of alms, but of contributions. Now, contributions signify sums; and sums, it cannot be imagined, should be collected in those parts for the Jesuits to build colleges in England.

It remains then, that these collectors were appointed for the collection of considerable sums (the largesses of blind zeal and deluded piety, or the price of indulgences for fifty-thousand years, and exemptions from purgatory) to carry on the great work of their damnable plot, which, it is apparent, was hatching in the year 1675, and long before.

And this, I hope, may, in a large measure, serve to prove and make good that part of my information already given; wherein I have declared, that, in the counties of York, Lancaster, Northumberland, and bishoprick of Durham, there have been no less than thirty-thousand pounds collected by the Jesuits and priests, which were, no question, the effects of such orders and constitution as these above-named, for the more speedy bringing to pass the destruction of his most sacred majesty, and the protestant religion.

As for Long, Dalton, Thurston, Anderton, Tho. Eccleston, and Urmeston, I know them to be all Jesuits; therefore it is probable to believe the rest are of the same stamp.

London, December the 6th, 1680.

ROBERT BOLRON.

MAGNALIA NATURÆ:

OR,

THE PHILOSOPHER’S-STONE, LATELY EXPOSED TO PUBLICK SIGHT AND sale.

Being a true and exact account of the manner how Wenceslaus Seilerus, the late famous projection-maker, at the emperor's-court at Vienna, came by, and made away with a very great quantity of powder of projection, by projecting with it before the emperor, and a great many witnesses, selling it, &c. for some years past: Published at the request, and for the satisfaction of several curious, especially of Mr. Boyle, &c. by John Joachim Becher, one of the council of the emperor, and a commissioner for the examen of this affair.

Quid igitur ingrati sumus? Cur invidemus etsi veritas divinitatis (quæ per ea que sat intelligi potest, Rom. i. 20.) nostri temporis ætate maturuit. Minut. Felix.

London, printed by Tho. Dawks, his majesty's British printer, living in BlackFriars. Sold also by La Curtiss, in Goat Court on Ludgate Hill, 1680. Quarto, containing thirty-eight pages.

THE TRANSLATOR TO THE READER. There is no ingenious man, that is not unacquainted with the curiosities to be met with in the world, who hath not either seen some transmutation of metals, or, at least, heard so many witness that they have seen it, as to be persuaded that there is such a thing as the philosophers-stone, or powder of projection. Only there be some

great men (as his highness Prince Rupert, who hath seen the projection at Frankfort, in Germany) who seem to question, whether such powder or tincture is prepared with profit? But this doubt is hereby now fully cleared and resolved, from the great quantity of this tincture left buried by the abbot founder of the church it was found in (as this relation informs you :) for it is not credible, that the abbot was master, before he had done the work, of such immense treasure, as he must needs have had to draw so much tincture from; which could not be extracted (if the preparation thereof is without profit) from a lesser quantity of gold, than it gives or yields again in the projection: so that the same quantity of gold, that it yields again, must have been spoiled to make it; which, it is not credible, an abbot of Germany was master of, as is said. And, for the truth of this relation, besides that it is attested by many men of great quality, good parts, probity, and modesty by the Emperor himself; by Count Wallestein, who was resident here, a year ago; and, by Dr. Becher, at present, in this city. It is so publickly known through all parts of Germany, chiefly about Vienna, where this was transacted, that to doubt, or deny it, were as absurd, as if one denied that the West-Indies have been found out of late years, or that there are ships at sea, because he hath seen neither

:

But, among the many remarkable passages in this relation, one thing is most worthy of observation, viz. the honesty of Friar Francis Preyhausen, who deserves to be chronicled for his faithfulness and truth to Friar Wenceslaus, the finder of this powder: for he wanted neither frequent opportunities, nor specious pretences, to effect what some princes could not forbear to attempt (i. e. to rob Wenceslaus of his powder), though without a certainty of success: and, though he was himself sure of success, for he was thrice, for a good while each time, entrusted with the box, and might find excuses enough for it, yet he not only did not yield to the tempta tion of getting all, as they did; but did not so much as deny, purloin, or withhold the least part of the powder from Friar Wenceslaus, even when (seeing how he squandered it away) he had a good pretence to keep back some for his use: and might justly have claimed and reserved some for his own use also, not only for his services, but for the great dangers he had exposed himself to for his sake; thus keeping true to the end, even against his own right, and so great a temptation. faithful man who can find?" Prov. xx. 6. But here such a one is found, and that among the Friars! Whence I am glad to observe, that all the Friars are not quite so black as some make them; and to see, that among them, as well as among other sects, some good men are to be found, who make conscience of an oath, and keep it, though to their loss. Thanks be to Friar Francis's honesty, for so much as we know of this whole concern. I am sure, that, if he had what his honesty deserves, what the emperor hath done for Wenceslaus, had been bestowed upon him; and that Wenceslaus himself, whilst in the dungeon, would have said, with all his heart, that, if he should do for him what he hath done, he would deserve what he hath not had, I mean, the whole powder: But honesty meets seldom with what it deserves.

A

THE

HE place where Wenceslaus Seilerus (who is the main subject of this following discourse) was born, I am not certain, whether it was at Vienna, yes, or no: but sure I am he was of the Austrian country; and his brother did wait upon the Count of Weissenwolf the younger. As for Seilerus himself, when he was about the twentieth year of his age, he was cast into a monastery of the Augustine friars, at Bruna in Moravia; where, after his year of probation, he took the habit upon him, and was admitted into the number of friars, though it were against his will, as he afterwards confessed, and as the event did make appear: for, having once made profession of the order, he did continually strive and study, how he might free himself from the mo nastery; and seeing that could not be done without money, and money

in his circumstances, could not lawfully be obtained, he began to study an indirect way for the obtaining thereof; for his fellow friars having often muttered to him of some great treasure hid in their monastery, he had a great desire to find it out.

And, in order thereunto, he did not scruple to learn the magick art, if any one had been ready to inform him therein, wherein fortune seemed to favour his desires; for there was an old woman, a cow-keeper's wife, living before the gate of the town and fortress, who was skilled therein, and he came to be acquainted with her, upon this occasion:

The younger monks and students, as they were called, are allowed some set days, every week, to walk out of the gates of the city, to enjoy the open air, and to refresh their minds, supposed to be wearied with study; in these relaxations, one company disperses itself here, another there, as they think fit for their divertisement. But Friar Wenceslaus, for so I shall hereafter call him, made use of this occasion, always to visit the said old woman, and, upon the pretence of drinking new milk, to interrogate her concerning her art. And, in a short time, he got so much into her favour, as to obtain from her a small wax-ball, marked with certain figures or characters, which was of that vertue, 'That, if it was laid upon the ground, it would presently run to the place, where any treasure was hid:' this ball I afterwards saw often in his custody, and handled it with my hands.

It happened afterwards, that, as the custom is for the old fathers, when they grow weak, to have some young friars to assist them, so, Friar Wenceslaus was assigned to attend an ancient father, who was a cabalist, and a lover of magick, in which studies, at any vacancies, he spent his time. He often told Friar Wenceslaus, That there was a vast treasure hid in the church of their monastery;' to whom, Wenceslaus replied,That he had got a ball, which, he was assured, had the vertue to discover hidden treasures; and, thereupon, he shewed him the ball, and the characters impressed thercon, which the old father did seriously consider, and much valued them.

A while after, as they two were walking alone, in the church, before day, after mattins, they tried the ball, by laying it down in several places, but found no effect: at last, placing it near a certain pillar, old and ruinous, it began to shew its efficacy and vertue, by its often running thereto this they interpreted for a certain indication, that the treasure was there hid; but, how to come at it, was the question. They had neither leave, means, nor opportunity, to break down this stony structure, neither did they certainly know, at what heighth or depth thereof, the treasure was laid in it. So that, upon these discou ragements, they were forced to let it alone.

But it happened afterwards, that, a great tempest arising, the whole church, and especially this decayed pillar, was so shaken and spoiled, that, to prevent its falling down, the abbot was necessiated to order it to be demolished. And, in regard the old father, whom Friar Wenceslaus attended, had skill in architecture, and by reason of his infir. mities could not be otherwise serviceable to the monastery, he was therefore appointed to oversee the masons; which office he and his assistant

Friar Wenceslaus did willingly undertake, and were very sedulous in their attendance, and discharge thereof. When the pillar was almost all pulled down, they found therein a copper box, of a reasonable bigness, which the old father presently snatched up and carried it into his cloyster, and immediately opened it; where, at the top, he found a piece of parchment, on which there was some inscription and writing. I once had a copy of it, but I lost it amongst my other letters: but this I remember, it contained the number of the years wherein the church was built, and the name of the abbot, the founder thereof, who had been an envoy at Ratisbon. I do also remember, that, amongst other writings, there was this motto:

AMICE, TIBI SOLI,

Which I English thus:
Friend, to thyself alone.

Under this parchment, there were other letters laid, marked with characters, which contained directions how to multiply the powder, as the inscription shewed; and, under them, there were four boxes full of a red powder.

When the boxes were opened, Friar Wenceslaus was quite out of heart, having lost his preconceived hope of some great treasure therein; for he verily believed, that, if there were not old pieces of gold, yet some diamonds, or other precious stones, must have been lodged there. And finding no such thing, but four boxes of darkish coloured powder, he was so impatient at the disappointment, that, if he had been the sole manager of the business, he had thrown away boxes, powder, and all: For, at that time, he was so little acquainted with chymistry, that so much as the name was not known to him, and he had scarce heard of the word tincture.

But the old father was not so transported, but told him, "That perhaps some medicinal vertue was contained in the powder, and that the characters, in the annexed papers, might possibly discover its use, and therefore he was resolved to study some books, to find out what those characters meant :' in the mean time, he would carefully keep the box.

Not long after, the old father sent Friar Wenceslaus into the kitchen of the monastery, to see, if he could find an old pewter-dish or plate, which was no longer fit for use, and, if he could, to bring it to him; which he accordingly did, who thereupon caused a coal-fire to be made, and put a crucible into Friar Wenceslaus's hand, to place therein this was the first chymical operation, that ever Friar Wenceslaus performed in all his life, and for which he was so unfit, that he placed the crucible upside down, so that the old father himself was forced to set it in its right posture. They put the pewter-plate broken and fold. ed together into the crucible, which being presently melted, the father took out some of the powder, so much as would lie upon the point of a knife, which was in one of the four boxes, and, wrapping it in a little wax, he cast it into the crucible, upon the pewter, and commanded his

assistant Friar Wenceslaus to blow up the fire, adding these words, 'Now I shall see, whether I have well decyphered the characters, and whether I have found out the use of this powder.'

As soon as ever the powder was cast in, the pewter stood still, and came to a sudden congelation. Then, the fire was suffered to go out, and the crucible to wax cold, which being broken, there was found a ponderous mass of metal, very yellow and variegated with red lines: upon which, the father made Friar Wenceslaus to go out into the town, upon pretence of getting a book to be bound, and wished him to go to some goldsmith, and shew him this mass of metal, alledging to him, That he had some ancient Roman coins of gold, which he had melted down, but for want of a sufficient fire, and other defects, he had not done it exactly; and therefore he desired the goldsmith to melt it over again, and cast in an ingot.' The goldsmith gratified him therein, and Friar Wenceslaus, at the command of the father, took off a small piece, which he preserved; and then asked the goldsmith, What the rest was worth?' who, after he had weighed and tried it on the touchstone, did value it at twenty ducats, which are worth two crowns a piece, at which rate, Friar Wenceslaus sold it to him, and, receiving the money, returned joyfully home. The old father did only desire the remaining portion of the gold, which he had reserved, but suffered Friar Wenceslaus to enjoy the ducats, yet, with this advice, That he should discover it to none in the monastery.'

But Friar Wenceslaus, though he had not been master of so much money, a long time, was not satisfied therewith, but entertained various thoughts in his mind,Whether he should, by flight, free himself from that bondage and slavery he was in, whilst he had the advantage of so much cash?' or else, 'Whether he should stay so long there, till either, by flattery or craft, he had got the copper boxes, from the old father? To the first of these cogitations, he was edged on, by the eagerness of that desire he had, to leave the monastery: but then the great heap of gold, which he might make with the powder, as he well conjectured, if he could get it into his hands, did somewhat abate his fervor, and persuade him to stay. For, though he was yet altogether ignorant of chymistry, yet the precedent trials had given him so much light, that he was fully persuaded, the box contained and was worth a vast treasure; and, though at that time, the rareness of the powder, and the multiplication of it, had very small influence upon his thoughts; yet, because he had a share in finding of it out, by means of his ball, he therefore thought that half of it, at least, did belong to him.

But there was another thing which more perplexed his mind, and that was the fear, that the old father, either out of a principle of devotion, or of vain glory, should discover the whole story of the business to the abbot, and, by that means, should make away all the powder; and he was rather inclined to these cogitations, because he had observed, That the father, who before had been more remiss in hiding the box, now of late was so sollicitous to preserve it, that he kept it continually, in his desk, and scarce ever stirred from it, except when he was to go to church with Friar Wenceslaus.