The golden age, or, The reign of Saturn review'd tending to set forth a true and natural way to prepare and fix common mercury into silver and gold : intermix'd with a discourse vindicating and explaining that famous universal medicine of the ancients, vulgarly called the philosophers stone, built upon four natural principles / an essay written by Hortolanus, junr. ; preserved and published by R.G.

TEH PUBLISHER TO THE READER.

Courteous Reader,

THIS following Treatise, a Grand-Child of Her∣mes (the Off-spring and Or∣phan of a near and dear Rela∣tion) coming to my Hands as his next of Kin, might well (as it did) claim from me a Guar∣dianship

and Preservation; which once (consulting withal my own Interest) I was wholly re∣solved on with an Intention to have kept it Curiously, Private∣ly and Tenderly, as the sole Heir to some goodly Inheri∣tance: But, at length, consi∣dering that so to do would be to contradict the publick Spi∣rit, and well Meaning of its Parent (who intended nothing less (as appears by his Dedica∣tion, Epistle, and indeed by both beginning, middle and ending of the Book) than that his Son should be thus private∣ly and nicely Cloistered up at Home; but rather that he Tra∣vel, be enur'd to Labour and Hardship, and pass through Fire and Water, that thereby, in time, he may be Qualified to do his Countrey Service). I

have therefore, abandoning (as Reason should) such tender Indulgence, and self-conceited Interest, exposed him to the capricious Humours of this in∣constant World to take his Fortune; supposing that here∣after his Clothes will sit ne'er the worse on his Back. But I have, I must confess, commit∣ted a Fault in not sending him first (as was intended) for his Credentials, and am affraid it will fare the worse with him on that account; I beg therefore Pardon, and heartily desire he may not be too hardly Censu∣red for my Neglect. As for his own Faults I need not, I presume, be so importunate; for he is a prity toward Lad, will prattle to you of Gold and Silver, and the Philosophers Stone, he will tell you the Iron

Age is passing off the Stage of the World, and that a Golden one succeeds in Order; and (as I am told) can talk Natural Philosophy, surpassing many of his tender Years. It may be, some Men, besides the Publi∣sher, will not be able to through∣ly to understand him; yet he speaks plain English, as well as ordinary Latin; and can call the Planets by their Names; for all his Ancestors (except∣ing my self) were learned Men; therefore I entertain a good Hope of my Kinsman, for he has told me he will make it his Business to find out those Honourable Persons, to whose Service his Father had devoted him; (and beg their Pardon in my stead) as also his learned Relations of the Ancient Fami∣ly

of famed Trismigistus,—Studiers of Hermetical Secrets: These (he says) though un∣known to me, will easily read in his Face his Descent and Pedi∣gree, and therefore allow him a noble Reception.

I wish it prove true; and hope, Courterous Reader, you may be one of that Profession; but whether you are or no, I desire you will Encourage the Youth a little, in his Pilgri∣mage, and give him a good Heartning: Yet if he pretend to tell you Lies in Matter of Fact, pray correct him; but have a Care, for his Name is Mercury, and he will be apt to give you the slip; if you do him any good Office, he may, perhaps, live to requite you Tenfold:

However, in the mean time, you may be assured of the hear∣ty Thanks and Service of him, who presumes to subcribe him∣self,

June the 8th. 1698.

Yours, &c. R. G.