On Alchemy (1541) - Page 20

OF THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN THE Mirror of Alchemy by the most learned man Roger Bacon. Roger Bacon (c. 1214–1292) was a Franciscan friar and philosopher. This work, the Speculum Alchemiae, is one of the most famous medieval texts on the nature and composition of metals.

Chap.		folio.
	A brief preface.	257
I.	On the definitions of Alchemy.	in the same place.
II.	On natural principles and the procreation of minerals.	258
III.	From which things the matter of the elixir must be more closely extracted. The elixir is the agent of transmutation, often used interchangeably with the Philosopher's Stone.	260
IIII.	On the method of operation, and on regulating and maintaining the fire.	264
V.	On the quality of the vessel and the furnace.	266
VI.	On the accidental and essential colors appearing in the work. Alchemists looked for specific color changes—usually black, white, and red—to signal the success of their chemical reactions.	267
VII.	On the method of projecting the medicine upon any of the imperfect metals. Projection is the final step where the alchemical "medicine" or Stone is thrown into molten base metal to transform it into gold or silver.	269

End of the Mirror.

OF THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN THE Correctorium of Richard the Englishman. Richard the Englishman (Richardus Anglicus) is a name associated with several medieval authors; this specific work, the Correctorium or "The Corrector," seeks to rectify errors in alchemical practice and theory.


I.	Preface: how art imitates nature.	272
II.	The study of philosophy is necessary for this art.	274
III.	On natural principles.	275
IIII.	How many parts of minerals there are.	276
V.	On metals, which derive their origin from Mercury in general.	in the same place.
VI.	How metals are made from Mercury in particular.	277
VII.	On the generation of Mercury, and the metals that arise from it.	278
VIII.	On the formation of minerals which do not derive their origin from Mercury.	280
IX.	On the generation of common and simple sulfur, and of Mercury. Alchemical theory often held that all metals were composed of varying proportions and purities of sulfur and mercury.	282
X.	That it is impossible for intermediate minerals to be artificially made into metals.	284
XI.	On the difference between common sulfur and the sulfur of the philosophers.