George Wharton

descended from an antient and gentile family living in Westmorland, richly posses’d with lands and inheritances therein, was born at Kirbykendal in that County 4. Apr. 1617, spent some time in the condition of a Sojourner in Oxon. 1633. and after, but his natural Geny to Astronomy and Mathematicks was so predominant, that little or nothing of Logic and Philosophy could take place, in him. Afterwards he retired to his Patrimony, prosecuted his genius (which was assisted by Will. Milbourne Curate at Bransepeth near Durham) and by the name of George Naworth (Wharton) of West-Awckland published Almanacks: But being soon discontented at the then growing rebellion, he turn’d all his inheritance into money, espous’d his Majesties cause and interest, and raised a gallant Troop of horse therewith. After several generous hazards of his person in Battle, he was at last totally routed by the rebellious party near Stow on the Would in Glocestershire, where the noble and valiant Sir Jacob Astley was taken Prisoner, and himself received several scars of honour, which he carried to his grave. Afterwards he retired to Oxon, the then seat of his Majesty, and had, in recompence of his losses, confer’d upon him an employment under Sir Joh. Heydon then Lieutenant General of the Ordnance, which was to receive, and pay off, money for the service of the Magazine and Artillery; at which time Edward Sherburne Gent. (afterwards a Knight) was Commissary General of the said Artillery. It was then, that at leisure houres, he followed his studies, was esteemed a member of Queens Coll. being entred among the students there, and might, with other officers, have had the degree of Master of Arts confer’d on him by the members of the Ven. Convocation, but he neglected it. After the surrender of the Garrison of Oxon, at which time the Kings cause did dayly decline, our author Wharton was put to his shifts, and lived as opportunity served, went to the great City, lived as privately as he could and wrote several small things for a livelyhood. But they giving offence to the great men then in power, he was several times seized on, and imprison’d, as in the Gatehouse at Westminster, in Newgate and at length in Winsore Castle: At which time being threatned with greater punishment he found Will. Lilly his Antagonist a friend. After his Majesties restauration he became Treasurer and Pay-Master to the Office of his Majesties Ordnance, repaid Lilly his curtesie, gained so well by his employment, that purchasing an estate, he was, in consideration of his former sufferings under, and for, K. Ch. 1, and for particular services to K. Ch. 2, created a Baronet, by patent dated 31. Dec. 1677; which honor, his son Sir Polycarpus Wharton now enjoyes. Sir George was alwaies esteemed the best Astrologer that wrote the Ephemerides of his time, and went beyond W. Lilly and Jo. Booker the idolls of the Vulgar, was a constant and thro-pac’d Loyallist, a boon Companion, a witty Droll and waggish Poet. He hath written,

Hemeroscopions, or Almanacks from 1640 to 1666.—Printed all in oct. The six first came out under the name of George Naworth and therefore by Lilly usually called Noworth. The rest (that for 1646 being, as it seems, omitted) came partly out under the name of Captaine George Wharton, and partly under George Wharton Esq. In that Alman. which he published in 1644, he began to fill the blank leaves of the respective months with Chronological notes: which continuing so (now and then interruptedly) till 1657 he then put them at the end of every Almanack under the title of Gesta Brittannorum, and commenc’d them from 1600, whereas before they were but from Dec. 1641. These Gests are all, or most part, involved in an octavo book called The Historians Guide, &c. In all the said Almanacks is a great deal of satyrical poetry, reflecting on the times and rebellious persons thereof; which since hath been collected together and printed in his works.

Mercurio-caelico Mastix. or, an anti-caveat to all such, as have (heretofore) had the misfortune to be cheated and deluded, by that great and traiterous Impostor Joh. Booker, in answer to his frivolous Pamphlet, Entit.—Mercurius-Caelicus: or, a caveat to all the people of England. Oxon. 1644. in. tw. sh. in qu.

Englands Iliads in a Nutshel. or, a brief Chronologie of the battailes, sieges, conflicts, &c. from Dec. 1641 to 25. of Mar. 1645. Oxon. 1645 oct. Taken from his Almanacks for 1644. and 45. Mostly involv’d also in the said Hist. Guide, &c.

An Astrological judgment upon his Majesties present March begun from Oxon 7. May 1645—Print. in qu.

Bellum Hybernicale: or Irelands Warr Astrologically demonstrated from the late celestial congress of two malevolent Planets, Saturne and Mars, in Taurus, the Ascendent of that kingdome, &c.—Printed 1647. qu.

Merlini Anglici Errata. Or the errours, mistakes, &c. of Mr. Will. Lilly’s new Ephemeris for 1647—Printed 1647.

Mercurius Elencticus: communicating the unparallel’d proceedings at Westminster, the Head-quarters, and other places, &c.—Printed by stealth in London. This Mercury which began 29. Oct. 1649, came out sheet by sheet every week in qu; and continuing interruptedly till 4. Apr. 1649, it came out again with numb. 1. and continued till towards the end of that year. I have seen several things that were published under the name of Merc. Elenct, particularly the first and second part of The last Will and Test, of Philip Earl of Pembroke, &c. Pr. 1649. qu, but whether George Wharton was author of them I know not.

A List of the names of the members of the H. of Commons: observing which are Officers of the Army, contrary to the self-denying ordinance, together with such sums of money, offices and lands, as they have given to themselves for service done, and to be done, against the King and Kingdom—Printed in one sh, in qu. 1648. It was all taken from the first part of The Hist. of Independency, written by Clem. Walker. In the said List are the names of an 100 persons; and to it was added a second Century, by the same author Wharton, printed on one side of a sh. of paper, the same year, and subscribed M. El. i. e. Merc. Elencticus. The reader is to note that in 1657. and 58 came out Two Narratives of the late Parliament (so called) their Election and appearing, &c. with the account of the places of profit, sallaries and advantages which they hold and receive under the present power, &c.—Pr. in qu. but by whom they were written I know not. Sure it is that the author borrowes several things from the said Hist. of Indep, and the said List, or Two Centuries; and from them all put together, doth borrow the author of another book entit. The mystery of the good old cause, briefly unfolded in a cat. of such members of the late Long Parliament that held offices both Civil and Military, &c. Lond. 1660. oct. Who the author of this Mysterie was, I cannot yet tell: Sure it is, if Sir Will. Dugdale told me right, that Clem. Spelman, who was Cursitor Baron, published about the same time a Character of the Oliverians, on one side of a sheet; which Clement (after he had written and published a large preface to his fathers (Sir Hen. Spelman) book, De non temerandis Ecclesiis and some other little things, (as I suppose) he concluded his last day in June (after Whitsontide) an. 1679: whereupon his body was buried in St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet, London. G. Wharton hath also written,

A short account of the Fasts and Festivals, as well of the Jews as Christians, &c.

The Cabal of the twelve Houses Astrologicall, from Morinus—Written 1659. and approved by Will. Oughtred.

A learned and useful discourse teaching the right observation and keeping of the holy Feast of Easter, &c. Written 1665.

Apotelesma: or, the nativity of the World, and revolution thereof.

Short discourse of yeares, months, and dayes of yeares.

Somthing touching the nature of Ecclipses; and also of their effects.

Of the Crises in diseases, &c.

Of the mutations, inclinations and eversions of Empires, Kingdomes, &c.

Discourse of the names, Genus, Species, &c. of all Comets.

Tract teaching how Astrology may be restored from Morinus, &c.

Secret multiplication of the effects of the Starrs from Cardan.

Sundry rules, shewing by what Laws the weather is governed, and how to discover the various alterations of the same.—He also translated from Latin into English The art of Divining, by the Lines and Signatures, engraven in the hand of man, &c. Written by John Rothman M. D. Lond. 1652. oct. This is sometimes called Whartons Chiromancy. Most of which foregoing treatises, were collected together and publishd an. 1683 in oct, by John Gadbury, born at Wheatley near to, and in the County of, Oxon, 31. Dec. 1627, Son of Will. Gadb. of that place farmer, by his stoln Wife the Daughter of Sir John Curson of Water-perry Knight, bound an Apprentice to Tho. Nicholls a Taylor living in the Parish of S. Peter in the Baylie in Oxon, left him after the great fire hapned in that City 1644, and having a natural genius to the making of Almanacks, improved it at London under Will. Lilly then called the English Merlin, and afterwards set up the trade of Almanack-making, and Fortune-telling for himself; in which he became eminent. Our author Wharton hath also written,

Select and choice poems—Composed during the Civil War, which I have before mention’d. At length dying in his house at Enfield in Middlesex, on the tenth day of Aug. or thereabouts,1681. in sixteen hundred eighty and one, was buried on the 25 day of the same month, in the Chappel of S. Peter ad vincula within the Tower of London, leaving then behind him the character of a most loyal and generous Chevalier.