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Sir
George Ripley
Born c. 1415
Kingdom of England
Notable work The Compound of Alchemy, Cantilena Riplaei, The Ripley Scroll (disputed)
Main interests
Alchemy
show
Influenced
Contents
1Biography
2The Wheel
5Canonical works
6References
7Further reading
Biography[edit]
Alchemists Revealing Secrets from the Book of Seven Seals, The Ripley Scroll, detail
George Ripley was one of England's most famous alchemists. His alchemical writings
attracted attention not only when they were published in the fifteenth century, but also
later in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. His writings were studied by noted
figures such as the alchemist John Dee, Robert Boyle (who is considered to be the first
modern chemist), and even Isaac Newton. [2]
A great deal of myth has grown up around Ripley, such as that he studied in Italy for
twenty years and became a favorite of Pope Innocent VIII. He did however spend a
number of years on the continent, and after his return to England he wrote his work The
Compound of Alchemy; or, the Twelve Gates leading to the Discovery of the
Philosopher's Stone (Liber Duodecim Portarum) in 1471. The Cantilena Riplaei is one [3]
of the first poetic compositions on the subject of alchemy. Most of Ripley's work is [citation needed]
Another story about him is reported by Thomas Fuller in his Worthies of England,, which
describes a reputable English gentleman who reported having seen a record in the
island of Malta which stated that Ripley gave the enormous sum of one hundred
thousand pounds sterling annually to the Knights of that island and of Rhodes to
support their war against the Turks.
Ripley is known as the "Canon of Bridlington". He spent his later years as
an anchorite near Boston (Yorkshire).
The Wheel[edit]
George Ripley's Wheel, by Elias Ashmole, 1652
Some scholars claim that the writings of The Compound of Alchemy were meant to be
read in light of an alchemical drawing done by Ripley called the Wheel. This drawing is
in essence an analogy of the planets of our solar system, of which at the time, earth
was considered to be the centre. Ripley encoded his alchemical recipes into this
drawing, depicting them as the planets which revolved around the earth, or, more
specifically, the elements of his work. In alchemy, there is often an analogical
connection made between heaven and earth, and this connection is symbolized by the
use of the seven planetary symbols: Sol (Sun), Luna (Moon), Mercurius (Mercury),
Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. These planets correspond respectively to gold, silver,
quicksilver, copper, iron, tin, and lead. [5]
There are approximately 23 copies of the Ripley Scroll in existence. The scrolls range
[6]
in size, colour, and detail but are all variations on a lost 15th century original. Although
they are named after George Ripley, there is no evidence that Ripley designed the
scrolls himself. They are called Ripley scrolls because some of them include poetry
associated with the alchemist. The scrolls' images are symbolic references to
the philosopher's stone. [7]
London, British Library, Add MS 5025 (Alchemical scrolls), Four scrolls are drawn in Lubeck
1588.
London, Science Museum, A21950, 18th century.
London, Wellcome Institute, 692 & 693, two scrolls 16th century.
Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 276, 16th century.
ref. also a version of Ripley Scrowle by James Standysh, 16th century, British Library, Add
MS 32621.
Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Bodl Rolls 1 | Alchemical Roll
Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Ash. Rolls 40 | Alchemical Roll
Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Ash. Rolls 52 | Alchemical Roll
Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Ash. Rolls 53 | Alchemical Roll
Canonical works[edit]
George Ripley, Cantilena Riplaei
George Ripley, Opera omnia chemica. Kassel, 1649.
George Ripley, Liber duodecim portarum, also contained in J.J. Mangetus, Bibliotheca
Chemica Curiosa (Geneva 1702), Vol. II, pp 275–285.
Aeyrenaeus Philalethus, Ripley Reviv'd; or, An Exposition upon Sir George Ripley's
Hermetico-Poetical Works (London 1678).