Page 32 - Charnock alchemical letter

The Oxford Man

By this tale told, I perceive he had need to be a great Master in this
science, which can tell how to nourish him, feed him, and augment him
to profit. But what is there a difference of degrees in the stone?

Master Charnock

Yea truly, for some have had him in the first degree, and some have had
him in the second degree, but Roger Bacon, George Ripley, Thomas
Daulton, Thomas Norton, and Thomas Charnock had him in the third
degree. And so had that most prudent prince Henry the VIII. And here I
cease from as many English philosophers as I can it attain to, saving
those which because I have not their books whole and perfect, whereby I
am not able to make my authority good, neither what men they were,
spiritual or temporal, nor it in what king’s day they were, nor it where
they wrought it, nor how they came by it, I will leave them out until I
may come by their whole books, as Geoffrey Chaucer, and one Richard
of England, Daulton, Richard Carpenter, Meretharne, and Merlin. But it
was not Merlin Ambrose the false magical prophet of Wales, nor it
Merlin Silvestris the false magical prophet of Scotland: But it was one
Merlin a worthy philosopher as his book doth declare, whereof I could
never get but a six or eight leaves.

The Oxford Man

I do now remember what you told me at my last being here, how that for
all your travel, you had not yet searched London, nor never had book nor
copy of this science there out, saving your uncle’s books when you were
a twelve year old. And you said moreover, if it were possible, you would
go by at London of purpose, to see if you could get the copies of these
books aforenamed perfect, or of some works which you never heard of
before, whereby you meant to make some greater collection of
philosophers.

Master Charnock

I did so, and as it I cannot bring it to pass.
But now if you be desirous to hear a pretty tale, how I met with two
philosophers in Calais town, my tongue is disposed to talk, and because
it shall sound somewhat the better, I will tell him in metre as grossly as I
made him, when the thing was done.

27