By the time it was published in 1705, the Speculum Sapientiae claimed to have had a long history going back to 1672. However, the fact that exaggerated stories were commonplace in alchemical literature leads us to question its credibility. This paper explores the secret lives of this alchemical text prior to its print publication to clarify the roles of manuscripts in early-modern alchemy. Specifically, I argue that there were three aspects that could distinguish manuscript from print: provenance, materiality, and exclusivity. These can be seen at work in the fate of Johann Heinrich Vierordt, an itinerant alchemist and cavalry captain whose career is inextricably linked to the scribal dissemination of the Speculum Sapientiae. In addition to manuscript copies of that text at libraries across Europe, a significant cache of correspondence preserved in Gotha documents Vierordt’s dealings with Duke Friedrich I of Saxe-Gotha. The verisimilitudinous provenance of Vierordt’s alchemical secrets and tincture played a crucial role in allowing him to gain Friedrich’s trust. Yet it was only after Vierordt presented him with a precious parchment manuscript of the Speculum Sapientiae that he truly succeeded in gaining the duke’s patronage. Subsequently, reports of multiple conflicting copies surfacing in Amsterdam sealed Vierordt’s fall from favour.

中文翻译：

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公爵、幸运之士和玫瑰十字会的遗产：探索手稿在早期现代炼金术中的作用

到 1705 年出版时，Speculum Sapientiae 声称其历史可以追溯到 1672 年。然而，夸张的故事在炼金术文学中司空见惯，这让我们怀疑其可信度。本文在印刷出版之前探索了这本炼金术文本的秘密生活，以阐明手稿在早期现代炼金术中的作用。具体来说，我认为有三个方面可以区分手稿和印刷品：出处、重要性和排他性。这些可以从约翰·海因里希·维罗特 (Johann Heinrich Vierordt) 的命运中看出，他是一名巡回炼金术士和骑兵队长，他的职业生涯与 Speculum Sapientiae 的抄写传播密不可分。除了在欧洲各图书馆的手稿副本之外，保存在哥达的大量信件记录了维罗特与萨克森-哥达公爵弗里德里希一世的往来。Vierordt 炼金术秘密和酊剂的真实出处在让他获得弗里德里希的信任方面发挥了至关重要的作用。然而，只有在 Vierordt 向他赠送了一份珍贵的 Speculum Sapientiae 羊皮纸手稿之后，他才真正成功地获得了公爵的赞助。随后，关于阿姆斯特丹出现的多个相互冲突的副本的报道使 Vierordt 不再受欢迎。然而，只有在 Vierordt 向他赠送了一份珍贵的 Speculum Sapientiae 羊皮纸手稿之后，他才真正成功地获得了公爵的赞助。随后，关于阿姆斯特丹出现的多个相互冲突的副本的报道使 Vierordt 不再受欢迎。然而，只有在 Vierordt 向他赠送了一份珍贵的 Speculum Sapientiae 羊皮纸手稿之后，他才真正成功地获得了公爵的赞助。随后，关于阿姆斯特丹出现的多个相互冲突的副本的报道使 Vierordt 不再受欢迎。