Fancying that he was entrusted with a divine mission, he was
given up to strong delusions that he should 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.
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