[Modus legendi abbreviaturas]

into which it is divided, from which it also took its name. Which cases are further subdivided into questions. And these questions into canons or chapters, which can be further subdivided into paragraphs and verses as was promised above regarding the distinction of canons.

A red manicule points toward the following paragraph.
However, it is to be noted here that case 36 has six questions. The third of which questions is not divided immediately into canons or chapters, but a treatise on penance is interposed therein, which contains within itself seven distinctions, into which it is divided. And these are subdivided into chapters or canons and paragraphs as was said above. And sometimes it is divided into the first distinction, paragraph, without chapters. The third and last part of the decree is named De Consecratione On Consecration and has under it five distinctions, into which it is divided, each of which is subdivided into several canons or chapters, and sometimes into paragraphs as was said above.

The following verse mnemonic is written in red ink.

The Decree gives one hundred and one distinctions.
It adds to you thirty-six mixed cases.
It distinguishes seven for penance, five for consecration.
Whose author I declare to you to be Gratian.
Or thus more briefly:
[The Decree] distinguishes, and gives thirty-six cases.
It wants to consecrate the penance of five, [a] verse [mnemonic] returned.

Examples of citations in the first part

Now examples of citations must be posited and noted. And regarding the first part of the decree, note that this syllable di or dist or the single letter d signifies a distinction. And the number following immediately denotes the quota of the distinction. Finally, the beginning of the canon or chapter is placed, in which the authority or citation is contained. Take an example in the first part of the decree. Where it is cited thus: viii. dist. quo iure. And this is abbreviated thus: di. viii. quo iure. That is, in the first part of the decree, in the eighth distinction of that part, in the canon which begins, "Quo iure." Another example: di. xxxvii. Nonne et c. legimus. That is, in the first part of the decree, in the thirty-seventh distinction of the same part. In the canons which begin, "Nonne" and "legimus." Also another: di. xl. m. ci and the canon loca, and di. l. pnderet, which declares as before.

Citations of the second part of the decree

In the second part of the decree. Note that by the number placed before the letter q, it is given to be understood the quota of the cause, and thus all such numeral adjectives—first, second, third, fourth, etc., up to thirty-six—placed before the letter q always include this substantive, "cause." Nor ought that number exceed thirty-six, because there are no more causes in the second part of the decree. And by the letter q is understood "question" in the nominative or other cases according to the exigency of the agreement. Commonly, however, it is cited in the ablative, "question." But by the number following this letter q is designated the quota of that question of the cause previously mentioned.