Section 25

For the which wc fhall receive a Spiritual! body :
A body I fay which if it fhould be fould,
Truly I fay it is worth his weight in Gold :
Son give theis two, one penny in their Journey to drinke,
And thou fhalt fpeedc the better truly as I thinkc.
The third Chapter.
NO w have I good will largely to write, Although I can but flenderly indite 5 But whether I can or cannot indeede, With the Chapter of Fire I will proceedc: Which if thou knoweft not how to governe and keepc, Thou wert as good go to bed and fleepe , . As to be combred therewith about, And therefore I put thee moft ecrtainely out of doubt5 Forwhenlftudiedthis Science z% thou doeftnow, I fell to pra&ifeby Godlvowc:
I
ofThilofophy. ^
I was never fo troubled in all my lyfc beforne, As intending to my Fire both Midday Eve and Mornt ? And all to kepc it at an even flay 5 It hath wrought me woe moe then I will fay. Yet one thing of truth I will thee tell, What greate mifliap unto my Worke befell 5 It was upon aNewyeares day at Noone, My Tabernacle caught fire, it was foone done : For within an houre it was right well. And (height of fire I had a fmell. I ran up to my worke right. And when I cam it was on a fire light: Then was I in fuch feare that I began to ftagger, As if I had by ne wounded to the heart with a dagger} And can you blame me I no I think not much, For if I had beene a man any thing rich , I had rather have given iooMarkes to the Poore, Rather then that hap fhould have chanced that hourc. For I was well onward of my Work truly, God favc my Matters ly fe, for when he thought to dye3 He gave me his worke and made me his Heire, Wherefore alwaies he fhall have my prayer : Iobteynedhis grace the datehercfronottovarie, In the firft and fecond ycare of King Phillip & gueene Yet lewdly I loft it as I have you tould, ^JHarj.
And fo I began the new and forgot the old , Yet many a night after I could not flcepe in Bed For ever that mifchance troubled my head, And feare thereof 1 would not abide againe-v No though I fhould e reapc a double gaine, Wherefore my charge rofe to a greater fummc, As in hyring of a good ftoute Groome 5 Which alight abide to watch and give attendance, Yet often tymes he did me difpleafaunce,
0^3 And
2P4- The 'Breyiary
And would fleepe (o long till the Fire went out,
Then would the Knave thatwhorfon Lout,
Caftin Tallow to make the fire burne quicker.
Which when I knew made me more ficker^
And thus was I cumbred with a drunken fott,
That with his hafty fire made my Worke too hott^
And with his floth againe he fet my worke behinde;
For remedy thereof to quiet my Minde ,
I thruft him out of dores, and tooke my felfe the paine.
Although it be troublcibme it is the more certain? *
For fervants doe not paffe how our workes doe frame ,
But have more delight to play and to game.
A good fervant faich Solomon \a him be unto thee,
As thyne owne heart in each degree.
For it is precious a fairhf uil fervjnr w fi nde,
Efteeme him above treafure if he be to thy minde ;
Not wretchles, but fober, wife, and quiet.
Such a one were even for my dyet :
Thus having warn'd thee of an ill fetvant fufficient,
But a good fervant is for our intent.
¥
The fourth Chapter.
W Hen my Man was gone I began it anewc, And old troubles then in my minde did renew 5 As to break fleepe oftentimes in the night, For feare that my Worke went not aright 5 And oftentimes I was in greate doubt, Leaft that in the night, my fire fliould go out: Or that it fhould give to much hcate, The penfivenes thereof made me to breake fleepe :
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ofThilofophy. zp5
And alfo in the-day lcaft it fliould mifcary,
It hath made my mindc oftentimes to varic $
Wherefore if thou wilt follow my readc,
See thy fire fafe when thou goeft to Bed :
At Midnight alfo when thou doft arife,
And in fo doing I judge thee to be wife:
Beware that thy Fire do no man harme,
For thou knoweft many amansHoufe and Barnc
Have byne fet on fire by mifchance,
And fpecially when a Foole hath the governance 5
Our Fire is chargeable, and will amount
Above 3. pound a weeke, who hath lift to caft account,
Which is chargeable to many a poore man.
And fpecially to me as I tell can :
And Geber bids poore men be content,
Mac Scientist, pauper i& agent e non csnvenit
Sedpotius eft Wis inimica, and bids them beware,
Becaufe their mony they maynotwellfpare^
For thou muft have Fires more then one or two.
What they be George Ripley will thee (hew 5
Above a hundred pounds truly did I fpend.
Only in fire ere 9. moneths came to an end 5
Butmdecdc Ibegun when all things weredeare, Both Tallow, Candle, Wood, Coale and Fire : Which charges to beare fometymes I have fold, Now a Jewell, and then a ring of Gold: And when I was within a Moneths reckoning, Warrswerc proclaimed againft the French King.
Then a Gentleman that ought me greate mallice, Caufed me to be prcft to goe ferve ztCallys: When I faw there was none other boote. But that I muft goe fpight of my heart toote 5 In my fury I tooke a Hatchet in my hand, And brake all my Worke whereas it did ftand$
And
ip6 The 'Breviary
And as for my Potts I knocked them together
And alfo my Glafles into many a fliivcr ;
The Crowes head began to appeare as black as Ictt
Yet in my fury I did nothing let :
But Hvith my worke made fuch a furious fairs,
That the Qumtejfence flew forth in the Aire.
Farewell quoth I, and feeing thou art gon,
Surely I will never caft of my Fawcon,
To procure thee againc to put me to hinderance,
Without it be my fortune and chaunce,
To fpeake with my good Mafter or that I dye ;
Mafter /. S. his name is truly:
Nighe the Citty of Salisbury his dwelling is,
A fpirituall man for footh he is 5
Forwhofe profperity I am bound to pray,
For that he was my Tutor many a day /
And undcrftood as much of Phtlofophie>
As ever did Arnold or Raymund Lullie :
Geber^Hermes^Arda^ nor yet King Caleb,
Undcrftood no more then my good Mafter did.
I travelled this Rcalme Eft and Weft over,
Yet found I not the like betweene the Mount and Dover
But only a Monke of whomclle fpeake anon,
Each of them had accomplifhed our White Stone :
But yet to the Red Worke they never came necre,
The caufe hereafter more plainely ftall appeare •'
And thus when I had taken all this paines,
And then could not reape the fruit of my gaines:
I thought to my felfc, fo to fee out this Warke,
That others by fortune may hit right the Markc.
THE
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Thefift Chapter.
1am forry I have nothing to requite my Majlers gentle- But only this Boke a litlc fhort Treatife 5 (nes, Which I dare fay fhall as welcome be to him , As if I had fent him a Couple of Milch Kinc : And hecrc for his fake I will difclofe unto thee, A greate feacret which by God and the Trinity , Since that our Lord this world firft began, Was it not fo opened I dare lay my hand , No, all the Pbilofofhers which were before this day, Never knew this iecret 1 dare boldly fay.
And now to obteync thy purpofe more rathe Let thy Fire be as temperate as the Bath of the Bathe. Oh what a goodly and profitable Inftrument, Is the Bath of the Bathe for our fiery intent ! To feeke all the World throughout I fhould not finde, Por profit and liberty a Fire more fitt to my minde. Goe or ride where you lift for the fpace of a yeare Thou needeft not care for the mending of thy Fire. A Monke of Bath which of that houfe was Pryor, Tould me in feacret he occupied none other fire, To whome I gave credit even at the firft feafon, Becaufe it depended upon very good reafon : He had our Stone, our Medicine , our Elixir and all, Which when the Abbie was fuppreft he hid in a wall : And ten dayes after he went to fetch it out, And there he found but the ftopple of a Clout. Then he tould me he was in fuch an Agonie, That for the lofle thereof he thought he fliould be frenzic,
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And a Toy tookc him in the head to run fuch a race, That many yeare after he had no fctling place $ And more he is darke and cannot fee. But hath a Boy to leade him through the Country.
I hapned to come on a day whereas he was, And by a word or two that he lctpaffe, I underftood ftrcight he was a Philofopher> For the which caufe I drew to himneare. And when the Company was all gone, And none but his Boy and he and I alone, Mafler quoth I for the love of God and Charity, Teach me the feacrets of Ndturall Phibfopby.
No Son, quoth he, I know not what thou art, And fliall I reveale to thee fuch a prceiuos Arte *r No man by me fhall get fuch gaines, No not my Boy which taketh with me fuch paines, That to difclofe it lyes not in my Bands, For I muft furrender it into the Lords hands, Becaufe 1 heare not of one that hath the f ame5 Which lifts up his minde and is apt for the fame, Which if I could finde I would ere I dye, Reveale to him that fame greate miftery : Yet one there is about the Citty of Salisbury, A young man of the age of Eight and Twenty, Char nock is his name ofTennet that IJle, His praife and Comendacions foundeth many a Mile % That for a Younge man he is toward and apt, ]n all the feaven liberal! Scyenccs fct none apart v But of each of them he hath much or litle, Whereof in our Scyence he may claime a title : His praife fprcads alfo for his good indighting, And of fome of his doings I have heard the reciting, Both of Profe and Meeter, and of Vcrfe alfo, And furc I commend him for his firft ihewc,
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I thinke Chaucer at his yeares was «iot the like, And Shelter* at his ycares was further to feeke 5 Wherefore for his knowledge, gravity and witt, He may well be Crowned Feet Lmreat,
Ceafe Father quoth land heare me fpeake, For my name is Chamock upon whorac you treate 5 But this which you fay to me is greate wonder, For thefe qualities and I am farr affunder •, IamnofuchMan as you have made reckoning, But you (hall fpeake for me when I go a wiving : Your praifc will make me fpcede, though it be not true, Nor yet my fubftance worth an old horfc fhooe.
Is your name Cbarnocke, and the fame Man t Yea Sir quoth I : then ftumbled he to give me his hand : And talked an howrc with me in thcPbifofiphers fpccchc, And heard that in no qucftion I was to fecchc , My Son quoth he let me have thy prayer, For of this Science I will make thee myne heirc 5 Boy quoth he lead me into fomefecret place, And then departs for a certaine fpace , Uutill this man and I have talked together.- Which being done, quoth he, now gentle Brother, Will you with me to morrow be content. Faithfully to receive the bleffed Sacrament , Upon this Oath that I fhall hecre you give, For ne Gold nc Silver as long as you live, Neither for love you beare towards your Kinne, Nor yet to no great Man preferment to wynnc: That you difclofe the feacret that I fhall you teach, Neither by writing nor by no fwift fpecch 5 But only to him which you be fure ?
Hath ever fcarched after the feacrcts of Nature ? To him you may reveale the feacrcts of this Art^ (depart. Undo: the Covering ofPhilofophiebcfotc this world yec
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What anfwer will you give me.* let mc heareV Mafter quoth I, I grant your defire. Then Son quoth he keepe thys Oath I charge thee well As thinkeft to be faved from the pitt of Hell, (cion
The next day we went to Church, and after our devo" A Preift of his Gentlenes heard both our Confeffions-, Which being done, lo Maflfe ftreight we went. And he miniftred to us the holy Sacrament- But he never wift what we meant therein: For with a contrary reafon I did him blindc, And fo home to dinner we went to our hoaft, All which refeccionl paid for the Coft. When dinner was done I walked in the field Large and plaine, where people pafld Andwhen we were in the midds, Boy quoth he go pick a And come not againe before I for thee whittle. iThiftle
Now Mafter quoth I the Coaft from hearers is cleare, Then quoth he my Senn hearken in thyne Earc 5 And within three or foure words he reveajed unto me, OfMineralls prudence the greate Mifterle . Which when I heard my Spirits were ravifhed for Joy, IhtGreciam were never gladder for the wynning of Troy: As I was then remembring my good Mafter thoe For even the felfe fame fecret he did me fhew : Nyne dayes and no more I tarried with him fure. But Lord in this tyme what fecrets of Nature He opened to me at divers fundry tymes, As partly I have told thee in my former Rimes: The reft is not to be written on paincof Damnacion, Or elfein this Boke truly I would make relation 5 Now Father quoth 1,1 will depart you froe, And for you 1 wil pray whether focver I goe •, Sonopoth he Gods blcffing goe with thee and thync, And if thou fpeede well, lee me heare of thee againe.
THE
ofThilofophy. 30 \
. , vt*v v
The Jixt Chapter.
WHen I was gone a mile or two abroade, With fervent prayer I praifed the Lord : Giveing him thankes for that profperous Journy, Which was more leaver to me then an 100 1. in mony : Surely quoth I my iM after {hall know all this, Orelfemy Braines fhallfervemcamifle$ Which if they were fo good as the Monke made mencio3 Then would I write to my Mafier with a better invencio, O Lord quoth I what a folemneOath was this given ! Surely in fheetes of Brafie it is worthy to be graven 5 For a perpetuall memory ever to rcmaine Amon^thc^Jlofopbers^Soi: an Oath certaine .• And when I was two dayes Journey homeward, To aske him a queftion to him againe I fared3 Which I had forgotten, and would not for my Land, But that doubt truly I might pnderftand.
I thought it not much to.goe backe with all fpeede, To feeke him our, & to the houfe where I left him I yed. And there in a Chamber anone I founde him out, Fraying upon his Beades very devout .• Father quoth la word with you I doebefcech: Who is that quoth he i my Son Charnock by his fpeech : Yea forfooth quoth I, I am come back to you, Defiring you heartily to tell me one thing true : Which is this. Who was in Phdofopby your Tutor, AndofthatSeacret to you the Revealer Marry quoth he and fpcake it with harty Joy3 Forfooth it was Ripley the Canon his Boy :
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Then I remembred my good Mafter againe, Which tould he did it never attaine Of no manner of Man but of God, he put it in his head, As he for it was thinking lying in his Bead : And thus I tarried with him all that night, And made him as good Cheere as I might. In the morning I tooke my leave of him to depart, And in the proceffe of tyme came home with a merry But that mirth was (hortly turn'd to care, (heart ;
For as I have tould you fo my Worke did fare. Once I fct it on fyre which did me much woe, And after my Man hindred me a Moneth or two ? Yet the Gentleman did me more fpight then the reft, As when he made me from worke to be preft, Then Bedlam could not hold me I was fo fretr, But fowft at my worke with a greate Hatchettj Rathing my Potts and my Glaffes altogether, I wiffc they coft me more or I gott them thither .* The afhes with myftur flew all about, - One Fire I fpilt and the other I put out:
All the Rubirti to the dunghill I carried in a Sack, And the next day I tooke my Coates with the Crofle at And forth I went to ferve^ Soldiers rome (the back 5 And furely quoth 1, there fhall come the day of Dome 5 Before I pra&ife againe to be a Philofefher, Wherefore have me Commended to my good Mafter. And now my ftudents in this^tf,my promile I have kept