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
'My Lord, I have undertaken this long journey purposely to see your
person, and to know by what engine of wit or ingenuity you came first to
think of this most excellent help unto astronomy, viz. the Logarithms;
but, my Lord, being by you found out, I wonder no body else found it out
before, when, now known, it is so easy.' He was nobly entertained by the
Lord Napier, and every summer after that, during the Lord's being alive,
this venerable man, Mr. Briggs, went purposely into Scotland to visit
him; _Tempora nunc mutantur_.
These two persons were worthy men in their time; and yet the one, viz.
Lord Marchiston, was a great lover of astrology, but Briggs the most
satirical man against it that hath been known: but the reason hereof I
conceive was, that Briggs was a severe Presbyterian, and wholly
conversant with persons of that judgment; whereas the Lord Marchiston
was a general scholar, and deeply read in all divine and human
histories: it is the same Marchiston who made that most serious and
learned exposition upon the _Revelation of St. John_; which is the best
that ever yet appeared in the world.
* * * * *
Thus far proceeded Mr. William Lilly in setting down the account of his
life, with some other things of note. Now shall be added something more
which afterwards happened during his retirement at his house at Hersham,
until his death.
He left London in the year 1665, (as he hath before noted) and betook
himself to the study of physick; in which, having arrived at a competent
degree of knowledge, assisted by diligent observation and practice, he
desired his old friend, Mr. Ashmole, to obtain of his Grace Dr. Sheldon,
then Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, a license for the practice of
physick; which upon application to his Grace, and producing a
testimonial (October 8, 1670,) under the hands of two physicians of the
college in London, on Mr. Lilly's behalf, he most readily granted, in
the manner following, viz.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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