MS. Ashmole 1441
Summary Catalogue no.: 7624
Summary Catalogue no.: 7708
Alchemical and medical collections, 15th-17th century
Contents
Summary of Contents: Only the 16th-century part (fols. 1-78) is described here; in part 2 there are also fragments of 15th century alchemical manuscript(s) at pp. 86-91 (?).
1. pp. 4–8
Unidentified alchemical text Rubric: Tractatus de anima metallorum
Incipit: Aqua de qua loquitur Raymundus
Language(s): Latin
2. pp. 8–11
, Anima artis transmutacionis Rubric: In nomine sancte trinitatis—principium hujus compendii quod dicitur Anima Artis Transmutatorie
Incipit: Jam sepius te allocuti recolimus
See also art. 9.
Singer, Alchemical MSS., no. 253Language(s): Latin
3. p. 13
Unidentified alchemical text Rubric: Ars brevissima et levissima ad album et ad rubeum et eciam verissima
Language(s): Latin
4. p. 16
Unidentified alchemical text Rubric: Incipit opus ad rubeum perfectum
Incipit: Ad solem fac sicut fecisti de luna
Language(s): Latin
5. p. 22
, Opus ad magistrum Hospitalis Rubric: Magister Arnaldus de Villa Nova dedit hanc receptam, pro amore Dei, Magistro Hospitalis sancti Johannis de ultra mare, ad dimicandum contra Saracenos
Incipit: In Dei nomine amen. R’ solis[sic] (auri) calcinati
Singer, Cat. Alchemical MSS, no. 225; eTVK 1334I; ArnauDB: Corpus Digital d'Arnua de Vilanova, op5016; Language(s): Latin
6. pp. 25–8
Unidentified alchemical text Rubric: Opus magistri Johannis de Villa Magna
Incipit: R’ . 1. auri puri
Language(s): Latin
7. pp. 28–30
Rubric: Opus Ferberni de Arragonia
Incipit: In primis Jhesu nomine invocato, R’ sulphuris
Final rubric: Tunc projici in ingotum ferreum linitum cum cera nova. De isto auro vidi quod Ferbernus de Arrogonia habuit, qui habuit a Patriarcha Constantinopolitano, et vidi ipsum vendere aurum istud. Et docuit me hujus experientiam. Explicit.
Singer, Cat. Alchemical MSS., no. 352 ('Feovernus de Arragonia'); W. J. Wilson, 'Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in the United States and Canada', Osiris, Vol. 6 (1939), pp. 1-836, no. 116, attrib. 'Bernhardus de Arragonia'; eTVK 0706H. Language(s): Latin
8. pp. 31–5
Unidentified alchemical text Rubric: Pictagoras
Incipit: Secundum Pictagoram sic est procedendum. Accipiatur lapis noster amenus
Explicit: in infinitumque augmentatur. Deo gracias
Language(s): Latin
9. pp. 36–9
, Anima artis transmutacionis Rubric: De margaritis condendis
Incipit: Opus margaritarum est quod capias aquam martis
Explicit: tibi sufficit ad effectum
Final rubric: Et finitur Anima Artis Transmutatorie abbreviata &c.
In the margin is this additional title: —“Extract’ a libro qui dicitur Anima Artis Transmutatorie Raydi abbreviata.” (Thus subscribed by an other hand, “Vide compend. lap. prec. fol. 369.”)
Cf. above, art. 1; Zetzner, Theatrum Chemicum, IV.185-Language(s): Latin
10. p. 49
Rubric: Elixer vite secundum magistrum Rogerum Bacon in libro experimentali
Language(s): Latin
11. p. 54
Alchemical recipe Rubric: Balneum philosoficum
Incipit: Make yow a grete rownde balle of bras
This, (also an article without a title at pp. 47—8) and the following pieces, alone are in English in this MS.
Language(s): English
12. pp. 54–65
Alchemical recipes Rubric: Elixir vini
Incipit: Take the most precious sweete wyne
Rubric: A trewe grounde off practisinge for to make the perfiȝt elixer
Rubric: Solucōn off the calx
Rubric: Putrefaction
Rubric: Fermentacion
Rubric: To make ye perfiȝt elixer. The multiplicacōn off these two elixeris.
Rubric: Projection uppon mercurye and metallys
Rubric: Elixer of lyffe.
Language(s): English
13. pp. 69–78
, Testamentum (extracts)
, Codicillus (extracts)
Rubric: Notabilia de practica Testamenti
Rubric: Notabilia de Codicillo Raymundi
The last title is “Aqua potabilis sine corrosivis,” and the MS. ends thus—
Explicit: mirabiliter. Unde Deo gratlas agamus. Finis.
Language(s): Latin
Physical Description
Form: codex
Support: paper
History
Record Sources
Description adapted (May 2022), with additional reference to published literature as cited, from the Quarto Catalogue (W. H. Black, A descriptive, analytical, and critical catalogue of the manuscripts bequeathed unto the University of Oxford by Elias Ashmole Esq...., Quarto Catalogues X, 1845).
Abbreviations
View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.
Last Substantive Revision
2022-05: Description of contents revised.