Durham Cathedral Library MS. C.IV.4Medical texts
Held by: Durham Cathedral Library: Durham Cathedral Manuscripts

Collection of medical texts, early 13th century


Digitised: https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2mpk02c974r.html


Physical description of manuscript
Support

Parchment

Extent: i+98+i f
Size: 280 mm x 200 mm

Foliation

Modern pencil foliation 1-98, superceding various earlier mistakes.


Secundo folio: et hoc facere si sufficiat
Collation

(I) I-IV8, V5 (=8 with 6-8 cancelled)
(II) I-IV8, V6 (=8 ?lacks 7-8)
(III) I-II8, III6 (?=8 lacks 7-8)

Script

I: written in Textualis libraria, neat, regular, with generous ascenders and descenders. One scribe throughout.
II: Textualis libraria; a single scribe – possibly that of (I) using a more compact version of his hand
III: Textualis libraria; hand very similar, and probably identical to the scribe of (II); f.98 in a 13th century hand

Corrections and annotation

A collection of three coeval parts: (I), (II) and (III), brought together by late 15th century (when titles were added to individual texts throughout, and the content of the whole was listed on f.1r by Thomas Swalwell), probably by late 14th century (when common title was added to f.1r and an ownership note to f.98v). According to the added content list, the volume then started with ‘Diuisiones et subdivisiones -?- et tegni galieni’ ); however, this entry was soon annotated hic non est. An earlier, fuller state is also reflected in a note that was added to f.97v: In isto uolumine sunt centum et x folia script[a].

Binding

Standard Tuckett binding, mid 19th century full brown calf over thick wooden boards (Charles Tuckett, binder to the British Museum, rebound many Durham manuscripts in the 19th century)


Manuscript history
Creation

Written in England or France, early 13th century.

Provenance

Inscription: Constat Rypon *, late 14th century, f. 98v. Identified as John of Ripon, monk of Durham 1371-1413 or 14.
liber medicinarum assignatus communi armariolo Dunolm, late 14th century
liber amphorii cum alijs De communi libraria monachorum dunelm early 15th century, f.1.
Pressmark 2a 7i B
Contents list in hand of Thomas Swalwell, f.1r


Manuscript contents
SECTION: (I)    
(a)     f.1r-11r
Original title: Aphorismata
Author: Hippocrates
Language: Latin
(b)     f.11r-16v
Original title: Prognostica
Author: Hippocrates
Author: Constantine, the African, approximately 1020-1087, translator
Language: Latin
(c)     f.17r-37r
Original title: Tegni
Author: Galen
Language: Latin
SECTION: (II)    
(d)     f.38r-75v
Original title: Viaticum
Author: Constantine, the African, approximately 1020-1087
Language: Latin
SECTION: (III)    
(e)     f.76r-94r
Original title: Practica
Author: Israeli, Isaac, approximately 832-approximately 932
Author: Constantine, the African, approximately 1020-1087, translator
Language: Latin
(f)     f.94r-97v
Original title: Anatomia vivorum
Author: Galen
Language: Latin
(g)     f.98r
Modern title: Recipe
Language: Latin

Microfilm
Microfilmed in 1985/86 by the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library, St John's Abbey and University, Collegeville, Minnesota. Copies held by them and Durham University Library.

Digitised material for Durham Cathedral Library MS. C.IV.4 - Medical texts
Digitised December 2016 as part of the Durham Priory Library Recreated Project Pages with marginalia not visible in the image because they are too far into the gutter: Recto: 1r – 8r, 17r – 29r, 39r – 46r Verso: 3v – 8v, 18v, 21v, 24v, 25v, 28v, 38v – 45v, 96v, 97v
https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2mpk02c974r.html

Bibliography

Catalogi veteres librorum Ecclesiae cathedralis dunelm. Catalogues of the library of Durham cathedral, at various periods, from the conquest to the dissolution, including catalogues of the library of the abbey of Hulne, and of the mss.   OCLC citation, Surtees Society 7, (London: J.B. Nichols and Son, [1838]).

Index terms