Alex laid a hand on her arm: “But surely any hopes of achieving some gentle unity in the practice of religious faith simply weren’t materializing in Dee’s time?”

Lucy laughed quietly. “No, that’s certainly true. The man Simon mentioned, Giordano Bruno, put it beautifully. He said that the methods used by the Church to bully people back to them were not those of the Apostles, who had preached with love. Anyone not wishing to be a Catholic in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries faced torture at the hands of the Inquisitors—or, conversely, in any number of northern European countries, burning at the stake if you wished to remain Catholic. The Reformation and the Catholic reaction fueled disunity. What a pessimistic prospect for the more liberal intellectuals of the time. Bypassing the Church—in all its forms—by talking to God’s angels directly seemed to offer hope. But then, magic and communion with the angels? It was seen as wildly heretical.”

Alex had been taking the car through a series of turns on snow-covered lanes, and it was a moment before he spoke. “So, Dee was a man of the late Renaissance, exploring occult philosophy in scientific directions, through alchemy and astrology, mathematics and geometry—all of which could bring you closer to the workings of God. Amel still feels some truth in this.”

“And, Alex, crucially, the Hermetica justified their study of astrology, because it showed them how the Egyptians had laid out their buildings to reflect the constellations. Many scholars today recognize that this was the impetus which led them to understand that the sun, and not the earth, was the center of the solar system. It moved them out of medieval thinking.”

He was contemplative on this point, and took some time to answer. “But, Lucy, you think Dee was really attracted to the reforming aspects of this occult philosophy?”

“No doubt. He helped to build up Queen Elizabeth as a Neoplatonic heroine. Dee directly influenced the writings of people like Spenser and Philip Sidney. He also challenged Spain’s colonial power through his belief in the British right to commit to their own exploration. The term ‘British Empire’ was coined by Dee—was part of his worldview.”

“Calvin mentioned that—but surely that weighs heavily against him!” Alex suggested.

“Yes, now it would, but not when you place him in his own time and environment. His concept of Britannia was a deliberate challenge to the Spanish/Catholic control of the globe. That Americans speak English rather than Spanish owes something to Dee.” Alex was lost in thought, and Lucy looked at him, laughing self-consciously. “I’ve exhausted you.”

“You’ve woven a spell on me.” And this was the truth. He slowed the car right down now as they entered the village. “Look at the snow on the thatch.”