DR. DEE’S DIARY.
CATALOGUS LIBRORUM BIBLIOTHECÆ EXTERNÆ MORTLACENSIS D. JOH. DEE, Ao 1583, 6 SEPT.
DR. DEE’S DIARY.
1554. Aug. 25th, Barthilmew Hikman born at
Shugborowh in Warwikshyre toward evening. My conjecture, uppon his
own reporte of circumstances. Oct. 25th, D. Daniel Vander Meulen
Antwerpiæ, mane hora quarta.a
1555. April 22nd, Jane Fromonds borne at Cheyham at none.
Aug. 1st, Ed. Kelly natus hora quarta a meridieb ut annotatum
reliquit pater ejus. Oct. 12th, the Lord Willughby born hora
septima mane, ante meridiem, Lat. 51° 30', at Wesell in Gelderland.
1557. July 30th, Mr. Arundell of Cornwayle natus circa
[horam] quartam a meridie.
1558. Dec. 14th, Mary Nevelle, alias Mary Lewknor, borne
inter 11 et meridiem mane, by Chichester.
1560. July 8th, Margaret Russell, Cowntess of Cumberland,
hora 2 min. 9 Exoniæ mane.
1561. Aug. 14th, Mr. Heydon, of Baconsthorp in Norfolk, hora
noctis 11½ natus in comitatu Surrey.
1563. March 23rd, Mr. William Fennar a meridie inter horam
undecimam et duodecimam nocte. June 23nd, Jane Cooper, now 2
Mystris Kelly, toward evening. Sept. 28th, Mr. John Ask ante
meridiem, by York six myle on this syde; Elizabeth Mownson, circa
horam 9 mane, soror magistri Thomæ Mownson et uxor magistri Brown.
1564. Mrs. Brigit Cooke borne about seven of the clok on
Saynt David’s Day, which is the first day of March, being Wensday;
but I cannot yet lerne whether it was before none or after. But she
thinketh herself to be but 27 yeres old, anno 1593, Martii primo,
but it cannot be so. June 20th, Mr. Hudson, hora septima ante
meridiem. Aug. 21st, Wenefride Goose, inter 9 et 10 a meridie by
Kingstone.
1565. Sept. 12th, John Pontoys, inter 9 et 10 ante meridiem
prope Stony-Stratford; puto potius hora 8 min. 43. Oct. 17th,
Thomas Kelleyc hora quarta a meridie at Wurceter. Dec. 21st, Mr.
Thomas Mownson at 11 of the clok in the morning.
1568. July 14th, William Emery born at Danbery in Essex paulo
post undecimam horam noctis. Sept. 24th, Margaret Anderson mane
inter 7 et 8.
1571. Samuel Swallow borne at Thaxstede in Essex Feb. 15 ante
meridiem, inter horam undecimam et duodecimam, forte hora media
post undecimam.
1575. July 31st, Simeon Stuard natus ante diluculum per horam
11½ at Shinfelde; his grandfather by the mother was Dr. Huyck the
Quene’s physicien.
1577. Jan. 16th, the Erle of Lecester, Mr. Phillip Sydney,
Mr. Dyer, &c., came to my howse.d Jan. 22nd, The Erle of
Bedford 3 cam to my howse. Feb. 19th, great wynde S.W., close,
clowdy. March 11th, my fall uppon my right nuckul bone, hora 9 fere
mane; wyth oyle of Hypericon in 24 howres eased above all hope: God
be thanked for such his goodness of his creatures! March 24th,
Alexander Simon the Ninivite came to me, and promised me his
servise into Persia. May 1st, I received from M. William Harbert of
St. Gillian his notes uppon my Monas.e May 2nd, I understode of one
Vincent Murfyn his abhominable misusing me behinde my back; Mr.
Thomas Besbich told me his father is one of the cokes of the Court.
May 20th, I hyred the barber of Cheswik, Walter Hooper, to kepe my
hedges and knots in as good order as he sed them than, and that to
be done with twise cutting in the yere at the least and he to have
yerely five shillings, [and] meat and drink. June 10th, circa 10, a
shower of hayle and rayne. June 18th, borrowed £40 of John Hilton
of Fulham. June 19th, I understode of more of Vincent Murfyn his
knavery; borrowed £20 of Bartylmew Newsam. June 20th, borow £27
uppon the chayn of golde. June 26th, Elen Lyne gave me a quarter’s
warning. June 27th, showrs of rayne and hayle. Aug. 19th, the
Hexameron Brytanicumf put to printing.
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, 4 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.
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.
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.
5 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 the Quene’s Majestie. Nov. 4th, I was directed to my
voyage by the Erle of Lecester and Mr. Secretary Walsingham hora
nona. Nov. 7th, I cam to Gravesende. Nov. 9th, I went from Lee to
sea. Nov. 14th, I cam to Hamburgh hora tertia. Dec. 11th, to
Franckfurt-uppon-Oder. Dec. 15th, newes of Turnifer’s comming hora
octava mane, by a speciall mesenger.
1579. A moyst Marche and not wyndy. June 10th, I shewed to
Mr. John Lewis and his sonne, the physition, the manner of drawing
aromaticall oyles. At that tyme my cat got a fledge yong sparrow
which had onely a right wyng naturally. June 15th, my mother
surrendred Mortlak howses and land, and had state geven in plena
curia ad terminum vitæ, and to me was also the reversion delivered
per virgam, and to my wife Jane by me, and after to my heirs and
assignes for ever, to understand, Mr. Bullok and Mr. Taylor,
surveyor, at Wimbledon, under the tree by the church. June 22nd,
Mr. Richard Hickman and Barthilmew his nephew cam to me with Mr.
Flowr, commended by Mr. Vicechamberlayn Sir Christopher Hatton.
July 6th, Mr. Hitchcok, who had travayled in the plat for
fishing, made acquayntance with me, and offred me great curtesy.
6 July 13th, Arthurus Dee natusl puer mane hor. 4 min. 30
fere, vel potius min. 25, in ipso ortu solis, ut existimo. After 10
of the clock this night my wive’s father Mr. Fromonds was
speechles, and died on Tuesday (July 14th) at 4 of the clock in the
morning. July 16th, Arthur was christened at 3 of the clok
afternone; Mr. Dyer and Mr. Doctor Lewys, judg of the Admiralty,
were his godfathers; and Mistres Blanche Pary of the Privie Chamber
his godmother. But Mr. John Harbert of Estshene was deputy for Dr.
Lewys, and Mystres Awbrey was deputy for my cosen Mistres Blanche
Pary.
Aug. 8th, John Elmeston,m student of Oxford, cam to me for
dialling. Aug. 9th, Jane Dee churched. Aug. 16th, Monsieur cam
secretly to the court from Calays. Aug. 20th, wyndy, clowdy, rayny.
Aug. 26, Monsieur went back agayn to France. Sept. 10th, my dream
of being naked, and my skyn all overwrowght with work like some
kinde of tuft mockado, with crosses blew and red; and on my left
arme, abowt the arme, in a wreath, this word I red— sine me nihil
potestis facere: and another the same night of Mr. Secretary
Walsingham, Mr. Candish, and myself.
Oct. 3rd, Sir Leonel Ducket his unkend letter for mony. Oct.
4th, goodman Hilton requested me for his ij. sonnes to resort to my
howse. Oct. 5th, raging wynde at West and Southerly, in the night
chefely. Oct. 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, great rayne for three or four
dayes and nights. Oct. 13th, this day it broke up; the fote bote
for the ferry at Kew was drowned and six persons, by the negligens
of the ferryman overwhelming the boat uppon the roap set there to
help, by reason of the vehement and high waters. Oct. 18th, Mr.
Adrian Gilbert and John Davys reconcyled themselves to me, and
disclosed some of Emery his most unhonest, 7 hypocriticall, and
devilish dealings and devises agaynst me and other, and likewise of
that errant strompet her abominable wordes and dedes; and John
Davis sayd that he might curse the tyme that ever he knew Emery,
and so much followed his wicked cownsayle and advyse. So just is
God! Oct. 31st, payed xxs. fyne for me and Jane my wife to the Lord
of Wimbleton (the Quene), by goodman Burton of Putney, for the
surrender taken of my mother of all she hath in Mortlak to Jane and
me, and than to my heyres and assynes, &c.
Nov. 25th, the Lord Clinton cam to me and offred Skirbeck by
Boston for Long Lednam. Nov. 29th, I receyved a letter from Mr.
Thomas Jones. Dec. 9th, Θις νιγτ μι υυιφ δρεμιδ θατ ονε καμ το ἑρ
ανδ τουχεδ ἑρ, σαιινγ, “Μιστρες Δεε, yου αρ κονκειυεδ οφ χιλδ, ὑος
ναμε μυστ βε Ζαχαριας; βε οφ γυδ χερε, ἑ σαλ δο υυελ ας θις δοθ!”n
Dec. 22nd, I payd Jane 13s. and 4d. for her wagys tyll Michelmas
last, for the half yere, so that I owe her yet 6s. 8d. Dec. 28th, I
reveled to Roger Cokeo the gret secret of the elixir of the salt οφ
ακετελς ονε υππον α υνδρεδ.
1580. Jan. 13th, I gave my wife mony for the month. Jan.
16th, Arthur fell sick, stuffed with cold fleym, could not slepe,
had no stomach to eat or drink as he had done before. Feb. 26th,
this night the fyre all in flame cam into my maydens chamber
agayne, betwene an eleven and twelve of the cloke; contynued half
an howr terribly, so it did a yere before to the same maydens, Mary
Cunstable and Jane Gele. May 17th, at the Moscovy howse for the
Cathay voyage. June 3rd, Mr. A. Gilbert and J. Davys rod homward
into Devonshire. June 7th, Mr. Skydmor and his wife 8 lay at my
howse and Mr. Skydmor’s dowghter, and the Quene’s dwarf Mrs.
Tomasin. June 8th, my wife went with Mistres Skydmor to the court.
June 12th, Mr. Zackinson and Mr. Cater lay at my howse, having
supped at my Lady Crofts. June 14th, Mr. Fosku of the Wardrip lay
at my howse, and went the next day to London with Mr. Coweller.
July 15th, the Lady Croft went from Mortlak to the court at
Otlands. June 30th, payd Jane 20s. for thre quarters’ wages, so
that all that is due is payd, and all other recknengs likewise is
payd her 6s. 8d.; and Mary Constable was payd all old reknings
15s., and my wife had eleven pounds to dischardge all for thirteen
wekes next, that is, till the 5th of November: I delivered Mr.
Williams, the person of Tendring, a lettre of atturney agaynst one
White of Colchester, for a sklaundre.
Aug. 27th, Arthur was weaned this night first. Aug. 28th, my
dealing with Sir Humfrey Gilbert for his graunt of discovery. Aug.
30th, Nurse Darant was discharged and had 10s. given her, which was
the whole quarter’s wages due at a fortnight after Michelmas.
Sept. 6th, the Quene’s Majestie cam to Richemond. Sept. 10th,
Sir Humfry Gilbert graunted me my request to him, made by letter,
for the royaltyes of discovery all to the North above the parallell
of the 50 degree of latitude, in the presence of Stoner, Sir John
Gilbert, his servant or reteiner; and thereuppon toke me by the
hand with faithfull promises in his lodging of John Cooke’s howse
in Wichcross strete, where wee dyned onely us three together, being
Satterday. Sept. 13th, Mr. Lock browght Benjamyn his sonne to me:
his eldest sonne also, called Zacharie, cam then with him. Sept.
17th, the Quene’s Majestie cam from Rychemond in her coach, the
higher way of Mortlak felde, and whan she cam right against the
church she turned down toward my howse: and when she was against my
garden in the felde she stode there a good while, and than cam ynto
the street at the great gate of the felde, where she espyed me at
my doore making 9 obeysains to her Majestie; she beckend her hand
for me; I cam to her coach side, she very speedily pulled off her
glove and gave me her hand to kiss; and to be short, asked me to
resort to her court, and to give her to wete when I cam ther; hor.
6¼ a meridie. Sept. 14th, I began against Vincent Murphyn. Sept.
15th, I wrote to the bishop of London. Sept. 22nd, my declaration
against Vincent Murphin put into the court of Geldhall.