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==Work with Edward Kelley== | ==Work with Edward Kelley== | ||
[[File:John-Dee-Evoking.jpg|400px|thumb|John Dee and Edward Kelley performing [[necromancy]]]] | [[File:John-Dee-Evoking.jpg|400px|thumb|John Dee and Edward Kelley performing [[necromancy]]]] | ||
By the early 1580s, Dee was discontented with his progress in learning the secrets of nature and his diminishing influence and recognition in court circles. Failure of his ideas concerning a proposed calendar revision, colonial establishment and ambivalent results for voyages of exploration in North America had nearly brought his hopes of political patronage to an end. He subsequently began to turn energetically towards the supernatural as a means to acquire knowledge. He sought to contact spirits through the use of a "[[scrying|scryer]]" or crystal-gazer, which he thought would act as an intermediary between himself and the [[angel]]s. | By the early 1580s, Dee was discontented with his progress in learning the secrets of nature and his diminishing influence and recognition in court circles. Failure of his ideas concerning a proposed [[Gregorian calendar|calendar]] revision, colonial establishment and ambivalent results for voyages of exploration in North America had nearly brought his hopes of political patronage to an end. He subsequently began to turn energetically towards the supernatural as a means to acquire knowledge. He sought to contact spirits through the use of a "[[scrying|scryer]]" or crystal-gazer, which he thought would act as an intermediary between himself and the [[angel]]s. | ||
Dee's first attempts with several scryers were unsatisfactory, but in 1582 he met [[Edward Kelley]] (then calling himself Edward Talbot to disguise his conviction for | Dee's first attempts with several scryers were unsatisfactory, but in 1582 he met [[Edward Kelley]] (then calling himself "Edward Talbot" to disguise his conviction for forgery), who impressed him greatly with his abilities. Dee took Kelley into his service and began to devote all his energies to his supernatural pursuits. These "spiritual conferences" were conducted with intense [[Christianity|Christian]] piety, always after periods of purification, prayer and fasting. Dee was convinced of the benefits they could bring to mankind. The character of Kelley is harder to assess: some conclude that he acted with cynicism, but delusion or self-deception cannot be ruled out. Kelley's "output" is remarkable for its volume, intricacy and vividness. Dee records in his journals that [[angel]]s dictated several books to him this way, through Kelley, some in a special angelic or [[Enochian]] language. | ||
==Travels through Europe== | ==Travels through Europe== | ||
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Dee and Kelley began a nomadic life in Central Europe, meanwhile continuing their spiritual conferences, which Dee detailed in his diaries and almanacs. They had audiences with Emperor Rudolf II in Prague Castle and King Stephen Bathory of Poland, whom they attempted to convince of the importance of angelic communication. The Bathory meeting took place at the Niepołomice Castle (near Kraków, then capital of Poland) and was later analysed by Polish historians (Ryszard Zieliński, Roman Żelewski, Roman Bugaj) and writers (Waldemar Łysiak). | Dee and Kelley began a nomadic life in Central Europe, meanwhile continuing their spiritual conferences, which Dee detailed in his diaries and almanacs. They had audiences with Emperor Rudolf II in Prague Castle and King Stephen Bathory of Poland, whom they attempted to convince of the importance of angelic communication. The Bathory meeting took place at the Niepołomice Castle (near Kraków, then capital of Poland) and was later analysed by Polish historians (Ryszard Zieliński, Roman Żelewski, Roman Bugaj) and writers (Waldemar Łysiak). | ||
While Dee was generally seen as a man of deep knowledge, he was mistrusted for his connection with the English monarch, Elizabeth I, for whom some thought (and still do) that Dee was a spy. The Polish king, a devout Catholic and cautious of supernatural mediators, began their meeting(s) by affirming that prophetic revelations must match the teachings of Christ, the mission of the Holy Catholic Church, and the approval of the Pope. | While Dee was generally seen as a man of deep knowledge, he was mistrusted for his connection with the English monarch, Elizabeth I, for whom some thought (and still do) that Dee was a spy. The Polish king, a devout [[Christianity|Catholic]] and cautious of supernatural mediators, began their meeting(s) by affirming that [[Prophet|prophetic]] revelations must match the teachings of Christ, the mission of the Holy Catholic Church, and the approval of the Pope. | ||
In 1587, at a spiritual conference in Bohemia, Kelley told Dee that the [[Archangel Uriel]] had ordered the men to share all their possessions, including their wives. By this time, Kelley had gained some renown as an [[alchemy|alchemist]] and was more sought-after than Dee in this regard: it was a line of work that had prospects for serious and long-term financial gain, especially among the royal families of central Europe. Dee, however, was more interested in communicating with angels, who he believed would help him solve the mysteries of the heavens through mathematics, optics, [[astrology]], science and navigation. | In 1587, at a spiritual conference in Bohemia, Kelley told Dee that the [[Archangel Uriel]] had ordered the men to share all their possessions, including their wives. By this time, Kelley had gained some renown as an [[alchemy|alchemist]] and was more sought-after than Dee in this regard: it was a line of work that had prospects for serious and long-term financial gain, especially among the royal families of central Europe. Dee, however, was more interested in communicating with angels, who he believed would help him solve the mysteries of the heavens through mathematics, optics, [[astrology]], science and navigation. | ||
The order for wife-sharing caused Dee anguish, but he apparently did not doubt it was genuine and | The order for wife-sharing caused Dee anguish, but he apparently did not doubt it was genuine and the two men shared their wives. However, Dee broke off the conferences immediately afterwards. He returned to England in 1589, while [[Edward Kelley|Kelley]] went on to be the alchemist to Emperor Rudolf II. Nine months later, on 28 February 1588, a son was born to Dee's wife, whom Dee baptised Theodorus Trebonianus Dee and raised as his own. | ||
==Final years== | ==Final years== | ||