Manuscript leaf from a Pocket Bible, in Latin, produced in Italy (probably Bologna)

Text: From a Pocket Bible, in Latin

Script: Textualis Libraria (Rotunda)

The Bible text is from the end of 2 Corinthians (Verses 12:18 - 13:13) and the start of Galatians (Verses 1:1 - 3:28).

The writing is in a Rotunda gothic script, ruled in black and written in brown ink in two columns of fifty lines with rubrics in red. Rubricated chapter numbers are in red and blue. There are three two-lined illuminated Lombard style initials with marginalia in red and blue. Also there is one large puzzle initial ‘P’ in red and blue and extending down the centre margin. The text is written in extremely tiny letters with ten lines of text to the inch. Chapter and verse are shown below, in the transliteration, in square brackets.

The recto side is headed ‘AD GALAT(AS)’ and the verso side is headed ‘GA’.

In 1217, St. Dominic, the founder of the order which bears his name, withdrew from France and settled in Italy. Here, in the next four and last years of his life, he founded sixty more chapters of the Dominican order. Many of the younger members of the order studied at the University of Bologna and, while there, produced a great number of these small portable Bibles, just as their brothers did at the University of Paris in France and at the University of Oxford in England. There was a difference in the standard of the scriptoria in the various countries. In England and France the ideal of craftsmanship was very high, while at this time, in Italy, a rather casual attitude prevailed. But this leaf reveals, however, the skill and keen eyesight which were necessary for the writing of ten lines of text to the inch. In the thirteenth century, Italy was distraught by the long struggle between the papal and anti-imperialistic Guelphs and the autocratic and imperialistic Ghibellines.

It is thought that this leaf is from the same manuscript that Otto F. Ege used for Leaf No. 11 in his forty sets of “Fifty Manuscript Leaves”.

Recto side (column 1):

1 [12:18] . . . . . Nonne eisde(m) vestigiis ? [12:19] Olim putatis q(uod)

2 excusemus nos ap(u)d vos ? coram d(e)o in (christ)o lo-

3 quimur . Om(n)ia aut(em) k(arissi)mi p(ro)p(ter) v(est)ram hedi- [carissimi

4 ficatione(m) . [12:20] Timeo e(nim) ne forte cum venero

5 no(n) quales volo inve(n)iam vos . (et) ego inve-

6 niar a vobis quale(m) no(n) vultis ne forte conte(n)-

7 tio(n)es emulatio(n)es . a(n)i(m)ositates . discensio(n)es .

8 detractio(n)es . susurratio(n)es . inflactio(n)es . sedi-

9 tio(n)es . sint inter vos [12:21] ne it(eru)m cum venero

10 humiliet me d(eu)s ap(u)d vos (et) lugeam mul-

11 tos ex his qui an(te) peccaveru(n)t . (et) no(n) egeru(n)t pe(nite)-

12 n(ti)a(m) sup(er) inmu(n)ditia (et) fornicatio(n)e . (et) inpudi-

13 ticia qua(m) gesser(un)t X I I I -

14 [13:1] E C ce tertio hoc ve(n)iom ad vos ; in ore duor(um) v(e)l [venio

15 trium testium stabit om(n)e v(er)bum ; [13:2] p(re)dixi e(t)

16 (et) p(re)dico ut p(re)sens (et) nunc absce(n)s his qui an(te) pec- [duplicate?

17 caveru(n)t (et) cet(er)is om(n)ib(us) q(uonia)m si venero iter(um) non

18 parcam ; [13:3] An exp(er)im(en)tum queritis eius qui

19 in me loquitur (christu)s ? Q(ui) in vobis no(n) infirma-

20 tur . S(ed) pote(n)s est in vobis . [13:4] Nam (et) si crucifixus

21 est ex infirmitate . S(ed) vivit ex virtute dei .

22 Nam (et) nos infirmi sumus in illo S(ed) vivem(us)

23 cum eo ex v(ir)tute dei in vobis . [13:5] Quosmet ip(s)os

24 te(m)ptate ; si estis in fide . ip(s)i vos p(ro)bate ; An no(n)

25 cognoscitis vos metip(s)os q(uia) (christu)s ih(esu)s in vobis e(st) ?

26 n(isi) forte rep(ro)bi estis ; [13:6] Sp(er)o aut(em) q(uod) cognoscitis q(uia)

27 nos no(n) sumus rep(ro)bi . [13:7] Oramus aut(em) d(eu)m ut ni-

28 chil mali faciatis no(n) ut nos p(ro)bati pareamus .

29 s(ed) ut vos q(uod) bonu(m) est faciatis . nos aut(em) ut

30 rep(ro)bi simus . [13:8] Non e(nim) possumus aliq(ui)d adver-

31 sus v(er)itate(m) s(ed) p(ro) v(er)itate ; [13:9] gaudemus e(nim) q(uan)d(o) nos

32 infirmi sumus vos aut(em) potentes estis ; hoc (et)

33 oramus v(est)ram co(n)summatione(m) ; [13:10] Id(e)o hoc abscens

34 scribo ut no(n) p(re)scens durius agam s(e)c(un)d(u)m pote-

35 state(m) qua(m) d(omi)n(u)s dedit m(ichi) in hedificatione(m) (et) no(n)

36 in destructione(m) . [13:11] De cet(er)o fr(atre)s gaudete .

37 p(er)fecti estote exortamini ide(m) sapite pace(m) ha-

38 bete (et) d(eu)s pacis (et) dilectionis erit vobiscum ;

39 [13:12] Salutate invice(m) in o(s)culo s(an)c(t)o . Saluta(n)t vos o(mne)s

40 s(an)c(t)i . [13:13] Gr(ati)a d(omi)ni n(ost)ri ih(es)u (christ)i (et) caritas dei (et) co(mmun)i-

41 catio s(an)c(t)i sp(iritu)s sit semp(er) cum om(n)ib(us) vobis amen .

42 Explic(it) s(ecund)a ad cor(inthios) . Incip(it) . ar(gumentum) . ad ga(lathas) .

43 G alathe su(n)t greci ; hii v(er)bum v(er)itatis [Prologue

[to Galatians

44 p(ri)mum ab ap(osto)lo acceperu(n)t . s(ed) post di-

45 scessu(m) eius te(m)ptati su(n)t a falsis ap(osto)lis ut in

46 lege(m) (et) circo(n)cisione(m) verterentur ; hos ap(osto)l(o)s re-

47 vocat ad fide(m) veritatis . scribens eis ab epheso .

48 Explic(it) . argu(mentum) . incip(it) ep(istu)la ad galatha(s) .

Recto side (column 2):

1 [1:1] P Aulus ap(osto)l(u)s non ab ho(min)ib(us) ne(que) [Galatians

2 p(er) ho(m)inem s(ed) p(er) ih(esu)m (christu)m (et) de-

3 um patre(m) qui suscitavit eu(m)

4 a mortuis . [1:2] (et) qui mec(u)m su(n)t o(mne)s

5 fr(atre)s ecc(les)iis galatie . [1:3] gra(ti)a vobis

6 (et) pax a d(e)o patre n(ost)ro (et) d(omi)no ih(es)u (christ)o [1:4] qui de-

7 dit semet ip(su)m p(ro) peccatis n(ost)ris ut erip(er)et

8 nos de p(re)senti seculo nequa(m) . s(e)c(un)d(u)m volu(n)-

9 tate(m) dei (et) patris n(ost)ri [1:5] cui est gl(ori)a in s(e)c(u)la

10 s(e)c(u)lor(um) am(en) . [1:6] Miror q(uod) sic tam cito transfe-

11 rimini ab eo qui vos vocavit in gra(tia)m

12 (christ)i in aliud eva(n)g(e)lium . [1:7] q(uod) no(n) est aliud n(isi)

13 su(n)t aliqui qui vos co(n)turbant (et) volunt

14 co(n)vertere eva(n)g(e)lium (christi) ; [1:8] S(ed) licet nos aut an-

15 gelus de celo eva(n)g(e)lizet vobis p(re)terqua(m) q(uod)

16 evangelizavimus vobis anath(em)a sit . [1:9] Sicut

17 p(re)dixi(mus) (et) nu(n)c iter(um) dico . Si quis vobis evan-

18 gelizaverit p(re)ter id q(uod) accepistis anath(em)a sit .

19 [1:10] Modo e(nim) ho(min)ib(us) suad(e)o au(t) d(e)o ? Aut quero ho(min)ib(us) pla-

20 cere ? Si adhuc ho(min)ib(us) placere(m) (christ)i s(er)vus no(n) e(ss)em .

21 [1:11] Notum e(nim) vobis facio fr(atre)s evangeliu(m) q(uod) evan-

22 gelizatu(m) est a me quia no(n) est s(e)c(un)d(u)m ho(m)i(n)em ;

23 [1:12] Neq(ue) eni(m) ego ab ho(m)i(n)e accepi illud neq(ue) didici

24 s(ed) per revelatione(m) ih(es)u (christ)i ; [1:13] Audistis eni(m) conv(er)sa-

25 tionem mea(m) aliq(ua)n(do) in iudaismo q(uonia)m supra

26 modu(m) p(er)sequebar ecc(lesi)am dei . (et) expugnabam

27 illam : [1:14] (et) p(ro)ficiebam in iudaismo supra mul-

28 tos coetaneos meos in g(e)n(er)e meo habundanti(us)

29 emulator existens pat(er)nar(um) mear(um) tradicionu(m) .

30 [1:15] Cum aut(em) co(n)placuit ei qui me segregavit dex [de

31 ut(er)o matris mee (et) vocavit p(er) gra(tia)m suam [1:16] ut

32 revelaret filiu(m) suu(m) in me ut eva(n)gelizarem

33 illu(m) in gentib(us) : co(n)tinuo no(n) acquievi carni

34 (et) sanguini [1:17] neq(ue) ve(n)i ierosolima(m) ad anteces-

35 sores meos ap(osto)los : s(ed) abii in arabiam . (et) ite-

36 rum rev(er)sus sum damascu(m) ; [1:18] dein(de) post anno(s)

37 tres ve(n)i ierosolima(m) vid(er)e petru(m) (et) ma(n)si apud

38 eum dieb(us) (quindecim) ; [1:19] aliu(m) aut(em) ap(osto)lor(um) vidi nemine(m) .

39 n(isi) iacobu(m) fr(atr)em d(omi)ni ; [1:20] q(ue) aut(em) scribo vobis ecce

40 coram d(e)o q(uia) no(n) m(en)tior ; [1:21] dein(de) ve(n)i in partes sy-

41 rie (et) cylicie . [1:22] Eram aut(em) ignotus facie ecc(l)e(s)iis

42 iudee . que erant in (christ)o ; [1:23] Tantu(m) auditu(m) aut(em)

43 habebant q(uonia)m qui p(er)sequebatur nos aliq(ua)n(do) .

44 nu(n)c eva(n)gelizat fide(m) qua(m) aliq(ua)n(do) expugnabat ;

45 [1:24] (et) in me clarificabant d(eu)m . I I -

46 [2:1] D Ein(de) post annos (quattuordecim) . it(er)um ascendi ierosoli-

47 ma(m) cum barnaba assu(m)pto (et) tito ; [2:2] ascendi aut(em)

48 s(e)c(un)d(u)m revelatione(m) (et) co(n)tuli cu(m) illis eva(n)g(e)liu(m)

49 q(uod) p(re)dico in gentib(us) . Seorsum aut(em) hiis qui vi-

50 debantur e(ss)e aliq(ui)d . ne forte in vacuum cur-

Verso side (column 1):

1 rerem aut cucurrissem ; [2:3] S(ed) neq(ue) titus q(ui)

2 mecu(m) erat cum e(ss)et gentilis co(m)pulsus est cir-

3 concidi :[2:4] S(ed) p(ro)p(ter) subintroductos falsos fr(atre)s qui

4 subintroierunt explorare libertate(m) n(ost)ram q(uam)

5 habemus in (christ)o ih(es)u ut nos in s(er)vitute(m) reddi-

6 gere(n)t [2:5] [Quibus] neq(ue) ad horam cessimus subiectio(n)i ut [insert

7 v(er)itas evangelii p(er)maneat apud nos ; [2:6] ab his [vos ?

8 aut(em) qui videbantur e(ss)e aliq(ui)d quales aliq(ua)n(do)

9 fu(er)int . nichil mea int(er)est ; d(eu)s p(er)so(n)am ho(min)is n(on)

10 accipit . Michi eni(m) qui videbantur e(ss)e aliq(ui)d

11 nichil co(n)tuleru(n)t ; [2:7] S(ed) e contra cum vidisse(n)t q(uo)d

12 creditu(m) e(st) m(ichi) evangeliu(m) p(re)putii sicut a petro c(ir)-

13 concisio(n)is [2:8] qui eni(m) op(er)atus est petrus in ap(osto)la-

14 tu(m) circo(n)cisio(n)is op(er)atus est (et) m(ichi) inter gentes [2:9] et

15 cu(m) cognovisse(n)t gra(tia)m dei que data est m(ichi) . iaco-

16 b(us) (et) cephas (et) ioh(anne)s qui videbantur colu(m)pne

17 e(ss)e . dext(ra)s dederu(n)t m(ichi) (et) barnabe societatis . ut

18 nos int(er) gentes . ip(s)i aut(em) in circo(n)cisio(n)e(m) . [2:10] tantu(m)

19 ut paup(er)um memores e(ss)emus : q(uod) (etiam) sollicitus

20 fui hoc ip(su)m fac(er)e . [2:11] Cum aut(em) ve(n)iss(et) cephas an-

21 tiochiam in facie(m) ei restiti . q(uia) rep(re)hensibil(is)

22 erat . [2:12] p(ri)us eni(m) qua(m) ve(n)irent quida(m) ab iacobo .

23 cu(m) ge(n)tib(us) edebat . Cum aut(em) ve(n)isse(n)t subtrahe-

24 bat (et) segregabat se . timens eos qui ex circon-

25 cisio(n)e erant . [2:13] Et simulatio(n)i eius consense-

26 ru(n)t cet(er)i iud(e)i . ita ut (et) barnabas duceretur

27 ab eis in illa(m) simulatione(m) . [2:14] S(ed) cu(m) vidissem

28 q(uod) no(n) recte ambulare(n)t ad v(er)itate(m) eva(n)g(e)lii di-

29 xi cephe coram o(mn)ib(us) ; Si tu cu(m) iudeus cu(m) sis ge(n)-

30 tiliter vivis (et) no(n) iudaice . quomo(do) gentes co-

31 gis iudaizare ? [2:15] Nos natura iudei (et) no(n) ex

32 ge(n)tib(us) peccatores . [2:16] Scientes aut(em) q(uod) no(n) iusti-

33 ficatur h(om)o ex op(er)ib(us) legis nisi p(er) fidem ih(es)u (christi) (et)

34 nos in (christ)o ih(es)u credidimus ut iustificemur

35 ex fide (christ)i (et) no(n) ex op(er)ib(us) legis : p(ro)p(ter) q(uod) ex op(er)ib(us)

36 legis non iustificabitur om(n)is caro ; coram il-

37 lo . [2:17] Q(uo)d si querentes iustificari in (christ)o inve(n)-

38 ti sumus (et) ip(s)i peccatores : Nu(m)q(ui)d (christu)s pecca-

39 ti minister est ? absit . [2:18] Si eni(m) que destruxi

40 h(ec) it(eru)m rehedifico p(re)varicatore(m) me co(n)stituo . [2:19] Ego

41 eni(m) p(er) lege(m) legi mortuus sum ut d(e)o viva(m) (Christ)o

42 co(n)fixus sum cruci ; [2:20] Vivo aut(em) iam no(n) ego vi-

43 vit v(er)o in me (christu)s . Q(uo)d aut(em) nu(n)c vivo in car-

44 ne in fide vivo filii dei qui dilexit me et tra-

45 didit semet ip(su)m p(ro) me ; [2:21] No(n) ambicio gra(tia)m

46 d(e)i . Si eni(m) p(er) lege(m) iustitia ergo (christu)s gratis mor-

47 tuus est .

48 [3:1] O Insensati galathe qui(s) vos fascinavit no(n)

49 o(b)od(ir)e v(er)itati an(te) quor(um) occulos ih(esu)s (christu)s p(ro)scrip-

50 tus est . in vobis crucifixus ? [3:2] hoc solum a vobis

Verso side (column 2):

1 volo discere . Ex op(er)ib(us) legis sp(iritu)m accepistis

2 an ex auditu fidei ? [3:3] Sic stulti estis ut cum

3 sp(irit)u cep(er)itis nu(n)c carne co(n)sumamini ; [3:4] tanta

4 passi estis sine ca(usa) si tam(en) sine ca(usa) ; [3:5] Qui ergo t(ri)-

5 buit vobis sp(iritu)m (et) op(er)atur v(ir)tutes in vobis ex

6 op(er)ib(us) legis an ex auditu fidei ? [3:6] Sicut scrip-

7 tum e(st) ; Abraham credidit d(e)o (et) reputatu(m) est

8 illi ad iustitiam . [3:7] Cognoscite ergo quia qui

9 ex fide su(n)t . hii filii su(n)t abrahe ; [3:8] p(ro)videns aut(em)

10 scriptura q(uia) ex fide iustificat gentes d(eu)s p(re)(nu)n-

11 tiavit abrahe . quia benedicentur in te om(ne)s

12 gentes ; [3:9] Igitur qui ex fide su(n)t . benedice(n)tur

13 cum fideli abraham . [3:10] Q(ui)cu(m)q(ue) e(nim) ex op(er)ib(us) legis

14 su(n)t sub maledicto su(n)t . Scriptum est eni(m) . Ma-

15 ledictus om(n)is qui no(n) p(er)manserit in o(mn)ib(us) que

16 scripta su(n)t in libro legis ut faciat ea . [3:11] Q(uonia)m

17 aut(em) in lege nemo iustificatur apud d(eu)m ma-

18 nifestum est q(uia) iustus ex fide vivit ; [3:12] lex a(u)t(em)

19 no(n) est ex fide : s(ed) qui fec(er)it ea vivet in illis .

20 [3:13] (christu)s nos redemit de maledicto legis factus p(ro)

21 nobis maledictum q(uia) scriptu(m) est , Maledictus

22 om(n)is qui pendet in ligno . [3:14] ut in gentib(us) bene-

23 dictio fieret in (christ)o ih(es)u . ut pollicitatione(m)

24 sp(iritu)s accipiamus p(er) fide(m) ; [3:15] Fr(atre)s s(ecundu)m ho(m)i(n)em dico .

25 tam(en) ho(min)is co(n)firmatum testam(en)tum nemo

26 sp(er)nit aut sup(er)ordinat , [3:16] abrahe dicte su(n)t p(ro)-

27 missio(n)es (et) semini eius ; no(n) dicit i(n) semini-

28 b(us) q(uas)i in multis s(ed) q(uas)i in uno (et) semini tuo

29 qui est (christu)s ; [3:17] hoc aut(em) dico testam(en)tum confir-

30 matu(m) a d(e)o que post quadri(n)gentos (et) (triginta) .

31 annos facta est lex . no(n) irrita(m) facit ad eva-

32 cuanda(m) p(ro)missione(m) [3:18] nam si ex lege here-

33 ditas iam no(n) ex p(ro)missio(n)e ; abrahe aut(em) p(er) re-

34 p(ro)missione(m) do(n)avit d(eu)s . [3:19] Q(ui)d igitur lex ? p(ro)pt(er)

35 transgressio(n)es po(s)ita est donec ve(n)iret sem(en)

36 cui p(ro)miserat ordinata p(er) ang(e)los in manu

37 mediatoris . [3:20] Mediator aut(em) unius no(n) est .

38 d(eu)s aut(em) unus est ; [3:21] lex ergo adv(er)sus p(ro)missa

39 dei ? absit . Si eni(m) data e(ss)et lex que poss(et) vi-

40 vificare vere ex lege e(ss)et iustitia ; [3:22] S(ed) con-

41 clusit scriptura om(n)ia sub peccato ut p(ro)mis-

42 sio ex fide ih(es)u (christ)i daretur credentib(us) [3:23] p(ri)us

43 aut(em) qua(m) ve(n)iret fides sub lege custodieba-

44 mur : conclusi in eande(m) fidem que reve-

45 landa erat ; [3:24] Itaq(ue) lex pedagogus n(oste)r fuit i(n)

46 (christ)o ut ex fide iustificemur ; [3:25] At u(bi) ve(n)it fi-

47 des iam no(n) sumus sub pedagogo ; [3:26] Om(ne)s eni(m)

48 filii d(e)i estis p(er) fide(m) que est in (christ)o ih(es)u . [3:27] Q(ui)cu(m)-

49 q(ue) e(nim) in (christ)o baptizati estis (christu)m induistis ;

50 [3:28] non est iudeus neq(ue) grecus . no(n) est s(er)vus neq(ue)

Notes:

A Letters: a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,k,l,m,n,o,p,q,r,s,t,u/v,x,y,z,

A,C,D,E,F,G,I,M,N,O,Q,S,T,V,X.

Versals: A,D,E,G,I,L,O,P,T,X.

Note the elaborate form of ‘z’, e.g. in ‘batizati’ (verso 2, line 49).

B Alternative forms of ‘d’(2), ‘r’(2), and ‘s’(3).

C Many capital and initial letters are touched with red.

D Ligature between letters ‘st’, e.g. in ‘vestgiis’ (recto 1, line 1).

E Question mark used in punctuation (e.g. in recto 1, line 1).

F Insertion of missing word ‘Quibus’ (verso 1, line 6).

G Use of Tironian ‘et’ (e.g. in recto 1, line 5).

H Use of ‘xp’ in place of the Greek chi-rho (‘χρ’) for ‘christ’

(e.g. in recto 1, line 2).

I Use of ‘x’ in place of the Greek chi (‘χ’) with a superscript ‘i’

for ‘christi’ (recto 2, line 14).

J Roman numerals are expanded as words.

K Abbreviation for ‘quod’ (recto 1, line 1).

L Abbreviation for ‘enim’ (recto 1, line 4).

M Abbreviation for ‘sed’ (recto 1, line 20).

N Abbreviation for ‘quia’ (recto 1, line 25).

O Abbreviation for ‘quando’ (recto 1, line 31).

P Abbreviation for ‘secundum’ (recto 1, line 34).

Q Abbreviation for ‘secunda’ (recto 1, line 42).

R Abbreviation for ‘quoniam’ (recto 2, line 25).

S Abbreviation for ‘que’ (recto 2, line 39).

T Abbreviation for ‘esse’ (verso 1, line 8).

U Abbreviation for ‘michi’ (verso 1, line 12).

V Abbreviation for ‘Quicumque’ (verso 2, line 13).

W Abbreviation for ‘autem’ (verso 2, line 18).

X Abbreviation for ‘quasi’ (verso 2, line 28).

Y Possible mistake in ‘veniom’ (recto 1, line 14).

Z Possible duplicate ‘et’ (recto 1, line 16) although it is

not certain why or where ‘vobis’ should be inserted.