Cambridge, Peterhouse, MS 178
Medical texts
Contents
Language(s): Latin, with occasional notes in Middle English
According to Thomson, Peterhouse MS 178 contains the only copy of this text.
The attribution of this text to Richardus Anglicus is not confirmed by any other sources.
According to Thomson, Peterhouse MS 178 contains the only copy of this text.
The attribution of this text to Richardus Anglicus is not confirmed by any other sources.
This text is attributed to Roger of Salerno in Thomson's Catalogue, but the Voigts article about this treatise does not identify an author of this text. The final rubric initially attributed the text to a 'Roger' (presumably Roger of Salerno ), but the scribe then corrected the attribution to 'Richardi' (presumably Richardus Anglicus (fl. 1180) ). In other manuscripts, this text is attributed to Henry of Winchester .
The Micrologus of Richardus Anglicus (fl. 1180) has not survived in a single complete manuscript copy with a prologue and the parts arranged 1-5; nevertheless one or more of its parts are extant in various combinations in over 30 manuscripts. See Sharpe, Handlist, pp. 468-474 for further information.
According to Thomson, Peterhouse MS 178 contains the only copy of this text.
The Micrologus of Richardus Anglicus (fl. 1180) has not survived in a single complete manuscript copy with a prologue and the parts arranged 1-5; nevertheless one or more of its parts are extant in various combinations in over 30 manuscripts. See Sharpe, Handlist, pp. 468-474 for further information.
The Micrologus of Richardus Anglicus (fl. 1180) has not survived in a single complete manuscript copy with a prologue and the parts arranged 1-5; nevertheless one or more of its parts are extant in various combinations in over 30 manuscripts. See Sharpe, Handlist, pp. 468-474 for further information.
The Micrologus of Richardus Anglicus (fl. 1180) has not survived in a single complete manuscript copy with a prologue and the parts arranged 1-5; nevertheless one or more of its parts are extant in various combinations in over 30 manuscripts. See Sharpe, Handlist, pp. 468-474 for further information.
The Micrologus of Richardus Anglicus (fl. 1180) has not survived in a single complete manuscript copy with a prologue and the parts arranged 1-5; nevertheless one or more of its parts are extant in various combinations in over 30 manuscripts. See Sharpe, Handlist, pp. 468-474 for further information.
This text only survives in one other manuscript, Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, MS Lat. 6957, ff. 37rv ; in BNF MS Lat. 6957, the poem at the opening of the prologue in Peterhouse MS 178 ('Si quod agam ... Quasi flama[sic] rogi') is at the end of the text.
The Micrologus of Richardus Anglicus (fl. 1180) has not survived in a single complete manuscript copy with a prologue and the parts arranged 1-5; nevertheless one or more of its parts are extant in various combinations in over 30 manuscripts. See Sharpe, Handlist, pp. 468-474 for further information.
This appears to be the only surviving copy of this text.
Also in Oxford, New College, MS 167 and a lost manuscript, Wroclaw, Biblioteka Uniwersytecka, Rehdigeriana (olim Biblioteka Miejska) 1302, for which a ?partial 19th century copy exists, Wroclaw, Biblioteka Uniwersytecka, M 1303 .
Similar to the version of this text in Cambridge, St John's College, MS D.24, ff. 349r-352r .
This text is often attributed to Arnaldus de Villanova , but it is generally not thought to be one of this authentic works.
Note that this version of the text is not particularly close to the standard edition of the text printed in Lyon in 1504.
The text from f. 207r ln 8. seq. to the bottom of f. 207r is treated by the scribe as part of De conferentibus et nocentibus, but the two sub-sections of text headed ‘De nocumentio ueneris’ and ‘De uiuamento veneris’ do not seem to be part of any other surviving copy of this text.
Ends early at Renzi, IV:434.
Variously attributed to either Gerard of Cremona (c. 1113/1114 – 1187) or Gerard of Montpellier (13th century).
Similar arrangements of this text can be found in:
- London, British Library, MS Royal 12.E.15, ff. 17r-18v
- London, British Library, MS Sloane 1933, ff. 137v-138r
- Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. 5207, ff. 112v-116r
Includes recipes for iron gall ink and for various coloured pigments.
Lacks rubric and perhaps opening words of the text.
In his edition of the prose Salernitan questions, Lawn draws attention to the similarity of the versions of this text in this manuscript and in Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Auct. F.3.10, ff. 154r-161v . Lawn also suggests that this is the same text recorded as 'questiones Salernitane a magro loz composite' by M. R. James in Ancient Libraries, no. 1236, p. 342. According to Lawn (p. xvii) this 'magister Lorentius seems to be otherwise unknown in Salernitan literature'.
According to Thomson, Peterhouse MS 178 contains the only copy of this text.
Ends imperfectly.
Physical Description
Early 21st-century foliation (incorporating some of the partial foliation of the 19th century).
Folios 1-224; 225-310
Foliated in pencil in Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper outer corner of the recto of each leaf.Deprecated 19th- or 20th-century foliation.
This manuscript was previously understood to be composite, with Part 1 comprising the present ff. 1-224 and Part 2 comprising the present ff. 225-310; it seems that at some point while the manuscript was viewed as a composite volume it was given an additional foliation sequence which restarted at 'f. 1' at the present f. 225, and some folio designations in this sequence were added to the volume, i.e., folios '51' (for the present 275r) to '84' (for the present ff. 309r)
A deprecated foliation sequence in pencil in Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper outer corner of the recto of some of the leaves towards the end of the manuscript - these foliation sigla have been struck through in pencil to indicate that they are no longer used.14th- or 15th-century pagination
Paginated as pp. 3-245 for the present leaves ff. 1r-122r)
Paginated in light brown ink in the typical medieval forms of Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper outer corner of the recto and verso of each leaf from the present leaves ff. 1r-122r.14th- or 15th-century pagination
Paginated as pp. 244-395 for the present leaves ff. 121v-193r)
Paginated in drypoint in the medieval forms of Hindu-Arabic numerals in the centre of the upper margin of most leaves from ff. 121v-193r. This pagination sequence was in place before the loss of 5 leaves in Quire 12 between the present ff. 134v and 135r as this drypoint pagination sequence jumps from p. 270 (134v) to p. 281 (135r), which is consistent with the stubs and codicology that indicate the loss of 5 leaves from that quire. There is an error in this sequence at the present opening ff. 184v-185r which are drypoint-paginated as pp. 378-379, which is a repeat of the previous opening, ff. 183v-184r which are also (correctly within the context of this sequence) paginated as pp. 378-379. This pagination sequence can be quite difficult to see in normal (natural or artificial) lighting conditions, but there is a relatively clear example of p. 283 in this designation sequence on f. 136r.Collation
Comprising two codicological units (ff. 1-224 and 225r-310v) written by the same scribe, but prepared with a different mise-en-page in each unit, and the quires arranged in the following way:
- Quires 1-1112 (ff. 1-132)
- Quire 1212-5 (ff. 133-139: 3rd-7th leaves missing)
- Quires 13-1712 (ff. 140-199)
- Quire 184 (ff. 200-203)
- Quire 1912 (ff. 204-215)
- Quire 2010-1 (ff. 216-224: 10th leaf excised, probably blank) ;
- Quires 21-2312 (ff. 225-260)
- Quire 2414 (ff. 261-274)
- Quires 25-2612 (ff. 275-298)
- Quire 2710+1 (ff. 299-309: 1st leaf inserted)
- Quire 28one (f. 310: perhaps originally a bifolium, with the 2nd leaf missing)
1-1112 1212-5 (3rd-7th leaves missing) 13-1712 184 1912 2010-1 (10th excised, probably blank); 21-2312 2414 25-2612 2710+1 (1st leaf inserted) 28one (perhaps originally a bifolium, with the 2nd leaf missing)
Most leaf signatures trimmed away, but a 'vi' remains in the lower outer corner of the 6th leaf of Quire 19, i.e., f. 209r.
No medieval quire signatures.
Medieval catchwords in ink in the lower margin of the last verso of each quire, some partially trimmed away and many catchwords in the latter half of the volume enclosed in a red frame e.g., f. 175v.Condition
Layout
210 × 155 mm. Folios 1r-9r ruled in, frame and lines. Written in triple-column format for a capitula list, typically 33 lines to the column and written below top line.
210 × 155 mm. Folios 9v-224v ruled in crayon, frame and lines. Written in single-column format, typically 33 lines to the page and written below top line.
210 × 155 mm. Folios 225r-310v ruled in crayon, frame and lines. Written in double-column format, typically 33 lines to the column and written below top line.
Hand(s)
Written in a northern textualis rotunda by a single scribe. R. M. Thomson describes the work as being that of a 'Low Countries scribe' and also notes that he 'corrects his work in the margins, cancelling the error and framing the correction in red.' Although the mise-en-page changes from single- to double-column format at f. 225r, the same scribe is resonsible for the entirety of the volume and hand, rubrication pattern, and decoration are consistent throughout.
Annotations in a cursiva Anglicana in the margins of ff. 45v, 51v, 66v, 125r, 170r by a scribe who R. M. Thomson also identifies in Cambridge, Peterhouse, MS 109 and Cambridge, Peterhouse, MS 150
Decoration
Puzzle initial with additional flourishing at the opening of the volume on f. 1r and at the beginnings of occasional other texts throughout the volume. Flourished initials, e.g., 275v in red and blue at the major and minor divisions of the texts.
Inital letter of each line of the capitula list on ff. 1r-9r written in alternate red and blue 'lombardic' capitals.
Section headings rubricated throughout.
Line fills of red minims in the capitula list on ff. 1r-9r.
Additions
R. M. Thomson recorded annotations in Middle English in a cursiva Anglicana in the margins of ff. 45v ('Nota Elmam'), 51v ('Lok wel'), 66v ('Nota Ryde ... ... ...(?)'), 125r ('Scharp lok þis'), 170r ('Lo Robyn') by a scribe who R. M. Thomson also identifies in Peterhouse MS 109 and Peterhouse MS 150. Peterhouse MSS 109 and 150 are more extensively annotated by this scribe and Thomson cautiously suggests that he may be Ralph Holbeche (Venn:ACAD no number, search 'Holbeche') who was a fellow of Peterhouse in 1335, Master of Peterhouse c. 1345-?1349, and probably died c. 1373-1374.
Quire signatures ('a-p 1-4 u 1-8') 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. These appear to reflect an earlier belief that the manuscript was a composite.
Binding
18th-century binding. Undecorated parchment cover over thin pasteboards. Six sewing stations tanglible as slightly raised bands on spine. Description of the contents of the volume written in ink on the spine in an 18th century hand, now almost completely erased. Small printed paper label fixed to spine bearing the shelfmark designation '178'.
Head and tail bands wrapped in cream, blue, and yellow yarn mostly lost or rolled inside the back ?due to abrasion.
The front pastedown is paper and contains:
- 'James 178' in pencil
- A list of some of the main textual items in the volume including:| Tabula cum Comto Mag.i Johannis de Sto Paulo see pag[sic] 19 | a Richardo phlebotomia 81 | Do de signis 86 | Do de febribus 166 | anathema 295 | Summa Richardi 312 | Do de ...(?) diebus 395 | de pulsibus 397 | Questiones Salernitanae
The rear pastedown is a blank leaf of medieval parchment.
The volume has blue and green thread bookmarks sewn into the outer margin of the opening leaves of a new text; some of these bookmarks have been lost or badly damaged.
Dimensions (L x W x D): 290 x 205 x 95
Stored in a grey archive box with "PETERHOUSE" written on the box in pencil and a printed label '178' fixed to the box with an adhesive.
History
Perhaps copied in England by a scribe trained in the Low Countries. Date and place of production based on palaeographical, decorative, and biographical details.
Provenance and Acquisition
Perhaps once owned by Ralph Holbeche , former Master of Peterhouse. As noted by Thomson, Peterhouse MS 178 has annotations in Middle English in a cursiva Anglicana in the margins of ff. 45v ('Nota Elmam'), 51v ('Lok wel'), 66v ('Nota Ryde ...'), 125r ('Scharp lok þis'), 170r ('Lo Robyn') by a scribe who Thomson also identifies in Peterhouse MS 109 and Peterhouse MS 150. Peterhouse MSs 109 and 150 are more extensively annotated by this scribe and Thomson cautiously suggests that he may be Ralph Holbeche as an annotation in MS 109 f. 252v is signed 'Rad Holbech') who was a fellow of Peterhouse in 1335, Master of Peterhouse c. 1345-?1349, and probably died c. 1373-1374 as an annotation.
The precise date of acquisition is unknown, but the manuscript was certainly at Peterhouse by 1418 as it is recorded in the 1418 inventory of the Peterhouse library. The early 15th-century inventory of the library is preserved in a document now known as the Registrum vetus ('The Old Register'). The Registrum vetus was begun in 1418 by a single scribe, and subsequent donations to the library were added by other members of the College throughout the 15th century. The reference to Peterhouse MS 178 occurs on p. 17 of the Registrum vetus where it is recorded as part of the original inventory of 1418 by the main scribe of the Registrum. The entry in the Registrum vetus for MS 178 is as follows: '‘Liber magistri Ricardi experti in qualibet parte medicine --- Incipit in 2o fo lapis in pe⟨nultimo⟩ de albedine’. The manuscript has retained the codicological form it had in 1418 as the secundo folio (f. 2r) and penultimate leaf (f. 310r keywords match those in the extant manuscript 'lapis' and 'de albedine' respectively.
Additional Information
Record Sources
Availability
Researchers should note that Peterhouse's western European medieval manuscripts are housed at Cambridge University Library. Scholars who wish to consult Peterhouse manuscripts should contact the Special Collections Reading Room to arrange their visit; all University Library admissions procedures will apply. For information on eligibility and admissions procedures, see Joining the Library. For further enquiries, and to confirm the availability of the manuscript, please contact the Special Collections Reading Room.
Custodial History
Recorded as no. 219 in the Ecloga Oxonio-Cantabrigiensis by Thomas James (1600).
Recorded as no. 1881 in Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ (c. 1697)
Recorded as MS 1.8.2 in the older '3 figure' shelfmark system once used in Peterhouse library.
Bibliography
-
A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Peterhouse, James, M. R. (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1899)
Catalogue of Latin and vernacular alchemical manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland:
dating
from before the XVI century, Singer, Dorothea Waley (Brussels, Maurice Lamertin, 1928)
The prose Salernitan questions, edited from a Bodleian manuscript (Auct. F.3.10):
an anonymous
collection dealing with science and medicine written by an Englishman c. 1200 with
an appendix of ten related
collections Auctores Britannici Medii Aevi, (London, Published for the British Academy by the Oxford University Press, 1979)
A Latin Technical Phlebotomy and Its Middle English Translation Transactions of the
American Philosophical Society, Voigts, Linda E.McVaugh, Michael R. (74, 2, 1, 1984, https://www.jstor.org/stable/1006388?origin=crossref)
Les questions disputées et les questions quodlibétiques dans les facultés de théologie,
de droit
et de médecine Typologie des sources du moyen âge occidental, (Brepols, 44-45, 1985, http://www.brepols.net/Pages/ShowProduct.aspx?prod_id=IS-9782503360447-1)
The art of all colours: mediaeval recipe books for painters and illuminators, Clarke, Mark (London, Archetype Publications, 2001)
The University and college libraries of Cambridge Corpus of British Medieval Library
Catalogues, Clarke, Peter D. (London, British library British academy, 2002)
A descriptive catalogue of the medieval manuscripts in the library of Peterhouse,
Cambridge, Thomson, R. M. (Cambridge, D.S. Brewer, 2016)
Funding of Cataloguing
Wellcome
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Abbreviations
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