Year 1579

A moist March and not windy. June 10th, I showed Mr. John Lewis and his son, the physician, the manner of drawing aromatic oils. At that time my cat caught a fledgling young sparrow which had only a right wing, naturally. June 15th, my mother surrendered the Mortlak houses and land, and had estate given in full court for the term of her life, and to me was also the reversion delivered by the rod, and to my wife Jane through me, and after that to my heirs and assigns forever, to understand, Mr. Bullok and Mr. Taylor, surveyor, at Wimbledon, under the tree by the church. June 22nd, Mr. Richard Hickman and Bartholomew, his nephew, came to me with Mr. Flowr, recommended by Mr. Vicechamberlain Sir Christopher Hatton.

July 6th, Mr. Hitchcok, who had traveled in the flat country for fishing, made my acquaintance and offered me great courtesy.

July 13th, Arthur Dee was born, a boy, in the morning at about 4 hours 30 minutes, or rather 25 minutes, at the very sunrise, as I judge. After 10 o'clock this night my wife's father, Mr. Fromonds, was speechless, and died on Tuesday (July 14th) at 4 o'clock in the morning. July 16th, Arthur was christened at 3 in the afternoon; Mr. Dyer and Mr. Doctor Lewys, judge of the Admiralty, were his godfathers; and Mrs. Blanche Pary of the Privy Chamber his godmother. But Mr. John Harbert of Estshene was deputy for Dr. Lewys, and Mrs. Awbrey was deputy for my cousin Mrs. Blanche Pary.

Aug. 8th, John Elmeston, student of Oxford, came to me for dialing. Aug. 9th, Jane Dee churched. Aug. 16th, Monsieur came secretly to the court from Calays. Aug. 20th, windy, cloudy, rainy. Aug. 26, Monsieur went back again to France. Sept. 10th, my dream of being naked, and my skin all overwrought with work like some kind of tuft mockado, with crosses blue and red; and on my left arm, around the arm, in a wreath, this word I read—without me you can do nothing: and another the same night of Mr. Secretary Walsingham, Mr. Candish, and myself.

Oct. 3rd, Sir Leonel Ducket's unkind letter for money. Oct. 4th, goodman Hilton requested that his two sons come to my house. Oct. 5th, a raging wind from the West and Southerly, chiefly at night. Oct. 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, great rain for three or four days and nights. Oct. 13th, this day it broke up; the foot boat for the ferry at Kew was swamped and six persons drowned, through the ferryman's negligence in driving the boat onto the rope set there to help, because of the violent and high waters. Oct. 18th, Mr. Adrian Gilbert and John Davys reconciled themselves to me, and disclosed some of Emery's most dishonest, hypocritical, and devilish dealings and devices against me and others, as well as the abominable words and deeds of that outright strumpet; and John Davis said that he might curse the time he ever knew Emery, and had so much followed his wicked counsel and advice. So just is God! Oct. 31st, paid 20s. fine for me and Jane my wife to the Lord of Wimbleton (the Queen), through goodman Burton of Putney, for the surrender made by my mother of all she has in Mortlak to Jane and me, and then to my heirs and assigns, etc.

Nov. 25th, the Lord Clinton came to me and offered Skirbeck by Boston for Long Lednam. Nov. 29th, I received a letter from Mr. Thomas Jones. Dec. 9th, This night my wife dreamed that one cam to her and touched her, saying, "Mistres Dee, you are conceived of child, whose name must be Zacharias; be of good cheer, he shall do well as this does!" Dec. 22nd, I paid Jane 13s. and 4d. for her wages until Michelmas last, for the half year, so that I still owe her 6s. 8d. Dec. 28th, I revealed to Roger Coke the great secret of the elixir of the salt of acetels [cipher decoded; substance unclear], one upon a hundred.

A moist March, without much wind. June 10th, I showed Mr. John Lewis and his son, the physician, how aromatic oils are drawn. About that same time my cat caught a young sparrow, already feathered, that had only a right wing, born that way. June 15th, my mother handed over the Mortlake houses and land, and an estate was granted to her in full court for the term of her life; the reversion was also delivered to me by the rod, and to my wife Jane through me, and after that to my heirs and assignees forever; there to witness it were Mr. Bullok and Mr. Taylor, the surveyor, at Wimbledon, under the tree by the church. June 22nd, Mr. Richard Hickman and his nephew Bartholomew came to see me with Mr. Flowr, recommended by Mr. Vicechamberlain Sir Christopher Hatton.

July 6th, Mr. Hitchcok, who had traveled in the flat country for fishing, struck up an acquaintance with me and offered me great courtesy.

July 13th, Arthur Dee was born a boy in the morning at about 4:30, or rather 4:25, at the very rising of the sun, as I judge. After 10 o'clock that night my wife's father, Mr. Fromonds, lost the power of speech, and he died on Tuesday (July 14th) at 4 in the morning. July 16th, Arthur was baptized at 3 in the afternoon; Mr. Dyer and Dr. Lewys, judge of the Admiralty, were his godfathers, and Mistress Blanche Pary of the Privy Chamber was his godmother. Mr. John Harbert of East Sheen stood in for Dr. Lewys, and Mistress Awbrey stood in for my cousin Mistress Blanche Pary.

Aug. 8th, John Elmeston, a student at Oxford, came to me about dialling. Aug. 9th, Jane Dee had her churching. Aug. 16th, Monsieur came secretly to court from Calais. Aug. 20th, windy, cloudy, rainy. Aug. 26, Monsieur went back to France. Sept. 10th, I dreamed that I was naked and my skin was covered all over with worked patterns, like a kind of tufted mockado, with crosses in blue and red; and around my left arm, wound in a coil, I read this word—"without me you can do nothing." And another dream the same night, about Mr. Secretary Walsingham, Mr. Candish, and me.

Oct. 3rd, an unknown letter from Sir Leonel Ducket, asking for money. Oct. 4th, Goodman Hilton asked me to let his two sons come to my house. Oct. 5th, a violent wind from the west and south, mostly at night. Oct. 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, heavy rain for three or four days and nights. Oct. 13th, this day it broke up; the foot boat used for the ferry at Kew went down with six people, through the negligence of the ferryman, who drove the boat onto the rope set there to help, on account of the violent and high waters. Oct. 18th, Mr. Adrian Gilbert and John Davis made peace with me again, and told me some of Emery's most dishonest, hypocritical, and devilish dealings and schemes against me and others, along with the disgusting words and deeds of that wretched prostitute; John Davis said he could curse the day he ever met Emery and followed his wicked counsel and advice so closely. So just is God! Oct. 31st, I paid a fine of 20 shillings for myself and Jane my wife to the Lord of Wimbledon (the Queen), through Goodman Burton of Putney, for the surrender my mother made to Jane and me of all she has in Mortlake, and then to my heirs and assignees, &c.

Nov. 25th, Lord Clinton came to me and offered Skirbeck by Boston in exchange for Long Lednam. Nov. 29th, a letter came to me from Mr. Thomas Jones. Dec. 9th, that night my wife dreamed that someone came to her and touched her, saying, "Mistress Dee, you are with child, and the child must be named Zacharias; take heart, he will do as well as this one!" Dec. 22nd, I paid Jane 13 shillings and 4 pence for her wages up to Michaelmas last, for the half year, so that I still owe her 6 shillings and 8 pence. Dec. 28th, I revealed to Roger Coke the great secret of the elixir of the salt of acetels [cipher decoded; substance unclear], one upon a hundred.