[Footnote 14:  The name of the person whose nativity is directed
    and judged, is Mr. Thompson, whose father had been some time an
    inn-keeper at the White-Hart in Newark.]

    [Footnote 15:  I devised the forms and fashions of the several
    schemes.  E.A.]

’That God had blessed the army with many signal victories, and yet their work was not finished.  He hoped God would go along with them until his work was done.  They sought not themselves, but the welfare and tranquillity of the good people, and whole nation; and, for that end, were resolved to sacrifice both their lives and their own fortunes.  As for the art we studied, he hoped it was lawful and agreeable to God’s word:  he understood it not; but doubted not but we both feared God; and therefore had a good opinion of us both.’  Unto his speech I presently made this reply: 

’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, will eternize the same unto all 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 we hope will be the conquering and subversion of your’s 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,’ &c.

This ended, we departed, and went to visit Mr. Peters the minister, who lodged in the castle, whom we found reading an idle pamphlet come from London that morning.  ‘Lilly, thou art herein,’ says he.  ’Are not you there also?’ I replied.  ‘Yes, that I am,’ quoth he.—­The words concerning me were these: 

From th’ oracles of the Sibyls so silly,
The curst predictions of William Lilly,
And Dr. Sybbald’s Shoe-lane Philly,

                                Good Lord, deliver me.

After much conference with Hugh Peters, and some private discourse betwixt us two, not to be divulged, we parted, and so came back to London.

King Charles the First, in the year 1646, April 27, went unto the Scots, then in this nation.  Many desired my judgment, in time of his absence, to discover the way he might be taken:  which I would never be drawn unto, or give any direction concerning his person.

There were many lewd Mercuries printed both in London and Oxford, wherein I was sufficiently abused, in this year, 1646.  I had then my ascendant ad [symbol:  Gemini] [symbol:  aspect “conjunction"], and [symbol:  Moon] ad propriun.  The Presbyterians were, in their pulpits, as merciless as the Cavaliers in their pamphlets.