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interreffed in this ftory, I will give you fome account of him out of Mr. Cambden his Annals.
Anno Dom. 1583. E Polonia, Rufsie vicina hac eftate venit in Angliam ut Reginam inviferet, Albertus Alafco, Palatinus Siradienfis vir eruditas, corporis lineamentis barba promififsima, veftitu decoro, & pervenufto; qui perbenignè ab ipfa nobilibufque magnoque honore & lautitiis, et ab Accademia Oxonienfi eruditis oblectationibus, atque variis Jpectaculis exceptus, poft 4. menfes are alieno oppreffus, clam recefsit.
But of all Letters here exhibited, I am moft taken, I muft confefs, with the Bishops Letter that was Nuncius Apoftolicus: he feemes to me to speak to the cafe very pertinently (take Puccius his account along in his long letter to Dr. Dee, of his conference with the faid Bifhop concerning the fame bufinefs) and to have carryed himſelf towards Dr. Dee very moderately and friendly.
II. Now to Objections:
The firft shall be this: Although 'tis very probable that Dr. Dee himfelf dealt fimply and fincerely; yet fince he himself faw nothing (for fo himself acknowledgeth in fome places) but by Kelley's eyes, and heard nothing but with his ears. Is it not possible that Kelley being a cunning man, and well practifed in theſe things might impofe upon the credulity of Dr. Dee (a good innocent man) and the rather, becaufe by this office under the Doctor he got 501, by the year, as appeareth. Truly this is plaufible as it is propofed; and like enough that it might go a great way with them that are foon taken, and therefore feldom fee any thing in the truth or true nature of it, but in the outward appearance of it only. But read and obferve it diligently and you will find it far otherwife: It is true indeed, that ordinarily, Dr. Dee faw not himfelf; his buſineſs was to write what was feen (but in his prefence though) and heard by Kelley. Yet that himself heard often immediately appeareth by many places; I fhall not need any quotations for that himfelf feeleth as well as Kelley. In the relation of the Holy Stone, how taken away by one that came in at a window in the fhape of a man, and how reftored; both faw certainly. In the ftory of the Holy Books, how burned and how reftored again (part of them at leaft) which Dr Dee made a great Miracle of, as appeareth by fome of thofe places; there alfo both faw certainly. And Albert Lasky, the Polonian Palatine Jaw as well as Kelley. Befides, it doth clearly appear throughout all the book that Kelley (though fometimes with much adoe perfwaded for a while to think better of them) had generally no other opinion of thefe Apparitions but that they were meer illufions of the Divel and evil Spirits, fuch as himfelf could command by his art when he lifted, and was acquainted with, infomuch that we find him for this very caufe forfaking, or defirous to forfake Dr. Dee, who was much troubled about it; and is forced in a place to Pawn bis Soul unto him (to ufe his own words) that it was not fo, and that they were good Spirits fent from God in great favour unto them. But for all this Kelley would not be fatisfied, but would have his Declaration or Proteftation of his fufpition to the contrary entred into the book; which you fhall find, and it will be worth your reading. I could furtheral-