John Dastin
Encyclopedia
John Dastin was an English
alchemist
of the fourteenth century. Nothing is known of his life beyond the texts which are attributed to him (A biographical notice De vita, aetate ac scripsis Johannis Dastin is found in a 17th century manuscript: Ms Oxford, Bold. Libr., Ashmol. 1445, VIII, fol. 53).. Dastin is known for correspondence with Pope John XXII
in defense of alchemical practice, dated to 1320.
Work attributed to Dastin was included in the 1625 Harmoniae imperscrutabilis Chymico-Philosophicae of Hermannus Condeesyanus, the 1629 Fasciculus Chemicus
of Arthur Dee
, and the 1652 Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum of Elias Ashmole
.
It was also attributed to Dastin's contemporary Arnaldus de Villa Nova
(1238-1311 or 1313) and translated into French under the title La Vraie Pratique de la noble science d'alchimie. Later still it was attributed to Nicolas Flamel under the title The Book of Washing.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
alchemist
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
of the fourteenth century. Nothing is known of his life beyond the texts which are attributed to him (A biographical notice De vita, aetate ac scripsis Johannis Dastin is found in a 17th century manuscript: Ms Oxford, Bold. Libr., Ashmol. 1445, VIII, fol. 53).. Dastin is known for correspondence with Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII , born Jacques Duèze , was pope from 1316 to 1334. He was the second Pope of the Avignon Papacy , elected by a conclave in Lyon assembled by Philip V of France...
in defense of alchemical practice, dated to 1320.
Work attributed to Dastin was included in the 1625 Harmoniae imperscrutabilis Chymico-Philosophicae of Hermannus Condeesyanus, the 1629 Fasciculus Chemicus
Fasciculus Chemicus
Fasciculus Chemicus or Chymical Collections. Expressing the Ingress, Progress, and Egress, of the Secret Hermetick Science our of the choicest and most famous authors is an anthology of alchemical writings compiled by Arthur Dee in 1629 while resident in Moscow as chief physician to Czar Mikhail...
of Arthur Dee
Arthur Dee
Arthur Dee , the eldest son of Dr John Dee, was a physician and alchemist.He was the eldest son of John Dee, by his second wife, Jane, daughter of Bartholomew Fromond of East Cheam, Surrey, and was born at Mortlake on 13 July 1579. He accompanied his father in travels through Germany, Poland, and...
, and the 1652 Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum of Elias Ashmole
Elias Ashmole
Elias Ashmole was a celebrated English antiquary, politician, officer of arms, astrologer and student of alchemy. Ashmole supported the royalist side during the English Civil War, and at the restoration of Charles II he was rewarded with several lucrative offices.Ashmole was an antiquary with a...
.
Letter to John XXII
Dastin argues that artificial transmutation into gold with the help of sulphur of mercury (argent vive) is equivalent to natural transformation. Furthermore, that "art imitates nature, and in certain respects corrects and surpasses it just as infirm nature is changed by the industry of medicine."Rosarius
The Rosarius Philosophorum, also known by its incipit 'Desiderabile desiderium (the desired desire). The Rosarium is known in manuscript and was printed in 1702 by J. J. Manget in his Bibliotheca Chemica Curiosa.It was also attributed to Dastin's contemporary Arnaldus de Villa Nova
Arnaldus de Villa Nova
Arnaldus de Villa Nova was an alchemist, astrologer and physician....
(1238-1311 or 1313) and translated into French under the title La Vraie Pratique de la noble science d'alchimie. Later still it was attributed to Nicolas Flamel under the title The Book of Washing.
Visio
In manuscripts, this text was often associated with the Visio Edwardi. It was printed for the first time in 1625 under the title Visio Ioannis Dastin , and translated into English in 1652 in the Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum of Elias Ashmole as Dastin's Dreame.Manuscripts
- Tractatus Joannis Dastin. Cum gauderent uti breuitate Cambridge, Trinity College MS. O.8.36.
- Inc. Ep. Johannis Dastine ad papam Johannem xxii transmissa de alkimia and Visio Joh. Dastin Cambridge, Trinity College MS. O.2.18. 14th and 15th centuries.
- Tractatus Alchemici. De erroribus J. Dastin - British Library MS. Egerton 845. 15th century.