Born in Pontoise in 1330, he occupied several positions throughout his life, notably as a copyist, a notary and a bookseller. In his last profession as bookseller, he one day came into possession of the manuscript of Abraham the Jew, a spellbook supposed to contain the secret of the making of the philosopher's stone.
Obsessed with its decryption, he turned into an alchemist and found a way to transform lead into gold on April 25th, 1382. Motivated by a spiritual impulse and not by greed, he said that he only created gold three times and this wealth was only used to help others: he indeed financed 14 hospitals, built 3 chapels, 7 churches and a few houses!
His house, that was always in very good condition, for a long time welcomed students, labourers or the homeless, who in exchange for a meal, were only asked to pray. On the facade of this 15th century vestige there is a Psalm in Latin that they used for their morning prayers.
