Treatises on medicine, astronomy and astrology written by Francisco Argilagues of Valencia, mostly while he was studying medicine at Siena in 1472-1473, with an addition made at Padua in 1480.
Scope and Contents
From the subscriptions and the physical make-up of the volume it appears that there were originally four booklets, bound together a century later.
The contents of the volume are as follows:
- Written in 1472 with additions in 1480:
`Sermo de conservatione sanitatis` by Filippe Bandini of Arezzo (‘Catalogue of Incipits of Medieval Scientific Writings in Latin’, column 1294). The beginning is lost but author (Philip de Roderia) and title (`Regimen sanitatis`) are given in the explicit on folio 77. (Folio 1.)
`De oculis` by Filippe Bandini of Arezzo, incipit `Quamvis in habena sexta et aliis locis nostri sermonis` (‘Catalogue of Incipits of Medieval Scientific Writings in Latin’, column 1164). (Folio 78.)
Notes and prescriptions. (Folio 94.)
- Written from March to July 1473:
`De sphera` by Johanes de Sacrobosco. There are some marginal notes and diagrams. (Folio 97.)
`Liber introductorius` by Alcavitius (al-Kabī-sī), translated by John of Seville, here entitled `Sermo astrologie domyni Alcabitii de Indiciis`, incipit `Postulata a domino prolixitate vite`; cf. ‘Arabic Astronomical and Astrological Sciences in Latin Translation’, 144-149; this is not among the manuscripts listed there. (Folio 121 verso.)
- Written in 1473:
`Opusculum de quibusdam simplicibus medicis`, incipit `Cum omnium mos est et quasi quoddam debitum`. (Folio 175).
`Ausontis ad Alexandrum ... de sequentibus septem planetis`, incipit `Est ergo primus olus recipiens influenciam`. (Folio 186.)
`Practica` by Joannes de Parma, incipit `Medicine digestive colere simplice` (‘Catalogue of Incipits of Medieval Scientific Writings in Latin’, column 861). (Folio 187 verso.)
Poem in Latin heroic couplets on the Turkish danger to Italy, incipit `Barbara gens ytalos venit cursura penates`. (Folio 190.)
Styles for petitions to the pope, prelates, lower clergy, and greater and lesser laics. (Folio 191.)
Written in June 1472:
`Quedam perobtime erbarum quarundam collecte`, incipit `Aloe calida et sicca. Vim habet consolidandi ossa.’ Some prescriptions and notes follow. (Folio 195.)
`Macer Floridus, de viribus herbarum’ by Odo of Meung (?). (Folio 224.) The text is followed (folio 263 verso) by an index and by various notes and prescriptions.
Subscriptions and signatures: folio 77 `f.ar. me fecit 1472 Senis`, folio 95 top margin `Argilaguis/ Franciscus de Valencia`, folio 95 verso `per me Franciscum Argilagues de Valencia artium et medicine doctorem Padue 1480`, folio 121 `scriptus per me Franciscum Argilagues Senis in facultate medica studentem 14 die Marcii sole in Ariete exeunte 1473 anno secundum numerum Yspanum, Ytalum vero 1472`, folio 173 verso `Ego Franciscus de Argilagues de Valencia scripsi hoc opusculum ... Senis dum operam darem facultati medice ... et hoc feci anno 1473 die 6 Julii sole in Cancro exeunte`, folio 190 `Senis 1473`, folio 263 `Senis 14 Junii 1472 ... per me Fra. Arg.`
Spaces have been left for initials, with marginal guides, but they have not been added. Headings are in red. On folios 97-149, 175-187, and 224-263 there are paragraph marks in red, red and yellow, or yellow, and some initial letters or words are picked out in yellow or (folios 224-263) in red.
Dates
- Creation: 1472-1480.
Extent
1 Volumes (xix + 268 + ix folios.)
Language of Materials
Latin
Arrangement
Collation: .1-8¹², 9-10¹⁰, 11-12¹², 13¹⁰, 14-16¹², 17⁸, 18-22¹², 23¹⁴. No signatures. Catchwords at right- angles to the text in gatherings 1-7, 12, 14, 18-22, parallel to the text in 9-11, 13, 16 (none in 8, 15, 17, 23). Ruling in ink (frame only, no guide¬lines). 1 column. 24-26 lines (folios 1-96), 18-25 (folios 97-174), 26-28 (folios 175-194), 21-27 (folios 195-223) and 25-31 (folios 224-263). Text area approximately 125 x 75 millimetres (folios 1-194), and approximately 130 x 80 millimetres (folios 195-263).
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Paper (watermarks: A-C ladder, D column, Briquet 5908 and 4412, Italy, 3rd qurarter of 15th century; the blanks at beginning and end have the watermark Briquet 2079, Neuchâtel, 1591). Limp vellum binding, with two thongs; titled in ink `Lectiones Medice`; circa 1600.
Custodial History
The volume belonged to Sir Robert Sibbald. Former pressmark: W.6.14. The volume was bought by the Advocates’ Library in 1723.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.
Bibliography
De Sacrobosco, Johanes. `De sphera`, edited by L Thorndike (Chicago, 1949).
Carmody, F J. ‘Arabic Astronomical and Astrological Sciences in Latin Translation’ (Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1956).
Odo of Meung (?). `Macer Floridus, de viribus herbarum’, edited by L Choulant (Leipzig, 1832).
Physical Description
0.00 linear metresxix + 268 + ix folios.145.00 x 210.00 millimetres
Dimensions
145.00 x 210.00 millimetres
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland
- Date
- 03 02 2015
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared Using Local Descriptive Rules
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk