Richard de Fournival was a churchman, author, licensed surgeon, mathematician, musician, astronomer—in sum, a scholar of extraordinary erudition and versatility. In the astrological treatise Nativitas (Nativity) written some time before 22 October 1239, Richard plotted the positions of the stars and planets for the date of his birth in Amiens on 10 October 1201. Parish records from the Chapter of Notre Dame in Amiens reveal that Richard's parents were Roger de Fournival, the king's physician, and Elisabeth de le Pierre, who is also called Elisabeth de Paix and Elisabeth de la Perche. A half brother, Arnoul, Elisabeth's son by a previous marriage, was bishop of Amiens from 1236 to 1246. A papal bull issued by Innocent IV in 1246 records that Richard was authorized to practice surgery by Pope Gregory IX and was reconfirmed as a licensed surgeon by Innocent. The document also notes that Richard was a canon by 1240, a deacon by 1246, and...