The Hieroglyphic Monad

PREFACE TO THE KING

...of the certain mysteries of Hermes Hermes Trismegistus, the legendary Hellenistic figure to whom many foundational alchemical and magical texts were attributed., Ostanes A legendary Persian magus and alchemist., Pythagoras, Democritus, and Anaxagoras: into which we descend from our own hieroglyphic demonstrations original: "Hieroglyphicis... Demonstrationibus." Dee refers to the geometric and symbolic proofs derived from his Monad symbol., not as if we were begging for credit from those ancients for these current matters. And such great Rarity is everywhere accompanied by Goodness: so that we may SOLEMNLY DECLARE that nothing has been placed by us in this little book, whether openly or secretly, which is not likewise Honorable, sincere, and suited to Human Dignity; and most useful for the pursuit of the most perfect Piety and true Religion. And as it is certainly impossible to rightly divide original: ΟΡΘΟΤΟΜΕΙΝ (orthotomein). A Greek term meaning to cut straight or handle correctly, famously used in the New Testament (2 Timothy 2:15) regarding the "word of truth." such arduous Mysteries, except for him who possesses a most thorough perspective of their entire Vastness: so no one could more quickly betray his own Infancy, Malice, or Arrogance, than he who would dare either to condemn as Impious, or reject as frivolous, anything of those matters which we have here commended to Your Wisdom. Of which thing, since no one can bring forward a Witness more acute in Judgment, more seasoned in Experience, more powerful in Authority, or more faithful in Sincerity than that Supreme King of Kings, the Almighty, who has made MAXIMILIAN King: Your August Majesty shall therefore be to me in the place of all others. To whom, if these our works are proven and held as valid, it will not only stop the mouths of many paltry grammaticasters original: "Triobolarium multorum... Grammaticastrorum." A "triobolarian" is someone worth only three obols (a cheap coin); "grammaticasters" are petty, unskilled critics of language and logic., but it will also lift the spirits of many who practice Philosophy—who are even now lying on the ground because of the proclaimed Uncertainty of such great Mysteries, or who fear the haughty judgments of Commanders because of the Rarity of these things: who (rashly)