Page 30 - Charnock alchemical letter

Master Charnock

Nay there is two more remaining, and one of them more worthier than all
the rest, which was an excellent wise prince, and that for his wisdom was
counted to be the second Solomon, I mean the Queen’s most excellent
grace’s grandfather Henry the VII who was a great a wise philosopher,
and had this stone, a five years before he died, of a iew bourne [Jew
born], as I have learned out of my uncle’s books of this same science
Doctor Charnock of the black friars of London at Ludgate, who as he
writes was the king’s confessor the last years of his majesty’s reign.

The Oxford Man

What had you an uncle who was a philosopher, and had this stone?

Master Charnock

He was a doctor of divinity and one of the best learned men besides in all
the seven sciences as was in the realm at that day known, and had the
philosophers’ stone off a black friar of the house of Canterbury with the
secrets there unto appertaining I think in the ninth year of the reign of
King Henry the VIII for my uncle writes that it was the same year that
Thomas Wolsey was made Cardinal. And he had not wrought upon it but
a few years but his novice who did always tend to his work, and was
somewhat learned in the devil’s science, named Ars Magica, or
necromancy, ran away to Orleans with his stone and all his work, while
he was ride to Exeter with the provincial, to visit the friars there. And he
was an unnatural uncle to me, for he caused my father to lay his hands to
mortgage, to help him to a great sum of money which he never repaid,
but died shortly after.

The Oxford Man

I pray you Master Charnock tell me for God’s love what this stone is
most like in figure and proportion. For seeing it was so few years ago
within this realm, it is possible that it may be it in some man’s keeping,
and he not knowing what thing it is.

Master Charnock

His head is sometimes most like in figure, shape, and proportion to a fair
round nutmeg, if the nutmeg, had the weight and colour of gold within

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