r if they chanced to see her near his lodging, to drive her
away, which they several times had done. Her desire unto me was to
assist her to see him, and then she should be content; whereupon I
ordered, such a day, such an hour of that day, to try her fortune once
more. She obeyed; and when she came to the King's Bench, where the Lord
there was imprisoned, the outward door stood wide open: none speaking a
word unto her, she went up stairs, no body molesting her; she found the
Lord's chamber door wide open: he in bed, not a servant to be heard or
seen, so she was pleased. Three days after she came to acquaint me with
her success, and then drew out of her pocket a paper full of ratsbane,
which, had she not had admission unto him that day I appointed, she
would in a pint of white wine have drank at the stair's foot where the
Lord lodged. The like misfortune befell her after that; when the Lord
was out of prison: then I ordered her such a day to go and see a play at
Salisbury-Court; which she did, and within one quarter of an hour the
Lord came into the same box wherein she was. But I grew weary of such
employments, and since have burned my books which instructed these
curiosities: for after that I became melancholy, very much afflicted
with the hypochondriack, growing lean and spare, and every day worse; so
that in the year 1635 my infirmity continuing, and my acquaintance
increasing, I resolved to live in the country, and in March and April
1636 removed my goods unto Hersham, where I now live; and in May my
person, where I continued until 1641, no notice being taken who, or what
I was.

In the years 1637 and 1638, I had great lawsuits both in the Exchequer
and Chancery, about a lease I had of the annual value of eighty pounds:
I got the victory.

In the year 1640 I instructed John Humphreys, master of that art, in the
study of astrology: upon this occasion, being at London, by accident in
Fleet-Street, I met Dr. Percival Willoughby of Derby; we were of old
acquaintance, and he but by great chance lately come to town, we went to
the Mitre-Tavern in Fleet-Street, where I sent for old Will Poole the
astrologer, living then in Ram-Alley: being come to us, the Doctor
produced a bill, set forth by a master of arts in Cambridge, intimating
his abilities for resolving of all manner of questions astrologically.
The bill was shewed, and I wondering at it Poole made answer, he knew
the man, and that he was a silly fool; 'I,' quoth