1606    HOPTON, Arthur 

The catalogue compiler for Sotheby´s was not familiar with Almanacs when they wrote: Arthur Hopton was a mathematician, almanac maker, and surveyor. A Concordancy of Yeares is a volume of multifarious lists, from the abstruse (such as Tycho Brahe's calculations on the solar system), to the utilitarian - dates of fairs, distances and routes between towns, "Certaine predictions of the weather in every moneth ... and the Poetical rising of the Starres" (Sotheby´s 2019).

Title Page to Concordancy 1616: illustration courtesy of University of Melbourne.

 

Arthur Hopton (1588?–1614) was definitely an astrologer, as described, but the Almanac was a popular and eagerly awaited publication when it appeared towards the end of the preceding year, and the abstruse and utilitarian information contained was exactly what made it so popular. Not a lot is known about this Arthur Hopton and he has been confused with a leading statesman of the time of the same name. However, he is believed to have died fairly young, in his twenty-sixth year, 1614, in the parish of St. Clement Danes, London.

Additionally, several of his published works survive: 1. A concordancy of years. This included A Prognostication for this Yeare of Our Lord (year) based on the longitude and latitude of Shrewesbury and was issued each year from 1606 until 1614, printed for the Company of Stationers. Included in this work was A Geographical Description of the Waies from one notable town to another. 2. Bacvlum Geodæticum siue Viaticum, or the Geodeticall Staffe, London, 1610. 3. Speculum Topographicum: or the Topographical Glasse, containing the use of the Topographicall Glasse Theodelitus, Plaine Table, and Circumferentor, London, 1611. 4. Teares or Lamentations of a Sorrowfull Soule, London, 1613.

His Concordancy of Yeares continued to be published after his death and issues for 1615 and 1616 are extant; and it was reprinted in 1635 with ‘a plaine direction for the … computing of interest’ and other additions by John Penkethman, under the title Hopton's Concordancy Enlarged.

 

From 1606: An almanack and prognostication for this year [xxxx]. being [xxxx] after leap year, commodious for many, and comendable for any. The configurations motions and orbital positions of the heuenly luminaries, seruing generally the south part of greate Britaine more speciall the middle towns thereof, such as Chester Ludlow, Worcester, Stafford, and all Wales westward to the sea side but most speciall the latitude and meridian of the famous town of Shrewsbury Faithfully supputated by Arthur Hopton gent. student in the arts mathematicall & practitioner in astronomy. Or similar title and invariably Imprinted at London for the Company of Stationers.

 

Included:

A concordancy of years. Containing a new, easie, and most exact Computation of Time, according to the English Account. Also the vse of the English and Roman kalender, with briefe Notes, Rules and Tabes, as well as Mathematicall and Legal, as Vulgar, for each priuate Mans Occasion. … Newly composed and digested by Arthur Hopton, Gentleman. Imprinted at London for the company of Stationers.

London. Arthur Hopton. 1606 Imprinted at London: For the Company of Stationers, (BL),

1607 Imprinted at London: For the Company of Stacioners, (BL),

1608 Imprinted at London: For the Company of Stationers, (BL),

1610 Imprinted at London: For the Company of Stationers,  (LPL),

1611 Imprinted at London: For the Company of Stationers, (BL, B),

1612 [London] :: Printed [by Nicholas Okes] for the Company of Stationers, (BL),

1613 S.l: For the Company of Stationers (B, C),

1614 London: Printed for the company of Stationers,  (HEH),

1615  London: Printed by Nicholas Okes for Thomas Adams, (C),

1616 [London]: Printed [by Nicholas Okes] for the Company of Stationers, (HEH).

 

Some of these have the arms of Nicholas Okes who printed them for Thomas Adams, on behalf of The Company of Stationers, whose name appears in the imprint.

 

Hoptons concordancy enlarged … Containing a briefe and more perfect account of the yeares of our Lord God, than any other heretofore published, agreeing with the yeares of all the reignes of the kings of England since the conquest. With the use of the English and Roman kalender and an exact and easie almanacke ... Hereunto also are added.

1 Tables of the gold coynes now currant ...

2 New and easie tables, for the valuing of rents, leases and annuities ...

3 A plaine direction for the easie computing of interest, and factoridge ...

4 Most needfull directions for the dividing of a summe of money to be received by creditors, or payd by sureties or tenants.

This later reissue was Exactly computed by Iohn Penkethman. This time the actual printers involved is clearer: Printed by Anne Griffin for Andrew Hebb, and are to bee sold at the signe of the Bell in Pauls church yard. 1635. (B). 

 

In 1610 a road book section appeared: How a man may journey from any notable Towne in England to the City of London, or from London to any notable town in the Realme. This began with the route from Walsingham to London and nine further routes over four pages and included Saint Burien in Cornwall to London. This does not seem to have been reprinted for later editions.

An expanded version appeared after a break of almost 20 years: Hoptons concordancy enlarged Containing a briefe and more perfect account of the yeares of our Lord God, than any other heretofore published, agreeing with the yeares of all the reignes of the kings of England since the conquest. With the use of the English and Roman kalender and an exact and easie almanacke. This included a set of routes (7 pages from 205-211): A Geographicall Description of the Wayes from one notable towne to another, over all England, and thereby how to travell from any of them to the Citie of London, set forth after a new order. One route was Exceter to London. This was published:  London: Printed by Anne Griffin for Andrew Hebb, and are to bee sold at the signe of the Bell in Pauls church yard, 1635. (B). This table was copied almost verbatim from John Rudston in his Almanacke after 1615 (cf). 

           

 

Title Page to Almanack 1610: illustration courtesy of Early English Books Online, copyright ProQuest. Original at Lambeth Palace Library.

Title Page to Concordancy 1635: illustration courtesy of Early English Books Online, copyright ProQuest. Original at Bodleian Library, Oxford.

 

Page tof mileages 1635: illustration courtesy of Early English Books Online, copyright ProQuest. Original at Bodleian Library, Oxford.