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Madimi retorts -

"Thou hast no faith. He is your friend greatly and intendeth to do much for you. He is prepared to do thee good, and thou art prepared to do him service. Those who are not faithful shall die a most miserable death, and shall drink of sleep everlasting."

A couple of days after, on July 4, Dee returning from Court, found Kelly making preparation to go away for five days, having fixed to met some companions in Mortlake, others in Brentford. Doubtless he found all this mystical and angelic society somewhat of a bore, and was yearning for an outburst a little more to his taste. Dee, who had seen Laski in London, knew that he intended to come down to Mortlake within a day or two, "who also," he says, "delighted in E.K. his company." So he wrote a short note in very polite Latin to the "Nobilissimi Princeps," bidding him put off his visit, as "our Edward" was about to take a journey, and would not be home for five days, or so he says: "Quid sit ipsa veritas."

He showed Kelly the letter. Kelly took great offence at these words, suspecting some secret understanding between the two against him. Dee gently referred to Kelly's own words that his return might be within, or at the end of, five days. Kelly, angry and suspicious, seized the letter and tore it up.

Soon after, Kelly beholds "a spiritual creature" by his right shoulder, telling him to go clean away, for if he stays there he will be hanged. If he goes with the Prince, he will cut off his head, and (to Dee)

"You mean not to keep promise with me. And therefore if I might have a thousand pound to tarry, yea, a kingdom, I cannot. Therefore I release you of your promise of £50 yearly stipend to me, and you need not doubt but God will defend you and prosper you, and can of the very stones raise up children unto Abraham. And again, I cannot abide my wife, I love her not, nay, I abhor her, and here in the house I am misliked because I favour her no better."

Dee endeavoured to calm this turbulent young man, spoke of his confidence in him in his dealings with their spiritual friends, but such doings and sayings as these, he points out, are not meet and fitting.

Kelly flung out of the room in a passion, mounted his mare, and rode off furiously towards Brentford, clattering out of the house with such commotion that Jane came running up to her husband's study to know what was the matter. It was about seven o'clock in the evening.

"`Jane,' I said, `this man is marvellously out of quiet against his wife, for her friends their bitter reports against him behind his back, and her silence thereat, etc. He is gone,' said I, `but I beseech the Almighty God to guide him and defend him from danger and shame. I doubt not but God will be merciful to him, and bring him at length to such order as he shall be a faithful servant unto God.'"

Then a remarkable thing happened. By ten o'clock that night (the long midsummer twilight barely over), the prodigal returned, and mounted softly up the study stairs, "unbooted, for he was come in a boat from Brentford. When I saw him, I was very glad inwardly. But I remained writing of those records as I had yet to write, of last Tuesday's action.

"`I have lent my mare,' he said, `and so am returned.'

"`It is well done,' said I.

"Thereupon he sate down in the chair by my table where he was wont to sit. He took up in his hand the books which I had brought from London, of the Lord Laskie, written to him in his commendations." Evidently books sent to Kelly by way of compliment.

Almost immediately, Madimi, who seemed to have a special wardship over books, appeared. She patted the parchment cover of one and would have taken it out of Kelly's hand. Dee heard the strokes, he says. He took a paper and, greeting his visitor, noted the conversation.

D. - "Mistresse Madimi, you are welcome in God for good, as I hope. What is the cause of your coming now?"

M. - "To see how you do."

D. - I know you see me often, but I see you onely by faith and imagination."

M. (who is always more personal than the other spirits) - "That sight is perfecter than his," pointing to Kelly.

D. (with emotion) - "O Madimi, shall I have any more of these grievous pangs?"

M. (oracularly) - "Curst wives and great Devils are sore companions."

D. - "In respect of the Lord Treasurer, Mr. Secretary and Mr. Rawly, I pray you, what worldly comfort is there to be looked for? Besides that I do principally put my trust in God."

M. - "Madder will staine, wicked men will offend, and are easie to be offended."

D. - "And being offended, will do wickedly, to the persecution of them that mean simply."

M. - "Or else they were not to be called wicked."

D. - "As concerning Alb. Laski, his pedigree, you said your sister would tell all."

M. - "I told you more than all your Dog painters and Cat painters can do."

Kelly interrupts Dee's questions about Laski's pedigree and parentage, impatiently, with

K. - "Will you, Madimi, lend me a hundred pounds for a fortnight?"

M. - "I have swept all my money out of doors."

D. - As for money, we shall have that which is necessary when God seeth time."

Then Madimi, becoming serious, addresses to Kelly a beautiful exposition of the unity of all things: "Love is the spirit of God uniting and knitting things together in a laudable proportion." She turns sharply to him, with

"What dost thou hunt after? Speak, man, what doest though hunt after?...Thou lovest not God. Lo, behold, thou breakest his commandments: thy bragging words are confounded...If thou hast none of these [faith, hope, love] thou hast hate. Dost thou love Silver and Gold? The one is a Thief; the other is a Murderer. Wilt thou seek honour? So did Cain. But thou hast a just God that loveth thee, just and virtuous men that delight in thee. Therefore be thou virtuous."

Next follows a remarkable scene. Madimi summons Barma and his fourteen evil companions, who have assumed possession of Kelly, with the words "Venite Tenebrae fugite spirito meo," and orders them to return to the Prince of Darkness: "Depart unto the last cry. Go you thither....The hand of the Lord is like a strong oak. When it falleth it cutteth in sunder many bushes. The light of His eyes shall expel darkness."

Kelly sees the whole crew sink down through the floor of the chamber: "A thing like a wind came and pluckt them by the feet away." He professes his deliverance: "Methinketh I am lighter than I was, and I seem to be empty and to be returned from a great amazing. For this fortnight, I do not well remember what I have done or said."

"Thou art eased of a great burden. Love God. Love thy friends. Love thy wife."

And with this parting injunction, and a psalm of thanksgiving from Dee, the story of Kelly's wild attack of temper, or as it was regarded in teh sixteenth century, his possession, for the present ends. Nor is there any record of further dealings with spirits for more than two months.


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