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The PREFACE.

alledge, that if a man confiders the things delivered here upon feveral occafions, being of a different nature, fome Moral, fome Phyfical, fome Metaphyfical, and Theological of higheft points (though fometimes wild enough, and not warrantable; yet for the moſt part very remote from vulgar capacities) he will not eafily believe that Kelley, who fcarce understood Latine) not to speak of fome things delivered Greek in fome places) and betook himself to the ftudy of Logick long after he had entred himself into this courfe, could utter fuch things: no, nor any man living perchance, that had not made it his ftudy all his life-time. But that which muft needs end this quarrel (if any man will be pertinacious) and put all things out of doubt, is, that not Kelley only ferved in this place of Seer or Skryer, but others alfo, as his fon Arthur, and in his latter dayes, when Kelley was either gone or fick, one Bartholomew, as will be found in all the Actions and Apparitions of the year 1607. which (as I fufpect) was the laſt year of the Doctors life, or beyond which I think he did not live long.

Secondly, It may be objected, or ftuck at leaft, How Dr. Dee, fo good, fo innocent, yea, fo pious a man, and fo fincere a Chriftian as by thefe papers (his delufion and the effects of it ftill excepted) he doth feem to have been, God would permit fuch a one to be fo deluded and abufed, fo rackt in his foul, fo hurried in his body for fo long a time, notwithftanding his frequent, earneft, zealous prayers and addreffes unto God, by evil Spirits (even to his dying day, for ought we know) as he is here by his own relation fet out unto us? Truly, if a man fhail confider the whole carriage of this bufineffe, from the beginning to the end, according to this true and faithful (for I think I may fo fpeak with confidence) account of it here prefented unto us, this poor man, how from time to time fhamefully grofly delayed, deluded, quarrelled without caufe, ftill toled on with fome Thews and appearances, and yet ftill fruftrated and put off: his many pangs and agonies about it, his fad condition after fo many years toil, travel, drudgery and earneft expectation, at the very laft (as appeareth by the Actions and apparitions of the year 1607.) I cannot tell whether I should make him an object of more horror or compaffion; but of both certainly in a great measure to any man that hath any fenfe of Humanity, and in the examples of others of humane frailty: and again, any regard of parts and worth, fuch as were in this man in a high degree. True it is, that he had joyes withal and comforts, imaginary,delufory, it is true; yet fuch as he enjoyed and kept up his heart, and made him outwardly chearful often times I make no queftion; fuch as the Saints (as they call themfelves) and Schif maticks of thefe and former times have ever been very prone to boaft of, perfwading themfelves that they are the effects of Gods bleffed Spirit. But even in thefe his joys and comforts, the fruits and fancies of his deluded foul (as in many others of a diftempered brain) is not he an object of great compafpaffion to any, both fober and charitable? If this then were his cafe indeed, what fhall we fay? if nothing elle, I know not but it ought to fatisfie a rational, fober, humble man: If we fay, That it is not in man to give an account of all Gods judgments, neither is there any ground for us to murmure because we do not underftand them, or that they often feem contraryto