28 Feb.

TO SALUTE A STRANGE KING, 1584

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Mane circa 6 horam. At Limburg. Thursday. Note, I had caused from 4 of the clock in the morning the horses to be looked unto, so as, by 5 or as soon as it was break of day, we might be riding. In the mean space, while E.K. yet lay in his bed awake, and I was in the next chamber by, in ordering my things of my male, E.K. heard a.voice (like mine) say '0 '. Whereat he asked me, 'What say you?' I answered that I spake nothing. Then he -doubted what creature did use that voice. Afterward he rose: and when he had been ready a while, and sat in the chamber where my male lay, he said that he felt somewhat crawling, or as one writing on his back, and at length to ascend into his head. And so I left him, and went out into another place, and kneeled to pray, and prayed. And upon the coming in of Thomas Kelly into that room where I kneeled (in the door of a little open gallery over the street), I rose up and went in again to E.K., and he told me that he slumbered by reason of the heaviness of his head, and that he seemed to see me praying, and Michael to stand by me. I answered that truth it was I had been somewhat bent to prayer, but that I could not pray as I would, &c. Hereupon immediately he saw Michael over my head with a pen in his hand. Thereupon I was resolved that I was to write somewhat of importance: and I made speed to take pen, ink and paper, and to settle myself to writing, because we made haste to ride, as intending to ride eight or nine miles that day, and company tarrying for us: one of them being a Jew, whose sister is wife to Dr Salomon of Prague, the Jew, &c.4 And going about to attend for something to write, a voice said as followeth: 'Why do you not shut yourself away, to hear my voice?' Hereupon I did shut all the doors and uttermore doors. VOICE: 'In the Stone, so that the truth may be made more evident.' Hereupon speedily I took out the Show-Stone and set it on the Table before E.K. E.K.: 'Here appeareth a white circle round about the border of the Stone, and a ball or globe of flaming fire in the midst. Michael is come to the lower part of the circle.' MICHAEL: 'Before twelve months of your account be finished, with the sun, I will keep my promise with thee, as concerning the destruction of Rudolph: lest peradventure he triumph, as he often doth. For thy lines are many times perused by him, saying "This man doted, where is become his God or his good angels?" 'And behold, I will sweep him off the face of the earth, and he shall perish miserably: that he may understand, that thou dealt not for thyself, but didst fulfil the work of thy master. 'Moreover I will bring in, even in the second month (the twelve ended), Stephen: and will place him in the seat imperial. He shall possess an empire most great, and shall show what it is to govern, when God placeth. 'My mind abhorreth from Laski, for he is neither faithful to me, nor to thee: neither he careth for his own soul. 'This therefore shalt thou do. The same way thou earnest, the same way thou shalt also return: not to.fly from their malice or tyranny, but to stand in the face of them as my servant. Hereby, indirectly, shall the traitor understand you know him. And Rudolphus' hard heart I will stir up with indignation against him. For he shall be construed a liar. And they shall begin to fear thee, and also to love thee: and thou shalt be in favour amongst them. 'When therefore thou comest home, hide not thyself: but see that the infant be regenerated.'5: 'As concerning the godfathers: shall I request and use such as I intended?' MICHAEL: 'Do that thou hast done.' Hereupon we had great comfort, and so brake our fast, and returned to Prague again before 4 of the clock in the afternoon. Note. While I was thus out, and had left a letter for the Courteous Balthasar Federicus Dominus ab Ossa, &c., to deal with the Spanish Ambassador, the Lord Romff, and Mein Herr Kinsky, to crave pardon of my sudden departure, and the child not yet christened, &c., and had given my wife charge not to deliver the letter before Friday night, &c.: it came to pass that this Mr Balthasar had sent word of his coming to Prague with the Lord Kinsky (whom on the Friday before I had met riding out of town: and he told me that he was to be out three or four days, &c.) and that he was desirous to speak with me. Upon which occasion my wife thought it best to send the letter to him,