Richardus Anglicus (14th century) was an English author of alchemical texts.
Works
Richardus Anglicus the alchemist wrote several texts in the 14th century, including ''Correctorium alchemiae'', also known as ''Corrector (fatuorum)''. He was considered among the leading English alchemists of the period. Texts attributed to him were printed in ''
De Alchemia'' (1541, 1550) and in
Theatrum Chemicum (1602–1661). He was well read in the alchemical literature through the 14th century and stands in that tradition, including concerns with the
materia prima.
Identity
The name Richardus Anglicus was, however, ambiguous. Historians of science have identified him variously with
Richard of Wendover (by
John Ferguson), with
Robert of York (died ) (by
Lynn Thorndike
Lynn Thorndike (24 July 1882, in Lynn, Massachusetts, USA – 28 December 1965, Columbia University Club, New York City) was an American historian of medieval science and alchemy. He was the son of a clergyman, Edward R. Thorndike, and the young ...
), and with
Richard of Middleton
Richard of Middleton (Medieval Latin: Richardus de Mediavilla; c. 1249 – c. 1308) was a member of the Franciscan Order, a theologian, and scholastic philosopher.
Life
Richard's origins are unclear: he was either Norman French (from Mennevill ...
(by
Hermann Kopp
Hermann Kopp (born 21 August 1954, in Stuttgart) is a German composer and musician, presently living in Barcelona, Spain.
Biography
In the early eighties, Kopp released two vinyl records with a sound that can be vaguely classified as electroni ...
). More recently, Joachim Telle disproved these attributions.
[Ricardus Anglicus Telle, Verfasserlexikon, vol. 8 (1992), pp. 38 f.] José Rodriguez Guerrero attributes the ''Correctorium alchemiae'' to
Bernard of Trier (not to be confused with the fictional Italian alchemist
Bernard Trevisan), whom he identifies with
Eberhard von der Marck-Aremberg (1305–1387), a law graduate and clergyman, who became
chorbishop
A chorbishop is a rank of Christian clergy below bishop. The name chorepiscope or chorepiscopus (plural chorepiscopi) is taken from the Greek and means "rural bishop".
History
Chorepiscopi are first mentioned by Eusebius as existing in the sec ...
of Cologne before leaving the church to marry.
[José Rodríguez Guerrero, "El Correctorium alchimiae (ca. 1352–1362) de Ricardus Anglicus y la versión de Bernardus Magnus de Tréveris," Azogue 8 (2014–2018): 216–70.] He further argues that Bernard of Trier is also the author of the later version of the text entitled ''Corrector (fatuorum)''.
References
Bibliography
* Joachim Telle: ''Ricardus Anglicus.'' In: ''
Verfasserlexikon.'' 2. Auflage. Vol. 8, 1992, pp. 38–41.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anglicus, Richardus
14th-century English writers