MS. Bodl. 581
Summary Catalogue no.: 2191
Contents
A treatise on the duties of kings. At fol. 3 is an abstract of 'Phisomia', i.e. the Physiognomia, ascribed to Aristotle, with a list of the 51 chapters, or rather paragraphs.
A list of things seen in dreams and a judgement on their significance, in alphabetical order
A treatise compiled (from Petrus de Abano and other sources) for the solace of Richard II (whose picture is on fol. 9) in March 1391. In the pref. the author calls himself 'minimus servientum' Regis. The account of it on fol. 90 distinguishes three parts 'Liber judiciorum cum duobus alphabetis questionum [fol. 11] & figurarum [fol. 15v]', 'Flores questionum veritatis et judiciorum Geomancie' [fol. 76], and 'Rosarium Regis Ricardi de figuris affirmantibus & prohibentibus effectum querentis & rei quesite cum certificacione hore planete sub quo questiones calculari debent'. On fols. 15v-22v are fourteen figures of philosophers. The whole treatise is partly astrological, and the present MS. may well be the one written for the King. A nearly erased note on the inner front cover refers to Petrus de Abano, and a printed edition of his work on geomancy.
Physical Description
Decoration
Fine miniatures.
Fine borders.
Fine historiated initials.
Fine initials. Related to the earlier style of the Carmelite Missal. Same text and iconography as London, B.L., Royal 12 C. V. (Pächt and Alexander iii. 673, pl. LXX)
Binding
Stamped black leather on boards, clasps lost, Oxford early 17th cent. work,
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Presentation copy for Richard II (?).
The names of 'Charls Forster' and 'Robart Ladkins', both 16th cent. (foll. 23v, 91), occur.
Henry Savile of Banke (no. 8 in the catalogue of his library, ed. A. Watson, p. 18)
Presented by Thomas Twyne in 1612.
Record Sources
Availability
This item will be on display in the Bodleian Libraries exhibition "Oracles, Omens and Answers" (ST Lee Gallery, Weston Library) from 6 Dec. 2024 to 27 April 2025, and will not be orderable between those dates or for a short period before and after.
Digital Images
Digital Bodleian (28 images from 35mm slides)
Abbreviations
View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.
Last Substantive Revision
2017-07-01: First online publication.