Franklin

Reponse ou avis des conseaux à son altesse l'Archduchesse Marie Elisabeth sur le projet de placcart touchant les livres defendus stipulé par les ecclesiastiques du Païs Bas.

Publication:
[Netherlands or Belgium], [after 1730].
Format/Description:
Manuscript
98 leaves : paper ; 195 x 160 (160 x 120) mm bound to 203 x 165 mm
Status/Location:
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Details

Other Title:
Avis sur les livres defendus
Subjects:
Espen, Zeger Bernard van, 1646-1728.
Netherlands -- Laws, etc. Edictum de librorum prohibitorum catalogo observando.
Conflict of laws -- Jurisdiction.
Challenged books.
Censorship.
Netherlands.
Censorship (Canon law).
Censorship -- Religious aspects -- Christianity.
Censorship -- Netherlands.
Challenged books -- Netherlands.
Conflict of laws -- Jurisdiction -- Netherlands.
Form/Genre:
Codices.
Treatises.
Memorandums.
Proposals.
Manuscripts, French.
Manuscripts, European.
Language:
French, with citations in Latin and Dutch.
Summary:
Advice to Archduchess of Austria Maria Elizabeth, governor of the Austrian Netherlands from 1724 to 1741, regarding the censorship of books. The question regards the dispute over jurisdiction in restricting the publication and dissemination of controversial books. The text argues that the acts of censorship are the sole jurisdiction of the temporal authorities and claims that ecclesiastical efforts of suppression and censorship impinge on the sovereignty of Maria Elizabeth. The work further proposes more lenient standards for censoring that have been condemned by the clerical authority of the Catholic Church. The author(s) also claim that the Church has restricted more works than necessary by applying unfair and arbitrary standards and by judging the authors' reputations instead of the contents of their works. Of particular note are attempts to convince Maria Elizabeth to restore those works which argue in favor of extending the power of temporal authorities; twenty such prohibited works are listed (f. 43v-45r). The text uses the case of Jansenist theologian Zeger Bernard van Espen as a specific example and claims that although his works were approved by the Conseil General and by the royal censor in Austria and although the works received the royal privilege for publication, they were, nevertheless, wrongfully condemned by the Bishop of Mechlin. The author(s) conclude that all matters of censorship should be handled by the agents of the temporal power and not by the Church.
Notes:
Ms. codex.
Title from title page (f. 1r).
Incipit: Madame, la lettre de V.A.S. du 24e Octobre dernier avec le projet de reglement pour les librairies et imprimeurs, le catalogue et cahier, aiant pour titre Qualificationes et censurae librorum nous a êté remi...(f. 2r); Explicit: il nous semble encore qu'il convient d'entendre les autres conseils des provinces de ce paÿs, les etats de ce Duelgé et le corps des imprimeurs et libraries pour prevenir toutes contestations et oppositions (f. 96v).
Foliation: Paper, 98; [1-96], [ii]; modern foliation in pencil, lower right recto.
Layout: Written in 20-25 long lines.
Script: Written in a cursive script, possibly by multiple hands.
Watermarks: "Tuin," Garden of Holland or maid of Dort with initials G. K.
Binding: Contemporary calf (Zacour-Hirsch); gilt spine and title Avis sur les livres defendus.
Origin: Written in the Low Countries (Zacour-Hirsch) after 1730.
Penn Provenance:
Formerly owned by Henry Charles Lea (bookplate inside upper cover and inscription dated 1892 on verso of first flyleaf).
Cited in:
Described in Zacour, Norman P. and Hirsch, Rudolf. Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Libraries of the University of Pennsylvania to 1800 (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1965), p. 180 (Ms. Lea 155).
Cited as:
UPenn Ms. Codex 1191
Contributor:
Maria Elizabeth, Archduchess of Austria, 1680-1741, addressee.
Lea, Henry Charles, 1825-1909, former owner.
OCLC:
230949483