Sketches of Early Scottish Alchemists : Michael Scot—King James Iv.— Sik George Erskin F Innertielo E Y Johb N

SKETCHE EARLF SO Y SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS9 17 .

I. SKETCHES OF EARLY SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS : MICHAEL SCOT—KING JAMES IV.— SIK GEORGE ERSKIN F INNERTIELO E Y JOHB N. SMALL, M.A., F.S.A. SCOT.

The first well-known Scottish alchemist was the famous wizard or magician, Michael Scot of Balwearie, who was horn in Fifeshire about yeae th r 1200, aftee commencementh r e reig th f Alexande o nf o t . II r s thu contemporare wa sth e H e greath f ty o English alchemis naturar o t l philosopher, Eoger Bacon, who, fro vigorouss mhi intellect informatiod ,an n faadvancn i rs s agedreadee peoplehi wa th ,f eo d y eventuall b dan , y poisone monastis hi y db c brethren. Devoting himself fro earls mhi y years cultivatioe th o t f lettersno , Michael Scot repaire Universite th o t d f yo Oxford, which then enjoyed a high reputation, not only for the sciences of ethic philosophyd an s fot rbu ,thos astronomf eo chemistryd yan . This last science comprehended withi s rangit n e mysterth e f alchemyyo t ar n a , •which then was not only very passionately cultivated by the most learned kingdome meth f no t whic becombu d , hha subjece eth f royao t l patronage and munificence e sagaciouTh . d politian s c Edwar . I dseem o havt s e been so far transported by his belief in the transmutation of metals that he invited the famous Raymond Lully, one of the greatest philosophers times ohi f , int thes dominionss ohi wa n t currentli d ,an y reported that the gold which was expended in fitting out an expedition to the Holy Land had issued, not from the exchequer of the king, but from the labora- tory of the sage. To sho lonw wgho this belief remained followine th , g passage occurn si wora k entitle n "Essada Critican yo d Curiouan l s Learning,, E. . T y b " printe London di n 169i 8: " I have rea somn di f theio e r (the Alche- mists') late books authenticalls thai t i t y recorded that Eipley Englishn a , adeptus, sen manr fo t y years successivel yhundrea d thousand poundf o s artificia knightle golth o dt Ehodef so o maintair against s wa e e th t th n Turks; and that Eaymond Lully, another adeptus, furnished Edward the First with six myriads of the same metal to carry on the holy war in the Holy Land." After leaving Oxford Michael Scot studied for some time at the Uni- 180 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APRIL 12, 1875.

versity of Paris, where he applied himself to the study of mathematics with such success tha e acquireh t name dth f Michaeeo e Mathemath l - tician. He also devoted himself to the study of divinity, and received the degre f doctoeo theologyn i r . Having possesse infore d th himsel l - al f o f mation he could acquire in his pursuits at Paris, he resumed his travels, and visited many foreign countrie universitiesd an s t PaduA . e disah - tinguished himself by his essays in judicial astrology, and his predictions of future events rendere s wela l m knowhi d n Italyi n , where they were first promulgated, as he ever afterwards was in Scotland. The well-known description of Scot by Dante— " Quell 'altro, che ne' fianchi e" cosi poco, Michele Scotto fu, che yeramente Delle magiche frode seppe il giuoco," " That other, roun loine dth s slendeo S s shape hi Michaes f ro wa , l Scot, Practise evern di y sligh magif o t c wile," proves tha appearances hi t t leasa , describeds a t familias greae wa ,th o tt r Italian poet. Besides the testimony of Dante there is that of a popular Italian versifier, Theophilus Folengius ,s Macaroni whohi n i , c poem, published in 1549, describes Michael as a magician able to perform various enchant- ments, to summon fiends from the four quarters of heaven, to ride on an enchanted horse enchanten a saio t ,n i l do wra t ship d p an ,himsel . a n i f cloak which rendere wearee dth r invisible, t unlesint glare go o th f e eso h e sunbeamsth , whe s shadonhi w woul discoverede db . After speakinf go Solomon, Zoroaster, Medea, Thibet, and Picatrix as celebrated magicians, Folengi introduces Michael Scot in the following lines, which have been translated into verse by Professor Blackie:— "Behol rule Michaedf th e o l Scot concerning incantation, whicy B formx hreignsi o s wh hellis n appeasi m hi hf ro nation. And first a waxen shape is made in Saturn's mould of lead, This in the fragrant fire is hung by •vermeil silken thread, Whereby through heart of chariest maid love's kindly warmth is spread. Behold this wizard Sco stande h t s beneat hshada y tree, And groune onth d with many sign scircla e draweth lie, SKETCHES OF EARLY SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS. 181

Four spirits then with might bests y hi voic o , t callse eh d an , One spirit fro ease mth t appears, another fro weste mth , From south .and north a third and fourth his mighty power attest ; When h ymakee theih d reinsrai a , which rules with magic force, Well known to all, a wondrous beast, a black, infernal horse, Which him o'er land and sea more swift than Turkish arrow bears, And ever and anon he burns that horse's sacred hairs. Then doth this wizard pain shipa t shia , p with right good oars, That cuts the brine from sea to sea and reacheth many shores. thed marroe nAn th w from human spin burnete esmokeh n du n hi , That teaches him with whispered spells to consecrate a cloak— Spells whic spirite hth s heafeard welr ran fo , l they kno tokene wth , Nor man nor spirit can stop his ears when potent words are spoken; This cloa wearo kwh s throug l thihal s vasty worl wandey dma r wide Unseen, if only he beware in the sun's light to ride, For thus his shadow will be seen, and he himself espied." From. Italy Sco inty t omadwa Spain s residencs ehi toohi d p an ,k u t ea Toledo universite th , whicf yo the s hwa n highly celebrate e cultith r - dfo vation of the occult sciences. While there he began and concluded a trans- lation from the Arabic into Latin of Aristotle's' 'History of Animals," which procured him the notice of Ferdinand II., who gave him the office of royal astrologer requese th t thaf A o t .t monarc composee hh worda k entitled " Liber introductorius, sive Judicia qusestionum," which embraces the whole science of astronomy and astrology. His famous treatises entitled " Physiognomi "Dehominid a "an s procreatione " were also written while he resided at the court of Spain. Afte lapse th rsomf eo e years Michael probablo wh , y received frone th i king littl t n experienceempta bu e knows e b y wa o praiset ne h d s a , alchemist, went to Germany, where he resided for some years, practising medicine with considerable success e theH n. passed ove Englando t r , wher founehe patroa d Edwarnin d I., who abovas , e related fira m was , believer in alchemy and the occult sciences. He returned to his native country shortly afte deate th r Alexande f ho r III. t Therlittlbu es ei know subsequens hi f no t life, wit exceptione hth , per- havins hapshi f o , g been ambassado n sena s a t Norwao rt y wit r DavihSi d Wemyss to bring over the young Queen Margaret, the maid of Norway, grand-daughter of the deceased monarch. He died in the year 1292 at 182 . PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APEIL 12, 1875.

an advanced age, and was buried according to some authorities at Holme Coltrame in Cumberland, and according to others in Melrose Abbey. Popular tradition stile ar s l vividly retaine manf do y wonderful feats performe famoubhe sdby wizard " Auld Michael. nativhis eIn "countr y alspowers ohi s .are still remembered r WSi . notes d Scotthi an , o sn t i , Lase th tf tho Minstrel, ey "La " describes how, accordin fameo gt , Michael evoked a fiend in the shape of a huge black horse, and, mounted on his back, flew Franco t throug r ai deman o et e hth d satisfaction fro kine mth g of that country for piracies committed by his subjects on the Scottish coast; how by his power over spirits he caused one of them, for whom he had to find constant employment, to build a cauld or dam across the Tweed at Kelso, whic executes hwa nighta whicn d i an , h still does honoue th o t r infernal architect; and how by the same agency, and in the same short space of time, he caused the Eildon Hill to be divided into the three picturesque peaks bears whicw no .t hi Notwithstandin terrible gth e powers which Michael Scot possessede th , wizard was not deficient in human sympathies. In one of his singular books, called the " Mensa Philosophica," or the Philosopher's Banquet, he states furnishes thai t i t t onldno y wit dishew hhealthr fe a " fo s a t bu , large discourse for pleasure." These pleasurable discourses consist of " certaine jests and merry conceits to exhilarate and solace our bodyes and minde tablesr ou seruet e sa ,b whic o likt n d i e eh ar carrawaie e th t sa interestinfeast.r s i ou t I f "o d o remargt en k that severa f theslo e jests see havmo t e bee populao ns havo t s era been incorporate originae th n di l editio Miller,e "f nJo o " printe 1739n di . fame Michaef Th eo l alchemisn Scoa s a t t rest morn so e than tradition: one of ten chapters in his " Liber introductorius," is a " Quaestio curiosa de natura Soils et Lunse."1 This singular chapter has been incorporated into the " Theatrum Chemicum Lazaruf "o s Zetzner, wor2a k which containe sth

1 The names for gold and silver in the language of the alchemists were Sol and Luna. "Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe; Mars iron, Mercury quicksilve clepee rw : Saturnns lead Jupited an , tins ri , And Venus copper, by my father kin." —CHAUCER, Canterbury Tales, 16,294. 2'5 vols. 12mo, Argent. 1622. SKETCHE EARLF SO Y SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS3 18 .

writings of the most celebrated alchemists. In it Michael, while he expresses his belief in the existence of the Lapis PMlosophorum, chiefly endeavour shoo st d moo creative wan th n su upoe e powenth goldf o r , speculated reducine an th o t f s thagsa o t metas firsit to t lmaterials e H . cautiously records his belief that the great difficulty in making gold was wane propea th f o t r doingo placs r efo , because gold bein gperfeca t body require n appropriata s e s generationit plac r fo e , "Quia auru quoo me d ipsu t corpumes s perfectum requirit sibi proprium locum suas generationis, videlicet ventrem terrse vel venas, sicut vinum ventrem vitis, ergo .non potest fieri nisi in proprio loco." "Whil e alchemicaeth l labour f Michaeo s l thuScoy ma st afte l haval r e been limited to vague theories and conjectures, the investigations of sub- sequent Scottish inquirers assumed a more practical character, and the experiment f Kino s g Jame e Fourtsth h amply sustaine e reputatiodth n arte oth f. KING JAMBS IV. AND THE ABBOT OF TUNGLAND. King James IV. was a monarch who, during the time he swayed the sceptre of Scotland (1488-1513), enjoyed the affections of his people in remarkabla e degree s min acutes Hi whild d.wa an ,excellee eh d l inal . warlike exercises and manly accomplishments, he was a zealous patron of learning, and did all that lay in his power to promote the arts and sciences. Among his other accomplishments he conceived that he possessed, and not improbably actually did possess, considerable skill in surgery and medicine, and it is stated by Lindsay of Pitscottie that " he was weill e singulalearne an e air f medicinth s o t n wa ri d guid an ed chirurgiane; and thair was nane of that profession if they had any dangerous cure in han t wouldbu d have crave t surprisin adwyse.s no d hi s i t I g" a tha o t t monarc f sucf o alchemho ht ar taste ye th sshoul d have possessee th d greatest attractions. The King was aided in his scientific labours by John Damian a foreigne, f pleasino r g addres gread an s t ingenuityo wh , in 1501-2 held an appointment in the royal household as a physician. Bisho e poempth f f Leslio o s e en Italian on a say s n I s wa .tha e h t Dunba s statei e havo h t dr e bee nativa n f Lombardyo e o havt d e an , practised surger d otheyan r art Francn si e befor s arrivahi e Scotlandn i l . 4 18 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , APRIL 12, 1875.

In the accounts of the High Treasurer of Scotland he is styled " the French Leich," " Maister Joh Frence nth h Leich," " Maister John the French Medicinar, "d Frenc"an h Maister John." Under the guidance of Damian, the King established at Edinburgh and Stirling furnaces for prosecuting alchemical experiments, and con- tinued during the rest of his reign to expend considerable sums of money in attempt mako st e " Quinta Essentia," which should convert other metals into pure gold, heal all diseases, and prolong human life far beyond its ordinary bounds e fouTh r . elements, fire, air, earth d wateran , , then believed to be the indispensable components of the whole of nature, were supposed to have a fifth principle common to the four. This was the quintessenc f creationeo onle th , y true element whicf o , foue hth r generic principles were nothin t derivativgbu e form embodimentsr o s s wa t i d an , e ide f th thio a s principle which guide Kine Damiad th d gan thein ni r experiments.1 These are referred to by Bishop Leslie as follows: "Maister John cause Kine th t g believ eniultiplyingee b tha e h t utherid an , s shi inventions, wold make fine gold of uther mettal, quhilk science he callit the Quintassence; whereupon the king made great cost, but all in vain." The following entry in the Treasurer's accounts is one of the earliest notice f Damiao s n that occur s: "Ite f Marc o thri e my th hdda (1501-2) send to Striuelin iiii hary nobles .and ..... to the Leich for to multiply, summ followingy a da £9. e Th "e Franc, th "e Kin Ited th hgan mo t Leich to play at the cartis £9. 5." On the 29th of May 1502 the King's Treasurer pai Eobero t d e King't th Bertoun f o s e marinerson , , r "fo certain droggis brocht home to him to the Franch Leich £31. 4s." and aftey the gav da h ee rFranc eth "o t h Leich, quhe e passih ns hi t Franc0 wa30 y h crownis, r £210o " . Scotish money. This probably refers to a temporary visit to the Continent in furtherance of his schemes. .The ascendenc f Damiao y s sucwa nh tha n i 150t 4 King James appointed him Abbot of Tungland in Galloway. But, although appointed to an office of high preferment in the church, the newly-made Abbot The search after the " quintessence," or elementary principle of "bodies, resulted 1 afterwards unded an , r ripe rdiscovere skillth n i , f quinineyo , morphia, theined an , other drugs of great value in medicine. SKETCHES OF EARLY SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS. 185

Irmsied himself more with his experiments than with his clerical functions. " This Dignitary" says Dunbar, " never chose to go to Mass though warned by the holy bell or skellat." He also disobeyed the ecclesiastical law which required person churce matinsy rans th sa hi e n ki f o hH t so . neither -put on stole nor fanon, lest they should have been defiled with the smoke of his laboratory. Not withstanding his little attention to ecclesiastical mattersridicule th d ean , whic broughe hh himseln n o ta y b f unsuccessful attemp wity fl ho t tartificia l wings from Stirling Castlo t e France, Abboe 1th t retaine booke e favoue Kinge th th dth th f d so f o an r, Treasurer (1507-8) repeatedly mention him as having played at dice, cartis, Septembe&c.h 8t , e wit th majestys hn hi o r 1508d an ; , " Damian, Abbot of Tungland, obtained from the King a license to pass out of the real remaid man n whani t plac e pleaselawfue studyy h th an t r a slo , occupation durin e spacth g f fivo e e years, without incurrin y hurtgan , prejudice r skaitho , , anenf e Abbath c d plac an yf Tungland. o e e H " must have returne Scotlano dt d previou e deatth f Jameso ho t n s o s a , the 29th March 1513, £20 was paid to "the Abbot of Tungland to pass to the myne of Crawford Moor." The King had then artisans at work upon this mine from which golbeed dha n obtained. That the experiments of the King and the Abbot were carried on to a large exten s e showaccounti t th e Treasurer y th nb f o s n theI e .m ar numerous payment e " th Quint r sfo a essentia," including e wageth o t s persons employed, charges for utensils of various kinds, coals and wood varieta e furnacesfor th rfo f otheyo d an ,r materials suc quicksilvers ha , aquavitee, lithargyrum auri, fine tin, brint silver, alum, salteggsd an , , salt- petre, salaramoniack . Considerabl&c , e payments were also mad severao et l "potingaris" for stuff of various kinds. The King sometimes got gold coins fro Treasuree mth t int quinte pu o th o t r a essentia. Bishop Lesly in his "History," noticing.an embassy sent to France in 1507, 1 says thae Abboth t f Tunglano t d " tui hann ki flio dt e n i wit e hb wingio t d an s Fraunce befoi saidie th r s ambassadouris thao t d t paie effecAn f an causie ro . h k t ma t wingi f fedderio s s quhilkis beand fessinit upoun Castilhime th flee h f , wo l walf o l Striveling, but sliortlie he fell to the ground and brak his thee (thigh) bane : but the weyt thairo e ascryvih f fedderin e wingi he th thao t tm n i stsu quhilthais wa r k yarui d cove e myddinan t th t e skyis th gn thi I t an.s d no doing preissie h e o t t counterfute ane king of Yngland callit Bladud, quha, us thair histories mentiones, decked himself in fedderis, and presumed to flie in the aire, as he did, bot falling on the templ Apollf eo o bra neck."s khi — , Edin Hist.76 . .p 1830, 4to. 6 18 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , APKI , 1875L12 .

Several other curious entries from 1502 to 1508 are as follow :—

1502-3.—Item, the vii day of Januar, be the kingis command, to quinta essencia ..... xlijs. Ite lebruarx m[x vr punfo ] d quyk e fumesilueth r f o sfo r quinta essencia ..... xxs. Item, the xvi day of March, for xxv^ pund of quik siluer, quhilk yeid to Striuelin to mak quinta essencia thare, of diuers pricis . . . . iiij lib. vijs. xd. j punItemxi r d fo ,litargir i auri punk il ,. dSummvs . iij liba . Item, for ixj pund of fyne tyn, ilk pund xiiijd. Sunima . xjs. jd. Item, that samyn day to quinta essencia, be the kingis com- mand, and dischargyt xx vnicornis to himself (Johne Auchlek goldsmyth faders hi d . an ) Summ . a xviib li j 1503.—Item thay bo t Marchf penule e kepio th ,an y e th to da tt , fumes fire, be the kingis command . . vjs. viijd. Septemberf Itemo y viie th ,da j , payi Andro t o Aytoun that e laih d dou t dinera n s tyme r pottifo s f lamo s o t e Maister Alexr Ogilvy for the furnesses in Striuelin . xiiijs. f SeptemberItemo y viie th ,da j , payi o Andrt t o Aytoir mfo punv xx alluf do mMaisteo t r Alexr Ogilvy quintd an , a essencia ..... xiiijs. vijd. e saiItemth d o t Andro, e laih , de mortai an dou r f o fo nr metall, weyand thre stan i pundx e r Maistefo , r Alexr Ogilvy, and quinta essencia . . . iij lib. ixs. Item, for colis to quinta essencia, xi owkis efter Pasch iij lib. xvijs. Item [xxiiij • October], to Andro Aytoun, that he gaif for chercol quintao et . essenciiiijs. Striueli n a. i n 1507.—Item [September xxix], for aqua vite to the quinta .essencia ...... vijs. Item [xxthay xbo t kepie Sep.] th quinte o sth t , a essenci . a iijs. Itemf November o e xxvy th , da j r certanfo , e irne graito ht e quintth a essencia e ,smyt th mai f Cambuse o hb d - . . . . xviijs. . . . kinneth SKETCHES OF KARLY SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS. 187

Item [xxij Dec.] to the snayth of Cambuskinneth for making 'of ane . irnxiiijse kis.quintr . fo t a essenci . a Item [xxxj Dec.], payi Andro t t o Aytoun quhil e laikh d doun for wod, colis, and Caldwellis wage for quinta . . vli. xixs. . xd . essencia . , 1507-1508.—Item f Januarpenule o th ,y Johnda o tt , e Mosman for stuf to the quinta essencia . . . xli. vjs. Item [vij Februar] o Andrt , o Aytou r Ivifo nj laid coleo st quinta essencia sen Yule, ilk laid vd. Summa xxiijs. ixd. Item, for xviij laid wod to the samyn . . . ixs. Item to Caldwellis wage . . . . xxviijs. Item [xxiiij Februar], for iiij pycharis to quinta essencia . vs. Item [v March], for ij pund sal aramoniak to quinta essencia ..... iij li. xs. . j punItemv . xxiiijsr dfo , quy. k . siluer Item, for coles and wod for the quinta essencia in Striuelin, . . . . . iij li. iijs. vjd. Ite mCaldwello t monethi. e an , xxviijs s. wage.,

13tOe nth h October 150 King'e 7th s Treasurer paid ,£apuncheor 6fo n of e Abbowinth o Tunglanef t o t mako dt e quinta essentia. What adds to the interest of these curious entries in the accounts of the Treasurer, is the recent publication by Mr Furnivall for the Early English Text Societ manuscripa f yo periode th f e proo whictn i ,th -l hal cesses for making the quintessence are fully detailed. The title of this MS., the contents of which were probably well known to the King and to Abbote th follows:—s a s i , booe quint"f Th k o e essenc fifte th h r eo being ; that is to say man's heaven. A tretice in Englisch breuely drawe out of the book of quintis essen.ciis in Latyn that Hermys the prophete and kyng of Egipt, aftee floo th f rNoe o d , fadi f philosophriso r , hadd revelay b e - cioun of an aungil of God to him sende." According to this learned work, wine was one of the principal requisites for making the Quintessence, which was to be obtained by the following process:—A quantity of good wine was directed to be put into a " distil- latorie of glas with an hoole aboue in the heed where the water schal be 8 18 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , APRI , 1875L12 . take b ed out.an put n "y t This vesse thes nwa lt int directepu o e b o dt furnacea ,e condense b whe o vapoue t e win th n s th d agai f ewa dan o r n distilled, tilquintessencthe l obtaineewas separateand d d fro othemthe r four element winee th f s.o Althoug t firsa h t sight this seem sa simpl e process, it is declared necessary that this distillation should be repeated " vnto a thousand tymes, so that by contynuel ascendynge and descend- ynge by the which it is sriblymed to so myche hignes of glorificacioun, it schal come that it schal be a medicyne incorruptible almoost as heauene aboue and of the nature of heauene. And therefore cure quinta essentia, worthily is clepid mannys heuene. And after manye daies that it hath been in this sotil vessel of glas distillid ye schulen opene the hoole of the vessel in the heed, that was selid with the seel of lute of wiisdom maad of e sotillesth f twhit o flour f moisd o f eyeeneo an ,d t an ,paper e ymeyngid so tha thino n t g respire whand outAn .opene ey hoolee eth f thei , r come out a passynge hevenly swete flauour that alle men that come yn naturely draw therto, thanne ye haue oure quinta essencia, and ellis sele the vessel and putte it to the fier agen till ye haue it." r EurnivalM l submitted this famous treatis opinioe th r chemista e fo f no • ,

i\(T« r* TT o;n ~f TT*;*-™^^-,* f^n^™,^ T~-~^I~~ ~"u~ .4-~4-~~ /,„:*.!, „_£—_._„ -1.U.L \J* -1..1-. V>* HI 'JJ. U/111 V G-LS31U V ^V-L-kGiiO, -AJVJJLAV-1 Vll, »» l±\J r OUdUGa ( VVllJll -LC-LUrtjliUtj e directiontth o se repeategiveth r nfo d distillatio f wineno ) s i tha t i t a good practical suggestion for the obtaining of strong alcohol, and that apparatue th s employed seem havo st e been arrange ensuro dt verea y slow distillation obtaio t s a producno a , s colourless a t scentlesd san possibles sa . Ae producsth t obtaine Kiny db g Jame Damiad an s n wouldl thual n si likelihood be the strongest spirits of wine, it is easy to suppose that a very little would serve to produce that elevation which might seem to bring bac sprine kth youthf go Abboe possibl d th Kine an d ,th tt gan ypu int ostata greaf eo t " higne glorificatioun.f so " unfortunate Th e deat f Jameo h Fourte battle sth th f Floddent ho ea , abrupn 1513n a i t ,pu t terminatio thoso nt e experiments successors hi t bu , , t patronisno Jame d di laboure salchemistse e e th h th V. f f i , so t leasta , - pursued with much zeaminine th l g operations whic fathes hd hi als ha or commenced. In those times the soil of Scotland was supposed to be teem- ing with gold and other precious metals, and we are informed by Bishop Lesly tha 152n i t Kine 6th g gav Scottise granea th f o t h mine coma o st - pan f Germansyo workeo wh , manr dfo y years most laboriousl Clydesn yi - SKETCHES OF EARLY SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS. 189

dale, seeming to be only employed in rolling up great balls of earth, from which, however, they were supposed to have enriched themselves by extracting -quantitie purese th f so t gold.

SIR GEORGE EBSKINE. e reig th f Kin o nn I g Jame . therVI s e were many followere th f o s hermetic philosophy in Scotland, the most important of whom perhaps was Sir George Erskine, or Areskine, of Innertiel. He was the third son r AlexandeSi of r Erskin f Gogaro e d brothee firsan th , tf o Earr f o l Kellie. The date of his birth is uncertain, but it must have been in the latter part of the 16th "century. There are few particulars known of from mhi which biographa , y stateds mighi t I e drawb t, . howevernup , Mackenzie'n i s "Live Eminene th f so t Writer Scote th f so Nation," thae th advantage th d ha youts beinf eo hi n ghi unde e tuitiofamoue th rth f no s George Buchanan along with King James the Sixth, and it is on his autho- rity that Mackenzie give interestins shi g accoun deate th Buchananf f hto o . Several particular givee sar n with Brunton referenci m Haig'd hi nan o et s "Accoun Senatore th College f th to f so Justice.f eo n 161I Georgr " 7Si e was admitte dlora d ordinar Coure th f f Sessiono o yt , unde title f th ro e Lord Innertiel, in place of Sir James Wemyss of Bogie. He was in 1621 appointed a commissioner for regulating the tax roll of the shire of Kin- cardine. He is stated in Balfour's " Annals of Scotland " to have refused Covenane th 1638n i t n NovembeI . f Parliameno t r 164Ac s n 1wa a t passed declaring that the judges of the Court of Session should in future hold their place vitamd sa aut firse r culpam,Georgth Si t s judgd ewa an e named in the new commission. He sat on the bench till his death in 1646 s succeede, whe wa r Alexande e Si h n y b d r Gibso f Durieo nr Si . daughters—Anneo Georgtw d eha , marrie Johno dt Lord 3 , d Melvillf o e Raith Margaretd an , , marrie r Johd Si firs no t tMackenzi f Tarbateo d an , mothe e firsth tf o Earr f Cromartyo l . • According to Lord Hailes, Sir G-eorge drew up some decisions of the tracbencho e Courn th f thest eo n bees o tbu , t ewhilha nsa discoverede eh . Some remains of his alchemical labours are to be found in his manuscripts, several volume f whicso h were presente s grandsonhi y db , Lord Cromarty •to the Library of the Eoyal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1707. thesf o e Oe non volumes , remarkabl thr efo variet contentss it e f yth o d an , 190 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APRIL 12, 1875.

beauty of its caligraphy, as also for the manner in which it came into the possession of Sir George Erskine, is the following inscription by the Earl:— " I haveing found by letters directed from one Dr Politius (a Polonian or ' Silesian grandfathey m o )t r G-eorgrSi e Areskin Innertilef eo , brothee th o rt Earl of Kelli grandchild ean Earle th Marrf do et o Senato,a r Colledge ofth e of Justice d Privan , y Counsello Kino t r g o Kint Jame d gan s h th6t e Charle greaa s t wa sstuden o 1stwh ,natural f o t l philosophy a con o t -n ev , siderable advancement in the hermetick school, and had a correspondence in very remote parts with the sonnes of Hermes, and of whose fruits of his expensive and secret correspondence with them I have depositat some volumns of manuscripts mostly of his own handwritt. " This was sent to him by the society at Hess, and directed under the convo saie th d f yDo s r letterGeorgrbi Si Politius y o b t se o declarewh , s that by direction of that society his chief errand to Scotland was to confer wit judgeI h d himmonumena An t di . t unworthno t consignee b o yt d Honorable th o t e Colledg f Phisitianeo t Edinburgha s ,s con it bot r -hfo n voyanci w d matterno an e s i thn r oev ,o perhape b y sma muct i f o h print; yett this being long or it was, [it] is to print as ane avro-ypacfiov, and hath more bs much then is printed mand an , y author mentionedt sno , in the print. " To the Eoyal Colledge of Phisitians this vol. and severall other volumns is affectionately and humbly offered on the nynteen of June An. Chr. 170 y 7b "GBO. CROMERTIE." In June 1685 the Earl of Cromarty (then Viscount Tarbat) had signed, as " Clerk to His Majesty's Parliament, Council, Register and Rolls," a ratifica- tion of the privileges of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, grante theiby d r charter whicto , greathe h t seaScotlanof l d was appended on St Andrew's day, 1681. From the interesting statement of. the Earl above given, and from the manuscript r GeorgSi f so e Erskine containing several treatises relativo et the rules of the Society of Rosicrucians, it is not improbable that the Dr Politiu se missionarie abovth f o ee nameon s s dsenwa t from Germano t y propagate their tenets tha Georgand ,Sir t bee ehad activ nin e correspond- • • ence with them. The Rosicrucians followerr o , Christiaf so n Rosencreut "r zo Ros e Cross," SKETCHES OF EARLY SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS. 191

a German philosopher, who died in 1484, created about the year 1605 a great sensation in Germany. His followers believed that the philosopher's stone, like the quintessence, was not only a means of obtaining wealth but also health and happiness, and that by it mankind could acquire the most intimate e e secretknowledguniverseth th l f o al s f .o e Accordino t g Michael Mayer a ,celebrate d physiciand wasteha s fortuno hi d wh , n i e alchemical researches, their tenets were "that the meditations of their founders surpassed everything that had ever been imagined since the creatio worlde th f no , without even exceptin revelatione gth Deitye th f so ; that they were destine accomplisdto generahthe l peac regenerationeand of man before the end of the world arrived; that they possessed all wisdom and piety in a supreme degree; that they possessed all the graces of nature could ,an d distribute them amon rese gth t of mankind according to their pleasure; that they were subject to neither hunger nor thirst, nor disease nor old age, nor to any other inconvenience of nature ; that they kne inspiratioy firswe b th tt a worths glanc d wa nan o eo yt everwh e yon be admitted into their society; tha e samtth theed knowledgyha e then which they would have possessed if they had lived from the beginning of the world, and had always been acquiring it; that they had a volume in which they could read all that ever was or ever would be written in the books till the end of time; that they could force to and retain in their servic mose eth t powerful spirit demonsd san ; tha virtuy b t f theieo r songs they could attract pearl precioud san s stonesa frose e depthe mth th f o s or the bowels of the earth ; that God had covered them with a thick cloud, meany b whicf so h they could shelter themselves fro e malignitmth f o y their enemies thad an ,t they could thus render themselves invisible from all eyes; that the eight first brethren of the ' Eose Cross' had power to cure all maladies; that by means of the fraternity the triple diadem of the pope would be reduced into dust; that they only admitted two sacra- ments, wit ceremoniee hth primitive th f so e church renewe themy db ; that they recognise fourte dth h monarch e empero th Romane th d f yan o r s a s their chief and the chief of all Christians ; that they would provide him with more gold, their treasures being inexhaustible, tha kine n th Spaif go n had ever drawn fro goldee mth n region Easterf o s Westerd nan n Ind."1 These singular beliefs followerhi f o s d beesha ne rule keptth f o sy b , 1 Mackay's Popular Delusions, vol. . iii145p . . 2 19 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , APRIL 12, 1875.

the order, profoundly secret till 1604, viz., six times twenty years after the death of Eosencreutz, but after that period were promulgated for the wel- far f mankindeo . Missionaries wer Societe e th sen y b ty from Germano yt all the more important countries of Europe, where they obtained many converts ; and it has already been remarked that it is not improbable that Dr Politius was one of those who visited Scotland, for the purpose of meeting wit r GeorghSi e Erskin othed ean r believer thesn si e doctrines. Among the Erskine MSS. is the first part of a kind of Eosicrucian trea- tise, entitled "Arbatel e magice auncienth th r f o ,o k t Philosophere th s cheef studi f wisdom,o e stated an " havo dt e been written " Anno Vir- ginei partus saluberrimi 1602 Febii. xiii. G. A?" This work seems to have been projecte somewhat.extensiva n do e plan, viz. "Nynn ,i e tomes eache having seaven septean f Aphorismes,so thesf o t e "bu onl firse yth t tomr eo volum extants ei , calle "e Introductiodth institutionbooke e th th f r eno o s of magic r spirituako l knowledge, wiche conteanet generae hth l praecepts of the whole art in nyne and fourtye Aphorismes." e volumeTh s presente e Eoyath o dt l College abovs a , e stated, amply sustai reputatioe nth r GeorgSi f no e Erskin n accomplishea s a e d alche- mist. They contain fine copie thf so e treatise d poemsan s mos vogun i t e with students of the occult sciences, such as Norton's " Ordinall;" Bloom- field's " Blossoms;" " The vicar of "Walden, his hunting of the Green Lyon ;" "John Bristol Alchymis hi l e ;boo"e "kAn name Breviarie dth e of Philosophie vnletteree th e b , d Scholler, Tho. Charnock," &c.1 Ther besidee ear s various curious extract noted san s mad Siy eb r George from approved alchemical works,'such as " Out of George Eipley his wheill,'' f Eipley'o t "gatesi Ou sxi , " librx " mercuriE e od o Geo. Eiplaei," x "E arcano Herrneticas Philosophise," &c., &c. In addition, there are many directions for alchemical processes, such as " the preparation of mercury workes,e foth r " e wor" th sale b k ' armonique," wore " th f commoo k n salt," "the work of sulphur," and one "from M. If. which a Ducheman gaue to the B. of Bristow." followine Th gf thes o accoun e e on processe f o t vers si y curious shows a , - ing the singular terms under which the alchemists disguised their great secrets. After minutely describin r vessela gglazeo t t requirei po d, a d 1 Most of these will be found included in the Theatrum Chemicum, of Elias Ashmole, printe 1652n di . SKETCHE EAKLF SO Y SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS3 19 .

quantity of faeces to be put into it, after which it was directed to be sub- jectee actioth f heao dt o n t oveinn "r a . sixteifo n n weekes.s wa t I " believed that by the decomposition of this matter venomous reptiles like scorpions woul generatede db , which would leav epiercina penetratinr go g poweresiduume th n ri thid an ,s when appliebasee th ro d t metal s would purify them into gold or silver. This process, described by Sir George, apparently had been found so efficacious that although ten pounds of Mercury had been put into the fluid, it is stated " zou suld haue had it all hard and fixt, and yett the watter no thing diminished, bot 10 tymes stronger mercurthao n f n i bee d t intyha n pu o it."

" The pott must be maid of zellow close earth weill baked, a good inche thik, of potters claye weill glaseinsyde th the d n di ,an n brunt again pottera n ei s oven, anpote dth t salb than ei t fashion setabovt ou t e wit hwyda e mouth which must hav ecovea r wit hrouna wyd o niaria s d , s holea it s n eeasili fisty ema y pass throch pote th t d musitAn ; t have three strong feete greao tu , t strong eare carro st t i y by, whic vers hi y material tham hi t r wil fo lt suli l f woorki d r crafo t>re r , ko eit k in pieces, if the ayre do but strik thy face it kills presently. " Thairfoir when all the matter which must be in, is gathered togither into the gooa pot k d,ta lute maid f pottero t i wit x sh mi clay bolu d rusd f an ,iro san o t n tempered with whitts of eggs and chopt hair, and mingle and worke thame weill togither, and lute zour pott ane inche thick thairwith, and mak a stopple of pot- ters earth weil covee lth f branf o ro shup o t to t e e holclosth th en n ei i tha s i t covee potte th lut d potth e rd e,an th ver an t y close ayry togithero n ema s a o s , brek furth, and when any craks cum into it, in the drying of the lute, dawbe tham againep eu whed lute an , nth s perfectlei e sunney th dri n i e, then taka e course linen clot r canvasho d sok e whittan ,t i eweilth f eggn i o sl s inixt with iron rust, and spred this cloth round about the luting, and then wett it weill again with whitts of eggs and vpon the luting; wett it hefoir zow put on tho cloth bot stop not vp the eares of the pott with the cloth because of removing to and fro, and tak good cair and provyd that the luting crak not which the cloth will hold in, as also the prope and the cover togither, and thus zour pott is prae- pared. In the mids of May tak this pott thus praepared and shut zourself vp in zour chalmer, not coming into the ayre, till suche tyme as zou haue done the business zou propose to doe. (And thrust or wring a thik linen cloth, iii the hole in the top of the cover, so that no ayre may brek furth at any parte of the pott.) thin "I s chalme mosw zo rt remain dayesx e si foufro d r y firse o an ,mr th da t zou enter into zour chamber tile endth l , lett zour dyet e eggb t s dres n wyni t e vinager, rye or wheaten bread which zou best lyke, good store of butter, Rhenishe VOU XI. PART I. N 194: PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APRIL 12, 1875.

gettn winl sortca e al .bes u meatef eth so yo t s both rossodd tan beiffs ,a , mutton porke sucd an , h like, wite bes l th sor htal f o hearbest witd an ,h zour meat ea t good stor f spiceseo clovess ,a , ginger, mac pepperd ean , etc moie bettere th . th r . Now the first three dayes zou must (when zou keepe this dyet) emptie zour bellie pote th t n i tilwherfourte t z pleaselu e no ehth zo t k day bo ,fourt e ta y Th . hda e potcovee d unburtheline th hole th an tf th n o rei f cloto t nhou nature th n ei pott, sittin witn gca halu szou e potzo clos th s r a to ebuttokest whilsd an u , zo t doe this receave zour urine with aue urinall, and when zou ryse poure' it quicklie int pote oth t stoppin t gi spedeli e close againe wit linee th h n cloth losind an , s ga possiblyn musu litlca zo u et d yo ayreas an :s a e zonrsel t leasa f t four severall tymes, every tyme pouring zour urin stoppind e an int , oit t gagaini e closd an s spedelie, though zou keep zour chalmer a day or two longer. " Then hearthe brea th keeo t p continuallyr k u e ,pfy wher vs u zo ecausd an , e a four squarre pitt to be digd, three quarters of a zaird deep, and three quarters square bottome terracth d l abou n an al sides,d i d t ean i t an ,with plaistef o r Paris half a brik thik, in. the' same maner as we vse to do places, where we will keepe rain el weil waite al whe d s i lan terraset n i r; f o dn pa abou t inta t pu oi t coles and drie it well. Then fill the pitt with these substances, first hors dung, cow dung, quik lyme weill wrought togither with mans pisse zof i us a ,wol d dawbe with it, then put it into the pitt, and sett the foirsaid pott in the middle of it witp to ha towele anbetweiid th n dan l abouo al stoe dund t d eth i pan t gan the terrace put sand the thicknes of a hand, to the end zou hurt not zour terrace, and put sand above the thicknes of a hand and paue it vp. Then mak a gentle fyr upon it, and keep the earth alwayes wanno day and night for sixtein weekes, lase th t t weekbo musu ezo t keep nightd an gooea y .r upoda dfy t ni " Item on the side of the chimney, must be maid a baker's oven, and the mouth thairof must be so wyde that the pott may go into it and it must haue a stoppie fit for the mouth. And when the sixtein weekes are cum about, three weekes t glowini k befoima lasge y int r heaovene th trda l withinfy oth d han tal k an , dma , then break zour hearth open, and tak out the pott with all the speed you can, and thia n ko pait glovesf pu o r letd l thosal ,tan e tha neere r abouo ar tt i et i stot p tliemselfs weill, for feare of ill vapors that may breath forth, and lett two or three person vthelete d s an on t hel r ru spedeli drafy pzo e wth ee ove fortd th an nf h o do zou a\s spedelie thrust zour pott into the oven, and als quickly stop the oven and lute it very closs, so that no ayre may breath furth, and then tak old clothes and cover the oven all aboute so warine as zou can, and the pott must stand in this oven eight, .dayes. Then tak off the clothes and open the oven, and run quicklie away leas uyry an te sul t comdye e forth stod an p, zourself weill against the smoke, and also all those that ar with zou. And when the oven hath stand opeony eda n you o thet o t rzoung ovenpu rd gluff an ,.an, on sd stop zourself weill, SKETCHES OF EARLY SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS. 195

and drink befoir han ddraugha wynf o t e vinagre, an t whitdea e zedoari and hold zoun i sum t i r f moutheo stod ,an p your nose with bombast moystan vinaigern di . Then tak the pott out of the oven and carie cleirly behind into a garden, where no body cumes neare befoi nixe th r t day e experienceb wil.u e Bosi zo l f i t , what the ayre of it can do, put zour pot under a grein trie that is weill stored with trie th e nix leavese wilby t werth i da t d s ea e an , brent wild ,an l never grow againe deads i fot i r . Thairfoi I rchargkee o t stod u pan p ezo zour selff safe, froe mth cruell and violent ayre that first shutts out of the pott, for in it is_the greatest venome in the world, and'tKree of .the most dangerous creatures that may be foun withiy dl n this pott which wil l threlal e shutt forth thair venom soons al e e as the pott is opned, thairfoir loosen it spedelie with a sharp knyf, and bind a long cord about the cover of the pott, and set it vp to the middle in the earth, stan y goo a froy e potthama o mdth d wa g t t i tfast d wit e coran , hth n zoui d r hand plucd lidan e , kth d goneafe fletpotd th e quicklyt th tan , t ge stan d 4 an ,d2 houres. The pote frielio ng th t o without e t feare thesr fo , e three venemous crea- tures have shot forth thair poyson t thaibo , r powe verted ran w they have keey pb thame which lyes secretly covere dmattee witth n h i r e pott iefterwarnd th an , d when they cum to be mixed with the metals, they will shaw forth and discover thair forces, and do wounders in metalls as zou zourself sail sie and vit- ness. " Now I will tell zou what these three creatures ar that lye in the pott, first they calScorpiona t li t pearceati r ,fo penetratetd han bodeil hal metalsf so , thair- foir call they it be the name of Scorpion which no man understandes bot the philo- sophers thosr o , whoo et m they pleas o revealt e . it eThi s wattee th rt i he n si powe verted e Scorpioan th r f wo pearcinn i n penetratind gan s afoirsaidi s ga . Secondlie they gav name edragoa th f eo n devourin awes ghi n taile thir fo ,s watter hath powe verted ran wo devouret , consumbitd e blaknean eth l f metalal eo s l without purging thame befoirhand. Thridlie they giv e nama Basiliskth e f o e , becau thas sa t creature hath powe kil o l t thingr al l s that hath receaved lyff only wit syts h hi lykwaye o s , s hath this watter powe blake awa forco th d d l -ran o y al et earte filtneth d f hsan ho which metals have receaved fro earte mth h withouy an t forgoing purging or clensing of thame; some philosophers call this watter the blak lyoe lyonth ne gree s lyond a th ,hat r re e hoan fo e h,an lyon th t stomor o , k consumed an e swalloweh l sal s doun edoto ints , hoit this watter consumd an e digest all the hardness of metals and all the imperfectiones which the have con- tracted withi e earthnth , making thame fusibled sofan tthai d an e vther;b r s tha stoner t ou cal t ,i l because they will hid t froei m mens understandingt bo , aneugh of this. eart e caryd th hf an t secreatli o ei pote t th ou t k "ta Itee w intmno o zour chal. mer, wher meanu ezo workeo et lood y an ,k ma merel u zo t yi int n potte i r oth fo , 196 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APEIL 12, 1875.

behold the substance of Kebis '• converted into watter: this is that Eebis so muche talked off, this is blaker than blak, this is our stone, the stone that is not named in any booke, bot one freind reveales it to ane vther, and so they keep it by tradi- tion closs amongst thame selffs only ; in treuth this is that great stone of which all the great doctors and philosophers speik so obscurely, thairfoir look cheerfully into the pott and be merry now, for zou sail have greater cause of joy heerefter. " Ite musu mzo t hau elona g pott bake f eartdo p h to ver e yth strongn i d an , t musi a whit t t havepu roune t feli an e tdn i hathole d t an , sowe hoopa o t d e pote th t f wito tha hoop, e p it htth to fitt n holee i e han d sth th fele ,an n gth i t and fill the felt full of gross sheepes woll, and poure the watter throch the felt int lone oth g pott. Ite distillew m no whe s i d t ni throc fele hth t mustheu zo nt distil t fyvi l e tyme r alembicupe s siftemn i d ashes, giu t firsei smala t l fyre till the glass growes warme, and then make a strong fire and lute the glass very closs with lutum sapientia e: whe distilu zo nt fyv i l e tyme fecee s th ove s k everta r y tyrne and keep thame, for out of thame zou sail distill ane oyle, as I will teache zou heirefter. " Heerefte saiu lzo rcaus rouna etu d earthen bodie brene b o st t which sail shut one into ane vther so as the nek of the one may go into the nek of the vther, and these bodies mus vere b t y weil e vndermosl th musglassed u t n i zo pu td k an ,ne t a litle pan full of small holes and upon it must the vther nek stand so as the oyle may pass throch the holes into the vnderrnoist bodye ; the vppermost pott must be lute ince dan h thik burid vndermose ,an eth t pott neke withith .earte o t n th p hv In the vppermost vessell put all the feces and close the one vessell in the other with lute, suffering it to drie, and mending the craks if any come, with fresh vapouo n breaty s lutea rma o s ,h forth. Then buil dwala l round abou pote th t t a foot highe letd ovee r toppee flamme th an opethae tn th th b , t r nit a o ,fo t e goe out of and leave ane hoale on the side to put in zour fyre at. At first for giv y gentla hal t da ei a f e fyre, then increas hourespace 4 2 th f t eei o s moir, then lett the fyre go out and the vessells coole as they stand. Tak the vppermost saiu lzo fint i dn i zou d r an earth calcined very white: kee . pit The n breae kth earth open, tak out the vndermost pott, and thairiu zou sail find ane oyle shyning lyk gold. Poure pot e thith tf s o intoylcleen e t oan eou e Venise glas keepd san e t cairfullyi , til I lteach wito whau d ehzo o t witr tit ,fo h this oylsaiu elzo effect wonders powee th ,verted t abl wretinan ry no ewhic b f w o m a expresse o ght I . " Item tak the pott zou first placed vnder the hearth, and put the calcined white earth, and the watter zou distilled into it, and if zou be desirous to sie what it can do, put tuo or 3 lib of $2 into the pott and stop it closs as bet'uir that no ayre may get foorth of it, and place it in the same pitt vnder the 1 Excrementum alvi. (Rulaudus Lexicon Alchem.) 2 Mercury. SKETCHES OF EARLY SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS. 197 harth, againep pauu d keet ei an , pa goo d fire vpo e heartdaye6 1 th n r s; hfo and unless zou will, zou need not put any g into it, bot it doth not hurt, for the watter wilbe much better, and moir powerful! thairby ; and when the 16 daye paste sb , mak greae eth t oven hoat tbefoi y againeda e r glowinon , g hoate which wilbe aneugh. Tak the pott spedielie out of the hearth, and put it in the oven, and stop the oven presentlie, and lett it stand thairin 24 houres. Then throchlie b tilt heek opet u li ta no t out i dzo t t ni ek ,bo ta cold . The saiu nlzo lett the watter sooke throch a felt with wool againe, as befoir, into the long pott and in the bottom zou sail find zour $ hard and fixt: And though zou had put 10 lib of g (mercury) in, zou suld have had it all hard and fixt and yetwattethe t thinno r g diminished tyme10 s bot , stronger §, no the if n demansony y m ma e w d beed No whithet intha . npu ot it wattee no th r e b r growen black, out of order and worse because of so much (J purified in it. No, I assure zou, it wilbe neither blacker nor worser bot as I sayd befoir, moir powerfull and better by much then it was befoir." Such was the singular form which scientific knowledge could assume in the early part of the reign of James VI. !

Fro mdrawina r MSSGeorge Si th f n go i . e Erskine.