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.14.40

Miscellany

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 3: debitum facere
Form: codex
Support: All medieval leaves parchment.
Extent: Codex: 1 | ii + 3 | 25 | 126 | 8 | 11 | 21 | 15 + ii | 1 leaves. 215 × 155 mm.
Foliation:

Pagination and foliation sequences in use in this record: late-medieval pagination sequence of core leaves with modern corrections and expansions.

(Foliated) [front stub] | [a]-[b] | i-iii | | (Paginated) 1-50 | 51-198, 199a-199b-200a-200b, 201-214, 215a-215b-216a-216b, 217-284, 285a-285b-286a-286b, 287-296 | 297-312 | 313-324 325a-325b-326a-326b 327-332 | 333a-333b-334a-334b 335-372 | 373-402 || (Foliated) [c]-[d] | [rear stub]

Pagination in use in this record. The core medieval leaves, pp. 1-399 are paginated in ink in the typical medieval forms of Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper outer corner of each recto. There are three errors in this pagination sequence and these have been corrected in the manuscript by a modern paginator who supplied additional differentiators in pencil i.e., pp. 199a-199b-200a-200b, 215a-215b-216a-216b, 285a-285b-286a-286b, 325a-325b-326a-326b, and 333a-333b-334a-334b; these additional sub-designations allow the medieval pagination sequence to remain correct on all of the remaining leaves. The medieval parchment endleaves at the front of the volume have been foliated in pencil in a modern hand as ff. i-iii; the remaining endleaves lack designations in the manuscript and so have been assigned folio designations in this record according to the established pattern. The paper endleaves at each end of the volume have been assigned folio designations ff. [a]-[b] and ff. [c]-[d] respectively. MS R.14.40 also contains an exposed binding fragment at each end of the volume, these fragments have been assigned the folio designations ff. [front stub] (not photographed separately) and [rear stub] in this record.
Foliation:

Medieval foliation sequence.

Folios 1-105 (for pp. 52-256, 106-120 (for pp. 264-290 (pages 257-263 unfoliated in this sequence).

Foliation sequence in ink in typical medieval forms of Hindu-Arabic numerals in the upper outer corner of each verso for the present pp. 52-290. The placement of this foliation sequence in the upper outer corner of each verso is extremely unusual. This foliation sequence is not disrupted by the missing leaf between the present as a stub between pp. 200b and p. 201.

Collation

MS R.14.40 is a complex composite volume with a number of binding fragments, and several large textual Parts of similar appearance but subtly different codicology. The leaves are arranged as follows:

  • Binding fragment ([front stub])|
  • Two early-modern paper endleaves (ff. [a]-[b]) |
  • Three medieval parchment endleaves (ff. i-iii) |
  • Quire 18 (pp. 1-16)
  • Quire 210 (pp. 17-36)
  • Quire 38-1 (pp. 37-50: 5th leaf missing, stub visible) |
  • Quires 4-68 (pp. 51-98)
  • Quire 710 (pp. 99-118)
  • Quires 8-128 (pp. 119-198)
  • Quire 13eight (pp. 199a-212: stub present before 1st leaf and another between the present p. 200b and p. 201)
  • Quire 1410 (pp. 213-230)
  • Quires 15-178 (pp. 231-278)
  • Quire 1812-2 (pp. 279-296: 1st and 2nd leaves cancelled) |
  • Quire 198 (pp. 297-312) |
  • Quire 2012-1 (pp. 313-332: 2nd leaf cancelled?) |
  • Quire 2110 (pp. 333a-350)
  • Quire 2210+1 (pp. 351-372: half sheet (pp. 361-362) inserted between 5th and 6th leaves) |
  • Quire 238 (pp. 373-388)
  • Quire 248-1 (pp. 389-402: 8th leaf cancelled) |
  • Two early-modern paper endleaves (ff. [c]-[d]) |
  • Binding fragment (f. [rear stub])

Binding fragment | Two paper endleaves | three parchment endleaves | 18 210 210 38-1 (fifth missing) 4-68 710 8-128 13eight 1410 15-178 1812-2 (1st and 2nd cancelled) 198 2012-1 (2nd cancelled?) | 2110 2210+1 (half sheet (pp. 361-362) inserted between 5th and 6th leaves) 238 248-1 (8th cancelled) | two early-modern paper endleaves | binding fragment

No catchwords common to the entire volume.

No quire signatures common to the entire volume.

No catchwords common to the entire volume.

Additions

Quire signatures ('1-24') 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

Armorial binding of George Willmer (1582-1626) of Stratford-le-Bow, Middlesex. Rebacked.

Fully bound in leather over pasteboards with matching decoration in blind to front and rear covers. Covers are each decorated with a quintuple-fillet in blind set at the perimeter of the boards and a gilt single fillet superimposed over the central fillet of the blind quintuple-fillet roll. Blind single fillet decoration on the leather over the head, fore, and tail edges of the boards. A large gilt armorial stamp in the centre of the cover blazoned as follows: Crest: mural coronet, eagle displayed. Helmet: esquire. Mantle: acanthus, terminal tassles. Escutcheon: a chevron between three eagles displayed. Motto: 'EXPERTUS CREDO'.

Rebacked in leather. Five raised bands on spine. Spine is decorated with a blind single fillet along the upper and lower perimeter of each compartment and at the head and tail openings of the back. Spine is capped at head and tail, no head or tail bands visible. Three small printed paper labels fixed to spine with an adhesive 'R', '14' and '40' for the present shelfmark.

No pastedowns. A former shelfmark 'R.10.7' written in ink on the front pastedown and struck out; the alphanumeric components of the present shelfmark 'R.14.40' are written below in pencil. Two paper endleaves at either end of the volume, ff. [a]-[b] and [c]-[d].

Two parchment stubs (ff. [front stub] and [rear stub]), one at either end of the volume between the inner face of the cover and the outermost paper endleaves. These stubs were probably once fixed to the inner covers to reinforce the hinges but both are now free and are described separately as they contain medieval text.

Two paper endleaves at each end of the volume, ff. [a]-[b] and [c]-[d]; folios [c]-[d] are blank.

Folio [a] recto contains the alphanumeric components of the present shelfmark in ink ('R.14.40') a note in ink explaining the armorial design on the covers ('Arms of Willmer') and a list of the contents in brown ink in an early-modern hand, transcription below:

  • Petrus Cantor Parisiensis de Tropis loquendi
  • Bedae Opuscula quaedam
  • Versus Agidij de Vrinis
  • Summa Gratiani de Vrinis
  • Opusculum de Diebus Criticis

Folio [b] recto contains a detailed list of the contents of the volume in ink in an early-modern hand, transcription below (page numbers as written on the leaf):

  • 1. Petrus Cantor Parisiensis de Tropis loquendi
  • 43. Beda de figuris vel modis loquendi . Deficit
  • 45. Sermo in hunc locum S:S: Beatus qui vigilat et custodit vestimenta sua
  • 51 Platearius de Negotiis Specierum . materia medical - alphabetici
  • 119. Idem de Signis causis et curis Infirmitatum
  • 173 Idem de complexionibus
  • 176 Ejusdem summa super Antidotum
  • 231. Nicholaus de compositione Medicamentorum
  • 263. Magister Maurus de Urinis
  • 297. Magister Agidius de Urinis cum Comment metrice
  • 313. Johannes de Sto Paulo de virtutibus Simplicium
  • 333. Compendium Petri Blepensis in Iob:
  • 347. Medulla Dialogi de Amicitia Spirituali
  • 356. Colores Rhetorici
  • 363 Radulphi ejusdam versus
  • 373. Petri Aldefonsi Proverbia

British Armorial Bindings: Willmer, George (WIL013)

Evidence of the fastenings of the former binding for Parts 3-8 (pp. 1-402) visible on pp. 1-8 and pp. 397-402 as holes with rust stains at their perimeters. The rust stains at the opening of the volume on pp. 1-8 are very near to the outer perimeter of the fore-edge of the leaf, but the rust stains at the rear of the volume are inset from the fore-edge by approximately 50mm. The rust stains are aligned between the front and rear of the volume, and the disposition of the stains is suggestive of a pair of strap-and-pin fastenings, with the pins anchored through the lower board in the typical English fashion.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Owned by George Willmer (1582-1626) of Stratford-le-Bow, Middlesex. See Binding.

Given to Trinity College by Willmer . Willmer donated 38 manuscripts to Trinity College and the donation is recorded in the College Donors Book on p. 96.

Part 1: binding fragment [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.40, f. [front stub]]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

[front stub] recto
Sermon for the Feast of Saint Laurence
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: || [front stub] recto, left column noctue uespertiliones intenebris ignorancie
Explicit: [front stub] recto, left column diues sum et locuplotatus[sic] et nullus ||

This stub is a binding fragment once used to strengthen the hinges of the present binding, but subsequently lifted. The fragment only has text on the recto, and what may be the remains of some neumes on the verso.

The fragment is badly damaged due to adhesive residue, wrinkling, and rubbing, and much of the remaining text is illegible.

The text on the [front stub] recto is in two different late-thirteenth or early-fourteenth century hands, one per column; a fold line and pin-prick holes between the two columns of text indicates that the fragment is cut from a bifolium, and the different hands and texts on each side of the fold-line suggest that the bifolium was probably not the innermost bifolium in its original quire position. The text of the left column (the lower column relative to its present situation in MS R.14.40) contains the text of a Sermon for the Feast of Saint Laurence, the text in the right (upper) column is unidentified, but does not appear to derive from the same sermon-text-source.

Text checked against sermons printed in Sermones de sanctis per annum quam plurima scitu necessaria diuini verbi declamatoribus (Paris, 1542).

Fragment of the same manuscript also used in the bindings of another Willmer donation:

Edited in Sermones de sanctis per annum quam plurima scitu necessaria diuini verbi declamatoribus (Paris, 1542), p. cclxix

Physical Description

Form: manuscript
Support: Parchment.
Extent: Fragment, comprising two strips cut from a larger manuscript to strengthen the hinges of the binding. The [front stub] is cut down from a bifolium; a fold line and pin-prick holes between the two columns of text on the [front stub] recto, and the different hands and texts on each side of the fold-line suggest that the bifolium was probably not the innermost bifolium in its original quire position. 1 leaf. 210 × 35-45 mm.

Collation

Fragment formerly used to reinforce the front hinge of the volume, but now free:

  • One parchment fragment, originally part of a bifolium (f. [front stub]
  • ... remainder of Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.40 ...

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 fragment is coated in adhesive residue and is badly rubbed and stained in a way that significantly affects the legibility of the remaining text.

Layout

Ruled in two column format. Original dimensions of text-block undetermined due to damage to the leaves.

Hand(s)

The left column [front stub] recto (the lower column of text relative to its present position in the manuscript) is written in an anglicana form of Cursiva Antiquior. Mix of single- and double-compartment a; double-compartment a typically used at the beginning of words. Looped d. Forked ascender on l at the beginning of a word, the second arm of the fork often forming a loop down the shaft of the ascender. Mix of straight and curved s, curved-s more common in terminal position.

The right column [front stub] recto (the upper column of text relative to its present position in the manuscript) is written in an anglicana form of Cursiva Antiquior. Double-compartment a. Looped d. Loop on ascender of h. Forked and wedged ascenders on l. The minim of r is long and often drops below the baseline.

Binding

The [front stub] was once pasted to the inner face of the front board to strengthen the front hinge of the Willmer armorial binding. The stub was lifted at an unknown date and is now free. Another fragment from this manuscript was used in another Willmer armorial binding, now Cambridge, Trinity College, MS B.1.7 .

History

Origin: Late 13th century or early 14th century. ; England.

Date and place of production based on palaeographical features.

Part 2: medieval endleaves [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.40, ff. i-iii and [rear stub]]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. i verso
Notes on emotions and the body
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: i verso Nota quod ira dicitur in felle . Auaricia in Iechore . Iracundia in corde . Anelitus in pulmone . Leticia in splene . Cogitacio in rene Sanguis in corpore . Anima in sanguine . Spiritus in anoma . Mens in spiritum Cor in mente . ffides in corde . christus in ffide . | Ira Auaricia Iracundia Anelitus Leticia Cogitacio Sanguinis Anima Spiritus mens cor fides christus

Full transcription. |

2. i verso
Verse couplet
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: i verso Si tibi constituas rectores exequiarum| ffient postis mortem raptores diuiciarum

Full transcription.

3. iii verso
List of the contents of the volume in a medieval hand
Language(s): Latin

Folio numbers added in an early-modern hand in a lighter brown ink.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH).
Extent: Codex: 3 leaves. 205-215 × 155 mm.

Collation

  • Three medieval endleaves (ff. i-iii
  • ... intervening leaves ...
  • Rear binding fragment (f. [rear stub]

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

Informally written.

Hand(s)

Notes on the emotions on f. i verso written in an anglicana form of cursiva antiquior. Double-compartment a. Loops on ascenders of d, h, and l. Preference for 2-shaped-r. Mix of straight- curved- and 6-shaped-s. Double ff for majuscule F.

Additions

Folios i recto, ii verso - iii recto and the [rear stub are ruled for music with nine 5-line staves per complete leaf, none with notation.

Trinity College armorial bookplate with title 'Collegium S. S. et Individuae Trinitatis in Academia Cantabrigiensi' fixed to f. i verso with an adhesive.

Binding

The [rear stub] was once pasted to the inner face of the rear board to strengthen the rear hinge of the Willmer armorial binding. The stub was lifted at an unknown date and is now free.

History

Origin: Before 1626. ; Probably England.

Date and place of production based on terminus ante quem arising from its use in armorial binding for George Willmer (d. 1626).

Part 3: Texts on speech and rhetoric, miscellaneous texts [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.40, pp. 1-50]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 1-43
Tropus siue de tropis [Latin] Petrus Cantor
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 1 Incipit tractatus magistri petri parisiacensis . De tropis loquendi
Incipit: 1 Uidemus nunc per speculum et in enigmate tunc autem facie ad facieru[sic] . Hoc uerbum apostolicum multiplicem habens expositione insuper et hanc seu familiarem admittere potest
Explicit: 43 dormoire . obdormire . audire . uidere . et huiusmodi que ei attribuuntur propter signa eorum
Final rubric: 43 Explicit

Marginal notes throughout in a contempoary hand.

Incipit is closer to Stegmüller, Repertorium biblicum, IV, no. 6453, but explicit follows Stegmüller, Repertorium biblicum, IV, no. 6452.

Stegmüller, Repertorium biblicum, IV, no. 6453 and 6452
2. 43-44
De schematibus et tropis Bede
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 43 Incipit liber calliodori \Venerabili Bede presbiteri/ de figuras uel modis dictionum \locutionum/ que a grecis scemata uel tropi dicuntur missus ad gum \cut/ bertum leuitam
Incipit: 43 [⟨S⟩]olet aliquotiens in scripturis ordo uerborum causa decoris . aliter quam vulgaris uia habet dicendi figuratus inveniri que grammatici sepe grece scema uocauit nos habitum uel formam uel figuram recte nominamus
Explicit: 44 sensus cum idem sermo patriarche ||

Text ends abruptly; stub visible between pp. 44-45.

The medieval list of the contents on f. iii verso indicates that De schematibus et tropis was originally followed in the manuscript by a 'Questio utrum demones intrent homines et si intrant utrum animas uel corpora', but the text has been lost with the loss of the leaf between the present pp. 44-45.

3. 45-47
Sermon
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 45 [⟨B⟩]eatus qui uigilat et custodit uestimenta sua . ne nudus ambulet et uideant turpitudinem eius unusquisque de amico suo et de eo loquentes audire desiderat et delectatur
Explicit: 47 Vnum amplius excetantur et fortius indurescit cor eorum

Title in the upper margin of p. 45 in an early-modern hand: 'Sermo in hunc locum S:S> - Beatus qui vigilat et custodit vestimenta sua'

The opening line is Rev 16:15.

4. 47-48
Note 'Super Beati misericordes'
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 47 Super Beati misericordes . Quomodo poteris . esto misericors
Explicit: 48 misericordes . et cetera .
5. 48
Extract from a sermon: Dirigatur oratio mea
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 48 Dirigatur oratio m⟨ea⟩ . et cum fumius incensi in altum dirigitur suauis est et calidus
Explicit: 48 ita oratio igne caritatis accensa suauissimum odorem reddit domino(?) .i. ualde placet ei ||

Longer sermon titled 'Sermo ad eruditos simul et simplices' with same incipit and similar text beginning two lines from the bottom of f. 170v and continuing with very similar text to f. 171ra ln. 20 in Cambridge, University Library, MS Ii.1.24. ff. 170v-172r.

6. 48-49
Sermon on sacred teachings William de Montibus
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 48 Magne utilitatis est sacra doctrina . que auditores suos compungit ad poenitentiam
Explicit: 49 ut cibum et potum prebeanius(?) aliis quos tibi presentare possimus et cum illum ad te peruenire amen

Also in Cambridge, Unicersity Library, MS Dd.4.50, ff. 36r-38r, and in Cambridge, University Library, MS Ii.1.24. ff. 173r-174r

J.B. Schneyer, Repertorium der lateinischen Sermones des Mittelalters: für die Zeit von 1150-1350 (Autoren: E-H) (Münster, 1970), no. 132
49
Unidentified text
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 49 Uitandum est peccatum propter iiiior uitanda
Explicit: 49 Augustinus . aurum . et argentum ab egiptus accipimus ; quam poetas et philosophos legimus ut sapientius et fecundius diuinam scripturam legamus

Page 50 blank.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 3: debitum facere
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH).
Extent: Codex: 25 leaves. 210 × 155 mm.

Collation

  • Quire 18 (pp. 1-16)
  • Quire 210 (pp. 17-36)
  • Quire 38-1 (pp. 37-50: 5th leaf missing)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

Modern quire signatures in pencil in Hindu-Arabic numerals in the lower outer corner of the first recto of each quire.

 Catchwords in the lower margin of the last verso of Quires 1 and 2.

Condition

In good condition. Some leaves a little irregular due to trimming (e.g., pp. 41-42) but with no obvious loss of text. One text-leaf gone between the present pp. 44-45, stub visible.

Layout

155 × 110 mm. Ruled in ink, frame and lines. Ruled in double-column format, typically 48-52 lines to the page and written below top line.

Hand(s)

Pages pp. 1-49 written in a northern textualis libraria by a single scribe. The letter a is typically single-compartment and teardrop-shaped, but occasionally has a hook-stub above the main lobe. Small wedges with occasional forking on the ascenders of b, h, l. The letter d is typically sloping-backed. The letters f and long-s sit on the baseline, with 'Caroline'-s typically seen in majuscule forms and terminal positions, and long-s typically used in other positions.

Decoration

Plain initial 'U' ('Uidemus') in red at the opening of the text on p. 1.

Headings and subheadings in red throughout pp. 1-49. Letters touched with red to indicate minor subdivisions in the texts.

Binding

The outer margins of the leaves pp. 1-10 each have two holes surrounded by significant red-orange rust staining; these stains and holes are absent from the front flyleaves (ff. i-iii) indicating that this Part of the present manuscript (pp. 1-50) was previously bound in a volume with two iron-based metal clasps along the fore edge of the boards. Similar rust stains can be found on pp. 397-402 with the centres of these stains and holes being in correct alignment across the fore-edge of the spine, suggestive of a shared binding with metal fastenings for pp. 1-402 prior to the current binding.

History

Origin: First half of the 13th century. ; England.

Date and place of production based on palaeographical features.

Part 4: Medical texts [Cambridge, Trinity College MS R.14.40, pp. 51-198, 199a-199b-200a-200b, 200b stub recto - 200b stub verso, 201-214, 215a-215b-216a-216b, 217-284, 285a-285b-286a-286b, 287-296]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

51-118
De simplicibus medicinae ('Circa instans') Mattheus Platearius (attrib.)
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 51 Incipit liber platearii de negociis specierum
Incipit: (prologue) 51 Circa instans negotium in simplicibus medicinis
Incipit: (text) 51 De aloe | Aloen calide et sicce complexionis est
Explicit: 118 si etiam multo plus de aqua non nocet nisi propter decoctionem diutURNAM
Final rubric: 118 Hactenus arcanum salerne diximus urbis | Litera iam lasso pollice sistat opus
119-172
Practica breuis ('amicum induit') Joannes Platearius (attrib.)
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 119 Incipit liber platearius de signis et causis et curis infirmitatum
Incipit: 119 Amicum induit qui iustis amicorum peticionibus condescendit
Explicit: 172 Aliud optimum ranuncula parua et uirids que in sepibus inuenitur . occidatur cuius cor in uino lauetur et succo absinthe et detur caute . aut infra micam panis . aut aliter ; ||
Final rubric: 172 Explicit

Text across the upper margin of p. 119 by the main scribe, 'Sancti Spiritus adsit nobis Gracia'.

Although the text in MS R.14.40 appears complete, it is missing the final few sentences of the text when compared to the edition by Victoria Recio Muñoz.

Edited, translated (into Spanish) and studied by Victoria Recio Muñoz, La Practica de Plateario: edición crítica, traducción y estudio (Florence, 2016). Note that Cambridge, Trinity College MS R.14.40 is described briefly on p. 90, but it was not one of the manuscripts used for the critical edition of the text by Muñoz.
173-175
Liber de complexionibus
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 173 Liber de complexionibus
Incipit: 173 Complexio est prima in unoquoque elementorum coniunctio . Sic et natura diffinitur
Explicit: 175 ex frigiditate et humiditate ut piscatoribus uel frigiditate et siccitate ut rura colentibus
176-198, 199a-199b-200a-200b, 200b stub recto - 200b stub verso, 201-214, 215a-215b-216a-216b, 217-229
Commentary on Antidotarium Nicholai ('Liber iste') Mattheus Platearius (attrib.)
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 176 Incipit summa magistri platearius super antidotum
Incipit: 176 Liber iste ex multis antidotis est compilatus . Quod patet ex titulis . Inscribitur enim quandoque medicina . pigra . Galieni . pigra constantini . aurea Alexandri . trifera magna .
Explicit: 229 et est efficatior si duplicatur aloe . conficitur ut predicam . et tantumdem SeruatUR
Final rubric: 229 Explicit summa magistri platearii . super antidotum

Text-leaf lost between the present p. 200b-201

229
Medical note ?on venous conditions
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 229 Diariyis est scissura uene
Explicit: 229 in modis saluie profluit

In the same hand as the rest of pp. 51-229

229
Medical note on fevers
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 229 Nota
Incipit: 229 Nota quiddam que latet
Explicit: 229 facit febris erratica . sed si in horis unius humoris . Alter . v?(?) . uel . Vi . habeat acciones

In the same hand as the rest of pp. 51-229.

230
Alphabetical list of key plants, sources, and treatments mentioned on pp. 51-229 in a 15th century hand
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 230 Aurea alexandrina
Explicit: 230 Vera galieni
231-260
Antidotarium Nicholai with supplementary appendices
Language(s): Latin
231
Alphabetical list of ingredients and quantites for the Antidotarium nicholai
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 231 Aurea alexandrina . pondus . ij
Explicit: 231 zinziber conditam quomodo fit
231-257
Antidotarium Nicholai
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 231 Nicholaus de confectione et dispositione MEdica : menterum
Incipit: (preface) 231 Ego nicholaus rogatus a quibusdam in practica medicine studere uolentibus
Incipit: (text) 232 De aurea| Aurea dicta est ab auro ; alexandrina ; ab alexandro peritissimo philosopho inuenta
Explicit: 257 et dispensandi habeant copiam . de nummorum et amicorum plenitudine glorientur
257-259
List of the quantites of the ingredients in the Antidotarium Nicholai
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 257 Carpob⟨alsam⟩ . ii
Explicit: 259 Zuccari pondus . iii

Similar list in Reims, Bibliothèque Municipale, MS 1004, ff. 10v-11r .

259-260
Latin-Latin plant-name glossary for the Antidotarium Nicholai
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 259 Artemesia .id est. matricaria(?)
Explicit: 260 Zuccozaria .id est. flos agni casti uel salicis marini

Begins with a short preface on p. 259:| 'Expletis autem specierum ponderibus ad omnium supradictarum medicinarum confectionem pertinent . secundum alfabetum nomina specierum diligenti racione exponimus . ne barbarice nomine scolares impediantur . Sed omnibus ad unguem exponitis conficiendi . uel medendi liberam habeant facultatem'.

Similar glossary with matching preface in Reims, Bibliothèque Municipale, MS 1004, ff. 11rv .

Rubric added in upper margin of p. 231 in ?16th century hand.

Pages 261-262 blank.

263-282
De urinis Maurus Salernitanus
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 263 Vrina magistri mauri
Incipit: 263 Quoniam de urinarum sciencia tractaturi sumus
Explicit: 282 ut uicio splenis

M.R. James catalogued pp. 263-286b as a single item, but there seems to be a change of text at p. 282, especially when the text is compared against another copy of a similar date: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, MS Lat. 6963., ff. 1r-13v which also ends 'ut uicio splenis' and is followed by a clear final rubric 'Explicit liber vrinarum et pillule . Magistri Mauri'.

282-285b
Unidentified questio text
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 282 QuestIO[sic]
Incipit: 282 [⟨V⟩]Ria[sic] dicuntur esse
Explicit: 285b maior emittit . in summo labore
285b-286b
Unidentified questio text
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 285b Questio
Incipit: 285b Quaeritur quare in diebus criticis
Explicit: 286b Similiter rubeus color quandoque predicat colorem quandoque(?) intensionem in vrina

The mise-en-page changes from double-column to single-column format at the beginning of p. 286b, but the scribe and text remain the same.

286-295
Text and commentary on sections of the Liber aphorismorum of Urso of Calabria
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: (text) 286b Consuetum et ordinatum . rerum naturalium processum . non miramur .
Explicit: 295 Nullo mediante res simili afficitur qualitate . quare rei agenti efficitur similis ex accidenti : cui erat disimilis(?) . per naturam . et tanquam amissa trahitur super uenienti consonantia inimica naturalia uiolentiori actuali conculcata ||

The main text is Urso of Salerno (sometimes also known as Urso of Calabria), Liber aphorismorum, but the author of the commentary is not clear.

Text ends abruptly at the bottom of p. 295 part of the way through the commentary on the thirtieth aphorism (as numbered in this manuscript) - the complete text includes many more aphorisms. Page 296 blank.

Also in Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.2.50, ff. 151v-197v with a different commentary-text; the Aphorism 30 in MS R.14.40 seems to correspond with Aphorism 35 in MS O.2.50.

Text (not this MS) discussed in van der Lugt, Maaike, 'The Learned Physician as a Charismatic Healer: Urso of Salerno (Flourished End of Twelfth Century) on Incantations in Medicine, Magic, and Religion', Bulletin of the History of Medicine 87.3 (2013), pp. 307–346

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 53: Nullius tamen huius arboris fertur vidisse originem
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH)
Extent: Codex: 126 leaves. 210 × 155 mm.

Collation

  • Quires 4-68 (pp. 51-98)
  • Quire 710 (pp. 99-118)
  • Quires 8-128 (pp. 119-198)
  • Quire 13?8-1+1 (pp. 199a-212: stub between the present p. 200b and p. 201)
  • Quire 1410 (pp. 213-230)
  • Quire 158 (pp. 231-246)
  • Quire 168 (pp. 247-262)
  • Quire 178 (pp. 263-278)
  • Quire 1812-2 (pp. 279-296: 1st and 2nd leaves cancelled)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

 Catchwords in the lower margins of the last versos of some quires, many probably lost to trimming, see e.g., p. 166, complete catchword on e.g., p. 212.

Condition

In good condition.

Layout

155 × 105 mm. Pages 51-286a ruled in ink, frame and lines. Ruled in double-column format, typically 44 lines to the page and written above top line. Pricking often visible in margins, see e.g., p. 97.

160 × 105 mm. Pages 286b-295 ruled in leadpoint, frame and lines. Ruled in single-column format, typically 43 lines to the page and written above top line. Pricking often visible in margins, see e.g., p. 289.

Hand(s)

Pages 51-295 written in a northern textualis libraria.

Decoration

Flourished initials with a red, green, or blue base initial in an 'Arabesque' style with minor pen-flourishing in red green or blue at the major and minor divisions of the texts.

Titles and chapter headings in red throughout.

History

Origin: Probably late 12th or early 13th century. ; Probably England.

Date and place of production based on palaeographical features.

Part 5: Aegidius Corbeiensis' De urinis [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.40, pp. 297-312]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

297-310
De urinis, with gloss Aegidius Corbeiensis
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 297 Incipiunt uersus magistri egidii de vrinis
Incipit: 297 Dicitur urina quoniam fit renibus urina
Explicit: 310 Fimbria monstretur quam non est tangere dignus
Final rubric: 310 Expliciunt uersus magistri egidii

Main text is accompanied by extensive marginal gloss throughout.

310
Note on the colours of urine
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 310 De coloribus vrinarvm
Incipit: 310 Hec sunt colorem exempla que in urinis considerantur
Explicit: 310 Nigrum ex adustione uel mortificacione

In the same hand as the main text on pp. 297-310.

Pages 311-312 blank.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 299: Paruus emitriceus . medius . morbus que caducus
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH)
Extent: Codex: 8 leaves. 210 × 155 mm.

Collation

  • Quire 198 (pp. 297-312)

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

160 × 110 mm. Ruled in ink, frame and lines. Ruled in double-column format with the main text written in larger letters on alternate lines in the inner column on each page (width of ruling for inner column is approximately 60mm), and the commentary written interlinearly with the main text and in smaller letters in the outer column. The main text is typically written 24 lines to a page and above top line. The note on the colours of urines at the end of p. 310 is written in single-column format using the pre-existing ruling on the page and writing directly across the space between the two-column-format ruling.

Hand(s)

Written in a northern textualis libraria the main text written in larger letters, and the commentary written in smaller letters.

Decoration

Flourished initial (red letter 'D' with blue flourishing) at the opening of the text on p. 297, the blue flourishing now almost entirely lost due to abrasion.

Indications of syntax expressed by underlining in red and initials and paraph marks touched with red. Occasional headings in red, see e.g., p. 301.

History

Origin: Probably late 12th or early 13th century. ; Probably England.

Date and place of production based on palaeographical features.

Part 6: De simplicium medicinarum uirtutibus [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.40, pp. 313-324 325a-325b-326a-326b 327-332]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 313-324 325a-325b-326a-326b 327-331
De simplicium medicinarum uirtutibus [Latin] Johannes de Sancto Paulo
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 313 Incipit liber uirtutum a Johannem de Sacnto Paulo editu
Incipit: 313 Cogitanti mihi de simplicium medicinarum uirtutibus earum que idem operantur nomina in unum colligere uisum est utile
Explicit: 331 ex omnibus seminibus dinamidia ius herbarum

There are 72 sections in this text and the sections have been numbered in light grey-brown ink in the typical medieval forms of Hindu-Arabic numerals.

Page 332 blank.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 315: sed in quibusdam ad eo parum excedit
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH)
Extent: Codex: 11 leaves. 210 × 155 mm.

Collation

  • Quire 2012-1 (pp. 313-332: ?2nd leaf cancelled?)

Possible leaf signatures 'd' and 'e' in the lower margins of the fourth and fifth rectos of the quire (i.e., pp. 319 and 321 - if this identification is correct then signatures for 'a'-'c' and 'f' may have been lost to trimming.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

No catchwords particular to this Part.

Condition

In good condition.

Layout

160 × 115 mm. Ruled in ink, frame and lines. Ruled in double-column format, 31 lines to the page and written above top line. Pricking occasionally visible in outer margin see e.g., p. 325a.

Hand(s)

Written in a rounded northern textualis libraria.

Decoration

Plain initial 'C' in red ('Cogitanti') on p. 313. Plain initials in red at the major and minor divisions of the texts in this Part.

Titles in red in this Part.

History

Origin: Early 13th century. ; Possibly England.

Date and place of production based on palaeographical features.

Part 7: Texts on composition and rhetoric [Cambridge, Trinity College MS R.14.40, pp. 333a-333b-334a-334b 335-372]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 333a-333b-334a-334b 335-346
Compendium in Iob Peter of Blois
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 333a Henrico Dei gratia illustrissimo anglorum regi . Duci normannij et aquitaniae . Comiti andegauorum . Suus petrus blesensis Cantuarii archiepiscopi clericus salutem . In uero salutari salutem . Gratio ago gratiae largitori
Explicit: 346 Ad illam supernorum ciuium in mansionem . In qua est pax eterna . Quies impermutabilis . Gauidum que non deficit . Lumen que non extinguitur .
Final rubric: 346 Gloria que non transit . Quam nobis et uobis prestare dignetur altissimus altissimi filius ihesus christi . Qui cum pater et spiritum sancto . Triumphat . et Regnat in secula . seculorum . AMEN

Title added in the upper margin of p. 333a in an early-modern hand 'Petri Blesiensis compendium Libri Iob:

Stegmüller, Bibl. 6431
PL 207.795–926
347-356
De amicitia spirituali
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 347 Medulla dialogi . De amicitia Spirituali . In primis ostendit quid sit amicitiA
Incipit: 347 CUM ad breuiter elucidanda uere et spirtualis Amicitie iura
Explicit: 356 quasi e uicinio ipsius christi dulcedinem tangens incipit gustare quam dulcis et sentire quam suauis est dominus
Final rubric: 356 Qui viuit et Regnat Deus . Per omnia secular seculorum . Amen

Based on Aelred of Riveaux 's De spirtuali amicitia according to Bloomfield et al. (1979).

M.W. Bloomfield et al., Incipits of Latin works on the virtues and vices, 1100-1500 A.D., Mediaeval Academy of America publication, 88 (Cambridge, Mass.: Mediaeval Academy of America, 1979), no. 1030
356-359
Colores rethorici seriatim
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 356 Incipiunt colores rethorici seriatim
Incipit: (prologue) 356 Prologus | Inter diuersa artium documenta rethorice venustatis observanda sunt ornamenta
Incipit: (text) 356 Repeticio | Est autem promus color rethoricus . repeticio
Explicit: (prologue) 356 sic etiam isti ornatus ad decorem orationis . Debent induci
Explicit: (text) 359 in aliquo errato uere reprehendere utreamVR

This text may belong with the next on pp. 359-362 as there is no formal incipit or explicit indication between these texts, save that the next begins with an attribution to a 'Magister Berentius'.

M. Camargo, 'The Late Fourteenth-Century Renaissance of Anglo-Latin Rhetoric', Philosophy & Rhetoric: Special Issue: Essays in Honor of Michael C. Leff, 45.2 (2012), pp. 107–133, esp. p. 127, doi.org/10.5325/philrhet.45.2.0107
359-362
De coloribus rethoricis
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 359 Magister bernentius ad laudem bartholomei postea oxoniensis episcopi . de coloribus rethoricis
Incipit: 359 Celebris fama meritorum in homine nouo spirans uorum uenustatem insignem archilevitam bartholomeum scriptis postulat eternari
Explicit: 362 Amorem enim nostrum velud leges articas ere credas incisVM
M. Camargo, 'The Late Fourteenth-Century Renaissance of Anglo-Latin Rhetoric', Philosophy & Rhetoric: Special Issue: Essays in Honor of Michael C. Leff, 45.2 (2012), pp. 107–133, esp. p. 127, doi.org/10.5325/philrhet.45.2.0107
362
Notes on moral behaviour
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 362 Linguam breuis . breuitate leuis . leuitate mouetur
Explicit: 362 diabolum humilitate . mundum
363-366
Poem on grammar and syllabic length
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 363 Ut medias dicronas edoctus mente reponas| Hec lector cura Radulfi tradita cura| OMen habens arator fuerat diuinus arator| Presbiter est agamus pariter nos et sic agamus | Rore madens araris tellus mage molle araris| Iurebatis abatis : abbatis cura requirit
Explicit: 366 Ininus inuenit . que hic inuenit inuia uisens| Obbe potus obest huic . en obit . obicit omen

Title in the upper margin of p. 363 in an early-modern hand, 'Radulphi cuhusdam versus'.

R.W. Hunt has suggested that the 'Radulfi' mentioned in line 2 of the text might be Ralph of Beauvais, see Hunt (1980), ch. 2, esp. pp. 53-54

R.W. Hunt, and G.L. Bursill-Hall, The History of Grammar in the Middle Ages: Collected Papers, Studies in the History of Linguistics, v. 5 (Amsterdam: Benjamins, 1980), esp. pp. 53-54
366-372
Short latin verses
Language(s): Latin
366
Distich on the symbolism of the altar, chalice and patten as representatives of the death and burial of Jesus

Full transcription of opening verse on p. 366:| ARa crucis . tumulique calix . lapidisque patena| Sindonis officium candida bissus habet

372
Verse on baptism
Language(s): Latin

Full transcription of closing verse on p. 372:| Quid meruere pati quocumque thoro generati | Cum baptizantur et crimine purificantur | Fonte sacro locum(?) mundat purgacio totum | Vel non est sacri mundatio plena lauacri

The verses here are short - each new verse is preceded by a paraph mark at the beginning of the line; only the first and last verses are transcribed here.

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 334a: et lux mundi
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH)
Extent: Codex: 21 leaves. 115-210 × 155 mm.

Collation

  • Quire 2110 (pp. 333a-350)
  • Quire 2210+1 (pp. 351-372: half sheet (pp. 361-362) inserted between 5th and 6th leaves)

No leaf signatures particular to this Part.

No quire signatures particular to this Part.

Catchword in the lower margin of p. 350.

Condition

In good condition. Pages 361-362 are a half sheet, the leaf having been cut in half horizontally with no obvious loss of text.

Layout

155 × 110 mm. Ruled in leadpoint, frame and lines; ruling not visible on all leaves, but see e.g., p. 345. Ruled in double-column format, 48 lines to the column and written above top line. Pages 363-372 are ruled in the same way as pp. 333a-362, but contain verse and so is written with the typical medieval verse mise-en-page, with the first letter of each line written slightly apart from the remainder of the line.

Hand(s)

Written in small and neat northern textualis libraria.

Decoration

Flourished initials at the major and some minor divisions of the texts in two colours selected from a palette of red, green, and blue (the blue now rather faded), see e.g., p. 333a.

Plain initials in an 'Arabesque' style, usually in red or green at the minor divisions of the texts, see e.g., p. 357.

Titles in red throughout this Part.

History

Origin: Probably early 13th century. ; Probably England.

Date and place of production based on palaeographical features.

Part 8: Petrus Alfonsi's Disciplina clericalis; medical recipes [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.40, pp. 373-402]

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. 373-397
Disciplina clericalis (with additional stories) Petrus Alfonsi
Language(s): Latin
Rubric: 373 Incipiunt magistri petri aldefunsi
Incipit: (prologue) 373 Dixit petrus aldefunsus seruus christi ihesu ; compositor huius libri Gratias ago deo . qui primus est sine principio . a quo bonorum omnium est principium . finis sine fine . Totius boni complementum sapiens . qui sapientiam et rationem praebet homini . qui nos sua aspirauit sapientia et suae rationis admirabili illustrauit claritate . et multiformi sancti spiritus sui ditauit gratia . Quia igitur me licet peccatorem deus multimoda uestire dignatus est sapientia ; ne lucerna mihi credita sub modio tecta lateat . eodem spiritu instigante ad multorum utilitatem hunc librum componere admonitus sum ; ipsum obsecrans ut huic mei libelli principio bonum finem adiungat . me que custodiat . Ne quid in eo dicatur quod suae displiceat uoluntati
Incipit: (text) 373 Enoch philosophus qui lingua arabica cognomiatur eadric ; dixit filio suo
Explicit: 397 Statim autem factus est furnus uelut ros . Ex qua re adquisiuit gloriam in tempore illo . quemadmodum abraham patriarcha

The main text of the standard recension of the Disciplina clericalis ends in Trinity College, MS R.14.40 on p. 395 with, 'Sed de .xxx. duobus circumstantibus philosophis quid quisque de potentissimo rege dixerit memorie longum est reducere', but several further tales are appended on pp. 395-397.

398
Medical notes 'contra stranguriam et dissuriam'
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 398 [⟨F⟩]eniculis . calida. et sicca. diuisio .iii.ij. gradu . contra stranguriam et dissuriam
Explicit: 398 ex aqua decocta . eius uidelicet contra stranguriam et dissuriam

Title in the upper margin of p. 398 in a medieval hand.

Written by a different early-13th century scribe than the one that copied pp. 373-397.

399
List of the contents by a ?16th-century hand
Language(s): Latin

Full transcription: | Quae tractante(?) in hoc volumine| Tractatus Petri Parisiensis de tropis loquendi | Cremata(?) venerabilis Bedae| Platearius de negotiis specierum | Idem de signis causis et curis infirmitatim | de complexionibus | Idem super antidotum | De compositione omnia emplastrorum | Maurus de vrinis| Egidus de vrinis carminu(?) | Johannes de S Paulo de virtutibus simpliciarum medicinarum| Compendium in Iob| De amicitia spirituali| Rhetiricis coloris| Proverbia petri Aldufundi

This text is partly written over a prayer in Middle English. in leadpoint in Middle English in a ?14th century hand, now mostly erased

399
Prayer
Language(s): Middle English
Incipit: 399 þat me riyt sere hem |more god þat best |may help me at | my endyng day |I schal dou as god wylt [...]

Partial transcription: first line overwritten by 16th-century table of contents, and last few words have faded and are also obscured by a Trinity College Library stamp. Not recorded in IMEP or DIMEV.

401
?Fragment of the Experimentarius
Language(s): Latin
Incipit: 401 Si paribus uel non paribus constant elementis . Nomina pugnantum
Explicit: 401 Experimentum hoc de pug⟨na⟩libus pugnaturis quis eorum uincat uel uincatur

Physical Description

Secundo Folio: 375: uenerantur . filius . Vidi et aliud . quod clerici pro sapiencia
Form: codex
Support: Parchment (HFFH)
Extent: Codex: 15 leaves. 210 × 155 mm.

Collation

  • Quire 238 (pp. 373-388)
  • Quire 248-1 (pp. 389-402: 8th leaf cancelled)

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

165 × 105 mm. Pages 373-397 ruled in leadpoint, frame and lines. Ruled in double-column format, 40 lines to the column and written above top line.

160 × 105 mm. Pages 398 ruled in brown ink, frame and lines. Ruled in double-column format, 34 lines to the column and written above top line.

Hand(s)

Text on pp. 373-397 written in a northern textualis libraria of early 13th century appearance.

Text on p. 398 written in a northern textualis libraria of early 13th century appearance by a different scribe to the one who copied pp. 373-397.

Text on p. 399 written in a cursiva antiquior script with strong anglicana and secretary features - the hand is rather irregular and of late 15th or early 16th century appearance.

Text on p. 401 written in a northern textualis libraria of mid-to-late-13th century appearance by a different scribe to the one who copied pp. 373-397 and p. 398.

Decoration

Plain initials in red at the major and minor divisions of the text pp. 373-397.

Incipit in red on p. 373.

Spaces for initials for text on p. 398.

Additions

Scribbles in ink, perhaps initials 'J' and 'Sm' on p. 400.

Pen trials of some letters in ink on p. 401

Binding

The outer margins of the leaves pp. 397-402 each have two holes surrounded by significant red-orange rust staining, which indicates that this Part of the present manuscript (pp. 373-402) was previously bound in a volume with two iron-based metal clasps along the fore edge of the boards before the leaves were removed and combined with the rest of the leaves in what is now Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.14.40.

History

Origin: Probably early 13th 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. 324-327, no. 912

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

    Incipits of Latin works on the virtues and vices, 1100-1500 A.D. Mediaeval Academy of America publication, Bloomfield, Morton W., (Cambridge, Mass., Mediaeval Academy of America, 1979) The history of grammar in the Middle Ages: collected papers Studies in the history of linguistics, Hunt, Richard WilliamBursill-Hall, G. L. (Amsterdam, Benjamins, 1980) The Late Fourteenth-Century Renaissance of Anglo-Latin Rhetoric Philosophy & Rhetoric: Special Issue: Essays in Honor of Michael C. Leff, Camargo, Martin (45, 2, 107-133, 2012, https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/p-n-r/article/45/2/107/290263/The-Late-Fourteenth-Century-Renaissance-of-Anglo) La Practica de Plateario: edición crítica, traducción y estudio Edizione nazionale dei testi mediolatini d'Italia, (Firenze, SISMEL: edizioni del Galluzzo, 2016)

Funding of Cataloguing

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

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Cambridge Digital Library

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