Thomas Heth

, or Heath well known to, and respected by, Dr. Job. Dee and Mr. Tho. Allen, was born in the City of London, admitted Probationer-Fellow of Allsouls Coll. in 1567, proceeded in Arts 1579, being then in great repute for his admirable skill in Astronomical and Physical affairs. The products of which are,

A manifest and apparent confutation of an Astrological discourse lately published to the discomfort (without cause) of the weak and simple sort.

Brief Prognostication, or Astronomical prediction of the conjunction of the two superiour Planets, Saturne and Jupiter, which shall be in 1583. Apr. 29. &c.—Printed with the former book. Both these were written 25 March the same year, to Sir George Carey Knight, Knight-Marshal of her Majesties most honorable houshold, who was a cherisher of the muse of our Author, and printed at Lond. 1583. oct. The said Astrological discourse, which our Author answer’d, was written in the beginning of January, an. 1582. upon the great and notable conjunction of the two superior Planets, Saturne and Jupiter, which was to happen 28 Apr. (Heth saith 29.) 1583, by Rich. Harvey a native of Saffron-Walden in Essex, Brother to Dr. Gabr Harvey, and a Student in Cambridge, particularly, as I conceive, in Trinity hall, afterwards a professed Divine, and a Man of note. Upon the coming out of the said Astrological discourse, the common sort of People were driven out of their wits, and knew not what to do. But when nothing hapned, which was therein predicted, they fell to their former security, and condemned the discoverer of extreme madness and folly. Whereupon Tom Nash did register (s)(s) In his Apology of Peirce Penniless, or strange news, &c. Printed 1593. in qu. down the infinite scorn that the whole realm entertained it with, the adages also that ran upon it, with Tarltons and Eldertons nigrum theta set to it. What became of our Author Tho. Heath I know not, nor of another Tho. Heath Bach. of Arts of Magd. hall, an. 1570, whom my friend takes to be the Astronomer, and not him of Alls. Coll. but mistaken, as I conceive, for certain reasons, not necessary to be now set down. Heath the Astronomer was in great renown among those of his profession in Fifteen hundred eighty and three,Clar. 1583. but when he died, or where he was buried, I cannot justly say. As for Rich. Harvey before-mention’d, it was the very self-same Person who read the Philosophy Lecture at Cambridge, and the same whom the whole University histat, if you’ll believe that noted Buffoon (t)(t) Ibid. Tho. Nash his contemporary there; who farther adds, that Tarlton at the theater made jests of him, and W. Elderton consum’d his ale-cramn’d-nose to nothing, in bear-baiting him with whole bundels of ballads. ’Twas the same Ric. Harvey also that set Aristotle with his heels upward on the School-gates at Cambridge, and asses ears on his head, a thing that the said Tom did in perpetuam rei memoriam (u)(u) See Th. Nashes book intit. Have with you to Saffron-Walden, &c. record: And the same Person who coming to take one Smiths (a young Bachelaur of Trinity Coll.) questions, cried out, when he durst not venture on them, Aquila non capit muscas; and so gave them to him again. Whereunto, the other (being a lustly big-bon’d fellow, and a Goliah or Behemoth in comparison of him) strait retorted, nec eliphas mures, and thereupon parted. The same Dick Harvey also, of whom Christoph. Marlo was wont to say that he was an asse and good for nothing but to preach of the iron age. But to let pass other matters which these vain Men report of Rich. Harvey, it is fit that the reader should know some of the other works that he hath done, which shew him quite another Person that what they make him to be, as (1) A discourse of the ecclipse of the Sun which hapned in 1582, as also A compendious table of phlebotomie. Both printed at the end of the Astrological discourse. Lond. 1583. oct. (2) Ephemeron, sive Paean, in gratiam propurgatae, reformataeque Dialecticae. Lond. 1582. oct. (3) Theological discourse of the Lamb of God, and his enemies. Containing a brief commentary of Christian faith; together with a detection of old and new barbarisme. Lond. 1590. qu. and fourthly was, as I conceive, the Author of another book entit. Philadelphus; or, a defence of Brutes and the Brutans history. Lond. 1593. qu. This Rich. Harvey had a Brother named John Harvey a Cambridge Man also, who wrot An addition to the late discourse upon the great conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter. Lond. 1583. oct. which discourse, as I have told you before, was written by his Brother Richard, and thereunto was adjoyn’d by John his translation of Hermes Tresmagistus his Jatromathematica, and was afterwards Author of A discoursive problem concerning prophecies, how far they are to be credited, according to the surest rules of Div. Phil. Astrol. and other learning, &c. Lond. 1588. qu.