TWO PSEUDO-SCIENCES 



was seized with it, he gambled away health, position, 

 and life itself in pursuing the coveted stake. An ex- 

 ample of this is seen in Albertus Magnus, one of the 

 most learned men of his time, who it is said resigned 

 his position as bishop of Ratisbon in order that he 

 might pursue his researches in alchemy. 



If self-sacrifice was not sufficient to secure the prize, 

 crime would naturally follow, for there could be no 

 limit to the price of the stakes in this game. The 

 notorious Marechal de Keys, failing to find the coveted 

 stone by ordinary methods of laboratory research, was 

 persuaded by an impostor that if he would propitiate 

 the friendship of the devil the secret would be re- 

 vealed. To this end De Revs began secretly capturing 

 young children as they passed his castle and murder- 

 ing them. When he was at last brought to justice it 

 was proved that he had murdered something like a 

 hundred children within a period of three years. So, 

 at least, runs one version of the story of this perverted 

 being. 



Naturally rnonarchs, constantly in need of funds, 

 were interested in these alchemists. Even sober Eng- 

 land did not escape, and Raymond Lully, one of the 

 most famous of the thirteenth and fourteenth century 

 alchemists, is said to have been secretly invited by 

 King Edward I. (or II.) to leave Milan and settle in 

 England. According to some accounts, apartments 

 were assigned to his use in the Tower of London, 

 where he is alleged to have made some six million 

 pounds sterling for the monarch, out of iron, mercury, 

 lead, and pewter. 



Pope John XXII. , a friend and pupil of the alchemist 



127 



