Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 099: Alchemical Tracts
Description
Abstract/Contents
- Summary
- 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).
- 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
Bibliographic information
- M.R. James Date
- xv
- Downloadable James Catalogue Record
- https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:vc420wh8808/MS_99.pdf
- Superseded Interim Catalogue Record
- https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:sj508nb0025/99.pdf
- Contains
-
- Khalid , Questiones et responsiones. 1-6
- Nasmith
- Questiones Kalid regis ad Morienum Romanum. 1-6
- Author
- Khalid
- Incipit
- (1) Moriene manifesta michi magisterium
- Explicit
- (6) malum exitum habentia
- Rubric
- (6) Explicit morieni tractatus
- De occulto lapide philosophorum. 6-11
- Nasmith
- Tractatus qui dicitur, Planta arborem. 6-11
- Note
- Habetur hic tractatus de verbo in verbum in speculo Alchimiae: vide infra 21
- Incipit
- (6) Planta arborem et edifica tibi domum
- Explicit
- (11) consolidans et perseuerans
- Razes (Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Zakariyya al-Razi), Practica. 11-13
- Nasmith
- Practica Rasis. 11-13
- Author
- Razes (Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Zakariyya al-Razi)
- Incipit
- (11) In dei nomine et cum eius adiutorio. Reducamus primo corpora
- Explicit
- (13) et plumbum rubeum (?) ...
- Razes (Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Zakariyya al-Razi), Flores secretorum. 13-15
- Nasmith
- Flores secretorum Rasis de regimine quatuor naturarum. 13-15
- Author
- Razes (Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Zakariyya al-Razi)
- Incipit
- (13) In dei nomine amen. Scito fili quia sapientes
- Explicit
- (15) premissi capituli sequitur effectus
- Senior mireris. 15-16
- Nasmith
- Tractatus qui dicitur, Senior Mireris. 15-16
- James
- Senior mereri. 15-16
- Incipit
- (15) Cum queris quid sit lapis
- Explicit
- (16) nunquam indigebit
- Alphidius, De lapide philosophorum. 16-18
- Nasmith
- Documenta Mireris. 16-18
- Author
- Alphidius
- Incipit
- (16) Scito fili quia hunc librum scripsi
- Explicit
- (18) inefficax cesses
- John Dastin, Epistola ad episcopum Iohannem XXII de alchemia. 18-20
- Nasmith
- Epistola Iohannis Dasten. 18-20
- Author
- John Dastin
- Note
- (Dastin)
- Incipit
- (18) Hoc est secretum secretorum
- Explicit
- (20) scripsi quam breuius potui
- Nicolaus de Comitibus (?), Speculum alchemiae. 21-35
- Nasmith
- Tractatus nobilis Nicholai comitis. 21-35
- Author
- Nicolaus de Comitibus (?)
- Incipit
- (21) In nomine domini Amen. Ut ad perfectam scienciam
- Explicit
- (35) qui dat sapienciam sapientibus. Amen
- Jabir ibn Hayyan (attrib.), Summa perfectionis magisterii. 35-92
- Nasmith
- Geberi summa perfecti magisterii. 35-92
- Author
- Jabir ibn Hayyan (attrib.)
- Incipit
- (36) Totam nostram scienciam quam ex libris antiquorum
- Explicit
- (92) Ad artis igitur excelse perquisicionem hec dicta sufficiant
- Jabir ibn Hayyan (attrib.), Secreta secretorum abbreuiata. 93-96
- Nasmith
- Secreta secretorum in opere Solaris et lunaris, Geber abbreviata. 93-96
- Author
- Jabir ibn Hayyan (attrib.)
- Incipit
- (93) Omnes huius sciencie inuestigatores
- Explicit
- (96) et dealbabitur peculiose
- John Dastin, Visio super artem alchemicam. 96-98
- Nasmith
- Visio Iohannis Dastin. 96-98
- Author
- John Dastin
- Incipit
- (96) Cum omni natura constancium
- Explicit
- (98) poma collegimus...timemus
- Alchemical treatise variously ascribed to John of Damascus, Uguictius and Arisleus. 99-102
- Nasmith
- Tractatus qui dicitur Lumen intelligentiae. 99-102
- Author
- John of Damascus
- Uguictius
- Arisleus
- Incipit
- (99) In nomine domini Amen. ffili karissime scias Spiritus domini ferebatur
- Explicit
- (102) deus meus sit merces tua per infinita secula seculorum. Amen
- Johannes Tectinensis, Alchemy. 102-106
- Nasmith
- Tractatus Ioannis Tectivensis. 102-106
- Author
- Johannes Tectinensis
- Incipit
- (102) Hec res prima confricetur
- Explicit
- (106) consequi mereantur in tuo nomine. Amen
- Ramón Lull, Aurum potabile. 106-108
- Nasmith
- Aurum potabile Raymundi. 106-108
- Author
- Ramón Lull
- Incipit
- (106) Respice aurum potabile
- Explicit
- (108) habet humanitatem
- William of Tunis (attrib.), Lilium Paridis. 109-121
- Nasmith
- Lilium Paridis Philosophi. 109-121
- Author
- William of Tunis (attrib.)
- Rubric
- (109) Incipit liber paridis philosophi
- Note
- (not Phebi)
- Incipit
- (109) Naturam circa solem et lunam
- Explicit
- (121) perfecit hoc opus in 80 diebus
- John Dastin, Rosarium. 122-143
- Nasmith
- Rosarius Phebi, aliter vocatus liber Ioannis Dasten. 122-143
- Author
- John Dastin
- Rubric
- (122) Incipit liber philosophi (glossed phebi) de lapide philosophorum
- Incipit
- (122) Desiderabile desiderium
- Explicit
- (143) et est thesaurus preciosus et incomparabilis
- Rubric
- (143) Explicit liber Phebi philosophi (added alibi vocatur liber Joannis Dasten)
- Arnold of Villanova, Rosarius (prologue). 144-149
- Nasmith
- Rosarius minor sive Theorica Arnoldi de Villa nova. 144-149
- Author
- Arnold of Villanova
- Rubric
- (144) Rosarius minor (Arnaldi de villa noua)
- Note
- Added: Theorica habetur pro libro textuali ut patet in commento eiusdem
- Incipit
- (144) Liber abbreuiatus comprobatus
- Explicit
- (149) nullus unquam philosophus tradidit meliora
- Arnold of Villanova, Rosarius maior siue Practica. 150-163
- Nasmith
- Rosarius major sive Practica Arnoldi de Villa nova. 150-163
- Author
- Arnold of Villanova
- Rubric
- (150) Capitula (32) precede
- Incipit
- (150) Manifestum est autem operacionem
- Explicit
- (163) esse de numero sapientum antiquorum
- Rubric
- (163) Explicit rosarius maior philosophorum uerissimus et in arte nostra optimus
- Arnold of Villanova, Commentarium in libros suos et in libros aliorum philosophorum. 164-182
- Nasmith
- Commentarium Arnoldi de Villa nova in libros suos et libros aliorum philosophorum. 164-182
- Author
- Arnold of Villanova
- Incipit
- (164) Incipiunt uerba commentaria primi libri Arnaldi de uilla noua ac phebi ac paridis philosophorum
- Explicit
- (182) quod et tradidi uobis in nomine domini. Amen
- Rubric
- (182) Explicit liber secundus practicus arnaldi de villa noua
- Arnold of Villanova, Tract dedicated to Semita semite. 183-188
- Nasmith
- Tractatus qui incipit, O venerande pater. 183-188
- Author
- Arnold of Villanova
- Note
- Est epistola Avicenae ad Abazez patrem suum de re tecta. Est potius flos florum Arnoldi.
- Incipit
- (183) O uenerande pater gracias ago deo
- Explicit
- (188) quam possis percipere racione
- Note
-
14 Verses
(188) Nam si nature uulgo secreta paterent...Sunt preciosa magis cum rarius inueniuntur
- Speculum alchemiae. 189-194
- Nasmith
- Speculum Alchimiae. 189-194
- Note
- Quaere an Rogeri Bacon?
- Incipit
- (189) Sciendum est quia philosophi per 4or uerba hoc opus compleuerunt
- Explicit
- (194) sufficiunt intellectum habentibus
- Bernard of Treves, Responsio ad Thomam de Bononia. 195-208
- Nasmith
- Epistola Barnardi Trevirensis ad Thomam de Bononia medicum. 195-208
- Author
- Bernard of Treves
- Incipit
- (195) Obsequiis michi possibilibus premissis. Egregie doctor
- Note
- (Notes to title a. Est epistola Comitis Trevirensis ad Thomam de Bononia medicum. b. 2a epistola Barnardi magni philosophi et sunt 3es epistolae eiusdem philosophi)
- Explicit
- (208) esse calidum et humidum
- Rubric
-
(208) Explicit epistola cuiusdam philosophi (viz. Barnardi magni)
(208) Al. de la Brett ut in Trayer co. gg. cum ceteris uel ut in alio libro uocatur Barnardus Treuerensis
- Thomas of Bologna, Epistola ad Bernardum Treuirensem de lapide philosophico. 208-213
- Nasmith
- Secunda epistola ejusdem. 208-213
- Author
- Thomas of Bologna
- Incipit
- (208) In altissimis laudibus micat amicicia
- Explicit
- (213) secretario michi utriusque fideli
- Iohannes de Rupescissa OFM, Quinta essentia. 214-248
- Nasmith
- Johannes de Rupescissa de consideratione quintae essentiae. 214-248
- Author
- Iohannes de Rupescissa OFM
- Incipit
- (214) Primus liber etc. In nomine domini nostri Ihesu Christi incipit liber de famulatu philosophie etc. Dixit Salomon. Sapiencie cao 7o
- Explicit
- (247) uel in eius absencia aqua ardens
- Note
- ? unfinished, p. 248 blank
- Iohannes de Rupescissa OFM, Liber lucis. 249-254
- Nasmith
- Idem de essentia quinta Mercurii sive liber Lucis. 249-254
- Author
- Iohannes de Rupescissa OFM
- Rubric
- (249) Essencia 5a Mercurii [a. per Arnoldum], b. per Johannem de Rupescissa et vocatur Liber Lucis
- Incipit
- (249) Materia lapidis est res vilis
- Explicit
- (254) qui quidem tiranni punientur a domino nostro Ihesu Christo cui est etc. per infinita secula seculorum. Amen
- Note
- Some crosses etc. and ? and ? are added in a hand of cent. xvi
- Dicta philosophorum. 255-256
- Note
- A leaf of an imperfect tract beginning
- Incipit
- (255) Philosophi naturales Auicenna, Hermes, Aurinius, Arsinus, Morienus, Ceber, Jpermenides, Casiarius, Exennius, Pictagoras et alii
- Khalid , Questiones et responsiones. 1-6
- TJames
- vac.
- Stanley
- Misc. X
- Location
- https://purl.stanford.edu/kh694wf4541
- MS 099
- Repository
- UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction:
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- License:
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