The Alchemical Patronage of Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley

y others without trewthe‖. 25 Walsingham had Edward Dyer—who already had
considerable alchemical experience many years before his involvement with Edward
Kelley—examine another sample of the ore. Dyer, however, could detect only a little
silver. Walsingham, therefore, again derided the whole scheme as ―but the devyses of
Alchamiste‖.
Others at Court seem to have put considerably more stock in Agnello‘s claims.
When Lok informed Agnello that they would need a license to mine the ore, Agnello
assured him that he ―had a frynd in the Courte by whose meanes he would move [her]
majesty therof‖, and who could also provide funding. 26 It is certainly not inconceivable that
Agnello hoped to rely on his influence with Cecil. Regardless, Agnello‘s lack of discretion
ensured that the news of Frobisher‘s discovery rapidly spread throughout London. As
enthusiasm for the project spread, Jonas Schutz, a German metallurgist, joined Agnello in
several assessments of the black ore‘s value. 27 To the Elizabethans there was no
contradiction in having Agnello, a professed alchemist, ―prepare the ewer too greate
effecte‖, while the German metallurgist Shutz supervised the furnaces. 28 The two practices
were considered inextricably linked, based upon the same unified theory of nature. To the
delight of the Elizabethan Court, the ore apparently contained recoverable gold to the
value of £240 per ton, promising huge profits, in excess of Agnello‘s original assessment. 29
The potential gains caused feverish excitement at Court and a second voyage was
quickly arranged. Most of the London merchants who had funded the first voyage had,
however, pulled out, judging the venture too risky. 30 The Court therefore supplied almost
all the capital for the second voyage. Cecil invested £400 in the enterprise, Leicester £600,
and Walsingham, despite his doubts, £800, while the Queen‘s contribution of several
25 Ibid.
26 Ibid.
27 Ibid.
28 Ibid.
29 Hogarth, Boreham, Mitchell, Mines, Minerals & Metallurgy, p. 73.
30 Deborah Harkness, The Jewel House, p. 168.
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