Page 38 - Charnock alchemical letter

but before that he, in his fantasy
when he had caught this art fully
such rejoicing thereof he had
that he began to dote and mad
this monk had walked about in France
rangin g apostate in his pleasance
and after he came into this land
willing that men should understand
how of Alchemy, he had the ground
by a book of secrets, which he had found
In surety thereof he set all his mind
to leave some noble act behind
whereby his name should be immortal
and his great fame, in laud perpetual
and oft he mused, where to begin
to spend the riches which he should win
And ever he thought, lo this I can
where might I find some trusty man
who would accord, now with my will
and help my purpose to fulfill
then would I make upon the plain
of Salisbury, glorious to be fain
fifteen abbeys, in a little while
hereupon this monk to me resorted
for trust he said, who men of me reported
his foresaid mind he did to me tell
and prayed me to keep, his great counsel
I said before an image of Saint James
that I would never disclose his name
it I may write without all vice
of his desires which were so nice
when he had discovered his great cunning
he said that he faulted nothing
but a good means for his solace
to labour to the king’s good grace
to purchase license, of his estate
and of his lords mediate
to purchase lands for the abbeys foresaid
for which all costs, should be well paid
be it he had great doubt and fear

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