Harley MS 4087

Collection of Medical Texts and Recipes; 15th cent. (1445). Latin and Italian. Copies. Imperfect. A miscellaneous volume including medical and surgical treatises by Giovanni da Parma (art. 1, ff. 1-5v), Dominico da Ragusa (art. 2, ff. 11-22v), Bernard de Gordon (art. 3, ff. 23-26), Benvenutus Grassus (art. 4, ff. 31-36), Avicenna (art. 6, ff. 39-108v), and Brunus Longoburgensis (art. 7, ff. 109-190v). Also includes additional medical recipes in Italian (ff. 6-8, 8v-9), and Latin (ff. 10-10v; ff. 24-30v; art. 5, ff. 37v-38v), and prayers (ff. 27v, 28, 28v). The copy of Avicenna's text is dated (f. 108v) 10 March 1445 by the scribe Paulus de Alexandria, a medical student and a friar who in 1444 had signed and dated a Commentary to Petrus Lombardus, now Add. 18041: see Bénédictins du Bouveret, Colophons de manuscrits occidentaux de origines au XVIe siècle, v (Fribourg, 1979), p. 20, no. 15012; A. G. Watson, Catalogue of Dated and Datable Manuscripts, c. 700-1600 in the Department of Manuscripts, the British Library (London, 1979), i, pp. 141-142, ii, pl. 478. Occasional marginal notes and interlinear corrections by contemporary and later readers throughout. As indicated by the old foliation, the MS. is imperfect and lacks the first thirty-two leaves. Previous ownership, and the date and circumstances of the arrival of the MS. in the Harley collection are unknown. The volume is mentioned in neither C. E. Wright and R. C. Wright, The Diary of Humfrey Wanley (London, 1966), nor in C. E. Wright, Fontes Harleiani (London, 1972). Owned by Edward Harley (1689-1741), 2nd earl of Oxford and Mortimer, book collector and patron of the arts, and possibly by his father Robert Harley (1661-1724), 1st earl of Oxford and Mortimer, politician. Bequeathed with the Harleian library to Edward's 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 shelfmark (f. iii) in light grey ink '124.B.20' followed by '4087' in dark brown ink, and '1/III C' in pencil. Described in A Catalogue of the Harleian Manuscripts in the British Museum (London, 1808-1812), iii, p. 114. The cataloguing of the MS. was funded by the Wellcome Trust.

Paper; ff. ii (19th-cent.)+i (18th-cent.)+190+ii (19th-cent.). Modern foliation in pencil ff. '1-190' (followed here; omitting four blanks after f. 36 and one after f. 108; ff. 6-10 also originally blank); old foliation in black ink '33-[227]' (ff. 1-190, including blanks after ff. 36, 108). Sec. fol. (f. 2) 'color et rubor'. circa 205 x 145mm. Gatherings: i¹⁰, ii¹², iii⁸, iv-ix¹², x^12-1 (eleventh cancelled), xi-xiv¹⁶, xv^20-2 (nineteenth-twentieth cancelled), v-ix and xi-xiv with horizontal catchwords at centre of lower margin. Ruled in lead point (single vertical bounding lines) and ink (horizontal lines) for single columns of 30-36 lines. Texts generally above top line, but occasionally below in item G (ff. 109-190). Written space varies: - a) ff. 1-30, circa 152 x 92-94mm; - b) ff. 31-38, circa 157 x 108mm; - c) ff. 39-30, circa 140-144 x 92mm; - d) ff. 110-30, circa 143-150 x 85-95mm. Written in Italy around 1445 by Paulus de Alexandria in a minuscule bookhand (Italian Hybrida). One small initial (3 lines) with pen-work decoration in red and paragraph marks also in red on f. 1; spaces with guide letters for initials left blank in the margins on items F-G (ff. 39-108v, 109-190v). Three different paper watermarks of difficult identification occur in the quire gutters: - a) ff. 3-157, combined with both the others; - b) possibly a rampant lion, esp. ff. 111-122, but also on ff. 31 and 38 (contiguous); - c) ff. 164-190. British Library binding of mottled brown calf over pasteboards with gilt-tooled spine compartments.

Contents as follows:

1. ff. 1-5v (old foliation '33-37v'). Johannes de Parma, Practicella ex dictis Mesue abbreviata; 15th cent. Latin. Copy. Imperfect. The medical manual attributed to an Italian physician traditionally called Johannes de Parma (Giovanni da Parma or John of Parma). He is probably identifiable with the doctor who made his will in 1299 and is considered the first among the four medical practitioners from Parma bearing the same name who flourished between the 13th and the 15th cent. Inc. 'Quoniam quidem de melioribus amicis quos habere videor me / rogavit', breaking at 'endiva lactuca viola epulata (?) et semina earum'. The MS. is mentioned in 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), p. 1295j; its electronic version on CD-ROM ed. (Ann Arbor, MI, 2000=eTK), no. 1295J; P. Kibre, 'Dominicus de Ragusa, Bolognese Doctor of Arts and Medicine', Bulletin of the History of Medicine, 45 (1971), pp. 384-385. Published by M. A. Mehner, Johannes von Parma und seine Practicella (Leipzig, 1918). A translation in Italian vernacular is found in Firenze, Bibl. Medicea Laurenziana, MS. Biscioniano 11; a summary also in Italian vernacular in Firenze, Biblioteca Riccardiana, MS. 3050, ff. 82-90v. For Giovanni see Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, 56 (2001), pp. 148-150, with further bibliography. John's text is followed by additional medical recipes in Italian (ff. 6-8; 8v-9), partly added in 1620 by Girolamo Meragli, an unidentified doctor, and Latin (ff. 10-10v): - 1) ff. 6-8, inc. 'A guarire una fistula / Piglia la merda de una capra', expl. 'A una gamba infiata / Piglia suco de herba bruna ... et fiat unguentum al male', added by a 16th-cent. hand, followed by an 18th-cent. note reading 'recopiate'; - 2) ff. 8v-9, inc. 'Unguento dalle gambe rotte cioe piagate / vechie / agionta da magister Girolamo / Ricetta cere flave', interspersed by an added note 'Meragli / 1620', expl. 'Unguenti G. [erasure] scabie mirab. / Ricetta Celidonie ... et quanto remedio est', also interspersed by an added note 'agionta dal medesimo Girolamo'; - 3) ff. 10-10v, title (17th-cent.) 'In Ulceribus et vulneribus', inc. 'Potio mirabilis valde vallens ulceribus at / vulneribus aerentibus et putridis', expl. 'hec inditio prudentissimorum / phisicorum huius nostre alme civitatis', added by a 15th-cent. hand.

2. ff. 11-22v (old foliation '43-54v'). Dominicus de Ragusa, Treatise on fevers; 15th cent. Latin. Copy. A treatise on fevers by Dominicus de Ragusa or Domenico di Galeotto da Ragusa (d. circa 1427), professor of astrology, moral philosophy, and medicine at the university of Bologna, and author of a Lexicon Graecum et Latinum relating to the human body, diseases, and drugs. Title 'Introductorium breve et utille ad curandas febres compillatum / per famosum artium et medicine Doctorem .Magistrum. dominicum de raygola de bononia', inc. 'Primo circa effimeram pronotatis et cognitis signis pulsu et urina ac tactu / caliditatis', expl. 'est expertissimum mundificans et subtillians cutem / Deo. Gratia. Amen. Explicit tractatus de febribus compilatus per famosissimum artium / et medicine doctorem, .magistrum. dominicus [sic] de raygola de bononia. Amen'. The text is corrected by a contemporary hand (see esp. f. 13). The MS. is mentioned in P. Kibre, 'Dominicus de Ragusa, Bolognese Doctor of Arts and Medicine', Bulletin of the History of Medicine, 45 (1971), pp. 383-386, esp. 384-385, with detailed description of the text contents; also mentioned in Thorndike and Kibre, A Catalogue…, cit. above, p. 1099d, but also pp. 551d, 628c; eTK, no. 1099D, but also nos. 551D, 628C; Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, 40 (1991), p. 664 within the entry by P. Morpurgo, 'Domenico da Ragusa', pp. 663-664, with further bibliography. For Dominicus see also M. D. Grmek, 'The Life and Works of Dominicus de Ragusa, medieval doctor and writer', Anali Historijskog Instituta u Dubrovniku, ii (1953), pp. 217-233.

3. ff. 23-24 (old foliation '55-56'). Bernardus de Gordonio, De hernia (i.e. Lilium medicine, pt. vii, chapter vii); 15th cent. Latin. Copy. A treatise relating to the medical treatment of hernia by Bernardus de Gordonio or Bernard de Gordon (d. around 1318-1320), professor of medicine at the university of Montpellier. The treatise is in fact chapter seven of the section (seventh) dedicated to the body organs in Bernard's Opus lilium medicinae inscriptum de morborum prope omnium curatione, usually known as Lilium medicine, a summa of medical practice, written between 1303 and 1305. Title 'De hernia secundum guordonium', inc. 'Herniarum plures sunt species quantum de presenti sunt septem Prima vocatur vento/sa', expl. 'Secundo potest competere quanto multa stiptica aposita sunt / et aliter non'. With marginal notabilia added by the scribe. The MS. is mentioned in Thorndike and Kibre, A Catalogue…, cit. above, p. 612l; eTK, no. 612L; L. Demaitre, Doctor Bernard de Gordon... (1980), p. 181, no. 36. Another copy of Lilium medicine in Harley 3698. Lilium medicine was printed for the first time in Naples by Francesco del Tuppo for Bernardinus Gerardinus in 1480: see H 7795*; Osler, Incunabula medica… (1923), p. 119, no. 198; Klebs, 'Incunabula scientifica…' (1938; repr. 1963), p. 80, no. 177.1; Goff B447; GW 4080; ISTC ib0044700. For Bernard see Wickersheimer, Dictionnaire biographique des médecins en France au moyen âge…, i (Genève, 1979), pp. 75-76; Dictionnaire de Biographie Française, 16, fasc. xciii (1984), p. 615. Bernard's text is followed (ff. 24-30v; old foliation '56-62v') by other recipes for the treatment of hernia, fractures, wounds etc., inc. (f. 24) 'De morbis unis(?) itaque approximandis ab intra est ellectuarium quod sic fit / quod dicitur esse optimum et utile valde. Recipe radicem carube cicute', expl. 'Ad idem [unguentum ad tineam] Recipe olei rosae … de quo fiunt / calderia et fiat unguentum'; also followed by prayers (ff. 27v, 28, 28v), charms (ff. 27v, 29), and indulgences by pope Nicholas IV (ff. 28, 28v) written at different times,; quoted authorities include Rolandus de Parma (f. 26), Franciscus de Florentia (f. 27v), and Stephanus Carozius (f. 29).

4. ff. 31-36 (old foliation '63-68'). Benvenutus Grassus, De probatissima arte oculorum, abridged; 15th cent. Latin. Copy. Imperfect. The text is a partial and abridged version of the treatise on eye diseases and their treatments by Benvenutus Grassus (late 13th cent. ?), also known as Benevenutus Grapheus or Benevenutus Hierosolomitanus, an eye doctor of possible Italian origin and connection with the School of Salerno. The present text contains only the prologue and abridged descriptions of the anatomy of the eye and of the various forms of cataract and their cures, concluding with recipes against itching on the eyelid. Inc. '[A]uditores omnes audiant circumstantes qui cupiunt novam scientiam / habere', expl. (ff. 35v-36) 'de pruritu palpebrarum … sed etiam ad omnem pruritum et scabiem potenter neque de quocumque humore sit et / vocamus suprascriptas pillulas compositionis sui et tunc dabit honorem deo et cetera.' The note 'Jhesus christus' in the upper margin of f. 31. Another version of the text in Sloane 284, ff. 77-81v, also imperfect, for which see Thorndike and Kibre, A Catalogue…, cit. above, p. 163i; eTK, no. 163I. Benvenutus's text was first printed at Ferrara by Severinus Ferrariensis, possibly in 1474: see HR 7869; Osler, Incunabula medica… (1923), p. 64, no. 57; Klebs, 'Incunabula scientifica …' (1938; repr. 1963), p. 160, no. 472.1; Goff G352; GW 11332; ISTC ig00352000 [BL copy at IA.25672]. For Benvenutus see N. Scalinci, 'Questioni biografiche su Benvenuto Grasso jerosolimitano', Atti e Memorie dell'Accademia di Storia dell'Arte Sanitaria, ser. 2, 1 (1935), pp. 190-205, 240-255, 299-313; L. M. Eldredge, 'The Textual Tradition of Benvenutus Grassus' De arte probatissima oculorum', Studi medievali, ser. 3, 34 (1993), pp. 95-138 (the present MS. is not mentioned); Benvenutus Grassus, The Wonderful Art of the Eye. A Critical Edition of the Middle English Translation of his 'De Probatissima Arte Oculorum', ed. L. M. Eldredge (East Lansing, Michigan, 1996; Medieval Texts and Studies, 19).

5. ff. 37v-38v (old foliation '73v-74v'). Recipes for syrups; 15th cent. Latin. Copies. Inc. 'Sirupus compositus Recipe radicum rape', expl. 'Sirupus de endivia Recipe … et fiat syrupum'.

6. ff. 39-108v (old foliation '75-144v'). Avicenna, The Canon on Medicine, IV, Fen 3-4, 5 (partial); 15th cent. Latin transl. Copy. The text is a copy of the portion devoted to surgery in the Canon by Abú 'Ali Al-Husain ibn 'Abd Allah (d. 1037), better known in the West as Avicenna, in the Latin translation by Gherardo da Cremona (1113/4-1187). It contains the texts of Fen 3-4, and Fen 5, treatise iii, chapter i (relating to the fracture of the skull). Title (18th-cent.) 'Chyrurgia avicene', inc. '[I]am locuti sumus in libro primo de apostematibus', expl. 'et sufficit illud et sa/natus est vir // Explicit cyrugia Avicene super quam scripsit Dynus de / florentia tantum:- Paulus de Alexandria medicine scolaris scripsit / 1445 adi x de marzo deo gratias et laudes infinitas refferans', with Fen 4 beginning on f. 68v, and treatise III of Fen 5 on f. 104v. The text is not accompanied by Dino del Garbo's commentary as suggested by Thorndike and Kibre (see below), who were possibly misled by the explicit, but has marginal annotations and maniculae added by the scribe and later readers. Copies of the complete Canon in Latin in Add. 14424, Royal 12 G.VI, Harley 3799-3809, Sloane 1933 (ff. 184-275, imperfect), 2157, 3095; excerpts from the Canon in Harley 3407 (ff. 92-101v), 3594 (ff. 7-53), 3744, 3757. Mentions of this MS. in Thorndike and Kibre, A Catalogue…, cit. above, pp. 424d, 649b; eTK, nos. 424D, 649B; N. G. Siraisi, Arts and Sciences at Padua. The Studium of Padua before 1350 (Toronto, 1973; Studies and Texts, 25), p. 177. Gerard of Cremona's translation of the Canon was possibly printed for the first time by Philippus de Lavagnia at Milan on 12 Feb. 1473: see H 2200; Osler, Incunabula medica… (1923), p. 55, no. 35; BMC VI 700; GW 3155; ISTC ia01417500 [BL copy at IC.26105 (part three only)]. According to ISTC this edition precedes that of Strasbourg by the R-Printer (Adolf Rusch) published after Feb. 1473: see H *2197; Osler, Incunabula medica… (1923), p. 115, no. 186; Klebs, 'Incunabula scientifica …' (1938; repr. 1963), p. 68, no. 131.1; Goff A1417; GW 3114; ISTC ia01417700 [BL copy at IC.657]. For Avicenna and the Canon see N. G. Siraisi, Avicenna in Renaissance Italy : the Canon and medical teaching in Italian universities after 1500 (Princeton, NJ, 1987); for Gherardo see Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, 53 (1999), pp. 620-633, with extensive bibliography.

7. ff. 109-190v (old foliation '147-[227v]'). Brunus Longoburgensis, Cyrurgia magna; 15th cent. Copy. Latin. Imperfect (lacking the last two leaves). A surgical treatise written in 1252 by a surgeon from Calabria in Italy, Brunus Longoburgensis or Bruno da Longobucco (fl. first half 13th cent.), professor of medicine at the university of Padua. Preface inc. (f. 109) '[R]ogasti me iam est diu Andreas vicentine / venerabilis amice mi quod tibi brevi et aperto / sermone', expl. (f. 110) 'sed illas barbitonsorum manibus relin/querunt'; main text inc. (f. 111) '[P]ostquam posuimus amice sufficienter prohemium conse/quenter cum auxilio dei accedamus', breaking off at chapter xvii, rubric iii (f. 190v) 'tunc precipe mulieri medice / aut alicui ostractici [sic] loco eius si invenirj poterit que'. The text is divided into two books of twenty chapters each, beginning respectively on ff. 111 and 159v; both books are preceded by a preface (ff. 109-110, 159) and a table of contents (ff. 110-110v, 159-159v). Brunus's Chirurgia magna and parva were printed with Guy de Chauliac's Chirurgia in Venice by Bonetus Locatellus for Octavianus Scotus in 1498: see HCR 4811; Klebs, 'Incunabula scientifica…' (1938; repr. 1963), p. 166, no. 494.1; Goff G558; GW 11696; ISTC ig0055800. For Brunus see E. Gürtl, Bruno da Longobucco, Geschichte der Chirurgie (Berlin, 1898); S. P. Hall, The Cyrurgia Magna of Brunus Longoburgensis: A Critical Edition, Oxford, D. Phil. Thesis, 1957, pp. 69*-70*; M. Tabanelli, Tecniche e strumenti chirurgici del XIII e XIV secolo (Florence, 1973; Biblioteca della Rivista di storia delle scienze mediche e naturali, 18), pp. 80-99; M. Tabanelli, Un chirurgo italiano del 1200. Bruno da Longoburgo (Florence, 1970); M. Tabanelli, The surgery of Bruno da Longoburgo: an Italian Surgeon of the Thirteenth Century, ed. and transl. by L. D. Rosenman (Pittsburgh, Pa., 2003).

Recipes: Medicine and Surgery: Paulus, de Alexandria: Collection of medical texts and recipes , copied by Paulus de Alexandria: circa 1445: Lat. and Ital.: Copies.