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Paracelfus

OF

ThcTR ANS MUTATION

M E TA L S-

Ch a p. I.

Of the Scale of Tr&hfnuUtion*

Ranfrnutation is an alteration or changing of the forms of natural ^ things into other forms , as of Metals or Wood^nto Stones or Glafs ^ the changing of Stones into Coles, &c. It hath been found out, That_Metals that have been firfe coyned jgto MoneyJIlhajrfcheen by Slture

Cmpgecl iuno>r t\\* CiT^AJntib* ftnny fuh- ftance ; and yet have retained the impreffion of tKelmage that hath been ftamped upon then '* and , That the Roots of Oaks , being (mitten with Thunder , or fome other infiueacc of the

B Stars*

2 Of the Tr an f mutation

Stars, have been turned into true Scones. There do alio arife Springs of Rivers in many places, that,by a certain natural poperty , do transform all things whatfoever are can into them , into hard Stones. Thefe, and fact-like works of Na- ture , wife men have contemplated , and have thereby learned like wile to do the fame things by Art ; by obferving the fame Order which Nature teacheth by her Inilrunaents. This we fee frequently done in many Mountains , That Coles are generated of Stones naturally by a cer- tain jEtnean fire, of which Carpenters havefre- quen: ule. So that this laft kinde of Tranfmuta- tion , is done by Fire in the Earth ; the other before ipokiin of, by Water and Air : Thefe are the Inftrurnents of Nature , and they are for the Matter, the Motion for the Form. Vghat there- fore if a natural Compoiition,may be made Earth by Fire, and that made Water by Air , and this made Fire by Fire ; and that again defcending, may be made Air by Air , and then this be made Water by Water,and adaft-that may be reduced Jttro Eartft by Fire ? what Tranfmutation I pray co thou think will come thereof ? if you were expert, you would know it. The vulgar and ig- norant fee not thefe things ; and that for noo- thcr caufe, but becaufe they do not confider the fecrets of Nature. Whofoever therefore toge- ther with them is ignorant of , or denieth thefe things, which Nature hath let before the Eyes of all, how learned or wife foever he would feedl to be, he is not worthy of the Name of a Philo- fojjhernorPhyfitian. Whence hath Phyfick her firfli fodridacion ? out of the appearance onely,

or

OfzIMetals*

or manifeft fuperficies of natural things ? No thing lefs : but out of the moft .occult and hidden iecrets of Nature, compared to the moft manifeft effe&s. Wherefore as Nature herfelf is undi* fcernabie by every fence , no otherwife are all her Operations. Who ever few a Tree to grow,or the Sun or Stars move ? No bod/ : But that the Trees have grown, and the Sun and Stars have been moved by a ipace of time, who know- eth not ?

Therefore Operations in Phyfick do more chiefly confift in the Underftanding , rather then in the Eyes or the other Sences; although they m their courfes are the Directors unto us , that we may make further progrefs : otherwife between the Philofopher and the Clown there would be no further difference.

But to return to the purpofe: The Scale or Lad- der of Transmutation , hath feven Steps or prin- cipal Degrees ; which are, Calcination, Sublima- tion, Solution 5 Putrefaction, Diftillation, Co* agulation andTin&ure.

Under Calcination are contained thefe hi* Members ; Reverberation , Cimenration , and -Incineration : wherewith , in all Operations* all things are turned into Chalk or into Afhes. B

Therefore in the firft Degree of Tranfmuta* tion,the elementative natural bodies are conf verced into Earth, with a middle Fire, as the In- crement.

And here firft of all is to be noted thecriffe-; jrence between materia Elements , and inftru* mental, of which: by the way we (hall fpeak* for thefe are external? tot the other are jaternah

4 Of the Tranfmutation

as when the firft Operation is compleatcd, whe- ther it be by Calcination or Reverberation, Ci- mentation or Incineration. Sublimation fuc- ceedeth out of the order of Preparations ■ which Earth, now being calcined,is converted either in- to Water or into Air , according to the Nature and property of the thing lb to be converted :for if it be of dry things , then chiefly is to be ufed the elevation of the Volatile parts from the fix- ed. Wherefore Sublimation is convenient for things of tfcat Nature.

But if there ought to be made a reparation of moift things,as of Vegetables or Animals, then it is convenient to ufe Sublimation thereof in the fifth Degree, to wit, Diftillation.

But becaufe in this place it is chiefly intended to treat of dry things , as Metals and Minerals ; the order congruent to their Natures is like wife to be obierved.

' Therefore the Volatile part is to be fublimed, as'in moirt things by Cohobations. that i?,by re- conjoyning of the pans feparated,and by iterating or ieparating them over again, until they become fixed, and remain within with the parts fixed, and afcend no more, but remain confifting in themb- ftance and form of Oyl of or a Stonerfor with So* lution by the Air, they are turned into Oyl ; and with Coagulation by Fire, into a Stone.

Let Sal tArmonUk^ be an example for every Metal ; for that in Sublimation fucceffively be- comes Stone.

By this Operation of Sublimations, macy cor- rofives are dulcified , and mollified ; and on the contrary, with the addition of another lubtfance,

Alfa

of <S\4etals. 5

Alio many (harp things are fweetned, and many fweet things on the contrary are (harpened: fon- times by themfelves , or with other things pre- pared after this manner.

Afterwards happens the third Degree, to wir, Solution ; and that is twofold : the one of cold, the other of heat.

Salts, Corrcfives , and whatfoever things arc calcined, are coagulated by Fire, and then by the coldnefs of the Air , are reiblved into Liquor, Water or Oyl, in a moift place, as a Cellar, or in the Air , being placed upon a Marble-ftone or Glais : But fat and fulphureous things are dif- folved by the heat of the Fire ; and that which the Fire diflblveth by heat , the fame is coagu- lated by the coldnefs of the Air: On the con- trary , that which is diffoived by the coldnefs of the Air, is coagulated by the heat cf the Fire.

Note here the Reafon wherefore we call the Air cold ; which feems to oppofe and contradict the Opinion of fome Philofophers : for they will have it to be hot andxnoiftrbut they copiidec not whereof the Air confifts : doth it not con- lift of Fire and Water ? for what elfe is the Air, but Water diffoived by Fire ? Wherefore from one part thereof, to wit, the Fire , it borrowed heat and drinefs ; and from the other part , the Water, coldnefs and moifture : for they are the two chief qualities thereof, and the other two arc herMwifters ; for there is nothing hot by Nature,which is nqt alfo neceffary and naturally dry; neither is there any thing cold,which by the fame jeafon is not mgift. Whatfoever is befides

B 5 eottS

$ Of, the Tranfmutation

contingent hereunto , is not by Nature y but by accident.

It is no otherwife amongft the Elements : the Fire and Water have trie chief place, and the £arth borrows her coldnefs from her Compani- on, the Water; and her drinefs from the Fire: for her felf,(he is never hot, moift, nor cold, nor dry • but foveth her two other Princes, as the Wax lubmits to every Seal.

In like manner we are to judge of the Air 5 for lb the Air receiveth heat and drinefs from his Father the Fire , and cold and moitfure from his -Mother the Water ; therefore they are generated ttsfrom their Parents , the Fire and Water ; the Air Mafcnline, or rather a Hertnaphreditey and the Earth a Female. A nd thus far of the natural In- flmments and the Matter.

The fourth Degree is Putrefaction : This for its excellency might defer ve the firft place , if it Were not repugnant to the true order -' and a fe- cret in this place hidden to many,and manifefted \b few. It ought therefore to remain placed in its due Scri'eifiven as the links in a Chain;wherc- iti , if one be wanting, the Captive detained therewith efcapes and flies*way.

The property therefore of Putrefaction is,that confnming the old Nature' of things^ itimro- -du'eeth a new Nature ; andfomerimes pfoduceth •Truir of another Generation : for all living things <<Ke with corruption ; and being dead , theypu- Sfefie,and again acquire life by the Trinfrrfatatl- *&of their Generation into them. ^fj#nci byittonrofive Spkksaredttlctrledf*iffd ^felHficd , *tvd aliColoiitt ire- thcretyWhcd •no: into

of<£\£xtals, . 7

into others , and thereby the pure is feparatect frornthe unclean.

Now the Members of PutrefaaipTvare DL e- ftion and Circulation,

The fifth Decree is Diltillation, which is no- thing eifebut a Separation of the moiM from the dry, and the thin from the thick.

The Members hereof are Afcenfion, Lotion, Imbibition, Cohobation and Fixation.

Cohobation, which concludeth all the reft, is an often effufion or pouring of the dialled Li- quor to its fefesy and often diftilling it over. As Vitriol with Cohobatio.ns is fixed by its own proper Water, and then it is called AlUmev Sac* car mum -, which being diffolved into Liquor, and then putrefied by the ipace of a Month, and du ftilled , yields a moR fweet and pleafant Water, after the manner of Sugar : which is a moft ex- cellent Medicinal fecret , far above others, to extinguish the Microcofmical "Fire, which hap- peneth to the Diggers of Metals; which is large- ly fpoken of in the Book De tMorbu Fcjforum Mintralium » 0\ the Difeafes of the Diggers in Myncs. After the fame manner alio may any ci- ther Minerals and Waters, zsSalNitmm^ be fixed by Cohobations.

The fixth Degree is Coagulation;which alfo i£ twofold ; anfwering contrary to Solution^confift- ing of heat and drinefs,that is, of Air and Fire. •

Again, Coagulation is twofold, as having WO parts'pf g-qW, and as many of hear.

Thefirft of cold is made of ccmmqn A&V^k-

tout-$fcft**i t.hs k&> of the fu;p$s*0* Firma-

aaentiby djtHfctrcidfc&o&e j wbi<&tf)^aledi

B4 all

8 Of the Tranfmutation

ill Waters into Snow and Ice.

But the firft Coagulation of heat is made by induftry in Art , obferving the gradations of the Fire, and is fixed ; but the other Degrees of cold in Alchymy are not fixed.

The later Coagulation of heat is made by an jfctnean Fire and Mineral under the Earth and under the Mountains , and is gradated by a natural Arch of the Earth. Not unlike to this is the Fire, which being gradated by the Art of Alchymy, is excited and brought to Coagula- tion.

What foe ver is coagulated by this £tnean Fire , remains fixed , as is manifeft by Metals and Minerals ; all which confift from the begin- ning of certain Mufcilaginons matter coagulated by the jfctnean Fire , and the natural Arch and Artifice of the Earth under the Mountains, into Stone?, Metal s, Pearls, Salts, &c.

The feventh and laft Degree of the Scale or Ladder of Tranfmutation, is TinSure,the moft noble Medicine above all others that are procu- red by the Chymical Art ; whereby all Metallick and humane bodies are dipp'd into a far more noble, bettcr,and excellent fubftance then before they were naturally of, and are thereby reduced to the higheft Degree of foundnefs , colour and perfe&ion , and to a more ftrong and excellent Nature.

Various are the kindes and fpecies of thefe Tipdujres , in this place leaft of all intended to Retreated of.

^ne Metallick bodies ought firft to be removed |>y fire from their CoagulatioD^ind to be liqoe-

fcd;

of^Metah

ted ; otherw ife, they will not receive any a&ive rin&ure , unleis they be opened. Alfo all the rinftures of Metals ought to be fixed fubilances, afily fufible , and of an incombuftible Nature; hat being poured upon a fiery Lamen, they may low forthwith like Wax , and fcon penetrate he Metal without i'moke , as Oyl dotrrPaper, or :s Water enters into a Sponge ; fo they dye that nto a white and red colour , remaining in ihe Fire, and enduring every trial.

Therefore in thefirft Degree of Caldnation,to :ome to thefe Tinitures , the Metals being Drought into Alcol , they acquire an eafie lique- faction , in the iecond Degree , to wir, of So- lution ; and then by Putrefaction and DiftiL lation, their Tinctures may be fixed and made incombuftible, and the colours un variable.

But to reriore, recover, conferve, or renew the Health of humane bodies,they ought to be drawn from Gold, Pearl, Antimony, Sulphur, Vitriol, or the like.

Various alio are the Subjects of the Fire ; and thev have feveral and divers Operations in Chy- miftry : as, one Fire made of the flame of Wood, and this they call living Fire , wherewith is cal- cined and reverberated the bodies of all Metals and other things : another is a continual heat of a Candle or Lamp,w herewith they fix Voiatiles : there is another Fire of Coles , wherewith bodies are cemented, coloured, and purged from their Excrements : alfo, Gold and Silver are thereby brought to t higher Degree : Vtnus is refined , and all other Metals are renewed : the

fiery

io Of the Tranfmutation

fiery Lamens of Irons have another Operation; for thereupon is made the trial x>f Tin&ures. A* nother heat is raited by Fire, by the filings of Iron ; another in Afaes ; another in Salt ; ana-! ther in Bdneo Ultari*, , wherewith are mads many Diftillations, Sublimations , and coagula-> tions : There is alio another Operation made by Balneum for#,which fometimes I have clfewhere called, Balneum Va^rofum^ wherewith many So- lutions of corporal things are made : Then the. Venter Equina hach another Operation, in which are made the chief Putrefactions and Digeltions ; alfo, the invihble Fire hath an Operation far beyond all thefe , that is, of the Beams of the Sun ; which plainly appeareth by his Operations, as by a Speculum or Chryftal. And of this the Ancients have not made mention.

By this I ire, the three Principles of every thing may be feparated upon a Table of Wood, without any fear of flagration or aduftion ; and all Metals liqueked without any vifible Fire , and all combuftiblcs confamed into Coals and Afhes.

But the Tranfmutation of Metals , to bring the imperfect to perfection, cannot be very well done without the Stone or Tincture, of which we will hereafter treat in their due places : And we will aMb fay fomethingof the Tranfmutation of imperfe^s into imperfe#s,bringing them pnly for the probation of Tranfmutations. But we 8nll firft treat of the Fire, whereupoa bangs the hinges of all the Art: and Witch fome procejs of the Stone of Faracclfm

Chip,

of Metals. ii

Chap. IT. ■Of tbefimple Chjmical Fire.

HAving now fufficiently fpoken to the wife and ingenious, of the Art of Tranfmutati- ons by the Scale and Degrees thereof; that the order before fpoken of may be kept , it will be neceffary in the firft initiation,to propofe and lay down the manner of the Inftruments, before the matter it ielf , left that the rude and un- skilful (hould flrft ule the foot in fkad of the hand.

Let them not therefore approach hither,whofe undertiariding hath no eyes , and whofe hands cannot ierve them; for the feet and theflefhly eye," without a found and uncorrupted under- ftanding,is altogether ignorant.

The chiefeft Inftrument which ought moft di- ligently to be fought after, is the Fire, which be- ing living of its own proper Nature , is not vivi- fied by any other Fire.

From hence alfo it comes to pafs , that ic bath power and vertue to vivifie whatfoever elfe lies hidden in other things.

As the'Sun in the World is created by God,to vivifie , fiir up and quicken the Fire refting in all other things,asof ttie D, £>$,£,!£, and T? : and that he might heat the Spheres of all the other Stars by his Fire ; which otherwifc have no heat ••ofcheirpmj^ beithcr can they give forth any

of

iz Of the Tranf mutation

of themfclves ; for they are dead of themfelves ; but being kindled by the Solar heat , they live,< and give forth their Operations according to their feveral proprieties.,

For the Sun doth not receive the Light, Life,i and Fire which he hath, from any other Star, but. onelyfrom God that created and ruieth him, fo that he alwayes giveth Heat and Life in himielf, illuminating every other natural Light.

Even fo is the Fire of the Philofophers fecret Furnace to be accounted in the Spagyrick Art, which heateth the Furnace and Sphere of the Veffel, and the Fire of the matter , even as the Sun is feen to operate in the univerfal World, without which nothing can be generated there- in.

In like manner nothing can be effe&ed or brought to pafs in this Art , without this fimple Fire , it being the chief part and Operation of fche whole Art , comprehending all the other parts thereof in it felf , and is comprehended of nothing ; for it confifteth of it felf, not wanting any of the other : but all other Opera- tions whatfoever, are made ftand in need of this (imple Fire , from which they receive Life, toge- ther with the matter it felf. ^ Paracelsus fpeaking elfe where of the fimpleFire, faith thus :

This (faith he) is the Opinion of the nufi excellent PhilofopheruThe Fire and Atsor are Mfcient ; for the Fire alone iiibejajosk Work + and tat complete p4rt.

Some do build their Fire (imply of Coals:

they

of Metals

::hey erre, containing the Veffels therein or thereupon : others in vain attempt it with a (Fire of Horfe-dung , with the Fire of Coals ; they fublime the matter without any medium, and diffoivc it not : others have ftirredupHeat wich Lamps ; averting this to be the lecret Fire iof the Philosophers , to make their Stone : o- ithers have placed it in Balneo, andfet this in an Emmet *s Neft : fome have placed it in Afties of Juniper ; and others have fought this Fire in Calce vivayin Tartar, Vitriol, Nitre,and the like : others have thought it to be in hot burning Wa- ter, as,

Thomas Aquino* falfly fpeaks_of this Fire, fay- ing , That God and his */4ngels cannot want iu What blafphemy is this ? is it not a manifeft lye ? cannot God want or be without the elementary Fire of hot Water, and be without all the other Creatures when he pleafeth ? doth he ftand in need of any of them ? All thofe Heat* that are ftirred up by the means and Fires now fpoken of , are altogether unufeful for this pur- pofe. See alfo that you be not feduced by Arnold de villa nova^ho writes of the Fire of Cojls; for in this thing he deceives you.

Almadis faith, That the invijible Sun-beams are [ufflcient for our Fire* He produceth another example, That the celeftial Heat by his reflexion and conttrnal motion doth chiefly make the perfection and coagulation of Mercury. And again, he faith , Make a vaporous, continual, digeftingifepa* rating Fire ; but not flying or boy ling up, but al- tering and penetrating. Now I have told -, **d

that

i^- Of the Tranfmutation

that truly , the whole way offlirring up the Heat of this Tire: if thou an a true Philofopher , thon well under flandeft : this u jr.

Salmana^er faith , Our Fire is a corrofive Fire, •which bringeth an tAiry Cloud over cur Veffel 5 in which Cloudy the Beams of this Fire are hid. This due C aloes and humidity ef the £loud being wanting, there is error commttted.

Again, Almadir faith , Unlefthe Fire heat our Sun by his humour, by the excrement of the moun tainyWtth a temperate Afcenfion^we foallnot be par* takers, neither of the white nor red Stone.

All thefe things do fufficiently demonstrate unto us the occult Fire of the wife men.

In brief, this is the matter of our Fire, to wit. That it be kindled by the quiet Spiric of a fecfible Fire, which again expelleth the hot Cahos , as from its oppofite , above our Phi- lofophical matter : which Heat waxing above our Veffel, temperately urgethk forwards to *he motion of perfect Generation, conftantly , without intermimon.

Thus faith Faraeelfmol the fimple Fire of the Philosophers.

Chap,

of Met ah. i$

Chap. III.

0\ the multiplicity of the Philofopbers FIRE.

HAving fpoken of the Gmple Fire , we hold it convenient to treat alfo of the multi* plicity of Fire,and that more copious and cleerly then of the other before ; for by this later we may attain to a perfect fight , as through a Cafe- ment.

Fire therefore is manifold , as well becaufe of the diversity of the Subject in which it floweth, as that afterwards it is excited in divers other Subje&s : it is varied and changed, as the Fire of Afhes, Smd,Bafoei) LimatHres^8cc. have a me- diate Heat flowing from an immediate into the Subjeft-matter of the Inftrument , and from hence into the matter fubjacent to the Art.

In this manifold Fire , there is a difference of place ; and this is the Reafon , Becaufe in all things , there is nothing in the Nature of things that can be feen in all things , and by all things, like one to another ; although they are both or the fame Species, and their members of the fame individuals : as one Metal produceth Gold from that which generateth Silver ; another Satmny Venn* , Mars , and every one of them is varied according to the difference of the place from whence they fpring and are created • neither are two men, or two members of one body, nor

two

\6 Of the Tranfmutation

wo Leaves of one and the fame Tree found alike to one another ; and (b of other things. The diffimilitude proceedeth not from the firft Fire of C reatures , but from the various Rule of the Elements by the Planets , and not by the Sun.

For by this difpofition, the heat is changed in the Elements every momenc ; and alfothe form of decompounds from the compounds, and not from the fimples.

Where there is not fo great a mixture of the Elements , there is generated Sol ; where they are a little more mix'd and impure * Luna; and whtre they are more imperfe& , Venm : and lb of the reft , according to the mutation of the mixtures, the Mine of every Metal is unlike one another : neither do their Spirits agree in all things one with another* for if they were ge- nerated of fimple Fire alone, no multiplicity intervening, there would be no difference of their properties and forms , not only in Metals, but in all other Creatures.

But why there arc in ufe feven Metals and no more, fix whereof are folid , and the feventh fluxible and thin ; the Reafon is given in Philo- fophy , and cot in Cbymiftry ; which is to be reiervedto its proper place, that we digrefs not from our purpofe. And thus much of the ma- nifold Philofophical Fire, deduced from Phyfical Reafons.

Chap;

of Metals. 17

Chap. TV.

Of the vifible and local Inflruments : and firs?, of the Spagyrick Womb.

BEfore we come to fpeak of the matter , k is requifite that we proceed in order to de- larewhatlnftruments a&ualand local are ne- eflary to be ufed in this Art : the firft a&ual, is he Fire ; the firft local Inftrument istheFur- lace, which by the Ancients is called by this 'hymical Name, Athanor : this referreth to the Afomb in the Spagyrick Generation.

Hermes Trifmegiftm^ although he was not the nventor of this Art , no lefs then Varacelfm of f agyrick Medicines , yet he dcferveth to be tiled theReftorer thereof.

He afferteth, That thisSpagyricl^workSwhich « be Htmofi point of the hand of humane Vhilofophj) aketkits exordium and firft beginning from theme" Utative contemplation of the greater world : intl- nating, that the Spagyrick Athanor ought to be >uilc from the imitation of the Foundation of leaven and Earth.

But for the cxercife of the ingenious,I (hall not hink it amifs a little to examine this comparison, thereby I may happily profit theReaders.There s noPhyfitian will deny, but that the Sun doth ;enerate a Sun like to its felf : but every one will lot confefs , That it hath this Generation in its Centre; and efpecially , theDifciples of thofe

£ Phi^

lS of the Tran] mutation

Philosophers , that can give no other Reafon of che JEtneajj Fires, ^ then what Rufticks and Clowns do, according to the appearance thereof to their carnal eye?.

This Terrene or earthly Sun is kindled and bred by the Fire of the fuperior ; even fo is kindled the Centre of our matter, from the Cen- tre of our World or Athanor \ which is Fire, bearing a fimiiitude and reiemb lance with the. natural Sun.

Who feeth not the form and frame of the uni- verfal created World, to bear the Gmilkude and likenefs of • a Furnace. : or, that I may fpeak- more reverently, containing the Matrix of af Womb ; that is- to fay," the Elements wherein' the Seeds of the Sun and Moon, by their various aftral influences are corrupted , conco&ed and dige(ted,for the Generation of arl things?

But this is plainly manifeR to Children, I need nor fpeak it to Philofophers : wherefore I (hall not need to urge it any further.

Therefore iye proceed t a fpeak of the manner* of the contagion and buiidinf* ot our A;hm& or Furnace. Fir ft, let a Furnace be built fix i'panS hi^hj round whhin5andof the bred th and bignefi of one fpan; let it be fomewhaj larger and bigger towards the bottoms hen at top ; let it be made! fmooth within , that Coals or fuch things as are put in,do nottiick by the way*butmay fall down cloie to the Grate, To this Furnace y on may make one , two or three mouths , as you fhali think fit. To every Furnace let a Copper be fitted , with Water : the ether matter is to be!

inclofecl

of Metals. 19

inclofed within : as the Egge is within the Hen ; fo is a Glafs to be in this womb, for the induftry of the Magi-lery. Then when you will work or operate herewith, having all things diligently prepared, break you Coal' about he bignefs of Walnuts , and till up the Turrets to the top,and kindle them at the door beneath ; and let the top be kept frmt , left the Coals being kindled at the top or in the middle , de- ftroy the whole work , and they confume and burn all together. Moderate therefore your Fire with a juft proportion , as Nature teach- tth in all things. The natural heat will excite and ftir up the ferment and the matter lying hid in this Egge.

Wherefore even as the Sun illuminates the great World, and giveth Light and Life to all the Stars, Elements and Creatures; fo doth this Spa- gyrick Fire illuftrate and vivifie our Inftru- ments,and all the matter of our Furnace, as the feting of a Hen over her Egges , animates the young.

C H A P. V.

[Of the fecond Spagyrick Instrument , which is the Matrix or Philosophers Egg?.

MA ny Philofophers , rafhly prefuming upon their own Judgements, nave mif-under- ftoodthe right and true occult and fecretVef- fcl of the l&ilofophers. And worfe is that

C 2 which

20 Of the Tranfmutation

which sAriftotle theChymift ( not the Greek Academian ) faith , That the matter is to be dc- cooled in a treble Veffel. And more amils is that which another faith , That the matter in thefirfi feparation and fir ft degree , ought tt be included in a UMetaliickfejfel ; in the fee end Degree ofitsfi- agulation and "Dealbation of the Earth , a Glaj?- Veffel ; and in the third "Degree , which is Fixa- tion ^ a Veffel of Earth. Neverthelefs , by all thefe they underftand onely one Veffel in all Operations , to the perfection of the red Stone,

Since therefore our Matter is our Radix and Foundation both of the whue and red, our Veffel neceffarily ought to be made after this manner , that the matter therein may be ruled by the Celeftial bodies : for the Celeftial influ- ences, and the invifible impreflions of the Stars, are chiefly neceffary for this work • otherwifeic R is impoflble to attain to the excellent Oriental, I Perfian,Chaldean, and Egyptian Stone , by any C means ; by which Anaxagoras knew the vermes \ and power of the whole Firmament, & prefaged, That the great Stone fhould defcend from Heaven * fj upon Earth: which alio happened after his death. He did very much make known our Veffel to the Cabalifts, and that according to the true Geo- metrical meafure and proportion ; and how it ought to be built of a certain Quadrature in a j Circle, whereby the Spirits and foul of our mat- . ter being feparated from their body, may be ele- vated in the altitude of their Heaven.

Fer if the Veffel be more ftraight , large,

high

of ^Metals. 21

high or low then its due meafure and propor- tion, and then the ruling and operating Spirits and Soul of the matter do defire ; the heac of our fecrec PhLlofophicai Fire , ( which is moft acute) will too violently excite and provoke the matter to Operation , and fometimes the Veffel will flieinto athoufand pieces, not without dan- ger of the body and life of the Operator.

On the contrary , if the Veffel be too capa- cious, and more large then for the heac, to ope- rate upon the matter according to its propor- tion, the work will alfo be fruftrate and in vain.

Therefore our Philofophical Veffel is to be fabricated with greateft induftry and diligence.

But they onely underftand what the mat- ter of this our Veffel is, who in the fiift Solution of our fixed and perfect matter, have reduce^ and brought the fame into their firft Effence 2 of which we have fpoken c- nough.

Let the Operator therefore diligently note what he takes, and wkat he refufes, in the Solu- tion of the firlt matter.

The manner of defcribing this Veffel is dif- ficult ; yet it ought to be of fnch a form as Nature her felf requires , which is to be fought and in- veftigated from one and another. In brief, it muft be fuch , that from the altitude of the Philofophical Heaven, being elevated above the Philofophical Earth,it may operate to bring forth the Pruk of its terrene body.

It ought to have this form , That when the C 3 ?KJ?

2Z Of the Tranfmutation

Fire forces one from the other , there may be a reparation and purification of the Elements ; fo that every one may occupy his own place wherein he remaineth, and that the Sun and the other Planets may exercife their Operations about the terrene Element, and that their courfe be not irnpedited in their Circuit, nor ftirred up with too violent a motion.

According to all tliefe things which have been faid, it ought to have a proportion of roundnefs and altitude.

>ie which appertain to the firft cleanfing and muncUnWion of Mineral bodies, are mel- ting Veffels, Crucibles 5 lementing Veffels, Cu- curbites , and GUiTes for aAqun Finis ; which arealfo neceffary for the projection m the laft work : but as concerning the Veffel ufefnl for this work, it is neceffary that you have a Glafs rightly and duly proportioned ; for if it be too capacious , or more large then its juft and due proportion , the matter , that is, the humidity, is dilated , (o that nothing can be produced therefrom. And if it be too narrow or little, and comprefling the matter, the growrh thereof will be fufTocated, that it can produce no Fruit. An example thereof, may betaken from h.-nce : If Corn, or any thing elfe, be fown in the fhade, or under the droppings of an Honfe, what Fruit can be expe&ed therefrom > Wherefore our greateft care ought to be in the adopting and fit- ting of the Glafs ; for an error being commit* ted thereby, or therein, is not ea(i]y cor- je&ed and amended ; fo thac by the: impedi- ment

I of Metals. 2;

ment thereof, the work is not brought to the wifned end.

Wherefore to two Ounces of the matter, take two Ounces and a half of Glafs,or the Philofo- phicalEgge , that is , aGlafs of that weight ; having regard to the due thicknefs of the Glafs. This being obferved, you fhall avoid error in this thing.

Chap. VI.

Of tkSubjeB or PbtLfopbical Matter 1 «- general.

HAving hitherto fufficiently fpoken of the Chymical Initruments, now hearken what Matter you are to chufeto begin this Spagyrick Work : after that the Vegetables are mortified, the concurrences of the two Metals , that is, Salt and Sulphur, they are tranimuted into a Mi- neral Nature ;, fo that from thence at length re- fults a perfect Mineral.

For in the Mineral Caverns of the Earth 5fome Vegetables are found, which by a long iuccefiion of time , and a continual heat ; have puc off the vegerable Nature of Sulphur , and put on a Mineral Nature. \

And this rnoft efperially happens, where the naoft proper Nutriment of theie kinde; of Vege- table b taken away , that they may be after* wards compelled to receive their Aliment from thcSuiphujandS^ s*i the Earth, fo long, until

C4 tha^

z^ Of the Tranjmutatwn

that which before was Vegetable , become a perfect Mineral. And from this Mineral con* t dition, a certain Metallick perfect Effence doth Y fometimes arile, and that by the progrefs of one Degree unto another. ; J

But that we may return to fpeak of the Philo- iii fophers Stone, the matter whereof is moft diffi- :U cult to finde out and underftand :

The manner and moft certain Rule of this Inveftigation,and of all other things whatsoever, is a careful and diligent Examination of the Radix and Sperm thereof, whereby is found out the knowledge of the matter.

Much availing hereunto,is a due and neceflary confideration of the beginning and original of i Metals , how and after what manner Nature firft 1 1 bringeth them from imperfe&ion to the end of perfection. i.

To which confideration it firft of all conduceth, t the perfeft knowledge of the three firft Princi-. n pies whereof Nature createth all things, that is, ,i Sal> Sulphur, and CMercnry, naturally permixed ! 5 into one body, yet fo, that in feme they arc vo- i Utile, and in others fixed.

For as often as the corporal Sal is permixed i with the fpiritual Mtrcfory, and animate Sulphur^ S then Nature begins to operate in thofe Subter- ranean places,which (he hath in ftead of her Vet- t fels, by the feparating Fire, which feparates the ij \ craft and impure Sulphur from the pure , and/** Xre&atcs the Earth from the Sal, mdihc Nuies from the Mercury ; referving the firft parts,which Nature deco&eth again together into one con- fUnt Geogamical body. Which

of Metals. 25

Which Operation is had from the greater raix- l ture and conjunStion, by the onion of three, to 1 wit, Body, Soul, and Spirit.

This Union being compleated, from thence refults pure Mercury ; which if it flow through the Subterranean Pores and Veins, and be made obvious to the Sulphur , it is coagulated here- with,according to the condition or the Sulphur.

Yet neverthelefs, it is ftill Volatile, infomuch that it is fcarce decoded into Metal in twenty ycers afterwards.

From thence this vulgar Opinion received its original , to wit , that Sulphur and LMer- cury are the Matter of the Metals , as is ma- nifeft by the, Relation of the Diggers of Mi- nerals.

But neither vulgar (Jttercury , nor common Sulphur , are the Matter of the Metals ; but the Cktercury and Sulphur of the Philofophers are incorporate and innate in perfect Metals, and in the Forms thereof: fo that they never fly from the Fire , nor are depraved by the force of the corruption of the Metals.

So that by the Diffolution of that natural mixture, our (Jtfercury is tamed and fixed,fay the Spagyrick Philofophers.

Therefore under this form 6f Words,our Mer- cury out of perfect bodies,and the vertue of the terrene Planets cometh to be extra&ed : which alfo Hermes itterts in thefe words : he &ith,That Sol and Luna are the Roots of this Art.

The Son of Hannel faith , That the Philofophers

Stem is * C94£HUtcd water yt9 witjn Sol md L«na^

Trcna

26 Of the Tranfmutation

From whence it plainly appears , That the Matter of our Stone is only SoUndLuna; which is confirmed by this, That every like naturally brings forth and generates his like.

And as we know there are two Stones , the white and the red ; fo there are alio two Matters of the Stone, Sol and Luna*, coupled together in their proper Matrimony, either natural or artifi- cial. And as we fee a Man and Woman cannot generate nor produce their like,without the mix- ture of both their Seeds ; fo in like manner, our Male SV,and hi • Female Lxna-> cannot conceive nor bring forth any Generation, without their Seed and Sperm.

From whence our Philofophers have gathered, That there is a third thing neceffary, to wit, the Animate Seed both of the Male and Female of theChymifts , without which they judged their whole work vain and ridiculous.

The Sperm hereof, is ^Mercury , which by a natural ConjunSion of both bodies of Sol and Luna, rcceiveth and uniteth their Nature into ' himfelf.

Then, at length, and not before, is the matter apt for the congretfive Work and Genera- tion , by the Mafculine and Feminine force and vertue.

This hath moved our Philofophers to fay,That this Mercury is comvofed of Bodyy S only And Spirit ; and to affttme mto it [elf the nature and propriety of all Elements,

Wherefore they have afferted their Stone to be an Animal , which alfo they called their

Mam)

of Metals 27

tAdam, who bearcch his occult and invifible Eve in his own body 5 from which moment they are united by the power of the Great Maker of all hings. For which caufe ic may worchily be laid,t That the Mercury of the Philosophers is nothing elfe,but an abftrufe compofed LMercury^nd not that vulgar Mercury. Therefore they have wifely faid, That there is in Mercury whxtfoever the wife men do feel^ after. •

Almadir thePhilofopher faith, We pxirM our Mercury out of one perj \U Body , with two per j e& natural #nd incorporate conditions : This extrirfe- caRy produceth %is perfection, whereb] herefifteth the force of the fire ; ar.d by this his perfection is ex- trinfecally and intrinfecaliy defended fr$m all imfer- fettwns.

By this place of the acute Philofopher, the • matter of the Stone is underftood to be Adami- cal , the Microcoirnica! Garment , the Homo- geneous and umrfd matter of thePhilofophcrs.

Thefe Sayings of the Philofcphers , which be- fore we have made mention of, are tneeriy Gol- den, and to be had alwayes in great eiteem , be- caufe they contain in them nothing Superfluous, nothing invalid.

Briefly therefore : The matter of thePhilofo- phers Stone is nothing elie but a fiery and per- feci Mercury extracted by Nature and Art, that is, artificially prepared ; and is the true Herma- fhrodite-) Adam, zndMtcrocofme*

This tne wifeft of Philofophers , Mercnrius 7*rffmc0W) afferting, callcth the Stone zxxOr

°m,J^ T{

There

i8 Of the Tranf mutation

Therefore our tMercury is he which contains in himfelf the perfections , power and vertue of Sol; and runneth through the Houfes of all the Planets : and in his Regeneration, acquireth the vertue of the fuperiors and inferiors : and by the Matrimony thereof, heappeareth cloathed in their candor and beauty.

The Arabians , Greeks, Perfians, and Egyp- tians , h*vekept thefe Myfteries fecretand ab- tfrufe, denoting them by certain occult Cha- racters and Figures. Some have called this, The Secret of the Philofophers : and ^^thagoras , The Philofophers Stsne,

Whotbever have attained to the knowledge . hereof, have adumbrated and fhadowed the fame , with various enigmatical Figures, and deceitful Similitues and Companions , and feigned Words , that the Matter thereof might remain occult to Pofterity ; fo that little or no Knowledge thereof, might be found out.

But neverthelefs fome have fufficiently de- tected this matter and the knowledge^ thereof, with its preparation, to the ingenious • but not- withftanding in Parables, and under Enigmatical Words and Figures , that they might expel the unworthy from attaining to fuch a myftcry of Arc and Nature.

Neverthelefs fome few , and fuch who arc apt to apprehend this Art, have fought out the per* petual Balfome of Nature, and the true Stone, but with exceeding great labour and intricate difficulty ; which everywhere OCCuriCth in the

invegiy

of<£\detah. 29

inveftigation hereof. And hence it appears why the flugsifti and flothful mindes never attain to this work.

Chap. VII.

Of the F reparation of the Spagyrick Mat- ter in general.

NAturefirftrequirethof the Artift, that the •Philofophical^^w be* brought into a Mercurial fubftance , and at length to be re- generated into the Oriental Sol, and Lunar j Stone.

Moreover,its to be noted,That thofe common Preparations of Geber, Albertm Magnus, Thomas Aquinas, Rupecijfa , Polydor , and the like , are nothing elfe but particular Solutions, Sublima- tions , Calcinations, leaftof all pertaining to our univerfal Secret, which wanteth onely the mod fecret Fire of the Philoibphers. The Firetherc- fore and Azor are fufficient for theew

The Philoiophers make mention ©f other Preparations, as Putrefa$ion, Diftillation, Sub- limation, Ceration, Fixation , &c. which you are to underftand onely to be certain univerfal Operations to compleat Nature in the laid mat- ter ; and not onely a working in the Philofo- pbicai Veflel with the like Fire , and not with common Fire.

For the. white and the red proceed bothfrom one Radix, without any mean : it is diffcived

in

^o Of the Transmutation

in it felf,and copulated by it felf,made white and red,black & yellow by it felf* it defpoufeth it felf, and is conceived in it felf : it is decoded and infunded, afcendcth and defcendeth : all which i Operations are made by the Fire alone.

Yet ibme Philofophers have diffolved the Body of Sol, by the Prong; eflence of Wine* and made it Volatile , that it would afcencT by an Alembick; thinking this to be the true Volatile matter of the Philofophers ; whereas it is not ; although it be ajecret not to be deipifed , to reduce a perfeS: Metallick Body into a Volatile and fpiritual fubftance : yet they erre in the re- paration of the Elements ^ for they thought by this way to feparate Goldjnto a fubril ,' fpiritual and elemental venue : and after their feparati- on,by Circulation and Re£tin"cation,again to co- pulate them into one • but in vain.

For although one Metal may be feparated from another in feme fort ; neverthelef?, every Metal thus feparate*d , maybe feparated again into an- other; which parts afterwards by a Pellicanical , Circulatioivor Pirtillationr can in no wife copu- late into one, but will alwayes remain a certain Volatile Matter, and t/fvram Totabik , as they call it.

The caufe why thefe can never attain to their intentions, is this, Becaufe by this way, Nature will not be extra&ed nor feparated with hu- mane dif-jun&ions, as by terrene Glaffes and In- ftruments.

That onely hath known its Operations and the weight of the Element?, whole Separations,

Refti-

of <£\4etds. 51

Rectifications , and Copulations, are executed without the Heip of any Operator or Manual Artifice, whilft the matter is contained in the lecret Fire, and in the occult Veffel.

This is the Opinion of the Phiiofophers,That when they have placed this matter into their fe- cret Fire , it is cherHhed round about with this Philofophical heat, that beginning to tranfite into corruption, it waxeth black. This Opera- tion they call Tutrefattion ; And this Blacknefe, The Head of the frew.

They Call the afcending and defcending of this 1 matter, their DiiUllation , Afcenfion, andDe- fcenfion : they call Exficcation, Coagulation ; and Dcalbation, Calcination.

Andbecaufe by a continual heat , the matter is made foft and fluid, they make mention of Ceration. But when it ceafeth to afcend 5 and remaineth liquid in the bottom,they call it Fixa- tion.

After this manner therefore , are the Apella- tions of the Philofophica 1 Operations to beun- derftood,and no otherwife. Thus having declared the Inftruments, Matter, and Ferment , we proceed in order to the Weights ; without observation whereof, ©or Work is in vain.

Chap,

yt Of the Tranfmutation

Chap. VilT.

Of the Proportion cf the Matter. and Form of the Spagyrick Stone.

T He Formal part of our birth is the Mercury of the Philofbphers, and the Spirit or Tin- dure of Sol; but the living part is another ma- terial.

Therefore the Compofition of this facred Adamic^ Stone , is made after the tsfdamicJ^ iMercury of the wife men ; with their Female Eve,by the Matrimony and union of the One and the other Mercury on the third parr.

Therefore the onely matter of the Philofo- pbers, confiileth of fpiriiual, corporal and animal Mercptrj*

The corporal CMercnry is the fubjeft of Tin- ctures.

: The fpiritual and animal tJMercwies , exhi- bit the means of conjoyning them • but in their conjunction, a due proportion is to be ob- ferved:

For if there be taken more of one then of the Other, it will be fuffocated as Seed fown in the Field ; fo that it cannot live lb long until it be united by the Mercury of the Philofophers, and perfected in the Fire: or on the contrary,if it be too littlc,there can be no Solution,nor no Fruit.

Wherefore, fee that you take as much of the one as of the other , left by your ig- norance

of<£\fetals. 55

norance in the proportion , the work be de- stroyed.

Let there be taken therefore one part of the Seed to two pares of Earth , or three to four ; and there will be no error , but the work will be brought to itsdefired end in this behalf, fo as the reft be moderated accor- dingly.

There is a double Reafon why the Weight fliould be obferved ; the one natural , the other artificial.

The natural followeth the effe& in the Earth by Nature andConcordancy $ of which Arnaldut fpeaks,

If there (hall be added more or tefl Earth then Ma- ture wtllfuffer , it will faff ocate the Soul , and no fruit tfor fixation is perceived.

The like is to be judged of the Water : if there be taken too much or little thereof, it rings an inconvenient lofs : for the fuperfluity

ereof makes the matter too humid ; and the efe&orwant thereof, renders it too dry and too hard. If the VelTel be too little, the Tin- cture is too much prefled ; if too large , a pale body evades: if the Fire be made too vehement, the matter is burnt ; if too remifs , it hath not power of exficcating, folving, and calefying the other Elements.

In thele confifts the elemental Weight; but the artificial is moft occult : when as the Ponderations are included in the Magick

IArt. Between the Spirit , Scul and Body ( fay £> th:

^ Of the Tr an] mutation

the Philofophers ) confifteth the Weight with Sulphur, as it were theRe&or of the work: for the Soul defireth the Sulphur, and neceffa- » rily obferveth it, by Reafon of the Weight. Which underftand after this manner : Our mat- ter is united with red mixed Sulphur , to which is committed the third part of the Regiment * until the la!* Degree , that it maketh on the infi- nice Operation of the Stone : and perfifteth therewith together with his Fire, and confift- eth of an equal Weight with the matter it felf in all things , and by all things, without a- ny variation of any Degree of Tranfmuta- tion.

I After therefore the matter is prepared and fit- ted, and mixed with its proportionate Weight, it ought to be very well concluded and fealed up in the Philofophers Veffel , and committed to their fecret Fire, in which the Philofophical Sun will fpring up and arife, and illuminate all things which expeft his Light , or hope can de- j fire.

But becaufe this cannot rightly be under- l Rood without a perfect knowledge in the Metals of perfefl Tin&ures, we proceed now to fpeak of them.

Chip.

vf Metals. 35

Chap. IX,

Of the TihBwet and Spirits of Metals : And firft,of the Ttafture of the Sun.

T^He Tin&ure of the Sun obtains the fuprcrae and

principal place : which is derived of tubal, pure* and moft perfed fire. Wherefore this fpirit fltetb not from the fire, but remains therein fixedftriumph- ing and rejoycing : it is not confumed nor burnt thereby, as others ; but rather thereby gains more luftre and fplendor : it is fubje& to no Corruption- ; neither heat , nor cold , nor any other quality, can bring any detriment thereunto : Whereby it ccmes to pafs , that the body which it once putteth on , ic defends and preferves from all accidents , Corrup- tion, and difeafes, that it may alfo endure the fire with him without lefion.

His body hath not thefe virtues from himfelf, but from his fpirit alone, the efficient caufe thereof.

It is certaine, that the body of Sol is Mercury \ which can in no wiieindure the fire, but immediate- ly flyes therefrom.

Since therefore being in gold, Mercury perfifts conttantly in the fire, and flyes not ; there is no doubt but the fixing thereof by the fpirit, will in> preffe the fame virtue in its felfc

What gift and office therefore hath it in Mercu- ry\ but that when it is freed from its own body, and taken into a humane body , itfbould work aodo- pcrate its effects thereupon ? who vvill deny , but

D * tHac

7fi Of the Tranfmutation

that alfo it may preferve and keepeitfafe from all Corruption , difeaies and accidents whatfocver> and preferve the body1 to a long and found life , as our firft parents of old ?

The virtues and propertyes of all other Metals are not otherwife to be known , but by certain and true experience, and not by any other reifeaof a Subtile intellect x for this wifdom which is conceived by opi« nion only > is metre fooliibnefs before God and the truth ; wherefore they that hope and believe therein, do erre, and are deceived.

Thus farrc of the fpirit and Tin&ure of Sol : now let us fee what Tincture the Moon hath.

The fpirit of Luna lyeth in this white Tin&ureJ as the Red in Sol : And it is alfo borne of a fubtil fpirit ; but not fo perfect as that of Sol. Never the- iefs'in purity and conrrancy it farre excelleth the Tinctures of all the other fubfequent Metals.

For burnt lead con fumes it felf,and all other Metals with it in the fire, except Sol and Luna • to which it brings no detriment.

Seeing therefore the fpirit or* the Moon is of power to preferve the body which it once puttcth on, to witi Mercury, from injury of the fire, and all other accidents, and render the fame fixed and conftant ; it is eafily gathered from hence , if it effect this in fo iaftable and volatile a body as Mercury, how much more efficacious and powerful will it operate, being free from its own body, and pic je&ed into a humane body ? will not that be alfo defended from many di- feafes and Corruptions ? certainly whatfoever it operates in Mercury, the fame it will do in a humane body, and preferve the fame to a long and found life,

expelling

of Metals 37

expelling alldifeafes which a re comprehended under the power thereof ; according to the degree there- unto prefixed by nature,

Certainly by how much th: more fublime, fubtile and perfect every Medicine is , by fo much the more perfectly it cureth in its kinde.

Wherefore ignorant are thofe Phyfitians who found their Art chiefly upon corrupt Medicines, as Vegetables, which are not permanent ; but they go about fixed Cures with uncoaftant means , under- taking that which is impolfible for them to perform. But what (hall I fay more unto thefe ? they hayc never yet learned otherwife in their Academies,

The Spirit of Venn* is derived of a permtxtion of more crafs elements then the former : wherefore it is inferiour and fubje& unto them 5 but it is more perfect then the other Spirits andTin&ures which fol- low, excelling them in fixation and conftancie , not yeelding to the fire, nor (o fubje& to be corrupted as the others fubfequent : andremaineth more fixed in the fire : which vertue Vcntu hath not in her own bo- dy, but from a Spirit.

What operation focsrer it hath in its Mercury] the fame it doth alio in humane bodies, according to the degree of nature : for it defendeth wounds and ulcers from accidents, and expelleth fuch difeafes as are under its degree and power , and difperfeth the root thereof.

If it be 'mixed with any other Metals , it breaketh tneir perfect bodies , that they will not be malleable any more, until they be freed from it.

The like effect it hath io humane bodies,efpecially

tf tt be taken for any Difcafe* not deftined unto its

D 3 degree

38 Of the Tfanfmution*

degree by nature, it bringech Contractures of the members.

Wherefore the Phyfitian ought perfeftly to learn the Natures and Tinctures of Metals , how they 1- gree with the Nature of Bodies , before they venture to give them, left they endanger their Patient.

The tin&ure of Mars , confifts of an aduftible and crafs perrnixion of the Elements, havisg a more bard and lefs tradable fubftance , then the other im- perfects ; hardly fufiblc, but corruptible both with Air and Water, eafily fubjeft to be confumed with ruft : but in hardnefs and drinefs it abounds above all other Metals, as well perfect as imperfect.

Jt torments the body of man , if applied to any difca(e,other then becometh its Nature • yet it want- eth nor power and vertue granted to it by God and Nacure in its fpecial propriety.

The Spirit of Jupiter is created of a white pally fubftar.ee of Fire , by nature intractable with the hammer, but not fo much as Mars.

Bang mixed with others, it difcontinueth and mix- eth wkh them, cfpecially with Ltma » that it will hardly be feparated hertfretnt The like operation ic hath in all other Metals, except in Saturn : if it be taken contrary to its Nature , to operate upon mans body, it affli&s the members with cruel paffions and pains, andgnaweth them with fuch burning , that they cannot exercife their natural faculties : being outwardly applied to Fiftula's, Cancers, Carbuncles, and fuch* like , which exceed not the degree of its Niture it is t he btft remedy expelling every evil.

The Spirit of Saturn is created of an ebfeurei tenebrofe, and cold perraixture of Elements • where- by it

of *5\fetals. 39

by it comss to pafs > that it left cndutes the Fire then any other,

Ic mundifies the bodies of oVand Lm<* , and pnrge:h them irom fuperflukies : it sffr#cth the body taken inwardly, more then Tin or Iroa ; but becaufe icis coagulated with more cold then theo- tber$ it operates not (o fharply : it hath an excellent faculty to heal Fiftula's, Cancers and fuch-like ulcers, and many other infirmities. Bu: having performed its operation unlefs it depart from the body, together with the difeafe , it doth more hurt then good. Wherefore kt the Phyfidan, chat defires to make ufe hereof, firit know with what difeafes it agrees, and how it is naturally ordained for Medicine.

Laftly, the Spirit of Mercury hath no certain de- terminate form, but is fubje& to all the o:her> as wax to the impremon of a feal • for it receiveth every Spirit whatfocver ueko i: fclf • as when the Spirit of Sol is imprefled into it, it tranfices into Sol* if Lun*t into Luna ; and fo of the reft : he putteth on their nature, and cmbraceth every Metal*

His body may be compared to the Spirits of other Metals, as the Female to the Male, not by a corporal mixture ; but when a Spirit is educed from its Metal, and after the preparation projected into Mercury , then at length he exhibits his tranfmutation , no c- therwife then a dead female of Metal ; although it be as an untitled Field or Earth , if it be macerated or vivified with the Philofophers Plough , ( which female in this work remains fixed and uncorrupt) it is united to the faid corporal Spirit by the degrees of the fire,iato his nature and fubftance * & this with the dead body of Metal , which with the ctafs Spirit of Mtrchrj cannot be dones D 4 Ancj

4.0 Of the TranJ mutation

And although the body of 5o/exift of Mercmj or Argent t/;tf<r.and is fixed • nevertnelefs, common Mercury not fixed or mortified , never comcch to its Refurrec^tion.

For the Remrreftion of Metals is an immortal Regeneration, and the medium whereby the tin&ures are promoted to their generation.

Wherefore it cannot be united with dead bodies into fixation , but only with extracted Spirits of the corporals before fpoken of, which are fubje& to Me- tals , as the common Mercury is fubje& to all Mc- tallick Spirits.

For the crafs Spirit of Mercury doth in no wife generate this tincture in fubftauce, no more then % concubine legitimate iflue.

We are to judge in like manner of the crafs Spirit of Mercury So long until the metallike and corporal Spirit is made by the medium of the natural mat-? ter : without this medium, it is impoflible to attain to any good and perfect work in tbefe kinde of tin* dures : moreover, if the fire be too ftrong, it cannot generate • if too rcmifsi the fame event happens.

C H A P. X

'Of the plain Manifeftation of this Art.

VLTHen thou wilt mike the Heaven or Sphere of Saturn to run with life upon the Eartfc, im- pofe thereupon all the Placers » or which you will j but let there not be too much oihunfk , but add left ^hereof then of the other,

Pcnafc

of Met ah. 4.1

Permit them all to run until you fee the Heaven of Saturn quite to vaniflh : by this means, all the Pla- nets will remain of fuch a coufiftency , that their an- cient and corruptible bodies being dead , they have put on a new, perfect and incorruptible body*

This is the Spiric of Heaven , by which the (aid Planets are again made cerporal, and living as ac firft.

Take this new body from the Life and from the Earth, and this keep • for this is Sol and Luna.

"After this manfler thou Haft the whole Arc made manifeft and plain , but if thereby thou doft not know or undctftand the fame, it is well : for fo it ought to remain * not vulgarly and indifferently laid open to all.

Vini* de TrtnfmutAtione Met riorum*

Of

4*

Of the Genealogy and Gene- ration of Minerals.

Chap. I.

WHen I had diligently and accurately read the writings of the Ancients concerning the Generation of Minerals . I appre- dendcd, that they underftood not the ultimate matter of them , and by confequence , much lcfs the firft. Truly, if the beginning of any matter tmy rightly be written , certainly the end thereof may yery fitly be declared. I have therefore in the firft place de- creed to propofe unto you tfie ultimate matter of all Minerals s whereby you may eafily underftand the firft, from whence they ail dedu& their original.

The firft example we (hall bring from Medicine, whereby a diieafe is to be known from the iflue, and not from the beginning ; in which there is no Science introduced by biindenefs,but mult be bliade likewife : but the end is vifible from the ififue, to which it is per- ceived to tend, as to its end propofed to it.

Furthermore, nothing can be better known, then by a perfect knowledge of the end for which God created it ; other wife , it may come to pals, that the true ufe of the Creatures of (Sod » may be turned

fcto

Of the (jenedogy, &c. 43

into abufc , for every thing which God hath created, he would have us enjoy, and poflefs it,, according to the right ufe thereof.

Therefore learn the laft and firft matter of things from the fire • for this is the key that unlockech the Ark of fecrcts , and maketh every occult thing ma- aifeft.

For example , If a Metal be diflbl ved in the Fire,* it prefently (hews the firft beginning thereof to be a Mercurial water, and not Su!pher,becaufe the reso- lution thereof flameth not like Rczio, It is demon- fttated not to beSalt.becaufe the firft beginning of its Refolution is not Friation,befidcs Liquation and Fla- gration, as of feme terrene ftonesis ieen to be.

Neverthelefs , every Metal hath Sulphur and Sal in him, but Mercury hath the chiefeft place therein.

But it feemed good to God the Creator , to create a watry Element , and from thence to produce every Metal for the ufe of man , that it fhould be the Mo- ther thereof; in which, as in her wombt , the Mine- ral Fire, Sal and Mercury (hould be deco&ed into Metals , Stones and every Mineral fubftance , al- though the birth be not of the fame cxiftencc with the Mother.

1 So that the water is unlike its Metallkk iffuencither is the Son like the Mother ; even as the Earth is not Wood , nor the Wood Earth , although it fpring and bath its original from the Earth.

So likewifc are Wood and Iron created by the Water , yet they are not of the fame cxiftencc as Water.

Earth alfo is made of that which it is not in it fclf* and fo hkewifc is Man.

So

44 Of the Cfenealogy

So God is one in every thing , 2nd the firft and laft matter of all things : fogreat an Artifex in every thing , as hath none before him , neither (hall have any after.

Chap* II.

Of the firft and laft matter of Minerals.

THe firft beginning with God , was the laft mat- ter , which he made the firft . as the fruit which ftiould bricg forth other fruit that hath in ic fclf the feed : and this feed is in the firft matter.

Likewife , in the ultimate matter of Minerals, is made the firft matter 5 that is.it is made into fperm or feed ; which feed is the Element of Water , which is refolved, fo that it is made Water.

Therefore Nature taketh that which is in water, under her power and fcparation; and whatbeloigs to Metal , foe fegregates into Metal, every one by bimfelf feveraliy, according to his own nature, with their fevcral gentu and fptcies congruent there- unto.

Therefore where Nature ceafes, there the Art of man begins ? for the ultimate matter of Nature f is the firft nature of man : again, the corruptioa of Nature by Art, is the ultimate matter of man.

So wonderfully hath God created Water the firft matter of Nature . which, though it be fo tender and feeble a fubftance, yet from thence is created the moft folid and durable fruit , as Metals and Stones, &c. as the mofthardeftand (iurable from the moft

m

of zfMineralsi 4.$

fofc and feeble : and that Fire ftiould be produced from Water , is beyond the reach of humane capa- city ; yet not beyond or above the work of Nature. '

Thus having in the firft place handled the Regc- icrat'ion , and Chymical and Natural Operation of Metals, we efteemed itmoft neceflary roaddtbefc few words cf the natural Generation of Miaerak, whereby the Operation thereof may be the eafier known.

This is the Opinion of all Phiiofophers and Stu- dents in this Art, that he that would be an Artift in this ProMion , ought moft exactly to imitate Na- ture in all her Operations : And whofocver under- Hands not thi?, (hall never attain to the accomplish- ment of his defires in this thing. Therefore let him that fearcheth a thing fo fecret and difficult , be a Scholar not only of Arc, but of Nature j and it (ball be done*

F J n 1 s.

Vr'm

4-tf

illlBflili

Vrim and Tbummim fliewed to be made by Art , and are the fame. with the Univerfal Spirit, corporate and fixed.

THe Truth feems buried, becaufe it brings forth little Fruit ; but it is great, and prevaileth, to make all things manifeft fofar as is poflible for men ; for in common fenfe and reafon, all agree in myfteries never : (o thac Wt may not fpeak of Science without Know- ledge, which breaks the Gates of Brafs, and cuts •(under the Bars of Iron, before the eyes of Un- demanding , that the treasures of darknefs may be opened , and the bright and fiery Sword dis- covered , which turns every way to keep Tranf- greflbrs out of Paradfo.

For if we confider wherein the Celeftial and Terreftrial Bodies agree,we (hall finde fomething objective in the inferiour Bodies, whereby they communicate their Celeftial Vertne and Influ- ence ; which prefident Art doth imitate, to pro* duce a glorious fubftance of connexed Forms, and of Cieernefs , Vertue, and Beauty beyond expreflion.

The

%)rim and Thummim. 4,7

The Mathematicians fay , The Celeftial Influ- ences do hold and govern every natural Body, and by many unities collet a quantity (unfitting without ftiadow : for the real Venues affe& to be fpecificate ; and as living Fire gives life to o- ther things : which central fubftance of Celeftial Vertues or Form of Metais is the Subject of this fliortDifcourfe.

That Urim and Thttmmim , which were given in the Mount, cannot be proved that they are the potential from the Creation, may appear ; for they werefubftances*,whofe Name aniEffences did predicate each other , being convertible terms, the Name andEffence one : the words fignifie Light and Perfection ., Knowledge and Holinefs, alfo Manifeftation and Truth , even as Science and Effence make one Perfection. Jt is likely they were before the Law given ; for the Almighty God commanded Noah to make a cleer Light in the Ark , which fome take for a Window 5 others , for the arching and bowing of the upper Deck , a Cubit : but fith the Text faith, V>aj and night jkall ho more ceafe ; Itfeem?, it did then ceafe : and whether this were one oc snore Windows , is uncertain : but when the Windows of Heaven were opened, and the Air darkned by pouring out Rain, the Sun not giving his Light , but prohibited the generative Spiric of the Creatures in the Ark,what exterior cleer- oefs could be expe Aed ?

Therefore fome of the Rabbins fay , The He* irew word Zohar, which the Chaldee tranflate Nelier, is not found m the Scripture , tut in this

flact

)

4.8 Vrim and Thummini.

place: To that like the word,it Teemed to be a rare -Light , and that which is generally doubted to be , The Creator commanded 'Hgah to make by Art. Other Hebrew Dodtors fay, It was apreci- ens $tone hanged in the Ark^ which gave Ughsjfi all living Creatures therein. This the great eft Car- buncle could not do, nor any precious Stone that is only natural.

But the Univerfal Spjrjr^ fixed in a tranfparent Body, fhinej; like the Sunjn Glory , and gives {Efficient Light? toUl the Room to read by : therefore it is moft probable, this was the Light that God commanded to make, to give Light to all living Creatures : fork is of perpetual du- rance.

And whereas Tttbal-Cain is faid to be a perfect Mjfjerofevery AjxificgrJn Brafs and Iron»whkh fomeTiold 7 doth contain the whole and perfect deco&ionof theMetallickVertue, wherein the Central Vertue is moft abundant, and makes the

happy more admired, who walk in the E&ek. midft of the Stones of Fire ; For 28.1 6. where there are two things of one

Nature,the chief is robe underftood : Therefore in the mention of Fires , pure Fire is preferred.

The Scarlet Veil in the Temple feemed ever moving, and (knified pure Fire , generative and fixed in deer Bodies , as Vrim and Thttmmim: Although EfFences are not without great diffi- culty made manifcft in themfelves , yet the cleer Vifion thereof^nakes the poflibility unqueftiona* ble ; as at Elijba9* Prayer, his Servant few the

Chi-

Vrim and Thummim. 4.9

Chariot , andHorfesof fire, about bis Mafter, which before he fawnoc ; fo are they apparent when iheinvifible is made vifibie,

Some think, that Urim and Thnm- Exod* mint were not Artificial , becaufe they 5fc8.3o*

i arc fiid in the Text to be put in the breftplate, but not to be m ? de : but this point mty be cleared by obfercb * the feveral kindes ©f making, as betwixt thofe thing*; made

• with hands, andthofe things that are or! v made vifible by effect: for where natural and habi.ual Vertue do meet together,the perfection i more abfolute by a kinde of new Generation , as the pure Sulphur of Metal, by an inward power doth purge it felf by ebulition ; not by the firft and remote caufes , but by the fecond and neerer* whereof the Philosophers fay, The fecret of aU fecrets is of fuckaJifpojttion , which cannot be per- fected with handstfor it is a tranfmutation of natural things, from one thing to another* Alio it is faid, The Artifi takes impure Spirits, and by Sublimation^ Nature and i/frt , clean feth them into bodiesjtiz^ Sndjixed: fo that the bodilj Nature doth eternally "predominate ; and being more then perfect^ doth give ferfe&ion to other things.

Now that thefe perfections have their begin- nings from two Lights , both the Text and the antient Philofophers make plain ; but ignorance and the matter of the Elements are the Iron Gates, which muft be cut in pbee s , before the invifible be made vifible.

For the natural Urim and Thummim, the Phi- E lofo pliers

50 Vrim and Thummim.

lofophers affirm, what they have feen and done : and that they did nothing fave that they did be- fore, and knew : fo that a perfect knowledge is efpecially requifite to make a perfect Art : there- fore we are to confider the means to attain to this end,

The Lord gave Be^aliel Wifdom,Un- Exod. demanding and Knowledge : thefe 3 x • 3 A* *re tne means : for Gold is diffolvcd by Wifdom, ia Contrition , Affation, and Fire. The end is dire&ed to invent work? in Gold, Silver and Br afs ; which is not to be underftood according to the found of wards, but according to the intent of all Diftillation, to extract the inward part , and manifeft the central vertue : for where the perfeSion of the matter is glorious, the perfection of the form is more glorious.

The Sun and Moon are as the Parents of all inferior bodies and things , which come neereft in vertue and temperature, are more excellent : The Sun's Motion and Vertue doth vivifie all in- ferior bodies ; and thofe things which come neereft in vertue and temperature, are more ex- cellent : the Sun 's Motion and Vertue doth vi- vifie all inferior bodies , and the pure form of the terreftrial Sun is faid to be all Fire ; and therefore doth the celeftial Sun communicate moft vertue : therefore the incorrupted quality of pure Sulphur being digefted in external hear* hath alfo re^al power over all inferior bodies : for the Sun doth infufe his,1 influence into all things • but efpecialW inco Gold : and thofe

ttttft-

Vrim and Thummim. 51

natural bodies do never fhew forth their vir- tues, till they be made fpiritual.

One of the Rabbins faith , They made in the fecond Temple Urim and Thummim ; to the end, they might make up all the eight Ornaments , although they did not inquire by them, becaufe the Holy Ghoft was not there ; and every Prieft that fpake not by the HolyGhoft>$t on whom the divine Majefty reftexh not , they enquire not by; him: fo it is with Sacramental Bread, which hath »o (igniftcation before Confecration.

But thefe men had the fpirit of Be^aliel , and made thefe natural, fpiritual Bodie; : which fo- veraign Tin&ure, fome fay, So purifieth^and cauf- eth the radical humour fo to abound , that the Chil- dren in the fourth Cjeneration^Ciits fome fay,/ia the tentfyfhall perceive theeffett effuchperfett health of their Anceflors.

! Others fay , That if they have oncefinijbed this

Arty andjhould live a thoufandyeers , they might

give what they will* and when they will , without

[ danger of diminution ; at a man that hath Ftrt

\ may give to his Neighbour without hurt to him*

UWarcus Vaffo faid , There was much mor* I myfieries in the Flamines Ceremonies^ then thej 6 under flood. Vcftifigntfied pure Earth, and inter- \ nalFire: of which ft is faid , Vefta is Earth and Fire. Earth undergptth the name, and fo doth Fire: \VtHisboth*

U S Thus

51 Vrim and Thummiml

"flout is (hewn forth in a worl^done by Fire> The mighty Vdta,*»^ her fare Autre.

■

Philofophy is nothing but the flndy of Wif- dom considered in a created Nature , as well jubjeft to i'cnfe, is invifible , and confequently material ; andWifdomes central Body is the (hadow of Wifdomes central Effence , and the moral Interpretation can never exclude the real effe&s from ocular demonftrationrbut where Reafon hath experience , Faith hath no merit; and without Faith there is no knowledge of any excellent thing j for the end of Faith is Undcr- ftandiog.

The Rabbins hold every natural beginning to be either matter t or caufeoftfe matter, *»*• the four Element^ But here beginnings muft be well under/Tood ; for there are beginnings of Preparations , and beginnings of Compofaion* and beginnings of Operation : for the Artift was commanded to dTeuie work in Gold \ that i?,f rom the obje& to the poflibility : for if the matter be glorious , the farm murt be more glo- rious: and though the fpiritual Nature be more operative, yet the bodily Nature mutt predomi- nate eternally : fo that to make the corporal ipi- ritual , and thefpiritual corporal , is the whole fcope of the intention 5 yet the fpiritn?l U not firft, but the natural : for corruption muit pat on incorruption, and mortality immortality : for that which is of sreateft durance, andmoft abundant in veuuc^oih moft excel in Glory and

Beauty,

Vrim and Thummim. 55

Beauty , and (o fiiteft to make Vrtp* and Tl.nm* mm : for venter and honour arc in hvjSanftuar/.

B'lt became the greaieft things <*re not done by ftrertgth,or habit of fingering /as alfo bcraufe the intellect doth fo far excel the fente : this is a work of a fecond intention, and the beginning upon the vertue of Elements ; that is a pure, bright and deer Water of Putrefa<SHon : for the peitefHon of eve*/ Art, (properly fo called' re- quires a new birth , as that which is lowed it rot quickned except h die : hue here death is taken for mutation, and not for rotting under the clods.

Now therefore we muft take the Key of Art, an i confider the fecret of evcty^th ng is„the Life thereof: Lifejs£Vapo?7 and in Vapor is placed the wondcPot Ait : whatfecver hath heat, agitating and moving in it felf by the inter- nal Tranfmutation, is faid to live : this Life the £ rtLt feek* to dertroy , and retiore an eternal Life, with Glory and- Beauty. T¥\ Vapor is called, Trie vegetable Spirit, becaufe it is of de- gree of heat with tfte hoitett Vegetable; and be- ing decoded till it fhine like bri^hteft Steel, you fliall ice great and marvelous fecrets , not by the reparation of Elements by themfelves , but by predomination ard vi3ory of that pure Fire, which like the Oleftial Si|n enters not material- ly ; but by help of E m -r tal Fire , fends forth his influence and impefltou o* f nn#

Here we mutt obiere d ffcrence of per- te&ion§.: for although ye have now the Foun- tain of cosopleat white ; yet yoa arc not neec

E 1 your

$4. cQrim ahd Thummim.

your chief delight, which is the Fountain of Life, and Centre of the Heart, the universal Spi- rit,which lives in the radical humidity, and doth naturally viviftcate , and is the mafculine Seed of theCeleftial Sun : here is that Rule made good? Exceptye fow in Go Id J e do nothing* There- fore we mult tafe heed wnat we underftand by Gpid, whereof there are three tofts , V"lg*ft C&qnkaia. and Divine s which is therefore 16 callednbecaufe it is afpcc'ial Gift of God. The JTheofophifts are periwaded, by exa& diet , and by certain form of prayers at certain times, to obtain the Angel of the Sun to be their Guide and Director.

The Philofophejs advife to take the like mat- ter above Earth , that Nature hath made Under the Earth : Others, tofearch the moft precious treafure from a vile thing : all which is elfily a- greed, if rightly underltoorf ; for in the lines following, the fame Author faith , The vile thin? JLJLon* the Sperm of 'Gold'% cafi in the matrix of Mercury -by a prime corqmttion. Others affirm *sfz>och and Ignis to be fuffident for this high perfe&ion : the which A&och among the Gej> mans is Stiver ; with the Macedonians , Iron ; with the Greeks, Utferettty • with the Hebrew?, Tin i with the Tartars , Brafi ; with the Arabi- ans, Satttrh; and with the Indians,^/*/. All which being; diverfe in Nature , are potential in ©ne competition : and by the duel of Smiths, the Celeftial Gold obuine^th; vi^ory oyer all^the rejt^ and is made ( tnoii«h7iiot r,Witti hands ) a body finning like the Sun tofclory , Which is c*)-

led,

%)rim and Thurnmim. 55

led , Ens ornnU frivationis expers , or Thumm'm. This is the Key that made the pure cleer Foun- tain, and of it was made himielf ; the fait Wo- man fo loving the red Man, (he became one with him> and yielded him all glory • who by his Re- gal power, and foveraign Quality, raigneth over the fourfold Nature eternally : but if any (hall underftand either common or Chymical Gold to be the fubftance of this facred body, he is much miftaken^ for a glorious Spirit will net appear, fave in a body of his own kinde.

Although pure Manchet be made of the fined Meal, yet Wheat is not excluded ; and fo Bread is faid to be of the fecond and neerer caules, ra- ther then the remote : notwithftanding , that which is made by the effe&,in a fucceffive courfe, is as certain as that which is made with hands.

After we fell from unity, we groan under the burden of divifion,but three makes up the union; firft temporary , and afterwards eternally fixed. He that knoweth a thing fully , muft know what it was, is, and (hall be; fo to know the feveral parts of a fucceffive courfe , is not a fmall thing, neither the honor little in the right ule of the Creature.

Air turned into Water by his proper mixture, becomes Wood; and the fame Wood , by Wa- ter, is turned into a Stone.

A Spring in Italy called Clytintts , makes Oxen

whitethat drink it s And the River in Hmgaryy

turns Iron into Copper. What excellency things

may attain by habitual vertue , or what power

-E4 when

$6 Vrim and Tbummim.

when Nature and Art make one perfection, who is able to exprefs ?

If ycud -foe by Art to have a thing of admira- ble fweemef- and odor, you will take a fub- tiance of like quality , to exalt into fuch excel- lency : the proper quai'ty of Fire and Air is fwcctnefs; it is but appropriate in Earth and Water 2 what bodies (hall we finde, where thefe are moft abundant , to be wrought upon ? AstheCeleitiai Bodies give no Tincture, yet they are moft abundant in Tincture. Air is caufe of Life • (Jl'terwry is coaled AirJEthereahand truly Hcmogeneal % which doth after a fort con- geal and fix : it is called a crude Gold^nd Gold aflRv^j aqd mature CMercury. And although the crude Quality be coin, and dry ; & feme hold for the excellency of its temperature,Thai it is all Fire, or like to ir, whereby it is diffolvT A : how- ever,!^ ic at large proved , thofe bodies are moft abundant in pure Fire and Air , whofe proper Quality is fweetnefs. Therefore thofe are the fiueftfubjefts to make the molt precious perfume in the world : and confidering , cleernefs and brightness is the centre of each thing, and thofe bodies have both centre and fuperficies clccr and bright , whenfoever they are purified by Art , and the bodies made fpiritual , and thofe Spirits corporated again , they muft ne- ceffarily be Bodies of greateft or cleereft Light and Perfe&ion : as one compareth a glorified Bo- dy to a cleer Lanthorn with a Taper in it , fay- ing, The more a man excels in venue, the pre Jter er kffer was the Taper. But the work cannot

be

Vrm and Thummim. 57

bemanifeft without the deftruction of the ex- terior form , and the reft itut ion of a better; which is the glorious fubftances of Urim and Tbummim^ihkh in their being,and Phyficai ufe, preferves the Temple of Man's Body incorrupti- ble. Some obfervc not jult difference between Liquidation and Solution : but ail Corrolives or violent Operations , Nature hates , becaufe there can be no Generation but of like Natures, ©either can you have the precious Sperms with- out Father and Mothers. And although one Veflel is'lufficient to perfe£t the Infant in the Wombe ♦ "" yet Nature hath provided fcveral brcafts to nourifn it, and different means to ex- alt ic to the flrcngth of a man. How Gold fhould be burnt, which the^F ire cannot con- fume, is quellionabie ; but every exaltation of this foverai°n Spirit , adds a tenfold vertue and power : then take one pare of this Spirit, which. is become asinienfible as dud, and upon molten Gold ic turns all into powder ; which being drunk in White* wire, openeth the Understand- ing, encreafeth Wifdom , and ftrengtheneth the Memory : for here is the Vein of Undemanding, Fountain of Wifdom , and River of Know- ledge.

The Truth of every thing is faid to be his in- corrupted Nature ; for nothing (hall reft eternal- ly vifible at the laP fire, but that which is of pure vertue and effential purity. Truth and Science is not led by chance or Fortune ; but the Spirit of God guidesjby the Hand of Re^afoj. And It leems ihcProphetTe^eemof tbefeStepesof

Fire*

58 Vrim and Hoummim^

Fire : fomc meaning the Stone of Darknefs ; and as it were, Fire turned up: Others, theStone of Tin ; andE^£/W, the Stones of Fire at- tained by Wiidom : which he differeth from the natural precious Stones , as pure Fire from common Fire. Therefore let mode^y allow chatpoffible, whereof he underftands not the Iff termination and degrees : neither refute the Waters of Shiloah, becaufe they go flowly ; for they that wade in deep Waters, cannot go fart.-

To obtain the Treafures of Naturet IfMah you mult follow Nature onely , who 8,6. gives not the like time to every Gene- ration •, but as the Mare hath ten months, the Elephant three ; or, as i'ome lay, nine yeer?, and fiftvT before conjunction : Be patient there- fore in a work of Nature ; for thereunto onely is promiied Vi£tory ; and the chief errors in Art are hafte and dttlnefi.

The Regeneration of Man , and the Purifica- tion of Metals , have like decrees of Prepara- tion and Operation, to their higheft Perfection. The firii beginnings of Tranfmutation or Natu- ration , is the fmaiieft meafure of pure Sulphur , with both Riches and Honor in the left- Hind, and length in the right. In natural Generations the form prepares the matter, yet there are pre- cedent Preparations. The beginnings of Tranf- mutation mutt be diftinguiftied : fome arc begun of Preparation, and forae are begun of Compo- sition. Beginnings of Preparation , in*hewell of Tears, doth cjqalific tbecoidnefs anddul-

DCfS

vnm md '1 hummim. 59

fiefs of the crude difpofition , and tame and fub- due the fearfui quality of fwift flying, and :hangeth the colour of this eternal Liquour, turning the infide outward , and adding heat by the internal Sulphur of the Homogeneal Body, which is by means of changed Water , becaufe Water by Water , canonely beextra&ed ; yec it is excluded in the conclusion: for, though it beaneceffary preparation to the alteration fol- lowing, yet is but the fervile and paflive, which hath the firft operation , being preferved unhurt in weight and purity,

Beginnings of CcmpqGtion are thofe inward Operations and Changes , that follow after that fcalding deluge, whin by mixing with fixed Sulphur doth diffolve the ftubbomneis of this Urne ; and by help of the external heat , the j internal Sulphur is excited by Operation , and purineth the fublhnce but onely to a pale white* uefs , more hurtful then profitable to the Body of Man : what thefe are, (hall afterwards ap* pear.

A^ain , .Sulphur muft be diftinguiflied : white Solphur, and living or reviving Sulphur : white Sulphur is of like Operation, and is perfe&ed by retraining, and healeth almoft ail difeaies , and tinman to white ad infinitum.

By knowledge hereof, even meet natural meo nave befrevfcd the Refurre&ion , become fober, temperate and patient ; not doubting : within the centre of cosrpieatewhite, refts the red Stone of moft delight.

This hath caufed men juftly to condemn all

GOfe

60 Vrim and Tftummim*

Ccmenaaots, Ca inaiions, and Citrinati

ons ; being cnlightned wich the glorious ob- je& , wnich is as eleer as a Chrilhl Looking- Glafs.

Reviving Sulphur i< the iecret of fecrets, and the glory of the whole world , and oreiv pro per tofuch whom the Creator hath apted b way of natural difpofition ; for they do not onely mortific , buc purifie a pure body, qui.kning it with the frm • eflenual form ; and arc laid to make a ipirhual Body , because thtre i- no ror« : ruption ro refill the Spirit ; but the bodily Na- ture 5 being wholly fubj"6t, is , with thi Spirit, eternally fixed in a tranfparem Body (hiring as the Sun. Therefore the concluhon mu'ibe un- derstood of the fecond,and not of the firit : for though a man have never fo much wh te sulphur, if he have not of this reviving Sulphur , he is as fa from? he precious Spirit, which hath power o- ver all inferior bodies , as any other : for pnely that which is of the Nature of the Sun, (hall (nine like the Sun in glory.

A Synod of Philofophers advifeth us, in feed- ing; the creatures of Health and Riches, we (hould (hew affeShons to juftice and Prudence ; like Solomon^ asking Wi'dom , Richer were given to him a«? advantage. Let us icarch therefore ce- leftial V rtue, which is the centre of all things ; lo will \k be eafie to manifeft the foverai^n Spirit of Health and Riches : for the vegetable Sul- phur, is the firft Mover in Nature ; and on-*ly the Me-curial Nature bath power of McUllieaJ Life and Death.

Crude

rOrim and Thummim. 61

Crude ^Mercury is originally a vapor frcm c\tcT Water d\ d Mr, of moft ilron<> ccmpofitica cotj*ed_; or Air k ielf, with a. Mt rcur;al Spirit by Nature, fiVins, Etheriai ana H >mo ene \ having the Spirits of heat and cold ; and by exterior and interior hears, doth congeal and fix.

Alfo GoIdisafixedFire.or marure tMercury^ tnd may be made more volative then ^Mercury ; but onely by di v ers ^Mercuries made. Of Mgr- €*ry is Nature fet on work, the fixed Body looted, the vegetable Sulphur created , and the univerial Spirit fix:d. For the Authority of the ancient Writers , Divine and Natural Reafons, aflure us, this, and no other is the true ccurfe to manieft thofe Lights, wherein the Creator hath heaped up venue and power.

But it*s objected , The Philosophers do n»t agree tmongft themfelves.

jinfw. Inftruments of divers firings make fweet harmony, if they be well tuned : bu *:<eir Readers do rather feek to o^er-ru^ them, then by painful induftry to finde them con- fcnt.

Objed. Affirm Contraries? 4nfy*. The Artift his intention is to agree contraries.

Objed. They exclude Gold and Mercury froj& xhe creation of the Stone,

j4nfn>. Becaufe their crude marter is frcm the deftrn&ion of the exrerior foim.

Objeft, They fay, The venue of Element sjstheir_ materials*

j4ftw.

6l Vrim and Thummim.

Anfw. Right in refpeS of their beginnings upon pure bodies.

Object. *AH their fecrets fprino from one vile thing common to rich and poor I

Anfw. Precious things corrupred, are moft vile; and Science is common to rich and poor, and hath much ufe of Calcination or Dui*.

Object. No Metal is required to the malting of the Stone*

Anfw. As no part of man to the niaking of man.

Object. One thing, one G Ufa oneFurn&eufaf- fic/enf.

Anfw True,when two things of one kinde are apted and conjoyned.

O b je£h Out of one Root proceeds white and red*

Anfw. Even as Male and Female from one Womb.

Object, The Stone U vegetable) animaly arArrn- *eral.

'■■■ Anfw. Right: joynt and feveral it is faid to be vegetable , becaufe in thematuration it is multi- plied in vertue and quantity : it is faid to be a- nimal, becaufe it encreafeth his own kinde • and it's faid to be Mineral , becaufe his originaiis- from Metal or their Mineral. Here we may re- , member the Biffaop of Otrecht « who loft his life ~for~difcovering his feaet. Why fhould we pre- "vent the higheft diftfibution, who hath not made knowledge hereditary , but wrapt things in ie- cret,that we might difference things in being, and in being and ufe? Mature is even jealous of

bee

Vrim and Thummim. 6$

her fupremacy, ajnd abhorreth_to fee the fen- fible before the Tnteile&uai Treafures pre- ferred. •

This Chews the beginning and end of Art, Lux fata eft jttftocHmreftu ammo Utitia: Mark what yefow^for fach is your harvett. Light is fown on pure Earth ; and fome Grain begins to pun forth Ears at three joynts, fome at four; but the Ear never buds until the joynts be grown. And what vertue this knotting or fixing gives , conri- der ; for by meditation you may fee ; by Teeing, you may know ; by knowing , ye delight ; by delighting, ye adhere - by adhering, ye poflefs ; by poffefling, ye enjoy the Truth : that is, the in- I corrupted ufe made vifible. Therefore take heed hew ye value: for,

'Part of the fe things thy minde may prompt thee toy And fart thy better part may teach thee how to i§*

The making of Urim and Thttmmim , and the \ perfe&ion of the Elixir is aptly compared to r the fourfold Creation of Mankinde r %4d^m l from Earth, Eve from *Adam, *Abei from both, I and JefusChrifl from a Virgin : j|p man called alivingftoggxproducetb that eternally ftonv and fiery conquering Spirit called the Elixir, from I their proper Earth only, their t/fdam from rheir Eve, from both their Virgo, from her only the I foveraign and univerfal Spirit , whic^ doth vi- vifie and preferve all living Creatures, and raifeth the Artift from the duft to fit among Princes.

Life

6% Vrim and Tbummim.

Life without fious yvifdom manifeft in the flefti; a Body without (hadow , is the universal Spirit corporate. Urim and Thnmrn'tm were holy Signs within the breft-plate to enquire of God in the Temple. Natural Urim and Thummim is a vifiblc quality in a eleer Body , which pre- fcrveth the Temple of Man *s Body incorrup- tible.

Is it not prophetical, that all men (lull wifely confider the works of God,to the end they may know how to value them rightly, and to make juft difference between corporal FfaU ^4. p. and fpiritual things , and corpo- Pfai, 1 11 . 8# rate Spirits ? for although Spirits poffefs no place, yet they fail not to fill every part, by contact of their vertue, and in the ufe alters. both quality and quantity : the perfect and diftin & knowledge whereof , doth neceflartly manifeft the things fought after by ,ihe proper and appropriate qualities ; and from the caufes to the effect , openeth the internal Beauty of a true and natural Effence, as plainly, as by feeing that yc fee ; and alfo fneweth the terminate , privative and perfe& end of every particular a&: which is the richeft of intellectual Treafures, becaufe Science and Effence are one ; and where the feveral works, andTucceKive are apparent, the time need not be limited (like the men of Bethnlia^) for onely at Eltjh* his Prayer , his Servants eyes were bpened to fee invifible things , which all that rife to glory (hall do.

It was held of old, Nothing defirvts the love of

an

V rim and Thummim. 61

0m honefl wan, fave the internal Beauty : Therefore they held Love or naturalAfFe&'on to be the firft cauie^or motiocrlike as the heat and vercue of the Sun, and of the whole Heavens, hath power in ail things created under Heaven , and by their Influence and Rfdiation , all things encreafe, grow , live and are conferved ; and by their re- cefs, they mourn and wither, fall and droop ; yet they do not neccflitate any, all their force being inoft in imperfect things ; for a body of equal temper receives little alteration from the Con- ftellations , becaufe the Earth received vertue before the Heavens were adorned with Sun, Moon and Stars : Therefore that is to be diftin- Iguifhed inReafon : iois diftant in place , and I different things in being, and in being and ufe : [for change of quality brought confufion , and a better change Renovation.

Hiftorians affirm, The River Nilns vaporeth not, by reafon of the long decoction under the Sun , yet is the Water moft wholeiom and Me- dicinable;and the Neighbor earth begins to en- creafe in weight the feventeenth of June, ( and not before) even then when the River begins to rife: which fympathy of the diftant Water and Earth , by the power of Heaven , is not againft Nature,although beyond ordinary reach. There- fore for a leading caft, let us obierve the concord of Metallical Bodies ; which, like the firft Male and Female , have not feveral beginnings , but are all from a Sulphurous vapor , which, by help of Influence, Inftrumen^Digeftion* and Mafcu- line and Feminine vertue, connexing proper and

F ap-

66 Vrim and Thummim.

appropriate qualities, they obtain their per fe&i- on by the power of God t Ordinance : yet as every Earth yields not like Metal, fo every Me- tal yields not like central vertuc : Therefore ac- cording to that creating command , every thing (hould encreafe in its proper letade , (not in di- verfe)and time makes the number infinite.

The Ancients reading the great Volume of the Book of Nature , finde no abridgement to aiSmilace the Majefty of Nature , fave Man and the Stone ; both which are called,Living Stones : whole original Mortification , Purification, and difficult Exaltation, are of infinite vertue. Then ©bferve alfo a Celellial and Terreftrial Sun , which they parallel with Man , which becaufe they onely are capable of true* temper , which is certainly pofiible, although feldom enjoyed.

But to gain this precious Treafure of Life and Health , we muft make fufficient provifion, like men that do deal with great perfons ; for Gold is Lord of Stones, and nobleft of Metals ; and by his proper Regiment, doth multiply himfelf infinitely. Therefore Geber in his Book of 2)*- rniddtion^ faith, In Geld, are ten farts heat, ten farts ksmidity^ten farts ficcity : which triple perfeSi- on makes an absolute unity, Body, SouU and Spi- rit , being eternally vivified , becaufe unity is a generical quality of all that is one , and is a» effe&of the Form which doth produce it: for of allkindeof Governments, ten is the moft per- fect : and for the natural fubftance, no compofi- tion is like to Gold ; for it is a moft perfect

temper

Vrim and Thummim. 6y

temper, and equal mixion ; ihe miracle of .Na- ture, a Celeftial Scar, a Terreftrial Sun,the Foun- tain of Life, the Centre of the Heart , the fe- crec vcrtueof all Celeftial and Terreftrial Bo- dies , the Mafculine and Univerfal Seed , firft. and moft: powerful of the Sulphurous Nature, the great Secret of the Aimignty Creator. It hath moft Form and Entity; fo moft Vertue and Operation : in it the Elements ate elementized. It is called Sulphur, and Sulphur-Fire : yea, it is faid to be all Fire , or like to that in which it is diffolved. #And as Light is the Centre of Hea- ven , and Soul of the World , fo Brightnefs is the Centre, and Celeftial Vertue , the Form of Gold ; whofe admired mixion, nothing meerly natural can ditfolve , nor any thing artificial, ex- cept it agree with it in matter and form , and do remain with it in the recongealation. This vertual Influence, enters potentially, and dwells in the radical humidity ; and no other thing, whether from Heaven or Earth, doth nourifh the Heart : yet it is not vifible, before vertue be matched ; for there is beft concord , where it is moft abundant : but whither (hall we mount to aa atch this miracle of Nature > i The Hiftorians tell us of an eternal Liquor of I ' notLftrong Coa&ion > rained down fromHea* ign: here is like descent : Ihe is called Hyperion) a orDaughter of the Sun , a Body of like weight ' ind vertue with Gold ; fair,cleer, quick , only / :oa&ed and brought from the Empire of humi- ^^T* to fuitthe perfon , which in her crude ' Mature (hews ftrong Affe&ion, and turns

F 2 the

*I

68 Vrim andThummim.

the nobleft of Metals into her own colour. Therefore the Artift ihidies how to difponfate thefetwo.

And firft denudateth the Lady of her frofty Garments , that (he may have the firft a&ivity, and liquefie her fettered Lord : then are they both in the power of Art to better*

It is obje&ed , 7hU Heaven-born Hermo- da&ylus or Hy drome], is of a Nature fo obftinate and incorrett , jbe will b) no means receive thebefl imprejfion.

Confider, Her names fignifie.mXt matter of contrary quality , therefore may be feparated : and although her original obfeure condition, becaufe it is unknown by the innate affe&ions and fubfiftance ; for it is an Airy Body , or Air itfelf with Mercurial Spirit, fubfifting of inter- nal heat, and external cold. Others fay , It is compofed of the Spirit of the World, corporate in the womb of the Earth , and apt to receive the qualities and properties of all natural thing?, as wax imprefiion ; and being compofed of Spirits , the weight is of greater wonder. Others fay , It is a crude Sperm not furficiently decoded, (yer not to be profaned.) Others call it an immature Gold, which kills it felf, and the Father and the Mother, to bring forth a pure In- faritT'Kyhefthey overcome the Fire : flbe is the f perfe&ion of the Univerfal Medicine : whtt j Conformiry, what Similitude, what Identity (he holds with the Metallical Urne , being the I original matter aed lubftance thereof, and may be coagulated to the equal temper of Gold, is \

as I

Vrim md Tbummim. 6p

as the whitened in Snow. Therefore the An- cients magnifie the moft Bleffed , who created fuch a fubftance , and gave it fuch properties as no other thing in Nature doth poffefs ; yet we fee it is a virions matter , which hath fuperfluoas Humidity , proper and appropriate Qualities , feparable and inieparable Accident?. Therefore the feparable may be removed: to which end, (he is included in a Well of Te^rs, that the Watrinefs may be vapored , or through long DecoSion by Drinefs vanquish- ed.

Then doth it, as it were, congeal, and fix , and become more apt for durance and extension : for whatfoever is contrary to the natural , doth debilitate ; and like by his like , is nouriflied : but heat is contra- ry to cold, and the natural property of fcalding heat , is to weaken and dry. The fre(h Wa- ter adds power and heat : heat augmented be- comes Fire ; and Time turns Strength to Cor- ruption.

This glutinous fubftance hath natural heat, from which is the Life and Death of the Ele- ments.

Therefore as common Fire bringeth all things to his own Nature , fo the external working upon the internal heat , it doth neceflarily ob- tain victory.

Therefore if you can believe that heat and drinefs (hall overcome cold and moifture, that li- near/ and fucceffive courfe , hidden to all the F 3 world,

jo Vrim and Tbummim.

World , is open to you.

Therefore, as Nature delights in Con- cord , fo the Lovers and Searchers into Na- tures Work , mult be of conftant mindes , and Gideon-like refolve to race the Cicy LMeroz, , not refufing to affift the publick good, and then the Marriage: for the Princefs never un- masks her Virgin-Beauty , except to him that hath skill and power to efpenfe her in a bed of Love ^ which none can do , before the de- spoliation of the exterior form : but the Ob- fiacles removed, and Nature fet on work, the exrernai Decree doth neceflitate the ef- fe& : for being now warm , and blyth , and apt for new Generation, and pounded with her Lord , grated to Duft , his unnatural foft- nefs deceives the fenfe , and they paffionately condole each others Exile, and in their im- braces fall in a found , until their dhTolved Bodies fhew corruption ; and the more pure, being corrupted, are more vile.

The Artift finding them out of their Indi- an Taradife, corre&s their central virtue-, and raifing them from the Earth , leads them the thorny path to threefold happinefs , and by fiery trial, purifieth the Quantity, and changeth the Quality , and fo brings them to pcrfeft rett, whereby they have power over the bodies of Men and Metals , and are crowned in token of their dignity and boundlefs Territories.

Now

Vrim and Thummim. 71

Now conGdering the rarity of true Know- ledge, the Honor and Dignity of things de- fired . what Spirit is fo ignoble to thinl; much either. of Coft or Time, when that which is fought is of all Terreftrial Treafure mod excellent !

finis.

F +

An

7*

s&afcsfc &&&& &&s^

An Appendix of the Vermes and life of an excellent EC* fenti^l Water made and ap- proved by Stephen Trigge^ Student in Phyfick and A- ftrology - and by him gained and experimented at <tAm~ Jierdam^nd alfo in London.

IN all manner of Fevers , both PelVilential ' vand ethers; Calentures , Apoplexies, and all Epidemical Difeafes , it is a perfe^ and certain Remedy : and in Quartain and Quoti- dian Feavers , where the Difeafe arifeth from Choler.

It perfe&ly remedies the Bloody Flux, and all other Fluxes , either of the Stomack or Belly, Vomiring, Scowring, and Excoriation of the Bowels : and where the Stomack is fpoiled for want of Appetite , this is a lure Fortification ; for it wonderfully firengthens the Stomack, both the vital and animal Spirit , and mightily fuccors

the

(tAu ^Appendix. y$

the Heart that is oppreffed with heat : And, being taken in Aqua UWeliJfie , it doth fpeedily help the extream beating and panting of the Heart : Convulfion-fits and falling Sicknefs , ic curcth fafely andfpeedi'y, and all manner of heat breaking out in the Face , and any ether [part of the Body; being either caufed by the heat [of the Sun, or by tome noifcmc Food taken into the Body , that doth caufe putrefaction of the BicoJ.

The way to take it is thi?:in a burning Feaver, take of it in Planten- Water , if there be loof- i nefs in the Belly , and fweeten ic with Syrupe of Clove-Gilly - Flowers : and drink it as your conftant Drink, till the Feaver is abated,and the Appetite recovered.

In the Calenture, Drink-it in Ba!m-Warer,be- ing made far fharper then white-Wine -Vinegar, and mixed with Syrupe of Cowflip-Flowers : it muft be drunk very often, till the fenfes come, and the Patient remain cured : which will be in few dayes ; for it penetrateth the Blood, makes it thin,quencheth the Feaver, reviveth the Hearr and Brain , and quickneth all the digeftive Fa- culties.

In the Apoplexy, take it in Betony- Water, and e/^#4 P/i<*,with Syrupe oSStcecha: take the Dofe as » the Calenture ; or ttronger,if the Patient be able to bear it, and it (lull be holpe in forty eight hours, or thereabouts.

If there be any thing in this World, that will preferve Man , if the Slafs of God's detertnina*

tionbe not quite run cuuthis will help.

Though

74 -«» Appendix.

Though he be lame over all- his Body , his Senfes gone, his Speech 16ft , and to the judo*, merit of many,as dead ryetthis precious Liquor will in a wonderful manner reftore them fpeedilv and lately. J

In the Scurvy, Canker, Squinancy and Inflam- mation of the Uvula , this doth excel all ordi- nary Medicines : for ir doch after a wonderful manner quench all Inflammations, and temper- eth well the Blood and the Spirit: as, In the Scurvy,if it be all over theBody,and mofr of the Teeth be putrefied, and ready to drop out, and the Gums very much fwelled and annoyed, take a little of this Oyl once,and dip a littleLiac in it upon the end of a Probe, and lightly touch \ the places with it, and rub the Teeth all over ^ once: then drink the decoaion often for eioht or P nine dayes together, being made very (harp in f Egnmony- water: and the Patient (hall be af- I furedly holpe , although he were judoed paft cure. . If

InConvulfion-fits, put it either in Cowflip- !!^ flower-water, or black Cherry -water, and mix tf it with Syrupe of red Poppy , and it is a fure help.

In the Falling-fcknefs , mix it with *A*ha £- pi/epticMfind Syrupe of Pionies, and give it often, and it is a fure help, though the Patient hatfa J had it many yeers.

In an evil Stomick oppreffed with Heat and Wmde,andlofsof Digeftion, mix it with Con- serve of red Rofes, and a little Mithridate.

In all loathing of the Stomack, and debility

and

&An (^Appendix. 75

id vomiting, give it in Mint-water, with Syrupc

: Ciove-Gilly-Flowers.

In all heatings and burnings above Nature, as

e<5tick Fevers , and the like ; mix it with Barly-

tter, and Syrupe of Violets.

In all Lotions for the Mouth or Throat , mix

with Planten-water and Hony of Rofes.

In all manner of Purges that arefullbme , and fiFending the Stomack wi*h their noylbmnefs wo or three drops of this Liquor put in , doth iOt onely amend that , but it doih alfo corre& he working ; fothat it fib all not corrode, nor iurt the Stomack nor Bowels by bis working.

Thefe and many more Venues hath this wor- hy Medicine, in working internal Cures, too nany to relate , unlefs I here meant to write a /olume thereof: But I ftiall here leave the relt :o the Experimenter, and fpeak fomewhatof

xternal Cures done by it.

As firft, In all manner of Ulcers, old Sores, Fiftula's , or Gangrenes, Cancers, and Cankersj 2^//' me ta#£*rv,Impofthumes , or evil Puftula% proceeding from Morbus Cjallicpu^ great Car- buncles, and any other not here related ; I (hall commend this Soveraign Medicine, but yet very flisrp and biting, though found, pure and perfe&, and doth immediately help its own biting and I gnawing. The order to ufe it, is this : it doth I both cleanfe , incarnate, (iccatrize,confolidate, and foder up the Wound, and drieth it, that there fall np accidents : for it doth marvelloufly defend either from the Humors flowing to the Sore , or from all Inflammations which do often happen,

if it

1

it!

tin

j 6 An Appendix.

if it be not this way defended.

In a great and dangerous Canker in the Mouth,! ' there where they feem rotten , and very much :i eating into great holes , either in the Root of ^ the Tongue, or Roof of the Mouth there where it is.

Take a little Lint , and dip it in this Liquor, ?' without any addition , and lightly dotheSore , ail over : then let it remain twelve hours ; then % do it again as you did before : the fmart will be {? tedious for a time, but it will bs over in an hour or lefs.

With ufing this two or three times , the Mat- * ter or Core , and all the putrefied fubftancc will fall out : then once more touch the place , and there will no more Cankerous nor corrupted Flefh ingender there ; for it will defend ic : then make a Lotion to wafh it with Planten- water, or Hony of Roles, and make it fljarp with this Liquor, and wafh it two or three times a day : then make an Emuliton to drink with E- grimony-water and Syrupe of Violets , and drink it morning and evening ; and in nine dayes the Cure will be perfected : and with this order you may cure all thefe Difeafes and Sores above mentioned. But you muft underftand, That the more dangerous the Sore is,and the fuller of cor- rupted and dead flefh it is , the longer the Cure will be before it be perfe&ed.

Alio for Ulcers which are great, old and dan- gerous, in the Legs, where the humors are apt to flow, there this Oyl excclleth all other Medi- cine*.

Take

An Appendix. yj

Take this Liquor, if it be a Gangrene that atsahands-bredthinaday , this will aflurediy ieai , and feparate the bad flefafrom the good, nd bring quicknefs again in the gangrenated >art 5 and defend the good flefh from being ©uched with this venemous eating Malady. Inhere you finde fuch a defperate cccafion, take he crude Liquor , and moiften it very well with t,& fo let it remain 1 2 hours :then do it again,and iet it reft as before: then do it again ; & at 3 or 4 :imes,it will make feparation,& prefervthe good;

I 8c all that is gangrened will come away together. And you need not ufe any Inftrument to fcale Jthe Bone • for this will do it of ic feif , and yet [not hurt in the leaft : as feme may conceive,that do not know the true Operation thereof.

But when there is reparation made, then touch the part afflicted once more with this : then make a Lotion to wafliit; with Planten-watet and Honey of Rpfes , being made a little (harp with this Water ; and make a Salve of Candle- greafe dropped in water, and Bees-wax,of equal parts,and fpread it upon a linen-cloth, and apply itasaPlaifter.

With this thou flhalt perform great Cures, in a fortnights time, which otherwife may not be cured in a quarter of a yeers time.

Thefe , and many more are the Vertues of ibis excellent Liquor , experienced very well by Mrs. Jordan of Sowewlde in Suffolk^ Daughterto Do&or Barnes of Amfterdam , and by me Stefhon Trigger over a°ainft Baymrds-Q&\e.

This Medicine is now prepared, and to be had

at

78 An Appendix.

at the Houfe cf Mr. Hepburn Minifter,in the Car- penters-yard in Little-Brittain.

Where arealfo prepared excellent Pumiciis,ta cleanfe and whiten the Teeth,fatten loofe Teeth, and make the Breath fweet.

Lozinges for all Coughs, Tifltcks , Afthma's, Confumptions,or the like : which are alfo to be had at Mr. Moons fhop at the feven Starsin Pauls Church-yard, with Diet-Drinks , Electuaries, Pills, &c especially , for all Venereal Diftem- pcrs; by

^o;a t£ ©5f .

Th(

*

19

The

SECOND PART

O-F.The . • -- -

MUMIAL. TREATISE TE^J°ZELIVS:

Being a natural Account of

The TREE of LIFE,

And of The Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil.

With, ;; _ "~L

A Myftical Interpretation of that great Secret,to wit, The Gaba-

liftical Concordance of the Tree of Life & Death, of Chrift & Adam.

Tf Having committed to the World fomePre- L cepts and Examples about Mumy fpiritual,! ML hold it no Solxcifm to anne& this Pleafant, though Myftical Treatife , Of the Nature of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil : fof they being_pbfcure , this h a Lamp to dilucidate

them,

80 A natural Account

them , fcarce credible , Authority to vindicate them, and apparently falfe Teftimony, fufncient toverifieihem.

Now whatever knowledge we have of this Scieniifical Tree, we decerped it from holy Writ, which faith Cxprefly,GWf. 2 verfg. That the Tree of life was in the mid ft of the Garden ; and zlfo^the "" Tree of knowledge of good and evil ; and , That thofejh^jeat oj the jruit thereof] fhallbe at God% infao^noww<r food and evil. To which thePer- fon^ot the Matter, (ipeaking to the reft of the Godhead) attefls, faying, LoyAdam u as one ofus^ knowing good and evil. Which Elocution of the tri-nne God, may not bethc^ghfc-ifO"nical , as it might at the firrt^gkflTeHeem to be ; Seeing then a double and contrary meaning (h.ould be Ji^pjiedjnthe wordr« as if God hadJhy a mental Kefervation^ hinted one thins ; and by an oral Expreflion, declared another : pronouncing that for verity » which could be taken for no other

-then fiat tallitylbut let God be true : for though

orvAdaws part it be Metaphorical,in all other re- fpecTs it is categorical and affirmative : as if God hadfaid, Becaufe Adam? by the enticement of 1 the Serpent , hath eaten of the Tree of Know ledge , and thereby acquired the knowledge of 1 Good and Evil ; not that that is competiblc oncly to the Deity, but that that is Philofophi- cal and Communicable' ; Loj, he is a* one of ju » that is , he emulates the Qmnifcients Panfophy in his Meafure and Degree. Yea, God the Son elfcwherc ufes the like Elocution , The Qphtrcn •f this world are wifer in their fenerations then the

1

N

\i

it

fo

!.-

G

of the Tree of Life. 8 1

difdren of liphu And that this Interpretation is true, the following words evince irrefragably ; mdtherefore he thruft him out of Parody left snowing the Nature and Facultie of the o- her Trees , he fhould put forth his hand , and ake alfo of the Tree of Life , and eat, and live ior ever.

If then the Faculty of the viyifical Tree was jue, and fuch a Tree truely natural exifted , as lad power to confer ettf&fotar , immortality to r$ Takers, (as without doubt it did) the Faculty )f this jfcientifical Tree mutt alfo be true, and io way feigned ; and I need not urge , I think, rhat Adam and Eve would never have believed he Serpent to iheirruine, if the light of their Sature had not alfo difcovered the Fruit of this rree to be fcientifical. It is therefore true and mpraegnable , That this Paradifaical Tree was ndued with this fame Faculty of giving know- edge. So that the Queftion will now be,Whe- Jier this Faculty was infufed into it in theCre- ition, acquired by it after the Creation, or com- nunicated to it by fome other means and way.' \nd to loofe this Gordian knot , Hie labory hot pus eft. And here alfo the Scripture (though bmewhat obfeurely) points out a mean to re- blve this Quaere : the words are thus , 7 be Ser~ *nt was morcfubtil then any haft of the ftela\ *hieh the Lord <jod had made. Which words ire here inferted for no end, that I can finde, un- efs they portend fomething of moment in this natter. It is further obfervable, That the De- vil came not to Eat in form of an Apple , but of

8 1 A natural Account

a Serpent, which he knew for fubtilty worthy to; fc be preferred before allBeafts, which alfo Sve\ n judged to have fpoken naturally. It is moreover 1 alio probable , That the Serpent had his Cavern d under or about that Tree ; whereof, God being, g in no wife ignorant , forbade man the ufe o{ its] Fruit.

Moreover it is confiderable , That in things obfcure and dubious , that Explication mul^b€ admitted, whereto Senfe,Reafon,and Experience j0! give fuffrage^ if it fpeak not contradiction to the,- Rule of Faith. Who is he then that can con- ceive ? or what Diver into Natures fecrets hath L met with the like Myftery ? that he can by fome ,f| weak refemblance evince the World,how by the eating of a fingle Apple, her children may fuck in more then humane Knowledge. Whereas on t the other fide, I (hould very much derogate „ from mans prsecellency , if I ihould in the leafti [ doubt , that the acutenefs of his Imelleft , {, could not finde out a way how this Faculty \ might be acquired : and lb clofe with our Sen- tence , That this Tree became fcientifical by way of Tranfplantation from the Serpent 5 that is, this Tree and its Fruits had both the fpirktial Effence , and the fpiritual Vermes of the Ser- a pent, communicated to them , and impreffed in them, by vertue of the Serpents cohabitation with them. For in Nature we finde, That many : Bodies do notonely by their qualities , affeft |«; their adjacents, but alfo infafe their Vertue into j, them, &indue them with the fame Faculty.Thus -( the Magnet doth not onely attract Iron-Rings,; ^

but

of the Tree of Life. 8j

but communicates its Vertue to them > and makes them Magnetical ; as I can upon Ocular Teftimony aver. And thus Vegetables may tranfume and poffefs the Proprieties and Affecti- ons of Animals, and yet not tranfgrefs the Bounds cf Nature : of which rank, not only this Treadle affords us many Examples ; butSmol^ ltHsj2£&<> (who was our Manudu&or into this Ch pinion ) records fome , and afligns the Rea- ions thereof, in his Manual of admirable biags.

Of which fame Argument, Theophraflus alfo treating in his Book of the origine ot Sciences, iffirms , That our hairy and white Serpents in Germany , are indued with fuch admirable^ and $£p <p\!aivaei&i<t fuper naturally excellent venues^ hat they are and will be of Jpecialufefor the attain* ment of Knowledge^ both natural and occult. A nd ie adds further in the fame Book , That the Ampler fort thinkjhemfelves nothing bettered by this bis (ervice : and therefore he judges it not Work worth the while, to caft more Pearls be- bre fuch Swine , being perfwaded he hath fatis^ 5ed the wifer fort.

By what Art then, this incomparable Treafure nay be effoded, the diligent Searcher of Nature hall finde , if he ferioufly perpend the fore- qioted words, and with unprejudiced thoughts, udicioufly confider that noble £ *"f3$ 7»W^pm [ito&Stwxfitm, & for this purpofemoft tmly-ufe- Jul pair of little Books.one treating of Time,the other of the origine of Sciences : neither will he have caafcxo fay,He hath-fpem his Oyl,if he take

G 2 tkn«

S^- tt>f natural ^Account

time to confer one of them with the other, and judge, tr%%\>&* mz* *'*& Tnptf&biFHrpkbjFHrplefat- caufe, as in the B&ok of Time, the Mumy of the Microcofm, is diftin£tly handled : the four cor- poral Mamies, being firft treated of ; and after- wards, the one effential and fpirituai of the Mi- crocofme : fo again in the Book of the origine of Sciences, the fpirituai Mumy of the Serpent, how ic may be tranfplanted into certain Fruits, to make them fciehtifical for the good of man , takes up the former Treatife ; and the later is dettined to the corporal Mumies of the Ser- pent.

And hence any wife man may eafily collet, That the extraction of Mumy fpirituai , is in all the fame , and differs not according to the di* verfity of thofe things whence it is extracted, as Thtophrafitts (hews in his Book of Time ; where treating of the fpirituai Mumy of the Serpent, he gives us an account , how the Ape, by means thereof, enters league and amity with its utter Enemy the Serpent : nay, I dare affirm, That he that hath the perfect knowledge of the Mumy- fpiritaal of the Microcofm, and its Confequents, which Theophrafim handles in his Book of Time , fliall eafily attain the knowledge of all the kindes of terpentine Mumy , but efpecially of that which he accurately delivers in the firft and iecond Chapter of his Book of the origine of Sciences.

The way then to get this fpirituai Mumy of the Serpent, and according to this former Trea- tife to tranfplant kinwforac Fruits or Grains,

and

of the Tree of Life. %%

and with them co confer ic to ibme man, or the like, is, p*wt»Va one and the fame with the fore- mentioned wayes : take then the fperm , that isjthe Eggs of the Serpent, which are to &yf& £ efflMMt, the Elements and Principles both of their corporal and fpiritual Mumy,mix them with fat Earth, and fow ibme Seed,or plant fome Herb fitteft for your purpofe, in that Earth. ' But for greater efficacies fake , in conferring knowledge , tranfplant them into fome Fru-it ap- propriated to the Brain : Plant therefore a Cher- ry-Tree in this Earth j for fo it will magnetically attract the Mumiai Spirit of the Serpent into its Nutriment , whofe Vertue and Quality will ap- pear in the Cherries ; out of which , by Vnlcaifs Hammer, that i?, Fire, you may elicite the Spi- rits,and therewith roborate and acuate th^ Brain, and no Little advance Knowledge.

This 7V c£iju& 7* opoi vm$vAvt,h<i or feminal part of the Serpent , may, with like fwecefs, be tranfplanted into a Vine', out of whofe Grapes you may afterwards extra& their Spirits ; and after the fame manner , the Theriack, and all its Faculties, may, by way of Tranfplant ation , bfc ioferted into the fame Fruit,which will i>e there* by made Theriacal.

There is yet another way of tranpltming fefy pentine Mumy into an Herb,thus :

Take Serpents , and include them in fome Glafe-Veflcl, till they be fuffocated and putrefied inta feme vifcid matter , which ekher tranf-

Slant into fome Tree , of unite with fome Earth t fQj the weption of Herbs for yoar purpofe*

%6 A natural Account

You may alfo by like proceffion, extraft Mu- my from Serpents and Snakes, indued not onely with other admirable Vertues, but with that al- fo that is proper to the Univerfal Medicine , which they depofe with their glifcent Skins ; I mean , that incomparable Remedy for the Mor- phea, Leprofie, &c. whofe Cure can fcarce be hoped for from any other Antidote , ( fcarce, I fay, becaufe I verily think, theEflenceof ful- phureous Vitriol , will conduce no little here- unto.)

Take Serpents then, and detra&ing their Sweat and Collunies from them , cut oft their Heads and Tails, ( which are elfe of much ufe to other effe6ts, as well as the other parts) and caft thole away 4 but put tbeir flefh under the ftock, amongft the Roots of a Juniper-Tree , and oc- clude the hole with a knot of a wild© Plum- Tree : for thus in Winter-time , the Flefh will by the natural heat of the Juniper, which is tem- perate, be redacted to its firft entity ; and in the Spring, the vegetable Spirit of the Juniper, will attrad the Balfam thereof to its Nutriment ; infomuch, that its Fruits or Berries, will be in- dued with moft eximious Faculties , and en- rich their Poffeflor with a moft admirable and excellent remedy againft the Leprofie : for which end,

Tike the Berries of the aforefaid Juniper, pour warm Water , with a convenient quantity of Leaven upon them: and thus let them mace- rate for eight dayes , till they be reduced into dcc mixed Mafs 2 for which purpofe, agitate

them

of the Tree of Life* 8 7

them once or twice a day : then diftil the Mafs through a Vefica ; atfirft with a flower, but gra- dually with a hotter Fire , till all the Spirit be diftilled. And now becaufe this Spirit is mixed with Phlegme , it muft be re&ified in B. <JWm through a Cucurbite , and then again through 3 Phiola ; and fo you ftiail have the true Spirit of Juniper.

Then calcinate the dead Head into Lees , and make Salt thereof by Evaporation ; whereof take one pound , and refolving it in the former Phlegme , mix it with a Efficient quantity of good and well - dried Argil , till you may make it into Paftils ; which take, and diftil in a clofe Furnace , through a well-beaked Retorta 5 putting a handful or two of the Berries into the Reptacle. Let your Fire be firft flow , for the Phlegme ; afterwards, hotter ; and at laft, fo hot, that the Retorta may be made red therewith : for fo you may extra& all the Spirits. Make Sale again of the dead Head , which mix with Argil, and the fore-extra &ed Spirit ; and then diftil it again into Spirit:then fo draw this Spirit through a Glafs Retorta in a dry Bath , that the Phlegme may be colle&ed apart; and then the great fecrec J may proceed in Save drops, which you muft (hue up in a Glafs with the Seal of Hermes^ and then infolate and repofe it,

And thus you have that altogether praife-wor- thy Remedy : for the Berries of Juniper being of thetnfelves fo conduciblctotheCureof the Leprotic , that they will not onely prefenre from it5 buujfo in its initiation, profligate ic ; they G4 *re

88 A natural Account

are now by this myftical Art,and the participa- tion of the Terpentine Faculty ,fo much advanced, that they will eafily overcome it in its height and ftrengtb.

But thus much »f hfaw^nd by the way: now toourpurpofe.

As therefore the Knowledge of Good and Evil , was, by the mediation of the Mumy-fpi- ritual of the Serpent, tranfplanted into the for- bidden Tree ; fo alfo by the prefidy of fome o- cher fpiritual Mumy , eternal ianity, or immor- tality , was from God granted to the Tree of Life, That he thattafted thereof, fhouldlive for ever : for which we have God's Teltf- mony, Gen. 3. who therefore cafttheProto- plalt out of Taradife, left he fbould fttt forth his hand , And tafte of the 'Tree of Life, and live for ever.

And now we cannot expe&, iyy&w'**f<hi&ut9 a written Teftimony , to prove that this Tree re- ceived its $wB*v*-n4eiV, its power to give immor- tality, from fome fpiritual Mumy : for k is ob- fervable , that Scripture in things natural gives rather a hint then a defcription : for what com- munity hath ^Athens with Hiernfalern ? yec Philosophers , thofe Merchants in Natures Commonwealth , after much toffvng to and fro, on thefe rugged Seas , arrived at a twofold Port of Verity.

For, fay they ,this Tree of Life either received this vivifical faculty, *&<&<> immediately from Cjods father \\wA™><&ythe mediation offomething nMttraU And further feeking into Natures Siore-houfe, they conclude with Trifmegittm , Thu

i

of the Tree of Life. 89

'that it is Gold bj whofe Vat He Life was implant ed into this Tree ; and this is not w^ d&vaim* im- pojfible: for (ttnlefi the Almighty ordain the con* trary)Goid is of vert He fttjfcient to give immortality to man ; or at leaf: to prohibit infirmity ', till the prB- deftinated term of his Life be come: and the ufe of this Tree for this pftrfofe^ was in no wife prohibited.

And it is moreover probable,That the firft en- tity or Sperm of Gold, may, as other Mumies,bc tranfplanted into ibme Vegetable and its Fruit ; by whofe Energy, they may attain the vertue and efficacy of the Tree of Life : which confiderati- on is founded in Nature ; for we fee Metals by the mediation of fome Vegetables, fuffer various Tranfmutations, as this ftory may evince. A cer- tain Metal-melter accidentally plucked a flower out of a Field , which , through negle& , he let fall into his Caldron , where it turned ail the melted Brafs into pure Gold without any Drofs • wherewith the Copper-fmith being amazed , he* inveighed grievoufly againft theMelter,as though he had dealt Magically with the Metal. And here, though we cannot difcern how in the common courfe of Nature, Metals (hould be thus changed by the mediation of a Vegetable, yet if 7ii* bwiAs ttYpa&'o. , with the flrength of our Intellects we ferioufly and accurately weigh the way and vertue of Tranfmutation , thefcalesof ignorance will fall from our eyestfbr as Grapes which participate not of any propriety of the Theriack, or of a Vi- per,are by means of Tranfplantation, eximioufly Thenacal; even fo it is in this cafe, Theflower indeed in its own N«ture,was not

of

po A natural Account

of power to work this fubftantial Tranfmutation; tfo but when the fpermatical vercueof the Metal, was tranfplanted into this Flower , and united itfa with the vegetable Nature , (for Minerals and lib Vegetables are not fo different from each other, U but they may conipirc in fome potential relati- : i on, and fymbolicai, though occult, affe3ion)then Ci might the Flower communicate its received ver- fio tue unto,and work a real change in other Metals* n and that not by vertue of the Vegetables Nature ids barely , but of its Metallical Tranfplantation : And by this means, we may not onely tranfplant the Effences of other Metals and Minerals,L#/M, Mars, Jupiter, Venm, Saturn, Sol, into fome Tree, Flower, or Plant • but alio with their Faculties, by the mediation of fuch Vegetables , profligate moft Difeafes incident to man.

But it doth not a little reflect upon thefe my- fterious Arts and A&s of Prudence, truely Phi- lofophical, that thofe fluggifh Drones, cut out of the dung of this Ag<*, as Bacchus of Joves thigh, who think our Myfteries main vanities, will not be brought to believe, that the Flower otSalen- di»ey that SwaUowwort,zxii Gamandrta, wherein the Sperm of Metals is either naturally or artifi- cially impreffed, participate of any eximious fa- culty, or can profligate any great Difeafe : but let fuch obferve Nature , how ftie is one in divers things,and various in one thing ; how flie is vege* tative inMctals,and metallical in Vegetables and Animals;and fo on the contraryrwhich we having fufticicntly evinced in our Treatife of the Plague, wc fhall not further enlarge upon fcj jc»qnbrinT~

chit

of the Tree of Life. 9 1

:hat we do not now declaim,but Philofophize.

Let fuch again attend to thole things that cure :he Plague,which is a Mineral direafe?ari(ing from :hc refolm ion of the Arlbical Yliad : how fhould

iny Vegetable conduce to the cure of this Dil- safe , feeing the Cure muft be Analogical to the Caufe, unlels fome Magnetical or Mumial Impref- ion, or fome Agronomical Trarfplantation , be aaturally or artificially conferred on them by the mediation of Celeftial Seeds , or by the co-ope- ration of thisMumy fympathetical and truly fpi- ritual? without which influence,thofe things they call Charaaers,were of no efficacy,which yec we fee by Art and InSuence,very efficacious ; nay,he that denies this conjunction, muft needs confefs, that the Queen of the world intercedes,working ftrong imagination and credit, both in the minde of the Giver and the Receiver, that thefe are in- fluenced from above. This kinde of Tranlplan- tation is natural to Cjamandraa , for the cure of the Plague; which is moft eximious therein, efpe- cially in the Climate where it. grows : the like Celeftial Tranfplantation appears alfo in Arfmarr, which doth not onely by a natural attractive fa- culty , but by influence alfo,cure all wounds and ulcers, teeth-aches , and the like affe&ions pro- ceeding from the fubtil fluxions of Salt; of which Herb, Tkeophrtttus hath a whole Book. The fa- native vertue of the Roots of Succory, is,I think, artificial, by fome Mumial fyrapathetical vertue ; a bccanfe, if they be digged up in the houxand day j of ffew*) when the Smhin Leo± they will, if ea- ) tcnVcure anfwound tKaPHnfeftcd with no fynv

ptome.

pi A natural Account

ptome. The like whereof was of late experienced by the Magnetiansf as I was in a Letter informed by a Friend of mine there : thus : A Boy of nine yecrs of age , was to take the Wood of an A(ht and looking towards theEaft,cnt it into fplinters; which done, they ufe it with a form of words to the cure of all joynt-dolors, as P©dagry,Chiragry, Gonagry,Tooth-ach alfo;and all kind of wounds. They rub the teeth with it, and imbue it only in the blood of the wound, and it cures them all.

And who doubts of the foveraign vertue of the Sambucus or Elder growing on a Willow, ga the red in Ottober^ a little before new Moon,and cut into nine fplinters,but it will cure the falling ficknefs ? ( Abbas indeed would have the Root thereof evelled on the Forenoon of St. John Bap- tifis day , and ufed for an Amulet ) the reafon whereof, we take to be this: Some Magpy having before denounced the feeds of an Elder- tree, left them mixt with its dung, ( which is of efficacy a- gainft the falling-ficknefs)on a willow,where the Sambucus growing up, becomes, by mediation of the Mumy of the dung,a Remedy for this difeafe.

And now, that this Spiritual fympathetical Mu- my may be helped by artifice, is plain in Paracel- fuss Zenechdo againtt the Plague ; for though that lame confifting chiefly of Arfnick , htth feme re- femblahce of peftiferous poylbn;yet as the Load- tf one, which hath in it the Spirit of Iron,ftrongly attracts Iron ; fo this tDiaz,cnechJ having in it thd

»■

agive Spirit ofthe Plague , is by fy^rcouscom- poITtion, andlormationlnto certain-jfigures wil- der the Dragons ht*b ot Sgnfion t ( when cither

of the Tree of Life. 9 j

the Sun or Moont poflefs either of thefe Signs) made a moft excellent deletery agaioft thePlague ; as many by experience can demonftrate , who have been cured by its prae(ady,and know its true manner of formation. Thus the Bezor-ftone re- ceived power againft Poyfon from Jupiter at Erft ; but, yet not fo valid, as that it could com- municate that faculty to others, till by the influ- ence of Scorpio , under whofe power it muft be formed into the refemblance of i Scorpions upper parts : it is not able to communicate its faculty to Maftick or Frankincenfe. P&onyt which is alfo called Fhosbea^h very good,but not fo efficacious unlefs it be uled when the Sun is predominant.

And how famous is that Martial Ring, whicb^ car ried in fome fit place, or rubbed on fome fucri part, will allay & cure the pains of the Teeth and Head, the Cramp,Quartain-ague,falling-ficknefe^ Vertigo,Apoplexy,Plague,& other Difeafes? info- much,that the great capt.of Hetmria commanded the Inventer thereof, (a Brother otS.Augttftines •rder) To fell none to any bnt himfelf for fome jeers. Whereas, if this fame were formed of fome long Horfc-feooe-nail, pulled out of a Hcrfes hoof on purpofe, in the hour Mars reigns , it would be ready to comra& it felf to fit the leaft,and ampli- fie it felf for the great eft finger as you would.

But the common Theriack alfo, and all things fablunary,are fydereal; yea, it is Solar^nd there- fore efficacious againft Povfons, & all epidemical fluxes : yea, it would be more efficacious, if frost the obfervations of the heavens,tome opportune feafon were chofcn for its compofuion, wherein

it

H

A natural Account

it might receive the fympathjeal faculty of the fuperior Bodies,as PtolomjtfheofhraftHt+AlberttiSs Mar film* Fixintu, Roger ius% Bacho+'thwrnhenferHS) Crollita^ and the reft of thofe dexterous Searchers of Natures fecrets, do all along obferve.

Though fome are of Opinion, That Medicks fliould not trouble themfelves herein, and there- fore they adore the GoddefiS 'loth^ inftead of theE* HJi an fie Ids getting themfelves in their Fools Para- dife , till fome Patient rouze them out of their fleep : but that we may not feem too tedious,we (hall leave this natural, and afcend to a more my* ftical Tranfplantation , whereby the Almighty tranfplanted the n«uialTree_ofLife,ftanding in the Garden of Paradtfe^ into theMafsof Adams andjtfterwards \r\iSLp^fif tne true and nsyftical Tree 'of Life ; who was fufpended on the very wood of the natural Tree of Life; audio refuf- citates both Adamfind all Mankinde,dead in fin, to newnefs of life. God is indeed wonderful in all his works , as we may learn from the ftate of corruption, and reparation of Adam ^ for-as-4- dam by tranfgreffion , upon the perfwafion and enticement of the Devil and Serpent, attra&ed tohimfelf, death, eternal damnation , and all kindes of torments, by tafting of the forbidden Tree ; fo is he redeemed from death eternal,and received into life eternal , by the Tree of Life, and Life it felf , Chrilt Jefus.

It is more then probable, That Sibylla prophe- sied of Chrift, when (he faid , That Adam, being now ready to die , de fired earneftlj a Branch of the Bough 'J Life* in Partdife ; and therefore fm one of

of the Tree of Life. 95

his Som thither to fetch one, that he might efcape this inent death : hit Sen received a Bough from the rngel ; but in the mean time , Adam had changed fife -with, death : and therefore hit Son implanted the Bough on his Fathers Sepulchre ; where, getting fapy •t grew into a great Tree , andfo attracted the whole Nature of Adam to its nutr intent.

Now alfo an ancient Do&cr in theEaftern Country ,and4uBiQiop of the Church,a little after Chrift,amongft many others , dete&ed this ve- nerable myftery alfo: Noah (faith he) was com* manded byCjodjto carry AdatnV tones and theTree on his Sepulchre into his Ar\ , andpreferve the original ff Mankjnde: which Noah did with aU obfervance: and when Noah fent his three Sons forth into three parts of the world,he divided AdamV bones amongfi them ; giving his Legs and Feet to his joungeft Sony his Br eft and Arms to his mtddle Son, and his Head and Skul to his eldefi , as fuch f acred r clicks of the Father of Mankjnde,as de fervid to be kept, t*j«ia>Vtfg. Now his Firfl-born betookhimfelf into the parts neet Tgrulalem, where he buried Adam*/ Skull in a little Mountain, which was therefore called Mount Calva- ry, becaufe Adam '/ falvaria or Skull was there in* terred\ which the Evangel ft therefore calls Golga- tha, or , the place of a Skull,; n the fipgular number. Moreover, he faith, That the Tree of the Tranf* plantion of Adam, was by remarkable and admirable Providence preferved , and made into a Crofifor Chrifts crucifixion , and ereileddireUlj in that place where Adam'j Skull was buried, to that he who perpends the matter well, fhall f nde, that whole tf4m>*s it were, is recoile&ed in and under the

Crofsj

p6 An Account, &c.

Crofs; and fo with an admirable tie, conjoyned to the vivifical Nature it felf : which, how plea- fant, efficacious,and full of confolation, let each one confider : for he that deferved death, is pre- fent in and under the Crofs; and he that repaired Life , yea , that is Life it felf, is affixed to the Crofs ; the true Concordance of life and death, of afinlefs Saviour, and hnful man ; whereby Life is united to Death,and Chrifi to Adam,wt with- out the fuperinfufion of Blood , like Celeftial dew, for better and more fecundity ; that fo j^ . m dam and his Pofterity eating of the Fruit of this r> tranfplantedTree, might be really tranfplantedi into thrift , and by a certain celeftial magnetiftn and fympathy, attra&ed to Heaven, tranflated ta Life, and made Heirs of Happinefs.

Tor which ineffable Grace and Mercy of the Deity, be rendered, to the Tri-nne God, allPraifey Ho- nor and Benedtttiony Amen.

FINIS.

i

n

The

§§§§ mmmmm mmmmm

The Preface to the Reader or Worker.

Gentle Reader,

LEt not thy heart be turned f rem this excellent Science of t/ilchymy, although it be contemned. nd made of no account among the rich mm of the iorld^ that no man hath ever come to the perfett end vfd knowledge of it , with a number of untrue re- ntSjto hinder ^m much at in them lieth, this moft ex* illent and godly Science , the which hath beenji- ifted\by many perfons^and by this John Fauvere in faris, the which he left for a teftament to his Sou9 as r had wrote it with his own hand:but true it isJThat ivers men, for want of the true knowledge of this cieuce, have brought themfehes into great poverty^ tifery and contempt of this world* To the which I nfwer , That there be many things that do let and '■nder men tofinde the end of any Science-pot onely in w% but divers others, as Aftronomy, Vhyficl^ , the | 'ofit of the ufe of the Medicine, with infinite others: tndfirft , this is the chief eft eaufe many men be of fa *v/? undemanding , that they cannot perceive and, nde out the dor kwriting of the Philofophers, which the caufe that many times they mifithe great be tfit) that they madejuft account of\ and moreover, ivers envious perfons have written Books filled with number of lyes and painted gloffesjo draw the mo ft ainfulmen which have labored in this Science, unto ivers errors, to the utter undoing of them , and lofi f their goods ; the which they have done only ofmeer H % malke

maliC-e 5 becaufe they did not under ft and the darl^ Writings of the mcft ancient and learned Fathers ; which is thee an fe that they would never attain Hnto the depth of this mofi learned Science. Al!o there be many men that will begin things ,without attending the end of any one oj them • and fe have left offcon- fufedly , and fo have not only loft their time, but alfo con fumed all that they had: which tfthey would have itegun one thing, and have ended it , they needed not fo to have done : and then they cry out , and bUme this Science, which is their own fault. Laftly, there fo many men that worJ^daily upon receits that they gather here and thete, without feeing or making that which they do workj* whether it be agreeing with tht Nature of the Science, or from whence the receits do come orfpring,or who have written them ; wherebj they alfo confume their fubftance ; which is their owt. fault, and not the Science. $/4nd alfo, God will noi have the Science wrought by fome men, and yet they willworl^ it .* and thus they lofe their goods. An therefore , gentle Reader , if you w ill keep y our fel^ from damage or loft^ fo reai this Treatife over , no ence but many times ; fo (haft thou fnde the free. Kernel or Marrow of tht Philofophers , and righ Science of Tranfmutation of Metals that be bafe into mofi pure Metals of Gold and Silver. Anc therefore thinks not the reading andftudying of tht Science or Treatife to be tedious unto thee,confiderm the great profit thou (halt reap by it. The Lord grant that thou maiftfinde it , and ufe it to the honour o God, and profit of thrift and his poor afflittec Church,

Raymond LuIIy

&&& sfesfesfesis &&&&

The Contents of the firft Part.

Ghap. i.rT^O prepare the S ah for the red and JL white Elixir.

G hap. 2 .To make the Elixir to the white work.

Chap. 3 . Of the Key of Sciences , And Proper- ties of Salt.

Chap.4. The Compofition of the red Elixir.

C hap. 5 .The projeftion with the red Elixir. , Chap. 6. The Compofition of the Cement for G*li.

Ghap.7. To make Silver heavy as Gold.

Chap. 8, The difference between the Elixir $ and Pbilofopbers Stone.

C hap .9 . The living and dead S ol and Luna ,

The Contents of the fecond Part.

Chap. 1 ."pHe Compofition of the Philofophers

* Stent. Chap. 2 . The Elixir of Life. Chap.3. To fublime Mercury to the red E-

lixir. Chap.4, To fublime Mercury to the white E- lixir*

H 3 Chap,

Ghap.5. T'o prepare, the white Stone upon all Bodies.

Chap. 6. To make the Lutement to all works.

Chap.7. To twderfi and moral and natural Phi- losophy.

To draw Spirits out of a ponderous Body or Earth by DijHHation.

Traft, uk.

Upon Saturn-, the Tinfture of Gold^ the Quia- teflence and Aurum Potabile , and the matter of the tiniverfd Medicine.

Phi-

E

io;

Philofophical and Chy mical

EXPERIME NTS

OF

The Famous Philofopher 'BJYMV^CD LVLLY.

Chap. I.

Teachcth, how to prepare- the Salt for the white and red Elixir.

TAke > in the Name of God, great Bay- jalt as ic is made out of the Sea; take a good quantity and ftamp very faiall into a ftone-Morter : then take Cucurbites of Glafs, and pour your Salt therein : then take fair Well-water, and let your Salt refolve into cleer water; being all diffolved, then diftil it b^ Fil- ter ; that is to fay,~hang a jag Felt or Woolen- cloath, intheCncurbite ; and let the other end hang in another Glafs befide it , fee as ic were under it , that the Water may drop into

H4 ih

104. Thilojophical

it, that the Felt or Cloath will draw out, and that fhall be cleer as silver : and when that all the water is dopped over, look to it if that it be very cleer; if it be not % filter it again into another Glafs , till it be cleer or Chriftalline ; and when it is fo, put it into a Glafen Pan, fet it upon a Sand-Oven, and let the Water vapour away, till thatlt do come above like unto white- Salt : then take ftone-pifs-Pots , or Pots made of Cullen- Earth, Tuch as the drinking Pots be made of, and put the Water and the Salt that remain?, therein , and fet upon the faid O/en, and lee it vapour away • and while that k doth dry, ftir it with a ftick, till that it be very dry,othervvayes, it will come into a lump or mafs : and this being well dried , beat it in a ttone-Morter very fine , as you did before , and then put it into a melting Cruce , and let them into a glowing Oven, or Say-Oven, which is an Oven that the Gold-lmiths do enamel their Ringsjln : the Oven being very hot , take the Cruies that be filled with Salt , and fet them into the Oven , and let them ftand until they be glowing hot ; and fee that they be no hotter behinde then before ,• if they be, then turn them round with a pair of Gold-fmiths Tongs : put but one Pot in the Oven at a time , that you may do them the better ; and when that Pot is red glowing hot , take it out, and put in another to be calcined.

And then, when cold , put it again into your Morter , and break it as fmall as you can , the ihirej time , and then fet k in the Fire of the

Oven

/experiments. 105

Oven 10 glow as aforefaid , Two or three times glowing, and breaking of it every time in a ftone-Morter until feven times , and then put in into Well-water to diffolve^ill it be all dhTolved into cleer water.

Then diftii it by Filter , until it be as cleer as Chriftal ^ then let it again upon your O* ven to dry , and the Water to vapour until that it be Salt , and ftir it with a ftick as before- laid.

And when that it is dry , fet it to calcine a- gain , as before'aid , in iheSand-Oven; and wffen that all the Pots that have the Salt , be all glowing hot, then take them out, and beat them to Powder, as before ; and again dif- folve into Water.

Then diftii it again by Filter, as before : this (halt thou do fo many times, to fay, diffolve imo Water, and then diftii by Filter , and then con- geal it into dry Salt, glowing it by Fire : this do without refting until it come to be fau and that it will melt upon a hot glowing Plate of £#»**and if ic will not melt like Wax, you muft dhToive,di- ftil, congeal, until that it will come to that point or perfection : and you muft be careful , left: that it fhould melt in the Calcination ; for then all your labour is loft. Keep this for a grgat jjecret : and fuch a preparation doth appertain to the Salt , that which is the Riches of this world.

For otherwife thou (halt never come to the perfect end of any Elixir , without fuch Salt prepared , as aforefaid , to fay , to the white

Elixir,

io6 Thilofophical

Elixir, nor yet to the red.

Therefore,my beloved Son,he that doth know the Secrets of this Salt , ( to fay ) his Solution, bis Congealation , Diftillation and Calcinati- on,and can well under(tand,knoweth the whole Secrets of Natural Philofophy , and wife men alfo ; that is to fay , how and in what manner he ought to diffolve, diftil, congeal, and cal- cine. Therefore let not the labour in preparing of this Salt be grievous unto thee ; for without great coft you may learn herein, to diftil by Fil- ter, diffolve, congeal, and calcine ; andtoforjn all the works that be needful unto thee in this Science.

So that you come to the principal work, you (hall not be to feek or to learn : Therefore bz patient , and leave not off to work, un- til thou halt brought thy Salt to that pafs as I h3ve taught thee before , until it melt upon a hot glowing Plate of Silver, as Wax in the fire : for without this Salt thy labor is in vain • for it is the Key of this Science,

Chap.

Experiments. 107

Ch a p. II,

Teachetb with this prepared Salt to make the Elixir to the white work.

*J*Ake of Salt-Peter two parts, and one pare /^^ of Allome , and djlUl thereof a ftrong ^^ Water,

Then take of your prepared Salt fo much as you will fee to work, and take as much fine Capel Luna as you have of your Salt.

Beat your Luna into thin Plates, and diffolve (TvU^t. into the tfrongWater a part,in a Glafs by it felf.

Likewife your Salt you mult diflblve in the faid ftrong Water bTlt felf.

And when your Lma and Salt is diffolved in both Glafles, put the two cleer Waters together, and note that you put no more Water to the dif- folution of thefe two matters, then will diffoi vc them , and you fhall fee your Luna fall to the £M*jtz bottom of the Glafs, white* like Milk : take the ^^^ Glafs properly, and (bake it in your hand , and let it ftand, and you (hall fee your Luna as a greejGL Water, t o life ; above the which you (ball ; pour properly off into another Viol of Glafs: \ then pour upon it more ftrong Water , that hath not occupied, and do as aforefaid; putting the I green Water off in the firft green Water, (haking it, as aforefaid.

This do until all your Luna be diffolved into

green

io8 Thilofophical

green Water, that no Feces remains ; otherwife, your work will not b^perfe&ed s and when yon1' have all into cleer Water without Feces, put the fame into a Cucurbite of Glafs with a Helm and a Recipient* and Lute it ftrongly: and when your Lutement is dry, then fee your Cucurbite in Balneo, and make faft to the bottom of your Glafs a round Certel of Lead , like a Fol • and as your Lutement doth dry ,1b increafe your fire a little to diftil of the flame , that there (hall re-: main no more ftrength in it then common wa- ter : and to know this, pat a clout in the mouth of the Alimbeck : and when the clout doth begin to look yellow, pull all the fire out of the Oven ; for then the Spirits of the ftrong Water do be- gin to come.

Therefore loo\ well to your work, left your fire be too hot , that no Spirits come out of your Water ; otherwife you (hall fail in your work. Then lee your Glafs and 0;en ftand and* cool two hours long : then take off the Helm of your Cucurbite , and have a Cover of Glafs that may pafs juft in the mouth of your Cucurbite , wherein yoyr Medicine is in , faft luted to with Lutement,or with white Wax: then fet it in your Sand -Chen, or warm A(hes , not very hot.

Then take fair Capel Luna beaten very thin into Plates and cut into faull pieces, and put in a little at a time till it be diffolved ; and when that is diffolved , put in more till it be diffolved alfo. And thus let your Glafs ftand in warm A(hes,and look that no Air go out of your (51*fe nor Cement, ' This

Experiments. iop

This isourHhing fhall continue until it will dhTolve no more , but lie in the Glafs undif- folved two or three days long : and then is your Medicine nourifhed like a Child in the Mothers Womb.

Then may you let your Glafs wax cold , and you (hall underftand, without this nourishing the Medicine cannot ingender ; and therefore it is needful that it be nouriftied , that it may gee ftrength of Generation : and when your Glafs is cpld,lute your Glafs well with goodLutcment, that may indure againlt Water , the which I will learn thee in a Chapter apart , and let tbe Lute- ment dry by it feif ; then fet the Glafs in Balne* <JWarid£o putrefiefourty days long to hold it in fuchaheat, as the Sun in Summer: for great fire may deflroy your Medicine. Therefore let your fire be alwayes of one heat : for in that there doth remain a great fecret of the Me- dicine.

And within the forty dayes your Medicine (hall be diffolved ; and if it be not diffolved in forty dayes , let it (land longer until it be di£ folved : for this is the primeft of all the work : for the diflbjution is done by heat and moiftwre, and congealed by heat and drowtb.

This Point being obtained, you have the Key of the Chamber , and he is bleffed of God that hath this point.

For this is a token of goodnefs , for in every Diffblution and Congealation , you do augment your Medicine and Degree : for the firft time it will do projection one ounce upon feven , and

diffolve

no Thilofophicd

diffolve and congeal again; one ounce will pro- ject upon fourteen ounces , and the ihird time upon twenty eight ounce?.

And fo it goeth forth double in projection e- very Diflblution and Congealation. . But you fhall underhand that the Ccngeala- tion thac cometh of warmth, is no perfect Con- gealation j but it ought to congeal in the Glafs or in the Ampule with heat , (to fay) [tending in . ■ ' warmAfhes : and therefore, whenas your Me- K dicine is diffolved in your Glafs , let it cool ; then take it our of your &*/**?, and dry your Glafs.

And look well to your Lutements that they be clofe, without any clefts to let out the Spirits ;1 then fet it in your Sand-Oven in Afhes : then -Z put fire in your Oven , and let your fire be no L greater , then that you may hold your finger in theAfhes : and fo let it (tend twenty four hours tocoftgeal ; if not congealed in that time, you may let it (tend longer ; and when you fee that it is congealed, give God thanks , and rejoyce ; for it is ready to do projection in this manner. Take to prcjeS; on ,

Fair red Copper the beft that you can get, and take from him his rednefs , which ferveih not in the work : the which you (hall do after this manner.

Beat your Venn into thin Plates , and ait it in fmall pieces,aod anoint them with this pafte or pap.

Take white Arfnick and grinde it on a Mar- ble-ftone with Oyl of Tartar , that it be thick

like

«!

Experiments. In

ike Pap • and with this matter anoint your Copper) Venus pieces : then take great Bay-fair, nd put iome part or* ic into a melting - Pot >ottom,and lay your (Copper) Venm pieces upon hat : and then Salt upon ihem^nd (Copper^T- ihs pieces upon that, Stratum fvper Stratum , till all your Pot is full : and uppermoft in our Pot , let there be a good quantity of ak : take a tile-ftone , and make a round Cover or the Pot, arid lute it weli too ; and when he Lutement is dry, fet it in an Oven in of Calcination for twenty four hoari

Then let it cool ; and then break your >ot open, and caft the matterthatisinyouc Pot in warm Water, and ftir them with your tfand , until the pieces be clean , and that he Water comes frefh from them. Then }ry them , and beat them in an Iron Mor- :er , fo fmall as you can. Then put your Ve- tus9 fo beaten, into a Canvas Bag that is fowed :lofe up, and round like a Ball. Then take Fat Clay that is mixed with hair , and there- withal ftreak over your Bag , thinly , that ic may dry ; and when that ic is dry, flreak it over and over again , as it drieth , until your Clay be as thick as a Pot.* Then, when /our Clay is luted faft about your Canvas, take & fatil wooden Pin , and put through your Lute- ment into the Bag , that the fmall end may re- main within the (Copper )Venut.

Then put the round Ball of (Copper) Venm into another melting- Pot, the wooden Pin

down-

HZ Thilofophical

downwards ; buc you muft remember top among your beaten Venm9 Sandever^Verne^Salt- peter^ (Ana?)

Then fee this Pot in a wide Furnace to melr and the Venn* will melt and run out into the Pot, wherein it doth lie : and then the' Venus (hall be fair and white like Lma , and fhall be profitable in this work : the which, without this work of Preparation, would not be as you fhould do your projection.

Take feven ounces of this prepared Venm% and put it into a melting-Pot , and flow it in the higheft degree of fire that you can, in a wide Furnace : then put to it one ounce of fine Capel Lima ; and when it is melten , as afore- faid , put to it one ounce of your Medicine or Elixir, and nimbly (Ur it with a woodei* ftick ; butletnolroncomeuntoit: and when it is well corporated, then take it out, and caft it into an Ingot ; fo you have the beft Lnna in the World, to abide all Proofs and Examinations • and it is far more fine then that that comes out of the Earth. When you have finifhed this Work , give God thanks, and \& remember the poor.

I Tuui i* I tcvtL

Ghii

Experiments. 113

Chap. III.

Of the Properties of -the Salt, how it is the

Key of this Science.

MY beloved Son , although our Salt be the principal Key of this Science , yet can he not do any good , although he were made melting as Butter, without joyning with his Sol or Luna ; otherwife , there is no Generation : therefore he murt be prepared by himfelf , and then joyn unto him Sol or Luna , before you do any proje6tion upon any imperfeft Metal , to make them perfeA.

But when you have prepared him by himfelf, and after joyned fine fapelLunA with him, as fore written in the other Chapter • then mud the Body that you will project upon, be made clean as aforefaid , and thgn made living with Luna joyned thereto.

I For all unperfeft Bodies be called dead, faving Sol and Luna : they be called living, and full made ; and the fame living Body that we caft on him, or proje&ion withal, we call Featen or Fer- ment, and that doth make our iaiperfe& Body perfeft ; and therefore they muft be all three joyned together , or elfe there will be no Tranf- mutation. Thns I do (hut up the Compofition of the white Elixir, and now will begin with the red Elixir,

I Chap;

:t

;

n^ Tbilofophical

Chap. IV.

Teficheib) The Compofitioa of the red Elixir.

T Ake, in the Name of God , as much of our j prepared Salt as you think good, and diffolve it in this ftrong Water,

Take two parts of good Vitriol, and one part of fine Saltpeter ; and put fo much Salt int your Water as your Water will diffolve , thai there be no Feces remaining , but that it be dif-i iblved and turned into clear Water : then fine Soly that is paffed feven times through the Ce- ment^ which I will learn thee in the fixth Chap- ter : take one part of the Sol that is fo paffed through the Cement , and two parts of your prepared infuftble Salt ; but let your Salt 6e firft diffolved in the faid Water , as forefaid : then put in your S<?/, the which (hall diffolve well in the faid Water : and when your Sol is dif- folved, then fet ycur Glals upon warm Afhes ; ■ fo (hall it diffolve it the better into eleer Wa- ter.

Then put of the cleer Water in another Glafs apart , and put other of that firong Water upon your So// This do untill you have put it all over into clear Water in the other Glafs apart ; and that there doth not remain any fub- (iatjce in the bottom undiffolved.

Then work therewith as you have done in

the

Experiments. n?

he white work, and draw thePhlegmate out rvith Balmo in fuch a heat that there go none :>f the Spirits our, or any ftrength or fharpnefs, ind do ic in all manner , as in the white work ; tnd you rnuft nourifh the Medicine in his own natter, that is, with fine So!9 that you have paf- ed feven times through the Cement , making ic is thin as you can in Plates ; and feed yourMe- Hcine therewith,as much as it will eat ; and then etit on warm Afhes to congeal.

Then fet it to putrefie fifteen dayfrin Balneoy lot making your fire too great • for in the fifteen layes it ought to be diffolved : then congeal ic >n warm Afhes ; the which will be done in wenty four hours.

Do in all things as in the white Elixir afore- aid; for his firft Diffolution andCongealation loth fall upon one ounce for twenty eight:and fo or the doubling.

This Elixir ought not to be projected but upon ine L**<rprepared , as heareafter fhali be learn- ed ; to fay,That he have weight of Soly and deaf- lefs of found , like Saturn 5 fo that he fhall lack lothing but Colour and Fixation , the which >ur Elixir fliall give him, through the Grace of Bod.

is ctup;

lid Thilofopbical

Chap. V.

Teacbetb tbee to do projeftion with the red Elixir.

MY beloved Son,if thou wilt ttanfmute Lund into Sol, take fine Cape I Luna that is pre- pared, in the Chapter hereafter written, being, made without founding or ringing, and heavy in weight : the which I (hall learn thee.

Take feven ounces of this Lmay and melt it in a melting pot: and being well melten, put unto hone ounce of fine 5fl/that is pafled feven times through the Cement , as I will learn thee here- after : for there is no Sol in the World finer then; this, to ferve this Science.

Were it augmented in Colour by our Cement and when it is well melten together with the Luna , for it together with a wooden ftick ; but no Iron, for that will hurt the proje&ion. Theft two being well mingled together,put into it one ounce of your red Elixir well ftirred and mingleci together, as aforefaid, with a wooden ftick : theil take it out , and caft it into an Ingot , and yot (hall finde it to be fine Sol of twenty four Char r a&s , to pafs all proofs , more finer and bette then any that comes from the Mines. Give praii! to God for his wonderful works.

Chap

hxperimmts. 117

Chap. VI.

Doth teach the Compofition of the Cement for the Sol.

TAke,in the name of God, of the fineft Gold that you can get, one ounce ; and melt with it the reddeft Venus and faireft that you can get, one ounce : and when thefe two be well molten together, cart them into an Ingot . and when it is cold, beat it into thin Plates , no thicker then a Crown, and with a pair of Goldfmiths (beers cue them in pieces of thebignefs of a Royal of Plate, and put them into ftrong red Wine- vinegar, twenty four hours long : then take old 'Tiles that have lain a long time in the Sun , and make them into fubtil Powder , and fift them through a hairen fieve : then take common Sale that is once diffolved , diftilled by Filter , and once well-glowed in the fire , and beaten into a Powder , and paffed through a fieve : then take Homane Vitriol , and rubefie it as I (hall (hew thee hereafter : then take good red^wine-vi- negar, diftilled in a ftillatory of Giafs : and in that Vinegar , you (hall dhfolve your Vitriol : then diftil it by Filter, very cleer : then fet it on warm A(he.s to congeal or dry , that the Water may vapor away , and youfhall finde your Vi- triol to reft very fair in the bottom : then take anew earthen Pot or Pan, and put your Vitriol therein, and fee it on a cool 6re , and flir h wtll 1 3 with

n8 Tbilofophical

with a flick , and fo it fhall rubefie, and wax red as blood ; then let it cool, and make it into Powder, and pafs it through a Sieve : and in the lame Water , you (hall take Spanifti Green, or Verdigreece, and diflblve it in diftilled Vinegar : then vapor it , and dry it : then glow it in the fire, doing all things as the Vitriol aforefaid: then take as much Salt Armoniack, and diflblve it in red-wine-vinegar that is not diftilled : theUj take of all thefe fubftances of Powder alike much^ and fprinkle lightly over with the Vinegar , wherein the Salt Armoniack is diffolved ; anctt let there be as much of the Salt Armoniack dif.v folved , as there is of any of the other parts : then take a melting-Pot , and lay in the bot- 'ft torn of your Pot a good Ground of your Ce-^ ment, and cf your SolVenm Plates upon tb/ Cement ; fo that the Plates do not touch one another : then put more of your Cement- pow- der upon it , and fo Stratum fttpef Stratum , till that the Pot be full : let the uppermoft lain be Cemenr.

Then take a Tile-ftone, and make a Cover juft jdr for the mouth of the Pot, making a little hole in fvl the Cover, or elfe the Salt Armoniack will break ii your Pot, or blew up the Cover : and when you Soi have made this vent-hole , lute it faft together : f\ and when yourLutement is dry, fet it into your winde-Oven, and firfr give itafmali fire two hour3 long , the next two hours more Wronger y and thus Rill augment your fire , till that you fee, the Pot be glowing red; and fo let it ftand in the heat twenty four hours long : then let your O-

ven

experiments. up

ven cool ; and cake ic out , and open your Pot, and you (hall finde your Places augmented in [Colour.

The firft, my Son , if you will make this work in the Reverber Oven , fo make your fire : the firft half hour, fmall fire of coals ; and the other time, of dry wood, that may be without fmoke ; and work in the high Ovens a yard from the ground : and in this manner you muft cement: your Gold feven times, every time new Pots, and pew frefh Powder or Cement, every time melt- ing your Sol with newfma , and beating in Plates as aforelaid ; for in every Cement your ^emu (hall be confumed, and in ihe Sol no more hall remain of the Venn* , but the Tin&ure and Colour ; and your Sol (hall keepalwayes his firft weight, but his colour (hall be fo high, that none (hall judge it to be Sol ; and you (hall under- hand, that if there were fo much Lma> being ade without found, and augmented in weight, eked with the faid Sol , it would feem to be ne Sol. But I counfel thee not to do it ; for in ivers meltings , it will lofe its colo«r,and conu Jvhite as afore , becaufe your fixed Elixir,or me- dium, is not put to ic : therefore I counfel thee not to do ic ; for in the end it will (hame his tf after ; and peradventure bring him in perill of lis life, if he fliould fell it for fine Sol. There- ore look well to thy fclf , and fee that thou ufe lofaMfaood.

I 4 Chap;

!

no Fhilojophical

Chap. VII.

Teacheth thee to make thy Luna deaf of founds and heavy of weighty as Sol aforefaid.

JL ATVh*> fa A.)

MY beloved Son , Take Vimol^and diftil thereof a ftrong Water , and diffolve therein Salt Armoniack , as much as it can dif- folve; then fet it upon warm Aflhes,and put into it as much living Sulphur, as there is Salt Armo- niack ; and then (hake it together with your hands , flopping your Glafs well, that no Spirits go out , and fet it upon Afhes, and lute a Helm upon it with a recipient , and make a proper fire under it, till the Water be diftilled forth of the Glafs : then let it cool , and take away the Wa- ter , and fiop the pipe of the Helm fall, that no vent come forth , and make ftronger fire : then (hall the Sulphur and Salt Armoniack fublime up into the Helm ; keep it well : then take fine Cafe I Lma^ and melt it in a melting-Pot , and caft of that fublime upon your Lma three times, Birring it well together in the Pot with a wooden ftick, but no Iron : and this (hall make your Luna heavy of weight , and deaf of clank , like Sol: andyoufh-Uunderftand, that if you have ten Ounces of Luna , you (hall call: one Ounce of this fame^owder upon it, flirring it as aforefaid ; and if your L/.n,t be black, (as it will be) that is a good token : then caft it out in an Ingot, and quench it in Water; and it (hall corac blue:

then

Ibcn feeth ic in Goldfmkhs- water ( that is made (trith Tartar and Salt-common ) one hour long, |nd it (hall come whke as at firft : and thus is |our Luna prepared to receive your red Elixir.

Chap.VIII:

Ifeacheth thee the difference between the Elixir and the great Stone of the Philofophers.

\A Y beloved Son , Our Elixir white and red IVJL be called Stones and no Stones ; for in manner to ipeak , there is no Stone fo full made, as is our great Stone of the Philofophers , that is called (Major : for the great Stone is full made, and a perfe£t work ferving to all unperfeft Me- tals : for to tranfmute them into true fine Sol and Luna after the preparation hereof ; for if he be prepared into Lma , (o fhail he ever fet them into Luna : for every one of them doth engender his like : the which great Stone I will learn thee how thou fhalt make it, in his place hereafter, if it pleafe the Almighty God. The great Stone that doth ferve for the red work, or to Sol) is called, Lapis Philofopborum major ; and to the white, it is called Lunary ; but the Elixirs « .be called , Stones and no Stones ^ but we call them, Elixirs de Saley that is, Elixirs of Salt , becaufe they Jbe compounded of Salt , to fay , of great Bay-Sea-Salt , that is clarified by dhTolving and congealing, as is before learned ; and alfo with ♦another Salt that is called Saltpeter > the which

doth

U2 Thilojophical

doth conjoyn himfelf to the Salt that is in th<} depth of the Body of S<?/, when the Tindure i: given hicn by the Cement. And if the peopk in times part, had well underload the meaning of this Salt , they had come to the end of theii work : but for lack of undemanding, they have changed the words of the Phiiofophers , that fay , Our Stone is Stone and no Stone > for they have meant the Elixirs, the which the unlearne d have noc underlfood ; and they have named ic their fait, that is our Salt of Nature that we have ipoken of before : our Salt of Wifdom, that is, when ic is prepared : our Menftruum ; for with the fame our Medicine is nouriftied, as the Child is in the Mothers womoe. They call it alfo , A King, and that noble Salt, and that living Water,! or Oyl of Grace, and the molt precious Water of the moli iecrets , and the molt coming , the which ditfolveth Mercury ; the fame is the Mer- caryo? the Phiiofophers : and he diffolvech all Bodies of Metals , and it is a Medicine, and the fitft beginning of the Stone ; and it is living Wa- ter and living Sulphur; he h the Lord and Matter of all Salts , and without him the other have no full power to make perfect any thing ; he doth bindc andunbinde ; he doth joyn the Man with the Wife ; he doth change one kirrde with ano- ther, and mikes of Bodies, Spirits; and of Spi- rits, Bodies : and this maft all be compounded, andanke pcrfe& the Phiiofophers Gone.

\

Char;-

Experiments. iz$

Chap. IX.

Teach eth) That our Sol and Luna is living, and the Sol andLuna of the Mines he dead.

Y Son,you (lull understand , That our Sol and Luna be living , and thefe that are of he Mines are dead ; and therefore the Sol of he Earth is not fo good as our S<?/that is made >y this Science ; for our So/ hath in him three hings , (to fay) a Soul ', a Body, and a Spirit : vithouc the which three things, there can no Tranfmutation be made , the which one alone annot do ; therefore they mull be all three to- gether^ any good fhould be done. And under- fond , That no man can do any Tranfmutation with the corruption of the perfect Bodies, that is Sol and Luna : for we take the Spirit of the perfeft Bodies , through our Sperm , or our ftrong Water, and this fame Spirits is holden in cur Water, that is,our diflblved Salt, which is our menftruum: for where the Mother hath re- ceived the Seed, that is, the Sperm of the unper- fe& Bodies with her menftruum into her Body ; fo fhali it receive no life before the Soul come into its fo do we as Nature doth ask,we conjoyn this together, till he come to cleer Water with- out Peces, and then we draw out the fimple Phlegmate in Balneo or Afhes • and after, that we put in the S$ul , or neurtth it with Sol or l****

124 Thilojophteal

According to the making of your Medicine, thet , be they ready to ingender her like j andther^ we do put them in putrefa&ion the time afore^ written : then is the Spirit and the Soul per- ® fe&ly made , and the copulation is done ; anc ^ then, when that we (hall do proje&ion upon any fC unperfe&Body or Metal fo called , then thi^ Spirit or Medicine doth take to him a Body :^ and then it is called a Spirit, a Soul, and a Body* & which is then living.

And this Inftru&ion (my beloved Son ) lit give to thee , that thou maift know , that our Sol and Lma is living , and thofe in the Earth or Mines be dead : and alfo, that thou maift know, that our Elixir white or red , are not other then fpiritual,or a Spiritithe which, when it is cz(\ up- on a dead body with the Soul, it is made living. ; that fame then is multiplied and augmented in goodnefs and perfections ; and in him is fulfil- led that through accident , which in the Earth ic did lack ; (to fay) that fcknefs which is got in the earth , is taken away through our Medicine or Elixir red or white : the which we do in this manner; We take, in the Name of God , our Earth or Metal, that is, an unperfeft Body, and melt it with a perfect Body or Corpwy the which is our Leaven, with the which we do prepare our pafte or dough ; and then we caft upon it our Elixir , the which is our Spirit ; thewhich then doth make it perfe& , and a living Body or Metal: but the great Stone of the Philofo- phers , the which I will learn thee hereafter to compound it, and perfectly to make ic; the

which

Experiments. 125

;bich is of fo great ftrength and power, that be e a dead Body or Metal , doth not onely make iving and perfe& , but alfo maketh of the fame vletal Medicine, totranfmute any other onper- e& Metal into a perfect ; and it doth the fame n the twinckling of an eye : fo that he may be railed, and is , The Riches of the whole World, ierewithall do we conclude the firft Part of his Bock, to fay,The Compofition of the Elixirs yhite and red.

The

n6

-*■*.

The true

COMPOSITION

OF

The Great Stone

OF THE

PHILOSOPHERS.

Part II.

Chap. I.

MY beloved Son , I here before opened unto thee the Truth , without leaving any thing needful to be known of the Cotnpofnion of the Elixirs, the which is the beginning and entrance into the Great Stone of the Philofophcrs ; and this Stone doth con- vert all Metals unperfeft, into perfeft Metals of Sol% of twenty four Caracks fine ; the Metal be- ing melted that you will transform: andthea

caft

al

Experiments. nj

jftupon him his Leaven, that i?5 Gold , when lac your Stone is made in the red work , and liat Gold muft be cemented as aforefaid in the Iher Book, and augmented in colour ; that is^ I you will melt a hundred ounces of unperfect letal , then caft upon it Ferment or Leaven, inich is Gold ; liir it well together , and put s> more but one ounce cf Gold to the Mafs of fetal ; and then being well molten , and incor- porated together, caft no more but the quantity j a Peafe or Fitch of the red Stone upon it : fo Hill you fee, that this Stone (hall turn this |afs of Metal , or hundred ounces , into the heft Gold that may be in the World, of twenty hur cara&s fine, and (ball pafs all the proofs that ;en can do upon it, for better then that thac toth come out of the Mines. And you frail pderftand that our Elixirs that we have before r tentioned , are not come to their full perfe&i- n , but it is the beginning of the white and bd Gone of the Philofophers : but if you will 'lake it perfect , as hereafter I fhall learn you, ! le white (hall transform all Metals into Silver, [ke as of the red is declared; that is to fay, ■hen you have melten the Metal that you will transform , then you muft caft into it one ounce f fine CfipelLnfta , that you have made deaf of Mind, and heavy of weight , as it is before de- clared in the other Book ; and when you have [fell mingled them together with a ftick,then caft ji to th© greatnefs of a Peafe of your white tone, and you (hail finde it transformed into try fine Lhm* , better then any t hat ccrres out \ of

l8 Tbilofophical

of the Earth : and if in cafe you did caft onef) ounce of your white Scone or of your red upon31 a hundred ounces of unperfeft Merals ; fo fhalF that be transformed Into the Elixir orMedi-[? cine, wherewith you tmy transform all unper-"j fe& Metals into perfect Luna or Sol, after the" beginning of your work : for your white dotb s engender nothing but Lm<* , and your red no- * thing but Sol, and his proje&ion one upon a '! thoufand : that is to fay, if you will melt a thou- jf fand ounces of unperfe6t Metals, you need pur to it no more then one ounce of this fame laft^ Medicine, and it (hall fet it over into perfe&K LunAQtSoly better then any that comes outolt;f the Earth, to pafs all proofs and examinations *> that may be done upon it. And herein now fol-i lowing,I will learn thee the compofition of bott w thefe Stones to the red and white : and I will® firft be°in with the red,and then with the white^ which is called Lunaris.

Chap. II.

Tin Elixir of li

THou (halt take (my beloved Son) the red E- lixir here before written , and fet it in pu- trefaction the time of forty dayes ; fo that yom jj fire be alwayes of one heat, and not hotter one! time then another, night and day : and the fa mx&bcdoaciu BslntoAfdrU: this lime being i

ended,!

Experiments. u<?

Inded , you (hall findc your Elixir to be dif- blf cd into clcer Water , li that you have kept the fire all the time of one heat : and your Elixir I >eing diffblved into cleer Water, then fhall you - liffolve therein Mercury that is i'ublimed * as I trill learn thee hereafter ; and diflblve therein \ s much of the fnblimed Mercury , as the Elixir Lioth weigh: and fee well hereto, that the Spirits Jy not out as neer as you can : then (hake it ibfe- |y between your hands, without opening the piafs ; and take heed that your Glafs break not through the force of the Spirits; and lute the Mouth of the Glafs fad wich Lutement that is ilrong , that it may endure the warmth of Bal- neum , without opening : the which I will learn iihee hereafter in a Chapter apart ; and when the Mitemcnt is very dry,then fet the Glafs in Balneoy o putrefie the time of forty dayes, as aferefaid, ioldingthe fire of one heat continually the time )f forty dayes and nights as aforefaid. The orty dayes being ended, look if all be diffblved; f it benot,let it ftand longer till it be diffolved; md being all duTolved,let the Balneum cool: and n any cafe, fee you take it not out hot, left your Slafs break : then take it out,and dry your Glafs, tnd fet it upon Afhes to congeal , and make your i&fhes no hotter then you can fuffer your finger 10 i:hruft it down to the bottom ; anoMet it fo ftand :hetimeof twelve dayes , without taking any :hing out of it ; but let it remain alwayes in that Glafs wherein it was putrefied : and fee well to it, that the Lutement be not broken in any place • if it be,lutc k well again, that the Spirits

K %

?

130 Thilofophical

flie not out : and the twelve hours being ended, it ought to be congealed , if your fire be well governed ; if it be not, let it (iand longer, till it be congealed : and when ic is congealed, then is the Stone fully made,and perfectly ended ,andit is the riches of the whole world. God grant that you may obtain it, and give unto Almighty God a good reckningof the health of thy Soul, &c.

My Son, thou (halt underftand that Mercury is called a Fountain , and the firft matter of all £ Metals i as in Truth it is, and therefore cannot ||t; be done any great Tranfmutation, without Mer- cury be joyned therewith : there may be made fmall Augmentations and Tranfmutations,like as we have fpoken before in our Elixir ; but they cannot do any high proje&ion , for they do but one upon feven:but when Mercury is put thereto 9 and fo perfe&ly made,it doth projeSion in wfini- tuwy as here before is written : whereby ikdoth appear, that the Mercury is, as aforefaid, the be- ginning & eff-fpring of all Metals. And therefore, my Son,we take the Elixir,and mingle therewith our purified Mercury , and conjoyn thefe toge ther with our purified Salt, which is our Sperm fo be they fo faft bound together , that now, nor never, can they be parted afunder , for they do clafpe and ihclofe together , fo friendly as doth the Body andthe Soul, if fo be ye do it as we have written it. And when thefe three, to fay, Sol) that is', Ferment , with the Salt and the Ublercury , ^e joyned together , then do they make perfeft all things they be caft upon , not ^ onely it doth take away the ficknefcof the Mb- .

cai

ic

0

B

6

» to

or

Experiments. i^£

tal , and doth heal it ; but it heals all Incon- leniencies of mens Bodies ; as one grain of this Stone, being drunk with Wine, being. made hot , and chen the party to go to a warntV bed , and to fweat. , which (hall be incontinent, like as though he did lie in Water, and in three dayes he (hall be made whole of what ficknefs foever he have. Therefore, he may think hini- felf happy in this world, that hath gotten him :his Treafure, and well can keep it fecret , and afe ic godly to the help of the poor ; for they 5e not all Matters, that do advance themfeives in this Science to do many things : fcr many are cal» W, bntfew are chosen.

There be many that bufie themfeives in this Science , but very few- that do bring it to a right :nd : for it may be that it is not God's will : but :hou , my Son , have thou no donbt, fo long as :hou follower! theie Precepts that I have left :"hee written in this Treatife , and continue thy elf alwayes in labour and exercife , and thon halt foon come to a perfe& end of it, if it pleafc MmightyGod : for I have written thee in this Science , the right Treatife and Truth, as I have wrought it with my own hands , and brought it o a perfect end , as many people do know it in :his City of Paris, although I have alwayes kept t from thee till now : that have I done for cer- ain caufes that I will not open. Therefore :omfort thy felf, and be patient , and think not :hy labour long ; for by diligent labour thou &alt come to the end fooner : with ftudying and fading there can come Bone of the knowledge

K2 of

iyi Thilofopbical

of this Science 5 but onely by labour : the ftudy doth give a mm how to work, and how he (hall follow Nature in his working: for the end and profit of this Science , is the handy-work : for a Cobler cannot fet a piece on his fliooe with I reading, but he muft put his hands to it , and - labour to bring it to a pcrfefl end.

Cm ap, III.

Teacheth, tofublime Mercury tc the red Elixir.

MY beloved Son , take one pound of Mcr- r* furj/ , one pond of Roman Vitriol, and:? break the Vitriol to powder ; and then take one r pound of common Salt that is two times dif«^: folved and dirtillcd by Filter,and vapoured and - calcined as aforefaid is learned ; and then break , ; them to powder in a ftone-Mortcr : occupy nci; Iron or Metal in this work ; for if you fhall , ilpl will mar it : and when that your iMercmrjW mingled with the other water , with continua n ftirring, that you fee the Mercury no more , bu',l: that he is wholly loft in the other fubftance, the#( fhall you make moift with red- wine-vinegar, bu'P0 not too much $ and dry it then by the fire [A or by the San ; then nut the fame in Glafs to fublime, that is well luted beneath, a: fetitonwartnafhes, and fo long let your Gi remain open : and when you fee the mouth your Glafs to look white in the fablimation , ©

tha

Experiments. 133

:hat yotjr CMercurj begin to flie up, then take a Mncn cloath filled with Gotten- wool, and herewith you (hall flop the hole above,as furely is you can ; but youiGlafs muft be fomewhac high , that the clou: with the Cotten that is in [he mouth of che Glafs do not burn, for then Lyou (hall confume your (topple : and then the [.•31afs is well (topped : fo augment your fire a lit* tie two hours long : and then four hours greater; , md at the laft fo great as your Glafs will joear without melting j and fo hold your fire in khat degree four hours long: then let it cool; kind when your Oven and Glafs is cooled, then \ ;ake it out , and break it open , and you (hall finde your ^Mercury above in the Helm as [white as Snow ; and fome part (hall lie below hpon the Feces, very fair and white: then Lake it up as clean as you can , both that which I is flown up , and that that lies in the bottom on |ihe Feces.

Now to know whether that you have done right or no , take the iMercftry fo fublimed, ind weigh it, and fee what is diminifliedof the irft weight: for if it be truelydone, it will ^ack but one ounce in the pound weight . if ic l^ant more, it is not well done : for you i have made your fire at the firft too great, or at the laft 100 fmall.

And if at the firft your fire were too ftrong, then is there of your iMercmj flown awaj with die moifturt, fothat the weight comes tort : and if at the later end your fire were too great , is way be that your Glafs is ^ JJcta

134- Thlojefhtcal

crackt with the force of the fire, and then is youf fublimation loft : and if at the laft your fire were too fmall , then is there of your cfl&r- cttrj on the Feces , and thereby is your weight diminifhed.

Thus fhall you underftand,that I have found it, that there is but one ounce lacking in a pound weighty being rightly fublimed.

Then take frefh powder of Vitriol, &c. and mingle your'fnblimated ^Mercury herewith, as you have done before , and fublime it again : and thi? muft you do feven times in all points, as before, or at the firft ; and in every fublimation after the firft, it fhall diminifh one quartet of an ounce, if you have done it right as aforefaid, and no more : and when it 'is iublimed in thi> man- ner as aforefaid , then it is ready to put into j^ the red Elixir, to make the Philofophers (tone therewith.

Chap. IV.

Teachetb thee to fublime Mercury to the white Elixir..

MY beloved Son, you fhall underftand, that the Sublimation of ^Mercury , ferfring co the white Stone , is done as the other before in the third Chapter : for the red Stone, there t$ too other difference, but that you muft pot in the place of Vitriol, Roch-Allom, Saltpeter, and prepared Salt, as aforefaid and written 5 and do

in

Experiments. 135

in all points as in the third Chapter, unto feven times : and then is your Mercury ready and per- fect to put to your Elixir, to make the white .Stone of the Philofophers.

Chap. V.

Teach eth thee to prepare tie white Sio-^e upn all bodies'.

MY beloved Son , you (hall take , in the Name of God , your white Elixir , and fet ic in Balneo to putrefie, the fpace of fourteen dayes and nights • and in that fpace, your Elixir (hall be diffolyed into cleer Water , if that you have governed your fire all the while in like -warmth , or elie it muft ftand longer until it be diffolved without Feces : then put of your fub- limated Mercwy thereto, fo much as your Elixir doth weigh. _^_* «^

Then take it , and fhaSe it proper ly Be tw eeh your hands y tKaTy^SrGlafs bfeaks not? by the force of the Spirit 5 and look well to your Glafs before you do (hake it, that it be well luted or flopped, that the Spirits by no means fly out % fat if they do, it wiirmaTyoTiTwork.

This done, you (ball fet it well luted with the Lutement I have fpoken of in the red Elixir, and fet it to putrefie in Balneo forty days, as you;have done in the third Elixir or Stone , and inttut time>wili be diffoked , if that your fire be all that time well governed ; for it luth much m

K 4 the

\7fi Thilofopbical

the government of the fire : and when it is well ihr diffolved, fet it to congeal as you had in the red $ Stone,& it (hall be congealed in twelve days into ft the white Stone of the Philofophers : the which for will tranfmute all imperfe& bodies into perfect p Lwuty to pafs all proofs and examinations, and it P ftiall be better and more finer Luna, then any B that comes out of the Mines,

Chap. VI.

Qdcbetb thee to make the Lutement fetyja^ to theft ivorks.

NO w to make the Lutement, fo often fpokeh of before , that (hall not untemper in the moifture and warmth of Water, and alibianothcr Lutement that iTiall keep your Glaffes from breaking in the fire ; for it muft hold againft tffe heat of the fire 5 and in thefirft place you ftiall take the white of Eggsfo much as you (hall need, ^ and beaithem till they be all thin as water; then let ic through a ipunge with yourhand,till that it be deer as Fountain- water : of this fame take as much as (hall be needful to temper the powders j^ hereafter;take the Flower crthe Meal that hang- J ech or fiicketh about the walls of the Mill or fc Backhoufe , commonly called in places beyond h the Seas, Stuff-Meal, eleven ounces^ Boj-Armo- [\, niack one g»i^rter nf fl"qpra;e* Stntm^aMu h an_half quarter of an ounce, white hardCheefet \

me. parings bcin^ done orrl,one'ounce :"V>feat all ■thefe into powder, and fcarfe them finely

through

experiments. 137

Through a Sieve of Hair, & temper them with the i hites of Eggs,and there withal lute your Glaffes vith Linen-clouts clipped in this Luternent , in •brm of a plaifter,& fo bound about the helm and rnouth of your Glaffes,8c let it dry by it (t\f. This luternent doth fcrve to lute the Helms upon the liftil ling-Pots • and alfo to lute the Glaffes that t ou do putrefie in,anddiffolve;& alfo to congeal. And now to the other Luternent fpoken of jefore , that doth ferve to lute your Glaffes, to defend them from great heat of fire , that they hall noc break nor melt • for then were your ?nrork loft : you (hall take to this Luternent pood IfatPo^earth , whereof the Potter doth make his Pots , and mix with it a little Sanguispra- fr#»*S Bol'j4rmowackj> as much as the half of the (feafrh ot trie softer doth come unto ; and un- tucked ^ime as much as half the Potters Earth ; pake all tfaefe into fine powder apart by them- rCelves, an<l then temper them all together with twhitesof Eggs svellbeaten; 8c the Mood ofQjccn [alike much , ©rlfybu cannot get Ox-blood, you fci lv take Sheeps-blood; then take Linen-clouts, and icrape off the]Lintr till you have as much is hhe7W-^|pfli/*gl> doth weigh, and then mingle f them , and temper them all together , and beat rthem with a piece of board, till that it be as fofc h$ fine Pafte or dough • and with this Luternent^ you (hall lute your fublimations under that | part that ftandeth in the fire • and alfo your Glaffes wherein you diftil your ftrong Waters; for it will defend them from melting and break- ing ; and ufe k to all things that you do occupy

in

i$5 ThiloJopbiCAl

in great fire : for you cannot have a better ther ? this , to defend youGiaffes again!* the force o\° the fire. Now I have written you enough oMs the Lutements : and in this Chapter I will write av in brief a part of Philofophy zs well moral as off mini. &

UK

Chap. VII. P

hi Teacheth thee under jl and Pbilofophyy as well i %

moral as natural. en

\A Y Son , I have given thee to understand it of this Book; and declared all the Philofo* nt phy, as well to the red as to the whiceyfo Fighjdl] and fim-ple as poffibly I may : for if I could hav$ ihi lefc to thee any briefer,I would-not-:- forifahac 1m fhould , thou couldrt never have underftood it and therefore I have thought it good"Rflfhew*i|fc thee in plain Words ancMleafons, tdideCfaHCthc fame, tp make thee perfectly to underhand ten: make this work, that thou flhouldft impute nc% fault to me, if that thou (houldft not come to the right knowledge of this Science ; but the fauli |u fhojjld be in thy felf , and in nb~man elTe : for I have written it in right 'arid plain Words and Reafons : but take heed that thou be not as many men be, that do think themfelves Matters of all Sciences., when that they never faw th« Door wherein the Science was learned : but I would have thee ufe thy felf to reading and ftu- dying of this.Book,tnd print all thefeReafqns in fhy heart , and then thou rmift go co work wWl

jii

experiments. 139

• good and glad courage, and God will blefs thy

I f:oceeding v if thou wilt ferve him and pray to

I ,im , as it is thy duty to do ; and alfo thou mutt

I ive a diligent care to keep God 's Command*

A ients : for as I have often faid , with bodily

fains taking, and diligent labour, both of thy

|ody and minde, thou (halt bring this Stone to

perfect end : for the Philofophers have hidden

nis Science, and have written it very darkly, and

ave coloured it over with many parables & dark

sntences , that it is almoit impoffibleto come

o the undemanding of them, without great

nftrucYions of others , Matters of this Science,

)r die through the great gift of God. Therefore

have written this Book, that thou maift learn

:he Words and Reafons that I do leave after

Tie , to the end , that thou (halt not fall into

my error , but to come to the right end of this

Science.

My Son, thou fhalc underftand, that there be many Books (written by thePhilofophers) re- gaining after their deaths ; of the which they aave written the Truth, but in a very dark fenfe » here in one word, there in another Tthe which have brought divers men unto great errors, thinking they did underhand the meaning very well,when they were furtbeft from it.Therefore, my beloved Son , through the great love I have to .thee, I have thought it good co open this Sci- ence unto thee, that thou mayft take heed of the dark fayings of the Philofophers, & that thou do exercifitttiy felf » this Book : for if thou do-ob- ftty&lfcfepy precepts , yon (hall not come to.

«ny

u|.o Philojophical

any error. But I defire thee upon the falvation of thy Soul , that thou do not forget the poor ; and in lay cafe to look well to thy felf, chac thou do not difclofe the fecrets of this Science to any covetous worldly man • for if thou do, it will turn to thy hurt : for I have declared to thee , as I trufl to be faved , upon my Salvation, the thing that my eyes have feen , and my hands have wrought, and my fingers have pulled forth : and I have written this Book with my own L\ hand, and fee to my name , as I did lie on my ic death in the yeer 1431. May 7th.

fohannes Strangunere.

To draw the Spirits out of the fonder ov* Body or Earth by Distillation.

V£ Ake a great many plates of new Lead of the quantity of Groats, as thin as a peny- and hang them on a thred, or fmali Wy re , and fill a Body of Glafs full of tnem , and faftea the Thred above the mouth of the Veffel : fet there- on a Head, and lute it fad and furcly , and nut thereto a Reccptory, and put it in a Furnace with as cafie a heat, that you may alwayes foffcr your hand under the bottom thereof, and water foall diftil every day from it , fair andclecr as Rofc» wacerundat the laft,thc ftidPltws will wax foft,

as I,

Experiments. 14.1

they were mire , and fall down to the bot-

: and then take the Glafs, fet it in Bafae* or

imoEqHtno) until the mire be dffolved into

lack Pitch-Liquor : then put it into your Philo-

jphers Veffel , and mix it , and continue it in

afiefire, that it may by Circulation become a

rry earth as black as a Raven, which afterwards

hall wax as white z$ Snow ; the which is the

Vhite Elixir; the which you QaalJ take from the

:eces that lie there-under : for as Pbilofophers

. ay , Totum quod [tibtile eft afcendit furfur* in vafe9

\H9<L ffifftttn nMntt in f undo.

Then put the white inaFixatory luted up, md continue it with more Fire or heat , till it 3e firft gray , and after that citrine as a yellow Flower ; and finally, purple-red , the which is the great Elixir that fixeth all Amalgems into Medicine, which altereth all Bodies bto Sol and Luna*

In the Name of God5 Amen. Upon Saturn^ PbHofopberof Holland.

UNderftand , That out of Lead comes the Scone called Lapis 'Pbilolcphorum : and therefore , when he is throughly made, he doth proje&ion as well in a mans body as without, of all difeafes that come to man , as upon Me- tals ; and in many vegetable Books , is no greater fecrct then this is « for we fade not in * Gold

Dd

14.Z Thilofophical

Gold a like perfection as we finde in Lead : for f Lead is in his inner part Sol ; and therefore do f all Philoibphers agree: for he lacketh nothing ] die, but that his fuperfluity be taken away from lf him, and thai isfcisuncleanneis: therefore make fj him clean, and turn his inward part out, and that is his crudenefs • and then is he Sol: for vulgar Sol cannot be fo lightly as Lead; for Lead will quick- ly be diflolved and congealed, and he fuffers his le< Mercury quickly to be drawn from him • & that Mercury which is drawn from him , if it be well clariSed and iublimed , as the ufe is to fublirne :a Mercury;! tell you, That that Mercury is as good m as thzMercury drawn from the Sun in all manner :c of works, and it is better in our work then the ™ Mercury of Sol. Alfo, if you fhould take Mer- cury out of Sol, you (hould be contained to o- pen the body of Sol for the fpace of. one whole yeer , before the faid Mercury of a body could be drawn or come out of Le;d : you may draw out this Mercury in fourteen dayes , and it is ay good as the other : and if you (hould come to make a work of Sol, alwayes yoa mufthetwo yeers about it , to do it well ; but of Lead you may perfect it in thirty or two and thirty weeks at the moft, and then be fully ended : the one is as good as the other, and Lead colts little or nothing, and is a fhorter work , and is lefs la- bor,and of one goodnefs,and is truth *. therefore print this in thy heart, and ferve God. The fame Lead is called of the Philofophers Sol , whereof they had the name until this day, and have kept h fecrec : for if the thing w«reknow&, many

would

pi

::

Experiments. 14.3

ould work it , and the thing would be com- iion : for the work is friort, and eafie, and little T value; and therefore was it kept lecret,thac le name might be known, left it might have i)me to the hands of wkked men, and ib much urm might have come thereby, and this holy pence which God hath given to thofe that love tad fervehim, (hould to wicked perfons be a ueans of greater wickednefs. As concerning the lead of So/ and £#/7d,they havefet three GlafTes, Ind all is Lcad,but there is no need to joyne any ) range thing, but that onely which cometh from tin ; neither is there any man fo poor, but that |'c may be able to compafs this work : for you •lake of the Salt of Lead with little labour Lmay :nd with a little longer time Sol9 and then they hay proceed to make the PhilofophersLead.And jbis is altogether concluded in Lead, as much as [i neceffary for us ; for in him is the perfect Mer- \ury^ and in him are all the colours in the world, eVhich (hall (lie w it felf openly ; for in him is the ijrue blacknefs , whitenefs and rednefs : he is tx>tiderous , and in him is the perfect red and fivhite bodies : look and take example,of all im- perfect things tfce eye of man cannot abide or Bear, how little foever , though fmaller then a bote, yet it will trouble a mans eye terribly : put if you cake Lead clean fcraped , and made I he bignefs of a Bean, and put it in your eye , ic i vill neither pain you,or harm you at all, and that jis,becatifeitsuttcrmoft is not perfect like Sol oz 'other pretious Stones, that come out of ?aradifey running in the flream : and in like manner S<?/, I that

i/j.^- Thilojophical

that io him is , you may well perceive by the fi. militude and many other more, That Lead is out Philofophers Mercury^owz Laton : for out of it is drawn ia (hort time, our Mercury and our Philo* fophers Mercur^thu is,our golden^tfr^nr^with little labor,little cunning,and little charge. And therefore I charge you, and all of you,that know his name , to keep his name fecret : for if men knew it, much milchief and trouble would be done. And therefore you (hall know our Lead by its hidden name, and vou (hall know that the water wherein our Lead (hall be wa(hed vinegar. This is the Philofophers Stone whereof all the Philofophers have written many dark Books, but there are divers and many works in the Mineral Lead*

An

4

Experiments. 14.$

AnAbftraffc out of

Dodtor Homodlm M S*

lDe Elixir folk Medicina unwerfali.

Of the Tincture of Gold> fe-

parated from its body, and turn- ed to a Celeftial and Spiritual Nature , called a Quinteffencc within the Anrnnt Fotabile.

Chap. I.

Of the Matter of the Kniverfd Medicine.

Since God bath created alt things for mans ufe,and chat in all vegctable,animal and mi- neral creatures, there is fome vertue cc be aelpful to humane difeafes;I thought there might dc fomething among thefe of incorruptible Na- ture, which byic felf might cure all Difeafes, *nd prolong the life of man to a long age, keep-

L ing

\J±6 Thilofopbical

log his humours in a mod equal temperament and by confequence , this thing muft be of ic )iii felf moft equally tempered of the four Ele- ments. Now feeking this thing in the Vegetables of A- nimals,I found it not,becauie that in all of them, there is fome one humonr predominant over the reft a&ively or paffively : Therefore I turned to Minerals or Metal ; but I found the Calx and C*lcanth , and other things , being reduced to Aflhes, could not be brought back again to their former bodies : And fo I conclude , There was no perfeft natural compofuion in them. And finding the perfect Metals thus reducible again to their own bodies , I perceived that in them was fome firmer compofuion then in other things : yet are in all alike ; for all the reft of the Metals, except Gold, by a ftrong Combu- ftion , will be converted into drofs and fmoke ; but Gold is no whit the worfe after all Trials : then I concluded, That it was among all the reft incorruptible ; and by confequence, of a moft equal temperament and compofuion of Ele- ments.

And when I underftood by <Jtf*rfillU joyning with Metals, could generate, I concluded, That In Gold there was a generative and regene- rative venue : but becaufe I found the matter^, of Metals to be very grofs and earthy, and that thereby this vertue was oppreffed and kept , in- fomuch that it could not work , until it was de- id reel from the hands of its bodily Impri- ± r, T judged, That is was needful to open,^,

mine,

Experiments. 14.7

:rifie, and diflblvc the body, that the vertue ight a&uate. Whence I concluded at laft thus : hacGold was the remote matter whereof the aiverfal Medicine was to be made up , and lat the Spirit of Gold and Lune , which is alfo died Lune Quinteffence,is the matter whereof is made up*

Chap, II.

1 H ovo to make the Mcnftruum^ andhowto circulate it;

^Ince I have declared heretofore the matter

J of the Univerfal Medicine, confequentlyl

\> ill open the way how to make the vegetable

MenttrMm, and how to circulate ir, that it

'.ay be reduced into Quinteffence : by that

leans of this iMenUrnum, the true preparation

I made,that is alfo a Phyfical preparation^© wit,

tabution , Putrefa&ion, Overflowing , Exube-

ition. Multiplication and Rectification ; and

; iat with the Confervative of the former Vege-

ible, and with the Multiplication of the

>rce: for this is the CMenHruum or Vegetable

fater, which %aymm<iM fpeaketh of in this

odicil.

Therefore Silver and Gold are diffolved in ■idic'al things of their own kinde, and 10 icj compound of the Soul of the Arc : fo* 'tis i§ the matter by which all incurable Dif- Iffj Li eafcs

4-8 Tkilofophical

cases arc cured under the confervation of their own Nature.

Therefore this is the way to prepare it :

Gather the Vegetable Lunary of the Philofo- phers , in the time when the height of Goffer doth rule, which is the feventh and the firft day of the Reign of Corrocay, the Minifterial Spirit of the fame heighten the fixth rank,and laft three hours before noon, and as many afternoon: when the day is fair , and the sky is cleer, then take the Lunary it felf, pure and uncorrupted, with its grains, and bray it, and put it in earthen Veffeis which are new and well glafled , and which are moft carefully covered to befetina moft cold place, and there to be left a whole month, or thereabouts.

After .which time, opening your Vcffels, you fliall finde in the bottom of each of them , the fap of Lunary , which will fend forth a moft fweet favour : take it and put it in another moft clean Veffel from the Feces : and then again yon muft pour it upon its Feces , and fet it a gain , as before , for the fpace of eight dayes in a cold place. After which tiwe , it muft be poured out again into another Veffel : and from thence again it muft be joyned to its Feces : which third time it will be done juft the lame manner as thefecond. And fo you (hall have the fap of Lunary prepared in the befl fafliion.

But becaufe lunary is not found everywhere! therefore, if when you fliall have ceed of k, and it cannot be found, you (hall take

the

it

i:

experiments. 14.9

he fapof it, prepared in the common fafhi- >d , and called by B^aymttnd) Black baker, then )lack ; but take of the belt : then pcur it ei- iher way prepared into a Glafs- Cucurbire, Ivbich is a Great, or into a Peliican-VefTcl, [With handles on both fides , which is called (Circulatory , and put the Veflel ; moft care- i ully (hut in a Phyfical Vaporary , and let it inhere be circulated a whole Month : which f:ime paft , take away the blind Head , put on iLembeck, and joyn a Recipient to it; and :he Joynts being well (hut up , diftil in Bal- ne& UWarid , a moli fubtil Spirit from it ; which being firft lifted up on high , is turn- ed into the fimilitude of lweat, which makech 110 veins : but when the Phlegm (hall begin to 'diftil like rain , take away the Cucurbite with the Recipient, and let it cool.

This being done, transfufe the Spirit from ;the Recipient into the Cucurbite of Glafs : jLoofe then the firft, and putting on the Limbecks Head , diftil it in Balneo <Jtfari<e , |with a moft eafie fire, till the Spirit be ['gone out, the Phlegm remaining in the Cu- curbite.

Now when the whole Spirit is purified from the Phlegm, and reSifiecJ,, and di- JftiUcd in a Recipient 3 The Veffel being cool- ed, pour out the Phlegm from the Cucurbite, [ how little loever it be : then pour in again into the lame Cucurbite, the Spirit ; and then di&il again in Baine* with a moft eafie Fire, as

L 3 <rf

i$o Thilofophical

of the fame , as is beforefaid , fo ofc till the ^ Spirit be wholly purified from the Phlegm , and :l perfe&ly re&ifted : which Spirit fo prepared, ™ if it be fired, will notieave any work of moitture '} behinde it ; nay, it willbtarn a cloth, being made 'J well, and put into it. a

And hitherto have I imparted unto thee the K beft manner of drawing out the Spirit from « the Lunary : which Spirit being (hut up moft fj carefully in a Glafs , muft be let in a cold place : P through the Glafs (hue, it will vanifti away : it « is fubtil and heavenly, though the other part of the tJMenftruum or Earth of the fame thing be prepared : which then being copulated with it? own Spirit,maketh the vegetable Menftrmnty which is the Bafis and chief Foundation of Spa- gyrical preparations.

Therefore the way to prepare the Earth is thus :

After that the Spirit is drawn out by Diftilla- tion, and feparated from the Lunary, you muft take the Cucurbit e , wherein the fap of the lame thing was beft , and put it into the Bahteo cJWkr/rf , and diftil it with a gentle fire , till all the Phlegm be gone out • which you fliall know by this , that in the degree of heat, there (hill nothing more fall in the Recipient , and the matter in the bottom of the Veffd,fhall be funk $Jown , like Honey, or melted Pitch.

Then having the Recipient , pour fo much

m

Experiments. 151

,)f the Phlegm of the fame thing upon the >icr-

,urial part,that it fwim above at leaft four fingers

breadth ; and with a wooden ipattle moving

,he Phlegm with the thick matter , wherein

Is the potential Odercury, and alfo the Sulphur

vegetable of Nature ; mix them, and when the

t^hlegm (hall have drawn its Tinaure out into

ts felf, fuffer it to reft a little. Then after-

vard pour out the colourated Phlegm , but wa-

ily , left that the Mercurial part be poured out

With it,which doth not ferve to our ufe, but only

:o the Tin&ure of the Merenties , as Raymond

aith in the Book of ^Mercury.

Here muft be noted, We have called the thick Water in the bottom of theGlafs, like unto molten Pitch, Mercurial; and alfo Sulphurial, ^ecaufe that the Sulphur of Nature is poten- tially hidden in it ; which, when any will draw !>ut of it , it is altogether neceffary , that it, or rather the pureft of it, be feparated from the im- pure, and be brought to the firft Mercury of the Philofophers : and then converted into the Sul- ;phur of Nature, as (hall be confequcntly taught; moreover, in the thick Water in the bottom , pour on again fo much of the Phlegm, that it be .covered the bredth of four ringers ; and, as be- fore , mix them together by Agitation , and then evacute the colourated Phlegm by Inclina- tion. ± 1-11

And this work muft be fo oft repeated , till

the Phlegm hath drawn out the whole Tinaure,

tod the Earth rcmaineth in the bottom of the

L4 Veffel

152, rmiojopmcai

Veffel white as Criftal, tranfparent ; which fee \t out to be dried by the fire, or by a heat elemen- tal of fire, not violent.

Then when it is dried , and made up into a Powder moft fubtil , put it into a Glafs-Veffel, fit and clean : and pour fo much of the Spirit that I have heretofore taught you , and prepare upon it , that it may ftand four fingers breadth above it.

Then (hut the Veffel with a blinde Head, and fet it mBalneo tobedigefted the ipace of three dayes ; which being done, take away the blinde o Head,and put to the Cucurbite an Aiimbeck,and joyn a Recipient unto it : and having well (hut all the Joynts , put the Veflel into a Furnace? and giving it a gentle fire of the iecond degree, feparate from hence the Spirit it fe If byDiftii- lation ; which inclofed carefully in a Glafs , fhall be kept in a cold place : for it is an ani- mated Spirit.

Afterwards having encreafed the fire wich a. continual courfe or order till all the Phleg-l marick moifture , how little foever it be in the Earth, be exhaled ; which Phlegm is to be caii away : for it ferveth to no ufe at all, but unto the earth itielf.

After it be well dried , and again calcined, pour again fo much of the new Spirit, that it ftand three fingers breath : and having glevrcd the blind Head upon it, put it three dayes into the Phyfical Vaporary • which time pa^, takea- way the blind Head, and put on a Limbeck i >md

from

jpxpertmems. 155

rom thence diftil an animated Spirit , which

oyn to the firft,and keep. Then afterwards proceed to diftil, till all the

^legtnbegoneoutjandcafr 5 and thofeope-

ations muft be fo often renewed, till the Earth jcppear white and flowing like Wax upon a flowing Plate of Iron : give no fmoakatall,

The Earth thus prepared , mult of neceffitybe returned into a Calx , giving not a difTolving ^ut a digefting heat of the fire. When this 'Truth is calcined , you Qirfill put it in a fit Veffel '■>f Glafs, which mult be fei. it temperate heat a the fire , the firft degree : and in it unto the iHarth muft be poured one ounce of the animated Spirit : As for example , To one ounce of the .Earth,you mult put one of the Spirit : which ani- ifnated Spirit I taught you heretofore to draw out p the Earth itfeif by Diftillaiion.

Then /hut the Veffel with a blind Head , and tfurler it to be digefted three dayes , or fo long fitill the Earth hath drawn up his Spirit : then

(taking away the blind Head ; and putting on a Limbeck , by Diftillation draw out the Phleg- matick and uniavory moifture, how little foever |be in it.

Then again thefecond time, give to the fame Earth of its own Spirit the feventh part ; and putting the blind Head upon it , fet the Veffel on the firft degree of heat, to be digefted three dtyes fpace .:. then taking a way the blue Head , and putting on the Alijnbeck, diftil all the infi- pidmoiftttre.

Thirdly,

i$^ Thilofophical

Thirdly , Add to the fame Earth , the fixth pare of its own animated Water ; and putting on the blue Head, let in digeftion for three days : and after that time, removing of the blind Head , and putting on the Alimbeck , diftil the iuperfluous humidities.

Fourthly, Add again the fifth part of the ani- mated Spirit to his own Earth, digertit, and by Dittillation, evacuate the humidity.

Fifthly, Render the fourth part of the Soul of

the Body, and digell it \ and draw out the moi-

fture , as I have (hewn before : and lb with the

fourth part of it upon the fame Earth , profecute

the operation by Unvivirtives, Digeftion, and

Diftillations, till the Earth have drunk up all his

animated Spirit, and both be reduced to an

Homogeneal Body ; then take the Earth which

is withheld, and white, and put it in a

Veflel of Glafs, divided into three parts , which

being lured, and carefully (hut , muft be put in a

Furnace to the fire of the third degree, the fpace

of a natural day : and fojthe pure part of it will

be feparated from the impure, and will be lifted

up on high, and the impure part of the Body be

left in the bottom as unprofitable, to be caft a-

way , and the pure to be gathered : and this is

called by Ra)mmd and other Philosophers, Mer-. |

cury fnblimate, vegetable, Sal Armoniack^ , and

let of Lunary vegetable , wherein are fo many

and fo great vermes, that the humane tongue of

man cannot exprefs them.

Furthermore , All things being fcvcrally pre*

pared.

Experiments. 155

pared, to wit , the Spirit and the Earth, it re- mained here to (hew the way to copulate the Spirit of Lunary , with the Earth of the fame prepared, that is,with the Salt or Sulphur of Na- ture vegetable : but out of the con jun&ion of thefe two, one organical Body, to wir, the vege- table menftrmm, may be made up : and the way to make it is this*:

Take one pound of the Salt or vegetable Sul- phur new prepared, bray it very fmall, and put it inaCucurbite of Glafs, which is tfrong and thick , and flpon it of the forefaid Spirit of Phi- lofophical Lunary : then (hutting the Glafs moft carefully with a blue Head , fo that it hath no Air at ill , put k in the Balneo , and letitpu- rifie for the (pace two dayes : then taking off the blind Head, and putting on a Limbeck, and joyning a great Recipient to it ; After you have flopped well all the Joynts, you (hall diftil it in the A(hes with a gentle heat , and all will go out by the Limbeck. Nevertheless, if any of the Sale (hould remain in the bottom, you ihall again pour of Spirit newly diftilled upon it ; and diftil it again from hence. And this (hall you do fo oft, till the whole] Earth as a cleer Water be brought over the Limbeck ; being done , take yet one pound of Salt , put it into the Cucurbite , and pour upon it the fame Spirit Ia% diftilled : cover the Veffel with a blind Head , and fet it to purifie ; and being purified , till all the Sulphur pafs over the Lim- beck with the Spirit j and chat being diftilled,

take

ii6 Thilofopbical

take again, as before, of new Salt vegetable one pound j and adding the lame Spirit , purifie ; and then diftil all. Fourthly , Take likewife frefh Salt one pound , and pour upon it the Spi- rit lately diftilled, till all pafs by the Limbeck, and nothing remain in the Cucurbite ; and fo the vegetable ntenftrnum (hall be made, and per- fectly ended, having power to diffolve both the light?, and all other Metals , with the conferva- tion of the vegetable form : but now it is refting to (hew how the metiftrtium muft be converted unto a celeftial Nature or Quinteffence : and the way is thus :

Take the fitnple menfirnum y and pour it into a great and ftrong Giafs-Veftel , that the fifth part of ic onely be full,or at the molt rhe fourth, and the reft be void: then (hut the Veflel with a blind Head; (hutting diligently all the Joynts, left the power of the menftruttm vanifti : being (hut , put it in the Phyfical Bath, or in the Horfe- Belly, and let it circulate a whole Month which time expired, put on your menftruum into another clean Veffel : and do this warily , left the fetling in the bottom by the Circulation be poured out together with the menftrHum^ but it muft be left in the Circulation : fo (hall you have the menftm*m purified, circulated, and celeftial , which the Philofophers call , The Heaven , The Crown of Heaven , and , The Qumteffencejjvhofe brightnefs and tranfparencit doth exceed the brightnefs of all Lunary things, and the fweet fmell of it excecdeth all otb«

fwect

Experiments. ijy

[Tweet favours prepared by Nature.

This Quintcflence is the ground-work of lallSpagyrical and Physical Preparation : for by fthe vertue of it, all folid Bodies are cor- rupted from their own Natures, and arc 'brought to Liquors, Oy Is, Spirits, Elixirs, Magi- I fteries,Stones and Tin&ures. Whence it cometh, ( That the Spagyrfck can give to the Phifitians the 1 beft Medicines.

*

158 Thilojophical

0( the manner of diifolving Gold, and of feparating the Tincture of it from the Body, or the form from the matter; and alfoof exuberating or multiply- ing the fame.

THe manner of compofm° the vegetable being delivered ; and alfo, of making it celeftial : it remaineth that you fhould be (hewed how the matter of the Univerfal Medi- cine, to wit, Gold, fhould be prepared with the heavenly menltrual, that it may exercife its ver- tue upon the Body of Man : the manner to pre- pare it is this :

Let Gold be cemented with Antimony, that every Heterogeneal thing^ be . ieparated from it : then being well purged, reduce it to very iinall Leaves : then of the foliated or Leaf- Gold take an ounce , and put it into a little Cucur- biteof Glafs , and pour upon it two ounces of the heavenly menftrnum, or of the vegetable Quinteflence. This being done , put the Cu- curbuc clofed HaraicticaUy into a Fire of the

feft

Experiments. ijp

rft degree, and then of the fecond • fofliall ie Gold be dnTolved , and the merftruum (hall raw into it felf the Tin&ure of ir,or the colour; id it will become citrine, biighr, refplendent, lining, and moft acceptable to the fight: then by trie and little inclining the Veflel,transfuiethe ex&ruum into another clean Veffel of Glafs : .iz do this warily, left the Earth or Feces of old be not poured out together with the ;*/*/?r#/w»andCucurbite: then to the golden Jiarth , which is fetled , pour again two ounces fit! the menftrmm , and flint the Glafs with Her- oes his Seal , and fet it firft in a fire of the firft egree, and then of a fecond: and when the unftrnum (hall have the colour of Gold,ejacu- ite it into another Vcffel of Glafs ; yet fo, bat the Earth be not mixed with the menflrnum^

Iut may remain in the bottom ; and leaving ne Feces of the Gold in theVeflel, poura- ain two ounces of the menfirmtm upon it ; and mtting the Glafs Hermetically , fet it in pe heat of the firft, then of the fecond de- ree.

Then empty the golden metiflrunm into ano- her Vcflel, taking heed left the Feces go one #ith it together : reiterate thefe operations fo oft s before , till you fee the werfirutm draws no lore of the Tin&ure of Sol, and that the body f it remain in the bottom white, which will be one in feven times , if you do all tiefc things rell.

Now when all theTinclure of Gold is pre- pared

160 Thilofophical

pared from his Body , it is requifoe that all the diffolutions be joyned together , and be put in afitVtffel: thenpurifie.

And then laftly , having put on a blind Head i and having (hut carefully all the Joynts, (et it in a Furnace , and give it a heat in the fecond degree, and exuberate from thence the moft pre- cious Liquor of Gold : then you (hall have the Tin&ure of Gold feparated from the Body of it, and made volatile, joyned with the Heaven or vegetable Quinteffence , from which it muft be feparated , by the way which I will (hew you in the following Chapter.

The

Experiments. 161

The manner how to feparate the Tin dure of Gold from the Quinteffence vegetable, and the way to circulate the fame, that it may be converted into Quintef- fence, or Celeftial Nature and Spiritual, and almoft Incorrup- tible.

Hitherto we have Chewed you how to draw the Tin&ure from the Body of the Sun , and how they exuberate it, in a ;cleer and open fpeech. Now we intend to (hew how the fame Tin&ure may be feparated from the menftrHum , which is Celeftial , and by Cir- culation is converted into a Quinteffence moft fragrant, and in ftrength meft eminent , and incorruptible as the Heavens. To do this, pro- ceed thus :

Take a Stillatory of Glafs , and infufe into it the vegetable kMtnHruum, which is circulated; in which h the Soul of the Gold t then add to it of the Element of Water in the feme thing, to grit, of thelunaryof the Philofophers , io

M rcweb

\6i Thilofyhicd

much as is of the ntenftruum ft felf : then put your Veffel in a Ph/fical Furnace ; and putting an eafie fire of the firit degree to it, diftil from £ the vegetable Quinteffence , and the Element of Water acmixed to it : lb the Tin&ure of Gold ihall remain in the bottom like Wax melted, or like the fluid gum ,and in colour moft like unto a Ruby.

To purifie this Tin&ure from the fuperfluity of the Elements , and to make it to a Quint effence by Circulation , proceed thus:

Take a fit Vtffel of Glafs , and put in it the Tinclure of the Sun , moft red, exulerated and fcparated from the vegetable Water , and pour upon it a convenient quantity of the vegetable Quinteffence : and having {hut the Glafs Her- metically, put the Veffel in a Phyfical Vaporary, and with a continual heat , as of the Sun, fuffer it to be circulated a Efficient fpace ; which done, you (hall fee in the bottom of theGIafe an Earth like unto Slime , which muft moft be feparated from the Tin&ure , mixed with the vegetable, as a iuperfluous thing ; which is done by the Diftillation of the mcnftrttHm with the Ths&ure in the fire of the fecond degree : which being done , put the Veffel , containing the Quinteffence vegetable , mixed with the Tin- cture in the Phyfical Bath ; aed putting 10 ic the fire of the firft degree by Diftillation , ex- tnSt the vegetable Quinteffence : and fo the

Tin*

Experiments. \6i

induce of Gold moft beautiful , being purl- ed from the Dregs of the Elements', and Slime f the Earth, and made fpiritual and volatile, lall be fetled in the bottom of the Circulit, onverted into a Quinteffence , and into a Ce« ;ftial and Incorruptible Nature , to which no 'arthly thing may be compared in fmcli or fweet ivour , nor in venue and excellent operations. Leep tte Quinteffence moft carefully, as a moft >recious Treafure^ for it is the true potable and nutable Gold , The true Elixir of the Sun , ^wer, The true Diaphoretical and Univerfai Medicine, The true \MercHty of the Philo- bphers , without which there is no Tranfmuta- ion of Metals.

The

1 6^ Thilofophical

The way to reduce the liquid

and volatile Quinteflence of Gold into a fixed Stone , and tranfparent like to a Rubie,with the multiplication of Celeftial Vertues.

ALthough I have hitherto delivered the true and perfect way to prepare S<?Iy and to convert it into a Quinteflence 5 fo that it ferveth for all Medicinal effects univer- fally,and needeth no further preparation : Ne- verthelefs > becaufe the venues of it may be fur- ther augmented, I will now reveal how it may be fixed into a Stone ; which by a manifold Solution , Coagulation by heavenly Influences, doth attain unto the higheft degree, Perfection and efficacy to all effects both within and with- out the body of man.

The way to make it is thus : Prepare a Fixatory Veffel of equal bignefs with their heads , having heads equally propor- tionable, whofe heads muft be difpofed, that the head of each one may enter into the belly of each other mutually , and that the mouth of the

one

Experiments* 105

[|>n« Veffel may enter into its own head ; but hat the mouth of the other may receive within t felf the mouth of its own head : then put in ach Veffel one part of the Quinteffence of Sold; and to each part feverally, pour thirteen )arts of the Quinteffence vegetable • which >eing done , put the heads upon the Cucurbites, nd joyn theVeffels together as they ought to >e ; and Glutting the Joyntsmoft carefully that here an Anchanor; and having given a moft tem- >erate heat of the other orfecond degree, let he Quinteffence be (o long moved, till the ve- getable Water hath laid off the Tin&ure or Co- our of Gold, and (hall have afcended and de- cended no more citrine in colour, but white like 1 diftilled Water , which will be done in three Dr four weeks at the mod : which time being paft , and when you have feen the aforefaid fign, hen fuffer the Furnace to wax cool of it felf, then taking the Veffel from the Furnace , open chem , and in the bottom of each Glafs you fhall indeaStone, likeuntoaRubie or Carbuncle, which is the potable Gold,c©ngeal'd through the vegetable vertue ; and thepureliof the vegeta- ble Sulphur working upon the Quinteffence of Gold : from which Stone,by the Inclination of the Veflels , you (hall feparate the vegetable Waters : then take out both the Stones out of both the Veflels without any moifture , and you [hall put it into a fit Vcffei very carefully, that it fuffer no harm by the Air : and when you would have thisStoue to*- become more pregnant and powerful in operation by Ccleftial Vertues, pro- ceed thus : Bray

itftf Thilofophical, &c.

Bray it in a Marble or Glafs-Morter with t Glafs-Peftel ^ and being brayed , put it into a fmallGlafs-Veffel, fit to that effc& ; and being Hermetically fhut , put it into tbe Phyfical Bath, and leave it there three dayes , in which time it will turn into a Water or Uquor,very red: which Liquor, put into tbe Achanor, and fufferit to be digefted five dayes in a temperate heat : and then again it will be conduced, and become a ftony fub! t ance red,and tranfparenc: from thence takeout again the Stone, and bray it to a pow- der ; and then again, put it into a Phyfical Bath the fpace of one natural day,and then again it will be diffolved into a moft red Liquor ; which again put into the Achanor to be digefted, the fpace of two dayes - which time paft , you (hall finde a- gajn a Stone moft tranfparent and like to a Ruby, which^tnay be meked~uponaj:ed hofPIa&eof Ifion^an^ all . Now

this fame fo^repared^aTiTfoTnatfy Vermes, that no tongue of man is able to exprefs them.

M^Mitt

FINIS.

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