Sketches of early Scottish alchemists / by John Small.

  • Small, George.
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sketches of early Scottish alchemists / by John Small. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/26 (page 184)
    Ill the accounts of the High Treasurer of Scotland he is styled “ the Trench Leich,” “ Maister John the French Leich,” ‘‘ Maister John the French Medicinar,” and “ French 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 attempts to make “Quinta Essentia,” which should convert other metals into pure gold, heal all diseases, and prolong human life far beyond its ordinary bounds. The four elements, fire, air, earth, and water, 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 quintessence of creation, the only true element, of which the four generic principles were nothing but derivative forms or embodiments, and it was the idea of this principle which guided the King and Damian in their experiments.^ These are referred to by Bishop Leslie as follows: “Maister John causet the King believe that he be multiplyinge, and utheris his 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 notices of Damian that occurs : “Item the thrid day of March (1501-2) send to Striuelin iiii hary nobles and.to the Leich for to multiply, summa £9.” The day following, “ Item to the King and the Franch Leich to play at the cartis £9. 5.” On the 29th of May 1502 the King’s Treasurer paid to Eobert Bertoun, one of the King’s mariners, “ for certain droggis brocht home to him to the Franch Leich £31. 4s.” and the day after he gave “ to the Franch Leich, quhen he passit his way 300 Franch crownis,” or £210. Scotish money. This probably refers to a temporary visit to the Continent in furtherance of his schemes. The ascendency of Damian was such that in 1504 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 ^ Tlie search after the “ quintessence,” or elementary principle of bodies, resulted afterwards, and under riper skill, in the discovery of quinine, morphia, theine, and other drugs of great value in medicine.