But the spell he wanted most was not there. He wanted a spell to turn clay into gold. Then he never had to look at another pot and his family would be taken care of forever.

One day in an old old book he found an even older spell. It was written in a language so old that Henry could not read it. But there was a notation on the page that the  spell could turn anything into gold. There was a warning that unless the spell was said perfectly and pronounced properly dire consequences could take place.

. But one day he decided to try it any way.  He said the words just as he thought they should be said. But just before the end Henry sneezed. There was a flash of light and Henry found himself as an Oak tree with no way to change back. Since he could not die that oak tree lives today. Some say it is Old Knobbley found  in an area of woodland on Furze Hills, Mistley, Essex. It is a very old Oak.

At least that ‘s what the tradition says. There is a rumor that Henry staged the oak thing so he could leave family and travel the world. Some say he became bitter and ended up as “ He whose Name can not be spoken”. Others say he just enjoyed his many lives and was now an old man in Neenah writing elf tales.

Who knows where the truth lies.

We do know that Henry’s sister decided that if you can’t beat them join them and turned herself into a man. She took the name Merlin and went to work for King Arthur and you know how that turned out.