Alchemy Text Online

[jducoeur]

Just noticed this in the daily update from the Gutenberg project (from a week or so ago -- yes, I'm still way behind): a new transcription of an 1889 edition of an 1866 transcription of the 15th century Book of Quinte Essence. From the EETS project, so it's still in the original middle English -- early enough to be fun to read, but late enough to be pretty easy. Attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, to give it the all-important imprimateur of Authority. In two books, the first of which tells you how to make it, and the second of which explains how to use it to cure everything from devilish influence to gout, lice and cramps. Complete with endnotes on the chemistry described therein -- what's going on here, and which bits are nonsense. At least on a quick skim it's rather fun...