real skill in the management of fire and in all metallurgical 

 operations, Arthur Dee won the highest esteem of the 

 Emperor's trained alchemists. John Dee now found himself 

 so pleasantly situated and profitably occupied that he 

 removed his family, in January, 1585, to a better residence, 

 rented of two sisters at seventy dollars per annum; he con- 

 ducted his household affairs in a lavish style and began to 

 mingle with the aristocratic residents of the Hradschin and 

 of Old Prague. His high reputation even reached the Russian 

 court; the Czar Feodor invited him to enter his service, 

 promising him a stipend of two thousand pounds per annum, 

 besides laboratory expenses and apartments for his family 

 and household servants. Dee refused this brilliant offer but 

 sent his son Arthur to Moscow, where he became court 

 physician and a favorite with the powerful Czar. While at 

 Moscow Arthur Dee wrote his famous book on alchemy 

 entitled "Fasciculus Chemicus" printed at London in 1650, 

 after his return to England. 



Had Dee's magic crystal really shown him the future in 

 store for him, he would have accepted the offer of the Russian 

 potentate, for within two 3^ears he fell into disgrace and was 

 Torced to leave Prague; in an evil hour he began to meddle 

 in court intrigues of a perilous nature. Fierce controversies 

 had long raged in Bohemia between Catholics and Pro- 

 testants, and Rudolph, influenced by the wily Jesuits attached 

 to the court, promulgated harsh measures against the new 

 party, although a constitutional disinclination to exert his 

 power as monarch disposed him to be tolerant to his political 

 opponents. Theological disputations even penetrated court 

 circles and naturaly the staunch Protestant from England 

 took sides against the Catholic party, at the head of which 

 was the Grand Steward George Popel von Lobkowitz and 

 the Papal Legate. Among the courtiers inclined to show 



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