io8 Of the Advancement of Learning, Lib. III. 



in a few Minutes, to turn Metals into Gold, by the aftivity of the fame 

 Elixir j which is able to perfeft Nature, and to deliver it from all im- 

 pediments. So the retarding of Jge, or the reftoring of fome degree of 

 youth , doth not eafily. purchase a belief : yet it is far more like- 

 ly to a man that knows perfeftly the nature of ArtfaSion ^ and 

 the depredations of the fpirits , upon the folid parts of the body 5 

 and hath throughly obferved the nature of Affiraulation , and of 

 Alimentation^ either more perfed or more peccant 5 al(b the na- 

 ture of the Spirits and of the Flame ("as it were) of the body, aC> 

 ffigned fometimes to confume, fometimesfto repair f may by DietSj 

 Bathings , Anointings , proper Medicines , and accommodate Mo- 

 tions, and the like , prolong life , or renew fome degrees of youth, 

 or vivacity : then that this ftiould be effefted , by a few drops 

 or fcruples of fome precious Liquor or Quintefcence. Again , that 

 fates may he dravonfrom the Stars^ men will not (uddenly, and eafily 

 afTcnt unto, but thefe, that the hour of Nativity (which oftentimes 

 through many natural accidents, is either accelerated or differed^ 

 fhould govern the fortune of the whole life, or that the hour of Que- 

 ftionis co-faial with the thing it felf which is fought, you will fay are 

 meer impoftures. But fuch a rafh impotency and intemperance, doth 

 poffefs and infatuate the whole race of man j that they do not only pre- 

 fume upon, and promise to themlelvea what is repugnant in nature to 

 be performed , but alio, are coniident that they are able to conquer e- 

 ven at their pleafure, and that by way of recreation, the moft difficult 

 paffages of nature , without trouble or travail. And of Magicl^thus 

 much ; the name whereof we «have vindicated from reproach , 

 and (eparated the true and noble kind from the bafe and coun- 

 terfeit. 



* II. of this operative part of Natttre there are two Appendices, both of 

 INVEN- much importance. Thefirjl is ^ that there be made an Inventory of the 

 TARiUM ejiate of Man ; in which there (hould be taken and compendioully caft 

 HUM A- "Pj ^^^ fummofall the wealth and fortunes of men (whether they 

 nakum. arife from the fruits and revenues of Nature, or of Art) which are now 



extant, and whereof men are already polfeft, adding fiich invention?, 

 as is manifeft have been in times pad: celebrated , but are now periQit. 

 To this end and putpofe, that he who addrelleth himfelf to the fearch 

 of new Inventions, may not be arrefted in his inqueft, nor vvafte time 

 and ftudy in thofe things which are already invented, and are now ex- 

 tant. And this Inventory \v'\\l he more ariific'ial, and more ferviceable, 

 if you add thofe things which in popular conceit are reputed impofjible 3 

 and together with them couple fuch inventions, as are nearelbm de- 

 gree to jmpcjfibles , and yet are extant 5 that the one may fet an 

 edge on mans enquiry , the other may in a fort diredl it : and that 

 from ihe^eOptatives, and Potentials, mans A&ives may be more readily 

 conduced. 



* ^ ihe fecond is, that there be wade a Calendar of thofe experiments , 

 CATA- vvhich are Polychrejis, things of a multifarious ufe 5 and moft uni- 

 lOGUS verdil confcquencc? and which conduce and dircft to the Inven- 



PO TV 



CURE- *'^" of Other experiments. For example; the artificial experiment 

 Sto- of conglaciation of IVater by Ice with black, fait , pertains to in- 

 ^^^- fiaite purpofcs and ellays ; for this difclofeth the fecret and ab- 



ftrufe 



