Alain of Lille (ca. 1128-1203)
Alain of Lille (ca. 1128-1203)
Also known as Alanus de Insulensis, Doctor Universalis (because of his universal knowledge), theologian and poet, presumed author of a treatise on alchemy entitled Dicta de Lapide Philosophico, published at Leyden in 1600. Alain de Lille entered the Cistercian order at Clairvaux, taught in Paris, and became bishop of Auxerre. His writings were praised for their clarity of style. However, there is some doubt as to whether he was really the author of the Dicta, since it appears to have been written first in German. The work bears the ascription "Alanus Insulensis," but this may have been due to a contemporary practice of ascribing anonymous works to some illustrious individual who had died and was therefore unable to deny authorship. It has been suggested that the real author was Albertus Cranzius, ca. 1430.