nd gracious answer. For the space of two
years and a half, as I told his Majesty, angels had not ceased to
minister unto me through this wonderful stone, whose history I related.
Furthermore, I said that I had a message from them unto his, Majesty.
'The angel of the Lord hath appeared unto me,' I cried, 'and hath
rebuked you for your sins; if you will hear, and believe me, you shall
triumph; if you will not hear, the Lord, the God of heaven and earth,
under whom you breathe and have your being, putteth His foot against
your breast, and will throw you headlong from your seat.' Moreover, I
said that if he would listen to me, and take me for his counsellor, his
kingdom should be established, so that there would be none like unto it
throughout the world. I was commanded, likewise, to show him the nature
of the holy vision, and the manner thereof, which he might witness, and
hear the words, though he could not see the fashion of the creatures in
the glass. He thanked me, and said that he would thenceforward take me
to his recommendation and care. Some more promises he used, though I
could not well understand them, he spake so low. Perceiving, now, that
he wished to make an end for this time, I made my obeisance and
departed. But mark the favour of princes!--through the cabals of some,
and the intrigues of his favourite and physician, one Doctor Curtz, who
was fearful of my displacing him,--in the end I was not only prevented
from further access to his Majesty, but banished the empire! Go to, go
to," said Dee, much troubled at these thoughts, "I am something too much
affected of these vain impressions, and the pomp of these earthly ones."

He arose, lifting an ebony cabinet on the table, which he unlocked with
great solemnity. During this operation he fell to muttering many
prayers; and with an air of great reverence he took out a
richly-embossed casket, which being opened, there was displayed a fair
crystal of an egg-shaped form, on which he gazed with a long and silent
delight.

"A treasure beyond all price," said Bartholomew, eyeing it with rapture.

"Even so," said Dee, "and, by the grace of the Giver, I do hope to
profit by it. Once it was removed from me. Listen. It was in the little
chapel, or oratory, next the chambers which Lord William of Rosenberg
had allotted us in his castle at Trebona. I had set the stone in its
wonted place upon the table, or altar as we called it, when Kelly saw a
great flame in the stone, w