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MS 133: Decas Loyca by Leonino of Padua, late 14th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 133

Contents

MS 133 is intriguing, as it seems to be the unique surviving manuscript of Leonini of Padua's Decas Loyca, although it is still only a part of the full text. Augustinian friar Leonino of Padua is first mentioned in 1332, holding a post at an annual meeting of the Augustinian Order in Venice. By 1360 he had become a Doctor of Theology as was teaching in Padua. His Decas Loyca was written probably in the late 1350s, in which he criticises the 'modern logic' of the 14th century. Another manuscript copy of this text by Leonino was known to have existed in the Augustian library in Padua in the 17th century. That now lost copy bears ownership marks of two brothers from their time studying theology at Padua in the 1350s. They both became noted Augustinian theologians in their own rights, and had close connections with the famous humanist Petrarch. As Anthony Luttrel noted in a short 1968 article on Leonino's Decas Loyca (of which MS 133 is the sole survivor), was probably meant as a textbook, without much significance as a text itself. However, it is also the one surviving work of this professor of theology, and a testament to the endurance of the 'old disciplines' alongside the new, with the work of Petrarch and the beginning of the Renaissance in 14th century Padua.

The text starts on f. 1r with the following words: Incipit decas Loyca Magistri Leonini de Padua fratrum Heremitarum ordinis Sancti Augustini sacre Pagine dignissimi Professoris..., and ends with: de omni vel de ullo procedere est inscripta prius forma et efficacia sill[ogism]i expositorii. on f. 33v.

Writing

The hand is fair Italian Gothic, the smaller initials being blue and red filigree, while initials of books are floriated on square burnished gold grounds with gold balls in margin.

Illumination

The first initial has the figure of a black monk at a desk expounding to a class of monks from a book, and there is a floriated border round three sides of this page.

Dates

  • Creation: late 14th century

Creator

Language of Materials

Latin

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to all. The manuscripts can be consulted in the Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Main Library.

Extent

1 bound MS volume

Custodial History

The script and illumination are Italian, and on f. 35v the following names appear in three different hands (15th century):

Subjectum hujus libri dicitur ens contractum Sebastianus de Janua [Genoa].

Subjectum hujus libri dicitur ens contractum /rater Marcus Patavinus [Padua].

Subjectum hujus libri dicitur ens contractum fratcr Joannes dominicus Monscilicensis [query if Mons Ilcinen=Montalcino, Siena].

The next mark of ownership is on the paper fly-leaf, a signature of the 19th century, W. G. T.[t] Barter E. Soc. Grays Inn. A Sale Catalogue entry, date unknown, is pasted on the cover. On the back is a label with the number 669.

Previous reference

Laing 150

Bibliography

A. Lutterell, ‘The Decas Loyca of Leonini de Padua,' in Scriptorium XXII (1968), pp. 272-73.

Physical Facet

Material: Vellum

Binding: Modern

Collation: a12, b12, c6, d5 =35.

Dimensions

26.04 cm X 19.37 cm

General

Secundo folio: denotacione

Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 35, 37 lines to a page.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379