surprising that at that period these English and Scotch
Calvinists came to believe that they were the peculiar objects of
diabolical as well as human malice. Their whole history during
the first eighty years of the seventeenth century can alone
explain this faith. Besides this genuine feeling, the clergy of
the Presbyterian sect might be interested in maintaining a creed
which must magnify their credit as miracle-workers.[144]

[144] The author of _Hudibras_, in the interview of the
Knight and Sidrophel (William Lilly), enumerates the various
practices and uses of astrology and witchcraft in vogue at
this time, and employed by Court and Parliament with equal
eagerness and emulation. Dr. Zachary Grey, the sympathetic
editor of _Hudibras_, supplies much curious information on
the subject in extracts from various old writers. 'The
Parliament,' as he states, 'took a sure way to secure all
prophecies, prodigies, and almanac-news from stars, &c., in
favour of their own side, by appointing a licenser thereof,
and strictly forbidding and punishing all such as were not
licensed. Their man for this purpose was the famous Booker,
an astrologer, fortune-teller, almanac-maker, &c. The words
of his license in Rushorth are very remarkable--for
mathematics, almanacs, and prognostications. If we may
believe Lilly, both he and Booker did conjure and
prognosticate well for their friends the Parliament. He
tells us, "When he applied for a license for his _Merlinus
Anglicus Junior_ (in Ap. 1644), Booker wondered at the book,
made many impertinent obliterations, framed many objections,
and swore it was not possible to distinguish between a king
and a parliament; and at last licensed it according to his
own fancy. Lilly delivered it to the printer, who, being an
arch-Presbyterian, had five of the ministers to inspect it,
who could make nothing of it, but said it might be printed;
for in that he meddled not with their Dagon." (_Lilly's
Life._) Which opposition to Lilly's book arose from a
jealousy that he was not then thoroughly in the Parliament's
interest--which was true; for he frankly confesses, "that
till the year 1645 he was more Cavalier than Roundhead, and
so taken notice of; but after that he engaged body and soul
in the cause of the Parliament."' (_Life._) Lilly was
succeeded successively by his assistant Henry Coley, and
John Partridge, the well-known object of