BEcause my weekly writing, is to no other intent or purpose, then to dis­cover, and manifest the crimes of this nation, the knavery and fraud of the people therein, and the ge­nerality of the abhominations commited in it. Thinke it not strange if I particularly lay open, and evidently proclaime to each publique view the detestable guile, and politique inventi­ons of that arch Wizzard William Lilly, with which hee seekes to cosen and delude the Common-wealth; as a thing unobservable, and as though no body tooke notice of him: For which I thought it not amisse to separate him by him­selfe, and place him out of the rank of all honest, nay all manner of men in generall, as one not fit to accompany a Christian. For indeed had I but once beganne his odious name in my weekly sheet, I should hardly have writ any thing else, and besides should have infected my whole dis­course with the meere apprehension of his villany. But not to trifle away too much time upon so foule a subject, and possesse my breast any longer then needs I must, with his hatefull conceits; I will come to the point or occasion of my publishing this paper.

Not long since my brother Eleneticus in his second or third booke (if you bee remembred) makes mention of a notable fraudulent action, committed by this Wizzard Lil­ly [Page 2] in betraying a Lady contrary to her will, and causing her to marry one far below her degree and quality, to the very much dishonour, both of her self and the whole family of the Scroopes from which shee descended, (but you must be sure to Lilly's great profit and advantage) and so indeed relates the whole story as it was acted (which I doubt not but you have already heard) therefore it is to no purpose for me to recite it) thereby to perform his duty, in informing the people of his base craftinesse, and subtile delusions.

Which hapned to the hands of th' foresaid Wizzard, that he thereupon grew very much troubled, that his perfidious knavery should be so openly discover'd, and apparently di­vulg'd to the whole world: And being through madnes ig­norant (at the present) to invent any means to demonstrate his fury, remained very discontented along time, till at the last about two moneths after the relation, when it was al­most forgotten▪ his block head bethought himself of this re­venge; & so compos'd a subtile peece of nonsensical English, printed it in two sheets of paper, and guilds it over with a cloak of Th. As thus, To all Gentlemen Cavailers of this kingdome, a Colonell Th. sends this discourse, &c. when no such Col. Ile lay my life can be heard of, only a meere for­gery of Lilly: But yet he has another Title for the booke it selfe, which is The late story of Mr. Will. Lilly &c. In­deed it may well be stiled so, tis a meer story, you may swear it is one of his owne penning; truly it is the quintessence, nay it is the very extract of Nonsence, the only naturall character of simplicity. Do but marke how hee begins (as it were) with a Narration of his detesting or abhorring himselfe and actions, though in a blind way, as from the mouth of the foresaid Col. (yet God knowes his owne words) and so proceeds in his folly, with an examination of the Gentleman, the Lady, and all parties whatsoever ap­pertaining either to them or any else, whereby hee might know the truth concerning the said relation of Elencticus: But presently cryes it down, avers it for falshood, and cer­tainly concludes with himselfe (but a satisfaction to no body else) that it is no such matter, only a meer fable, a scan­dall [Page 3] reproachfully penned to bring an Odium upon his name, &c.

Thus this states grand Quack-salver flatters himself, and feeds his owne fancy, with meer delusions, thinking to purblind the eyes of the people with that abominable scan­dalous Pamphlet, as his owne already are with gazing up­on the Starres: but alas! he is much deceiv'd, all this will not serve; noe, nor can all his infernall black Art absterge, and cleanse his putrified name and actions from their mani­fold corruptions, and their merited infamy.

Look next how the Coxcombe, goes on, and presents a few Astrologicall lines in the shade of a Letter from the said Col. bur I cannot conceive any Cavalier invented it; for to speak the truth, it carries an excellent stile, in faith it is admirable Rhetoricall non-sense, Excellentissimum & supre­mo gra [...]u, pro-fec-to, 'tis worthy admiration, I do not think but he div'd to the very bottome of his Father Pluto's bud­get for it; for 'tis impossible his mossy pate should produce such a monstrous miraculous piece of Eloquence: well, it shall scape me narrowly, but that some time or other, when I have nothing else to do, I'le spend an houre or two to try if I can get it by heart, and so say it by roat, that I may carry it in my brain with me, up and down wheresoever I goe; For indeed I intend not to oppresse my pocket with it, un­lesse it be to perform that necessary occasion, you know what I meane, for which Lilly himselfe is hardly good e­nough.

Surely, he thought the City had great need of wast Paper, else hee would never have infected the Presse with such a messe of ignorance: Truly 'tis pitty that such a large, long, tall, mighty Hobby-horse should have no more wit; Lord! how the villain playes the Asse in the City, like a Fool in a Comedy, that once wrote a Letter to his Mistris before her face, after seal'd it, so presented and read it to her upon the Stage, in the presence of the whole Multitude; just so hath this Ideot done, goes and writes a Letter, a meer forgery, as from a Colonell, and directs it to himselfe, so answers it according to his owne discretion, and after di­vulged [Page 4] it to the vast world. I pray tell me, which act con­taind the more simplicity, and which of these two Ideots was the greater fool? Truly 'tis a Question soon to be re­solved, for 'tis a very easie matter to say Lilly, whom I judge to be the worse of the two, in that he is a very great, proper Hobgoblin, and one that more deserves, and better beseems the place then any of his owne Art I know. Go, go Lilly, I am ashamed an Astrologer should commit and be guilty of such deformed actions: the very Boyes, could they but understand thy Eleganticall language, would point, and hoot at thee up and downe the streets; But perge (Lilly) quid sequitur? 'Tis very well; what! more nonsense yet?

In faith, heer is such a heap of infernall Ignorance, that my eyes never before beheld; I wonder where Lilly bor­rowed it: borrowed, there's a word indeed, truly you are mightily mistaken, it is his own invention, it as naturally flowes from the Conduit of his profound Brain, as doth clear water out of a Spring.

But you shall hear the sequent, which is an answer to his own Letter, which I mentioned before; I would have you read it (if you can) but I feare it will puzzle you: for in­deed it dazled my eyes at the first beholding, it was so gla­zed over with impudence, and his brazen face had cast forth such a luster upon each liue, that I could not have the pati­ence to read it any more then once over, and truly thought that too much, for I could scarce tell how to pick sense out of it, but at lengh understood his meaning; where hee strives to possesse the people, that he acted nothing dishonestly, or to the prejudice of the afore-said Lady, in the least degree, with many such like subtile perswasions: But let him be­leeve that will, for my owne part I know, Elencticus to be (contrary to his false definition) an honest, discreet, mo­derate, wise Gentleman, one noe wayes guilty of what he imputeth to him, nor one whit meriting the infamous (though false) scandals with which this scurvy Lilly hath abused him, and that all who knowe him can testifie.

Well, Reader, I hope I am not to tedious in my wri­ting, neither have I offenped thy cares with my discourse, [Page 5] truly if I have, I crave thy pardon; if otherwise, I will yet intrude somewhat more upon thy patience, and tell but a very little more, and so conclude.

You know a Prophet's not without honor, except in own his country (truly a very good maxim) wherfore Lilly saith himselfe he's very much esteemed beyond the Seas (far e­nough off England you must thinke) As in Italy, Venice, Paris, and many other places, but I don't know where; yet this I'me sure, that for my part I never heard any of his own nation speak well of him. But it is no wonder, for as long as hee is praised, and esteemed so in the places aforesaid, what needs he be reputed here? I but, how can ye tell he is so regarded? How can I tell, marry, theres a question withall my heart, why, doth not hee say so himself? what greater testimony can you have? Indeed if you expect any other witnesse, I must entreat you to bee silent, or else e'ne goe seek one; for I conceive it to be a bottomlesse piece of businesse, and you may seach till Dooms-day and not find a­nother, unlesse you meet with Collonell Th. by chance; in­deed I think it must be by the wheele of fortune, for if one went on purpose to look him, hee should find it as hard a task as ever he undertook in his life: I'de hardly (for Lilly's whole estate) be bound to weare one paire of shooes till I accomplisht it; for should I so engage my selfe, tis doubt in the fine I should be glad to run to the Wizzard, and get him to unmask himselfe, reassume the name, and metamor­phise his rotten carkasse (as before) from a Round-headed jugler, a divelish Negromancer, and a vile Astronomer; to a Civill Cavalier, a Collonel, &c. which are very unfit (a Hangman rather would have better becom'd) and should I have faill'd of my hopes there, truly I feare, that I should continually wander'd like a Goose barefoot; but I intend not to run headlong into that labyrinth.

Therefore you must of necessity beleeve him, without you make a twelve-months journey on purpose, to goe in­to the said countryes, and so know the truth; but I thinke tis as good save that labour, as you should arrive there, to hear no better of him then you doe, or may imagine; this [Page 6] is [...]n, opinion, that I beleeve what I suppose to be true, you beleeve what hee saies (if you can) I won't strive to dis­wade any from their good thoughts of him: for indeed I thinke, there are very few or none conjecture any at all.

What doe you think he saies next, The Cavaliers suppose of him? (as he reports) they esteem him no lesse then a ve­ry wise man: But I must tell you, a meer Wizzard, a Conju­rer, a Sooth-sayer, a certain Sorcerer &c. by reason of his ma­ny predictions and prophesies, which they sound (as hee sayes) too true to their owne grief, losse, and damage▪ Since now (Reader) thou hast heard the whole discourse from the beginning to this place, and may judge according to your mind, and because also you have read the opinion of the Ca­valiers to the full; let me presume to ask you one question: What do you conceive of his grand Idolater? do you think he is a-? or a-? or both? or what (the Devil) do you think he is? (Hah) truly were I but askt this quest. I would quickly in a word resolve it; but being there is no necessity for my sen­tence, Ile bite my tongue between my tooth, be silent for the present, and conceal it till a more convenient oportunity, that I may then express my self to the ful, to the eternal infa­my of his detestable, insolent, impudent, and brazen-fac'd name, till which I will only trouble you with one word to the unknowne Colonell, and another to base Lilly him­selfe, and so in brief finish all.

First let me know, and be acquainted with the [...] name, that I may the better be satisfied, and mare audaci­ously speak to him: but can any man tell me how I may at­tain to its knowledge? or of whom I [...] enquire to be punctually resolved about it? 'Tis a [...] to be lookt into, but I doubt very hard to be answered [...] Doe yee heare friend, I can you tell? or you? or you? [...] what! can no body put in a word of comfort? if it were but a whisper in my ear, that I might be satisfied Ile promise you Ile reveal it to no body; but I think there is no fear of that, for I shall scarce come to hear it my self, yet Ile try once more in a word▪ and if I am not pleased I will [...] and Cry throughout the Kingdome, and then it may be I shall speed: surely some bo­dy [Page 7] else besides Lilly must needs know this lowsie Collonel; Gentlemen if you know him, I pray speak that I may not continue in this extasie: what! are ye all mute? not one word spoken? troath, I perceive heres little hopes, not one man among so many thousand so wise as Lilly? very strange, and a meer paradox to me, that a man (and a Collonel too) should live so obscurely: well, well, I see theres no good to be done by this private inquisition, that to tell you the plain truth, I am almost a weary, and neare out of heart to proceed any further in my inquiry; neverthelesse Ile do as I said, and publish the Hue, and Cry I spake of, and if that takes not effect, Ile conclude (non est inventus)