the House of Commons against me, and the business was committed to that
committee, whereof Baron Rigby was chairman. A day was assigned to hear
the matter; in the morning whereof, as I passed by Mr. Pullen's shop in
St. Paul's Church-yard, Pullen bad 'God be with you,' and named me by
name. Mr. Selden being there, and hearing my name, gave direction to
call me unto him, where he acquaints me with Hazelrigg's humour and
malice towards me, called for the _Starry Messenger_, and having read
over the words mentioning that committee, he asked me how I would answer
them? I related what I would have said, but he contradicted me, and
acquainted me what to say, and how to answer. In the afternoon I went to
appear, but there was no committee set, or would sit; for both Mr.
Reynolds and Sir Philip Stapleton, and my other friends, had fully
acquainted Baron Rigby with the business, and desired him not to call
upon me until they appeared; for the matter and charge intended against
me was very frivolous, and only presented by a cholerick person to
please a company of clowns, meaning the committee of Leicester. Baron
Rigby said, if it were so he would not meddle with the matter, but
exceedingly desired to see me. Not long after he met Sir Arthur, and
acquainting him what friends appeared for me, said, 'I will then
prosecute him no further.'

All the ancient astrologers of England were much startled and confounded
at my manner of writing, especially old Mr. William Hodges, who lived
near Wolverhampton in Staffordshire, and many others who understood
astrology competently well, as they thought. Hodges swore I did more by
astrology than he could by the crystal, and use thereof, which indeed he
understood as perfectly as any one in England. He was a great royalist,
but could never hit any thing right for that party, though he much
desired it: he resolved questions astrologically; nativities he meddled
not with; in things of other nature, which required more curiosity, he