But one of the most
masterly, whether as to design or manipulation, is a law book in the
Library at Laon (No. 382). This grand folio contains "Glossa Ioannis
Andre? in Clementinas"--"The Gloss or Explanation of Joannes Andreas on
the Clementines."
By the way, as illuminated law books, civil and canonical, form so large
a section of Italian MSS., it may be well in this place to warn the
reader against random explanations sometimes offered in sale catalogues
concerning these books, their authors and commentators. For instance,
this commentator Joannes Andreas was not, as we have seen it confidently
stated (as if it were part of the actual contemporary title of the MS.),
Bishop of Aleria (Episcopus Aleriersis), but a jurist of Bologna. The
bishop lived a century or so after the jurist, who had completed his
long career as professor of law at Bologna extending over forty-five
years before the bishop was born. His chief works are Commentaries on
the Clementines (printed in folio at Mayence 1471, and again at Dijon in
1575), and Commentaries on Five Books of the Decretals (printed in folio
at Mayence in 1455, and at Venice in 1581). While on this topic of
Italian law MSS., it may be useful to state clearly what they are. By
way of contrast to the _Corpus Juris Canonici_, or Body of Canon Law,
the subject of books dealing with the so-called Decretals, the other
branch, including the Institutes Digest and Novell? of Justinian, was
entitled _Corpus Juris Civilis_.
Pages:
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212