Monarchy or no monarchy in England

ID:

42.39/48a

Production date:

1651; 17th century

Location:

In Store

William Lilly (1602-1681) was an astrologer who claimed he could tell the future. In this book, ‘Monarchy or No Monarchy’, published in 1651, he printed several pictures which he used to predict various events, including the Great Plague and the Great Fire. There are two pictures relating to the fire - one shows a city by a river burning and the other depicts a pair of twins hanging over a fire (Gemini was held to be the ruling star sign for London). On 25 October 1666 Lilly was called before the Commons Committee investigating the fire to explain his visions, as they suspected his involvement in a plot. He admitted to making the predictions but said he had not known the dates and was released. Many other predictions about the Great Fire had been made throughout the 1600s.
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William Lilly (1602-1681) was an astrologer who claimed he could tell the future. In this book, ‘Monarchy or No Monarchy’, published in 1651, he printed several pictures which he used to predict various events, including the Great Plague and the Great Fire. There are two pictures relating to the fire - one shows a city by a river burning and the other depicts a pair of twins hanging over a fire (Gemini was held to be the ruling star sign for London). On 25 October 1666 Lilly was called before the Commons Committee investigating the fire to explain his visions, as they suspected his involvement in a plot. He admitted to making the predictions but said he had not known the dates and was released. Many other predictions about the Great Fire had been made throughout the 1600s.

In the book Lilly claimed the pictures were based on visions of the future from his dreams: ‘the sixteen pages following, which in enigmatical types, forms, figures, shapes, doth perfectly represent the future condition of the English nation and common wealth for many hundreds of years yet to come. I have borrowed so much time from my morning sleep, as hath brought forth these conceptions.’



The full title of the book is: '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.' By William Lilly, Student in Astrology. London, Printed for Humfrey Blunden, dwelling at the sign of the Castle in Cornhill, 1651. < Hide

Measurements

H 202 mm; W 152 mm (closed), W 290 mm (max, open); T 20 mm, H 202 mm; W 153 mm (closed), W 290 mm (open), T 24 mm (overall)

Materials

paper

Last Updated

2024-03-14