Contents

Data Source: Mmmonk

• Three texts have been brought together in this codex. The first (f. 1r-84v) is the Defensor pacis of Marsilius of Padua (d. 1343). In this significant work, written during the continuous conflicts between pope and emperor, Marsilius criticized the papal claims on temporal power and universal aspirations. Furthermore, and even more radical, was his view that all church authority was held by the people (i.e. the faithful), rather than a single leader. In the fifteenth century, the conciliarist movement took many arguments from this work when proclaiming church councils to have higher authority than the pope. This is one of two manuscript copies of the text in the Public Library, the other is in ms. 226. The second text (ff. 84v-103v) is a commentary on the Sentences. Its authorship is as of yet unclear: we are either dealing with a work of Michael Aiguani de Bononia (d. ca. 1400) or Petrus Spitznagel von Frankfurt (ca. 1400-ca. 1465), both Carmelites. As the latter used vast parts of the former's works - as a sign of reverence - distinguishing their work is highly difficult. The third work (ff. 104r-185r) is an exposition on Aristotle's Physica, written by the English scholar William of Ockham (ca. 1285-1349). The codex is built from two separate units. The first two texts appear to have been written by a single scribe, while the third text is in a different, somewhat antiquated hand. All share the two-column layout and the cursive script. Decoration is absent. Spaces to add initials have been left open. The only type of textual elaboration is the use of majuscules in the third text, to introduce new questions and the different parts of the disputations. The binding is medieval and consists of full leather over wooden boards, with traces of a clasp. It is possible that the binding originally had a fenestra; this has not survived. The codex was owned by Ten Duinen: the cross-shaped stamp of the abbey is found on the first and final leaves. [Summary by Dr. Mark Vermeer]