bly entreated him, that he
would shew me the effect of Transmutation
upon impure Metals, that
I thence might have the better assurance
of those things by him related
to me, and my Faith being
confirmed, securely give credit to
the real Truth of the matter. But
he very discreetly gave me the repulse;
yet taking his leave of me,
he promised to return again
after three Weeks, and then shew
to me certain curious Arts, by Fire,
as also the way of projecting; making
this Provisoe, if it should
then be lawful for him. The three
Weeks being elapsed, according
to his word, he Came to my House,
and invited me to walk abroad
with him for one hour, or two,
as we both did, having in that
Time Certain, Discourses of the
Secrets of Nature in the fire, but
in the mean while, this well spoken
Companion in the way, was
not lavish, but rather too sparing
of his words, touching the great
Secret; affirming, that this singular
Mystery tended not, but to
the alone magnifying of the most
illustrious Fame of the most glorious
God; and that very few men
considered, how they might; condignly
Sacrifice; themselves by
their Works to so great a God
uttering these Expressions no otherwise,
then as if he had been
a Pastor of the Church. But I, in
the mean time, fayled not to solicit
him, to demonstrate to me the
Transmutation of Metals. Moreover,
I beseeched and intreated
him, to vouchsafe to eat with me,
and to lodge in my house, urging
him with such Earnestness, as no
Rival, or Lover, could ever use
more perswasive Words, for winning
his beloved to a willingness
of gratifying him above all others:
but he, agitated by a Spirit of so
great constancy, made void of all I
endeavoured. Nevertheless, I could
not choose but speak to him thus:
Sir, You see I have a very convenient
Laboratory, in which you
may shew me the Metallick
Transmutation. For whosoever
assents to him, that asketh,
obligeth himself to him. It is true (answered
he) bit I made a promise
to you of imparting some things
with this Exception, if at my, Return,
I be not interdicted, but have
leave to do the same.

All, and every of these, my requests
being in vain, I instantly, and earnestly
besought him, that (if he
would not, or by reason of the
Heavenly Interdiction could not
demonstrate what I asked) he
would only give me so much of his
Treasure, as would be sufficient
for transmuting four grains of Lead
into Gold. At this my request, he,
after a litt