Contents

Data Source: Parker on the Web

• Résumé : CCCC MS 415 contains the unique text of an author once universally known as 'The York Anonymous' but now thought to have been written by a Norman ecclesiastic, probably from Rouen, and hence its modern appellation as 'The Norman (or 'Rouen') Anonymous'. The manuscript, which was copied in the late eleventh or early twelfth century, consists of a number of tracts which have as their broad theme the relationship between the spiritual and temporal power. It has special significance because it was written shortly after the Investiture Controversy; this controversy was over the power of lay princes to invest and receive homage from abbots and bishops, which was forbidden by Pope Gregory VII in 1075. Although frequently discussed in the literature of the history of the relationship between the medieval church and state, the unique private nature of the text makes it highly unlikely that the complex ideas expressed in it ever gained a wide readership.

  
  

  Contenu :

  
  

  Langue(s) des textes : latin

  
  

  1-2 - Summus pontifex

  Note : (1) [Late title]

  rubric : (1) [An summus Pontifex sit iuditio subiectus]

  incipit : (1) Decretum est in sacris canonibus

  explicit : (2) nullatenus debet iudicari de ordine

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche 436

  
  

  3-15 - Equalitas ecclesiarum et unitas ecclesie

  rubric : (3) [De una ecclesia]

  incipit : (3) Auctoritate sanctorum patrum didicimus quod sancta ecclesia toto orbe diffusa una sit ecclesia una sponsi columba

  Note : A section begins in capitals at p. 11

  incipit : (11) Ecclesia quippe Sathane non sacrificabat uni deo

  explicit : (15) cum quo unus est spiritus

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, 437

  
  

  16-38 - De peccatis et de penis eorum

  incipit : (16) Cum de homine negat petrus in filium negauit hominis

  explicit : (38) sed utrum recte an perperam sapientium iudicio derelinquimus

  Note : Not printed: see Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 179

  
  

  39-49 - Episcopus a solo Deo iudicandus

  rubric : (39) [Quod Rothomagensis ecclesia non est subiecta Romanae]

  incipit : (39) Interrogetur romanus pontifex quibus de causis reprehendit et condempnat rothomagensem archiepiscopum

  explicit : (49) Ne meliorum uita deteriorum prelatorum corrumpatur exemplo

  Note : MGH., Libelli de Lite III 656

  
  

  50-53 - Abbas episcopo suo subditus est

  Note : Change of hand

  rubric : (50) [De priuilegiis peculiaribus]

  incipit : (50) Precipit apostolus immo per apostolum Christus ut omnis anima sullimioribus potestatibus subdita sit

  explicit : (53) gratie igitur est ut una ecclesia huic pene subiaceat

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 449

  
  

  53-55 - In necessitate licet leges pretermitti

  rubric : (53) [De temperandis legibus]

  incipit : (53) Oportet leges aliquando temperari propter misericordiam

  explicit : (55) ullo crimine reos teneri

  Note : Not printed

  
  

  55-56 - Iudex secundum Deum iudicet

  incipit : (55) Cum aliquis in iudicio de crimine reus conuincitur

  explicit : (56) per misericordiam

  Note : Not printed

  
  

  56-57 - De mercenarii sententia

  incipit : (56) Si mercennarius et qui non est pastor

  explicit : (57) nec tenenda est sententia

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 452

  
  

  57-85 - De iusticia christiana

  incipit : (57) Omne iudicium aut in ecclesiasticis situm est negotiis aut in secularibus

  Note : At p. 72 an initial, but no break in the text

  explicit : (85) si ergo hec propter eum facitis nobis illi pocius facitis quam nobis qui potens est retribuere uobis. Amen

  Note : Not printed

  
  

  85-86 - Sacerdotis auctoritas

  incipit : (85) Duo sunt quibus hic mundus principaliter regitur sacerdotalis auctoritas et regalis potestas

  explicit : (86) sed et hoc dicendum quia sancte ecclesie rex filius est non presul. discipulus non magister. subditus non

  Note : [breaks off]

  Note : Not printed

  
  

  86-92 - De diversitate penarum

  rubric : (86) [De Canonibus et Decretis]

  incipit : (86) Si omnia precepta canonum paria essent idest equalis dignitatis

  explicit : (92) Hos per omnia imitari nos oportet

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 453

  
  

  93-99 - De primatu ecclesie Hierosolimitane

  rubric : (93) [De ecclesia Romana et Hierosolimitana]

  incipit : (93) Videamus de romana et hierosolimitana ecclesia. que rectius alteri preferri debeat

  explicit : (99) quos plenos fuisse gratia diuina loquuntur testimonia

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 457

  
  

  100-102 - Electio et consecratio episcopi

  rubric : (100) [De electione Pontificis]

  incipit : (100) Pontifex aut dei tantum electione debet constitui aut hominum tantum aut simul dei et hominum

  explicit : (102) Rectene id an perperam ipsi uiderint qui inuenerunt

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 462, nos. xiii a, xiii b

  
  

  102-107 - De malestate baptismi

  rubric : (102) [De Baptismo et Eucharistia]

  incipit : (102) Si queritur quid melius sit atque prestantius baptismus an sacerdotium

  explicit : (107) quales ab eterno non sunt scripti uel electi uel predestinati

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 464

  
  

  108-112 - De nuptiale sacramento

  rubric : (108) [De nuptiis]

  incipit : (108) Si christiana nubit iudeo uel ethnico

  explicit : (109) peccato idolatrie comparatur

  Note : Not printed

  Note : The lower part of p. 109 is cut off and replaced by new vellum: a fragment of text (for which see the Addenda) survives, pasted over, on p. 110: the whole of pp. 111, 112 are a newer leaf, and blank (p. 112 not blank, contains later rubric)

  Note : (110) The fragment of text on p. 110, now pasted over with newer vellum, runs as follows

  Note : (110) nec ea que in mundo sunt diligant. ut omnia sua etiam uxores propter deum relinquant. et cetera celestis doctrine mandata obseruant. si hec inquam implere satagunt uxoribus alligari non debent. quia qui uxoribus alligantur hec implere non ualent. et qui non implent irritum faciunt quantum in ipsis est christianitatis nomen. Si coniunctio consanguineorum abhominabilis esset apud deum et incestus reputa-

  
  

  112-114 - De ordine sacerdotis (I)

  rubric : (112) [De deposicione sacerdotis]

  Note : The first two lines are a slip cut off from a previous page and pasted on the top of p. 113

  incipit : (112a) Sacerdotem ab ordine deponi nichil aliud esse puto quam eidem ordinem suum auferri

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 469

  
  

  114-114 - De ordine sacerdotis (II)

  incipit : (114) Diuina benedictio cuius iustus maior esse

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 470

  
  

  114-118 - De consecratione sacerdotis

  incipit : (114) Si uerba quibus consecratur corpus

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 470

  
  

  118-119 - De ordine et de oficiis Christi

  incipit : (118) Christus factus est sacerdos diaconus subdia(co)nus

  Note : Unfinished

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 473

  
  

  120-120 - De duobus gladiis

  incipit : (120) In passione domini duo fuisse gladii

  explicit : (120) in sanctorum commentariis queri debent

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 474

  
  

  121-127 - De bonitate Dei et nature

  incipit : (121) Si deus omnia regit et moderatur et omnem rationalem creaturam regit et moderatur

  explicit : (127) Idem enim est adipisci summam bonitatem et summam essentiam et idem est adipisci bonum esse quod esse

  Note : ? Not printed

  
  

  128-139 - De ordinatione filiorum sacerdotum

  incipit : (128) Apologia pro filiis sacerdotum et concubinarum quos nunc quidam iudicant ad sacros ordines non debere admitti

  explicit : (139) sin autem correpctionem libenter excipimus

  Note : Another copy at p. 247

  Note : MGH. Libelli de Lite III 649

  
  

  139-142 - De equalitate apostolorum

  rubric : (139) [De equalitate ministrorum]

  incipit : (139) Diuina institutione nullus inter apostolos maior fuit

  explicit : (142) ut inter uicarios eorum talis etiam regula seruaretur

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 475

  
  

  142-142 - De immolatione corporis Christi

  incipit : (142) Agnus dei qui cotidie immolatur in altari aut tollit peccata mundi

  explicit : (142) Neque enim pro diabolo et membris eius offertur corpus Christi

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 477

  
  

  143-204 - De consecratione pontificum et regum (I)

  Note : Change of script

  rubric : (143) [De consecratione Pontificum et regum]

  incipit : (143) Due in ueteri testamento persone pontificis scilicet et regis olei sancti unctione consecrate

  Note : Between pp. 158 and 159 should be placed pp. 173-188 (quire 12)

  incipit : (164a) Nunc inseramus consecrationem sacerdotis et uideamus si adeo excellens est ut consecratio regis. Talis quippe est pontificis consecratio. Domine sancte pater

  Note : The office follows

  Note : On p. 169, after the inthronization collect (Domine Ihesu Christe tu preelegisti apostolos tuos ut doctrina sua nobis preessent etc.) follows what must be the king's oath

  incipit : (169) Hec tria populo Christiano et mihi subdito in Christi promitto nomineIn primis ut ecclesia et omnis populus christianus ueram pacem nostro arbitrio in omni tempore seruet, etc.

  Note : The text continues with the coronation office. On p. 171 in the Consecratio regis (omnipotens sempiterne deus creator ac gubernator celi et terre) is the formula

  Note : (171) super hunc famulum tuum N quem supplici deuotione in regnum anglorum siue saxonum pariter elegimus

  Note : After p. 172 is the misplaced quire 12

  Note : The office continues at p. 189 and ends p. 194 with the prayer

  incipit : (194) Benedic domine fortitudinem principis

  explicit : (194) quia ascensor celi auxiliator suus in sempiternum fiat

  Note : (194) A series of paragraphs on the attributes of a king follows headed

  rubric : (194) De Nomine Regni

  incipit : (194) Isidorus ait. Regnum a regibus dictum est, etc.

  Note : In the following paragraphs the authorities quoted are:Prouerbia Grecorum. These passages are printed by S. Hellmann, Sedullius Scottus, p. 129 (1906, in Traube's Quellen u. Untersuchungen I) together with a series of 74 quotations from Prouerbia Grecorum found in the Collectaneum of Sedulius Scottus in the Cues MS., and two other passages from them cited in the Carlsruhe MS. of the Irish Canons, and in a letter of the Anglo-Saxon Cathvulf to Charlemagne. They have evidently passed through Celtic hands: their origin is uncertain.

  Note : Other authorities named are:Hieronimus. Patricius (the tract de xii abusiuis, quoted twice as his), Liber sapientie, Ambrose, Gregory

  Note : (199) Item paulus pandit: quicunque adulari uoluerit aut pro necessitate aut pro adulatione benigne reuelat. Item paulus. Si hominibus placuissem seruus dei non essem

  Note : (200) Sinodus romana

  Note : (201) Orosius. Augustine

  Note : Ends

  incipit : (204) De sermone regis aut ducis protegente inimicum

  explicit : (204) unde quidam ait. Utinam sermo regis dissoluisset me et liberaret me ut soluit ioseph. Et ut danielem liberauit de lacu leonum et ut mardocheum de angustia sua

  Note : Parts of this are printed in MGH. Libelli de Lite III 662, where also are parts of the next tract

  
  

  204-235 - De consecratione pontificum et regum (II)

  Note : (204) The text continues in a rougher hand

  incipit : (204) Sancta ecclesia sponsa Christi est qui est uerus rex et sacerdos

  Note : pp. 205-208 are markedly large in script

  Note : On p. 209 this script becomes small and neat again, but there seems to be no break in the sense

  Note : This is a second copy, with some changes, of the tract no. 24.1. It ends just before the point where the former copy inserts the Coronation office. (See above on no. 24.1)

  Note : This second copy ends p. 235

  explicit : (235) quoniam et ipse summus pontifex est in quantum rex est

  Note : On the first copy p. 163* these words are followed by Nunc inseramus consecrationem sacerdotis

  
  

  235-236 - 'Laicus' nomen est ignominie

  Note : (235) No title

  incipit : (235) Laicus et christianus hec duo nomina aut equalia sunt in dignitate aut alterum altero est dignius

  explicit : (236) alterum ignominie id est laicus

  
  

  237-238 - De potestate ligandi atque solvendi

  incipit : (237) Dominus noster Iesus Christus si petro soli contulit claues regni celorum

  explicit : (238) sed humano intuitu et preconio intruduntur

  
  

  239-247 - De sacerdotum matrimonio

  Note : Large script

  rubric : (239) [An liceat sacerdotibus inire matrimonia]

  incipit : (239) Scire uelim quis primus instituit ne sacerdotes christiani inire deberent matrimonia. Deus an homo

  explicit : (247) In quibus uero uerbum nuptiarum seminat ipsi facere nuptiarum fructum appetunt

  Note : Printed by Bp Hall, Works I 756 (The honor of the married clergie) MGH. Libelli de Lite III 645

  
  

  247-264 - De sacerdotum matrimonio

  incipit : (247) Apologia pro filiis sacerdotum et concubinarum

  Note : A first sketch of no. 22 (p. 128): hand changes at p. 255

  explicit : (264) sin autem correctionem libenter accipiamus

  
  

  264-265 - De Fiscannensi ecclesia

  incipit : (264) Sanctorum patrum autoritas-ordinauit ut rothomagensis ecclesia caput esset et mater fiscannensis ecclesie et ipsa membrum ipsius esset et filia

  Note : (265) Nunc uero uice uersa in contrarium pro his bonis. fiscannensis mala retribuit rothomagensi

  explicit : (265) non est potestas nisi a deo

  
  

  265-279 - De Romano pontifice

  rubric : (265) [De Romano Pontifice]

  incipit : (265) Romanus pontifex ideo apostolicus cognominatur quod apostolorum uice et officio fungi creditur

  explicit : (278) qui ergo inter has scisma facere conatur id efficit ut etiam sacerdotalis auctoritas subruatur

  Note : (279) Ends

  Note : MGH. Libelli de Lite III 679

  
  

  279-284 - De primato Anglie

  rubric : (279) [De obediendo Romano Pontifice: more correctly, against the subjection of York to Canterbury]

  incipit : (279) Cum multe sint ecclesie in romana ciuitate aut omnibus equaliter debemus obedire aut quibusdam tantum

  Note : The script of the following pages is larger and rougher

  explicit : (284) si ergo eboracensis archiepiscopus istis uult exibere obedientiam non debet nisi cogatur de is respondere archiepiscopo cantuariensi que potius iure debet ecclesie londoniensi

  Note : MGH. Libelli de Lite III 686. Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 478

  
  

  284-284 - De ecclesia Sathane in Roma

  Note : A paragraph

  incipit : (284) Considerandum est de romana ecclesia unde sit dignior ex eo quod romana est an ex eo quod ecclesia

  explicit : (284) in caritate non in exactione. propter deum non propter seculi fastum. Amen

  
  

  285-302 - De sanctorum communione

  rubric : (285) (De Charitate et Obedientia)

  Note : In the hand of no. 1

  incipit : (285) Dignitas peculiaris et propria est et a patre collata filio dei et hominis quod est iudex uniuersorum

  Note : Ends p. 302 (on suficit diei malitia sua)

  explicit : (302) catia (=κακία) enim que latinus uertit in malitiam apud grecos duo significat et malitiam et afflictionem. quod cacos grece dicunt et hic pro malitia magis transferri debuit

  Note : Böhmer, Staat und Kirche, p. 481