xx. The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony. 



Erfurt, which is conclusive as to the 

 existence of the convent, and testifies to 

 the connection of the Alchemist there- 

 with ; though the latter point is perhaps 

 on the authority of the Alchemist, and 

 not on that of the records of the place. * 



It is obvious, of course, that if the 

 name of Basil Valentine was assumed, 

 he might still have been a monk of the 

 convent, and he would have appeared in 

 its archives only under his true title. 



Despite the doubts that have been 

 raised, the preponderating feeling of 

 critics inclines to the belief that a person 

 named Basil Valentine really existed, 

 and actually filled that position in the 

 devout life which is described in the 

 Currus Triumphalis. This, however, 

 is the utmost extent of their unanimity, 



* " Dicitu r fuisse adeptus" says Gudenus, and again 

 " Eadem estate (Scilicet, 1413), Basilius Valentinus in 

 divi Petri monasterio lixit^ arte medico, et naturalium 

 indagine mirabilis. Insuper its accensetur quos in augn-en- 

 tum spei nominant aurum conjecisse, sic aliena dementia 

 post secula fallit, idea minima culpabilis, quod nan tnsi 

 decipi amantes Jacultatibus exuat. Volumen Ptimum 

 Rerum Moguntiacarum, 1722. Fol. The history was 

 published at Erfurt. 



