P R E F A C E .

And since the discourse on Metals has been described by many either very obscurely or deceptively, I have added a continuation to it. All of this was either worked upon by Sir K. Digby Sir Kenelm Digby (1603–1665) was a famous English courtier and natural philosopher whose "chemical secrets" became bestsellers in the 17th century. with his own hands, or presented to him by many trustworthy gentlemen throughout all of Europe, and published in English by George Hartman George Hartman was Digby's laboratory assistant who published Digby's posthumous papers.. He had these writings partly in his own keeping, or they were found in that great library—which was sold for ten thousand crowns after his death—in various languages such as Latin, French, Italian, and High German, and were translated into English by the same Hartman; in this way, his secrets have come to light.

Now, dear reader, accept this Theatrum Chimicum original Latin: "Chemical Theater"; a title used for books that aimed to put the "spectacle" of chemical secrets on display for the reader. as something rare and extraordinary. I have named it thus because it is a theater original: schouw-toneel; literally a "show-stage" or public spectacle. and an open door,