William Lilly's History of His Life and Times by William Lilly

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Oh! most noble Esquire, let me now beg your pardon, if I digress for
some small time, in commemorating his bounty unto me, and my requital of
his friendship, by performing many things successfully for his
advantage.

In 1639 he was made captain, and served his Majesty in his then wars
against the Scots; during which time a farmer's daughter being delivered
of a bastard, and hearing, by report, that he was slain, fathered the
child upon him. Shortly after he returned, most woefully vexed to be
thus abused, when absent. The woman was countenanced by some gentlemen
of Cumberland, in this her villany against him; so that, notwithstanding
he had warrants to attach her body, he could never discover her: but
yet, hunting her from one place to another, her friends thought it most
convenient to send her to London, where she might be in most safety. She
came up to the city, and immediately I had notice thereof, and the care
of that matter was left unto me. I procured the Lord Chief Justice
Bramston's warrant, and had it lying dormant by me. She had not been in
the city above one fortnight, but that I, going casually to the clerk of
the assizes' office for Cumberland, saw there an handsome woman; and
hearing of her speak the northern tone, I concluded she was the party I
did so want. I rounded the clerk in his ear, and told him I would give
him five shillings to hold the woman in chat till I came again, for I
had a writing concerned her. I hasted for my warrant, and a constable,
and returned into the office, seized her person before the clerk of the
assizes, who was very angry with me: it was then sessions at Old-Bayley,
and neither Judge nor Justice to be found. At night we carried her
before the Recorder, Gardner. It being Saturday at night, she, having no
bail, was sent to Bridewell, where she remained till Monday. On Monday
morning, at the Old-Bayley, she produced bail; but I desiring of the
Recorder some time to enquire after the bail, whether they were
sufficient, returned presently, and told him one of the bail was a
prisoner in Ludgate, the other a very poor man. At which he was so
vexed, that he sent her to Newgate, where she lay all that week, until
she could please me with good sureties; which then she did, and so was
bound over to appear at the next assizes in Cumberland; which she did,
and was there sentenced to be whipped, and imprisoned one whole year.

This action infinitely pleased Mr. Pennington, who thought I could do
wonders; and I was most thankfully requited for it. All the while of
this scandalous business, do what he could, he could not discover what
persons they were that supported her; but the woman's father coming to
town, I became acquainted with him, by the name of Mr. Sute, merchant;
invited him to a dinner; got George Farmer with me; when we so plied him
with wine, he could neither see or feel. I paid the reckoning,
twenty-two shillings. But next morning the poor man had never a writing
or letter in his pocket. I sent them down to my friend, who thereby
discovered the plots of several gentlemen in the business; after which,
Mr. Sute returned to his old name again.

Mr. Pennington was a true royalist, whom Charles the Second made one of
his Commissioners of Array for Cumberland. Having directions from me
continually how matters did and would go betwixt the King and
Parliament, he acted warily, and did but sign one only warrant of that
nature, and then gave over. When the times of sequestrations came, one
John Musgrave, the most bold and impudent fellow, and most active of all
the north of England, and most malicious against my friend, had got this
warrant under Mr. Pennington's hand into his custody; which affrighted
my friend, and so it might, for it was cause enough of sequestration,
and would have done it. Musgrave intending himself great matters out of
his estate, I was made acquainted herewith. Musgrave being in London, by
much ado, I got acquainted with him, pretending myself a bitter enemy
against Pennington, whereat he very heartily rejoiced; and so we
appointed one night to meet at the Five Bells, to compare notes; for I
pretended much. We did meet, and he very suddenly produced upon the
table all his papers, and withal, the warrant of array unto which my
friend had set his hand; which when I saw, 'I marry,' said I, 'this is
his hand I will swear; now have at all come, the other cup, this warrant
shall pay for all.' I observed where the warrant lay upon the table,
and, after some time took occasion ignorantly to let the candle fall
out, which whilst he went to light again at the fire, I made sure of the
warrant, and put it into my boot; he never missing it of eight or ten
days; about which time, I believe, it was above half way towards
Cumberland, for I instantly sent it by the post, with this friendly
caveat, '_Sin no more_.' Musgrave durst not challenge me in those times,
and so the business was ended very satisfactory to his friend, and no
less to myself.

He was, besides, extremely abused by one Isaac Antrobus, parson of
Egremond, a most evil liver, bold, and very rich; at last he procured a
minister of that country, in hope of the parsonage, to article against
him in London, before the committee of plundered ministers. I was once
more invited to solicit against Antrobus, which I did upon three or more
articles.

I. That Antrobus baptized a cock, and called him Peter.

II. He had knowledge of such a woman and of her daughter, _viz._ of both
their bodies, in as large a manner as ever of his own wife.

III. Being drunk, a woman took a cord and tied it about his privy
members unto a manger in a stable.

IV. Being a continual drunkard.

V. He never preached, &c.

* * * * *

Antrobus was now become a great champion for the Parliament; but, at the
day of hearing, I had procured abundance of my friends to be there; for
the godly, as they termed themselves, sided with him; the present Master
of the Rolls was Chairman that day, Sir Harbottle Grimston.

Who, hearing the foulness of the cause, was very much ashamed thereof. I
remember Antrobus, being there, pleaded he was in his natural condition
when he acted so ungraciously.

'What condition were you in,' said the Chairman, 'when you lay with
mother and daughter?'

'There is no proof of that,' saith he.

'None but your own confession,' said the Chairman, 'nor could any tell
so well.'

'I am not given to drunkenness,' quoth he. 'He was so drunk within this
fortnight,' quoth I, 'he reeled from one side of the street to the
other; here is the witness to prove it:' who, presently, before the
committee, being sworn, made it good, and named the place and street
where he was drunk. So he was adjudged scandalous, and outed of his
benefice, and our minister had the parsonage.

You cannot imagine how much the routing of this drunken parson pleased
Mr. Pennington, who paid all charges munificently and thankfully.

But now follows the last and greatest kindness I ever did him.
Notwithstanding the committee for sequestrations in Cumberland were his
very good friends, yet the sub-sequestrators, of their own heads, and
without order, and by strength of arms, secured his irons, his wood, and
so much of his personal estate as was valued at seven thousand pounds.
Now had I complaint upon complaint: would I suffer my old friend to be
thus abused? it was in my power to free him from these villains.

I hereupon advised what was best to do, and was counselled to get Mr.
Speaker Lenthall's letter to the sub-sequestrators, and command them to
be obedient to the committee of the county.

Whereupon, I framed a letter myself, unto the sub-sequestrators
directed, and with it, myself and Mr. Laurence Maydwell (whom yourself
well knew) went to Mr. Speaker, unto whom we sufficiently related the
stubbornness of the officers of Cumberland; their disobedience to the
committee; and then shewed him the letter, which when he had read over,
he most courteously signed, adding withal, that if they proceeded
further in sequestring Mr. Pennington, he would command a Serjeant at
Arms to bring them up to answer their contempts: I immediately posted
that letter to my friend, which when the absurd fellows received, they
delivered him possession of his goods again; and, for my pains, when he
came to London, gave me one hundred pounds; he died in 1652, of a
violent fever. I did carefully, in 1642 and 1643, take notice of every
grand action which happened betwixt King and Parliament, and did first
then incline to believe, that as all sublunary affairs did depend upon
superior causes, so there was a possibility of discovering them by the
configurations of the superior bodies; in which way making some essays
in those two years, I found encouragement to proceed further, which I
did; I perused the writings of the ancients, but therein they were
silent, or gave no satisfaction; at last, I framed unto myself that
method, which then and since I follow, which, I hope, in time may be
more perfected by a more penetrating person than myself.

In 1643, I became familiarly known to Sir Bulstrode Whitlocke, a member
of the House of Commons; he being sick, his urine was brought unto me by
Mrs. Lisle,[11] wife to John Lisle, afterwards one of the keepers of the
Great Seal; having set my figure, I returned answer, the sick for that
time would recover, but by means of a surfeit would dangerously relapse
within one month; which he did, by eating of trouts at Mr. Sand's house,
near Leatherhead in Surrey. Then I went daily to visit him, Dr. Prideau
despairing of his life; but I said there was no danger thereof, and that
he would be sufficiently well in five or six weeks; and so he was.

[Footnote 11: She was afterwards beheaded at Winchester, for
harbouring one Nelthrop, a rebel in the Duke of Monmouth's army
1685. She had made herself remarkable, by saying at the
martyrdom of King Charles I, 1648, 'that her blood leaped within
her to see the tyrant fall;' for this, when she fell into the
state trap, she neither did nor could expect favour from any of
that martyr's family.]

In 1644, I published _Merlinus Anglicus Junior_ about April. I had given
one day the copy thereof unto the then Mr. Whitlocke, who by accident
was reading thereof in the House of Commons: ere the Speaker took the
chair, one looked upon it, and so did many, and got copies thereof;
which when I heard, I applied myself to John Booker to license it, for
then he was licenser of all mathematical books; I had, to my knowledge,
never seen him before; he wondered at the book, made many impertinent
obliterations, framed many objections, swore it was not possible to
distinguish betwixt King and Parliament; at last licensed it according
to his own fancy; I delivered it unto the printer, who being an arch
Presbyterian, had five of the ministry to inspect it, who could make
nothing of it, but said it might be printed, for in that I meddled not
with their Dagon. The first impression was sold in less than one week;
when I presented some to the members of Parliament, I complained of John
Booker the licenser, who had defaced my book; they gave me order
forthwith to reprint it as I would, and let them know if any durst
resist me in the reprinting, or adding what I thought fit; so the second
time it came forth as I would have it.

I must confess, I now found my scholar Humphreys's words to be true
concerning John Booker, whom at that time I found but moderately versed
in astrology; nor could he take the circles of position of the planets,
until in that year I instructed him. After my _Introduction_ in 1647
became publick, he amended beyond measure, by study partly, and partly
upon emulation to keep up his fame and reputation; so that since 1647, I
have seen some nativities by him very judiciously performed. When the
printer presented him with an _Introduction_ of mine, as soon as they
were forth of the press; 'I wish,' saith he, 'there was never another
but this in England, conditionally I gave one hundred pounds for this.'
After that time we were very great friends to his dying day.

In June, 1644, I published _Supernatural Sight_; and, indeed, if I could
have procured the dull stationer to have been at charges to have cut the
_icon_ or form of that prodigious apparition, as I had drawn it forth,
it would have given great satisfaction; however, the astrological
judgment thereupon had its full event in every particular.

That year also I published the _White King's Prophecy_, of which there
were sold in three days eighteen hundred, so that it was oft reprinted:
I then made no commentary upon it.

In that year I printed the _Prophetical Merlin_, and had eight pounds
for the copy.

I had then no farther intention to trouble the press any more, but Sir
Richard Napper having received one of Captain Wharton's _Almanacks_ for
1645, under the name Naworth, he came unto me: 'Now, Lilly, you are met
withal, see here what Naworth writes.' The words were, he called me 'an
impudent senseless fellow, and by name William Lilly.'

Before that time, I was more Cavalier than Roundhead, and so taken
notice of; but after that I engaged body and soul in the cause of
Parliament, but still with much affection to his Majesty's person and
unto monarchy, which I ever loved and approved beyond any government
whatsoever; and you will find in this story many passages of civility
which I did, and endeavoured to do, with the hazard of my life, for his
Majesty: but God had ordered all his affairs and counsels to have no
successes; as in the sequel will appear.

To vindicate my reputation, and to cry quittance with Naworth, against
whom I was highly incensed, to work I went again for _Anglicus_, 1645;
which as soon as finished I got to the press, thinking every day one
month till it was publick: I therein made use of the King's nativity,
and finding that his ascendant was approaching to the quadrature of
Mars, about June, 1645, I gave this unlucky judgment; 'If now we fight,
a victory stealeth upon us;' and so it did in June, 1645, at Naseby, the
most fatal overthrow he ever had.

In this year, 1645, I published a treatise called the _Starry
Messenger_, with an interpretation of three suns seen in London, 29th
May, 1644, being Charles the Second's birthday: in that book I also put
forth an astrological judgment concerning the effects of a solar
eclipse, visible the 11th of August, 1645. Two days before its
publishing, my antagonist, Captain Wharton, having given his
astronomical judgment upon his Majesty's present march from Oxford;
therein again fell foul against me and John Booker: Sir Samuel Luke,
Governor of Newportpagnel, had the thing came to his garrison from
Oxford, which presently was presented unto my view. I had but twelve
hours, or thereabout, to answer it, which I did with such success as is
incredible; and the printer printed both the _March_ and my answer unto
it, and produced it to sight, with my _Starry Messenger_, which came
forth and was made publick the very day of the Parliament's great
victory obtained against his Majesty in person at Naseby, under the
conduct of the Lord Thomas Fairfax.

That book no sooner appeared, but within fourteen days complaint was
made to the committee of examinations, Miles Corbet then being Chairman,
my mortal enemy, he who after was hanged, drawn, and quartered, for
being one of the King's Judges; he grants his warrant, and a messenger
to the Serjeant at Arms seizeth my person. As I was going to Westminster
with the messenger, I met Sir Philip Stapleton, Sir Christopher Wray,
Mr. Denzil Hollis, Mr. Robert Reynolds, who, by great fortune, had the
_Starry Messenger_ sheet by sheet from me as it came from the press.
They presently fell a smiling at me; 'Miles Corbet, Lilly, will punish
thee soundly; but fear nothing, we will dine, and make haste to be at
the committee time enough to do the business;' and so they most
honourably performed; for they, as soon as they came, sat down, and put
Mr. Reynolds purposely into the chair, and I was called in; but Corbet
being not there, they bid me withdraw until he came; which when he did,
I was commanded to appear, and Corbet desired to give the cause of my
being in restraint, and of the committee's order. Mr. Reynolds was
purposely put into the chair, and continued till my business was over.

Corbet produced my _Anglicus_ of 1645, and said there were many
scandalous passages therein against the Commissioners of Excise in
London. He produced one passage, which being openly read by himself, the
whole committee adjudged it to signify the errors of sub-officers, but
had no relation to the Commissioners themselves, which I affirmatively
maintained to be the true meaning as the committee declared.

Then Corbet found out another dangerous place, as he thought, and the
words were thus in the printed book--'In the name of the Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost, will not the Excise pay the soldiers?'

Corbet very ignorantly read, 'will not the Eclipse pay soldiers?' at
which the Committee fell heartily to laugh at him, and so he became
silent.

There was a great many Parliament men there; the chamber was full. 'Have
you any more against Mr. Lilly?' cried the chairman.

'Yes,' saith the Sollicitor for the Excise, 'since his _Starry
Messenger_ came forth we had our house burnt, and the Commissioners
pulled by their cloaks in the Exchange.' 'Pray, sir, when was this,'
asked old Sir Robert Pye, 'that the house was burnt, and the Aldermen
abused?' 'It was in such a week,' saith he. 'Mr. Lilly, when came the
book forth?' 'The very day of Naseby fight,' answered Mr. Reynolds, 'nor
needs he be ashamed of writing it: I had it daily as it came forth of
the press: it was then found the house to be burnt, and the Aldermen
abused, twelve days before the _Starry Messenger_ came forth.' 'What a
lying fellow art thou,' saith Sir Robert Pye, 'to abuse us so!' This he
spoke to the Sollicitor. Then stood up one Bassell, a merchant: he
inveighed bitterly against me, being a Presbyterian, and would have had
my books burnt. 'You smell more of a citizen than a scholar,' replied
Mr. Francis Drake. I was ordered to withdraw, and by and by was called
in, and acquainted the committee did discharge me. But I cried with a
loud voice, 'I was under a messenger;' whereupon the committee ordered
him or the Serjeant at Arms not to take any fees; Mr. Reynolds saying,
'Literate men never pay any fees.'

But within one week after, I was likely to have had worse success, but
that the before-named gentlemen stoutly befriended me. In my Epistle of
the _Starry Messenger_, I had been a little too plain with the committee
of Leicestershire; who thereof made complaint unto Sir Arthur Hazelrigg,
Knight for that county; he was a furious person, and made a motion in
the House of Commons against me, and the business was committed to that
committee, whereof Baron Rigby was chairman. A day was assigned to hear
the matter; in the morning whereof, as I passed by Mr. Pullen's shop in
St. Paul's Church-yard, Pullen bad 'God be with you,' and named me by
name. Mr. Selden being there, and hearing my name, gave direction to
call me unto him, where he acquaints me with Hazelrigg's humour and
malice towards me, called for the _Starry Messenger_, and having read
over the words mentioning that committee, he asked me how I would answer
them? I related what I would have said, but he contradicted me, and
acquainted me what to say, and how to answer. In the afternoon I went to
appear, but there was no committee set, or would sit; for both Mr.
Reynolds and Sir Philip Stapleton, and my other friends, had fully
acquainted Baron Rigby with the business, and desired him not to call
upon me until they appeared; for the matter and charge intended against
me was very frivolous, and only presented by a cholerick person to
please a company of clowns, meaning the committee of Leicester. Baron
Rigby said, if it were so he would not meddle with the matter, but
exceedingly desired to see me. Not long after he met Sir Arthur, and
acquainting him what friends appeared for me, said, 'I will then
prosecute him no further.'

All the ancient astrologers of England were much startled and confounded
at my manner of writing, especially old Mr. William Hodges, who lived
near Wolverhampton in Staffordshire, and many others who understood
astrology competently well, as they thought. Hodges swore I did more by
astrology than he could by the crystal, and use thereof, which indeed he
understood as perfectly as any one in England. He was a great royalist,
but could never hit any thing right for that party, though he much
desired it: he resolved questions astrologically; nativities he meddled
not with; in things of other nature, which required more curiosity, he
repaired to the crystal: his angels were Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel:
his life answered not in holiness and sanctity to what it should, having
to deal with those holy angels. Being contemporary with me, I shall
relate what my partner John Scott, the same Scott as is
before-mentioned, affirmed of him. John Scott was a little skilful in
surgery and physick, so was Will Hodges, and had formerly been a
school-master. Scott having some occasions into Staffordshire, addressed
himself for a month or six weeks to Hodges, assisted him to dress his
patients, let blood, &c. Being to return to London, he desired Hodges to
shew him the person and feature of the woman he should marry. Hodges
carries him into a field not far from his house, pulls out his crystal,
bids Scott set his foot to his, and, after a while, wishes him to
inspect the crystal, and observe what he saw there. 'I see,' saith
Scott, 'a ruddy complexioned wench in a red waistcoat, drawing a can of
beer.' 'She must be your wife,' said Hodges. 'You are mistaken, Sir,'
said Scott. 'I am, so soon as I come to London, to marry a tall
gentlewoman in the Old Bailey.' 'You must marry the red waistcoat,' said
Hodges. Scott leaves the country, comes up to London, finds his
gentlewoman married: two years after going into Dover, in his return, he
refreshed himself at an inn in Canterbury, and as he came into the hall,
or first room thereof, he mistook the room, and went into the buttery,
where he espied a maid, described by Hodges, as before said, drawing a
can of beer, &c. He then more narrowly viewing her person and habit,
found her, in all parts, to be the same Hodges had described; after
which he became a suitor unto her, and was married unto her; which woman
I have often seen. This Scott related unto me several times, being a
very honest person, and made great conscience of what he spoke. Another
story of him is as followeth, which I had related from a person which
well knew the truth of it.

A neighbour gentleman of Hodges lost his horse; who having Hodges's
advice for recovery of him, did again obtain him. Some years after, in a
frolick, he thought to abuse him, acquainting a neighbour therewith,
viz., that he had formerly lost a horse, went to Hodges, recovered him
again, but saith it was by chance; I might have had him without going
unto him: 'Come, let's go, I will now put a trick upon him; I will leave
some boy or other at the town's-end with my horse, and then go to Hodges
and enquire for him.' He did so, gave his horse to a youth, with orders
to walk him till he returned. Away he goes with his friend, salutes Mr.
Hodges, thanks him for his former courtesy, and now desires the like,
having lost a horse very lately. Hodges, after some time of pausing,
said; 'Sir, your horse is lost, and never to be recovered.' 'I thought
what skill you had,' replies the gallant, 'my horse is walking in a lane
at the town's-end.' With that Hodges swore (as he was too much given
unto that vice) 'your horse is gone, and you will never have him again.'
The gentleman departed in great derision of Hodges, and went where he
left his horse: when he came there, he found the boy fast asleep upon
the ground, the horse gone, the boy's arm in the bridle.

He returns again to Hodges, desiring his aid, being sorry for his former
abuse. Old Will swore like a devil, 'be gone, be gone; go look for your
horse.' This business ended not so; for the malicious man brought Hodges
into the star-chamber, bound him over to the assizes, put Hodges to
great expences: but, by means of the Lord Dudley, if I remember aright,
or some other person thereabouts, he overcame the gentleman, and was
acquitted.

Besides this, a gentlewoman of my acquaintance, and of credit, in
Leicestershire, having lost a pillion-cloth, a very new one, went to
desire his judgment. He ordered her such a day to attend at Mountsorrel
in Leicestershire, and about twelve o'clock she should see her
pillion-cloth upon a horse, and a woman upon it. My friend attended the
hour and place; it being told, she must needs warm herself well, and
then enquired if any passengers had lately gone by the inn? Unto whom
answer was made, there passed by whilst she was at the fire, about half
an hour before, a man, and a woman behind him, on horse-back. Inquiring
of what colour the pillion-cloth was of; it was answered, directly of
the colour my friend's was: they pursued, but too late.

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