John Dee was born July 13, 1527, in London.  His parents were in good circumstances.  At an early age (fifteen years) he studied at St John’s College, Cambridge.  His application was intense.  For three years, by his own account, he only slept four hours every night.  Two hours were allowed for meals and recreation, and the rest was spent in learning and devotion.  Five years afterwards he went into the Low Countries, for the purpose of conversing with Frisius, Mercator, and others.  Returning to Cambridge, he was chosen a fellow of Trinity College, then founded by Henry the Eighth.  His reputation stood very high, and his astronomical pursuits, in those days generally connected with astrology, drew upon him the imputation of being a conjuror, which character clung to him through life.  This opinion was much strengthened by an accident which, he says, happened soon after his removal from St John’s College, and his being chosen a fellow of Trinity.  “Hereupon,” he continues, “I did set forth a Greek comedy of Aristophanes, named in Greek [Greek:  Heirene] with the performance of the Scarabaeus, or beetle—­his flying up to Jupiter’s palace with a man and his basket of victuals on her back; whereat was great wondering, and many vain reports spread abroad of the means how that was effected.”

He left England again soon afterwards, distinguishing himself at several foreign universities, and attracting the notice of many persons of high rank, amongst which were the Duke of Mantua and Don Lewis de la Cerda (afterwards Duke of Medina Celi).  In 1551 he returned to England, being well received by King Edward and his court.  A pension of one hundred crowns per annum was granted him, which he afterwards exchanged for the rectory of Upton-upon-Severn.

In Queen Mary’s reign he was accused of some correspondence with the Lady Elizabeth’s servants, and of practising against the Queen’s life by enchantments.  He was seized and confined, but acquitted of the charge.  He was then turned over to Bonner, to see if heresy might not be found in him.  After a tedious prosecution he was set at liberty, August 19, 1555, by an order of the council.

Upon Queen Elizabeth’s accession he was consulted as to a fit day for the coronation, and received many splendid promises of preferment, which were never realised.

In the spring of the year 1564, he made another journey abroad, when he presented to the Emperor Maximilian his book, entitled “Monas Hieroglyphica,” printed at Antwerp the same year.  He returned to England in the summer, producing several learned works, which showed his extraordinary skill in the mathematics.