William Lilly, the Astrologer (1602-1681): A Book of Sources: Volume 1 Hardcover – December 12, 2024

William Lilly is a fascinating character of the mid- to late seventeenth century and was the preeminent astrologer of the time. There are few historians of the early modern period who have not met William Lilly in their research and, although known for his published work, little has been done regarding his private astrological practice. In these volumes, Susan Ward brings together, for the first time, William Lilly’s private and public works. This compilation paints a portrait of William Lilly in his own words to assist researchers in the history of astrology and others to gain a fuller picture of this man in his rightful context.Volume 1 offers important biographical and autobiographical material from primary sources. There are brief examinations of contentions in which Lilly was involved providing a more informed conclusion than the common biographical sketches allow. Letters and documents illustrate his relationships with Elias Ashmole, George Wharton, and Jeremy Shakerley among others. To assist readers with the highly technical nature of the subject, Ward provides a glossed and commented transcription of one of his more important treatises on political astrology. Read more