The Alchemical Patronage of Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley
The Alchemical Patronage of Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley
The Alchemical Patronage of Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley
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love and honor vertue and knolledge‖. 139 Perhaps <strong>Cecil</strong> knew that Dyer‘s presence was<br />
raising doubts in Prague about Kelley‘s loyalty to the Emperor. Regardless, <strong>Cecil</strong>‘s<br />
previous consultation with Paracelsian physicians such as Russwurin suggests his medical<br />
appeal was not entirely disingenuous, for whilst the<br />
moste dyrect cause [<strong>of</strong> his illness] is oppression with affaires, and lacke <strong>of</strong><br />
liberty, against the which no medicinall receipt can serve... yett I wilbe glad<br />
to make much <strong>of</strong> any that you shall send me, with your assurance that it<br />
shall do me no harme 140<br />
That the astute <strong>Cecil</strong> would trust the tinctures <strong>of</strong> a man so <strong>of</strong>ten derided by historians as<br />
the archetypal alchemical charlatan, is indicative <strong>of</strong> both his belief in alchemical medicine<br />
and the reputation Kelley enjoyed in England.<br />
A letter to Dyer, drafted on 12 May in <strong>Cecil</strong>‘s own spindly hand, provides the most<br />
compelling evidence <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cecil</strong>‘s genuine belief in Edward Kelley‘s alchemical abilities. Sent<br />
by secure courier to his long time acquaintance, <strong>Cecil</strong> did not have to be concerned about<br />
<strong>of</strong>fending the alchemist‘s ego, and could give a truer account <strong>of</strong> his actual opinion on the<br />
matter. <strong>The</strong> authenticity <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cecil</strong>‘s desire for the rogue alchemist to return to England is<br />
evident. Convinced by Dyer‘s ―stedfast first opinion <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sir</strong> Edward Kelly, namely as you<br />
write for that worthy truth in him at that highest poynt that hath bene before by you<br />
reported‖, <strong>Cecil</strong> instructed Dyer to convince Kelley to ―retorn to his natyve contry, to<br />
honor hir majesty as a loyal natural subject with the fruits <strong>of</strong> such great knolledg as God<br />
hath gyven hym‖. 141 He once again emphasised that the ―Quene is, <strong>of</strong> hir very divine<br />
nature most redy to reward yea to honor knolledge in any person‖, which would equal<br />
anything given to Kelley by foreign princes. 142<br />
<strong>Cecil</strong> maintained that those in England who wrote against Kelley would either be<br />
persuaded by a demonstration <strong>of</strong> Kelley‘s transmutation, or were enemies <strong>of</strong> the Crown,<br />
attempting to keep the alchemical benefits out <strong>of</strong> the Queen‘s hands. However, <strong>Cecil</strong>‘s<br />
139 <strong>Cecil</strong> to Kelley, Lansdowne Vol.103, No. 72.<br />
140 Ibid.<br />
141 <strong>Cecil</strong> to Edward Dyer, 12 May 1591, BL, Cotton Titus B. II, no. 110.<br />
142 Ibid.<br />
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