Page 52 - Scottish Alchemists

brought for him a large sum of money contributed by his friends in Scotland.
But he never was able to cross the path of his intended victim.

As a writer on alchemy, Scot is known by a little work (of which a copy
exists in the library of Dr Laing) called The Tillage of Light, or the true
discoverie of the Philosophical Elixir, commonly called the Philosopher’s
Stone, London, 1623. In this work he has shown considerable shrewdness.
“If,” he says, “the knowledge of this Elixar did by tradition come to Miriam
the sister of Aaron (who, as some say, was learned in this art), then certainly
the Revealers were much to be blamed for communicating such a mysterie to
a woman’s tongue, which they might as safely have committed to the winds.
That shee had that knowledge by divine revelation, I will not take alchemist’s
word for warrant, credo quod haud, the rather that in all my observations by
perusing most authours vpon this subject, or conversing with some chiefe
professors of this chimera, I have never found truly demonstrated that there
was or is such a thing in rerum natura, as alchemists dreame this
Philosophers’ Stone to be. I confesse I have seene many texts wrested to
wrong constructions, that I have heard much thundring of the perfection to
which this Nothing has been brought; but because ex nihilo nihil fit, nothing
did ensue but consumption of the undertakers’ estates and losse of their
labors. Therefore, since words without deeds are weake proofs, I reject such
authorities as apochryphall, and am so far from beleeving such fairded
suggestions that if the Phylosophers’ positions were literally to be
understood, I should never hold them other than like mathematicall
demonstrations, wherein by many fayre propositions is prooved much,
whereof no artificer can make use upon wood or stone.” Scot was also on
his guard as to what would be the injurious effect of the artificial production
of gold in large quantity, and he remarks, “If it were possible to multiply or
transmute a greater proportion of other vnrefined mettals into gold by
proiection, what benefit should thereby arise either to the philosophers, or
from them to others? They should acquire nothing by it but the corruption of
manners, and staine of their profession, others but eversion of all politike
government, mutuall commerce and industrious exchange. Kings should be
inferiour to philosophers in the purchase of so great treasure: And so all
soueraigntie (to whom by all nationall lawes belongs the prerogative of all
gold and siluer mynes) would turne againe to a confusion and hotch-potch:
many that are now holden wise, would perhaps turne fooles, and those that
have now little wit would have then none at all. Wee should see every
covetous pennie-father, mercilesse usurer, and Jewish broker become
philosophers, and convert the blood of the poore, vpon which they now
feed, into the new found Elixar. We should see the philosophers pearne their

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