The life and times of Dr John Dee

Thurſday Julii 4. hora 11. ante Meridiem. 1583. Note. Δ. When I came home yeſterday from the Court , and from London, and from the Lord Laſkie, I found that E. K. was purpoſed to ride forth of Town, and intended to be a- way (as he expreſly told me) five dayes : Certain Companions and his acquaintance having ſo appointed with him, ſome tarrying for him in Mortlucke, and ſome at Brainford ( as was perceived this day afterward, and as he confeſſed unto me. ) Whereupon I thought good to ſignifie ſo much unto the Lord Laſkie who meant to come and refreſh himſelf at my houſe, as he was wont before ; either this day, or within two or three dayes after : Who alſo de- lighted in E.K. his company, &c. Hereupon about the time of E.K. his riſing I wrote theſe lines, intending to ſend them preſently to the Lord Laſkie, that word might be returned of his intent before E.K. ſhould ride, I meaning and hoping to perſwade E.K. to tarry ſo long, and upon ſuch reſpect. Nobiliſſime Princeps, in reditu, noſtrum Edwardum inveni, facie quidem læta : ſed itineri ta- men, ut dicit, quinque dierum, ſe accingentem : Hocque matutino tempore abitum vel iter iſtud ingredi molitur ; Reverſurus (ut affirmat) poſt quinque dies. Quid ſit ipſa veritas, novit ille qui verus & Omnipotens Deus eſt noſter. Hoc volui, iſto mane ſummo, vobis ſignificare, ut, quid factu optimum ſit, Cogitetis  : De aliis, ſuo tempore, Væſtræ Celſitudinis fideliſſimus Clientulus Joannes Dee. Julii 4. 1563. This Letter being now written, and not yet folded up , my friend E.K. was ready and came out of his Chamber into my Study ; and I told him that I was even now ſending word to the Prince Laſkie of his rideing out, and return after five dayes; and ſo ſhewed him the Letter : who when he came to the phraſe, Quid ſit ipſa veritas, he was ſamewhat offended, ſaying, What ſecret meaning hath this, upon ſome of your two former conference ? Truly (ſaid I) even ſuch as the circumſtance of the Letter doth import, that is ; Whereas you ſaid that you intended to return within five dayes, or at the ſame dayes end, it is uncertain whether you will, or ſhall, return later or ſooner : and therefore Quid ſit ipſa veritas of your return, or intent to return, onely God doth know. He would by no meanes admit that my ſincere expoſition, but ſeemed ſuſpitious of ſome other undue conſtructions of thoſe former words ; thereupon I took the Letter and tore it in three pieces, and ſent none : But in my mind re- ferred all to God, his diſpoſition, aſſuring myſelf of God his moſt conſtant proceeding in his own affairs. Shortly after ſaid E. K. to me, Certainly here is a ſpiritual Creature in my right ſhoulder, who ſenſibly ſaith to me, Come away : So ( ſaid I ) did one ſay to Sowle, when they would have had him away to have drowned him, whom I ſtayed in this Study by force, and ſo hindered the Devil of his purpoſe then ; as appeareth by that unhappy man yet alive. Nay ſaid E.K. they have told me that if I tarry here, I ſhall be hanged ; and if I go with this Prince he will cut off my head, and that you mean not to keep promiſe with me ; And therefore if I might have a thouſand pound to tarry, yea a Kingdom, I cannot : Therefore I releaſe you of your promiſe of 50 pounds yearly Stipend to me, and you need not doubt but God will de- fend you and proſper you, and can of the very ſtones raiſe up children to Abraham : And a- gain I cannot abide my wife, I love her not, may I abhor her ; and there in the houſe I am miſli ked, becauſe I favour her no better. To theſe , ſuch his words ſpoken in great pangs and diſquietneſſe of mind, I repoſed and ſaid, That theſe his doings and ſayings were not of God, and that by my whole proceeding he might perceive what confidence I repoſed in his dealing with the ſpiritual, our friends, ſeeing even to the uttermoſt penny (and more than my ability ſerved unto conveniently ) I laid out ſtill about the ….ming of ſuch things, as were by me to be done, &c. Well, on the ſudden, down he went ; upon his Mare, and away toward Brainford. After whoſe going, my Wife came up into my Study, and I ſaid, Jane, this man is mervallouſly out of quiet againſt his Wife, for her friends their bitter reports againſt him behind his back, and her ſilence thereat, &c. He is gone , ſaid I, but I beſeech the Al- mighty God to guide him and to defend him from danger and ſhame ; I doubt not but God will be merciful to him, and bring him at length to ſuch order , as he ſhall be a faithful ſer- vant unto God, &c.