Merlini liberati errata: or, The prophecies and predictions of John Partridge, for the year of our Lord, 1690, &c. With useful annotations on them. Together with an epistle touching his respect to those glorious martyrs of the people, King Charles I. and Arch-Bishop Laud. By an earnest honourer of his King and country, and faithful votary to a true astrology. December 31. 1692. Imprimatur, Edmund Bohun.

April, 1690.

Now our Merlin breaths forth mighty things, and tells us—That the ♂ ♃ ☿ in ♓ is of eminent Service to the Affairs of Britain. And why so? Because Britain is under ♈ Ergo a ♂ ♃ ☿ in ♓ must Befriend them. I have heard of a Chirurgeon that pretended to Cure the Gout in the great Toe, by laying a Plaister to the Nose: Bet saith our Seer, the □ ♂ ☿ doth give the Undoing of a Merchant or Banker, &c. [A Pox of its Courtesie, may the Merchant or Banker cry] and the ☍ ♄ ♀ gives danger of Death to a Great Lady. And the ☍ ☉ ♄ gives danger of Death by reason of the Gout, to some great and eminent Man, &c. Pray who of any Sense, would say, Thank ye for such Gifts? To the Merchant or Banker ready Cash had been better; to the Great Lady, a Coach and Six; to

the Great Man, Claret and Good Company had been Presents more Welcome. But for such kind of Gifts as this Man makes the Planets to deal among Mortals, none are obliged to them. To be serious, in what Author doth our Merlin meet such a Term of Art, as for the Planets to Give? Astrologers tell us, that Planets may Presage, or Pro∣duce, &c. But for to Give, is no Astrological Phrase; nor have the Planets any Hands given them for any such Purpose.

To Expostulate a little with our liberal Merlin, Why should the ☍ ♄ ♀ give Death to a Great Lady? It falls in Friendly terms; and which of them doth signifie the Great Lady? If ♀ she is strong and preserves Life. If ♄ he's Peregrine, and cannot signifie a Great Lady. Surely he Dream't of some Sybil of the Kitchin, who upon the loss of her Corydon might grow Crop sick upon that ☍ ♄ ♀ for such a one might pass with him for a Lady Great, or a Great Lady; to use one of Sir Roger's Tropes to him, his Conversation reaching but very little higher. And why should an ☍ ♄ ☉, Give danger of Death by the Gout? Since like the former, it is made from saluriferous parts of Heaven. But I put too great a Price upon an Ass's-head, when I expect Reason thence to issue.