The Rest Is History
542. Elizabeth I’s Sorcerer: Angels and Demons in Renaissance Europe
Mon, 24 Feb 2025
In Tudor England, during the reign of Elizabeth I, there lived in the very heart of her court a magician, alchemist and polymath, bent upon conversing with the angels of heaven and other supernatural beings. His name was John Dee, and he would prove to.be one of the most remarkable men of his age, living long enough to witness both the dying days of the reign of Henry VIII, and the succession of Elizabeth’s heir. Throughout it all, he existed near the very epicentre of English royal power and religious controversy, dabbling with both treason and heresy, and the gruesome punishments for both, on multiple occasions. His life therefore holds a tantalising mirror up to the tumultuous periods through which he lived, and features some of the great stars of Tudor England. From the religious persecutions of Bloody Mary, when Dee came closest to destruction, to the rise of Elizabeth I, a learned scholar in her own right, who looked to him to explain the signs of the universe to her, and the birth of the British Empire - with Dee one of its earliest champions. His obsession with reading the divine language of heaven and thereby understanding the very deepest secrets of the universe, would see him scrying in mirrors to read the future at the risk of his immortal soul, travelling to Prague - Europe’s bastion of magic - and forging his famous relationship with the wily Edward Kelly. But, was it angels or demons who lured Dee across Europe, and into the very deepest depths of the occult..? Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss England’s very own Merlin; John Dee, and his extraordinary life as the court magician of Elizabeth I, during a time of dawning empires and clashing religions. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/restishistory Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Who is John Dee and why is he significant in Tudor England?
Yeah, but... Now listen, you said you would hear me out, didn't you? Do you want to just dial it down a bit, Hector? Would you? Would you dial it down when you're smeared over every paper? Look at this. Look at this. In the Times here, look. Solicitor suspected for contractor disappearance. The Telegraph. Solicitor faces long arm of law. The Daily Mail. Bully of Blackheath.
Elite London lawyer facing murder charge. I mean, this is just... This is... This is... The Guardian. Here, look at this. Old Acre Murder. How neoliberal materialism and Kirsty Allsop home renovations are the real killers of the working... Oh, well, that one goes on a bit. Yeah, we get the point. Do you? Do you? I'm not sure you do. The Daily Sport. The Daily Sport. Big job love.
McFarlane's wife's steamy romp with missing builder. I mean, look, there's a thought bubble above my wife's head saying, knob the builder, can he fix it? Hector, the speech bubble, whatever as well. Here's your extension, love. I mean, this is just... The son. Cannibal Hector. Macfarlane confesses to eating Norwood tradesmen. You confessed to what? Sorry. I didn't confess to a damn thing.
I said I was hungry for justice. That's all. It is slander. It's disgraceful. It's bloody humiliating.
Could we perhaps return... to the chain of events as you, not the press, perceive them.
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