The First Part of the Mineral Work

reason, because some are found to be ambitious who falsely boast of knowledge of my various secrets; whence some have been moved to think that my works and writings are not my own, but another's; by which reason I have been deprived and stripped of my own dignity and praise, it being attributed to another. And this has often happened to me, that one or another, having obtained some Secret from me through prayers, has subsequently ascribed it to himself merely for the sake of show.

There are also those who do not fear to afflict me and my writings with insults, as if I had written trifles, failing to reach the desired end of their own labors, who are more to be blamed than I, who have written quite openly, since they do not know how to labor. Such things and others could have deterred me, but I did not wish to interrupt the publication of my writings for the sake of the pious and honest. Therefore, I say openly that the writings published under my name are not only not trifles but are most true, and are indeed my own, and not the inventions of another; and I call him a liar who will boast himself to be their author against any expectation of mine. But enough of these things! I would like to admonish the benevolent reader for the sake of the simplicity of the style of this booklet; that I am not like most other writers, who look more to the ornamentation of words than to the thing itself; seeking the benefit of their neighbor