RENAISSANCE MAN:
The Reconstructed Libraries of European Scholars, 1450-1700
Series One: The Books and Manuscripts of John Dee, 1527-1608
Part 3: John Dee's Manuscripts & Annotated Books from Cambridge University Library
Renaissance Man: The Reconstructed Libraries of European Scholars, 1450-1700 seeks to bring together the surviving volumes of some of the finest known libraries in Renaissance England. The first series focuses on the great library of John Dee (1527-1608), who has been variously portrayed as a canny controller of a storehouse of knowledge on diverse topics; a mathematical pioneer who introduced the ideas of Euclid to the English speaking world; the father of English exploration who taught Raleigh, Drake and Frobisher to sail; the great Elizabethan Magus; a confidante to European royalty; and a man who talked to angels.
Parts 1 and 2 of this project brought together a large quantity of the surviving manuscripts once held in this magnificent library from the holdings of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Part 3, based on the holdings of Cambridge University Library, makes a start on the printed books in Dee's Library, offering 43 volumes of printed books and one further manuscript volume. It should be emphasised that these books are the original volumes that were once held in Dee's library and many bear his annotations and markings. As such, in addition to offering scholars the chance to access one of the great Renaissance libraries, this publication will also provide insights into the reading practices and the way in which Dee and his contemporaries managed knowledge. The copy of Henry de Herph's Theologia mystica, for example, is heavily annotated and shows signs that it has been read closely, while a work of Richard of St Victor contains copious underlinings and notes including Dee's speculations on angels and angelic nature. Authors represented include: Albumazar, Averroes, Roger Bacon, Georgius Benignus, Charles de Bouelles, Demetrius Chalcondylas, Democritus, Diogenes Laertius, Dionysus the Aeropagite, Barbaro Ermolao, Georgius Fabricius, Pomponius Gauricus, Theodorus Gaza, Jacques Gohorry, Felix Hemmerlin, Hermes Trismegistus, Henry de Herph, Elias Levita, Johannes Morsheimus, Amedee Meigret, Albertus de Marchesiis, Augustus Sebastianus Novzenus, Proclus, Pseudo-Albertus, Pseudo-Avicenna, Rasis, Nicolas Saitellius, Cornelius Scapper, Richard of St Victor, Victorinus Strigelius, Johann Tritheim, John of Vienna, and Johannes Voerthusius. Subjects range from astrology and astronomy, through grammar and ethics, to philosophy and theology. There are also many scientific works. As can be seen from this list, Dee's library incorporated many of the major traditions of thought. The influence of the Arabic world can be seen from the texts of Albumazar, the 9th century astronomer; Averroes [Abul Walid Mohammed Ben Ahmed Ibn Roshd], the Muslim doctor, born in Cordova and famed for his works on Aristotle; and commentaries on Ptolemy. The Hebrew traditions are shown in the works of Elias Levita and a number of other Hebraica. The central influence of the Greek philosophy can be seen in the works of Diogenes Laertius, who wrote extensively on Epicurus and Solon; Democritus and Proclus. Neoplatonism is well represented with manuscript texts of de sex rerum principiis, khalid rex et Morienus romanus and Liber gratiae by Hermes Trismegistus, and de mystica theologia by Dionysus the Areopagite. A copy of De secretis naturae by Roger Bacon is also featured, and he was clearly an important influence on Dee's own thought, as well as sharing the common fate of being accused of necromancy. These sources will enable scholars to better understand the Renaissance world view and help to reveal the antecedents and underpinnings of Humanism. The listing is based upon John Dee’s Library Catalogue edited by Julian Roberts & Andrew G Watson,
The London Bibliographical Society, 1990. The first reference is the CUL shelfmark for manuscript or printed material, eg MS Ff.6.50 for manuscripts, and N*.8.25 (C) for printed material. The second reference is the item number in the Roberts and Watson listing based upon John Dee’s Library Catalogue, eg (RW. DM1a) for manuscripts, and (RW. 122) for printed material. The bold type for printed books is the direct transcription from John Dee’s Library Catalogue. The italic type for printed books is the modern equivalent of the title.
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