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generally, both by their mature as Spirits, and by the advantage of long experience (a very great advantage indeed in point of knowledg) cannot but have perfect knowledg of all natural things, and all fecrets of Nature, which do not require an infinite underftanding; which by that measure of knowledge that even men have attained unto in a little time, is not likely to be fo neceflary in moft things. But left any man fhould quarrel at the word Perfect, because all perfection belongs unto God properly, it fhall fuffice to fay, That the knowledge Divels have of things Natural and Humane is incomparably greater then man is capable of. If fo, how comes it to pafs that in many places of this Relation we find him acting his part rather as a Sophifter (that I fay not a Juggler) then a perfect Philofopher; as a Quack, or an Empirick fometimes, then a True, genuine Naturalift. And for language (not to speak of his Divinity, which he might difguife of purpofe to his own ends) rather as one that had learned Latin by reading of barbarous books, of the middle age, for the most part, then of one that had been of Auguftus his time, and long before that. But that which is ftrangeft of all is, that as in one place the Spirits were difcovered by Ed. Kelley to fteal out of Agrippa or Trithemius (fo he thought at leaft) fo in divers other places, by the phrafe, and by the doctrine and opinions a man may trace noted Chymical and Cabaliftical Authors of later times; yea, (if I be not much mistaken) and Paracelfus himfelf, that prodigious creature, for whom and againft whom fo much hath been written fince he lived; these things may feem ftrange, but I think they may be anſwered. For firft, we fay, The Divel is not ambitious to fhew himself and his abilities before men, but his way is (fo obferved by many) to fit himſelf (for matter and words) to the genius and capacity of thofe that he dealeth with. Dr. Dee, of himself, long before any Apparition, was a Cabaliftical man, up to the ears, as I may fay; as may appear to any man by his Monas Hieroglyphica, a book much valued by himſelf, and by him Dedicated at the firft to Maximilian the Emperor, and fince prefented (as here related by himself) to Rodolphe as a choice piece. It may be thought fo by thoſe who efteèm fuch books as Dr. Floid, Dr. Alabafter, and of late Gafarell, and the like. For my part I have read him; it is foon don, it is but a little book: but I muit profefs that I can extract no fenfe nor reafon (found and folid) out of it: neither yet doth it feem to me very dark or myftical. Sure we are that thofe Spirits did act their parts fo well with Dr.Dee, that for the moft part(in moft Actions) they came off with good credit; and we find the Dr. every where almoft extolling his Spiritual teachers and inftructers, and prayfing God for them. Little reafon therefore have we to except againft any thing(in this kind) that gave him content, which was their aim and bulinefs.

Secondly, I fay, if any thing relifh here of Trithemius or Paracelfus, or any fuch, well may we conclude from thence, that the Divel is like himfelf. This is the trueft inference. It is he that infpired Trithemius and Paracelfus, &c. that fpeaketh here; and wonder ye if he fpeaks like them? I do not expect that ail men will be of my opinion; yet I fpeak no Paradoxes: I have both reafon and authority good and plaufible, I think, for what I fay; but to argue the cafe at large would be tedious. Of Trithemius fomewhat more afterwards will be faid. But we muft go far beyond that time. A thousand years and above,before