The Mirror of Alchimy

"The Mirror of Alchimy" is a short alchemical manual, known in Latin as Speculum Alchemiae. Translated in 1597, it was only the second alchemical text printed in the English language and is attributed to the English monk, Roger Bacon. In the earlier part, Bacon describes alchemy as a science teaching how to make and compound a certain medicine, which is called Elixir, the which when it is cast upon metals or imperfect bodies, does fully perfect them in the very projection. The author then goes on to describe the seven metals and the method for creating the Elixir. Three other famous alchemy tracts were also appended to the original as follows: 'The Commentary of Hortulanus…', 'The Booke of the Secrets of Alchimie' and 'An excellent discourse of the admirable force and efficacie of Art and Nature'.