William Lilly Quotes

William Lilly — English Celebrity born on May 11, 1602, died on June 09, 1681

William Lilly has been described as "the most abused as well as the most celebrated astrologer of the seventeenth century". Born the son of a yeoman farmer in Leicestershire, Lilly travelled to London as a youth to take up a servant's position. Seven years later he secured his fortune by marrying his former master's widow, allowing him the leisure to study astrology. In 1644, during the English Civil War, he published the first of many popular astrological texts, and in 1647 he published Christian Astrology, a huge compendium of astrological technique. This was the first of its kind to be printed in the English language rather than Latin, and is said to have tutored "a nation in crisis in the language of the stars". By 1659, Lilly's fame was widely acknowledged and his annual almanac was achieving sales of around 30,000 copies a year... (wikipedia)

If people suspect their Cattle Bewitched, if they be great Cattle, make the twelfth house their ascendant, and the eleventh their twelfth house, and vary your Rules with Judgment.

In this year 1634, I purchased the moiety of thirteen houses in the Strand for five hundred and thirty pounds.

I believe God rules all by his divine providence and that the stars by his permission are instruments.

Of my infancy I can speak little, only I do remember that in the fourth year of my age I had the measles.

After my mistress was dead, I lived most comfortably, my master having a great affection for me.