Errores alchemiae by Pseudo-Arnaldus de Villanova, 1478

The Errores alchemiae ('The Errors of Alchemy') is an adaptation of the alchemic treatise sometimes known as Flos Florum ('Flower among Flowers') and sometimes as Perfectum Magisterium ('Perfect Mastery'). This treatise has been attributed to Arnaldus de Villanova (c. 1240 - 1311), a prominent physician and theologian, who was believed to be an alchemist and to whom many alchemic texts have been erroneously attributed. A second hand identifies the letter as an excerpt from the Flos Florum in the margin of the first folio.

This version of the treatise appears in the form of a letter addressed to a Cardinal named Albinus. It starts on f. 24r and is preceded by the rubric Incipit de toto magisterio epistola solemnis missa ad Reverendum Dominum Albinum Cardinalem. It begins with the words VENERANDE PATER GRATIAS DEO QUI scientiam istam sua propria bonitate and ends on f. 29r with the words et accipe augmentationem tantam cuius utilitas maiore quam possit percipere rationem, followed by the rubric Explicit epistola missa ad Albinum cardinalem.