My friend Mr Henry Coley was born in Magdalen parish in the city of Oxford, 18 October 1633. His father was a joiner over against the Theatre.

It will be noticed that Mars is in the house of wedlock, and the aphorism. "Mars in the seventh either causes discordance in marriage, or early death of the partner," is well borne out in this case, for he married his first wife on 1st May 1656 ...

... in 1669 he published the fruits of his astrological studies as 'Clavis astrologiae, or, A Key to the Whole Art of Astrology'. Its second part, 'Genethliaca', has a separate title-page and carries the date 1668. Though described as merely an introduction, the work is a thorough and systematic account of nativities and the practice of horary astrology, explaining for the first time, for English readers, the innovations of Kepler in this branch of astrology. It was very well received. A massively expanded second edition followed in 1676, with 750 pages of text and a further hundred pages of astronomical data drawn from Kepler and Jean-Baptiste Morin. It was dedicated to Elias Ashmole and carried a glowing tribute by William Lilly, who hailed it as complementing and completing his own 'Christian Astrology' (1st edn, 1647).

I believe him to have been a smart mathematician, quick at figures, and a good teacher (he was by profession a schoolmaster, I believe) ...

His almanac for 1687 contained mathematical calculations by Sir Jonas Moore, and the 1691 edition featured a brief discussion of gravitation, referring readers to Isaac Newton for further information.

Coley took a warm interest in the reform of astrology, a lively issue in the second half of the century, arguing that it must be founded on experiments like other sciences. His own interests lay mainly in the refinement of nativities and of horary astrology. On judicial astrology, especially concerning politics, he was more cautious than many of the other leading practitioners of his time. His almanacs offered mostly vague and innocuous prophecies for England and western Europe, though he was happy to promise 'vast slaughter' of Turks and Tartars in 1684. More typically he remarked that Whig astrologers were rash to predict the death of Louis XIV, 'for Kings and Princes have long Arms, and can reach a person when he least expects it'. At home his almanacs preached obedience to the government of the day, with varying degrees of enthusiasm. The 1685 edition gave full details of the Popish Plot, but he had no difficulty in hailing 'Great James' the following year and remained obedient to the very end of James's reign. The edition for 1690, however, took a strongly protestant, patriotic line, and by 1692 he was hailing William III as 'Our King by Miracle, as well as Right', and predicting that he would lead his victorious armies to the very heart of popish France. In the late 1690s Coley drew attention to the still bolder predictions of his former pupil John Holwell and others that a millennial age was at hand: a messianic emperor arising in the north would crush France and bring about the ruin of Rome and conversion of the Turks and Jews. Characteristically Coley remained noncommittal, observing cautiously, 'let our own Experience confirm or contradict'.

Coming from a humble farming family, he [Lilly] rose by his own efforts to become the most famous man in England - more acclaimed than Charles I or Oliver Cromwell. He was a publishing sensation and the nation's first ever media darling (celebrated in print and song), thanks to his bestselling pamphlets containing uncannily accurate forecasts about events of national importance. During the Civil War, he was a key figure consulted at the highest level by the King and Parliament, as well as by the radical sects. His astrological intelligence on the timing of critical battles helped win the war for Parliament.

The 7th of November 1675, he [Lilly] was taken with a violent fit of vomiting for some hours, to which a fever succeeded, that continued four months: this brought his body exceeding low, together with a dimness in his eyes, which after occasioned him to make use of Mr Henry Coley, as his amanuensis, to transcribe (from his dictates) his astrological judgments for the year 1677; but the monthly observations for that year, were written with his own hand some time before, though by this time he was grown very dim-sighted. His judgments and observations for the succeeding years, till his death, (so also for the year 1682,) were all composed by his directions, Mr Coley coming to Hersham the beginning of every summer, and stayed there, till, by conference with him, he had dispatched them for the press; to whom, at these opportunities, he communicated his way of judgment, and other astrological arcanas.

I am now near seventy four years of age complete, and after much sickness and indisposition of body in my old age (especially these two years last past) I am now by the blessing of God upon the means used, reasonably well recovered again; and it was all along my intention (for the benefit of all honest and grateful Sons of Urania) what many years since I promised in my Introduction to Christian Astrology: but this Author (being the only public person that I have hopes of) hath now with no small pains and industry, saved me that labour, in presenting the world with this most complete piece of astrology, which (not improperly), he entitles A KEY to the whole ART, wherein, in my judgment, he hath showed himself an ARTIST, and very much obliged all the younger students therein, who may hereafter (God willing) receive much more benefit by his studies.

He is a man of admirable parts, and more to be expected from him every day: and as good a natured man as can be. And comes by his learning merely by the strong impulse of his genius. He understands Latin and French: yet never learned out his grammar.

... partly astrological and mathematical, partly miscellaneous (dates of deaths, pieces of poetry, proverbs, philosophy, and the like). The writer's name is at fol. 72, and dates between 1690 and 1695 occur.