[Bibl. Cornub. iii. 1083; Folsom's Saco, passim; Willis's Portland, 28, 57-78, 159; Proceedings of Maine Hist. Soc. 25 May 1883; Western Antiquary, i. 200-16.]
BOOKER, JOHN (1603–1667), astrologer, was born at Manchester 23 March 1602-3, as appears by his nativity among the Ashmolean MSS. He was originally apprenticed to a haberdasher in London, and was subsequently a writing-master at Hadley and clerk to two city magistrates. He must, however, have soon commenced the professional practice of astrology, to which he had been addicted 'from the time he had any understanding,' as the first number of his almanack, the 'Telescopium Uranium,' was published in 1631. He almost immediately obtained great reputation from a prediction of the deaths of Gustavus Adolphus and the elector palatine, founded upon a solar eclipse, and was soon afterwards appointed licenser of mathematical, by which is probably to be understood astrological, books. In 1640 Lilly thought him 'the greatest and most compleat astrologer in the world,' but revised his opinion when Booker, in his capacity of licenser, 'made many impertinent obliterations' in his 'Merlinus Anglicus Junior,' and 'at last licensed it according to his own fancy.' After the publication of Lilly's 'Introduction,' nevertheless, Booker amended beyond measure,' and Lilly allows that he always had 'a curious fancy in judging of thefts.' About the time of his differences with Lilly he had a violent controversy with Sir George Wharton, which occasioned several pamphlets, now of no value. His 'Bloody Irish Almanack,' however, contains some important particulars respecting the Irish rebellion, and he is the author of 'Tractatus Paschalis, or a Discourse concerning the Holy Feast of Easter' (1664). Upon the Restoration we find him petitioning for leave to continue the publication of his almanack, which seems to imply that he had lost his post as licenser. He died on 8 April 1667, after three years' indisposition from dysentery, leaving, says Lilly, the character of 'a very honest man, who abhorred any deceit in the art he practised.' This favourable judgment is confirmed by the internal evidence of his extensive correspondence preserved in the Ashmolean collection. Ashmole bought his books and papers for 140l., and bestowed a gravestone and epitaph upon him, but where he does not say. The 'Dutch Fortune Teller' and 'The History of Dreams,' published under Booker's name after his death, are probably spurious.
[Lilly's History of his Life and Times; Life of Elias Ashmole; Black's Catalogue of the Ashmolean MSS.]
BOOKER, LUKE, LL.D. (1762–1835), divine and poet, was born at Nottingham on 20 Oct. 1762. His father, a schoolmaster, had four wives and thirteen children; to four sons he gave the names of the evangelists. Probably Booker was educated at home; W. T. (see below) says 'he never was at college.' He was ordained in 1785, without a title, and became lecturer at the collegiate church, Wolverhampton, and soon afterwards incumbent of St. Edmund's chapel of ease, Dudley. In 1806 he was presented by his brother-in-law, Richard Blakemore, to the rectory of Tedstone-de-la-Mere, Herefordshire. In 1812, on the death of the Rev. Dr. Cartwright, he became, in addition, vicar of Dudley, on the presentation of the third viscount. He was in great request as a preacher of charity sermons, of which he is said to have delivered 173, and to have collected in this way nearly 9,000l. He was not equally successful, though little less industrious, as a poet. Better remembered than any production of his own muse is a clever satirical poem, professing to be by W. T. of Wantage, printed in 'The Procession and the Bells; or the Rival Poets' (London, 1817, 12mo; reprinted, Dudley, 1833, 12mo), in which his person and manner, 'just like a moving steeple,' are delineated with irreverent freedom in Hudibrastic measure. The origin of this satire was the demolition of the old historic church of St. Thomas, Dudley, in opposition to the wishes of many parishioners. On the laying of the foundation-stone of the new edifice, 25 Oct. 1816, a motley public procession excited much ridicule. Booker died on 1 Oct. 1835, at Bower Ashton, near Bristol. He was four times married. He had lost his eldest son, a youth of thirteen, in 1810. Perhaps Booker's best title to literary note is his—
- 'Description and Historical Account of Dudley Castle,' Dudley and London, 1825, 8vo (a good piece of work, superseded as to the historical part by Twamley's 'History,' 1867).
His publications were very numerous. The earliest seems to have been—
- 'Poems, on subjects Sacred, Moral, and Entertaining,' Wolverhampton, 1785, 2 vols. 8vo; 2nd edition, 1788, 3 vols. 18mo.
This was followed by—
- 'The Highlanders, a Poem,' Stourbridge [1787?], 4to.
- 'Miscellaneous Poems,' Stourbridge, 1789, 8vo.
- 'Malvern, a Descriptive and Historical Poem,' Dudley, 1798, 4to.
- 'The Hop-Garden, a didactic Poem,' Newport, [1799?], 8vo.
- 'Poems, inscribed to Viscount Dudley, having reference to his seat at Himley,' 1802, 4to.
- 'Calista, or a Picture of Modern Life, a Poem,' 1803, 4to.
- 'Tobias, a Poem,' 3 parts, 1805, 8vo.
- 'Euthanasia, or the State of Man after Death,' 1822, 12mo.
