Parker Library On the Web

Alternative title

Astronomica

Type of resource

mixed material

Extent

ff. 99 + 1

Date created

[ca. 1300-1325]

Language

Latin, French, Middle (ca. 1400-1600)

Material

Vellum

Layout

double columns of 53 lines at first, then varying much

Height (mm)

335

Width (mm)

225

Collation

1 flyleaf, 1(12) 2(12) | 3(10) 4(10) | 5(4) 6 (two) | 7(12) 8 (two) | 9(10) | 10(12) | 11(6) 12 (seven: 2 and 3 are slips: 4 is numbered vi: 7 is numbered x).

Writing

In a larger hand

Foliation

ff. i-ii + 1-100 + iii-iv

Provenance

From Boxley Priory, Kent. On the flyleaf (f. 1v) is an erased inscription which revived reads: liber S. Marie de Boxele emptus per dompnum Jo. heriettsham ab executoribus m. Jo. Renham nuper rectoris de holyngbourne in quem qui maliciose alienauerit anathema sit maranatha Amen.

Summary

CCCC MS 37 is an interesting portmanteau manuscript of texts copied by various hands in the first half of the fourteenth century. The overwhelming sense of the these texts is of a collection put together by or for a secular figure with connections to London and Westminster. They include a gazetteer of England, astrological and medical tracts, statutes and calendars of the term days of the Exchequer and illustrated guides to the movement of the moon and tides. The London connection is further evinced by the presence in the manuscript of unique accounts of some of the cases that came before the eyre of 1321 that examined the liberties of the City. It may have been the property of the Londoner John Reynham and passed from him, via a relative, to the Cistercian abbey at Boxley, Kent.

Contents

Theorica planetarum -- Notes on Astronomical Conjunctions, 1306-1315 -- Calendar of Exchequer Term Days -- Kalendarium cum tribus cyclis decennoualibus -- Massa compoti -- Algorismus -- Astronomical Tables -- De complexione signorum -- Zodiac predictions -- Astrologia medicorum -- Gazetteer of England (Castles, abbeys, priories) -- Gazetteer of England (Suffolk) -- Gazetteer of England (Hertfordshire) -- Gazetteer of England (Berkshire) -- Statutes, Writs -- Proceedings of the London Eyre, 1321 (Itinerary, proclamation, returns, pleas) -- Proceedings of the London Eyre, 1321 (Quo warranto) -- Proceedings of the London Eyre, 1321 (Ordinances of the City of London) -- Proceedings of the London Eyre, 1321 (Writ, pleas) -- List of values of English wool (per sack, by county) -- A petition against extortion from Lincoln, Derby, Leicester, etc. -- Writ 'non molestando' -- Lex marisci -- Names of the Sheriffs of Scotland -- Ordinance for the King's household -- Terms of the surrender of Berwick -- Prophecy of the conquest of Ireland -- Material relating to Ireland (fees, services, exchequer) -- La copie dune lettre que vient de la onqe de la desconfiture que Mons. Roberd Dartois fist sur Fraunczois -- La fforme del Trewe prise entre Sire Edward Roy dengleterre et Sire Philippe Roy de France (1343) -- Verses in Latin and French -- Treatise on weights and measures -- Treatise on the method of measuring land -- Cest le arrai et lassemble des gentz Descoce que vindrent a la bataille de Berewik. Cest assauoir

M.R. James Date

xiv early

Downloadable James Catalogue Record

https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:qp319gk1170/MS_37.pdf

Superseded Interim Catalogue Record

https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:gb851nz9326/37.pdf

Contains

• Campanus of Novara, Theorica planetarum. 2r-22v

  James

  Theorica Campani. 2r-22v

  Author

  Campanus of Novara

  Incipit

  (2r) Primus philosophie magister ipsius negocium in tria

  Note

  (2v) On 1v is sewn a volvel, on the back of which is part of a document, possibly a statute. The words occur ut adirent secum in Vascon. ad debelland. hostes, more of the same is on the back of a volvel on f. 6v
  Ends

  Explicit

  (22v) de mercurio supra docuimus deo gratias amen

  Rubric

  (22v) explicit

• Notes on Astronomical Conjunctions, 1306-1315. 22v-25v

  Note

  Another hand

  Rubric

  (22v) Incipit coniunctiones quedam calculate

  Incipit

  (22v) Nota quod anno 1306 inperfectio 21 die aprilis fuit

  Note

  The years for which observations are made go up to 1315
  On f. 24r is the beginning of a table of squares and cubes of numbers
  f. 24v blank
  On f. 25r - 25v two rough diagrams, the first headed

  Rubric

  (25r) liber planetarum et quot circulos habent et qualiter mouentur et de quantitate eorum

• Calendar of Exchequer Term Days. 26r-26v

  Rubric

  (26r) Kalendarium de Scaccario

  Incipit

  (26r) Quia Anglicana mos est quod quilibet computans incipiet titulum compoti sui in crastino S. Michaelis

  Note

  (26v) List of principal feasts for the year 26v

• Walter of Elveden, Kalendarium cum tribus cyclis decennoualibus. 27r-45v

  Author

  Walter of Elveden

  Rubric

  (27r) Kalendarium Eluedene

  Note

  (by Walter Elveden of Gonville Hall. See Venn, Biogr. Hist. 12)
  This is in ordinary Kalendar form: entries in red and black
  After the festival column follow others giving Hore diei. Hore noctis

  Rubric

  (27r) Occupacio diei artificialis

  Note

  This last is subdivided into Miliaria. Stadia. Passus. Pedes. Pollices. Grana
  (As a fact the last three of these columns are filled with noughts throughout.) Each month has a statement of the average length of the day and the average length of the day's journey
  The Kalendar is English but not very characteristic: Etheldreda, Mildred, Osith occur, but not Edith. Wulstan on Jan. 19 and June 7. Erkenwald on Ap. 30
  In smaller hand
  On ff. 33r, 34r are tables of the Moon and of the Sunday letter
  ff. 34v, 35r blank
  On f. 35v rules for multiplication

  Incipit

  (35v) Sunt autem vi Regule multiplicacionis etc.

  Note

  On f. 36r the large hand resumes: On multiplication

  Incipit

  (36r) Numerus est multitudo ex unitate composita

  Note

  (37r) Table of Numbers
  (37v) A second Kalendar
  In the same hand as the former, marking the Locus Solis and also Ciclus 1, 2, 3
  The entries are as in the former, but David and Edith are in their proper places
  (43v) Tables of eclipses of Sun and Moon (1330 - 1386)

  Rubric

  (44v) Lux est canon exponensis istud kalendarium

  Note

  (45r) Diagrams of eclipses of Sun and Moon (in red and blue)

• Alexander de Villa Dei, Massa compoti. 46r-48r

  Author

  Alexander de Villa Dei

  Rubric

  (46r) Liber compoti

  Incipit

  (46r) Aureus in iano numerus clauesque nouantur

  Note

  Ending

  Explicit

  (48r) Mobilis ibo ciphos ate liber habeto coenas

  Rubric

  (48r) Explicit Compotus

• Alexander de Villa Dei, Algorismus. 48r-49v

  Author

  Alexander de Villa Dei

  Rubric

  (48r) Hic Incipit Algorismus

  Note

  (Alexandri de Villa Dei)

  Incipit

  (48r) Hic algorismus ars presens dicitur in qua

  Explicit

  (49v) Si par per medium sibi multiplicata propinqua

  Rubric

  (49v) Explicit Algorismus

  Note

  Halliwell (Rara Mathematica) etc.

• Astronomical Tables. 50r-50v

  Rubric

  (50r) Tabule Astronomice

• De complexione signorum. 51r-51v

  Rubric

  (51r) De complexione signorum

  Incipit

  (51r) Aries est signum mobile calidum siccum etc.

  Note

  Ending (Pisces)

  Explicit

  (51v) Puer natus graciosus erit

  Rubric

  (51v) Dum Jupiter In Aquario Regnat multum gaudet

• Zodiac predictions. 52r-61r

  Rubric

  (52r) Tractatur de fatis in gallico

  Incipit

  (52r) Si ascun homme saunz doute veut sauoir la verite des choses qe a luy pount auenir. Soulom sa destine

  Note

  The text goes through the signs, ending with Pisces

  Explicit

  (61r) Ele viuera v. aunz ou xvij. ou L. aunz

  Rubric

  (61r) Et sic finitur per bona temporalia ut non amittamus eterna per Christum dominum nostrum. Amen

• pseudo-Hippocrates, Astrologia medicorum. 61r-65v

  Author

  pseudo-Hippocrates

  Rubric

  (61r) Tractatus ypocratis pro infirmitatibus per astronomiam cognoscendis

  Incipit

  (61r) Dicit ypocras qui fuit medicus et magister optimus quod nullus debet committere se in manus illius qui non est medicus perfectus

  Note

  Also goes through the signs, ending in Pisces

  Explicit

  (65r) et si fortuna eam aspexerit uiuet si non morietur

  Note

  65v is blank, and here ends vol. II which has an original foliation running from i to xxxv (26r - 65r) but wanting some leaves after xx (ff. 46r - 49r do not belong to it)

• Gazetteer of England (Castles, abbeys, priories). 66r-72v

  Note

  Headed

  Rubric

  (66r) Anglia

  Note

  List of counties follows
  Then

  Rubric

  (66r) En cest liure sont escriptt touz les nouns des castelx dengleterre. et ensement Abbeez. et Prioreez en chescun countee

  Note

  Begins with Kent, ends with Stafford
  After 69r and 71r are two small slips (f. 69ar and f. 71ar)
  After Stafford (72r) are Archbishoprics and Bishoprics of England and Wales
  (72r) Sum of Castles and Bishoprics. Then Cumberland (blank) and Westmorland
  On f. 72v note in Latin of reigns from William I to Edward II (19 years 7 months). This is in different ink

• Gazetteer of England (Suffolk). 73r-74r

  Rubric

  (73r) Nomina Hundredorum Villarum et hamelettorum tocius Com. Suffolk

  Note

  Begins with Hertesmere (Hartismere) and ends with Lacford

• Gazetteer of England (Hertfordshire). 74v-74v

  Note

  In different ink

  Rubric

  (74v) Nomina Hundredorum Villarum Hamelettorum tocius com. Hertford

  Note

  Begins with Oddeseles and ends with Libertas S. Albani

• Gazetteer of England (Berkshire). 74v-75r

  Note

  (74v) List of Hundreds in Berkshire

• Statutes, Writs. 75v-77v

  Rubric

  (75v) Statuta de districtionibus

  Note

  (French)
  Latin note follows

  Incipit

  (75v) Dominus Rex habebit tantum x milites etc.

  Rubric

  (75v) Statuta de Scaccario

  Note

  (French)
  (76r) Rex Thesaurariis et Baronibus suis de Scaccario s. Ut indempnitate nostre. (Anno septimo)
  (76v) A nostre seigneur le Roi et a son conseil monstre Thomas deuerwyke clerk pur profist le Roi
  (77r) Le Roi veut que touz maners des Baillifs etc. ... soient responaunt a leschekier
  Change of hand

• Proceedings of the London Eyre, 1321 (Itinerary, proclamation, returns, pleas). 78r-82v

  Note

  (78r) Breve de itinere justiciariorum apud Turrim London (14 Edward II) followed by Proclamation
  (78v) Retorn of Brief, Names of freeholders
  (79v) Placita

• Proceedings of the London Eyre, 1321 (Quo warranto). 82v-84r

  Note

  (82v) Breve regis Edwardi de quo warranto ad vicecomitem London (reciting the customs)
  (83v) Other briefs, de priorissa de Haliwell etc.

• Proceedings of the London Eyre, 1321 (Ordinances of the City of London). 84v-85v

  Rubric

  (84v) Ordinaciones ciuitatis London

  Note

  (French)

  Incipit

  (84v) En primes que la poes dieux et la poes nostre seigneur le Roy

• Proceedings of the London Eyre, 1321 (Writ, pleas). 85v-86r

  Note

  (85v) Breve regis de oppressionibus dampnis et grauaminibus (1318). Placita follow

• List of values of English wool (per sack, by county). 86v-86v

  Note

  (86v) Value de Leyne dengleterre
  List of counties
  (86v) Londres: le sak pur vj marcKent: le sak pur vj marcSurrey: le sak pur vj marcSussex: le sak pur vj marc
  The highest is Hereford (xii marc.) the lowest (Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmorland, Durham) five marks

• A petition against extortion from Lincoln, Derby, Leicester, etc. 87r-87r

  Note

  (87r) A petition against extortion from Lincoln, Derby, Leicester, etc. (French)

• Writ 'non molestando'. 87r-87r

  Note

  (87r) A Brief of Edward Ponderatori suo in villa de S. Boihulfo(?) (10 Edward II)

• Lex marisci. 87v-87v

  Incipit

  (87v) Elegantur primo per totam

• Names of the Sheriffs of Scotland. 88r-88r

  Note

  Change of hand

  Rubric

  (88r) Nomina Vicecomitum Scocie

  Note

  With sum of each Vicecomitatus
  (88r) Some values of produce. Stirkes I anni prec. xxd etc.

• Ordinance for the King's household. 88v-90r

  Incipit

  (88v) Pur ceo que nostre seigneur le Roi voet estre asserte etc.

• Terms of the surrender of Berwick. 90v-90v

  Rubric

  (90v) Les condicions sur le rendre de la ville de Berewyk (1333)

• Prophecy of the conquest of Ireland. 91v-91v

  Incipit

  (91v) Scribitur in libris annalibus Hibernie secundum quod Mag. Walterus de Istelep Thesaurarius Hibern. eos inuestigans anno domini mo cccmo xvijo incipiente de prophetia super statu terre hibern. comper(i)t in hiis verbis. Cum enim quatuor hibernici prophetas habeant Molingum Bractannum Patricium et Colmekillum

  Note

  (prophecy of Conquest of Ireland)

  Explicit

  (91v) continue semper optinebunt

• Material relating to Ireland (fees, services, exchequer). 91v-95v

  Note

  (91v) Number of cantreds, villae etc. in Ireland

  Incipit

  (92r) Seruicia domini Regis per totam Hiberniam (1317)

  Note

  Ending with
  (94v) Ordinatio facta de Statuta Scaccarij Dublin
  f. 95r (a slip, verso blank)

• La copie dune lettre que vient de la onqe de la desconfiture que Mons. Roberd Dartois fist sur Fraunczois. 96r-96v

  Rubric

  (96v) La copie dune lettre que vient de la onqe de la desconfiture que Mons. Roberd Dartois fist sur Fraunczois

  Note

  Another hand
  f. 96v a slip, recto blank

  Incipit

  (96v) En droit des noueles de cestes parties voilletz sauoir que nostre seigneur le Roy ... est deuaunt la ville de Tournoye

• La fforme del Trewe prise entre Sire Edward Roy dengleterre et Sire Philippe Roy de France (1343). 97r-98r

  Rubric

  (97r) La fforme del Trewe prise entre Sire Edward Roy dengleterre et Sire Philippe Roy de France

  Note

  (1343)

• Verses in Latin and French. 98r-98r

  Note

  Verses in two columns. The first column miscellaneous

  Incipit

  (98r) Qui scit adulari gratis debet famulari etc.

  Note

  Ending with some lines on the age of the Virgin (63 years)
  The second column a dialogue between Monacha and Clericus

  Rubric

  (98r) Monacha

  Incipit

  (98r) Me tibi teque mihi genus etas et decor equantCur non ergo sumus sic in amore pares

  Note

  Ends

  Explicit

  (98r) Est grauius sponsam te uiolare dei

  Note

  See Hauréau in Notices et Extraits XXIX 2. 249. Also Hagen, Carmina medii aevi, p. 206

• Treatise on weights and measures. 98v-99r

  Rubric

  (98v) De pondere et mensuris rerum diuersarum

  Incipit

  (98v) Solidus argenti constat ex xii denariis etc.

• Treatise on the method of measuring land. 99r-99v

  Rubric

  (99r) Incipit modus mensurandi terram

  Incipit

  (99v) Primo sciendum est quod quelibet acra terre

• Cest le arrai et lassemble des gentz Descoce que vindrent a la bataille de Berewik. Cest assauoir. 100r-100r

  Note

  Another hand

  Incipit

  (100r) Cest le arrai et lassemble des gentz Descoce que vindrent a la bataille de Berewik. Cest assauoir ... auant garde le coumt de Morrene

  Note

  100vwas pasted over with paper (repaired since James' time)

TJames

93

Stanley

I. 2

Repository

UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library

Location

MS 037

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