The Hieroglyphic Monad (1564 Antwerp)

TO MAXIMILIAN ###

...and they are accustomed to condemn these Studies indiscriminately, based solely on a similarity of name original: "ex nominis sola Similitudine." Dee is arguing that just because his work shares names with "magic" or "alchemy," it shouldn't be lumped in with the fraudulent versions of those crafts.. This sometimes results in the most deplorable destruction of the best books. It is very clearly evident that both of these things The indiscriminate condemnation and the destruction of books. have brought a great deal of harm to the Christian Commonwealth at various times. Surely, a talent naturally fit for handling and undertaking such great matters is either terrified by the former prospect Being condemned by name alone., or, even when he has already made no small progress, he finds his study of such noble and divine Mysteries condemned rudely and arrogantly by unskilled judges.

But this is not the place to compare each of the Honorable Sciences Honest Arts (Scientiae Honestae): The legitimate branches of knowledge, such as mathematics and true philosophy, as opposed to the "shadowy" or fraudulent ones. with their rivals—those which are indeed false, Shadowy, hateful, troublesome, and useless to human society. s.m.l.? We confess that these false arts alone—and the manner by which they captivate and occupy common men—should be exploded and condemned, not only by common judgment, but by the judgment of every most wise person; and we also urge that this be done most diligently.

But as for those who know neither that those BODIES exist, nor where, nor of what kind they are—of WHICH these arts are the thinnest shadows Dee evokes Plato’s Allegory of the Cave: the critics only see the "shadows" (the false/common arts) and don't realize that a "body" (a true, solid science) casts them.—how do they dare, or how can they at least by right, condemn the uncommon Studies of uncommon men?

LET JUSTICE BE DONE. original: "FIAT IVSTITIA." Let to each what is his own be thus attributed: to those common pseudo-scholars Sciolis: Persons who have only a superficial, "smattering" of knowledge but act like experts. who not only pursue the shadows of the Great Arts, but also most wickedly fabricate and adulterate them, let us ascribe Trifles, Error, and all Impiety. But in the case of good and solid studies of the more advanced, and in honorable characters both confirmed and most clear in their integrity...

above This indicates a small insertion in the manuscript meant to be read above the line.