Cosmopolitics: Empire, Intelligence and Esoterica
The Secret Handbook That Emperors And Rulers Consulted
John Dee performing an experiment before Queen Elizabeth I.
OVERVIEW
The Elizabethan Court in London and the Court of Rudolf II in Prague, Bohemia were deeply connected in ways few would expect. In this article you will read about Cosmopolitics and how both courts were shaped by the same secret handbook to guide them in governance and statecraft - a book treated as authoritative by rulers since the first century CE.
This wasn’t just about running a kingdom. The handbook contained guidance on immortality, crafting talismans, making elixirs, decoding celestial alignments, reading character from the body shape and even calculating victory or defeat through the numbers hidden within commanders’ names. This practice, known as arithmancy, suggested that fate itself might be written in numerical patterns.
Here are two samples of the book; one on the behaviour expected of a King. More later.
The Elizabethan Court in London and the Court of Rudolf II in Prague, Bohemia were deeply connected in ways few would expect. In this article you will read about Cosmopolitics and how both courts were shaped by the same secret handbook to guide them in governance and statecraft - a book treated as authoritative by rulers since the first century CE.
This wasn’t just about running a kingdom. The handbook contained guidance on immortality, crafting talismans, making elixirs, decoding celestial alignments, reading character from the body shape and even calculating victory or defeat through the numbers hidden within commanders’ names. This practice, known as arithmancy, suggested that fate itself might be written in numerical patterns.
Here are two samples of the book; one on the behaviour expected of a King. More later.
The World is a Garden
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It becomes a King to be discreet and to abstain from too much laughter which makes a man disesteemed
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From here on, this article will provide the context for the handbook’s significance. While Rudolf II is often credited with bringing esoteric traditions to his court, the truth is that his ancestors (including Charles IV) had long embedded astrology and mystical practices into the foundations of Statecraft. The lineage of this knowledge is deeper than many realise, and it shaped rulership far beyond the walls of Prague.
There is so much more to uncover and show you.
There is so much more to uncover and show you.
Part One
In the vast tapestry of European history during the Medieval and Renaissance periods, two powerful ideas often intersected. These were the Divine Right of Kings and the art of Statecraft, also known as the art of good governance. These principles were deeply shaped by theology, philosophy and a fascination with the hidden workings of nature.
Divine Right
The Divine Right of Kings framed monarchs as rulers ordained by God to govern. Rulers were seen as a bridge between the divine and the material, between celestial rhythms and earthly laws. This ideology was also pronounced in France, where kings and emperors were ceremonially anointed like priests - until the practice ended after the French Revolution.
I used to be unsure about the difference between the role of a King and an Emperor, so just in case you are too, here is a quick review:
Divine Right
The Divine Right of Kings framed monarchs as rulers ordained by God to govern. Rulers were seen as a bridge between the divine and the material, between celestial rhythms and earthly laws. This ideology was also pronounced in France, where kings and emperors were ceremonially anointed like priests - until the practice ended after the French Revolution.
I used to be unsure about the difference between the role of a King and an Emperor, so just in case you are too, here is a quick review:
- A King/Queen. They typically rule a single, unified kingdom (e.g., the Queen of England).
- An Emperor. A person with this title governs an empire, often a collection of kingdoms and territories. They may or may not be of Royal descent e.g. Roman Emperor Nero or the Emperor of China. Napoleon was an Emperor, Emperor of France (1804) but without Divine Right to rule.
- A Holy Roman Emperor. This title was only ever given to a male as it was tied to the Catholic Church. On Christmas Day 800 CE, the King of the Franks, Charlemagne, was crowned by Pope Leo III in Rome as the first Holy Roman Emperor. Until Frederick III in 1452, each emperor was required to be crowned by the Pope before assuming the full imperial title. Starting with Maximilian I in 1508, however, rulers began using the title "Elected Roman Emperor" without papal coronation (just papal acknowledgement), though they were still commonly referred to as Holy Roman Emperors.
The Habsburg bloodline maintained nearly continuous possession of the Holy Roman Emperor title from 1440 to 1806. In 1806, Francis II abdicated as the last Holy Roman Emperor and the Empire was dissolved, ending its thousand-year history.*
Do take note though that these titles often overlapped because dynasties frequently ruled multiple crowns simultaneously. As a result, some individuals could hold the titles of King or Queen, Emperor, Archduke and more.
Statecraft
In the Holy Roman Empire, emperors held titles like Dei gratia Romanorum imperator - Emperor by the grace of God. Both kings/queens and emperors were considered chosen by heaven, but they were simultaneously accountable as governors. He (or she) was a steward of God's terrestrial order and this divine claim to a right to rule was expected to be fulfilled through their wisdom and through justice. It was often symbolically reinforced via mystical and magical means, with rulers employing esoteric practices, especially astrology, to enhance their divine legitimacy.
Cosmopolitics was, therefore, a model of kingship with a convergence of cosmos, crowns and pragmatic leadership (i.e., Statecraft). This evokes Plato's ideal of the Philosopher-King with rulers entrusted not just with power, but with the pursuit of wisdom and cosmic order.
Do take note though that these titles often overlapped because dynasties frequently ruled multiple crowns simultaneously. As a result, some individuals could hold the titles of King or Queen, Emperor, Archduke and more.
Statecraft
In the Holy Roman Empire, emperors held titles like Dei gratia Romanorum imperator - Emperor by the grace of God. Both kings/queens and emperors were considered chosen by heaven, but they were simultaneously accountable as governors. He (or she) was a steward of God's terrestrial order and this divine claim to a right to rule was expected to be fulfilled through their wisdom and through justice. It was often symbolically reinforced via mystical and magical means, with rulers employing esoteric practices, especially astrology, to enhance their divine legitimacy.
Cosmopolitics was, therefore, a model of kingship with a convergence of cosmos, crowns and pragmatic leadership (i.e., Statecraft). This evokes Plato's ideal of the Philosopher-King with rulers entrusted not just with power, but with the pursuit of wisdom and cosmic order.
Queen Elizabeth I
The Elizabethan Court: A Cosmopolitical Centre
The Elizabethan era commenced in England when Queen Elizabeth 1st ascended to the throne in 1558 presiding over a court shaped by this cosmopolitical ethos. Her title was Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith. The by the Grace of God section asserted her Divine right to rule, but she didn't actually rule France, it was a symbolic hangover from years gone by.
She also didn’t yet have an Empire.
Elizabeth certainly had imperial ambitions. Her reign saw the beginnings of England’s colonial ventures, overseas trade expansion, and the rise of naval power, but there wasn’t yet a formal British Empire. In fact, far from being the mere 'Conjuror' as he is often portrayed, it was John Dee (who I have spoken about previously in my set of articles) who first introduced the term "British Empire." It was Dee who was involved in a large part of her plans to colonise North America. Plans which unfortunately failed to properly and legally take hold in her lifetime.
The Elizabethan era commenced in England when Queen Elizabeth 1st ascended to the throne in 1558 presiding over a court shaped by this cosmopolitical ethos. Her title was Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith. The by the Grace of God section asserted her Divine right to rule, but she didn't actually rule France, it was a symbolic hangover from years gone by.
She also didn’t yet have an Empire.
Elizabeth certainly had imperial ambitions. Her reign saw the beginnings of England’s colonial ventures, overseas trade expansion, and the rise of naval power, but there wasn’t yet a formal British Empire. In fact, far from being the mere 'Conjuror' as he is often portrayed, it was John Dee (who I have spoken about previously in my set of articles) who first introduced the term "British Empire." It was Dee who was involved in a large part of her plans to colonise North America. Plans which unfortunately failed to properly and legally take hold in her lifetime.
Queen Elizabeth 1 and her advisors
John Dee (mathematician, navigator, cartographer, horologist, astrologer, alchemist, investigator of optics, and more) shared the stage with statesmen such as The Earl of Leicester, William Cecil (Lord Burghley, sometimes Burleigh) and Sir Francis Walsingham - and of course, later, Francis Bacon. All were exceedingly close advisors to the Queen. Her Court became a dynamic intellectual centre in which authority, political cunning, state surveillance, experimental science, imperial expansion AND esoteric knowledge were in play.
Elizabeth's use of court intelligence, including her famed spy network, also reflected a sophisticated cosmopolitical stance: securing national order through both diplomacy and covert operations. The use of cryptography (substitution ciphers, codenames, cipher wheels and other techniques) was commonplace.
Elizabeth's use of court intelligence, including her famed spy network, also reflected a sophisticated cosmopolitical stance: securing national order through both diplomacy and covert operations. The use of cryptography (substitution ciphers, codenames, cipher wheels and other techniques) was commonplace.
Ferdinand I and the Habsburg Cosmopolitical Vision
Approximately 700 miles from the Royal Palaces in London lies the city of Prague. Long before the Habsburg Empire, Prague had risen to prominence under Charles IV, the 14th-century Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia who transformed the city into a political and intellectual capital of Europe.
Approximately 700 miles from the Royal Palaces in London lies the city of Prague. Long before the Habsburg Empire, Prague had risen to prominence under Charles IV, the 14th-century Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia who transformed the city into a political and intellectual capital of Europe.
Prague Castle by Joris Hoefnagel. Credit Sokoljan Click image for licence CC by SA 3.0
He founded Charles University in 1348. This was the first university in Central Europe and was modelled on Paris and Bologna. He commissioned the famous Charles Bridge, Saint Vitus Cathedral and issued the Golden Bull of 1356. This Bull was a foundational constitutional document of the Holy Roman Empire, establishing the rules for imperial elections. Charles was very much involved with astrology, arithmology and other subjects that we might place under the umbrella of seeking universal knowledge via semi-magical practices.
I mentioned in this article how the Charles Bridge cornerstone was laid on a date that was seen as auspicious as it was palindromic and featured the number 9 in the middle.
I mentioned in this article how the Charles Bridge cornerstone was laid on a date that was seen as auspicious as it was palindromic and featured the number 9 in the middle.
St Vitus Cathedral, within the Prague Castle complex. Picture my own
After Charles’ death and before Maximilian 1st (another Habsburg) came to power, Bohemia had been in the hands of local kings and the Jagiellonian dynasty. This was a period of shifting powers and uneasy alliances.
Next in the Habsburg dynasty came Ferdinand I who ruled as King of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1556 until his death in 1564. Ferdinand promoted humanist scholarship. His court attracted scholars and artists, fostering an intellectual milieu that also blended ideal governance with esoteric inquiry. His patronage of astrology and alchemy was evident and along with a Summer Palace (or Belvedere) that he commissioned for his wife, in 1555 his son Ferdinand II built the Star villa (Letohrádek Hvězda). This has the unusual shape of a six-pointed star which symbolised harmony, proportion, symmetry and number and reflected the celestial - bringing the heavens down to Earth.
Next in the Habsburg dynasty came Ferdinand I who ruled as King of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1556 until his death in 1564. Ferdinand promoted humanist scholarship. His court attracted scholars and artists, fostering an intellectual milieu that also blended ideal governance with esoteric inquiry. His patronage of astrology and alchemy was evident and along with a Summer Palace (or Belvedere) that he commissioned for his wife, in 1555 his son Ferdinand II built the Star villa (Letohrádek Hvězda). This has the unusual shape of a six-pointed star which symbolised harmony, proportion, symmetry and number and reflected the celestial - bringing the heavens down to Earth.
Letohrádek Hvězda. Google Maps
Ferdinand's brother, Maximilian II, who reigned from 1562 to 1576, continued this tradition where political ambition and occult philosophy were mixed. Maximilian's patronage of scholars and artists, including astronomers/astrologers, underscored his commitment to integrating esoteric knowledge with everyday leadership. It’s where we get the word Bohemian from, to describe those who live a slightly unorthodox existence, with an interest in the arts.
Now, here is where things get interesting as far as the interrelationships between the Elizabethan and European courts are concerned.
John Dee, Queen Elizabeth 1sts close advisor (in fact they were so close she often visited his home, and he had chosen her coronation date in 1559 using astrology) had attended the coronation of Maximilian II on 8 Sep 1563 in Pozsony (Pressberg), Hungary. Dee had been so impressed by the new King of Hungary (he was already King of Bohemia) that the following year in 1564 he dedicated his Monas Hieroglyphica and 24 theorems to him (by then he was also Emperor). In this dedication, Dee referenced "affayres Philosophicall and Cosmopoliticall" and a" Mysticall City Universall".
Now, here is where things get interesting as far as the interrelationships between the Elizabethan and European courts are concerned.
John Dee, Queen Elizabeth 1sts close advisor (in fact they were so close she often visited his home, and he had chosen her coronation date in 1559 using astrology) had attended the coronation of Maximilian II on 8 Sep 1563 in Pozsony (Pressberg), Hungary. Dee had been so impressed by the new King of Hungary (he was already King of Bohemia) that the following year in 1564 he dedicated his Monas Hieroglyphica and 24 theorems to him (by then he was also Emperor). In this dedication, Dee referenced "affayres Philosophicall and Cosmopoliticall" and a" Mysticall City Universall".
Stephen Cluclas: The Royal Typographer and the Alchemist. Click picture for link
In this exact period, back in England in the 1560s, tension between England and Spain had begun to increase.
When Philip II of Spain had married Queen Mary I of England (a Catholic) in 1554, the two countries had been briefly aligned. But after Mary died in 1558 and her half-sister Elizabeth, who was a Protestant, took the throne things changed rapidly.
While Queen Elizabeth 1st set about establishing Protestantism in England, Philip had returned to Spain and he became the leading force of the Catholic Counter-Reformation. Which leads me, to point out that, in 1564 the 11-year old son of Emperor Maximilian II, Rudolf, had moved to live with his uncle - King Philip II of Spain.
Rudolf had stayed in Spain for seven years until 1571. He then returned to Vienna before being made King of Hungary in 1572. In 1575, he was made King of Bohemia and in 1576 he succeeded his father, upon his death, to become Holy Roman Emperor. The court was largely centred in Vienna at that time, but in 1583 Rudolf moved the court permanently to Prague Castle (Hradčany Castle) thus making it the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, and from here he fully embodied the cosmopolitical ideal that had been cultivated over centuries.
Rudolf II
The Magical Court
Rudolf II was officially Catholic, but his approach to religion was far more tolerant and unconventional (Bohemian!) than some of his Habsburg relatives, particularly Philip II of Spain. Like his father, Maximilian II, Rudolf II did not fully embrace the rigid orthodoxy of Catholicism and allowed Protestants, Jews, and esoteric thinkers to flourish across his lands, particularly in Prague. This leniency toward Protestants led to tensions within the Habsburg family, but Rudolf’s court (late 16th to early 17th century) continued to be a powerhouse for alchemy, astrology, and Hermeticism.
Rudolf was a patron of the arts, funding alchemy, celestial mapping, and sacred geometry, gathering together a magical metropolis of mathmagicians and men of mystery involved in Neoplatonic, Hermetic and Kabbalistic studies.
Practical alchemy ‘chemical experiments’ included looking into gunpowder and other explosives, the use of acids, metals and other compounds - some which flared or glowed. Plus they experimented with the deliberate use of earth tremors, wind-powered weapons and fire and poisons for military purposes. Due to the harmful and destructive potential of their experiments and discoveries, they often had to be veiled in allegory or secret codes. Other topics investigated were health matters, medicines and elixirs, sound, light, music, the elements - anything to do with Mother Nature and her forces.
At various times, great minds like Giordano Bruno, Michael Maier, Oswald Croll, Tycho Brahe, Heinrich Khunrath, Robert Fludd, Johannes Kepler, Jacob Boehme and others were either in, or strongly linked to, Prague. Much later Athanasius Kircher was a key figure, all these men giving rise to the famous Alchemists' Alley and tales of secret doors, underground tunnels and vaults crisscrossing beneath the Castle and the streets of Prague.
Rudolf's fascination with the world and mystical arts had led him to amass a vast collection of paintings, curiosities and manuscripts. This was known as Rudolf’s Kunstkammer or Wunderkammer or Schatzkammer (which are German terms meaning art chamber, wonder room or treasure chamber). Anselmus Boetius de Boodt (Rudolf’s personal physician) was principle curator of this Cabinet of Curiosities.
It became one of the most famous collections of its time; a treasure trove filled with rare artifacts, scientific instruments, alchemical tools. It contained objects such as astrolabes, clocks, rare plants, herbs, stones**, minerals and crystals, plus magical and occult items. These included an agate dish thought to have collected the blood of Christ and a Unicorn’s horn (actually later found to be a Narwhal tusk) said to possess magical powers.
Rudolf II was officially Catholic, but his approach to religion was far more tolerant and unconventional (Bohemian!) than some of his Habsburg relatives, particularly Philip II of Spain. Like his father, Maximilian II, Rudolf II did not fully embrace the rigid orthodoxy of Catholicism and allowed Protestants, Jews, and esoteric thinkers to flourish across his lands, particularly in Prague. This leniency toward Protestants led to tensions within the Habsburg family, but Rudolf’s court (late 16th to early 17th century) continued to be a powerhouse for alchemy, astrology, and Hermeticism.
Rudolf was a patron of the arts, funding alchemy, celestial mapping, and sacred geometry, gathering together a magical metropolis of mathmagicians and men of mystery involved in Neoplatonic, Hermetic and Kabbalistic studies.
Practical alchemy ‘chemical experiments’ included looking into gunpowder and other explosives, the use of acids, metals and other compounds - some which flared or glowed. Plus they experimented with the deliberate use of earth tremors, wind-powered weapons and fire and poisons for military purposes. Due to the harmful and destructive potential of their experiments and discoveries, they often had to be veiled in allegory or secret codes. Other topics investigated were health matters, medicines and elixirs, sound, light, music, the elements - anything to do with Mother Nature and her forces.
At various times, great minds like Giordano Bruno, Michael Maier, Oswald Croll, Tycho Brahe, Heinrich Khunrath, Robert Fludd, Johannes Kepler, Jacob Boehme and others were either in, or strongly linked to, Prague. Much later Athanasius Kircher was a key figure, all these men giving rise to the famous Alchemists' Alley and tales of secret doors, underground tunnels and vaults crisscrossing beneath the Castle and the streets of Prague.
Rudolf's fascination with the world and mystical arts had led him to amass a vast collection of paintings, curiosities and manuscripts. This was known as Rudolf’s Kunstkammer or Wunderkammer or Schatzkammer (which are German terms meaning art chamber, wonder room or treasure chamber). Anselmus Boetius de Boodt (Rudolf’s personal physician) was principle curator of this Cabinet of Curiosities.
It became one of the most famous collections of its time; a treasure trove filled with rare artifacts, scientific instruments, alchemical tools. It contained objects such as astrolabes, clocks, rare plants, herbs, stones**, minerals and crystals, plus magical and occult items. These included an agate dish thought to have collected the blood of Christ and a Unicorn’s horn (actually later found to be a Narwhal tusk) said to possess magical powers.
Giuseppe Arcimboldo: Rudolf II of Habsburg as Vertumnus CC by sa 3.0 - click for licence
Rudolf II commissioned the artist, Arcimboldo, who was the official Court portraitist, to create the oil painting above. You can read here how even this held secret meaning "the specific fruit choices acted as power propaganda, and all suggest their role as political allegories." There were sets of portraits depicting The Four Seasons, Four Elements and other subjects by the artist.
Overall though, as you can read in this link, the possession of a microcosm in the shape of a Kunstkammer symbolised power over the world at large, the macrocosm.
Part Two
So how and why did John Dee end up at the Rudolfine court?
As stated, the patronage of alchemists and astronomer/astrologers (Magi) by rulers reflects the deep intertwining of governance and occult philosophy in their reigns.
We know, that in May 1583, John Dee was introduced in England (by Philip Sidney) to a nobleman from Hungary named Count Laski (also known as Alasco or Olbracht Laski). Soon after, Dee travelled with Laski to Europe, accompanied by Edward Kelly. Their families travelled too. According to several biographical accounts, the relationship between Dee and Laski was initially mutually beneficial. Laski funded the travels and could introduce Dee and Kelly to influential figures at the Rudolfine court, including Emperor Rudolf II, as well as bring them into the orbit of individuals who could deepen Dee's understanding of Trithemian magic, Jewish Kabbalah and more.
In return, Laski saw Dee as a brilliant mathematical magus and hoped to learn from him about maths, alchemy, astrology and other esoteric arts.
However, the timing of Dee's departure for Eastern Europe is particularly interesting.
Earlier, (and in my book The Secret Work of an Age), I had mentioned that there had been previous unsuccessful attempts to colonise America under the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st. Here's a little more detail as one of them is relevant to this discussion.
John Dee’s navigational and cartographic knowledge was highly prized. He gave guidance to Martin Frobisher’s voyages in search of the Northwest Passage. Frobisher’s fleet set sail in 1576, with Dee’s mathematical and geographic expertise helping to shape their route. Dee was also linked to the Northeast Passage, in fact this is what links Dee to the Muscovy Company (Russia Company).
As stated, the patronage of alchemists and astronomer/astrologers (Magi) by rulers reflects the deep intertwining of governance and occult philosophy in their reigns.
We know, that in May 1583, John Dee was introduced in England (by Philip Sidney) to a nobleman from Hungary named Count Laski (also known as Alasco or Olbracht Laski). Soon after, Dee travelled with Laski to Europe, accompanied by Edward Kelly. Their families travelled too. According to several biographical accounts, the relationship between Dee and Laski was initially mutually beneficial. Laski funded the travels and could introduce Dee and Kelly to influential figures at the Rudolfine court, including Emperor Rudolf II, as well as bring them into the orbit of individuals who could deepen Dee's understanding of Trithemian magic, Jewish Kabbalah and more.
In return, Laski saw Dee as a brilliant mathematical magus and hoped to learn from him about maths, alchemy, astrology and other esoteric arts.
However, the timing of Dee's departure for Eastern Europe is particularly interesting.
Earlier, (and in my book The Secret Work of an Age), I had mentioned that there had been previous unsuccessful attempts to colonise America under the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st. Here's a little more detail as one of them is relevant to this discussion.
John Dee’s navigational and cartographic knowledge was highly prized. He gave guidance to Martin Frobisher’s voyages in search of the Northwest Passage. Frobisher’s fleet set sail in 1576, with Dee’s mathematical and geographic expertise helping to shape their route. Dee was also linked to the Northeast Passage, in fact this is what links Dee to the Muscovy Company (Russia Company).
North pole late 1500s Mercator. The Northwest passage is to the left and the Northeast to the right
In 1583, however, Dee had been closely advising Sir Humphrey Gilbert on England's colonial ambitions in the New World.
In August 1583, Gilbert had claimed Newfoundland as the first English colony in North America under Queen Elizabeth 1st, theoretically granting Dee the right to claim and exploit all newly discovered land north of the 50th parallel in that area (the same parallel incidentally as Frankfurt, Prague and Krakcow, Poland). But the expedition quickly unravelled. Five ships had set sail and only one returned.
Amongst those that perished was Gilbert's homebound ship. It sank in a storm off the Azores on 9 Sep 1583, and all aboard were lost and with it Dee's dream.
In August 1583, Gilbert had claimed Newfoundland as the first English colony in North America under Queen Elizabeth 1st, theoretically granting Dee the right to claim and exploit all newly discovered land north of the 50th parallel in that area (the same parallel incidentally as Frankfurt, Prague and Krakcow, Poland). But the expedition quickly unravelled. Five ships had set sail and only one returned.
Amongst those that perished was Gilbert's homebound ship. It sank in a storm off the Azores on 9 Sep 1583, and all aboard were lost and with it Dee's dream.
The Life of Sir Humphrey Gilbert - archive.org
It was just twelve days after Sir Humphrey's demise that Dee had departed England with Laski and Kelly, heading for Eastern Europe. By January 1584, he had reached Prague, where he would remain (on and off ***) for nearly six years and he did indeed get to meet Emperor Rudolf and present his Monas symbol and accompanying 24 Theorems to him on 3 September, 1584.
Given the timing of Gilbert's death and the collapse of the Newfoundland venture, alongside mounting trouble with Spain, I feel it is feasible to wonder whether Queen Elizabeth 1st and her State advisors had seen an opportunity (or a necessity) to reposition Dee. His relocation may have been deliberately enabled to serve broader strategic aims, such as:
- Discerning and potentially exploiting tensions between Rudolf II and his relative Philip II of Spain
- Advancing English influence through esoteric, diplomatic, or informal channels
- And keeping intelligence flowing about continental attitudes toward England, particularly in the wake of colonial setbacks.
So Was John Dee Spying in Europe?
There is no doubt that cryptography was one of Dee's specialisations or that he was one of the Queen's Intelligencers (spies). This is confirmed directly in the autobiography of William Lilly, who (as you can read in article 2) was acquainted with Dee's first-born son, Arthur. Although young at the time, Arthur had accompanied Dee on the six year trip to Prague and later had lived in Moscow as physician to the Tsar of Russia, Michael 1st, then returned to England.
Arthur stated after his father's death that he knew nothing of any "Angel diaries".
This tends to add weight to the thoughts of some researchers and scholars, that Dee’s obsessive interest in Trithemius was to assist in new ways of conveying secret intelligence reports - which perhaps includes many of his "Angel diaries" and alphabets. Like many things, including the search for The Philosopher's Stone, truth was often veiled in allegory, codes and symbols but the uninitiated took them at face value - and, largely, still do to this day. See this below:
Click for a treasure trove of articles by Jim Egan
While Dee's mission in Europe was never officially diplomatic, it is likely that his role served semi-political functions. We know, for example, that it was just after the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, that the Queen recalled Dee to England (see this letter), and he was back on British soil by 1589.**
Letter from John Dee to Queen Elizabeth 1 written in Trebon Castle. Click for book by Felix Pryor
The Influence of The Book on Good Governance
So, now we come to details of the ‘secret’ book/manuscript that guided Monarchs and Emperors through their reigns. It is sometimes known as Secreta Secretorum or Secretum Secretorum.
So, now we come to details of the ‘secret’ book/manuscript that guided Monarchs and Emperors through their reigns. It is sometimes known as Secreta Secretorum or Secretum Secretorum.
Just four of the many, many translations of "The Secret of Secrets" Click to visit
Before continuing, let me just say that, owing to the overwhelming popularity of this book - The Book of Governance of Kings and Princes called the Secret of Secrets - which dates back to the 1st century CE, many other books containing the title “Secret of Secrets” arose over the centuries.
There was a pseudo-Paracelsian text called De Secretis Secretorum Theologiae. Words pertaining to secret of secrets can also be seen in the title of a book of emblems by Michael Maier (below) and Kepler’s 1596 work (republished in 1621) Mysterium Cosmographicum carried a lengthy Latin title, part of which can be rendered as The Secret of the World.
Then, of course (see article 2), there is Arthur Dee’s later Arca Arcanorum which, was translated as the Secret of Secrets and a book by Baro or Baron Urbigerus dated 1690. This is a similar book of aphorisms on the alchemical preparation of the Philosopher's Stone, 'Discovering the Secret of Secrets.' Even my own book from 2020 carries the words 'Secret of all Secrets' for a chapter - although not in the title.
Everyone loves secrets!
Secretioris Nature Secretorum
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Click to purchase
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Baro Urbigerus: Secret of Secrets
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Trying to pin down with certainty the origins of the 'cosmopolitical' and truly ancient Secret of Secrets book and it’s very first full title (and determining the language it was written in) is not for the faint-hearted. Just reading about its history can give you a headache! According to this comprehensive study into its provenance, the manuscript was incorrectly attributed to Aristotle, purporting to be a letter from him to Alexander. It has now been deduced that it stems from the Arabic Kitab sirr al-asrar (The Book of Secret of Secrets) parts of which (on Physiognomy) were being distributed before 940 CE.
However, the titles changed with various editions. For example, a Syriac version The Book of the Knowledge of the Laws of Destiny (see previous link) is the translation of a text Kitab-al-siyasa by Ibn Khaldun (13th Century) that contained sections of very similar material. In fact, since the 1100s, it has been found that some 500 + manuscripts exist that carry information from the book in whole or in part - some with missing sections, others with newly appended sections, making it hard to know precisely what the original contained.
It was also read and reworked - annotated and a preface added - by the English philosopher Roger Bacon in the 1200’s. His version placed the ten parts into four sections but even he may have been missing sections of the original. By the way, he too was wrongly branded by many as a Magician, as opposed to an early experimental scientist.
A 15th century translation, by Johannes Hispaniensis, was titled: The Booke on Goode Governance and the Gydeing of the Body. Another translation, this one from French has the title: The Governance of Kynges and Of Prynces Cleped (an archaic word for given the title of) The Secrete of Secretes. Yet another French translation was The Booke of The Governance of Kinges and Princes called The Secreet of Secreetes (see image at top). Some versions were rendered in verse.
According to this study, there are versions in Arabic, Syriac, Latin, Catalan (Secret dels Secrets) French, (Secre de Secrez) Italian (Il segreto de Segreti) Hebrew, Dutch, Welsh, Spanish, (Poridat de las poridades and Secreto Secretorum) and approximately nine known English translations are mentioned here.
Whatever its journey, or who originally penned this extraordinary book, it functioned as a handbook for the ruling elites for centuries. The Secretum Secretorum was treated in the Middle Ages and Renaissance times as authoritative and would have fitted perfectly in Rudolf's library, as a guide not only to reigning wisely but to ruling in harmony with the cosmic order.
As the full title The Booke of The Governance of Kinges and Princes suggests, the book is all about Statecraft, i.e., good governance by rulers, but it encompasses so much more. It is about the immortality of the soul, the maintenance of health through potions, as well as good leadership advice and the moral virtues expected of a King.
However, the titles changed with various editions. For example, a Syriac version The Book of the Knowledge of the Laws of Destiny (see previous link) is the translation of a text Kitab-al-siyasa by Ibn Khaldun (13th Century) that contained sections of very similar material. In fact, since the 1100s, it has been found that some 500 + manuscripts exist that carry information from the book in whole or in part - some with missing sections, others with newly appended sections, making it hard to know precisely what the original contained.
It was also read and reworked - annotated and a preface added - by the English philosopher Roger Bacon in the 1200’s. His version placed the ten parts into four sections but even he may have been missing sections of the original. By the way, he too was wrongly branded by many as a Magician, as opposed to an early experimental scientist.
A 15th century translation, by Johannes Hispaniensis, was titled: The Booke on Goode Governance and the Gydeing of the Body. Another translation, this one from French has the title: The Governance of Kynges and Of Prynces Cleped (an archaic word for given the title of) The Secrete of Secretes. Yet another French translation was The Booke of The Governance of Kinges and Princes called The Secreet of Secreetes (see image at top). Some versions were rendered in verse.
According to this study, there are versions in Arabic, Syriac, Latin, Catalan (Secret dels Secrets) French, (Secre de Secrez) Italian (Il segreto de Segreti) Hebrew, Dutch, Welsh, Spanish, (Poridat de las poridades and Secreto Secretorum) and approximately nine known English translations are mentioned here.
Whatever its journey, or who originally penned this extraordinary book, it functioned as a handbook for the ruling elites for centuries. The Secretum Secretorum was treated in the Middle Ages and Renaissance times as authoritative and would have fitted perfectly in Rudolf's library, as a guide not only to reigning wisely but to ruling in harmony with the cosmic order.
As the full title The Booke of The Governance of Kinges and Princes suggests, the book is all about Statecraft, i.e., good governance by rulers, but it encompasses so much more. It is about the immortality of the soul, the maintenance of health through potions, as well as good leadership advice and the moral virtues expected of a King.
Translation from Latin. Click on image to visit original
In Roger Bacon’s version in the 1200s we can find accounts of: the seasons; the movement of the heavenly spheres; the apparent motion of the Sun; the properties of planets; their dignities, rulers, lunar mansions, etc., plus the art of prophecy via different methods such as looking in polished surfaces (including bowls and swords) or sand. There are discussions on freewill, physiognomy (reading the face and body), what foods to eat, medicines to mix, the curative power of music, how to make talismans and seals for signet rings, how to read signs and symbols and military advice.
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Interestingly though, given the discussion in my previous article on the significance of the number nine, one of the sections details the use of numerical mysticism to determine if an enemy can be defeated based on the letters in their name. The letters have to be added together and divided by nine. Whatever the remainder is gives an insight into their fate. This is known as Casting out the Nines.
Casting out the nines from The Secret of Secrets
The Philosopher-King vs The Pretenders
So, in conclusion, while the practice of chemical alchemy (conducted by serious university-educated scholars and natural philosophers, not mere conjurors) set out to reveal nature's secrets about her forces and laws and to transform and transmute base matter, good statecraft was seen as the way to transmute political disorder into harmony. These court philosophers applied systematic observation and experimentation alongside theoretical frameworks that, while different from modern science, were intellectual pursuits for their time.
Rulers, such as Elizabeth I and Rudolf II were in this sense, the arch alchemists: purifying the realm, refining laws and allowing the brightest minds free reign to unlock hidden universal knowledge for the good of all.
Interestingly, while the time of Emperors and divinely sanctioned absolute rulers is now a distant memory, it is clear that some modern leaders may be seeking to resurrect elements of divine governance, positioning themselves as chosen figures destined to restore order! I'll remain politically neutral on that point - I actually am politically neutral nowadays - however I do know we all benefit from wise leadership. I also know one cannot merely play the role of a Philosopher-King. One must embody the principles and be one. The Philosopher-King seeks enlightenment. The Pretender seeks admiration, power and control. Power rules for a time but only wisdom transforms us in the end.
Thanks for reading.
In my next article I will be looking at the influence of the astronomers, Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler in “The Magical Metropolis”. After Elizabeth 1 and then Rudolf II died, events across Europe galvanised the Rosicrucians to really begin stepping up their mission for 'the moral and spiritual reformation of the world through the spreading of universal wisdom' - in preparation for the coming of a new age.
Please check out my book for a litany of uncommon knowledge and secrets that when fully appreciated will blow apart current paradigms around religion. 'magical' practices and the nature of consciousness.
The previous article is all about 'number magic' and the number nine.
Notes:
Rudolf is the correct spelling. Both Rudolfine and Rudolphine are used, but the latter is more common.
*After this dissolution, Francis continued as plain Emperor of Austria.
**Red stones were prized as they represented the final rubedo stage of Alchemy and transmutation. Red Porphyry was called an Imperial Stone and was sourced from Egypt’s Mons Porphyrites. Gemstones and jewels were sometimes used to transmit secret information. Each stone could be given a letter – Rubies could be R or another letter known only to those with the code. An array of them set in a ring or necklace could act as an acrostic or secret code.
*** You may be aware that Dee and Kelly were ordered to leave central Prague with just six days notice in May 1586. Despite a wide variety of suggestions as to why this was, it appears this was due to a Papal Nuncio which sought to enforce of Catholic counter-reformation policies which Rudolf II had to abide by. However, Dee and Kelley moved about two hours south to the Castle of Trebon at the invitation of Count Wilhelm von Rosenberg (Rožmberk) a very wealthy noblemen and a patron of alchemists and the arts and sciences. Heinrich Khunrath author of Amphitheatrum Sapientiae Aeternae became his Court Physician in 1591 but would have crossed paths with Dee and Kelly prior to that.
Many, many books and articles were consulted to assist in the fact checking and writing of this article. One book that has the best overview is Rosicrucian Histories and Mysteries by Christian Rebisse