The James Catalogue of Western Manuscripts

The first flyleaf has in a good hand of cent. xv an elaborate list of contents headed
In hoc volumine continentur hii libri siue tractatus qui inferius nominantur cum cotacione foliorum in quibus cotantur.
This will be used in the description of the contents.

On the second flyleaf is a copy (xiv) of a deed from "Robertus de barry rector ecclesie de Begeley," concerning the performance of divine service at the capella de villa Willelmi. Witnessed by Ricardus Ep. Meneuensis, Radulphus dominus ville predicte de Corwey, Joh. Lomering etc. given at lanfey III non. Jul. a.d. M^o. CC^o. septuagesimo.
After this in fine large black letters of cent. xvi is
Nomen totius huius libri Miscellanea Roberti de Barry quondam rector de Begeley qui vixit sub an. Dom. 1270.
(Then in italic of cent. xvi)
vt patet ex scripto composicionis quod versa pagina habetur. Sed liber ipse multo est vetustior. Begeley est in Wallia.
On p.251 is another copy of the same agreement in a rather older hand. Among the scribbles following it is:
verus possessor huius libri te(stan)te M^ro Bury.

1. p.1 [f.1r] Tractatus de spera (by Johannes de Sacro Bosco: often printed)
Tractatum de spera in quatuor distinguimus capitula.
There are several diagrams.
Ends: aut mundana machina dissoluitur et cetera.
Expl. tract. de spera.

2. p.15 [f.8r] Canon spere Apulei et Platonis de morte et vita cum figura
The figure precedes the tract. which only fills one column.
Spera apulei et platonici de morte de uita et de multis aliis negociis.
Cf. MS. Digby 88, f.15; and O.2.45, O.7.40, etc. in this collection.

3. p.16 [f.8v] Tract. spere in generali
Spera est circumferencia
-existentibus sub equinoxiali.
Expl. tract. de spera in generali.
In MS. Digby 228 f.1 it is called a glossa breuis super tract.
Joh. de Sacro Bosco de Sphaera.

4. p.19 [f.10r] 'Para' platonis
A large figure and 7 lines of text.

5. p.20 [f.10v] Spera pictagore cum diuersis figuris
Inc. Ratio spere pictagis philosophe quod apollonius scripsit.
With seven large diagrams.
Cf. MS. Digby 46. f.106b where Apulius is read for Apollonius.

6. p.25 [f.13r] Massa compoti (ascribed to Alexander de Villa Dei)
Licet modo in fine temporum constat habere plures radices.
mobilis ibo cyphos a te liberque q^o euo^us.
Expl. liber massa compoti.
Cf. MS. Digby 22, f.25. Ashmole 361 etc.

7. p.43 [f.22r] Hic inc. Ars Kalendarii
Per veterum sagacitatem compositus fuit Kalendar'
-Recestit a nostro emisperio. Amen.
Hic liber est scriptus qui scripsit.
Expl. Ars Kalendarii.

8. p.51 [f.26v] De Flebotomia
Tres sunt dies ut ait beatus Beda.
p.52 Verses on Love: Amor quid
Quid est amor mentis insania (4 lines).
nescio quid sit amor nec amor nec amo nec amaui
(4 lines).

9. p.52 [f.27r] Figura vocata Mase
A circular Labyrinth, filling three-quarters of the page. The centre is occupied by a seated dragon, in red outline, whose tail fills the whole initial space, spreading into very pretty foliage.

10. p.53 [f.27v] Figura de complexionibus elementis humoribus etc.
Sixteen circles with connecting bands, inscribed.
Eighteen lines of text
nota quod 4 ^or sunt elementa.

11. [f.28r] Rota fortune cum multis figuris 54
An ille promouebitur uel non. An amicus tuus te diligat uel non.
A series of diagrams, first two square ones, each divided into 80 inscribed squares and with further lettering at the top. Then twelve circular, called Spera specierum, fructuum, ciuitatum etc. Then fifteen paragraphs, each entitled by the name of a king, e.g. Rex turcorum, Rex Hispanie etc., and containing answers, e.g. Quod queris eueniet tibi, Filium pariet felicem ualde, etc.
Ends: Expliciunt Rote fortune de diuinacione Socratis (twice). Explicit hoc totum pro christo da mihi potum.

12. p.65 [f.33v] Ars de calculacione in gallicis
Cest art est appelee iiii^or fabrica.
With diagrams like those used in geomancy.
Ends unfinished on f.41. ff.41b, 42a are blank.

13. p.84 [f.42v] Eclipsis solis cum canone
Begins with a large coloured diagram of eclipses (48 in number).
Ista tabula docet de eclipsi lune etc. et incipiebat a.d. m^mo ccc^moxxx^o et durabat usque ad a.d. m^mo ccc^mo octoges. sexto, fact' in uniuersitate Oxon. anno predicto.
There are a good many similar tables covering parts of this same period, made by William Reed (afterwards Bp of Chichester), John Aschenden and others, at Oxford, cf. MS. Digby 176.
Text on p.85:
Hec eclipsis solis a.d. 1330 incipiet post meridiem.
The eclipses of the sun end on p.86. Those of the moon on p.90.
Ends: Expl. eclipses Lunares pro 56. annis incipiendo ab Anno Christi 1330.
Then a supplement to the Tabula Bede (see below).

14. p.91 [f.46v] Tabula Terminorum
Sc. septuagesime, quadragesime, pasche, rogacionum, pentecostes.

15. p.92 [f.46v] Tabula Bede cum exposicione
Memorial verses to find Easter, cf. MS. Digby 88, f.84.

16. p.95 [f.48v] Tabula principalis Gerlandi

17. p.97 [f.49v] Tabula lune
In hac tabula potest inueniri in quo signo Luna sit.

18. p.98 [f.50r] Tract. de duodecim signis

19. p.99 [f.50v] Liber Messe halla de significacione planetarum in plagis terre
Primum capitulum de racione circuli etc.
Quia dominus altissimus fecit terram.
-laude dei et eius auxilio.
Expl. epistola Messe halla.
The version is ascribed to John of Seville. Printed at Venice, 1493 etc. See MS. Digby 228, f.75.

20. p.105 [f.53v] De significacione puerorum in qua die nascuntur
Sol est mundi oculus.
Expl. significaciones puerorum in qua die nascuntur per 7 planetas et nomina et natura 12 signorum.
Cf. MS. Digby 228, f.3: signacio is there read for significacio.

21. p.108 [f.55r] Inc. libellus de penitenciis ex diuersis libris extractus
Prologus. Penitencias a scantis(!) patribus traditas
-ecclesiastice et aliis enormibus.
p.110 Hic inc. tituli primi libri
De fornicacione simplici etc.
p.111 Text: Primo de fornicacione simplici notandum sit quod in libro penitenciali
It is in four books: Lib. II. begins p.124
Lib. III begins p.129
Lib. IV. begins p.137
Ends p.139, with some verses, in the chapter.
Isti subscripti mittendi sunt ad episcopum.

22. p.140 [f.71r] Tract. cuiusdam philosophi nomine Secundus
Secundus philosophus qui probatus est omni tempore silentium conseruans et pictagoream vitam ducens.
-(Adrianus) precepit eius libros sacre bibliothece inseri et intitulari.
This is some form of the translation from the Greek life made by William of Gap, abbot of St Denis, or William, Monk of St Denis, in cent. xii. The Greek in Orelli, Opuscula Graecorum, 1819.

23. p.146 [f.73r] Tract. de septem climatibus et 7 planetis
Nota quod vij sunt climata.
Cf. MS. Digby 228, no.2.

24. p.148 [f.74r] (Prognostica anni sequentis ex die natalium Domini)
Si natiuitas d. n. I. C. in die dominica venerit tunc erit yemps bona etc.
Cf. MS. Digby 88, no.33.

25. p.149 [f.74v] Quedam conclusiones de igne
Ignis ad inluminandum de quodam capite picto in pariete.
The last is a receipt: ad rumpendum magnum quercum.
Ending: accende lichinum et cito fuge.

26. p.150 [f.75r] Secreta mulierum qui est liber maior
Homo est rationale et mortale.
A dialogue between discipulus and philosophus.
Ending: sese constituunt. Expl. tract. maior de secretis mulierum.

27. p.172 [f.86r] Liber de (medicamentis et) virtutibus herbarum begins in French verse
Checun sage e saine
Se dut garder de maladie
Atende uoluntiers a met
E bone saunte li aseygnerei.
The first section: Contra capitis.
Sy tun chef est trop doylaunt.
The first section on herbs is on p.174. This part is in Latin.
De Auencia.
Gariofilata latine
Romanam Gariofile
Anglici est herba Auence.
The last section is De Scabiosa. Ends with some verses.
Fert scabiosa pilos veruena non habet ullos
...
Langores pecudum tollit pellitque uenenum.
Expl. lib. de virtutibus herbarum ex caliditate earum et ex frigiditate et humiditate atque et siccitate.

28. p.184 [f.92r] De Unguentis Testantur mag. ypocrasii et magistri galieni
Vnguentum optimum ad colendum salsum fleuma.
The rest after this paragraph is in French.
A section de Urinis also in French on p.186.

29. p.187 [f.93v] De Medicamentis Gallice
Contra dolorem capitis.
Ore comencez a le chyf.
Ends (unfinished) in a section: En centre la goute (p.192).
pp.193-5 are blank: on p.194 is the inscription (xiv, xv)
Kymer law kymro et i- les.

30. p.196 [f.98r] Liber ypocratis in gallicis
Ipocras le tresauge(?).
Section i. Si li malade ad dolur ou emflur en la face.
Ends: sil deuendreit megre assel. etc.
Expl. lib. Ypocratis philosophi et niedici sapientissimi de diuersis medicinis maxime corporibus humanis propicientibus.

31. p.220 [f.110r] Tract. de medicinis in gallicis. In French verse
Pur dolur de la teste.
Tut le corps est enlangur.
Ends: Chaud quant coche le seir
Coe le garr^a bien pur veir.
Some paragraphs in Latin follow: then
Expl. quidam tract. de medicinis in gallicis expositus.
Some charms for fevers in French prose follow on p.249: p.250 is almost all blank.
On p.251 is the second copy of R. de Barry's agreement.

32. p.252 [f.126r] Tractatus phisonomie
Homo dicitur antropos
-cordis nuncium.
Expl. hic tract. qui vocatur Phisonomia.

33. p.256 [f.128r] Palmistria (see below no.63)
Linie naturales 3 ^es sunt in planicie omnis hominis.
-has pretermittas ne s^m (falsum) incurras etc.
Sequitur Manus.
On pp.259, 260 are full-page diagrams of hands. Sinistra femelle and Dextra masculi.

34. p.261 [f.130v] Secreta mulierum minor liber
Cum luna est inferior planeta
-a tenebris ad lumen procedit.
Expl. paruus tract. de secr. mul.

35. p.265 [f.132v] Tract. de aquis
De aqua vite facienda.
The last section on Greek fire
-per arenam. aliter nullo modo.
Expl. tract. de Aquis.

36. p.269 [f.134v] Hic inc. Tract. de nominibus herbarum
Alleluya panis cuculinus idaffodillus
-Zeduaria · zizannia.
Expl. hic tract. herbarum.

37. p.272 [f.136r] Ad phlebotomiam: French prose
In principio. A comencement de chescune play.
-Si met douns la playe.

38. p.276 [f.138r] De aquis
Ad faciendum aquam grossam.
1.5 columns.

39. p.277 [f.138v] De quadrante
Quoniam tota doctrina data in quadrante.
With a few rough diagrams.
The last section is De profunditate putei.
Ending: sunt in modio.
Expl. tract. quadrantis.

40. p.286 [f.143r] Headed (xvi) Ad naturalem philosophiam
Mare · n · stratum equaliter dicitur equor et est endiadis.

41. p.288 [f.144r] Epistole Aristotelis ad Alexandrum
Domino suo excellentissimo. (Prologue of Guido de Valentia.)
p.289 Capitula
p.290 Prohemium cuiusdam doctoris
p.292 Prol. Johannis qui transtulit hunc librum
De Ep. Aristotelis missa ad Regem Alexandrum
O filii gloriosissime.
Ends p.357: Attrahit sua spiritualitas.

42. p.357 [f.179r] De lapidibus
Dicendum est communiter de lapidibus et eorum virtutibus.
-ab omni pollicione.

43. p.361 [f.182r] De animalibus
Cum superius dictum sit de quibus effectibus lapidibus.
After p.362 two leaves are lost with the end of this tract.

44. p.367 [f.182r] Jordanus de ponderibus
Omnis ponderosi motum.
With a number of diagrams.
Expl. tract. de ponderibus Jordani.
Printed at Venice (Nic. Tartalea, 1565): cf. MS. Digby 174, no.8.

45. p.370 [f.183v] Inc. tract. de vii planetis
Gloriosus et sublimis deus creator omnium.
Expl. tract. de vij planetis.

46. p.372 [f.184v] Inc. phisonomia Aristotelis
Ait Arist. ad Alexandrum inter ceteras res una est.
After p.374 two leaves are lost which contained a tract de calculacione.

47. p.379 [f.186r] Tract. de vij planetis
Imperfect at the beginning. Ends:
si quis nascitur prope ei fortuna, etc.
Expl. tract. sub compendio sumptus de vij planetis.
Cf. MS. Digby 228, no.3.
Notes on the vine, and on witnesses, in Latin, follow.

48. p.385 [f.189r] De ventis opusculum
Preceded by a figure on p.384.
Notandum ut similitudo melius intelligatur.
Ends: Est autem una figura de boiceo consolacionis philosophie.

49. p.387 [f.190r] Tabula de horis septem planetarum ad medicos
Ista tabula docet qualiter omnis planeta dominatur.

50. p.388 [f.190v] Palmistria Salamonis
Consists of two full-page diagrams (apparently the same as above, no.33), and on p.390 an explanation of the signs, in French, with the colophon
Expl. tract. de Palmistria Salamonis.

51. p.391 [f.192r] Figure eclipsis solis et lune
Three diagrams with text.
Cum sit luna recto modo sub sole.

52. p.392 [f.192v] S(p)era Fortune
A diagram with text:
Ista spera docet de quacunque re scire volueris.
p.393 Theorica tabula Astronomica cum explicatione
Diagram with text:
Ad intellectum eorum que ante dicuntur describam circulum.
p.394 Notes in Latin on the fruits of trees

53. p.395 [f.194r] Burleus super libros metheororum
De primis igitur causis in uto libro qui intitulatur metheororum Aristotelis.
In MS. Digby 98, no.12.
Two leaves are lost after p.405.
Ends: tunc scimus principium (?) motus.
Expl. tract. libri metheororum.

54. p.411 [f.200r] A form for blessing cattle (lined through)
Benedictio patris omnipotentis et filii et sp. sancti decendat super hec pecora amen. Ecce crucem d. n. I. C. etc.

55. p.412 [f.200v] Constellationes probate, in French prose
Januarie signe de aquarie
-et sur quideresse etc.
Expl. constellationes probate.
Simenel hornes ber none þornes Alleluya.
Verses: Si dedero veneratus ero vocor et onerosus
Ni dedero difformis ero vocor et viciosus etc.

56. p.420 [f.204v] Ignes artificiales
Ad faciendum ignem Rapaccem.
p.421 Remedy for epilepsy, and ad castitatem, lined through

57. p.422 [f.205v] Racio nominum 12 signorum: in French
Signe de aquarie pour quoy est.

58. p.423 [f.206r] Effecta lune in 12 signis
Si luna moratur in ariete.
Tunc caue ab incisione.

59. p.423 [f.206r] Secretorum mulierum appendix
Hec est causa quare mulieres.

60. [f.207r] Verses: (a) Latin (6).
O deus in celis panem benedicere velis.
(b) French (14).
Petit est tu mon enfaunt
Kaunt dieu plerra serra plus graunt.
ω̑ Latin (6).
Vir bene vestitus pro vestibus esse peritus.
In red:
Qui scripsit carmen sit benedictus. Amen.

61. p.426 [f.207v] Distinctiones hominum ratione nativitatis per menses et per dies
In French.
Issi poyt home veyr saunz doutaunce le proprietez de home.
Expl. distinct. humane originis facta per menses et per dies.

62. p.431 [f.210v] Receipts in Latin and French for several matters: making of colours, love-philtres etc. The last is a charm containing the ten names of Christ
Ending p.433.

63. [f.212r] On paper, in a hand of cent. xvii,
Ars ciromantiae.
Lineae naturales sunt in planitie omnis ciros.
Ends: ne falsum incurras. A diagram follows.
See above, p.256.

Flach, J.,  Études critiques sur l'histoire du droit romain au Moyen-Age. Avec textes inédits, (Paris 1890), pp. 289-328

Green, M., 'A Handlist of Latin and Vernacular Manuscripts of the so-called Trotula texts', Scriptorium, 50 (1996), 137-75, and 51 (1997), 80-104

Hunt, T., 'Deliciae Clericorum: Intellectual and Scientific Pursuits in Two Dorset Monasteries', Medium Aevum 56 (1987), 159-82

Kaeppeli, T., 'La bibliothèque de Saint-Eusterge à Milan à la fin de Xve siécle', Archivum Fratrum Praedicatorum 25 (1955), 5-74

Thomson, R., 'Jordanus de Nemore: opera', Mediaeval studies 38 (1976), 98-144

Timmermann, A., 'Alchemy in Cambridge: An Annotated Catalogue of Alchemical Texts and Illustrations in Cambridge Repositories', Nuncius, 30 (2015), p. 368