Beschreibung:

Lilly (William). Monarchy or No Monarchy in England. Grebner his prophecy concerning Charles, son of Charles, his greatnesse, victories, conquests. The Northern Lyon, or Lyon of the North, and Chicken of the Eagle discovered who they are, of what nation. English, Latin, Saxon, Scotish and Welch prophecies concerning England in particular, and all Europe in generall. Passages upon the life and death of the late King Charles Aenigmaticall types of the future state and condition of England for many years to come, 1st edition, for Humfrey Blunden, 1651, 19 full-page woodcut illustrations, two woodcut diagrams, a few annotations, including a few contemporary annotations in ink, including at foot of P4 'no greater knaves in...than the author of this booke', and to verso of final leaf of text (Q4) 'If providence assigned you your ben. You ware hangd with your Bretheren in sixty two', some light toning and soiling, bookplate, later pitted calf gilt, light edge wear, small 4to (Qty: 1) Wing L2228. Known as the 'English Merlin', William Lilly (1602-1681) was the foremost practitioner of astrology in 17th century England. He accurately predicted many of the outcomes of the English Civil War, and in the present work claims to have foretold the execution of King Charles I (although this had occurred two years previously). In the '19 Hierogliphics' at the end of the book, Lilly apparently predicts that London would one day be destroyed by a great fire, and that there will be a Great Plague. Fifteen years later, when the Great Fire of London occurred, he was brought before a parliamentary committee, suspected of involvement, because of his publication of the woodcut depicting a city in flames.