At first, when the Lord Napier, or Marchiston, made publick his Logarithms, Mr. Briggs, then reader of the astronomy lecture at Gresham-College in London, was so surprized with admiration of them, that he could have no quietness in himself, until he had seen that noble person the Lord Marchiston, whose only invention they were:  he acquaints John Marr herewith, who went into Scotland before Mr. Briggs, purposely to be there when these two so learned persons should meet.  Mr. Briggs appoints a certain day when to meet at Edinburgh:  but failing thereof, the Lord Napier was doubtful he would not come.  It happened one day as John Marr and the Lord Napier were speaking of Mr. Briggs; ‘Ah, John,’ saith Marchiston, ‘Mr. Briggs will not now come:’  at the very instant one knocks at the gate; John Marr hasted down, and it proved Mr. Briggs, to his great contentment.  He brings Mr. Briggs up into my Lord’s chamber, where almost one quarter of an hour was spent, each beholding the other almost with admiration, before one word was spoke:  at last Mr. Briggs began.

’My Lord, I have undertaken this long journey purposely to see your person, and to know by what engine of wit or ingenuity you came first to think of this most excellent help unto astronomy, viz. the Logarithms; but, my Lord, being by you found out, I wonder no body else found it out before, when, now known, it is so easy.’  He was nobly entertained by the Lord Napier, and every summer after that, during the Lord’s being alive, this venerable man, Mr. Briggs, went purposely into Scotland to visit him; Tempora nunc mutantur.

These two persons were worthy men in their time; and yet the one, viz.  Lord Marchiston, was a great lover of astrology, but Briggs the most satirical man against it that hath been known:  but the reason hereof I conceive was, that Briggs was a severe Presbyterian, and wholly conversant with persons of that judgment; whereas the Lord Marchiston was a general scholar, and deeply read in all divine and human histories:  it is the same Marchiston who made that most serious and learned exposition upon the Revelation of St. John; which is the best that ever yet appeared in the world.

* * * * *

Thus far proceeded Mr. William Lilly in setting down the account of his life, with some other things of note.  Now shall be added something more which afterwards happened during his retirement at his house at Hersham, until his death.

He left London in the year 1665, (as he hath before noted) and betook himself to the study of physick; in which, having arrived at a competent degree of knowledge, assisted by diligent observation and practice, he desired his old friend, Mr. Ashmole, to obtain of his Grace Dr. Sheldon, then Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, a license for the practice of physick; which upon application to his Grace, and producing a testimonial (October 8, 1670,) under the hands of two physicians of the college in London, on Mr. Lilly’s behalf, he most readily granted, in the manner following, viz.