The James Catalogue of Western Manuscripts

Shelfmark O.1.31
Manuscript Title

I. Carmen de Algorismo II. Massa Compoti

Alternative Title

Mathematica.

James Number 1055
Date Cent. xv (1419).
Century 15th
Physical Description

Varying numbers of lines to a page. In two current hands.

Provenance

Part of the Gale collection, given to T.C.C. by Roger Gale in 1738. C 13. No. 144.

Second Folio qui numerus
Donor Gale, Roger (1672-1744), Antiquary
Size (cm) 20.5 x 14.5
Folio 46 + 3 ff.
Material Parchment
Language Latin
Collation

1 flyleaf, 112 210 | 312 | 412 | 2 flyleaves.

Notes

No f.2

IIIF Manifest URL https://mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/O.1.31/manifest.json
Online Since 21/10/2021

Contents

On the flyleaf is
Annus(?) domini 1415 et henrici quinti tercius instit(?).

I. f.1 Algorismus versificatus, with prose comment
Hec algorismus ars presens dicitur in qua.
Talibus indorum fruimur bis quinque figuris.
0 . 9 . 8 . 7 . 6 . 5 . 4 . 3 . 2 . 1 .
Liber iste quem pre manibus habemus diuiditur in 2 o partes.
Ends f.18: pro summa petita.
(In red.) Expl. Algorismus bonus et vtilis (added: quod
Johannes B.).
Then: Nota quod a.d. 1419 et henrici quinti 6 to in festo purificacionis b. marie fuit annus 11 us Cicli Solaris Et 14 us cicli lunaris et duodecimus Cicli Indictionalis A litera dominicali.
See Halliwell's Rara Mathematica.
On ff.19-22 are tables of numbers and notes on the moon, on the twelve signs, and "de puero nato die dominica."
Also on Subtraction, Addition, Multiplication and Division.

II. f.23 Hic incipit compotus ecclesiasticus (Johannis de Garlandia?)
Licet modo in fine temporum plures constat haberi codices de arte calculatoria videntur posse sufficere.
Verses are interspersed. The first is
Per totidem a funere coniugis uxor
Sustinet in uidua tristia signa thoro.
Again:
Aureus in iano numerus clauesque nouantur etc.
Ends f.45b: racione fuit confirmatum etc.
Expl. computus ecclesiasticus quod · J.B. Amen.
Ihesus Maria Johannes Thomas Nicholaus etc. adiuuent me.
Anno domini 1419 Et henrici quinti .6. cicli Solaris 11.
lunaris 14. A. litera dominicali.
On the last page are some xvth cent. scribbles:
Tractatum de spera in quattuor capitula diuidimus.
Si tibi deficiant medici medici tibi fiant
Hec tria, mens leta labor moderata dieta.
Non vox sed vocum (uel votum) non musica cordula sed cor
Non clamor sed amor cantat in aure dei.
and a table of the 12 signs.

Bibliography

Parkes, M. B., Engish Cursive Book Hands 1250-1500 (Oxford, 1969), no. 2(ii)

Robinson, P., Catalogue of Dated and Datable Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries, 2 vols. (Cambridge, 1988), no. 360, pl. 202 [ff.2-18, 23-45 dated 1419, written in England]

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