The Continental Monthly, Vol. IV. October, 1863, No. IV. - Devoted to Literature and National Policy. by Various
page 45 of 280 (16%)
page 45 of 280 (16%)
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endeavored to please both master and mistress.'
This mistress had a cancer in her left breast, and Lilly had much noisome work to do for her; which he did faithfully and kindly. 'She was so fond of me in the time of her sickness, she would never permit me out of her chamber.' 'When my mistress died (1624) she had under her armhole a small scarlet bag full of many things, which one that was there delivered unto me. There were in this bag several sigils, some of Jupiter in Trine; others of the nature of Venus; some of iron, and one of gold, of pure virgin gold, of the bigness of a thirty-three shilling piece of King James coin. In the circumference on one side was engraven, _Vicit Leo de Tribu Judæ Tetragrammation_~+~: within the middle there was engraven a holy lamb. In the other circumference there was _Amraphel_, and three ~+ + +~. In the middle, _Sanctus Petrus_, _Alpha_ and _Omega_.' This sigil the woman got many years before of Dr. Samuel Foreman, a magician or astrologer; the same who 'wrote in a book left behind him,' 'This I made the devil write with his own hand, in Lambeth Fields, 1596, in June or July, as I now remember.' This sigil the woman got from the doctor, who was evidently a foreman among liars, for her first husband, who had been 'followed by a spirit which vocally and articulately provoked him to cut his own throat.' Her husband, wearing this sigil 'till he died, was never more troubled by spirits' of this kind of call; but on the woman herself it seems to have failed of effect, for though she too wore it till she died, she was continually tormented by an authentic spirit of jealousy--a torment to herself and to her husband. After this mistress had gone, Lilly lived very comfortably, his 'master having a great affection' for him; and also a great confidence in him, |
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