MASTER JOHN ISAAC HOLLANDUS.

The Vegetable Work.

CHAPTER I.

Decorative ornamental woodcut initial 'A' featuring vine and leaf motifs in a square frame.Now I will teach and describe the secrets of the arts, which secret precedes all secrets hidden in the art of Alchemy original: Alchimy; the ancient branch of natural philosophy focused on the transmutation of matter, particularly the purification of substances.; for here one will understand the wondrous works which GOD has wrought in all things He made from the four elements. For I will teach you here to recognize the spirits of all herbs, trees, and all growing things, and to separate them from their bodies, as well as to purify the four Elements original: Elementa; refers to the classical elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, which alchemists believed could be separated and recombined., and to return them to their first essence and to their perfect power—that is, once the elements are purified, how one should put them back together again and make from them a perfect and fixed body; then it is glorified and performs wondrous effects, of which enough for now, etc.

CHAPTER II.

Now I will teach you to extract and make Armenian Salt original: Sal Armeniacum; traditionally known as Sal Ammoniac (ammonium chloride), a vital chemical in alchemy used for cleaning metals and in various chemical reactions. from all growing things, the