•
John
Dee's Conversations With Angels |
Dee's servants, many of them, attached themselves to him for life, as we have seen. They, at least, regarded him without suspicion. He was no invoker of devils or conjurer of evil spirits to them. No master could be kinder, more gentle, considerate or more strictly honourable. In whatever straits he found himself, he always contrived to pay, and faithfull record in his diary the payment of, their wages. We have seen how he writes to Sir Edward Dyer of their diet. It will be remembered that one of his early apprentices, Roger Cook, left him after fourteen years, jealous that another man should be admitted to processes from which he was excluded. This was over twenty years ago, nor had his name ever been mentioned in the diary since. Now, Roger Cook reappeared in Manchester, quite unsought, offering and promising
"his faithful and diligent care and help, to the best of his skill and powre, in the processes chymicall, and that he will rather do so than be with any in England; which his promise the Lord blesse and confirm! He told me that Mr. Anthony (his late master) considered him very liberally and frendely, but he told him that he had promised me. Then he liked in him the fidelity of regarding such his promise."
A week or two later, on November 1, Dee writes that R.C. began to distil. Afterwards there seems to have been cause for suspicion that Roger had spread false reports about his former employer, but the mistake was generously acknowledged; matters were cleared up, and peace once more reigned: -
"Feb. 2. Roger Cook, his supposed plat laying to my discredit was by Arthur, my sone, fownd by chaunce in a box of his papers, in his own handwriting, circa meridiem, and afternone about 1 1/2 browght to my knowledg face to face. All was mistaken and we reconcyled godly. Feb. 5. O libera nos a malo. Feb. 10. Reconciliation between us, and I did declare to my wife, Katherine my dowghter, Arthur and Rowland, how things were mistaken."
In October, Sir George Booth, High Sheriff of Cheshire, came to Manchester to see the steward of the college, Humphrey Davenport, of Gray's Inn, about some of the college property in Cheshire, which he held. Booth had been knighted since his last visit. After all parties had been interviewed, they came to a mutual agreement that the Warden and Fellows would accept the arbitrament of the steward on the point in question, his decision to be delivered after the lawyer had paid his next visit to London. Davenport's clerk, John Radclyffe, and Mr. Dumbell were at the college at the time, but Dee says "they hard not our agreement, we were in my dining room."
He received a kind letter from the Bishop of Chester (Richard Vaughan), recommending Mr. Thomas Billings to him for a curacy. He does not say if the spiritual ministrations of Mr. Billings were accepted. The commissioners were still sitting, and in November they made an award against Mr. James Ashton, of Chadderton, for holding the manor or property of Nuthurst while its title belonged to the college. There was a final scene with Oliver Carter in the college, before Mr. Birch, Robert and Charles Leigh. At the college audit on December 2, Dee was allowed his portion of £7 yearly for house rent up to the Michaelmas before. A grant was now made to Arthur of the chapter clerkship, but the holder, Owne Hodges, was only going to relinquish it on condition of £6 being paid for his patent. So more silver had to be pledged to meet a loan.
The last entry made by Dee in his diary is on April 6, 1601, when he made "Mr. Holcroft, of Vale Royall, his first acquaintance, at Manchester, by reason of Mr. William Herbert, his servant. He used me and reported of me very freely and worshiply."
For the concluding seven years of the old man's life there are only a few scanty outside records on which to rely, beside two or three fragmentary entries printed in the end of the Book of Mysteries. In such a practised and ready writer as our aged mathematician and astrologer, the failure to set down records seems to betoken failing strength of both intellect and body.
Can't find what you're looking for? Something missing, broken, or incorrect? Have an idea or a question? Let us know in the Discussion Forum
|
|
|
|
| Need to ask me a question? I make every attempt to reply to all email. Click here to send me an email. |