Whilst the King was at Windsor-Castle, once walking upon the leads there, he looked upon Captain Wharton's _Almanack_: 'My book,' saith he, 'speaks well as to the weather:' One William Allen standing by; 'what,' saith he, 'saith his antagonist, Mr. Lilly?' 'I do not care for Lilly,' said his Majesty, 'he hath been always against me,' and became a little bitter in his expressions. 'Sir,' saith Allen, 'the man is an honest man, and writes but what his art informs him.' 'I believe it,' said his Majesty, 'and that Lilly understands astrology as well as any man in Europe.' _Exit Rex Carolus._ In 1648 I published a _Treatise of the Three Suns_, seen the winter preceding; as also an Astrological Judgment upon a Conjunction of Saturn and Mars 28 June, in 11 degrees 8 minutes of Gemini. I commend unto your perusal that book and the _Prophetical Merlin_, which, seriously considered, (Oh worthy Esquire) will more instruct your judgement (_De generalibus contingentibus Mundi_) than all the authors you yet ever met with. In this year, for very great considerations, the Council of State gave me in money fifty pounds, and a pension of one hundred pounds _per Annum_, which for two years I received, but no more: upon some discontents I after would not or did require it. The cause moving them was this; they could get no intelligence out of France, although they had several agents there for that purpose. I had formerly acquaintance with a secular priest, at this time confessor to one of the Secretaries; unto him I wrote, and by that means had perfect knowledge of the chiefest concernments of France, at which they admired; but I never yet, until this day, revealed the name of the person. One occasion why I deserted that employment was, because Scott, who had eight hundred pounds _per Annum_ for intelligence, would not contribute any occasion to gratify my friend: And another thing was, I received some affront from Gualter Frost their Secretary, one that was a principal minister belonging to the Council of State. Scott was ever my enemy, the other knave died of a gangrene in his arm suddenly after. In 1648 and 1649, that I might encourage young students in astrology, I publickly read over the first part of my _Introduction_, wherein there are many things contained, not easily to be understood. And now we are entered into the year 1649: his Majesty being at St. James's House, in January of that year, I begun its observations thus: 'I am serious, I beg and expect justice; either fear or shame begins to question offenders. 'The lofty cedars begin to divine a thundering hurricane is at hand; God elevates men contemptible. 'Our demigods are sensible we begin to dislike their actions very much in London, more in the country. 'Blessed be God, who encourages his servants, makes them valiant, and of undaunted spirits, to go on with his decrees: upon a sudden, great expectations arise, and men generally believe a quiet and calm time draws nigh.'