Waite's _Lives of the Alchemystical Philosophers_.
When he was thirteen years of age, Balsamo's parents determined he should be trained for the priesthood, but he ran away from his school.
He was then confined in a Benedictine monastery.

He showed a remarkable taste for natural history, and acquired considerable knowledge of the use of drugs; but he soon tired of the discipline and escaped.

For some years he wandered about in different parts of Italy, living by his wits and by cheating.

A goldsmith consulted him about a hidden treasure; he pretended to invoke the aid of spirits, frightened the goldsmith, got sixty ounces of gold from him to carry on his incantations, left him in the lurch, and fled to Messina.

In that town he discovered an aged aunt who was sick; the aunt died, and left her money to the Church.