Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries: Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.5

Astrology, Astronomy, Medicine, and Prognostics

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 2r: terra sit in medio

Form: codex

Support: Folios 1-211 parchment, folios 212-219 paper. Modern paper endleaves.

Extent: Codex: vi + 2 | 211 | 8 + v leaves. 235 × 155 mm.

Foliation:

20th-century foliation sequence in pencil with further additions.

Folios [a]-[f] + i-ii | 1-70 [71a] 71-211 | 212-219 + [g]-[k]

Foliation in use in this record. The core medieval leaves are foliated in pencil in the upper outer corner of each recto in Hindu-Arabic numerals ff. i-ii + 1-219 (for ff. i]-[ii] + 1-211 | 212-219). A small additional strip of parchment inserted between ff. 70 and 71 has the designation [71a] in this record, in order to maintain coherence with existing designations. The later paper endleaves are inconsistently foliated in the manuscript and have been assigned the designations ff. [a]-[f] and [g]-[k] for the front and rear flyleaves respectively in this catalogue record. Although ff. i and ii are designated as such in the manuscript, the Wren Digital Library currently assigns these leaves the designations ff. 'front-flyleaf-7' and 'front-flyleaf-8', which groups them with the later paper endleaves rather than their medieval parchment contemporaries; this record uses the pencil designations i and ii that are present in the manuscript for ff. i and ii.

Foliation:

Medieval (?15th-century) pagination sequence, with early-modern (?16th-century) additions

Pages 1-431 (for ff. 1-210).

Paginated in brown and black inks and very faint crayon in the medieval forms of Hindu-Arabic numerals in the centre of the upper margin of some rectos and versos. The sequence has several defects introduced by the original paginator and by the early-modern augmentor and should not be relied upon as an accurate codicological description of the medieval distribution of the leaves.

Collation

A composite manuscript with two main medieval Parts of unequal size (ff. [i]-[ii] + 1-211) and a final early-modern Part (ff. 212-219). The medieval leaves have suffered losses after the main text was copied and these losses are visible both in disruption to the text, and interruptions in the medieval pagination scheme. The extant leaves are arranged as follows:

Medieval parchment endleaves (ff. [i]-[ii]) |
Quires 1-3¹² (ff. 1-36)
Quire 4⁴ (ff. 37r-40v)
Quire 5² (ff. 41-42)
Quires 6-7¹⁰ (ff. 43-62)
Quire 8^12-1 (ff. 63-70, [71a], 71-73; [71a] not counted in collation: ?8th leaf cancelled)
Quires 9-13⁸ (ff. 74-113)
Quires 14-15⁶ (ff. 114-125)
Quire 16¹² (ff. 126-137
Quire 17⁶ (ff. 138-143)
Quire 18¹² (ff. 144-155)
Quire 19¹⁰ (ff. 156-165)
Quires 20-21⁸ (ff. 166-181)
Quire 22^12-4 (ff. 182-189: 1st, 2nd, 7th and 8th leaves missing)
Quire 23⁴ (ff. 190-193)
Quire 24^12-2 (ff. 194-203: 6th and 7th leaves missing)
Quire 25⁸ (ff. 204-211) |
Quire 26⁸ (ff. 212-219)

1-3¹² 4⁴ 5² 6-7¹⁰ 8^12-1 (?8th cancelled) 9-13⁸ 14-15⁶ 16¹² 17⁶ 18¹² 19¹⁰ 20-21⁸ 22^12-4 (1st, 2nd, 7th and 8th missing) 23⁴ 24^12-2 (6th and 7th missing) 25⁸ | 26⁸

No leaf signatures common to the entire volume.

No quire signatures common to the entire volume.

No catchwords common to the entire volume.

Additions

Quire signatures ('1-25') 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.

Binding

Rebound 1980. Fully bound in tanned leather over wood boards with matching decoration to front and rear covers. Covers are decorated with a single fillet inset from the upper and lower perimeter of the boards by c. 3mm; the fillet extends and connects across the back.

Spine unphotographed. Four raised bands on spine, each decorated with a single fillet across the width of the band, and a further fillet at the upper and lower perimeters of the band.

Turn ins decorated with a single fillet inset from the upper, outer and lower perimeter of the boards by c. 3mm. Paper pastedowns pasted over the turn ins. The front pastedown contains the alphanumeric portion of the present shelfmark in pencil ('O.2.5.'), three printed paper labels bearing the individual parts of the alphanumeric shelfmark ('O' '2' '5') probably removed from a former binding, and a Trinity College armorial bookplate with motto 'Collegium S.S. et Individuae Trinitatis in Academia Cantabrigiensi'.

Six paper endleaves (ff. [a]-[f]) at the front of the manuscript and five paper endleaves (ff. [g]-[k]) at the rear of the manuscript; all blank. Folios [a]-[c] are visually similar to the front pastedown and probably originate from the 1980 rebinding. Folios [i]-[k] are visually similar to the material of the rear pastedown and probably originate from the 1980 rebinding. Folios [d]-[f] and [g]-[h] appear to be from an older paperstock and perhaps originate from an earlier binding.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Parts 1 and 2 (ff. i-ii +1-211) were perhaps once owned by a 'Magistro Bury'. In the earlier of the two copies of the deed outlining the provision of divine services in Williamston, Wales, the witness list on f. 125v includes an addition 'verus possessor huius libri teste magistro bury' written over an erasure by a 15th-century hand. This ownership note is not present in the later copy of the deed on f. ii verso. No further information is known about 'magistro Bury'.

Parts 1 and 2 (ff. i-ii +1-211) were perhaps once owned by the de Barry (de Barri) family of Manorbier Castle in Pembrokeshire, Wales. A provenance note added in the 16th century to f. ii verso names a 'Roberti de Barry quondam rector de Begeley' as the owner of 'totius huius librj' and goes on to state that Robert 'vixit sub anno Domini 1270'. The provenance note is unlikely to be correct, since ff. i-ii + 1-211 were not created until the second half of the fourteenth century. Nevertheless there seems to be a connection between MS O.2.5 and the de Barri family in the later middle ages based on the two (slightly divergent) copies of a deed regulating church service provision in Williamston, Wales (ff. ii and f. 125v), which are explored in L. H. McAvoy et al., 'Family, Feud, and Fertility'. The two parts were bound together by the end of the 15th century, since f. i contains a list of the contents of ff. 1r-211v written in a 15th-century hand.

L. H. McAvoy, P. Skinner, and T. L. Tyers, 'Family, Feud, and Fertility at Manorbier Castle, Pembs. 1200-1400', Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, NS 22 (2016), pp. 8–25

One of the manuscripts of Thomas Gale (1635/6-1702) , dean of York, antiquary, and fellow of Trinity College Cambridge.

ODNB

One of the manuscripts of Roger Gale (1672-1744) , antiquary and scholar, son of Thomas Gale. Inherited from his father.

ODNB

Donated to Trinity College by Thomas Gale , son of Roger Gale, in 1738. The Gale donation is recorded in .

Part 1: medieval endleaves [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.5, ff. [i]-[ii]]

Language(s): Latin

1. i recto - i verso

?15th century list of the contents of the volume with later additions

Language(s): Latin

Full transcription of the ?15th century list of the contents of the volume on ff. i recto - i verso (all folio and page references as in the manuscript:| [⟨I⟩]n hoc volumine continentur hij libri siue tractatus qui inferius nominantur cum cotacione foliorum in quibus cotantur | In primis Tractatus de Spera folio primo | Canon spere Apulei et Platonis de morte et vita fo. | cum figura folio 2 15 Tractatus spere in generali fo. 16 .| Spera putagore cum diuersis figuris folio 20. | Para platonis cum de morte et vita ; cum figura fo .29. | Massa compoti folio vicesimo quinto | Ars kalendarij fo 45. | De fflebotomia fo 51. | ffigura vocata mase fo. 52 | ffigura de complexionibus elementis humoribus etc fo .53.| Rota fortune cum multis figuris.folio.54.| Ars de calculacione in gallicis folio. 65.| Eclipsis solis cum canone fo.84.| Tabula terminorum folio.91.| Tabula Bede cum exposicione fo.92.| Tabula principalis Gerlandi fo.95.| Tabula lune cum canone fo 97| Liber de messe halle de significacione planetarum in lagis terre fo.99.| De significacione puerorum qua die nascuntur fo 105.| Quatuor libri de penitencijs folio 108.| Tractatus cuiusdam philosophi nomine Secundus fo. 142| Tractatus de septem climatibus et 7. planetis fo. 146.| Tractatus de septem diebus folio 149.| Quedam conclusiones de igne : 149. | Secreta mulierum qui est liber maior .171. f. 150 | {Gallice} Liber de virtutibus herbarum : {174 : medicamentis : 172 :}| {Gallice} Tractatus in gallicis de medicinis folio 184. {de urinis: 186.} | {Galiice} liber ypocratis in gallicis folio 196.| {Gallice} Tractatus de medicinis in gallicis fo 220.| Tractatus phisionomie folio 252.| Palmistria folio 256| Secreta mulierum minor liber folio 261.| Tractatus de aquis folio 276.| Tractatus de herbis folio 269 : {earumque nominibus}| i verso | {Gallice} Tractus in gallicis ad phlebotomia ^{272:} : {de aquis : 276}| Tractatus quadrantis folio 277 | Epistole Aristote^lis ad Alexandrum folio c288.| Tractatus de lapidibus folio 357.| Tractatus de animalibus folio 361| Tractatus de ponderibus folio 367| Tractatus de planetis folio 370| Phisionomia aristote^lis folio 372| Tractatus de calculacione folio 379.| Tractatus de septem planetis folio 381.| Tractatus de ventis cum figura fo. 384| Tabula septem planetarum cum canone fo 387.| {Gallice} Palmistria Salomonis in gallicis cum figuris 388.| ffigure eclipsis solis et lune folio 391| Due fgure theoric folio 393| Burlei super libros metheororum folio 395| {Gallice Constellaciones probatae : Gallice fol : 412}| {Carmen : ignes aritficales : etc : fol : 420}| {Gallice . Racio nominum 12 : signorum : folij : 422 :}| {Effecta lunae morantis in 12 . signis . folij : 423 .}| {Secretorum mulierum appendix . Ibidem .}| {Gallice . Distinctiones naturae , ex nativitate . 426 .}| {Medicamenta et alia artificia : 431 .}| Tractatus de Arte Chiromantiae

Notes enclosed in {curly} brackets were all added by a scribe writing an italic humanist hand.

All 'folio' references in this list of the contents correspond to the deprecated medieval pagination sequence.

The final lemma, 'Tractatus de Arte Chiromantiae' added by another scribe.

2. ii recto - ii verso

Copy of a deed of 1270 from Robert de Barry (de Barri) cooncerning the performance of divine service at the capella de villa Willelmi

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: ii recto Omnibus christi fidelibus presentes litteras visuris vel audituris Robertus de Barry rector ecclesie de Begely in domino salutem

Explicit: ii verso In cuius rei testimonium sigillum meum vna cum sigillo venerabilis prioris Ricardi meneuensis Episcopi et sigillum Radulfi domini ville predicte de Corwey , Johannis lomering Johannis filij ~~Johannis~~ ...(?) et Hugonis Seward presentibus apposui(?) dat apud lanfey iij non Julij anno domini m^o cc^o septuagesimo

Another more detailed copy of this agreement can be found on f. 125v.

3. ii verso

Retrospective ownership inscription and note on provenance

Language(s): Latin

Full transcription of the retrospective ownership inscription on f. ii verso: Nomen totius huius librj :| Miscellanea Roberti de Barry ,| quondam rector de Begeley : qui| vixit Sub anno: Domini : 1270 :| vt patet ex scripto composicionis , quod versa pagina habetur .| Sed liber ipse multo est vetustior .| Begeley est in Wallia .

Written in a decorative textualis of the 16th century and a humanist italic minuscule of the 17th century perhaps by the same scribe who added several notes in a humanist italic minuscule to the list of the contents on ff. i recto - i verso.

This retrospective ownership inscription describing Robert De Barry as the owner of the volume refers to details in the copies of the deed on ff. ii recto - ii verso and f. 125v

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: ii recto: Omnibus christi fidelibus presentes litteras visuris vel audituris

Form: codex

Support: Parchment (FHHF)

Extent: Codex: 2 leaves. 230 × 155 mm.

Collation

Two parchment endleaves, ff. i-ii

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

In good condition.

Layout

Folios [i]-[ii] informally written.

Hand(s)

List of the contents on ff. i recto - i verso written in a northern textualis formata of the ?15th century.

Additions to the list of the contents on ff. i recto - i verso in a humanist italic hand of the ?16th century. This scribe may also have written the provenance notes on f. ii verso in both the northern textualis formata hand and the additions in a humanist italic.

Copy of a deed on ff. ii recto - ii verso written in a rough ?14th century cursiva antiquior with anglicanafeatures

Provenance note on f. ii verso written in a decorative northern textualis formata of the ?16th century.

Decoration

No significant decoration in this Part.

Additions

Several former shelfmarks on f. i recto: '116', 'B.50', 'O.16.40'.

Note in a ?16th century hand discussing a possible Oxford provenance of this manuscript: 'v. pag. 84. ubi quod scriptus fuit Oxonij a.d. 1330 . constat'. The note refers to the table of eclipses on f. 42v which has a caption beneath: 'Ista tabula docet de eclipsi lune . quo tempore anni est eclipsis et quo die et qua hora . diei. et incipiebat anno . domini M^mo CCC^mo XXX^o et durabat vsque . Ad Anno Domini M^mo CCC^mo octogesima sexto . factus in vniversitate oxoniensis Anno predicto . a primo(?) eclipsis conputus descendendo in tabula(?) et in figuris'. Although ff. 1r-211v were written in the 14th century, it is not possible to determine whether the caption reflects the copying date for the entire manuscript.

History

Origin: 15th century. ; England or Wales.

Date of production based on palaeographical features. Place of production based on palaeographical features and geographic references on f. ii recto.

Part 2: Medical Texts [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.5, ff. 1-211]

Language(s): Latin

1. 1r-8r

Tractatus de sphaera Johannes de Sacrobosco

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 1r Tractatum de spera in quatuor capitulis distinguimus capitula dicentes quid sit spera quid axis spere . quid polus . quot sint spere . et que sit forma mundi . In secundo de .x. circulis ex quibus hec materialis spera componitur et illa supercelestis componi intelligitur . In tertio de ortu et occasu stellarum vel signorum planetarum et de diversitate noctium et dierum que sit habitantibus in diversis locis et de divisionibus climatum . In quarto e in vltimo de circulis et motu planetarum et causis eclipsis

Incipit: 1r Spera sit describitur in principio .xi. Geometrie ab Euclide

Explicit: 8r propter hoc legitur dyonisius ariopagita in eadem hora dixisse . aut deus nature patitur aut mundana machina dissoluitur et cetera

Final rubric: 8r Explicit tractatus de spera

See Decoration for description of diagrams.

Edited and translated (not from this MS) in L. Thorndike, The Spehre of Sacrobosco and Its Commentators, Corpus of Medieval Scientific Texts, 2 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1949), pp. 76-142

8r and 10r

Canone spere Apulei et Platonis de morte et vita cum figura

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 8r Hec littera pertinet ad 3. figura proximas sequentes . in ordine

Incipit: 8r Spera apulei et platonici de morte de vita . et de multis alijs negociis . que inquirere volveris . quod sic conputabis per littera nominum

Explicit: 8r Si nupar sinistra .; verte 2 :fol:

Title added by the early-modern annotator in the upper margin of f. 8r, 'Canon Spherae Apulei : &c :'. The early modern annotator also supplied a note that the reader should turn 'ad pag: 19', i.e., to f. 10r in order to examine the prognostic sphere in the manuscript.

Printed (not from this MS) in M. v. Förster, 'Beiträge zur mittelalterlichen Volkskunde VIII', Archiv für das Studium der neueren Sprachen und Literaturen (1912), pp. 16-49, esp. pp. 45-49

See L.S. Chardonnens, Anglo-Saxon Prognostics, 900-1100: Study and Texts Brill’s Studies in Intellectual History 3 (Leiden, 2007), for a discussion of prognostic spheres in the earlier medieval period in England

eTK 1522K (t0291470000)

8v-9v

Tractatus de spera in generali

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 8v Spera est circumferencia dimidii circului etc . Et notato quod hic agitur de motu

Explicit: 9v non oriuntur existentibus sub equinoxiali

Final rubric: 9v Explicit tractatus de spera in generali

Title added by the early-modern annotator in the upper margin of f. 8v, 'Tractatus de Sphera in generali'.

Also in Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS 228, f. 1r where it has the title 'Glossa brevis super tractatum [Johanns de Sacro Bosco]'.

eTK 0519F (t0101710000)

10r

Sphere of Plato

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 10r Para platonis de morte uel de vita uel ombibus rebus

Explicit: 10r Si deorsum morietur etc

Text accompanied by large prognostic sphere also on f. 10r.

See L.S. Chardonnens, Anglo-Saxon Prognostics, 900-1100: Study and Texts Brill’s Studies in Intellectual History 3 (Leiden, 2007) for a discussion of prognostic spheres in the earlier medieval period in England.

10v

Sphere of Pythagoras

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 10v Incipit ratio spere putagis[sic] philosophe[sic] quod appollonius scripsit

Explicit: 10v et diuide per .30.

Text accompanied by large prognostic sphere also on f. 10v.

10v-12v

Spheres of Pythagoras

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 10v Incipit ratio spere putagis[sic] philosophe[sic] quod appollonius scripsit

Explicit: 11v Eodem modo facias de prelato et fugienti . Ita litteram pertinet ad figuram proximam precedens

Text accompanied by seven large prognostic spheres, the last two on f. 12v perhaps unfinished.

13r-22r

Commentary on the Massa compoti

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 13r Licet modo in fine temporum constat habere plures radices qui de arte calculatoria videantur posse sufficere

Explicit: 22r mobile ibo cyphos ate liber que ?(?)

Final rubric: 22r Explicit liber massa compoti

Title added in the upper margin in a 16th century hand 'Massa computi'.

Written as a text-and-commentary with verse quotations in larger writing and underlined in red followed by passages of gloss and commentary.

22r-26v

Commentary on verse(s) about time reckoning

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 22r Hic inicipt ars kalendarii

Incipit: 22r Per veteram sagacitatem compositus fuit kalendarius qui vna subtilitate planetarum cursus .i. temporum

Explicit: 26v recessit a nostro emisperio Amen

Final rubric: 26v Hic liber est scriptus qui scripsit Explicit ars kalendarii

A shorter version of this text beginning 'Per veterum sagacitatem' also in Cambridge, University Library, MS Gg.4.29, ff. 86r-88v.

Written as a text-and-commentary with verse quotations in larger writing and underlined in red followed by passages of gloss and commentary.

Mentioned in C. Wordswoth, Ancient Kalendar of the University of Oxford: From Documents of the Fourteenth to the Seventeenth Century Togeter with Computus Manualis Ad Usum Oxoniensium from C. Kyrfoth’s Edition, Oxon, 1519-20 (with Seven Facsimiles), Oxford Historical Society, 45 (Oxford, 1904), p. 137

eTK 1033M (t0198650000)

26v

Prognostic on the Three Miraculous Days

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 26v Tres sunt dies . vt ait beatus Beda

Explicit: 26v 6 pede ...(?) ^dies a decembris

Title 'Phlebotomia' added in the inner margin in a 16th century hand.

See L.S. Chardonnens, Anglo-Saxon Prognostics, 900-1100: Study and Texts, Brill's Studies in Intellectual History, 3 (Leiden, 2007) for a discussion of texts on the three miraculous days in earlier medieval England.

eTK 1585B (t0302570000)

27r

Poem on the nature of love

Language(s): Latin

Full transcription. Title in the upper margin in a 16th century hand, 'Amor, quid ?'

WIC 15787

T.C. Moser Jr, 'Love and Disorder: A Fifteenth-Century Definition of Love and Some Literary Antecedents', in The Idea of Medieval Literature: New Essays on Chaucer and Medieval Culture in Honor of Donald R. Howard, ed. by J. M. Dean and C. K. Zacher (Cranbury, NJ: Associated University Presses, 1992), pp. 243–264, esp. p. 259

27r

Labyrinth diagram

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 27r A mase

Rubric added by a later medieval hand. An early modern hand has added the title 'Labyrinthus'. See Decoration for further details. Beneath the diagramm are brief notes on the so-called 'Egyptian Days'.

27v-28r

Diagrams and text on the complexions, elements, and humours.

Language(s): Latin

Title added by the early-modern annotator in the upper margin of f. 27v, 'Figura complexionum , humorum , elementorum : &c : ad Rem Medicam'. The same hand added an explicit on f. 28r, 'Explicit figura complexionum'.

Diagram on f. 27v consisting of a set of 16 circles in a 4x4 arrangement with each row pertaining to a different group of four things, from top-to-bottom: 'complexions' (ages of man), humours, seasons, elements. Text beneath the circles reads (transcription based on Seyfert with minor emendations):| 'Nota quod 4^or sunt elementa . quibus respondent 4^or humoribus et 4^or temperamenta anni et 4^or in homine etates. Elementa ignis . aer et aqua et terra . Tempora sunt estas ver ymps autumpnus . Quatuor[sic] humores sunt isti colera sanguis fleuma malencolia. 4^or etates sunt haec juventus puericia senium senectus . Igni igitur correspondent estas colera juventus . Aer vero sanguis pueritia . Aque autem yemps fleuma Senium . Terre vero autumpnus malencolia senectus et conueniunt omnia ista in qualitatibus cum elementis quibus respondent . Unde sit terra est frigida et sicca . Similiter malencolia est frigida et sicca . Similiter autumpnus est frigidus et siccus . Sed notandum quamvis in quolibet homine sunt istae 4^or qualitates non tamen fit denominatio ab omnibus sed de excellenti et ideo dicuntur colera quidem sanguinea et sit de aliis et sciendum quod malencolicus de sua complexicone[sic] frigidus est et siccus . Ideo in autumpno peius se habet, quia autumpnus est frigidus . Siccitas enim et frigiditas venientes ab extrinteco aumentatum[sic] ultra modum consumit(?) qualitates intrintecas[sic] secundum quod dicit Aristoteles .4. Omne simile aumentat[sic] suum simile ex hoc patet igitur qualiter malencolici melius se habent in vere quam in alio tempore cum ve⟨r⟩ sit calidus et humidus et malencolicus frigidus et siccus . caliditas veris temperat frigiditatem malencolici et humiditas siccitatem et ideo fit in ipso temperato conplexio tempore veris consimiliter intelligendum est de aliis compiexionibus etcetera.'| Followed by the words 'Explicit figura complexionum' in the hand of the early-modern annotator.

W. Seyfert, 'Ein Komplexionentext Einer Leipziger Inkunabel (Angeblich Eines Johann von Neuhaus) Und Seine Handschriftliche Herleitung Aus Der Zeit Nach 1300', Archiv Für Geschichte Der Medizin, 20.4 (1928), pp. 372–389

28r-33r

'Sortes' texts and diagrams on fortune telling

Language(s): Latin

Several leaves of text, tables, and diagrams. Text on f. 28r begins with questions that can be answered by the 'sortes' tables and Rota fortunae, i.e., 'An ille promouebitur uel non . An amicus tuus te diligat uel non'.

See Decoration for further details.

Text on ff. 32v-33r subdivided under headings labelled with the names of 15 kings, e.g., 'Rex turcorum', 'Rex hispanie', 'Rex indee' ... 'Rex romanorum'.

Final rubric on f. 33r: 'Expliciunt Rota fortune de diuinacione Socratis Explicitiunt Rote fortune de diuinacione Socratis[sic] Explicit hoc totum pro christo da mihi potum'.

Title 'Rota Fortunae' added to f. 28r in an early modern hand.

eTK 1254L (t0240630000)

33v-41r

Treatise on geomancy

Language(s): Anglo-Norman

Rubric: 33v L'art de calilation

Incipit: 33v Cest art est appelle iiij^or fabrica et en autre manere la file de astronomie

Explicit: 41r q il serra longe le col . et blannch . grosse teste large espaulez Rounde face petit ||

See Decoration for further details.

A note 'Gallice' added in the upper margin of f. 33v in an early-modern hand.

Ends abruptly, probably unfinished. Folios 41v-42r are blank.

R.J. Dean and M.B.M. Boulton, Anglo-Norman Literature: A Guide to Texts and Manuscripts, Anglo-Norman Text Society Occasional Publications Series, 3 (London: Anglo-Norman Text Society, 1999), no. 382

42v-46r

Eclipse diagram and records of eclipses between 1330 and 1386

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 43r Hec eclipsis sol Anno domini 1330 incipiet post meridiem quod est 17 kalendum augusti completis 3^vs horis . 30 minutis 30 secundi et durabit eclipsis vnam horam 4 minutis 0 secund vnitas erit numerus(?) cicli 19^li

Explicit: 46r durabit 3 horis 2 minutis 36 2^di 19 est numerus(?) cicli 19^li et erit prope vel

Final rubric: 46r Expliciunt eclipses lunares pro 56 annis jncipiendo ab anno christi 1330

Title added in the upper margin of f. 42v in an early-modern hand: 'Solis Eclypses Lunarum ab anno 1330 : ad : 1386 :

Table of 48 eclipse diagrams on f. 42v. Text under the table indicates that the table was created in Oxford c. 1386 'Ista tabula docet de eclipsis lune quo tempore anni est eclipsis et quo die et qua hora diei et incipiebat anno domini m^mo ccc^mo xxx^o et durabat vsque Ad annum dominum m^mo ccc^mo octogesima sexto . factus in vniuersitate oxoniensis . Anno predicto.'

Records of solar eclipses ff. 43rv, records of lunar eclipses ff. 44r-46r.

eTK 0598J (t0116360000)

eTK 0642D (t0123950000)

46r

Missing conclusion from the Tabula Bedae on f. 48r

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 46r Debuit esse finis de littera tabularum sequentium

Incipit: 46r que est 6 prepunctata erit littera tabularis quam pone in primo quadrato 532 quadratorum

Explicit: 46r et omnia .5. festa mobilia et cetera multa et ante ipsiam litteram dominicalem reperies et cetera

An early modern hand has added a note next to this text 'Hic est finis paginae :94; et proxime praegressa ibidem habentur'. The same hand has also added 'Finis exposicionis tabulae Bedae' on the same leaf.

46v-48r

Tabula terminorum, Tabula Bedae and Exposition

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 46v Exposicione tabularum precedencium et sequencium

Incipit: 46v Tabula prima dicitur tabula terminorum quam in illa termini .5. festorum mobilum per ordinem inueniuntur

Explicit: 48r sequens eam in ordine alphabeti cadens super .f. iunctura sub summitate indicis . Verte ad folium presedens ab si sum(?) et habebis ffinem

Final missing portion of text added on f. 46r by the same scribe.

Tabula terminorum and Tabula Bedae both on f. 46v.

48v-49r

Tabula Gerlandi

Language(s): Latin

Tables for a 504-year cycle, i.e., 1044-1548.

49v-50v

Tabula lune cum canone

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 49v Tabula lune

Incipit: 49v In hac tabula potest invenire in quo signo luna sit in omni die tenete etatem

Explicit: 50r superius pertinet

50rv

Tractatus de duodecim signis

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 50r Quam luna est in arietes ^aries est signum mobile calidum et siccum colericum de natura ignis bonum est tunc quicquid pertinet ad mobilitatem vt Balneare sanguinem minuere cauend est tangere capud cum frigido

Explicit: 50v wlneratur quam luna est in pisce vix aut(?) numquam curabitur

This text may have been intended as a part of the previous item, the Canones lune by the original scribe, but both the medieval scribe responsible for the table of contents on ff. ii recto - ii verso and the early modern annotator who added titles to most texts treat this text as a separate item.

The early-modern annotator has added a title to f. 50r and a cross-reference to f. 206r, 'de luna in 12 : signis existente . Simile quid habetur : pag. 423' - a similar text appears on f. 206r (p. 423 in the medieval pagination), which the annotator also noted on that leaf.

50v-53r

Epistola de rebus eclipsium et coniunctionibus [Latin] Māshā'allāh

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 50v Incipit Liber messe halla de significatione planetarum in plagis terre

Incipit: 50v Capitulum primm de racione circuli et stellarum et qualiter operantur in hoc seculo . Quia dominus altissimus fecit terram similitudinem spere

Explicit: 53r Et cum iunctus fuerit malus malo superhabundabit malum nisi huius quod prefuit coniunctioni

Final rubric: 53r est ex secretis scientiae astrorum . perfectus est liber Messe halla translatus a Iohanne Hisphanise in Lania ex Arabico in Latinum sub laude Dei et eius auxilio Explicit epistola messe halla

Chapter summary (for 12 chapters) follows rubric on f. 50v.

L. Thorndike, 'The Latin Translations of Astrological Works by Messahala', Osiris, 12 (1956), pp. 49–72, esp. pp. 62-66 (this MS not mentioned)

53v-54v

De planetis et eorum virtute

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 53v De significacione puerorum in qua die nascuntur

Incipit: 53v Sol est mundi oculus firmamenti pulcritudo lune et alarum planetarum illuminator a quo essiam[sic] dies capit esse

Explicit: 54v quod si fecerit praemia digna a bono et vitam sussipiet eternam

Final rubric: 54v Expliciunt significationes puerorum in qua die nascuntur per .7. planetas et nomina et natura .12. signorum

After the main text concludes, but before the final rubric there follows two lists of planetary, zodiacal, and humoral combinations and their qualities.

This text survives in later manuscripts including:

Cambridge, St John's College, MS E.6, ff. 86v-88v
Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.9.10, ff. 72r-73r
London, Lambeth Palace Library MS 70, ff. 147vb-148va
London, Lambeth Palace Library MS 74, f. 8va-b

Gensler (2004) discusses and edits two other copies of this treatise, entitled ‘De planetis et eorum virtute’, in London, Lambeth Palace Library, MSS 70 and 74. Gensler states that the Lambeth texts are the ‘only identified medieval copies of the work’ (p. 209). Since both Lambeth manuscripts contain works by Walter Burley, scholars have attributed this text to Burley as well; however, considering that this treatise also occurs outside the context of Burley's works, this attribution seems extremely tenuous.

Edited (from the Lambeth Palace MSs) in Marek Gensler, 'Gualteri Burlaei Adscriptus Tractatus de Planetis et Eorum Virtute', Studia Antyczne i Mediewistyczne XXVII (2004) pp. 209-214

M. Gensler, 'Walter Burley on the Influence of Planets', in M. C. Pacheco, J. Meirinhos (eds.), Intellect et imagination dans la Philosophie Médiévale / Intellect and Imagination in Medieval Philosophy / Intelecto e imaginação na Filosofia Medieval Actes du XI e Congrès International de Philosophie Médiévale de la Société Internationale pour l’Étude de la Philosophie Médiévale (S.I.E.P.M.), Porto, du 26 au 31 août 2002, vol. IV (Porto, 2006), pp. 101-108

55r-70v

Quatuor libri de penetentiis

Language(s): Latin

55r-56r

Prologue to the penitentials

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 55r Incipit libellus de penetenciis ex diuersis libris extractis prologus

Incipit: 55r Penitentias a scantis[sic] patribus traditas ex diuersis libris penitencialibus omissa sententiarum

Explicit: 56r et aliis enormibus

56r-70v

Penitentials

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 56v De simplici fornicacione

Incipit: 56v Primo de fornicacione simplici ; Notandum sit quod in libro penitentiali pro simplici fornicatione

Explicit: 70v Inturpi voto muta decretum quod in caue[sic] vovisti omnio(?) omittatur

Final rubric: 70v Explicit liber Quartus

Preceded by a list of chapter titles on f. 56r.

Note in the upper margin of f. 55r, 'assit principio sancta maria meo'.

First penitential ff. 56r-63r; Second penitential, ff. 63r-65v; Third penitential ff. 65v-69v; Fourth penitential, ff. 69v-70v.

The early-modern annotator added a note to f. 70v, 'Explicit quartus, i: vltimus liber de poenitentijs'.

70v

Penitential poem

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 70v Isti mitendi sunt ad Episcopum uel eius penitenciario | Decitus vsure faciens incendia falsi | Testes sortilegii falsarius atque monete | Tonsor legat inpediens a canone uincti | Proditor at heresim sustentas vendensque columbas | Supponens pertumve vecans rerum que sacrarum | Raptor presbitero naquiunt a simplice solui

Full transcription.

70v

Extract from a papal letter about penance and a penitential poem

Language(s): Latin

71r-73r

Philosophical treatise

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 71r De quod philosopho nomine secundus

Incipit: 71r Secundus philosophus qui philosophatus est omni tempore silencium conseruans et pictagorem vitam ducens

Explicit: 73r Quid est vigilanti sompnus ; spes refugium laborum dubius euentus

Final rubric: 73r Igitur Adrianus(?) imperator cum legisset et diditisset causam . quare secundus in silencio philosopharetur precepit eius libros sacre bibliothece inseri et intitulari ||

Final rubric ends abruptly.

The early-modern annotator added a title in the upper margin of f. 71r, 'De Secundo Philosopho : vita, et dicta eius prudentia'

73r-73v

Treatise on the seven climates

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 73r Nota quod vij sunt climata

Explicit: 73v homines illius regionis sunt vagi et instabiles ludibrio expositi nuc[sic] ad ymum nunc ad summium[sic] delati a sua planeta sirifiga non possunt discrepari

A title 'septem climata' added to the upper margin of f. 73r in a very unusual hand that adds occasional titles throughout this volume.

The early-modern annotator added a title in the outer margin of f. 73v, '7: clima Flandrensium et Anglorum'.

eTK 0940I (t0181310000)

73v-74r

Treatise on the seven planets

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 73v Sciendum quod vij. planete qui dicuntur erratici cingulis contra mundum feruntur

Explicit: 74r in sua astrologia ad cuius intelligenciam

Final rubric: 74r Explicit deberet scripsisse ?(?) sciendum quod vij planete

Continues directly on from the previous text.

Two later readers have added titles in the outer margin of f. 73v, 'Septem planeta' and 'De septem planetis'.

eTK 0940I (t0181310000)

74rv

Treatise on the days of the week

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 74r Si Natiuitas domini nostri ihesu christi in die dominicata venerat tunc erit yemps bona et quadragesima ventuosa

Explicit: 74v et senes moriuntur et oculi bonum erint infirmi et disperibunt

The early-modern annotator added a title in the outer margin of f. 74r, 'Prognostica anni sequentis : ex die natalium Domini'

74v

Conclusiones de igne

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 74v Ignis ad inluminandum de quodam capite picto in pariete

Explicit: 74v et fac candelam descripto et accende eam

eTK 0657J (t0127340000)

74v

Recipe to fell or destroy a large oak tree

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 74v Ad Rumpendum magnum quercum . fac foramen cum magno impenetrabili

Explicit: 74v Pone candela in longa . virga et accende lichinum et cito fuge

75r-85v

Tractatus maior de secretis mulierum

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 75r Homo animal racionale mortale al[sic] ex corpore et anima constans sed quamuis corpus anima sit inferius

Explicit: 85v alibus sese constituunt

Final rubric: 85v Explicit tractatus maior de secretis mulierum

Title added in the upper margin of f. 75r in a medieval hand, 'Secreta mulierum maior'.

Presented in the form of a dialogue between a 'philosophus' and a 'discipulus'.

86r-87r

Medical recipes in verse

Language(s): Anglo-Norman and Latin

Incipit: 86r Checun sage et sauie | Se dut garder de maladie

Explicit: 92r Medlet les auant nomez ensemble | A la ptagre toudrunt la tremble

Printed and discussed in T. Hunt, 'Anglo-Norman Medical Receipts', in Anglo-Norman Anniversary Essays, ed. by I. Short, Anglo-Norman Text Society: Occasional Publication Series, 2 (London, 1993), pp. 179–235, esp. pp. 185-191

87r-92r

Botanical Glossary

Language(s): Latin with translated plant names in 'Romanam' (Anglo-Norman) and Middle English ('Anglice')

Rubric: 87r De Auencia

Incipit: 87r Gariofilata latine | Romanam Gariofile | Angla est herba Auence

Explicit: 92r Langores pecudum tollit pellitque venenum

Final rubric: 92r Explicit liber de virtutibus herbarum ex calididate earum et ex frigiditate et humid⟨itate⟩ atque et siccitate

The early-modern annotator added a title 'De virtutibus herbarum' to f. 87r at the opening of the text.

This text is discussed by Tony Hunt, who states that this treatise 'is related to that, based on Macer, in London, British Library, Sloane MS 282 (s. xv) ff. 206v-210r.'

Discussed in T. Hunt, 'Anglo-Norman Medical Receipts', in Anglo-Norman Anniversary Essays, ed. by I. Short, Anglo-Norman Text Society: Occasional Publication Series, 2 (London, 1993), pp. 179–235, esp. pp. 191-192

92r-93r

De unguentis

Language(s): Anglo-Norman with a preliminary recipe in Latin

Rubric: 92r Testantur magistri ypocrasii et magistri galieni

Incipit: 92r Vnguentum optimum ad colendum salsum fleuma

Explicit: 93r triblet e metet en semble culure de verte grece boile e metet en boistes

The early-modern annotator added a title on f. 92r 'Vnguenta' next to the rubric.

Discussed and printed (except the first recipe in Latin) in T. Hunt, 'Anglo-Norman Medical Receipts', in Anglo-Norman Anniversary Essays, ed. by I. Short, Anglo-Norman Text Society: Occasional Publication Series, 2 (London, 1993), pp. 179–235, esp. pp. 193-195

eTK 1567G (t0299350000)

eTK 1600A (t0305010000)

93r-96v

Extract from the Letter d'Hippocrate

Language(s): Anglo-Norman

Rubric: 93r Ypocrasius mandit ista verba ad Cesareum Augustum et dixit ei

Incipit: 93r Checun home e checun beste

Explicit: 96v et le beuet noef iours Jun si garret

Subtitle added by the early-modern annotator to the outer margin of f. 93r, 'De vrinis'. The early-modern annotator also added 'fin des vrines' and 'Medicamenta' on f. 93v.

Folio 96v mostly blank save for final four lines of text and pen-trials incorporating the initials 'd' and 'LL'.

This text (but not this MS) discussed in Tony Hunt, Popular Medicine in Thirteenth-Century England: Introduction and Texts (Cambridge: Brewer, 1990), pp. 100-141

97r

Annotation

Language(s): Latin

Full transcription of the annotation on f. 97r: 'Kymer law Kymro et i les'.

In a ?15th century hand.

Folio 97v blank.

98r-109v

De signis Ypocratis

Language(s): Anglo-Norman

Rubric: 98r Hippocrates

Incipit: 98r Ipocratis le tresauge mire et que sour tutez altres sout la nature de humeyne corps et cum il vist que il deust morer comaunda que len prist cest livre ou esteit escrit la nature de tut le cors el secrez et que len le mist a son chif en sepulcre ou il gist

Explicit: 109v sil deuendreit megre assel(?) etc

Final rubric: 109v Explicit liber ypocratis philosophi et medici sapientissimi de diuersis medicamentis maxime corporibus humanis propicientibus

Title added by the early-modern annotator to the upper margin of f. 98r 'Prognostica et signa mortis ; seu sanitatis'.

The early-modern annotator has added a subtitle in the outer margin of f. 103v: 'Curatura feminarum' and a subtitle to the outer margin of f. 109r, 'medicamenta' . A medieval hand has added a subtitle to the upper margin of f. 109r: 'Trait dez vrines'.

Includes extracts from De sinthomatibus mulierum.

Edited and discussed in T. Hunt, An Anglo-Norman Medical Compendium : (Cambridge, Trinity College MS O.2.5 (1109)), Anglo-Norman Text Society: Plain Texts Series, 18 (Oxford, 2014)

110r-123r

Medical recipes and charms in verse including extracts from Novele Cirugerie

Language(s): Mostly Anglo-Norman with recipes in Latin at the end of the item

Incipit: 110r Pur dolur de la teste | Tut le corps est enlangur

Explicit: 123r Cet rume(?) veraint | De verues hastineint

The early-modern annotator added a title in the upper margin of f. 110r, 'Traict des medecines'.

123r-124v

Medical recipes

Language(s): Anglo-Norman with a few recipes in Latin added at the end

123r-124v

Versified medical reicpes to treat menstrual problems in Anglo-Norman

Language(s): Anglo-Norman

Incipit: 123r Si com aristocele nous dit | En alisaunde en son escrit

Explicit: 124v Chaud quant coche le seir | Coe le garra bien par veir

124v

Medical recipes in Latin

Rubric: 124v Pro febria quartana

Incipit: 124v Recipe feniculi petronilli

Explicit: 124v suitus papaueris nigra c

Final rubric: 124v Explicit quidam tractatus de medicinis in galiicis compositus

124v-125r

Charms for fevers

Language(s): Anglo-Norman

Incipit: 124v Pur le fiuerez estriuez en vii pomme

Explicit: 125r le bras . si garrez

125v

Copy of a deed of 1270 from Robert de Barry (de Barri) cooncerning the performance of divine service at the capella de villa Willelmi

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 125v Omnibus christi fidelibus presentes litteras visuris vel audituris Robertus de Barry rector ecclesie de Begely in domino salutem

Explicit: 125v In cuius rei testimonium sigillum meum cum sigillo venerabilis prioris Ricardi meneuensis episcopi et sigillis(?) Radulfi domini ville predicte de Corwey Johannis Loring(?) ...(?) Johannes Faucke s(?) \verus possessor huius libri teste magistro Bury/ quondam rector de bygly dat apud lanfey iij non Julij anno domini m^o cc^o septuagesimo

This is the earlier of the two copies of this agreement preserved in Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.5; a later copy of this agreement with an altered witness list can be found on f. ii recto - ii verso.

L.H. McAvoy, P. Skinner, and T.L. Tyers, 'Family, Feud, and Fertility at Manorbier Castle, Pembs. 1200-1400', Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, NS 22 (2016), pp. 8–25

126r-128r

Treatise on physiognomy

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 126r Homo dicitur antropos

Explicit: 128r cordis nuncium

Final rubric: 128r Explicit Hic Tractatus qui vocatur Phisonomia

The early-modern annotator added a title in the upper margin of f. 126r: 'Physiognomia'.

eTK 0635H (t0122730000)

128r-130r

Treatise on prognostics and chiromancy

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 128r Linie naturales . 3^es sunt in planicie omnis hominis

Explicit: 129r has pretermittas ne falsum incurras et ceteraa

Final rubric: 129r Sequitur manus

The early-modern annotator added a title in the lower margin of f. 128r: 'Chiromantia , seu Pamistria'

Annotated palm diagrams: see Decoration for further details. Similar diagrams on ff. 190v-191r.

130v-132v

Treatise on the planetary influences on human conception

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 130v Cum luna sit inferior planeta omnibus planetis

Explicit: 132v a tenebris ad luminem precedit

Final rubric: 132v Explicit paruus tracatus[sic] De secretis mulierum

A medieval hand has added a title in the upper margin of f. 130v, 'Secreta mulierum minor'.

eTK 0314N (t0061590000)

132v-134v

Text on Aqua Vita

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 132v De aqua vite facienda de aqua ardentis

Explicit: 134v per arenam abitur nullo modo

Final rubric: 134v Explicit tractatus de aquis

eTK 0365J (t0072020000)

134v-135v

Treatise on the names of herbs

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 134v Hic incipit tractatus de nominibus herbarum

Incipit: 134v Alleluya panis cuculinis idaffodillus

Explicit: 135v Zeduaria . zizannia

Final rubric: 135v Explicit hic Tractatus Herbarum

eTK 0083I (t0015930000)

136r-138r

Treatise on the treatment of wounds

Language(s): Anglo-Norman

Incipit: 136r In prinicipio A commencement de chescune play . Sauer comment le sank restraind

Explicit: 138r Si metez(?) domis la playe

The early-modern annotator added a title in the upper margin of f. 136r, 'Ad phlebotomiam'.

138r

Treatise on medicinal waters

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 138r Ad faciendum aquam grossam

Explicit: 138r aurum bonum et optimum(?)

The early-modern annotator added a title on f. 138r, 'De aquis'.

Final words unclear due to faint ink and rubbing of the leaf.

138v-141r

Treatise on geometry and the use of the quadrant

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 138v Quoniam tota doctrina data in quadrante de mensurabus

Explicit: 141r .5^e et 7^e concordat

Final rubric: 141r Expliciunt reggule de quadrante

The early-modern annotator added a title in the upper margin of f. 138v, 'Tractatus de quadrante'.

Small explanatory diagrams in text-ink, red, and green throughout the text.

eTK 0037M (t0007460000)

eTK 1305I (t0250650000)

141r-142r

Treatise on geometry and the use of the quadrant

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 141r Incipiunt operaciones quadrantis

Incipit: 141r Ad sciendum altitudinem sol . Si vis scire altitudinem sol in omni hora per quadrantis

Explicit: 143r residui erit area

The early-modern annotator added a title in the lower margin of f. 142r, 'Nota bene hoc: et de profunditate putei , paulo post'.

eTK 1473A (t0281580000)

143r

De profunditate putei

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 143r De profunditate putei

Incipit: 143r Si vis putei profunditae metiri ab uno latere putei respice

Explicit: 143r sunt in modio

Final rubric: 143r Explicit tractatus quandrant

The early-modern annotator added a title in the lower margin of f. 142r, 'Nota bene hoc: et de profunditate putei , paulo post'.

143r-144r

Treatise on the oceans

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 143r Mare .n. stratum equaliter dicitur equor et est endiadis

Explicit: 144r vt fertile autumpnus anno pleno .i. fecundo influat .i. habundet grauidis vuis .i. bit(?) repletis ||

The early-modern annotator added a title in the upper margin of f. 143r, 'Ad naturalem philosophiam'.

Text ends abruptly, possibly defective.

eTK 0849B (t0163570000)

144r-179v

Extract from the Secreta secretorum (tr. Philippus Tripolitanus) pseudo-Aristotle

Language(s): Latin

Letter by Philippus Tripolitanus to bishop Guido Vere de Valentia Philipp of Tripoli

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 144r Domino suo excellentissimo et cultu christiane religionis strenuissimo . Guydoi^ni Vere de Valentia^ ciuitatis tropolis[sic] glorioso pontifici philippus suorum vnus clericorum se ipsum et fidele deuocionis obsequium quantum luna . est ceteris stellis lucidior

Explicit: 144v et post longissima temporis spatia concedat uobis ad eternam beatitudinis gaudium feliciter peruenire

Edited and translated (not from this MS) in S.J. Williams, The Secret of Secrets: The scholarly career of a pseudo-Aristotelian text in the Latin middle ages (MI:Ann Arbor, 2003), pp. 360-365

144v-145r

List of chapters of the Secreta secretorum

Language(s): Latin

145r-146r

Proem to the Secreta secretorum

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 145r De prohemyo cuiusdam doctoris in comendatione aristotilis

Incipit: 145r Deus omnipotens custodiat regem nostrum in gloriam credencium

Explicit: 146r et erant perses magis obedientes suo imperio quam omnes alie naciones

Edited (not from this MS) in R. Steele, Opera hactenus inedita Rogeri Baconi (Oxford 1909-1940), 5:36-38

146r

Prologue to the Secreta secretorum

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 146r De prologo Iohannis qui transtulit hunc librum de greco in latinum

Incipit: 146r Iohannes qui transtulit hunc librum filius patricii linguarum interpretator peritissimus et fidelissimus inquit non reliqui locum

Explicit: 146r In primis igitur sicud inueni in isto codice transtuli librum peritissimi Aristotelis in quo respondetur ad peticionem regis Alexandri sub hac forma dicendo

Edited (not from this MS) in R. Steele, Opera hactenus inedita Rogeri Baconi (Oxford 1909-1940), 5:39

146r-179v

Main text of the Secreta secretorum pseudo-Aristotle

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 146r De epistola aristotelis ad Regem Allexandum[sic]

Incipit: 146r O fili gloriosissime imperator iustissime consernet[sic] te deus in via cognostendi

Explicit: 179v Primus eorum sit Saturnus . deinde qui sequitur usque ad lunam post depinxeris in qualibet superficie sue planete ut quod attrahit sua spiritualitas ||

An early-modern hand has added a final rubric in the lower margin of f. 179v, 'Finis epistolae Aristotelis ad Alexandrum cuius Index paginis 289 : et 290 habetur'.

Edited (not from this MS) in R. Steele, Opera hactenus inedita Rogeri Baconi (Oxford 1909-1940), 5:40-150

Title in a medieval hand in the upper margin of f. 144r, 'Epistole aristotelis ad regem alexandrinum .CC.xxxix'

This extract contains most of Books 1-3 of the Secreta secretorum.

179r-181r

Treatise on stones and their virtues

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 179r Dicendum est communiter de lapidibus et eorum virtutibus

Explicit: 181r ab omni pollicione

eTK 0414G (t0081850000)

181r-181v

Treatise on birds and animals and their virtues

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 181r Cum superius dictum sit de quibus effectibus lapidibus

Explicit: 181v statim soluetur uinctus et statim aperitur ianua. et dicitur ... quod in mare(?) ||

Text ends abruptly due to the loss of two leaves after f. 181v.

Title added by the early-modern annotator on f. 181r, 'De auibus et alijs animalibus'. The early-modern annotator noted the deficiency at the end of the text: 'Hic desunt , duo proxime sequentia folia' in the lower margin of f. 181v.

eTK 0346H (t0068170000)

182r-183v

Elementa super demonstrationem ponderum Jordanus Nemorarius

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 182r de ponderibus tractatus

Incipit: 182r Omnis ponderosi motum esse ad medium esse quod grauius uelocius descendere

Explicit: 183v quod aportu demonstrare etcetera

Final rubric: 183v Explicit tractatus de ponderibus iordanus

Small diagrams in text-ink and red throughout.

The early-modern annotator added a note to the lower margin of f. 182r noting the loss of the two prior leaves from the volume, 'Hic desunt duo folia pregressa'.

Edited (not from this MS) in E.A. Moody and M. Clagett (eds.), Medieval science of weights, scientia de ponderibus. Treatises ascribed to Euclid, Archimedes, Thabit ibn Qurra, Jordanus de Nemore and Blasius of Parma (1952), pp. 128-132

eTK 1000

183v-184v

Prognostic treatise on the seven planets

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 183v Incipit tractatus de vij. planetis

Incipit: 183v Gloriosus et sublimis deus creator omnium rerum

Explicit: 184v sicca feruent sub luna(?) uetiusque

Final rubric: 184v Explicit tractatus de vij planetis

The early-modern annotator added a title in the lower margin of f. 183v, 'De Septem Planetis :'

eTK 0587M (t0114330000)

184v-185v

Extract on chiromancy from the Secreta secretorum pseudo-Aristotle

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 184v Incipit phisiognomia aristotolis

Incipit: 184v Ait aristotelis alexandro inter ceteras res illa est quam te non oportet ignorare est cognoscendi

Explicit: 185v Cui uero bracchia procedunt in tantum quod manus perueniunt ad ienua significai audaciam et probitatem cum largitate ||

Text ends abruptly. The early-modern annotator described the defect in the manuscript with notes in the lower margins of ff. 185v and 186r, 'Post hoc, desunt duo proxuma folia' and 'Ante hoc , desunt duo proxima folia' respectively. According to the medieval list of the contents on f. i verso the two missing leaves contained a text called De calculacione

Edited (not from this MS) in R. Steele, Opera hactenus inedita Rogeri Baconi (Oxford 1909-1940), 5:166-172 and translated V:229-234

eTK 0072B (t0013670000)

186v-188r

Prognostic treatise on the seven planets

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: || 186r spreali(?) significacione uisunt .28. stelle

Explicit: 188r eodem ascendente si quis nascitur prope ei fortuna etcetera

Final rubric: 188r Explicit tractatus sub compedio sumptus de vij planetis

Text begins abruptly. The early-modern annotator described the defect in the manuscript with notes in the lower margins of ff. 185v and 186r, 'Post hoc, desunt duo proxuma folia' and 'Ante hoc , desunt duo porxima folia' respectively.

188r

Note on the vine

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 188r Nota et quod vitis valde habundat humido aquo grosso

Explicit: 188r non crescit vinum in aliqua quantitate notabili

The early-modern annotator added a title in the outer margin of f. 188r, 'De vite et vuaris(?) natura'.

188r-188v

Note on jurisprudence and witnesses

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 188r Est autem accusator qui aliquam accusat et terminalem quoniam(?) monet

Explicit: 188v dicit ergo et cetera

Title added in an early-modern hand in the outer margin of f. 188r, 'Ad Jurisprudentiam : de testibus'

188v-189v

Treatise on winds (?Commentary on Aristotle's Meteorologica?)

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 189r Notandum vt similitudo melius intelligatur quod a⟨ristotelis⟩ philosopho .3^o. metheorum .12. ponuntur esse venti eo quod 12 ponuntur plage mundi

Explicit: 189v Quod autem insipiens non sentit in seputat in alio esse in possibile et cetera Ista littera describit figuram proximam inordiem precedentur

Final rubric: 189v Est autem vna figura de boiceo consolationis philosophie

Circular wind diagram. See Decoration for further details.

The early-modern annotator added a title in the upper margin of f. 189r, 'de ventis opusculum'.

190r

Prognostic treatise on the seven planets with table

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 190r Ista tabula docetur qualiter omnis planeta dominatur in die naturale

Explicit: 190r signo vix uel numquam curabitur

The early-modern annotator added a title in the upper margin of f. 190r, 'Tabula de horis septem planetarum : ad medicos: Etc'.

Text accompanied by a large table in text-ink and red.

eTK 0685E (t0132760000)

eTK 0782E (t0151280000)

190v-191v

Chiromancy diagrams and text - Palmistra Salomonis

Language(s): Diagrams annotated in Latin, with Anglo-Norman chiromancy text

Incipit: 191v Ceste figure v.

Explicit: 191v dolur de ventre

Final rubric: 191v Explicit tractatus de palmistra salomonis

Annotated palm diagrams. See Decoration for further details. Similar diagrams on ff. 129v-130r

192r

Diagrams and text on eclipses

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 192r Cum sit luna recto modo sub sole illustrat

Explicit: 192r eclipsis lune et sol et qua de causa

Final rubric: 192r Explicit et cetera

Text accompanied by three circular eclipse diagrams in text-ink and red.

eTK 0343A (t0067440000)

192v

Spera fortune diagram and text

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 192v Ista spera docet de quacunque re scire volueris de egris

Explicit: 192v preliator vnitetur

Circular prognostic diagram 'S⟨p⟩era fortune' in text-ink, red and blue. See Decoration for further details.

The early-modern annotator added a title to f. 192v, 'Theorica tabula'.

eTK 0781M (t0151220000)

193rv

Astronomical diagram and text

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 193r Ad intellectum eorum que ante dicuntur describam

Explicit: 193v Horam patent diligentur metuenti(?) figuram .sub. iectam .7. super scriptam

Diagram in text-ink and red on f. 193r.

The early-modern annotator added a title in the upper margin of f. 193r, 'Theorica tabula Astronomica; cum ejus explicatione'.

193v

Note on fruit trees (?from Boethius?)

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 193v Est autem notandum quod materia fructum est grossa prope hoc quod habet multa deterestriatate

Explicit: 193v ad coram .xi. quis infirmatur et ...(?) non infirmor

Final rubric: 193v Est de boecio consolacionis philosophie

The early-modern annotator added a title to f. 193v, 'Nota de fructibus arborum'.

194r-200r

Expositio libri meteororum Walter Burley

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 194r De primis igitur causis in isto libro qui intitulatur metheororum aristoteles dat completam ~~orationem~~ ordinacionem tocius philosophie naturalis

Explicit: 200r sciamus formam et naturam aliter rei tunc scimus principium motus

Final rubric: 200r Explicit tractatus libri metheororum

Diagrams in text-ink and red on ff. 196r and 197v.

Two leaves missing between the present ff. 198 and 199 - the early-modern annotator placed notes about the codicological gap in the lower margins of f. 198v and f. 199r.

The early-modern annotator added a title in the upper margin of f. 194r, 'Burleus , in libros meteororum'.

Annotation by the early-modern annotator in the lower margin of f. 199v, 'Ebenus lignum non cedit ignj ; et quare', drawing attention to a passage of text in the inner-column above.

C.H. Lohr, 'Medieval Latin Aristotle Commentaries Authors G-I', Traditio, 24 (1968), pp. 149–245, esp. p. 182 (no. 26), https://doi.org/10.1017/S0362152900004724

eTK 0686J (t0132960000)

200v

Blessing for cattle

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 200r Benedictio dei patris omnipotentis et filii et spritus sancti decendat super hec pecora amen . Ecce crucem domini nostri ihesum christi fugite preses[sic] aduerse vicit leo de tribu iuda radix dauid allelyua[sic]

Explicit: 200v carmen v^m est et certum

Text is struck through. The early-modern annotator added a title in the outer margin of f. 200r, 'Nihilj'.

200v-204v

Astrological treatise

Language(s): Anglo-Norman

Incipit: 200v Ianuarie signe de aquarie Ky est ne en le signe de Aquarie honur e desire en diverse temps

Explicit: 204v gelouse serra et sur quideresse et cetera

Final rubric: 204v Expliciunt constellationes probate

The early-modern annotator added a title in the upper margin of f. 200v, 'Constellaciones probatae Gallice'.

204v

Poem

Language(s): Latin with Middle English rubric

Rubric: 204v Simenel hornes ber none þornes . alleluya

Incipit: 204v Si dedero veneratus ero vocor et generosus| Ni dedo[sic] difformis ero vocor et viciosus

Explicit: 204v Si dedero, mihi laus jus lex pax prospera dantur| Ni dedero mihi fraus fel faex aduersa parantur

Final rubric: 204v Hoc verbum de ...(?) ferat amicitias

The early-modern annotator added a title to f. 204v, 'De largicionibus'.

WIC 17697

204v-205r

Ignes artificiales

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 204v Ad faciendum ignem Rapacem

Incipit: 204v accipe salpetram pondere

Explicit: 205r et ponem tunc sonfectionem super domum uel super aliquod combustile et su dubio ardebit cum proxima pluuia sequente

The early-modern annotator added a title to f. 204v, 'Ignes artificiales : &c :'.

Final rubric in cipher.

eTK 0039G (t0007750000)

205r

Partially encrypted charm for epilepsy

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 205r Mfdkcknb prp mprbp cbdxcp bpnb et xtklks

Incipit: 205r Accipiatur(?) xij candele tere in honore duodecim apostolotem et

Explicit: 205v omnes candeles donat(?) bene confiteantur et veram contricionem benedicat antequam aliud fiat

The encrypted text at the beginning of the charm uses a simple vowel substitution cipher where each vowel is replaced with the subsequent letter of the alphabet, i.e., a becomes b, e becomes f, i becomes k, o becomes p, and u becomes x. Decrypted, the rubric 'Mfdkcknb prp mprbp cbdxcp bpnb et xtklks' can be read as 'Medicina pro morbo caduco bona et utilis'.

The fore edge of f. 205 is damaged and some text has been lost.

The early-modern annotator added a title in the outer margin of f. 205r, 'Nihilj'.

205v

Chastity charm, in cipher

Language(s): Latin

Full transcription of the chastity charm on f. 205v:| xt xxlxb npn bppbrfbt kn mxlkfrf : bcckpf atun de quo mortuus ...(?) fuerit et multo ...(?) pungatur in plbntb pedis et pprtb supfr te et cum mxlkfrf npn pptitur choire

A medieval hand has added a title in the outer margin of f. '205v', 'Ad castitatem'.

The encrypted text at the beginning of the charm uses a simple vowel substitution cipher where each vowel is replaced with the subsequent letter of the alphabet, i.e., a becomes b, e becomes f, i becomes k, o becomes p, and u becomes x. Decrypted, the charm reads 'ut uulua non appareat in muliere : accipe a tun de quo mortuus ...(?) fuerit et multo ...(?) pungatur in planta pedis et porta super te et cum muliere non potitur choire(?).'

205v-206r

Birth prognostic text on the zodiac

Language(s): Anglo-Norman

Incipit: 205v Signe de aquarie pour quoy est pour ceo que Seint Johan en la floum iordan

Explicit: 206r il serra bardi et luxuriouse

The early-modern annotator added a title to f. 205v, 'Racio nominum 12 signorum : &c:'.

206r

Effecta lunae in 12 signis

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 206r Si luna moratur in ariete

Incipit: 206r Tunc caue ab incisione

Explicit: 206r in pedibus uel in ...(?)tatibus eorum

The early-modern annotator added a title to f. 206r and a cross-reference to f. 50rv, 'Effecta lunae in 12 :signis . vide pag: 98' - a similar text appears on f. 50rv (pp. 98-99 in the medieval pagination), which the early-modern annotator also noted on that leaf.

eTK 1454D (t0278130000)

eTK 1592J (t0303970000)

206r-207r

Secreta mulierum

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 206r Hec est causa quare mulieres

Explicit: 207r ex Rubediem

The early-modern annotator added a title to f. 206r, 'Secreta mulierum appendix'.

eTK 0599F (t0116570000)

207r

Poems

207r

Poem

Language(s): Latin

Six-line poem on f. 207r:| O deus in celis panem benedicere velis| ... | Si patris et filii Ritus(?) in nomine sancti

207r

Poem on the Ages of Man

Language(s): Anglo-Norman

Fourteen-line poem on f. 207r:| Petit est tu mon enfaunt| ... | Grecus mironius fibles et fort

207r

Poem

Language(s): Latin

Five-line poem on f. 207r:| Vir bene vestitus pro vestibus esse peritus| ... | Pro inanita facta manus eius mea(?)

Final rubric: 207r Qui scripsit carmen sit benedictus amen

207v-210v

Birth predictions based on month and day of birth

Language(s): Anglo-Norman

Incipit: 207v Issi poyt home veyr saunz doutante le propretez de home pour saneysaunce

Final rubric: 210v Explicit distincto[sic] humane originis facta per menses et per dies

February-June omitted.

Final lines too rubbed to read.

The early-modern annotator added a title to the upper margin of f. 207v, 'Distinctiones humanae naturae , racione nativitatis : per menses : & per dies'.

The main scribe has marked the boundary between the prognostications based on months and days with 'Explicit de mensibus Incipit de diebus' on f. 210r.

210v

Recipe

Language(s): Latin

Incipit: 210v Pro voce Rauta sume linguam

Explicit: 210v mane frigid et sanus erit

210v

Medicinal charm

Language(s): Anglo-Norman

Incipit: 210v A femme que heyt son baron

Explicit: 210v Pernez le gouture de cyre et mettez en le bouche de la femme et beyset son baron et meyntenaunt sey amerunt

Printed in T. Hunt, 'Anglo-Norman Medical Receipts', in Anglo-Norman Anniversary Essays, ed. by I. Short, Anglo-Norman Text Society: Occasional Publication Series, 2 (London, 1993), pp. 179–235, esp. p. 196

210v-211r

Recipes to make pigments

Language(s): Latin

Recipes to make blue 'azerium', red 'vermiclium', green 'viride', dark red (?black) 'sinoperis' 'sinopidum'.

211r

Recipe to make ?red or ?green emeralds

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 211r Si vis face simaragda[sic] de cristalle

Incipit: 211r Pone cristalle

Explicit: 211r postea cum sapone gallico et aqua tepida

211r

Charm to make a woman love you

Language(s): Anglo-Norman

Full transcription of a charm to make a woman love you on f. 211r:| Si vous volez aver amur de femme pernez saunc(?) de blanc jeline escrivet la noun de ele en la fin de verge escrivez la aultre vostre non en le aultre fin o le saunc de neyr cok e gardez que la verge seyt de coudre e de un su e tochez ele o vestre noun et tenez le noun de ele

211rv

Charms

Language(s): Latin and Anglo-Norman

Selection of charms including love potions, charms for good health and one to make false visions appear (the latter noted by the early-modern annotator in the outer margin of f. 211v).

Folio 211v is badly rubbed and some text is now illegible.

The final charm on f. 211v contains the ten names of Christ.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 2r: terra sit in medio firmamenti

Form: codex

Support: Parchment (HFFH). The parchment is of rather poor quality and many leaves are irregular in shape and size and contain defects. The parchment surface has not been prepared to a particularly high standard and the parchment can be a little rough and greasy in places, which at times disrupts the legibility of the text.

Extent: Codex: 211 leaves. 210-230 × 150-155 mm.

Collation

Quires 1-3¹² (ff. 1-36)
Quire 4⁴ (ff. 37r-40v)
Quire 5² (ff. 41-42)
Quires 6-7¹⁰ (ff. 43-62)
Quire 8^12-1 (?8th leaf cancelled; ff. 63-70, [71a], 71-73; [71a] not counted in collation)
Quires 9-13⁸ (ff. 74-113)
Quires 14-15⁶ (ff. 114-125)
Quire 16¹² (ff. 126-137
Quire 17⁶ (ff. 138-143)
Quire 18¹² (ff. 144-155)
Quire 19¹⁰ (ff. 156-165)
Quires 20-21⁸ (ff. 166-189)
Quire 22^12-4 (1st, 2nd, 7th and 8th leaves missing; ff. 182r-189v)
Quire 23⁴ (ff. 190-193)
Quire 24^12-2 (6th and 7th leaves missing; ff. 194-203)
Quire 25⁸ (ff. 204-211)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

Catchwords occasionally present in the lower margin of the last versos of quires in the final quarter of the volume, e.g., f. 165v, some earlier catchwords perhaps lost to trimming.

Condition

In fair condition; most text legible, but some text now partly illegible due to rubbing and staining and the inferior quality of the parchment surface. Many leaves have been trimmed along their lower margin, perhaps to harvest scrap parchment, see e.g., f. 61rv, but note that many leaves were irregular prior to the writing stint.

Layout

185 × 135 mm. Ruled in leadpoint, frame and lines, ruling not visible on all pages. Ruled in double-column format, typically 30-37 lines to the column and written below top line. Many leaves in this Part have a non-standard layout to accomodate tables and diagrams, e.g., ff. 10v-11r.

Hand(s)

The main scribe of ff. 1r-211v writes a neat cursiva antiquior with some anglicana features. Double-compartment a, full loops on ascender of d, partial and occasionally absent loops on b, h, k, l. Mixed use of round and long s. The letters f, long r and long s drop below the baseline. The letter e resembles a squashed oval with a line drawn vertically down its centre.

Frequent titles and annotations added in a humanist italic by an early-modern reader, referred to in this record as 'the early-modern annotator'. The annotator added titles and subtitles throughout ff. 1r-211v generally in agreement with the list of the contents on ff. i recto - i verso, but occasionally adding further titles. The early-modern annotator also noted several defects in the manuscript due to the loss of leaves causing disruption to the texts. For an example of the early-modern annotator's hand see e.g., f. 46r, where they added 'Finis exposicionis tabulae Bedae' and also 'Hic est finis paginae : 94 : et proxime praegressa ibidem habentur'.

Decoration

Diagrams and tables, typically in red and the brown text-ink, but occasionally with additional features in blue, as follows:

5v: T-O map divided into three continents (only Africa ('Affrica') and Europe ('Europa') labelled. England designated on the map as 'Anglica'. The map also labels the habitable and inhabitable climate-zones of the earth
6v: Diagram of the sphere of the world subdivided into seven numbered climate zones
7v: Three eclipse diagrams
8r: Unfinished diagram
10r: Large circular diagram of the 'Sphere of Plato'
10v-12r: Seven large circular diagrams relating to the 'Sphere of Pythagoras
27r: Circular labyrinth diagram, comprising 11 concentric rings around a large central circle. The central circle is filled with a line-drawing in red ink of a creature blowing a horn with the head of a ?monkey, the wings of a bat, two furry legs, and bird- or reptilian-feet and a long tail which curls in such a way as to create small roundels which the artist has filled with foliate motifs.
27v: Diagram of the relationships between the four ages of man, the four humours, the four seasons, and the four elements
28r-32r: Three mantic tables and 12 circular diagrams / wheels of the medieval 'Sortes' typology, labelled as follows: Spera specierum, Spera piscium, Spera herbarum, Spera lapidum, Spera montium, Spera fructuum, Spera ciuitatium, Spera fluuium, Spera florum, Spera arborum, Spera volancium, Spera bestiarum and Spera specierum
33v-41r: Geomancy text with large and small diagrams throughout
42v: Table of appearances of lunar and solar eclipses
48v-49v: Tables for astronomical and astrological calculations
129v-130r: Chriomancy diagrams, labelled 'sinistra femelle' and 'dextera masculi'
141r: Small geometric figures and diagrams to accompany the Tractatus de quadratus
182r-183v: Small diagrams to accompany the Elementa super demonstrationem ponderum of Jordanus
188v: Wind diagram, labelled by the main scribe 'Sequitur litteram que describit istum circulum de ventis et cetera'
190r: Table for planetary calculations
190v-191r: Chiromancy diagrams, labelled 'Manus sinistra que est mulieris' and 'Manus dextra que est masculi'
192r: Eclipse diagrams
192v: Prognostic diagram, labelled by the main scribe 'Sera fortune' (for 'Spera fortune')
193r: Astronomy diagram
194r-200r: Small diagrams to accompany the Expositio libri meteororum of Walter Burley

Flourished initials at the major and minor divisions of the texts, typically a blue initial in a 'Lombardic' style with red flourishing in the counterspaces and extending into the adjacent margins. Some initials red with brown text-ink flourishing.

Frequent rubrication either by writing the text entirely in red, by touching letters written in the main text ink in red, or by underlining significant lines of text in red. Frequent paraph marks in red and blue to further divide the text.

Additions

Annotation in the upper margin of f. 13r in an unusual ?medieval hand 'perlege', perhaps for 'per lege'.

Annotation in the upper margin of f. 13r in a late medieval or early modern hand, 'librum ishi'.

History

Origin: Second half of the 14th century, probably after 1386. ; England, perhaps Oxford.

Date and place of production based on eclipse diagram and descriptions on ff. 42v-46r which contain a note on f. 42v that the descriptions cover solar and lunar eclipses in the years 1330-1386, and that the table was created in the aforementioned year (i.e., 1386) at the 'vniversitate oxoniensis' (University of Oxford).

Part 3: 16th-century booklet on chiromancy [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.5, ff. 212-219]

Language(s): Latin

1. 212r-216r

Ars ciromancia

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 212r Ars ciromanca

Incipit: 212r Linea naturales sunt in planitie omnis ciros qui triangulum constituunt

Explicit: 216r et si plures longani ostendunt infirmitatem et cum difficultate finire vitam

This is similar to the text on ff. 128r-130v.

C.S.F. Burnett, 'The Earliest Chiromancy in the West', Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, 50.1 (1987), pp. 189–195, https://doi.org/10.2307/751324

2. 216rv

Excerpt from a text titled De mulieribus

Language(s): Latin

Rubric: 216r De mulieribus

Incipit: 216r Si in triangulo quasi apparuerit et rubedine inter septio(?) et tale signum erecta .V. tunc muliere illa de filis est impragnans[sic]

Explicit: 216v et subtiles accidentales esse scias has pretermittas be falsum incurras

Final rubric: 216v Finis

3. 217rv

Lunar prognostic diagrams and texts

Language(s): Latin

One large and three smaller circular diagrams on f. 217r, the centre of the larger circle instructs the user to 'Computa aetaem lunae et diuidatur numerus per 3' with the letters 'x' 'd' and 'h' underneath. The text on f. 217v begins 'sit bonum vel malum iter accipere aut aliquod opus incipere' and ends 'morte morietur ex infirmitate illei :-'.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 213r: tera linea trianguli

Form: codex

Support: Paper. Partial watermark visible on f. 218, perhaps a ?chalice with a letter 'B' on the cup?.

Extent: Codex: 8 leaves. 205 × 140 mm.

Collation

One quire of 8 leaves:

Quire 26⁸ (ff. 212-219)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

In good condition.

Layout

180 × 120 mm. Folios 212r-217v unruled. Written in single-column format, typically 21 lines to the leaf. Folio 217v written more informally than the rest.

Hand(s)

Written by a single scribe in a humanist italic.

Decoration

One large and three small circular prognostic diagrams on f. 217r.

History

Origin: Late 16th or early 17th century. ; England.

Date and place of production based on palaeographical features.

Additional Information

Record Sources

This catalogue entry draws on M.R. James, The Western Manuscripts in the Library of Trinity College Cambridge - A Descriptive Catalogue: Volume III: Containing An Account of the Manuscripts Standing in Class O (Cambridge, 1902), pp. 84-92, no. 1109.

Availability

Visitors to Trinity College who wish to consult Special Collections material are required to apply to the Library in advance of their visit. For information on eligibility and admission procedures see: Trinity College: Information for Readers.

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. 27v-28r and 122v-123r).

Bibliography

Ancient Kalendar of the University of Oxford: From Documents of the Fourteenth to the Seventeenth Century togeter with Computus Manualis Ad Usum Oxoniensium from C. Kyrfoth's Edition, Oxon, 1519-20 (with Seven Facsimiles) Oxford Historical Society, Wordswoth, Christopher (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1904)

Ein Komplexionentext einer Leipziger Inkunabel (angeblich eines Johann von Neuhaus) und seine handschriftliche Herleitung aus der Zeit nach 1300 Archiv für Geschichte der Medizin, Seyfert, Werner (20, 4, 372-389, 1928)

Medieval Latin Aristotle Commentaries Authors G-I Traditio, Lohr, Charles H. (24, 149-245, 1968)

The Earliest Chiromancy in the West Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, Burnett, Charles S. F. (50, 1, 189-195, 1987, https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.2307/751324)

Love and Disorder: A Fifteenth-Century Definition of Love and Some Literary Antecedents The Idea of Medieval Literature: New Essays on Chaucer and Medieval Culture in Honor of Donald R. Howard, Moser Jr, Thomas C. (Cranbury, NJ, 243-264, Associated University Presses, 1992)

Anglo-Norman Medical Receipts Anglo-Norman Anniversary Essays Anglo-Norman Text Society: Occasional Publication Series, Hunt, Tony (London, pp. 179-235, 1993)

Chiromancy Supplement Magic and Divination in the Middle Ages: Texts and Techniques in the Islamic and Christian Worlds Variorum Collected Studies Series, Burnett, Charles (Aldershot, X:1-29, Ashgate, Ashgate Variorum, 1996)

Anglo-Norman Literature: A Guide to Texts and Manuscripts Anglo-Norman Text Society Occasional Publications Series, Dean, Ruth J.Boulton, Maureen Barry McCann (London, Anglo-Norman Text Society, 1999)

Women's Healthcare in the Medieval West: Texts and Contexts Variorum Collected Studies Series, Green, Monica H. (Aldershot, Ashgate, 2000)

An Anglo-Norman medical compendium : (Cambridge, Trinity College MS O.2.5 (1109)) Anglo-Norman Text Society: Plain Texts Series, Hunt, Tony (Oxford, 2014)

The Languages of Medical Writing in Medieval England Medieval and Early Modern Literature, Science and Medicine SPELL: Swiss Papers in English Language and Literature, Hunt, TonyRenevey, DenisFalconer, Rachel (79-101, 2014)

Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, Timmermann, Anke (30, 2, 345-511, 2015)

Family, feud, and fertility at Manorbier Castle, Pembs. 1200-1400 Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, McAvoy, L. H.Skinner, PTyers, T. L. (NS 22, 8-25, 2016)

Due manoscritti veneti inediti del XIV secolo di argomento medico. Analisi comparativa ed edizioni della Lettera di Ippocrate a Cesare e delle ricette del Thesaurus pauperum, Guidi, Flavia (Pisa, 2019)

Funding of Cataloguing

Wellcome (cataloguing). All images provided by Trinity College, Cambridge.

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.5

Physical Description

Collation

Additions

Binding

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Part 1: medieval endleaves [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.5, ff. [i]-[ii]]

Contents

Physical Description

Collation

Condition

Layout

Hand(s)

Decoration

Additions

History

Part 2: Medical Texts [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.5, ff. 1-211]

Contents

Physical Description

Collation

Condition

Layout

Hand(s)

Decoration

Additions

History

Part 3: 16th-century booklet on chiromancy [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.5, ff. 212-219]

Contents

Physical Description

Collation

Condition

Layout

Hand(s)

Decoration

History

Additional Information

Record Sources

Availability

Custodial History

Bibliography

Funding of Cataloguing

Digital Images

Abbreviations

Study at Cambridge

About the University

Research at Cambridge