For the two last years of my being at school, I was of the highest form
in the school, and chiefest of that form; I could then speak Latin as
well as English; could make extempore verses upon any theme; all kinds
of verses, hexameter, pentameter, phaleuciacks, iambicks, sapphicks, &c.
so that if any scholars from remote schools came to dispute, I was
ringleader to dispute with them; I could cap verses, &c. If any minister
came to examine us, I was brought forth against him, nor would I argue
with him unless in the Latin tongue, which I found few of them could
well speak without breaking Priscian's head; which, if once they did, I
would complain to my master, _Non bene intelligit linguam Latinam, nec
prorsus loquitur_. In the derivation of words, I found most of them
defective, nor indeed were any of them good grammarians: all and every
of those scholars who were of my form and standing, went to Cambridge
and proved excellent divines, only poor I, William Lilly, was not so
happy; fortune then frowning upon father's present condition, he not in
any capacity to maintain me at the university.


OF THE MANNER HOW I CAME UNTO LONDON.


Worthy sir, I take much delight to recount unto you, even all and every
circumstance of my life, whether good, moderate, or evil; _Deo gloria_.

My father had one Samuel Smatty for his Attorney, unto whom I went
sundry times with letters, who perceiving I was a scholar, and that I
lived miserably in the country, losing my time, nor any ways likely to
do better, if I continued there; pitying my condition, he sent word for
me to come and speak with him, and told me that he had lately been at
London, where there was a gentleman wanted a youth, to attend him and