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
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account