To the Sincere Reader.

These volumes of our Theater original: "Theatri"; referring to the Theatrum Chemicum, the most comprehensive collection of alchemical texts published in the 17th century., most sincere Reader, began from small beginnings, like most other things. They first appeared in three parts with a rather humble appearance and meager resources. Yet, because their modest nature was very dear to readers of the best sort, it moved us to fulfill our promises all the sooner, and to repay the grateful spirit of our readers with grateful service.

Therefore, having finished the fourth volume—which was brought forth about a year ago and was no less approved than the previous ones—we immediately applied our mind to the publication of the fifth. This volume, however, like the one immediately preceding it, has been compiled partly from manuscript books original: "codicibus manuscriptis" scarcely seen before, and partly from already printed copies that are nonetheless quite rare and difficult to obtain.

In gathering the authors together, we have observed this order with the greatest care, so that we might seem not to have wasted the labor of either scholars or other printers, but to have assisted them in every way. We endeavor, in particular, by no means to undermine the three parts of the Golden Art original: "Artis auriferæ"; a famous collection of alchemical texts published in Basel, Switzerland., recently printed in Basel original: "Basileæ" according to almost this same standard and form as our own, but rather to add them to our volumes so that they can and should fill the place of a certain volume. For this reason, we have left the authors included in that work untouched, with the exception of the Assembly original: "Turba"; referring to the Turba Philosophorum or "Assembly of the Philosophers," one of the oldest and most influential Latin alchemical texts, written as a transcript of a fictional meeting of Greek philosophers. placed at the front; we have included it because we found a different reading of the text in a very ancient manuscript.