Quicksilver transmutation

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Often appears with: religious persecution and toleration · religious hypocrisy · crucible and laboratory tools · conspiracy and assassination · con artist trick · alchemy deception

Usually: narrative (1) · betrayal (1) · indignation (1)

The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems primary

Geoffrey Chaucer · c. 1387–1400 (composition of The Canterbury Tales and included poems; some items likely earlier/later)
i.e. > Act, which was passed soon after, 5 H. IV. c. iv., to make it felony ‘to multiply gold or silver, or to use the art of multiplication.’” Tyrwhitt finds in the prologue some colour for the hypothesis that this Tale was intended by Chaucer to begin the return journey from Canterbury; but against this must be set the fact that the Yeoman himself expressly speaks of the distance to Canterbury yet to be ridden. (7/112)

A canon’s servant and a priest of Christ’s people are deceived by an alchemist-canon plot, in which the priest is told to use quicksilver in a crucible to transmute it into real silver.

will ye so? Mary! thereof I pray you heartily.” “At your commandement, Sir, truely,” Quoth the canon, “and elles God forbid.” Lo, how this thiefe could his service bede!* *offer Full sooth it is that such proffer’d service Stinketh, as witnesse *these olde wise;* *those wise folk of old* And that full soon I will it verify In this canon, root of all treachery, That evermore delight had and gladness (Such fien…