Nicholas Fiske and Samuel Butler
Biography of Samuel Butler (Microsoft Encarta):
BUTLER, Samuel (1612-80), English poet, born near Pershore, Worcestershire. He wrote the mock-heroic poem Hudibras, a satire on Puritanism, in octosyllabic couplets, inspired by the 17th-century Spanish novel Don Quixote. The first part of Hudibras was published in 1663, the second part in 1664, and the third part in 1678. Although the poem was a popular success and met with the favor of Charles II, Butler lived in poverty. Nearly a century after his death two volumes of his satirical works were published as Genuine Remains in Verse and Prose of Mr. Samuel Butler (1759).
From Fiske Family Papers:
Samuel Butler was buried in 1680 in the churchyard of Covent Garden; it was in Covent Garden that Dr. Nicholas Fiske cultivated a large practice both in the art of astrology and medicine, being
famous about the year 1633, and died in the seventy-eighth year of his age. A further proof that these two celebrities were known to each other is manifested in Hudibras, where Fiske's name is mentioned:
"In Mansion prudently contriv'd;
Where neither Tree nor House could bar
The free Detection of a star;
And nigh an ancient Obelisk
Was raised by him, found out by Fiske."
Zachary Grey, LL.D., in a note in Hudibras, part ii, canto iii, page 404, says that this Fiske (Christian name not mentioned, but undoubtedly Nicholas), was a licentiate in physics, born near Framlingham, in Suffolk, bred at a country school, and designed for the University, but went not thither, studying physic and astrology at home, which afterwards he practised at Colchester, after which he came to London, and practised there.
The edition of 'Notes & Queries' journal published February 7th, 1863 contains the following note in a piece about Hudibras:
This Nicholas Fiske was 1575, bred a physician, and was wont to say "A physician scarce
ever deserved his bread till he had no teeth to eat it." Yet when he had lost his teeth by his age, he could scarce get bread by his profession. He was much given to astrological studies, and published Sir Christopher Haydon's Discourse on
the Influence of the Planets, 8vo, 1650, and died about the time of the restoration, being eighty-five years old.
William Lilly, the eminent English astrologer, says of him in William Lilly's History of his Life and Times first published in 1715 :
In this year 1633, I became acquainted with Nicholas Fiske, licentiate in physick, who was born in Suffolk, near Framlingham Castle, of very good parentage, who educated him at country schools, until he was fit for the university; but he went not to the academy, studying at home both astrology and physick, which he afterwards practised in Colchester; and there was well acquainted with Dr. Gilbert, who wrote De Magnete. He came afterwards unto London, and exercised his faculty in several places thereof. (For in his youth he would never stay long in one house.) In 1633 he was sent for out of Suffolk by Dr. Winston of Gresham College, to instruct the Lord Treasurer Weston's son in arithimetick, astronomy upon the globes, and their uses. He was a person very studious, laborious, of good apprehension, and had by his own industry obtained both in astrology, physick, arithmetick, astronomy, geometry and algebra, singular judgment: he would in astrology resolve horary questions very soundly; but was ever diffident of his own abilities; he was exquisitely skilful in the art of directions upon nativities and had a good genius in performing judgment thereupon, but very unhappy he was, that he had no genius in teaching his scholars, for he never perfected any; his own son Matthew hath often told me, that where his father did teach any scholars in his time, they would principally learn of him; he had Scorpio ascending, and was secretly envious to those he thought had more parts than himself; however, I must be ingenuous, and do affirm, that by frequent conversation with him I came to know which were the best authors, and much to enlarge my judgment, especially in the art of directions: he visited me most days once after I became acquainted with him, and would communicate his most doubtful questions unto me, and accept of my judgment therein rather than his own: he singularly well judged and directed Sir Robert Holborn's nativity, but desired me to adjudge the first house, seventh and tenth thereof, which I did, and which nativity (since Sir Robert gave it me) came to your hands, and remains in your library; [oh learned Esquire !] he died about the seventy-eighth year of his age, poor.
Biography of William Lilly (Webster's Biographical Distionary):
Lil·ly, William \'lil-e\. 1602-1681. English astrologer. Published almanac Merlinus Anglicus Junior (1644) and annual pamphlets of prophecy; author of Christian Astrology (1647); ridiculed as Sidrophel in Butler' s Hudibras.
NB - The British Library Manuscript Collection contains Nicholas Fiske's Commonplace book of practice and accounts, c.1660 [Reference : Sloane MS 294].