Welsh Journals

These claims hardly carry conviction, any more than the view that 're- ligious Hermeticism' was (or was thought to be) a potentially viable means of re-uniting a Christendom split by the Reformation (p. 156). Similarly, the examination of Dee's links with Sir Philip Sidney's literary circle leads to a digression on such topics as poesy which are, at most, marginal to Dee's basic ideas. In discussing Dee as an 'antiquarian' it would seem that an educated Elizabethan's normal interests in history and topography are in his case inflated to become 'achievements enough to give him a major place in the history of British antiquarianism', not a view likely to be acceptable. In this connection it is at least useful to have confirmation that the manuscript account of an antiquarian tour of north and mid-Wales in 1574 (Harl. MS. 473) is in Dee's hand. Implicit in Dr. French's approach is the view that those aspects of Dee's work which subsequently proved most significant for scientific development and which interest us most (mathematics and related studies such as navigation) were not Dee's primary concern, but were to him only means to greater ends. For that reason they receive much less consideration than abstruse semi-mystical ideas. Even the famous Math- ematical Preface to the Billingsley translation of Euclid is held to be 'inspired by magia' and is treated primarily as material for exploring Hermetic philosophy. Whether it is a valid approach requires the judge- ment of one who is both philosopher and mathematician. Ideally, all these topics should be equally considered, but the author disclaims this work as a definitive evaluation. There is much of considerable value in this work, not least the com- prehensive listing of Dee's manuscripts and publications, and the study of John Dee has been significantly forwarded. A few minor points might be noted. The mention of Dee's claim to Welsh royal ancestry (p. 20) should make it clear that this refers to Rhodri Fawr; it is surely preferable to speak of the 'Parlement' rather than the 'Parliament' of Paris (p. 31) if a significant difference of meaning is to be maintained; and in the quo- tation from Harleian MS. 532 (an account of Dunwich sent to Dee, p. 201), for 'fortifie' one should almost certainly read 'certifie'. W. GWYN THOMAS Aberystwyth GEORGE OWEN OF HENLLYS: A WELSH ELIZABETHAN. By B. G. Charles. National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1973. Pp. xv, 220, 8 illustrations. £ 5.25. George Owen's writings have long proved a fruitful source of reference to the historian of early modern Wales. The present work by Mr. Charles provides a detailed account not only of Owen's researches but also of his background and career. Indeed, the early chapters are equally as valuable as those about his antiquarianism. Owen was of a respectable Welsh lineage, but not of the Norman or Welsh princely stock that he claimed. His family had advanced rapidly by acquiring land in the lordship of Cemais during the late-fifteenth century.