William of Auxerre, Summa Sententiarum [c.1280]

A French transcript of the four books of the Summa on the Sentences, beginning Fides est [substantia] rerum sperandarum [text much rubbed]. It is composed of 4 books, on God, on creation, angels and man, on Christ and the virtues, and on the sacraments and the four last things.

Ista summa fuit compilata a magister Wi. altissidorens et continet quatuor libros sive quatuor partes.[Above title given on f.1v in a hand of the fifteenth century].

Explicit summa Magistri Willelmi Altissiodorensis f.222v. Part of book 3 is missing with minor omissions of f.120v and f.121r.Pecia marks in margins.

William of Auxerre (c.1150-1231) was a thirteenth century theologian who taught at the University of Paris. He was also archdeacon of Beauvais. He acted as advisor to Gregory IX on a conflict between his University and the citizens of Paris, and was asked by the pope to prepare corrections of recent translations from the Arabic of Aristotle’s works. His commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard, Summa aurea, also dealt with issues overlooked by the Lombard. He is regarded as the first medieval theologian to have written systematic treatises on free will and natural law.

Single item

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Given by Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare (1856-1924), Christ Church, Oxford in 4 December 1913.

Call number used to be ms4348.

Individual Manuscripts and Small Collections database available as part of Manuscripts Database.

Binding: brown morocco with gold tooling, marbled end papers.Fine vellum: 17x25.6cm. Illuminated initials. Pricking visible on most folios.

Description compiled by Maia Sheridan, Archives Hub project archivist, based on material from the Manuscripts Database

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Keeper of Manuscripts. Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents.

Written in France. Purchased by the donor in 1896 in Grenoble.

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Full description in N R Ker and A J Piper Medieval Manuscripts in British Libraries Oxford, 1992, Vol.IV (Paisley to York) pp.243-4. See also St Andrews Library Bulletin, VI (1914-15) p.1.