Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 41.djvu/227

 suggested (, Secularia, p. 125) that the alchemist may also have been the Norton who was master-mason of the church of St. Mary Redcliffe, and thus have come into contact with Canynges.

Of the same family were Sir Sampson Norton [q. v.] and Samuel Norton the alchemist [q. v.], probably great-grandson to Thomas.

Norton was the author of a chemical tract in English verse, called the ‘Ordinal of Alchimy’ (both Bale and Pits call it ‘Alchimiæ Epitome’), which, though anonymous, reveals its authorship in an ingenious manner. The first word of the proem, the initial syllables of the first six chapters, and the first line of chapter seven, put together, read as follows: ‘Tomas Norton of Briseto, A parfet master ye may him trowe.’

Norton's belief in the value of experiment and proof was striking for his age. On p. 22 of his ‘Ordinal of Alchimy,’ he writes: And blessed is he that maketh due proofe, For that is roote of cunning and roofe; For by opinion is many a man Deceived, which hereof little can. ...... With due proofe and with discreet assaye, Wise men may learn new things every day. The whole work is singularly fresh and bright, and in style of versification has been compared to the works of Surrey and Wyatt (, Schole Master, 1589, p. 53). Interspersed with reverential remarks respecting ‘the subtile science of holy alkimy’ are naïve practical instructions for the student. Warton (Hist. of English Poetry, 1871, iii. 131) pronounces Norton's work to be ‘totally devoid of every poetical elegance.’

Norton's ‘Ordinal’ was published in Latin in Michael Maier's ‘Tripus Aureus,’ Frankfort, 1618, and in ‘Musæum Hermeticum,’ Frankfort, 1678 and 1749, and in J. J. Manget's ‘Bibliotheca Chemica Curiosa,’ Geneva, 1702; in German by David Maisner in ‘Chymischer Tractat,’ Frankfort, 1625 (a translation from the Latin translation); in English in Elias Ashmole's ‘Theatrum Chemicum,’ London, 1652. Manuscript copies in English are in the Brit. Mus. (Harl. MS. 853 [4]; Sloane MSS. 1198, 2174; Addit. MSS. 1751[2], 1873, 2532 [1], 3580 [6]), in the Bodleian Library (Ashmolean MS. 57 (transcribed by John Dee [q. v.] in 1577), 1445, ii. i. (where the author is called Sir Thomas Norton), 1479, 1490), in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, and in that of the Marquis of Bath.

Norton was also the author of a work, ‘De Transmutatione Metallorum’ and of ‘De Lapide Philosophorum,’ in verse (Hist. MSS. Comm. 1st Rep. p. 30), neither of which appears to have been published.

In Walter Haddon's ‘Poemata,’ 1567, p. 82, are some verses ‘In librum Alchymiæ Thomæ Nortoni Bristoliensis.’ 

NORTON, THOMAS (1532–1584), lawyer and poet, born in London in 1532, was eldest son by his first wife of Thomas Norton, a wealthy citizen who purchased from the crown the manor of Sharpenhoe in Bedfordshire, and died on 10 March 1582–3. The father married thrice. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Merry of Northall. His second wife, who was brought up in Sir Thomas More's house, is said to have practised necromancy, but, becoming insane, drowned herself in 1582. His third wife, who is frequently described in error as a wife of his son, was Elizabeth Marshall, widow of Ralph Ratcliff of Hitchin, Hertfordshire (cf., Chesters of Chicheley, ii. 392; Notes and Queries, 4th ser. iv. 234; Harl. MSS. 1234 f. 113, 1547 f. 45 b). The Norton family was closely connected with the Grocers' Company in London, to which the son Thomas was in due course admitted; but, although it is probable that he went to Cambridge at the company's expense, nothing is known of his academic career. He is not identical with the Thomas Norton who graduated B.A. from Pembroke College, Cambridge, in 1569 (cf. Archæologia, xxxvi 105 sq.) He was, however, created M.A. by the university of Cambridge on 10 June 1570 as a twelve-year student, and on 4 July 1576 he applied to the university of Oxford for incorporation, but there is no record of his admission. A brother Lucas is said to have been admitted to the Inner Temple in 1583.

While a boy Thomas entered the service of Protector Somerset as amanuensis, and quickly proved himself a ripe scholar. He eagerly adopted the views of the religious reformers, and was only eighteen when he published a translation of a Latin ‘Letter which Peter Martyr wrote to the Duke of Somerset’ on his release from the Tower in 1550. The interest of the volume is increased by the fact that Martyr's original letter is not extant [see ]. In 1555 Norton was admitted a student at the Inner Temple, and soon afterwards he married Margery, the third daughter of Archbishop Cranmer. He worked seriously at his profession, and subsequently achieved success in it; but, while keeping his