Booker, John
, one of those impostors who amused
the public in the seventeenth century, was born at Manchester in 1601, and was bred a haberdasher in Lawrencelane, London, but quitted this employment and followed
| that of a writing-master at Hadley in Middlesex, and was
afterwards for some time clerk to the sitting aldermen at
Guildhall. He in a few years rendered himself so eminent,
that he was appointed licenser of mathematical books, under
which were included all those that related to the celestial
sciences. Lilly tells us, that he once thought him the
greatest astrologer in the world; but it appears that he
afterwards sunk in his esteem, and that he thought himself
a much greater man. We are told by the same author,
that “he had a curious fancy in judging of thefts, and
was as successful in resolving love questions,” which was
a capital branch of his trade. George Wharton, who was
formerly one of his astrological friends, had a great quarrel
with him, which occasioned his publishing “MercurioCrelico Mastix; or an Anti-caveat to all such as have heretofore had the misfortune to be cheated and deluded by
that great and treacherous impostor John Booker; in an
answer to his frivolous pamphlet, entitled Mercurius Coelicus, or a Caveat to all the people of England;” Oxon.
1644, 4to. The only work of Booker’s worth notice is,
his “Bloody Irish Almanac,” which contains some memorable particulars relative to the war in Ireland. He
died April 1667, and his books were sold to Elias Ashmole,
who, as Lilly informs us, and we may readily believe, gave
more for them than they were worth. 1
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Works found by this author (or others with similar names) in the Early English Books Online Collection:
The bloody almanack: to which England is directed, to fore-know what shall come to passe, / by that famous astrologer, M. John Booker. Being a perfect abstract of the prophecies proved out of Scripture, by the noble Napier, Lord of Marchistoun in Scotland. (1643) by Booker, John, 1603-1667.
No Mercurius aquaticus, but a cable-rope, double twisted for Iohn Tayler, the water-poet, who escaping drowning in a paper-wherry-voyage, is reserved for another day as followeth, viz by John Booker. (1644) by Booker, John, 1603-1667.
The new bloody almanack for this insuing yeare, begining March the 25. 164[4] and ending March 25 1645. In which England i [sic] directed, [t]o foreknow what shall come to passe, according to many predictions: Being a perfect abstract of the prophesies of the best approved. Out of scripture, astrologie, and prophesy. And some observations from that admired astrologer of our daye. Mr. John Booker also other prophesies by Walgrave, Merlin, and Cardan. (1644) by Booker, John, 1603-1667.
A rope treble-twisted, for John Tayler the water-poet. Or rather for his malignant friends in London, which make use of his name to slander and abuse the Parliament, and well-affected party, in their pernicious pamphlets; and particularly, Mr. John Booker, a man of known honesty, and one who scornes to calculate for the meridian of Oxford. Snarle not, malignants: if you do, here's rope enough for you, and all that love the Pope. (1644) by Booker, John, 1603-1667.
A rope for a parret, or, a cure for a rebell past cure. Being an appendix or rejoynder, to A caveat to all people of the kingdom, in answer to Mercurio cœlico mastix, a scandalous and scurrilous pamphlet lately published by that arch turn-coat, George Naworth, sometimes a calculator for the bishoprick of Durham, and now an infamous lying chronologer at Oxford. (1644) by Booker, John, 1603-1667.
A bloody Irish almanack, or, Rebellious and bloody Ireland, discovered in some notes extracted out of an almanack, printed at Waterford in Ireland for this yeare 1646. Whereunto are annexed some astrologicall observations upon a conjunction of the two malignant planets Saturne and Mars in the midle of the signe Taurus the horroscope of Ireland, upon Friday the 12. of Juue [sic] this yeare 1646. with memorable prædictions and occurrences therein. By John Booker. (1646) by Booker, John, 1603-1667.
The Bloody almanack wherein is contained : ... the King of Scots new game in France, together with his desires to forreign princes ... concerning the landing of an English army in France ; the time and manner of a great battel to be fought : the engagement of the Scotch King, with the event and success thereof : with other notes ... touching the strange lightnings and apparitions that will be seen in the ayr this year ... (1652) by Booker, John, 1603-1667.
Merlinus Anglicus: or, England's Merlin. Prophetically fore-telling, the admirable events, and wonderful effects, that shall befall the king of Scots, the states of Holland, and the Parliament of England, in all their consultations, warlike actions, and naval designes, both by sea and land, for the year of our Lord, 1653. With the most exact predictions, and monthly observations, touching the great rising of the European nations against England; and the success that will attend them in all their motions, enterprises, and attempts; as also, the causes of these strange revolutions, mutations, inclinations, and eversions of empires, kingdoms, and common-wealths. Likewise the astronomical calculations of the eclipses, lunations, and conjunctions; portending a great change of government, religion, and law, in England, Scotland, and Ireland; together with the taking off all taxes, assesments, burdens, and oppressions; and calling to a severe account all committees and treasurers; with the executing of many great ones. / Collected out of the most elaborate works of Captain George Wharton, Esquire, Mr. William Lillie, Mr. John Booker, Mr. Vincent Wing, and Mr. Nicholas Culpeper ... (1653) by Booker, John, 1603-1667.
Mercurius anglicus: or, England's Merlin. Prophetically fore-telling, the admirable events, and wonderful effects, that shall befall the King of Scots, the states of Holland, and the Parliament of England in all their consultations, warlike actions, and naval designes, both by sea and land, for the year of our Lord, 1653. With the most exact predictions, and monthly observations, touching the great rising of the European nations against England; and the success that will attend them in all their motions, enterprises, and attempts; as also, the causes of these strange re[v]olutions, mutations, inclinations, and eversions of empires, kingdoms, and common-wealths. Likewise, the astromical calculations of the eclipses, lunations, and conjunctions; portending a great change of government, religion, and law, in England, Scotland, and Ireland; together with the taking off all taxes, assesments, burdens, and oppressions; and calling to a severe account all committees and treasurers; with the executing of many great ones. Collected out of the most elaborate works of Captain George Wharton, Esquire, Mr. William Eill[ ]e, Mr. John Booker, Mr. Vincent Wing, and Mr. Nicholas Culpeper, students in as (1653) by Booker, John, 1603-1667.
![[the book]](../../g/21R98TQH7QL._SL160_.jpg)
