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Alchemical Manuscripts in the British Library

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MS. Add. 5025 (1).
1.60m x 21cm. [Ripley Scroll.]

MS. Add. 5025 (2).
1.34m x 21cm. [Ripley Scroll. 'This long roll was Drawne fro me in Cullers, at Lubeck in Germany, anno 1588'.]

MS. Add. 5025 (3).
1.47m x 21cm. [Ripley Scroll. The third Roll is much fuller than the second, or the printed copy, and is entitled 'An Alkemye Scrowle, drawne from an ancient coppie, first invented by Bacon, the great Clarke'. Then follow lines 'to the Reader', beginning 'I shew a mistery of rare kinde' (not in Ashmole).]

MS. Add. 5025 (4).
1.37m x 21cm. [Ripley Scroll.]

MS. Add. 5245.
Paper. Small folio. 12 folios. 'Cabala Mineralis Rabbi Simon ben Cantara'; consisting of alchemical Figures, in water colours, with explanations in Latin and English.

MS. Add. 6123.
Paper. Duodecimo. 90 folios. 17th Century.
1. Speculum secretorum Alkimice Johannis Dastyn. libb. 2. f.1.
Begins: 'cum gaudeat uit brevitate'.
2. Donum Dei Johannis Dastyn, libb. 4. f.45.
Begins: 'Omne datum optimum'.

MS. Add. 10035.
Duodecimo. 'The Subtelty of Witches, by Ben Ezra Aseph' written in cipher, 1657.

MS. Add. 10065.
Paper. Quarto. 16th Century.
Georgii Gemistti Plethonis responsio ad ea quae in Aristotelis defensionem Scholarius objecerat;- Eiusdem de virtutibus liber;- Atticus de ideis Platonicis;- Georgii Gemisti Plethonis Oratio ad unum Deum;- Ejusdem de Homero et ejus Iliade libellus;- Ejusdem alia opuscula varia; Graece.

MS. Add. 10302.
Vellum. Small quarto. 15th Century.
The Ordinall of Alchymy, written, in verse, by Thomas Norton, of Bristol; containing the first five chapters.

MS. Add. 10724.
Small Quarto. 18th Century.
Nucleus Philosophiae Hermeticae, in aphorismos theoretico-practicos congestus ex quibusdam selectissimis tractatibus, a L.V.M., anno 1703.

MS. Add. 10764.
Small quarto. 15th Century.
Opus Magistri Johannis Hastiri [i.e. Dastyn], Anglici, verissimum in arte majore, et est Rosarium;- Tractatus varii alchymici.

MS. Add. 10766.
Small quarto. 17th Century.
A collection of alchymical tracts;- forms of letters, etc., in Italian.

MS. Add. 10819.
Small quarto. 17th Century.
Pretiosissimi Arcani Arcanorum et Philosophorum Magisterii revelatio de transmutatione metallorum, edita a Philosopho Anonymo, et marginalibus annotationibus illustrata a L.D.M.; quam sequitur commentatio in Apertorium R. Lullii, et in Testimentum novissimum Arnaldi [di Villa Nova], authore Johanne Gerhardo, Medicinae Professore in Academia Tubingensi, anno 1641.

MS. Add. 10862.
Small quarto. 17th Century.
Salomonis Clavicula, ex idiomate Hebraeo in Latinum traducta;- Zecorbenei, overo Clavicola dal Re Salomone.

MS. Add. 10863.
17th Century.
Alchymical collections; in Italian.

MS. Add. 10867.
Duodecimo. 18th Century.
Il Trionfo Hermetico, overo la pietra filosofale vittoriosa nel mondo; trattato il piu sincero sopra il magistero hermetico.

MS. Add. 10868-10889.
End of 17th Century.
Bernardo Trevisano opere varie.
[This is claimed as 'autograph' and dated to end of 17th century, so this author may not be the well known alchemical author Bernard of Trevisano, though the works in this collection are philosophical and one is cabalistic.]

MS. Add. 10918.
Folio. 17th Century.
Scuolo della filosofia ermetica, nella quale si dilucidano le oscurita e gl' enigmi ne' libri de' filosofi, atturno questa scienza, di David de Planis Campi, autore Francese; e tradotta della medesima, 1695.

MS. Add. 11388.
Folio. 16th Century.
Collections of Francis Thynne, Lancaster Herald, from 1564 to 1605, consisting of copies of alchymical treatises;- etc.

MS. Add. 11416.
Paper. Folio. 15th Century.
Opus Cabalisticum dictum [Hebrew] Hortus Nucis, auctore R. Josepho Gecatilia. Adjecta est, man J. Reuchlin, Versio Latina operis Cabalistici dicti [Sepher Yetzirah?], cuius aucot perhibetur Abrahamus Patriarcha.

MS. Egerton 845.
15th Century.
[Tractatus Alchemici. De erroribus J. Dastin.]

MS. Egerton 935.
Vellum. Small quarto. 12th Century.
Phylosophia Magistri Willihelmi de Conconchis, cum figuris.

MS. Add. 14424.
Vellum. Folio. 14th Century.
Liber Canonis, quen princeps Abhoali Abvisceni [Avicenna] de dedicina edidet, translatus a magistro Gerardo Cremonensi, in Toleto, ad Arabico in Latinum.

MS. Add. 15071.
17th Century.
Chymical and other processes, and experiments on metals, in English and Latin. Written by Edward Lloyd or Lhwyd.

MS. Add. 15102.
Paper. Quarto. 15th Century.
St Hildegardis, Liber epistolarum. Prefixed to the present collection is a note in the handwriting of John Trittenheim, Abbot of Spanheim, and subscribed with his initials, from which it appears that it was transcribed by his order in the year 1487, from a volume in the monastery of Bingen, said to have been written by St Hildegard herself.

MS. Add. 15299.
Vellum. 13th Century The Book entitled Jezirah, in Hebrew. At the end are various cabalistic prayers or spells. Written on vellum, in the square German character, in the 13th century.

MS. Add. 15549.
Paper and vellum. Small quarto. 15th Century.
A collection of alchymical treatises, transcribed in the year 1474 by D.R.
[much more information in catalogue] The initials D.R., with the date 1474, are affixed to several of the articles, and are probably intended to design David Ragnor, of Wales, who is named at f94 as the author of two processes there added. It is not impossible that he was the compiler of the Thesaurus Mundi, the principal treatise of the collection.

MS. Add. 16390.
Paper. Small quarto. 17th Century.
Two tracts in Hebrew (i)'The Seven Names';- (ii) The eight chapters of Maimonides, or introduction to Aboth [imperfect]. At the end is added an extract from the Hebrew cabalistic work, entitled Raziel, in Italian.

MS. Add. 16429-16432.
Vellum and paper. 15th Century.
Translations into Catalan dialect of Latin treatises of Ramon Lull, entitled Ars ad faciendum et Solvendum questiones et inquirendum secreta naturalia et rerum proprietates; Ars Inventiva; Philosophia Amoris; De Homine; De Consolatione eremetica, etc.

MS. Add. 18976.
Paper. Small quarto. 17th Century.
Raymundi Lulli 'Testamentum ultimum secretum Angelorum; de creatione naturae vini, et sulphure duorum luminarium', etc., Dicatum 'Carolo de vridestot, Anglorum Principi.'

MS. Add. 18977.
Paper. 18th Century.
'Epistola Johannis Pontani de Lapide Philosophorum, 1715' f.1;-
'Artefii Arabis Philosophi liber secretus', f.2;-
Tractatus Heliae ordinis Minorum de Lapide Philosophorum, f.27 b.

MS. Add. 19267.
Paper. Folio. 17th Century.
A Cabalistic work, entitled 'Revolutio Alphabetaria; seu perfectissimus ad omnes scientias methodus'. Prefixed are verse in praise of the treatise, by Joannes Texius Austriacus. f.2;-
'Dialectica contemplativa, ad consequendos scientiarum habitus perquam utilis ac necessaria:, f.40.

MS. Add. 23195.
Paper. Folio. 18th Century.
'Iconologia or Hieroglyphicall figures of Cesare Ripa, knight of Perugia, where in generall is treated of divers formes of figure with their ground rules'; with pen and ink drawings of the emblematical figures. Translated from the Italian edition printed at Venice. Quarto, 1669.

MS. Add. 23212-23235.
Letters of the Conway family, including Lady Ann Conway.

MS. Add. 23669-23670.
General correspondence of General Rainsford.

MS. Add. 23676.
Paper. Folio. 18th Century.
Papers in the handwriting of General Rainsford, on alchymical processes, communicated to him at Rome, April 1772, by [Gasparo] Landi. [English. and Italian.]

MS. Add. 25424.
Paper. Folio. 18th Century.
Catalogue of the Library of Sir Isaac Newton. At the end are two receipts from Thomas Pilkington and Catherine Conduitt, niece of Sir Isaac Newton, administrators of his estate, to John Huggins, for the purchase money of the whole library, with the exception of six books containing Mss notes; 2 June and 20 July, 1727.

MS. Add. 25447.
Paper. Folio. 17th Century.
The Pimander of Hermes Trismegistus: a translation of the 1st, 15th, 5th and 8th [here called the 16th] chapters, and commentary of the French edition of Francois de Foix, by Thomas, 3rd Lord Fairfax. At the end is 'a fragment writen by Aesculapius to King Amon,' from the 16th chapter of the same version. Autograph. Prefixed is an epitaph on Lord Fairfax, signed Br.ffx. [Brian Fairfax].

MS. Add. 27335.
Paper. Quarto. 17th Century.
'Affectuum Hieroglyphica': coloured emblems of virtues and vices, with explanatory text.

MS. Add. 27584.
Paper. Octavo. 15th Century.
1. 'Johannis de Rupescissa Liber de famulatu philosophie de quinta essentia, etc.' in an Italian hand of the 15th century. 'Ex libris De Velly'.

MS. Add. 29487.
Paper. Quarto. Early 17th Century.
Alchemical tracts, in Italian, viz:
1. 'Libro del Giovanni Isaci Hollandese originale in penna copiato e translato della lingua Germanica in Italiana per me Giovanni Giouansonjo Beltes, Groninganus Frisus,' with an index and a glossary of alchemical symbols. The translator states that the work differs from the printed editions. f.1.
2. 'De cabala del phylosopho Giovanni Isaci Hollandese,' with an index and glossary, f69.
3. 'Stanza del Tesoro;' a collection of alchemical processes, f.99.

MS. Add. 29895.
Paper. Small Quarto. 'The booke of the Rosary of Philosophers'. The 'Rosarium Philosophorum' compiled from the works of Arnoldus de Villa Nova, Geber, Raymund Lully, and others. The opening paragraphs begin, 'They which desier to have the most true knowledge,' are translated from an anonymous Latin compilation, a copy of which is in Sloane MS 2560. Written at Lubeck in 1588. With miniatures heightened with gold and silver. On the first fly-leaf is the name John Clark in a contemporary hand. Presented by Robert Humphrey Cooke, Esq.

MS. Add. 32621.
Vellum roll; 14ft.6in. x1ft.7in. 16th Century.
Roll of alchemical drawings, coloured, accompanied with directions, in English verse, for finding the philosopher's stone; by James Standysh. Imperfect at the beginning; the first title being: 'Here is the last of the white stoone, and the beginninge of the redde.' The verses begin: 'of the sonne take the lighte, the redde goume that is so brighte.'
[Ripley Scroll.]

MS. Add. 32622.
Vellum. Small octavo. Early 14th Century.
1. 'Secretum Philosophorum': a compendium of natural philosophy, etc., with examples and recipes, arranged under the heads of Grammar, Rhetoric, Dialectics, Arithmetic, Music, Geometry and Astronomy; with coloured diagrams.
It begins:'Iste liber, quem, prae manibus habemus, vocatur Secretum philosophorum, et intitulatur isto nomine quia in eo continentur quaedam secreta quae reputatione vulgari sunt impossibilia, apud philosophos secreta et necessaria.' [See Sloane MS 2579, MS. Add.18752].
2.
3.
4.
5.
A few recipes and extracts have been added on spare leaves. The name of John Bayly, an owner in 1611, is on f. 179b. Originally in Tudor binding.

MS. Harley 80.
Large manuscript partly in parchment and partly of paper. Ex diversis tractatibus simul compactis, constans: quorum Contenta hic ordine sequuntur.
9. Liber Ymaginum translatus ab Hermete, i.e. Mercurio; qui Latine Praestigium Mercurii appellatur, Heliemen in Lingua Arabica; et dicitur Liber Lune. f.77b.
10. Liber Hermetic tractans de 15 Stellis, et de 15 Lapidibus, et de 15 herbs, et de 15 Figuris. f.81.
18. Lapidum pretiosorum uus magicus, sive de Sigillis. f.105.
19. Liber secretus Filiorum Israel; qui est quasi Superiorus Tractatuli Pars Quarta. f.105b.

MS. Harley 514.
Paper. Quarto. Magica Veterum, per insignem Philosophorum & Medicum, Theophrastum Paracelsum descripta.

MS. Harley 672.
Paper. Small quarto. In cujus sine leguntur haec verba.
Preciosa novella Margarita, edita a Magistro bono Lombardo de Ferraria, Phizico, intoducens ad artem Alkamie: composita A.D. 1330. in Civitate Polle, in Provincia Ystrie.

MS. Harley 853.
Paper. Folio. Written by several hands. Contains divers Tracts, etc, for the most part Chemical or Historical.
1. The Compounde of Alchemye, in English Verse by Sir George Riplie Chanon of Bridlington. f.1.
2. A Compend upon the Phylosopher's Stone, sent unto Kinge Edward the IV from Lovayne; in Englishe verses. f.22.
3. Description of the Ixir, or Elixir, that is, the Philosophers Stone, with receipts for the making of it. f.25.
4. Thomas Norton's Ordinal of Alchymie, in English Verse. f.26b.
5. De Signis Elementorum. f.65b.
6. Liber Quintae Essenciae, in Englishe, brefe drawne owte of the booke of Quinte-Essence being in Latine, that Hermes the Prophet and King of Egipt, had by revelacion of an Angell of God to him. etc. f.66.
18. To make the Philosophers Stone, by Thomas Knight. f.127.

MS. Harley 1038.
Paper. Quarto. 1. Extractio Animae Solis: or a Triall upon Sol, for the Extraction of Philosophical earth. The Author has putt down his Experiments therein, from the beginning to the end, by way of Journal; from 4 Jan 1609/10 to 10 June 1611.
2. A Journal of his Process with Luna; from the 20th of June 1610 to the 10th of January following, when the Author found a Whyte Earth, which is the Second Earth of the Philosophers; which he reserved, in order to make the Composition of the Philosophers. f.11.
3. Opus [Luna] ex [Mercurio] Philosophico secundo. Containing the Authors Experiments from the 9th of June A.D. .... to the 15th of February next ensuing (by which time the Author seems not to have gained what he sought for; tho' at the 4th of October he writes thus - his Coller was very Celestiall , and such as I trust in my God to have found the fruition of my Labor).

MS. Harley 1296.
Paper. Quarto. 'Resolutions of Misticall Theologie, grounded upon the Creation, & God's disposing of the Creaturs; as it is discribed by Moses' [23 resolutions in all.]
[At the end is a note '3 Jan. 44. per P.W.']

MS. Harley 1747.
Parchment. Duodecimo.
1. Tractatus Alchymicus Domini Johannis Sawtre Monarchi de Thorneye. f.1.
2. Tabula Capitulorum praecedentis Libri. f.15.
3. Excerpta minutuia, e Libro qui intitulatur Speculum Secretorum Alkimie. f.15b.
4. Ex Hermete. f.16.
5. Expositio Ortolani super praedictum Textum Hermetis. f.16.
6. Tractatulus qui incipit 'Ecce quod queris'. f.20.
7. Tractatus dictus Prosa Aque Vite; et incipit Flores Secretorum.
8. De Composicione Lapidis Philosophorum. f.28b. Begins: 'Quoniam Ignis hujus'.
9. Tractatus qui incipit, 'Quoniam in Libris Philosophorum'. f.31.
10. Tractatus qui incipit, 'Ex diversis libris'. f.32b.
11. Benedicti Quaestiones de Lapide Philosophorum. f.33.
12. Excerptum ex Libro qui incipit, 'Quia pocius'. f.37.
13. The way of obtaining the Grand Elixir, according to Tamyrtone; in English. f 41.
14. Excerpta ex Libro duorum Verborum, qui incipit, 'Hic est Liber paritatis'. f.44b.
15. Visio cujusdam Alchymici. f.45.
16. Tractatus qui dicitur Secretum meum mihi. f.48.
17. De formatione Adae in Campo Damasci. f.51b.
Finis Catalogi Codd. MSS. quos illustrissimo & excellentissimo Domino meo dono dedit, Vir egregius Henricus Worseley, Armiger.
NB Coll. Worseley gave two books more, which by mistake are thus placed 1811 and 1812.

MS. Harley 1818.
Thin paper. Quarto. Liber Alchemicus, qui vocatur Rosarius Philosophorum; adjudicandus forte, cuidam Arnoldo de Villa Nova.

MS. Harley 2407.
Paper and Parchment. Quarto. 15th and 16th Centuries. 1. Nomina Herbarum singulis Planetis dicatarum. f.1b.
2. Part of the Contents of this Book. f.1
8. A Letter, discovering the Philosopher Stone f.3b.
Begins: 'To my frend, I sende gretynge wyth alle my hert'.
10. To make fyne Gold of Satorne. f.6.
11. An Alchemical Poem.
Begins:
'Her ys an Erbe men call Lunaryie;
I-blesset mowte hys maker bee.
Asterion he ys i-callet alle so,
And other Namys, many & mo'.
12. Another Alchemical Tract, all written with red Ink. f8.
13. A Ditty upon the 3 Kings of Cullen, applied to the Alchemical Art. f.17. This is also written with red ink, and hath an Alchemical drawing prefixed.
Here begins the labour of Mr Casley.
14. Arnold de nova villa, his Account of the Philosopher's Stone. f.18. It ends in verse, from f.29b.
15. For to make Sol watur. f.32.
16. To make Watur of Mercurii. f.32 and 65b.
17. To make Sol Werkis. With a Drawing at the end. f.32.
18. To make the whyt elexure. f.35.
19. Descriptio lapidis Philosophorum, metrica: cum versione Anglicana. f.36.
Begins: 'Gemma salutaris, qui nascitur orbicularis'.
Super membranam. Versus Latini rubrica scripti sunt, Anglico atramento.
20. Alia ejusdem descriptio. 'Desiderabile desiderium'. Literis rubris, et in membrana. f.49b.
21. Speculum Alkamie. Atramento. f.50b.
22. Chemicae praeparationes. 'Saturnus ex sulphure et Mercurio sit'. f.51.
23. Alia lapidis Philosophorum descriptio. 'Omnis alteratio ad perfectionem'. f.51b.
24. To make a medycyn for mannys body. f.52b.
25. To make a red medycen for Satorn. f53.b 26. De virtutibus Planetarum. 'Aries, Leo, Sagittarius sunt calidus et sicca'. f.54.
27. De lapide Philosophorum. 'Lapis Philosophorum est trinus et unus'. Literis Rubris. f.55.
Eight English verses are prefixed, written in red. f.54b.
The whole is represented in circles, with names written within them. At the end is a sketch for an alchemical drawing, of a Glass receiver with figures in it.
28. About the Philosopher Stone. 'In the name of the Fader'. f.58.
29. To rectifi quiick silvir. f.64b.
30. 'To make water of yt to thy medicyne'. f.65b.
31. To make the grete elexer of alcami. f.66.
Followed by Two alchemical Drawings, & befor the scond, eleven latin verses.
32. Two Speeches between a Student and a Master. 33. Joannis Dee Testamentum, ad Jo.Gwynn transmissum, anno1568. In English verse. f.69.
34. Two other preparations of the Philosopher's Stone f.69b.
35. Verses of the virtue of the Planets & the Philosopher's Stone. In red ink. f.75.
37. Verses beginning,
'Ther ys a bodi of a bodi
and a soule & a spryte
With ij bodies most be knete'. f.89b.
38. Verses about the Philosopher's Stone. f.91.
39. Another Treatise of the Philosopher's Stone. f.93b.
40. Alchemical Terms in red ink, followed by drawings illustrative of them. f.106.
41. A few Lines, beginning. 'Albertus commendat', with two unfinished drawings.
in all 111 leaves.

MS. Harley 2411.
Paper. 106 folios. 16th Century.
Georgii Ripleii Exoerimenta varis. Collectanea, Expositionesq; aliquot in Hermetem, Aristolelem, Guidonem, et Raymondum, etc. On the external leaf is written 'G. Ripley, his bosom Book'. At the end, many alchemical receipts in English.

MS. Harley 3420.
Paper. 1614. Johannis Baptistae Groschedelii, Dispositio Numerorum magica ab Unitate usq; ad Duodenarium.
Titulus ipsius Codicis: 'Dispositio numerorum Magica ab unitata usque ad duodenarium. Collecta singularis industria, compilatione diversa, magno labore, et investigatione sibi suisque, a Johanne Baptista Groschedelio, Equite Romano, ab Aicha Philomago, Lucisque et Gratiae, et Naturae indagatori vigilantissimo. Anno 1614.' Opus scil. Artimagicae et Astrologiae judiciali (ut loquuntur) inserviens: et in suo genere satis curiosum. [ With coloured figures.]

MS. Harley 3369.
Paper. 15th Century.
Theorica Testamenti Raimundi Lullii. [Translated from Spanish into Latin.] anno 1446.
[in 97 chapters, with a table of chapters.]

MS. Harley 3469.
48 folios. Parchment. 325x218mm. 16th Century [1582.] Splendor Solis. A Book on the Philosopher's Stone, in the old German Language: finely written, and most beautifully painted. A.D. 1582. It contains 48 leaves, and 22 finely executed paintings. In the first leaf is written: 'This fine Book was given to me by my ... in 17... It was bought of Mrs Priemen, who was neice to the famous Mr Cyprianus, whose book it was'.
[A book of uncommon splendour and beauty, executed on vellum.]

MS. Harley 3498.
Paper. [A Compendium of the 20 books of John Baptista Porta 'de Magia naturali', in Spanish. Written in a loose hand; the author's name appears to be Sam. de Pelis. The book formerly belonged to Thomas Hearne.]

MS. Harley 3528.
17th Century.
1. Ars Alchemica: extracta ex Rog. Bacon, Arnoldo de villa nova, Tho. Aquinate, Aristotele, Toletano philosopho & Jo. de rupescissa..
2. ... Holcote Tractatus de serpente. f.61.
3. Expositiones staus Joseph. f.75.
4. Septem conditiones quae requiruntur ad magisterium Philosophorum. f.90.
5. Geberi, summa perfectionis libri pars. f.97.
6. Hermetis Tabula. f.123.
7. Johannis Dastyn Visio. f.129.
8. Avicennae Declaratio lapidis Philosophorum. f.133.
9. Speculum Alkamie. R.B. f.149.
10. Practica Rasis. f.163, 337.
11. Rogeri Bacon Epistolae ad Jo. Parisiensem duae. f.174. Et tertia. f.219.
12. Edwardi Chemico Visio. f.191.
13. Dialogus, de lapide Philosophorum. f.198.
14. Metaphora Belini philosophi, de Sole. f.210.
15. Hortulani Tract. Chemicus. f.214.
16. Ignium diversorum species. f.217.
17. Johannis de Porta Claudorum (Cripple gate0 de lapide Aquilae liber. f.226.
18. Rog. Bacon, de lapide benedicto, Tract. f.249.
19. Hermetis, de lapide philosophico, Tract. f.252.
20. Aegydii de Vadis, Artis complementum. f.257.
21. Senioris phiilosophi, Tabula Chemica. f.265.
22. 'Carmen perpulchrum totum opus enucleans'.
Opus, scilicet, Alchemiae: Manu recentiore adscriptum est 'Cantilena Georgii Ripley'. De quo vid. Fabic. Bibl. Med. et Inf. Lib. VII. Edita sunt Riplaei Opera in 8vo Cassel 1649. Suscribitur Aegidius de vadis, sed perperam.
23. Rosarius magnus Johannis Dastini, de quo et Rosario suo, 'secreta secretorum complexo'. vid. Fabr. Bibl. Med. et Inf.Lib. IV. sun Johannes Dastyn sive Dastinus. Cons. etiam Tanner Biblioth. Susbribitur hic etiam nomemn Aegidii de vadis, qui Codici magnam partem forsitan conscripsit.

MS. Harley 3529.
Dei secretti del R.D. Alessio Piamontese, prima parte. A large book of Italian receipts; from a book of Alexis published at Venice in 1564. 'Written out in 5 days and nights'.

MS. Harley 3536A.
Paper. 17th Century.
A French tract, on Magic and judicial Astrology, entitled, 'La Clavicule de Salomon'.

MS. Harley 3542. 14th Century.
Tractatus Alchemici, Medici, & Chirurgici Rogeri Baconis, Alberti, Rain. Lullii, Johannes Sautre, etc.

MS. Harley 3703.
Paper. But very obscure and difficult to read. 14th Century.
1. Morieni, de transfiguratione Metallorum, Dialogus.
2. Expositio Specierum huic magisterio pertinentium.
3. Ortulani Clavis Sapientiae majoris.
4. Expositio Statuae Josephi Philosophi.
5. Modus distillandi aquam fortem: & forma Alembici, cum Cucurbita.
6. Aristotelis as Alexandrum Epistola.
7. Tractatus Sawtry de occulta philosophia.
8. Democriti liber, de lapide occulto Philosophorum.
9. Liber de occulto lapide Philosophorum, qui prae aliis lumine lucet.
10. Liber Graciae ... II Practice Rasis.
11. Declaration Lapidis per Avicennam.
12. De proportione Elementorum secundum Richardum de Salopia.

MS. Harley 3717.
Parchment. 14th Century.
Various manuscripts bound together. Imperfect in places. Alexandro Neckam, (de quo vid. ad num, 3737) olim perperam ascriptus.
De 4 Elementis, et natura rerum, libri 19. Deest vicesimus, in auctoris prologo citatus, de motu siderum et planetarum.

MS. Harley 3770.
Initial folio parchment, thereafter paper. 15th Century. Per eundem virum doctum qui apud num 376 scriptus, brevibus notis illustratus.
1. Raymundi Lullii, Ars Brevis.
2. Raymundi Lullii, de anima rationali, liber, Romae compositus.
3. Raymundi Lullii, Physicorum liber.
4. Raymundi Lullii, Demonstrationis Articulorum Fidei, liber.
5. Raymundi Lullii, de praedestinatione & libero arbitrio, liber.

MS. Harley 3831.
Paper. 16th Century. Lingua et scriptura varius, sed omnino insulsus.
E Codd. MSS. Covellianis.
Aenigmata, Incantamenta, & Medicinae.

MS. Harley 3856.
Paper. 17th Century. Pro prelo transcriptus, ut vid. p.257 constat pag. 463.
Basilii Valentini, de rebus naturalibus & supernaturalibus. Libri tres.

MS. Harley 3914.
Arabic Book, which is entitled Suraya Yes Alcorani, sc. on magical matters.

MS. Harley 3915.
Parchment. 14th Century.
Theophili Monarchi, de Chemia, Medicis praeparationibus, Mineralibus, & plurimis raris inventionibus, libri. 3.

MS. Harley 3981.
Paper. 99 pages, with many diagrams. 'La Clavicule de Salomon, Roy des Hebreux, traduite de la lange Hebraique en Italien, par Abraham Colorno, par Ordre de son Altesse Serenissime de Mantoue, et mise nouvellement en Fran�ois'.

MS. Harley 4081.
16th Century.
Johannis Mercurii Corrigiensis, de Quercu Julii Pontificis, sive de lapide philosophico, liber; scriptus 1506.

MS. Harley 4486.
17th Century 1. A book of 117 pages, besides the Introduction, fairly written on Paper, containing a Book of Alchemy, with the following inscription by way of title, 'Coppie sur l'original du Summaire et Recapitualation des Chapitres suivants contenus en ce Livre. Et Achev� de coppier le quinzieme Septembre d'an de Grace Lil six cents trente et un. Pour Monseigneur de Baron de Tracy'. It contains an Introduction of 14 pages, and is divided into two books, the first of theory the second of practice; the former containing ten chapters, the latter two. In the old catalogue it is called, 'Livre de Chemie de M. Le Prevost de Paris', but this name does not now appear in it.

MS. Harley 4724.
Paper.
1. A tract with the title 'Of the Veritie and Antiquitie of the Chemicke Arte, & Powder or Medicine of the Philosophers, or aurum potabile; and of the Matter and composition thereof, and of his marvailous force, in 3 Kinds of Things, animal, vegetall, & minerall. Testimonies and Theoremes gathered out of divers Authors, Sacred Divines, Lawyers, Phisitions, Philosophers, & Poets, by Roberte Valence'. With some Latin Verses on Alchemy prefixed.
2. 'Secretum nobilissimum & verissimum veneralilis viri Jodoci Greveri, Presbiteri'. f.39.
3. The sayings of Alanus the Philosopher, of the Philosophers Stone. f.71.
4. 'An Epistle of Joh. Pontanus, a great Philosopher, wherein is entreated of the Philosophers Stone'. f.81.
5. 'A Treatise of Thomas of Aquine, of the Philosophers Stone.' f.85.
6. John de Rupescissa, his Book of Light. f.106.
7. 'The Keye of Raymund Lully of Majorca, which is also called an Apertorie, wherein all thinges which are required in Alchimie are plainly declared.' f.121.

MS. Harley 5040.
Parchment. 50 folios.
Secretum Chimicum; [achephalon]: per Monacum Cirencestriae 1390. Forte Rasis erat. Vide Ashmole in prologem.

MS. Harley 5399.
Paper. Much stained. 14th Century.
1. Raimundi Lullii Vade mecum: Liber chemicus, Roberto Regi Angliae dedicatus. f.1.
2. Raimundi Lullii de lapide Philosophorum, Liber. f15b.
3. Raimundi Lullii Summa transmutatoriae arts metallorum. f.34.
4. Raimundi Lullii Practica Arboris phisicalis, i.e. operis Majoris. Paginae tantum 3 primae. f.46.
5. Arnoldi de villa nova, Tractatus Aquae Vitae. f.51.
6. Raim. Lullii, de aqua vitawe, Tract. f.75.
7. Vina Medicinalia. f.121.
8. De auro potabili. f.145.
9. 'De consideratione quintae essentiae omnium rerum transmutabilium, in nomine Domini nri J. Christi et vocatur liber de famulatu philosophiae, pauperibus evangelicis viris compilatus.' f.167.
10. 'De 7 herbis 7 planetis attributis, secundum eorum impressiones. Desunt folio a 289 ad 339. f.280b.
11. Aqua physicales 12. f.339.
12. De oleis. f. 347.
13. De Sole resoluto, i.e. auro potabile. f.385.

MS. Harley 5403.
112 folios. Paper. 215x146mm. 15th Century.
1. f1-11r [Alchemical fragments in Latin.]
2. f16r-37r [German treatise on the transmutation of the elements.]
3. f37v Ein Recept des Johannes Ediling.
4. f72r Practica Domini Cimonis Treverensis Archiepiscopi, quam emit 2000 Florinis.
5. f93 Henricus Domar de Heidelberg.
6. f100r Practica iohannis de Cassil...
7. f102v Chemisches Recepte per dominum nycolaum de Birkenvelt. [In German and Latin.]
8. f112 Ein Recept Gold smedig zu machin.

MS. Harley 6045.
Book in Latin which is entitled 'Cursus Chymicus, sub Domino Luca operante factus.' To this is added a note, 'Ordo praeparatorium in hoc cursu observatus est ecundum furnorum commoditatem, ita ut quae simul fieri potuerint operationes, factae simul; et in iisdem furnis, ut et carbonibus parceretur'.
Describit compositiones praeparationum, subjectis observationibus.

MS. Harley 6292.
Paper. Quarto. Annotationes ex libro Jac. Zarabellae de constitutione scientiae naturalis excerpta. In relinqua parte libro Loci commumes ex variis authoribus, praecipue Anglicis, exscripti sunt.
With index in English. Nonnulla Latine, in parte libri aversa.

MS. Harley 6453.
Paper. Quarto. 1. 'The worke of the Lord Bernard, Erle of the Marchis of Trevisan'. in four parts. p.1.
2. 'The worke of an unknowen Author, havinge no name to yt but Jesus'. p.39.
3. 'The worke of an other namles Author, by way of a Dialoge'. p.47. with a fragment from another p.56.
4. Verses by several authors on similar subjects. p.57.
5. Receipts from Raymond, Ripley, eyc. p.76.
6. ['Donum Dei' in English translation, with line drawings of the figures.]
7. 'Merinus et Merlinus pater et filius', a dialogue in English verse. f.29.
8. 'Here beginythe a compendiouse abstract of Alkymy, drawne out of laten, by a true ground on what wise ye shall worke without error to ye true conclusion of a perfect Elyxyr bothe for ye whyte & for the redd'. f.41.
9. 'Here beginneth a dialoge betwixt the scoler and the master.' f.53.
10. A collection of receipts for various purposes. p1.
11. 'A fragment of Tollelanus his Rosary'. p.22.

MS. Harley 6481.
Paper. Quarto. 17th Century.
Dr Rudd's Treatise of the miraculous Descensions and Ascensions of Spirits, verified by a practical examination of principles in the great World - The second Part professes to contain some choice Rosycrucian Chemical Medicines, wholsome and fit to keep the Body in health and lustiness, until the appointed time of Death, that is when the Soul separates from it: And then after teaches the harmony & composition of the human Soul; and then conducts it to the place from whence it came.

MS. Harley 6482.
Paper. Quarto. 17th Century.
Containing the Characters of the 16 Figures of Geomancy, expressed in the great and lesser Squares of Tabula sancta; togehter with an explication of the seven Tables of Enoch, which are charged with Spirits or Genii, both good and bad of several Orders and Hierarchies, which the wise King Solomon made use of. Collected from Dr Rudd's papers by P. Smart, M.A. Here are remarks on Sylphs, Salamanders, Gnomes, etc.

MS. Harley 6483.
Paper. Quarto. 17th Century.
Containing all the Names, Orders, & offices of all the Spirits Salomon ever conversed with: the Seals and Characters belonging to each Spirit; & the manner of calling them forth to visible appearance. - Some of these Spirits are in Enoch's Tables described in the former volume, but their Seals and Characters how they may be known are omitted, which are therefore in this book at large set forth.

MS. Harley 6484.
Paper. Quarto. 17th Century.
Dr Rudd's Treatise of the Talismanic Sculpture of the Persians; or the Manner of making Figures or Images under certain Constellations.

MS. Harley 6485.
Paper. Quarto. 17th Century.
Dr Dee's Treatise of the Rosie Crucian Secrets, their excellent Method of making Medicines of Metals: also their Laws and Mysteries. With an alphabetical explanation of certain chymical hard Words used in the Treatise.

MS. Harley 6486.
Paper. Quarto. 17th Century.
Quarto, containing a translation of Hermetis trismegisti Sponsalia celeberrima, or the famous celebrated Nuptials of the thrice great Hermes, allegorically describing the mystical union and communion of Christ with every regenerate Soul, composed by C.R. a German, of the Order of the Rosei Cross, about 255 years past, & from the Latin MS. faithfully translated into English by P. Smart M.A. --In the Margin are brief Notes of the late Dr Rudd explaining some hard words and sentences.

MS. Harley 6487.
Paper. Quarto. 17th Century.
Tractatus du, de Rhetorica et de Logica, manu Petri Smart scripti, A.D. 1713.

MS. Harley 6940. Duodecimo. 56 pages. An Essay on Chemistry and Distillation, by Sam. Bispham.

MS. Harley 7320.
258 pages. Paper. Quarto. 17th Century.
A Course of Chemistry. Also seven Diagrams, or tables, neatly drawn with a pen; & a miscellaneous folio of various chemical objects. Probably of the time of Charles II.

MS. Harley 7563.
Paper. Quarto. 'Roberti Boiles Englieshen Won Adel Unnd mit glied der Koniglichen Societat in Engelland: Anderer Theil. der naturalichen experimentirten Philosophia; und derer gebrauch in der Artzney. Die Erst Section. Aufs dem Englishen ins deutsche versezet, durch Carolum Aliojesium, Ramsaij'. That is, certain Philosophical works of Mr Boyle, translated into German by C.A. Ramsay. etc.

MS. Royal 7 E. x.
94 folios. Vellum. 350x235mm. 14th Century.
4b. f47v 'Ars arquime prohibetur' [Papal decretal against alchemy by John XXII]

MS. Royal 12 G. iv.
226 folios. Vellum. 330x228mm. 14th-15th Centuries.
11. f163v [Alchemical note with ten hexameter verses on the transmutation of quicksilver into silver.]
[Begins] : 'Ad declarandum textum versuum infrascriptorum respicias librum aureum qui dicitur ortus sapientie et thesaurus philosophorum'.

MS. Royal 17 C. xix.
43 folios. Paper. 216x171mm. 17th Century.
'Fama Fraternitatis R: C: or Discovery of the Fraternity of the laudable order of the Rosie Cross. As also the confession and acknowledgement of the sayd Graternity wrighten to all the learned and cheefe in Europa. Printed at Dahorig (sc. Dantzic) by Andrew Himefelet Ann: D. 1615.'

MS. Royal 18 B. xxiv.
162 folios. Paper. 300x200mm. 16th Century (c.1563)
3. f 79-139 'Thomas Norton, of Alchemy' [The Ordinal of Alchemy, a poem in seven chapters

MS. Royal 18 B. xxx.
Paper 21 folios. 300x190mm. 17th Century.
[Table of contents of an anonymous treatise, or scheme for a treatise, called 'The Revelation of the Divine Majestie', in 24 books and a preface. Each of the books has for a title a word or passage of Genesis I, 1-5. It is of a cosmographical, and in parts alchemical (cf. Bk. 4,5), character rather than theological.]

MS. Lansdowne 121.
15. [Collections on alchemy. Other items in this MS. are addressed to Lord Burghley.]

MS. Lansdowne 440.
Folio. De Cabala Sacra: et de ineffabili Dei Nomine Tetragrammaton.

MS. Lansdowne 703.

MS. Lansdowne 724.
Quarto. 1. f1 'The booke of the reverend lerned man Lord Barnard Erle of Trevisane, towching the philosopher's stone, written by him in the Frenche tonge and nowe Engleshed by J.C.'
3. f64 'The uses of Tetraedrum transformatum garnished with dyalls'.
[This tract belonged to Lord Burghley, who has intituled it 'The use of the dyall, 1576'.]

MS. Lansdowne 1204.
Quarto. 'Recueil des Dogmes les plus obscures des Cabalistes compos� par C... A... V... De St. B. dans lequele se trouve les interprettations les plus claire du sens cach� et obscure qui se trouve dans les ouvrages ecris sur ces matieres avec une metode simple pour l'intelligence de la cabal des nombres numeriques, 1792. Amme R. C.'
[This title, in bad orthography, has been added to the work, and some alterations made in its real title, which is 'Traite des Dogmes les plus curieux et les plus obscurs des cabalistes anciennement tir�s de leurs commentaires. Par Jean Pic, et enrichis d'interpretations par le P...' (the name, which was 'Pere Archange', being carefully defaced with a pen). It is in fact no more than a translation of Pico's printed work, the origial Latin of which is also transcribed; nor does it appear that any comment whatever has been added to that already made by Achangelus. The name of the pretended commentator or compiler is introduced at f521, and is 'Charles St. Bedau'.]

MS. Lansdowne 1205.
Quarto. Theologie de Cabalistes de la Psycologie.

MS. Lansdowne 1206.
Octavo. [A cabalistical book of prayers and psalms in French. It is an elegant specimen of writing, in imitation of Roman Pica, probably by the celebrated Lesclabart.]

MS. Kings 287.
11 folios. Paper. 368x229mm. 18th Century.
Sapientia Veterum' : an alchemical treatise in Latin and English, the English title being 'The Wisdom of the the Antients or Theire Doctrine of the Cheif and Universal Medicine, whereby human health being intire may be preserved in the same state... and also the leprosie of mettalls may be totally taken away: unfolded in fourty hieroglyphics, to which are added theire explanations. [With the sixty seven figures of the Crowning of Nature.]

MS. Cotton Vitellius. E. X. 242 folios.
Paper. Folio. 23. f227 Figurae secretorum Gregorii prioris de Bridlinton, et Georgii Ripley.

MS. Burney 91.
281 folios. Paper. In two quarto volumes. 15th Century.
5. f36v Chymica quaedam. [in Greek.]

MS. Arundel 164.
194 folios. Partly in parchment, partly paper. Folio. 15th Century.
13. f127v Albertus Magni liber 'de occultis naturae', sive de alchemia.
14. f131-155, 187-192 Gebri Arabis philosophi Summa perfectionis, sive libri duo de chemia, Latine, incerto interprete.
15. f155 Tholosini Expositio Hermetis Trismegisti de lapide philosophico.
16. f157 Liber Deitatis, sive Divinitatis, de lapide philosophorum.

MS. Arundel 342.
86 folios. Parchment. Quarto. In an Italian hand. 14th Century.
4. f55 [Alchemical recipes in Italian.]

MS. Stow 1070.