D E D I C A T O R I A.

D E D I C A T I O N

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also so that such chemical works original Latin: "Opera" and writings are not suppressed, but rather may come to light for the benefit of all, Your Imperial Majesty provides and shows all kinds of most gracious advancement through Imperial Special Privileges. Therefore, I have collected this small work original Latin: "Opusculum" by three highly enlightened, esteemed, highly experienced, and excellent men and philosophers—which I have titled THE LITTLE THREE-PART GOLDEN TREASURY original Latin: "THESAURINELLAM AUREAM TRIPARTITAM"—and divided it into three distinct little treatises. Because they are of the same tone original Latin: "tenoris" and content, and deal with the chemical miracle of the physical stone original Latin: "Chemico lapidis Physici miraculo"; a reference to the Philosopher's Stone left behind by them in writing, I wished to gather them into a small handbook and publish them in this form for the benefit of the sons of doctrine original Latin: "Filiis doctrinæ"; a traditional term for students or initiates of the alchemical arts.

The first little treatise is by our highly esteemed monarch and philosopher, Philippus Theophrastus Paracelsus Paracelsus (1493–1541) was a Swiss physician and alchemist who revolutionized medicine by using minerals and chemicals rather than just herbs, (who flourished with his philosophy and wonder-medicine from the year 1530 until 1541, and in that same year on September 24th, passed away blessedly in Christ). This work he calls the Magic Secret original Latin: "Secretum Magicum", in which he deals with the three blessed stones, as well as the true First Matter original Latin: "Materia Prima"; the fundamental, unformed substance from which alchemists believed all physical things were created of all God's creatures, and the First Matter of Metals original Latin: "Metallorū Prima Materia", from which the true Universal Universal: A "universal medicine" or elixir capable of curing all diseases and perfecting base metals into gold and the Philosopher's Stone original Latin abbreviation: "L. Phil.", for Lapis Philosophorum shall be prepared.

The second is by the well-born Count and Lord Bernhard likely referring to Bernard Trevisan, a famous 15th-century alchemist known for his lifelong quest for the Philosopher's Stone, of pious memory...