Page 54 - Charnock alchemical letter

Dudley now Earl of Leicester,37 and then he desired me that we might
have some familiar talk in the science of natural philosophy, and did
frame himself to talk very prettily after the philosophers’ speech, but so
far from true understanding that I did much bemoan the great error which
he was in. And told him, that whereas the philosophers do write most
plain sentences, with liquid words and delicious speech, there do they
most flatter young imps and tender wits, putting them in a vain hope and
making them believe, that within forty days practice they shall attain
unto the principal of their desire: yet for all this I could not break the port
of his fixed errors, or of his determined purpose, and so I gave place to
folly.

And then I told him how that I had a book of the science, which I had
rudely made in English metre, named Charnock’s Breviary in natural
philosophy, and if he would safely present him to the lord his master,
that I could well vouchsafe that his honour should be the patron of my
work, who did much encourage me unto the accomplishing of the same,
and then I took him a book of philosophy translated into English, named
Tollectanus Rosarie for to look upon an hour or two while I did write the
Epistle in the beginning, and the title of his honour, as it is fitting for
such an honourable lord to have, and dd. [gave] him my book in the hour
of ? I think, for within a six weeks after, I heard that he was gone over to
Newhaven with the Earl of Warwick, as I learned off a neighbour of
mine who came from thence who saw him there very sick and like to die,
and he named himself to me Flemmen, and I believe he never presented
my book to the lord his master, nor it did not retain to his honour. And
thus being without a copy I lost my book whereon you did so much
delight, God send me better fortune with this which I mean to send up
now, or else I am clean discouraged and will turn my philosophy to
husbandry, and do get me unto the plow.
nam nihil scrire, faelicissima vita.38

The Oxford Man

I believe as you say, your book was never presented when as your chief
desire was, yet when this shall come in print my lord may understand
your good will towards his honour, as well for the friendly entertaining
of him whom you thought to be his man. As also for the celebrating of
the first fruits of your study to his honour in this most secret science of
natural philosophy.

And now let us break off our confabulation, for I begin to wax weary
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