Most Noble, most Excellent, most
Expert, and most Accurate Inspectors
of the Vulcanian Anatomy,
and my most real
FRIENDS.
Although I neither was willing,
nor able to be wanting to my
honoured Friends, yet would not
divulge and bring to light the Verity
of the Spagirick Art, but by this most
precious, and Miraculous Arcanum,
which I not only saw with these Eyes,
but taking a little of the transmutatory
powder, I myself also transmuted
an Impure Mass of Lead volatile
in the Fire, into fixed Gold, constantly
sustaining every Examen of Fire:
in such wise, as henceforth it can no
more be suspected by any Man, no not
by those, who unto this day have
perswaded themselves and others, that
this Arcanum is given to no man:
but contrarily we were fully and indubitately
perswaded, that, in things
of Nature, The Mercury of Philosophers
is Primo-material, and is like
a Fountain overflowing with wonderfull
Effects, and those escaping every
acuteness, and Light of Human reprehensible
Reason, as shall be evidenced
in this my little work: which I was
willing to dedicate and consecrate to
you, my Primary Patrons, as to most
prudent Masters, and Defenders.
Yet in the mean while, I pray consider,
that I have not writ to the end
I would teach any one, that Art,
which I my self know not, but only
that I might recite the true Process
of this Arcanum. For, what can more
confirm, and Patronize Verity, than
the true Light of Truth it self? It
is the property of Brute Animals to
pass their life in Silence, and especially
not to heed those things in them,
which do most of all look to, and are
required for the propagation of the
Glory of the most Wise, and most powerful
GOD our creator. Wherefore,
since it is a thing unworthy,
and to the Divine Majesty ungrateful,
for Man, who should be a Consort
of the Divine Nature, to wax brutish
with Brutes, I present to you, my
most faithful Friends, and Patrons
of this Science, this most rare History:
having as time, and my Ability would
permit, recollected all things, and
have faithfully commemorated them.
Therefore, omitting all paints, and
flourishes of Rhetorical Expressions,
I will forthwith betake my self to the
discovery of all, whatsoever I both
saw, and heard from Elias the Artist
touching this. For truly, I was not so
intimately familiar with him, as that
he should instruct me in the way of preparing
the Universal Medicine,
after the Method of Physico-artificial
Chimistry: yet he supplyed me
with such Reasons in the Method of
Healing, as I shall never be able to
commend his worth with condigne
Praises. Therefore, most curious Favourers,
and true Lovers of the Chimical Art,
accept of this little work,
as a mean Gift, or if you had rather,
peruse if only for recreation of the
mind; for in it I shall relate all things
whatsoever, that were discoursed of
between him and me, at several times:
humbly requesting, that with the same
benevolence you have received other
of my small Treatises, you would also
accept of this Novel, which I freely
dedicate, and officiously give to you,
for a motion, and increase of Admiration.
Farewel, avete, favete.