Proto-Prospero

Edward and John’s reputations were growing.  They’d received invitations from several Courts on the Continent to display their abilities.  Even after a series of successful esoteric demonstrations though, their stomachs were still more often empty than full.

John was a dreamer, and his dreams told him that a new apocalypse was dawning, that unless men resolved their differences and became as one, their world was doomed to eternal suffering.  He sought the advice of angels on how this was to be done.  Edward dreams however, were a little worldlier.

On August 6, 1585, Edward sat down before a crystal ball and began to scry new messages from the Archangel Uriel, the “Light of God.”  Uriel commanded that the two should henceforth hold all things in common.  Later, Edward would insist, this would also include John’s wife.    At this, John drew the line… eventually.

In any time and any place, he might be considered a genius; another Da Vinci or Francis Bacon.  In his particular place and time, he was widely recognized for his great learning and daunting intellect.  When the University at Cambridge had 450 books in its entire library, he personally kept thousands in his own home.  But John also had another aspect to his character that prevented him from becoming a household name today: a childlike trust; or more bluntly, a foolish naivety.  Wanting so badly to make peace in the world and in heaven, he spent the most productive years of his life being played.

John Dee was an astronomer, mathematician, scientist, philosopher, and political advisor to royalty.  But because of enabling and opportunist “friends” like Edward Kelley, he is better remembered as an occultist, alchemist, and magician, and by a few, as the man who signed his letters to Queen Elizabeth with the code name 007.