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Page 19
Our astrologer, professing a high art, standing above the common level,
did not give 'up to party what was meant for mankind.' The stars look
down, from their high places, on sublunary things, with a sublime
indifference; and he, their interpreter, was at the service of all
comers, or of all who could pay. Many came to him; among others came
'Madam Whorwood,' from King Charles, who intended to escape from Hampton
Court, where he was held prisoner by the army. She came to inquire 'in
what quarter of this nation he (the king) might be most safe?' Lilly,
after 'erection of his figure,' said, 'about twenty miles from London,
and in Essex,' 'he might continue undisturbed;' but the poor king,
misguided by himself, or others, 'went away in the night time westward,
and surrendered to Hammond in the Isle of Wight. Twice again, according
to Lilly, Madam Whorwood came to him, asking advice and assistance for
the king. This Madam Whorwood I have not met with elsewhere in my
reading, and the name may be a fictitious one; but that King Charles, in
his straits, sought aid of William Lilly, who by repute could read the
stars, is not improbable. In 1648, Lilly gave to the council of state
'some intelligence out of France,' which he got by means not
astrological, or in any way supernatural; and the council thereupon gave
him 'in money fifty pounds, and a pension of one hundred pounds per
annum,' which he received for two years, 'but no more.'
So Lilly, whose business as astrological prophet brought him into close
contact with many kinds of men--men of all parties and sects--went on
getting information of all, and by all kinds of means; and imparting it
again to all who had need; but always he had an eye to the 'main
chance,' and provided well for himself. With each of his three wives he
got money. The second one, who, as we remember, 'was of the nature of
Mars,' died in February, 1654, and the bereaved man says that he
thereupon 'shed no tear;' which we can well believe. Dry eyed, or with
only such moisture as comes of joy, he, within eight months after the
departure of Mrs. Mars, took another to his bosom, one who, he says, 'is
signified in my nativity by Jupiter in Libra, and she is so totally in
her conditions, to my great comfort.'
After the Restoration, Lilly was apprehended and committed to the Gate
House. 'I was had,' he says, 'into the guard room, which I thought to be
hell: some therein were sleeping, others swearing, others smoking
tobacco. In the chimney of the room I believe there were two bushels of
broken tobacco-pipes, and almost half one load of ashes.' A sad time and
place: but his 'old friend, Sir Edward Walker, garter king-at-arms,'
made interest for him in the right quarters, and he was released from
the place he 'thought to be hell.' In 1660 he sued out his pardon for
all offences 'under the broad seal of England.'
Of Lilly's religion (so called) there is not much to be said: in early
life he 'leaned to Puritanism,' as we have been told, and he probably
leaned on that so long as he could find support in it; but after the
Restoration (in 1663) he was made churchwarden of Walton-upon-Thames,
and settled 'the affairs of that distracted parish' as well as he could;
and upon leaving the place, 'forgave them seven pounds' which was due to
him.
Soon after this, when the great plague of 1665 came upon London, Lilly
gave up business there and retired into the country to his wife and
family, and continued there for the remainder of his life; going up to
the great city occasionally to visit his friends, or on calls to
business in his special line: one call from a high quarter came to him
in this shape:
'Monday, _22d October_, 1666.
At the committee appointed to inquire after the causes of the late
fires:
'_Ordered_, That Mr. Lilly attend the committee on Friday next, being
the 25th day of October, at two o'clock in the afternoon, in the
speaker's chamber, to answer such questions as shall be then and there
asked him.
'ROBERT BROOKE.'
The question before Parliament was in relation to the great fire in
London: 'as to the causes of the late fire; whether there might be any
design therein;' and Lilly was supposed to know something about that
matter, because he, in his book or pamphlet entitled 'Monarchy or no
Monarchy,' published in 1651, had printed on page seventh a hieroglyphic
'representing a great sickness and mortality, wherein you may see the
representation of people in their winding sheets, persons digging graves
and sepultures, coffins, etc.;' and on another page another hieroglyphic
representing a fire: two twins topsy-turvy, and back to back, falling
headlong into a fire. 'The twins signify Gemini, a sign in astrology
which rules London:' all around stand figures, male and female, pouring
liquids (oil or water?) on the flames. When, therefore, the great fire
of 1666 followed the plague of the preceding year, these hieroglyphics
again attracted attention, and the maker of them was called before
Parliament to declare if he, who had foreseen these events, could see
into them, and give any explanation of their causes. But Lilly was
prudent: to the question, 'Did you foresee the year of the fire?' he
replied: 'I did not; nor was I desirous; of that I made no scrutiny.' As
to the cause of the fire, he said: 'I have taken much pains in the
search thereof, but cannot, or could not, give myself any the least
satisfaction therein: I conclude that it was only the finger of God;
but what instruments he used therein I am ignorant.'
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