Sketches of Later Scottish Alchemists:—John Napier of Merchiston—Robert Napier—Sir David Lindsay, First Earl F Balcarres—Patricko

0 41 PROCEEDIKG SSOCIETYE OFTH , FKBEUABY 14, 1876.

I. SKETCHES OF LATER SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS:—JOHN NAPIER OF MERCHISTON—ROBERT NAPIER—SIR DAVID LINDSAY, FIRST EARL F BALCARRES—PATRICKO . RUTHVEN— ALEXANDER SETON—AND PATRICK SCOT JOHy B . N SMALL, M.A., F.S.A. SCOT. JOHN NAPIE MERCHISTONF RO . Amon cultivatore gth hermetie th Scotlanincludef n e i o s h t o car t s di d no less a person than the celehrated John Napier, the inventor of logarithms s bor t wa Merchistona n o wh , , near Edinburgh e yeath rn i , 1550. It ia at first a little surprising that a man so distinguished in the exact sciences should have given himsel o suct f a e hpursuit th t hu , attractions whic n arha t like alchemy woul dn activ a havd r an efo e excursive mind like his must be kept in view. It is also now admitted that the great Sir Isaac Newton was a believer in alchemy, and devoted muc hstud practicthe tim processesand yto its e of e . Napier hadin , addition, what migh e calleb t hereditara d y predispositio suco nt a h studybelongee h s a famil,a o dt y whic lond ha hg been famou r theifo s r connection wit e golth hd mine f Scotlando d becoms ha d ean , imbued e enthusiastith wit l hal c fancies then current upo e subjecth n f diso t - covering the occult relations and properties of the precious metals. The father of John Napier was Sir Archibald Napier of Edinbellie, whs mastee min th owa o Kin t f t o r g Jame e Sixthth s . "Wha vers i t y remarkable in their history is that both father and son were so nearly of an age that the difference could scarcely represent a generation. Sir Archibald was only about 16 when he was married, and he and his son, bor 1550n ni , dwel studied an t d together like brothers through lifed an , all their practical researches were in common. r ArchibalSi n 156i s 2 dwa appointe e offic th f Justic o eo dt e Deputf eo s madScotland wa a knighe d s mad an n 1565,i wa tn e158I e .h 2 " Genera Majesty's hi f lo s Cunzie House, mister mint e "o thin I th f s. ro office, which he enjoyed for the rest of his life, he had the control of all the mines for the precious metals in Scotland, some of which were on his own estates. " He was practically versed in the craft of metals, could work with his own hands, and became the most expert man in Scotland at SKETCHES OF LATER SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS. 411

detecting gold amid the grosser elements of creation—refining it for human purposes, besides regulating as a statesman the whole preparations and condition legas it f slo circulation realme inyounges th Hi . r son, Francis, was assay master under him."1 While mastee mint th r Archibalf o Si r, s violentldwa y assailes hi n di administratio s offichi f eno hy John Lindsay, Parso f Menmuirno , father of the first Earl of Balcarres, of whom a short sketch is subsequently given. In 1592 an Act of Parliament was passed, creating a new and superfluou departmense officth n mint,i e e th "e favoun f i Paro th t f -o r son," who was to be styled " Master of the metals." The same act also bears that " forsameikl Thomas ea s Foullis, goldsmithe founs th t ha , dou ingyn d moyenan e o mel d t efyne orean th tf e metalso s within this country, and has brought in strangers," etc., therefore ratifies to him the gif e f sai"o tth d melting an d whatsomeved an refinin l al f go r oref o s metals are won and wrought within this country." This step was strongly opposed by Sir Archibald, who drew up a formal protest against it in his own name and that of his younger son Francis, which he laid before the Lords of Council. In this document, which is preserved in the Advocates' Library doee flinc,t h sno h from affirming that Lindsay's appointmen simpls wa t y "ane substantius groun mao dt k himsel hauie fan e purse." alse H o impugn "e effyninsth g " qualification stafs f f Foulihi o o fs d san strangers, who regarde mh charlatans,s sa urged an s tha tsai e "th d effyning ough made b o presencn t ei wardene th f eo essaye d cunzie san th f ro e house only ; for if some controlement thereof be not used by the most expert of the cunzie house the said effyners may make more than £40,000 of profit to themselves, and never kennel ane fyre for effyning thereof." Sir Archibald retained his office for many years after his opponent, the Parso Menmuirf no grean i s t wa reputmanagemens e ,hi h died n d ei an , t importans ohi f successfuo s instance t s dutieson wa n e I conductn ei h l . - witg in h skil a lcas e relativ Scottise th o et h coinage befor e Englisth e h commissioners, that it is recorded by Birrell in his diary : "The 10th of September 1604 e Generalth , l maiste e Cunzith f o r e House tuik shipping knowledgd an t Generae wi th Lundoneo t wunderie f s eo th we l d t an ,a t by the Englischmen." Sir Archibald died shortly after this in J 608. John Napier, thus early brought into contact with matters pertaining 1 Lectures on Logarithms, W.Mark Napier, ii. p. 31. 412 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 14, 1876.

to the mysteries of gold mining, was a believer in the power of discovering hidden treasur y divinatiob e e exercisth r o nf magic o e n I . 159 famoue 4th s contrac enteres wa t d into between Eohert Loga Eesf no - talrig Napierd an , , discovere foth r burief yo d treasur Logan'n ei s fortress of Fastcastle e mosth . f t o Thisimpregnabl e on , e kinge placeth -n i s dom, was situated on a cliff overhanging the German ocean, - connected wit verlana e hy th dyb narro supposes wwa t pathi containo d t an ; , many valuables which, from tjie lawless and unsettled state of the country, had been secreted by those who never returned to recover them. The con- tract was to-the effect that " as ther is dywerss aid reportis, motyffis, and appirancis that thair suld be within the said Bobertis dwellinge place of Fastcastel souma l f monio e d poissan e , heihurdid an d p secritlieu t , quilk as yit is onfund be ony man. The said Jhone sail do his utter and exact diligens to serch and sik out, and be al craft and ingyn that he dow athed toe grac Go th temptr f saie eo b same l,d th trye an fin,t d an ou d, find the sam, or than mak it suir that na sik thing lies hein thair, sa uttes hi fars a r trawel, diligens d ingyn reach.an y ,a recom s ma eA "- pense, Napier was to have the third part of the discovered treasure as his sharesafa d e conduc,an Edinburgo t h les shoule h t "e d b spulzei s hi f o t said third pairt utherwayor , s hairmi bod his geir." yor in t 1 With the subject of alchemy Napier was equally conversant, and the following account of his conferences with a German adept, Daniel Miiller, f Medicineo r D , still exists amon s MSS hi gcopA e b .s als i yo t o found in the MS. common-place book of Patrick Kuthven, brother of e firsth t Ear f Gowrieo l preservew e no Librar, th e Univer th n i df yo - sity of Edinburgh. The meetings seem to have been held in the sick chamber of this German savant, who was the more communicative upon these occasions, as he thought himself at the point of death while suifering fro attacn ma goutf ko .

"Heer folowetha diseours that passed betwix . MulletP r andMarkestone, when the sayde Doctor was lyen sicke of the goute in Edinbroughe and thought to have died, as the same was set downe by the sayd Markestone, and founde after his death amongst his papers. " Vpon NouembeSaterdaf o 7 e yth r 1607 years I ,Jho n Napeir, fief o r 1 Lif Napierf eo My b ,. Napier . 221p , .

, SKETCHES OF LATER SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS. 413

Markeston cam confeo et r wit r DanieM h l Muller, Docto f Medicineo r , and studen Alchymin i t e anen phylosophicalr ou t l matters t knowingno , e s sicke d findingwa tha an ,e h t s disease ee gout wa thath s e f eh hi to d ordinarie diseas I though, hauo t t e no ttrouble witm dhi h much conference, and meaned to haue left him for that tyme, but he crauirige conference of accidenf o t no d t comeha I haum o f t ,i e s e eshe m thasenwa e r we m h tfo and that he had a matter to communicat with me if I mighte then remaine or shortly returne. So I remoued my compagnie, and sate done befor his beddside. Then he burst foorth in thire wordes : S1, you ar occupied in alchymie ,I hau e been thir manie year verie an se earnest student therinto, and haue attained to the knawledge therof. I haue pressed to haue diuerted you from your wronge opinione, so farr as I durst be plaine, but now, Sir I wil, plainee b l , fearknowingd o Go swh n r aema a thau yo t and will be secret, and that you will be good to my wyfe and bearins in case thir diseases shall tak awayee em . S1 'I ,sen credible tan e freindo et Histri bringo t a hithee em crudf ro e Mercuri f theo t s eou mine longa s e tyni eyeas sincea I d haut an , e hard wordo en e from him I thinks .i e eh dead. I once receiued a letle peece of the earth of thes mines aboute the quantitie of ane hazell nute, which as I brake ther appeared scales of quicksiluer within the same, and the crude Mercurie flowed foorth without fyre; with thi sI perfite phylosophicale th d wite do h y ma l u workyo s ea lykee thir th fo ,s mercury beinge taken with fine siluer which neued di r finde fyrenclosed matrie ean an n dxi will become blacke withi space nth e dayes0 o4 theraftefd an , r will become white pointe thed th d an ,s n i ean terme to loose it, or then you must ioyne it with his ferment, to wite with fyne gould that neuer did finde the fyre, fynlie Jtmelled in limell, and instantly that whit stoofe of mercury and luna will deuore vp the gould; and at this coniunctione or fermentatione endeth the first worke called opus Lunae, and beginneth immediately the second called opus Solis. In this opere soils your worke becomes blacker then in opere Lunae, and then t whitelasa td reedean , . Both thir worke r performesa yeare an ,n di wito t e twoo monthee half an n operei ed an s Lunae, d nynan e months halfane dan operen ei Solis, fod r an pondera, I tak e nyn cruf eo d mercury cruf o e d silueon o t primon i r opere, thid an sI conioyn l so f e o wite hon secundon i s mediumLuno hi s opere, s i d a an coniungendi betwixt crud mercur d Sold heeroan yan , f cometh three Mercuries witeo t , firse th , t •414 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1876Y14 .

whic Mercuriuss hi crudus, calles i d dan Mercurius frigidus, acetum, Mer- curius Mineralis, seconde th e which s Lunai , dissolve n crui d d mercury ad albedinem, d thi s an callei s d Mercurius tepidus, acetum acerrimum, Mercurius vegetables, quia Luna t planta. es e third Th , whics i h l dissolue So e secondeth n i d s callei , d Mercurius calidus, Mercurius animalis. Farder, sayed he, the letle sipher tahle intituled ' Medulla philosophiae Hermeticae,' it is myne, for I made it. Also, he added manie discourses, citing ' Clango ef o text t rou s Buccinae,' Marsilius Ficinus, Riplie Arnoldd an , prouo t , e premisesth e d especiallan , y de terra nigrd oculosd, terra Hispanica; n Comei d an s Treuirensis, nostrum x opue t sfi vna radice (scilicet mercurio crudo) et duahus substantiis Mercurialihus crudis, e minera sumptis (Luna et Sole). Farder, he sayed, that the variant intimad ea heweo s s litted wa glase d se wit s d stuffe thahdi th I te whic e madh n thai e t same glass. Farder e spakh , e triplicid e vsu lapidis after Paracelsus: first, in transmutations of metals; secondly, in curinge diseases; thirdly, it is Lapis Divinus for magicall vses. Now whe nI har d thir saye d thingeha dd vntsan o him Lordy M , , that matter s e marvailousi treuth e surth h f eu o eyo therof i , - practicey b fan e H . swered with earnestness, in treuthe I have practised it to the ende and made proiectione, and found it true. Againe when I demanded him how t fortunei t multiplino dd thadi s stuff e hi h t e and keepe samee dth e h ; answeared I laike, d crud mercury withou multipliee b t no t whicn dca t hi againe. Vpon the 9 of Nouember I conferred with him againe, anainte some doubtes, quod fans trahit Regem t none Hex doetfontem,o s d h an aqua Eegis t vulga,bu r Mercurie contrarily traliitn no , l Soletn,eum.So d se He answeared that wffitsoeuer vulgar mercury or crud mercury doe, yeat this mercury philosophical! of crud mercury and silver will instantly drink vp gould, and drawe it in, initio secundi opens. Then I demanded, when should the second worke begine, and what was the signe befor punctus perioulosus, answearee h d that after perfite whitne n operei s primo, ther walde instan e appeaan n i tr parvus circulus capillaris circa materiamd a latera vasis subcitrinus, then instantly ferment with limel gouldef o l d an , it will presently eate vp all the gould, and that circle will evanishe, but stayu iyo fe longe fermentingen ri worke th , e will becom l citrineeal d an , mor drye then that it can dissolue the goulde, for the gould must be sowen in terrain albam foliatum. Then I demanded what terra alba foliaia SKETCHE LATEF SO R SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS5 41 .

was, he answeared that in prima albedine, the matter of mercurie and luna became lyke the snial skales of ane fishe; when I remembered that my father shew me that he made ane worke which became terra alha foliata, most lyke the leaves of ane booke set on edge, of Sol, Luna, aqua regis and aqua fortis. Vpon the 13 daye of Nouember, he being convalesced d feare shee ha h tha,e we dm h t himself vpod an , n affection reuealed thir thinge , whicme ho st vpo s saluationhi n affirmee eh e b o t d true, and desired me to confer the sentences of the philosophers togither, and I should finde them all agree with, thir premisses, which I finde appearantly verie true in ther theoricall sentences, but contrarie in ther practicall precepts. They induce many thinges repugnan themselfeo t t s illudo t vulgae eth prophand an r e people diuerto t , e them fro treuthe mth e of ther former sentences vnworthis a , e therof. Heerafter, 5 1 abou e th t day f Marcheo e 1608 e Doctoth , r d receiueshe ha e tha we m h td glade tydinge safe th ef returnso Lionef eo l Struther s sayshi d freind from Histria to England, and shew me ane certaine anticke figure with certaine verses of congratulatione s whic ioyn sendings hi i f ewa mado e m h h hi d eo an et safe returne withio S . daye0 n1 came sh Edinbrougho et Doctore th o et , broughd an t witgream hhi t stor f mineraleo l inercurie which neued rba fealte fyred soman , e vnfyned e wrungeasib o t t efros owreou ehi m . Doctoe Th r gau secretle em e smayan f o l d portionan e on e e bothth f eo the other, as also ane verie smal parte of Luna minerall vnfyned, but I purchased mor both f Scoteeo Germand san l minerallSo er Lunafo s , A . wee haue enoughe in Scotland. Bests tyme and opportunitie to enterpris worke th e performo wit t blissinge d th h samee s gloriGo eth hi f eo o et n and comforte of his servants, which the Almightie grante to ws whos holy nam praysee eb magnified dan d for ever and ever. Amen r StrutherM . s sayes tha Spainarde th t ssayde taketh l e sal crud e mercurie t gatheri r fo , s most of mine gould." "This graphic glimpse," says Napier's accomplished biographerr M , Mark Napier e inventoth , "f o f logarithmso r walks hi n si , about Edin- burgh, at the commencement of the 17th century, is as vivid as a photograph. His ' dismissing his company,' in order to take his place at that private seance at the bedside of his sick friend, affords a trait of individuality suggesting an idea of the sages of Greece and Borne, attended by their clients or scholars as they moved about. It 416 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 14, 1876.

would seem, at least, that the sage of Merchiston was not without a " company," whom he dismissed at will, in his progress about the metropolis."l words w n episoda fe Such s a i , thn i n ei e, liff Joho e n Napierd an ; we are constrained to believe that the desire to discover a short and certain road to vast wealth by a secret mode of transmuting baser metals into pur t beeeno ngold withou dha greatese th f influences o it te t on n o mathematicians Scotland ever produced. :

EOBEET NAPIER. The seconJohf o n nd so Napie f Merchistono r s seconhi y b d, marriage, was Eobert Fapier of Culcroich, Drumquhannie, and Bowhopple, who was born thaaboum s distinguishe e hi hi yeat th to t r s 1590wa t dI . fathe rs younge e lefhi car th f te o r children e editoriath d an , l chargf eo s unpublishehi d works e accordinglyH . n conjunctioi , n with Oxford's greatest mathematician, Henry Briggs, published his father's " Logarith- morum. Canonis Constructio, wrotd "an preface eth n Latini e languaga , e of which he was thoroughly master. He also wrote a treatise on Alchemy, which is still preserved in manuscript in the charter-chest of the present •Lord Napier, and which has been fully described by Mr Mark Napier in s excellenhi greas t hi lif f teo ancestor. 1 Lecture Logarithmsn so . 29 . p . ii , SKETCHE LATEF SO R SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS.

The title of this singular work is " The Revelation of the Mystery of the Golden Fleece, or Philosophical Analysis whereby the marrow of the true Hermetic Intention is made manifest to such of my posterity as fear God.—EOBEET NAPIER, Author." Its motto is— " Orbis quicquid opum vel liaTjet medicina salutis, Omne Leo Geminis suppeditare potest."

The Golden Fleece was a favourite title with the alchemists, and was give severao nt theif o l r treatises thes A y. were always read attributo yt e some secret meaning to the names they employed, they conceived that the Golden Fleece e objec Argonaute th , th f Jasos whic o t d wa nan t hi o t s cari witf yof h Medea from Colchis treatisa s wa gold-making,n eo , written on hides. Tha wora t k containing secret highlo s s y prizeauthos it y db r was never printe explaines di followine th y db g solemn instruction given by Napier to his son:—" This booke to remain in my charter-chist, and not to be made known to any, except to some neir friend, being a scholler, studiou thif so s science feareo wh , sendewes i God d an , d with great secrecie not to reveal and mak commone such misteries as God has apointed to keipie b t secri l ageal tsn i amon whoew fe gsa hart uprighe ar s t towards God, and not given to worldly ambitione or covetousness, but secretly to held pooe indigend an p th d an rd ogu thin i t s world thes a , y wold eschew the curse of God if they do otherways." After this peremptory injunction there follows a solemn caveat in Latin, to this effect:—" Beware that you do not disclose this little book to the impious imprudente th , garrulous—Beware th r o , e !" In the preface the author states that he had collected all that was scat- tered throug e e Hermetiworkhth th f o s c writers bearint g ar upo e th n of alchemy, which he considered a great gift of God. He also states that his object in writing it was for the sake of the good men who worship God with sincer purd ean e hearts. Tha e autho th tconvince s wa re difficultieth f do s which might follow greao to fro te msuccesth alchemisticae th f so l e processesnecesth f o - d an , sity for their being kept profoundly secret s evideni , t froe followinmth g passage in the preface :— " Whoever divulges these sacred mysteries shal e helb l d guiltf o y YOL. XI, PAET II. 2 D 8 41 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUARY 14, 1876.

betraying this secret d responsible illth an s, emanat y l thaal ma tr fo ee therefrom madmaA . narmee musb t dtno wit hsworda . Divulge this e hinsecretth dd woulan , d becom destructionen greedow s f golhi yo o dt . The earth woul delugee db d with iniquities. Agricultur e otheth d r ean arts of civilization would no longer exist. Mighty in their gold, nations would rush to causeless war. The vrorthless would wax proud, and scorn their rulers reine f civiTh o s. l powe d legitimatan r e government thus relaxed fearfua , l convulsion would follow. Oh I say! , reveal this secret to the vulgar, and the darkness of chaos must again brood on the face of the waters." J This singular manuscript contains many extracts from the cabalistic e mosworkth f t o snote d adepts, with annotation e compilerth y b s , " whereby, e titlth e s intimates,a " e marroe tru"th th e f whermetio c intention is made manifest to such of my posterity as fear God." Among the philosophers quote e "Flamellar d i Hieroglyphica, r "o " Flamel' s Explicatio f Hieroglyphino c Figures;" Nortonus Anglicus, authoe th f o r " Ordina Alchemy;f lo Basiliud "an s Valentinus, autho"e Mysterth f o r y of the Mycrocosrn." There is, however, in it no reference to the illustrious father of its author, who does not seem to have bequeathed the grand secret now communicated under such fearful restrictions. It contains a quotation Doctoe th e . b rMollierus froD y Danie . mma D o l Miillewh , r whose intimacy with John Napie alreads rha y bee nfollowine referreTh y . dto gma be taken as a specimen of the enigmatical poetry so much in favour with the alchemist periods e translatioit th d f so Napiean y , b s ni r himself:—

D. D. MOLLIERUS. Clavicula triplioi propri stemmate od e facta Ingenue reseror; quarum jacet una, sepulta Monte sub Istriaco; Mariano monte, secunda; Tertia soliferis Scotias reperitur in undis: His tribus unitis—cedo non viribus ullis— Longsevus, sanus, locuples, reserator abibis.

" A threefold key soon opens me, made-of my proper kind; The first lies still in Istria hill, there buried in that mine;

''J Lect. on Log.'by Mark Napier, ii. p. 50. SKETCHE LATEF SO R SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS9 41 .

The next is wont in Marian Mount to lie among the mould ; The third founs i Scottisn di h ground watern ,i s yielding gold: Thir units three does open me—I fear non other force— Depart with wealth, long lifehealthd an , , thou openecorse.y m f o r"

An interesting volume, published in London in 1623, has the following title:—"A Eevelation of the Secret Spirit, declaring the most concealed secrets of Alchemie, written first in Latin by an unknown Author, but explaine n Italiai d Johy nb n Baptista Lambye, Venetian. Lately trans- lated into English by E. 1ST. E., Gentleman." As the translator was, fro e dedicationmth , evidentl ynativa f Scotlando e n whici , e stateh s that the work was published specially for the whole Scottish nation's sake initiale th , . N"sE . E.r LainD , g thinks, with much probability, might stand for Robert Napier, Esquire, or of Edinburgh.

DAVIB SI D LINDSAY, EIRST EAR BALCARKESF LO . Among the Scottish nobility, the art of alchemy has a representative in Sir David Lindsay, afterward created Earl of Balcarres. Sir David wa seconJohe f o sth n n dso Lindsay , better s knowjudiciahi y nb l title of Lord r MenmuirDaviSi e seconf o th dagaio s n Lindsawh ,dso n wa y of Edzel Gleneskd an l , ninth Ear Crawf o l f ord. Lord Menmui bors rwa n in 1552, and in his early life was provided for by being appointed to the Eectorie Menmuirf so , Lethnot, and Lochle Angusn ei , which e werth n ei Edzele th gif f o tl family frod s welfirse an mf thes,th wa o tl e knoweh n by the title of Parson of Menmuir. The law, however, was his pursuit, whico t appliee hh d himself with such success tha s tthirt beforwa ye h e e Lords appointeth s f f wa Sessiono so wa e e h e e on H dyear .ag f so afterwards created Lord Privy Seale , th Secretar f o e on f Stateyo d an , Oetavians r eigho , t Commissioner f Exchequerso a tim r efo ruleo wh ,d Scotland dischargee H . e importandth t duties confide s carhi o s e o t d well that scarcely any commission connected with the Government—the improvemen e financesth f o te regulatioth , e taxationth f o n , &c.—was considered complete without his name being included in it. The atten- tio f Lorno d Menmui earls wa ry directe subjece th o d t miningf to , witha view to the improvement of the public revenue, and he entered eagerly into the project of working the lead mines and other minerals on his 420 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 14, 1876.

brother's estates. Workmen, says Lord Lindsay, were procured from Germany, smelting furnaces built largd an , e sums expende e leadth -n o d mines in Glenesk, which were supposed to be of great value. In 1592 Lord Menmuir was created by the king " Master of the metals and minerals within the kingdom "—" knowing the qualification," says His Majesty weils hi , "lf o belove d councillor travels hi d san , in seeking out and discovering divers metals of great valour within this realm and in sending to England, Germany, and Denmark to get the perfit assay and knowledge thereof"—an appointment supported by extensive powers, and the object of which was the increase of revenue to the Crown by the exploration of the mineral wealth of Scotland, more especially the gold mines of Crawford Muir, on the lands granted by the Lindsays above 0 year35 s e monkbeforth f o Ifewbattlet o es t thiBu s. resourcs wa e found unproductive, or at least the necessary preliminary outlay was too expensive. The jealousy of Sir Archibald Napier, " General of the Cunzie House," t thia s appointmen bees ha t n before referre . to Whild r ArchibalSi e d wat slo sno wcal o t qualificationsn l attentioow s animadvero hi t o nd t an , t upon the " Parson's " mining schemes, the latter attacked Sir Archibald's qualification thesn si e bitte rbettee words—b y r ma verse e •"H bellicen di s and fornaces nor I, and to have more knowledge; but virtue is in action contemplationn i ant dno Id believan ; e tha I shalt l shew better effects of my office in ane year nor he has done in nine." Several Memorials addresse e Scottisth o t d h Privy Counci e stilar ll extant relativ thio et s dispute. Lord Menmuir died in 1598, and was succeeded by his youthful son John Lindsay, who only survived till 1601. His second son, David, succeeded his brother at the age of 14. His estates of Balcarres, Balneill, Pitcorthy, &c., were united into the free barony of Balcarres in 1603. When King Charle . visitesI d Scotland r DaviSi , d Lindsa advances ywa d peerage ttitloe th Lorf th e o y eb d Lindsa f Balcarresyo patens hi s d wa t an , dated at Holyrood House in 1633, " in regard of the good services done to His Majesty and his late Eoyal Father, of blessed memory, by him and his predecessors." He married a daughter of the first Earl of Dumferm- line, Lord High Chancellor of Scotland. Shortly after he attained his majority, he travelled on the Continent, SKETCHE LATEF SO R SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS1 42 .

ampld wherha e eeh opportunitie returs hi n studyr Scotlano no t s fo d an , d devotee h d himsel pursuite th o t ff scienceo s e addes father'H hi . o dt s librar t y witbes e tiln me Scotlandth i t hbecam i ltf e o b the e o t neon , " He thought a day misspent," says his daughter-in-law, " on which he knew not a new thing. Natural philosophy, particularly chemistry, thee th nd fashionablan e e elixirquesth f e philosopher'o t th vitce, d an s stone, occupied much of his attention; but it was the spirit of science and philanthropy, not of lucre, that animated his researches. .... Ten volume transcriptf so translationd san s fro worke Bosicrueiane mth th f so s and others, models of correct calligraphy, " which I remember seeing, says one of his descendants," in our library, covered over with the vener- able dust (not gold dust) of antiquity, survived their author, but have now dwindle fouro dt , which still hold thei re librars placth hi n f i eo y representative along with his father's well-read Plato—the favourite author, I have little doubt, of the son likewise." This love for mysticism and occult science may probably have been imbibed during his early travels on the Continent. " It is not impossible indeed that he may have become," says Lord Lindsay, " a brother of the ' Rosy Cross,' if indeed that celebrated society ever existed—its labours having been professedly gooe devote th Gode glorf mankind."e do d th th f yan ,o do t 1 This amiable nobleman die 1641n di .

PATRICK BUTHVEN. anciene Th t famil f Buthvenyo welo s , l know Scottisn ni h historys wa , of Saxo perhapr no s Danish origins saii havo t d an ,e been settlen di Scotland before the middle of the twelfth century. Sir William de Buthven was created a baron by James III. in 1488. His grandson William embraceo firs e secone th wh th t , f o Befor e de d th baron on s - wa , mation. Patrick, the third Lord Buthven, who, as heir of his mother had been also created Lord Dirleton e chieth s fassassinatioe actowa th , n i r n of David Bizzio in 1566. The first Earl of Gowrie was William, the son of Patrick Lord Buthven s weli d l knowan , n fro e enterprismth e called "the Baid of Buthven," in which he carried off James the Sixth, and detained him in his castle for ten months. For this treason against the king he was executed at Edinburgh in 1584. The first earl left a family 1 Lord Lindsay's Lives of the Lindsays, vol. ii. p. 4. 2 42 PKOCBEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1876Y14 .

of thirteen children, fiv f whoo e m were boys:—1. James, e seconth d earl, who died in 1588; 2. John, the third earl, horn about 1578; 3. Alexander, bor Januarn ni y 1580-81 (these latte brothero r tw wer e esth who were kille e occasiot Pertda th e Gowri th n ho f o n e conspiracn i y 1600) . William4 ; ; and executioe . e Patricktimth 5 , th f o et f A no . earle th , William and Patrick wer f vero e y tender age formee ,th r being probably about three years old lattee th , r abou mans a t y weeks. s ai - t remarkablI e circumstance thae memberth t f thio s s familyo s , much mixed up with the turbulent and violent proceedings of the period when they flourished, were at the same time distinguished for their great mental attainments and for the study of the natural sciences. " Patrick, the third Lord Euthven," say r CraiksD s commonli o , "wh y thougho t t have been little better than a barbarian, received a learned education at the University of St Andrews, and was an expert clerk and man of literary taste d accomplishmentsan s s reada , y when occasion demanded with his pen as he was with his dagger." He wrote an account e deatoth ff e relateEizzioo h i t d ni anecdotn a an s, e which implies not only that he had the reputation of dealing in the supernatural, but that he would himself upon occasion encourage and take advantage of the belief s forbiddeinhi . n knowledge d onceha t i seems,e H . , presented Mary Stuart with a diamond ring, which he told her had the virtue of preserving her from poison; and the Earl of Murray, either feeling or affecting a horror of such a recognition of the powers of darkness and employment of their services, would have had Her Majesty bring him into question on that account. His son, the first Earl of Gowrie, inherited the same was,e tastesh d accordinan , Spottiswoodeo gt wisen t , ma ",bu a said to have been too curious, and to have consulted with wizards touch- ing the state of things in future times." The third earl and his brother Alexander Euthven, the chief acbors in the Gowrie conspiracy, were two earliese oth f t graduate e Universitth f so f Edinburgh,—thyo e earl having takin degres ghi M.Af eo 159n .i Alexanded 3an same rth e degre 1598'n ei . ' eare Th l seems to' have retaine s fondneshi d r scientificsfo , e studth o yt last; and it was stated that when his pockets were searched after he was e occasio.kille e th conspiracy . th don f o n , ther s foun wa en the i d m "a little close parchment bag, full of magical characters and words of en- chantment, wherein it seemed that he had put his confidence, thinking SKETCHES OF LATER SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS. 423

himself never safe without them, and therefore ever carried them about wit interestinghs i him. t I " showins a , populae gth r feelinperioe th f go d in Scotland with regard to scientific research, that the mysterious hiero- glyphic whicn si eare hth l indulged wer cause eth f greaeo t uneasineso st tutors hi , William Ehynd. tutoe "Th r would sometimee holt th f sge d o

( uHovv &(i

paper," says Dr Craik, " and anxiousl e earwhar th fo l k t ypurposas e eh 1 e b kept i t t aboui t le t t no him u onle yo th ; y n answewast Ca go ' , e h r It will do you no harm.' Ehynd was so troubled in his mind about the matter that he several times intended to have burned the characters, and was only deterred by the apprehension of his pupil's wrath and anger; for if at any time he took them out of the earl's pocket, my Lord, he says, would be in such a rage with him, that for a certain space he would not speak with him, nor could the unhappy tutor by any means regain his good countenance n Ehynd'I . s opinion Lor y neves m , de wa t eas h a r f ei s wa charactere e th h t deaths d houe hi no An th f d so r.o t abouha m hi t constrained to believe that he kept them for no good. The talismanic words or letters it seems were partly Latin, partly Hebrew, and were all in the earl's own handwriting. Indeed, he told Ehynd that he had copied them himself." 2 The younger brothers of the conspirators, William and Patrick Euthven, several years afterwards were distinguished for the same researches. Of William,• Bishop Burnet remarks, "It was given out that he had the philosopher's stonf Patrico ed e alchemica;"an kth l commonplace book still exists, which testifies to his skill in the hermetic science. Eare deate timth e f th Gowris brothel o f th f hhi o et o d A ean r Alex-

1 Facsimile of signature of the third Earl of Gowrie, in Laureation Book of the University of Edinburgh, anno 1593. 2 Craik's "Romanc thf eo e Peerage, . "153p vol . ii .. 424 PKOCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1876Y14 . ander , e occasiooth n f theino r conspiracy, their brothers Williad man Patrick wer schoole eth "t a s Edinburgh"n i werd an ,e residene tth "n i dwelling-hous f o Alexandee r Adamso n i umquhiln r ThomaM e s M'Calyean's Close. n receivinO " e calamitoue newth th gf f o o s d en s their, brothers youtho tw e s ,th wit h their tutor immediately too flighto kt , and proceeded to the house of their mother at Dirleton, about twenty-five miles from Edinburgh aftey e e morninda th rth e . th n o f Thigs o swa explosio e conspiracyth f o n e samTh e. evenin a bang f horsemeno d , headed by the Master of Orkney and Sir James Sandilands, arrived at Dirleto o effect n t their apprehension. Their mothe countesse th r , however, had the opportunit}' of receiving intelligence of the party sent by the king, and the youths with their tutor escaped to Berwick, where' they gave themselvee Englisth o t hp u sgovernor r JohSi , n Carey. From Berwick they wen saite southhaveo ar dt d ,an , wit consene hth f Queeo t n Elizabeth, reside t Cambridgda e with thei yearso r n 160tutotw I r . 2rfo they venture returo t d o Scotlandnt e effec th f raisin t o thid t bu ,ha s g suspicions in the mind of the king that they had come to carry out some dangerous plot against him. They therefore returned to England, and were in that country when the death of Elizabeth placed King James on the throne of England. One of the first acts of the king when he entered upon his new dominions, was to issue a proclamation for the arrest of these young men. William made his escape to the Continent, whence nevee h r returned t Patricbu ; seizes imprisoned kwa dan Towere th n di . Ther languishee eh perioa r df fo ninetee o d n years, without tria r eveo l n an accusation formally brought against him. 162n I 2 Patrick Euthvenwas liberate s Majesty'Hi y db s commandn o , condition tha shoule h t d confine himselUniversite th o t f f Cambridgyo e milex osi r s fro pensiosamee a m th d an ;L.50f no settle s 0wa d upon him, e Exchequerth payabl f o t e wasH eou . , however followine th n i , g year permitted to reside in Somersetshire. After regaining his liberty he married Elizabeth Woodford, widow of Thomas first Lord Gerrard; and daughters hi , Mary Euthven, becam e celebrate th wife f eth o e d painter, Anihonr Si y Vandyke. In consequence of the troubles which subsequently agitated the country, the pension of Patrick Ruthven was stopped, and he was reduced to difficulties. In this emergency he is said to have procured a degree of SKETCHES O'F LATER SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS5 42 .

Doctor of Medicine, and practised that profession in London. In the r HenrdiarSi f yyo Slingsby, unde e yeath r r s statei 1639 t i d, thar Si t Henry's wife, who was suffering apparently from some nervous disorder, after consulting many other medical advisers, made " some trials of Mr Euthven a Scottis, h gentlema famile th f f Loro yo n d d Gowersha o wh , f physio t o administear t c e madstuds th hi t n eyi i r hel o otherspt t hu , not for any gain to himself." After suffering much from poverty and neglect, Patrick Ruthven died e King'f sixty-eighto th huries e t n i S sag wa t Benche da d th an ; t a , George's in Southwark, as "Lord Euthven," on 24th May 1652. The commonplace-boo f o Patrickke Euthvens th e lasf th o , t , now preserve e Universitth n i d y Library, Edinburgh, containe th s Smaragdine Tabl f Hermeo e s Trismegistus, together wit a hcarefull y digested serie f extractso s from alchemica d othean l r works relatino gt philosopher'e th s stone, such as— vere " D solt oe o artis uostrte acquirendse modo ;" " Ex quibus opus nostrum;" " Cum quot et quibus perficitur j" " Quot vasa operi sunt necessaria;" coloribue "D s apparentibu opern si e nostro;" " Descriptio mercurii philosophic solo oqu verm t naturaliae icu s aur solutio;t fi i " f "coniunctionO , sublimation, fermentation f projeco , - tion." A long lettaEare th Argylf o lo r t r doubo D n e e s i fro tth . M.o mD ,wh Miille rsketce referreth John f i ho o dt n Napier, written prio 1629o t r s i , also include n dthii s interesting volume d beginan , follows a s s :—e "Th coppie of D. M. letter writen to the Earle of Arg. contayning the wholl worke aenigmaticalli e conceiueh e forme th s a ef o , rfirst it t dwheel ou e d an s syphe f Trithemiuso r thed an ,n mad t witei s ownhhi e hands; copiey db me fro originale mth l letter . ownundeM . e D rhande ; copied sayeI , . an , 162 PATRICIUe 9m Octobr pe . 2 .M KUTHDENUM." This e abovletterth s ea , description purports, gives long directions for making a red powder, which it states when projected on "10 part f mercurio s e tho y meadsouth shale se nt will turne this letle starr into a bright and perfect shininge sonne." The letter thus con- cludes :— " I say with this thou mayest instantly heal all manner of diseases of all living creatures, restore the sicke to their health, preserve the holl from sickness continud an , e them e assure botan n hi d estat f healto e h vntill 6 42 PKOCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 18T6Y14 . that bowre apoynted by God to call them hense for their originall siune. Thou mayest also helpe all the infirmities of vegetables, and of chrystall make l kin rubie al pretiouf do d san s stones Judg. . e then whither thie sb not the rarest gyfte that God hath geven to man next after his soule and the saluatione of the same, Vse therefor this sacred gyfte as a means whereb acknowledgyo t goodnese eth gratiouo s f so Godstaka d an e, head thou abuse not him and his gyf tes; and think that in this thou art but Godes stewart d mus fula an , ltm accoungivhi o et t whow thou hast vsed this thy talent, for to whom he leandeth much of him shall much he requyred. " Liue clean in soule, to God doe no offence ; Exalt the not, but rather keep the lowe ; Els will thy God in the no wisdom sowe. "D. M."

ALEXANDER SETON THB O ,E COSMOPOLITE. earle Oth f y lif Alexandef eo r Seton very littl knowns ei . Accordino gt Dempster, seemo 1wh havo st e been acquainted witnativa s h wa ehim e h , of Edinburgh statee h d s an ,tha t Seto alss onwa known unde name th r e of Cobrethus. It was, however, under the name of " the Cosmopolite " tha travellee th d over Europeorigie th f thid no an s, designatio stils ni la subject of controversy with the historians of the hermetic science. From the almost universal custom of Latinising proper names at the period whe e flourishednh nam3 hi , e occur a grea n i st variet f formsyo , such as—Sethon, Seidon, SWhonius Scotus, Setonius, Sidonius, Suthoneus, Suethonius, Sechtonius.d an designatioe Th n Scotus, however, with which nearly all references to him are accompanied, sufficiently indicates that it is attachable to the same person; and bis recent biographer, M. Figuier,^ infers that he belonged to the noble family of Seton, whose chief residence was Seton House, in the county of Haddington. accoun e firse Th th t f successeo t f Alexandeso r e Setohermetith n ni c foune b n o Morhofi t d s i t ar s " Epistol e metallorud a m transmutatione, Joeled a m Lengelottum, whicn "i followine hth g inciden relates i t d :—

1 Hist, Eccl. Gent. Scot. ii. p. 603. 2 L'Alchimie et les Alchimistes, p. 254. SKETCHE LATEF SO R SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS7 42 .

Durin e summe e yeath g th rf o 1601r a Dutc, h pilot, called James Haussen, being wit s crehhi w caugh Norte a storth n i n thmi Seas ,wa thrown upo coase n th f Scotlando t e shipwreckeTh . d mariners received shelter in the house of a gentleman, who, possessing a mansion and ground than so t coast, attended with much kindnes sailore th o sst while with him procured ,an d the meane mth f returnino s o Hollandt g . This instanc e humanitth e f Scotsmao eth f yo s gratefull wa n e yth fely b t pilot, while the pleasure which both his host and he felt in each other's society ,day durinw fe s e thegth y passed together, made them promisn eo partin meeo gt t agai t somna e future time. In the beginning of the year 1602, continues Professor Morhof, Seton bega peregrinations nhi voyaga y b sHolland o t e e wen H visio t .s t hi t guest and friend Haussen, who then lived in the small town of Enkhuy- sailoe senTh r. receive witm hi e hdspenh joyd t ,an several weekn i s his house. During his sojourn there, a fraternal intimacy arose. The Scotsman did not wish to quit his guest without confiding to him what he knew of the art of transmuting metals, and to prove it, he made a projection in his presence. The 13th of March 1602, at four o'clock in afternoone th , Seton change da piec f leaeo d int opieca e f golth eo f do same weight, whic souvenia lefe s hh s friena t hi o t dr James Haussen. Strucprodige th y kb y witnessed d whicha e hh , Hausse hesitatt no d nedi s friendshi f o medicaf a Enkhuysen,e o on n o t ma o l t t i talo d t f ko an , him he also made a present of a piece of his gold. This friend was Van der Linden, grandfathe r Lindende f John o r ,Va n autho f severao r l medical works ; and who, having inherited this gold, showed it to the celebrated physician, George Morhof, author of the well-known letter above referred to, and out of which this part of the history of " the Cosmopolite taken"s i . After quitting Enkhuysen, Seton repaired to Amsterdam, and afterwards to Rotterdam, and then embarked for Italy. Dempster, in his " Histor f Scottisyo h Writers,"1 states tha gave h t e notable proofs hi f o s skill at Naples, and that in the Portico at Florence, at the Museum of the Grand Duke skils attestes plateo hi , wa ltw f golso y db d whic made hh e of molten lead whil but ,goldsmit ethe whoshin e worksho performephe d the projection was inspecting and much admiring his work, he withdrew 1 Vol. ii. p. 603. 8 42 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1876Y14 . from the place, and was not to he found afterwards in the city or its neighbourhood. In the same year he seems to have arrived in Germany, through Switzerland, in company with a professor of Friburg, Wolfgang Dienheim, who, declared adversary as he was to the hermetical philosophy, was con- straine o rendet d s testimonhi r e succes th a projectio f o t yo s n which Seton executed at Basle, before him and several important persons of that city. " In 1602," writes Dr Dienheim, "about the middle of summer, when returnin Homy b g o Germanyt e I foun, n ma d a e sidmysel f th o e t a f singularly spiritual, small in size, but sufficiently stout, of a ruddy com- plexion sanguina f o , e temperament, havin ga brow n beard croppen i d style 'dresses th Francef a wa ehabio e n di f blacH o t . kd satinha d an , for his suite a single attendant, who could be distinguished among all by e sam d haid bearth re an ef r s o dcolour hi . Thin callema s d himself Alexander Seton. At Zurich, where the clergyman Tighlin gave him a r letteZwingerD o t r hiree w , a dboad returne an t watey b d Basleo t r . arrivar Onou than i l t town companioy m , n sai o me—t d wilu - re Yo l' member that throughout the voyage, and in the boat, you abused alchemy and alchemists wilu l Yo als. o recollect tha I promiset answeo dt r you, not by verbal demonstrations, but by a philosophical experiment. I expect, besides, another person, whom I wish at the same time to convince with you thao e s adversarie, th t f alchemo s ceasy ydoubo ma t e t upoe nth subject of this art.' I then went to seek the person in question, whom I only knew by sight, and who did not live far from our hotel. I was afterwards informe r JacoD s bd wa thaZwinger e h t , whose family num- bere manjo ds r eminent repairednaturalistsw no e , W al.l e threeth o t , house of a goldsmith with several plates of lead, which Zwinger had fetched from his house, a crucible which we received from a goldsmith, and some ordinary sulphur which we bought on the way. Seton touched nothing. He caused a fire to be made, ordered the lead and sulphur to be placed in the crucible, the lid to be put on, and the mass stirred with rods. After a quarter of an hour had elapsed, he said to us, ' Throw this smal l middl e papemeltee th th n f ro eo d lead takd an ,e care that nothing falls int fire.e thin I oth s' powderpapea s wa r , rather heavy coloua f o , r which appeared to be citron yellow; for the rest it required good eyes to SKETCHE LATEF SO R SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS9 42 .

distinguish any other peculiarities. Although as incredulous as St Thomas himself, we did all we were commanded. After the mass had been again heated for a quarter of an hour, and continually agitated with rods of iron, the goldsmith received an order to quench the crucible by pouring water on it, when there was not the least vestige of lead but a quantity of pure gold, which, in the opinion of the goldsmith, surpassed in quality the best gold of Hungary or Arabia. It weighed as much as e lea d f taketh whic o d ha e placee werth t ni h W e. stupefied with coule w df i astonishment. hardls a s y wa dar t believo I t e eyesr ou e . But Seton, mocking us, ' Now,' said he, ' where are you with your e e facttrutd th thath s an more f ,i pedantrie hto se eu powerfuYo s? l tha l younal r sophisms. afterwarde H ' t of fsportiocu a golde d th f an ,no souvenia gavs a t ei Zwingero rt alsI . o preserve dportiona , which weighed about four ducats whicd an , hI carefull y kep memorn i t thif yo s journey. incredulousu yo A o st wilu yo l, perhaps moc t what ka ye I writett Bu . witnesa m a I s d alwayan , it s readw sa testif o yI t whao t y I havt e seen. But Zwinger ite wilalst conceaw h ; ono sa l l anything t rendebu , s rhi testimon whao yt I affirmt . s domestihi Seto d stile an nar c l alivee th , latter in England, the jformer in Germany, as is well known. I might also specif precise yth e place wher dwellse eh indiscretion a ,t werno t ei n mako t e researches int affaire oth thif o s s great man, this saint, this demi- god."i Jacob Zwinger, cited by Dr Dienheim, was a physician aud professor at Basle, and left a name respected in the history of German medicine. yeae plague th diee th r f H n i d160o 1610n e i t confirmee 6h bu , e th n di minutest detail accoune sDienheir th D f o t Latia mn i n letter, whic- hEm manuel Kb'nig, one of the professors at Basle, has printed in his Ephe- merides.2 This letter further states, that before quitting Basle Seton made a second projection in the house of a goldsmith called Andrew Bletz, where he changed into gold many ounces of lead. As to the piece of gold whic beed hha n r giveZwingerD o n t s statee Bibliothecai th t i , n di Chemica f Mangeto , thae familth t f thayo t physician preserved an , it d showed it for a long time to strangers and the curious.

. "W1J . Dienheim de Mineral! Medioina. Argent. 1610. 2 Epistola ad Doctorem Sehotinger. 0 43 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1876Y14 .

After entering Germany, Seton seems to have commenced a career of adventures. He returned to Strasbourg after leaving Basle. He e regarde b e unknows als i th o t o s a d n s mixealchemistwa do wh , up with an event of which the results were very sad to a German goldsmith named Philippe Jacob Gustenhover. This Gustenhover was citizea f Strasbourgo n , wher e exerciseh e middle s callingth hi d n eI . of summer, in the year 1603, a stranger presented himself at his house, under the name of Hirschborgen, who was no other than Seton, asking leave to assist him in his labours, which request was granted. On leaving, the stranger, to recompense his host, gave him a red powder, of which he usee showeth . m dhi Afte departure th r guests hi goldsmite f eo th , vanite th d speao yt h ha k s treasureohi f mord an , e unfortunatel t i befor e us e o severayt l persons, among who wishee mh paso dt s himseltrutn i s h wa adeptfn l a of s Al fa . done between neighbours and friends, but, as has been well remarked by Schmieder, who furnishes this episode, each friend had a neighbour and each neighbou frienda e rnew Th s. spread from mout mouto ht d an h from house to house, and shortly in the town of Strasbourg every one cried, " Gustenhover has found the secret of the alchemists ! Gustenhover makes gold!" The fame of this event was rapidly carried to Prague, and it is easy to believe tha e perso th tbrough o nwh newe th t s woul wele db l receivey b d the Emperor Eodolph IL, who was himself a great alchemist. At the first rumour of it the council of Strasbourg deputed three of their num- ber to inquire into the fact. The names of these delegates have been given o mad e goldsmitwh ,th e h work before their eyesd whoan , , after seein experimentss ghi , operated themselve afte e othee son th r r with equal success. One of these .three delegates, called Glaser, councillor of Stras- bourg, who came to Paris in 1647, showed a morsel of -the gold thus mad Gustenhovey eb r JacoD o bt r Heilman whosn o , e authority these details thosd an , e which follow given.e ar , 1 The Emperor Eodolp t losno e d timhdi n sendinei g commissionero st the adept. He ordered the goldsmith to be brought into his presence. When questioned by the German Hermes, Gustenhover was forced to admit that he had not himself prepared this marvellous powder, 1 Bib. Chem. Mangeti. SKETCHES OF LATER SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS. 431

and that he was absolutely ignorant of the manner of fabricating it. But this avowal had only the effect of irritating the greedy sovereign against pooe himTh r .goldsmit h reiterate s protestationdhi s without beiny an g morordaines wa e e listenecontinuo H dt . dto o mak t e e gold, although all his stock of the powder was exhausted. This powder, a present from his guest, and which without doubt must have been a compound of gold, meane furnished th ha f satisfyinm so hi o dt r somfo g e tim imperiae eth l desire expended e foun h t ha afte l e bu ;dal h r t himseldi f unablo d o et more. To escape the wrath of the emperor, the unfortunate goldsmith too fligho a last k s ta t resource. But. pursue broughd an d t backe h , watowera sn i shuwhic n i ,p u emperorte hth , always believing thae th t alchemist was obstinately refusing to reveal his secret, retained him a prisoner for life. Many anecdotes are related in the works of Hogheland and Morhof, before quoted, and in Guldenfalk's Anecdotes Alchimiques, of projec- tions of a similar kind made by Seton in various towns of Germany. At last, in 1603, the Prince of Saxony, having heard of the ability of e Cosmopoliteth , desire havo t ds skill prooa ehi f . o f Seton, however, did not think fit to appear, but sent his servant Hamilton to operate befor s Highnesshi e e projectioTh . n mad n presenci e e wholth f eo e Cour fulls wa yt successful e adep e th gol th f , tdo havinge stooth l dal prince testsTh .e then persuaded Seto como nt t Courtfirso a et d t an , affecte favourablbe to d himeto smalA . l quantit philosopher'the yof s stone, of which Seton made him a present, did not however suffice to content the prince, and he demanded to be informed of the secret of the operator, which Seton obstinatel yn conse i refuse s wa -revealo t de H . quence made to endure all the torments that cruelty, stimulated by the thirs goldr fo t , coul pierces d devisewa e dH wit. h sharp iron burned san d with molte the ndara nwas lead shuin k and dungeon, up t . A Moravian gentleman, skilled in chemistry, however, called Michael Sendivogius, who was at the time a favourite with the prince, got leave to visit Seton in prison, and proposed to rescue him. He raised a sum of money, bribe guardse th d succeede d an , n conveyindi g Setoe nth ouf o t territorie e prince th e the f H o sn. demanded Seton'se secretth t bu , latter excused himself, sayin e coul gh t commi dno greao s t sina t d ,an counselled his rescuer to ask it from God. 2 43 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1876Y14 .

Seton died in 1604, from the effects of the tortures inflicted on him. Sendivogius then married his widow, from whom he obtained a small quantity of the red powder of projection, and an alchemical manuscript, entitle dBooe " f twelvTh ko e chapters," whic publishee hh t Cracowa d , with the motto Angelvs doee mihi jus. This being the anagram of his own name, cause attributee booe b dth o kt himo dt . Sendivogius successfully used small quantities of the powder he received from Seton at various places, and obtained great notoriety. All the Courts in Germany were impatient to have visits from him; and he was so successfu s transmutationhi n i l s mad t Praguea e befor e emperoth e r Eodolph II., that to commemorate the circumstance the emperor placed a marble tablet on the wall of the room where the experiments were performed, with the inscription :— Faciat hoc quispiam Quod fecit Sendivogius Polonus. This table s oftewa t n visitee curiouso recentlth s y dd b an s 174,y a 0 was to be found in the imperial castle at Prague.1 PATRICK SOOT. Among the Scottish writers on alchemy, though opposed to its pre- includebe tences may ,d Patrick Scot, whose varied fortunes forma litting accompanimen thoso t t f Alexandeo e rs birt hi Setond f han O . parentage nothin bees gha n s staterecordedi e havo h t d t ebu , belonged o Falklandt Fifeshiren i , ,possesses wherwa e h f elande o d d property. Fro publishes mhi d work appeare sh hav o sf t goo o en d bee educama na - s " Table-boofirshi e tion thesf s o Th t .wa e r Princesfo k , -containing short remembrances for the Government of themselves and their Empire."

notice th n eI of Seton give Dempster'n i s " Historia Eccles. Gentis Soot.," already 1 quoted, it would appear that his fame as an alchemist was very great, and that an epi- gram, Alter Jason eris, qualis Sidonius estque Samsaeus, had been praised by Eaphael Eglinus Icovius. Dempster states that he had met Setou at Toulouse, where he showed him several things, but immediately repented having done so. '' This," Dempster adds, " I at all events learned from him, that he considered liberty more precious than gold thad neithee an ,h t r wisheattentioe th r dfo princef friendshie no th r e sno th f po great livee H wanderinda . g kin f lifethougd o an , h practisin glucrativa e profession, he was poor. I have heard that he was killed in France by two men, in the hop gettinf eo t higa s secret wero thir wh efo ,s offence afterwards executed." SKETCHE LATEF SO R SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS3 43 .

This curious volum printes ewa dedicates 1621i n d i d an ,Hig e th d ho "T and Mightie Prince Charles hopefue th , l Princ f Greaeo t Brittain, France, and Ireland." The views containe n thii d s l probabilitworal n ki y recommendes it d author to the notice of king James VI., by whom he was patronised, and engage missioa n do whicy nb obtainee hh d great notoriety. A wels si l known, king Jame extremels swa y anxiou assimilato st e eth Churc f Scotlanho thao dt f Englando t introducee H . d Episcopacyd an , endeavoured, as far as possible, to enlarge the authority and jurisdic- e bishopsth tio f no . Amon e Scottisgth h clerg wero ywh e opposeo t d those schemes, nons morwa e e resolute than David Calderwoode th , historia e Churcth f nf o Scotland o h , otherso whotw r ,o ,wit e drehon w u pa remonstranc e king th e sen b o . t to t e They wer consequencn ei e subjected to severe pains and penalties. Calderwood was imprisoned at St Andrews; but, on giving security to depart from the kingdom before e ensuinth g Michaelmas returo t t nno withoud an , royae th t l licensee h , releases wa d from confinement. After residin r somfo g e tim t Carlislea e , Calderwood lingered about the north of England, and began the publication of anonymous works in support of Presbyterianism, and condemnatory of the famous Assembly convoke Jamey db t Pertsa settlo ht f e Churcho peace th eth e f eo On . these works,—entitled, "The Perth Assembly: containing (1.) The Pro- ceedings thereof; (2. e Proofe Nulliti)th Th f eo e thereof," &c.,—was publishe 1619n di . This treatise gav e greateseth t e offenckingth o .t e The publisher of it, James Cathkin, when on a visit to London, was apprehende d examinean d e n th presenci d s Majestyn o Hi f o o e wh , occasion was so indignant that he is said to have exclaimed with reference people th o Edinburghf t eo t founno , whod sufficientlha me h y submissive, " The devill ry ve their soules and bodies all in collops and cast them in hell!" Calderwood, who was at this time concealed at Cranstoun, at last sailed for Holland, where he visited Leyden, Eotterdam, Dordrecht, and Campvere. During his absence, and while rumours of his death were general mosa , t extraordinary attemp mads Scowa ty eb o impost e upon s countrymehi publishiny nb name th f Calderwooo n egi da recantatio n of his Presbyterian views. This singular work bears the following title, —" Calderwood's Recantation: or, A Tripartite Discourse directed to VOL. xr. PART ii. ' 2 E 4 43 PROCEEDING SSOCIETYE 01TH ? , FEBRUAR , 1876Y14 .

Mimsterie suchth f o , otherd ean Scotlann i s d that refuse conformitio et the Ordinances of the Church; wherein the causes and bad effects of such separation, the legall proceedings against the refractorie, and nullitie of their cause are softly launced, and they louingly invited to the unifor- e Church."mitith f eo n thiI 1s work Calderwoo mads dwa abandoo et n his Presbyterian predilections, to condemn the writings of Knox, Beza, and other Eeformers, to demonstrate the divine origin of Episcopacy, and to lau wisdome dth , goodness clemencd an , Kinf yo g James. What renders this extraordinary step of Scot still more remarkable, is the statement of Calderwood, that it was generally believed that King James himself supplied the materials to Scot for this unscrupulous pamphlet. Calderwood was not idle, and soon showed his enemies that he was alive and as active as ever. He printed in Holland several controversial tracts, and his best known work,-^-" The Altar of Damascus,"—published e mos1623n i th ons f teo wa , formidable e e attackpolitth th f n o yo s Church of England, of which it lias been remarked that " the patrons of Episcopacy have never yet answered it, how much soever their cause requires it." The publication of this able work, and other pamphlets on the same subject, seen havo t i e cause muco ds h annoyanc e kingth o ,t e tha t Scot was selected for the important task of proceeding to Holland and silencing Calderwood, either by getting him put in prison or even by taking his life. That this singular mission was sanctioned by the king is abun- dantly evident from a letter of Sir Dudley Carleton, afterwards Viscount Dorchester Englise th , h Ambassado Haguee Th t a r, addresse Jameo dt s himself; while Sco s lefn accoun a ha te manne th f o twhicn i r e dish - charged the matters committed to his care in a document still extant,— "The accompt of "my diligens in the seruice committed to mee, with a motion commended to His Majestie from his embassadoure at the Hague." In this paper Scot states that he searched for Calderwood at the Hague, Delft, and Amsterdam successively, and endeavoured to find his residence pretendiny b f gmoneo largthaa broughm e m h tyesu hi contributer fo t d s friendhi y Scotlandn b nevee i s ablh s t o crosewa t r e Bu patth f s. o h intendes hi d victim. • As a writer on alchemy, Scot is known by a little work (of which a 1 4to, London, 1622.' SKETCHES OF LATER SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS. 435

copy exists in the library of Dr Laing) called, " The Tillage of Light, or the true discoverie of the Philosophical Elixir, commonly called the Philo- sopher's Stone. thin 1I " sshows worha e nkh considerable shrewdness. "If," sayse h ,knowledg e "th e of this Elixatraditioy b d rdi n com Miriao et e mth sister of Aaron (who, as some say, was learned in this art), then certainly the Eevealers were much to be blamed for communicating such a mys- teriwoman'a eto s tongue, which they migh safelas t y have committedto windse th . That shethad eha t knowledg diviny b e e revelation I ,wil l not take alchemist's word for warrant, credo quod hand, the rather that in observationy m l al perusiny sb g most authours vpon this subject r cono , - versing with some chiefe professor f thio s s chimera I ,hav e never found truly demonstrated that there was or is such a thing in rerum natura, as alchemists dreame this Philosopher's Stone to be. I confesse I have seene many texts wrested to wrong constructions, that I have heard much thundrin perfectioe th f go whico nt h this Nothin bees gha n broughtt bu ; becaus x nihiloe nihil fit, nothin d ensu di gt consumptio bu e e th f o n vndertakers' estate d loss an f sthei o e r labors. Therefore, since words without deeds are weake proofs, I reject such authorities as apochryphall, fror fa m o s beleevin m a d an g such fairded suggestion Phyloe s th tha f i t- sophers' positions were literall understoode b o yt shoulI , d never hold them other than like mathematicall demonstrations, wherei mannby y fayre pro- position prooves si d much, whereo artificeo n f makn upoe rca eus n woor do stone." Scot was also on his guard as to what would be the injurious artificiae effecth f o t l productio golf no largn di e quantity remarkse h d an , , t weri "f I e possibl multiplo t e r transmuto y a greatee r proportiof o n other vnrefined mettals into gol y proiectionb d , what benefit should thereby arise eithephilosopherse th o rt r froo , m the mo otherst ? They should acquire nothing by it but the corruption of manners, and staine of their profession, other t eversio l sbu politik al f o n e government, mutuall commerce and industrious exchange. Kings should be inferiour to philosophers in the purchase of so great treasure: And so all soueraigntie (to whom by all nationall lawes belongs the prerogative of all gold and siluer mynes) would turne againe to a confusion and hotch-potch: many that are now holden wise, would perhaps turne fooles, and those that have now little wit would haue then none at all. Wee should see every covetous 1 Printed at London in 1623. 6 43 PEOCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBEUAE , 1876Y14 .

pennie-father, mercilesse usurer Jewisd an , h broker become philosophers, converd an pooree blooe th th t f do , vpon which feedthew no y, inte oth new found Elixar. We should see the philosophers pearne their cloaks d becoman e insatiable wordlings, usurious caterpillars, hellish pawn- garmente th mungerse necessitout th cu f o d s an , o makt s e them riding coate thein si r journey towards hell wha0 . pitifula t ! sighe t se wero t t ei the offalls of heaven, the drugges of the earth and hell's fit fagots inuested heaven'n i s richest endowments t whaBu ?t more tragical spectacle were beholo t t i d vertue stript naked, spoyler beautiehe f o d , heauen's gate which now stands open for her close shut up, and the entrie confined to e narroth w passag needle'a f eo s eye, througr hfo whic s hari w t i dho h asses loaden with gold d corruptioan e o entert n e masteth , f heaueo r n when vpo s hewa en earth hath foretold n AguI trembla . n o i et s a e heare of this exchange that vice should reach heaven and vertue enter in the right way to hell." l An account of the latter end of Patrick Scot is related by Calderwood s History,hi n i 2 wher statee eh s tha diee h tgrea n di t indigences wa d an , burieexpense th Bishoe t th da f gooe ef o Bossp o th dr fo servic,d ha e eh done to the king and to the bishops.

From the notices given of the Scottish alchemists, it will be observed that they attained not merely to local but even to European reputation. Althoug cannoe hw t attribut o theit e r labour y greaan s t discovery b y which these would have been handed dow o futurt n e times, still they kept aliv thein ei r country that spiri f inquiro t y into matters pertaining chemicao t physicad an l l science, whic hcentura lateo tw r r produceyo d men like Black, Playfair, and Leslie, by whose discoveries the domain of science has been widely increased. It is also satisfactory to know that, although the former search for gold among the bleak hills of Scotland ende losdisappointmentn d i san , that countr discoveriee yth hasy b , f so science in recent times, yielded, and is now yielding, from her mineral treasures, truly golden harvestr greatefa a ro t s extent than could have bee wildesne th dream mosd n i an tf to t visionary aspiration r moshe f tso sanguine alchemists. 1 The Tillage of Light, pp. 11 and 19. s Vol. vii., p. 583. SKETCHES OF LA.TEE SCOTTISH ALCHEMISTS. 437

Note Earlier paperthe to on Scottish Alchemists, Proceedingsthe in of the Society, . 179volp . ..xi JAMBS IV. e "Epistolath n I e Begum Scotorum a lette s i " r from o Jamet . IV s Mr James Inglis, relative to some volumes of alchemical works which the kinanxious gwa possesso st . This James Inglis, we learn from the Privy Seal Eegister, was appointed Aprin i l 1510 soule th sinf Kino r t ,o s gfo g Jame quees hi III d n ni . an the church of Cambuskenneth, with a fee of twenty marks a-year. On 23d July 1511 he got a grant of a pension of L.40 yearly till he obtained benefica mark0 e hal10 th valuef n fsi o e n yearlI . y payment f thio s s calles i e h d "clerking'e th f ko s closet. alse H o" hel chaplaince dth f yo Virgie th n Mary's Chapel, nea e Bridgth r f Bannockhurneo whico t , e hh was appointed on. 20th December 1517. The Latinking'n translates i i t s i sbu , m lette follows:s hi d a o rt — " James, by the grace of God King of Scots, to his beloved Mr James Inglis, greeting e havW : e received with pleasur e proohavu th e yo ef give f youo n r friendly dispositio intimatinn i n n yougi r letter s thau o tst secret books, containing the sounder philosophy of alchemy, are in your possession ; and that although most worth wern yme e soliciting these works from havu youyo e, kept them, though with great difficulty, for our use, because you had heard that we were engaged in the study of that art. We give you thanks, and will give you due recompense when occasion requires d havan ,e despatche da confidentia l messenger James Mercheinstou wil o youo nt lwh ,tak e charg f suco e h books a s you may wish to transmit to us, and whom you will trust in our name. Fare- well. At our palace of Edinburgh,"] &c. Another letter is preserved in the same collection, with reference to the raining operations of King James IV., from which it would appear that he had called in the assistance of a foreign adept to aid in the discovery of gold mines in Scotland. It is addressed to some foreign prince. Kin"d JamesScotf grace gGo o th f so ey :,b Illustrious prince dearesd an , t kinsman,—your subject, John Habochi a washe, f golo r d [auri lotor], during several months skilfully devoted himsele worth ko t f here, though froe mth nature of the place the attempt did not succeed. He has now requested to be 1 Epist. Reg. Scot., No. Ixxii. To Mv James Inglis. 8 43 PROCEEDING SSOCIETYE OFTH , FEBKUAH , 1876Y14 .

allowe returo dt n hom visio e t wifs children d hi t an e give thanksu W eyo .d ,an are much indebted to you for granting us the aid of your subjects. What minerals and especially what gold may be found in this country your subject will report to you; we commend him to your Highness, to whom we wish pros- perit d happan y r palacy ou yearsf Edinburght o e A . e yea h th Jul r8t ,n i y 1511.'"