrie ac
certi textes...denunciantur...[text:] Pius Episcopus seruus seruorum
dei...Salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem infructuosos palmates de
vnica...desuper confecte continetur in hac forma.
6. ff. 10r-18r [heading:] Bulla constittucionis [sic] pape pij quod
deinceps non debet appellari ad futurum consilium. [text:] Pius
Episcopus seruus seruorum dei...Execrabilis et priscis temporibus
manditis tempestate nostra...Rome aput sanctum petrum Anno
Incarnacionis dominice Millesimo quadringentesimo sexagesimo quarto
Nona Nouembris pontificatus nostri anno Tercio.
7. ff. 18r-21v [heading:] Breue missum ad herbipolensiscatensis [?]
Bambergensis, etc. Episcopos et certas communitates etc. Pius papa
secundus. [text:] Dilecti filij salutem et apostolicam benedictionem.
Saluator humani generis in hunc veniens mundum...Datum Rome...die xviij
Octobris Anno MCCCC lx pontificatus nostri Anno tercio.
8. f. 21v [heading:] Appellacio Gregorij heimburg etc. [text:] Vis
consilij expers mole ruit sua vim temperatam mi sublime// Catchword:
prouehit deus.
IV.9. f. 22r [pen trials and title:] Varie epistole et copie
bullarum. f. 22v blank
10. ff. 23r-28r Six short letters between Pope Pius II and Louis XI,
king of France, all dated 1463. ff. 28v-37v blank
The first letter (beginning: Pius et misericors deus qui te regem
constituit et in vertice...) corresponds to that in Vat. Urb. lat. 404,
f. 163v.
V.11. ff. 38r-46v [heading:] Epistola ad exterminacionem tyrannidis
et suasionem iusticie et magnanimitatis et expulsionem hostium. a R.
blodelli. [text:] Eo regum et potentum maiestates illustrissime
princeps in altissimo gradu subuecte...Si antiquos hostes expellas,
furentem tyrannidem oppresseris, et deperditam libertatem restitueris.
ff. 47r-49v blank
VI.12. ff. 50r-61r [heading, in a different hand:] Copia bulle
confirmationis gestorum per dominum felicem. [text:] Nicolaus Episcopus
seruus seruorum dej. Ad futuram rei memoriam. Vt pacis qua nichil
desiderabilius in vniuersali ecclesia...Datum Spoleti Anno
Incarnationis dominice Millesimo quadringentesimo quadragesimo nono.
Quarto decimo Kalendas Julij Pontificatus nostri Anno Tertio. f. 61v
blank
VII.13. ff. 62r-66v [heading, in a different hand:] Copia bulle
Maledictionis die iouis sancta publi^^ta. [text:] Paulus episcopus
seruus seruorum dei ad perpetuam rei memoriam excommunicamus et
anathematizamus ex parte dei omnipotentis...Omnes hereticos gazaros,
Patarenos, pauperes de Lugduno...Datum Lateranj Anno Incarnacionis
dominice. Millesimo quadringentesimo sexagesimo sexto. Tercio Nonas
Aprilis Pontificatus nostri Anno secundo. Explicit. f. 67r-v blank
VIII.14. ff. 68r-77r [heading:] Thimotheus Mafeus Veronensis
Canonicus Regularis cunctae Italie principibus Salutem. [text:] Deum
inmortalem sepe numero precatus sum...A perditissimorum hominum scelere
deffendat. Valete Ex Bononia 1453. [epilogue:] Thimothei Veronensis
Canonici finit epistola qua cunctos italie principes...suis copijs in
barbarum mature contendant qui nuper Constantinopolitana ciuitate
potitus est. ff. 77v-79v blank
Timoteo Maffei, Epistola; cf. Vat. lat. 1946, ff. 163v-179v and B.
Pez and P. Hueber, eds., Thesaurus anecdotorum (Augustae Vindelicorum,
1729) v. 5, pp. 367-78.
IX.15. ff. 80r-82v Paulus Episcopus seruus seruorum dej. Ad
perpetuam rei memoriam. Ineffabilis prouidentia summi patris qui pro
redemptione...Datum Rome apud sanctum petrum Anno incarnationis
dominice Millesimo quadringentesimo Septuagesimo tercio decimo Kalendas
Maij Pontificatus nostri anno Sexto. f. 83r-v blank
X.16. f. 84r Pij Pape .ij. circa finem vite sue in Ancona tussi et
febre laborantis Oratio...Pja dei genetrix quamuis tua potestas nullis
coartatur finibus et totum implet orbem...Interim hoc munus accipito
mee seruitutis signum.
Followed by a brief note on Pius II's death (1464) and burial.
17. ff. 84v-92v [Epitaphs for Pius II:] Tumuli inscriptio talis
est.
Pius .ij. pontifex maximus natione Tuscus fuit patria...et hic
conditus. Franciscus Cardinalis Senensis Auunculo sanctissimo
f.f.; (f.
85r) Pio .ij. Maximo pontifici Leodrisius Cribellus [Cosenza, v. 2, p.
1145]. Epitaphiumn. Hic inuicta patris capiunt veneranda quietem/
Uiuenti ignotam principis ossa pij/...; (f. 85r) Antithei Anguigene
Philelphi in Pium Pontificem summum. Quo magis ingratus nemo fuit alter
et idem/ Qui dici uoluit impietate Pius/...; (f. 85v) De origine et
moribus Antithei Anguigene Philelphi in pium pontificem summum inuecti.
Bartholomei Sulmonensis [Cosenza, v. 1, p. 441] opus. Uertice parnasi
phebus phitona sagittis/ Perculit et pestem sustulit...[arranged as a
dialogue between Manes, Megera and Lathesis]; (f. 90v) Epitaphium
Antithei Philelphi. Hic iaceo putrida et stigia de fece deorum/
Vipereaque satus stirps inimica ioui/...[f. 91r, a preface to the
following epitaph:] Sic uolumus reliquis nequeas implere quod optes/
Mens mala pro uoto manca sit...; Responsio in Epitaphium
Antithei Philelphi. Sepe Philelphe tue numos petiere tabelle/ Abnuit is
fetido chremata ferre viro/...; (f. 92r) Dominus P. Candidus [Petrus
Candidus Decembrius, Cosenza, v. 2 pp. 1196-204]. Hic nouus
Alcides
felix Sulmonis alumnus/ Qui monstrum domuit...Nec rabiem sordesque
trucis timuit nebulonis. f. 93r-v blank.
XI.18. ff. 94r-103r Oracio Ambrosij Vignati legati ducis sabaudie ad
beatissimum pontificem maximum Paulum .ii. Experior nunc, nunc cerno
ipsis oculis, dum hec loquor pater sancte, illud Satyri ita
verum...suae sanctae vniuersalis ecclesiae diutissime et feliciter
conseruare dignetur. Amen. f. 103v blank
Ambrosius de Vignate, Oratio.
XII.19. ff. 104r-110r [heading:] Fratris paracliti cornetani ordinis
Fratrum hermitarum sancti Augustini in capitulo generali tolentini
celebrato de eligendo priore generali etc. [text:] Et si michi
priusquam hunc locum conscenderem [?] amplissimus orandi annis
fuit...et si magna cum victoria hostium castra fudisset. Torquatus
quoque consularis dignitatis eximius dum// ff. 110v-115v blank
XIII.20. ff. 116r-121r [heading, in a later hand:] Ad sublimem et
preclarum virum d. franciscum Sega Illu. d. venetiarum cancellarium. B.
Saccensis apostolice Camerae clericus in Stephanum portium sacrilegum
impiissimum. Oratio. [text:] Solent plerique homines sublimis vir
optimeque pater...Vale mihi et me ut solet ama. Ex urbe Idus Ianuarij
1453^^o. Explicit opusculum. Carmen eiusdem ad sacrilege
patibulum...Accipe jam dignis pro factis premia tantis. ff. 121v-122v
blank
Bartolomeo Platina (1421-81), Oratio.
XIV.21. ff. 123r-129v [title, f. 123r:] Oratio per Johannem
Alouisium ad summum Pontificem pium Secundum. [f. 123v blank] Ad Summum
Pontificem Pium papam secundum Per Johannem Alouisium Tuscanum etc.
Cimba tenella tremit pelagus conscendere vastum/ Qua vix per riuos
ducere sciret itere/ Quare...vt prior eneas fomanam condidit vrbem/ Sic
pius eneas protegat iste fidem. Explicit oratio per iohannem Alouisium
ad pontificem pium secundum etc. Deo gratias. f. 130r-v blank
Johannes Tuscanus Aloisius, Oratio.
The manuscript section of the codex is divided into 13 sections,
all of paper, ff. iii (paper) + 65 (printed texts, foliated 1-41, 1-16
and 1-8) + 130 + iv (paper), 207 x 145 mm.
II. ff. 1-9. Watermarks: unidentified chariot, in the gutter.
Written space: 135 x 82 mm. Ca. 25 long lines, not ruled. One quire of
10 (-1 or 2). Hasty cursive with loops by one scribe. Crude 9-line
initial on f. 2r, in brown and red; red strokes on 1-line capitals.
Stains on f. 1r suggest that it was once bound separately.
III. ff. 10-21. Watermarks similar to Briquet Lettre P 8608.
Written space: 125 x 75 mm. 19-20 long lines, frame-ruled in hard
point. One quire of 12; catchword f. 21v, in inner margin. Even cursive
hand with loops, by one scribe. Calligraphic initials in brown and red;
paragraph marks and strokes on 1-line capitals in red.
IV. ff. 22-37. Watermarks: unidentified fleur-de-lis. Written
space: 160 x 100 mm. Ca. 30 long lines, frame-ruled in lead. One quire
of 16. Hasty cursive, by one scribe. Calligraphic initials, stroked
with red; red for paragraph marks and strokes on 1-line capitals.
Stains on ff. 22r and 37v suggest they were once the cover or
flyleaves.
V. ff. 38-49. Watermarks similar to Piccard Ochsenkopf VII.127.
Written space: 147 x 82 mm. Ca. 31 long lines, frame-ruled in
lead. One quire of 12. Written by one scribe in a cramped running hand.
2-line initial, paragraph mark and strokes on 1-line capitals in red.
VI. ff. 50-61. Very light-weight paper, watermarks similar to
Briquet Ciseaux 3668. Written space: 130 x 73 mm. Ca. 25 long lines,
frame-ruled in hard point. One quire of 12. Written by one scribe in
small cursive. 5-line initial at beginning and strokes on 1-line
capitals in red. Stains on f. 61v suggest this section was once bound
separately.
VII. ff. 62-67. Watermarks buried in gutter. Written space: 152 x
92 mm. 26-27 long lines, ruled in hard point. One quire of 6. Written
by one scribe in a cursive hand. 3-line initial on f. 62r in brown,
with much red, followed by the rest of the word in large gothic
textura; 1-line capitals stroked with red. On f. 67v, in large brown
capitals done by a later hand: ".I.W.G.".
VIII. ff. 68-79. Watermarks: unidentified hatchet. Written space:
170 x 90 mm. Ca. 40 long lines, frame-ruled in hard point. One quire of
12. Very small cursive script by one person. 2-line initial by the
scribe, with some red; 1-line capitals stroked with red.
IX. ff. 80-83. Watermarks buried in the gutter. Written space: 180
x 90. Ca. 41 long lines; frame-ruled in hard point. One quire of 4.
Written by one scribe in small cursive with loops. 3-line initial by
the scribe, with some red; 1-line capitals stroked with red.
X. ff. 84-93. Watermarks similar to Briquet Licorne 10001. Written
space: 110 x 74 mm. 24 long lines or lines of verse; single bounding
lines in hard point, full across, guide-lines for text in lead. One
quire of 10. Written by one scribe in neat humanistic script. 5-line
initial, paragraph marks and strokes on 1-line capitals, in red.
XI. ff. 94-103. Watermarks similar to Piccard Horn VII.106.
Written space: 119 x 74 mm. 25 long lines, ruled in lead; single
vertical bounding lines, full across. One quire of 10. Written by one
scribe in elegant italic. Heading in square capitals; paragraph marks
and strokes on 1-line capitals in red.
XII. ff. 104-115. Watermarks: unidentified dragon. Written space:
139 x 85 mm. Ca. 32 long lines, frame-ruled in lead. One quire of 12.
Written by two hands in gothic cursive with some batarde shading.
Paragraph marks and strokes of 1-line capitals, in red.
XIII. ff. 116-122. Watermarks buried in the gutter. Written space:
171 x 96 mm. Ca. 36 long lines, frame-ruled in hard point. One quire of
8 (-7, blank). Written by one scribe in very small, cramped gothic
cursive. 3-line initial outlined by the scribe, followed by a word in
modified square capitals, with red; paragraph marks and strokes on 1-
line capitals, in red.
XIV. ff. 123-130. Watermarks buried in gutter. Written space 130 x
80 mm. 22 lines of verse, ruled in hard point, double vertical and
horizontal bounding lines, full across. One quire of 8. Written by one
hand in gothic cursive with a few loops. Heading in a larger form of
the same script; 1-line initial and strokes of 1-line capitals in red.
Binding: s. xvi. There are vellum stays from a 15th-century
humanistic manuscript in the center of the quires. Original sewing on
three double, twisted, vegetable fiber cords laced into square wooden
boards. Plain wound endbands, also laced, and covered with the covering
leather which is back-stitched around them. Covered in brown leather
with corner tongues, blind-tooled with six-petalled flowers at the
intersections of diamonds within a linear border. Brass clasp-and-catch
fastening, the catch on the upper board. Rebacked, clasp and strap
wanting.
Written in Germany and Italy [?] at different periods in the
second half of the 15th century; the codex is composed of many small
booklets in different hands, apparently bound together with the
printed texts (arts. 1-3) in the 16th century. Early provenance
unknown. Erased note on f. 93r in humanistic script, not legible under
ultraviolet light. Unidentified shelf-mark "B XXI" on front cover, in
ink, perhaps contemporary with the binding. Unidentified shelf-mark
"H.III.27" inside front cover. Unidentified paper tag on spine, with
notation "Za 74a". Bought from Lathrop C. Harper (bookdealer) as the
gift of Edwin J. Beinecke in 1953.
Bibliography: Faye and Bond, p. 38, no. 188.
Barbara A. Shailor