Anthony Ascham (astrologer)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Ascham was an English astrologer.
He was born at Kirby Wiske
, near Northallerton
, Yorkshire
, the third son of John Ascham (d. 1544) of Kirby Wiske, who was a yeoman farmer and steward to Lord Scrope of Bolton, and his wife, Margaret (d. 1544). Ascham studied at Cambridge, became M.B. in 1540, and in 1553 was presented by Edward VI
to the vicarage of Burneston
, Yorkshire. He is probably to be identified with Anthony, the brother of Roger Ascham
(cf. Grant's Vita Axchami in Ascham's Works, ed. Giles, iv. 307).
Ascham is also the suggested author, by some researchers, of the Voynich manuscript
.
He was born at Kirby Wiske
Kirby Wiske
Kirby Wiske is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the River Wiske, about four miles north-west of Thirsk....
, near Northallerton
Northallerton
Northallerton is an affluent market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It has a population of 15,741 according to the 2001 census...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, the third son of John Ascham (d. 1544) of Kirby Wiske, who was a yeoman farmer and steward to Lord Scrope of Bolton, and his wife, Margaret (d. 1544). Ascham studied at Cambridge, became M.B. in 1540, and in 1553 was presented by Edward VI
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
to the vicarage of Burneston
Burneston
Burneston is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 244. The village is close to the A1 road and is about four miles south-east of Bedale....
, Yorkshire. He is probably to be identified with Anthony, the brother of Roger Ascham
Roger Ascham
Roger Ascham was an English scholar and didactic writer, famous for his prose style, his promotion of the vernacular, and his theories of education...
(cf. Grant's Vita Axchami in Ascham's Works, ed. Giles, iv. 307).
Works
- 'A Little Herbal,' by Ant. Askam, 1550.
- 'Anthonie Ascham his Treatise of Astronomie, declaring what Herbs and all Kinde of Medicines are appropriate, and also under the influence of the Planets, Signs, & Constellations,' 1550.
- 'A Treatise of Astronomy, declaring the Leap Year and what is the Cause thereof; and how to know St. Matthis Day for ever, with the marvellous motion of the Sun both in his proper circle, and by the moving that he hath of the 10th, 9th, and 8th sphere,' London, 1552, 8vo.
- 'A Prognostication and an Almanack made for the Year of our Lord God, 1550.'
- 'An Almanacke or Prognostication,' &c., for 1552. 6. The like for 1555.
- The like for 1557.
- 'Treatise made 1547 of the State and Disposition of the World, with the alteration and changing thereof through the highest planets, called Maxima, Major, Media, and Minor, declaring the very time of the day, houre, and minute that God created the Sunne, Moone, and Starres, and the places where they were first set in the Heavens and the beginning of their movings, and so continued to this day, &c.' Loudon, 1558.
Ascham is also the suggested author, by some researchers, of the Voynich manuscript
Voynich manuscript
The Voynich manuscript, described as "the world's most mysterious manuscript", is a work which dates to the early 15th century, possibly from northern Italy. It is named after the book dealer Wilfrid Voynich, who purchased it in 1912....
.