Johann Rudolph Glauber (1604 - 1670) was a prominent Dutch-German alchemist and chemist, who has also been called one of the first chemical engineers. Christopher Packe translated Glauber's works on Alchemy from High-Dutch into English. His translation was published in London in 1689. Hans Nintzel recognized the importance of this work and included it in the R.A.M.S. Library. The Five Centuries, or "Glauber's Wealthy Store-house of Treasures," comprise the five parts of Glauber's General Appendix, which he presented as an exposition on all of his other Alchemical writings. This is but a small part of Glauber's complete works. The rest of Glauber's works are also part of The R.A.M.S. Library of Alchemy.

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1. Concerning Fire and Salt, and what Alchemy is.

Alchemy is a Science, and Art of destroying, of purging immature or unripe and impure Metals, by Fire and Salt, and by a singular Artifice, of converting the more pure part into a better form and kind, according to the words of PARACELSUS, who saith, EVERY SOMETHING IS TO BE CONVERTED INTO NOTHING, AND EVERY NOTHING INTO SOMETHING. Also Corruption renders that which is good perfect, the which is to be equally understood of particular and universal Operations.

Nevertheless it is not of necessity that I should here tediously treat of a particular Transmutation of Metals by Fire and Salt, because that hath been already long since performed in the second part of the Miracle of the World, and all in the fifth part of the Prosperity of GERMANY.

A Square within a Circle.

In the Sun

and Salt are

all things.