2005/11/01 by Penny Bayer · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices #Historical and Literary Studies #History of Science and Natural History
paper · doi:10.1179/000269805x77754
AbstractThis first detailed analysis of "Lady Margaret Clifford's Alchemical Receipt Book," held in the Cumbrian Record Office, examines the basis for its association with Lady Margaret Clifford (1560–1616), placing particular emphasis on the connections in the manuscript book with the John Dee circle. After a brief introduction to the manuscript, which for brevity is referred to as The Margaret Manuscript, I describe the external evidence for its association with Lady Margaret, and discuss internal evidence within the manuscript that suggests links with the John Dee circle, in several ways — by source of receipts, signs of ownership and possible authorship, and access to Paracelsian books. Finally, I examine Lady Margaret's connections with John Dee, and suggest that she had the opportunity to obtain receipts and access to library material for the manuscript during her visit to Dee's Mortlake home in 1593 and through intermediaries with Dee at Manchester during the period 1597–1600. A hypothesis for one of the main hands in the manuscript is put forward: that the alchemist–vicar Christopher Taylour compiled the receipt book for Lady Margaret by liasing on her behalf with members of the Dee–Kelley circle.