{ "viewingDirection": "left-to-right", "metadata": [ { "label": "Binding", "value": "

?18th-century binding. Quarter-bound in white vellum with grey paper sides over paste- or mill-boards. No raised bands on spine (not photographed). Three small printed paper labels with the alphanumeric components of the present shelfmark ('O' '8' and '25') fixed to the spine with an adhesive.<\/p>

Paper pastedowns pasted over the turn ins. The alpha-numeric components of the present shelfmark ('O.8.25') written in ink on the front pastedown<\/a> as well as two former shelfmarks in ink, 'C. 46' and 'No. 177'. Rear pastedown blank. <\/p>

Two paper flyleaves at the front of the volume (ff. [aa]-[bb]<\/a> and two paper flyleaves at the rear of the volume (ff. [cc]-[dd]<\/a>. Folio [aa] recto<\/a> contains the alphanumeric components of the present shelfmark ('O.8.25') in pencil. All other paper endleaves blank.<\/p>

The present ff. a<\/a> and [b]<\/a> are coated in an adhesive residue in a pattern consistent with the leaves having been used as pastedowns in a former binding. The text on f. a recto<\/a> is upside down relative to the rest of the volume. <\/p>" }, { "label": "Provenance", "value": "

Owned and largely copied by Giles Du Wés (Dewes) (d. 1535), musician at the English royal court of King Henry VII, royal tutor in music and French to members of the English royal household, and royal librarian from c. 1506.<\/p>

G. Kipling, 'Duwes [Dewes], Giles [pseud. Aegidius de Vadis]' ODNB<\/i>, https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/7575<\/div>
J.M. Rampling, The Experimental Fire: Inventing English Alchemy, 1300\u20131700<\/i> (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2020), esp. pp. 140, 143, 167. <\/div><\/div>

J.M. Rampling has suggested that Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.8.25 was perhaps once owned by Robert Greene, a friend of Giles Du Wés (Dewes) (d. 1535), to whom Du Wés bequeathed another autograph alchemical manuscript, Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.8.24<\/a>; in the case of MS O.8.24, Greene added a monogram in two places to one of the endleaves at the beginning of the volume, whereas no such monogram can be found in MS O.8.25.<\/p>

J.M. Rampling, The Experimental Fire: Inventing English Alchemy, 1300\u20131700<\/i> (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2020), esp. pp. 140 and 167<\/div><\/div>

Owned by a Bryan Fytzwyllyam, possibly the Brian Fitzwilliam born c. 1530, son of Sir William Fitzwilliam who was the son of Sir William FitzWilliam (Sheriff of London and servant of Cardinal Wolsey) and Anne (Sapcote) FitzWilliam. A Bryan Fytzwyllyam has signed his name on ff. 14r<\/a>, 37v<\/a>, 40v<\/a>, and 107r<\/a>. <\/p>

Owned by Sir Thomas Knyvett (1539-1618) of Ashwellthorpe, book collector: inscription of name 'Thomas Knyuett' in upper margin of f. 1r<\/a>. A catalogue of Knyvett's library was made in 1618 (now Cambridge, University Library, MS Ff.2.30), but, as noted by David McKitterick, Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.8.25 is one of a small number of Knyvett's manuscripts not included in the 1618 Catalogue. <\/p>

D. McKitterick, The Library of Sir Thomas Knyvett of Ashwellthorpe, c.1539-1618<\/i>, Cambridge University Library Historical Bibliography Series, 3 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Library, 1978), 'MS F'<\/div><\/div>

One of the manuscripts of Thomas Gale (1635/6-1702), dean of York, antiquary, and fellow of Trinity College Cambridge. <\/p>

ODNB<\/a><\/div><\/div>

One of the manuscripts of Roger Gale (1672-1744), antiquary and scholar, son of Thomas Gale. Inherited from his father.

ODNB<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/p>" }, { "label": "Physical Location", "value": "Trinity College Library, Cambridge" }, { "label": "Extent", "value": "Codex: ii + 1 | 3 + 40 | 30 | 38 | 30 | 30 | 1 + i leaves. Leaf height: 205-210 mm, width: 145-150 mm." }, { "label": "Funding", "value": "Wellcome (cataloguing). All images provided by Trinity College, Cambridge." }, { "label": "Former Owner(s)", "value": "Gale, Thomas, 1635/6-1702; Gale, Roger, 1672-1744" }, { "label": "Title", "value": "Alchemical Texts" }, { "label": "Author(s) of the Record", "value": "Dr Sarah Gilbert, Project Cataloguer, Curious Cures in Cambridge Libraries" }, { "label": "Material", "value": "Paper and parchment" }, { "label": "Collation", "value": "