Work C.2.15

John Robyns
Epitome in Apotelesmata Ptolomaei

Text ‘(London, BL, Sloane 1773) Epitome in apotelesmata Ptolomaei. Caput primum. Duo principia sunt et maxima (added: candissime (?) et intime meorum amicorum mi Fire (corr. ex. Messori)) que ad accidentium futurorum cognitione exiguntur. Declaratio textus. Iste Sirus (corr. ex Messorius) fiat quidam medicus Ptolomeo familiaris, cui hunc librum apotelesmaticum dedicavit. Hec duo mairora et nobiliora quorum hic facit mentionem Ptolomeus sunt astrologia quadrivialis et scientia apostelematica, est ea astrologie pars que de iudiciis et astrorum effectibus tractat — hactenus de prefationis expositione in his tribus capilulis dicta sufficiunt. Caput quartum.’

Content An epitome of the Quadripartitum accompanied by a very detailed commentary. In the only known MS, the text breaks off at the outset of the fourth chapter of Book I.

Origin The only known MS is the autograph copy of John Robyns, who studied in Oxford, became chaplain to Henry VIII and canon of Windsor, and died in 1558.

Bibl. L. Thorndike, A History of Magic and Experimental Science, V, New York, 1941, 320.

Ed. ---