Page 2 - Charnock alchemical letter
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Hermetic Research Series Number 11
Thomas Charnock’s alchemical
letter to Queen Elizabeth
Transcribed by Fiona Oliver
In this remarkable letter written to Queen Elizabeth in 1565, the
alchemist Thomas Charnock makes the astounding offer to make
gold for the Queen on pain of losing his head.
Charnock (1526-81) was fortunate to meet, early in his life, two
alchemical adepts, in the 1540’s he met I. S., a monk of Salisbury,
and later a prior of Bath, who apparently had the secret of alchemy
from George Ripley, the famous alchemist from Bridlington. From
these two he was instructed in the art of alchemy.
In this long Epistle Charnock outlines his scheme to enlist the support
of the Queen, explaining all the details of the cost and the profits that
will be obtained.
Charnock’s Epistle is, I believe, an important social document of the
early Elizabethan period. It shows how seriously alchemy was taken
at the highest levels in English society, and also how a sincere
alchemist of that time tried to find ways to obtain support for his
research. It gives a rare insight into the mind of an alchemist
struggling to find a means for undertaking the expensive work of
alchemy.
Cover illustration is an alchemical furnace similar to a drawing in Charnock’s
alchemical roll, redrawn and coloured by Adam McLean
Adam McLean
15 Keir Street
Glasgow G41 2NP
UK
www.alchemy.dial.pipex.com