.

[Footnote 3: December 17, this William Poole was married to
Alice How, at St. George's Church in Southwark. Mr. Lilly gave
her to him.]

He died about 1651, or 1652, at St. Mary Overy's in Southwark; and this
was part of his last will.

'Item; I give to Dr. Ardee all my books, and one manuscript of my own,
worth one hundred of Lilly's Introduction.'

'Item; If Dr. Ardee give my wife any thing that is mine, I wish the
devil may fetch him body and soul.' The Doctor, terrified with this
curse, gave me all the books and his goods which I presently gave to his
widow.---_Interdum seria jocis_.

Now also lived this Dr. Ardee, but his true name was Richard Delahay,
formerly an Attorney; he studied astrology and physick, being in
necessity, and forced from Derbyshire, where he had lived, by the old
Countess of Shrewsbury; he was of moderate judgment, both in astrology
and physick. He had formerly been well acquainted with Charles Sledd,[4]
an apothecary, who used the crystal, and had a very perfect sight. This
Dr. Ardee hath many times affirmed unto me, (_esto fides_) that an
angel, one time, appeared unto him, and offered him a lease of his life
for one thousand years; he died about the age of fourscore years; left
his widow, who married into Kent,[5] worth two or three thousand pounds,
and William Poole's estate came to four or five pounds.

[Footnote 4: Of this Charles Sledd, there is mention made in Dr.
Dee's book of his discourse with spirits, set forth by Dr.
Casaubon.]

[Footnote 5: To one Moreland.]

In the years 1632 and 1633, John Booker became famous for a prediction
of his upon a solar eclipse in the 19th degree of Aries 1663, taken out
of _Leovitius de magnis conjunctionibus_, viz. _Oh Reges et Principes
&c._ Both the King of Bohemia, and Gustavus King of Sweden, dying during
the effects of that eclipse.

John Booker was born in Manchester, of good parentage, in the year 1601;
was in his youth well instructed in the Latin tongue, which he
understood very well. He seemed from his infancy to be designed for
astrology; for from the time he had any understanding, he would be
always poring on, and studying almanacks. He came to London at fitting
years, and served an apprenticeship to an haberdasher in Laurence-Lane,
London; but either wanting stock to setup, or disliking the calling, he
left his trade, and taught to write at Hadley in Middlesex several
scholars in that school: h