A 15th-century Commonplace book
Commonplace book, including Agostino Dati, Elegantiolae, and Giles of Rome, Capitula fidei Christianae, in Latin, manuscript on paper [Italy, second half 15th century, after 1471].
A Franciscan ‘vade mecum’ with practical notes on monastic life, formulae of address, a contemporary excerpt from Agostino Dati’s grammatical textbook Elegantiolae (‘the school book par excellence of the second half of the 15th century’), and Giles of Rome’s Capitula fidei Christianae.

145 x 110mm. i + 40 + i leaves, collation: 1⁶, 2-4⁸, 5¹⁰ (of 12, lacking i and ii), varying number of lines in several hands (lacking opening and two leaves after f.30, scribbles and pen trials to a few leaves, marginal staining and foxing, a few edges frayed). Modern suede (a little stained and worn).

Provenance:
(1) The first and earliest part of the manuscript (ff.1-6) contains useful information for Franciscan monastic life. A mention of Pope Sixtus IV on f.2v indicates that this part was written after the beginning of his papacy in 1471. The section on modes of address (ff.5-6) mentions specific names, e.g. Paolo da Forli, Francesco Marini da Camerino and Cardinal Orsini, but these are likely examples of how to properly address different ranks of person rather than specific people.
(2) Colker MS 378; acquired in 1986/7 from Bernard Rosenthal (the Rosenthal receipt dated 20 April 1987 describes this as ‘MS 84 Miscellanea, sm. 8vo. Italy, c15’).

Content:
Useful information on monastic life, e.g. what the ‘Custos’ needs to say when receiving a novice, ff.1-5; forms of addressing various ranks, from lowest to highest, ff.5-6; blank f.7; Agostino Dati of Siena (1420-1478), Elegantiolae, 79-112, beginning: ‘Appositum plerumque principio supponitur medio fine verbum [...]’ and ending mid-sentence ‘Nec te amice lateat ut cum fuerit superlatiuum quod [...]’ ff.8-14v (the hand changes at 13v); Giles of Rome, Archbishop of Bourges (1243-1316), Capitula fidei Christianae, beginning: ‘De beatissima trinitate [...] de trinitate Dei hoc tenendum est quod in una substantia sunt tres personae [...]’ ff.15-40v.

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