color and a silky texture; perhaps his attractive presence 

 contributed to the pleasure that the Maiden Queen found in 

 his society. 



On one occasion Elizabeth invited Dee to Greenwich and 

 condescended to become his pupil; shortly before, he had 

 published a book entitled "Monas Hieroglyphica" (Antwerp, 

 1564), which he dedicated to Maximilian II, and he had 

 made the long journey to Presburg in Hungary to present a 

 copy in person to the Emperor; this extraordinary treatise 

 was the subject of his conference, at the Queen's command 

 he revealed to her some of its mysteries and hidden secrets 

 during a three day's visit at the royal seat. If Elizabeth 

 was able to comprehend anything whatever of this enig- 

 matical, preposterous jargon, she must be credited with extra- 

 ordinary intellectual penetration. At another time the Queen, 

 accompanied by lords and ladies in waiting, visited Mort- 

 lake, with the intention of examining Dee's famous library, 

 but on reaching the house she learned to her dismay that he 

 had buried his wife only a few hours before, and she refused 

 to enter, but desired Dee to show her his marvellous magic 

 glass; this he did, and explained to her Majesty the manner 

 of using it to read spirit-communications and to perceive 

 apparitions. 



This visit was made on the 10th of March^574/5. Two 

 V^ years later the appearance of a brilliant comet in the starry 

 heavens created consternation at the English court, and the 

 Queen, then at Richmond, sent for Doctor Dee to divine the 

 meaning of this portent, which he did to her satisfaction. 

 Not long after, a small wax image of the Queen, having pins 

 stuck into the breast, was found in Lincoln's Inn Fields, and 

 Dee was hurriedly summoned to the palace to ward off by 

 counter-spells the mischief that this was believed to work on 

 the person of her Majesty. 



