In his time the common people will rejoice, and render praise to God in mutual neighbourly love. When he comes, he will reform the kingdom, and by his goodness and virtue he will set an everlasting example to rulers. One who shall have obtained his honours by means of this Art, will mend old manners, and change them for the better.

This knowledge would often have been the glory of England's Kings, if their hope had been firmly placed upon God. This noble science is bestowed only on those who love justice with a devout mind, but to the deceitful, the treacherous, and the violent it is denied, because their sin's hinder the coming of God's gifts. Only let them believe this prophetical saying to the thankful all flows forth from the fount of Divine love.

The Book of our Art is clear as light to the sons of knowledge, to whom God has freely given to understand this matter. There are many called to knowledge, noble and poor, learned and ignorant, but they will not submit to toil, or await the time they do not attain to the goal because they are ungrateful. Many are aflame with the desire of gain, but amongst a thousand thousand scarce three are chosen.

Alchemy is sought by the false and the true-by false seekers without number, but they are rejected. It is the book of confidence and truth, full of counsel for kings and of teaching for prelates, a book useful for sainted men, who wish to live unspotted of sin a secret book, the Book of the Gift of God, to chosen men a pathway of true hope, a strength to those constant in firm faith, and who unwaveringly believe in my words. It is the book of honouring, increasing riches, and the book of the needy, putting to flight poverty. THIS Book shews to the initiated knowledge, but intensifies the ignorance of the vulgar. 3 THE TREATISE, CREDE-MIHI, OR ORDINAL, OF THOMAS NORTON. The treasures of Hermes are not laid open in one book: perhaps one writer may render clear to you what another fails to explain. And if you fail of success, yet your mind will be stored with the precious treasures of knowledge, and you will in any case be richly rewarded for your labour. If you are fortunate you will catch beneath this wide expanse of waters a fish which will satisfy the longing of your heart. He spreads himself abroad over an immensity of space, that he may fertilize the fields of Alchemy, and rejoice the hearts of its husband men. _ THE CHEMICAL TREATISE OF THOMAS NORTON, THE ENGLISHMAN, CALLED BELIEVE-ME, OR THE ORDINAL OF ALCHEMY.Īs the Nile with its overflowing waters floods the surrounding country, and covers it with fertilizing slime, bearing in it the promise of a rich and laughing harvest, so the genius of Norton overflows its banks far and wide, while he makes known to us the glorious works of Nature. II: Believe-Me, or The Ordinal of Alchemy

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