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queſtionable; hoping (if God had given way) they should have paſſed, in time for good Spirits abroad generally, and then we ſhould have ſeen what they would have made of it. From leſſe beginnings, I am ſure, greateſt confuſions have proceeded and prevailed in the world, as we ſhall ſhew elsewhere. And ſince that in all this buſineſs, as we ſaid but now, Dr. Dee did not deal alone, but had a conſtant Partner or Aſsiſtant, whom ſometimes himself calleth his Seer, or Skryer, one by name Edward Kelly: it will be requiſite before we proceed further, that we give ſome account of him alſo. According to Dr. Dee's own relation here, An. Dom. 1587. April 7. Trebone in the particulars of his Son Arthur's Conſecration (after his manner, which he calls, His offering and preſenting of him to the ſervice of God:) Uriel (one of his chiefeſt Spirits) was the author of their Conjunction: but when and how it hapned (being but obiter mentioned there) we do not find any where; and more then what I find here I have nothing to ſay: For certain it is by this whole ſtory, from the beginning to the end of it, that Kelley was a great Conjurer, one that daily converſed by ſuch art as is uſed by ordinary Magicians, with evil Spirits, and knew them to be ſo. Yet I would ſuppoſe that he was one of the beſt ſort of Magicians, that dealt with Spirits by a kind of Command (as is well known ſome do) and not by any Compact or agreement: this may probably be gathered from ſundry places. But that he was a Conjurer, appearereth firſt by that, where he proffered to raiſe ſome evil Spirit before the Polish Prince Palatine, Albert Lasky (of whom more by and by) for a proof of his Art. But Dr. Dee would not ſuffer him to do it in his houſe. Wicked ſpirits are caſt out of him to the number of 15. p. 32. But I make no great matter of that in point of proof, becauſe all there upon his bare report only. But ſee p. 63. &c. where it is laid to his charge, and he anſwereth for himſelf and his Spirits. See also where at laſt he yielded to bury not to burn his Magical books. But read his own conſeſsion (where you ſhall find him ſpeak like one that knew very well what did belong to the Art) and the record made by Dr. Dee concerning a ſhrewd conteſt that hapned between Dr. Dee and him (it was about ſome Magical things) wherein Edward Kelly carried himſelf ſo ſiercely, that Dr. Dee being afraid of his liſe, was forced to call for help. Peruſe well this place and I preſume you will require no further light as to this particular concerning Kelly.
As for the ſeveral Epiſtles (in Latin moſt) that will be found here, as alſo Narratives of ſeveral meetings and conferences, they carry ſo much light with them, being ſet out with ſo many narkable circumſtances of time, place, perſons, &c. that no man of judgment that hath any knowledge of the world, will or can make any ſcruple of the ſincerity and fidelity of either reports or Deeds and monuments (ſuch I account the Letters to be) herein contained. A man might with little labour (that had all kind of books at command) have found ſomewhat concerning moſt (outlandiſh) perſons in them mentioned. I could not intend it, and I think it would have been a needleſs labour. If any make any queſtion let them make ſearch, I dare warrant it unto them they ſhall find all things to agree punetually. But becauſe Albert Lasky (next to Edward Kelley) is the man moſtin-