Page 34 - Charnock alchemical letter

then I can consider, what you are by your art
I might spend all my arrows, or I hit nigh the mark
But I pray you what wares, have you there in your satchel.
Sir we have sulphur and mercury, the tincture to all metal
with all the seven salts, which to our science must go
with oils and corrosives, which the ignorant doth not know
peace said his fellow, you are much to blame
speak philosophically, and talk a gods name
for you ought not thus plainly, to use your speech
whereby you will every man, our science teach
so at their supper, no more words did they spend
but with sober talk, and that I did much commend
until after supper, that wine waxed plenty
then they began, to talk of philosophy
nor had not their tongues, sounded much upon malt
I would that night gladly with them have talketh
wherefore their science, I made it Hebrew unto me
and who is so blind, as he that will not see
and in calcination, they were very thick
and in dissolution, they were as quick
and in elemental separation, they were not to seek
so that all their reasons, were well worth a look
then to conjunction, their matter they had brought
and as for purification, they thought it nought
but in coagulation, they had such a trust
that for lack of imbibation, they thought he should not thirst
and that sublimation should do their elixir much good
as well as fermentation, this they understood
until they had brought him, to his exaltation
then they began, a new reiteration
and thus in a truckle bed, they talked hours three
and we in the higher bed, lay just them by
And heard their folly, and also their boast
how to have this science, they would spare no cost
for if they had this Elixir within a quarter
they would live as princes, all their life after
and home they would, to Winchester city
where they were born, and do great charity
and also re-edify the town, and castle they says
and make it as beautiful, as in King Arthur’s days

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