In the year of Our Lord 1601, I, Nemesio de Mena, remain in hiding in the manor house of Lord Penbangarth in Cornwall, England. My escape from Spain had not been an easy one but I had help from those who worked anonymously in such instances. I cannot say I am entirely safe since Queen Bess still sits on the throne and she is not kind to Catholics, particularly the Spanish sort. There are those, like Lord Penbangarth, who are willing to hide us in their homes.

No longer do I practice alchemy; I am now an apothecary. It is my task in life to create medicines for those who suffer from gout, dropsy and rheumatics. It is not an exciting life but it is a safe one, at least as far as being safe is concerned. How far I have come from those days when the King's demands were uppermost in my mind and the thought of failure meant the loss of life.

To the relief of many, King Phillip II of Spain died in the year of Our Lord 1598. He never achieved his desire to live forever but the dreaded Inquisition lives on. Greed drove him to seek the ability to turn base metals into gold and vanity caused him to seek the elixir of life. Instead, he died as many men and women died before him: old and feeble. As will I when my time comes.