Dee John-A true faithful relation PDF

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VV" IV^-AC ^^ ' v •"' s ^- X :^ i.V' ^'•'^V3;iiT. of what passed between Dr. John Dee and some : A Trne Relation Preface with Letters of sundry great men to the same, with a Spirits • a fine impression of the frontispiece^ con- by Meric Caaanbon. Folio, •t^nng 6 portrai...

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and some of what passed between Dr. John Dee Preface with Letters of sundry great men to the same, with a frontispiece^ conthe impression fine of a Folio, by Meric Caaanbon. •t^nng 6 portraits, an,, ^ates; a some.Ut ^^^ '^"-^^"-f^-^^^. calf The Britwell copy sold for £22.

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Spirits

Trne Relation •

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Digitized by the Internet Archive in

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2010 with funding from

Library,

The Getty Research

Institute

http://www.archive.org/details/truefaithfulrelaOOdeej

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A

True

Faithful

6c

ELATION OF

What paffed for many Yeers

Between

JOHN DEE

D".

(A Mathematician of Great Fame James

and King

their

in

Reigncs)

Q^ Eliz.

and

Some

Spirits • Tending STATES (had

To

a

(general

Succeeded)

of mo/l

/rfc«5 is yet extant, a very learned book it cannot be denied, and of excellent ufe poftorsandlmpoftures.

But what then

fhall the

conclufionbe

,

Phylofophcrs efpecially.

could name fome Chriftians alfo, by profelTion, men of great learning that have gone But this will not be granted by fome I am fure that are or very far that way. have been thought great oppugners of the common opinion about Witches and for the underftanding of ancient Authors

,

I

fome Phylicians I mean, and Naturalifts by their profelTion. But may not weargue as plaufibly againft that which they profefle, as they have doneor We would be loath to make fo long a can do againft Spirits and Apparitions ? digrelTion we have had occafion elfewhere to fay fomewhat to this purpofe: and they that will be fo curious may fee what hath been written by Cornel. JgripSpirits

•

•

It is about it, not to nstme any oth-rs. not yet a full twelvc-moneth , that a friend of mine, a Gentleman of quality, brought his Lady to London (fome 60 miles and upwards from his ordinary dwelling) to have the advice of Phyficians about his wife ( a very Virtuous and

pa

(who is very

large

upon

this fiibjed:)

Religious Lady) troubled with a weak ftomack and ill digcftion , which cau^ I think he had the advice of no lefle then a dozen firft ed gi ievous fymptoms. andlaft I am fiire he named unto me five or fix of thechiefefi: in Credit and :

practice that the

Town aflFordeth. Not

cither concerning the

Caufe

,

one of them did agree in their opinions, So that the or the means to be ufed for a Cure.

Gentleman went away more unfatisfied then he came. What he did I know Yet I, for my not: I know what fome men would have inferred upon this. part, for the benefit that I have received by it, and the effcwts that I have fcen of

T\SFACE.

The

both iiponmyielf, and others in my life-time, upon ieveral occafions ( whcxe learned JrttJJs J not Empiricl;^ have been employed) thou^^h all the world (hould be ot another opinion, I think my felf bound to honour as ithe profeilioa, lo all Learned, Ingenious Profeflbrs of it: and I make no

own words

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td.p. I79.

^ If'oirov

i/i/Va7»)

tKitvo

ligkw,and himfelf: It is likely iome others may have heard the fame,and I had rather any body fhould tell k then I, who was then a patient under him, and

prefent but

dutft

not,

were

I

put to

it,

truft to

my memory

for every

circum-

flance

have gone by Authorities rather then Arguments , partly thought that the Ihorteft and the cleareft way for every bodies

Hitherto becaufe

I

I

any bcfides theie wc have here) as have been ufed againft this opinion, may be found fully anfwered in thofe I have cited. The truth is, it is a Subjed of that nature fuch cfpecially as mav pretend to as doth not admit of many Arguments fubtilty of Reafon, Sight, Senfe,and Experience (upon which moft Hamanc Knowledge is grounded) generally approved aud certain, is our beft Argument. But before I give over, I willule one Argument which perchance may prove of fome force and validity, and that is, Aconfideration of the it::.2^^ ^ f.; and evaiions and notorious abfurdities that chefc m^nare pun capacity, and partly,

becaufe fuch Arguments

(

if

,

to.

.

The

T'B^eF A£8.

tOjWho not being able to deny the a?/ ,or matter o/Ki^,wouldfcem to fay fomcwhat rather then to acknowledg Spirits, and Divels^and Witchcraft; and betookhimfcif to theftudy of Logick long after he had entred himfelf into no, nor any man living perchance, this couric , could utter fuch things : tine)

that had not

end

made

it

this quarrel (if

doubt,

that not

is,

thers alfb

,

But that which muft needs will be pertinacious) and put all things out of

his ftudy all his life-time.

any

I'\clley

man

only ferved in this place of Seer or Skrye/\ but o-

as his fon Arthur^

and in

his latter dayes,

when

t\(lley

was

cither

will be found in all the Jfliom a.nd Apgone or lltk, one paritions of che year 1607. which (as I fulped-) was thelaft year of theDodbors life, or beyond which I think he did not live long. "BartholomeTi^j as

Secondly^

It

may be objed:cd

innocent, yea, fo pious a

,

or ftuck at

man, and

and the

Icaft,

How

Dr. Dee^ fb good Co

fo fin cere a Chriftian as

by

thefc pa-

of it ftill excepted) he doth feem to have been , God would permit fuch a one to be To deluded and abufed io rackt in his foul, lo hurried in his body for To long a time, nocwichffandinCThis frequent, carnefl;, zealous prayers and addrclfe^ unto God, by evil Spirits (even to his dying day, for ought we know) as he is hnrt hy his ownrela* Truly, if a man fiiail coniider the whole carriage tion (ct out unto us ? of this bufineflc, from the beginning to the end, according tj this true and faithful (for I think I may lb Ipeak with confidence) account of it here prcfented unto us , this poor man, how from time to time fhamefully , giofly delayed, deluded, quarrelled without caufc, ffill toled on with fome fhetfvs and appearances, and yet ftill fruftrated and put off: his manypangs and agonies about it, his fad condition after lomany years toil, travel drudgery and earneftexpedation, attheverylaft (as appeireth by the AtliQus and apparitions of the year 1607.) I cannot tell whether?I Oiould make him an objed; ot more horror or compaffion but of both certainly in a great meaflue to any man that hath any fenfe of Humanity, and in the examples of others of humane frailty and again, any regard of parrsand worth, fuch as were in this man in a hii^h decree. True it is, that he had yo)i«i wi thai and comforts, imaginary ,delufory yet fuch as he en, it is true; joyed and kept up his heart, and made him outwardly chearf ul often times I make noqueifion luchasthe Saints (as they call themfelves ) and Schtf; matich of thefe and former times have ever been very prone to boaft of, perfwading themlelves that they are the ejfeHs of Gods blelTed Spirit. B ut even inthele his joys and comforts, the fruits and fancies of his deluded foul (as many othersof adiftcmperedbrain) is not he an objed: of great compafpaflion to any, both fober and charitable ? If this then were his cafe indeed, what fliall u'e fay ? if nothing elle, I know not but it ought to latisfie a rational, iober, humble man: If we fay, That it is not in man to give an account of all Gods judgments, neither is there any ground for us tomurmute becauiewedonotundcrftandthemjOrthat they often iecm contrary pers fhis delufion

efFcd:s

,

,

,-

:

111/"

«

m

to'

^

T%EFACE.

The

judgment of humane reafbn, becaufe

to the

it is

againft

all

Reafon as well as

Religion, to believe that a creature fo much inferior to God,by nature as man and confequentis fhould lee every thing as he ieeth,and think as he thinks ly'judgeand determine inandof all things as God judgeth and determineth. j

Apoftle therefore not without caulc , would have ail private judgments (for of publick for the maintenance of peace and orjer among men,

The

another calc)deferr'd to that time, when

it is

of all menjhall be laid open^

the hearts

But we have enough to fay in this For if 'Pn^^and Qirioftty were enough to undoe our firft caie without it. Parent, and in him all mankind, when otherwile innocent, and in pofShould we wonder if it had the lame event in Dr. leOionof Paradife. Dee 'though otherwife, as he doth appear tons, innocent, and well qualified? That this w^as his caie and error, I will appeal to hisownconfefiion (though he makes it his boaft) in more then one of his Letters oraddrefles, where he profeCfeth , That for diyers years he had been an earnejl Juter un-

ail

hidden things and Jecret counfels feveakd.

to

God

in prayer for Wifdom-^

that

derfland the fecrets of Is.ature that

ashe profedeth, and his

end to a,

him

vlorious

he interprets himielf. That he might unhad not been reVeakd unto men hitherto to the

is,

as

;

own

deceitful heart

maybe

it

fuggefted un-

That he vvght glorlfe God-^ but certainly, that himfelf might become man in the worfd, and be admired, yea, adored every where almoft,

And what hernight befureitjivould be, had hecompalTed his delire. do wethmk fliould put him upon fuch a defire, with hopes to obtain it, but an opinion he had of himfelf as an extraordinary man, both for: parts ^ and for favour with God ? But however , had he been to the utmoft of what he could think of himfelf, befides his Spiritual pride of thinking io of himielf (as great a fin as any in the eyes of God ) his praying for fiich a thing with fo much importunity, was a great tempting ot God, anddefervHad he indeed been a Inter unto God for fuch ine ^mc relation to this alio, perchance. But granting that the Divel generally hath power enough both to find mony and to gratific with it where ,he feeth caufe. Yet in this cale of Witches and Magicians, dired: or indire^^t , it w ttfiMm and obfaved by many as an argument of Gods great TroVidence oyer men^ that generally he hath not It is in very deed a great Argument of a miift

I

remember

;

I

laid fo ablej

;

:

fuperiour over-ruling power and Providence. For it men ot all ptofeffions will hazard (their Souls) fo far as we lee daily to get money and

by indired: unconfcionable wayes , though they are not alwayes Hire andthat it be long oftentimes before itcomes,, and oftentimes prove thpir ruine^ even in this world, through many cafualties as alterations ^.of times, and the like what would it be if it were in the power of the .;P. to help every one that came unto him, yielding but to Inch and fuch cftates ,

;

:

r;;Condit!ons,

I

according as they

Cv^v^Ul

agree

i

Hitherto I have confidered what I thought might be objeded by othershave one obje^ion tnore, vvl.lca to me was more conlidcrable (as an obje-

ction,

I

mean, not

Co readily

anfweredj then

all

the reft

:

Devils

,

we

think

gene

'The

'P\EFACB,

generally, boch by their nature as Spirits, and by the advantage of loijg experience Tavjery great advantage indeed in point of knowledgj cannot but

have perfed knowledg of all natural things, and all fecrets of Nature, which do not require an infinite underftanding; which by that meafureofknoWc-r> ledge that even men have attained unto in a little time, is not likely to bf But left any man fhould quarrel at the word foneceflary in moft things. becaufe all perfedion belongs unto God properly, it fhall fuificq^ ^erfeB t« fay, That the knowledge Divels have of things Natural and Humane-

incomparably greater then man iscapableof. If fo, how comes it tc>^ pafs that in many places of this Relation we find him ading his part rathe,^ as a Sophifter ( that I fay npt a Juggler) then aperfed Philofopher,- as -a Quack, or anEmpirick lometiimes, then a True, genuine Naturahft. And for language (nottofpeak oi his Divinity, which he might difguiie of pui-. pofc to his own ends) rather as one that had learned Latin by reading of bai;-:' barous books, of the middle age, for the moft part, then of one chat had beer^^ oi Augufiui his^ time, and Iq^ng before that. But that which is ftrangeft of all is, that as in one place the Spirits were difcovered by Ed. IQlley to fteal out of. Jqrippa or rnr/^ew«M4 (fo he thought at leaftj fo in divers other places, by thf; phrafe, and by the doctrine and opinions a man may trace noted Chymicat and Cabahftical Authors of later times j yea, (if Ibe not muchmiftaken) and fardceljus him(elf,that prodigious creature, for whom and againft whom fo much hath been written fince he livedj thefe things may lecmftrange, but I think they may be anfwered. Forfirft, we lay, ThcDivdis notambicious to fhew himfelf and his abilirie? before men, but his way is (fo obferved by many) tofithimfelf (for matter and words) to the genius and capacity of thofe that he dcalech with. Dr.D^?, of himfelf, long before "any Apparition, was a Cabali ftical man , up to the ears, as I may lay .as may appear to any man by his i\fo/Wi Hmogly^hka^ a book much valued by himfelf, and by him Dedicated at thefirft to Maxmilwit]it Emperor, and iince prefented (as here related by himlelf)to (]{odolphe as a choice piece. It may be thought fo by thofe who efteem luch books as Dr. FW, Dr. Jlabafier, and of late Gafarell^ and the itisfoon don, itisbutahttlebook but liRe. For my part I have read him folid) out of I muft profefs that I can extrad no fcnfe nor reafon (found and Sure we are that it: neither yet doth it feemto me very dark or myftical. thofe Spirits did a6l their parts fo well with Dr.Dcf, that for the moft part(in moft At^ions) they came off with good credit; and we find the Dr. every where almoft extolling his Spiritual teachers and inftruders, and prayfing God for them. Little reafon therefore have we to except againft any thing(in this kind) that gave him content, which was their aim and bufinel^s.

is

.

'

5

:

5

thing relifh here oiTrithenmsoifaracdfusfix:iny^nc\\^ concludc*from thence, that the Divel is like himfelf. This is the

Secondly ^l^zy^ If any

well may

we

he that infpired Tritbemius and Taracelfus^Scc. that (peakcth here; and wonder yc if he fpeaks like them ? I do not exped that all men will be of my opinion; yet I fpeak no 'Paradoxes : I have both reafon and authority good and plaufible, I chink, for what I lay but to argue the

jrucft inference.

It is

;

would be tedious. Of Irithmm fomewhac more atterwards will But we rauft go far beyond that time. A thoufand years and above,

cafe at large

be faid.

before

The

9'I{8F A QS.

beForeeitherof them was born, was che BookOf Enoch wellknowniri the world ; and rhen al(o was Lmgm Mami{u^on which twomoft of the

Cabala (lands) in

talked or,a$ appears

hy

Greg.lSitffm his learned

books

a-

To Ipcak more particularly (becaufe Co much ot this RelacionUhe BookOf Enoch was written before Chrift- and ic

gainfl: it

much

Eunomius the Fhrerick.

isthoughtbyfome very learned (though dcnyed by others) that it is tlievciy book that S.JWe intended. A great fragment of it in Greekfit was written in Hebrew firft) is to be feen in Scali^er, (that incomparable man, the wonder of his Age, if not rather of all Ages) his learned Notes upon Eufebius it waS Co famous a book anciently that even Heathens took notice of it, and grounded uponitobjcdionsagainftChriftians. It may appear by Onge?i againftCV//Hx in his book 5./?. 275- n^fv J'i .ruyKixvfxmf (faith he) irlnTifi 'JS, iMHrorar xe?* af6j«-!Tov« .

•T^Afur i^i]iiftiTi9n9-i%' d9fctvdro< JAflsiTH itf ivriv , diri ISv \f ']a ^Tti-)r yiy^AiXfjiyay artva. Ivf ivrif (^atviTui arayvovi , IvSi yva^irof^oTi iy 'Jaif EKKMfiaii; ou Taci/ f 4psTj" are either Divels or Angels,, what Qiall we make of

that arc akoc^ether immaterial.

:

;.

found in mines, of which learned As^ricola hath written ; of ^u'/S^Ao/, (from whence proihofe that have been time out of mindc called thcfc that are

bably, as

wc

have

faid clfewhcre,

Gobelin in Englifti

is

derived)

who live

in

private Houfes, about old Walls, and Ifaiks of Wood, harmlefiotherwifc, bun fuiuc Countrcys, that a man may as very thievifli, fo frequent and fo known

m

well doubt whether there be any Horfes in Unglandy becaufc there are none in fomc parts of the World ; not found in all America, I think, till fomc were Neither can I believe, that thole Spirits that pleafe themfelves carried thither :

and wantonncfTe, fuch as have been known (have the hairs of Flinim Secimdm his Ser-

in nothing clfc but harmlefs (ports in

all

Ages

5

fuch as did ufe to

vants in the Night, ashimfelf relates (a very creditable man, I am fure) in his Epiltles, and the like; that fuch Spirits, I fay, have any relation either to might infifl: in more particulars-, but wc do not dcfirc Heaven or to Hell :

to dwell

upon it

We

at this

time j and there

is

yet

fomewhat

clfe to

be

(aid

:

And what

t

l^he Treface, have faid o...