Named "Christian" to avoid hassles (some things never change), this is the most famous, the most celebrated astrology book in the English language. It has been prized by students ever since its first publication in 1647.

In 1647, William Lilly, renowned throughout England, sat down to write his famous book on astrology. He was ill, but he had foreseen that. He had decided that rather than struggle with clients while sick, he would give himself a year to study, reflect, and write. But before he was quite finished with his book, plague swept through London, killing two of his servants, and forcing Lilly and family to flee to the countryside.

Lilly, famous throughout England for his almanacs & forecasts (he predicted London's Great Fire of 1666), lived during the English Civil War & was a minor historical figure in it. Into his studio came the rich and poor, nobles and commoners, with problems great and small.

In the first volume, Book 1:

• An Introduction to Astrology, containing the use of an ephemeris.
• The erecting of a scheme of heaven.
• The nature of the twelve signs of the Zodiac, of the planets.
• A most easy introduction to the whole art of astrology.

In the first volume, Book 2:
The Resolution of All Manner of Questions, by a most methodical way, instructs the student how to judge or resolve all manner of questions contingent unto man, viz, of health, sickness, riches, marriage, preferment, journeys, etc. Some 35 questions inserted and judged.

In the second volume, Book Three, an astounding book, Lilly gives not only his own hard-won knowledge of natal astrology, but also what he gleaned from close study of the greatest astrologers in history, as found in his own astrological library, one of the largest of its day.

In Book 3 you may learn:

• How to determine the Hyleg, or Apheta, the Prorogator of Life. 
• How to determine intelligence, stature, shape and complexion of the native. 
• If the native will be rich, and, if so, whether by fair means or foul.
• The illnesses he may suffer, if he may die a violent death. .
• Of Marriage: The number and kinds of spouses, where they may come from, if there will be children or not, and if so, an idea of their number. 
• The kind of career best suited to the native, and much more.

In the section on Directions and Forecasting, Lilly gives comprehensive interpretations for Primary Directions, Solar Returns and Profections. The book concludes with a priceless analysis of the Nativity of an English Merchant, including more than twenty years of forecasts, up to the time that Lilly judged to be the end of the man's natural life.

For the first time, unique to this edition: Spelling and verbs modernized. Glossary of obscure terms, including Latin words and phrases. Calculations in modern format. All 24 solar returns and all 12 profection charts in standard wheel format. Fixed star positions updated to 1 January 2005. Modern symbols for aspects (including minor aspects) used throughout. Primaries untangled, as much as possible.

This new edition restores Lilly's original page layouts, with marginalia. Modern spelling throughout, this edition includes Lilly's bibliography, his original index & a new glossary. Also includes his original woodblock charts, and their modern versions. This is Lilly's great work as he himself knew it.

The Horary Astrology in these pages, in the hands of a master, is no mere parlour game. It is demanding and precise, combining science and art. Properly used, it will give answer to any well-defined question.

William Lilly (1602-1681), was a famed English astrologer and occultist during his time. He began to dabble in astrology, reading all the books on the subject he could fall in with, and occasionally trying his hand at unravelling mysteries by means of his art. The years 1642 and 1643 were devoted to a careful revision of all his previous reading, and in particular, having lighted on Valentine Naibod's Commentary on Alcabitius, he "seriously studied him and found him to be the profoundest author he ever met with.

His most comprehensive book was published in 1647 and was entitled Christian Astrology. It is so large that it came in three separate volumes in modern times, and it remains popular even today and has never gone totally out-of-print. Lilly caused much controversy in 1666 for allegedly predicting the Great Fire of London some 14 years before it happened. For this reason many people believed that he might have started the fire, but there is no evidence to support these claims. He was tried for the offence in Parliament but was found to be innocent.