Harley MS 13

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Date
c 1290-16th century

Title
Scientific miscellany

Content
The volume is composed of 6 semi-independent parts (ff. 3r-128r; 129r-140r; 141r-164v; 165r-198v; 199r-230; 231r-241v). It was probably made for John of London (fl. c. 1290- c. 1330), the first recorded owner of the manuscript. The manuscript includes: 1. Flyleaf with ownership inscriptions (ff. 1r-1v); 2. Theorica planetarum Gerardi attributed to Gerard of Cremona (ff. 3r-8v);3. 'Canones Luce de utraque eclipsi solis et lune' (ff. 25v-29v);4. Campanus of Novarra, Rule and table for converting Christian years (from AD 1260) into Arab years (f. 30r);5. Toledan tables (ff. 31r-38v);6. A table for converting Christian years into Arabic years with an explanatory text (f. 30v) 7. Toledan tables (ff. 39r-116v);8. Thebit ben Corat, De motu octave spere (ff. 117r-119v);9. Thebit ben Corat, De hiis que indigent expositione antequam legatur Almagesti (ff. 119v-122r);10. Thebit ben Corat, De recta imaginatione spere (ff. 122r-123r); 11. Thebit ben Corat, De quantitatibus stellarum et planetarum et proportione terre (in Latin translation) (ff. 123v-124v);12. Jordanus de Nemore, De plana spera (ff. 124v-128v);13. Euclid, Catoptrica (sometimes also attributed to Jordanus de Nemore as De speculis) (ff. 129r-133v);14. De ratione ponderi attributed to Jordanus de Nemore (ff. 133v-140r);15. 'De sole' (ff. 140r-140v); 16. Pseudo-Ptolemy, Centiloquium, with a commentary of Haly ibn Ridwan (ff. 141r-164v);17. Al-Kindi, De radiis (or Theorica artium magicarum) (ff. 165r-173r);18. Messahala, De cogitationibus ab intentione (ff. 173r-173v);19. Messahala, Libellus interpretationum sive De inventione occultorum (Latin translation incorporating parts of Dorotheus and Ptolemy on occulta) (ff. 173v-175r);20. Theodosius, De spheris (ff. 175v-194v);21. Mileus (or Menelaus) of Alexandria, De figuris sphericis, in Latin translation by Gerard of Cremona (ff. 195r-198r);22. Alcabitius, Liber introductorius, in Latin translation by John of Seville (ff. 199r-218v);23. Messahala, Liber coniunctionis et receptionis in Latin translation by John of Seville (ff. 218v-228v);24. John of Seville, Glossa super 60 propositionem Centiloquii Ptolemei (ff. 229r-230r);25. Messahala, De motibus (De orbe) (ff. 231r-241v);26. Alphabetical index 14th century (f. 242r).The text was written by several scribes probably over a period of time, but the decoration was completed in one location in England.Decoration:2 historiated initials, in colours and gold, and partial bar borders with zoomorphic elements (ff. 129r, 133v). Large initials in colours and gold with foliate decoration, some with animal or human heads and partial bar borders at the beginning of texts. Small initials in blue with red pen-flourishing, or in red with blue pen-flourishing. Paraphs in red or blue. 5 volvelles, all now broken (ff. 3r, 3v, 4v, 5r, 6v). Numerous diagrams in colours. Tables in brown and red (ff. 12r, 18r, 30r-116r, 120r, 200v, 201v, 202r). Capitals highlighted in red.
 
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Harley MS 13, ff 1r-1v

Ownership inscriptions
The original pastedown leaf includes an ownership inscription of John of London, 'Johannes de lo[n]don', probably in John's own hand (top right), a title 'Tabule astronom' (twice), an inscription, probably by Michael de Northgate, monk of St Augustine, Canterbury (see Barker-Benfield 2008), reading 'Liber Johannis de London', and 'de Libraria Sancti Augustini Cant', and the library shelfmark 'D'. 13. Ga 4'.

Harley MS 13, ff 3r-8v

Gerard of Cremona (attributed to), Theorica planetarum Gerardi
The Theorica planetarum Gerardi attributed to Gerard of Cremona.Decoration:An illuminated initial 'C'(irculus) in colours and gold, at the beginning of the text, with a one-side bar border surmounted by a hybrid of a monk with animal legs (f. 3r).Includes 6 diagrams (volvelles, some with strings attached) showing movements of the sun (f. 3r); moon (f. 3v); Capricorn (f. 4v); Scorpio (f. 5r); Venus and Mercury (f. 6v); and the retrogradation of planets (f. 7r).

Harley MS 13, ff 25v-29v

Canones Luce de utraque eclipsi solis et lune
Canones Luce de utraque eclipsi solis et lune; incipit: 'Cum in aliquo mense anni...'.

Harley MS 13, f 30r

Campanus of Novarra, Rule and table for converting Christian years (from AD 1260) into Arab years
Campanus of Novarra, Rule and table for converting Christian years (from AD 1260) into Arab years.Decoration:An illuminated initial 'Q'(uia) in gold and colours at the beginning of the text.

Harley MS 13, f 30v

A table for converting Christian years into Arabic years
A table for converting Christian years into Arabic years with an explanatory text, incipit: 'Ut annos arabum'.

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Harley MS 13, ff 31r-38v

Toledan tables
Toledan tables.

Harley MS 13, ff 39r-116v

Toledan tables
Toledan tables.

Harley MS 13, ff 117r-119v

Thebit ben Corat, De motu octave spere
Thebit ben Corat, De motu octave spere (in the Latin translation).Decoration: An illuminated initial 'I'(n) in gold and colour at the beginning of the text (f 117r).Includes 1 diagram of the movements of the sphere (f 118r) and a table.

Harley MS 13, ff 119v-122r

Thebit ben Corat, De hiis que indigent expositione antequam legatur Almagesti
Thebit ben Corat, De hiis que indigent expositione antequam legatur Almagesti (in the Latin translation).Decoration:An illuminated initial 'C' in gold and colours at the beginning of the text; with a guide letter 'e' and a letter 'e' correcting the initial in the margin.

Harley MS 13, ff 122r-123r

Thebit ben Corat, De recta imaginatione spere
Thebit ben Corat, De recta imaginatione spere (in the Latin translation).Decoration:An illuminated initial 'N'(os) in gold and colours at the beginning of the text (f. 122r).

Harley MS 13, ff 123v-124v

Thebit ben Corat, De quantitatibus stellarum et planetarum et proportione terre
Thebit ben Corat, De quantitatibus stellarum et planetarum et proportione terre (in the Latin translation).Decoration:An illuminated initial 'P'(tholomeus) in gold and colours at the beginning of the text (f. 123v).

Harley MS 13, ff 124v-128v

Jordanus de Nemore, De plana spera
Jordanus de Nemore, De plana spera.Decoration:An illuminated initial 'S'(peram) in gold and colours at the beginning of the text (f. 124v).Includes geometrical diagrams of the sphere in the margins (ff. 125v-128v).

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Harley MS 13, ff 129r-133v

Euclid, Catoptrica (sometimes also attributed to Jordanus de Nemore as De speculis)
Euclid, Catoptrica (sometimes also attributed to Jordanus de Nemore as De speculis).Decoration:1 historiated initial 'V'(isum) of a scholar holding a mirror, at the beginning of the text; with an instruction for an illuminator reading 'miroer' (f. 129r).Includes a series of marginal diagrams on all pages.

Harley MS 13, ff 133v-140r

Jordanus de Nemore, De ratione ponderi (attributed to)
De ratione ponderi attributed to Jordanus de Nemore.Decoration:1 historiated initial 'O'(mnis) of a man holding a scales, at the beginning of the text, with a guide letter 'o' in the margin (f. 133v).Includes a series of marginal diagrams (ff 133v-140r).

Harley MS 13, ff 140r-140v

De sole
A text entitled 'De sole', incipit: 'Annis arabum 691 perfectis.' It contains predictions of eclipses of the sun for the years 1293-1311 and of the moon for the years 1293-1300.

Harley MS 13, ff 141r-164v

Pseudo-Ptolemy, Centiloquium, with the commentary of Haly ibn Ridwan
Pseudo-Ptolemy, Centiloquium, with the commentary of Haly ibn Ridwan.Decoration:1 illuminated initial 'S'(cientia) in colours and gold at the beginning of the text, with a guide letter 's' in the margin (f. 141r).

Harley MS 13, ff 165r-173r

Al-Kindi, De radiis (or Theorica artium magicarum)
Al-Kindi, De radiis (or Theorica artium magicarum).Includes a 16th-century marking with maniculae, possibly by John Dee (see Barker-Benfield, 2008).Decoration:1 illuminated initial 'O'(mnes) in colours and gold, at the beginning of the text, with a guide letter 'o' (f. 165r).

Harley MS 13, ff 173r-173v

Messahala, De cogitationibus ab intentione
Messahala, De cogitationibus ab intentione.Decoration:1 illuminated initial 'P'(recipit) in colours and gold, at the beginning of the text with a quide letter 'p' in the marigin (f. 173r)

Harley MS 13, ff 173v-175r

Messahala, Libellus interpretationum sive De inventione occultorum (Latin translation incorporating parts of Dorotheus and Ptolemy on occulta)
Messahala, Libellus interpretationum sive De inventione occultorum (Latin translation incorporating parts of Dorotheus and Ptolemy on occulta).Decoration:1 illuminated initial 'S'(cito) in colours and gold, at the beginning of the text (f. 173v).

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Harley MS 13, ff 175v-194v

Theodosius, De spheris
Theodosius, De spheris (in a Latin translation).Decoration:1 illuminated initial 'S'(pera) in colours and gold, at the beginning of the text, with a guide letter 's' in the margin (f. 175v).Includes a series of geometrical diagrams of the sphere (ff. 176r-177r), some unfinished (ff. 177v-179r).

Harley MS 13, ff 195r-198r

Mileus (or Menelaus) of Alexandria, De figuris sphericis
Mileus (or Menelaus) of Alexandria, De figuris sphericis, in the Latin translation by Gerard of Cremona.Decoration:1 illuminated initial 'D'(e) in colours and gold, at the beginning of the text, with a guide letter 'd' in the margin (f. 195r).

Harley MS 13, ff 199r-218v

Alcabitius, Liber introductorius, in the Latin translation by John of Seville
Alcabitius, Liber introductorius, in the Latin translation of John of Seville.Decoration:1 illuminated initial 'P' in colours and gold at the beginning of the text (f. 199r).Includes 4 tables (ff. 200v, 201v, 202r).

Harley MS 13, ff 218v-228v

Messahala, Liber coniunctionis et receptionis in the Latin translation by John of Seville
Messahala, Liber coniunctionis et receptionis in the Latin translation by John of Seville.Decoration:1 illuminated initial 'I'(nvenit) in colours and gold, at the beginning of the text (f. 218v).Includes 2 diagrams in colours (ff. 227v, 228v), 2 added marginal diagrams in ink (ff. 220v, 221v) and 3 unfinished marginal diagrams in ink (ff. 223r, 224v, 225r).

Harley MS 13, ff 229r-230r

John of Seville, Glossa super 60 propositionem Centiloquii Ptolemei
John of Seville, Glossa super 60 propositionem Centiloquii Ptolemei.

Harley MS 13, ff 231r-241v

Messahala, De motibus (De orbe)
Messahala, De motibus (De orbe) in the Latin translation perhaps by Gerard of Cremona. The text is imperfect, the last 16 words are written by a modern hand (16th century?).Decoration:1 illuminated initial 'I'(ncipiat) in colours and gold, at the beginning of the text, with a guide letter 'i' in the margin (f. 231r).Includes diagrams of elements (f. 231v), orbits and movements of planets (ff. 233v-336r, 337v-338r, 239v-240r), including solar and lunar eclipses (ff. 236v-237r), and the planetary system (f. 238v).

Harley MS 13, f 242r

Alphabetical index
This page, used as a flyleaf, contains the end of an alphabetical index (from S to V) from a different manuscript, probably a sermon collection.

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Languages
Latin

Physical Description
  • Materials: Parchment codex.
  • Dimensions: 295 x 200 mm (text space: 195 x 130 mm).
  • Foliation: ff vi + 242 (2 unfoliated leaves after f. 199); medieval foliation beginning on f. 3r; catchwords and quire signatures.
  • Script: Gothic.
  • Binding: British Museum/British Library in-house binding.

Ownership
Origin: England.Provenance:Johannes de London, monk of St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury (fl. c 1290-c.1330): inscribed 'Liber Johans de London' (f. 1v); perhaps made for him.The Benedictine abbey of St Augustine, Canterbury: inscribed 'de Liber sancti Augustini Cante' (f. 1v); included in the catalogue of St Augustine's library, no. 1166 (see James 1963 and Barker-Benfield 2008). John Twyne (b. c.1505, d. 1581), schoolmaster and antiquary: his name 'Mr Twyne' marking the entry for this manuscript in the St Augustine's library catalogue; it is unclear whether this inscription implies ownership of the manuscript (see Barker-Benfield 2008).John Dee (b. 1527, d. 1609), mathematician, astrologer, and antiquary: table of contents in his hand (f. 2r).Sir Simonds d'Ewes (b. 1602, d. 1650), 1st baronet, diarist, antiquary, and friend of Sir Robert Cotton (see Wright 1972). Sir Simonds D’Ewes (d. 1722), 3rd baronet and grandson of the former: inherited and later sold the D’Ewes library to Robert Harley on 4 October 1705 for £450 (see Watson 1966).The Harley Collection, formed by Robert Harley (b. 1661, d. 1724), 1st earl of Oxford and Mortimer, politician, and Edward Harley (b. 1689, d. 1741), 2nd earl of Oxford and Mortimer, book collector and patron of the arts. Edward Harley bequeathed the library to his widow, Henrietta, née Cavendish Holles (b. 1694, d. 1755) during her lifetime and thereafter to their daughter, Margaret Cavendish Bentinck (b. 1715, d.1785), duchess of Portland; the manuscripts were sold by the Countess and the Duchess in 1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library.

Bibliography
  • A Catalogue of the Harleian Manuscripts in the British Museum, 4 vols (London: Eyre and Strahan, 1808-12), I, no. 13.
  • M. R. James, The Ancient Libraries of Canterbury and Dover (Cambridge: 1903), pp. lxxiv-lxxvii.
  • Andrew G. Watson, 'An Identification of some Manuscripts owned by Dr. John Dee and Sir Simonds D'Ewes', The Library, 5th series, 13 (1958), 194-98 (p. 196).
  • Medieval Libraries of Great Britain: A List of Surviving Books, ed. by N. R. Ker, 2nd edn, Royal Historical Society Guides and Handbooks, 3 (London: Royal Historical Society, 1964), p. 44.
  • A. G. Watson, The Library of Sir Simonds D'Ewes (London: British Museum, 1966), no. A280.
  • A. B. Emden, Donors of Books to St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury (Oxford: 1968), pp. 11-12, 41.
  • C. E. Wright, Fontes Harleiani: A Study of the Sources of the Harleian Collection of Manuscripts in the British Museum (London: British Museum, 1972), pp. 95, 126, 131, 227.
  • Al-Kindi, 'De radiis', ed. by M. T. d'Alverny and F. Hudry, Archives d'histoire doctrinale et littéraire du Moyen Age (1974), 139-260.
  • A. G. Watson, 'A St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury, Manuscript Reconstructed: Trinity College, Cambridge, MS R.14.30 and British Library MSS Egerton 823 and 840 A', Transactions of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society, 6 (1975), 211-17.
  • R. B. Thomson, 'Jordanus de Nemore: Opera', Medieval Studies, 38 (1976), 97-144.
  • Wilbur R. Knorr, 'Archimedes and the Pseudo-Euclidean Catoptrics: Early Stages in the Ancient Geometric Theory of Mirrors', Archives Internationales d'Histoire des Sciences, 35 (1985), 28-105.
  • St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury, ed. by B.C. Barker-Benfield (London: British Library 2008), BA. I.1166.
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