Uguccione, bishop of Vercelli (d. 1170)
A settlement of a dispute between the monks of Torcello and of Casale, in Latin, manuscript on vellum [Italy (Vercelli)], dated 26 June 1153.
An extremely elegantly written early document.

c. 390 × 250mm. 13 widely spaced lines of very calligraphic documentary script, with tall ascenders and ‘papal knots’: ‘Que veritate iudicij sunt decisa vel amicabili conventione sopita, idcirco litterarum munimentis sunt conmendanda, ne ex oblivione ob imbecillitatem memorię proveniente […] Ideoque ego Ugucio dei gratia Vercellensis ecclesię humilis minister querimonia inter Casalensem prepositu diutissime agitata et Torcellensem […]’, signed by fifteen witnesses in three columns: (i) Uguccione, followed by the archdeacon and deacons, (ii) the provost, followed by a senior priest and other priests, and (iii) subdeacons, all followed by the scribe’s two-line subscription and date, ‘data per manum magistri Petri, Anno [1153]’; endorsed ‘privilegium papale pro prepsoito Casalaensis’ in a 14th(?)-century hand, and in a post-medieval one ‘Id est decisio Ugutionis Vercellensis Ecclesię […]’ (with deep creases, some of them worn through as holes and affecting very small parts of the text).

Provenance:
Colker MS 241; acquired in 1974 from Pregliasco.

Torcello is a hamlet, whose church of San Clemente is now in ruins, about 3 miles or 5km west of Casale; both are about 12 miles or 20km south of Vercelli.

It is notable that the document was apparently drawn up by a lay scribe, magister Petrus, despite the fact that most of the ecclesiastical witnesses write very competent and legible hands.

This lot is offered without reserve.
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.