An alchemist's commonplace book, Written in the 15th century in England
File
MS. Fairfax 22
Held at the Weston Library
An alchemist's commonplace book, including:
- Fol. 1. the vision of Edward de Parvo Monte, which occurs also in MS. Ashmole 1384, fol. 93v, and with variants in MSS. Ashmole 1416, fol. 66v, and 1446, fol. 146, where it is ascribed to Edwardus philosophus: beg. 'Ego Edwardus fessus studendo et practizando in secretis philosophie'
- Fol. 3. alchemical recipes and short excerpts, as on fol. 9v, from John of Garland: beg. 'Ego igitur Ortolanus', followed by astronomical tables
- Fol. 13. 'Tractatus magistri Johannis Vienensis de perfecta et infallibili arte alkimie qui dicitur speculum elementorum. Incipit prologus. Gloria laus et honor', which is also in MS. Ashmole 1420, fol. 333
- Fol. 17. a piece on the quadrant headed 'Post composicionem chilindre nunc cuiusdam instrumenti horologici videlicet quadrantis ...'
- Fol. 18v. 'Opus iudei quod fecit pro domina de Pompeiaco Bernardus in Tholosa [? Pompéjac, dep. Gironde]', being recipes 'de venere' followed by further alchemical recipes: beg. 'Amalgema rubeum. Take i part of fyne golde'
- Fol. 24. some Arabic words with Latin equivalents
- Fol. 25v. miscellaneous excerpts, of which one ends 'Explicit alchimia magistri Alberti episcopi' (fol. 38v), but not as in MS. Ashmole 1451. ii, fol. 47v
- At fol. 47 is a paragraph from Arnoldus de Villa Nova: beg. 'De perfecta medicina'
Dates
- Creation: Written in the 15th century in England
Extent
57 Leaves
Language of Materials
- Multiple languages
- Latin
- English
Shelfmark
MS. Fairfax 22
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. 3902
Custodial History
About 1520 the book was owned by 'John Byrkbeck' (fol. 8, 12), chaplain, of Eamont Bridge in Westmorland, son of William Byrkbeck of the same. On fol. 6v is 'Iste liber constat Johanni Almyngham' (16th cent.).
Physical Facet
On paper
Dimensions
8 7/10 × 6 3/10 in.
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk