PENNAFORTE, Raymundus de.

.A very good copy, in an unusual black pigskin binding probably produced in Strasbourg, of this scarce early edition of this most famous compendium of canon law for priests and confessors. The Catalan Dominican Raymund de Pennaforte (or Penyafort, c.1175-1275), professor at Bologna, later canonized, compiled the Decretals of Gregory IX, the most influential canon law collection of all time, used until 1917. Summula is an abridgement in verse, attributed to the Cistercian Adam of Aldersbach (or Adam Scotus), of his Summa de casibus poenitentiae , a manual for Dominican priests and confessors. First published in 1486-90, this metrical version, for easy memorisation and with its own prose commentary, provided the key principles of canon law necessary to deal with the most common sins and legal conundrums. The prologue provides a general introduction on the sacraments. The work proceeds to discuss all 7, beginning with the Eucharist, interspersing theoretical sections (e.g., why the priest says may be Lord be with you , the preparation of the altar) and specific cases, e.g., when a schismatic or degraded priest, or one who practises concubinage, can celebrate the mass; when the blood of Christ freezes or the host breaks or crumbles during the Eucharist; when a sick person receiving the Eucharist is no longer mentally sound; when one vomits the host, etc. A section is also devoted to the correct demeanour expected of priests, e.g., they should not gamble, deal in secular business, or marry. It sheds fascinating light into the everyday life of medieval priests and the sundry, at times surreal, questions they might encounter: e.g., what to do about a hidden treasure; whether usury or theft may be licit; what to do if a rustic penitent thinks his confessor has been excommunicated; can women make a last will; how to deal with soothsayers; whether public penitence be required for secret adultery, etc. The section on penitence and absolution provided a source for Chaucer s Parson s Tale . The early C16 annotator, Jacob Crell, noted specific topics discussed at the top of several leaves, for easier consultation, and highlighted or glossed sections on the baptism of babies not yet born, concubinage and bigamy.