Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R 7 23
Title
Images Source
https://mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/R.7.23
Manuscript
About the Manuscript
This is a 13th-14th century parchment manuscript containing 262 pages. It is part of the James collection, Number 759, entitled Miscellaneous Manuscripts including the French Brut, a Herbal etc.
Its contents vary widely: there is a version of the Brut chronicle, a text on Merlin the prophet, an herbal on Allium, a poem against women, and treatises on the signs of the zodiac and on abstention, as well as recipes in English and Latin.
The fragmentary lunary occurs on the last page, preceded by the perilous days of the year, and propitious days for bloodletting in French (f 261r-f 261v). All texts are challenging to read as the parchment has darkened considerably and the hand is difficult.
About the Lunary
This is a fragmentary text, occurring at the very end of a large composite manuscript with varied types of compositions, in English, Latin and French.
The lunary predictions are limited to a few categories, render it similar to other collective Lunaries. Its presentation of the common themes is highly abbreviated. They include:
- general commentary on the nature of the day (good to begin all things)
- nativities limited to a child’s lifespan
- illness outcomes
- significance of dreams
Transcription
Transcription
f 261v
La primere lune fet bon de comencer totes choses. Qui chet en maladie tost garira. Sounge tornera en joie. L'enfant qe est nee lungement viura.
La secunde lune qi chiet en maladie tost garira. Songe signifie joie. Enfante nee aura bone vie et lunge.
La tierce lune. Songe ne sienefie ne bien ne mal. Qui chiet en maladie et enfant nee tost murrunt.
La quarte lune l'en deit par(por?) sounge d’enpirer. Et qui chiet en maladie tost garra ou [.......]
[text truncated here]
Translation
Translation
f 262
The first moon it is good to start all things; whoever lies ill will soon recover. The dream will turn to joy, the child born today will live a long life.
The second moon whoever falls ill will quickly recover. The dream signifies joy; the child born will live a good and long life.
The third moon. The dream signifies neither good nor evil. Whoever lies ill and the child born on this day will die soon.
The fourth moon one must [might?] become more ill by a dream. Whoever lies ill will quickly recover or….
[text truncated]