berated upon them, I should goe to knowe her answere, and soe I went on the 30th of Aug. but it was 31, about 2 of the clocke, before I came to her, where, after an houres stay, I demanded her resolution, but before she delivered her answere we were interrupted, and soe continued all that day, but the next day after a great deale of arguinge upon the proposalls, she told me that she wold not accept of those termes proffered, upon which we broke of. Nowe, Sir, beinge not a little trowbled, that having revolved the Ephemerides, where finding soe many of the planets neere the places they were in at the time of my birth, this businesse should goe soe crossely, and being by this meanes for a long time likely to continue in an unsetled condition, my desire unto you is that you will be pleased to resolve me, or at least to lend me your opinion in some of these ensuinge questions. First, whether or noe you wold advise me to make another attempt to endeavour the bringinge about the businesse I have here mentioned unto you, if soe what possibility I have to be likely to speede in my desires, and by what meanes I am likely to doe any good in it, and at what times I were best to make any newe addresses unto her, or secondly whether or noe you are of the same judgement still as formerly, that I shall assuredly be setled about the middle of November next, if soe, by what meanes it is likely to come to passe, and lastly, if neither of these thinges should come to passe, whether or noe there be any probability for me to travell beyond seas as I very much desire, of which let me desire your speedy answere and judgement, by which, if I receive any good, I shall be thankful unto you: let me allsoe desire you to let me knowe whether or noe, you can resolve a question without seeinge of the party, in case they acquaint you with theire desires as I have done, for heere are divers whoe have had experience of your art, whoe can not conveniently come to London, that doe intend to trouble you. Thus hopinge to receive a speedy and satisfactory answere from you, I rest, Your humble Servant, ROGER KNIGHT, Jun. I pray send your letter by the Bristoll post, and direct it to Mr. Roger Knight, jun. at Greenham, neare Newberry, to be left with the post master of Speenhamland, to be conveighed unto me. I have sent here inclosed a 11s. peece for your present paines. To his ever honored Friende Mr. Lilly att the corner house over against Strand Bridge in London, post paid. LETTER II. VINCENT WING to WILLIAM LILLY. Consultation on a Robbery." Harmonicon Cœleste." HONRED. MR. LILLY, A WORTHY gentlewoman of this towne hath requested me to write a line unto you, concerning a great number of fine linnings, that was stolne in the night time, the last weeke, out of a private garden close under her house. And because shee much fancies Astrologie, I would desire you to give her your advise therein, and to write a line or two back, whether you thinke they bee recoverable, or not, I set one figure for the 1st question, but I forebore to give judgment, and the rather, because shee hath (not undeservedly) so good a confidence of you, and your writings, for which (I must say) we are all obliged to you. Good Sir, at her request, be pleased to honour her with a line, and shee protesteth to make you pl. of satisfaction, if ever it be in her power. Her husband is a Member of this Parliament, and one (I suppose) well knowne to you, and is a man that highly esteemes of your singular parts. Sir, I have a little Tract of Astronomy now in the presse, printing in folio, under the title of "Harmonicon Cœleste." If you please in your Anglicus, 1651, to write a line in comendacon of it, I shall take it as no small kindeness, but þe cause you know not before perusall, whether it deserve your notice, I shall procure some printed sheets for you, if I can, which I hope wil! gaine your approbation and liking. Nay, I hope my Antagonist (your friend Mr. Shakerley) will give a better character of it, then hee did of V. P. I am already confident it will please his humor. The man, I verily thinke is well grounded in the fundamentalls of Astronomy, but for his Anatomy of V. P. there is in it more malice than matter, and nothing but what I well knew before Mr. Shakerley, and I hope my future endeavours will manifest what I am, yet I am sorrie time was so short with me at that time wee sent abroad Ens fictum Shakerlæi, but I hope his ingenuity is such hee tooke it not unkindly. But I wish him well, and should bee glad to heare from him now and then, yet which way to send I know not, in regard his place of residence is far remote from hence. Sir, being loath to trouble you further, I take leave and rest Your very reall freind and servant, * He was born in 1619, and is supposed to have died in 1668. Mr. Grainger, in his Biographical History, observes that the name of WING, though he has been so long dead, continues as fresh as ever at the head of our sheet almanacks, and advises that this motto should be affixed to his almanack, after his name: Illum aget Penna metuente solvi HOR. Good Sir, bee not forgetfull of the former business. North-Luffenham, in Rutland, 28° Julii, 1650. For his honred freind Mr. Willm. LETTER III. Mr. RAY to Mr. JOHN AUBREY.* Aubrey's History of Wiltshire.-And on several Subjects of Natural History. Black Notley, 7ber 22, [16]91. SIR, THESE are to acquaint you that I have received not only your letter, dated at John Aubrey was a gentleman-commoner of Trinity College, Oxford. He procured a drawing of the Remains of Oseney Abbey, (which was etched by Hollar,) for Dugdale's "Monasticon," to which he contributed considerable assistance. The " Natural History of the North Division of Wiltshire," the work mentioned in this letter, was never finished. It appears from some MS. notes, written by himself, and now in the Bodleian Library, that he was born at |