hould believe a lie. He aimed at
universal knowledge and exhaustless riches; but he died imbecile and a
beggar!

That he was deceived by Kelly, there is no doubt; and that he was
sincere, at least in seeking his own promotion and aggrandisement, is
equally certain; but we would rescue his character from the ridicule
with which it has been invested. His grasp was greater than his power,
and he fell, like heroes and conquerors in all ages, unable to execute,
and overwhelmed with the vastness of his own conceptions.

John Dee was born July 13, 1527, in London. His parents were in good
circumstances. At an early age (fifteen years) he studied at St John's
College, Cambridge. His application was intense. For three years, by his
own account, he only slept four hours every night. Two hours were
allowed for meals and recreation, and the rest was spent in learning and
devotion. Five years afterwards he went into the Low Countries, for the
purpose of conversing with Frisius, Mercator, and others. Returning to
Cambridge, he was chosen a fellow of Trinity College, then founded by
Henry the Eighth. His reputation stood very high, and his astronomical
pursuits, in those days generally connected with astrology, drew upon
him the imputation of being a conjuror, which character clung to him
through life. This opinion was much strengthened by an accident which,
he says, happened soon after his removal from St John's College, and his
being chosen a fellow of Trinity. "Hereupon," he continues, "I did set
forth a Greek comedy of Aristophanes, named in Greek [Greek: Heirene]
with the performance of the Scarabaeus, or beetle--his flying up to
Jupiter's palace with a man and his basket of victuals on her back;
whereat was great wondering, and many vain reports spread abroad of the
means how that was effected."

He left England again soon afterwards, distinguishing himself at several
foreign universities, and attracting the notice of many persons of high
rank, amongst which were the Duke of Mantua and Don Lewis de la Cerda
(afterwards Duke of Medina Celi). In 1551 he returned to England, being
well received by King Edward and his court. A pension of one hundred
crowns per annum was granted him, which he afterwards exchanged for the
rectory of Upton-upon-Severn.

In Queen Mary's reign he was accused of some correspondence with the
Lady Elizabeth's servants, and of practising against the Queen's life by
enchantments. He was seized and confine