Johann Grasshoff

Johann Grasshoff (or Grasshof, Grasse)[1][2][3] (c.1560 – 1623) was a Pomeranian jurist, and alchemical writer. He is recorded also as a medical advisor to Ernest of Bavaria, a Syndic, and an Episcopal counselor.

His writings include the Aperta Arca arcani artificiosissimi (1617).[4] and a Cabala Chymica (1658).[5]

The compilation of the 1625 Dyas chymica tripartita is also attributed to him;[6] it includes The Golden Age Restored[7] of Henricus Madathanus, The Book of Lambspring,[8] of Nicolas Barnaud, and the Book of Alze.[9]

References

  1. ^ Known also as Johannes Grassaeus or Crassaeus, Chortolassaeus, Crotolassaeus, and other forms.
  2. ^ It is sometimes said that he wrote also as Johannes Walch (see note on Der kleine Bauer). However this page from the Mennonite Encyclopedia Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine makes Walch an Anabaptist.
  3. ^ It is also said that he is the pseudonymous Herman Condeesyanus; but this is disputed: see the external link.
  4. ^ Translated extract: [1] The Arca Arcani contains Der kleine Bauer attributed to Johannes Walch (Walchius, Valehius), which leads to the suggestion that Walch was Grasshoff; see this PDF of annotations to The Sceptical Chymist.
  5. ^ An earlier Cabala Chymica is that of Franciscus Kieser from 1606.
  6. ^ The Dyas consisted of six tracts: Dyas Chymica Tripartita, Das ist: Sechs Herrliche Teutsche Philosophische Tractätlein: Deren I. Vonan itzo noch am Leben: II. Von mittlern Alters: und III. Von ältern Philosophis beschrieben worden. It is initialled H.C.D. or Hermann[us] Condeesyanus, so the attribution depends on identification. The other candidate, proposed in recent times by Carlos Gilly, is Johannes Rhenanus.
  7. ^ "Golden Age Restored". Levity.com. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  8. ^ "Book of Lambspring". Alchemywebsite.com. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  9. ^ "Book of Alze". Levity.com. Retrieved 2012-07-26.