Sacramentarium Leonianum (The Leonine Sacramentary)

L ITTLE is needed by way of preface to this edition of the “Leonian” Sacramentary. A tiro in liturgical lore, I was led to undertake the work in the course of publishing a selection of the Sermons and Letters of its once-reputed author, Leo Magnus, in Dr SchafTs Library of Post-Nicene Fathers (Vol. XII.). The text has, I believe, never been published in England and I thought there was room for a handier and cheaper edition than Bianchinfs and for one more accurate as well as cheaper than any of the more recent editions. My first ambition was to bring out my volume as a companion to Mr Wilson*s “Gelasian” Sacramentary which came out two years since: proximus huic , longo sed proximus intervallo . But the Clarendon Press declined my overtures and I was fain to have recourse to my own Alma Mater, whom perhaps I should never have tried to forsake. I am greatly indebted to the Syndics of the University Press for undertaking the whole expense of the publication and to the printers themselves for the pains they have taken and the help they have given me. In spite of defects, if the work should be only in part as useful to students as I hope it may be, a large share of gratitude will be due to Professors Swete and Robinson, Canon F. E. Warren, Rev. H. A. Wilson and Mr F. C. Burkitt, each of whom has constantly given me the benefit of his advice and learning, when applied to. My thanks are due to the Chapter at Verona for giving me free access to their Library, as well as to their