MS Ashmole 411, f. 96v. Copyright Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, 2011.
This is an example of what a full text diplomatic transcription of a complete page from one of Forman’s casebooks (MS Ashmole 411, f. 96v) would look like, complete with charts and other astrological data, judgments, and treatments. Typically for Forman, the page features four cases, one in the top left, one in the bottom left, one in the top right, and the fourth in the bottom left. The first two (on the left half of the page) are an horary question and a nativity, both for the infant Thomas Colford, who is ‘fairy pinched’ (has unexplained marks on his body). A list of suspects is included. The other two cases are horary questions for Mr Digby (a regular customer), who is concerned about ‘turb[a]’ (impending trouble of a non-medical nature), and for Elizabeth Saick, who, Forman judges, is troubled with ‘the mother [i.e. womb] rising in her stomack’, and for whom he prescribes a purge.
Thomas Colford of 15 wickꝭ old 1601 the 8 of Iune ☾ p m’ 30 p 12 Diz / |the child prsent| in harp stret bi pi corner
- Ihon colford 40/
- mari letman 35
- phillip solmes.
- Leonard solmes
- Ihon do{ucne}s yt was tormented/
Luna s a ♄ ap △ ♂
yt is of ♃ in ♏ ☾ sept a ♃.
yt is feyri pinched in dyuers places of the body
mr Digby 1601 the 8 Iun ☾ p m’ at 30 p 4 turb nc n’
Luna spt a ♂ p |A| p ☍ ♀ et post ♄.
- □ ♄ ♀ ap
- □ ♃ ☿ ap
- □ ☉ ♄ ap.
- ☍ ☾ ♀ at 11 dies
Tak head on ☿ dai and till 12 Dais be past./
This child was born 1601 the 20 of februari ♀ ante m’ at 5. london/
Luna s a □ ♄ ap ⚹ ♀/
- △ ♄ ☉ s
- △ ♄ ♂ ap
- ☍ ♃ ☉ ap
♃ in suo term.
☉ igrin
Elizabeth S{aick} of 30 years 1601 the 9 of Iune ♂ in m’ at 12 Diz. of hacknei/
Luna sept a ☿ est vac post △ ☉ p □ ♂
- □ ♄ ♀ ap
- □ ♄ ☉ ap
- □ ♃ ☿ ap
yt is of ♃ in ♏ ☾ sept a ☿ in ♊
yt is the mother rising in her stomack redy to vomit pain in the back {of} moch sande/ pain head/ belly she hath not her course well. the whitꝭ moch water in her stomack ferfull
prpare 3 Dais & purg then sc{o}ur her mat{rix}
