his apothecary (and no
less a skilful Surgeon:) after which he began to be at ease, his fever
abated, and within five months the cure was perfected.

The 7th of November 1675, he was taken with a violent fit of vomiting
for some hours, to which a fever succeeded, that continued four months:
this brought his body exceeding low, together with a dimness in his
eyes, which after occasioned him to make use of Mr. Henry Coley, as his
amanuensis, to transcribe (from his dictates) his astrological judgments
for the year 1677; but the monthly observations for that year, were
written with his own hand some time before, though by this time he was
grown very dim-sighted. His judgments and observations for the
succeeding years, till his death, (so also for the year 1682,) were all
composed by his directions, Mr. Coley coming to Hersham the beginning of
every summer, and stayed there, till, by conference with him, he had
dispatched them for the press; to whom, at these opportunities, he
communicated his way of judgment, and other astrological arcanas.

In the beginning of the year 1681, he had a flux, which weakened him
much, yet after some time his strength encreased; but now his sight was
wholly taken from him, not having any glimmering as formerly.

He had dwelt many years at Hersham, where his charity and kindness to
his poor neighbours was always great and hearty; and the 30th of May
1681, towards the evening, a dead palsy began to seize his left side.
The second of June, towards evening, he took his bed, and then his
tongue began to falter. The next day he became very dull and heavy:
sometimes his senses began to fail him. Henceforward he took little or
nothing, for his larinx swelled, and that impeded his swallowing.

The fourth of June, Mr. Ashmole went to visit him, and found he knew
him, but spake little, and some of that scarce intelligible; for the
palsy began now to seize upon his tongue.

The eighth of June he lay in a great agony, insomuch that the sweat
followed drop after drop, which he bore with wonderful courage and
patience (as indeed he did all his sickness) without complaint; and
about three o'clock the next morning, he died, without any shew of
trouble or pangs. Immediately before his breath went from him, he
sneezed three times.

He had often, in his life-time, desired Mr. Ashmole to take care of his
funeral, and now his widow desired the same: whereupon Mr. Ashmole
obtained leave from Sir Mathew Andrew