[Thomas Norton. The ordinall of alchimy. 16th cen…]

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 247 MS Ferguson 191
  • Dates of Creation
      15--
  • Language of Material
      English
  • Physical Description
      Paper. 42 + 6 + 4 folios (of which 5 are blank); 6 miniatures, in gold and colours, on vellum. 20.7x14.7 cm

Scope and Content

Thomas Norton. [The ordinall of alchimy.] 16th century.
[On f1]: 'Roger Arundell.'
f 1v [Verse in Latin.]
f2 [Text in English of the Ordinall of Alchemy.]
[6 very fine miniatures in watercolours with gold ink, on vellum inserted into the volume after folios 3, 10, 17, 20, 36 and 40.
According to the concluding lines, this poem was begun in 1477. It was first published in a Latin translation by Michael Maier in Tripus aureus, 1618. The English poem was first printed in Ashmole's Theatrum chemicum, 1652. Inscribed inside front cover: I gave Mr. Abdey 20s in one peese of gold for this boock in his cossen Mr Abdays Chamber in the fleet: Also after that Mr Abday cam to borrow: 10li: at wch time I gave him :10s: wch Nan Springe borowed of Brian the porter to geve him. Also after that he cam to my house at Lambeth about this boock at wch time I gave him in farthe recompens a frenche crowne in gold in the halle at Lambeth whereoppon he departed and sayd he was satisfied in presens of Nan Springe and others: Inscribed on recto of first leaf: the notes of this boock beinge written in the lefe before [this] wch is cutt oute is putt in my longe boock of notes in my casket by the lefe wch contayneth the note in Lattin taken out of ye Alchimye boocke of petrus bonus: my graunfather Sr John Arundell Knight writ his name as folowth vz: John Arundell of Trerys. My father alsoe as folowth vz: Roger Arundell. Inscribed on verso of penultimate leaf: Ex Catalogo Librorum Venalium Thomæ Osborne edita 16to Decembris 1751. Pretium £1: 1. 0

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