Magister Rufinus, Summa decretorum, in Latin, manuscript on parchment [England, middle third of the twelfth century]

Magister Rufinus, Summa decretorum, in Latin, manuscript on parchment [England, middle third of the twelfth century]

Strip cut from the vertical side of a leaf, with remains of 35 lines from a single column in an excellent angular bookhand, written without biting curves and above topline, capitals in same ink, traces of horizontal knife-cut prickmarks for ruling in outer blank margin, a few small holes and small stains from reuse in a later binding, inner edge somewhat torn, overall good and legible condition, 296 by 60mm.

From the library of Ampleforth Abbey, and sold by them some years ago.

Magister Rufinus composed this influential summa on Gratians Decretum in Bologna between 1157 and 1159, making this an exceptionally early witness to the text.