Sect. 1. I shall be­gin with his Epistle. And would gladly be informed by what Au­thority, Astrological, or otherwise, he is so bold, as to Question or bespatter the Duke of Brandenburgh's Title? (2.) Out of what Record (setting aside Mother Shipton, and such like Authori­ties, [Page 2] he can prove the King of Swede not only a Northern Lyon, but a Northern Lyon Rampant? (3.) What Astrological Text favours him to predict—That Carolus Gustavus the great [if the God of Battels honour him with the Royalty of Denmark, and good foot­ing in Elector William his Dominions] shall prove a sure sanctuary to the Protestants? And why either of the other (if the God of Bat­tels prove adjuvant to them) shall not prove a Sanctuary as sure, and as great unto the Protestants, as Carolus Gustavus the great? they all being of one Faith or Religion. (4.) Whether there be a text in Christian Astrology to encourage Mr. L. to say so confi­dently—It is as true as truth it self—when the League betwixt England and Sweden is dissolved, then farewel the prosperity of the English Nation? (5.) Whether such Astrology (if Mr. L. will have it so baptiz'd) be not more likely to sow the seeds of divisi­on among Princes and Nations, and set them sooner and surer to­gether by the ears, then any way uphold the honour of that Art Mr. L. pretends to be so great a Proficient in?

Had such Errours and Ignorances (for such they must be, since the Art they are father'd on disclaims them) been Publish'd by some Novice in Art, that had not been much known in the world, they had done the less mischief. But for one that looks upon him­self as a fam'd Artist, and is commonly (though how much undeser­vedly, you plainly see) believed to be so; Nay, one that writes himself (though as fondly as falsly,)—Christianæ Astrologiæ pro­pagator fidissimus! for such a one, to be guilty of such gross jug­ling, and most apparent flatteries, it doth not onely intolerably blemish the Art, but prejudices many honest Professors thereof,—as Mr. Booker, Wharton, Wing, Tanner, &c. who when they but hear those pitiful stories of their (pretended) foreman mentioned, it cannot but strike them into the thoughts of a just indignation a­gainst him.

But cui fini? to what end do I turn Questionist to Mr. L. when all that know him, know it is not his guise to satisfie any? Let [Page 3] their demands be what they will, he is not concerned, though his reputation lye at the stake never so much—Tell not me (saith he) of every Dogs barking at me; I have a salve to cure all again. Let Mr. L. go on, and tell the world that he hath begun a new manner of Astrology amongst us, and that he walks in those un­couth ways that no former Author found; And crack with lying Lucretius at large, viz.

Nay, if he invade the World with a Million more of such like hyperbolical fictions and fooleries, ought he not to be beleeved? When Delphos was in fashion, were any so bold, or fool-hardy as to urge a reason from their Oracle? And must it not (in Mr. L's thoughts) be unjust for any to urge him to a reason of what he writes or obtrudes upon the World? In his thoughts, did I say? Nay, in his Merlin, 1655. he plainly tells his Readers—That he will from thenceforth give no Astrological Reasons [when, or where, I pray Sir, did you ever give any?] he having been too Co­pious unto an unthankful Generation of men; who might have been e­verlastingly in their A. B. C. without his assistance. (—Proprio laus sordet in ore.) Certainly such boasts could not but much per­swade with many people, that Mr. L. is every whit as able as he proclaims himself, did they not surely know it to be the property of empty Hogsheads to sound the loudest. I see not in reason how he can be said to bring others out of their A. B. C. whose onely skill is not removed a hairs bredth beyond great F. viz. Flatteries. And so I pass from his Epistle to his Book.

Sect. 2. In his General Judgements, pag. 2. he acquaints us—That now the effects of the Comet 1572. draw neer to a manife­station upon what Kingdom or Country of Europe they will pour down their Influence—The consideration of which, hath occasioned him to wander more then he intended concerning the Swedish King and his Atchievments, &c.—I shall not much Question the sence of the former part of these words, although they sound very An­ti-Grammatically, Yet methinks if Comets have effects (which [Page 4] some very learned deny, and Mr. L. cannot prove, unless we will be contented with his Assertives for Probatives,) they should not continue 87. years; but like those of Eclipses or great Conjun­ctions, only remain until another of the same kind come, and put a period unto its threatned Effects.

According to which Doctrine, this Comet (which hath caused Mr. L. to wander so much from the Art he pretends to) should have ended its Effects in 1618. for then there appeared another. But to make sence of Mr. L's words, he took not the Comet, but K. of Sweden, &c. to be the cause of his wandring. And then the Antecedent to the Relative [wandring] stands in the place of the Consequent; and so he becomes (nevertheless) Guilty, of an Irrhetorical [...]. but it matters not much for sence, Art, or Scholarship; so we find but feignings and flatteries good store in Mr. L. his learned works, we have what we can thence ratio­nally expect.

But he goes on and predicts further—That the work design­ed by that Comet, he finds is great, and such, that neither one man or age, shall scarcely afford matter plentiful to begin its operation.—A second John Baptist is required. He findes the work, &c. is great. He can find any thing to be small or great at his pleasure; he can make a Mountain of a Molehil, and a Molehil of a Moun­tain again; he can Magnifie, and diminish, without the assistance of the Optiques, ad libitum; so excellent a workman is learned Mr. Lilly! But doth Mr. L. hope to gain Credit among Ingeni­ous men for such Astrology as this? A Comet (by his own con­fession) that stir'd up the K. of Swede against the Dane, &c. And yet now he finds (after a second staring, it seems,) that neither a Man or Age, shall afford plentiful matter to begin its operation! Risum teneatis amici? Nay, doth not Mr. L. like a sullen Cow kick down (with his disdainful heel) all the good Meal of Milk, that before he produced for the K. of Swede? I hope Mr. L. when he complains of a paucity of plentiful Matter, doth not mean, but that the K. of Swede had reason in abundance to Invade the Po­lander and Dane! And being stir'd up against them by the influ­ence of this Comet twatled of, I see no reason Mr. L. hath to complain for want of plentiful matter to begin its operations. And if they be already begun, I would demand of Mr. L. what need we have of a second John Baptist to expound the Riddle? I have heard a story of a Souldier with a wooden-leg? who being sup­posed [Page 5] to have a good one shot off, his friends seeing him fall, called out pre­sently for a Chyrurgeon. Oh! quoth the Souldier (being better ac­quainted with his want) 'tis no matter for a Chyrurgeon, a Carpenter may serve the turn. All the use that I shall make of it here, is this,—that to expound those forged effects of Comets, and their tedious duration, requires not a second John Baptist,—A Lilly or Mother Shipton may do it. And so I proceed to his next contradiction.—We cannot or dare we (still you see, he hath Pigs in his belly) positively determine this present Magnanimous K. of Sweden, to be that very Person, or that so great Northern Lyon, who shall do such wonders as have been of old Prophesied. And why not Sir? as well, as to maintain him to be, A Northern Lyon Rampant? But Mr. L. since the relieving Copenhagen hath chan­ged his Opinion; for in his Merlin, 1657. he positively affirmed this K. of Sweden was the man Prophesied of, by (those Divinely illu­minated Cheatees,) the Sybils. Yet here he dareth not do it. Thus you see Mr. L. may affirm, and not affirm, or dare so to do, &c. he may indeed do any thing, by Priviledge. But yet it is a very raw and silly conceit of Mr. L. to think to write such notorious contradictions, and not to be noted and esteemed for them, as he deserves. Shall we believe him to be an Artist, that changes his humor just as the Times turn? or shall we not rather take him for an Arch-Temporizer? and one that makes use of an Art to cover and cloke his ignorance and flatteries? Had Mr. L. believed his Art to be indubitably real, we should have found him certain somewhere; but he poor man! Lysps and Jabbers, Shuffles and Cuts, after so ridiculous a manner, as if he were as little acquain­ted with Art as honesty.

But it is not against Reason (sure) for a man to demand of Mr. L. his reason for not positively affirming here, the same thing, that (with as great confidence as ignorance) he did two years since. Doth the M. C. ad ▪ ♄ in the K. of Swede's Nativity deter him? Or hath he all the reward he expects? If the first, 'tis but finding a transit (in his Astrology) to rancounter that, as in 1658. he did, in these words—Live most valiant Swedish King, thy Gene­rals, &c. and be as successful as Anglicus desires; And then you are promised two several Victories neer this Moneth.—Non obstante Medium (Medio, it should rather have been, but that his Astrology and Latin are both of a stamp) Cœli ad Corpus Satur­ni, &c. If the later, cannot you send to him for the other Gold [Page 6] Chain, and acquaint his Majesty,—That it is beneath the dig­nity of your high-fam'd Pen, to spend its precious Ink Sine pretio, or for a mean reward; and one Gold Chain is too little for a Person of your fame to be guilty of so great Imposturism, as to forfeit (as much as in you lies) the honour and future glory of so splendid an Art, that you by profession pretend unto?

Well, to pass this,—Let us trace Mr. L. a little further, and we shall find,—Though he dare not positively affirm this K. of Sweden to be the man or Conquerour, &c. yet, that his own Motto—Sero sapit ingratus, may not bite too hard upon his repu­tation, and he be noted to do nothing for so worthy a present, as the Gold Chain he received; In his confident ignorant Dialect, he runs on,—Thus much we affirmatively say—That the present Carolus Gustavus shall prepare much matter towards the advance­ment of his Successors, for so great Atchievments in all parts of Eu­rope, And that the name of this Conquerour shall be, Charls, and of the Swedish Nation, and off-spring of this Carolus Gustavus, &c.

In his Merlin 1657. he affirmed Carolus Gustavus now Reign­ing, to be the Northern Lyon or Conquerour, &c. And yet here he affirms, That not this, but another of his race, shall be the man. Let him but reconcile these dislocated Predictions, and I shall believe him able also, to make good this Position.

The most Chimerical Fansie or Fiction in the World, is every whit worthy as much Credit, as so notorious and broad-fac'd a Contradiction. If Mr. L. from his great Patronesses the Sybils, in 1657. spake truth,—Then this present Charls, and not ano­ther, must be the man. If Mr. L. speak truth now, then the Sy­bils and he were besides the truth in 1657. And is not this most [Page 7] excellent Christian Astrology! The K. of Swede, shall be, and yet he shall not be the Conquerour!

When Mr. L. can make the two Members of a contradiction accord, he may (I suppose) make good these his wild and extrava­gant Assertions. Howbeit Mr. L. deems it but Reasonable, that he be believed in what he says, let it be never so contrary to truth, or contradictious in it self; he being (as he supposes) Princeps Astrologorum. And what is he that shall dare to do the contrary? however, I shall run the hazard of Mr. L's Censure in this kind for once; and demand by what Authority Sybillical, Ca­balistcal or other, he is warranted to design the name of this great Conquerour to be Charls, &c.

The Names of Persons are such contingent things, that it were (considering their dependence upon the humors of conceited Gossips, whose wills and fansies are the sole and alone disposers thereof) a reasonless thing to force Astrology to father them. But I the less wonder at his refusing to render Reasons of what he Annually obtrudes upon the understandings of men; because he cannot but be sensible that his Merlins or Almanacks, are one­ly as Shops or Warehouses furnished with the worser sort of Drugs, and Rif-raff; himself standing in the midst of them, just as Horace describes his Petty-Chapman.

The learned I am out of doubt know Mr. L's shifts, and pityful effeminate evasions; the Ignorant in time may discover them.

[Page 8] In pag. 8. Mr. L. tells us,—This vernal Figure of Hea­ven promiseth the Lord Protector of England very fair, from his Allies beyond Sea. But how dares Mr. L. (unless he dare do any thing) raise a judgement either upon the Lord P. or any else, from a Scheme so notoriously untrue? Nothing less then 41 [...]. of time distant from the truth; as is demonstrated by Mr. Wing in his [...] for the same year; with whom agree most others. And is it not a pretty Riddle, that Mr. L. which fails thus in the ordinary Principles of the Art [viz. 41 min. of time in such a Figure wherein an Artist cannot be too precise] should be accounted the onely Father and Restorer of Astrology? But the Aenigma is explained; did not Mr. L. every year Claw the great Ones by the shoulders, his cunning would not by many degrees be so much in request above the ordinary Almanack-makers, as his skill is below them.

But he, at his high-rated confidence goes on, predicting that—The Princes of the Earth are very fierce one against the other; Nothing but War, Destruction, Death, utter Ruine of one another, will give them satisfaction. And yet he Pipes out nothing but Ho­nour, Renown, Conquest and Victory, to the L. P. of England, and K. of Sweden; as if they were quite out of the Number of the Princes of the Earth! And on the contrary, by the Princes of the Earth, he intends onely the Kings of Denmark, and Poland, &c. Anglice, such as engage against the greatness of Sweden. But sure­ly had any other Astrologer predicted prejudice, or ought else at so wild a rate, (as Mr. L. here doth) concerning Princes; Mr. L. would have been the first man that should have saluted him with,—

But I spare Mr. L. although his Presages hang together, velut æ­gri somnia,—like sick mens dreams, and are not by the wi­sest head to be reconciled.

Now Mr. L. having spent his pains (to as little purpose as you have heard) in predicting things to depend on the Figure of the Suns Ingress; is come to the Moons Eclipse in April.—And tells us—That it begins at 6 h. 22 min. P. M. and ends at 9 h. 20m. [Page 9] whence (saith he) the duration thereof, is 3 h. 15 min. But had Mr. L. been pleased to have proved his operations, he might have found, that from such a beginning and end as he assigns, such a duration could not possibly Emerge; But on the contrary, 2 h. 58 min. Which gross Ignorance in so ordinary and common a piece of Art, proclaims his whole skill to be but weak and worthless, and his Judgement insipid and unsavory. Thus you see, that he who boasts that all others might have been in their A. B. C. with­out his assistance, is himself ignorant of the first Principles of the Science he pretends to. And without doubt had Mr. L. but presented us with the Figure of this Eclipse, we should have found it as true, as the other but lately noted.

But be his Figures right or wrong, Mr. L proceeds to judge­ment (his name I think should properly have been [...]) accor­ding to his preceding Method (and he propounded none at all) and rufflingly acquaints us—That this Eclipse will cause a great ruffling both of the Dane and Dutch to regain the Sound; but they will sooner overthrow the great Mogul, or Grand Signior, then re­conquer the Sound, out of his possession that now hath it in keeping, viz. Charls Gustavus K. of Sweden, &c. I would gladly demand, how it is possible for such particular Actions and Accidents of Princes to be spelt, or smelt out of Eclipses of the Moon; since the Effects thereof are not by many able Artists received for cer­tain, but remain disputable? Is it not therefore, Interest rather then Art, that causeth him thus to write? certain it is, Astrologers agree—An Artist may be enabled to Predict much good, or pre­judice, to happen to Persons from their Nativities truly known: But they conclude it altogether impossible for the best of Artists to point at the particular Persons, or Places, by whom, or where, they shall re­ceive the same. And that is the meaning of Ptol. Cent. Aphor. 1. How then dares Mr. L. (without all Authority or Reason) prate in so high a strain, that is (questionless) incompetent to any, ex­cept God himself? But to follow Mr. L. a little further; if we shall consider the force of the M. C. ad ▪ ♄. in the K. of Swedes Nativity, there was a great deal more Reason for Mr. L. to have judged, that he should rather lose the Sound, then keep it. And had not Mr. L. endeavoured to appear Anti-Astrological in his wri­tings, he could not but know, that that had been (by far) the more Art-like Prediction. Albeit, Mr. L. goes on, and saith—For whom Heavens have ordained Rampant and Victorious, In vain it is [Page 10] for man, or men, to withstand his rising. But (saith he) since we may seem to speak in clouds, we intend in this discourse onely the Vi­ctorious Armies of his Majesty of Sweden to be the Person so powerful, &c. If Mr. L. in all Farnabee's Rhetorique, can but find a figure that doth in the least favour so strange a passage as this be­fore us, I shall acknowledge him better read therein then I am. He intends only the Victorious Armies of his Majesty of Sweden, to be the Person, &c. May not a man (that is not encompassed with Mr. L's Clouds) as reasonably, and with as good sence, and pro­priety of speech, in commendation of Mr. L. say—By such a Dis­course, we onely intend the many unparallel'd Proselytes of Mr. L. to be the Person so learned in Astrology among us? I appeal to the Judgements of all understanding men, whether Mr. L. be guilty of more sence in the passage urged before, then this amounts to. If Mr. L. ever went to School, he cannot but remember that Boys have been whipp'd for far smaller faults. But these are onely slight dashes of his He-Sparrow's quill, as one of his Antagonists, once (in vain) minded him of. But,

Mr. L. after long flattering the K. of Swede, and sore threatning the Dane, Hollander, &c. if they engage against that Victorious Prince whom the Heavens (in his flattering Dialect) have or­dain'd Rampant, betakes himself to a very convenient starting­hole, If in case it should so fall out, that the K. of Swede do not prosper so well, as he Prophecies, &c. And (like a good Christi­an Astrologer, maintains) The best Army, or longest sword, hath tho best Cause. By which it appears, that Mr. L's Religion is as rot­ten and corrupted, as his Astrology and Theurgy unsound.

But to follow Mr. L. a little further yet.—(though not [...]) doth he not insinuate the Hollander, and Dane, to have the best cause, in case the God of Battels give them the Victory o­ver the K. of Sweden? Nay, may we not estimate Mr. L's Con­science to be of so large a size, that if the Dane or Hollander would but Grease him, as the K. of Swede hath done, or but a lit­tle more, Mr. L. as the Proverb is, would Claw them again; and in his next Merlin would appear as confident on the side of the Mag­nanimous [Page 11] K. of Denmark, and the High and Mighty States of Hol­land, as now he hath for the Victorious and Rampant K. of Sweden.

But surely Mr. L. cannot be of so unstable a judgement, nor doth he mean, or insinuate any such thing, as that the Hollander or Dane, can be thought to have the best cause, although they should fortune to have the longest Sword, or best Army. And that you may know him to be of a quite contrary Opinion, to what his now cited words import, he bursts into a flattery of the first Magnitude for the Swede, to the absolute ruine of the Hollander, &c. in these words.—Beware Hollanders of affronting his Majesty of Swe­dens Navy, or Sea-Forces, or his most certain Friend the present English L. P. any of his Navy, or particular Ships: His Majesty of Swede, and our Protector have the most masculine spirited Sea­men of the whole World, and a gracious Guardian Angel (therein is Mr. Lillies greatest skill) for to protect both their persons and forces, &c.—This Eclipse threatens breach of Peace between England and Holland [how know you that Sir? ♂ and ▪ are there­in in Δ; and can Δs in your Astrology produce Breaches?] and from thence a War, and that so great, as the former may be thought a trifle. Our Noble Sea-men are promised Victory, [what, before they have an Enemy to engage against?] for in Waters upon the wa­ters, upon people who live like Fishes, wholly upon the waters, and subsist by Seas and waters [Tautology is no sin with Mr. L.] will the Influence of this Eclipse take place; therefore our Swedish Sea-Forces, shall transmit thousands of the Dutch Sea-men unto the Fishes for their better Nutriment.

I might demand of Mr. L. (in relation to this his Notorious Non-sequitur, wherefore he brings his strange therefore? And whe­ther the consequence would not as roundly have followed, had the premises been turned the contrary way? But let Mr. L. go on, and chaunt forth (yet further) his Syren Songs of flattery to the K. of Sweden, and tell him—That he shall be as great as Charls the great, &c. the M. C. to the body of Saturn, will prove him to be a person that keeps Mendacium as a Page to his Pen and Tongue.

But notwithstanding this so insolent threat of his to the poor Hollander, If he have but the good hap to get the longest Sword, and the best Army, (they are Mr. L's own words) he hath the best [Page 12] Cause; And then (if Mr. L. say sooth) he may by this Eclipse be impowered to transmit thousands of the Swedes Sea-men to feed the Fishes; as likely as the Swedes theirs. But I hope both those Nations will be more prudent, then adhere to any such reason­less Flatteries and Threats, as Mr. L's Silly Pamphlets are con­stantly stuffed with. So I proceed from his Annual Judgements, to his Mensurnal Fopperies.

Sest. 3. In January he Prophesies—That some peremptory Spirits divulge frivolous Tenents, and their Crabby opinions, to the disturbance of the Magistrate in several places. But there hath as little success answered this whimsical Presage, as he had ground in Art to Predict it, the first part onely excepted, which he (it may be) foresaw his own ridiculous scribling to make good. He pro­ceeds, and tattles of An eminent person to suffer disgrace. Which he may possibly interpret to some one of the Ladies (for the Sex he mentions not) who were carried to Bridewell upon suspition of dishonesty about the beginning of February; for you must know his Predictions emit Rayes.

In February, he talks of a Storm to happen to those persons neer the Sea-shore, that are Enemies to the greatness of Sweden. But were there any truth in Monethly Predictions (a work at which Mr. L. is old excellent!) how came he to Miss so grosly in this? There was a storm 'tis true, but the heat thereof fell upon the Swedes; which Mr. L. no more foresaw, then the creeping of the Scotch K. into England. But that you may know him to be the all-sufficient Astrologer of England, he goes on—Some Plot once more in contrivance, to make division, &c. But,— ‘There was no Plot, save that which keeps us poor;’ as Mr. Wharton wittily Noted in his Cal. Eccl. 1659. Ʋnless to that we add Mr. L's design to disgrace Astrology.

In March Mr. L. Cants after his wonted rate, of Englands Guardian Angel. In such whimsies he should have the right hand of Jo. Blagrave; yet they are confidents of a stamp; And God knows, a Guardian Angel may be somewhat to Eat, for any knowledge either of them have thereof. But to keep in with the K. of Swede, Mr. L. tells the World, That he is, and will be sole Master of the Sound. But (a little after saith he) we arrive not yet with our pen to the Baltique Sea, &c. As if the Sound were at some considerable distance from the Baltique Sea. I see by this, his good Genius doth now and then deceive him. Toward the [Page 13] Moneths end, he writes—Some now flatter our Nation. Which is admirably well verified by his own clawing the late Protector. And is not that a rare Artist, that can so order his matter, let things fall out which way they will, his Predictions (like a Cat) shall still hap­pen right upon their Legs?

In April (as if he were ashamed of his former clawing humor) he tells us—That there are several confederacies made against the Swede. But how should we credit Mr. L. in this? who are they that dare Confederate against him, whom heavens have ordained Rampant and Victorious? Or what success in such undertaking can they hope for? When they, not onely fight against heaven, but must grapple also with the dire Amulet of a Guardian Angel, and Mr. L's sowre Predictions. But he goes on—A Plague or new Disease, and Pyracy from the Western parts, division, uncertain Rumors and fears, threaten us.—And yet (saith he) The Month in general promiseth fair to City and Country. I confess my self ig­norant in the Cabal of such a Canting strain. 'Tis just like that of the Satyrists Tyresias—Quicquid dicam, aut erit, aut non. What­soever he saith, shall either be, or not be.

In May his Ignorance and slattery is so obvious, that each boy in the street is able to lend him a squib for it. Hear him a little: The English L. P. now enters upon action, and manifests himself to the whole World, that he hath great abilities to govern, &c. And a little after, R. L. P. stoops not, is not terrified with words, provides for all occasions—is made happy with several most welcome News unto him. And behold! The very same time that he had Calculated this auspicious Prediction for, the Protector mildly made a re­signation of his Power, Protectorship and all! which Mr. L. be­ing twitted with, in a scurrile base manner call'd him fool! But 'tis one of the least of his Insolencies; for so he abused the present Parliament when turn'd out by the Protector Oliver; though to the skyes he had magnified them before. As I may hereafter more largely inform the World of.

In June he saith—Some dangerous design is now prepared against his Highness. But here he is proved a lying Prophet; for his Highness was laid by the last month. In July, he Temporizes, but not fitly, that—the wisdom of our Protector and Council, gives the whole world occasion to know, that the present affairs of England are in a good posture. But had we had then a Protector, his Prediction never­theless had proved a lie. For at the same time, our affairs were like to have been blown up by the Enemies then among us; witness the Cheshire Insurrection. But Mr. L. will say perhaps that he was to be understood by an [...]. His Readers ought to be so understood indeed, when they report him an Astrologer.

[Page 14] In August he feigns—That some Church-men, &c. obtain more then vulgar pre­ferment (that they must do sure, if they obtain any at all) yet toward the end he Predicts—That Fryers and Monks suff [...]r every where. Now let them either obtain preferment or suffer, you see Mr. L. hath hit it to a hair; and will speak truth still (in despight of the father of Lies) though at a most horrible lying rate.

In September, he acquaints the world—That the death of many Commanders may be feared. But this Prediction (if Mr. L. could have hit so right) might better have fitted February, at what time so many were slain at the Storming Copenhagen. He goes on—A sad doom is preparing and ready to fall upon some Northern people; a judgement it is like to be of continuance ('tis no matter, so it never come to execution!) not easily removable; it smells of servitude and bondage. Now let the K of Swede be routed, or Rout the Dane, &c. here's a Presage to fit the foot of either, and Mr. L's credit secure. If Captivity overtake him whom Heaven fights for, 'tis no fault of Mr. L's; for he hath discharged the part of a good Astrologer in this very Prediction. In October, he twattles at the same rate. And should it so happen that Mr. L's; Lyon Rampant be overcome, he is not the first (may Mr. L say) that hath been so: did not Sampson slay a Lyon?

In November Mr. L. talks as confidently, as vainly—The Swedes are not re­tired to their Winter Quarters, having some honourable work to perform. He had done the K. of Swede more service (and the Art he professeth more honour,) to have acquainted him, that then the Sun will be Eclipsed in Scorpio, neer his Radical place in that K's Nativity. But Merlinus Verax hath done that for him.

To end his Notorious piece of Flattery—In December he concludes Hy­pothetically—If Carolus Gustave the Great K. of Swede, write himself Rex Danæ, possessor of Copenhagen, make W. of Brandenburgh repent in Sackcloth and Ashes, Kick and Cuff the Hogens of Holland out of the Baltique Sea, and Petition his Majesty (I spare the Non-sence hereof) in Quality of distressed States; Let them hereafter beware of fighting against Providence. Thus ends this Metropolitan Artist! and to make an end of following him, I will only demand of him what reason be hath (besides the Gold Chain) to insiauate the loss of the K. of Denmark's Crown? did ever any man that had any thing of Art in him, before, conclude it possi­ble for that K to loose his Kingdom, that had the Sun in Aries in the mid-heaven, in Trine to the Ascendent of which he is Lord? Let Mr. L produce but one Astrolo­gical reason or experiment, and—Erit mihi Magnus Apollo. Nay, he shall be (by me) honoured as the second John Baptist, which he saith is required. But if he cannot, Let him blush at his ill-tempered confidence, for broaching such broad-fac'd Barbarisms for Art. By which Penitency, he may obtain a better Opinion of all those, whose understandings he hath for many years together most grosly deluded.