WILLIAM LILLY'S HISTORY OF HIS LIFE AND TIMES, FROM THE YEAR1602 TO 1681.

Written by Himself, in the sixty-sixth year of his Age, to HisWorthy 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 & WILLIAMLILLY.

In 1 vol. 8vo. 1772.

Although we cannot, with justice, compare Elias Ashmole tothat excellent Antiquary John Leland, or William Lilly to thelearned and indefatigable Thomas Hearne; yet I think we may fairlyrank them with such writers as honest Anthony Wood, whose Diarygreatly resembles that of his cotemporary, and intimate friend,Elias Ashmole.

Some anecdotes, connected with affairs of state; manyparticulars relating to illustrious persons, and antient and noblefamilies; several occurrences in which the Public is interested,and other matters of a more private nature, can only be found inworks of this kind. History cannot stoop to the meanness ofexamining the materials of which Memoirs are generallycomposed.

And yet the pleasure and benefit resulting from such booksare manifest to every reader.

I hope the admirers of the very laborious Thomas Hearne willpardon me, if I should venture to give it as my opinion, and withmuch deference to their judgment, that William Lilly's Life andDeath of Charles the first contains more useful matter ofinstruction, as well as more splendid and striking occurrences,than are to be found in several of those monkish volumes publishedby that learned Oxonian.

Lilly affords us many curious particulars relating to thelife of that unfortunate Prince, which are no where else to befound. In delineating the character of Charles, he seemsdispassionate and impartial, and indeed it agrees perfectly withthe general portraiture of him, as it is drawn by our mostauthentic historians.

The History of Lilly's Life and Times is certainly one of themost entertaining narratives in our language. With respect to thescience he professed of calculating nativities, casting figures,the prediction of events, and other appendages of astrology, hewould fain make us think that he was a very solemn and seriousbeliever. Indeed, such is the manner of telling his story, thatsometimes the reader may possibly be induced to suppose Lillyrather an enthusiast than an impostor. He relates many anecdotes ofthe pretenders to foretell events, raise spirits, and otherimpostures, with such seeming candor, and with such an artlesssimplicity of style, that we are almost persuaded to take his wordwhen he protests such an inviolable respect to truth andsincerity.

The powerful genius of Shakespeare could carry himtriumphantly through subjects the most unpromising, and fables themost improbable: we therefore cannot wonder at the success of suchof his plays, where the magic of witches and the incantation ofspirits are described, or where the power of fairies is introduced;when such was the credulity of the times respecting these imaginarybeings, and when that belief was made a science of, and kept aliveby artful and superstitious, knavish, and enthusiastic teachers;what Lilly relates of these