The Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers | Page 4

have
died, the astrologer plainly foretold it; otherwise it passes but for the
pious ejaculation of a loyal subject: Though it unluckily happen'd in
some of their almanacks, that poor King William was pray'd for many
months after he was dead, because it fell out that he died about the
beginning of the year.
To mention no more of their impertinent predictions: What have we to
do with their advertisements about pills and drink for the venereal
disease? Or their mutual quarrels in verse and prose of Whig and Tory,
wherewith the stars have little to do?
Having long observed and lamented these, and a hundred other abuses
of this art, too tedious to repeat, I resolved to proceed in a new way,
which I doubt not will be to the general satisfaction of the kingdom: I
can this year produce but a specimen of what I design for the future;
having employ'd most part of my time in adjusting and correcting the
calculations I made some years past, because I would offer nothing to
the world of which I am not as fully satisfied, as that I am now alive.
For these two last years I have not failed in above one or two
particulars, and those of no very great moment. I exactly foretold the
miscarriage at Toulon, with all its particulars; and the loss of Admiral
Shovel, tho' I was mistaken as to the day, placing that accident about
thirty-six hours sooner than it happen'd; but upon reviewing my
schemes, I quickly found the cause of that error. I likewise foretold the
Battle of Almanza to the very day and hour, with the loss on both sides,
and the consequences thereof. All which I shewed to some friends
many months before they happened, that is, I gave them papers sealed
up, to open at such a time, after which they were at liberty to read them;
and there they found my predictions true in every article, except one or
two, very minute.
As for the few following predictions I now offer the world, I forbore to
publish them till I had perused the several almanacks for the year we
are now enter'd on. I find them in all the usual strain, and I beg the
reader will compare their manner with mine: And here I make bold to
tell the world, that I lay the whole credit of my art upon the truth of
these predictions; and I will be content, that Partridge, and the rest of
his clan, may hoot me for a cheat and impostor, if I fail in any singular
particular of moment. I believe, any man who reads this paper, will

look upon me to be at least a person of as much honesty and
understanding, as a common maker of almanacks. I do not lurk in the
dark; I am not wholly unknown in the world; I have set my name at
length, to be a mark of infamy to mankind, if they shall find I deceive
them.
In one thing I must desire to be forgiven, that I talk more sparingly of
home-affairs: As it will be imprudence to discover secrets of state, so it
would be dangerous to my person; but in smaller matters, and that are
not of publick consequence, I shall be very free; and the truth of my
conjectures will as much appear from those as the other. As for the
most signal events abroad in France, Flanders, Italy and Spain, I shall
make no scruple to predict them in plain terms: Some of them are of
importance, and I hope I shall seldom mistake the day they will happen;
therefore, I think good to inform the reader, that I all along make use of
the Old Style observed in England, which I desire he will compare with
that of the news-papers, at the time they relate the actions I mention.
I must add one word more: I know it hath been the opinion of several
of the learned, who think well enough of the true art of astrology, That
the stars do only incline, and not force the actions or wills of men: And
therefore, however I may proceed by right rules, yet I cannot in
prudence so confidently assure the events will follow exactly as I
predict them.
I hope I have maturely considered this objection, which in some cases
is of no little weight. For example: A man may, by the influence of an
over-ruling planet, be disposed or inclined to lust, rage, or avarice, and
yet by the force of reason overcome that bad influence; and this was the
case of Socrates: But as the great events of the world usually depend
upon numbers of men, it cannot be expected they should all unite