Middle English "Antodotarium Nicholai"evidence for linguistic distribution and dissemiantion in the vernacular

Abstract

Tlie niedieval treatise known as Antidotarium Nicholai is preserved in Middle English in several versioiis froin at least five different manuscript families. Tlie Latiii versioii ofthis treatise was a requirement in tlie medical curriculum at medieval European universities. The purpose of tliis paper is to establish tlie provenance or distributioii of tlie laiiguage in eiglit of the extant copies in order to arrive at a conclusion about tlie diffusion of tliis work. Analysed are tlie dialectal forms aiid features of tlie copies found in Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 424, London, British Library Harley 2374, Glasgow, Uiiiversity Library Ferguson 147, Oxford, Bodleian Library Ashmole 1438, Cainbridge, Magdalene College Pepys 1307. Caiiibridge, St. John’s College 37 aiid Glasgow, University Library Huiiter 117, With tliis analysis I inteiid to deterinine tlie filial relationship ainoiig tlie differeiit versioiis, aiid to locate each copy within a specific dialect aren.