Decretum

The Decretum was a collection of 20 books of ecclesiastical law and moral theology for the instruction and guidance of young ecclesiastics. The text of this fragment from Book 19 includes punishments for drunkenness and superstitious beliefs. Book 19 Corrector, seu medicus was frequently used separately as a confessor's guide.The recommendation for drunkenness is 15 days on bread and water if one drank so much that one vomited, increasing to 40 days if through drunkenness, one vomited the communion wine and sacred host.

This fragment of manuscript leaf is the State Library's oldest item relating to wine.

The Decretum was compiled by Burchard of Worms between about 1008-12 and was used by the Catholic Church for a century until superseded by a later compilation by Gratian in about 1150.

The manuscript of which this is only a fragment is written in a cursive Caroline script. Developed by Alcuin of York the script was an advance on the cramped hands of the 8^th century and earlier. It was named Caroline or Carolingian for the Emperor Charlemagne.

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

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