Commentary on the Rule of Saint Benedict
Bernardus, Abbot of Monte Cassino, -1282
The Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict by Bernard Ayglerius (died 1282), Abbot of Monte Cassino. Copied widely in the 15th century, especially in Germany and Austria, this copy has an unusual binding made of leaves from other manuscripts. The Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century, was the foundational document for the life in Benedictine monasteries through the Middle Ages. Commentaries on the Rule, like this text, were an important part of the education of monastic novices. Stain from damp on lower corner of f. 79 to end. Wormhole in upper margin of f. 81 to end, with no damage to text. The paper is watermarked with St. Catherine's wheel, similar to Briquet 13290, Perigord, 1491; cf. also Briquet 13252, Decizes 1499; 13275, Bourg 1496; and 13281, Chateaudun, 1540.
From dealer description: Written in the later decades of the 15th century, probably approximately 1480-1500, in central or southwestern France, as indicated by the style of the script and the watermark. Popular in 15th century Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries, the text is likely copied for a monastic library. Only one sale of this text is listed in the Schoenberg Database. Medieval shelf-mark, bottom margin, ff. 1 and 83, "B 63," in both cases preceded by four erased words, "C de C." Armorial bookplate, front flyleaf for the Bibliothèque de Monseir le Baron de Caix de Saint-Aymour," with motto, "Fortior in adversis." The Baron Amédée Caix de Saint Aymour was the mayor of Corbie (1863-1920), educated at the l'Ecoles des chartes and at the l'Ecoles des langues orientales. Octagonal paper label on front cover edged in blue from 19th century French book deal, "Manuscript, 13ème siècle." Purchased by Western Michigan University Special Collections from Les Enluminures (TM 432).
Monasticism and religious orders--Early works to 1800
Manuscripts, Latin (Medieval and modern)--Michigan--Kalamazoo
Bound in two pieces of brown leather, sewn together horizontally, which is stitched over paste-boards formed from ten leaves from other manuscripts (now partially visible at the top, front, and along the fore edge, back). The leather turn-ins are covered with a paper leaf, now fragmentary, in the front, and by leather in the back. Part of this leather is broken off, and is now laid in, sewn on three leather bands, stitched through the inside of the covers in a "v" pattern. Lighter brown leather (sheepskin?) spine, probably later, with three raised bands with the title in gilt between the first and second in a gold square, "Regl de S. Benoit Manuscr 13 Sciecl [sic]." Remains of leather tie, front cover, with a hole in the back cover, presumably from another tie, now missing, and showing considerable wear, including a second small hole in the back cover near the spine, and with corners and some edges of the leather covers worn away. Middle of each gathering reinforced with parchment strips from another manuscript.
Some majuscules touched in yellow. Red paragraph marks and rubrics throughout. Two-to-one line red initials with elaborate cursive flourishing. 1 column of 27-30 lines in blind ruling with full length bounding lines (justification: 110-107 x 80-75 mm).
Corrections in the margin on some leaves.
Manuscript 163, Western Michigan University Special Collections
Walter, P. Hilarius. "Das Speculum Monachorum des Abtes Bernhard I. von Cassino," Studien und Mittheilungen aus dem Benedictiner- und der Cistercienser-Orden 21 (1900), pp. 411-423 and 22 (1901), pp. 32-48.
Clark, James G. "Monastic Education in Late Medieval England," in The Church and Learning in Later Medieval Society; Essays in Honour of R.B. Dobson; Proceedings of the 1999 Harlaxton Symposium, edited by Caroline M. Barron and Jenny Stratford. Donington, Lincolnshire, Shaun Tyas, 2002, pp. 25- 40.
Lowe, Elias Avery. The Beneventan Script; a History of the South Italian Minuscule, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1914.
Leccisotti, T. "Aiglerio," in Dizionario biografico degli Italiani, vol. 1, Rome, 1960, p. 521.
Briquet, Charles-Moïse. Les filigranes. Dictionnaire historique des marques du papier dès leur apparition vers 1282 jusqu'en 1600, 2. éd., New York, Hacker Art Books, 1966.
Digital reproduction published by Western Michigan University and made available for private study, scholarship or research use under applicable U.S. Law. Access to digital reproductions provided by Special Collections at Zhang Legacy Collections Center, Western Michigan University.