United Kingdom, London, British Library, Royal 12 C. XV

Collection of treatises on medicine and natural science
Physical Description
  • Material: Parchment
  • Pages: 264 leaves
  • Leaves Format: not available
  • Dimensions: 241 x 178 mm
Detailed Description
  • Collation:
    (i-ix)^12, x^8, xi^16, xii^12, xiii^4, (xiv-xvii)^12, rest uncertain.
  • Decoration:
    Initials flourished in red and blue.
  • Layout:
    Text is set in two columns.

  • Hand Description:
    Written in very small hands.
  • Provenance:
    We have two cautiones on f. 262v , one to the "cista comitisse" (at Oxford, founded by the Countess of Warwick , 1293 ), 23. Oct. 1294 , the other dated 31. Oct. 1304 . The names of the owners are illegible. On f. 2r there is also an illegible name of an owner.
    On f. 261v we have a note " Henr. De Charwelton spritsit [sic] hoc uolumen", but this note is in a much later hand than the text.
    On f. 264r there is a note: "Liber magistri Iohannis Napworthi [the surname on an erasure] quem emit de Iohanne Ponfreyt anno dom. m°. 400".
    The codex probably belonged to Henry Fowler , rector of Minchinhampton, cf. item 5, note on f. 148v and afterwards to John Theyer . For further information see the British Library Online Catalogue.
History
  • Origin Date: 13th century
  • Origin Place: not available
  • The British Library (London): British Library Online Catalogue [description]
  • The British Library (London): British Library Online Catalogue [description (Add MS 38810)]
  • George Lacombe , Aristoteles Latinus Vol. Pars Prior, Rome (1939) , pp.383 - 384
Content
Aristotle Zoological Works 150r - 235v
  • Incipit:
    Quedam partes corporum animalium dicuntur non composite et sunt partes que partiuntur ...
  • Note:
    According to the British Library Online Catalogue this is part of a translation of Aristotle's zoological works in 19 books, which comprises ff. 150r- 237v of the codex. The Catalogue attributes the translation to Michael Scot , but stresses, that it is disputed, whether it comes directly from the Arabic or through the Hebrew: in support of the Hebrew origin, there are apparently notable divergences from the text of this manuscript. An abbreviation of this text can be found in London, , 12 F. XV, item 4. The De historia animalium is in book I - X, except that part of VI is wanting and VIII, IX and VII are transposed.
Galen De interioribus 86r - 117v
  • Incipit:
    Medicorum non solum moderni uerum etiam antiqui membra corporis loca appellant ...
  • Note:
    A later heading reads: " Galienus de interioribus". The British Library Online Catalogue gives the alternative title "De locis affectibus" and adds, that the division into books is not noted by the original hand, but a later hand has divided the work into four (instead of six) books. A hand from the 15th century added: "Hic secundum quosdam libros deficit sextus liber".
  • Colophon:
    Hoc opus hic finit quod G. studiose peregit.
Galen De anatomia 82r - 85v
  • Incipit:
    Galieno testante in Tegny, qui. cumque interiorum membrorum cognitor ...
  • Explicit:
    ... liquide breuiterque notata. Explicit.
  • Note:
    This is a tractate on anatomy, substantially, but not verbally the same as London, , 12 B. XII, item 6. It may be an abridged extract from the Micrologus of Richardus Anglicus . The British Library Online Catalogue gives the title "Incipit Anothomia Galieni ".
Constantine the African Megatechne 118r - 145v
  • Incipit:
    [Preface:] Quoniam intentio gloriosissimi Galieni ...
    [Text:] Secta autem medicorum triplex est ...
  • Note:
    The British Library Online Catalogue gives the title from the colophon and notes, that this compendium or abridgement is by Constantine the African . It is based on Galen's Ars magna (Megatechne), but it does not have the dedicatory letter.
  • Colophon:
    Megategni Galieni .
Averroes Commentary on the Parva Naturalia (Compendium libri de sensu et sensato) 244r - 246v
  • Incipit:
    Virtutes quidem sensibiles quedam sunt necessarie ...
  • Note:
    Cf. the remark on items 10 - 19 under Additional. The text has no title. According to the British Library Online Catalogue, the translation is probably by Gherardo da Sabbioneta . Subdivisions and their folio numbers in the commentary on the Parva Naturalia according to Lacombe .
Averroes De Substantia Orbis 251v - 254r
  • Incipit:
    In hoc tractatu intendimus perscrutari de rebus ex quibus componitur corpus celeste ...
  • Note:
    Cf. the remark on items 10 - 19 under Additional. According to the British Library Online Catalogue, the translation was done by someone from the Toledo school. This text lacks the last two and a half chapters, cf. British Library Online Catalogue, Add MS 38810.
Aristotle Zoological Works 150r - 235v
  • Note:
    According to the British Library Online Catalogue this is part of a translation of Aristotle's zoological works in 19 books, which comprises ff. 150r- 237v of the codex. The Catalogue attributes the translation to Michael Scot , but stresses, that it is disputed, whether it comes directly from the Arabic or through the Hebrew: in support of the Hebrew origin, there are apparently notable divergences from the text of this manuscript. An abbreviation of this text can be found in London, , 12 F. XV, item 4. The De generatione animalium is in book XV - XIX.
Aristotle Zoological Works 150r - 235v
  • Note:
    According to the British Library Online Catalogue this is part of a translation of Aristotle's zoological works in 19 books, which comprises ff. 150r- 237v of the codex. The Catalogue attributes the translation to Michael Scot , but stresses, that it is disputed, whether it comes directly from the Arabic or through the Hebrew: in support of the Hebrew origin, there are apparently notable divergences from the text of this manuscript. An abbreviation of this text can be found in London, , 12 F. XV, item 4. The De partibus animalium is in book XI - XIV.
Abenragel Pantegni 2r - 81v
  • Incipit:
    [Preface:] Domino suo Montis Cassinensis abbati, &c. Cum totius scientie generalitas ...
    [Text:] Oportet eum qui medicine uult optinere habitum ...
  • Note:
    According to the table of contents, the title is: "Pantegni Constantini continens x libros". It is the Theorica Pantegni or first half of the treatise, translated by Constantine the African .
Anonymous De virtute informativa 258v - 264v
  • Incipit:
    De formatis attendendum ...
  • Note:
    Cf. the remark on items 10 - 19 under Additional. According to the British Library Online Catalogue, this is a physiological tractate, quoting Al-Razi , and also a proverbial phrase: "iudicamus clericos trahentes tibias grossas filios fullonum".
Anonymous De terra et elementis 254r - 258r
  • Incipit:
    Quoniam terra sperica ...
  • Note:
    Cf. the remark on items 10 - 19 under Additional. According to the British Library Online Catalogue, this is a tractate on various properties of matter, with special reference to metallurgy, also to a mode of obtaining roses at Christmas, etc.
Anonymous A tractate on appetite 251r - 251r
  • Incipit:
    Continue alterantur sicut resoluuntur ...
  • Note:
    Cf. the remark on items 10 - 19 under Additional.
Anonymous Botanical text 238r - 243v
  • Incipit:
    Sciendum autem quod cedrus et pinus ...
  • Note:
    Cf. the remark on items 10 - 19 under Additional. According to the British Library Online Catalogue, the text includes quotations from Virgil and a "Liber manucal" [?].
Anonymous Tractates on Zoology 236r - 237v
  • Note:
    Cf. the remark on items 10 - 19 under Additional. According to the British Library Online Catalogue, the texts ("De animalibus cornutis", "De oculis hirundinum" and others) are mixed with miscellaneous notes and the following treatises (14 - 15). The Catalogue does not provide separate folio numbers for item 10 - 13, which are all apparently within ff. 236r- 237v .
Anonymous Tractates on Physics 236r - 237v
  • Note:
    Cf. the remark on items 10 - 19 under Additional. According to the British Library Online Catalogue, this text ("De motu naturali") includes a long commentary "quod accepi de dictis antiquorum Caldeorum" on the vision of Ezekiel , with a quotation from Nicolaus Peripateticus . The Catalogue does not provide separate folio numbers for item 10 - 13, which are all apparently within ff. 236r- 237v .
Anonymous Tractates on Medicine 236r - 237v
  • Note:
    Cf. the remark on items 10 - 19 under Additional. According to the British Library Online Catalogue, this text includes works from Avicenna , Galen and Isaac Israeli on Paralysis, Epilepsia, De medicina laxativa etc. The Catalogue does not provide separate folio numbers for item 10 - 13, which are all apparently within ff. 236r- 237v .
Anonymous Tractates on Psychology 236r - 237v
  • Incipit:
    Considerare animam est dupliciter ...
  • Note:
    Cf. the remark on items 10 - 19 under Additional. According to the British Library Online Catalogue, this text includes quotations from Aristotle , Avicenna , Boethius , Remigius and others on Anima, Sensus et Perceptio etc. The Catalogue does not provide separate folio numbers for item 10 - 13, which are all apparently within ff. 236r- 237v .
Al-Kindi De compositarum medicinarum gradibus 146r - 148v
  • Incipit:
    Quia primos ueteres ut de uirtutibus cuiusque ...
  • Note:
    The British Library Online Catalogue gives the title from the colophon and adds, that this treatise on pharmacy is usually printed with the works of Mesue the Younger . The translation is generally attributed to Gerard of Cremona . At the end (f. 148v ), there is a note on Al-Kindi in the hand of Henry Fowler , rector of Minchinhampton, mentioning 'that profound Dr. [John] Dee of Manchester'.
  • Colophon:
    Liber Alkindi de gradibus compositarum medicinarum.
Al-Farabi De tempore 149r - 149v
  • Incipit:
    Sicut difficultas sermonum ...
  • Note:
    The British Library Online Catalogue gives the title from the colophon and adds, that this is a brief tractatus from the Arabic of Al-Farabi , translated by Gerard of Cremona , the Elder, or the Younger (the translator of Avicenna , Gherardo da Sabbioneta ). The title is not clear, text may be an extract from the distinctions on Aristotle's Physics.
  • Colophon:
    Tractatus Alpharabii de tempore, translatus a magistro G[erardo] Cremonensi Tholeti .
Averroes Commentary on the Parva Naturalia (Compendium libri de sensu et sensato) 244r - 246v
  • Note:
    Cf. the remark on items 10 - 19 under Additional. The text has no title. According to the British Library Online Catalogue, the translation is probably by Gherardo da Sabbioneta . Subdivisions and their folio numbers in the commentary on the Parva Naturalia according to Lacombe .
Averroes Commentary on the Parva Naturalia (Compendium libri de sensu et sensato) 244r - 246v
  • Note:
    Cf. the remark on items 10 - 19 under Additional. The text has no title. According to the British Library Online Catalogue, the translation is probably by Gherardo da Sabbioneta . Subdivisions and their folio numbers in the commentary on the Parva Naturalia according to Lacombe .
Averroes Commentary on the Parva Naturalia (Compendium libri de sensu et sensato) 244r - 246v
  • Note:
    Cf. the remark on items 10 - 19 under Additional. The text has no title. According to the British Library Online Catalogue, the translation is probably by Gherardo da Sabbioneta . Subdivisions and their folio numbers in the commentary on the Parva Naturalia according to Lacombe .