The Private Diary of Dr. John Dee | Page 5

retaining the English language. The
present passage may as well be given:-- "This night my wife dreamed
that one cam to her and touched her, saying, 'Mistres Dee, you are
conceived of child, whose name must be Zacharias; be of good chere,
he sal do well as this doth!'"]
[Transcriber's Note: See Transliteration Key at end of text.]
[Footnote o: In a more appropriate place I shall give from an
Ashmolean manuscript a traditionary anecdote relating to this Roger
Coke, or Cooke, and the great secret which Dee revealed to him.]
1580. Jan. 13th, I gave my wife mony for the month. Jan. 16th, Arthur
fell sick, stuffed with cold fleym, could not slepe, had no stomach to
eat or drink as he had done before. Feb. 26th, this night the fyre all in
flame cam into my maydens chamber agayne, betwene an eleven and
twelve of the cloke; contynued half an howr terribly, so it did a yere
before to the same maydens, Mary Cunstable and Jane Gele. May 17th,
at the Moscovy howse for the Cathay voyage. June 3rd, Mr. A. Gilbert
and J. Davys rod homward into Devonshire. June 7th, Mr. Skydmor
and his wife lay at my howse and Mr. Skydmor's dowghter, and the
Quene's dwarf Mrs. Tomasin. June 8th, my wife went with Mistres
Skydmor to the court. June 12th, Mr. Zackinson and Mr. Cater lay at
my howse, having supped at my Lady Crofts. June 14th, Mr. Fosku of
the Wardrip lay at my howse, and went the next day to London with Mr.
Coweller. July 15th, the Lady Croft went from Mortlak to the court at
Otlands. June 30th, payd Jane 20s. for thre quarters' wages, so that all

that is due is payd, and all other recknengs likewise is payd her 6s. 8d.;
and Mary Constable was payd all old reknings 15s., and my wife had
eleven pounds to dischardge all for thirteen wekes next, that is, till the
5th of November: I delivered Mr. Williams, the person of Tendring, a
lettre of atturney agaynst one White of Colchester, for a sklaundre.
Aug. 27th, Arthur was weaned this night first. Aug. 28th, my dealing
with Sir Humfrey Gilbert for his graunt of discovery. Aug. 30th, Nurse
Darant was discharged and had 10s. given her, which was the whole
quarter's wages due at a fortnight after Michelmas.
Sept. 6th, the Quene's Majestie cam to Richemond. Sept. 10th, Sir
Humfry Gilbert graunted me my request to him, made by letter, for the
royaltyes of discovery all to the North above the parallell of the 50
degree of latitude, in the presence of Stoner, Sir John Gilbert, his
servant or reteiner; and thereuppon toke me by the hand with faithfull
promises in his lodging of John Cooke's howse in Wichcross strete,
where wee dyned onely us three together, being Satterday. Sept. 13th,
Mr. Lock browght Benjamyn his sonne to me: his eldest sonne also,
called Zacharie, cam then with him. Sept. 17th, the Quene's Majestie
cam from Rychemond in her coach, the higher way of Mortlak felde,
and whan she cam right against the church she turned down toward my
howse: and when she was against my garden in the felde she stode
there a good while, and than cam ynto the street at the great gate of the
felde, where she espyed me at my doore making obeysains to her
Majestie; she beckend her hand for me; I cam to her coach side, she
very speedily pulled off her glove and gave me her hand to kiss; and to
be short, asked me to resort to her court, and to give her to wete when I
cam ther; hor. 6¼ a meridie. Sept. 14th, I began against Vincent
Murphyn. Sept. 15th, I wrote to the bishop of London. Sept. 22nd, my
declaration against Vincent Murphin put into the court of Geldhall.
Oct. 3rd, on Munday, at 11 of the clok before none, I delivered my two
rolls of the Quene's Majesties title unto herself in the garden at
Richemond, who appointed after dynner to heare furder of the matter.
Therfore betwene one and two afternone, I was sent for into her
highnes Pryvy Chamber, where the Lord Threasurer allso was, who,

having the matter slightly then in consultation, did seme to dowt much
that I had or could make the argument probable for her highnes' title so
as I pretended. Wheruppon I was to declare to his honor more playnely,
and at his leyser, what I had sayd and could say therin, which I did on
Tuesday and Wensday following, at his chamber, where he used me
very honorably on his behalf. Oct. 7th, on Fryday I cam to my Lord
Threasorer, and he being told of my being without, and allso I standing
before him