John Dee.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14056, 13 November 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

John Dee.

SCIENTIST AND NAVY LEAGUER

In December last was the three hundredth anniversary of Dr John Dee, one of the most remarkable men of his age, a pioneer of science in England, and also —for the two often went together in those days—a zealous student of occultism. Ho was born in London in 1527. One of Dee's most praiseworthy projects was hi.', effort to found a State National Library of books and manuscripts. He drew up an address to Queen Mary, complaining of the dispersal of "tintreasure of all antiquity and the everlasting seeds of continual excellency within this your Grace's realm." Dee. was in advance of his age, and nothing came of his proposal. But hecollected a valuable library of his own, which contained 4,000 books and manuscripts, and a number of important scientific instruments,, including a couple of globes, made for him by Gerard Mercator, the famous Dutch geographer.

Soon after her accession to the tlirone Queen Elizabeth took Dee into her service as astrologer and adviser on scientific and occult lore. His first commission was to name an auspicious day for Her Majesty's coronation, which he did. He was continually in request for calculating nativities and casting horoscopes. His most important function was to guard the Queen against the wicked devices of ill-disposed persons. A waxen image of her, with a pin stuck through the breast, was found in Lincoln's Inn Fields, and was believed to portend evil to Her Majesty, a common superstition of that age. Dee was sent for in all haste, and he satisfied Elizabeth that there was no danger. This was only one of many occasions when

he had to allay the sunerstitinus fears of the Queen and her household. and henceforth Her Majesty felt it essential to always keep him near at hand. Deo was asked tn report on the proposed rectification of the calendar, in accordance with the Gregorian scheme, which lie strongly recommended, and for which, in 1553, he made the necessary calculations. But he was again in advance of his time. The bishops advised the rejection ol the .scheme, chiefly because it emanated from the Papacy. The introduction of this desirable reform in England was therefore delayed for lit) vear.s. DKK AND THE NAVV.

Dee knew the famous English navigators of the age —Drake, Hawkins, Frohisher. Davis, Sir Humphrey Gilbert—and took a great, interest in naval matters, fisheries, and the British fleet. He had made suggestions for supplying officers of the army with perspective glasses. In 1576 he wrote several volumes, to be entitled "General and Rare Memorials, Pertaining to the Perfect Art of Navigation." He urged the importance of establishing " a Petty Navy Royall, of three score tall ships or more, but in no case fewer," of from 80 to -00 tons burden, to he thoroughly orjufpped and manned, '• as a comfort and safeguard to the realms." Thousands of soldiers, he says, "will thus he hardened and well broke to the rage and disturbance of the sea, so that in time of need we shall not be forced to use all fresh-water soldyers," but we shall have a crew of "hardy seasoldycrs." ready to hand. This term seems to show that the word sailor was not then in use. "These skilful sea-soldyers."' he declares, "will hemore traynahle tn martial exploits, more quick-eyed and nimble than the landsmen." The " Petty Navy Royall," as distinct from the "Grand Navy Royall," will look after pirates, will protect our valuable fisheries, and 'generally serve us in better stead than four such forts as "Galleys or Bulleyn (Calais or Boulogne). He foreshadows Trinity House by asking for a " grand pilot generall of England," outlines a scheme of navy pensions, and finally declares that wo must be "lords of the seas," in order that our "wits and trnvayles" may be employed at homo for the enriching of the kingdom, that "our commodities (with due store reserve) may be carried abroad," and that peace and justice may reign. These remarkable views were propounded twelve years before the construction of the Spanish Armada. It is to be regretted that Dee wasted years of his life dabbling in occult mysteries —communing with spirits and crystalgazing, thus anticipating present-day magicians.