Hugo Ripelin, Compendium Theologicae Veritatis, in Latin, manuscript on vellum

219 leaves, 170 mm. by 90 mm., lacking 2 leaves before fol. 1, a leaf after fol. 10, a gathering after fol. 58 (between quires 6 and 7), and some leaves at end, else complete, collation: i^{4 [of 6, i cancelled, lacks vi, outer bifolium folded inside out and the fourth leaf should be first], ii10 [of 12, lacking i and xii], iii-xix12, xx1 [lacking all but first leaf], mostly with horizontal catchwords, some ad hoc signatures in plummet, old ink foliation (followed here) begins on the fifth leaf at the beginning of the main text and repeats '165', 24-28 lines, ruled in plummet, written-space c. 122-129 by 67 mm., written in brown ink in an English cursive bookhand, headings in red, paragraph-marks throughout and book numbers in upper margins in red or blue, 2-line chapter initials throughout in blue with red penwork, several larger initials with more extensive penwork (4-line on fol. 32r, 5-line on fol. 155r), initials cut out from fols. 85 and 113, lower margins partly cut away on fols. 1-17 and 23-34, outer margins cropped close with some loss of extremities of lines of text, some early defects repaired with coloured thread (possibly medieval), other wear, bound in vellum (c. 1900), metal catches (clasps defective), title gilt, upper joint defective}

provenance

Quaritch cat. 820 (1961), no. 10; bought in December 1964 by H. P. Kraus, his cat. 111 (1965), no. 1; bought in May 1969 by a private collector, from Helmut Schumann (Kraus), and by descent to the present owner.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

text

The Compendium theologicae veritatis has been variously attributed to Aegidius Romanus, Thomas Aquinas, Albertus Magnus, and others, but the author is now accepted as the Dominican Hugo Ripelin (d. 1268), prior of Strassburg (T. Kaeppeli, Scriptores Ordinis Praedicatorum Medii Aevi, II, 1975, pp. 261-69, no. 1982).  The text circulated widely in England and was known to Chaucer (A. Schinkel, Conscience and Conscientious Objections, 2007, p. 117).  A copy belonged to Henry VIII (Oxford, MS Bodley 485).  The text is a pocket summary of religious knowledge in seven books, I on God and the Trinity (fol. 1r), II on the creation of the world (fol. 32r), III on the corruption of sin (fol. 59r), IV on the incarnation and humanity of Christ (fol. 85v), V on the sufficiency of grace (fol. 113v), VI on the sacraments (fol. 155r), and VII on the four last things (fol. 189v).  Book II includes chapters on the stars, the planets, the four elements, wind and weather, imagination, memory, health, etc.