to say, that which is volatile, and (3) salt,
that which is fixed, the residue or ash which remains after burning.

The most interesting of Basil Valentine's books, and the one which has
had the most enduring influence, is undoubtedly "The Triumphal Chariot
of Antimony." It has been translated and has had a wide vogue in every
language of modern Europe. Its recommendation of antimony had such an
effect upon medical practice that it continued to be the most
important drug in the pharmacopoeia down almost to the middle of the
nineteenth century. If any proof were needed that Basil Valentine or
that the author of the books that go under that name was a monk, it
would be found in the {64} introduction to this volume, which not only
states that fact very clearly, but also in doing so makes use of
language that shows the writer to have been deeply imbued with the old
monastic spirit. I quote the first paragraph of this introduction in
order to make clear what I mean. The quotation is taken from the
English translation of the work as published in London in 1678.
Curiously enough, seeing the obscurity surrounding Valentine himself,
we do not know for sure who made the translation. The translator
apologizes somewhat for the deeply religious spirit of the book, but
considers that he was not justified in eliminating any of this. Of
course, the translation is left in the quaint old-fashioned form so
eminently suited to the thoughts of the old master, and the spelling
and use of capitals is not changed:

Basil Valentine--His Triumphant Chariot of Antimony Since I, Basil
Valentine, by Religious Vows am bound to live according to the Order
of St. Benedict, and that requires another manner of spirit of
Holiness than the common state of Mortals exercised in the profane
business of this World; I thought it my duty before all things, in
the beginning of this little book, to declare what is necessary to
be known by the pious Spagyrist [old-time name for medical chemist],
inflamed with an ardent desire of this Art, as what he ought to do,
and whereunto to direct his aim, that he may lay such foundations of
the whole matter as may be stable; lest his Building, shaken with
the Winds, happen to fall, and the whole Edifice to be involved in
shameful Ruine, {65} which otherwise, being founded on more firm and
solid principles, might have continued for a long series of time
Which Admonition I judged was, is and al