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BL, MS. Harl. 2268

London: British Library, MS. Harl. 2268 (i) Barzizza et al., orations & letters

Italy?, s.xv1

I Paper (watermarks: boeuf like Briquet 2750-2 [fol.10-14]; raisin like Briquet 12995-13003 [fol.24-44, 67, 73]; couronne like Briquet 4641 [fol.65]; tête de boeuf not in Briquet [fol.77-116]) with interspersed parchment (thick but with hair-side heavily rubbed), as outer leaves of each quire and also the central sheet of quires i-iv & xi-xii; variable size, with average 287 x 205mm; v (first three paper, last two parchment) + 136; pencil foliation 1-138 including parchment flyleaves but excluding blank sheet after fol.117. II i12 + 1 (as fol.14) ii-ix12 x8 wanting penultimate (after fol.117) xi12 xii12 wanting 10-12 (after fol.138); plain horizontal catchwords in bottom right corner; no sign of quire signatures. III Written space varies by up to 20mm, the average being 225 x 140mm; between 32 and 47 long lines; a single border throughout dry ruled with instrument which sometimes leaves a thick blackish line; occasional signs of two prick holes on each outside border. IV A series of hands is at work in this section of the codex. The first scribe wrote the first quire (fol.3-15v) in a gothic cursive hand with strong secretary influence, giving it a pointed aspect. The opening capitals of items seem to imitate the Italian late gothic style, while the first two titles show the scribe attempting a quadrata hand. The second scribe probably copied the bulk of this section (fol.16-117), although over the duration there is a marked change in the grade of the script and the layout employed. This is another gothic cursive hand, with in particular a distinctive series of final ‘s’s, with the most usual being top-heavy, double-compartmented and looking like ‘8’ [for this hand, see L.Gualdo Rosa, Censimento pl.lxxvi]. A third hand writes the final item (fol.118-138). All these hands may be English but all reflect foreign influences. V There are no illuminations before fol.118 and then the only colour is regular rubrication of the first capital of each line, as well as occasional rubricated glosses. VI Apart from scribal marginalia, about eight or nine hands from the fifteenth and sixteenth century annotate this ms. Some only add their mark once (eg. a small s.xvi hand noting a reference to Johannis Hus at fol.17), others show their presence without writing a word (eg. there is red underlining at fol.89v-91). Apart from these, there are four hands which appear more regularly. One of these, a large s.xvi hand [hand a], repeatedly writes ‘hic’ (fol.24v, 27, 33v etc) marking quotable sections. Another, a large, shaky late s.xv hand [hand b] repeatedly notes the subject of speeches (fol.41, 42v etc) and adds a reference to a copy of Petrarch in St.Mary’s, York library (fol.114v; see Sharpe, English Benedictine Libraries, p.681). VII Harleian binding. 2o fo.: [armis suis]

* * *

[1] fol.3r-v: Gasparino Barzizza, oration to Ferdinand I, king of Aragon (1412)

tit.: Oracio magistri Guasparini pergamensis de laudibus / Regis Aroganie [sic] orat.: Vellem hoc die Rex clarissime ea michi vis ingenii ... virtute benevolenciaque prosequaris Amen.

Furietti, pp.27-30. [2] fol.3v-4v: Gasparino Barzizza, oration to Filippo Maria Visconti, duke of Milan (1412?)

tit.: Epistola edita per antedictum Magistrum Guasparinum / de laudibus Ducis Mediolani orat.: [Q]uantum tue felicitati gratuler Illustrissime Dux ... bonorum omnium consules vale principum optime et me recommissum habe.

Furietti, pp.36-39; mss copies listed by Bertalot, Studien, ii, pp.43-4. Extract from D. Rundle, ‘Of Republics and Tyrants: aspects of quattrocento humanist writings 393 and their reception in England, c. 1400 – c. 1460’ (unpublished DPhil thesis, University of Oxford, 1997) © David Rundle 1997

BL, MS.Harl.2268

[3] fol.4v-5v: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Gregory XII

tit.: Epistola edita per eundem et transmissa Gregoris xiioepist.: Cum ob varios studiorum meorum labores clementissime pater... possit fides clemencie tue gratum praestare.

Unprinted: Bertalot ii/1, no.3700, referring to this as the sole copy. It is not mentioned by Mazzuconi or by Pigman. [4] fol.5v-6v: St.Bernard of Clairvaux, letter to Raymund

tit.: Epistola sancti Bernardi <ad Raymundum militem> de domo et cura rei familiaris epist.: Doceri petis a nobis de cura ... ergo testeris antequam servus efficeris. deo gratias Amen

Printed at PL clxxxii col.647-651, with different explicit. Inserted phrase in the title is written in hand a. [5] fol.6v-10v: Boccaccius Latinus, Historia Griseldae (Petrarch, with preface)

tit. pref.: Novum compositum per poetam Bocacium in eius libro vocato / El libro dele Cento novelle volgari tunc sermone et demum per / dominum franciscum Et primo describitur Epistola composita per dictum dominum / franciscum transmissa domino Bocacio que sic Incipit pref.: Librum tuum quem nostro materno eloquio ... [fol.7] auctorem meum Johannem sit hec prefatus Incipio tit.: Hi{n}c incipit hystoria tam notabilis quam amena mire paciencie hist.: Est ad ytalie latus occiduum ... rusticana hec muliercula passa est.

Rerum Senilium, xvii/3 [ed. L.Rossi (Palermo, 1991)]. [6] fol.10v-11v: Valascus Lisboniensis, letter to Niccolò Albergati (January 1417)

tit.: Epistola edita per dominum walascum de Lisbona transmissa / priori ordinis Cartusie Civitatis Bononiensis electo in episcopum / a populo Bononiae et acceptanti epist.: Quanta de te sit expectatio pater optime ... ac magis diligam vale pater amantissime.

Unprinted. *Munich: Bayerische Stätsbibliothek, Clm.6721 includes this letter (fol.70v-71), and the sequence of items immediately following is very close to that in this manuscript: see Bertalot, Studien, i, pp.71-5. [7] fol.11v-13: Pellegrino Zambeccari, letter to Bernardus de Muglio (18 April 1391)

tit.: Epistola peregrini de Zamb[eccaris] transmissa domino Bernardo de muglio / condolendo se de morte duorum amicorum suorum quorum unus / alterum interfecit et alter fuit decapitatus Bononie epist.: Horret Calamus rigent tempora ac artus ... praemissa carmina gratulatum [sic]. Datum Bononiae die decima nona aprilis Mccclxxxi [sic] per fratrem vestrum peregrinum de Zambecariis Cancellarium Bononiensem

Edited with reference to this copy by L.Frati, ed., L’Epistolario di Pellegrino Zambeccari (Rome, 1929) pp.43-50. Scribal marginalia notes characters mentioned in the text, including at fol.11v Petrarcha [8] fol.13-14v: Peter of Blois, letter to Archdeacon R.

Extract from D. Rundle, ‘Of Republics and Tyrants: aspects of quattrocento humanist writings 394 and their reception in England, c. 1400 – c. 1460’ (unpublished DPhil thesis, University of Oxford, 1997) © David Rundle 1997

BL, MS.Harl.2268

tit.: Epistola petri Blexensis increpans quendam clericum mulieribus / ymitantem qui postea relicto ordine sacerdotali duxit uxorem epist.: Quis celum terris non misceat aut mare celo Credendum ... non evades. Vale et negociare consultius

Ep.79: PL, ccvii, col.243-7. [9] fol.14v-15v: Ps-Cicero, epistula ad Octavianum

tit.: Epistola Tulii Ciceronis ad octavianum Imperatorem vituperando eum de inhonestis modis per eum retentis in occupationem Civitatis Romani. epist.: Si per tuas legiones michi licitum fuisset que ... istis vitam simul fugere decrevi.

Cicero, Epistulae, [iii (Oxford, 1958) pp.213-219]. [10] fol.15v-18: Poggio Bracciolini, letter to Leonardo Bruni (30 May 1416)

tit.: Epistola pogii de morte Ieronimi in civitate Constantiae tempore / concilii ibidem existentis 1416 epist.: Pogius plurimas salutes dicit Leonardo Aretino. Cum pluribus diebus ad balnea ... [fol.17v] nimi[fol.18]um loquax. Vale mi iocundissime Leonarde Constancie iijo K. Junias die Ieronimus penas luit.

Harth II, ep.IV/5 {pp.157-163}. [11] fol.18r-v: anon., short pieces on Bologna

text.: [D]ominium pacifice possidebit ascucia fugabit ... Cives expulsi redibunt. Laus deo. poem: RAcio [sic: Nacio?] Bononie seraphina benignaque cunctis ... ... [fol.18v] Namque deum precibus pro te pulsamus apertis. orat.: [M]agnifici viri ac potentes domini vosque ceteri cives ... Aula citata vicissim. text.: Numina Bononiam celebrem divina ... sue dictionis iussa sequatur.

The first two of these are prophecies. The third includes a set of initials identifying the speaker as G de G S S P; it also includes a reference to instantis Auctoritate Concilii - perhaps a reference to Constance, thus dating this piece to 1414-17. [12] fol.19-19v: Petrarch, epistola ad Luchinum Vicecomitem

poem: Argolitas si fama volens vulgata per urbes ... En glaciale pirum sese commedat habunde. / Hec carmina edita fuere per d. f. P. virum clarissimum in quibus Attestatur de pulcris & bonis proporcionibus ytalie quas incidenter descripsit dum habitaret parmam tempore domini luchini domini Mediolanensis cui misit seu presentavit de piris glacialibus quarundam Arborum & plantarum qui et que illo tunc erant & ad presens sunt in orto cuiusdam domini Francisci Archidiaconi cum quibus piris hanc metricam Epistolam presentavit

Epistolae metricae, II/11. [13] fol.19v-20v: Antonio Loschi, poem to Jacobe de Verme on his victories

poem: [I]acobe milicie decus et lux una latine ... ... pondus habet non Invide perfusa veneno.

Printed in Antonii de Luschis Carmina (Padua, 1858) pp.32-4, but lacking final two verses; Bertalot I, no.2493, with a slightly different incipit and without reference to this copy. Iter attributes this poem to Petrarch without explanation.

Extract from D. Rundle, ‘Of Republics and Tyrants: aspects of quattrocento humanist writings 395 and their reception in England, c. 1400 – c. 1460’ (unpublished DPhil thesis, University of

Oxford, 1997) © David Rundle 1997

BL, MS.Harl.2268

[14] fol.20v-21: Gasparino Barzizza, oration on giving Lucas Bondelmonte of Florence insignia Iuris civilis at Padua university

tit.: pro doctoratu orat.: [S]i quis vestrum forte miratur viri Illustres ... exorandum. Quare a me accipe vir eruditissime.

Furietti, pp.69-71. [15] fol.21v-22: Gasparino Barzizza, oration for a candidate supplicating for insignia in iure canonici at Padua university

tit.: Oracio G. pergamensis - pro in [sic] sua generali / conventu de laudibus Iuris Canonici orat.: Cum multa sepe mecum de maximis rebus ... de signato Episcopo Florentino domino Francisco Zaberella magistro patre et domino meo etc.

Furietti, pp.64-66, differing slightly at the close. From this piece onwards, the texts are directly transcribed into BL, MS.Cotton. Tib.B.vi, fol.135v-196v; this oration appears at fol.154. See discussion below for outline of order in which texts copied; in the notes on each item, only omissions are recorded. [16] fol.22-22v: Francesco Zabarella, oration for Fantino Dandolo supplicating for insignia in iure canonici at Padua university (14 July 1407)

tit.: Oracio G. pergamensis pro J in suo generali / conventu de laudibus eius et Iuris canonici orat.: Siquid umquam patres optimi maximo desidero expectam ... per te postulata. Ad laudem Individue Trinitatis etc.

Unprinted. Bertalot, Studien, i, pp.33-4 notes this ms. as one of the instances where this speech is wrongly attributed to Barzizza. R.G.G.Mercer, The teaching of Gasparino Barzizza (London, 1979) p.125 suggests improbably that Barzizza may have assisted in its composition. [17] fol.22v-23: Gasparino Barzizza, oration on accepting the rectorship of Padua University (1412)

tit.: Oracio G. pergamensis habita in generali univerisitate/ de creatione Rectoris et laudibus eius orat.: Quam vellem patres et doctores amplissimi ... acceperim atque ampliorem restitutam.

Furietti, pp.62-64. [18] fol.23-24: Gasparino Barzizza, oration on the election of Niccolò da Lucca as rector of Padua university (May 1412)

fol.23: Oratio G. pergamensis habita in generali universitate de/ electione Rectoris et de laudibus Nicolai Lucansis orat.: [M]agnas habeo huic tempori gratias ... meliorem amplioremque reliqueris.

Furietti, pp.20-22, but the incipit there is slightly different; R.Sabbadini, “Lettere e orazioni editi e inediti di Gasparino Barzizza”, Archivio storico lombardo, xiii (1886) 825-36, orazione no.25, records this variant as appearing in *Rome: Biblioteca Angelica, MS. S. 4. 8. [19] fol.24-27v: Leonardo Giustiniani, oration on death of Carolo Zeno (8 May 1418)

tit.: Leonardi Iustiniani veneti viri patricii / oratio habita in funere d.v. Caroli Zeni orat.: Maximum et amplissimum munus Illustrissime princeps ... quoque ac opera declaremus.

Edited in RIS, n.s. xix (Rome, 1941) pp.141-146. Extract from D. Rundle, ‘Of Republics and Tyrants: aspects of quattrocento humanist writings 396 and their reception in England, c. 1400 – c. 1460’ (unpublished DPhil thesis, University of Oxford, 1997) © David Rundle 1997

BL, MS.Harl.2268

[20] fol.27v-28v: Giovanni Campiano, oration

tit.: Campiani domini Iohannis Siculi noctensis ad ornatum et specta/tatissimum [sic] Bononiae presidem pro universitate Scolarium Iuristarum orat.: Credo equidem preses preses [sic] amplissime miraberis ... maiorem gloriam allaturum.

Unprinted: Bertalot ii/1, no.2792. This speech and the next appear at *Munich: Bayerisches Stätsbibliothek, Clm.6721, fol.91-2 & 92-94. [21] fol.28v-30v: anon., oration

tit.: funebris oratio orat.: Vellem maxime hodierna die doctissimi patres ... virtutum suarum eternam memoriam.

Unprinted. [22] fol.30v-32v: Marco Canetoli(?), oration at the Council of Pisa

tit.: Oracio domini Marci de Canitulo de / Bononia coram cetu pisano pro ecclesia dei orat.: Rem michi grandem acturus vix est ... quod tibi det implere feliciter christus dicti filius unicus qui vivit per infinita seculorum secula benedictus Amen. perorat.: Sublimissime ordo et seculi decus ... tempus cum adierit largiatur.

Unprinted. The orator praises Cardinalem S.Eustachii, that is Alfonso de Carillo (cr.1408-d.1434) [C.Eubel, Hierachia Catholica, i (Regensberg, 1898) p.29]. Scribal marginalia include at fol.31v, de laudibus Florentie and, at fol.32, Leonardus aretinus [23] fol.32v-34: Giannicola Salerno, oration as Capitano del popolo in Florence (June 1418 - January 1419)

tit.: Oratio habita per dominum Johannem Nicolai de / Silernis de verona militem clarissimum dum / esset Capitaneus in Florencia. Ad laudes urbis et suo functorum officio orat.: Quamquam magnifici domini patresque conscripti ... et gloriam perpetuo consequantur.

Unprinted: this copy noted by M.Davies, “Friends and enemies of Poggio” (unpublished Oxford Dphil thesis, 1986) p.109n. [24] fol.34-35v: Francesco Barbaro, oration to Alberto Guidalotto, 1416

tit.: Francisi Barbari veneti oratio pro domino Alberto/ de Guidaloctis de Perusio in eius examine Licentia ^Sermo Archidiaconi^ orat.: Antequam ea que hodierno die fidei mee ... usui ac deiuncto sis.

A.Quirini, ed., Diatriba Praeliminaris (Brescia, 1741) pp.162-7. See F.Barbaro, Epistolario, ed.C. Giaggo, i (Florence, 1991) pp.41, 106, 208. [25] fol.35v-38v: Antonio Loschi, commentary on Cicero's orations (part of preface only)

tit.: Anthonii Lusci vincentini Secretarii Illustrissimi / ducis Mediolani ad suum fratrem optimum atque / carissimum Ascolphinum de marbonibus secretarium / magnfici Francisci de barbavaris Inquisicio artis / in orationibus Ciceronis Incipit prohemium.


BL, MS.Harl.2268

pref.: [M]agna res est eloquentia, frater insignis ... operis sequentis ostendero. Primo siquid loco

Printed in Asconius Paedianus, In orationes M. Tulii Ciceronis Enarrationes (Paris, 1520) pp.clii-clvii. [26] fol.38v-39v: Valascus Lisbonensis, oration to Martin V

tit.: Oracio vaselii Jasbonenis in visitatione papae Martini xi [sic]. orat.: Pacem tibi beatissime pontifex et pedum tuorum osculum Sanctitatem qui adeunt ... successor in terris obtineas.

[27] fol.39v-41: Gaspare Bonizo, oration

tit.: Oracio domini Guasparis de perusio legum doctoris / pro Rectore universitatis magistratum assumente orat.: [M]agnum hodierno die allatum pondus video ... autem valete feliciter ut optatis.

Unprinted: Bertalot ii/1, no.11491, with another copy in *Würzburg: Universitätbibliothek, MS.M.ch.f.20 where the author of this and other pieces is identified as Gaspar Bonizus Legum doctor Perusinus [Iter, III, pp.743b-4a]. [28] fol.41-42v: Gaspare Bonizo, oration

tit.: Per serenissimum Regem Castelle ad dominum nostrum / Martinum papa v. Oratio domini Gasparis de pe/rusio pro militibus de Calatrana ut liceat eos uxorari orat.: Animadvertentes numero [sic] beatissime pater quid est ... obmissa constantiam dignos faciant.

Unprinted: Bertalot ii/1, no.1175-6, citing this ms as the sole copy. [29] fol.42v-45v: Andrea Giuliano, oration on death of Chrysoloras (with prefatory letter by Gasparino Barzizza, 23 Sept. 1415)

tit. pref.: Epistola G. pergamensis in laudem sequentis orationis. inc.: Gasparinus pergamensis Andrea Iuliano S.d. quam plurimam multas ex tuis orationibus ... facile tibi prestabit vale etc. tit.: [fol.42v] Andree Iuliani oracio sequitur in mortem manuelis Chrisolore Greci inc.: Siquis vestrum est viri doctissimi qui forte admiretur ... ingenia artesque reservant.

Printed by H.Hody, De Graecis Illustribus (London, 1742) pp.32-44, with Barzizza’s letter following at pp.44-5. Brazizza’s letter (Mazzuconi no.130) is also at Furietti, p.210. [30] fol.46: Giovanni Campiano, oration for Lodovico Cathelano

tit.: Campiani Johannis Siculi noctensis pro domino Lodvico / Cathelano in principio repeticionis inc.: Institueram animo priusquam hunc ... convertam. In nomine sancte trinitatis Amen.

Unprinted: Bertalot ii/1, no.9734, citing this ms. as the sole copy. [31] fol.46: Giovanni Campiano, oration for Lodovico Cathelano

tit.: Eiusdem pro eodem metus privato examine oratio incipit orat.: Maxime vellem ea in me vis esset ... animo incipiam. In nomine sanctissime trinitatis

Unprinted: Bertalot ii/1, no.11720, citing this ms. as the sole copy.


BL, MS.Harl.2268

[32] fol.46r-v: anon. , oration tit.: Oratio pro confirmacione unius in officio Rethoratus orat.: Prospectum cognitum et ad oculos positum habemus ... consensu et testimonio comprobantur.

[33] fol.46v: Alberto di Enoch Zancari, letter to Cardinal Niccolò Albergati (24 June 1426)

tit.: Epistola domini Alberti Enoch Zantarrius [sic] ad R p dominum / Cardinalem Sancte crucis olim Episcopum Bononiensem transmissa epist.: Reverendissime in christo pater et domine domine mi singularissme. habes dietim ... cum opus est iube datus Bonon. viii kal Julii anno mccccxxvi / Rd. tui Servulus / Albertus Enoch Zentarus

Unprinted: Bertalot ii/1, no.8331, citing this ms. as the sole copy. The author was the chancellor of Bologna in the late 1420s: P.de Töth, Il beato Cardinale Niccolò Albergati (Acquapendente, 1934) i, p.387n. This and the following letter are copied twice in BL, MS.Cotton.Tib.B.vi, fol.176 & 188v-9. [34] fol.46v-47r: Andreas de Monteturture, letter to the same(?) (24 June 1426?)

tit.: Epistola fratris Andree de Monteturture ordinis minorum Guardianus epist.: Reverendissime in christo pater et domine domine mi singularissime humili recommendatione et Salute premissis Et si cognoscam ... qua semper fecisti nos plurimum ama. Vale ex monte Sancti pauli extra Bononiam viii Kal. Iulii./ Filius ac servus tue Reverendus frater Andreas de monteturture ordinis minorum.

Unprinted: Bertalot ii/1, no.6220, citing this ms. as the only copy. [35] fol.47r-47v: Florianus de S.Pietro, letter to the same(?) (25 June 1426?)

tit.: Epistola domini Floriani de Sancto Pecio [sic] utriusque iuris doctor<e>. epist.: Si in hunc usque diem humanissime pater ... Vale patrie salus et me eius sanctitati ac tibi recommissum facias. oro Scriptis Bon. xxv Iunii/ R p. tue filius Florianus de Sancto petro utriusque Iuris doctor.

[36] fol.47v-49v: Gaspare Bonizo, oration

tit.: Guasparus de Perusio sermo clarissimus. orat.: Celeberrimi patres promultis magnisque laudibus ... partis illud accipias ad laudem.

Unprinted. Not in Bertalot ii/1, but see Bertalot, Studien, i, p.72: another copy of this and following speech at Munich: Bayerisches Stätsbibliothek, MS.clm.6721, fol.79-82 & 82-83. This is the first piece to appear in BL, MS.Cotton.Tib.B.vi, fol.135v. [37] fol.49v-50v: anon., oration

tit.: sermo pro doctorante orat.: [S]epenumero prestantissimi patres et domini praeclare ... modo imponere Et postremo benedicat te ille deus etc. Amen.

[38] fol.50v-53: Gasparino Barzizza, oration (1416?)

fol.50v: Oratio Guasparini pergamensis habita in generali/ universitate paduanensi in principio studii


BL, MS.Harl.2268

orat.: Quamquam hic multos adesse intelligam ... scolaribusque omnibus quales gratias debeat habeat. Cum laude & gloria eius qui vivit et regnat per infinita secula seculorum Amen

The speech divides into two parts at fol.53 with a headnote: Postquam Bidellus legit sic continuet ut sequitur This speech is not in Furietti or mentioned by Sabbadini. Another copy appears at BL, MS.Arundel.70, fol.23v-26 with some textual differences; for a list of other copies, see Bertalot, Studien, ii, p.227. [39] fol.53r-v: anon., oration

tit.: Sequitur oratio eximia in principio cuiusdam operis habita. orat.: [N]isi satis animo persuasum michi esset ... pro futura conspexeris. Amen etc Sequitur oratio

Unprinted: another ms. of this is *Kraków: Biblioteka Jagiellonika, MS.519, fol.106, with a slightly different explicit. [40] fol.54-55: Gasparino Barzizza, oration to Alexander V (1409)

tit.: Oratio G. pergamensis ad Allexandrum [sic] quintum summum pontificem / Romanum de congratulatione sui pontificatus et de laudibus eius. orat.: Cum nos omnes qui tuam ademit [sic] sanctitatem ... tempus constitutum esse intelligemus etc.

Furietti, pp.15-17, but with a different ending. Hand b writes next to the title: Commendacio summi Pontificis and at the bottom of fol.54: nota pro scribendo ad amcium [41] fol.55-57v: Leonardo Bruni, historia Heliogaboli

tit.: Ex hystoria heliogabali augusti inter cetera notate lascivie flagicie / omne genus {hmom} hominum ad libidines choartabatur non solum priva/tim verum eciam publice. Quin et matronas Romanas per edicta / sua crebro ad meretriciam artem invitavit et ab edictis eius continen/tes per sepe mulctavit. Collectisque ex grecia atque asia prastanti [sic] for/ma mulieribus lupanariam in urbe complevit Extat eius oratio ad / meretrices habita in qua commilitones illas appellat. Quo iero / aut serio facerit incertum {sit} est. Nam cum puelle Romane professe/ parum in pigre sibi viderentur proprie artis munera abire notatas / universas incontionem confirmandi coartanti causa sic allocutus est etc. orat.: [I]ncredibilis libido me habet commilitones... milicia dona magnifica reportabit etc. / Leonardus de arecio recreandi causa ingenii dictavit unde v{e}rbaniores rogat ne efferant, severiores ne legant etc.

Printed in Ioannis Baptistae Egnatii Veneti de Cesaribus libri III (Venice: Aldus, 1516) fol.291-5v. [42] fol.58r-v: Gasparino Barzizza, oration to Fantino Dandolo on Padua university (1412)

tit.: Oratio G. pergamensis ad potestatem paduansem de laudibus eius eum ortan/do ne patiatur doctores in studio paduano exeuntes inde discedere. inc.: [E]tsi maxime opportebat precor optime stante ... aut maiorem gloriam allatura.

Furietti pp.18-19, with slightly different explicit. [43] fol.58v-60r: Antonio da Bergamo, oration

tit.: Oratio Anthonii pergamensis de laudibus Eloquentie / Ciceronis habita in principio Rethorice


BL, MS.Harl.2268

text.: [N]emo vestrum patres clarissimi miretur ... vestrum salute suscepturum esse etc.

Positive identification of the author is difficult, as there are a series of early fifteenth century scholars who went by the name Antonius Pergamensis. One is Antonio Carabello who wrote a different oration super principio orationum Tulli (printed by A.Segarizzi, “Antonio Carabello”, Archivio storico lombardo, xxx (1903) pp.470-83 at pp.480-3) but he is perhaps too young to be identifiable with this figure. The same may be true of Antonio Occha, a relation of Francesco Occha and a correspondent of Pier Candido Decembrio [Iter, i, p.327 & iii, p.484]. There is also a Bergamese pupil of Barzizza’s called Antonio da Modene, who is remembered only by a letter to his old master [Iter, iv, p.619]. Barzizza himself also refers to an Anthonius Pergamensis in his letters [eg., Bertalot, Studien, ii, pp.74-5]. [44] fol.60-61: Gasparino Barzizza, oration to the king of Cyprus

tit.: Oratio G. pergamensis de laudibus regis Cipri cum actione / gratiarum et recommissione eius qui hanc ipsam dixit orat.: [T]andem Rex serenissime quod a superis immortalibus ... ad diuturnitatem nominis tui pertinebunt etc.

Furietti, pp.33-36, but differs at end. [45] fol.61-62: Gasparino Barzizza, oration to the king of Cyprus

tit.: Alia oratio G. pergamensis ad eundem et super eodem. orat.: [S]i recte a nostris maioribus Illustris Rex ... meam gratissimus esse videar etc.

Not in Furietti; Sabbadini, orazione, no.62 [p.830]. Manuscript copies listed by Bertalot, Studien, ii, pp.223-4. [46] fol.62-63: Gasparino Barzizza, oration on accepting insignia doctoratus medicinae

tit.: Oratio G. pergamensis de laudibus artis phisice et medicine. orat.: [N]on mediocri voluptate afficior patres clarissimi ... librum clausum et apertum de hunc anulum aureum etc.

Furietti, pp.50-52, but with different explicit. [47] fol.63r-v: Gasparino Barzizza, oration for Annibale Birago on supplicating for insignia utriusque iuris at Padua University

tit.: Oratio G. pergamensis pro Anibale mediolanense in suo generali/ conventu de laudibus Iuris Civilis et Canonici. orat.: [C]um sepe ac multum de hiis rebus cogitarem patres clarissimi ... principe Raphaele Fulgosio requiro librum clausum et apertum etc.

Furietti, pp.66-69. [48] fol.63v-64: Giovanni Campiano, letter to Laurencio Ragusano

tit.: Epistola amici transmissa pro commendacione amici. epist.: Campianus Iohannes Siculus Noctensis Laurencio Rogusano suo plurimam salutem dicit. Cum hesterno vesperi in plateas... ut meriti tuo michi possit gratias. Vale etc.

Unprinted: Bertalot ii/1 no.3279 also cites Kraków: Biblioteka Jagiellonika, MS.519, fol.107v-8. [49] fol.64: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Robert, king of Bavaria, recommending Antonio Frugi(?)

tit.: Alia epistola pro recommendacione amici. Extract from D. Rundle, ‘Of Republics and Tyrants: aspects of quattrocento humanist writings 401 and their reception in England, c. 1400 – c. 1460’ (unpublished DPhil thesis, University of Oxford, 1997) © David Rundle 1997

BL, MS.Harl.2268

epist.: Scribo ad te adaucter [sic] quociens ... inter verbulum sufficere. Vale. etc. Unprinted: Mazzuconi, no.262, referring only to the ‘lost’ Vercelli ms., now *Frankfurt am Main: Stadt- und Universitatsbibliothek, MS.lat.oct.136, fol.123; the Frankfurt catalogue [vol.4/III (Frankfurt, 1979] lists two other copies: Kraków: Biblioteka Jagiellonika, MS.519, fol.107v & *BAV, MS.Pal.lat.1592, fol.117v. The explicit here is different from that in the Vercelli ms; moreover, the recipient is called in this copy Guido. At BL, MS.Cotton.Tib.B.vi, fol.177v this letter is copied with the incipit: Scribo ad te {aud}adaucter... In other words, the scribe began to spell the word correctly, but ‘corrected’ himself and wrote it as it was in his prototype. [50] fol.64r-v: Giovanni Campiano, letter

sine tit. epist.: Nimium rare abste nobis afferuntur ... vigissima prestabitur. Vale ille tuus quantum suus Johannes Campianus.

Unprinted: Bertalot, Studien, ii, p.35 also cites *Munich: Bayerische Stätsbibliothek, Clm.5369, fol.92; another copy is Krákow: Biblioteka Jagiellonika, MS.519, fol.102v (with some textual differences). [51] fol.64v: anon., letter

sine tit. epist: Nisi tua nobilitas satis cognita ... pondo in me conferres. Vale.

Unprinted: another copy is Krákow: Biblioteka Jagiellonika, MS.519, fol.109v. [52] fol.64v-65: Giovanni Campiano, letter to Giovanni Gondsalvo

sine tit. epist.: Campianus Johannes noctensis de Sicilia Johanni Gondsalui iuveni nobilissimo plurimam salutem dicit. Non habebam certe ... stude ut valeas ad me ut facis diligas.

Unprinted. [53] fol.65: anon., letter

sine tit. epist.: Magna res est petre ... ut vix satis ab te a me tibi scribi possit. Vale.

Unprinted: Bertalot ii/1, no.11365, citing this ms. as the sole copy; letter consists of only four lines. [54] fol.65: anon., letter to a Bernardo

sine tit. epist.: Nichil inquam denegandum ... firma amicicia sit igitur etc.

[55] fol.65: Gasparino Barzizza, letter

tit.: Gas. perga. epist.: Sepe te exortatus ... desiderat. Fac ut valeas et me diligas etc.

Unprinted: Pigman, p.397. Another copy, with textual differences and without attribution, occurs at Kraków: Biblioteka Jagiellonika, MS.519, fol.100v. [56] fol.65r-v: Antonio da Bergamo, letter

tit.: Antho. Pergamen. epist.: Cum sepe mecum petre in animo cogitarem ... comperi frequenter assidues Vale.

Unprinted: Bertalot ii/1, no.3950, citing this ms. as the sole copy.


BL, MS.Harl.2268

[57] fol.65v: Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, letter to Septicius Clarus tit.: Gas. pergamen [sic] epist.: Frequenter ortatus es ... addidero non supprimam. Vale etc.

Ep. I/1; see also below fol.78. [58] fol.65v: Bithynicus, letter to Cicero

tit.: Cicero epist.: Si michi tecum non ... apud me inter moniturum existimes [sic] Vale

Cicero, Epistolae ad Familiares, VI/16. [59] fol.65v-66r: Giovanni Campiano, letter

tit.: Gaspar pergamensis epist.: Nunquam animo tam sum turbatus ... hac re meum officium accuses. Vale etc.

Unprinted: Mazzuconi, no.166, referring only to the ‘lost’ Vercelli ms., now Frankfurt am Main: Stadt- und Universitatsbibliothek, MS.lat.oct.136, fol.126v; Pigman, p.395 notes this copy. Attribution to Campiano is Bertalot’s, Studien, ii, p.40n. [60] fol.66r: Giovanni Campiano, letter

tit.: Gaspar pergamensis epist.: Cum multa cottidie ad me referantur ... a quaquam tuorum vincar. Vale etc.

Unprinted: Mazzuconi, no.32, referring only to the ‘lost’ Vercelli ms., now Frankfurt am Main: Stadt- und Universitatsbibliothek, MS.lat.oct.136, fol.127; Pigman, p.395 notes this copy. Bertalot, Studien, ii, p.40n attributes this also to Campiano, although Bertalot ii/1, no.3553 suggests it is by Barzizza. [61] fol.66r-v: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Antonio Vincenzo

tit.: Gasper pergamensis / [fol.66v] Epistola captanda amiciciam & benevolentiam cum eo cum quo prius amiciciam seu familiaritatem non habuerat. epist.: Etsi multorum familiaritate ... erit quanti hoc munus facias vale.

Unprinted: Mazzuconi no.60. For this and the next five letters, Mazzuconi refers only to the ‘lost’ Vercelli ms., now Frankfurt am Main: Stadt- und Universitatsbibliothek, MS.lat.oct.136; for all of them, Pigman, p.395 notes this copy, while the Frankfurt catalogue and (where appropriate) Bertalot ii/1, cite other copies occurring in Kraków: Biblioteka Jagiellonika, MS.519 and BAV, MS.Pal.lat.1592, except that the next and the last letters are omitted from the Kraków ms. [62] fol.66v-67r: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Marco & Antonio Barbarigo tit.: Gasper pergamensis epist.: Quamvis de vestro in me studio ... et amiciciam vestram redibo. Valete. Unprinted: Mazzuconi no.202; see note to previous item. [63] fol.67r-v: Gapsarino Barzizza, letter to Bernardo Vettori(?) tit.: Gaspar pergamensis epist.: Et michi apud te vir primarie ... vir nobilissime et res mea cure tibi sit etc. Unrpinted: Mazzuconi no.61, with incipit opening ‘Etsi...’ [see Bertalot ii/1, no.6397]; see note to item [61]. [64] fol.67v: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Gerolamo Angelieri(?) recommending Bonacursus Pisanus

tit.: Gaspar pergamensis captando prius benivolentiam scribit / Amico ut recommendationes[?] habeat alium amicum


BL, MS.Harl.2268

epist.: Quid abste summa officia desiderarem ... amantissimum esse cognoscant. Vale.

Unprinted: Mazzuconi no.224, with incipit opening ‘Quod...’; see note to item [61]. [65] fol.67v-68r: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Gerolamo Angelieri(?)

tit.: Gaspar pergamensis gratias refert amico suo cui scripserat / recommendationis litteras pro amico que effectum consequentem fuerant. inc.: Expectanti michi cottidie vir ... intelliges te a me satis diligenter scripsisse. Vale.

Unprinted: Mazzuconi no.82; see note to item [61]. [66] fol.68: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Antonio da Bergamo (1407)

tit.: Gaspar pergamensis scribit excusando se amico si non scripsit causas allocun/do et illum exciat ut sollicitum pro aliquo officio captando benevolenciam. epist.: Posteaquam in patav{e}ium veni Anthoni ... effundam ne mihi ipse deficiam. Vale.

Unprinted: Mazzuconi no.188; see note to item [61]. [67] fol.68r-v: Pietro Donato, letter

tit.: Petrus Donatus respondet amico benevolenciam captando & amiciciam conferendo/ et excusando si ei pro quo scripserat non provideatur quod prius ab altero preventus fuerat. epist.: Superioribus diebus bene eodem exemplo mihi reddite ... protector salvator denique et curator omnium. Vale.

[68] fol.68v-69: Bal. Cal. (?), letter

tit.: Bal. cal. ortatur amicum ut sibi sepe rescribat ne per negligentiam/ amicicia tradatur oblivioni referens <per litteras confremetur> epist.: Quod minime semper putavi numquam ab eo ... et ea quamdiu licebit fruar voluptate. Vale ex Bononia etc.

The contents of this letter shed no further light on the identity of its author. [69] fol.69r-v: Leonardo Bruni, letter to Ognibene Scola (1414)

tit.: Leonardus Aretinus fatetur se errasse non scribendo amico &/ querit benevolenciam captare maxime cum tibi dat tantam / fore coniunctionem amicicie ut nullo modo possit pro d [sic] etc. inc.: Solent qui erranti [sic] veniam ... erroris magis cottidie errare perseverant. Vale.

Mehus, ep.II/17 (X/4). [70] fol.69v-70: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Lorenzo Bonsi (ante 1410)

tit.: Gaspar pergamensis scribit amico excitando ipsum/ ad scribendum et fatendo peccatum invicem[?] utriusque/ et tam diu negligentes fuerant in scribendo epist.: Pollicitus eram tibi laurenti vir optime ... relinquere quam in nova verba iurare[?] Vale & reffer etc.

Furietti, p.188; Mazzuconi no.185. [71] fol.70r-v: Poggio Bracciolini, letter to Francisco Pizzolpasso (summer 1417)


BL, MS.Harl.2268

tit.: Pogius scribit amico excusando si non scripsit et maxime/ propter statum ambiguum rei publice seu dominii contulit & citatur/ amicum ne veniat enim creatus[?] non pontificis congratulatur[sic] quodam gradu doctoratus assumpto. epist.: Nolo existimes mi Francisce vel negligentia ... est principium et finis. Alia postmodum sencies

Printed from this copy by A.Wilmanns, “Ueber die Briefsammlungen des Poggio Bracciolini”, Zentralblatt für Bibliothekwesen, xxx (1913) pp.289-331, 443-463 at pp.459-60 [reprinted in Poggio, Opera Omnia, ed.R.Fubini, IV (Turin, 1969) pp.320-1]. [72] fol.71: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Fra’ Prosdocimo (1411)

tit.: Gapsar pergamensis excusat se amico si non scripsit hiis / sibi non ascribi sibi ut minus amet[?] eum sed proprias cuparis [sic: curas] maxime & adversatores occurrentes quos putat sibi obvenisse quoque[?] deus preces suas non exaudit rogando amicum ut oret deum pro ipso. inc.: Si nichil ad te hiis diebus ... preces tue mihi profecture sint. Vale.

Furietti, pp.115-6; Mazzuconi no.279. Manuscript copies listed by Bertalot, Studien, ii, p.43. The title here has been written without much care for either legibility or grammatical sense. [73] fol.71r-v: Poggio Bracciolini, letter to Francisco Pizzolpasso (summer 1417)

tit.: pogius scribit amico de novis bonis quae evenerat per alias / litteras scriptas non dans tamen spem firmam cum xii sint hore diei epist.: Nudius quartus Michaeli tuo qui cum discessit ... ut existimo rem conficiemus. Vale manu festina.

Printed from this copy by A.Wilmanns, art.cit., p.460 [p.321]. [74] fol.71v: Gasparino Barzizza, letter

tit.: Gaspar pergamensis respondet amico epist.: Quamquam maxime in cursu eram ...celeriter esse consecuturum. Vale et me ut facias dilige.

Furietti, pp.226-7; Mazzuconi no.200 (without reference to printing or to this copy). [75] fol.71v-72r: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Lorenzo Bonsi (25 December 1408)

tit.: Gaspar pergamensis epist.: Nesciebam hercle quid tibi scriberem ... divisam putes animam. Stude ut valeas et de me sepe cogita.

Furietti, pp.213-4; Mazzuconi no.136. Manuscript copies listed by Bertalot, Studien, ii, p.48 (with incorrect date of 1417). [76] fol.72r-v: Petro Pizzolpasso, letter

tit.: Petrus pizolpassus exorat amicos ut non immemores amicitie tempus/ et ocium captent scribendum cum hiis amicis conveniat et amiciciam fremet epist.: Expectavi in hunc usque diem litteras vestras ... desiderare sciebam. Vale et per sepe de me cogitate.

Bertalot ii/1, no.7302, citing this ms. as the sole copy. [77] fol.72v-73r: Agostino Barzizza, letter to Niccolò Barzizza

tit.: Augustinus pergamensis scribit amico eum ortando ut statum fratris / notificare velit cum pater et ipse eidem sepe scribit nec responsum deditur


BL, MS.Harl.2268

epist.: Dubito quid de fratre sit Nicolas iocundissimo ... tam diu nos omnis[?] merore effici. Vale.

Bertalot ii/1, no.7302, citing this ms. as the sole copy. [78] fol.73: Agostino Barzizza, letter to Francisco Pontano

tit.: Augustinus pergamensis scribit amico ut in precedente. epist.: Occurrit nunc mi francisce tempus ... tibi gratias proprie singulares habeo. Vale.

Unprinted: other mss. copies are Frankfurt am Main: Stadt- und Universitatsbibliothek, MS.lat.oct.136, fol.123 & BAV, MS.Pal.lat.1592, fol.131v. [79] fol.73r-v: Agostino Barzizza, letter

tit.: Augustinus pergamensis respondet amico quantum per litteras / receptas cognoscat maximam amiciciam epist.: Binas brevi ad modum tempore litteras ... idem de te magnopere letamur. Vale.

Bertalot ii/1, no.1920, citing this ms. as the sole copy. [80] fol.73v: Cristoforo Barzizza, letter

tit.: Christoforus pergamensis scribit amico quodam licet nulla causa adsit / scribendum tamen maxime amor artat ad scribendum ortando eum / ut respondebit[?] cum id pater et omnes neccesarii summe poscant etc. epist.: Nolui nuncium ad te venire mihi notum ... abste affecto certior fieri. Vale.

[81] fol.73v: Agostino Barzizza, letter

tit.: Augustinus pergamensis scribit amico eum pluri/mum ortando ut rescribat epist.: Nescio quid amplius ad te scribam ... Vale patavi sub magno angustia temporis

This letter is absent from BL, MS.Cotton.Tib.B.vi, fol.185. [82] fol.73v-74r: Gapsarino Barzizza, letter to Niccolò Barzizza (7 May 1412)

tit.: Gaspar pergamensis scribit filio quomodo paciatur quamquam[?] antiquum/ et patrem et occupatissimum vinci in officio scribendi epist.: [fol.74]Nullas ad me litteras scribis ... sunt necessaria Vale et persepe ad me scribe etc

Printed by Bertalot, Studien, ii, p.79 from this copy; Mazzuconi no.164. [83] fol.74-75: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Niccolò Barzizza (21 August 1412)

tit.: Gaspar pergamensis scribit filio ut illum apud Bononensem / excusum si ad studia sua se non transfert epist.: Litterae tue diu expectate fuerunt ... in magna valitudine oculorum. Scripta et data circa ortum solis xii kal septembris.

Printed, with reference to this copy, at C.Colombo, “Gasparino Barzizza a Padova”, Quaderni per la storia dell’Università di Padova, ii (1969), pp.20-22; Mazzuconi no.114. [84] fol.75-76: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Niccolò Barzizza (November/December 1412)


BL, MS.Harl.2268

tit.: Gasper pergamensis scribit filio suo ut propter honores et concur/sum que habet in legendo rethoricam cautus sit ne / ne [sic] propositum altioris scientie scilicet canonice praetermittat epist.: Multis modis gaudeo omnia tibi ... ad te scribere ita instat tabellarius. Vale.

Printed by Bertalot, Studien, ii, pp.81-2 from this copy; Mazzuconi no.131. [85] fol.76: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Niccolò Barzizza (10 April 1412)

tit.: Gapsar pergamensis ortatur filium ut sepe rescribat / recommittens sibi duos iuvenes ut proficiscantur et intelligant epist.: Moleste fero quod non sepius ... ducatos xii et libras tres. Vale et omnia rescribe.

Printed by Bertalot, Studien, ii, pp.78-9 from Oxford: Balliol, MS.132, fol.90v; Mazzuconi no.128. [86] fol.76v: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Giovanni Barzizza (post May 1412)

tit.: Gaspar pergamensis super eodem epist.: Expectabam litteras tuas quibus me certiorem ... possis illos mittere. Vale et presevera ut cepisti

Printed by Bertalot, Studien, ii, pp.83-4 from Oxford: Balliol, MS.132, fol.91v-92; Mazzuconi no.78. [87] fol.76v: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Facino Ventraria (1408-11)

tit.: Gaspar pergamensis scribit etc. epist.: Cupio maxime si Johannes convaluit ... ut apud te melior ac doctior in dies fiat.

Printed, with reference to this copy, at C.Colombo in Quaderni per la storia dell’Università di Padova, ii (1969) p.18; Mazzuconi no.46. [88] fol.76v-77: Gasparino Barzizza, letter to Niccolò Barzizza

tit.: Gaspar pergamensis scribit filio admirando de ipso quid iam diu/ sibi non scripserat ex quo mater et ipse plurimum mestiva [sic: maeste] gravantur. epist.: A die qua patavio dedisti [sic: discessisti] ... benivolenciam a te alienabis. Vale etc.

Printed by Bertalot, Studien, ii, pp.80-1 from this copy, with silent corrections; Mazzuconi no.1. [89] fol.77r-v: Antonio da Bergamo, letter

tit.: Anto. pergamensis notificat amico naturam cuiusdam / detestendo ut illum non sequatur epist.: Michi rem inconsuetam facio cum alicuius vitam ... alia praetermittam. Vale meque mutuo ut facias diligas.

Bertalot ii/1, no.11936, citing this ms as the sole copy. [90] fol.77v-78: anon., letter

tit.: Epistola destinata Romano pontifici ex qua plurimum / captat benevolenciam et congratulationem de salute eiusdem. epist.: Maximo in merore ad hodiernum usque diem ... et me ad pedum oscula beatorum prout assoles recommissum.

Not in Bertalot. [91] fol.78: Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, letter to Septicius Clarus

tit.: Plinius secundus Extract from D. Rundle, ‘Of Republics and Tyrants: aspects of quattrocento humanist writings 407 and their reception in England, c. 1400 – c. 1460’ (unpublished DPhil thesis, University of Oxford, 1997) © David Rundle 1997

BL, MS.Harl.2268

epist.: Frequenter oratus es ... addero non suppramaniam[sic]. Vale. Ep. I/1; see above fol.65v. [92] fol.78: Caesar, letter

tit.: Cesar imperator Ciceroni epist.: Recte anguiaris de me ... esse et illos sui. Vale.

[93] fol.78r-v: P.P.Vergerio, letter to Niccolò dei Leonardi (3 April 1417)

tit.: Petrus Paulus Vergerius epist.: Hodie apud d. franciscum cardinalem Florentinum ... non possum non dampnare. Vale.

L.Smith, ed., Epistolario di Pier Paolo Vergerio (Rome, 1934) pp.360-2. [94] fol.78v: Piero Pizzolpasso, letter

tit.: Petrus Pizzopassus epist.: Quantum vir sapientissime gaudii ... magnificaturam spero. Vale et spe de me cogita etc.

Iter only cites this ms. and BL, MS.Cotton. Tib.B.vi as including works by this member of a famous family. [95] fol.78v-86: Jean Picart, oration to Martin V, 27 November 1425

sine tit. orat.: Beatissime pater cunctorumque fidelium piissime pastor et rector postquam in oculis vestris serenitatis. Nos hic ... humiliter et devote supplicamus. Explicit propositio super acceleratione generalis concilij facta per Abbatem visicampi Cisterciensem ordinis sacre theologie professorem Ambasiatorem Regis Anglie etc.

This speech and the following were delivered at the Curia by the English embassy of 1425 which was led by Jean Picart, abbot of Ourscamp; on this see M.Harvey, “Martin V and the English, 1422-1431” in C.Harper-Bill, ed., Religious belief and ecclesiastical careers in late medieval England (Bury St.Edmunds, 1991) pp.59-86 at p.78; another copy of these orations is at BL, MS.Cotton Cleo.E.iii, fol.26-30v. Two later hands, one of them hand b, write: Propositio Ambassatorum Regis Francie & Angliae coram domino papa etc. (in both cases, papa has been etched out and rewritten by a different hand). [96] fol.86v-88v: Jean Picart, oration to the Cardinals, 27 November 1425

sine tit. inc.: Reverendissimi patres et domini. Sermones et credentiam breviter expressimus... exp.: ...ipsosque prohemiter[?] beatissime profici in secula seculorum Amen etc./ Explicit propositio super acceleratione generalis concilij pro parte Regis anglie ad Reverendissimos dominos Cardinales per Abbatem visicampi Cisterciensis ordinis sacre theologie professorem factam anno domino millesimoquadringentesimo vicesimo septimo Novembris

In margin in a later reader has misread the (already erroneous) dating of this speech: anno 1427 This second speech is absent from BL, MS.Cotton.Tib.B.vi, fol.154. [97] fol.88v-92v: Petrarch, epistola ad Nicolam Azarolum

tit.: Exemplum epistole misse per dominum francischum petrarcha magnifico seneschaleo Regis Neapolitani

Extract from D. Rundle, ‘Of Republics and Tyrants: aspects of quattrocento humanist writings 408 and their reception in England, c. 1400 – c. 1460’ (unpublished DPhil thesis, University of

epist.: Iam tandem vir clarissime perfidiam fides ... ethereas pervolabit. Vale patrie decus et memori.

Oxford, 1997) © David Rundle 1997

BL, MS.Harl.2268

Familiarum Rerum, xii/2 [ed. V.Rossi (Florence, 1898) iii p.5-17]. [98] fol.92v-93: Simibaldus Berardelus, poem

tit.: Versus incipiunt [sic] de morte eius facti per Simbaldi Berardeli de perusio poem: Pontificum labes et nostri dedecus evi / ... / dignus eras nec prima miser tu claustra tueri / Expliciunt

[99] fol.93-94: Coluccio Salutati, de seculo et religione (preface only)

tit.: Prohemium editum a Colucio pierus Canzelario Florentinorum / ad fratrem yeronimum de uzano ordinis Camaldulensis pref.: Memor semper fui venerabilis ... te deprecor et exoro. Explicit prohemium etc.

Edited without reference to this copy by B.L.Ullman (Florence, 1957) pp.1-3. [100] fol.94r-v: anon, lamentio Caroli magni de morte Rolandi

sine tit. op.: Non decet hunc vacuis deflere querelis ... tota illa nota cuncti peregeantur etc.

Verse and prose are interspersed in this short piece [101] fol.94v-114: Ps-Paul & Ps-Seneca, epistolae (with commentary by Nicholas Trevet)

sine tit. comm.: Lucius cinneus Seneca cordubensis factionis stoyci discipulus et patruus lucani ... cum non sit ei debitum &c. Sequitur \de Remedijs fortuitorum/

Another copy of this commentary is at Oxford: Balliol College, MS.130, fol.64v-75v. [102] fol.114v-117v: Ps-Seneca, de remediis fortuitorum

tit.: Hunc librum composuit Seneca nobilissimus ora/torum ad galionem quendam amicum suum contra omnes / impetus & machinamenta fortune fecit autem / illum sub dyalogo ut sit sensus conquerens & Ratio confortans / Liber autem illo & sensuum maiestate et eloquii claritate et sententiarum[?] brevitate refulget dial.: Licet cunctorum carmina poetarum ... sit ista felicitas rara & Explicit

At fol.114v in the bottom margin in hand b: Franciscus P. de Remediis utriusque fortune in libraria maioris ecclesie. According to Sharpe, this refers to the library of St. Mary’s, York. fol.117bis: blank fol.118-138: John of Milan (?), Regimen sanititatis Salernitanum

sine tit. poem: Anglorum regi scripsit tota scola Salerni... ... Et super renes pecteri pone fiatque vivamen.

Edited by F.Packard (New York, 1920).

* * * This opening section of MS.Harl.2268 is bound together with a series of other fascicules,

written in a variety of English and continental scripts of the fifteenth century; their


BL, MS.Harl.2268

contents include a range of sermons in English and Latin, a copy of Petrarch’s De

Ignorantia and a library inventory for St.Mary’s monastery, York. The whole codex

seems to have been in the possession of that monastery by the end of the fifteenth

century. Not only does this humanist collection have an English provenance; the bulk of

it was also copied in England to form the second part of BL, MS.Cotton.Tib.B.vi. This

latter codex, because it suffered in the Cottonian fire of 1731, has not received much

attention and its association with MS.Harl.2268 has only recently been noticed [Davies in

Censimento, no.117]. As, then, this fascicule provides important evidence for English

interest in ‘Paduan humanism’, it is unfortunate that its origin and early history can not

be discerned with any exactness.

Technical evidence provides only little assistance in discerning this fascicule’s

provenance. The watermarks have no exact match in Briquet and (as so often) offer no

definite evidence. On the other hand, the distinctive combination of paper quires with

outer and central sheets of parchment does occur elsewhere in this manuscript, in a

section written in an Italian late gothic script [fol.217-280]; this may suggest where the

the fascicule was constructed. However, as mentioned above, the palaeography is

difficult to localise: of the second hand, it can only be said with certainty that it is

‘northern European.’ This scribe’s writing becomes increasingly untidy, and he adds to

the later letters detailed but grammatically elliptical titles. This evidence suggests that the

fascicule was originally intended for the private use of one or two readers. Considering

the range of texts, it is probable that the scribes were working from a series of different

manuscripts: in other words, this fascicule is unlikely to have one direct prototype.

If the technical evidence is at best merely suggestive (and at worst frustrating), the

contents provide clearer information about the fascicule’s origin. MS.Harl.2268(i) is


BL, MS.Harl.2268

similar to a series of other extant manuscripts which comprise an anthology of humanist

orations and letters, with especial attention to the writings of Gasparino Barzizza. Most

of these other manuscripts are identifiable as the work of German students in Italy, often

at Barzizza’s university of Padua [on this see especially L.Bertalot, “Eine humanistische

anthologie” in Studien, i, pp.1-82]. The emphasis in these anthologies on Barzizza’s own

works and on other orations which he is known to have admired might suggest that the

teacher had ‘approved’ texts circulated which keen students then copied into their own

manuscripts [on this, see also above c.iii, pp.81-2]. Not all of these texts were strictly

‘humanist’ writings: for example, a series of these manuscripts include the Zambeccari

and Peter of Blois letters which appear here at fol.11v-14v. However, if this fascicule fits

into this environment, it also has several distinctive features.

First, there is a notable emphasis in this collection of texts on Bolognese humanists and

events: for example, the interest in the career of Niccolò Albergati [fol.10v, 46v]. This

might suggest that MS.Harl.2268(i) was written in that university city. Notably, Barzizza

himself may have taught at Bologna in his later years, in 1426-8 [R.Mercer, Gasparino

Barzizza (London, 1979) p.135].

Second, there is the date of this fascicule. One of the anthologies is markedly early:

*Kraków: MS.519 was, at least in part, written in 1414. Others, however, were written

three decades later. By that time, some of the same material was still circulating but a set

of more recent material was also included. Indeed, it would seem that a feature of these

anthologies was that they develop fairly rapidly to accomodate the latest fashionable

writings. Now, MS.Harl.2268(i) is notable for its lack of some of the material in the later

anthologies; indeed, the fascicule’s terminus non ante quem is 25 June 1426 [fol.46v].

Interest in the events of the year preceding that is reflected by the inclusion of the English


BL, MS.Harl.2268

delegation’s speeches to the pope from late 1425. So, remembering the tendency of such

anthologies to keep ‘up-to-date’, it would seem likely that this collection was constructed

not long after the summer of 1426.

This, of course, does not provide definite evidence for when the fascicule returned to

England. It has been suggested that it may have been constructed for William Wells,

abbot of St.Mary’s, while he was at the Council of Basel [Sharpe in Benedictine

Catalogues, p.681]. This is possible, but the evidence for its presence at York comes only

later in the fifteenth century and the fact that much of it was transcribed into MS.Cotton.

Tib.B.vi would militate against the idea that it went immediately to York. The humanist

material occupies the second half of the Tib.B.vi volume, the first half being a collection

of documents on ecclesiastical and diplomatic matters of the late 1410s, including

material on Henry V’s negotiations with France and Burgundy. Some of the material is

very specific, for example, the 1419 article on the Collegium sancti Bartholomei de Tong

[fol.129v-131] or the articles which refer to Richard Flemyng, bishop of Lincoln [eg.

fol.6v, 57v]; this range of information does not provide definite proof of the manuscript’s

place of production, but its interests might localise it to central, rather than northern

England. The whole codex is written in one French-influenced secretary hand, probably

of the second quarter of the fifteenth century. So, again, the evidence would suggest (but

not necessitate) a fairly early date of construction.

A complicating factor with MS.Cotton.Tib.B.vi is that it has sometimes been associated

with Thomas Bekynton [Weiss, p.75n]. This is a connexion which was firmly rejected in

the nineteenth century [Bekynton Correspondence p.xi]; there is no internal evidence to

associate the manuscript with Bekynton, nor is there any similarity in the script here with

that of MS.Cotton.Tib.B.xii, a codex produced under Bekynton’s guidance. Another


BL, MS.Harl.2268

factor militating against the supposed connection is that Bekynton certainly did make a

copy of Picart’s orations (items [95]-[96] here) in Bod., MS.Ashmole 789, fol.243-252

but from a different copy; it is possible but surely unlikely that he owned two copies.

However, the attribution originates with William Wharton [Anglia Sacra (Oxford, 1691)

i, p.573] who saw the manuscript before it was severely damaged by the Cottonian fire.

Did Wharton, then, see positive evidence to connect the manuscript with Bekynton -

evidence which is now lost? Perhaps, but if so, he does not cite it: his phrasing makes the

connection merely on the basis that the manuscript’s contents are haud dissimile from

Bekynton’s formulary at London: Lambeth Palace Library, MS.211. Therefore, the

supposed link with Bekynton should be, if not rejected outright, then treated with

extreme caution.

The scribe of MS.Cotton.Tib.B.vi did not copy the entirety of MS.Harl.2268 nor did he

transcribe them in exactly the same order. The copying can be outlined as follows [where

H = MS.Harl.2268 & T = MS.Tib.B.vi]:

H. fol.47v-63v become T. fol.135v-149 H. fol.78v-86 become T. fol.149-154 (second Picart speech omitted) H. fol.21v-47v become T. fol.154-177 H. fol.63v-78v become T. fol.177-188v (omitting one letter from Harl. fol.73v) H. fol.46v-47 become T. fol.188v-189 (repeating letters already at fol.176) H. fol.94v-?? become T. fol.189v-196v

The most important omission is that of the first eighteen folios from MS.Harl.2268 (fol.3-

21), losing some Barzizza speeches as well as Petrarch texts and the short pieces on

Bologna. The criteria for selecting and ordering in MS.Cotton.Tib.B.vi are unclear.

The whole of MS.Harl.2268 was later owned by a ‘Magister Orwell’ (fol.121, 342) who

is not recorded in Emden. In the seventeenth century, it was in the possession of ‘Tho.

Knyght’ (fol.1v). There is also a late seventeenth century contents list at fol.1v-2 written

by John Corel of Christ’s College, Cambridge (d.1722). Extract from D. Rundle, ‘Of Republics and Tyrants: aspects of quattrocento humanist writings 413 and their reception in England, c. 1400 – c. 1460’ (unpublished DPhil thesis, University of Oxford, 1997) © David Rundle 1997

BL, MS.Harl.2268

* * *

A Catalogue of the Harleian Manuscripts (London, 1808) ii pp.113-5; Iter, iv, pp.157-8; Mann, no.94; Martin Davies in Censimento dei Codici dell’Epistolario di L.Bruni (Rome, 1993) no.118 (cf. no.117); R.Sharpe in id. et al. ed, English Benedictine Libraries: the Shorter Catalogues (London, 1996) p.681. D.Mazzuconi, “Per una sistemazione dell’Epistolario di Gasparino Barzizza”, IMU, xx (1977) pp.183-241; G.W.Pigman III “Notes on Barzizza’s correspondence”, IMU, xxv (1982) pp.391-99; L.Panizza, “Gasparino Barzizza’s commentary on Seneca’s letters”, Traditio, xxxiii (1977) pp.297-358 at p.308n.


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