William Lilly's History of His Life and Times, from the Year 1602 to 1681 — John Shaqi
William Lilly's History of His Life and Times, from the Year 1602 to 1681Lilly, William
Religion
William Lilly's History of His Life and Times, from the Year 1602 to 1681
Lilly, William
Astrologers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Astrology; Lilly, William, 1602-1681
There was also one Jeffry Neve, at this time a student in physic and
astrology; he had formerly been a merchant in Yarmouth, and Mayor of the
town, but failing in estate, went into the Low-Countries, and at
Franecker took the degree, of doctor in Physick; he had some little
smattering in astrology; could resolve a question of theft, or
love-question, something of sickness; a very grave person, laborious and
honest, of tall stature and comely feature; he died of late years,
almost in the very street near Tower-Hill: he had a design of printing
two hundred verified questions, and desired my approbation ere they went
to press; that I first would see them, and then give testimony. When I
had perused the first forty, I corrected thirty of them, would read over
no more: I showed him how erroneous they were, desired his emendation of
the rest, which he performed not. These were afterwards, in R.
Saunders's custody, bought by him either of his son or of a
stationer.[2]
[Footnote 2: But first offered to be sold to me for twenty
shillings. When Mr. Saunders died I bought them of his son for
less. E. A----.]
There was then William Poole, a nibbler at astrology, sometimes a
gardener, an apparitor, a drawer of linen; as quoifs, handkerchiefs; a
plaisterer and a bricklayer; he would brag many times he had been of
seventeen professions; was very good company for drolling, as you
yourself very well remember (most honoured Sir);[3] he pretended to
poetry; and that posterity may have a taste of it, you shall have here
inserted two verses of his own making; the occasion of making them was
thus. One Sir Thomas Jay, a Justice of the Peace in Rosemary-Lane,
issued out his warrant for the apprehension of Poole, upon a pretended
suggestion, that he was in company with some lewd people in a tavern,
where a silver cup was lost, _Anglice_ stolen. Poole, hearing of the
warrant, packs up his little trunk of books, being all his library, and
runs to Westminster; but hearing some months after that the Justice was
dead and buried, he came and enquired where the grave was; and after the
discharge of his belly upon the grave, left these two verses upon it,
which he swore he made himself.
Here lieth buried Sir Thomas Jay, Knight,
Who being dead, I upon his grave did shite.
[Footnote 3: December 17, this William Poole was married to
Alice How, at St. George's Church in Southwark. Mr. Lilly gave
her to him.]
He died about 1651, or 1652, at St. Mary Overy's in Southwark; and this
was part of his last will.
'Item; I give to Dr. Ardee all my books, and one manuscript of my own,
worth one hundred of Lilly's Introduction.'
'Item; If Dr. Ardee give my wife any thing that is mine, I wish the
devil may fetch him body and soul.' The Doctor, terrified with this
curse, gave me all the books and his goods which I presently gave to his
widow.---_Interdum seria jocis_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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