With all this, he was the most ambitious person living, and most
desirous of fame and renown, and was never so well pleased as when he
heard himself stiled Most Excellent.
He was studious in chymistry, and attained to good perfection therein;
but his servant, or rather companion, Kelly, out-went him, _viz._ about
the Elixir or Philosopher's Stone; which neither Kelly or Dee attained
by their own labour and industry. It was in this manner Kelly obtained
it, as I had it related from an ancient minister, who knew the certainty
thereof from an old English merchant, resident in Germany, at what time
both Kelly and Dee were there.
Dee and Kelly being in the confines of the Emperor's dominions, in a
city where resided many English merchants, with whom they had much
familiarity, there happened an old Friar to come to Dr. Dee's lodging.
Knocking at the door, Dee peeped down the stairs. 'Kelly,' says he,
'tell the old man I am not at home.' Kelly did so. The Friar said, 'I
will take another time to wait on him.' Some few days after, he came
again. Dee ordered Kelly, if it were the same person, to deny him again.
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