one witness in his cause, I had many; whereupon upon conference,
and by mediation, he gave me eleven pounds for my charges sustained in
that suit, whereof I returned him back again fifty shillings: forty
shillings for himself, and ten shillings for the poor of the parish he
lived in.

This I did at my own cost and charges, not one parishioner joining with
me. I had now M.C. under quartile of Venus and Sol--both in my second,
ergo, I got money by this thing, or suit. Sir Bolstrode Whitlock gave me
counsel.

Now I come unto the year 1665, wherein that horrible and devouring
plague so extreamly raged in the city of London. 27th of June 1665, I
retired into the country to my wife and family, where since I have
wholly continued, and so intend by permission of God. I had, before I
came away, very many people of the poorer sort frequented my lodging,
many whereof were so civil, as when they brought waters, viz. urines,
from infected people, they would stand purposely at a distance. I
ordered those infected, and not like to die, cordials, and caused them
to sweat, whereby many recovered. My landlord of the house was afraid of
those poor people, I nothing at all. He was desirous I should be gone.
He had four children: I took them with me into the country and provided
for them. Six weeks after I departed, he, his wife, and man-servant died
of the plague.

In _Monarchy or no Monarchy_, printed 1651, I had framed an
Hieroglyphick, which you may see in page the 7th, representing a great
sickness and mortality; wherein you may see the representation of people
in their winding-sheets, persons digging graves and sepultures, coffins,
&c. All this was performed by the more secret _Key of Astrology_, or
_Prophetical Astrology_.

In 1666, happened that miraculous conflagration in the city of London,
whereby in four days, the most part thereof was consumed by fire. In my
_Monarchy or no Monarchy_, the next side after the coffins and pickaxes,
there is a representation of a great city all in flames of fire. The
memorial whereof some Parliament men remembering, thought fit to send
for me before that Committee which then did sit, for examination of the
causes of the fire; and whether there was no treachery or design in the
business, his Majesty being then in war both with the French and Dutch.
The summons to appear before that Committee was as followeth.

'_Monday, 22d October_, 1666.

'At the Committee appointed to enquire afte