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.

¶ The regyment for Haruest / is Septembre Octobre / and Nouembre. Cap̄ .xi.

BE it to vnderstande in Har¦uest Astronomyers be clo∣thed after the maner of pry∣metyme / but theyr clothes ben a lytell warmer. And in this tyme they do their dy¦lygence to purge and clense them / and lettyn∣ge them blode to tempre the humours of theyr bodyes. For it is the moste contagyous tyme of the yere / in the whiche peryllous infyrmy∣tes happeneth and cometh / and therfore they ete good holsome metes / as capons / hennes / yonge pegyons that begyn to flye / and dryn∣ke good wynes and other good and holsome drynkes / without takynge excesse. In this ty¦me they kepe them from etynge of fruyt{is} / for it is a daungerous season for the axes / & they say that he had neuer axes that neuer ete fruy¦te. In this tyme they drynke no water / & they

put no parte of them in colde water / but their handes & theyr faces. They kepe theyr heedes from colde in the nyght and morenynge / and slepe nat in the noone tyme: & kepe them from ouer great trauayle: and endure nat to moche hunger nor thyrste / but ete whan it is tyme / & nat whan theyr mawes be full.