HISTORY OF SCIENCE. 



We have omitted before the mention of one of the most learned 

 men of the thirteenth century, ALBERTUS MAGNUS, Bishop of Ratisbon, 

 whose many works include a famous treatise on alchemy. His acquire- 

 ments in arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music, on all of which 

 subjects he left treatises, entitle him to be regarded as one of the chief 

 precursors of the revival of science. Like Gerbert, Roger Bacon, and 

 others, he also was reputed a magician. Among the most celebrated 

 of the alchemists of the Middle Ages were RAYMOND LULLY (thirteenth 

 century) and NICHOLAS FLAMMEL (1406 1490). We may pass over 



FIG. 29.- THE ALCHEMIST. 



the details of their labours, and of the new facts with which they 

 enriched chemical science. Another fifteenth century alchemist, BER- 

 NARD OF TREVISE, has left among his other writings some personal de- 

 tails regarding his pursuits, so curious that we are tempted to tran- 

 scribe a few passages as an illustration of the life of an alchemist. 



" The first book I had was Rhazes. I passed four years of my life 

 and expended eight hundred crowns in trying his experiments. Then 

 I had Geber, who cost me quite two thousand crowns. I passed twelve 

 or fifteen years in this way, spending much and finding nothing ; but 

 trying receipts without end ; dissolving and crystallizing all kinds of 

 salts, such as common salt, ammoniacal salt, and metallic salts ; hun- 

 dreds of times dissolving, coagulating, and calcining alums, copperas, 

 and all manner of animal and vegetable matters, such as blood, eggs, 



