sovereign. Edward the Confessor was informed by one of the fraternity, that he had taken great pains "to pry into the horoscope of his nativity, and found that his Majesty would die in such a month." The king answered, "I can go nearer to work, and can foretel thee the very hour of thy death, which will be to morrow at two o'clock precisely, so that thou canst not avoid it." The king kept his word with the astrologer, for he commanded that he should be tried, which he accordingly was, and was found guilty, and executed.

The fame of the celebrated Dr. Dee, as an astrologer, was so great, that Queen Elizabeth sent Robert Dudley, her chief favourite, to consult him, that an auspicious day might be chosen for her coronation. In the early part of his life, he had sustained an eminent part among the great and learned, and was honoured by the patronage of Elizabeth. But his overweening arrogance and self-conceit, brought a cloud over his understanding, and he became a mystic and professed to have an intercourse with the invisible world: the wild chimeras respecting the philosopher's stone, also occupied much of his time and attention; and indeed, at one time he appeared to have imagined himself possessed of the wonderful secret. In 1584, he went to Poland : he was accompanied by Edward Kelley, who pretended to a great knowledge of alchemy, and who was also a

professed magician. This par nobile fratrum wandered from place to place; they preyed upon the credulity of one eminent personage after another; but, however, sometimes they were reduced to the greatest distress. At last Dee became dead to all self-respect and moral distinctions; he walked in the vanity of his imagination, having 'his understanding under a total eclipse." Whatever skill Dee and Kelley might possess, the fame of their exploits spread far and wide; so that in 1589, Dee was recalled home by Queen Elizabeth. He immediately set off from Trebona, and in great state came to England. had three coaches, with four horses to each, three loaded waggons, and a guard of soldiers to protect his sacred person. On his arrival he had an audience of the Queen at Richmond, who very graciously received him. In the reign of King James, he was but little regarded: he died in 1608. Lilly speaks highly of his erudition, says that he was Queen Elizabeth's intelligencer, and that he was never so pleased as when he heard himself styled "most excellent."

He

During the time of the civil wars, astrology wonderfully prevailed; and the royalists as well as the republicans, had their astrologers. Sir Walter Scott says, the king on one side, and the Parliamentary leaders on the other, were both equally curious to know, and eager to believe, what Lilly, Wharton, or Gadbury, had discovered

"were

from the heavens, touching the fortune of the strife. On one occasion Lilly, and Booker, a brother astrologer, were sent for, with a coach and four horses, to the head quarters of Fairfax, at Windsor, towards the end of the year 1647, when they told the General that they confident that God would go along with him and his army, till the great event for which they were ordained was perfected; which they hoped would be the conquering of their and the Parliament's enemies, and a quiet settlement and firm peace over the whole nation."

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When Charles the First was confined in Hampton Court, Lady Whorwood, with the King's consent, consulted Lilly respecting "what quarter of this nation he might be most safe, and not be discovered until he himself pleased." Lilly's advice on this occasion was not followed; but when his Majesty was removed to Carisbrook Castle, Lady Whorwood again paid him a visit, and Lilly here says, His Majesty laid his design to escape out of prison, by sawing the iron bars of his chamber window; a small ship was provided, and anchored not far from the castle, to bring him into Sussex; horses were provided to carry him so that he might be at the head of the army in Kent; and from thence to march immediately to London, where thousands there would have armed for him. The Lady Whorwood came to me, acquaints me herewith. I got G. Farmer (who was a most ingenious locksmith, and

dwelt in Bow lane) to make a saw to cut the iron bars in sunder (I mean, to saw them) and aquafortis.

His Ma

jesty, in a short time, did his work; the bars gave liberty for him to go out; he was out with his body till he came to his breast; but his heart failing, he proceeded no farther. When this was discovered, he was narrowly looked after, and no opportunity after that could be devised to enlarge him.”—Lilly also informs us that, in Cromwell's protectorship, he wrote freely and satirically, and that all the soldiers were his friends.

Cromwell, as well as Charles the 2d, had much faith in astrology. The curious story of Cromwell's having made a compact with the Devil, on the 3d of September, 1651, is too long to be here related. The battle of Worcester was fought on this day, when Charles's forces were defeated, and it is well known that Cromwell died on that day seven years. Echard, the historian, thus concludes his narrative:"How far Lindsey is to be believed, and how far the story is to be accounted incredible, is left to the reader's faith and judgment; and not to any determination of our own." In the time of Lilly, the leading practical astrologers were the vilest miscreants of the community. Such were Evans, Poole, Humphries, Gadbury, Booker, and Wharton. Sir Walter Scott has the following remarks respecting the astrologers of these times" There was no province of fraud which they

*

did not practise; they were scandalous as panders, and as quacks, sold potions for the most unworthy purposes: Dr. Lamb, patronized by the Duke of Brunswick, (who, like other overgrown fanatics, was inclined to cherish astrology), was, in 1646, pulled to pieces in the city of London by the enraged populace. In the villanous transaction of the poisoning of Sir Thomas Overbury, in King James's time, much mention was made of the art and skill of Dr. Forman, another professor of the same sort with Lamb, who was consulted by the Countess of Essex, on the best mode of conducting her guilty intrigue with the Earl of Somerset." Another writer says, that most of these imposters had taken the air in the pillory, and that others had conjured themselves up to the gallows.

In the year 1653, "William Ramsey, Gentleman," published a work called "Astrologia Restaurata." The benevolent object he had in view was, "To undeceive his countrymen of such calumnies as are cast upon this heavenly and chiefest study, merely through tradition and envy, by the most inferior and rural of men- -cobblers, haymakers, and such trash." In his preface he endeavours to shew, that all men are either fools or madmen; he satirizes all classes of the community; and this too, because all are better paid than astrologers, who are deemed simpletons. He is quite indignant that philosophers should