Year 1594

Jan. 3rd, the Lord Keeper sent my wife 20 angels in a new red velvet purse, a little before sunset. Jan. 4th, Dr. Michael Peiserus, Doctor of Medicine to the Margrave of Brandenburg, visited me very kindly. Jan. 5th, a very tempestuous windy night. Jan. 9th, Robert Thickpeny from Sir Richard Martyn, and Miles Holland, bailiff for the Lord of the Manor, sealed up Mr. Webb's chest, and case of boxes. Jan. 19th, the cobbler with the mad woman. Jan. 25th, I sent my letters to Mr. Lording for Mr. Pontoys to Danzig. Jan. 26th, I came to Mr. Webb to the Marshalsea. Jan. 27th, Thomas Richardson came while I was at London, and so I found him at home; and again he promised me his working of forty days. Jan. 28th, Mr. Vander Laen promised on the 26th to begin his work of fixing the moon. Madinia somewhat sickly. Robert Wood, visited with spiritual creatures, had comfort by conference. Jan. 31st, Mr. Vander Laen began his work on the moon, five miles south from Gloucester. Mr. Morgan Treherne told me of Mr. Lawrence of eighty years old. Mr. Thomas Sharp, chief steward to the Lady Russell at Bisham, is master and good friend to Thomas Richardson, as he himself told me. Theodore Dee from the middle of this month had his left eye bloodshot from the side next his temple, very sore bloodshot, above three weeks continuing. Feb. 1st, Mr. John Ask sent me two little double gilt bowls weighing thirteen ounces and a half. Feb. 7th, Sir Thomas Wilks's philosophical offer came to my hands by Mr. Morice Kiffyn. This day the Archbishop of Canterbury inclined at times to the request of dispensation. Feb. 20th, 21st, Theodore fell sick in the Shrovetide week, and so into a tertian ague. March 10th, upon a flight of fear because Mr. Webb sent for me to come to him at the Marshalsea, now when he looked to be condemned on the Monday or Tuesday next. March 16th, Bartholomew Hikman came up. March 18th, Mr. Heriot came to me. March 20th, I did before Bartholomew Hikman pay Letice her full year's wages ending the 7th day of April next; her wages being four nobles, an apron, a pair of hose and shoes. March 23rd, I gave Bartholomew Hikman the nag which the Lord Keeper had given me. Bartholomew Hikman and William his brother went homeward. Magus disclosed by friendship of Mr. Richard Alred. A sudden pang of anger between M. Nikols [cipher decoded] and me. March 28th, Mr. Francis Garland brought me Sir Edward Kelly and his brother's letters. March 31st, a great fit of the stone in my left kidney: all day I could do but three or four drops of water, but I drank a draught of white wine and salad oil, and after that, crabs' eyes in powder with the bone in the carp's head, and about four o'clock I did eat toasted cake buttered, and with sugar and nutmeg on it, and drank two great draughts of ale with it; and I passed within an hour much water, and a stone as big as an Alexander seed. God be thanked! Five shillings to Robert Webb, part of his wages.

April 1st, Captain Hendor made acquaintance with me, and showed me a part of his policy against the Spanish King's intended mischief against her Majesty and this realm. April 4th, John Stockden came to study with our children. Mr. Thomas Wye came with a token from Mistress Ashley. Removed to Mr. Harding and Mr. Abbot at Oxford about my Arabic book. April 5th, my right eye very sore and bloodshot. April 7th, Mr. Nichols came again out of Northampton. Mr. Barret and Mistress Barret came to visit me. May 3rd, between 6 and 7 after noon the Queen sent for me to her in the privy garden at Greenwich, when I delivered in writing the heavenly admonition, and Her Majesty took it thankfully. Only the Lady Warwick and Sir Robert Cecill's lady were in the garden with Her Majesty. May 18th, Her Majesty sent me again the copy of the letter of G. K. with thanks by the Lady Warwick. May 21st, Sir John Wolley moved my suit to Her Majesty. She granted after a fashion, but referred all to the Lord of Canterbury. May 25th, Dr. Aubrey moved my suit to Her Majesty, and the answer as before. May 29th, with the Archbishop before the Queen came to her house. June 3rd, I, my wife, and seven children, before the Queen at Thisellworth. My wife kissed her hand. I exhibited my request for the Archbishop to come to my cottage. June 6th, supped with the Lord Archbishop. Invited him to my cottage. June 11th, given to Robert Webb at London seven shillings in the beginning of this month. June 15th, £40 of Mr. Thomas Harward. I should have £60 more. A great fit of the stone in my kidneys. June 20th, Mistress Magdalen Perpoint was sole examined by our steward at the Temple. June 22nd, mortgaged my late purchase to Mr. Richard White for £30, to be received within a few days. June 23rd, I discharged Robert Web of my service, and gave him 40 shillings for a full satisfaction of all things. Thomas Richardson came and offered me his work and labor, and had, as he requested, my letter to Mr. Thomas Sharpe. June 24th, on Midsummer Day Antony Ryve Taylor came to my service, for wages by the year three pounds and a livery. Bartholomew Hikman came. June 26th, I discharged Jane Hikman to go with her father Bartholomew home into Northamptonshire, and gave her ten shillings, and promised her at Hallowtide ten shillings more. Bartholomew Hikman and Goodman Ball with Jane Hikman went homeward. June 29th, after I had heard the Archbishop's answers and discourses, and that he had been the last Sunday at Tybald's with the Queen and Lord Treasurer, I count myself confounded for all suing or hoping for anything that was. And so farewell to the court and courting until God directs me otherwise! The Archbishop gave me a pair of sufferings to drink. God be my help as he is my refuge! Amen.

July 1st, I gave Robert yet more a French crown for a farewell. July 2nd, given to Richard ten shillings upon his wages. July 6th, Michael became distempered in his head and back. July 9th, in the morning began my head to ache and be heavier than of late, and had some queasiness in my stomach. I had broken my fast with sugar sops, &c. I gave Letice my servant 5s., part of her wages: with part of which she was to buy a smock and neckerchief. July 13th, at sunrise Michael Dee did give up the ghost after he said, "O Lord, have mercy upon me!" July 19th, goodman Richardson began his work. Aug. 19th, Elizabeth Felde came to my service: she is to have five nobles the year and a smock. Aug. 26th, Mr. Gherardt, the surgeon and herbalist, [came to me]. Aug. 30th, Monsieur Walter Mallet took his leave of me to go home to Toulouse. He had the fixed oil of saltpeter. Sept. 18th, I sent letters to Sir Ed. K. and T. Kelly, between 10 and 2 after noon taken from the door.

Oct. 3rd, I paid Mrs. Stockden £4 I borrowed of her; I paid her 26s. 8d. for four loads of wood. I remain debtor for a load of hay, and for 400 of billets in forks. Oct. 4th, paid Mr. Childe £3. 10s. for ten loads of loose faggot. Oct. 14th, Mr. Robert Thomas came to my house to dwell. Oct. 28th, at half past six in the afternoon, I wrote and sent a letter to the Lady Skidmore, in my wife's name, to move her Majesty that either I might declare my case to the body of the council, or else under the great seal to have license to go freely anywhere. Oct. 31st, lightning without thunder in the afternoon and in the night following.

Nov. 24th, received a letter from Sir Edward Kelly by Rowley. Dec. 2nd, Francis Garland came to England from Prague. Just five years past I came to England from Bremen as Francis Garland came now: but the Stade fleet stayed at Harwich. The 2nd of our cold December, Bartholomew was preferred by me to the Lord Willoughby's service at Barbican, in the presence of the Countess of Kent: and the Lord Willoughby did presently write his warrant to Mr. Jonson in Fleet Street, tailor, to deliver to Bartholomew his cloth and cushions, and so it was to Bartholomew delivered immediately. Dec. 7th, Jane my wife delivered her supplication to Her Majesty, as she passed out of the privy garden at Somerset House to go to dinner at the Savoy with Sir Thomas Henedge. The Lord Admiral took it from the Queen. Her Majesty took the bill again and kept it upon her cushion; and on the 8th day, by the chief motion of the Lord Admiral, and somewhat of the Lord Buckhurst, the Queen's wish went immediately to the Lord Archbishop that I should have Dr. Day's place in St. Paul's. Dec. 22nd, paid seven shillings to Elizabeth Felde, part of her wages. Given to Letice 5s., part of her wages. Paid to Richard 8s., part of his wages; and all other reckonings paid.

Jan. 3rd, a little before sunset, the Lord Keeper sent my wife 20 angels placed in a new red velvet purse. Jan. 4th, Dr. Michael Peiserus, physician to the Margrave of Brandenburg, paid me a very kind visit. Jan. 5th, a very stormy, windy night. Jan. 9th, Robert Thickpeny, come from Sir Richard Martyn, and Miles Holland, the bailiff for the Lord of the Manor, sealed up Mr. Webb's chest and his case of boxes. Jan. 19th, the cobbler with the madwoman. Jan. 25th, I sent my letters for Mr. Pontoys to Mr. Lording, off to Danzig. Jan. 26th, I went to Mr. Webb at the Marshalsea. Jan. 27th, Thomas Richardson arrived while I was in London, so I found him at home on my return; and he again promised me forty days of work. Jan. 28th, Mr. Vander Laen promised to begin his work of fixing the moon on the 26th day. Madinia was somewhat sickly. Robert Wood, visited by spiritual creatures, found comfort in the talk. Jan. 31st, Mr. Vander Laen began his work on the moon, five miles south of Gloucester. Mr. Morgan Treherne told me about Mr. Lawrence, eighty years old. Mr. Thomas Sharp, chief steward to Lady Russell at Bisham, is the master and good friend of Thomas Richardson, as he told me himself. From the middle of this month Theodore Dee's left eye was bloodshot on the side next his temple, badly bloodshot, and it lasted above three weeks. Feb. 1st, Mr. John Ask sent me two little double-gilt bowls weighing thirteen and a half ounces. Feb. 7th, Sir Thomas Wilks's philosophical offer came into my hands through Mr. Morice Kiffyn. On this day the Archbishop of Canterbury leaned from time to time toward the request for a dispensation. Feb. 20th, 21st, Theodore fell sick in Shrovetide week and so went into a tertian ague. March 10th, hit by a sudden rush of fear because Mr. Webb had word sent for me to come to him at the Marshalsea, now that he expected to be condemned on the Monday or Tuesday next. March 16th, Bartholomew Hikman arrived. March 18th, Mr. Heriot came to me. March 20th, before Bartholomew Hikman I paid Letice her full year's wages, which end on the 7th day of April next; her wages were four nobles, an apron, a pair of hose, and shoes. March 23rd, I gave Bartholomew Hikman the nag that the Lord Keeper had given me. Bartholomew Hikman and William, his brother, went for home. Magus was disclosed through the friendship of Mr. Richard Alred. A sudden pang of anger between M. Nikols [cipher decoded] and me. March 28th, Mr. Francis Garland brought me letters from Sir Edward Kelly and his brother. March 31st, a great fit of the stone in my left kidney: all day I could pass nothing but three or four drops of water. But I drank a draft of white wine and salad oil, and after that powdered crab's eyes with the bone in the carp's head, and about four o'clock I ate toasted cake spread with butter, with sugar and nutmeg on it, and washed it down with two big drafts of ale; within an hour I passed a great deal of water, and a stone as big as an Alexander seed. God be thanked! Five shillings given to Robert Webb, as part of his wages.

April 1st, Captain Hendor got to know me and showed me part of his policy against the mischief the Spanish King intends against Her Majesty and this realm. April 4th, John Stokden came to study with our children. Mr. Thomas Wye came with a token from Mistress Ashley. I turned to Mr. Harding and Mr. Abbot at Oxford about my Arabic book. April 5th, my right eye was very sore and bloodshot. April 7th, Mr. Nicols came again out of Northampton. Mr. Barret together with Mistress Barret paid me a visit. May 3rd, between 6 and 7 in the afternoon the Queen sent for me to her in the privy garden at Greenwich, where I handed over the heavenly admonition in writing, and Her Majesty took it thankfully. Only the Lady Warwick and Sir Robert Cecill's Lady were in the garden with Her Majesty. May 18th, Her Majesty sent me again a copy of the letter of G. K., with thanks, by way of the Lady Warwick. May 21st, Sir John Wolley put my suit to Her Majesty. She granted it after a fashion, but referred everything to the Lord of Canterbury. May 25th, Dr. Awbrey put my suit to Her Majesty, and the answer was as before. May 29th, I was with the Archbishop before the Queen came to her house. June 3rd, I, my wife, and seven children appeared before the Queen at Isleworth. My wife kissed her hand. I put in my request for the Archbishop to come to my cottage. June 6th, I had supper with the Lord Archbishop and invited him to my cottage. June 11th, I gave Robert Webb seven shillings at London at the beginning of this month. June 15th, £40 from Mr. Thomas Harward. I was to have £60 more. A severe fit of the stone in my kidneys. June 20th, Mistress Magdalen Perpoynt was examined alone by our steward at the Temple. June 22nd, I mortgaged my late purchase to Mr. Richard White for £30, which is to be received within a few days. June 23rd, I released Robert Web from my service and gave him 40 shillings as full satisfaction for everything. Thomas Richardson came and offered me his work and labor, and he got, as he asked, my letter to Mr. Thomas Sharpe. June 24th, on Midsummer Day, Antony Ryve Taylor came into my service for wages by the year of three pounds and a livery. Bartholomew Hikman came. June 26th, I let Jane Hikman go home into Northamptonshire with her father Bartholomew, gave her ten shillings, and promised her ten shillings more at Hallowtide. Bartholomew Hikman, Goodman Ball, and Jane Hikman set off for home. June 29th, after I had heard the Archbishop's answers and discourses, and that he had been at Theobalds last Sunday with the Queen and the Lord Treasurer, I count myself confounded in all my suing or hoping for anything at all. And so farewell to the court and to courting until God leads me another way! A pair of sufferings to drink was given to me by the Archbishop. God be my help, as He is my refuge! Amen.

July 1st, I gave Robert yet more, a French crown, for a farewell. July 2nd, given to Richard ten shillings toward his wages. July 6th, Michael became out of sorts in his head and back. July 9th, in the morning my head began to ache and feel heavier than it had of late, and my stomach felt unsettled. I had broken my fast on sugar sops, &c. I gave Letice, my servant, 5s., part of her wages; she was to use part of it to buy a smock and a neckerchief. July 13th, at sunrise, Michael Dee gave up the ghost after he said, "O Lord, have mercy on me!" July 19th, Goodman Richardson began his work. Aug. 19th, Elizabeth Felde came into my service: she is to have five nobles a year and a smock. Aug. 26th, Mr. Gherardt, the surgeon and herbalist, [paid me a visit]. Aug. 30th, Monsieur Walter Mallet said goodbye to me so as to go home to Toulouse. The fixed oil of saltpeter was in his possession. Sept. 18th, letters went from me to Sir Ed. K. and T. Kelly, taken from the door between 10 and 2 in the afternoon.

Oct. 3rd, I paid Mrs. Stockden back the £4 I had borrowed from her, and I paid her 26s. 8d. for four loads of wood. I still owe for a load of hay, and for 400 billets in forks. Oct. 4th, I paid Mr. Childe £3. 10s. for ten loads of loose faggots. Oct. 14th, Mr. Robert Thomas came to live at my house. Oct. 28th, at half past six in the afternoon, I wrote and sent a letter to Lady Skydmor, in my wife's name, to move Her Majesty that either I might set out my case to the body of the council, or else, under the great seal, have license to go freely wherever I wished. Oct. 31st, in the afternoon and in the night that followed, lightning without thunder.

Nov. 24th, I received a letter from Sir Edward Kelly by way of Rowley. Dec. 2nd, Francis Garland arrived in England, coming from Prague. Just five years ago I came to England from Bremen as Francis Garland came now; but the Stade fleet stayed at Harwich. On the 2nd of this cold December, I placed Bartholomew in the service of the Lord Willoughby at Barbican, in the presence of the Countess of Kent; and the Lord Willoughby immediately wrote his warrant to Mr. Jonson in Fleet Street, the tailor, to hand over to Bartholomew his cloth and cushions, and so it was handed to Bartholomew at once. Dec. 7th, my wife Jane gave her petition to Her Majesty as she passed out of the privy garden at Somerset House to go to dinner at the Savoy with Sir Thomas Henedge. From the Queen, the Lord Admiral took it. Her Majesty took the paper back and kept it on her cushion; and on the 8th day, by the chief urging of the Lord Admiral and somewhat of the Lord Buckhurst, the Queen's wish went at once to the Lord Archbishop that I should have Dr. Day's place at St. Paul's. Dec. 22nd, I paid seven shillings to Elizabeth Felde, part of her wages. Given to Lettyce 5s., part of her wages. I paid Richard 8s., part of his wages; and all other accounts were paid.