Collection of short alchemical works, extracts, notes, etc. in Latin. (Miscellanea Alchemica IV)

Date:
Mid 15th century
Reference:
MS.513
  • Archives and manuscripts
  • Online

Available online

view Collection of short alchemical works, extracts, notes, etc. in Latin. (Miscellanea Alchemica IV)

Public Domain Mark

You can use this work for any purpose without restriction under copyright law. Read more about this licence.

Credit

Collection of short alchemical works, extracts, notes, etc. in Latin. (Miscellanea Alchemica IV). Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

About this work

Description

Collection of short alchemical works, extracts, notes, etc. in Latin.

Contents

Flyleaf 1r Short list of contents by different early 17th century hands. A four-line inscription below this has been heavily crossed through.

Flyleaves 1v-8v Full table of contents

Flyleaves 9r-10v blank

1. ff. 1r-38r John of Rupecissa, Liber de consideratione quintae essentiae

f. 1r Johannis de Rupescissa liber de 5a essentia appettatus. Incipit. Primus liber de consideratione 5e essentie omnium rerum transmulabilium. In nomine domini nostri Jesu christi. Incrpit liber de famulatu philosophie ac evangelio domini nostri Jesu christi. et pauperibus evangellicis errogatus. Dixit Salomon. Sapientie capitulo 7. Deus dedit homini ... f. 38r ... et deo omnipotenti pariterque filio et spiritui sancto. sit laus per infinita secula seculorum Amen. Explicit liber de consideratione 5e essentie omnium rerum pauperibus et evangelicis viris errogatus. necnon de famulatu philosophie evangelio Jesu christi. Explicit liber Johnnis de Ruppescissa.

2. ff. 38v-40r Anonymous, Auctoritates philosophorum

f. 38v Hic ponuntur alique auctoritates philosophorum ... f. 40r Item in Libro Lumine luminis dicitur. Nusquam ponas elixir tuum nisi super solem et lunam.

3. f. 40v Two pictures of the plant Lunaria.

4. ff. 41r-47r Peter of Spain, Liber naturalis, extract

f. 41r De libro magistri petri yspani. Liber incipit in naturalibus. In nomine summi et altisimi protectoris qui est altitudo et profunditas omnium scientiarum ... f. 47r ... Ideoque rectius operetur in compositione superius prenotata. Explilcit Compendium nostri trivii viro sapiente compositum.

5. ff. 47v-52r Arnold of Villanova, De secretis naturae

f. 47v In christi nomine Amen. Incipit Liber magistri Rainaldi de Villanova [Added by a later 15th century hand 'de secretis nature per modum dyalogi']. Scito filii quod in hoc opere huius libri Lovar de secretis nature ...f. 52r In 6degree(s) dixi multiplicationes lapidis. Deo gratias. Amen. Explicit liber magistri Raynaldi de Villanova de secretis Ph'ysimi.

6. ff. 52v-77v Miscellaneous alchemical notes and extracts

f. 52v De Iuditio Corporum ... f. 77v Explicit opus in cruciblo.

7. ff. 78r-80v Notes, in an early 17th century hand.

f. 78r Terra sine aqua, et aqua sine terra ... f. 80v ... deinde non morientur.

8. ff. 81r-88v Hortulanus, Expositio in tabulam smaragdinam Hermetis

f. 81r Et pater noster hermogenes triplex in philosophia ... f. 81v Incipit expositio veridica. Ortolani super perdicta. Dicit igitur philosophus. Verum est sine mendatio ... f. 88v ... Et debes habere unam cucurbitam de cupro. Explicit. theorica. [Continuation on ff. 101r-103r below.]

9. ff. 89r-91v Miscellaneous alchemical receipts

f. 89r Preparatio cris vel cupri ... f. 91v ... bene coloretur. Deo volente. Explicit.

10. ff. 92r-97r William Tecenensis, Lilium de spinis evulsum, incomplete

f. 92r Incipit liber lilium floris intitulatus. Rubrica. Incipit lilium floris ut pote de spinis evulsum in quo primo Luna. secundo Sol ordinatur. Ars itaque ista cetera longe perferenda est ... f. 97r ... Nam quodlibet ethel dicitur.

11. ff. 97v-100v Miscellaneous alchemical receipts in an early 17th century hand

f. 97v Quanto magis siccum muto tanto ...

12. ff. 101r-103r continuation of Hortulanus text, no. 8.

f. 101r ... vel de plumbo quia non est vis in prima separatione ... f. 103r ... quia ulterius nihil valet et etiam reservetur usui quosque dixero tibi. Finito libro.

13. ff. 103v-110r Alchemical notes, in an early 17th century hand

f. 103v Mercurius congelatus in argentum ...

14. f. 110v Miscellaneous notes in various hands

Publication/Creation

Mid 15th century

Physical description

1 volume 10 ff. (last 2 b1.) + 110 ff. 4to. 21 1/2 x b15 1/2 cm. 17 th century vellum binding. The first leaf is slightly defective. Written in a small upright humanistic hand, 28-31 lines to a page. A few headings and paragraph marks in red. Illustrated on ff. 5v, 6, 7v, 8v, with pen-drawings of alchemical apparatus. On fol. 40v, two water-colour drawings of 'Lunaria'. The early 17th century additions are by at least two diferent hands.

Acquisition note

Purchased 1910.

Finding aids

Catalogue description modified in 2014. For original description, see S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).

Ownership note

Engraved armorial ex-libris of Simon Ballerino (1716-1700), the archaeologist.

Languages

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    By appointmentManual request

Permanent link

Identifiers

Accession number

  • 23756