The Alchemical Patronage of Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley

examination of primary evidence reveals a man deeply enthusiastic about alchemy in many
forms, from philosophy and medicine, through to industrial metallurgy.
This thesis examines the support, both financial and political, which Cecil lent to a
number of alchemical projects throughout the Elizabethan period. The underlying
objective of the thesis is to consider the implications of Cecil‘s continued support for
alchemical projects on our understanding of the mentality of the Elizabethan Court.
Together with contextualising the position of alchemical thought and practice within
Elizabethan society, the thesis examines alchemy as one of Cecil‘s legitimate domestic and
foreign policy tools, and analyses the degree to which the philosophical ideals and concepts
of alchemy appealed to Cecil‘s religious, political and philosophical beliefs. The thesis also
argues that potential clients knew about and took advantage of Cecil‘s interest in alchemy.
Numerous patronage suits directed at Cecil included demonstrations of both practical and
theoretical forms of alchemical knowledge. This thesis therefore argues that
contemporaries widely recognised Cecil‘s predilection towards alchemical patronage.
*
Since the Enlightenment, historians studying Cecil have chosen to ignore the great
statesman‘s belief in the reality of alchemical transmutation. To them such a belief did not
correspond with their conception of a pragmatic and capable manager of government
business. The few historical discussions of Cecil‘s interest in alchemical schemes therefore
tend to be dismissive or superficial.
The work of John Strype (1643–1737) has channelled the interests of subsequent
historians of Cecil. Whilst Strype never completed his biography of Cecil, he based much
of his writing, especially his four volume Annals of the Reformation (1709-31), on that part of
Cecil‘s papers now in the Lansdowne Collection. 2 Despite his claims of objectivity, Stype‘s
work reflected both the interests and prejudices of the Enlightenment period. The derisive
2 G. H. Martin and Anita McConnell, ‗Strype, John (1643–1737)‘, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography,
Oxford, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/26690].
2