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.8.23

Medical Texts

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 1:2r: Sed Gerardus
Form: codex
Support: Paper and parchment leaves
Extent: Codex: i + 2 | 32 | 6 | 32 + i leaves. 185-210 × 115-165 mm.
Foliation:

Foliation in use in this record: early-modern foliation ink foliation sequence with later pencil additions.

Folios [i] + a-b | 1:1-32 | 2:1-6 | 3:25-32, 3:17-24, 3:9-16, 3:1-8 + [ii]

Foliated in ink and pencil in Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper-outer corner of each recto. There are several former foliation sequences present in this volume, and care should be taken to refer to the designations currently in use. The folio designations begin again at '1' at the beginning of each new composite Part and are preceded by a number that indicates the major codicological unit to which they belong, i.e., 1:1r-1:32v, 2:1r-2:6v, 3:1r-3:32v.

The core of this foliation sequence is written in ink in an early-modern hand; where losses have occurred at the edge of leaves, a modern foliator has filled in the gaps in pencil and this foliator also supplied designations (ff. a-b) to the two early-modern paper endleaves at the front of the volume.

Care should be taken when referring to leaves in the third composite Part of the volume. The leaves were once bound out of order, and were foliated while misbound - the leaves have subsequently been rebound in the correct order, but they have not been refoliated, and so while the text proceeds in the correct order, the foliation sequence in Part 3 reflects the earlier disordered state of the quires (i.e., ff. 3:25-32, 3:17-24, 3:9-16, 3:1-8).

Paper endleaves probably contemporary with the current binding are unfoliated in the manuscript and have been assigned designations for use in this record; f. [i] for the endleaf at the front of the manuscript and f. [ii] for the endleaf at the rear of the manuscript.

Foliation:

Deprecated modern foliation sequence.

Folios 33-38 (for ff. 2:1-2:6).

Foliated in pencil in Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper outer corner of each recto in what is now ff. 2:1-2:6. These designations continue directly on from the previous manuscript Part, but this foliation sequence is no longer in use.

Foliation:

Medieval pagination of ff. 2:1-2:6.

Pages 1-12 (for ff. 2:1-2:6).

Paginated in the typical medieval forms of Hindu-Arabic numerals in the centre of the upper margin of each leaf. Each page designation is enclosed between two punctae and surrounded in a simple red rectangular frame. This pagination sequence is only found on ff. 2:1-2:6.

Collation

A composite manuscript with three distinct medieval Parts. The description of the collation of Part 1 in particular is tentative due to the disposition of the binding. The quires are arranged as follows:

  • One early-modern paper endleaf (ff. [i]) +
  • Two paper endleaves (ff. a-b) |
  • Quire 18 (ff. 1:1-1:8)
  • Quire 26 (ff. 1:9-1:14)
  • Quire 38 (ff. 1:15-1:22)
  • Quire 410 (ff. 1:23-1:32) |
  • Quire 56 (ff. 2:1r-2:6v) |
  • Quires 6-98 (ff. 3:25-3:32, 3:17-3:24, 3:9-3:16, 3:1-3:8) +
  • One early-modern paper endleaf (ff. [ii])

One early-modern paper endleaf + two paper endleaves | 18 26 38 410 | 56 6-98 + one early-modern paper endleaf

No leaf signatures common to the entire volume.

No quire signatures common to the entire volume.

No catchwords common to the entire volume.

Binding

?18th-century binding. Quarter-bound in white vellum with grey paper sides over paste- or mill-boards. No raised bands on spine. Three small printed paper labels that contain the alphanumeric components of the present shelfmark, 'O' '8' '23'.

Paper pastedowns pasted over the turn ins. The alpha-numeric components of the present shelfmark ('O.8.23') written in ink on the front pastedown. Rear pastedown blank. One paper flyleaf at the front of the volume (f. [i] and one paper flyleaf at the rear of the volume (f. [ii] both blank and all probably contemporary with the current binding.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

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: Endleaves [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.8.23, ff. a-b]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

b verso
Early modern list of the contents of ff. 1:1-32
Language(s): Latin

Note that f. b is badly damaged and part of the text of the list of the contents of the volume has been torn away.

Full transcription:| [?] de febribus et cetera scriptae ano 1493 . vid pag: 132 per doc[?] perleonem . vid pag. 9 et 14 | Ejusdem perleonis tractatus medicum 14 | Consultationes quaedam forte ejusdem 23 | Gerardus veronensis de cura sodae . 25 vid montaga: consilia pag: 1 | Receptae antiquissimae . 26

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Paper with modern repairs, no watermarks visible.
Extent: Codex: 2 leaves. 205 × 160 mm.

Collation

  • Two paper endleaves (ff. a-b)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

In poor condition. The outer halves of folios a and b have been torn away and have since been reconstructed with conservation paper-restoration techniques. Part of the list of the contents on f. b verso has been lost.

Layout

Informally written.

Hand(s)

The list of the contents of the volume was written by a 16th-century (?or early 17th-century) hand, with secretary features. The form of the minuscule e resembles a Greek ε.

Additions

Folio a recto: two former shelfmarks in ink, 'C.10.' and '151'.

Folio b verso: former shelfmark in ink, struck through, 'O.14.10'.

Folio b verso: Trinity College armorial bookplate with motto 'Collegium S.S. et Individuae Trinitatis in Academia Cantabrigiensi'.

History

Origin: Probably 16th or early 17th century (certainly after 1493). ; England.

Date and location of production based on palaeographical features.

Part 2: Medical texts [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.8.23, ff. 1:1r-1:32v]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1:1r-1:8v
Medical recipes and charms
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 1:1r Potio| Recipe rau??(?) electi
Explicit: 1:8v usala in cibo probatus est

Folio 1:8r contains a medical recipe for a 'Vino lauarato' credited to a Master Orlandino Da Parma 'per lo mastro orlandino daparma'.

1:9r-1:13v
Recollectiones de febribus excellentissimi magistri Perleonis quas habui a dom Gabrieli hypmosurgium
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 1:9r Recollectiones de febribus excellentissimi magistri Perleonis quas habui a dom Gabrieli hypmosurgium
Incipit: 1:9r Propositum erat expectire illud quod
Explicit: 1:13v febrium sufficiant
Final rubric: 1:13v hoc scripsi anno .1493. die.20. Mensis septembris

The final rubric on f. 1:13v states that this text was copied 20 March 1493.

'Yhs', presumably 'Jhesus' in the upper margin of f. 1:9r.

1:14r-1:27r
Medical text
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 1:14r Vtile ac sublime opus medicarm curationum per eximium ac excelsi ingenij virum magistrum perleonem editum
Incipit: 1:14r [⟨P⟩ROPOSITUM est medicinarum curantium
Explicit: 1:27r Intali ad uicem proportione Inequali humores euacuandi se habent ?(?)platum

Folios 1:27v-1:32v blank. Folios 1:30r-1:32v reduced in size by being cut in half vertically.

A long colophon on f. 1:27r begins: 'Huius opuscule ?(?) ad ?(?) tractatum non habetur quem auctor .secundum. magister .p.L. politus mortuus fuit in .1491. de mensa febriarij Ego autem ludouicus +monte scripsi anno domini .1496. dia .3a. decembris ex hora noctis'. | The Latin is rather idiomatic, but seems to indicate that the text was copied by a 'Ludouicus +monte' on 3 December 1496 who continued the work of a magister .p.L. whi died in February 1491.

A mention of a 'Georgius pisonus' in the text on f. 1:24r.

As noted by M. R. James, a mention of a 'Domini magistri Gerardi veronensis de cura sode' on f. 1:25r.

'Yhs', presumably 'Jhesus' in the upper margin of f. 1:14r.'

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 1:2r: Sed Gerardus
Form: codex
Support: Paper, folded in folio. Partial watermark visible on f. 29: Folios 29: bull's head in the centre of the leaf.
Extent: Codex: 32 leaves. 205 × 165 mm.

Collation

  • Quire 18 (ff. 1:1-1:8)
  • Quire 26 (ff. 1:9-1:14)
  • Quire 38 (ff. 1:15-1:22)
  • Quire 410 (ff. 1:23-1:32)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

In good condition. The upper corners of some leaves have been torn away leading to the loss of text on some leaves, see e.g., f. 1:2r, but the majority of the text is intact and legible. Folios 1:30-1:32 have been in cut in half down the centre vertical; no obvious loss of text as the remaining half-leaves are blank.

Layout

165 × 105 mm. Leaves are unruled; text follows horizontal lines of texture in the paper. Written in single-column format, typically 47-48 lines to the page, but number of lines varies due to the lack of ruling.

Hand(s)

Written in a late-15th century Italian semi-hybrida. The letter a resembles a small Greek majuscule Λ. Occasional loops on ascenders of b, d, h and l. The letter m in terminal position is typically written like a Hindu-Arabic 3. Most types of abbreviation and suspension (other than -rum which usually has the typical form) indicated by a macron rather than a distinct graph. The 'et' abbreviation typically looks like a Hindu-Arabic 2.

Decoration

Frequent small drawings in text-ink the margins of ff. 1:1r-1:27r often referring to items mentioned in the medical texts. See e.g., bust of a horse or donkey wearing a brindle in the outer margin of f. 1:5r, snake in the outer margin of f. 1:26v.

Simple decorative initials in text-ink at major divisions of the texts, often inhabited with human busts or small creatures, see e.g., ff. 1:9r, or 1:12r.

History

Origin: Late 15th century (between c. 20 March 1493 and 3 December 1496). ; Italy.

Date of production based on scribal notes on ff. 1:13v, which state that the text on ff. 1:9r-1:13v was copied 20 March 1493 and f. 1:27r which states that the text on ff. 1:14r-1:27r was copied by a 'Ludouicus +monte' on 3 December 1496 from a text composed before the death of a 'magister p.L.' in 1491. The text on ff. 1-8 and 14-30 was copied by the same scribe but is undated.

Place of production based on palaeographical features, multiple references to Italian authors and places, and Italianate features of the Latin text.

Part 3: medical recipes [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.8.23, ff. 2:1-6]

Contents

Language(s): Latin with occaisonal Middle English plant names

2:1r-2:6v
Medical recipes arranged by plant-name
Language(s): Latin with occaisonal Middle English plant names
Incipit: 2:1r De arthemesia .id est. moderwort uel mogwort
Explicit: 2:6v Si masticem uel ore teneat

Some of the Latin plant names in this text are glossed in Middle English by the main scribe as a part of the text, see e.g.,

  • Folio 2:1r: De abrotano .id est. sothernewode
  • Folio 2:1r: De absinthio .id est. wormod
  • Folio 2:1v: De alliis .id est. garlek
  • Folio 2:1v: De astula regia .id est. woderoue
  • Folio 2:3v: De accidula .id est. souredoke
  • Folio 2:5r: De aristologia .id est. SmereWort
  • Folio 2:5r: De marrubio .id est. horhoune
  • Folio 2:5r: De rafano .id est. Radich
  • Folio 2:5v: De altea .id est. Wymalue
  • Folio 2:5v: De Saluia .id est. sauge
  • Folio 2:5v: De ostricio .id est. woderoue
  • Folio 2:5v: De narstuciis .id est. Tunkersen
  • Folio 2:6r: De cepis .id est. Oynoun

The recipe on f. 2:5v that begins 'De narstuciis .id est. Tunkersen' is quite close to the entry in the Plantin-Moretus Glossary 'narsturtium tunkerse', both of which record relatively unusual orthographic variants for these plants, but significantly more work is needed to identify a potential lineage for these glosses. The Platin-Moretus glossary is found in the margins of Antwerp, Plantin-Moretus Museum, MS 16.2 (47 [32]) .

eTK 0366C (t0072060000)
2:6v
Quotation from a poem
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 2:6v Gaudet epar spodio , capari splenis(?) , stomacus galanga , | Pulmo liquerissia , mace cor , cerebrum quoque musco

Full transcription. This is a popular verse fragment that appears in several other manuscripts, but typically with the second half of each line transposed, i.e.,| 'Gaudet epar spodio mace cor cerebri quoque musco| Pulmo liquricia capere splen stoma galanga'.

WIC 7108

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 2:2r: Item huic junge
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH).
Extent: Codex: 6 leaves. 180 × 115 mm.

Collation

  • Quire 56 (ff. 2:1-2:6)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

In poor condition. Folios 2:1-2:6 have sustained liquid damage, and some text is now faint, but very little is completely illegible. There are several cuts and tears to the margins of ff. 2:1-2:6, so all leaves are slightly irregular in shape, but there is no significant loss of text. MS O.8.23 is now rather tightly bound and some text near the inner margins cannot be read as it disappears into the gutter.

Layout

135 × 95 mm. Ruled in brown crayon, frame and lines. Ruled in single-column format, typically 28 lines to the page and written below top line.

Hand(s)

Folios 2:1-2:6 written by a single scribe in a rounded northern textualis libraria. Double-compartment a. Small flicked flourishes on ascenders of b, d, h, and l. The letter d is usually sloping-backed. The letters f, r, and s are typically long and their descenders drop below the baseline. Horned flicks on the upper terminals of the first strokes of p and r. Caroline-s typically used in terminal position. The letter y is typically dotted. The word 'vulnus' is often spelled with an elaborate w, i.e., 'wulnus'.

Decoration

Large plain red initial 'D' in 'De arthemesia' at the opening of the text on f. 2:1r. Each new plant lemma in the text is introduced in the form 'De [plant name]' and the counterspace of the 'D' is filled with red.

Small red lines used to mark the minor divisions within the text.

Additions

A short phrase (?a name) in dark ink in an early-modern hand in the gutter of f. 2:6v, now illegible.

History

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

Date of production based on palaeographical features. Place of production based on palaeographical features and presence of several plant names in Middle English in the text.

Part 3: Medical texts [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.8.23, ff. 3:1-3:32]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

3:25r-3:5v
De simplicibus medicinae ('Circa instans') [Latin] Mattheus Platearius (attrib.)
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 3:25r Circa instans negotium in simplicibus medicinis uersatur propositum
Explicit: 3:5v Ne uero presentis operis prolixitas in numerum diffundatur hoc leto concludamus

Folio sequence reflects former disordered arrangement of the leaves, which have since been rebound in text order.

Title added by another hand in the upper margin of f. 3:25r, 'Platearius de Simplicibus Medicinis' and below it in the same hand 'vid: N. 166.'.

Invocation in the upper margin of f. 3:25r by the main scribe, 'Adsit principio uirgo maria me?'.

Medical note added to the lower margin of 3:13r in a contemporary hand referring to Diascorides.

3:18v
Medical recipes

Bottom margin. 'Ad restringuendum fluxum emorroydarum': to restrict the flow of haemorrhoids. 'Experimentum contra sternatationem': remedy against sneezing. Written by the same hand that added recipes to f. 3:19r

3:19r
Medical recipes

Bottom margin. Two preparations for a 'adrianum', followed by two remedies: 'Ad uisum clarificandum': to clear the sight; and 'Ad sompnium prouocandum': to bring on sleep. Written by the same hand that added recipes to f. 3:18v.

3:24v
Medical recipes

Bottom margin. Two herbal preparations: the first for treating 'podagra' (gout), which heals within three days; the second for quartan and tertian fevers. Written by the same hand that added recipes to f. 3:11r.

3:11r
Medical recipes

Bottom margin. A herbal preparation for treating cough. Written by the same hand that added recipes to f. 3:24v.

3:4v
Medical recipes

Bottom margin. Written by a contemporary hand. A proven remedy against all bone pain, lameness and paralysis ('...probata est ad omnes assuum dolores et caludum et sidraculi'; cures for leprosy ('lepram'), burning ('arsuram') and cataracts ('cataractas').

3:1r
Medical recipes

Top margin. Two remedies against the flux ('contra fluxum').

3:5v-3:8v
De virtute simplicium medicinarum
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 3:5v Incipit liber cogitanti michi . de virtute simplicium medicinarum
Incipit: 3:5v Cogitanti michi de simplicium medicinarum uirtute earum que id operantur nomina
Explicit: 3:8v Succus uua ager . vitellum oui(?) ||

The name 'Simon forman' in the lower margin of f. 3:8v.

Printed in Omnia opera ysaac vol. II (Lyon, 1515), ff. 186v-189v
Edited by G.H. Kroemer in his dissertation (Leipzig, 1920)
eTK 0229E

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 3:2r: ones eius cum uitello
Secundo Folio: 3:26r:
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH).
Extent: Codex: 32 leaves. 180 × 125 mm.

Collation

  • Quires 6-9>8 (ff. 3:25-3:32, 3:17-3:24, 3:9-3:16, 3:1-3:8)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

In fair condition. The tightness of the binding restricts legibility of text in the inner columns close to the gutter. Folio 3:7 appears to have sustained liquid damage at an unknown time as it is now cockled, but the liquid has not caused significant damage to the legibility of the text on the leaf.

Layout

125 × 95 mm. Folios 3:1r-3:5r and 3:32v ruled in leadpoint, frame and lines. Ruled in two-column format, typically 50 lines to the column and written above top line.

120 × 95 mm. Folios 3:6r-3:8v ruled in leadpoint, frame and lines. Ruled in four-column format, typically 50 lines to the column and written above top line. Folio 3:5v is the transition leaf between the two- and four-column format and is ruled with the outermost column as a 'half-width' column and the innermost columns as two quarter-width columns.

Hand(s)

Written in a neat southern textualis minuscule of Italian appearance.

Decoration

Plain initials in red at the major and minor divisions of the texts.

Titles and subtitles in red.

Additions

The name 'Simon forman' in the lower margin of f. 3:8v

History

Origin: Probably late-13th or early-14th century. ; Probably Italy.

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. 413-414, no. 1398

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.

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.

Study at Cambridge

About the University

Research at Cambridge