Attheendofthisprobation，andwhenhehadenteredhisfortiethyear，heemergedfromhissolitudeintomoreactivelife。Withsomeremainsofhisfortune，whichhadaccumulatedduringhisretirement，hefoundedacollegeforthestudyofArabic，whichwasapprovedofbythePope，withmanycommendationsuponhiszealandpiety。AtthistimehenarrowlyescapedassassinationfromanArabianyouthwhomhehadtakenintohisservice。RaymondhadprayedtoGod，insomeofhisaccessesoffanaticism，thathemightsuffermartyrdominhisholycause。Hisservanthadoverheardhim；and，beingasgreatafanaticashismaster，heresolvedtogratifyhiswish，andpunishhim，atthesametime，forthecurseswhichheincessantlylaunchedagainstMahometandallwhobelievedinhim，bystabbinghimtotheheart。He，therefore，aimedablowathismaster，ashesatonedayattable；buttheinstinctofself-preservationbeingstrongerthanthedesireofmartyrdom，Raymondgrappledwithhisantagonist，andoverthrewhim。Hescornedtotakehislifehimself；buthandedhimovertotheauthoritiesofthetown，bywhomhewasafterwardsfounddeadinhisprison。
　　AfterthisadventureRaymondtravelledtoParis，whereheresidedforsometime，andmadetheacquaintanceofArnolddeVilleneuve。Fromhimheprobablyreceivedsomeencouragementtosearchforthephilosopher’sstone，ashebeganfromthattimeforthtodevotelessofhisattentiontoreligiousmatters，andmoretothestudyofalchymy。Stillheneverlostsightofthegreatobjectforwhichhelived——theconversionoftheMahometans——andproceededtoRome，tocommunicatepersonallywithPopeJohnXXI，onthebestmeasurestobeadoptedforthatend。ThePopegavehimencouragementinwords，butfailedtoassociateanyotherpersonswithhimintheenterprisewhichhemeditated。Raymond，therefore，setoutforTunisalone，andwaskindlyreceivedbymanyArabianphilosophers，whohadheardofhisfameasaprofessorofalchymy。Ifhehadstucktoalchymywhileintheircountry，itwouldhavebeenwellforhim；buthebegancursingMahomet，andgothimselfintotrouble。WhilepreachingthedoctrinesofChristianityinthegreatbazaarofTunis，hewasarrestedandthrownintoprison。Hewasshortlyafterwardsbroughttotrial，andsentencedtodeath。Someofhisphilosophicfriendsintercededhardforhim，andhewaspardoned，uponconditionthatheleftAfricaimmediately，andneveragainsetfootinit。Ifhewasfoundthereagain，nomatterwhathisobjectmightbe，orwhateverlengthoftimemightintervene，hisoriginalsentencewouldbecarriedintoexecution。Raymondwasnotatallsolicitousofmartyrdomwhenitcametothepoint，whateverhemighthavebeenwhentherewasnodanger，andhegladlyacceptedhislifeupontheseconditions，andleftTuniswiththeintentionofproceedingtoRome。Heafterwardschangedhisplan，andestablishedhimselfatMilan，where，foralengthoftime，hepractisedalchymy，andsomesayastrology，withgreatsuccess。
　　Mostwriterswhobelievedinthesecretsofalchymy，andwhohavenoticedthelifeofRaymondLulli，assert，thatwhileinMilan，hereceivedlettersfromEdwardKingofEngland，invitinghimtosettleinhisstates。Theyadd，thatLulligladlyacceptedtheinvitation，andhadapartmentsassignedforhisuseintheTowerofLondon，whereherefinedmuchgold；superintendedthecoinageof“rose-nobles；“andmadegoldoutofiron，quicksilver，lead，andpewter，totheamountofsixmillions。Thewritersinthe“BiographieUniverselle，“anexcellentauthorityingeneral，denythatRaymondwaseverinEngland，andsay，thatinallthesestoriesofhiswondrouspowersasanalchymist，hehasbeenmistakenforanotherRaymond，aJew，ofTarragona。Naude，inhis“Apologie，“says，simply，“thatsixmillionsweregivenbyRaymondLullitoKingEdward，tomakewaragainsttheTurksandotherinfidels:“notthathetransmutedsomuchmetalintogold；but，asheafterwardsadds，thatheadvisedEdwardtolayataxuponwool，whichproducedthatamount。ToshowthatRaymondwenttoEngland，hisadmirersquoteaworkattributedtohim，“DeTransmutationeAnimaeMetallorum，“inwhichheexpresslysays，thathewasinEnglandattheintercessionoftheKing。[VidimusomniaistadumadAngliamtransiimus，propterintercessionemDominiRegisEdoardiillustrissimi。]ThehermeticwritersarenotagreedwhetheritwasEdwardI，orEdwardII，whoinvitedhimover；but，byfixingthedateofhisjourneyin1312，theymakeitappearthatitwasEdwardII。
　　EdmondDickenson，inhisworkonthe“QuintessencesofthePhilosophers，“says，thatRaymondworkedinWestminsterAbbey，where，alongtimeafterhisdeparture，therewasfoundinthecellwhichhehadoccupied，agreatquantityofgoldendust，ofwhichthearchitectsmadeagreatprofit。InthebiographicalsketchofJohnCremer，AbbotofWestminster，givenbyLenglet，itissaid，thatitwaschieflythroughhisinstrumentalitythatRaymondcametoEngland。Cremerhadbeenhimselfforthirtyyearsoccupiedinthevainsearchforthephilosopher’sstone，whenheaccidentallymetRaymondinItaly，andendeavouredtoinducehimtocommunicatehisgrandsecret。Raymondtoldhimthathemustfinditforhimself，asallgreatalchymistshaddonebeforehim。Cremer，onhisreturntoEngland，spoketoKingEdwardinhightermsofthewonderfulattainmentsofthephilosopher，andaletterofinvitationwasforthwithsenthim。RobertConstantinus，inthe“NomenclatoreScriptorumMedicorum，“publishedin1515，says，thatafteragreatdealofresearch，befoundthatRaymondLulliresidedforsometimeinLondon，andthatheactuallymadegold，bymeansofthephilosopher’sstone，intheTower；thathehadseenthegoldenpiecesofhiscoinage，whichwerestillnamedinEnglandthenoblesofRaymond，orrose-nobles。Lullihimselfappearstohaveboastedthathemadegold；for，inhiswell-known“Testamentum，“hestates，thatheconvertednolessthanfiftythousandpoundsweightofquicksilver，lead，andpewterintothatmetal。[ConvertiunaviceinaurumadLmilliapondoargentivivi，plumbi，etstanni——LulliiTestamentum。]ItseemshighlyprobablethattheEnglishKing，believingintheextraordinarypowersofthealchymist，invitedhimtoEnglandtomaketestofthem，andthathewasemployedinrefininggoldandincoining。Camden，whoisnotcredulousinmatterslikethese，affordshiscountenancetothestoryofhiscoinageofnobles；
　　andthereisnothingatallwonderfulinthefactofamanfamousforhisknowledgeofmetalsbeingemployedinsuchacapacity。Raymondwas，atthistime，anoldman，inhisseventy-seventhyear，andsomewhatinhisdotage。Hewaswillingenoughtohaveitbelievedthathehaddiscoveredthegrandsecret，andsupportedtherumourratherthancontradictedit。HedidnotlongremaininEngland；butreturnedtoRome，tocarryouttheprojectswhichwerenearertohisheartthantheprofessionofalchymy。HehadproposedthemtoseveralsuccessivePopeswithlittleornosuccess。ThefirstwasaplanfortheintroductionoftheOrientallanguagesintoallthemonasteriesofEurope；thesecond，forthereductionintooneofallthemilitaryorders，that，beingunited，theymightmovemoreefficaciouslyagainsttheSaracens；and，thethird，thattheSovereignPontiffshouldforbidtheworksofAverroestobereadintheschools，asbeingmorefavourabletoMahometanismthantoChristianity。ThePopedidnotreceivetheoldmanwithmuchcordiality；and，afterremainingforabouttwoyearsinRome，heproceededoncemoretoAfrica，aloneandunprotected，topreachtheGospelofJesus。HelandedatBonain1314；
　　andsoirritatedtheMahometansbycursingtheirprophet，thattheystonedhim，andlefthimfordeadonthesea-shore。HewasfoundsomehoursafterwardsbyapartyofGenoesemerchants，whoconveyedhimonboardtheirvessel，andsailedtowardsMajorca。Theunfortunatemanstillbreathed，butcouldnotarticulate。Helingeredinthisstateforsomedays，andexpiredjustasthevesselarrivedwithinsightofhisnativeshores。HisbodywasconveyedwithgreatpomptothechurchofSt。Eulalia，atPalma，whereapublicfuneralwasinstitutedinhishonour。Miracleswereafterwardssaidtohavebeenworkedathistomb。
　　ThusendedthecareerofRaymondLulli，oneofthemostextraordinarymenofhisage；and，withtheexceptionofhislastboastaboutthesixmillionsofgold，theleastinclinedtoquackeryofanyoftheprofessorsofalchymy。Hiswritingswereverynumerous，andincludenearlyfivehundredvolumes，upongrammar，rhetoric，morals，theology，politics，civilandcanonlaw，physics，metaphysics，astronomy，medicine，andchemistry。
　　ThepowerfuldelusionofalchymyseizeduponamindstillgreaterthanthatofRaymondLulli。RogerBaconfirmlybelievedinthephilosopher’sstone，andspentmuchofhistimeinsearchofit。Hisexamplehelpedtorenderallthelearnedmenofthetimemoreconvincedofitspracticability，andmoreeagerinthepursuit。HewasbornatIlchester，inthecountyofSomerset，intheyear1214。HestudiedforsometimeintheuniversityofOxford，andafterwardsinthatofParis，inwhichhereceivedthedegreeofdoctorofdivinity。
　　ReturningtoEnglandin1240，hebecameamonkoftheorderofSt。
　　Francis。Hewasbyfarthemostlearnedmanofhisage；andhisacquirementsweresomuchabovethecomprehensionofhiscontemporaries，thattheycouldonlyaccountforthembysupposingthathewasindebtedforthemtothedevil。Voltairehasnotinaptlydesignatedhim“Del’orencroutedetouteslesorduresdesonsiecle；“
　　butthecrustofsuperstitionthatenvelopedhispowerfulmind，thoughitmayhavedimmed，couldnotobscurethebrightnessofhisgenius。Tohim，andapparentlytohimonly，amongalltheinquiringspiritsofthetime，wereknownthepropertiesoftheconcaveandconvexlens。Healsoinventedthemagic-lantern；thatprettyplaythingofmoderndays，whichacquiredforhimareputationthatembitteredhislife。Inahistoryofalchymy，thenameofthisgreatmancannotbeomitted，although，unlikemanyothersofwhomweshallhaveoccasiontospeak，heonlymadeitsecondarytootherpursuits。Theloveofuniversalknowledgethatfilledhismind，wouldnotallowhimtoneglectonebranchofscience，ofwhichneitherhenortheworldcouldyetseetheabsurdity。Hemadeampleamendsforhistimelostinthispursuitbyhisknowledgeinphysicsandhisacquaintancewithastronomy。Thetelescope，burning-glasses，andgunpowder，arediscoverieswhichmaywellcarryhisfametotheremotesttime，andmaketheworldblindtotheonespotoffolly——thediagnosisoftheageinwhichhelived，andthecircumstancesbywhichhewassurrounded。Histreatiseonthe“AdmirablePowerofArtandNatureintheProductionofthePhilosopher’sStone“wastranslatedintoFrenchbyGirarddeTormes，andpublishedatLyonsin1557。His“MirrorofAlchymy“wasalsopublishedinFrenchinthesameyear，andinParisin1612，withsomeadditionsfromtheworksofRaymondLulli。AcompletelistofallthepublishedtreatisesuponthesubjectmaybeseeninLengletduFresnoy。
　　ThisPrelateissaidtohavebeenthefriendandpupilofArnolddeVilleneuve，bywhomhewasinstructedinallthesecretsofalchymy。Traditionassertsofhim，thathemadegreatquantitiesofgold，anddiedasrichasCroesus。HewasbornatCahors，intheprovinceofGuienne，intheyear1244。Hewasaveryeloquentpreacher，andsoonreachedhighdignityintheChurch。Hewroteaworkonthetransmutationofmetals，andhadafamouslaboratoryatAvignon。HeissuedtwoBullsagainstthenumerouspretenderstotheart，whohadsprungupineverypartofChristendom；fromwhichitmightbeinferredthathewashimselffreefromthedelusion。Thealchymistsclaimhim，however，asoneofthemostdistinguishedandsuccessfulprofessorsoftheirart，andsaythathisBullswerenotdirectedagainsttherealadepts，butthefalsepretenders。TheylayparticularstressuponthesewordsinhisBull，“Spondent，quasnonexhibent，divitias，pauperesalchymistae。“These，itisclear，theysay，relateonlytopooralchymists，andthereforefalseones。Hediedintheyear1344，leavinginhiscoffersasumofeighteenmillionsofflorins。Popularbeliefallegedthathehadmade，andnotamassed，thistreasure；andalchymistscomplacentlycitethisasaproofthatthephilosopher’sstonewasnotsuchachimeraastheincredulouspretended。TheytakeitforgrantedthatJohnreallyleftthismoney，andaskbywhatpossiblemeanshecouldhaveaccumulatedit。Replyingtotheirownquestion，theysaytriumphantly，“Hisbookshowsitwasbyalchymy，thesecretsofwhichhelearnedfromArnolddeVilleneuveandRaymondLulli。Buthewasasprudentasallotherhermeticphilosophers。Whoeverwouldreadhisbooktofindouthissecret，wouldemployallhislabourinvain；thePopetookgoodcarenottodivulgeit。“Unluckilyfortheirowncredit，allthesegold-makersareinthesamepredicament；theirgreatsecretlosesitsworthmostwonderfullyinthetelling，andthereforetheykeepitsnuglytothemselves。Perhapstheythoughtthat，ifeverybodycouldtransmutemetals，goldwouldbesoplentifulthatitwouldbenolongervaluable，andthatsomenewartwouldberequisitetotransmuteitbackagainintosteelandiron。Ifso，societyismuchindebtedtothemfortheirforbearance。
　　JeanDeMeungAllclassesofmendabbledintheartatthistime；thelastmentionedwasaPope，theoneofwhomwenowspeakwasapoet。JeandeMeung，thecelebratedauthorofthe“RomandelaRose，“wasbornintheyear1279or1280，andwasagreatpersonageatthecourtsofLouisX，PhiliptheLong，CharlesIV，andPhilipdeValois。Hisfamouspoemofthe“RomandelaRose，“whichtreatsofeverysubjectinvogueatthatday，necessarilymakesgreatmentionofalchymy。Jeanwasafirmbelieverintheart，andwrote，besideshis，“Roman，“twoshorterpoems，theoneentitled，“TheRemonstranceofNaturetothewanderingAlchymist，“and“TheReplyoftheAlchymisttoNature。“Poetryandalchymywerehisdelight，andpriestsandwomenwerehisabomination。
　　ApleasantstoryisrelatedofhimandtheladiesofthecourtofCharlesIV。Hehadwrittenthefollowinglibellouscoupletuponthefairsex:——
　　“Toutesetes，serez，oufutesDefaitoudevolonte，putains，Etqui，tresbienvouschercheraitToutesputains，voustrouverait。“
　　[TheseversesarebutacoarserexpressionoftheslanderouslineofPope，that“everywomanisatheartarake。“]