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Astronomical treatises in many hands, Written in the 13th century in England in part by Robert Grossetete

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MS. Savile 21
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Astronomical treatises in many hands, with numerous diagrams, bound up together in the 17th century:

  1. Fol. 1. Alfraganus De differenciis, beg. 'Differencia prima in annis arabum et latinorum'. This is the treatise of Al-Fargani as in MS. Savile 25
  2. Fol. 27. canon of the tables of Arzachel, beg. 'In nomine domini scito quod annus lunaris'
  3. Fol. 42. explanations of the use of astronomical tables by Roger of Hereford, here attributed in a court hand of about 1300 to mr. Robert of Northampton, for which see C. H. Haskins, Studies in Mediaeval Science, p. 125. beg. 'Diuersi astrologi secundum diuersos annos'
  4. Fol. 63. 'Canones in motibus celestium corporum', being the canons of Arzachel on the tables of Toledo, translated by Robert of Chester in two parts for use at London, followed by astronomical tables. Other copies are in MSS. Laud. Misc. 644, Canon. Misc. 556, Digby 68. Part 2 only is in MS. Ashmole 360 (viii) (xiv e)
  5. Fol. 104. the treatise of Messahala on the astrolabe in the Latin version of John of Spain, here 'secundum Macelama', beg. 'Scito quod astrolabium est nomen grecum', as in MS. Savile 16, fol. 49
  6. Fol. 119. the 'Theorica planetarum' of Gerardo da Sabbionetta (or Cremonensis, the younger) in 12 chapters, without ascription, and ending differently from the version in Royal MS. 12 C ix, f. 53
  7. Fol. 123. 'Tractatus Thebith de motu octava spere', beg. '[I]maginabor speram equacionis diei', of which another copy is in MS. Tanner 192, f. 103
  8. Fol. 127. the Compotus of Robert Grossetete in 12 chapters, edited by Robert Steele in Opera Hactenus Inedita R. Baconi (Oxford, 1926), fasc. vi, pp. 212-67, beg. '[C]ompotus est sciencia numeracionis et divisionis'
  9. Fol. 143. 'Algorismus Jordani tam in integris quam in fractionibus demonstratus', being the Arithmetic of Jordanus Nemorarius, on two separate quires and in the hand of Robert Grossetête
  10. Fol. 150v. Thebith 'de proporcionibus', the work of Thebit ben Korah (A.D. 836-901) in the Latin version, beg. 'Proporcio est rei ad rem determinatio'
  11. Fol. 151v. Thebith 'de figura Catha'
  12. Fol. 153v. another copy of 'de motu octave spere' (cf. h above), here followed by astronomical tables for correlating English and Arabic calendars
  13. Fol. 156v. a treatise on eclipses, beg. 'Ars inveniendi eclipsim lune', followed by tables for use at Toledo, and (fol. 160v) two diagrams, on which see the note on fol. i, for use in 1215-16
  14. Fol. 161. the Massa compoti of Alexander of Villa Dei, beg. 'Incipit modo in fine temporum'
  15. Fol. 170. a metrical compotus beginning imperfectly, but including (fol. 173) a reference to A.D. 1200, with solar and paschal tables
  16. Fol. 177. liturgical calendar of English provenance, for which a date between 1220 and 1247 has been suggested (see Mélanges Chatelain, p. 147)
  17. Fol. 182. a treatise on fortune-telling, beg. 'Qui celum et terram creavit'
  18. Fol. 200v. an astrological fragment in Grossetête's hand

Dates

  • Creation: Written in the 13th century in England in part by Robert Grossetete

Extent

204 Leaves

Language of Materials

  • Latin

Shelfmark

MS. Savile 21

Other Finding Aids

Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. II, no. 6567

Custodial History

Labelled '21'

Physical Facet

On parchment, fols. 27-41 are in double columns

Dimensions

9 1/2 × 7 in.

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

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Weston Library
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Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom