Tom Izbicki <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>One should distinguish between bulls that are directed to all the faithfull
(Constitutions) and those directed to individuals or groups replying to some
point of business (Rescripts). Most bulls fall into the latter category. The
percentage of constitutions seems to have been fairly small, usually dealing
with general matters.
thanks, Tom.
but....
is this distinction/terminology actually used in the early/high M.A. or
is it, more or less, a modern one?
most all of the 11th-13th cc. Bulls i've had occasion to see/read (not many)
have been specific confirmations of one sort or another --Pascal II's
confirmation of Count Stephen-Henry's renunciation of the right to
pillage the Bishop's house upon his death[!] (granted to Bishop Ivo of
Chartres, c. 1100) springs to mind.
or they are what i ad hockly term "general confirmations" of the real property
and (unreal) rights of some ecclesiastical institution.
this latter sort, typically, repeats --largely verbatum-- the language of a
previous/contemporary episcopal general confirmation (after all, even the
soon-to-be-infallable Papa Himself could hardly be expected to know that the
_villa_ of Oinville was given to the abbey of Josaphat at Leves by the late
Herbert of Houville-la-Branche).
and the confirmation of one pope would very often be reissued under the Bulla
of one (or several) of his sucessor(s) "in the same terms", with only the
opening and closing apparatus --and the addition of any new property
acquistions-- being different.
Constitutions or Rescripts?
just from what i've seen of the charters themselves, i've always assumed that
the practice was that, say, a copy of the local bishop's
confirmation charter was taken to the papal chancellary (wherever it
might have been at the time) and, perhaps in return for a "donation" (for i
hear that such things were not unknown, en ces temps la), the papal scribes
would produce a nice, new, smooth copy, complete with magical illegible
writing along the top and that wierd lead-on-a-string thingie
at the bottom.
is this in the ball park of the way things might have been?
>There are references in the proceedings of the Council of Basel to certain
decrees being posted on the cathedral door.
and these would be, in your terminology, "Constitutions", right?
it seems to me that in earlier times and with less geopolicially matters at
hand there might be less of a reason to "post" such things. i *believe* that
it was that confirmation of the Count's renunciation of
his "rights" that is mentioned in another charter as being "read in the
chapter" of the cathedral --if not this one, then another Bull (i can't
recall) concerning things Chartraine is so mentioned.
i've always assumed that most papal charters --like other charters of all
types-- were "published" by being read out loud, either in an ecclesiastical
(secular or regular) chapter or, if of more general interest, in some public
place --e.g., in front of a portal or in a
porch. there are a *few* charters which mention this latter practice.
any thoughts?
best to all from here,
christopher
Cecilia Gaposchkin wrote:
>thanks for your interest George. Do you really want a conference on
this?
i wouldn't count on it, Cecilia; i think that Ole George was just feeding you
a little bull. you know how leviteous his posts can be.
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