Page 23 - Charnock alchemical letter

The Oxford Man

It there remains one work more, what will you do with him, and of what
valuation shall he be of?

Master Charnock

The fourth work I will keep as the husbandman does his seed, and by the
increase of him I will dd.6 into the Queen majesty’s mint of fine gold as
is the royal
at the eight years end 50 oz.
at the nine years end 100 oz.
at the ten years end 150 oz.
at the eleven years end 200 oz.
at the twelve years end 250 oz.
at the thirteen years end 300 oz.
at the fourteen years end 350 oz.
And every year after that at the years end 350 oz. as long as I shall live.

The Oxford Man

By this I perceive that within seven years after your work is ended, you
will dd. into the mint by the augmenting and increase of your last work,
at one time or other 1400 oz. of prize gold, which comes to the sum of
4200 £ after 3 £ the ounce. And all this is done in fourteen years after
you promise 350 oz. a year as long as you shall live, which comes to
1050 £ a year after the same rate.

Master Charnock

Yes and moreover, when that time shall come: if any man being a finer
of metal can prove by any kind of examination, that it is not as good gold
and of the same fineness as is the old royal, let me forthwith suffer and
lose my head.

The Oxford Man

I do note well, this your talk, that upon the fineness of the gold which
you will dd. into the mint, you will venture your life that it shall be as
good gold by all examinations, as is the old royal. But what say you to
this, that at the seven years when your work shall begin to come to his
augmentation that if you shall not be able to dd. every year so justly such

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