BLACK MONDAY TURNED WHITE: OR, The ASTROLOGERS Knavery epitomised.  
BEING An Answer to the great Prognostics, and gross Predictions of Mr. Lillie, Mr. Culpeper, and the rest of the Society of Astrologers, concerning the Eclipse of the Sun, on Monday last, which (according to their Calculation) should have produced an Egyptian darkness, and the greatest that hath been seen in this latter Age.  
Also, a Description of the glorious effects, and happy Times, that are to proceed from the two famous Luminaries of the Sun and Moon, upon the aforesaid Eclipse; prophetically deduced from the wonderful Dispensations of that Divine Power, who drew back the Clouds like a Curtain, and caused the Sun to show its pleasant Beams, to the memorable confutation of these great Astrologers.  
London, Printed for G. Whiteing, 1652.   

Black Monday turned white: OR, A Whip for Stargazers, etc.  
HAving perused certain nonsensical Almanacs and Prognostications (and those written by no final fools, but by the Grandees of this Age) and finding them full of falsities and contradictions, I have endeavoured to confute their errors, and divulge to the World their grand mistakes; and since Mr. Lillie is accounted the Herculean ginger, and Prince of Prognosticators, I shall pass by those of less repute, & quote some of those only which I find in his Ephemeris, as he styles it.  
First, his Cardinal Error (on which many other hang) concerns the Sun's ingress into the Vernal Equinox, or rather according to Copernicus, the Earth's saluting the first point of Libra; wherein some he presents us with such a face of Heaven (with what face he can do it, I know not) in which the first of the first decanate of Scorpio ascends; I verily believe the Scheam is right according to the time limited; but he (like an unskilful Musician) hath made a discord by not keeping true time for the Sun's entrance into Aries, by his spoiling of the harmonious consent of the Spheres music: for Booker, Wharton, and Wing, all of them sound uniformly, and their several Schemes like so many well tuned instruments make up a harmony: But Mr. Lillie (for want of tuning) comes basely off, and makes a jar; and the reason is, because he hath screwed his pegs too high; for whereas they differ some few scruples (and that's no scruple in point of Art) from each other for time, Lily is so singular, that he hath marred all in dissenting from them all by no less than an hour and 14 min. Whereas Mr. Culpeper held an opinion, That it should have begun 40 min. after 9 in the forenoon, and likewise differs far in his Calculation from other Astrologers; The truth whereof is evident by his own words, viz.  
Solar Eclipses have been ever fatal to Kings & Magistrates, they cannot agree, but only in one thing, and that is oppressing the people: O pure! they are old dogs at that, and the poor grean under it. Arise o God and help them! Lawyers and Clergymen are displaced and imprisoned, & some made shorter by the head. A new sect of Heretics arise, which makes me admire how worse can be invented then are already. Private murders and poison are like to be very rife: look to't ye great ones in authority, have a care of your selus, lest some of you be sent to take a supper apud inferos, before you are a ware of it: 'Tis a scurvy fashion, I do not like it.  
During the effects of this Eclipse in England, either at, or before the beginning of the year 1655, (the wiser my brethren of the Communality carry themselves, for aught I know or believe, the sooner it may be effected) the Government will come into the hands of the people, and everlasting peace shall we enjoy, and never more War afflict us. And (if we may trust to a piece of Art Caballistick) in August 1655, Rome falleth. But Mr. Lillie saith it only threatens those places which have the sign of the said eclipse, and that this Government shall stand, etc. But so various are they in their several judgements, that all their 〈◊〉 seem to be incredulous.  
However, it is evident, that Mr Lillie is omnium horarum homo; and yet I much wonder (since he can temporize so well) that he should be no better a time observer. I will not tell him the 8 day of March is put down for the 9 in the square, that may happen through the Printers mistake, sure I am the other 8 hours, 58 min. P. M. cannot (by reason of his position of the Heavens for that moment) except for want of true Calculation, pass by his two figures (as truly erected as the  was) for the Sun's entrance into both the Tropics, these (I say) shall be turned over in silence, because I would listen to his judgements.  
Pag. 24. His judgement (he pretends) to be balanced by the prudent advice (comes falsely) of his Brother Reason. That they two should be Kin I see little reason for it: He is not I suppose unacquainted with Dr. Simpleton, whose Plumbiosity out-ballanceth all the reason he hath. Sed perdere quos vult Jupiter dementat. I know now who hath made him so mad a Prognosticator, and this is Jupiter in detriment; but he knows his Reputation can receive no great detriment by it, though he should pay for his pleasure with a pox; else what means that bald pate of his, if 'twere but unperiwigd.  
Pag. 25. He saith he will throw his Authors aside, (by what Authority I know not) only we must take his ipse dixit to be a sufficient Warrant to command our credence, notwithstanding which we'll believe him when we list. I see he is a Rebel to all Authority, and would assume a dominion in judging unto himself; but before he is Judge in his Art, I would have him first proceed Master of Art, only this, I'm afraid it is a degree beyond his Capacity, though I am confident he already takes himself to be a man of degree.  
Page 28. He hath these unchristianlike words. O Heavens! What have men no more wit, then to run after a company of prating Priests and Lawyers. What I pray hath he to do with Heaven? I'm afraid Heaven hath little to do with him, since he hath so much to do with Hell, from whence he fetches such opprobrious and caluminating terms; for his master (who sets him on work, and will one day truly pay him his hire) was a Detractor from the beginning: But he is a Saint forsooth for quoting a deal of Scripture; and so is the Devil, for he did as much for his own advantage. Have men no more wit? Verily, had they no more than he, they'd have but a little; for what he had is here vented at once, and now his Hogsheads empty, we may expect it should sound, though there be nothing in it. His vilification (as he thinks) in terming the Ministers Priests, is more honourable than he is a ware, and therefore they are better company then for himself.  
But why prating Priests? I see he will discover himself to be of the Athenian Sect, which counted Saint Paul but a babbler: But let him take heed, I advise him, lest what he esteems prating, prove at the last more than an empty sound against him: If the Word of GOD be of no better repute with him then Wind, it shall prove such a Wind as shall scatter such Dust as he is from before the face of the Almighty.  
There are more things whereby some able Astronomers stand in need to be Catechised: Me thinks he, and the rest, should have been better insighted in the speculative part of his Stargazing Tribe of their Science,  they adventured on the Practic, especially since they intended to make it known to the World how little they know; for no Artist would commit such absurdities as may be found them.  
Also, whereas in January, all former Writers began with the letter A, and end with it in December, at the end of the year; contrary to all Precedents, out of a Pragmatic humour, Mr Lillie gins with G, overthrowing by this all ancient Method; but what talk I of this which is a slender one to what follows, and that's his putting down in this month C, for the Dominical letter in stead of D. I suppose he considered it was Leap-year, and that made him skip o'er the right. And therefore if he had not told Us aforehand, we might easily discern that he had thrown his Authors aside: for had he in composing his Almanac perused Master WINGS Practical Astronomy, he could not have so grossly mistake C for D. If he is married, I would have his wife acquaint him more with the Hornbook, for I see he must to his A, B, C.  
I shall not need to quote any more of his ridiculous absurdities; but conclude with his gross Predictions concerning the Eclipse on March 29. which (according to his Calculation) should have been the greatest that ever eyes beheld in this latter Age. Certainly, this argues a great want of faith, and a spiritual darkness; for although there appeared enough to satisfy rational men that there was an eclipse; yet we may observe, that he that made the two great Luminaries, and ordereth their course sitteth in the Circle of the Heavens, and will not give His honour unto any other; but drew back the Clouds like a Curtain, and caused the Sun to show his pleasant Rays and comfortable Beams during the whole time of the eclipse, to the confutation of these great Astrologers, who by the help of Tycho were able to guests at the time of the eclipse, yet could not tell whether the day would be clear or cloudy: However, many of those Stargazers, who account themselves skilful in this conjectural Science, went the same day to South-hampton house to take their observation, and stayed there during the whole time; where Mr Lillie found, That the Eclipse began at 9 of the clock and 56 min. in the forenoon, and that the Sun was in a Cardinal sign 7 degrees; affirming that the effects thereof will extend to the cutting down and depopulating, those Cities which have the sign of the eclipse: But where these are situated, I conceive he knows no more, than those of his Society, who said, That there should be a kind of Egyptian darkness over the face of the earth, upon the interception or obscuration of the Light of the Sun, caused by interposition of the Moon's body between the Sun and our sight. Which how contrary it sell out to their Prognostication, we have all been eye-witnesses; and I am confident, there will be as much difference in the effects of it: And those Kingdoms, Cities, etc. by them threatened, will stand and flourish, when they shall lie in the dust.  
FINIS.