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Models for Prospero? Dee and Forman 

Prospero's Forebears: Dee and Forman

John Dee (1527-1608), Mathematician and Astrologer

John Dee was born in London and later sent to St. John’s College, Cambridge, where he studied for eighteen hours daily, only allowing four hours for sleep and two for meals. He was nominated one of the original fellows at Trinity College, Cambridge . He was assigned there to be the under reader of the Greek tongue: a Greek comedy with the Scarabaeus flying up to Jupiter’s palace. This clever stage effect, in fact , procured for Dee an evil reputation as a conjuror and magician. The suspicion attached to him throughout the remainder of his life, in spite of his reputed obtestations .

In May 1547, he went into the Low Countries and brought with him the first astronomer ’s staff of brass, devised by Gemma Frisius, the two great globes constructed by Gerard Mercator and the astronomer’s ring of brass, as Gemma Frisius had newly framed it .

As a student at Louvain in 1548, he was engaged in investigating the ‘original and fournatin of arts and sciences’. On his arrival at Louvain he contracted and intimate friendship with Mercator. He was often called ‘Doctor’ Dee.

At the College of Rheims, he read freely and lectured on Euclid’s elements. His auditory was so large that many had to look in at the windows. He declined a fellowship at Oxford University.

Dee attempted to take away the queen’s (Elizabeth) life by poison or magic, and was seized at Hampton Court, but later discharged of all suspicion of treason. In 1555, he was restored to liberty.

1555-6, the dispersion of old manuscripts at the dissolution of monastic establishments , and prayed the queen to take the opportunity of forming at a trifting cost a magnificent royal library.

Elizabeth Dee was taken into the queen’s service.

He wrote astrological calculation respecting the choice of a fit day fro the coronation . Dee had purchased the "Steganographia" of the abbot John Trithemius. It is the earliest elaborate treatise on writing in cipher, and interesting subject to Cecil.

Dee returned to England and Elizabeth deigned to become his pupil, and he disclosed to her at Greenwich in June 1584 some of the secrets of his mysterious book.

In 1567-8, the queen talked to him in her gallery at Westminster concerning the great secret to be disclosed for his sake to her majesty by Dee; he received a substantial pecuniary reward.

1570: preface of translation of Euclid by him. Dee refers to the popular belief that he was a conjuror and asks whether a modest Christian philosopher ought, on account of marvellous feats naturally wrought and contrived, to be as ‘a companion of the helhounds, and a caller, and a conjuror of wicked and damned spirits.’ He studies diligently and collected a noble library of the most curious books in all sciences, and a large number of valuable manuscripts.

The appearance of a new star in November 1572 meant Ed could show off his skill in astronomy. Dee was at the centre of the scheme fro reforming the calendar.

In 1577, the appearance of a comet, to prevent the waxen image in its breast that had been found in Lincolu’s Inn Fields.

1580: Queen desired to know her title to countries in different parts of the world . Dee drew up a hydrographical and geographical description of such countries on two large roles. Dee desired to ascertain the actual position of the earth in relation to the sun at the birth of Christ, and to rectify the calendar on that basis.

Dee now devoted all his attention to alchemical experiments , and tto a pretended intercourse with angels or evil spirits. He possessed a crystal globe which had the quality, when intently surveyed, of presenting apparitions and even emitting sounds . The spirits appeared, after due manipulation of the globe, either on its surface or in the room. Only one person, having been named as seer, could see the spirits , and hear the voices concentrating all his faculties on the crystal.

1581: after due prayers the angel Anael summoned reputed adept in the occult. Dee disclaimed all skill in what was vulgarly accounted magic, but finally produced his crystal, to which aliqui angeli boni were said to be answerable. After prayers from both, a spirit called Uriel appeared, who gave directions for invoking other angels , and insisted that Dee and Kelly should cooperate in their researchers. He also gave minute instructions for constructions the holy table. Kelly was sent to Mortlkae to entrap Dee.

1582: Dee obtained from an angel another stone or crystal which had miraculous qualities. These mystical conferences were continued for more than a quarter of a century. After Dee’s departure, the mob who execrated him as a magician, broke into his house and destroyed a great part of his furniture and books, also his chemical apparatus which had cost him a fine quadrant. Stephen, king of Poland attended one of the actions with spirits but detected the imposture. At this time they admitted a Florentine, a man of education and talent. Dee was indefatigable in his search for the philosopher’s stone. It was reported that a very large quantity of the elixir had been found among the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey. He took one small grain of the powder upon an ounce and a quarter of mercury which produced nearly an ounce of gold . Kelly represented the angels to say it was the divine pleasure that he and Dee should for the future have wives in common. Dee was exceedingly distressed. His evil reputation as a sorcerer caused him to be shunned by all classes of society. The queen however , held him in high esteem. On his return to England, he was cut off from all receipt of rents. He became warden of Manchester College, where he refused to exorcise certain demons by which seven persons were possessed and ordered them to apply to a godly minister, and severely rebuked one Hartley, a conjuror, for his unlawful art.

1604: Dee was tried and cleared of the horrible slander that he was, or had been , a conjurer or caller nor innovator of devils, offering to submit to death if the charge could be proved. The nature of Dee’s studies refused to grant the prayer of the petition. The last record of these actions with spirits is dated 7th October 1607. He was so miserably poor at he end of his life, that his books were used to procure subsistence. In 1608, he was buried in the chancel of Mortlake Church.

Aubrey says: "He had a very fair, clear, sanguine complexion, a long beard as white as milke. A very handsome man... He was a great peacemaker: if any of the neighbours fell out, he would never lett them alone till he had made hem friends. He was tall and slender. He wore a gowne and a slitt. A mighty good man he was.. children dreaded him because he was accounted a conjurer."

The magic mirror into which Dee use to call his spirits is a disc of highly polished cannel coal. It was preserved into a leather case. Dee’s shew stone, or holy stone , which he asserted was given to him by and angel, is in the British Museum. It is a beautiful globe of polished crystal of the variety known as smoky quartz. He wrote 79 books. At the bottom of Dee’s own pedigree, there is a small full-length portrait of him in a furred gown.

Simon Forman (1552-1611) Astrologer and Quack-doctor

Forman paid much attention to the genealogy of his family. He suffered as a child from bad dreams, presaging "the troubles of his riper years." A clergyman first taught Simon his accidence.

1573: entered Magdalen College, Oxford as a poor scholar.

1574-8: employment as an usher in schools

1579: in the parsonage of Fisherton, and it was about that date he discovered his miraculous powers: "I did prophesy the truth of many things which afterwards came to pass" In June he was sent to gaol for sixty weeks on the ground of practising magic. Set free in 1580, he first practised his healing arts in Holland (The Hague ) and increased his knowledge of astrology and medicine.

1581: practice of physic and surgery.

1583: London as a doctor and astrologer where he stayed until the end of his life . Methods invariably condemned of gaining a livelihood, and he repeatedly suffered imprisonment , but gradually he acquired a lucrative practice, although for the most part a disreputable one.

Imprisoned in 1584 for personal immoralities. In 1588 he practised necromancy and to "call angels and spirits". In 1589, he was impressed for the Portugal voyage and threatened with process in the Star-chamber. His fortunes suffered eclipse and he as near starvation. A treatise on mathematics and medicine.

1592: worked assiduously and with great success among the poor in plague-stricken districts of London where few doctors venture. College of Physicians summoned him in 1593 for practising without a license. He claimed to have effected many cures . Declared that celestial signs and aspects give him all the information about diseases that he required. The physicians reported that he was laughably ignorant of medicine and astronomy.

1594: began experiments with the philosopher’s stone and wrote book on magic. Persons moving high in society, especially ladies, began to employ him. To his poor patients he always remained accessible, but the physicians still refused to tolerate him.

1597: charged for assaulting a woman. Forman had now acquired many powerful friends . 1603: the University of Cambridge gave him a license to practice medicine. 1607 : complaints about his practice and charges. Mrs Turner had constantly consulted Forman in order not only to forward an intrigue of her own with Sir Arthur Mainwaring but also to assist her friend the Countess of Essex, who was seeking a divorce from the Earl of Essex. She asked him to alienate by his magical philtres the love of her husband and to draw towards the love of the Earl of Somerset. Indecent images in wax of the persons concerned in theses scandals were brought into court by Forman ’s widow. It is stated that Coke was about to read out these notes when his attention was attracted to the name of his own wife. Forman was likewise reported to be especially skilful in tracking thieves.

"The Grounds of the Longitude with and admonition those that are incredulous and believe the truth of the same. Written by Simon Forman, student in astronomy and philosophy" London 1591.

Performance of Shakespeare’s "Macbeth" (at the Globe Theatre on Saturday 20 April 1610) and of the "Winter’s Tale" at the Globe on Wednesday 15 May 1611, end of "Cymbeleine ".

There are also separate treatises on the plague, on the astrological judgements of diseases, on the creation of the worked, the restoration of the Jews and the life of Merlin, besides a poem on antichrist, prayers in English verse and Latin and the astrologer’s accounts of his dreams.

Forman states that his portrait was painted in 1600 when arrayed in elaborate raiment . In the "Antiquarian Repertory" (1780) is an engrave portrait "from the original drawing in the collection of Right Hon. Lord Mountstuart now the property of the Marquis of Buta.