William Lilly's History of His Life and Times, from the Year 1602 to 1681

In Short

This memoir acts as an essential, if highly subjective, record of a man who moved from obscure origins to become the most famous astrologer of his age. Through his practice of calculating nativities and casting figures, the narrator finds himself intimately involved with the era’s political elite, including Parliamentarians and the King himself. The work endures because it offers a rare, ground-level perspective on the shifting loyalties and deep-seated superstitions of a society in chaos, providing a human voice to the grand events of the seventeenth century.

The Story

The narrative begins with the author’s humble education in Ashby de la Zouch, where he is groomed for the ministry under strict Puritan instruction. His early years are marked by a series of accidents—a near-blinding eye injury and a fever caused by eating beech-nuts—suggesting a life governed more by serendipitous misfortune than by design. Seeking to escape the decay of his family’s estate, he moves to London, where he enters the service of a master to whom he is bound by labor. This period of his life is defined by the death of his master and his subsequent, unexpected marriage to the widow. He describes their union with a frank, pragmatic tone, noting that his bride, having been twice married to older men, sought an honest companion rather than wealth, finding one in her young, ambitious servant.

As the author gains experience in the "occult sciences," he establishes himself as a professional astrologer. He recounts his early attempts to locate lost property and predict the outcomes of sicknesses, drawing heavily on the precedents set by Dr. Simon Forman. His practice evolves as he becomes increasingly embroiled in the political machinations of the day. During the English Civil War, he aligns himself with the Parliamentary cause, using his almanacs and horoscopes to bolster morale and predict military successes. He portrays himself as a man of influence, consulted by those in power and respected for his perceived ability to read the celestial portents of victory.

The middle of the narrative is dominated by his navigation of institutional scrutiny. He faces parliamentary committees, at times defending his publications against accusations of royalist sympathies or sedition. He survives these confrontations through a mix of wit, well-placed friends, and the artful disavowal of counterfeit works published under his name. He recounts his interactions with high-ranking figures, including a moment where King Charles I himself comments on his reputation, observing that the author understands astrology as well as any man in Europe.

As the political tides turn toward the Restoration, the author transitions into a quieter life of practice in the country. He details his later years, marked by lawsuits over property and the gradual decline of his physical health. The final chapters find him in the twilight of his life, plagued by age and infirmity, relying on an amanuensis to continue his work. The book concludes with reflections on the verification of ancient prophecies, specifically those of Merlin, which he interprets as having foretold the return of the monarchy. The final pages are dedicated to a poetic characterization of him as "Sidrophel," a "cunning man" of his time, leaving the reader to decide if he was a true practitioner of celestial arts or a master of performance.

How It Unfolds

The education of a youth The narrative opens in the early 1600s, detailing a strict, Puritan-influenced upbringing where the author learns Latin, Greek, and the rigors of religious life. These years of modest, rural schooling serve as the foundation for his later transition into the complex world of London’s occult practitioners.

The shift to professional astrology After the death of his master, he inherits a life of independent study and begins his career in London as a practitioner of horary astrology. He meticulously documents the methods of his predecessors, particularly Dr. Simon Forman, to establish his own credibility.

Entanglement with the state As the Civil War ignites, he uses his astrology to influence public opinion, becoming a valuable, if controversial, tool for the Parliamentary cause. This phase covers his legal struggles, his survival before skeptical committees, and his uneasy relationship with the powerful men of his era.

The return of the King and final years He interprets the Restoration of the monarchy through the lens of ancient prophecy, framing his own career as a witness to these divine shifts. His story winds down with domestic legal battles, the surrender of his health to age, and the preparation of his legacy for his successors.

The People

The book is centered on the narrator, William Lilly, who presents himself as a man of "inviolable respect to truth" while simultaneously acknowledging the artifice required to survive as a public figure. He is defined by his adaptability, moving between roles as a servant, a scholar, a political consultant, and a healer. Elias Ashmole, his friend and the recipient of these memoirs, serves as the audience for his recollections, representing the intellectual peer group that valued his work. Dr. Simon Forman stands as the spiritual mentor of the text, an industrious and slightly messy practitioner of astrology who established the precedents the author later follows. The drunken parson Isaac Antrobus appears as a foil, a man whose moral depravity allows the author to demonstrate his own utility to the "godly" men of the committee. Finally, the various Parliamentary leaders—the men who use him for their own political ends—highlight the thin line between prophecy and propaganda in the seventeenth century.

In Its Own Voice

"History cannot stoop to the meanness of examining the materials of which Memoirs are generally composed."

This observation explains the author's justification for writing a personal account, which he believes contains truths that formal history overlooks.

"The desire I had to benefit posterity and my country, at last overcame all difficulties."

Writing about the composition of his major work, Christian Astrology, he defends his labor against the immense personal cost of the plague and illness.

"What I had not in wealth, I would supply in love."

In a rare moment of personal tenderness, he recounts the bold courtship that led to his first marriage, defying the age gap between himself and his wife.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the intersection of belief, power, and survival. The author explores how a man with no inherited social standing could exert influence over the most powerful figures of his time by framing his predictions within the language of the cosmos. It asks whether the "art" he practices is a legitimate science or a necessary social performance for a world hungry for certainty during a revolution. It is an exploration of self-creation, showing how a person of "mean education" might rise to fame by being useful to those who hold the levers of power, while remaining acutely aware of the fragility of that position.

Why Read It Today

This book is a fascinating window into the seventeenth-century mind, where the celestial and the practical were irrevocably linked. Readers who enjoy the raw, unpolished honesty of early modern diaries will find much to appreciate here; it feels less like a formal autobiography and more like a conversation with a man who has seen too much and kept too many secrets. It does not hide its age, particularly in its dense, occasionally rambling accounts of lawsuits and theological disputes, but these are precisely what make it an authentic artifact. You will find in these pages a man who is both a product of his time—superstitious, pragmatic, and fiercely partisan—and a surprisingly modern operator. It is a rewarding experience for anyone interested in the human side of history, particularly the moments where the "great" events of the era are interrupted by a neighbor’s theft, a legal dispute, or a simple, human desire to be heard. While the language requires patience, the author’s voice is remarkably present, pulling the reader through the chaos of his life with a confidence that is both charming and, at times, deeply suspect. It remains a essential document for those curious about the "cunning men" of the past and the ways in which they helped shape the narrative of their own turbulent world.