ΝΕΟ'ΦΥΤΟ-'ΑΣΤΡΟ'ΛΟΓΟΣ: THE Novice-ASTROLOGER INSTRUCTED: IN A NEW-YEARS-GIFT TO Mr. William Lily;  
Occasioned by the Scurrility, Scandal, Ignorance, and Flattery of his Merlin for the ensuing year.  
With two Dedicatory Epistles; the One to the Learned Divines, the Other to the Honest Astrologers of this Nation.  
By G. J. or J. G. which Lily the Parasite pleaseth.  Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool, then of him, Prov. The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, etc. Wherefore rebuke them sharply [cuttingly, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉] that they may be sound in the faith, Tit. 1.12, 13. 
London: Printed for E. C. and are to be sold at the Royal Exchange, Westminster-hall, and Paul's Churchyard. 1660.   

To the Learned Divines of this Nation, whether Presbyterians, or Independents.  
Learned Sirs,  
ALthough by reason of the self-ends and private Interests of vainglorious and ignorant persons, the Science of Astrology hath had the misfortune to be thought repugnant to your Sacred Studies; yet if it be duly (and without prejudice) considered, they may not only both stand together, but be assisting unto each other: The one, consulting the Lesser [though the more Divine] Book of Scriptures; the other, the Greater [and the more Natural] Book of Creatures.  
In ancient times, among the Egyptians (as your learned selves well know) there were none admitted into your Holy Order without being vested with a competent knowledge in Astrology. I readily acknowledge, that the Errors vented, and Imposturisms practised under the Golden wings of this Art, are sufficient to anticipate your better thoughts from a serious Inspection and examination thereof. And it were a thing superlatively unjust, to enforce you, with the good Wine thereof, to drink the Dregs also.  
Astrology is a fair and beautiful Virgin, though by many rendered a Notorious strumpet! The Fair Urania is every way most accomplished and lovely! It is my humble request therefore, that you would not consider it as it is rendered by Ignorant persons practising it; but as it is (untainted) in itself. The Lute is a most melodious Instrument, being touched by the skilful fingers of a Master in Music; but handled by a Porter, or Carman, from a Barn-door you may hear as pleasing a sound. It is Astrologies greatest unhappiness, that her pretended favourites are her greatest enemies.  
Learned Friends! The Design of this little Book is to take off the ugly and deformed vizard from the face of Astrology, that for many years it hath been compelled to wear, by the subtle cunning of one, who under pretence thereof hath been (sine ratione, vel religione) too bold and saucy, not only with her, but your Learned selves. The Author hereof wisheth all honour to a Learned settled Ministry, and Astrology freed from Sycophantique Practisers; and that the learned Divine and honest ginger (as in times past) might shake hands with each other, and Divinity and Astrology stand together.   

To the Honest Astrologers of this Nation.  
GENTLEMEN!  
YOu need not wonder at the sight, or subject of this small Tractate; for it drives at nothing but the Savage of Astrologers Honour and Credit, and your own Reputation. If you would know why I oppose Mr. Lilly, (who pretends himself the only Master of Astrology) it is because he hath opposed his Art, and turned his back upon the truth thereof. Had he been true to the Science, unto which he so largely pretends, I had forborn this pains, and prevented your trouble of perusal: But he appearing so repugnant (as I have showed) to his Art in every thing he writes, hath not only made Shipwreck of his own Repute, but [like a prodigious Prodigal] lays the Honour of Astrology, and yourselves (also) in the dust. For what person is he, that can be brought to believe there is life and moisture remaining in the smaller Trees, when the [pretended] Cedar is dry and sapless?  
I well hoped that some of you (more able) would have eased me of this task, and unmasked this Arch Pretender before now. But since his Errors are so eminently spread and promoted, to the great scandal of Astrology, and hitherto no one hath offered to question him— I adjudged it convenient (in recompense of his scurrilities) to stop his course at this time, lest in the height of his folly, he surfeit more dangerously, and run mad beyond the cure of all probable Reason.  
If, for this my pains, I am not requited with a Trepan, I shall not need to fear the force of my Antagonists Pen; being conscious to myself, I have not misrepresented him in a syllable. However, if he judge himself injured, or find himself troubled at any thing in this Discourse, let him, rationally, (not railingly) acquit himself from those Errors charged upon him; or else by his silence, acknowledge himself as great an Impostor, as this Treatise pronounces him; that so the world may be undeceived, and the Honour of Yourselves and Art, preserved.  
Vale.   

ΝΕΟ'ΦΥΤΟ-'ΑΣΤΡΟ'ΛΟΓΟΣ: The Novice-Astrologer INSTRUCTED: IN A NEW-YEARS-GIFT TO Mr. William Lilly.  
NO sooner came the Merlin of Lily (that Arch-Parasite) from the Press, flying about into the world, after its wont rate; but being informed that he had brought his Legs to the Stocks, and his Stiff Neck to the Halter of Confession, I was desirous to see whether he had acquitted himself like a true Penitent, sousing his seared Conscience in the brinish tears of Contrition; acknowledging (with sorrow) his Mistakes committed, and all those Errors and Ignorances' charged upon him, in the King of Swedes Nativity, and the Spurious Prognosticator.  
But behold! upon a due Examination of this his pretended Recantation Almanac, I find him lysping and jabber after his wont nonsensical manner, as if he were every way uncapable of rendering one wise Sentence or Word in his own defence. And although he hath been so notably baited, even to the losing the Nose of his Reputation and Credit in the Art he professeth, he passeth his Hunters like a sly Deer, and gives all their Checques, and Counter-Checques a fair go-by, even as he were none of their game, or any thing at all concerned in their chase him. Only thus— (that you may adjudge him sufficiently heated and affrighted) he frisks up his dirty tail in a fury, and like the Scythian Beast, squirts out his filth (thereby hoping the better to escape) in the Faces of his Pursuers.— Complaining of his being hard dealt with by Stitching Pens, and by Butchers, not Artists; and that it is beneath him to answer a Boy, or impudent ranting Fool, that dares not own his name to be G. J. or J. G. says he should render himself ridiculous (being an Eagle, an Owl rather) to catch at a Fly; and insinuates to his Readers, That he hath no Antagonists but Ranters and Atheists, (both which Epithets the best befit himself of any that I know.) After all which Billingsgate Language, (instead of a solid Vindication) with a company of Ignorant, Contradictory, Groundless Quacks for the Swede, and a Bundle of Abuses to Astrologers, and Astrology beside,— Exit Merlinus Anglicus.  
Of all which Barbarous and Ridiculous Stuff, I need in strictness, take no further notice than this— LILLY WRIT IT! A Fellow that cannot tell how to reason, but to rail only! That knows nothing of Astrology, but the name; which he makes use of, as a Cloak to cover his Ignorance! That knows neither how to take, or to make an Argument! That complies with any Government, so that he may be thought the State-Astrologer! In which respects, I account him beneath the revenge of the Pen of any ingenious Person or Scholar; and would have him therefore to know, that the grand reason why I set not my name at length in my Books against him, is, the probability of my purchasing the censure of the ingenious and learned Artists, for entering the Lists per Nominem, with so base and low-orbed a Fellow; unfitting for a Man to Cope with, much less an Artist.  
Nevertheless, in regard of my promise to the world in my last Lash of this Quack, entitled, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; or, The Spurious Prognosticator; and lest that he should cry Victory before he be harnessed for the Battle, and so in his own conceit pass for a Conqueror;— I will rip him up, and show his Nakedness and Folly to the world, somewhat more largely than he hath done, although his own Pen hath been a sufficient Index thereof, in his idle and addle Fictions for the ensuing year. Wherein (as briefly as I may) I will prove him to be the greatest Enemy to Astrology that this age hath brought forth; a mere Ignorant in it, though he quack so much under the Canopy of it; an Illiterate, Abusive, Pragmatical Fellow, void of Civility, Ingenuity and Learning.  
And that I may not lose him in my Chase, I will observe the same Method as in my last, viz. First, to begin with his Epistle; Secondly, his general Prog; Thirdly, his Monthly Fictions. And then I shall appeal to the world, whether he be not an Owl, rather than an Eagle in Astrology.  

SECT. 1. His Epistle Examined.  
WIlliam Lily in the beginning of his Epistle, makes his Introduction to his Excuse, with a notorious Contradiction of himself, and a most high and injurious Scandal to Astrology, and the ingenious Students thereof, in these words— The many turn, and wind, and changes of Government in England in 1659. what Man or Angel could predict?— And a little further he saith,— They (meaning the Changes, etc.) were not in any way demonstrable, or to be found out by the sharpest Rules of Astrology. Had Mr. L. been Friend, either to Himself, Astrology, or Astrologers, he could never have made so Contradictious, Senseless and Ridiculous an Excuse: for (1.) herein, he gives the Lie to all that ever himself hath formerly, and now written: and (2.) he bespatters all those ingenious Artists that did predict (and that from the known Rules of Astrology) those many Changes that happened in England 1659. And (3) he casts dirt in the beautiful Face of Astrology itself, insinuating an incertainty, or deficiency of its Rules and Aphorisms, and a perfect impossibility of any Man or Angel to predict those Changes mentioned thereby.  
1. He giveth the Lie most broadly and shamefully to himself; for in all his partyworks formerly, he rantingly (and ravingly also) argues against the Divines— That in the great Book of Heaven, are all Changes on Earth written; and that himself was born to predict them, sometimes more tacitly, at other times more largely. See his Alm. 1655. and his Epistle to his Alm. 1658. in particular, where he says,— There is no Emergency, good or bad, that happens on Earth, but hath a full manifestation from the Configurations of the Heavens. And that Italy, France, and his Holiness himself, have cause to remember how ominous his Predictions have proved to them. Nay, he cracks more largely in his World's Catastrophe,— That what he cannot do by Common Rules of Astrology, he can by Angels and Spirits: yea, so well is he acquainted with such Whimsies, and Vanities (as he proclaims it himself) that he shall go near (when time serves) to give every Nation of Europe a touch of its duration and continuance, from considering the Angel, or Genius of it. But now neither He, nor Man or Angel is able to predict any thing of Mundane Affairs, from the Rules of Astrology: by which it conspicuously appears, that Mr. L. and his skill also is subject to a strange kind of Fluctuation.  Nunc huc, nunc illuc, exemplo nubis aquosae. Now here, soon there, much like a Waterish Cloud. 
But tell me, Mr. L. canst thou expect to pass thus to the world undiscovered, and still be thought an ginger? Dost thou think and believe, all men are as ignorant and contradictious as thyself? If not,— 
Oh! William! William! monstrous William Lily!  
How cam'st thou here, to show thyself so silly?   
2. He abusively bespatters all ingenious Artists too. For, doth it handsomely follow, because Mr. L. is ignorant in Astrology, and (by consequence) of predicting those eminent Changes which happened in 1659. that therefore all Ingenious and trueborn Artists are so too? If Mr L. like an unexpert traveller, misseth the way he is to go, and tumbleth into a Bog, or Quagmire, Must he therefore be angry at those persons acquainted with the Road, that they do not tumble in with him for company? What fault was it of Mr Wharton, Trigg, Tanner, Wing, Gadbury, etc. that Mr L. presented himself an Ideom (instead of an Artist) to the World, in his botching, bungling Predictions? That he must thus traduce their skill, and impeach their Reputation in Astrology, as if they were as very ignorants therein as himself.  
But Mr L. having proved himself a perfect Ignorant in the Art he professeth, by his unclerklike and unwarrantable Predictions, (and seeing R.L. P. gone, and his Northern Lion Rampant going,) is resolved, as much as in him lies, to down with Astrology also, that the honest Astrologers themselves may fall likewise: Whose ruin and destruction it is plain he thirsts after, for their presuming to detect him and his Ignorance, he being (it seems) captivated by that Ranting and Tyrannical Principle, described by the Poet,— Pereant amici, dummodo una & inimici pereant. 
He cares not though Friends ruin'd be,  
So Enemies bear them company.   
3. He casts dirt in the face of Astrology also: for if by the Aphorisms and Rules thereof, others were enabled to predict those Changes spoken of, then is not Astrology so incapacious or deficient, as Mr L. here renders it, but by the Rules thereof other persons (viz. those several men before mentioned) were enabled to predict those Changes, etc. Ergo, etc. But Mr L. seeing plainly enough his own Reputation begin to sink, and his Writings every where hissed off the Stage with disparagement, is not contented to fall alone, but would fain give Astrology its fatal blow, that both might perish together. Not unlike the Devil, or Dragon, mentioned in the Revelations, who not well pleased to tumble headlong from Heaven singly, drew down a third part of the Stars with him. But how will Mr L. excuse his Gypsie-like Juggling (to say no worse of it) to the King of Sweden? Or, hath he promised him victory over the rising King of Denmark by an Art more certain and indubitable than he believes Astrology? If so be he hath so done, he cannot but suffer a cloud of sorrow to pass over his brazen brow, and Vermilion to distain his shameless cheeks, to hear of the success that hath answered his spurious presages. But of this more anon.  
I proceed to some other passages. M. L. is now come to Apologise more particularly, and endeavours to excuse himself for flattering R.L.P. thus— Observing Richard, by consent of the Council of State, and Officers of the Army, owned Protector— And seeing him courted by Ambassadors and Agents in October, at what time we were writing our monthly Observations, for we writ those first, in regard that the Ephemeris and Table of Houses are difficult to Print, so that nothing seriously (as we ought to have done) we laid it as a positive foundation (without observing the punctum temporis of his first admittance, or birth, etc.) These are the wise words of William Lilly: Now, let but the Ingenious Reader behold the notable Nonsense and unconnexedness of them; and if he can (after a due and impartial scanning thereof) make either head or tail, truth or sense of them, I shall not in the least envy his happiness; but I must protest impartially my ignorance of them. I have pointed them exactly, and truly related them, as I find them in his Book, that he may not complain of Abuse, or misrepresentation.  
But to run them over a little,— I would demand of Mr L. what stead this Apology stands him in, if I should admit he means something by it? What is it to us, or to the wiping off the ignorance and imposturism that sticks and clings as close as a Convulsion to him, to say— That he writes his Ephemeris and table of Houses first? As if the World were any thing concerned which part of his fooleries first pollute the Press: but were there any kind or colour of excuse in this silly conceit, it is nevertheless a mere forgery.— For he writes neither the Ephemeris, nor Tables of Houses himself; but honest J. Sponge transcribes the Ephemeris for him, and the Table of Houses hath been standing (ready composed) this ten years and upwards at Mrs Brudenels within Newgate; so that the edge of this pitiful Apology is perfectly blunted, and the difficulty of his Table of Houses to Print, clearly invalidated. (2.) I would demand of Lily what he means by this strange Parenthesis— (as we ought to have done)— for it hath no manner of relation, nor is any way kin unto the premises; unless we shall adjoin it to— So that nothing seriously— This way, I confess, although we cannot make sense of it, we may Truth— For Lily in his Almanac hath done nothing seriously, or like an Artist, as he ought to have done. So that you see he is catched with a truth before he is ware. Saepe quod insipiens finxerat esse, fuit. 
What for a time this fellow feigned to be,  
He's proved at last so in reality.  Or, if his— so that nothing seriously, etc. can bear any other interpretation, it must be this— That he writes altogether in jest! (3.) I would fain be informed by Mr L. what he intends his Reader should understand by these words— We laid IT as a positive foundation? If the Relative IT have any Antecedent, it must then be, either his Ephemeris, and Table of Houses, or else, the Addresses made to Richard L.P. The Ephemeris and Tables of Houses cannot be the Antecedent, because they are no foundations of Astrological Predictions; but a time truly proposed or known, with the figure of heaven set thereunto, is the true Radix of them. Nor can the Addresses to R.L.P. etc. be the Antecedent, unless we conclude, that Lily writes altogether by Guess: It must therefore follow,— That Lily is guilty of gross Nonsense in the passage urged before us. Thus we see that Lily, by endeavouring to excuse himself, contracts greater Errors; making his writings the only pattern of Penelope's Web: Just as if he were either besides himself, or haunted with that evil Spirit mentioned by the Poer.— Diruit, aedificat, mutat quadrata rotundis. 
He pulls all down, he sets up all again,  
His Squares for rounds are changed in his brain.  A little after Mr L. comes to confession in earnest, and thinks he explains himself to purpose, when he acknowledgeth,— Our too much credulity upon the many addresses,— led us into an error. Did it so? Do you not therefore deserve to be lashed for the same? What had you to do to mind the Addresses? You pretend to Astrology: Unless by this you implicitly confess yourself a States-Mountebanke, and one that Quacks under pretence thereof; and acknowledge yourself thereby to be (as in truth you are) only the Astrological News-monger. May not any man, perfectly ignorant in Astrology, predict prejudice or happiness to Protectors, Kings, and Nations, as well as wise William Lily, that ghesses thereat (as he confesses to have done) by the Addresses and Complexions of the times? Is this to be the most faithful propagator of an Art? Or, an Eagle in Christian Astrology? Is it not rather to be an Impudent-ignorant Quack? Oh, the sordid Ignorance and quackism of William Lilly!  
After he hath made himself thus ridiculous, as you have heard; to prove himself (yet) more sottish and vain, he cracks of his predicting the change of Government in England to some of the Protectors friends privately: telling them, that the Government was too heavy for his shoulders.— And then makes an Appeal to the Court of Equity in the indifferent Reader, (concluding himself cast at the Common Law of Sense and Reason). Whether, if he had discovered his dissolution, it had been either wisdom or discretion to have been publicly free in his Judgement unto the Protector or the World, etc. To which I answer:  
If you had known any thing thereof, it had been your duty to have acquainted the World therewith; or else to what purpose, or under what pretence, do you invade the World with your Spurious Oracles? Besides, William Lily, if my memory fail me not, you were of another opinion, when you ignorantly scribbled against Captain George Wharton; the Example of Gauricus could no way startle your stubborn spirit then, although you hope to creep out at that hole now. But why not tell the Protector, or the world thereof, as well as some of his private friends, I pray Sir? Surely, surely, Mr Merlin, if you had had but the least knowledge or information of the downfall of Richard, you would have presented him (as you did the long Parliament in 1652. when you were truly told what the Soldiery would do with them) with an Epistle, thereby premonishing him of what he should expect: And made the world to have heard of the Change from your Parasitical Pen, Battus-like, on both sides; 
— Sub illis  
Montibus, inquit, erant, & erant sub montibus illis.  
By yonder Mountains were thy Kine,  
The Kine by yonder Mountains were.  Yea, and although you had received the same, as you did the news of the long Parliaments dissolution, you would have pretended to have read poor Richard's downfall in the book of Heaven, as than you did theirs. But neither these confident Cracks, nor yet the two first sheets you as vainly refer us to, as tattle or boast of, yourself, do any way make it appear that you had the least knowledge thereof, by information, or that you understood so much of Art as to direct you thereunto: Only you boast and brag of things that are not, hoping by such silly shifts and sleights to redeem your (near) shipwrecked Reputation. And it is every way as unlikely, and strange to the truth— That Lily should acquaint any of his (that is, Richards) private friends therewith; for he durst not lay or adventure a wager thereof himself with a Gentleman that desired the same of him, for satisfaction in that particular. Oh! William, William, all the world are not such Idiots, as to be wrought upon so easily, as A Chalk-Jury. But suppose we should admit that you had known any thing thereof, and had said something of it in your two first sheets, (which were an affront to sense to conclude:) I would then fain know, how you came to repent for your folly and ignorance therein? Surely, Mr Lily, the morning before he writ this Epistle, made some such like supplication at the Altar of the Goddess Laverna— as this— 
— Pulchra Laverna,  
Da mihi fallere, da justum sanctumque videri,  
Noctem peccatis, & fraudibus objice nubem?  
Goddess most fair! this suit deny me not,  
That quack and lie I may, and yet be thought  
A Person just: my knavish frauds o'erspread  
With sable-clouds, that they may ne'er be read.  Certainly, William Lily, your great Patrons cannot but shake their heads at you, when they seriously consider what a silly Jack-daw, instead of Eagle, they have for many years protected. Would any man think, by these your contradictions and ignorances', that you were the Person, whose Pen formerly was accounted of equal value to a Regiment of Horse? May we not more rationally believe rather, that a Parrot may prove as good an ginger as simple W. Lily? Oh! but William was mindful of his Commitment in 1652. where he lay 13. days together, labouring to be bailed (in no sad condition sure, for he was feasted at Sergeant Birkhead's Table all that time, and paid no fees at last) and what was his fault forsooth! he said in effect, that the Parliament stood upon a tottering foundation, and that the Army would dissolve them. By which words he would needs insinuate himself to have been a Quondam true Prophet in Astrology. But I pray, M. Merlin, deal fairly with the world, and then tell them truly, That your commitment was not for what you said in effect, but for the sauciness which you used plainly to that Power you had a protection from, and a quondam Salary too; as I have heard yourself confess. But Lily was then in hopes of a better Master of old Oliver; therefore (when every man else as well as he, saw plainly that the Soldiery would dissolve the Parliament) out peeps wise William like a Positical Parasite, and pretends Astrologically to predict it. An admirable Piece of Art to be boasted of!  
And is not he, a Quackist singular,  
When things are done, that reads them in his Star?  
Mr. Lily not forgetting his usual canting clawing humour, is come to flatter the present Power; and in his Quacking-strain, prebends to demonstrate the Armies Declarations satisfactory to the whole English Nation; and mentions some of the heads thereof, the better to insinuate himself into their Favours and Affections. For Lily cannot fill an Almanac of six sheets of Paper, (although he have three of them done to his hand, as I have before proved) without relating a packet of News. But Lily! I would fain know what you have to do with any thing of News, or the humour of the times at all? Doth Guido Bonatus, Haly, Junctine, Origen, Ptolemy, or any other ginger warrant any such course? I am confident, Mr. Merlin, they do not: and you prove yourself but an impudent indigent Quack in Astrology, and make that also to be looked upon, but as a higher degree of Lieger-demaine, by doing it. But Mr. Lilly goes on, saying, That no mortal man could have conceived that R. L. P. should have lost his Government, without one or two broken heads. But I beseech you, Sir, what is this to Astrology, whether he lost his Government by force of blood, or peaceably? I am sure, notwithstanding your insulting over that modest Gentleman thus basely, you yourself are like to lose your Credit in Astrology at a far easier rate; and if you consider every thing, you cannot but see it plainly. For whereas you thought to be famous in after-Ages for your skill therein, you are now like to die basely, ignominiously, and unbemoaned; and (that which is worst of all) will always be esteemed of, as a Quack and Impostor in Astrology, and a notorious Incendiary among Nations. However, it is some Credit to Astrology, and Comfort, (yea, and Honour also) to Astrologers, that this Arch-pretender is unmasked and discovered in his life time, to be what he is; and that he dare not, or cannot, answer for himself.  
Notwithstanding all this, William Lily thinks he hath dealt by his Reader like a good Christian ginger, when he says, We solemnly profess our mistake concerning R. L. P. yet it is not so great, as to blast us perpetually; if our Writings since 1644. be civilly perused by Artists, not Butchers. What this Addleheaded Fellow means by his civilly perused, I understand not, except it be this,— That for him to be read with applause, whether he deserve it or not, is to be civilly perused: or to read him, without taking Cognizance of his Ignorance; or if we take notice thereof, yet not to tell the world of it: this surely is to read him civilly. But Sir I although I have avoided all these Parasitical ways, (which, as your Trade is to flatter, so you love to be flattered, yet) I have civilly perused all your writings since 1644. (i. e. I was not, I dare aver, so drunk with Wine, when I read them, as you with Ignorance, when you writ them:) and really, I find them every way so empty and idle, that it is a shame for any but William Lily to own them. But to particularise some of them:— Take from your Introduction (which is the best you dare to boast of) what you have stolen from Haly, Origanus, and Albubater, concealing their better names, to make the world esteem it yours; and than it will prove the exact Emblem of your ignorant self. As for Example: Who but a Butcher in Art, would have printed a Nativity with Directions no less than seven or eight years false; as you have done the Moons in your Introduction? Or would any but a Novice in Astrology have given the Sun, and Mid-heaven two different Right Ascensions apiece, as you have? And is not he a silly Stitcher, and most notorious Butcher in Art, that knows not Apogeon, from Perigeon? These with a hundred more, are to be found in Lilies Introduction. And all his other Pamphlets are exactly of the same Complexion.  Nec lac lacti; nec ovum ova similius. 
Betwixt Milk and Milk, the likeness is not greater;  
Nor Egg to Egg, more parallel in feature.  
And as they may call each other Brethren, by reason of their exact similitudes; so they may truly call him Dad, it being impossible for them to be begotten by any other. But è diverticulo viam. I shall return to his solemn profession concerning Richard L. P.  
Since you are come to the Stool of Repentance, (though most unwillingly) why do not you (to make but one work of all) solemnly profess all your other mistakes, which are at large charged upon you in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; or, Spurious Prognosticator, and in the King of Swedes Nativity? This you ought to have done, if you had any hopes of being received into mercy, or expected to escape blasting perpetually. Can the accursed Murderer, any way reasonably hope to be reprieved from the Gallows, by confessing a petty Fact of Theft he hath committed? Sir! it is not your acknowledging your Error concerning R. L. P. that any way excuses you from the unpardonable Crime of betraying the King of Sweden, under pretence of telling him, you read what you writ for him, in the Heavens: Neither doth this simple Blind, you cast before the eyes of the world, any ways protect your ignorance all along in Art; viz. in setting Figures forty one minutes of time false; and in raising your Whimsical Judgements (under pretence of judging according to Art) upon such deformed and erroneous foundations. Nor is it less than an ignorant and effeminate sleight, and juggle of you, to insinuate to the world that your Antagonists are Butchers, not Artists. If they are Butchers in Art, is it not the easier work for you to answer them? And would it not more and better become you to invalidate their skill therein, and weaken their many charges against you, then for to rail thus upon either their Persons or Parts? Or, are they Butchers in Art because they writ against so worthy a Workman as they have proved you to be? Surely, surely, Lily, it is more evident than your knowledge in Astrology, that you have proved yourself a Butcher and Bungler also, in the Art you pretend to steer the Affairs of Kings and Kingdoms by, in not vindicating your own Repute, but suffering it to be trampled upon at pleasure; even by the ignorant sort, as well as the ingenious and skilful. The Tongue of each Child, is now become a Trumpet of William Lilies ignorance.  
But wise William Lilly comes here, simply endeavouring to answer that which is urged against him concerning the Swedes, thus:— We were not obliged to give an account of any thing which might prejudice him; (the Swede) or give encouragement to his many enemies. And why not, I pray Sir? Were you bribed to secrecy, that you might the better betray him, by puffing him up with false hopes? Or did you flatter him with the weak Wind of your Cathedral Cunning; thinking thereby his Enemies were so Pusillanimous as to be affrighted at your Quacking Skill? If the first, have you not shown yourself a plain Ambidexter? If the latter, what Idiot (besides Merlinus Anglicus) would have been guilty of so gross a piece of Pride? But that you may adjudge Lily to be in earnest, he interrogates— Is Pomerania quite lost? or is he beaten out of Prussia? etc. And behold! at the same time that he wrote those Boasts and Cracks, (as if Providence intended to stigmatize him for a notorious Liar) the K. of Swedes leaves his Leaguer, and flees to Cronenburgh Castle, having lost all his Army in Fuenen. Which News is still fresh in memory, and cannot but make Lilies Ears to tingle, and Cheeks to blush, unless he hath sold himself an absolute Vassal to Impudence and Quackism. But Lily like a Liar of the first Magnitude, goes on, interrogating further: Is not the King of Swede still strongly encamped before Copenhagen? which City we hope God will give him. Indeed, Mr. L he is not before Copenhagen, but in Cronenburgh, possibly blocked up himself by this time: And what reason (I pray) had you to hope God would give him Copenhagen? None in Astrology, I am sure; although you ignorantly reported that it should be taken in Novem. 1658. Besides, hath it not been in print resolved according to the Rules of Art, that the K. of Swede shall never gain Copenhagen? You should have rendered the Author of that, a person mistaken, or a Butcher in Art (as you say all your Antagonists are) before you had promoted your own simple hopes in the room of Astrology; which if you know any thing therein, you cannot but confess plainly, denies Copenhagen, and indeed any part of the Danish Territories, to be long kerbed by the King of Swede.  
Well, but what of all this? saith this Parasite, the King of Swedes condition is not so bad as rendered by some stitching Pens. If by stitching Pens he mean the Pen of Merlinus Verax for one, who hath published this Prince's Nativity, I shall tell him, that that Person hath so Art-like whipped and stitched him up, that he appears to the world a mere bundle or lump of Nonsense and flattery, instead of an Artist. And hath indeed given that King more and better advice for nothing (as is to be seen by the Book, to be sold at William Larnar's upon Ludgate Hill) touching his present affairs, than ever Lily did, or indeed was able to do, for the Gold Chain he received from him. And he hath shown more Art, and done Astrology greater honour, in that small Tract, than Lily ever did in all his Idle and Addle Stories, which he nicknames his works, since 1644. But if by stitching Pens, he means some Tailor's Pens, that have been active to discover his ignorance in Art; Is it not a shame that he can answer for himself no better? But were there any such thing, doth not Lily appear to be an Impudent, Proud, Pragmatical, Domineering fellow, so to forget his own Original as to complain of stitching Pens? What was Lily at first himself? was he not a Tailor's boy, viz. an Apprentice to old Pawlin in the Strand? Ask the Watermens that ply at Strand-bridge, and they will affirm it: Or if you are loath to take that pains, read Captain Wharton's Merlini Anglici Errata; who proves him not only a Tailor, but a womans-taylor, in which regard he might perhaps have proved a better ginger for Queen Christina, than Carolus Gustavus King of Sweden. Come William Lily, I would have you hereafter to knit your knots better in Astrology, to prevent the being marked for an Idiot therein by stitching Pens; that is, to keep yourself within compass, and not give such large opportunities to men of your own Trade to stitch you up, as you have done. And do not hereafter bewray your own Nest; for had not your own Pen been the Index of your Pride and Folly, the world had willingly rocked your Taylorship asleep; and were indifferently well contented that you should pass for a Quack in Astrology among them, without any regard had to the Botching you prove yourself guilty of, in translating Ptolemy's Aphorisms. But William, William, if you are so Lordlike grown, as to forget the stairs of your Taylorship, by which you have climbed (as you think) to your Eagleship in Astrology, can you be angry, if those whom you (scurrilously) term butchers, (not Artists) in a just recompense, press down the Plumes of your Pride with your own Tailor's Goose? Oh, William, William, remember Talion's Law.  
But Mr Lily telleth us, he writes this year in great perplexity of spirit. I am content to believe you Mr Lily; It appeareth so indeed, by what you have presented us with! And what either Art or sense can we expect from a distempered man?  
To conclude his Epistle, he says— Many will expect that he should say something touching the Northern Quarrel. Do they so Sir! Who are those many you mean, I wonder? I am certain they cannot be of the number of the Learned and Ingenious. But 'tis no matter; be they who they will this I can tell them, they are like to lose their longing: for Lily hath not yet had intelligence sufficient to officiate their desires. And that which is more considerable, he is not engaged (yet) to Pimp for either of those two able English Generals, as he flatteringly styles them, in hopes (perhaps) he may be entertained to Quack for one of them under pretence of Astrology. But I shall advise them both, rather to implore the Dust of Mother Shipton for Counsel, than either the Addle Pate, or Yielding Pen of this Proditorious Parasite. And so I pass from his Epistle to his Book, which the ingenious Reader, as well as I, shall find as empty and void of Art, as this his Epistle is of good Apology, Ingenuity, Sense, or Learning.   

SECT. 2. His General Judgements examined.  
MR. L. being a little entered into his General Judgements, let's glide from his Pen a truth before he is ware— telling us— That he will deliver his WEAK CONCEPTIONS upon the two Eclipses, which happened in October, and November, 1659. Certainly Sir, you are not in earnest now; you were wont to set a better value upon your own Commodities. What? Is our Eagle-like-skill in Astrology, and our deep knowledge in the Doctrine of Angels, and our sharp understanding in Theurgy and the Crystal, all on a sudden departed! Never a Dick-Mye left to strengthen us? Nothing left us but weak Conceptions? This is hard indeed! but possibly Sir! by this your humble stile, you expect that others should deem your Conceptions strenuous; which (Sine dubio) they will have little reason to do, when they have once read you over. But by the Complexion and Temperature of your Conceptions, we shall (I hope) ere we make an end, be able to pass a Judgement upon their weakness, or worth.  
To proceed— Mr L. tells us— That the Lunar Eclipse on Octob. 19 portends, that as Venus, Ruler of it, leaves her own house for a worse, approaching Saturn's presence; so near these Months (he names none, unless we must understand October in the Plural!) do many unhappy persons (made so) either by an uncomfortable Ministry, or the Rigour of the Law of Nations, leave good and large possessions, etc. Why Venus her propinquity to Saturn should undo people by Ministers, either comfortable or uncomfortable, I understand not; neither doth Mr Lily I suppose; for his Art takes no knowledge of any such thing; what his disaffection to the Ministry may, I trouble not myself to inquire. But that he may discover his unparallelled hatred to Ministers, he runs over his old song again in a higher strain, thus,— As Venus is hastening to a Conjunction of Saturn, he much questions whether the mere illiterate man will not get ground of many of those LAZY MEN, whom we call gospel-ministers, Church-Divines, or Preaching Divines. Although Venus (as I said before) and Saturn have nothing to do with the Ministry, yet Lily (the better to spit his venom at the persons of that Sacred Order) wrists his Art from the true meaning thereof, to bring that within the verge of his Saucy Pen. But the main reason why this Envious-insolent-fellow cannot Print a foolish Pamphlet without dishonouring that Heavenly Function, is, because the Moon is in square to Jupiter in his Swinish Geniture. But pray Sir! What is the reason that you tell us not when this Eclipse gins and ends by your Calculation; that we may see what reason you have (by the figure thereof) to predict at so malicious a rate of Ministers? but you (I presume) understand the Doctrine of Eclipses, and that of Angels, a like.  
But why Lazy men, which we have called gospel-ministers, & c? Really, I judge it impossible for any of them you mean to be so lazy in Divinity as you are in Astrology. And why (I pray) such as we have called gospel-ministers? etc. Do you believe them to be persons not deserving that Title? Or, are you turned Anabaptist or Quaker all of a sudden, that you thus grudgingly give them the Epithets that are their proper due? But your love and affection to the Ministry, is sufficiently known; your scurrilous Pen hath been the Conveyer of your Gall towards them for many years together. Which very thing should, me thinks, make you more civil toward your Antagonists (or yourself rather) than to brand them as Ranters and Atheists; when you cannot but be sensible, that there are none such notorious Ranters and Atheists as those that scandalously abuse God's dearest Messengers. But lilly's Religion and Astrology are known to be of a stamp.  
After many Tautologies and impertinencies, Lily is passed from the Moon's Eclipse to that of the Sun, on Novemb. 4. but gives us neither the time of beginning or end; only presents us with the middle, and duration, and Digits eclipsed, though not truly. The middle (he saith) is at 9 min. past 3. in the Evening. But he is strangely out in this; for Mr Wing hath calculated it, and myself hath proved it, the middle thereof was at 4. min. 30. sec. past 3. So that observe what difference there is between 4. min. 30. sec. and 9 min. for so much is M. L. distant from the truth. The Duration, he falsely saith, was 2. h. 3. m. But the true Duration was 2. h. 21. m. 19 sec. as is demonstable by Astron. Instaur. So that Mr Lilly is no less than 18. mi. distant from the truth in this also. Then he saith the Digits eclipsed were 7. deg. 32. sec. but the true Digits, etc. eclipsed, were 8. deg. 48. min. 1. sec. So that ignorant William Lily is out no less than one whole digit, 47 min. 29 sec. in the quantity of the Eclipse. Now from all these Errors in Calculation, is not Lily likely to make excellent Predictions? But as are his Calculations, so are his Judgements, without either Art or Order. Nevertheless, hence Lily can take opportunity to abuse Scorpio, and call it a rugged treacherous, violent Sign, accounted so by all wise men. But, I pray Sir! how prove you that? except you conclude, what yourself agrees to, all wise men must needs consent to. Certainly, Mr. Lily, you cannot have so short a head, as to think that the fortieth part of wise men understand any thing at all of Scorpio. And I suppose you would not be so understood, as to censure all men for Fools, that understand nothing thereof. This therefore must pass for one of your wooden 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (i.e.) ranting boasts.  
But why, I entreat you, Sir, is Scorpio grown so odious in your eyes? Is it because Saturn is therein, in your Nativity, and in Opposition to your Sol? Or is it because you have an ignorant (undeserved) hatred to any, that have it Horoscopical at Birth? If so, were I a Scorpionist, I should tell you, You have foamed out your filth in scandalising and abusing a noble, fixed,  Sign of the Zodiac, as violent, etc. whise you are compelled to draw your poisonous breath under a more treacherous, dissembling, and double-bodied sign of your own, viz. Pisces; perhaps a main reason of your forked tongue and actions. Scorpio scorns the ignorant, cold, effeminate, reasonless Evasions, and low-orbed silly comeoffs, of Pisces; and that galls mutable, and turn-about William Lily, so that he must needs wreak his weak and worthless revenge in Print against it.  
But what will Lily say, if I prove he hath bespattered Pisces in as base a manner as he hath Scorpio? and that in this very Almanac of his too? Will he not confess himself more rigling and uncertain in his Judgement than an Eel? Let him be pleased to peruse what in page two he hath written, viz.— When the Angles of the Figure of any Eclipse are of double-bodyed Signs, as those of the Lunar defect are, the Counsels of the then times are uncertain, various and mutable, treacherous, carried on with abundance of Fraud, Violence and Juggling, etc. But perhaps Lily will say,— Th●● Pisces is no double-bodied Sign: Indeed it is no matter what he says; for by this notorious Contradiction, We may estimate his Conscience to be as large, as his Pen liberal. But passing these things, let us hear him in his Pontificalibus of Language, threatening the poor City of London: Mars in Gemini, gives us great cause to fear LONDON will be the place, and Plague or Pestilence the devouring Disease, etc.— God defend it from more, etc. for it was here, here, here, that— and it must be here, here, here, that—  
What this Frenzie-Fellow should mean by his three Couple of HERES, unless it should be to hear an ignorant Quack simply prate, I understand not. Is it not a sign by this, that he writes not only in perplexity of spirit, as he complains of, but in distraction of mind also? Howbeit, he can (in this distracted temper) ignorantly threaten London with a Plague, although Astrology doth not (yet) this three years. He hath indeed done so ten years together, and miss; possibly he may hit it at last; if the M.C. ad □ Saiurn & Solis give him leave to present himself a scribbling Fool in print to the world a little longer.  
But he advances, saying,— The Clergy run high,— and stir up Tumults: a thing very frequent with men of that Order, these six or sevenscore years last past; yea, in all ages, etc. Still you see this Fellow must be abusing the Ministry, and make that the main burden of his bungling Predictions. Had his Antagonist been guilty of any such Crime, he must have been rendered a Ranter, Atheist, and what not? And doth Lily think that we shall esteem him any other than a Ranting-raving Atheist, that thus bespatters those worthy Lights of the Church, that constantly spend their Lamps of Life, to dispel the dark Clouds of Ignorance, that such Atheists and Scoffers endeavour to bring upon the Sun of our Religion? Or can he take himself to be less than a person of a foul surfeited Soul, that thus licentiously traduces the whole Body of Christ's Ministry with the Poison of his polluted Pen? But he thinks he can come off from all this, by colloguing thus:— Still we retain all Civility both in Heart and Soul for the godly Ministers. Here you may behold the true Emblem of this Hypocrites dissembling Ascendent, viz. Pisces. First, he most basely and undeservedly abuses the whole Ministry, and exhibits an impious and unjust Charge against them, viz. of six or sevenscore years long; nay, as long as the age of the world; and almost in the same breath,— He retains all Civility of Heart for them. Oh, the notorious Hypocrisy and Dissimulation of this Cloven-hearted Fellow! If this be your Civility, pray Sir, let me partake of your Morosity.  
To render himself as weak in parts, as hypocritical and dissembling in Spirit, in the same Page he writes thus:— But if he shall judge according to the genuine Rules of the MORE PURER Astrology, etc. Can Mr. Lily tell (I wonder) what himself means by the Rules of the MORE PURER Astrology? Had that Person whom Mr. Lily so wisely terms Atheist, or Ranting, Impudent Fool, been guilty of jumbling Comparatives (unlawfully) thus together, we should have heard of him in some such like Language:— Behold the ignorance of this impudent ranting Boy, that cannot write sense! a ridiculous Fool, that hath need to go to School again; and not present himself to the world in print, until he understand true English! All which Epithets, I shall in modesty spare Mr. Lily, because he is, in viridi Senectute, his green old age. Yet nevertheless I may be bold to tell the world,— That by this passage of his MORE PURER, it appears, he understands true English, as much as he doth Astrology, and no more. And so I pass his idle Discourse of Eclipses, and come to his Vernal Figure. Which he set to 6 h. 9 m. p. m. March 9 but by his own Ephemeris is conspicuously false. Examine it thus else.— 

March 1660. 9 D. ☉ is place. ♓ 29 d. 43 m.  
March 1660. 10. D. ☉ is place. ♈ 0 d. 42. m.  
Difference in Longit. 0. d. 59 m.  
Distance of ☉ from first point of ♈, 17 m.    
Wherefore I work by this Rule:— If 59 m. give 24 h. what shall 17 m. give? Facit 6 h. 54 m. So that Mr. L. is out no less than 45 m. in time, if we make his own Book the Judge. But the true time is at 6 h. 51 m. 24 sec. So that had Mr. L. been true to his own Ephemerideses, I should have spared him here. But I admire how Lily stumbled so near upon the truth in his Ephemeris, and yet his Figure so false. Surely he hath been pilfering from V Wing, for reduce Eichstade he cannot, unless Mr. Sponge help him. But 'tis no matter, be his Figures true or false, he proceeds to judgement,— and tells us, Libra ascends, and the Significatrix of the people (which must be Venus, if the Ascendent signify them) is well dignified, and in Aspect of the two Superior Planets, etc. but Venus' Sir, is in detriment; and by your Figure in Octava Domo, and beholds neither Saturn nor Jupiter; are not you therefore a notorious Ignorant in Art? Who is the Butcher now? Sure I am, if William Lily understood his Tailor's Needle no better than his Astrologers Pen, we may justly conclude him a very botching and bungling Fellow at both. Are not those Kings and States in a sad condition, that are necessitated to take advice about their most emergent Affairs, from so indigent a Fellow?  
But William Lily hath learned to talk big, and to utter highswelling words of vanity, that the common people may believe his head is periwiged with the Clouds; and tells us— That toward the latter end of May, or beginning of June or July (some time or another, 'tis no matter when) the Conglomeration of no less than five Planets in the Sign Scorpio, a fruitful Sign (here Scorpio is grown into favour again with this two-tongued Idiot) may justly import a meeting together of many people, etc. But Sir, there is no such Conglomeration of the Planets in any of the months mentioned, nor in many months after; (what Conglomeration of Impudence, Ignorance and Folly, etc. there may be in your brain, I know not;) your Judgement therefore is as idle, as your insinuation false.  
But Lily fearing some Change of Government, I suppose (for you must know, that he would have the world believe, that Revolutions as are signally pointed at by his Pen, as the Vicissitude of the Air is foretold by his rotten Carcase) gins to tell his Readers— That as some Pratlers abuse Oliver Protector,— Thus do other viperous Tongues and Pens deprave even the whole line of the Stuarts Family, and call it accursed; whilst their own is owned more abominable. All that I shall return to this passage, is this:— That if he can find any man in Europe that hath dealt more viperously with that Family then himself, both in Tongue & Pen, let him bring them within his Lash; if not, let him pass under his own Censure, for a fellow of a viperous Tongue and Pen, and consider what he hath written in his Monarchy, and his Almanacs for the years 1649, 1650, 1651, 1652, 1653, 1654. and other his foolish Pamphlets: But perhaps he thinks, to write against an honourable Family, is not to abuse it.  
So from his Vernal, I follow him to his Aestival Ingress; where he asserts that Sol enters Cancer, June 10 d. 9 h. 12 m. P. M. but this is as true as the former, as I shall make appear by his own Book. Which (setting aside his Printers errors) I examine thus.  

June 1660. 10 ☉ is place. ♊ 29 d. 36 m.  
June 1660. 11 ☉ is place. ♋ 0. d. 33. m.  
☉ 's Diurnal Motion. 0. d. 57 m.  
His distance from the first point of ♋ is 24 m   
Then I say, If 57 m. give 24 h. what 24 m? Facit 10 h. 6 m. So that here you see, he is mistaken no less than 54 m. in time, as his own Book proves against him. Oh! Monstrum horrendum! An ginger, and cannot set a true Figure!  
However, Mr. L. adventures upon this Scheme also, to deliver his WEAK CONCEPTIONS, and says— The Heavens do not at all smile upon the Actions of Kings, Princes, Supreme Magistrates and Authorities. For which passage I shall account with him anon. But although Mr. Lilies Astrology fail him, yet his good Tutelary or Presidentiary Angels do not sure, whom he saith,— Generated that very quick Comet in 1652. (not so quick neither as an ignis fatuus; for it lasted a whole month together) as the Precursor of some eminent Person or Persons, or their rising unto honour in Europe, etc. Before Mr. Lilly had adventured to predict aught to depend upon the Influences of Comets, he should have made his way clear, by removing the stumbling block that lay in it. For I deny (and so doth learned Aristotle, and most Naturalists) that Comets are generated by his Tutelary or Presidentiary Angels, but are engendered of Ignean Vapours, consisting of a viscous, sulphurous, and compacted matter, attracted from the Earth by the Energy of the Celestial Movers, into the highest Region of the Air, sometimes into the Starry Region, whence it is closely conglutinated into a great Lump, by reason of the continued supply it hath from below: and being thus compacted, is set on fire in time convenient, by the excessive heat of the place where it rests, and burns either long, or a little while, according to the paucity or plenty of the matter of which it consists. This is the opinion of the learned generally. And surely Mr Lily, it will be no ill-concluding Argument, to say— He that is ignorant in the Generation of Comets, must be so also in their effects. But Mr L. tattles of Comets, and Angels, to cover his ignonorance in Astrology only; he poor man! knows no more of the natures or effects of either, than the silliest Potter that trots about the Streets of an Errand, or his poor Sister (the Washer-woman) in Milford-Lane.  
But whether he understand Comets, etc. or not, he boasts as if he understood all things; and quackingly tells us,— The Austrian forces seem to be threatened near this time, either with the loss of some battle, or town, etc. if any thing at all he be concerned in war or quarrel with the not conquered Swede, whose forces now, where in Action, will make it appear they fight for a good King, and in a good honest cause. And how comes it about that the Austrians must be thus menaced? Is it merely upon this supposition grounded, if they fight against the not conquered Swede? But pray Mr Lily, what Rule in Astrology have you to predict the Swedish King to be good, and his Cause honest? Will you never leave your clawing Parasitical Practices? But a little further good William! If the King of Swedes be assured victory over the Austrians,— How comes it to pass that Lily predicted that the heavens smile not upon the Actions of Kings, etc. as before you have heard him? Are Lilies Angels of no better use to him, than thus to suffer him to run into Errors and Contradictions? Or, hath his good Genius left him? But what will Lily say, if the Swedes and Austrians never quarrel?— If they do not, then creeps he sneakingly out at his great IF! For his Predictions depend upon ifs and and's, although the Celestial Edicts do not. All his presages are whimsical Castles in the air; and If the sky falls, Lily and his Swedish King may catch Larks together.  
But saith Lily— The Swedes cannot be made subject to those misfortunes, as some scribbling Pens would have them.— If the Comet in 1618. did first appear in 25. d. of ♏— Then we find the ☉ in that very degree at the King of Swedes birth, applying to a △ ♃ in M. C. and ☽ applying to his ⚹. Remove these Configurations out of the Heavens, and then his enemies may rant and prate, as some very butchers, not workmen, impertinently have done, etc. But sigh either he or they are men of no quality, but Nameless Butchers, he or they are below our Pen to take a full Cognizance thereof, their prating or persons— Aquila non capit Muscas; we should make ourselves ridiculous to answer a boy, or a ranting-impudent fool, that dare not own his Name to be G.I. or I.G.  
If I do not prove this ambitious Parasite as botching a Fellow, and of as mean Quality, and a verier Boy in Art, than him whom he scurrilously styles so, yea, though his Presidentiary Angels should take his part;— Let William Lily again say, he hath but a Boy to deal with. First, his citing the Comet 1618. to favour the King of Swede, is both vain and foolish. And if it signify any thing (It happening 4 years before he was an Embryo) it must be mischief: Yea, and such as those ●●●ists (whom this Butcher terms Scribblers) have mentioned. Aristotle, Pliny, and Cicero say,— Comets are the Messengers of great Calamities, and of the death and destruction of Kings, etc. but never of any good to them. The Noble Historian Suetonius, writing on Claudius, Cap. 26. hath these words— Presagia mortis ejus precipua fuerunt exortus stellae crinitae, quam Cometa vocant: The Principal presages of his death were arisings of the hairy star they call a Comet. But suppose I should (for discourse sake) admit the Comet in 1618. to signify good to the King of Swede, because his ☉ fell to be in the degree of its first appearance; yet his ☽ happening in the opposite point thereof, if the one portended any good, the other must evil; and William Lily still appear a silly-shifting fellow, that would force that to speak for Kings, that in truth hath neither heart or face to do so.  
Yea, but saith Lily, the ☉ applieth ad △ ♃ in M.C. and ☽ to his ⚹ also.— All which I grant; and Merlinus Verax hath made as much of those things for the Swede, as Astrologically they will bear. But Lily, you appear very partial in not relating the Bad, as well as the Good, as he hath done: for to balance those good Arguments you mention, he tells you that ♃ is retrograde in the tenth house, afflicted by the corporal presence of ♄, and both in □ ♀, Lady of his Ascendant; and that the Luminaries are in opposition from cruel and molicious places of the Heavens; Besides the most pernicious Direction of M. C. add ♂ ♄. which he now groans and labours under, whose effects are these:— Maximas indignitates & odia Principum aut Magnatum judicit; vario quoque malorum genere, dignitates, officia, honores atque favores subvertit: Negotia cum tarditate natum proficere facit, facinorosa vero scelere excitat, & nonnunquam mortem lata judicis sententia portendit.— But it may be William Lilly boggles thus at the King of Swedes Fate, hoping to baffle the effects of such a like direction, that will shortly happen in his own Nativity. But William, I can assure you upon my honest word, that the M. C.ad ♂ & □ ♄ portends more than a fit of the stone; & this you will shortly find true, unless you can implore the assistance of some of those Angels you boast of, to remove malignant ♄ out of the Heavens. But Lily confesses, that others have catechised him for this his folly; but saith, they are Nameless impertinent Butchers, and persons of no quality; and therefore they are beneath his Pen to take Cognizance of; Aquila non capit Muscas. All this Sir is but your ipse dixit; for the Fame of those that have dissected your Ignorance, is every whit as splendid as William Lilies, although they began to labour in the harvest of Astrology long after him. It is true, they are not (as I hear of) famous for trepanning Kings; or for Star-gypsies, or Planet-Quackers, or Angel-Mongers, etc. And that perhaps is the reason why Lily terms them persons of no quality. If by men of no quality, Lily mean in respect of their birth, or parts; His poor leather-jacqueted Father of Diseworth, an obscure Village in Leicestershire, were he alive, could not but shed tears for grief that ever he should breed up a Son to so much Arrogancy, and vainglory; as knowing it impossible for any man to come of a meaner stock than himself.  
But why doth Lilly urge the Adage, Aquilo non capit muscas? Doth he hope to excuse his Credit, by insinuating his Antagonist a Fly? O doth he suppose there is as great a difference between the person he calls impudent Boy and himself, as is between an Eagle and a Fly? Lily, I know it is above an Eagle to catch at a Fly! But Bubo! it is not above a Buzzard to answer a Boy! But why should William esteem himself an Eagle? In knowledge it cannot be, I am sure; and I have heard some say, not in Estate neither. In the first, he cannot but see I have proved him an Owl rather, and this all along: and would have him therefore, if his Almanac go any more to the Press, to correct his Errata, and remember for Aquila to insert Bubo. In the second, he cannot be an Eagle neither, if Vox Populi be true; for they say, As he hath gotten an Estate like a K— he hath parted with it like a F— and is become a poor Tenant for his life. But why make yourself ridiculous to answer a Boy? except you suppose yourself uncapable of excusing those errors the Boy chargeth upon you, without contracting as many more? That (I readily acknowledge) were the way to make yourself ridiculous indeed! But why must you childishly throw the Boy at your Adversary? I can tell you Sir! He is no such Boy, but that he is able to crack your crown, as he hath done your credit in Astrology. And perhaps he would too, were not the Amulet of AGE your protection and security. However, I shall return you in exchange for your Boy, the Adage,— 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. But this is the despite of it, Lily is such a Boy in Learning, he cannot English it.  
But why Ranting-impudent Fool? If Folly be a privation or defect of wisdom, or ingenuity, Lily is the absurdest Fool that ever I either read or heard of. And for the concomitants of his Fool— Ranting and Impudence; I think it impossible for any man to surpass him. Well, but saith Lily,— This Impudent, Ranting Fool, or Boy, dare not own his Name to be G.I. or I.G. Here, Mr Merlin, you do homage only to the Father of lies, (whom it may be you are better acquainted with, than with the Angels you tattle and boast of.) For he hath owned G. I. as the initial Letters of his Name in the spurious Prognosticator, to your sorrow: but Lily hath little list to cope with either the Author, or the Book; the one being so repugnant to his Principles, the other to his skill. But besides, it is not for fear of Lilies Pen, that the Author forbears to set his name at length, but for the forementioned Reasons.  
Mr. Lily having fluttered and beat his Eagleship out of breath, in the Aestival Quarter, is now come to the Autumnal, and saith, ☉ enters ♎ Septemb. 12. at noon. Yet if you consult his own Ephemeris, you will find Sol's place that day at noon, in 29 d. 58 m. ♍. Can any Boy of a months reading in Astrology be guilty of greater Impudence and Ignorance, than this? Or did ever any man rant so vainly under the Canopy of Astrology, and know so little thereof, as doth this Owl Lilly? No more Eagle Sir! until your skill be mended.  
Howbeit saith Lily,— This Figure and Vernal Scheme agreeing with the King of Swedes Nativity,— Let his Majesty's Enemies brag of this ill position of Heaven, which by God's blessing may render him victorious in the Acquisition either of a Battle if he be in Campania; or a City or Town if in the Siege of one; or if at Sea, a Maritime Victory. If false Figures promise Victory, Lily may prove a true Prophet in some of these things: but certainly from false Figures, fallacious Victories must be presaged. And such will those be, that the K. of Swede obtains about this time; notwithstanding Lilies Parasitical Pen. For Saturn is now in Quartile to the place of the dire Direction but lately mentioned; and to the Cusp of the King of sweden hopes in his Radix and Revolution also. But Lily is to be read backward, as men read Hebrew: when he promiseth Victory, let the King of Sweeden be sure to expect loss.  
For conclusion, Lily saith, It was his intention, had he not been prevented, to have delivered somewhat of the Tutelary and Presidentiary Angels. etc. and boasts of the Expositors that follow the Septuagint, and of the Fathers, viz. Dionysius, Origen, Basil, Nazianzen, Clemens Alexandrinus, Damascen, Hillary, etc. But he understands the Doctrine of Angels, and those learned Fathers, both alike: (i. e.) as much as he doth Astrology, viz. only to brag and boast with, that he may the better pass for a Scholar among the ignorant. And to this end, steals three or four say (which he understands not) out of Dingley of Angels, (who citys those Authorities he impertinently mentions) and would needs enforce them upon the world as the fruits of his own Phlegmatic and Drowsy Contemplation and Studies: and for a farewell, triflingly concludes,— This learning will find cold entertainment with Atheists, Ranters and Paddies. Certainly if Mr. Lily be the Author of it, 'twill be fit only for the reading of such kind of Fellows; and those (perhaps) are his principal Acquaintance and Disciples. But what Mr. Lily should mean by Paddies, I cannot devise, (for Rider and Thomas own no such word) unless he mean one that bestrides the King of Swedes Sumpture Horse; which if he do, now he hath cracked his Credit in Astrology, I would have him become Probationer for the place. So I descend from his general Prognostications, to his monthly Fictions; which I shall but lightly examine, and so pass them, until the whole year shall more particularly inform me of his failings. For I question not, but his Predictions, and those of Montelion Knight of the Oracle, as they are calculated for one and the same Meridian of Truth, and have one and the same foundation in Art, so one and the same success will crown them.   

SECT. 3. His Monthly Fictions examined.  
IN January Mr. Lily predicts,— Notstanding the ranting and rhyming Pamphlets of illiterate Fellows, we hope some considerable victory will be gained by the Swedes, etc. Indeed Sir, the M. C. add ♂ ♄, comes on too fast for this to be true. But if the King of Swede had no such Direction operating, what Reason or Authority hath Lily, to prefer his own ignorant hopes in the room of Art? or doth all his skill in Astrology depend upon hopes and expectations, without any solid demonstration? Doth this ignorant fellow think, that Mars his now squaring ♃ in the King of Swedes Nativity, and at the same time transiting the tenth house thereof; (together with a Quartile of Sol and Saturn from the third and fifth Houses both of his Radical and Revolutional Figures) do any way augment or encourage his hopes? Lily! these Arguments will prove you an absolute Liar. I confess, had the Swede only ranting and rhyming Pamphlets to oppose him, he might escape the better, although he never consulted Lilies lying-Almanack.  
In March he scramblingly writes,— If the season permit, the scrambling Pens of Idiots will prove false Prophets. Did ever any man, that pretended to understand sense, render himself a more scrambling Idiot than Lily doth here? Prithee, Mr Lily, tell me what season that is, which the scrambling Pens of Idiots (or others) prove Prophets in; let them be either true or false. Is it Spring, Winter, Summer, Autumn? I protest for this conceit, I could afford to Chronicle thee, WISE WILLIAM LILLY in the next Impression of Erra Pater; but that were to abuse thee more than this book is designed to do; for 'tis the office and duty of this to speak truth. But (saith he) some happy success near this time is designed for his Majesty of Swede. If any such thing be designed, it must be either by the energy of the Heavens, or some other power: by the Heavens there is no such thing designed, but the contrary; as M. C. add ♂ ♄, (nearly touching now) denotes, it being attended on by an ♂ of ♃ and ☿, celebrated in the Twelfth and Sixth Houses of his Radix and Revolution also; presaging much Treachery and Infortunacie, in the room of the happy success Lily boasts of. If it be promised by any other power, Lily should have told us so: but a Golden Bribe can bend a Buzzards Pen any way.  
In April he rantingly writes— Let men and devils, or all earthly devils do their worst, the Noble Swede will now again be successful, according to his present condition, even by Sea or Land, or near it. This good Christian ginger, complained of Atheists and Ranters, etc. that were his Antagonists; but could any Atheistical or Ranting Fellow in the world, writ more Rantingly and Atheistically, than himself hath here? Let Men and Devils, and all earthly Devils, etc. Sure this ranting-raving Fellow supposes, that the Swede hath, not men, but devils to encounter with; or else what doth he mean, by such ranting hellish, expressions? But why earthly Devils? Doth he believe there are any Devils in Heaven? But (saith he) Let those Devils do their worst, the K. of Swede will be successful. If the Swedes Enemies, (which this malicious Fellow terms Devils) do but their worst, the Swede may then be successful, as he groundlessly writes: But Sir! they are like to do their best, and not their worst; and so will leave you a devilish Liar to Posterity. But he will be successful by Sea or Land, or near it; saith this Barbarian in Art and Learning. Certain I am, the ☍ of ☉ and ♄, and ♂ 's transiting the radical place of ♃, considered, together with his sad Revolutional Figure, denies him success at Sea or Land. What he may (by Mr. Lilies Ptedictions) expect near it, I know not: perhaps he dreamt of some airy happiness and success, when he writ this ventositous Fancy.  
In May this Impostor predicts,— The Heavens show much hope for settlement of France and Spain, in league and amity. This he perfectly reads in the Heavens too, (O rare Monthly Observator!) although the peace betwixt those Princes was concluded six Months before, as the News-Books had acquainted him: for you must know, he studies them more than he doth old Ptolemy.  
Lily skips from April to September without mentioning the least particle o the Swedish King. And then (too late) tells him— The Heavens give caution to him, etc. For than his game (in despite of lilly's flattery) is near at an end. This counsel (Lily) you should have given him at the beginning of the year, if you had dealt as fairly by him, as he hath nobly by you.  
In October this pedantic Parasite cants— That the K. of Swede, in despite of all opposition, cannot fail of many successes in or near this month: Surely Sir! spiteful successes, will do the Victor no durable service. But what must these successes be, I wonder? why saith Lily, Such as his present occasion requires. Now if the K. of Swede (being a Soldier) should happen (for want of conveniency) to be invaded with a Soldier's Fortune, viz. to be stronger within, then without; and in this condition obtain the happiness (or success) of a clean shirt, Lily shall have the honour of predicting it Astrologically. But one pretty piece of Policy I meet with in wise William's October's Observations, that makes me smile at the writing thereof: 'tis this: It then being about Almanac time, and Lily believing that he shall be lashed, as the last year, (for he knows he hath notoriously deserved it) and that you may think he reads the same in the Heavens, he learnedly (by this his sharp Prescience) predicts— Some botching Atheist now bespatters him.  
And is there any Delian Vizard can  
In Planet-Quacking match this cunning Man?  
In November he again temporises with the Swede, thus:— Either with full peace, or much happiness, the Swedes are blessed according to their present condition. Prithee, Lily, tell me, how thou camest to be so base a Flatterer? Dost thou see ♂ upon the place of ☉, and ☉, ♂ and ☿ in ♂, and all in ☍ to ☽ is Radical place, in the King of Swedes Geniture? I am persuaded, thou makest thyself a Parasite on purpose, or else thou knowest not ♂ from thy Tailor's Bodkin.  
But to conclude all his wise work, In December's right-hand-page he writes,— The guilty find friends. And in the left, verifies it in himself, thus— If Jupiter were not in Libra, (his Printer hath made it June, but I scorn as much to retort that upon him, as he thinks it beneath him to answer a Boy) Saturn would afflict poor Anglicus. Providence still provides for him friends. Go on William! Confess all your sins, and guiltiness of all kinds; and consider that your end draweth on, and the M. C. add □ ♄ & ☉ is coming apace; and flatter not yourself as you have done the King of Swede. You will begin to claim the Title of an aged Parasite in Astrology: Flatter not yourself therefore. For it is not ♃ in ♎ that can any way stead you. Is not ♄ returned to his own place, and the opposite place of the Sun? Is not your Revolution notoriously cruel, and mischievous also? And how should ♃ in ♎ help you? Doth ♃ behold either the Ascendant, or ☉ in your Nativity? Is he not in □ of Luna? Flatter not yourself, I say: Learn Astrology (for once) from a Boy; And if at last ♃ in ♎ fail you, say you had an enemy dealt more faithfully with you, without a Gold Chain, than you did with the King of Sweden for one. So I leave William Lily in the midst of his Flatteries and Ignorance, as I found him.    

ERRATA.  
Page 34. line Antepenult, read 8 digits. P. 37. l. 25. r. Saturni. P. 48. l. 9 r. the arisings. P. 50. l. 25. r. Aquila.   

AN ADVERTISEMENT  
A Person of Honour, by Name Montelion, or the Knight of the Oracle, having taken great pains in the calculating divers Nativities, some of Jury-Packers, Chalke-Merchants, Wife-Poysonners, Widdow-Undoers, Trepanners, etc. and the Genitnres of Mrs. P. W. L. Grace L. and I. F. at large; being a true and perfect Emblem of the cross match mentioned in Dr. Dee's Book of Spirits: it is therefore desired, that the Learned Minister (Lily mentions) would insert these in his intended Book of Nativities, that his Collection may be the more complete.  
FINIS.