JohnDee15271608 10076418

th e su
gg est io n to wr ite th is b o
d fo r
o k, an l
va ua b le d
an
kind a ss ista n ce in r ea ding th e fi na l p r o o fs , I am

gr ea tly
indeb ted to Pr o fesso r S ilva n us P Th o m pso n ,
I
. e tc .
C . F S
. .
L ON D O N , J uly , 1 909 .
TABLE O F C O NTENTS
CHAPTE R I
BIR T H AN D E D UC ATIO N
Ter cen t e na r death—N life o f h im —Persi t t

y of D ee s
’
o s en
mi u ds n t din g Bi th P nt ge At Ch lm f d
er s a n r ar e a e s or
G m m S ho o l—St Jo hn C ll g C m b idge—Fell w f
ra ar c
’
s o e e, a r o o
T in ity—Th t ic l e te pri e— In t h e Lo w Co un t i —MA

.
r ea r a n r s r es .
o f C m b id g e
a L uv in U iv
r ity P ris Re ding in
o a n er s a a s
Eu lid— C
c e po n d en ts b d— R tu n to En gl n d
o rr s a ro a e r a .
CHAPTER II
IMPR S I ON M E N T AN D AUTH O R SH IP
Bo o ks dedi ca te d to Edwar d VL—Upto n Recto r y—J n g a o
Lead en ham —Bo o ks d e dica te d to D u h ess o f N o r t hum b e l n d c r a
— Fe rr ys in fo r m s a gain s t h is m gic — In priso n— H an d d a e
o v er to Bo nn er — At Ph il po t s tr ia l —E ffo r ts to fo un d
’
Stat e a
Lib y—Astr o lo gy—Ho r o sco pes—Cho ice o f a day f r Que en

ra r o
E liz b et h s co r o na tio n I n t duced to h er b y D udley

’
a ro
Sym pa th etic m a gic—Bach e lo r o f D ivin ity—In An tw e p r
M n a s H ier oglyp hicw—Pr efa ce to Billin gsley s Euclid Ca lle d

o
’
-
a c o n ur er .j
CHAPTE R III
MO R TLAK E
Pr o po s ed b en efi ces —Pr op a edew na ta Ap ho r isticw —Al h c em ica l

s e c r e ts — S ettle d at Mo r tla k e —J o ur n e to Lo rr a in e—I lln ess
y
Th e Q ue e n s
’
Min es an d
a tt en tio n s hidden t u r ea s re
Wig m o r e Castl e—Mar r ia g e— D ea th o f fi t wife—Lit

rs e r ar y
c o r r e s po n d e n ce Jo hn St o w D ia r y c mm en ed
o c Th e
viii TA BL E OF CONTENT S
H exa m er o n Br y twr micum —Th B itish e r Co mp lem m t — Sla n d e r

a n d fa s e o o —A l h d vy—Th s ea -p o w e r o f Alb io n
p etty na e
Fi h e r ie
s s an d fo r e ign po li yc .
CHAPTER lV
J AN E D E E
A c o m et o r — S e co n d m a r r ia e —J an e F r o m o n d
bl a z in s ta r
g g
—H ur r ie d j o ur n e y a b r o a d— Be r lin an d Fr a n kfo rt —Bir t h o f a
so n — C h r is t e nin g— E dwa r d D y e r — D ue d Alen co n — Mic h a e l
’
L o ck— H — Th e Q ee s visit —S ir H um h r e y Gilb e r t

’
i s s o n s u n
p
at Mo r t l a k e A d r ia n Gi lb er t J o h n D vi Que n s
a s Th e e
’
Tit l e Ro yl a l Lo r d Tr e a su r er Bu l eig h D e t h o f D e e s
r a
’
m o t h e r —Th e Qu vi it dl o e n ce — Ma p o f Am e r ica
’
e en s s o f co n
Vi its ts o th e Musco vy H o u se —
F bi h ro s er an d H a wkin s—Bir th
o f a d au
g h t — A id
er cc en t to A thu r r .
CHAPTER V
TH E SEA R C H FO R A ME D I U M
Assista n ts— R o g e r Co o k— M gic a a nd lh

a c em y Psyc hic
o w er s — Cr ysta l a z in — D r e am s an d m yst er ies —Vin e nt
p g g c
Mu r p Bo din visits E n gl n d —Qua r r el

hy an d a la wsuit— J ean a
b etw e n L eicester n d Sussex —Ma y H er b e t Si G e g e

e a r r -
r or
Pe kh m — Th e s t ge t P r i G d en — M Se cr e ta r y
c a a a a s ar r .
W l sin g h m —
a Th e Qu e en t G een wic h —B n b a s S u l s
a a r ar a a a
m e ium — E
d dw d ar Ta lb t—S ig ht in
o th e sto n e — Th e ta ble of
— Th w l
pr a ctice e ax e n s e a s .
CHAPTER V I
E DWA RD K ELLE Y
dw d K lley — An a li — H is p evi u hi t y — H i
E ar e as r o s s or s
m y t i u p wd — M i ge t J
s er o s C p —J o D er ar r a o o an oo er an e ee s
’
di lik f K ll y—Th di y f t h
s e o ti —H
e A hm l
e e ar o e ac o ns ow s o e
ob t i d th MSS B k f Myste i s—Th f u

a ne e
g l .
-
oo o r e e o r an e s
D t hi t f
ee s hidde kn wl dg e—A yst l i b o ught
’
rs or n o e cr a s r
M ed ecina .
TA BL E OF CONTENTS ix
CHAPTER V II
PA GE
TH E C RYST AL GAZ E R S
Kell y th e k ye —A thi d pe —Ad i n Gilb t

e , s r r r r so n r a er
K ll y de e illud e — Dan m pl y d t an f m th e r ee e o e o re o r
C l d — Th e Qu
a en ar d R l ig h — H idd t u e en an a e en r ea s re
Bu l ig h lib
r e y— D p i us b k s— K ll y eb lli us
’
s rar ee s
’
rec o oo e e r e o
Th t s t d p t—P ifi d by Ad i n Gilb e t—H i wif

r e a en o e ar ac e r a r s e s
’
l tt — H g
e ers t L d n— Be o m es el i v y nt—Sees
o es o on o c c a r o a
M y Qu ar of S ts e ut d een co ex c e .
CHAPTER V III
MAD IMI
l k f m ey—C un t Alb t L ki— Aspi ti s

S tr a its fo r ac o on o er as ra on
t w d th
o P li h C w
ar Kin g St ph Bath y D
e o s ro n e an or ee
i t d u d t h im b y L i
n ro t
ce L ki t O f d—At M t
o e ce s e r - as a x or or
l k — M dim i—G lv h
a e Fi i — L ki gu di
a g l a a or n s as
’
s ar an an e
M dim i a li gui t—K lley th t t l v —H i l y f

a n s e r ea e n s o ea e s sa a r o
£ 5 0 — Th m K lley—D ee u pi i ns —K ll y t m p
o as e
’
s s s c o e e
’
s e er s
Hi l v s fm n y
o e o o e .
CHAPTER IX
A FOR E IG N J O URNE Y
Que — D p tu f m M tl k —L ki
Gifts fr o m th e en e ar re ro or a e as
and th wh l p ty eil f m G v e d — Q u b ug h
o e ar sa ro ra sen ee n o ro
Th B ill H l m — Am t d m — H li g —D kkum
e r aa r e s er a ar n en o
I t u ti
ns r f m G b i l—Em bd — O ld nb g — B m e
c o ns ro a r e en e er re n
—Il l vity —Vi i n s f E gl d— H m b u g—L ub k

’
s e s o o n an a r ec .
CHAPTER X
PR OMI SES AN D V S I I ON S
P r o m ises o fd ubts— H i b k nd lib y
w lt h
ea D ee ’ s o s oo s a rar
de t y d b y th e m b —R t k—St ttin P
s ro e C th d l o os oc e -
o sen a e ra
S v wi t w th —Th t bl t up—N l g — Si
e er e n er ea er e a e se a va e r
H y Sidn ey—M dim i—Th Queen s ff ti —At L k

ar r a e
’
a ec on as
C w
r a co .
x TA BL E OF CO N T E N T S
CHAPTER XI
C RA CO W
Cr a co w—Th e
w k o n th R f m ti n n ew Style — D ee s
’
or e e or a o
o f th C l n d — K lley
e di ntent —G g phi l le n
a e ar e
’
s sco eo ra ca sso s
—L ki n d Kin g St p h — K m k — G b i l s pl din g
as a e an es ar a r e
’
ea
-K ll y p t t—A vi i n f f u c tl s A —D ee
e e re en a n s o o o r as e - ve
’
s
pa tie n ce .
CHAPTER XII
F R OM C R A COW TO P R AG UE
Ro wl d ill an
’
s n ess —D ee sets o ut fo r Pr ague —Th o m a s K ell ey
—
Dr . H a g eck
’
s h o use — Rudo lph II —Sim o n s s tudy— I n ter .
’
vi w wit h
e th e Em p er o r K ll y s utb u t
e e
’
D J bo rs s r. a co
Curt ius— D e e s n a t ur a l h isto r y—Th Sp n is h Am b ss d

’
e a a a or
Jan e D ee ill—A passpo rt gr an t ed—B ck to P gue— K ell ey

’
a ra s
d ub t
o s .
CHAPTER XIII
A DREAM OF G O LD .
To b u g—Mi h e l b ptised i P gue C th ed l

L im r c a a n ra a ra
E t a s er P v ty d di t K ll y g i
o tiv
er an s r ess e e a a n r es e
P b l d N bi D u b u
ara R et u
o a t C e w— M T b ld o s o s -
rn o r aco r . e a o
— I t vi w with Ki g Steph —H is d t h — D Ann ib ld us
n er e s n an ea r . a
B k t P gu — F n i Pu i—Th B k f E h
- ac a ra e ra c sco cc e oo o noc
Cl A g li —B i h e d by P p l e di t— W illi m C un t
a 'ves n e cc
e an s a a c a o
R b g— D e t L eipsi — L ett t W l in g h m —A n
o se n er e a c er o a s a ew
N u n i — I vit ti n t T eb n
c o n a o o r o a .
CHAPTER XIV
TH E C AST LE O F T R E BO N A
b e g Vi e y o f B h mi —I vit
Tr eb o n a Ca st l —R e o se n r c ro o e a n a
ti t
on Ru i o ss a —P j
ti n wit h K ll ey po wd — A g ift t r o ec o e
’
s er o
J D — L ett
an e f m K ell y— J
ee t h hu b d — J n er ro e an e o er s an oa
K lley—D e f ien ds d ese t h im f Ke ll y— A t hu t b

e e s
’
r r or e r r o e
TA BL E OF CO N T E N T S xi
PA G E
th e s k ry er — K e ll ey s
d d v — A h d d im pur e
’
p e is i n r eten o ar an
d t in e— D e
oc r upl es v idd —A l m
e s
’
scr o e rr en so e n
pa ct
K ll y diso wn s bl m e—E d f h is l i v y n e—Th
e e a n o c a r o a c e s pir its
’
d i y l o s ed
ar c .
CHAPTER XV
TH E EN D O F TH E P A RTNE RS H IP
L ett er s toWal sing h am —A tuto r fo r th e childr en —Co ld
n es s and j ealo usy— Furn ac es c o ns tr ucted— Rum o ur s an d
r e o r ts—Bo o k o f D un s ta n — K ell ey s h a ug h tin ess —Ac cid en t
’
p
to Mic h a e l—Th e gr ea t se c r et— K e ll e y s t ea l s th e b es t w o r k
m a n — Br e a k up o f th e Tr eb o n a fa m ily— D ee s l e tte r t o th e
’
-
Queen o n th e Ar ma da—Gifts to K elley—H is d epartur e

Co a c h es d h an o r ses
pr o iv d ed D ee quits Bo h em ia
Ar r iv l in B m e
a re n .
CHAPTER XV I
TH E EN D OF K ELLE Y
K ll y i f v u with Rud lph—Giv
e e n a tit l —C
o r esp n d o en a e o rr o s
with D —F b ul u t i f g ld—Bu l ig h b g h i etu

ee a o s s o r es o o r e e s s r rn
to E gl d—A t k
n t
an b e e nt—A p ipti n f
o h is
en o s r escr o or
gout —L tt t K ll y—
e K ll
er
y f ll f m o f v u — eFlig ht
e e e
’
s a ro a o r
f m
ro t —C ptu
a r r es t S b i l u s—l m p is
a m t— W iti gs
re a o s a r on en r n
l h m y—L ette t D ee—Attem pt d

on a c e p e — D th
rs o e esca ea .
CHAPTER XVII
RETURN TO EN G LAN D
D ee
’
s life in —Letter o f safe co nduct fr o m th e
B r em en
Queen—Writes to Wa lsin gham —Tim o n Co ccius — H e in r ic h

K h un ra th —D epar tur e fo r E n glan d— D r Pe z el E v e n ts in .
En g la n d sin ce D ee l eft —Ar riva l a t Co u r t — O ffe r s o f fr ie n d s

— Ma din ia b o r n — Sc h o o l fo r th e c hildr en—D ea th o f Walsin
g
h a m — Ric ha r d Ca v en dis h—An n Fr a n k—Th e Q u een a t Ric h
m o n d— Christm a s gifts .
TA BL E OF C O N T E N T S
CHAPTER XVIII
A R O Y AL O MM I I ON C SS
Lo ss of in co m e — H o pe s of a b e n e fi c e- Th e C o u r t a t
N o n s uc — h Mar y H er b e r t— Ar t hu r s en t to Westm in st er
Sc h l— H i di p iti
oo s s os on — Bir t h of F r a n c es —D r .
Willi am
Au b y— D f d h p
re e er r e o es — Th e co m m is sio n e r s vi it— C m
’
s o
R eh ea r sa ll—D ee h lf hun d d y s—Th e bli d ed

’
p en dio us s a -
re ea r n
l dy F
a o r tun e .
CHAPTER XIX
D EE S LI RA RY ’
B
l b y t M tl k — B k d in t um ent — Ri h d
Th e i ra r a or a e oo s an s r s c ar
Ch llan cequ d t— A diu A t mi u —M t s

or s
’
a r an ra s s r o no c s e r ca o r
’
l b o— A w t h l k by D ib b l —B
es f M S S
a c —S l -c oc e ea s
g y o x es o .
an d t f m —R d f t h T w e — Au t g p h w k
co a s o ar s eco r s or e o r o ra or s
—R d G w d f A i —C t l gu f th b ks
eco r e s
’
ro /li o r es a a o e o e oo
Cl i ut h
a ss c a —En gli h uth o rs s a o rs .
CHAPTER XX
A D IE U TO CO URTS AN D COURTIN G
Th e Qu e en s
’
g ift —Ann e Co un tes s of Wa r wick— C hr istm a s
at To o ting— —Vis ito r s t o M o r tla ke — Th e
F r a n c is N ic h llo s
L o r d K e e p er — E liza b e t h Ky r to n — M es s e n g e r s fr o m L a sk i
M r We b b e. Ba r t ho lo m e w H ickm a n Th e Q u e en a t
G wi h—Adv t g e f St C — A hb i h p VVh itgift
r e en c an a s o . r o ss rc s o
— Th wh l f m ily t e th Qu e Adi u t C u ts
o e d
a o see e e n e o o r an
C u ti g
o —Mi h l d t h— Ch n ll
r n f St P u l — J c ae
’
s ea a ce or o . a
’
s an e s
’
su ppl i ti — A p t t l t— M n h t C ll g —Bi t h f
ca on os a as a c es er o e e r o
M g et—L d D b y—A m v
ar ar t hw d or er o e no r ar .
CHAPTER XXI
M AN C H EST E R
C ll o e gia t e C hu h rc of Ma n c h est er —Th e Byr o n s o f Cl yt o n a
Co tto n
’
s se r v an t —Titl es of th e co lleg e l n ds—M a r . Ha r ry
TA BL E OF CO N T E N T S xiii
v le—Su vey o f th t wn—Ch ist ph S to n—A u p i

PAGE
Sa i r e o r o er ax s r r se
visit—G v f th e gi l s—Wit h
o ft in L
e r n e ss hi e or r c cr a a n ca s r
D lib y i equest —D i pute m n g th Fell w

ee s
’
r ar n r s s a o e o s
P m b ul ti
er a f th b un ds— Rich d H k e —M kin g
a on o e o ar oo r ar
b u d i s—E l d C u tess o f D b y—C lleg ff i

o n ar e ar an o n er o e a a rs
Th e Q u s ve eignty—Lette t Si E dw d D ye
e en
’
sea so r r o r ar r
Hum p h y D v p r t Sir Julius C

re —Wel m gift
a en o - a
esar co e s
J u ey t L d o
o rn o on n.
CHAPTER XXII
CO LLE G E AFFA IR S
A b sen c e fr o m Ma n c h ester —A s pe cia l c o m m issio n — R e t ur n
to h—G m m S h l i p ti n— D m
th e no rt d ra ar c oo ns ec o r ea s an
l epl e ig ht —T uble with th e F ll ws— Un ti f t y

s e ss n s ro e o sa s ac o r
cu t —B wi g m y pl te—C y t l g i g g in
r a es o rro n o ne on a r s a az n a a
U t u vi io n — Retu n f R ge C k— C ll g p p ty
n r e s s r o o r oo o e e ro er
i C hes hi e—Ar t h u th e h pt
n r c le k—En d o f th e D i y r c a er r ar .
CHAPTER XXIII
LAST D A YS
D ea t h of Th eo d o r e — Ar th ur s
’
m a r r ia g e —H i h s o r o sco
pe
D eat h of th e Qu ee n —J am es I . an d h is D emo no lo gie— Ac t
a ga in s t wit h ft—D c cr a ee
pet itio n s P li m en t and th e Kin g
ar a
at Gr e w i h— P i
en c a ss o n a te pr o t est—O ffe s to b bu n ed r e r
Ple ds a fo r an Act a g a in st s anl d e — N gl r e e cte d d l an a one
D eat —Th e c h ild r e n ill—D e e in Lo o n

h of J ane a e r in e nd —K th
h is m a in sta y—Cr ue l d e lus io n s—A j o ur n e y t o g o — Fa ilin g
m em o r y J o hn Po nto ys—Th e v isio n fa d es— D eat h A
g ra ve at Mo r tla k e —G l
ar r u o us r em inis c en c es .
APPE N D ICE S I AN D II
1 . D an s
’
D ESC EN D AN TS
II . BIB I G RLO AP H Y
LIST O F ILLUSTRATIO N S
P AG E
1 . P O RTRAI T J O HN D E E OF .
F m th e igi l ( r ti t unkn wn ) in th A h m o
ro or na a s o e s
le Mu um O fo d It is in ib ed n th f e
an se , x r . s cr o e ac
J h e D An glu L n din e sis A t u

o a nn s ee s o n c
’l
s ae
Th p t it w e qui d by A hm le f m D J h
o r ra as ac re s o ro r . o n
D g d
ee s R wl n d
’
d w
r an left b y h im t
so n o a ,
an as o
O f d U iv
x or it y w i t h h is ll ti s It h b ee
n er s co ec on . as n
en g ved by Sch e ek e nd W P S h e l k Fr o n risp iece

ra n r a . . r oc
2 . TI TLE AG E O F D E E s G ENERAL AN D RARE

-P
’
M E M O R IAL s PE RTA INING T O TH E P ERFE C T

A R T O F NAV I G AT I O N PRIN T E D BY J OH N ,
D A Y, 1 5 77 .
Th e m o tto Plura l a ten t quam pa t en t s urr o un ds

l
th e tit e ; a b v o e, th e Queen ’
s ar m s , a r o s e r an c b h
t h ug hro a l p
oo at ea c h e d n . All e g o r ica l d wi ra n
g
in a sq uar e ; th e d te 1 5 76 i G eek i th e n s
a n r n co r er .
Th e Qu e en e t d
s a e t th h elm f a
pit l e o a
“
ca a ,
”
. l
i e , fi r s t- c
. a ss , s hip ; m f En gl n d n th udd ;
ar s o a o e r er
t h ee rbl m no e en t n din g in th
s a w t O th e ai s . n e
ve l s id Jupite
sse
’
s e r an d E ur o pa Signs o f fa min e
.
o h e : wh e t
n s or d d w a k l a ear ups i e o n an d a s ul A .
D ut h hip is h d
c in t h e v
s an c o re r i er ; fo ur m o r e lie a t
its m ut h ; ldie s sm ll b o t
o m o ffe i g
so r , a a a , a an r n a
pu s d i th e co n e
r e , an w lled t w O th e kn r r a a o n. n ro c
t th e iv m ut h st n d s L dy O pp tunity ; th e
’
a r er s o a a or
ang l R ph l v h d with fl min g w d

e a ae d o er ea a s or , an
shi ld b in g St G ge s C o ss Th e su m
e e ar nd . eo r
’
r . n, oon, a
t n ta
e ; ys f gl y p o e din g f o m t h e m f
s rs ra o or r c e r na e o
J h v h (S Am Typ ogr ap hica l Antiquities ed

e o a . ee es , , .
H b e t o l i p 66 1 )
er r , v .To fa ce
.
, .
xvi L I S T OF I LL U S T R AT I O N S
3 . P I C TURE AL C HEMIS T W I T H H IS A SSIS

O F AN
T AN T T EN D ING S T ILLS .
F o m n e n gr a vin g b y R o b er t Vaugh n in As hm o le s
r a a
’
Thea tr um C hem/ieum Br iton/um ' e r e it i u s wh ll

tr a t es t h e r st E n g is fi l h
tra n s a tio n o f T o m a s N o rt o n 5 l h
Or diua ll o f Alchemy, a m e tr ica t r eatise in L atin , l
wh h b d
ic D e e t r an sc r i e in th e yea r 1 5 7 7 H is c o p , . y
b un d i pu ple ve lvet
o n r , an d wit h t h e in de x ma d by
e
him self is n A hm l , ow s o e an MS . 57 TO fa ce
4 . D I AG RAM O F TH E V ISI O N F OUR C A S TLES

OF .
S een an d d w ra n b y K elley t C w F m a r aco . ro
Ca sa ub o n Tr ue R ela tio n
’
s
FAC SIMILE P HO T O G RAPH D EE S L E TTER

’
5 . OF
TO Q UEEN E LI Z ABE T H ON TH E D EFEA T OF
TH E S PANIS H A RM AD A .
Fr o m th e o ri
gin a in l Ha r l eia n MS 698 6 .
, fo 45.
6 . A PA G FR OM TH E ALBUM O F TIMO N
E
C O C O IUS B REMEN 1 5 8 9 , , .
t ib uti n t h i Thesa ur us
’
D s ee co n r o o s
F m th e o igin l in Add MS S
ro r a . .
I LLUS TRAT I O N N O RT O N S O R D IN ALL ’
7 . To .
g v d b y V ug h n i As hm l e s Thea tr um ’
En ra e a a n o .
(S ee ab v e N O 3)
o , .
8 . D EE S C OAT
’
OF ARMS .
Fr o m an ll
i ustr a tio n to h is L etter a nd Ap o lo gy ,
p r e sen te d t th e A hb is h o rc o
p o f Ca n te r b y ur 1 5 99 ,
seco n d editio n 1 60 3
L ife o f Dr . J o hn D ee
C H AP T ER I
I RTH
B AN D E D UCAT I O N
0 Incr edulitie, th e w it o f fo o les
l v y w ll
That s o enl i spit o n a ll th in ges fair e ,
Th e co war d s ca st l and th sluggar d s cradle
’ ’
e e ,
H w eas y tis to b e in fid l
’
o an e
—G EO RGE CHA MAN P .
IT seems r emar ka ble th a t thr ee hundr ed year s

should h a ve b een allowed to elaps e sin c e th e dea th O f
John D ee in December 1 6 08 without pr oducing a n y , ,
Life o f an in dividual so cons picuous so deba table an d , ,
so rem ar kably pictur es qu e .
Ther e is per haps no learn ed a uthor in histor y w h o

h as b een so p er sisten tly m isj udged nay e ve n , ,
slan der ed by his poster ity a n d n o t a voic e in all th e

, ,
thr ee cen turi es uplifted e ven to claim fo r him a fa ir

hear ing S ur ely it is tim e that th e cause o f all this
.
univer s al con demnation should b e examin ed in th e

light o f r eason an d scien ce ; an d p er haps it will b e
foun d to e xis t mainly in th e fa ct tha t h e w as to o far
a dvan ced in spe cula tive thou ht fo r his o w n a e to
g g
un ders ta n d Fo r mor e tha n fifty year s o u t o f th e
.
eighty o n e o f his life D ee w as fa mous even if susp e cte d

-
, ,
an d look ed a skan ce at as clever beyond human in ter

pr etatio n Then his Queen died With th e n ar r ow
. .
J D
. . B
2 LIFE OF DR . J O H N DEE
minded S cotsma n who succ eeded h er c ame a change in

th e fashion of m en s min ds Th e r e ign o f th e d evil and
’
.
his h an dmaidens — th e w itche s an d posse sse d p er sons

w as set up in o r der to b e piously over thr own an d the
-
,
ver y bigotr y o f th e times g a ve bir th to in depen

den t and r ational thought—to Newton B a con Locke , , .
But D ee w as alr ea dy la belle d on ce an d fo r all .
Ever y succeedin g wr iter w h o h as touched upon his

c ar eer h a s followe d th e lea der s blin dly an d h as only
, ,
ca st an other an d y et an other ston e to th e heap o f

, ,
obloquy pile d upon his na m e Th e fa scina tion o f his .
psychic pr oj ection s h a s always led th e c ritic to ignore

his mor e solid a chi ev emen ts in th e r ealms o f history
and sci en c e whil e at th e s am e time th es e ar e only
, ,
cited to b e loudly con dem n ed Th e learned .
D r M er ic C a s a ubon w h o fifty yea r s after Dee s

’
. , ,
death edited his B o o k of M yster ies—th e absor bing

,
r e cit al o f four o ut o f th e six o r s even year s o f his
cr ystal gazing —w as p er haps th e fa ir est critic b e yet

h a s h ad Although h e ca lls D ee s spiri tu al r evelations
’
.
” ”
a s ad r ecor d an d a wor k o f da r kn ess h e co n
, ,
fesses that h e himself and other lear n e d and holy m en

,
i cludi g an ar chbishop ) r ea d it with a vidity to the

( n n ,
end an d wer e ea ger to see it pr in t e d

, H e felt c er tain .
,
as h e remar ks in his pr e fa ce tha t m en s curiosity ’

,
would lea d them to de vour wha t s eems to him no t

p ar allelled in th at kin d by an y book th at hath b een ,
s et o ut in any ag e to r e a d An d y et o n n o a ccount
.
w as h e publishin g it to s a tisfy cu r iosity but only to ,

”
do good and pr omote R eligion Fo r D ee h e is er
p
.
,
s uaded w as a tr u e
, sin c er e Christian his R ela tio n
, ,
ma de in th e most a bsolute good faith a lthough ,

hun dr ed p ages ga ve fifty to l etter s , l

a r ea dy prin ted
by C a saubon .
After this n o susta in ed a ccoun t of Dee s r om a n tic ’
car eer is to b e foun d outside th e p age s o f biogr aphical

diction ar ies a n d m ag azin e ar ticles o r a m on g wr iter s ,
up on n ecr om a n cy her m etic philosophy an d a lche my

, , .
M an y o f th ese decor a te their c olle ction s w ith apo cry

pha l m ar v els culled fr om th e well wor n tr a dition al
-
stor i es O f D ee an d his companion Edw a r d K elley , .
Thus throug hout his lifetim e an d sin c e h e h as co n

, ,
tin ne d to r u n th e ga un tlet o f c r iticism Old im po s .
” ” ”
turing juggler fana tic ,qu a ck a r e mild ter m s
, ,
in th e B iog r ap hia B r ita n nica h e is c alle d e xtr em ely

cr edulou s extrava gan tly va in an d a m ost deluded
, ,
e n thusi a st . Even th e wr iter o n D ee in th e D ictio n ar y

a tio n a l B io r a h
o
f N g p y s a ys his co nfer en c es with th e
ang els ar e such a tissu e o f bla sphemy an d a bsur dity

”
th a t th ey m ight suggest in sa nity M an y mor e such .
summ ar y v er dicts m ight b e quoted b ut thes e will

'
suffi ce fo r th e p r es en t .
It h as been said th at n o Life of D ec e xists A nd .
et th e m a teri a ls fo r such a Life ar e so a bun dan t that

y
only a s ele ction can b e her e us ed His p r iva te diar y .
,
fo r in stan c e if pr op er ly e dited would supply much

, ,
supplem en tar y useful an d in ter e stin g histor ical

, ,
in for m a tion .
It is th e Obj ect o f this wor k to pr es en t th e fa cts of

John D ee s life a s ca lm ly an d im par tially a s possible
’
an d to let th em sp ea k fo r th e ms elve s In th e cour s e .
o f w r iting it m an y fa ls e a ss er tion s h a ve dis en t a ngled

,
th em selves fr om tr uth m an y doubts ha ve been ,
r esolv e d, a n d a m a ss o f i n for ma tion s e es th e light

B I R T H AND E D UCAT I O N 5
fo r th e fir st time Th e subj ect is o f cour se hedged

.
a bout with i nn u m er a ble difficultie s but in spite of

th e tempta tion s to str a y in to a hun dr e d byp a ths a n ,
en dea vour h as be en str ictly m a d e to do n o m o r e than
thr ow a little dim light o n th e p oin t wh er e th e pa ths

br eak o ff fr om th e m ain r oad If a t th e en d of th e
.
,
w a
y a ny who ha ve p er s ever ed so far feel they h a ve
, ,
followed a m a gnetic a n d in ter e stin g p er son ality th e ,
labour expen de d will n o t ha ve b een in va in With .
a wor d of apology to s er ious histor ic al r ea d er s fo r th e
in cor r igibly r om an tic ten d en cy of m uch o f th e n arr a

tive which in spite o f th e stern sen tin el of a liter ar y
, ,
con scien ce would con tin ua lly r ea ss er t its elf th e stor y

, ,
’
o f o ur a str ologer s str an ge life m ay n o w b e in
g .
John D ee w as th e so n o f Rowlan d D ee ; h e w a s
bor n in Lon don a ccor ding to th e hor oscope of his
,
o w n dr a wi n
g o n July 1 3 1 5 2 7
, , .
His mother w as Jan e daughter o f Willi am Wild

, .
Var ious Welsh wr iter s ha ve a ssigned to D ee a g en ea

logical de sc en t o f th e high est an tiquity an d th e ,
pedigr ee which h e dr ew up fo r him self in la ter life

1
tr a ces ba ck his fam ily histor y fr om his gr an dfa ther ,
B edo D ee to Roderick th e Gr eat Pr in c e of W ale s

, , .
All a uthor itie s agr ee th a t Ra dn or w a s th e coun ty

fr om when c e th e D ee s spr ang .
Rowlan d D ee th e father held an appointmen t a t

, ,
Cour t as g en tlem an ser ver to H enr y VIII but w a s

, .
,
ver y in differen tly tr ea te d by th e King This m ay p ar tly .
a cc o un t fo r th e p er sist en c e with whi ch D ee e xhibit e d
befor e Queen Eliz ab eth his claim s to pr efer m en t a t h er

ha n ds To b e in habitu al a tten dan c e a t Cour t in those
.
1
Co tto n Cha r ter , x iv . I
.
days however br ed in m en a gr ea t desir e fo r pla ce

, , ,
a n d a c ou r tier w as but a m en dica n t o n a g r a n d sc a l e .
Th e boy J ohn D ee w a s ear ly b r ed in

, gr a m mar ,
”
learn ing a n d w a s in ur ed to L a tin fr om his ten der
,
year s Per h aps h e w as n o t m or e than nin e o r ten

.
wh en h e w a s s en t to Chelm sfor d to th e ch an tr y ,
sch ool foun ded ther e seven year s b efor e th e gr eat

school a t Win ch ester c a m e in to e xisten c e The .
master w h o pr esided over D ee s school hour s in ’
Esse x w as Peter W ilegh whom th e chan tr y com ,
miss ion er s in 1 5 48 r epor te d a s a m an o f good co n

ver s ation who h a d kept th e school th er e fo r sixteen
year s D ee h as a lways been claim ed by th e Gr am m ar
.
School at Chelmsfor d a s o n e o f their most fa mous

a lumni whos e e xtr a or din ar y c ar eer with its h a lo o f
,
myster y a n d mar vel they p er haps feel little qua lifi ed

’
to e xplor e Dee s te stim ony th a t at Chelmsfor d he
.
w as metely well furn ishe d with un der stan din g o f

th e L a tin ton g u e is an unconscious tri bute to Peter
W ilegh s tea chin g’
.
In Nov em b er 1 5 42 D ee b ein g th en fi fteen years

, , ,
a n d four m on ths o ld l eft Ch elmsfor d to e n ter a t St , .
John s College C ambr idge wh er e as h e te lls us in his

, , ,
a utobiogr a hy
p h e soon b ec a m e a most a ssiduous
,
1
studen t In th e year s 1 5 4 3 1 5 44 1 5 45 I w a s so
.
, , ,
vehem en tly b en t to studie tha t fo r thos e year s I did ,
in violably keep this or der : on ly to slee p four h o u r es

ev er y n ight ; to a llow to m ea te an d dr in k
(an d
som e r efr eshin g after ) two h o u r es e ver y day ; an d
o f th e other eighteen ho n r es all
(exc ept th e tym e
nd G un d Pl t
1
C mp nd i u R h
o e ll oTh E t s e e ea r sa f . e n r an c a ro a o
m y Fi st Studi es
r Ch th m So iety l i p 4
. e a c , vo . .
, . .
B I RT H AND E D UCAT I O N 7
of going to and being at divin e ser vic e ) w a s Sp en t

”
in m y studies an d lear nin g E ar ly in 1 5 46 h e
.
gr aduate d B A fr om St John s College At th e

. .
’
.
close of th e sam e year Tr inity Coll ege w as foun de d

,
by H enr y VIII an d D ee w a s selecte d o n e o f th e

.
,
origin a l F ellows H e w as a ls o appoin t ed un der

.
r ea der in Gr eek to T r inity College th e pr in cip al ,
Gr eek r ea der b eing then Rob er t Pember Th e .
young F ellow cr ea ted th e fir st s en sa tion o f his

sen sation a l car eer soon after thi s by ar r an ging some
m echan ism fo r a stud en ts p er for m an ce o f th e E ip jm,
’
r
(Ei r en e P e a c e ) of A r isto p h a n e s in wh ich h e ,
app ar en tly a cte d a s stage m a n a ger an d c ar p en ter .
Fo r this pla y h e devis ed a clever m echan ical a nd

ver y sp e cta cular effe ct Tr ygaeu s th e Attic vin e
.
,
dresser car r yi ng a lar ge b asket of food fo r him s elf

, ,
an d m oun te d o n his gi ga n tic b ee tl e o r sc ar a b (which
ate o n ly dun g ) w a s s een a sc en din g fr om his dw ellin g

,
o n th e st ag e to en t er th e p a l ac e o f Z e us in th e clouds
above . O n e h a s o n ly to thin k Of th e sceni c effe cts

pr esen ted by Fa ust a nd M ephistoph eles at M r Tr ee s .
’
th eatre fo r instan ce to r ealis e how cr ude an d

, ,
in effe ctive thes e attem pts must have b een but thir ty
’
o r for ty ye ar s b efor e Sh akesp ear e s plays wer e wr itten ,
so un usua l an e xhibition w a s en oug h to e xcite w ild

r um our s o f sup er n a tur a l power s W e hear n o m or e .
of theatr ica l per for m an c es a lthough s ever al r eferen c es

,
in his a fter life s er v e to show tha t his in ter est in th e

-
English dr am a about to b e b o r n lagg ed n o t far

, ,
behin d th at o f his gr ea ter con tempor ar i es H e does .
men tion however a Chr istm a s pa stim e in St John s

, , .
’
College which seems to have b een inspir ed by this

,
sa me dra m a tic spir it Of details w e a r e totally

.
ign or an t ; h e only r elates that th e c ustom o f ele cting

a Chr istm a s M a gistr ate w as var ie d a t his sugg es
tion by cr own in g th e ch o sen victim a s Emper or Th e '
.
fir st im per ia l pr e siden t o f th e Chr istma s r e vels in

St John s College w as o n e M r Thom a s Dunn e a
.
’
. , .
ver y goodly m a n o f per son sta tur e a n d com plexion , ,
a n d well lear n e d a lso eviden tly a pr e s en c e fit fo r a

,
thr on e .D e e a dds : They which y et live a nd wer e

hear er s an d b eholder s th ey can testifi e mor e than is
,
m eete h er e to b e wr itten o f th e s e m y boyish a ttem pts

”
an d exploite s sch o la sticall .
H e tur n e d to st er n er studi es an d be c am e a skilful ,
a str on o m e r t a kin g thous an ds o f obser va tion s (very

,
man y to th e hour a n d minute ) O f th e h ea venly

influen c es an d op er a tion s a ctua l in this elem en tall
”
por tion o f th e wor ld Th ese h e a fter war ds published
.
in v ar ious Ephe mer id e s .
In M ay 1 5 47 D ee m a d e his fir st jour n ey a br oa d to
, , ,
con fer with lear n ed m en o f th e Dutch U niver sities

upon th e scien ce of mathematics to which h e h ad ,
a lr ea dy b eg un to d e vot e his s er ious a tt e n tion He .
sp en t sever a l m on ths in th e L o w Coun tr i es for med ,
clos e fr ien dships with G er ar d M er c a tor G em ma ,
Fr isiu s Joann es C aspar M yr icaeu s th e O r ient alist

, ,
An tonius G o gava an d other philosopher s o f wor ld

,
w id e fam e Upon his r etur n t o C a mbr idge h e

.
,
br ought with him tw o gr ea t g lob es o f M er c a tor s ’
m akin g an d an a str on omer s ar m illa r y r in g and staff o f

’
br a ss such a s Fr isiu s h a d n ewly devis e d and w a s in

,
”
th e h a bit o f usin g These h e a fter war ds ga ve to th e
.
F ellows an d students o f Tr in ity Coll ege ; h e cite s a

B I RT H AND E D U CAT I O N 9
letter o f a ckn owledgmen t fr om John C hr isto ph er so n

(after war ds Bishop of Chiche ster ) but upon s ear ch ,
being ma de fo r th e o bj ects r e c en tly thr ough the kin d ,
n ess O f th e M a ster it a pp ear s they ar e n o t n o w to b e

,
foun d .D e e r etur n e d to C a mbr idge in th e year 1 5 48

to take his degr ee of M A an d soon after wen t . .
,
abr o ad
“
A n d n ever a fter that w as I an y m or e studen t
.
”
in C am br idg e B efor e h e left h e obtain ed un d er th e
.
,
s eal o f th e Vice Chan c ellor an d Con vocation Apr il 1 4

-
, ,
1 5 48 a te stimon ia l to his lear ning a n d g ood con duct 1

, ,
which h e pr opos ed to ta ke with him a br oa d M any .
tim es did h e pr ove it to b e o f so m e value .
In Midsum mer T er m 1 5 4 8 h e en ter e d a s a stud en t, ,
at th e Univer sity o f Louva in which h ad b e en foun d e d ,
m or e than a hun d r ed year s be for e in this qu aint O ld

Br ab antian town of m e diae va l r am p ar ts a n d te xtile
in dustr ies At Louva in D ee con tin ue d his studies
.
,
fo r two year s an d her e h e soon a cquir ed a r eputation

,
fo r learnin g quite b eyon d his ye ar s It h a s been pr e .
sum ed that h e her e g ra dua ted doctor to a ccoun t fo r ,
th e title th a t h a s a lwa ys b e en given him Doctor

2
.
”
D ee c er tain ly poss e ss e s an alliter a tive va lu e n o t to
b e n egle cted At C am br idge h e w as on ly M A
. . .
Long after when h e h ad p assed middle life and

, ,
when his r emar ka ble g enius in ever y br an ch of

scien ce had carr i e d him so far b eyon d th e dull wit of
th e p eople who sur r oun de d h im tha t they could on ly
e x la in his m an ifesta tion s by th e o ld cr
p y o f sor c er y
”
and ma gic D ee m a d e a p a ssion ate a ppea l to th e
,
Queen his c on stan t p a tr on an d e m ployer to s en d tw o

, ,
1
Au to biogr Tr a cts of D r J o h n D ee Ch eth am S o ciet , v o l i p 8 2
. . . y . . . .
2 B
y th e c o urt e sy o f M le S e cr é tair e d e l Un iver s ité Cat o ique,
.
’
hl
v
at L o u a in , I
a m in fo r m e n o s uc d
egr e e a ppear s hd
e missar ies of h er o w n choosing to h is hous e at Mor t

lake and bid th em e xa mi n e e ver ythin g they could
,
fi nd tha t his ch ar a cter m ig ht b e c lear e d fr om th e

,
da m agin g ch a r g e s la id again st him H e pr ep ar e d fo r .
th es e two com missio n er s to whose visit w e sha ll r ever t ,
in its pr op er pl a c e an a utobiogr aphica l documen t

,
o f th e g r eates t valu e which h e c alls Th e C o m pen

,
dion s Rehear sa l o f John D ee : his dutiful de clar a tion

and r o o fe o f th e cour s e a n d r a c e o f his studious life
p ’
,
fo r th e spa ce o f half an hun dr ed y ear s n o w (by God s ,

”1
fa vour an d help ) fully spen t It is fr om this n arr a .
tive tha t th e fa cts o f his e ar ly life a r e a sc er tain able .
Per h aps w e disc er n them thr ough a fain t mist Of

r e tr osp ective glor ific ation fo r which th e str an ge str eak
o f van ity a l m ost ins ep ar a ble fr o m atta in men ts like
D ee s w a s a ccountable But th er e is ever y r ea son to

’
.
r ely upon th e a ccu r a cy O f th e m ath em atician s stor y .
B eyon d th e sea s far an d n er e w a s a good Opin ion

, ,
con c eiv ed o f my studie s philosophic al] an d m ath em a

”
ticall Pe ople O f all r anks b egan to flock to see this
.
won der ful youn g m an H e give s th e n a me s o f those .
who c a me to Louva in a few hour s jour n ey fr om ,

’
B r ussels wh er e th e br illian t cour t o f Ch ar le s V

, .
w a s a ss e mbl e d with eviden t pr id e

, Ita li a n and .
Sp anish n obles ; th e dukes o f M an tua an d M edin a

C e li th e D an ish kin g s ma th em a ti cian M a thias ’
H a cu s ; an d his physician J oa n n es C apito ; B o h e m i an ,
stud en ts all ar r ive d to put his r eputa tion to th e te st

, .
A distin g uishe d E nglishm an S ir Willia m Picker in g , ,
after w ar ds a m b a ss a dor to F r an c e c a m e as his

pupil , ,
1 Th o igi l p tly b u n e d i in C tt n MS Vit ll C n ff 1

e r na , ar r , s o o , e , . v .
, .
A hm l py p in t d b y H e
’
14 . s o e s co i J h n i Gl t n i
w as r eis ar n e n o a n s as o en s
Cit n O f d 1 72 6
ro ,
x ord in Ch eth m S
,
an l i a oc . vo . .
12 LIFE OF DR JOHN DEE .
A gr eat er ston ishmen t w as cr ea te d h e says th an

a , ,
ev en at his sc ar a baeus m oun tin g u p to th e t o p o f

Trin ity H a ll in C a m br idg e Th e m em b er s o f th e .
Un iv er sity in P ar is at th e tim e n u m b er e d over

studen ts who c a m e fr om ever y par t of th e kn own
,
wor ld H e m a de m an y fr i en ds a m ong th e pr ofe ssor s

.
and r a du a t es fr i en ds of all e sta tes a n d pr ofession s

g , ,
sev er al of whose n am e s h e g ive s ; am on g th em th e ,
lear n e d wr iter s a n d theologi an s of th e d ay Or on tius , ,
M iz aldu s P etr us M o n t a ur eu s R an co n etu s (R an

, ,
conn et ) F ern e lius a n d F r an cis Silvius

, , .
Th e fr uit of th e s e year s sp en t in Louv ain an d Par is

w a s th a t D e e a ft er war ds m a in ta in e d thr oughout his life
a liv ely corr e spon d en c e with pr ofesso r s an d doctor s in
a l m ost e ver y uni ver sity of n ot e upon th e Con tin en t .
H e n a m es e sp ecially his cor r espon d en ts in th e

un iver siti es o f O r lean s Cologn e H eidelb er g Str as , , ,
bur g Ver on a Pa du a F er r a r a Bologn a Ur bin o Rome

, , , , , , ,
an d m an y oth er s whos e letter s lay op en fo r the

,
in spe ction o f th e com m ission er s o n that later visit

a lr ea dy allud e d to .
An offer w a s m a de him to b e com e a Kin g s Reader

’
in m a them a tics in Par is Un iv er sity with a stip en d of ,
tw o hun dr e d F r en ch c r own s year ly but h e h ad m a d e ,
up his m in d to r etur n to E ng lan d an d n othing would ,
tempt h im to stay H e r e c eive d oth er pr oposals .

,
pr o m isi ng en ough to en ter th e s er vic e o f M B a b eu

. .
,
M de Rohan a nd M de M o n lu c w ho w a s star tin g

. , .
,
as sp e ci a l a m b a ss a dor to th e G r ea t Tur k but his ,
thoughts tur n e d b a ck to E n glan d an d thither in , ,
1 5 5 1 h e b en t his step s
,
.
CHAPTER II
I M PR I S O N M E N T AN D A UT H O R S H I P
A man is b ut wh at h e k no w th —BAC ON
e . .
IN D e c ember 1 5 5 1 D ee obtain ed thr ough th e

, , ,
offic es of M r (a fter war ds S ir ) Jo hn Cheke an in tr o

. ,
duction to S e cr etar y C e cil an d to King Edwar d VI .
H e h ad alr ea dy wr itten fo r an d de dicated to th e youn g

Kin g two books (in m an uscr ipt ) : D e usz G lo bz Cw les tzs
' ' '
15 50, and De n ubiu m, s o lis , lun ae, ac r eliqu o r um
p la n etar um , eta Th ese per hap s h a d b een

, 1551 .
sent to Cheke th e King s tutor in th e hop e that they

,
’
might pr ove useful lesson books Th e plea sin g r e sult .
of th e d edica tion w a s th e gift o f an ann ua l r oya l

pen sion o f a hun dr ed cr ow n s This a llowan ce w a s .
after war ds e xchan ged fo r th e r ecto r y o f Upton u p on -
S evern in Wor cester shir e which D ee foun d an

, ,
e xtr em ely b ad ba r ga in .
Fr om th e B ea con Hill a bove West M alvern Pr ior y ,
th e visitor m a y tur n fr om in sp ection o f th e an ci en t

Br itish cam p o f C ar a cta cus to a dm ir e th e m agnificen t
vi ew ; an d a cr oss th e level fi elds wher e th e S ever n
win ds th e tower o f Upton chur ch will b e s een r isin g
,
in th e middle distan ce Further west if th e day b e

.
,
clear th e m or e im posin g tower s of Tewkesbury an d

,
Glouc ester m ay b e disc ern ed whil e ha lf a tur n east ,
war d will show Wor c ester C ath edr al n o t far a way , .
D ee n ev er liv ed in this beautiful pla ce a lthough h e ,
w as pres en ted to th e livi ng o n M a y 1 9 1 5 5 3 Even , .

wh en th e r ector y o f Lon g L ea denh am in Lin coln ,
shir e w as a dded to Upto n th e two togeth er wer e

,
1
,
wor th only about £8 0 a year N e xt year h e d e clin ed .
a n in vit ation to b e come L e ctur er o n M a th e m a tic al
Scien c e at Oxfor d con veye d to him thr ough M r ,

.
Doctor S m ith (Rich ar d 1 5 28 th e r efor m er ) , , ,
M r du Br u a rn e o f Chr ist
”
o f O r i el College an d
“
, . ,
Chur ch H e w a s occupie d with liter ar y wor k and

. ,
in 1 5 5 3 pr oduc ed a m on g oth er thin g s a couple of , ,
wor ks o n The Ca use of Flo o ds a nd E bbs an d The ,
P hilo sop hica l a n d P o litica l O cca sio ns a n d N a mes of

the H ea ven ly A s ter ismes both wr itten at th e r equ est ,
o f J a n e Duchess o f No r thu m b er lan d

, .
When M a r y Tudor succ eed e d h er youn g br other

a s qu een in 1 5 5 3 D ee w as in vite d to ca lc ul ate h er ,
n a tivity H e b egan so o n a fter to op en up a cor r e

.
sp o n den ce with th e Pr in c ess Eliz ab eth w h o w a s then ,
livin g at Woodstock a n d h e c a st h er hor oscop e also , .
B efor e lon g h e w as a r re ste d o n th e plea of an

infor ma n t n a m e d Geor ge F err ys w h o allege d that ,
o n e o f his childr en h a d b een str uck blin d a n d an other

” 2
kille d by D ee s m agic F err ys also d eclared
’
.
tha t D ee w a s dir e cting his en chan tm en ts a gain st the

Qu een s life D ee s lodgin gs in Lon don wer e sear ched
’
.
’
an d s ea l e d up an d h e him s e lf w a s s en t to
, pr ison .
H e w as e x am in e d b efor e th e S e cr etar y o f State ,
1 App tl y h e d id
ar en m etim e v i it L d h m f Ly ns so s s ea en a , or so ,
Env L nd
. 1 7 96 giv e
o . u t
,
f st , f u d th e s an a cc o n o a o ne o n n ear
p n g
a rs o h u e the with th f ll wi g i ipti n
a e o s re e o o n n scr o
M I I O I D OM I I N SE R C
T B R D AS N I E TE R N A C AN A O
0 J O AN N E S A D EE 0
He s ugge st s, a s a n e xp a n atio n , l thtD a e e e sc a
pe d wh en th e h o use ,
as a d
t r a itio n r eco r d s, w as bu rn e d by lig ht n in g .
Ca l S ta te Pap er s D o m 1 5 4 7- 1 5 8 0 , p 67
2 .
, . .
I MPRI S ONMENT AND AUTHOR S HIP 15
a fterwar ds upon eighteen a r ticles by the Pr ivy

Council and at last br ought in to th e Star Chamber
,
fo r trial Ther e h e w a s clear ed o f all suspicion o f

.
tr ea son an d liber ate d by an Or der in Coun cil August

, .
29 1 5 5 5 but han d e d over to Bishop Bonn er fo r

, ,
examin ation in ma tter s o f r elig ion Bonn er w as .
appar en tly equa lly sa tisfied D ee w as cer tainly .
’
enjoin ed by him at John Philpot s e xamin ation o n ,
November 1 9 1 5 5 5 to put question s as a test of his

, ,
or thodox y H e quoted St Cyp r i an to Philpot w ho

. .
,
replied : M a ster D ee y o u ar e to o youn g in divin ity ,
to teach m e in th e m a tter s o f my faith though you ,

”1
b e mor e l earn e d in other thin gs .
D ee des er v es w ell o f all wr iter s and students fo r

time ever lasting because o f his most pr a iseworthy
effo r ts to foun d a S ta te N a ti on a l Librar y o f books
and manuscr ipts with copies o f for eign tr ea sur es

,
wher ever they m ight b e O n Jan uar y 1 5 1 5 5 6 h e .

, ,
pr esented to Queen M ar y a Supplication fo r th e

r ecov er y an d pr eser vation o f an cient writer s and
”2
mon umen ts Within a few year s he h ad s een the
.
monaster ies dissolve d an d th e pr icele ss colle ction s of

these houses lamen ta bly disp er sed some burned and ,
other s bur i ed H e dr ew up a ver y r emar ka ble

.
address to th e Queen dwellin g o n th e c ala mity o f
thus distr ibuting th e tr easur e o f all an tiquity and

th e ever l asting see ds o f c on tin u al e xc ell en cy within
”
this your G ra c e s r eal m ’
M an y pr ecious j ewels h e .
,
knows h ave alr ea dy utter ly p er ished but in tim e

, ,
Fo xe , Acts an d Mo num en ts , 1 847 cd .

,
vo l vu . ,
.
p 6 38,
. et p an im .
D ee s ’
nam e is suppr esse d aft e r th e fi r st e ditio ns .
2
Auto biogr Tr a cts, p . . 46 . A fr a gm e n t of th e o ri
ginal, sa evd
fro m fire, is in Co tton MS Vitell, C . v ii
. 3 10 .
th er e m ay b e sa ved and r ecover ed th e r emn an ts o f

a stor e o f theologic a l an d scien tific wr iting s whi ch
ar e n o w b ein g sc a tt er e d u a n d do w n th e kin gdom

p ,
s om e in un leam e d m en s h an ds som e wa ll e d up o r
’
bur ied in th e gr oun d D ee us es powerful ar guments

.
to en for c e his plea choosing such a s would m ake

,
th e m ost dir e ct app ea l to both Qu een a n d p e ople .
S h e will build fo r her s elf a la stin g n a m e an d mon u

men t they will b e a ble all in comm on to enj oy What
is n o w only th e pr ivil eg e o f a few scholar s an d even ,
th e se h a ve to depen d o n th e goodw ill o f pr ivate

ow n er s H e p r opose s fi r st tha t a com mission shall
.
b e app oin ted to in quir e wh a t va lu a bl e m an uscr ipts

e xist ; th a t thos e r epo r t e d o n sh all b e bor r ow ed (o n
deman d ) a fa ir copy m a de an d if th e ow n er will n o t

, ,
r e lin quish it th e or igin al b e r e tu r n e d

, S e con dly he .
,
poin ts o ut tha t th e comm ission should g et to wor k

at on c e lest som e own er s h ea r in g o f it should hide
, , ,
o r c on vey a wa y th eir t r e a sur e s an d so h e pithily a dds , , ,
pr ove by a c er tain token tha t th ey ar e n o t sin c ere

lov er s o f good lear nin g bec ause they will n o t sh ar e
”
th em with oth er s Th e e x pen s e s o f th e com m ission
.
a n d o f th e co yin g etc h e pr opos e d should b e bor ne

p , .
,
by th e Lor d C ar din a l an d th e Syn od o f th e p r ovin c e of

Can ter bur y w h o should also b e char ge d to over see th e
,
man uscr ipts an d books collected un til a libr ar y apt

in all p oin ts is m a d e r eady fo r th eir r e c eption .
Fin ally D ee sugg ests tha t to him b e com mitted

,
th e pr ocur in g o f copi e s o f m a n y fa m ous m an uscr ipt

volum es to b e foun d in th e gr e at libr ar i e s a br oa d
th e Va tic an Libr ar y at Rom e St M ar k s at V en ic e
’
, .
,
a n d in Bologn a Flor en c e Vi enn a et c

, H e o ffer s to
, , .
IMPRI SONM ENT AND AUTHORSHIP 17
set to wor k to obtain thes e the e xp en ses only of ,
tr anscr iption and car r ia ge to E ngland to b e ch ar ged

“
to th e State As to pr in te d books th ey ar e to b e
.
,
gotten in w o nder full abun dan ce In this gen er ous

offer o f his life to b e spen t in tr an scr ibing cr abb ed
manuscr ipts w e c ann ot see th e r estless genius o f
,
John D ee long sa tisfied but at any r a te h e pr oved,
himself no t s eek ing fo r pr iva te gain .
Thus w as the ger m of a gr eat National Libr ar y

fir st star ted by th e C am br idg e m athematician n ear ly ,
fifty year s b efor e Thom a s Bodley opene d his u niqu e

collection at Oxfor d a n d close upon 2 00 year s b efor e
,
th er e w as foun ded in th e capital th e vast and in dis

pens able book min e know n to all scholar s at home
-
and abr o a d a s th e B r itish Muse u m Th e Histor ica l .
Manuscr ipts Comm ission whos e labour s in cataloguing

,
pr ivate collection s o f ar chive s a r e also for eshadowed

in D ee s supplic ation only ca m e in to being with the
’
appointment o f K eep er s o f th e Public Recor ds by ,
an Act signalising th e firs t an d se con d year s of Queen

Victor ia s r eign
’
.
It is needless to say tha t n othin g c ame o f Dee s ’
very disinter ested pr oposition So h e becam e th e .
mor e in dustr ious in collectin g a libr ar y o f his o w n ,
which soon con sisted o f m or e th an volumes ,
which were always a t th e disposal of th e fr iends who

came often to see him .
They c a me also fo r an other r ea son

. .
Astr ology w a s a very e ss ential par t of astr onomy in

the sixteen th c en tur y an d th e b elie f in th e con tr olling
,
power of th e s tar s over huma n destinies is almost as

o ld as m an hims elf Th e r ela tive position s o f th e
.
J D. . C
plan ets in the fir m am ent their situation s am on gst the

,
con stella tion s at th e hour o f a m an s bir th wer e co n

’
,
,
sider ed by th e an ci en ts to b e domin an t fa ctor s an d
influen ce s thr oughout his Whole life It is n o t too .
m uch to s ay tha t a b elief in th e tr uth o f hor oscop es

c ast by a skilled ca lcula tor still sur vives in o u r W estern
civilisa tion a s well a s in th e E ast M e dica l scien ce .
to day pays its du e r esp ect to a str ology in th e sign

-
,
little alter ed fr om th e a str ologic al fig ur e fo r Jupiter ,
w ith whi ch all pr escr iption s ar e still h ea d e d .
D ee a s o n e o f th e for em ost ma the ma tician s and

,
a s tr on om er s o f th e time an d o n e em ploy ed by th e
,
Queen b ec a me con tin ua lly in r equ est to c a lcula te th e

,
n a tivity an d c a st a hor oscop e fo r m en an d wom en in
H e h a s left man y n otes o f p eople

’
a ll r an ks o f life .
bir ths ; his o w n childr en s ar e en ter e d w ith th e gr eatest

’
pr e cision fo r wh ich a biogr apher h as to than k him

,
.
When Elizab eth m oun te d w ith fi r m steps the

thr on e tha t h er un happy sister h a d foun d so pr e
c ar ious and un ea sy a her itage D ee w as ver y quickly
,
soug ht fo r a t Cour t . His fir st commission w as

e n tir ely sui g en er is. H e w a s comman d ed by Rober t
Dudley to n am e an a uspicious day fo r th e cor on ation ,
an d his a str ologi c a l c alcul a tion s th er eupon s eem to
ha ve impr essed th e Queen an d all h er cour tier s .
Wheth er o r n o w e b eli eve in th e futur e a ugur ies of

such a com bin a tion o f influ en c e s a s pr e sid ed over the
sele ction of th e 1 4th o f J anu ar y 1 5 5 9 fo r th e day o f
, ,
c r owning Eliza beth in Westm in ster Abbe y w e m ust ,

’
a ckn owl e dge tha t D ee s choic e o f a d a te w a s suc
cee ded by b enign an d h appy d e stini e s .
H e w a s then living in Lon don W e do no t kn ow

.
na tur e o f th e pr a ctical joke and r epair e d w ith , ,
M r S e cr etar y W ilson a s a witn ess o f th e whole pr o

.
ce edin s an d a pr oof o f all ood fa ith to Rich m on d

g g , ,
wh er e th e Qu een w as Th e Queen s at in th a t par t o f

.
h er pr ivate g a r d en th a t slop e d down to th e r iver n ear ,
th e steps of th e r oya l lan din g— pla ce at H a mpton

Cour t ; th e E ar l o f L eice ster (a s Dudley h ad n o w
be com e ) w a s in a tten da n c e g or geous an d in solent as
,
e ver ; th e Lor ds o f th e P r ivy Coun cil h a d also b een
summ on ed wh en D ee a nd M r S ecr etar y e xpoun ded

, .
th e inn er m eanin g o f this un towar d cir cum st an c e an d ,
s a tisfi ed an d a llayed all their fear s Somethin g about .
th e c alm a ttr ibute s o f this s ea sone d a n d tr a velled

scholar s eeme d a lways to give mor al suppor t to th e
Queen an d h er hous ehold ; this is only th e fir st of
m an y occa sion s when h e h ad to alla y their sup er
s titio u s fr ight Tha t sh e felt it ess en tia l to keep him
.
within r ea ch o f h er s elf m ay h a ve b een o ne r eason fo r

n o t givin g him th e a ppoin tmen ts fo r which h e a nd ,
other s fo r him con stan tly sue d D ee w a s n o t an

, .
e a sy p er son to fit in to a li vi ng : h e r equir ed o n e
with n o cur e o f souls a tta ched ; fo r this h e s ays a , ,
cur a a n ima r a m a nn ex a did t er r ific m e to dea l with

,
”
them H e is called a ba che lor o f divin ity by Fox e in
.
1 5 5 5 a n d a s a m a tter o f fa ct h e do es both in 1 5 5 8 and

, ,
in 1 5 6 4 a dd th e letter s S D T to his n am e in
, . . .
1
his pr in te d wor ks This degr ee a lso w a s no t fr om
.
C am br idge At la st h e gr ew tir ed o f waiting a n d a

.
c er tain r estlessn ess in his char a cter no t in comp a tible ,
with th e lon g p atien ce o f th e tr ue follower o f scien ce ,
1
Pmp w dewma ta Ap ho r i stica , 1 5 5 8
f
. Addr ess to th e Pr inter in
Mona s H ier og lyp hica , 1 5 64 .
IMPRISONMENT AND AU THORSHIP 21
dr ove him again a br oad His in ten tion w as to

.
arr an ge fo r pr in tin g wor ks a lr e ady pr ep ar e d in m a n u
script To sear ch a m on g o ut o f the —w ay book

.
- -
monger s and book lover s in high walle d G er m an

- -
tow n s fo r r ar e tr easur es wher ewith to enr ich his

,
n ative coun tr y w a s a n oth er m ag n e t that dr ew his

,
feet In F ebr uar y 1 5 6 3 a fter h e h ad been thus

. , ,
em ployed fo r m o r e th an a year h e wr ot e fr om th e ,
sig n o f th e G olden Angel in Antwerp to C e cil to , , ,
a sk if h e w a s e xpe cted to r e tur n to E n g l an d o r if h e ,
m ight re ma in to over s ee th e pr in ting o f his books ,
a n d contin u e his r e s e a r ch e s a m on g Dutc h books a n d
scholar s H e h ad in ten de d h e sa ys to r etur n b efor e

.
, ,
Easter but this w as n o w impossible owin g to

, ,
r inter s d el ays Wh en w e r e m em b er tha t a hun dr e d

’
p .
year s h a d bar ely e lap sed sin ce th e fir st m etal typ es

h ad b een c a st an d us ed in a h an d pr e ss it is n o t ,
’
won der ful th a t Dee s tr ea tise with its hier oglyphic ,
an d c a ba listic sign s took lon g to pr in t

, He .
ann oun c e s in th e le tter to C e cil a g r ea t b ar ga in h e
h a s picked up a wor k , fo r which m an y a lear n e d

,
m an hath lon g soug ht a n d d ayley y et doth s eek ,
upon cipher w r itin g viz S teg a n og r ap hia by th e

, .
,
famous Abbot Tr ith em ius o f W urzbur g It is th e .
ear li est ela bor at e tr eatis e upon shor th an d a n d cipher ,
a subj ect in which C e cil w as p ar ticular ly in ter e ste d .
It w as then in m an uscr ipt (fir st pr in ted Fr ank for t , ,
D ee c on tin u es tha t h e kn ows his co r r espo n

den t will b e well a cquain te d with the n am e of th e
book fo r th e a uthor m en tion s it in his E p istles an d
, ,
in both th e edition s o f his P o lyg r ap hia H e ur g es its .
1 P in ted by th Ph il b ib l n S i ty Hi t Mi
r e o o l i 1854
oc e , s . ra , vo . . .
22 LIFE OF DR JOHN DEE
.
claims upon th e futur e Lor d Tr ea sur er a lr eady a ,
statesman of r ip e exper i en c e in th e follow i ng wor d

,
A boke fo r your hon or o r a Pr in ce so m eet so , ,
n ed efu ll a n d com modious , as in human kn owl e dge
n on e c an b e m eeter o r mor e b eh o ve full Of this .
boke either a s I n o w ha ve yt o r her ea fter shall ha ve

, ,
y t
, fu l
l y W holl a n d p er fe ct ( f it ple a s you to a cc ept
, y
m y pr es en t ) I giv e un to your Hon or a s th e most
pr e cious ju ell tha t I ha ve y et o f oth er m en s tr availes
”
r ecov er e d .
H e th en go es o n to b eg th e min ist er an d S ecr etary

“
o f Sta te to pr o c ur e fo r him th a t lear n ed leisur e
(dulcia illa o cia ) th e fr uit wher eof my coun tr y and
all th e r epublic o f l e tt er s sh all justly a scr ib e to your
wisdom a n d honor able z eal towar d th e a dvan c em ent

o f good l etter s an d won d er ful divine a nd s ecr et
, ,
scien c es D ee h a d copied in ten d ays by contin ual

.
,
labour a bout half o f th e book a Hun gar ian n oble

,
m an th er e h a s o ffer e d to fin ish th e r e st if D ee ,
will r em a in in An twer p a n d dir ect his studi es fo r a

tim e .
Of this boke th e o n e ha lf (with co n tynu al labour

an d wa tch th e m ost p ar t o f 1 0 da ys ) ha v e I co
,
py ed
oute An d n o w I stan d at th e curt esy e o f a n oble
.
m an o f Hu n gar y fo r wr itin g fur th th e r est ; who

h a th pr om ise d m e lea ve ther eto a fter h e sh all per
,
c ey v e th a t I m ay r e m ayn e by him long er (with th e

l ea ve o f m y Pr in ce ) to pleasur e h im a lso with such
oin te s of sci en c e a s at m y b an d es he r equi r e th
p .
I a ssur e y o u th e m ea nes tha t I used to cump as

th e kn owledge wh er e this m an a nd other such a re ,
a n d likew is e of su ch book a s this as fo r this r e s en t I

,
p
h a ve a dver tis emen t of ha ve c o st m e all tha t ev er I
,
IMPRI S ON M ENT AND AUTHORSHIP 23
could her e w ith hon esty borr ow b esydes that which ,
f so sho t tim e inte n d ed ) I th o w gh t n eedefull to

( o r r a
br ing w ith m e to th e value o f x x lib Go d knoweth
, .
my zeale to hon est an d tr ue k no w ledg ; fo r which my

flesh b lud an d bon es should ma ke th e m ar ch an dize
, , ,
if th e ca s e so r equir ed .
D ee did m ai n
re Countr ies ; b e co m
in th e L o w
leted his M o nas H ier og lyp hica dated its pr efa tor y
p ,
dedica tion to the Emp er or M a ximilian II at An twerp . , ,
Jan uar y 29 1 5 6 4 an d ad de d an a ddress to the typ o

, ,
grapher his singular good fri en d G ulielm o Silvio

, , ,
dated th e following d ay Th e book a pp ear ed in

.
April and h e a t on c e j our n eyed to Pr es bur g to

, ,
presen t a copy to M a ximilian Its twenty four .

-
theorems deal with th e var ia tion s o f th e figur e

r epr esen ted o n o u r title p age which m ay b e r oughly
-
,
explained as th e moon th e s un th e elements (th e

, ,
cr oss ) and fi r e a s r epr esen ted by the wa ving lin e

,
below D ee says that man y univ er sitie gr aduates

.
of high degr ee an d other gen tlemen dispr aised it

, ,
”
because th ey understood it n o t but H er M aj estic ,
graciously d efen d ed my credit in my absen c e b eyon d

th e seas O n his r eturn in Jun e sh e sen t fo r him to
.
Cour t and desired him to r ead th e book w ith her .
’
Dee s account o f his r egal pupil is given with much
quaintn ess S h e vouchsa fed to a ccoun t her s elf my
.
sch o llar in my book an d s aid wh er eas I h ad
pr efix ed in th e for efr on t o f th e book : Q ui n o n

in tellig it a n t tacea t a n t disca t if I would disclos e to
,
h er th e s ecr ets o f tha t book s h e would ci discer e et

f a cere Wh
. er eupon h er M aj estic h a d a littl e
per usio n
o f th e s ame with m e and then in most h er o icall an d
,
i c ely wise did com for t an d en cour a ge m e in m y

pr n
”
studies p hilosophical] an d m ath em a ticall .
His e scor t h ad been r equir e d fo r th e M ar chion ess

o f No rt h a m pto n w h o w a s r etur n in fr o m A n tw er p
, g
to Gr een wich In r etu r n fo r this a ssistan ce th e la dy
.
b egge d th e Qu een s favour fo r h er c ava li er Elizab eth

’
.
w a s a lw ays D ee s v er y good fr i en d an d s h e m a de a
’
r an t to him o n D e c em b er 8 1 5 6 4 of th e D ea n er y
g , ,
o f Glouc est er th en void but oth er c oun s els p r eva iled

, , ,
a n d it w a s soon b estowed u on so m e oth er m an No

p .
doubt th e a ppoin tm en t would h a ve given gr eat

offen c e fo r th e popular ey e w a s a lr ea dy b eginning
,
to s ee in D ee n o highly e quipp e d ma thema tician ,
g e ogr a pher an d a str on om er but a conj ur o r and ,
m ag ician of doubtful r eput ation in fa ct in th e curr en t , ,
j ar gon o n e who h a d d ealin gs w ith th e de vil What

, .
th er e h a d been at this tim e to e xcite the se suspicions

b eyon d th e fa ct th a t D ee w a s a lways r ea dy to expoun d
a co m e t o r a n e clips e to c a st a hor oscop e o r e xpl ain
, ,
th a t th e Queen would no t im m e di ately e xpir e b ec ause

a w a x doll with a stil e tto in its h ear t w a s foun d un der
a tr e e it is h ar d to say But tha t these r um our s

, .
wer e e xtr em ely p er sisten t is seen by th e a str ologer s ’
de fen c e o f him self in th e ver y fr uitq pr efa ce

which h e a s th e fir st m a them a tician of th e day w as
, ,
a ske d to wr ite to H en r y Billi n sl e y s fir st E n glish ’ 1

g
tr a n slation of Euclid s E lemen ts in F e br u a r y 1 5 7 0
’
,
2
, .
1 After w d
ar s Sir H en r y Bill in gsley , S h e r iff a n d Lo r d Ma y o r o f
Lo n d on
( 1 5 96 )
2
T he re is a r ar e co
p y o h
f t is fo io , l o f J o hn Da y ’
s
pr in t in g, in t h e
Ki n b y B iti h
g s Li r a r
’
,
r s Mu s e u m , with a fi n e tit l e -p a
ge, co v er e d w ith
a B k l k d win g
la e - i e ra o f t h e Ar ts an d S c ie n c es . It is in t h e
IMPRISONMENT AND AUTHORSHIP 25
’
This pr efa c e must b e r eckoned a s o ne o f Dee s best
a chi evem en ts although a s h e s a ys in w r iting it
,
he, , ,
w as so pin ch ed with str a ightn ess o f tim e th at h e
could n o t pen dow n th e matter as h e would He .
oi n ts o u t th a t Euclid h a s alr ea dy app ear e d in Itali an

p ,
Ger man High Dutch Fr en ch Spanish a nd Por tu

, , ,
ues e dre ss a nd n o w at la st com es to E ngla n d

g ,
.
In spite o f its ex p a r te n a tur e a study of this ,
pr efa ce alon e must con vin ce a ny r ea der tha t th e

autho r w a s n o char latan o r preten der but a tr ue ,
devotee o f lear ning gifted w ith a far in sight in to,
hum an pr ogr ess H e cover s in r e view ever y art an d

.
scien ce then known and some until th ese o ur daies ,
gr eatly m issed (his com m en ts o n m usic an d h ar m ony

ar e tr uly r em ar ka bl e ) an d com e s ba ck to his o w n ,
pr edilection— ar ithmetic which n ext to th eologie is ,
most divin e most pu re m ost a mple an d gen er al]

, , ,
m ost pr ofoun d m ost s u b tele most com m odious a n d

, ,
m ost n ec ess ar y H e quote s Pla to to show how it

.
“
lifts th e hear t above th e h ea ven s by invisible lin es ,
an d by its imm o r t al b ea ms melte th th e r eflection o f
light in compr ehen sible and so pr ocur eth jo y an d per ,

”
fectio n un spea kable Speakin g o f th e r efr a ction o f
.
light h e for esha dows th e tele scop e a s h e descr ibes

,
how th e c aptain o f e ither foot o r hor semen should

em ploy an a str on om ic al stafl e co m modiously fr a me d
’
fo r ca rr i age a n d u se an d m ay won der fully help hims elf

,
by per spective glasse s ; in which I tr ust o u r poster ity

w ill pr ov e m or e skilful] a n d e xp er t a n d to
gr ea ter
o r ig in a l bi din g
n , wit h c o r n er s m en de d , an d h as th e fo ll wing
o
in ter estin g in scr iptio n on flylea f :

a J “ ’
a i ac h e té c c l iv re a O xfo r
en Juillet ,
1 5 9 8 , et m a co ust e 1 6 s h e lin s . Sa in t Sau ve u r .
pur pose th an in th ese da ys ca n almost b e c r edite d to

”
b e possibl e Th en h e allu de s to a won der ful g lass
.
belongin g to Sir Willi a m P fa mous fo r his sk ill in

m a th em a tics who will let th e gl a ss b e s een
,
Th e .
a ss a g e s ee m s to show th at lookin g g la ss es wer e n o t -
p
com m on o r tha t this par ticular o ne w a s a convex
,
mirr or .
A m an h e says , m ay b e cu r stly a fr aid o f his

,
o w n sh a dow y e a so m uch
, to fear e th,
at
y o u b eing ,
a lon e n er e a c er ta in l a ss e a n d pr o ffe r w ith d agger

g ,
o r swo r d to foyn e at th e gla ss e y o u sh all sudd en ly ,
b e moved to g ive b a ck (in m n er ) by r ea son o f an '

,
im a ge app ear in g in th e ayr e b etw eene y o u an d the

gla ss e with like h a n d swor d o r dagger an d with like
, , ,
quickn ess foyn ing at your ver y ey e like a s you do at ,
th e g la ss e Str an ge this is to hear e o f but m ore

.
,
m er vailo u s to b ehold th an th es e my wor d es can

signifi e n ever th eless by de mo n str a tion o ticall th e
, p
or der a nd c a us e ther eof is c er tified even so th e effect ,
”
is con s equen t .
This m ir r or w as given to D ee n o t lon g a fter war ds .
F r om optics h e pa sse s o n to me ch a nics an d m en ,
tion s h avin g s een a t Pr ag e mills wor k ed by water u ,
s aw i n g g r ea t a n d lon g d ea le bor d e s n o m an ,
b ein g by H e d escr ib es a ccur a tely a diving

.
ch am ber suppli ed with air a n d sums up some o f th e ,
m e chanic al mar ve ls o f th e wor ld th e br azen h ead -
ma d e by Alber tus M agn us which s eem e d to spea k ; ,

”
a str an g e s elf m oving which h e s aw at St D enis
-
.
in 1 5 5 1 ; imag e s s e en in th e air by m ean s o f a

’
p er sp ective gla ss ; A r chimedes sph er e ; th e dov e o f
Ar chyta s ; and th e wh eel o f Vulcan spoken o f by ,
Ar istotle ; and com e s down to r e c en t wor km an ship

you m e thus violen tly with your slau n der in g o f m e ,
con tr ar y to v er itie an d con tr ar y to your o w n c o n

,
scien ce ? A nd I to this b o w er n either by wor de

, , ,
d eede o r thoug ht h a v e b en e a nywa y hur tful] da m age

, ,
a ble o r in jur ious t o you o r your s

,
H a ve I SO long ,
so d ear ly so far r e so c ar e fully so pam fully so

, , , ,
dang er ously foug ht a n d tr a va iled fo r th e lear ni ng

o f w ised o m e an d a tt eynin g o f v er tu e a n d in the ,
?
en d a m I b eco m e wor s e th a n wh en I b eg an Wor se
th an a m a dm a n a da n ger ous m em b er in th e C o m
,
m o n w ea lth an d n o M em b er o f th e Chu r ch o f Chr ist ?

C a ll y o u this to b e lear n e d ? C a ll y o u this to b e a
philosoph er a n d a lover o f w isdo m e
He goe s o n to sp eak o f e x a mple s befor e his time
to whom in godlin ess an d lear n in g h e is n o t wor thy to
b e co m p ar ed p atien t Socr a tes Apuleius Joann es
, ,
Picus an d Tr ith em iu s Roger B acon th e flower of

, ,
”
whos e wor thy fam e can n ever dy e n o r with er a nd ,
en ds by su m m i n g u p th e p e opl e who can con ceive
n othin g outsid e th e com p a ss of th eir c a pa city as of
four sor ts -
“
va in p r attlin g busybodie s fon d fr ien ds
, ,
”
imper fe ctly z ealous an d m alicious ign or an t
, Of .
th es e h e is in c lin ed to thin k th e fon d fr ien ds th e most

da ma gin g fo r th ey over shoot th e m a r k an d r elate
,
m ar v els a n d won d er ful fea ts which w er e n ev er don e ,
o r h a d an y sp ar k o f likelihood to b e don e in o r der ,
tha t other m en m ay m ar vel a t their h ap to h a ve such

a l ear n e d fr ien d
.
Th e eloqu en t ir on y o f this p a ss a ge s ee ms equ a lled

only by its extr a or din ar y un iver sality its knowle dge ,
o f hum an ch ar a ct er an d its high philosop h ic s i r it

p .
At wh at a cost did a se eker after scien tific tr uths

follow his c alling in th e sixteen th c entur y I
CHAPTER III
M O R TL A KE
In h er pr in c e ly co un te n an c e I ne ve r
p er c ei e vd fr o w
w d n to ar
m e, o r di s co n t e n t e d r e ga r d o r Vie w on m e, b ut at a ll tim s f v e bl a o ra e
an d
gr acio us , to th e j o
y an d co m fo r t o f m y itr u e , f ith ful
a d l y l
an o a
hear t —D E E
.
”
, of Queen E li b th za e .
TH E pr om is ed b en efi ce did c o me although no t y et ,
Dee s fr ien ds at C our t wer e all busy o n his b eh a lf

’
.
Either n o w o r later h e w a s a c tually m en tion ed a s ,
Pr ovost o f Eton an d th e Queen an swer e d fa vour ,
ably .Mistr es s Blan che Par r y and Mistre ss S en da

m or e la dy in waitin g to Ann e Coun tess of W ar wick
,
- -
, ,
ur ged his claim s fo r th e M a ster ship o f St Cr oss at .
Winchester which it w as thoug ht D r W atson would

, .
soon vaca te But a ll h e s eems to ha ve obtained w as

.
a fr esh disp en s ation fr om M atth e w P ar k er Ar ch ,
bishop o f C anter bur y to enjoy th e tw o Midlan d ,
r ector i es fo r t en y ear s .
H e con tin ued his liter ar y wor k an d be side wr itin g ,
n ew m an u s c r i t tr ea tis e s b ethought him s elf o f a n o ld

p ,
o n e which a lthough pr in te d h ad n o t r e c eive d gr eat

,
attention This w a s th e P r op ceden ma ta Apho r is tica

.
(London , dedic ated July 2 0 1 5 5 8 to his old , ,
and d ear fr i en d a n d fello vv studen t at Louvain

'
-
,
M er cator m y G er ar d
, as h e a ffe ction a tely c a lls ,
him In Jan uar y 1 5 6 8 D ee p res en ted a copy of a

.
, ,
new e dition with an a ddr ess to th e studious an d

,
30 LIFE OF DR . J OHN DEE
sin c er e philosophic al r ea der da te d D ecemb er 2 4 ,
,
1 5 6 7 fr om
,
“
o u r m us eu m a t Mor tla ke to Mr
“
,
.
S e cr etar y C e cil n o w Lor d Tr ea sur er

,
Two copies .
wer e given at th e sam e tim e t o th e E a r l o f Pem br oke ,
o ne fo r him to u s e o r gi ve a w ay at his pl ea sur e th e ,
other by Ce cil s a dvice to b e pr esen te d by h im to

,
’
th e Qu een Within thr ee days D ee h ear d fr om

. ,
Pem br oke that sh e h ad gr a ciously a cc epte d an d well

like d his book This gr atifyin g infor mation w as
.
r en d er e d a cc epta bl e by a gift H e ga ve m e ver y

boun tifully in his o w n e b ehalf x x lib to r equite such .
”
my r ev er en t r ega r d o f his hon our .
A n in ter vi ew with th e Qu een follow ed o n

’
F ebr u ar y 1 6 at 2 o clock when ther e w a s talk between
, ,
the m in th e galler y at W estmin ster o f th e gr eat

s e cr et fo r my s a ke to b e disclos e d un to h er M aj esty
by Nicola s G ru diu s som etime o n e o f th e s ecr etar ies
,
to th e E m p er or Ch ar le s V Of this alch em ical .
s ecr e t n o doubt con c ernin g tr ans m utation D ee w r ites

, ,
a fter , Wha t w as th e hin der an c e o f th e per fecting

o f that pur p os e God b est kn ow eth , .
H e w a s n o w over for ty a n d h a d a n atur a l desir e ,
to r an ge hims elf an d house his libr ar y B efor e 15 70 .
h e took up his a bod e with his mother in a hous e ,
belon gin g to h er at Mor tla ke o n the r iver Tham es , .
It w a s a n o ld r am bling pla ce stan din g west o f the ,

ll
chur ch b etween it a nd th e r iver D ee a dded to it by .
degr ees pur ch a sing small ten em en ts a dj oin in g so

, ,
that at leng th it compr ise d lab o r a tor i e s fo r his exper i

men ts libr ar ies an d r ooms fo r a busy hi ve o f wor ker s
,
I u vey t k en 1 6 1 6 eight y e fte D e e de th it is ’

1
n a s r a s ,
ar a r s a ,
c ll ed n
a n ient h o use
a a c .
MORTLAKE 31
and ser vants M r s D ee occupied a set o f r ooms o f

. .
her o w n . Nothing of th e o ld pr emises n o w r ema in s ,
unl ess it b e a n an cien t ga teway leading fr om th e

gar den towar ds th e r iver After D ee s d ea th th e .
’
house pa ss ed thr ough an in ter estin g p h a s e of e xist

en c e, b ein g a dapte d by S ir Fr an cis Cran e fo r th e
Royal tap estr y wor ks wh er e en cour aged by a , ,
handsom e gr an t o f m on ey an d or der s fr om th e
ar sim on ious J am es suits o f h an g in gs o f b ea utiful
p ,
wor km an ship wer e e x e cuted un der th e ey e of

”
Fran cis C leyn e a limn er who w a s br ought over
, ,
fr om Flan der s to un der ta ke th e desig n s At th e .
en d of th e eig hteen th c en tur y a lar e p an elle d r oom

g ,
with r ed an d wh ite r ose s c ar ved a n d colour ed w a s

, ,
still in e xisten ce E ar ly in th e n ineteenth c en tur y

.
th e hous e w a s us e d fo r a gi r ls school kept by a

’
Mr s Dubois
. .
Her e D ee took up his a bode Its n eam ess to .
Lon don an d to th e fa vo ur ite plac es o f E lizab eth s ’
r esiden c e — Gr e en wich H am pton Cou r t Sion Hous e

, , ,
Islewor th and Non such— w as at fir st con sider e d a

.
gr eat a dvantage and th e j our n ey to an d fr om Lon don

,
w as a lmost in var i a bly ma d e by wa ter Th e Qu een .
desir ed h er a str olog er to b e n ear at han d Wh en h e .
fell dang er ously ill at Mor tlake in 1 5 7 1 a fter a ,
tedious jour n ey a br oa d in to th e Duchy o f Lor r ain e

o n some m yst er ious err an d Eliz ab eth s en t dow n two ,
o f h er o w n physici an s Docto r s A tslo w e a n d Ba lth o r

,
p ,
to a tten d him L a dy Sidn ey w as a lso despa tche d

.
”
with kin d an d gr a cious an d pithy m ess age s fr om
, ,
th e sover eign a n d d elic a cies

, diver s r ar etie s wer e , ,
suppli ed fr om th e r oya l table to supplem en t his

mother s pr ovision fo r th e in va lid Th e Queen s eem s

’
.
to h a v e felt a sp e ci a l obliga tion to look a fter h im a s ,
sh e h a d s en t him o n s o m e m issio n o f h er o w n which ,
pr ob a bly w e sha ll n o t b e far wr ong in thin king

conn e cted with D ee s alche mistic e xp er im en ts Ever y
’
.
Cour t in Eur ope a t this tim e h a d a str olog er s and

a lch em ists in its em ploy a n d th e Qu een an d ,
Bur leigh wer e a s an xious a s D ee th at h e should r eally

a tt a in th e e v er elusiv e s e c r e t o f tr a n s m ut a tion
-
D ee .
’
h a d o f cour s e c ar r ie d th e Qu een s p a sspor t fo r
hi m s e lf an d a couple o f s er van ts with hor s es and , ,
h a d obt ain e d per m its thr oug h for eign a m b a ss ador s

in Lon don to tr a v el fr eely thr ough va r ious coun tr ies .
’
D ee w as n o w b en t o n r a th er a str an ge for m of
public s er vic e O n Octob er 3 1 5 7 4 h e wr ote a ver y
.
, ,
2
r e ma r ka bl e letter to Lor d Bu r leigh of four an d a
h a lf folio p a ges in tha t b est pr inte d han d o f his which
offer s n o e xcus e fo r skippin g His o w n par amount .
des er ts ar e v er y na tur ally o n e of th e m ain s ubj ects .
H e h a s s pen t all his m on ey an d all his life in attaining

kn owledg e C er tes by du e con fer en c e with all that
.
,
ever I y et m et w ith in Eu r op e th e poor E n glish ,
Br yt tain e (Il fa vor ita di vostr a E x c ellen tia ) hath

c ar r ie d th e B ell a way God Almighty h ave th e .
glor y . If h e h a d on ly a sufficien cy o f tw o o r thr ee

hun dr e d poun ds a year h e could p ur sue sci en c e with ,
ease . F ailing tha t ther e is a n other w ay Tr easur e

, .
tr ouvé is a ver y c a sual thing an d th e Qu een is little ,
Co mp end io us R ehea r sa l Ch eth am S o c , pp 1 1 , 1 2

. . . .
2
L a nsdo w n e MS , xix , fo 8 1 , in par t pr in t e in Stryp e ’s Anna ls,
. . . d
3r d e d 1 7 35 , vo l ii , App , p 8 1 an d E is s L etter s of E m in ent Lit
. . .
’
. . ll .
d
Men, Cam en So c , p 32 . . .
MORTLAKE 33
enr iched th er eby in spite of h er r oyal pr er ogative

,
.
N0 o ne kn ows this better th an the Lor d Tr easur er .
N o w if h er M aj esty will gran t h im by L ett er s

, ,
Patent un der her h an d an d s eal th e r ight fo r life to ,
all treasur e h e can fi n d h e pr om is es to giv e Bur l eigh

,
o ne half and o f cour s e to r en der to th e Queen an d

,
Commonwealth th e pr opor tion tha t is their s It is .
no t th e g old as wealth th at app eals to th is m an o f

, ,
books an d star s
’
The value o f a mine is matter fo r Kin g s Tr ea sur e ,
but a pott of tw o o r thr ee hun dr ed poun ds bid in th e

groun d wall o r tr ee is but th e pr ic e o f a goo d book
, , , ,
o r in str ument fo r p er sp ective a str on omy o r some feat ,
of impor tan c e .
H e h as spent twen ty year s in con sidering the

subj ect people fr om all p ar ts ha ve con sulted him
about d r eams Vision s a ttr a ction s and demonstr a
, ,
tions o f symp a thia ci a n tip a thia r er u m but it is n o t

likely h e would couns el th em to pr oceed without per
mission fr om th e State Yet wh at a loss is h er e i .
Obscur e per son s a s hosier s o r tann er s can un der

, , ,
color o f seekin g a ssays o f m e talls fo r th e S ay m aster ,
enjoy lib er tie to dig a fter dr e a mish demonstr ation s o f

pla ces M ay no t I then in r espect of my p ayn s cost
.
, , ,
an d cr edit in m atter s philosop hica l an d m a th ematical] ,
if no better o r ea sier turn will fall to my Lot fr om h er

’
M aj estie s hands m ay n o t I then b e thought to mean
,
and in t en d good s er vic e towar d th e Queen and this

r ealm y f 1 w ill do th e b est I can at my o w n cost and
,
ch ar ge to discover an d deliver tr ue pr o o fe o f a myne ,
vayu o r o r e of gold o r silver in some plac e o f her

, ,
’ ”
Gr a ce s kin gdom fo r h er Gr a c e s only u se 7
,
’
Th e Soci ety o f R oya l Min es h ad b een in cor por a ted

M ay 28 1 5 6 5 a nd th e Queen h a d gr an ted pa ten ts to
, ,
Ger man s an d other s to dig fo r min es an d or es It .
w a s w ell kn ow n th a t th e coun tr y a boun de d in hidden
tr ea sur e Th e valua ble s of th e m on a ster ie s h a d b een

. ,
in m an y c as e s h a stily bur ie d b efor e th e l a st abbot

,
w a s ej e cte d a t th e dissolutio n Th e subj e ct had a .
sp ecial fa scina tion fo r D ee who w a s con scious o f a ,
divin in g r o d power to discover th e hidin g places .
H e m a de a ur io u s diagr am of ten loc alitie s in var ious

- ,
coun ties m a r ked by cr osses n ear wh ich h e b elieved

, ,
tr ea sur e to lie con c eale d H e en ds his letter to .
Bur leigh w ith a mor e pr a ctic al a n d m uch m or e co n

gen ia l r e qu e st H e h as b een lately at W igmor e
.
C a stle and h a s s een a qu an tity of p ar chmen ts and

,
p a p er s fr om which h e h as copie d a ccoun ts obligations , ,
a cquitt an c es Will th e Tr ea sur er gi ve him a le tter to

.
M r H ar ley keep er o f th e r ecor ds ther e a sk in g per

.
, ,
m ission to e x a m in e th eman d r ep or t as to th e con tents ?

My fan ta sy is I can g et fr om th em at my leisure , ,
m atter fo r chr onicle o r p edigr ee by w ay of r e cr ea ,

”
tion . So h e en ds w ith an apolog y fo r his lon g letter
”
an d is your Lor dship s m ost b o w n den John D ee
’
.
Nothin g seems to ha ve r e sulted fr om this l etter at

th e ti m e ; la ter h e did r ec eiv e a gr an t of r oya lti es fr om
a min e .
In 1 5 7 5 D ee m ar r ied H e s eem s to h a ve h a d no
.
tim e fo r such an e ven t befor e H e w a s n o w in his .
for ty eighth year an d did n o t ex e cute th e fa tal folly

-
,
(which in his Cour t life h e h a d s een m a ny tim es

, ,
e x em plifi ed ) o f co m m ittin g th e i n discr etion fi r st an d
infor m ing th e Qu een a fter H e duly laid be for e h er .

36 LIFE OF DR . J OHN DEE
f om D ee to his lovin g fr ien d Stow th e histor ian
r
“
, , .
Con tr ar y to D ee s car e ful pr a ctic e it is un dated s ave

’
, ,
fo r d ay an d m on th this 5 th o f D e c em ber H e h as
,
.
e vid en tly b een th e m ean s o f in tr oducin g a fellow
a uthor in in flu en ti a l qu ar t er s fo r h e s a ys My fr ien d , , ,
M r Dyer did de liver your books to th e tw o E ar ls

.
, ,
who took th em tha nkf ully but as h e n oted th er e w as , , ,
n o r ewar d com m an d e d o f th em Wh at sh all b e her e .
a fter God kn oweth

, S o coul d n o t I h av e don e . .
“ ”
Th en h e a djur es Stow to hop e a s well a s I and I
,
tur n s fr om c on sider in g fr uits to th e sour ces o f their

toil H e sen ds a list o f th e v ar ious por ts in cluding
.
,
th e Cin qu e Por ts th a t h a ve a m a yor o r b ailey all , ,
e xc ept G r a ve s en d which h as a por tr ee ve Stow m ay

, .
”
g et full er in for ma tion th e v er y tr u e pla t fr om , ,
Lor d C o b h am s s e cr etar y H e r etur n s a man uscr ipt

’
.
o f Ass er s S a x o n C h o icle
“
’
r n it is n o t of th e b est and
p er fect est copy I h a d don e with it in an hour If
. .
you h a ve Flo r ia cens is Wig o r n ensis [th e Chr onicle of

'
Flor en ce o f Wor c e ster ] I would gla dly see him a

little .
Stow like D ee w a s a Lon don er an d within a year

, , ,
o r two o f th e s a m e ag e
, H e h ad alr ea dy published .
his A n n a ls of E ng la n d which h ad then gon e thr ough ,
four e dition s .
D ee n o w b egan to ke ep a diar y o f his doin gs ,
wr itten in th e pag e s a n d m ar gin s o f thr ee fat quar to

a lma n a cs boun d in sh eepskin an d clasp e d Quota
, .
tion s ha ve p er haps a lr ea dy shown tha t his style his ,
sp elling his u se o f wor ds is tha t w e e xp e ct fr om a

, ,
St w s l b u m et with m ll e w d in pite o f b ein g g n ted

1 ’
o a o rs s a r ar s ra
pe m issi
r by L tt P t n t t ll t vo l un t y g tuities
on e er s a e o co ec ar ra .
MORTLAKE 37
man of his wide cultur e and r eading H e w as o f the .
new lear nin g though b efor e Sh akesp ear e an d B a con

,
.
H e h ad also two o r mor e distin ct h an dwr itin gs a ,
r oman h an d with n ea t p r in t e d l ett er s an d a scr ibblin g ,
han d In th e for m er all his m an uscr ipt wor ks an d

.
his letter s a r e wr itten ; his diar y is in th e last This .
diar y w as quite unn otice d until about 1 835 when th e ,
almana cs wer e discover e d at Oxfor d in th e Ashmol ean
Library havin g been a cquir ed by Eli a s Ashmole a

, ,
devout beli ever in her m etic phflo so Phy an d collector

o f all alch emic al w r itin g s They wer e tr an scr ibed .
(very inaccur ately ) by J O H a lliwell and prin ted by . .
the C amden Society in

The books con ta in a str an ge m edley o f bor r owings
and l en din gs bir ths an d d eaths illn ess es lawsuits
, , , ,
dr eams and bicker ings ; obser va tions of star s eclipses ,
and comets abov e all of th e weather (fo r D ee w a s a

,
great meteor ologist) o f hor oscopes exp er iments in , ,
alchemy an d topogr aphic al n otes H er e ar e some of .
th e earli est entr i es

“
1 5 77 J a n 1 6 Th e E a r l o f L eic ester M r Philip
. . .
, .
Sidney an d Mr Dyer etc ca me to my hous e This

, .
, .
, .
w as Edwar d Dyer Sidn e y s fri en d a fter war ds to b e

’
, ,
dr amatically associated w ith D ee an d Kelley in th eir

r eputed discover y o f th e s e cr e t of makin g gold .
Feb 1 9 th gr eat w y n de S W
. . clos e clo w dy . .
, , .
Mar ch 1 1 My fall upon my r ight knucklebon e

.
Fo r th e prese n t v l um
o e di y h b en refully co ll ted
th e ar as e ca a
with th e o r igin a s n o w l i
n th B dl i Library A n um b e o f
e o e an . r
entr ies o mitte d by Ha lliw ll pp

e fa th e fi rst tim e
ear Man y
or .
nam es o f ce e r ities o f lb th e tim e quite unreco gnis ble in th e

ar e a
prin ted versio n .

a bout 9 o clock W yth oyle o f H yper ico n in 24 hour s

’
.
ea s e d a bov e all hop e God b e thank ed fo r such his

.
goodn ess to his cr eatur e s ! M ar ch 1 2 A b r a h a m u s .
Or telius m e in visit M o rtlak ii This in ter e stin g visit

fr om th e g r eat Dutch m ap m a ker is en tir ely omitted -
in th e pr in te d d iar y M a y 2 0 I h yr ed th e bar ber

. .
o f Ch sw ick W a lt er Hoo er to ke e m h e dge s an d

y , p p y ,
kn ots in a s good or der a s h e s ee d the m th en an d that ,
to b e don e with tw ise cuttin g in th e year at th e least , ,
a n d h e t o h a ve
y ear lly fi ve shilli ngs an d m ea t an d
”
dr ink .
Th en h e sp eaks o f a visitor Ale x an der Sim on who , ,

”
com es fr om Per sia and h as pr omis ed his s er vic e o n
,
his r etur n pr oba bly to a ssist with infor mation o n

,
E aster n lor e an d wisdom His fr i en d an d n eighbour .

,
William H er ber t s en ds him n ote s upon his a lr eady

,
publish ed M o n a s An other wor k is r ea dy fo r

.
pr e ss an d he is con strain ed to r a is e m on ey whether

, ,
fo r th e pr in tin g o r oth er e xp en s es In Jun e b e .
bor r owe d £40 fr om o ne £2 0 fr om an other an d £27 , ,
upon th e ch ayn o f g old O n August 1 9 his ,
n ew book is pu t to pr in ting (o n e hun dr e d copies ) at

’
John Da y s pr e ss in Alder sga te .
This w as an oth er o f those wor ks so pithy and so ,
aliv e in th eir r e m ar ka ble a plic a tion to th e futur e

p ,
which ha ve fallen with th eir a uthor in to un deser ved

n eg l ect D ee h a d m a de suggestion s a bout supply
.
in g officer s o f th e ar m y with p er sp ective gla ss e s as

p ar t o f their e quipmen t N o w his fr i en dship with .
th e Gilb er ts D a vis H a wkin s F r obish er a n d oth er s

, , , ,
of th e gr ea t s ea captain s dr ew his a tten tion to the

-
,
sister s er vic e an d th e s ea power of this ble ss ed isle of

T I TL E - PA G E OF “
G E N E R AL AN D R AR E ME MO I
R ALS .
( S ee ? 39 )
MORTLAKE 39
Albion . H e had spen t m ost o f th e pr evious year

(1 5 7 6 ) in wr iting a ser ie s o f volum es to b e entitled
Gener al and Rar e M em or ials pertayn ing to the
”
p er fect ar t o f N aviga tion Th e fir st volume The .
,
B ritish M o na r chy o r H ew a mer o n B r y tan nicum w a s

, ,
finished in August It w as d edica ted to Chri stoph er

.
Hatton in some ver se s beginn in g

v w lh l
If pr i a t ea t b e eef n d d er e a e
h
To any Wig t o n Britis h y] so ,
O ught publi w l h ve y pee e ?

c ea e a an r
To th t i du
a ll we lth n d t yle
s e a a a o .
Wh e eo f su h l o e I o f l t e
r c r as a
H v e l m d nd f
a e u ity
’
, a o r sec r ,
By g dly m
o t G d e t h i st te
ean s o ar s a ,
To y o u I n e d fullyow s n ca r e .
”
Th e intention is better than th e lines D ee w as .
no poet an d even a b ad v er sifi er

, but he would ,
no t h a ve b een a tr u e Eliz a be than h ad h e no t o n
speci al occ asion s dr opp ed in to r hyme like the r est of ,
his p eer s .
Th e s econ d volum e The B r itis h Co mp lemen t

, ,
lar ger in bulk than th e En glish Bible w as w r itten ,
in th e n e xt four mon ths an d fin ished in D ecember .
It w as never publishe d its a uthor tells us it

would cost man y hun dr eds o f poun ds to pr int ,
because of the tables an d figur e s r equisite an d h e ,
must fir st have a com for table and sufficien t o ppo r

”
tunity o r supply ther eto Th e n e cess ary fun ds wer e
.
nev er for thcomin g an d th e book r emain ed in manu

,
scr ipt A consider able par t of it is devoted to an

.
exposition o f th e ar a do x all compass which its

p
auth or h ad inv en t e d in 1 5 5 7 .
Th e thir d volume w as m yster ious ; it w as to b e

utter ly suppr esse d o r deliver ed to Vulcan his
”
custody . Th e four th w a s Fa mo us a n d R ich 1) is
co ver ies a book h e thin ks
, , fo r B r itish Hon our and
,
W ea lth o f a s g r eat g odly plea sur e as wor ldly pr ofit

,
an d d e li ht It w a s a wor k of gr eat histor ical

g .
r e s ear ch which n ever s aw th e lig ht .
Th e pr ejudic e ag a in st D ee w a s so str on g an d h e ,
w as so m uch m isun d er stood som e p er son s openly ,
a ttr ibutin his wo r ks to oth er wr iter s oth er s a ccusing

g ,
him of s elfishly keepin g a ll his kn owledge to him self ,
m a n y p er ver tin g his m eaning thr ough ign or an c e an d ,
a a in o n e a Dutch
g , philosoph er publishing a tr eatise ,
which w a s in substan ce a r ep etition o f his that b e ,
deter m in e d to withhold his n am e fr om th e public a

tion . Th e an on y m ity is n o t howev er v er y well , ,
m a in tain e d fo r D ee us ed th e flimsy d evic e of a

,
pr efa ce to th e r ea der by an un kn own fr i en d in ,
which all th e gr i efs an d ill usages o f tha t har m

”
le ss and cour te ous gen tlem an tha t e xtra or din ary ,
”
studious g en tlem a n th e a uthor a r e fr eely aired
, , .
Un der th e thin disguis e D ee s high opinion o f his ,

’
o w n m er its p eeps n ay star es, o ut Slan d er s have , .
been spr ea d a g a in st him a da m aging letter coun ter

,
feite d by Vin cen t Mur phy his n a me and fame ,
injur ed ; h e h as b een c all e d “ th e ar ch conjur er o f -
”
th e whole kingdom Oh a da m na ble sklander
.
, ,
h e bur sts o ut utter ly untr ue in th e whole an d in

,
e v er y wor d e an d p ar t th er e of a s b efor e th e Kin g ,
o f Kin gs will a pp ear

”
at th e dr ea dful da It is
’
y .
n o con c e it o n D ee s p ar t with his Eu r o ean r e puta

p ,
tion to say th at h e h ad at God his most mer ciful]

,
“
hun dr eds o f lusty han dsome m en will this w ay b e

well occupied an d ha ve n ee dful ma in ten an c e which ,
”
n o w ar e idle o r wan t s ust en a n c e o r both These ,
.
skilfu l s ea so ldy er s w ill b e m or e tr ayn a b le to martial]

-
e xploits mor e quick eye d an d nimbl e [h e quotes

,
-
Per icles fo r this] than th e lan dsm en Th e Petty, .
Navy Ro yall as a par t fr om th e Gr an d Na vy Royall

, ,
will look after pir a tes will pr ote ct o ur valuable ,
fis her i es an d gen er ally s er ve us in b etter stead than

l
,
four such forts as C allys o r Bulleyn Comin g to .
th e fin an ci al side h e a ss er ts th a t e ver y n atur al born ,
subj ect o f this B r itish E m pir e will willingly co n

tr ibute towar ds this p er p etual] ben evolence fo r s ea
”
s ecur ity th e hun dr edth p enn y o f his r ents and
r ev enu es th e fi ve hundr e dth p enn y o f his goods
,
valuation fo r the fir st s even year s an d fo r th e second

, ,
s even the hundr ed an d fiftieth p enn y and the s even

hun dr ed an d fiftieth p enn y o f g oods valuation the ,
s ame after four teen year s to b e commuted fo r ever

, ,
to h alf th e or iginal con tr ibution H e c alculate d this .
ta x would a moun t to o r over If th at is .
no t s uffici en t h e would e x a ct a s e con d ta x (ex empt

,
ing all such coun ti e s town s an d th e fi ve por ts as , , ,
have L etter s Pa ten t fo r such immunity ) o f the six

1
He sa s y th e Flemis h h err in g fisher y is wo r th a
year , b ut is duct d lm st enti ely o n o ur co a sts n d w e h ve

co n e a o r , a a
to b uy o u o w n r mm dity f t n g co H e cites th e su ess o f

o o s ra ers . cc
th e Yarm o uth h err i g fi h y f u d d o ly thirty six ye s b efo e

n s er , o n e n - ar r ,
an d giv es d etail s o f t h e n um b ers f th e f eign fi shing fl eets o or ,
Spanish Fr en ch Fl em i h
, d D ut h ,
Wh eth e as esult o f
s ,
an c . r a r
D ee s b o o k o r n o n A t
’
p d b y J m es I in 160 9 a year
,
a c w as a sse a .
, ,
after D ee s d eath e qui i n g fo eign fi sh in g v es sel s to o b tain a

’
, r r r
licence to ply o n o u co sts r a .

MORTLAKE 43
hundr edth penn y o f every one s goods and r even ues ’

.
H e would have twen ty victualling por ts in ever y ,
par t o f the kin gdom th e in c r edible abus es o f

,
purv eyor s duly r eform e d H e would have a st0 p

.
put to carr ying o ur gun powder an d s altp etr e o ut o f

th e r ealm Good God h e cr ies w h o kn oweth
.
, ,
no t wha t pr oviso is ma de an d kept in oth er Common
W eales again st ar m our carr ying o ut o f their Limits ? ”
H e speaks o f man y hu n dr e d pie ces o f or dn an c e la tely

carr i ed o ut of th e kin gdom so tha t w e must ma ke ,
new ; and deplor e s th e whole s al e destr uction o f o ur
for ests an d timber (which is n eede d fo r ships ) to

keep th e ir on wor ks goin g Then h e for eshadows .
th e Tr inity Hous e by a sk in g fo r a Gr an d Pilot

gener al] o f E nglan d H e outlin es a schem e of
.
navy p en sion s and in r ela ti o n to th e fi sh eri es quote s

,
sanitary statutes o f Richar d II H e devotes a .
chapter to th e history of th at p ea ceable and pr ovi

dent S a xon Kin g Edga r his year ly pastime o f
, ,
s ailing roun d this islan d in sum m er guar ded by his ,
flee t of s ail an d sp ea ks o f th e effi cien cy o f

,
Edgar s navy an d th e ma in ten an ce o f his forts upon

’
th e coast 1
Then h e pa sses to his final ar gument
. .
We must attain this in cr edible political myster y

the supr ema cy of o ur s ea p ower W e must b e .
Lor ds o f th e S ea s in or der tha t o ur wits an d

tr avayles m ay b e em ploye d a t hom e fo r th e eu
r iching o f th e kin gdom th a t o u r comm oditie s (with
“
,
”
due stor e r es er v e ) m ay b e car r i e d abr o a d an d th at ,
peac e nd justice m ay r eign

a
“
Fo r w e mus t keep .
1
H kluyt in co r p t d th e wh le f th is in h is Pr incip a l
a o ra e o o
N a vig ti n s
a o with due k wl dgm nt to D ee ac no e e .
o ur o wn ha n ds an d hea r ts f r om do ing or inten ding

”
injw y to an
yf o r eig n er o n sea o r la n d .
E n ough s aid o f this book p er haps to show

h as b een , ,
th at it is a r emar kable c on tr ibution towar ds th e

l
histor y o f th e n avy a n d th e fis hing in dustr i es o f B r itain .
It m ay b e con ten de d tha t if w ithin twelve year s

Engla n d could offer a cr ushing defea t to th e gr eatest
sea power o f th e wor ld a n d e st a blish h er s elf mistr ess ,
o f th e s ea s sh e w a s n o t in n ee d o f th e or etical a dvice
,
fr om a lan dsman o n th e subj e ct but at any r a te ,
D ee s tr eatise voice s th e idea ls o f th e times the hopes

’
tha t in spir ed all tr ue lover s o f th eir coun tr y and

o f th eir Queen in th e sixteen th c en tur y In the .
thun der s of th e Ar m a da they wer e to b e r ealised .
1
D ee s en t Willi m Aub ey t Kew fo r criti ism
it to h is c o us in a r ,
a ,
c .
Aub e y r eturn e d it with

r qu in t l tt d ted Jun e 2 8 (i 1 5 76)
a a e er a
(Li es ed Cl k i 6 1
v , . I h v h ewith etu n ed yo u my yo ung
ar , . a e er r r
th e b o k — D e ff p in g] i a b gge H e is r ther
’ ”
co sen o e s o s r n a . a
s c eptica l b ut th e w illi gn o f E n gli hm en to co ntribute to th e

a o n e ss s
tax. H e w n t t kn w h a s th e o wh elps o f yo u s —
o th eow os r
s ail o s—ar e to b e
r u ied f th y w ill n ever b e idl e an d if y o u
o cc or e
p , ,
do n t fi n d them em pl ym n t th y will fin d wh t is n o t to b e
’
o e e a
de sir ed ” H e p is e th e m eth d d p picuity nd elo cutio n

. ra s o , or er , ers ,
a
o f th b o k whi h h e did t b li v o ur to n gue I m ean the

e o , c no e e e
,
En glish e to b e , p bl ,
o f ca S h oaw b ldiee h e a dd s.
“
upo n ee, o ,
”
,
o n e s o dd eyn e r e din ge I p o ure m y Opinio n to yo ur b os o m e

a
”
, .
CHAPTER IV
J AN E DE E
Co n ten t I liv h
t is is m y s ta ,
e, y
I se e k no h
m o r e t a n m a y s uffi c e ;
I p ess to b e n h ughty s w y
r ar o a a ,
L k wh t I l k m y m i d s upplies
oo , a ac n
Lo 1 t h us I trium ph lik e kin g a ,
Co n ten t with th t m y m in d d th b in g
a o r
—Sm ED WAR D
.
D YE R .
T HAT October th e Queen an d th e whole Cour t

were thr own in to a p er tur be d state o f min d by a
str ange appear an ce in th e heaven s This w a s th e .
com et which th e Swedish a str on omer K epler , ,
declare d to pr edict th e app ear an ce in th e n or th o f

Eur ope o f a pr in c e who should lay wa ste a ll
Ger man y an d should vanish in 1 6 32 It w as lucky
,
.
fo r his pr ogn ostic a tion s tha t Gusta vus Adolphus w a s

r eally bor n in Fin lan d did em br oil C en tr a l Eur ope,
in th e Thir ty Year s W ar an d did die in 1 6 32

’
.
,
”
What the blazin g star as they called it for e , ,
boded n o o ne at Cour t could tell ; D ee w a s su m

,
m o n ed for thwith to expoun d th e phen om en on H er .
M aj estic took great pleasu r e to hear m y opinion fo r ,
th e judg men t o f som e h a d un duly br e d gr eat fear

an d doubt in m an y o f th e Cour t b ein g m en of n o ,
sm all a ccoun t Fo r thr ee di ver s e daye s sh e did u se

.
me .
’
D ec did n o t for get to ur ge his suit to th e
Queen no t so much this time fo r pr efer men t but fo r
,
pr otection .
H erM aj estic Er o m is ed un to m e g r ea t s ecur ity

h er k in gdom tha t would by r eason o f
an
y my r ar e studie s an d philosophic al e x er cis es un duly
seek my over thr ow Wher eupon I a ga in to her

.
M aj cstie m a de a ver y faithful an d in violable pr omis e

of gr ea t im p or t an c e Th e fir st p ar t wher eof God is
.
,
my w itn ess I h ave tru ely an d sin c er ely p er for med ;

th o it b e n o t y et eviden t h o w tr uely o r o f what
’
, ,
in cr edible value Th e se con d par t by G o d his gr eat

.
,
m er cie s an d helps m ay in du e time b e p er for med if

, ,
”
my plat fo r th e meanes b e n o t misus ed o r d efac ed .
N ear ly tw o year s p assed befor e D ee m ar r ied his

s econ d wife J ane Fr omon d o f E ast Ch ea m S ur r ey
, , , .
S h e w as a la dy in waitin g a t th e Cour t to L ady

- -
Howar d o f E flingham wife o f th e Lor d Admir al ,
(Char les Howar d ) w ho w as a fter war ds in command

o f th e fl t victo ious g in st the invin cible
“
ee r a a
Sp anish Ar m a da L ady Howar d pr ove d a tr ue fri end

.
both to J an e a nd h er elder ly but lear n e d husban d

thr oughout th e r est o f h er life .
H e p aid a lon g visit to th e Cour t at Win dsor a

couple of m onths befor e th e marr iage staying ther e ,
fr om Novem b er 22 to De c em ber 1 1 5 77 and r ecor ds , ,
in ter views with th e Qu een o n var ious d ays an d with ,
M r S ecr etar y Walsingham

. It m a y b e pr esumed .
that th e mar r ia ge w as th en a rr anged fo r without the ,

’
Queen s con sen t it could n ever h ave ta ken place .
Just befor e leavin g h e h a d a con ver sation with Sir

,
Chr istoph er H atton th e n ewly made kn ight o f that

,
-
d a y (D ecem ber
Th e m a rr iag e took pla c e o n F e br u ar y 5 1 5 7 8 at , ,
o ne o clock a s th e br id e gr oom t ells in his di ar y but

’
,
,
at wh at chu r ch h e omits to sa Per haps it took

y .
JANE DEE 47
place in a Royal Chapel at Court Th e young br ide .
w as twen ty two -
. S he w a s a clev er well bor n woman ,
-
,
hasty an d quick tem p er ed but o f a steadfast an d

-
,
thor ough faithfuln ess i t w as n o easy task to b e th e

.
wife of a br illiant and er udite m athematician n ear ly

thirty year s h er senior but to th e en d o f h er days
,
Jane pr oved her self a tr ue an d fittin g helpmate a ,
m ost car eful and d evote d m other to h er eight

childr en . Little could sh e ha ve for e seen at this
br idal hour in to what str ange paths th e comin g year s
would lea d h er Dee s de votion to his Janc his
.
’
,
g r o w i n g r e sp ect fo r h er for c e o f ch ar a cter is faith ,
fully r efle cte d in his diar y wher e ever y d etail o f h er ,
doings an d h er h ealth is studiously en tere d .
Befor e th e and o f th e year h e h a d to lea ve home ,
and un d er ta ke a sudd en j our n ey ab r o a d at th e co m
m an d of th e Qu een s min ister s

’
Elizab eth in spite .
,
of an ir on con stitution w as ill a n d distr a cte d with

,
tootha che and r h euma tic pain s S h e h ad come to .
Richmon d fr om Gr een wich o n S eptember 2 5 an d ,
th e n ext d ay th e fi n e weather b r oke up The fir st .
”
r ayn th at c a m e fo r m an y a d a says D ee all
“
y , ,
pastur e about us w a s w ither ed Rayn in a fter n o n e .
”
like Apr ile sh o w r es A week o r tw o after this h e
.
w as sum m on e d to H am ton Cour t an d h a d a co n

p ,
fer enc e o f tw o hour s with th e Queen fr om nin e to

‘
eleven in th e mo r n in g D r B a yly th e Qu een s

’
. .
,
physician c am e to Mor tlake o n October 1 6 to co n sult

,
with him fo r his pr ofoun d her m etic studies ga ve him

,
all th e pr esti ge o f a sup er doctor O n th e 22 nd J an e

-
.
( D ee still wr ites o f h er a s Jane Fr o m o nds pr o ,
ba bly to disting uish h er fr om his m oth er Jan e D ee ) ,

went to H a mpton Cour t Sh e foun d th e Qu een n o .
b etter in fact a wor se fit o f pain than ev er occur re d

,
o n th e 2 5 th la stin g fr om nin e in th e evenin g till

,
a fter midni ht
g O n th e 2 8 th L eicester an d W alsing
.
,
h a m d ecid e d to s en d D ee a br oa d to con sult with some

for eign physi cian a bout th e m a la dy H e w as given .
his in str u ction s at nin e o clock o n Nove mb er 4th o n ’
th e 7 th h e r ea ch e d Gr a v es en d an d s a ile d fr o m L ee ,
o n th e 9 th By thr ee o clock o n th e 1 4th h e w as in

.
’
,
'
H a mbur g ; in B er lin o n D ecemb er 6 a n d o n th e 1 1 th

at F r an kfor t u on Od er Th e en tr y o n th e 1 5 th
- -
p .
,
n ewe s o f Tu r n ifer s co m m in
g 8 o clock by a speciall
’ ’
, ,
m e ss eng er looks a s if th e obj e ct of his j our n ey w as

,
a tta in ed Ther e ar e n o m or e deta ils of th e busin ess

. .
Th e diar y is r e sum e d in M ar ch 1 5 7 9 with som e , ,
tr ivi a l en tr ies a bout his show ing M r John L ewis an d his .
s o n th e physician h o w to d ra w ar om a tic a l oils a n d a

, , ,
n ot e o f his ca t gettin g a youn g fl e dg lin g sp arr ow that
h a d n ever h a d but o n e— th e r igh t vvin g n aturally w
, .
D ee s m oth er surr en der ed to h im o n Jun e 1 5 1 5 7 9

’
, ,
th e hous e a n d la n ds a t Mor tlak e w ith r ev er sion to ,
his wife Ja n e and to his h eir s a n d a ssig n s a fter him

, ,
fo r e ver Th e docu m en t w a s d eliver ed to him by a

.
sur veyor fr om Wimble don (in which pa rish Mor tlake

w a s in clude d ) un der th e tr ee by th e chur ch Th e fin e .
fo r th e su r r en d er — tw en ty shillin gs w a s p aid to th e -
Qu een a s L a dy of th e M an or o n Octob er 3 1
, , .
A mon th la ter o n his fi fty s e con d bir thd a y July 1 3

,
-
, ,
’
1 5 7 9 D ee s eld est s o n Ar thu r w a s bor n
, Th e e v en t
, , .
w as coin cid en t with an oth er fo r th a t s a m e n ight at , ,
ten o clock J an e s fa th er M r F r o m o n d ( D e e a lways

’ ’
, , .
a dds an s to th e n am e ) w a s s eized with a fit an d ,

Pupils no w began to r esor t to D ee John E lm esto n .

“
,
Mr
”
studen t o f Oxfor d c am to m e fo r di allin g ,
. .
Lock br ought B enj a min his s o nn e to m e his elde st

”
sonn e a lso calle d Zachar ie cam then with h im
, This ,
.
w a s Mich ael Lock th e tra v eller Za ch ar y w as th e

, .
e lde st of Lock s fif teen childr en ; B enj a min a fter war ds

’
wr ote o n alchem y— A P icklo ck fo r R ip ley s Castle ’

.
It w as a stor my October o f con tin uous r ain s a nd ,
floods fo r th r ee o r four days an d nights an d a raging ,

”
w y n d e a t w e st a n d south er ly Six p er son s wer e .
dr own e d in th e K ew fer r y boat by r e a son o f the ,
ve he men t an d high wa ter s over wh elm in g th e boat

u
ppo n th e r o ap by th e n eglig en s o f th e fer r yman s et
,
M r s D ee h ad a str ange dr eam that

”
ther e to help . .
o n e c am to h er an d touch e d h er s ayin g Mistr ess , ,
D ee you ar e con c eiv e d o f child whos e n am e m ust b e

, ,
Za char ia s ; b e o f good cher e h e sal do well as this , ,
doth .
’
This m ean in g Ar thur h a d a shar p illn ess
, ,
soon after however an d wh en the n ext child ar r ived

, , ,
in tw o year s ti m e it ch an c ed to b e a gir l who w a

’
, ,
n a me d K a th er in e So th e dr eam went by contr ar ies

.
a fter all Ar thur w a s wean ed in August and his

.
,
n u r s e disch ar g ed with h er wages ten s h illin gs fo r th e

, , ,
qu ar ter en din g at Mich ae lma s p aid in full D ee is , .
an e x a ct a ccoun t an t a s w ell a s diar ist an d enter s ,
e ver y p ay m en t with pr e cis e c ar e .
Th e Qu een ca me r iding down fr o m Richmon d in

h er coa ch to see wha t h er a str ologer w a s doing o n
, ,
S eptem b er 1 7 1 5 8 0 and put th e hous ehold in a

, ,
flutter Sh e took
.
Th e hig her w ay o f Mortlake field an d wh en sh e ,
c am e r ight ag a in st th e chur ch s h e tur n e d dow n ,

JANE DEE 51
to war d my house A nd wh en s h e w as again st m y

.
gar den in th e field h er Maj estic stayed ther e a good

,
while an d then c a me into th e fi eld at th e gr ea t g a te

,
of th e fi eld wher e h er M aj estic e spie d m e at my door

, ,
making r ever en t an d dutiful o b ey s an ce un to h er ;

an d with h er h an d h er M aj e stic b e ckon e d fo r m e to
,
com e to h er an d I c a m e to h er coa ch side ; h er

,
Maj esty then ver y sp ee dily pull ed o ff h er glove an d

gave m e h er han d to kiss ; an d to b e shor t h er ,
Maj e stic willed m e to r esor t often er to h er Cour t ,
an d by s o m e o f h er Pr ivy Ch am b er to giv e h er to
weete when I a m th er e .
O ne pictur e th e g or g e ously dr essed a n d p ear l

ca n
bedecked Queen h er a ubur n ha ir g listen in g in th e sun

, ,
beckoning m aj estic ally to h er a str olo g er bidding h im

,
atten d an d swell h er tr oop s of cour tier s an d a dm ir e r s ,
dem an din g im per iously to b e let kn ow when h e c am e ,
and to b e ke t in for m e d of all h e did D ee w a s a

p .
handsom e m an tall an d slen der ; h e wor e a b ear d

, ,
poin ted and r ather long Amon g th e cr owd o f

.
per son able c o ur tier s in th eir r ich a n d m ost b e com in g

suits h e would b e n o in con spicuous figur e
, .
It w a s per h aps th e public ation o f th e fir st volum e

of th e Gen er a l an d Rar e M em or ials per tayn ing to
th e ar t o f p er fe ct N a vig a tion th a t b r ought D ec in to
in tim ate r el ation s with th e n a viga tor s o f th e tim e .
O r it m ay ha ve b een his in tim a cy with th em tha t

sugge ste d th e wor k Th e H ex a mer o n a ppear ed in
.
S eptem b er 1 5 77 an d in Novemb er th e diar ist fir st

, ,
r ecor ds a visit fr om o n e of th em Sir Um fr ey

Gilb er t cam to m e at Mor tla ke Gilber t w as then
living a t Limehouse engaged in wr itin g discour se s o n
,
n a v al str ategy a n d discover y A few m on ths la ter

.
,
E 2
D ee men tion s a sugge stion h e ga ve to Richar d

H akluyt th e a uthor of th e fa scin a tin g histor ie s o f th e
,
voyages : I told M r D ani el Roger s M r H a kluyt . , .
of th e Middle T em ple bein g by tha t K yn g Ar thur ,
a n d Kin g M a ty both o f th em did con quer G elin dia

, , ,
lately c alle d Friselan d which h e so n ote d pr es en tly in ,
his wr itten copy o f M o nu m eth en sis fo r h e h ad n o ,
”1
pr in ted book th er e of O n August 5 o n e o f .
,
Gilber t s com pany M r Rey n olds o f B r ide well tok

’
, .
,
his lea ve o f m e a s h e pa ss ed towar d D ar tm outh to go

”2
with S ir Um fr ey Gilb er t towar d Hoch ela ga Th e .
e xp e ditio n s aile d fr om D ar tm outh o n S ept e m b er 23 ,
S ir Hum phr ey h a vin g obta in e d his lon g coveted -
char ter to plan t a colon y in th e N ew Wor ld in Jun c .
All his m on ey w a s sunk in this unfor tun a te e xp edi

tion which only m et disa ster at th e h an ds o f a Spanish
,
fl eet Un da un ted however Sir Hum phr ey set to

.
, ,
wor k to collect m or e fun ds an d in for m ation to pur sue

his en d With th e fi r st D ee could n o t h elp him
.
much ; with th e la st h e belie ved h e could and in ,
r etur n h e e x a cte d a sta ke in th e r esults : 1 5 80 ,
Aug 2 8 th m y dealing with S ir Hum fr ey Gilber t fo r

. .
his gr au n t o f discover y S ept l o th Sir Humfr ey . . .
Gilber t gr aunted m e m y r equ est to him ma de by

letter fo r th e r oya lties o f discover y all to th e n or th
,
a bov e th e par allell o f th e 5 0 d egr ee o f l a titud e in th e ,
pr e s en ce o f Ston er Sir John Gilber t his s er van t o r ,
r etein er ; an d th er e upo n took m e by th e h an d w ith
G ff ey f M nm uth H i t ia B it nw m (
1
eo r o o o H k luyt , s or . r o c . a
(n w b o ut twen ty si ye s o ld) l
o a y h e h d o n ly m n us ipt
- x ar a so sa s a a a cr
co
py .
2 Th e co un tr y b d or er in g th e St La wr en ce
. and th e s it e of th e
e l w s lled
presen t Mo n tr a a so ca .
JANE DEE 53
faithful p r omises in his lodging o f Cooke s house in

'
’
W ich cr o ss S tr eete wher e w e dyn ed on ely us thr ee

, ,
together b ein g S atter day

, .
It w as m or e than tw o year s befor e Gilber t succ eede d

in getting en ough other p er son s to e m b ar k their
capital in his pr oj ect an d th en h e s et out o n his fin a l
,
voyage th e s econ d to Newfoun dlan d (th e fi r st h aving

,
b een a ssiste d by Raleigh his half br oth er in ,

-
,
W e all kn ow th e end how a fter h e h ad plan ted his

, ,
”
r aw colon y of l a zy l an ds m en
pr ison bir ds an d s ailor s , ,
h e s et o u t in his littl e ve ss el The S quir r el to e xplor e , ,
th e co a st a n d s an db an ks b etween C a p e B r eton Isl an d

an d N ewfoun dlan d an d th en h e a de d fo r E n g l a n d
, .
In a stor m o ff th e Az or es th e little s hip foun d er ed ,
an d w as lost its c aptain s la st wor ds bein g

,
’
We ,
”
ar e as n ear H ea v en by s e a a s by l and .
W ith an other br other Adr ian Gilber t D ee h a d, ,
m uch clos er r ela tion s a s w e shall short ly see

, This .
younger half br oth er of Sir W alter Raleigh w a s

-
”
r ep uted a gr ea t ch em ist in thos e d a ys which o f ,
cour s e m ea n t som ethin g o f a n alchem ist H e is .
a ssoci a ted in o n e s m in d with Sidn ey s sister

’ ’
,
”
Pem br oke s m oth er that accomplish ed a nd b ea utiful
’
in spir er of th e most e xquisite epitaph e ver p enn e d ,

”
fo r h e w a s o n e of th e ing enious an d lear n e d m en
“
w h o fill ed h er hous e at Wilton so tha t it w a s lik e a

”
college . Th e Coun tess of P embr oke sp en t a g r ea t
deal year ly in th e study o f a lchem y an d kept Adr ian ,
a s a l abor an t fo r a tim e H e is d escr ib ed as a .

1
'
buffoon who c ar ed no t what h e s aid to m an o r

wom an o f a ny qua lity B r inging John D avis a n oth er
.
,
Aub y Li
1
red Cl k
, l i 31 1
ves , e . ar , vo . .
, .
of th ebr eezy D evon sea c aptain s Adr ian c a me to ,
Mor tlake to effe ct a r econ cilia tion a fter some un co m

fo r tab le p a ss a ge s ca us ed a s th ey foun d by dishon est , ,
d eali ng s o n th e par t of William Emer y whom they ,
no w e xpos e d John D avis say d th at h e might

.
’
cur s e th e tym e th a t ever h e kn ew E m er y a n d so ,
m uch followed his wick ed co u n sa yle an d a dvy s e So .
’
j ust is God ! H er e ag a in w e suspect D ee s r eputa
tion fo r m agic h a d been th e tr ouble .
With th e discover y o f so m an y n ew co asts and

islan ds a cr oss in th e W e ster n s ea s th e Queen w a s ,
a n xi o us to k n ow wh a t r i ht sh e h a d to c a ll th em
g
h er s and wh a t ea r lier n aviga tor s h a d s ailed to them
,
l
befor e A fter Fr o b ish er s thr ee voya ges in s ear ch of

.
’
th e Nor th W est P a ss a ge sh e s en t fo r th e a uthor o f

-
,
th e H ex a mer o n a n d b a de him set for th h er title

to G r eenla n d E sto teland (N ewfou n dlan d ) an d F r is e
,
la n d . This documen t h e c alls H er M aj estie s title

1 ’
Roya l to many for eign co u n tr ey s kin g do m cs an d ,
pr ovin c es in twelve v ellum skin s o f p ar chm en t fair ,
w r itt en fo r h er M aj es tie s u se an d by h er M aj estie s com

’ ’
m an d m en t— An n o Eith er h e pr epar e d an other ,
o r did n o t p r es en t this to th e Qu een fo r tw o y ear s .
1 5 80 O n Mon da y Oct 3 a t 1 1 o f th e clock

. .
,
b efor e n on e I d eliver ed m y two Rolls o f th e Q u een e s

,
’
M aj e stie s title un to her s elf in th e gar d en at Rich

’
mon d w h o a ppoin ted a fter dynn er to h ear e fur der

,
o f th e m a tt er Th er fo r c b etw een e o n e a nd two

.
a fter n o n e I w a s s en t fo r in to h er highn e ss P r y vy
,
Ch a m b er wh er e th e Lor d Thr easur er a llso w as who

, ,
ha ving th e m a tter slightly then in con sultation did ,
1
An im gin y i l n d wh i h l n g pu le d t h e
a ar vig to
s a c lly o zz na a r s, r e a
th e south e t m ity f G
er n l d x re o r e en an .
JANE DEE 55
s eme to doubt much th at I h ad o r could ma ke th e

ar gum en t pr ob abl e fo r h er h igh nes titl e so a s I pr e
’
ten de d W h er uppo n I w a s to d eclar e to his hon or

.
mor e playn ely an d at his ley scr wha t I h ad s ayd a n d

, ,
could say ther ein which I did o n Tuesday an d Wen s

,
day follo w ing at his cha mb er wher e h e us e d m e v er y

, ,
”
hon or ably o n his behalf .
Th e xt day D ee fan ci ed that Bur leigh slig hted

ne
h im. H e c alle d to see him an d w as n o t a dm itte d ;,
he stood in th e an te cham b er when th e gr ea t m an

-
cam e out but th e Lor d Tr ea sur er swept by an d did

,
”
no t o r would n o t sp eak to m e Pr ob ably h e w as .
ponderin g deeply o n i m por tan t m a tter s of state .
Dee s hopes of pr efer m en t fell to th e gr oun d and h e

’
,
”
w a s p er su a ded th a t som e n ew gr ief w a s co n ceyv cd .
D ee w a s a m bitious ; h e w as no t y et sur feite d with

fam e o f wealth h e h a d n one har dly e ven a com pe ,
teney ; h e w a s vain an d h e kn ew tha t h e h a d gifts

,
which few of his coun tr ymen could r ival o r e ven

un der sta n d an d h e w as n o longer young Such .
’
a dvan t a es as h e coul d a ttain m ust b e s ecur e d quickly
g ,
if they wer e to b e enjoye d at all .
O n th e l oth , at fou r o clock in th e m or nin g my

’
m other Jan e D ee dyed a t Mor tlake ; sh e m a d e a

go dly c en dc” : God b e pr ay sed th er fo r e ! Sh e w as
7 7 yer e old .
News o f this even t quickly tr a velle d to th e Cour t

at Richm on d an d th e Qu een d et er m in ed to sig n alis e
,
h er favour to D ee a nd h er gr a tifica tion a t Bur leig h s

’
r epor t o f his ge ogr aphic al l abour s which r ea ch e d h er ,
o n th e s am e day as th e n ews o f his loss by a p er sona l ,
visit of con dolen ce .

Oct Th e Q u en c s M aj estic , to m y gr eat

’
. l oth .
cu m fo r t (ho r a quint a , c a m with h er tr ayn fr om th e

)
cour t, a nd at m y dor e gr a ciously c a lli ng m e to h er ,
o n h o r sb ak , e xhor t e d m e br i efly to t ak e m y m other s
’
d eath pa tien tly, a n d w ith all told m e th a t th e Lor d

Th r ea s u r er h a d g r ea tly com m en d e d m y doin gs fo r
h er title, which h e h a d to e x a m yn , which title in tw o
r olls h e h a d br ou ht ho m e two hour s b e for e ; an d
g
deliv er e d to M r Hudson fo r m e to r ec eive at m y
.
com in g fr om m y m other s bur ia l a t chur ch H er

’
.
M aj estic r em em b er ed allso how at m y wive s d eath, ’
”
it w as h er for tun e likew is e to c all u ppo n m e .
So th e fan ci ed slight w a s n othin g Th e Qu een 5 .
s e con d r em ar ka bly tim ed visit w a s followed up by a

-
h a un ch o f venison fr om my Lor d Tr ea sur er an d an ,
a tm osph er e o f s a tisfa ction r ei n e d

g O n e o f th e r olls .
o f which D ee wr ite s is still in e xisten c e It h as o n .
o n e sid e o f th e p ar ch m en t a l ar ge m a p o f Atlan tis ,
o r A m er ic a dr a wn with th e skill o f a pr a ctis e d c ar to

,
”
gr aph er At th e top is his n am e Joa nn es D ee
.
, ,
a n d th e d a t e Ann o , Amon g his p aper s is a

sm aller m ap up on which la r ge tr a cts in th e Polar
,
r egion s ar e m ar ke d I n finite y s e Th e oth er sid e of .
th e r oll is d evot ed to pr ovin g th e Qu e en s title to lan ds

’
sh e would n e v er see o r h ear of un d er th e four follow ,
ing h ea ds 1 Th e C la y m e in P a r ticular
. 2 Th e . .
Rea son o f th e C laym e 3 Th e Cr edit o f th e Rea son

. . .
4 Th e va lu e o f th a t C r e dit by For c e o f L aw
. .
D ee w a s a lso busi ed this su m m er a tt en ding at th e

Muscovy Hous e a nd wr itin g in str uction s an d dr a wing
a ch ar t fo r th e tw o c aptain s Char le s Ja ckson and ,
1
Repr o duced in H akluyt s P r in cip a l N a viga tio n s ,
’
Gl as go w ed .
vo l v iii
. .
Peter sham o n Fryday th e n ext day a fter S t L aw

, ,
.
r en c e da b ein g th e 1 1 th day of th e m on th My
y .
,
wife wen t o n foot with h er an d Ellen Cole my , ,
mayd Ge or ge an d B enj a min in v er y gr ea t shower s

, ,
o f r ain .
N ever th eless th e little K ather ine seemed to

flour ish an d ther e ar e en tr ies o f mon thly pa yments o f
,
six shillings to h er nur s e with allowan c e fo r c an dl es ,
an d so ap up to August 8 o f th e follow in g y ear wh en

, ,
”
K ate is sickly an d o n th e 2 o th is r eport ed as still
,
diseased Four o r fi ve d ays after sh e w as taken

. ,
fr om n ur se Garr et of P eter sham an d weaned at , ,
home Th e moth er ha d sever al times been over to

.
s ee th e child sometime s o n foot atten de d by G eor ge

, ,
o r B enj a min th e s er van ts and on c e by w ater with

, ,
”
Mistr ess L ee in Robyn Jack es bote Th e children .
s eemed in tr ouble at this time fo r a bout s even weeks ,
b efor e Ar thur fell fr om th e top of th e Water gate

Stayr es down to th e fote fr om the to p an d cut his
, ,
”
fo r h cd o n th e r ight ey ebr ow T his w a s at th e o ld .
lan din g pla c e a t Mor tla ke Their childish ailments

-
.
a r e a lways most c ar efully r e co r de d in th e diar y even ,
when th e c a us e is a box o n the ear s— pr obably well

ear n e d— fr om their quick te mp er e d mother Jan e s ’
-
.
fr ien ds M r an d M r s Scudam or e an d th eir d aughter

. .
, ,
a nd th e Qu een s dwar f M r s Toma sin all c a me fo r a

’
, .
,
n ight to Mor tl ak e Jan e went back with Mistr ess

.
Scudam or e to th e Cour t at O atlan ds A n umber o f .
other visitor s ar e n amed in cluding M r Fo sk cr of , .
”
th e war dr obe .
CHAPTER V
TH E SE A R C H FO R A M E D I UM
“
Trut h is within u lv ; it o r se es ta k es no r ise
Fro m ut w d thi gs wh t b elieve

’
o ar n , a e er
y o u m ay
T h ei er i m t st ian n os cen r e n us a ll
Wh e e tr uth b id in ful
r ; nda un d es n ess a aro
W ll up n w ll th g s fl h h m it i
a o a , e ros es c s n,
This p f t l e p e epti n whi h i t ut h

er e c c ar rc o , c s r .
A b fllin g n d p e ver ti g
a n l m
a h r n car a es
Bi ds it d m k
n ll an
; d t N OWa es a er r o r an o K
R tha n i t
er in p in g ut
co s s s
y o en o a w a
t n th im p i n d p l n d u m y e
ce e p r so e s e o r a sca e
Th n in ff ti g
a t y f e lig ht
ec n en r or a
S uppo se d t b w ith ut o e o .
—BR OWN I N G , P a r a celsus .
D E E h ad lways wor kin g with a nd un der him a

a , ,
n um ber of youn g studen ts an d a ssistan ts w h o wer e ,
a dm itte d m o r e o r le ss to his inn er coun s els If they .
pr oved apt an d dilig en t h e would r ewa r d th em with ,
pr omise s of alch emic a l secr ets wher eby they m ight ,

”
hon e stly live ; on c e h e pr om ised £1 00 “ to b e p aid a s ,
soon as o f m y o w n cler e h ability I m yght spar e so ,

”
much . This w as a ver y safe pr oviso Gen er ous .
as h e w as lavish to a fault m o n ey n ever stuck

, ,
n ear him n o r w as it o f th e l ea st value in his eye s e xc ept

, ,
as a m e an s o f a dvan cin g sci en c e and enr ichin g oth er s .
Na tur a lly j ealousie s ar ose am ong th e a s sistan ts

, .
They would suddenly d ep ar t fr om his ser vic e a n d ,

spr ea d ign oran t a n d p er ver te d r ep or ts o f his exper i

men ts Roger Cook w h o h ad been with his m a ster
.
,
four teen year s took um br ag e o n fin din g him self

,
ba rr e d fr om v ew o f m y philosophic a l de a ling with

M r H enr ick
. H e h a d im agin e d him s elf th e chos en
.
confida n t fo r to him D ee h a d r eveale d D ec em ber 2 8

, , ,
1 5 7 9 wh a t h e con sider e d a g r e a t a lch em ic a l s ec r et

,
o f th e a ctio n o f th e elixir of s a lt o n e upon a ,
hun dr e d Roger w a s n o w twen ty—

. eight of a ,
m elan ch o lik n a tur e an d h a d b een py cking and devis

,
”
ing occa sion s o f just c a us e to d ep ar t o n th e sudden ,
fo r h e w a s j ea lous of a n ewer a pp r en tice On .
S eptem ber 7th 1 5 8 1 Roger wen t fo r a lltogether

, ,
”
fr om m e But it w a s n o t a lltogether fo r Roger
.
,
r e tu r n e d wh en D ee w a s o ld an d in fir m a n d poor and ,
r em a in ed s er vin g h im a lm ost to th e en d Th er e w as .
a lw ays som e thin g p a tr i ar cha l in D ee s c ar e fo r th e

’
mem ber s of his lar ge hous ehold eviden ce d abun ,
dantly in his diar y No doubt their loya lty to him

.
w as often s e ver ely tr i ed by h a r sh a n d c r u el outside
r u m our s but a s th ey kn e w a n d lov ed his r eal n atur e

,
they only dr ew clos er towar ds him .
A n ew ph a se o f his cha r a cter is n o w for ced upon

us H e h as app ear ed hither to a s th e m an o f lear n ing
.
,
a str on om er a n d ma th ema tici an a br illian t le ctur er an d

,
dem on str ator diligent in pr obing th e ch em ical an d

,
a lch emic a l s e cr ets of which his va st r eadin g his ,
for eign cor r espon den ce and his uniqu e libr ary gave ,
h im cogn isan c e Inter ested in g e ogr aphica l discover y

.
a n d histor y a bibliogr a phica l a n d ma th em a tic a l wr iter

, ,
his genuin e contr ibution s to scien c e h ad b een co n

sid er ab le H e h ad wr itten upon n aviga tion an d
.
THE SEARCH FOR A MEDIUM 61
histor y logi c tra vel g eom etr y a str ology her aldr y
, , , , , ,
gen ealogy an d m an y oth er subj e cts H e h a d essayed

, .
to foun d a Nation al Libr ar y an d w a s co ntem platin g ,
a
gr eat wor k upon th e r e for m a tion o f th e C a len d ar .
But th ese pur ely legitima te effor ts o f his genius wer e

discounte d in th e eyes o f his con tempor ar ie s by th e
absur d susp icion s with which his n am e h ad b een
associat e d ever sin ce his college da ys After his .
arr est an d tr i al by Bonn er h e n ever r eally succ ee d ed

,
in sha kin g o ff this s a vour o f som ething m agic al Th e .
popul ar idea of D ec in league with evil power s w as ,
of cour s e th e n atur a l r esult of ignor a n c e a nd dull

,
un der stan din g To a public r ear ed in super stition

.
,
untrain ed in r ea sonin g una cquain ted w ith th e

,
sim ple la ws o f gr a vitation th e power to r a ise h eavy

,
bodies in th e air at w ill to see pictur es in a sim ple

,
crystal globe o r con ver s e w ith pr oj e ction s o f th e

,
air to for eca st a man s life by geom etr ic o r plan e

’
tar y c alculation s a n d to discer n th e influence o f

,
o ne chem ica l o r m in er al substan c e upon a n oth er ,
seemed diabolica lly clever an d quite beyon d human

agen cy . Even to study Na tur e a n d h er se cr e ts
w as to la
y on es elf op en to th e suspicion of b ein g
a magician W e m ust r em emb er tha t in th e
.
ear ly year s o f Queen Eliza beth s r eign it w as ’
thought n ece ssar y to p ass a n Act o f Par liam en t

de cr eein g tha t all who pr a ctised sor c er y c ausing dea th
should suffer dea th ; if only injur y w a s c a use d ,
impr ison m ent an d th e pillor y should b e th e punish

men t A n y conj ur atio n of a n evil spir it w a s to b e
.
punishe d by dea th a s a felon without ben efit o f cler gy ,
o r s an ctuar y A n y discover y o f hidd en tr ea sur e by

.
magical means w as punisha ble by d ea th fo r a s eco n d

offen ce .
But if magic w a s totter in g o n its thr on e th e ,
r ei n o f a lch e m y w a s still un con te ste d B eli ef in it

g .
w a s u niv er s al its r e a t votar i e s in th e p a st wer e o f all

g ,
na tion s St Du n stan o f Gla ston bur y Roger B a con

. . , ,
Ra ymon d Lully C an on Geor ge Ripley o f B r idlin g

,
to n Alb er tus M ag n us Cor n elius Agr ipp a Ar n old dc

, , ,
Villa Nova an d Par a celsus all th eir wr itin gs an d h un , ,
dr e ds o f oth er s D ee h a d in his librar y an d con stantly

,
upon his ton gue Alch emy w a s n o t only a scien ce it

.
,
w as a r eligion a n d a r oman c e It w a s even then .
en dur in g th e bir th thr o es an d sickly infan cy o f

-
’
modern ch emistr y and th e a lchem ists long s ear ch fo r
,
th e s ec r et o f m akin g gold h as b een c a ll ed o n e o f its

cr ises Lon g a fter this it w a s still an ar ticle of faith
.
,
tha t such a m an as Rober t Boyle did n o t deny W e .
c ann ot for get that e ven th at great che mist Sir ,
Hum phr y Da vy r ever en ced th e possibility an d

, ,
r efus ed to s a
y tha t th e a lche mist s b eli ef in th e power
’
to m a ke gold w a s err on eous H o w unlike Dante s .

’
keen ir on y o f th e dar k and gr opin g m en who seek

fo r p eltr o o r tin whiten e d with mer cur y But
, .
a lche m y w a s bur sting with m an y oth er s ecr ets b eyon d
th e m a n ufa ctur e o f gold Th e spir itua l e lem ent

.
a boun ding in all mi n er a ls a nd th e symbolism un der ,
lying e ver y a ctua l substan c e wer e deeply imb edded ,
in it . It w a s a scien c e o f ideals It ever led its .
follower s o n to sca le illimita ble heig hts o f kn owledge ,
fo r in or d er to su r p a ss a ll ma t er ial an d r a tion a l n a tur e ,
a n d attain th e c r own in g en d did no t G o d d elegate ,
His o w n power s to th e sage ? So th e ar t o f healing

w as thought th e n oblest th e most Godlike ta sk a nd

, ,
no m ea n s o f a tta in in g h er metic w isdom wer e un tr ie d .
Th e psychica l wor ld b eca m e e ver y bit a s r ea l to thes e

r eligious m ystics as th e physic al an d r atio n a l whi ch ,
they un der stood so vag uely Even th e str ang e

.
shap es which escaped fr om th e r etor ts o f th e old

alch em ists wer e kn own to th em as souls Their .
successor s ca lle d them spir its Pa r a c elsus n amed them

.
a s m er cur y , an d it w a s l eft to his pupil V an H el ,
m on t th e tr u e foun d er o f a ll m oder n chemistr y to

, ,
give th e n am e o f g as .
It is easy to s ee how D ee th e astr ologer gr ew in to

, ,
close touch with those psychic ph en om en a which ,
thoug h they have be com e e xtr emely fam iliar to us as ,
y et con tin u e to b aflle o u r m ost scien tific r es ear ch es .
When h e fir st b ecam e con s cious o f his psychic power s ,
an d how far h e hi m s elf w a s m e diumistic is har der to ,
discern It is o n M ay 2 5 1 5 8 1 that h e m akes in

.
, ,
his di ar y th e m om en tous entr y I h ad sight in

Ch r ystallo offer e d m e an d I saw
, W e m ay take .
”
it that h e saw thr ough a me dium fo r h e n ever
“
,
after war ds s eem s to h a v e b een a ble to skr y w ithout
o ne. Per haps his fi r st cr ystal h ad then b een given

him although a s w e have s een h e a lr ea dy own ed
, , ,
sever al cur ious m ir r or s o n e sa id to b e of M e xic an

,
obsidian such a s w as us ed fo r toilet pur pos es by that

an cien t r a c e H e h ad m ade a study of optics an d in
.
,
his catalogue o f th e man uscr ipts o f his libr ar y ar e

many fam ous wr itin gs o n th e sp ectr um p er sp ective ,
and bur nin

g gla ss e s etc
, Then c am e th e tr ouble
.
with Roger his in cr edible doggedne ss an d ungr ate

,
fulne ss ag a in st m e to m y fa ce almost r ea dy to lay

,
”1
violen t han ds o n m e D ec h ear s str ang e r apping s.
an d kn ockin gs in his ch am ber A gen tlem an cam e .
fr om L ewisha m to con sult him a bout a dr eam m any

times r ep eated D ee pr ays with h im a n d his . ,
dr ea m is confir m ed a n d better in str uction given .
A m yster ious fi r e br eaks o ut fo r th e s e con d tim e in

th e m ay d en s ch a mb er at night Th e k n ock in g is .
h ear d a gain this tim e a ccom pan ie d with a voice

,
r ep ea ted t en tim es N0 wor ds appar en tly but a sound

.
,
like th e schr ieb o f a n o w l but mor e lon gly dr aw n ,

”
a n d m or e softly as it wer e in m
y cha m b er
, H e h as .
a str a n ge dr eam of b ein g n aked a n d my sk yn all

over wr ought with wor k like som e kin de o f tuft
mockado with c r oss es blew an d r ed ; an d o n m y left
,
ar m ab o w t th e ar m
, in a wr eath th es e wor ds I ,
r ea d Sin e m e nihil po testis fa c er e A n d another .

’
th e s am e n ight o f M r S ecr etar y W a lsingh am M r .

, .
”
C an dish an d m ys elf Then h e w as ten days fr om .
hom e at Snedgr cene w ith John B r own e to h ear

, , ,
”
an d s ee th e m ann e r of th e doing s Eviden tly some .
r em ar ka bl e m anifesta tion H e w as b ecomin g mor e .
in ter este d in psychic pr oblems but h e w as n o t able to ,
pr ocee d without a medium and th e r ight o n e had n o t ,
y et app ear e d .
M ean while h e fills his diar y with all ma nn er of

,
in ter e stin g n ews Vin c ent Mur phy th e co s en cr.

,
who h a d defam e d him a n d aga in st whom in S eptem ,
b er 1 5 8 0 h e h ad in stitute d a tr oubl esom e law suit

, ,
-
,
w as con d e mn ed by a jur y at th e Guildh all to

pay
IA
1
This en tr y an d m an y ot he r s im i a r l o n es a r e w r itt en in G r ee k
c h ar act er s , b ut th e w d or s ar e l h It w
En g is . as a n a tu r a lp r eca utio n
of th e di r ist
a , who se ho use w a s th e b de f a o o m an y s er v nta s .
high it la sted an howr all th e skye cler e ab o w t and

, ,
”
fayr star shyn e -
.
D ee mad e a j our n ey in to Hun tin gdons hir e by ,
St Neots to M r Hickm an s at Shugbor ough in th e

.
, .
’
,
coun ty o f War w ick Youn g B ar tholomew Hickman .
w a s after war ds to be come th e compan ion an d s er van t
o f his o ld a e an d m an ife ste d some slight medium

g ,
istic power s O n th e w ay home a mon th o r two

.
,
la ter D ec r ode in to Susse x to Chailey pr ob ably to the

, ,
glass wor ks ther e Th e Queen an d Mons ieur were .
at White h all .
A pr etty little sc en e w as e n a cte d at Mor tlake at

th e N e w Year wh en A r thur D ee and M ar y Her ber t
, ,
th ey b ein g but 3 yer e o ld th e eldest o f th em did , ,
m ak as it wer e a shew o f childish m ar r iage of c alling ,

”
ea ch oth er husb an d and wife Then D ee ess ays a .
h ar mless little pla y upon wor ds Th e fir st day .
M ar y H er ber t cam to h er fa ther s hous e at Mor tlake ’

,
th e s econ d day she c am e to h er fa th er s hous e at E as t

’
Shen e Mr s D ee wen t th e s am e day to see the

. .
baby Ka ther ine at Nur s e Garr et s an d Mistress ’

,
H er ber t wen t with h er So the tw o fa milies wer e in .
great unity .
S ir Geor ge Peckham w h o s aile d w ith Sir Humphr ey ,
Gilber t c ame to con sult D ee a bout explor a tion in

,
Nor th Amer ic a an d pr omis ed a shar e in his p atent of

,
th e n ew lan ds H e also s en t dow n his s ea master Mr

.
-
, .
Clemen t and an oth er gen tlem an M r I ngr a m to see

, , .
,
th e math ematici an Fo r S ir John Killigr ew D ee.

,
devised a w ay o f pr ote station to sa ve him har mless

fo r compoun ding fo r th e Sp aniar d who w as r obb ed he
”
pr omised m e fi sh aga in st L ent H aller c a me again .
T HE SEARCH FOR A MEDIUM 67
to get in stru ction s h o w to tran sfer his mon ey to

Nur ember g an d to get letter s o f in tr oduction to
,
Constan tin ople By him D ee s en t letter s to corr e .

,
spo nd ent s in V enic e wher e th e G er m an explo r er w a s ,
to win ter .
Mr Newbur y w ho h ad b een in I n dia c a me ear ly

.
, ,
in th e N ew Year D ee r ecoun ts h o w th e stag e i n .
that well— kn own o ld Lon don pla ce of a musem ent ,
th e Par is Gar den o n B an ksid e Southwar k fell down , , ,
suddenly while it w as cr a mm e d with people beholding

th e bear ba itin g M any people wer e kill ed ther eby
-
. ,
mor e hur t and a ll a mazed Th e godly expoun d it a s

, .
a d ue pl ag ue o f G o d fo r th e wicke dn e ss ther e us e d ,
”
a nd th e S a bb ath da
y so p r ofanely sp en t Sun day w as .
th e gr ea t d ay fo r th e b ea r fi gh ts -
.
1 5 83 .
— J an . M r S ecr etar ie W alsin gha m ca m
23 . .
to m y hows e, wher e by good luk h e foun d M r .
Aw dr ian Gilb er t , an d s o talk w as b ego nn e o f Nor th

west Straig hts discover y .
J an M r A w dr ian Gilb er t an d John D avis

. 24 . .
wen t by a ppoin tm en t to M r S e cr etar y to M r B ea le .

, .
his hous e wher e o nly w e four wer e se cr et an d w e

, ,
m a de M r S ecr etar ie pr ivie of th e N W p a ss age a n d

. . .
,
all char ts an d r utter s wer e a r ee d u

g ppo n in g en er all .
Feb 3 M r S avil e Mr P o w il th e youn ger

. . .
, .
,
tr ava ylo r s M r O tto m een his sonn e cam to b e

, .
ac u a y nte d with m e
q .
Feb 4 M r Edmun ds of th e P r ivie Ch am b er M r

. . .
, .
L ee S ir H ar r y L ee his br other w h o h a d b yn in
, , ,
M o scho v ia ca m to b e a cq u aynted with m e

, .
Feb 1 1 Th e Qu een e lyin g at Richm on d wen t

. .
to M r S e cr etar ie Wa lsingham to dynn er ; sh e

.
1
1
W l in gh m h u t B n E lm s is o pull d d w n n d its pa rk
a s a
’
s o se a ar n w e o , a
f m s p r t f th b e utiful pl su e g o un d
or a o f th R el gh Club a ea r r s o e an e a .
F 2
com in g by m y dor e gr atio u sly c all ed m e to h er and ,
so I wen t by h er hor s e side a s far a s wher e Mr .
Hudson dwelt 1
.
Feb 1 8 L a dy W alsin gh am cam suddenly to my

. .
house ver y fr eely an d shor tly after tha t sh e w a s gone, ,
c a m S yr F r a n cis hi m s e lf a n d M r Dyer , . .
Mar ch 6 I a n d M r Adr ian Gilber t an d John

. .
Davis did m ete with M r Alder ma n B ar n e s M r .

, .
Town son a n d M r Yong an d M r Hudson a bout the . .

,
N W p a ss ag e
. . .
M ar ch 1 7 M r John Davy s wen t to Chelsey w ith

. .
M r Adr ia n Gilber t to M r R a dfo r th s an d so th e 1 8th

. .
, ,
day fr om th en ce to D ev o n sh yr e , .
Apr il 1 8 Th e Queen e wen t fr om Richm on d

.
towar d Gr een wich a nd at h er going o n h o r sb ak , ,
bein g n ew up sh e c alle d fo r m e by M r Rawly

, .
his puttin g h er in m yn dc an d sh e s ayd quod ,
d efertu r n o n a ufertur a n d ga ve m e h er r ight han d

’
,
to kisse .
While th e se ev er y day even ts wer e goin g o n an d -
b ein g chr onicled D ee w a s a lso occupying hims elf with

,
th e s ear c h fo r a m e dium H e fir st tr ie d o n e n am ed .
B a r n aba s S a ul (h e s eem s to have been a li cen s ed

pr ea ch er ) who pr ofess ed hims elf an occultist S aul
, .
g iv es n ews of bu r ie d t r ea su r e— gr ea t chests of
pr e cious books hidden som ewh er e n ear Oun dle in
Nor tha mptons hir e but th e disappoin te d book lover ,
-
fi n ds th e hoar d a n illusion Th en S a ul w h o slept in .

,
’
a ch am b er ov er th e h all at Mor tla ke is visited at ,

”
midnig ht by a spir itu a l cr eatur e .
Th e fir st r eal séa n ce tha t D ec r e cor ds Actio ,

”
S au lin a took pla c e o n D ec emb er 2 1 1 5 8 1 Th e
, , .
1
Th o m a s H ud s o n , o f L im e h o use, a vell e in Per
tr a r s ia an d
Astra khan . H e h a d pr o b bly
a a co un tr
y h us by th iv
o e e r er .
skr yer w a s hidden to look in to th e gr ea t cry stallin e

”
globe an d a mess age w as tr an sm itted by th e angel
,
Ann ael thr ough th e p er cipien t to th e effect th a t

m an y thin gs should b e d eclar e d to D ec n o t by th e ,
pr es en t wor ker but by him that is a ssign e d to

,
th e stone After N ew Year s tide o n an y day

.
’
but th e S a bba th th e stone w as to b e set in th e

,
sun th e br ighter th e day th e b ett er and sight should

, ,
b e given Th e sitter s m ig ht
. deal both k neeling
an d sittin When w e con sid er how v er y r ea l to
g .
a devout er son in th e Middl e A e s a pp ar ition s o f

p g
th e de vil an d of evil spir its wer e th er e s eem s n othin g ,
at all e xtr a or din ar y in D ee s b eli ef th a t good s ir its

’
p
also m ight b e p er m itte d to come to his c all fo r pur ,
pos es o f g ood .
A m on th o r tw o after this S aul w as in dicted o n ,
som e char g e and tr ie d in Westmin ster Hall but , ,
thanks to M r S erj ean t W alm esley a n d a couple of

.
clever la wyer s h e w a s a cquitted Ther e w a s a n en d of

, .
his clair voyan ce however : h e confess e d h e n eyt h er

,
h er d o r saw an y spir itual] cr eatur e an y m or e If .
th e a ccusa tion aga in st him h ad been tha t of

sor cer y h e w a s w is e to r isk n o fur ther appear
,
au c e s in Westmin ster H all H e s eem s to h ave .
spr ea d abr oa d m an y fa lse r epor ts a bout D ee who ,
r epr o a ch ed h im bitter ly wh en h e c all e d at Mor tl ake
a few m on ths la ter D ee h ad howev er g ain e d

.
, ,
psych ical e xp er ien c e b y th ese ear ly a n d ten ta tive

e xp er i m en ts .
Th e fi eld w a s n o w Op en fo r a ma tur er applican t .
When h e arr ived h e w as to change th e whole curr en t

,
’
o f D ee s life an d outlook to b ecom e a t on c e a
,
70 LIFE OF DR JOH N DEE .
help er and a stumbling block a s er va nt and a -

,
master loving as a so n tr ea cher ous a s only a j ealous

, ,
fo e . It w a s a str ange fa te tha t sent Edwar d K elley

to D ec at this m om en t when e verything w as ripe ,
fo r his app ear an c e An d it w as ch ar a cter is tic of

.
’
th e m an tha t h e w as usher e d in to D ee s life un der
a feigne d n a me .
O n M ar ch 8 tw o da ys a fter S aul h ad confessed he

,
sa w an d h ear d n o m or e o f t h e spir its D ee wr ites in ,
his diar y M r Cler k so n an d his fr en de cam to my

, .
”
hows e H e ma kes th e visit v er y empha tic by
.
r ep eatin g th e in for ma tion : B ar n ab as went home

ab o w t 2 o r 3 o clock h e la y n o t at my hows e no w ;
’
h e went I s a y o n Thur sda y and Mr Cler k so n

, , , .
”
c am e At nine o clock th e sa m e night ther e w as a
.
’
won der ful exhibition o f th e a ur or a in th e n or thern

and ea ster n h ea ven s which D ee de scr ibes min utely ,
in L atin in th e diar y Th e n e xt da y M ar ch 9 he .
, ,
mention s Cler k so n s fr ien d by n am e as M r Talbot

’ ”
.
,
an d shows h o w th a t in di vidua l a pp ear s to ha ve b egun
in gr atiating hims elf with his n ew patr on by telling

him what a b ad m an his pr e dec essor w a s B ar nabas .
h ad s aid tha t D ee would mock a t th e n ew medium ;

Bar n aba s h ad co s en ed both Cler k so n an d D ec .
This Talbot pr ofess ed to h a ve been told by a

,
”
spir itual cr eatur e .
Th e p air pr ocee d ed a t on c e to business O n th e .
l o th th ey sat dow n to gaz e in to

, my stone in a fr ame
”
given m e o f a fr ien d with ver y r emar kable r esults , .
I nfor mation w a s vouchsafed that they should j ointly

togeth er have knowledge o f th e angels if th e will o f ,
God viz conjun ction o f m in d an d prayer between

, .
,
them b e per for m ed They wer e bidden to a buse

, .
no t this e xc ell en cy no r over sh a dow it with vanity ,
but stick fir mly absolutely a nd p er fe ctly in th e love

,
of G o d fo r his hon our tog ether Ther e wer e for ty

, .
nin e good angels a ll the ir n a me s b eginnin g with B

, ,
w h o wer e to b e a n swer a ble to th eir c all .
Th e fir st entr y tha t D ee makes in his B o o k of

M yster ies con cer nin g Ta lbot is a s follows 1
O ne M r Edwar d Ta lbot
. howse a n d cam to my ,
he b ein g w illing an d d esyr o u s to see o r shew som e

thin g in spir itua ll pr a ctis e wold ha ve h ad m e to h a ve ,
don e som ethin g th er ein A n d I tr u ely e xcuse d myself .
therein : a s no t in th e vulgar ly acco w n ted Magi k

, ,
n eyth er studie d o r e x er cis e d But confesse d m yself .
long tym e to ha ve b yn desyr o u s to ha ve help l n m y

philo so phicall studie s thr oug h th e cum pany an d in
for m a tion o f th e bless e d Ang els o f God A nd th er e .
uppo n I br ought fur th to him my ston e in th e fr a m e

,
(which w a s given m e o f a fr en de ) an d I s ayd un to ,
him th at I w a s cr edibly in for m e d that to it (a fter

a sor t ) wer e a n swera ble A liga i A n eli ban i A nd
g .
also tha t I w as on c e w ille d by a skr yer to ca ll fo r
th e good An gel A nn ael to app er e in tha t ston e

to my o w n e sight A nd ther efor e I d esyr ed him
.
to c all h im an d (if h e would ) A n a ch o r a n d Anilo s

,
likew is e a ccoun te d g ood an gels fo r I w as n o t

, ,
pr epar e d ther eto .
H e [ T albot] s ettle d hims elf to the Action a n d o n ,
his kn ees at m y desk s etting th e stone befor e h im , ,
fell to pr ayer an d en tr eaty etc In th e m ean sp a ce , .

,
I in my Or ator y did pr a y an d ma ke motion to G o d

1
MS D ia r y
. . S lo an e, 3 1 8 8 . In a n o te D ee sa y s th at he cam e t o h is
h o use tw dy b f e
o a s e or , an d tr ie d to en tra p h im in to o wnin g he
h ad de lin g with wi ked
a s c s pir its .
a nd his good creatur es fo r th e fur dcr in g o f this

Action A n d within o n e quar ter o f an hour (o r less)
.
”
h e h ad sight of o n e in th e s ton e .
Th e to appear w as Ur i el the Spir it of Light

o ne , .
O n th e 1 4th th e an g el Micha el a pp ear ed an d gave

, ,
to D ec a r ing with a seal O n ly o n tw o oth er occ a sions

.
does a tangi ble obj ect p a ss b etween them D ee w as .
overjoye d at th e succ ess o f his n ew sp eculator o r

skr yer th e sittin gs we r e daily con ducte d until
M ar ch 2 1 when th e medium w as over come with
,
fain tn e ss an d g iddin ess an d Mich ael who w as co n, ,
v er sing w ith h im ba de them r est an d wait fo r a quar ter

,
o f a n hour Th e n e xt d ay T albot d epa r te d fr om

.
,
Mor tlake b ein g bidden by Michael to g o fetch som e

,
books o f Lor d M o nteagle s which wer e a t L an c aster ’
o r th er eby a n d which would els e per ish

, .
H e r etu rn e d b efor e long an d all thr oug h Apr il , ,
in str uction s wer e being g iven at th e sittin g s fo r th e

futur e r e vela tion s Elabor a te pr epar a tion s were
.
n ee de d an d th ey wer e d esc r ib ed in m in ute d e tail

, .
By Apr il 29 a squar e table th e table of pr actice

, , ,
w as co m l ete
p It w a s ma de o f sweet wood an d w as
.
,
a bout tw o cubits high by tw o cubits I m ean o ur

usua l with four legs O n its side s c er tain .
char a cter s a s r evealed wer e to b e wr itten with s a cr ed

, ,
yellow o il such a s is us e d in chur ches E a ch leg w as

,
.
to b e set upon a s eal of w a x m a d e in th e s am e p a ttern

a s th e lar ger s eal Sigilla ZE m eth which w as to b e
, ,
pla c e d upon th e cen tre o f th e table this s ea l to b e ,
ma de of per fe ct tha t is clean pur ifi ed w a x 9 in ches

, , ,
in diam eter 2 7 in che s o r mor e in cir cumfer en c e

, .
It w as to b e a n in ch an d half a qu ar ter o f an
Th e spir its wer e kin d en ough to sa y : W e h aV e n o

r e sp ect o f c ullo ur s but th e table w a s to b e set upon
,
a squ ar e of r ed silk as ch an ge a bl e shot ) a s m ay

b e tw o ya r ds squ ar e an d a r ed silk cover with
, , ,
kn ops o r tass els at th e feur cor n er s w a s to b e ,
la id over th e s ea l an d to hang below th e edge of th e

,
ta ble Th e cr ystal globe in its fr a m e w as then to b e

.
s et upon th e c en tr e o f th e cover r estin g o n th e s eal ,
with th e silk between .
Th e skr yer s eat ed hims elf in th e gr een cha i r at
th e t able D ee at his d es k to wr ite down th e con ver s a

,
tion s Thes e wer e n oted by him then an d th er e at

.
th e tim e a n d h e is c ar e ful to p ar t icul ar is e a n y r em ar k

,
o r a ddition told him by th e skr yer a fter war ds O nce .
a spir it t ells him : Ther e is time en ough an d w e m ay ,
take leisur e Wher eupon D ee r ejoin s : I make sp eed

.
“
”
to wr ite .Som etimes D ee con ver s ed dir e ctly with
th e visitan t ; sometim es a pp ar en tly only T albot h ear s
an d r ep eats to him wh a t is s a id A golden c ur tain .
w a s usu ally fir st s een in th e ston e an d occ a sion ally ,
th er e w a s a lon g p a us e b efor e it w a s withdr awn .
On c e D ee wr ites : H e taketh th e dar kness a nd

w r appeth it up a nd ca steth it in to th e middl e o f th e
,
”
e ar th en glob e Th e spir its g en er ally app ear e d in
.
th e stone but some tim e s th ey stept down in to a

,
dazzlin g b eam o f light fr om it an d m ove d a bout the ,
r oom O n som e occ a sion s a voic e only is hear d

. .
At th e close o f th e a ction th e bla ck cloth o f silen ce

,
”
is dr a wn a n d they lea ve o ff fo r th e pr esen t
, .
Ther e ar e ver y few com men ts o r gen er al impr essions

o f th e a ction s left by D ee but o n o n e occ a sion h e ,
does u se expr ession s that show his an alytical power s

to have been a ctively a t wor k to a ccoun t fo r th e

phen om en a .H e br ought his r ea son to bear upon th e
mean s o f com m unication with th e un seen wor ld in a
r em ar k abl e m ann er In sp eak in g to th e angels o n e
.
day h e s aid : I do think you h ave n o or gan s o r

Instr um en ts apt fo r vo y ce but ar e m eer e spir itual] ,
an d n othin g corp ora l] but ha ve th e p ower and

,
pr op er ty fr o m G o d to in sin ua te your m ess ag e o r

m eaning to ear o r ey e [so tha t] m an s im a gina tion
’
shall b e tha t th ey h ear an d see you sen sibly .
As Plotin us s ays N o t ever ything which is in th e

,
soul is n o w s en sible but it ar r ives to us wh en it

,
”
p r oceeds a s far as s en s e .
Th e min ute d escr iption s o f th e figur e s s een ar e o f

cour s e char a cter istic o f clair voyan t o r m e diumistic
vision s In th e ca se o f Bo b o g el th e a ccoun t o f his
. ,
sage an d gr av e attir e— th e com m on dr ess o f a

ser ious gen tleman o f th e tim e— m ay b e quoted .
They th at no w com e in ar e jolly fellows all ,
tr ym m ed a fter th e m ann er of N o b ilitie n o w a d aye s - -

,
with gylt r apier s a nd cur led ha ir e an d they br agged ,
up an d down e Bo b o g el stan d et h in a bla ck v elvet

.
coat an d his hos e clos e r oun d hos e o f v elve t upp er

, ,
stocks over layd with gold la ce H e hath a velvet

, .
h at cap with a bla ck fea ther in it with a c ap e o n o n e ,
of his should er s his pur se h anging at his n eck an d ,
so put un der his gir dell His b ear d lon g H e h a d . .
pan to ffo lls an d pyn s o n s S e ven other s ar e a ppar elled

1
.
like Bo b o gel sagely and g ra vely

, .
1
Pin so n s thin slipper s witho ut h eels
,
.
CHAPTER VI
ED WA R D KE LLE Y
Kelley did ll h i f t upo n

a s ea s
Th e D evil s l k in g gl ss
’
sto n e
oo - a , a
Wh er e pl yin g with h im at h o peep

,
a -
,
H e so l d all p blem n e er so d ee p
i ’
v ro s .
IT is no wtim e to in quir e w h o this T albot this s eer ,
a n d m edi um w as W h er e did h e come fr om and

, . ,
wh a t w a s his pr evious histor y ?

Tha t h e c ame to th e Mor tlake philosoph er un d er a
feign ed n a me is p er haps no t so da mning an accus ation
a s m ight at fir st sight a pp ear Ther e w as in his cas e .
,
c er tain ly ever y r eason why he should chan ge his

,
iden tity if possible b ut an a lias in those days w as so

, ,
com m on a thin g that per h aps mor e str ess h a s b een

laid upon K elley s than is str ictly fair
’
.
Th e whole o f K ell ey s stor y is so w ildly and

’
r om an tic ally colour ed it is so in cr edible an d so full

, ,
o f m ar ve ls th a t it is e xtr e m ely diffi cult to kn ow wh at

,
to believe Ther e is no dis entan gling th e sob er fa cts

.
o f his life fr om th e r om an ce a ttr ibut ed to him ; in dee d ,
ther e a r e n o sob er fa cts a s th e r eader will see wh en ,
th e a cc epte d tr adition s o f this extr a or din ar y m an s

’
c ar eer ar e laid down .
Fr om Mar ch 8 to Novemb er 1 5 8 2 Edwar d , ,
T albot the skr yer c a m e a nd went in th e Mor tlake

, ,
EDWARD KELLEY 77
e stablishment gazed in th e cr ystal an d in gr a tiated

, ,
himself into his em ployer s likin g Then h e dis ’

.
app ear ed a n d Edwar d K ell ey took his plac e

,
Ther e .
h ad b een a quar r el o f som e kin d pr e cu r sor o f man y ,
other s an d D ec open s his four th B o o k of

,
M ys ter ies o n Novem ber 1 5

, aft er th e r e con ciliation ,
” ”
w ith K ell ey H en c efor th E K is his n a me
. . . .
Kelley w as born at W or c ester o n August 1 1 5 5 5 , , ,
as appear s by th e hor oscop e dr a wn fo r him by th e

H e began life a s a n apothe car y s appr en
’
astr ologer .
tice an d showed som e aptitude fo r his c alling It

,
.
ha s been sta te d th at un der th e n am e o f T albot h e

, ,
studied fo r a shor t tim e at Oxfor d but left abr uptly ,
un der a cloud A few year s late r h e w a s expos ed

.
,
in th e pillor y in L an ca ster fo r ha vin g eith er for g e d

an cien t title d eeds o r coin e d b ase m on ey Both feats .
ar e a ccoun ted to him Th e n e xt in cid en t in his

.
car eer is a ch ar ge of h a vin g d ug u a n ewly bur i e d

p
ca itiff s corps e in W alton le Dale chur chyar d
’
- -
,
Lan ca shir e fo r th e pur pose of questioning th e dea d

, ,
”
or a n e vil spir it sp eaking thr ough his or g an s ,
r espectin g th e futur e of a n obl e youn g

g en tlem an ,
then a m in or After this savour y episode Kelley is

.
,
repor te d to have been wan der ing in W a le s (it is

sugge sted th at h e w a s hi din g fr om justice ) wh en h e ,
stum bled a ccidentally up on an old a lch em ic a l m an u

scr ipt a n d tw o ca skets o r phials con taining a m yster ious
r ed an d white p owd er An other ver sion of this dis
.
co v er y is th at D ee an d K elle y tog eth e r fou n d th e
powder at Gla ston bur y This w e m ay dis miss .

1
.
1 Th e Life o f Kelley ,
by A . E . W a ite
pr e fi ed t h i
x o s
th r ee lh
a c e l
mica tr ea tise s , is l
ar
ge ly an im a gin a r y st or y b ed upo nas
Wher ever h e pr ocur e d it Kelley un doubtedly own ed ,
a sma ll qu an tity o f so m e subst an c e which h e r egar de d
as o f pr ic el ess va lu e in a s m uch a s if pr op er ly un d er , ,
stood an d m anipulated it could b e us e d fo r tr ans ,
m utin g b a s er m eta ls in to g old .
Th e r eputa tion of th e l ear n e d doctor o f Mor tlake ,
w ho w a s kn ow n a ll ov er th e Con tin en t w as a ,
fa vour ite at Cour t a n d in touch with ever y a dventur e ,
by sea o r la n d h a d o f cour se r ea ched K elley Dee s

, .
’
p ar son age of Upton o u S e v er n n ear Wor c ester did

- -
, ,
n o t tr ouble h im m uch with r e spon sibili ty but it must ,
ha ve b een o n o n e occa sion a l visit to it tha t he

r e c e iv ed fr om th e D ean o f Wor c e ster C ath e dr al a
L atin volum e in which h e in s cr ib ed th e gift thus

,
“
Johann e s D ee 1 5 6 5 Feb r u a r ii 2 1 W igo r nim ex , , .
,
don o de c ani ecclesim m agistr i Beddar .
W ith th e powder that h e d id no t kn ow how to

u se a n d t h e a lch emica l m an usc r ipt which h e could
,
no t d e ciph er an d which y et m ight con tain the

,
in valua ble se cr e t (if in deed th er e is any tr uth in th e

stor y o f his fi n d ) K elley th e a dven tur er sought o ut , , ,
som e m ean s o f in tr oduction to th e m an so likely to

L en g l t d u F e n y s ( 1 7 4 2 )
e d L uis Figuie s i
r s o
’
L Al lw mi an o r
’
n
’
c e
et l Al h mi t
es
(P ic e H
s es i ll d killed p leo
ar s , e s ca e a s a
g phra nd l h m i t n t y i L n d n n d n ighb o u and

er a a c e s , a o ar n o o , a a e r
o ld f i n d f D r e th e oBut D e n ev e liv e d in L d
ec er fter . e r on on a
1 5 6 8 wh n K ll y
, e
g d t hi tee e n d th st o l g e h s
w as a e e r en , a e a r o r a car
fully d e ib d T lb t fi t ppe n e ’
s cr e a t n ge
o in 1 5 8 2
s rs a ar a c as a s ra r .
M W it wh
r. a l n ed w iti g
e, o seth m y ti e ar nd l hem ists r n s on e s cs a a c
ar e well k w h t no ult d h i t
n, i l as n o
u su h s St yp co n s e s o r ca so r c e s, c a r e,
n or th li t MS di y
e e ar d th e v lum in u T u R l ti n
es . ar ,
an o o s r e e a o
p in t e d by C ub n fi fty y e fte D ee d e th H in ve t ’
r sa sa o ar a r s a . e n s a
efu l
r ac t y f h is s or
wn th e s h v e d
o b ef h im Th
o as
g , o r a o ne o re . e
a p yp h l
o cr un t b ya J hn R by i th R m n ti H i t y ]
a c co
“
o o
”
n e o a c s or 0
L hi i ven m
a n ca s re u li bl
s e o re nre a e.
EDWARD KELLEY 79
help him H e h a d dabbled in alchemy a n d c a me

.
,
to Mo r tla ke with somethin g o f a r eput ation fo r D ec ,
sp eaks of h im as tha t ler n ed m an It is utter ly .
unlikely th a t D ee h ad hea r d an yt hing o f K elley s ’
e xploits in th e n or th Such doin gs would sc ar cely

.
penetrate th e solemn r e cesses o f th e la bor a tor y o n th e

Thames side So K elley a rr ived and w as r ec eived
.
,
in all g ood faith H e told D ee tha t th e la st s eer

.
,
Barna ba s ha d co sen ed him and s eem s to ha ve at

, ,
on ce im pr ess ed him self fa vour a bly upon th e a str olog er ,
who at th e m om en t w a s without a r elia ble a ssistant .
The sittin gs b egan a s w e ha ve s een in M ar ch an d

, , ,
wer e succ essful imm edia tely In M ay th e messag e .
com es tha t n on e shall ent er in to th e kn owledge o f

these myster i es but this wor ker a nd K elley s position ,
’
is secur ed .
Kelley w a s n o w a bout twen ty seven year s o ld a nd -

,
unm ar r ied H e w a s hidden by the spir its o n Apr il 2 0

.
”
to take a wife which thing to do h e told D ee I
, , ,
ha ve n o n a tur a l in clin ation n either with a s a fe ,
con scien ce m ay I do it But Micha el h ad m ade.
him swear o n his swor d to follow his coun sel so h e ,
m arr i ed r eluctan tly n o t lon g a fter Jo an o r Johann a

, , , ,
Cooper o f Chippin g Nor ton w h o w a s e ight year s his

, ,
junior an d about nin eteen

, .
Ther e w a s little love o n his side a ppar en tly b ut ,
the g ir l s eem s at a ny r a te to h a ve e ss a ye d to do h er
duty as a wife Sh e w a s app ar en tly a co m ple te
.
str an ger to th e Dees a lthoug h soon to become a par t

,
of th eir household What wer e Jane s feelings at th e

.
’
thoug ht o f this in va sion o f h er domestic p ea ce w e

ca n o nly g ue ss fr o m an en tr y in D e e s diar y m a de
’
tw o days after o n e o f the se fir st sittings D ee does .

no t wr ite much a bout his w ife in his diar y sa v e only ,
en tr ies r elatin g to h er h e a lth an d this o n e h e h as ,
c ar efu lly er a sed as if h e thought som e disloyalty to

,
h er w a s involve d in it It is howe ver possible to

.
, ,
make it o ut alm ost en tir ely 1 5 8 2 6 M ay J ane .

, .
in a m er v eylo u s r age a t 8 of th e cloke at night ,
a n d all th a t n i ht an d n e xt m or n in
g til] 8 o f th e
g ,
cloke m elan ch o lik e an d ch [ ? ide d m e]ter r ibly fo r

,
Som ething illegible follows an d then this that

,
come to m e only hon e st and ler n ed m en Fin ally .

,
by M r C ler k so n his help w a s p a cifi e d]

. What .
c an this m e a n s a v e tha t sh e h ad ta ken a violen t dislik e
to an d disappr oval o f K elley ; th at sh e mistr usted

, ,
his hon esty an d wish e d they m ig ht ha ve n o m or e to

do w ith h im ; th at it w a s on ly by his fr ien d Cler k
son s h elp th at sh e w a s at la st quieted ? H er wom an s
’ ’
intuition w as sc ar cely at fault ; however kin dly sh e

c am e to tr ea t h er husba n d s m edium after war ds
’
howe ver char ita ble sh e showed h er s elf sh e w a s r ight ,
in susp e ctin g n o good to com e to D ec thr ough

a ssocia tion with K e ll ey .
Th e a c c oun ts o f th e a ction s with th e spir its which

’
took pla ce un der K ell ey s con tr ol wer e min utely
w r itten down by D ee as w e h a ve s een mostly dur in
,
g ,
th e tim e o f th e sitti n gs Th e p ap er s h ad a r om a n tic

.
h istor y Th e la st thir teen books which wer e in Sir

.
,
’
Thoma s Cotton s libr ar y wer e pr in te d by D r M er ic
, .
C a sa ubon a bout fifty year s after D ee s d ea th un der ’
th e title of A Tr u e a n d Fa ithfu l R ela tio n of

w ha t p assed f o r ma ny Yeer s betw een D r J o hn D ee .
,
a M a thema ticia n of G r ea t Fa me in Q E liza beth a n d .
K J a mes their R eig n s , a n d so me Sp ir its : Ten ding

(ha d it succeeded ) To a G en er a l A lter a tio n o f mo s t
Now fo r th e histor y o f th e pap er s M r s Wale . .

,
the war d er s w ife h a d br ought th e m with h e r dower

’
fr om h er la men ted fir st husban d M r Jon e s , .

,
confection er of th e Plow Lomb ar d Str eet While

, ,
.
courtin g th es e young people h ad picked up am ong

,
th e j oyn er s in Adle Str eet a lar ge ch est whose

ver y good lo o k an d hin g es o f extr a or din ar y n eat
w or k took th eir fa n cy It h ad belon ge d s aid th e
. ,
shopm an to M r John Woodall sur ge on fa th er of

, .
, ,
Thom a s Woo dall sur ge on to Kin g Char les II and

,
.
Ashmo le s fr ien d H e h a d bought it pr obably at th e

’
.
s a le of D ee s effects in 1 6 0 9 after his death The

’
,
.
Jo n eses own ed th e ch e st fo r twen ty year s w ithout a

suspicion of its con ten ts T hen o n moving it o ne .
,
d ay th ey h ear d a r attle in sid e

, Jone s pr ize d open .
th e spa c e b e low th e till a nd discov er e d a lar ge s e c ret

,
dr a wer stuffed full of p aper s an d a r osar y of olive ,
wood bea ds with a cr oss which h a d c ause d th e r attle

,
.
The p ap er s p r ov e d to b e th e confer en c e s w ith angels

fr om D e c em b er 2 2 1 5 8 1 down to th e tim e o f th e
, ,
pr in ted volum e ; th e or igi na l m an uscr ipts o f the

(un pr in ted ) books en titled 48 Cla ve s A nge lica!
“
, ,
D e H epta r chia M y stica an d “ Lib er Scien tise Auxi

,
liis et Victo r iaa T er r estr is W e m ay imagine .
’
Ashmole s e xcitemen t wh en h e foun d h e h a d in his
han d th e ear li er chapter s of th e ver y r e m ar kable book
tha t w as still in ever y one s mouth publish e d only ’
thir teen year s b efor e .
W e m ay n o w br iefly exa mi n e this r emar kable an d

volum inous B o o k of M ys ter ies In view o f th e .
fa ct th at it is per haps th e ear li e st r e cor d o f medium

istic tr an s action s th e fi r st attem pt to r ela te co n secu
,
tiv e psychic tr an smission s in fa ct a sor t o f sixteen th

,
EDWARD KELLEY 83
century Pr oceedin gs o f a Society fo r Psychical

Resear ch it seem s to war r an t investigation at som e
,
length .
Th e fir st book (still in m anuscr ipt ) open s with a

Latin invoc ation to th e Alm ighty a nd an attr ibution ,
o f all wisdo m a n d phil osophy to th eir divin e origina l
sour c e . It en ds “ 0 bea ta et sup er ben edicta

o m ni o ten s T r inita s co n c e da s m ihi (J o anni D ee )
p ,
petitio n em han c m odo tali qui tibi m axime pla ceb it , ,

”
Am en . Then comes a table of th e four a ngels
Micha el Ga br iel Rapha el a n d Ur iel their par ticular
, , , ,
attr ibute s a n d th eir d esc en t fr om A nn ael

, A lon g .
praye r in E n glish follows which give s a r em ar k a ble ,
insight into D ee s attitude o f m in d ’

Un feign e d .
humility to war ds God a c er ta in un con sciousne ss o f

,
self and o f his o w n par ticular a cqui r em en ts ar e ,
ming led with a c a lm a ssu m ption o f a uthor ity an d

power to en ter in to th e hear t of kn owledg e This .
w as
per hap s th e chief c h ar a cter istic o f th e e x alte d
mysticism so pr e valen t a t the tim e in a s m all s ection
of alc hemists e speci ally o n th e Con tin en t D ee w a s
,
.
its r epr esentative in Englan d h avin g o f cour se , , ,
imbib ed m uch o f it dur in g his r esiden ce a br oa d .
Par ac elsus h ad b een d ea d but for ty year s His .
disciples ever ywher e were s eeking thr ee s ecr ets which

wer e to fulfil his tea chin g —th e se cr et o f tr an sm u
ta tio n th e elixir o f life an d th e philosophi c ston e
, , ,
k ey to all wisdom B r un o w a s still alive developing

.
,
his th eor ies of G o d a s th e gr ea t unity b ehin d th e

wor ld and hum anity Coper nicus w a s n o t lon g dea d
.
,
and his n ew the or i e s o f th e solar syst em w er e gr a du
ally b e comi ng a cc epte d Galileo w a s still a studen t

.
at Pis a his in v en tio n s a s y et slu m b er in g in his br a in

,
.
G 2
84 L IFE OF DR JOHN DEE .
Mon taigne w as wr iting his gentle sa tir es o n humanity .
Every wher e an d in ever y sph er e n ew thought w as

beginn ing to stir .
D ee did n o t scr uple to claim in his pr ayer gifts like

those be stowed upon th e pr ophets H e d epr e ca te s any
.
kin d o f traffi c with un author ise d o r unr eliable spir its ,
an d a ckn owl edges again th e o nly Sour c e o f wisdo m .
But sin c e h e ha s so lon g an d faithfully followed

lear nin g h e does think it o f i m por tan ce th at h e should
,
kn ow m or e Th e bless ed an gels fo r in stan ce could

.
, ,
impar t to him things o f at lea st as much con s equ en ce

as when th e pr oph et told S a ul th e so n o f Kis h
, ,
wher e to fi nd a lost as s o r tw o I A spir it after w ar ds

told him th a t ign or an ce w a s th e n akedness wher ew ith
he w a s fir st tor mented an d th e fi r st plague tha t fell
,
”
un to m an w as th e wan t o f scien c e .
H e h ad r eached th a t state o f min d when h e s eemed

un able to disc ern an y boun dar y lin e b etween finite
a nd infin ite .His hope an d his confi den ce wer e a like
fixe d o n n othing less than wr esting all th e s ecr ets o f
th e univer s e fr om th e a byss o f kn owl edge o r at any , ,
r a te a s m an y o f th em as G o d willed
, H e e xplains .
h o w fr om his youth up h e h a s p r ay ed fo r pur e and

soun d wisdom and un der stan ding ,
such as might b e
br ought under the talen t o f my
,
’
ca a citie to God s hon our a n d glor y an d th e b en efit
p ,
o f his s er van ts my br ethr en a nd sister s

, A n d for as .
much a s fo r man y yer es in man y pla ces far an d n er e

, , ,
in man y bokes an d sun dr y lan gu ages I ha ve wr ought ,
an d st udy ed an d w ith sun dr y m en conferr e d

, an d ,
with my o w n e r ea son a ble discour se L abour ed where by ,
to fyn de o r g et som e ynkling glimps e o r h ea m e o f

, , ,
such th e a for es aid r a dical] tr uthes : A nd s eein g

86 LIFE OF DR JOHN DE E .
thee M ittas L ucem tu a m et ver ita tem, tu a m q ua? me

du ca n t, e tc .
Then h e g o es o n to s ay tha t his slight e xp er ien ce

with two differ en t p er son s h as convin c e d him of
’
God s wish to en lighten him thr ough His an gels .
H e h a s hear d of a m an a c c oun t e d a g o od s eer a nd

skr yer a m a ster of ar ts a n d p r ea ch er o f th e W or d an d
, ,
thr ough his m ean s h e h as s een spir itua l a pp ar ition s

eith er in th e ch r is tallin e r e c ept a cl e o r in o en a yr e
p , .
H e hop e s to ha v e h elp fr om this p er son u n til some

”
a fter m a n o r m ea n es a r e s en t him fr om o n high .
But S a ul—fo r it is S a ul h e m ean s i s n o t devout -

,
sin c er e a nd hon est Evil spir its h a ve com e to him

.
,
m uch to D ee s ter r or
’
but tha t thou didst pitch thy
”
holy ten t to m y defen c e a n d com for t H e h as .
quote d to S aul Roger B a con s war nin g to wicked ’
d evil c aller s but th e m an c ann ot br ook r ebuke and

-
,
is an gr y a t bein g fur ther d ebarr e d fr om th e m yster ies

which wer e th e only things I de sir ed thr ough thy ,
gr a ce . H e b e gs m ost humbly
, a n d d epr e c atingly ,
fo r l ea v e to n o te dow n th e a ction s a n d a sks that ,
A n n ael m ay co m e to his h elp .
B arn a ba s h avin g pr oved so un r e lia ble h e r ejoiced ,
at h a vi n g fou n d a n oth er skr yer Th e o n e a cc essor y

.
wan ting when all th e table a nd s eals wer e complete

, ,
”
w as a S h ew s t o n e D ee s eem s a lr ea dy to ha ve
.
own e d s e ver a l H e h a d us ed a cr ystal befor e this

.
tim e but a n ew o n e w as d esir a ble O n e e vening

,
.
,
towar ds sun s et a little child an gel app ear s stan din g

,
in th e sun b eams fr o m th e wester n win dow o f th e

study holdin g in its h an d a thin g m ost br ight
,
m ost cler e an d glo r ius o f th e bign e ss of a n egg

, .
EDWARD KELLEY 87
Michael with his fier y swor d app ear ed an d b a de D ec

Go for war d take it up and let n o m or tal] han d
, ,
”
touch it but thine o w n .
Michael tells them too tha t h e and K elley ar e to

, ,
b e join ed in th e holy wor k united as if o n e m an , .
But o n e is to b e m a ster th e other m inister ; o n e th e

,
hand the other th e fin ger They ar e to b e con ten te d

, .
with their ca llin g fo r ve ss els ar e n o t all o f o n e bign ess

, ,
y et a ll can b e full D ee is r emin ded that a ll his

.
knowledge is m or e won der ful than pr ofita ble unless ,
thou ar t led to a tr ue u se of th e s a m e .
An other spir it Medicus D ei o r M edecin a s ays

, , , ,
Gr eat a r e th e pur poses o f h im whos e m edecin e I

carr y and o n o n e o f th e ear ly Mar ch days utter s
,
som e r em ar kable wor ds o n th e pr ecious doctr in e of

th e univer s ality o f th e Lig ht
Your voices a r e but shadows o f th e voices tha t

un der stan d all th ings Th e thing s you look o n
.
,
because yo u see them n o t in deed yo u also do n ame ,
a m i ss .
W e ar e fully un der stan ding W e op en th e eyes .
fr om th e su n in th e m or nin g to th e sun at night .
Distan ce is n othing with us unle ss it b e th e distan ce ,
which sepa r ateth th e wicked fr om His m er cy S e cr ets .
ther e ar e n on e but that ar e bur ied in th e s ha ddo w o f

,
man s souls Iniq uitie sh a ll n o t r an ge wh er e th e

’
.
fir e of his pier cin g judg m en t an d ele ction doth light .
C alvin h ad been dea d but twen ty year s but with ,
his schem e o f election and eter n a l r epr obation D ee

h ad n o affin ity His min d w a s far m or e in har m ony
.
with th e an cien t her metic tea chin g tha t me dicine ,
healing w a s th e tr u e r oa d to all philosophy

, .
CHAPTER VII
TH E CR Y STA L G AZ E R S
llo w k wl dg e lik
To fo no e e a sin ki g t
n s ar
B y n d th utm t b u d
e o e os o n o f h um th
an o ug ht .
—
TEN N Ys0 N Uly sses ,
.
IT is a cur ious pictur e to call up tha t o f the ,
str angely a ssor te d p air seate d in th e inn er r oom at

Mor tla ke a ctin g o ut this spir itu a l dr a m a D ee h ad
, .
a ske d fo r in str uction s a bout th e r oom fo r th e sittings :
M a y m y little far th er est cha m ber s er ve if th e b ed ,
b e t aken down Th e ta ble cov er e d w i th its cloth

, ,
stood in th e cen tr e upon th e s ea ls K elley per haps .

,
with th e bla ck cap h e is cr edite d with havi n g always

wor n pulle d close o ver his cr oppe d ear s w a s s eate d
, ,
a t it
. D ee a t his d esk sa t wr itin g in th e gr eat folio
book H e w a s n o w fifty six year s old ; his h ear d w as
.
-
long but p er hap s n o t y et a s white a s m ilk as

, ,
Aubr ey descr ib e s it H e did n o t appa r en tly e ver see

.
th e vision s hi m s elf On c e h e r epr oa chfully said

.
,
”
You kn ow I c ann ot see o r sk r y H e con ver s ed ,
with th e spir its a n d som etim e s hea r d wha t the y s aid ;

but to th e ey e and ear o f hisr body the y wer e
in visible hen c e his dep en den c e upon a skr yer .
Th e sole obj e ct of his a m bition w a s th e a ttain m en t

o f l egi tim ate w isdom Wh en con ver sin g with th e
.
a ngels how n ear w ithin his gr a sp it s ee me d l Mich a el s

’
e xp osition s e em e d a lmost to pr omis e it to h im
Wilt thou ha ve Witt and wisdom ? H er e it is .

’
90 LIFE OF DR J O HN DEE .
W ho Na tur e to thr ust up her shoulder a mongst

set
tr ee s an d h er bs like a gentle fi r e ? H o w gr ea t is his

power in thos e in whom h e k in dleth a soul o f
”
un der standin g .
In D ee s a bs en ce in Lon don a t th e Muscovy

’
,
Hous e o n M aun dy Thur sday (M ar ch

,
K elley
tr i ed to sum m on M e dicin a ag a in but w a s only visite d ,
”
by an “ illud er N e xt day D ee a sks fo r th e v er itie
.
”
o f his doin gs a nd is told th a t d ar kn e ss h a s p r e sumed
,
to put its elf in pla ce o f light K elley w ill no t b e .
O ver th r own but h e is to br ag n o t

, When I yoked .
your feather s together I j oin ed them no t fo r a ,
while Th e illud er is m a d e to confe ss d e c eption

.
a n d is con sume d by fi r e an d D ec tur n s to his skr yer ,
with M a ster Kelley is your doubt o f th e spir it taken,
a wa y
D ee h ad b een r e qu este d to pr ep a r e a c alculation

fo r th e r efor m a tion o f th e C al en d ar o r a t an y r a te to ,
give his opinion o n th e sch em e pr opoun ded by Pop e

Gr eg or y His c alcula tion s wer e a ppr ove d by all the
.
English mathematician s of th e time but th e Queen , ,
a dvis e d by th e bishops did n o t see h er w ay to a dopt ,
them in effect D ee tells his angel fr i ends h o w

.
gr i eve d h e is tha t H er M aj estic will n o t r efor m

th e K al en da r in th e b est ter ms of ver itie H e desir es .
coun s el wh at to do .
E aster D ay passed and th e cr ystal gazing still went

,
on . Th e sittin gs wer e often long O n Apr il 3 .

,
“
D ee v en tur ed to tell his visitor that it will b e d ar k
soon and o u r com p an y will e xp ect o u r com in g dow n
,
to supp er If w ithout offenc e w e m ight n o w leave

.
o ff it m ight s ee m good t o do so
,
Thr ee days after .
,
THE CRYSTAL GAZER S 91
he a gain offer ed slight r emonstr an ce a sk ing w hy

a ,
they h a d n o t b een war n ed of Mistr ess Fr ance s

Howar d s comin g a gentlewom an of H er M aj estie s
’
,
’
Pr ivy Cham ber Sh e h ad c aus e d in ter r uption of

.
their ex er cise fo r a full hou r o r two W as this to b e , .
for given h er because of h er gr ea t char ity an d good ,
n ess in pr ocur in g th e Qu een s a lm s fo r m an y needy

’
p eople ?
Th e Qu een w as then at Richm on d an d D ec w as ,
several time s at Cour t H e s eem s to h a ve been ther e

.
to bid h er a dieu when sh e left fo r Gr eenw i ch o n th e

1 8 th At h er goin g o n hor seba ck being n ew up , ,
sh e ca ll e d fo r m e by M r R awly his uttin g h er in

p
, .
m yn dc a nd sh e s ayd qu o d de fer tur n o n a uf er tur

’
‘
, , ,
”
an d ga ve m e h er r i ht h an d e to kiss e
g .
D ee w a s n o w puzzling ov er some m yster ious p ap er s

br ought him by K elley wheth er thos e h e is r eport ed
,
to ha ve foun d in Wale s o r Gla ston bur y w e can

sc ar cely de cide but they seem to con cer n ten pla c e s
,
in E nglan d wher e tr ea sur e w a s suppos e d to b e b id .
Ther e is a cur ious dr aw in g of them in th e MS diar y .
After comin g fr om th e Cour t I thought I would ,
try to discover the cip h er o f th e pa p er E K br ought . .
m e as w ille d to do foun d at Hu ets C r oss with a book

, ,
o f m ag ic a n d a lche my to which a s ir itu al c r ea tur e

p ,
led them D ee w as by n o m ean s th e ea sy dup e o f

.
Kelley that h e h as been called Tw o o r thr ee mon ths .
after h e fi r s t kn e w him h e wr ites in his diar y of his
a bomi n able lye s an d h e h ere ma ke s a ver y t elling
r emar k an a side so t o sp eak :

, Of this K I doubt
, .
,
”
y et .
’
Kelley s h o t, un contr olla ble na ture an d his over
bearin g ways h a d a lr ea dy begun to app ear Ther e w as .
an outbr eak a t supp er o n e night b e c a us e Char le s Sle d
h ad don e him an injur ie in sp eechc at m y table .
Pr obably som e stor y o f his ear ly c ar e er h a d been

r a ke d up A voice n e xt m or ning s ays to h im appr o
.
r iatel : S v God d t a ke hold o f n e ttl e s

p y e r e a n .
Th e m a n uscr ipt in cr a bb e d sign s p uzzl ed th e a str o

loger desp er a tely and h e w a s un h a ppy at th e d elay
,
.
”
An a n gel tells him they ar e to b e r ocks in faith .
W hile sor r ow b e m e a sur ed thou shalt bin d up thy

far d el] . H e is n o t to seek to k n ow th e myster ie s till
th e v er y hou r h e is c a lle d C an you h o w to N atur e
.
”
a n d n o t hon our th e wor km a n ?
A n ew spir it visits th em I ] a m er ie cr ea tur e

, , ,
a pp a r ell e d lik e a V ce in
y a [ m or a lity] pla y He .
skippe d h er e an d th er e D ee a sks wher e is his

.
Ar a bic book o f tables tha t h e h as len t an d lost I] .
s a ys it is in S c otlan d a n d is n othing wor th Then D ee .
a sks a bout th e L o r d T r ea s u r er s books fo r h e h a d n o t

’
s een Bu r leigh s libr ar y a n d h a d a ll th e r ival colle ctor s

’
,
’
j ealousy over his o w n tr ea sur e s H e w as n ever quite .
sur e tha t Bur leig h w a s his fr ien d ther e s eem ed

a lways a suspicio n in his min d wh er e th e Lor d
T r easur er w a s con c er n ed Th e feeling w a s r efle cted
.
in a cur ious dr ea m th a t h e h a d soon a fter th e b e gin

ni ng o f his p ar tn er ship with K e ll ey I dr ea med o n
S a tur day night tha t I w a s d ea d e an d a fter wa r ds m y ,
bowels w er taken o u t I walked an d ta lke d with

.
diver s a n d a m on g oth er with th e Lor d Th r eso r er

, ,
who w a s com to m y hows e to bur n m y b o o k es w hen

”
I w as dea d I thought h e looked so ur ely o n m e
. .
Now ,
I ] tells h im that Bur leigh h a s n o books
mor e if at the end h e might b e sur e o f a ttaining to

,
od l y wisdom wh e e by t o d o G o d s er vic e fo r H is
g r ,
glor y H e w a s r es olve d eith er w illingly to lea ve this

.
wor ld to enj oy th e foun ta in o f all wisdom o r to pa ss

, ,
his days o n ear th in th e enjoymen t of its blessin gs and

myster ie s .
An oth er violen t sc en e occurr e d befor e long ; this

time th e mistre ss of th e hous e w a s th e o n e offen ded .
D ee s ays : By A[dr i an] G [ilber t] an d Pr oviden c e ,
E K s vehe men t pa ssion s wer e pa cifi ed H e c a me

. .
’
.
ba ck a ga in to m y house an d m y wife w as willing and

,
quiet in m in d a n d fr ien dly to E K in wor d and coun . .
ten an ce A n ew pacifi catio n in all p arts con fi r med

.
a nd all upon th e co nfid enc e o f God his s er vic e faith

”
fully p er for m ed K elley s wife h ad n o t y et joined him
.
’
at Mor tl ake but h e h a d occ a sion al lett er s fr om h er

, .
O n e foun d him in a ten d er r eligi ous mood a bout to ,
pr ay in his bedchamber o n a little pr ayer book ,
which M r Adr ian Gilb er t h ad le ft her e and it lay o n

.
,
”
th e t a ble du1i n g th e action It w as S even S o bbes of .
a S o r r o w u l S o u l o r S inn e in E n glish metre m a de

f f , ,
by M r Willia m H ar r is
. When h e op ened it he
.
”
,
foun d som e a utom a tic scr ipt in th e end o r a s h e , ,
c alls it a counter feit of his o w n han d H e took it to

, .
D ec who s aw in it th e wor k o f a w icke d spir it tr ying

,
to sh ake their confiden c e Th e n ex t evenin g both .

,
p rayed a gain st th eir en emy Kell ey o n his kn ees befor e ,
th e gr een ch a ir stan din g at th e chimn e y U r i el .
a pp ear e d and s a id tem pt a tion w as r e quisite If it .
”
wer e no t h o w should m en kn ow G o d to b e mer ciful ?
,
H e sp ea ks to K elley Thou O yonglin g but o ld , ,
sinn er why dost thou suffer thy blin dness to in c rea s e ?

,
THE CR YSTAL GAZERS 95
W hy no t yi eld thy Limbs to th e s er vic e an d fulfilling

of an eter n al veritie ? Pluck up thy hear t an d follow ,
”
th e w ay th a t lea deth to th e kn owle dge o f th e en d .
H e explain s how th e tr ouble is ca us e d by Belm agel ,
th e fi r e br a n d w h o ha th follo wed thy soul fr om th e

”
beginnin g .
The whole o f this sprin g th e p a ir of p ar tn er s h ad

,
been busily eng aged in pr epar in g th e var ious things

th e table th e w a x s eals th e r ing a n d lam in —
, , r equi r e d
fo r use . Most c om plic ate d dia gr a ms o f letter s an d

figur e s h a d also b een dicta te d to them an d K elley , ,
whos e m ath em atica l tr a ining h a d b een slight w as ,
sometimes v ery e xha usted O n c e fi r e shoots out of

.
th e c r ystal in to his eyes a n d wh en it is t aken ba ck h e

, ,
can r ea d n o m o re As D ee r emar ks o n e day to a

.
spir it apologisin g fo r his many qu estion s : Fo r m y

,
par te I could fin de it in m y h ear t to co ntyn u e whole

days an d nig hts in this m a nn er o f doing even tyll m y ,
body should b e r ea dy to synk down fo r wearine ss

befor e I could gi ve over but I fear e I h ave ca use d
,
”
wear in ess to m y fr en ds he r e A j our n ey is for etold
.
,
but fir st of all K elley is to g o to th e pla c e s of hidden

trea sur e an d br in g ear th that it m ay b e tested H e
, , .
m ay b e away ten d a ys H e bought a

. pr etty dun
”
m a re fo r th e jou r n ey of good m an P en tico st fo r
, ,
which h e paid £3 r ea dy m on ey in a ngels A da y .
o r tw o a fter h e took bo at to Lon don to buy a s a ddl e

, ,
”
bridle a n d boote hose
,
-
.
At supper th e n ight befor e h e star ted in a clair ,
voyan t sta t e h e h ad a n e xtr aor din a ry pr oph etic sig ht

,
of th e e xe cution o f M ar y Qu een of Scots a beautiful ,
wom an h avin g h er hea d cut o ff by a tall bla ck m an .

He a lso sp eaks o f seeing th e s ea cover e d with

,
m an y ships . Ur i e l war n s them tha t for eign Power s

ar e p r ovi din g shi s a ga in st th e w elfa r e o f E n gl a n d
p ,
which shall shor tly b e put in pr a ctic e . It is har dly

n ec ess ar y to r emin d th e r ea der th a t th e Qu een o f
Scots e xecution an d th e defea t o f th e Sp anish

’
Ar ma da took pla c e in tw o foll ow in g year s 1 5 8 7 , ,
1 5 8 8 four y ear s a fter this vi sion

, .
“
IF I H AD K N O WN E T H I S AN D H AD D ON E so n
I H AD AV O YD ED M I C K L E w on .
”
T H O M AS N O RTO N Th e 0 d m a ll f A lc h zmy
’
r o .
CHAPTER VIII
M A D IM I
Th er efo r e fo r spir itsI m f f o m d e yin g th eir existe n e

a so ar r n c
h I
t at co uld eas i ly b l ve th t t n ly wh le un t i es b ut
e ie a no o o co r
par ticul p ar n h v t h i t ute la y n d gu dian n ge ls It is

e rs o s a e e r r a ar a .
no t a n ew o pin io n b ut n ld n f Pyth g ras n d Pla to Th ere

, a o o e o a o a .
is n o h eresy in it n d if n t m nife tly d fi ed in S c ipture y et

, a o a s e n r ,
it is an Opin i n o f g d n d who les m

o us e in th e
oo urs e and
a o e co
acti ns o f a m an s lif nd w uld se v n hy

p th esis to s lve
’
o e, a o r e as a o o
many do ub ts wh er eo f mm ph il phy ff d eth o so luti n

”
co on o so a or n o .
—S m Tu m B w m R ligio Medi ci o as ao c, e .
D EE
’
costly appar a tus and exp er iments his lar ge
s ,
establishmen t an d g en er ous tr ea tm en t O f his s er van ts
and assistan ts his en ter t a in m en t o f ,gr eat folk wer e ,
all h eav
y dr ain s upon his r esour c es H e sp en t l avish .
amounts upon books an d man uscr ipts fo r his libr ar y
b e contr ibute d a s a bl e to som e o f th e Adven tur er s

fun ds H e bor r owe d fr eely an d h e h ad sometimes
.
,
to r un long bills B eside th e r en t o f th e tw o livings

.
(about £8 0 a year ) h e h ad n o fix ed incom e Th e .
Queen w as ever pr omising him b en cfi ces which either

n ever fell va c an t o r wh en they did h ad to b e
, ,
bestowed els ewher e At th e time h e fir st fell in .
with Kelley h e knew n o t wher e to turn fo r mon ey

, .
Almost at this ver y m omen t however a r ich p atr on , ,
app ear ed unexp ectedly o n th e hor izon an d ch an ge d

’
D ee s outlook fo r sever al year s .
O n Ma r ch 1 8 1 5 83 M r Nor th c a me to Mo r tlake
, , .
bringin g a s alutation fr om A lber t o r Adelber t

J D . . H
L a ski Count Pala tin e o f Sir a dia a Polish Pr in c e

, ,
then a bout to ar r ive o n a visit to th e Queen H e .
wished to make D ee s a cqua in tan ce to see h is libr ar y ’
, ,
an d discuss m agic O f which h e h a d m a de a study , .
L aski w a s o n e o f th e m ost p ower ful o f th e Polish

n oble s r e con ver t e d t o C a tholicism H e h a d t aken a .
ver y pr om in en t par t in th e patr iotic m ovem en t o f a

few year s b efor e in Polan d when a lm ost ev er y ,
Eur opean sover eign h a d ma de a bid fo r th e Polish

cr own Elizabeth s Old suitor th e D u e d A len co n
.
’
,
’
,
h a d a ctu ally wor n it a m on th o r two b efor e e sca pin g

in th e n ig ht to his br other O f F r a n c e L a ski w as a .
da shing a dven tur er o f her oic cour age quite un scr upu ,
lous a s to cost an d although h e h a d fa vour ed

th e claims o f th e E m p er or of Austr i a h e h a d Op enly , ,
at l ea st ag r ee d in th e p e ople s vi ctor ious choic e O f

’
Stephan B athor y When th a t Tr an sylvanian Prin ce.
h ad b een elect ed Kin g in 1 5 7 6 L a ski h a d t aken a ,
pr om in en t par t in a ffa ir s H e w as pop ular an d .
a mbitious n o t w ithout a spira tion towa r ds th e Polish

,
cr own him s elf Bur leigh in wr itin g o f h im to H a tton

.
, ,
c all ed h im a per son age o f gr ea t e stim a tion few in ,
th e E m pir e of th e gr ea test e xc e ed h im in sove r eign ty

an d power H e is d escr ibe d by con te mpor ary
.
w r iter s a s a most le a r n e d m an ha n dsom e in statur e ,
a nd lin ea men ts r ichly cloth ed o f v er y co m ely a n d

, ,
”
dec en t appar el an d o f gr a c eful b eha viour H e wor e
, .
his b ear d ver y lon g n o t clippe d close like th e E nglish

,
cour tier s . H e arr ive d in Lon don by H ar wich o n

1
M ay D ay an d pr oc eede d to Winch ester Hous e

, ,
N ico l s Lif
1 a , f S i Ch i t p h
e H tt n q u tin g C m den
o r r s o er a o , o a ,
p. 32 4 ; D y
ar c Ann ls f E li a b th
, B a k III p 4 2
o z e oo .
, . .
The visit w a s r ep eated o n th e 1 9 th when the ,
distin g uish ed for eigner w a s hospita bly en ter taine d fo r

th e n ight Th e Qu een w a s th en at Gr e en wich but
. ,
o n Ju ly 3 0 s h e a n d h er cour t pr oc ee d e d in great
splen dour up th e r iver to Sion House S h e p a ssed .
by D ee s door an d pr obably pa us ed as usual fo r a

’
g r e e ti n g . N e xt m o r n i n g L e ic e st er r od e ov er to
Mor tla ke a n d put th e household in com m otio n by
,
a nn oun cin g tha t L a sk i a n d oth er s would co m e to
din e a t Mor tlake o n th e n e xt da y but o n e These .
’
festivities wer e a gr ea t t a x o n th e a str ologer s m ean s ,
an d h e confe ss e d sin c er ely th a t h e w as n o t able to
pr epar e th em a con ven ien t dinn er unle ss I should ,
s ell some o f my pla te o r som e o f m y p ewt er fo r it .
Wh er eupon h er M aj e stic s ent un to m e ver y r oyally ,
within o n e hour a fter for ty a ngells o f gold ,
fr om Sion whith er h er M aj estie w as n o w com e fr om

,
Gr een wich L eic ester s s ecr etar y M r Lloyd w as

.
’
,
.
,
despatched post ha ste with th e g ift pr om pted a s -

, ,
D ee a dds “ thr oug h th e E r l e his sp eech to th e

,
Queene . O n e im agin e s L eic e ster s some what ’
p er emptor y sugge stion an d th e Qu een s impulsive ’
a cqui e sc en c e In m in or m a tter s s h e w a s wom an

.
en oug h to r elish b ein g sometim e s dicta te d to The .
s e cr etar y a lso br ought wha t w as har dly le ss a cc eptable

to D ec viz
, M r R a w ligh his l etter un to m e of h er
.
, .
’ ”
M aj estie s good disposition un to m e Raleigh w as .
th en in gr eat fa vour with th e Qu een .
In th e in ter v als b e tween th es e visits o f th e Pr in ce ,
th e spir its h a d b een con sulte d about L a ski s p r osp ects

’
.
Th ey had at on c e inter ested the mselves in him and ,
M adimi o ne o f th e most fascina ting o f these psychic al

,
M AD IM I 101
pr oj ection s h a d vouchsa fed some kind o f genealogica l

,
infor mation conn ecting him w ith th e La cys and

,
Richar d Duke of Yor k Sh e w as the fir st o f th e

, .
fem ale a ngels w h o app ear ed to D ec a s it s ee m ed in ,
an swer to his ar um en ts r epr ovin

g g Tr ith em iu s who ,
h ad a ss er te d tha t n o good Spir its ev er took th e sh ape o f

women M a dimi who sudden ly app ear ed o n M a y 28
.
, ,
w as like a pr etty gir le o f 7 o r 9 year s a ttire d in a ,
gown o f S ey chan gea ble gr een an d r ed with a tr ain

, ,
her hair w as r o w led up b efor e a n d ha nging down

”
ver y long behin d S h e c am e in to th e study an d
.
playe d by her s elf ; sh e s eem ed to go in an d o ut
behin d m y books ; th e books s eem e d to give
pla ce s u flicien tly o n e heap with th e other whil e sh e

, ,
a ss e d b etween them Sh e ann oun c ed tha t h er

p
elder sister would come pr e sently an d cor r ected ,
D ee s pr onun cia tion o f h er n am e

’
My sister is n o t .
”
so shor t a s you make h er : E sem é li n o t E sé m eli .
M adim i w a s a ver y clever an d a ccom plished little

fair y S h e lear n e d Gr eek Ar abic an d Syr ian o n
.
, ,
pur pos e to b e useful to D ec O n Jun e 1 4 D ee a sked .
th e spiri t G alva h o r Fin is wh at sh e h ad to s ay a bout

, ,
th e P o lan dish Lor d Alb er tus L a ski Th e r eply .
cam e Ask m e the se thing s to mor r ow

, But when -
.
th e n e xt day ca me Kell ey th e s eer spen t all tha t

, , ,
after n oon (a lm ost ) in anglin g when I w a s ver y ,
desir ous to h ave h a d his com pan y an d helping han d

in this a ction S O at th e n e xt sittin g Ga lva h
.
a dminister s to Kelley a shar ply poin ted r epr oof :

You sir wer e best to hun t and fish after Ver ity
, , .
D ee a dds tha t sh e spake so to E K b eca us e h e . .
sp en t to o much time in Fishing and An gling Then .

he a sked if L a ski should r etur n to Polan d in August ,
if his r ela tion with th e Pr in ce should b r in g him

cr e dit an d how should h e u se hims elf th er in to
,
God s likin g his coun tr y s hon our an d his o w n

’
,
’
,
”
c r e dit .G alva h r eplie d or a cular ly : H e sh all wan t
n o di r e ction in a n ythin g h e d esir eth Whom God .
”
h ath a rm e d n o m an can pr evaile ag ain st
, Again o n .
,
Jun e 1 9 D ee a sked if it woul d b e b e st fo r th e Pr in ce

,
to ta ke th e fir st oppor tunity o f goin g hom e war d .
It sh all b e an swer ed soon , r eplie d G a lva h .
M ay h e b e pr es en t at th e a ction
Those th a t a r e o f this house a r e no t to h e denied
th e B an quets th er ein .
M ay I r equest y o u to c a us e some s ensible

app ar ition to app ear to him to com for t him an d ,
e sta blish his min d e m o r e a bun d antly in th e godly

”
in ten t o f God his ser vic e ?
If h e follow us let him b e gover n ed by us
, But .
”
whatsoev er is o f fle sh is n o t o f us .
You p er c eive h o w h e under standeth o f th e Lor d

Tr ea sur er his gr udge ag ain st him A n d p er haps some .
oth er s a lso ar e of like m alicious n atur e Wha t d anger .
m ay follow h er e of o r en co m b r a n c e
,
Th e sum o f his life is alr ea dy appoin te d ; o ne jo t

cann ot b e dimin ished But h e tha t is Al mighty can
.
a ugm en t a t his plea sur e L et him r ej oic e in over ty

p
.
”
,
b e sorr y fo r his en em ie s an d do th e wor ks o f j ustice

, .
Th en th e cloud o f in visibility a dr op scene -
between th e a cts— ca me over G alvah a nd sh e dis ,
app ear e d .
Ne xt day L a ski w as pr esen t at th e a ction A n .
a n gel n a m ed J ub anladec a pp ear e d an d s aid h e w a s ,

’
a ppoin t ed th e Pr in c e s good g o ver no u r o r A ngel ,
h im . L e ic e ster fla tter eth him His doin gs ar e looke d .
in to narr owly But I do alw a y es in wa r dly dir ect

.
him . I will minister such com for t to him a s sh all

”
b e n ec e ss ar y in th e m idst o f all his doin gs .
Min g led with th ese s a yin gs wer e some pr oph etic al

utter an c e s a bout L a ski over comin g th e S a r a c en s an d
Pa ynim s with a bloody cr oss shown in his han d and ,
a bout D ee s p a ssin g to his coun tr y a n d aidin g him to

’
e st ablish his kin gdom Then th e famili ar Spir it san k

.
thr ough th e table like a spar k of fi r e s eemin g to ,

”
m a ke h a ste to his ch ar ge I m ea n th e Lor d L a ski ,
.
O n W edn e sda y th e 2 6 th L a ski a gain b eing

, ,
r e s e n t th e good a ngel I ] a pp ear e d with a b esom

p ,
in his ha n d Th e P r in c e s p edigr ee w a s then b ar ely

’
.
begu n but o n Jun e 2 9 th e clever little M a dimi

,
pr omis e d to fin ish th e book ex a ctly a s D ee would

h a ve wr itten it It w a s n o ma tter wher e th e book
.
w a s left s h e told him

, locke d up o r lyin g a bout ,
.
”
Your locks ar e n o hin dr a n ce to us .
Yo u h a v e e a s ed my h ear t o f a thous an d poun d

”
weight ej a c ulated D ee fer ven tly
, N o w I shall , .
ha v e leisur e to follow my sute an d to do all Mr , .
Gilb er t s b u sin ess e

’
.
p M adim i w a s much to o lear n e d a scholar fo r K elley ,
who o n this s am e da y g r ew v er y an gr y with h er fo r

sp eakin g to h im in Gr eek o f which h e kn ew n othin g , ,
n o t e v en th e a lph a b et As a n a lter n ative sh e gave

.
him Ar abic Unless y o u speak som e langu age

.
which I un der stan d I w ill e xpr esse n o m or e o f this

,
”
Gibber ish h e said r udely , , .
Poor D ee His skr yer w a s a con stan t an xi ety to

him Like e ver y m edium since known h e would
.
,
M A D IM I 10 5
som etim e s a pply himself a nd som etim e s n o t, w as
often hon est an d y et fr equ en tly a chea t .
D ee wr ites
My h ear t did thr ob often times this day a n d I ,
thought E K did inten d to a bsen t him s elf fr om m e

. .
,
an d n o w upon this war ning I w a s confi r m ed a n d , ,
m or e a ssur e d tha t it w as so Wher eup on s eein g h im .
m ake such ha ste to r id e to Islin gton I a sk ed him ,
why h e so ha sted to r ide thither An d I s aid if it .
wer e to r ide to M r H ar r y L ee I would go thither .

,
a lso to b e a cqu ain te d with him

, s ee ing n o w I h a d so
good leisur e being ea s ed o f th e book wr iting [thr oug h
,
M a dimi s g ood offi ce s ] Then h e s a id tha t o n e told

’
.
him th e other day tha t th e Duke did but fla tter him 1

,
an d told him oth er thi n s both a ain st th e D u ke

g g ,
an d m e I an swer e d fo r th e Duke an d m ys elf a n d

.
,
also s a id th a t if th e for ty
poun d a nn uity which
Mr L ee did offer him w a s th e chief c aus e O f his
.
min d feelin g tha t w ay (con tr a r y to som e O f his for m er

pr omise s to m e ) tha t then I would a ssur e h im o f
,
fty poun ds y ear ly an d would do m y b e st by follow

fi ,
in g o f m y sute [with th e Queen ] to b rin g it to pa ss e

a s soon a s possibly I could a n d th er eu on di d m ake
p ,
him pr omise upon the Bible Then E K a ga in . . .

,
upo n th e sa m e Bible did swear unto m e con stan t ,
fr ien dship a n d n ever to for sake m e : A n d m oreover

s aid tha t unle ss this h a d so faln o ut h e would h ave ,
g on e b eyon d th e S ea s ta kin g ship a t N ewca stle , ,
within eig ht da ys next A n d so w e did plight o u r .
fa ith to o n e a noth er taking ea ch other by th e han ds ,
upo n these poin ts Of br oth er ly an d fr ien dly fid elity

dur ing life which Coven an t I bes ee ch God to tur n
,
to his hon our g lor i e a nd s er vic e a n d th e comfor t of

, ,
”
o ur br ethr en (his childr en ) h er e o n e ar th .
1
Lask i . h yw
T e er e a ll un cer tain a b o ut his title s .
This r econ cilia tion w a s n o t fo r lon g in spite Of the ,
pr om is ed salar y a n d soon an oth er sc en e occur r ed

,
.
O n Jun e 5 D ee wr ite s th a t fr om nin e in th e mor ning

Kelley w a s in a m ar vellous gr eat disqui etness of
”
min d fur y a n d r a ge be ca use his br oth er Thomas
, ,
Kelley br oug ht him wor d fir st tha t a com mission w as , ,
out to atta ch an d appr ehen d him as a felon fo r coin ing

mon ey ; s ec on d th a t h is wife whom h e h ad left at
, ,
Mistr ess Fr eeman s house at Blockley h a ving hear d

’
fr om M r Huss ey th a t h e w a s a co sen cr h a d gone

.
,
home to h er m oth er M r s Coop er at Chipping , .

,
Nor ton D ee is touche d with a gr ea t pan g o f com

.
pa ssion gr ieve d th at a ny Christia n s hould us e such

,
sp eeche s a n d b e o f so r e ven gin g a m in d even more ,
than h e is distr essed th at his o w n cr edit shall b e

en da n g er e d fo r e mbr a cin g th e co m p a n y O f such a
disor der ly p er son e sp ecially if h e b e arr ested at Mort

,
”
l a ke, which w ill b e n o small gr i ef and disgr ace .
But h e gen er ously r e solves to stan d by his friend .
Ke lley it see ms h a d b een m et coming fr om Islington

, ,
with his scr oll book an d powder a nd h a d been

, ,
thr ea ten e d to h e pulled in pie c e s if h e br ought

them to D ec A dr a wing in th e m ar gin o f th e MS
.
'
shows th e boo k to h a ve h a d a cr oss o n th e cover o ne ,
cla sp a n d deep m eta l ban ds a cr oss its tw o sides

, .
Pr esum a bly th e se wer e som e o f th e tr ea sur es r epor ted

to ha ve b e en foun d at Gla ston bur y .
A day o r tw o a fter Jun e 1 8 Kell ey agai n simulated

, ,
gr eat fear a n d distr ess at s eein g evil spir its H e .
pr oteste d h e would skr y n o m or e an d w a s so e xcited ,
tha t h e br ought o n himself th e wis e r e buke fr om

Galva h : H e tha t is a ngr y c ann ot s ee well He .
”
108 LIFE OF DR JOHN DE E .
s aid thou wouldst g o m a d shor tly Wh a te ver they

, .
c a n do a ga in st th e e a ssur e thys elf o f

, They will .
”
shor tly lay a b ait fo r thee but esch ew th em ,
.
D Lor d h a ve m er cy upon m e wha t b ait I

.
, ,
bes ee ch y o u an d by whom ?,
M Th ey h a ve d eter m in e d to s ear ch thy hous e

.
,
”
but they stay un til] th e Duke b e gon e .
D Wh a t would they se ar ch it fo r ?
.
M They hate th e Duke b o th un to death

.
, , .
Then with a shar p ca ution to Kelley to deal

upr ig htly w ith D ee a nd a pr ote sta tion fr om him of
,
his faithful m in d to his m a ster sh e g oes o n to ,
r ev ea l th e suspicion s a tt a ch e d to L a ski
M Look unto th e k in d o f people a bout the

Duke 111 th e m a n ner o f th eir diligen ce .
D What mean you by tha t ? His o w n people ?

.
O r who
M Th e e spie s
. .
D Which b e those ?
.
M All
. Ther e is n o t o n e tr ue
. .
D Yo u m ean th e E n glishmen
. .
M Yo u a r e ver y gr oss e if y o u un d er stand no t

.
”
my s a y mg s .
D Lor d ! wha t is thy coun s el to pr even t all ?

.
M Th e spee ch is g en er al
. Th e wi c ke d shall .
n o t pr eva il .
D But w ill they en ter to sear ch my hous e o r

.
no
M . Immediately after th e Duke his g oing they ,
”
will .
D . TO wh at in ten t ? Wh a t do they hop e to

fi nd
M . Th ey susp ect the Duke is in war dly a
traitor .
M A D IM I 1 09
D ec plie s with sin cer ity They can by no mean s

re ,
char ge m e no n o t so m uch a s with a tr aitor ous

,
”
thought .
M . Though thy thoughts b e good they ca nn o t ,
co mp r ehen d the do ing s of the w icked In sum m e .

,
they ha te thee Tr ust them no t . Th ey sha ll g o .
about shor tly to Offer thee fr i en dship But b e thou .
a wor m in a heap of str a w .
D . I pr ay you e xpoun d that par able .
M . A h eap o f str a w bein g n ever so gr ea t is n o ,
weight upo n a wor m Notwithsta nding ever y str a w .
hinder eth th e wor m s pa ssag e S ee th em and b e n o t

’
.
”
seen of the m ; dost thou un der stan d it ?
It seem ed c er tain th a t D ee an d his skr yer
no w
wer e to em bar k th eir for tunes with L a ski D ee .
begs fo r par ticular in str uction s when they h a d better

take ship wha t sh all b e don e with all th e fur nitur e
,
r e a r ed an d st an di n
p p g in th e ch a m b er O f pr a ctic e ?
Is it b est fo r th e Pole to r esor t hither o ft o r to sta y ,
quiet at his house in Lon don

M adim i r etor ts
Thou ha st faith H e is your fri en d gr eatly
no .
an d in ten deth to do much fo r

yo u H e is pr epare d .
to do th ee g ood an d thou ar t pr epar ed to do him

,
ser vice Those w h o ar e no t faithful sha ll die a most

.
”
m iserable death an d sha ll dr ink o f sleep e ver la sting
, .
A couple o f days after o n July 4 D ee r etur nin g , ,
fr om Cour t foun d K elley m akin g pr ep ar a tion to go

,
a wa y fo r fi ve d a ys h a vin
g fix ed to m eet som e co m
,
panion s in Mor tla ke other s in Br en tfor d Doubtle ss

, .
h e foun d all this mystical a n d an gelic so ci ety so m e

wha t o f a bor e an d w as year nin g fo r an outbur st a
,
little m or e to his taste D ee w h o h a d s een La ski in .

,
Lon don kn ew that h e inten ded to com e down to

,
-
Mor tla ke withi n a d ay o r tw o who a lso h e says , , ,

”
“
delighted in E K his com p any S O h e wr ote a
. . .
shor t n ote in ver y polite L a tin to th e N o b ilissimi

”
Pr in c eps biddin g him put o ff his visit a s o ur
, ,
Edwar d w a s a bout to ta ke a jour n ey a n d would ,
no t b e hom e fo r fi ve d a ys o r so h e s ays : Q uid sit ,
ip s a ver ita s .
He showed Kelley th e letter Ke lley took gr eat .
Offen ce at th es e wor ds suspectin g som e s e cr et under ,
stan ding between th e two again st him D ee gently .
r e fer r e d to K ell ey s o w n wor d s th a t his r etur n might

’
b e w ithin o r at th e en d of fi ve d ays
, Kelley angry , .
,
an d suspicious s eiz e d th e le tter an d to r e it up

, .
Soon a fter Kelley b eholds a spir itual cr eatur e by

,
his r ig ht shoulder tellin g him to go clean away fo r , ,
if h e stays th er e h e w ill b e h anged If h e goes with .
th e Pr in ce h e will cut o ff his h ea d an d (to D ec)

, ,
Yo u m ea n n o t to keep pr omis e with m e And .
ther efor e if I m ig ht ha ve a thousan d poun d to tar ry ,
y ea a kin g dom I c ann ot

, Th er efor e I r elease you
, .
O f your pr omise Of 5 0 poun ds year ly stip en d to m e ,
an d you n ee d n o t doubt but God will defen d

yo u and
pr osper y o u an d can o f th e ver y ston es r a ise up
,
childr en un to Abr ah am A n d a ga in I c ann ot abide .

,
m y w ife I love h er n o t n ay I a bhor h er a n d her e

, , , ,
in th e hous e I am misliked b e ca us e I fa vour h er no

better .
D ee en d ea vour e d to c alm this tur bul en t young

m an spoke o f his confid en c e in him in his d ea lings
,
with their spir itual fr i en ds but such doin gs and ,
s ayings a s th es e h e poin ts o ut ar e n o t m eet and

, ,
fittin g .
1 12 LIFE OF DR JOHN DEE .
o ut o fK elley s han d D ee hear d th e str oke s h e s ays

’
. , .
H e took a p ap er an d gr eeting his visitor n ote d the

, ,
con ver sation .
D . M istr esse M a dim i you , welcome in God ar e
fo r g ood, a s I hop e . W ha t is th e c a use o f your

coming n o w ?
M .To see how you do .
D .I kn ow you s ee m e often , but I see you

on ely by fa ith an d im a gin a tion .
M (w ho is a lw a ys mo r e p er so n a l tha n the o ther

.
sp ir its ) That sight is per fecter th an his, pointin g

to K elley .
D (w ith emo tio n )

. O M a dim i, shall I have any
m or e o f th es e gr i evous p an gs
M (o r a cu la r l )
. Cur st w ive s an d gr ea t D evils
y
ar e sor e comp an i on s .
D . In r esp ect o f th e Lor d Tr ea sur er Mr , .
S e cr etar y a n d M r Rawly I pr ay y o u Wha t wor ldly

.
, ,
comfor t 1s th er e to b e looke d fo r B esides that I do

”
p r in cipally put m y tr ust in God .
M M a dder w ill stain e wicked m en will Offend

.
, ,
a n d ar e ea s ie to b e o ffen d e d .
D . A n d b ein g offen d e d will do wicke dly to , ,

”
th e p er s e cution o f th e m th a t m ean simply .
M O r els e they wer e no t to b e call e d wicked

. .
D . As con cer ning Alb L a ski his pedigr ee you .

, ,
sa id your sister would te ll a ll .
M I told y o u mor e then all your D o g painter s

.
a n d C at p a in ter s c an do .
’ ’
K ell ey interr upts D ee s question s a bout L aski s
p edigr ee a n d par en tage im patiently w ith , ,
K . Will you M adim i len d m e a hundr ed pounds

, ,
fo r a for tnight ?
No pl na ti n o f this u i us em k n be ffer ed
1
ex a o c r o r ar ca o .
M AD IM I 1 13
M .I ha ve swept all my m on ey out o f door s “
D .As fo r m on ey w e shall have th at which is

,
nec ess ar y wh en God s eeth ti m e .
Then M adimi bec om in g s er ious a ddr esse s to

, ,
Kelley a bea utiful e xposition o f th e unity Of a ll

thing s : Love is th e spir it o f God unitin g an d
kn itting thin g s togeth er in a la uda ble pr opor tion .
She tur n s shar ply to him with ,
What dost thou hunt after ? Speak m an wha t , ,
dost thou hun t a fter ? Thou lovest n o t God .
Lo behold thou br eake st his c om m an dmen ts : thy

, ,
braggin g wor ds ar e c onfoun de d If thou ha st .
[
n on e o f th e s e fa ith h O e love] thou h a st h a t e
p, , Dost .
thou love Silver a n d Gold Th e o n e is a Thi ef ; th e

other is a Mur der er Wilt tho u seek hon our ? S O
.
did C a in But tho u h a st a just G o d tha t loveth

.
thee just a n d vir tuous m en that delight in thee

, .
”
Therefor e h e thou vir tuous .
Next follows a r em ar kable scen e M adim i sum .
mon s B ar m a an d his four teen evil com panion s who ,
have a ssum ed p oss ession o f K elley with th e wor ds ,
Ven ite Ten ebr es fug lie sp ir ito meo an d or d er s ,
them to r etur n to th e Pr in ce of D ar kn ess : D epa r t

un to th e las t cr y Go you thither
. Th e h an d .
of th e Lor d is like a str ong o ak When it fa lleth it .
cutteth in sun der m an y bushe s Th e light Of H is .
”
eye s sh a ll e x el d ar kn e ss
p .
Kelley s ees th e whole cr ew sin k down thr ough th e

floor o f th e cha m ber : A thing like a win d c a m e
”
an d
pluckt them by th e feet awa y H e pr ofess es .
his deliver an c e : M ethin keth I a m lighter than I

w as a n d I s eem to b e em pty a nd to b e r e tur ne d fr om
,
I
a gr ea t a mazin g Fo r this for tnight I do

.
, no t well
”
r e me mb er wh a t I h a v e don e o r s a id .
Thou a r t ea s ed o f a gr ea t bur den . Love God .
”
Love thy fr ien ds Love thy w ife
. .
An d with this pa r tin g injun c tion a n d a psalm of

,
’
than ksg ivin g fr om D ec th e stor y o f Kelley s wild
,
a tt a ck Of te m per o r as it w a s r eg ar de d in the
,
sixteen th c en tur y his p osse ssion fo r th e pr esent

, ,
en ds . N o r is th er e a n y r ecor d o f fu r ther d ealin gs

with spir its fo r m or e than two mon ths .
Wor c ester shir e m an— K elley fo r whom h e enter ,
tain ed to th e la st a m ost faithful fr i en dship .
Then w e come o n a ver y en ter tain in g r emar k in

th e diar y : A ug 1 8 A gr ea t t emp est o f w yn de at
. .
mi dn ight . M a mima er a E K cum ua o r e ej us . .

'
.
Kelley h ad r etur n e d an d his wife w a s tr eated to

,
an oth er o f his outbr ea ks by com par ison with which ,
th e gale outside w a s slig ht .
This is th e la st en tr y in th e diary befor e Dee s ’
depar tur e fo r Polan d with L a ski .
Th e Pr in ce pr op os e d to t ak e th e whol e par ty fr om
Mortlake b a ck with him t o th e Contin en t H e w as .
r epute d to b e d eeply in d e bt a nd s eems to h a ve ,
en t er t a in ed wild hop es tha t th ey a id e d by th e spir its , ,
would pr ovide him with gold a n d s ecur e to him the ,
cr own o f Polan d K elle y for esa w an easy and

.
luxur ious life plen ty o f chan ge a n d vari ety suited

,
to his r estless i m petuous n a tur e H e had n o t a s

, .
y et b een o ut of E n glan d Ther e wer e v er y obvious

.
r eason s th a t h e should quit th e coun tr y n o w if h e
would escap e a pr ison D ee h a d been a gr ea t

.
tr avell er as w e kn ow an d th e se wer e n o t th e a ttr ae

, ,
tion s to a m an o f his year s H e wen t in obedience .
to a supposed call in th e h O p e o f fur ther in g his o w n

,
kn owledge an d th e Pr in c e s g ood Th e n otion o f ’

.
pr ovi din g fo r him self an d his family lay doubtless at

th e b ack of his min d als o but h e h ad all a genius s
’
,
disr egar d fo r thr ift an d e con o m y an d though very ,
pr ecise an d p r actical a bout sm a ll details as his diary ,
pr ov es his m in d r efus ed to con tem pla te these lar ger

,
con sider a tions Of ways an d m ea ns .
H e dispos ed o f th e hous e at Mo r tlake to his

A FOREIGN J OURNEY 1 17
br other in law Nichola s Fr omon d but in such a

- -
, ,
loose an d c a sual w ay tha t befor e his r etur n h e foun d

him self compelled to m ake a new agr eem en t w ith
him . H e took n o steps a bout appoin tin g a r e ceiver
of th e r en ts o f his two li vings a nd wh en h e cam e ,
back th e whole six year s wer e ow ing n o r did h e e ver ,
Obtain th e m on ey H e s ays h e in ten de d at th e m ost

.
to b e a bs en t o n e year a n d eig ht m on ths It w a s .
m or e than six year s b efor e h e ag ain s et foot in

Englan d .
So un pr epar ed h e left Mor tlake about thr ee in th e

, ,
after n oon o f S atur day S eptem b er 2 1 1 5 8 3

, H e m et , .
th e Pr in c e by appoin tm en t o n th e r iver an d tr a velle d ,
up after dar k to Lon don A cer tain s e cr e cy w a s .
obser ved about th e journ ey L a ski a s w e h a ve s een .

, ,
w a s un d er some su s icion of W a lsin h a m an d Bur

p g
leigh whose busin ess it ha d be com e to learn n ews
,
fr om e ver y C o ur t in Eur ope H e w as s uspe cted o f .
plots aga in st th e King o f Polan d .
In th e d ea d o f n ight D ee a n d L a ski wen t by,
wher ri es to Gr eenw ich to m y fr ien d Goodm an

,
Fern th e Potter his hous e wher e w e r efr e she d o u r

, , ,
selves .Pr oba bly a m an whom D ee h ad employe d

to m ake r e tor ts a nd other vess els fo r his chem ic a l
wor k Per h aps they m et th er e th e r est o f th e par ty
.
,
but o n th e who le it s eem s m ore pr obable tha t all

star ted tog eth er fr om Mor tlake Th e e xit o f such .
a com pan y fr o m th e r iver s id e h o us e m ust h a v e b een
quite an even t At Gr ave sen d a gr eat Tylte boa t

.
“
,
-
r owed u F ern s hous e o n th e qu a y an d took

’
p t o , ,
them out to th e tw o vess els a rr ang e d to con vey them

a br o ad Thes e ships which D ee h a d hir ed wer e ly ing
.
, ,
s even o r e ig ht mil es down str eam —a D a nish double

fly bo at in which L a ski D ee K elley M r s D ee an d
-
, , , ,
.
M r s Kelley an d th e thr ee childr en Ar thur K a ther ine

.
, ,
an d Rowl an d D ee e m b ar ke d a t sunr ise o n Sun d ay ,
mor nin g ; an d a boyer a p r e tty ship which co n , ,
v e ed th e P r in c e s m en s o me s er van ts o f D ee an d a
’
y , ,
couple o f hor se s Th ey s aile d a t on c e but th e w in d

.
,
coming fr om N W they an chor e d o n th e Spits Th e

. .
, .
fly bo a t d r ag ge d h er a n chor an d th e win d suddenly

-
,
chan gin g to N E they wer e in dan ger Of gr oun ding

. .
, .
However n e xt m orn in g th ey m a de Queen bor ough

,
H aven a n d lan de d in sm all fishin g boa ts O n th e

, .
lan ding th e boa t in which th e p ar ty wer e s eated

,
w a s n ear ly ups et W a ter c a me in up to their kn ees

.
,
a n o a r w a s lost and th ey wer e in con sider able

,
p er il but Kelley s eems to ha ve r is en to th e occa sion

,
by baling wa ter o ut o f th e bottom with a gr eat

ga un tlet D ee think s h e s a ved their lives D ee
. .
,
poor m an w a s dr opp ed fr om th e captain s ba ck o n

,
’
lan din g in to ooze an d mud so tha t h e w a s foule ,
arr ay e d o n r ea chin g Queenbor ough town up the ,
cr ooke d cr eek God b e pr aise d fo r e ver that all

.
”
tha t dang er w a s en de d with so sma ll gr ief o r hur t is ,
his cheer ful com men t .
After thr ee n ights a shor e th ey again embar ke d , ,
an d at da ybr ea k o n th e 2 7 th s a il ed o u t in to th e
Chann el O n th e 29 th they la n de d at B r ill H er e

. .
’
L a ski s gu ar dian angel Jub anladec seem s to have , ,
r an te d them a n in ter vi e w They only pa us ed fo r

g .
tw o o r thr ee days an d hurr ied o n tr a ve llin g for war d

, ,
e a ch day by th e sluggish Dutch c an a ls ha vin g e x ,
ch anged t h eir vess el fo r a b o y o f Amster d am a t

N ext mor n in g th e 1 8 th Octob er L a ski took up his

, ,
quar ter s at Th e White Swan o n th e qua y fo r h e , ,
w a s to r em a in th er e to see th e L an dgr a ve a n d obt ain ,
m on ey Th e others “ lay at
. Th e Thr ee Golden
K eys by th e Eng lish House a n d left ear ly n ext
,
’
mor ning by a sm all boa t to s a il u p th e r iver E m s to

L eer an d then c e by a little tr ibutar y to S tickh u y sen
,
an d Ap en — “
a v er y si m le vill ag e a n d SO o n to Olden
p ,
bur g A night ther e a n d then o n by D elm enhor st

.
,
to B r e m en wh er e th ey lodg e d a t
,
a n O ld widow h er ,
house at th e Sign e o f th e C r ow n
, .
H er e I ] th e j a un ty Spir it who w a s like a Vice in

,
a m or a lity pla y a ga in a
pp ear e d to them cla d in a
, ,
white s a tin j er kin r agge d b elow th e gir dle , Th e .
cur tain lifted an d his fir st wor ds wer e th eatr ically

,
light .
Room fo r a player ! J esus ! who would have

”
thought I should h ave m et you h er e ?
D (so lemn ly )
. By th e m er cie s o f G o d w e ar e
.
her e A n d by your will an d pr opr iety a n d the power

.
”
o f God you a r e h er e ,
.
IL Tush doubt n o t o f m e fo r I am I ]
.
, , .
KE LL E Y (w ith r ebuke) My thin keth t hat th e .
gr avi ty o f this a ction r e quir eth a m or e g r a v e gestur e ,

”
an d mo r e gr a ve sp eech es .
IL .If I must b ear with thee fo r Sp eak in g

foolishly which ar t but flesh a n d speake st o f thy
,
o w n wisdom how m uch m or e oughtest thou to b e

,
conten te d with my gestur e which is app oin ted o f ,
H im which r eg ar d eth no t th e outwar d for m but the ,
fulfilling of His will an d th e keeping o f His com

m an dm ents, e tc etc
—
.
.
,
“
KE L L E Y I do n o t un der stan d your wor ds
. . I do
”
only r ep ea t your sa ying s .
A FOREIGN JOURNEY 12 1
IL . It is th e par t o f a s er van t to do his duty ,
O f him tha t wa tch eth to look tha t h e seeth

Do tha t which is appoin ted fo r h e tha t doeth mor e ,
is n o t a tr u e ser van t .
11 tur n s fr om K ell ey to D ec S ir h er e is mon ey .

, ,
but I ha ve it ver y har dly B ear with m e fo r I c an

.
,
help thee w ith n o m or e Come o n An dra s ; wh er e

.
,
ar e you An dr a s ?
, h e ca lls .
An dr as in a bar e an d sha bby g ow n like a Lon don ,

’
pr en tic e appear s but em pty han de d
, ,
-
.
IL . This is o n e of those that for getteth his

b usin esse so soon as it is told him .
AN D R A S Sir I wen t half w a y

.
,
-
.
”
IL . A n d h o w then ? S pea k o n Spea k o n . .
AN D R A S Then being som ewhat wear y I stayed

.
, , ,
th e r ath er b e c a use I m et m y fr ien ds Th e thir d day .

,
I c am e thith er but I foun d them n o t at hom e His

,
.
”
family told m e h e h a d g o n e for th .
IL . An d you r e tu rn ed a co xc om b Well thus .

,
it is I pla ce d th ee a bove m y s er van ts an d did

.
,
wha t I coul d to pr om ote thee But I a m r ewar de d .
with lo ytr in g a n d h ave br oug ht up a n idl e per son .
Go thy w ay th e o ffi c er Sh all de liver th ee to pr ison

, ,
an d th er e thou sh a lt b e r ewar de d Fo r such as do .
tha t they ar e com m an de d de ser ve fr eedom ; but un to

those tha t lo ytr e an d a r e idle veng ean c e a n d hung er ,
belongeth .
Then D ee que stion s I ] a bout L ask i an d whether ,
he is ha vin g an y success in his effor ts to obtain m on ey ,
a bout L a ski s br oth er in law Vin c en t S e ve whose

’
- -
, ,
err an d in E n lan d is n o t y et com l ete d an d wh e th er

g p ,
they shall all ar r ive s afe at Cr a cow o r th e pla c e ,
appoin t ed .
Kelley h as a sight of M aster Vin cen t in a bla ck

”
satin doublet cut w ith cr oss cuts a r uff an d a lon g
, ,
cloak e dg e d with black o r blue Then 11 goe s O ff in to

, .
a m ystic al r h apsody at th e e n d o f which h e su ddenly

,
”
fa lls all in pie c e s as s m all as a sh es .
Ne xt day K ell e y s ees M a ster Vin c en t a ga in walking

, ,
“
down by Char in g C r oss a ccom pan i e d by a t a ll m an
,
”
w ith a cu tb er d a swor d an d S kie color e d cloa k
,
He -
.
p a sse s o n towar ds W estm in ster a n d over takes a

gentlem an o n hor se back with fi v e follower s in shor t
c ape cloaks an d long m ousta ch es Th e r ider is a lean
-
.
vis age d m an in a shor t clo ak an d with a gold r api er .
His hor s e wea r s a velvet foot cloth (It soun ds like .
a visio n o f R a l eigh
) .
The y ar e mer r y Vin c en t la ughs h ear tily and

.
shows tw o br o a d fr on t teeth H e h as a little Stick .
in his c r ooke d fin ger s Th e sc ar o n his left hand is

.
plainly s een H e h as ver y h igh str aig ht clos e boots

.
-
.
Th ey ar r iv e at W e stm in ster Chur ch (th e Abbey) .
M an y p e ople ar e comin g o ut A n umber o f boats .
lie in th e r iver an d in th e gar d en s a t Whitehall a

,
m an is gr a ft ing fr uit tr ees Th e lean vis aged m an o n

.
-
hor seba ck a lig hts an d g o es down towar ds and up

, , ,
th e steps o f Westmin ster H a ll Vin c en t with him , .
His comp an ion walks outside a n d a ccosts a water

m an . T h e wa ter m a n a sks if th a t is th e Polish
bishop ? Th e s er van t wants to kn ow what busin ess
it is o f his A mess en ger com e s down th e step s of
.
th e H a ll an d s ays to Vin c en t s m an th a t his m a ster

’
shall b e d esp a tche d to m or r ow Th e s er van t s aith h e

-
.
is gla d o f it . Then a ll tha t sh ew is vanishe d a way .
Ther e ar e o n e o r tw o allusion s her e to an em issary

fr om D en m ar k w h o h as br ought a b ag Of a mb er I ] a lso .
sa ys h e h as much busin e ss in D en mar k Fr e der ick .

,
CHAPTER X
PRO M I SE S AN D V I S I ON S
Sea r c h while t ho u wilt ; an d let t hy r eas o n
go
To ran s o m t r ut h, e en to by b l w ;
’ ’
th a ss e o
lly th e
Ra sca tte r ed ca use s d t h t lin e
an a
Whi h n tu
c a re w
t i s ts b e a bl t u twin
e o n e .
It is th y Ma ker’ s will fo r u n to n o n e
But un to r e as o n ca n He ’
e er be kn wn o .
—S m TH OMAS BR OWN E.
TH Ed ealin gs which Kelley h a d in Lubeck with the

spir its s eem to thr ow a light o n a ll his r elation s with
D ee K elley is ga inin g con fiden ce ; h e s ee s that h e is
.
alr eady a ble to dup e his e m ployer cons ider ably He .
h a s only to manipula te th e con v er s ation s a little to

Show up Oft en his so — ca lle d sin cer ity H e can pr etend .
h e i s ag hast at Il s levity an d h e s eems to ha ve b een

’
cunn ing en ough wh en th e spir its ver y often bla med
But his dr eams o f a dvan c em en t in wealth an d fa me

wer e n o n ear er a ccom plishm en t H e h ad seen .
’
thr ough D ee s a mbition It w as ver y differ en t fr om .
his o w n but he thought h e could u se it to his o w n

,
a dvan t ag e D ee w a s n o w fla tter e d without stin t

. .
S O a t th e sitting o n Novem b er 1 5 h e s ee s eleven

n oblem en in r ich s able s O n e wear ing a r egal cap
.
,
tr immed with sable is s ea ted o n a ch air b eset with

,
pr ecious ston es H e is a g oodlier m an than th e Lor d

.
”
A L
. .H e a ddr e ss e s D e e w ith glitt er in g pr omis es .
PROMISES A ND VISION S 1 25
He is th e Em p er or and is r epr esen ted

Kin g or th e , in
the m ar gin o f th e diar y by a c r own H e s ays to D ec .
Pluck u p thy h ear t an d b e m err y pin e n o t thy ,
Soul a way with in war d gr oa nings fo r I will Open ,
un to thee th e s ecr ets o f Na tur e an d th e r iches o f th e

world a n d withal g ive thee such dir e ction tha t sh all
,
deliver thee fr om m an y in fi r m ities both o f body a n d

m in d ea s e thee o f thy t edious la bour s a nd s ettle thee
,
wher e thou shalt ha ve com for t .
Thanks b e given un to th e Hig h est n o w a n d ev er .
Why dos t tho u [hesita te] within thy thought ?

”
Hast thou n o t n ee d o f c om for t ?
Ye s G o d k n ows fo r I a m half con foun ded

, , .
Then fi r st deter min e w ithin thyself to r est thee fo r

this win ter S e con dly open thy m in d to de sir e such
.
,
thin g s a s m ay a dvan c e thy cr e dit an d enr ich thy

family r eap un to th ee m an y fr ien ds a n d lift thee up to
,
hon our Fo r I will stir u p th e m in des o f lear n e d m en

.
,
th e pr ofoun d e st in th e wo r ld th a t th ey sha ll visit ,
thee A nd I will dis clos e u n to y o u s uch thin g s a s

.
shall b e won der ful a n d o f e xceedin g pr ofit M o r eover .
I will put to m y han ds a n d help your pr oceedings ,
that th e wor ld m a y talk of your wisdom her ea fter .
Ther efor e wan der n o t far ther in to unkn own pla ce s

contagious th e ver y s eats of dea th fo r thee a n d thy
,
childr en and s uch a s ar e thy fr ien ds If thou en quir e .
of m e wher e a n d how I an swer ever ywher e o r how , , ,
thou wilt Thou shalt for thwith be com e r ich a n d

.
,
thou shalt b e a ble to enr ich king s an d help such a s

ar e n eedy Wast thou n o t bo r n to u se th e co m
.
m o dity o f th is wor ld ? wer e n o t all thing s m a de fo r

m a n s u se
’
’
H ere ar e th e old dr ea m s o f th e philosoph er s ston e ,
th e elixir o f life th e tr a n s m utation of m etals an d a ll

,
th e wo r ks of a lche my fo r which both the s e tra velle r s

,
were a dventur ing their lives in a for eign land D ee .
does n o t s eem ex a ctly dazzle d by these allur ements .
H e only begs lea ve to ask qu estion s and s eeks to ,
keep th e Speaker to th e poin t A r e they to stay

.
th er e an d n o t to g o o n w ith L as ki ? Wher e ar e they

”
to sp en d th e win ter ?
Wher e y o u will com es th e a n swer
, Ar e you .
so unwise as to go with him n o w ? L et him go

befor e an d pr ovide fo r hi m self an d th e better fo r you
, .
In th e Sum m er wh en it is m or e fa ir you can follow

, , .
Th e weather no w will b e h ar d a n d th e tr a vel unfit

’ ”
fo r childr en H ea p n o t u p thy w ife s sorr ow
. .
I d e sir e to live in quiet tha t my spir it m ay the

b etter atten d to th e s er vice o f G o d .
Well you ar e con ten te d ?

,
D ee a sks again are the y to p ar t fr om L aski ? Will

,
it n o t b e pr ejudicia l to th eir ar r an gemen t they ,
ha vin g en ter ed in to a kin d o f coven an t w ith him ?

”
Ar e y o u n o t con ten t ? th e visitor r ep eats .
Th en h e did impa r t som e r em ar ka ble in for mation

to D ee in which th er e w as cer ta inly a gr ain of
,
telep athically con veyed tr uth .
Your br other is clapp e d up in pr ison H o w like .
”
y o u th at ? You r hous e keep er I mean -
.
This eviden tly r efer s to Nichola s Fr omon d .
They examin e him Th ey s ay tha t thou hast hid

.
div er s s ecr et things As fo r thy books thou mayst

.
,
go look a t th em a t leasur e It m ay b e that thy .
hous e m ay b e bur n t fo r a r e mem br a n c e o f thee too , .
W ell if they do so it is
, , I ha ve given thee my
.
counsel an d desir ed to do th ee good The choic e is

, .
”
thine .
letter s to L aski and waits Soon h e per c eives the se

, .
temptations to h ave come fr om a ver y foolish devil

“
.
H e decides tha t th ey will con tin u e to thr ow in th eir

lot w ith L a sk i who r ejoin e d the m in L iib eck
.
He .
left again to visit th e Duke o f M ecklenbur g they ,
mean while going by Wism ar to Rostock an d Stettin ,

’
which pla ce they r ea che d at t en o clock o n Chr istmas
mor ning L ask i join e d them in a for tnight They
. .
pa sse d o n by S tay ar d to Posen wher e D ee ad ds an ,
an tiquar i an n ote th at th e ca the dr al chur ch w as

foun de d in 1 0 2 5 an d tha t th e tomb o f Wen ceslaus
, ,
th e C hr isti an kin g is o f o n e huge ston e, It w as .
her e th at D ee b eg an to en ter cur ious n otes about

'
K elley in the L iber P er eg r in a tzo m s wr itten in Gr eek

'
char acter s but th e wor ds a r e L a tin wor ds o r more

, ,
fr equently English Th e supposition is that Kelley

.
w as un a cqu ain te d ev en with th e Gr eek alph ab et D ee .
kept his oth er for eig n di ar y wr itten in an E p heme ,
r ides Caelestzum (p r in t e d in Venic e

'
s ecr et fr om ,
his par tn er fo r Kell ey h a d obta in e d possession of an

,
ear lier o n e kept in E n gl an d a n d h a d wr itten in it
un favour a ble comm en ts a s well as er as e d things about

, ,
himself D ee h ad th e la st wor d an d h as a dded above

.
,
K elley s sha meful ly e

’
This is Mr Talbot s his
,
”
.
’
o w n wr itin g in my boke ver y un duely as h e c a me by ,
”
it. Th e var ious diar ie s sou n d p er haps confusin g to , ,
th e r ea der but ar e r eally quite simple By the

, .
pr ivate diary is m ean t th e scr ap s in the Bodleian

Al man acs e dited by H alliwell fo r th e C amden Society
, ,
in which h e s eldom allud e s to psychic affair s The .
B o o k of M ys ter ies is th e diar y in which h e r elate s all

th e history o f th e cr ysta l g azing Th e prin ted ver sion .
PROMISES AND V ISIONS 1 29
( Tr ue R ela tio n ) begin s with Laski s visit to Mor tlake

o n M ay 2 8 1 5 8 3
, .
Win ter h ad n o w set in with unwon ted ri gour and ,
o ne is a maze d at th e c eler ity with which this gr ea t
c ar avanser ai o f people an d goods pushed o n fr om

place to pla ce Fr om Stettin to Posen fo r instan c e is
.
, ,
m or e th an 200 mil es an d it w as a ccomplished within

,
four days and appar en tly with on ly o n e stop Then .
southwar ds in to th e water y distr ict between th e Oder

an d th e W ar th e wh er e th e cou ntr y w as so ice boun d
,
that they h a d to em ploy fi ve a n d twen ty m en to cut - -
the ice fo r th e ir coa ch es fo r a distan c e a s long as two

English mile s O n F ebr uar y 3 they r ea ched L a sk
.
,
’
o n th e Pr in c e s o w n pr op er ty an d at la st we r e com ,
fortably housed in th e Pr ovost s fair house by th e ’
Chur ch . H er e D ee w as ill with ague but th e table ,
w a s set up a nd a n ew spir it c all e d N alva e a p eare d

, g p
in th e g lob e hysio o y a s like
’
. N alvag e s p g n m w
th e pictur e o f King Edwar d th e Sixth His hair .
hangeth down a quar ter of th e leng th of th e cap ,

”
som ewha t cur lin g yellow D ee o f cour s e h ad s een
, .
, ,
th e youn g K ingw h en h e pr e s en te d his books so this is ,
a fi r st han d r em in isc en c e
-
N alvag e stood up on a r oun d
.
table of m oth er o f pear l an d r evealed to them man y

- -
,
c a balistic m yster i e s table s o f letter s an d n a m e s

, .
Ther e w as a terr ible vision o f M r s D ee lying dea d .

,
w ith h er fa c e all b a tter e d in an d of th e m a id M ar y ,
being pulle d o u t of a pool of water half dr own ed .
But it seem s to por tend n o m ore th an did an oth er

piece o f ill n ews con veyed at th e s ame time : S ir
H arr y Sidn ey die d upon We dn esday last A pr ivy .
”
en e m y of your s .D ee s ays I e ver took h im fo r ,
K
1 30 L IFE OF DR . J OHN DEE
o ne o f my chief fr ien ds , a nd a dds , wi th un conscious
humour
Note At Pr a gue Aug 24 I un der stood that
.
, .
,
S ir H Sidn ey w as n o t d ea d in F e br u ar y n o r M ar ch
. ,
no , n o t in M ay l a st Ther efor e this m ust b e co n

.
s id er ed Doctor H ag ek his so n to ld m e
.
, ,
.
Th e ote makes us r ealis e fo r a m oment how slowly

n
n e ws tr a ve lled fr om E ng lan d to th e Con tin en t in this
year o f gra c e 1 5 8 4 .
Th e in for m an t M a dim i a lit tle w en ch in white

, , ,
told D ee th at sh e h ad b een in E nglan d at his house ,
a n d all th er e w er e w ell Th e Qu een s aid sh e w as .
sor r y sh e h a d lost h er philosopher But t he Lor d .
T r ea sur er an swer ed H e will come home shor tly a

,
b eggin g to y o u Tr uly adds M adim i none can

.
,
”
,
’
tur n th e Queen s hear t fr om y o u Then r ecurr ing .
,
to Mor tlake sh e s ays , I could n o t come in to your

”
study Th e Queen ha th c aus ed it to b e s ealed This
. .
n o doubt a fte r th e br ea kin g in o f th e r iot er s D ee .
w a s coun s e ll e d to go a nd live at C r a cow H e .
would lik e to b e led step by step an d begs to know ,
wh a t house is in God s deter min ation fo r m e and ’
min e . M a dimi a n swer s As wis e a s I am I cannot , ,

”
y e t t e ll wh a t to s a y D ee d emu r s to t h e e xp ens e
.
,
an d r ep r o a ch e s h er fo r n o t tellin g th e m sooner .
Needle ss cost would ha ve b een s a ved a n d h e does ,
n o t k n ow if L a ski will h a ve e n ou h mon e y fo r

g yet
an oth er m ove H e h a d r ather K esm ar k h ad b een
.
r e deem e d b efo r e L a sk i w en t to C r a cow P er h aps .
th en his cr edit with th e p eople would b e gr ea ter .
L a ski h ad hea vily m or tg age d his e sta te s in Pola nd

CHAPTER XI
CR A C OW
Sir , to wise m n ll th w ld s h is s il
a a a e or
’
o
It is n t I t ly n o r F
o a , Eur o pe r a n ce , n o r
Th t m us t b o un d m if m y f t es
a ll m e fo rth e a ca .
Y t I p o test it is n
e , r lt d ire o sa es
O f seein g un t r i hiftin g eligio n

co es , s a r
’
No r y disaflectio n t o th e S t ate
an
Wh er e I w
w as b r e , an d un to d
I ow e
hich
My d ear est pl o ts h t h b ug ht m e o ut : m u h les s
, a ro c
Th t idle an tique t l
a , grey h ea d ed pro j ect
, s a e, -
O f kn o wing m en s m in d
’ ”
d m nn er s s an a .
- J O N S0 N , Vo lp o ne, or The Fo x .
A T th e clos e o f th e sixteen th c entur y C r a cow w as ,
a t th e h eight o f its fa me an d pr osp er ity It w as still .
th e c a pita l o f Polan d an d th e r esiden c e o f h er kings

, ,
a s we ll as th e s ea t o f th e univer sity foun d e d two
hun dr e d year s b efor e by C a sim ir th e G r eat The .
Gothic c a th edr al er ected un der the s ame king the ,
bur ial pla c e o f Polish mon ar chs w as alr ea dy a dorned ,
with sculptur es an d br onzes th e wor k o f Ren aissance ,
a r tists fr om Flor en c e and Sien a Th e visitor of .
to day will fin d him s elf sur r oun d ed by chur ch es and

-
oth er buildin gs dating fr om th e twelfth four teen th , ,
an d sixteen th c en tur i e s Amid th e r ampar ts o f th e .
Austri an fortr ess can still b e tr aced h ere an d there

th e old er for tifi c ation s .
Th e city lie s in th e c en tr e o f a va st plain a lmost ,

CRACOW 1 33
at th e confluen ce o f tw o r iver s th e Vistula an d ,

-
R udo w a Acr oss this plain fr om th e n o r th we st the

.
-
traveller s c a me a n d r ea ched C r a cow in th e a fter n oon

,
of Mar ch 1 3 15 8 4 , .
W e wer e lodged in th e
subur bs by th e chur ch ,
1
wher e w e r em ain ed a se ven night an d th en w e ( I an d ,
m y wife ) r em ov ed to th e hous e in St Stephen Str eet .

,
which I h ad hir ed fo r a year fo r 8 0 gylder s of 3 0

gr oschen An d M a ster Edwar d K elley c am e to us
.
o n F r yday in th e E a st er w eek by th e n ew G re gor i an
Kalen dar b eing th e 2 7 day o f M ar ch by th e old

,
Kalen dar but th e sixth day of Apr il by th e n ew

,
Kalen dar E a ster D ay bein g th e fir st day o f Apr il in

,
”
Polan d by th e n ew Gr egor ian in stitution
, .
Fr om th e time of ar r iving in Polan d D ee is c ar eful

to en ter th e da tes in both o ld an d n ew style s Th e .
N ew Style w a s then e xtr em ely n ew it havin g b een ,
in tr oduce d by P epe Gregor y XIII on ly a couple o f .
year s befor e an d univer sally a dopte d by all Rom an

,
Catholic countr i es E nglan d in all th e fer vo ur o f

.
,
h er r ecently e stablishe d Pr ote stan tis m would h a ve ,
n on e o f it but still desir ed n o t to lag b ehin d in

,
n eedful r efor ms D ee as alrea dy state d h a d b een

.
, ,
com mission ed befor e he left E ng lan d to ma ke caleu

latio n s by which th e calen d ar could b e suitably
adopt ed in this coun tr y Th e Rom a n Chur ch h a d
.
a ssum ed th e chr on ology a dopte d by th e Coun cil of
Nice to b e str ictly cor r e ct But D ee de sir e d to .
a sc er t ain th e a ctua l
position of th e eart h in r ela tion
to th e sun a t th e bir th o f Chr ist as a ba sis o n which ,
1
Pro b ably th e o ld Chur ch of th e Visitatio n .
to ctify th e c alen dar Th e r e sult of his calcula tion s

re .
would h a ve omitted ele ven in stea d o f ten days .
D ee s book (which w as n ever prin te d but r e main s

’
in man uscr ipt a mon g th e Ash m olean MS S ) w as .
en titl e d A Playn e disco ur se an d humble a dvise fo r

o ur r atio u s Qu een e Eliz a b e th h er most Exc ellen t
g ,
M aj estic to p er use and con sider as con c er ning th e

,
ne edful R efor mation o f th e Vulgar Kalen dar fo r

th e civile y er e s an d daies a ccomptin g o r v er ifyin g ,
”
a ccor din g to th e t m e tr u el
y y sp ent It w as finished .
a n d d eliver e d to Bur leigh o n F ebr u ar y 2 6 1 5 8 3 To , .
him it w as in scr ib ed w i th the s e r ath er playful ver ses
To (in , an d To
I she w th e thi n
g an d r ea so n why ,
At lar ge in , b r iefe , in m i e ddl wise

I h um b ly giv e a
pl yn e advise
a
Fo r want f tym e th e tym e un t ew

o , r
If I h ve m y t
a mm n d an ew
s , co a
Yo ur h o n o u m y r s ha ll y o u s e e
a , so
Th t lo ve o f t ut h d th go ve rn m e
a r o .
Bur leigh pr oposed tha t skilful m en in scien ce as ,
M r Digg e s b e c alled fr om the univer sities to p er use

.
,
1
th e wo r k an d con fer But th e Coun cil o f Sta te co n
.
sulte d A r chbishop G r in dal a n d thr ee o f th e bishops ,
w h o r ecomm en d ed th e r ej ection o f D ee s scheme

’
chi efly o n th e gr oun d tha t it e man ated fr om Rom e ,
a n d so th eir opposition d el ay e d this d esir a bl e public
r e for m in Englan d fo r 1 7 0 y ear s D ee a gr ee d to .
gr an t th e ten days fo r th e sake o f confor mity with th e

r est o f th e wor ld if his c a lcul ation th at ele ven were
,
str ictly a ccurate w a s publicly ann oun c ed It w ill .
La/nsdo w ne MS .
, xxx ix. f 28. .
1 36 L IFE OF DR JOHN DEE
.
tables o f letter s o n which h e h ad long been pu zzling ;

dwelt o n how ess en tia l it w a s to m iss n o t a sin gle
letter o r else th e wor ds would err H e a sked him in
,
. ,
fa ct to r esume his skr ying and en cour aged him by

, ,
s aying tha t h e kn ew h e would come to like better

’
this du e an d m ethodica l mann er o f o u r fr ien ds pro
c e edin
g if o nly h e would con tin u e
,
K ell ey scor n .
fully r eplie d tha t th eir tea cher s wer e m er e deluder s ,
an d n o good o r suffi cien t tea ch er s In tw o year s they.
h a d n o t m a d e the m a ble to un d er st an d o r do any ,
thin g In tw o year s h e s aid boa stin gly

.
, , I could ,
h a ve lear n ed all th e se ven libera l ar ts an d scien ces if ,
I h ad fir st lear n e d L o gick H e pr ote ste d h e would

ha ve no m or e to do with th e spir its in any m ann er
or w a
y wish e d him s elf in E nglan d an d vowe d if the
, ,
books wer e his h e would burn them all These .
spir itua l cr eatur es ar e no t boun d to m e T ake John .
fo r you r skr yer .
D e e p a thetically r e c apitula ted his long d esir e fo r

wisdom his faith tha t m or e kn owle dge will b e
,
gr an te d him K elley wen t o ut leavin g D ee bur ied

.
in pr a yer .
In tw o d a ys K elle y w a s aga in submissiv e to the

,
spir its w h o ba de him n o t m istr ust

, L et him that .
is a ser van t a n d is com man ded to go go A n d let , .
n o t th e e ar th r is e up a n d str ive a a in st th e plowm an

g .
So they go o n ag ain with th eir c a ba listic letter s and

sign s In th e beginn ing of M a y D ee n otes : “ E K
.
, . .
is ver y well p er su aded o f thes e a ction s n o w thanked ,

”
b e th e Highe st .
L a ter in th e m on th h e s ays : Ther e happ en ed a

gr ea t stor m o r tem ptation to E K o f doubting an d . .
CRACOW 1 37
mistaking o ur instr uctor s an d their doings and o f ,
contemni ng and con demn ing a nything that I knew o r

could do I bar e a ll thin g s pa tien tly fo r G o d his
.
”
s ake K ell ey a t the s a me tim e s ays : I am contented
.
to see an d to mak e tr u e r epor t o f wh a t th ey will

show but my hear t stan deth ag ain st th em
, .
Tha t night after th e sittin g h e again swor e he ,
would no t go o n skr yin g Th e m or ning after D ee .

,
kn ocked at his stu dy door an d ba de him come fo r , ,
N alvag e h ad left o ff th e pr evious d ay in th e middle

of an inter estin g geogr aphical lesson about un kn ow n
p ar ts of th e ear th an d h ad told them to b e r ea dy to
,
continue it n ext mor n in g K elley w as obdur a te and

. ,
D ee r etir ed to pr ayer In h a lf a n hour th e skr yer

.
,
bur st in with a volum e of Cor n elius Agr ipp a s in his ’
hand wher e he said a ll th e countr ies they wer e told

,
about yester d ay wer e d escr ib ed and wr itten dow n .
”
What is the u se h e sa id in going o n with this
,
“
,
far ce if they tell us n othing n ew ? D ee r eplied that

,
h e w as glad to s ee K ell ey h ad such a book of his o w n ;

that N alvage in givin g thos e nin ety o n e n ew names o f -
countr ies all o f se ven le tter s w as an swer ing his par

, ,
ticular r eque st ; tha t h e ha d ver i fie d th e lan ds in th e

chart s o f G er ar du s Mer ca tor and P o m po nius Mela ,
”
which h e had at han d an d pr oduc ed an d n o w , ,
he s aid tr iumphan tly w e kn ow e x a ctly wha t an gels

,
govern which coun tr ies in c a s e w e ar e ever c alled to

,
”
pr actise th er e. N alvag e h a d de scr ib ed th e n ative s
of the countr ies an d th e pr oducts suggesting tha t in ,
Gr eenland a vein o f gold m ight b e foun d Your .
”
wilful ph an tasie D ee en ded to K elley p er ver ts your
, ,
r ea son ; and wh er ea s y o u fi n d fa ult with o ur instr uctor s ,

I who much mor e n ar r o w ly per use their wor ds kn ow

, ,
tha t th ey give dir ect an swer s to my question s except ,
in deed wh en you misr epor t th em o r I m a ke a m istake ,
in hear ing o r wr itin g S o thr ee da ys wer e lost as . ,
D ee b emoan s in th e m ar gin an d th en K elley w as ,
a ga in in duc e d to r esum e his skr yin

g .
O n th e 2 5 th L a ski ar r ive d an d left ag a in fo r,
K es m ar k H e n o w in ten de d to r e deem his pr op er ty

.
1
ther e But Kin g Stephan an d his Chan cellor wer e

.
both set a gain st h im a n d h e wish ed D ee to go with ,
him to th e E m p er or o f Austr ia Rudolph II , .
In str uction s wer e n o w gi ven that they m ust b e

r e a dy to go with L a ski to th e Emp er or m ust m ake ,
them s elves apt an d meet fo r un til n o r em em br an ce ,
o f wickedne ss is l eft a mon g them th ey c ann ot fo r
war d th e Lor d s e xp edition s Ga br iel tells K elley at

’
.
som e leng th o f his man y fa ults D ee did n o t hear .
this but con sider a tely does no t a sk fo r a r epetition

,
of th e c atalogue H e only bids Kelley listen well . .
G a br iel says if any will b e God s minister h e m ust ’
sweep his house clean without spot H e must no t , .
let his life b e a scan dal to th e will o f th e Lor d .
God fin ds thee as h e pa sses by in his Angel fit , ,
in m atter but m y br other God k n ows far un fit in

, , , ,
life 0 c on sider th e Dign ity o f thy cr ea tion S ee

. .
how God bear eth with thy in fir mity fr om tim e to

time Con sider h o w thou a r t n o w at a Tur n ing
.
wher e th er e lieth two w ay es O n e shall b e to thy ,

.
”
com for t th e other to p er petual w o e
, .
O n o f th o ld est t wn s in H un g y
e ey l f to wn in e o ar , a ro a r ee s c
1 380 It lie i th e v lley f th

. P ppe wit hin
s n h f th a o e o r, r eac o e
m gn ifi en t
a en e y f th e H o h e T t
c sc
g o up f th e Cen t al
r o a r a, a r o r
C p th i n M un ta in
ar a a o s .
him with beggary — a thin g a dds D ee th at h e m ost , ,
h ated and fear ed Th er efor e till this time h e h ad

.
,
been a hypocr ite N o w in his n ew foun d elation h e

.
,
-
,
car e s n o t fo r pover ty ; life e tern al is mor e than r iches

an d weal th H e th at can b e hir ed with mon ey to
.
for s ake th e devil is n o Chr istian H e w ill doubt no .
mor e but b elieve D ee a dds th at h e omits many

, .
other s of his godly sa ying s thin king th ese sufficien t ,
to w r ite down H e h a d n o suspicion of any ill faith

. .
His love fo r K elley w as tr uly un boun ded in its long

suffer ing H e offer e d a fer v en t thank sgivin g fo r the
.
’
con ver sion an d fo r S atan s defea t and praye d fo r them
, ,
both fo r con tinual zeal love o f tr uth pur ity of life , , ,

”
ch ar ita ble humility and constan t p atien c e to th e end .
Th e s a m e atmospher e con tin u e d n ext day Jun e 1 1 , .
K elle y pr otests h e could sit fo r s even year s awaiting a

vision . They do wait n ear ly four hour s Evidently .
'
K elley con v er t ed is n ot g oin g to b e s o good a m edium

as K e ll e y un r egener at e D ee e xplains th e n o n app ear
.
-
an c e as r etr ibution fo r th e thr e e da ys wa sted befor e .
But they ar e all r ather depre sse d esp ecially th e Pr in ce , .
Then a Vision app ear s o f th e c a stle o f Gr odn o ,

1
in Litta u wher e th e King o f Polan d then w as
, .
’
Stephan s ar ms ar e s een over th e gate A m an like an .
Italian is beh eld c arr ying a n ir on chest within which

,
a r e an image in bl ack w a x a dead h an d an d so o n , , .
Th e pr omis e is tha t L a sk i shall b e Kin g o f Polan d .
E ar ly n ex t morning Kelley lyin g a wake in b ed h ad , ,
a vision which h e o r D ee a fter war ds embodie d in th e
cur ious diagr am facing p 1 4 1 . .
It m ay b e taken as a s a mple o f the kin d o f intr ica te

1
In E ast Bo h emia o n th e iv e M ch n o t far fro m Aus te l it
,
r r ar , r z.
CRACOW 1 41
complic ation s o f theur gy which often a bsor bed th e

pair fo r days together .
Th e vision w a s e xpoun de d by Av e som ething in ,
the follow in g mann er
A V I SI O N .
E ast an d West Nor th and South sta n d four

, ,
sumptuous an d belliger en t C a stle s o ut o f which ,
soun d Tr u m pe ts thr ic e Fr om ev er y C a stle a Cloth

.
, ,
th e sig n o f M aj esty is c a st In th e E a st it is r ed
, .
,
like n ew sm itten blood

-
In th e South lily white
.
,
- .
In th e We st gr een gar lick bla d ed like th e skin s o f

, ,
-
man y dr agon s In th e Nor th ha ir coloure d bla ck

.
,
-
,
like bilberr y juic e Four tr um peter s issue fr om th e

.
Ca stles with tr um p ets pyr a midal o f six con es

, , ,
wr ea the d Thr ee En sign bear er s with th e n a m e s o f

.
,
God o n their bann er s follow th em S enior s King s

, .
, ,
Pr in ce s as tr a in b ear er s An gels in four ph ala n x es like

,
cr osse s all in their or der mar ch to th e c entral Cour t

, , ,
and r ange th ems elv e s about th e en sign s .
VA N I S H E T H
Ir
'
.
Th e dazzling shifting for m a tion seems to pr oceed in

,
a glor ious p ag ean t O f colour an d then to r est fr oz en , ,
into a min utely e xa ct ph an ta stico n o f ha r m on y .
Now fo r th e meaning O f th e a ll egor y Th e C a stles .
are Wa tch tow er s r ovi de d a ain st th e D evil th e

p g ,
Wa tchma n in ea ch i s a mighty an gel Th e en sign s .
publish th e r edem ption o f m an kin d Th e An g els of .
th e Air e s which co m e out o f th e C r oss e s ar e to

, ,
subver t whole countr ies w ithout ar m ie s in this w ar , ,
wag ed again st th e Power s o f D ar k n ess .
M any weeks wer e taken up with table s o f letter s

fo r th e e xposition o f this vision an d with e xplainin g ,
th e n a m e s o f the s e g at es a ng els s en ior s etc , , , .

Kelley is a gain sometim es ver y much tempted to

doubt th e good faith o f th e ang elic visitan ts mor e ,
esp ecia lly as h e s a dly fear s th a t g ood an gels will no t
pr ovide th em with th e n ee dful m on ey tha t th e Pr ince

r equir e s fo r th e succ e ss o f his c a us e O n e d ay D ee .
,
wr ote in his di ar y : E K h a d th e M egr o m sor e . . .

”
K elley r ea d this an d A gr ea t tempta tion fell o n

,
E K upon E K tak in g th ese wor ds to b e a scoff

. .
, . .
,
which wer e wor ds o f com p a ssion a n d fr ien dship .

’
After this D ee r esor ts mor e fr equen tly to th e u se of

his Gr eek char a cter s .
Th e D ees wer e still livin g n ear th e chu r ch O f St .
Steph en wher e Kelley w a s a fr equen t V isitor L a ski

, .
lodge d w ith th e Fr an cisc an s in th eir con ven t Th e l

.
r ev el a tion s wer e n o w o f table s o f letter s again !

,
i n tende d D ee thinks th a t th ey m ay lear n th e n ames

, ,
o f a n gels a n d distin guish th e b ad fr om th e good .
(Th e b ad an gels n ame s ar e s aid to b e all of thr ee

letter s ) H e hopes A ve is a bout to r eveal th e heal
.
ing m edicin e s ; th e pr op er ty o f fi r e ; th e kn owl edg e ,
fin din g a n d u se o f m etals th e Vir tues O f ston es an d

, ,
th e un d er sta n di n g O f a r ts m e ch an ic a l But A ve says .
it is th e wicke d spir its who give m on ey coin ed ,
a lthoug h th er e ar e good angels who can fi n d m et als ,
gather th em an d u se th em Then M a dim i app ear s .

,
a fter a lon g a bs en c e an d a ddr e ssin g D ee as my ,
gen tle br oth er tells him tha t A v e is a g ood cr ea tur e

,
a nd the y m ight h a v e m a de m or e of him Sh e wan ts .
to kn ow why th ey h a ve n o t gon e to th e E m p er or
Rudolph Th e Old excus e o f pover ty is plea ded
.
.
1
Th e r efecto r y o h
f t is co n v en t is no w use d as a te c hn ica l an d
in dustr i l m u
a se um .
”N
S O r al -
THE VI I
S ON O F TH E FOU R C AST LE S .
( S ee a
.
CRACOW 1 43
That evening June 2 6 at s even o clock D ee sat in

, ,
’
his study con sid er ing the day s a ction wh en Kelley ’
enter ed and a ske d if h e un der stood it H e it s eems .

, ,
h ad bur st out again h ad r age d a nd a bus e d Michael ,
an d G a br iel c all ed A ve a devil m ade hor r ible

, ,
”
speeches Ther e h a d been a most ter r ible stor m o f
.
thun der and r ain an d Kelley always appear ed sen sitive

,
to these ele ctr ic distur ban c es N o w h e is pen iten t .
once m or e a ckn owledge s his wor ds wer e no t

,
”
dec ent and begs for giv en e ss o f God and D ee Th e
, .
talk la sted lon g an d sever a l calls to supp er wer e

,
unheeded ; th en just a s the y wer e lea vin g th e r oom

, ,
Kelley felt som ethin g war m and hea vy o n his shoulder ,
and b ehold ! it w a s A v e co m e t o a ckn owle dge his
r ep ent an c e D ee han ds him his Ps a lter book an d

.
,
with thr ee prayer s devoutly said all is smooth again , ,
and th ey go down to supp er .
Dee s patien c e an d hum ility seem ed un en ding In

’
.
conver sin g with th e spir its h e is alwa ys a s it wer e , ,
face to fa ce with God His r eplies ar e m a de dir ect .
to th e Maj esty o f the Divine W h en K ell ey is blamed .
he assum e s e qu al bla me .
AVE . Which o f yo u ha ve sought th e Lor d fo r

th e Lor d his s ake
D . Tha t God can judge W e vaun t n othin g o f .
o ur doin gs n o r challen ge an ythin

, g by th e p er fe ction
o f o u r doin s
g W e challeng e n othin g Lor d up on
.
, ,
an m e r its but fly un to thy m e r cy an d th a t w e cr a ve

y , ,
and ca ll fo r Cur iosity is far fr om o ur in tents

. .
CHAPTER XII
FR O M CR A C OW TO P R A G UE
S in c e all b i th m pl y p i
m en fr o m th eir t in t ll t r e o s e n se r or o e ec ,
a nd e nar ily fi t nve

e cessa r n t w ith ibl e t h in grs m co r sa s en s s so e,
p din g f th pass th ug h lif n id i g th e fi st

r o ce e no ar er , ro e co s er n es as r
an d l t; d pp e h e d i g wh t i p infu l t
as an a b e evil wh t i
r n n a s a o , a s
pl t g
ea s a n d t hey d m it suffi i t t h un th n
oo ,
eed pu u c en o s e o e an rs e
th th
e o S m p ete din g t g
er . ote t h n th e est
e r n t m o r ea r r e a so n a r , es ee
t hi wi d m
s lik
s t h b un d b i d s t h ugh th ey h v wi g t h y
o e ea r - o r ,
o a e n s e
are un ble t fly
a Th t s ul
o f th . w uld ll t h m f m
e s e cr e o s o o er s o r e ca e ro
p lea u st w r thie pu uit b ut t h ey

re o o nn t : th y h
r rs th s, ca o s o ar e c o o se e
l w w y nd t iv i v in Thi dly t h
o er a , a s r th —di vin e m n
e n a . r , er e ar e o se e
— wh y s pi e th o ug h l ud d d k n t th upe n l
o se e e er c r c o s an ar e ss o e s r a
vi i n whe t hey b ide i th i w n l wful un t y —PL N U

s o , re a as n e r o a co r .
'
Or 1 S .
AL L th is
tim e D ee is so a bsolutely a bsor bed with ,
his spir itua l visions tha t w e kn ow ver y little about

his outer e xisten ce Fo r thr ee year s a fter h e left .
En glan d h e n eg le cte d to e n ter a nythin g in his

,
or din ar y diar y an d th e L iber M ys ticus contains ,
n othin g O f ever yd a y a ffa i r s .
In this July 1 5 8 4 howev er a t C r a cow h e does , , , ,
en t er an i m p or t an t pi e c e o f in for m a tion a bout his boy
Ro wlan d th e ba by then about a y ea r an d a h alf Old

, .
Rem em ber tha t o n S atur da y th e four teen th

1 5 84 .
d ay o f July by th e G r egor ian C a len da r a n d th e ,
four th day of July by th e o ld C alen dar R o w lan de ,
my childe (w h o w a s bor n An n o 1 5 83 Jan uar y 2 8 ,
by th e old c alen dar ) w a s extr eam ely sick a bout n oon

o r mid da y a n d by o n e o f th e clock w a s r ea dy to
g ive
-
,
1 46 LIFE OF DR . J OHN DEE
foun ded by Char les IV in 1 38 3 in whose hall John

.
,
Huss a hun dr ed and fifty year s b efor e h ad held his

disputations When D ee an d his par ty arr ive d in th e
.
city Tycho B r ahe w a s still alive though n o t y et a r esi ,
d ent in Pr ague Pr a gue w as th e city O f alch emists

.
.
Th e sombr e melan choly E m p er or him s elf r eliev ed his

,
mor e ser ious studie s by e xp er im en ts in alchemies and

physics A mania fo r coll e cting r are and valuable
.
O bj e cts pr ovide d him with a still lig hter pastime .
H e pain ted r ead much and wor ked in ir on w as a

, , ,
good lin guist an d a r egular dile ttan te Unmarr ied

, .
,
an d with all th e w ea kn ess e s o f th e H ab sb ur gh s fo r ,
n ear ly thir ty y ear s o ut o f his lon g life an d far to o
p r otra cted r eign he w as quite m a d N o t many year s .
after his r ec eption O f D ee h e c ea s ed to make any
pr eten ce O f public appear an c e .
Th e e xc ell ent little study o r stove (fr om stu b e ,
G er man fo r study ) in D r H ageck s house had been

.
‘ ’
sinc e 15 1 8 the a bode o f som e student O f alchemy ,
skilful Of th e holy sto ne Th e n a me O f th e alch emist

.
,
”
Simon w as wr itten up in letter s of gold and silver
,
in several pla ce s in th e r oom ’

D ee s eyes als o fell . .
daily o n man y ca balistic hier oglyphs a s well as o n ,
dr awings o r car vin gs Of bir ds fishe s flower s fr uits , , , ,
leaves an d six vesse ls all th e wor k h e pr esumed of

, , ,
S imo n ba cca la ur eus P r ag ensis O ver the door wer e

.
th e lin es
Immor tale De cus par glo r iaq u e illi deb entur

”
Cujus ab in g en o est discolor hic p ari es
i
,
and o n the
south wall of th e study w as a long quota
tion fr om some philosophical wor k endin g w ith
FROM CRACO W TO PRAGUE 1 47
Ar s ostr a est Ludus pu er O cum labor m ulier u m

n .
Scito te o m n es fi lii a r tis h uj u s quod n emo potest ,
co llig er e fr uctus n ostri E lixir is n i si

per in tr o itu m ,
n ostr i la idis E le m en ta ti e t si a li am vi a m
p q u eer it
, ,
viam n un qua m intr ab it n ec attinget Rubigo est .
Opus quod sit ex solo aur o dum intr av er it in su am

, ,
hum iditatem .
In these congeni al sur r oundings skr yin g w as at

once r esumed M a dimi (no w gr own in to a wom an )
.
w as th e fir st visitor an d D ee ha sten e d to in quir e fo r

,
his wife an d childr en at C r a cow H e n otes tha t his .
fir st letter fr om h er ar r ived o n th e 2 1 st S h e join ed .
him befor e long H e w a s told to wr ite to th e

.
Em per or Rudolph H e did so o n August 1 7 an d h e

.
r elates in th e e istle th e fa vour able atten tion h e h a s

p
r ec eive d fr om Ch ar le s V a n d his br oth er F er din an d
.
,
Rudolph s fa ther th e E m per or M a ximilian II w h o

’
acc e te d th e dedic ation O f his book M o n as H ier o

p
g lyp hica an d other s O f th e imp er i a l hous e
, H e sign s .
th e le tter H um illim u s et fi delis sim u s clientulu s

,
Joanne s D ee .
After waitin g a week h e sen t th e letter by L a sk i s ’
secr etary to th e Spanish ambass a dor D o n Guglielmo ,
de S ancto Clem en te w ho w as to pr es ent it to ,
Rudolph With it h e a lso s en t a copy o f his M o nas

. .
The s am e n ight h e hear d by Emer ich Son tag th e ,
secr etar y tha t th e E m p er or ha d gr aciously a ccepted

,
th e book an d within thr e e o r four d ays would

,
appoin t a time fo r
gi vin g him a udien ce .
H e r e ceive d letter s fr om E nglan d o n August 2 7 ,
which wer e d ated Apr il 1 5 and 1 6 His br other in .

-
law Nicholas Fr omon d told him that M r Gilb er t

, , .
,
L 2
M r Sled
. his bookseller h ad use d him ver y ill
, an d .
Doubtless h e w as e xpe cting some mon ey fr om th e

sale O f his books M r s D ee w a s much ups et a t h er
. .
br other s defe ction s a nd poor D ee w a s wor r ie d all

’
r oun d fo r as h e wr ite s in th e m ar gin o f his di ar y

, , ,
”
S a tan is ver y busy with E K a bout this tim e . .
.
K ell ey s eem s to ha ve b een ma kin g fr ien ds with young

Sim on H ageck s o n o f o ur host a s D ee c alls him
, ,
.
To fur nish his o w n study h e h a d bought a clock O f

M r s H ag eck fo r fi ve ducats which w a s so good a
.
,
b ar g ain that sh e r equ e sted a quar t o f win e (pr o

ba bly a quar ter hogsh ea d ) thr ow n in S h e her self .
do es n o t s eem to h ave ben efite d m uch by th e largess ,
fo r K ell ey an d L a sk i s m a n Al e x an d er p r oceed ed to
’
g et dr un k o n it an d fell to fightin g and qu arr elling

, .
D ee w h o h ad sta ye d w r itin g in his study in stea d o f

,
going to supp er w a s war n ed by th e city wa tchman to

,
kee p better pea ce in his hous e Lookin g fr om his .
win dow to a ccoun t fo r th e c a ution h e saw L a ski s ,

’
m an sittin g o n a gr eat stone an d c a ll ed h im to come ,
in. Wh en h e h ad hear d the tale h e wen t o ff to

”
H ag eck s to u n d er stan d th e ver y tr uth and ther e
’
foun d K ell ey lyin g in a dr unken sleep o n a for m .
This w a s a r e lief H e w a s b etter please d to think

.
tha t a n gry wor ds h ad been sp oken wh en win e n o t ,

”
a n d p er sua de d L a ski s m an to st ay
’
w it h a d r ule
, ,
in his lodgings tha t n ight in stea d o f r agin g for th

in to th e str eet Alr ea dy a sc an da l h a d b een ma de
.
which h e for esaw would do him m uch h ar m Ne xt .
mor nin g Kelley h ad a ma dder fit than ever .
Much a do Emer ich and his br other (Thoma s

.
Kelley ) and I h ad to stop o r hold him fr om goin g o n

E m er icu s to th e Lor d Chamber la in Octavius S pin ola , ,
to ann oun c e his com in g .
Spin ola ca m e to m e ver y cour teously a nd led m e

by th e skir t O f th e g own thr ough th e dinin g ch am ber
,
to th e P r iv ie cha m ber wher e th e E m per or sat at a

,
ta ble w ith a gr eat che st an d stan dish Of silver befor e

,
him an d m y M o n a d an d L etter s by h im
, .
Rudolph th ank ed D ee politely fo r th e book (which

w as d edic a t e d to his fa th er
) a ddin g tha t it w a s too ,
h ar d fo r his c ap a city to un der stan d ; bu t h e en cour aged

th e E nglish philosoph er to say o n all th a t w a s in his
m in d D ee r e coun te d his life histor y at so m e len gth
.
,
and told how fo r for ty ye a r s he h ad sought w ithout ,
fi n din g tr u e wisdom in books an d m en ; how God

,
h ad s en t him His Light Ur iel who fo r two year s , ,
an d a h a lf with oth er sp ir its

, h ad ta ug ht him h ad , ,
finishe d his books fo r him a n d h ad br ought him a ,
ston e Of m or e value tha n any ear thly kingdom This .
a n gelic fr i en d h a d given him a m e ss a ge to de liver to
Rudolph H e w a s to bid him for sa ke his sin s a nd turn

.
to th e Lor d D ee w a s to show him th e Holy Vision

. .
This my com m ission is fr om God I feign .
n othing n eith er a m I a hypoc r ite a n a mbitious m an

, , ,
o r dotin g o r d r ea min g in this c aus e If I speak .
other wise than I ha ve just c a us e I for s ake my ,
s a lva tion sa id h e , .
Rudolph w as pr oba bly ver y m uch bor ed by this

m ystical r hap sody H e e xcus e d him self fr om s eeing
.
th e vision a t this ti m e an d s aid h e would h ear m o r e

,
later H e pr omised fri en dship and p atr on age a nd

.
,
D ee w ho s a ys h e h ad told a lm ost m or e tha n h e

,
in ten ded o f his pur pos es to th e in ten t the y might ,

FROM CRACOW TO PRAGUE 15 1
get some r oo t o r better stick in his min de w as fain ,
to take his lea ve In a few days h e w a s in for med

.
,
thr ough th e Spanish a m bass ador tha t o n e Doctor ,
Cur tius O f th e Pr ivy Coun cil a w ise lear n ed a n d

, , , ,
”
faithful coun cillor w a s to b e s ent to listen to him o n
,
’
th e E m p er or s b eha lf Ur iel whose h ea d h ad b een .
,
boun d o f la te in a bla ck silk m our nin g sc ar f bec ause

’
of Kelley s m isdoin gs n o w r eapp ear e d in a wheel of ,
fi re and an n oun ced fav our to Rudolph

, .
If h e live r ighteously a n d follow m e tr uly I w ill ,
hold up his house w ith pillar s Of hiacin th and his ,
cham b er s sha ll b e full o f modesty and com for t I .
will br in g th e E ast win d over h im a s a L a dy of

Com for t a n d sh e shall sit upon his ca stle s with
,
Tr ium ph and sh e sha ll sleep w ith j o y

, .
“
To D ee h e says h a s b een given th e spir it of
, ,
choice D ee p etition s tha t his un der stan din g O f tha t

.
“
dar k sayin g m ay b e Open ed : Dwell thou in m e O ,
”
Lo r d fo r I am fr ail an d without th ee ver y blin d
, .
Th e con fer en c e b etween D ee an d Cur tius o n

S eptem b er 1 5 la sted fo r six hour s It took pla c e at .
th e Austr ian s house whither D ee w a s p er mitte d it

’
, ,
s eem s to take th e m agi c stone an d th e books of th e

,
dealings D ee in all g ood fa ith pr om is ed tha t m an y

.
e xc ell en t things should hap en to Rudolph if onl y

p ,
h e would listen to th e voic e o f U r iel Dee s sin c er ity ’

.
,
cr edulous though it appear s w a s a s y et un sha ken , .
H e lived in a tr an sc en den tal a tm ospher e a n d ,
tr embled a s h e b elieved o n th e br ink o f a g r ea t

, ,
r evel ation Th e v er y h ea ven s s eemed Op enin g to

.
him an d soon h e thought h e would pr ob e kn owledge

, , ,
to its hear t .
K elley , on other han d w a s un der n o delusion

th e ,
.
H e h a d wor ke d th e spir it m yster y fo r lon g en ough

w i thout pr ofit ; alr ea dy h e w a s b eginnin g to mor e
than suspe ct that th e g am e w a s pla ye d out ; tha t th eir

dr ea m s o f L a sk i a s Kin g o f Polan d dispe n sin g wealth ,
a n d fa vour to his two h e lper s wer e n ever to b e ,
r ea lis e d ; tha t th e Emp er or s fa vour would b e equ ally

’
chim er ical an d vain ; an d th a t som e m or e pr ofitable

occupation h a d better b e sought At th e ba ck Of .
his m in d lay a lways th e hope o f th e golden s ecr et .
Som ehow a n d som ewh er e this la st a spir a tion Of th e

a lch em ist m ust b e r ea lis e d .
At th e ver y tim e wh en th e two learn ed doctor s

wer e holding their confa bulation K elley says D ee
'
, , ,
w a s visite d at th eir lod in gs with a wicke d spirit

g
w h o told him th a t D ee s com p anion would u se him
’
like a ser p en t com p a ssin g his d estr uction with both

,
head an d tay le ; a n d tha t o ur pr a ctic es would never

”
com e to a n y fr uitful en d .
This w a s a tr ue pr oph e cy in deed but m a n y things ,
wer e y et to com e to pa ss .
Ur iel n o w in str ucts D ee to wr ite to th e E m p er or

a n d t ell h im tha t h e can m ake th e philosopher s ’
ston e : in oth er wor ds that h e can tr an sm ute b a se

,
m et al in to gold In th e n ext br eath Ur ie l for e

.
tells th a t Rudolph sha ll b e succ eede d by his br other

E rn est fo r when h e see s a nd poss esses gold (which is
,
th e thin g h e d e sir eth a n d thos e th a t cou n s el h im do

,
a lso most d esir e ) h e sh all p er ish a n d his en d shall

, ,
b e terr ible D ee shall b e br ought s a fely ho m e to

.
Englan d . Ur iel used a cur ious simile that D ee ,

”
shall asc en d th e hills a s the spid er s do D ee with .
,
1 54 LIFE OF DR JOHN D EE .
w ithout but go h e will H e will s ell his cloth es

h er , .
and
go to H am bur g an d so to E nglan d
, It is all .
ver y well fo r th e spir its to pr om is e spir itual covenants

an d blessin gs ; but as K elle y s aid to U r iel When ,
will y o u give us mea t dr in k an d clo athin g

,
At this tim e th e wom en an d childr en did join the

par ty fr om Cr a cow a lthough D ee does no t r ecor d it
,
in his diar y But o n S eptember 2 7 D r C ur tius

. .
c alled to s ee him at his lodgin g in D r H ageck s house .

’
by Bethlem an d h e s ays
1
, s aluted my Wife and
,
little K ath er in e my d aughter

, D ee l aid b efor e him
.
some o f th e Slan der s th at h e kn ew wer e g oin g about .
H e h ad b een c all e d a t C lemen te s table a b ankr upt

’
alch em ist a conjur or an d n ecr o m antist w ho h ad

, ,
sold his o w n goods and given th e pr oc eeds to L aski ,
whom he h ad beg uiled a n d no w h e w as going to

,
fawn upon the Emp er or Cur tius w as at last indirced

.
to spr ea d befor e th e Emp er or his r epor t Of the

confer en c e h e h a d h eld (by com m an d ) with D ee .
Rudolph said Cur tius

, thin ks th e things you
,
have told him a lmost either in cr edible o r impossible .
”
H e wan ts y o u to show him th e books Then the .
talk b ec ame th e learn e d gossip Of a couple o f bookish

an d er udite scholar s D ee pr oduce d some r ar e
.
e ditio n s which th e oth er h a d n ever s een Cur tius .
Offer ed th e loan o f o n e Of his o w n wor ks D e S up er ,
fi ciem m D ivisib n ibus pr in te d a t P e s ar o After this

, .
,
with mutu al cour t esi es Offer ed o n both p ar ts after ,

”
th e m ann er O f th e wor ld Cur tius took his hor se and
, ,
r etu r ned homewar d .
1
Th e stre et is s till ca lle d Be thl e h em s Ga ss e It . r un s fr o m th e
H uss Stra sse to th e em b ank m en t o n t h e Mo lda u .
FROM CRACOW TO PRAGU E 155
Jan e D ee w a s a iling a t this time an d D ee w a s ,
much distr essed Ga br iel when con sulted told him

.
, ,
that th e tr ue m edicine is tr ust in th e God o f Hosts

and in His S o n Chr ist Th e L am b O f Life is th e
.
tr ue m edecin e o f com for t an d con solation H e did .

,
however con d escen d to give a r em ar kable pr escr iption

,
fo r h er u se con cocted o f a pin t of wheat a live

, ,
pheasan t cock eleven oun ce s o f white a mb er an d an

, ,
ounce of r ed win e all distilled together D ee though

, .
,
no Chr istian Scien tist w a s willin g en ough to a dmin ist er

,
the strange d e coction but s a ys h e k n ows no t wher e

,
o r how to g et a cock ph ea s ant In th e spr in g Of th e .
next y ear Ja ne s four th child Michael w as bor n

,
’
, , .
H e w a s a lwa ys r a ther sickly a n d died when n in e ,
year s Old Theodor e h er fifth child w as only

.
, ,
thir teen when h e too die d b ut a ll th e six other ,
childr en gr ew up .
Cur tius an d D ec bec a me good fr iends Th e .
Austr ian showed his E n glish a cquainta n ce sever al

of his in ven tion s conn ected with th e quadr ant a n d
with a str on omica l table s a n d D ee confided to him ,
the s ecr et of a b a tter in g gla ss h e h ad con tr ive d fo r

taking Obser vation s o n a d a r k night Th e glass w as .
left at Cr a cow with his books an d oth er goods but ,
h e would gla dly go an d fetch it to show th e Emp er or .
This led to D e e s r equ est fo r a pa sspor t to en able him

’
to tr a vel with ser vants, w ife an d childr en wher e h e

, ,
would in th e E m p er or s domin ion s at any tim e within

’
a year . H e dr ew it up hims elf o n October

and th e E m p er or gran t ed it without d emur D ee .
soon star te d fo r Cr a cow to br ing th e r e st of his goods

to Pr a gue but th e diar y fo r th e m onth O f Nove mb er i s
,
missing an d th e followin g book op en s o n D ece mb er 1 0

, ,
when h e h a d set o u t fr om C r a cow to r etur n to

Pr ague M a ster Kelley w a s with h im John
. ,
C r ocker a n d Rowla n d an d his n ur s e w h o h a d been

, ,
left behin d when M r s D ee an d th e tw o elder childr en

.
join ed h er husb an d in Pr a gu e As b efor e m or e than .

,
a we ek w a s occup ie d w ith th e jour n ey which w as ,
ma d e in a coa ch w i th hor s es boug ht o f Ma ster

,
”
Friz er In Pr a gu e a n ew lodgin g w as foun d in a
.
ho use b elongin g to two sister s O f whom o n e w as ,
m ar r i ed to M r Chr istopher Chr istian th e r egistr ar

.
,
Of Old Pr a gu e D ee hir e d th e whole house fr om

.
h im at a r en t o f 7 0 dollar s o r th aler s a year ,
to b e pa id quar ter ly .
O n S atur day after n oon J an u ar y 1 2 1 5 85 I , , ,
r e m ove d cl ean fr om Doctor H ag eck his hous e by ,
B edlem a n d c a m e with a ll m y hous ehold to the

,
Hous e which I h a d hir e d o f th e two sister s (mar ried )

n o t far fr om th e M ar ket Pla c e in O ld P r age .
He oun ce d his r etur n to th e Spanish ambas

a nn
s a dor a n d to D r Cur tius an d con tin ued his in ter

.
,
views w ith th e schoolm a ster da ily .
Some o f th e sittings r e cor d ed at this time a re r eally

O f th e n a tur e of school le sson s which to a m an of ,
’
D ee s a cquir ements m ust ha ve s eeme d r ather elemen
tar y y et h e hum ble d him self a s a child to lear n
, .
O n e day geogr aphica l an d e thn ogr ap hica l in for ma

tion is imp ar te d a bout Am er ica o r a s D ee calls , ,
it
, Atlan tis C athay ; th e B a ctr i an d eser t ; an d
P h alago n a coun tr y o f which D ee s ays h e n ev er
,
h ear d An oth er day m in er als an d th eir pr op er ties

.
,
for m the subj ect Of th e lesson .

th e beauty and excellen cy O f God s spir it fo r which ’
h e w a s cr eated ) ; Of th e s a cr a m en t o f Chr ist s body ,

”
th e holy sign o f p e a c e b etwe en God an d m an ;
a n d th e m yster y an d wo n d er of th e r ite a s shown to
th e discip les n o t a s th e wick ed do

, ,
tying th e power
,
a n d maj e sty O f God a nd His o m ni oten ce to th e tail

p
o r en d o f r e a so n to b e haled a s sh e w ill
,
. It
is a holy m ir a cle an d thou m ust b elieve as the
, ,
Disciples did tha t thou par takest O f th e tr u e Body

,
o f Ch r ist sub
f m But r e c e ivin g c ea sing
'
o r er
p a m s .
,
th e S a cr a m en t c ea s e th a lso This in an swer to

.
’
D ee s in ter p os ed question Th e Hussite doctr ine of
.
th e p er m an en c e o f th e s a c r e d elem en t in th e com m on
’
food when on c e bless ed w as o f cour se m uch in m en s
m in ds in Pr a gu e S O with an injun ction to shar e
.
”
this doctr in e w ith your wiv es this e xposition
,
en ds .
CHAPTER XIII
A D REAM OF G OL D
N o w , E picur e ,
Heigh ten lk t
t hy lf se ld ,
ta o h e r all in g o ,
R in h e
a s m
r a y h w J v did d o p
an s o er s as o e r s
U t h i D n id h w th g ld m i
n o s a a , s e e o a s er
C mp
o d with M mm
ar e Wh t ! th e t e will d
a on . a s on o
’
t
Sh h ll feel go ld t te go ld h g ld le p g ld
e s a ,
as ,
ear o , s e o .
J O N ON
S , The Alchemist .
ON Febr uar y 2 7 1 5 8 5 D ee a n d Kelle y w ith , ,
Thom as K elley r od e with g r ea t s ecr e cy to Limbur g

, ,
six mil es fr om Pr agu e in Ob e di en c e to M a dim i w h o , ,
however told th em o n arr ivin g tha t Rudolph kn ew o f

their dep ar tur e D ee susp e cted L a ski s m an Sontag
.
’
, ,
O f trea ch er y Michael app ear ed to th em ther e an d

.
,
instr ucted D ee to n ame his n ew bor n child Michael - .
The in fan t w as b aptise d by th e Cour t chaplain in

Prague C ath edr al (which is dedicated to th e ver y
unpopular S ain t Vitus ) o n M ar ch 1 8 th e S panish ,
am ba ss ador b ein
g godfa ther an d th e L a dy Dietr ic h
stein wife of th e E m per or s major dome g odm other
,
’
-
, .
Kelley w as still m ur m ur ing un der th e mystic al

dealin g s O f th e angels L et them give m e som e wh a t .
pr ofita ble to my body o r som e wisdom to my min d s ,

’
behoof an d then I will beli eve in them h e says

, ,
.
Then h e pr otests h e will confess all to th e pr i est an d ,
if th e holy father doe s n o t allow their doings o r

coun s el to b e g enuin e n either will h e , .
Th e ma r ka ble an swer tha t D ee giv es aga in shows

re
us h o w in a dvan ce h e w a s o f his tim es in m a tter s

spir itua l a s well a s s c ien tific Th e a uthor ity of .
g ood an g e ls o r m e ss en g er s fr om God is gr ea ter s ays ,

”
he , than th e a uthor ity o f th e Pope o r pr ie sts ,
.
S O th e w eeks wen t o n K elley postpon ed th e day

.
o f t akin t h e s a c r am en t At E a st er will b e a fit
g .
tim e H e will wa it till then H e is tir e d O f skr ying

. .
I pr ay y o u dea l with a n other H er e is John a boy .

,
Yo u m ay u se him
”
in th e hous e . Thus fo r the .
,
thir d time a boy is suggested

, .
It is a cur ious pie ce O f p sychology o r cr ystallo ,
man cy that K elley w h o posse ssed th e m ediumistic

, ,
power s w a s a lways so r eluctant to u se them while

, ,
D ee w h o a s M a dim i told him h ad cl ear er sight than

, , ,
his skr yer w as en tir ely un able to Open up co mm unica

,
tion with th e un seen .
Mon ey w as scar c er than ever My wife being in .
gr eat per plexity r equested E K an d m e that the

, . .
ann e x e d p etition might b e pr opou n d e d to God an d
his good a ngels to g ive a n swer o r coun s el in th e

,
’
c a use . Jan e s p etition set out sim ply tha t they had
n o pr ovision fo r mea t a nd d r in k fo r th eir fa mily that ,
it would discr edit th e a ction s wh er ewith th ey are

vowe d an d lin ked un to th e hea venly maj esty to lay
th e or n a men ts O f th eir hous e o r cov er in gs O f th eir
bodies in p a wn to th e Jews an d tha t th e city w as full ,
o f m alicious S lan der s Aid and dir ection a r e implor ed

.
h o w o r by whom they ar e to b e a id e d an d r eli e ved .
Th e spir its while r em in din g h er gr a n diloqu en tly that

,
sh e is only a woma n fu ll o f in fi r m ities fr a il in soul

, , ,
an d n o t fit to enter th e syn agogu e

yet fa vo ur ably ,
Kelley like a spoilt child d eman de d o f Mich ael if

, ,
h e should h ave his cir cle o f letter s Th e an gel .
a ddr e ss ed him th en in a p a ss age o f e xc e edin g b ea uty ,
s eem in g to scor ch an d wither th e pr om ptin g s of th e

skr yer s e vil n a tur e while wr e stling a t th e sam e tim e
’
with all th e power s o f dar kn ess fo r his soul

O J eho va h whose look is m or e ter r ible to thy
,
a n els th an all th e fi r e s thou h a st cr ea te d wilt

g ,
thou suffer o n e m a n to b e c a r r ie d a wa y to th e dis ,
hon our in g a n d tr ea ding un d er foot o f th ee a n d thy

light o f th ee a n d thy tr uth ? C a n o n e m an b e d ear er
,
un to th ee than th e whole wor ld w a s ? Sha ll th e heaven s

”
b e thr own h ea dlong down a n d h e go un corr e cte d ?,
H e in tim ate s to th e pa r tn er s th a t th eir wor k and

c allin g is gr eater th an hon our , m on ey pr ide and ,
j e wels . As it is gr ea t , so m ust th eir tem pta tion s b e

g r ea t .
Th er e for e G o d h a s fr am e d o n e of y o u a s a stiffe
m a de Ashe to bin d u p th e con tin u an c e o f his wor k
, ,
”
a n d to b e fr ee fr o m
yie ldin g u nto S a tan .
As fo r th e other Michael pr om ises K elley tha t n o

,
e vil spir it sh a ll visibly show hi m s elf u n to him any
mor e a s lon g a s h e is in th e fl e sh .
Whosoe ver ther efor e a ppear eth her eafter is of

”
good .
Thus b egin s to ya wn be for e th e pair th e m ost

danger ous pitfall o f all Pr ide a nd con fiden ce in th e
.
p er fe ct in tuition an d kn owledge o f God s will h as led ’
m an y a good a n d holy m an a str a y Soon even th e .
s ti ff m a d e a sh is to ar r ive a t th e pitch o f b e li eving

-
A DREAM OF GOLD 163
that their teacher s can n ot err and then comes a ,
terrible down fall Mich ael in a n exquisite little

.
par able bids them clea ve fa st together A nd a ga in it .
is clear why th e elder m an th e seeker after hidden ,
knowledg e th e pur e min de d a nd gentle hear te d o ld

,
- -
mathem atician and a str olog er though torn in pie c e s ,

’
w ith his p ar tner s wild outbur sts his n otor ious ,
cupidity im patien ce an d e vil living year n ed o ver

, , ,
him an d his r eb ellious youth a s a mother ov er h er

child Like Mich ael h e s eem s involved in a p r o
.
,
long ed str uggle fo r th e r escu e o f his soul fr om th e

demon s in whose power h e devoutly b eli eved .
PA R AB OL A DE N o nrs D UO BUS .
A wood gr ew up an d th e tr ees wer e youn g a n d 10 !

, ,
ther e a r os e a gr eat T emp est fr om th e Nor th a n d th e ,
S ea s thr ew o ut th e air tha t h ad subtilly stolen him s elf

into them A nd th e win ds wer e great
. A n d b ehold .
ther e w a s o ne Tr ee which w a s Older than th e r est a n d ,
ha d g r own longer than tha t which shot up by him .
This Tr ee could no t b e m oved with the win d but th e ,
Tree tha t w a s young w a s m oved to an d fr o with the

w in d an d str ook hims elf often tim e s upon th e stiff set
,
-
tree Th e Forr ester cam e an d b eheld and said within

.
,
him self The for ce o f this wi n d is gr eat S e e this

, .
young Tr ee beateth him se lf in pieces again st th e

gr eater I will go hom e an d will br in m y gr oun d
.
,
instr um ents an d will er ad ica te him an I w ill pla ce

, ,
him far ther o ff Then if th e win ds come h e shall

.
,
’
have r oom to move But when h e came hom e th e .
,
Lor d of th e Wood s eeing him in a r ea diness with his

Ma ttock an d his spad e a ske d him o f his goin gs , ,
which told th e thin g in or der unto his M a ster But .
10 ! his M a ster r ebuke d him an d h e s a id thus ,
When the win ds ar e no t they in cr ease they ar e no t , ,
M 2
hur tful o n e to th e other Suffer th em ther efor e . .
W hen th e young Tr ee taketh r o ots a n d shall look ,
u p un to som e y e ar s his r oots sha ll lin k th em s elve s

,
with a n d un d er th e r oots o f th e gr ea ter Then .

,
thoug h th e w i n d s c om e the y shall n o t b e hur tful ,
o n e to a n oth er but sha ll st a n d so m uch th e m o r e fa st

, ,
by h o w m uch th e m or e they ar e wr appe d tog eth er ;

e a wh en th e o ld tr ee with er eth h e sh a ll b e a
y , ,
str en gth u n to h im an d shall a dd un to his ag e as

,
muc h a s h e h a th a dded un to his youth .

’
A n d h e c ea s ed to dig .
Be n o t y o u th er efor e ha le d in sun d er n either ,
b e y o u offen de d o n e a t a n other Per a dv enture .
Rea s on would set you a side But G o d will no t . .
B ehold if you br eak th e yoke th a t y o u ar e in and

,
r unn e a str a y h e th a t er r e th sh a ll p er ish even so sh all

, ,
h e tha t stan d eth also b e d e solat e Love ther efor e .
o n e an oth er a n d com for t o n e an oth er

, fo r h e that ,
comfor teth his br oth er comfor te th him s elf L et .
youth yield to r ip e year s Yo u ha ve vowe d that.
o n e o f y o u do n othin g w ithout th e other s coun s el

’
but y o u shall n o t b e tw o coun sellor s L et th e Doer .
o ccu ie t h e su er ior ity Th e S e er let him see a nd

p p .
,
look a fter th e doin gs of th at h e s eeth fo r you a r e but ,

”
o n e body in this wor k .
In Apr il D ee an d Ke lley r e tur n e d to C r a cow As

, .
th ey were n ear ing th e city they sa w a gr ea t whi r lwin d

wr ea thi ng u p the dust an d shootin g for war d in ?a
south er ly dir e ction They foun d th eir house let
.
u n d er th em to a for c ed in ten an t but a s D e e h ad -

,
br oug ht his keys h e effected an en tr an ce a n d se cur ed

, ,
a t l ea st a b e dst ea d By th e a id o f his la wyer

.
,
M r T e baldo
. an a n cien t
, pr a ctition er in Polish
”
c a use s h e obtain e d a decr ee again st his lan dlor d
,
’
tha t without six m on ths n otice h e could no t b e
!
tha t in all m a nner o f w ay es I might h a ve a clean

an d qui e t consci en c e On E a ster Mon da y ver y
. ,
de voutly in St Steph an s Chur ch E K r e ce ive d the

, .
’
,
ll
. .
Com m union to my un speaka ble gla dn e ss a n d co n

,
tent b eing a thin g so lon g an d e ar n e stly r equir e d a nd

,
urg ed o f him by o u r spir itu al good fr i en ds As D ee .
w r ote to W a lsin gh a m S aul h a d be com e a P aul ,

.
It w a s a ver y shor t in ter lude Fo r L a ski h a d n o t .
”
e t p a id him th e m o n y lo n sin c e d u e a n d K ell ey
y e
g ,
on c e m or e vows h e will le a ve fo r th e a ction s are ,

”
un suc ce ssful a n d a r e to b e cut o ff L a ski w as again .
a dm itt e d to th e sittin gs a n d Kin g Steph an gr an t ed ,
th em an other in ter view L aski ur ge d th e Kin g to .
take th e tw o a lche mists in to his s er vi ce a n d give them

a year ly m ain tenan ce In ob e dien ce to his .
’
in str uctor s D ee pr om ise s to m ake th e philosopher s
,
ston e if th e Kin g will b ear th e ch ar ge H e do es no t

, .
pr ofe ss tha t h e can but h e b eli eve s th e an g els will

,
tea ch him th e s ecr et Steph an w as n o t so s anguine. .
In th e Kin g s pr iva te ch am b er a sittin g w a s held

’
, ,
with th e c r ystal s et befor e h im but h e r em ain ed ,
un con vin c ed H e ga ve n o en cour age m en t a n d in

.
,
August th e pa ir hop eless o f pa tr on ag e fr o m Polan d

, ,
r e tur n e d to Pr a gu e wh er e Ja n e an d Joan K elley

, ,
th e childr en a n d th e s er va n ts h a d be en le ft un der ,
Edm on d Hilton s c ar e ’
.
A n an glicis e d Italian p er ver t F r an cisco Pucci n o w , ,
app ear e d up on th e sc en e s a n d w a s a dm itt e d to th e
sitting s at th e she w ston e Pu cci h a d been a Lyon s

-
.
m er ch an t but h ad ,
“
laid a side his tr a de to study
1
St . S te p h Ch u h C
an s
'
w i th e St p h
rc , ra co ,
n e an
ga sse , er ecte d
1 35 1 , h a s s till its b e utiful l t G o t h ic f n t o f 1 46 2
a a e o .
A DREAM OF GOLD 16 7
sacred letter s an d becom e a the ologic al disputan t o f

,
th e cur r en t typ e Pr ofe ssin g him self a Pr otestan t

.
1
,
h e cam e to Oxfor d to study gra du ate d M A in 1 5 7 4 , . .

,
an d in Lon don B asle An twer p an d other pla ce s

, , , ,
beca m e an Open an d n otor ious wr iter an d cham pion

again st th e Chur ch which h e h a d a bju r ed H e h ad .
follo wed Socin us to C r a cow a n d h a d n oisily oppose d ,
th e Jesuits th er e Soon after h e r e cante d be cam e a

.
,
Rom ish pr ie st an d se cr etar y to a c ar din a l in Rom e ,
w h er e h e die d in 1 6 0 6 a n d w a s bu r ie d in th e Chu r ch
,
of San On ofr io o n th e Ja niculu m .
O n his in for m a tion it app ea r s tha t thr ee copie s o f

Dee s m an us cr ipts wer e bur n e d in Pr ague Apr il 1 0
’
, ,
1 58 6 .The s e wer e th e B o o k of E n o ch th e Fo r ty ,
ez ht K e s
y of the A ng els ( Clo ves A ng elicae) an d th e
'
g
L iber S eien tzce A uw zlzz cl Victo r ia? Ter r es lr zs wor ks
' ' ' ' ’ '
which h a d been wr itten dow n fr om th e spir it r evela

tion s sin ce th e par tn er ship with K elley h a d com m en ced .
The books bur n e d wer e n o t o f cour s e th e or igi n a ls ,
the two fir st of which still e xist Of th e B o o k of 2

.
E n o ch ther e ar e thr ee copie s o n e m a de by K elley a , ,
r em ar kable tr ibute to th e m e ch anic a l skill in dr a ughts
m an ship th e e xtr a or din ar y applic ation an d a bility o f

, ,
this ver y ver satile p er s onage It co n tain s hun dr eds .
o f dia gr a m s o f fig ur e s r oun d o r r e ct a n g ul ar in sh ape

, ,
com pose d o f an infi nite n um ber o f min ute squ ar e s

ea ch c on tain ing a le tt er o r figur e Th ese le tter s .
occur in e ver y po ssible com bin ation a n d or d er some ,
r ea din str a i ht a cr o ss th e pag e oth er s di ag on ally

g g , ,
an d so o n D ee give s a n e xtr a or din ar y sto r y o f th e

.
W d Ath O
1
oo ,
l i 5 87
en . xo n . , v o . .
, .
2
S lo an e MSS 31 89 an d 3 191 .
re stor a tion o n Apr il 30 o f th e books sa id to have been

bur n e d by a m a n like a gar den er in visible to him
, ,
s elf to Joan Kelley an d to a ll in th e g ar den a t the

, ,
tim e s ave K elley Th e gar den er pla c ed th em un der

, .
a n a lm o n d tr ee in C a r io s vin eya r d o n a slopin g

’
p ,
ba n k be tween th e ban quetin g hous e a n d th e cli ff

”
side . Tr i cker y of Kelley s n o doubt ’
,
.
Th e feelin g ag a in st th e s e for e ign a dv en tu r er s gr ew

str on g in th e city Sixtus V w h o h ad succ eeded. .
,
a s Pop e issu e d a Papa l e dict date d M ay 2 9 1 5 8 6

, , , ,
b an ishing D ee an d Kell ey fr o m Pr a gu e within six

days It s eem e d to tr ouble them ver y little fo r D ee
.
,
w a s a lr ea dy a wa y o n a visit to a n ew
pa tr on William ,
Ur sin us Coun t Ros en ber g a t his coun tr y s ea t o n the

, ,
Molda u F r om then c e h e wen t to see som e g lass

.
wor ks a t V o lk an au a bout twelve m ile s n or th o f the

,
city ; then h e pr oc eede d to L eip sic in tim e fo r th e

fa ir o n M ay 1 1 Ther e h e m et L a wr en ce Over ton an
.
,
Eng lish m er ch an t to whom J an e D ee h ad g iven k ind

a tten tion a n d hospita lity wh e n h e h a d fa llen ill in h er
hous e a yea r befor e Over ton h ad r etur n ed fr om

.
En gla n d wher e h e h a d s een Edm on d Hilton s en t in

, ,
Novem b er with letter s to th e Qu een Sir Fr an cis ,
Walsing ha m a n d oth er s Hilton w a s e xp ecte d ba ck .
s hor tly Over ton w a s o n th e p oin t of r e tur nin g to

.
E ng lan d a n d by him an oth er letter to th e S e cr etar y

,
w a s d e sp a tche d .
D ee s letter s to Walsin gha m with th eir ve ile d

’
allusion s to s e cr et a ffai r s for m o ne of th e gr oun ds ,
upon which th e supp osition h a s been b a s e d tha t h e

’
w a s em ploye d by th e Queen s min ister a s a s e cr e t spy
an d diplom a tic agen t abr oa d a nd th at his cab alisti c ,

this n otwithsta n din g I thought good befor e I set up ,
my coa ch to wr ite a n d m ost hum bly to salute your ,
hon our ver y fa ithfully dutifully a n d sin c er ely w ith , ,
gr ea t a n d th e s a me good w ill tha t m y L etter som e

year s sin c e w r itten to your Hon our (but then a
stum blin g block un to yo ur Hon o ur a n d other s fo r
th e str ang en e ss o f th e phr a s es th er ein ) doth pr eten d .
S o it is r ig ht Hon or able tha t th e m er ciful pr ovidence

, ,
o f th e High e st d e clar e d in his gr ea t a n d a b rm dant

'
gr a c es up on m e a n d min e is so won d er ful and

, ,
mig hty tha t ver y few unle ss th ey b e pr e sen t w it

, ,
n e ss e s c a n b elie ve th e s a m e
, Ther efor e how har d .
the y ar e to b e beli eve d th er e wher e a ll m y life and ,
doin gs wer e con str ue d to a con tr ar y sen se an d ,
pr oce ss e o f d ea th con tr iv e d a n d d e cr ee d again st th e

I nn ocen t who c ann ot ea sily judge
,
I a m for c e d to b e br i ef Tha t which En gland .
susp e cted w a s a lso her e fo r the se tw o year s almost

, , ,
s ecr etly in doubt in q ue stion in co n sulta tion Im, , ,
p er ia l an d Royal by Hon our a ble Espie s ; fawnin g

,
a bout m e a n d by oth er s di s cour s e d upon r ed an d

p y ,
p eer e d in to A n d at len gth both th e chief Romish

.
power an d I m p er ia l dignity ar e br oug ht to tha t poin t

r esolut e ly tha t ar tly th ey a r e sor r y of th eir so la te
p
r e cla imin g th e ir er r on e ou s judg m en t a gain st us an d
o f us a n d s ee k m ea n s to d ea l w ith us so a s w e might
,
fa vour both th e o n e an d th e other ; an d pa rtly to

Rome is s en t fo r a s gr ea t a uthor ity a n d power as
,
c an b e d evis e d a n d likewis e her e all other m ea n s an d
w a e s c on tr ive d how by for c e o r fo r fe a r e th e y m a

y , y
m a ke us g la d to follow their hum ou r s But all in .
vain fo r for c e hum an w e fear n o t a s p lain ly a nd

, ,
often I h a ve to th e P r in ces declar ed A n d other wise ‘
th an in pur e ver ity a n d go dlin esse w e w ill n o t favour

a n y (m y wor ds m ay s ee m ver y mar vell ous in your
Hon our s ear s but m ar k th e en d w e ha ve h a d and

, , ,
sh all h av e to d eal with no b a b es )

, I h ave full o ft .
,
A DREAM OF GOLD 171
an d upon man y o f the ir r equ ests an d qu estion s ,
r eferr e d m ys elf to h er M aj estie s a n swer thus in

vain e xpe cted Nun ci u s A po sto licu s G er m a nicus
.
Mala spin a after his year s suit to b e a cqu a in ted with

,
’
m e a t leng th h a d such his an swer tha t h e is g on e to

,
Rom e with a flea in his ea r e tha t disq u ieteth him ,
an d ter r ifi eth th e whol e sta t e Romish a n d J esu itica l .
[ S ecretly they thr eaten us violent d eath an d op en ly ,
th ey fawn upon us W e kn ow th e Sting o f En vy a nd

.
th e fur y of fear in tyr ann ic a l min ds wha t d e sper a t e ,
a ttem ts th ey ha v e an d do o ften un der take But th e

p .
God of H ea ven an d E ar th is o u r Light L ea der an d ,
Defen der To th e Wor ld s en d his m er ci e s upon us will

.
’
br eed his pr ais es Hon o ur an d g lory Thus m uch ver y .

,
r hapsodic ally y et fa ithfu lly ta n q n a m dictu m s a len tz

'
p
, ,
I th ought good to com m it to th e sa fe a n d speedy

con veyan ce o f a young m er ch a n t her e c alled L a wr en c e
Over ton which if it com e to your Hon our s h an d
,
befor e m y S er van t h av e left his d espa tch I m ay by ,
your hon or b e a dver tise d Your Hon our is sufficien t

.
fr om h er M aj e sty to d eal an d pr o cee d w ith m e if ,
it b e tho ug ht g ood But if you m a ke a Coun cil

.
Table C a s e of it Q u o t ho min es, to t sen ten tzce

'
, .
An d my Com m ission fr om above is n o t so lar ge

'
Q uzp o tes t cap er e , ca

p to t .
The lm ost a postolic a l fl avour which D ee per m its

a
him self to i m par t to som e o f this letter owing to th e ,

”
gr eatness of h is b elieve d m ission shows to what a ,
height o f r hapsodica l fer vour s his spir it h ad n o w

attain e d It is still m or e em phasis ed in th e con cludin g
.
pa ssage which begin s howe ver ver y pr a ctica lly with

, , , ,
an an xious thou ht ca st ba ck to his E n glish

n
g po s
session s H is de sir e that Thom a s Digge s th e em in en t
.
,
mathem atician to whom his c alc ulation s fo r th e r e

for med c alen dar h ad b een submitted should b e s ent ,
over to in sp ect th eir d o ing s w a s cur ious but it shows, ,
tha t h e a t an y r a te wishe d to dea l openl y a nd

, ,
con c eal n othin g H e en ds thus.
S ir ,I tr ust I shall ha ve Justic e fo r m y house

libr ar y g oods an d Reven u es etc D o n o t you dis dain
, , . ,
n e ith er fear to b ear fa vour u n to you r p oor inn oc en t

n eig hbour If y o u s en d un to m e M a ster Thom a s
.
Digg e s in h er M aj e sti e s b ehalf his fa ithfuln ess to h er

,
’
M aj esty a n d m y well liking o f th e m a n sh a ll br in g ,
for th som e pi ece o f g ood s er vice But h er M aj e sty .
h a d b e en b etter to ha v e spen t o r g iven a wa y in alm s ,
a Million o f
g old than to ha v e lost som e o ppo r
,
tu n ities p a st No hum an r e a so n c a n lim it o r d eter

.
m in e God his m ar ve llous m e an s o f p r oc eedin g with

us H e h ath m a de o f S aul (E K ) a Pa ul but y et
. . .
,
n o w a n d then visit e d with a p an g of hum a n fr a ilty .
Th e Alm ig hty bl ess h er M aj estie both 1n this W or ld

a n d e t er n ally a n d in s ir e your h ea r t with som e
p
con ceiving o f his m er ciful purpose s y et n o t utter ly ,
cut o ff fr om h er M aj esty to enj oy .
F r om L eipsi c this 1 4 o f M a y , 1 5 86 ,
a t P e ter H a n s Swar ts hous e .
Your Hon our s faithful w elw ish er to u se a n d c o m

m an d fo r th e hon our of God an d h er M aj estie s
b est ser vice ,
JO HN D E E .
On being ej e cte d fr om Pr ag u e D ee r em ove d his ,
fa mily and g oods to E r fur t but in spite o f th e infl uen ce

,
of Dr . Cur tius an d of a fr ien d of Ros en b er g h e

, ,
w a s n o t allowe d to hir e a hous e th er e fo r th e Ita lian ,
w a s b efor e h im Pucci c alled o n D e e a fter supper

.
,
a n d h eld o u t hop es th a t h e m i ht o b t ai n p er m ission

g
fo r th eir r etur n to Pr agu e fo r th e n e w Nun cio th e , ,
1
o fBohemia an d a Knight o f th e Golden Fleece .
His influenc e and pr otection wer e n o w to b e at th e

E nglish m en s dispos al O n August 8 Ros en b er g
’
. ,
obtain ed fr om th e E m per or a pa r tia l r e voca tion o f

th e d e cr ee a ga in st th em sin c e th ey wer e p er mitted ,
’
by it to r eside fr eely in a ny of his lor dship s tow n s ,
citie s o r c a stle s The y se ttle d o n S epte mber 1 4

. ,
1 5 8 6 a t T r ib an o r Tr eb o n a in South er n Bohem i a
, , ,
an d h er e fo r a bout tw o y ear s th eir wan d er in gs c am e
to a n en d .
D ee re th e
wr iting o f his pr ivate diar y in
sum e d ,
which h e h a d m a d e n o en tr y fo r thr ee year s th e last ,
eve n t r ec or d e d th er e b ein g th e d ep ar tu r e of the

fa mily fr om Mor tla ke just thr ee year s b efor e o n ,
S eptem ber 2 1 1 5 83 H e Open ed a n ew volum e an

, .
,
E p hemer ides Cre les tzum ca lculate d fo r th e year s

'
1 5 8 1 — 1 6 2 0 by J o h An tonius M a gin us pr in te d in
, .
,
Venice 1 5 8 2 Th e fir st en tr y m a d e in it w a s
, .
Mich a el s bir th at Pra gue o n F ebr uar y 1 2 1 5 86 ;

’
th e n e xt w a s their ar r iva l at Tr eb o n a (fo r it will

b e m or e con v enien t to follow D ee s la tinis e d ver sion
’
o f th e n a m e ) .
1
An in te r estin g a c co un t of t h e tw o b
h e s C u t Willi m
ro t r , o n s a
an d Pe ter R o se n b g , t eir
er h lif t T b n t hei i flu
e a re o th
a, r n e n ce o n e
lit er a tur e , m usic , an d

p o itics l of B h em i i giv
o b y C u t L ut w
a, s en o n zo
in h is H is to r y o f Bo hem ia n L iter a tur e pp 3

. 14 — 3 2 1 , b ut h e
y th
sa s er e th t it w
a as Co un t Pe ter w h o v d l b h isit e E iz a et , a n d n o t
Willi m a . Th i f m
e r a o us lib r y is n w in Sto ckho lm
ar o .
CHAPTER XIV
TH E C A ST L E O F TR E BO N A
Wl me co e th e so u r c u p o f pr o s per it y
Affli ti c on m ay o ne day l
s m i e a ga in an d un t i l th en ,
Sit d w o n , so r r o w .
— S H AK ESPEAR E , Lo we s L a bo ur Lo st
’
.
TR IBA U, W ittin ga u th e Tr eb o n a of o ur stor y

or , ,
is a sm all villa g e lyin g in th e beautiful un dulating

scen er y of th e L u dnitz a sm all tr ibutar y o f th e ,
r iver Mold au It is a few m iles fr o m Neuh au s an d

.
Weseli n o t m a n y fr o m th e town o f Budweis o n th e

, ,
Upper Molda u in Souther n Bohem i a , .
In 1 5 86 it c on sist ed of little b eside th e c a stle a ,
R athh au s qu ar ter s fo r a s m all g ar r ison an d a cluster

, ,
o f dwellin gs wh er e D ee t e lls a fi r e b r oke o u t o n
Wh it Sun d ay 1 5 85 and destr oye d s ever al houses

, , .
Th e ca stle w a s o n e o f Ros en b er g s m an y r esiden c e s in

’
Bohem ia an d appar ently a favour ite o n e Th e

, .
Vicer oy w a s n o w just over fifty (h e w as bor n o n

Mar ch 1 0 ,h e m ar r ied a bout this tim e an d ,
1
his wife con stan tly a ccom panied him o n his visits to
Tr eb o n a They h a d a lso an other ca stle at Neuha us
.
,
beside a r e siden ce with beautiful g ar den s bor der in g

th e Molda u opp osite Pr ag u e Th ey wer e fr equently .
Hi m pp v d b y t h m t h v
1
s i g
ar r a
pi it
e w as a d ro e e s r s an see s o a e
b
een c o n sid d ig f v i
er e a sH t ld Dn o h wi h d h i
co n ers o n . e o ee e s e s
m t
as er ,R d lph w ld m
u o d hi l, lif nd d th m Th
ou a en s o o se e a o e sa e . e
Em p h d
er o r l wful wif
a nohild a e or c .
on th e w in g ,flitting fr om Kr um a u to Vi enn a and fr om

Vi enn a ba ck to Pr ag u e H e welcom e d th e E nglish .
tr a veller s h im s elf a t Tr eb o n a a ssign e d th em their ,
r oo m s a n d r o m is e d the m a ll tha t h ea r t c ould d esir e

,
p .
Th e a ction s whi c h h a d lon g b een in t er r up te d wer e

, ,
n o w r e sum e d in a goodly ch a el n ext m y c h a m b er

p ,
wh er e a ll th e appur ten a n ce s wer e set up with the ,
a ng elica ll s to n e in its fr a m e o f g old up on th e

ta ble . Rosen b er g h a d be en a lr ea dy a dmitte d to
th e sitting s in ob edi en c e to di r e ction s r ec eive d o n
,
October 1 4 When th e com mun ica tion s wer e m ade

.
in E n glish D ee tr an sla te d them in to L a tin fo r his

,
ben efit But e xp er im en ts with K elley s powder

.
’
wer e n o w a ll engr ossin g a n d even th e spir its pa ss fo r

-
,
a tim e in to th e ba ckgr oun d Kelley wen t o ff to .
Pr ag ue fo r thr ee weeks a n d w a s followe d by Rosen

ber g D ee r em a in e d with his wife a n d childr en ;
.
a fter th e ir h a r dship s p ov er ty d an g er ous a n d wan der

, ,
in g life p oor J an e m ust h av e b een than kful fo r so

,
luxur ious a shelter Visitor s fo r D ec con stantly

.
ar r ive d A m on g them w as D r Victor Rein hold of

. .
,
S aa lfeldt p er h aps a s o n o f E r a s m us Rein hold th e

, ,
a str on om er Pucci also c am e fo r a for tnig ht

. .
In D e c em b er D ee r ec eiv e d a v er y fla tter ing in vita

tion fr om th e E m per or of Russia (F e odor Ivano w ich )
to go a n d take up his r esiden ce a t Moscow in the
’
Cour t D ee s fa m e a s a learn e d a str ologer an d m athe
.
m a tician h a d sp r ea d to Russia ; still m or e w a s his

r eputa tio n a s a n a lch e m ist b r uit ed a br o a d p er ha ps h e
w as a lr ea dy c r e dit e d with h a ving a ctu a lly m a d e gold
by pr oj ection o r tr an sm utation .
Th e fi r st intimati on of th e E m p er or s wish w as
’
coffer s an d br in g glor y a nd pr estige to his n a me .
H ak luyt hints at it when h e says th e Offer w a s m a de

p ar tly fo r his coun sel about discover ie s to th e Nor th
E a st p a r tly f o r so me o ther w eig hty o ccasio ns D ee
,
.
w a s n o s e lf s e eker
-
o r Cour t flatter er
,
a lthough this ,
w as th e fifth sover eign h e s a ys h e might h a ve s er ve d .
T h e O ffer s eems n ev er to h a ve te mpte d him fr om his

loya lty to his o w n Qu e en H e ba de Gar la n d at on ce
.
dism is s six o ut o f th e e ig ht Russian s er van ts h e h ad

b r cfug h t to a tten d them o n their journ ey an d turned ,
to m a tter s mor e impor tan t .
O n 1 9 thDe cember to th e gr ea t gr atifi ca tion of

,
M a ster Edwar d G ar lan d a n d Fr an cis his br oth er which

, ,
Edwar d h ad b een s en t to m e with a message fr om th e

E m per or of M u sch o via th at I should com e to him
, ,
E K m a de pr oj ection with his powder in th e pr opor

. .
tion o f o n e min im (upon an oun c e an d a quar ter of

m er cur y ) an d pr oduce d n ear ly a n oun c e o f be st gold ;
which g old w e after war ds distr ibute d fr om the cr ucible ,
an d g a ve o n e to Edwar d .
It is quite significan t th a t K elley ma de the

gold K elley showed it an d D ee is conten t to
, ,
gi v e h im a ll th e c r e dit T h e p.an gs a n d h ear t
bur n in g s an d j ea lousies ha ve y et to com e N o w h e .
on ly felt tha t at la st h e w a s victor ious in his long

quest H e w as o n th e cr est o f th e wa ve His hour
. .
h ad co m e .
H o w th e won der ful tr ick w a s don e Kelley c ould ,
be st de scr ibe .
K elley w a s n o w con stan tly r idin g to Pr ag ue o r m ak ,
ing lon ger e xp edition s to Polan d fo r h e still h a d hop es

,
o f g e ttin g mo r e mon ey fr om L a ski By M ar ch his

.
hop e seem s to have b een r ea lised, fo r D ee note s that

THE CA S TLE OF TR E BO N A 1 79
Kelley pa id him about 5 0 0 ducats in tw o o r m or e sums

bout This pl e n itude o f mon ey o f cour s e
( a
encour a ge d th e id ea a br o a d th at th ey wer e a ctua lly
making it When h e r eturn ed fr om Pr ague o n

.
Januar y 1 8 Kelley br ought a han dsome pr esent fr om

,
Rosenb er g to Jan e D ee in the shape o f a beautiful ,
j ewelle d c hain th e value o f which w as e steeme d a t

,
”
300 du ck ettes says D ee 20 0 th e juell stone s and
, ,
”
1 0 0 th e g old In thr ee d a ys K elley h a d p o sted O ff
.
again to Pr ag ue to join Ros en b er g a t his hous e in

,
the city . This time h e took w ith him his br other

Thomas Fr ancis Gar lan d an d a Bohe mian s er van t
, , ,
Fer dinan d H em y ck No doubt h e w as pur suing his

.
exper im en ts fo r th e m ultiplying o f g old in th e
city awa y fr om D ee
, .
Kelley s letter to D ee ann oun cing this ar r ival of

’
his in Pr ague is th e on ly communication between

this str an g e pair o f p ar tn er s that seem s to ha ve
sur vived It shows that er r a tic an d wa ywar d cr ea tur e
.
in a gentle an d even a ffe ction ate light an d although ,
its pious pr otestation s ar e obviously over done it ,
pictur e s fo r us quite vividly th e r elation s between the

two and pa r tly accounts fo r th e str engt h o f the tie
,
that boun d D ee to his in tr a ctable pupil soon to ,
become his m aster Fo r while D ee la bour e d la bori

.
o usl
y an d scien tifically with his a lchemical com
pounds K elley at o ne boun d over lea ped th e cha sm
,
and by som e
pr ocess be st kn ow n to him s elf pr ofess ed
to have ar r ive d at th e go al .
To Dee s single hear te d n a tur e such succ ess w a s

’
-
magnifi cen t won der ful H e began for thwith to treat

, .
his quon d am sk r yer with a dd e d r esp e ct ; th e e xpr ession

”
Dominus K elley cr eeps once into th e diar y ; and
N 2
K elley gr ew ar r ogant an d over bea r ing Fo r th e .
m om ent howe ver h e is all fo r fr ien dship an d r esp e ct

, ,
.
” ’
Pr age 1 5 8 7 2 5 Jan u ar n [ This in D ee s ha nd ]
. . . .
( dd e ss ed ) To th e Rig ht Wor shipful an d his a ssur ed

“
a r
fr ien d M r John D ee Esquir e gi ve the se M agnifi co

.
,
.
Domin o Dom in o D ee
, .
S ir .My h ear ty com men da tion s un to y o u desir ing ,
your health as my o w n ; m y Lor d w a s excee din g g la d

o f your L ett er s an d s a id N o w I see h e loveth m e
’
, , ,
a n d tr uly a s far as I
per ce iv e h e loveth us hear tily .
This Sun day in th e N a m e o f th e Ble ssed T rin ity I

beg in m y jour n ey [to Polan d] wher ein I c omm end ,
m e un to your pr a yer s d esir in g th e Alm ig hty to s end

,
his for titude with m e I com m en d m e unto M r s. .
D e e a thous a n d tim e s an d un to your little ba bes

,
wishin g m ys elf r ather a m ong st y o u than elsewher e .
I will by God s gr a ce a bout twen ty days hen ce r etur n

’
in th e m ean s ea son all comfor t an d j oy b e am ongst

you
Your a ssur e d an d immoveable fr ien d
E KE L L E Y . .
When this letter r ea che d Tr eb o n a D ee h a d gon e ,
r idin
g with tw o hor s em en of th e city of N e uha us hop ,
ing to m ee t Ros en b er g who h e thought would r etur n

,
th at w ay fr om Vi enn a to Pr a gue M r s D ee a t on ce . .
de spatche d th e ser van t Ludovic to m eet his m aster .
So D ee r e ceived Kelley s a ffe ction ate letter in the ’
”
highwa y without Pla tz a villag e a bout half w a y to
, ,
-
N euh aus Ludovic c ar r ied a lso a little n ote fr om Jane

.
to h er husb an d It is th e only letter of h er s w e

.
h ave but it con fir ms a ll tha t w e suspe ct W e know

, .
h er to h av e been a w ell educa te d well r ea d wom an ; -

,
-
th e wr itin g is str on g an d clear ; an d did n o t Fr an cis

Puc ci de scribe h er a s a lear n ed wom a n lectissim a ,
fem ina S h e must a lso ha v e been an e xtrao r din ar ily

1 82 LIFE OF DR JOH N DEE .
By Apr il Ke lley w a s on c e m or e s e ttle d a s p a r t of

th e hous ehold a n d o n th e 4th th e cr ystal gazin g w a s
,
r e su m e d .H e pr ofe ss e d to h ear in str uction s to

Rosen ber g who w a s pr esen t to build a com m on
, ,
wealth r en der tr ibute to Rudolph an d h e shall b e

, ,
Du ke o f Br an den bur g To him s elf thin gs ar e s aid

.
h e is n o t r elu c ta n t to h ear W e ha ve s een how .
a lm ost i m m e dia tely after his m ar r iage h e took a

vio len t dislike to his wife In th e four year s it .
,
s eem s h e h a d r epr oa ch ed h er fo r givi ng him n o child

, .
To him g en er ation w a s th e r oot pr in ciple o f alchem y ,
a n d th e
pha s e of it in which h e cen tr ed his atten tio n .
It is a lwa ys th e m arr iag e o f th e r ed m an copper , ,
a n d th e white wom an mer cur y tha t is to ting e

, ,
th e whole wo r ld with gold N o w a voic e tells him w hy

.
h e is b arr en Not b eca us e o f his r e ckle ss disor der ed

.
,
life but b e c ause sh e w as o f hi s o w n choosin g— th e

,
wr ong wom an ! Ther e for e h e is to b e s eedle ss and

H ad it n o t been fo r th e D ees
’
fr uitle ss fo r e ver .
kin dn e ss to h er a n d e specially Jan e s poor n eglected

,
’
Joan K elle y would ha ve h a d but a sor r y tim e S he .
w as o n ly twen ty four ; live ly a n d docil e sh e s eem ed

-
,
to plea se e ver yon e but h er husban d Puc c i with .

,
per h aps a little fla tter y c a lls h er r ar u m e x e m plum

,
juven ilis s an ctitatis c a s tit atis ,a tqu e om nium ,
v ir tute m If sh e h a d n o t a ll th e vir tue s s h e at

.
,
lea st h ad s e ver al H er br other Edm un d Coo per

.
, ,
a n d an oth er fr i en d so loved h er th a t th ey ca m e over
fr om E ng lan d a year la ter o n pur pos e to see if sh e

an d h er husb an d could n o t b e m o r e r e c o n cile d .
Kelley h ad been mor e un settle d than e ver discon ,
ten te d w i th his wife with his calling its r e sults and

, , ,
THE CASTLE OF TR E B O N A 183
above a ll with his position an d his povert y Wha t .
w as a pitt an c e of fifty p oun ds a ye a r t o a m an in
con st an t in ter c our s e with pr in c e s a n d n oble s with ,
cr edulous fools poss ess ed with dr eam s of g old Th e

sam e qualiti es tha t attr a cte d D ee wer e e qu ally m ag
n eti c with other s L a sk i love d h im ; Edwar d Dyer
.
deserted his old fr ien d D ee fo r this n ewcom er a ,
n obody . H e h a d m ad e him s elf in va lu a ble to Ro s en

berg who s eem s to ha ve h a d im plicit fa ith in
, ,
his power s Rosen ber g in du ce s th e E m p er or to

.
e m ploy him H a d h e n o t alr ea dy foun d th e s e cr e t

.
of r oj e ction ? W a s h e n o t th e
p p oss esso r o f th e m ag ic
powder which wa ite d onl y fo r th e oppor tun ity to b e
tr an sfo r med in to coun tle ss he aps of duca ts ? O nly
m on ey w as wa n tin g an d th a t h e could c er tain ly g et
, .
But h e m ust fir st b e r elease d fr om this g alling po sition

o f m ediu m H e told D ee th a t all thr oug h this L en t
.
h e h ad pr ay ed on c e a da y at l ea st tha t h e m ig ht n o
m or e ha ve d ealin g to skr y At E a ster tim e h e did
.
-
r e c e ive a
pr o m is e to b e set fr ee fr o m th e cr ystal
gazin g a s h e d esir e d but his wish fo r fr ee dom w a s
, ,
n o t ex a ctly a p r ove d by th e a n elic m inister s

p g .
Is it a bur then un to thee to b e com for te d fr om

a bove O fo o lish m an 1 By how m uch th e hea ven s
exc el th e e a r th by so m uch doth th e g ift tha t is
,
gi ven thee e xc el all ea r thly tr eas ur e N o tw ith .
stan ding thou shalt n o t a t an y tim e h er ea fter b e

,
con str ain e d to see th e judgm en t of th e Hig he st o r ,
to hear th e vo i ces of hea ven fo r thou ar t a stum blin g

,
block to m any A n d th e power whi c h is g iv en

.
thee o f seein g shall b e dimin ished in thee a n d sh all ,
dwell up on th e fi r st bego tten so n o f him tha t sitteth

”
by thee .
LIFE OF DR JOHN DEE .
Th e selection o f a child a s K elley s succ e ssor seems ’
n o t to h a ve b e en a lto ether u n ex ect e d

g p It h a d b e en .
hin te d in Prague a year befor e that a b o y would

s er ve fo r th e offic e ; but th a t th e choic e would fall
upon Dee s o w n so n m ust ha v e com e a s a dr eadful
’
sur pr ise a t any r ate to his m oth er No doubt the old

, .
m an r egar de d it a s a m ar k of spe cial he a venly hon our .
It is m or e likely tha t Jan e with h er pr a ctical m ind , ,
r e ar d e d t h e c han ge o f m e diu m with an ything but

g
s atisfa ction Ar thur w as n o w s ev en an d thr ee
.
quar ter s o f a y ear o ld a clever child alr ea dy well , ,
g r oun d ed in L a tin but far too ten d er in year s and

,
disposition to b e ma de th e su bj ect of an y psycho

logic al e xper im ents For tun ately fo r him his skry ing
.
,
w a s a di s m al fa ilu re a lthough it s e em s to h a ve b en t
,
his childish min d towar ds th e occultism h e followed

in a fter — life Distin guished physician as b e after
.
war ds b ec a m e both at hom e an d in th e ser vic e of th e

,
E m per or of Russia h e w as a tr ue s o n o f his father

, ,
an d m ain ta in e d to t h e en d of his life a b e li e f in a lch em y
a nd tr an s m uta tion which n othin

g could sha ke .
K elley w as de sir e d to initia te th e child .
I ther eup on thin king tha t E K wo uld should o r . .

,
b est could in str uct an d dir ect th e childe in that

,
e x er cis e
, did alw ay es a wait tha t E K would of . .
him s elf c all th e b o y to tha t e xer cise with him ; an d

so m uch th e r a th e r b e c aus e h e s a id th at h e w a s ver y
gla d n o w tha t h e should ha ve a Witn e ss o f th e things
she we d an d d e clar ed by spir itual cr e a tur es A n d that
h e would b e m o r e willin g to do wha t should b e so
enj o y n ed to h im to do than if only h e hims elf did see
, .
But when E K said to m e tha t I should e xer cise th e

. .
child an d n o t h e an d that h e would n o t I ther eupon

, ,
e ver ything e ven o f their w ive s A ll thin gs ar e to

, .
b e in c o m m on b etween them .
D ee to whom M a dim i is in visible though h e

, ,
h ear s h er voice fi er c ely r ebuke s h er : Such wor ds

,
ar e un m e et fo r an
y g o dl y c r ea tu r e to u se A r e th e .
com m an dm en ts of God to b e br oken ? This par

ticipatio n h e in sists to K ell ey can b e m ea n t only
, ,
in a Chr is tian a n d godly s en s e Ke lley con str ues th e

.
injun ction ve r y differ en tly but h e affe cts a chaste ,
hor r or a n d swear s fo r th e hun dr edth tim e tha t h e w ill

dea l n o m o r e w i th th e spir its .
Th en M a dim i w ith s ca thin g ir on y a ddr esses them

, ,
both a s fools a n d o f little un der stan din g

, Not .
con ten t to b e h ear er s would they b e Lor ds Gods

, , ,
j udger s o f th e heaven s S h e tur n s a way Your .
o w n r ea son r is e th up a gain st m y wisdom B ehold .

,
you a r e fr ee Do th a t which m ost plea s eth you

. .
It is a co mfor t to lear n tha t th e child A r thur h a d all

”
this tim e fa llen down “ in a swoun d H e w a s in deed .
ver y ill fo r som e tim e a fter wa r ds an d sm all won d er , .
D ee pr o t e ste d an d a r gu e d with Kelle y a n d with

M adim i H e w a s con s u m ed with g r i ef a n d a m aze
.
m en t tha t go od ang els c ould pr opoun d s o har d and

”
u n pur e a d o c tr in e H a d h e n o t o ffer e d his ver y soul
.
a s a p a w n to disch a r e E K his c r e ditin

g g of them
. .
to th e g ood an d faithful m in ister s o f Al mig hty G o d

W as it n o t his life s wor k to withdr aw Ke lley fr om
’
an y k i n d of a ssocia tion with t h e b a d spi r its w h o h a d
fr e quen ted him befor e h e c a m e to Mor tla ke ?

Un til tw o in th e m or n in g o f this Apr il 1 8 1 5 8 7 ,
th e pa ir sat u p ar guin g ta lkin g pr a ying , Kelley held , .
for th a bout a little spir it Ben w ho h ad that day , ,

THE CASTLE OF TR E BO N A 1 87
ap pear ed to him in his la bor ator y alone a n d h ad shown ,
him h o w to distil oil fr om s pir it of win e over a r etor t

in two silv er dishes wh el m e d o n e upon an other with ,
a hol e thr ough t h e middl e an d a sp on ge b etwe en
them in which th e o il would r em a in

,
B en h ad .
for etold Elizabeth s death in July (sh e lived fo r

’
sixteen year s ) th e death o f th e King o f Spain a n d th e

,
Pope ; in fa ct a gener al m or ibun dity of sover eign s

,
.
Fr an cis Ga r lan d w as a spy s en t by Bur leigh to s ee

what they wer e doin g ; Rosen ber g would b e shor tly
poison ed fam in e a n d bloodshe d would cover th e
land Ma n y other dir e c ala m ities would h appen if
.
they wer e n o t con for m a ble to th e voice ; chie f of all ,
th e vir tu e should b e ta ken fr om Kelley s pr e cious

’
p owd er ; it wo ul d b e r en de r e d un r ofit a bl e
p an d h e ,
would b ecom e a beggar It w a s Ben h e s ays w ho .

, ,
h a d br ought h im his powd er .
D ee r eplie d that h e h ad foun d so m uch ha lting a n d

untr uth in Kelley s r epor ts of a ction s when h e w a s
’
no t
pr es en t tha t h e wo uld believ e n othing sa v e wha t
,
by better tr ia l h e fo un d to b e tr ue Bu t a t la st h is .
r esista n ce s eem e d to b e ove r r idden a n d in th e chill o f ,
th e ear ly m or ni ng h e wen t to b ed h ea vy a t h ea r t in ,
spite o f h is delusion His poor wife w a s lyi ng a wake

.
,
won der ing wha t tur n their ill star r e d for tun e s wer e -
n e xt to t a ke .
‘
Ja n e I sa id I can see tha t ther e is no o ther
,
’
r em edy but a s h a th be en s a id of o u r c r os s m a tchin

g
-
, ,
’
so it m u s t n ee ds b e do n e .
Poor M r s D ee sh o cked a n d hor r ifi ed fe ll a weep

.
, ,
-
ing an d tr emblin g fo r a full qu ar ter o f an hour then ,
bur st in to a fur y o f a n g er At la st sh e im plor ed .

.
h er husban d ne ver to leave h er I tr ust s aid sh e

. , ,
that though I give m y selfe thus to b e us ed th at ,
God will tur n m e in to a ston e be for e h e would suffer

m e in m y ob e dien c e to r e ceive a n y sh a m e o r in co n
v enien c e Sh e would e at n e ither fish n o r flesh she
. ,
vowed un til this a ction so con tr ar y to th e wholesom e

, ,
la w o f God a n d so differ en t fr om for m er a ction s

, ,
which h ad often comfor ted h er w as confi r m ed Both ,

.
th e in dig nan t wom en d em a n d e d a r ep etition of the

a ctio n .
In ob e di en c e to Ra pha el s coun s el a sol em n p a ct o r

’
coven an t w a s hu m bly dr a w n up by D ee o n th e 2 1 st ,
an d sign e d by th e s e four str an ge p ar tn er s i n d elu
sion It pr omised blin d Ob edien c e with s e cr ecy upon

.
,
p ain o f dea th to a ny of th e four It d epr eca ted all .
inten tion o f im pur ity an d g uilt Its subscr iber s

.
pr omis e to ca ptiva te an d tr ea d un der foot all hum an

timor ous doubtin g tha t th e tr ue or igi n a l p ower and
a uthor ity o f sin s r el e a sin o r disch ar gi n g is fr om th e
g
C r ea tor Tr ue Chr isti an char ity spir itu al per fect
.
,
fr ien dship an d m a tr im oni al lib er ty b etween th e four

is vo we d a n d th ey be see ch tha t this la st mystical
,
“
a dm oni sh m en t b e n o t i m pute d to th em fo r r a shn ess ,
pr e sum ption o r wan ton lust , .
D ee s han d is un m ista ka bl e in th e docum en t H e

’
.
r e ar de d th e n ew d e velopm en t appa r en tly on ly a s a

g
symbol of fur th er spir itual un ion an d a m ean s of ,
obtaining a clos er en tr a n c e in to th e se cr ets o f all kn ow

ledge It w as n o m atter to h im h e s a ys if th e wom en
.
, ,
wer e im per fe ctly obedien t If it offen d n o t God it

.
,
offen de d no t m ee and I pr ay G o d it did n o t offen d h im

, .
Ke lley dr ew u p a p aper th e day a fter D ee s washing ’
,
CHAPTER XV
TH E END O F TH E PA R TN E RS H I P
If a ll y o u o as t b of y u gr e t ar t b e tr ue
o r a ,
S ur e i in g pow ll ver ty liv s m st in y o u

e o .
BEN J O N O N Ep igr a m to Alchymis ts

S , .
D EE no w sum e d dilig en tly his wr iting in th e

re
oth er diar y whic h be c om es a str an ge m edley o f

,
d aily a ffair s s m a ll an d g r ea t H e s en t Fr ancis .
G ar lan d to Engla n d with an other letter to W alsin g

h am da t ed Ju n e 1 7 b eggin g him to con tin u e his
, ,
opin ion o f D ee s fidelity towar ds H er M aj esty and

’
th e r ea lm
1
. It would b e usele ss a s y et to r ender any
a ccoun t o f co mmodity to th em o r their country
r eap ed by this p er e gr in a tio n but I tr ust mor e will ,
b e gl a d of o u r com in g ho m e than w er e sorr y o f o ur

H e h a s n o t hear d fr om M r Justice
”
goin g abr oa d . .
Youn g sin c e M ay twelvem on th but hopes his pitiful ,
ca se o f th e books a n d other injur ie s en dur ed have by ,
W alsingh am s fa vour h a d som e r e dr ess Ther e is

’
, .
n o n ews o f im por tan c e but th e Polish Kin g s ele ction

’
,
th e myster i es wher e of by th e tim e this b ear er r ea ches

,
Englan d will b e kn own to y o u

, Re memb er m e to .
”
your good la dy an d to your da ughter L ady Sidney .
M on ey w a s n o w plen tiful en oug h an d o n S eptemb er 1 ,
D ee coven an te d w i th John B a s s et (who h ad arr ived

at Tr eb o na o n August 2 0 ) to tea ch th e childr en
1
Ca l S ta te Pa p er s D o m
.
,
1 5 80 — 1625 , p 2 12
. .
THE END OF THE PARTNERSHIP 19 1
the Latin tong an d I do give h im s even duca ts by

,
th e qua r ter a n d th e ter m to b egyn e this day ; a nd so

,
I gave him pr esen tly se ven du ck etts o f Hungar y in

”
g old ,b efor e m y wife God s ed e his wo r k

p A r thu r . .
,
w h o w a s just ov er eig ht w as
g e ttin
g o n w ith his ,
gr am m ar Ka th er in e w as six Thus w a s an other .
elem en t in tr odu ce d in to th e o ddly a ssor te d hous e hold ,
an d o n S e t em b er 4 D ee wr ite s : B a sset his hur ly

p
bur ly with T K elley Paym en ts to B as se t wer e
.
enter e d r eg ular ly ea ch qu a r t er un til Augu s t followin g ,
w hen th e tutor whos e r ea l n a m e s e em s to h a v e b een

,
Edwar d Whitlock w en t o ff to Budweis o n pr eten c e ,
of buying cu llo r s — per haps fo r pa in tin g a n d n ever ,
r eturn e d .
Var iou s visitor s cam e to Tr eb o n a a m o ng the m ,
Pucci br inging Chr istian Fr an cke th e a uthor o f som e

, ,
bo o ks wr itten a g a in st th e Je suits Rosen b er g r e .

1
turned to Tr eb o n a an d fin ding a c on str ain t e xistin g ,
in the r elation s o f th e hous ehold s et him s elf to ,
recon cile th em July 1 9 th a certay n kin d of r eco m

. .
m en da tio n b etwe en o u r wive s Ne xt day so m .
”
r elen tin E K a lso by m Lo rd s
’
g o f y . e n tr et
y .
, .
Rosenberg ca m e a n d wen t fr e quen tly so did his w ife , .
Lor d Biber stein a fr i en d o f their s c a m e to m ake

, ,
Dee s a cquain tan c e

’
.
Alchemic al e xper im en ts wer e bein g pr ose cuted

’
with vigour It w a s D e e s tur n to m a ke som ethin g
.
r ized e ven if it w er e n o t g old S ep t 2 8 t h I

p ,
. . .
deliver e d to M r Ed Kelley (er n estly r equir ing it . .
1
One Of F r a n ck e s
’
b k oo s w as l t d i t E gli h b y Wm
tr a n s a e n o n s .
Cha r k e in 15 8 0 . An o th D er i d t A hb i h p W hitgift in
e e ca r r e o rc s o
O cto b er , 1 5 92 , b e
ggin g h im to ca us e it to b fut d e co n e .
192 L IFE OF DR . J OH N DEE
as his p ar t ) th e half o f a ll th e a nimal] which w as
m a de . It is to weig h 20 o un c e s ; h e waye d it him
self in m y ch am ber H e bought hi s weights .
pur posely fo r it My Lor d h ad spoken to m e befor e

.
fo r som e but M r K elley h a d no t spoken

”
, . S e cr ecy .
b ein g n e cessar y h e is e viden tly usin g a wor d of hidden

,
meanin g .
Kelley w as con sta n tly r iding to Pr agu e an d in ,
Octob er wh ile h e w a s awa y John C ar pio [who had

, ,
j o in e d them at Tr eb o n a] did b egyn to m a ke fur na ces

over th e g a te H e used o f m y r own d br icks and fo r
.
,
th e y er n pot w a s con ten te d n o w to u s e th e less er

br icks 6 0 to make a fur n a c e
, Exp er imen ts o n a lar ge .
scale wer e a bout to b e begun a nd when Kelley r etur ned ,
ter r ibzlzs ewp o s tu la tzo a ccusa tio etc

' ’ ’
a we ek l a ter , is , .
,
th e en tr y un d er his n a m e E dm on d Hilton r etur n ed .
fr om Englan d an d a m onth later Fr an cis Gar land

, ,
br in gin g l etter s fr om Edwar d Dy er H e br ought .
a lso l ett er s fr o m Cour t a dvisin g th eir r etur n home .
Pe ople in th e n eighbour hood wer e begi nn in g to talk

a bout th e str an ge d o in gs o f t h e for ei n er s in th e
g
C a stle a n d th e C aptain C r itzin of th e Guar d dis
,
d a in ed to com e to a we ddin g supper in th e R athh aus

be c a use D ee a n d K elley wer e to b e pr e s en t The .
hous ehold gr ew lar g er a n d la r ger Thom a s Kelley .
w a s m ar r i e d in Jun e In D e c em b er “
.M r John C ar pio , .
wen t towar ds Pr ague to m ar r y th e m a id en he had

tr ub b le d ; fo r th e Emp er or s M aj es tie by my Lor d
’
”
Rosen b er g s m ean s h ad so or der ed th e matt er
’
, He .
w a s a bs en t till F ebr u ar y 1 6 a n d i n Ap r il br ought his ,
wife D ee tur n ed ba ck to his books of tables figur es

.
,
a n d sy m bols Th e 30 a n d 31 day I b eg a n to fr a me
.
wear y his for mer ma ster w a s n o w summ on ed

im p er iously to com e an d am use h im H e s en ds the
Old m an a messag e by his br other Thoma s saying , ,
You study to o m uch it is to o la te in th e day to go ,
to C r o m la w a s you in ten ded h e wishes you to com e

, ,
to pa ss th e ty m e with h im a t play D ee m ildly .
con sen ts I wen t after dyn n er and play d h e and I ,
a ain st M r F G a r l and an d M r Rob ty ll supper

g . . . .
,
tym e in his dynin g r om e an d a fter supp er h e c am e ,
and th e oth er s an d w e pl a y e d th er e h a m o r thr ee

,
hon r es an d fr en dely dep ar te d This w as then after .
th e gr ea t and won d er ful un kin dn e ss us ed towar d m e

”
in ta king my m an A week o r two later Kelley
.
s en t fo r D ee la te in th e evenin g to com e to his

labor a tor y over th e gate to see how h e distilled ,
s er icon a ccor ding a s in tim e p as t a n d o f lat e h e

,
hear d of m e o ut o f B iplay God len d his hear t to all .

1
”
ch ar ity and ver tue .
It is eviden t th a t K elley w a s j ea lously and secr etly

wor k in g at his exper im en ts apar t fr om D ee H e had .
learn ed m uch alchemy fr om his m a ster an d his

ma ster s won der ful libr ar y in th e four year s but
’
,
’
ther e w a s still kn owle dge stor ed in cham ber s of Dee s
br ain o f which h e could n o t pick th e lock To enter .
these inn er r e cess e s h a d b een doubtle ss K ell ey s aim ’
wh en h e r epr es en ted th e spir its as biddin g them shar e

e ver ythin g with ea ch oth er But h e o n his p ar t h ad .
, ,
n o in ten tion o f shar in g an yt hin g th a t h e discover ed .
Th e year 1 5 8 8 b egan b a dly fo r th e child Michael , ,

’
o n N ew Year s D ay ,
1 Geo r
ge Ri p le y ,
Cano n of Bridlingto n , Th e Commo n/rid f Alchymie
o ,
1 47 1 , pr inte d 15 91 .
THE END OF THE PARTNERSHIP 195
“
going childy shly with a shar p stick of e ight in che s
long a n d a little w a x can dell light o n the top o f it
[eviden tly th e child w as keeping Chr istma stide in
good old G er m an fa shion ] did fa ll u ppo n th e play n
,
bor ds in M ar ie s cham b er a n d th e sh ar p poin t of

’
the stik entr ed thr ough th e lid of his left ey towar d

th e cor n er n e xt th e n os e a nd so per s ed thr oug h
, ,
insom uch that gr ea t a bun da n c e of b lu d ca m e o ut

un der th e lid i n th e ver y cor n er of th e sayd ey
, .
The hole o n th e outsid e IS n o t b ygg er tha n a pin 3

’
hed ; it w as an o yn ted with St John s oyle Th e boy . .
slept well God spede th e r est of the cur e Th e

. .
next d ay a ft er it a
pper id th a t th e fir st to w ch o f th e
,
stik es poin t w as at t h e v er y m yddle o f t h e a

pple of
the ey an d so (by God s m er cy a n d favor ) g lan c e d
’
to th e p lace wh er e it entr ed ; with th e str ength o f

his b ed an d th e fi r e of his fulnes s I m a y m ak e .
som e shew of it to th e pr a y se of G o d fo r his

mer cies an d pr otection .
D ee cour se w as a s skilled in m edicin e a s an y

o f
do ctor o f th e tim e H e r en der e d m e dic al a ssistance
.
whe n Thom as Kelley s wife Lydia m isc ar r i e d with

’
, ,
twin boys H e n ote s his o w n sym ptoms c ar efully :

.
June 1 9 I h a d a gr udging o f th e ag ue Jun e 2 2 I

, .
,
did evidently r ec eive th e agu e an d lay d dow n .
J an 1 7
. Th e hum m ing in m y e ar s b egan
. An o ther .
time I w a s ver y sik uppo n tw o o r thr ee s age lea ves

eten in th e m or n ing ; b etter sudd en ly a t n ig ht .
When I c ast them up I w as well , .
The coldn ess b etween th e tw o be ca me un b eara ble

to D ee th e pea cem aker o f whom Aubr ey r ela te s th a t
, ,
if ever any o f his n eig hbour s fell o ut h e would n o t ,
let them alon e un til h e h ad ma de th em fr ien ds In .
Apr il h e wr ote to Kelley and his w ife 2 char ita ble

,
0 2
letter s r equir in g at th eyr e ha n ds m utua l ch ar ity

, .
Th e s am e day h e m a d e fr ien ds with C apta in C r itzin ,
an d o n S u n da y whe n J an e w a s chur ch e d a fter Theo

,
dor e s bir th r e c eived th e Com m un io n with h er H e

’
, .
hear s o f som e fr esh tr ea cher y o f Puc ci an d of Ros en ,
ber g s displea sur e but all is for g otten o n M a y 1 0

’
, ,
wh en Kelley did o pen th e g r ea t s e cr et to m e God

“
,
b e thanke d ! A few days a fter M istr is K ell ey ,
r e c e ive d th e s acr am en t a n d to m e a n d m w ife v

y ,g ea
h er han d in ch ar ity an d w e r ush e d n o t fr om h er

, .
Th e r e co n c ilia tion do es n o t s e em to ha v e been a lto

gether com plete Ever y visitor thr ou ghout that
.
sum m er Edm un d Coop er Joan K elley s br other ;

, ,
’
M r Thom a s Southwell his fr ien d ; Edwar d Dyer

.
, ,
Fr an cis Gar lan d an d Coun t Rosen b er g all seem to

, ,
ha ve tr i e d to pa tch up th e qu arr el but thing s only ,
gr ew wor se .
Th e g r ea t s e cr et op en e d by K ell ey w a s n o doubt
th e pr ofe ss e d s ec r et of th e gold D ee m ust v er y soon .
”
h a ve foun d out th e tr ue va lue o f this se cr et but ,
a ppar en tly h e con tin ue d t o b e lie v e th a t K ell ey h ad
hon e stly tr an sm uted ba s e m eta l an d w a s keeping the ,
method to him s elf Nothing w a s le ss likely than .
th a t h e would sh ar e his kn owledg e even with th e ,
m a ster who h a d t aught him all h e kn ew Th e fir st .
e ss en ti a l in a l c h emy w a s s ecr ecy It is ch ar a cter istic .
o f D ee th a t h e s eem s to h a v e b een mor e p a in ed at
Kelley s wan t o f con fiden ce in him th an chagr in ed at

’
n o t k n owing th e s e c r et Of j ea lousy tha t Kelley w as

.
,
o r s eeme d to b e t h e succ e ssful a l ch em ist th ere is n o

'
, ,
tr a ce But Kelley w a s gr a dua lly un der min in g all

.
Dee s influen ce and fr ien dship with Ros enber g who

’
,
N
198 LIFE OF DR JOH . DEE
Kelley a nd th e r est r ode towa r d s P un ch ar tz in the
mor n in g S he w a s o n h er w ay to E n g lan d and
. ,
’
only on ce ther eafter doe s this young woma n s n ame

e n ter i n to o u r stor y .
O n Nov em b er 2 3 F r an c is G ar lan d a n d M r Dyer

’
.
,
s er van t Edwar d Rowley w h o h a d com e b a ck a week

, ,
o r two e ar li er le ft fo r E n la n d D ee s en t by them a
, g .
m ost i m p or ta n t l etter to th e Qu een a lso letter s to ,
D yer M r Youn g a n d to Edm on d Hilton

, .
, News .
fr om E n gla n d tr avelle d slowly and D ee h ad n o t long ,
sin c e h ear d o f th e g lor ious d efea t o f th e Spanish

Ar m a da of th e pr e vious Ma y Th e victor ious c aptain s .
,
Fr obisher Dr ake H a wkin s wer e all well kn own to

, , ,
h im a n d with th e Adm ir a l in chi ef com m an d Lor d

, ,
Howar d of E ffi ngh am h e w a s v er y fa miliar a t Cour t

, ,
fo r his wife h ad b een J an e s ear ly p atr on an d fr iend

’
.
Patr iot th at D ee w as yearnin g to g et back to Englan d

, ,
h e n o w wr ote to th e Qu een a l etter o f cong r atulation

(dated Novem ber 1 0 1 5 8 8 ) upon th e splen did victory
,
o f h er n a vy It w a s couch ed in th e gr a c eful and

.
fa n ta stic ter m s o f hom ag e o f th e day a nd is a liter ary ,
pr oduction well befittin g a m an o f his r eputation .
Th e letter is r ep r oduce d fr om th e or igin al It is .
r in te d by Ellis in L etter s o lm
p f E m in en t fi .
H e spe a ks in it o f his pr opos e d r etur n a n d b egs fo r ,
a s a fe con duct thr ough a ll th e do m a in s of pr in ces
a n d p ot en t ate s which la b e tw een him an d home

y .
H appy a r e they th at can p er c eive an d so ob ey th e

plea sant call of th e m igh tie La dy O ppo r tu nitie Th e .
a n sw er of cour s e took lon g to com e but h e b egan to

, , ,
m ake his pr ep ar ation s slowly H e ga ve to K elley th e .
won d erful conve x gla ss which th e Q u een had so often

Q U EEN E L I Z A BET H F E AT M
O N TH E DE O F THE S PA N I S H A R AD A .
DEE TO
( S ee j . 1 98 )
an d thr ee W a llach ees fo r th e sa ddle— cost £1 20 and ,
chea p th ey wer e a t that Th e thr e e n ew coa ch es

.
,
with h ar n ess s a ddles a n d br idle s cost £6 0 ; an d the

, ,
hir ing of two o r thr ee waggon s fo r his g oods books , ,
furn itur e vess els etc r a n in to £1 1 0 Then h e h ad

, , .
,
.
a n e scor t o f twen ty four soldi er s fr om D ie h o lt to

p
-
’
Olden bur g a s per m itte d by th e E m per or s pa sspor t ;
,
an d fr om Olde n bu r g to B r em en th e Duk e o f that ,
r ovin c e s en t six m u s u e teer s to r ot ect him It

p q p .
w a s a dan ger ous ti m e to r id e a b r o a d a s h e s a ys no t , ,
lon g b efor e th e outbr ea k o f th e Thir ty Yea r s W a r ’

.
A p ar ty o f eig hteen hor se men h a d lain in wait fo r his

ca r avan fo r fi ve days but a wa r ning cam e thr ough
,
a Scot in th e g ar r ison o f Olden bur g a nd Rob ert , ,
th e L an dg r a ve o f H esse e xten de d his p ower ful

,
pr otection .
Th e tr ain o f c oa ch es an d wagg on s with the ,
tr a vell er s an d th eir bag gage le ft Tr eb o n a o n ,
M ar ch 1 1 . Th e C a stle h ad b een th eir hom e fo r a

year an d a ha lf an d w e can fan cy Ja n e a t any r ate
, , ,
dr ea din g to take up on ce m or e th e o ld wan der in g life .
Fo r it w a s to b e a year a n d thr ee qu a r ter s m or e -
be for e th ey s et foot in E n glan d O n th e 1 8th they .
wer e in Nur em ber g wher e they staye d two n ights ;

,
o n M ar ch 2 6 th ey r e a ch e d F r ank fur t a m — M a in a nd -
,
o n Apr il 1 9 fi ve weeks a fter lea vin g Tr eb o n a they

, ,
Wer e in B r emen their pr es en t de stin ation

, .
CHAPTER XVI
T HE EN D O F KE L L E Y
All yo u that fa in e p i o so p h l h wo uld b e er s ,
An d day a n d n ig t in e h G b r s kitchen b yl
e
’
ro e,
W hips o f H erm es
’
a stin
g th e c a n cien t tr ee ,
Weenin g to tur n t h em to a
pr e cio u s o yle ,
Th e m o r e y o u w o r k e th e m o r e y o u o o se a n d S po ile l .
To y o u, I
say, h o w ear n e l so c e t d
yo u b e ,
’
b y
Go ur n o ur Bo o k es an d co m e an d lea m e o f m e .
S IR E D WAR D K ELLE Y, Metrica l Tr ea tise on Alchemy .
BE FOR E con tin uing th e story of D ee s life in ’
Brem en and his r eturn to En glan d th e en d o f ,
Kelley s extra or din ar y meteor ic c ar eer which six

’
mor e year s extinguished must b e br iefly tr a c e d

,
.
D ee expe cte d K elley to join him at Sta de He .
confi den tly thought they would r eturn to En glan d

to gether obedient to th e Queen s summ on s But
,
’
.
Kell ey w as n o w a gr ea t m an with Rudolph who h ad ,
given him an estate an d a title and established him ,
at his Cour t in Pr a gu e a s a citiz en an d coun cillor o f
state Appar ently h e succee de d in keeping u p th e

.
deception o f making g old Th e n ews o f his pr o .
motion w as con veye d by D ee to Walsingha m a t ,
Ba rn Elms in a letter dated August 2 2

, to ,
which w e shall aga in r etur n H e sp eaks o f Kell ey a s .
“
my grea t fri en d y et in Bo emia and sur mise s th a t
, ,
La/m do w n e MS lxi f 1 5 9 . . . .
Wa lsingha m m ay ha ve hear d dir e ct fr om h im who is ,
n o w in most fa vour a ble m an n er cre a t e d a B a r on o f
th e Kin gdom o f Boem i a .
Th e a ctu al title con fer r e d w as eqn es a n m tus a ,

”
syn on ym fo r m iles which took it s or igin in th e fact
tha t a knig ht s ar mour w a s g ilde d In E nglish it
’
.
w a s of cour s e S ir Th e title m ust ha v e b een co n

.
fer r e d o n Kelley ver y soon after D ee left Tr ebon s in

Mar ch ; fo r by th e en d of Jun e h e is c a lled Sir
Edwar d by a c ouple o f E nglishmen Rober t Ta tton ,
an d G e or ge L eyc e ster who w ith Edmon d Hilton ,
wer e a t Tr eb o na then and c a m e o n to D ee at B r emen , .
K elley com mission ed th em to take down p ar ticular s

of th e tr ea ch er y o f o n e Par kin s a Jesuit in Pr ague , ,
w h o w as
plottin g with th e King o f Sp a in a n d th e
Pope aga in st E ng lan d H e w ishe d o f cour s e to .
2
”
scor e his faithful disco v er ie o f this tr ea son He .
also d esi r e d Bur l eigh an d othe r s in E n gla n d to kn ow
what gr ea t hon our h a d b een don e h im an d h e obtain ed ,
in F e br u ar y 1 5 9 0 a confir ma tion of th e gr a n t o f his

, ,
title to sen d over lest th er e should b e an y doubt in

,
En glish m in ds Th e docum en t cur iously en oug h is

.
,
3
,
coun ter sign ed by D r Ja cob Cur tius th e a cquain tan ce .

,
o f th r ee y e ar s b e for e .
Con stan t letter s pa sse d betwe en th e two for m er

fellow wor ker s thr ough th e year 1 5 9 0 th e messenger
-
,
b eing e ith er Thom a s Kelley o r Fr a n cis Gar lan d All .
m ann er of wild stor ie s wer e cu r r en t in E n glan d and ,
1
Th e s e a
pp ear as Ro lo us Ta ttin a nd Ge or
ge Lo sin in th e
di y p
ar r in te d by H lliw ll a e .
3
La n sdo w ne AIS lx i f 6 4 cf ibid f 1 8 6
. . . . . . .
3
La n sdo w ne MS cccx i f 2 43. d lv . . .
in 1 5 9 1 ,
’
who w a s then a ctin g a s th e Qu een s a gen t in
G er m any h e ur ges h im to u se e ver y m ea n s in his
,
ow to i duc S i Edw d K ll y t o com e ov er to

p er n e r ar e e
his nativ e coun tr y an d hon our h er M aj e sty with th e

”
fr uits o f su ch kn owle dg e a s God h a s g iven him .
Dyer h a d be en D ee s fr ien d fo r a gr ea t m an y year s

’
a s w e k n ow a n d w a s Ar thur s df a th er but h e tr a n s
’
, g o ,
fer r ed a ll his a tten tion s to Kelley a s s oon a s that

cle ver tr ickster beg a n making g old D ee only s ays h e .
”
did injur e m e un kin delie K elley a n d Dyer b ec ame
.
in sep ar able a n d D yer wr ote hom e to Bur leigh

,
won der ful r epor ts o f Kelley s m ir a cle s Ign o ring all ’

.
tha t h a d pa ss ed Bur leigh is r ea dy to welcome the

,
quon da m coin er for g er o r wha t n o t with op en ar m s

, , ,
ba ck to th e ser vic e o f his Qu e en If his kn owledg e .
is a s c er t ain a s you m ake it wha t would you ha ve m e ,
think could sta y h im fr om flyin g to th e s er vic e of

”
his o w n sov er eign ? If h e is a fr a id of o ld r epor ts ,
a ctio n s di s gr a c e
, b eing br ought up a ga in st him (an d
,
w e kn o w K ell ey s r e co r d w a s n on e of th e cl ean est )

’
let h im b e a ssur e d th a t h e sh all h av e his Qu een s

’
pr otection ag a in st all im pedim en ts tha t sh all ar is e .
Bur leig h be com e s alm ost p o etical a s h e speaks o f the

pa tr on ag e o f s u ch a Pr in ce ss who n e ver y et w a s ,
stain ed w ith an y br ea ch of Pr om ise to th em tha t

d es er ved h er favour If I did n o t kn ow to whom I
.
w r it e
, who h a s h a d lo n g e xper i en c e of h er r ar e
v er tu es ,
I could u se m an y ar g u m en ts to m ove
a n y m a n n ev er to m istr ust h er H e im plor e s Dyer .
to in duc e Kelley to come If h e doe s n o t come it

.
,
c a n on ly b e b e c a us e by cunn ing o r l eg er d ema in h e
h a s d ec eived them an d cann ot d o wh at h e p r omis e s o r ,

THE EN D OF KELLEY 205
l
e se heis an unn atur a l disloya l m an a nd subj e ct In .
cas e K elley will no t com e h e a sks if Dyer c ann ot ,
send a ver y sm all por tion of his powder to m a ke a

dem on str ation to th e Queen s o w n sig ht Wha t th e ’
.
Treasur er would like m ost o f a ll is th at K elley

should sen d h er Maj esty a s a token a g ood r oun d
sum o f m on e y s a
y en oug h to de fr ay th e char ge s of
,
”
th e na vy fo r this sum m er fo r th e ships of Sp a in we r e
,
gather in g cour age a fter th eir d efeat But wisher s .
an d w o uld er s w er e n e ve r good hous ehold er s h e en ds , .
Th e Qu een is a t his hous e a t Th eoba lds a n d will b e ,
som e tim e long er H e would b e con ten t th e time

.
wer e tr ipled so h e h a d but o n e cor n o f Sir Edwar d

,
Kelley s powd er
’
Bur leigh an d Kelley we r e a lso in
.
dir ect cor r e spon den c e B e side ur g ing his r etur n th e

.
,
Lor d Tr ea sur er w h o s eem ed to con sider Kelley a s

,
th e stor ehous e of th e elixir of life a s well as of

the philosoph er s ston e b egs fo r a pr e sc r iption with
’
th e pr oof o f m a n ufa c tur e d g old In a br ief n ote o f .
Febr uar y 1 8 , K elley s ays h e will short ly s en d

th e g ood thing d e sir e d fo r your h ea lth H e ha s .
r ece ived th e s a luta tion s s en t thr ou h M r Dye r an d

g .
,
at his r etur n
y o u shall kn ow h o w I tha n k you .
’
This th e on ly or igin al letter o f Kelley s to b e tr a c ed
, ,
character istic ally pr o m is es what h e n ever m ean t to

do Bur leigh r epli ed in M ay ag ain begging him to
.
,
s end som ethin g of your oper a tion to str engthen m e

”
a for e n e xt w in te r a ain st m
g y o ld en em y th e g o ut .
H e on ce m or e str on gly ur g e s K elley s r etur n How

’
.
can h e h e sita t e to b e stow th e gift s tha t G o d h as
1
La m do w ne MS . lxvi . f 164
. .
20 6 LIFE OF DR . J OHN DEE
given him r ather upon his o w n Pr in ce an d Coun tr ie
than upon str anger s
K elle y o f cour se did n o t r e tur n but a ppar en tly ,
wr ote aga in ur gin g po wer ful r e a son s o f e xcus e

,
.
Bu r leigh s fa ith in h im b eg an to s h ake H e s en t a

’
.
last im per a tive r e ca ll s o m e of whi c h m ay b e quoted

,
1
fr om th e r o ug h dr a ft wr itten in his o w n ha n d It .
shows on c e m or e wh a t sor t of m en th e gr ea t Queen

h ad to s er v e h er a n d w ha t a Qu een s h e w a s to s er ve
, ,
B eg in n in g Good S ir Edwar d K elley Bur leigh ,
a ck n owl e d e s K e ll e y s le tter s by Dyer Without

’
g .
par ticula r k n owle dg e of your im pe dim en ta I m ay no t ,
giv e an y such cen sur e s as other s so e un con sider ately ,
y ea un char ita bly m ay do e , You con fess a desir e to .
r etur n to your n a ti v e coun tr ie ; your m in d e dr a ws to
your sover eign This i s com m en dable y et m a n y say if

.
,
y o u co m e n o t it is b ec a u s e you c a nn ot per for m what

,
h a s b een r epor te d o f you M alicious per s o n s say yo u

.
a r e an i m postor like so m e in oth e r c o unt r ie s ha ve been

,
pr ove d Yo u fear se ver e p un ishm en t N o w good

. .
,
“
kn ight though I wr ite thus plain ly to you y et such

, ,
is my cr e dit in M r Dyer s uch m y allowan c e o f your

.
,
loyal pr ofession such opin ion do I fir m ly co n ceav e of

,
your w i sdom an d love e xpr e ss e d in your letter s such ,
my per sw a sio n o f your h ab illitie to per for me what

M r Dyer h a s r ep or te d (by r e a son of th e estimation
.
,
hon or a n d cr edit I s ee that you ha ve g o tto n by y r

b eha viour ) th at I r es t o n ly un sa tisfie d ln your delaye
,
o f comin g ; an d I a m e xpr e ssly com m a n de d by H er

M aj e stic to r e quir e you to h ave r egar d to h er hon our ,
a n d a ccor ding to th e t en o r o f h er for m e r l e tter s to ,
a ssur e r self sin ul ar ly fa vour e d in r e sp e ct o f th e

y g
ben efit you m ay br in g to H er M aj e stic .
Be a ssur e d o f wor ldly r e war d You ca n m a ke y r .
1
L a nsdo w ne MS iii f 2 1 0
'
The e is n o d t
. c . . . r a e .
20 8 LIFE OF DR . J O H N fiiD E E
H e h ad been e stablishe d in a hous e o f his o w n

close to th e Pa la ce his wife an d br other h a d r ejoin ed
h im ; Edwar d Dyer m a de it his hea dqu ar ter s O ne .
d a y th e la st of Apr il p er ha ps e v en b efor e Bu r leigh s

’
, ,
letter w a s dispa tche d h e w a s s udden ly ar r e sted by

,
th e fi tful Rudolph s co m m a n d and thr own in to

’
pr ison A lar g e for c e o f th e im p er ia l gu ar d a cco m

.
,
pan ied by th e City Pr ovost a nd o n e o f th e S e cr etar ies

o f Sta te bur st un in vit e d in to his hous e t o t ake h im
,
whilst at dinn er But a fr ien d at Cour t h a d whisp er ed

.
a wor d a n d th e e ven in g b e for e h e h ad r idd en

, o ff
w ith o ne a tt en d a n t towar ds Ros en b erg Th e .
in tr uder s h a d to b e con ten t with h a ling o ff br other

”
Tho m a s to pr ison pin a cled like a thie f
, They .
s ear ch ed th e house thor oughly br oke open door s and , ,
thr ust th eir h alber ds in to th e be ds o r an y pla c e wher e

”
S ir Edwar d might possibly lie hid S atisfi ed h e .
w a s n o t th er e th ey sc al e d u p c e r ta in o f th e r oom s
, ,
laid som e o f th e ser va n ts in chain s —o n e w a s a fter

war ds r a cked an d d epar t e d l eaving a gua r d over ,
L a dy Kelley an d M r Dyer for biddin g them to .

,
stir fr om th e hous e Returnin g with their n ews to

.
th e E m p er o r Rudolph c ur s e d in th e Dutch m ann er

, ,
an d ga ve or de r s t o s ear ch th e town an d th e highwa ys .
K elley h a d r idden o ff m any mile s towa r ds his pa tr on ,
th e a ll p ower ful Ros en b er g but b ein g wear y a n d fa st

-
,
ing h a lte d a t th e inn at S o b islau s fed a n d thr ew him

, , ,
self o n a couch to sleep By thr ee d ays after M ay 2 .

, ,
th e soldi er s h a d tr a cke d h im dow n ; a n d r oughly

s eiz in g him th ey cut op en his doublet with a k n ife to
,
sear ch fo r con c eale d va lua ble s o r p aper s vow ing they ,
ca r ed n o t wh ether they took him dea d o r alive to th e

THE END OF KELLE Y 2 09
Emper or Kelley app eale d to his all powerful frien d

.
-
,
”
R o senber g In Bohe mia s ays th e m er chan t in his
.
,
“
letter it is a r ule tha t his M aj e sty dar es do nothing
,
without the E ar l s c on s en t h e b eing Bur gra ve of

’
Pr ague th e immediate p er son and offi cer un der the

,
”
Cr own Rudolph w a s a lr ea dy sinking into th e
.
m elan choly and ma dn ess in which h e en de d his

days . However Rosen ber g s pr otection did n o t
,
’
avail . Kelley w as ta ken to th e Ca stle o f Pur glitz ,
three miles fr om Pr a gue a n d there he w as clos ely ,
confine d fo r mor e than tw o year s

A nd no w fo r th e c a us e o f Rudolph s displea su r e
’
an d th e r ea son o f th e arr e st .
Fir st it is sur mis ed to b e debt but th e mer ch an t

, ,
adds th at a lthough K ell ey is kn o w n to o w e a lar g e
sum to tw o Cologne m er ch an ts who tr ad e in j ewels ,
he owes n othin g to th e E m p er or n o r ever h a s put ,
him to any ch ar ge s ave fo r coals and house r oom , .
Next it is thought h e w a s in league w ith a pr ofe sse d

gold m aker fr om Venice e x ecuted by th e Duke o f
-
,
B avar ia at Munich o n April 2 5 ( Of him to o , .

, ,
Bur leigh ha s wr itten in his le tter to Dyer ) Thi r dly .

,
th e Emper or s fear th a t Kell ey would d ep ar t fo r

’
Englan d is adduc ed Dyer h ad br ought autogr aph .
’
letter s fr om th e Que en r e callin g him A doctor s so n .
in th e tow n who h ad s er ve d S ir Philip Sidney in

,
Englan d an d kn ew h er han d h a d r epor ted this It

, , .
w as of cour s e an in ven tion ; an d th e mer chan t opin e s
Dyer is of too r ar e a discr etion to p er mit secr et letter s

to b e s een o r even h ear d o f ; it is mor e lik ely tha t
Kelley has some time o r other va un ted at table th at
th e Quee n h ad sen t fo r him H e is a m an w ho .
taketh a s I h ear a pleasur e tha t Pr in ces de sir e him

, , .
J D.
. P
Four thly it is th e doin g o f th e p ower ful fa m ily o f

,
th e P o pp els s e con d fa m ily in th e kin gdom a n d gr ea t

, ,
en emi e s o f th e Ros en b er s w h o h a ve b een th e

g ,
s etter s u p an d pr in cip a l m ain tain er s o f Sir Ed w a r d

Kelley hither to Th e fifth r ep or t is tha t K elley h a d
.
’
distill ed a n o il o r m e dicin e fo r th e E m per or s h ear t
disea s e which w as p oiso n La stly th e wr iter com es to
, .
,
’
wha t h e take s fo r th e tr u e r ea son o f Rudolph s anger .
A n Italian n am e d Scoto ha vin g c a st im puta tion s

, ,
o n K e lley s
p ower s o f pr oj e ction th e E m p er or s ent
’
fo r him to co m e an d m a ke pr oof o f his a r t at Cour t .
K elley of cour se e xcuse d him s elf sa yin g h e w as sick , .
Thr ee tim e s h e w a s sum m on ed an d then th e guar d ,
w a s d e s a tch e d to br in
p g him Th e a ccus a tion w a s .
L a esus M aj esta tzs an d th e city won der s wha t will b e

'
th e en d Th e Emp er or d ar e n o t openly e x ecute him

.
,
fo r fear of Ros en b er g an d th e str on g feelin g in th e

Sta te fo r a chan ge of r uler Yet h e m ay easily b e .
put to death se cr etly in tha t ca stle wher e h e is co n

fin e d an d Ros en b er g n o t kn ow oth er wise than that
,
h e liv eth o r is d ea d by dis ea s e

, Alm ost gr own n o w .
to b c a c om m on Pr a ctic e in th e E m pir e a n d in the ,

”
Palatin e e spe ci a lly n ote d tha t w ay , .
This d ar k hin t is alm ost a pr ophe cy o f K elley s

“ ’
fa te ; but th e doom w a s n o t y et quite pr ep a r e d O n .
D e c emb er 5 1 5 9 3 D ec r e c eived n ews o f hi s ha vin g

, ,
been set a t liber ty o n th e pr evious October 4 ,
just tw o an d a half year s a fter his ar r e st Not a wor d .
him in D ee s di ar y in th e m ean tim e u n til

’
of ,
M ar ch 1 2 of th a t year wh en th e o ld m an r e cor ds that

,
h e dr ea mt m uch o f K elley tw o nights r unnin g as ,
if h e w er in m y house fa miliar with his wife a n d , ,
br oth er ,
time s e xchan ged betw een Kelley a n d D ee a n d in ,
M ar ch 1 5 9 5 Fr a n cis Gar la n d w h o h ad then n o t long

, , ,
r etur n ed fr o m Pr a gue cam e to visit m e a nd had

,
much talk w i th m e o f E K K elley w a s appa . .
r ently th en r esto r e d to th e Emp er o r s favour fo r o n

’
,
’
Aug u st 1 2 D ee sa ys h e r eceyv ed S ir Edwar d Ke lley s
,
“
letter s o f th e E m p er or in vitin g m e to his servy ce

,
again . Did K elley thin k ther e might b e fur ther

hints to b e g o t fr om his old alche mical ma ster ?
Then un der da te o f November 2 5 1 5 9 5 D ec , ,
en t er s this cu r t n ote th e n ews th at Sir Edwar d

”
Kelley w a s sla yn e N ever ther ea fter does h e m en
.
’
tion this a dven tur er s n a me .
Th e pr eva len t stor y is tha t Kelley w as again im

pr ison e d in o n e o f Rudolph s c a stles a n d that ’
, ,
att emptin g to e scap e by a tur r et win dow h e fell ,
fr om a gr ea t he ig ht and br oke both legs r e ceiving ,
oth er injur ies fr om which h e shor tly died

, It is .
even s a id with som e amou n t of cr edibility tha t th e ,
Qu een wr ote im per atively to Dyer to s ecur e his

r elea s e an d tha t ever ythin g w as pr ep ar e d in r eadiness
,
to con vey h im s ecr etly to E nglan d an d th at he ,
w as e sc apin g fo r th at pur pos e wh en th e a ccident
h app en ed This stor y h a s har dly been tr a cke d home

.
to its sour ce It m ay b e tr ue O n th e other hand

. .
,
th e en d m ay ha ve come in th e mor e sw ift a n d s ec ret

mann er suggested by th e E nglish mer ch an t In .
eith er c as e th e s pi r it war nin g o f ele ven y ear s be fore

, ,
th at h e should die a violen t death w a s fulfi lled Into , .
his for ty year s a s much a dventur e folly tr icker y and , ,
deceit for tune fa m e favour r iches an d pover ty had

, , , , ,
been cr owded a s could supply ma ter ial fo r ma ny a

volume of r oman ce .
THE END OF KELLEY 218
Some o f th e in cidents wer e in deed use d a few

year s a fter his death by m or e th a n o n e dr am atist .
D ec h ad only quitted th e wor ld a bout a year a n d a

half when K elley s pr eten sion s D ee s lear nin g a n d
’
,
’
,
th e whole p ar a ph er n a lia of a lch em y wer e s ev er ely ,
satir ised by Ben Jon son in The A lchemis t a
play which r eflects a ll th e cr udest super stition s o f

th e time . Th e cr e dulous kn ig ht S ir E picur e ,
Mam mon descr ib es Subtle th e alchemist a s

, , ,
A divi i t u t
ne t tns r c o r ca n e x r a c
Th e ul f ll thi g by h i
so ot ll ll
a n s s ar ca a
Th vi tu es
e d th m i
r l f th u an e r ac es o e s n
I t t m p t fu
n o a e t h dull tu
er a e r nace ea c na re
Wh t he a n fo r ow r ce s a r e .
A m a n th e E m p er o r
H a s co ur t e a o e e ey ; d b v K ll sen t h is m e dl a s
h
An d c a in s t o in vite h im .
!
Butler s ’
H ublish e d in 1 6 6 3 but
u dzbr a s , fir st
'
In p ,
w r itten ten o r fifte en ye ar s e a r li er D ee a n d K ell ey ,
ar e ag ain cite d thoug h th e s atir e is chi efly dir ecte d

,
a ain st S idr o h el t e W illiam Lilly h e d e vil is

'
g p , T . . .
said to hav e appear e d in diver s sh apes to Kelley ;

an d in th e de s c r iption o f Sidr 0 h el th e s e lin e s o c cur
p ,
H e h d b e l g t w d m th em ti
a e n on o ar a a cs ,
O pti s philc
ph y d t ti
,
o so an s a cs ,
M gi h
a
py
c, t l gy o r o s co ,
as ro o ,
A d w
n ld d g t phy i l g y ;
as o o a s o o
H h d
e d D ee P f
a b f
r ea
’
s r e a c es e o re
Th D ev il d E u lid ’ '
e e d an; c o r an o er
An d ll th i t ig u
a t wi t h im e d K ll y n r es x an e e ,
L es u nd th
c Em p
s, a w uld t ll y e e er o r , o e .
O n e m ay won der how m u ch thes e scur r ilous

r efer en c es h a d to d o with fi x ing D ee s r eputation ’
in th e eyes o f his im me diate poster ity .

CHAPTER XVII
RE T UR N TO E N GL A N D
If I h ve do n e m y d utiful
a vi s er ce a n
y w ay to h er Maj esties e l wl
liking d g i us
an ra c o
pti g I
a cc e n , am gr ea t o un ly b d
to t an h k
Allm igh ty G d n d d ur in g m y lif
o , a e to fr a m e th e b e s t o f m y litt e l
s k ill t
o d m y b o un d en d uty t h
o o er m o st e xce llen t M ja es tic .
— D E E, Co mpen dious R ehea r sa ll .
U P O N D ee s arr ival in Br e men o n Apr il 1 9 1 5 9 8

’
, ,
a hous e w as a t on c e hi r e d a n d th e family m oved in ,
on Ma H e put o u t his th r ee s a ddle hor s es to

y 13 .
gr a ss in the town mea dow till Mich aelmas fo r nine ,
duca ts an d pr es ented th e twelve Hungar i an coach

,
hor se s to the L an dgr a ve o f H ess e to whose kin dness ,
h e h ad b een in d ebte d fo r pr ote ction a s h e p a ssed

thr oug h his terr itor ies In Jun c Thoma s Kelley his
.
, ,
w ife Lydia ; Fr an cis Gar lan d an d Dyer s m a n Edwar d

’
, ,
Rowley left fo r Englan d At th e s ame tim e Edmo n d

, .
Hilton r eturn ed to Pr ag ue A n agr eemen t o r bond .
h a d b een en ter ed in to b e tween th e late p ar tn er s tha t

th e p r oc e eds o f th e won der ful discover y should b e
sh ar ed Hilton w as ba ck o n July 30 with n ews of
.
,
Kelley : per haps n o t good n ews fo r thr ee nights a fter , ,
towar ds daybr eak D ee s sleep w as distur be d by a

,
’
terr ible dr ea m which visite d him n o t fo r th e fir st

,
tim e th a t M r Kelley would by for ce b er ea v e m e

, .
o f my books Hilton left a lmost immedi ately fo r

.
E ng lan d with a letter fr o m D ec to W alsin gh a m to

disclos e the tr eason of th e Je suit Par kin s This , .
Then h e begs th e S e cr etar y s lenien cy if h e h as ’
offen de d in wr itin g of m atter s n o t per tain in g to him ,
and of which n o doubt you r hon ou r h a s a lr ea dy h a d
all n ec e ss ar y a dv er tis em en t fr o m p r op er ly a uth o r is ed

”
p er sons .H e will w r ite n o m or e o f public a ffair s ,
his com in g thither w as n o public but his pr ivate

ca us e th e b eg inn in g o f his n er e r etur n m a king into
,
-
”
my most der ely b elove d N a tive C o un tr y .
At th e s a m e ti m e (August D ee wr ote to his

fr ien d M r Justice Yo ung th a t th e messen ger s had
, .
,
been delayed twen ty fi ve d ays wa iting fo r a win d ; that

-
h e fear e d th e L o w Coun tr ie s wer e b en t o n shakin g o ff

th e Qu een s a uthor ity if th ey could ; a n d th a t h e fear ed
’
h e should h a v e to en dur e this Br ea m ish habitation

this win ter a s I do n o t h ear a wor d of th e appr oach
,
of S ir Ed K elley o r of M r Dyer s r etur n

.
,
“
.
’
.
In B r e men D ee min gle d with all th e lea rn ed and

,
disting uis h ed m en o f th e tim e A m em en to o f this .
p er iod is to b e foun d in a n album th e Thesa ur us ,
A mico r n m o f Tim on C o cciu s (o r Koch ) a young

, ,
B r em en studen t w ho die d while a t L eyden Univer sity

thr ee o r four year s a fter Th e album o f white ve llum .
,
fa de d a n d yello w e d with ag e with its e dge s still ,
shi n in g with th e m ellow lustr e o f old g old w as th e ,
r e c ept a cl e o f a utogr aphs wis e an d pithy sayi ngs , ,
or igin al o r quote d a ll in scr ibe d after th e beg in ning

,
o f July , S a ying s fr om Plautus a n d Seneca ,
Ju ven al Pyth ag or a s a n d Hom er follo w a n d pr ess

, ,
clos e upon th e w i sdom o f Boe thius fr om D e Co n ,
s o la tio n e an d th e divin e po e tr y o f D a n te
, Th e fir st .
1
Ca l S P D , 1 5 8 0 — 1 6 2 5 , p 2 7 7
. . . . . .
1
Add MS S 1 9 , 0 6 5
. . .
A PAG E FR O M T H E T H E S AU R U S A M IC O R UM OF TI MO N C o cc w s .
colle cted to bid him good sp eed a n d to see th e home ,
war d boun d tr a veller s o ff quite a little s c en e took

pla c e which m ust h a ve pleas ed a nd fl atter e d D ee
,
’
immen s ely fo r th er e w as n o la ck o f a m an s full

, ,
-
sha r e o f va n ity in h im P ezel h a d com pos ed som e .
ver s e s o n his depar tur e h a d g o t th em pr in te d the ,
n ight b efor e a n d as th e p ar ty w er e l e a vin g B r emen

,
fo r th e s eapo r t a few mil es a wa y th e Pr o fessor dis

, ,
tr ibute d copie s as a par ting surp r is e Th e tr aveller s .
a r r iv e d in th e Tha m e s a t G r a ve s en d o n D e c em ber 2 ,
a n d o n la n din g th e n e xt d a
y wen t str a ight to th e house
o f Mr Ju s tic e Thom a s Youn g at Stra tfor d W e
.
1
, .
m ay im ag in e J an e s r eli ef at getting h er c hildr en

’
s afely ba ck to E nglan d w ith th e a ddition o f Micha el , ,
bor n at Pr agu e n ear ly four year s an d little Theodore , , ,
b or n a t Tr eb o n a n ear ly two yea r s b efor e , .
Sin ce D ee s dep ar tur e fr om Eng lan d six year s

’
a o
g ,
g r ea t e ven ts h a d happ en ed Th e in vin cible .
Ar m a da o f Philip h a d b een beaten in a six days ’
r unn in
g fig ht up th e C ha nn el Th e Qu een s hated
’
.
r iv a l M ar y of Scotlan d h ad been put to death ;

, ,
L eic ester s sho r t dictator ship of th e Neth er lan ds had

’
begun a n d com e to a n en d L eicester h a d been dead .
a bout a y e ar N ew fa vou r ite s h a d a r is en in the

.
Queen s favour ’
But even m or e sign ifi can t than .
the se public a ffair s h a d b een th e upwar d m ovement

in lit er a tur e th e bir th o f d r a m a tic ar t a p a ssion ate
, ,
outbur st o f poetic fer vour th e gr owth o f a ta ste fo r ,
well di sciplin e d pr os e M a n y splen did fr uits o f this

-
.
m ov em en t h a d n o t y et s een th e lig ht Sidn ey s

’
1
D ee ca ll h im m y
s rot b h er , b ut h e no q
t in fr e uen t ly u s es th e
te r m . He hv
ma y a e m a r r ie dJ ’
a n e s s ister , l b th
E iza e .
RETURN TO ENGLAND 219
Ar ca dia an d fir st par t o f Sp en ser s Fa erie

th e
’
w b issu d withi f m on ths ; th e

Q u een e r e to e e n a e w
fir st play o f Shakesp ear e w a s publicly per for m ed

’
within little m or e tha n a year o f D ee s r etur n .
But Lyly an d M ar lowe h a d a lr ea dy dur in g his ,
abs en c e given Ca mp asp e

, Ta ml mr la in e an d D o cto r ,
Faustn s to b e p er for m ed by a ctor s in th e fir st

,
stationar y hom e of th e ear li er n om adic player s th e ,
theatr es of Shor editch im m ediately to b e followe d ,
b y those of B ankside B acon w as per haps even then

.
m editating his E ss a ys publish ed som e half a dozen ,
year later ; Hooker issu e d th e fi r st books of his

s
m o num en tal L a w s of E cclesia s tica l P o lity within four

year s an d Nash P e ele Gr een an d a hor de o f other
, , ,
wr iter s wer e con tr ibutin g to e sta bli s h th e Eng lish

,
liter ar y r en aiss an ce O n e c an s car cely help won der

.
ing how m uch th e fa bulous stor ie s of D ee an d K elley ,
which must h ave r ea ched M ar lowe s ear s con tr ibute d ’
to his splen did dr am atisation of th e Fa ust legen d

(fir st pr in ted in Fr a n kfor t in But after all even ,
th e sto r y o f D ee s an ge ls a n d K elley s g old pa le s

’ ’
befor e th e lur id glow o f the stor ie s o f th e ear lier

alchem ists A r i a a n d P a r a c elsus
g pp , .
D ee lan ded in E ng lan d a dis appoin ted an d a p ar tly

disillusione d m an c linging to a beli ef which w a s y et
,
useless unpr ofitable to h im H e c ould pr ov e n othing

, .
of Kelley s e xploits But h e lost n o tim e in r epa ir ing

’
.
to C o ur t an d o n D ec em b er 1 9 h e w a s gr a ciously
,
r ec eive d by th e Queen at Ri chmon d .
O n Chr istm a s D a y h e fir st slept in his o w n ho us e

at Mor tla ke an d b eh eld fo r him s elf his r uin e d an d
,
r ifled libr a r y with its

pr ecious bo o ks a nd in str um en ts
,
22 0 LIFE OF DR JOHN DEE
“
missing H e him s elf w as in dir e str aits

. H e h ad .
little left: him s a ve his wife a n d childr en an d some ,
still faithful fr i en ds H e took th e hous e over a s a .
tenan t fr om his br other in law Fr om o n d an d s ettled - -

, ,
down in th e o ld qu ar ter s Adr ian Gilb er t w as the .
fir st visitor g en er ously offer in g a s m uch a s I could

,
r e quir e at his han ds both fo r m

y g oods c ar r ied a way
, ,
an d fo r th e m y n es V er y soon Thoma s Kelley .
a r r ive d an d follo w ed suit by o ffer in

g th e lo a n o f ten
p ou n ds in gold ; h e a fter war ds s en t it m e in
Hunga r y n ew du ck ettes by John C r oker th e sam e ,
evenin g H e pu t m e in good hop e o f S ir Edwar d

.
K elley his r e tu r nin g .
A s econ d da ughter w as born an d chr isten ed at ,
Mor tla ke o n M ar ch 5 Th e n am e given h er w as

, .
M a dinia sugg ested by th e busy little spir it who h ad

,
b een so helpful at h er fir st com ing Th e child w as .
chr isten e d at Mor tlake o n th e 5 th Sir G eor ge C ar ew ,
as odf a th er L a dy Cobh am a n d L a dy W alsin gham

g , ,
godm other s L etter s ca m e fr om Ke lley by Gar lan d

.
in M ar ch an d r epli e s w er e d e spa tche d by Thom as

,
Ke lley in Apr il D ee is c ar efu l to g ive his for m er

.
skr yer his full title S ir Edwar d K elle y Knig ht at , ,
th e E m p er o r s Cou r t a t Pr ag u e Fr a n cis Gar lan d

’
.
w as by an d M r
, Tho m a s Kelley his wife . Go d , .
s en d them well thither an d hith er a ga in .
O n L a dy D ay th e child r en b egin to g o to school

,
w ith M r L e e at Mor tla k e

. I ga ve h im his house .
r en t a n d for ty shillin gs y er cly fo r m y thr e e s o n s an d
m y d aughter Th e hous e r en t w a s a llm o st 4s y er cly

. .
,
A gra n t f ya ltie s De v hi e m in es h a d b d
1
r o ro on o ns r ee n ma e to
t h em j o in tly .
222 LIFE OF DR JO H N DEE .
d eliver it to o ne my sonn e s m ost fit a mon g them

of ,
to h ave it . Th eo ddo r h a d a sor e fall o n h is mowth

a t mid d a-
y .
D ee s in co m e w as n o w a lm ost a n eg ligible quan tity

’
.
The par son ag e s h a d p aid h im n o r en t sin c e h e left

E ng lan d : H e wen t two o r thr ee tim e s to L am beth ,
an d t alk e d boldly to A r chbishop Whitgift o f his
r i ht to th e m
g .
H e b e ga n to in ter es t him s elf in h is im m e diate

n eig hbour hood with th e ide a of stopping the
”
B a cchu s F e a st a t Br en tfor d a r owdy c elebr a tion
, ,
which h a d e xcited his in dign a tion a n d of which he

gave th e Bish o p o f Lon don a war n ing .
In August a do m estic tr age dy o ccur r e d : o n e of

th e wo m en s er v an ts b e c a m e m ela n choly a n d went
o u t o f h er m in d Lun a cy b ein g a dis ea s e beyond
.
’
e v en D ee s m e dic a l kn owl edg e an d fo r 3 0 0 ye ar s ,
a ft er bein g tr ea te d m or e o r less as dem on i ac al

'
p os s e ssio n it is n o wo n d er tha t th e r e m e dies h e tr ied

,
wer e ineffe ctua l It s eem s a n other in stan ce of th e

.
fals e vie ws of D ee s char a cter th a t h a ve been r epeated

’
over a n d over again th a t th e e ditor of his M a n chester

,
’
diar y ur ge s a s a pr oof o f D ee s m ag ic a n d e vil
e xper im en ts th a t s o m e of t h e in m a te s o f his hous e
” 1
be ca m e suicide s when in his s er vice .
A ug . N ur s he r g r ea t a fflictio n o f m y n de
2 . .
A ug 2 2 A nn m y n u r s e h a d long b y n te m pte d by a
. .
w y ck e d s pi r it, but this d a y it w a s e vid en t how sh e

w as poss e ss e d of him God is , an d h ath b y n , a nd .
sh all b e h er pr ote ctor an d d eliver er Am en . .
1
Man chester D ia r y , ed . J . l
Eg in gto n B il ey
a , 1 88 0 , pr i v .
pr .
, p 17
. .
RETURN T O ENGLAND 223
25 th . Fr ank w as sorr owful well comfor ted

Ann , ,
and stayed in Gods m er cy e s a ckn owle dging .
2 6 th At night I an o y nted (in th e n a me o f J esus )

. ,
Ann Fr ank h er br est with t h e holy oyle

, ,
.
3oth In th e mor nin g sh e r e quir ed to b e ano y nted

. ,
an d I did ver y d evoutly pr ep ar e m ys elf an d pr ay fo r

vertue an d po w r and Chr ist his blessing of the oyle
,
to the e xpulsion o f th e w y ck ed a n then tw y se ,
ano ynted th e w y ck ed o n e did r e sist a while

,
.
Sept 8 Nur se An n Fr an k wold have dr ow ne d

. .
hir self in my well but by divin e Pr oviden ce I cam

,
”
to take h er up befor sh e w as o ver come o f th e wa ter .
After this D ee h ad the woman ca r e fully wa tched .
S ept . 29 . Nur s e Ann

Fr ank most misera bly did
cut h er o w n thr o tc after n o n e ab o w t four o f th e clo k
, ,
pr etending to b e in pr ayer befor e h er keeper and ,
suddenly and ver y quickly r isin g fr om pr a yer and ,
going towar d h er cha mber as th e m ayd en h er kep er

thought but in dcde str a ight w ay down th e stayr s
,
into th e h all of th e o ther hows e behin d th e door e

did that hor r ible a ct A n d th e m a yden who w ayted
.
o n h er at th e stayr fot e followe d h er and miss ed to

fynde her in thr ee o r fo w r pla ce s tyll at len gth she ,
”
har d her r attle in h er o w n e b lu d .
In Novem ber th e
Queen c am e to Richmon d and
sent fo r D ec Sh e offer e d g aily to sen d him some
.
thing to kep e Chr istm a s w ith This pr omise w a s .
r epeated to his fr i en d Rich ar d C a ven dish a w eek o r

, ,
so later sh e told him s h e wold s en d m e an hun dr e d
angells to ke e m
p y Chr istm a s w ith all Next day .
,
Decemb er 4 the Queen s M aj e stic c alled fo r m e at

,
’
my dor e cir c a 35 a mer idie a s sh e pass ed by an d I

, , ,
m et h er at th e E ast Shen e G ate wh er e sh e gr a ciously ,
p uttin
g dow n h er m a sk did sa
y with m er y ch er e I ,
than k thee D ee Ther e w a s n e ver p r omise made

, .
but it w a s br oken o r kept .

’
Th e thank s wer e obviously ir on ic al fo r th e r emin der

of th e pr om is e ; th e r e st of th e speech w a s r ather
c r uelly jocose fo r a s D ee a dds sh e h a d pr omised to
, , ,
s en d th e m on ey th a t d a How e v e r o n t h e 6 th an
y .
, ,
ear n e st o f th e
g ift ar r ive d in th e shap e o f £5 0 , On .
the 1 4th s h e ag a in c a ll e d fo r D ec a s sh e r ode by his

,
door “
to ta ke ayr e an d h e m et h er a t the park
, ,
g ate a s be for e H e do e s n o t in dic at e th e subj ect of

.
th e con ver s a tion but it w a s pr ob a bly a r e qu e st o n

,
his p ar t fo r so m e kin d o f r oyal per m ission to c on tinue

his e xper im en ts in alch em y o r tr an s m utatio n fo r o n ,
th e 1 6 th h e t ells of a visit fr o m Rich ar d C av en dish ,
w ho h a s r e c eiv e d fr o m th e Qu een war r an t by ,
wor d o f m outh to a ssur e m e to do wha t I wold in

p hi lo so phi c a nd a lch e m i e a n d n o n s h o ld ch ek
, co n ,
tr ol] o r m ole st m e
, Coupled with this m e ss age sh e
.
,
s en t a n oth er pr omis e to m a ke up th e £1 0 0 .
D e e s min d w as n o w bent h e s ays to deal with his

’
, ,
a lch em ic al e x e r c is e s a n d th e onl y distr a ctions h e

,
app ear s to h a v e h a d wer e th e con st an t visitor s an d
s m all dis a ster s of th e childr en Th e boy Rowland .
fell in to th e Th a m e s o n August 5 over hea d and ,
e ar s a bout n oon o r soon afte r

, Their fa vour ite place .
o f pla y s e e m s to h a v e b e e n o n th e r iver b a nk a n d ,
a ccid en ts th er e w er e o f n o in fr equ en t occurr en ce .
Ar thur wh en a child h a d fall en fr om th e top of the

, ,
W ater g ate Stair s to th e bottom a n d h ad cut his

-
,
for e hea d ba dly The odor e also h a d a n a sty fall

. .
attainin g a m itr e D ee wen t to Cour t a t Non such in .
Aug ust an d a day o r tw o after his r eturn din e d at

, ,
Bur leigh s in vitation with th e L o r d Tr ea sur er an d

’
his two son s S ir Ro b er t a n d S ir Thom a s C ecil at

, ,
M r M ayn ar d s a t Mor tla ke Bur l eig h a lso s en t him

’
. .
,
venison a n d in vite d him ag ain to m eet L o r d Cobham .
All pr om is ed th eir influ en c e in obta inin g fo r him

th e c o v e t ed M a s ter ship But it w a s a n oth er c a stle in .
th e air . His fr ien ds wer e e xtr em ely good to him .
In M a y 1 5 9 1 h e s ay s
, ,
Sir Thom a s Jon e s Knight (una xe d ) offer ed m e ,
his ca stell o f E m lyn in Wa les to dwell in so long as

h e h a d an y in ter e st in it whos e lea s e dur eth y et ,
twelve yer e s fr e ely with com m oditi es a djoin ing un to it ;

,
a n d a lso to h a v e a s m uch m o w l an d fo r r en t a s m
yght
p l e a su r e m e suffi c i en tly Th e 2 7 th da y h e confi r m ed .
th e s a m e his o ffer aga yn b efor e M r John H ar b er t .

,
M a ster of th e Re qu este s in his ha ll a t Mor tlake which , ,
his offer s I did a ccept o f a n d h e w a s gla d th er eof .
He could n ever have en ter ta in e d th e id ea of g oing

to live in W a les but no doubt it w a s poli cy to a ccept,
all o ffer s H er ber t w a s a n old fr ien d an d n eig hbour

. .
His da ug hter M ar y a n d A r thur h a d pla ye d at a

childish m ar r iag e yea r s befor e They seem to have .
been playfellows still a fter th e D ec s lon g a bsen ce ,

’
fo r in this Jun e an a ccid en t happ en e d to A r thur at
M r H er b er t s a bout su n s etting
’
.
,H e w a s “ woun ded .
o n his b ed by his wa n ton th r owi n g o f a br ik b at -
upr ight an d n o t well av o y ding th e fall o f it again

, .
O n M ay 3 of th e
”
Th e h alf br ick weig he d 2 ; lb
-
.
following year Ar thur a ged thir teen be ca me a , ,
W e stm in ster schola r W ensday at ten o f th e clock .

A ROYAL COMMISSION 2 27
Arthur w as put to Westmin ster S ch o le un der M r ,

.
Gr ant an d M r C a m den 1
H e c a m e b a ck ho m e in
.
”
two o r thr ee weeks p er h aps only fo r a few d a ys an d , ,
D ec in r etur n in g him to le sson s wr ote a ch a r a cter istic

2
letter to his fr ien d Willia m C a m den th e a n tiquar y , ,
.
It shows how car efully th e father h ad studi ed th e

child s he alth a biliti e s a n d th e qui ck t em per in h er it e d
’
, , ,
fr om his m other Ther e is a ten der tou ch in th a t .
m other s for ethoug ht to fur n ish th e b o y with m ean s

’
towar ds a sp ecia l cleanlin ess which th e pr ovision fo r

ablution s a t W e stm in st er did n o t con t e m pla t e Th e .
”
“
little chest w ith lock a n d k ey fo r th e fir stbor n s o n to
take to school is a lwa ys a fa m ily even t o f m agnitude .
22 M ay 1592 .
W o r sh ipfull S ir I have her e r etur n ed you r scholer

.
unto your jur isdiction b esech ing you to shew your ,
char itable a ff ection towar ds h im h e h a d m or e an d in

better or der then h e will r ecover speedily Of your .
gr eat sk y ll an d faithfull in dustr i e in you r fun ctio n it ,
is m ost cer tayn e to you r gr ea t cr edit an d m er it .
Of th e w o n derfull D iv er sitie of Childr en s Dispo si

tio n s m uch you can sa y by e xper ien ce b u t o f m yn e
,
(this A r th ur e ) I a m to r equest y o u to co n cey ve a t m y

han ds that h e is of an e x ceding gr ea t an d h a n ty m yn d
,
n atu r ally r e a dy to r ev en d e r a shly Th e n a tur a ll

, g .
inclination is to m e evy dent a s who ha th o [ S o l] in

ho r o s co po a n d 3 [M ar s ] in c o r de L eonis
, D ictu m .
sap ien ti sa t es to fo r ver a cn r a tu r a you m ay a lter this

n atu r all co ur age t o tr u e fo r titud e an d n o t to fr a yl e
r ash fan c es S o cr a te s did over co m e by gr a ce Divin e

y
an d his in dustr i e h is un to war dn e ss sig nifie d by th e
, ,
1
William Ca m d en , se co n d m a ster , su ccee d ed D r Ed
. w dG
ar ra nt
as h dmea a st e r in Mar ch , 1 5 93 .
2
Co tto n MSS .
, J ulius C .
,
v , . f 45
. .
A rt ph y s io gn o m icall— y o u kn ow th e h is to ric This .
spir itual] gr a m m a tical] con co r ds o f g ood m ann er s I

ha ve gr ea t car e th a t all m y im p s m ay b e in str ucted
in to th e m o r e apt an d skilful] s er vin g o f o u r C r eator
, .
S yr m y wife ha th d eliver ed un to h im som e m or e

,
a
ppar ay le a n d fur nitur e in a little c he st w ith lock an d
k ey y ea, an d w ith so m e t o w ales to wyp e his fa ce o n
,
a fter th e m o r nin
g a n d oth er wa shing s of han ds and
fa ce : w illin g him to buy him a ston e ba sen and
a
pott o f a po tter
, to h a v e a llwa ys clen e and
,
w h o ls o m w a ter in fo r his u se .
Th e boy liketh a bun d an c e o f m ea te well but ver y

ba shfully h e sa yd th a t th er e pr opor tion o f Dr inke is
som e wh a t to [ o] little I pr a y y o u by discr etion listen
.
to th e v o y ce a n d Opini o n of th e r est o f th e co un sells

within him fo r n o w in th e s um m er s ea son s th e pr o
, ,
por t io n o f D r in k n a tur ally doth in cr ea se above

w in ter s a
pp eti te th er e of .
Thus I am bold to cum b er your w ur ship with these

m y sp eedy r ag g e d lyn e s A n d ther e in I b esech e you
.
o f o n e thin g m o r e th a t his w r itin g both of r om an

, ,
a n d s e c r et ar y h a n d d ec ay n o t but r a th er b e a m en ded
,
fo r a fa yr e wr itin g is often tym e s a good g r a c e to

m a tter v er y sim ple .
Wher efor e kn o w tha t toda y they h a ve a t th e r ight

W ur shipfull M r D ean s [ D R No w ell s] ver y hon o ur
.
’
a ble gu e sts , an d th a t thi s nig ht it is in t en d ed th a t
th ey w ill su p an d lodg e a ll n ight a t Fullh a m God .
bless your w ur sh ip a n d pr osper you in all ever
your tr u e an d fa ithful wellw ish er

John D ee .
To th e W o r shipfull m y sin gular fr ien de Mr .
”
C am den thes e b e deliver ed .
On N ew Year s D ay 1 5 9 2
’
at th e sunr isin g
, ,
xa ctly D ee s thir d daughter w a s born S h e w as

’
e ,
.
a na tion a l r epr oa ch tha t a m an o f scien ce like him self

sho uld b e left in b egg a r y A n d so in dee d it w as . .
Fo r thir ty four year s h a d th e Qu een tr u e to the

-
,
Tudor m o tto— to u se e ver yon e a s a s er van t to o w e ,
no gr a titud e only a cc eptan ce o r a ppr oval— spent

,
pr om ise s upo n him but sh e h a d n ev er given him a

,
ch an c e of pr ovidin g fo r him self .
F o r a sm uch a s th e in toler able c xtr em itie of the

inj u r ie s a n d in dig n itie s which your m ost exc ellent
Maj estie s fa ithful] a n d dutiful] s er va n t John D ee
’
, ,
b ath fo r s o m e ye ar s la st p a st en du r e d a n d still ,
en du r eth is so g r e a t an d m an ifold a s c ann ot in br iefe

,
b e un to y o ur M aj esti c e xpr e ss ed n either without ,
g o o d pr o o fe a n d te stim on i e ha ve cr e dit with your

M aj es ti c a n d b ec a use also without spee dy and
,
g ood r e dr ess th er ein p er for m e d it is to b e doubted ,
tha t gr ea t an d in cr e dible in con ven ien c es and gr iefs

m a y en su e th er e of in sun dr y sor te s (which y et m a y ,
e a sily b e
pr ev en ted ) your M aj e stie s for es aid m ost
’
hu m ble an d m o st zea lously fa ithful] s er van t b eseech eth

yo ur M aj es tic to a ssign tw o e o r m o r e m eet a nd
wo r thy per s on s n obly a n d v er tu o u sly m in de d w ho
, ,
m a y an d will c h ar ita bly in differ en tly a dvis edly and

, , ,
e x a ctly
, se e he ar a n d per c eive a t th e house o f your
,
M aj esti e s s a id s er van t in Mor tla ke wha t just and

’
n ee dful occ a sion h e h a th thus to m a ke m ost hum ble

supplica tio n unto you r M aj e stic ; an d so of things
th er e s een hear d a n d p er ceive d to m ake tr u e and
, , ,
full r epor t an d d escr iption un to your M aj e sty An d .
’
thus your M aj estie s for e sa id m ost dutiful s er vant
b eseech eth th e Alm ighty God m ost m er cifully ,
r os er ously an d a lw a y es to bl ess a n d pr e s er v e your

p p
m ost e xc ellen t M aj esty r oya l A m en . .
A . 1592 . Nov . 9 .
A ROYAL COMMI SS ION 231
Th e sult o f this un usual r equest w a s that tw o

re
com mi s sioner s wer e at on ce a ppointed by th e Queen .
Within a for tnight Sir John W olley S ecr etar y fo r ,
the L atin Tongue to Qu een Eliz ab eth and o n e o f ,
her Pr ivy Coun cil and S ir Thom a s Gor ges Knight

, , ,
o f th e Queen s W ar dr obe wer e s ea t ed in D ee s

“
’
, la t e
libr ar y r oom at Mor tlake pr ep ar ed to listen to his ,
m anifesto .
W e m ay b e sur e h e h ad long b een pr epar in g fo r

this day H e s ea ted th e two g en tlem en a t a t a ble in
.
th e middle o f th e r oom p la cin g n ear th em a couple

,
o f oth er table s spr ea d o n e with letter s a n d r e cor ds

,
o f his studious life fo r th e sp a c e o f a halfe hun dr e d

”
year s no w by God s fa vour fully spen t th e other
,
’
, ,
with all his o w n books pr in te d an d man uscr ipt a, ,
com plete author s coll ection of or igin al wor ks At

’
.
th e sug gestion o f th e com m ission er s h e h a d o c c upie d

th e in ter val o f thir tee n d ays in pr ep ar in g th e a uto
biogr aphy which h e call ed Th e Co m p en diou s
Rehear sal] o f John D ee his dutiful d eclara tion, ,
so fr eely quoted in the se pag es It w as in so m e .
or der of method m ost br iefly an d sp eedily con tr ive d

a ainst this da an d in ever y r esp e ct s a ve th a t o f
g y; ,
chr onologic al or der it is a p a ttern documen t It

, .
gives th e im pr ession of ha vin g b een wr itten down in

fr agments ea ch in cid en t o r r e cital being complete in
,
itself an d most car efully d ated o n a sep ar ate sheet ,
of paper a nd then th e sheets shuffled and picke d out

,
by chan ce to follow e a ch other fo r putting together .
The stor y leaps fr om colleg e da ys in 1 5 47 to tr a vels
1
Th e a uto
g ra
ph MS . is in Co tto n MS , Vitell. c . vii . if 1 — 1 4
. .
in 1 5 7 1 , Chr istm a s gifts in 1 5 9 0 b a ck to the

on to ,
Queen s visit in 1 5 7 5 then c e to his im pr isonm en t

’
a n d a pp ear an c e b e for e th e St ar Ch am b er in 1 5 5 5 and ,
his r efor m ation o f th e C a len dar in 1 5 8 2 H e pa sses .
ver y lig htly over his late tr a vels a br oa d m er ely ,
a ddin th at h e w a s ve r y u n g odly d e a lt w ith all

g ,
when I m ean t a ll tr uth sin cer ity fidelity a n d piety ,
towar ds God m y Qu een a n d Coun tr y ,

Th e ca ta
logue o f his wor ks is v a lu a ble but it is un n e c essar y ,
t o pr in t it in th e pr e s e n t volu m e H e c on clud es his .

1
list of e ig ht pr in te d a n d thir ty six m a n uscr ipt wor ks -
so m e
per fec tly fin ishe d an d so m e un fin ish e d y et
with th e v er y la te st th e Co mp en dio us R ehea r sa ll itself
, ,
a ddin th a t th e r e w er e m an y other books pa m phl ets

g ,
a n d dis c our s e s n o t set d o wn H e e xplain s that the .
list is g iven n eith er a s the y wer e w r itten n o r by

or d er of y ea r es but ha stily as the y ca m e n ext to ,
h a n d out o f diver s e che sts a n d bag gs wher ein th ey

la y H e en ds th e chapter with a r em ar ka bl e pr oof
.
of th e fe cun dity o f his still a ctive br a in in spite of his ,
s ixty fi v e year s
-
.
Th e m o s t p ar t of all the s e her e spe cify ed lye her e

be for e y o u o n th e ta ble o n you r le ft han d but by
other bo oks a n d wr iting s o f a n other sor t (if God
gr a n t m e h ea lth a n d life th er e to o f som e ten o r
twelve ye ar s ) I m ay h er e after m a ke pla in a n d
,
2
without doubt this sen ten ce to b e tr u e P ln r a la ten t , ,
qu a m p a ten t Wha t other wor ks h e did a ccom plish

.
in th e sixt een year s y et to r u n o f his lon g life h e ,
1
S e e Mr T . h om
’
b bl
pso n Co o pe r s i io g ra p y, D ict N a t Bio y h . . .
2 Th e s pir it s h a d o n ce to h im h e ld ou w ld l v
i e to b e s e en t v y
t h r ee a n d a h lf
a .
having n o t o n e Pen y o f c er tain e Fee r e ven ue stip end , ,
or Pen sion either left m e o r r e stor e d un to me

, , ,
o r of an
y y e t b e stow e d o n m e H e s hows how .
at his r e tur n thr e e y e ar s b e for e h e fou n d him s elf ,
p en n ile ss ; c ut o ff fo r e ver fr om his two par son ag es ;

dis appoin te d a s y et o f th e lar g e ye ar ly allowance
pr o m is ed h im fo r his life fr o m Bohem i a Pr obably .
on
p ar tin g fr o m th e then a fllu cn t Kelley so m e bond ,
w a s en ter e d in to by h im o r by Ros en be r g to tr a n smit
to h im a s h ar e of th e e n or m ou s pr ofits th ey e xpe cted

fr om t h e m ultiplic a tion of th e g old To s a ve us .
”
fr om hun ger star vin g h e h a d h ad to appeal to
,
fr ien d s a n d h e r eco r ds gr a tefully th a t s o m e w h o h ad

,
been un fr ien dly befor e h e le ft ca m e to his a id o n his

r e tur n . They put to their helping han ds in m any
wa ys an d alr ea dy h e h a d r e c eive d fr o m them a sum
,
o f £5 0 0 a n d m o r e Yet h e h a s h ad to p awn his

.
pla te little by little un til all w a s go n e After the .
s am e m an n er wen t m y wife s j e wels of gold r ings ’
, ,
br a ce lets cha in e s a nd other o u r r ar itie s un der the

, ,
thr a ldo m of th e usur er s g r ips till n o n p lus w as

’
,
”
wr itten upon th e boxe s a t hom e H e h a s bor r owed.
upon sur etie s upon his pe r so n a l bill o f h an d upon his

, ,
wor d upon his pr om is e a n d h e h a s r u n up accounts

, , ,
so tha t n o w h e is in de bt fo r £33 3 be yon d the £5 00 ,

.
Th e tr u e a ccoun ts o f all the s e gifts lo an s and , ,
d ebts u pon scor e talley o r b Oo k is her e b efor e your

, , ,
Hon our s h o w th e usur er d e vour e th him a n d how

h e is d a y ly pu t to sha m e m a y b e s e en , Other .
n e c ess ar y e xp en s e s a m oun t e d t o £2 6 7 s o th a t h e h a s ,
”
spen t but £5 6 6 in thr ee year s fo r hous ekeepin g and ,
tha t with gr ea t par sim ony a n d with gifts fr om go od

,
A ROYAL COMMI S S ION 23 5
friends of wine whole b r a w n es sheep wheat pepper

, , , , ,
nutm egg ginger sugar etc a n d oth er thi n g s fo r th e

, , , .
,
”
a
p par el of m e my wife a n d o ur childr en
,
H e has .
mor tgag e d his hous e fo r £40 0 an d n o w w ill ha ve ,
to sell it fo r half it cost to pa y his debts h e an d h is ,
family to become wan der er s an d homeless va ga bon ds ,
furnished only w i th bottles and wallets Wha t sh all .
he do h e pitiq y b egs tha t h e m ay pr event his n a m e

, ,
being handed down to poster ity a s a w ar nin g to

lover s and students o f tr uth n o t to follow in his steps
an d b e iv n to such disg a c eful shifts a nd in dignitie s
g e r
H e en ds with a p a ss ag e o f tr u e eloqu en ce
Ther efor e see ing th e blin ded L a dy For t un e

, , ,
do th n o t g overn in this co m m on wealth but j u s titia ,

’
an d
p r u den tia an d th a t in b etter or der than in Tully s
,
R ep ublica o r Books of O ffic es th ey ar e l a id for th to

, ,
b e followe d an d p er for m e d : most r e ver en tly a n d

ear n estly (y ea in m a nn er with bloody tear es of
,
hear t) I and my Wife o ur s ea ven childr en a n d o u r

, ,
ser van ts (s eav enteen e o f us in all) do e this day m ake ,
o ur
petition unto your H o n our s tha t upon all g odly ,
char ita ble an d just r es e c ts h ad of a ll th a t you h a ve

p
this day s cen e h ear d a n d per c eive d you will m a ke
, , ,
such r epor t un to h er m ost e x cellen t M aj estic (with

humble r equest fo r spee dy r eliefe ) that w e b e n o t ,
co nstr ain ed to do o r suffer other wis e than b e com e th

Chr istian and tr ue faithful] ob edient subj ects to d o o r
suffer. A n d all fo r wan t of du e m ainteyn an ce .
C HAPTER XIX
L I BR A R
’
DEE s Y
Th e co m m er ce o f b k oo s a c c o s te t h an d s c c o n d e th a ll my co ur se,
an d e v ywh
er er e ass iste th m e . It co m fo r t s m e in a
ge , a n d s o a ces l
m e in s o lita r in ess e . It e a se th me of th e bu d r en o f a w ea r s o m e
y
l h
s ot ,
and at a ll tim e s d
ri s me o f te io u sd co m pa n ies . It ab atet h
th e e dg e o f fr et tin g so r ro w an d is t h e b es t m unitio n Ihv a e
fo u n d i thi h um
n s an per e g r in a tio n .
-MO N TA1GN E E ssa y s (Flo r io )
, .
TH E c co un t o f th e libr ar y a t Mor tlake a s it w as

a
when D ee left it in 1 5 8 3 for m s o n e of th e m ost ,
va lua ble por tion s o f th e Co mp en dio us R ehea r sa ll .
Com par in g it w ith th e c a talogu e which h e m ade

b efor e lea vin g with L aski w e ca n s ee a t a g lan ce of ,
wha t in tr in sic valu e w a s this colle ction of pr ecious

boo ks which so often ha un te d its own er in his dr ea m s .
Two or igin a l copie s o f th e C a talogue o f m an uscr ipts

r e m ai n o n e o f which is d a t e d S ept em b er 6 1 5 8 3 a
1
, , ,
for tn ig ht befor e h e sa iled fr om Eng la n d an d ther e is ,
a thir d m a d e by Ash m ol e fr o m o n e o f th e s e
, .
Th e libr ar y con tain e d howe ver n o t on ly books , ,
an d m a n uscr ipts to th e n u m b er o f fou r thous and

, ,
boun d a n d un boun d but scien tific i n str um ents ,
colle cted fr om s ever a l par ts of Eur op e Th e books

a lon e D ee va lu e d a t in th e cur r en t va lue of
th e da y fo r m an y o f th em wer e uniqu e a u tog r aphia
,
o f fam ous a n d r ar e a uthor s As a fur ther pr oof of .
1 T i C ll C m b MSS
r n . o H l ia n MSS N o 1 8 79 P in t d in
. a . . ar e .
, . . r e
th D i y C m d e S 6 5 —8 9 n oc
e ar , pp a .
, . .
2 38 LIFE OF DR J OHN DEE .
am on g th e obj ects fo r D ec h a d in ven te d a s w e have

, ,
seen wh at h e c alls a Par a dox a l] C u m pa ss

, Th er e .
w a s a lso a gr ea t
pi e c e o f lo a d ston e or m agnes -
,
stone of e xtr a or din ar y vir tue It h a d b een sold fo r

,
.
fi ve shillin g s but b ein g divid e d u p an d par te d w ith

,
i c m l it m a d e m o r e th an £2 0
p e e ea
-
.
Ther e w as a lso an e xcellen t w a tch clo ck m a de by -

,
o n e D ibb ley a n o te ab le wor km an

,
long sin ce dead , ,
by which clock th e ty m e m ight sen sibly b e m e asured

in t h e s eco n ds o f a n hour e th a t is n o t to faile the
, ,
3 6 oth par t o f a n hour e

. Th e u s e o f this clo ck w as
.
”
ver y gr ea t m or e tha n vulg ar
,
.
Then in th e thr ee la bor a tor ies th e ch am ber s and ,
gar r e ts wer e stor e s of chem ic a l stuff which h e had

, ,
been twen ty year s ge ttin g togeth er A lso a gr eat .
c ar t lo a d of spe cial ve ss els fo r chem ic al u se s om e

-
,
e ar the n so m e of gl a ss m e t a l a n d m ix e d stu ff w hich

, , ,
h e h ad br oug ht fr o m Lor r ain e wh en M r Po well and .
h e h a d g o n e o v e r in 1 5 7 1 Of thes e on ly a few .
,
br oken bits r em a in e d H e de scr ibe s other things left

.
in h is outer o r open libr ar y a n d in par ti cular a ,
gr e a t bla dd er with a bout four po un ds weight of a

ver y sweetish thin g like a br own ish g um in it
, ,
a r tificia lly pr ep ar e d by thir ty tym e s pur ifyi ng it ;

whoso ever c am e by it ha th m or e than I could well
a ffoo r d him fo r o n e hun dr e d cr o w n es as m ay b e ,
pr oved by witn es s e s y et livin g .
As r egar ds th e m a n uscr ipt tr ea sur e s of th e library ,
h e m en tion s sp e cially a gr eat ca s e o r fra m e o f boxes ,
full of r ar e e vid en ces of lan ds in I r ela n d which h ad

b een in th e han ds of so m e of th e a n ci en t I r ish
Pr in c es Agr eem ents fo r subm ission a n d tr ibutes
.
,
DEE S LIBRARY
’
2 39
with seals appen ded an d m an y other valuable r e cor ds

,
of the descen t of these m an or s to such fa milie s a s th e

Mor timer s th e de Bur ghs th e Clar es etc
,
How h e
, , .
came by thes e s a ve in th e w ay o f a coll ector

,
doe s ,
no t app ear .His inter e st in Welsh an cestr y would

accoun t fo r his a m assin g Welsh r ecor ds of which h e ,
says there wer e m an y d ee ds o f gift fr om W e lsh
r in ce s an d n oble s of la n d d e vot ed by th e m to t h e
p ,
foun da tion and enr iching o f r elig ious hous es N o r .
m an d ee ds also d a ting ba ck to th e Con qu est The s e .
w er e all methodically stor e d a wa y in s epar a te box e s ,
each mar ked o n th e fr o n t th e for e p ar t o f th e

boxes — with ch alk e xplain in g its con ten ts When
, .
he retur n ed fr om hi s six year s wa n d er in g a br o a d a n d ,
looked in th e poor boxe s h e foun d th e n am e outs id e

,
w a s all that w as left Th e dee ds h ad b een im b ezzled

.
away ever y o n e of th e m
, which is a loss of g r ea t ,
value in sun dr y r esp ec ts a s a n tiquar ies can testifi e

,
fo r their p ar t an d n obl e her alds can tell fo r th eir

,
skill and as h er Maj e stie s o flicer s fo r h er in ter e st a n d

, ,
titles Ro yal] m ay thin k in their con sider a tion

, .
N ear this gr ea t che st o f box e s stood a nothe r box ,
very much less in size m ea sur in g on ly tw o fee t by

,
o n e and a h alf which w a s fill e d with n othing but s e a ls

,
o f co ats o f ar ms ; m an y of th es e w er e n a m e d an d ,
ha d alr eady pr ov ed in v alu a ble to studen ts of her ald r y

and
g enealogy as well a s to th e Qu een s H er a lds
’
who h ad car efully ex a m in e d them a lso a n umb er o f ,
o ther an tiquar i e s a s C a m d en Stow an d other s Th e , .
Cler ks o f th e Recor ds in th e Tower h ad sat whole

days in th e libr ar y at Mor tla ke ga thering r ar e tie s ,
to their liking out of them D ee w a s n o blin d .

colle ctor hoar din g thing s be ca use the y w er e of value

,
to hi m self H e w a s a tr u e a ltr uist gain in g his

.
,
kn owle dge to sh ar e with other s .
Un to th e Tower I h a d vowed the s e my har dly

gotten m un imen ts (gotten a s in m an n er o u t of a
dunghill in th e co r n er o f a c hur ch wher ein ver y
, ,
m a n y wer e utter ly s po y led by r otting thr oug h the ,
r a in e con tin ua lly fo r m a n y

y ea r cs b e for e falling o n
, ,
the m thr oug h th e d eca ye d r oof of tha t chur ch lying ,
d e sola te a n d wa ste a t this hour e ) .
But tr uly well d e s er ve th e y th e im pr ison ment of

th e Tow er th a t will n o w still k eepc them if any
, ,
p ubliqu e w ar n in g by h er M aj estic o r h er r ig ht ho nor

a bl e Coun c il] w er e giv en fo r r e stitutio n of th e m to
”
th e O ffi c e in th e Tower .
’
D ee s o w n wor ks wer e o f cour s e in th e libr ary
a lthough n o t in clud e d in his c a ta lo u e
g H e dr ew up .
a list o f the m fo r his A o lo to t h A r chbisho in

p gy e p
1 5 9 5 by which it a pp ear s th a t b efor e h e le ft E ngla nd
,
e ight h a d b een p ublishe d Th e u npr in te d bo oks and

.
tr e atise s som e h e own s n o t per fe ctly finished

, , , ,
n u m b er e d fo r ty six To the s e other s w er e a dded

-
.
befor e h e di ed two tha t m ay b e e spe cially n a m ed

wer e upon th e Thr ee O r a c ular S en ten ces of the
An ci e n t s N o see te ip sum H o mo H o min i D eus and
, ,
H o m o H o min i L up us an d a, Tr ea tise upon

”
th e Qu een s Sov er eignty ov er th e S ea s a fitting
’
subj e ct in dee d fo r an a uthor who h a d per son ally

kn own m ost of th e gr ea t n a viga tor s a n d who had ,
alr e a dy wr itte n so in te llig en tly upo n th e n a vy and
th e co a st fish er ie s o f Albion This book w as

“
.
un d er ta ken at th e r eque st of a n hon or a ble fr iend

hym n of his o w n com position appear s The G r o und .
of A r tes his fi r st wo r k
, wen t thr ough elev en
e ditio n s b e fo r e D ee a u m en te d it a n d a dd e d so m e of
g
his a pologe tic dogger el r hym e s .
Th t whi h m y f i d h th w ll b
a c r en a e e gun
F v y l v t
or er mm we l
o e o co on a e
N d ee t ll wh l t b
no a w d o e o e ne o ne
But in
n ew Id l cr e a se o r e v ea e .
S m t hin g h
o e i I d t er e n o nce r e r es ,
An d no w a
ga in fo r th y b e h o o fc
Of l I
z ea e, d o c, a n d a t r e qu est ,
B th m d
o en a n d a dd , fi t fo r a ll pr o o fe .
O f um b
n e r s u se , th e en dle s s e m ig t h
No w it no r l an
gua ge can e x pr es se ,
Apply an d t ry , b th d y d ig ht
o a an n ,
An d t h en thi t uth th o u wilt

s r f c o n e sse .
I . D EE .
Fr om or igin al an d a uto g r aph wor ks w e m a y no w

tur n to th e m isc ella n eous con ten t s o f D ee s libr ar y ’
a tr uly v a st a n d
pr ec iou s colle ction fo r o n e pr ivate
g e n tl e m an o f pr e c ar ious for tun e to ow n in the
s ixt e en th c en tur y Pr inte d books wer e by no m eans
.
e a sy to obt a i n a n d m a n uscr ip t copi e s e n t aile d a r eat

, g
e x p en ditur e o f skill in dustr y tim e an d c o s t The
, , .
te xt w a s often ig nor an tly o r cor r uptly r en der e d by

a n im er fe ct scr ib e o r cop yist a n d th e scholar and
p ,
c olle cto r could n o t r est s a tisfi e d without s everal

ver sion s o f o n e wor k .
Th e c at alog u er o f th e 20 0 most im por tan t m anu

scr ipts— D ee hi m s e lf— en ter s with e x a ctitud e th e size
a n d subst an c e of e a ch volume Th e bulk of c our se .
wer e in qu ar to although a few folios an d octavos

,
ar e m en tion ed Most o f them wer e wr itten upon

.
DEE S LIBRARY
’
2 43
par chm ent but a c er tain n um ber wer e o n paper

,
.
Binding s wer e n o t n otic ed chiefly be ca us e a s y et few ,
wer e boun d Tw o O f Roger B a con s tr a cts howe ver

.
’
, ,
o n th e m ultiplic atio n of spe ci es a n d o n p er sp e ctiv e , ,
the ow ner d e sc r ib e s a s tog e th e r

“
in p a ste bor ds with -
str in gs .These iden ti cal tr a cts in D ee s o w n han d ,

’
,
ar e n o w b ein g e dit ed by M r Rob e r t St eel e fr o m th e .

,
o r iginals in th e M azar in e Libr ar y Bibliothequ e ,
Nationale Par is F r om D ee th ey pa sse d to S ir

, .
Richar d Ed en a fter wa r ds to th e Ken elm Dig by ,
Libr ar y Tr eatis es o n kindr e d s ubj e cts often followe d

.
s tr ai ht u o n e a ch oth er o n th e s a m e
g p par c hm en t an d ,
so m etim es a s m an y a s twen ty co m po s ed a sing le

m anuscr ipt in cluded un d er a list o f titles n um b er e d
,
as o n e In som e ca s e s th e tr eatis e is d escr ib ed a s a

.
fr agm ent O n c e h e wr ites th e seco n d tr a ct is cut

.
out and to b e an swer ed fo r .
Th e own er s ta ste s an d pur suits poin t of co ur s e to

’
, ,
a lar e r e r es en t a tio n am on g h is books of wor ks in

g p ,
philosophy a lchem y as tr o logy a n d m e dicin e with

, , ,
a substan ti al
pr o por tion d ealing with m etallur g y ,
geom etr y optics physics P to lo m aic a n d C o p er n ican

, , ,
astr on om y a n d e ver y br a n ch of sc i en c e a lr ea dy kn o w n
,
in a cr ud e for m to D ee s fam ou s pr e d e cessor s Ther e’
ar e also histo r ic al ch r on i cl e s wo r ks of d evo tion an d

ethi cs with a fa ir spr in kling of a uthor s upon poetr y ,
music a nd the g en tler ar ts

, .
Takin g fir st th e cla s sics : D ee n a m e s th e M en o

Phae do and Tim aeus o f Plato ; wr itings of Ar istotle ,
Socr ates an d Hippocr a tes O f Cicer o C a to a nd , ,
Ar chim ede s A copy O f Plin y s M u n di H isto r ia

.
’
Lib ii pr inte d Fr an kfor t 1 5 43 n o w in th e B r itish

. .
, , ,
R 2
Muse um bear s D ee s sign atur e Louvain J an u ar y

,
’
, , ,
1 5 5 0 a n d m a n y of his n ote s
, Of Eucli d h e h a d m any .
copies a nd Au g ustin e w a s his guide a n d con fessor

, .
A v a st n um ber o f Ar abic a n d Per sian wr iter s wer e

com pr eh en de d in th e list H e w a s par ticular ly r ich .
in m an u scr ipts o f th e ear ly a n d m e diaev a l wr iter s

upo n a lche m y a n d th e philosoph er s ston e : H er m e s ’
Tr is m eg i s tu s Ge b er Alber tus M ag n us John S a cr o

, , ,
bos co Ra ym o n d Lully Philip A lsta de an d Ar n old

, , ,
d c Vill a Nov a Other scien ce s ar e r epr es en te d by

.
Guido Bo n a tu s A n selm u s d e Boo t (Bo etius ) Alh a zen

'
, , ,
John of S a xon y J a cob A lk in d an d Pe tr us P er egr in us , ,
a n d a sco r e of l e a r n e d wr it er s D ee s o w n per fect ’

.
an d cl e an copy of th e r ar e pr in t e d Epi s tl e O f P er e
g r in us upon th e M a gn et (Augsbur g
, is n o w in ,
th e B r itish Mus e u m It bea r s his n am e Jo an n es .

,
D ee 1 5 6 4
,
in fa d e d in k with m an y an d copious
, ,
n ote s w r itt en by its o wn er m ostly in his l ar ge copy
book h a n d with a few in th e scr ibbling wr iting which

,
h e us e d fo r s p ee d a n d som e m ar gi n a l s ketc h e s , .
S e ver a l of th e m a n usc r ipts n a m e d in D ee s list ’
a r e to b e fo u n d a m o n g th e Cotton MS S a t th e .
M us e um in T r in ity C o lleg e Dublin ; an d a t Oxfor d ,
1
a n d C a m br idg e .
Of En gli sh author s w h o a r e ver y n um er ous in the ,
li st th e m ost ea ger ly sought a fter judging by th e

, ,
n um b er o f wor ks in clud e d by o n e a utho r we r e ,
Roger B a con a n d Ro b er t Gr oss ete ste Bishop o f ,

’
Lin coln B a c on s wr itin gs wer e ow n e d by D e e in

.
fr agm en ts Som e h ad been alr ea dy colle cted and

.
1 S ee H a lliwe ll s ’
n o te s to th e prin te d ca ta o l g ue , Dia r y ,
ed .
Ca m d So c 6 5 —8 7
en .
, pp. .
speaks o f a s lyin g op en in th e win dow o f his study ,

”
a n d th er e for e in c o n st a n t u se in th e a ction s ,
whether the ur gi c o r a lch em istic .
H e r efer s n o doubt to Agr ipp a s dc O ccu lta

’
P hilo sop hia ( Colog n e ? a wor k en or mously

r e a d in all c o un tr ie s in th e sixt ee n th a n d s e v en
teen th c en tur i e s a n d tr a n sla te d in to m a n y la n gu age s

, .
An other bo o k by th e alche m ist o f Queen M ar g ar e t

o f th e N e th e r l an ds h a d a n e ve n g r ea ter p opul ar ity in
En gla n d F r a n ce G er m an y a n d Ita ly This w a s O n

, , .
the N o bility a n d E x cellen ce of the Fema le S ea (de :
n o bilita te et p r cecellen tia

f ce min ei s ew us ) whi c h in th e
tr a n sla tio n by H en r y C ar e in 1 6 7 0 be com e s mag nified

in to Fema le P r e emin en ce o r the D ig n ity a n d
-
,
E x cellen cy of tha t S en: a bo ve the M a le It is

.
de dic a te d to Queen C a thar in e of B r agan za .
The s e a r e a v er y few o f th e a uthor s an d wr itings

con tain e d in th e m an uscr ipt c a ta logue . Su ch a s
th ey a r e howe ver they give us a fa in t glim ps e in to
, ,
th a t r ealm o f lear n in g an d r om a n ce wh er ein D ee ,
shut in to his libr ar y a t Mor tla ke r o a m e d a free

,
c itiz e n of th e wo r ld an d dw elle d wh er e h e would .

C HAPTER XX
A D IE U TO C O UR TS AN D C OUR TIN G
w p Le t m e ee
My y ut h d it b v h p
o ll d d
an d g s ra e o es , a ea an o ne,
I t
n whi h b u
ea r s W uld I w cu t rn o er e s re o w in
S m
o t t lin g
e s ar t i th i t d tin t u secr e n e r s ea , a c re
Of f t flu h ld g wit h y u t h
o r ce o b ds o a e o , or ree
Go ld imp i m b m till t h y h g
, or r so n o on ea s e c an e
T Op l h ft l— ly t h t h u li g it
o a s a s on a r n
I dig t b k I m ig ht vi m y lf
n n an ac ,
co n n ce se
My im m i d up m
a s re d pu va ne s re e an r e as e er .
BR O W N I N G ,
P a r a celsu s .
TH E i m m edia te sult O f th e Com m ission er s visit ’

re
to Mor tlake w a s a g ift o f a hun dr e d m ar ks fr o m th e

Queen .Th e C o u n t ess o f W ar wi ck s en t o ff “
h er
g e n tl e m an M r Jo n es ,
v er y s p ee dily
. t o te ll D ee , ,
tha t S ir Thom a s Go r ge s h a d v er y ho n o r a bly dealt

fo r h im in the m atter a n d tha t th e gift w a s gr an te d , .
Th e m on e y w a s br ought n e xt d a y (D ece m ber 2 )

by S ir Thom a s hi m s elf H e br oug ht als o a letter .
full of co ur tesie an d kind n e s s an d a token o f six

”
old angells O f gold fr o m L a dy Howar d to J an c , .
D ee s eem s to h a v e beco m e in tim a te with L a dy

War wick thr oug h his ear ly fr ien dship with John
1
Dudley E ar l o f War w ick who di e d a g ed twen ty

, , ,
fo ur in 1 5 5 4 In h is Pr efa ce to Eu clid D ee h as
, .
,
left a n etche d por tr a it o f this fr ien d o f his o w n

a e N 0 tw o b e sid e s him s elf s a ys D ee ca n
g .
, ,
1
A d u g ht
a f th h u f Ru ll h e m i d 3 d wif
er o e o se o s se , s ar r e as r e
( 1 5 6 5 ) Am b e D udl y L ei este b t h
’
ros e , c r s ro er .
so well sa y wha t r oots ver tue h a d fasten e d in his

br ea st wha t r ule s o f godly an d hon or a ble life h e h a d
,
fr a m e d to him s elf wha t v ic e s n o teab le h e took gr eat

,
c ar e to e sch ew wh a t pr owess e s h e pur pos e d and

,
”
m ea n t to a c hiev e .
D ee s fe w lyn e s o f th an kfuln e ss to th e Queen

’
fo r h er g ift w er e pr oba bly wr itten a t on c e but on ly ,
d e liver e d by L a dy War w ick o n F e br ua r y 1 5 at ,
H a m pton Cour t o n th e ev e O f a m o v e to Som er set

,
House .
O n th e s tr en gth of thi s dole D ee w a s a ble to ,
s e ttl e s o m e r e ssin g d e bts a n d to hir e a c o a ch an d

p ,
g o O ff with his wif e a n d A r thur a n d K a te to s en d

p ,
Chr istm a s a n d N ew Ye a r s D a y a t Tootin g a t M r ’
, .
”
R L u r esey his hows e
. T h e Lor d T r e a su r er h e
.
,
r e or ts l a d a n g er ously sick a t t h e tim e O n the

p , y .
2 n d th e y r e tur n e d O n th e 7th welcom e letter s

.
, ,
per h aps con ta in in g m on ey ar r ive d fr o m Cou n t L a ski ,
in Livon ia to whi ch D ee r eplied o n th e 2oth

, ,
sen din g his le tter by a D a n ish ship c alle d th e J o hn

of D a ns lc .
His r ep uta tion a s a n a str o n om er a n d m ath em a

tic ia n n o w pr ocur e d fo r D ec a p upil fr o m whom h e ,
w a s to r e c eive in e xch an g e a con sid er a bl e i ft o r lo an

g .
M a r ch 1 7 1 5 9 3 At s ix a fter n on e r e c eive d fr om
, .
M r Fr a n cis Nic holls £1 5 pa r t o f o n e hun dr e d poun ds

.
, ,
th e r e s t wh er e of £8 5 is to b e r ecc y v c d fr o m M r
, , .
Nicholls within a for tn ig ht a fter th e a nn un ci a tion of

O u r L a dy n e xt ; a n d a fter th at in th e b eg inn in g o f
Jun e £1 0 0 a n d in Juli e th e thir d hun d r ed p oun ds
, ,
a n d I a m to t e a c h him th e con clusio n of fixin

g an d
t cy m ing o f th e moon .
A r ather un wis e pur cha s e seem s to ha ve b een ma d e

this M ay ; D ec bought th e n ext man sion hous e ,
ta kin g M r s . D ee Ka ther in e who at twe lve w as

and ,
suffici en tly r own u to di n e o ut O n th e 2 8 th h e

g p .
w a s all d a
y with th e Lor d K eeper Th e en tr i e s w e .
h a ve her e M r W eb a n d th e p hilosopher ca m e a s I
, .
w a s with th e Lo r d K e e er
p an d M r W eb a n d th e , .
”
philosopher ca m ag a in piqu e on e s cur io sity
’
.
,
At th e en d O f th e m o n th D ec n otes th e d ep ar tur e ,
fr om his s er vice uppo n n o d u e c a us e kn own to m e ,
o f Eliz a b e th K y r t o n a s er v a n t who h a d been w ith

,
him twelv e year s h a d pa s s ed thr oug h th e vicissitudes

,
of tr a vel life in Boh em i a a s Rowla n d s n ur se ; le ft in

-
,
’
c h ar g e of him a s w e h a v e s een in C r a cow wh en th e

, ,
other s w en t o n to Pr a g u e Sh e h ad s er ve d fi v e year s .
o n a ppr en ti ce ship a n d s e v e n fo r wa g e s : fi v e a t four
a n d two a t fi v e n obl e s a y e ar Of h er wag e s ther e .
w as no w four poun ds four shillin gs du e D ee in .
a yi n g h e r r e s e n te d a n e w h alf an gel ; Ja n c D ee
p p
-
,
a v e h er an oth e r ; A r thur h alf a cr own fo r h im an d -

g
-
his br other (Row la n d ) a n d K a th er in e th e like s um

,
fo r her s e lf a n d M a din ia Eliza be th s goin g s eem s to ’

.
ha ve ups e t th e dom e sti c a r r a n g em en ts fo r a m onth ,
or so la ter D ee m a ke s a n un u su a l e n tr y a bout his

wi ef “
Ja n e m o s t d esper ately angr y in r e sp ect of h er
m aydes . M ar g er y Thor n ton Eli za beth s succe ssor ,
’
le ft n e xt da y a n d Dor othy L egg ca m e fo r 3os year ly

, . .
A m e ss en ger fr om L a ski ar r ive d M r Cor n elio , .
C a m aier e a n d st ay e d a week
, Th e se c on stan t co m .
m u n ica tio n s do n o t by a n y m ea n s suppor t th e

con ten tion th a t L a ski par te d with Dee in a n g er ,
r uin e d by his costly e xp e r im e n ts It is m or e pr ob .
a bl e th a t L a ski w a s ur gin g him to r e tur n and

’
con tin ue Kell ey s wor k .
ADIEU TO COURTS AND COURTING 25 1
The Coun te ss O f Cum ber lan d Lor d Willoughby ,
an d his sist er th e Coun te ss of K en t ca m e to visit

, ,
D ee Willoughby din e d an d n e xt d ay s en t h im £20

. .
D ee w a s a nn oye d by M r Gr a y th e L a dy Cum b er .
,
land s pr ea cher his wr an gling a n d den ying an d

’
despising alch em ich all philosoph er s A N ew Year s .

’
gift of 20 a ng els in a n ew r ed velve t pur s e c a m e to

, ,
Jane D ee fr om th e Lor d K eeper .
Micha el Pe iser doc tor to th e Duke o f B r a n de n

l
,
burg visite d D ee also Wa lter V an der L a en

, , ,
a str on o m er of gr e a t pr o m is e M r John A ske se nt as . .
a pr e s e n t t w o little double g ilt bowls w eighing ,
thir teen oun ce s a n d a ha lf S ir Tho m a s Will e s .
offer philosophica l ca m to m y ha n ds by M r Mor r ice , .
Kiffen T h e c hildr en
. M adin ia an d The odor e , ,
wer e n o t v er y well S e ver a l vi sits wer e pa id to

.
Mr Web b e who h a d been in th e M ar shals e a pr ison

.
,
sin ce th e d ays befor e Chr i stm a s His che sts a nd .
boxe s wer e sc aled up It is poss ible h e w as the .
Mr W eh b e who w a s e m plo yed by th e Queen to

.
visit an d r epor t o n Dyer a n d K elley at Pr ague H e .
m ay e v en ha ve b e en s uspe cte d o f br in gin g som e of

Kelley s m a n ufa ctur e d gold to D ec B ar tho lom e w
’
.
Hickm a n an d his br o th er wer e a g ood d ea l to a n d

fro B ar tholom ew w a s fir st br ought to D ec a s a lad
by his un cle in 1 5 7 8 with an in tr oduction fr om
, ,
S ir Chr is to ph er H a tton N o w his d a ughter J an e .

,
w a s t a ke n in to s er vic e D ee g a ve him a n ag tha t th e

.
Lor d Keeper h ad pr e s en ted a n d h e r ode fr e quen tly ,

”
hom ewar d to Shugbor oug h in War wickshir e In
,
.
D ecem ber 1 5 9 4 D ec
,
“
p r e fer r e d
, him to Lo rd
Willoughby s s er vice at th e B ar bic an an d ther e is

’
,
a whole histor y a bout his liver y which w a s or d er ed ,
fr o m ~a Fle e t Str ee t ta ilor M r Jon s on , . .
D ee s he alth w a s n o w ofte n a ffe cte d in o n e w a y o r

’
a n oth er T h e fir s t m en tion of tr ouble in th e kidn eys

.
w a s in 1 5 9 2 wh en a t Cour t a t Gr een wi ch a m id
, , ,
n ight s e iz u r e w a s ea s e d by a a pplie d by
g lyster
1
,
D r Giffa r d
. Ther e wer e other slig ht a tta cks an d in
.
,
M ar ch 1 5 9 4 h e h a d a
, ,
Gr ea t fit of sto n e in m y le ft kidn ey : but I dr unk

a d r a u ht o f w hit e wyn e a n d s a l e t o yle a n d a fter
g ,
tha t cr a bs e ye s in powder with th e bon e in th e c ar p s

,
’ ’
hea d an d a bout four o f th e clo c k I did eat to sted

,
c a ke butter e d a n d w ith sugar a n d n utm eg o n it and

, ,
dr un k tw o gr e a t dr a ug hts o f ale with it ; an d I

vo
y d e d within a n hour m uch wa ter an d a ston e a s
b ig a s a n Ale x an d er s ee d God b e th a n ke d ! Five .
shillin gs to Rob er t W eb p ar t o f his wa ges .

”
This s er va n t w a s di s ch ar ge d o n Jun e 2 3 with for ty

s hillin gs fo r a full s a tisfa ctio n o f a ll thin gs On .
July 1 I g a ve Rober t y et m or e a Fr en ch cr own fo r a

, ,
far well .
A ye a r a n d a ha lf p a s s e d a fter th e visit of the

Com m is s io n er s a n d be sid e th e i m m ediate r e sult of a
,
don a tion O f a hun dr e d m ar ks n o thin g h a d a ccr ue d to ,
H e d e ter m in e d then to
’
be tter Dee s p o sition .
r e doubl e h is e ffor ts a n d br i ng so m e thin g to

p a ss He .
c er ta inly h a d e nliste d th e a id o f pow er ful fr i en ds ,
a lthoug h n o do u bt th er e wer e still m a n y sus icious

p
en e mie s .
O n M a y 3 1 5 9 4 th e Queen s en t fo r h im to co m e
, ,
to h er in th e pr ivy ga r d en at Gr een wi ch be tween six ,
1An ly f m fea r m m d f m t h bl dd
or o en e f h p
a, a e ro e a er o a s ee .
down to that b ig r a m bling pla ce by th e r iver side with ,
whos e stills a nd fur n a c e s a n d won der ful doing s , ,
r um ou r w a s s o r ife S o m u c h fo r pr iv a cy n e xt fo r
. ,
e co n om y. Fue l c oals br icks a n d all thin gs n eces

, , ,
s ar y fo r his pur pos e will b e cheaper a t Win chester

,
than n ear Lon don ; th e g las s hous es O f Sussex are -
n o t far a w a y a n d h e will b e a ble to

, g iv e p er sonal
super vision to th e m ak ing o f sp e ci a l ve ss els At .
Mor tla ke ther e ar e to o m an y e ye s a n d ton gues The .
south c o a st is within e a s y r e a ch a n d it will b e ,
p ossible to co m munica t e with his fr ien ds a br o a d to ,
g et ov er thin gs a n d wor ker s n e ce ss ar y an d h a ve the ,
m or e co m m odious pl a c e fo r th e s e cr e t ar r iv al o f
sp eci a l m en to come un to m e ther e a t St Cr osses ; .
som e of which m en would b e lo ath to b e s een o r

he ar d of p ublick ly in Cour t o r City Is it possible .
th at h e is still thin kin g of Kelley who, though then ,
( 1 5 9 2 ) a n E m p er or s fa vour ite an d th e bear er o f a

’
title co uld ea sily in E n glan d b e iden tifie d with

,
T albot th e coin er for g er an d n e cr om ancer o f for m er

, ,
days 7
Then D ee s e ts o u t in his R ehea r sa ll th e c apa city
O f th e dwelli ng a t St C r o ss which is r oomy en ough
.
,
to en ter tain r ar e a n d e xc ellen t m en fr om a ll par ts of

th e wor ld a s we ll as a ny of his fellow coun tr ymen
,
-
.
This will b e fo r th e hon our a n d cr e dit o f Engla n d .
Ther e is r oo m also fo r lodging his sta ff of me cha nical

’
a ssist a n ts ; fo r a p r in tin g ho us e to b e set up fo r

r epr oducin g g ood r a r e a n d a n ti en t b o o k es in G r eek
, ,
a nd L a tin an d
, som e O f m y o w n to b e pr in ted ,
”
w ith m y o w n o r d er in g an d ov er sig ht Th en h e lays .
str ess upon th e de sir able sur r oun din gs a chapel wher e ,
divin e ser vice is held e ver y da y fo r br ing in g up his ,
childr en a n d fam ily d evoutly H e en ds with th e .
advan t ag e s of Win ch e st er School clo s e a t h a n d n o t , ,
only fo r his four son s to b ec om e Gr am m ar ia n s in ,
but fo r his Obtain ing help fr om th e good Gr eek a n d

Latin Gr a m m ar ian s a n d fair wr iter s in th a t s choo l ,
fo r copying o u t books fo r H er M aj es ty .
H e is teem ing w ith a ll th e s e pr oj e cts a n d a c tiviti es

in spite o f h is sixty fi ve year s H e w a s a bor n
-
.
libr ar ian ; an d still h a d a n a tion a l libr ar y of books

an d m an usc r ipts a t h ear t a s m u c h a s wh e n n e ar ly ,
for ty ye ar s b efor e h e h ad tr ie d in va in to in duc e

,
Queen M ar y to foun d o n e .
D ee s eloquen t per su a sio n s so far pr ev a iled with th e

’
Queen that a dr aft w a s pr epar e d b efor e th e en d o f

M ay gr an ting to Lor d Cobha m th e n e xt a dvowson
,
of Holyr ood o r St C r os s a t Win che s ter in th e

,
.
, ,
Queen s g ift to pr e sen t to John D ee M A o n th e

’
, , . .
,
death o r r e sig n a tion O f D r Rober t B enn ett th e .

,
1
pr esen t in cu m b en t .
H avin g dr a wn u p this v er y full a c c oun t of his

doing s an d wr iting s to pr e sen t to th e Com mission er s
, ,
D ee w a s n a tur ally a n xio us tha t th e appea l should b e

as wid e spr ea d a n d far r e a chin
g a s possible Ar ch
-
.
bishop Whitgift h a d shown him self fa vour ably

inclin e d an d D ec deter m in e d to appr oac h him with
,
a c o y o f th at ar t o f th e R ehea r s a ll in whi c h h e
p p
r ecite d th e title s o f th e books h e h ad wr itt en He .
pr epar e d a L etter co n ta in ing a br ief D isco u r se

a o lo etica ll w ith a p la in e D emo n s tr a tio n a n d er ven t
p g f
1
C l St t P p D w
a . a e 1 5 94 p 5 1 3
a . o Th d y f t h m
, ,th i . . e a o e on n
M y is l eft bl k
a an .
p r o tes ta tio n f or the la wf u l sin cer e a n d ver y f a it

hful
chr is tia n e p hilo s op hica ll s tu dies a nd
and co ur se of th
cer ta in e s tu dio us g en tlema n , a n a n cien t
ex er cis es
of a
ser va n t to her mo s t ex cellen t M aj es ty R o y a ll,
ddr essed a
to th e Ar chbishop ; h e pr o b a bly pr esen ted it h i m self

dur in g this su m m er O f 1 5 9 5 It is a pr ote st a n d an .
a
ppeal a n d em pha ti ca lly s ta te s th a t fr om his youth
,
u h e h a s us e d good hon e st l a wful an d Chr istian

p
m ean s to a tta in such kn owledge a s sh all hon our God ,
his c oun tr y a n d his Q u een It en ds with a pr a yer .
th a t h e m ay b e foun d Of th e Ar chbishop and nu ,
do ubtedly a ckn owledg e d by th e w ise an d just to ,
ha ve b een a zealous an d fa ithful student in th e school

o f V er ity an d an an cien t G r a dua te in th e school o f
Ch ar ity .
O n June 3 D ee an d J an e a ccomp an ie d by all their

, ,
seven childr en four boys an d thr ee gir ls their ages

, ,
r an in g fr om Ar thu r th e W e stmin ster boy of fif teen

g , ,
to F r a n ce s th e b a by of t w o an d a h alf p r es en t ed
, ,
them selves before th e Que en a t Sion House Isle ,
wor th . Jan e w a s per mitte d to kiss h er han d .
Eviden tly this w a s an e xpr e ssion of than ks fo r the

officia l pr eliminar ies o f th e gr a n t o f St Cr oss Th e . .
Ar chbishop w a s pr es en t a n d D ec humbly r equested

,
h im to come to his cottage Th e in vitation w as .
r ep eat ed o n th e 6 th when D ee supp ed with the

,
Pr i m ate Things w er e n o t however s ettled so

. , ,
quickly D r Rob er t B enn ett h a d to b e pr ovided

. .
with a b etter position befor e h e would r esign ; some

hitch occurr ed an d o n Jun e 2 9 after a vis it to the
, ,
Ar chbishop at C r oydon th e poor m an wr ites dis

, ,
tr a ctedly of his b r oken h o pe s

his ca se b efor e th e Coun cil o r els e ha ve a licen ce ,
un der th e G r ea t S ea] to go wh er e h e would St . .
C r oss w as far ther o ff tha n ever ; En gland cold and

inh ospitable ; a n d h e pr ep ar ed to s ay a fin al good b ye -
to cour ts a n d cour tin g a t hom e a n d betake him self to ,
G er m an y o r Austr ia o r some other lan d Fr a ncis

, ,
.
G ar la n d arr ive d o n De c em ber 2 fr om Pra gu e just ,
a s I ca m e fi v e y ear s a o to a d a fr om B r em en to
g y
”
E nglan d . Little pr ofit in de ed h ad h e r eape d in that
fi v e year s .
O n th e 7th J a n c d eliver ed h er supplication with

,
h er o w n han d to th e Qu een a s s h e p a ss e d o u t of th e ,
pr ivy g ar den at Som er se t Hous e to g o to dinner ,
with Sir Thom a s H en eag e at th e S a voy ” Elizabeth .
h an de d th e letter to th e Lor d Admir a l but took it ,
a gain fr om him an d k ept it o n h er cushion

,
The .
n e xt d ay ,th e Lor d Ad m i r a l an d Lor d Buckhur st

re min d e d h er of th e m a tte r ; pr es en tly sh e told the
’
Ar chbishop tha t sh e wish ed D ee to ha ve D r Day s .
pla c e O f Chan cellor at St P a ul s 8 th D ec The

’
. . .
Chan c ellor ship pr esen ted Th e Ar chbishop o f C an ter

.
bur y willin g h e wr ite s ; but this w as appar ently

,
a n other c astle in th e a ir fo r D r Willi am D a y w as

, .
n o t a ppoin t e d Bishop of Win ch e st er till a ye ar l at er ,
Novem ber 2 3 1 5 9 5 a n d although D ee s n a me

, ,
’
a pp ear s a s Ch an c ello r un d er th e d a t e of D e c e mber 8 ,
h e s eem s nev er to h ave held offi ce .
’
His fr ien ds howe ver wer e n o t idle In a m on th s
, , .
tim e J an ua r y 3 Ar chbishop Whitgift w a s r eco m

, ,
men din g Elizab eth to gr an t him t h e War denship of
1 Le N e v e, Fa sti, vo l. ii .
, 36 1 .
ADIEU T O COURTS AND COURTING 259
Chr ist s College Ma n che ster in h er o w n g ift

’
, , .
D r W il]ia m Cha dd er ton who w as th en W ar d en a n d

.
,
Bishop of Ch ester w as to b e pr om oted to th e s ee of ,
Lin coln an d her e w a s a n op en in g fo r D ec O n

, .
F ebr u ar y 5 S ir John Woll ey en d ea vour ed to g et h e r

,
to sign th e paten t fo r his a ppoin tm en t but sh e ,
defer r e d it D ee w a s up an d down to Lon don fr om

Mor tlake an d o n F ebr uar y 1 0 at two in th e a fter
, ,
n oon h e , toke a cut pur s e takin g his pur s e o u t of his -
”
pocket in th e T em ple O n Apr il 1 8 th e Qu een did .
,
sign th e bill when it w as Offer ed h er by D ee s fri en d

,
’
an d n eighbou r at Mor tl a ke John H er ber t M a ster of , ,
the Reque sts O n M ay 2 5 2 6 2 7 it pa ss e d th e

.
, , ,
Sign et th e Pr ivy S eal an d the Gr ea t S eal a nd as a

, ,
1
,
cli m a x to this entr y in th e di ar y D e e a dds £3 1 2 s , , .
” 1
bor r owed o f m y br other Arn old doubtless to pa y ,
th e fee s .
Th e E ar l o f Der by ga ve him letter s of in tr oduction ,
an d h e w a s s oon in cor r e spon d en c e with Oliver

Car ter hi n e of th e F ellows ; w ith Tho m a s Willi a m s ,
an other ; an d with M r Goodier lessee o f th e tithe s .

,
belongin g to th e W ar den and F ellows C ar ter an d .
Willi am s wer e alr ea dy at law with e a ch oth er a n d ,
soon wer e both to b e at logg er he a ds with D ee a n d

his laudable de sir e s to s et th e tangle d a ffair s o f th e
college str aight C a r ter w as o n e of th e moder ator s
.
1
Ca l S ta te P ap er s, 1 5 9 5 - 7, p 4 5
. . . d d M y 26 i
Th e pa t en t , a t e a n
th e Qu e en s
’
na m e , v
gi es h er b el v do e a n d fa it fuh l v t Jh
s er an o n
D ee , M A . .
, C l k
er , t h e pla ce o f W d en ar w ith ll ig hts wh t h
a r , e er
pr ese nt or a b s en t .
2 Per ha ps A n o ld w s J n e D e e s b r o th er
r a a
’
, b ut , as b ef o r e n o t ice d ,
D ee fr e que n tly use s t h e t e m r .

of th e monthly le ctur e in M an ch ester h ad gr eat ,
influen c e an d s eem s to ha ve been unpr epar ed to

,
welcome a War den o f D ee s r eputation ’

.
J uly Sl s t Coun te ss o f W ar wick did this

. Th e
e ven in g th an k h er M aj e stic in my n a m e an d fo r m e , ,
fo r h er gift O f th e W ar d en ship o f M an che ster She .
toke it gr atio u sly a n d w a s sor r y that it w a s so far

fr om hen s e but tha t som e b e tter thin n e er hand
,
g
shall b e fo w n d fo r m e ; if o ppo r tunitic o f tim e
would s er ve h er M aj e stic wold sp eak with m e her self
, .
I h ad a bill m a d e by M r W ood o n e o f th e cler ks

.
,
o f th e S i n et fo r th e fir st fr u tes for givin g by h er

g ,
M aj estie .
So atlen gth th er e w a s some thing tangible in

p r osp ect Things h a d to b e settled up at Mor tlake
.
a nd pr ep ar atio n s m a de fo r th e jour n ey n o r thwar d .
W e m ay b e sur e tha t D ee s gra tification at r eceiving

’
a post o f som e sor t a fter a life tim e o f w aiting w as

, ,
mix ed with r eg r et at quittin g th e pla ce that had

been his home fo r so lon g His yon g coosen J ohn .
,
Aubr ey c a me in M ay to r e cr ea te him self fo r a while

,
”
,
a n d st aye d n ear ly a m on th .
’
O n August 1 4 Ja n e s youn ge st child a gir l w as
, , ,
bor n Sh e w a s baptis e d at M o rtlak e as Mar gar et

.
D ee o n th e a fter n oo n o f August 2 7 godfa th er the ,
Lor d Keep er ; godm other s th e Coun tess es o f Cum ,
b er land an d Ess ex all thr ee r ep r es en te d by d eputy

, .
Th e Coun tess O f Esse x w a s W a lsingh am s o nly

’
d aughter and h eir S h e h a d been Sid ney s widow,

.
’
an d w as n o w m ar r i e d to Ess e x .
D ee w as n o w en ter t ain e d often by Lor d D er by at

R uss el] Hous e o nc e to m eet s o m e Ger m an gu ests
, .
WH I C H FI E R MU S I EVER
‘
BE C O E Q UA LL
IN E VE R Y MI N UIE
'
, AND YET PE R PET UA L L ;

FO R IT M A Y N E V E R A BATE NE I N C R E AS E ,
A N D YET T H E FI E R M I
A E N E V E R C E AsE
TH O M A S N O RT O N Th e O r a/m a ll qf A lc h zmy
‘
.
On October 9 h e din ed w ith S ir Wa lter Raleigh

at Dur h a m Pla c e This pala ce in th e Str an d h a d
.
seen m any vicissitud e s b efor e it h ad b een gi ven to

Raleig h by th e Queen O r igin ally th e r e siden ce o f .
,
th e n or th er n bishop s it h a d b een s eiz e d by an ear li er

,
kin g . L a dy Ja n e Gr ey h ad been wedded ther e .
H er too a m bitious father — in law h ad g on e then c e to -
th e Tower a n d th e sc a ffold C a tholic plots again st .
Elizab eth h a d been ha tched by S pani ar ds in this ,
h er o w n hous e an d n o w th e great s e a m an fr e sh
, ,
fr om far Guian a w a s hous ed in a little turr et over

, ,
lookin g the r iver an d th e s hips .
D ec w as a n xious to r e cla im b efor e g oin g to his ,
n ew home an Ar a bic book len t to so m e fr ien d in

,
Oxfor d H e h ad wr itten to M r H ar din g an d M r

. . .
Abbott sever a l tim e s fo r its r etur n a bout a ye ar an d

a ha lf b e for e Now o n Octob er 2 0 he sen t his m a n
.
, ,
Richar d Wa lk den to Oxfor d to fi n d an d br in g it .
Th e m an r e tu r n e d fr o m a fr uitle ss er r an d but o n ,
Novem ber 1 9 m y Ar a bic book w a s r e stor e d by

’ ”
God s favour His gr a titud e e xpr e sse d itself in a
.
pr a ctical m ann er to th e tr uste d Richar d

I deliver ed un to Richar d W alk edyn e my m an ,
M r Rober t Thom as his fusti an du b b let fo r 1 0

.
,
shilling s o f his wages I gave him mor e when h e .
w a s to r id e down with m
y wife : 1 0 s wher e of 6 s 4d .
, . .
w a s du e to him th a t h e h a d la d o u t fo r m e Th e
y .
other 3s 6 d w a s O f his wag e s

. . .
A por tion of goods a n d fur n itur e h a d a lr ea dy been

despatche d towar ds M an che ster by a ca r r ier n am e d
Per civa l] an d o n th e 2 6 th Jan e an d h er c hildr en all
,
set o ff by co a ch tow ar ds Coven tr y a usu a l h a lf w a -

y ,
h alting pla ce o n th e high r o a d to L a n c a shire A la st

- ,
pi ece o f busin ess w as tr an s a cte d o n D ec ember 23

with John Nor ton sta tion er to whom D ee Ow ed
, ,
m on ey p er haps fo r pr in tin g
, I p ayd him ten
pown ds in h an d an d w as boun d in a r ecogn is an ce
befor e Doctor Hon e fo r th e paymen t o f th e r est ,
£1 0 year ly at Chr istm a s an d Midsummer £5 tyll

, , ,
”
£5 3 1 4s 8 d mor e wer e p a id
. . Th e s a me da y he
.
r e c eive d £30 in p a r t
p a ym en t of £1 00 fo r th e house
a t Mo r tl ake w hich h e h a d len t to Mr P a get
, . .
plun der ed sold o r leas e d sh e her self becom in g a

, ,
sh ar er in th e pr ofits o f spolia tion until th er e w as

har dly an y clear pr oper ty left At th e in stan ce o f .
D ean N owell an in quir y w as instituted w ith the

, ,
r esult tha t th e college w as gr an te d a n ew ch ar ter in
1 5 7 8 as Chr ist s Coll eg e to c ons ist O f a W ar d en four

’
, , ,
F ellows an d two ch apla in s with chor ister s Nowell

, ,
.
and Oliver C ar ter wer e two o f the fir st F ellows .
Th e s ec on d W ar d en w a s D r Ch a dd er ton who h ad .
,
b e en L e ic ester s ch aplain a n d w as Bishop O f Che ster

’
, .
Un der him th e C atholics wer e r elen tle ssly p er se cute d ,
M an ch e ster pr ison s wer e fille d an d th e fa m ous ,
M ar pr ela te pr in tin g pr ess w a s discover ed an d s eized .
’
Cha dder ton s pr omotion to th e see o f Lin coln in
1 5 9 5 m a d e an Op enin g fo r o u r p er sisten t pla c e b eggar -
to b e dispose d of a t last .
D ee a r r iv e d in M an chester o n M on d ay a fter n oon ,
F e br u ar y 1 5 1 5 9 6 a n d took up his a bod e in th e

, ,
college O n th e followin g S a tur d ay he w a s in stalled

.
in th e W ar d en ship be twe en nin e an d eleven O clock

’
, ,
a s h e t e lls us H e h a s unfor tun ately left no a ccoun t

.
O f th e cer emon y His fir st business w a s to be com e

.
a cqu a in t e d with th e t en an ts of th e colleg e l an ds a n d ,
th e own er s o f tith es which con stitute d its r e ven u e .
O n Apr il 2 h e s ays S ir John Byr on an d his s o n

, ,
M r John Byr on dine d with him at the college

.
, .
This fa mily although Ne wstea d h ad been a cquir e d

,
som e for ty o r fifty year s pr eviously wer e still often ,
r e siden t o n th eir L an c a shir e e sta te s Clayt on n ear .

,
M a n chester w a s in fa ct th en th eir chi e f r e siden ce

, .
A little later in the mon th D ee r ecor ds th e c our ts ,
kept fo r th e man or o f N e wton in M an ch ester p ar ish , ,

MANCHESTER 26 5
of which th e W a r d en a n d F ellows wer e lo r ds Th e .
Dean an d C an on s th e pr e sen t r epr e s en tative s of ,
War den an d F ellows still hold a cour t leet twice ,
a y ear fo r this m an o r .
Ther e is an in ter esting letter fr om D ec to Rober t

Br uc e Cotton th e an tiquar y d a ted in M a y this year
, , ,
thr owi ng light o n his r ela tion s w ith th e pe ople in h is

em ploy— cop yists a ssist an ts o r appr en tic e s H e had 1
, .
br ought w ith h im fr om Mor tla ke Antony Cowley ,
h a d for m er ly been in Cotton s s er vice

’
w ho D ee .
w as a n xious to kn ow if h e h a d d epa r t e d fr om th e
e m ploy o f his la t e m a st er with his g ood will .
Tr uely , fo r my p ar t I will r ecey ve non e to m y ,
sim ple s er vi c e (m an o r wom a n ) u nleas t they co m e

.
fr om th eyr M aster s o r Mistr e ss e s with th eyr well

liking o f suche their depar tur e fr om them Th er fo r c .
,
I wold by this b ear er gladly r e cey v e your a n swer

, ,
h er ein by wor d o f m outh o r by you r letter

, A nd .
so sh a ll I b e fr ee fr o m a ll offen c e givin g to your
wor ship o r a n y els in this c a u se : a s I a m m ost fr ee

,
fr om c ove tin g de sy r ing o r long ing a fter m y n eigh

,
bour s wife o r a ny ser va n t o f his If I m ig ht have

’
.
a thous a n d
p o un ds to sollicit e o r pr ocu r e a n y m a n s
s er va n t to for s a ke his m a ster or m i s tr e ss a n d to ,
co m e to m e o r a n
y other I wold n o t do it G o d , ,
knowe s .
In bout thr ee weeks D ee r e ceive d a r eply to this

a
consider ate le tter e viden tly n o t en tir ely s a tisfa ctor y

, ,
fo r o n Ju n e 3 h e pa id An ton y Cowley 2o s a n d .
disch ar ge d h im N e xt da y An ton y wen t fo r th

.
”
e ar ly fr o m m
y hous e I kn o w n o t whith er , .
D e e n o w b ega n to dir e c t his whole a tte n tion to
C tt n MS J ul C iii f 1 36 ; E llis L tt s p 8 7
1
o o , . . .
, .
, e er , . .
his ch ar ge : th e college a n d th e c ollege lan ds A .
r oyal co m missio n w as a ppoin te d to sit a n d e x a min e
its i n ter n al affa ir s . O n Jun e 1 8 th e commission

fo r t h e college w as s en t to Lon don to b e en gr oss ed
in the Duchy Offi ce D e e w as a l aym an ; h e h a d
a lwa ys sti ula te d h e shoul d ha v e n o cur e O f souls
p
a tt a che d to wh a te ver b en cfi ce h e might hold Fo r .
th e d a ily s er vic e s a t M a n ch e st er b e e m ploye d a

su cc e ssion o f cur a tes (m ostly un sa tisfa cto r y ) to whom ,
h e p aid wa ge s 5 0 3 fo r thr ee m on ths

. H e w a s far .
m o r e in ter e st ed in th e tem p or a l th a n th e spir itual

welfar e o f his colle ge a n d in dee d his d e sir e fo r such
,
a n a pp oi n t m en t s ee ms r a th er t o ha ve b ee n solely
pr ompte d by th e s elfish if n e ce ss ar y wish fo r an

, ,
in com e a n d m e an s to pur su e his o w n studie s in p ea ce .
H e w as to fi n d n e ith er in M a n che ster .
In Jun e h e r e c eive d a Visit fr o m M r H ar r y S a vile .

,
th e a n tiqu ar y of th e B a n k H a lifa x a n d by h im h e
, , ,
s en t a r eque st to Chr istopher S a xton o f D unnin glcy , ,
n e ar H a lifa x to com e a n d ar r a n g e a su r ve y o f th e
,
town o f M a n ch e ster a n d con sult a bout th e p ar ish

,
boun d ar ie s S a xton w a s a we ll kn own char a cter of

.
-
th e tim e th e hold er o f a p a ten t fr om th e Quee n

, ,
whos e ar m s appear up on th e m a ps h e m a d e o f th e
thr ee c ountie s o f Che ster Yor k a n d L an c a ster, .
The y wer e th e fir st m aps of B r ita in m a de fr om

a ctu a l sur ve y a n d h a d b e en is s u e d a s a n
, a tla s in
1 5 7 9 m ost o f th e m aps h a ving b ee n e n gr a ve d in

,
1 5 77 . His visits to D ec la sted over thr ee weeks ;

n ot es ar e en ter e d o f his m ea sur in g th e town ship a n d
Visiting Hough H all th e s eat Of Nichola s Mos ely

, ,
th e L an c a shir e clothi er who t w o o r thr ee y ear s la ter

,
.
,
26 8 LIFE OF DR J OHN DEE .
no w tur n e d fa r mer getting a sm a ll d r ove of s even teen

,
he a d O f c a ttle up fr om his kin sfolk in W a le s to g r aze

th e pa stur e They wer e br ought up by th e c our
.
teo u s G r iffith D a vid n eph ew to M r Tho m a s ,

.
”
Gr iffith a n d wer e a pr e sen t
, D ee h ad to V isit Sir .
John Byr on a bout th e colle ge ten an ts

Who pr eten de d tha t w e ha ve par t of Faylesw o r th
Com m on within o ur Ne wton H ea th which c ann ot ,
b e pr ov e d I a m sur e
, W e w er ag r e ed that Ja m es
.
T r a ve s (bein g his ba yly) a nd Fr a n cis Nutth all his ,
s e r v a n t fo r h im s h o ld with m e u n d er st an d all cir cum

,
”
stan ce s a n d so duly to pr oceed
, .
Th e clos e o f th e year w as m ar ked by an episode

which might h ave gon e far towa r ds clea r ing D ee s ’
ch ar a cter fr om th e a sp er sion s still b ein g c a st upon

him . Nowher e w as sup er stition an d belief in
witchcr aft m or e pr e va len t th an in L an c a shir e a nd ,
in Nove mb er an d D ecem b er of this y ear h e s eems

to h a ve b e en applie d to fo r a dvic e a s r egar ds a
wom a n an d s even childr en said to ha ve becom e ,
d e monia cally poss ess e d thr ough th e in flu en ce of o ne

H a r tle y a , c o nju r e r D ee s cu r ate M a tthew .
’
Pal m er happen e d to go in a s H a r tley w a s pr aying

,
over th e wom a n in a fit H e d em a nd e d wh a t h e .
w a s doing .
’
Pr ayin g .
Thou pr a y ! thou c a n st n o t pr ay quoth h e What ,

’
.
‘
’
r a yer c an st thou say 7
p
’ ’
Non e s a ith h e but the Lor d s Pr a yer
, , .
’
’
S ay it quoth h e th e which as I r e m e mb er h e
, , ,
”
could n o t s a y .
D ee utter ly r efused to meddle w ith th e affa ir ,

MANCHESTER 26 9
and a dvis e d th e fa ther to con sult with go dly c

pr eacher s a nd a ppoin t a pr iva te fa st Per h aps h e .
r ememb er e d th a t wh en h e a ske d lo n g b e fo r e if h e , ,
h ad don e well con c er n ing Is a b el List er v e x e d of a ,
wicked spir it th e an gel s r eply h ad been Fr ien d it

,
’
,
is n o t of thy char g e H e sen t fo r H ar tle y a n d so

.
,
shar ply r ebuke d him tha t th e childr en h ad mor e c a s e

fo r thr ee weeks a fter Th e d evils wer e fi n a lly
.
e xor cis e d by a godly pr ea cher John D ar r ell o r a s

, , ,
w e susp ect by th e childr en s r elea se fr om H ar tley s

,
’ ’
’
attention s who w a s h an g ed soon a fter
, D ee s libr ar y .
,
a good p ar t o f which h e must h a ve m ove d to M a n
chester w as con stan tly in r eque st at this time It

, .
w a s r ich in books o n de mon olo y a nd poss ession a n d

g ,
Lan ca shir e justi ce s o f th e pea ce w h o h a d to deal

with the s e c a se s o f witchcr a ft br ought be for e the m
s ee m to ha ve r esor te d to such wor ks fo r a n d ,
aga in st th e
p er s e cution an d a nnihila tion O f witche s ,
a s th e D e P r a es ti
g us D a emo n u m (B a sle 1 5 6 6 ) o f ,
John Wi er th e E u stis D a emo n um a

,
D a emo n u m of th e mon k H ier o m M eng hi (F r a n k

for t 1 5 8 2 Boulog n e
, A ll thes e D ee r e cor ds
len ding to M r Edmun d Hopwood o f Hopwood
.
, ,
a d eputy— li euten an t an d e cclesi astic al com m ission er ,
a s well as a J P Wier o r Wei er w a s ver y likely

. .
known to D e c at Louvain H e w as o n e o f th e
.
e ar lie st a ologists fo r the s e unfor tun ate folk and

p ,
plea d e d tha t their br ain s b e ing disor der e d by

,
m el an choly they m er ited pity n o t punishm en t

, , .
His book co n tain s th e fir s t a ccoun t o f Th e Pied

Piper o f H a m elin fr om th e ar chives o f th e
,
tow n o f H am eln A S pa n ish g r a m m ar w a s len t to

.
270 LIFE OF DR JOHN . D EE
M r B ar low fo r his
. so n . M r M a tthew H e tou
. w as
th e bor r ower of the olog ica l wor ks in cludin g the ,
Co n co r da n tia e B iblio r um (1 5 5 5 ) o f Rob e r t S tephens ,
th e illustr i o us pr in ter of th e N ew T esta m en t ; a n d a

C a lvinistic tr ea tis e D e Co en a D o min i wr itten by
, ,
D r P ezel who h a d w e r em em b er co m m e m or ated

.
, , ,
’
D ee s depar tur e fr om B r e men in 1 5 8 9 by ver s es .
D ec len t H eto n books but H eto n len t D e e ten ,
p ounds o n a bill o f han d To John Ch o lm eley I .
len t my L atyn boke in 8 vo D e M o r bis Inf a n tu m , .
Th e disp ute s an d diffi cultie s ov er tithe s a n d lan ds

b elon gin g to th e colleg e n a tu r a lly affe cte d th e
’
War den s in com e a n d D ec foun d him s elf com pelled
,
to bor r ow sm all sum s a s befor e Fin ally h e w as .
r e duc e d to r ais e mo n ey o n his pl a te an d e sp e ci ally ,
o n th e h a n dsom e double gilt t an k a r d with a cover , ,
which w a s th e chr istening gift o f th e Coun tess of

H er tfor d to h er god da ughter F r a n ces It weighed -
.
2 2 oun c e s a n d D e c t ells h o w h e d eliver e d it to

,
Char les L eigh o n e of th e college sing ing m en to

, ,
lay in pa wn in his o w n n ame with Rob er t W elsh am ,
th e g olds m ith till withi n two days a fter M ay day

,
-
n e xt My d a ughter Ka ther in e a n d Jo hn C r ocker

.
[th e O ld s er van t] a n d I m ys elf [John D ee] wer e at

, ,
th e d eliver y o f it a nd wa yi ng o f it in my dy ning ,
cha m ber It w as wr apped in a n ew h an dker cher

.
cloth All that Was obta in ed o n th e tan kar d w as

.
£4 of th e cu r r en t valu e .
In th e sp r in g of 1 5 9 7 D ec r ecor ds o n M ay 4 th e , , ,
la st of th e Roga tion d a ys of th e ye ar a ver y ,
1
Pe h r a
ps D e Mo r bis Pu er o r w m , by Hier o nym us Mer cur ia lis,
V e nic e , 15 83 .
topogr apher a nd m athem a tician h e h as given a highly

valua ble r ecor d
1 5 97 .
“
M ay
I with Sir Rob er t B ar b er cur ate4 . , ,
an d Rob er t Tilsle
y cler k O f Ma n che st er p ar ish chur ch , ,
with diver s e o f th e town of diver se ages went in ,
Per a mbulation to th e bown ds o f M an ch ester par ish

bega n at th e L eeles s Bir chc a g a in st P r estw ick e p ar ish ,
a n d s o h a d v ew o f th e thr e cor n er st ake an d then ,
d o wn tyll M r S tandy sh n ew en closur e o n Th elm o r e

.
,
w h er w e stay e d an d v ew ed th e st ak e
y et stan din g
,
in th e b a ck o f th e dich ; [ it] b e in g fr om th e corn er

e le ve n m ea sur es o f M r Stan dley s stik then in .
’
,
his han d and 2 fote m or e ; which s tik I did mea sur e

,
after war d an d it did co n te n in len gth fee t 6 yu ch 3

y, , .
Th e total m esur e fe te 6 9 yn ch cs 9 At which plac e , .
c low s er v an t to M r Ashto n o f Ch ad er ton did

, .
,
m ee t us Th e sur ve y ge om etr ic al] o f th e ver y

.
cir cuits of M an che ster p ar ish w er en ded in this bein g ,

”
th e sixth day o f my wor k folk s doin gs 1 .
In th e Ch eth am
Libr ar y is a ho logr aph letter fr om
D e c to th e r e cto r o f Pr e stw ich Willia m L an gley , ,
d a te d tw o d ays befor e this per a m bula tion infor ming ,
him o f th e pr oj e ct fo r m a kin g a ch ar t o f th e par ish

bounds an d in vitin g him
, ,
As o ne side o f o u r p ar ish in Thiclm o r e doth

bor d er uppo n some p ar ts o f you r par ish o f P r estw ich e ,
to r e qu est som e o n e o r tw o O f th e a un cien t o f your

p ar ish to b e allso beholder s o f o ur boun ds n otifyi ng ,
1
In th e diary dited by th e
as y this p s g is
e Ca m d en S o ciet a sa e
m i e d nd
sr a ,
a th e m st r idi ul u s
n e b o ut K en ti h fe t
o c o no sen s a s e
and co m e stac ks
Th e l is p i t d
l l n dm k e r n e . es o ca a ar s ar
l less b en ch and B t h e d o ub tless l n g s in

” !
“
ee th e L w , o . o ar o ce
sw ll wed up in stre ets b ut th e L l s Bi c h p b b ly xist d

a o ,
e e es r ro a e e
m n y yea s fter D ee s d e t h Th lm e i n o w th e White M s

’
a r a a . e or s o s .
MANCHESTER 273
towar d your par ish in tha t pla ce My n eighbour s do .
intend to c ome o n W en sda y n ext in th e m or n ing ,
about 9 o r 1 0 of t h e clo k to tha t p ar t th at is by

,
’
Goodm an S m eh ear st s hous e a n d so towar d th e ,
b ir ch e tr ee tha t is c alled th e L eeless B y r che an d ,
ther eabouts fo r a little spa ce to b eggyn th e vew of

,
th e bown ds an d m er cs of M a n ch este r p ar ish : by th e

o r der o f a n enj o y n e d wor k by th e high er powr e s fo r ,
avo din
y g O f un due en cr oa chin g o f a n y n eighbour ly
par ish o n e o n th e other Yo u un d er stan d m e
.
suffi ciently well I dowt n o t Par don m y boldne ss

, .
so bluntly to bo r de yo u w ith so hom ely a s ute .
Your w ur ships sin c er e

Wellwish er in Chr iste ,
J O H N D E E Wa r den , .
John C r ocker an d s e ver a l other m en wer e o cc upie d

fo r som e weeks in m ar king th e boun d ar ie s of th e
m anor they m et with e xtr a or din ar y opp osition fr om
the lan down er s a n d o n Jun e 1 4 D e e allud e s to a r iot
,
that took pla c e a t Ne wt on C aptain B r a dley a n d,
other s en d ea vour ing to hin der th e college em ployee s

in their labour Wha t with oppositio n a br o a d a nd
.
diffi culties with his cur a te a t ho m e D ee w as fin din g ,
the cove t e d a ppoin tm en t n o b e d of r os e s He .
re cor d s an oth er of his cha r a cter istic dr ea m s— th e

dr eam s o f a bibliophile to whom his books a r e
,
treasur es a s d ear alm ost a s his childr en

This n ig ht I h a d th e Vision an d sh ew o f m an y
boke s in m y dr eam e an d a m o n g th e r est w a s o n e
,
great volum e thik in lar ge qu ar to n ew pr in te d o n

, , , ,
th e fir st p ag e wh er e of a s a title in gr e a t le tter s w a s
1
pr in te d N o tu s in J u dcea D eus M a n y other books
.
Th e titl
1 f th e 7 5 t h Ps lm
e o a .
m ethought I s a w , n ew pr in t ed , O f ver y str ange

ar um en ts
g . I l e n t M r Edm un d Hop wood o f H o p
.
wood m y M a lleus M a lefica r u m to u se till N ew Year s

’
tyde n e xt, a s hor t thik Old boke, with tw o cla sps,

r in t e d a nn o 1 5 1 7
p .
It w a s n o w e ar ly August So Hopwood who w a s .

,
ben t o n m as ter in g th e subj e ct of witchcr aft w as to ,
h a ve a bou t four m on th s to s tudy The H a mmer f o r

l/Vi tches a b o o k fir st is s u e d in 1 48 9 a fter th e Bull
, ,
a ga in st so r c e r y of Pop e I n n oc en t VIII by th e thr ee .

,
so r c er y in quisitor s It w a s tr an sla te d in to G er m an
.
,
H ex en ha mmer an d for m ed th e t e xt book of pr o

,
-
ce d ur e a ga in st witche s in G er man y Its a uthor s .
give e m ph a si s to their lear n e d Obs er vation that witch

c r a ft is m or e n a tur a l to wom en tha n m en b ec a us e of ,
th e in h er e n t wicke dn e ss of the ir h e a r ts 1 In m e diaeval

tim e s ther e app ear e d a la s In o s a fe a n d in con spicuous
,
p a th fo r o r din ar y wo m e n Th e e n tir e sex con siste d

.
a
ppar en tly of either a n gels o r d evils .
O n a Sun d ay in Aug ust D ee en ter tain e d th e E ar l

,
a n d Coun t e ss o f D er by a t a ba nket a t m y lodging

a t th e Coll e ge hor a 4 1
, The y h ad n e wly taken
.
u p their r e sid e n c e a t Alpor t P ar k which h a d b e en

,
th e coll eg e pr oper ty b e for e th e dissolution O f th e

m on a ster ie s . It is n o w in th e hear t o f th e city ,
som e wh er e n ear th e Midlan d Railwa y wor ks .
Ther e w as sc an t time fo r liter ar y la bour s a m id so

m uch en t er t ain in g topogr aphica l wor k a n d litig a tion
but in S epte m b er D ee sent to his for m er fr ien d n o w ,
S ir Edwa r d Dyer a tr eatis e h e h ad so m e time

,
wr itten o n Th e Qu een s Title Roya l an d S ea ’
Sover eignty in St Ge or ges Chann el a n d all th e

.
them S O har d a nd thynn e a dy et n ever in a ll m y

.
, ,
life did I n ay w as I for ced so long to u se : N e yt h cr did

, , ,
e v er a n hous e hold s e r va n ts o f m yn e h a ve so sl en d er
y
a llow a n c e a t th eir T a ble A n d y et a ll tha t ha th n o t
.
SO m uch py n ch ed m e in war dly a s th e c ar e s a nd

c u m b er s fo r th e coll e e a ffa ir e s h a v e do n e fo r th ey
g ,
h a ve a lter e d y ea ba r r e d a n d sta ye d m y whole cour se

,
o f life an d b er e a ve d m e o f m y so m a n y yer e s co n
,
ty n u e d Jo ye s t a ke n in m y m ost e stee m e d studies

,
an d e x e r cis e s .
But a s it plea s eth th e k in g of he ven a n d ear the

thus to d ea le with m e : S O I b e se ch e h im to give
m e gr a c e to like b e st of this his long lea din g of m e
p er mu lta s tr ibu la tio n es A n d B e sid e all th e r est
.
,
This en cr e a seth my gr ief : tha t I kn ow n o o n e a s

y et O f h er M a
“
m ost hon or a ble Pr ivy C o u n s aile
ne
,
who willing ly a n d com for ta bly will listen unto

m y pitiful] com plain te an d D e clar a tion : H o w this
C o lledg of M an che ster is a lm ost be come N0
College in an y r e sp e ct ; I s a y in a ny r e spe ct fo r
, ,
I ca n ver ifi e m y wor d es to [O ] m an ifestly But .
why do I cu m ber y r w ur ship (thus a b r uptlie) w ith

s uch m
y co l le dg cu m b e rs ? Par don m e I pr ay ,
y o u th e pan g o f m y m y n d c half a m az ed when

, , ,
th e m ultitud e o f th e s e c u m b er s an d O f t h e co n
fus e d a n d in tr ic a te c a us e s o f this Coll edge do ,
r u ssh at o n c e in to m
y fa n t azie But u n do w tedly
.
, ,
e ith er God will g ive m e gr a c e suffi ci e n t a n d s en d m e

m ighty help (temp o r e opp o r tu n e) to en d the m o r ,
els e th e y will h e lp to h a st en m y d e liv er an c e fr om

thes e a n d all oth er va yn e and e ar thly Actions
h u m a yn e .
S ir , how w ell (a n d th a t h ar tily ) n o t on ely I , but

my payn q J a n e , a nd m y child r en O f discr etion,
’
a lls o do , at God s b a n d e s , wish un to

yr w ur s hip , you
m y ea sy ly g ess e , fo r it is o ur d u etie .
A n d so , I b esech e your w ur ship un d o w tedly to

MANCHESTER 27 7
per swa de your s elfe of us M an ch ester S epte m ber .

, 8,
A °
1597 .
Yo r w u r shi s
p in fi delitie an d s in ce r itie ,
“
J O HN D EE .
A n ew stewar d of th e colleg e w a s a ppoin te d

Humphr ey D a ven por t who after war ds be c a m e Chie f ,
Bar on o f th e Exche quer a n d a s such d eliver e d ,
judgm en t upon ship m o n ey in H am pd en s c a s e ’

.
Very few allusion s to dom e stic an d fam ily m a tter s

occur in th e diar y fo r the s e M an che ster year s but in ,
No vem ber 1 5 9 7 an a cciden t is r e cor d ed to Ar thur

, ,
w h o w a s at ho m e fo r a tim e H e w a s a m usin g .
him s elf by fen cin g with Edwar d A r n o ld o n e o f ,
D ee s m en an d his usu al m e ss eng er to Lon don when

’
th e foyn e o r thr ust of th e r api er o f his Oppon en t

dam age d his left ey e Th e la d w a s n o w a bout s e ven
.
teen pr oba bly a lr ea dy en ter ed at Chr ist Chur c h

, ,
Oxfor d .
Cor r espon d en ce with fr ie n ds in Lon don a s D r , .
Julio a well kn own physicia n of th e tim e a n d

,
-
,
D r C msar (a fter war ds Sir Julius C a

. e s ar a nd M a ste r
o f th e Rolls) both of It alia n or igin som etim e s

, ,
r elieved th e V V ar d en s te dious a n d tir e s o m e d is pute s

’
w ith th e F e llows th e ten an ts a n d th e tithe own er s

,
o f th e colleg e .
To Caes ar as M a ster of th e Re quests D ec wr ot e

, ,
o n Octob er 2 1 5 9 6 o n b eh a lf o f Willia m Nicholson

, , ,
about an a c tion h e h a d br oug ht a g a in st two r so n s

p e
fo r en closin g m oor a n d m in e l an d at Re ddish Som e .
idea of th e la wle ss pr oce edings o f th e tim e m ay b e

1
Gen er a l a nd R ar e M emo r ia ls, Br it . Muse um , C 2 1,
. c . 12 .
ga th er e d fr om D ee s d e scription o f th e injur ie s th e ’
plaintiff h ad r e ceive d in h avin g his b ar n s pulled

down a n d h is co r n a n d h ay to th e q u an titic of a ,
g r e a t n u m b er of lo a ds c a st o u t of door s which , ,
”
som e of m y fa m ily beheld D ec a dds poin t e dly : I .
shall b e for c e d er e it b e lon g to fly to your dir e ction

a n d h el in c a us e s J u dic ia a n d en ds by a r e fere n ce
p
to C aes ar s r ecen t m ar r iage six mon ths ear li er to a
’
, ,
M a n che ster la dy (Ali ce d a ughter o f C hr istopher ,

”1
Gr een ) God ble ss you an d your n ew Jo y e .
Oliv er C ar ter w as m or e tr ouble som e than e ver an d ,
la wsuits wer e in stitute d by th e War d en both a gain st

him a n d G e or g e Bir ch a n other o f th e F ellows On , .
Sun d a y S epte m ber 2 5 D ee wr ites : M r Oliver

, , .
C ar ter his im pud en t a nd evident disobedien c e in

,
th e chur ch Ther e w as e viden tly a scen e though

.
,
as M r
’
no t , H a lliwell h a s it c a us e d by C ar ter s
.
,
dissolutene ss in th e chur ch Ther e w as n o hous e .
fo r th e War d en but th e fin e s of th e F ellows fo r ,
a bs en c e we r e by th e l a st ch ar ter to b e devoted
to its pr ovision If they did n o t pa y D ee h a d to
.
,
m ee t t h e r en t hims elf At th e begin n ing o f 1 5 9 8 .

2
ther e wer e four la wsuits o n th e War d en s h an ds ’
but h e r e cor ds th at h e sta yed th em all fo r ,
o n e c a us e o r an o th er o n e u n til S ir Joh n Byr o n r e ,
tur n ed In J a n u ar y th e coll ege g at e a n d a l ar ge

.
pie ce of th e wall fell down at m id night so th er e wer e ,
r e a ir s to b e m a d e
p H e h ad a l etter fr o m John .
1
La n sdo w ne '
MSS .
, c lviii .
, f . 16 ; Ma/nc hester D ia r y , ed . B iley a ,
p 93
. .
2
Th e h o us e w as n o t pr o i vd d e fo r a cen t ur y wh e n
, th e co ll e ge
w as ta k en fo r a h os
pita l .
CHAPTER XXII
C O L L E GE A FFA IR S
I ca m e a m o n li d m u h
g a d ms
p eo p l e w ho re e c on r ea . An d I
t ld t h m e
o
pt t h y
e u ld d i tin ui h b t w e n d
xc e
g e m co s s e e r ea an d d r e am
t h y w uld m
e h o f u d ll t g t h
as or Fo t h w
co n o n a o e er . r er e er e t h r ee
t
so r s f d mo F m u ltitu d
r ea s f b u in es
. m tim
or e o s s so e es c a use d
d m ; d th
r ea s w an whi p i g f S t i m
er e er e s er n s o a an n an in th e
n ig ht ; d th w
se a s o n
p ki g
an f G d t ere er e s ea n s o o o m an in
d m s —G O
r ea . F x J o ur na l
E RGE o , .
TH E War d en w a s appar en tly a bs en t fr o m his

char ge at M an chester fo r tw o year s an d a quar ter ,
between M ar ch 1 5 9 8 a n d June 1 6 00 Wh en h e , , , .
r e sum e d his di ar y to chr on icle his r e tur n it a pp ear e d ,
th at h e h ad been ver y busy in Lon don a r r ang ing fo r ,
a sp e ci a l co m m ission to sit in th e college ch apter

hous e to in quir e in to en cr oa chmen ts ma de upon th e
,
m an or o f N e wton His wife a n d two e ld er son s .

,
Ar thur a n d Rowlan d Mar y Nicholls d a ug hter o f his ,
o ld fr i e n d a n d upil F r a n c is Nicholls ; a ll tr a v elle d

p ,
with h im fr o m Lon don Wha t be c a m e o f th e .
youn ger childr en w e c an only gu ess Th e p ar ty set .
o u t o n th e l o th an d a r r iv e d in M a n ch e ste r o n Ju n e 1 8 .
Ro w la n d w a s then s even teen a Gr a m m ar School ,

’
boy o n Bishop Oldha m s foun da tion in M an che ster .
E ar ly in th e followi n g D e cem ber h e obtain ed an ,
e xhibition at Oxfor d fr om th e school D ee as .

,
War d en w a s ch ar ged with cer tain offi cial Visits o f

,
inspe ction o f th e Gr am m ar School a n d w a s by n o ,

COLLEGE AFFAIRS 28 1
mean s always pleased with th e r esult H e s ays fo r .

,
instan ce o n August 5 of this year

, I visite d th e ,
Gr am m ar S ch o le a n d fo w n d g r ea t im per fe ctio n s in
,
”
all an d e ver y o f th e s ch o ler s to m g r eat g r i e f Of
y , .
an ear li er visit h e s a ys it w as to s ee to th e ower ,
& c fo r M r H eto n i e to s ee th e clock

.
, .
,
. .
, .
D ee h a d alm ost co m ple te d his s e v en ty thir d ye ar -

,
an d h a d m a in t ain e d his bodily str en gth o n th e whole
r em ar ka bly w ell This sum m er h e obs er ve d that fo r th e

.
fir st tim e in hi s life his puls e a s s um ed th e well k n own -
sym ptom o f in ter m itten t b ea tin g o r pulsa tion With , .
all his usu a l e x a ctitude h e r e cor ds th at his

puls e kept
,
o n m i s sin
g a puls ation a fter th e fifth o r th e s ev en th , ,
o r el ev en th b ea t a lthough it w a s fo r t h e r est str o n

, g
an d e qu al H e m en tio n s a gr ea t m an y sleeple ss
”
nights .Nocte A m ar itud o m e a Cir c a m e diam ,
”
n o cte m A m ar itu do m e a a r e en tr i e s th a t oc c u r with ,
s om e fr e qu en cy O n July 7 h e s ays
. This m or n ing , , ,
a s I la
y in m y b ed it c a m e in to m y fan t a sy to wr ite
,
boke f er en tzzs quibus da m co rp o r u m et

' '
a D e da
sp ir ituu m His vie ws o n this subj e ct wo uld h av e
.
been pr ofoun dly in ter e stin g but th e book r em aine d ,
a fa n ta s
y H is d r eam s a r e ag ain som etim e s n ote d
. .
If the y ar e n o t a bo ut books they con cer n ed that ,
lon g fr us tr a te d ho pe of his life that h e m ig ht

-
,
a ctu ally o n e d a
y an d by n o fr a ud o r tr icker y stu m ble
, ,
o n th e s e cr et whi ch K ell ey h ad
pr ofe ss ed to kn ow .
’
By this tim e D ee m ust ha ve b een a ssur ed of K elley s
,
kn a ver y a n d y et his fa ith in th e p ossibilitie s of

,
alch e m y r e m a i n e d u n sh a ken to t h e e n d I h ad a .
dr ea m a fter m idn ight h e says o f m y e njoyin g an d , ,
Wor king o f th e philosopher s ston e with oth er My ’

.
,
dr ea m w as a fter m idn ight towar d da y ,

Al a s this .
plea sur e h e w a s n e ver to e njoy in th e fl es h N e xt .
n ight : I dr e am e d tha t a lo n g b etw en e Aldga te a nd

th e p oste r n o n Tower Hill did m en sta n d in a la n e ,
with pike s in th eyr han ds as though m or e should

,
co m e to them o r th at they w a yt ed fo r some body

,
.
“
But th eyr r egar d a n d lookin g w as dir e ctly to Y
Towr e wh er e cer tey n g r ea t p er son age s dy d stan d ;
,
a n d o n e o f th e m a s upo n a st a g e did d e cl ar e with a
loud voice to th e pike m en m atter o f im por tan ce

, ,
ver y loud .
Th e de scr iption of th e topog r aphy of his d r ea m ,
given by this Lon don er bo r n is ver y e x a ct Th e , .
g a t e o f Al dgate ta ken down in 1 6 06 w a s th e

, ,
e a st er n pos ter n of th e City n o t far fr om St , .
Botolph s Chur ch So th e lan e o f pikem en w a s a

’
.
ver y lon g o n e o r s ee ms so to us w h o kn ow th e
, ,
distan ce cover e d with hun dr e ds o f buildin gs an d a

n e two r k of str eets .
Ther e w as little tim e no w fo r him to d evote to

a lch em y by d a
y His wor k lay in a m o r e pr a ctical
.
dir e ction
July 17 I willed th e F ellows to co m to m e by

.
n in e th e n e xt d ay July 1 8 They c am It is to b e
. . .
n ot e d of th e gr e a t pacifi c atio n s un e xp e cte d o f m a n

, ,
whic h happene d this Fr iday ; fo r in th e for e n oon e -
(b etw en e n in e a n d ten ) when th e F ellows wer e

g r ea tly in doubt of my he avy displea su r e by r ea so n ,
of their m a nifold m isusin g o f them s elve s again s t m e ,
I did with all len ity inter teyn th em an d she we d th e ,
most par t of th e thin gs tha t I h ad br oug ht to pa ss a t

Lon don fo r th e C o lleg good ; a nd told M r C ar ter .
th e ctor o f Stockpor t Rich ar d G er ar d Things

re ,
.
p er hap s wer e s et o n a little b etter fou n d a tion fo r a

time Poin ts of di sp ute wer e r e fer r e d to th e ste war d
.
,
”
Hu m phr e y D aven por t C o un sayler o f Gr a ys Inn , , ,
an d Oliver C ar ter th e c on ten tious F ellow died

, ,
within thr ee o r four year s .
Th e la st tr oublous ye ar s in M an che st er must b e

br iefly pa ss e d o ver a n d in d ee d th e m a ter i al fo r th em
,
is sc a n ty D ee h a d to bor r ow mon e y o n m or e plate

.
,
”
double gilt potts with cove a n h n d ells
r d a
“
bowles ,
‘
”
an d c upps with h an dl e s fr o m Edmun d C heth a m , ,
th e high m a ster o f th e G r a m m ar School a n d h e h ad
no t been a ble to r e deem th em when C h eth a m s ’
fa ther a n d ex e cutor ma d e his will in M ar ch 1 6 0 3 , .
H e s ays in it th at D e e d eliver e d to his so n six

sever all p ar c ells of Pl a t e to b e ke t a s a
p p a yn e o r
ple dge fo r th e s a m e [lo an ] which by r ea so n of m y ,
s aid ex e cu to r sh ippe ar e n o w com e in to m y poss es

sion an d h e wills th e ten poun ds len t upon them to
,
his oth er son s Hum fr e y a n d R alph e Wh en if .

1
,
e v er , th e pie c e s w e r e r e d e e m e d do es n o t app ear , .
An oth er valu a ble ar ticle a silv er s a lt d ub b le

g ilt , ,
with a cover wa yin g 1 4 o z h a d to b e deposite d with

, .
,
A d a m Hollan d in J a n u ar y 1 6 0 1 fo r a l o a n o f fi ve , ,
pou n ds fo r o n e year D ee s stor e of plate though .

’
lar ge w as b ein g heavily dr ain ed an d ir r evoc ably

,
sc a tter ed in this w a y Th e o ld m a n dou b tle ss saw.
his tr ea sur es th e g ifts o f fr ien ds an d p atr on s o f half

,
a c en tur y disappear with feelin gs o f d eep chagr in

,
a n d dis app oi n t m en t m in gle d w ith m em or ie s o f pa st

,
1
Th e s ta n d d
ar r at e o f s i lve r, 4 3 E iz l .
,
w as 5 3 2 d p er
. . o un c e, s o
he v lu
a e of th e six par c e l
s w as £ 12 88 .
COLLEGE AFFAIRS 285
tr iumphs an d little light upon th e futur e A piec e o f

,
.
th e pla te c am e to light a t th e Tudor Exhibition in th e

N ew G aller y in 1 8 9 0 when a s ilv er cup th e pr oper ty, ,
of Mr s John H o o kh am F r er e (s a id to b e D ee s g r e a t
.
’
gr eat nie ce ) w as e xhibite d Wr itin g of this cu p to

-
, .
h er s o n B ar tle F r er e a bout th e en d o f th e eighteen th

,
c entur y M r s Frer e s ays

, . My gr ea t thr ic e gr ea t ,
-
uncle John D e e be c a us e h e w a s a wise m an w a s

, , ,
taken fo r a c onjur er I ha ve his silver cup n o w her e

.
w ith m e a n d you m a d r i n k o f it but I kn ow n o

, y ,
story in th e fa m ily tha t h e ev er divin ed by it It .
s er ve s m e her e fo r a sugar ba s an Eviden tly M r s . .
Fr er e took a n en tir ely r ation a l View o f th e power s

a ttr ibut ed to h e r fa m o us a n ce stor
1
.
Per haps in th es e sad d ays h e looke d ba ck r egr et

fully to th e g lor ious vision s a nd pr om is e s m a d e him
by those an gelic visito r s in th e year s when h e an d his
skr yer live d in th e Cou r ts o f kin gs an d e m per or s a nd ,
wer e co n s ulte d an d d e fer r e d to a s seer s a n d wis e m en .
Even th e thoug ht s o f s uspicion s har bou r e d of se cr e t

an d ope n fo e s a t ho m e a n d a br o a d
, th e r e colle c tio n
of he ar t bur nin g s a n d p a ssio n a te sc en es with th e
in calculable K elley m ust h a ve s eemed d azzlingly
,
br illian t a s com par e d with the se g r ey hopeless year s .
It is little won der that h e beg an to s e e k a m ong his

a ssist an t s a n d fri en ds a n oth er skr yer thr ough who m ,
he mig ht r en e w so m e glim m er o f th e for mer d a ys .
M r Fr a n cis Nicholls w h o h ad c ome to Mor tlake in

. ,
1 5 9 3 to lear n a str ology s ee m s to h a ve b een tr i e d , .
1
Miss Festin g , th e a ut h or of Fr er e an d his Fr iend s sa ys
Mr s F m o t h e r w a s Ma r y D e e a gr ea t n iece o f o u r J o hn b ut
’
-
. r er e s , ,
no b r o t h er o f D e c h a s h it h er to b een disco ve r e d ( see Appe n dix L) .

He w as fr equen tly with th e War d en an d his da ughter ,
M ar y sta ye d fo r tw o o r thr e e m on ths with the

De es in M an ch e ster o n their r etur n fr om Lon don .
S h e would b e a comp an ion in a ge fo r K a th er in e an d ,
the War d en tells how th e tw o gir l s his Wife an d ,
him s elf p ar took of th e s a cr am en t toge ther o n

,
Aug us t 1 0 1 6 0 0 Bar tholom e w Hickm a n w a s m or e

, .
succ e ssful a s a m e dium th a n M r Nicholls an d y et at . ,
fir s t n o t a lwa ys to b e tr usted D ee h ad lea r n e d by.
n o w to b e v er y disc r i m in a tin g a n d h e fo u n d m an y of ,
”
th e r epor ts o f sight an d h er in g s ir itu a ll obt a i n ed
p ,
thr oug h thi s skr yer so un tr ue th at h e m ad e a bon fire

,
of all th e wr itin gs o n Micha elm a s D a y befor e his wife ; ,
M r Nicholls ; his br other Willi a m Nicholls a nd a

.
, ,
M r Wor tle y
. A copy o f th e fir st p ar t which w as
.
,
a fter w ar d fo w n d w a s bu r n t b efor e m e an d m y
,
”
wife Th e r e vela tion s a fter war ds tr an s m itted thr ough
.
B ar tholom ew wer e n o t so tr eated an d wer e evid ently ,
c o n s id e r e d by D ee t o b e g e n uin e m e ss a e s fr o m th e
g
un s een His visitor s le ft th e n e xt da y a fter th e
.
Micha elm a s bon fir e th e Wa r den a cc ompan yi ng,
th e m o n foot a s far a s D ea n sg ate wher e the y par ted , .
O n his r e tur n ho m e a sur pr is e a wa it ed th e old m an .
D ee s s er va n ts m an y o f th em a tta ch e d th e m selve s
’
, ,
to h im fo r life a s w e ha ve s een Th ey a t least

, .
, ,
r egar d e d him without sus picio n H e w as n o in voker .
o f d e vils o r conjur e r of evil spir its to th em No .
m a ster could b e kin d er mor e gen tle con sid er a te o r

, ,
m or e str ictly hon our a ble In wh a tev er str a its h e foun d

.
hi m self h e a lwa ys con tr ive d to pay a n d fa ithfully

, ,
r e co r d in his di ar y th e p a ymen t of the ir w a e s

g We , .
h a ve s een h o w h e wr ites to Sir Edwar d Dyer o f th eir

Cheshir e c am e to M a n che ster to s ee the stewar d o f

,
’
th e college Hu m ph r ey D a ven p or t of Gr ay s Inn
, , ,
a bout som e o f th e coll e ge p r op er ty in Che shir e ,
which h e h eld Booth h a d been kn ighte d sin ce his

.
last visit A fter all pa r tie s h ad b een in ter vi ewed they

. ,
c a m e to a mutual a gr ee men t tha t th e War den an d

Fellows would a ccep t th e ar bitr a m en t o f th e stewar d
o n th e poin t in qu e stion his d e cision to b e d eliver ed
,
a ft er th e l a wyer h a d p a id his n e xt vis it to Lon don .
D avenpor t s cler k John R ad cly ffe a n d M r Dumbell

’
, , .
wer e a t th e college a t th e tim e but D ee s ays ,
they har d n o t o ur a gr eem en t w e wer e in my dining ,

”
r oom .
H e r ec eived a k in d letter fr om th e Bishop of

Ch ester (Richar d V a ughan ) r ecommending Mr , .
Thom as Billin gs to him fo r a cur a cy H e does n o t .
say if th e spir itu a l mi n istr a tion s o f M r B illings wer e .
a cc ept e d Th e com mission er s w er e still sittin g and

.
,
in Nov e mb er they m a d e an a war d a gain st M r James .
Ashton o f Cha dder ton fo r holdin g the manor o r

, ,
pr op erty o f Nuthur st whil e its title belon ge d to the

college .Ther e w a s a fin al s c en e with Oliver C ar ter
in th e college befor e M r Bir ch Rob er t and Char les
, .
,
L eigh At th e college a udit o n De c ember 2 D ee

.
,
w as allowe d his por tion o f £7 year ly fo r hous e r ent
up to th e Micha elm as befor e A gr ant w as no w .
mad e to Ar thur o f th e ch apter cler kship but the ,
hold er Owen Hodges w as only goin g to r elin quish it

, ,
o n con dition o f £6 b ein g p a id fo r his p at ent So .
mor e silver h ad to b e ple dged to m eet a loan .
Th e l ast en tr y m a d e by D ee in his diar y is o n

Ap r il 6 1 6 0 1 when h e m a de Mr Holcr oft o f
, , .
,
COLLEGE AFFAIRS 289
Vale Royall his fir st a cqu ain tan c e at M an che ster by

,
1
, ,
r easo n o f M r Willi a m H er ber t his s er va n t H e

.
,
.
us ed m e a nd r epor te d o f m e ver y fr eely a n d w o r

sh iply .
Fo r on cludin g seven ye ar s o f th e old m a n s ’

th e c
life ther e ar e on ly a few scan ty outsid e r e c or ds o n

which to r e ly b eside two o r thr ee fr a g m en tar y
,
en tr i e s p r in t e d in th e en d of th e B o o k
of M y s ter ies .
In such a pr a ctis e d a n d r ea dy wr iter a s o ur age d

m athem a tici an a n d a str ologer th e failur e to s et down
,
r ecor ds s ee m s to b e toke n fa ilin g str en gth o f both
intellect a n d body .
1
Sir T h o m as H o lcr o ft
knig ht d 1 6 0 3
, e ,
a l
g ent em a n of th e Pr ivy
C h mb
a er a n d H ig h S h e iff f C h esh i e
r o r .
CHAPTER XXIII
L A ST D A YS
If I r ea d au g ht in H v ea en ,
Or H eaven write au
g t h of fa t e , by wh t th e sta a rs,
V lum in o us
o o r sin
gl e c h a r a ct e r s
In t h j
e ir c o n un ctio n v
m e t , gi e m e t o sp e ll ,
w dl b
So r ro s an a o ur s , o ppo s it io n , a te h
Atte d t h e ;
n s e sco r ns , r e
pr o a c he s, i n u r i es
j .
—MI LTON ,
P a r a dise R ega in ed .
’
A da ys a fter th e di ar y clos es D ee s four th
FE W ,
so n Th e odor e die d
, Th e boy w a s just over thir teen
, .
,
p er h a ps a t th e Gr a m m ar School Micha el w e .
,
r e m e mb er h ad die d a t Mo r tl ake s e ve n y e ar s b e for e

, ,
so th e o nl y so n s l eft w er e Ar thur a n d Rowl an d both ,
n o w g r own a l m ost to m a n s e st a t e Within a bout a ’

.
year Ar thur m ar r i e d a n d soon e m bar ked o n his

, ,
succ e ssful ca r eer a s a physicia n in Lon don M an ch ester , ,
Mos c ow a n d Nor wich to which w e can r etur n later , .
Ar thur s wife w a s Is a bella d a ughter of Edm un d

’
Pr e stwich Justic e of th e Pea c e of M a n che ster a

, , ,
me mb er o f a fa m ily whos e n am e is per petua te d by a

lar ge distr ict o f th e town Th e m a r r i ag e took pla ce .
in 1 6 0 2 wh en Ar thu r w as twen ty four his br id e just

,
-
,
un d er tw en ty Th e youn g couple s e ttled w ith o r

.
n ear his p ar e n ts a t fi r st an d D ee h a d th e j oy of ,
s eeing gr an dchildr en g r ow up ar oun d h im Four o f .
Ar thur s twelve c hildr en wer e bo r n dur in g th e old

’
m an s life a n d h e ple a s ed him s elf by d r a win g a

’
hor oscop e fo r two o f thes e M ar gar ita 1 6 03 an d J ane , ,

main tain e d h er faith in him to th e last Bu r leigh s .

’
d eath in 1 5 9 8 an d no w th e Queen s left h im without

,
’
p atr on a n d pr ote ctor Elizabeth di e d a t Rich m on d

.
o n M ar ch 23 1 6 03 but D ee r e sum a bly w as far a wa y

, p , , ,
in M a n ch ester an d n o t n ea r a t h a n d a t Mor tl ake

, ,
e ve n h a d h e been r e quir e d Th e cour s e o f th e .
m agnific en t li fe w a s r un an d n o pr ogn ostica tion s o f

,
h er a str ologer could pu t hop e in to th e p hysici an s a n d

cour tier s wa tching ar oun d tha t r oya l d ea thbe d Th e .
Queen w a s se venty a n d h ad r eign e d fo r fi fty thr ee

,
-
year s .
F r om Kin g Ja m e s ther e w as n othi ng to b e hoped

fo r D ee th e m an fam iliar with occult scien c e s
, Th e .
Scotsma n felt him s elf a spe ci al e x per t o n th e subj e ct

o f witche s d e mon s an d m agic
, H a d h e n o t a tten ded
.
th e in fa m ous tr i a ls o f 1 5 9 0 a n d 1 5 9 1 A nd w a s he no t
th e a uthor o f a book in ten d e d to sh a tt er th e doubts
of those who wer e still un convin ce d o f th e in fam y ?
H e w a s a gh a st a t th e n ew a n d un or thodox views of
a polo ists like W i er an d R e i n a ld Scot a n d u on
g g p ,
his a cc ession pr omptly or der ed The D isco ver ie of

Witchcr af t by th e last n am e d to b e publicly -
,
bur n e d Ja m e s s D emo n o log ie is a str a n ge pi e ce o f

.
’
r e a so nin g a p lea in fa ct
, fo r th e d evil with whom
, , ,
h e s eem s to b e o n p eculi ar ly in tim at e t er ms God s ’

.
hangman —th a t is th e title a war d e d h im — is a ccor d ,
ing to Kin g J a m e s a bl e to r etur n a n d r ea n im a te a n y

,
de a d body H e ann oun c es his fa ith in th e power of

.
conj ur er s to i n voke th e devil wh en th ey choos e a n d ,
to in ve st oth er s with his spir it H e a djur e s all pious .
e o l e to u n ite in e xter min a ting an d utter ly d e str oy

p p
ing all p er son s so poss ess e d : a som e wha t u n ki n d
LA S T DAYS 29 3
re quest sin ce h e h as pr eviously allowe d th a t su ch

,
obj ects o f r epr obation a r e per m itted to e xist in or der

that th e g odly m ay b e wa r n e d l
The fir st Par li a m en t of J a m e s m et o n M ar ch 1 9 ,
1 6 04. O n th e 2 7 th a n ew an d mor e str in gen t Act

again st Wit ch cr a ft w a s br ought in to th e Hous e o f
Lor ds It w a s r e fer r e d to th e bishops who dis

.
,
cover e d it w as im per fect a n d h a d a fr e sh o n e ,
dr awn O n Jun e 9 th e e x e cr able Act tha t disfig ur e d

.
o ur st a t ut e book fo r 1 5 0 y e ar s b e c a m e la w This .
haste it w as s uppos ed w a s us e d to m eet offen ce s

, ,
e xpo s e d by t h e Scottish tr i a l s n o w a ga in e vid en tly ,
r evived an d m uch t alke d o f in E n gl an d It is .
significan t to r em em ber tha t Sh akespe ar e fin ishe d

wr iting M a cbeth in 1 6 0 6 In wha t w ay D e e fe lt.
him s elf spe cially involve d un le ss by th e public a tion , ,
in 1 6 0 3 of H a r sn et s tir a d e ag a in st i m postur e s an d
’
e xo r cists it is h ar d to co nj ectur e but th e tim e s wer e

1
, ,
r i e fo r h im t o m a ke at this id e n ti ca l mo m e n t a
p , ,
a ssion a t e a e a l to th e Kin a n d P ar li am en t On
p pp g .
June 5 h e pr e s en te d to Ja m es in th e Pa la ce a t ,
Gr eenw ich a petition couche d in th e str on g est a n d

,
m ost pite ous ter ms tha t an y m an could devise .
H e ur ge d upon th e King
to c a us e your H igh n esse s aid s er van t to b e tr y ed

a n d cle ar e d of th a t hor r ible a n d d a m n a ble a n d to ,
h im m o st g r ievous a n d d a m m ag eab le s cl a un der ,
gen er ally a n d fo r th e s e m a n y y e ar es la st pa st in this

, ,
kingdom r a y sed a n d c on tinu e d by r epor t a n d P 1 m t ,
a ga i n s t h im n a m ely th a t h e IS o r h a th b in a conjur er
,
o r c all e r o r in voc ato r of d ivels .
1
D ecla r a tio n f
o E gr egio u s P op ish Imp o stur es.
He wen t o n to r ela te how h e h a d publishe d m an y

tim e s his ear n est apologie s a ga in st th e sla n d er [o n e
’
w e r e m emb er in his p r efa c e to Billin gsl e y s Euclid
in 1 5 7 0 an d an other th e l etter to th e Ar c hbishop

, ,
in 1 5 9 5 h e h a d r epublishe d in 1 5 9 9 an d
, and
y et this un g odly an d fals e r epor t so boldly con st an tly , ,

”
a n d i m ud en tly a vouch ed h b ee n u n co n t r oll e d
p as ,
a n d un un ishe d fo r so m an y year s and m o r e ov er in

p , ,
spite o f a ll som e wr iter eith er a m a licious fo r r ain e

, ,
e n em y o r a n E n lish tr a to r to th e flour ishin

g y g State
an d Ho n o r of th e Kin gdo m o n J an u ar y 7 1 592 , , ,
h a d c all e d him John D ee in pr in t

, th e conju r or of
, ,
’ ”
th e Qu een s Pr ivy Coun cil It s eems ther e for e .
, ,
ver y n eedful th a t th e supplian t shall b e br oug ht to

tr ia l fo r th e cr e dit of th e Lor ds o f th e Pr ivy Coun cil
,
as w e ll a s fo r his o w n Ther efor e h e offer eth him s elf

.
willingly to th e punish m en t o f D ea th y ea eyth er to ,
b e Sto n e d to d ea th o r to b e bur ie d qui eke o r to b e

, ,
bur n e d un m er cifully if by a n y d ue tr ue an d just

, , ,
m e an e s th e n a m e of conjur er o r c aller o r in voc a tor

, , ,
o f D iv els o r d a mn e d Spir it e s can b e pr ov e d to h ave ,

”
been e o r to b e duely o r j ustly r ep or te d of him o r ,
“
if a n y o n e of all th e g r ea t n u m ber o f th e ver y str ange
an d fr ivolous fa bles o r histor i e s r epor t e d an d told of
him (a s to h a ve b een o f his doin g ) w er e tr u e a s they ,
h ave b een told o r r ea son a bly c a us e d a n y won der ing

a m on g o r to th e m a n y h ea de d multitud e o r to a n
-
”
y .
,
oth er whoso e ver els e .
D ee s symp athie s wer e so str on gly with th e u n fo r tu

’
n a te, p er s e cuted so c a lle d witche s tha t h e w as

,
-
,
willi ng to thr ow in his lot with the m a n d sh ar e th e

s am e fa te H e en ds this e xtr a or din ar y p etition with
.
ver s e s to in duce Par li a men t to pay any hee d to a

tir e so m e o ld p e tition er a sur viv a l fr o m th e la st ,
c en tur y a n d th e last r eig n who h a d o utlive d e ver y ,
co n t em o r ar y in cli n e d to b eli e v e in h im a n d whos e

p ,
co ur s e w a s n o w n e ar ly r u n .
N o r did J am es r e sp on d in an y w a y to his hear t

br oken p etition Ro ber t C e cil a n d all w h o wished
.
,
to st an d well w ith him took th eir cu e fr om th e King , ,
an d D ee in his o ld ag e w a s le ft fo r s a ken a n d a lone .
Th e fo llo w in g is th e a ddr e ss to P ar lia m en t

“
TO TH E H O N O RABLE ASS E MBL IE
O F T H E C O M M O N S IN TH E PRE SE N T PA RL I AMEN T .
Th e Ho n o r due u n to
yo u a ll,
An d re v to y o u e a c o n e ,
e r en ce h
Id fi o r st
y e eld m o st speciall
G tmr an e h
t is tim e toh my mon ea r e e .
u w ite fu ll w ll y u m y
Now (if y o ) r e o a ,
Fo wle scla n d r o u s t o n gu es an d div elis h h a te ,
h lp t h t u t h t b
An d e m e r o ea r e s o e sw y a
I j u t d fen
n s f g d N me ce o a oo a e .
“
I u d y
n s t
n thi r l d t
so r s ,
g s sc a n er r ea
(O f j u ) I h v
co n b l md
r er a e so re a e
Bu t ilfull w h n d pit ful h t , ra s , a s e ea ,
D t h n t hi g
o t be
o fl md n c ea se o en a e .
Y u h lp t h b y Wi d m l ’
o r f
e e, er e o r e , s o s o r e,
A d by y u P w e
n g e t
o d u
r o r , so r a an s r e,
I hum bly v th t v m e cr a e, a ne er or
Thi h ll i h w un d I h ll
s e s du o s a en re .
A d n yo u A t wit h H n u g e t
so r c ,
1
o o r r a
All Ag will he e fte p y ;

es r a r ra se
A d T ut h t h t itt in H v n ly e t
n r ,
a s s ea e s a ,
W ill i lik e ny u mf t y ca se o r co o r s ra se .
M t d utifully in ll h um iliti t y u
os a mm dm en t J h e a o r co an , o n D ee ,
s e v nt
r a n d M t h m ti i
a a to h i m t
e y ll M j ti
a c an s os ro a a es c.
An . 1 60 4 . J um j 8 .
1
Th e Act fo r Suppr essin g S l nde
a r .
LAST DAYS 29 7
’
D ee s good n ame w as o n e o f h is dear est poss e ssion s ,
but h e h ad long s een it sha dowe d an d dim m ed .
Another tr ea sur e— his pa in ful Ja n e— th e wife who ”
ha d loyally c le a v e d to h im thr ough good a n d ill

r epo r t w as to b e th e n e xt of which h e w a s to b e
,
ber eft S h e w a s so m uch his junior tha t h e m ight

.
r eason ably h a v e e x e ct e d h er t o ten d his d e c lin in

p g
year s a n d to sur vive h im But it w as thor oug hly in
.
keeping with h er un s elfish char a cter an d d evoted life

that h er d e ath c a m e a s a s a cr ifice to duty In th e .
s r in g o f 1 6 0 5 a te r r ible s c our ge of
p , plag u e visite d
Man che ster Sh e n ur s ed h er c hildr en s a fely thr oug h
.
th e epid em ic but fell a victim to it h er s e lf

, Sh e .
die d an d w a s bur ie d o n M ar ch 2 3 in th e c ollegia te

chur ch of St M ar y T h e o ld m an h a d n o h ea r t to
. .
take up his pen a n d r e cor d h er d ea th Th e bar e fa ct .
is all w e kn ow fr om an other sour ce an d th e fa te o f

,
all Ja n e s c hil dr en s a ve Ar thur is wr a

ppe d in a like
’
, ,
m yster y At h er d ea th J an e w a s a m on th un d er
.
,
fifty year s o ld ; th e twen ty s e ven year s of h er m ar r ie d

-
life h ad been cr owd ed year s th e o n e thought in them ,
all to w a t ch o ver an d war d h er g r e a t childlike ,
lear n e d m a r vellous husb an d a n d h er childr en

,
No w .
sh e a s s e d th e t a sk o n to h er d a ug ht er K ate w ho
p ,
faithfully fulfille d it .
A fe w fr agm en ts of an gelic visio n s whic h a fter ,
n ear ly tw en ty y e ar s w er e on c e ag a in vouch s a fe d ,
a r e all th at r e m ain to t e ll of th e l a st t w o y e ar s of th e
o ld m a n s life
’
.
B ar tholom e w Hickm a n w as th e skr yer a n d D ee ,
w a s in Lon don at M r s Good m an h er hous e

,
. v er y ,
ill
. O n M ar ch 20 a n d 2 9 Raph a el a ppear ed to , ,
comfor t him a s r egar ds his a lar m ing symptoms o f

haem or r h age an d b a d e him u s e th e medic a l skill th at
,
God h a d g iven him D ee in utter d ej e ction ow n e d

.
, ,
th at h e w a s b ea ten in his gr ea t a ttem pt to m ake

th e Coun cil p r ivy o f m y b eggar y a n d to offer to ,
th e E ar l o f S a lisbur y such m y duti e s a s I m ay

1
p er fe ct to his a ccoun t H e w a s r ight to hop e

.
n othin fr o m th e gr e a t B ur lei h s littl e min d e d so n

’
-
g g .
Rober t C ecil la cke d alm ost ever ythin g th a t h ad m ade

Willi am C ecil gr ea t even a gr ea t sover eign to s er ve
, .
In July D ee w a s a gain in Lon don this tim e staying ,
in W e stm in ster at th e Thr ee Kin gs in King

,
Str eet .K a th er i n e w as with h im his d evoted ,
da ughter n o w a wom an o f twen ty—

, six appar ently ,
un m ar r ie d Tw o co m p an ion s o r s er va n ts Patrick
.
,
S a un d er s a n d Thom a s Tur n er wer e in a tten da n ce , .
O n th e 9th th e an g el R aph a el c a m e to th e sa d an d
,
br oken old m an o f e ighty holding o u t pr om is es an d

,
hope s tha t s eem cr uelly d elusive But D ee w a s still .
wr appe d in tha t in viola ble ar m our o f faith o r cr e dulity

th a t h a d a lr ea dy w ith s tood so m an y s ev er e shocks .
W h eth er h e n o w a ctu ally beheld Rapha el whether ,
h e still with his e ar s h ear d th e an g el s voic e o r

’
wh e ther only within his spir itu a l con sciousn e ss h e

felt th e i m puls e a n d th e m e ss age is quite i m m a ter i al , .
But it is n otic ea ble tha t th er e ar e n o w n o de scr iption s

of Raph a el a s a n app a r ition Th e m e ss a ge is all h e .
he eds As h e is sin kin g slowly down in to his gr ave

.
fr om n atur a l d ec ay th er e is a double a n d figur ative

,
m eaning to b e r ea d in to th e a n gel s wo r ds Raphael ’
1
Ro b ert l
Ce ci h a d b e en cr eat e d Ear l of l bu y
Sa is r , 1 60 5 .
Th e old m an penn ed o n a slip o f paper some n otes

to aid his fa iling m e mor y when n e xt h e s hould s ee
his in str u ctor In tw o d a ys o n July 1 1 h e w a s a ble
.
, ,
to pu t th e que s tion s .
Wha t cou ntr y sh all h e g o to ?

Th e a n s wer is wh er e h e will
,
Thou h a st been
.
a
g r ea t tr a ve ll er a n d it is r efer r e d to thy o w n choic e
, ,
subj e ct to divin e appr oval D ee sugg e sts G er m a ny

.
,
a n d r e c e ive s co n s en t .
Whom sh all h e ta ke w ith h im besid e s John

P o n to y s ? Wh a t a bo ut his d a ughter K a ther in e a n d ,
th e youn g m an P a tr ick S a un d e r s
,
Th e a n swer is ver y e m ph a tic It show s how .
depen d en t th e old m a n h a d be com e upon this elder

d a ug hter of his old ag e J ohn D ee thou of thys elf
.
,
d o st b e st kn ow th a t without thy d a ughter thou c an st ,
n o t b e without h e r .
C er tain ly h e could n o t par t fr om K a ther ine even ,
with P o nto y s as his speciall com for t a n d a id a nd ,
th e hon es t a n d well dispose d youn g m a n S a u n d er s

-
, ,
w h o h a d b ee n s en t o n pu r pos e to go with him .
Wha t a bout books a n d appur ten a n ce s ? Is M r .
B ar do lf to g o ? Wha t sha ll Ar thur do in his

in ten d e d tr a vel Sh all I e ver r etur n to En glan d ,
a n d sh all I ke ep a titl e to e njoy m y hous e wh en I
do r etur n ? Will th e Kin g gr a n t a lic en c e o r will ,
it n o t b e a n oth er dis appointm en t like so m an y that ,
h a ve gon e b efor e ?
It is all a vain an d illusor y a n d i m possible chim er a .
Th e o nly jour n ey left fo r th e old m a n to t a ke w a s

th e o n e to tha t un discover e d bour n e fr om wh en c e
n o t r a v ell er r etu r n s Still th e won d er ful visio n s
.
,
LAST DAYS 30 1
perhaps br ought him e csta tic hour s His br ain w as .
e t str o ng an d cle ar l e ss wo r n o u t than his body

y , ,
but like all old p eople h e live d over ag ain and loved to
,
dwell upon the p a st A few d ays later h e s at talking

.
aft er din n er to B ar tholom e w o f diver s my doin gs
with Mr Kelley. .
”
H e h a d for gotten little o f thes e
dazzlin g exper ien ce s a n d per haps to while a way the
,
time h e r ea d his pr e cious diar i e s over an d over again .
But of later events his m em or y w a s failin g I

asked B ar tholome w if h e h a d e ver s een my j ewel
that w a s br ought sin c e it w a s set in gold [this h ad

been done mor e th an twen ty year s befor e] an d h e ,
”
thought th at h e h a d n o t s een it Sur ely ta ctful .
politeness o n B ar tholom ew s par t Wh er eupon I

’
.
went speedily to my ch est unlocke d it and took it , ,
out and un did th e c a se an d set th e ston e in his du e

,
”
mann er .
Soon Rapha el app ear ed in th e ston e and D ee hear d ,
his voic e pr omisin g th a t th e powder

, Kelley s ’
powder ) which h e w a s k eepin g th e which tho u

dost make a ccoun t o f as n o be tter but dust — should
b e tur ned to its r ig ht u s e .
Is it possible th a t th e old belie f in th e golden

secr et h ad at la st be en kille d ? Th e powder w a s n o w
but dust a s th e o ld m an would soon become an d a s
, ,
all his fix e d dr e am s of pr oj e ction h a d e ver been .
Th e la st en tr y in th e spir itu alistic diar y w as m ad e o n

S eptemb er 7 1 6 0 7 but w hether D ee w a s at Mor tla ke
, ,
o r in Lon don c an n ot b e s aid P o n to y s h ad arr ive d

. .
H e w a s an xious to kn ow if h e would b e thought fit

to s er ve D ee in B ar tholom ew s abs en c e Also he ’
.
ear nestly d esir e d to kn ow his g u ar di an angel an d ,

he would fain hear a lso “ th e end o f th e Polish

tr oubles .
C aptain L angha m it is hoped is going to lend

, ,
£1 0 0 if no t P o nto y s will s et to wor k to w in some

,
h elp fo r mon ey by distilla tions an d alch emical co n

elusio n s
. Pover ty is a gain str etchin g h er gaunt
finger s over this fon d dr ea mer o f gold H e h ad .
mis se d his silver double gilt bell s alt an d many

oth er thin gs fr om his house H e is b er ea ve d o f his
.
”
o w n goods .Th e tr uth w a s tha t Ar thu r h ad s e cr etly
taken them a wa y to s ell o r p a wn in or der to pr ovide ,
n ec essiti es fo r th e fam ily D ee h a s b een exp e cting a

.
sum o f mon ey fr om th e Em p er or Rudolph ho w ,
much h e does no t kn ow But Raphael tells him to

.
“
let it go an d sp ea k n o fur th er o f it Th e Emp er or , .
of all emp er or s will b e thy com for t Thou ha st no .
mor e n eed o f him [R udolph] on ly to keep good will

,
”
an d fr i en dship b etwixt him a nd the e .
Th en Raph ael fa des in to th e eter n al i n visible and ,
th e la st wor d o f th e an gelic vision s is wr itten .
In th e p r ivate diar y kept in th e alm an a ck fr om

,
V en ic e thr oughout this la st yea r ther e is little beside

,
th e b ar e str oke m ar ki ng th e m on ths o ff in to w eeks a s ,
w a s D ee s usual h a bit
’
Th e str oke s ar e con tin u ed
.
beyon d th e mon th o f his dea th— D ecember 1 6 0 8 , .
Th e la st wr itten e n tr y is o n D e c ember 1 9 and is ,
almost ill egible It is in th e o ld m an s h an d and

.
’
“ ”
app ear s to r ea d to nitr um a C o r rfe .
O n which d ay a t th e d ea th o f th e old year D ee s

’
spir it j oined thos e oth er s that h ad a lways b een

so n ear to him w e do n o t kn ow o r o n wh at pr ecise
, ,
d ate h e w a s bur ie d in th e chan c el o f th e chur ch

basket by e xcha n ge : th e butler h ad don e so an d h a d

foun d his pla te ; h e h ad told a woman th a t sh e
la bour ed un der th e evil ton gue of an ill n eig hbour ;
h e would n o t r ecov er so m e lost hor s e s though h e w as ,
offer e d s e ver al an gels H e us e d to distil egg sh ells

.
-
,
a n d k ept a gr eat m an y stills goin g H e h ad given .
a n d built th e a ll er y to th e chur ch a t Mor tlake an d

g ,
Goody F a ldo s fa ther w a s th e c ar p en ter th a t wor ke d

’
o n it . H e w a s a gr ea t p e a cem aker a n d if a n y o f ,
th e n e ig hbour s fell o u t h e would n e ve r let th em

,
”
a lon e till h e h a d m a d e th e m fr ien ds A mighty .
”
good m an h e w a s .
Th e o ld wo m a n r e m e mb er e d th a t h e en ter tain ed th e
Polish a m b a ss a dor n o t long be for e h e died an d ,
showe d to h im th e e clips e of th e sun in a d ar k r oom , .
S h e could c a ll to min d th e ston e upon his gr ave : it

w a s b e twe e n th e tombston e s o f two oth er s er va n ts of
Que en Eli za be th M r Holt a n d M r Miles upon both

, . .
,
of whi ch wer e br a ss es Th e childr en sh e s aid

.
, ,
dr e a de d h im be c aus e h e w a s a ccoun ted a conjur er ,
an d
y e t when e ver th ey str a ye d in to th e chur ch they ,
would r u n str a ight to pla y upon his gr a ve ston e .
Th er e wer e step s a t th e upp er en d o f th e cha n cel

when h e w a s bur ied but th e m in ister la id th em plain
,
in Oliver s d ays a n d then th e sto n e tha t cov er ed

’
D r D ee w a s r em ov e d
. S h e could r e c all his a pp ear
.
a n ce : a m a n t a ll a n d slen d er cla d in a gown like an

,
ar ti s t s g o wn with h an gin g slee v e s an d a slit

’
, .
Th ese gar r ulous r emin isc en ces give us a pictur e of

’
th e old philosoph er s e n d mor e va lu a ble th an an y
m er e for m a l en tr y of th e d ate Some day howe ver .
, ,
it m ay b e possible to r e cover that .

LA S T DAYS 30 5
M ean while D ee s memor y m ay b e en tr usted to th e

,
’
kinder judge s o f to day who w ill b e mor e char ita ble

-
,
because m or e enlightene d an d less i m pr egn a te d with

super stition The y m ay see in him a vain pr esu m p
.
,
tuo us a n d much d elud e d p er son but a t a n y r a te th ey

,
m ust a ckn owle dge his sin cer e an d good in t en tion s his
er so n al p i e ty ; his un co m m o n pur ity of thoug ht a n d
p
m in d . If in his thir st fo r kn owledge o f th e in fin ite
,
unkn owable h e pus h ed ba ck th e cur ta in far ther tha n

,
’
w a s wis e o r justifi a ble did h e h ar m an y on e s r ep uta
,
tion b e sid e his o w n ? Did h e n o t suffer all th e

a lty in his o w n m is er a ble fa ilur e so far a s co m for t
p e n ,
an d pr os per ity in m a ter ia l thin gs wer e con c er n e d ?
In all th e va g ue hope s held o u t by him to Qu een ,
Pr in ce s an d E m p er or s of en r ichin g th em th r oug h his

,
alchem ic a l skill h e w a s n o con scious c h ar la t an pla y

, ,
ing a par t to lur e the m o n but a d e vout b eli ever in

,
m an s p ower an d pu r pos e to w r est sci en tific s e cr ets

’
fr om th e wom b o f th e futur e C an w e look ba ck .
upon th e discover ies o f thr ee hun dr e d ye ar s an d feel

his cer ta in ty w a s v ain ? Th e p ower s o f elec tr icity ,
th e tr a in in g to o u r us e s th a t m ar v ellous an d lon g
con ceale d a g en cy and lig ht ; th e hea ling vir tue s of
r a dium should b e wor th mor e to us th an m u c h
,
.
manufa ctur e d gold .

30 8 APPENDIX I
H e m ar r ie d in 1 6 0 2 , lived fo r a while in M an
ch e ster an d bega n pr a ctisin g m e dicin e Wood s ays
,
.
h e sp en t so m e ti m e a t Oxfor d but his n a m e h as so ,
far n o t b een foun d in a ny coll eg e a d m ission s In his .
”
w ill h e is d escr ib e d a s Doctor of P h y sic Pr ob a bly - .
h e took a d eg r ee a br o a d H is m ar r ia ge to Is a b ell a
.
Pr estwich da ug hter of a we ll kn own M a n che ster

,
-
j ustice of th e pe a c e took pla ce wh en h e w a s twen ty

,
two a n d it is to b e pr e sum ed th a t h e con tin ued

,
livin g o n in M a n ch est er un til his fa ther le ft th a t city

som e tim e in 1 6 0 5 o r 1 6 0 6 a fter th e sa d death of ,
his wife Ar thur set u p a pr a c tic e in Lon don so m e

.
tim e a bout th at year althoug h pr e cis e d a te s ar e n o t

,
obta in a ble H e s e em s to ha ve followe d th e co m m on

.
us ag e o f h an gin g outside his door a list o r table of

m e dicin e s an d their e xc ellen t ther a p euti c p r op er ties
, ,
which wer e s aid to effe ct c e r t ain cur e s of s ever a l

dis ea s es This a ttr a cte d th e a tten tion of th e c en sor s
.
a poin t e d by th e R oya l Co lle e of Physici a n s who

p g ,
p r ocee d e d a ga in st him for thwith un d e r th e power s ,
gr a n te d th em a g ain st e m pir ick s which th ey h a d ,
e x e r c is e d si n c e th e fou n d a tio n Coll ege in th e ear ly
ye ar s o f H e n r y VIII Th e lear n e d m em b er s of th e
.
college e steem e d this cr im e such a n in toler a ble

ch ea t a n d im p ostur e th a t they sum m on e d Ar thur
,
D ee to app e ar b e for e them with his r em e die s that

th ey m ig ht im pos e a d u e pen a lty upon his pr esu m p
tion Th e r e st o f th e stor y is un r e la te d a nd w e
.
,
c an n ot say wha t fi n e o r o r der w a s h is r e wa r d .
H e s eem s e ith er thr oug h in flu en ce o r ta len t to

, ,
h ave m a de his m ar k as a doctor In July 1 6 1 4 h e .

, ,
w a s r e comm en d e d by th e A r chbishop o f C a n t er bur y

a n d th e Lor d Ch an c ello r to b e e le ct e d physici a n of
’
Thom a s Sutton s n ewly foun ded hospit al th e Char ,
ter ho u se a n d w e m a y p r esum e th e a pp oi n tm en t w as
1
,
1
Ca l S ta te P ap D om
. . .
,
16 1 1 —18 , p 2 46
. .
APPENDIX I 30 9
ma de In M ay 1 6 2 7 Ch ar le s I r e co m m en d e d him
.
, , .
a s physici an to t h e E m p er o r o f Russi a a n d in Jun e ,
it w a s agr ee d to s en d le tter s o ut by him o r his ag en t ,
th e stipula tion b e in g m a d e th a t h e m ust s a il at o n ce ,
o r n o t h a ve pa ss a g e thi s ye a r .
H e to o k u p his a bod e a t Mos c ow if n o t in th e ,
splen dour and r ich es offer e d to his father a t lea st ,
suffi cien tly pr ovide d fo r to m ain t ai n h is hug e fa m ily

in co m for t Four o r fi v e of his twelve childr en die d
.
in in fa n cy ; th e co m pl ete list o f th em as g iv en in his ,
father s book of hor os cope s in th e B r itish Mus eum

’ 2
is a s un d er
M ar gar e t Apr il 4 1 6 0 3 ,
.
J an e M ar ch 31 1 6 0 5 , .
John July 2 4 1 6 0 6 (died) ,

.
Ar thur M ar ch 1 6 1 6 0 8 , .
M ar ia F ebr u ar y 2 4 1 6 1 2 ,
.
Rowla n d S ep t e m b er 8 1 6 1 3 ,
.
Is a b el S epte m ber 5 1 6 1 4 , .
F r an c e s Octob er 2 5 1 6 1 5 ,
.
Willi a m Aug ust 2 7 1 6 1 7 .
John M ar c h 30 1 6 1 9 , .
Ed m un d bap tised Augu s t 2 7 1 6 20 , .
bu r ied S e p t e m b er 2 3 1 6 2 1 ,
.
A nn a bo r n Ja n u ar y 1 5 1 6 2 2 , .
Ar thur s wife Is ab ella D ee die d July 2 4 1 6 34

’
, , ,
.
About thi s tim e h e r e tur n e d to E ng lan d a n d se ttle d

in Nor wich n e ar his fr ien d S ir Tho m a s B r own e w h o
, , ,
w a s the n bu s ily en g a e d in wr itin dow n th e e thi c a l

g g
an d the olo g ica l c on clus ion s which h e calle d th e
R eligi o M edici B r own e w a s of cour s e th e yo ung er
.
, ,
’
m an . Wr iting in 1 6 5 8 a few ye ar s a fter Ar thur s ,
d e a th to Eli a s Ashm o le Sir Thom a s tells of th e

, ,
m an y t alks a bout th e doin g s of D e e a n d K ell ey th at

he h a d with “
m y fa m iliar fr i en d so n n e un to o ld ,
1
Ca l S ta te P ap D orm , 1 6 2 7, pp 1 9 7, 2 1 1
. . . .
2
S lo a n e MS S , 1 90 2
. .
31 0 APPENDI X I
Doctor D ee th e m ath em a ticia n who h a d live d
, ,
”
m an y y ear s an d die d in Nor wich B r own e s en t to .
Ashmole th e sch em e o f Ar thur s n ativity er e cted

“ ’
,
”
by his fa ther D r John D ee a copy fr om th e
, .
,
or ig in al m ad e by Ar thur him s e lf with co m m en ts

, ,
a dd e d by a M o scow a str o lo er F r a n ciscus M u r r er u s

g ,
.
D r Ar thur in spite o r p er h aps b e c a us e o f his

.
, , ,
ear ly e n vi r o n m en t r e t a i n e d un til his dyin g d a y a

,
devout b elief in th e p ossibiliti e s o f a lchem y to m ake

pr oj e ction o r tr an sm uta tion H e h a d g r own up in .
t h e fix e d id e a th a t th e e v er e lusiv e s e c r et would soon -
b e foun d o u t In fa ct h e w a s p er su a d ed tha t diver s

.
,
wor ker s h ad in d eed discov er e d th e ar t Th e child .
of s ev en o r eig ht w h o h a d playe d with quoits o r ,
pla ythin g s which h e u n d er s tood h a d b een tur n e d in to

,
g old up on th e pr em is e s w as likely to r eta in this ,
con viction To doubt it would b e to c a st a slur upon

.
his fa ther s m em or y Of K e lley his r e c olle ction s

’
.
th e r e c o lle ction s of a boy un d er n in e — could b e but

d im an d h az y un touche d with a n y p ossible s c epticis m
,
or cr itica l j udgm en t Aft er th e F ebr ua r y day .
wh en K ell ey r od e o ff to Pr a gue in 1 5 8 8 n either ,
Ar thur o r his father h a d e ver set e ye s o n this

a dven tur er a g a in .
H e h a d s u cc ee de d in con vin cin g his o ld fr ien d of

th e tr uth of th e se r e c oll e c tio n s fo r B r own e wr it e s of ,
h im as a p e r s e v er i n
g stud en t in h er m etic all ph ilo
s ophy who h a d n o s m a ll e n c our a e m en t h a vin
, g g s een ,
pr oj e ction m a de a n d with th e hig he st a ss e v er a tion s

,
h e con fir m e d un to his d eath th at h e h a d ocul ar ly ,
un de c eiva bly a n d fr equ en tly b eh eld it in Boh em i a .
A n d to my kn owle dge h a d n o t a n a ccid en t pr e ,
ven te d h e h ad n o t m an y year s be for e his d e ath

, , ,
r e tir e d b eyon d s e a a n d fa ll en u o n th e solem n p r oc ess

p
of th e gr ea t wor k .
Con tin uin g th e cor r e spon d en ce six m on ths la ter ,
when a ddition al ma tter r ise s to his m in d S ir Thom as ,

31 2 APPENDIX I
all his life but books o f th at subj e ct ; a n d tw o year s
befor e his d ea th con tr a cted w ith o n e H u n n ia des o r
, ,
H a n s H a ny ar in Lon don to b e his Oper a tor This

, ,
.
H an s H an y ar h avin g live d lon g in Lon don a n d

r o win i y s solv d t tu r n in to Hun g ar y
g g n ear r e e o
,
r e .
H e wen t fir st to Am st er da m wher e h e w a s to r em ain,
t en we eks till D r
,
Ar thur c a m e to h im
. Th e .
D r to m y k n owle dg e w a s s er ious in this b u sin esse

.
an d h ad
pr ovid e d all in r ea di n e ss to g o but sudd en ly ”
,
h e hear d tha t H a n s H a n y ar w a s d ea d .
Dur in g his r e siden c e in Moscow Ar thur co m pile d ,
a b o ok o f a lc h em ic a l n ot e s a n d e xtr a cts which w a s ,
p ublishe d a t P ar is in 1 6 3 1 un d er th e title of Fa sci

cu la s Chemicu s etc , Ashm o le a m on g his ear ly
.
,
en thu s ia stic l a bour s upon a lch em i ca l a utho r s

pr os e ”
cu te d u n d er th e n a m e o f Ja m es H aso lle tr an sla te d ,
this in to E n g lish in 1 6 5 0 While th e book w a s a t.
pr e ss in th e b eginn in g o f th e y ear h e wr ote to ,
Ar thur appar ently a s a str an g er in for m in g h im of

, ,
his o ccup a tion an d puttin g a t th e s a m e tim e a

,
que stion o r two upon his fa th er s books ’

.
Ar thur s r eply d a te d Nor wich Ja n u ar y 31 1 6 49

’
, , ,
n o w in th e Bodl ei an Lib r ar y b egi n s by e x r e ss

p ,
in g r egr e t th a t you o r a n y m a n should t a ke p a in s

to tr a n sla te a n y book o f tha t n a tur e in to E n glish fo r ,
th e ar t is vilifi e d so m uch a lr e a dy by schol ar s th a t

da ily do d er id e it in r egar d they ar e ig n or an t of th e
,
pr in ciple s . H o w th en c an it a n y w ay b e a dva n c e d
by th e vulg ar ? But to satisfi e your qu e stion you ,
m ay b e r esolv e d tha t h e who wr ote Euclid s P r e fa ce

’
w a s m y fa th er . Th e Fa scicu lus I m ust con fe ss w a s , ,
m y l abour a n d wor k H e en d s by s ayi n g tha t h e

.
will b e in Lon don th a t da y week an d if Ashm ole ,
wa n ts to see him h e m a y h ea r o f him in Butler s

,
’
Cour t at th e en d of Lo m bar d Str eet a t his so n ,

’
Rowla n d D ee s war ehous e Th e wr itin g. a nd ,
e s e ci ally th e sign a tur e of this letter ar e g ood

p ,
APPENDIX I 313
testim oni e s to th e c ar e b estowed by Willia m C a mden

of We stm in ster School o n th e bo y s h an dwr itin g His ’
.
fath er a s w e r em em ber h ad a ske d fo r sp ecia l su per

, ,
vision o f th e r om an ha n d sin ce m a tter po o r in itself

, , ,
but set down in a good style did in his opin ion , , ,
often r e c eive m or e a tten tion th an g ood m a ter ia l

ba dly wr itten a n d e xpr e ss e d .
B r own e h a d r e ceive d fr om Ar thur a com plete

catalogue o f all his fa ther s w r itin g s both finish e d ’
an d in t en d e d But th er e w a s o n e n o t in clud e d viz

.
, .
,
th e B o ok of M ys ter ies S ir Thom a s wr itin g in 1 6 7 5

.
, ,
says h e n ever hear d h im say o n e wor d o f th e Book

of Spir itts s ett o u t by D r C a saub o n e which if h ee .
,
h a d k n o w n e I m a ke n o doubt butt h ee would ha v e

s o ak e o f it un to m ee fo r h e w a s ver y in quisitive
p ,
a fter an m a n uscr ipts of his fa th er s a n d d e sir ous to

’
y ,
pr in t a s m an y a s h e could p ossibly obt a in H e g oes .
o n to s a
y tha t Ar thu r un d er sto od tha t S ir Willia m
Bos well th e En glish Re siden t in Holla n d o wn e d a
, ,
n um ber of D ee s MSS which h e h a d colle cte d a n d

’
.
,
kept in a tr un k in his Dutch hom e Boswe ll r e fus e d .
m any applica tion s fr o m Ar thu r fo r lea v e to pr in t so m e

o f th e s e which th e fa m ous m a th e m a ti ci a n s s o n co n
’
side r e d should n o t b e locke d u

p fr o m th e wor ld .
Bo swell ann oun c e d his in ten tion o f pr in ting th em

him s elf which o f c our s e h e n ev er did
,
.
N o r did th e Bo o k o f S pir its see th e lig ht of d a y

dur ing Ar thur s lifetim e Per haps !h a d C a s a ubo n
’
.
a
ppeale d to him a s Ashm ole h a d don e it would ,
n eve r h a ve b een issu ed a t all A so n would c er tain ly .
have r em on str a te d aga in st this r ev elation this tear ,
ing down t h e v eil fr om th e in n er ta b er n a cl e o f his

father s soul
’
.
Ar thur died in th e a utu m n of 1 6 5 1 e ig ht year s ,
befor e C a sa ubon publis h e d his book H e m a de his .
will o n S eptem ber 1 7 d escr ibing him s elf a s Doctor

,
o f Physick o f t h e city o f Nor wich

,
a n d le a vin g a ,
314 APPENDIX I
s m all lega cy of twen ty shillin gs to th e poor o f th e
ar ish o f St G o g T m b l n d in whi ch h e h ad
p e . r e o a ,
live d.
O n ly thr ee son s o ut of his seven an d thr ee ,
d a ughter s of th e six ar e n am e d in th e w ill all the ,
oth er s bein g de a d un le ss it w a s Ar thur th e eldest

, , ,
who h a d been a m er ch an t in Am ster da m Th er e is .
a le a cy of tw en ty poun ds to his wife

g .
Th e s e co n d s o n Rowlan d w as e st ablish e d a s w e
, , ,
ha ve s een in Lom b ar d Str eet a s a m er ch a n t To him

,
.
A r thur h a d a lr e a dy g iven his fa th er s p or tr ait n o w ’
in th e Ashm ole a n Mus e u m a n d r epr oduce d a s th e

Fr on tispi e c e to this book ; a n d a pa in ted co at of ar m s .
S ir Thom a s B r own e who h a d often s een it speaks

, ,
o f a n a ddition m a d e to th e co a t by r an t of th e
g
E m per or Rudolph in th e sh ape of a m athem a tical
figur e ; pr ob a bly th e delta which D ee a lwa ys used fo r
his n am e in th e spir itua l dia r y To Rowlan d s w ife .
’
th er e is a lega cy o f twen ty poun ds .
To John D ee m y youn g e st so n Ar thur left o n e

, ,
hun dr e d p oun ds and h is gold s ea l r in g with th e coat

o f ar m s cut in a s a pphir e John w a s a Russi a
.
m er chan t .
Ther e is n o m en tion o f his elde st child a n d

d a ug hter M ar g ar et w h o is s a id to ha ve m ar r ie d
, ,
a n oth e r Russi a m er ch an t n a m e d Ab r a h a m Ash e .
To thr ee son s in law m y so n Gr ym e s

- -
,
m y so n
Ang uish (this w a s th e husb a n d of his young e st
”
child An n e ) ; an d
,
“
m y so n Fo w ell h e le a v e s ,
r e s e ctiv ely a plush co a t ; a s a ddl e a n d pistol ; an d

p
a bl a ck gown a n d plush suit .
To ea ch of his thr ee da ughter s th eir wive s (n on e of ,
them m en tion ed by n a m e ) h e g ive s £2 0 a n d to th e ,
two eld er his two ir on bar r ed s ea lskin tr unks with

,
-
lon g cushion s an d foot c ar pets feather b e d bla n kets , , ,
bolster s an d cover lets H e a ppoin ts his fr ie n d John

.
Tole y of Nor wich his ex e cutor a nd g ive s h im his

, , ,
31 6 APPENDIX I
at Mor tla ke in 1 6 0 8 a ge d eighty a n d a h a lf D a vid , , ,
w h o sur vive d h im tw elve y ear s must h a v e b een his ,
jun ior D a vid D ee w a s d epr iv e d of St B ar tholo

. .
”
m ew fo r wh a t s ays N ew co ur t
, ,
I kn ow n o t but ,
h e w a s br oug ht b a ck th er e to b e bu r ie d o n F e br u ar y 3 ,
1 6 20 By his wife M a r ti a d a ughter o f John Rog er s

.
, ,
D a vid D ee h a d thr ee son s o f who m Fr an cis th e , ,

’
e ld e st w a s e du ca t e d a t M er ch an t T a ylor s School an d
,
St Jo hn s Colleg e C a m br idge H e en ter e d th e

’
. .
,
Chur ch h e ld v ar ious livin g s in Lon don an d els e

,
wher e an d four year s b efor e his d ea th w a s con s ecr a ted

,
Bishop o f Pe ter bor ough By his will ( date d M ay 28 .

,
h e ga v e his r e cto r y of P a gh a m Su s s ex to , ,
foun d tw o fellowships an d tw o scholar ships in St .
John s Coll eg e o n e of which w a s to b e h eld fo r ever

’
by o n e of m y ki n dr e d o r of m y n a m e fr om either
“
,
M er ch an t T aylor s S chool Lon don o r fr om P eter ’
, ,
bor oug h School W e ha ve s een tha t two of John

.
”
D e e s g r e a t g r an dchildr en wer e s ent to M er chan t

’
T aylor s a n d o n e Dun c an pr oc ee d e d to St Jo h n s
’
, , , .
’
pr o ba bly o n this fo un d a tion Th e Bis hop s eld e st so n .

’
Adr i a n D ee C an on o f Chich e ster die d un m ar r ie d

, , ,
but his younger son s John a nd D an iel left , ,
desc en d a n ts .
APPENDIX II
B I BL I O GR A PHY
TH E pr in cip al uthor itie s fo r D ee s Life ar e his
a
’
o w n Di ar ie s a lrea dy fr equ en tly cit ed in th e for egoin g

,
pages V iz ,
( 1 ) The P r iva te D ia r y Th e or igin a l n ote s c o m

.
r i sin g this ar e in tw o 4to a lm an acks in th e Bodl e ia n

p
Librar y Oxfor d n um ber e d Ash m olea n MSS 48 7
, ,
.
,
4 88 . They wer e tr an scr ib ed a n d pr in te d fo r th e

C am den Society with n um er ous om ission s by ,
Mr J O H a lliwell Phil]ipp s] Th e M an chester

. . .
-
por tion of this Diar y co ver in g th e year s 1 5 9 5 — 1 6 0 1

, ,
w a s edit e d with m uch loc a l k n owl edg e a n d c ar e by
M r J Eglin gton B ailey an d pr iva tely pr in ted ; only

. .
,
twen ty c opies M r B a iley a lso r epr in te d fr om

.
N o tes a n d Q u er ies (M ay 1 8 7 9 ) his p aper o n D ee a n d

,
th e S teg a n og r ap hia of Tr ith em iu s .
(2 ) The Sp ir itu a l D ia r y , o r L iber M ys ter io r um ,
divid e d by D ee in to s epar a te books , ea ch dealing with

a s e ci al e och Th e fir s t fi ve bo o ks , with a n appen
p p .
dix to th e fi fth — da ting in all fr om D e cem ber 2 2 ,

1 5 8 1 , to M ay 23, 1 5 8 3— ar e c om pr is e d in Sloa n e
MSS 3 1 8 8 , at th e Br itish Mus eum Th e r e m ain
. .
in g books , a ctu ally twelve but n o t c on s ecutiv ely

n um b er e d, w er e pr in te d by D r M er ic C as a ubon in .
The Tr u e a n d Fa ith u l R ela tio n , 1 6 5 9 , fol

f e tc , . .
Thr ee of the s e ar e en ti tled Libr i M y stici A per to r ii

C r aco v ien sis S a bb a tici thr ee M y ster io r u m P r a
n iu m C o nfi r m a tio a n d th e two l a st Lib er
g e s
R esur ectio nis a nd M y sterio r um divino r u m m em o
r a b ilia This en ds o n M ay 2 3, 1 5 8 7 About a
.
31 8 APPENDIX I I
dozen page s o f occur r en ces takin g pla c e in 1 6 0 7 ar e
p r in te d by C a saubon at th e en d o f his book fr om ,
str a y paper s .
D ee s a utobiogr aphica l Co mp en dio us R ehea r sa ll

’
r ank s n ext in im por t an c e Th e or igin a l MS w a s

’
. .
a r tly bur n e d in th e fi r e in th e Cottonian Libr ar y

p ,
but a tr an scr ipt m a de by D r Thom a s S m ith (a uthor .
o f a life o f D ee s ee b elo w ) w a s p r in te d by H ea r n e
,
in th e Appen dix to J o ha n n is G la s to n ien sis Chr o n ico n

(O x for d This pr in te d v er sion w a s collate d
,
with Ashm ole s tr an scr ipt of th e or igin a l (Ashmolean

’
MS . a n d e dit e d by J a m e s C r ossl e y fo r th e
Ch eth a m So c iety in A u to biog r ap hica l Tr a cts 0 D r , .
J o hn D ee Wa r den of the Co lleg e if M a n c es ter

, ,
1 85 1 .In his pr e fa ce th e e ditor pr o m is es an other ,
volum e o f cor r espon d en c e an d s ele ction s o f D ee ,
which n e ver app ear e d .
Th e L a tin life of D ee Vitae E r u ditissimo r um ct

”
Illus tr iu m Vir o r um by D r Thoma s S m ith , .
th e a r ticle in th e B iogr ap hia B r ita n nica e dite d by ,
K ippis (1 7 7 8 lar g ely ba s ed upon th e for egoing

, ,
a n d upon S tr
y pe s A n n a ls (1 7 2 5 et c ) som e a c c oun t
’
, .
in Wood s A then ee O a o n iens is ( Bliss ) i 6 39 6 40 an d

’ '
, .
, ,
F a s ti i 1 43 ; in Fox e s A cts a n d M o n umen ts ed

’
.
, , .
Town s en d v 11 7 7 8 5 349 n 6 3 8 6 41 6 4 2 6 8 1 7 34
, .
, , , .
, , , , , ,
7 5 6 7 8 3 7 8 4 a n d in Ashm ole s Thea tr um Chemicum

’
, ,
B r ita nn icu m 4 7 8 — 483 ; with Aubr ey s ’
pp .
L ives ed by D r A Clar k (1 8 9 8 ) a n d A Tr ea tise of

, . . .
R eligi o us a n d L ea r n ed M en by Edwar d L eig h ,
ar e fur th er sour c es Fo r th e M an ch ester year s .
Hibber t a n d War e s Fo u n da tio ns of M a n ches ter ’
(1 833) is us eful ; an d fo r D ee s de sc en da n ts s ee a
’
,
G en er a l A cco un t of F a milies der ived f r o m B edo D ee ,
by H B Wilson . .an d his H is to r

y of M er cha n t
Ta y lo r s S cho o l (1 8 1 2 L a ter wr iter s w h o h a ve
!
d es can te d mor e o r less at lar ge upon th e r om a n tic

’
e isod e o f D ee s p ar tn er ship with K ell ey a s a p ar t
p ,
32 0 APPENDIX II
Cr ysta l G a zing (1 9 05 ) M r s de Mor gan , Fr o m

.
M a tter to Sp ir it S ir Willi a m C r ookes,

P sy chic Fo r ce a n d M o der n Sp ir itu a lism and
his R esea r ches in the P hen o men a of Sp ir itua lism

Miss Goodr ich F r eer s E ssa ys in P sychica l
’
R esea r ch wher e sh e com par es th e r evelations

o f th e s ir its to D ee with th e wor k of a l a dy
p
n ov e list of th e e ig htie s l M C a m ill e Fl am m ar ion s
’
.
popular a n d n um er ous wor ks F W Myer s P han ’

. .
ta sms of the L iving (1 8 8 6 ) an d his H u ma n P er s o n a lity

( 1 9 0 3 ) with th e P r o ceeding s o f th e Psychic a l Resear ch
S o ci ety, will a ll a ffo r d in for m a tion up on p sychic al and
spir itu alistic pr og r es s Th e con sum m ate de s cr iption
.
of John In g lesan t s tr ag ic a n d pr egn a n t vision o f his

’
br other s m ur d er , seen be for eh an d in th e cr ysta l as

’
r el a t e d by J H S h o r th o u se, will oc cu r to ev er yon e

. . .
D ee s o w n wr itin gs wer e e xtr a or din ar ily n um er ous

’
.
In his R ehea r sa ll h e en um er ate d for ty -nin e Ther e .
is a list of s ev en ty n in e in Coop er s A then oe Ca n ta

’
-
br ig en sis , v o l ii , pp 5 05 — 5 0 9 ; but som e of thes e

. . .
ar e doubtful : e g , No . 6 6 , Tr ea tise of the R o sie

. .
Cr u cia n S ecr ets , etc fo r th e Rosicr ucian s only

c a m e in to e xisten ce a bout th e tim e of D ee s dea th ’
.
Other s ar e but n ote s fr om a mon g Ashmole s m anu ’
scr ipts O n e (N o 7 5 ) is th e hor oscop e o r n a tivity o f

. .
Kelley dr a wn o r er e cted by D ee, which Ashm ole

,
h a s pr in te d in his Thea tr u m (p To a dd to
.
M r Coop er s list ther e ar e s om e L a tin v er s es in

.
’
H en r y P er r y s E g lu r yn P hr a ethin eb
’
Al l th e pr in te d books by D ee ar e e xtr emely r ar e .
Th er e is m u ch infor m a tion a bout them in Am es ,

Typ og r ap hica l A n tiquities (ed H er b er t) .Copies of .
thir teen ar e in th e B r itish Mus eum Libr ar y in clud ,
in g thos e o f other wr iter s to which h e con tr ibuted

pr e fa c es , a ddition s and n otes , as Re cor de s G r o u n de
’
of A r ts (man y e dition s ) Billin gsley s E uclid ; Roger

’
B a con s de S ecr etis op er ibus a r tis et n a tur a e, etc

’
.
m
f l
a mmw mmn m mfi mw mw w n
l’
s A L. rl 3
.
fi
t
N o n mo riarfi d v1ui m , & uarrab o o

pera D o mini
A N N G) M V ND I N O V O IN C H O AN T E
E
V RI T A S P R lE VA L E BIIL
— ’
AR M S OF D E E AS S H O W N m A C UT A T TH E EN D OF H IS
L E I TE R A PO L O GE T IC A L L
’
32 2 APPENDIX II
por tr ait, in a furr ed gown a n d p ea ked cap ; th e glob e

a n d co m a ss e s a r e in hi s r ight h an d
p .
A n um ber of ston e s a nd cr ystals, pur por ting

to b e D r D ee s , h a ve fr om tim e to tim e b een
’
.
e xhibit ed . Tw o wer e at th e Tudor Exhibition ;

a n oth er w as sold at Soth eby s in 1 9 0 6 , a n d is n o w in
’
Dr e sd en Th a t for m er ly in th e poss ession o f Lor d

.
Lon de sbor oug h (on c e Hor a ce Wa lpole s) appear s to ’
h a ve b een a ctually th e Doc tor s ; a lso th e glob e of ’
s m oky quar tz n o w in th e B r itish Mus eum .
Th e Pe digr ee which D ee m a d e tr a cin g his de scent ,
fr om th e mythical tim e s O f Kin g Ar thur a n d show ,
in g Qu een Eliz a b eth thr ough h er Welsh an ce str y as

, ,
r el a te d t o th e s a m e sour c e is illu m in a ted with coats

,
O f ar m s an d a sm all colour e d pr ofile por tr ait O f

”
“
John D ee philo so ph u s in a cap an d fur r e d g own
, , .
H e h er e (Co tto n Cha r ter xiv 1 ) d e scr ibes his gr an d

, .
fa th er B e do D ee as a soldier fightin g un der the

, ,
E m per or M a xim ilian I in 1 5 1 2 ; his father Row

.
, ,
lan d D ee ar m ig er a s gen tleman s ewer to King

, ,
H en r y VIII a nd hims elf a s a philosopher

. .
IN D E X
AB BO TT, Mr , 26 1 . Ar no ld, Edwar d , 277, 307

Act o f Par liam en t a ga in s t so r Mr .
, 259
cer y 6 1 ; Act aga in st
,
itch w Ar th ur , Kin g, 52
cr aft, 293 pr o po se Act d As he, Abr a ha m , 314
a ga in s t s an er , 2 95 l d Ashley , An to n y , Cler k o f th e
Agr ippa , H en r icus Co r n e iu s, at l Co un cil , 249
Lo u v ain , 137 , 219 , 245 As h m o le , E lia s 37, 8 1 , 203, ,
Alb er tu s Magn u s , 26 , 6 2, 2 44 236 , 309 , 310 , 31 1 y

s no n ym
Alfr ed , Kin g, 244 o f J am es H a so lle , 31 2 letter
Alh az en Per sian , a s tr o n o m er , fr o m , 312
244 As hto n , Ja m es , of Chadderto n ,
Alkin d, J aco b , 244 272, 288
Alpo r t Pa r k , Man ch ester , 274 Aske, Jo hn , 25 1
Alstade , P hilip , 244 As s er s S axo n Chr onicle, 36
’
Am erica (Atl an tis) , 6 6 , 89, 156 ; Atslo w e, D r E dwar d , 31 .
o f, Aubr ey , Jo hn , 1 9 5 , 260, 303

’
D ee s m ap 54
Am ster da m , 11 8, 1 1 9 , 312, 314 Dr . William , Ma ster
Anguis h , An n e, 31 4 of R eques ts , D ee ’
s
Mr 314 c o us in , 44, 2 29 , 25 3,
Anj o u, D uk e o f S ee d Alenco n 303, 31 5
’
. .
Antho n y , Mr , 287 . Mr s .
, 49
Antwer p, 2 1, 22, 23, 24 6 5 , 1 6 7, , Ave , 142, 1 43
21 5 Az o r es , th e, 5 3
Apuleius , 28
Aquin as , Tho m as , 245
Ar chim edes , 26 B LB E U, M . f Par is , 12
, o
Ar chytas , 26 B aco n , Fr an cis , L o r , 2, 37 d

Ar dwick Gr een , Cheshir e, 26 7 R o ger , 28 , 6 2, 86 , 243,
Ar isto pha n es , Th e E ir ene, o r 244
P ea ce o f, 7 B ailey J , . l
E g ingto n , 222, 278 ,
Aris to tle , 26 , 243 31 7
Ar m ada , th e, 44, 46 , 5 7, 9 6 ; Balth o rp , D r , 31 .
D ee s
’
letter upo n , 1 98 B anister , Mistr ess, 249
Y 2
32 4 INDEX
B ar ber R o b er t, cur ate, 272
, B o nn er , E dm und . S ee Lo ndo n,
Bar do lf Mr , 300 , . Bis h o p o f.
B ar lo w Mr 270 , .
, B o o t An selmus de 244
, ,
B ar n E lm s Surr ey 6 7 201 , , , B o o th Sir G eo r ge H igh Sheriff

, ,
B arn es 5 7 229 , , o f Ch es h ir e 287 ,
Alder m an , 6 8 Bo r is Pr in ce o f Russia 177

, ,
B a sl e, B as el, 1 6 7 B o s well Sir William 313 , ,
B a ssett Jo hn 190 191 , , , B o ulo gn e (Bulleyn) 42 ,
B ayly D r , th e Q ueen s
, .
’
ph y si B o ur ne Ken t 271 , ,
cian , 47 William , 283

B eale Mr
, 6 7, 249 Bo yle R o bert, 6 2
,
Beddar . D ean o f Wo r cester , B r adley Captain 273 , ,
78 Br an d en bur g Duk e , o f, 182,

B enn ett D r Ro b er t S ee H er e
, . . 25 1
fo r d, B ish o p o f . B r ayes Mistr es s 221 , ,
G o o dwife , 57 B r em en 1 20 123 200 201 , 202,

, , , ,
B er l in 48,
21 4, 2 1 6 , 21 7, 218, 221 , 222,
Bib er s tein Lo r d 191 , ,
25 8 , 270
B illin gs Th o m as 288, , B r entfo r , Mi esex, 109, 111, d ddl
Billingsley , Sir H enr y , tr an s 22 1
latio n of E uclid , 24 , 294 B r illpo r t o f,
, H o ll an d, 1 18
Lo r d Mayo r o f Lo n do n , Br isto , 241 l
24 Br o m fi eld, Mr 237 .
,
Bir ch , G eo rge 278, 288 ,

B r o o ke William Lo r d Co bham,
, ,
Ro b er t, 283 36 , 226, 255

Bish am O xo n 99 , , La dy, 220
B lo ckley, Wo r ces ter shir e 106 , Br o wn e, Jo hn , 6 4
B lo unt, Sir Ch ar les B ar o n , Sir Th o m as, 203
Mo un tj o y 249 ,
letter s to As h m ole, 309, 310,
Fr an cis 249 , 311 , 31 4
Bo din Jean th e Fr en c h pub
, , B run o , Gio r dan o , 83
liciet 65 , Br un s wick, D uch y o f, 1 77
B o dleian Libr ar y , 1 7, 37, 312 B uckhur st, Lo r d, 258
Bo dley , Tho m as , 1 7 B udw eis , B o h emia , 1 75, 1 91,
B o ethius, An icius, h is Co nso 1 99
la tio ne, 21 6 , 244 B ur leigh S ee Cecil Sir William .
, .
B o h emia, 234, 250, 31 1 B utler Sam uel Hudibr as 76

, , , ,
B o lo gna, Univer sity , 12 libr ar y, 21 3

16 B yr d, William 49 ,
Bo natus, Guio d , 244 B yr o n S ir Jo hn 264

, , , 268, 278
326 INDEX
Chich ester , B is h o p o f, J o hn Cr itzin , Captain, 1 92, 1 96
Ch r is tO ph er s o n , 9 Cr o cker , Cr o ker , J o h n , 1 35 , 156 ,
Chin a (Ca th ay) , 5 7 65 , 1 5 6 220 26 7 , 2 70, 27 3
,
Chippin g N o r to n , O xo n , 79, 106 Cr o fts Sir J a m es , 5 7

,
Chis wick , Surr ey , 48 Kather in e, L ady , 5 7

Ch o lm eley , J o h n , 2 70 Cr o ydo n , Ar ch b isho p s h o use at,
’
Chr is tian , Chr is to ph er , 1 5 6 2 56

Ch r is to ph er s o n , J o hn S ee . Cr y stals , 6 3, 7 3, 7 4, 8 6
Chich es ter , B is h o p o f . Cum b er lan d, Co un tes s o f S ee .
Clay to n n ear Man ch ester , 26 4

, Cliffo r d .
C lem en t, Mr , 66 . Cur tiu s , D r , 1 5 1 , 154, 155 , 15 6, .
Cler k s o n , Mr , 70, 80. 1 72, 202

O layn e , Fr an cis , 31 , 321
Cliffo r d , M ar gar et (R ussell) , ALEN Q O N , D uc, “
Mo n sieur
’
B ,
Co un tes s o f Cum b er lan d , 142, l beth s s uito r 49 66 98 ’

E iz a , , ,
25 1 D an iel Sam uel s o nn et b y 1 9

, , ,
Co b h a m , L o r d S ee B r o o ke
. . D an te, 6 2
Co ccius Tim o n , 21 6
, D an tzic, 1 1 9 , 275 , 278 , 299
Co le , E llen 58
, y d
D a r c , L o r , 99
Co lo gn e U n iv er sity, 1 2 D ar r ell Jo hn , , 269
Co m ets , 45 , 5 7 D ar tm o uth , D e vo n , 52
Co mp endio us R ehear sa ll, 6 , 10, Da venp o r t Sir H um phr ey Chief , ,
B o n o f th e E ch equer
ar x ,
Co n s tan tin o ple , 249 277 ; Stew a d o f Man ch ester r
Co o k , R o ger , 6 0, 63, 286 , 287 Co llege 277 28 3 287 288 , , , ,
Co o per , E dm o n d , 1 82, 1 96 D a vid Gr iffi th 268

, ,
Jo an , o r Jo h an n a, 94 ; D a vis Jo hn 53 5 4 6 7 68
, , , , ,
m arr ies K elley 7 9 ; ,

D a vy Si H um phr y 6 2
,
r ,
S ee K elley , J o an . D ay , Jo h n , pr in ter , xiv, 38

Mr s 106.
,
Dr . W ll i ia m . S ee Win
C o per n icus , 83 c h ester Bish o p , of
Co tto n , Sir Tho m a s , 73, 80 D ee, Adr ia n , Ca n o n o f Ch i

R o b er t B , 265 . c h es ter , 31 6
Co ven tr y, W ar wick s hir e , 261 An n a , 309

Co wley , An to n y , 265 Ar thur , b ir th , 48 , 50, 6 6 ,
Cr a co w , 1 2 1 , 1 30, 132, 1 44, 1 5 3, 1 1 8, 1 35 , 1 84, 1 86 , 1 91 ,
1 5 4, 15 5 , 1 5 6 , 1 65 ; St . 20 3, 22 1 , 224, 226 , 247,
Steph an s Chur ch , 1 66 , 245 , 25 6 , 26 7 , 28 7 , 280, 29 7,
’
300, 301 , 303 a cciden t

Cr a n e, Sir Fr an cis , 31 at fen cin g , 2 77 , 307 ; at
INDEX 32 7
Chr ist Chur ch , O xfo r d, 160 ; left at P ague r
2 77 ch apter cler k , 288 , 166 ; k in d n e s s t o

307 ; m ar r iage , s tr an ge s 1 68 ; di s l ike s
r ,
h is h o r o s co pe, 29 1 ; a Pucci , 1 73, 1 76 re
do cto r in Lo n do n , 308 ; cei as v a c h ain of go ld ,
w k s by
or 312 ; etter to , l 1 7 9 , 1 82 ; h er is tr es s , d
As hm o le
, 312 ; ea t , d h 1 8 7, 188, 1 89 , 1 9 6 , 198 ,
31 3, 31 5 ; i l , 31 3, 314 wl 200, 247, 249, 250 ;
h
Ar t ur , so n o f Ar thur , pr es en t to , 25 1 , 256 ,
309 27 6 supplicatio n to th e
B edo gr an fat er
,
d h of Q ueen , 25 8 ; bir t o f h
J o hn , 5 , 31 5 , 3
22 h er yo un ge st c i , 260 ; h ld
l
D an ie , 316 dve o tio n to h er c i r en , h ld
vd
D a i , 315 31 6 , 297 eat , 29 7d bur ia , h l
D un can , 31 5 29 7
d
E m un d , 309 Jan e daughter
, of Ar thur ,
Fr an ces , d a ug h ter o f Jo hn 2 90, 309
D ee, 22 8 , 229 , 25 6 , 303, J an e , w ife of R o wlan d,
30 7 315
Fr an ce s , d a ug h t e r o f Jo hn birth 5 ; sen t to
, ,
Ar thur 309 , C h elm sfo d G mma r ra r
Fr an cis , B is o p o f Peter h S cho o l 6 ; en te s St ,

r .
h
b o r o ug , 31 6 ; his i , w ll Jo hn s Co llege C m
’
, a
31 5 , 31 6 br idge 6 his in dus tr y

, ,
Hen ry , 315 6 ; g du tes B A 7

ra a . .
,
Is ab e a , ll w
ife o f Ar t ur , h a Fello w o f T i ity 7 ; r n ,
309 R ea d e in Gr eek 7 r ,
I s bel daughte
a , r of Ar thur , s tage per fo r m an ces , 7 ,
h
1 2 C r is tm a s p a stim e ,
J an e ,
D ee
’
s mot her , 5 , 30, 7, 8 ; a s t r o n o m i c a l
47 death , 55 d
s tu ies , 8 ; go es to th e
J an e (Fr o m o n d) ,
h er Lo w C o un tr ie s , 8 ; b e
m ar r iage to D ee, 46 , co m e s M A , testi . .
47 ; s tr a n ge d r eam , 50 ; l
m o n ia fr o m th e U ni er v
ann o ye d at Kelley s ’
sity , 9 ; go es to L o u ain , v
co m in g, 79, 80, 1 1 1 , 9 ; to P ar is , 1 1 ; ec tur es l
1 18 , 129, 1 35 ; h er o n E u c i , 11 in ite to ld v d
l
tr o ub e s , 1 48 etter s l b e c o m e R e a e r in d
fr o m , 149 , 1 80, 181 ; h
M at em a tics , 1 2 ; in tr o
15 5 , 1 56 ; petitio n o f, duced to E dwar d V I .
,
32 8 INDEX
13 ; b o o ks fo r th e Kin g , p hen o m en a ,
6 3, 64 ;
13 Ro y al cr y s ta l z in 63 ;
pen sio n , 13 ; ga g,
r ecto r y of U pto n , 13 ; j o ur n eys in E n g an l d ,
L ea den ham 14 ; in v , ited 66 ; s ear c h fo r a
to O fo r d 1 4 ; b o o k s
x ,
d
m e ium , 6 8 ; Ta l bo t
dedicated to D uches s o f ar r i es , v
70 ; s ig ht in
N o r thum b er l an d 14 ,
th e cr ys tal , 6 9 ; th e
at Philpo t s exam in a ’
table an d seal s , 7 3 ; h is
tio n 1 5 ; s eek s to fo un d
, p a ye fo r kn o w l edge
r r ,
State libr a y 15 in t o r , r 84 8 8 ; des i e d to e

,
r r
duced to Queen E li a z fo m th e C a len d a 90

r r, ,
b eth 1 9 ; s ent fo r to
,
1 33 ; dr eam s , 9 2 , 273,
H am pto n Co ur t, 20 ; 281 po er t a n d eb t, v y d
letter to Cecil, 2 1 ; in 9 3, 9 7 ; L as i s isits , k ’
v
th e L o w Co un tr ie s , 2 3 9 9 , 1 00, 102, 104 ; de
h is Mo n as , 2 3, 38 , 147 p ar tur e fr o m E n g an , l d
pr eface to E uclid , 24, 11 7 ar r i a a t Lub ec , v l k
247, 294, 31 2 appl ie s 1 23 ; destr uctio n o f his
fo r St Cr o s s , 29 s ettles
. lib r ar y 1 27 219 ; at
, ,
at M o r tl ake , 30 i lln ess , Cr aco w , 1 32 go es to

'
31 ; th e Queen s atten Pr ague, 145 ; s ees th e

tio n s , 31 ; letter to E m per o r R u do lph , 149 ;
B ur leigh 32 ; m ar ri age ,
, p as spo r t, 1 5 5 ; h is affec
34 ; d h ea t o f h is fi r st tio n fo r K ell ey , 15 7 ;
w if e , 35 ; l it e r a r y po v er ty, 1 60 ; v i s it s
lab o ur s, 36, 38 , 5 1 ; Kin g Steph an, 1 65
dia r y , 36 ; fr ien d s h ip b an ish ed fr o m Pr ague,
w ith th e n a vigato r s , 38 ; 1 6 8 letter to Wals in g
at Co ur t, 45 ; s eco n d h a m , 1 69 ; a r efuge at
m arr iage, 46 ; j o ur n ey v d
Tr eb o n e , 1 75 in ite to
ab r o a d 47 bir t h o f h is R ussia 1 76 ; K elley s
'
, ,
e ldes t so n , 48 ; co n co m m un is tic
p o po s al r ,
sulted by th e Queen ,
185 ; D ee s in d ign atio n
’
49 ; pupi s co m e to h im , l 1 86 ; an extr a o din ar y r
50 ; th e Q ueen s
'
isit, v co v en n t 1 8 8 ; s t ain ed
a , r
50 H er M aj es tie s '
rel atio n s w ith Kelley ,
Tit le 5 4 ; h is m o ther s
,
'
1 90, th e gr e at
de th 5 5 ; R o y al co n
a , se cr et, 1 9 6 ; h is Ar m a a d
do len ce 5 5 ; bi th o f,
r letter , 1 98 par ts fr o m
Kath er ine 57 ; psychic , Kelley , 19 9 ; j o ur n ey to
33 0 INDEX
D ec, R o wlan d th e elder father , , du Br uar n e, Mr .
, 14
o f J o hn 5 ;
gen tlem an , d y
D u le ,
Am b r O s e , E ar l o f War
s e ve
r to H en r y V II I
r .
, w ick , 247
5 , 32 1 , 322 Ann e (R u ssell) , Co un
Ro wlan d , so n o f Dr . Jo hn tess o f W ar wick , 29,
D ec, 1 18 , 1 35 , 1 44, 1 45 , 225 , 229, 247, 248,
15 6 , 221 , 224, 25 0, 2 6 7 ; 25 3, 2 60
at Man ch es ter G r am Jo hn , E ar l o f War w ick ,
m ar S c ho o l , 280, 307 247

R o wla n d , so n o f Ar t ur h , a R o b er t, E ar o f L eices l
m er ch an t, 309 , 312, 314 ; ter , 1 8 , 19 , 20, 35 , 37 , 48 ;
o wn s h is gr an dfa t er s h ’
lw h
q uar r e it E ar o f Sussex, l
po r tr ait, 314 ; his w ife, 65 99 , 10 0, 21 8 , 26 4
31 4, 31 5 ll
D um b e , Mr , 288 .
Ro wlan d , s o n o f R o w lan d , h
D unn e, T o m a s , o f St . J o hn s
’
31 5 Co ll ege, 8
T eo h do r e , 15 5 , 1 96 , 2 18 , D un n in glcy , Yo r ks, 26 6
224, 25 1 ; death , 290, D un s S co tus , 245
30 7 y
D er , Sir E d ar , 36 , 37, 45 ; w d
W l il iam , 309 Ar thur s go fat er , 49 , 68,
’
d h
de la Warr e , Th o m as , B ar o n , 1 92 , 19 6 , 1 98 , 204, 206 , 207,
2 63 208, 209, 21 2, 2 16 , 2 1 7, 274 ;
l
D e m en ho r st , 1 20 B ur leigh
’
lette s to
s r , 204, 205 ,
de Mo nluc, M , 1 2 . 25 1 D ee s lette to
’
r ,
275 , 286
D en m ar k , 1 22, 2 1 7
D er by E a l o f S ee Stanley
, r . .
de R o h n M o f P a is 12 E AS T SH E E N , Surr ey , 35 , 66 ,
'
a , .
,
r ,
D ev e eu r Fr an ces (Walsin g
x, 22 3
h a m ) , C o un tes s E s sex, 2 60 oi E ckfo r d , Sir J o hn , L o r d K eeper ,
De vo n s hir e , 6 8, 1 07, 2 20 249, 250, 25 1 , 2 60
D ibb ley , l k k a c o c m a er , 238 E c lipses , 65, 2 79
D ieph o l H an o ver 200
z, , E dga r , Kin g, 43
D ietr ich s tein L a dy 1 59 , , E dm un d s , Mr , 6 7 .
D igb y S i E v er a d 303
,
r r ,
E dw ar d th e Co n fes so r , Kin g,
D igges H en r y 1 34
, ,
245
Th o m a s, 1 7 1, 1 72 E dw ar d VI , Kin g, 1 3, 35 , 1 29 ,
.
Do kk um , W
Fr ies an , 11 9 . l d 26 3
D k ra e , Sir Fr an cis , 5 7, 1 98 E liz ab eth , Q ueen , at Wo o d
D ub l in , Tr init Co l ege, 244 y l sto ck , 14 co r o n atio n , 18 ;
D ub o is , Mr s , 31 . s en d s fo r D ee, 1 9, 2 0, 30 ;
INDEX 33 1
h er pr o mis es , 24, 29 ; his Elm esto n , Jo hn , 5 0

pupil , 2 3 ; give s h im a pa ss Em bd l d
en , Fr ies an , 1 19 , 1 20
po r t, 32 ; p er m its h is m ar E m er ,y Wl i lia m , 54
r ia e, 35
g visits Mo r tlake, 35 E m s iv e 1 1 9 120
, r r, ,
s u m m o n s h im to ex l ain a E n gl an d calle d Albio n b y D ee

p , ,
c o m et, 45 illn es s , 47 ; co n 38 240 ; P etty N avy R o yal

, ,
fer en ce w ith D ee, 47 ; sen ds 41

h im a br o a d 48 ; l a dy o f th e , E r fur t, Saxo n , 1 72 y
m an o r f im b e o n , 48 ;
o W ld E r n es t, br o t er o f h Em per o r
l
co n s u ts D ee a b o ut th e D u c dl h
Ru o p , 1 52
d Alen co n , 49 ; a t M o r t a e, lk E s em é li, 1 0 1
’
50 ; c o mm an s D ee to s et d E s s ex , Co untes s of .
o ut h er tit e to co o nies , 5 4 ; l l d y
S i n e an d D e er eux v .
go es to co n do le with h im o n E s to tilan S ee N e fo un d d . w l nd a .
h s death 55 ; t
h is m o t er
’
, a Et hel ed r , Abb o t of R iev a ulx ,
Whitehall 6 6 ca lls at Mo t , r 245

lake 6 7 68 ; s en ds fo r D ec
, , , E to n , Pr o v o stship o f, 29, 221 ,
9 1 go es up th e iv e to Sio n r r 233
H o us e 1 00 1 15 ; gives D ee
, , E ucli d , lectur es o n 1 1 ;
D ee ,
40 an gells 100 h er fa v o ur , tr an s l ate d b y B illin gs l ey 24 ; ,
to D ee 130 ; desir es to , e r in m an y lan guages 2 5 247 , , ,
fo r m th e calen da 134 D ee s
’
r, 294, 312
lette s to h er 161 ; o n th e
r , E well , Surr ey , 249
A m da 19 8 ; summ o n s D ee
r a ,
an d K ell ey to E n gl an d 201 ; ,
a t Theo b ald s 205 ; h e m i is , r n FAL D O Go o dwife 303 304 307

, , , ,
te s de v o tio n
r
’
206 ; r e alls , c F aus t Legen d th e 2 1 9 , ,
K elley 209 212 ; r eceives

, , Feo do Iv n o w it h E m per o r o f
r a c ,
D ee on hi s r etur n , 219 vis its R us sia , 1 76 , 1 77, 1 7 8

Mo r tlake , 2 23 pr o m is es Fer din an d o f Aus tr ia 147 ,
gifts , 224, 225 , 229, 247 a t F er n Go o dm an a po tter 1 1 7

, , ,
h
N o n s uc , 226 ; D ee pr esen ts F er r ar a U n iv er s ity 1 2 ,
l
hi s s upp ica tio n to , 229 s h e Ferr ys G eo r ge 1 4, ,
sen ds tw o c o m m is s io n er s , Fin l an d 45 ,
2 31 ; h is t an s , 248 s en s h k d Fis her Mr 22 1 , .

,
fo r h im to r een ic , 25 2 G w h Flem is h her r in g fi s her y 42 ,
Jan e D ee pr es en ts h er suppli F lo r en ce o f Wo r cester Chr o nicle ,
c a tio n , 258 so m e o f e e s K ll y ’
o f, 36
po wde r gi ven to , 307 death , F lo r en ce libr ar y , , 1 6, 1 32
2 92 Fo sk cr , Mr .
, 58
332
“
INDEX
Fo w ell, Mr 31 4 .
,
Ge r ar d , La dy 26 7 ,
k
Fr an c e , Ch r istian , 191 R ic h a r d 28 3 ,
k
Fr an , An n , 223 Gifi ar d, D r
'
.
, 25 2
k
Fr an fo r t-upo n 0 der , 48 ~ Gilb e t r , Adr ian , br o th er of Sir
Fr ankfur t am —Main 200 -
,
H um ph r ey 53, ,
6 7,
Fr eder ick , King o f D en m ar k , 6 8 to a s sis t D ee a n d
123 K ll y
e e , 89 m en
Fr eem an Mr s 106 , .
,
tio n ed, 38, 9 4, 107,
Fr er e B ar tle 285
, ,
147 , 220
Mr s J H o o kh am . .
, 28 5 Sir H u m p hr e y , 66
Fr is elan d (Gr een l a n d) , 5 2, 5 4 visits D ee , 51 m en
Fr is iu s , Gem m a, th e a str o n o m er , tio n ed, 38
8 Sir J o hn52 ,
Fr iz er , Ma ster , 15 6 Glas to n bur y , 77, 9

1 , 1 06
Fr o bis her , Sir Mar tin , 38, 5 4, Glo ucester ,
D ean er o f 24 y ,
5 7 , 198 R o b er t o f, 245
Fr o m o n d , J an e , a fter war d s D ee ,
Go do lphin , Mr .
, 65
46 , 47 . S ee D ee, Go gava , An to n ius , 8
J an e . Go o dier , Mr , 259 .
Mr .
,
h er fat h er , 46 G d
o o m an , Mr s , 29 7 .
N icho l as , h er br o th er , G y y
o o dw n , Mar , 26 7
1 1 7, 1 26 , 1 47 Go ges Sir Tho m as 231 247

r , , ,
Go th a to w n o f 1 73
, ,
Gr an t Dr E dwar d Master o f
, .
,
GAB R IE L , 83, 1 31 , 1 35 , 1 38, 1 43, Wes tm in ster Scho o l 227 ,
29 9 G av esen d Ken t 36 1 1 7 21 8
r , , , ,
G alileo 83 ,
Gr ay Mr a p each er 25 1
, .
, r ,
Galv h o r Fin is 101 102 107

a , , , ,
Gr een Chr is to p her 278
, ,
Ga din e E li b eth 315

r r, za , Alice 2 78 ,
G a lan d E dwa d 1 77 1 78
r ,
r , , G een lan d 5 2 5 4
r , ,
Fr an cis 1 7 7, 1 78, 1 8 7, , Gr een w ich 2 4 31 47 65 68 , , , , , ,
1 9 0 , 1 9 2, 19 4, 1 9 6, 1 98, 1 99, 9 1 , 99, 1 00 , 1 17, 2 5 2, 293

G h h
r e s a m , S ir T o m a s , 5 7
Garr et N ur se 58 66
, , , G y dy
r e , La J an e, 2 6 1
Geb e th e E ste n philo so pher
r, a r Gr iffith Tho m as 26 8
, ,
(Jabir ) , 244 Gr in dal E dm un d Ar chbisho p

, , .
Geo ff ey o f Mo nm o uth
r , 52 S ee Can ter b ur y .
Ge ar d Jo hn h e b alist
r , , r , 25 7 Gr o s s eteste R o b er t Bisho p S ee, , .
L o r d M aster , o f th e L in co ln .
R o ll s 26 7 , Grudius Nico las 30 , ,

334 INDEX
H o lco t, R o b er t o f, 245 Jo n so n , Mr .
, a l
tai o r , 252
H o lcr o ft Sir Th o m a s 288
, , J ub an ladec, 102, 1 18
H o lin sh ed, R aph ael 245 2 75 , , Julio , D r , 277 .
Ho ll an d, Adam , 284
d
R ich ar , 282, 283
H o ne, D o cto r , 262 KE L LE Y , E dwar d , b ir th , 77
H o o ker , Rich ar , 271 d arr iv es un der a
H o o per , W alter 38 , feigned n am e, 76 ; at

H o pw o o d o f H o pw o o d E dm un d , , O xfo r d, 77 ; pillo r ie d
269, 274 at L an caster , 77 ; life
H o r sh am , Sussex 81 , o f him b y W aite, 77

Ho war d , Fr ances, 91 . S ee D ee s skr yer , 8 7, 88 ;
’
Seym o ur . h is tem pers , 9 1 , 94,

H o w ar d o f E fiingh am , Ch ar les , 106 , 110, 11 3, 148
L o r d Adm ir al o f th e h is d o ub ts , 1 35, 1 36,
Fleet, 46, 19 8, 25 8 15 7 ; s kill in dr afts
K ath erine (Car ey) m an sh ip, 1 6 7 ; w ill r e
L ady, 46 , 247 tur n to E n gl an d , 15 3 ;
Hudso n , Mr , 5 6 . e x p e r im e n t s , 1 93 ;
Th o m a s, 68 pr o fes ses to m ake go ld,
H ull, Yo r ks , 1 77, 275 1 78 ; letter s to D ee,
H us, J o hn , 146, 1 58 1 79, 253; to B ur leigh,
205 ; m entio n ed, 4,
ID , 120, 121 , 124 37, 70, 101 , 183, 21 2,
In gr am , Mr , 66 . 251 , 254, 281 , 285 ,
Ir el an d, 238 301 , 309 , 310 ; his
Is lin gto n , Middlesex, 1 05 , 106 death, 212
Italy, 246 Jo an, w ife o f E dwar d,
1 15 , 1 18, 1 35 , 1 6 6,
Js ex Ro bin 58
, , 1 68 , 182, 196, 1 97 ;
Jackso n Char les
, Captain , 5 7
, a s L a dy K elley, 208
J am es I King , 31 , 42 ; his L ydia , w ife o f Th o m as ,

D emono lo gie, 292 ; fi r s t P ar lia 1 95 , 21 4
m ent, 293 Act again s t Th o m a s, 106 , 145 , 15 9,
witchcr aft, 293 D ee s
’
1 79 , 19 1 ; m ar r iage ,
addr ess to , 293 192 ; 1 94, 195 , 202,
Jo nes , Sir Tho m as, 226
Mr 82 Kem p Ran dall 283
, ,
J o nso n , Ben, 132, 159, 190, 21 3, Kent Co untess o f 25 1

, , .
225 Kepler 45 ,
INDEX 33 5
Kes m ar k , H un gar y , 130, 1 31 , Leice ster , E ar l o f S ee D udley . .
1 38 h
L eig , L eg , C h h ar les th e elde , r,
K ew , Sur r ey , 44, 50, 229, 249 283

Kh unr ath , H ein r ich , 2 1 7 h l
C ar es , 2 70, 282, 288
K iffen , Mo r r ice, 25 1 R o b ert, 282, 288
Killigr ew , Sir Jo hn , 6 6 Leips ic, 1 68 , 1 6 9
Kr um lau , B o h emi a , 1 76 w
L e is , D o cto r , 49
Kyr to n , E lizab eth , 250 J o hn , 48
w h
L e is am , K en t 6 4 ,
y
L e ces ter , Geo r ge 202 215 , ,
yd
L e en , H o llan d 21 6 ,
LAMBE TH , 222 lib r ar y , 245 L ib avius An d ea s 241 , r ,
L an c a s ir e , h H o ugh H a ll , 26 6 ; Lilly Willia m 8 1 2 1 3

, , ,
m ap o f, 26 6 L im bur g B hemia 1 5 9 , o ,
L an ca s ter , 72, 7 7 D uc hy o f 266 , Lim eh o u s e K en t 5 1 , ,
h
L an g a m , Captain , 302 L in co ln B is ho p s o f R o b e t
, , r
Langley W illia m 272 28 3

, , , G o s s eteste 244 D William
r , r.
L ask P o lan d 1 29 1 31
, , , Ch dde to n 259 2 64
a r , ,
L aski Alb r t Co un t P alatin e

, e , Lis te I s ab el 2 69
r, ,
o f Si adia 98 ; h is arr iv al
r , , L ittau B o h emia 140
, ,
9 9 ; i t o duced to D ee 99
n r , Liv o n ia 248 ,
go es to O xfo d 9 9 ; a t Mo r t Llo yd M L eiceste s s e cr e

’
r , , r .
, r
lake 99 ; pedig ee 101 1 1 2 ;

, r , , ta y 100
r ,
s h em es 1 07 1 1 6 11 7 ; takes
c , , , L o ck B en j a min 50
, ,
D ee an d K elley to Po lan d , Michael 50 ,
116 p o p e t y a t K es m a k
r r r , Z ach ar y 50 ,
130 1 31 takes D ee to Kin g

, Lo ndo n Aldgate 28 1 , 282 , ,
Steph an 1 6 6 ; give s K elle y , B ar b ican , 25 1 ; S t .
m o n ey 1 78 m en tio n e d 1 45 B o to lph s 282 St

’
, , , , .
1 83 ; h is el atio n s w ith D ee Cath er in e s Ho s

’
r ,
25 0 ; letter s fr o m 248 , pita l , To wer , 1 9

Lee H arr y 105
, , Char in g Cr o s s , 122 ;
Mr 6 7 220 .
, , C h a r ter h o us e, 308 ;
Mistr es s 58 , D ur h am H o us e,
K en t 48 , 26 1 F leet Str eet,
L eer H o ll an d 1 20
, , 25 2 Guildh all, 6 4 ;
L ee w ar den H o llan d 1 19 L in c o l n s
’
, , In n
L egg D o o th y 250
,
r , Fields , 19 Lo m
L egh Mr 26 7, .
, bar d Str eet, 82,
Mr s .
, 26 7 312 Mar s h alsea
3 86 INDEX
Priso n , 25 1 ; St . Lur esey , R .
, 248
Mar y Alder m an y
L mm (L m y
e) , Ch es ir e, 26 7 h
bur y , 31 5 ; th e Mus
co vy H o u s e 90 ; ,
R u s s ell H o u se 26 6 , MAD IMI ,

10 1, 104, 105 , 1 07, 1 1 1,
St . P a ul s ’
, 25 8 ; 1 47, 159, 1 6 1, 1 85,
S av o y , 258 S h o r e 1 86 , 1 89
ditc h , 21 9 ; S o m er Mallet W a l ter 25 7
, ,
s et H o use, 248, M an ch e ster D ee s ,

’
v l
ar r i a in ,
25 8 S o ut hw k ar 26 4 ; h
C r ist s Co lege,
’
l 222,
B an k d s i e, 6 7 , 2 1 9 ; 233, 25 9, 26 4 ; Co egiate ll
K in g ’
s B en c h h
C ur ch, 263, 29 7 ; m o n t hly
Pr iso n , 241 ; P ar is lectur e , 260 ; di sputes o er v
gar den , 67 Win l
tit es o f c o l ege an s , 264, l l d
cheste r H o use 98 , 266 , 270 , 277 , 2 78 , 279 , 28 7,
St an d r , 26 1 S m ith 288 , 29 2 ; m an o r of N e wto n ,
fi eld, St B a r t o o . h l 2 64, N ewto n H eath ,
280 ;
w
m e s , 31 5 ; Tem p e,
’
l 268 ; r io t at, 2 7 3 s ur v ey o f
2 5 9 ; To er , th e , w Man ch ester , 266 2 6 7 ; per ,
8 1 , 239 , 240 To er w am bul atio n o f b o un d s , 2 7 1 ;
ll
H i , 28 3 ite Wh Gr am m ar S cho o l, 280, 283,
h all , 19 Wich cr o s s 284 ; Fello w s o f the Co llege,
S tr eet, 5 3 e st W 259, 26 4 D ean sgate, 286
m in s ter , 65 S ee . Man sfeldt, B r un o Co un t, 21 7
a sol es tm in s ter W Man tua , D uke o f, 1 0
Abb ey an d Sch o o l .
M ap s o f B r itain , 26 6 ; Dee s ’
Lo n do n B is ho p
,
o f, E dm un d m ap o f Am er ica , 5 4
B o nn er , 15 , 6 1 Mar gar et, Queen o f th e N ether
Lo n g L ea d en h am , Lin co
ns h ir e , l lan ds, 1 1 , 246
14 Mar pr elate pr ess, 264
L o rr ain e , D u c hy
o f, 31 , 238 Mar y Queen o f S co ts, Kelley
L o uvain , U ni er sit o f, 9 ; v y h a s a v isio n o f, 95
d
s tu en ts o f, 1 0 ; Co r n e ius l Mar y Tudo r , Queen , 14 ; D ee s ’
Agr ipp a , a r es i en t ther e, 11 , d s u pp lic atio n to , 1 5 , 255
12 , 29 , 243, 245 , 2 69 Ma spely , N ur se, 5 7

Lo w Co un tr ies , D ee in , 23, Maxim ilian I , E m per o r o f .
1 19 Aus tr ia , 1 1
Lub e ck , 1 23, 124, 128 II .
, E m per o r of
Ludnitz , r i er , 1 75 v Austr ia, 23, 147

Lu lly , R ay m o n d , 6 2, 1 53, 244 Magellan, Str aits o f, 5 7
338 INDEX
M us eum 37 321 , , B o dleian ,
Piacen z a B isho p o f 1 73 , ,
37, 312 m en tio n e , 2 5, 5 0, d Picker in g Sir William 10 , ,
7 7, 9 9, 16 1, 1 6 7, 244, 26 1 , Picu s Jo ann es 28

, ,
280 ; St o h n s Co ege, 315 ,

. J ’
ll Pier po in t Mar k 249 , ,
31 6 ; St Mar s H a , 31 5
. y '
ll Pis a Tuscan y 83
, ,
Pla to philo so ph er 25 243

, , ,
P la tz n ear N euh aus 180

, ,
Pxo x me r o n, Mr .
, 57 Plin y histo rian 243
, ,
Paget Mr 262 ,
Plo tinus 75 1 44 , ,
Pagham Sussex 316 , ,

Po lan d Cro wn o f 98 102 116
, , , , .
P alma Matthew 26 8 , ,
S ee a lso Steph an Kin g o f , .
Par ac el sus 6 2 6 3 83 219 , , , , , 22 1 P o m po n ius Mel a geo gr aph er , ,
P aris Co llege o f R heim s

, ,
11 1 37
D ee in , 1 2 Univer s ity , 1 2, 244 Po n to y s , Jo h n , 249 , 278, 299,
Par ker Matthew Ar ch bisho p
, ,
. 300, 301
S ee Canter b ur y . Po ppel B o h emian, fami ly o f,
P ar kyns D r Christo ph er 202

, .
, ,
21 0
214 Po sen Pr ussia 128 129
, , ,
l
P ar iam en t, D ee s
’
a ddr ess to P o w ell (Po w il) Mr 6 7 238 , .
, ,
in 16 03, 296 Pr ague 26 145 146 154 1 74

, , , , , ,
Parr E lizab eth (Br o o ke) Mar

, ,
1 75 , 1 78, 1 79, 184, 1 92, 199,
ch icn es s o f N o r th am pto n 24 , 207 Ca th edr al , 159 ; 250,
Par r y Mistr ess B lanch e 29 49
, , , 251 , 258 , 307, 311
Peckh am Sir G eo r ge 66 , , Pr es bur g, Aus tr ia, 23
P eiser Mich ael 25 1
, , Pr estwich , n ear M anch ester ,
Pem ber Ro b ert G r eek R eader

, ,
2 72
at y Co llege
Tr in it , 7 E dmun d, 220
Pem br o ke E ar l , o f. S ee I sabella 290 308 , ,
Sidn ey . Pr in ting intr o ductio n o f 21

, ,
Pen tico st, Mr 95 .

, Pr ivy Co un cil 15 20 131 231 , , , , ,
P er civall, a car r ier , 2 61 2 58, 2 76, 279, 294

Per egrinus Petr us 244 , , Pucci, Fr an cisco , 1 66,
Per sia 38 6 8 , , 1 80 , 1 90, 1 9 1
P eter b o r o ugh B ish o p , Pur glitz , Castle o f, Bo h em ia :
S ee D ee, Fr ancis . 209

Peter sh am , Sur r ey, 58 Pye, Mr , 81 .
P ett, Ar thur, Captain, 5 7

Pez el, D r Chr isto ph , 217, 21 8,
.
270 Q UE E N B OR O UGH, 1 18
Ph ilpo t, Jo h n ,
m ar tyr , 15 Q uin say S ec China . .
INDEX 3 39
R AD CL IF F E , T o m a s , E ar h l of R udo lp h II , E m pero r . of Aus

S u s s ex , 6 5 tr ia , 1 38 , 1 42, 1 45 , 1 46 , 147 ,
R a dcly ffe, J o n , 288 h 1 50 , 1 74, 1 75 , 1 82, 19 9 , 20 1 ,
d d
R a fo r , R adfo r th , Mr , 6 8 . 20 8, 209 , 21 0, 302 , 314
R a dn o r , c o un ty , 5 v
R udo w a , r i er , 1 33
l
R a eigh , Sir a ter , 5 3, 68, 9 1 , Wl R us sell J o h n
, 99 , Lo r d ,
101, 1 1 2, 26 1 R us s ia (Mus ch o via ) , 6 7, 1 7 6,

Raphael, 83, 18 8, 297, 298, 2 99, 1 7 7, 1 78 , 18 4, 2 37 , 309
302
de
R eco r , R o b er t, 241 SAAL F E L D , 1 73, 1 76
R eddis h , n ear Man ch es ter 282 , ,
S ach e v er ell, D r , 31 5 .
28 3 S acr o b o s co , Jo h n , 244
Re dhead , Mr .
,
249 S t Alb an s , H ert s , 245
.
R ein ho ld , E r as m u s , 1 7 6 S t D a v id s , dio ce s e o f, 229

.
D r V icto r , 1 7 6
. S t D un s ta n , 62, 29 9 b o o k
. o f,
Reyn o lds Mr , .
, 52 193
h Rich r d L o d 99
R ic , a r , St . I sido r e B is ho p
, of Seville,
Ri h a d K
c K in g 245
r .
, , 245
Rich m o n d Pa k 35 47 5 4, 5 5 , r , , , St N eo ts , H un ts , 66
.
6 7, 68 , 9 1 , 21 9 , 228 , 292 S ain t S au v eur , 25

Rip e , ly G
eo r ge, C an o n o f B r i d S a lis b ur y , E ar l o f S ee Cecil , .
li gto u 50 6 2 194
n , , , Sir R o b er t .
R o de ick th e G r eat P
r , r in ce of San Cl em en te, Spanis h Am b a s
Wales 5 , s ado r , 147, 1 5 3
R o ge s D n iel 5 2
r ,
a , S aul , B a r n ab a s, 6 8, 79 , 8 1
J o hn 316 , Sa un d er s , Mr 249
Mar tia 316 , Patr ick, 298, 300
R o lle R ic , har d (de H a m po le) , S av ile, Mr H a rr y, 6 7, 26 6 , 26 7,
.
245 279
Ro m e, U n i er s it , 12 ; V atica n v y h
S ax o n y , J o n o f, 244
y
Libr ar , 1 6 ; m en tio n e , 6 5 , d h
S axto n , C r is to p er , 26 6 , 26 7 h
1 34, 16 7 , 1 7 3 S co t, R egin a , 2 9 2 ld
R o sen be g Pete Co un t, 1 74
r ,
r, I
S co to , a n talian , 210
Willi
am , C o un t, S cuda m o r e, Mr , 58 .
1 6 8, 1 7 2, 1 7 3, 1 74, 1 7 9 1 8 2, , L a , 29, 5 7, 58 dy
1 96 , 1 9 7 , 1 99 , 203, 208 , 2 1 7, h
25 7 t eir a ug te r , 5 8 d h
S efto n , L an cas ir e, 2 6 7 h
R o tter d am , 1 19 v
S e e Vin cen t, 1 21 , 122
,
Ro wley E dw d 2 14 ,
ar , S eym o ur , Fr an ces ( H o war d) ,
R o y l C ll ge o f P hy s ician s
a o e ,
308 C o un tess of H er tfo r d , 9 1
3 40 INDEX
S h ak espea r e, William , 7, 37 , Stan ley , Co un tes s of D er b y ,
219 Ma cbe th ,
29 3 2 74
S he b o n e D o set 2 33
r r , r ,
S ir William ,
21 7
S hugb o r o ugh War w ick s h ir e , , 66, Stad e, po r t o f B r em en , 201 ,
25 1 207 , 2 1 7
Sidn ey, Sir H en r y , 1 29 , 1 30 State N atio n al Libr ar y , D ee
Sir P hilip, 37, 49, 99, es s a y s to fo un d , 1 5, 6 1
209 ; his wido w r e S teph an B atho r y , K in g of
m ar r ied, 2 60 Po la n d98 , 99, 1 38 140, 1 6 1,

, ,
H en r y, E ar l o f Pem 16 5 ; h is eat , 1 65 d h
br o ke, 1 9 , 30 h
S tep en s , R o b er t, 2 70
L a dy, 31 S to ckpo r t Ch es hi e ,
r , 283
L a dy w ife o f Sir P h ilip
, Stick h uy s en , 120
a fter w a r ds L a dy E ss ex , 1 90 Sto n er , Mr , 52 .
Sigill a iE m eth , 72 Sto w , J o hn , letter to fr o m D ee,

S ilvio , Gulielm o , 23 35 h is Ann a ls , 36 , 239, 245
Simkin s o n , Tho m a s , 1 77 , 1 99 Str a s b ur g U n iv er s ity , 12
S im o n , Alex an der , 38 S us s ex, E ar l o f S ee R adcliffe . .
Sio n H o u s e, I s le w o r th , 31, 100 l h

g a s s o us es , 254
1 1 5 , 2 56 S utto n , h
T o m a s , fo un er o f th e d ‘
S ix tus V , Po pe, 1 6 8 . Ch ar ter h o u s e , 308

ld h l
S e , C ar es , 9 2 , 148 Sw a ts P ete H an s 1 72
r , r ,
S m eh ear s t, o o m an , 2 7 3 G d Sympath etic Magic 1 9 ,
h
S m it H ug , n a iga to r , 5 7
, h v
Th o m a s , a utho r of a
Life o f D ee, 3 TABL E o f pr actice, de s cr ib ed , 72

D r R ich ar d , 1 4
.
Talb o t, E dw ar d , 70, 7 1, 72, 76,
Sn edgr een e, 64 1 28, 25 4 S ee Kelley , E dw ar d
. .
S o b is lau s , B o h em ia, 208 Tan fi eld , 1 03

So cr a te s, p hilo s o ph er , 28 Ta tto n , R o b er t, 202, 2 15
S o cin u s , 1 6 7 Teb a ldo , Mr , 1 6 4 .
So n ta g E m er ic h , E m er icus , 1 47,
, Teb lo w , 2 72
1 48 1 50, 1 5 9
, Ter go w d, H o ll a n d , 1 1 9
So uthw ell, Th o m a s , 196, 21 7 Th a m es , th e r iv er , 35
Spin o la , O cta viu s , 150 Th eo b ald s , H er ts , 205 , 259
S ta ffo r d, Sir E dwar d, 49 Th o m a s , R o b er t, 26 1
S tan dley, Mr , 2 72 .
T ho r n to n , Mar ger y 25 0 ,
S tan dy sh , Mr , 27 2 .
Tils ley , R o b e r t, 2 72
S tan ley, W illia m , E ar l o f D er b y, To ley Jo hn
, , 314, 31 5
2 5 9 , 2 60 To m a sin , Mr s , 5 8 .
34 2 I N DEX
Willes S i Th o m as 25 1
,
r ,
Wo o d ,
Mr Cler k of th e Sign et,
Williams Tho m as 25 9 283
, , ,
Willo ughb y Lo d 25 1 , r ,
Wo o dfo d William o f 245
r , ,
W il s o n D Tho mas Secr etar y

,
r .
,
Wo o dall Jo hn 82 , ,
of State, 1 9 20 Th o m as 82 ,
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th e su

kind a ss ista n ce in r ea ding th e ﬁ na l p r o o fs , I am

Ter cen t e na r death—N life o f h im —Persi t t

T in ity—Th t ic l e te pri e— In t h e Lo w Co un t i —MA

Bo o ks dedi ca te d to Edwar d VL—Upto n Recto r y—J n g a o

Lead en ham —Bo o ks d e dica te d to D u h ess o f N o r t hum b e l n d c r a

— Fe rr ys in fo r m s a gain s t h is m gic — In priso n— H an d d a e

Lib y—Astr o lo gy—Ho r o sco pes—Cho ice o f a day f r Que en

E liz b et h s co r o na tio n I n t duced to h er b y D udley

Sym pa th etic m a gic—Bach e lo r o f D ivin ity—In An tw e p r

M n a s H ier oglyp hicw—Pr efa ce to Billin gsley s Euclid Ca lle d

Pr o po s ed b en eﬁ ces —Pr op a edew na ta Ap ho r isticw —Al h c em ica l

Wig m o r e Castl e—Mar r ia g e— D ea th o f ﬁ t wife—Lit

H exa m er o n Br y twr micum —Th B itish e r Co mp lem m t — Sla n d e r

L o ck— H — Th e Q ee s visit —S ir H um h r e y Gilb e r t

Assista n ts— R o g e r Co o k— M gic a a nd lh

Mu r p Bo din visits E n gl n d —Qua r r el

b etw e n L eicester n d Sussex —Ma y H er b e t Si G e g e

ob t i d th MSS B k f Myste i s—Th f u

Kell y th e k ye —A thi d pe —Ad i n Gilb t

Th t s t d p t—P iﬁ d by Ad i n Gilb e t—H i wif

l k f m ey—C un t Alb t L ki— Aspi ti s

M dim i a li gui t—K lley th t t l v —H i l y f

—Il l vity —Vi i n s f E gl d— H m b u g—L ub k

H y Sidn ey—M dim i—Th Queen s ff ti —At L k

Curt ius— D e e s n a t ur a l h isto r y—Th Sp n is h Am b ss d

Jan e D ee ill—A passpo rt gr an t ed—B ck to P gue— K ell ey

To b u g—Mi h e l b ptised i P gue C th ed l

K lley—D e f ien ds d ese t h im f Ke ll y— A t hu t b

Queen o n th e Ar ma da—Gifts to K elley—H is d epartur e

with D —F b ul u t i f g ld—Bu l ig h b g h i etu

l h m y—L ette t D ee—Attem pt d

Queen—Writes to Wa lsin gham —Tim o n Co ccius — H e in r ic h

En g la n d sin ce D ee l eft —Ar riva l a t Co u r t — O ffe r s o f fr ie n d s

R eh ea r sa ll—D ee h lf hun d d y s—Th e bli d ed

Ch llan cequ d t— A diu A t mi u —M t s

v le—Su vey o f th t wn—Ch ist ph S to n—A u p i

D lib y i equest —D i pute m n g th Fell w

b u d i s—E l d C u tess o f D b y—C lleg ff i

Hum p h y D v p r t Sir Julius C

l epl e ig ht —T uble with th e F ll ws— Un ti f t y

Ple ds a fo r an Act a g a in st s anl d e — N gl r e e cte d d l an a one

D eat —Th e c h ild r e n ill—D e e in Lo o n

J h e D An glu L n din e sis A t u

en g ved by Sch e ek e nd W P S h e l k Fr o n risp iece

2 . TI TLE AG E O F D E E s G ENERAL AN D RARE

M E M O R IAL s PE RTA INING T O TH E P ERFE C T

Th e m o tto Plura l a ten t quam pa t en t s urr o un ds

ang l R ph l v h d with ﬂ min g w d

J h v h (S Am Typ ogr ap hica l Antiquities ed

3 . P I C TURE AL C HEMIS T W I T H H IS A SSIS

Thea tr um C hem/ieum Br iton/um ' e r e it i u s wh ll

4 . D I AG RAM O F TH E V ISI O N F OUR C A S TLES

S een an d d w ra n b y K elley t C w F m a r aco . ro

FAC SIMILE P HO T O G RAPH D EE S L E TTER

TO Q UEEN E LI Z ABE T H ON TH E D EFEA T OF

I LLUS TRAT I O N N O RT O N S O R D IN ALL ’

—G EO RGE CHA MAN P .

IT seems r emar ka ble th a t thr ee hundr ed year s

John D ee in December 1 6 08 without pr oducing a n y , ,

Life o f an in dividual so cons picuous so deba table an d , ,

so rem ar kably pictur es qu e .

Ther e is per haps no learn ed a uthor in histor y w h o