nds, and a pension of one hundred pounds per
annum,' which he received for two years, 'but no more.'

So Lilly, whose business as astrological prophet brought him into close
contact with many kinds of men--men of all parties and sects--went on
getting information of all, and by all kinds of means; and imparting it
again to all who had need; but always he had an eye to the 'main
chance,' and provided well for himself. With each of his three wives he
got money. The second one, who, as we remember, 'was of the nature of
Mars,' died in February, 1654, and the bereaved man says that he
thereupon 'shed no tear;' which we can well believe. Dry eyed, or with
only such moisture as comes of joy, he, within eight months after the
departure of Mrs. Mars, took another to his bosom, one who, he says, 'is
signified in my nativity by Jupiter in Libra, and she is so totally in
her conditions, to my great comfort.'

After the Restoration, Lilly was apprehended and committed to the Gate
House. 'I was had,' he says, 'into the guard room, which I thought to be
hell: some therein were sleeping, others swearing, others smoking
tobacco. In the chimney of the room I believe there were two bushels of
broken tobacco-pipes, and almost half one load of ashes.' A sad time and
place: but his 'old friend, Sir Edward Walker, garter king-at-arms,'
made interest for him in the right quarters, and he was released from
the place he 'thought to be hell.' In 1660 he sued out his pardon for
all offences 'under the broad seal of England.'

Of Lilly's religion (so called) there is not much to be said: in early
life he 'leaned to Puritanism,' as we have been told, and he probably
leaned on that so long as he could find support in it; but after the
Restoration (in 1663) he was made churchwarden of Walton-upon-Thames,
and settled 'the affairs of that distracted parish' as well as he could;
and upon leaving the place, 'forgave them seven pounds' which was due to
him.

Soon after this, when the great plague of 1665 came upon London, Lilly
gave up business there and retired into the country to his wife and
family, and continued there for the remainder of his life; going up to
the great city occasionally to visit his friends, or on calls to
business in his special line: one call from a high quarter came to him
in this shape:

'Monday, _22d October_, 1666.

At the committee appointed to inquire after the causes of the late
fires:

'_Ordered_, That Mr. Lilly