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cover of episode 542. Elizabeth I’s Sorcerer: Angels and Demons in Renaissance Europe

542. Elizabeth I’s Sorcerer: Angels and Demons in Renaissance Europe

2025/2/24
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The Rest Is History

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Dominic
T
Tom
参与航空教育和培训的播客主持人
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Tom: 我认为约翰·迪是伊丽莎白一世宫廷的魔术师,他是一位真实的历史人物,也是一位真正的魔术师。他精通炼金术,拥有伦敦最大的图书馆,并曾前往波希米亚,在那里与爱德华·凯利合作,试图与天使沟通。 我研究约翰·迪的原因之一是,他经历了从亨利八世统治末期到詹姆斯一世统治时期的整个时期,这让他的人生经历完美地反映了那个时代英国宗教信仰从新教到天主教再到新教的动荡时期。此外,他还扮演着关键角色,见证了英国视野从欧洲大陆转向海外,并可能创造了“大英帝国”这个词。他将天象解读为预示着末日来临的征兆,并认为伊丽莎白一世注定成为末日来临前的最后一位女皇。他将科学与神秘学融合,这在当时是很常见的现象。 约翰·迪对神秘学的兴趣以及他精通数学,让他在当时被认为是与魔鬼勾结的,但他确实在研究神秘学,并试图学习天使的语言,这让他面临着危险。他人生中最非凡的神秘探索是去往布拉格,并与爱德华·凯利一起试图学习天使的语言,但超自然力量本身也可能很危险。 约翰·迪出身于威尔士,他的父亲在伦敦的纺织业取得了成功,这可能培养了他对航海探险的兴趣。在剑桥大学学习期间,他培养了对戏剧表演的兴趣,并对天主教和新教教义和宗教习俗都感到吸引。 在玛丽女王统治时期,为了生存,他投机取巧地成为了天主教神父,并在伊丽莎白一世登基后,凭借为伊丽莎白一世占卜的经历以及他作为英国最伟大的占星家的声誉,获得了伊丽莎白一世的信任和支持。他试图通过学习、炼金术或与天使沟通来向伊丽莎白一世证明自己的价值。 伊丽莎白一世对约翰·迪的关注,以及他住所中英国最大的私人图书馆和炼金术工作室,都体现了知识就是力量的理念。他利用古代书籍为伊丽莎白一世及其顾问提供了对海外殖民的法律依据,并利用关于马多克王子的故事,为伊丽莎白一世对新世界的殖民提供了历史依据。 在16世纪80年代,约翰·迪在宫廷中的影响力下降,这促使他寻找新的资助人,并与爱德华·凯利相遇。爱德华·凯利可能是一位非常有想象力的人,或者他真的能够与超自然生物沟通,这很难判断。 约翰·迪和爱德华·凯利前往波兰的计划以失败告终,因为天使的预言是错误的,而且波兰正处于内战之中。在布拉格,他们与鲁道夫二世皇帝的关系破裂,而且凯利被捕。爱德华·凯利可能是在欺骗约翰·迪,或者他真的能够与超自然生物沟通,这很难判断。 最终,约翰·迪与爱德华·凯利的关系破裂,约翰·迪返回英格兰,过着悲惨的晚年生活。 Dominic: 我认为约翰·迪的人生经历完美地反映了那个时代英国宗教信仰从新教到天主教再到新教的动荡时期。他的人生经历也完美地反映了英国视野从欧洲大陆转向海外的关键转折点,他可能创造了“大英帝国”这个词,并对这一理念起到了关键作用。 在那个新教盛行的时代,约翰·迪对神秘学的兴趣让他面临着危险,因为他同时被视为撒旦的信徒和天主教徒。他与伊丽莎白一世的关系复杂,既有信任,也有利用。伊丽莎白一世既是一位博学睿智的统治者,也相信一些我们今天看来很荒谬的事情,这与约翰·迪对神秘学的兴趣相呼应。 约翰·迪和爱德华·凯利在布拉格的经历,以及凯利所看到的景象是天使还是恶魔,这是一个悬而未决的问题。神秘学是危险的,因为它可能导致被指控从事巫术,而且超自然力量本身也可能很危险。 约翰·迪的父亲在伦敦的纺织业取得了成功,这可能培养了他对航海探险的兴趣。在剑桥大学学习期间,他培养了对戏剧表演的兴趣,并对天主教和新教教义和宗教习俗都感到吸引,这让他成为一个比较温和的人。 在玛丽女王统治时期,为了生存,约翰·迪投机取巧地成为了天主教神父,并在伊丽莎白一世登基后,凭借为伊丽莎白一世占卜的经历以及他作为英国最伟大的占星家的声誉,获得了伊丽莎白一世的信任和支持。 约翰·迪利用古代书籍为伊丽莎白一世及其顾问提供了对海外殖民的法律依据,并利用关于马多克王子的故事,为伊丽莎白一世对新世界的殖民提供了历史依据。这些理由是实际情况、神秘学和古代传说的一种混合。 在16世纪80年代,约翰·迪在宫廷中的影响力下降,这促使他寻找新的资助人,并与爱德华·凯利相遇。约翰·迪和爱德华·凯利前往波兰的计划以失败告终,因为天使的预言是错误的,而且波兰正处于内战之中。在布拉格,他们与鲁道夫二世皇帝的关系破裂,而且凯利被捕。 最终,约翰·迪与爱德华·凯利的关系破裂,约翰·迪返回英格兰,过着悲惨的晚年生活。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter introduces John Dee, a real historical figure who served as Elizabeth I's court magician. It explores his multifaceted life as a magician, alchemist, and scholar, touching upon his dangerous dabblings in the occult and his attempts to understand the language of angels. The chapter also highlights the blurred lines between science and the occult during the 16th century.
  • John Dee was a real historical figure, serving as Elizabeth I's court magician.
  • He was involved in magic, alchemy, and scholarship.
  • The 16th century saw a blurring of lines between science and the occult.
  • Dee's occult explorations involved scrying and attempts to understand the language of angels.
  • There was always the risk that the entities Dee contacted were demons, not angels.

Shownotes Transcript

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.

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Producer: Theo Young-Smith

Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude

Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor

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