Beinecke MS 233                                                      Germany, s. XV^^2
Pietro de'Crescenzi, Liber ruralium commodorum

     1. ff. i recto - v verso    [Prologue:] Uenerabili in christo patri et
     domino spirituali viro summe religionis ac sapientie fratri Aymerico de
     placencia...vermiculosis pomis in qua multa inueniuntur iocunda.
     [followed by table of contents:] Incipit liber ruralium commodorum a
     petro de Crescencijs ciue Bononiense ad honorem dei omnipotentis et
     serenissimi Regis domini Karoli compilatus. Incipit liber primus de
     locis habitabilibus eligendis...Incipiunt Regule libri Decimi de
     Ingenijs pluribus capiendi animalia fera...Expliciunt Rubrice libri
     Ruralium commodorum.

     2. ff. v verso - 173v    [Dedicatory epistle to Charles of Anjou
     precedes text:] Excellentissimo principi domino Karolo secundo dei
     gratia Iherusalem et Sicilie regi illustri...in omnibus obedire bene
     placitis et mandatis. Incipit liber Ruralium comodorum a Petro de
     crescencijs Ciue Bononiense...Sequitur ergo Thema. Cum ex virtute
     prudencie que inter bonum et malum caute discernit humanus informetur
     animus...Item capiuntur aues auibus rapacibus domesticatis et retibus
     diuersis ac visco et similibus. Et sic est finis. Sit laus et gloria
     Cristo per infinita secula.

          There appears to be no modern edition of this work; for early
     printed texts see GKW, v. 7, nos. 7820-25.

          Paper (sturdy; watermarks similar to Briquet Lettre P 8526), ff.
     ii (paper) + 178 (numbered i-v, modern hand; 1-173, in Roman numerals,
     by original scribe) + ii (paper), 297 x 212 (202 x 128) mm. Written in
     44 long lines; frame-ruled in lead; prickings along outer edges.
          I-IV^^12, V^^12 (-7, no loss of text), VI-XIV^^12, XV^^12 (-1, no loss
     of text). Catchwords at bottom of leaf near gutter.
          Written by a single scribe in a neat running hand for the text,
     and in a more formal script for major headings (in red or blue).
          Large initials, 11- to 9-line, of intertwining penwork patterns,
     in red and/or blue, mark text divisions; numerous smaller plain
     initials, in red or blue. Paragraph marks, foliation, headings, initial
     strokes in red throughout. Drawing of an incubator for eggs labelled
     "furnus" appears on f. 139r.
          Binding: s. xix. Rigid vellum case, gold-tooled. Remains of
     original fore-edge leather tabs at beginning of each book.

          Written in Germany in the second half of the 15th century; from
     the library of the Capuchin monastery at Offenburg (inscription with
     date 1663 on f. i recto). Unidentified bookplate composed of the
     monogram "C" on verso of second front flyleaf. Belonged to C. F. G. R.
     Schwerdt (bookplate; see catalogue Hunting Hawking Shooting [London,
     1928] v. 2, p. 320); his sale (Sotheby's, 12 March 1946, no. 2198).
     Acquired by David Wagstaff (bookplate); gift of Mrs. David Wagstaff in
     1952.

     secundo folio: de aere

     Bibliography: Faye and Bond, p. 44, no. 233.

     Barbara A. Shailor