William Lilly's History of His Life and Times Part 8

S. Rich. Lloyd, Sur.

'Vicarii in Spiritualibus Generalis per Provinciam Cantuariensem.'

Hereupon he began to practise more openly, and with good success; and every Sat.u.r.day rode to Kingston, where the poorer sort flocked to him from several parts, and received much benefit by his advice and prescriptions, which he gave them freely, and without money. From those that were more able, he now and then received a shilling, and sometimes an half crown, if they offered it to him, otherwise he demanded nothing; and, in truth, his charity towards poor people was very great, no less than the care and pains he took in considering and weighing their particular cases, and applying proper remedies to their infirmities, which gained him extraordinary credit and estimation.

He was of a strong const.i.tution, and continued generally in good health, till the 16th of August 1674, when a violent humour discovered itself in red spots all over his body, with little pushes in his head. This, in the winter (18 December) following, was seconded by a distemper whereof he fell sick, and was let blood in the left foot, a little above the ancle.

The 20th of December following, a humour descended from his head to his left side, from eight o'clock at night till the next morning; and then staying a while in the calf of his leg, at length descended towards his toes, the anguish whereof put him into a fever. This humour fixed in two places on the top of his left foot (one in that where he was let blood two days before) which (upon application of pledgets) growing ripe, they were (28 Dec.) lanced by Mr. Agar of Kingston, his apothecary (and no less a skilful Surgeon:) after which he began to be at ease, his fever abated, and within five months the cure was perfected.

The 7th of November 1675, he was taken with a violent fit of vomiting for some hours, to which a fever succeeded, that continued four months: this brought his body exceeding low, together with a dimness in his eyes, which after occasioned him to make use of Mr. Henry Coley, as his amanuensis, to transcribe (from his dictates) his astrological judgments for the year 1677; but the monthly observations for that year, were written with his own hand some time before, though by this time he was grown very dim-sighted. His judgments and observations for the succeeding years, till his death, (so also for the year 1682,) were all composed by his directions, Mr. Coley coming to Hersham the beginning of every summer, and stayed there, till, by conference with him, he had dispatched them for the press; to whom, at these opportunities, he communicated his way of judgment, and other astrological arcanas.

In the beginning of the year 1681, he had a flux, which weakened him much, yet after some time his strength encreased; but now his sight was wholly taken from him, not having any glimmering as formerly.

He had dwelt many years at Hersham, where his charity and kindness to his poor neighbours was always great and hearty; and the 30th of May 1681, towards the evening, a dead palsy began to seize his left side.

The second of June, towards evening, he took his bed, and then his tongue began to falter. The next day he became very dull and heavy: sometimes his senses began to fail him. Henceforward he took little or nothing, for his larinx swelled, and that impeded his swallowing.

The fourth of June, Mr. Ashmole went to visit him, and found he knew him, but spake little, and some of that scarce intelligible; for the palsy began now to seize upon his tongue.

The eighth of June he lay in a great agony, insomuch that the sweat followed drop after drop, which he bore with wonderful courage and patience (as indeed he did all his sickness) without complaint; and about three o'clock the next morning, he died, without any shew of trouble or pangs. Immediately before his breath went from him, he sneezed three times.

He had often, in his life-time, desired Mr. Ashmole to take care of his funeral, and now his widow desired the same: whereupon Mr. Ashmole obtained leave from Sir Mathew Andrews (who had the parsonage of Walton) to bury him in the chancel of that church.

The 10th of June, his corse was brought thither, and received by the minister (in his surplice) at the Litch Gates, who, pa.s.sing before the body into the church, read the first part of the _Office for the Burial of the Dead_. In the reading desk he said all the evening service, and after performed the rest of the office (as established by law) in the chancel, at the interment, which was about eight o'clock in the evening, on the left side of the communion table, Mr. Ashmole a.s.sisting at the laying him in his grave; whereupon afterwards (9 July 1681) he placed a fair black marble stone, (which cost him six pounds four shillings and six-pence) with this inscription following:

Ne Oblivione conteretur Urna

GULIELMI LILLII

ASTROLOGI PERITISSIMI,

QUI FATIS CESSIT

Quinto Idus Junii Anno Christi Juliano

M DC Lx.x.xI.

Hoc Illi posuit amoris Monumentum

ELIAS ASHMOLE,

ARMIGER.

Shortly after his death, Mr. Ashmole bought his library of books of Mrs.

Ruth Lilly, (his widow and executrix) for fifty pounds: he oft times, in his life-time, expressed, that if Mr. Ashmole would give that sum, he should have them.

The following Epitaphs (Latin and English) were made by George Smalridge, then a scholar at Westminster, after Student of Christ-Church in Oxford.

_In Mortem Viri Doctissimi Domini_ GULIELMI LILLY, _Astrologi, nuper defuncti_.

Occidit atque suis annalibus addidit atram Astrologus, qua non tristior ulla, diem Pone triumphales, lugubris Luna, quadrigas; Sol maestum picea nube reconde caput.

Illum, qui Phoebi scripsit, Phoebesq; labores Eclipsin docuit Stella maligna pati.

Invidia Astrorum cecidit, qui Sidera rexit Tanta erat in notas scandere cura domos.

Quod vidit, visum cupiit, pot.i.turq; cupito C[oe]lo, & Sidereo fulget in orbe decus.

Scilicet hoc n.o.bis praedixit ab ane Cometa, Et fati emicuit nuncia Stella tui Fallentem vidi faciem gemuiq; videndo Illa fuit vati mortis imago suo, Civilis timuere alii primordia belli Jejunam metuit plebs stupefata faniem Non tantos tulerat bellumve famesve dolores: Auspiciis essent haec relevanda tuis.

In cautam subitus plebem nunc opprimat ensis, Securos fati mors violenta trahat.

Nemo est qui videat moneatq; avertere fatum, Ars jacet in Domini funera mersa sui Solus naturae reservare arcana solebat, Solus & ambigui solvere jura poti.

l.u.s.trasti erantes bene fina mente Planeta Conspectum latuit stellata nulla tuum Defessos oculos pensarunt lumina mentis Firesias oculis, mentibus Argus eras.

Cernere, Firesia, poteras ventura, sed, Arge, In fatum haud poteras sat vigil esse tuum Sed vivit nomen semper c.u.m sole vigebit, Immemor Astrologi non erit ulla dies Saecla canent laudes, quas si percurrere cones, Arte opus est, Stellas qua numerare soles Haereat hoc carmen cinerum custodibus urnis, Hospes quod spargens marmora rore legat.

"Hic situs est, dignus nunquam cecidisse Propheta; Fatorum interpres fata inopina subit.

Versari aethereo dum vixit in orbe solebat: Nunc humilem jactat Terra superba virum.

Sed Coelum met.i.tur adhuc resupinus in urnae Vert.i.tur in solitos palpebra clausa polos.

Huic busto invigilant solenni lampade Musaae Perpetuo nubes imbre sepulchra rigant.

Ille oculis movit distantia Sidera nostris, Illam amota oculis traxit ad astra Deus."

_An_ ELEGY _upon the Death of_ WILLIAM LILLY, _the Astrologer_.

Our Prophet's gone; no longer may our ears Be charm'd with musick of th' harmonious spheres.

Let sun and moon withdraw, leave gloomy night To shew their NUNCIO'S fate, who gave more light To th' erring world, than all the feeble rays Of sun or moon; taught us to know those days Bright t.i.tAN makes; follow'd the hasty sun Through all his circuits; knew th' unconstant moon, And more unconstant ebbings of the flood; And what is most uncertain, th' factious brood, Flowing in civil broils: by the heavens could date The flux and reflux of our dubious state.

He saw the eclipse of sun, and change of moon He saw, but seeing would not shun his own: Eclips'd he was, that he might shine more bright, And only chang'd to give a fuller light.

He having view'd the sky, and glorious train Of gilded stars, scorn'd longer to remain In earthly prisons: could he a village love, Whom the twelve houses waited for above?

The grateful stars a heavenly mansion gave T' his heavenly soul, nor could he live a slave To mortal pa.s.sions, whose immortal mind, Whilst here on earth, was not to earth confin'd.

He must be gone, the stars had so decreed; As he of them, so they of him, had need.

This message 'twas the blazing comet brought; I saw the pale-fac'd star, and seeing thought (For we could guess, but only LILLY knew) It did some glorious hero's fall foreshew: A hero's fall'n, whose death, more than a war, Or fire, deserv'd a comet: th' obsequious star Could do no less than his sad fate unfold, Who had their risings, and their settings told.

Some thought a plague, and some a famine near; Some wars from France, some fires at home did fear: Nor did they fear too much: scarce kinder fate, But plague of plagues befell th' unhappy state When LILLY died. Now swords may safely come From France or Rome, fanaticks plot at home.

Now an unseen, and unexpected hand, By guidance of ill stars, may hurt our land; Unsafe, because secure, there's none to show How England may avert the fatal blow.

He's dead, whose death the weeping clouds deplore, I wish we did not owe to him that show'r Which long expected was, and might have still Expected been, had not our nation's ill Drawn from the heavens a sympathetic tear: England hath cause a second drought to fear.

We have no second LILLY, who may die, And by his death may make the heavens cry.

Then let your annals, Coley, want this day, Think every year leap-year; or if't must stay, Cloath it in black; let a sad note stand by, And stigmatize it to posterity.

_Here follows the Copy of an Indictment filed against Mr. Lilly, for which see page 167 of his Life_.

The jurors for the Lord Protector of the commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, &c. upon their oaths do present, that William Lilly, late of the Parish of St. Clements Danes, in the County of Middles.e.x, Gent. not having the fear of G.o.d before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, the 10th day of July, in the Year of our Lord, 1654, at the Parish aforesaid, in the County aforesaid, wickedly, unlawfully, and deceitfully, did take upon him, the said William Lilly, by inchantment, charm, and sorcery, to tell and declare to one Anne East, the wife of Alexander East, where ten waistcoats, of the value of five pounds, of the goods and chattels of the said Alexander East, then lately before lost and stolen from the said Alexander East, should be found and become; and two shilling and sixpence in monies numbred, of the monies of the said Alexander, from the said Anne East, then and and there unlawfully and deceitfully, he, the said William Lilly, did take, receive, and had, to tell and declare to her the said Anne, where the said goods, so lost and stolen as aforesaid, should be found and become: And also that he, the said William Lilly, on the said tenth day of July, in the Year of our Lord, 1654, and divers other days and times, as well before as afterwards, at the said Parish aforesaid, in the County aforesaid, unlawfully and deceitfully did take upon him, the said William Lilly, by inchantment, charm, and sorcery, to tell and declare to divers other persons, to the said jurors, yet unknown, where divers goods, chattels, and things of the said persons yet unknown, there lately before lost and stolen from the said persons yet unknown, should be found and become; and divers sums of monies of the said persons yet unknown, then and there unlawfully and deceitfully, he the said William Lilly did take, receive, and had, to tell and declare to the said persons yet unknown, where their goods, chattels, and things, so lost and stolen, as aforesaid, should be found and become, in contempt of the laws of England, to the great damage and deceit of the said Alexander and Anne, and of the said other persons yet unknown, to the evil and pernicious example of all others in the like case offending, against the form of the statute in this case made and provided, and against the publick peace, &c.

_Anne East, Emme Spencer, Jane Gold, Katherme Roberts, Susannah Hulinge_.

_Butler's Character of_ WILLIAM LILLY.

"A cunning man[20], hight SIDROPHEL.

That deals in destiny's dark counsels, And sage opinions of the moon sells; To whom all people, far and near, On deep importances repair; When bra.s.s and pewter hap to stray, And linen slinks out of the way:

[Footnote 20: _A cunning man, hight_ Sidrophel. 'William Lilly, the famous astrologer of those times, who in his yearly almanacks foretold victories for the parliament with as much certainty as the Preachers did in their sermons; and all or most part of what is ascribed to him by the Poet, the reader will find verified in his "Letter," (if we may believe it) wrote by himself to Elias Ashmole, Esq.' For further curious information respecting William Lilly, the reader may consult _Dr. Grey's Notes to Hudibras_, vol. ii. page 163, &c. Edition 1819, in 3 vols, 8vo.]