Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 415: The Norman Anonymous
Description
Abstract/Contents
- Summary
- CCCC MS 415 contains the unique text of an author once universally known as 'The York Anonymous' but now thought to have been written by a Norman ecclesiastic, probably from Rouen, and hence its modern appellation as 'The Norman (or 'Rouen') Anonymous'. The manuscript, which was copied in the late eleventh or early twelfth century, consists of a number of tracts which have as their broad theme the relationship between the spiritual and temporal power. It has special significance because it was written shortly after the Investiture Controversy; this controversy was over the power of lay princes to invest and receive homage from abbots and bishops, which was forbidden by Pope Gregory VII in 1075. Although frequently discussed in the literature of the history of the relationship between the medieval church and state, the unique private nature of the text makes it highly unlikely that the complex ideas expressed in it ever gained a wide readership.
- Contents
- Summus pontifex -- Equalitas ecclesiarum et unitas ecclesie -- De peccatis et de penis eorum -- Episcopus a solo Deo iudicandus -- Abbas episcopo suo subditus est -- In necessitate licet leges pretermitti -- Iudex secundum Deum iudicet -- De mercenarii sententia -- De iusticia christiana -- Sacerdotis auctoritas -- De diversitate penarum -- De primatu ecclesie Hierosolimitane -- Electio et consecratio episcopi -- De malestate baptismi -- De nuptiale sacramento -- De ordine sacerdotis (I) -- De ordine sacerdotis (II) -- De consecratione sacerdotis -- De ordine et de oficiis Christi -- De duobus gladiis -- De bonitate Dei et nature -- De ordinatione filiorum sacerdotum -- De equalitate apostolorum -- De immolatione corporis Christi -- De consecratione pontificum et regum (I) -- De consecratione pontificum et regum (II) -- 'Laicus' nomen est ignominie -- De potestate ligandi atque solvendi -- De sacerdotum matrimonio -- De ordinatione filiorum sacerdotum -- De Fiscannensi ecclesia -- De Romano pontifice -- De primato Anglie -- De ecclesia Sathane in Roma -- De sanctorum communione
Bibliographic information
- M.R. James Date
- xi-xii
- Downloadable James Catalogue Record
- https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:mv910jy6573/MS_415.pdf
- Superseded Interim Catalogue Record
- https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:jv090ch6849/415.pdf
- Contains
-
- Summus pontifex. 1-2
- Note
- (1) [Late title]
- Rubric
- (1) [An summus Pontifex sit iuditio subiectus]
- Incipit
- (1) Decretum est in sacris canonibus
- Explicit
- (2) nullatenus debet iudicari de ordine
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche 436
- Equalitas ecclesiarum et unitas ecclesie. 3-15
- Rubric
- (3) [De una ecclesia]
- Incipit
- (3) Auctoritate sanctorum patrum didicimus quod sancta ecclesia toto orbe diffusa una sit ecclesia una sponsi columba
- Note
- A section begins in capitals at p. 11
- Incipit
- (11) Ecclesia quippe Sathane non sacrificabat uni deo
- Explicit
- (15) cum quo unus est spiritus
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, 437
- De peccatis et de penis eorum. 16-38
- Incipit
- (16) Cum de homine negat petrus in filium negauit hominis
- Explicit
- (38) sed utrum recte an perperam sapientium iudicio derelinquimus
- Note
- Not printed: see Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 179
- Episcopus a solo Deo iudicandus. 39-49
- Rubric
- (39) [Quod Rothomagensis ecclesia non est subiecta Romanae]
- Incipit
- (39) Interrogetur romanus pontifex quibus de causis reprehendit et condempnat rothomagensem archiepiscopum
- Explicit
- (49) Ne meliorum uita deteriorum prelatorum corrumpatur exemplo
- Note
- MGH., Libelli de Lite III 656
- Abbas episcopo suo subditus est. 50-53
- Note
- Change of hand
- Rubric
- (50) [De priuilegiis peculiaribus]
- Incipit
- (50) Precipit apostolus immo per apostolum Christus ut omnis anima sullimioribus potestatibus subdita sit
- Explicit
- (53) gratie igitur est ut una ecclesia huic pene subiaceat
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 449
- In necessitate licet leges pretermitti. 53-55
- Rubric
- (53) [De temperandis legibus]
- Incipit
- (53) Oportet leges aliquando temperari propter misericordiam
- Explicit
- (55) ullo crimine reos teneri
- Note
- Not printed
- Iudex secundum Deum iudicet. 55-56
- Incipit
- (55) Cum aliquis in iudicio de crimine reus conuincitur
- Explicit
- (56) per misericordiam
- Note
- Not printed
- De mercenarii sententia. 56-57
- Incipit
- (56) Si mercennarius et qui non est pastor
- Explicit
- (57) nec tenenda est sententia
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 452
- De iusticia christiana. 57-85
- Incipit
- (57) Omne iudicium aut in ecclesiasticis situm est negotiis aut in secularibus
- Note
- At p. 72 an initial, but no break in the text
- Explicit
- (85) si ergo hec propter eum facitis nobis illi pocius facitis quam nobis qui potens est retribuere uobis. Amen
- Note
- Not printed
- Sacerdotis auctoritas. 85-86
- Incipit
- (85) Duo sunt quibus hic mundus principaliter regitur sacerdotalis auctoritas et regalis potestas
- Explicit
- (86) sed et hoc dicendum quia sancte ecclesie rex filius est non presul. discipulus non magister. subditus non
- Note
-
[breaks off]
Not printed
- De diversitate penarum. 86-92
- Rubric
- (86) [De Canonibus et Decretis]
- Incipit
- (86) Si omnia precepta canonum paria essent idest equalis dignitatis
- Explicit
- (92) Hos per omnia imitari nos oportet
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 453
- De primatu ecclesie Hierosolimitane. 93-99
- Rubric
- (93) [De ecclesia Romana et Hierosolimitana]
- Incipit
- (93) Videamus de romana et hierosolimitana ecclesia. que rectius alteri preferri debeat
- Explicit
- (99) quos plenos fuisse gratia diuina loquuntur testimonia
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 457
- Electio et consecratio episcopi. 100-102
- Rubric
- (100) [De electione Pontificis]
- Incipit
- (100) Pontifex aut dei tantum electione debet constitui aut hominum tantum aut simul dei et hominum
- Explicit
- (102) Rectene id an perperam ipsi uiderint qui inuenerunt
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 462, nos. xiii a, xiii b
- De malestate baptismi. 102-107
- Rubric
- (102) [De Baptismo et Eucharistia]
- Incipit
- (102) Si queritur quid melius sit atque prestantius baptismus an sacerdotium
- Explicit
- (107) quales ab eterno non sunt scripti uel electi uel predestinati
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 464
- De nuptiale sacramento. 108-112
- Rubric
- (108) [De nuptiis]
- Incipit
- (108) Si christiana nubit iudeo uel ethnico
- Explicit
- (109) peccato idolatrie comparatur
- Note
-
Not printed
The lower part of p. 109 is cut off and replaced by new vellum: a fragment of text (for which see the Addenda) survives, pasted over, on p. 110: the whole of pp. 111, 112 are a newer leaf, and blank (p. 112 not blank, contains later rubric)
(110) The fragment of text on p. 110, now pasted over with newer vellum, runs as follows
(110) nec ea que in mundo sunt diligant. ut omnia sua etiam uxores propter deum relinquant. et cetera celestis doctrine mandata obseruant. si hec inquam implere satagunt uxoribus alligari non debent. quia qui uxoribus alligantur hec implere non ualent. et qui non implent irritum faciunt quantum in ipsis est christianitatis nomen. Si coniunctio consanguineorum abhominabilis esset apud deum et incestus reputa-
- De ordine sacerdotis (I). 112-114
- Rubric
- (112) [De deposicione sacerdotis]
- Note
- The first two lines are a slip cut off from a previous page and pasted on the top of p. 113
- Incipit
- (112a) Sacerdotem ab ordine deponi nichil aliud esse puto quam eidem ordinem suum auferri
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 469
- De ordine sacerdotis (II). 114-114
- Incipit
- (114) Diuina benedictio cuius iustus maior esse
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 470
- De consecratione sacerdotis. 114-118
- Incipit
- (114) Si uerba quibus consecratur corpus
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 470
- De ordine et de oficiis Christi. 118-119
- Incipit
- (118) Christus factus est sacerdos diaconus subdia(co)nus
- Note
-
Unfinished
Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 473
- De duobus gladiis. 120-120
- Incipit
- (120) In passione domini duo fuisse gladii
- Explicit
- (120) in sanctorum commentariis queri debent
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 474
- De bonitate Dei et nature. 121-127
- Incipit
- (121) Si deus omnia regit et moderatur et omnem rationalem creaturam regit et moderatur
- Explicit
- (127) Idem enim est adipisci summam bonitatem et summam essentiam et idem est adipisci bonum esse quod esse
- Note
- ? Not printed
- De ordinatione filiorum sacerdotum. 128-139
- Incipit
- (128) Apologia pro filiis sacerdotum et concubinarum quos nunc quidam iudicant ad sacros ordines non debere admitti
- Explicit
- (139) sin autem correpctionem libenter excipimus
- Note
-
Another copy at p. 247
MGH. Libelli de Lite III 649
- De equalitate apostolorum. 139-142
- Rubric
- (139) [De equalitate ministrorum]
- Incipit
- (139) Diuina institutione nullus inter apostolos maior fuit
- Explicit
- (142) ut inter uicarios eorum talis etiam regula seruaretur
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 475
- De immolatione corporis Christi. 142-142
- Incipit
- (142) Agnus dei qui cotidie immolatur in altari aut tollit peccata mundi
- Explicit
- (142) Neque enim pro diabolo et membris eius offertur corpus Christi
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 477
- De consecratione pontificum et regum (I). 143-204
- Note
- Change of script
- Rubric
- (143) [De consecratione Pontificum et regum]
- Incipit
- (143) Due in ueteri testamento persone pontificis scilicet et regis olei sancti unctione consecrate
- Note
- Between pp. 158 and 159 should be placed pp. 173-188 (quire 12)
- Incipit
- (164a) Nunc inseramus consecrationem sacerdotis et uideamus si adeo excellens est ut consecratio regis. Talis quippe est pontificis consecratio. Domine sancte pater
- Note
-
The office follows
On p. 169, after the inthronization collect (Domine Ihesu Christe tu preelegisti apostolos tuos ut doctrina sua nobis preessent etc.) follows what must be the king's oath - Incipit
- (169) Hec tria populo Christiano et mihi subdito in Christi promitto nomineIn primis ut ecclesia et omnis populus christianus ueram pacem nostro arbitrio in omni tempore seruet, etc.
- Note
-
The text continues with the coronation office. On p. 171 in the Consecratio regis (omnipotens sempiterne deus creator ac gubernator celi et terre) is the formula
(171) super hunc famulum tuum N quem supplici deuotione in regnum anglorum siue saxonum pariter elegimus
After p. 172 is the misplaced quire 12
The office continues at p. 189 and ends p. 194 with the prayer - Incipit
- (194) Benedic domine fortitudinem principis
- Explicit
- (194) quia ascensor celi auxiliator suus in sempiternum fiat
- Note
- (194) A series of paragraphs on the attributes of a king follows headed
- Rubric
- (194) De Nomine Regni
- Incipit
- (194) Isidorus ait. Regnum a regibus dictum est, etc.
- Note
-
In the following paragraphs the authorities quoted are:Prouerbia Grecorum. These passages are printed by S. Hellmann, Sedullius Scottus, p. 129 (1906, in Traube's Quellen u. Untersuchungen I) together with a series of 74 quotations from Prouerbia Grecorum found in the Collectaneum of Sedulius Scottus in the Cues MS., and two other passages from them cited in the Carlsruhe MS. of the Irish Canons, and in a letter of the Anglo-Saxon Cathvulf to Charlemagne. They have evidently passed through Celtic hands: their origin is uncertain.
Other authorities named are:Hieronimus. Patricius (the tract de xii abusiuis, quoted twice as his), Liber sapientie, Ambrose, Gregory
(199) Item paulus pandit: quicunque adulari uoluerit aut pro necessitate aut pro adulatione benigne reuelat. Item paulus. Si hominibus placuissem seruus dei non essem
(200) Sinodus romana
(201) Orosius. Augustine
Ends - Incipit
- (204) De sermone regis aut ducis protegente inimicum
- Explicit
- (204) unde quidam ait. Utinam sermo regis dissoluisset me et liberaret me ut soluit ioseph. Et ut danielem liberauit de lacu leonum et ut mardocheum de angustia sua
- Note
- Parts of this are printed in MGH. Libelli de Lite III 662, where also are parts of the next tract
- De consecratione pontificum et regum (II). 204-235
- Note
- (204) The text continues in a rougher hand
- Incipit
- (204) Sancta ecclesia sponsa Christi est qui est uerus rex et sacerdos
- Note
-
pp. 205-208 are markedly large in script
On p. 209 this script becomes small and neat again, but there seems to be no break in the sense
This is a second copy, with some changes, of the tract no. 24.1. It ends just before the point where the former copy inserts the Coronation office. (See above on no. 24.1)
This second copy ends p. 235 - Explicit
- (235) quoniam et ipse summus pontifex est in quantum rex est
- Note
- On the first copy p. 163* these words are followed by Nunc inseramus consecrationem sacerdotis
- 'Laicus' nomen est ignominie. 235-236
- Note
- (235) No title
- Incipit
- (235) Laicus et christianus hec duo nomina aut equalia sunt in dignitate aut alterum altero est dignius
- Explicit
- (236) alterum ignominie id est laicus
- De potestate ligandi atque solvendi. 237-238
- Incipit
- (237) Dominus noster Iesus Christus si petro soli contulit claues regni celorum
- Explicit
- (238) sed humano intuitu et preconio intruduntur
- De sacerdotum matrimonio. 239-247
- Note
- Large script
- Rubric
- (239) [An liceat sacerdotibus inire matrimonia]
- Incipit
- (239) Scire uelim quis primus instituit ne sacerdotes christiani inire deberent matrimonia. Deus an homo
- Explicit
- (247) In quibus uero uerbum nuptiarum seminat ipsi facere nuptiarum fructum appetunt
- Note
- Printed by Bp Hall, Works I 756 (The honor of the married clergie) MGH. Libelli de Lite III 645
- De ordinatione filiorum sacerdotum. 247-264
- Incipit
- (247) Apologia pro filiis sacerdotum et concubinarum
- Note
- A first sketch of no. 22 (p. 128): hand changes at p. 255
- Explicit
- (264) sin autem correctionem libenter accipiamus
- De Fiscannensi ecclesia. 264-265
- Incipit
- (264) Sanctorum patrum autoritas-ordinauit ut rothomagensis ecclesia caput esset et mater fiscannensis ecclesie et ipsa membrum ipsius esset et filia
- Note
- (265) Nunc uero uice uersa in contrarium pro his bonis. fiscannensis mala retribuit rothomagensi
- Explicit
- (265) non est potestas nisi a deo
- De Romano pontifice. 265-279
- Rubric
- (265) [De Romano Pontifice]
- Incipit
- (265) Romanus pontifex ideo apostolicus cognominatur quod apostolorum uice et officio fungi creditur
- Explicit
- (278) qui ergo inter has scisma facere conatur id efficit ut etiam sacerdotalis auctoritas subruatur
- Note
-
(279) Ends
MGH. Libelli de Lite III 679
- De primato Anglie. 279-284
- Rubric
- (279) [De obediendo Romano Pontifice: more correctly, against the subjection of York to Canterbury]
- Incipit
- (279) Cum multe sint ecclesie in romana ciuitate aut omnibus equaliter debemus obedire aut quibusdam tantum
- Note
- The script of the following pages is larger and rougher
- Explicit
- (284) si ergo eboracensis archiepiscopus istis uult exibere obedientiam non debet nisi cogatur de is respondere archiepiscopo cantuariensi que potius iure debet ecclesie londoniensi
- Note
- MGH. Libelli de Lite III 686. Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 478
- De ecclesia Sathane in Roma. 284-284
- Note
- A paragraph
- Incipit
- (284) Considerandum est de romana ecclesia unde sit dignior ex eo quod romana est an ex eo quod ecclesia
- Explicit
- (284) in caritate non in exactione. propter deum non propter seculi fastum. Amen
- De sanctorum communione. 285-302
- Rubric
- (285) (De Charitate et Obedientia)
- Note
- In the hand of no. 1
- Incipit
- (285) Dignitas peculiaris et propria est et a patre collata filio dei et hominis quod est iudex uniuersorum
- Note
- Ends p. 302 (on suficit diei malitia sua)
- Explicit
- (302) catia (=κακία) enim que latinus uertit in malitiam apud grecos duo significat et malitiam et afflictionem. quod cacos grece dicunt et hic pro malitia magis transferri debuit
- Note
- Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 481
- Summus pontifex. 1-2
- TJames
- 230
- Stanley
- O. 27
- Repository
- UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library
- Location
- MS 415
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction:
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- License:
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