1595 - The life and times of Dr John Dee

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Commentary

The gift of the Wardenship was in the Crown. The archbishop was John Whitgift, the opponent of Thomas Cartwright. His severity with the nonconformists led to his being ridiculed by the “ Martin Mar-prelate Tracts.” The peculiar relations of Dee to his livings often brought him in contact with Grindal and Whitgift. In July 1590 Dee had “ boldly” talked with the latter of his right to his two parsonages. On 12 Nov. Whitgift had given him £5 in reals and angels. But on 21 Jan 1591 the archbishop and the Lord Treasurer (Burghley) utterly put their suppliant “ out of hope” of recovering the two parsonages. In Aug. 1592 the archbishop told Dee of the Queen’s gracious speeches regarding him ; and in October Dee shewed him some blasphemous books which he wished the prelate to confute. On 7 Feb. 1594 Whitgift “ inclined sometyme to the request of dispensation.” In the same year Dee, supping with Whitgift, invited him to his “ cottage.” The following is the last entry in the Diary, before that cited above, illustrating Dee’s weariness in waiting for his promised advancement : “ June 29, After I had hard the Archbishop his answers and discourses, and that after he had byn the last Sonday at Tybald’s with the Quene and Lord Threasorer, I take myself confounded for all suing or hoping for anything that was ! And so adiew to the court and courting tyll God direct me otherwise ! The archbishop gave me a payre of sufferines, to drinke. God be my helpe as he is my refuge ! Amen.” It was in this same year 1595 that Dee addressed to the archbishop his Discourse Apologetical.

Various authors. Local Gleanings: an Archælogical & Historical Magazine, Chiefly Relating to Lancashire & Cheshire. Edited by J. P. Earwaker. Page 42.
Written by John Eglington Bailey
This was the patent for the wardenship. It took Her Majesty over two months to decide upon giving it to Dee. Dr. William Chadderton, the then Warden of Manchester and Bishop of Chester, had not yet, however, actually vacated the wardenship to fill his new see of Lincoln, to which he was elected 5th April (confirmed 24th May), 1595. The license to elect the new bishop of Chester was dated 25th June. ⸺ Wolley had long been of Dee’s acquaintance. The house of one Ambrose Wolley is mentioned in 1549 in connection with the tithe of Mortlake (State Papers, Edw. vi., Vol. vi. No. 35). In the year 1568 John Wolley was writing very courteous letters on Dee’s behalf. In the following year a Mr. Wolley is spoken of in a letter to Cecil as being “ well provided, having succeeded the late Mr. Ascham,” viz., the celebrated tutor (State Papers, Eliz. Vol. xlix. No. 66). The office was that of secretary for the Latin tongue to the Queen (Autob. Tracts, p. 10). “ The honorable Mr. Secretary Wolley” was one of the Commissioners appointed in 1592 to hear Dee’s Compendious Rehearsal, he then being one of her Majesty’s Privy Council. Sir John Wolley 21 May 1594 moved Dee’s suit to her Majesty ; and she granted it, says Dee, “ after a sort; but referred all to the Lord of Canterbury.”

Ibid., page 42-43
Written by John Eglington Bailey
The Temple Church and its purlieus were places of resort for idlers and others from the time of Shakespeare and Ben Jonson. The company to be there met with are referred to by Hudibras (III. iij. 759), where a lawyer is mentioned as retaining “ all sorts of witnesses That ply i’th’ Temple under trees ; Or walk the Round with Knights o’th posts About the cross-legged Knights their hosts.”

Ibid., page 43
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Mr. John Herbert was Master of Requests to the Queen and resided near Dr. Dee. He was one of those from whom Dee borrowed money.

Ibid., page 45
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Dee’s dealings with his servants, who all in turn are mentioned in this Diary, make a distinct set of entries, which serve to shew the rates then paid for domestic service. It was due to Dee’s reputation in Mortlake that some of the inmates of his house became suicides when in his service.

Ibid., page 45
Written by John Eglington Bailey
See posteà June 1st, and June 25th.

Ibid., page 45
Written by John Eglington Bailey
The money was wanted for fees for the Patent. The Privy seal for it, dated 26th May, 34 Eliz., states that the Queen of her own knowledge and ex mero motu granted to her beloved and faithful servant John Dee, Clerk, M.A., the place of Warden of the Perpetual College of Christ in Manchester, otherwise Manchester College, of her foundation, upon the promotion of Bp Chadderton to the see of Lincoln. In ample legal language the Patent invested Dee with all the rights &c. of the Wardenship, whether he were absent or present, during his natural life, in as full a form as Bishop Chadderton, or Bishop Wolton enjoyed them.

Ibid., page 46
Written by John Eglington Bailey
This Earl of Derby was William, who had succeeded to the earldom in the previous year on the decease of his brother Ferdinand, who died under suspicious circumstances. The Earl was already well known as “ that great Sir William Stanley,” “ of whose travels, martial exploits, and bravery abroad, this county (especially) gives us many large accounts as well in story as song, and frequently make themselves merry therewith” (Seacombe’s Memoirs, ed. 1767, p. 65). He was owner of the buildings known as the College (now Chetham’s College), the residence of the Wardens ; and he was a party in some of the ecclesiastical arrangements of the parish.

Ibid., page 46
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Dee was an industrious observer of the weather. This entry is omitted in the Camden reprint. The entries about the weather in the Diary from 1577 to 1601 have been extracted in the Ashmolean MSS. (Nos. 423 and 294) and are said to be very exact and particular.

Ibid., page 47
Written by John Eglington Bailey
To prepare for Dee’s removal to Manchester. This Mr. Warren seems to be the “ secretary” of the entry on the 17th June. A Mr. Edward Warren had long been connected with the Derby family in various capacities. In 1587 upon a checkroll of Earl Ferdinando’s household Mr. Edward Warren appears as a “ gentleman-waiter,” and the same name apparently again occurs on a roll in 1590. He was, according to Canon Raines, the son and heir of John Warren of Poynton, and was buried at Stockport 14 Nov. 1609 (Stanley Papers, pt. ii. pp. 23, 84, 112).

Ibid., page 47
Written by John Eglington Bailey
William Awbrey was a Doctor of the Civil Law, of All Souls, Oxford, and Queen Elizabeth’s “ little Doctor.” He was of a Brecknockshire family. His skill in the Laws caused him to be made Judge Marshall of the Queen’s armies, in whose reign he was frequently consulted on legal matters. He was one of the Council of the Marshes of Wales, a Master of Chancery, Vicar general to Archbishop Whitgift, and one of the Masters of the Requests. Moreover he was a person “ of exquisite learning and singular prudence.” He lived at Kew, and was a great friend to Dr. Dee, whose kinsman indeed he was. John Aubrey (Letters ij.214 seq.) prints a letter from Awbrey to Dee on Dee’s Soveraignty of the Seas, in the first sentence of which the “ young cousin” of the entries of May 9 and June 1st. is named. (See Fasti Oxon. i. 127, 143.) In 1592 he and the Queen conferred about giving Dee “ a few advowsons of rectories endowed” in St. David’s diocese. According to the monument in St. Paul’s Cathedral the date of his death was “ xxiij Julii 1595.” On 25th of May of the former year the Diary (p. 49) states “ Dr. Awbrey moved my sute to her Majesty.”

Ibid., page 47-48
Written by John Eglington Bailey
A Welshman’s partiality for a pedigree.

Ibid., page 48
Written by John Eglington Bailey
This house-hiring concerned the letting of the house at Mortlake.

Ibid., page 48
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Dee’s birth-day. He now entered on his 67th year, and about this time the Ashmolean portrait (engraved in Lilly’s Life and Times, Bohn’s Hudibras, &c., and re-engraved in last month’s Local Gleanings) was painted. The Manchester people, and particularly the College-Fellows, began to be curious about their new Warden ; and one of them, Thomas Goodier of Manchester, made this call upon him. The visitor had, however, reasons of his own for thus introducing himself to Dee. Goodier had been, and perhaps was still so, the lessee of the tithes, &c., of the parish belonging to the Warden and Fellows (Duchy Calendar, iij. 286). After 1593 Thomas Goodyeare married the widow of Ralph Sorocold a rich merchant of Manchester (Stanley Papers, pt. ii. page 143). Goodier and Dee were very soon at variance.

Ibid., page 48
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Traharn or Treherne is named 31st Jan 1594. For Herbert see 18th April anteà.

Ibid., page 49
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Mary Nevelle alias Mary Lewknor was born near Chichester 14 Dec. 1558 (Dee’s note of her nativity, Diary p. 1). On 27th April 1592 the birth of a son is noticed. Her death occurred in 1598.

Ibid., page 49
Written by John Eglington Bailey
It is unfortunate that the substance of these letters is not given. Carter, a native of Richmondshire, was a zealous Puritan and known as an able writer against the Roman Catholics. He was the author of An Answere to Certain Popish Questions and Demands, London, 8vo. 1579, directed against Ritson’s Challenge. It was dedicated to Henry Earl of Derby ; and prefixed was an address to the Reader by Anthony Gilby. A copy is in the Chetham Library, the bequest of Canon Raines. It was printed by Thomas Dawson ; but is not mentioned by Ames. Carter was admitted at St. John’s College, Cambridge, in 1555 ; was B.A. 1559 ; Fellow of S. John’s 18th March 1561-2 ; M.A., 1563 ; admitted Senior Fellow 28 April 1564 ; admitted Preacher 25 April 1565 ; B.D. 1569 ; and he was also bursar and sacrist of his College. About the year 1575 “ one Mr. Carter, a preacher att Manchester in Lancashire” had a loan of £2. from the executors of Robert Nowell’s Fund to be repaid 20 March 1575-6 ; and soon afterwards he borrowed £2. more “ as by hys byll appeareth.” On 20 Nov. 1576, he received another loan of £5. being called “ Olyver Carter of Manchester” (Ath. Cantab. ij. 394, 554 ; Notes & Queries, 2 S iv. 130 ; Stanley Papers, ii. 128 seq ; Nowell MS. page 256). Carter’s influence with the Fellows of the College and with the parishioners of Manchester seems to have been great. His strongest feelings were roused by the scandal of a man, of whom so many strange things were said, taking a place amongst the Fellows. In 15 Eliz. (1572-3) he was engaged in a lawsuit in the Duchy Court about a messuage and land at East Garston in Berks (Cal. iij. 4). In 18 Eliz. (1575-6) as a Fellow of the College, he prosecuted the then Warden Herle for unpaid wages (Ibid. 41). William Lord Burghley, writing from Greenwich to Bishop Chadderton of Chester, 12 Sept. 1581, speaks of conferring with Mr. Carter about leases of the Warden of Manchester (Peck’s Desid. Cur. 4to. i. 108-9). In 32 Eliz. (1589-90) Carter, in right of Richard Ascrofte, his brother in law, lessee of the Warden and Fellows of Manchester College, was plaintiff in an action in which John Chetham and Henry Slade were defendants, the matter in dispute being the tithes of corn and grain in Moston Hamell and Blakeley Hamell (Cal. iij. 237). The same year he himself was prosecuted in the same court with three other preachers (Thomas Williamson Preacher and Vicar of Eccles, John Buckley Preacher, and Robert Leighe), by Thomas Goodyeare of Manchester as Lessee of the Warden and Fellows of the foundation of King Philip and Queen Mary ; the action having relation to the dismes and tithes, of whatever kind or quality, Easter-Books, offerings, mortuaries, Chryson pence, and other profits belonging to the College, Church, and Chapels (Ibid. 286). Canon Raines states that in this action Carter seems to have established his claim against Goodyeare (Stanley Papers, ii. 130). During this time Carter had been one of the Moderators of the Monthly Lecture in Manchester, — a position which gave him great weight in the neighbourhood. Hearing of Dee’s appointment he was, as we see by the entry in the diary, soon on the alert. Dee had met his counterpart before (viz., 24 Oct. 1593) in “ Mr. Gray, the Lady Cumberland’s preacher,” whose “ wrangling and despising alchimicall philosophers” he notes in the diary. When Dee came to know Carter personally he would be confirmed in a surmise that his character contained few elements of amalgamation with his own. Quarrels, infact, at once began.

Ibid., page 49-50
Written by John Eglington Bailey
“ The very virtuous ” Countess of Warwick, as Dee elsewhere calls her, was the third wife of Ambrose Dudley (on whose death in 1589 the Earldom became extinct), and was the daughter of Francis Earl of Bedford. She was intimate with Queen Elizabeth, and is often named as promoting Dee’s interests. It was she who, on 9 Nov 1592, presented Dee’s Compendious Rehearsal to the Queen. She also acted as the friend of John Udall.

Ibid., page 51
Written by John Eglington Bailey
In the Ashm. MSS. No. 847 is a book containing chiefly Welsh history and descents, in which this memorandum occurs: “This Booke was given to Mr. J. D. of Mortlake by his cousyn Mr. Olyver Lloyd of the Welsh Pole. 1575. Mense Novembris die 12. At Mortlake.”

Ibid., page 51
Written by John Eglington Bailey
The Emperor was Rudolph, successor of Dee’s former patron Maximilian. At their last interview Rudolph had coldly received Dee. The invitation was most probably sent at Kelley’sinstance, who began to feel the need of Dee’s knowledge and influence.

Ibid., page 51
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Jane Dee’s maiden name was Fromond or Fromonds. She was a native of Cheyam (i.e. East Cheam), the daughter of Bartholomew Froumound, born 22 Ap 1555, and was married to Dee (whose first wife had died 15 March 1575) on 5 Feb 1578. In Oct of the same year she visited the Court at Richmond. On the morning following the day upon which Arthur Dee was born Mrs. Dee’s father died. Dee speaks of a brother Nicholas Fromonds (Diary, pp. 33, 39, 40); and a sister-in-law married … Mucko, a seller of Tobacco in Southwark (Ashmole MSS.). Mrs. Dee accompanied her husband upon his journey to Eastern Europe, and was one of the parties to the strange “ mixing of wives” at Trebona in 1587. Members of Dee’s family remained several years in Manchester after the concluding date in the Diary ; and Mrs. Dee was buried at the Collegiate Church 23 March 1604-5. The Lord Keeper was Sir Christopher Hatton. — The Countess of Cumberland, whose visits to Dee are noted intheDiary in 1593, was Lady Margaret Russell. Amongst the MSS. of Earl Spencer at Spencer House is a copy of a letter in which she gives a long and interesting account of her life from her birth in 1560 at Exeter, which closes imperfectly before the birth of Prince Henry (II. Report Hist. MSS. Commission, p. 15b). She became the wife of George Clifford third Earl of Cumberland, “ a most noble & martiall man both by sea and land,” and was the mother of the celebrated Countess of Dorset and Pembroke. — The Countess of Essex was the wife of the unfortunate Robert Devereux, who was beheaded and attainted in 1601. She was Frances, daughter and heir of Sir Francis Walsingham, Knt., and widow of the famous Sir Philip Sidney (Vincent’s Discoverie of Errors, page 187), with whose family Dee had been intimate. Sir Philip’s birth-date has puzzled his biographers ; but it is given exactly by Dee as 29 Nov 1554 (Ashm. MS 356, art. v).

Ibid., page 51-52
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Secretary Cecil, writing from the Savoy, 26 Feb 1600, to Thomas Windebank, has the following amusing P. S. : “ Tell her Majesty that I will try how finely I can seal up her letter, but my house is such a friary now, without any women, as if they send not my Lady Scudamore to me with a needle and a thread I must go to some of my neighbours, either at Essex House or Russell House, for some of those utensils.” (Dom. Ser. cclxxiv. No. 49) — Thynne is named postea, March 1, 1598.

Ibid., page 52-53
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Durham House, a stately Hall in the Strand, was during the reign of Edward the residence of the Princess Elizabeth, who, c. 1583, gave it to Sir Walter Rawlegh. Sir Walter is once or twice named by Dee. On 18 Apl 1583 the Queen, going from Richmond to Greenwich on horseback, called for Dee ” by Mr. Rawly his putting her in mynde,” and said to him Quod defertur non aufertur, and gave her right hand for Dee to kiss. On 31 July of the same year Mr. Rawlegh wrote Dee a letter acquainting him of the Queen’s good disposition unto him (Dee). Ralegh was then in the sunshine of Court favour. In Feb. 1594-5 Rawlegh had returned from his voyage to Guinea, and was projecting the expedition against the coast of Spain.

Ibid., page 53
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Emery was a person with whom Dee had pecuniary relations. In 1579 Dee censured his dishonest conduct. He became in 1593 Dee’s “ retainer at Mortlake,” and accordingly his birth date (4 July, 1568) is noted (Diary, pp. 2, 6, 33, 44).

Ibid., page 54
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Elizabeth Field came to Dee’s service, 19 Aug 1594.

Ibid., page 54
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Edmond Hilton was frequently in Dee’s company on the continent ; and there were money matters between them.

Ibid., page 54
Written by John Eglington Bailey
See 4 Apl 1594, and Nov. 19 posteà. Richard is Richard Walkeden.

Ibid., page 54
Written by John Eglington Bailey
The words from contrary to Coll. are omitted by the Camden Soc. The College is Manchester College.

Ibid., page 54
Written by John Eglington Bailey
All omitted by the Camden Society.

Ibid., page 55
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Percival, a northern name, was a carrier to Lancashire, and took Dee’s library and goods thither. The Camden Soc. reads “ sent me by Peravall.”

Ibid., page 55
Written by John Eglington Bailey
Kelley’s tricks at the court of the Emperor led to his being imprisoned twice. An attempt was made to lure him to England ; and when he was escaping from prison by the connivance of emissaries of the Queen and Burghley, he fell off a wall with results that proved fatal. His portrait from Casaubon’s folio has frequently been engraved.

Ibid., page 55
Written by John Eglington Bailey
The high road to Lancashire passed through Coventry, which was about half-way thither. The Camden Society is responsible for sending Dee’s family to Coventry by water.

Ibid., page 55
Written by John Eglington Bailey
A curious blunder occurs in the Paget pedigree which introduces this “ Mr. Paget of Manchester,” on the authority of the Camden transcript.

Ibid., page 56
Written by John Eglington Bailey
This countess was Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter of Edward Vere 17th Earl of Oxford. She was married to William Earl of Derby, 26 June 1594. So the Peerages ; but Vincent, Discoverie of Errors, p. 215, gives 26 January Aͦ 1594-5, adding that she had “ issue Lady Elizabeth Stanley, borne at Russell House Aͦ 1596, who died young 1597.” The countess died at Richmond in Surrey 10 March 1626-7 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. The daughter whose birth is here noted, as if for a horoscope, was perhaps Catherine the eldest daughter, borne at Rutland House, who died young (Brydges Peerage iij. 83), viz in March 1608-9 (Westminster Abbey Regrs., p. 109). In one of Carlton’s letters to Chamberlain, 29 March 1600, we read : “ Young Lady Derby has fallen into consumption since the birth of her last child and is given over.” (Dom. State Papers, cclxxiv. No. 86.)

Ibid., page 56
Written by John Eglington Bailey

Context

March the 21ſt, terrible Tempeſts, Hurricanes, &c. had moſt deſtructive Effects on Trees and Foreſts. April the 11th, an exceſſive Rain, great Floods, and Loſſes by them. In May, and all Summer and Harveſt (Auguſt excepted) great Rains and Land Floods ; Corn very dear.

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 275.
In Holland, Guelderland, the Tract of the Rhine, Auſtria, Bohemia, Saxony, Sileſia, and other Parts of Germany, were ſhocking and extraordinary Floods, which overturned many Villages, and made terrible Slaughter of much Cattle, and many People. Bucholtz.

Ibid., page 275
So great was the Famine among the Turks in Hungary for three Years, that their Tartar Women who followed the Camp were forced to roaſt their own Children and eat them. Turks Hiſt. --— A great Dearth in England and Hungary three Years.

Ibid., page 275