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himfelf; which nevertheless, might be thought, where we finde him speaking Eoglfh, to them that understood it not; fo that Dr. Dee was fain to interpret it. But we cannot give an account of all his fetches and projects: He had a confideration, I make no queftion.
I cannot think of any thing elfe that the Reader need to be told, that is of this nature, and it may be fomewhat might have been fpared: However the Reader will confider, that as in all Books, fo in this: It is one thing to read from the beginning, and fo to go on with heed and obfervation, without skipping; and another thing to read here and there, which would require a perpetual Comment, which is the wretchedness of molt Readers, in thefe declining days of Learning; and therefore they have Comments (or Rhapsodies rather) accordingly; fimiles habent labra lactufes, never more true of any thing.
It may be fome will wonder what inade the Spirits to fall upon English Genealogies and Stories; it is at very beginning, therefore I take notice of it for the Readers fake, that is yet (and cannot otherwife) a firanger to the Book: The bafinefs is, Dr. Dee was lately grown into great league and confederacy with Albert Lasky, (or à lafco rather) a great man of Polonia. You had before what Cambden ia th of him of his coming to England, at this very time, and his going away, which doth very well agree w th our dates here. It teems, though nobly born, and to great dignity, yet his thoughts did afpire much higher; and though no rich man, for a man of his rank and qual ty, yet expecting fuch matters from Dr. Dee and his Spirits, as he did, he could finden oney enough to fupply their wants upon occafion. The Spir ts were very glad of the occafion, and did what they could to cher th him according to his humor : Being then at that very time upon deliberations, that much depended of Alb Laskey and his good opinion; among other things, his Fedegree, which muft reeds pleate a vain man very well, was taken into confideration: That every thing there faid, doth exactly agree to the truth, as I do not warrant it fo neither am I at leifure at this time to take the pains to examine. We must never look further in those things that are delivered by fuch, then if it were, or be pertiment (true or falle) to their end and prefent occafion. Befides, it is very poffible, (which I defire the Reader to take good notice of) that both here and elfewhere the Tranfcribers, as they could not read fometimes, and were forced to leave fome blancks (though feldome to any confiderable prejudice of the fence) fo they might miltake alfo, having to do with an Original that was (and is yet to be feen) fo defaced and worm-caten as this is, written (as we have faid) by Dr. Dee himſelf.
Befides the authent cknefs of the Original Copy, written by Dr. Dee himfelf; the Reader may know, that the Originals of the Letters that are here exhibited, are all, or moit of them yet preferved, and to be feen in Sir Tbo. Cottons Library.
IV. I am now come to the laft of the four things that I promifed, to fhew the feveral good ufes that may be made of this Book, and which were principally looked upon in the publifhing of it. This order indeed I propofed to my felf, but great part of this occafion offering it felf upon other matter, is already performed in the former Difcourfe, fo that but little is now left to be done. However I will fum them up, and reprefent them together, that every Reader mayhave