explanation, which, Flamel declares, "caused
me to wander for one and twenty years in a
perfect meander from the verity, I went
through a thousand processes, yet never with
the blood of infants, for that I accounted
wicked and villainous." At length, wearied
out by his ill-success he determined upon a
pilgrimage to Spain, with the full consent of
his wife. He made a vow to God and to
Monsieur St. Jaques de Gallicia, and
determined also to consult some learned Jew in
Spain. Accordingly he made an exact copy
of all the figures in the book. Putting in a
few key-words for the benefit of the scholars,
and taking up his scrip and staff, he set out
on his journey, and in due time reached the
shrine of St. James, where he accomplished
his vow with great devotion. On his way
home he met with a merchant who introduced
him to a Jewish physician who had embraced
Christianity—a most learned man—Canches,
by name, who no sooner beheld the copy of
figures than he was transported with joy, and
began to ask many questions about the book,
of which he had heard, but feared it was
irrevocably lost. As he evidently understood
the meaning of the enigmas, Flamel spared no
entreaties to induce him to return with him
to France, in which he succeeded, and they
set off together.

Upon the journey, says Flamel, he truly
interpreted to me the greater part of my
figures, in which even to the points he
found great mysteries, but when we reached
Orleans this learned man fell ill from the
effects of sea-sickness. At the end of the
seventh day he died, at which I was much
affected. I buried him as well as I could
in the Church of the Holy Cross of Orleans,
where he still lies. God rest his soul, for he
died a good Christian, and certainly, if I am
not prevented by death, I will give this
church some alms, that it may say daily
masses for his soul! And now, if any one
would see the manner of my arrival at home
and the joy of Perronelle, let him look upon
us both as we are represented upon the door
of the Chapel of St. Jacques de la Boucherie
in the City of Paris, on the side that is nearest
to my house, where we are both represented
kneeling down and giving thanks at the feet
of M. St. Jacques of Gallicia, and Perronelle at
the feet of M. St. John, whom she had so often
invoked. Well, although I now possessed the
prima materia, the first principle, I was still
ignorant of the first mode of preparation,
which is of all things the most difficult. For
the space of three years I wandered in a
labyrinth of errors. I studied diligently,
praying always to God—guessing my way by
the words of the philosophers, and trying
endless experiments, I at length found what
I desired, which I easily recognised by its
strong smell. I easily accomplished the
magistery, for knowing the prime agents and
following the instructions of my book, I could
not now have failed in the work even if I
would. The first projection I made was
upon mercury, of which I converted a pound
or a pound and a half into pure silver, better
than any from the mine, as I proved many
times by assay. This was done in the year
of our Lord, January thirteenth, thirteen
hundred and eighty-two, about noon, being
Monday, Perronelle alone being present.
Afterwards I made projection of the red stone
upon the like quantity of mercury in the
presence of Perronelle, in the April of the same
year, about five in the afternoon. This
mercury I transmuted into almost an equal
quantity of gold, but much better than
common gold, being softer and more pliable. I
did this three times with the assistance of
Perronelle, who could have done it quite as
well by herself. Truly, I had enough gold
when I had once done it, but I found exceeding
great pleasure and delight in seeing
the admirable works of nature within the
vessels. At first I was afraid lest Perronelle
should not be able to conceal her extreme
joy and felicity, which I measured by my own.
I feared lest she should drop some word to
her relatives about the treasures we
possessed, but the goodness of God had not only
given me a chaste and virtuous wife, who
was capable of understanding reason, but
able also to do what was reasonable, and
more discreet and secret, than other women.
Above all, she was religious and devout,
and therefore, seeing herself without hope
of children and well stricken in years,
she made it her duty, as I also did, to
think of God—to do works of mercy and
charity. Up to this year fourteen hundred
and thirteen, when I write this commentary,
three years after the death of my faithful
companion—whom I shall never cease to regret
all the days of my life—she and I together
have founded and endowed fourteen hospitals
in the city of Paris; we have built three new
chapels; decorated and endowed seven
churches, and repaired three cemeteries;
besides what we have done at Boulogne,
which is scarcely less than what we have
done here; not to speak of acts of charity
which we did to widows and orphans; which,
if I should divulge, my reward would be only
in this world, besides being unpleasant to the
persons whom we benefited. Upon the fourth
arch in the Cemetery of the Innocents, as
you go through the great gate of St. Denis,
upon the right hand side, I caused to be
represented the true and essential meaning
of the art—disguised under veils and
hieroglyphics, like those in my book—so that
according to men's capacity they may
understand either the mysteries of our
resurrection at the day of judgment, or they may
discern all the principles and necessary
operations of the magistery, and see their way
direct to the great work.

Notwithstanding their modesty and secrecy
the report of the riches and munificent
charities of Flamel and his wife came to the