Later life John Dee

the seal of god , british museum

by 1580s, dee growing dissatisfied progress in learning secrets of nature failing influence , recognition in court circles. failure of proposed calendar revision, imperial recommendations , ambivalent results exploration of north america had brought hopes of political patronage end. result, began more energetic turn towards supernatural means acquire knowledge. specifically, sought contact spirits through use of scryer or crystal-gazer, act intermediary between dee , angels.

dee s first attempts several scryers not satisfactory, but, in 1582, met edward kelley (then going under name of edward talbot disguise conviction coining or forgery), impressed him abilities. dee took kelley service , began devote energies supernatural pursuits. these spiritual conferences or actions conducted air of intense christian piety, after periods of purification, prayer , fasting. dee convinced of benefits bring mankind. (the character of kelley harder assess: have concluded acted complete cynicism, delusion or self-deception not out of question. kelley s output remarkable sheer volume, intricacy , vividness). dee maintained angels laboriously dictated several books him way, through kelley, in special angelic or enochian language.

edward kelley

in 1583, dee met visiting impoverished yet popular polish nobleman albert Łaski who, after overstaying welcome @ court, invited dee accompany him on return poland. prompting angels (again through kelley) , worsening status @ court, dee persuaded go. dee, kelley , families left continent in september 1583, Łaski proved bankrupt , out of favour in own country. dee , kelley began nomadic life in central europe, meanwhile continuing spiritual conferences, dee recorded meticulously in diaries , almanacs. had audiences emperor rudolf ii in prague castle , king stefan batory of poland whom attempted convince of importance of angelic communication. meeting polish king, stefan batory, took place @ royal castle @ niepołomice (near kraków, capital of poland) , later analyzed polish historians (ryszard zieliński, roman Żelewski, roman bugaj) , writers (waldemar Łysiak). while dee accepted man of wide , deep knowledge, mistrusted connection english monarch, elizabeth i. not sure meetings without political ramifications. thought (and still do) dee in fact spy british monarch. nevertheless, polish king, devout catholic , cautious of supernatural media, began meeting(s) affirmation prophetic revelations must in keeping teachings of jesus christ, mission of holy catholic church, , approval of pope.

in 1587, during spiritual conference in bohemia, kelley informed dee angel uriel had ordered men share possessions, including wives. time, kelley had gained renown alchemist , in fact more sought-after dee in regard: line of work had prospects serious , long-term financial gain, among royal families of central europe. dee, on other hand, more interested in communicating angels believed him solve mysteries of heavens through mathematics, optics, astrology, science , navigation. may kelley in fact wished end dee s dependence on him scryer increasingly lengthy , frequent spiritual conferences. order wife-sharing caused dee great anguish, apparently did not doubt genuineness. apparently did share wives. however, dee broke off conferences afterwards. dee returned england in 1589: kelley went on alchemist emperor rudolf ii. 9 months later, on feb. 28, 1588, son born dee s wife, whom dee baptized theodorus trebonianus dee , raised own. possible child kelley s; dee 60 @ time, edward kelley 32.