The knowledge of things vnkowne. Apperteyning to astronomy, wyth necessary rules, and certayne speares contayned in the same. Compyled by Godfridus super palladium de agricultura Anglicatum.

¶ Here followeth to show howe a man chaungeth xii. times, euen as the xii. months doeth.

HE must take the first vi. yeare for Ianuary, the which is of no vertue nor strēgth, in that season nothing on the earth groweth. So man after that hee is borne, till he be vi. yeare of age, is wyth little or no witte, strength, or cunning, and maye doe little or nothing that commeth to any profite.

Then commeth February, and then the dayes longeth, and the sunne is more hotter, then the fyeldes begin to waxe greene. So the other vi. yere till he come to xii. the childe beginneth to grow bigger, and is apt to learne such thinges as is taught him.

Then commeth the month of March, in which the labourour soweth the earth and planteth trees, and edyfieth

houses, the chylde in these vi. yeares waxeth big to learne Doctrine, and science, and to be fayre and pleasaunte and louing, for then he is xviii. yeares of age.

Then commeth Aprill, that the earth and the trees is couered wyth greene Flowers. And in euery party goodes encreaseth abundauntly. Then com∣meth the younge man to gather the sweete flowers of hardinesse, but then beware that the colde wyndes, and stormes of vices beate not downe the flowers of good maners, that shoulde bring man to honoure, for then is he xxiiii. yeare of age.

Then commeth Maye, that is both fayre and pleasaunte, for then Byrdes sing in woodes and Forestes, nyght and daye, the sunne shyneth hote, as then man is most lusty, mighty, and of deliuer strength, and seeketh playes, sportes, and manly pastimes, for then

is he full xxx. yeares of age.

Then commeth Iune, and then is the sunne at the highest in his meridional, he may ascēd no higher in his stacion. Hys gleamering golden Beames ry∣peth the Corne, and then man is xxxvi. yeare, he maye ascende no more, for then nature hath giuen them courage and strength at the full, and ry∣peth the seedes of perfecte vnderstan∣ding.

Then commeth Iuly, that our fruites be set on sunning, and our corne a har∣dening, but then the sunne beginneth a little to descende downwarde. So then man goeth from youth towarde age, and beginneth for to acquainte him whyth sadnesse, for then he is come to xlii. yeare.

After that then commeth August, then we gather in our corne, and also the fruites of the earth, And then man doeth hys dillygence to gather for to

fynde hym selfe, to mayntayne hys wyfe, chyldren and hys housholde, when age commeth on him, and then after that vi. yeare, he is xiviii. yeare of age.

Then commeth September, that wynes be made, and the fruites of the trees be gathered: And then there wythall he doeth freshly begin to gar∣nishe hys house, and make prouision of needefull things, for to lyue wyth in wynter, whych draweth verye neare, and then man is in his moste stedfaste and couetous estate, prospe∣rous in wisedome, purposing to ga∣ther and keepe as much as shoulde bee sufficient for him in hys age, when he maye gather no more, and then is hee liiii. yeare of age.

And then commeth October, that all is into the aforesayde house ga∣thered, both corne, and also other ma∣ner

of fruites, and also the laborers plowe and sow new seedes on the erth for the yeare to come. And then he that nought soweth, nought gathereth, and then in these vi. yeare a man shall take himselfe vnto God, for to do penance & good workes, and then the benefites the yere after his death, he may gather and haue spirituall profyte, and then man is fully the tearme of lx. yeares.

Then commeth Nouember, that the dayes be very short, and the sunne in manner giueth but little heate, and the trees losen their leaues. The fields that were greene, looketh hoare, and gray. Then al manner of hearbes bene hyd in the ground, and then appeareth no flowers, and then wynter is come, that the man hath vnderstanding of age, and hath lost hys kindly hete and strength, hys teeth begin to rotee and to fayle hym. And then hath he little hope of long lyfe, but desyreth to come

to the lyfe euerlasting, and these vi. yeares maketh him lxvi. yeare of age. Then last commeth December, full of colde, wyth frosts, and snows, with great wyndes, and stormy weathers, that a man may not labor, nor nought doe. The sunne is then at the lowest, that it maye descende. Then the trees and the earth be hid in snowe, then it is good to hold them nie the fyre, and to spende the goodes that they gate in sommer. For then man beginneth to waxe crooked and feeble, coughing & spitting and loathsome, and then he lo∣seth hys perfecte vnderstanding, and his heyres desyre hys death. And these vi. yeare maketh him full lxxii. yeares, and if he lyue any longer, it is by his good guiding and dieting in hys youth howbeit, it is possible that a man may liue till he be a C. yeare of age, but ther be but few that liueth so long, tyll they come to a hundred yere of age.