Preface to the Reader.

A 2

A decorative horizontal woodcut headpiece featuring symmetrical scrollwork, floral patterns, and stylized leaf motifs.

TO ALL SEEKERS OF THE

CHEMICAL ART, NAMELY THE

GENUINE

Sons of Hermes, the Author prays

for health and blessing

from God.

A historiated initial 'C' containing a figure seated at a desk or table amidst dense foliage and vines.

When I considered with myself, honest Reader, that many counterfeit books and false recipes—as they call them—of the "Archymists" original: "Archymistarum"; a derogatory term for fraudulent alchemists or "sophisters" who sought only to make gold through trickery rather than true natural philosophy, composed through the fraud and greed of impostors, in which not even a spark of truth shines, are circulating among the searchers of the natural and occult Arts; and by which so many have been deceived, and are still being deceived today: I believed I could do nothing more useful than to share the Talent original: "Talentum"; a reference to the biblical parable of the talents, signifying a God-given gift or piece of knowledge that should be shared for the common good entrusted to me by the Father of Lights A reference to God, derived from James 1:17: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." with the sons and heirs of knowledge, so that posterity might realize that not only in former ages, but even in this one of ours, a singular...