Here begynneth the compost of Ptholomeus, prynce of astronomye: translated oute of Frenche in to Englysshe, for them that wolde haue knowlege of the compost.

¶ Here after foloweth another Prologue of two other Astronomyers / that she∣weth & proueth the auctours Prolo¦gue true that is before rehersed. (Book supporting Ptolomy)

BE it to vnderstande / that there be in the yere .iiii. quar∣ters / the whiche be named thus. Vere / Hyems / Estas / and Autumnus. These be the .iiii. seasons in the yere / as Pryme tyme is the sprynge of the yere / as Feueryere / Marche / and Apryll. In these .iii. monthes euery grene thynge growynge / be∣gynneth to budde and flourysshe. ¶ Than co¦meth somer as Maye / Iune / and Iuly / and these .iii. monthes / euery herbe / grayne / & tree / is in his kynde and in his moste strength and beautye / & than the Sonne is at the hyghest. ¶ Than cometh Autumne: as August / Sep¦tembre / and Octobre / that all these fruytes waxen type / and ben gatheryd and howsed. ¶ Than cometh Nouembre / Decembre / and

Ianyuere / & these .iii. monthes be in the wyn∣ter / that tyme the Son̄e is at the lowest / and is the tyme of lytel profyte. As we Astrono∣myers say / that the age of man is .lxxii. yere / & that we lyken but to one hole yere / for euer¦more we take .vi. yere for euery Monthe / as Ianyuere / or Feueryere / and so forthe / for as the yere chaungeth by the .xii. monthes: In to .xii. dyuers maners / so dothe a man chaunge hym selfe .xii. tymes in his lyfe / by .xii. aeges / and euery aege lasteth .vi. yere / if so be that he lyue to .lxxii. for .iii. tymes .vi. maketh .xviii. and .vi. tymes .vi. maketh .xxxvi. And than man is at the best / and also at the hyghest / & .xii. tymes .vi. maketh .lxxii. And that is the aege of man.

¶ Thus muste you counte and reken for eue∣ry monthe .vi. yere / or ellys it may be vnder∣stande by the .iiii. quarters and seasons of the yere. So man is deuyded in to .iiii. partyes: as to youthe / strengthe / wysdome / and aege. He so to be .xviii. yere yonge .xviii. yere stronge xviii. yere in wysedome / & the fourthe .xviii. yere to go to the full of the aege of .lxxii.