Epistola de lapide philosophorum (Letter on the Philosopher's Stone, 1559)

No one fails to see the vices? and errors? of many men dispersed? throughout? all? of? Europe? in times? past?, to the great? detriment? of the Christian? commonwealth? and the Catholic? Church?. Hence? it? happens? that? all? pious? princes? apply? their? counsels? to? this? reformation?, so? that? such? great? evils? do? not? creep? further?. For? that? custom? of? wicked? men? seems? to? disturb? not? only? religion?, but? also? the? order? of? civil? administration?. It? is? necessary?, therefore?, that? opportune? remedies? be? sought? through? the? path? of? justice? and? the? authority? of? the? Apostolic? See?. Whence? I? judge? that? by? divine? grace? and? the? pastoral? care? of? our? most? holy? lord? a reference to the Pope, he? will? provide? for? these? most? difficult? times? by? his? singular? prudence? and? piety?. For? the? hope? placed? in? the? union? of? Catholic? princes? is? not? small?, for? they? must? labor? with? one? mind? to? restore? peace?. Would? that? this? might? happen? at? the? next? opportune? moment?, although? many? impediments? appear? to? stand? in? the way. Meanwhile?, it? is? incumbent? upon? us? to? persevere? in? the? Lord? with? prayers? and? fidelity?.

To the Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord,?
most esteemed,?
most worthy Prelate.?