JACK ADAMS. — ANTHONY MAGLIABECHI. 30f 
reading, ill Moreri, an extract from a curious paper on the sub- 
ject, irisferted in the twenty-seventh volume of. father Niceroir^a 
Memoirs. 
Jack Adams,- t-he Astrologer,* 
This person lived in the reign of Charles 11. , aiid styled himself 
Professor of the Celestial Sciences."' He was very singular in his 
dress, and affected to cast his horoscopes with extraordinary gravity. 
When his predictions failed, he asserted that the heavenly bodies 
did not absolutely compel, but only powerfully incline; and threw 
the blame upon wayward and perverse fate I 
There is a portrait of this personage existing, in which he is thus 
designated:--* 
Magniheo Smokentissimo Custardissimo Astrologissimo, Cun- 
ningroanissimo, Rabbinissimo Vero Jagko Adams, de Clarkenwell 
Greeno, banc lovelissimaa sui Picturam. Hobbedeboody, pinxit et 
scratchabat." 
The following curious description accompanies the portrait: — ■ 
View here the wonder of Astrologers, 
How solemnly he with himself confers : 
' Sure by his leaning posture we may guess 
Some serious things his noddle doth possess. 
The drum, tops, whips, and rattles, by bis bead 
He seems to slight, whilst fortune he doth read. 
Unto which purpose, with what earnestness. 
See how the gallant doth his counsel press ; 
So earnestly as not to be denied. 
Longing to have a Princess for his bride. 
Joan, Queen of Sluts, as earnest doth importune 
His worship would be pleased to tell her fortune; 
Whilst he iook^ down with an intentive look. 
On the twelve houses and poor Robin’s book. 
The medal which before him hangs on pin. 
Is that which the Great Turk did send to him. 
Nought else, remaineth, that we should describe, 
But horn-hook and napkin by his side; 
His pipe's at girdle, which he calls his gun ; 
His inkhorn a porridge pot : and so we have done. 
Anthony Magliabechi. 
This extraordinary man was born at Florence, October 28 or 29, 
1638. His parents, who were of low rank, are sdid to have been 
satisfied wheii they got him into the service of a man who 'sold fruit 
and herbs. He had never learned to read, and yet was perpetually 
poring over the leaves of old books, that were used as waste paper in 
bis master’s shop. A bookseller who lived in the neighbourhood, 
and who had often observed this, and knew the boy could not read, 
asked him ** what he meant by stariifg so much on printed paper?’ 
He said ‘‘ that he did not know how it was, but that h^ loved it ; arid 
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