The Little Golden Olympic Treasury

An ornamental woodcut headpiece featuring symmetrical acanthus leaves and scrolling floral vines.

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 Arch-

duke of Austria, etc. my most gracious

LORD, etc.

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: SPAGYRI; here the author refers to God as the ultimate alchemist or chemical creator.
paternally shared and bestowed upon mankind, and is even
given today to a few who attain it through a godly
way of life and dear, powerful prayer: Through which not only the imperfect, leprous metals In alchemical theory, "base" metals like lead were considered "diseased" or "leprous" versions of gold.
may be improved, purified, and brought into their highest exaltation, but also contagious and incurable diseases original Latin: morbi contagiosi & incurabiles
decried by the Galenists Followers of the ancient Greek physician Galen, whose traditional herbal medicine the author's "Spagyric" or chemical medicine intended to replace., and their poisonous entities original Latin: ENTIA venenata, can be driven out of the human body and pulled out by the roots original Latin: radicitus through skillful Spagyric preparations, extracts, and oils.