Magnalia naturae: or, the philosophers-stone lately expos'd to publick sight and sale; being a true and exact account of the manner how Wenceslaus Seilerus the late famous projection-maker, at the Emperours court, at Vienna, came by, and made away with a very great quantity of pouder of projection, by projecting with it before the Emperor ... / By John Joachim Becher ... [by] Wenceslaus Seilerus ... Published at the request ... especially of Mr. Boyl [sic].

  • Johann Joachim Becher
Date:
1680
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Magnalia naturae: or, the philosophers-stone lately expos'd to publick sight and sale; being a true and exact account of the manner how Wenceslaus Seilerus the late famous projection-maker, at the Emperours court, at Vienna, came by, and made away with a very great quantity of pouder of projection, by projecting with it before the Emperor ... / By John Joachim Becher ... [by] Wenceslaus Seilerus ... Published at the request ... especially of Mr. Boyl [sic]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    [3] whom Wenctfldtis replyed. That he had got a Ball which, he was allured, had the Virtue to difcover hidden Trea- fares : And, thereupon he Jliewed him the Ball, and the Chara&ers impreffied thereon, which the old father did ferioufly confiaer, and much valued them. Awhile after, as they two were walking alone in the Church, afore day, after Mattens, they Tryed the Ball,by laying it down in feveral Places, but found no effed; At laft, placing it near a certain Pillar old and ruinous, it be¬ gan to fhew its Efficacy and Virtue by its often running thereto : This they Interpreted for a certain Indication, That the Treafure was there hid; but how to come at it was the Queftion. They had neither Leave, Means nor Opportunity to break down this ftony ftruCture, neither did they certainly know at what height or deph thereof the Treafure was laid in it. So that upon thefe Difcou* ragements they were forced to let it alone. But it happened afterwards, That, a great Tempeft arifing, The whole Church, and efpecially this decayed Pillar, was fo lhaken and fpoiled, that to prevent its fal¬ ling down, the Abbot was neceffitated to order it to be demolifhed. And in regard the old Father, whom Fryer WcKCejlws attended, had skill in Architecture, and by rea- fon of his Infirmities could not be otherwife ferviceable to the Monaftery, he was therefore appointeed to overfee the Mafons ; which Office he and his Affiftant Fryer Wen- ceflaus did willingly undertake, and were very fedulous in theit Attendance, and difeharge thereof. When the Pillar was almoft all pulled own, They found therein a Copper- box, of a reafonable bignefs, which the old Father pre- fently fnatch’d up and carryed it into his Cloyfter, and immediately opened it : Where, at the Top, he found a piece of Parchment, on which there was fomc Infcription and Writing : I once had a Copy of it,but I loft it amongft my other Letters; But this I remember, It contained the B % num •