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 R.14.30

Medical texts

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: (Second legible textleaf) 120r: Pren una
Form: codex
Support: Quires 1-9 and 11-17 are parchment, Quire 10 is paper.
Extent: Codex: ii + ii + 73 | 8 | 34 | 8 | 6 | 8 + ii + ii leaves. 145 × 100 mm.
Foliation:

Late-15th century foliation sequence, with later additions.

[a]-[b] + [c]-[d] + 113-121, 123-186 | [index 1]-[index 8] | 187-220 | 221-228 | 229-234 | 236-241, 235, 242 + [e]-[f] + [g]-[h]

Foliation in use in this record. The core leaves are foliated in ink in the typical medieval forms of Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper outer corner of each recto, by the hand of Clement Canterbury, monk of the abbey of St Augustine's, Canterbury (see f. 221r for his characteristic 'ffo'). The sequence begins at f. 113, due to the loss of 112 leaves from the beginning. '122' was accidentally omitted; there is no disruption to either the text or the quire structure between ff. 121 and 123.

A quire of eight unfoliated paper leaves was added to the volume in the 16th century (now Quire 10); these have been designated as ff. [index 1]-[index 8]. The original outermost bifolium of Quire 17 was misbound after the medieval foliation was added; the bifolium is now situated at the end of the quire and the foliation sequence for Quire 17 currently appears as ff. 236-241, 235, 242. Folios [a]-[d] and [e]-[h] are unfoliated modern paper endleaves.

Collation

This manuscript is a composite, and the quires are arranged as follows:

  • Quires 1-58 (ff. 113-121, 123-153))
  • Quire 610-1 (ff. 154-162: 10th leaf cancelled)
  • Quires 7-98 (ff. 163-186) |
  • Quire 108 (ff. [index 1]-[index 8]) |
  • Quires 11-138 (ff. 187-210)
  • Quire 1410 (ff. 211-220) |
  • Quire 158 (ff. 221-228) |
  • Quire 166 (ff. 229-234 |
  • Quire 178 (ff. 236-241, 235, 242: misbound, original outer bifolium (ff. 235-242) displaced and now located at the end of the quire)

1-58 610-1 (10th cancelled) 7-98 | 108 | 11-138 1410 | 158 | 166 | 178 (misbound)

No leaf signatures common to the entire volume.

No quire signatures common to the entire volume.

No catchwords common to the entire volume.

Additions

Titles of works added in red ink to two texts by Clement Canterbury in the late 15th century: 'De Emplaustris' (upper margin of f. 180r) and 'Incipit Tractatus de secretis mulierum cum alijs' (upper margin of f. 221r). See Foliation for further details.

Quire signatures ('1-17') 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

?17th-century binding. Quarter bound in limp parchment with parchment sides over paste- or mill-boards. Parchment sides cover the entire outer faces of the boards and partially overlap the back covering. 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 ('R.14.30') are printed separately on three paper labels fixed to the spine with an adhesive.

Paper pastedowns pasted over the turn ins. The front pastedown contains the alpahnumeric elements of the present shelfmark, 'R.14.30' written in pencil.

Two sets of paper endleaves at each end of the volume, the outermost ff. [a]-[b] and [g]-[h] of one paper stock and slightly larger than the innermost, ff. [c]-[d], and [e]-[f]. All paper endleaves blank.

Dimensions (L x W x D): 150 x 105 x 40 mm.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

The manuscript was once a part of a larger composite formerly owned by John of London (fl. c. 1290-c. 1330) , a monk and donor of more than eighty books to St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury . The manuscript has been altered several times since it was in John's possession (see Summary for further details). Two other manuscripts were once part of this volume: London, British Library, MS Egerton 823 (contains the original ff. 256-287), and London, British Library, MS Egerton 840a (contains the original ff. 288-290).

A.G. Watson, 'A St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury, Manuscript Reconstructed: Trinity College Cambridge MS R.14.30 and British Library MSs Egerton 823 and 840A', Transactions of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society, 6.4 (1975), pp. 211–217
CBMLC 13.2, [BA1.1599]
CBMLC 13.3, esp, pp. 1841-1844

Given to St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury by John of London (fl. c. 1290-c. 1330) . Recorded in the catalogue of the abbey's library, compiled between 1375 and 1420, which survives in a transcription made between 1474 and 1497 (now Dublin, Trinity College, MS 360 ). The manuscript remained at St Augustine's Canterbury until at least the late-15th century, since it was foliated by librarian Clement Canterbury (fl. 1463-1495) (see Summary and Foliation for further details).

CBMLC 13, BA1.1599 and pp. 1841-1844

Owned by John Dee (127-1608) , English mathematician and astronomer at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Neither Dee's signature nor his characteristic marks appear in this manuscript, but its contents are recorded in the catalogue Dee compiled of his library of 1583 (now Cambridge, Trinity College MS O.4.20, p. 170). Parts of the manuscript that had been recorded at St Augustine's were missing or had been removed from the volume by this time (see Summary for further details).

CBMLC 13 [BA1.1599]
A.G. Watson, 'A St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury, Manuscript Reconstructed: Trinity College Cambridge MS R.14.30 and British Library MSs Egerton 823 and 840A', Transactions of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society, 6.4 (1975), 211–17
J. Roberts and A.G. Watson, John Dee's Library Catalogue (1990), [M199]
J. Roberts, and A.G. Watson, 'John Dee's Library Catalogue: Additions and Corrections', The Bibliographical Society (Special Publication) (2009) [M199]

Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.30 was at Trinity College by 1760 at the latest, when it appears in a draft list of shelfmarks in preparation for a new manuscript list (and rearragement of the manuscript classes) produced in 1765. Before MS R.14.30 was moved to class R as part of the rearrangement of the Library in the 1760s, it had the classmark 'B.7.49' (written in ink and struck through on f. 114r). The 1760 list and the 1765 register reveal that by the 1760s the manuscript was no longer in the form that Dee had described in 1583.

M.R. James suggested in his Catalogue that the volume was perhaps given by a John Wilson , but did not provide further biographical details. He may have inferred the donor information from the 1765 library catalogue which includes the words 'Jo Wilson dedit' under MS R.14.29, with a brief description of MS R.14.30 following immediately after.

Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.15.15, was stolen from Trinity College by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps in the 1840s and is now partly extant as London, British Library, MS Egerton 823 (contains the original ff. 256-287), and London, British Library, MS Egerton 840a (contains the original ff. 288-290).

Part 1 [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.30, ff. 113-186, 187-220]

Contents

Language(s): Old Provençal and Latin

1. 113r-143r
Medical recipes deriving from the Antidotarium Nicolai, Liber de simplici medicina, and Circa instans
Language(s): Old Provençal with Latin
Incipit: || 118v Contra ficum | Ad home ques aura fie pren lo suc de la plantage e de la poluera dels carbos de la figieira e per .viiii. iorns e tu ni met eguerra| De lentiginibus faciei| Ad home o a femena ques aura lentigines en la cara pren lo sane de la lebre e molla Ten la cara
Explicit: 143r Contra crematuram| A cremadura pren doli doliuas et atrestan de claras dueus e bat o fort tro ques tenga et on ne la crematura e guerra e nom paraliticara

Text on ff. 113r-118r and lower portion of f. 125v erased by washing and scraping, some words still partly visible, but text mostly illegible in natural light.

Incipit and explicit reprinted from Meyer (1903) with minor adjustments.

These recipes, and their Latin sources are discussed extensively by P. Meyer (see below).

This text is the first item 1) Receptæ Gallica lingua ad 143 Imperf in the list of the contents of the volume on f. 114r.

Discussed (in French) and partly transcribed in P. Meyer, 'Recettes Médicales En Provençal d’après Le MS R. 14.30 de Trinity College (Cambridge)', Romania, 32.126 (1903), 268–299
CBMLC 13.2 [BA1.1599d]
2. 114r
List of the contents of the volume by a 16th century hand
Language(s): Latin

Full transcription of the list of the contents of the volume on f. 114r (all numbering as in MS): |

  • 1) Receptæ Gallica lingua ad 143 Imperf
  • 2) -eodem alia manu .Lat. et Ital 143b ad 160
  • 3) Pomum d'ambræ 163 receptæad 186b variæ
  • 4) Trocula[sic] de ornatu mulierum 187-210| tractat de morbis mulierum
  • 5) Epistola Ascari Regine Cleopatre medici, quam transtulit Zuricus 211-220 agit de ...(?) constantinopoli familiarus Emanuel Imperatorii alius Titulus huic libro inscribitur sed obscure
  • 5)[sic] De secretis mulierum 221 &c-228 et de aliis ...(?) ad medicinam spectantibus ; inter has quedam superstitiose hic tract : mutilus est et in medio et in fine
  • 6) alius tractatus medicinalis mutilus initio a manu recentori

3. 143v-160r
Medical recipes and charms
Language(s): Old Provençal with Latin
Incipit: 143v [⟨A⟩]d fistulam uel crancum[sic] . accipe mel coctum . bene dispumatum et dum mel ceperit bullire mitte in illud far inam tritici et de hoc emplaustum[sic] et pone super malum duas uices uel tres calidum, et sanabitur . [⟨U⟩]t mulier cito pariat . Homo soluat suam cinctam[sic] et cingat parturientem .ter. et dicat ego te cingo Christus te soluat .
Explicit: 160r Si uols uaisel de uin mudat adobar que sia franx pren sal e .ii. aitans de cenres et aias .viiii. aitans daiga .en.i. par fai o boillir be epois met ins el uaisel e clau li be tot sos traucs, e remena aquo ins pertot e pois laisa Testar tro Tendema ||

Erased text on ff. 147v, 149r, 160v, 161r.

A number of the recipes and charms in this text-item involve the creation of amulets and the use of cipher alphabets and esoteric symbols, often in combination.

Folios 143v-144r (l. 16) in Latin, text thereafter in Old Provençal.

Incipit and explicit reprinted from Meyer (1903) with minor adjustments.

This text is the second item 2) -eodem alia manu .Lat. et Ital 143b ad 160 in the list of the contents of the volume on f. 114r.

The editors of CBMLC draw attention to similarities between this text and [BA1.1246m], another text in a John of London manuscript.

Discussed (in French) and partly transcribed in P. Meyer, 'Recettes Médicales En Provençal d’après Le MS R. 14.30 de Trinity College (Cambridge)', Romania, 32.126 (1903), 268–299
CBMLC 13.2 [BA1.1599d]
eTK 0040F (t0007910000)
4. 161r
Additional charms in two late-13th century hands
Language(s): Old Provençal and Latin

Full transcription of the additional charms in two medieval hands on f. 161r:| Ad furtum istam horationem scribe in cera benedicta et claude in ea argentum uiuum et dorsum eius tange et mox tibi cofitebita [sic for confitebitur] furtum Hec est oratio Horemus deus qui in monte caluarie signum sancte crusii [sic for crucis] ostendisti . per iudam depreenssum qui iudas tradidit filium tuum demo⟨n⟩stra mihi quidquit perdutum[sic] habeo[sic] et dic per eundem dominum nostrum ihesum cristum filium tuum qui tecum uiuit et regnat in unitate spiritu sancti deus[sic] per omnia secula seculorum amen . set siendum est quod oratio ista debet esse scripta super cera . Si uols guerir home de menazon pren del lag de cabra blanca et aias lo ters de winagre et fais Ten beure ganres ues lo iorn eren plus fort non esteng et si esta .i. petit ades cera pres aissi con formatgue . Beuetida azome nafrat per conoiser si deu guerir . Pren cauls uermeils . tanarida betonica . cosouda maior e minor capillis ueneris nepta semen de carbe . de case u lo plema rosa maior dos plenas mas e sia coit ab las dos(?) parts daigua . e la tersa de ui blanc . e cos a⟨n⟩tro ueina a la mitat e met i la mitat de ple ma de lerba pilosella ; Al nafrat dona a beure lo mati una copa el uespre autra entro que sia guerits . e si gieta fora la premieira copa deu morir e si la rete deu guerir

Second scribe on this leaf begins at 'Beuetida'.

Reprinted from Meyer (1903) with minor adjustments. Meyer dates both hands to the late 13th century.

Discussed (in French) and transcribed in P. Meyer, 'Recettes Médicales En Provençal d'après Le MS R.14.30 de Trinity College (Cambridge)', Romania, 32.126 (1903), 268–299
5. 163r-186v
Pomum ambre
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 163r Hic incipit pomum ambre et ualet contra cerebri delibitatem
Incipit: 163r Pomum ambre dupplicatum ad reuma suspendendum . et contra cerebri debilitatem
Explicit: 186v et si uolueris conseruare confice cum cera et pone inpixide[sic] et usui reserua
Final rubric: 186v Explicit pomum ambre deo gratias Amen .

This text is the third item 3) Pomum d'ambræ 163 receptæad 186b variæ in the list of the contents of the volume on f. 114r.

A quire of 8 paper leaves (ff. [index 1] - [index 8] inserted in the 16th century) interrupts this manuscript Part between ff. 186v and 187r.

TK 1057
CBMLC 13.2 [BA1.1599e]
6. 187r-204v
Trotula proto-ensemble
Language(s): Latin
6.1. 187r-199v
De ornatu mulierum
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 187r Incipit trotula de ornatu mulierum
Incipit: 187r [⟨C⟩]um auctor uniuersitatis deus in prima mundi origine rerum naturis singulas iuxta genus suum distingeret humanam naturam
Explicit: 199v sperma ut cepe pastinace domestice et similia ||
M.H. Green, 'A Handlist of the Latin and Vernacular Manuscripts of the So-Called Trotula Texts. Part I: The Latin Manuscripts', Scriptorium, 50 (1996), no. 16
6.2. 199v-204v
De curis mulierum Trota of Salerno
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 199v De cura mulierum
Incipit: 199v [⟨E⟩t ut de curis mulierum conpendiosa[sic] fiat tradicio
Explicit: 204v Conficitur sic mundamus radicem lilii et in aqua decoquimus ||

This text begins on f. 199v line 5 without a substantial separation between the end of De ornatu mulierum and the beginning of this text, De curis mulierum

This text is defective at the end. M. Green 'Handlist ... Part I' notes that this text ends in the middle of §167, 'Unguenium salernilane mulieres ad mulias egriiudines'.

M.H. Green, 'A Handlist of the Latin and Vernacular Manuscripts of the So-Called Trotula Texts. Part I: The Latin Manuscripts', Scriptorium, 50 (1996), pp. 137–175, no. 16

For Green's characterisation of the 'proto-ensemble' see Green 'Handlist ... Part I: The Latin Manuscripts', and 'Development of the Trotula'.

A quire of 8 paper leaves (ff. [index 1] - [index 8] inserted in the 16th century) interrupts this manuscript Part between ff. 186v and 187r.

M.H. Green, 'A Handlist of the Latin and Vernacular Manuscripts of the So-Called Trotula Texts. Part I: The Latin Manuscripts', Scriptorium, 50 (1996), pp. 137–175, esp. p. 138. Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.30 is no. 16 in Green's handlist.
M.H. Green, 'The Development of the Trotula', Revue d’Histoire Des Textes 26 (1996), pp. 119-203 esp. pp. 144-149, rpr as Chapter V in M.H. Green, Women's Healthcare in the Medieval West: Texts and Contexts, Variorum Collected Studies Series (Aldershot, 2000)
CBMLC 13.2 [BA1.1599f]
7. 204v-210v
Gynaecological text: Cura contra omnes passiones matricis
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 204v Hec sunt egritudines matricis
Incipit: 204v-205r [⟨C⟩]ura contra omnes passiones matricis et sunt iste . precipitatio matricis . suffocatio matricis . retentio me⟨n⟩struorum fluxus me⟨n⟩strorum . mola matricis . ab orsus . impedimentum conceptionis difficultas pariendi . apostema matricis
Explicit: 210v cum predicto oleo . Et hec de cura sufficiant
Final rubric: 210v finito libro reddatur . gratia x cristo Amen

According to Green 'Appendix - Medical Gynecological Texts: A Handlist' this is the only identified copy of this work.

Followed by a recipe for depilation on f. 210v in the hand of John of London.

Incipit after Green 'Appendix - Medieval Gynecological Texts' with minor alterations.

CBMLC [BA1.1599]
M.H. Green, 'A Handlist of the Latin and Vernacular Manuscripts of the So-Called Trotula Texts. Part I: The Latin Manuscripts', Scriptorium, 50 (1996), pp. 137–175, no. 16
M.H. Green, 'Appendix - Medieval Gynecological Texts: A Handlist', in M.H. Green (ed.), Women's Healthcare in the Medieval West Texts and Contexts, Variorum Collected Studies Series (Aldershot, 2000), pp. Appendix 1-36, esp. p. 11
210v
Medical recipe

'Ad pilos delendos certissimum': a most certain recipe to remove hair. Written ?by John of London (see the main Summary and Provenance for further details).

A.G. Watson, 'A St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury, Manuscript Reconstructed: Trinity College Cambridge MS R.14.30 and British Library MSs Egerton 823 and 840A', Transactions of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society, 6.4 (1975), pp. 211–217, esp. p. 215
8. 211r-214r
Gynaecia (abbreviated version) pseudo-Cleopatra
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 211r Incipit epistola quedam breuis ascari ph⟨ilosophi⟩
Incipit: 211r Incipit epistola quedam breuis ascari . phi⟨losophi⟩ . ascaritanus philosophus scripsit hanc epistolam
Explicit: 214r spissum et fac collia et in ano nuce ||

This is the abbreviated version of pseudo-Cleopatra Gynaecia, and in this manuscript the text begins with a preface that describes how the work was written by an Ascarian philosopher for his daughter Margaret.

CBMLC 13.2 [BA1.1599g1]
M.H. Green, 'A Handlist of the Latin and Vernacular Manuscripts of the So-Called Trotula Texts. Part I: The Latin Manuscripts', Scriptorium, 50 (1996), pp. 137–175, no. 16
M.H. Green, 'The Possibilities of Literacy and the Limits of Reading: Women and the Gendering of Medical Literacy', in M.H. Green (ed.), Women's Healthcare in the Medieval West: Texts and Contexts, Variorum Collected Studies Series (Aldershot, 2000), pp. VII: 1-76, esp. p. 74
M.H. Green, 'Appendix - Medieval Gynecological Texts: A Handlist', in M.H. Green (ed.), Women's Healthcare in the Medieval West Texts and Contexts, Variorum Collected Studies Series (Ashgate, 2000), pp. Appendix 1-36, esp. p. 9
9. 214r-220r
De passionibus mulierum (Version B)
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 214r Incipit trotula siue cura mulierum
Incipit: 214v De passionibus mulierum utile preuidi uero . scribe superuenientibus pliniis
Explicit: 220r utendum est
Final rubric: 220r Explicit trotula

Begins with a capitula list on ff. 214rv

This text is attributed to several different authors including Priscianus, Theodorus Priscianus, Galen, Constantine the African, and (as in this manuscript) Trota.

See Green 'The De Genecia' for more information about this text.

The final rubric on f. 220r 'Explicit trotula' has been struck out in red ink.

List of plants in a ?15th century hand on f. 220v.

Partially edited (Version A edited in full) and discussed in M. H. Green, 'The De Genecia Attributed to Constantine the African', in M. H. Green (ed.), Women’s Healthcare in the Medieval West: Texts and Contexts, (Aldershot: Ashgate, rpr. 2000), III:299-324
M.H. Green, 'A Handlist of the Latin and Vernacular Manuscripts of the So-Called Trotula Texts. Part I: The Latin Manuscripts', Scriptorium, 50 (1996), pp. 137–175, no. 16
eTK 0385H 1626 (t0076100000)
220v
Medical recipes
Language(s): Latin

Two medical recipes, for an unstated purpose.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: (Second legible textleaf) 120r: Pren una
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH)
Extent: Codex: 73 leaves. 100 × 70 mm.

Collation

This manuscript Part is divided in MS R.14.30 by the presence of a quire of 8 post-medieval paper leaves (ff. [index 1] - [index 8], described below as Part 2) added in the late 16th or early 17th century between ff. 186v and 187r. The mise-en-page and ruling show that both subsections of this part derive from the same original manuscript.

  • Quires 1-58 (ff. 113-121, 123-153))
  • Quire 610-1 (ff. 154-162: 10th leaf cancelled)
  • Quires 7-98 (ff. 163-186),
  • Quires 11-138 (ff. 187-210)
  • Quire 1410 (ff. 211-220) |

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

Quires are numbered in ink in the typical medieval forms of Hindu-Arabic numerals 12-20 for Quires 1-9 in the centre of the lower margin of the first recto of each quire in this Part. The medieval designation for 13 resembles 11 or ij due to smudging of the ink, but the shape of an elongated 3 is visible in-person and under UV torch. 112 leaves have been lost from the beginning of MS R.14.30, and they were presumably arranged into 11 quires with an average of 10 leaves each.

 Catchwords present in the lower margin of the last verso of most quires, often very rubbed, and some partially trimmed away.

Condition

In fair condition, but some leaves in this Part are very dark and stained, and some text has been lost due to deliberate obliteration through abrasion and washing. Deliberate erasures of text on ff. 113r-118r and lower half of f. 125v. Folios 113r and 114r used for post-medieval ?late 16th century additions. Post-medieval additions on f. 113r mostly erased.

Layout

100 × 70 mm. Folios 113-186 ruled in ink, frame and lines. Ruled in single-column format, typically 28-29 lines to the page and written above top line. Ruling not visible on all pages. Folios 113r-118r erased by washing, but medieval mise-en-page still partially visible in photographic images and under natural light.

Hand(s)

Folios 113r-143r written in a northern textualis libraria of French appearance. Double-compartment a. Sloping-back d. Letters f and long-s on the baseline. Small wedges on ascender of l and sometimes b. Small flicked feet on minims of m and n and occasionally other letters.

Folios 143v-160v written in a northern textualis libraria of French appearance; this scribe uses a narrower pen and writes a script with a slightly more compressed appearance than the scribe of ff. 113r-143r.

Folio 161r contains stints by two scribes writing northern textualis libraria to informally add further medical recipes to the manuscript; the upper scribe writes a neater textualis than the lower, who writes with a more informal ductus.

Folios 163r-186v written in a northern textualis libraria of French appearance. This hand strongly resembles the hand of the scribe who wrote ff. 143v-160v but there are small differences in their majuscule Es, and in their minuscule as and gs in particular.

Decoration

Folios 113r-143r: Plain initials in red typically 2 lines high in a simplified 'Lombardic' style at the minor divisions of the text.

Folios 113r-143r: Rubrication in red ink only at the minor divisions of the text.

Folios 143v: Unfilled spaces for initials, rubrication, and paraph marks.

Additions

Folio 114v: Shelfmark in ink 'R.14.3130'.

Folio 114v: Library stamp in purple ink in oval matrix 'TRINITY COLLEGE| LIBRARY| CAMBRIDGE'

Folio 114v: Trinity College armorial bookplate with escutcheon, mantling and legend below, 'Collegium S. S. et Individuae Trinitatis in Academia Cantabrigiensi'.

Upper margin of folio 163r in the hand of the scribe of the text below: 'Assit principio sancta maria meo'.

Folio 220v: List of plants in light brown ink in a ?15th century hand.

History

Origin: 13th century. ; Probably Provence.

Date of production based on palaeographical features. Place of production based on lingustic features.

Part 2: post-medieval inserted leaves with an index to the 'Trotula' [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.30, ff. [index 1]-[index 8]]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. [index 1] recto - [index 8] verso
Post-medieval alphabetical index of medical problems described in the 'Trotula' text (ff. 210v)
Language(s): Latin

Post-medieval alphabetical index of medical problems described in the the 'Trotula' text (ff. 210v of this MS) on ff. [index 1] recto - [index 8] verso. Informally written in ink by a ?16th-century hand. Alphabetic key written in the upper margin of each leaf, and lemma arranged in columns below - not all headings have lemma.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: [index 2] recto: calculi cure 203
Form: codex
Support: Paper, folded in sextodecimo. Watermark: Folios [index 1] - [index 8]:
Extent: Codex: 8 leaves. 145 × 100 mm.

Collation

Inserted quire of post-medieval leaves:

  • Quire 108 (ff. [index 1]-[index 8])

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 [index 1] recto - [index 8] verso are unruled and are informally written.

Hand(s)

Written in an informal minuscule of the 16th century.

Decoration

No significant decoration in this Part.

History

Origin: 16th century. ; England.

Date and place of production based on palaeographical features.

Part 3: Recipe collection [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.30, ff. 221-228]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 221r-228r
Medical recipes
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 221r Reumatizat flegma ad nares frequencius
Explicit: 228r et hoc frequenter fiat et sine dubio curabitur

Incorrect title added in the upper margin of f. 221r in red ink by Clement of Canterbury 'Incipit tractatus de secretis mulierum cum alijs'

Green draws attention to a medical anecdote preserved on f. 227r where a certain old woman 'uetula' was called before King William to explain one of her cures, 'Quidam quartanarius a nullo medico liberari potuit cui quedam uec [sic for t]ula succum tapsi barbati tribus diebus ante accessionem dedit et statim liberatus est. Quam rex Williamus iussit uocari et confessa est quomodo fecit'. See Green 'Women's Medical Practice'.

Marginal annotations throughout by an early-modern hand.

M.H. Green, 'Women's Medical Practice and Care' in M.H. Green (ed.), Women's Healthcare in the Medieval West: Texts and Contexts, Variorum Collected Studies (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2000) I.39-78 esp. I.50 n. 36.
0721A (t0139000000)
228rv
Medical treatments for maternal and gynecological problems
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 228r Experimetum probatum contra habundantiam lactis
Incipit: 228r Recipe acriphees recentes et pone super mammilas
Explicit: 228v filio talis .ij. patris in nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti .amen.
M.H. Green, 'Women's Medical Practice and Care' in M.H. Green (ed.), Women's Healthcare in the Medieval West: Texts and Contexts, Variorum Collected Studies (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2000) I.39-78 esp. I.50 n. 36.
eTK 0544A (t0105970000)

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 222r: do . et accipe calfam
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH)
Extent: Codex: 8 leaves. 145 × 100 mm.

Collation

One quire of 8 leaves:

  • Quire 158 (ff. 221-228)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

In fair condition - some text partly illegible due to liquid damage and abrasion.

Layout

100 × 70 mm. Ruled in leadpoint, frame and lines; ruling very faint and not visible on every leaf, but see e.g., f. 223r. Ruled in single-column format, typically 28 lines to the page and written below top line.

Hand(s)

Folios 221r-228v written in a northern textualis libraria by a single scribe.

Decoration

Plain minor initial R in red ink at the opening of the text on f. 221r.

History

Origin: 13th century. ; England.

Date and place of production based on palaeographical features.

Part 4: Medical recipes [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.30, ff. 229-234]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 229r-234v
Medical recipes
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 229r Oleum in quo cocta est primaueris facit cutem extensam et sine rugis . Sucus semper uiue mixtus cum oleo roseo dolorem capitis qui est exnimio sole tollit et expresso suco et paucio intuito(?) et in natura pro iecto pro fluuium sanguinis stringit
Explicit: 234v Qui claudunt ⟨A⟩d phistulosos microcosmi da os hisdoti crexnati(?) et liga . sub sextus discretione cognoscatur diuisio . et masculo et femina femine ||

The text ends abruptly at the bottom of f. 234v.

Reproduced with minor adjustments from P. Meyer, 'Recettes Médicales En Provençal d’après Le MS R. 14.30 de Trinity College (Cambridge)', Romania, 32.126 (1903), pp. 268–299
eTK 979

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 230r: eiusdem herbe super liga
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH)
Extent: Codex: 6 leaves. 145 × 100 mm.

Collation

One quire of 6 leaves:

  • Quire 166 (ff. 229-234)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

In fair condition.

Layout

100 × 70 mm. Ruled in ink, frame and lines. Ruled in single-column format, typically 34 lines to the leaf and written above top line.

Hand(s)

Written in protogothic minuscule. Single-compartment a. Small flicked feet on minims. Letters f and s typically sit on the base line rather than drop below. Small shoulder on long-s. Occasional forked wedges on ascenders of d and l.

Decoration

Plain initial 'O' in red on f. 229r. Plain initial T in text-ink on f. 231v.

Unfilled spaces for minor initials throughout ff. 229-234.

History

Origin: Probably 13th century. ; Probably England.

Date and place of production assigned based on palaeographical features.

T. Hunt, 'Anglo-Norman Medical Receipts', in Anglo-Norman Anniversary Essays, ed. I. Short, Anglo-Norman Text Society: Occasional Publication Series, 2 (London, 1993), pp. 179–235, esp. pp. 183-184

Part 5: Medical recipes and charms [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.30, ff. 236-242 (now bound as ff. 236-241, 235, 242)]

Contents

Language(s): Latin and Medieval French

1. 236r-242r
Medical recipes and charms
Language(s): Latin and Anglo-Norman French with Middle English glosses
237v
Charm with cipher
Language(s): Anglo-Norman French
Incipit: 237v Al hum malade que uus ne sauet si il murra u nun pernet le of que est punt de uant prime en cel iur que il est en la maladie. e escriuet sur le of od enke ces lettris .+ Z . Go.s.p.p.x.p.x.g.y.x.s.q.Z. Pus metet le of fors en sauf desuz la seuerunde de la meisun . e pus len demain depescet le of . Si sant sen ist si murra et(?) si il nist nule signe de sant si garira . si li malades uiuera u nun

Full transcription. A charm against all illnesses, with a cipher.

Reprinted with minor adjustments from P. Meyer, 'Recettes Médicales En Provençal d'après Le MS R. 14.30 de Trinity College (Cambridge)', Romania, 32.126 (1903), pp. 268–299
1.. 238v
Charm against phantasms and the devil
Language(s): Anglo-Norman French with Latin
Incipit: 238v Pur fantasme e pur illusiun del deble . escriues cest orisun . Coniuro vos partes aduerse per patrem .et. f⟨ilium⟩ et s⟨piritum⟩ s⟨anctum⟩ omnia nomina dei sanctissima
Explicit: 238v per merita septem dormiencium famulum tuum .ii. ab omni malo et ab insidijs dyaboloi et ...(?)
T. Hunt, 'Anglo-Norman Medical Receipts', in Anglo-Norman Anniversary Essays, ed. I. Short, Anglo-Norman Text Society: Occasional Publication Series, 2 (London, 1993), pp. 179–235, esp. p. 183
1.. 240r
Medical recipe
Language(s): Latin with Anglo-Norman French
Incipit: 240r Collirium magistri mauri contra omnia uicia oculorum presencia et futura quecumque(?) sint . et est magne efficacie qui in ...(?) ami sit per .x. annos restituitur infra(?) .xl. dies Recipe his herbas .xii. apium . feniculum . rubeam . uerbena . betonicam . agrimoniam . scabiosam . sannmundam . trifolium . camedreos . eufrasiam . pimpernellam . saluiam . ana . in fundantur in urina pueri uirginis . et mitte in mortario cum paucis granis piperis ad placitum . et adde mellis optimi cocliaria . V uel plus. deinde commisce cum urina pueri . hic fecit dcs(?) magistri in cicilia . qui est testis

Full transcription. Recipe mentions a 'magistri mauri'.

T. Hunt, 'Anglo-Norman Medical Receipts', in Anglo-Norman Anniversary Essays, ed. I. Short, Anglo-Norman Text Society: Occasional Publication Series, 2 (London, 1993), pp. 179–235, esp. p. 183
1.. 241r
Medical recipe 'secundum petrum de lespineye'
Language(s): Anglo-Norman French
Incipit: 241r De coctio semmis uel floris millefolij in vino albo uel in aqua que stillat de vite stillata in naribus sanguinem stingit(?) cerebrum confortat secundum petrum de lespineye

Full transcription. Note the attribution 'secundum petrum de lespineye'.

T. Hunt, 'Anglo-Norman Medical Receipts', in Anglo-Norman Anniversary Essays, ed. I. Short, Anglo-Norman Text Society: Occasional Publication Series, 2 (London, 1993), pp. 179–235, esp. p. 183

Note that the original outer bifolium of this quire is now misbound and is inserted separately at the end of the quire. The leaves appear in this MS as ff. 236-241, 235, 242.

Folio 242v blank.

According to Hunt, 'Anglo-Norman Medical Recipes', many of these medical recipes and charms derive from the Anglo-Norman Lettre d'Hippocrate.

Hunt noted the following Middle English glosses to plant names:

  • Folio 236v: radicem ebuli ⟨id est⟩ waluurt
  • Folio 236v: emplastrum calidyum capparis ⟨id est⟩ wide
  • Folio 237r: arthemisiam ⟨id est⟩ mugwort
  • Folio 237r: de restis siccis alii ⟨id est⟩ garleac
  • Folio 237r: radices parelle ⟨id est⟩ dokemore
  • Folio 237r: ebulum ⟨id est⟩ wal⟨wort⟩
  • Folio 237r: sisimbrium ⟨id est⟩ mente

T. Hunt, 'Anglo-Norman Medical Receipts', in Anglo-Norman Anniversary Essays, ed. I. Short, Anglo-Norman Text Society: Occasional Publication Series, 2 (London, 1993), pp. 179–235, esp. pp. 183-184
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. 406r and 440

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 236r: obus in multa quantitate
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH)
Extent: Codex: 8 leaves. 145 × 100 mm.

Collation

One quire:| Quire 178 (ff. 236-241, 235, 242: misbound, original outer bifolium (ff. 235-242) displaced and now located at the end of the quire)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

In fair condition. Some leaves are stained and rubbed, but most text is still legible; abrasion is particularly severe on f. 239v. Some marginal text lost to later trimming, see e.g., f. 241r.

Layout

110-120 × 70-80 mm. Folios 235r-242v infrequently ruled. Ruling visible on f. 239r frame and lines. Written in single column format, 27-32 lines to the page and written below top line.

Hand(s)

Folios 235r-242r written in a plain northern textualis libraria, with very few flourishes or decorative features. It is possible that these leaves were written by more than one scribe, but the parchment in this manuscript Part is of poor quality, and it is possible that the variation in the hand(s) is due to the variability of the writing surface.

Decoration

Sketch of an eyebrow and an eye in the outer margin of f. 240r, next to medical recipes to treat problems in the eyes.

History

Origin: Probably second half of the 13th century or the first half of the 14th century. ; Probably 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 II: Containing An Account of the Manuscripts Standing in Class R (Cambridge, 1901), pp. 314-316, no. 903

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

    Recettes Médicales en Provençal d'après le MS R. 14.30 de Trinity College (Cambridge) Romania, Meyer, Paul (32, 126, 268-299, 1903) Halliwell Phillipps and Trinity College Library The Library, 5th series, Winstanley, D. A. (2, 4, 250-282, 1948) Henry Hallam, The Times Newspaper, and The Halliwell Case The Library, 5th series, Bond, W. H. (18, 134-140, 1963) A St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury, Manuscript Reconstructed: Trinity College Cambridge MS R.14.30 and British Library MSs Egerton 823 and 840A Transactions of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society, Watson, Andrew G. (6, 4, 211-217, 1975) The De genecia Attributed to Constantine the African Speculum, Green, Monica Helen (62, 299-324, 1987) John Dee's Library Catalogue, Roberts, Julian R.Watson, Andrew G. (London, Bibliographical Society, 1990) Anglo-Norman Medical Receipts Anglo-Norman Anniversary Essays Anglo-Norman Text Society: Occasional Publication Series, Hunt, Tony (London, pp. 179-235, 1993) Anglo-Norman medicine. - Vol.1: Roger Frugard's "Chirurgia"; "Practica Brevis" of Platearius, Hunt, Tony (Cambridge, D.S. Brewer, 1994) A Handlist of the Latin and Vernacular Manuscripts of the So-Called Trotula Texts. Part I: The Latin Manuscripts Scriptorium. Revue internationale des études relatives aux manuscrits, Green, Monica (50, 137-175, 1996) The Development of the Trotula Revue d'Histoire des Textes, Green, Monica Helen (26, 119-203, 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)

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