A catalogue of Western manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries and selected Oxford colleges

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
Ps.-Raymond Lull, 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. 253
Language(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
Ps.-Arnaldus de Villanova, 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
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
Ps.-Raymond Lull, 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
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

Origin: 16th century ; English

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).

Last Substantive Revision

2022-05: Description of contents revised.