Add MS 8786

ROGER BACON: collection of scientific, mathematical and alchemical works; 3rd quarter of 14th cent. Latin. Principal contents: - (1) ff. 2-10v. A version of part of the 'Compendium Philosophiae', vol. iii, book i, 'Communia Naturalium', inc. 'Ostensum quippe in principio huius compendii philosophiae', expl. 'terminus generationis', partly printed (ff. 7v-10v) in R. Steele (ed.), Opera Hactenus Inedita Rogeri Baconi (Oxford, 1911), fasc. iii, pp. 240-267; - (2) ff. 11v-12v. 'Opus Majus', part iv, 'De Utilitate Mathematicae', dist. iv, cap. xv and part of cap. xvi, inc. 'Quoniam vero motus est subjectum temporis', expl. 'partem quae est inter equidistantes g p et f h', printed in J. H. Bridges (ed.), The 'Opus Majus' of Roger Bacon (Oxford, 1897), i, pp. 167-172; - (3) ff. 13-19. 'Opus Tertium', capp. 41-51, inc. 'Quoniam vero circa temporis et evum totaliter eratur', expl. 'quia proprium est quantitatis cuiuslibet mensurare', printed in R. Bacon, Opera Inedita, ed. J. S. Brewer, Rolls Series xv (1859), pp. 142-198; - (4) ff. 20v-45v. Part of 'Tractatus de Multiplicatione Specierum', including parts 1, 2, 5 and 6, inc. prologue 'Postquam habitum est de principiis rerum naturalium', inc. (f. 21v) 'Primum igitur capitulum circa influentiam agentis habet tres veritates', expl. 'licet bene retineat postquam receperit', printed in Bridges, Opus Majus ii, pp. 407-552; - (5) ff. 49-61. 'De Speculis Comburentibus', inc. 'Inter phisice considerationis lux Iocundius afficit', expl. 'in huius lapidibus contemplamur', printed in R. Bacon, Specula Mathematica, ed. J. Combach (Frankfurt, 1614), pp. 168-204; - (6) ff. 62-84. Unidentified text on the senses, inc. 'Licet vero in universali et in suo toto determinatum sit in libro de animalibus', expl. 'est sonus non figuratus nec formatus in litteras'; - (7) ff. 84-107v. 'Opus majus', part v, 'De Scientia Perspectiva', inc. 'Quoniam precipua delectatio nostra est in visu', expl. 'ut animus mortalis ignorans veritatem non posset substinere', printed in D. C. Lindberg, Roger Bacon and the Origins of 'Perspectiva' in the Middle Ages (Oxford, 1996). Items 1-5, 7 in this volume, together with other manuscripts and editions of these texts, are cited in A. G. Little, 'Roger Bacon's Works, with References to the MSS. and Printed Editions', appendix to A. G. Little (ed.), Roger Bacon Essays (Oxford, 1914), pp. 375-426. There are many corrections, insertions and annotations, especially in sections 1, 2, and 4, both by the principal scribe and in a slightly later hand, with several longer glosses in section 4 and on f. 49. The text on ff. 29-45v, 49-61 is written in another hand of similar date, but with some short passages, corrections and annotations in the principal hand on ff. 29-45v. Marginal geometrical drawings, some partially in red (ff. 11v-12v, 30v-44v passim, 85v-106 passim). Two rubricated headings on f. 84 and some initials and paragraph marks in red. Four lines of verse from Joannes Scotus Erigena, De Divisione Naturae, inc. ‘Principio celum ac terras camposque liquentes’ (f. 1v), in a late 15th or early 16th-cent. hand. Shelfmark on front paste-down Mss/B/4. '544' below cancelled '540' in pencil on upper left corner of front paste-down. Purchased, together with Add. 8674 and 8719, from R. H. Evans, 8 December 1830, possibly lot 544 (part).

Vellum; ff. 107. 195 x 140mm. 1² (first folio cancelled; f. 1), 2¹² (ff. 2-13), 3¹⁰ (ff. 14-23), 4¹² (ff. 24-35), 5¹² (11-12 cancelled; ff. 36-45), 6¹⁶ (46-61), 7¹⁰ (ff. 62-71), 8¹² (ff. 72-83), 9¹² (ff. 84-95), 10¹² (ff. 96-107). Horizontal catchwords in lower right margin of ff. 13, 23, 35, 71, 95. Some quire-signatures are visible. Ff. 36 and 37 are bound in reverse order. Ruled in two columns of 51 lines, frame circa 153 x circa 100mm. Quarter-binding of vellum with mottled, dark grey, paper covers.