William Parron

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William Parron (b. c. 1460, fl. 1500) was an Italian astrologer, who worked for Henry VII of England from 1498 to 1503.[1] An author of almanacs and prognostications, he produced the De astrorum vi fatali in 1499 as a private printed prediction for Henry.[2] He also engaged in investigative work on the background of Perkin Warbeck.[3]

His publishers were Wynkyn de Worde and Richard Pynson, and the almanac is said to be the first printed in English.[4] The almanac for the year 1500 survives to this day.[5][6] However, Parron's prediction that Henry's queen would live to age 80 backfired, as she died young. Parron subsequently left the court.[7][8]

Notes

  1. ^ Dates from Jonathan Hughes, Arthurian Myths and Alchemy p.307.
  2. ^ Ann Wroe, Perkin: A Story of Deception (2003) p.435.
  3. ^ Wroe, p.356
  4. ^ Staff. "Skyscript: The Rise and Fall of the Astrological Almanac by Derek Parker". www.skyscript.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  5. ^ Staff. "katherine kerr of the Hermitage, her website". webcentre.co.nz. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  6. ^ Staff. "Electronic Resources: Early English Books Online". sunzi1.lib.hku.hk. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  7. ^ Wroe p.453
  8. ^ Carey, Hilary (2012). "Henry VII's Book of Astrology and the Tudor Renaissance". Renaissance Quarterly. 65 (3): 661–710. doi:10.1086/668299. hdl:1959.13/1055120. JSTOR 10.1086/668299.

References

  • Armstrong (C. A. J.), An Italian astrologer at the court of Henry VII, in Jacob (E.F.), Italian Renaissance Studies. A Tribute to the late C. M. Ady, London, 1960, 433–454.