William Lilly's History of His Life and Times by William Lilly
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9 WILLIAM LILLY'S
HISTORY
OF HIS
LIFE AND TIMES,
FROM THE YEAR 1602 TO 1681.
* * * * *
Written by Himself,
IN THE SIXTY-SIXTH YEAR OF HIS AGE, TO HIS WORTHY FRIEND,
ELIAS ASHMOLE, ESQ.
* * * * *
PUBLISHED FROM THE ORIGINAL MS.
_LONDON_, 1715.
* * * * *
LONDON:
RE-PRINTED FOR CHARLES BALDWYN,
NEWGATE STREET.
* * * * *
M.DCCC.XXII.
MAURICE, PRINTER, PENCHURCH-STREET.
LIST OF PLATES.
William Lilly, (from Marshall's Print)
Ditto (from the Picture)
Dr. Simon Forman 34
John Booker 68
Charles the Second 95
Charles the First 107
Hugh Peters 134
Speaker Lenthall 159
Oliver Cromwell 175
Dr. John Dee 223
Edward Kelly 226
Napier of Merchiston 236
ADVERTISEMENT.
PREFIXED TO THE LIVES OF ELIAS ASHMOLE & WILLIAM LILLY.
In 1 vol. 8vo. 1772.
_Although we cannot, with justice, compare Elias Ashmole to that
excellent Antiquary John Leland, or William Lilly to the learned and
indefatigable Thomas Hearne; yet I think we may fairly rank them with
such writers as honest Anthony Wood, whose_ Diary _greatly resembles
that of his cotemporary, and intimate friend, Elias Ashmole._
_Some anecdotes, connected with affairs of state; many particulars
relating to illustrious persons, and antient and noble families; several
occurrences in which the Public is interested, and other matters of a
more private nature, can only be found in works of this kind. History
cannot stoop to the meanness of examining the materials of which_
Memoirs _are generally composed._
_And yet the pleasure and benefit resulting from such books are manifest
to every reader._
_I hope the admirers of the very laborious Thomas Hearne will pardon me,
if I should venture to give it as my opinion, and with much deference to
their judgment, that William Lilly's_ Life and Death of Charles the
first _contains more useful matter of instruction, as well as more
splendid and striking occurrences, than are to be found in several of
those monkish volumes published by that learned Oxonian._
_Lilly affords us many curious particulars relating to the life of that
unfortunate Prince, which are no where else to be found. In delineating
the character of Charles, he seems dispassionate and impartial, and
indeed it agrees perfectly with the general portraiture of him, as it is
drawn by our most authentic historians._
The History of Lilly's Life and Times _is certainly one of the most
entertaining narratives in our language. With respect to the science he
professed of calculating nativities, casting figures, the prediction of
events, and other appendages of astrology, he would fain make us think
that he was a very solemn and serious believer. Indeed, such is the
manner of telling his story, that sometimes the reader may possibly be
induced to suppose Lilly rather an enthusiast than an impostor. He
relates many anecdotes of the pretenders to foretell events, raise
spirits, and other impostures, with such seeming candor, and with such
an artless simplicity of style, that we are almost persuaded to take his
word when he protests such an inviolable respect to truth and
sincerity._
_The powerful genius of Shakespeare could carry him triumphantly through
subjects the most unpromising, and fables the most improbable: we
therefore cannot wonder at the success of such of his plays, where the
magic of witches and the incantation of spirits are described, or where
the power of fairies is introduced; when such was the credulity of the
times respecting these imaginary beings, and when that belief was made a
science of, and kept alive by artful and superstitious, knavish, and
enthusiastic teachers; what Lilly relates of these people, considered
only as matter of fact, is surely very curious._
_To conclude; I know no record but this where we can find so just and so
entertaining a History of Doctor Dee, Doctor Forman, Booker, Winder,
Kelly, Evans, (Lilly's Master,) the famous William Poole, and Captain
Bubb Fiske, Sarah Shelborne, and many others._
_To these we may add, the uncommon effects of the Crystal, the
appearance of Queen Mabb, and other strange and miraculous operations,
which owe their origin to folly, curiosity, superstition, bigotry, and
imposture._
THE
LIFE
OF
WILLIAM LILLY,
STUDENT IN ASTROLOGY.
Wrote by himself in the 66th Year of his Age, at Hersham, in the
Parish of Walton-upon-Thames, in the County of Surry. _Propria
Manu._
I[1] was born in the county of Leicester, in an obscure town, in the
north-west borders thereof, called Diseworth, seven miles south of the
town of Derby, one mile from Castle-Donnington, a town of great
rudeness, wherein it is not remembered that any of the farmers thereof
did ever educate any of their sons to learning, only my grandfather sent
his younger son to Cambridge, whose name was Robert Lilly, and died
Vicar of Cambden in Gloucestershire, about 1640.
[Footnote 1: "William Lilly was a prominent, and, in the opinion
of many of his cotemporaries, a very important personage in the
most eventful period of English history. He was a principal
actor in the farcical scenes which diversified the bloody
tragedy of civil war; and while the King and the Parliament were
striving for mastery in the field, he was deciding their
destinies in the closet. The weak and the credulous of both
parties, who sought to be instructed in 'destiny's dark
counsels,' flocked to consult the 'wily Archimage,' who, with
exemplary impartiality, meted out victory and good fortune to
his clients, according to the extent of their faith, and the
weight of their purses. A few profane Cavaliers might make his
name the burthen of their _malignant_ rhymes--a few of the more
scrupulous among the _Saints_ might keep aloof in sanctified
abhorrence of the 'Stygian sophister'--but the great majority of
the people lent a willing and reverential ear to his prophecies
and prognostications. Nothing was too high or too low--too
mighty or too insignificant, for the grasp of his genius. The
stars, his informants, were as communicative on the most trivial
as on the most important subjects. If a scheme was set on foot
to rescue the king, or to retrieve a stray trinket--to restore
the royal authority, or to make a frail damsel an honest
woman--to cure the nation of anarchy, or a lap-dog of a surfeit,
William Lilly was the oracle to be consulted. His _almanacks_
were spelled over in the tavern and quoted in the senate; they
nerved the arm of the soldier, and rounded the periods of the
orator. The fashionable beauty, dashing along in her calash from
St. James's or the Mall, and the prim, starched dame, from
Watling-street or Bucklersbury, with a staid foot-boy, in a
plush jerkin, plodding behind her--the reigning toast among 'the
men of wit about town,' and the leading groaner in a tabernacle
concert--glided alternately into the study of the trusty wizard,
and poured into his attentive ear strange tales of love, or
trade, or treason. The Roundhead stalked in at one door, whilst
the Cavalier was hurried out at the other.
"The _Confessions_ of a man so variously consulted and trusted,
if written with the candour of a Cardan or a Rousseau, would
indeed be invaluable. The _Memoirs of William Lilly_, though
deficient in this essential ingredient, yet contain a variety of
curious and interesting anecdotes of himself and his
cotemporaries, which, where the vanity of the writer, or the
truth of his art, is not concerned, may be received with
implicit credence.
"The simplicity and apparent candour of his narrative might
induce a hasty reader of this book to believe him a well-meaning
but somewhat silly personage, the dupe of his own
speculations--the deceiver of himself as well as of others. But
an attentive examination of the events of his life, even as
recorded by himself, will not warrant so favourable an
interpretation. His systematic and successful attention to his
own interest--his dexterity in keeping on 'the windy side of the
law'--his perfect political pliability--and his presence of mind
and fertility of resources when entangled in
difficulties--indicate an accomplished impostor, not a crazy
enthusiast. It is very possible and probable, that, at the
outset of his career, he was a real believer in the truth and
lawfulness of his art, and that he afterwards felt no
inclination to part with so pleasant and so profitable a
delusion: like his patron, Cromwell, whose early fanaticism
subsided into hypocrisy, he carefully retained his folly as a
cloak for his knavery. Of his success in deception, the present
narrative exhibits abundant proofs. The number of his dupes was
not confined to the vulgar and illiterate, but included
individuals of real worth and learning, of hostile parties and
sects, who courted his acquaintance and respected his
predictions. His proceedings were deemed of sufficient
importance to be twice made the subject of a parliamentary
inquiry; and even after the Restoration--when a little more
scepticism, if not more wisdom, might have been expected--we
find him examined by a Committee of the House of Commons,
respecting his fore-knowledge of the great fire of London. We
know not whether it 'should more move our anger or our mirth,'
to see an assemblage of British Senators--the cotemporaries of
Hampden and Falkland--of Milton and Clarendon--in an age which
roused into action so many and such mighty energies--gravely
engaged in ascertaining the causes of a great national calamity,
from the prescience of a knavish fortuneteller, and puzzling
their wisdoms to interpret the symbolical flames, which blazed
in the mis-shapen wood-cuts of his oracular publications.
"As a set-off against these honours may be mentioned, the
virulent and unceasing attacks of almost all the party
scribblers of the day; but their abuse he shared in common with
men, whose talents and virtues have outlived the malice of their
cotemporaries, and
'Whose honours with increase of ages grow,
As streams roll down, enlarging as they flow.'"
_Retrospective Review_, Vol. ii. p. 51.]
The town of Diseworth did formerly belong long unto the Lord Seagrave,
for there is one record in the hands of my cousin Melborn Williamson,
which mentions one acre of land abutting north upon the gates of the
Lord Seagrave; and there is one close, called Hall-close, wherein the
ruins of some ancient buildings appear, and particularly where the
dove-house stood; and there is also the ruins of decayed fish-ponds and
other outhouses. This town came at length to be the inheritance of
Margaret, Countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VII. which Margaret gave
this town and lordship of Diseworth unto Christ's College in Cambridge,
the Master and Fellows whereof have ever since, and at present, enjoy
and possess it.
In the church of this town there is but one monument, and that is a
white marble stone, now almost broken to pieces, which was placed there
by Robert Lilly, my grandfather, in memory of Jane his wife, the
daughter of Mr. Poole of Dalby, in the same county, a family now quite
extinguished. My grandmother's brother was Mr. Henry Poole, one of the
Knights of Rhodes, or Templars, who being a soldier at Rhodes at the
taking thereof by Solyman the Magnificent, and escaping with his life,
came afterwards to England, and married the Lady Parron or Perham, of
Oxfordshire, and was called, during his life, Sir Henry Poole. William
Poole the Astrologer knew him very well, and remembers him to have been
a very tall person, and reputed of great strength in his younger years.
The impropriation of this town of Diseworth was formerly the inheritance
of three sisters, whereof two became votaries; one in the nunnery of
Langly in the parish of Diseworth, valued at the suppression, I mean the
whole nunnery, at thirty-two pounds per annum, and this sister's part is
yet enjoyed by the family of the Grayes, who now, and for some years
past, have the enjoyment and possession of all the lands formerly
belonging to the nunnery in the parish of Diseworth, and are at present
of the yearly value of three hundred and fifty pounds per annum. One of
the sisters gave her part of the great tithes unto a religious house in
Bredon upon the Hill; and, as the inhabitants report, became a religious
person afterwards.
The third sister married, and her part of the tithes in succeeding ages
became the Earl of Huntingdon's, who not many years since sold it to one
of his servants.
The donation of the vicarage is in the gift of the Grayes of Langley,
unto whom they pay yearly, (I mean unto the Vicar) as I am informed, six
pounds per annum. Very lately some charitable citizens have purchased
one-third portion of the tithes, and given it for a maintenance of a
preaching minister, and it is now of the value of about fifty pounds per
annum.
There have been two hermitages in this parish; the last hermit was well
remembered by one Thomas Cooke, a very ancient inhabitant, who in my
younger years acquainted me therewith.
This town of Diseworth is divided into three parishes; one part belongs
under Locington, in which part standeth my father's house, over-against
the west end of the steeple, in which I was born: some other farms are
in the parish of Bredon, the rest in the parish of Diseworth.
In this town, but in the parish of Lockington, was I born, the first day
of May 1602.
My father's name was William Lilly, son of Robert, the son of Robert,
the son of Rowland, &c. My mother was Alice, the daughter of Edward
Barham, of Fiskerton Mills, in Nottinghamshire, two miles from Newark
upon Trent: this Edward Barham was born in Norwich, and well remembered
the rebellion of Kett the Tanner, in the days of Edward VI.
Our family have continued many ages in this town as yeomen; besides the
farm my father and his ancestors lived in, both my father and
grandfather had much free land, and many houses in the town, not
belonging to the college, as the farm wherein they were all born doth,
and is now at this present of the value of forty pounds per annum, and
in possession of my brother's son; but the freehold land and houses,
formerly purchased by my ancestors, were all sold by my grandfather and
father; so that now our family depend wholly upon a college lease. Of my
infancy I can speak little, only I do remember that in the fourth year
of my age I had the measles.
I was, during my minority, put to learn at such schools, and of such
masters, as the rudeness of the place and country afforded; my mother
intending I should be a scholar from my infancy, seeing my father's
back-slidings in the world, and no hopes by plain husbandry to recruit a
decayed estate; therefore upon Trinity Tuesday, 1613, my father had me
to Ashby de la Zouch, to be instructed by one Mr. John Brinsley; one, in
those times, of great abilities for instruction of youth in the Latin
and Greek tongues; he was very severe in his life and conversation, and
did breed up many scholars for the universities: in religion he was a
strict Puritan, not conformable wholly to the ceremonies of the Church
of England. In this town of Ashby de la Zouch, for many years together,
Mr. Arthur Hildersham exercised his ministry at my being there; and all
the while I continued at Ashby, he was silenced. This is that famous
Hildersham, who left behind him a commentary on the fifty-first psalm;
as also many sermons upon the fourth of John, both which are printed; he
was an excellent textuary, of exemplary life, pleasant in discourse, a
strong enemy to the Brownists, and dissented not from the Church of
England in any article of faith, but only about wearing the surplice,
baptizing with the cross, and kneeling at the sacrament; most of the
people in town were directed by his judgement, and so continued, and yet
do continue presbyterianly affected; for when the Lord of Loughborough
in 1642, 1643, 1644, and 1645, had his garrison in that town, if by
chance at any time any troops of horse had lodged within the town,
though they came late at night to their quarters; yet would one or other
of the town presently give Sir John Gell of Derby notice, so that ere
next morning most of his Majesty's troops were seized in their lodgings,
which moved the Lord of Loughborough merrily to say, there was not a
fart let in Ashby, but it was presently carried to Derby.
The several authors I there learned were these, viz. _Sententiae
Pueriles_, _Cato_, _Corderius_, _AEsop's Fables_, _Tully's Offices_,
_Ovid de Tristibus_; lastly, _Virgil_, then _Horace_; as also _Camden's
Greek Grammar_, _Theognis_ and _Homer's Iliads_: I was only entered into
_Udall's Hebrew Grammar_; he never taught logick, but often would say it
was fit to be learned in the universities.
In the fourteenth year of my age, by a fellow scholar of swarth, black
complexion, I had like to have my right eye beaten out as we were at
play; the same year, about Michaelmas, I got a surfeit, and thereupon a
fever, by eating beech-nuts.
In the sixteenth year of my age I was exceedingly troubled in my dreams
concerning my salvation and damnation, and also concerning the safety
and destruction of the souls of my father and mother; in the nights I
frequently wept, prayed and mourned, for fear my sins might offend God.
In the seventeenth year of my age my mother died.
In the eighteenth year of my age my master Brinsley was enforced from
keeping school, being persecuted by the Bishop's officers; he came to
London, and then lectured in London, where he afterwards died. In this
year, by reason of my father's poverty, I was also enforced to leave
school, and so came to my father's house, where I lived in much penury
for one year, and taught school one quarter of a year, until God's
providence provided better for me.
For the two last years of my being at school, I was of the highest form
in the school, and chiefest of that form; I could then speak Latin as
well as English; could make extempore verses upon any theme; all kinds
of verses, hexameter, pentameter, phaleuciacks, iambicks, sapphicks, &c.
so that if any scholars from remote schools came to dispute, I was
ringleader to dispute with them; I could cap verses, &c. If any minister
came to examine us, I was brought forth against him, nor would I argue
with him unless in the Latin tongue, which I found few of them could
well speak without breaking Priscian's head; which, if once they did, I
would complain to my master, _Non bene intelligit linguam Latinam, nec
prorsus loquitur_. In the derivation of words, I found most of them
defective, nor indeed were any of them good grammarians: all and every
of those scholars who were of my form and standing, went to Cambridge
and proved excellent divines, only poor I, William Lilly, was not so
happy; fortune then frowning upon father's present condition, he not in
any capacity to maintain me at the university.
OF THE MANNER HOW I CAME UNTO LONDON.
Worthy sir, I take much delight to recount unto you, even all and every
circumstance of my life, whether good, moderate, or evil; _Deo gloria_.
My father had one Samuel Smatty for his Attorney, unto whom I went
sundry times with letters, who perceiving I was a scholar, and that I
lived miserably in the country, losing my time, nor any ways likely to
do better, if I continued there; pitying my condition, he sent word for
me to come and speak with him, and told me that he had lately been at
London, where there was a gentleman wanted a youth, to attend him and
his wife, who could write, &c.
I acquainted my father with it, who was very willing to be rid of me,
for I could not work, drive the plough, or endure any country labour; my
father oft would say, I was good for nothing.
I had only twenty shillings, and no more, to buy me a new suit, hose,
doublet, &c. my doublet was fustian: I repaired to Mr. Smatty, when I
was accoutred, for a letter to my master, which he gave me.
Upon Monday, April 3, 1620, I departed from Diseworth, and came to
Leicester: but I must acquaint you, that before I came away I visited my
friends, amongst whom I had given me about ten shillings, which was a
great comfort unto me. On Tuesday, April the 4th, I took leave of my
father, then in Leicester gaol for debt, and came along with Bradshaw
the carrier, the same person with whom many of the Duke of Buckingham's
kindred had come up with. Hark how the waggons crack with their rich
lading! It was a very stormy week, cold and uncomfortable: I footed it
all along; we could not reach London until Palm-Sunday, the 9th of
April, about half an hour after three in the afternoon, at which time we
entered Smithfield. When I had gratified the carrier and his servants, I
had seven shillings and sixpence left, and no more; one suit of cloaths
upon my back, two shirts, three bands, one pair of shoes, and as many
stockings. Upon the delivery of my letter my master entertained me, and
next day bought me a new cloak, of which you may imagine (good Esquire)
whether I was not proud of; besides, I saw and eat good white bread,
contrary to our diet in Leicestershire. My master's name was Gilbert
Wright, born at Market Bosworth in Leicestershire; my mistress was born
at Ashby de la Zouch, in the same county, and in the town where I had
gone to school. This Gilbert Wright could neither write nor read: he
lived upon his annual rents, was of no calling or profession; he had for
many years been servant to the Lady Pawlet in Hertfordshire; and when
Serjeant Puckering was made Lord keeper, he made him keeper of his
lodgings at Whitehall. When Sir Thomas Egerton was made Lord Chancellor,
he entertained him in the same place; and when he married a widow in
Newgate Market, the Lord Chancellor recommended him to the company of
Salters, London, to admit him into their company, and so they did, and
my master in 1624, was master of that company; he was a man of excellent
natural parts, and would speak publickly upon any occasion very
rationally and to the purpose. I write this, that the world may know he
was no taylor, or myself of that or any other calling or profession: my
work was to go before my master to church; to attend my master when he
went abroad; to make clean his shoes; sweep the street; help to drive
bucks when he washed; fetch water in a tub from the Thames: I have
helped to carry eighteen tubs of water in one morning; weed the garden;
all manner of drudgeries I willingly performed; scrape trenchers, &c. If
I had any profession, it was of this nature: I should never have denied
being a taylor, had I been one; for there is no calling so base, which
by God's mercy may not afford a livelihood; and had not my master
entertained me, I would have been of a very mean profession ere I would
have returned into the country again; so here ends the actions of
eighteen years of my life.
My master married his second wife for her estate; she was competently
rich; she married him for considerations he performed not, (nocturnal
society) so that they lived very uncomfortably; she was about seventy
years of age, he sixty-six or more; yet never was any woman more jealous
of a husband than she; insomuch, that whensoever he went into London,
she was confident of his going to women; by those means my life was the
more uncomfortable, it being very difficult to please two such opposite
natures: however, as to the things of this world I had enough, and
endured their discontents with much sereneness. My mistress was very
curious to know of such as were then called cunning or wise men, whether
she should bury her husband? She frequently visited such persons, and
this occasion begot in me a little desire to learn something that way,
but wanting money to buy books, I laid aside these motions, and
endeavoured to please both master and mistress.
OF MY MISTRESS'S DEATH, AND OCCASION THEREOF BY MEANS OF A CANCER IN HER
BREAST.
In 1622 she complained of a pain in her left breast, whereon there
appeared at first a hard knob no bigger than a small pea; it increased
in a little time very much, was very hard, and sometimes would look very
red; she took advice of surgeons, had oils, sear-cloths, plates of lead,
and what not: in 1623 it grew very big, and spread all over her breast;
then for many weeks poultices were applied to it, which in continuance
of time broke the skin, and then abundance of watery thin stuff came
from it, but nothing else; at length the matter came to suppuration, but
never any great store issued forth; it was exceeding noisome and
painful; from the beginning of it until she died, she would permit no
surgeon to dress it but only myself; I applied every thing unto it, and
her pains were so great the winter before she died, that I have been
called out of my bed two or three times in one night to dress it and
change plaisters. In 1624 by degrees, with scissars, I cut all the whole
breast away, I mean the sinews, nerves, &c. In one fortnight, or little
more, it appeared, as it were, mere flesh, all raw, so that she could
scarce endure any unguent to be applied.
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