Hello everyone,
Here is a summary of the story I found in Bernard Husson ?s book on alchemical transmutations ( Transmutations alchimiques, La Table d?Emeraude, Paris, 1994, ISBN 2-903965-27-7, page 204 ).
It s a report of a preface by Nicolas Barnaud (1538-1607) in his book : Commentarium aenigmaticum quoddam epitaphium Bononiae Studorium, Lugduni, 1603.
Nicolas Barnaud, a well known protestant, BTW Calvinist, and political economist writer, was also a strong defender of alchemy.
His stay in Prag is estimated between 1592 and 1597.
" I remember, he says, what was told to me when I was during six months the host of Taddée Hajek, I had in his house an opportunity to meet with a Belgian physician, Anselme à Boodt, with whom I became to be familiar ".
Anselme Boetius de Boodt (1550-1632) was born in Bruges and lived in Prag since 1583. He was the physician of Wilhelm Rosenberg, the " burgmeister " (mayor) of the city till 1595. Afterwards he was appointed as Rudolph?s II physician ( 1604-1612).
" When his parents died, says Nicolas Barnaud, he let a significant library come from Belgium to Prag. He then happened to read a booklet, named Cymbalum Aureum , in which he found hidden a small manuscript. In this one was written out, in an enigmatic form, the process for the Philosopher?s Stone ; he as well found in it a red powder. "
A successful attempt was them made with part of this powder to transmute metal into gold.
I don?t believe from the above that the Cymbalum has necessarily directly something to do with VMS. The above is only for the record. Comments welcome.
Regards,
Jean