Conclusions
This chapter pulls together the previous chapters’ conclusions about early medieval laity. It then asks why new, Carolingian-style formula collections stopped being made in course of tenth century. After surveying possible answers offered by scholarship, it suggests – while acknowledging that we will likely never know for certain another, namely they continued to be produced as long scribes wanted write their documents and letters like others were writing theirs, a clientele whose interests could span very distances. As Carolingian world disintegrated later ninth centuries, this became less important. The closes with history manuscript Paris, BNF, ms. lat. 2123, disappears from view, surfaces modern period, arrives at Bibliothèque Nationale de France, ends up hands Karl Zeumer he edited formulas Monumenta Germaniae Historica. discusses strengths weaknesses MGH edition, impact Zeumer’s editorial methods had on texts images laity, resulting dangers treating rather than surviving manuscripts, primary source.
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