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I. I Nicholas Flammel, Scri∣vener, living in Paris Anno 1399, in the Notary∣street, near S. James of the Bouchery, though I learned not much Latin, because of
the poorness and meanness of my Parents, who notwith∣standing were (by them that envie me most) accounted honest and good People.
II. Yet by the Blessing of God, I have not wanted an understanding of the Books of the Philosophers, but learned them, and attained to a certain kind of know∣ledge, even of their hidden Secrets.
III. For which cause sake, there shall not any moment of my life pass, wherein re∣membring this so vast a good, I will not upon my bare Knees (if the place will per∣mit) or otherwise in my heart, with all the intireness of my Affections, render thanks to this my most Good and Gracious God.
IV. Who never forsakes the Righteous Generation, or suffers the Children of the Just to beg their Bread, nor deceives their Expecta∣tions, but supports them with Blessings, who put their whole trust in him.
V. After the Decease of my Parents, I Nicholas Flam∣mel got my living by the Art of Writing, Ingrossing Inventories, making up Ac∣counts, keeping of Books, and the like.
VI. In this course of living there fell by chance into my hands a Guilded Book, very old and large, (which cost me only the Sum of two Florens, which was about 6 s. 8 d. formerly, now 10 s. English.)
VII. It was not made of Paper or Parchment, as other Books be, but of admirable Rindes (as it seemed to me) of young Trees. The Co∣ver of it was of Brass; it was well bound, and graven all over with strange kind of Letters, which I take to be Greek Characters, or some such like.
VIII. This I know, that I could not read them, nor were they either Latin or French Letters or Words, of which I understand some∣thing.
IX. But as to the matter which was written within, it was engraven (as I sup∣pose) with an Iron Pencil or Graver upon the said Barke Leaves; done admirably well, and in fair and neat Latin Letters, and curiously coloured.
X. It contained thrice seven Leaves, for so they were numbred in the top of each Folio. and every se∣venth leaf was without any writing; but in place there∣of, there were several Ima ges or Figures painted.
XI. Upon the first se∣venth Leaf was depicted, 1. A Virgin. 2. Serpents swal∣lowing her up. On the second seventh, A Serpent Crucified. And on the last seventh, A Desart or Wilderness: in midst whereof was seen many fair Fountains, from whence is∣sued out a number of Ser∣pents here and there.
XII. Upon the first of the Leaves was written in Capi∣tal Letters of Gold, Abra∣ham the Jew, Prince, Priest, Levite, Astrologer and Philo∣sophor, to the Nation of the Jews, dispersed by the Wrath of God in France, wisheth Health.
XIII. After which words, it was filled with many Ex∣ecrations and Cruses, with this word MARANA∣THA, (which was oft re∣peated) against any one that should look into it to unfold it, except he were either Priest or Scribe.
XIV. The person that sold me this Book, was Ig∣norant of its worth, as well as I who bought it: I judge it might have been stolen from some of the Jewish Nation, or else found in some place where they an∣ciently abode.
XV. In the second Leaf of the Book, he consolated his Nation, and gave them pious Councel, to turn from their Wickedness and evil ways, but above all to flee from Idolatry, and to wait in Patience for the coming of the Messiah, who conquer∣ing all the Kings and Po∣tentates
of the Earth, should reign in Glory with his peo∣ple to Eternity. Without doubt, this was a very Pi∣ous, Wise, and Understand∣ing Man.
XVI. In the third Leaf, and in all the writing that followed, he taught them in plain words the transmu∣tation, of Metals, to the end that he might help and assist his dispersed people, to pay their Tributes to the Roman Emperors, and some other things not needful here to be repeated.
XVII, He painted the Vessels by the sides or mar∣gin of the Leaves, and dis∣covered all the Colours as they should arise or appear, with all the rest of the Work.
XVIII. But of the Prima materia, or first matter or Agent, he spake not so much as one word: but only he told them, that in the fourth and fifth Leaves, he had en tirely painted or decypher'd it, and depicted or figu red it, with admirable Dexterity and Workman∣ship.
XIX. Now though it was singularly well, and materially or intelligibly fi∣gured and painted, yet by that could no Man ever have been able to understand it, without having been well skill'd in their Cabala, which is a series of old Traditions, and also to have well studied their Books.
XX. The fourth and fifth Leaf thereof was without any writing, but full of fair Figures bright and shining, or as it were enlightned, and very exquisitely depicted.
XXI. First, there was a Young Man painted, with Wings at his Ancles, having in his hand a Caducaean Rod, writhen about with two Ser∣pents, wherewith he stroke upon an Helmet covered with its Head.
XXII. This seemed in my mean apprehension, to be one of the Heathen Gods, viz. Mercury: Against him there came running and fly∣ing
with open Wings, a great Old Man, with an Hour-glass fixed upon his Head, and a Sithe in his hands like Death, with which he would (as it were in Indignation) have cut off the Feet of Mercury.
XXIII. On the other side of the fourth Leaf, he pain∣ted a fair Flower on the top of a very high Mountain, which was very much sha∣ken with the North Wind. Its foot Stalk was blue, its Flowers white and red, and its Leaves shining like fine Gold: and round about it the Dragons and Griffins of the North made their Nests and Habitations.
XXIV. On the fifth Leaf was a fair Rose-tree flowered, in the midst of a Garden, growing up against a hollow Oak, at the foot whereof bubled forth a Fountain of pure white water, which ran headlong down into the depths below.
XXV. Yet it passed through the hands of a great number of people, who dig∣ged in the Earth seeking af∣ter it: but by reason of their blindness, none of them knew it, except a very few, who considred its weight:
XXVI. On the last side of the fifth Leaf, was depi∣cted a King with a Fauchion, who caused his Soldiers to slay before him, many In∣fants, the Mothers standing by and weeping at the feet of their Murtherers.
XXVII. These Infants blood, being gathered up by other Soldiers was put into a great Vessel wherein Sol and Luna came to bathe themselves.
XXVIII. And because this History seemed to repre∣sent the destruction of the Innocents by Herod, and that I learned the chiefest part of the Art in this Book; there∣fore I placed in their Church-yard these Hiero∣glyphick Figures, of this Learning, Thus have you that which was contained in the first five Leaves.