24 Sept.

AN AUDIENCE OF THE EMPEROR, 1584

travel,court_patronage,household_family,money_legal,letters_books,angelic_spiritual

Monday, mane hora 8. Pragce. At the first looking E.K. saw Uriel, but covered with his scarf, &c. Notwithstanding I said some prayers to God on my knees. It is to be remembered that for two causes we repaired to the Show- Stone: the one by reason of the letter which I had written to the Emperor, and was minded to go to show it to the Spanish Ambassador before I sent it to the Emperor, to have his opinion of it, and also to bear it.2I Secondly, by reason of foul slanderous words which were spoken of me here at this Ambassador's table: that I was a conjuror, and a bankrupt alchemist, and came here to get somewhat of the Emperor: and that I had sold my goods and given to the Lord Laski the money, and that he had deceived me. To these untruths the Ambassador did reply in my behalf: for which I meant to thank him, &c. Note: as 1 had finished this Action, and was come to my study door, Emericus was returned again from the Spanish Ambassador, to whom 1 had sent him, desirous to know his leisure for me: who had now sent me word by Emericus to come to dinner, and so he would have leisure, &c. Whereof 1 was right glad, and went thither to dinner: who into his innermost study (where he himself was writing of letters) caused me to be brought. And after 1 had complained of injury and violence done unto me by foul slanders, and that, at his Honour's table (to which his Honour in my behalf had replied, and therefore most humbly and sincerely 1 did thank him), 1 said that the Emperor's Majesty himself could bear me witness that 1 used this phrase unto him: 'I did not come to you, Most Serene Emperor, on account of your riches, so that thereby 1 might become rich: 1 was sent by God, and do not dare do other than to declare his will unto your Emperor's Majesty.' And therefore how falsely they slandered me, it was evident. And because 1 perceive that Dr Curtz hath not dealt neither with due entertainment of me as of a stranger, or a student, or a mathematician, or of one whom (to my face) he gave great praise unto, as of one long since of great fame in Germany, and so in his good estimation, &c.: and least of all, as of one who offered so great courtesies to the Emperor's Majesty as he was made witness of: 1 thought good to send unto the Emperor's Majesty this letter following, and so read it unto him after dinner, when 1 showed him 'Librum Pragensem sive Cesareum', and moreover 'Librum Decimum' (whose former title was 'Libri Sexti Mystici Tertiarius'), and there showed him divers Actions in Latin already translated, because now to translate so to him of the English did seem to me both tedious and to him not so readily pleasant. He declared that he was lineally descended out of the consanguinity of one a gentleman, but unlettered at the first, who left his wife, children and family in Majorca and ascended an hill there, and in place solitary remained an whole year, and at the year's end he came down, but so learned and wise that all who knew him before wondered at it. And that the same man was called Raymondo Lullio: and that he made that which is called the philosophers' stone-'As in England,' said he, 'I understand is good record of it.22 Therefore 1 see,' quoth he, 'that it is a truth and possible: and as he hath granted the knowledge of it to one man, so he may grant it to another, &c. And as for the other higher matters, 1 perceive that God intendeth some great matter in this world. But 1 am not able to judge or determine of it. But 1 am of this mind, wherein 1 can any way further the service of God, 1 will be ready and obedient, &c. And as for the