Page 27 - Charnock alchemical letter

The Oxford Man

Marry for here was a tale, I have now heard but few like. And who else I
pray you did ever attain unto the philosophers’ stone?

Master Charnock
There was one Sir George Ripley,9 a canon of Bridlington in the north
who had traveled throughout all Italy for to attain unto the secrets of this
science, which at last by God’s grace he did attain unto, and came back
again to Bridlington and there wrought it with great deliberation and
length of time, and he lived somewhat above a hundred year and when he
must needs die for age, he gave his work to his boy for his service. He
did great works in Bridlington and was in Henry the V day.

The Oxford Man

And what became afterward of his boy?

Master Charnock

He gave himself much to riotous living and to run the country, without
any good order of life and ever bare his charges by his work and at last
came to Bath and became a monk, and there he conferred with one
Novell a monk of that house and well seen in philosophy, but after a
while he procured Novell to run away with him, and at the last they came
to Walsingham, and because the prior should receive them as his
consent, he opened unto him what he could do in such a science: and
there wrought it for the prior a three years space. And when the prior had
surveyed the profit he waxed covetous and demanded more of him than
he was able to make of his work, because he had ever kept it under and
very low. Whereby the prior and he were at words: and shortly after
when he saw a convenient time he and Novell ran away again in the
reign of Richard the III and it was never known where they became.

The Oxford Man

Have you any more, for my mind gives me that you keep the best tale
behind.

Master Charnock

There was a canon of Lichfield in Henry the VI days who had this
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