Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

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

Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.47

Alchemical texts

Contents

Introduction: Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.47 (hereafter Trinity MS O.2.47) is a small alchemical manuscript, the majority of which was copied by a single scribe. Part-way through the third quire, after the end of the Gloria mundi of Winandus de Rufo Clipeo (f. 45r), the scribe added a colophon: 'Completum et scriptum anno 1436 . 11 die aprilis' (Completed and written [on the] 11th day of April 1436). Like the Gloria mundi, the other two main texts in the volume - De secretis naturae of pseudo-Arnaldus de Villanova, and Rosarius minor of ?John of Garland (Hortulanus) - also commence at the beginning of their respective quires. As Pam Robinson (1988) noted, this suggests that they were each made as 'booklets' or codicological units: separately, but seemingly with the intention that they be bound together from the outset. The colophon may refer only to the completion of the Gloria mundi, therefore, but in all likelihood the other two were copied with it as part of a single campaign and close in date. Further texts were added subsequently, many by the same scribe, and in the space after the main texts, including the Gloria mundi, demonstrating that production extended beyond this date, too. The short alchemical treatises and recipes are mostly in Latin and Middle English, but, unusually for an early 15th-century English manuscript, there are alchemical recipes in a dialect of Old Spanish, perhaps Catalan. These texts, which sometimes include Latin words, appear on ff. 32v, 35r, 50r and 50v. They appear to have been copied by the main scribe. One of the texts is attributed, perhaps spuriously, to the Spanish philosopher and polymath Ramon Llull, although Trinity MS O.2.47 is not recorded in the corpus of manuscripts currently known to preserve his works. Further research on these contents is required. MS O.2.47 was extensively annotated by one of its former owners, John Dee (1527-1608) , English mathematician and court astronomer of Queen Elizabeth I. Dee's signed the manuscript on f. 1r, and added titles, glosses, alchemical diagrams, and longer annotations to almost every leaf, and in more than one colour of ink, which suggests that he returned to the volume on several, separate occasions. The manuscript is recorded in Dee's 1583 library catalogue (now Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.4.20 , p. 154) where it is described as follows: 'Arnaldi de villa nova liber de Alchimia cujus initium est scito fili quod in hoc libro etc and cum alijs ejusdem opusculis . papyro 4o'. The Arnaldus de Villanova text to which Dee refers is the text at the opening of the manuscript on ff. 1r-6r. Dee owned a large collection of manuscripts, many of which are now at Trinity College, including (with references in square brackets to J. Roberts and A.G. Watson's studies of Dee's library; see References for full citation): Dr Sarah Gilbert| Project Cataloguer |Curious Cures in Cambridge Libraries References
P.R. Robinson, Catalogue of Dated and Datable Manuscripts c. 737-1600 in Cambridge Libraries (Cambridge: D.S. Brewer, 1988), no. 369, pl. 227.
J. Roberts and A.G. Watson, John Dee's Library Catalogue (1990), M79 and esp. p. 119
J. Roberts, and A.G. Watson, 'John Dee’s Library Catalogue: Additions and Corrections', The Bibliographical Society (Special Publication) (2009)

Language(s): Latin

1. 1r-6r
De secretis naturae pseudo-Arnaldus de Villanova (d. 1311)
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 1r Incipit tractatus Arnaldi de villa noua de perfeccione operis alkimie qui quidem vocatur thesaurus secretus operacionum naturalium etc
Incipit: 1r [⟨S⟩]Cito fili quod in hoc libro loquimur de secretis naturae et primo diuidam librum istum in .6. capitula , Primo diam quid est lapis
Explicit: 6r .6⟨ to ⟩. dixi multiplicacionem lapidis et sic(?) est finis . Deo gracias
Final rubric: 6r Explicit thesaurus secretus operacionem arnaldi de villa noua

Title added to upper margin of f. 1r in the hand of John Dee, 'Thesaurus Secretus'. Dee manicule on f. 2v and f. 3v. Dee 'monad' mark on f. 4r. Dee marginal annotations throughout. Dee refers to a 'Norton' in a note on f. 4r, this is almost certainly Thomas Norton, author of the alchemical poem Ordinal of Alchemy.

Excerpt from this text also in Cambridge, Gonville and Caius, MS 181/214 , p. 147.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 229.iii
Text edited and translated into French in A. Calvet, (ed. and trans.), Les œuvres alchimiques attribuées à Arnaud de Villeneuve: grand œuvre, médecine et prophétie au Moyen-Âge, Textes et travaux de Chrysopœia 11 (Paris, 2011), esp. pp. 207-233 and 485-524
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
eTK 1407
2. 6r
Medical recipe
Language(s): Latin

Full transcription of medical recipe on f. 6r:| Recipe agrymoine .ma. j uel ij et fac bullire in aqua et vase terreo ...(?) usque ad medietatem dem ß cola et que clarum est pone in vase viteo[sic] et quam volueris potare acc medietatem cisi de aqua illa et uitus pone succum duorum pomorum melangulorum et dem pota et fac sic bis uel ter et frangit petra(?) et sanaberis

A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
3. 6v-7r
Miscellaneous medical and alchemical notes
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 6v Menstruali in sua prima natiuitate
Incipit: || 6v Item dicitur esse frigidum et siccum in .4to. gradu
Explicit: 7r est elxir completum et mem istorum duorum extremitate(?) est lapis noster
Final rubric: 7r est lapis nostri et cetera sit laus deo patris et ffilio

Title across upper margin of ff. 6v-7r in the hand of John Dee, 'Fragmentum egregium philosophirum. Marginal annotations by John Dee.

Text seems to be defective at the beginning.

Rubric in upper margin of f. 6v by main scribe does not appear to correspond to the text below.

Note that Timmerman treats the text(s) on ff. 6v-7r as one item.

D. W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
4. 7v-8r
Aquae plurimae
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 7v Prima clauis est quod lapis noster sissoluitur per aquas plurimas
Explicit: 8r Duodecima clauis est quod ponas illud in humare per .21. dies sub ventre[sic] equi Postea cum alembico in balneo marie distilles , Hoc facto custodi ipsum habes thesaurum incomparabilem vnum pondus supra infinitum , sciliced supra Mercurium
Final rubric: 8r Explicit

Title in upper margin of f. 7v by John Dee, 'Aquae plurimae'. Note in upper margin of f. 7v by John Dee 'Sanguis nostro Adami'. 'Monad' symbol in outer margin of f. 7v. Marginal notes throughout in Dee's hand. Dee alchemical calculation in blank portion of f. 8r. Note by Dee on this text in lower portion of f. 8r, 'This is an excellent fragment and worth the considering'.

'IHC' in the centre of the upper margin of f. 7v by the main scribe.

Similar text in Bologna, Biblioteca Universitaria, MS 952 (1444) , ff. 153r-155r (where is attributed to 'magistrum Jacobum del borg St Saturnin'). The text in the Bologna MS is edited and discussed (in Spanish) by José Rodríguez Guerrero and Domingo Iglesias in Azogue 7, pp. 75-141.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 625.i
Edited (not from this MS) and discussed in Spanish in José Rodríguez Guerrero and Domingo Iglesias, 'Un Repaso a la Alquimia del Midi Francés en el Siglo XIV', Azogue 7 (2010-2013), pp. 75-141, esp. Appendix 1, pp. 134-135
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
eTK 1088
5. 8v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 8v Recipe mercurius vna partem limature cupri tam limaturea vero lauatur cum aqua urine
Explicit: 8v aquam predictam aluminis sic faciendo quasque iaceat in fundo vasis
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
6. 9r-10v
Alchemical text Pseudo-Albertus Magnus
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 9r In dei nomine Amen Iam restat dicere et declarare de quod multis diebus abscondebatur , Et primo et principaliter est notandum quod mercurius noster non est mercurius Vulgi . nec communis mercurius
Explicit: 10v Et hec est alteracio quarta ad alterandum eum ab humiditate inspissata calore ad lapidem calidum et siccum et durum frangibilem et fixum per calorem ignis communis et sicci
Final rubric: 10v deo gracias

A longer version of this text with a slightly different preface also appears in Cambridge, University Library, MS Dd.4.45, ff. 1:11r-1:12v ; in CUL MS Dd.4.45 the text has a final rubric indicating that the text was supposedly composed by Albertus Magnus, 'et ego Albertus dico', but Kibre assigns this text to pseudo-Albertus Magnus and Timmerman does not assign the text to a (pseudo-)author at all.

Marginalia by John Dee throughout.

Heavy bracketing around 9 lines of text in thick red-orange crayon on f. 10r, the bracketing accompanied by the numerals '24', probably glossing 'xxiiij' on the eighth line of bracketed-text.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 626.i
Pearl Kibre, 'Alchemical Writings Ascribed to Albertus Magnus', Speculum, 17:4 (1942), pp. 499-518, esp. p. 505
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
eTK 650
7. 10v
Alchemical recipe for gilding iron or for removing the gilding from silver
Language(s): Middle English
Rubric: 10v ffor to gylde ferro scilicet yronio for to filuer[sic] . hit make amalgam as þu woldist gilde
Incipit: 10v Recipe j libram of alum de roche , and half a ponde of alfandida a quatron of abbo coporosa , and alle þese þynges be þey well j grounde and put in a pot glasyd and set it vpon þe fyre
Explicit: 10v and wete cottoun þerinne and anoyte þerwith all þynges þat ben gylt , and anone þou mayste take of þy golde froo þe siluer

Annotations in the margin by the hand of the main scribe and of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 947.i
IMEP 11, pp. 101-103: O.2.47 no. [1]
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
8. 11r-18r
Alchemical text
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 11r Be it remembryd that alle bodyes as well perfite as imperfite be made firste of þe .4. elementes þat is to sey fyre eyre erthe and water the whyche alle almyghty god mengyd coagulyd , and compilyd in pecis and þese .4. elementes ben þe priuyte of philosophers j hydd and whan þese .4. elementes be menged and joyned and chaunged from þer nature þey beth vertuos
Explicit: 18r or oþer spirtus sol and lune the whyche engendryd by þis crafte excedyth naturally sol and lune in alle probacouns as well naturall as medicynall proieccyon moste be made in an erthyn crusyble before þe flyght of mercure and more sotyl þat þe medysn ys þe more perfyte and spefull it is amen Vnderstonde and I wylle þat ye knowe þat þe mater and þe sperme of alle metallis is mercure de cocte and made

'IHC' title by the main scribe in the centre of the upper margin of f. 11r.

Simple drawing of alchemical vessels in the outer margin of f. 13v.

Marginal note by John Dee in the upper margin of f. 11r, and marginal notes throughout by him.

Unusual (?alchemical) symbol / monogram in the outer margin of f. 15v, a combination of the following characters: + h W.

The name/s 'isbell iohan' in the lower margin of f. 18r

Text ends abruptly, but M. R. James Catalogue and L. Mooney in IMEP 11 do not think the text is incomplete, instead that they think that the words following the 'amen' on f. 18r were meant to correct a lacuna in the text, but their place of insertion is unmarked.

Singer proposes that this text might be a Middle English partial adaptation of a Latin text sometimes known as the Breviloquium and variously attributed to 'Johannes Pauper' and 'Johannes Sawtre monachus de thorney'. See Singer for further information.

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. 113-115, no. 1151
D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 217.xv
IMEP 11, pp. 101-103: O.2.47 no. [2]
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
9. 18v-19r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 18v Sol . luna . venus | Hanc receptam probaui et veram per omnia inueni
Incipit: 18v Recipe venerum(?) bene purgati , lune bone , et solis boni ana funde simul
Explicit: 19r cardinali qui plures probauit , et aurum perfectum istam viam fecit
Final rubric: 19r Explicit de rubeo

Title 'Sol . luna . venus' in the upper margin of f. 18v in the hand of the main scribe.

Marginal annotations by the hand of John Dee throughout.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 626A.i
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
10. 19r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 19r Recipe sal nitrum j partem et ij partes coporose et ij partes alumen de roke et tere bene totum
Explicit: 19r et posquam[sic] fuerit frigidum pone super tantum venus purgatum , et funde et videbis quod petis ||

Marginal annotation by the hand of John Dee, 'Aqua fortis'.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 626A.i
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
11. 19v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 19v Opus cuiusdam presbiteri ad lunam Recipe mercurius sublimati
Explicit: 19v quosque tota luna fuerit conuersa in aqua et ultimo congeletur et est medicina perfecta

This recipe is crossed through in ink several times.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 626A.i
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
12. 19v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 19v Ad dandum bonum ingressum medicine super semper ponendum est
Explicit: 19v quod sulfur coniunge cum medicina predicta . Aut jucera predicum(?) sulfur cum oleo lune et fiet elixir per se

This recipe is crossed through in ink several times.

Note signed 'I. D.' (for John Dee) in the lower margin of f. 19v.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 626A.i
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
13. 20r-31r
Rosarius minor ?John of Garland (Hortulanus)
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 20r Incipit Rosarius philosophie naturalis per ortolanum
Incipit: 20r [⟨D⟩escendi in ortum meum ut videre plantas diuersorum inter flores retrum inueni rosam uineam seu alba et sanguineam seu rubeam dicoratam , eligi pulcherimam et inspexi quod idem ibi fuerunt pante et rare
Explicit: 31r et fit elixir in tam quantum materia plusquam aurum uale(?) et digestum et tinctum
Final rubric: 31r Explicit rosarius deo laus Ortolanj philosophi

A note 'per ortolanum' ('by Hortulanus') added to the rubric in a different ink, and perhaps by a different scribe (probably not John Dee).

Marginal annotations in the hand of John Dee throughout. Dee adds a final title to f. 31r 'Rosarius Minor impressus'.

It is not clear whether this text should be included among the true works by John of Garland, grammarian and philosopher active in England in the first half of the 13th century.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 166.i
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
eTK 401
14. 31v-32r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 31v Recipe libra .j. ⟨sulphur⟩ vive et funde in patella viterata(?)
Explicit: 32r et tunc lunam tuam erit fixa et habebis pondus sol et summum \sonum/ eius

Title in the upper margin in the hand of the main scribe 'nota [SYMBOL] philosophicum'

Correction added to penultimate word in the recipe by John Dee: 'summum' to 'sonum'.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
15. 32r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 32r ad rubeum id est pondus super .4. lune fine fit sol finum
Incipit: 32r Recipe vitriol de chipli
Explicit: 32r et congela in igne lento et j. pondus super .4. none lune et tingit in verum solem
Rubric: 32r deo gracias amen

Note added in the outer margin by John Dee: 'Vitriol de Chipli'.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
16. 32r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 32r ffor to make sol of mars melt mars with azeruef ana in botum barbatum and after it is j molt , melt it ayen with as myche weyghte of fyne lune þerwith and breke þis siluer and whan þis lune is þus j broke melt it anoþer
Explicit: 32r tyme with as myche more lune and it schal be teyned into color of sol and þe more þou meltis hit þer þe more it is worthe and þe more better by þe vertu of þe fyre

Marginal annotations by the hand of John Dee.

Not in IMEP.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
17. 32v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Old Spanish
Rubric: 32v para donea oferro que dize(?) mars on para operata
Incipit: 32v faze malgama como para dour(?)ar , Recipe libra .j. de aume(?) de rroca et libra .ß. de alfadida et libra quarta decapa rrosa
Explicit: 32v for doueada et logo setiraa

Rubric added to the upper margin by the main scribe.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
18. 32v-33r
Alchemical recipe to solder metals
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 32v Recipe gum of boras and put it in water and lete it dissolue in þat water with alytyll chafynge
Explicit: 33r and siluer and yren to geder . and golde and siluer to geder sure

Title in the outer margin of f. 32v by John Dee's hand, 'To sowder metalls', and alchemical diagrams also in his hand.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
IMEP 11, pp. 101-103: O.2.47 no. [3]
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
19. 33r
Alchemical recipe to solder brass and add tin-plate to iron
Language(s): Middle English

Full transcription: | ffor to sowde a plate of latoun to anoþer , Take pewter and roseyn and þerwith ye may sowde hem faste or yef ye wole tynne a þynge of yron , Take and melte yowr tyn in an yren panne and here yowre yron reed hoote . and anoynte hym well with rosyn and put it in þe tyn and take it out a noone by þe tone ende

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
IMEP 11, pp. 101-103: O.2.47 no. [4]
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
20. 33v-34r
Alchemical recipe for making gold and silver out of mercury
Language(s): Middle English
Rubric: 33v Of a werke of lune of man of almayn
Incipit: 33v Recipe j part of lune fine of castilee , and three of partes of mercure viuo well j wayshe with salt comon grete and vinegre stronge
Explicit: 34r and sulfur to make fine sol of mercure as it is a boue seyd of lune , deo gracias
Final rubric: 34r Explicit

Marginalia by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
IMEP 11, pp. 101-103: O.2.47 no. [5]
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
21. 34r
Alchemical preparation of a capital to dissolve sublimed arsenic
Language(s): Middle English
Rubric: 34r Thus is þe capitell j made þe whyche þat schall dissolue arsenicon sublymed
Incipit: 34r Recipe sosa id est wodasshen .ij. pounds and calx virgyn vina .j. pound tartur j brent .j. pound of þis matters make þy capitell and boyle þe trydde part aweye of þe water and in þis capitel boyle thyn arsenyk vn to it be dissolued and þan drawe oute þe water by filter and put it to vapur vpon þe fire
Explicit: 34r soft fire þere be houeþ to be in þy vaporacoun vn to þyn arsenyk be by hym sylf a lone , and þan take it oute and put it in a vessell of glas in a moyste place and it wole turne in to oyle , and þan joyne it with þe mater a boue seyd

Marginalia by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
IMEP 11, pp. 101-103: O.2.47 no. [6] - full transcription
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
22. 34rv
Alchemical text titled 'Opus lune'
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 34r Opus lune
Incipit: 34r Opus lune ad proieccionem Recipe mercure partes .4. , et lunam .j. partem et fac amalgama
Explicit: 34v et inueniens conuertitur totum in modum vnguenti cuiuslibet metalli in perfectam luna ad omne judicium
D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
23. 34v
Alchemical recipe to make a liquid capable of penetrating metals
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 34v ffor to make a maruellis water penetrayfe persyng and enttryng in to bodijs of metalle
Explicit: 34v and in þis water þu schalt haue nobil þynges

Marginal note 'Aqua fort' in the outer margin in the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
IMEP 11, pp. 101-103: O.2.47 no. [7]
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
24. 34v
Alchemical recipe to make tin withstand fire like silver
Language(s): Middle English
Rubric: 34v for to make jubiter to sufer fyre as it were siluer
Incipit: 34v Take iij peny wyȝght of limature of yron
Explicit: 34v of jubiter j purged and serra como luna

Alchemical symbols written by John Dee illustrating the steps of the recipe in the lower margin.

Correction to the text 'alkali' written in the outer margin replacing 'petre' by the main scribe.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
IMEP 11, pp. 101-103: O.2.47 no. [8] - full transcription
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
25. 35r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin with Old Spanish
Rubric: 35r Opus de magister Raymundus lulli
Incipit: 35r Recipe mercurius benj lauado et alphadida .S. de mercurius duas partes et vna de alphadida et fac toto amalgama
Explicit: 35r de bona dobra validya velha atodo juzo(?) et cetera

Text attributed to Ramon Llull (?1232-1316) in the rubric, but not classified as a work by Llull in Timmerman, nor is this MS included in LlullDB; further research is necessary to test the veracity of this attribution.

This item contains words written in an unidentified alphabet.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
26. 35r
Alchemical recipe to make a silver alloy
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 35r Take tyn x partis mercure 3 partis amake[sic] a malgam take coper reede to make gode lune v partes laton v partes of laton and melt hem to geder
Explicit: 35r and þu schalt haue god siluer for to make girdel and vessell and oþer þyng what þu wylt
D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
IMEP 11, pp. 101-103: O.2.47 no. [9] - full transcription
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
27. 35v
Alchemical recipe to make silver
Language(s): Middle English with Latin title
Rubric: 35v De albacion de venus de magistre diego
Incipit: 35v Recipe of calx virgyn , and of sal alkaly ana , and make of þat a leche
Explicit: 35v of venus and it turneth hit to lune ⟨SYMBOL⟩ prelesynge be to god amen
D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
IMEP 11, pp. 101-103: O.2.47 no. [10]
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
28. 35v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 35v Recipe cinobrium fixatum cun luna
Explicit: 35v et erit fundens et dissoluens

Gloss in the outer margin by John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
29. 36r-45r
Gloria mundi Winandus de Rufo Clipeo
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 36r Incipit prologus libri qui dicitur gloria mundi uel liber quinque clauum[sic]
Incipit: 36r In nomine domini nostri ihesu christi et per uirtutem eius , Nominatur iste liber gloria mundi et lux solis , et liber luminum et liber quinque clauum[sic] et virtutum eet .v. est celestis
Explicit: 45r Secundum enim viam illius gradus semper crudum berniaas addendum est , ut quartus rubeus docet gradus , cum suo pondere bernaas crudi Et hec dicta sufficiant
Final rubric: 45r deo gratias amen
Final rubric: 45r Completum et scriptum anno 1436 11 die aprilis alide ter etcetera

Although this text is attributed to Arnaldus de Villa Nova in the manuscript, this text is now thought to be by Winandus de Rufo Clipeo.

Titles added in the upper margin of f. 36r in John Dee's hand, 'Arnaldus de Villa nova' and 'Liber quinque clauium'. Frequent marginal annotations by Dee throughout, including manicules and alchemical symbols.

Small marginal diagram of a flame ?in a sconce in the outer margin of ff. 38v and 39v.

Also in Oxford, Bodelian Library, MS Ashmole 1450 , ff. 18r-23v.

eTK 0679A
D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 232.i
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
30. 45r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 45r Eris farina sal sulphur cum calamina datur tibi luna
Explicit: 45r opturari(?) dictum vas

Marginal annotations by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
31. 45r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 45r Recipe limaturam(?)
Explicit: 45r et ponatur in vase bene clauso et lutato et fundatur

Marginal annotations by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
32. 45v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 45v Eris farina .sal. sulfur cum calamina | Hec si sint vna , liqueficam datur tibi luna |
Explicit: 45v operari dictum vas

This is textually very similar to the penultimate item on f. 45r but with the alchemical symbols expanded in the text.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
33. 45v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 45v Recipe limatur cupri libra .j. sulphuris .j.
Explicit: 45v et ponatur in vase bene clauso et lutato et fundatur etc

This is textually very similar to the final item on f. 45r but with the alchemical symbols expanded in the text.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 1111.xxxviii
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
34. 45v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 45v Opus lune
Incipit: 45v Recipe mercurium sublimatum et arsenicum sublimatum et pulueriza bene qualibet per se
Explicit: 45v Et multiplicatur virtus sua et cadit vnam pondus super .G. vel .g. veneris et scias quod est verum ideo da gracias deo
Final rubric: 45v amen

Marginal notes 'Aqua fortis' and symbols by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
35. 45v-46r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 45v Ista est aqua pro isto opere supra dicto
Incipit: 45v Recipe vitrioli romani puluerizati libram .j.
Explicit: 46r et si facis sic , dissoluentur in aquam in vna hora et cetera

Marginal annotations by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
36. 46r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 46r Nota quod arsenicus sublimatus et mercurius sublimatus ana
Explicit: 46r et lauda deum quod tale secretum tibi pandet quem verum(?) est et cetera

Marginal notes by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
37. 46r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 46r aqua ad rubificandum ⟨cuprum⟩
Incipit: 46r Recipe caparose
Explicit: 46r Rubicundum post euaporacionem aque

Marginal note 'Aqua fortis' and symbols by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
38. 46v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 46v Elixir mirabiliter operans
Incipit: 46v Recipe saturnum et fac ex eo laminas(?)
Explicit: 46v mille millia mercure uel super infinitum

Marginal notes by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
39. 46v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 46v Recipe sakis peter . alum plu ana
Explicit: 46v hebus[sic] quod optas

Marginal note 'Aqua fortis' and symbols by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
40. 47r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 47r aquam ad fixandum lunam
Incipit: 47r Recipe caparose et sale petra ana
Explicit: 46r dissouitur[sic] melior

Marginal note 'Aqua fortis' and annotations in the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
41. 47r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 47r aquam fortem ad resoluendum ?(?)
Incipit: 47r Recipe salis uitri partes .2.
Explicit: 47r lunate vel grosse

Marginal note 'Aqua fortis' and annotations by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
42. 47r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 47r aqua pro dissoluere totas grossas limaturas
Incipit: 47r Recipe omatis fortis vinagre et extinfuas vitro indentro aceto per .12. vicibus
Explicit: 47r ponens(?) in illa aqua et volue circa
D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
43. 47v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 47v Oleum ouorum calce
Incipit: 47v Recipe calcem testimius ouorum
Explicit: 47v et habebus oleuus nobile

Title 'Oleum ouorum calce' in upper margin in the hand of the main scribe.

Marginal annotations by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
44. 47v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 47v Oleum tartarum
Incipit: 47v Recipe tartarum album vel rubeum
Explicit: 47v custodi pro tempere oportuno quod est fixum et penetratiuum

Marginal annotations by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
45. 47v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 47v luna de stagno
Incipit: 47v funde stagnum
Explicit: 47v affinius argento quod stagnum

Title in the outer margin 'luna de stagno' ?in the hand of the main scribe.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
46. 48r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 48r Elixir
Incipit: 48r Recipe arsenicum sublimatum et mercure sublimatum et limaturas lune
Explicit: 48r et erit luna ?fina ad omnem probacionem
Final rubric: 48r da gracias a deo

Marginal annotations and symbols by the hand of John Dee and the main scribe.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
47. 48r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 48r jubiter ut fiat luna liquefac ipsam in testa aliqua et tunc funde ipsam in vas in quo sit acetum
Explicit: 48r et faceam luna albissimum(?)

Annotation in the outer margin, perhaps by John Dee's hand: 'jubiter'.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
48. 48r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 48r Proice calcem jouis in aceto distillato
Explicit: 48r pondus aceti per distillatur(?)
Final rubric: 48r et lauda domino

Marginal annotations and symbols by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
49. 48v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 48v Recipe saturni
Explicit: 48v tartari purgati et erit . Sol .

Marginal annotations and symbols by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
50. 48v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 48v Purgacio autem
Explicit: 48v ad recipiendum spiritum et medicinans

Marginal annotations and symbols by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
51. 48v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 48v Nota quod oleum benedictum debet esse rectificatum
Explicit: 48v ista valet medicine valet super saturnum

Marginal annotations and symbols by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
52. 48v-49r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 48v Recipe ⟨calx vive⟩ bene lotum cum sale
Explicit: 49r et colabitur in verum solem

Marginal annotations and symbols by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
53. 49r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 49r Oleum ⟨sol⟩
Incipit: 49r Recipe sal arsenico et sal niter partes equales
Explicit: 49r vel reiteratur in argentum vivum et ho(?) est oleum

Marginal annotations and symbols by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
54. 49r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 49r Oleum lune
Incipit: 49r Recipe salis nitr partes .2.
Explicit: 49r et habebis oleum lune quod est materia ad albedinem

Marginal annotation 'Aqua fort' by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
55. 49r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 49r Sol moysarcus sic sit
Incipit: 49r Recipe jouis quarte .j.
Explicit: 49r sublimabitur supernis(?)

Marginal annotation 'Aqua fort' by the hand of John Dee.

This recipe is a little stained and rubbed and the text is no longer completely legible.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
56. 49v
Alchemical note
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 49v Bene reperitur hermes quod fuit primus sit ventator et probator
Explicit: 49v Et quod est inferius est sicut quod est superius ad perpetrandam miracula rei vnius nature et cetera
D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
57. 49v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 49v Recipe lune pure partem j mercure crudi mundatur partes 24 dissoluantur
Explicit: 49v et erit luna bona

Marginal annotations by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
58. 49v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 49v ad facere saturnum durum fusionis
Incipit: 49v Recipe saturnum et funde
Explicit: 49v et six fac 3 vicibus et erit durum et bona luna

Marginal annotations by the hand of John Dee.

D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
59. 50r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Old Spanish
Rubric: 50r Para fazer olijo benedicto
Incipit: 50r Toma lymaturas de mars ij partes
Explicit: 50r de lima fina et acharas .S. tam bono como oq(?) hace nattires(?)
D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
60. 50r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 50r Sulphur et mercure misce cum calce ouorum
Explicit: 50r per vna super 30 jouis
D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
61. 50v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Old Spanish
Incipit: 50v Recipe j vnca de alfadida delgada Errecozea
Explicit: 50v mezinha vay subre luna et sobre .⟨cuprum⟩ .j. partem subre\1000/ mille
D.W. Singer, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in Great Britain and Ireland: Dating from before the XVI Century, 3 vols (Brussels: Maurice Lamertin, 1928), no. 596.1
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
62. 51r
Alchemical recipe to cleanse metals
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 51r For to preperat jupiter or oþer body which þu wylt for to caste vpon a medicyne
Explicit: 51r and it schall be well j purged

Title 'Purgatio' and alchemical symbols added in the upper margin by John Dee.

IMEP 11, pp. 101-103: O.2.47, no. [11] - full transcription
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
63. 51r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 51r yef ye woll make water
Explicit: 51r and yf þu haue not sal petre take calx vine

Title added in the outer margin by John Dee.

IMEP 11, pp. 101-103: O.2.47, no. [12] - full transcription
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
64. 51r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 51r Aqua mercure funde iouem e proice pondus sui de mercure vivo intus infrigida et tere in puluerem
Explicit: 51r et erit clara plus quam aqua fontis et ista est dissolucio mercrij etc

Title and notes added in the outer margin by John Dee.

A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
65. 51r
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 51r puluis salis niter cum melle calefactus faciem clarificat
Explicit: 51r et dulcceat mundificat inflacionibus ydropicus opillatur cum melle mixto

Title and notes added in the outer margin by John Dee.

A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
66. 51v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 51v in spanihci acho
Incipit: 51v Recipe aurum obrison et ipsam funde cibando ipsam cum infusione cum pulueribus sulphuris
Explicit: 51v aurum optimum . quod in cedratum pone

Title in upper margin by scribe of the recipe, 'in spanihci acho'

A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
67. 51v
Alchemical note
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 51v Nota quod ignis sunt iiijor
Explicit: 51v ignis super naturalis est vitrioli , ignis mercurij

Title in the outer margin '4 Ignes' by the hand of John Dee.

A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
68. 51v
Alchemical recipe
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 51v Purgacio(?)optima veneris ut dicitur
Incipit: 51v Fac orkrement alium quocumque modo poteris (?)
Explicit: 51v quosque veneris erit album sicut argentum

This recipe is partly illegible due to damage to the leaf.

A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511
69. 51v
Alchemical note
Language(s): Middle English
Rubric: 51v Þe best medicyn
Incipit: 51v take vyneger distilled pound .j. comyn salt j ounce yolow alum i ounce(?) i orkement , calx of egges ij ounces , water of tarture iij ounces and late it stonde in þe sonne xv days or in an hote place
Explicit: 51v and after stille it be filter and cast þerin copur or laton til it be white for it nedit none oþer medicyn for þis is proued

This recipe is partly illegible due to damage to the leaf.

IMEP 11, pp. 101-103: O.2.47, no. [*131] - full transcription
A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 2r: alumibus non est aurum seu argentum
Form: codex
Support: Paper, folded in octavo. Many leaves have partial watermarks visible, but due to the quality of the paper and staining to the leaves, watermark designs are not always possible to determine. The following leaves are given as case-studies. Folio 8 and folio 12: ?hand with cuff and ?star tethered to middle finger - measurements not possible as watermark is split across the gutter. Folios 8 and 12 are not a bifolium, but have the clearest 'halves' of the watermark design. This watermark seems to be present in all three quires. Resembles, but not the same as, Briquet 11152. Folio 11a: unidentified partial watermark - measurements not possible as watermark is split across the gutter.
Extent: Codex: iii + 52 + i leaves. 220 × 155 mm.
Foliation:

Foliation in use in this record: ?16th-century foliation sequence of main leaves with later expansions and corrections

Folios [i]-[iii] + 1-11, 11a, 12-51 + [iv]

Folios 1-51 foliated in ink in Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper outer corner of each recto in a ?16th century hand. The designation '11' was accidentally repeated by the original foliator and so a later foliation has redesignated the second of the two folio 11s as '11a'. The paper flyleaves at each end of the volume are unfoliated and so have been assigned the following designations within this record: ff. [i-iii] for the leaves at the front of the volume, and f. [iv] for the leaves at the end of the volume.
Foliation:

?16th-century foliation sequence.

Folios 1-11 11 12-51 (for ff. 1-11, 11a, 12-51)

Foliated in ink in Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper outer corner of each recto in a ?16th century hand. The designation '11' was accidentally repeated by the original foliator and so a later foliation has redesignated the second of the two folio 11s as '11a'.

Collation

  • Quire 120 (ff. 1-11, 11a, 12-19)
  • Quire 216 (ff. 20-35)
  • Quire 316 (ff. 36-51)

120 216 316

No leaf signatures.

No quire signatures.

 No catchwords.

Condition

In fair condition. The edges of some leaves are slightly torn, generally without loss of text. Most leaves have minor damage from liquid stains and spills. Folio 51 ragged along top edge.

Layout

165 × 105 mm. No visible ruling. Written in single-column format, typically 32 lines to the page.

Hand(s)

Latin text written in an anglicana script with some secretary features. Double-compartment a. Loops on the ascenders of b, d, h, l. Long-s typically at the beginning of a word and 6-shaped-s typically at the end of the word. Descenders of f and long-s typically drop below the baseline.

Text in Middle English written in anglicana. Double-compartment a. Loops on b, h, and l. The letter r varies, it is sometimes 2-shaped, and at other times has an elongated minim that drops below the baseline. The letter w has an elongated middle minim.

Decoration

Small marginal diagram of alchemical vessels in the outer margin of f. 13v. Small marginal diagram of a ?candle in a candle-holder in the outer margin of f. 38v and f. 39v.

Infrequent flourished initials in the text ink; typically an enlarged majuscule letter 3-4 lines high with small decorative pen flourishes perhaps slightly influenced by 'cadels', see e.g., f. 48r 'E' in 'Elixir'.

Additions

Frequent marginal annotations in the hand of John Dee throughout the manuscript. Dee uses a thin pen and his hand has quite an elongated and narrow ductus, see e.g., empty space in the lower half of f. 8r, 'This is an excellent fragment and worth the considering'.

Binding

Quarter-bound in ?tawed skin with paper sides over paste- or mill-boards. No raised bands on spine. Spine capped at head and tail by back-material, no headbands visible.

The alpha-numeric elements of the manuscript's current classmark ('O.2.47') are printed separately on three paper labels fixed to the spine with an adhesive.

Paper pastedowns at each end of the volume. The inside front cover contains the following:|

  • The alpha-numeric elements of the manuscript's current classmark ('O.2.47') written in ink
  • A former classmark ('O.15.39') written in ink and struck through
  • A ?former classmark ('122.13.56' or '122.B.56') written in ink in the same hand as the current classmark, and struck through in red crayon

Three paper endleaves, ff. [i]- [iii] at the front of the volume and one paper endleaf at the rear of the volume, ff. iv at the rear of the volume; all paper endleaves probably contemporary with the binding. All paper endleaves blank.

  • Watermark on ff. [i] and [iv]: royal cypher - initials GR topped with a crown
  • Watermark on f. [ii]-[iii]: Dutch 'Maid of Dort' watermark - seated maiden holding spear with a hat dangling from the tip and lion rampant holding curved sword and sheaf of arrows within circular pallisade below the motto 'PRO PATRIA'.

Dimensions (L x W x D): 230 x 160 x 20 mm

History

Origin: c. 1436. ; Probably England.

Date of production based on scribal colophon on f. 45r, 'Completum et scriptum anno 1436 11 die aprilis alide ter etcetera' (but see Summary and Robinson (1988) for further discussion). Place of production assigned based on palaeographical features.

Provenance and Acquisition

Owned by John Dee (1527-1608) , English mathematician and court astronomer of Queen Elizabeth I. Dee's name is present in the upper margin of f. 1r as 'Jo. Dee'. According to Roberts and Watson, Dee also added a title 'Thesaurus secretus' to the upper margin of f. 1r and extensive marginal annotations throughout the volume. The manuscript is recorded in John Dee's 1583 library cataloge (now Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.4.20 , p. 154) edited in Roberts and Watson John Dee's Library Catalogue where it has the siglum M79.

J. Roberts and A. G. Watson, John Dee's Library Catalogue (1990), M79 and esp. p. 119

One of the manuscripts of Thomas Gale (?1635-1702) , dean of York, antiquary, Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge, and fellow of Trinity College Cambridge. This manuscript is listed among those in Gale's collection in Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ (1697).

ODNB: Gale, Thomas (doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/10298)

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

ODNB: Gale, Roger (doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/10294)

Donated to Trinity College by Thomas Gale (b. 1635/6, d. 1702), son of Roger Gale (b. 1672, d. 1744), in 1738. The Gale donation is recorded in . Trinity College armorial bookplate with motto 'Collegium S.S. et Indiuiduae Trinitatis in Academia Cantabirgiensi' pasted at a rotated angle into the lower margin of f. 1r; 'Trinity College Library Cambridge' stamp in grey ink also present here.

ODNB: Gale, Roger (doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/10294)

Additional Information

Record Sources

This catalogue entry draws extensively on A. Timmermann, 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science, 30.2 (2015), pp. 345–511, and also 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. 113-115, no. 1151 , and IMEP 13.

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.

Bibliography

    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) Catalogue of Dated and Datable Manuscripts c. 737-1600 in Cambridge Libraries, Robinson, P.R. (Cambridge, D.S. Brewer, 1988) Manuscripts in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge Index of Middle English prose, Mooney, Linne R. (Woodbridge, D.S. Brewer, 1995) 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)

Funding of Cataloguing

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

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Cambridge Digital Library

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