Marriage.- Raymond of Peñafort. Summa de casibus poenitentiae et matrimonio, manuscript on vellum, double column, text c.129 x 95mm.; 253 ff. (lacking 3 ff., i.e the first f. of each of books I-III), 26 lines, one illuminated historiated initial depicting a priest blessing the marriage of a man and woman, who stand before him holding hands, initials in red with blue penwork or vice versa, paraphs and running titles alternately in red or blue, capitals stroked in red (with guides to the rubricator by the scribe in a cursive script often surviving in lower margin), Table with f.4 stitched repair to lower margin and f.5 with marginal hole, text f.19 hole to lower blank corner, f.37 hole to lower blank corner, f.42, 45 & 92 hole within text, f.162 tear within text without loss, f.205 small hole at foot of first column, just touching the odd letter, some staining, mostly marginal, 16th century blind-tooled calf, 13th century ms. used in spine and a 15th century ms. used in covers, lacking ties, extremities worn, rubbed and scuffed, housed in a modern cloth chemise and morocco-backed cloth slipcase, spine gilt, binding, 138 x 100mm., [?Paris or Burgundy], [c.1270].

⁂ A comprehensive summary of the teaching of marriage, written to aid his Dominican brothers in the hearing of confessions where numerous problems touching on marriage would have been encountered. He deals with the ideas of engagement and marriage, and thereafter treats of the impediments to marriage. These included the use of force in giving consent, and the impossibility of sexual intercourse. The work concludes with an overview of procedures for obtaining a separation because of adultery; the legitimacy of children, and dowries.

Provenance: 'Ex libris ?Müllerieis / ?Treviris sub signo S. Michaelis' (17th century inscription); 'I/F' (?18th century small paper label at foot of spine); 'Gift of Mrs. Davie' (20th century pencil inscription); Cathedral Library, Washington D.C. (de-accessioned).