Magia Naturalis, oder Hauß-, Kunst- und Wunder-Buch

2. He should also not be unskilled in the Art of Medicine, for our science is entirely conformed to it, so that it is held that it has crept in under the appearance of the same, and has so occupied human minds that great benefit can now be drawn from it. As it also teaches to mix one thing with another, and to join certain things together according to their conformity, and to prepare them for certain effects.

3. In the knowledge of herbs, not a common botanist or herbalist is required here, but one who knows how to distinguish all plants, herbs, and shrubs with the greatest exactness. For since plants are often not clearly enough named, and also generally very similar to one another, this has caused us great effort in some works. Furthermore, nothing more

absurd can be found than when an artist should not know the tools with which he must work: therefore we regard this as so necessary as if everything depended upon it alone. And in like manner, he should also rightly recognize the metals, minerals, precious and base stones.

4. Furthermore, no one will deny that such a master must be well practiced in the Art of Distillation or Separation, which seems to imitate the rain from heaven and to have originated therefrom. Likewise, from it many glorious inventions and much good benefit for the human race come forth daily; namely, when we know how to decompose things into certain subtle vapors, fatty humors, and strong waters, also thick and resinous oils, to extract their deeply hidden essences and natures, and to exalt them, and to increase them duly in their virtue. All of which a natural practitioner must have learned not merely superficially and in a common way, but from the ground up, and each with its causes most exactly.

5. No less must he be experienced in the mathematical sciences and arts of measurement, and especially in astrology or star-divination: from which he should have learned,