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is gathered. Danthynus Likely a reference to John Dastin (c. 1293–1386), an English alchemist famous for his correspondence with Pope John XXII regarding the possibility of transmutation. says: our water original: "aqua nostra"; alchemists used the possessive "our" to distinguish their secret, prepared substances from common materials like tap water or quicksilver. is found in old stables and latrines and foul sewers. This is a classic alchemical metaphor suggesting that the "First Matter" of the Great Work is something humble, cheap, and often overlooked or discarded by the ignorant. And Morienes Morienus Romanus, a legendary 7th-century hermit said to have taught alchemy to the Umayyad prince Khalid ibn Yazid. [says]: our water grows in mountains and valleys.

Note Well. original: "N. B." or "Nota Bene." But the foolish do not understand these words, and they think it is mercury. It is not mercury; but it is dry water, original: "aqua sicca"; an alchemical paradox. It refers to a substance that acts as a solvent or "water" but does not wet the hands, often identified with the "mercury of the philosophers." which causes all mineral spirits, original: "spiritus minerales"; the volatile, active essences within metallic ores. the soul, and the body Alchemists viewed metals as living beings composed of a physical "body" (the metallic form), a "soul" (the essence or color), and a "spirit" (the volatile force that connects them). to enter and gather together; and when it [con...] The text breaks off mid-word (likely "conjungi" for "joined" or "congregari" for "collected") and continues on the following page.