Collection of Alchemical Treatises

diversity of the operations of nature,
by which many poor people may
be relieved through the aid and
riches of this precious
science; I know, and am certain,
and would assure myself that Your Royal
Majesty does not possess the ill
heart of King Edward of England,
from when Raymond Lully, Duke of
Majorca, being then in
England—flourishing in
this science and others, whereof he
composed one hundred and twenty-four books
on all sciences and arts, as the
Lord Giulio Camillo of the Venetian
Land (may God grant his
soul rest) showed me the list,
although I still have thirty or
forty of his books—agreed,
as he states in his testament
and codicil, with the said King
Edward to go to Tunis and to
all of Barbary; the said King making
him great promises and oaths,
the said Lully equipped for him eight

hundred ships, and the said King making
him great promises, and feigning
to go there, did the opposite, for he
came to land in Guyenne
and Normandy, to which,
as is known, France is still
tributary. And when he returned
to England, the said Duke of
Majorca complained of the said
King; Edward told him that he should
have no concern but to make gold and silver,
and that another time he would go there;
and the said Duke, recognizing his malice,
stole away from him, and came to
Cluny in France, where he
took the habit of St. Benedict; and
even after becoming a religious,
he performed great deeds for
the faith of J. C. in Barbary,
and was martyred at Tunis;
and although a great effusion of
blood followed, he did it
in good faith, as may
be seen by his testament
and codicil.