Many characters Mr. William Lilly must be owned to have represented with great success. But that all-essential one--if we desire to secure the confidence of our contemporaries, and the respect of posterity--of _an honest man_, I fear he was never able to personate successfully. Of the craft and cunning he could at times display he records a striking illustration--evidently with entire satisfaction to himself, and apparently never suspecting that it might not be so favourably regarded by others, and especially by those plain, commonplace people who make no pretensions to hermetic learning or occult knowledge, but have certain unsophisticated ideas as to the laws of morality and fair dealing.
In his 1651 'Almanack' he asserted that the Parliament stood upon tottering foundations, and that the soldiery and commonalty would combine against it--a conclusion at which every intelligent onlooker must by that time have arrived, without 'erecting a figure' or consulting the starry heavens.
This previous attempt at forecasting the future 'lay for a whole week,' says its author, 'in the Parliament House, much criticised by the Presbyterians; one disliking this sentence, another that, and others disliking the whole. In the end a motion was made that it should be examined by a Committee of the House, with instructions to report concerning its errors.
'A messenger attached me by a warrant from that Committee. I had private notice ere the messenger came, and hasted unto Mr. Speaker Lenthall, ever my friend. He was exceeding glad to see me, told me what was done, called for "Anglicus," marked the passages which tormented the Presbyterians so highly. I presently sent for Mr. Warren, the printer, an assured cavalier, obliterated what was most offensive, put in other more significant words, and desired only to have six amended against next morning, which very honestly he brought me. I told him my design was to deny the book found fault with, to own only the six books. I told him I doubted he would be examined. "Hang them!" said he; "they are all rogues. I'll swear myself to the devil ere they shall have an advantage against you, by my oath."
'The day after, I appeared before the Committee. At first they showed me the true "Anglicus," and asked if I wrote and printed it.'