William Parron Explained

William Parron (b. c. 1460, fl. 1500) was an Italian astrologer, who worked for Henry VII of England from 1498 to 1503.^[1] An author of almanacs and prognostications, he produced the De astrorum vi fatali in 1499 as a private printed prediction for Henry.^[2] He also engaged in investigative work on the background of Perkin Warbeck.^[3]

His publishers were Wynkyn de Worde and Richard Pynson, and the almanac is said to be the first printed in English.^[4] The almanac for the year 1500 survives to this day.^{[5] [6]} However, Parron's prediction that Henry's queen would live to age 80 backfired, as she died young. Parron subsequently left the court.^{[7] [8]}

References

• Armstrong (C. A. J.), An Italian astrologer at the court of Henry VII, in Jacob (E.F.), Italian Renaissance Studies. A Tribute to the late C. M. Ady, London, 1960, 433–454.

Notes and References

1. Dates from Jonathan Hughes, Arthurian Myths and Alchemy p.307.
2. Ann Wroe, Perkin: A Story of Deception (2003) p.435.
3. Wroe, p.356
4. Web site: Staff . Skyscript: The Rise and Fall of the Astrological Almanac by Derek Parker . www.skyscript.co.uk . 2009-08-20.
5. Web site: Staff . katherine kerr of the Hermitage, her website . webcentre.co.nz . 2009-08-21.
6. Web site: Staff . Electronic Resources: Early English Books Online . sunzi1.lib.hku.hk . 2009-08-21.
7. Wroe p.453
8. Carey. Hilary. Hilary Carey. 2012. Henry VII's Book of Astrology and the Tudor Renaissance. Renaissance Quarterly. 65. 3. 661–710. 10.1086/668299. 10.1086/668299. 1959.13/1055120. free.