MANUSCRIPTS OF THE SECRETUM PHILOSOPHORUM
Of the following MSS I have chiefly used Additional 32622, Digby 37, and Digby 153.
CU Trinity 1214, good hand of late 12th century, fols. 71-82, is perhaps an earlier precursor of our treatise, judging from the following headings given by James: “De aque ductibus, de puteis fodiendis, de probatione aque ... de fistulis organicis ... de calce ... de fabrica ville rustice disponenda, de balneis ... de coloribus ... de norme institutione, de horologii institutione ... de solidamentis, de altitudine arborum sive turrium probanda, probacio auri, de arte multiplicandi, de arte organizandi.”
Amplon. Quarto 330, mid 13th-early 14th century, fols. 1-23, appears to be the earliest of the MSS of our treatise.
Amplon. Quarto 361, English hand of early 14th century, fols. 27-40.
Additional 32622, small octavo written in England in early 14th century, fols. 3-84, “Iste liber quem prae manibus habemus vocatur Secretum philosophorum, et intitulatur isto nomine quia in eo continentur quaedam secreta quae reputatione vulgari sunt impossibilia, apud philosophos secreta et necessaria.”
Additional 18752, small quarto, 14-16th century, fols. 1-28, “Secretum philosophorum,” imperfect.
Sloane 2579, fol. 2-.
Egerton 2852, mid 14th century, fols. 5v-49v.
Digby 37, 14th century, fols. 4-43, “Secretum philosophorum.”