The book by Henry Carrington Bolton, one of the leading experts on medieval metaphysics and arcane sciences, vividly tells the story of the notorious Bohemian Emperor Rudolf II, patron of alchemists, astrologers and magicians, revealing facts usually suppressed by academic science. The secrets of the Grand Magisterium and ominous sacred artifacts, the transformation of worthless metals into silver and gold, the healing of all diseases and eternal life - the author talks about all this and much more with knowledge of the matter and inimitable irony, every now and then interspersing Shakespeare's poems into the text, then quotes from long-forgotten occult treatises. We learn about the life and work of the most famous scientists and magicians of the Middle Ages: Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Michael Maisra, Paracelsus and, of course, the greatest English alchemist John Dee and his demonic assistant - the medium Edward Kelly. Alchemists and magicians of that time completely devoted their lives to the search for the Philosopher's Stone and tirelessly experimented in the hope of obtaining a precious tincture, thanks to this they made many amazing discoveries, which today are remembered in connection with completely different names, having forgotten the discoverers. The book will be of interest to both a wide range of readers, and specialists who will find in it many interesting facts and original hypotheses. It is published in Russian for the first time.