The Private Diary of Dr. John Dee | Page 3

"Dr. Dee dwelt in a house neere the water side, a little
westward from the church [at Mortlake]. The buildings which Sir Fr.
Crane erected for working of tapestry hangings, and are still (1673)
employed to that use, were built upon the ground whereon Dr. Dee's
laboratory and other roomes for that use stood. Upon the west is a
square court, and the next is the house wherein Dr. Dee dwelt, now
inhabited by one Mr. Selbury, and further west his garden." --MS.
Ashm. 1788, fol. 149. The same account says that "Dr. Dee was wel
beloved and respected of all persons of quality thereabouts, who very
often invited him to their houses or came to his."]
[Footnote e: This of course is his celebrated Monas Hieroglyphica,
frequently printed, and the nature of which I attempted to explain in a
paper read before the Society of Antiquaries. Mr. Herbert, according to
MS. Ashm. 1788, "dwelt then in Mortlack and was an intimate friend
of Dr. Dee's."]
[Footnote f: This was his work printed in 1577 under the title of
General and Rare Memorials pertayning to the perfect Art of
Navigation, in folio, now a book of the greatest rarity. The original
manuscript of it is in MS. Ashm. 1789, and Dee's own copy of the
published work with MS. notes and additions is preserved in the British
Museum. In his Letter Apologetical, 4to. Lond. 1603, he cites this work
under the title of The Brytish Monarchie, as having been written in the
year 1576.]
Nov. 3rd, William Rogers of Mortlak, abowt 7 of the clok in the
morning, cut his own throte, by the fende his instigation. Nov. 6th, Sir
Umfrey Gilbert cam to me to Mortlak. Nov. 18th, borowed of Mr.
Edward Hynde of Mortlak £30 to be repayed at Hallowtyde next yere.
Nov. 20th, two tydes in the forenone, the first 2 or 3 howres to sone.
Nov. 22nd, I rod to Windsor to the Q. Majestie. Nov. 25th, I spake with
the Quene hora quinta. Nov. 28th, I spake with the Quene hora quinta; I
spake with Mr. Secretary Walsingham.[g] I declared to the Quene her
title to Greenland, Estetiland and Friseland.

[Footnote g: Ashmole informs us that Walsingham continued for a
length of time one of Dr. Dee's best patrons.]
Dec. 1st, I spake with Sir Christofer Hatton; he was made knight that
day. Dec. 1st, I went from the cowrte at Wyndsore. Dec. 30th,
inexplissima illa calumnia de R. Edwardo, iniquissime aliqua ex parte
in me denunciabatur: ante aliquos elapsos dies, sed ... sua sapientia me
innocentem.
1578. Feb. 5th, sponsalia cum Jana Fromonds horam circiter primam.
April 28th, I caused Sir Rowland Haywood to examyn Francys Baily of
his sklandering me, which he denyed utterly. June 13th, rayn and in the
afternone a little thunder. June 30th, I told Mr. Daniel Rogers,[h] Mr.
Hackluyt of the Middle Temple being by, that Kyng Arthur and King
Maty, both of them, did conquier Gelindia, lately called Friseland,
which he so noted presently in his written copy of Monumethensis,[i]
for he had no printed boke therof. July 14th, my sister Elizabeth
Fromonds cam to me. July 27th, hora 9, min. 15 a meridie Francis
Cowntess of Hertford.
[Footnote h: Rogers was a member of the University of Oxford, and a
large commonplace-book in his handwriting is in Archbishop Tenison's
library in St. Martin's-in-the-Fields.]
[Footnote i: That is, Galfridus Monumetensis de gestis regum
Britanniæ. Hackluyt mentions this fact in his collection of voyages.]
Aug. 5th, Mr. Raynolds of Bridewell tok his leave of me as he passed
toward Darthmowth to go with Sir Umfry Gilbert toward Hocheleya.
Aug. 15, I went toward Norwich with my work of Imperium
Brytanicum.[k] Aug. 23rd, I cam to London from Norwich. Aug. 31st, I
went to my father-in-law Mr. Fromonds to Cheyham.
[Footnote k: This is the book just mentioned under the title of General
and Rare Memorials, fol. Lond. 1577.]
Sept. 1st, I cam from Cheyham. Sept. 6th, Elen Lyne, my mayden,
departed from this life immediately after the myd-day past, when she

had lyne sik a month lacking one day. Sept. 12th, Jane Gaele cam to
my servyce, and she must have four nobles by the yere, 26s. 8d. Sept.
25th, Her Majestie cam to Richemond from Grenwich. Sept. 26, the
first rayn that came for many a day; all pasture abowt us was withered:
rayn afternone like Aprill showres. Oct. 8th, the Quene's Majestie had
conference with me at Richemond inter 9 et 11. Oct. 16th, Dr. Bayly
conferred of the Quene her disease. Oct. 22nd, Jane Fromonds went to
the court at Richemond. Oct. 25th, a fit from 9 afternone to 1 after
mydnight. Oct. 28, the Erle of Lecester and Sir Francys Walsingham,
secretary, determined my going over for