Page 6 - Charnock alchemical letter

Introduction

Adam McLean

In this remarkable letter written to Queen Elizabeth in 1565, the
alchemist Thomas Charnock makes the astounding offer to make gold for
the Queen on pain of losing his head.

Charnock may have been foolhardy and over confident in his
abilities, but he was certainly courageous. This long letter outlines in
detail his offer with calculations of the necessary expenses and a
breakdown of the profits the Queen might expect from supporting him in
his work. As a further surety of his dedication, he says he is willing to
give up his freedom and be imprisoned in the Tower of London while
undertaking the alchemical work.

Fortunately perhaps for Charnock this offer was not taken up by the
Queen, though on reading his letter one has the strong impression that
Charnock would have felt let down by not being given royal support. He
was forty when he made this incredible offer of his life for the
opportunity to undertake the alchemical work. He died in 1581, some
sixteen years later, never finding a benefactor to support him in his quest
to make the philosophers’ stone.

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