29 april 14 The prince of Orange slaine 1584 518 26 28 apr 19. E Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge founded by VValter Mildmay 1585 519 27 27 aprill 11  1586 520 28 26 aprill 3 Sir H. Sidney deceased 1587 521 29 25 aprill 16 The Queene of Scots beheaded 158◠522 30 24 apr 7 G Tilbury Campe. 1589 523 31 23 mar 30 Portugall voyage 1590 524 32 22 aprill 19 Christs Colledge in Cambridge founded 1591 525 33 21 aprill 4  1592 526 34 20 ma. 26. B Terme at Hartford 1593 527 35 19 aprill 15 Prince Henry borne in Scotland 1594 528 36 18 mar 31  1595 529 37 17 april 20 A great dearth Anno Reg. 37. 1596 530 38 18 apr 11. D The Spaniards win Callis 1597 531 39 15 mar 27 The voyages to the Isles of Tercera's 1598 532 40 14 aprill 16 The King of Spaine dyeth 1599 533 41 13 aprill 8 The Earle of Essex rode towards Ireland 1600 534 42 12 ma. 23. F  1601 535 43 11 april 12 The Earle of Essex beheaded 43. Marshall Baron of France arriued 1602 536 44 10 aprill 4 Seminaries executed Q. Elizabeth died Mar. 24 periodi K. Iames began Mar. 24 periodi She dyed hauing reigned 44. years 4. moneths 14 daies buried at Westminster An. D P. C kr Sc. T. e. East da The great plague in London wherof dred from Decem. 1602. to Dece 1603 30 578 peace with Spaine 3 Popes in 6 weekes Powder treason The King of Denmark cometh to England Great inundations in England The Oath of Alegeance ministred The first plantation of Virginia The King of France murthered And the prince created Prince of Wales after setteth his house in honorable fashion order his Titles be Henry Prince of VVales Duke of Cornvvall and Rothesey and Earle of Chester 1602 536 1 36 10 aprill 4 1603 537 1 37 9 apri 24 1604 538 2 38 8 ap 18. A 1605 539 3 39 7 mar 31 1606 540 4 40 6 apri 20 1607 541 5 41 5 april 5 1608 542 6 42 4 m. 27 C 1609 543 7 43 3 april 16 1610 544 8 44 2 aprill 8 1611 545 9 45 1 mar 24 Anno Domini post conquestum K. Re. England K. Re. Scotland time expired Easter day 1612 546 10 46 0 apr 12 E 1613 547 11 47 1 aprill 4 1614 548 12 48 2 april 24 1615 549 13 49 3 aprill 9 1616 550 14 50 4 ma. 31. G 1917 551 15 51 5 april 20 1618 552 16 52 6 april 5 1619 553 17 53 7 mar 28 1620 554 18 54 8 apr 16 B 1621 555 19 55 9 april 1 1622 556 20 56 10 april 21 1623 557 21 57 11 april 13 1624 558 22 58 12 ma 28. D 1625 559 23 59 13 april 17 1626 560 24 60 14 aprill 9 1627 561 25 61 15 mar 25 1628 562 26 62 16 apr 13 P 1629 563 27 63 17 aprill 5 Anno Domini post conquestum K Re. England K Re. Scotland time expire Easter day 1630 564 28 64 18 mar 28 1631 565 29 65 19 aprill 10 1632 566 30 66 20 apri 1. A 1633 567 31 67 21 april 21 1634 568 32 68 22 april 6 1635 569 33 69 23 mar 29 1636 570 34 70 24 ap 17. C 1637 571 35 71 25 aprill 9 1638 572 36 72 26 mar 25 1639 573 37 73 27 april 14 1640 574 38 74 18 apr 4. B 1641 575 39 75 29 april 25 1642 576 40 76 30 april 10 1643 577 41 77 31 april 2 1644 578 42 78 32 ap 21. G 1645 579 43 79 33 aprill 6 1646 580 44 80 34 mar 29 Note in the reading of these briefe Chronicle Notes at the end of many of them you shall haue certaine figures set which signifies the yeare of the King it happened in because sometime the accident was not in that regnal yeare that stands against the Eclesian yeare The Description and vse of this New Table called A Concordancy of Yeares THis my Concordancy of Yeares hath in euery page 5 seuerall rowes vnder seuerall Titles as the first row is vnder the Yeare of our Lord beginning at 1066. at what time the Conqueror began so continuing to the yeare 1646. The next row is vnder post Conquestū shewing how many yeares any yeare of our Lord or any yeare of any King was after the Conquest The third is vnder Kings Reigne shewing how the yeares of the Kings answere to the yeares of our Lord. The fourth is vnder Time expired shewing how many yeares it is since any of the yeares placed in any of the 3 former rowes at this present yeare 1612. And the last row is placed vnder the Title of Easter day shewing what day of the moneth Easter day fell vpon any yeare since the Conquest to the yeare 1646. In which row also be certaine Capitall letters placed which bee the later of the Dominicall letters in the Leape-yeare as in Chap. 21. Now these things considered you are to vnderstand that all the difficulty in computating of time is when the question is onely propounded by the yeare of the Kings reigne and therefore if you can deuise when any question is made by any yeare of any King to know in what yeare of our Lord it was then the labour is nothing for you must know that euery yeare of any King as yet began in one yeare of the Lord ended in the next insuing yeare which is the cause of this difference But to make all more plaine I will propound certaine examples both of the yeare of our Lord and of the regnall yeare Quest 1 I haue a Lease for an hundred yeares bearing date in Aprill 1514 and I would know this yeare 1612. what time I haue remaining ANSVVERE Séeke first the yeare of our Lord 1514 their begin to tell at the next yeare forwards calling 1515. one 1516. two and so procéed vntill you come to 1612 so shall you count to the number of 98 yeares and so many of your 100 yeares be expired But in the numbring thus you must remember that before after the change of euery Prince one the same yeare of our Lord is twice placed therefore omit the one in your reckoning Or take 1514 out of 1612 so haue you 98 years Or séeke with more ease in the third row vnder Time expired what figures stand against 1514 so shall you finde 98 as before and so many yeares be expired 1612. But if you had sought this any other yeare after 1612. as 1614 then must you haue séene what figures in the fift row had béene against 1614 as 2 the which 2 must haue béene added to 98 so had you 100 yeares The like for any other yeare after to 1646. Quest 2. I haue a Lease granted for 60 yeares bearing date the 8 of Ianuary in the 6 yeare of Edward the 6. and I would know this yeare 1612 how many years be expired ANSVVER You must note first that
the regnal yeares stand periodicall or compleat against the yeares of our Lord so that the yeare Regnall standeth against that Eclesian yeare or yeare of our Lord it ended in and not against that it began in so that if a question in the Computation be put in the beginning of the regnal yeare or in this Concordancie in the ending of the regnal yeare the demand is easie but if the contrary happen it is more hard Therefore the matter and intent of this my worke is when a question is pronounded by the yeare of any King to know in what yeare of our Lord it was the is whether it were in the yeare of cur Lord. God that the regnall yeare did take beginning or ending in This considered all shall be made easie by the ensuing examples Seeke in your Tables for Edward the 6 then in the row vnder K. Reigne finde the 6. yeare of his reigne which you shall sinde placed against 1552 against which in the row vnder Time expired is 60. My leass is therefore expired in January the 8 day 1612. Or hauing found the yeare of our Lord count as in the first question or substract 1552 from 1612 as before but reckoning with the old Computation you haue 61. yeares which is false but to make all plaine worke as followeth Notes to bee obserued for this new kinde of of casie Computation YOu must first consider that in my Kalender in the Margent vpon the left hand the wéekes be numbred from our Lady day the which number for breuities sake is called the Hebdomadall Number Next here is an insuing Table wherein the names of all the Kings and Quéenes of England since the Conquest be writ and to them is added a certaine number of wéeks and daies as to Henry the 7 21 wéekes and 3 dayes which I call Epact which Bosco saith is Intercalare or addere But howsoeuer you may admit the word without offence since it is but for distinction or difference sake which had worke 〈◊〉 followeth A Table of the Epacts for each King KINGS Names Epact KINGS Names Epact w. da. w. da. Wil. Conquerour 29 0 Hen. the. fourth 27 1 Wil. Rufus 24 0 Henry the fifth 51 2 Henry the first 18 3 Henry the sixth 22 5 Stephen 36 0 Edw. the fourth 49 0 Henry the second 30 4 Edward the fifth 2 1 Richard the first 14 5 Rich. the third 11 2 Iohn 1 6 Hen. the seuenth 21 3 Henry the third 31 1 Hen. the eighth 4 0 Edward the first 33 5 Edw. the sixth 44 0 Edward the secoÌ„d 14 6 Mary 15 1 Edward the third 43 4 Elizabeth 33 6 Richard the secoÌ„d 12 4 King Iames. 51 5 When any question is propounded by the yeare of any King only without mention of the Ecclesâ—â—◠〈…〉 yeare you must note in what Kings reignâ—◠〈…〉 what moneth and day of the moneth it 〈…〉 date Next ' find the said moneth and 〈…〉 moneth sée what Hebdomadall 〈…〉 â—â—â—reth thereunto that is how 〈…〉 it is from the 25 of March 〈…〉 â—â—â—ble finde the name of the King 〈…〉 number of wéekes daâ—â—◠〈…〉 pact and against the 〈…〉 numbers viz. 〈…〉 consider which 〈…〉 If the Eâ—â—â—â—◠〈…〉 the demâ—â—◠〈…〉 yeare which standeth against the Ecclesian yeare periodically But if the Hebdomadall number be the greater the demand was made in the beginning of the Regnall yeare which answereth to the Ecclesian yeare or yeare of our Lord next before And of both these differences an example followeth Quest 3 I haue an Euidence bearing date the 13 of May in the 23 yeare of Elizabeth I would know 1612 what yeare of our Lord it was how long since how long after the Conquest it was ANSVVER To answer this question by this new Table first séeke the Epact of Elizabeth which is 33 wéeks 6 daies then the Hebdomadall number of the 13 of May is 13 wéeks here the Epact is the greater Therefore according to the first difference the demand is made in the ending of the regnal yeare that stands periodically against the yeare of our 〈◊〉 in the Concordancy Wherefore to resolue 〈…〉 â—â—estion find the 23 yeare of Elizabeth aâ—â—◠〈…〉 â—â—ich standeth 1581 in the first row in 〈…〉 15 in the fourth is 31 whereby 〈…〉 Euidence was dated in the 25 Anno Domini 1581 515 afâ—â—◠〈…〉 that it is 31 yeares since 〈…〉 see the answere to 〈…〉 Quest 4. I haue a lease bearing date the 5 of March in the 2 yeare of Elizabeth and is to continue for 60 yeares I demand what yeare of our Lord it was dated in and consequently how many yeares bee expired this yeare 1612. ANSVVER As in the last question conferre the Epact of Elizabeth and the Hebdomadall Number of the 5 of March together noting which is the greater In this question the Hebdomadall number is the greater therefore according to the second difference the demand was made in the beginning of the regnall yeare which answereth to the yeare of our Lord next before Séeke therefore the second yeare of Elizabeth against which in the first row is 1560 but for the causes before said you must take the yeare next before that is 1559 and that yeare of our Lord was the lease dated in the tune expired standing against the same as 53 and so many yeares of my lease bee expired But if you séeke how many yeares be expired in any other yeare after 1612 worke as in the first question Quest 5. To finde Easter day and the rest of the moueable feasts because many times Deeds c. beare date vpon such dayes without mention of the moneth as also to finde the Dominicall letter First seeke the yeare of our Lord God or yeare of the King against either of which in the last row vpon the right hand is the moneth and day of the moneth the Easter day fell vpon that yeare which had get the other moueable Feasts thus From Easter day count fixe Sundaies backewards so haue you Quadragessima or the first Sunday in Lent then goe backe vnto the next Tuesday so haue yee Shroue-tuesday Againe From Easter day forwards count fiue weekes or 35 dayes so haue you Rogation Sunday The next Thursday after is Ascension day Ten dayes after is Whitsunday The next Sunday following is Trinitie Sunday and foure dayes after is Corpus Christi day Hauing found Easter day see what day of the Moneth it happened on and finde that day in the Kalender for the letter answering thereto was Dominicall letter that yeare As 1611 Easter day was the 24 of March to which F answereth in the Kalender therefore F was Sunday letter that yeare But when it is Leape-yeare there be two Dominicall letters whereof that which beginneth the yeare and serueth till Saint Mathias day is noted by the time in the Table when Easter day happeneth and the other seruing to the end of the yeare is the next letter in the Alphabet that goeth before or this
18 Of the lunar yeare both coÌ„mon extraordinary ch 19 Of the solar yeare and the etymology thereof Ch. 20 Of the Iulian yeare or our vulgar yeare of the leap yeare and the cause thereof with diuers beginnings of yeares Chap 21. Vulgar errors reform'd c. 22 Of the Kalends Nones c. and what they be Cha. 23. Of the infortunate and fatall daies of the yeare as also of the good and happy daies Chap. 24 To find what planet reigneth any houre in the yeare and how long he reigneth c. 25 Of the natures properties of the 7 planets Cha. 26 A briefe discourse of the naturall causes of watery meteors as snow haile raine c. Chap. 27 Diuers signes to prognosticate what wether is towards Chap. 28 Of the foure quarters of the yeare and first of Winter Chap. 29. Certaine predictions of the weather in euery Moneth with necessary Abstracts and the poeticall rising of the starres Chap. 30 Predictions of euery day more particularly Cha. 31 Of the golden number circle of the Sunne Dominicall Letter and Epact c. Chap. 32. To get the age change full quarters of the Moone Chap. 33. To finde what signe the Sun or Moone is in Chap. 34 Of the Eclipses of the Sunne and Moone and to know when they shall happen and the quantity of obscuration Chap. 35 To finde the houre of Sun-rising setting the length of the day night with the breake of day continuance of twy-light Cha. 36 To know how long the Moone shineth when shee riseth with the cause of her lesse or greater light C. 37 A Table to know the houre of the night by the moone her comming to the south the quaÌ„tity of her shining and full sea through England Chap. 37 Astronomicall Elections for phisick and chirurgery depending vpon the place and course of the Moone Chap. 38. Of the moueable Feasts and diuersities of Easter with the reason of our difference with the Romans Chap. 39. To find the moueable feasts for euer according to our English Kalender Cha. 40 To find the moueable feasts according to the Romane Church Chap. 41 Of the Ember and Fasting-dayes as also of the times of mariage Chap. 42 Of weights and measures vsed in England Chap. 43 Measures in longitude and of the length the bredth and compasse of England Ireland and the adiacent Islands Chap. 44 To know how to reckon how much your daily expences commeth to in the whole yeare very readily without a Table or Calculation Chap. 45 Of the difference of gold in finenesse and the valuation of seuerall peeces of gold with other necessary Tables Chap. 46. Of the degrees of men before the Conquest Ch. 47. The placing of Estates and Degrees of Nobility in England in this Age C. 48 Of the number of Bishops in England and how they be to take place one before the other and of the number of parish Churches in England c. Of the towns that haue Burgesses in the Parliament house with the number of parishes in euery shire Chap. 49 A Concordancy of Yeares containing a most exact Computation of time with briefe Notes out of the best Chronicles against euery yeare Also a briefe Description and vse of the same AD LECTOREM IN LAVDEM AVTHORIS ROBERTI BROVGHTON Interionis Templi Carmina A ARtis ingenij vi nixus lector in arcto R Replicat Hoptonus coÌ„modapro partria T Tramite vulgari non est ingressus at eccè H Hîc procul occultas inuenit ille vias V Vraniae motus numeros scrutatur astra R Rarus aerarum computus ecce tibi H Hinc tibi concursus lunae cum sole notatur O Ortus stellarum Cosmicus Chronicus P Pandit deliquium solis lunaeque forensi T Tum fastos memorat iustitijque dies O Optamus placeat saueas tu sin minus audin N NecquicquaÌ„ infestans rumpitor inuidiâ AD ARCTVRIVM HOPTON Annis etiamnum Iuuenilibus Homine liboro verè dignis Studijs oppidò quà m insignitum Carmine Phaleucio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Encomium AN quem Patricius docebat olim Iam tu a Scholler to the Irish Saint wrot of Genethliaque Iudgements liued vnder Vortiger about CDLX Bal. Maccius an scholae b A great Machematitian president of the publique Schooles which for those times were as our now Vniuersities at Caer leon in Munmouth not instituted by Arthur as Cay in his antiquity of Cambridge supposes but long after otherwise how could there haue beene C C. Students there about the Saxons ariuall as is witnessed in Camden out of Alexander Essâ—biensis Nor doth the Munmouth Ieffrey affirme that he instituted any Schoole there but onely that he had in the time of that pompous celebration of the Round Table-Order a Schoole of C C. Philosophers in this Citie which were altogether in coelestiall obseruations and Astrologie iudiciall Bale puts all this at Chester but vpon warâ—ant of the Brittish Story which in some things is seriously to be regarded it should be at Caerâ—leon vpon Vske stiled Isea Leg. II Aug. in Surita's Antonmus which may perhaps be meant by Ptolemâ—es 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 although he places it in another people He flourished vnder Vortimer vetustae Es Maugantius Insulaenè Glasti An c Otherwise Mouinus a Monke of Glastenbury in Somerset an Astrologer in Vortiport reigne Melkinus an aemulus Bladudi Madulphi d ¶ Elmer forrein writers call him so studious in curiosities that hee aduentured the imitation of Daedalus and the British Bladud's flying but with no lesse mis-fortune About the Confessors time was he a Monk of Malmsbury in VViâ—â—shire Bal. Cent. 2. Leland Malmesburicus Lib. 1. cap. 2. Camd. Matth. Paris in Hen. 3. so called froÌ„ Maldulph a Scot or Scoto-Hibernus who with Adelm his scholler disputed wrote about the great Controuersie of celebrating the true Passouer in his true time monachus e Rohert surnamed Grosse-test Bishop of Lincolne vnder Hen. III. besides his Mathematique sufficiencies which remaine testified in his Computus Higdens Polychronicon and else where spent seuen yeares labour in framing a Brasen-head which as Orpheus his did in Lesbos should tell Of such things as befell Philostrat in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I Govver in Confess Amantis lib. 4. And seven yeres besinesse He layd but for the lachesse Of halfe a minute of an houre Fro first he began labours He lost all that he had do Such a peece of Magique performed is by an old Monke affirmed of Gerebert G. Malmsh de hist reg lib. 2. cui Gerebertus iste contrà quam alijs â—st Ioannes PP XV. De themate munâ—â— consule Petrum Alliacens ap Picum Mirand aduers Astrolog lib. 5. cap. 9. v. Iul. Firmic Bal. Cent. 3. De praestig Damonum lib. 2. cap. 4. Th. Iames in Eclog. Oxonio-Cantabrigâ—ers lib. 1. Leo Suan in comvend philâ—sâ— Paracels ad Paracels lib. 1. de vitalongá afterward Pope Syluester
Solar yeare which are not much néedfull to be knowne in respect of this Treatiss To bee therefore short the Solar yeare is a space of time that the Sunne by his proper motion departing from some point in the Eclipticke returneth to the same place againe and this yeare Solar is either Astronomicall or Poeticall the Astronomicall yeare is either Tropicall or Sidereall and the Tropicall yeare is either Equall or Vnequall The Tropicall yeare taketh his beginning from the Vernall Equinox containing 365 dayes 5 houres 49 minuts 15 seconds and 46 thirds but the vnequall or aparent Tropical yeare containes sometime more as 365 dayes 5 houres 56 minuts 53 seconds and 1 third and other times lesse as 365 dayes 5 houres 42 minutes 38 seconds and 27 thirds And this vnequality is made by the vnequall precession of the Equinoctiall points The Egyptians wanting the vse of letters set forth the yeare like an Adder eating her owne taile so that it may bee said Annus ab Anguis a Snake wee may depaint the yeare by a King in respect they both turne round in themselues so may it be called Annus from Annulus a King for a motion in a King finished beginneth againe without end and therefore Virgil Atque in se sua per vostigia voluitur Annus Some call a yeare Annus ab innouatione because the strength and vertue of all vegetable things is renewed and are passed ouer by the course of time It is called Annus ab An which is Circum and eo in by reason of the foresaid reuolution of Time CHAP. XXI Of the Iulian yeare or our vulgar yeare and of the Leap-yeare and the cause thereof with the diuers beginnings of yeares IVlius Caesar anno mundi 3925.45 yeares before the birth of Christ and the yeare before his bloudy death noting the falsenesse of the yeare then vsed by the Councell of Sosigenes an excellent Mathematitian made the yeare to consist of 365 dayes and 6 houres and because it would be very difficult to computate these 6 houres euery yeare for should you begin this yeare at 12 of the clocke and 6 houres it must end the next yeare at 12 and 6 houres and the next yeare following would end at mid-night c. So that wee should driue the beginning of the yeare euery 4 yeares a day further without the getting of a day so that in 124 yeares the Annuntiation of Mary would fall to bée where Saint Marke Euangelist is or a day sooner To auoyd which inconuenience Caesar concluded that at euery foure yeares there should be a day gotten by the surplus of the 6 houres in euery yeare for 4 times 6 make 24 houres which day he added to February for that it is the shortest moneth and according to the ancient and also according to our Churches account the last moneth and this day they put at the 25 of February so that the letter F is twise repeated Saint Mathias day being obserued vpon the later according to the verse Bissextum sextae Martis tenuere Calendae Posteriore die celebrantur festa Mathiae So that the Iulian yeare is two-fold as Iulian and Bissextill it is called Bissextill of bis and sex because the 6 Kalends of March is twise repeated so may it be called Annus intercalaris because of the day that is put betwéene so may February in that respect be called Mensis intercalaris and so may the 25 of February that yeare be called Dies intercalaris But since the Romanes haue found that this Iulian yeare was too great and by helpe of Antonius Lilius they haue abated the quantity of the yeare making it to consist of 365 daies 5 houres 49 minutes and 12 seconds whereby their account in the celebration of the festiuall daies and of the times of the yeare differeth 11 dayes from ours as in my Kalender and yet is neither of these accounts precisely true by occasion of the vnequall precession of the Equinoctiall points of which here is no place to speake By this that is said in the Chapters before you may gather that a wéeke hath seuen dayes or 168 houres a moneth 4 wéekes 30 dayes or 720 houres I speake of Solar moneths and a yeare 52 wéekes 12 moneths 365 dayes or 8760 houres But the leape yeare hath 366 daies or 8784 houres wanting indéed according vnto true calculation 47 minutes and 12 seconds and so much doth euery foure yeares differ from our Iulian yeare which is 11 minutes and 48 seconds euery yeare And you must note that according vnto diuers men the yeare hath diuers beginnings which some call Aera Numa Pompilius did begin the yeare at the Hyemall Solstitiall because as then the Sunne began to ascend Romulus began the yeare at the Equinoctiall of March because as then all things began to flourish all trées and plants to bud c. The Arabians begin their yeare at the Estiuall Solstitiall because they are of opinion that the Sun was made in Leo. Some let their yeare take beginning at the Autumnall Equinoctiall The Egyptians count from the death of Nabuchadonozor the Persians from Iezdegird the Arabians or Moores from the preaching of Mahomet who was after the birth of Christ 626 yeares The Astronomers begin their yeare the first of Ianuary and so do we take it vulgarly in England But the Church of England and the date of all writings and such like hath their yeare to begin vpon the 25 day of March The Iewes began their yeare after two sorts viz for feasts in March and for other affaires in September And so must wee vnderstand Ezechiel chap. 40. vers 1. The Spaniards did reckon their yeare for tributes and all other payments from the Emperour Octauian vntill King Iohn altered it to the Natiuity of our Lord and you shall note that it was 500 yeares after the birth of Christ that the Christians did begin their yeare at the Annunciation of Mary CHAP. XXII Vulgar errours reformed I Tould you before in what time the Sunne did finish his course through the 12 signes of the Zodiaque and here you must know further that he hath thrée motions as slow being in Apogaeon or his greatest Eccentricity and then goeth not aboue 57 minutes 18 seconds in 24 houres and sometime but 56 minuts 43 seconds Swift being in Perigaeon or nearest the earth and then may goe one degrée 1 minute and 43 seconds in 24 houres and his meane motion at what times he passeth 59 minuts and 8 seconds in 24 houres by occasion whereof diuers things happen contrary as the vulgar take it as there be more daies by about 10 from the Equinoctiall of March vnto the Equinoctiall of September then there is from the Equinoctiall of September to the Equinoctiall of March. By occasion of this diuersity of the Sunnes motion the vulgar be also much deceiued that say that the dayes doe lengthen and shorten one houre euery 15 dayes which is false indéed from the 11 of March vnto the
at what time the Sunne hath runne through Aries Taurus and Gemini if the Spring be much moist the fruite will bee rotten and scarce but wéedes will abound if hoate the trées soone bring forth leaues the fruits of that quarter as Cheries c. will soone be ripe which being not gathered before their full maturity will bee subiect to wormes especially in warme regions but it is seldome with vs though frequent in Italy Roses will bee frome but not so swéete all such things shal better please the sight then that sent or tast if it bee cold and dry there will hoare frosts fall in the end of the quarter according to the full Moone the wine and fruits will be scarce being dry and not hot fruits will bee scarce but good with want of graine if it be cold the fruits will be late riping if it be wet with much South wind and the former Winter dry with Northen winds the next Summer will happen agues and bleerenesse dropping of the eyes and paine of the bowels A dry Spring with much Northen winds and a wet Winter full of Southerne winds going before causeth women with child to bee deliuered before their time or to bring forth weake children Gal. l. 3. Aphor. 3. So that if the quarter vary from his proper nature the commodities of the earth be made worse and scarce the ordinary diseases of this quarter bee leaprosies red spots tooth-ach feuers of bloud pushes or wheales in the face small-pox ring-wormes falling-sickenesse paines in the throate and necke the Kings euill wens griefes in the shoulders and armes causes by bloud Of Sommer SOmmer is of nature hot and dry like the fiery tryplicity or like the chollericke if taketh beginning when the Sun entreth Cancer continuing vntil he haue passed ouer Cancer Leo and Virgo and now is rage and choller most abounding being the hottest time 〈◊〉 the yeare but in the begining there rise certainâ—â—â—arres in Cancer whose vertue is to make moist especially Aselli so that the Sunne comming to them some raine falleth to fructify the earth but comming to Leo beeing neere Syrius and Procyon starres of a warme nature the heat groweth most vehement to temperate which the Etesian winds blow Lastly comming to Virgo which is a barren signe the constellation of Arcturus rising a mittigation of heat is produced with some raine If Sommer be ouer wet the Sommer fruits shall putrify and there will bee but small store of graine there will be many sickenesses if it be onely dry there will happen want of graine and Sommer fruits will be wholsome the fishes shall die in waters great sicknesses will happen if it exceede in heat many sicknesses also will happen with great store of Sommer friutes if to conclude it bee cold the yeare will bee wholsome but the fruits rotten This quarter as it is hot and dry in nature so doth it accordingly alter the humors in mans body bringing all fruits to their ripenesse cattell to their fatnesse and men to their wealth the sicknesses agreeing to the nature thereof bee griefes and torments about the breast ribbes and spléene pushes leprosy and diseases of the face as in the Spring bleard and sore eyes with other impediments therein the plurisy cough heart and stomacke-aking sorrow vexations feuers of bloud apostumes pestilence feuers the ianndise paines in the belly and secret parts with other infirmities proceeding of melancholy Of Autumne AUtumne is the fourth and last quarter Astronomicall but the third according to our English accompt by nature is cold and dry melancholy like old age resembling the element of the earth beginning at the Sunnes first ingresse into Libra producing thereby a second Equinoctiall cocquating the daies with the nights which may also be called our second Spring making an apt time to take Physicke bléed c. but in that Libra is a signe of the Airy triplicity there is produced heat with temperate moisture but comming to Scorpio the aire is made more cold and moist for Scorpio is of the watry triplicity but comming to Sagitarius a signe of the fiery triplicity accompanied with certaine starres of a warme nature there is made a restraint of the extremity of wet and cold for the good of such as sow plow If Autumne be most moist grapes will be putrified and wine bad if the end be wet there will be want of fruite the insuing yeare if the beginning be dry there will be penuria Milij if hot many sickenesses and euils if cold there is losse of haruest fruits in quantity iuyce and beauty The diseases of this quarter properly be paines in the backe darknesse of sight retention of vrine fluxes of bloud paynes in the backe and priuy parts with infirmities in the face as in the Spring also the canker fistuloes emrods the stone and grauell feuers of bloud and impediments in the eies And here note that Winter in Latine Hyems is so called ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is dimidium for the vulgar people doe diuide the yeare into two parts Sommer and Winter Winter being the greater Ver the Spring is so called à vireo vires because then omnia virent all things flourish Aestas Sommer is so called ab aestu which is à feruore by reason of heat Lastly Autumnus Autumne or Haruest is so called à bonorum anni augmentatione or it taketh name with Hipocrates ab ortu Arcturi during till the Vespertine setting of the Pleiades or of Autumnus which is morbidum or tempestiuosum these foure times be resembled to the foure Regions of the world to the foure Cardinall winds to the foure Elements to the foure quarters to the foure humors to the foure ages as in the ensuing table  Warme and dry Hot moist Cold moist Cold dry Regions of the world Oriens Meri Occid Septe Cardinall winds East South West North 4 Elements Fyre Ayre Water Earth 4 Quarters of the yeare Sommer Spring Wint. Autu 4 Humors Cholor Sangu Fleame MelaÌ„ â— Ages Youth Ma. sta Age old ag CHAP. XXX Certaine predictions of the weather in euery moneth with necessary abstracts and the Poeticall rising of the Starres Ianuary NEw-yeares day in the morning being red portends great tempest and warre after ryseth Orions girdle Vespertine troubling the ayre causing South-west winds the 10 and 11 day doth Lucida Corona produce by a Vespertine setting about which time also riseth Asellus and praesepe great causers of raine the more Iupiter being in moist signes the 12 day Asellus riseth Cosmicall the 13 Praesepe setteth Cosmicall the 20 the South part of Asellus ryseth Chronicall the 28 Sirius riseth Vespertinus the 30 Eagle riseth Cosmicall All which with Ptolemaeus bring wet and tempest some say if the Sun shine the 12 of Ianuary there shall be much winde others Prognosticate of Saint Pauls day saying if the Sunne shine it is token of a happy yeare if raine or snow indifferent if misty great death but
or Trine with Sol or Mars If of drynesse let the Moone bee in Cancer Scorpio or Pisces aspected as before with Jupiter or Venus Elections for Ablactation or weaning of Children For delicatenesse take the Moone in Gemini Virgo Libra or the first halfe of Sagittarius well aspected with Venus That they may be couetous the Moone must be in Leo aspected with Mars To be good husbands and bufie in the commodities of the earth take the Moone in Taurus Virgo and Capricorne well affected with Mars The Moone without Aspect and furthest from the Sunne maketh them forget the Nurse Elections for Husbandry Before you plant or graft consider the winde for if it bee in the North or East cease thy labour This foreknowne plant or graft generall the Moone increasing in Taurus or Aquarius Remoue and set yong trees in the last quarter the Moone in Taurus or Capricorne in September October Nouember and February Sow all kinde of Corne the Moone increasing in Cancer Set or sow all kinde of séeds the Moone well seated in Aries Taurus Cancer Virgo Libra Capricorne Aquarius or Pisces but with this prouiso that your seeds whose rootes be round be sowen three or foure dayes before or after the full moone but for store take the increase from February to Iune Gather fruits at the full c. Fell Coppice in the first quarter sheare shéepe in the increase and then cut haire to make it grow fast and thicke Cut vines in February March or September the Moone increasing in Aries Libra or Scorpio Libbe or geld cattell the Moone increasing in Aries Sagittarius or Capricorne Mucke your land that the weedes may not grow thereby in the decreasing CHAP. XXXIX Of the moueable Feasts and diuersities of Easter with the reason of our difference and the Romanes HAuing spoken of the changes of the Moone c. It followeth to speake of the moueable Feasts because they depend thereon and haue no fixed place in the Kalender being sixe in number to wit Septuagesima Quadragesima Easter Rogation Sunday Ascension and Whitsunday Septuagesima is so called of 70 as it were containing 70 dayes which the Church doth obserue in remembrance of the 70 yeares that the children of Israëll were vnder the Babylonicall seruitude and is alwayes three Sundayes before Quadragesima Quadragesima is simply said of 40 as containing 40 daies which the Church recounts in remembrance of the 40 daies that Moses fasted when he receiued the Lawes of our Lord Elias fasted so many daies so many daies fasted Christ before the tempter came and because the actions of Christ should be instructions to vs therefore we should endeuour to fast so many daies Easter is the principall of all other Feasts and so ordained by God at first and at this day there bee three sorts that is Pascha Hebraeorum the Iewes Easter Pascha Verum our Easter and Pascha Nouum the Romanes Easter The Iewes Easter was commanded to be kept the 14 day of the first moneth called Abib which day at Euen was the Lords Passouer and the 15 day should be the holy Conuocation as you may see Exod. chap. 12. verse 18. Leuit. 23.5 Deut. 16.1 Numb 28.16 Esdras 7.10 And this 15 day is taken for the first day after the first full Moone happening after the Spring Equinoctial which institution the Iewes altered holding a superstitious opinion of daies and thereby would not keepe their Easter vpon a Munday Wednesday or Friday breaking thereby the commandedament of God like stiffe-necked people as in the 2 booke of the Kings chap. 23. v. 22. Our Easter was ordained 322 yeares after the Incarnation for Constantinus Magnus noting the errors risen amongst the congregation of the Christians the many contentions that continually rose after the Apostles time about the celebration of Easter assembled from all Nations 18 Bishops other learned as wel Greeks as Latins AEgyptians such that could withall well determine of the motions of the celestial bodies Amōgst whom was Eusebius Bishop of Caesaria chiefe being an excellent Mathematitian and hee kept them there two yeares vpon his owne cost and charges and so 323 after the Incarnation there was a new Decemnouall or Golden Number instituted differing from that the Romanes then vsed which made it the longer before they would consent vnto it for by this new Circle Easter should be celebrated vpon the Sunday next following the first fuil Moone that should happen after the entrance of the Sunne into Aries and this new institution continued not passing seauen yeares after the Nicene Councell for in 330 there fell differences betwixt the Romanes and the Greekes about the same which continued neers 200 yeares and then in the time of Iustinianus the Emperour Dionysius Abbas a worthy Romane Anno 527 began to draw Paschall Tables and Rules Ecclesiasticall according as it was ordained at the former Councell which he finished Anno 532 and then at a Counceil at Calcedon it was established that whosoeuer held any other Easter then that after the statutes of Rome should ber counted an hereticke and therefore till 1582 no man durst presume to alter the Easter though they saw the Equinoctium still flye backwards from the 21 of March insomuch that it is now about the 11 day by reason of which anticipation sometimes there happens two full Moones before wee can keepe our Easter which was a cause the Romanes altered their Kalender and thereby is there 28 daies difference sometimes betwixt vs and them as in Anno 1557 60 71 84. and 87 also there may happen 35 dayes as in Anno 1565 68 76 79 in all which yeares there happens two full moones betwixt our Easter and the Spring Equinoctiall so did it 1595 and farre more late as 1603 and so shall it 1622 the which inconuenience the Romanes finding reformed their Paschall Tables whereby they produce Easter alwayes the Sunday following the first full moone according to the foresaid first generall Councell held at Nice in Pontus 322 yeares after the Incarnation But now whether it be best for vs to alter our Tables and Kalender according to that Councell I will not presume to argue if some say all Christians vsed this wee doe 1055 yeares I answere the Nicene Councel made no respect of the smal want that the day in cucry Leape yeare wanted of 24 houres being but 47 minutes 12 seconds as in the 21 Chapter but since there is passed 1289 yeares this present yeare 1611. whereby the Equinoctiall is gone before the 21 of March as it was then obserued 10 dayes and this is the cause of the difference betwixt vs and the Romanes whereby the Astronomers are forced in their Registers to distinguish thus betwixt vs and them Annus Nouus Vetus and so of the Kalender and of Easter and the other moueable feasts as before but this volume is too short for an ample discourse Now Easter hath diuers names according vnto the diuersity of Nations with the