[Maffeo Barberini (Urban VIII.) was the Roman pontiff between 1623
and 1644, and is said to have been born at Florence in 1568, of a
noble family. He was a good classical scholar, and no mean Latin
poet. One charge brought against him was his weak partiality
towards his nephews, who abused his old age and credulity. It is
probable some of our correspondents can throw some light on this
mysterious document.]
_Almanacs._--A friend of mine, in taking down his old rectory house last
year, found under one of the floors a book almanac, of which the
following is the title given:
"A Prognossicacion and an Almanac fastened together, declaring the
Dispocission of the People, and also of the Wether, with certaine
Electyons and Tymes chosen both for Phisicke and Surgerye, and for
the Husbandman. And also for Hawekying, Huntying, Fyshing, and
Foulyinge, according to the Science of Astronomy, made for the
yeare of our Lord God M. D. L. calculed for the Merydyan of Yorke,
and practiced by Anthony Askam."
At the end of the Almanac:
"Imprynted at London, in Flete Strete, at the Signe of the
George, next to Saynt Dunstone's Churche, by Wyllyam Powell, cum
priuilegio ad imprimendum solum."
Then follows the "Prognossicacion," the title-page to which is as
follows:
"A Prognossicacion for the yere of our Lord M.CCCCCL., calculed
upon the Meridiane of the Towne of Anwarpe and the Country
thereabout, by Master Peter of Moorbecke, Doctoure in Physicke of
ye same Towne, whereunto is added the Judgment of M. Cornelius
Schute, Doctor in Physicke of the Towne of Bruges in Flanders,
upon and concerning the Disposicion, Estate, and Condicion of
certaine Prynces, Contreys, and Regions for thys present yere,
gathered oute of hys Prognostication for the same yere. Translated
out of Dutch into Englyshe by William Harrys."