Prolegomena.

...over the room, and with such great splendor that it overcame the light that was lit inside it. Besides, the Hermit refused to project it upon metal original: "project it upon Metall"; in alchemy, "projection" is the process of casting an alchemical substance onto a base metal to transmute it into gold or silver (considering it unworthy of such a use) but instead performed his experiment upon the herbs Veronica and Rue.

By the Magical or Prospective Stone, it is possible to find any person in any part of the world, no matter how secretly they are concealed or hidden—whether in chambers, closets, or the caverns of the earth—for there it conducts a thorough investigation. In a word, it clearly presents the whole world to your view, allowing you to behold, hear, or see whatever you desire. Furthermore, it enables a person to understand the language of creatures, such as the chirping of birds, the lowing of cattle, and so on. It allows one to convey a spirit into an image which, by observing the influence of the heavenly bodies, shall become a true oracle. And yet, as E.A. likely Elias Ashmole, the author and editor of this collection assures you, this is in no way necromantic or devilish, but easy—wondrously easy—natural, and honest.

Lastly, concerning the Angelical Stone, the previously mentioned author says it is so subtle that it can neither be seen, felt, nor weighed, but only tasted. The human voice (which shares some qualities with these subtle properties) falls short in comparison; indeed, the air itself is not as penetrable. And yet—oh, mysterious wonder!—it is a stone that can stay in the fire for eternity without being harmed. It possesses a divine, celestial, and invisible power above all the others, and it endows its possessor with divine gifts. It provides the appearance of angels and grants the power of conversing with them through dreams and revelations; no evil spirit dares approach the place where it is kept. This is because it is a Quintessence the "fifth element" in ancient science, believed to be the pure essence of the heavens containing nothing corruptible, and where the elements are not corrupt, no devil can remain.

Saint Dunstan a 10th-century Archbishop of Canterbury who, in later legends, was claimed to be an alchemist calls it the "food of angels," and others term it the Heavenly Viaticum original: "Heavenly Viaticum"; a viaticum is a provision for a journey, often used to refer to the final Eucharist given to the dying or the "Tree of Life." It is undoubtedly (second only to God) the true Alchochodon original: "Alchochodon"; an astrological term for the planet that determines a person’s length of life, or the Giver of Years. For by it, the human body is preserved from corruption, enabling one to live a long time without food; indeed, some question whether any person who uses it can ever die. I do not wonder at this so much as I wonder why those who possess it would even desire to live, having seen these manifestations of glory and eternity with their own mortal eyes. I would think they would rather desire to be released from the body original: "Dissolved" to enjoy the full reality of heaven, rather than living where they must be content with mere contemplation original: "Speculation".