Prophecy of Laurentius Bonincontrius of Miniato for the year 1485, dedicated to the most reverend father and lord, the Cardinal of the title of San Giorgio in Velabro, Chamberlain of the Apostolic See, and my most esteemed patron.

In the name of the holy and undivided Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to whom be honor, glory, and infinite ages. Most reverend father and lord, I would have greatly wished, at the beginning of this year 1485, to be able to promise all good things according to the desire of my heart. But since the revolution of the moving heavens is too dire and horrible, and the past great conjunctions—and that lesser one which occurred in the month of November of the year 1484, of Saturn and Jupiter—and the great eclipse of the sun which will take place in the month of March of the present year, have greatly deterred me and disturbed all the good thoughts and intentions of my mind. Therefore, I pray, most reverend lord, do not ascribe to my will if I predict anything horrible, but to the heavens: provided you remain mindful that God, the creator of all, is able to reform this celestial influx for the better and lead it to a good end. For Ptolemy says that the influx of the stars depends on the divine will, adding that an astrologer must not be ignorant of the fact that God is the creator of all and that He rules and governs what He has made, and that the stars are unchanging servants of the divine will. If we wish to use our free will and live piously and religiously, many imminent evils could be avoided, and a fatal disposition would not harm us, or at least would harm us less. I pray to the almighty God, in his piety, to deign to impart this good intention to me and to other men, and as He is accustomed to be moved by the prayers of the saints, may He deign to hear our prayers. Furthermore, so that those things of which we are to speak may be more easily understood and the subsequent chapters arranged: First, regarding the form and disposition of the heavens, the professions of the past conjunctions, and the eclipse, and the figure of the heavens upon which all the prophecy of the present year depends. Second, regarding the disposition of the air through the four seasons of the year, earthquakes, and pestilence. Third, regarding the fertility or famine which are accustomed to be spoken of in these matters. Fourth, we shall discuss what the stars decree regarding peace and war. Fifth, regarding the state of the common people in general. Sixth, regarding

A woodcut depicts the stamp of the Bavarian State Library (Bibliotheca Regia Monacensis).

Jo. Alb. Widmanstadius.