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WILLIAM LILLY'S HISTORY ***
Produced by Steven Gibbs, David King, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
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
Produced by Steven Gibbs, David King, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
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
[PG] Parental Guidance Suggested
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