PREFACE.

judge that it ought to be the work of one man, for which the labor of many is required. If you attribute this to a part of modesty, you will have done your duty. If, moreover, you are well-versed in the reading of authors and know the true laws of sciences being handed down, you will not think that I am doing what has already been done, and seeking that which has long since been finished and perfected. Read these things of ours, understand, and judge. When you compare them with the rest, you will recognize the difference. You will desire, furthermore, I suppose, or at least you will expect, a particular commentary regarding oils, waters, calces, and the rest: nay, you will be entirely consumed by the golden art. I, however, would hold out hope to you for these things as well, as far as is right, to teach regarding each one. You, see that you use equity in judging. If GOD prolongs my life, you will receive [instruction] regarding those as well. But if your mind yearns to know more maturely, I bid you approach men who are excellent in that matter, and consult their monuments. Thomas Aquinas performed a praiseworthy work on chrysurgia gold-working for his brother Reinaldus; likewise Alanus and Bernhardus Comes for the physician of Bologna. Nothing is more evident in that kind than the Rosarium of Arnoldus, the Turba Philosophorum, [the works of] Richardus, and others. You may also peruse a certain tincture and manual of Paracelsus. For in these are the precepts of the ancients. John Dee of London and Geber are playing with the gaping raven. But if you complain that you are unable to understand them as well, use the conversation of the learned.