The Shepheards kalender newly augmented and corrected.

CHAP. II. Hereafter followeth another Prologue of the Master Shepheard, that sheweth and proveth the Authors Prologue true, that is before rehearsed, and so the shepheards dispute one with another, but this that followeth, the Master shepheard saith to the other, of the division of this Kalender.

[illustration]

Here beginneth the Master Shepheard.

IT is to be understood, that there be in the year four quarters, that are called Ver, Aestas, Autumnus, and Hyems▪ These de the four seasons of the year, as Prime-time is the spring of the year, as February, March, and April, these three months.

Then commeth Summer, as May, Iune, and Iuly: and these three months every hearb, grain, and tree is in his kind, & in his most strength and fairnesse, even at the highest.

Then commeth Autumne, as August, September, and October, then all these fruits waxe ripe, and be gathered and housed.

Then commeth November, December, and Ianuary, and these three months be the Winter, the time of little profit. We Shepheards say that the age of man is lxxii. years, and that we liken but to one whole year, for evermore we take six years to every month, as Ianuary, or Februa∣ry & so forth; for as the year changeth by the twelve months, into twelve sundry manners, so doth a man change himself twelve times in his life by twelve ages, and every age lasteth six year, if so be that he live to lxxii. for three times six maketh eighteen, and six times six maketh xxxvi. And then is man at the best, and also at the highest, and twelve times six maketh lxxii. and that is the age of a man.

Thus must ye reckon for every month six year or else it may be under∣stood by the four quarters and seasons of the year: So man is divided into four parts, as to youth, strength, wisedome, and age: He to be xviii. yeer yong, xviii. yeer strong, xviii. yeer in wisdome, and the fourth xviii yeer to go to the full age of lxxii.

And now to shew you how man changeth xii. times, as the xii months do.

TAke the first six yeer of Ianuary, the which is for no vertue nor strength, in that season nothing on the earth groweth. So man after he is born, till he be six year of age, is without wit, strength, or cunning, and may do nothing that profiteth.

Then commeth February, and then the days begin to wax in length, and the Sunne more hotter, then the fields begin to waxe green: So the other six yeers till he come to twelve, the child beginneth to grow bigger, & serve, and learn such as is taught him.

Then commeth March, in the which the laborer soweth the earth, & plan∣teth trees, & edifieth houses: the child in these six yeers waxeth big to learn doctrin & science, and to be fair & honest, for then he is xviii years of age.

Then commeth Aprill, that the earth and the trees are covered in green and flowers, and in every part goods increase abundantly: then com∣meth the child to gather the sweet flowers of hardinesse, but then beware that the cold winds & stormes of vices beat not down the flowers of good manners, that he should bring man to honor, for then he is xxiiii. yeer old.

Then commeth May, that is both fair and pleasant, for then birds sing in woods and Forrests night and day, the Sunne shineth hot: and as then is man most ioyfull and pleasant, and of livelier strength, and seeketh plaies, sports, and lusty pastime, for then he is full xxx years.

Then cometh Iune, and then is the sunne highest in his meridional, he may ascend no higher in his station, his glimering golden beams ripēs the corn; and when a man is xxxvi. year, he may ascend no more, for then hath nature given him beauty and strength at the full, and ripeneth the seeds of perfect understanding.

Then commeth Iuly, that our fruits been set a sunning, and our corn a hardning, but then the Sun beginneth a little for to descend downward; so man then goeth from youth toward age, and beginneth to acquaint him with sadnesse, for then he is xlii. year.

After that then commeth August, then we gather in our corn, and also the fruits of the earth; and then doth man his diligence to gather for to find himself withall, in the time that he may neither get nor win, and then af∣ter that vi. yeers, is he xlviii. year old.

Then commeth September, that wines be made, and the fruits of trees be gathered. And then therewithall he doth freshly beginne to garnish his house and make provision of needfull things for to live in winter, which draweth very neer and then is man in his most ioyful & couragious estate, prosperous in wisdome, purposing to gather, and keep as much as should be sufficient for him in his old age, when he may gather no more, and these six years maketh him liv. years.

And then commeth October, that all is into the foresaid house gathered but corn, and also other maner fruits; And also the labourer soweth new seeds in the earth, for the yeer to come. And then he that soweth nought shall nought gather. And then in these other six years, a man shall take himself unto God for to do penance & good works, and then the benefits the yeer after his death he may gather, and have spiritual profit, and then is man full in the term lx. year.

Then commeth November, that the days are very short, and the sun in manner giveth little heat, & the trees lose their leaves. The fields that were green look hory and gray. When all manner of herbs be hidde in the ground, and then appeareth no flowers: And then winter is come that a man hath understanding of age, and hath lost his kindly heat & strength: His teeth begin to rot, and also to chatter, and then hath he no more hope of long life, but desireth to come to the life everlasting, and these six for this month maketh him lx. and six years.

Then commeth December, full of cold, with frost and snow, with great winds and stormy weather, that a man may not labour nor nought do: the sun is then at the lowest that it may descēd, then the trees & the earth is hid in snow, then is it good to hold them nigh the fire, & to spend the goods that they gathered in summer: For then beginneth mans hair to wax white & gray, & his body crooked & feeble, & then he loseth the perfect understāding, and that six years maketh him full lxxii. year, and if he live any more, it is by his good guiding and dieting in his youth. Howbeit, it is possible

that a man may live till he be an hundred yeers of age, but there are but few that come thereto.

Wherefore I Shepheard said moreover, that of living or dying the hea∣venly bodies may stirre a man both to good and evill without doubt of a surety: but yet may a man withstand it by his own free will, to do what he will himself good or bad evermore. Above the which inclination is the might and will of God, that longeth the life of man by his goodnesse, or to take it short by his iustice.

Wherefore we will shew you of the bodies celestiall, and of the nature and movings: and this present book is named the Compost, for it compre∣hendeth fully all the compost and more, for the days▪ hours, & moments, and the new Moons, and the eclipse of the Sun and Moon, and of the sign that the Moon is in every day, and this book was made for them that are no Clerks, to bring them to great understanding.

And this Calender is divided into five parts.

The first, of our signs of the compost and the Kalender.

The second is, the tree of vices with the paines of hell.

The third is, the way of health of man: the tree of vertues.

The fourth is physick and governance of health.

The fift is, Astrology and physnomy, for to understand many decei∣vings, and which they be by likelihood, the which by nature are inclined and can do them, as you shall read ere you come to the end.

For to have the Shepheards understanding of their Kalender, ye should understand that the year is the measure of the time that the sunne passeth the twelve signs, returning to his first point, & is divided into the twelve months.

As Ianuary, February, March, and so forth to December.

So the sunne in these twelve months passeth by twelve signs one time.

The days of his entring into the signs in the Kalender, and the days also when he parteth the yeer, as the xii. months into lii. weeks, three hundred sixty and five days, and when bysext is, it is threescore and vi. one day, is xxiv. hours, every hour lx minutes. After these divisions yee must understand for every year three things.

The first speaketh of the Golden number.

The second of the letter dominicall

And the third is the letter tabular, in the which lyeth all the chief know∣ledge of this Kalender, for the which letter and number to understand all that they would, whether it be past or to come, ye shall put three figures after the Kalender, of the which the first shall shew the value and declara∣tion of the two other, and it is to be underst••••d that in four years, there is one Bys••xt, the which hath one day more than the other, and also hath two letters dominicals signed in one of the foresaid figures, and changeth

the latter day of S. Matthew, the which is vigill, and is put with the day upon one letter by himself.

Also the letters Ferials of this Kalender, be to be understood as they of the other kalenders, before the which are the numbers, and the other three after the letters ferials. First, for because the letters descendeth low, is the golden number above the day of the new Moon. And the which to be the hour and moments of the said month: which when they are in service before noon of the day above there. And when they are black service for afternoon of the same day in the places of the number, betokeneth that number where it is. The naturall day is to be understood from midnight to midnight xxiv houres, and shall serve the said numbers for the letters Ferials, xix. yeer complete from the year that this Kalender was made one thousand four hundred fourescore and seventeen, unto the yeer one thousand five hundred and sixteen. In the which yeer shall begin all to serve this golden number, and the other numbers after the letters ferials, all in the manner as they be before for the other xix yeers.

And all the remnant of the compost, and of the kalender is perpetual for the golden number, so shall they be xxxviii. yeers, of the which yeers, one thousand four hundred fourscore & seventeen is the first. The feasts of the kalender are in their daies, of the which the solennall are in red & storied in the unity, nigh the which unity in the end of the bodies, above every day is one letter of the A. b. c. for to understand in what signs the Moon is in that day. And yet the said letters and the rubrish, for the which shall be one figure before the Kalender, which shall shew how they should under∣stand it. This yeer of this present Kalender, which began to have course the first day of Ianuary .M.CCCC.xcvii. In the which raigneth for the golden number sixteen. The letter dominical A. The letter tabular f. and b. In the first lines, and their figures neerest the golden number xvi. the yeer of this Kalender.

To know the letter Dominical by the verse underneath.

Filius esto dei coelum bonus accipe gratis.

Or by these other verses here following.

Fructus alit Canos el gelica bellica danos. El genitir bona dat Finis amara cadat. Dat floris anni caler ejus gaudia busti, Cambit edens griffo boabel dicens fiat agur.

For to set the month.

A, dam, de, ge, bat, er, go, ci, phos, a, dri, phos.

For the golden number, and the new Moon.

Ter, nus, un, din, nod, octo, sex, quinque, tred, ambo, ve, cem, duc, Septem. quin, quar, tus, doc, io, ta, no, vem, vi, quar.

An ingenious practice or Compost of Shepheards.

Newly and subtilly shepheards have found a short practice for to know the golden number, the letter dominicall, & the tabular letters, as ensueth, the which for subtilty is difficil to be understood, if first it be not shewed by such as understand it well, but as to this it behoveth not to tarry & tra∣vel, for cause of the figures that ensigneth and sheweth how to find and know the said practice.

Finis canos agur ejus bona fructus, Dicens anni & bellica griffo dant amara El cambet gaudit dat alit fiet color Genitrix danos boabel flores cadat gelica Edens busti▪

Four secrets of the Compost of Shepheards.

Mobilis alta dies C, currens aureus octo Sexdeno cum D, non erit inferior, B, Veneris sancta, sed quinque tred ambo Maria, Nec erit in toto dicens similis simul octo.

The manner to know the festival daies on the hand▪ and on what days they bee.

WHo so will know on his hand when the holy days falleth, take heed of the same letters. A. b c. d e. f. g. The days of the week bee vii. one for Sunday, and for the other days vi. Put them in the ioynts of the left hand on iiii▪ fingers, and with the right hand they ought to be marked for the more certainty. A b c. on the back of the hand, and g. above, d e f. within the hād, Then ye ought to know in what place every month should be▪ A little af∣ter dam of g. b E. g. c. bee on the month of the little finger. F. a. on the leach finger. February and March on the learh finger together▪ April on g. May on b. Iune on the middle finger above ••▪ Iuly upon g. and Au∣gust upon c. September upon f. October on a. of the fourth finger; Then November above d. and December above f. of the little finger. And thus the twelve months be set on the fingers.

After, bran, pen, cru, lucy, the Embre dayes be set truly.

In each of these two lines here under, be as many sillables as there be festivall days in the yeer, and every day ought to be set on the joynts of the left hand as is shewed here in this present book.

January.

Cir, o, ia, nus, e, pi, lu, fe, la, nus, et, keu, fe, man, mar, an. Pis, ca, fab, ag, vin, cen, ti, pau, lum, iul, ag, que; ba, tilde.

February.

Bre, pur, blas, et, a, ue, fe, bru, o, sco, la, sli, ca, va, lent. Iul, con, um, ge, tur, cum, pe, tro, math, so, ci, e, tur.

March.

Mo, sed, mar, ci, us, bal, to, duth, kes, con, gre, go, ri, um, bo. Pat, ed, ward, cuth, be, ne, ca, pe, ma, ri, am, ge, ni, tri, cem.

Aprill.

Gil, gip, ric, et, am, bro, si, i, dat, a, pril, le, on, eu, fe, ti, bur, ci. Post, al, phe, fe, sta, ge, or, mar, ci, que, vi, ta, lis.

May.

Phi, li, cruc, may, i, un, la, tin, nic, gor, de, ne, re, i, que, Post, e, a, don, se, qui, tur, post, fal, phe, sest, ta, ger, ad, en, pe, que.

June.

Nic, mar, in, bo, ni, fa, med, co, lum, bar, ba, ci, ba, vi, ti. Bo, mar, marg, ed, ward, si, mil, la, ba, el, io, le, on, pe, pau.

July.

Ser, ui, iul, mar, ti, ni, tho, mo, que, fra, be, dic, ti, suth, un, ken. Ar, nulf, marg, prax, mag, ap, cris, ia, an, dor, sam, sun, ob, gre.

August.

Pe, steph, aug, gust, trans, do, ci, ro, lau, ti, bur, ri, ip, on. Sump, ta, sit, a, mag, ni, bar, tho, lo, ruff, ag, io, oon, fel, on, cut.

September.

E, gis, sep, cup, bert, ha, bet, nat, gort, gon, pro, thi, que, curt. Lam, ber, ti, quo, math, ma, mar, te, cle, fer, cip, da, con, mich, ier.

October.

Rem, le, o, fran, ci, fi, mar, tunc, dig, er, a, ni, a, ed. Post, lu, cas, iu, in, de, ro, ma, cris, pi, ni, si, no, nis, quin.

November.

Om, nis, tunc, sanc, ti, le, o, mar, ti, bri, ci, a, ni, a, ed. Pre, te, cle, gri, ka, li, ni, a, que, sat, an.

December.

E, le, gi, bar, ba, ni, co, con, cep, et, lu, ce, i al ma. O, sa, pi, en, que, tho, mas, pro, pe, nat, steph, io, tho, me, sil.

How every month praiseth it self of some good property.

January.

I Make me to be called Janivere, In my time is great storms of cold∣ness, For unto me no month of the year May compare, if I advance me doubtlesse, For in my time was (as clarks do expresse) Circumcised the Lord omnipotent, And adored by Kings of the Orient.

February.

I am February the most hardy, In my season, the pure mother Virginal Offered her sonne in the Temple truly, Making to God a present speciall Of Iesus Christ the King of kings all, Between the arms of the Bishop Simeon, To whom pray we to have his remission.

March.

March am I called in noblenesse flourishing, Which among months, am of great Nobless, For in my time all the fruits do bud and spring, To the service of man in great largess, And Lent is in me, the time of holiness, That every man ought to have repentance Of his sins done by long continuance.

April.

Among all months I am iustly April, Fresh and wholesome unto each creature, And in my time the dulcet drops distill, Called Christall, as Poets put in Scripture, Causing all stones the longer to endure, In my time was the resurrection Of God and man, by divine election.

May.

Of all the months in the year I am King, Fourishing in beauty excellently, For in my time in vertue is all thing, Fields and Meads spred most beautiously, And birds sing with right sweet harmony, Reioycing lovers, with hot love all indued With fragrant flowers all about renued.

[illustration]

June.

Who of my season taketh right good heed, Ought not at all my name to ad••ul▪ For in my time, for all the commons weed, From sheep is shorn all the flesh and wool, And had in merchandise by great ships full, Over the sea; wherefore we ought to pray Vnto our Lord, and thank him night and day.

July.

If that my time were praised all aright, Among all months▪ I am one of the chief, For I enripe through my great force and might, Fruits of the earth to man and beasts relief, Feeding horses, kine, muttons, and strong beef, With other properties that I could tell; But I must passe, I may no longer dwell.

August.

I am named the hot month of August, For redolent heat of Phoebus brightnesse, In my time each man ought for to have lust To labour in harvest, with great businesse, To reap and sheef, eschuing idlenesse, And rise early with great diligence, Thanking our Lord of his great providence.

September.

Who can my name perfectly remember, With the commodities of my season, Ought of right to call me September, Plenteous of goods by all manner of reason, As wheat, rie, oats, beans, fitches and peason, Of which fruit every man ought to have in store, To live directly, and thank the Lord therefore.

October.

Among the other October I hight, Friend unto Vintners naturally, And in my time Bacchus is ready dight, All manner of wine to presse and clarify, Of which is sacred, as we see daily, The blessed body of Christ in sign of flesh & blood, Which is our hope, refection and food.

[illustration]

November.

I November will not abide behind, To shew my kindly worthinesse and ure, For in my time the blastes of the wind Abateth leaves, and sheddeth their verdure Wherefore every prudent creature Ought for to live right as they should dy. For all things in me taketh end naturally.

December.

December every man doth me call, In whose time the mother inviolate Delivered was in an old Oxe stall, Of Iesu Christ Gods own Son incarnate, Wherefore I think me the most fortunate Of all the other, to whom pray we then That we may come unto his blisse, Amen.

The beginnings and ends of the four seasons of the year.

THe first Prime time that thus doth begin, From mid February unto mid May; And from mid May, Summer is entred in, To mid August; and then is Harvest day; And from that time Winter entreth alway On Saint Clements day, who so taketh heed, And mid February it faileth indeed.

[illustration]

Thus endeth the praise of the xii. months, with the beginnings and endings of the four quarters And after followeth the figure for to know in what sign the Moon is every day.

This figure is for to know in what signe the moon is every day, and the declaration is of the letters of the sign of the Kalender here∣after following.

i

ii

iii

iv

v

vi

vii

viii

ix

x

xi

xii

xiii

xiv

xv

xvi

xvii

xviii

xix

Aries

y

n

c

v

l

{us}

s

h

z

p

e

u

m

a

s

i

&

q

f

Aries

z

o

d

u

m

a

s

i

&

q

f

x

n

b

t

k

{us}

r

g

Aries

&

p

e

x

••

b

t

k

{us}

r

g

y

o

c

v

l

a

s

h

Taurus

{us}

q

f

y

o

c

v

l

a

s

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p

d

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m

b

s

i

Taurus

a

r

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d

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e

x

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k

Gemini

b

s

h

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q

e

x

n

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k

{us}

r

f

y

o

d

v

l

Gemini

c

s

i

{us}

r

f

y

o

d

v

l

a

s

g

z

p

e

u

m

Cancer

d

t

k

a

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e

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f

x

n

Cancer

e

v

l

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f

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n

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t

i

{us}

r

g

y

o

Leo

f

u

m

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t

i

{us}

r

g

y

o

d

v

k

a

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p

Leo

g

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n

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Leo

h

y

o

e

u

l

b

s

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q

f

x

m

c

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{us}

r

Virgo

i

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p

f

x

m

c

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{us}

r

g

y

n

d

v

l

a

s

Virgo

k

&

q

g

y

n

d

v

l

a

s

h

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o

e

u

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b

s

Libra

l

{us}

r

h

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e

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p

f

x

n

c

t

Libra

m

a

s

i

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p

f

x

n

c

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k

{us}

q

g

y

o

d

v

Scorpio

n

b

s

k

{us}

q

g

y

••

d

v

l

••

r

h

z

p

e

u

Scorpio

o

c

••

l

a

r

h

z

p

••

u

m

••

s

i

&

q

f

x

Sagittarius

p

d

••

m

b

f

i

&

q

f

x

n

c

s

k

{us}

r

g

y

Sagittarius

q

••

u

n

••

••

k

{us}

••

g

y

••

d

t

l

a

s

h

z

Sagittarius

r

f

x

o

d

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l

a

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p

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i

&

Capricornus

s

g

y

p

e

v

m

b

s

i

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q

f

u

n

c

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{us}

Capricornus

s

h

z

q

f

u

n

c

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{us}

r

g

x

o

d

v

l

a

Aquarius

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Aquarius

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{us}

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Pisces

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d

Pisces

x

m

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{us}

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Pisces

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{us}

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f

By this figure here above, a man may know in what sign the moon is every day, and the declaration is of the A.b.c. letters that are in the ka∣lender at the ends of the lines, and be named the letters of the signs, wherefore mark well first the letter of the Kalender, on the day that yee would have, then look out the said Letter in the figure here above, in the line descending under the Golden number that runneth.

Then look at the head of the lines, whereas as is written the names of the signs, and it that beholdeth directly overthwart the figure to the said letters is it that the Moon is in that day. And like as one golden number for a year, so the said line under the golden number serveth alone for the same yeer, as in the year of his Kalender, we have xvi. for the golden num∣ber▪ the line under xvi. serveth all the said year, and when we have xvii. the line under xvii shall serve to the yeer that xvii. is for the golden num∣ber, and so forth of the other.

VT coelum signis praesurgens est duodenis, Sic hominis corpus assimulatur eis, Nam caput & facies, Aries sibi gaudet habere, Gutturis & colli jus tibi Taure detur, Brachia cum manibus Geminis sunt apta decenter, Naturam Cancri pectoris aula gerit: At Leo vult stomachum, renes sibi vendicat idem, Sed intestinis Virgo praeesse petit, Ambas Libra nates, ambas sibi vendicat hancas, Scorpio vult anum, vultque pudenda sibi, Inde Sagittarius is coxis vult dominari, Amborum genuum vim Capricornus habet, Regnat in Aquario cruri um vis apta decenter, Piscibus & demum congrua planta pedum.

Saturnus niger. Iupiter viridis. Mars rubeus est. Sol croceus. Venus albus. Mercurius & Luna varii sunt; dum quisquis regnat nascitur puer sic coloratus.

The declaration of the Latine here above.

THat is to say, that the twelve signs have dominion over the body of man, divided by the parts, as the signs divide the firmament, and every sign beholdeth and governeth the parts of the body, so as it is said above, and afterward shall be shewed by figures, and is declared more plainly and faithfully. Such like of Planets is said of their colours, but of their natures and prop••••ties of the parts of the bodys▪ the which gover∣neth and beholdeth, more at full shall you hear at length.

Also of the twelve months natures, March, April, and May, are very hot and moist, that signifieth blood and ayre; Iune, Iuly and August, is Summer, and signifieth hot and dry, choler, manhood, fear▪ September, October and November is harvest, and betokeneth cold and dry, and age, melancholy, and earth. December, Ianuary, and February, is winter, and betokeneth cold and moist, childhood, flegm and water.

[illustration]

CAlled I am January the cold, In Christmas season good fire I love, Yong Iesus that sometime Judas sold In me was circumcised for mans behoove; Three Kings sought the son of God above, They kneeled down, and did him homage with love, To God their Lord, that is mans own brother.