344 
JOHI^ LILLY. ' 
he was cunninpf enough to ascribe the miscarriage, not to any defect 
in the art itself, but to the number of people who were present at the 
operation, and divided it; shrewdly laying it down for a rule, that 
secrecy and intelligent operators, with strong cootidence and know- 
ledge of what they are doing, are necessary requisites to succeed in 
this work. ^ 
In the mean time he buried his first wife, purchased a moiety of 
thirteen houses in the Strand, and married a second wife, who, join- 
ing to an extravagant temper a termagant spirit, which all his art 
could not lay, made him both poor and miserable. With this lady 
he was obliged to retire in 1637, to Horsham, in Surrey, where he 
continued till September, 1641 ; and now seeing a prospect of advan- 
tage from the grow ing confusion of the times, and the prevalence of 
enthusiasm and credulity of all kinds, he returned to London. Here 
having purchased several curious books in his art, which were found 
on pulling down the house of another astrologer, he perused them w ith 
incessant diligence, and, in 1644, published his “ Mertinus Anglicus 
Junior,” and several other astrological books. He had contracted an 
intimacy, the preceding year, with Bulstrode Whitelocke esq., who 
was afterw'ards his friend and patron ; and, in 1645, devoted himself - 
entirely to the interests of the parliament after the battle ofNaseby, 
though he had before rather inclined to the king’s party. 
In 1647, upon the breaking out of the quarrel between the parlia- 
ment and army, whose head-quarters were at Windsor, he was sent 
for, together wdth Booker, another astrologer, by Fairfax the general, 
who addressed them in these terms : ‘ That God had blessed the army 
with many signal victories, and yet their work was not finished ; that 
he hoped God would go along with them until the work was done ; 
that they sought not themselves, but the welfare and tranquillity of 
the good people, and the whole nation, and for that end were resolved 
to sacrifice both themselves and their fortunes ; that they hoped the art 
which they, Lilly and Booker, studied, was lawful, and agreeable to 
God’s word, and that he understood it not, but did not doubt they 
both feared God, and therefore had a good opinion of them” 
To this speech Lilly returned the following answer: “My lord, I 
am glad to see you here at this time ; certainly, both the people of 
God, and all others of this nation, are very sensible of God’s mercy, 
love, and favour unto them, in directing the parliament to nominate 
and elect you general of their armies, a person so religious, so valiant. 
The several unexpected victories obtained under your excellency’s 
conduct W'ill eternize the same unto posterity. We are confident of 
God’s going along with you and your army, until the great work, for 
which he ordained you both, is fully perfected ; which will be the 
conquering and subversion of yours and the parliament’s enemies, and 
then a quiet settlement and firm peace over all the nation, unto God’s 
glory, and full satisfaction of tender consciences. Sir, as for ourselves, 
we trust in God, and as Christians believe in him ; we do not study 
any art but what is lawful, and consonant to the scriptures, fathers, 
and antiquity ; which we humbly desire you to believe.” 
This audience, in November, seems to have been occasioned by a 
suspicion of his attachment to the royal party, of which he had 
