The Alchemical Patronage of Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley

entirely self centred‖. 117 Cecil likely received many more, now lost, reports from his
overseas operatives on both the legitimacy of Kelley‘s alchemical claims, and on the
prospects of convincing him to return to England.
Cecil also sent letters directly to Kelley, in which he entreated the alchemist to
return to England and serve his sovereign monarch. Kelley replied to Cecil on 24 July
1590, that while
we accord fully in matter and manner though in circumstances somwhat
differ, for yt seemeth you desire the same thinge...the thinges looked for at
my hands deserve farther grace and assurance reall than any way or where
yet appereth 118
Kelley‘s writing was remarkably self assured; the mark of a man who knew his services
were in demand. He stated that he would be happy to serve his Queen and country if
granted the appropriate honours and maintenance, if not his ―remayning abrode shall be
her fault‖. 119 Kelley knew that Crown finances were inadequate to support the cost of war
with Spain, and guessed that if he played his cards right he might extract massive
concessions from the alchemically credulous Lord Treasurer.
Cecil‘s reply, preserved in draft form in the Lansdowne Papers, demonstrates that
he was neither so gullible as to ignore the swirling rumours about Kelley, nor willing to
make any firm promises until he received direct proof of Kelley‘s abilities. After
complementing Kelley‘s ―wisdom well mixed with a naturall dutyfull regard to your
contraye and soverayn‖, Cecil confronted the alchemist with the accusations made about
him in England. 120 Amongst the allegations was that Kelley had either been converted to
Catholicism, or was in league with England‘s enemies. However, Cecil‘s primary concern
was that Kelley would prove himself ―an impostor [and a deceiver-deleted], with your
sophistication, as many hertofor both here and in other contres have bene proved; and that
117 Francesco Pucci to Horatio Palavincino, 25 August 1590, TNA, SP 81/6 f.70r.
118 Kelley to Cecil, 24 July 1590, TNA, SP 81/6 f.47r.
119 Ibid.
120 Cecil to Kelley, 1 June 1590, Lansdowne Vol. 103 no. 73.
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