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Manuscripts in the Parker Library at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
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  • Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 099: Alchemical Tracts

Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 099: Alchemical Tracts

Description

Alternative title
Alchemica
Type of resource
mixed material
Extent
ff. 129 + 1
Date created
[ca. 1400-1499]
Language
Latin
Material
Vellum
Layout
49 lines to a page
Height (mm)
365
Width (mm)
260
Collation
1 flyleaf, 1(8) (+1) 2(8)-16(8), old pagination incorrect.
Writing
in clear book-hand
Foliation
ff. a-b + i + pp. 1-234 + 234a-b + 235-256 + ff. c-d
Additions
On the flyleaf is pasted a piece of vellum with a list of contents (27 items) cent. xvi early, also a piece of paper with an alchemical extract.

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
TJames
vac.
Stanley
Misc. X
Repository
UK, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Parker Library
Location
MS 099

Access conditions

Use and reproduction:
Images courtesy of The Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. For higher resolution images suitable for scholarly or commercial publication, either in print or in an electronic format, please contact the Parker Library directly at parker-library@corpus.cam.ac.uk
License:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License
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