The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Edward Kelley (1 Aug 1555 - 1 Nov 1597)

Alias Edward Kelly

English Renaissance occultist, scryer, and alchemist who is best known for his work with John Dee Dictionary of National Biography entry: https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/15289 Other biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Kelley Relationships: Edward Kelley was a friend of John Dee (13 Jul 1527 -1608 or 1609)

William Cecil (1520/21-1598) was a recipient of object(s) from Edward Kelley
Linked print sources: as Subject of/in a document - English Magicians and the Crown of Poland: John Dee, Edward Kelly, and Albrecht Łaski, 1583-1585.
 References in Documents:
Objects mentioned in correspondence
From Dr. Browne to Mr. Elias Ashmole [Ashmole MS 1788, art. 18, f. 153.] Most Worthy Sr.

I returne you humble thancks for your courteous letter and the good newes of the hopefull recoverie of Mr. Dugdale, unto whom I shall be readie in any further service, and shall, God willing, send unto him concerning the fish bone, which I have not forgott. It can very hardly fall into my apprehension how I can afford any addition unto your worthy endeavours. Notwithstanding, I have enclosed a list of such tracts of that subject which I have by mee. Most whereof I receaved from Dr. Arthur Dee, my familiar freind, sonne unto old Dr. Dee the mathematician. He lived many yeares and dyed in Norwich, from whom I have heard many accounts agreable unto those which you have sett downe in your annotations concerning his father and Kelly. Hee was a persevering student in hermeticall philosophy, and had noe small encouragement Having seen projection made, and with the highest asseverations be confirmed unto his death, that hee had ocularly undeceavably and frequently beheld it in Bohemia, and to my knowledge, had not an accident prevented, hee had not many yeares before his death retired beyond sea, and fallen upon the solemn processe of the great worke.

Sr. if you shall desire a viewe of any of these bookes, or all, I shall find some way to send them, and you may peruse or 2 That is, Lilly's Christian Astrology modestly treated of, in three books: or, an Introduction to Astrologie, London, 1647, 4to. of which his own copy is in the Ashmolean Museum.-W. H. B. 464 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1658. transcribe them; butt I shall entreat the favour to have them returned. Mr. Stanley gave mee the honour of a visit some fewe yeares past, and if hee signified my mind unto you, you might have receaved them long agoe. Sir, I thinck myself much honored in your worthy acquaintance, and shall ever rest

Your very respectful freind and servant, Thomas Browne. Norwich, Jan. xxv, 1658.
Objects mentioned in correspondence that this transmutation was made by a powder they had, which was found in some old place, and a booke lying by it containing nothing butt hieroglyphicks, which booke his father bestowed much time upon: but I could not heare that he could make it out. Dee sayd also that Kelly delt not justly by his father, and that he went away with the greatest part of the powder and was afterwards imprisoned by the Emperor in a castle, from whence attempting an escape downe the wall, hee fell and broake his legge and was imprisoned agayne. That his father, Dr. John Dee, presented Queen Elizabeth with a little of the powder, who having made triall thereof attempted to get Kelly out of prison, and sent some to that purpose, who giving opium in drinck unto the keepers, layd them so faste asleepe that Kelly found opportunity to attempt an escape, and there were horses readie to carry him away; butt the buisinesse unhappily succeeded as is before declared.