I. Ludovico Lazareus says, GO forth, book, with me... If it pleases you, this name is taken from the duty (Ir). II. HERMES, the father of theologians, magicians, and alchemists, in one context of words: He revealed the secrets of theology, magic, and alchemy to his sons... We will finally place, in the second part of this book, some ancient opinions leading to the supreme secret of theology (ir-2r). III. Now here firstly, it must be said about the invisible sulfur, which is the great mineral stone. From Raymond's discovery, I will literally present about the invisible sulfur. Let him who has ears to hear, hear what the spirit says to the sons of philosophers. The science begins to show... And thus is the end of this work: Praise to the Creator, Christ. Amen. Truly and faithfully, as it lay, I wrote (2r-8r). IV. The Treatise of Master Raymond Lull to his dearest nephew on the investigation of the stone begins. Know that the wise have set many operations in the miracle of the stone... Because in the knowledge of universal causes, the wise and the ignorant are sometimes equal. In the application of those causes to their own proper and adequate effects, the difference from ignorance to vast wisdom is great. t^Aoq (8v-16v). V. [Chemical Tables] (17r-18r). VI. Some excerpts here and there from the books of Raymond which are extremely useful. According to the universal science arising from chaos, which we will indicate here for A., the primary matter created by the eternal God... Then add the fire dissolved in its element, doing with the said the imbibition ['‘imbevere" added, referring to the next page] (18r-32v) [an unknown number of pages is missing here; 33r continues as follows:] with slow fire until all moisture exits... Because if you were to leave it in the first vessel due to the constriction of the salt, the vessel would break (33r). VII. ARCANUM, the elixir of the invention of Master Joannis Rigaudii de Branchis: which he himself made in the city of Siena in the company of Master Albertus Perusinus, physician, in the year 1494, a year before the advent to Italy of Charles the Eighth, King of France. The secret was revealed to me by Master Joannis with great generosity from his own mouth. He first took the juice of lunaria distilled seven times. Then refined it with colcotar and the foolish dancing... Because the more the operation of dissolution and exuberation is repeated, the greater it leads imperfect bodies in weight according to the number of the algorithm towards perfection. THANKS BE TO GOD (33v-34r). VIII. [Chemical tables] BRIEF EXPOSITION OF THE TABLES THAT ARE BELOW. First Table with its chambers... Of the Fifth Table below Figure s. (34v-35v). IX. [a sonnet about alchemy] Dissolve the bodies in water I tell everyone... will be lord of that which is another's secret (36r).
O book, my secret friend in toil and flight,
A name bestowed through duty's earnest might,
Whether I roam or stay, in rest or stride,
With you, dear tome, forever I'll abide.
On bed or table, you’ll be close beside,
In all my deeds, my steadfast, trustful guide.
Unveil the nature's power, secrets deep,
Into the caves of God’s word, you do seep.
Step by step, nature’s wonders line my trail,
As through the stars, your wisdom does unveil.
Declare aloud that all is one, one is all,
That heaven's here, and God’s in every thrall.
Keep thieves and liars far from your embrace,
For those who touch you without me, disgrace.
So go forth, book, forever by my heart,
Your name, through duty, shall never depart.
HERMES, the father of theologians, magi, and alchemists, has revealed the secrets of theology, magic, and alchemy in one brief statement to his children when he said: "What is above is like what is below, and what is below is like what is above, to accomplish the miracles of the one thing. Its father is the Sun, its mother is the Moon." A dictum which was quoted by Aristotle in the Secret of Secrets to Alexander, where he says: "And our father Hermogenes, who is Threefold in philosophy, gave an excellent prophecy and said:
THE TRUTH is as follows, and it is beyond doubt, that the lower things respond to the higher, and the higher to the lower, etc." These three mysteries are none other than what Picatrix says in his book that is called the Key of Wisdom, namely the conjunction of a body with a body, the conjunction of a soul with a body, or the conjunction of a soul with a soul. The conjunction of a body with a body is the conjunction of the heavenly flesh, namely the quintessence, with the body of a virginal and purified earth: the result is the philosophers’ stone, and this is the natural magic about which all the alchemists speak. The conjunction of a spirit with a body is the conjunction and attraction of the spirits of planets into appropriate corporeal images, from which result marvels in nature; and this is the celestial magic in which Zoroaster excelled, and which was also taught by Thebith, Cembes, Ptolemy, and several others. The conjunction of a spirit with a spirit is the conjunction and harmony of the Spirit of God with the spirit of man, and this is the sacerdotal and divine magic of which all Sacred Scripture speaks in parables. But most of all, the Teacher of Truth, or rather Truth itself, Christ Jesus, spoke about this in his gospels and passed it on as his legacy to his disciples. Saint Matthew reminds us of it in his gospel with the words of the prophet Asaph: “It was written about Him: 'I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things that have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.'" That chosen vessel, Saint Paul, admonishes us in his Letter to the Corinthians that this admirable conjunction of God and Man is not just a possible transformation, but an easy one as well, and one that is, so to speak, innate and natural to us; and (so that people would not lose heart because of the greatness of the thing) he says: "Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" So we will leave the heavenly magic aside, which is disapproved of by the holy fathers, and in this book called Vade mecum we will first of all speak briefly of alchemy, which is a natural magic and is called terrestrial Astrology by Aristotle, the secret of which I owe to Joannes Ricardus de Branchiis from the province of the Netherlands called Labourgogne in popular speech. He was my master in these matters from the year 1495 onwards. He again had it from the books of Raymund of Mallorca and Arnold of Villanova, and from very long practice. Raymund had it from Arnold, and Arnold from a certain master Peter. Finally, in the second part of this book, we shall give some sayings of the ancients which will introduce you to the greatest secret of theology.
The poet Lodovico Lazzarelli of Sanseverino to his teacher Johannes.
Renowned both in name and reality, Bonus, the esteemed son whom all of Ferrara celebrates, has completed his work. I, the poet Lodovico, have transcribed it and now present it to you, Johannes. I ask that you remember me. No one is more deserving than you to be the custodian of this book, for only you possess the knowledge of this sacred mystery. As Plato imparted his wisdom to Aristotle, there is no law, Johannes, that prevents you from imparting it to me, your poet-disciple. The glory of the student reflects back upon you, the teacher, and the poet's work in turn praises you. The devout songs of the prophets often find favor with Jupiter and the gods. Therefore, I urge you to grant my request.