William Parron

William Parron (b. c. 1460, fl. 1500) was an Italian astrologer, who worked for Henry VII of England, from 1498 to 1503. [Dates from Jonathan Hughes, "Arthurian Myths and Alchemy" p.307.] An author of almanacs and prognostications, he produced also in 1499 "De astrorum vi fatali", a private printed prediction for Henry [Ann Wroe, "Perkin: A Story of Deception" (2003) p.435.] , and engaged in investigative work on the background of Perkin Warbeck [Wroe, p.356] .

He was printed by Wynkyn de Worde and Richard Pynson; his almanac is said to be the first printed in English. [http://www.skyscript.co.uk/almanac.html] ; the one for the year 1500 survives [ [http://www.spis.co.nz/kk/printing.htm] ; see [http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/ER/detail/hkul/2414835] .] His prediction that Henry’s queen would live to age 80 backfired when she died young, and he left the court. [Wroe p.453]

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, 1640, 433-454.