Lives of the Adepts.

...his book, 1413, in which he deplores her loss. A deed was made by the executors of Perrenelle, his wife, the 2d of April, 1419, in which there are these words, "The late Perrenelle, wife of the late Nicholas Flamel." There is a great appearance, from this circumstance, that he died in March, 1419; and it is very likely that the deed was made shortly after his death, because he was one of the testamentary executors of his wife; and from the date of his preface, he was living in 1419.

Thus, the death of Perrenelle may be placed in the year 1413, and the death of Flamel in 1419.

The argument of Flamel's munificence, in proof of the Hermetic science, has been contested by Gabriel Naude, who was bookseller to Cardinal Mazarin, and wrote with some ability against the Invisible Rosicrucian a secret mystical brotherhood brotherhood; and also, "An Apology for Great Men suspected of Magic." He asserts that Flamel managed affairs for the Jews, and upon their banishment from the kingdom of France, and the confiscation of their property for the King, he, knowing the sums due by several individuals, compromised, by receiving a part, which they paid him, to prevent his giving information, which would oblige them to pay the entire to the public officer. The riches acquired by this artifice, were concealed by his pretension to Alchemy; and agreeable to the devotion of the times, to expiate his sin, he built some churches and hospitals.

The testimony of Naude is considerable, as it supposes the fact of Flamel's riches incontestable; and it goes further, proving his profession, as well as his existence; for Naude relates, that he saw at Rome, in the library of Cardinal Bagny, a copy of the Romance of the Rose, written in Flamel's own hand. But the explanation Naude gives of the source of Flamel's riches, is an unfounded assertion. If we carefully examine history, there were three expulsions of the Jews from France, between 1300 and 1420. They were banished in 1308; were soon after allowed to return; and were banished again in 1320; this was before Flamel's birth. The Jews were re-established by Charles V. in 1364, and they remained in quiet until the riots in Paris, in 1380, at the beginning of the reign of Charles VI. when the people rose against the Jews, committed great outrages, and demanded their expulsion; but the sedition was quelled, and the Jews protected, until, in 1393, upon several charges brought against them, they were enjoined to quit France, or become Christians. The historian, Mezaray, says, that some of them chose rather to quit their religion than the kingdom; others sold their goods, and retired. Thus, it appears, that the only expulsion of the Jews that could agree with Naude's surmise, was without the confiscation of their property, and therefore could not give Flamel the opportunity alleged, if indeed it were reasonable to suppose that all the...

Nicholas Flamel.

...Jews entrusted their affairs to one person, when it does not appear that any necessity required such an agency.

It is therefore untrue, that Flamel was enriched by the property of the Jews, or that those who owed them money, compounded with Flamel, lest he should denounce them to the king.

The simplicity and honesty of Flamel, appears, in every line he wrote, to convince us of his innocence.

Notwithstanding the secrecy of Flamel and Perrenelle, the report of their charities reached the King; and the Hieroglyphics were not forgotten, which, to some of the learned, appeared Hermetical. Charles VI. reigned from 1380, to his death, in 1422. He was naturally a good prince, but grievously afflicted in health. He thought the reports respecting Flamel so important, that he sent a confidential person, M. Cramoisi, Master of the Requests, to enquire into it. This magistrate went to the philosopher's house; he found there no appearance of affluence; a beechen platter, containing boiled greens, was placed on a stool; Flamel sat on one side, Perrenelle on the other, enjoying their humble and self-denying repast. These evidences were convincing to the courtier, and he reported to the King, that Flamel was really indigent. He then remained in peace, and proceeded without further interruption in his munificent works of charity.

Flamel gave a quantity of transmuting powder to Perrenelle's nephew, M. Perrier; from him it descended to Dr. Perrier, and was found among the doctor's papers, at his death, by his grandson, Dubois. The prudence and moderation that accompanied the gift to the Perriers, was not found in Dubois: he exhibited the sacred miracle to improper persons, and was brought before Louis XIII. in whose presence he made gold of base metal, and this gold, in the cupel a shallow vessel used in the refining of precious metals, augmented in weight.

The consequence of all this patriotic generosity was, an infamous death. His vanity was equal to his imprudence; he fancied he could make, or augment the powder, and promised to do so, but did not succeed.

It is probable that he was suspected of withholding the art from the King, a circumstance sufficient in politics, to justify strong measures, lest the possessor of the sinews of war should go over to the enemy.

Whatever were the charges against Dubois, he was hanged; and his fate should be a proof, that a science, producing unbounded power in riches, is the greatest misfortune to all those who are unfit, and unprepared to manage the dangerous trust with discretion.

As a completion to Flamel's history, it may be entertaining to recite a very curious account, given by Paul Lucas, of an adventure he had in the East, where he travelled by order of the King of France, Louis XIV. to whom he dedicated his book,