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A LETTER,
Containing a most briefe Discourse Apologeticall, with a plaine Demonstration,
and feruent Protestation ,for the lawfull, sincere, very faithfull and
Christian course, of the Philosophicall studies and exercises, of a certain
studious Gentleman: An ancient Seruant to her most excellent Maiesty Royall.
| Pro eo, vt me diligerent, detrahebant mihi: |
[drawing] |
Ego autem Orabam. Psalm. 108. |
![[Woodcut]](woodcut2.gif)
To the most Reuerend father in God, the Lord Archbishop of Canturbury,
Primate and Metropolitane of all England, one of her Maiesties most honorable
priuy Counsaile: my singular good Lord.
ost humbly and hartily I craue your Graces
pardon, if I offende any thing, to send, or present vnto your Graces hand,
so simple a discourse as this is: Although, by some sage and discreet my
friends their opiniõ, it is thought not to be impertinent, to my
most needfull suites, presently in hand, (before her most excellent Maiesty
Royall, your Lordships good Grace, and other the Right honorable Lordes
of her Maiesties priuy Counsaile) to make some part of my former studies,
and studious exercises (within and for these 46, yeeres last past, vsed
and continued) to be first knowne and discouered vnto your Grace, and other
the Right honorable my good Lordes, of her Maiesties priuy Counsaile: And,
Secondly , afterwardes, the same to be permitted to come to publique view:
Not so much, to stop the mouthes,
and, at length to stay the impudent attemptes, of the rash, and malicious
deuisers, and contriuers of most vntrue, foolish, and wicked reports, and
fables, of, and concerning my foresaid studious exercises, passed ouer,
with great, (yea incredible) paines, trauels, cares, and costs, in the
search, and learning of true Philosophie; As, therein, Só, to certifie,
and satisfie the godly and vnpartiall Christian hearer, or reader hereof:
That, by his own iudgement, (vpon his due consideration, and examination
of this, no little parcell, of the particulars of my foresaid studies,
and exercised philosophicall annexed) He will, or may, be sufficiently
informed, and perswaded; That I haue wonderfully labored, to finde, follow,
vse, & haunt the true, straight, and most narrow path, leading all
true, deuote, zealous, faithfull, and constant Christian students, ex
valle hac miseriæ, & miseria istius vallis: & tenebrarum
Regno; & tenebris istius Regni, ad montem sanctum Syon, & ad cælestia
tabernacula. All thankes, are most due, therefore, vnto the Almighty:
Seeing, it so pleased him, (euen from my youth, by his diuine fauor, grace,
and helpe) to insinuate into my hart, an insatiable zeale, & desire,
to knowe his truth: And in him, and by him, incessantly to seeke, and listen
after the same; by the true philosophicall method and harmony: proceeding
and ascending, (as it were) gradatim, from things visible, to consider
of thinges inuisible: from thinges bodily, to conceiue of thinges spirituall:
from things transitorie, & momentarie, to meditate of things permanent:
by thinges mortall (visible and inuisible) to haue some perceiuerance
of immortality. And to conclude, most
briefely; by the most meruailous frame of the
whole World, philosophically
viewed, and circumspectly wayed, numbred, and measured (according to the
talent, & gift of God, from aboue alotted, for his diuine purposes
effecting) most faithfully to loue, honor, and glorifie alwaies, the Framer,
and Creator thereof. In whose workmanship, his infinite goodness,
vnsearchable wisdome, and Almighty power, yea, his euerlasting* [In marg:
Paule to the Rom. Cap. 1. verse 19. 20.] power, and diuinity, may (by innumerable
meanes) be manifested, and demonstrated. The truth of which my zealous,
carefull, and constant intent, and endeuour specified; may (I hope) easilie
appeare by the whole, full and due suruey, and consideration of all the
Bookes, Treatises, and discourses, whose Titles onely, are, at this time,
here annexed, and expressed: As they are set down in the first Chapter,
of an other little Rhapsodicall Treatise, intitled, The Cõpendious
Rehearsall, &c. written aboue two yeares since: for those her Maiesties
two honorable Commissioners; which her most excellent Maiesty had most
graciouslie sent to my poore Cottage, in Mortlake: to vnderstand the matters,
and causes at full; through which, I was so extreamely vrged to procure
at her Maiesties handes such honorable Surueiors & witnesses to be
assigned, for the due proofe of the contents, of my most humble and pitifull
supplication, exhibited vnto her most excellent Maiesty, at Hampton Court,
An. 1592. Nouemb. 9. Thus therefore (as followeth) is ye
said 6. Chapter there, recorded.
My labors and paines bestowed at diuers times, to pleasure
my natiue Countrey: by writing of sundry Bookes, and Treatises: some in
Latine, some in English, and some of them, written, at her Maiesties commandement.
Of which Bookes, and Treatises, some are printed, and some vnprinted.
The printed Bookes, and Treatises are these following:
-
Propædeumata Aphoristica, De præstantioribus quibusdã
Naturæ virtutibus. -- Aphorismi. 120. -- Anno, 1558.
-
Monas Hieroglyphica, Mathematicè, Anagogicéque explicata;
ad Maximilianum (Dei gratia) Romanorum, Bohemiæ, & Hungariæ,
Regem sapientissimum an. 1564.
-
Epistola ad eximium Ducis Vrbini Mathematicum (Fredericum Commandinum)
præfixa libello Machometi Bagdedini, De superficierum Diuisionibus;
edito in lucem, opera mea, & eiusdem Commandini Vrbinatis; Impressa
Pisauri -- Anno -- 1570.
-
The Brytish Monarchy (otherwise called the Petty Nauy Royall:) for the
politique security; abundant wealth, and the triumphant state of this kingdome,
(with Gods fauor) procuring -- Anno -- 1576.
-
My Mathematicall præface annexed to Euclide, (by the right worshipfull
Sir Henry Billingsley Knight, in the English language first published)
written at the earnest request of sundry right worshipfull Knights, and
other very well learned men. Wherein are many Arts, of me, wholy inuented
(by name, definition, propriety and vse,) more then either the Græcian,
or Roman Mathematiciens, haue left to our knowledge -- Anno -- 1570.
-
My diuers & many Annotations, and Inuentions Mathematicall, added in
sundry places of the foresaid English Euclide, after the tenth Booke of
the same -- 1570.
-
Epistola præfixa Ephemeridibus Ioannis Felde Angli: cui rationem
declaraueram Ephemerides conscribendi. 1557.
-
Paralaticæ Cõmentationis, Praxeosq; Nucleus quidã.
1573.
The vnprinted Bookes and Treatises, are these:
some, perfectly finished: and some, yet vnfinished.
-
The first great volume of Famous and rich Discoueries: wherein (also) is
the History of King Salomon, euery three yeeres, his Ophirian voyage. The
Originals of Presbyter Ioannes: and of the first great Cham, and his successors
for many yeeres following: The description of diuers wonderfull Iles, in
the Northen, Scythian, Tartarian, and the other most Northen Seas, and
neere vnder the North Pole: by Record, written aboue 1200. yeeres since:
with diuers other rarities -- Anno -- 1576.
-
The Brytish Complement, of the perfect Art of Nauigation; A great volume:
in which, are contained our Queene Elizabeth her Arithmeticall Tables Gubernauticke:
for Nauigation by the Paradoxall compasse (of me, inuented anno 1557.)
and Nauigation by great Circles: and for longitudes, and latitudes; and
the variation of the compasse finding most easilie, and speedily: yea,
(if neede be) in one minute of time, and sometime, without sight of sunne,
moone, or star; with many other, new and needefull inuentions Gubernauticke
-- anno -- 1576.
-
Her Maiesties Title Royall, to many forrain Cuntries, kingdomes, and prouinces,
by good testimony and sufficient proofe
recorded: and in 12 Velam skins of parchment, faire written: for her Maiesties
vse: and at her Maiesties commandement -- anno -- 1578
-
De Imperatoris Nomine, Authoritate, & Potentia: dedicated to her Maiesty
-- anno -- 1579
-
Prolegomena & Dictata Parisiensia, in Euclidis Elementorum Geometricorum,
librum primum, & secundum, in Collegio Rhemensi -- anno -- 1550.
-
De vsu Globi Cælestis: ad Regem Edoardum sextum. 1550
-
The Art of Logicke, in English -- anno -- 1547.
-
The 13. Sophisticall Fallaciãs, with their Discoueries, written
in English meter -- anno -- 1548.
-
Mercurius Cælestis: libri - 24. written at Louayn -- 1549.
-
De Nubium, Solis, Lunæ ac reliquorum Planetarum, immò ipsius
stelliferi Cæli, ab infimo Terræ Centro, distantijs, mutuisq;
interuallis, & eorundem omnium Magnitudine liber [figure 2], ad Edoardum
Sextum, Angliæ Regem. Anno -- 1551.
-
Aphorismi Astrologici -- 300. -- anno -- 1553.
-
The true cause, and account (not vulgar) of Fluds and Ebbs: written at
the request of the right honorable Lady, Lady Iane, Duchesse of Northumberland
-- anno -- 1553.
-
The Philosophicall and Poeticall Originall occasions, of the Configurations,
and names of the heauenly Asterismes -- written at the request of the same
Duchesse. Anno. 1553.
-
The Astronomicall, & logisticall rules, and Canons, to calculate the
Ephemerides by, and other necessary accounts of heauenly motions: written
at the request, and for the vse of that excellent Mechanicien Maister Richard
Chauncelor, at his last voyage into Moschouia -- anno -- 1553.
-
De Acribologia Mathematica; volumen magnum: sexdecim continens libros --
anno -- 1555
-
Inuentum Mechanicum, Paradoxum, De noua ratione delineandi Circumferentiam
Circularem: vnde, valde rara alia excogitari perficíque poterunt
problemata. An. 1556.
-
De speculis Comburentibus: libri sex -- Anno -- 1557.
-
De Perspectiua illa, qua peritissimi vtuntur Pictores. 1557.
-
Speculum vnitatis: siue Apologia pro Fratre Rogerio Bachone Anglo: in qua
docetur nihil illum per Dæmoniorum fecisse auxilia, sed philosophum
fuisse maximum; naturaliterque & modis homini Christiano licitis, maximas
fecisse res, quas indoctum solet vulgus, in Dæmoniorum referre facinora
-- Anno -- 1557.
-
De Annuli Astronimici multiplici vsu -- lib. 2 -- Anno. 1557.
-
Trochilica Inuenta -- lib -- 2 -- Anno -- 1558.
-
[figure 3] -- lib -- 3 -- Anno -- 1558.
-
De tertia & præcipua Perspectiuæ parte, quæ de Radiorum
fractione tracte -- libri -- 3 -- Anno -- 1559.
-
De Itinere subterraneo -- libri -- 2 -- Anno -- 1560.
-
De Triangulorum rectilineorum Areis -- libri -- 3 -- demonstrati: ad excellentissimum
Mathematicum Petrum Nonium conscripti -- Anno -- 1560.
-
Cabalæ Hebraicæ compendiosa tabella -- Anno -- 1562.
-
Reipublicæ Britannicæ Synopsis: in English -- Anno. 1565.
-
De Trigono Circinóque Analogico, Opusculum, Mathematicum & Mechanicum
-- libri __ 4 -- Anno -- 1565.
-
De stella admiranda, in Cassiopeæ Asterismo, cælitus demissa
ad orbem vsque veneris: Iterumque in Cæli penetralia perpendiculariter
retracta, post decimum sextum suæ apparitionis mensem -- Anno --
1573.
-
Hipparchus Rediuiuus -- Tractatulus -- Anno. 1573.
-
De vnico Mago, & triplici Herode, eéque Antichristiano. Anno
-- 1570.
-
Ten sundry and very rare Heraldical Blasonings of one Crest or
Cognisance, lawfully confirmed to containe auncient Armes -- lib. 1. --
Anno -- 1574.
-
Atlantidis, (vulgariter, Indiæ Occidentalis nominatæ) emendatior
descriptio Hydrographica, quàm vlla alia adhuc euulgata -- anno
- 1580.
-
De modo Euangelij Iesu Christi publicandi, propagandi, stabiliendique,
inter Infideles Atlanticos: volumen magnum, libris in distinctum quatuor:
quorum primus ad Serenissimam nostram Potentissimamque Reginam Elizabetham
inscribitur: Secundus, ad summos priuati suæ sacræ Maiestatis
consilij senatores: Tertius, ad Hispaniarum Regem, Philippum: Quartus,
ad Pontificem Romanum -- anno 1581.
-
Nauigationis ad Cathayum per Septentrionalia Scythiæ & Tartariæ
litora, Delineatio Hydrographica: Arthuro Pit, & Carolo Iackmanno Anglis,
versus illas partes Nauigaturis, in manus tradita; cum admirandarum quarundam
Insularum annotatione, in illis subpolaribus partibus iacentium -- anno
-- 1580.
-
Hemisphærij Borealis Geographica, atque Hydrographica descriptio:
longè a vulgatis chartis diuersa: Anglis quibusdam, versus Atlantidis
Septentrionalia litora, nauigationem instituentibus, dono data -- anno
-- 6583
-
The Originals, and chiefe points, of our auncient Brytish Histories, discoursed
vpon, and examined -- anno -- 1583.
-
An aduise & discourse about the Reformation of the vulgar Iulian yeere
-- written by her Maiesties commandement, and the Lords of the priuy Counsaile
-- anno -- 1582.
-
Certaine considerations, and conferrings together, of these three sentences,
(aunciently accounted as Oracles) Nosce te ipsum: Homo Homini Deus: Homo
Homini Lupus. 1592.
-
De hominis Corpore, Spiritu, & Anima: siue Microcosmicum totius Philosophiæ
Naturalis Compendium -- lib. 1 -- 1591
With many other bookes, pamphlets, discourses, inuentions, and conclusions,
in diuers Artes and matters: whose names, need not in this Abstract to
be notified: The most part of all which, here specified, lie heere before
your Honours vpon the table, on your left hand. But by other bookes and
writings, of an other sort, (if it so please God, and that he wil grant
me life, health, and due maintenance thereto, for some ten or twelue yeares
next ensuing) I may, hereafter make plaine, and without doubt, this sentence
to be true, Plura latent, quàm patent.
Thus far (my good Lord) haue I set downe this Catalogus, out
of the foresaid sixt Chapter, of the booke, whose title is this:
-
The Compendious rehearsall of Iohn Dee, his dutifull declaration and proofe
of the course and race of his studious life, for the space of halfe an
hundred yeeres, now (by Gods fauor and helpe) fully spent, &c.
To which compendious rehearsall, doth now belong an
Appendix, of
thefe two last yeeres: In which I haue had many iust occasions, to confesse,
that Homo Homini Deus, and
Homo Homini Lupus, was and is
an Argument, worthy of the decyphering, & large discussing: as may,
one day, hereafter (by Gods helpe) be published, in some maner very strange.
And besides all the rehearsed books, & treatises of my writing, or
handling hitherto, I haue iust cause, lately giuen me to write & publish
a Treatise, with Title, De Horizonte Aeternitatis: to make euident,
that one Andreas Libauius, in a booke of his, printed the last yeere,
hath vnduly considered a phrase of my Monas Hieroglyphica: to his
misliking: by his own
vnskilfulnes in such matter: and not vnderstanding my apt application thereof,
in one of the very principal places, of the whole book. And this booke
of mine, (by Gods help and fauour) shall be dedicated vnto her moft excellent
maiesty Roiall: And this Treatise doth containe three bookes,
-
The first intitled, De Horizonte: liber Mathematicus & Physicus,
-
The Secõd, De Aeternitate: liber Theologicus, Metaphysicus &
Mathematicus.
-
The Third, De Horizonte Aeternitatis: liber Theologicus, Mathematicus,
& Hierotechnicus.
It may now be here also remembred, that almost three
yeeres after the writing of this letter, I did somewhat satisfie the request
of an honorable friend in Court, by speedilie penning some matter concerning
her maiesties Sea-soueraigntie: vnder this title:
-
Thalattocratia Brytannica,
Siue,
De Brytanico Maris Imperio, Collectanea Extemporanea: 4. dierum Spacio,
celeri conscripta calamo. Anno. 1597. -- Septemb. 20. Mancestriæ.
¶ Truly I haue great cause to praise and thanke God, for your graces
verie charitable vsing of me: both in sundry points else, & also in
your fauorable yelding to, yea & notifying the due meanes for the performance
of her Sacred Maiesties most gracious and bountifull disposition, resolution,
and very royall beginning, to restore and giue vnto me (her Ancient faithfull
seruant) some due maintenance: to leade the rest of my old daies, in some
quiet and comfort: with habilitie, to retaine some speedy, faire, and Orthographicall
writers, about me; and the same skilfull in Latine and Greeke (at the least:)
aswell for mine owne bookes,and workes, faire and correctly to be written
(such I meane, as either her most excellent Maiestie, out of the premisses
will make choise of, or command to be finished or published; or such of
them, as your grace shall thinke meete
or worthy for my farther labor to be bestowed on:) as else for the speedy,
faire, and true writing out of other ancient Authors their good and rare
workes, in greeke or Latine which by Gods prouidence, haue been preserued
frõ the spoile made of my Librarie, & of all my moueable goods
here: &c. Anno. 1583. + In which Librarie, were about 4000 bookes:
whereof, 700. were anciently written by hande: Some in Greeke, some in
Latine, some in Hebrue: And some in other languages (as may by the whole
Catalogus thereof appeare.) But the great losses and dammages which
in sundry sorts I haue sustained, do not so much grieue my hart, as the
rash, lewde, fond, and most vntrue fables and reports of me, and my studies
philosophicall, haue done, & yet do: which cõmonly, after their
first hatching, and diuelish deuising, immediatly with great speede, are
generally all the Realme ouerspread; and to some, seeme true; to other,
they are doubtfull: and to only the wise, modest, discreet, godly, and
charitable (and chiefelie to such as haue some acquaintance with me) they
appeare, and are knowne to be fables, vntruths, and vtterly false reports,
and sclaunders. Well, this shall be my last charitable giuing of warning,
and feruent protestation to my Countrimen and all other in this case:
+ Although that my last voyage beyond ye Seas,
was duly vndertaken (by her Maiesties good fauour and licence) as by the
same words may appeare in the Letter, written by the right honourable Lord
Threasorer, vnto your grace in my behalfe, and her most excellent maiestie
willing his honor so to do. Anno. 1590. the 20. of Ianuarie.
[A seruent protestatiõ]
Before the Almighty our God, and your Lordships good grace, this
day, on the perill of my soules damnation (if I lie, or take his name in
vaine herein) I take the same God, to be my witnese;
That, with all my hart, with all my soule, with all my strength, power,
and vnderstanding (according to the measure thereof, which the Almighty
hath giuen me) for the most part of the time, from my youth hitherto, I
haue vsed, and still vse, good, lawfull, honest, christian, and diuinely
prescribed meanes, to attaine to the knowledge of those truthes, which
are meet, and necessary for me to know; and wherwith to do his diuine Maiesty
such seruice, as hee hath, doth, and will call me vnto, during this my
life: for his honor and glory aduancing, and for the benefit, and commoditie
publique of this kingdome; so much, as by the will, and purpose of God,
shall lie in my skill, and hability to performe: as a true, faithfull,
and most sincerely dutifull seruant, to our most gratious and incomparable
Queene Elizabeth, and as a very comfortable fellow-member of the body politique,
gouerned vnder the scepter Royal of our earthly Supreame head (Queene Elizabeth)
and as a liuely sympathicall, and true symetricall fellow-member, of that
holy and mysticall body, Catholicklie extended and placed (wheresoeuer)
on the earth: in the view, knowledge, direction, protection, illumination,
and consolation of the Almighty, most blessed, most holy, most glorious,
comaiesticall, coëternall, and coëssentiall Trinity: The head
of that body, being only our Redeemer, Christ Iesus, perfect God and perfect
man: whose returne in glory, we faithfully awaite, and daily, do very earnestly
cry vnto him to hasten his second comming, for his electes sake: iniquity
doth so on this earth, abound, and preuaile, and true faith with charity,
and Euangelicall simplicity, haue but colde, slender, and vncertaine intertainement,
among the worldly-wise men of this worlde.
Therefore (herein concluding) I beseech the Almighty God, most aboundantly
to increase and cofirme your graces heauenly
wisdome, and endue you with all the rest of his heauenly gifts, for the
relieuing, refreshing, and comforting, both bodily and spiritually, his
little flocke of the faithfull, yet militant here on earth. Amen.
An Epilogue.
Good my Lord, I beseech your grace, to allowe of my plaine and comfortable
Epilogus, for this matter at this time. Seeing, my studious exercises,
and conuersation ciuile, may be aboundantly testified, to my good credit,
in the most partes of all Christendome: and that, by all degrees of Nobility,
by al degrees of the learned, and by very many other, of godly and Christian
disposition, for the space of 46. yeeres triall: (as appeareth by the Recordes
lately viewed by two honourable witnesses, by Commission from her Maiesty,)
And seeing, for these 36. yeeres, last past, I haue beene her most excellent
Maiesties very true, faithfull, and dutifull seruaunt; At whose royall
mouth, I neuer receiued any one word of reproch; but all of fauor, and
grace: In whose princely countenance, I neuer perceiued frowne toward me,
or discontented regard, or view on me: but at all times fauorable, and
gracious: to the great ioy and comfort of my true, faithfull, and loyall
hart. And (thirdly) Seeing, the workes of my handes, and wordes of my mouth
(heere before notified, in the Schedule of my bookes, and writings) may
beare liuely witnesse of the thoughts of my hart, and inclination of my
minde, generally, (as all wise men do know, and Christ himselfe doth auouch)
It might, in manner, seeme needlesse, thus carefully (though
most briefely and speedily) to haue warned or confounded the scornefull,
the malicious, the proud, and the rash in their vntrue reports, opinions,
and fables of my studies, or exercises Philosophicall: but that, it is
of more importance, that the godly, the honest, the modest, the discreet,
graue, and charitable Christians (English or other,) louers of Iustice,
truth, and good learning, may, hereby, receiue certaine comfort in themselues
(to perceiue, that Veritas tandem præualebit) and sufficiently
be weaponed and armed with sound truth, to defende me against such kinde
of my aduersaries: if hereafter they will begin afresh, or hould on, obstinately,
in their former errors, vaine imaginations, false reportes, and most vngodly
sclanders of me and my studies. ¶ Therefore, (to make all this cause,
foreuer, before God and man, out of all doubt:) Seeing, your Lordships
good grace, are, as it were, our high Priest, and chiefe Ecclesiasticall
minister, (vnder our most dread and Soueraigne Ladie, Queene Elizabeth)
to whose censure and iudgement, I submit all my studies and exercises;
yea all my bookes, past, present and hereafter to be written, by me (of
my own skill, iudgement, or opinion,) I do, at this present time, most
humbly, sincerelie, and vnfainedly, and in the name of Almighty God, (yea
for his honor and glory) request, and beseech your Grace, (when, and as
conueniently you may) to be well and throughlie certified of me, what I
am,
Intus & in cute: Reuerendissime in Christo Pater, & Dignissime
Archipræsul, cognosce & agnosce vultum tàm internum, qaàm
externum pecoris tui: And wherein I haue vsed, doe or shall vse, pen,
speech, or conuersation, otherwise
then as it appertaineth to a faithfull, carefull, sincere, and humble seruant
of Christ Iesu, That your grace woulde vouchsafe to aduertise me. So, I
trust,
Vltima respondebunt primis: in such sort, as this Authentick
Recorde in latine annexed (ad perpetuam rei memoriam,) doth
testifie: hauing neuer, hitherto, had occasion to shewe that, in any place
of Christendome: to testifie better of me, then they had proofe of me,
themselues, by my conuersation among them. (The Almighty, therefore, be
highly thanked, praised, honored, and glorified, for euer and euer, Amen.)
But nowe, in respect of the generall intent of this briefe
discourse, I most humbly, and reuerently, exhibit to
your graces view, and perusing, the originall monu-
ment, and Authenticke Record, before men-
tioned, faire written in parchment, with
the seale whole, and perfect, duly ap-
pendant: as I haue 46. yeeres, and
somewhat longer, preserued
it. The true copy wher-
of, your grace doth
see, to be verba-
tim, as fol-
loweth.
VNiuersis Sanctæ matris Ecclesiæ
filijs, ad quos præsentes literæ peruenturæ sunt, Vicecancellarius
Cætusq; omnis Regentium & non Regentium, Vniuersitatis Cantabrigiæ,
Salutem in Domino sempiternam. Conditiones & merita hominum in nostra
Vniuersitate studentium, affectu sincero perpendentes, eos solos testimonio
nostro ornandos esse arbitramur, quos scimus ob eruditionem, & morum
probitatem promeritos esse, vt istud beneficium à nobis consequantur:
Quamobrem, cùm hoc tempore, ipsa veritas testimonium nostrum sibi
postulat, vestræ pietati, per has literas significamus, Quòd
dilectus nobis in Christi,Ioannes Dee, Artium Magister,
in dicta nostra vniuersitate, foeliciter versatus, plurimam sibi &
doctrinæ & honestatis laudem comparauit: De cuius gradu, &
conuersatione (quæ honestissima semper fuit,) ne qua vspiam ambiguitas,
aut quæstio oriri possit, apud eos, quibus huius viri virtutes haud
satis innotuerint, visum est nobis, in dicti Joannis gratiam, has literas
nostra Testimoniales conscribere; & conscriptas, publico Academiæ
nosræ sigilío, obsignare: quò, maiorem apud vos authoritatem,
& pondus literæ nostræ habeant Bene valete. Datum Cantabrigiæ
in plena Conuocatione Magistrorum Regentium, & non Regentium, Academiæ
prædictæ: 14. Calend. Aprilis, Anno à Christo nato.
1548.
[For certaine due respects the very image of the foresaid
seale, is not heere in portraiture published.]
Peroratio.
THe Almightie and most mercifull God, the Father;
for his only Sonne (our Redeemer) Iesus Christ his sake: by his holy spirit,
so direct, blesse, and prosper all my studies, and exercises Philosophicall,
(yea, all my thoughts, words, and deedes) henceforward, euen to the very
moment of my departing from this world, That I may euidently and aboundantly
be found, and vndoubtedly acknowledged of the wise and just, to haue beene
a zealous and faithfull student in the Schoole of Verity, and an
Ancient Graduate in the Schoole of Charity: to the honor and glory
of the same God Almighty, and to the sound cõfort and confirming
of such as faithfully loue & feare his diuine Maiestie, and vnfeinedly
continue in labor to do good, on earth: when, while, to whome, and as they
may, Amen.
Very speedily written, this twelfth euen, and twelfth day,
in my poore Cottage, at Mortlake: Anno. 1595. currente à Natiuitate
Christi: ast, An. 1594. Completo, à Conceptione eiusdem, cum nouem
præterea mensibus, Completis.
Allwaies, and very dutifully, at your Graces commandement:
Iohn Dee.
[figure 4]
1599.
[figure 5]
¶ AT LONDON
Printed by Peter Short, dwelling on Bred-
streete hill at the signe of
the Starre.