Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 099: Alchemical Tracts

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Title:
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 099: Alchemical Tracts
Alternate Title:
Alchemica
Language:
Latin
Extent:
ff. 129 + 1
Dimensions:
365 Height (mm) and 260 Width (mm)
Approximate Date:
[ca. 1400 - 1499]
Table of contents:
  • Questiones et responsiones
  • De occulto lapide philosophorum
  • Practica
  • Flores secretorum
  • Senior mireris
  • De lapide philosophorum
  • Epistola ad episcopum Iohannem XXII de alchemia
  • Speculum alchemiae
  • Summa perfectionis magisterii
  • Secreta secretorum abbreuiata
  • Visio super artem alchemicam
  • Alchemical treatise variously ascribed to John of Damascus, Uguictius and Arisleus
  • Alchemy
  • Aurum potabile
  • Lilium Paridis
  • Rosarium
  • Rosarius (prologue)
  • Rosarius maior siue Practica
  • Commentarium in libros suos et in libros aliorum philosophorum
  • Tract dedicated to Semita semite
  • Speculum alchemiae
  • Responsio ad Thomam de Bononia
  • Epistola ad Bernardum Treuirensem de lapide philosophico
  • Quinta essentia
  • Liber lucis
  • Dicta philosophorum
Description:
There are a handful of manuscripts in Parker's collection that attest to the Archbishop's interest in alchemy, a subject of great fascination to many of his contemporaries. One such is CCCC MS 99, a collection of alchemical treatises copied in the late fourteenth century. The presence of a number of rough sketches of alchemical instruments and the profusion of stains that litter the manuscript may reveal that at one time this was no theoretical collection, but rather a working textbook. It is not known how this manuscript came into Parker's possession, though M. R. James noted that the triangle inscribed on one of the flyleaves of the manuscript is a symbol often associated with Parker's contemporary, John Dee (1527-1608).
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