Vellum and paper, 8 x 5.5, ff. 221 + 7, 18 lines to a page.  15th cent. (1479), clear hand: drawings.  Red skin over boards.

   Given by W. Beale.                                                                           2 fo. debet dissolui.

   Collation : a⁴ (vellum), 1¹⁰ 2¹⁰ – 21¹⁰ 22¹² (wants 10) : 3 flyleaves: outer and middle sheets of most quires vellum.

   List of contents on f. 1b.

   Contents :

         1.   Notabilia Artis Alchemicae.

Verses.  (9) Hec sunt secreta. Quis gaudebit sine meta                        .         f.                1

ending:        Sunt preciosa magis dum rarius inueniuntur.

Hic sequuntur optima notabilia ad hanc artem spectantia.

Lapis noster philosophicus non habet proprium nomen.

Ends : Bonum est in alieno malo fugienda intueri.

         2.    Inc. liber marie sororis moysi     .                .                .                .                6

                Conuenit aros philosophus cum maria prophetissa et fuit

                   accedens ad ipsam et honorificauit eam et dixit ei.  O pro-

                   phetissa audiui multos de te quia cibificas conuiuas de die

                   tuo.  Et dixit maria.  Utique o aros et de parte dei mei.

                Marginal drawing of Miriam in turban-like headdress and wimple.

                Ends 10a : Et ipsi ignorant regimen ueritatis propter eorum

                   ignoranciam unde uersus.

                      Mira maria sonat breuiter que talia donat, etc. ending :

                      Gaudet in assata. sata per tria sociata.

                Expl. hoc secretum.

         3.    At top of page (xiii) :

                Credibile est Circen mutasse potentibus herbis

                                Inque sues monachos in monachosque sues.

                Uisio Johannis Dastin de dono gracie                .                .                .                10b

Cum omnium natura constancium cercius sit effectus.

Drawing of man in doctor’s robes.

Ends : poma collegimus. maria timemus, etc.  Expl. uisio Joh.

   Dastyn de dono gracie.

         4.    Et inc. uisio Edwardi secretarii philosophie                .                .                .                16b

                Ego Edwardus discipulusque philosophie secretarius. 

                Drawing rather like the last : a 16th cent. derisive note above.

                    -qui dat omnibus affluenter et non improperat.  Jacobi primo.

                Expl. hoc secretum.

         5.    Inc. liber qui dicitur lilium alkemie de ordine procedendo                .                26

                Naturam circa solem et lunam ceterosque planetas.

                Drawing of lily in pot ; above (xvi) :

                Is this flowre called monkes weed.  A faire Lilly for so fowle a lowt.

                Drawing of a man in furred gown on f. 61.

                     -coagulat et fugere non permittat.  Expl. lilium alkemie.

         6.    Inc. liber turbe philosophorum de secretis secretorum qui

   dicitur Codex ueritatis inferioris astronomie                .                .                96b

Drawing of a doctor seated teaching eight pupils.  On the

   back of one is written ‘bulchin’ : and a derisive remark is

   written above.

Drawing of Pictagoras on f. 197 and of Aristeus on 198 : of

   Leucippus on 202 : of Democrites as a man in plate-armour

   with halbert, on 206 : of Albemazar on 210 : of Marcos rex

   grecorum as throned king on 213 : of Arthurus as king in

   mantle with sword on 215.

Ends 216b : Qui petis in merdis secreta philosophorum

                      Expensas perdis operam tempusque laborum.

Expl. lib. turbe philos. 10 die decembris a. d. 1479.

A late index of the Philosophers on f. 218.