A Defense of the Introduction to a True and Unheard-of Physics

...the truth of the gentle Trevisan original: Trevisani. Refers to Bernard of Trevisan (1406–1490), an Italian alchemist whose writings were highly respected for their perceived honesty and clarity. is not suspected. Isaac Hollandus A name associated with a collection of alchemical writings from the 15th or 16th century, often attributed to a father and son from the Netherlands. in his very extensive writings has produced very few things that smell of Philosophical truth, with the sole exception of the Little Treatise on the Stone of Urine; in which he correctly calls the Matter Urine, and clearly demonstrates the truth to the wise. However, whether the anonymous author—through the operations on Metals and Minerals described in the cited books—truly felt himself to be progressing along the royal road The "Royal Road" (regia via) is a traditional term for the most direct and effective path to creating the Philosopher’s Stone., let the credit remain with him. For a multitude of labors in Minerals brings no other utility to the Hermetic Philosopher than to see, in the end, that he has always erred.

§ 14 The word TESSA, although it seems to be Arabic, and in that language might mean He despoiled, or deprived original: Spolivit, aut privavit; nevertheless, to me it is considered Cabalistic Referring to the Cabala, a mystical tradition where practitioners believed secrets were hidden within the individual letters of words., of which I know that each individual letter contains a unique meaning.

Helbig’s Magnet is the Central Salt, which was never in the earth, and yet is caught above the earth This likely refers to salts derived from the atmosphere, such as dew or rain, which alchemists believed contained a celestial "spirit.". Its taste is Vitriolic resembling vitriol—a sharp, metallic, and bitter taste associated with iron or copper sulfates; its external color is white, and the internal color, like gold, is red; and it is called by the Philosophers Magnet, Sulphur, Male, Salt...