THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Series One: The Papers of Sir Hans Sloane, 1660-1753 from the British Library, London

Parts 4 and 5: Alchemy, Chemistry and Magic

Detailed Listing - Part 5

REEL 76

Sloane Ms 2157
14th cent. 292ff. Folio.
Avicenna. Libri Canonis. Translated by Gerard of Cremona.

Sloane Ms 2174
16th – 17th cent. 140ff. Folio.
Miscellany, including:
1. a. The rules or canons of philosophy. ff.1-6.
b. A treatise upon the philosophers' stone. ff.9-29.
Begins: 'many bothe wise and excellent lerned men.'
c. Ventura. Extracts from ‘de ratione conficiendi Lapidis philosophici’ (?). ff.30-39.
Title: 'What regiment in special is necessary for art taken out of Ventura.'
d. Ramon Lull. Clavicula. ff.40-44.
Begins: 'Nos appellavimus opus hoc nostrum claviculam qui sine hoc.'
e. A treatise on alchemy, imperfect at the beginning. ff.45-56.
Chap. I. 'Of myneral stone - Wyth the helpe of God let us prosede, but because there are things whereof...'
f. A treatise entitled 'The Rosarye.' ff.57-73.
Begins: 'All the workes of divine goodness be circular and perfect rounde.'
g. George Ripley. The Compound of Alchemy. (Imperfect). ff.73v-85.
It begins with the eighth stanza of the preface: 'Like as of one masse was made all things.'

h. George Ripley. A few stanzas of his Epistle to King Edward IV, prefixed to his Compound of Alchemy. f.85v.
2. Thomas Norton. The Ordinall of Alchemy, with the preface. ff.89-116.
(Printed in Theatrum Chemicum Edited Ashmole, p.6.)
3. A poem on alchemy, imperfect at the end. ff.117-139.
Begins: 'This seyence bearithe her name by a King
Callyd Alchimus without any lesing
A glorious prince of most noble mynde
His noble vertews hope him this arte to finde.'

Sloane Ms 2198
17th cent. 32ff. Quarto.
George Ripley. The Compound of Alchemy.

REEL 77

Sloane Ms 2206
17th cent. 21ff. Quarto.
An introduction to chemistry.

Sloane Ms 2218.
17th cent. 24ff. Octavo.
A treatise entitled 'A looking glasse for illiterate Alchymists'.
Begins: 'Albeit I am not ignorant that Alchymy is a parte of Naturall and secret philosophy'.

Sloane Ms 2264
17th cent. 65ff. Octavo.
A course of chemistry, with an index.

Sloane Ms 2320
16th cent. 94ff. Quarto.
Miscellany, including:
3. Aristotle. Letters to Alexander. ff.10-13.
10. Roger Bacon. Summaria expositio epistola practica. ff.27-29.
11. Arnald of Villanova. Tractatus de vinis. ff.32-54.
13. Roger Bacon. De retardatione senectutis. ff.56-64.
14. De arte magicali. ff.65-69.
15. Hippocrates. Liber praescientiae. f.70.
18. Roger Bacon. Tract. ff.73-93.
Sloane Ms 2322
15th cent. 174ff. Quarto.
Miscellany, once owned by John Harte and later by John Hatfield, including:
2. Chemical and medical receipts. ff.4-134.
3. [Roger Bacon]. Liber de famulata philosophiae evangelistae domini nostri Jhesu Christi et puaperibus ewangelicis viris - Primus liber de consideratione quintae essentiae omnium rerum transmutabilium, in nomine Domini nostri Jhesu Christde. ff.135-168.

Sloane Ms 2325
15th cent. 47ff. Quarto.
Miscellany, once owned by John Dee, containing:
1. Geber. Turba philosophorum. ff.1-6.
2. Breviloquium Johannis Pauperis, de lapide Philosophorum. ff.6v-11.
Begins: 'Testatur Gebar reverendus in libro lx Cap 12. quod tres sunt ordines medicinarum; primi. ordinis, medicina est quae super imperfecta corpora'.
3. Rasis. Practica. ff.12-14.
4. 'Liber Saturni'. ff.15-17.
5. 'Tractatus quidam brevis et levis'. f.17v.
Begins: 'Sciant artifices alkemye species vere permutare non posse, quod quidem verum est'.
6. Alchemical receipts. ff.19v-21.
7. Arnald of Villanova. Thesaurus Thesaurorum et Rosarius Philosophorum. ff.22-39. [Printed among his Works, in folio, Basel, 1585.]
[8]. Roger Bacon. Speculum alchimiae. ff.44-46.

REEL 78

Sloane Ms 2327
14th cent. 58ff. Quarto.
Miscellany, once owned by John Dee, containing:
1. Arnald of Villanova. De secretis naturae. ff.2-4.
Begins: 'Sol, Luna, azot sunt lapides nostri...'
2. Hermes Trismegistus. De lapide philosophico. f.4v.
Begins: “Dixit Hermes fratri suo, 'Pater, timeo ab inimico in mea mansione'...”
3. Aristotle. Letter to Alexander. f.5v.
4. Morienus. Secunda confectio ex ejus dictis. f.6. (Printed in Manget Bibliotheca Chemica Curiosa

Vol I, p518.)
5. 'Expositio imaginum Josephi.' ff.6-9.
6. 'Libri Alfidii de spiritu occultato.' f.10.
7. Rasis. Practica. f.10v.
8. Merlin. De expositione lapidis philosophici. f.11v.
9. 'Liber Vergilii de lapide philosophico.' f.12v.
10. Hermes Trismegistus. De transmutatione corporum, etc. f.14.
11. Hermes Trismegistus. Opus minerale. ff.15-20.
12. 'Liber de lapide benedicto'. f.16v.
13. 'De elixir lapidis benedicti.' f.17.
14. Morienus. De expositione lapidis benedicti. f.17v. (Printed in Manget Bibliotheca Chemica Curiosa Vol I, p563.)
15. 'Quodam expositio de lapide Philosophico.' f.19v.
16. 'Dispositio sapientium.' f.21v.
17. Merlin. Alchemical verses. f.22.
Begins: 'Est lapis occultus secreto fonte sepultus
Rupibus ex mundis consurgens rercus undis.'
18. 'Opus Bonifacii papae cum sequentibus lapidibus albedinis.' f.23v.
19. Roger Bacon. Epistolae duae ad Johannem Parisiensem de separatione elementorum, et

de mixtione. f.25.
20. 'Fratris Raymundi [Galfridi] de leone viride verbum abbreviatum verissimum et approbatum de occultis enucleatum.' f.27.
21. Hermes Trismegistus. Tabula smaragdina. f.28.
22. Roger Bacon. Opus alchemicum. ff.30-33.
23. Avicenna. 'Liber Avicennae de 12 aquis preciosissimis majoribus.' f.33.
24. 'Liber de modo praeparationis et calcinationis omnium metallorum.' f.34.
25. 'Liber de diverso modo ignium.' Added in Dee's hand 'Bachonis fragmentum', and it is a fragment of the third letter of Roger Bacon to John of Paris, which is entitled 'de ponderibus'. f.35.
26. [Roger Bacon.] Speculum alchimiae. ff.36-38.
27. Morienus. De expositione specierum. f.38. (Printed in Manget Bibliotheca Chemica Curiosa Vol I. p518.)
28. Senioris Caled [Zadith?] filii Hahnul [Hamuel]. Tabula chymica. [Imperfect]. ff.39-57. [Printed in Theatrum Chemicum, 1622. Vol 5. p219.]

Sloane Ms 2459
15th cent. 16ff. Quarto.
Miscellany containing:
1. Geber. 'Istae sunt tres ordines secundum Geberem'. f.1.
2. [Miriam the Prophetess?] Tractatus Mariae Prophetisa. f.1v. (Printed in Artis Aurifabrae, vol.1, Basil. Octavo, 1610 (?).)
3. Processus et experimenta chymica. ff.3-9.
4. Aristotle. Excerpts on the properties and qualities of herbs. ff.10-16.

Sloane Ms 2464
15th cent. 65ff. Quarto.
Aristotle. English poetical translation of his Secreta secretorum, with the prologues of John of Spain and Philip of Paris, in a translation started by John Lydgate and continued by another. Owned by Thomas Hoone.

Sloane Ms 2476
15th cent. 68ff. Quarto.
A collection of eight hermetical tracts owned by John Dastyn.
1. Visio. f.1. (Exstat impressi in 'Harmoniae Chymico-Philosophicae decade II, collecta studio Johannis Rhenani', Francof. 1625. p.301).
2. Super arte Alcumistica. f.3.
Begins: 'Deus igitur gloriosus cui sit laus gloria virtusque, qui duos lapides preciosos ex una radice progenitos gratis contulit nobis'.
3. De natura metallorum. ff.4-9.
Begins: 'Summa venerationis dignissimo patri domino Neopolioni Sancti Adriani inclito cardinali suus J.S. sincerum in secretis naturae judicium et votivum spiritum intellectus. Cum dignum sit dignis secreta pandere digniora vos dignorum dignissimum ut sapientiae amantissimum conjugem'.
4. Carmen de lapide philosophorum. f.10.
Begins: 'Accipe lapidem sanctum et ejus additamentum
Et sublimationem horum substanciam bonam'.
5. [Arnald of Villanova?] Rosarium secretissimum philosophorum arcanum comprehendens. ff.11-23. (Printed, quarto Geismar, 1647.)
6. [Arnald of Villanova?] Secretum secretorum. ff.24-39.
Begins: 'Universa divina bonitatis opera circularia sunt et perfecta ad ipsum aquo prodierunt sperica rotata'.
7. Sapientum aurinum. ff.40-48.
Begins: 'Summa venerationis excellentissimo patri domino Neapoloni Sancti Adriani dignissimo cardinali sapientiae amantissimo conjugi, suus Johannes Dastyn, rudis clericus sed fidelis, sincerum in naturae secretis judicium et votivum spiritum intellectus. Cum dignum sit dignis secreta pandere digniora vos dignorum dignissimum ut virtutis speculum praelucidum et liberalium arcium'.
8. Speculum philosophiae, de compositione lapidis preciosi. ff.49-68.
Begins: 'Venerabili in Christo patri domino Neopoloni Sancti Adriani diacono cardinali suus Johannes Dastyn se pronum ad pedum oscula beatorum. desiderii vestu sagicitati desideratum offero librum breviter abbreviatum verissimum'.
Sloane Ms 2479
12th – 15th cent. 107ff. Quarto.
Sixteen miscellaneous tracts. Includes:
1. Astrolabii confectio. ff.1-8 (14th cent.)
3. Thesaurus Pauperum magisteri Petri Hispani. ff.10-41 (14th cent.)
6. Fragmentum sermonis de conjugio. ff.58-61. (12th cent.)
7. Quaedemex epistolis et ex Artc Poetica Horatii. ff.61-63 (12th cent.)
14. Arnald of Villanova. Theorica et practica. ff.77-80 (14th cent.)
15. Medical receipts in English. ff.81-89 (14th cent.)

REEL 79

Sloane Ms 2503
17th cent. 123ff. Folio.
Miscellany, including:
1-5. Collections of alchemical processes. ff.1-61.
6. Wencelaus Lavinius of Moravia. A treatise on the Terrestrial Heaven. ff.62-64.
(Translated from the Latin, which is printed with the Cheiragogia Heliana of Nicholaus Niger Happelius, Marpurgi Cattor, 1612.)
7. Treatise on the Cabala. ff.65-74.
Begins: 'The Caball is a symbolicall Receptio of that divine revelatione sent from above, whereby the ancients were enabled to contemplate God and comprehende the separate formes'.
8. Extracts on the ancient Jews from Josephus, Lysimachus, Herodotus, etc ff.75v-81.
9. Treatise on Astrological judgements. ff.82-90.
10. Liber Alfridii de Spiritu occultato. ff.91-101.
11. Verba Aristai Patris ad filium. ff.102-105.
12. Alchemical treatise in English verse. f.106.
The commencement is wanting.
Ends: 'And that he wylle for one of hys, on domys day me Kenne,
And graunte me in hys blysse to rayne for ever withe hym. Amen'.
13. Table or figure probably illustrative of the preceding article, and entitled Coelum

Philosophorum. f.106v.
The following verses are written at the top:-
'Here followith the figure conteyning all
The secretys off thys tretys bothe grete and smalle'.
14. Ramon Lull. Table of the origin and relations of stones, metalls and elixirs. f.107.
15. Anaxagoras. Natural conversions. ff.108-123.
Sloane Ms 2517
17th cent. 91ff. Quarto.
Miscellany, including:
1. A collection of medicines for the cure of diseases. ff.1-11.
2. Of diseases and their cures. ff.12-16.
3. Alchemical verses, “out of an old Manuscript of Ripley's works”. f.17.
Begins: 'In the head they work must be begun.
If in the heart thou wilt have done.'
4. 'Cabala, speculum Artis et naturae in Alchimia'. ff.17v-22.
(Printed by Andrea Erffurt, sumptibus Johannis Web, Bib. Aug. anno 1654.)
7. Alchemical notes. ff.36-37.
8. “Lettre d'un Philosophe sur de secrett du grand ouvre ecrite au sujet des instructions qu' Aristeé a laissees à son fils, touchant le Magisterio Philosophique”, 1688. ff.38-48.
Begins: 'J'ay recu monsieur, la lettre que vous in'avez fait l'honneur de m'ecrire depuis vostre retour en Pologne'.
The following note occurs at the end of the letter “Le nim de l'Auteur en Latin divis cest anagramme 'Dives sicut ardens, s'”.
10. 'Poeme philosophique concernant le grand oeuvre, 1698'. ff.52-62.
Begins: 'Depuis l'illustre jour qu'aux yeux de cent rivallez
Ma meuse ent un success qui me combla d'hommeur
Et cens demi dieux jaloux de mon bonheur
Virent en ma faveur vos mains tres liberallez'.
11. Synesius. 'Le vray livre de la pierre philosophicali du Doct. Synesius, abbe Grec, tire de la Bibliotheque de l'Empereur'. 1612. ff.63-71.
12. 'De vera medicina viri clarissimi Alexandri a Suchten, philosophiae et medicinae doctoris ad Carolum Salisburgensem elegia'. ff.71v-83. (Printed Hamburgi, 1621.)
13. Alchemical notes, in a letter from Willielmus de Roe, to Dr S...., 1633. ff.83b-85.
Begins: 'The compendium Dear S.... that I have extracted out of your 2 little bookes to our purpose is this-'. (The following note is written in the MS. against the name 'W de Roe' - 'This was author of the book, Chymica Vannus, printed in Holland, 1666'.)

Sloane Mss 2523B & 2524A
16th cent. Two manuscript rolls (5.92m x 46cm and 2.77m x 46cm).
George Ripley. Rotulum Hieroglyphicum Pantarvae Philosophorum.

Sloane Ms 2532
17th cent. 91ff. Quarto.
Nine miscellaneous works:
1. Thomas Norton. The Ordinall of Alchemy. ff.1-50.
2. 'The practis of Zakaer under an Allegorical speeche'. ff.51-58.
Begins: 'The philosophers and true cosmographers have least by writinge'.
3. 'A declaration of certayne philosophicall words or sayinges'. f.59.
Begins: 'Nature rejoiceth in her nature, that is, the bodie lovethe his bodie'.
4. 'Zakaries projection upon all imperfect mettals'. f. 60.
5. 'The theoricke of Traverences'. ff.61-65.
Begins: 'Aristotle and divers others of the philosophers saye that there shall never remayne.'
6. 'Traverences of the raysons of mettals'. ff.65v-73.
Begins: 'God made in the begynynge one confused matter without anye order'.
7. Geber. His Testament; in English. ff.74-76.
8. William Bloomfield. The Campe of philosophie, or Bloomefield's Blossoms. ff.77-85.
9. The first 73 stanzas of a poem entitled Pater Sapientiae. ff.86-91.

Sloane Ms 2560
15th cent. 18ff. Quarto.
Arnald of Villanova. Opusculum alchemicum.
Begins: 'Qui desiderat artis philosophice scientie majoris cognicionem verissimam habere, libellum hunc diligentius inspiciat.'

Sloane Ms 2624
17th cent. 29ff. Oblong quarto.
Commonplace book of Edward Edwards, 1675, containing:
1. Nicholas Flamel. Summary of Philosophy. ff.2-9.
2. Thesaurus Thesaurorum; sive Medicina Aurea; with the copy of a letter signed B addressed to Mr Bosvile, and acquainting him with the high value of the MS. ff.10-15.
Begins: 'many and great are the secrets of nature, and concerning them and the way to obtaine them the philosophers wrote much.'
3. Elegantiae quaedam de opere philosophico ex MS. Aguila Thuringi. f.16.
4. Edward Kelley. Letters from Trebone, 9 August, 1597 - 20 June 1587. ff.17-20.
5. Chemical receipts. ff.21-23.
6. 'The Privy Seal of God's secretts which upon pain of damnation is not unadvisedly to be broken up nor revealed, but with great care and many cautions'. ff.24-29.
Begins: 'To omitt circumstances, the first matter of which the philosopher's stone is to be had and taken.'
Sloane Ms 2629
17th cent. 65ff. Octavo.
Miscellany containing:
1. Roger Bacon. On Theology. ff.2-16.
2. Roger Bacon. On the use of astronomy. ff.17-56.
3. Tractatus de universali regimine. ff.57-61.
4. Johann Tritheim. Orationes. ff.62-65.

REEL 80

Sloane Ms 2764
16th – 17th cent. 223ff. Quarto.
Miscellany including:
1. Verses upon the ‘Ethiopes’ of Heliodorus. f.2.
3-4. William of Nassau, Prince of Orange. Letters, 1573. ff.5-6.
10. Alchemical verses, and verses upon a portrait and other subjects. [In French]. f.11.
22. Greek epigrams. f.17.
37. Christopher Plantin. A sonnet. f.27.
74. An account of the death of Philip II of Spain. ff.55-57.
86. Verses on the portrait of Christopher Plantin. f.66.
108. A printed account of a monster taken in Ethiopia. f.83.
120. Secretum Alchymicum, incerti auctoris, “ex liberalitate Nicolai Barnauldi Delfinatis Galli”. f.108.
Begins: 'Quid faciat lapidem, claruis respondit Apollo'.
124. Epigrams. f.113.
125. Erasmus. Epigrams. f.113v.
129. An account of a prophecy. f.117.
130. Incerti carmen continens totum mysterium Lapidis Philosophi. f.118.
Idem de quo fit mentio supra ad art. 120.
132. Merlin. The Prophecies of Merlin on the Fall of England. f.118.
140-141. Dutch verses. ff.127-128.
145. The first chapter of the Coran. f.129.
148. Aldhelm. Excerpts. f.133v.
190. Johann Tritheim. Clavis Stenographiae. f.198.
199. Medical receipts (Belgian). ff.213-217.

Sloane Ms 2795
14th cent. 87ff. Folio.
‘Ptolemai Pelusiensis liber Almjesti’, translated from Arabic into Latin by Gerard of Cremona.

Sloane Ms 2947
14th cent, 97ff. Folio.
Rasis (son of Zacharia). Liber II ‘Almansar’ (ff.2-66) and ‘Liber Divisionum’ (ff.67-97). Translated from Arabic into Latin by Gerard of Cremona.

Sloane Ms 3086
17th cent. 109ff. Quarto.
Miscellaneous treatises including:
1. Paracelsus. The ninth book of transmutation of the elements. ff.1-9.
Begins: 'Lyke as we have spoken of the transmutations or alterations of other things'.
2. Paracelsus. The tenth book, entitled, De gradationibus. ff.10-17.
Begins: 'We will then begine to speake of the gradations'.
3. Paracelsus. A treatise on the Philosopher's stone. ff.17v-28.
Begins: 'To forge the philosophical stone througe Vulcanns the which we call Balsamum perfectum'.
4. Paracelsus. An alchemical treatise, divided into two books, the first treating of fire and the second of tinctures. ff.28v-39.
Begins: 'In the name of God the Father etc, do I intende to writte of the true science of Alchimia'.
5. Versus quidam intitulati, 'Visum votum et conversio Fulberti Eremitae'. ff.40-47.
Begins: 'Vir quidam extiterat dudum Eremita
Fulbertus Francigena cujus dulcis vita'.
6. Anaxagoras. Work upon Alchymy'. ff.48v-53.
Begins: 'When philosophie bt dylygent stoodye was employed'.
7. To fix [Mercury] into [Silver]. f.55.
8. 'Practica vera Alkamia per Magistrum Ortelanum Parisius probata et experte sub anno Domini 1358, quam Johannes Dunbelii de Anglia excepit et compilavit e libris praefati magisterii in quantum brevius potuit de mandato Canonis de Walkensteyn Treverentis Archiepiscopi 1386'. ff.56-61.
Begins: 'Quatuor sunt species quae ad opus Elixerii pertinent'.
9. Quaedam de projectione. ff.62-65.
Begins: 'Nunc restat ultimum dicere de projectione'.
10. Processus quidam alchymici. ff.66-69, 75v-76.
11. Arnald of Villanova. Flos Florum. ff.69v-75.
12. Ramon Lull. Liber lucis Mercuriorum. ff.77-79.
Begins: 'Per quamlibet litteram dicti alphabeti'.
13. A short treatise, entitled. 'Opus de Elixar ad album et ad rubeum'. ff.79v-81.
14. A treatise on the quintessence of all things divided into two books, the first treating of the vitues of herbs, etc, and the second of the general practice of medicines, curing and helping all man's infirmities. ff.82-98.
16. The golden table of Pythagoras, with spheres of Pythagoras, Plato, Alexander. ff.100v-107.
17. The influence of the moon and planets on man’s health. ff.108-109.

REEL 81

Sloane Ms 3095
14th cent. 444ff. Folio.
Works of Avicenna translated from Arabic into Latin by Gerard of Cremona. Includes:
1. Liber Canonis tercius. ff.1-374.
2. Canonis Medicinae … liber quintus. ff.375-432.
3. Quaedam ex Antidotario Avineti filii Ysaaci. f.432v.
4. Synonima libri Aviceni. ff.433-441.
5. Expositiones secundum. ff.442-444.

REEL 82

Sloane Ms 3096
13th – 14th cent. 345ff. Folio,
Contains:
1. Constantini Africani. Viaticum. ff.1-69.
2. Gloss on the Viaticum by Giraud of Paris and Gerard of Cremona. ff.70-220.
3-4. Bernardi de Gordonio. On medicine. ff.221-330.

REEL 83

Sloane Ms 3118
17th cent. 666ff. Quarto.
A miscellaneous collection concerning medicine and chemistry assembled by Jacobi de Poirier. It features numerous extracts from Paracelsus and others including:
1. Curatio marborum omnium internorum ex Riolano, Echolvio et alus. ff.1-134.
2. Ex Johannis Tagaultii De Chirurgica institutione. ff.135-208.
9. Ex praxi chymiatria Johannis Hartmannii. ff.237-249.
10. Ex Basilica chymica Oswaldi Crollii. ff.2250-265.
21. Paracelsus. De rerum natura. ff.338-351.
22. Paracelsus. De natura homines. ff352.
23. Paracelsus. De lapide philosophorum. ff.353v.
24. Paracelsus. De gradationibus. f.355.
25. Paracelsus. De helleboro. f.357v.
26. Paracelsus. De hyperico. f.358.
27. Paracelsus. De Praeparationibus. ff.359-369.
28. Paracelsus. De Gradibus. f.370.
29. Paracelsus. De Sementis. f.371v.
32. Paracelsus. Archidoxis. ff.416-419.
33. Paracelsus. De Mercurius metallorum. f.420.
34. Paracelsus. De Quinta essentia. ff.421-429.
35. [Johannes] Ernesti. De arte chymica distillatis. ff.429-435.
36. Glaubero. De Furnis Philosophicis. ff.436-467, 469-474.
40. Ex Anselmi Boethii Gemmarum et Lapidum Historia. ff.488-500.
41. J C Scaligero. Observationes. ff.501-503.
43. Ex Porta, Paracelso, Begnino et alus. ff.521-524.
44. Paracelsus. Operibus omnibus. ff.525-649.

REEL 84

Sloane Ms 3120
16th cent. 192ff. Quarto.
A miscellaneous collection concerning medicine and chemistry assembled by Jacobi de Poirier. It features numerous extracts from Geber and others including:
1. Practica perfecta lapidis. ff.2-78.
2. Extracts. ff.79-111.
3. Alchemical sayings. ff.112-114.
4. Extracts. ff.115-144.
5. Geber. Perfectionis secundum Andomarum philosophum. ff.145-173.
6. Albertus Magnus. De alchemia. ff.174-192.

Sloane Ms 3171
15th cent. 137ff. Duodecimo.
Miscellany owned by John Birch, including:
1. Explanation of signs and abbreviations. f.1.
2. Regimen sanitatis super compilatum compendioso. ff.3-15.
3. A treatise on alchemy in two books ascribed to Roger Bacon. It contains:
Title Book I: 'De compositione quinte essentie omnium transmutabilium, in nomine domini nostri Jhesu Christi'
Title Book II: 'De generalibus remediis'.
And includes [John de Rupecissa]. De Quinta essentia. ff.16-94..
(See also Sloane Ms 353).
4. Libellus quem invenit Flaccus Africus. ff.94-102.
5. Opus alchemicum. f.102.
Begins: 'Audite secreta que loquar et dilecti verba oris mei. Spiritus ubi vult spirat.'
At end: 'Finito libro reddatur gratia Christo, Secundum informationem parvi bosci'.
6. Hippocrates. Astronomia. ff.104-116.
7. Nicholai [de Hostresham]. On the humours. ff.116-134.
9. Opthalmic maladies. ff.134-137.

Sloane Ms 3180
17th cent. 15ff. Quarto.
Four short treatises bound together:
1. Albertus Magnus. Semita recta. Combined together in an alchemical treatise with the Medulla of George Ripley; in thirty four chapters. f.1-11.
Begins: 'For because that in the setting forth of histories and other scriptures, as well sacred and prophaine'.
2. Albertus Magnus. Compositum de Compositis. ff.12,13.
Begins: 'Albertus saies thus, I will not hide the treasure that's given by the divine grace'.
Ends: 'good at all assayes, better than that of the mynes, etc'.
The following note occurs at the end: 'So thus is ended the draught of Albertus Magnus upon the worke or science of Alchimie named Compositum de Compositis. The which said litle booke or work I, Edward Dekyngston copied out verbatim as above written with the hand of Mr Morris; which said work was bound with the little booke of Mr Guyllyam Decenes that he sent to the Reverend father the Archbishop of Raynes, and was brought to me to coppie by Mr Anthony Brighame'.
3. An alchemical work, declaring the 'sayings of the ancient philosophers'. f.13v.
The commencement of the Prologue is wanting.
The Treatise begins: 'The first word of the philosophers is the production of the body into his first matter'.
Ends: 'And thus us our first masterie ended and determined to the laude and praise of Almighty God, Lord and King, world without end, Amen. This art or most secret science above said was accomplished, done and ended, at Roman Villa, beside Paris, the Fryday being in the year of our Lord God 1216; and was after had thus in communication mouth to mouth betweene the above said Reverend Father in God the Archbishop of Raines and the above named Mr Geylliam de Cenes, first answering of him by his essentiall and accidental questions, and after taught him by his aforesaid booke of practice; the which essentiall and accidental questions was copied out by Mr Edward Dekyngeston forth of an olde booke written with the hand of one John Morryse, practicsioner, that dwelt by St Joneses the 8th of March, 1582; and was brought unto me by one Anthony Brygeham, of whom I had this same aforesaid coppie; and also of his aforesaid essential and accidentall questions, which I also in like manner coppied out verbatim as near as I could'.
4. Of the Philosophers' Stone. f.15.
Begins: 'Venerable Father, incline thyne ears, and understand my words. viz., that mercury being decocted is the matter of all metalls'.
Ends: 'and the imperfect body is collered into the collour of the ferment'.
'O pious father, God increase in thee the spirit of understanding to perceive these things: and so thou hast the description of the Philosophers' Stone'.

Sloane Ms 3281
13th – 14th cent. 82ff. Quarto.
Miscellany including:
1, 2. On arithmetic. ff.2-4, 4-11.
3. On astrology. f.12.
4. Calendar of lunar eclipses, 1282-1300. ff.14,23.
5. Albertus Magnus. Experimenta physica. ff.15-19.
6, 7. Aristotle. De physionomia. f.19, 21-23.
8. On arithmetic. f.24.
9. On astrology. ff.25-34.
10. French verses on astrology. ff.35-36, 45-46.
16. Gulielmi Anglici. Medici tractatus. f.76.

Sloane Ms 3318
17th cent. 147ff. Small octavo.
Robert Lombard. Elementa magica. (Part Latin, part English).

REEL 85

Sloane Ms 3437
17th cent. 36ff. Quarto.
Institutiones chiromanticae.
Sloane Ms 3528
17th cent. 6ff. Quarto.
A catalogue of the rarities in the antomic chamber of Leyden.

Sloane Ms 3531
15th cent. 35ff. Quarto.
A miscellany including:
1. On laxatives. ff.1-14.
2. Walteri de Avinion tractatus de urinis. ff.14-18.
3. Practica puerorum. f.18.
4. Rasis. Experimenta. ff.20-29.
5. Signs of death. ff.29-33.
6. Hippocrates. De signis mortis. ff.33-34.

Sloane Ms 3556
14th – 15th cent. 24ff. Quarto.
Eight items:
1. A treatise of oyles and wateres medicinables. f.1.
2. Receipts for diseases. f.3.
3. Henry Gosfrey. Letter. f.7.
4. Prophecies. f.8.
5. Merlin. Prophecies in verse. f.9.
6. Praecepta mystica. ff.11-15.
7. Almanac 7 planetarum … 1431. ff.16-23.
8. A charm to bind thieves. f.8.

REEL 86

Sloane Ms 3580A
17th cent. 240ff. Octavo.
‘Volumen Collectaneum’, in two volumes compiled by Thomas Potter in 1580.
[The second volume, Ms 3580B, has not been filmed, and was numbered erroneously in the original MS. Sloane Catalogue as Ms 3743] It includes:
1. A table of the various denominations and symbols of the septem metals. f.1.
2. Pythagoras. The golden table, etc., for prognosticating future events. ff.3-6.
3. Ars Chemica, quod est licita recte exercentibus, probationes doctissimorum jurisconsultorum. ff.8-23.
4. Hermes Trismegistus. Tabula Smaragdina. ff.23v-31.
5. Liber Consilii Conjugii de massa Solis et Lunae cum suis compendiis. f31v-139.
6. George Ripley. The Compound of Alchemy, “copied out of a very falsse corrupt copy of a rugged hande, by me Tho. Potter, 1579, together with the marginall notes of the same copie”; and afterwards corrected by a purer copy. ff.140-166. [Printed in Ashmole's Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum, p.107.]
7. Chemical and alchemical processes. ff.167-183.
8. Robert Birport, monk of Ford. The process for making gold; written in 1406. f.184.
9. Alchemical processes. ff.186-190.
10. Rules for the understandinge of alchymie, etc. f.191.
11. A Book entytaled the Myrror of lighte. ff.193v-208.
Begins : 'In the name of the Trinitye
This worcke nowe begyn shall we.'
12. A secret of Fe. Ellyas to dissolve Sol, called his glas. f.206v.
13. The makinge of Person, that dwellte in Flet Strete, his medycine pro Sol. f.209.
14. Jhon Wrightes worckinge as he teachethe pro Sole et Luna. f.209v.
15. Alchemical processes. ff.210v-214.
16. The whole worcke of the composytion of the stone philosophicall or greate Elixir. ff.214v-220.
17. Chemical and alchemical processes. ff.220v-231.
18. Figures of retorts and other vessels used in chymical operations. f.231v.
19. 'To knowe fytt tymes for the begynning of any thinge that thow willte doe.' f.233v.
20. Pythagoras. Spera Pythogorae, to divine future events. f.234.
21. George Ripley. Alchemical tables; copied by Thomas Potter, 1580. ff.237-239.

Sloane Ms 3604
16th cent. 293ff. Folio.
A volume compiled by Robert Frelove, containing various works of Ramon Lull.
1. Ramon Lull. Ars magica (ff.2-8) and Lucidarium testamenti (ff.9-14).
2. Ramon Lull. De lapide philosophico. ff.15-23.
Begins: 'Fulgeat Regis diadema Roberti illustrissimi usque ibi'.
3. Ramon Lull. Lapidarius. ff.23v-30.
4. Ramon Lull. De generatione lapidum. ff.31-39.
5. Ramon Lull. Ars brevis. ff.39v-56.
6. Questiones arboris philosophalis, etc. ff.56v-61.
7. Questiones de Paulina. ff.61v-64.
8. Ramon Lull. Distinctio tertia tractatus arboris philosophalis cum ejusdem operis practica. ff.65-93.
9. Ramon Lull. Distinctio quarta tractatus precedentis. f.94.
10. Ramon Lull. Vade mecum. ff.97-106.
11. Ramon Lull. Practica. ff.106v-141.
12. Processus alchymici. ff.142v-145.
13. Ramon Lull. Testamenti pars prima, sc. Theorica, cum paucis annotationibus. ff.146-219.
14. Ramon Lull. Testamenti pars secunda, Practica. ff.220-287.
15. Alphabetum theorice, practice, etc. f.288.
16. Cantilena, f.291.
At f.299v it is noted: 'Hic liber valet viginti libras legalis monete Anglie'.

REEL 87

Sloane Ms 3628
17th cent. 176ff. Quarto.
Conferences with angels. Includes the nine keys.

Sloane Ms 3630
17th cent. 113ff. Quarto.
Alchemical miscellany owned by Richard Dee in the year 1648. Contains:
1. English translation of the 'Traittez de l'Harmonie, et constitution generale du vray sel, secret des Philosophes, et de l'esprit universelle du monde, suivant le troisieme Principe du Cosmopolite; recueilly par le Sieur de Nuisement'. ff.2-69.
(Printed in French, ed La Haye, 8vo 1639. The present is a different translation from that in print by Robert Turner.)
2. Albertus Magnus. Compositum de Compositis, in English. ff.70-74.
The following note occurs at the end: 'The which said little booke, or work, I. Ed. Dickingstone copied out verbatum, as above written, with the hand of Mr. Morryse; which said work was bound in, with the little book of Mr Guillyain de Cenes, which he sent to the Reverend father in God the Bishop of Raynes, and was brought unto me to coppy by Mr. Anthony Brighame.
3. Bernardus Trevisanus. De lapide philosophorum. ff.75-86.
4. George Ripley. A portion of the First Gate of the Compound of Alchemy; treating of Calcination; in English prose. f.87.
5. The Fountain of Chymicall Philosophy. ff.88-101. (Printed in Latin, in the Museum Hermeticum reformatum et amplificatum; ed Francofurti, 1678. p.799).
6. Michael Sandivogius. ‘Sandivogius explained: an exposition of the Tractatus duodecim de Lapide Philosophorum’. ff.102-112.
7. Alchemical Verses f.113.
Begins:
'Silver most certainly it hath a mine
And gold a place wher some men doe it fine'.

Sloane Ms 3632
17th cent. 187ff. Quarto.
A miscellany including:
1. A work of the philosophers' stone. ff.2v-8.
2. Bernardus Trevisanus. A booke of the transmutation of mettals made by the noble lord Bernard Earl of Treviers and Naige in Germany'; inscribed 'To the famous Doctor Thomas of Bononia, governor of France'. ff.10-27.
(A translation of part of the Liber de Alchemiae of Bernard Trevisanno; from the middle of the Second Part (page 757 of the printed copy) to the end of the work. Printed in Latin in the Theatrum Chemicum. ed Argentorati, 8vo 1613-31, vol I, p.748.)
3. The work of the Philosophers' stone; in fifteen processes, taken from ancient authors. ff.28-40.
4. Geber. Three Medicines; in which is contained the true way and perfection of the Philosophers' Stone; translated out of the Latin. (Printed in Latin, as the first division of a work entitled 'Opus Tripartitum de Philosophorum Arcanis: auctore anonymo, sub nomine Aeyrenaei Philalethes, natu Angli, habitatione Cosmopolitae' ed . Londini, in 8vo, 1678.) ff.41-108.
5. Of the natural principles and procreation of mettalls. f.109.
6. Remarks taken out of Cornelius Agrippa. ff.111-114.
7. Notes upon Geber's Three Medicines. f.116v.
8. Table of principal matters contained in Geber's Three Medicines. f.117v.
9. A treatise 'De Lapide magno' [In English] . ff.121-132.
Begins: 'Take of the cleanest and clearest sea salt as is made by the sea itself such as is brought by shipping from Spain'.
ends: 'and which I have seen with my eyes and with my own hands extracted. Fare well and the Blessing of God be with thee. Amen and Amen'.
10. Memoranda of chemical experiments, made in June 1702. f.132b.
11. Robert Kellum. Chemical processes. ff.133-138.
12. George Ripley. A practice of Sir George Ripley, which he sent in writing to his Master before his Journey. ff.139-142.
At the end: “By your chaplaine, Sir Geo. Ripley, Channon of Bridlington, and Curat of Flaxbridge Churche”.
13. A process given by an German. f.143.
14. A tabular treatise of the 'three Principles which originally constitute the world'. f.146v.
15. [Hermes Trismegistus]. [Pneuma Poieseos Catholicon] : or, The universall Spirit of Poetry; comprehending the most sublime notions in Theology, Physiology, Astronomy, Astrology, and Geography; mixt with diverting satyr on a tribe of Pretenders, and allso illustrated with the truths of Hermes, learnedly described in severall Raptures thro' all the Heavenly Orbs. Writ by a person of Quality, under the fictitious name of Torescissa. In three parts. In another title page the poem is called ‘Hermetick Raptures’. ff.148-151.
Prefixed to the poem are the following:-
a. 'The Publishers epistle to the Reader'. f.149.
b. Latin verses in praise of the author; signed with the initials J.D. f.152.
c. A letter to the Reader justifying the qualities ascribed to the poem in the title page; and shewing that it was written in the year 1703. Signed Robert Kellum (?); subsequently scratched through. f.155.
d. 'The Authors epistle to the Publisher'. ff.158-187.
Part First begins:
'Nature's arcana lay before my eyes,
And I, unrav'ling her hid mysterys'.

Sloane Ms 3638
16th cent. 188ff. Folio.
A miscellany including:
1. On the Philosopher's Stone. ff.1-30. (Translated from a Latin Treatise, printed in the Harmonia Chemico-Philosophica of Johannes Rhenanus, ed. Francofurti, 8vo, 1625. 1st decad. p.179.)
2. Guido de Montanor. The 4th, 5th, and 6th Chapters (the rest are spurious) of de Arte Chymica.

ff.31-40.
3. Gratianus. Concerning the Argent Vives. ff.40v-49.
4. Collections out of the Exercizes on the Turba of Philosophers in the Ars Aurifera [ed Basil, 1610]. ff.49v-52.
5. 'An usefull Treatise of the Concordance of the Philosophers, written heretofore by a nameless Philosopher'. ff.53-91.
6. Thomas Aquinas. De turba minori philosophorum. ff.92-128.
7. Marsiglio Ficino. De arte chymica. ff.129-188.
Translated from the Latin, printed in the Ars Aurifera; Vol I, p.369.

REEL 88

Sloane Ms 3640
17th cent. 164ff. Folio.
1. Ramon Lull. The Codicill, or Goe with me. ff.1-80. (Translated from the Latin, printed at Roan, 1651.)
2. Agricola Rhomaeus. Vade Mecum Philosophicum (English translation). ff.81-98.
3. The Text of Alchemy and the green dream. ff.99-115. (Translated from the French, printed in Paris, 1695.)
4. ‘The letter of a Philosopher concerning the Secret of the Great Work. Written on the subject of the Instructions which Aristeus left to his son, concerning the Philosophick Magistery. The name of the authour is, in Latine, in this Anagramm 'Dives sicut ardens S'’. ff. 116-126. (Translated from the Latin, printed at Paris, 1688.)
5. Aristotle. The little Treatise concerning ‘the Practick of the Philosophers' Stone’. ff.127-138. (Translated from the Latin, printed in the Ars Aurifera, ed. in 3 Vol. 8vo Basil, 1610; Vol. I. p.232.)
6. Nicholas Flamel. ‘The Treasury of Philosophy, or the originall of the Desirable Desire of Nicholas Flammel'. 'An extract of an ancient Manuscript'. ff.139-152. (Printed in French, in 8vo at Paris, 1629.)
7. 'The work of the Philosophers' Stone from the duell of the Knights. The sentence or decision of the Controversy of (or between) the Spirit and [Mercury] the Judge. Out of an ancient German writing call's the Warr of the Duell of the Knights to the Accusation and Answer of [Sun] and [Mars]: represented by pictures'. ff.153-157.
8. 'The little Book of Lambspringk, an ancient noble German philosopher, concerning the Philosophers' Stone'. ff.158-164. (Translated from the latin version of Nicholas Bernard of Dauphine, printed in the Musaeum Hermeticum reformatum et amplificatum; ed in 4to Francof. 1678. p.337.)

Sloane Ms 3644
17th cent. 142ff. Folio.
A miscellany including:
1. Statuta Philosophorum Incognitorum, cum pro-oemio. ff.1-13.
2. Michael Sandivogius. Apographum Epistolarum, 1646. ff.13v-60.
3. A secret copied out of an old MS. written by Bernard, a monk of Bermondsea, 1470. f.61.
4. Some alchemical processes and secrets. f.63.
5. Benignus de Bruni. Conclusiones de lapidis philosophorum veritate et constructione cum praefatione. ff.68-77.
6. 'Porta lucis or the way to decyphere the name number and marke off the beaste by a method more rationalle free and unrestrained than ever any hithertils, occasiond by the peremptorie determination off the Lord Napier off Merchestonne upon the name lateinos Rev. 13'. ff.79-85.
7. 'Five short treatises on the philosopher's stone, hidden in a waal in the convent of Marunfel in Thuringia by Henry Eshenveuth whom he hath found in the Convent of Swartzug in Franconia in 1403, and hid again in 1489, and at last found by John Kettlern, from whose copy this is taken'. ff.86-97.
8. An English poem entitled Itinerarium Poeticum. ff.98-110.
Begins: 'The clouds disbanded and th' ascending day
Had with the Twilight, of one golden ray'.
9. Capt. J. Ribault. Voyage to Florida, 1562.
11. Alchemical extracts and processes. Dutch. ff.129-142.

Sloane Ms 3645
17th cent. 185ff. Folio.
A miscellany including:
1. The booke of King Solomon called The Key of Knowledge. ff.1-21.
2. Edward Kelley. A Mysterious discourse relating to the Philosopher stone. ff.22-38.
3. George Ripley. The practise how to draw the vegetable spirit the first mover of nature in vegetables, together with excerpts from Ramon Lull's works. f.39.
4. Ramon Lull. De quinta essentia, translated by Roger Bacon, or rather some excerpts from it. ff.43-49. (Printed in Latin, Argent, 1541.)
5. Michael Maier. Atalanta fugens, or, The flying Atalanta or Philosophical emblems of the secrets of nature. ff.50-101. (Printed in Latin, 4to Oppenh. 1618.)
6. A good night spell. f.102.
7. Medical, chemical and other receipts. ff.104-168.
8. R. Fludd. The use of the weapon salve. ff.169-176.
9. A true relation of proceedings against the English at Amboyna in the East Indies. ff.177-185.

Sloane Ms 3648
17th cent. 75ff. Folio.
Four items:
1. King Solomon. Clavicula, or the little key. ff.1-46.
2. Agrippa. Observations. f.47.
3. The divine names of the planets. ff.48-64.
4. Paracelsus. Works on magic. ff.64-75.

REEL 89

Sloane Ms 3661
16th cent. 257ff. Folio.
“This boke pertayneth to me John Elyott which was written owt of a old coppye (by Willijam Belyngstye oon of the costomers of the portt of Brystowe) in anno 1572, which coppy semeth to be abouffe ijc years old. By me. John Elyott”.
1. Recepta plurima pro lapidibus scindendis et poliendis pro coloribus faciendis et similibus. ff.1-21.
2. Processus alchimicus: scilicet, 'Opis virgarum unius Florentini, pro quo opere habuit Romae ab uno reverendo doctore, nomine Antonio. 150 ducates auri'.
ff.21v-28.
3. Processus alchemici varii. ff.29-32.
4. Geber, Ramon Lull: Excerpts. ff.32v-35.
5. Processus alchemici varii. ff.35v-44.
6. Ramon Lull. 'Septem proportiones, alias proprietates magistri Raymundi super artem et magisterium alkymiae'. [In Italian]. ff.45-51.
7. Ramon Lull. Super Lapide majori, que fit ex succo lunarie majoris. ff.51-58.
8. Processus alchemici: [partly in Italian, partly in Latin]. ff.58-102.
9. Ramon Lull. Conclusio summaria valde utilis ad intelligentiam Testimonii, Codicilli, et aliorum librorum, necnon ar. vi [argenti vivi] in quo prudet intentio tota intentiva, quae aliter Apertorium. ff.103-105. (Exstat impress sub tit. 'Repertorium' cum ejusdem auctoris Libro Mercuriorum et opusculis variis; ed Coloniae Agrippinae, 12mo 1567. p224.)
10. Ramon Lull. Epistola magistri Raymundi Lullii, missa Regi Roberto, de Accurtatione lapidis philosop. (Exstat impress inter alia ejusdem auctoris opuscula, ed Basil, 12mo 1600. p.318.)
11. Ramon Lull. Copia litterae destinate domino N. per religiosum et scientissimum birum dominum fratrem Petrum Roselli, artis magistri Raymundi Lullii egregium professorem ac sacratissime philosophie dilucidum et peritissimum secretorum rimatorem, anno 1397. ff.124v-128.
12. Processus et experimenta chemica atque alchemica plurima. ff.128v-186.
13. Ramon Lull. Compendium artis magicae. ff.187-190. (Exstat impress., cum alis Lullii opusculis, ed. Coloniae Agrippinae, 12 mo, 1567, p.357.)
14. Ramon Lull. 'Dre triplici igne'; et 'De aquis mirabilibus'. f.190v.
15. Ramon Lull. 'Compositio nostri Aceti quod constringit argentum vivum'; ex 'Libro Mercuriorum' Cap. LI. f.191.
16. Ramon Lull. Tractatus de aquis. f.191b.
17. Ramon Lull. De aquarum confectione; de modo practicandi cum eis ad aurum et argentum; de confectione basilisci; de applicatione earum ad human corpora.
ff.193v-196.
20 Ramon Lull. Anima artis transmutatorie abreviata. f.200. (Cf. Lullii Compendium Animae, quod exstat impress. cum aliis ejusdem auctoris opusculis, ed basil, 12mo, 1600, p.274.)
22. 'Sinonima 4ti partiti'; scilicet interpretatio verborum in re alchemica usitatorum. ff.204v-208.
23. Aegidus de Vadis. Compositio mercurii secundum magistrum Gunifortem, in theologia doctorem, fratrem Sanct... et habuit a domino Marcazio de Monte Ferrato. ff.208v-214.
24. Alchemical processes out of several authors including Jovenius, Frater of Rome, and Judeus Baltasar. ff.214-257.

Sloane Ms 3667
17th cent. 188ff. Large Folio.
Alchemical miscellany including:
1. Table of symbols denoting chemical substances. f1v.
2. Chemical and alchemical processes. ff.2-14.
3. 'The following letter, communicated to me by the most Serene Prince Frederick Duke of Holsatia and Sleswick, relates things strange and unheard of' - relating to the death of Master R.J. an alchemist. f15v.
4. Alchemical tables belonging to the work beginning at folio 31 in this present volume. ff.19-21, 24-28.
5. 'Tabula ostendens quomodo elementa insunt metallis actu quam potentia'. f.22.
6. Table showing 'the proportion of metalls in their weight'. f.22.
7. 'The Philosophers Great Worke named the Elixir'; a table of the various processes. f.22v.
8. The laws and statutes of a Society founded by three Hermetick Philosophers. f 29v.
9. Samuel Norton. Tabularum Arboris Philosophicalis, sive Ramorum [Imperfect.] ff.31-44.
9. Samuel Norton. Tabularum Arboris Philosophicalis exemplar aliud. ff.45-84.
10. Samuel Norton. Tractatulus explicans 'obscura nominum et artium... multiplices ut labore facile et studio aperto poteris et ligere et intelligere philosophorum verba et eorum libros omnes.' ff.84v-87.
11. Samuel Norton. Methodum philosophorum operis Saturni. f.88.
12. Preparation for to extract the sweete oile of Antimony. f.90.
13. A prayer to the Almighty. “At Bristowe anno 1578.” f.90v.
14. George Ripley. The preface to the Medulla [Marrow of Alchemy] - addressed to George Nevil Archbishop of York, in English verse. f.92.
15. George Ripley. The Marrow of Alchemy, 1476'. ff.93-104. (Printed in Latin among Ripley's Works, Cassel, 1649, p122.)
At end : 'Here endyth the treates called the Marye of Alkamye, compiled by George Rypley, the yere of our Lord 1476: and turned into Englyse by My Davye Whithede clarke, anno 1552.'
16. Ramon Lull. 'The Cortacyones and practis of Raymonde [Lully]' by George Ripley. ff.105-114. (Printed in Latin, under the title of 'Georgii Riplaei Angli Accurtationes et Practicae Raymundinae' among Ripley' Works, Cassel, 1649, p366.)
17. Alchemical Processes. 16th Century. f.115.
18. Alchemical Verses. 16th Century. f.117.
Begins: 'I am Marcurye the myghtiest florum
I am Royall and rychest of all singulorum.'
19. Pearce the Black Monk. The work of the elixir, in verse. 17th century. ff.118-120.
(Printed in Ashmole p269, and in Latin prose under the title of 'Terra Terrae Philosophicae' in Ripley's Works, Cassel 1649, p314.)
20. 'The openyng of the seacret of seacretts donn by the art of Philosophye.'
ff.121v-123.
21. George Ripley. 'The coppye of an old booke which is thought to be the hand writtyng of Mr George Rippyle, Chanon; translated out of latten bye Samuell Norton, Esquyer, the vth of Feberary anno Domini 1573.'
Note in the margin: 'This bock semeth to be his bossom bock, or his bocke tht he daylly ussed.'
It contains the following:-
a. The concordance betwene Guido and Ramon Lull. f.124.
b. Alchemical processes. ff.125v-130.
c. 'Notable rulles tayken out of Guido the Philosopher per G. R.' f.130v.
d. An alchemical process by Ramon Lull, with an exposition by George Ripley. f.132v.
e. 'The greate secrete, etc.' f.134v.
f. Miscellaneous alchemical processes. ff.136v-140.
g. 'Of the stone, bothe of his dysposicyone and skyll with hym to make the elixer.' ff.141-145.
h. A table of the process for making the elixir, subscribed 'George Rypley, anno 1470'. f.146.
i. A tincture to fix mercury, with other processes. f.146v.
k. 'The visione of George Rypley, Chanon' in verse. f.149.
l. The 'Sayings' of Aristotle and Hermes Trismegistus, with 'A exposityone on the sayenges of Aristotle and Hermes aforesayd, by George Rypleye; as a concordance of thayre words.' ff.149v-157. [A latin copy of the same work attibuted to Ricardus de Salopia is in MS. Sloane 3744.]
22. George Ripley. Epistle to King Edward the fourth, in verse: wanting the first nine stanzas. In the same handwriting as the foregoing. ff.157-159.
23. 'The Concorde of Philosophers'. In the same handwriting as the foregoing. f.160.
24. 'The animalle stone.' In the same handwriting as the foregoing. f.161v.
25. George Ripley. 'Memorandum that here followth serten cortecyons and other good nottes, which I had owt of the olde boeke of Mr George Rypley, which I had not in my coppye at Mr Belyngslys hand afor nowe'. In the same handwriting as the foregoing. f.164v.
26. John de Rupecissa. 'The scyance to drawe owt the vth obeynge of Mercury of vitrioles or of coperas; written by Johannes Rupecissa' with alchemical processes by Ripley and others. ff.167-187.
27. Medical receipts. f.187v.

Sloane Ms 3684
17th cent. 53ff. Quarto.
Alchemical miscellany containing:
1. Albertus Magnus. A compendium of the Semita Recta with the Medulla of George Ripley; in English. ff.1-36.
Begins: 'For because that in the setting forth of histories and other scriptures'.
2. Albertus Magnus. Compositum de Compositis. ff.37-41.
Begins: 'Albertus saith thus, I will not hide the treasure which is given by the divine grace'. This and the following tract were written by Edward Dekingston'.
3. 'The litle booke of Mr Guyllyam de Cenes that he sent to the Archbishop of Raynes'. ff.42-46.
Begins: 'Reverend Father, now will I come to my first sayings in declaring'.
4. Another tract on Alchemy. ff.47-51.
Begins: 'Venerable Father, incline thyne eares and understand my words'.
5. 'A tincture or Elixir of an unknown Philosopher'. f.52.

REEL 90

Sloane Ms 3688
17th cent. 152ff. Quarto.
A collection of alchemical processes and observations, assembled by Robert Kellum from various sources. Includes:
1. Receipts obtained from 'Homfrae Evans'. f.3.
2. Questions and notes upon the worke of Henry Tyler, 'who dyed in Newgate in 1590'. ff.7-24.
3. 'The coppie of another Booke which I had of Mrs Jane Constable, which I suppose was Richard Coots boke'. ff.24v-33.
4. The consideration of the Elements. ff.33v-37.
5. George Ripley. Verses, 'a worke verie shorte'. ff.66v. (Printed in Ashmole, p.393.)
6. Arnald of Villanova. Verses entitled 'De magno opere'. ff.74v-78.
7. Verses beginning,
'This meadicin be you sure
Of all other to be most pure
Iff you wil be rulyd'. f.81v.
8. Processes 'translated owte of Hughe Cromptons's olde bookes'. f.82.
9. Roger Bacon. Speculum Secretorum, [English]. ff.87v-91.
10. 'Processes owt of the Dutch coppie in the Booke of Isaackes workes towards the latter end thereof'. f.92.
11. The manner of making colours. f.93v.
12. Rasis. On the Philosophers Stone. ff.112-115.
13. The poem entitled, Pater Sapientiae. ff.122-131.
14. A short treatise entitled 'Arcium [sic] Alkamie'. f.136v.
15. 'The little booke of Arnolde intitled his Testament'. f.147v.
16. 'The evident and manifest comprobacion or allowinge of the Chemicall arte of the antiquities of Peter Appion'. f.148.

Sloane Ms 3697
17th cent. 109ff. Quarto.
Miscellany including:
1. Morienus. De metallorum transmutatione, etc., liber a Roberto Castrensi ex Arabico in latinum translatus. [English]. ff.1-43. (Printed in latin, 4to, Paris, 1564).
2. A letter on the Philosophers' Stone 'to my speciall Friend and loving brother Abell Berner'. ff.43v-52.
Begins: 'In the begining it behoveth the skillfull Artificer to be carefull'.
3. Robert Kellum. A collection of alchemical processes, written down as they occurred to R. Kellum, in 1721. ff.53-60.
5. Mirabilis experientia di Fra. Gregorio, discepolo d'Arnol. di Villa Nova, and other chemical processes. [Latin]. ff.73-86.

Sloane Ms 3722
15-18th cent. (chiefly 17th cent.) 182ff. Quarto.
Miscellany with 31 items including:
1. Observations on the eclipse, 1630. ff 1-7.
2-3. Cabbala. ff.8-2, 24-34.
11. A treatise on planetary instruments. ff.94-110.
12. Quaedem de re magica. ff.111-114.
28. Astrological notes and explanations. ff.143-156.
29. New predictions said to be found at the opening of the tomb of Michael Nostradamus, a famous prophet for his true predictions; … in English, realating to the years 1713-1720.
30. A treatise on judicial astrology. ff.161-179.
31. Scheme of a nativity. f.181.

Sloane Ms 3747
15th cent. 131ff. Duodecimo.
Alchemical miscellany including:
1. A list of questions upon alchemical subjects, which the writer directs to be proposed to Paul of Hamburgh. f.1v.
2. George Ripley on Ramon Lull. An Alchemical treatise. ff.3-14.
Begins. 'Ad Dei laudem, Amen. At the begynnyng understande that olde philosophers engyned to do by arte above the ground'.
3. 'Ad mineralia alteranda in terram cristallinam' [In English verse]. f.15.
Begins:
'To the making of this preciouse
Medecyn ye must
Take wynde and water, white and grene
And drawe therof a lak vergene'.
4. Alchemical processes. ff.16-24.
5. Ramon Lull. Accurtacions and other experiments. ff.25-55.
6. A treatise of the Philosophers' Stone. ff.56-60.
Begins: 'Truly this precious tresure may be found by grace and by kennyin and in right a light thyng of price'.
7. Alchemical tract. ff.61-65.
Begins: 'Audeant secreti [secreta] quo loquor et dilecti verba orie mei'.
8. An alchemical treatise, in the form of a dialogue between a master and his disciple. ff.66-71.
Begins: 'Discipulus. Now I pray you that I may questen with you to have knowlegge of errors that I have hadde'.
9. Alchemical verse. f.72.
Begins: 'Est firma tinctura latens in igne permansura'.
10. Tractatulus Honoricii Papae. ff.73-80.
Begins: 'Honoricius papa dicit. Audi fili mi discipliman Aristotelis patris tui, et scias Aristotelem patrem fuisse philosophorum'.
11. Tractatus alchemicus, cui titulus 'Sphaera inferioris astronomiae'. f.81.
Begins: 'Spera inferiois astronomie premonstrata et theoricalis est et practicalis docensqualiter altitudo, profunditas et duo latera lapidis occulti'.
12. Cantilena alchemica. ff.84b-87.
Begins: 'En philosophancium haec in cantilena
Dans archana concino voce cum amena'.
13. Treatise of the transmutation of metals. ff.88-93.
Begins: 'Here with the leve of Almighty God I will opyn tp you the dores of grace with the Keyes of philosophie'.
14. 'To drawe quintessence of Antimony'. f.94.
15. Alchemical processes. ff.96-101.
16. Treatise of the Philosophers' Stone; in verse. ff.102-105.
Begins: 'As the philosopher in metheors doith write
That the likeness of bodies metallyne be not transmutable'.
17. Alchemical verses. f.105.
Begins: 'Bothe man and woman God hath wrought'.
18. Pearce the Black Monk. Treatise of the Elixir, in verse. f.106v.
Begins: 'Take erth of erth, erthes broder'. (Printed in Ashmole p.269.)
19. Alchemical verses. f.108.
Begins: 'Of this matter to you most clere'. (Ashmole, p.428).
20. George Ripley. Dialogue 'inter philosophum patrem et ejus filium'. [In English verse]. ff.110-115.
Begins: 'When Sol is in Aries and Phebus shynyth bright'.
(Printed with variation as The Mystery of Alchemists, in Ashmole, p380.)
21. Process of the Philosophers' Stone, in verse. f.116.
Begins: 'Of Spayn take thou thy clere light
The redde goumme that ys yn ytt so bright'.
(Printed with variations as 'the work of Rich. Carpenter', Ashmole, p275).
22. Alchemical processes, in Latin and English. ff.117v-131.

REEL 91

Sloane Ms 3778
17th cent. 108ff. Duodecimo.
Miscellany including:
1. Michael Sandivogius. 'Sendivogious explained': an exposition of the Tractatus duodecim de Lapide Philosophorum. ff.2-18.
Begins: 'Page 1, line 7. The antient studied Nature most, but we study speculation, whence many of their inventions are lost'. Another copy MS. Sloane 3630, f.102.
2. Ramon Lull. 'The First Alphabet' and 'The Second Alphabet': of the signification of letters used in his Practica super lapide philosophico. f.19.
(Printed in Latin, in the edition of the Practice and other works of the same author, in Octavo, Colon. Agripp. 1573. pp.284, 375.)
3. Ramon Lull. Potestas divitarum - his Power of Riches. ff.20-37. (Printed, in Latin, in the Ars Aurifera, quam Chemiam vocant, ed Basil, 1610. Vol III. p.56.)
4. Ramon Lull. Accurtations. ff.37v-40.
5. Ramon Lull. Extracts from his Experimenta. ff.41-51.
6. Ramon Lull. English translation of a portion of the Practica or second part of the Testamentum of Raymund Lully; chapters 10-22. ff.52-67.
(Printed in Latin, with other works of the same author, ed. Col. Agripp. Octavo, 1573, p.263.)
7. Ramon Lull. English translation of a portion of the Compendium animae transmutationis artis metallorum. ff.68-76. (Printed, in Latin, as above. p.312.)
8. Ramon Lull. Extracts from the Theorica, or First Part of the Testamentum, chapters 62-91. In English. ff.78-87.
9. Ramon Lull. Clavicula, or a little Key, ‘which is also caled Apertorium (the opener) in which all that is required in the worke of Alchimie is plainly declared’. ff.88-99.
10. Miriam the Prophetess.Alchemical Praxis. ff.100-108. (Translated from the Latin, printed under the title of Practica Mariea Prophetissae in artem alchimicam in the Ars Aurifera, ed in 3 vols, Octavo, 1610. Vol I.p.205.)

Sloane Ms 3822
17th cent. 175ff. Folio.
Miscellany, with 42 items including:
1. Astrological schemes, calculations, accounts of magical rings and sigils by Dr [Simon] Forman etc, some of which are in the handwriting of Elias Ashmole. ff.3-34.
2. A prayer before the putting on of any sigil, by Sir Thomas Myddleton. f.75.
3. Letter re a trunk of Arcana. f.18.
5. Geber. De mirandis effectibus signarum septem planetorum.
7. Flavii Africi. De setem herbis. f.59v.
11. De magica natural. ff.76-79.
12. Drawings of sigils. f.80.
20. Descriptions of magical seals, rings, amulets, with their impressions. ff.94-102.
21. Simon Forman. Translation of Artefius’ ‘Clavis majoris Sapientiae. ff.103-114.
32. Letter to Ashmole re a magical ring. f.162.
36. A strange sight in Cornwall, 1681. f.167.

Sloane Ms 3846
17th cent. 186ff. Quarto.
Magical collections. 22 items including:
1. Agrippa. Book of Occult Philosophy. Excerpts re the four elements. ff.7-12.
2. Receipts. ff.12-23.
3-4. Experiments. ff.24-30.
5. Sigils. ff.32v-58.
6. Crystals. ff.58v-74.
7. Arnald of Villanova. Hora sigilla. ff.75-70.
8. Experiments. ff.79v-86.
9. De imaginibus. ff.86v-93.
10. William Bacon. Experiments. ff.93v-98.
11. The manner of gathering the Hassall rodds. f.98v.
12. Of rings etc. ff.100v-106.
13. Calls and invocations. f.107.
14. A charm for toothache. f.111.
15. A call used by one John a Windor, of Newbury. f.111v.
16. Excerpts from Mr Aubray’s Collections of Dreams. f.112v.
17. Poetry. ff.114-123.
18. Liber Salomonis. ff.127-155.
19. The rule of the book of consecration. ff.156v-160.
20. Magical directions. ff.170v-178.
21. Liber Luna. ff.170v-178.
22. Pauca quaedem ex Adelbardo Balhonienci. ff.179-186.

Sloane Ms 3847
17th cent. 188ff. Quarto.
Miscellany containing 11 works:
1. Salomon the Wise. His Clavicle. ff.1-66.
2. Opus mirabile et etiam verissimum de quatuor annulis sapientissimi Salomonis. ff.66v-81.
3. An excellent medicine for the stone. f.83.
4. John Gower. On stones and herbs. f.83.
5. Liber Hermetis. ff.84-100.
6. Liber imaginum Zebel alias Zoel. ff.101-112.
7. Machubales Rerum divinorum. ff.113-116.
8. A collection of charms, incantations, etc. ff.120-149.
9. Johannis de Garlandia. Multorum vocabulorum equivocorum. ff.151, 160.
10. Experiments. ff.152-159.
11. Salomon. Cepher Raziel. ff.161-188.

Sloane Ms 3850
17th cent. 187ff. Quarto.
Miscellany containing 20 works including:
1. Agrippa. De occulta philosophia. ff.2-13.
2. Heptameron sen Elementa magica. ff.13v-23.
3-4. Experiments. ff.23v-28.
5. “To have a glasse wherein all menne may see theire desires…” ff.30-36.
10. Salomon. Opus de novem candarius celestibus. ff.68-75.
13. Roger Bacon (?) De nigromantia. ff.117v-129.
15. Salomon. Cingula. ff.139-142.
16. Experiments of Invisibility, love, etc. ff.143-167.
20. Hermes Trismegistus. De imaginibus. ff.182-187.

Sloane Ms 3853
17th cent. 268ff. Quarto.
A book of conjurations, spells, experiments and magical treatises including:
1. Thesaurus spiritum, secundum Robertum Torcorum et Rogerum Bacon… ff.3-48.
2. [Salomon]. Cepher Raziel. ff.46-53.
3. Experiments. ff.54-63, 70-120.
4. The booke of consecration. ff.64-69.
5. De spiritibus solaribus. ff.120v-127.
6. The divine seal of Solomon. f.127v.
7. Invocations, orations, etc. ff.129-137.
8. Speculum quatuor Regum. ff.138-141.
9. Processus magici, excitations spirituum, etc. ff.142-174.
10. A magical book called the Dannet. ff.176-219.
11. Of nygromancie. ff.219v-241.
12. De sigillis planetorum, etc. f.243.
13. Conjurations etc. ff.245v-252, 253-256.
14. Of the offices of spirits. ff.257-264.
15. Experiments. f.268.
Sloane Ms 3854
14th-17th cent. 139ff. Quarto.
Miscellany including:
2. Conjurationes plurissiae, de diversis. ff.8v-67.
3. The boke of consecrations. ff.68-76.
8. Aristotle. Iber spirtualium.
9. Honorii, Magistri Thebarum. Juratus. ff.112-139.

Sloane Ms 3884
16th cent. 70ff. Octavo.
Miscellany including:
1. ‘Magia ars’. ff.1v-39.
2. De modo operationis magicae. ff.40v-44.
3. Roger Bacon. Necromantia. ff.44v-46.
4. “To call the soule or ghost of a deade bodie.” ff.47-56.
5. Speculo spiritum. ff.57v-61.
6. The invocation of spirits. ff.62-65.
7. Religious ejaculations and prayers. f.66.

Sloane Ms 3943
17th-18th cent. 180ff. Small quarto.
Miscellany including:
1. The King vs Sharpe concerning anti-popery. ff.1-16
2. Witchcraft arraigned a nd condemned. ff.17-128.
3. “A full and impartial account of the Discovery of Sorcery and witchcraft practs’d by Jane Wenham of Walkerne, in Hertfordshire, etc, also her Tryal. 1712. ff.139-148.
4. Samuel Daniel. 46 sonnets addressed to Delia. ff.149-156.
5. A treatise of winds and tides. ff.158-166.
6. Diary kept by Henry Watson of his practise in physick and surgery, on board her Majesty’s ship Tyger, 1705-1706. ff.167-180.

Add Ms 10302
15th cent. 67ff. Small quarto.
Thomas Norton. The Ordinall of Alchemy, written, in verse, containing the first five chapters.

Lansdowne Ms 703
Dated 1565. Quarto.
“A booke dedicated unto the Queen’s Majestie, by Master Thomas Charnocke, student in the most worthie sciences of astronomie, phisicke, and philosophie, contayneinge the worke off natural philosophie.” Charnock’s autograph. Dedicated from Stockland Bristow, near Bridgwater, 1565. In original ornamented covers, as sent to Queen Elizabeth I, but Lord Burghley retained the manuscript.

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