Fragment of the register of the Court of Criminal Justice, Pistoia

Leaf, foliated 142 in a 14th century hand, from the register of the Court of Criminal Justice of the Commune of Pistoia, written by Andreas, son of the notary Johannes Thome de Aquata, as notary and 'officialis' of the Podestà, Parisanus de Parisanis de Castiniano. The sentences are dated 19 July 1337, and marginal notes by other notaries of subsequent payment of fines are dated 11 Aug 1337 and 6 Jun 1342. Includes a specimen of the notarial sign of Andreas.
The manuscript was folded to make a bifolium to act as fly-leaves for a book measuring about 302 mm x 210 mm. The fly-leaves contain the following inscriptions in the same humanist hand, probably all made on the leaf in 1563:(i) 'Hic Liber est Antonii de Ce(n)tiis et suorum amicorum. Non est amicus noster qui nostra bona tulit'. (ii) 'Hic liber est Antonii d(e) Ce(n)tiis'. (iii) [1563] 'Valeri [sic] Max(i)mo. fu sta(m)pato da Bernado de Benali in Venetia MCCCCLXXXVIII, die VIIII Novembris, che sono anni 75 de [?] fu sta(m)pato questo libro'.

Pistoia is a city in Tuscany, Italy. During the eleventh and twelfth centuries, it was distinguished for its strong economic growth; as a consequence the city came to control a large surrounding territory. In the thirteenth century, Pistoia was caught up in the battles between the opposing powers of Florence and Lucca, suffering a long siege in 1306. In the mid-14th century, Pistoia entered the Fiorentine sphere of influence, having been seriously diminished both demographically and economically by disastrous plagues in 1348 and 1400.

Single item.

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Collection level description.

422 mm x 300 mm

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Formerly fly-leaves in the 16th century binding of Valerius Maximus, Facta et dicta memorabilia, printed in Venice on 9 Nov 1488 by Bernardinus Benalius. The dimensions of the leaf when folded, 302 mm x 215 mm, correspond to those of the book; it is not known from which copy of the book the leaf came.