Lives of the Adepts.

I answered him in Latin (in which language he asked me the question) that I doubted not of obtaining the sight of the book, if I could meet with any one who could unfold the ænigmas riddles or mysteries. Hearing this, and being transported with great earnestness and joy, he began to decipher unto me the beginning: to be short, he was much pleased, that he was in hopes to hear tidings of the book; and I as much pleased to hear him speak and interpret it. And, doubtless, he had heard much talk of the book; but it was, as he said, of a thing which was believed to be utterly lost. Upon this we resolved for our voyage, and from Leon we passed to Oviedo, and from thence to Sanson, where we took shipping, and went to sea, in order to go into France.

Our voyage was prosperous and happy; and being arrived in the kingdom of France, he most truly interpreted unto me the greatest part of my figures, in which, even to the points and pricks, he could decypher great mysteries which were admirable to me. Having attained Orleans, this learned man fell sick, even to death, being afflicted with extreme vomitings, which still continued with him, as being first caused by his sea-sickness: Notwithstanding which, he was in continual fear, lest I should leave or forsake him, which was a great trouble to him. And although I was continually by his side, yet he would be almost always calling for me. At the end of the seventh day of his sickness he died, which was no small grief to me; and I buried him, as well as my present condition would permit me, in a church at Orleans.

He that would see the manner of my arrival, and the joy of Perrenelle, let him look upon us two, in the city of Paris, upon the door of the chapel of James of the Bouchery, close by the one side of my house, where we are both painted, kneeling, and giving thanks to God. For through the grace of God it was that I attained the perfect knowledge of all that I desired.

Well! I had now the prima materia first matter, the first principles, yet not their first preparation, which is a thing most difficult, above all other things in the world: but in the end I had that also, after a long aberration, and wandering in a labyrinth of errors, for the space of three years, or thereabouts, during which time I did nothing but study and search, and labour, so as you see me depicted without this arch, where I have placed my process; praying also continually unto God, and reading attentively in my book, pondering the words of the philosophers, and then trying and proving the various operations, which I thought to myself they might mean by their words. At length I found that which I desired, which I also soon knew by the scent and odour thereof: Having this, I easily accomplished the magistery the mastery of the alchemical work. For knowing the preparations of the prime agents, and then literally following the directions in my book, I could not then miss the work if I would.

Flamel.

Having attained this, I come now to projection; and the first time I made projection was upon Mercury, a pound and a half whereof, or thereabouts, I turned into pure silver, better than that of the mine, as I proved by assaying of it myself, and also causing others to assay it for me several times. This was done in the year of Our Lord 1382, January 17, about noon, being Monday, in my own house, Perrenelle only being present.

Again, following exactly the directions in my book, literally, and word by word, I made projection of the red stone, on the like quantity of Mercury, Perrenelle only being present, and in the same house; which was done in the same year of our Lord, namely 1382, April 25, at five in the afternoon. This Mercury I truly transmuted into almost as much gold, much better, indeed than common gold, more soft also, and more pliable.

I speak it in all truth, I have made it three times, with the help of Perrenelle, who understood it as well as myself, because she assisted me in my operations: And without doubt, if she would have indeed done it alone, she would have brought the work to the same, or full as great perfection as I had done. I had truly enough when I had once done it; but I found exceeding great pleasure and delight in seeing and contemplating the admirable works of Nature within the vessels. And to shew to you that I had then done it three times, I caused to be depicted under the same arch, three furnaces, like to those which serve for the operations of this work.

I was much concerned for a long time, lest that Perrenelle, by reason of extreme joy, should not hide her felicity, which I measured by my own, and lest she should let fall some words among her relations, concerning the great treasure which we possessed. For an extremity of joy takes away the understanding, as well as an extremity of grief and sorrow: But the goodness of the most great God had not only given and filled me with this blessing, to give me a sober and chaste wife, but she was also a wise and prudent woman, not only capable of reason, but also to do what was reasonable, and was more discreet and secret than ordinarily other women are. Above all, she was exceedingly religious and devout: And therefore seeing herself without hope of children, and now well stricken in years, she made it her business, as I did, to think of God, and to give ourselves to the works of charity and mercy.

Before the time wherein I wrote this discourse, which was at the latter end of the year of Our Lord 1413, after the death of my faithful companion, whose death I cannot but lament all the days of my life: She and I had already founded, and endowed with revenues, fourteen hospitals, three chapels, and seven churches, in the city of Paris, all which we had new built from the ground, and enriched with great gifts and revenues, with many reparations in their church-yards. We also have done at Boulogne about as much as we have done at Paris: not counting the various charities to widows and orphans.