The Mirror of Alchimy  The Mirror of Alchimy is a short alchemical manual, known in Latin as "Speculum Alchemiae". Translated in 1597, it was only the second alchemical text printed in the English language. Long ascribed to Roger Bacon (1214-1294), the work is more likely the product of an anonymous author who wrote between the thirteenth and the fifteenth centuries. "The Mirror of Alchimy" is a translation of earlier works found in Latin and French. The earliest known manuscript copy is in Latin and dates from the fifteenth century. It was published as "Speculum Alchemiae" in Johannes Petreius' "De alchimia". This was the first alchemical compendium, and was printed in Nuremberg in 1541. The volume also included five works attributed to Geber, the works of Calid and Ortolanus, and three other texts. Portions of "De alchimia" were translated into French in 1557 as "Le miroir d'alquimie". The French volume was published in four parts. "Speculum Alchemiae" was translated by Nicolas Bernard and appears in French at the beginning of part one. Here, Pseudo-Bacon's work is featured alongside the texts attributed to Hortulanus and Calid from the Latin edition. The series also included a second work attributed to Roger Bacon, "De l'admirable puissance del'art, & de nature, ou est traicté de la pierre philosophale". Three additional works attributed to Jean de Mehun, Claude Celestin, and Pope John XXII were also incorporated. The English version of "The Mirror of Alchimy" was translated from the French and printed at London in 1597. Just three of the appended texts found in "Le miroir d'alquimie" were retained for the English book. The work was printed by Thomas Creede (fl. 1593-1617) for the publisher Richard Olive. In 1602, the Latin version of "Speculum Alchemiae" appeared in Volume II of the influential Theatrum Chemicum. On the title page the publisher describes the book as "The mirror of alchimy, composed by the thrice-famous and learned fryer, Roger Bachon. Also a most excellent and learned discourse of the admirable force and efficacie of Art and Nature, written by the same Author.