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

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In 1666, happened that miraculous conflagration in the city of London,
whereby in four days, the most part thereof was consumed by fire. In my
_Monarchy or no Monarchy_, the next side after the coffins and pickaxes,
there is a representation of a great city all in flames of fire. The
memorial whereof some Parliament men remembering, thought fit to send
for me before that Committee which then did sit, for examination of the
causes of the fire; and whether there was no treachery or design in the
business, his Majesty being then in war both with the French and Dutch.
The summons to appear before that Committee was as followeth.

'_Monday, 22d October_, 1666.

'At the Committee appointed to enquire after the causes of the
late fires:

'ORDERED,

'That Mr. Lilly do attend this Committee on Friday next, being
the 25th of October, 1666, at two of the clock in the afternoon,
in the Speaker's chamber; to answer such questions as shall be
then and there asked him.

'ROBERT BROOKE.'

By accident I was then in London, when the summons came unto me. I was
timorous of Committees, being ever by some of them calumniated,
upbraided, scorned, and derided. However I must and did appear; and let
me never forget that great affection and care yourself (Oh most
excellent and learned Esquire Ashmole) shewed unto me at that time.
First, your affection in going along with me all that day; secondly,
your great pains and care, in speaking unto many worthy Members of that
Committee your acquaintance, that they should befriend me, and not
permit me to be affronted, or have any disgraceful language cast upon
me. I must seriously acknowledge the persuasions so prevailed with those
generous souls, that I conceive there was never more civility used unto
any than unto myself; and you know, there were no small number of
Parliament men appeared, when they heard I was to be there.

Sir Robert Brooke spoke to this purpose:

'Mr. Lilly, This Committee thought fit to summon you to appear before
them this day, to know, if you can say any thing as to the cause of the
late fire, or whether there might be any design therein. You are called
the rather hither, because in a book of your's, long since printed, you
hinted some such thing by one of your hieroglyphics.' Unto which I
replied,

'May it please your Honours,

'After the beheading of the late King, considering that in the three
subsequent years the Parliament acted nothing which concerned the
settlement of the nation in peace; and seeing the generality of people
dissatisfied, the citizens of London discontented, the soldiery prone to
mutiny, I was desirous, according to the best knowledge God had given
me, to make enquiry by the art I studied, what might from that time
happen unto the Parliament and nation in general. At last, having
satisfied myself as well as I could, and perfected my judgment therein,
I thought it most convenient to signify my intentions and conceptions
thereof, in Forms, Shapes, Types, Hieroglyphicks, &c. without any
commentary, that so my judgment might be concealed from the vulgar, and
made manifest only unto the wise. I herein imitating the examples of
many wise philosophers who had done the like.'

'Sir Robert,' saith one, 'Lilly is yet _sub vestibulo_.'

I proceeded further. Said I, 'Having found, Sir, that the city of London
should be sadly afflicted with a great plague, and not long after with
an exorbitant fire, I framed these two hieroglyphics as represented in
the book, which in effect have proved very true.'

'Did you foresee the year?' said one.

'I did not,' said I, 'or was desirous: of that I made no scrutiny.' I
proceeded--

'Now, Sir, whether there was any design of burning the city, or any
employed to that purpose, I must deal ingenuously with you, that since
the fire, I have taken much pains in the search thereof, but cannot or
could not give myself any the least satisfaction therein. I conclude,
that it was the only finger of God; but what instruments he used
thereunto, I am ignorant.'

The Committee seemed well pleased with what I spoke, and dismissed me
with great civility.

Since which time no memorable action hath happened unto me, my
retirement impeding all concourse unto me.

I have many things more to communicate, which I shall do, as they offer
themselves to memory.

In anno 1634, and 1635, I had much familiarity with John Hegenius,
Doctor of Physick, a Dutchman, an excellent scholar and an able
physician, not meanly versed in astrology. Unto him, for his great
civility, I communicated the art of framing Sigils, Lamens, &c. and the
use of the Mosaical Rods:--and we did create several Sigils to very good
purpose. I gave him, the true key thereof, _viz._ instructed him of
their forms, characters, words, and last of all, how to give them
vivification, and what number or numbers were appropriated to every
planet: _Cum multis aliis in libris veterum latentibus; aut perspicue
non intellectis_.

I was well acquainted with the Speculator of John a Windor, a scrivener,
sometimes living in Newbury. This Windor was club-fisted, wrote with a
pen betwixt both his hands. I have seen many bonds and bills wrote by
him. He was much given to debauchery, so that at some times the Daemons
would not appear to the Speculator; he would then suffumigate:
sometimes, to vex the spirits, he would curse them, fumigate with
contraries. Upon his examination before Sir Henry Wallop, Kt. which I
have seen, he said, he once visited Dr. Dee in Mortlack; and out of a
book that lay in the window, he copied out that call which he used, when
he invocated--

It was that--which near the beginning of it hath these words,

_Per virtutem illorum qui invocant nomen tuum_,
Hermeli--_mitte nobis tres Angelos, &c_.

Windor had many good parts, but was a most lewd person: My master Wright
knew him well, and having dealing in those parts, made use of him as a
scrivener.

Oliver Withers, servant to Sir H. Wallop, brought up John a Windor's
examination unto London, purposely for me to peruse. This Withers was
Mr. Fiske's scholar three years more or less, to learn astrology of him;
but being never the wiser, Fiske brought him unto me: by shewing him but
how to judge one figure, his eyes were opened: He made the Epistle
before Dr. Neve's book, now in Mr. Sander's hands, was very learned in
the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew tongues.

Having mentioned Dr. John Dee, I hold it not impertinent to speak
something of him; but more especially of Edward Kelly's Speculator.

Dr. Dee himself was a Cambro Briton, educated in the university of
Oxford, there took his degree of Doctor; afterwards for many years in
search of the profounder studies, travelled into foreign parts: to be
serious, he was Queen Elizabeth's intelligencer, and had a salary for
his maintenance from the Secretaries of State. He was a ready witted
man, quick of apprehension, very learned, and of great judgment in the
Latin and Greek tongues. He was a very great investigator of the more
secret Hermetical learning, a perfect astronomer, a curious astrologer,
a serious geometrician; to speak truth, he was excellent in all kinds of
learning.

With all this, he was the most ambitious person living, and most
desirous of fame and renown, and was never so well pleased as when he
heard himself stiled Most Excellent.

He was studious in chymistry, and attained to good perfection therein;
but his servant, or rather companion, Kelly, out-went him, _viz._ about
the Elixir or Philosopher's Stone; which neither Kelly or Dee attained
by their own labour and industry. It was in this manner Kelly obtained
it, as I had it related from an ancient minister, who knew the certainty
thereof from an old English merchant, resident in Germany, at what time
both Kelly and Dee were there.

Dee and Kelly being in the confines of the Emperor's dominions, in a
city where resided many English merchants, with whom they had much
familiarity, there happened an old Friar to come to Dr. Dee's lodging.
Knocking at the door, Dee peeped down the stairs. 'Kelly,' says he,
'tell the old man I am not at home.' Kelly did so. The Friar said, 'I
will take another time to wait on him.' Some few days after, he came
again. Dee ordered Kelly, if it were the same person, to deny him again.
He did so; at which the Friar was very angry. 'Tell thy master I came to
speak with him and to do him good, because he is a great scholar and
famous; but now tell him, he put forth a book, and dedicated it to the
Emperor: it is called _Monas Hierogliphicas_. He understands it not. I
wrote it myself, I came to instruct him therein, and in some other more
profound things. Do thou, Kelly, come along with me, I will make thee
more famous than thy master Dee.'

Kelly was very apprehensive of what the Friar delivered, and thereupon
suddenly retired from Dee, and wholly applied unto the Friar; and of him
either had the Elixir ready made, or the perfect method of its
preparation and making. The poor Friar lived a very short time after:
whether he died a natural death, or was otherwise poisoned or made away
by Kelly, the merchant, who related this, did not certainly know.

How Kelly died afterwards at Prague, you well know: he was born at
Worcester, had been an apothecary. Not above thirty years since he had a
sister lived in Worcester, who had some gold made by her brother's
projection.

Dr. Dee died at Mortlack in Surrey, very poor, enforced many times to
sell some book or other to buy his dinner with, as Dr. Napier of
Linford, in Buckinghamshire, oft related, who knew him very well.

I have read over his book of _Conference with Spirits_, and thereby
perceive many weaknesses in the manage of that way of Mosaical learning:
but I conceive, the reason why he had not more plain resolutions, and
more to the purpose, was, because Kelly was very vicious, unto whom the
angels were not obedient, or willingly did declare the questions
propounded; but I could give other reasons, but those are not for paper.

I was very familiar with one Sarah Skelhorn, who had been Speculatrix
unto one Arthur Gauntlet about Gray's-Inn-Lane, a very lewd fellow,
professing physick. This Sarah had a perfect sight, and indeed the best
eyes for that purpose I ever yet did see. Gauntlet's books, after he was
dead, were sold, after I had perused them, to my scholar Humphreys:
there were rare notions in them. This Sarah lived a long time, even
until her death, with one Mrs. Stockman in the Isle of Purbeck, and died
about sixteen years since. Her mistress one time being desirous to
accompany her mother, the Lady Beconsfield, unto London, who lived
twelve miles from her habitation, caused Sarah to inspect her crystal,
to see if she, viz. her mother, was gone, yea or not: the angels
appeared, and shewed her mother opening a trunk, and taking out a red
waistcoat, whereby she perceived she was not gone. Next day she went to
her mother's, and there, as she entered the chamber, she was opening a
trunk, and had a red waistcoat in her hand. Sarah told me oft, the
angels would for some years follow her, and appear in every room of the
house, until she was weary of them.

This Sarah Skelhorn, her call unto the crystal began,

'_Oh ye good angels, only and only_,' &c.

Ellen Evans, daughter of my tutor Evans, her call unto the crystal was
this:

'_O Micol, O tu Micol, regina pigmeorum veni, &c_.'

Since I have related of the Queen of Fairies, I shall acquaint you, that
it is not for every one, or every person, that these angelical creatures
will appear unto, though they may say over the call, over and over, or
indeed is it given to very many persons to endure their glorious
aspects; even very many have failed just at that present when they are
ready to manifest themselves; even persons otherwise of undaunted
spirits and firm resolution, are herewith astonished, and tremble; as it
happened not many years since with us. A very sober discreet person, of
virtuous life and conversation, was beyond measure desirous to see
something in this nature. He went with a friend into my Hurst Wood: the
Queen of Fairies was invocated, a gentle murmuring wind came first;
after that, amongst the hedges, a smart whirlwind; by and by a strong
blast of wind blew upon the face of the friend,--and the Queen appearing
in a most illustrious glory, 'No more, I beseech you,' (quoth the
friend:) 'My heart fails; I am not able to endure longer.' Nor was he:
his black curling hair rose up, and I believe a bullrush would have beat
him to the ground: he was soundly laughed at, &c.

Sir Robert Holborn, Knight, brought once unto me Gladwell[18] of
Suffolk, who had formerly had sight and conference with Uriel and
Raphael, but lost them both by carelessness; so that neither of them
both would but rarely appear, and then presently be gone, resolving
nothing. He would have given me two hundred pounds to have assisted him
for their recovery, but I am no such man.--Those glorious creatures, if
well commanded, and well observed, do teach the master any thing he
desires; _Amant secreta, fugiunt aperta_. The Fairies love the southern
side of hills, mountains, groves.--Neatness and cleanliness in apparel,
a strict diet, and upright life, fervent prayers unto God, conduce much
to the assistance of those who are curious these ways.

[Footnote 18: Mr. Gilbert Wakering gave him his berril when he
died; it was of the largeness of a good big orange, set in
silver, with a cross on the top, and another on the handle; and
round about engraved the names of these angels, Raphael,
Gabriel, Uriel.]

It hath been my happiness to meet with many rarities in my time
unexpectedly. I had a sister lived in the Minories, in that very house
where formerly had lived one Evans, not my tutor, but another far
exceeding him in astrology, and all other occult learning, questioned
for his life about 1612. I am sure it was when the present Earl of
Manchester's father was Lord Chief Justice of England. He was found
guilty by a peevish Jury: but petitioning King James by a Greek
petition, as indeed he was an excellent Grecian; 'By my saul,' said King
James, 'this man shall not die; I think he is a better Grecian than any
of my Bishops:' so his life was spared, &c. My sister's master when new
modelling the house, broke up a window, under which were Evans's secret
manuscripts,[19] and two moulds in brass; one of a man, the other of a
woman. I bought the moulds and book for five shillings; the secrets were
wrote in an imperfect Greek character; but after I found the vowels, all
the rest were presently clear enough.

[Footnote 19: From these manuscripts he gained his first
knowledge.]

You see, most worthy Sir, I write freely; it is out of the sincerity of
my affection, many things wrote by me having been more fit for a
sepulture than a book: But,

_Quo major est virorum praestantium, tui similium inopia; eo mihi charior
est, & esse debet & amicitia tua: quam quidem omnibus officiis, &
studiis, quae a summa benevolentia possunt, perpetuo colam_: However, who
study the curiosities before-named, if they are not very well versed in
astrology, they shall rarely attain their desired ends. There was, in
the late times of troubles, one Mortlack, who pretended unto
Speculations, had a crystal, a call of Queen Mab, one of the Queen of
Fairies; he deluded many thereby: at last I was brought into his
company; he was desired to make invocation, he did so; nothing appeared,
or would: three or four times in my company he was put upon to do the
work, but could not; at last he said he could do nothing as long as I
was in presence. I at last shewed him his error, but left him as I found
him, a pretending ignoramus.

I may seem to some to write incredibilia; be it so, but knowing unto
whom, and for whose only sake, I do write them, I am much comforted
therewith, well knowing you are the most knowing man in these
curiosities of any now living in England; and therefore it is my hope,
these will be a present well-becoming you to accept.

_Praeclara omnia quam difficilia sint, his praesertim temporibus.
(Celeberrime Armiger,) non te fugit_; and therefore I will acquaint you
with one memorable story related unto me by Mr. John Marr, an excellent
mathematican and geometrician, whom I conceive you remember: he was
servant to King James and Charles the First.

At first, when the Lord Napier, or Marchiston, made publick his
Logarithms, Mr. Briggs, then reader of the astronomy lecture at
Gresham-College in London, was so surprized with admiration of them,
that he could have no quietness in himself, until he had seen that noble
person the Lord Marchiston, whose only invention they were: he acquaints
John Marr herewith, who went into Scotland before Mr. Briggs, purposely
to be there when these two so learned persons should meet. Mr. Briggs
appoints a certain day when to meet at Edinburgh: but failing thereof,
the Lord Napier was doubtful he would not come. It happened one day as
John Marr and the Lord Napier were speaking of Mr. Briggs; 'Ah, John,'
saith Marchiston, 'Mr. Briggs will not now come:' at the very instant
one knocks at the gate; John Marr hasted down, and it proved Mr. Briggs,
to his great contentment. He brings Mr. Briggs up into my Lord's
chamber, where almost one quarter of an hour was spent, each beholding
the other almost with admiration, before one word was spoke: at last Mr.
Briggs began.

'My Lord, I have undertaken this long journey purposely to see your
person, and to know by what engine of wit or ingenuity you came first to
think of this most excellent help unto astronomy, viz. the Logarithms;
but, my Lord, being by you found out, I wonder no body else found it out
before, when, now known, it is so easy.' He was nobly entertained by the
Lord Napier, and every summer after that, during the Lord's being alive,
this venerable man, Mr. Briggs, went purposely into Scotland to visit
him; _Tempora nunc mutantur_.

These two persons were worthy men in their time; and yet the one, viz.
Lord Marchiston, was a great lover of astrology, but Briggs the most
satirical man against it that hath been known: but the reason hereof I
conceive was, that Briggs was a severe Presbyterian, and wholly
conversant with persons of that judgment; whereas the Lord Marchiston
was a general scholar, and deeply read in all divine and human
histories: it is the same Marchiston who made that most serious and
learned exposition upon the _Revelation of St. John_; which is the best
that ever yet appeared in the world.

* * * * *

Thus far proceeded Mr. William Lilly in setting down the account of his
life, with some other things of note. Now shall be added something more
which afterwards happened during his retirement at his house at Hersham,
until his death.

He left London in the year 1665, (as he hath before noted) and betook
himself to the study of physick; in which, having arrived at a competent
degree of knowledge, assisted by diligent observation and practice, he
desired his old friend, Mr. Ashmole, to obtain of his Grace Dr. Sheldon,
then Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, a license for the practice of
physick; which upon application to his Grace, and producing a
testimonial (October 8, 1670,) under the hands of two physicians of the
college in London, on Mr. Lilly's behalf, he most readily granted, in
the manner following, viz.

'GILBERTUS providentia divina Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus totius Angliae
Primas & Metropolitanus, dilecto nobis in Christo GULIELMO LILLY in
Medicinis Professori, salutem, gratiam, & benedictionem. Cum ex fide
digna relatione acceperimus Te in arte sive facultate Medicinae per non
modicum tempus versatum fuisse, multisque de salute & sanitate corporis
vere desperatis (Deo Omnipotente adjuvante) subvenisse, eosque sanasse,
nec non in arte predicta multorum peritorum laudabili testimonio pro
experientia, fidelitate, diligentia & industria tuis circa curas quas
susceperis peragendas in hujusmodi Arte Medicinae merito commendatum
esse, ad practicandum igitur & exercendum dictam Artem Medicinae in, &
per totam Provinciam nostram Cant' (Civitate Lond' & circuitu septem
milliarum eidem prox' adjacen' tantummodo exceptis) ex causis praedictis
& aliis nos in hac per te juste moventibus, praestito primitus per te
juramento de agnoscendo Regiam suprema potestatem in causis
ecclesiasticis & temporalibus ac de renunciando, refutando, & recusando
omni, & omnimodae jurisdictioni potestati, authoritati & superioritati
foraneis juxta vim formam & effectum statui Parliamenti hujus inclyti
Regni Angliae in ea parte editi & provisi quantum nobis per statuta hujus
Regni Angliae liceat & non aliter neque alio modo te admittimus &
approbamus, tibique Licentiam & Facultatem nostras in hac parte, tenore
praesentium quamdiu te bene & laudabiliter gesseris benigne concedimus &
elargimur. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum (quo in hac parte utimur)
praesentibus apponi fecimus. Dat. undecimo die mensis Octobris, Anno
Domini 1670. Nostraeque translationis Anno Octavo.

Sigillum

Radulph. Snowe }
ET } Registrarii.
Edm. Sherman }

S. Rich. Lloyd, Sur.

'Vicarii in Spiritualibus Generalis per Provinciam Cantuariensem.'

Hereupon he began to practise more openly, and with good success; and
every Saturday rode to Kingston, where the poorer sort flocked to him
from several parts, and received much benefit by his advice and
prescriptions, which he gave them freely, and without money. From those
that were more able, he now and then received a shilling, and sometimes
an half crown, if they offered it to him, otherwise he demanded nothing;
and, in truth, his charity towards poor people was very great, no less
than the care and pains he took in considering and weighing their
particular cases, and applying proper remedies to their infirmities,
which gained him extraordinary credit and estimation.

He was of a strong constitution, and continued generally in good health,
till the 16th of August 1674, when a violent humour discovered itself in
red spots all over his body, with little pushes in his head. This, in
the winter (18 December) following, was seconded by a distemper whereof
he fell sick, and was let blood in the left foot, a little above the
ancle.

The 20th of December following, a humour descended from his head to his
left side, from eight o'clock at night till the next morning; and then
staying a while in the calf of his leg, at length descended towards his
toes, the anguish whereof put him into a fever. This humour fixed in two
places on the top of his left foot (one in that where he was let blood
two days before) which (upon application of pledgets) growing ripe, they
were (28 Dec.) lanced by Mr. Agar of Kingston, his apothecary (and no
less a skilful Surgeon:) after which he began to be at ease, his fever
abated, and within five months the cure was perfected.

The 7th of November 1675, he was taken with a violent fit of vomiting
for some hours, to which a fever succeeded, that continued four months:
this brought his body exceeding low, together with a dimness in his
eyes, which after occasioned him to make use of Mr. Henry Coley, as his
amanuensis, to transcribe (from his dictates) his astrological judgments
for the year 1677; but the monthly observations for that year, were
written with his own hand some time before, though by this time he was
grown very dim-sighted. His judgments and observations for the
succeeding years, till his death, (so also for the year 1682,) were all
composed by his directions, Mr. Coley coming to Hersham the beginning of
every summer, and stayed there, till, by conference with him, he had
dispatched them for the press; to whom, at these opportunities, he
communicated his way of judgment, and other astrological arcanas.

In the beginning of the year 1681, he had a flux, which weakened him
much, yet after some time his strength encreased; but now his sight was
wholly taken from him, not having any glimmering as formerly.

He had dwelt many years at Hersham, where his charity and kindness to
his poor neighbours was always great and hearty; and the 30th of May
1681, towards the evening, a dead palsy began to seize his left side.
The second of June, towards evening, he took his bed, and then his
tongue began to falter. The next day he became very dull and heavy:
sometimes his senses began to fail him. Henceforward he took little or
nothing, for his larinx swelled, and that impeded his swallowing.

The fourth of June, Mr. Ashmole went to visit him, and found he knew
him, but spake little, and some of that scarce intelligible; for the
palsy began now to seize upon his tongue.

The eighth of June he lay in a great agony, insomuch that the sweat
followed drop after drop, which he bore with wonderful courage and
patience (as indeed he did all his sickness) without complaint; and
about three o'clock the next morning, he died, without any shew of
trouble or pangs. Immediately before his breath went from him, he
sneezed three times.

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