Quote:Wikipedia
He ( Johannes de Rupescissa ) propagated the spirit of wine (alcohol) distilled by him, according to procedures for the production of brandy already known at that time and handed down for instance by Taddeo Alderotti, as a general remedy, which also prolonged life, and called it quinta essentia or aqua vitae. This fifth essence - alluding to Aristotle in addition to the classical four elements of earth, fire, water, air - was of celestial origin and counteracted the corrupting and destructive influences of the earth, such as disease and old age, and was not subject to their degradation. According to Rupescissa, it was given by God to preserve the body just as he had created heaven to save the world (and thus, according to Rupescissa, something like a human heaven).
In Cod. M II 180, starting at folio 72r, "das Buch der Heimlichkeit" by Johannes de Rupescissa is written down. The red heading reads approximately as follows:
"Hie vohet an daz register des buches von der heimelichkeit und blumen aller ertzenie und von dem funfften wesen."
It can be assumed that the "funfften wesen" is synonymous with the "fifth essence". The entire text would therefore have to deal with the "quinta essentia" or "aqua vitae" or its production. Consequently, in the "You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view." folio 72r to 105v in Cod. M II 180 are with the heading "Liber de consideratione quintae essentiae". However, I am cautious with the assumption that the German translation is a quasi 1:1 copy of the work.
I have a hard time reading the rest of the text. Perhaps someone can at least translate the beginning correctly.
With regard to the VMS, I would speculate that large parts of Quire 13 could be an illustrated version of the "Buch der Heimlichkeit" or "Liber de consideratione quintae essentiae".
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