THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT, IN LATIN AND GERMAN.

Regulae ordinis beati Benedicti Abbatis scriptae in usum Monasterii Schuttavensis. Schuttern Abbey (Baden-Württemberg, Germany): 1593.

Regulae ordinis beati Benedicti Abbatis scriptae in usum Monasterii Schuttavensis. Schuttern Abbey (Baden-Württemberg, Germany): 1593. Decorated manuscript on paper, 197 x 150 mm. 179 (of 182) leaves. Collation: [i12 (lacking 1,2,3) ii-ix8 x12 xi-xiv8 xv10 xvi-xvii8 xviii4 xix8 xx6 xxi4 xxii8 xxiii-xxv4]. Leaves i4-i11 paginated 7-21 in a contemporary hand; leaves x1-xxii7 foliated 1-93 in in a contemporary hand; remaining leaves unfoliated. Leaves i4-i11 written in cursive script in varying numbers of long lines, written area: 158 x 23 mm, some initials and texts in red, music consisting of square neumes on four-line staves; leaves ii1-ix6 written in 23 long lines in carefully formed letters resembling roman type, margins ruled in red, lines ruled in lead, written area: 141 x 100 mm, chapter headings in red, numerous decorated initials in red, green, blue, and ochre with fleshy extensions into the margins, possibly produced with the aid of stencils, similar line-fillers; leaves x1-xxiii3 written in 21-22 long lines in German Kurrentschrift, margins ruled in red, no visible ruling for lines, written area: 135 x 108 mm, chapter headings in red Kanzleischrift; leaves xxiii4-xxiv2 written in cursive script in varying numbers of long lines, rubrics in red in margins. (Some margins slightly darkened from handling, a few leaves with minor damp stains; miscellaneous inscriptions, pen trials, and scribbles to blank pages and endleaves.) Original binding of blind-stamped brown leather over pasteboards, edges gilt and gauffred, decorative plaque impressed on each cover, front cover tooled with initials G.A.S [Georg Abt von Schuttern] and the date 1593 (rebacked, lacks two pairs of ties, slight fraying to corners), in a custom cloth- and leather-covered case.
Contents: Rites of monastic profession (ff. i3-i12, lacking beginning of first text); Rule of St. Benedict in Latin (ff. ii1-ix8); Rule of St. Benedict in German, followed by table of contents for the German text (ff. x1-xxiii3); Ritus in missa pontificali observandus (f. xxiii4-xxiv2).
Provenance: Benedictine Abbey of Schuttern, 1593; Maximilianus Balthasar Wollersheim me habet, 1725; Dono dedit bibliothecam Villmarensem 1741 (perhaps the priory of St. Ulrich in the Black Forest); the Lucas family, undated list of children's names; Arthur Paget bought at Mayence, March 15, 1850.

The codex was made for and undoubtedly at the Benedictine abbey of Schuttern, as indicated by the text on the leaf preceding the beginning of the Latin text: "Regulae ordinis beati Benedicti abbatis scriptae in usum monasterii Schuutavensis anno a parto virgineo 1593 mense vero Martio. Sub reverendo domino domino Georgio Abbate eiusdem Monasterii." According to tradition, the monastery was founded in 603 by the wandering Irish monk Offo. It adopted the Benedictine rule in the eighth century and continued in existence until the secularization of 1803, although to judge from the provenance notes this manuscript had left the abbey before that time. Benedict of Nursia (c. 480-ca. 547) is regarded as the founder of western monasticism. His rule was widely adopted throughout Europe during the Middle Ages and beyond and influenced the practices of a number of religious orders. This codex is unusual in that it includes both the original Latin text of the rule and a German translation. Choir monks were expected to understand Latin, but lay brothers (in effect, monastic servants) would have relied on German for understanding.