1592 - The life and times of Dr John Dee

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Commentary

Mr. Laward was “ of the Chaundry” (Diary, page 44). This is a note for a horoscope. The latter part of the sentence looks like an arrangement for a séance. See 20th March posteà.

Various authors. Local Gleanings: an Archælogical & Historical Magazine, Chiefly Relating to Lancashire & Cheshire. Edited by J. P. Earwaker. Page 43.
Written by John Eglington Bailey
“ E. K.” was the medium Edward Kelley, who had been knighted by the Emperor Rudolph. Francis Garland was a frequent visitor to the continent, whither he took letters to Dr. Dee from his English acquaintance. In the MSS. in possession of Lieut.-Col. Carew, Crowcombe Court, Somerset, is a letter on Russian affairs from Edward Garland to John Dee, dated 1586. (IV. Rept. Hist. MSS. Com. 372 a.)

Ibid., page 44
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Visitors to Mortlake made such inroads upon Dee’s time that he began to wish for a place of retirement “ from the multitude and haunt of my common friends and other.” This he could not have at Mortlake : “ the passage [by water] and way to my house there is so easy, neare, and of light cost from London or court.” Compendious Rehearsal, p. 40

Ibid., page 44
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Hickman was Kelley’s successor as “ Skryer.” He is frequently mentioned in the earlier part of the Diary, as well as subsequently. He was a native of Warwickshire, being born at Shrugborough 25 Aug 1554 (Diary, p.1). He had become interested in the obscure sciences, and thus had heard of Dee, to whom he was introduced 22 June 1579, by his uncle Mr. Richard Hickman, being commended by Mr. Vice Chamberlain Sir Christopher Hatton (page 5). In 1581 Dee, travelling thro’ South Mims and St. Neots, came to Mr. Hickman’s and thence to Towcester (page 13, and cf p. 50). From all this it appears that Hickman’s home was in Northamptonshire. Ten years later Dee records (page 37) that “ Barthilmew cam up,” his daughter Jane entering at the same time into Dee’s service. Hickman’s visits to Mortlak were henceforth frequent, and they are entered in the Diary as if matters of importance hung upon them. The last entry in the Diary about Hickman, up to the point where we begin, is on what Dee calls “ the 2nd of our owld December,” which the Camden Society prints cold December (page 51): “ Barthilmew was preferred by me to the Lord Willoughby his servyce at Barbican in the presence of the Countess of Kent : and the Lord Willoughby did presently write his warrant to Mr. Jonson in Fletestreet, taylor, to deliver to Barthilmew his cloth and couishins, and so it was to Barthilmew delivered instantly.” Stowe describes the manor of Base Court, or Barbican, as “ lately appertaining to Peregrine Bertie, Lord Willoughby of Erseby” (p. 113). In 1568 Mr. Richard Bertie, writing from the Barbican to Cecil, says that having to send to Lady Strange, it would seem strange if he did not thank him for courtesies received. He has, he continued, hastened south on hearing of the dangerous illness of the Duchess of Suffolk : for the same reason Lord Monteagle’s men hastened northward (State Papers, vol. xlvii. No. 69).

Ibid., page 44-45
Written by John Eglington Bailey

Context

A grievous Plague raged in Livonia, which in the Town of Reval killed 5000 Men. The ſame Year a ſore Famine afflicted all Italy, till it was relieved with Corn imported from Denmark, Holſace, &c. that it fell from 34 to 14 per Meaſure. --- At Trent was an epidemic malignant ſpotted Fever ; it was contagious to near Neighbours, but reached to no great Diſtance. But a common Fever from the Air invaded many People at the ſame Time, and after the ſame Manner ; the greater Part of the Sick recovered, for the Symptoms were not the ſevereſt ; before the 4th or 7th Day, the Urine differed not from healthy Peoples ; then it became like a draught Oxes, with red Spots like chick Peas ; a parched Tongue, a burning Thirſt, the Extremes cold as Marble, and torpid, the Pulſe weak. Theſe were often a Looſneſs, Lethargy, Inflammation of the Jaws, Delirium, thick Breathing ; often Loſs of Speech, Bleeding at the Noſe, ſeized the Attendants. In Germany was an epidemic Catarrh. Cole.

Short, Thomas. A General Chronological History of the Air, Weather, Seasons, Meteors, &c. in Sundry Places and different Times ; more particularly for the Space of 250 Years. Together with ſome of their moſt Remarkable Effects on Animal (eſpecially Human) Bodies, and Vegetables. Page 273.
Now the Trent ſpotted Fever reached, and was graſſant in Florence. The Dearth of Italy in 1591 forced Multitudes to feed on Herbs, Roots, and Bread made of them, as of Arum, and Earth Nuts, Fern Roots ; hence came the malignant Fever. After a terrible wet rainy Seaſon, eſpecially Winter. The Florence Fever in 1592, killed very many of the chief Nobility ; many called it a Plague, though improperly ; it aroſe from a long moiſt, wet, and moderately warm Air ; it was attended with Pimples of ſundry Colours, a weak Pulſe, the Urine thin to the fourth Day, then turbid, a mild, but ſharp Heat. They had one Exaterbation in the Day, another in the Night of a ſpurious Tertian ; a great Heavineſs of Body ſupervened ; an Inclination to Sleep, or a Delirium, Deafneſs, bleeding at Noſe, muddy Eyes, froward Looks, parcht, dry, whitiſh Tongue ; a ſlight Inflammation, and ſmall Ulcers about the Throat and Mouth ; Trembling of the Hands, a moſt fetid Looſneſs, colliquative, chylus, and watery. Cole. --— There raged at Piſaurum, a fatal, malignant, putrid Fever, with red, purple, and black Spots ; Delirium, black Tongue, Reſtleſneſs, Urine thick like a draught Oxes, great Weakneſs, and Deſire of Wine to drink, with ſeveral other Symptoms. Such as had a Laxative given firſt, and drunk Wine after, recovered in ſpite of Medicines; all the reſt died. Cole. --— In England was an exceſſive Drought, and great Death of Cattle from want of Water ; Springs and Brooks weredried up ; Horſemen could ride the Thames at London. December the 20th, Circles were ſeen about the Moon diſperſing their Rays of different Colours on the World.

Ibid., page 273-274
Great Floods are from, 1. Either ſudden and violent, or long and great Rains. 2. From Tides and great Land Floods joined. 3. From oppoſite Winds forcing up the Sea, and damming back the Land Floods at the ſame Time, as on October 1ſt, 1250, September 30th, 1555, October 22d, 1629, November 1660, November 1665, March 10th, 1570, September 6th, 1592, December 1600, December 26th, 1601, February 23d and 24th, 1602, March 1604 ; in all which the great Tide-Rivers had both the Tide driven impetuouſly in by the Wind or Hurricane, and the Land Flood kept up, to an incredible Deſtruction of Peoples Lands and Cattle. Or, 4. From the Perigæum of the Moon, eſpecially in its firſt and laſt Quarters, wherein it comes nearer the Earth ; as on November the 5th, 1530, when that fatal Inundation happened in Zealand ; January 13th, 1592, Sandwich and the Marſhes were over flooded ; November 1st, 1570, Antwerp and the Coaſts of Holland were laid under Water ; December 8th, 1600 ; January 20th, 1670, the Severn laid Somerſet and Glouceſter under Water ; January 23d, 1623, Frieſland was drowned ; February 23d, 1651 ; August 2d, 1657 ; August 22d, 1658 ; September 29th, 1661 ; May 24th, 1663 ; September 1ſt, 1669 ; with a Multitude of others, according to Dr. Wallis. Such Inundations may happen from the diurnal, annual, and menſtrual Motions of the Earth.

Short, Thomas. New Observations, Natural, Moral, Civil, Political and Medical, on City, Town, and Country Bills of Mortality. To which are added, Large and Clear Abstracts of The beſt Authors who have wrote on that Subject. With an Appendix on the Weather and Meteors. Page 470–471.