A LETTER, Containing a most brief Discourse Apologetical, with a plain Demonstration, and fervent Protestation, for the lawful, sincere, very faithful and Christian course, of the Philosophical studies and exercises, of a certain studious Gentleman: An ancient Servant to her most excellent Majesty Royal.  

Pro eo, ut me diligerent, detrahebant mihi:    

To the most Reverend father in God, the Lord Archbishop of Canturbury, Primate and Metropolitan of all England, one of her majesties most honourable privy Counsel: my singular good Lord.  
MOst humbly and heartily I crave your Grace's pardon, if I offend any thing, to send, or present unto your Grace's hand, so simple a discourse as this is: Although, by some sage and discreet my friends their opinion, it is thought not to be impertinent, to my most needful suits, presently in hand, (before her most excellent Majesty Royal, your Lordship's good Grace, and other the Right honourable Lords of her majesties privy Counsel) to make some part of my former studies, and studious exercises (within and for these 46, years last past, used and continued) to be first known and discovered unto your Grace, and other the Right honourable my good Lords, of her majesties privy Counsel: And, Secondly, afterwards, the same to be permitted to come to public view: Not so much, to stop the mouths, and, at length to stay the impudent attempts, of the rash, and malicious devisers, and contrivers of most untrue, foolish, and wicked reports, and fables, of, and concerning my foresaid studious exercises, passed over, with my great, (yea incredible) pains, travels, cares, and costs, in the search, and learning of true Philosophy; As, therein, Só, to certify, and satisfy the godly and unpartial Christian hearer, or reader hereof: That, by his own judgement, (upon his due consideration, and examination of this, no little parcel, of the particulars of my foresaid studies, and exercises philosophical annexed) He will, or may, be sufficiently informed, and persuaded; That I have wonderfully laboured, to find, follow, use, & haunt the true, strait, and most narrow path, leading all true, devout, zealous, faithful, and constant Christian students, ex valle hac miseriae, & miseria istius vallis: & tenebrarum Regno; & tenebris istius Regni, ad montem sanctum Zion, & ad caelestia tabernacula. All thanks, are most due, therefore, unto the Almighty: Seeing, it so pleased him, (even from my youth, by his divine favour, grace, and help) to insinuate into my heart, an insatiable zeal, & desire, to know his truth: And in him, and by him, incessantly to seek, and listen after the same; by the true philosophical method and harmony: proceeding and ascending, (as it were) gradatim, from things visible, to consider of things invisible: from things bodily, to conceive of things spiritual: from things transitory, & momentany, to meditate of things permanent: by things mortal (visible and invisible) to have some perceiverance of immortality. And to conclude, most briefly; by the most marvelous frame of the whole World, philosophically viewed, and circumspectly weighed, numbered, and measured (according to the talon, & gift of God, from above allotted, for his divine purposes effecting) most faithfully to love, honour, and glorify always, the Framer, and Creator thereof. In whose workmanship, his infinite goodness, unsearchable wisdom, and Almighty power, yea, his everlasting 
* Paul to the Rom. Cap. 1. verse 19 20.  power, and divinity, may (by innumerable means) be manifested, and demonstrated. The truth of which my zealous, careful, and constant intent, and endeavour specified; may (I hope) easily appear by the whole, full and due survey, and consideration of all the Books, Treatises, and discourses, whose Titles only, are, at this time, here annexed, and expressed: As they are set down in the sixth Chapter, of an other little rhapsodical Treatise, entitled, The Compendious Rehearsal, etc. written above two years since: for those her majesties two honourable Commissioners; which her most excellent Majesty had most graciously sent to my poor Cottage, in Mortlake: to understand the matters, and causes at full; through which, I was so extremely urged to procure at her majesties hands such honourable Surveyors & witnesses to be assigned, for the due proof of the contents, of my most humble and pitiful supplication, exhibited unto her most excellent Majesty, at Hampton Court, An. 1592. Novemb. 9 Thus therefore (as followeth) is the said 6. Chapter there, recorded.  

My labours and pains bestowed at divers times, to pleasure my native Country: by writing of sundry Books, and Treatises: some in Latin, some in English, and some of them, written, at her majesties commandment. Of which Books, and Treatises, some are printed, and some vnprinted. The printed Books, and Treatises are these following:  
Propaedeumata Aphoristica, De praestantioribus quibusdam Naturae virtutibus.— Aphorismi. 120. Anno. 1558.  
Monas Hieroglyphica, Mathematicè, Anagogicéque explicata; ad Maximilianum (Dei gratia) Romanorum, Bohemiae, & Hungariae, Regem sapientissimum an. 1564.  
Epistola ad eximium Ducis Vrbini Mathematicum (Fredericum Commandinum) praefixa libello Machometi Bagdedini, De superficierum Divisionibus; edito in lucem, opera mea, & eiusdem Commandini Vrbinatis; Impressa Pisauri— Anno— 1570.  
The British Monarchy (otherwise called the Petty Navy Royal:) for the politic security; abundant wealth, and the triumphant state of this kingdom, (with God's favour) procuring— Anno— 1576.  
My Mathematical preface annexed to Euclid, (by the right worshipful Sir Henry Billingsley Knight, in the English language first published) written at the earnest request of sundry right worshipful Knights, and other very well learned men. Wherein are many Arts, of me, wholly invented (by name, definition, propriety and use,) more than either the Grecian, or Roman Mathematiciens, have left to our knowledge— Anno— 1570.  
My divers & many Annotations, and Inventions Mathematical, added in sundry places of the foresaid English Euclid, after the tenth Book of the same— 1570.  
Epistola praefixa Ephemeridibus joannis Felde Angli: cui rationem declaraveram Ephemerides conscribendi. 1557.  
Paralaticae Commentationis, Praxeosque Nucleus quidam. 1573   

The vnprinted Books and Treatises, are these: some, perfectly finished: and some, yet unfinished.  
THe first great volume of Famous and rich Discoveries: wherein (also) is the History of King Solomon, every three years, his Ophirian voyage. The Originals of Presbyter joannes: and of the first great Cham, and his successors for many years following: The description of divers wonderful Isles, in the Northern, Scythian, Tartarian, and the other most Northern Seas, and near under the North Pole: by Record, written above 1200. years since: with divers other rarities— Anno— 1576.  
The British Complement, of the perfect Art of Navigation; A great volume: in which, are contained our Queen Elizabeth her Arithmetical Tables Gubernauticke: for Navigation by the paradoxal compass (of me, invented anno 1557.) and Navigation by great Circles: and for longitudes, and latitudes; and the variation of the compass finding most easily, and speedily: yea, (if need be) in one minute of time, and sometime, without sight of sun, moon, or star; with many other, new and needful inventions Gubernauticke— anno— 1576.  
Her majesties Title Royal, to many foreign countries, kingdoms, and provinces, by good testimony and sufficient proof recorded: and in 12. Velam skins of parchment, fair written: for her majesties use: and at her majesties commandment— anno— 1578  
De Imperatoris Nomine, Authoritate, & Potentia: dedicated to her Majesty— anno— 1579  
Prolegomena & Dictata Parisiensia, in Euclidis Elementorum Geometricorum, librum primum, & secundum; in Collegio Rhemensi— anno— 1550.  
De usu Globi Caelestis: ad Regem Edoardum sextum. 1550  
The Art of Logic, in English— anno— 1547.  
The 13. Sophistical Fallacians, with their Discoveries, written in English metre— anno— 1548.  
Mercurius Caelestis: libri— 24. written at Lovayn— 1549.  
De Nubium, Solis, Lunae, ac reliquorum Planetarum, immò ipsius stelliferi Caeli, ab infimo Terrae Centro, distantijs, mutuisque interuallis, & eorundem omnium Magnitudine liber 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, ad Edoardum Sextum, Angliae Regen. Anno— 1551.  
Aphorismi Astrologici— 300.— anno— 1553.  
The true cause, and account (not vulgar) of Floods and Ebbs: written at the request of the right honourable Lady, Lady jane, Duchess of Northumberland— anno— 1553.  
The Philosophical and Poetical Original occasions, of the Configurations, and names of the heavenly Asterisms— written at the request of the same Duchess. Anno. 1553.  
The Astronomical, & logistical rules, and Canons, to calculate the Ephemerideses by, and other necessary accounts of heavenly motions: written at the request, and for the use of that excellent Mechanicien Master Richard Chancellor, at his last voyage into Moschovia— anno— 1553.  
De Acribologia Mathematica; volumen magnum: sexdecim continens libros— anno— 1555  
inventum Mechanicum, Paradoxum, De nova ratione delineandi Circumferentiam Circularem: unde, valde rara alia excogitari perficíque poterunt problemata. An. 1556.  
De speculis Comburentibus: libri sex— Anno— 1557.  
De Perspectiva illa, qua peritissimi utuntur Pictores. 1557.  
Speculum unitatis: sive Apologia pro Fratre Rogerio Bachone Anglo: in qua docetur nihil illum per Daemoniorum fecisse auxilia, sed philosophum fuisse maximum; naturaliterque & modis homini Christiano licitis, maximas fecisse res, quas indoctum solet vulgus, in Daemoniorum referre facinora— Anno— 1557.  
De Annuli Astronomici multiplici usu— lib. 2— Anno. 1557.  
Trochilica inventa— lib— 2— Anno— 1558.  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉— lib— 3— Anno— 1558.  
De tertia & praecipua Perspectivae part, quae de Radiorum fractione tractat— libri— 3— Anno— 1559.  
De Itinere subterraneo— libri— 2— Anno— 1560.  
De Triangulorum rectilineorum Areis— libri— 3— demonstrati: ad excellentissimum Mathematicum Petrum Nonium conscripti— Anno— 1560.  
Cabalae Hebraicae compendiosa tabella— Anno— 1562.  
Reipublicae Britannicae Synopsis: in English— Anno. 1565.  
De Trigono Circinóque Analogico, Opusculum, Mathematicum & Mechanicum— libri— 4— Anno— 1565.  
De stella admiranda, in Cassiopeaes Asterismo, caelitus demissa ad orbem usque veneris: Iterumque in Caeli penetralia perpendiculariter retracta, post decimum sextum suae apparitionis mensem— Anno— 1573.  
Hipparchus Rediviws— Tractatulus— Anno. 1573.  
De unico Mago, & triplici Herode, eóque Antichristiano. Anno— 1570.  
Ten sundry and very rare Heraldical Blasoning of one Crest or Cognisance, lawfully confirmed to certain ancient Arms— lib. 1.— Anno— 1574.  
Atlantidis, (vulgariter, Indiae Occidentalis nominatae) emendatior de scriptio Hydrographica, quàm ulla alia adhuc ewlgata— anno— 1580.  
De modo evangelii jesu Christi publicandi, propagandi, stabiliendique, inter Infideles Atlanticos: volumen magnum, libris distinctum quatuor: quorum primus ad Serenissimam nostram Potentissimamque Reginam Elizabetham inscribitur: Secundus, ad summos privati suae sacrae Maiestatis consilij senatores: Tertius, ad Hispaniarum Regem, Philippum: Quartus, ad Pontificem Romanum— anno 1581.  
Navigationis ad Cathayum per Septentrionalia Scythiae & Tartariae litora, Delineatio Hydrographica: Arthuro Pit, & Carolo jackmanno Anglis, versus illas partes Navigaturis, in manus tradita; cum admiraendarum quarundam Insularum annotatione, in illis subpolaribus partibus iacentium— anno— 1580.  
Hemisphaerij Borealis Geographica, at que Hydrographica descriptio: longè a vulgatis chartis diversa: Anglis quibusdam, versus Atlantidis Septentrionalia litora, navigationem instituentibus, dono data— anno— 6583  
The Originals, and chief points, of our ancient British, Histories, discoursed upon, and examined— anno— 1583.  
An advise & discourse about the Reformation of the vulgar julian year— written by her majesties commandment, and the Lords of the privy Counsel— anno— 1582.  
Certain considerations, and confer together, of these three sentences, (anciently accounted as Oracles) Nosce te ipsum: Homo Homini Deus: Homo Homini Lupus. 1592.  
De hominis Corpore, Spiritu, & Anima: sive Microcosmicum totius Philosophiae Naturalis Compendium— lib. 1— 1591.   
With many other books, pamphlets, discourses, inventions, and conclusions, in divers Arts and matters: whose names, need not in this Abstract to be notified: The most part of all which, here specified, lie here before your Honours upon the table, on your left hand. But by other books and writings, of an other sort, (if it so please God, and that he will grant me life, health, and due maintenance thereto, for some ten or twelve years next ensuing) I may, hereafter make plain, and without doubt, this sentence to be true, Plura latent, quàm patent.  
Thus far (my good Lord) have I set down this Catalogus, out of the foresaid sixth Chapter, of the book, whose title is this: The Compendious rehearsal of john Dee, his dutiful declaration and proof of the course and race of his studious life, for the space of half an hundred years, now (by God's favour and help) fully spent, etc.  
To which compendious rehearsal, doth now belong an Appendix, of these two last years: In which I have had many just occasions, to confess, that Homo Homini Deus, and Homo Homini Lupus, was and is an Argument, worthy of the deciphering, & large discussing: as may, one day, hereafter (by God's help) be published, in some manner very strange. And besides all the rehearsed books, & treatises of my writing, or handling hitherto, I have just cause, lately given me to write & publish a Treatise, with Title, De Horizonte Aeternitatis: to make evident, that one Andreas Libavius, in a book of his, printed the last year, hath unduly considered a phrase of my Monas Hieroglyphica: to his misliking: by his own unskilfulness in such matter: and not understanding my apt application thereof, in one of the very principal places, 
It may now be here also remembered, that almost three years after the writing of this letter, I did somewhat satisfy the request of an honourable friend in Court, by speedily penning some matter concerning her majesties Sea-soveraigntie: under this title Thalattocratia Brytannica.  of the whole book. And this book of mine, (by God's help and favour) shall be dedicated unto her most excellent majesty Royal: And this Treatise doth contain three books, 

Sive,  
De Brytanico Maris Imperio, Collectanea Extemporanea: 4. dierum Spacio, celeri conscripta calamo. Anno. 1597.— Septemb. 20, Mancestriae.   The first entitled, De Horizonte: liber Mathematicus & Physicus. The Second, De Aeternitate: liber Theologicus, Metaphysicus & Mathematicus. The Third, De Horizonte Aeternitatis: liber Theologicus, Mathematicus, & Hierotechnicus.  
¶ Truly I have great cause to praise and thank God, for your graces very charitable using of me: both in sundry points else, & also in your favourable yielding to, yea & notifying the due means for the performance of her Sacred Majesties most gracious and bountiful disposition, resolution, and very royal beginning, to restore and give unto me (her Ancient faithful servant) some due maintenance: to lead the rest of my old days, in some quiet and comfort: with ability, to retain some speedy, fair, and Orthographical writers, about me; and the same skilful in Latin and Greek (at the least:) aswell for mine own books, and works, fair and correctly to be written (such I mean, as either her most excellent Majesty, out of the premises will make choice of, or command to be finished or published: or such of them, as your grace shall think meet or worthy for my farther labour to be bestowed on:) as else for the speedy, fair, and true writing out of other ancient Authors their good and rare works, in greek or Latin: which by God's providence, have been preserved from the spoil made of my Library, & of all my movable goods here: etc. Anno. 1583. 
✚ Although thát my last voyage beyond the Seas, was duly undertaken (by her majesties good favour and licence) as by the same words may appear in the Letter, written by the right honourable Lord treasurer, unto your grace in my behalf, and her most excellent majesty willing his honour so to do. Anno. 1590. the 20. of januarie.  In which Library, were about 4000 books: whereof, 700. were anciently written by hand: Some in Greek, some in Latin, some in Hebrew: And some in other languages (as may by the whole Catalogus thereof appear.) But the great losses and damages which in sundry sorts I have sustained, do not so much grieve my heart, as the rash, lewd, fond, and most untrue fables and reports of me, and my studies philosophical, have done, & yet do: which commonly, after their first hatching, and devilish devising, immediately with great speed, are generally all the Realm overspread; and to some, seem true; to other, they are doubtful: and to only the wise, modest, discreet, godly, and charitable (and chiefly to such as have some acquaintance with me) they appear, and are known to be fables, untruths, and utterly false reports, and slanders. Well, this shall be my last charitable giving of warning, and fervent protestation to my Countrymen and all other in this case:  
Before the Almighty our God, 
A fervent protestation.  and your Lordship's good grace, this day, on the peril of my soul's damnation (if I lie, or take his name in vain herein) I take the same God, to be my witness; That, with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength, power, and understanding (according to the measure thereof, which the Almighty hath given me) for the most part of the time, from my youth hitherto, I have used, and still use, good, lawful, honest, christian, and divinely prescribed means, to attain to the knowledge of those truths, which are meet, and necessary for me to know; and wherewith to do his divine Majesty such service, as he hath, doth, and will call me unto, during this my life: for his honour and glory advancing, and for the benefit, and commodity public of this kingdom; so much, as by the will, and purpose of God, shall lie in my skill, and ability to perform: as a true, faithful, and most sincerely dutiful servant, to our most gracious and incomparable Queen Elizabeth, and as a very comfortable fellow-member of the body politic, governed under the sceptre Royal of our earthly Supreme head (Queen Elizabeth) and as a lively sympathical, and true symmetrical fellow-member, of that holy and mystical body, Catholicklie extended and placed (wheresoever) on the earth: in the view, knowledge, direction, protection, illumination, and consolation of the Almighty, most blessed, most holy, most glorious, comajestical, coëternall, and coëssentiall Trinity: The head of that body, being only our Redeemer, Christ jesus, perfect God and perfect man: whose return in glory, we faithfully await, and daily, do very earnestly cry unto him, to hasten his second coming, for his elects sake: iniquity doth so on this earth, abound, and prevail, and true faith with charity, and evangelical simplicity, have but cold, slender, and uncertain entertainment, among the worldly-wise men of this world.  
Therefore (herein concluding) I beseech the Almighty God, most abundantly to increase and confirm your graces heavenly wisdom, and endue you with all the rest of his heavenly gifts, for the relieving, refreshing, and comforting, both bodily and spiritually, his little flock of the faithful, yet militant here on earth. Amen.   

An Epilogue.  
Good my Lord, I beseech your grace, to allow of my plain and comfortable Epilogus, for this matter at this time. Seeing, my studious exercises, and conversation civil, may be abundantly testified, to my good credit, in the most parts of all Christendom: and that, by all degrees of Nobility, by all degrees of the learned, and by very many other, of godly and Christian disposition, for the space of 46. years trial: (as appeareth by the Records lately viewed by two honourable witnesses, by Commission from her Majesty,) And seeing, for these 36. years, last passed, I have been her most excellent Majesties very true, faithful, and dutiful servant; At whose royal mouth, I never received any one word of reproach; but all of favour, and grace: In whose princely countenance, I never perceived frown toward me, or discontented regard, or view on me: but at all times favourable, and gracious: to the great joy and comfort of my true, faithful, and loyal heart. And (thirdly) Seeing, the works of my hands, and words of my mouth (here before notified, in the Schedule of my books, and writings) may bear lively witness of the thoughts of my heart, and inclination of my mind, generally, (as all wise men do know, and Christ himself doth avouch) It might, in manner, seem needless, thus carefully (though most briefly and speedily) to have warned or confounded the scornful, the malicious, the proud, and the rash in their untrue reports, opinions, and fables of my studies, or exercises Philosophical: but that, it is of more importance, that the godly, the honest, the modest, the discreet, grave, and charitable Christians (English or other,) lovers of justice, truth, and good learning, may, hereby, receive certain comfort in themselves (to perceive, that Veritas tandem praevalebit) and sufficiently be weaponed and armed with sound truth, to defend me against such kind of my adversaries: if hereafter they will begin afresh, or hold on, obstinately, in their former errors, vain imaginations, false reports, and most ungodly slanders of me and my studies. ¶ Therefore, (to make all this cause, for ever, before God and man, out of all doubt:) Seeing, your Lordship's good grace, are, as it were, our high Priest, and chief Ecclesiastical minister, (under our most dread and Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth) to whose censure and judgement, I submit all my studies and exercises; yea all my books, past, present and hereafter to be written, by me (of my own skill, judgement, or opinion,) I do, at this present time, most humbly, sincerely, and unfeignedly, and in the name of Almighty God, (yea for his honour and glory) request, and beseech your Grace, (when, and as conveniently you may) to be well and throughlie certified of me, what I am, Intus & in cute: Reverendissime in Christo Pater, & Dignissime Archipraesul, cognosce & agnosce vultum tàm internum, quàm externum pecoris tui: And wherein I have used, do or shall use, pen, speech, or conversation, otherwise then as it appertaineth to a faithful, careful, sincere, and humble servant of Christ jesus, That your grace would vouchsafe to advertise me. So, I trust, Vltima respondebunt primis: in such sort, as this Authentic Record in latin annexed (ad perpetuam rei memoriam,) doth testify: having never, hitherto, had occasion to show that, in any place of Christendom: to testify better of me, than they had proof of me, themselves, by my conversation among them. (The Almighty, therefore, be highly thanked, praised, honoured, and glorified, for ever and ever, Amen.)  
But now, in respect of the general intent of this brief discourse, I most humbly, and reverently, exhibit to your grace's view, and perusing, the original monument, and Authentic Record, before mentioned, fair written in parchment, with the seal whole, and perfect, duly appendent: as I have 46. years, and somewhat longer, preserved it. The true copy whereof, your grace doth see, to be verbatim, as followeth.   


universis Sanctae matris Ecclesiae filijs, ad quos praesentes literae perventurae sunt, Vicecancellarius Caetusque omnis Regentium & non Regentium, Vniversitatis Cantabrigiae, Salutem in Domino sempiternam. Conditiones & merita hominum in nostra Vniversitate studentium, affectu sincero perpendentes, eos solos testimonio nostro ornandos esse arbitramur, quos scimus ob eruditionem, & morum probitatem promeritos esse, ut istud beneficium à nobis consequantur: Quamobrem, cùm hoc tempore, ipsa veritas testimonium nostrum sibi postulat, vestrae pietati, per has literas significamus, Quòd dilectus nobis in Christo, joannes Dee, Artium Magister, in dicta nostra universitate, foeliciter versatus, plurimam sibi & doctrinae & honestatis laudem comparavit: De cuius gradu, & conuersatione (quae honestissima semper fuit,) ne qua uspiam ambiguitas, aut quaestio oriri possit, apud eos, quibus huius viri virtutes haud satis innotuerint, visum est nobis, in dicti joannis gratiam, has literas nostras Testimoniales conscribere; & conscriptas, publico Academiae nostrae sigillo, obsignare: quò, maiorem apud vos authoritatem, & pondus literae nostrae habeant, Bene valet. Datum Cantabrigiae, in plena Conuocatione Magistrorum Regentium, & non Regentium, Academiae praedictae: 14. Calend. Aprilis, Anno à Christo nato. 1548.   
For certain due respects the very image of the foresaid seal, is not here in portraiture published.   

Peroratio.  
THe Almighty and most merciful God, the Father; for his only Son (our Redeemer) jesus Christ his sake: by his holy spirit, so direct, bless, and prosper all my studies, and exercises Philosophical, (yea, all my thoughts, words, and deeds) henceforward, even to the very moment of my departing from this world, That I may evidently and abundantly be found, and undoubtedly acknowledged of the wise and just, to have been a zealous and faithful student in the School of Verity, and an Ancient Graduate in the School of Charity: to the honour and glory of the same God Almighty, and to the sound comfort and confirming of such as faithfully love & fear his divine Majesty, and unfeignedly continue in labour to do good, on earth: when, while, to whom, and as they may, Amen.  
Very speedily written, this twelfth even, and twelfth day, in my poor Cottage, at Mortlake: Anno. 1595. current à Nativitate Christi: hast, An. 1594. Completo, à Conceptione eiusdem, cum novem praeterea mensibus, Completis.  
Always, and very dutifully, at your Grace's commandment: john Dee.   


Psal. 118. Non moriar, sed vivam, & nartabo opera Domini: In sola Christi cruce fixa est omnis nostris gloria. Apocalypsis. 5. Ecce, vicit Leo de tribu juda (radix David) aperire librum, & solvere septem Signacula eius. IEOVA, FORTITUDO MEA, A QVO, TIMEBO. ANNO MUNDI NOVO INCHOANTE: VERITAS PREVALEBIT.    


15●9   
¶ AT LONDON Printed by Peter Short, dwelling on Breadstreet hill at the sign of the Star.