MS 177: Commentary on Rhazes' Nonus Almansoris by Gerard of Solo, 1391
Contents
MS 177 is a commentary by Gerard of Solo on a ninth-century medical text by Persian physician and author, Rhazes. Rhazes' original Arabic text was first translated into Latin in the twelfth century, at which point it became well known and used in medieval Europe. Book IX of this work deals with pathology, and it quickly became a valuable guide for theraputic medicine that remained popular long after the medieval period. Due to its applicability and wide-usage, there are several commentaries on Rhazes' Liber Almansoris, and specifically the Nonus Almansosis, or Book IX.
Gerard of Solo produced his commentary on Book IX in the first half of the fourteenth century. He was a physician in Montpellier, and also served as master-regent at the University of Montpellier, a renowned centre for academic medicine in the Middle Ages. Compared to the other commentaries on Rhazes' text, this one by Gerard is relatively unknown.
Gerard's commentary begins in MS 177 on f. 2r, following a table of contents. The prologue on f. 2r begins imperfectly, ...et solutione conteri... The prologue ends on the same folio, with philosophie naturali quid titulus.
The text proper begins on f. 2r with the line Incipit liber almansoris. Nota quod vi sunt nomina quorum...
The final line of the commentary, on f. 148r, reads: et sic est finis istius libri pateati per me Geraldum de brossos clericum, decima die mensis Julii Anno Domini 1391 et sic benedictus deus in secula seculorum. Amen. Explicit Giradi de Solo. Amen.
A fair hand with red and purple rubrics and capitals. The original foliation remains, and the volume is in good preservation, though it has lost two leaves.
Dates
- Creation: 1391
Creator
- Solo, Gerardus de, d c 1360 (writer on medicine at Montpellier) (Author, Person)
Language of Materials
Latin
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to all. The manuscripts can be consulted in the Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Main Library.
Extent
1 bound MS volume
Custodial History
Archbishop Scheves (or 'Schevez') was the first owner of the book. Under the colophon is Schevez, and at the bottom of f. 148r,Liber Willelmi Sancti Andree Archiepiscopi, etc. Both inscriptions are in his own hand, which is also found in several incunabula (books printed before 1500) in the Edinburgh University collection. The binding corresponds with that of other books of his, many of which he seems to have acquired in the Low Countries. William Scheves (d. 1497) was the second archbishop of St Andrews, Scotland and also physician to James III of Scotland. Little is known about his early life, but he probably studied at the University of Louvin. He was employed at the University of St Andrews before finding success and royal favour. He was criticised by the Scottish nobility for his considerable influence over the king, James III, despite his low-born origins.
A seventeenth-century hand has written underneath a memorandum referring to the colophon: Memorandum That printing was inventit in anno 1442 swa that this buik was wrytin befoir printing about fyftie ane yiers. On the verso of the last leaf is scrawl, Channos Jehan 1556, and on the first folio in a seventeenth-century hand, Jas. Wood.
On f.1v a Dr. M'Crie notes the fact that the book belonged to Archbishop Schevez, and adds some facts about him (Catherine Borland mentions this in her 1916 catalogue but does not specify which Dr. M'Crie. There are two notable ninteenth-century Dr. Thomas M'Cries from Edinburgh, father and son). Below this, David Laing adds, The above note is in the handwriting of Dr. M'Crie. The book was in the Library of Dr. John Jamieson and purchased at his Sale by Dr. J. Lee.
Dr. Jamieson died in 1838, and Dr. Lee in 1859. The latter became Principal of Edinburgh University in 1840. The book must have been bought at his sale. (See Sale Catalogue of Dr. Lee, 1861. And Sale Catalogue of Dr. John Jamieson, 3 May 1839.)
Previous reference
D. b. II. 13.
Previous title
Title given to the manuscript in Catherine Borland's catalogue: Geraldus Super Librum Nonum Almansoris.
Physical Facet
Material: Paper and vellum
Binding: Original, rebacked, oak boards covered stamped leather, bearing familiar stamps of a Louvain binder, viz. Tudor Rose, Pelican, Eagle, Holy Face, etc., and a rebus composed of a bird, the letters ve, a bent bow and stars (See Catalogue of Books by the First Printers, A. W. Pollard, Oxford, 1910. No. 489, and illustration in the beginning). The title is inset on a vellum slip in a brass frame; two broken brass clasps remain.
Collation: a13(wants 3), b13 (wants 13), c14—i14, k16, l17=157
Dimensions
27.94 cm X 20.64 cm
General
Secundo folio: et solutione
Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 157, double columns, 36 lines to a page.
Source
- Scheves, William, d 1497 (Archbishop of St. Andrews) (Former owner, Person)
Creator
- Solo, Gerardus de, d c 1360 (writer on medicine at Montpellier) (Author, Person)
Subject
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk