e generally composed._

_And yet the pleasure and benefit resulting from such books are manifest
to every reader._

_I hope the admirers of the very laborious Thomas Hearne will pardon me,
if I should venture to give it as my opinion, and with much deference to
their judgment, that William Lilly's_ Life and Death of Charles the
first _contains more useful matter of instruction, as well as more
splendid and striking occurrences, than are to be found in several of
those monkish volumes published by that learned Oxonian._

_Lilly affords us many curious particulars relating to the life of that
unfortunate Prince, which are no where else to be found. In delineating
the character of Charles, he seems dispassionate and impartial, and
indeed it agrees perfectly with the general portraiture of him, as it is
drawn by our most authentic historians._

The History of Lilly's Life and Times _is certainly one of the most
entertaining narratives in our language. With respect to the science he
professed of calculating nativities, casting figures, the prediction of
events, and other appendages of astrology, he would fain make us think
that he was a very solemn and serious believer. Indeed, such is the
manner of telling his story, that sometimes the reader may possibly be
induced to suppose Lilly rather an enthusiast than an impostor. He
relates many anecdotes of the pretenders to foretell events, raise
spirits, and other impostures, with such seeming candor, and with such
an artless simplicity of style, that we are almost persuaded to take his
word when he protests such an inviolable respect to truth and
sincerity._

_The powerful genius of Shakespeare could carry him triumphantly through
subjects the most unpromising, and fables the most improbable: we
therefore cannot wonder at the success of such of his plays, where the
magic of witches and the incantation of spirits are described, or where
the power of fairies is introduced; when such was the credulity of the
times respecting these imaginary beings, and when that belief was made a
science of, and kept alive by artful and superstitious, knavish, and
enthusiastic teachers; what Lilly relates of these people, considered
only as matter of fact, is surely very curious._

_To conclude; I know no record but this where we can find so just and so
entertaining a History of Doctor Dee, Doctor Forman, Booker, Winder,
Kelly, Evans, (Lilly's Master,) the famous William Poole, and Captain
B