The Prognostication for euer of Erra Pater [manuscript]

[England], [ca. 1580s?]

56 p. ; 110 x 83 mm

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FAST ACC 272237

From dealer's description: "16th century Almanac.- Erra Pater (pseudonym) The Prognosticacion for ever of Erra Pater, manuscript in Tudor English, in a cursive hand, on paper, 56pp., wormholes in text with some loss of words particularly affecting 15ff. along inner margins, last three ff. with holes and some loss of text, very small fragment of an early medieval manuscript "[do]minus cum potenti[a]" laid down on inner wooden board, bound with 5 vellum ff. at beginning and 7 vellum ff. at end (some with 19th century juvenile scribbling), bound in a 14th century medieval blind-stamped vellum over wooden boards, extensively worn but still durable, upper cover wooden board split in two, later circular ink stamp on lower cover of a library at Ulm, remains of brass clasps, 110 x 83mm., [England], [c. 1580s]. An extremely rare survival. No other 16 century manuscript of this work has been traced. First printed as "The pronostycacyon for euer of Errer Pater: A Jewe borne in Jewery, a Doctour in Astronomye and Physicke. Profytable to kepe the bodye in helth...", Robert Wyer, [?1540]. Text starting: "As I find in Astronomie ther bee four manner of cholours in mans boddie complections", and ending with the section, "The saying of [Erra Pate]r to the Husband[man]", and without the last two sections published in other versions, "Heerafter followeth the Reignes of the Kings of England...", and, "A rule to know when the Termes begin and end, with their Returnes... " Perhaps the above manuscript is copied from the "after 1582" edition. The Prognostication is a compilation of astrological medical advice "that hath dominion of the bodie of man" and a predictor of the weather during the various seasons. This fictional author was extremely popular during the Tudor period and continued to be published, with additions, into the 18th century. "Here hee sheweth of all the dismall or perilous daies that cometh in the yeare... Masters of Astronomie and visick that this crafte first found telleth the most perilous and most dangerous daies in the yeare - In which if ann mann or woman bee let bloud of wounde or vein they shall die wthin xvi daies following... ." Provenance: Found by the present vendor in the walls of an old house." Ordered from Christopher Edwards, D9499, 2021-07-21, purchased at Forum Auctions: "Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper", July 15 2021, Lot 205.

272237