An ornate woodcut headpiece at the top of the page featuring symmetrical foliage and scrollwork with stylized birds or creatures woven into the floral patterns.

To the Most Serene, Most Powerful, Most Invincible Prince and Lord, Lord RUDOLPH II. Elected Roman Emperor, at all times Increaser of the Empire, King in Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, and Slavonia, and Archduke of Austria, etc. my most gracious LORD, etc.

Large decorative initial 'A' framed by intricate floral and foliate motifs.

That the highly praiseworthy art of ALCHEMY is not only an ancient, useful, and entirely wholesome art, but also an exceedingly excellent gift and gracious present of the Most High SPAGYRIST original Latin: Spagyri. Figulus refers to God as the ultimate divine Alchemist who "separates and joins" the elements of creation, paternally shared and bestowed upon mankind, and is even today given to a few who attain it through a godly life and dear, powerful prayer: Whereby not only the imperfect, leprous metals original: außsätzige Metalla. In alchemical theory, base metals like lead were considered "diseased" or "leprous" versions of gold and required healing or purification may be improved, purified, and brought to their highest Exaltation Exaltation: An alchemical process that raises a substance to a higher state of purity or "dignity," increasing its potency, but also contagious and incurable diseases original Latin: morbi contagiosi & incurabiles decried by the Galenists followers of Galen, the traditional medical authority whose herbal-based medicine was often opposed by the mineral-based Paracelsian alchemists, and their poisonous essences original Latin: Entia venenata, can be driven out of the human body and rooted out original Latin: radicitus through artistic Spagyric preparations, extracts, and oils, and...