PREFACE TO THE KING

Year 1557. In the Mirror of Unity, or the Apology for Roger Bacon the Englishman.

...ly: original: "mum". This is the suffix of a word continuing from the previous page, likely "firstly" or "lastly". we once discussed these things in an apologetic manner. But so many Mysteries regarding these matters remain constant to me, which have their most solid Foundations laid in the Most Holy Scriptures of ALMIGHTY GOD (both of this very Art of Grammar: and of those Mysteries which may be unearthed with the help of that same Art), that I could not explain them even in a great Book; nor does this present place, now, seem to require it. Do not wonder, O Illustrious King of the Romans Maximilian II, who held this title before being crowned Holy Roman Emperor., that I now mention in passing that Alphabetical Literature contains great Mysteries: since HE Himself, who is the ONLY Author of all Mysteries, compared HIMSELF to the First and Last Letter. A reference to the "Alpha and Omega" (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet) in the Book of Revelation. Dee is arguing that if God identifies as letters, then the study of letters—Grammar—is a divine science. (This is not to be understood as being only in the Greek Tongue: but it can be demonstrated in various ways, from this very Art, both in Hebrew and in Latin.) Oh, how great, then, must be the Mysteries of the intermediate letters? And it is no wonder that this is so firmly established in letters: since all things, both Visible and INVISIBLE; Manifest, and most Hidden (whether by Nature or Art) emanating from God himself, must be surveyed by us with the most diligent Investigation, in order to preach and celebrate His GOODNESS, WISDOM, and POWER. Hence, Paul taught that the

To the Romans, chapter 1.

HUMAN RACE lacks any excuse: even if they had no other written Monument concerning these things than that which has been engraved by the very Finger of GOD in all Creatures from the CREATION. Dee cites Romans 1:20, arguing that God’s nature is "written" into the physical world (the "Book of Nature") just as it is written in the alphabet. But, I am not doing this now too curiously, as if I wished to require these things from all Grammarians: but rather to make those very men, who labor to unearth the hidden Mysteries of things, witnesses that we [have found] something RARE in this Genre, (from our...