Anti-Prognostication, Title page – Dedication
ANTIPROGNOSTICON that is to saye, an Inuectiue agaynst the vayne and vnprofitable predictions of the Astrologians as Nostrodame. &c. Translated out of Latine into Englishe.
Whervnto is added by the author a shorte Treatise in Englyshe, as well for the vtter subuersion of that fained arte, as also for the better vnderstandynge of the common people, vntounto whom the fyrst labour seemeth not sufficient.
Habet & musca splenem & formicae suabilis inest.
1560.
Henry Bennet Calesian. Sonnet.
THe Poets write, that Atlas did sustein
On shulders huge ye massy heuēs frame
So feigne they not, that Saturns heauenly reygne,
And state he knew, or could expresse ye same
Thastrologers, that neuer crept so hye,
Do… vaunt they knowe, what God doothe woorke in throne.
Affyrmyng that to knowe this mystery,
None can atteyne, but onelyonly they alone,
Whose fansies Fulce with booke of perfecte skyll,
Confutes with suche as vaynly do professe
Thēselues to know, of god the secrete will,
But yf I myght to these rewarde addresse,
I rede the rout, that eies vnlerned bleares,
Shuld for their cunnynge weare kinge Midas eares.
Willyam Painter.
A Foule fall dontles Fulce doth geue thastrologers eche one:
Bycause no firme foundation they buylde their arte vponupon.
Who doo surmyse and fondly fayne, mens fortunes to foreshewe.
And make the symple forte beleue, that they their fates can knowe.
But al thos… bragges this boke doth breake and make them seeme full colde,
With argumentes atchieued by arte with reasons manyfolde.
Though Cunyngham the same doo carpe or Uaghan vayne it iudge,
Or other suche, with scornefull scoffe thereat doo beare some grudge:
Sith Grindall graue the grist hath ground and Molens molendine,
The meale hath made, whence bulted was and brought this flower fyne,
The lesse we nede theyr force to feare, we hauehave suche stuffe in store,
Comparisons are odyous, therefore I adde no more.
Comparatio omnis odiosa.
¶ To his louyng frende W. F.
OVR familiaritie is suche, that neyther we hauehave neede of preoccupation, nor yet of many wordes in vtteryng our requeste. These circumstances therfore being cutte of, I shall euen at one woorde, desyre you, that this translation of your Antiprogno… may be publisshed and made cōmon for all men, that either hauehave nede therof to vnderstande their errour, orels shall hauehave pleasure therin to see the vanitie wherwith they hauehave ben blynded. The rather thus trā slated, bicause a great numbre of the busiest and most curious Astrologians in Englād vnderstand no latin at all, orels so symply, that they can not perceiue the mynde of a Latin writ…r, and also that the cōmon sorte of wel disposed men, may hereby take, some profite. But if you thynk good to adde som what in this edition for the vnderstandyng of the common people you shall doo well in my opinion. Thus fare you well.
From Seuenoke xxii. of Octobre. Your familiar frende Willyam Paynter.