Dee could afford to make a present to the Landgrave of Hesse of twelve Hungarian horses.
The " Art of Crystal Divination "
dates from ancient times. That particular Crystal which has ever found
most favour for the purposes of Crystallomaney through the medium of
Crystal-gazing, is the Beryl; a mineral (silicate of Beryllia) which
crystallises in six-sided prisms, of which the sides are often striated
longitudinally, but the terminating planes are usually smooth.
Aquamarine, and the Emerald are varieties of this Beryl. Its chemical
composition is as follows : silica, sixty-eight per cent; alumina,
seventeen per cent; with glucina, and red oxide of iron. The
Crystal-gazers of the fifth century were known as " Specularii," and
were established in Ireland. The colours of the Beryl range from blue,
through honey-yellow, to actual transparency ; the latter colour
resulting from the presence of peroxide of iron, whilst the green, and
various shades of blue, represent the effect of protoxide of iron, in
varying quantities. The favourite shade of this Crystal, as used by
ancient seers, was that of the pale water-green Beryl, or delicate
aquamarine ; this water-green being astrologically considered as a
colour especially under the influence of the moon, an orb exerting very
great magnetic influence. It is alleged by supporters of the
Crystal-gazing doctrines in the present day, that " when we reflect
that the Beryl, Emerald, Sapphire, Adamantine Spar, etc., all contain '
oxide of iron,' a substance presenting the strongest affinity for
magnetism; and when we also remember the strict injunctions of the
ancient Occultists to utilise the Crystal only during the increase of
the Moon," the idea naturally suggests itself that the
