THE MAGIC GLASS.
The old College of Manchester occupied, as is well known, the site of
the existing structure, called after the benevolent individual by whom
that admirable charity was founded, and whom we have ventured to
introduce in this history,--the Chetham Hospital. Much, indeed, of the
ancient building remains; for though it was considerably repaired and
enlarged, being "very ruinous and in great decay," at the time of its
purchase in 1654, by the feoffees under Humphrey Chetham's will, from
the sequestrators of the Earl of Derby's estates, still the general
character of the fabric has been preserved, and several of its chambers
retained. Originally built on the foundation of a manor-house
denominated The Baron's Hall,--the abode of the Grelleys and the De la
Warrs, lords of Manchester,--the College continued to be used as the
residence of the warden and fellows of the Collegiate Church until the
reign of Edward the First, when that body was dissolved. On the
accession, however, of Mary, the College was re-established; but the
residence of the ecclesiastical body being removed to a house in
Deansgate, the building was allowed to become extremely dilapidated, and
was used partly as a prison for recusants and other offenders, and
partly as a magazine for powder. In this state Dr. Dee found it when he
succeeded to the wardenship in 1595, and preferring it, notwithstanding
its ruinous condition, to the house appointed for him elsewhere, took up
his abode within it.
Situated on a high rock, overhanging the river Irk--at that time a clear
stream, remarkable for the excellence of its fish,--and constructed
entirely of stone, the old College had then, and still has to a certain
extent, a venerable and monastic appearance. During Dee's occupation of
it, it became a sort of weird abode in the eyes of the vulgar, and many
a timorous look was cast at it by those who walked at eventide on the
opposite bank of the Irk. Sometimes the curiosity of the watchers was
rewarded by beholding a few sparks issue from the chimney, and now and
then, the red reflection of a fire might be discerned through the
window. But generally nothing could be perceived, and the building
seemed as dark and mysterious as its occupant.
One night, however, a loud explosion took place,--so loud, indeed, that
it shook the whole pile to its foundation, dislodged one or two of the
chimneys, and overthrew an old wall, the stones of which rolled into the
river beneath. Alarmed by the concussion, the inhabitants of Hunt's Bank
rushed forth, and saw, to their great alarm, that the wing of the
college occupied by Doctor Dee was in flames. Though many of them
attributed the circumstance to supernatural agency, and were fully
persuaded that the enemy of mankind was at that instant bearing off the
conjuror and his assistant, and refused to interfere to stop the
conflagration, others, more humane and less superstitious, hastened to
lend their aid to extinguish the flames. On reaching the College, they
could scarcely credit their senses on finding that there was no
appearance of fire; and they were met by the Doctor and his companion at
the gates, who informed them that their presence was unnecessary, as all
danger was over. From that night Doctor Dee's reputation as a wizard
was firmly established.
At the period of this history, Doctor Dee was fast verging on eighty,
having passed a long life in severe and abstruse study. He had travelled
much, had visited most of the foreign courts, where he was generally
well received, and was profoundly versed in mathematics, astronomy, the
then popular science of judicial astrology, and other occult learning.
So accurate were his calculations esteemed, that he was universally
consulted as an oracle. For some time, he resided in Germany, where he
was invited by the Emperor Charles the Fifth, and retained by his
brother and successor, Ferdinando. He next went to Louvain, where his
reputation had preceded him; and from thence to Paris, where he lectured
at the schools on geometry, and was offered a professorship of the
university, but declined it. On his return to England in 1551, he was
appointed one of the instructors of the youthful monarch, Edward the
Sixth, who presented him with an annual pension of a hundred marks. This
he was permitted to commute for the rectory of Upton-upon-Severn, which
he retained until the accession of Mary, when being charged with
devising her Majesty's destruction by enchantments,--certain waxen
images of the Queen having been found within his abode,--he was thrown
into prison, rigorously treated, and kept in durance for a long period.
At length, from want of sufficient proof against him, he was liberated.
Dee shared the common fate of all astrologers: he was alternately
honoured and disgraced. His next patron was Lord Robert Dudley
(afterwards the celebrated Earl of Leicester), who, it is well-known,
was a firm believer in the superstitious arts to which Dee was addicted,
and by whom he was employed, on the accession of Elizabeth, to erect a
scheme to ascertain the best day for her coronation. His prediction was
so fortunate that it procured him the favour of the Queen, from whom he
received many marks of regard. As it is not needful to follow him
through his various wanderings, it may be sufficient to mention, that in
1564 he proceeded to Germany on a visit to the Emperor Maximilian, to
whom he dedicated his "_Monas Hieroglyphica_;" that in 1571 he fell
grievously sick in Lorrain, whither two physicians were despatched to
his aid by Elizabeth; and that on his recovery he returned to his own
country, and retired to Mortlake, where he gathered together a vast
library, comprising the rarest and most curious works on all sciences,
together with a large collection of manuscripts.
While thus living in retirement, he was sought out by Edward Kelley, a
native of Worcestershire, who represented himself as in possession of an
old book of magic, containing forms of invocation, by which spirits
might be summoned and controlled, as well as a ball of ivory, found in
the tomb of a bishop who had made great progress in hermetic
philosophy, which was filled with the powder of projection. These
treasures Kelley offered to place in the hands of the Doctor on certain
conditions, which were immediately acquiesced in, and thenceforth Kelley
became a constant inmate in his house, and an assistant in all his
practices. Shortly afterwards, they were joined by a Polish nobleman,
Albert de Laski, Palatine of Suabia, whom they accompanied to Prague, at
the instance of the Emperor Rodolph the Second, who desired to be
initiated into their mysteries. Their reception at this court was not
such as to induce a long sojourn at it; and Dee having been warned by
his familiar spirits to sell his effects and depart, complied with the
intimation, and removed to Poland. The same fate attended him here. The
nuncio of the Pope denounced him as a sorcerer, and demanded that he
should be delivered up to the Inquisition. This was refused by the
monarch; but Dee and his companion were banished from his dominions, and
compelled to fly to Bohemia, where they took refuge in the castle of
Trebona, belonging to Count Rosenberg. Shortly afterwards, Dee and
Kelley separated, the magical instruments being delivered to the former,
who bent his course homewards; and on his arrival in London was warmly
welcomed by the Queen. During his absence, his house at Mortlake had
been broken open by the populace, under the pretence of its being the
abode of a wizard, and rifled of its valuable library and
manuscripts,--a loss severely felt by its owner. Some years were now
passed by Dee in great destitution, during which he prosecuted his
studies with the same ardour as before, until at length in 1595, when he
was turned seventy, fortune again smiled upon him, and he was appointed
to the wardenship of the College at Manchester, whither he repaired, and
was installed in great pomp.
But his residence in this place was not destined to be a tranquil one.
His reputation as a dealer in the black art had preceded him, and
rendered him obnoxious to the clergy, with whom he had constant
disputes, and a feud subsisted between him and the fellows of his
church. It has already been mentioned that he refused to occupy the
house allotted him, but preferred taking up his quarters in the old
dilapidated College. Various reasons were assigned by his enemies for
this singular choice of abode. They affirmed--and with some reason--that
he selected it because he desired to elude observation,--and that his
mode of life, sufficiently improper in a layman, was altogether
indecorous in an ecclesiastic. By the common people he was universally
regarded as a conjuror--and many at first came to consult him; but he
peremptorily dismissed all such applicants; and, when seven females,
supposed to be possessed, were brought to him that he might exercise his
power over the evil spirits, he refused to interfere. He also publicly
examined and rebuked a juggler, named Hartley, who pretended to magical
knowledge. But these things did not blind his enemies, who continued to
harass him to such a degree, that he addressed a petition to James the
First, entreating to be brought to trial, when the accusations preferred
against him might be fully investigated, and his character cleared. The
application, and another to the like effect addressed to parliament,
were disregarded. Dee had not been long established in Manchester when
he was secretly joined by Kelley, and they recommenced their search
after the grand secret,--passing the nights in making various alchymical
experiments, or in fancied conferences with invisible beings.
Among other magical articles possessed by Doctor Dee was a large globe
of crystal, which he termed the Holy Stone, because he believed it had
been brought him by "angelical ministry;" and "in which," according to
Meric Casaubon, "and out of which, by persons qualified for it, and
admitted to the sight of it, all shapes and figures mentioned in every
action were seen, and voices heard." The same writer informs us it was
"round-shaped, of a pretty bigness, and most like unto crystal." Dee
himself declared to the Emperor Rodolph, "that the spirits had brought
him a stone of that value that no earthly kingdom was of such worthiness
as to be compared to the virtue and dignity thereof." He was in the
habit of daily consulting this marvellous stone, and recording the
visions he saw therein, and the conferences he held through it with the
invisible world.
Followed by Guy Fawkes and Kelley, the Doctor took his way down Long
Mill Gate, and stopping at an arched gateway on the left, near which, on
the site of the modern structure, stood the public school, founded a
century before by Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter,--he unlocked a small
wicket, and entered a spacious court, surrounded on one side by high
stone walls, and on the other by a wing of the College.
Conducting his guest to the principal entrance of the building, which
lay at the farther end of the court, Doctor Dee ushered him into a large
chamber, panelled with oak, and having a curiously-moulded ceiling,
ornamented with grotesque sculpture. This room, still in existence, and
now occupied by the master of the school, formed Doctor Dee's library.
Offering Fawkes a chair, the Doctor informed him that when all was
ready, Kelley should summon him, and, accompanied by his assistant, he
withdrew. Half an hour elapsed before Kelley returned. Motioning Guy
Fawkes to follow him, he led the way through several intricate passages
to a chamber which was evidently the magician's sacred retreat. In a
recess on one side stood a table, covered with cabalistic characters and
figures, referring to the celestial influences. On it was placed the
holy stone, diffusing such a glistening radiance as is emitted by the
pebble called cat's-eye. On the floor a wide circle was described, in
the rings of which magical characters, resembling those on the table,
were traced. In front stood a brasier, filled with flaming coals; and
before it hung a heavy black curtain, appearing to shroud some mystery
from view.
Desiring Fawkes to place himself in the centre of the circle, Doctor Dee
took several ingredients from a basket handed him by Kelley, and cast
them into the brasier. As each herb or gum was ignited, the flame
changed its colour; now becoming crimson, now green, now blue, while
fragrant or noxious odours loaded the atmosphere. These suffumigations
ended, Dee seated himself on a chair near the table, whither he was
followed by Kelley, and commanding Fawkes not to move a footstep, as he
valued his safety, he waved his wand, and began in a solemn tone to
utter an invocation. As he continued, a hollow noise was heard overhead,
which gradually increased in loudness, until it appeared as if the walls
were tumbling about their ears.
"The spirits are at hand!" cried Dee. "Do not look behind you, or they
will tear you in pieces."
As he spoke, a horrible din was heard, as of mingled howling, shrieking,
and laughter. It was succeeded by a low faint strain of music, which
gradually died away, and then all was silent.
"All is prepared," cried Dee. "Now, what would you behold?"
"The progress of the great enterprise," replied Fawkes.
Doctor Dee waved his wand. The curtains slowly unfolded, and Guy Fawkes
perceived as in a glass a group of dark figures; amongst which he
noticed one in all respects resembling himself. A priest was apparently
proposing an oath, which the others were uttering.
"Do you recognise them?" said Doctor Dee.
"Perfectly," replied Fawkes.
"Look again," said Dee.
As he spoke the figures melted away, and a new scene was presented on
the glass. It was a gloomy vault, filled with barrels, partly covered
with fagots and billets of wood.
"Have you seen enough?" demanded Dee.
"No," replied Fawkes, firmly. "I have seen what is past. I would behold
that which is to come."
"Look again, then," rejoined the Doctor, waving his wand.
For an instant the glass was darkened, and nothing could be discerned
except the lurid flame and thick smoke arising from the brasier. The
next moment, an icy chill shot through the frame of Guy Fawkes as he
beheld a throng of skeletons arranged before him. The bony fingers of
the foremost of the grisly assemblage were pointed towards an indistinct
object at its feet. As this object gradually became more defined, Guy
Fawkes perceived that it was a figure resembling himself, stretched upon
the wheel, and writhing in the agonies of torture.
He uttered an exclamation of terror, and the curtains were instantly
closed.
Half an hour afterwards, Guy Fawkes quitted the College, and returned to
the Seven Stars.