On Delaying the Effects of Old Age

but more probably in England; 293 x 230 mm.; viii + 54 pages; with two monochromatic gray drawings; bound in soft red leather on parchment boards; French (?) fifteenth-century work; worn; in American cloth cover.

‘The book which brother Roger Bacon of the Order of Friars Minor composed on the Delay of the accidents of old age original: "Liber quem composuit frater Rogerus Bacon de ordine Minorum de Retardacione accidencium senectutis" . . .’, with preface, in twelve chapters.

On page 1 is a drawing in monochromatic gray tinged with brown. It depicts Bacon (?) presenting the book to a lay patron. A similar drawing, slightly colored, on page 5 represents Bacon composing the work.

Pages 49 to 52 are part of two leaves of a thirteenth-century Latin breviary a liturgical book containing the daily office: pages 53 and 54 are a leaf of a Latin homiliary a collection of sermons or homilies of the same date. (Presented by Sir Henry Savile in 1620.)

P.
Paris: National Library, Latin manuscript 6978. On parchment; written in the fourteenth century; 260 x 185 mm.; 64 leaves, double columns.Footnote 1: I am indebted to Monsieur L. Auvray for particulars of this manuscript.

1 (folio 2). John of Toledo's book on preserving health; preceded by verses on the four, as they are called, complexions the four temperaments or physical constitutions: sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic, and on the twelve signs of the zodiac, and their effects.

2 (folio 8). Eye salve original: "Collyrium" for every defect of the eyes.

3 (folios 9 to 21^v). Arnaldo of Villanova's book on the regimen of health. ‘Here begins the regimen of health for our illustrious (?) king of Aragon, composed or arranged by master Arnaldo of Villanova, the Catalan, concerning the suitability of air and [. . . ?]. Chapter 1: The first part or consideration of preserving health pertains to the selection of air.’ original: "Incipit regimentum sanitatis ad inclitum nostrum (?) regem Aragonum a magistro Arnaldo de Villa nova Cathalo. compositum seu ordinatum de aeris et [. . . ?] congruitate. I Capit. Prima pars vel consideratio sanitatis preservanda pertinet aeris electioni."Footnote 2: Compare with Bodleian Manuscript Digby 42.

4 (folio 22). An anonymous letter to Innocent IV on the accidents of old age. ‘Here begins the letter on the accidents of old age sent to Innocent the Fourth, the Supreme Pontiff. Lord of the world, who from a noble double lineage’ original: "Domine mundi qui ex nobili bina stirpe" [that is, the short version of the Letter].

5 (folio 37). Aristotle's book on the secret of secrets; translated by Philip, Clerk of Tripoli. The "Secretum Secretorum" was a widely circulated medieval treatise on statecraft and health falsely attributed to Aristotle.

6 (folio 62^v). Al-Kindi's letter on the knowledge of future things. ‘Here begins the letter of Al-Kindi, the philosopher of Baghdad. To the wise man, his dearest friend Theodore . . . Desiring to know the diversities.’ original: "Incipit epistola alkandi achalif de baldac philosophi. Prudenti viro amico suo karissimo Theodoro . . . Nosse cupiens diversitates."

S.
Bodleian Library: Arch. Seld. B 35 (3349). On parchment; made up of two pieces written in the late fourteenth century in England; 247 x 180 mm.; ii + 84 leaves; with colored capitals, etc.

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¹ I am indebted to Monsieur L. Auvray for particulars of this manuscript.
² See Bodleian Manuscript Digby 42.