d
know, that you are the Possessor
of this Art, and therefore (which
God forbid) should lay hold of
you, and attempt by Tortures to
bring you to a discovery, would
you reveal this Art to them?

Artist.

I have not shewed the Stone of
Philosophers to any man, except
to one aged man, and to your
self; to both of you, I have revealed
that I am the Possessor;
but, henceforth, no man must
ever see or hear such a thing.
And although any King, or Prince,
should (which God I hope will
not permit) cast, me into Prison,
I would not, after the manner of
Circumforanean Physicians [or
Mountebanks] or Vagabond Impostors
or of poor Alchimists,
directly, or indirectly, discover
the Art to them, but would rather
suffer my self to be most cruelly
wracked, tortured, or tormented
with burning Fire, untill
my life expire.

Physician

Good Friend, are there not
Authors, which, touching the
verity of this Art, write more
plainly, then all the number of
them, which, concerning it, utter
words so obscure, as perhaps
they themselves did not understand,
unless they adhibited the.
Commentaries, and Annotations
of evident Paraphrasists. I suppose you
have in times past read
them, and therefore are best
able to inform me, who were
Adept.

Artist.

Master Doctor, I indeed read
not, nor have I read many Books,
yet among those I have read, I
find no Authors more curious,
than Sandivogius, especially in
that Book, which is Entituled
Cosmopolita, in Dutch, Borger Der
Werelt. Also Brother Basilius in
in his twelve Keys. As to Sandivogius,
this Author you may peruse,
untill I return, as I said: for
in his obscure words the truth is
latent, even as our Tincture of
Philosophers is both included, and
retruded, in External Minerals,
and Metallick Bodies.

Physician

Sir, I give you thanks, for this
so great friendship. I shall do according
to your advice, and as to
what you say, touching the Objects
of the Tincture, I easily assent
to, and grant; for I believe
that the wonderful, and efficacious
Essences of Metals, are hid
under the external Rinds and
Shells of Bodies, although I find
very few so well exercised, and
experienced in the Fire, who
know how to uncase the Kernel,
according to the Rule of Art.
Every External, and Robust Substance,
of any Animal, Vegetable,
or Mineral, is the Body,
like unto that Terrestrial Province,
into which (as Isaac Holland
hath prescribed) excellent
Essences spiritually