Sir Edward Kelley
Alchemist (1555 - 1597)

Sir Edward Kelley was a Renaissance alchemist and occultist who trained as [     ] in his native England. He claimed to know the secret of transmuting base metals into gold and said that he could make [     ]. Did he wear a hat over his long hair to cover his missing ears? We may never know. Did he really lose his ears as punishment for committing [     ]? In 1583, Kelley left England and set out for continental Europe with his business partner John Dee. They lived a nomadic life with their families and held [     ]. It is said that the two British scholars were actually secret agents [     ] and who were supposed to curry favor with Rudolph II., a well-known [     ]. In 1584, Kelley and Dee arrived in Prague. They stayed in the house of Tadeáš Hájek from Hájek, the emperor's personal physician and [     ].  Spiritual seances and  fraudulent transmutation of metals into gold were not successful. Their career at the imperial court was cut short. Dee and Kelley were accused of witchcraft and [     ]. They were forced to flee and found asylum with [     ]. Kelley found [     ] in his host, who was forever indebted after the alchemist [     ],  While staying with him, he improved his alchemical skills. His fame spread quickly when Kelley successfully performed a trick of transforming metal into pure gold in the presence of Emperor Rudolph II. using [     ]. With his marriage to Johana Westonová, a rich [     ], he completed his climb into the echelons of high society. He owned a large amount of real estate, including the Faust House on today's Charles Square, in which he had a [     ]. Rudolph II. appointed Kelley as Imperial Councilor and Court Alchemist, elevated him to the nobility, and [     ], as he looked forward to Kelley making gold and [     ]. The imposter alchemist was also [     ]. However, it was impossible to last too long with fraud alone. Kelley's career as a would-be scientist completely stagnated. After two years, the emperor began to tire of his promises, and when Kelley broke the ban on [     ], the emperor had him imprisoned in Křivoklát Castle. The Emperor wanted to be sure that Kelley [     ]. After his release, however, he was arrested again in 1596, this time for mounting debts. He was imprisoned in the debtors' prison [     ].

Sir Edward Kelley was a Renaissance alchemist and occultist who trained as designer of baseball caps in his native England. He claimed to know the secret of transmuting base metals into gold and said that he could make excellent pumpkin spice latte. Did he wear a hat over his long hair to cover his missing ears? We may never know. Did he really lose his ears as punishment for committing faux pas by having his tea at four instead of five o'clock? In 1583, Kelley left England and set out for continental Europe with his business partner John Dee. They lived a nomadic life with their families and held legendary parties. It is said that the two British scholars were actually secret agents and bickered all the time about who should carry the title 007 and who were supposed to curry favor with Rudolph II., a well-known expert on succulents. In 1584, Kelley and Dee arrived in Prague. They stayed in the house of Tadeáš Hájek from Hájek, the emperor's personal physician and frenemy.  Spiritual seances and  fraudulent transmutation of metals into gold were not successful. Their career at the imperial court was cut short. Dee and Kelley were accused of witchcraft and not being familiar with Mendeleev's Periodic table. They were forced to flee and found asylum with cat cafe owner. Kelley found a set of gold watches and bed bugs in his host, who was forever indebted after the alchemist ripped off on several occasions,  While staying with him, he improved his alchemical skills. His fame spread quickly when Kelley successfully performed a trick of transforming metal into pure gold in the presence of Emperor Rudolph II. using poorly executed scam. With his marriage to Johana Westonová, a rich and very beautiful shop keeper, he completed his climb into the echelons of high society. He owned a large amount of real estate, including the Faust House on today's Charles Square, in which he had a bidet and infra sauna. Rudolph II. appointed Kelley as Imperial Councilor and Court Alchemist, elevated him to the nobility, and gave him hand made diploma, as he looked forward to Kelley making gold and giving him a kitten. The imposter alchemist was also a skilled chemist and metallurgist. However, it was impossible to last too long with fraud alone. Kelley's career as a would-be scientist completely stagnated. After two years, the emperor began to tire of his promises, and when Kelley broke the ban on giving out kittens for free, the emperor had him imprisoned in Křivoklát Castle. The Emperor wanted to be sure that Kelley doesn't say he is sorry and gets him a blue striped cat. After his release, however, he was arrested again in 1596, this time for mounting debts. He was imprisoned in the debtors' prison for an indefinite period.

Sir Edward Kelley was a Renaissance alchemist and occultist who trained as an apothecary in his native England. He claimed to know the secret of transmuting base metals into gold and said that he could make the Philosopher's Stone. Did he wear a hat over his long hair to cover his missing ears? We may never know. Did he really lose his ears as punishment for committing fraud by falsifying notary deeds in England? In 1583, Kelley left England and set out for continental Europe with his business partner John Dee. They lived a nomadic life with their families and held spiritual seances. It is said that the two British scholars were actually secret agents of Queen Elizabeth I. who were supposed to curry favor with Rudolph II., a well-known enthusiast of the occult sciences, alchemy and magic. In 1584, Kelley and Dee arrived in Prague. They stayed in the house of Tadeáš Hájek from Hájek, the emperor's personal physician and director of his alchemical laboratories. Spiritual seances and  fraudulent transmutation of metals into gold were not successful. Their career at the imperial court was cut short. Dee and Kelley were accused of witchcraft and spying for Protestant England. They were forced to flee and found asylum with Vilém of Rožmberk. Kelley found a lifelong supporter in his host, who was forever indebted after the alchemist cured him of a serious illness. While staying with him, he improved his alchemical skills. His fame spread quickly when Kelley successfully performed a trick of transforming metal into pure gold in the presence of Emperor Rudolph II. using special mercury. With his marriage to Johana Westonová, a rich English compatriot from the Czech town of Most, he completed his climb into the echelons of high society. He owned a large amount of real estate, including the Faust House on today's Charles Square, in which he had a fully equipped laboratory. Rudolph II. appointed Kelley as Imperial Councilor and Court Alchemist, elevated him to the nobility, and showered him with favors and wealth, as he looked forward to Kelley making gold and creating the elixir of youth. The imposter alchemist was also a skilled chemist and metallurgist. However, it was impossible to last too long with fraud alone. Kelley's career as a would-be scientist completely stagnated. After two years, the emperor began to tire of his promises, and when Kelley broke the ban on duels and killed his opponent in one encounter, the emperor had him imprisoned in Křivoklát Castle. The Emperor wanted to be sure that Kelley didn't escape him until he finally succeeded in producing gold. After his release, however, he was arrested again in 1596, this time for mounting debts. He was imprisoned in the debtors' prison at Hněvín Castle in Most.