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CHAP. IV.
A certain King abused by an Alchymist, and of the Kings souls a pretty jest.
THe second example is of another Alchymist that came to a certain King, promising to work by his art many great things, as well in compounding and transubstantiating of metals, as in executing of other exploites of no lesse admiration. But before he began, he found the means to receive by vertue of the kings warrant, a great sum of money in prest, assuring the King and his councell, that he would shortly returne, and accomplish his promise, &c. Soone after, the Kings foole among other jests, fell into a discourse and discovery of fooles, and handled that common place so pleasantly, that the King began to take delight therein, and to like his merry vein. Whereupon he would needs have the foole deliver unto him a schedull or scroll, containing the names of all the most excellent fools in the land.
So he caused the Kings name to be first set downe, and next him all the names of his privy councell. The King seeing him so sawcy and malepert, meant to have had him punished: but some of his councell, knowing him to be a fellow pleasantly conceipted, besought his Majesty rather to demand of him a reason of his libell, &c. than to proceed in extremity against him. Then the foole being asked why he so sawcily ac∣cused the King and his councell of principall folly, answered; Because he saw one foolish knave beguile them all, and to cousen them of so great a masse of money, and finally to be gone out of their reach. Why (saith one of the councell) he may returne and performe his promise, &c. Then (quoth the foole) I can help all the matter easily. How (said the King) canst thou doe that? Marry sir (said he) then I will blot out your name and put in his, as the most foole in the world. Many other practices of the like nature might be hereunto annexed, for the detection of the knavery and deceipts whereupon this art dependeth, whereby the reader may be more delighted in reading, than the practisers benefited in sim∣ply using the same. For it is an art consisting wholly of subtlety and deceipt, whereby the ignorant and plain minded man through this too much credulity is circumvented, and the humour of the other slye cou∣sener satisfied.