PREFACE

Fourthly, it is impossible for the original manuscript original: "autographum" of the book or the writings to be seized from the heir by craftiness or by a price, only to be destroyed by fire before they can be printed. For I have learned that certain arrogant men offered the aforementioned heir a thousand crowns A significant sum of gold currency in hand, using a certain Bookseller as their front. They even bid a further thousand in collateral on this condition: that he surrender all the writings of his father which he possessed, without keeping a single copy for himself. But the heir, being free from the lust for money, smelled a fraud; he listened to the man, asked many questions, looked into every detail, and so utterly confounded him that the man finally broke out into insults in his imprudence, retracing his steps homeward with his journey wasted. These and many similar experiences which the heir has endured have bred a mistrust in him, so that he demands only such security from anyone who aspires to those works that he cannot be deceived. I have understood, moreover,—if I remember correctly—that in the meantime he has seen to it that they are printed by an honest and faithful man who will busy himself with selling them throughout all the lands of the earth.

Fifthly, if one were to suborn forged books to the Author, containing foreign and false Doctrine, it would be made plain to all. For the method of the Discovery Likely referring to the "Chemical Invention" or the alchemical process described in the books is now open everywhere; furthermore, by doing so, we would only rouse the heirs, and he would cry out so loudly (in accordance with the meaning of his name) that he would be heard by everyone. He does not lack the means, though he lacks an inheritance; for it is asserted—and it is the truth itself—that he has found Elias the Artist A legendary figure in alchemical lore, predicted by Paracelsus, who would appear at the end of time to reveal all the secrets of nature and medicine., and has made him an intimate friend. With his help, he will propagate the Philosophy of Pythagoras original: "Pythagoræ Philoſophiam"; in this context, it refers to a mystical understanding of the harmony of nature and the elements, whose final tablets he has dug out with unwearied labor through the metallic rod Likely a dowsing rod or a specific alchemical tool used for "mining" philosophical or literal truths at the direction of his Father.

Since things stand thus, let us not provoke him; let us spare our efforts and save our expenses. For if this Doctrine holds any evil purpose, it will collapse of its own accord all the sooner; but if it descends from the divine, and we fight against it, we would not be equal to the task, and we would spend our labor and costs in vain, bringing destruction upon ourselves now and in the future.

When all the remaining Doctors had heard these solid reasons, they gave him great thanks and honored this Confutation A formal logical argument intended to disprove or check an opposing view as a settled matter. Except, however, for the aforementioned Senior Elder. Upon hearing these things, he was seized by Apoplexy A sudden stroke or loss of consciousness, often attributed to intense emotion or "humoral" imbalance out of grief and fear, so much so that he met a very sudden death. His sons broke out in wailing, the neighbors were awakened and flocked to the spot; ignorant of what had happened, they found this entire family in the greatest consternation. Similarly, a student who had observed this crowd approached and immediately looked out for his own advantage. For when he saw all their writings lying scattered here and there and abandoned, he took them up, hid them under his cloak, and soon withdrew. As soon as the day had dawned, he gave anyone of his friends and patrons the opportunity to read them; they spread the word and made it known everywhere. From here it spread further: By digging for Pytha—