Page 28 - Charnock alchemical letter

science and did great works in Lichfield abbey, and was a man of good
serving and of great charity, and when he died he left all his holy work to
his man who had been always most diligent intending to the same.

The Oxford Man

What became of him I trow, sped he any better than the other canons
man?

Master Charnock

This man hight [called] Thomas Daulton10 and when his Master the
canon was dead, he went to one Delves11 Esquire and of the privy
chamber in King Edward the IV days, with whom he had dwelt before
and was his clerk. This Daulton opened to his Master Delves what he had
learned in his long time of absence and what he was able to do. Then
went Delves and purchased lands and requested Daulton to help him with
as much of his work as he had ready made, which came to a 1000 £. Yet
within a short time after he demanded of Daulton a great sum more,
which Daulton was not able to make in a long time. Then went Daulton
privately away from Delves, into an abbey in Gloucestershire, and there
wrought it.

And it fortuned after a while that one Master Thomas Herbert12, Esquire
and fellow with Delves in the privy chamber, as he rode out of Wales up
to London, he happened to find Daulton and carried him up to his master
Delves, whereof Delves was glad, and threatened Daulton but if he
would work for him, he would present him unto the king, whereunto
Daulton in no ways would consent. Wherefore Delves brought Daulton
in the king’s presence and there Delves told unto the king how that
Daulton had made unto him 1000 £ of as good gold as is the royal within
half a day, whereof Delves would swear upon a book.

Then said Daulton unto the king, pleaseth your majesty to understand,
that I have been oft troubled for this work and specially by my Master
Delves. And now when I was taken in an abbey in Gloucestershire, by
Master Thomas Herbert esquire and of your graces privy chamber, I cast
my work in a forren, a common lake, which doth ebb and flow to the
river of Severn, and there I have destroyed as much riches as would have
served for a king unto the holy land with twenty thousand men upon a
band, I kept it long for our lord’s sake to help a king that would make
this voyage, Alas, then said the king, it was great pity to destroy such a

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