1807.] 
aftronomy, phyfic, magic, and philofo- 
phy. ‘* But thefe fiudies,” fays Wood, 
** efpecially aftronomy (by which ie 
means aftrology) and ina he being 
but little ufed in thofe days, he fuffered 
much trouble ; and for practifing phytic, 
he loft his books and goods three times. 
The fame writer farther relates, but 
apparently without any. real authority, 
that Forman travelled much into the 
Eaftern countries to feck after know- 
ledge; and inshis return from the Portu- 
gal | voyag re in 1583 (how could this be 
called an Mattern country ?), he fettled in 
London, and dwelt’'in Phi vipot-lane about 
fourteen years, where he had much trou- 
ble with the doctors of phytic, becaufe 
he was not free among them, or gradu- 
ated in the univerfity. He was by them 
four times imprifoned, and once fined ; 
yet at the laft he overthrew them all in- 
the Common Law, as alfo in Chancery. 
Tn 1608, bemg at Cambridge, that 
univerlity conferred the degree of doétor 
of phytic and altronomy upon him, with 
a licenfe to pi ractife, from cine n time 
(faith the Oxford biogra pher) none durft 
meddle with him, Butas the college of 
phyficians had treated him fo roughly, 
and doubtlefs with juftice, confidering 
that he was an arrant empiric, we may 
fairly call in queftion the propriety of 
the conduct of the learned univerfity in, 
thus protiituting its degree and licenfe, 
There is another point in this account 
which requires an explanation that Iam 
not able to give, and this is the meaning 
of a doctorate in aftronomy. Itis a Ei 
culty not now known, nor is it mention- 
ed any where elfe, that I can remem- 
ber. 
_ But to return to Dr. Forman, for fuch 
he now is; on receiving his academical 
honours, he fettled at Lambeth, to the 
profit and benefit (faith his biographer) 
of many. In what refpects, however, 
he doth not mention, except that he was 
very charitable to the poor. He does, 
indeed, go on to fay that Forman was 
very judicious and fortunate in refolving 
horary queftions, efpectally concerning 
thefts; as likewife in ficknefles, which 
indeed was his mafter-piece ; and he had 
good fuccefs in refoiving quefiions about 
marriage, and in other quefiions very 1- 
tricate, 
The folemnity with which thefe feveral 
excellencies ave ftated, excites a fmile at 
the extraordinary credulity which could 
fwallow and report the practices of grots 
Mnpofture. 
MoxtuLty Mae, No. 155, 
like things. 
Neglected Biography, by Dr. Watkins. 221 
Wood goes on to record fome inftances 
of Forman’s fagacity ; which, however, 
only ferve to prove that he was a downtt 
right rogue. For it appears, that he 
was, much in the confidence of that in- 
famous favourite Robert Carr, earl of 
Somerfet, ae his countets, the mur 
derers of Sir Thomas Overbury. ‘That 
ce dy wag ae the wife of ee earl 
Effex, from whom fhe obtained a 
ae on the pretended ground of his 
impotency. Forman is faid, by the Ox- 
ford hiftorian, to have made. certain 
pictures in wax, reprefenting Sir Robert 
Carr and the faid lady, to caufe a love 
between each other; with other fuch 
Wood. fays, that Forman died fud- 
denly, and was buried, September 12, 
- 1611, in Lambeth-c shurch; leaving a wi- 
dow, and fome money and goods worth 
12001, But Lilly, the aftreloger, gives 
a curious account of his death, which, 
as a ftory, may afford amufement, though 
it will not command belief. 
“The Sunday night before Dr. For- 
man died, he and his wife being at fup- 
per in their carden-houfe, fhe faid, ina 
pleafant humour, that fhe had been in- 
formed that he could tell whether man 
or wife would die fifi; and afked him 
whetlier fhe fhould bury him or not? 
‘Oh,’ faid Forman, ‘ you fhall bury mes 
but thou wilt much repent Teas Es Then,’ 
faid the, in a true fpirit of female curi- 
ofity, ‘ how long will that be ? To which 
he made anfwer, ‘I fhall die before next 
Thurfday night be over.’ 
‘¢ The next day, being Monday, all 
was well; Tuefday came, and he was 
not fick ; Wednefday came, and {till he 
was well: and then his impertinent wife 
did twit him in the teeth with what. he 
had faid on Sunday. Impatient enough, 
it inuft be admitted. Thurfday caine, 
and dinner being ended, he was well, 
went down to the Sey fide, and took 
a pairof oars to go to fome buildings he 
was in hand with at Puddle-dock ; and 
being in the middle of the Thames, he 
prefently fell down, and only faid An 
empofi, an wmpoft, and fo died. Where- 
upon,” adds Lilly, in the true cant of 
his: profeition, “a moft terrible {tom of 
wind immediately followed. (Life of 
Lilly, written by himfelf: ) 
Forman lett a laree- ftock of aftrolo- 
ercal nranufcripts, and fome on phys 
divinity, and alchemy, behind him, w bigh 
are in the Afhmolean Mufeum at Oxford. 
‘bhe profound Dr. Robert-Fludd, the 
Lee Roficrucian, 
