Thomas Norton's Ordinal of Alchemy

lxxvi, 124pp, plus catalogue of the society's publications at rear. In brown cloth-covered boards with gilt titles and decorations, blind rules at edges. Text block edges slightly darkened. A clean and neat ex library copy with usual markings, else internally neat, clean, bright and tight. 8vo. Contains both Norton's original 15th century English alchemical poem and a modern translation of the ordinal. It contains footnotes, translation notes, and six images from the original document. The text of the ordinal has been left in its poetic verse when translating to modern English. It contains advice for alchemists on scientific, philosophical and religious grounds, with examples of good and bad alchemists. It describes the devices and machines alchemists needs and talks about the importance of colors, music, and heavenly bodies when creating certain elements. It mentions transmutation of base metals into gold, various medicines, the elixir of life, and the philosopher's stone.