Year 1582

Jan. 11th, Robert Gardener asked my leave to go and live with Sir William Herbert, at 12 of the clock. Jan. 16th, Mistress Harbert came to Essex. Jan. 17th, Randal Hatton came home from Samuel's father at Stratton Audley. Jan. 22nd, Arthur Dee and Mary Herbert, the eldest of them being only 3 years old, did put on something like a child's wedding, calling each other husband and wife. Jan. 22, 23rd. The first day Mary Herbert came to her father's house at Mortlake, and the second day she came to her father's house at Estshene. Jan. 23rd, my wife went to nurse Garret and paid her for this month ending the 26th day. Jan. 27th, Barnabas Saul's brother came. Feb. 12th, about 9 of the clock, Barnabas Saul and his brother Edward went homeward from Mortlake: Saul's indictment being by law found insufficient at Westminster Hall: Mr. Serjeant Walmesley, Mr. Owen and Mr. Hyde, his lawyers at the bar for the matter, and Mr. Ive, the clerk of the Crown Office, favoring the other side. Feb. 20th, Mr. Bigs of Stentley by Huntingdon and John Littlechild came to me. I received a letter from Barnabas Saul. Feb. 21st, Mr. Skulthorp rode toward Barnabas. Feb. 25th, Mr. Skulthorp came home. Paid nurse Garret for Katharin until Friday the 23rd day, 6s.; then something still due to the nurse for 3 pounds of candle and 4 pounds of soap.

March 1st, Mr. Clerkson brought Magnus to me at Mortlake, and so went again that day. March 6th, Barnabas Saul came again this day about one of the clock and went to London the same afternoon. He confessed that he neither heard nor saw any spiritual creature any more. March 8th, Mr. Clerkson and his friend came to my house. Barnabas went home again about 3 or 2 o'clock; he was not staying at my house now; he went, I say, on Thursday, with Mr. Clerkson. March 8th, the sky appeared to burn and to redden like blood in various places about the ninth hour of the night, especially toward the northern and western part: but beyond our heads toward the south often *miles* [Latin for "a soldier"; probably a corrupt word in the source] as if bloody. March 9th, Friday at dinner time Mr. Clerkson and Mr. Talbot declared a great deal of Barnabas's wicked dealings toward me: telling Mr. Clerkson ill things about me, that I should make his friend, that I was weary of me, that I would so flatter his friend, the learned man, that I would borrow him from him. But his friend told me, before my wife and Mr. Clerkson, that a spiritual creature had told him that Barnabas had spoken against both Mr. Clerkson and me. The injuries which this Barnabas had done me in many ways were very great. March 22nd, Mr. Talbot went to London to make his journey.

April 16th, Nurse Garret had her 6s. for her month ending on the 20th day. April 22nd, a fine shower of rain early this morning. May 4th, Mr. Talbot went. May 13th, Jane rode to Cheyham. May 15th, at night about the ninth hour a comet appeared in the north somewhat toward the west; with its tail very great, stretching toward the star, and the star itself scarcely six degrees above the horizon. May 20th, Robert Gardener of Shropshire brought me a joyful message of the matter of the stone, divinely revealed to him, of which…. May 23rd, Robert Gardener declared to me at 4½ of the clock a certain great philosophical secret, as he had termed it, of a spiritual creature, and was this day told to come to me and declare it, which was solemnly done, with common prayer. May 28th, Mr. Eton of London came with his son-in-law Mr. Edward Bragden, about Upton parsonage, asking me to resign it or lease it to his said son-in-law, whom I promised to let know whenever I myself should consent to give it up. June 9th, I wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury a letter in Latin: Mr. Doctor Awbrey carried it. June 14th, Morryce Kyffin did visit me. June 22nd, Nurse Garret had 6s. for a month ending the 18th day of May; she is to have for a month's wages ending the 15th day of this June. My wife went there this Friday with Benjamin. June 27th, Mistress Stafford arrested me at 11 of the clock: I paid everything. July 3rd, at 12¼ of the clock, Arthur Dee fell from the top of the Water-gate stairs to the foot of them, and cut his forehead on the right eyebrow. Sir Richard brought the rent. July 6th, in fear of resting by Proctor Lewys: from 1 in the afternoon at the Doctor's coming until 9½ at night. July 12th, Proctor Lewys agreed to it. July 13th, Mr. Talbot came about 3 of the clock in the afternoon, with whom I had some words of unkindness: we parted friendly: he said that the Lord Morley had the Lord Mountegle's his books. He promised me some of Doctor Myniver's books. July 16th, Mr. William Pole, whom Philip Simons, formerly barber to the old Earl of Tavistock, knows, came to me and made my acquaintance: he promised to come again within 14 days. Jane my wife went to Nurse Garret's to pay her 12s. for her wages due until Friday last, which was Saint Margaret's day, and brought her 12d. for candle: she went by water; Mistress Lee went with her, and Robyn Jackesbite. Jane this night was sore troubled with a colic and cramp in her belly; she vomited more this Monday, and every night grew stiff in the sole likewise. After noon at 3½ of the clock came Sir George Peckham to know the title for Norombega in respect of Spain and Portugal parting the whole world's shares. He promised me something from his gift and from his patient… of the new conquest, and thought he could get so much of Mr. Gerard's gift to be sent to me with a seal within a few days. July 18th, Bartholomew Knaresburgh's son born at break of day about 3 of the clock. June 19th, Barnabas Saul came to see me at Mortlake: I chided him for his manifold untrue reports. July 23rd, Mistress Franklin's son born at noon. July 24th, Robert Gardener came, and went on the 26th. Aug. 8th, Kate was sickly. Aug. 11th, Mr. Bacon and Mr. Phillips of the court came. Aug. 20th, Katarine still seemed to be diseased. Aug. 25th, Katharin was taken home from nurse Garret of Petersham, and weaned at home. Aug. 31st, Benjamin Lock told me of his father's mind to send him to Spain within three or four days. Sept. 1st, I devised for Sir John Killegrew the form of protestation to hold him harmless in his composition with the Spaniard who was robbed: he promised me fish against Lent. Sept. 10th, Mr. John Leonard Haller, of Hallersteyn, by Worms in Germany, came again to me, to declare his readiness to set out for Quinsay; and how he would go and stay at Venice all this winter, and from there to Constantinople. I asked Mr. Charles Sted to help him transfer his money to Paris and Nuremberg, to help him with the searcher at Rye to get his horse through, and to help him with Mr. Osborn the alderman for his letters to Constantinople. Sept. 11th, on Tuesday they went to London together, and my wife also about her affairs. Sept. 13th, I wrote to Dugenes de Dionigiis at Venice by Mr. John Leonard Haller. Sept. 17th, I wrote to the Earl of Osmond. Sept. 29th, Anne came into my service from Mr. Harbert. I paid Mr. Lewys £20, so the rest is what I claim for my cost and pains for 37 years for his son John.

Oct. 12th, I rode to Tundridge. Oct. 13th, I rode from Tundridge to Mr. Covert's at Slawgham. Oct. 15th, I came home from Slawgham, and dined at Mr. Holtens's, parson of Oxstede by Tundridge, a physician. Oct. 21st, Jane my wife fainted in the church. Nov. 1st, Mr. Plat, my brother Yong's son-in-law, came to me with a stranger of Trushen, born at Regius Mons: his name is Martinus Faber. The same day came Mr. Clement the sea master and Mr. Ingram from Sir George Peckham. Nov. 8th, hail in the afternoon about the first hour: thunder about the fourth and sixth. Nov. 9th, Mr. Newbury, who had been at Cambaya in India, came to me. Nov. 22nd, E. K. went to London, and the next day was carried by road toward Blakley, to return within ten days. Nov. 24th, Saturday night I dreamed that I was dead, and afterward my bowels were taken out; I walked and talked with several people, and among others with the Lord Treasurer, who had come to my house to burn my books when I was dead, and I thought he looked sourly on me. Dec. 1st, George my man, who had lain out all night, this morning used me very dishonestly, and said he owed me no service. Mr. Bettgran the justice was not at home. Dec. 13th, thunder in the afternoon and at sunset. Dec. 15th, the 15th day being counted as the 25, 50, 10 days are imagined spent, which have crept in between the day of Christ's birth regarding the place of the sun, and the sun's place not the 25th day of this month, which is a civil equation, but which is to be substantiated mathematically and religiously as the true term of the periods of the sun's annual revolutions since the day of Christ's birth.

Jan. 11th, Robert Gardener asked my leave to go and live with Sir William Herbert, at 12 o'clock. Jan. 16th, Mrs. Harbert came to Essexe. Jan. 17th, Randal Hatton came home from Samuel's father at Stratton Audley. Jan. 22nd, Arthur Dee and Mary Herbert, the eldest of them only 3 years old, put on a kind of make-believe wedding, calling each other husband and wife. Jan. 22, 23rd. The first day Mary Herbert came to her father's house at Mortlak, and the second day she came to her father's house at Estshene. Jan. 23rd, my wife went to nurse Garret and paid her for this month ending on the 26th. Jan. 27th, Barnabas Sawl's brother came. Feb. 12th, around 9 o'clock, Barnabas Saul and his brother Edward went home from Mortlak: Saul's indictment was found insufficient by law at Westminster Hall: Mr. Serjeant Walmesley, Mr. Owen and Mr. Hyde were his lawyers at the bar for the case, and Mr. Ive, clerk of the Crown Office, favored the other party. Feb. 20th, Mr. Bigs of Stentley by Huntingdon and John Littlechild came to me. I received a letter from Barnabas Saul. Feb. 21st, Mr. Skullthorp rode toward Barnabas. Feb. 25th, Mr. Skulthorp came home. I paid nurse Garret for Katharin up to Friday the 23rd, 6s. Then something was still owed to the nurse for 3 pounds of candle and 4 pounds of soap.

March 1st, Mr. Clerkson brought Magnus to me at Mortlak, and went back the same day. March 6th, Barnabas Saul came again today around one o'clock and went to London that afternoon. He admitted that he neither heard nor saw any spiritual creature any more. March 8th, Mr. Clerkson and his friend came to my house. Barnabas went home again around 3 or 2 o'clock; he did not stay at my house now; he left, I say, on Thursday, with Mr. Clerkson. March 8th, the sky seemed to burn and to redden like blood in various parts around nine at night, chiefly toward the northern and western part: but beyond our heads toward the south often *miles* [Latin for "a soldier"; probably a corrupt word in the source] as if bloody. March 9th, Friday at dinner time Mr. Clerkson and Mr. Talbot told me a great deal about Barnabas's bad behavior toward me, such as telling Mr. Clerkson bad things about me: that I would make his friend, that he was tired of me, that I would flatter his friend, the learned man, so much that I would borrow him from him. But his friend told me, in front of my wife and Mr. Clerkson, that a spiritual creature had told him that Barnabas had criticized both Mr. Clerkson and me. The injuries this Barnabas had done me in many ways were very great. March 22nd, Mr. Talbot went to London to start his journey.

April 16th, Nurse Garet had her 6s. for her month ending on the 20th. April 22nd, a fine shower of rain early this morning. May 4th, Mr. Talbot went. May 13th, Jane rode to Cheyham. May 15th, at night around nine a comet appeared in the north somewhat toward the west; with its tail stretching toward the star very large, and the star itself barely six degrees above the horizon. May 20th, Robert Gardener of Shropshire brought me glad news of the matter of the stone, divinely revealed to him, of which.... May 23rd, Robert Gardener told me, at 4½ o'clock, a certain great philosophical secret, as he called it, of a spiritual creature, and he was urged this day to come to me and tell it, which was done solemnly and with common prayer. May 28th, Mr. Eton of London came with his son-in-law Mr. Edward Bragden, about Upton parsonage, wanting me to resign it or lease it to his said son-in-law, whom I promised to let know whenever I myself would agree to give it up. June 9th, I wrote a letter in Latin to the Archbishop of Canterbury: Mr. Doctor Awbrey carried it. June 14th, Morryce Kyffin visited me. June 22nd, Nurse Garret had 6s. for a month ending the 18th day of May; she is to have a month of wages ending the 15th day of this June. My wife went there this Friday with Benjamyn. June 27th, Mrs. Stafford had me arrested, at 11 o'clock: I paid it all.

July 3rd, at 12¼ o'clock, Arthur Dee fell from the top of the Water-gate stairs all the way down to the bottom and cut his forehead on the right eyebrow. Sir Richard brought the rent. July 6th, I was in fear of trouble with proctor Lewys: from 1 in the afternoon, after the Doctor came, until 9½ at night. July 12th, proctor Lewys agreed to it. July 13th, Mr. Talbot came around 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and he and I had some unfriendly words: we parted on good terms: he said that Lord Morley had Lord Mountegle's books. He promised me some of Doctor Myniver's books. July 16th, Mr. William Pole, whom Phillip Simons, once barber to the old Earl of Tavistok, knows, came to me and got to know me: he promised to come again within 14 days. Jane, my wife, went to Nurse Garret's to pay her 12s. for her wages due up to Friday last, which was Saint Margaret's day, and took her 12d. for candles: she went by water; Mrs. Lee went with her, and Robyn Jackesbite. Jane was badly troubled this night with colic and cramps in her belly; she vomited more this Monday, and every night she also grew stiff. In the afternoon at 3½ o'clock Sir George Peckham came to me to ask about the title to Norombega, given that Spayn and Portugall are dividing up the whole world's portions. He promised me something out of his gift and out of his patient....... of the new conquest, and he thought he could get as much of Mr. Gerard's gift to be sent to me with a seal within a few days. July 18th, Bartholomew Knaresburgh's son born at daybreak around 3 o'clock. June 19th, Barnabas Saul came to see me at Mortlak: I scolded him for his many untrue reports. July 23rd, Mrs. Franklin's son born at noon. July 24th, Robert Gardiner came, and left on the 26th.

Aug. 8th, Kate was unwell. Aug. 11th, Mr. Bacon and Mr. Phillips from the court came. Aug. 20th, Katharine still seemed to be ill. Aug. 25th, Katharin was taken home from nurse Garret of Petersham and weaned at home. Aug. 31st, Benjamin Lock told me of his father's plan to send him to Spayn within three or four days. Sept. 1st, I worked out for Sir John Killegrew the form of protest that would keep him harmless in his settlement with the Spaniard who was robbed: he promised me fish for Lent. Sept. 10th, Mr. John Leonard Haller, of Hallersteyn, by Worms in Germany, came again to tell me how ready he was to go toward Quinsay; and how he would go and stay at Venys all this winter, and from there to Constantinople. I asked Mr. Charles Sted to help him move his money to Paris and Nuremberg, to help him with the searcher at Rye to get his horse through, and to help him with Mr. Osborn the alderman for his letters to Constantinople. Sept. 11th, on Tuesday they went to London together, and my wife too, about her affairs. Sept. 13th, I wrote to Dugenes de Dionigiis at Venys by Mr. John Leonard Haller. Sept. 17th, I wrote to the Earl of Osmond. Sept. 29th, Anne came into my service from Mr. Harbert. I paid Mr. Lewys £20, so what is left is what I claim for my costs and pains over 37 years for John, his son.

Oct. 12th, I rode to Tundridge. Oct. 13th, I rode from Tundridge to Mr. Coverts at Slawgham. Oct. 15th, I came home from Slawgham, and dined at Mr. Holtens's, parson of Oxstede by Tundridge, a physician. Oct. 21st, Jane my wife fainted in the church. Nov. 1st, Mr. Plat, my brother Yong's son-in-law, came to me with a stranger from Trushen, born at Regius Mons: his name is Martinus Faber. The same day Mr. Clement the seamaster and Mr. Ingram came from Sir George Peckham. Nov. 8th, hail in the afternoon around one o'clock: thunder around four and six. Nov. 9th, Mr. Newbury, who had been at Cambaya in Inde, came to me. Nov. 22nd, E. K. went to London, and the next day was carried by road toward Blakley, to return within ten days. Nov. 24th, Saturday night I dreamed that I was dead, and after my bowels had been taken out I walked and talked with several people, among others with the Lord Treasurer, who had come to my house to burn my books when I was dead, and I thought he looked at me sourly. Dec. 1st, George, my man, who had been out all night, treated me very badly this morning and said he owed me no service. Mr. Bettgran the justice was not at home. Dec. 13th, thunder in the afternoon and at sunset. Dec. 15th, when the 15th day is counted as the 25th, 25, 50 and 10 days are thought to have been spent, days that have crept in between the day of Christ's birth, as it concerns the position of the sun, and the sun's position, which is not the 25th day of this month. That is a civil equation, but it has to be proved mathematically and religiously as the true term of the periods of the sun's annual revolutions since the day of Christ's birth.