15 Apr.

A COMMUNION OF WIVES, 1587

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Note. Upon this former part of the Third Action General, where my first-begotten son (namely Arthur) was assigned to the ministry of seeing and hearing, in place and stead ofE.K. ifhe would utterly refuse the same office (hitherto by him executed, and by him to be executed, until the seven Actions General finished); and that the same child and son in the mean space (that is to say, between the day of the part of Action received, and the end of the same: determined to be 14 days after) should be exercised before God. I thereupon thinking that E.K. would, should or best could instruct and direct the child in that exercise, did always await, that E.K. would of himself call the boy to that exercise with him: and so much the rather because he said that he was very glad now that he should have a witness of the things showed and declared by spiritual creatures: and that he would be more willing to do what should be so enjoined to him to do than if only he himself did see, and that for divers causes. But when E.K. said to me that I should exercise the child and not he, and that he would not, I thereupon appointed with myself to bring the child to the place, and to offer him and present him to the service of seeing and skrying from God, and by God's assignment, and of the time of 14 days yet remaining, appointed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, being the 15,16, I7 days of April, and next before the 18 day (the day assigned to end the Action in) to have the child exercised in them: and thereupon contrived for the child this order of prayer ensuing. o Almighty and Everlasting, the true and living God, have mercy, pity and compassion on my father John Dee, and on me Arthur Dee. Quicken, instruct and confirm in me, and unto me, my discretion, judgement, understanding, memory and utterance, that I may be a true and perfect seer, hearer, declarer and witness of such things which either immediately of thy Divine Majesty, or mediately by the ministry of thy holy, mighty and faithful angels shall be manifested, declared or showed unto me, now and at all times and occasions, for the advancing of thy praise, honour and glory. Amen. Hereupon, Wednesday morning (the 15 of this April), I brought the child to the Holy Table, being in order of the furniture thereto belonging, and set before him the Stone in the frame (my first sanctified Stone) and caused him on his knees to say the foresaid prayer. And at his coming to look and see in the Stone, there appeared to him (as he judged) divers little square figures, with pricks, and divers other figures and lines, which I caused him with his own hand to imitate upon 1'1 2II 1'1 a paper with pen and ink. They were much on this fashion as I have imitated them. [].., ED::::=::1...: ) (: '-' "-: (J 0... r -.;>....... -> J All the lines were white, and some of the pricks also, but other of the pricks were black, as of ink. ARTHUR: 'Two old men with black beards, and with golden crowns upon their heads, do appear. One is now gone: this holdeth his hands before him like a maid. 'Now in the place of those square marks I see two lions, the one very exactly, and gaping. About the upper brim of the Stone they appear: and the lions' feet be waxing greater and greater. 'I see another man from the breast upward. I can see no hair on his head. 'I see a great company of feet, and their garments' skirts somewhat above their ankles: and they are like women's kirtles with gards about them. 'I see another man without a doublet, in his shirt, and with a white cloak about him, hanging his hands down by his sides.' Nothing else esteemed or judged to be shown in the Stone by the child, we ceased that exercise and committed all to God's mercies. On Thursday and Friday, I determined each of them two days that the child should thrice in the day be put to the exercise, and at each time repeat the prayer prescribed thrice.