2. (fol. 2)
Table of contents Language(s): Latin
4. (fols. 9r–v, 37v)
Compotus manualis with commentary Incipit: \Circum/Cisio Janus Epi\phaniu/ sibi seq\itur/ oc. Fe\licio/ Mau\rus/ Mar\cellus/ Sulp\icius/
Colophon: Explicit compotus manualis, scriptus per R. Stapulton
The verses immediately following the Cisio Janus are (fol. 9v), 'A B C sunt extra d e f intra g supra'; see Wordsworth, Kalendar, 164, 179. For the Cisio Janus see ibid. 349. On fol. 10 is 'Filius esto dei', for which see ibid. 161/9 and Walther 6525, but many of the verses are different from those in Wordsworth. Fol. 37v is another copy of the text on fol. 9v, probably a reject leaf since fol. 37 is palimpsest.
eTK 0226E Language(s): Latin
5. (fol. 13)
John March (15th cent.),
De metris Incipit: Licet in presenti opusculo omnium sillabarum naturam declarare proponimus
Explicit: et regit hoc ympnos sequentes, Martiris ecce dies
Final rubric: Explicit bona compilacio de metris, quam compilavit dominus Johannes Marche, capellanus, ad instanciam domini W. de Passurtone
Also in much shorter form in Cambridge, Trinity College, MS. O.5.4 (1285), fol. 59. Bale, Index, 233 cites a work called 'Scansiones metrarum' by this author but its incipit differs.
Language(s): Latin
6. (fols. 30v-32v, 34v-37r, 46v-50v, 58-60, 66r-69v, 73, 116r-120v, 143r-v, 274, 276v-277r, 293r-305r)
Medical recipes Including (f. 32v), 'Vera composicio domine de Beuchamp' (cf. 58v, 60r); 'Comitis Herdfordie, prenobilis in arte sururgico* (sic ; cf. 58r); 'Roberti Fermorarii de Kylyngwer ; (f. 33v), 'Buryson;' (f. 35v), 'Gilbertus;' (f. 120v), 'Sal quo usi sunt sacerdotes Egipti in diebus Elesay, et semper erant apparentes juvenes, et istud sal valet pro pluribus infirmitatibus in corpore humano;' (f. 293v), 'Collerium magistri Mauricii pro oculis;' (f. 300v), 'Pulvis preservativus, qui dicitur imperialis, quia imperatores Gentilium utuntur illo pulvere contra epidemiam et contra intoxicationes et omne venenum, contra morsum serpentum et aliorum animalium venenosorum, et dicitur in lingua Arabica Bechazaar, id est, a morte liberans.'
On fol. 117 is a recipe 'ad faciend' tabulas albas'. On fol. 120v is 'Ad faciendum sal quo usi sunt sacerdotes veteris legis'.
Language(s): Middle English and Latin
7. (fol. 33)
Grammatical text Rubric: Quatuor conjugationes Donati sub compendio
In the bottom margin of fol. 33 are two verses beg. 'Pulcrior esse putat', Sent. 22861 (= Pamphilius, v. 113 et seq.).
Language(s): Latin
8. (fols. 37r, 129)
Medical verses on measures Incipit: Grana quater quinque scrupuli pro pondere
eTK 0589G Walther 7292 Language(s): Latin
(fols. 38r-(44))
Herbal glossary Rubric: Nomina synonoma herbarum
Incipit: Absintheum amarum idem gallice aloyne anglice weremode
eTK 0011H Language(s): Middle English, Latin, Anglo-Norman
10. (fol. 44v-(45))
Antonius Musa,
De herba vettonica (ch. 1) Rubric: Virtus vel curacio herbe betonice que habet medicamina quadraginta quatuor
Incipit: Herba betonica contusa
eTK 0608P Language(s): Latin
11. (fol. 45v-(50))
Text on plantain Rubric: Virtus vel curacio arnoglosse que habet medicamina viginti quatuor
Incipit: Herbe plantaginis
eTK 0610J Language(s): Latin
12. (fols. 50v-58, 64-65)
Names and virtues of herbs (fol. 50v)
Incipit: Nomen herbe saturion vel priapistus gallice foteroyle anglice standelgusse
(fol. 64v)
Incipit: Absintheum est herba acerima calida et sicca
cf. eTK 0012A Language(s): Latin
13. (fols. 60-63v, 112-114, 160v-161, 293)
Medical recipes Language(s): Latin, Anglo-Norman, Middle English
14. (fol. 70)
Rubric: For to knowe yueles that cometh of postoumes, hou it his clepet and of what compleccioun it haren
Language(s): Middle English
15. (fols. 73, 114v)
Text on urines Rubric: Viginti varii colores urinarum
Incipit: Primus color albus est
Rubric: Judicia urinarum
Incipit: (fol. 114v) Urine qwite at morne
eTK 1122I After art. 15, on fol. 72(73)v, are medical recipes beg. 'Ad maturandum quodcumque apostema in uno die si sit sub assellis.' The text breaks off at the end of the quire with catchword 'resine' and is continued in Balliol College, MS. 219 fols. 1-5
Language(s): Latin and Middle English
16. (fol. 74v)
Rubric: Signa que Ypocras fecit ad cognoscendum si infirmus sanari posset per medicinam vel non
Kibre, Hipp. Lat., p. 227 (XLVIII, Secreta; Signa sanitatis et mortis).
eTK 1502J Language(s): Latin and Middle English
17. (fol. 75v)
Text on urines Rubric: Nature urinarum, sub compendio
Incipit: Prima urina colorata
eTK 1097F Language(s): Latin
18. (fol. 76v)
Language(s): Latin
19. (fols. 118v-119v)
Instructions for making a sundial Incipit: Instrumentum per quod sciuntur hore diei per umbram supra superficiem planam aque
eTK 0753F With diagram.
Language(s): Latin
(fol. 120v)
Incipit: Sal quo usi sunt sacerdotes Egipti
eTK 1368J 20. (fol. 121r–125r)
Rubric: Anathomia de homine
Five chapters
Incipit: Ex Aristotelis auctoritate expressum habemus
eTK 0530I Language(s): Latin
21. (fols. 125, 130v)
Text on urines Rubric: To knaw bestate of man and woman be thare water
Text on urines Rubric: Judicia urinarum, secundum Egidium
Incipit: (fol. 130v) Quoniam circa urinas quinque attenduntur generalis et septem specialia
eTK 1247 With diagrams.
Language(s): Latin and Middle English
22. (fol. 141v)
On the four humours in the body Incipit: Humor est corpus liquidem fluidum
Extracts ascribed to Avicenna
eTK 0645I Language(s): Latin
24. (fol. 153-(161v))
John of Mirfield,
Breuiarium Bartholomaei (extract, 8 chapters) Incipit: Oportet ipsum qui vult esse longevum
Explicit: si non desistant quod percussionem non evadent
Final rubric: Explicit compendiosus tractatus de regimine sanitatis
eTK 1011I (attributes to Bartolomaeus de Ferraria) See R. Creytens, AFP, 25 (1955), 371.
Language(s): Latin
25. (fol. 162r–167r)
'Gerardus Hispanus',
Flores Astronomiae Incipit: Cum animadverterem plures medicorum, in exhibicione medicinarum, terminos et motus corporum supercelestium ignorantes, graviter errare
Explicit: Hoc autem est intelligendum secundum medium motum
Final rubric: Expliciunt flores astronomie Gerardi de Hispania, valentes in opere medicine
eTK 0281I Language(s): Latin
26. (fol. 167.)
Ps.-Hippocrates,
Astrologia medicorum (tr. William of Moerbeke) Incipit: Dixit sapientissimus Ypocras, omnium medicorum peritissimus, Incius[sic] medicus est qui astronomiam ignorat […] Legens ergo libros Ypocratis, medicorom optimi, hunc librum parvum sed magis utilitatis reperi
Kibre, Hipp. Lat., 99, 103 (VII. Astrologia medicorum). L. Thorndike, 'The three Latin translations of the Pseudo-Hippocratic tract on astrological medicine', Janus, 49 (1960), 104-29, at 105 (list of manuscripts). eTK 0458B Language(s): Latin
27. (fol. 172v-(174))
Incipit: Notandum quod in omni medicamine vel cura, sive fiat per alterationem sive per evacuationem.
eTK 0951F Language(s): Latin
28. (fol. 174r-(178v), 181v-(184))
Medical-astrological text in eight chapters Same text on fol. 181v, the fifth chaper varied.
Incipit: Per primum numerum parem demonstratur quot sunt principaliter consideranda in egritudine acuta seu cronica
eTK 1032K Language(s): Latin
29. (fols. 179r-181)
Text on the virtues of constellations and planets, with table Incipit: Quoniam secundum sapientes uultus inferiorum uultui superiorum
eTK 1301J Language(s): Latin
30. (fol. 184v–185r–193r)
Rubric: De infirmis si morientur vel vivent, de flebotomia, de temporibus dandi medicinas, per astronomiam
14 chapters. Cap. i. De signatore infirmi. ii. De infirmitate, si est in spiritu vel corpore.
eTK 1503G Language(s): Latin
31. (fol. 193r–v)
Sphaera Pythagorae Incipit: Collige per numerum quicquid cupis esse probandum
See L. E. Voigts, 'The Latin verse and Middle English prose texts on the sphere of life and death in Harley 3719', The Chaucer Review, 21 (1986), 291-305, at 298.
Walther 3024 eTK 0234C Language(s): Latin
32. (fol. 194v-(195v))
Astrological text Rubric: Tractatus brevis, sed perutilis de constellacionibus
Incipit: Sciendum quod si quis nascitur in aliqua hora diei
eTK 1399I Language(s): Latin
33. (fols. 196-200)
Astrological texts on the zodiac, planets, days of the week etc. Text on fols. 196v beg. 'Si volueris horam noctis invenire.' Text on fol. 197v beg. 'Cinthia mercurius Venus et Sol Mars love Satur', followed by 'Primo sciendum quod septem sunt planete', eTK 1112L, which is Hermes, Secreta. On fol. 199v is a table of complexions with verses, beg. 'Largus amans hilaris ridens', repeated from fol. 200; eTK 0811N, cf. Walther 10131. Also three verses beg. 'Anni sunt partes autumpnus yemps ver et estas.' They are also found on fol. 142.
Language(s): Latin
34. (fols. 200-201)
Astrological text: tables related to the fixed stars, planets, and movable bodies The last piece (fol. 201) beg. 'Diameter lune ad diametrum terre.' In the bottom margin are 'Componendi modus incausti nigri.1 Vncia gallarum mediate fit vncia gummi I Vncia vitrioli superaddat octo phalarni,' and 'Primo ponantur galle per quinque vel sex dies in aqua pluviali, deinde cope rose et simul stent quousque bene comisceantur et erga tempus in quo vis scribere impone gummam per septimam a(?).'
Language(s): Latin
35. (fol. 201v-(204v))
Short medical text Incipit: Medicina in duo dividitur, sciliciet ln theoricam et practicam
As far as the virtutes this is a commentary on Johannitius's Isagoge.
eTK 0858F Language(s): Latin
36. (fol. 205)
Explicatio verborum Arabicorum in medicina usitatorum
Incipit: Alhosor, id est species zucrati duri
See also fol. 274, verses beg. 'Gaudet epar spodio'.
Language(s): Latin
38. (fol. 244)
Antidotarium Nicholai Rubric: Nicholaus de compositis medicinis
Incipit: Ego Nicholaus rogatus a quibusdam in practica studere volentibus
Language(s): Latin
(fol. 274r)
Seven verses on anatomy Incipit: Gaudet epar spodio mace cor cerebrum quoque misto
eTK 0579K Walther 7108 40. (fol. 275)
Text on shorthand Incipit: Cum in arte notoria quamplura reseruntur
Language(s): Latin
41. (fol. 278)
Trotula Rubric: Trotula mulierum
Incipit: Cum auctor universitatis Deus in prima mundi origine
Final rubric: (fol. 291v) Explicit hec Trota multum mulieribus apta
Followed by four other verses.
eTK 0284J On the development of this text see M. H. Green, 'The development of the Trotula', Revue d'histoire des textes, 26 (1996), 119-203. In the bottom margin of fol. 29 tv is a list of 'autores in medicinis'-'Galienus, Diascarides, Rasy, Damacenus, Lilium, Mesue, Cupho, Constantinus, Serapion, Avicenna, Algazel, Averoys, et alii sequaces.'
Language(s): Latin
42. (fol. 292r)
Astrological text Quomodo inveniendus sit locus lunae in zodiaco
Incipit: Nota quod si quis velit scire locum lune
eTK 0941C Language(s): Latin
43. (fol. 292v)
Rubric: Tabula ad sciendum quando flebotomia est bona vel mala vel mediocris
Language(s): Latin
44. (fol. 294v)
John of Burgundy,
Tractatus de morbo epidemiae Rubric: Fidelis medici ad amicum bonum et sanum regiminis consilium, si audiatur, contra pestilenciam
Incipit: Dilectissime frater et intellexi multum times pro instanti pestilencia
eTK 0431K For copies additional to those listed by eTK see D. W Singer & A. Anderson, Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Plague Texts in Great Britain and Eire (reprod. from typescript, Paris & London, 1950), no. 16
Language(s): Latin
45. (fol. 295v)
Treatise on rosemary Rubric: Virtutes quedam de rosa marina, collecte per quendam clericum de Salernia comitisse de Holand, quas ipsa misit filie sue Philippe desponsate Regi Anglie
Incipit: Rosa marina arbor et herba calida et sicca
eTK 1366E Language(s): Latin
46. (fols. 299-300)
Herbal text De virtutibus herbarum quarundam
Language(s): Latin
Provenance and Acquisition
Largely written by Richard Stapleton, Master of Balliol College, Oxford.
Given by him to Balliol College: erased inscription, fol. 2, legible by ultraviolet light: ‘'Istum librum dedit M. Ricardus ⟨Stapu⟩lton cathenandum in Iib⟨raria⟩ ColJegii Ba⟨lliolensis …⟩ (cf. MSS. Balliol College 197 and 219). Stapulton was Master of Balliol c. 1430 and gave MSS. 197 and 219 to the College; see Mynors, Balliol, xx, 213 et seq., 282.’
On fol. 305v is 'Cesely Margarete borne Joh'i[?] bolytowe' (s. xv), and 'Rychard Goodwyn' (s. xv). At the top of the same leaf is 'ijClxiiij levys.'
Probably later in the possession of John Dee (Roberts & Watson, MI77).
Kenelm Digby, 1603–1665. On fol. ii are Digby's motto and name.
Donated to the Bodleian, 1634. There is a description of the manuscript in Gerard Langbaine's Adversaira, vol. iv, pp. 699-714.
