Thomas Norton (alchemist)

Thomas Norton (* 1433 in Colerne, Wiltshire, † 1513) was an English poet and alchemist. He has the alchemical work Ordinall of Achimy written, a 3000 lines comprehensive poem about alchemy.

Life

Thomas Norton was born in Colerne, a small town in Wiltshire, England. About his education is not known. He served from 1476 to 1477 the office of the sheriff of Somerset. Previously, from 1475 to 1476, he was also the Peace Commission (Commission of Peace ) in this county. Also known as a tax collector, he worked from 1477 to 1479. He accused the mayor of Bristol in 1479 of treason. He was also a consultant to the private circle of King Edward IV (reigned 1461-1486 ). He do not concern themselves with alchemy, as long as he held public office. He wrote the 1477 Ordinall of Achimy showing his only surviving work. The Ordinall was particularly in the Latin copy ( Tripus Aureus, 1618) by Michael Maier. The English original story was published in the alchemical collection magazine Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum (English ), edited by Elias Ashmole.

Ordinall of Alchemy

The 1477 authored, 3000 lines comprehensive poem has been handed down in 39 copies. The earliest examples date from the years 1480-90. The text should be, also been known John Dee, alchemist and a London merchant.

The Ordinall is divided into seven chapters, which " Poeme " is prefixed. In his text, it is clear that Norton doubted the possibility of proliferation of metals by transmutation and contests. However, he believed in the fact objective of transmutation, the conversion of metals into other metals. The metals are so Norton on, inanimate. The Philosopher's Stone has, according to Norton's view, are made of marcasite and magnesia to transform base metals into gold and silver can. Marcasite described in the alchemical sense, a group of sulphide minerals shiny. Magnesia designated today under the name of magnesium oxide MgO known.

He also divided the magnum opus in his Ordinall further than usual up to his time. A rough part consisted therefore the solution and cleaning ( Solutio and Putrificatio ) and led to the separation of the four elements (air, water, earth, fire). In the fine work of these four elements were then connected to the elixir ( Philosopher's Stone ) in accordance with the alchemical principle " Solve et Coagula ". During the process, then color changes could be observed that from black to white in the success of the experiment should run to red. In addition, the experiment had to be done very carefully, starting with the careful warming ( Digestition ), about going to the circulation, where the material passes through the states of matter according to the following pattern: solid - liquid-gas -liquid-solid.

Norton also stresses the importance of a favorable astrological constellation and the importance of the vessel. The Philosophical Egg, an egg-shaped glass, was the only vessel to be used. The fire must also have the correct temperature. The metal conversion he calls transubstantiation.