Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

A catalogue of Western manuscripts and papyri at Cambridge University Library, the Fitzwilliam Museum and selected Cambridge colleges

Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214

Medical texts

Contents

Introduction: This is a composite manuscript with the Parts comprised of both parchment and paper quires. In addition, there are medieval parchment and paper binding fragments, and a loose parchment fragment used as a bookmark in the volume. The volume contains primarily alchemical and medical texts, written between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries. This manuscript, like many others included in the Curious Cures in Cambridge Libraries project, was once owned or used by Roger Marchall (c. 1417-1477) , a doctor and physician to Edward IV who wrote his name on p. 8. In common with numerous other manuscripts he owned and used, Marchall added a table of contents to the beginning of the manuscript (p. 8) as well as rubrics and running headings for some of the treatises in the volume (see e.g., p. 9). Marchall's ownership and use of manuscripts is very well-attested, with forty-five surviving books (including this one) bearing evidence to connect him to them in some way, six others with plausible Marchall connections, and a further twelve that are recorded but not traced. In March 2024, Dr James Freeman, Medieval Manuscripts Specialist at CUL, observed that pp. 1-8 in Cambridge, Gonville and Caius, MS 181/214 derive from the same manuscript source as Gonville and Caius College, MS 178/211 , ff. [i]-[iv], another Marchall manuscript. In both MS 178/211 and MS 181/214 leaves from the same legal manuscript have been inserted sideways and reused as flyleaves at the beginning of a volume of scientific texts. In both MS 178/211 and MS 181/214, Marchall made use of the generous marginal space common to legal manuscripts to record his name and a list of the contents of the respective volumes on the last page of that group of endleaves (i.e., Gonville and Caius MS 181/214, p. 8 and Gonville and Caius MS 178/211, f. [iv] verso). Both volumes have been rebound since Marchall's death in 1477, but it is plausible that each had a binding that resembled the other's in Marchall's lifetime as the shared endleaves, both with Marchall annotations, suggest that they were both bound by the same workshop on Marchall's behalf. As described by Linda Voigts, the present manuscript is one of eighteen (possibly nineteen) manuscripts at Gonville and Caius College that may be linked to Marchall, and which were probably donated by him to Gonville Hall (as Gonville and Caius then was); King's College and Peterhouse, where the study of medicine was also supported, received gifts of books from him too. Thirteen manuscripts owned or used by Marchall (and another with possible Marchall connections) have been digitised, catalogued and conserved as part of the Curious Cures in Cambridge Libraries project: Dr Sarah Gilbert| Project Cataloguer for the Curious Cures Project | Cambridge University Library References:
See L. Voigts, 'A doctor and his books: the manuscripts of Roger Marchall (d. 1477)', in R. Beadle and A. J. Piper (eds.), New science out of old books: studies in manuscripts and early printed books in honour of A.I. Doyle (Aldershot, 1995) pp. 249-314

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Second folio, p. 11: ad se
Form: codex
Support: A composite manuscript with writing substrates of both parchment and paper.
Extent: Codex: 1 + 4 | 12 | 12 | 44 | 82 | 12 | 5 | 53 | 30 | 8 | 1 leaves, plus 1 loose fragment.
Foliation:

19th-century pagination with 20th- and 21st-century corrections.

i-ii | 1-8 | 9-32 | 33-56 | 57-69, [69a], 70, [70a], 71-93, [93a], 94, [94a], 95-140 | 141-304 | 305-328 | 329-338 | 339-377, [377a], 378, [378a], 379-442 | 443-502 | 503-518 | 519-520 | [fragment_front]-[fragment_back]

Paginated in ink in Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper outer corner of each recto. A 20th-century hand has added the designation 'i' in pencil to the first endleaf. There are some mistakes in the ink pagination sequence, and in order to create a functional TEI/XML catalogue record the incorrect page designations have been assigned virtual designations within this record; all virtual designations assigned to the main pagination sequence by the Curious Cures project are enclosed in [square brackets] in this record. A loose fragment of parchment - bearing writing, evidently originating from a different source manuscript and seemingly in use here as a bookmark - was found between pp. 366 and 367. For the purposes of this record, this has not been paginated but instead has been assigned a descriptive label; the images are displayed in the same position as the fragment is located in the manuscript.

Collation

This is a composite manuscript with the Parts comprised of both parchment and paper quires; in addition, there are medieval parchment and paper binding fragments, and a loose parchment fragment in the volume. The bound parchment and paper leaves are arranged as follows:

  • One parchment endleaf (pp. i-ii) +
  • Four parchment endleaves (pp. 1-8) |
  • Quire 112 (pp. 9-32) |
  • Quire 212 (pp. 33-56) |
  • Quire 38 (pp. 57-69, [69a], 70, [70a])
  • Quire 412 (pp. 71-93, [93a]: misbound, the first bifolium now between the 3rd and the 4th bifolium)
  • Quires 5-612 (pp. 94, [94a], 95-140) |
  • Quires 7-812 (pp. 141-188)
  • Quire 910 (pp. 189-208)
  • Quires 10-1112 (pp. 209-256)
  • Quire 128 (pp. 257-272)
  • Quire 1312+4 (pp. 273-304: 4 leaves added at the end of the quire) |
  • Quire 1412 (pp. 305-328) |
  • Quire 1510 (pp. 329-338) |
  • Quires 16-17 16 (pp. 339-377, [377a], 378, [378a], 379-400)
  • Quire 1816+2 (pp. 401-436: bifolium added at the end of the quire)
  • Quire 194-1 (pp. 437-442: 1st leaf cancelled, stub visible) |
  • Quire 2014 (pp. 443-470)
  • Quires 21-228 (pp. 471-502) |
  • Quire 238 (pp. 503-518) +
  • One parchment flyleaf (pp. 519-520)

pp. i-ii + 1-8 | 112 | 212 (pp. 33-56) | 38 412 5-612 | 7-812 910 10-1112 128 1312+4 (4 leaves added at the end of the quire) 1412 | 1510 | 16-17 16 1816+2 (bifolium added at the end of the quire) 194-1 (1st leaf cancelled) | 2014 21-228 | 238 + pp. 519-520

No leaf signatures common to the entire volume.

No quire signatures common to the entire volume.

No catchwords common to the entire volume.

Binding

Fully bound in leather over paste- or mill- boards with matching decoration in blind to front and rear covers. Covers are decorated with two concentric triple-fillet frames, the first set at the perimeter of the board and the second inset by c. 15mm. The adjacent corners of the outer and inner frames are joined by a triple fillet. Decorative arcaded roll on the cover material over the head, fore and tail edges of the boards, and on the turn ins.

Five raised bands on spine. Spine compartments are decorated with a triple-fillet along their upper and lower perimeters. Head and tail bands in alternating segments of cream and blue yarn. Brown leather title label fixed to spine, now partially torn away; originally perhaps 'TRACTATUS ALCHEMICI' tooled in gold. Two small printed paper labels fixed to spine, '214' and '181' for the current shelfmark.

Paper pastedowns pasted over the turn ins. Pastedowns are waste from a printed book and have been inserted 'upside down' relative to the rest of the volume. The front pastedown contains a Gonville and Caius bookplate with the number '214' written on it in red ink, and a small paper label with the number '181' in brown ink pasted directly below the bookplate. The pastedowns are slightly wormed, and through the wormholes, leaves from a different printed book can be seen below.

There is a strip from a ?13th century manuscript pasted over each of the hinges

Binding dimensions (L x W x D): 225 x 145 x 50 mm

It is likely that a former binding for the volume was constructed with wooden boards; there is worm damage throughout the volume, with the majority of the holes concentrated on the outermost leaves.

Accompanying Material

A fragment of parchment from a 13th-century manuscript, c. 15 x 65mm, loose between pp. 366-367.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

First recorded as part of the collection of Gonville and Caius College in 1600 as no. 31 in the Ecloga Oxonio-Cantabrigiensis by Thomas James (1600); this catalogue number is present in brown ink in the upper margin of p. 9. However, the manuscript is likely to have been at Gonville Hall (as it then was) since the later part of the 15th century as it has annotations in the hand of physician and College manuscript donor, Roger Marchall (c. 1417-1477) . Marchall is known to have given several other medical volumes to the College. Marchall added the table of contents on p. 8. See Voigts (1995) for further discussion.

Part 1: pastedowns made from an incunable of the Super sexto Decretalium by Dominicus de Sancto Geminiano [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, front and rear pastedowns ]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. front and rear pastedowns
Super sexto Decretalium Dominicus de Sancto Geminiano
Language(s): Latin

These two leaves are from a work printed in two parts in Venice by Baptista de Tortis c. 1495-1496. There is a digitised copy online at , which shows the text with minor typesetting variations when compared to the Gonville and Caius MS 181/214 pastedowns.

See ISTC id00313000, (Vol 2, ff. 124rv) https://data.cerl.org/istc/id00313000

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Paper, no watermark visible.
Extent: Fragment, comprising two parts of a leaf from an incunable, reused as the front and rear pastedowns. 2 fragments from a single leaf, cut into two and pasted down. 210 × 127 mm.

Condition

Slightly wormed, but in good condition. Mounted in the volume 'upside down' relative to the main textblock.

Layout

Each pastedown contains part of a single column of text, cut down substantially from the original size. 137 × 100 mm. 31 printed lines of text visible.

Accompanying Material

Gonville and Caius bookplate present on the front pastedown, with the number '214' added in red ink and the number '181' added in black ink on a small pasted-in paper label.

History

Origin: c. 1495-1496. ; Venice.

Baptista de Tortis printed this text in two volumes in 1495-1496 and seems to have reissued the second volume again in 1496 to fix typographical and typesetting errors. It is not clear if this volume is from the first or second issue of the text. Date and place of origin derived from the ISTC bibliographical details for this item.

See ISTC id00313000 https://data.cerl.org/istc/id00313000

Part 2: Fragments from a medieval manuscript used as hinge reinforcements [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, fragments used as hinge reinforcements ]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. front and rear hinge reinforcements
Unidentified text
Language(s): Latin

Two narrow strips of parchment cut from a manuscript and used to reinforce the hinges in this volume. The text has not been identified, but some words can be partially reconstructed and some of the text is a close match for the text for the commemoration of Theodore in the Use of Sarum. Text visible (and supplied where obvious): ‘theodoru ... dixit . Adq ... odore abs ... sacrifica ... theodorus ... si carnes m⟨eas⟩ ... ’ etc.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: Fragment, comprising two contiguous strips used to reinforce the hinges of Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214. 2 leaves. | 210 × 14-16 mm.

Condition

Two thin contiguous strips cut from a larger leaf. The strips are crinkled due to their placement over hinges, and the few visible letters are difficult to read due to the topography and position of the fragments over the hinges.

Layout

No ruling visible. 21 written lines visible on left hinge strip, 22 written lines visible on right hinge strip.

Hand(s)

Written in a northern textualis formata.

Decoration

Parts of a red initial T with blue flourishing visible on both strips.

History

Origin: Late 12th century or the first half of the 13th century. ; Probably England or France.

Date and place of origin based on palaeographical features.

Part 3: Parchment flyleaves [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, pp. i-ii and 519-520]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. i-ii
Blank leaf
2. 519
Medical recipe
Language(s): Latin

The first parchment flyleaf (pp. i-ii) is blank).

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: Codex: 2 leaves. | 210 × 135 mm.

Collation

Two endleaves of extremely thick and rigid parchment.

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

Extremely thick and rigid parchment, probably used as the pastedowns in a former binding. Adhesive residue on p. i and p. 520.

Layout

Unruled. Text informally written in the middle of an endleaf.

Hand(s)

Text on p. 519 written in an informal cursiva antiquior.

History

Origin: ?14th century. ; Probably England.

Date and place of origin based on palaeographical features.

Part 4: Leaves from a legal manuscript [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, pp. 1-8]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 1-8
Decretum Gratian
Language(s): Latin

Four leaves from a copy of the Decretum of ???. The leaves have been bound sideways relative to the text-orientation in the rest of the volume. The text on the leaves is as follows:

  • Page 1: Decretum III 26.14-15
  • Page 1: Decretum III 26.14-15

In March 2024, Dr James Freeman observed that pp. 1-8 in Cambridge, Gonville and Caius, MS 181/214 derive from the same manuscript source as Gonville and Caius College, MS 178/211 , ff. [i]-[iv]; in both cases four leaves from a legal manuscript have been inserted sideways and used as flyleaves at the beginning of a volume of medical texts. Both Gonville and Caius MS 178/211 and MS 181/214 were owned by Roger Marchall , and both sets of flyleaves were used by him to record his name and a list of the contents of the respective volumes on the last page (i.e., Gonville and Caius MS 181/214, p. 8 and Gonville and Caius MS 178/211, f. [iv] verso) of that group of endleaves. Both volumes have been rebound since Marchall's death in 1477, but it is plausible that each binding may have resembled the other's in Marchall's lifetime as the shared source of endleaves, both with Marchall annotations, suggest that they were both bound by the same workshop on Marchall's behalf.

2. 8
List of the contents of the volume Roger Marchall
Language(s): Latin

The list (also printed in Voigts 1995 with minor variations in transcription) is headed 'Contenta in hoc Volumine sunt ista' and contains the following Marchall-numbered items:

  • 1. Sentencie libri Metheorum Aristotelis
  • 2. Tractatus Alkimie
  • 3. Summa Geberi philosophi in arte alkimica
  • 4. Opus domini Bonefacii pape 4ti in arte alkimica
  • 5. Breuiarium Rogeri bacon in alkimia
  • 6. Exposicio dictorum hermetis per Martinum ortolanum
  • 7. Alius tractatus alkimie
  • 8. Rosarium artis alkimice
  • 9. Exposicio eiusdem
  • 10. Lilium artis alkimice
  • 11. Alius tractatus alkimie
  • 12. Rosarium editum per Magistrum Johannem dastyun anglicum
  • 13. Capitulum hermetis cum questionibus Regis Kalid
  • 14. Dicta Rasis et Auicenna in arte alkimica

See L. Voigts, 'A doctor and his books: the manuscripts of Roger Marchall (d. 1477)', in R. Beadle and A. J. Piper (eds.), New science out of old books: studies in manuscripts and early printed books in honour of A.I. Doyle (Aldershot, 1995) pp. 249-314, esp. p. 271

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment (FHHF).
Extent: Codex: 4 endleaves. 210 × 135 mm.

Collation

Four parchment flyleaves (pp. 1-8)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

Leaves are lightly wormed, but are generally in good condition. The leaves are mounted 'sideways' relative to the rest of the volume; some text has been lost to the gutter-fold and to trimming.

Layout

100 Ruled in ink, frame and lines. Due to the reuse of these leaves as endleaves, and their 'sideways' mounting within the volume, some facets of the original layout cannot be determined. The legal text was ruled in two-column format with generous margins for annotations; the width of the outer bounds of the columns is c. 100mm. The later list of the contents of the volume by Marchall is placed in what was the lower margin of the legal text; the list of the contents is unruled, but makes use of some of the frame-ruling for the legal text.

Hand(s)

The legal text is written in a northern textualis libraria.

Decoration

No significant decorative features in this Part.

Additions

The number '181' in ink on p. 1 for the shelfmark.

History

Origin: Probably 13th century. ; Probably England.

Date and place of origin based on palaeographical features.

Provenance

With the rest of the volume by 1477 at the latest as it has a list of the contents of the volume in Roger Marchall's (d. 1477) hand, and Marchall's signature at the bottom of p. 8. Other leaves from this manuscript were also used as endleaves in another Marchall-owned manuscript: Cambridge, Gonville and Caius, MS 178/211, ff. [i]-[iv].

Part 5: Texts on natural philosophy [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, pp. 9-32]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 9-18
Sententiae on Aristotle's Meteorologica
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 9 Sentencie libri Metheororum Aristotelis
Incipit: 9 Postquam precessit rememoracio de rebus naturalibus primis et cetera . In corporibus rotundis mobilibus circularibus non est diuersitas neque mutacio
Explicit: 18 reducantur materiam . Hoc autem per solam liquefaccionem uel aliud arcificium non fit(?).
Final rubric: 18 Explicit liber metheororum

Rubric added in upper margin of p. 9 by Roger Marchall.

eTK 0668M (t0129250000)
2. 19-32
Ars alchemiae Michael Scot
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 19 Tractatus alkimie
Incipit: 19 Cum animaduerterem nobilem scienciam apud latinos penitus denegatam . uidi neminem ad perfeccionem uenire posse .
Explicit: 32 libram argenti uiui . et libram unam alluminis glacie . et libram unam coporose. ||

Rubric added in upper margin of p. 19 by Roger Marchall.

Ends abruptly, final word 'coporose' is a catchword.

eTK 0281H

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Second folio, p. 11: ad se aquam et aggregat paulatin[sic]
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (FHHF).
Extent: Codex: 12 leaves. | 210 × 135 mm.

Collation

One quire of 12 leaves:| Quire 112 (pp. 9-32)

Alphabetical leaf signatures (a-f) in faint crayon in the lower margins of the rectos in the first half of the quire.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

Catchword 'coporose' in the lower margin of p. 32, the original subsequent quire now missing.

Condition

Some minor stains and abrasions, but generally in good condition. Some marginal annotations now very faint and nearly illegible. Damage from a metal object in the form of rust stains visible in the upper margin of pp. 23-24.

Layout

160 × 95 mm. Ruled in ink, frame and lines. Ruled in single-column format, typically 34 lines to the page and written below top line.

Hand(s)

Written in the Anglicana form of Cursiva Antiquior.

Decoration

Sketch of a crowned figure in ?crayon the lower margin of p. 12.

Flourished initials (blue letter, red florushing) on p. 9.

Plain initals in blue at the minor (and some major) divisions of the text throughout this Part.

Frequent paraph marks in red and blue throughout.

History

Origin: Second half of the 13th century. ; Probably England.

Date and place of origin based on palaeographical features.

Part 6: the Summa perfectionis magisterii of Geber [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, pp. 33-56 ]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 33-56
Summa perfectionis magisterii Pseudo-Geber (Pseudo-Jabir ibn Hayyan)
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 33-56 Incipit Summa Geberi
Incipit: 33 Totam nostram scienciam quam ex libris antiquorum abbreuiauimus compilacione diuersa in nostris uolumibus(?)
Explicit: 56 eius itaque per assensum[sic] est du⟨ple⟩x alia est ||

This text does not actually conclude at the end of this Part, but instead continues into the next Part, which derives from manuscript of different origin. The compiler of this manuscript (perhaps Roger Marchall) has placed the first parchment quire belonging to this text with a larger section written on paper by a different scribe.

eTK 1576A

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Second folio, p. 35): suo srr . Similiter in puncto subueniret
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (FHHF).
Extent: Codex: 12 leaves. | 210 × 135 mm.

Collation

One quire of 12 leaves:| Quire 212 (pp. 33-56)

Alphanumeric leaf signatures in very faint brown ink in the lower outer corner of the rectos in the first half of the quire. The signatures have the designation 'a' followed by a Hindu-Arabic numeral in the medieval form.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

Catchwords in the lower margin of the last verso of the quire (p. 56), 'cum fictili olla'; the original subsequent quire is gone, but the replacement (beginning at p. 57) begins at the correct place in the text. There appears to be an erased catchword that was once enclosed in a red frame below the existing catchword.

Condition

The leaves are in generally good condition, although in places there is not much contrast between the colour of the ink and the parchment. The first leaf in this Part, p. 33 is quite rubbed and stained and parts of the text are barely legible. Some small ?rust spots in the centre of the fore edge (see p. 56) may be a trace of a metal clasp on a former binding.

Layout

155 × 105 mm. Ruled in ink, frame and lines. Ruled in single-column format, typically 42 lines to to the page and written below top line.

Hand(s)

Written in a neat hybrida libraria with some formata elements.

Decoration

Plain initials in blue at the major and minor divisions of the text.

Rubricated titles to the major and minor divisions of the text.

Paraph marks in red.

Flourished ascenders along the top-line of most leaves; the flourishing includes 'teeth' or 'spines' on the ascenders and small sprays of blossoms or berries, see e.g., p. 37.

Guide letters for major and minor initals present within the matrix of the initial.

Binding

Traces of the fastening of a former binding possibly visible as ?rust spots at the centre of the fore edge of some leaves in this Part, see e.g., p. 56).

History

Origin: Late 14th or early 15th century. ; Perhaps France.

Date and place of origin based on palaeographical features.

Part 7: the Summa perfectionis magisterii of Geber [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, pp. 57-69 [69a]-70 [70a]-93 [93a]-94 [94a]-140]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 57-139
Summa perfectionis magisterii Pseudo-Geber (Pseudo-Jabir ibn Hayyan)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: || 57 cum fictili olla cineribus plena perfictur
Explicit: 139 operatus Inueniet et post complementum operis nos verum inuestigasse(?)
Final rubric: 139 Explicit Summa Geberis philosophi cum duobus aliis libris inuestigationis perfeccionis magisterii . in arte alkimie multum necessaris

This is a continuation of the text that began in the previous Part of the manuscript on p. 33. The text in this Part continues directly from the text in the previous Part.

eTK 1576A
2. 139
Medical recipes
Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Second folio, p. 59: tum ...(?) continuitatem eius separare[sic] ut ignis liberus
Form: codex
Support: Paper, folded in quarto. No watermarks visible.
Extent: Codex: 44 leaves. | 210 × 135 mm.

Collation

Four quires, three of 12 leaves and one of 8 leaves. Quire 4, pp. 71-[93a] is misbound, and the leaves are presented out of sequence with the six bifolia stacked from outermost to innermost as 2, 3, 4, 1, 5, 6. The misbinding of has the consequence that the catchword at the end of Quire 3 does not appear to be in alignment with the subsequent text-leaf, and the catchword in Quire 4 appears in the wrong place within the Quire. As the leaves in Quire 4 have medieval alphanumeric leaf signatures, the correct order of the leaves can be quickly determined. The Quires in this Part are arranged as follows:

  • Quire 38 (pp. 57-69 [69a]-70 [70a])
  • Quire 412 (misbound, the first bifolium now between the 3th and the 4th bifolium; pp. 71-93 [93a])
  • Quires 5-612 (pp. 94 [94a]-140)

Alphanumeric leaf signatures in ink in the lower outer corner of the rectos in the first half of each quire. The signatures have the format 'a1, a2, a3' etc, and use the typical medival forms of the Hindu-Arabic numerals. Quire 3 has the signature 'b', Quire 4 has the signature 'c', Quire '5' has the signature 'd', and Quire '6' has the signature 'e'.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

Catchwords present in the lower margin of the last verso of each quire. Due to the misbinding of Quire 4, Quire 3's catchword does not appear to match the text on the subsequent recto, and Quire 4's catchword appears out of sequence, but if the correct order of the leaves is imagined following the leaf signatures, then the catchwords and subsequent leaves are textually aligned.

Condition

In good condition with some minor stains and worming. Quire 4, pp. 71-[93a] is misbound and the leaves are not presented in the correct order.

Layout

155 × 105 mm. Ruled in single-column format, frame only. Ruled in light brown ink and written, typically, 37 lines to the page, with the grain of the paper used to guide the writing. Written below top line.

Hand(s)

Written in a cursiva libraria with some 'Anglicana' features.

Decoration

Plain blue initials in the 'Lombardic capital' style at the major and minor divisions of the text.

Headings to the major and minor divisions of the text are rubricated.

Binding

Small hole in the centre of pp. 139-140, perhaps caused by a metal fitting or fastening on a previous binding.

History

Origin: Probably 15th century (before 1477). ; Possibly England.

Date and place of origin based on palaeographical features.

Provenance

This Part appears to have been written to continue the text found in the previous Part (pp. 33-56 and thus provide a complete copy of the Summa perfectionis magisterii of Pseudo-Geber (Pseudo-Jabir ibn Hayyan). The text in this Part begins exactly where the text in the previous Part ends, and this Part and the previous Part share a series of alphanumeric leaf signatures 'a'-'e' written in what appears to be the same hand across both parts. This sequence does not continue into the next Part of the manuscript and appears to be restricted to the leaves of the Summa perfectionis magisterii.

Part 8: medical and alchemical texts [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, pp. 141-304 ]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 141-146
Alchemical text
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 141 Habere primum verbum huius operis est corporis in aquam id est in M⟨ercurio⟩ reduccio
Explicit: 146 omnia bona sub celo procedunt . laudetur deus gloriosus per cuncta seculorum secula.

The text is attributed to Pope Boniface IV in Roger Marchall's list of the contents of this manuscript where it is his Item 4: 'Opus domini Bonefacii pape 4ti in arte alkimica'.

A similar text can be found in Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, MS Latin 14006, ff. 45v-48r

eTK 0593J (t0115520000)
2. 147
De secretis naturae Pseudo-Arnaldus de Villanova
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 147 Scito fili quod in hoc libro loquamur de secretis nature
Explicit: 147 quod sunt oua fatui(?) autem intellegentes ||

Text ends abruptly in the middle of Chapter 1.4 in the Calvet edition.

Pages 148-153 inclusive are blank.

Text edited and translated into French in A. Calvet, (ed. and trans.), Les œuvres alchimiques attribuées à Arnaud de Villeneuve : grand œuvre, médecine et prophétie au Moyen-Âge, Textes et travaux de Chrysopœia 11 (Paris, 2011), esp. pp. 207-233 and 485-524
3. 154-157
Secretum secretorum Emericus de Monteforti
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 154 Extrahitur lapis noster benedictus a vera minera tempore vernali cum virga tala
Explicit: 157 promittere quam possum soluere . Sufficit mihi clauis argentea ad seram auream aperiendam .
Final rubric: 157 Explicit tractatus nobilis uiri Emerici de monte forti

Also in Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.7.35 , ff. 204v-213r

eTK 0546I
4. 157-164
De corporibus et spiritibus Archealus
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 157 Incipit in nomine domini breuis exposicio summe tocius libri mineralis operis maioris et minoris
Explicit: 164 per pannum id est per sacculum et dimitte(?) residere donec erit clarum ||

This is a commentary on Hermes, Tabula Smaragdina.

Text ends abruptly at the bottom of p. 164. The final three words transcribed for the explicit ('donec erit clarum') are catchwords, but the text on the next page (p. 165) is part of a new text.

This item is not in the R. Marchall list of the contents of the volume.

eTK 0181
5. 165-168
Opus cum sequentibus lapidibus albis et rubeis
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 165 Opus domini Bonifacii papae quarti cum sequentibus lapidibus albis et rubeis
Incipit: 165 Infrascripte dealbicaciones perfecciones rubificaciones tam metallorum quam aliarum rerum sunt experte et approbate .
Explicit: 168 serum inspissari pone parum de melle in sero et erit totum factum
Final rubric: 168 Explicit

This text is ascribed to Pope Boniface IV in the rubric.

6. 178
Alchemical recipes
Language(s): Latin

Large group of short alchemical recipes. The first one begins ‘'Recipe mercurii libram j et quartam partem unius libre et ad hoc pondus 5 solidos argenti boni'’. The last recipe ends imperfectly ‘ 'separabis et repone et illud ignis est. Accipe olium[sic] et distilla adhuc'’.

The lower half of p. 178 is blank and p. 179 is also blank.

7. 180-182
Alchemical recipes

Group of short alchemical recipes. The first recipe begins ‘'Separacio elementorum in sanguine ouis et capillis . Recipe vnus de istis et mitte in distillatorio super furnum in omnibus super lentum ignem'’. The final recipe ends ‘'et aperi et inuenies aquam et olium[sic] que reserua'’.

Most of p. 182 is blank, p. 183 is also blank.

8. 184-188
Alchemical recipes
Language(s): Latin

Group of short alchemical recipes. The first one begins ‘'Recipe omnes de quo fit vitrum et mole et pone in olla vitreata'’ and the final recipe ends ‘'id est spiritus a 4 corporibus extrahitur(?) Reymundus super tractatum Bacon'’.

9. 189-208
Breue breuiarium de dono dei pseudo-Roger Bacon
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 189 Breuiarium Rogeri Bacon in arte alkimica
Incipit: 189 Incipit breue breuiarium fratris Rogeri Bacon de domo dei(?) . Breue breuiarium breuiter abbreuiatum sufficit intelligenti si fuerit diligens
Explicit: 208 ponatur ad subliminandum inter duos lectos puluerum cum quibus sublimatur ad spissitudinem ||

Title in the upper margin of p. 189 in the hand of Roger Marchall (c. 1417-1477) .

Text ends abruptly at the end of a quire. Catchword in the lower margin of p. 208, but a different text begins on the subsequent page.

Edition of the text (not from this MS) in Sanioris medicinae magistri Rogeri Baconis de arte chymiae scripta (Frankfurt, 1603), pp. 95-263
eTK 0180N
10. 209-213
Expositio dictorum hermetis in alkimia Martinus Ortolanus
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 209 Expositio dictorum hermetis in alkimia per martinum ortolanum
Incipit: (prologue) 209 Laus honor virtus et gloria tibi sit domine deus pater optime cum dilecto filio tuo domino nostro iesu christo
Incipit: (text) 209 Ego autem ortolanus abhortus . martinus nuncupatus iacobina pelle volutus nouissimus philosophorum
Explicit: 213 sunt ad vnum finem. Et hec tibi sufficiunt in lapide philosophico componendo
Final rubric: 213 hic ortolanus finitur dogmate sanus . Hunc diuina manus seruet ; Censusque planus Amen

Title in the upper margin of p. 209 in the hand of Roger Marchall (c. 1417-1477) .

Text is sometimes known as the 'Commentary of Hermes on the Emerald Tablet'.

eTK 0813H (prologue)
eTK 0486E (main text)
11. 213-219
Speculum alchimiae pseudo-Roger Bacon
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: (prologue) 213 Multifarie multisque modis loquebantur olim philosophi
Incipit: (text) 214 In pluribus antiquorum satis quid sit alkimia aperte inuenitur codicibus artis huius diffinicione
Explicit: 219 digno ueritatis cognicio ueritatis relucescat(?) et bifurcata appareat Cuius hec est fi⟨gur⟩a
Final rubric: 219 Explicit

The final line of the text suggests that a diagram or figure should accompany this text, but there is no diagram or figure in the manuscript.

Edition of the text (not from this MS) in L. Zetzner, Theatrum Chemicum (Strassburg 1622-1659), vol. 2, pp. 377-433.
eTK 0888G (prologue)
eTK 0702E (main text)
12. 219-226
Lilium Paradis
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 219 Naturam circa lunam et solem ceterosque planetas atque circa medicinam intendentibus exaltare salutem
Explicit: 226 operando ad 2am et 3am partem regiminis itaque rex diademate rubeo corone ||

This text is probably incomplete as it ends abruptly. Another version of this text can be found on pp. 329-338.

This text is often attributed to William of Tunis or William of Sarne.

Pages 227-232 blank.

eTK 0904E
13. 233-259
Rosarius philosophorum John Dastin
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 233 Desiderabile desiderium impreciabile precium a cunctis philosophis positum non deponitur
Explicit: 259 completur secretum secretorum uere maximum quod est super omne mundi preciosum preciosissimum
Final rubric: 259 preciosum preciosissimum explicit Rosarium

Other versions of this text on pp. 273-302 and pp. 341-370.

eTK 0403E
14. 260
Extract from the Alumen de Hispania
Language(s): Latin

Full transcription:| ‘Nota ligacionum per versus | Maria lux roris ligam ligat in 3bus horis | Filia plutonis consortia iungit amoris | Gummis cum binis fugitiuum figit in ymis | Horis in cruris tria uincula(?) fortia finis | Cognacio(?) mortifico separo coquendo marito ’

This is a short extract from a much longer poem discussed and edited in A. Timmerman, Verse and Transmutation. The text in Gonville and Caius MS 181/214 does not appear to be a close match for other surviving versions of the poem as some of the lines are in a different order, and there are some lines of verse here that do not seem to exist in other copies of the poem.

There are two alchemical diagrams above the poem.

To the right of the poem is a note in the same hand ‘'Corpus materiam continet et a fuga omnino prohibet'’.

See A. Timmermann, Verse and Transmutation: A Corpus of Middle English Alchemical Poetry (Critical Editions and Studies) (Brill, 2013), pp. 305-311
15. 260
Unidentified alchemical text
Language(s): Latin
16. 261-263
Clauis minoris sapientiae portae
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 261 senior ⟨ ⟩ clauis minoris sapiencie ⟨ ⟩ porta auicenna(?) ⟨ ⟩ statue Ioseph
Incipit: 261 In hac tabula prescripta sunt sex spere depicte et in principio de tribus tantum facio mencionem
Explicit: 263 aqua que vt supradixi cum eo firmata in colore albo quam fixata ||

Irregular spacing in the title in the upper margin of p. 261. Attributed to 'Joseph'. The opening lines refer to a table 'In hac tabula', but there is no table in the manuscript. The text appears to be incomplete at the end.

Another alchemical work with the tile ‘Clauis minoris sapiencie’ features in Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 200/106, pp. 190-95 .

Pages 264-272 are blank.

eTK 0675B
17. 273-302
Rosarius philosophorum John Dastin
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: (prologue) 273 Laus sit deo patri qui dat sapienciam
Incipit: (text) 273 Desiderabile desiderium impreciabile precium a cunctis philosophis positum est non deponitur
Explicit: 302 operis albi est principium rubij . Iam didicisti karissime album facere g⟨radum⟩ rubium facere ||

This text appears to be incomplete at the end.

This text is heavily annotatated in the margins by the main scribe and at least one other contemporary scribe.

eTK 0813K (prologue)
eTK 0403E (main text)
18. 303
Unidentified alchemical text
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 303 Natura circularitur operatur qua natura seipsam dissoluit et congelat
Explicit: 303 fixacione et albificacione vltimo rubescere redit in ipsum a quo habuerit inicium ||

This text appears to be incomplete at the end.

Page 304 blank.

eTK 0900H (t0173810000)

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Second folio, p. 143: vere cum concipis(?)
Form: codex
Support: Paper, folded in folded in octauo, no identifiable watermarks.
Extent: Codex: 82 leaves. 210 × 135 mm.

Collation

  • Quires 7-812 (pp. 141-188
  • Quire 910 (pp. 189-208)
  • Quires 10-1112 (pp. 209-256)
  • Quire 128 (pp. 257-272)
  • Quire 1312+4 (pp. 273-304: 4 leaves added at the end of the quire)

Occasional leaf signatures on sequences of leaves in this Part, e.g., pp. 169, 171, 173 have medieval leaf signatures '3', '4' and '5' in ink in their lower margins.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

Condition

Leaves are generally in good condition. Worming repaired with conservation tissue. Some small rips, tears, and stains. Some marginal annotations lost to trimming, e.g., p. 291, lower margin.

Layout

180 × 100 mm. The majority of this Part is unruled, and written in single-column format, typically 42 lines to the page.

Hand(s)

Pages 141-260 and 273-302 appear to all be the work of one scribe who wrote a cursiva libraria with many anglicana features.

The majority of this Part is in the hand of one scribe, but another scribe copied the text on pp. 261-263 writing a somewhat current cursiva with anglicana features. This scribe does not seem to be the same person who copied pp. 303.

The majority of this Part is in the hand of one scribe, but another scribe copied the text on pp. 303 writing a somewhat current cursiva with anglicana features. This scribe does not seem to be the same person who copied pp. 261-263.

Decoration

Plain blue initials at the opening of the texts on pp. 141 and 273.

Two diagrams in brown ink in the upper half of p. 260.

Additions

An alchemical instruction at the bottom of p. 146: 'Lapis noster in vase iugiter maneat clausus donec suam biberit humiditatem' in the same hand as the text on pp. 141-147.

History

Origin: 15th century, probably first half. ; Probably England.

Date and place of origin based on palaeographical features.

Part 9@ John Dastin, Verbum abbreuiatum de transmutatione [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, pp. 305-328]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 305-327
Verbum abbreuiatum de transmutatione John Dastin
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 305 Cum gaudeant uti breuitatem moderni verbum abbreuiatum verissimum et approbatum de transmutacione inferiorum planetarum
Explicit: 327 digitis in lance uirenti Ut 2o que fuerant sonum(?) quasi corpore fiant ||
Final rubric: 327 Explicit
eTK 0300F
eTK 0900H (t0173810000) (p. 307)
2. 327-328
Philosophia naturalis de aquis et salibus
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 327 ⟨C⟩um sit quedam medicinam a philosophis nuncupata
Incipit: 327 Cum uniuersa uolumina philosophie tamquam uagabundus obseruans perlustrum ad perscrutandum
Explicit: 328 luminum Non potest calidum nisi frigidi et frigidum nisi calidi adiunccionis modo ||

This text ends abruptly, so it is probably incomplete.

eTK 0349J

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Second folio, p. 307: et suorum qualiatum ac eorum
Form: codex
Support: Paper, no watermarks visible.
Extent: Codex: 12 leaves. | 215 × 140 mm.

Collation

One quire of 12 leaves:| Quire 1412 (pp. 305-328)

The leaves in the first half of this quire are signed 'a'-'f' in ink in the lower outer corner of each recto.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

The first leaf in this Part, pp. 305-306 is very stained. Some marginal annotations lost to trimming. As this Part is relatively worn and stained, and as it has clearly been trimmed after the marginal annotations were added, it is probable that this Part was stored and perhaps bound separately before becoming a Part of what is now Gonville and Caius MS 181/214.

Layout

180 × 130 mm. No visible ruling in this Part, the scribe seems to have relied on the grain of the paper to regularise their writing. Written in single-column format, typically 40 lines to the page.

Hand(s)

Written in a cursiva antiquior with some anglicana features.

Decoration

No notable decorative features in this Part.

History

Origin: Probably 15th century. ; Probably England.

Part 10: Lilium paradis [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, pp. 329-338]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 329-338
Lilium Paradis
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 329 Lilium
Incipit: 329 Naturam circa solam et lunem ceterosque planetas atque circa medicinam intendentibus exaltare salutem
Explicit: 338 Amen. Magister apud quem fui operatus perfecit hoc opus in occoginta diebus.
Final rubric: 338 Explicit hoc nobilissimum opus atque verissimum

Another version of this text on pp. 219-226.

This text is often attributed to William of Tunis or William of Sarne.

eTK 0904E

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Second folio, p. 331: et rubifaciunt
Form: codex
Support: Paper, no watermarks visible.
Extent: Codex: 5 leaves. 215 × 140 mm.

Collation

This Part is comprised of a small, stab-sewn booklet of 5 leaves, perhaps 2 consecutive bifolia, and then a final singleton:| - Quire 1510 (pp. 329-338)

Leaf signatures in ink in Roman numerals in the lower outer corner of each recto, numbered 'i-u'.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

In generally good condition. Leaves have several liquid and grease stains and some of the text below the stains is now difficult to read.

Layout

170 × 105 mm. Ruled in drypoint, frame and lines. Ruled in single column format, typically 50 lines to the page and written below top line.

Hand(s)

Written in a small cursiva antiquior with some anglicana features.

Decoration

Plain initials 3-7 lines high at the major and minor divisions of the text in black ink, some with minor decorative flourishes or dots.

Chapter and section titles in red ink.

Paraph marks in red.

Additions

A word, perhaps the name 'Anne' in faint ink in a pastiche of textualis formata in the lower margin of p. 338.

History

Origin: 15th century (before 1477). ; Probably England.

Date and place of origin based on palaeographical features.

Part 11: Alchemical and Medical texts [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, pp. 339-377 [377a]-378 [378a]-442]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 339-370
Rosarius philosophorum John Dastin
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 339 Rosarium expertus Iohannes Dawstyn nuncupatus(?)
Incipit: 339 Disiderabile desiderium impreciabile precium et a cunctis philosophis positum non deponitur
Explicit: 370 preparacionis huius tertij medicine resultat bonitas et alteracionis multiplicacio et cetera cetera

Other versions of this text on pp. 233-259 and 273-302.

Title in upper margin of p. 339 partially trimmed away.

Bookmark made from a fragment of a 13th century copy of Aristotle's De anima found between pp. 368-369.

eTK 0403E
2. 371-374
De sex rerum principiis pseudo-Hermes Trismegistus
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 371 Capitulum Hermetis
Incipit: 371 Legimus in hystorijs veterum diuinorum 3es fuisse philosophos quorum uniusquisque vocabatur Hermes
Explicit: 374 vestra si⟨bi⟩ ponite . Si vero veritatis naturas ignoraris nolite huic operi appropinquare
Final rubric: 374 Explicit capitulum hermetis

This text is sometimes attributed to Hermes Trismegistus or to Robert of Chester .

eTK 0815F
3. 374-377, [377a], 378, [378a], 379-380
Khalid rex et Morienus Romanus
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 374 questiones Kalid regis ad Morienum Romanum
Incipit: 374 Moriene ; Manifesta mihi magisterium lapidis philosophorum . Morienus O. Kalid Hoc magisterium ex una sola re fieri consueuit
Explicit: 380 omnia talia ad hoc magisterium sunt vana et invtilia malum exitum habencia
Final rubric: 380 Explicit Morienus
eTK 0882B
4. 380-383
Flores secretorum
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 380 Flores secretorum Rasis de regimine 4 naturarum
Incipit: 380 In dei nomine amen . Scito fili quod sapientes in hoc opere scilicet lapidis philosophorum
Explicit: 383 loco emathitis 73 34 ⟨dragmas⟩ .x. administrare conuenit vt sic premissi capituli sequatur effectus
Final rubric: 383 Expliciunt flores secretorum Rasis

This text is attributed to Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn Zakarīyā Rāzī (al-Razi) in this manuscript; in other manuscripts, it is sometimes attributed to Hermes Trismegistus .

eTK 1408D
5. 383-384
Interrogationes Uthesie ad Mariam
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 383 Interrogaciones Vthecie ad Mariam
Incipit: 383 Cum queris quid spiritus occultatus in sulphure et arsenico Rubeo .
Explicit: 384 superius ve⟨nc⟩ibus ad masculinum et femininum . est preferenda . hec dicta sufficiunt intelligenti
Final rubric: 384 Expliciunt interrogaciones Vthecie
eTK 0334C
6. 384-385
Expositio epistole Clementis
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 384 Exposicio epistole Clementis
Incipit: 384 Interrogacioni vestre de secretis nature . Respondens ; vobis scribo taliter , quod spiritus occultatus
Explicit: 385 improuiso penetrat , penetrando in alterius metelli[sic] formam scilicet solis vel lune permutat
Final rubric: 385 Explicit
eTK 0772A(iii)
7. 385-388
Secretum super corpus spiritum et animam
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 385 Incipit secretum democriti . super corpus , spiritum , et animam
Incipit: 385 Democritus ait , Qui albificauerit animam , et exaltauerit eam et rubificauerit corpus quod est es
Explicit: 388 Et scite(?) quod aurum viuum et auripigmentum sufficiunt tibi in etate tua
Final rubric: 388 Explicit

This text is attributed to a 'Democritus' in this manuscript.

eTK 0400B
8. 388-389
Senior Mireris
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 388 Senior Mireri
Incipit: 388 Cum queritur quid est lapis philosophorum . Respondeo et dico est lapis non lapis calidus
Explicit: 389 et optime operacionum retinens colores , cum quo Magistri experti fuerunt omni magisterium
eTK 0334D
9. 389-390
De origine lapidis
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 389 Auicenna de origine lapidis ait
Incipit: 389 Est enim aurum viuum lapis philosophorum qui nascitur subtus terra propter habunditatem magnam
Explicit: 390 expendio non indigebit , Quoniam qui sechabuerit omnia ; auxilio alieno numquam indigebit

This text is attributed to Avicenna (Ibn Sīnā) in this manuscript.

eTK 0508G
10. 390-393
Alphidius Mireris
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 390 Incipiunt documenta Mireris
Incipit: 390 Scito fili , quod hunc librum scripsi tibi et multos libros insimul de hac sciencia
Explicit: 393 mundissima ex lapide nostro recte dirigere , Sin autem tua opera inefficax cesset
Final rubric: 393 Explicunt documenta mireris

Texts with this title can also be found in:

eTK 1407K
11. 393-402
Secreta secretorum abbreuiata Geber
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 393 Incipiunt secreta secretorum in opere solaris et lunaris Iebar[sic]
Incipit: 393 Omnes huius sciencie inuestigatores audite quomodo occulte Ieber loquitur de lapide philosophorum
Explicit: 402 Hoc uersus si quis alicui perpendere in(?) quis | Si bene scruteris omnia diues eris
eTK 0986i
12. 402-403
O uenerande
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 402 O uenerande pater et cetera Accipe precij libram I et respice quod eius limatura sit munda
Explicit: 403 non exsurgit , et ideo per hoc lucide soluitur quod ex aduerso obicitur
Final rubric: 403 In nomine sancte et indiuidue trinitatis . Amen
13. 404-408
Liber gratie
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 404 Fratres scienciam Alkymie Inuestigantes ; nihil amplius querite nisi solomodo, quod philosophi periti quesuerunt
Explicit: 408 educas venenum ex eo quod dicitur animam , et est illud quod queris
Final rubric: 408 Explicit aqua vite perhenne per omnibus egritudinibus cuiuslibet corporis imperfecti

This text is sometimes known as the 'Aqua uite perhennis'.

eTK 0570A
14. 408
Alchemical note
Language(s): Latin

Short note about alchemy and metallurgy.

15. 408-410
Declaratio lapidis filio suo Aboali pseudo- Avicenna (Ibn Sīnā)
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 408 Declaracio lapidis philosophorum per Auicenna filio suo
Incipit: 408 Fili mi abbuali intellig⟨e⟩ quod dico tibi de cognicione lapidis philosophorum
Explicit: 410 oculi habeat potentiam supra mille gradus Mercurij seu Iouis , veneris et saturni ;
Final rubric: 410 Explicit Archanum Auicenne
eTK 0560G
15. 410-421
Practica
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 410 Practica philosophorum Rasis
Incipit: 410 In dei nomine et cum eius adiutorio reducamus primo corpora in non corpora[sic]
Explicit: 421 .4. nature concordabunt aditem(?) ita quod nuncquam post separantur in igne

This text is attributed to Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn Zakarīyā Rāzī (al-Razi) in this manuscript.

16. 422-425
Documenta Pictagoris
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 422 Nota inueni scriptum in tabula magistri Iohannis salerni 8ua columpna 4a de caliditate in 4o gradu
Explicit: 425 scienciam , Ecce vox in via vera erexi et a falso opere extraxi
Final rubric: 425 Explicit documentum Pictagore
17. 425-432
De eleccione stagni Mineralis
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 425 De eleccione stagni Mineralis
Incipit: 425 Eleccio stagni fit .5. modis , est .n. quodam stagnum quod est min(?) croceum , et illud stagnum quem percutitur
Explicit: 432 et vestrum proposicionem inuenietis , Hoc autem gummi[?] archanum id est aqua permanens ||

This text is sometimes known as 'Turba philosophorum'.

Text seems to end abruptly at the bottom of p. 432 and there seems to be a note (struck out) in the lower margin of p. 432 that alludes to some missing text.

eTK 0495A (t0096990000)
18. 433
Four medical recipes
Language(s): Latin

Pages 434-436 blank.

19. 437-442
Commentary on the Rosarius philosophorum of John Dastin
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 437 Quia nimis longum et tediosum esset omni die rosarium finaliter perlegere feci super ipsum sententiarium
Explicit: 442 et cum videris illam nigridinem in omnibus supereminere si asct(?) corpus esse liquefactum ||

Text seems to end abruptly at the bottom of p. 442, the final word, 'liquefactum' may be a catchword.

eTK 0708H (t0136860000)
eTK 1224J (t0234550000)

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Second folio, p. 441: prophetorum scripta
Form: codex
Support: Paper, no watermarks visible
Extent: Codex: 53 leaves. 205-215 × 140 mm.

Collation

Four quires of varying size:

  • Quires 16-17 16 (pp. 339-377, [377a], 378, [378a], 379-400)
  • Quire 1816+2 (pp. 401-436: bifolium added at the end of the quire)
  • Quire 194-1 (pp. 437-442: 1st leaf cancelled, stub visible)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

Catchwords on pp. 400 and 442.

Condition

In good condition, some ink faint or damaged by liquids. Some marginal annotations lost to trimming, see e.g., 379.

Layout

170 × 120 mm. Ruled in ink, frame only. Ruled in single column format, typically 34 lines to the page and written below top line.

Hand(s)

Written in cursiva antiquior with some anglicana features.

Decoration

Diagrams in the outer margin of p. 441.

Plain initials. typically 2-7 lines high in brown ink, some with minor flourish details.

Some ascenders in the uppermost lines of text on each page often transformed into stylised fish, see e.g., pp. 368-369.

History

Origin: Probably 15th century (before 1477). ; Possibly England.

Date and place of origin based on palaeographical features.

Part 12: Medical texts [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, pp. 443-502]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 443-448
Extracts from the Liber de criticis diebus Galen
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 443 Signa cretici secundum .G. id est . li⟨ber⟩ creticis diebus c.1.
Incipit: 443 Antecedit manus(?) euacuacionem et exituram in egritudinibus perturbacio uehemens
Explicit: 448 hijs termine maij(?) non diu permanent et alium(?) crisim signam uel laudabilem

The extracts are in two groups, pp. 443-446 and pp. 447-448, and the lower half of p. 446 is blank. The two groups of extracts are in different ink, but appear to be in the same hand.

eTK 0107I (t0020690000)
2. 449-454
Medical text on signs in illness
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 449 Dico ergo quod signa digestionis non est possibile vt appareant et significent maliciam
Explicit: 449 et tunc expedit tibi vt ponas primum crisis terminum ; vltimum augmenti egritudinis .

Pages 450-454 are blank.

This text seems to be related to Galen, De criticis diebus, and the texts before and after it are extracts from his works, but it has not been possible to identify the precise origin of this item.

eTK 0423B (t0083590000)
3. 455-465
Extracts from De crisi Galen
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 455 Signa digestionis cum apparent a principio egritudinis significant quod egritudo sanatur velociter
Explicit: 461 cuiuslibet egritudinis colera nigra egrediatur sursum aut deorsum est signum significans mortem

Extracts in three groups, pp. 455-457, pp. 459, and 461. Pages 458, 460 and pp. 462-465 are blank.

4. 466-470
Two short medical text on signs and symptoms, and pharmacy
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 466 Digestio mala scilicet in stomacho cogitur in expulsione sue superfluitatis
Explicit: 470 morbi quia eius maliciam superauit parisensis super 2 liber tegni c[ommen]to 180

Two short extracts, one on p. 466 and one on p. 470, but both desinits suggest that these are extracts from a commentary on the Tegni of Galen (sections 143, and 180 respectively).

Pages 467-469 blank.

5. 471-472
Extracts from De crisi Galen
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 471 At in esse principium egritudinis est hesitacio et difficultas vehemens
Explicit: 472 eorum est declinacio .
Final rubric: 472 galienus .j. liber de crisi capitulo 5 dicit quod
6. 473-474
Short medical text on fever
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 473 Quantitatem vero magnitudinis parox⟨ism⟩orum febris et est illud quod quidam ...(?)iant vehemenciam eorum
Explicit: 473 valde timendum est . Si diminuuntur huius disp⟨osici⟩ones ; paruum apostema et securum significantur

Page 474 blank.

7. 475-476
Extracts from De crisi Galen
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 475 Melior via suple in cognicionem crisis cuius .6.uie(?) cognicio non est premittenda ;
Explicit: 475 inicium paroxismi alterius dico quod hec febris . consequitur statum suum ab initio

Page 476 blank.

8. 477
Short medical texts
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 477 Nota super di...(?)ccione illa . galienus de nocute sompni vbi dicit altero in particulari
Explicit: 480 est materia 3e digestionis vel ei similis ideo in sompno digeretur(?) et ||

This item almost certainly contains extracts from the Galenic canon.

This item ends abruptly.

Possible erasure of text in the upper margin of p. 477.

9. 478-479
Commentum quorundam Hippocratis aphorismorum
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 478 Paroxismos et consistentias . declarant egritudines et tempora anni et circuitus aduentem(?) incrementa
Explicit: 479 et distingue si precessunt signa digestionis status est siue autem principium est
eTK 1026C
10. 479-486
Medical notes on urines and fevers
Language(s): Latin
11. 480-486
Medical note on fevers
Language(s): Latin

Pages 481-486 are blank.

12. 487-490
Medical text on humours
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 487 Generacio .4. humorum est in epate ext⟨re⟩mus augmento augentur humores in corpore .
Explicit: 490 composita et quia dictis suis poterit quis scire super que habeant sig ||

Possible erasure of text in the upper margin of p. 487.

This item ends abruptly.

13. 490
Medical note on digestion and constipation
Language(s): Latin
14. 491-502
Medical text on digestion
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 491 Tarditas descensus cibi ex stomacho et velocitas descensionis eius ex ventre
Explicit: 493 quantitate confeccionis sotire. et isti quandoque incipiunt vomitu expellere illud quod comederint

Pages 494-502 are blank.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Second folio, p. 445: quid non monstrauit
Form: codex
Support: Paper, no watermark visible
Extent: Codex: 30 leaves. 215 × 140 mm.

Collation

There are three quires in this Part arranged as follows:

  • Quire 2014 (pp. 443-470)
  • Quires 21-228 (pp. 471-502)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

Leaves are generally in good condition, but some text is difficult to read due to stains.

Layout

180 × 105 mm. The mise-en-page in this Part is irregular. Leaves are unruled, but there are pricking marks in the outer margin of p. 448. Written in single column format throughout, but text rarely fills an entire page; the 'full' pages typically have c. 40 lines to the page.

Hand(s)

Written in cursiva by several scribes who all write with both anglicana and secretary features.

Decoration

No significant decoration in this Part.

History

Origin: Probably 15th century (before 1477). ; Possibly England.

Date and place of origin based on palaeographical features.

Part 13: Thesaurus pauperum [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, pp. 503-518]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 503-518
Thesaurus pauperum Petrus Hispanus
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 503 ⟨I⟩n nomine sancte et indiuidue trinitatis qui[sic] omnia que deus vero sunt ; creauit
Explicit: 518 coquantur in vino albo et emplastrum probatur . Iterum semen mandragore dolorem capitis ||

Ends abruptly, the words 'dolorem capitis' are in a catchword frame.

eTK 1443K

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: Second folio, p. 505: unctus multiplicat capillos
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH).
Extent: Codex: 8 leaves. | 210-215 × 135 mm.

Collation

Quire 248 (pp. 503-518)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

Catchwords present in the lower margins of pp. 512 and 518; as far as it is possible to tell given the current binding structure, p. 512 does not appear to be the final leaf in a quire, and there is clear sewing in the gutter between pp. 510-511, the middle opening in a quire of 8 leaves/4 bifolia (pp. 503-518).

Condition

Leaves are in good condition, but some are marked with some small splashes and stains that do not affect the general legibility of the text.

Layout

145 × 100 mm. Ruled in crayon, frame and lines. Ruled in single-column format, typicaly 24 lines to the page and written below top line.

Hand(s)

Written in a neat Cursiva Antiquior of the Anglicana type typical of the 15th century.

Decoration

Small foliate sprays attached to letters in the lowest text-lines of pp. 503-504. Decorative 'cadel-style' flourish attached to the word 'capillos' in the upper margin of p. 505.

Unfilled space for a decorative initial 'I' (for 'In nomine') on p. 503; guide letter present.

History

Origin: 15th century, probably first half. ; Probably England.

Date and place of origin based on palaeographical features.

Part 14: fragment of Aristotle's De anima in Latin [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 181/214, fragment]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. [fragment_front] and [fragment_back]
De anima Aristotle
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: || [fragment_front] re ut uisus co
Explicit: [fragment_back] igitur causam colorem ||

Translated by Iacobus Veneticus (James of Venice).

De anima Ii.6 and Ii.7, Bekker: 418a and 419a.

At the time of cataloguing this manuscript for the Curious Cures project (2023), the fragment was placed loose between pp. 366-367.

Bekker: 418a and 419a

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: Fragment, comprising a small piece of parchment cut from a larger leaf. 1 fragment. | 17 × 62 mm.

Condition

A small fragment cut away from a larger text leaf

Layout

17 × 20 mm. Ruled faintly in ink, frame and lines. 4 lines of text visible and a partial fifth line visible along the lower edge of the leaf.

Hand(s)

Written in a compressed northern textualis libraria, typical of scholastic manuscriptsof the 13th and 14th centuries in north western Europe.

History

Origin: Probably 13th century. ; ?England or ?France.

Date and place of origin based on palaeographical features.

Additional Information

Record Sources

This catalogue entry draws on unpublished notes made by Dr Debby Banham, a description by M. R. James, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Library of Gonville and Caius College, vol. I (1907) and L. Voigts, 'A doctor and his books: the manuscripts of Roger Marchall (d. 1477)', in R. Beadle and A. J. Piper (eds.), New science out of old books: studies in manuscripts and early printed books in honour of A.I. Doyle (Aldershot, 1995) pp. 249-314

Availability

Visitors to Gonville and Caius College who wish to consult Lower Library material are required to apply to the Library in advance of their visit. For information on eligibility and admission procedures see: Gonville and Caius College: Library Information.

Custodial History

Recorded as no. 1027 in Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ (c. 1697).

Bibliography

    A doctor and his books: the manuscripts of Roger Marchall (d. 1477) New science out of old books: studies in manuscripts and early printed books in honour of A.I. Doyle, Voigts, Linda Ehrsam (Aldershot, 249-314, Scolar Press, 1995) Alchemy in the vernacular: an edition and study of early English witnesses of The Mirror of Alchemy, Norja, Sara (2021, 2023-03-10T18:09:25Z, https://www.utupub.fi/handle/10024/151694)

Funding of Cataloguing

Wellcome

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

Abbreviations

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