of justice. He then journeyed through England and France, 

 associating with alchemical charlatans from whom he learned 

 the tricks of the profession ; returning to Germany as a pro- 

 ficient, he had the good fortune to secure the confidence of the 

 Archduke Ferdinand, who generously defrayed his expenses 

 of travel throughout the Orient in search of the secrets of 

 Hermes. Thurneisser did not find the great magistery, but 

 acquired some knowledge of medicine which he practiced with 

 immense success ; he entered also the service of the Elector 

 of Brandenburg, becoming director of the laboratory founded 

 by the Elector's wife. His medical practice gained for him 

 great wealth which he squandered in luxurious living; he 

 became the most popular physician in Berlin, the oracle of 

 the rich and the friend of the poor, to the great displeasure 

 of the old established practitioners, who combined to expose 

 his quackery so successfully that he left the city in haste. 

 Resuming a wandering life he reached Rome where he was 

 invited to dine with Cardinal Fernando di Medici, who after- 

 wards became Archduke of Tuscany. At the dinner table he 

 transmuted half an iron nail into gold, delighting and as- 

 tounding the distinguished company ; the process was simple, 

 he warmed the nail, dipped it into an oily liquid, and on 

 withdrawing it one half was found to be of gold. This prob- 

 ably means he was provided with a nail made of gold 

 cemented to iron, from which the solvent removed a black 

 varnish and disclosed the yellow metal. This bi-metallic nail 

 was long preserved in the castle accompanied by a certificate 

 signed by the Cardinal, and dated Rome, November 20th, 1586. 

 Thurneisser afterwards died in poverty in a cloister, scarcely 

 meeting with his deserts. 



The events taking place in the laboratories of the palace, 

 the failures and successes of the residents of Gold Alley, as 

 well as of the journeymen alchemists visiting Prague, were 



69 



