Pietas in patriam the life of His Excellency Sir William Phips, Knt. late Captain…

In the mean Time, I cannot but relate a wonderful Experience of Sir William Phips, by the Relation whereof something of an Antidote may be given against a Poison, which the Diabolical Figure-Fingers, and Fortune-Tellers that swarm all the World over, may insinuate into the Minds of Men. Long before Mr. Phips came to be Sir William, while he sojourned in London, there came into his Lodging an Old Astrologer, living in the Neighbourhood, who making some Observation of him, though he had small or no Conversation with him, did (howbeit by him wholly undesired) one Day send him a Paper, wherein he had, with Pretences of a Rule in Astrology for each Article, distinctly noted the most material Passages that were to befall this our Phips, in the remaining Part of his Life; it was particularly Asserted and Inserted, That he should be engaged in a Design, wherein by Reason of Enemies at Court, he should meet with much Delay; That nevertheless in the Thirty Seventh Year of his Life, he should find a mighty Treasure; That in the Forty First Year of his Life, his King should employ him, in as great a Trust beyond Sea, as a Subject could easily have: That soon after this, he should undergo an hard Storm from the Endeavours of his Adversaries to ⟨p. 98⟩Reproach him, and Ruin him; That his Adversaries though they should go very near gaining the Point, should yet miss of doing so; That he should hit upon a vastly Richer Matter than any that he had hitherto met withal; That he should continue Thirteen Years in his Public Station, full of Action, and full of Hurry; And the rest of his Days he should spend in the Satisfaction of a Peaceable Retirement.

In the mean Time, I cannot but relate a wonderful Experience of Sir William Phips, by the Relation whereof something of an Antidote may be given against a Poison, which the Diabolical Figure-Flirgers, and Fortune-Tellers that swarm all the World over, may insinuate into the Minds of Men. Long before Mr. Phips came to be Sir William, while he sojourned in London, there came into his Lodging an Old Astrologer, living in the Neighbourhood, who making some Observation of him, though he had small or no Conversation with him, did (howbeit by him wholly undesired) one Day send him a Paper, wherein he had, with Pretences of a Rule in Astrology for each Article, distinctly noted the most material Passages that were to befall this our Phips, in the remaining Part of his Life; it was particularly Asserted and Inserted, That he should be engaged in a Design, wherein by Reason of Enemies at Court, he should meet with much Delay; That nevertheless in the Thirty Seventh Year of his Life, he should find a mighty Treasure; That in the Forty First Year of his Life, his King should employ him, in as great a Trust beyond Sea, as a Subject could easily have: That soon after this, he should undergo an hard Storm from the Endeavours of his Adversaries to