SC - hildegard's cookies

[Thomas Gloning]

<< It would have been most helpful if they'd given the original... >>

"DE NUCE MUSCATA.
Nux muscata magnum calorem habet et bonum temperamentum in viribus suis.
Et si homo nucem muscatam comedit, cor ejus aperit et sensum ejus
purificat, ac bonum ingenium illi infert. Accipe quocunque nucem
muscatam et aequali pondere cynamomi et modicum gariofiles, id est
nelchin, et haec pulveriza, et tunc eum pulvere isto ac cum simila
farinae et modica aqua tortellos fac, et eos saepe comede, et omnem
amaritudinem cordis et mentis tuae sedat, et cor tuum et obtusos sensus
tuos aperit, et mentem tuam laetam facit, et sensus tuos purificat, ac
omnes nocivos humores in te minuit, et bonum succum sanguini tuo
tribuit, et fortem te facit." (PL I 21)

In addition, here is a period German version from the Codex 6952 of the
French National Library (ed. Melitta Weiss Adamson, in: Sudhoffs Archiv
79/2, 1995, 184; under the heading "contra dolorem capitis"):

"Man sal nemen muscate vnd nelchin das es glich wiege vnd enwenig
Cynamomum vnd puluer das vil symeln meles dar zu vnd als vil waßers das
man cleyn kuchlin da von machen moge vnd sal die drucken an dem luffte
das kein wint dar zu gee so er diße kuchlin dicke ißet dem bekommet sie
vnmaßen wol in dem heupte vnd an dem herczen vnd in allem syme libe".

<< I'd say the recipe itself is probably not intended to produce
digestive biscuits but, well, pastilles/pills >>

The use of lat. "tortellos" and germ. "kuchlin" suggests, that indeed
sort of cookies are meant. But certainly, these cookies were made for
their medical properties mentioned in the section.

The medical effects on mind, brain, heart and the whole body are very
impressive, and I wonder, how His Grace feels after having eaten some of
these wonder cookies ...

Have fun, Thomas