Astrologiae Nova Methodus

Astrologiae Nova Methodus by Francisci Allaei, Arabis Christiani (1654). Three parts separately paginated and bound together in one folio volume.

The Philosophical Research Library has an impressive collection of early astrological works from the 16th and 17th centuries. Perhaps the most intriguing, and certainly the most scarce, is the first edition of Astrologaie Nova Methodus. The title pages of the first two parts cryptically attribute the author as Francisci Allaei / Arabis Christiani (Christian Arab). The third part is lacking a title page but identifies the Capuchin Friar Yves de Paris as its author.  Scholars and rare book sellers have long speculated that the entire work was composed by him. 
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Part I​ of the Latin text explains the New Method of Astrology, while Part II contains observations on the Fate of the Universe. Part III is a commentary on the first two sections. The book is illustrated with 10 moveable volvelles predicting the destinies of rulers, religions, and empires. Volvelles are wheels constructed of paper or parchment. Here they are fastened to a leaf in such a way that they can spin independently and point to celestial bodies.

Part I Volvelles

Part II begins with a new title page: The Fate of the Universe observed by F. Alleus in 1654 and new pagination. Inserted inside our book is a handwritten translation of part of this selection by Manly P. Hall, along with a typed transcription of his notes.

​Predictions:
The predictions were highly controversial and sometimes accurate—the most compelling is the forecast for calamity in England in 1666. That was the year of the Great Fire of London. Among the miscalculations was the prediction of the fall of Islam. Other prognostications could be construed to be somewhat accurate. For example, it was forecasted that France would become extremely prosperous by 1860 and that coincides with the annexation of Nice and Savoy. The predictions drew condemnation throughout Europe and it is rumored that first editions were burned in France. Subsequent editions were published omitting some of the offending volvelles.

Part III is written by the Capuchin Friar Yves de Paris. It consists of a commentary of the first two parts. In a stroke of irony, the British Parliament, unaware that Yves was the presumed author of the entire work, asked the respected theologian to examine the book for "irregularities of thought." The Friar gave the sections his approval.

Yves de Paris (1591-1678) studied law but abandoned this pursuit to join the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins in 1619. As part of his training for the priesthood, he studied St. Augustine, St. Aquinas, Bonaventure, and other spiritual and philosophical writers. He was also influenced by the Neoplatonism of Marsilo Ficino.  Friar Yves is renowned for his philosophical and theological writings.  His most famous works are Traité de l'indifference and Les Progrès de l'Amour divin.