P R E F A C E.

...in this first book, they will recognize the rest, as if judging a Lion by its claw original: "ex ungue Leonem"; a proverb meaning one can judge the whole from a small part. For all my theories, with which this first book is filled, are supported by practice; hence I appeal to Experience. Unique opinions are owed to curiosity; if any concern faith, I submit them to the Church. It is not a contradiction that a good Chemist might be a bad Theologian, or a good Philosopher a poor philologist original: "philologum"; here meaning a student of formal grammar and literature, for usually these things share much in common.

I excuse the Latin in this work, which I confess is barbaric, both because of the subject matter and the method of writing: for the entire work was conceived from the mouth of the one dictating. Thus, attentive to things, I neglected words. I have often fallen into tautology the unnecessary repetition of the same idea; I did not want to change what was written later, lest I turn clarity into obscurity and incur the criticism of Octavian Emperor Augustus, who said Mark Antony was insane for writing things that no one could understand.

Doctor Jonston Jan Jonston (1603–1675), a famous Polish physician and naturalist takes the prize from most in his Latinity at this time; but read the sixth section of this book, in which we have taken many things from the cited author in specific places, and you will admit that although his Latin is good, it is more difficult to understand than mine. Many errors have crept in, which are due to both the scribe and the proofreader in Frankfurt; neither was knowledgeable in such matters, and thus both are excusable.

I will seem to some to have written too harshly against Physicians, but I did not write against the good, nor the skilled, nor our own in Munich original: "Monacenses"; Becher was serving at the court of the Elector of Bavaria in Munich, whom I trust are both good and learned. I have drawn my pen only against those who, aided by their shaven-headed pettifoggers; original "rabulis", loud-mouthed or deceptive talkers, hinder all good men; they busy themselves with driving away the material causes of diseases using only fantasies, hidden qualities, faculties, powers, and empty, immaterial Metaphysical concepts: using deceits and tricks. In a word, I write against those who, when they read these things, feel themselves touched by the criticism.

The utility this work will provide you is varied, and not unworthy of the ivy an ancient symbol of reward for intellectual or poetic achievement. There will be many enemies, but they will be the ignorant; for I recognize those who know better as Teachers. I gain no profit from this work, except (aside from knowledge and the favor of His Most Serene Highness) the loss of reputation, the waste of time, and danger to health, as well as the ill-will of wicked men—namely the deceivers, for whom I have often served as Examiner and Commissioner (such as Glauber; Johann Rudolf Glauber (1604–1670), a prominent chemist whom Becher accused of fraud).

For it is characteristic of such men to speak ill of those who refuse to be deceived by them. Although I have handled this study in a completely different way than the common ash-blowers; original "ciniflones", a derogatory term for amateur or fraudulent alchemists who did nothing but blow on the coals of their furnaces—namely, toward the goal of truth and science—I could still not avoid incurring the common judgment of gold-making original: "der Goldmacherey" among our common people, who are ignorant of such things and of the intentions of our Most Serene Highness. But the reward for this judgment is ignorance. It will be your duty, curious Reader, to give thanks to our Most Serene Highness, who so candidly and most mercifully permitted the truth to be set forth. Farewell, therefore, and enjoy it, and for such truly Solomon-like endeavors,