Item #5257 An ephemeris for nine yeeres, inclusive, from the yeere of our Lord God 1609. to the yeere 1617. Supputated according to the most exquisite obseruations, and hipotheses of the tresnoble Tycho Brah, and diuers others the best modern astronomers of this age, and referred to the meridian longitude of the honourable citie of London. Whereunto is annexed three succinct treatises, the first discoursing of the vse of an ephemeris. The second of the fixed starres, and the third being diuided into foure sections of astrologie. By Iohn Searle, Master in Chyrurgerie. John ASTRONOMY. Searle, fl. circa 1609.
An ephemeris for nine yeeres, inclusive, from the yeere of our Lord God 1609. to the yeere 1617. Supputated according to the most exquisite obseruations, and hipotheses of the tresnoble Tycho Brah, and diuers others the best modern astronomers of this age, and referred to the meridian longitude of the honourable citie of London. Whereunto is annexed three succinct treatises, the first discoursing of the vse of an ephemeris. The second of the fixed starres, and the third being diuided into foure sections of astrologie. By Iohn Searle, Master in Chyrurgerie.
An ephemeris for nine yeeres, inclusive, from the yeere of our Lord God 1609. to the yeere 1617. Supputated according to the most exquisite obseruations, and hipotheses of the tresnoble Tycho Brah, and diuers others the best modern astronomers of this age, and referred to the meridian longitude of the honourable citie of London. Whereunto is annexed three succinct treatises, the first discoursing of the vse of an ephemeris. The second of the fixed starres, and the third being diuided into foure sections of astrologie. By Iohn Searle, Master in Chyrurgerie.
An ephemeris for nine yeeres, inclusive, from the yeere of our Lord God 1609. to the yeere 1617. Supputated according to the most exquisite obseruations, and hipotheses of the tresnoble Tycho Brah, and diuers others the best modern astronomers of this age, and referred to the meridian longitude of the honourable citie of London. Whereunto is annexed three succinct treatises, the first discoursing of the vse of an ephemeris. The second of the fixed starres, and the third being diuided into foure sections of astrologie. By Iohn Searle, Master in Chyrurgerie.
An ephemeris for nine yeeres, inclusive, from the yeere of our Lord God 1609. to the yeere 1617. Supputated according to the most exquisite obseruations, and hipotheses of the tresnoble Tycho Brah, and diuers others the best modern astronomers of this age, and referred to the meridian longitude of the honourable citie of London. Whereunto is annexed three succinct treatises, the first discoursing of the vse of an ephemeris. The second of the fixed starres, and the third being diuided into foure sections of astrologie. By Iohn Searle, Master in Chyrurgerie.
An ephemeris for nine yeeres, inclusive, from the yeere of our Lord God 1609. to the yeere 1617. Supputated according to the most exquisite obseruations, and hipotheses of the tresnoble Tycho Brah, and diuers others the best modern astronomers of this age, and referred to the meridian longitude of the honourable citie of London. Whereunto is annexed three succinct treatises, the first discoursing of the vse of an ephemeris. The second of the fixed starres, and the third being diuided into foure sections of astrologie. By Iohn Searle, Master in Chyrurgerie.
An ephemeris for nine yeeres, inclusive, from the yeere of our Lord God 1609. to the yeere 1617. Supputated according to the most exquisite obseruations, and hipotheses of the tresnoble Tycho Brah, and diuers others the best modern astronomers of this age, and referred to the meridian longitude of the honourable citie of London. Whereunto is annexed three succinct treatises, the first discoursing of the vse of an ephemeris. The second of the fixed starres, and the third being diuided into foure sections of astrologie. By Iohn Searle, Master in Chyrurgerie.
An ephemeris for nine yeeres, inclusive, from the yeere of our Lord God 1609. to the yeere 1617. Supputated according to the most exquisite obseruations, and hipotheses of the tresnoble Tycho Brah, and diuers others the best modern astronomers of this age, and referred to the meridian longitude of the honourable citie of London. Whereunto is annexed three succinct treatises, the first discoursing of the vse of an ephemeris. The second of the fixed starres, and the third being diuided into foure sections of astrologie. By Iohn Searle, Master in Chyrurgerie.

An ephemeris for nine yeeres, inclusive, from the yeere of our Lord God 1609. to the yeere 1617. Supputated according to the most exquisite obseruations, and hipotheses of the tresnoble Tycho Brah, and diuers others the best modern astronomers of this age, and referred to the meridian longitude of the honourable citie of London. Whereunto is annexed three succinct treatises, the first discoursing of the vse of an ephemeris. The second of the fixed starres, and the third being diuided into foure sections of astrologie. By Iohn Searle, Master in Chyrurgerie.

London: Printed by John Windet [and Elizabeth Allde] for William Cotton and John Tapp, 1609.

Price: $15,000.00

Quarto: 21 x 17 cm. [8], 23, 28-45, [23], 45-110, 127-184, 187-198, [252] p. Collation: A4, B-N8, O4; M-Z8; Aa-Cc8, Dd6

SOLE EDITION.

Bound in early 20th ¼ brown morocco and marbled paper over boards (light wear to extremities.) A fine, fresh copy with just a few light stains or ink marks; very slight fraying along the blank edge of the final few leaves, the last strengthened on the blank verso; small rust spot on p. 139/140 causing two small holes. The Horblit copy. With attractive woodcut headpieces and woodcut horoscope squares and nine divisional titles for each of the years (1609-1617).

Extremely rare: ESTC records only 8 copies, of which 3 are in North America: Folger, Huntington, Yale. According to STC, quires B-1st O were printed by Elizabeth Allde; the rest by John Windet.

The first work of its kind printed in England, Searle’s “Ephemeris” provides tables “shewing the motions of all the planets in longitude and latitude, as also all their other configurations and passions, for every daye in the yeare” for the years 1609 to 1617, together with instructions for their use and a table of the “most notable cities of the world”, so that the ephemerides (calculated for the meridian of London) may be adjusted for other locations.

In his letter to the reader, the author, the surgeon John Searle, tells us that he has used the data compiled by Tycho Brahe as the basis for calculations, since they are more accurate than earlier tables, including those of Copernicus. While he does not name his specific source, the data was most likely taken from Tycho’s “Astronomiae Instauratae progymnasmata”(1602).

Searle notes that while Tycho had yet to finish working out the workings of the universe at the time of his death, he had furnished the tools by which others might do so. For his part, Searle will do what he can in his Ephemerides but he admits that the greater task is beyond him. Writing in 1608, Searle was unaware that Kepler was about to publish his first two laws of planetary motion, which he derived from studying Tycho’s data.

In the first book, Searle explains how to chart the motions of the planets against the fixed stars (i.e. within the Zodiac) and to calculate celestial latitude. For this purpose he provides proportional tables of the hourly motions of the planets and moon. This is followed by a brief discussion of the fixed stars. Next come instructions for constructing celestial diagrams and how to use them in astrological forecasts; and descriptions of the symbols used for the planets and zodiac signs, as well as their astrological properties. Further chapters in the first book include: “Of the Twelve Houses of the Heavens and their Significations”; and “Of the Aspects and Configurations of the Planets”.

The second book concerns medical astrology: “Entreating of elections, and first in ministration of Physick, Laxative, or Purgations”; and includes brief instructions for plantings and harvests. Appended to this book are two tables to be consulted when making decisions about every manner or activity, such as “Take thy journey by water”, “Buy cattel”, “Plant”, “Marry not”, “Deliver prisoners”, “Take physicke”, “Put on new apparel”, “Sing or play”, “Seeke the love of women”, etc.

The third book concerns meteorological phenomena, with complex rules for observing the weather and planetary conjunctions, as well as a method for calculating the length of planetary hours. The fourth book explains how to create horoscopes, beginning with instructions for predicting the length of gestation within the womb (based on the position of the moon at conception.) Then come instructions for determining the child’s health, financial prospects, number of siblings, future honors, and time and manner of death.

STC 22142; ESTC S101658

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