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 336/725

Medical treatises

Contents

Introduction: This composite manuscript consists of two separate parts (ff. 1r-107v and ff. 108r-172v) with medical works, including astronomical tables, and astrological and uroscopic texts and diagrams. The two parts were produced separately in England in the fifteenth century but probably joined together at an early stage. Although the earliest provenance of the manuscript is unknown, in cataloguing this manuscript new details about its early 16th-century owners has been revealed: a previously unnoticed erased or faded inscription on f. 172v indicates that it was owned by George Amyas (born by 1513, d. 1553), merchant and physician of Lynn, Norfolk, and, subsequently, Thomas Amyas, his cousin. Dr Clarck Drieshen| Project Cataloguer| Curious Cures in Cambridge Libraries

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment
Extent: Codex: ii + 107 | 65 + ii leaves.
Foliation:

16th-century foliation:

1-23, 14, 25-49(1), 49(2)-52, [52a], 53-76, 78-85, 87-92(1), 92(2)-97, [97a], 98-103 | 104-124, [124a], 125-172

Written in brown ink in the upper right-hand corner of the recto of each leaf, but with several errors: leaf 24 is foliated as '14', the numbers '49' and '92' occur twice, and a leaf has been skipped between '52' and '53; '97' and '98' [although it has been numbered with pencil as '97*' by a modern hand]; and '124' and '125'.

This is the manuscript's old foliation that is followed in M.R. James , A Descriptive Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Library of Gonville and Caius College, 2 vols (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1908) and Kari Anne Rand SchmidtManuscripts in the Library of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (Cambridge: Brewer, 2001). This catalogue record follows the modern foliation described below.
Foliation:

20th- or 21st-century foliation:

[i]-[ii] + 1-49 [following the old foliation], 50-107 | 108-172 + [iii]-[iv]

Numbering in pencil in the upper right-hand corner of the rectos from f. 50 onwards.

Collation

The collation formula provided here disagrees with that provided by M.R. James on several points and the numbering consequently does not correspond with the quire numbers that have been written in pencil in the lower right-hand corners of leaves postulated to be the first in a quire. After the first five quires, James proposed that Quire 6 comprised ten leaves, suggesting tentatively that the tenth leaf had been cancelled. In fact, these are two separate gatherings: Quire 6, a bifolium; and Quire 7, a quire of eight leaves. What James recorded as Quire 9, which he thought comprised ten leaves with the tenth leaf cancelled, is instead a quire of ten leaves, of which the last two are missing, recorded here as Quire 10. This caused a further discrepancy in James's descrption of his Quire 10, which he thought to be a gathering of four leaves; it is in fact a gathering of six leaves, of which the last has been cancelled, and is recorded here as Quire 11. It may be that the binding of the manuscript at the time did not allow James sufficient access to the structure of the leaves to describe the manuscript's collation accurately. The new collation in this record also does not correspond with the quire numbers that have been added to the the lower right-hand corners of the first rectos, which follow James's collation.

  • Quires 1-58 (ff. 1-40)
  • Quires 7-98 (ff. 43-66)
  • Quire 1010-2 (9th-10th leaves missing; ff. 67-74)
  • Quire 116-1 (6th leaf cancelled; ff. 75-79)
  • Quire 12-148 (ff. 80-103)
  • Quire 154 (ff. 104-107) |
  • Quires 16-218 (ff. 108-155)
  • Quire 226+1 (ff. 156-162: 3rd leaf, f. 158, inserted)
  • Quire 2310 (ff. 163-172)

1-58 62 7-98 1010-2 (9th-10th leaves missing) 116-1 (6th leaf cancelled) 12-148 154 | 16-218 226+1 (3rd leaf inserted) 2310

Additions

Quire signatures ('1-22') in the bottom right-hand corner of the recto side of the first leaf of each quire, written in pencil by a hand of the 19th/20th century (no longer indicative; see Collation).

Binding

Modern white leather over heavy wooden boards.

The previous binding and binding materials are kept separately with this manuscript. These include sewing remains from the former binding, linen patch repairs, the former front cover and the former rear cover ([?]18th-century blind-tooled brown leather) with six former endleaves (ff. former endleaf i recto-former endleaf vi verso).

Binding height: 260mm; width: 185mm; depth: 70mm.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Perhaps owned by George Amyas (born by 1513, d. 1553) merchant and physician of Lynn, Norfolk. There is an erased and previously unrecorded inscription on f. 172v, which reads (under UV light): 'ffor Thomas Amyas'. George Amyas owned two medical books that he bequeathed to Thomas Amyas , his cousin, in his will of 23 January 1557: 'I geve William Hardye all my bookes saving my blacke booke of phisicke and a booke of practise . and the Cronica Cronicorum And I geve to Thomas Amyas them.' [Kew, The National Archives, PROB 11/39/568] (for biographical details, see Roger Virgoe, 'Amyas, George (by 1513-53), of Lynn, Norf.', The History of Parliament Online [accessed 6 February 2023].

William Moore (1590-1659) , BA, MA, fellow of and lecturer in rhetoric at Gonville and Caius College, and librarian of Cambridge University Library.

Given or bequeathed by William Moore to Gonville and Caius College in 1659: its classmarks ('336' and '725') on printed labels pasted on the spine. Its armorial bookplate pasted on the inside of the upper cover of the former binding, inscribed with the classmark numbers '336' and '736' (the number '336' also written on the former endleaf ii recto and printed on a paper pastedown on the former spine, with another paper pastedown with the handwritten number '725' above it). Recorded as no. 1099 in Edward Bernard's Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliae et Hiberniae in unum collecti, 2 vols in one (Oxford: Theatro Sheldoniano, 1697).

Part 1 [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 336/725, ff. 1r-107v]

Contents

Language(s): Middle English and Latin

1. 1r-42v
Chirurgia magna Guy de Chauliac
Language(s): Middle English
Rubric: 1r In þe name of god here bigynneþ an Inuentarie or a collectarie in þe Cirurgical partie of medicyn compilid and complet bi Guydo de caulyaco cirurgien Maister of phisik in þe riȝt cleere scole of mount pilers. þe ȝeer of oure lord a þousand þre hundrid sixti and þre
Incipit: 1r Aftir þat I haue first ȝolden þankyngis to almyȝti god . þe ȝeuere boþe of euerlastyng lijf of soulis and helþe of bodies / þat heeliþ alle oure grete soris bi grace þat he haþ ȝouen to al mankynde þoruȝ vertues þat conseruen helþe and defenden fro sorowe þat grauntiþ us to vndirstonde þe craft of medicyne and kunnynge of helþe
Explicit: 42v Also he may se . þat among þese iuncturis þe more hard to dislocacioun and to reducynge is þat of þe litil foot . þe more liȝt of þe knee þe mene of sciaticale / and god be oure helpere Amen
Final rubric: 42v Here endith the firste book or tretis of Anathomye of Guydo de Caulhiaco

The beginning of the third version of Guy de Chauliac's Chirurgia magna, including the Prologue, a list of rubrics for the first seven books, and the first book on anatomy.

Wallner (1970)
eVK2 3638.00 (v0075580000)
eVK2 3638.00 (v0075590000)
eVK2 7644.00 (v0075600000)
eVK2 1881.00 (v0075610000)
eVK2 0756.00 (v0075570000)
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
2. 43r-44r
Declaraciones Abbatis Sancti Albani super Kalendarium Regine [English translation] Richard of Wallingford
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 43r Iff þer be maad a questioun of þe natiuite of a man . and þe planetis be in þe degrees of þe signe masculyne. þat schal be to hem a strenkþe
Explicit: 44r Whanne a planete is in domo þat is to sei in his hous . he haþ .5. strenkþis in his exaltacioun .5. in his triplicite .3. in his terminus .2. in his face .i. and wite it weel þat bi þese .5. strenkþis . al maner domus of astronomie and þe effectis of hem in erþe ben disriued

This item and the next item are joined together.

Voigts (2004)
eVK2 2691.00 (v0075620000)
See Rand Schmidt (2001) [for other copies]
3. 44r-45r
Instructions on finding the true position of the sun for the years following 1381 on the basis of figures in a calendar
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 44r And for as miche as of þe grees of þe sunne . comeþ þe knowynge of þe oþere: þerfore of þe grees of þe sunne it is for to telle. Wite weel þat þe ȝeer of oure lord .1381. þe place of þe sunne was verfiied in signes . grees and minutis for the meridie of eueri dai of þat ȝeer
Explicit: 45r Sol. Saturnus and Jubiter with Masculyn . ffemynyn wiþ femynyn / Venus is alwei femynyne.
eVK2 1949.00 (v0075630000)
eVK2 8183.00 (v0075640000)
4. 45r-54v
Treatise on the four humours
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 45r It is to vndirstonde þat eueri man is mad of .iiij. elementis þat is þat eueri man haþ iiij humouris lijk to þe foure Elementis / These ben þe .iiij. elementis. þat is to wite ffier. Eir. Watir. and Erþe / Euery bodi lyuynge haþ sumwhat of hem: but not eueribodi yliche
Explicit: 54v Lechis whanne þei schulden helpe þe sike pacient: it bihouede þat þe leche were of goostly syknesse clene . and from bodily also . þat is . þat he be in no deedly synne . Neiþir no vicious man / ffor wickide vicis distroien manye goode þewis . ffor goodness and wickidnesse moun not be togidire . for þat oon fordoiþ þat oþir / And þerfore euery leche schulde be a vertuous man . and no quede in him / And whanne he schulde come to þe sike in his weye: he schulde praie to god to be his help in his occupacioun
eVK2 3209.00 (v0075650000)
eVK2 2488.00 (v0075660000)
Tavormina (2014), no. 8.2.2c
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
5. 55r-55v
Table of contents
Language(s): Middle English
Rubric: 55v This table telliþ of digestiuis symple and compound of euery humour. þat is to seie of colre . flemme and malancolie
Incipit: 55r The i. chaptire is of medicyns symple digestiuis for colre and compound
Explicit: 55v The .29. is of medicyns kelynge þe joyntis . and compouned for þe same
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
6. 55v-65r
Treatise on digestive and evacuative medicines for conditions diagnosed based on the four humours
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 55v Forsoþe sume goode freendis . þe whiche trowide me to haue siȝt of kunnynge . preieden me to opene to hem in writynge schortliche medicyns digestyues and euacuatyues or voidinge . symple and compound / þe whiche lechis comounly vsiden and for I siȝ þese þingis gode moost to rude men and vnpractik
Explicit: 65r Compound for þe same . ben þese / Sirupis rodon . wiþ medicyns colynge þe reynes . þe whiche ben aforseid.
Final rubric: 65r Explicit
eVK2 1965.00 (v0075670000)
eVK2 3571.00 (v0075680000)
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
7. 65v-68v
The Golden Table or Sphere of Pythagoras
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 65v Here bigynneþ þe book and þe techinge of þe golden table maister pictagorus þe noble philosophre þat al aboute þe world he wente to seke wisdom and he say manye merueilis
Explicit: 68v

The text features three Pythagorean diagrams, two circles and one lozenge in a rectangle, which it presents as means to foretell the future

Voigts (1994)
eVK2 3536.00 (v0075690000)
8. 69r-72r
Treatise on uroscopy [Rufus Subrufus]
Language(s): Middle English
Rubric: 69r Here bigynneþ a tretice of a mannys or of a wommans vrine or watir þat we take for oon I contryued and maad bi þe wisest clerkis of phisik of ynglond . and I translatid out of latyn into englisch bi þe preier of king henri þe fourþe / And first ȝe schulen vndirstonde þat þer ben .xx. diuers colouris of mannis watir . as it schal be schewid here suynge þat is to wite
Incipit: 69r vrinis subrufus whiche bitokenen perfit digestioun but fewe men han þis watir and þerfore it nediþ not to ȝeue hem medicyn
Explicit: 72r Urine haþ .iij. regiouns / The hiȝest / The middil / And þe lowist bigynneþ fro þe botme of þe vrynal into þe middil . The myddil bigynneþ þere þe lowist endith and duriþ vnto þe sercle . which sercle is in þe ouerest regioun.
Final rubric: 72r Explicit
Tavormina (2014), nos 3.3.2a, 6.2a
eVK2 2193.00 (v0075700000)
eVK2 1797.00 (v0075710000)
9. 72v-75r
Treatise on urines and fevers [Three Manners of Inspecting Urine]
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 72v Alle þo men þat wolen be trewe iugis and domesmen of vreynes of man womman and child / he muste knowe first what vryne is. and wherof it haþ þat name vryne / And he muste knowe also difference bitwene vreyne and pisse / He muste also knowe riȝt weel . þe .xx. condiciouns þat bilongiþ to þe domes of vreyne and principaly he muste kunne perfiȝtly þe firste .iiij. condiciouns // Also he muste knowe perfiȝtly þe .xx. colouris of vryne wiþ þe variaunciouns of þe substauncis / þe which substaunce is in .v. maner of chaungingis and varijngis
Explicit: 75r Who so wole knowe verily what schal come of an axes: and what ende he schal drawe to: þus bihoueþ to do. he muste knowe whiche beþ þe accidentis and meuyngis and þe stiringis and þe malicis acute feueres as þe harde passiouns of þe feueris / Encreessyngis of anguyschis and achis of þe heed . sore anguysch in encreessynge of þurstis / Angwisch and sore labour and schortnesse and strectnesse of breeþ. stronge puttynge to and fro of þe ribbis and þe sidis / Akynge of þe necke . meuynge of þe armes and leggis and of þe heed of þe sike
Final rubric: 75r Explicit
eVK2 0839.00 (v0075720000)
eVK2 7798.00 (v0075730000)
Tavormina (2014), no. 11.4
10. 75v-76r
Tracts on uroscopy [Cleansing of Blood and Urina Rufa]
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 75v Eueri vryne is clensynge of blood . and þat is propirli of two þingis significatif. Ouþir it signifieþ þe passioun of þe reynes . and of þe lyuere . of oþere þingis it is propirlich significatif
Explicit: 76r In þe myddil regioun a white cloude is in hool men . an yuel signe. but in hem þat hauen þe feueris . it bitokeneþ digestioun of þe mater of þe yuele / In þe neþermost regioun ben oþirwhile lityl stonys: þane it schewiþ þat þe pacient is ful of litil stoonys . and oþerwhile þe resideus is blak and þat signifieþ deeþ but if it be putt out þe venym in þe vryne
eVK2 1579.00 (v0075740000)
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
Tavormina (2014), no. 3.3.1b
11. 76r-76v
Tract on uroscopy [Urina Rufa]
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 76r Uryne Rufa: signifieþ heele and good disposicioun of mannys bodi
Explicit: 76v Uryne in which quytture apperiþ in þe ground: it bitokeneþ yuele of þe bladdre or apostyme . and if it appere þorwȝ al þe vrine: it bitokeneþ rotynge þoruȝ al þe body
eVK2 7818.50 (v0075750000)
eVK2 7810.50 (v0075760000)
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
Tavormina (2014), no. 3.2.1c
12. 76v
Extract of the last four of the 'Eleven Manners of Urine for a Woman'
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 76v Vrine of hem þat ben wiþ childe
Explicit: 76v Vryne of a womman þat is menstruat is al blodi . if be cruddid . sche schal seme wiþ childe . til it be dissolued
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
13. 77v-78r
Circular diagram of the colours of urines [Ring of Urines]
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 77v-78r This is colour of gold burnischid [upper center of the outermost circle]
Explicit: 77v-78r Blak colour as a blak [hor]n [? raven] bitokeneþ deeþ [lower center of the outermost circle]
eVK2 8106.50 (v0075770000)
Tavormina (2014), no. 3.1.2a
14. 79v
Astrological prognostic (?)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 79v Tuesday vacua [...]

The days of the week from Tuesday until Saturday listed, each followed by astrological symbols.

Added in the 15th century.

15. 80r-80v
Table of contents to the Liber Uriscrisiarum [Short Version] Henry Daniel
Language(s): Middle English
Rubric: 80r Here bigynneþ a litil tretice of vrynes in þis schort maner . þat is conteyned in seuentene chapitris
Incipit: 80v The firste chaptire what is vryne
Explicit: 80v The seuentenþe chaptitre is of þe .19 contentis wiþe her significacionis Dicitur vrinam quam fit arembus vna / Vel ab vrit greco quod demonstracio fertur
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
16. 80v-98v
Liber Uriscrisiarum [Abridged Version] Henry Daniel
Language(s): Middle English
Rubric: 80v The firste chapitre tretiþ what is vryne and wherof yrine is seid
Incipit: 80v Vryne is as myche to seie as oon in þe reynes . þat is an oonynge and a gaderinge togidere in þe leendis
Explicit: 98v Rubea ypostoris bitokeneþ euermore long syknesse bicause of plente of matere of a feuere / But þe pacient schal ascape and not die.
eVK2 7464.00 (v0075810000)
eVK2 7464.50 (v0075820000)
eVK2 7788.00 (v0075780000)
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
Johannessen (2005)
Tavormina (2014), no. 15.3
Uricrisiarum, ed. Henderson and others (2020)
'The Henry Daniel Project' [accessed 6 February 2023]
17. 98v-99r
Tract on the colours of urines [The Twenty Jordans]
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 98v Lactea is as whey and bitokeneþ if he slepiþ not along feuere and a frenesie
Explicit: 99r Nigra as enke: bitokeneþ þe blak Jaundise and deeþ in schort tyme
eVK2 3320.00 (v0075790000)
Tavormina (2005)
Tavormina (2014), no. 1.4
18. 99r
Tract on distinguishing human from animal urine ['The Beast's Water Will Be White']
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 99r ffor to knowe a beestis watir from a mannys / The beestis watir wole be whiȝt þicke or ȝelewisch / And if þou wolt knowe what beest it is . sauere to þi nose for sich as beest is: þe watir wole sauere aftir / And if þou wolt knowe . wheþir þe water be of a female deer or a male deer / If it be of a femal deer þe contente of þe watir þe grettere cende schal be vpward and þe smallere eende dounward and holdynge togidere as atop in þe botme of þe vessel / And of þe male deer euene þe contrarie

Full transcription.

eVK2 6607.00 (v0075800000)
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
Tavormina (2014), no. 7.3.3
19. 99r-100v
Table of electuaries, oils, and unguents
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 99r Diamargariton
Explicit: 100v voitus patriarche
20. 101r-102r
Tract on urine, illnesses and the signs of the Zodiac
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 101r This rule is vndirstonden as to my witt þoruȝ þe ȝifte of god almyȝti þat alle þe men or wymmen þat taken syknesse in þese moneþis wiþ þe signys and þe planetis as I schal schewe to ȝou . hereaftir muste nedis haue þe syknesse aftir kynde of hem as I am ful expert and ful ofte haue proued it
Explicit: 102r The cure is þis / Take beteyne . wormod . rue. ellern leaues and make salue of þese wiþ oyle and lete him vse alle siche medicyns þat ben hoot and drye lete him be dietid as it is aboue seid
eVK2 7464.50 (v0075810000)
eVK2 7464.50 (v0075820000)
Tavormina (2014), no. 14.2.3a
21. 102r-102v
Tract on Saturn
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 102r It is for to vndirstonde þat saturnus is þe hiȝest planet and wickudist and he goiþ aboute þe zodiac oonys in .xxx. ȝeer
Explicit: 102v ffor in þo þre signys he haþ myȝt and moost power to fulfille his malice . if he be not lettid bi neiȝeboreheed of ony good planete . þat is for to seie / Jubiter . Sol and Venus.
eVK2 3136.50 (v0075830000)
22. 102v-105r
The Booke of Ipocras
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 102v This is þe techinge of ypocras in þis book he techiþ for to knowe bi what planete lijknes comeþ. lijf and deeþ and þe tymes þerof
Explicit: 104v-105r And if þe sunne or mars . or saturne be wiþ þe moone in þis signe . it is vncurable . but if it so be þat þe medicyne be ȝoue anoon aftir þe moone / And if þe sunne and mars be wiþ him . a man mai with medicyne cure him.
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
eVK2 3064.00 (v0075840000)
eVK2 8015.00 (v0075850000)
23. 105r
Tract on the colour of wounds and sores and their relationship to the signs of the Zodiac
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 105r For to knowe alle maner of sooris wiþinne and withoute of what complexioun þe ben
Explicit: 105r This rule is general for al maner surgerie of apostymes outward.
eVK2 2704.00 (v0075860000)
24. 105v
Astronomical tables
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 105v Tabula ad sciendum quis planeta regnat in omni hora in equali incipiendo diem ab ortus solis
Final rubric: 105v Hore noctis incipiendo noctem ab occusu soli

Written along the table's right column are times of the day in Middle English and Latin.

25. 106r
Tract on aspects of zodiacal signs
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 106r It is to knowe þat ech signe þat biholdiþ þe þridde signe bifore him and þe þridde after him . þat aspect is seid sextil . for so miche as it holdiþ þe sixte part of þe sercle . þat is to seie .60. degrees / And þe fourþe aspect is whanne it bhildiþe þe fourþe bifore him . and þe fourþe bihinde him / And þe þridde aspect is whanne it beholdiþ þe fifþe bifore him . and þe fifþe bihinde him / The opposit aspect is whanne it biholdiþe þe signe forþest fro him bifore and bihinde / And þus bitwene hemsilf þe signys biholden and þe planetis beynge in þe same signes ben seid biholdinge hemsilf / And if .ij planetis ben in o. signe þei ben seid conioyned etcaetera.

Full transcription.

The tract is preceded by a diagram.

eVK2 3190.50 (v0075870000)
26. 106v
Astrological tables
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 106v Signa: Aries - Leo - Sagitarius
Explicit: 106v Piscis - frigudus et humidus modi media
27. 107r-107v
Treatise on the eleven urines of women [Eleven Manners of Urine for a Woman]
Language(s): Middle English
Rubric: 107r These ben xj. maneres of vrine for a womman
Incipit: 107r Vryne of a womman þat is cleer schynynge in þe vrynal as siluer . þat womman brakiþ myche and she haþ no talent to mete: and it bitokeneþ þat sche schulde bi wiþ childe
Explicit: 107v Wymmen þat ben menstruat . makynge blody vryne . if þe blood be cruddi . in þo wymmen sche schal semen wiþ childe til it be resolued
eVK2 7806.00 (v0075880000)
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
Tavormina (2014), no. 7.2.4

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 3r: or paulatif
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (FHHF)
Extent: Codex: 107 leaves. 240 × 175 mm.

Collation

  • Quires 1-58 (ff. 1-40)
  • Quire 62 (ff. 41-42)
  • Quires 7-98 (ff. 43-66)
  • Quire 1010-2 (9th-10th leaves missing; ff. 67-74)
  • Quire 116-1 (6th leaf cancelled; ff. 75-79)
  • Quire 12-148 (ff. 80-103)
  • Quire 154 (ff. 104-107)

Leaf signatures consisting of letters ('a'-'o') and Roman numerals throughout.

 Catchwords in black ink in the right-hand lower corners of last versos.

Condition

This part of the manuscript is in a good condition. There is some damp or mould damage on ff. 4r-7r and the ink has faded on a few pages (e.g. 101v-102r).

Layout

155 × 100 mm. Ruled in ink, frame and line ruling. Mainly single columns (except ff. 55r-65r, 99r (lower half)-100v and 106v, which have two columns. 31-32 lines to the page, written below top line.

Hand(s)

Copied by a single hand in Textualis semiquadrata formata.

Decoration

Drawings of 20 jordans in black ink stained light green or blue in the margins of ff. 69rv.

A two-page uroscopic diagram ('ring of urines') consisting of a large circle in red ink with an inner ring consisting of seven yellow circles that are organised around a central blue circle (ff. 77v-78r).

Three 'Pythagorean' circles: two diagrams consisting of concentric circles with geometric shapes at their centres and one rectangular diagram with a lozenge inside it drawn in red ink on, respectively, ff.67r, 68r and 68v.

A half-page diagram of the twelve signs of the Zodiac, represented by circles in red ink, and their relationships to the planets on f. 106r.

Five and six-line gold ('champ') initials in blue and purple frames with partial, three-sided borders with foliate and floral motifs in blue, green, purple and gold (ff. 1r, 17r, 22v and 69r).

Two-line gold ('champ') initials in blue and purple with foliate pen-flourishing in green ink (a 3-line initial on f. 56r) or pink frames with pen-floursihing in gold (ff. 75v-76r, 88v, and 105r).

One-line blue initials in frames of red penwork decoration with some pen-flourishing in the same colour (ff. 102v-104v).

Headings rubricated in red ink; but also in blue on f. 105v.

Paraphs in blue or red ink

Underlining in red ink; but also in blue ink on f. 82r.

History

Origin: 15th century. ; England.

Part 2 [Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 336/725, ff. 108r-172v]

Contents

1. 108r-128r
Secrets of old Philisoffres John Lydgate; Benedict Burgh
Language(s): Middle English
Rubric: 108r Of the crafte of phisonomye which doth trete of the qualitees and Condicions of ich membre of man and of the Image of ypocras whiche Arestotele wrote to kynge Alisaunder
Incipit: 108r It is to be titelled . how preved with out obstacle / As olde philosopheris . put in remembraunce / That in man . is founde grete myracle / Named the litill worlde . by auctoures allegeaunce
Explicit: 128r ffolwyng my Auctour in menyng and sentence / Right of hole herte and entire diligence / As arestotel reherseth by wrytynge / In his pistell to Alisaunder kynge . Amen
IMEV 935
NIMEV 935
DIMEV 1544-6
eVK2 3177.00 (v0075890000)
eVK2 3177.00 (v0075900000)
2. 128v
Medical advice on the limbs based on the signs of the zodiac
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 128v The gret clerkis of Astronomy sayn that euery lyme of a man is rulyd bi a certayn of the zodiak
Explicit: 128v Piscis rayneth in the fetee These rayneth in Wynter.
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
eVK2 6834.00 (v0075910000)
3. 128v-130v
Zodiacal moonbook
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 128v Aries is the signe of a Ram which rayneth in the hed of euery man or woman
Explicit: 130v Cancer scorpie and piscis these 3 signes both of þe North partie colde and moiste and ful of labour and thei been cleped flevmatike of complexioun and thei be expulsyf or laxatyf puttynge oute or destroynge
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
eVK2 1066.50 (v0075920000)
eVK2 1072.50 (v0075930000)
4. 131r-131v
Dieta ypocratis [Dicta ypocratis] (English translation)
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 131r In the monthe of Janyver: ffastynge white wyne is good to drynke and bloodletynge to forbere for .7. dayes of perel been theryn the .1. the .2. the [blank] the [blank] the .10. the .15. and the .16.
Explicit: 131v Ther bee .4. principall daies in yeer [S]eint volantyne is day Seint Pernellis day Saint Lambertis day and Seint Stephinis day: There be also in the yer .3. dayes the first day of August the firste day and the laste day of Decembre
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
eVK2 2961.00 (v0075940000)
5. 132r
Tract on astrological prognostication based on birth
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 132r Nota pro kalendario quod si fiat questio de viri natiuitate et sint planete in gradibus masculis erit eis homo forcius vel si fiat de natiuitate mulieris et sint planete in gradibus feminis erit eis homo forcius
Explicit: 132r Cum fuerunt planete in gradibus augentibus fortunam vel in gradibus simpliciter augebunt fortunam nativitati si in fuerit pars nativitate etcaetera
eTK 0931P (t0179830000)
6. 132v-135v
Treatise on the influence of the seven planets on personal characteristics
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 132v Here begynnyth a trete to knowe that whane a man or woman is borne vnder any of the .7. planetes and his day and houre be knowe in the which he was born In this shall telle to what disposiscioun he shall be moste disposed too or to good or to evil after the influens of the seid planete the whiche shall telle the trouthe
Explicit: 135v He that is bore vnder the constellacioun of this planete / he louyth Gemetrie and euery thyng ther of comyth to hym lightly / he is moche wakynge ouer moche in hym self studyinge / spekys be many wylis. louynge moche fisshynge / and foulynge / desirynge to se tregating jogelyng and all all [sic] such light pleyes and sporte
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
eVK2 2202.00 (v0075950000)
eVK2 7141.00 (v0075960000)
7. 136r
Astronomical table
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 136r Saturnus
Explicit: 136r Luna

Table with seven columns and twelve rows with the names of the seven planets, the sun and moon

See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
8. 136v
Tract on celestial bodies
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 136v Formalis mundi machina consistit in 12 scilicet in elementarium
Explicit: 136v Ex istis sequitur quod a terra usque ad celum stellatum sunt miliaria Cix.CCC.lxxv.
eTK 0567M (t0110550000)
9. 137r
Tract for an astronomical table (not present)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 137r In hanc tabulam planetarum intrandum est cum die in capite et cum horis in latere sinistro in quorum concursu inuenietur quis planetarum ilia hora dominetur
Explicit: 137r Cum ergo luna qui est mater humidorum nunc sit in vno nunc in alio . alia et alia est disposicio nisi quatenus aliorum planetarum accidentibus impediatur

For other copies of this text, see C. H. Talbot, 'A Mediaeval Physician's Vade Mecum', Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciencies, 16:3 (1961), 213-233 (pp. 221-222) [without this manuscript].

eTK 0675C (t0130600000)
10. 137v-141r
Treatise on the four humours
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 137v Omne enim corpus humanum cum sit ex quatuor humoribus compositum . Scilicet ex sanguine . colera . flegmate et melencolia
Explicit: 141r Idem facit triaca. Et iam amplius non loquar . sed clarifica deum in hijs que audisti.
eTK 0982F (t0188450000)
11. 141v-142r
Practica urinarum
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 141v It is to vnderstonde whoso will loke an vryne hym behoueth to considre thre thynges
Explicit: 144r Circulus white grauell betokenyth the ston in the bledder / blake grauell betokenyth Ache in the Rigge betwen the kydeneyren water full of smalle thredis betokenyth drye complexicioun [sic] and a posteme in the righte syde skales as it were of fysshes betokenyth stoppyng of flouris and stable in þe matrice
Final rubric: 144r Explicit practica vrinarum quod B.R.

The text features twenty-one jordans.

eVK2 3229.00 (v0075970000)
Tavormina (2014), nos 1.2 and 11.2
12. 144v
Exposiciones vrinarum in ordine
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 144v Iam incipiunt exposiciones Vrinarum in ordine
Incipit: 144v Color rubeus est quasi flamma ignis
Explicit: 144v Glaucus debet esse vt cornu lucidum
Final rubric: 144v Expliciunt exposiciones colorum vrine quod R.B.
eTK 0235B (t0045000000)
13. 144v-145r
Two recipes for Aqua mirabilis
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 144v Aqua mirabilis et preciosa
Final rubric: 145r Pulius diureticus et contra ventositatem et concordat omnibus complexionibus et etatibus tam viris quam mulieribus et propter colicam et illicam passionem' and 'Pulius supradictus appellatur Pulius Walteri
eTK 0007K (t0001190000)
eTK 1325B (t0253770000)
14. 145r
Walter's Poultice
Language(s): Latin
Final rubric: 145r Pulius supradicus appellatur Pulius Walteri
15. 144v-148v
Tractatus nobilis de Regimine sanitatis Pseudo-Aristotle
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 144v Incipit Tractatus nobilis de Regimine sanitatis quod R.B.
Incipit: 144v Aristoles autem scribens Alexandro magno ait. O alexander . cum sit homo corpus corruptibile . visum est mihi scribere vtilia ex secretis artis medicine
Explicit: 148v si non desistant quod percussionem non evadent . quia sicut aqua extinguit ignem . ita et crudus humor calorem naturalem.
Final rubric: 148v Explicit nobilis tractatus de Regimine Sanitatis quod R.B.

The text appears to be the same as in Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Digby 29 , , ff. 153r-161v, where it is attributed to John of Mirfield , Breuiarium Bartholomaei.

eTK 0135M (t0025870000)
16. 148v-149r
Tractatus mirabilibus aque ardentis rectificat
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 148v Et incipit tractatus mirabilibus aque ardentis rectificate
Incipit: 148v Ab origine mundi vniuersa naturaliter phisicancium multitudo indagare non desijt circa laxatiuas tria inuenire
Explicit: 149r Iam multu aperui tibi de occulto seu secreto ad laudem et gloriam ihesu Christi
eTK 0007K (t0001190000)
17. 149r-149v
A poultice
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 149r Pulius contra cardiacam passionem et nimiam debilitatem
18. 149v-153r
Tractatus de morbo epidemiae John of Burgundy
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 149v Incipit tractatus Magistri Johannis de Burgundia de morbo epdidemie
Incipit: 149v Ego Johannes de Burgundia diuino auxilia inuocato preservacionem et curam epidemie enucleare intendo vt vix aliquis phisico indigeat sed vnusquisque phisicus sibi ipsi sit preseruator curator et rector
Explicit: 153r Et quia illi morbi sunt brevis terminationis et materia furiosa quod illico fiat minucio est consilium meum et ab ilia minucione diu non sit expectandum quod multociens mora trahit periculum
Final rubric: 153r Non pro precio sed pro precibus hoc opus egi et compilaui . vt cum quis conualuerit a morbis supradictis pro me ad dominum deum nostrum efficater oret . Cui sit laus et gloria per tocius mundi climata et per infinita saeculorum saecula Amen. quod R. B. Explicit nobilis tractatus Magistri Johannis de Burgundia contra morbum epidemialem.
eTK 0488P
19. 153r-155v
Tractatus de morbo epidemiae [Short Version] (English translation) John of Burgundy
Language(s): Middle English and Latin
Rubric: 153r-153v Et iam incipit tractatus Johannis de Barba alias dicti Johannis de Burdegalia extractus in lingua Anglicana contra morbum pestilencialem siue epidemialem
Incipit: 153v Here begynneth a noble tretis made of a good phisician John of Burdeux for medycyne ageyn the pestilence euyl . And it is departed in foure chapiters
Explicit: 155v Also who is therinne do he tyme and reule hym as the other chapitres of this tretis techyn hym . and þourgh the grace of god he schall be from this sekenes keped and delyvuered
Final rubric: 155v Explicit tractatus Johannis de Barba vel Johannis de Burdegalia editus contra morbum pestilencialem est morbus epidemialis . Anno domini millesimo tricentesimo nonagesimo.
See Rand Schmidt (2001) for other copies
eVK2 2175.00 (v0075980000)
eVK2 7380.00 (v0075990000)
20. 155v-157v
Plague treatise
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 155v Incipit quedam exhortacio bona contra morbum pestilencialem siue epidemialem
Incipit: 156r Dilectissime frater vt intellexi multum times pro instanti pestilencia quasi in ipsa sis moriturus et non euasurus
Explicit: 155v fiant pilule cum aqua morelle et scabiose et voluantur in puluere cinamoni et quilibet ad quantitatem pise et modicum maior.
Final rubric: 157v Explicit quaedam exhortatio bona contra morbum pestilentialem
eTK 0431K
21. 158v
Volvelle
Language(s): Latin and Middle English

The terms for the points of the compass are written in Middle English.

22. 159r-159v
Vein Man
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 159r Vena inscisa in fronte omnium rordes [sic] sgnificat infamam
Explicit: 159v Vena sub genu inscisa ad intra sanguinibus purgat de perdicione ne coaguletur

The text accompanies a drawing of a nude man but it does not display veins.

For further examples of Zodiac Man and Vein Man, see Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 3303(3) and MS Dd.6.29 (Zodiac Man only).

23. 159v
Zodiac Man
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 159v Aries est signum calidum et siccum et masculinum. Caue ab incisione in capite uel in facie . et non incindas uenam capitalem dum luna fuerit in hoc signo
Explicit: 159v Piscis est signum calidum et humidum et feminum. Caue ne incindaris in pedibus uel extremitatibus ; Et caue a lesione pedum . dum luna est in hoc signo

The text accompanies a drawing of a nude man but it does not display any signs of the Zodiac.

For further examples of Zodiac Man and Vein Man, see Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 3303(3) and MS Dd.6.29 (Zodiac Man only).

24. 163r
Astronomical notes
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 163r Pro figura erigenda primo quaerere signum ☉ in almanak
Explicit: 163r gradus sit repertus

The notes contain a table with the headers 'Ordo planetarum', 'Dies planetarum' and 'Nox planetarum'.

eTK 1132J (t0217720000)
25. 163r
Latin saying
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 163r Hoc est nescire sine Christo plurima scire +

Full transcription.

26. 164v-172r
Astronomical tables
Language(s): Latin

Sixteen tables: beginnning with a table entitled 'Tabula Signi et gradus Ascendentis qualibet hora atque minuta' and ending with a table entitled: 'Tabula horarum inequalium noctis artificians'.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 109r: And to philomen
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFHF(?))
Extent: Codex: 55 leaves. 240 × 180 mm.

Collation

  • Quires 16-218 (ff. 108-155)
  • Quire 226+1 (ff. 156-162: 3rd leaf, f. 158, inserted)
  • Quire 2310 (ff. 163-172)

Leaf signatures consisting of letters ('a'-'h') and Roman numerals

 Occasional catchwords in brown ink in the right lower-hand corners of last versos

Condition

This part of the manuscript is in a good condtion.

Layout

165 × 100 mm. Ruled in ink, frame and line ruling. Single columns. 33 lines to the page, written below top line.

Hand(s)

ff. 108r-157v and 163r-172r have been copied by a single hand writing in a cursive script with a mixture of both Secretary and Anglicana features.

f. 158v (volvelle) has been copied by one or two hands using a more formal (Textualis) script for Latin and a more cursive (Anglicana) script for English.

ff. 159r-159v have been copied by a single hand writing in a Textualis quadrata script.

Decoration

Drawings of 20 jordans in brown ink on ff. 142v-144r.

Rotating diagram (volvelle) with three parchment disks organised concentrically on top of each other and fastened to the page; the second and third one have hands in blue and pink with drawings of, respectively, the sun and moon on them in gold and silver; a circular opening on the third (upper) disk reveals a silver layer on the surface that it covers on the disk underneath.

Drawings of the 'Vein Man' and 'Zodiac Man', in both cases represented by a a naked man drawn in black ink but without veins, body parts and signs of the Zodiac added, on ff. 154r-154v.

Added drawings of a dog chasing a (?) rabbit or hare in brown ink on f. 160v; and four sketches of human faces on f. 161r.

Three- to five-line initials in blue and purple in frames of gold or in gold in frames of blue, purple, green, and red with partial, three-sided) borders of acanthus leaves and flowers in the same colours (ff. 108r, 128v, 131r, 132v, 136v, 137v, 144v, 145r, 48v, 149v, 156r).

Two-line gold ('champ') initials in blue and purple with foliate pen-flourishing in green ink.

One-line capitals in blue or red ink.

One-line capitals highlighted in yellow ink.

Linefillers consisting of blue and red wavy lines.

Headers rubricated in red ink; but blue ink is used alongside red ink for the names of cardinal and ordinal directions on the volvelle on f. 159v.

Paraphs in blue or red ink.

History

Origin: Late 15th century. ; England.

Provenance

John Banks : his name inscribed on f. 162v: 'John Bankes'.

Additional Information

Record Sources

This catalogue entry draws on the description provided by M.R. James, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Library of Gonville and Caius College, 2 vols (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1908) and Kari Anne Rand Schmidt, Manuscripts in the Library of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (Cambridge: Brewer, 2001).

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

The manuscript was displayed as part of the exhibition Curious Cures: Medicine in the Medieval World (Cambridge University Library, 29 March-6 December 2025) (ff. 158v-159r) (displayed from 22 July only).

Bibliography

    A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Gonville and Caius College, James, M.R. (Cambridge, 1, University Press, 1907) A Middle English version of the introduction to Guy de Ghauliac's <hi rend="italics">Chirurgia magna</hi> Acta Universitatis Lundensis, Sectio 1: Theologica juridica humaniora, (Lund, Gleerup, 1970) The 'Sloane Group': Related Scientific and Medical Manuscripts from the Fifteenth Century in the Sloane Collection The British Library Journal, , (16, 1, 26-57, 1990) Medieval Lunar Astrology: A Collection of Representative Middle English Texts, Means, Laurel (Lewiston, N.Y., Mellen, 1993) The Golden Table of Pythagoras Popular and Practical Science of Medieval England Medieval Texts and Studies, , (East Lansing, MI, 123-140, Colleagues Press, 1994) Manuscripts in the Library of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge Index of Middle English prose, Rand Schmidt, Kari Anne (Woodbridge, D.S. Brewer, 2001) The Declaracions of Richard of Wallingford: A case study of a Middle English astrological treatise Medical and scientific writing in late medieval English, Voigts, Linda Ehrsam (197-208, 2004) The Cambridge Illuminations: Ten Centuries of Book Production in the Medieval West, (London, Harvey Miller, 2005) The Twenty-Jordan Series: An Illustrated Middle English Uroscopy Text ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews, Tavormina, M. Teresa (18, 3, 43-67, 2005, https://doi.org/10.3200/ANQQ.18.3.43) The Liber Uricrisiarum in Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, MS 336/725, , (Oslo, 2005, unpublished MA thesis) Uroscopy in Middle English: A Guide to the Texts and Manuscripts Studies in medieval and renaissance history, Tavormina, M. Teresa ([Michigan?], 2014) <hi rend="italics">Liber uricrisiarum</hi>: a reading edition, Daniel, Henry (Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2020) The Medicine of the Friars in Medieval England Health and Healing in the Middle Ages, Jones, Peter Murray (Woodbridge, Boydell & Brewer, 2024, https://www.jstor.org/stable/jj.5558126)

Funding of Cataloguing

Wellcome

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Study at Cambridge

About the University

Research at Cambridge