Beinecke MS 668
Austria, s. XV 2/4 (1439?)
Iohannes Slitpacher, Mnemotechnical-didactical works and compendia

1. ff. 1v-18v	 Astronomical and computistical tables and texts. [f. 1v, very faded:] Two 
computistical circles: (1) Claves festorum mobilium; (2) Ciclus solaris. Littera dominicalis. 
Si vis scire aureum numerum ... (Thorndike-Kibre 1473). 
Tabula aurea (?) de littera dominicali. Anno Domini 1439 1467 1495 ... 1803 (Solar Cycle); 
Anno Domini 1439 1458 1477 ... 1800 (Nineteen-Year Cycle).
[f. 2r:] Tabula intervalli. Si vis scire intervallum ...
Tabula festorum mobilium. Si vis scire festa mobilia ...
[f. 2v:]	Ci bi math cta sanc ius / In be do vin re si kat mas (probably an abbreviated list of the 
principal feasts of the year: Circumcisio (1 Jan.), Birgitta (1 Febr.), Mathias (24 Febr.), etc.).
Titel portavit ens Ysayam mediavit ...  (Walther, Initia 19302).
De die hora prima, de nocte hora prima numerando. ...
[f. 3r:]	Calendar, consisting of 12 computistical and astronomical tables, one for each month, for 
the years 1439, 1458, 1477 and 1496.
[f. 9r:] 	Tabula et modus inveniendi novilunium etc. Ad sciendum per kalendarium precedens 
coniunctionum et oppositionum tempus solis et lune ...
[f. 9v:]	 Tabula continuacionis coniunctionum et oppositionum (for the years 1439-1800). 
Transactis igitur 76 annis quod erit anno Domini 1515 ...
Tabula inveniendi ortum et occasum solis. Si vis scire quotta hora vel minuto oriatur sol aut 
occidat  ...
[f. 10r:]  Tabula graduum solis. Si vis scire in quo signo Zodiaci et quotto gradu ipsius ... [text 
only].
[f. 10v:] Tabula signorum lune. A table similar to Bede, Opera de temporibus, C.W. Jones,  ed. 
(Cambridge Mass., 1943), p. 219; CC, v. 123B (Turnhout, 1977), p. 345, with astrological 
additions.
Annus habet XII menses et LII septimanas ...
[f. 11r:] Computus sacerdotum. Omnia cum inferiora motibus corporum supernorum gubernantur, 
etc. Notandum quod subiectum istius scientie ... (Computus Nurembergensis, Thorndike-Kibre 
989).
[f. 14r:] Four circular diagrams: the Lunar Month, the Nineteen-Year Cycle, the Year and an 
unfinished Nineteen-Year Cycle.
[f. 15r:] Prima per se, secunda per decem dat tercia centum ... (arithmetical table).
[f. 15v:] Vulgarismus sew computus secularium. In libro Sapiencie capitulo undecimo scribitur 
quod Deus omnipotens omnia disposuit in mensura [Wisdom of Solomon, 11:21]... 

2. f. 19r-v Short texts in verse. [f. 19r:] Metra de etatibus mundi. Sexcenta [sic] mille sex 
quinquaginta durat (?) Adam, / Octoginta novemque trecentos Noe sub archa ...
Articuli fidei apostolorum metrici. Credo, canit Petrus, Andreas et in Ihesum Christum ... 
(Walther, Initia 3419).
[f. 19v:] Nota. 7 artes mechanice metrice composite. Huius artis species si bene perspicies, ut 
Hugo testatur, / Revera septennarius tradit numerus ... Ex Diascalon Hugonis parte tercia (based 
on Hugh of St. Victor [Hugo de Sancto Victore, d. 1141], Didascalicon, II, 21-27; PL, 176.760-
762).
 Et septem sunt artes liberales. Grammatica. Quitquit agunt artes semper ego predico partes ... 
(Walther, Initia 15973).

3. ff. 20r-44r	Incipit fragmentum Biblie compositum a magistro Iohanne
monacho ...  Genesis 
habet 50 capitula. Astra creat Deus et terram mare replet, homo fit ... Explicit fragmentum 
Biblie. Nota de psalterio metra. Ter quinquagenos David canit ordine psalmos, / Versus bis mille 
sexce[n]tos sex canit ille (Walther, Initia 19209).

Iohannes Slitpacher (1403-1482), Fragmentum Bibliae (Memoriale Bibliae
metricum), Stegmueller 
4949; Walther, Initia 1638. 1210 hexameters, begun 1435/1436. See about this work and its 
curious structure, providing one verse for each chapter of each Bible book, Verfasserlexikon, v. 8 
(1992), 738-739.

4. ff. 44v-45v Conceptio Marie. Strages vidit natam cum (?) vite hortus conclusus fons signatus / 
Stellam Balaam predicit. Presentacio Marie. Mensa aurea oblata soli ...	ff. 46r-47v blank

Short typology (Biblical prefigurations) of the facts of the life of the Virgin and of Jesus. 

5. ff. 48r-50r Two texts on the Bible. [f. 49r:]  Nota de regulis Tyconii pro intelligentia 
Scripturarum. Augustinus de doctrina christiana et Ysodorus de summo bono ponunt 7 regulas 
editas a Tyconio Donatista multum utiles pro intelligentia Scripturarum Sacrarum, quarum prima 
regula est de Domino Ihesu Christo et eius corpore mistico ... Hee regule dicuntur claves quia per 
eas intellectus Scripture aperitur multis (cf. Nicolaus de Lyra [c. 1270-1349], Regulae Sacrae 
Scripturae, Stegmueller 5827).
[f. 50r:]  De sensu Sacre Scripture. Sensus Sacre Scripture est duplex, scilicet litteralis et 
spiritualis ...

6. ff. 50v-52v	 Quamvis communiter a doctoribus Magister non teneatur in quolibet libro in 
duobus articulis, tamen S.T. ut refert Anthonius in IIIIa parte ipsum notat in XIIII articulis. 
Primus est quod caritas qua diligimus Deum et proximum ...

Unidentified notes on Petrus Lombardus, Libri sententiarum IV.

7. ff. 53r-55v Sequuntur metra super libros sentenciarum [heading on f. 52v]. Aut fruimur rebus 
cunctis aut utimur ipsis ...

Iohannes Slitpacher, Memoriale librorum sententiarum, Stegmueller, Sent. 13; Walther, Initia 
1878. 182 hexameters, composed 1443. See Verfasserlexikon, v. 8 (1992), 739-740.

8. ff. 56r-72r	 Compendium of the books of Canon Law. [f. 56r:] Sciendum quod ius 
canonicum in 4 libris nobis est traditum, quorum primus liber est Decretum Graciani  ...
[f. 58v:] Nota bene pro legendis decretis. Sciendum pro allegacione et lectione decretorum que 
magister Gracianus collegit et nunc ius antiquum vocatur...
[f. 59r:] Incipiunt metra super Decretum Graciani. Accipe primum quid naturale, quod ius sit, /  
Blande panditur ista sint que iura Romano ...
[f. 64r:] Incipiunt metra super primum (- quintum) librum Decretalium cuilibet titulo versus 
deserviens. Alma fides perstat de summa Trinitate ... [f. 67r:] Secuntur regule iuris. Omnis res per 
quascumque causas nascitur per easdem solvitur ... Primus (- quintus) liber Sexti Decretalium. 
Alma fides altissima credit de Deo trino ... [f. 68v:] Regule iuris. Accessorum naturam congruit 
parvulis (?) ... [f. 70r:] Primus (- quintus) liber Clementinarum. Alma parens casta fides stat de 
Deo trino, / Blandus papa conscribat rescripta probata ... Et sic est finis. [f. 71r:] De 
abrogacionibus decretorum Graciani. In decretis quedam ponit Gracianus ... [f. 71v:] De glosis 
decretorum. Glose decretorum sunt communiter bone et vere ... [f. 72r:] Nota metra pulchra. 
Sanctum decretum trinis **** frater amande ...		ff. 72v-73r blank

9. ff. 73v-74r	Compendium of the books of Roman law. [f. 73v:] De iure civili. Ius civile sew 
imperatorum, quod leges appellatur, traditur nobis in 4 libris, scilicet in Digesto, Codice, Instituta, 
Autentico, quibus additur Liber feudorum ...	ff. 74v-75r blank

10. ff. 75v-79r  Mnemotechnic verses on  Canon Law, Christian life, etc. [f. 75v:] Casus reservati 
superioribus cla[u]stralium. Frater preposito rebellis sive decano, / Pollutus, vigilans et 
proprietarius omnis ... 12 consilia Christi. Pauper ob castus car man miser quoque ... [f. 76r:] 
Decem precepta  metrice posita ... Septem peccata mortalia ... Septem virtutes eis opposite... 
Quinque sensus corporis ... Quinque sensus anime ... Septem sacramenta ... Opera misericordie 
spiritualia .... Opera misericordie corporalia ... 7 Dona Spiritus Sancti ... Octo Beatitudines ... 
Novem peccata aliena ... [f. 76v:] Peccata in Spiritum Sanctum sex ... Peccata clamantia ad 
Deum quinque ... Triplex peccatum ... Circumstancie aggravantes ... Casus accelerandi 
confessionem ... Circumstancie confitende ... Qualis debet esse confessio ... Quando quis potest 
alieno confiteri ... [f. 77r:] Qualis debet esse confessor ... Que debet confessor interrogare ... Qui 
non sunt absolvendi ... Casus papales ... Casus episcopales metrici ... [f. 77v:] Tres virtutes 
theoloyce ... Quatuor virtutes cardinales ... Opera bona in caritate facta ... De operibus bonis 
extra caritatem factis ... De fructu Passionis ...  In his casibus non datur  absolucio (?) a vicario 
... [f. 78r:] De viciis singulorum statuum et primo iuvenum ... De viciis senum ... De viciis 
pauperum ... De viciis divitum ... De viciis nobilium ... [f. 78v:] De viciis aulicorum ... Abusiones 
claustralium. Prelatus negligens, iuvenis ociosus ... [f. 79r:] Abusiones secularium. Sapiens sine 
operibus, adolescens sine obediencia ...  Hec *** clericorum precipue sunt servanda ... De 
quatuor causis Scripture ... Nota de excommunicatione et interdicto ...		ff. 79v-90v 
blank

11. ff.  91r-117v	  Sciendum quod 7 sunt sacramenta, videlicet: baptismus intrancium 
disponit ad fidem, confirmacio pugnancium disponit ad spem ... Sacramentum secundum 
Magistrum ...		ff. 118r-120r blank, except for later notes (see below)

Compilation on the Sacraments; the rapid handwriting and the many blank spaces and pages 
seem to prove that this is an autograph.

12. ff. 120v-132v	Nota de versificacione. Sciendum quod exametrum constat ex pedibus 
dactilo et spondeo ... [f. 121r:] Quot modis quantitas prime sillabe discernatur. Sillaba prima ea 
dicitur que est in principio ... [f. 122v:] A ante b corripitur, ut flabellum ...[f. 125v:]  De 
quantitate medie sillabe. Media sillaba appellatur que posita est inter ... [f. 130r:] Ultima sillaba 
ea dicitur que terminatur ...  Hec ex Sulpicio tracta sunt.

Treatise on Latin prosody. The source mentioned at the end is the Late Antique grammarian 
Sulpicius Apollinaris.

13. f. 133r-135v	Forma generalis absencie fratris. Universis et singulis reverendis religiosis 
ac venerabilibus patribus in Christo ac dominis, dominis abbatibus, prepositis, prioribus, decanis, 
capitulis, conventibus regulariter ***** ubicumque in ecclesia Dei constitutis N., praepositus et 
decanus totumque capitulum monasterii sancte Marie Virginis in *****, ordinis sancti Augustini 
canonicorum regularium... [f. 133v:] Alia ad idem. [f. 134r:] Revocatio ad electionem. [etc.].	
	f. 136r blank except for later note

Models of monastic letters, in very cursive handwriting, issued by the provost and dean of a 
convent of Regular Canons of St. Augustine.

Almost all texts and tables in this small manuscript are either by Iohannes Slitpacher, a 
Benedictine monk in the abbey of Melk (artt. 3 and 5), or anonymous and unrecorded. The 
former ones (compendia in verse of the Bible and of the Sententiae) have their counterpart in 
similar works on Canon and Roman Law (artt. 8 and 9), which use the same peculiar technique, 
and in a sense also in the notes and metra especially on moral theology of art. 10. These works 
probably, and maybe other ones in this manuscript, are to be attributed to the same Slitpacher. 
About the author, see Verfasserlexikon, v. 8 (1992), 727-748.


Parchment and paper, ff. I (paper) + 136 + I (paper), 85 x 60 mm.; due to an error in the foliation 
f. 34 is followed by f. 34bis; ff. 1 and 136, of thick yellowish parchment, are the original covers.

I2 (ff. 1-2, parchment, structure unclear), II16 (ff. 3-18, parchment), III8 (ff. 19-26, parchment), 
IV12 (ff. 27-37, parchment), V12 (ff. 38-49; the outer and the inner bifolium parchment, the rest 
paper), VI14 (ff. 50-63; the outer, the third and the inner bifolium parchment, the rest paper), 
VII12 (ff. 64-75; the outer, the third and the inner bifolium parchment, the rest paper), VIII8 (ff. 
76-83; the outer and the third bifolium parchment, the rest paper); IX8 (-5, ff. 84-90, paper), X-
XI14 (ff. 91-118; the outer and the inner bifolium parchment, the rest paper), XII16 (ff. 119-134; 
ff. 119 and 134 are paper singletons; in the regular quire 118-133 the outer, the second and the 
inner bifolium are parchment, the rest paper), XIII2 (ff. 135-136, parchment, structure unclear).

One column of a varying number of lines, leaving almost no margins. Frame-ruling in ink, 55 x 47 
mm., here and there visible .

Probably copied by one hand, writing an extremely small Gothica Semihybrida, varying from 
Libraria to Currens; in the latter case the rapidity of the script and the numerous abbreviations 
tend to make reading extremely difficult. Some artt. use also a larger size of the same script in 
order to mark the structure of the text.

Headings in red. Red heightening of majuscules and underlining. Red plain initials. A few crude 
flourished initials. Tables and circular diagrams in red and black ink; an unfinished diagram on 
the rear cover (f. 136v).

Binding s. XX: brown leather over pasteboard, spine with three raised bands

The year 1439 repeatedly occurs as starting-point for chronological tables in art. 1; the text of art. 
3 was begun 1435/1436, the text of art. 7 was composed in 1443. A s. XVII hand has written an 
extract from St. Augustine on f. 118r-v; on f. 118v a s. XVII note in German. On the front cover 
(f. 1r), s. XVIII: "Melanges Mss."; on f. 136r a note in French by the same hand on the content 
of the manuscript; at the bottom of f. 1v: "N 240". Bookplate of Gotthard Elverson. Purchased 
from Bernard Quaritch, London, on the Edwin J. Beinecke Fund, 1987.

Albert Derolez

R 19.02.09