DEDICATION

† iij

heavenly art of Chymia original: "Chymia." In the early modern period, this term referred to the "chemical art," encompassing both what we now call chemistry and alchemy. it may be well said and lamented that it is despised, nullified, belittled, and blasphemed by almost everyone—both the clergy and the laity original: "Geistlichen vnd Weltlichen," referring to the spiritual and secular sectors of society, of high and low status—and is proclaimed and "brought to market" as a useless, futile, insolent, presumptuous, ostentatious, and unprovable art.

But the reasons why this happens, and why the slanderers and false yappers original: "falschen Kläffer" thus nullify, slight, belittle, and judge it as useless, are none other than that they do not know it and do not understand it. Furthermore, they are far too unskilled, too coarse, unlearned, and clumsy—or rather, too unworthy, impure, vicious, and burdened with other heavy sins, worries, and similar hindrances original: "Verhindernussen"—