Harley MS 3665

Compendium of Medical Texts; late 15th cent. Latin. Copies. The collection includes: - a) Gerardus de Solo, Introductorium iuvenum or Directorium (ff. 1-32; art. 1); - b) Arnaldus de Villanova, Contra calculum (ff. 33-44; art. 2); - c) Arnaldus de Villanova, Regimen contra catarrum (ff. 44-51; art. 3); - d) Arnaldus de Villanova, De tremore cordis (ff. 51-61; art. 4); - e) Johannes de Sancto Paulo, Compendium de medicinis (ff. 61-75v; art. 5); - f) Arnaldus de Villanova, De epilentia (ff. 75v-101; art. 6); - g) Arnaldus de Villanova, De esu carnium (ff. 102-104v; art. 7); - h) Arnaldus de Villanova, Tabula super 'Vita brevis' (ff. 106-114v; art. 8). Four of the texts (items 2-4, 5), traditionally assigned to Arnoldus de Villanova, have also been attributed to Galvano da Levanto: see S. Giralt Soler, Decus Arnaldi. Estudis entorn dels escrits de medicina pràctica, l'ocultisme i la pervivència del corpus atribuït a Arnau de Vilanova, doctoral dissertation (Barcelona, 2002), pp. 237-300, with mention of the present MS. passim; idem, 'El autor del Contra calculum y de otros tres tratados medicos: Arnau de Vilanova o Galvano da Levanto?', Sudhoffs Archiv; Zeitschrift für Wissenschaftsgeschichte, 87, 1 (2003), pp. 32-68, with mention of the present MS. passim. The name 'Robeart Croft' (f. 101v) written among other pen-trials by a 16th-cent. English hand, to whom a crossed out ex-libris (f. 154v) possibly refers. Owned in the 17th cent. by Samuel Knott (d. 1687), rector of Combe Raleigh and priest of Broad Hembury, co. Devon, and bearing notes by him (passim: see ff. 1, 23v), including some in red ink (see f. 21). Owned later by Robert Burscough (1650/51-1709), prebendary of Exeter in 1701, archdeacon of Barnstaple in 1703, rector of Cheriton Bishop in 1705; his MS. no. 57: see Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ in unum collecti … (Oxford, 1697), t. ii, pt. i, p. 234, no. 7676, with detailed description of the contents. For Burscough see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Acquired with other MSS. by Robert Harley from Burscough's widow on 17 May 1715, the date noted by H. Wanley on f. 1: for the negotiation preceding the purchase see C. E. Wright and R. C. Wright, The Diary of Humfrey Wanley (London, 1966), i, p. 11 n. 6, ii, p. 496. For the provenance, see also C. E. Wright, Fontes Harleiani (London, 1972), pp. 87-88, 211, 432. Passed on to Robert Harley's son, Edward (1689-1741), 2nd earl of Oxford and Mortimer, book collector and patron of the arts. Bequeathed with Edward's library to his widow, countess Henrietta, née Cavendish Holles (1694-1755), during her lifetime and thereafter to their daughter, Margaret Cavendish Bentinck (1715-1785), duchess of Portland. Sold with the other Harley manuscripts by the countess and the duchess in 1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum. The Harleian manuscripts became part of the collections of the British Library on its establishment in 1973. Harley shelfmarks (f. 1) in brown ink '118.A.23 / 3665', and '2/III D' in pencil. The MS. is also described in A Catalogue of the Harleian Manuscripts (London, 1808-1812), iii, p. 50. The cataloguing of the MS. was funded by the Wellcome Trust.

Paper; ff. ii+114+ii. Double set of old pagination in black ink, crossed out: '1-61' (ff. 1-32), '1-174' (ff. 33-114v). Modern foliation in pencil ff. '1-114' (followed here; ff. 32v, 105 ruled but blank; f. 101v originally blank). circa 277 x 200mm. Secundo folio (f. 2) 'complexioni naturali'. Gatherings: i-ii¹², iii^10-2 (ninth-tenth cancelled), iv-viii¹², ix^10-1 (tenth cancelled), x⁴, xi^10-1 (tenth cancelled), with four sets of alpha-numerical leaf signatures and vertical catchwords set in the lower right corner of last versos between the vertical bounding lines, ruled in brown ink for bounding lines only (double vertical bounding lines; one extra line in the outer margin) for single columns of 36-38 lines, text above top line, written space circa 182-186 x 108-112mm, written in brown ink in a Northern (French?) cursive book script (semihybrida libraria), space (3-4 lines; passim) for initials left blank with guide letters, rubrics in red, marginalia by the scribe and contemporary hands include maniculae and nota signs, diagrams (ff. 2 upper margin, 3 lower margin, 105v, 106 lower margin) in the same hand as some of those in Harley 3594 (passim). 18th-cent. Museum binding of mottled brown leather.

Contents as follows:

1. ff. 1-32. Gerardus de Solo, Introductorium iuvenum or Directorium. Latin. Copy. Introduction to the regimen of health composed by Gerardus de Solo, also known as Gerard Bierne, appointed professor of medicine at the university of Monpellier in 1335. Rubric (f. 1) 'Introductorium iuvenum a gerardo vierne in novo almasoris', prologue inc. 'In nomine domini Amen. Carissimis filiis / amicis et dominis', expl. 'et eius auxilio feliciter valeam terminare', rubric 'Regimen corporis humani est quintuplex', inc. 'Regimen corporis / humani quintuplex dicitur', expl. (f. 32) 'Aliis re/giminibus pretermissis de quibus dicemus alias domino conce/dente sufficiant hec de isto tractatu benedicta sit tota / trinitas Virgo maria et tota curia supernorum. Amen / / Explicit'. Marginalia by the scribe, a contemporary hand and S. Knott. See L. Thorndike and P. Kibre, Catalogue of Incipits of Medieval Scientific Writings in Latin, rev. ed. (London, 1963; The Mediaeval Academy of America Publication, 29; with supplements in 1965 and 1968), pp. 193i, 1344g; its electronic version on CD-ROM (Ann Arbor, MI, 2000=eTK), nos. 193I, 1344G. Printed for the first time by F. Fradin in Lyons in 1504 [BL copies at 541.b.9], and again in Venice in 1505 [BL copy at 546.m.14]. For Gerardus, see Wickersheimer, Dictionnaire biographique des médecins en France au moyen âge. Réimpression de l'édition de 1936, i (Genève, 1979; Hautes Études Médiévales et Modernes, 34/2), pp. 185-186.

2. ff. 33-44. Arnaldus de Villanova, Contra calculum. Latin. Copy. The treatise on stones traditionally attributed to Arnaldus de Villanova (1240-1311), professor of medicine at the university of Montpellier, and physician to popes, papal officers, and Spanish royalty. The text has also been attributed to Galvano da Levanto (d. circa 1312), a friar minor and medical doctor from Genoa who was the physician of King Philip IV of France and members of the papal court at Avignon: see S. Giralt Soler, Decus Arnaldi…, cited above, with mention of the present MS. passim; idem, 'El autor del Contra calculum …', cited above, with mention of the present MS. passim. Rubric (f. 33) 'Incipit tractatus magistri arnaldi de Villanova / contra calculum', prologue inc. '[S]erenissimo in Christo domino domino R dei gratia', expl. 'Manus dei humili stilo conscriptum et iuxta naturam donorum / septem spiritus sancti in septem capitula divisi', table of contents 'Capitulum primum de medicine scientia eiusque potentia / … / Capitulum septimum de doctrina sanitatis domini nostri prelibati', rubric 'Capitulum primum de medicine scientia eiusque potentia', inc. 'Reor quod medicina est scientia quam divina statuit / providentia', expl. (f. 44) 'et mox / cardiacam stomachalem tollunt / Explicit opus manus dei ad regem castelle / arnaldi de villanova'. Marginalia by the scribe, a contemporary hand, and S. Knott. See L. Thorndike and P. Kibre, A Catalogue…, cit. above, p. 1438h-I; eTK, no. 1438H-I. Printed with the Opera omnia in Lyons in 1509 [BL copy at 541.g.5]. For a modern edition, see Arnaldi de Villanova Tractatus contra calculum, ed. M. Á. González Manjarrés (Valladolid, 1994). On the authorship see also M. Á. González Manjarrés, 'Problemas de autoría en el Tractatus contra calculum, una obra atribuida a Arnaldo de Villanova' in Actas del II Congreso Hispánico de Latín Medieval (León, 1998), i, pp. 515-525.

3. ff. 44-51. Arnaldus de Villanova, Regimen contra catarrum. Latin. Copy. The treatise relating to the treatment of catarrh also known as 'Remedium salutare contra catarrum'. Traditionally attributed to Arnaldus de Villanova (for whom see item B), it has also been attributed to Galvano da Levanto: see S. Giralt Soler, Decus Arnaldi…, cited above; idem, 'El autor del Contra calculum …', cited above, with mention of the present MS. on p. 35 and passim. Rubric (f. 44) 'Incipit Regimen curativum et preservativum contra catarrum', inc. '[S]i infestivi catarrj molestia vos non incitat / ad eius prescindendum insultum', expl. (f. 51) 'post mortem me collocare dignetur qui vivit / et regnat in eternum. Amen / Explicit regimen curativum et preservativum contra catarrum'. Marginalia by the scribe, a contemporary hand and S. Knott. See L. Thorndike and P. Kibre, A Catalogue…, cit. above, p. 1452e; eTK, no. 1452E. Printed with the Opera omnia in Lyons in 1509 [BL copy at 541.g.5]. On the authorship of the text see also M. Á. González Manjarrés, 'Problemas de autoría en el Tractatus contra calculum, una obra atribuida a Arnaldo de Villanova' in Actas del II Congreso Hispánico de Latín Medieval (León, 1998), i, pp. 515-525.

4. ff. 51-61. Arnaldus de Villanova, De tremore cordis. Latin. Copy. The treatise relating to the diseases of the heart also known as 'Carisma sanativum tremoris cordis'. Traditionally attributed to Arnaldus de Villanova, it has also been attributed to Galvano da Levanto: see S. Giralt Soler, Decus Arnaldi…, cited above; idem, 'El autor del Contra calculum …', cited above, with mention of the present MS. on p. 36 and passim. Rubric (f. 51) 'De tremore cordis secundum arnaldum de villa nova', inc. '[R]eor quod tremor cordis sequitur omnes species debilitatis / eius est', expl. (f. 61) 'ut longeve et feliciter in hoc mundo possis / vivere et post mortem cum Christo regnare in eternum. Amen'. Marginalia by the scribe, a contemporary hand and S. Knott. See L. Thorndike and P. Kibre, A Catalogue…, cit. above, p. 1348i; eTK, no. 1348I. Printed with the Opera omnia in Lyons in 1509 [BL copy at 541.g.5]. For the question of authorship of the text see also M. Á. González Manjarrés, 'Problemas de autoría en el Tractatus contra calculum, una obra atribuida a Arnaldo de Villanova' in Actas del II Congreso Hispánico de Latín Medieval (León, 1998), i, pp. 515-525.

5. ff. 61-75v. Johannes de Sancto Paulo, Compendium de medicinis. Latin. Copy. A compendium on simple and compound drugs attributed here to John de Sancto Paulo (12th cent.), but traditionally ascribed to Rogerius de Barone or Roger Baron (late 13th cent.) with the title 'Parva summa', or 'Rogerina minor'. Rubric (f. 44) 'Incipit compendium Magistri Johannis de Sancto paulo de medicinis compositis', inc. '[C]um medicinalis artis due sunt partes theorica / et practica', expl. (f. 75v) 'mulier fuit consueta habere menstrua / Explicit liber simplicium medicinarum et compositorum / opiatarum de aquis et oleis de sirupis de / suppositoriis clisteribus et pessariis medicinalibus / magistri johannis de sancto paulo'. Marginalia by the scribe, a contemporary hand and S. Knott. The MS. is mentioned in S. Giralt Soler, Decus Arnaldi…, cited above, p. 271; idem, 'El autor del Contra calculum …', cited above, p. 47. Other copies in Harley 3719 (ff. 222v-226: Roger, Parva summa), Royal 12.B.XXV (ff. 221-229v), Sloane 75 (ff. 93v-94v: Roger, Parva summa), 418 (ff. 322-325: Roger, Parva summa). See L. Thorndike and P. Kibre, A Catalogue…, cit. above, pp. 284b, 317f, 317i; eTK, nos. 284B, 317F, 317I. Printed for the first time in Venice in 1498 by Bonetus Locatellus for Octavianus Scotus [BL copy at IB.22989]: see Klebs, Incunabula scientifica et medica (Hildesheim, 1963), p. 166, no. 494.1; ISTC ig00558000. For Johannes de Sancto Paulo, see E. Wickersheimer, Dictionnaire biographique des médecins en France au moyen âge. Réimpression de l'édition de 1936 (Genève, 1979; Hautes Études Médiévales et Modernes, 34/2), ii, pp. 480-481; M. H. Green, 'Johannes de Sancto Paulo', in Medieval Science, Technology, and Medicine. An Encyclopedia, ed. T. Glick, S. J. Livesey and F. Wallis (New York, 2005), p. 286. For Rogerius, see E. Wickersheimer, Dictionnaire ..., cit. above, ii, pp. 720-721.

6. ff. 75v-101. Arnaldus de Villanova, De epilentia. Latin. Copy. A treatise relating to epilepsy traditionally attributed to Arnaldus de Villanova, followed (ff. 99v-100v, 100v-101) by two other shorter texts on the same subject. Rubric (f. 75v) 'Incipit tractatus de epilentia. Capitulum primum', inc. '[M]orbus caducus est egritudo spasmosa Non / spasmo repletionis', expl. (f. 99v) 'ad quantitatem ciceris in / potu suo ut congenius et fideliter vivat. Amen'; second text rubric (f. 99v) 'De epilentia ad huc', inc. '[I]n cura epilentie ponatur dieta. Vitet panem / azimum', expl. (f. 100v) 'est enim hoc in pluribus experimentatum infallibiliter'; third text rubric (f. 100v) 'De regimine infantium preservativo ab epilentia', inc. '[R]egimen preservativum infantium de epilentia', expl. (f. 101) 'ut in iacendo teneat caput super pulvinar factum / de farina punicis / Explicit tractatus epilentie'. Marginalia by the scribe, a contemporary hand and S. Knott. See L. Thorndike and P. Kibre, A Catalogue…, cit. above, p. 881h; eTK, no. 881H. Printed with the Opera omnia in Lyons in 1509 [BL copy at 541.g.5]. The main text has also been attributed to Galvano da Levanto: see item 2 and S. Giralt Soler, Decus Arnaldi…, cited above, which includes discussion of the two other texts; idem, 'El autor del Contra calculum …', cited above, pp. 37-40, with mention of the present MS. on p. 38 and passim. On the authorship, see also M. Á. González Manjarrés, 'Problemas de autoría en el Tractatus contra calculum, una obra atribuida a Arnaldo de Villanova' in Actas del II Congreso Hispánico de Latín Medieval (León, 1998), i, pp. 515-525; S. Giralt Soler, Decus Arnaldi. Estudis entorn dels escrits de medicina pràctica, l'ocultisme i la pervivència del corpus atribuït a Arnau de Vilanova, doctoral dissertation, Barcelona, 2002, pp. 237-300.

7. ff. 102-104v. Arnaldus de Villanova, De esu carnium. Latin. Copy. A treatise relating to the Carthusian regimen of abstinence from meat by Arnaldus de Villanova. Inc. (f. 102) 'Incipit tractatus Magistri Arnaldi de Villa / Nova de esu carnium pro sustentatione / ordinis carturiensis contra Jacobitas / Adversum me loquebantur qui sedebant in porta / et in me', expl. (f. 104v) 'sed illi relinquimus iudicium cuius oculis cuncta pa/tent et cui est laus et gloria in secula seculorum / Amen. Explicit deo gratias. Amen'. Marginalia by the scribe, a contemporary hand and S. Knott. See L. Thorndike and P. Kibre, A Catalogue…, cit. above, p. 68f; eTK, no. 68F. Printed with the Opera omnia in Lyons in 1509 [BL copy at 541.g.5]. A modern edition in L. García Ballester, J. A. Paniagua, M. McVaugh, Arnaldi de Villanova Opera Medica Omnia, XI, De esu carnium, ed. D. M. Bazell (Barcelona, 1999), describing the present MS. at pp. 82-83, 98-99. For the text, see also J. A. Paniagua, 'Abstinencia de carnes y medicina (El Tractatus de esu carnium de Arnau de Vilanova)', Scripta Theologica, 16 (1984), pp. 323-346; idem, Studia Arnaldiana: Trabajos en torno a la obra médica de Arnau de Vilanova, c. 1240-1311 (Barcelona, 1994), pp. 116-117.

8. ff. 106-114v. Anonymous summary of Arnaldus de Villanova, Tabula super 'Vita brevis'. Latin. Copy. An anonymous summary of the commentary on Hippocrates' aphorism by Arnaldus de Villanova. Title (f. 106) 'Incipit tabula Magistri Arnaldi', inc. '[C]um ypocratis maxime sapientis in primo capitulo prime partis / amphorismorum premittat', expl. (f. 114v) 'quod fuit male qualitatis et sic de singulis aliis ceteris / et deo duce finitur / Explicit dei gratia tabulam Magistri Arnaldi'. Marginalia by the scribe, a contemporary hand and S. Knott. Printed with the Opera omnia in Lyons in 1509 [BL copy at 541.g.5]. For a discussion of the relationship between this text and Arnaldus's commentary, see L. García Ballester, M. McVaugh, P. Gil Sotres, J. A. Paniagua, Arnaldi de Villanova Opera Medica Omnia, XIII, Tabula super 'Vita brevis', ed. M. R. McVaugh (Barcelona, forthcoming).

Medicine and Surgery: Compendium of medical texts: late 15th cent.: Lat: Copies.

includes:

• ff. 1-32 Medicine and Surgery: Gerardus de Solo: Introductorium iuvenum sive Directorium by Gerardus de Solo: late 15th cent.: Lat: Copy.
• ff. 33-44 Medicine and Surgery: Arnaldus de Villa Nova: Contra calculum by Arnaldus de Villa Nova: late 15th cent.: Lat: Copy.
• ff. 44-51 Medicine and Surgery: Arnaldus de Villa Nova: Galvano da Levanto: Regimen contra catarrum attr. to Arnaldus de Villa Nova or to Galvano da Levanto: late 15th cent.: Lat: Copy.
• ff. 51-61 Medicine and Surgery: Arnaldus de Villa Nova: De tremore cordis by Arnaldus de Villa Nova: late 15th cent.: Lat: Copy.
• ff. 61-75v Medicine and Surgery: Roger, de Baron; French physician: Compendium de medicinis, attr. here to Johannes de Sancto Paulo: late 15th cent.: Lat: Copy.
• ff. 61-75v Johannes, de Sancto Paulo: Compendium de medicinis, attr. to: late 15th cent.: Lat: Copy.
• ff. 75v-101 Medicine and Surgery: Arnaldus de Villa Nova: De epilentia by Arnaldus de Villa Nova: late 15th cent.: Lat: Copy.
• ff. 102-104v Medicine and Surgery: Arnaldus de Villa Nova: De esu carnium by Arnaldus de Villa Nova: late 15th cent.: Lat: Copy.
• ff. 106-114v Hippocrates: Medicine and Surgery: Arnaldus de Villa Nova: Anonymous summary of Arnaldus de Villa Nova's Tabula super 'Vita brevis': late 15th cent.: Lat: Copy.