Read me with indifferency.

 

THE STARRY MESSENGER

or

an interpretation of that strange apparition of three suns seen in London, 19 Novemb 1644, being the birthday of King CHARLES

the effects of the eclipse of the sun, which will be visible in ENGLAND, 11 August 1645, whose influence continues in force from January 1646 to Decemb 1647, almost two whole years, and cannot but be the forerunner of some extraordinary mutation in most commonwealths of Europe, but principally in ENGLAND

with an answer to an astrological judgement

printed at Oxford upon his majesty's present march by WILLIAM LILLY, student in astrology

LONDON
printed for John Partridge and Humphry Blunden, and are to be sold at the Sign of the Cock in Ludgate Street and the Castle in Cornhill.

1645

To his truly honoured friend, Master JOHN THOMPSON, of the City of LONDON, merchant.

Sir,

As in those more painful employments
you formerly underwent in transmarine parts
you did with great fidelity, courage and industry
for sundry years manage the affairs of our English merchants
entrusted to your care and discretion,
so now in this your present retirement
your continual study makes it manifest
you act not the part of a young man
(though your years speak you not aged)
but like a wise man
(that ever husbands time with advantage).
You enrich your mind with knowledge,
converse amongst studies and with authors of wisdom,
that hereafter you may be more serviceable to your country
as opportunity shall present you with a fit occasion.
I shall not need acquaint the world that you have
(as we say changed heaven)
and lived not further than five degrees from the equinoctial,
yet have you still remained yourself,
and twice returned statuo quo bettered by your travels.

This little treatise
(of less worth than I wish it)
I present unto you,
and desire your perusal by way of recreation.

(I am not singular in dedicating a small thing to a worthy friend;
John Dee, 
a most learned man,
dedicated his Aphorisms
to Gerard Mercator,
a man famous,
and they consisted of less than six sheets.)

Wearied I say with more weighty studies,
run over this and the rather because
it is the first in this kind ever wrote by any,
and you can judge whether 'tis well or ill done,
and few else;
yourself have seen it in loose papers
from the beginning, middle and to the end of it,
are able to testify it's my own,
I borrowed it from no man.

(That impertinent traveller spoke by authority
who hoodwinked in judgement,
bleated openly that others performed my work,
yet he never saw me.)

Sir, favour me with as much love in receiving it humanely,
as I in affection tender it unto you,
and you engage me to rest,

Your Real Friend,

WILLIAM LILLY.

To the Reader.

Before I speak anything of that prodigious apparition of the Three Suns in the elements,
I will acquaint thee with as rare a prodigy which happened in Cheshire.

When first our unnatural wars began, and it was apparent war would be betwixt King and Parliament,
Sir George Booth, knight and baronet of a noble family in Cheshire,
and one excellently deserving of the Whole Kingdom for his fidelity to the Parliament, 
and without whose countenance our affairs in those parts could not so happily have succeeded,
this gallant old knight perceiving that many of his tenants were necessarily to engage their persons,
for better encouragement of them
he seriously professed unto them
that if any tenant or tenant's son of his,
servant or any other that was any of their lives in any the leases made by him
or any of his family
should casually be slain in this unnatural war in defence of Parliament, Religion and Subjects' Liberties,
that then he would make a new lease gratis,
and insert any younger life in lieu thereof,
which thing he has constantly and freely performed ever since 
to his eternal fame and honour,
and if this be not worthy of especial taking notice of,
I know nothing.

Nor let us forget the singular valour of his noble grandchild,
Colonel Booth,
during the siege of Nantwich against the English Irish.

But to our own discourse.

If there be any of so prevaricate a judgement as to think that the apparition of these Three Suns
does not intimate no novel thing to happen in our own climate, where they were manifestly visible,
I shall lament their indisposition,
and conceive their brains to be shallow
and void of understanding, humanity, 
or notice of common history.

For full satisfaction of such believing saints,
I have produced precedents,
not one but two, but many,
and those recorded by men of unquestionable credit,
when was it known that suchlike unusual sights appeared
and were not the forerunners of things to come,
yet seldom regarded before the things they signifying came to pass.

I am of the opinion
the heavens never send forth any great signs
which have not a particular relation to some great personages,
for doubtless they are the universal cause
(God permitting)
of all things,
and whilst they produce effects which seem to have relation to one only,
if he be a prince, it has a universal operation,
for people are partakers with their princes
in their gains, losses, virtues and vices,
and this is the reason why many times our predictions
do not jump in that measure of time by us limited,
for actions are not done by their agents in an instant,
dispositions precede them, &c.

Besides, great alterations require great influences,
which when they cause great diversity in their working,
happen not because the influences are diverse,
but because they are diverse that receive them.

Read me with indifferency,
and poise me with an equal judgement.
I write with no prepared gall,
no, not against Master Noworth of Oxford,
who borrows the gross of his judgement in his last almanac
from my Prophetic Merlin,
nor am I angry, but pity that wooden doctor,
whether Atheist or Papist, I know not,
that swells with his own ignorant fancy,
and saith he can make it appear what I speak in behalf of Parliament
in point of art ought to happen to their enemies;
this is one of those purblind prophets
that in corners vilify the Parliament's friends,
and yet they uncontrolled harbour amidst us, &c.

But this thing called a Galenist I let pass
until his capacity can erect a figure, &c.

Many and great are the judgements ready to fall down 
upon some great families of England and Europe,
but unless an angel,
nay, if an angel from heaven should report it,
nothing will be believed;
an Achan and Achitophel, or faction equivalent,
both covetous and irreligious,
and countenancing for by respects,
unworthy men have wearied my pen,
disheartened the gentry to our inevitable loss and impoverishment
of the poor commonality,
and destruction of those towns so unlucky committed to their charge;
let the town of Leicester be hereof an unlucky precedent,
which has been these three years fortifying,
and now on the sudden transmitted to his majesty's forces.
What became of the vast sums of money there raised?
Why the valiant gentlemen displaced,
and men of inferior rank exalted?
Who gives any reason,
unless it was purposely done to betray the town to our enemies,
or by loss of that to prolong the wars another year?
You shall see if his majesty's providence fortify not that town 
in less months than we in years;
it must be discovered who or whom have played the plain knaves with us,
or else we shall never be at quiet.

Many complain the taxes of that county have exceeded the incomes of rent;
thus division, wilful faction, a scabby sect of covetous sectaries undo us,
and disparage our Parliament's proceedings, but let it be remembered,
his majesty's pressures first begot courage in us to resist him. 
I hope those devils that undo us will shortly be found out;
till then, if we thrive, it's miraculous.
God grant our Parliament in time may purge the counties of all schismatical,
who alone do them more mischief than his majesty's army.

Discontented that the gentry are no more respected,
I will engage no further at this time.

It's true we gained Shrewsbury,
and when the eyes of all well-wishers looked upon Colonel Mitton,
a most beloved, active and deserving gentleman to be governor thereof,
en & ecce, 
no such thing
sic vos non vobis
sic vos non vobis.

Time will make us see how we abuse and are abused;
many can preach that cannot fight.

WILLIAM LILLY

without Temple Bar
London
at the corner house gainst Stranbridge.