DEDICATION

† v

found the [the] best and perfect gift original Latin: "optimum & donum perfectum." This is an allusion to the Epistle of James 1:17: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.". In this little book, I wish to mention only three of them, who were such highly enlightened, glorious, and excellent men that they lacked nothing in wealth, understanding, sincerity, art, or favor. They not only proved their discoveries original: "Inuentiones." In early modern usage, an "invention" was often a discovery of a natural truth rather than a new mechanical creation. through practical work, but also shared them for the benefit of everyone through written works and public printing, so that these things might be thoroughly investigated original: "indagiern," from the Latin indagare, meaning to track or investigate a matter to its source., fathomed, experienced, and utilized. Their reports have been compiled together in this handbook original Latin: "Enchiridio," meaning a manual or small book intended to be kept close at hand for constant reference. and are shared with the kindhearted reader under Your Honor's original: "E. Ernv." likely an abbreviation for Eurer Ehrwürden or Eurer Ernvögtlichen, a formal address to the patron of the book. beloved name.

The first is Raymond Lull of Majorca original Latin: "Raymundus Lullius Maioricanus." Lull (c. 1232–1315) was a polymath and mystic; though he likely did not practice alchemy himself, a massive body of alchemical literature was attributed to him in the centuries following his death., who from his youth applied himself, labored, and practiced so diligently in philosophical matters original: "Philoſophiſchen Sachen." At the time, "philosophy" encompassed all of natural science, including chemistry and medicine. that he [surpassed] all...