Peter John Olivi, De Remediis Temptationem, and other texts on temptation, doubt and death, in Latin, manuscript on paper

Estimate

1,500 - 2,000 GBP

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Description

32 leaves (7 blank), 201mm. by 136mm., complete, collation: i^{12, ii^{18, iii^{7, written space 149mm. by 84mm., single column, 27 line, in black ink in a German cursive hand, capitals touched in red, bible references underlined in red, paragraph marks, line fillers and titles in red, numerous 1-line initials in red with some penwork flourishes, two large 3-line initials with primitive cadels in red, burn-holes and wax on fols.13-14, else in excellent condition, bound in nineteenth-century green cloth over pasteboards, paper label on front "MS. d. Gers. / 22"}}}

Provenance

provenance

(1) Written in western Germany: the third item (Sermo pro defunctis) is dated 1478 at its end, and there are a number of watermarks, one of which is Briquet, no. 14598 (Wilperg / Stuttgart, 1480).

(2) Bookplate of "Presb. F Vallée" on front flyleaf with cutting from French bookseller's catalogue.

Catalogue Note

text

The three greatest problems facing any medieval monk were temptations of the flesh, spiritual doubt and the pre-eminence of death, all of which are addressed in this little book. The first tract, Tractatus de Remediis Temptationum Fratris Ordinis Praedicatorum, is by Peter John Olivi (1247/8-96/8), a Franciscan preacher who gathered support and ultimately scandal through his belief that Franciscans should rigorously adhere to their vow of poverty. He became the principal spokesman of the 'rigorist' faction and attracted a significant following, but was accused of heresy at the General Chapter of Strasbourg in 1282, and henceforth almost every General Chapter concerned itself with him. He defended himself through his writings and the General Chapter of Montpellier in 1287 decided in his favour. However, this did not settle the polarised opinions, and after his death his followers began to venerate him as a saint, while the General Chapter of Lyon in 1299 ordered his writings to be collected and burnt. Only 3 other manuscripts of this tract are known: München, Clm 23803, fols.162-5; Rein, MS. 6, fols.241-7; Wilhering, MS. 103, fols.241-52; and the text has been edited by R. Manselli, Spirituali e Beghini in Provenza, 1959, pp.282-7. The second tract, De remediis contra pusillanimitatem, scrupulositatem contra deceptorias inimici consolationes et subtiles eius temptationes, is by Jean Gerson (1363-1429), a French scholar, educator, reformer, poet, and brilliant orator, who held office as the chancellor of the University of Paris from 1395 onwards. He is best remembered for his active leadership of the conciliar movement during the great schism that followed the death of Pope Gregory XI, tirelessly preaching and producing tracts in defence of the Church, such as the present item. Only 6 other manuscripts of this tract are known: Cambridge, St. John's College, Yule collection; Erfurt, Ampl. F.174 fols.53-9; London, British Library Addit. 11664; Paris, Mazarine 747(908) fol.141; Tours, MS. 403 fol.116; Vienna, Nat. Ser. N.3887, fols.234-44, and the text has been edited in Gerson's, Opera Omnia, 1706, iii, 579-89. The remaining two items are an otherwise unknown sermon on death, and a short piece on Quadragesima and Lent beginning: "Item sicut colligitur ex gestis summorum pontificum ...".