Pevensey, educated at Winchester, and completed his education at New College, in Oxford, where for several years he applied very closely and successfully to the study of physic. Leaving Oxford, he is said to have travelled into every kingdom in Europe, and to have visited several places in Africa. At Montpelier, in France, he took his degree of doctor of physic, and returning to England, was admitted at Oxford to the same honour in 1521. From Oxford he removed to Pevensey, where he followed his profession some years ; and afterwards went to Winchester, in which place it is probable he resided for some time. Here he published his work called " The Principles of Astronomical Prognostications," from which it would appear that he believed in judicial astrology. He was a man of considerable learning for the time in which he lived, and making allowance likewise for the particular turn of his mind. His writings abound with witticisms, which are said to have pervaded his speech. It appears that this quaint manner of expression was natural to him. He frequented fairs, markets, and other places of public resort, where he used to harangue the people in order to increase his practice. He trod in a path untrodden before, consequently had many followers or imitators, from whence it came that those who affected the same jocose language were called " Merry Andrews," though seldom possessed of the same native humour. He professed himself a Carthusian, lived in celibacy, drank water three times in the week, wore a shirt made of hair, and every night hung his burial sheet at his bed's feet. Although a person of a singular turn of mind, he must have been a man of learning and strong natural powers ; for he was physician to Henry the Eighth, and a member of the College of Physicians in London.
He was the author of many other works besides the -
