An ornamental horizontal woodcut band features symmetrical floral scrolls, foliage, and bird-like figures amidst vines.

Preface

Of the Publisher of this

Translation/

To the highly favorable Reader.

That I, favorable dear reader, have had this noble jewel, the Basilica of OSWALD CROLL, translated into our High German language, I have no doubt that not a few will be found who will most cruelly scold this act and not only interpret it in the worst possible way, but also accuse me of having either not read the Latin copy of our Author or at the very least not understood it. Especially since he himself confesses, on the very second leaf of his introductory preface, that according to his foresight many will arise against him and, because of this publication of his, title him a violator of the Hermetic Seal original: Hermetischen Sigill; the traditional vow of secrecy among alchemists to keep their art hidden from the uninitiated, as one who, unmindful of the Law of Hippocrates A reference to the Hippocratic Oath or professional ethics regarding the preservation of medical secrets, has opened the door to all secrets and thrown the precious pearls before unworthy and disgusting swine, and whatever more such objections are to be found there. Now, since he was concerned about such reprimands, how much more must I expect the same—and even greater slander and malicious words—to come upon me, as I have not let the work remain in that language in which the Author himself gave it and which has now been published several times, but have instead brought it into our common mother tongue