SOURCE: "How I came to Study Astrology," in The Last of the Astrologers, The Folklore Society, 1974, pp. 21-3.

In the following excerpt from his autobiography, written in 1668, Lilly outlines how he came to be introduced to astrology.

It happened on one Sunday 1632, as my self and a Justice of Peace's Clerk were, before Service, discoursing of many Things, he chanced to say, that such a Person was a great Scholar, nay, so learned, that he could make an Almanack, which to me then was strange: One Speech begot another, till, at last, he said, he could bring me acquainted with one Evans in Gun-Powder-Alley, who had formerly lived in Staffordshire, that was an excellent wise Man, and study'd the Black Art. The same Week after we went to see Mr. Evans, when we came to his House, he having been drunk the Night before, was upon his Bed...