The Private Diary of Dr. John Dee | Page 7

his jornay to Quinsay, which jornay I moved him unto,
and instructed him plentifully for the variation of the compas,
observing in all places as he passed.
July 6th, my wife churched. July 7th, in the morning at 1¾ after
mydnight, Mr. Hinde his sonne born. July 10th, my right sholder and
elbow-joynt were so extremely in payn that I was not able in 14 dayes
to lift my arme owtward not an ynche; the payn was extreme; I used Mr.
Larder, Mr. Alles, and Alise Davyes, and abowt the 25 day I mended.
July 12th, abowt 10 of the clock ½ before noone Ebtre uvf vaperqvoyr
qbttrqarf naq vatengrshyarf ntnvaf zr gb zv fnpr nyzbfg erqv gb ynl
ivbyrag unaqf ba zr, zntre uraevx pna cnegryv gry. At the same day the
Erle of Lecester fell fowly owt with the Erle of Sussex, Lord
Chamberlayn, calling each other traytor, whereuppon both were
commanded to kepe theyr chambers at Greenwich, wher the court was.
July 19th, Mr. Henrick went to London to visit his wife and children.
July 26th, Mr. Haylok cam, and goodman King with him. July 28th, Mr.
Collens did ride into Lincolneshire.
Aug. 3rd, all the night very strange knocking and rapping in my
chamber. Aug. 4th, and this night likewise. Katharin was sent home
from nurse Maspely, of Barnes, for fear of her mayd's sicknes, and
goodwife Benet gave her suck. Aug. 11th, Katharine Dee was shifted to
nurse Garret at Petersham on Fryday, the next day after St. Lawrence
day, being the 11th day of the month; my wife went on foot with her,
and Ellen Cole, my mayd, George and Benjamin, in very great showres
of rayn. Aug. 12th, recepi literas a D. Doctore Andrea Hess occultæ
philosophiæ studioso, per Richardi Hesketh amici mei, Antwerpiæ
agentis, diligentiam in negociis meis, et recepi, una cum literis,
Mercurii Mensitam seu Sigillam Planetarum. Aug. 26th, abowt 8½ (at

night) a strange meteore in forme of a white clowde crossing galaxiam,
whan it lay north and sowth over our zenith; this clowd was at length
from the S.E. to the S.W. sharp at both endes, and in the west ende it
was forked for a while; it was abowt sixty degrees high, it lasteth an
howr, all the skye clere abowt, and fayr starshyne.
Sept.[s] 5th, Roger Cook, who had byn with me from his 14 yeres of
age till 28, of a melancholik nature, pycking and devising occasions of
just cause to depart on the suddayn, abowt 4 of the clok in the afternone
requested of me lycense to depart, wheruppon rose whott words
between us; and he, imagining with hisself that he had the 12 of July
deserved my great displeasure and finding himself barred from vew of
my philosophicall dealing with Mr. Henrik, thowght that he was utterly
recest from intended goodnes toward him. Notwithstanding Roger
Cook his unseamely dealing, I promised him, yf he used himself
toward me now in his absens, one hundred pounds[t] as sone as of my
own clene hability I myght spare so much; and moreover, if he used
himself well in lif toward God and the world, I promised him some
pretty alchimicall experiments, whereuppon he might honestly live.
Sept. 7th, Roger Cook went for alltogether from me. Sept. 29th, Robert
Gardner, of Shrewsbury, cam to my servyce.
[Footnote s: Dr. Dee, in the Rawlinson MS. just quoted, observes, in
his notes on this month, "Mr. Harry Waters went away the 2nd day,
malcontent. John Dee, Jesus bless me!"]
[Footnote t: This probably gave rise to the anecdote which is related in
MS. Ashm. 1788, fol. 147, viz. that "he revealed to one Roger Cooke
the great secret of the elixar, as he called it, of the salt of metalls, the
projection whereof was one upon an hundred."]
Oct. 8th, I had newes of the chests of bokes fownd by Owndle in
Northamptonshyre; Mr. Barnabas Sawle told me of them, but I fownd
no truth in it. Oct. 9th, Barnabas Saul, lying in the ... hall was strangely
trubled by a spirituall creature abowt mydnight. Oct. 13th, I rod to
Sowth Myms. Oct. 14th, to St. Nedes. Oct. 16th, at Mr. Hikman's. Oct.
20th, at Tosseter. Oct. 21st, Oxford, Dr. Cradocke. Oct. 23rd, from
Oxford to Wyckam. Oct. 24th, I cam home. Robert Hilton cam to my

service. Nov. 16th, the Quene removed to White Hall, and Monsieur
with her. Nov. 27th, I rod to Greensede. Nov. 28th, to goodman
Wykham, 2 myles beyond Chayly by Lewys. Nov. 29th, I made
acquayntance with Mr. George Kylmer for Sir George his bokes. Nov.
30th, I cam home. Dec. 1st, Katharyn Dee her nurse was payd 6s. so
nothing is owing to her. Dec. 5th, Elen my mayden fell sick. Dec. 7th,
George