A U R I F O N T I N A
OR, A
C H Y M I C A :
COLLECTION Of Fourteen Small TREATISES Concerning the
Firt Matter
OF
Ph ilosophers, For the !ico"er# of their $hitherto o much conceale!%
MERCURY &hich man# ha"e tu!ioul# en!ea"oure! to Hi!e' (ut thee to ma)e Manifet' for the (enefit of Man)in! in general*
LON+ON' ,rinte! for &illiam Coo-er' at the ,elican in Little./ritain' 0123*
TA/LE OF CONTENTS
H#!ro-#rogra-hum Hermeticum************************************************************************************0 The ,ri"# Seal of Secret********************************************************************************************04 A Letter***********************************************************************************************************************05 A Treatie of Mercur# an! the ,hiloo-her Stone******************************************************66 Colour to (e O(er"e! in the O-eration of the 7reat &or)****************************************68 Theauru Si"e Me!icina Aurea**********************************************************************************93 Tractatu !e La-i!e*****************************************************************************************************99 Summar# of ,hiloo-h#**********************************************************************************************44 Cla"icula' or Little e# of Ra#mon! Lullie Ma;oricane**************************************************48 Secret +icloer of /ernar!u Tr"ianu to the E-itle of Thoma of /ononia** =5 The ,refator# E-itle of /ernar!' Earl of Trene to Thoma of /ononia*** *26 A /rief Rehearal of the ,re-aration of the ,hiloo-her Stone***********************************29
I.
HY+RO,YRO7RA,HUM
HERMETICUM
HYDROPYROGRAPHUM HERMETICUM
+ear Son' to -oint out unto thee uccinctl# a Memorandum ' a it >ere concerning the un!ertan!ing of the true an! genuine Stone of the ,hiloo-her' an! the manner of -rocee!ing in it -re-aration' I gi"e thee thi information' that the ai! Stone 0 i com-oun!e! an! engen!ere! of t>o thing' "i?* /o!# an! S-irit' or of Maculine an! Feminine See!' that i' of the Water of Mercury, and of the Body of Sol @ >hereof >e fin! ufficient -roof an! attetation in all true &riting of the
,hiloo-her' an! therefore I count it nee!le to enlarge m# elf (# uoting of them* The u-h ot of all the refore i' th at firt of a ll Mercury be dissolved an! reduced into a spiritual Water ' 6 >hich i terme! (# the ,hiloo-her' the first Matter of Metals ' the ;uice of Lune, Aqua Vite ' Buinteence' a fier# ar!ent &ater or
/ran!#@ (# >hich &ater or -rime Matter'
9
Metal are unloc)e
from their har! an! tiff (on!' an! re!uce! into their firt an! uniform nature' uch a the &ater of Mercury it elf i* U-on thi account the ,hiloo-her -reente! unto u in their /oo)' the eam-le of Ice' or fro?en &ater >hich (# heat i re!uce! into &ater' 4 (ecaue (efore it coagulation it hath (een &ater* Alo telling u' that (# the "er# ame -rinci-le' from >hich each thing hath it rie' it ma# (e
re!uce! or
(rought (ac) to >hat it >a in the (eginning* An! thence the# inferr' that it i im-oi(le to tranmute Metal into 7ol! or their prima materia *
=
Sil"er' >ithout re!ucing them firt into
Concerning therefore the (ringing a(out thi Regeneration of
Metals ' thou mut !iligentl# hee! an! o(er"e' m# (elo"e! Son' that the ame i to
(e -erforme! onl# (# the mean of the -rime Matter of Metal' that i' the Mercury '
1
Water of
an! (# nothing (ei!e in the >hole &orl!* For thi &ater i net of in
unto the Metallic) nature' in o much that after their mutual an! uniform commiture' the# can ne"er (e an# more -arte! aun!er* Thi the ,hiloo-her in the urba an! other /oo) ignifie unto u' a#ing' Nature re;o#ceth in it Nature@ Nature utaineth Nature@ it amen!eth Nature@ it re!uceth Nature@ Nature o"ercometh Nature* Coneuentl# it i necear# to )no> thi (lee! &ater' an! it -re-aration' >hich &ater i a hot' fier#'
5
-iercing S-irit' the ,hiloo-h ical &ater' an!
the hi!!en e# of thi Art* For >ithout thi all the la(our an! >or) of Alch#m# i fruitle an! frutraneou* O(er"e therefore'
!
Lapis e" duobus, corpore # spiritus$ Mercurius resolvedus in aquam$ 'um aqua Mercurii metalla resolvenda in primam materiam$ ( )ualibet res redigitur in primam materiam per principia unde erta fiat$ %
&
* +
Redicetio Metallerua Aqu a Me rc urii meta llisin primam ami ca$ materiam guomode fiat$ Aqu a Me rc urii est vapor igneus$
.0.
m# on' an! mar)' that all the ground-.or/ of the 0hilosophers Stone thi' that (# mean of the -rima materia metallerum' that i >ith
' l coniteth in
the Water of
Mercury ' >e re!uce an! (ring (ac) the perfect body of Sol to a ne. birth ' that it (e
(orn again (# &ater an! S-irit' accor!ing to our Sa"iour< +octrine 1 2"cept a man be born again of Water and of the Spirit, he cannot See the 3ingdom of 4od
* So
li)e>ie in thi Art' I tell thee m# Son' unle the /o!# of Sol (e o>e! in it -ro-er o#l' #our la(our i in "ain an! it -ro!uceth no fruit@ a Chrit our Sa"iour aith' 5nless a grain of .heat fall into the ground and dye, and rot, it bringeth no fruit
So >hen the /o!# of Sol i regenerate! (# the &ater an! S-irit' an! cometh forth a clarifie!' atral' eternal' immortal /o!#' (ring
6
*
there gro>eth
ing forth much fruit'
an! a(le to multi-l# it elf li)e unto Degeta(le* An! to thi -ur-oe the ,hiloo-her Roger Bacon -ea)eth' I !o aure #ou' that if the Astrum !o cat an! im-re it inclination into uch a clarifie! /o!# of 7ol!' that it >ill not loe it -o>er an! "irtue to the "er# lat aa# or ;u!gment: For the /o!# i -erfect' an! agreeing to all Elemen t* /ut if it (e not regenerate!' no ne>' nor gr eater' nor -urer' nor higher' nor (etter thing can come of it* He that !oth not )no> nor un!ertan! thi Regeneration of Metal' >roght in nature (# the &ater an! S-irit of the prima materia ' ought not to me!!le at all >ith thi Art:
9
For in truth' >ithout
thi' all i (ut falitie' l#e' un-rofita(le an! to no -ur-oe@ #ea it i im-oi(le to effect it other>a#* Hence i that ecellent a#ing of the ,hiloo-her' That e"er#thing (ringeth forth it li)e' an! >hat a man o>eth' the ame he hall alo rea-' an! no other* An! to the ame -ur-oe the ,hiloo-her Richardus Anglicus aith' So> 7ol! an! Sil"er' that (# the mean of Nature the# ma#( (ring Fruit* Coneuentl#' m# Son' thou oughtet to choose no other Body for thy Wor/ but 4old ' (ecaue that all other /o!ie are ran) an! im-erfect*
An! therefore alo the
,hiloo-her ma!e the choice of 7ol! (efore all other /o!ie' (ecaue it i of all thing in the &orl! the mot -erfect' illuminating all other /o!ie' an! infuing life into them@ an! (ecaue it i of a fiate! incom(uti(le nature' of a contant or a(i!ing root' an! Fire -roof@ alo' (ecaue $a Roger Bacon aith% the cor-oral 7ol!' a to it no(ilit# an! -erfection' cannot (e change!' an! i the utmot (oun! an! term of all Natural generation' an! there i no -erfecter thing in the >hole &orl!* The li)e teacheth alo the ,hiloo-her 6saacus 7ollandus ' a#ing' Our Stone cannot (e etracte! from an# other (ut a !
8undamentum Lapidis$
% & (
'orpus per aquam Mercurii sit astrale$ Regenerationem metallorum ignorantes abstineant a 'hemia$ 'orpus Soiil eligendum ad 'hemiam$
.6.
-erfect /o!#' #ea the mot -erfect in the &orl!* An! if it >ere not a -erfect /o!#' >hat Stone coul! (e etracte! thence
0
in regar! that it mut ha"e -o>er to
uic)en all !ea! /o!ie' to -urifie the unclean' to mollifie thoe that are har!' an! har!en thoe that are oft:
An! in truth' it >oul! (e im-oi(le to etract o
-o>erful a Stone out of an im-erfect an! craie /o!#' for a goo! -erfect thing i not to (e got from that >hich i im-erfect an! unclean: an! although man# !o fanc#' that uch an etraction ma# (e (rought to -a' #et the# erre grol#' an! are "er# un>ie* Therefore' m# Son' o(er"e' that the re! ,hiloo-hical Sulphur i in the 7ol!' 6 a Richar!u tetifieth' an! ing 'alid aith: Our Sul-hur i no common Sul-hur' (ut i of a Mercurial nature' fiate! an! not fl#ing from the Fire* The ame all other ,hiloo-her alo !o >itne' that their re! Sul-hur i 7ol!* It i true' m# Son' that the ,hiloo-her !o a# in their /oo) that the common 7ol! or Sil"er i none of their 7ol! or Sil"er' in regar! that their 7ol! an! Sil"er i uic) or li"ing'
9
(ut the common are !ea! an! therefore not ca-a(le to
(ring im-erfect /o!ie to -erfection' nor to communicate unto them the leat of their -erfection* For if the# houl! (eto> ome of their -erfection u-on other' the# themel"e >oul! (e then im-erfect' in regar! the# ha"e no more -erfection' than >hat i nee!ful for themel"e* Thee >or! of the ,hiloo-her' m# Son' are true' an! -o)en u-on "er# goo! groun!@ for it i im-oi(le for common 7ol! an! Sil"er' to -erfect other /o!ie that are im-erfect' unle a (efore taught' that the /o!# of Sol an! Lune (e (orn ane>' or regenerate! (# the &ater an! S-irit of the prima materia ' an! there(# a gloriou' -iritual' clarifie! ' eternal' fiate!' u(tle' -enetrant /o!# !o gro> forth' >hich after>ar! hath -o>er to -erfect other /o!ie >hich are im-erfect* An! therefore the ,hiloo-her alo ai! -reentl# after' that thoe la(our are to thi en! un!erta)en a(out their Stone' that it tincture ma# (e a!"ance! an! ealte!@
4
for it i reuiite' that the Stone (e
!igete! an! carrie! on to a far greater !egree of u(tlet# an! ecellenc#' than the common 7ol! an! Sil"er -oeeth* To thi -ur-oe the ,hiloo-her Bernhard -ea)eth in hi /oo)' in the >or! follo>ing: Though >e ta)e thi /o!# ;ut a Nature hath -ro!uce! it@ for all that it i necear#' that (# Art' >hich in thi -oint mut imitate Nature' the ame (e highl# ealte! in it -erfection' to the en! that (# the mean of that u-erlati"e accom-lihment' an! it u-er.a(un!ant ra#' it ma# (e a(le to -erfect an! com-leat the im-erfect /o!ie' !
A corp ore perfecto re s perf ecta e"tr abit ur$ Sulphur tubeum est in auro$ Auru m vulg i non est aur um 0hi loso pherum, # quomodo hoc in te llig endum$ ( Auri ti nctu ra mu lt ipli catu r per aeu am Me rcur ii$
%
&
.9.
a to >eight' colour' u(tance' #ea a to their Mineral root an! -rinci-le* /ut if it houl! ha"e remaine! in that !egree' >herein Nature left it' "i?* in it im-le -erfection' an! not ren!re! more -erfect or ealte!' >hat houl! the time of nine month an! a half >e -en! a(out it er"e for
Arnoldus in hi E-itle -ea)eth
home' a#ing' 4old and Silver is in our Stone potentially and virtually -o>erful' in"ii(le an! natural >a#@
0
' after a
for if it >ere not o' no 7ol! nor Sil"er coul!
come of it: (ut the 7ol! an ! Sil"er eitin g in our Stone' i ( etter than the commo n' (ecaue it i living, but the common is dead * an! for thi "er# reaon the ,hiloo-her calle! it their 7ol! an! their Sil"er' (ecaue it i -o>erful in their Stone' acti"e in it eence (ut not "ii(le common 7ol! an! Sil"er@ >hich i alo confirme! (# 2uclides in the great Roar#' a#ing' Nothing cometh of a -erfect thing' in regar! it i alrea!# -erfect an! com-leat' (eing o ma!e (# Nature* &hereof >e ha"e an eam-le in /rea!@ >hich (eing fermente! an! (a)e!' i -erfect in it !egree or (eing' ha"ing attaine! to it inten!e! en!' o that it can (e (rought to no further fermentati on' to ma)e other /rea! of it* The cae i the ame >ith the 7ol!' >hich through length of time hath (een !e!uce! (# Nature to a fiate! an! -erfect con!ition:
6
an! o coneuentl# it i im-oi(le (# the mean of
the im-le 7ol! to -erfect other /o!ie' unle the -erfect /o!# (e firt !iol"e! an! re!uce! to it firt Matter: >hich !one' it i intro"erte! (# our la(our an! Art' an! re!uce! into a true ferment an! tincture* Moreo"er the -hiloo-her !o a#' that there i no coming to a goo! en!' until 7ol! an! Sil"er (e ;o#ne! together in one /o!#* Here' m# Son' thou mut un!ertan! Lune meta-horica ll#'
9
an! not
accor!ing to the letter' (ecaue the ,hiloo-her a# in their &riting' that Lune i of a col! an! moit nature' >hich !ecri-tion the# attri(ute alo unto Mercury : an! therefore (# Lune is understood Mercury ' or the -rime Matter' >hich i the ,hiloo-her Lune ' or ;uice of Lune ' a i ma!e -lain (# the ecellent an! !ee-l#. fathoming -iece' the 'langor (uccina* An! thu' m# Son' thou art intructe! (riefl#' that no -rofit i to (e got (# thi Art' unle the perfect Bodies by means of the 0hilosophers 8ire, or Water of Mercury, be reduced into their
-rimum En' >hich i a Sul-hureou &ater' an! not
Mercury vive ' a the So-hiter u--oe* For the firt matter
4
of Metal i not
Mercury vive ' (ut a clamm# Sul-hureou Da-our' an! a "icou &ater' >herein the
three -rinci-le' "i?* Salt' Sul-hur' an! Mercur#' are l
Aur um 0hilosoph orum potentia le # nirt uale $
% & (
2" corpore S olis perfecto nihil sit, nisi reducatur ad primam materiam$ Luna metaphorica$ 0rima materia quid9
.4.
coeitent * Coneu entl# it i nece ar# to )no> the tr ue (lee! &at er of Mercur#' or the Hea"enl# u-ernatural Fire' >here(# the /o!ie are !iol"e! an! melte! li)e Ice*
For the )no>le!ge of thi i the greatet ecret of all'
0
an! i >holl# an! onl# in
the -o>er of 7o!' an! i not to (e o(taine! other>ie' (ut (# fer"ent -ra#er unto him*
Concerning thi the ,hiloo-her Rogerius aith@ 7o! hath create! Man' an!
-lace! him o"er Nature an! all creature' though himelf (e natural' an! nothing ele (ut Nature' ece-t the /reath >hich 7o! (reathe! into him: The "er# ame i to (e the ;u!ge of the &or)' an! their nature* Thi !i"ine S-irit re-reenteth unto the ene an! thought' in a true Diion a it >ere' the firt -rinci-le of Nature' e-eciall# ince the natural in(re! S-irit !ico"ereth ome uch groun!' >hereu-on he ma# urel# rel#e' an! in thi &or) an! earnetne of the S-irit' >hich i of the natural Creation'
6
the !i"ine Adam re-reenteth in u the !iolution of the >hole
&orl!* An! St* 0eter (# the )in!le! an! (urning fier# S-irit of the in(reathe! /reath of 7o!' !eclareth the ame "er# clearl#' a#ing: That the Element hall melt >ith fer"ent heat@ the Earth alo' an! the &or) that are therein' hall (e (urnt u- an! that there >ill (e a ne> &orl!' "er# gloriou' ecellent an! goo!' a in
Apocalypsi i
!ecri(e!* An! hereu-on the ,hiloo-her conclu!eth' a ccor!ing to >hat hath (een alle!ge! out of St* 0eter ' that there hall ha--en a !etruction of the Elementar# &orl! (# Fire*
O(er"e in thi Art' that the Fire mut -erform the li)e in it t#-e in
Nature* Therefore' m# Son' et th# thought u-on thi &ater' >here>ith the /o!# of Sol 9 $>hich a Rogerius >itneeth' i a -erfect create! &orl!% i (urnt u-' an!
!etro#e! an! !iol"e!' that it i not a common Fire' in regar! that common i not a(le to (urn or !etro# the 7ol!: (ut it i a u-ernatural incom(ut i(le Fire' the tronget of all Fire' #ea a Hellih Fire' >hich onl# hath -o>er to (urn the 7ol!' an! to et the ame fre e from it tiff an! har! (on!* Thi u-ern atural Fire' >h ich hath uch a -o>er o"er the 7ol! an! other Metallic) /o!ie' i nothing ele (ut the Spiritual, sulphureous fiery Water of Mercury
' >herein the /o!# of Sol i !iol"e!
an! (urnt u-' an! of thi !iol"e! an! !etro#e! /o!#' a ne> &orl! li)e>ie i create! an! (orn' an! the Hea"enl# erualem' that i an eternal' clarifie!' u(tle' -enetrant' fiate! /o!#' >hich i a(le to -enetrate an! -erfect all other /o!ie* Hence Rogerius aith' A that i to (e a u-ernatural Fire' >hich i to (rea) an! melt into one another the Element of the >hole &orl!@ an! a out of the (ro)en corru-ti(le &or) of the !iol"e! Element' a ne> &or) >ill (e (orn' >hich >ill (e an e"erlating &or)@ e"en o
! % &
'ognitio aqua Mercurii summum est secretum$ Vt macrocosmus corrumptur per ignem, ita etiam microcosm us 0hilosophicus$ 'orpus Solis corrumpendum per aquam Mercurii$
.=.
the Hol# Trinit# hath he>e! an! ignifie! unto u li)e>ie' a u-ernatural Fire in the Hea"enl# Stone* Thi u-ernatural Fire' m# Son' the ,hiloo-her ha"e hi!!en in their /oo) in -ara(olical e-reion' naming the ame (# innumera(le name' an! e-eciall# the# term it Balneum Mariae ' a moit Hore.!ung ' Mentruum Urine' Mil)' /lou!' Aqua vitae ' 0 an! the li)e*
Fire' aith Bernhardus '6 ma)e a "a-orou Fire'
continual !igeting' not "iolent' u(tle' air#' clear' cloe' incom(uti(le' -enetrant an! "ital: an! thereu-on he -ea)eth further' Trul#' I ha"e tol! thee all the manner an! circumtan ce of the Fire' >hich onl# -erformeth all' an! therefore he (i! the Rea!er' to coni!er >ell an! often the >or! he ai! concerning the Fire*
Coneuentl#' he that i
>ie >ill eail# -ercei"e thence ' that thoe >or! are not to (e un!erto o! of a common' (ut of a u-ernatural Fire@ >hich alo Mary the ,ro-hete !oth hint' a#ing' that the Element of &ater !oth !iol"e the /o!ie' an! ma)e them >hite* An! concerning thi Fire $>hich he calleth Mentruum% an! it -re-aration' estamentum novissimum,
9
Raymund Lullie -ea)eth in hi
in 'odice, in Anima Metallorum, Luce M ercuriorum, Libra
Mercuriorum, de secretis :aturae, de )uinta 2ssentia, # in 2lucidario estamenti, c$ ($
a#ing' that it i not Humane (ut Angelical to re"eal thi Celetial Fire' an! that it i the greatet ecret of all' ho> to attain to the )no>le!ge of it* An! moreo"er he aith in figurati"e e-reion' that thi Fire i com-oe! of Hore.!ung an!
'al" vive * /ut
>hat i -refigure! (# 'al" vive ' I >ill e-oun! in another -lace* An! >hat i ignifie! (# Hore.!ung' I mentione! (efore' Di?* that (# Hore.!ung i meant the &ater of the materia '
4
prima
for it i >arm an! moit li)e Hore.!ung@ (ut it i no common Hore.!ung' a
man# ignorant -eron !o u--oe an! un!ertan!* Hence aith the ,hiloo-her Alanus ' the ,hiloo-her calle! the moit Fire Hore.!ung' in >hich moiture i )e-t the occult heat' (ecaue it i the -ro-ert# of the fire eiting in the Hore (ell#' not to !etro#
7ol!' (ut (# reaon of it moiture to increae it* To the li)e -ur-oe -ea)eth Alchidonius : Our Me!icine mut (e hi!!en in moit Hore.!ung' >hich i the
,hiloo-her Fire* An! Alanus : +ear Son' (e careful in the >or) of ,utrefaction or +etruction' >hich i to (e -erforme! in gentle heat' that i' in moit Hore.!ung* Arnoldus de Vilia nova ' in the 8th cha-* aith' that the heat of Hore.!ung i their Fire*
So li)e>ie Alphidius : it i !igete! an! (urie! in the heat of Hore.!ung* An! Aristotle : the Earth or /o!# >ill en;o# no "irtue' unle it (e u(lime! (# the mean of !
:omina aqua Mercurii$ 6gnis Bernhard$ & Loci Lullii de aqua Mercurii$ ( Venter equinus 0hilosophorum est aqua Mercurii %
.1.
.
Hore.!ung*
An! therefore' aith 7ermes ' roat an! coo) it in the heat of Hore.
!ung* An! Morienus : if thou !o not fin! in Hore.!ung >hat thou loo)et for' thou ha!t (et to a"e th# charge*
&ith thee agreeth Arnoldus ' a#ing: Let none
ee) for an# other Fire (ei!e thi' for it i
the Fire of the &ie'
0
the melting
8urnace of the Wise ' an! their Furnace for calcining' u(liming' re"er(erating'
!iol"ing' an! -erforming of Coagulation an! Fiation@ for thi &ater !iol"eth all Metal' an! calcineth them' an! melteth it elf together >ith them' (oth into re! an! >hite* In li)e manner alo the urba an! Senior S-ea)eth: Our &ater i a Fire' an! our Water is stronger than any 8ire ' for it re!uceth the /o!# of 7ol! into a meer S-irit' >hich the natural Fire i not a(le to !o' though the natural Fire mut li)e>ie (e ha !* For then our &ater e nter into the nat ural /o!ie' an ! changeth it elf into the -rimogeniel &ater' an! after>ar! into Earth or ,o>!er' >hich !oth more forci(l# (urn the 7ol! than the natural Fire@ an! accor!ingl#
'alid aith' It i
trul# a Fire' >hich (urneth an! grin!eth all thing* /ut the manner of -re-aring thi ,hiloo-hic) &ater or Fire' that i' the Aqua Mercurii '
6
the ,hiloo-her ha"e conceale!@ ho>e"er Raymond Lullie of all
hath >ritten (et of it' though in !ar) e-reion* Accor!ingl#' firt of all it >ill ( e reuiite' to purge Mercury from its e"traneous humidity and terrene terrestriety, yet so, as not by means of corruptible things
@ for (# uch it no(le' fruitful'
"iri!ecent an! generating Nature >oul! (e marre!*
Avicen, Arnoldus, 4eber,
Raymundus, in 'odicillo, an! other ,hiloo-her (ei!e' a#' that Mercur# i (et
cleane! (# u(liming it from common Salt' >hich !one' the u(limate to (e thro>n into >arm &ater' >hich >ill !iol"e an! e"er the S-irit of Salt from it@ after>ar! the u(limate (eing !r#e! an! mie! >ith
Salt of artar ' an! force! through a
Retort' it >ill re"i"e again' an! thi to (e !one !i"ere time' an! (#
thi -rocee!ing
Mercury >ill (e free! ome>hat from it etraneou moiture an! feculenc#@ an! Bernhardus to>ar! the en! of hi E-itle aith' that thi -urgation !oth not hurt
Mercur#' in regar! that the hot &ater an! Salt !o not -enetrate into it u(tance* /ut it i to (e note! here' m# Son' that in regar! that
Mercury i of an uniform
in!i"ii(le u(tance ' 9 it cannot (e trul# an! -erfectl# cleane! (# uch an etraneou mean' e-eciall# (ecaue its terrestrial impurity lies hid in its inmost center ' >hich (# no Su(limation i to (e e"ere! thence' a man# ignorant men'
though in "ain' attem-t* An! therefore other mean mut (e ! % &
est 6g nis 0hilosoph orum$ Aqu a Me rc urii quomodo preparanda$ 0reparatio aqua Mercurii difficilis$
.5.
ue! to free Mercury vive from thoe (on!' >here>ith Nature hath t#e! him uniforml# in the (o>el of the Earth' and to reduce him into its primum ens * >hich i a Sul-hureou -iritual &ater' >hich must be done .ithout addition of any hetrogeneous thing '0 a Rogerius Bacon un!er the title of Mercury tetifieth' an! Raymundus in the heorica of hi Tetament aith' that if it (e not -utrefie! an!
o-ene! after the foreai! manner' the Menstruum >ill not (e >orth a Fig* /ut .hen the quic/ Mercury .ithout any e"traneous thing dissolved into the primogeneal Water, then
6
i et free from it (on!' and
an! (ut then >e are ca-a(le to cleanse
his inside ' an! (# distillation to e"er the S-irit from the &ater' an! terrene
terretriet#@ concerning >hich Se-aration the ,hiloo-her ha"e >rit in an occult tile' uch a no conceite! -eron >ill eail# a--rehen!' (ut e-eciall# the# !ecri(e! it figurati"el # in the !itillation of &ine* For in the !itillation of &ine a--eareth e"i!entl#' 9 that the S-irit of &ine i mie! >ith a great !eal of &ater' an! terrene terretriet# : (ut (# mean of an artificial !itilla tion' the !r# S-irit of &ine ma# (e e"ere! from all the -hlegmatic) humi!it# an! terrene terretriet#' in o much that all the S-irit i e"ere! from the &ater eitent in &ine' an! the &ater from the Earth' an! then remain the Lee' out of >hich a >hite Salt i etracte!' an! ;o#ne! again >ith the S-irit' an! then the S-irit i !itille! an! coho(ate! !i"ere time' until all the alt (e gone o"er >ith it' >here(# the S-irit i hugel# fortifie! an! acuate!* An! in truth' thi i a nota(le t#-ical !icri-tion re-reente! unto u (# the ,hiloo-her' >hich in the -re-aration of the &ater of Mercur# >e ought to imitate: for after its dissolution >e ought in li)e manner $a hath (een taught of the &ine% (# u(limation sever the Water or 0hlegm from the Spirit, and the Spirit from the 2arth, and to rectifie the 2arth, and ;oyn and distill it together .ith the Spirit, until all together come over the 7elm * Of >hich -re-aration of thi &ater' none of all the ,hiloo-her hath
>ritten more clearl# nor (etter than Raymund Lullie ' 4 "i?* in estamento novissimo ' a alo in the firt Tetament' in libro Mercuriorum, libro )$ 2ssentiae, # c$ >here he !oth -lainl# enough !eclare' that after the ,utrefaction' Se-aration' +itillation of ,hiloo-hical S-irit of &ine' the S-iritual &ater i to (e mie! again an! !itille! >ith it o>n Earth' that it come o"er >ith it@ he !eclareth alo' ho> thi ,hiloo-hical &ine or Mentruum i fortifie! an! acuate! > ith it o>n Salt* An! further it i to (e note!' that this Water, Menstruum ' = or ,hiloo-hic al S-irit of &ine' (eing thus prepared ' !oth !
Mercurius in aquam Sulphuream reducondus absque heterogeneis$ Mercurius Solutus potest purgari$ & 2"emplum de vini distillatione$ ( Lullius peritissimus est in preparatione aqua Mercurii$ * Mercurius Solutus solvit suam corpus .
%
.2.
dissolve or open its o.n Body, or
Mercur# "i"e' into the -rimum En' or -rimogenial
&ater' .hereby it is multiplied .ithout end, by means of 0utrefaction and
hat i ai ! of the Etractio n of thi &ater' i con firme! (# Arnoldus de Villa nova ' a#ing: It i a u(tance full of Da-our' >hich containeth in
it elf a fat humi!it#' >hereof the Artit e"ereth the ,hiloo-her humi!it#' uch a i fit for the &or)' an! i a clear a the tear of e#e@ >herein !>elleth the Buinteence in a Metallic) Nature' "er# -ro-er for the Metal' an! therein i the Tincture to (ri ng forth an intire Me tal: for it containet h the nature (ot h of Argent vive ' an! alo of Sulphur$
Rosarius 0hilosophorum aith concerning the !itillation
of the Menstruum 0 or &ater that great in!utr# an! care mut (e ha!' an! that the Deel to (e ue! for the cleaning of thi S-irit' mut (e of 7la' an! eactl# cloe!' to the en! that the S-irit ma# fin! no "ent nor -lace to fl# through' it (eing "er# for>ar! to ma)e it >a# through an# hole it fin!eth: An! if the re! S-irit houl! (e gone' the Artit >ill loe hi la(our: the ,hiloo-her call the re! S-irit Bloud ' an! Menstruum @ therefore (e "er# careful to ha"e goo! Deel' an! to ha"e the ;oynts .ell luted, that you may get the dry Spirit .ith its Bloud into the Receiver by it self ' >ithout e"a-oration of it Dirtue' an! )ee- it' until thou ha"e occaion to >or)
>ith it* /ut concerning thi !itillation' the ocular in-ection goeth (e#on! >riting' an! none can (e a Mater' (efore he ha"e (een a Scholar or A--rentice* /e -ro"i!ent therefore an! !icrete in th# &or)'
6
la# on a Recei"er' an! firt !itill (# a
gentle Fire the Element of &ater' >hich (eing o"er' -ut it ai!e' an! la# on another Recei"er' an! cloe the ;o#nt eactl#' that the S-irit ma# not "a-our a>a#' increaing the Fire a little' an! there >ill rie in the Helm a !r# #ello> S-irit: Continue the ame !egree of Fire' o long a the S-irit cometh #ello>* /ut >hen the Alem(ic) (eginneth to (e re!' then increae the Fire "er# gentl#' an! )ee- it going on thu' until the re! S-irit an! /lou! (e uite come o"er' >hich in it' acen!ing an! going through the Helm >ill a--ear in the form of Clou! in the Air* An! o oon a the re! S-irit i !itille! o"er' the Helm >ill (e >hite' an! then ceae uic)l#@ an! thu #ou ha"e in the Recei"er the t>o Element of Air an! Fire' ha"ing etracte! the true !r# S-irit' an! e"ere! the -ure from the im-ure* Loe no> #ou ha"e the prima materia Metallorum ' >herein the /o!ie are re!uce!* For all the 9
Metal ha"e their rie from &ater'
>hich i a root of all Me tal* An! theref ore the#
are re!uce! into &ater' li)e a the fro?en Ice (# heat i re!uce! into &ater' (ecaue it hath (een &ater (efore* l
Vasa bone claudenda inpraparatione aqua Mercurii$ 0rocessus in distillatione aqua$ =mnia metalla e" aqua$
% &
.8.
+o not mar"el at it' for all thing u-on Earth ha"e their root an! rie from &ater*
O
ho> man# there are that >or) an! ne"er thin) u-on the root' >hich i the e# to the >hole &or): it !iol"eth the /o!ie rea!il#@ l it i Father an! Mother@ it o-eneth an! hutteth' an ! re!uceth Meta l into >hat the# h a"e (een in the (e ginning* It !iol"eth the /o!ie' an! coagulateth it elf together >ith them@ the S-irit i carrie! u-on the &ater' that i' the ,o>er of the S-irit i een there o-erating' >hich i !one >hen the /o!# i -ut into the &ater* &hereu-on the ,hiloo-her aith: Loo) u-on that despicable thing ' >here(# our Secret i o-ene!* For it i a thing >hich all )no> >ell'
an! he that )no>eth it not' >ill har!l# or ne"er fin! it:
the .ise man /eepeth it, and
the fool thro.es it a.ay ' an! the re!uction6i eaie to him that )no> it* /ut m# Son' it i the greatet ecret to free thi Stone' or Mercury vive ' from it natural (on!'
>here>ith he i t#e! (# Nature' that i' to !iol"e an! re!uce it into it -rimogenial &ater@ for >ithout thi (e !one' all >ill -ro"e (ut la(our lot: for ele >e houl! not (e a(le to e"er an! etract the true S-irit or &ater# u(tance' >hich !iol" eth the /o!ie*
An! thi Solution hath (een conceale! (# all the ,hiloo-her'
9
>ho left it
unto 7o! Almight#< !i-oing' anathemati?ing that man that houl! o-enl# re"eal it* An! therefore the# -ea)e "er# u(till# an! conciel# concerning the olution of thi cru!e /o!#' to the en! it ma# remain occult unto the un>ie*
4
/ut' m# Son' thou art
to ta)e notice' that the solution of Mercur# "i"e .ill hardly be performed .ithout a means ' (ut none uch are to (e ue! a are So-hitical' a man# ru!e' un>ie an!
ignorant fool ue to !o' >ho (# trange etra"agant >a# re!uce
Mercury into &ater'
u--oing that to (e the right &ater* The# u(lime Mercury >ith Corroi"e' = >ith all ort of Salt an! Ditriol' from >hich the u(lime! Mercur# attracteth the Salt# S-irit an! then after>ar! the# !iol"e the u(limate into &ater in or !i"ere other >a#*
Balneo ' or in the Cellar'
6tem ' the# re!uce it into &ater (# Salt.Armoniac)' (# Her('
So-e' Auafort' (# mean of trange )in! of Deel' an! man# the li)e So-hitical -rocee!ing' all of >hich are (ut gro fancie' foolih an! frutraneou la(our: Some alo concei"e to e"er thoe thing after>ar! from the &ater of
Mercury ' an!
that then it hall (e the true &ater' >hich the ,hiloo-her !o !eire*
The reaon of
their Error i'
1
that the# coni!er not the >or! of the ,hiloo-her'
!
2ffectus aqua$ Resolutio Mercurii ma"imum Secretum $ & =mnes 0hilosophi occultarunt confectionem aque$ ( Resolutio Mercurii non fit absque medico$ * Modi falsa r esolutio nis Mercurii$ %
+
'ausa errorum in confectione aqua$
.03.
'
>ho -lainl# !o a#' that it ought not to
(e mie! >ith an# heterogeneou thing in the
>hole &orl!* An! Bernhardus aith in hi E-itle' that o oon a Mercury i !r#e! u- (# the Salt' Auafort' an! other thing' that thencefor>ar! it i unfit for the ,hiloo-hic ) >or)@ for (eing !r#e! u- (# the Salt' Allum' Auafort' it i not
a(le
to !iol"e* /ut' m# !ear Son' o(er"e >hat no> I tell thee' an! >hat information concerning thi -oint the ,hiloo-her left (ehin! them in their /oo)@
0
vi>$ that the
Water is not to be prepared by any heterogeneous means .hatever in the .hole World, but only by :ature, .ith :ature, and out of :ature
* Thee >or! are all -lain
to the un!ertan!ing' >hich I >ill not no> o-enl# unfol!' (ut reer"e the ame for a -eculiar Treatie@ ho>e"er for a Memorandum ' I >ill et !o>n thee follo>ing Rhime* a/e fresh, pure, quic/, .hite and 'lear, ye him hands and heels so near, With a most puissant cord and yo/e, hat he may be mortified and choa/t$ Reduce him by his li/e homogeneous :ature, o his first being, or primogeneous feature, Within the close 'hamber or 7ouse of putrefaction, According to
Let him' that (# +i"ine aitance o(taineth thi (lee! &ater' ren!er than) unto 7o!' for he hath the e# in hi han!' >here>ith he ma# o-en the fat Loc) of all Metallic) Chet' 6 out of >hich 7ol!' Sil"er' 7em' Honour' ,o>er' an! Health are to (e ha!* Thi (lee! &ater i (# the ,hiloo-her l
7ac optime notania$
%
Aqua clavis artis$
.00.
calle!' the er* It i alo t erme! the >hite' -ure' !elicate' un!efile! Dirgin /e;a' >ithout >hich no generation nor increae can (e effecte!*
An! therefore the ,hiloo-her e-oue! thi !eliciou
-ure Dirgin unto 4abricius ' to the en! the# ma# raie u- Fruit@ an! >hen 7a(riciu la# >ith her' he !#e!' an! Be;a out of ecei"e lo"e >allo>e! an! conume! him' a Arisleus in urba 0hilosophorum -ea)eth of it* An! Bernhard in hi 0ractica * aith: the Fountain i a a Mother unto the ing' for he !oth attract him' an! caueth him to !#e' (ut the ing (# her mean rieth again' an! uniteth himelf o firml# unto her' that no man can hurt him* An! therefore the ,hiloo-her a#' Be;a '
although 7a(riciu (e cotlier' !earer' an! more eteeme! (# the &orl! than
#et he alone can (ring no Fruit* Thi Dirgin an! (lee! &ater the ,hiloo-her name! in their /oo) >ith man# thouan! name@
0
the# call it Hea"en' Celetial
&ater' Celetial Rain' the !e> of Hea"en' May-de. ' &ater of ,ara!ice' -arting &ater' Aua Regi' a corroi"e Auafort' har- Dinegar' /ran!#' Buinteence of &ine' gro>thful green uice' a gro>ing Mercur#' a "iri!ecent &ater' an! Leo
Diri!i'
Buic) Sil"er' Menstruum ' /lou!' Urine' Hore.-i' Mil)' an! Dirgin Mil)' >hite Arnic)' Sil"er' Lune ' an! ;uice of Lune ' a &oman' Feminine See!' a ul-hureou "a-ouring &ater an! moa)' a fier# (urning S-irit' a !ea!l# -iercing -o#on' an! /aili) that )illeth all' a "enomou &orm' a "enomou Ser-ent' a +ragon' a Scor-ion !e"ouring hi Chil!ren' a hellih fire of Hore.!ung' a har- Salt' an! Salt. Armoniac)' a common Salt' har- Soa-' L#e' a "icou O#l' Otrich< Stomach >hich !oth !e"our an! concoct all' an Eagle' Dulture' /ir! of
7ermes ' a Deel an! Seal of
7ermes ' a melting an! calcining Furnace' an! innumera(le other name of /eat'
/ir!' Her( ' &ater' uice' Mil)' /lou! ' Etc* An! the# >rit figurati" el# in their /oo) of thi &ater' to (e ma!e of uch thing' >herea all the un>ie >hich ought it in uch li)e thing' ha"e not foun! the true !eire! &ater* no> therefore' m# !ear Son' that it is only made of Mercury vive,
%
and no other heterogeneous thing in
the World @ an! that the ,hiloo-her therefore ga"e it o man# Name' that it might
not (e )no>n to the un>ie* An! >ith thi 6tem I >ill conclu!e thi Treatie' >here(# thou ma#t un!ertan! an! learn' that >ithout thi Fire all the la(our of the >hole &orl! i meerl# lot' all Ch#mical -rocee fale' l#ing an! uele* The great Rosary aith' there i no more (ut one Recei-t' an! >ith thi one Loc) all the
,hiloo-her /oo) (oth -articularl# an! uni"erall# are loc)alle! a(out' an! fence! a it >ere >ith a
!
Varia appellationes aqua Mercurii$
%
Aqua Merc urii unassiat$
.06.
trong &all@ an! he that )no> not the e#' nor hath it in -oeion' i not a(le to o-en the Loc)' nor to o(tain Fruit* For thi &ater i the onl# e# for to o-en the Metallic) &all a n! 7ar!en* An! thi &ate r i the trong Au afort' of >hich I aacu in hi -articular &or) i to (e un!ertoo!' >here>ithall he !iol"eth an! -irituali? eth the /o!ie* An! therefore it i "er# !iligentl# to (e note!' that >ithout thi &ater nothing can (e effecte! in 'hemica '0 an! >ithout it all are (ut falitie an! l#e' (oth in Metal an! Mineral' a alo in Degeta(le an! Animal* &hether the# !iol"e' u(lime' !itill' calcine' etract* mi or com-oun! >ith an# other thing >hatoe"er@ >hether the# !iol"e per deliquium in Balneo ' in Hore.!ung' in Auafort' an! all ort of trong Liuor' >hich eem to -romie ome -ro(a(ilit#' an! accor!ing a the -reten!e! -rocee of Alch#mit !o teach or ma# (e in"ente!: >hether there (e ma!e O#l' &ater' Cal' ,o>!er' (lac)' >hite' #ello> an! re!@ >hether it (e (urnt' melte!' or !one an# thing a(out it' >hich the Alch#mit Recei-t !o teach an! "ent for true' >here(# to ma)e 7ol! an! Sil"er' all -ro"eth (ut fale an! a cheat in the e"ent* For m# elf >ith m# o>n han! ha"e e-erimente! all uch thing to m# !amage an! lo' not (elie"ing them to (e fale (efore I tr#e! them* Therefore (e ehorte!' m# Son' to hun uch So-hiter'
6
Cheat an! Im-oter' a
much a the gran! Im-oter the +e"il' an! a"oi! them a carefull# a a terri(le (urning Fire' an! ,o#on@ for (# uch So-hitr#' an! >eetl# ininuating fale Alch#m#' a man run the ha?ar! of /o!# an! Soul' Re-utation an! &ealth' #ea thi Im-oture i >ore than the +e"il himelf* For though a man houl! -en! a >hole ,ro"ince or ing!om u-on uch !eceitful -rocee' #et all >oul! (e conume! in "ain' an! no firm truth there(# (e o(taine!* &herefore o-en th# e#e' o>n an! ac)no>le!ge the onl# e#' an! flee from all falit#@ for it i im-oi(le ele to -ee!' or !o an# goo!* ! %
Abs que aqua nihil fit in 'hemia $ Sophista in 'hemia vitandi$
FINIS*
.09.
THE ,RIDY
SEA
L
OF SECRETS'
&HICH
U-on -ain of +ammnation i not una!"ie!l# to (e (ro)en u-' nor Re"eale! to an# (ut >ith great Care' an! man# Caution*
TH
E , R I D Y SEA
L O F SE
CR
ET
S
To omit circumtance' the firt Matter out of >hich the ,hiloo-her Stone i to (e ha! an! ta)en' i a u(;ect common an! -oor in out>ar! a--earance' an! therefore it i calle! a little thing' an! it
i in e"er# Mine' #et i nearer in ome
thing than in other' an! in a >or! in the Mineral ing!om #ou mut ha"e it' in the mot ecellent >or) of the Mineral Hierarch#@ therefore not Animal or Degetal* no> #e then' $although I !en# not Raymonds Cannon to (e true% that the li"el# Nature (eing contraine! >ith the trength of 7ol!' in the mot u(tle heat' the Tincture ma# (e ma!e >ell eail#' an! in a hort time' >hich >ill con"ert all metal into -erfect 7ol!@ (ut the >a# of the ,hiloo-her in the Uni"eral &or)' >a out of the Mineral ing!om@ lea"ing therefore Animal an! Degetal' I >ill acuaint #ou >ith the Uni"eral Su(;ect* no> that all ,hiloo-her affirm' that the Matter i (ut one thing' an! a "ile thing >hich coteth nothing' cat in High.>a# an! tro!!en u-on' >hich i the ho-e of Metal' or a thing containing all thing nee!ful for the &or) >ithin it elf@ an! al(eit curiou &it hol! all thee to (e
Aenigma?s ' #et the#
are true accor!ing to the letter* /riefl#' to manifet the truth' #ou hall )no> that in all Mine >hatoe"er there !oth l#e certain /e!' of a lutinou or cla#ih u(tance' un!er the Earth' >hich in ome -lace i har!er than in other' the !ee-er the Mine i' the more unctuou i the Cla#@ an! thi Cla# i the Mother of the Metal' the fee!er' of the Mine' for in it lie hi! the S-irit' or the three ,rinci-le of Metal' @vi> Salt the /o!#' Sulphur the Soul' an! Mercury the S-irit' not common nor
running' (ut a >hite Da-our >hich reol"e it elf into a >hite &ater@ I a# in"ii(l# in thi confue! lum- of Cla#' lie hi! the aforeai! ,rinci-le* An! thi i the true Matter or Su(;ect of the ,hiloo-her' an! mar) ho> that it agreeth >ith that I ai! (efore: Firt' that it i one thing' >hich #et containeth three@ Secon!l#' that it i a "ile thing' an! #et i not o' for it i a lum- of Cla#@ Thir!l#' that it i o "ile an! common that &or)men thro> it out of their Mine' an! trea! on it' a a thing of no "alue: I ha"e een High.>a# -a"e! >ith it in 7ungary ' an! it i no other in other Countrie* An! i not thi Chao or confue! matter
i
not thi the ho-e of Metal (e #ou ;u!ge* I too) m# Matter in 7ungary out of the Mine of Sol' an! o I >a taught' (ecaue more !ecocte!' an! ri-er or hotter S-irit are there' than in an# other Mine*
0aracelsus out of it >rought hi 2li"ir '
(ut the ,hiloo-her generall# too) their Matter $>hich i the ame in he> an! u(tance' (ut not o ri-e% out of the Mine of Saturn ' an! that i their Saturn o often mentione! .04.
in their /oo)@ not Ore of Saturn ' nor Mercury of Saturn (ut the S-erm' >here the Degeta(le S-irit are not -ecificate! to Lea!' (ut l#e hi! in the lutinou lum- of Cla#* No> the !ifference (et>een that >hich i ta)en out of the Mine of
Sol ' an!
that >hich i ha! out of the Mine of Saturn ' i thi@ in Sol the Matter i o -re-are!' #ou hall ha"e nee! of (ut one ,utrefaction' (ut in that ta)en out of the Mine of Saturn ' #ou mut ha"e three ,utrefaction' >hich in!ee! i the great an! uni"eral
&or)* An! thu I ha"e full# an! -lainl# re"eale! the Matter' the &or) i eaie' vi>$ The Practice.
Ta)e thi lutinou Cla# out of Sol or Saturn ' $for the >or)ing in either the ,re-aration i ali)e% I a#' ta)e that >hich i mot clamm# or unctuou' an! >hen #ou gather it' )ee- it from the Air' a cloe a #ou can in a gla or Earthen Deel' for it >ill $>hich I ha"e a!mire!% in an intant in!urate an! har!en: /ut -ut it in a 7la Deel' an! in that !iget it (eing >ell to--e! in /*M* or in a /lin! Hea! >hich i (etter@ (ut let three -art of the Deel (e em-t#' an! let the heat of #our Balneum (e uch a #ou ma# eail# hol! #our han! in it* Some ,hiloo-her
!igete! thi a ,hiloo-hical month' >hich i i >ee)' (ut then their Matter >a not freh@ for if it (e freh' then fifteen or t>ent# !a#
i ufficient* After +igetion
alter the hea!' an! !itill' an! #ou hall ha"e the ,hiloo-her O#l@ >hich (eing come' -our it on the Matter again' an! thi till #ou ha"e o much Dinegar a >ill >im four finger o"er the Matter@ then let it tan! t>ent#.four hour' an! it >ill (e tinge! #ello>@ -our that gentl# off' an! !itill a>a# #our Dinegar till it come to a gumm# u(tance@ then -our thi Dinegar on the Matter again' an! it >ill (e tinge! #ello>: !itill an! reiterate thi until #our Dinegar (e no more tinge! #ello>' then hath it uc)e! out all the S-irit out of the Cla#: then from the #ello> Liuor !itill a>a# all the Dinegar' an! #ou hall ha"e a gumm# u(tance li)e !iget thi t>o !a#' then !itill a>a# all the Flegm in
Saccarum Saturn :
Balneo ' then let it cool' an!
-ut it in a Retort' >ith a great Recei"er >ell lute! to it a can (e@ -ut it into an Ah Furnace' an! !itill it again' an! (# !egree #ou hall ha"e all #our Recei"er (ecome a >hite a Mil)' >hich i cru!e Mercury of ,hiloo-her' or the Dirgin Mil): continue +itillation' an! a (lou! re! O#l hall acen!' >hich i
Sulphur of
,hiloo-her incom(uti(le an! unctuou: continue till no more >ill come o"er' >ith o "iolent a heat for t>el"e hour' that #ou !o almot melt the 7la@ then let it cool' an! ta)e off that Recei"er' an! to- it u- "er# cloe: (rea) the Retort' an! the Fece >ill (e a (lac) a .0=.
,itch' an! har!' >hich grin! mall on a Mar(le' then Re"er(erate it in an Earthen Calcining.-an' cloe co"ere! for three !a#' $(ut ma)e not the Matter re!.hot% an! la# it t>o finger thic) in the ,an: then ta)e it out' an! either >ith #our Dinegar rectifie! from it Fece' or >ith Rain>ater !itille!' I ha"e trie! an! foun! it (eing >ell Re"er(erate!' that it >ill ta)e u- the Salt' hel! the Dinegar the (et an! mot -ro-er@ !iget it therefore >ith Dinegar t>ent# hour' then filter an! !itill it in /*M* till it !r#@ !iol" e it again in that Din egar' (ut firt rec tifie it: let it ettle' -hi lter an! !itill' an! reiterate until the Salt (e Cr#talline an! >hite' then -ut it in a >hite gla /o!#' -our thereon thi re! O#l >hich i the &ater >hich i incor-orate! there>ith:
Sulphur ' an! alo the >hite
lute on cloe an! >ell a /lin! Hea!' an!
!iget in Balneo three !a# an! it >ill (e all one thing or -a-: (ut then !itill a>a# all the humi!it# that >ill arie' an! then -ut it
in an Egg.gla >ith a hort nec)' ni-
it u- >ithout heating the Matter' let the Egg (e (ut a fourth -art full* Thi i the gro Con;unction an! ,re-aration' >ithout a!!ing an# more than Nature -ro-ortion:
-ut the 7la in an Athanor ' in a gentle heat' an! the
Matter hall !iol"e' -utrifie' an! -erform all the &or) (# "ertue of Count revisan?s Fire' >hich i the S-irit e"er >or)ing >ithin the 7la' (eginning "ii(l#
(efore the Matter (egin to -utrifie' for thee it continuall# acen! an! !ecen! until Congelation* /e not too curiou' onl# -ra# to 7o!' an! he >ill !irect #our &or)' an! (ring it to a -erio!' >hich I ;u!ge to (e iteen month' a (lou!.re! ,o>!er im-al-a(le in the concluion of the &or)' (e -atient an! #ou cannot erre* Note' I >a ne"er taught to multi-l#' (ut (# increaing >ith hi o>n O#l an! Salt' that i' >ith ten -art O#l an! one of Salt !e-urate!' an! o increaing the Me!icine #ou hall (ring it a high a #ou >ill* I )no> not an# more than thi' neither can an# more large or more -lainl#* Ser"e 7o!' an! #ou cannot erre* no> alo' that #ou ma# >ith thi Fire.Stone' >hich i the re! O#l' an! thi Salt -re-are! from the >hite &ater' increase 0rocipitate of Sol and Mercury ' ele"ate! together an! then mie!' or u-on a u(tle Cal of
Sol alone' (ut not o
u!!enl#* The mannor i' to -our on the Cal the re! O#l' till it (e li)e -a-@ then lute it' an! et it in Ahe to circulate in a Circulator#' that if an# Mercurial S-irit houl! remain' it ma# till arie an! not hin !er the fiation of the Matter: the Fire till it (e a !r# ,o>!er' then increae more an! more' till it (e in
continue an O#line
u(tance fit' >hich turn Luna into -erfect Sol >ith great -rofit* An! thu #ou ma# increae >ith the O#l of Antimony ' a I ha"e he>e! #ou* Fin* .01.
A LETTER
Communicate! (# the mot Serene ,rince
FRE+ERIC:
+u)e of Halatia an! Sle>ic)' Concerning an A!e-t' AN+ Relate thing trange an! unhear!.of
A
L E T T E R
The following Letter was communicated by the most Serene Prince Frederick Duke of olsatia and Sleswick! and relates things strange and unheard"of.
M# Frien!' You ha"e !eire! of me an account of the Life an! +eath' Inheritance an! Heir of m# Mater /** of ha--# memor#: I return #ou thi An>er' in Latine ' a #our to me >a' though I (e not eactl# )ille! in it* He >a (# Nation a e. ' (# Religion a 'hristian ' for he (elie"e! in 'hrist the Sa"iour' an! o-enl# ma!e -rofeion of the ame: He >a a man of great Honet#' an! ga"e great Alm in ecret: He li"e! chatl# a /atchelor' an! too) me >hen I >a a(out t>ent# #ear of Age' out of the Houe >here Or-han are maintaine! (# the ,u(lic)' an! caue! me to (e intructe! in the
Latine, 8rench '
an! 6talian Tongue@ to >hich I after>ar! (# ue a!!e! the e.ish or 7ebre. * He ma!e ue of me' o far a I >a ca-a(le' in hi La(orator#' for he ha! great )ill in ,h#ic)' an! cure! mot !e-erate +ieae* &hen I >a t>ent# fi"e #ear of Age' he calle! me into hi ,arlour' an! ma!e me >ear to him' that I >oul! ne"er marr# >ithout hi conent an! )no>le!ge@ >hich I -romie!' an! ha"e religioul# )e-t* &hen I >a thirt# #ear of Age' on a morning he en! for me into hi ,arlour' an! ai! "er# lo"ingl# to me' M# Son' I -ercei"e that the /alom of m# Life' (# reaon of etreme ol! Age coming on' $for he >a eight# eight #ear of Age% i >ell.nigh >ate!' an! that coneuentl# m# +eath i at the !oor: >herefore I ha"e >rit m# lat &ill an! Tetament' for the ue an! (enefit of m# /rother Son' an! of #ou' an! ha"e lai! it u-on the Ta(le of m# Cloet' >hither neither #ou nor an# mortal e"er entere!:
for #ou !urt not o much a )noc) at
the !oor' !uring the hour et a-art for m# +e"otion* Ha"ing ai! thi' he >ent to the !ou(le !oor of hi Cloet' an! !au(e! o"er the ;o#ning thereof >ith a certain tran-aren t an! Cr#talline Matter' >hich he
>rought >ith hi finger till it (ecame
oft an! #iel!ing li)e &a' an! im-rinte! hi 7ol!en Seal u-on it@ the ai! Matter >a imme!iatel# har!ene! (# the col! Air' o that >ithout !efacing the Seal' the !oor coul! no >a# (e o-ene!* Then he too) the e# of the Cloet' an! hut them u- in a mall Ca(inet' an! eale! the ame a (efore >ith the ai! Cr#talline Matter' an! !eli"ere! the ai! Ca(inet' after he ha! eale! it' into m# han!' an! charge! me to !eli"er the ame to none (ut hi /rother Son' Mr* esse, Abrah ' an! Solomon oelha ' >ho at that time li"e! in S.it>erland ' the el!et .05.
of them (eing a /atchelor* After thi he returne! >ith me into the ,arlour' an! in m# -reence !ro--e! the 7ol!en Seal he ha! ma!e ue of' into a gla of clear &ater' in >hich the ai! Seal >a imme!iatel# !iol"e !' li)e Ice in hot &ater' a >hite ,o>!er ettling to the (ottom' an! the Liuor >a tingith -ale re! of a ,ro"ence Roe*
Then he cloe! the ai! 7la Dial' >ith the a(o"e.mentione !
tran-arent Matter' an! charge! me to !eli"er the ai! Dial' together >ith the e#' to Mr* esse * Thi (eing !one' he re-eate! u-on hi (en!e! )nee ome of
,alm in 7ebre. ' an! (etoo) himelf to hi Couch' >here he >a ue! to leeafter +inner' an! comman!e! me to (ring him a 7la of Malaga' >hich no> an! then he -aringl# ma!e ue of: A oon a he ha! !ran) off hi &ine' he (i! me come to him' an! leaning hi hea! u-on m# houl!er' he fell into a uiet lee-' an! after half an hour time fetche! a "er# !ee- igh' an! o #iel!e! hi Soul to 7o!' to m# great atonihment* U-on thi I accor!ing to m# -romie >rit into S.it>erland ' to gi"e notice of hi !eath to hi Ne-he>@ an! to m# great >on!er' the "er# !a# after m#
(lee!
Mater !ie!' I recei"e! a Letter from Mr* esse ' >herein he enuire! >hether m# Mater >ere !ea! or ali"e' a if he ha! )no>n e"er# thing that ha! -ae!@ a in!ee! he !i!' (# mean of a certain Intrument' of >hich hereafter I hall ma)e mention* A little after hi Ne-he> came' to >hom I ga"e an account of >hat ha! -ae!@ all >hich Mr* esse hear! >ith a mile' (ut the other /rother not >ithout atonihment an! >on!er* I ga"e him the e#' together >ith the 7la in >hich >a the aforeai! 7ol!en Solution@ (ut the# refue! then to
me!!le >ith an#thing
that !a# (eing tire! >ith their ourne#' (ut on the morro>' after I ha! carefull# hut all the !oor of the houe' an! none (ut the# an! I (eing -reent' Mr*
esse
too) the 7la Dial' an! (ro)e it o"er a China.!ih' >hich might recei"e the incloe! Liuor an! -ut it u-on the tran-arent Matter' >ith >hich the Ca(inet >a eale!' an! imme!iatel# the Matter >hich (efore >a har! a chr#tal' >a reol"e! into a thic)ih &ater@ o he o-ene! the Ca(inet' an! too) thence the e# of the Cloet* Then >e came to the !oor of the Cloet' >here Mr* esse ha"ing een the Seal' he >ette! it a formerl# >ith the forementione! Liuor' >hich imme!iatel# ga"e >a#@ an! o he o-ene! the ai! !ou(le !oor' (ut hut it again' an! falling !o>n u-on hi )nee' -ra#e!' a >e alo !i!@ then >e entere!' an! hut the !oor u-on u*
Here I a> great Miracle* .02.
In the mi!t of the Cloet too! a Ta(le' >hoe Frame >a of E(on#: the Ta(le it elf >a roun!' an! of the ame &oo!' (ut co"ere! >ith ,late of (eaten 7ol!@ (efore the Ta(le >a -lace! a lo> Foottool' for to )neel u-on: in the mi!t of the Ta(le too! an intrument of a trange an! >on!erful contri"ance' the lo>er -art of it or ,e!etal >a of -ure 7ol!' the mi!!le -art >a of mot tran-arent Cr#tal' in >hich >a incloe! an incom(uti(le an! -er-etuall#.hining Fire@ the u--er -art of it >a li)e>ie of -ure 7ol!' ma!e in the form of a mall Cu-' or Dial* ut a(o"e thi Intrument hung !o>n a Chain of 7ol!' to >hich >a fatne! an artificial Cr#tal' of an O"al form' fille! >ith the aforeai! -er-etual Fire* On the right i!e of the Ta(le >e too) notice of a 7ol!en /o' an! u-on the ame a little S-oon: thi /o containe! a /alom of a Scarlet colour* On the left i!e >e a> a little +e) of Maie 7ol!' u-on >hich >a lai! a /oo) containing t>el"e lea"e of -ure (eaten 7ol!' (eing tracta(le an! flei(le a ,a-er@ in the mi!t of the lea"e >ere e"eral Character engra"e!' a li)e>ie in the Corner of the ai! lea"e' (ut in the -ace (et>een the Center an! corner of the lea"e' >ere fille! >ith Hol# ,ra#er* Un!er the +e) >e foun! the lat &ill of m# !eceae! Mater@ >hilt >e >ere in the Cloet' Mr* esse neele! !o>n' leaning u-on the +e)' an! >ith mot hum(le !e"otion re-eate! ome of the forementione! ,ra#er' an! then >ith the little -oon too) u- a mall uantit# of the aforeai! /alom an! -ut it into the toof the Intrument >hich >a in the mi!t of the Ta(le' an! intantl# a mot grateful Fume acen!ing >hich >ith it mot -leaing o!our !i! mot eni(l# refreh u: (ut that >hich to me eema' that the ai! Fume acen!ing' caue! the -er-etual Fire encloe! in the hanging Cr#tal' to flah an! (la?e terri(l#' li)e ome great tar or Lightning* After thi' Mr* esse rea! the &ill' >herein he (eueathe! to Mr* esse all hi Intrument an! /oo) of &i!om' an! the ret of hi 7oo! to (e euall# !i"i!e! (et>een him an! hi /rother@ (ei!e he left me a Legac# of 1333 7ol!en +ucatoon' a an ac)no>le!gment of m# fi!elit#* An! accor!ingl# firt enuir# >a ma!e for the Intrument an! /oo) of &i!om@ of thoe that >ere on an! a(out the Ta(le' I ha"e -o)en alrea!#: in the right i!e of the Cloet too! a Chet of E(on#' >hoe ini!e >a all co"ere! >ith ,late of (eaten 7ol!' an! containe! t>el"e Character engra"en u-on them* .08.
From thence >e >ent to "ie> a large Chet' containing t>el"e loo)ing. glae not ma!e of 7la' (ut of a certain >on!erful un)no>n Matter@ the Center of the ai! Loo)ing.glae >ere fille! >ith >on!erful Character' the /rim of them >ere incloe! in -ure 7ol!' an! (et>een the ai! /rim an! center the# >ere -olihe!' loo)ing.glae recei"ing all o--oite Image* After thi >e o-ene! a "er# large Chet or Cae' in >hich >e foun! a mot ca-aciou loo)ing.gla ' >hich Mr* esse tol! u >a Solomons Loo)ing.gla' an! the Miracle of the >hole &orl!@ in >hich the Characterim of the >hole Uni"ere >ere unite!* &e a> alo in a /o of E(on#' a 7lo(e ma!e of a >on!erful Matter@ Mr* esse tol! u' that in the ai! 7lo(e >a hut u- the Fire an! Soul of the &orl!' an! that therefore the ai! 7lo(e of it elf -erforme! all it motion' in an eact Harmon# an! Agreement >ith thoe of the Uni"ere* U-on thi /o forementione! too! another' >hich containe! an Intrument 0 reem(ling a Cloc).+ial' (ut intea! of the Figure of the 06 hour' the Letter of the Al-ha(et >ere -lace! aroun! thi' >ith a Han! or In!e turning an! -ointing at them* Mr* esse tol! u' that thi Intrument >oul! mo"e of it elf' u-on the motion of a Corre-on!ing an! S#m-athetic) Intrument' >hich he ha! at home' an! that (# mean of thi Intrument' m# ha--# Mater ha! ignifie! to him hi a--roaching !eath@ an! that after thi ignification' fin!ing that thi Intrument remaine! >ithout motion' he conclu!e! m# Mater >a !ea!* Lat of all >e came to the /oo) of &i!om' >hich he o-ene! not@
near
the ai! /oo) >a -lace! a /o of 7ol!' full of a mot -on!erou ,o>!er of a !ee- Scarlet colour' >hich Mr*
esse miling too) an! -ut u-*
Near to the Cloet >here >e >ere' >a another Cloet a!;o#ning' >hich >e entere! into' an! there foun! four large Chet full of mall Ingot of mot -ure 7ol!' out of >hich the# ga"e me m# Legac# of 1333 7ol!en +ucatoon in a !ou(le -ro-ortion* /ut Mr* esse refue! to ta)e for himelf an# of
the ai! 7ol!@
for he ai!' that thoe thing >hich >ere afore (eueathe! to him' !i! full# content him' for he >a )ille! u-on e"eral -oor Dirgin' of )in to them' to ma)e utheir ,ortion* I m# elf marrie! one of thee' an! ha! >ith her a goo! ,ortion out of the ai! 7ol!@ he em(race! the Chritian Religion' an! i #et ali"e* 0
See thi Intrument !ecri(e! in a /oo) calle! Arts :otoria ' ,rinte! in Latine or Englih' -age 091* .63.
Mr* esse -ac)e! u- all hi thing' an! carrie! them home >ith him
into
S.it>erland ' though ince that he hath choe himelf a uiet an! >ell.tem-ere!
-lace in the 2ast-6ndies ' from >hence he >rit to me lat #ear' offering me to a!o-t m# el!et Son' >hom I ha"e accor!ingl# ent to him* +uring the time >e >ere in the Cloet' I a> trange Miracle effecte! (# the motion of the ai! Intrument of &i!om' >hich I neither can nor !are et !o>n in >riting* Thu much' m# intimate Frien!' I >a >illing #ou houl! )no>' more I cannot a!!* Fare>ell* FINIS*
.60.
A
TREATISE
3 F
MERCURY
An! the ,HILOSO,HERS STONE /# Sir 7EOR7E RI,LEY
A T R E A T # S E
$F % E R & ' R (
I >ill' m# !earet Son' intruct thee in thi /lee! Science' >hich >a hi! from the &ie of ol!' to >hom 7o! >a -leae! to he> o much fa"our: no> therefore' that our Matter i the chiefet of all thing in the Earth' an! of the leat etimation an! account' a >ill hereafter more -lainl# a--ear* For if &ater incor-orate it elf >ith Earth' the &ater >ill (e lo>et of all' an! >ill $if it (e not )e-t !o>n% >ith Fire' acen! higher@ an! thu it ma# (e een' ho> &ater >ill (e the highet an! lo >et* Yet true it i' that it i o f leat etimatio n' for in our Earth an ! &ater' an! in that !roie Earth' #ou ma# fin! ome "er# -ure an! clear' >hich i our See! an! fifth Eence' an! then that foul an! !roie Earth i goo! for nothing ele' an! of no etimation* /ut that &ater' a I ai!' i the chiefet' >ill a--ear man# >a#: no>' Son' that > ithout &ater >e cannot ma)e /rea!' nor an# thing ele' >hich 7o! hath create! in Nature@ an! hence #ou ma# eail# -ercei"e' that &ater i the firt Matter of all thing >hich are (orn or
generate! in the &orl!: for certainl#
manifet unto thee' that nothing gro> or recei"eth increae >ithout the four Element@ therefore >h atoe"er i El ementate! (# th e "irtue of the four E lement' it mut of neceit# (e' that the srcinal of all thing that are (orn or gro>' houl! (e of &ater: Yet ought #ou not to un!ertan!' thi (efore -o)en of &ater' (ut of that &ater >hich i the Matter of all thing' out of
>hich all Natural thing are -ro!uce! in
their )in!* no> therefore' that firt of a ll Air i engen!re! of &ater@ of Air' Fire@ of Fire' Earth* No> >ill I more familiarl# an! frien!l# !icoure >ith thee@ I therefore that I ma# atifie th# !eire' I >ill !icoure of the firt Matter' >hich ,hiloo-her call' the
fifth 2ssence ' an! man# other Name the#
ha"e for it' (# >hich the# ma# the more o(cure it* In it for certain are four Element' -ure in their Ealtation: no> therefore' that if #ou >oul! ha"e the fifth Eence' Man' #ou mut firt ha"e man' #ou mut ha"e nothing ele of that Matter@ an! ee that #ou o(er"e thi >ell* Thi I a# that if #ou !eire to ha"e the ,hiloo-her Stone' #ou mut of neceit# firt ha"e the fifth Eence of that ame Stone' >hether it (e Mineral or Degetati"e@ o#n therefore
Species .ith Species ' an!
7em >ith 7em' an! not the one >ithout the other' nor an# thing contrar#' >hich ma# (e other than the Species or -ro-er 7em@ (e>are therefore of all that i not Eential:
For of /one' Stone cannot (e ma!e' neither !o Crane (eget 7eee@
>hich if .66.
#ou >ill coni!er' #ou
the hel- of +i"ine 7race (# the
aitance >hereof let u farther -rocee! to -ea) of thi (lee! &ater' >hich i calle! the &ater of the Sun an! Moon' hi!!en in the conca"it# of our Earth* Concerning >hich Earth )no> that all that i generate! mut of neceit# ha"e Male an! Female from >hich action an! -aion arie' >ithout >hich 7eneration ne"er i* /ut #ou >ill certainl# ne"er recei"e -rofit from thing !iffering in )in!* Not>ithtan!ing' if #ou ha"e thi &ater of the Sun an! Moon' it >ill !ra> other /o!ie an! Humour to it o>n )in!' (# the hel- of the "irtue an! heat of the Sun an! Moon' an! >ill ma)e them -erfect* A an Infant in
the >om( of it Mother'
!ecoction of tem-erate heat hel-ing it' turneth the Flo>er into it nature an! )in!' that i' into Fleh' /lou!' /one' an! Life' >ith the other -ro-ertie of a li"ing /o!#' of >hich ith thing of it o>n )in!:
For firt it >ill congeal it elf into a u(tance li)e O#l@ then it >ill
change that O#l' (# the mean of tem-erate heat' into 7um@ an! latl#' (# the hel- of the -erfect heat of the Sun' into a Stone* No> therefore )no>' that out of one thing #ou ha"e three' that i' O#l' 7 um' an! a Stone* no> alo' that >hen the &ater i turne! into O#l' then #ou ha"e a
-erfect S-irit@ >hen the O#l i turne!
into har! 7um' then #ou ha"e a -erfect S-irit an! Soul@ an! >hen the S-irit an! Soul are turne! into a Stone' then #ou ha"e a -erfect /o!#'
Soul an! S-irit
together: >hich a it i calle! the 0hilosophers Stone an! 2li"ir ' an! a -erfect Me!icine of man /o!#@ o alo that >hich i lea"ene! >ith it
genus ' an! the
fifth 2ssence * no>' Son' that fifth 2ssences are !i"ere' one >hereof i to Humane /o!ie' another to 2li"ir ' an! to the im-erfect /o!ie of Metal: For #ou
mut coni!er' that the generation an! gro>th of Metal' i not a the gro>th of man /o!#@ for a genus agree >ith it genus ' an! a species >ith it species * Moreo"er' )no> that the firt Matter of man' >hich (egetteth the Fleh' /lou!' /one an! Life' i a S-ermatic) Humour' >hich caueth generation' through a "ital S-irit inclu !e! therein: An! >hen the Ma tter i generate ! an! congea le! into a /o!#' etract thence the fifth 2ssence of that /o!#' >here>ith #ou ma# nourih the /o!#* Yet' Son' >ill I tell thee moreo"er' that &ater' or Matter' or See! >hereof Man i (egot' i not the augmenter of the /o!#* no>' Son' that if the /o!# (e fe! >ith it natural foo!' then it firt Matter >ill (e increae!' an! alo the /o!#' $"i?*% the firt Matter in ualit#' an! the /o!# in
uantit#@ the firt Matter
i that >hich i calle! the fifth 2ssence * Yet )no>' Son' that the fifth 2ssence i one thing' an! the Matter of Augmentation i another: .69.
an!' a I ai! (efore' the increae of Metal' i not
li)e the increae of man /o!#*
Although the fifth 2ssence ' >hich caueth the augmentation of Metal' ma# (e a fit Me!icine for Humane /o!ie@ a alo the fifth 2ssence ' >hich caueth the augmentation of man /o!#' ma# (e a fit Me!icine for the /o!ie of Metal:
an!
therefore' a (efore i ai!' the fifth 2ssence i one thing' an! augmentation another* You ee therefore for >hat reaon our &ater i calle!' the first Matter and Seed of Metals, vi>$ (ecaue o f it all Metal are gener ate!* Therefore #ou >ill
ha"e nee! of it in the (eginning' mi!!le' an! en!' for a much a it i the caue of all generation' (ecau e (# it Congelation it i turne! into all ort of Metal' to >it' into the firt Matter of the ort* the
!
Thence it i calle!' the Seed of Metals ' an!
Metallic/ Water of Life : (ecaue it affor! Life an! /lou! to ic) an! !ea!
Metal' G ;o#neth in Matrimon# the Re! man >ith the &hite >oman' that i' the Sun an! the Moon* It i calle! alo Virgins Mil/ @ for a long a it i not ;o#ne! >ith the Sun an! the Moon' nor >ith an# thing ele' ece-t onl# thoe >hich are of it o>n )in!' o long it ma# (e calle! a Dirgin* /ut >hen it i ;o#ne! >ith a Male an! Female' an! marrieth >ith them' then i it no longer a Dirgin' (ecaue it a!hereth to them' an! (ecome one >ith them to >hom it i ;o#ne!' that i' >ith the Sun an! Moon' >hom it ;o#n an! i ;o#ne! >ith to generation*
/ut a long a it
remain a Dirgin' it i calle! Virgins Mil/ ' the Blessed Water ' an! the Water of Life ' an! (# man# other Name* An! no>' m# Son' that I ma# a# omething of the ,hiloo-her Mercury ' )no> that >hen thou hat -ut th# Water of Life to the Re! man' >ho i our Magnesia ' an! to the &hite >oman@ >hoe name i Albifica ' an! the# hall all
ha"e (een gathere! together into one' then #ou ha"e the true ,hiloo-her Mercury * For after that in t hi manner all i ;o#n e! >ith a Male an! F emale' then it
i calle! the 0hilosophers Mercury ' the 0hilosophers Water of Life ' the Bloud of Man, his red 8lesh, his Body and Bones
* no> the refore' th at there are man#
ort of Mil)' $Di?*% Dirg in Mil)' & oman Mil)' an! alo Man Mil): For >hen firt the# are ;o#ne! in one' an! he i (ig' ha"ing concei"e!' then the Infant mut (e nourihe! >ith Mil):
/ut then #ou ma# )no> that thi Mil) i not Dirgin Mil)' (ut
rather the man an! the >oman Mil)' >here>ith it i al>a# to (e nourihe!' till it i gro>n to that trength' that it ma# (e (rought u- >ith tronger an! fuller foo!* That foo! >hich I mean i the lea"ening of it' >hich gi"e it form' that it ma# -erform Dirile >or): For until the Infant' that i' thi our Stone' (e forme! an! lea"ene! >ith it li)e' 0
So it i in the Latine' though - erha- the >or! houl! (e Dita Metallica' that i' the &ater of Metallic) Lif e' that i' of the L ife of Metal* .64.
the /lou! of the green +ragon' an! the re! /lou! of the re! +ragon' >hether it (e the >hite Stone or the re!' it >ill ne"er !o a -erfect >or)* no> therefore' Son' that the firt &ater i that &ater Re(ar' >hich 7o! ma!e of Nature' an! it i the caue of 7eneration' a I ai! (efore@ (ut >hen after the con;unction >hich arieth from the Marriage' it (eget the &ater of Life' an! the ,hiloo-her Mil)' >ith one of >hich' or (oth' #ou mut augment an! fee! #our Stone -er-etuall#* Much more coul! I a# to thee' Son' concern ing thi firt Matter' (ut let thi uffice' that etting ai!e im-ertinence of >or!' >e ma# no>' +i"ine 7race fa"ouring u' -rocee! to the -ractice it elf of the ,hiloo-hic) Stone* See therefore' m# Son' that thou !iligentl# -uttet all thee Matter $>hich though the# are three thing' #et are the# (ut one onl#% in a 7la Deel' an! lettet them uietl# -utrefie: then -ut an Alem(ic) u-on #our Deel' an! (# !itillation !ra> out all the &ater' >hich ma# ( e thence ! itille!* Tr# thi fir t in Maries /ath* Then -lace the Deel in Ahe' an! ma)e a gentle Fire for 06 hour: then ta)e the Matter out of the Deel' grin! it >ell (# it elf' >ithout the foreai! &ater' then -ut it again into the Deel >ith &ater' an! to- the Deel cloe* ,ut it in the /ath for three !a#' an! then !itill the &ater a (efore in the /ath' an! the Matter >ill (e more (lac) than (efore* +o thu three time o"er' an! then grin! it no more@ (ut after>ar! a often a #ou !itill it' o oft -our &ater on the to-:
(ut (et>een each !itillati on gi"e it o much Fire for i
hour or more till it (ecome in!ifferent !r#@ then -our &ater on the to- again' an! !iol"e it again in the /ath un!er a (lin! Alem(ic)* Alo in e"er# !itillation e-arate the Flegm' (# cating a>a# i or e"en !ro- of &ater in the (eginning of each !itillation* An! o(er"ing thi or!er' caue it to !rin) it -ro-er &ater' till it hath !ran) of it e"en time it >ei ght >hich it ha! at th e firt* /ut then it >ill (e o f a >hite colour' an! o much the >hiter' (# ho> much of the more of it o>n &ater it hath !ran)* Thi i &hite 2li"ir * Moreo"er' thi our &ater i calle! 7omogeneal ' an! (# man# other name* /ei!e' )no> that thi &ater an! Matter generate a >ell the Re! Stone' a the &hite: no> alo' >hen thi firt Matter i (rought to it com-leat >hitene' then the en! of one' i the (eginning of the other@ that i' of the Re! Stone' >hich i our Re! Magnesia, an! Dirgin /ra' a >e ai! at firt: Son' ee thou >ell un!ertan! thee >or!* Our Dirgin /ra' i our 7ol!@ Yet I !o not a#' that all /ra i 7ol!: alo our /ra' i our li"e /rimtone@ (ut all li"e /rimtone' i not our alo Buic)il"er' i Mercury @ .6=.
li"e /rimtone:
(ut I !o not a#' that common Buic)il"er' i our Sil"er: a I ai! (efore' that &ater of Life >hich i our See! an! firt Matter' i our
Mercury an! our S-irit of Life' >hich
i etracte! out of the (le Lan! of Aethiopia ' >hich i calle! Magnesia ' an! (# man# other name* /ei!e' m# Son' )no> that there i no -erfect generation' >ithout corru-tion@ for corru-tion caueth cleanline' an! cleanline corru-tion* Coni!er therefore' Son' our !#ing -oion' >hich !#eth an! i !#e! -er-etuall#@ an! thi i our /o!#' our Soul' an! our S-irit' >hen the# are ;o#ne! together in one' an! (ecome one thing' >hich >ith it -art arieth alo out of one thing' (ei!e >hich there i not an# other' neither e"er hall (e* &herefore' m# Son' great foll# it i for an# one to (elie"e' that an# other Me!icine can (e turne! into 7ol! or Sil"er@ >hich Me!icine >ill little -rofit thee of it elf' ece-t it (e mingle! >ith a /o!#' for then hall it -erfect it >or) accor!ing to it form to >hich it i (orn: For it i ne"er (orn that it of it elf (ecome a /o!#* Moreo"er' )no> that there i a much !ifference (et>een the firt Matter' >hich i calle! the
Seed of Metals ' an! the Me!icine' a (et>een the
Me!icine an! 7ol!: For the See! >ill ne"er (e the Me!icine >ithout a /o!#' neither >ill the Me!icine e"er (e a Metal >ithout a /o!#* Much !ifference alo there i (et>een Eliir an! the Me!icine' a (et>een Maculine an! Feminine See!' an! alo an Infant >hich i generate! of thoe in the Matrice * No> #ou ma# ee' that the See! i one thing' an! the Infant another@ though the# (e one an! the ame in )in!' one thing' one o-eration' the Deel finall# one' though it (e calle! (# !i"ere name: For of a Man an! &oman' i an Infant (orn' >hen a #et the Man i one thing' an! the &oman another' though the# (e one an! the ame in )in!: >hich #ou ought to un!ertan! in our Stone* /ut >hat I ai! (efore' that corru-tion i the caue of generation' an! of cleanline' i true: For' #ou mut )no>' that e"er# thing in it firt Matter i corru-t an! (itter' >hich corru-tion an! (itterne i calle! dying poison @ >hich i the caue of Life in all thing' a >ill (e ufficientl# manife t' if
#ou >ith right reaon !o >eigh the Nature of thing* Coni!er >ell' O Son' that >hen Lucifer the Angel of ,ri!e' firt re(elle! againt 7o!' an! -re"aricate! the Comman! of the mot High' (e aure! that thi >a ma!e corru-t' (itter' an! harh to him: No le >a the fall an! -re"aricati on of our firt ,arent Adam an! 2ve ' >hom !eath an! con!emnation follo>e!' ma!e to them corru-tion an! (itterne' an! li)e>ie to u in >hom the ame corru-tion i -ro-agate!* Man# more li)e eam-le I coul! recite' if n ee! >ere: /ut etting ai!e thee' to come to >hat i -ro-er to our !icoure@ coni!er >ell' that of all -reciou Fruit >hich gro> out of the Earth' their firt Matter i (itter an! harh' a till retaining ome footte- of the former corru-tion an! -utrefaction@ .61.
>hich (itterne' (# the mean of continual action of natural heat' i >ith great "irtue turne! into >eetne*
No> therefore' Son' if thou >ilt (e ingeniou' thi little >ill
uffice >here(# to fin! out much more' an! to -ercei"e m# meaning: Coni!er therefore >ell' Son' that accor!ing to the ol! ,ro"er(* 7e s.eet deserves not, .ho no bitter tasts$
/ut no> to -ea) omething more of our /ra@ )no>' that /ra ignifie continuance' or continuing &ater:
/ut >hat i farther to (e coni!ere! in the nature
of the name of /ra' #ou ma# eail# gather from it Englih Tetragrammate name' that i' it name coniting of four letter' to >it'
B$ R$ A$ S$
Firt therefore' (# B$ i
ignifie! the /o!# of our &or)' >hich i >eet an! (itter' our Oli"e an! our /ra continuing in it form: (# R$ i ignifie! the Root of our &or)' an! the S-ring of continuing Ra!ical Humour' >hich i our Re! Tincture' an! Re! Roe >hich -urifieth all in it )in!:
A * ignifie our Father Adam ' >ho >a the firt man' out of >hom >a
(orn the firt >oman 2ve @ >hence #ou ma# un!ertan!' that therein i Male an! Female* no> therefore' that our /ra i the (eginning of our &or)' our 7ol! an! Oli"e' for it i the firt Matter of Metal' a Man i the firt of Man an! &oman* ignifie the Soul of our Life' an! S-irit of Life' >hich 7o! (reathe! into
S$
Adam ' an! all
the Creature@ >hich S-irit i calle! the fifth 2ssence * Moreo"er' Son' (# thee four Letter' >e ma# un!ertan! the four Element' >ithout >hich nothing i generate! in Nature* The# alo ignifie Sol an! Lune ' >hich are the caue of all Life' 7eneration' an! augmentation of all thing (orn in the &orl!* In thi name therefore of four Letter' coniteth our >hole &or): For our /ra i Male an! Female' of >hich arieth he >ho i calle! (egot* Therefore' Son' ta)e goo! n otice >hat i ignifie! (# our >eet /ra' >hat i calle! our Sandiver ' or the Salt of our :itre ' or :itre @ >hat alo (# the /lou! of the +ragon' >hat Sol an! Lune ' our Mercury ' an! our &ater of Life' an! man# other thing' concerning >hich ,hiloo-her ha"e -o)en !ar)l#' an! in Ri!!le*
no> therefore' Son' that our firt Matter i neither 7ol!' nor common
Sil"er' nor i it of corroi"e' or uch out>ar! thing' >hich
!ar) no>.a.!a# !o ue* Ta)e hee! therefore' Son' that (# no mean #ou a!mit an# thing contrar# in )in!@ for (e aure!' that >hat a man hall ha"e o>e!' the ame hall he rea-* Moreo"er' )no> that >hen our Stone i com-leate! in it -ro-er )in!' then it >ill (e a har! Stone' >hich >ill not eail# (e !iol"e!@ #et if #ou a!! hi &ife to him' he >ill (e !iol"e! into O#l' >hich i calle! the ,hiloo-her O#l' incom(uti(l e O#l' an! (# man# other name* no> therefore' Son' that there are !i"er lea"ening' .65.
a >ell Cor-oral a S-iritual' $"i?*% Cor-oral in uantit#' an! S-iritual in ualit#: Cor-oral lea"ening increaeth the >eight an! uantit# of the Me!icine' #et i not of o great -o>er a the Me!icine it elf' a i
S-iritual lea"en ing@ for it onl# encreaeth
the Me!icine in uantit #' not in "irtue: (ut S-iritual lea"e ning increaet h it in (oth@ an! >here the Cor-oral ruleth a(o"e an hun!re!' the S-iritual a(o"e a thouan!* Moreo"er' a long a the Me!icine i lea"ene! (# S-iritual ualitie' o long it i calle! the Me!icine@ (ut >hen it i lea"ene! >ith the Cor-oral u(tance' it i calle! 2li"ir * There i therefore a !i"er manner of lea"ening' an! a !ifference (et>een the
Me!icine' an! the 2li"ir @ for the S-iritual i one thing' the Cor-oral another* no> alo' that a long a it i S-iritual lea"ening' it i liui! O#l an! 7um' >hich cannot con"enient l# (e carrie! a(out from one -lace to another@ (ut >hen it i Cor-oral' then it >ill (e a Stone >hich #ou ma# carr# a(out in #our -oc)et* No> therefore #ou ee >hat i the !ifference (et>een the Me!icine' an! the
2li"ir @ nor i the !ifference le
(et>een 2li"ir ' an! 7ol! an! Sil"er' for 7ol! an! Sil"er are !ifficult to melt' (ut
2li"ir
not o' for it eail# !iol"e at the flame of a Can!le: thence #ou ma# eail# -ercei"e' ho> "ariou the !ifference of our com-oition an! tem-erament are* Latl#' that >e ma# a# omething concerning their foo! an! !rin)' )no> that their foo! i of air# Stone' an! their !rin) i !ra>n out of t>o -erfect /o!ie' namel#' out of the Sun an! Moon @ the !rin) that i !ra>n out of the Sun i calle! liui! 7ol!' $or ,ota(le' that i' that ma# (e !ran)@% (ut that out of
the Moon ' i calle! Dirgin Mil)'
No>' Son' >e ha"e !icoure! -lainl# enough >ith thee' if +i"ine 7race (e not >anting to thee@ for that !rin) that i !ra>n out of the Sun' i re!' (ut that out of the Moon' i >hite@ an! therefore one i calle! liui! 7ol!' (ut the other Dirgin Mil)@ one i Maculine' the other Feminine' though (oth arie out of one Image' an! one )in!* Son' -on!er m# >or!' other>ie if thou >an!eret in the !ar)' that e"il (efall thee from !efect of light : See therefo re that thou (ee t !iligent in turnin g the ,hiloo-h ic) &heel' that thou ma#t ma)e &ater out of Earth' Air out of
&ater' Fire out of Air' an!
Earth out of Fire' an! all thi out of one Image an! Root' that i out of it o>n -ro-er )in!' an! natural foo! >here>ith it Life ma# (e cherihe! >ithout en!* He >ho hath un!ertan!ing' let him un!ertan!* 4lory to 4od =mnipotent$
FINIS* .62.
&olours to be obser)ed in the $*eration of the +reat ,ork
You mut e-ect to ha"e it ecee!ing /lac)' >ithin 43 !a# after #ou ha"e -ut #our Com-oition into the 7la o"er the Fire@ if it (e not (lac)' -rocee! no further' for it i unreco"era(le: it mut (e a (lac) a the Ra"en Hea!' an! mut continue a long time' an! not utterl# to loe it !uring fi"e month* If it (e Orange colour' or half Re!' >ithin ome mall time after #ou ha"e (egun #our &or)' >ithout !ou(t #our Fire i too hot@ for thee are to)en that #ou ha"e (urnt the Ra!ical humour an! "i"acit# of the Stone* no> #e not' that #ou ma# ha"e /lac) of an# thing mie! or com-oun!e! together >ith moiture: /ut #ou mut ha"e /lac) >hich mut come an! -rocee! of -erfect Metaline /o!ie' (# a real ,utrefaction' an! to continue a long time* A for the colour of /le> an! Yello>' the# ignifie that the Solution an! ,utrefaction i not #et -erfectl# finihe!' an! that the colour of our Mercur# are not #et >ell mingle! >ith the ret* The /lac) aforeai! i an e"i!ent ign' that in the (eginning the Matter an! Com-oition !oth (egin to -urge it elf' an! to !iol"e into mall ,o>!er' le than the Mote in the Sun@ or a glutinou &ater' >hich feeling the heat' >ill acen! an! !ecen! in the 7la:
at length it >ill thic)en an! congeal' an! (ecome li)e ,itch'
ecee!ing /lac)@ in the en! it >ill (ecome a /o!#' an! Earth >hich ome call
erra
Saetida @ for then (# reaon of the -erfect ,utrefaction' it >ill ha"e a cent or tin) li)e unto 7ra"e ne> o-ene!' >herein the /o!ie are not thoro>l# conume!* 7ermes !oth call it erra Soliis ' (ut the -ro-er name i Leton ' >hich mut (e
(lanche! an! ma!e >hite* Thi (lac)ne !oth manifet a Con;unction of the Male an! Female' or rather of the four Element* Orange colour then !oth he> that the /o!# hath not #et ha! ufficient !igetion' an! that the humi!it# $>hereof the colour of /lac)' /le>' an! A?ure !o come% i (ut half o"ercome (# the !r#ne* &hen !r#ne !oth -re!ominate' then all >ill (e >hite ,o>!er: It firt (eginneth to >hiten roun! a(out the out>ar! i!e of the 7la@ the
Ludus
0hilosophorum !oth a#' that the firt ign of -erfect >hitene' i the a--earing of a little hoar# circle -aing u-on the Hea! he>ing it elf roun! a(out the Matter on
the out>ar! i!e of the 7la' in a )in! of Citrine colour* .68.
THE SAU RUS , Sive
Medicina Aurea:
A -lai n an ! tr ue
DESCRIPTION OF THE
Treaure of Treaure' OR THE
Golden Medicine
THESAURUS' Si"e Me!icina Aurea* Man# an! great are the Secret of Nature' an! concerning them an! the >a# to attain them' the >ie ,hiloo-her ha"e >rit much' (ut in a "er# !ar) an! Aenigmatical tile' o that "er# fe> are thoe that attain to an# thing of their !eire (# them@ (ut on the contrar#' after much time' la(our' an! cot in "ain e-en!e! in the earch of them' are force! to gi"e o"er at lat' an! urceae their further inuir#' an! intea! of the !eire! atifaction' conclu!e from their lot la(our' that the /oo) of the ,hiloo-her are onl# fa(ulou' an! >rit to !ecei"e the un>ar#' an! thoe that thirt after o great a Treaure* /ut I "o> unto thee (# Almight# 7o!' that >hat the# ha"e >rote i a real Truth' though !eli"ere! in o !ar) an! !u(iou a >a#' that fe> are a(le to un!erta n! an! recei"e (enefit from the m* I !o therefore attet the truth of their Me!icine' a >ell for the tranmutation of the (aer an! im-erfect Metal into 7ol! an! Sil"er' a for the (enefit of Humane /o!ie' an! healing all /o!il# +ieae' till 7o! call the Soul@ an! thi a(o"e all the Me!icine of
4alen an! 7ippocrates *
/ut (ecaue man# great lo"er of no>le! ge' an! thi Science' ha"e o often faile! of o(taining the en! of their !eire in thee M#terie of Nature' an! not onl# faile! a to the Accom-lihment of their !eire in full' (ut alo come hort of )no>ing the -rinci-al u(;ect' an! groun! of ,hiloo-hical Secret: I ha"e therefore thought fit to hel- them (# thi mall Scri-t' a much a I ma#' an! a"e them the trou(le of that earch@ an! (# telling them in -lain term an! >or! the true Matter' enlighten an! encourag e their !u(iou min! to the farther earch after >hat the# !eire: for let them aure themel"e' it i no mall a!"antage to (e aure! of the true Matter an! groun!>or)' or /ai of o great Arcana?s an! hereon great an! innumera(le (leing !o !e-en!* I !o therefore mot faithfull# aure thee' that the true Su(;ect of thi Art i )uic/-silver ' in a !ou(le manner' "i?* either )uic/-silver Natural' or )uic/-silver of /o!ie' "i?* the /o!ie' of Sol or Luna ' re!uce! to Mercury vive @ for
man# an! trange thing ma# (e -erforme! (# either' ingl# of themel"e' or ele con;o#ne!* The con;unction of the Mercury of 7ol! or Sil"er' >ith the common Mercury @ or the /o!ie' or the O#l of 7ol! an! Sil"er' !iol"e! in the
Aqua Mercurii '
!oth much haten the o-eration of Me!icine for Metal: /ut >e nee! not $a a(olutel# necear#% an# more than the common Mercury or )uic/-silver ' !iol"e! lightl#' either for Eliir or -reciou Stone@ onl# mall Natural Stone mut (e !iol"e! in the Mercurial &ater' o hall #ou ha"e uch Stone again a #ou !iol"e' an! .93.
thoe of >hat (igne #ou -leae' far ecee!ing Natural one* The net great Secret of ,hiloo-her' i the -re-aration of common silver or Mercury @ for common Mercury ' a Nature -ro!uceth it' i not fit
)uic/-
for uch
o-eration' nor can the# an# >a# (e -erforme! (# it: for our Mercury i not the common Mercury or )uic/-silver ' (ut i ma!e of it' (# a true ,hiloo-hical )ill@ it i not the >hite Mercury or )uic/-silver ' (ut it u(tle' -iritual' airie an! fier# -art' the earth# an! >ater# (eing -ru!entl# e-arate!* For the manifetatio n of our Mercury ' the true Mercury of ,hiloo-her' firt -re-are the common Mercury (# a !ue ,hiloo-hical -re-aration' until thou hat e-arate! an! -urge! him from hi t>o etreme or ecrement' Earth an! &ater: !iol"e it then' after it -urification' into a Mil)ie' Cr#talline' an! Sil"er Liuor or &ater' >hich in three or four month i to (e !one: (eing once !iol"e!' thou ma#t e"er after !iol"e more an! more Mercury in full# fourt# !a#' for Mercury once !iol"e!' !iol"eth it elf e"er after
infinitel #* An! ha"ing !iol"e! it' !itill it -erfectl#' until it ha"e no Faece in the 'ornuae @ after +itillation' (ring it again to ,utrefaction' an! >hen it i (lac)ih'
!itill it again: o halt thou ha"e t>o O#l' a >hite Sil"er O#l' an! thic)ih' an! at lat a "er# re! or /lou!.li)e O#l' >hich i the Element of Fire* The >hite O#l er"eth for Multi-lication' or multi-l#ing the >hite Eliir' an! for
the ma)ing of all -reciou
Stone' (# !iol"ing of mall -reciou Ston e in it' for it >ill -reentl# !iol"e them: then in a gentle heat of Ahe congeal them again' an! the# far ecee! an# Natural one' (oth in lutre' an! "irtue' an! har!ne* The re! O#l i for the multi-l#in g the re! 2li"ir ' e"en to an infinite height in -ro;ection@ >hich >hen it i (# often multi-l#ing or multi-lication' (rought to a fie! O#l' then thou ma#t !o e"eral Magical' #et Natural an! trange O-eration (# it* To ma)e the 2li"irs thou mut -rocee! thu: &hen thou hat !iol"e! rightl# the common Mercury ' >hich cannot (e !one (efore it (e !ul# -re-are! for uch a ,hiloo-hical !iolution' >hen it i !iol"e! into a Mil)ie' Sil"er' Cr#talline Liuor' it >ill in the !itillation lea"e ome Faece' in >hich remain it more fit -art or Salt' >hich thou mut >aril# an! >iel#' after a gentle an! ,hiloo-hical Calcination' etract an! -urifie to the highet ,urification' (# >hich mean it >ill (e "er# >hite an! clean: then ta)e e"en ounce of the >hite Mercurial O#l' an! !iol"e in it a much of thi Salt a it >ill !iol"e' until it >ill !iol"e no more: ha"ing o !one' -ut th# Liuor into a ,hiloo-hical Egg' ealing it Hermeticall#' an! (# !ue !egree of Fire congeal an! fi it: (eing fie!' it i the >hite Me!icine' >hich fermente! >ith Sil"er' ma# (e cat u-on -urge! Venus ' >hich it >ill tranmute into mot fine Sil"er: multi-l# .90.
it >ith the >hite O#l' Gc* If thou >oul!t ha"e it (e a re! 2li"ir ' -ut to it ome of the re! O#l' an! (# reuiite !egree of heat congeal an! fi it a (efore: ferment it >ith 7ol!@ multi-l# it (# the re! O#l' an! the aforeai! >hite Salt !iol"e in it: !iol"e it ' congeal a n! fi it ofte n' until it >i ll congeal n o more' o >ill it remain an o#l' >hich in it -ro;ection i almot infinite' to multi-l# it an# farther' for fear thou loet it@
En!ea"our not
it i then o fier#' that it >ill
"anih out through the 7la re!!ih' or Ru(ie.li)e* Ma)e -ro;ection >ith it on >hat Metal thou >ilt an! thou halt ha"e mot fine 7ol!' (etter than the Natural 7ol!*
Laus
tanquam e" Mercurio 5niversali1 Age
.96.
TRACTATUS + E L A , I + E'
Manna /ene!icto' Gc*
Tractatus de La*ide! %anna benedicto! -c.
In thi /oo) thou hat a mot faithful an! -lain Manu!uction to the greatet an! mot no(le Secret of Nature: En;o# them in ilence@ (le 7o!' an! !o goo! unto th# Neigh(our an! Succeor' a I !o here(# to thee' thou fin!er of thi /oo)* I ha"e reol"e! >ith m# elf to >rite thi hort Treatie' ha"ing (een not onl# an e#e.>itne ' (ut alo an actor of uch high M#terie of Nature' a the &orl! i not >orth# of' an! the &ie of the &orl! !o carce (elie"e* &hich !icoure ma# (e of ingular ue to uch a 7o! hall -leae $out of hi infinite merc#% to (eto> the )no>le!ge of thi Stone u-on' to ma)e the Stone of the Wise men o calle!' or the 0hilosophers Stone @ >hich hall (e of much ue an! (enefit to thoe >ho are not #et ca-a(le of ma)ing the Stone it elf' for it hall illuminate the un!ert an!ing of all that rea! it' more than all the /oo) the# hall rea!: For it hall et !o>n the /ai an! Foun!ation >herein the >i!om of all the ,hiloo-her !oth l#e' $I ece-t none@% #et not o a to
name that $>hich
no man !urt% in o -lain >or!' that e"er# fool or le>! fello> ma# un!ertan! it' a he ma# hi A$B$' * >hen he rea! it' for that >ere to ma)e m# elf accurhich although it (e the onl#' na# all the >i!om of the &orl!' #et !oth it come hort of the +i"ine &i!om of the Soul' >hich i the lo"e of 7o! in ) ee-ing hi Co mman!ment* Yet let me tell thee' h e that hall ha"e th e (leing to ma)e the Stone' an! fin! thi >riting' he hall ee uch M#terie in Nature' a hall ma)e him of a >ic)e!' a goo! man' or ele a "er# +e"il incarnate* /ut I am -er>a!e ! it hall ne"er (e -ermitte! to come to the han! of an# (ut >hom 7o! )no>eth fit for it' an! uch a hall ne"er a(ue it* Hat thou (een co"etou' -ro-hane
(e mee)
an! hol#' an! er"e in all humilit# th# mot gloriou Creator@ if thou reol"e not to !o thi' thou !ot (ut >ah an Aethiopian >hite' an! halt >ate an Earthl# Etate' ho-ing to attain thi Scienc e* There i no Human Art or &it can natch it from the Almigh
t#< han!@
nor >a it e"er' nor I am -er>a!e! e"er hall (e' gi"en (ut to uch a hall (e of u-right heart* Remem(er >hat ing
thi >i!om' >hich i the to- of all >i!om' an! in!ee! angelical >i!om an! #et !ot not fear the Lor!@ thou !ot gi"e ing +a"i!' an! in him the Hol# S-irit
.99.
the L#e' >hich (e far from e"er# Chritian heart* /ut let me conclu!e m# -reface >ith thi: If 7o! (le thee >ith the Stone' an! thou ha"e the en;o#ment of thi little Scri-t' an! !ot ma)e that ue of it that
here i et !o>n' thou halt ee that >hich i
not fit to (e >ritten' #et I ha"e et !o>n in -art >hat thou halt ee hereafter: a thou halt rea!' -ra# an! tu!#@ -ra# >ith a faithful an! earnet heart' tu!# >ith an honet heart' an! lea"e the iue to 7o!' to >hom (e 7lor#*
Amen *
The foll# of the Stu!ent in thi No(le Science an! Art' i thi@ the# et their min! an! intention on nothing (ut ma)ing of 7ol! an! Sil"er' an! o the# fall into thi errour' that 7ol! an! Sil"er mut (e the groun!.>or) of thi goo!l# -iece@ (ut that i fale: #et >ill I not no> ta n! to !i-ro"e it ' for that >ere te! iou@ it i ufficient th at I "o> u-on m# So ul' it i not o' nor an# uch matter: #et it i true' that it hath a true 7ol!en an! Metalline Nature* /ut to -rocee!' (riefl# )no>' that the changing of im-erfect Metal into 7ol! an! Sil"er' a it i the chief intent of the Alch#mit' o it >a carce an# intent at all of the Ancient ,hiloo-her@ an! although it (e to (e !one (# thi Art' #et it i (ut a -art' an! in!ee! the leat -art of the (enefit that cometh (# the Art: #et I !en# not (ut the -oeion of 7ol! an! Sil"er i a great (leing' e-eciall# got in thi >a#' (ecaue it freeth a man from >ant' an! (eing (ehol!en to other@ a alo that a man ma# !o goo! to other' to the -oor an! o--ree!@ na# it i a ha--ine in thi &orl! to -oe much' (ut #et I affirm it the leat ha--ine that cometh (# the ,hiloo-her Stone' if the full ue thereof (e ) no>n* 7ol! an! Sil" er are goo!l# th ing' an! the en ;o#ment of them "e r# !elightful to co"etou an! >ic)e!.min!e! men' >ho !o not trut in 7o!' an! )no> him a the# ought@ (ut a true earcher of thi &i!om' i content' a the A-otle aith' >ith meat' !rin) an! cloath' "i?* a com-etenc#* I ha"e a little ecee!e! in m# eclamation againt Riche' (ecaue I )no> it (efit not a >ie man to lo"e them: >hen thou hat rea! all that I ha"e et !o>n' thou >ilt not "alue &ealth' a thou >ilt other no>le!ge herein et !o>n an! containe!@ for (# the full )no>le!ge of it' the >hole >i!om of Nature i to (e gra-e! an! em(race!@ #ea not onl# infinite &ealth' an! -erfect Health' $a far greater (leing than &ealth% (ut alo the )no>le!ge of all Animal' Degeta(le' Mineral' the Ra!i an! Root of all >hich' i the true Root of all ,hiloo-h#@ na# more' of all the e"en Li(eral Science' >hich in their full -erfection are to (e )no>n (# the )no>le!ge of thi Art' an! >ithout it not one can (e -erfecte!@ na# more' the artificial ma)ing of all -reciou Stone' (etter than the Natural' an! of >hat greatne #ou -leae' a Ru(ie' Car(uncle' +iamon!' acinth' ,earl' To-ae' Sa-hir' Emeral!' Gc* /ut thi i not all' for (# the -erfection of .94.
thi Art' >hich "er# fe> ha"e attaine! unto' all Natural Magic) ma# (e )no>n' all that S-irit can !o $ece-t "elocit#% ma# (e -erforme! (# a true ,hiloo-her' though to ignorant men it eemeth u-ernatural@ all that i natural ma# (e !one (# thi Art' >ic)e! S-irit ma# (e comman!e! an! !ri"en a>a#@ in a >or!' >hate"er i u(lunar# ma# (e !one (# it* All thee thing >ere )no>n to A!am in hi Innocenc#' >ho ha! thi Art in the hig het -erfect ion* Thi man' our fir t Father' >a in h i in>ar! -art ' or internal man' ma!e accor!in g to the imilitu!e of 7o!@ an! to tell the -lain truth $>hich >hen thou hat tr#e! >hat i here et !o>n' thou halt )no> it to (e o% >a of the ame Su(tance an! Matter' that the Angel >ere ma!e of' I mean the (lee! Angel* The Soul of man i an Angel' an! o >a calle! the Son of 7o!@ (ut for hi /o!# an! S-irit' >hence that came' an! >hat the# are' I >ill et !o>n (# an! (# that >hich concerneth that* Man >a the Son of the great &orl!' or Macrocosm ' an! -artici-a teth of all the influence an! "irtue of the u-eriour an! inferiour &orl!' #ea of all Creature goo! an! (a!' an! that for thi caue' (ecaue he >a ma!e of that "er# Matter an! 'haos >hereof all the &orl! >a ma!e' an! all the Creature in it: >hich i a mot high M#ter# to un!ertan!' an! mut' na# i altogether necear# to (e )no>n of him that e-ecteth goo! from thi Art' (eing the groun! of the >i!om thereof* Foolih men' na# the# that the &orl! hol! for great +octor' a# an! tell it for truth' that 7o! ma!e Man of a -iece of Mu!' or cla#' or +ut of the Earth@ >hich i fale' it >a no uch Matter' (ut a uinteential Matter >hich i calle! Earth' (ut i no Earth* The Fall of Man !e-ri"e! all thing' #ea all the Creature ufferhat the# >ere in their Innocenc#* Adam ha! another /o!# (efore hi Fall' than >hat he ha! after@ an! o far !ifferent' that if >e houl! (ehol! Adam a he >a in hi Innocenc#' >e houl! a!mire the glor# of him' an! trem( le at the ight of him' a a t the ight of an Ang el* I a# nothing of th e /o!# of our (lee! Sa"iour' a"e onl# thi@ uch a /o!# a he (rought from Hea"en >ith him' uch a /o!# hall >e arie >ith' an! >ith uch /o!ie hall our Soul (e en!o>e! >ith fleh an! (lou!@ other>ie men houl! not !iffer from Angel' for thi fleh an! (lou! i -ut u-on u (# the Hol# 7hot' that i' (# Regeneration: nor !oth thi cro Sacre! &rit' if it >ere rightl# un!ertoo!* I -ea) nothing li)e>ie of our (lee! La!#' >hat /o!# he ha!@ (ut >hen thou halt ha"e eamine! >hat I hall et !o>n' then >ilt thou fin! >hat I a# i true' an! un!ertan! them in a -lain manner: (ut I for(ear to -ea) of thoe M#terie' )no>n to o fe>@ he that li"eth accor!ing to the >ritten &or! of 7o!' hall (e a"e!@ (ut he that li"eth to (e (lee! >ith .9=.
thi Art' hall glorifie hi Creator' an! )no> him more than an# man can !o@ (ut (efore the en! of the &orl!' all >ill (e )no>n*
/ut to m# former -ur-oe: Man' the
Microcosm ' or little &orl!' from the Atre or Star recei"e! S-irit' from the great
&orl! hi /o!#' an! from 7o! imme!iatel# hi Soul' o here i an illuci!ation of the (lee! Trinit#@ of thee three Man coniteth' of thee he i com-oun!e!' thu he ha! hi -ro!uction from the &orl!* For >hat concern hi /o!#' or Humane -art' let u no> $a full# a >e ma#% a# omething of the -ro!uction of the great &orl! out of nothing: >hen there >a neither time nor -lace' !i! 7o! create a certain 'haos ' in"ii(le' intangi(le' >hich the ,hiloo-her calle!
7yle ' or the mot remote Matter@
out of thi he ma!e an Etract' or econ! Matter or
'haos ' >hich the ,hiloo-her
)no>' not (# -eculation ' (ut (# ene: that Matter >a an! i "ii(le an! tangi(le' in >hich >ere an! are all the See! an! Form of all the Creature' u-eriour an! inferiour' that e"er >ere ma!e: from thi 7o! !i"i!e! the four Element@ in a >or!' !i! ma)e all thing celetial an! terretrial' the Angel' Sun' Moon' an! Star* The )no>le!ge an! -ractice of the ,hiloo-her u-on thi
'haos ' (rought them to the
)no>le!ge of all >i!om' an! from hence $net 7o!% ee) thou an! fin! all >i!om* Thi i not a fanc# or conceit that I tell thee' (ut >hat I )no> an! ha"e -ro"e!@ it i uch a thing an! u(tance' a >ith the (are )no>le!ge of it' ma)e thee )no> the generation an! -reer"ation of all thing' an! #et thi Chao i ince the Fall li)e>ie corru-te!* Thu (riefl# ha"e I !icoure! of uch thing a -erha-e thou !ot not (elie"e' or ne"er hear!t of (efore@ (ut if thou (e<t or!aine! to )no> thi Science' I ha"e tro! the -ath for thee' (ut I fear thou un!ertan!et me not: #et ha"e I ai! more than >i!om >oul! I houl!' (ut I )no> it hall (e to hi goo! onl#' to >hom 7o! a--oint it* M# intent i' for certain reaon that I ha"e' not to -rate too much of the Matter' >hich #et i (ut onl# one thing' alrea!# too -lainl# !ecri(e!@ nor of the ,re-aration' (# >hich mean it i to (e !one' >hich i the econ! an! greatet Secret: /ut I ha"e contitute! thee line for the goo! of him that hall ma)e the Stone' if it fall into the han! of uch a one@ for to him it hall he> an! et !o>n in -lain term' a -lain a -oi(l# m# ,en can >rite to the "er# letter' uch Magical an! Natural ue of it' a man# that ha"e ha! it ne"er )ne> nor hear! of@ an! uch a >hen I (ehel! them' ma!e m# )nee to trem(le' an! m# heart to ha)e an! I to tan! ama?e! at the ight of them* I !o therefore charge thee' >hooe"er thou (e that halt (e (lee! >ith the en;o#ment of thi Treatie' that a thou >ilt an>er the contrar# at the great !a#' thou let no man ee it' (ut him that hath the Stone -erfect@ for if thou halt meet >ith uch a one' $>hich i har! to !o% an! that he hath (rought it to the full -erfection' .91.
thou (# im-arting uch Magical an! ,h#ical thing' an! other rare Secret >hich are here et !o>n' an! (# the Stone to (e !one' he hall not onl# gi"e thee 7ol! ufficient' (ut alo hall he> thee the true an! right >a#' an! the Matter >ith all thing (elong ing to it' to ma)e it full an ! -erfect: for let me aure t hee' I ha"e )no> n man# that ha"e ha! it' that ne"er )ne> more than the (are tranmutation of Metal@ an! (# the /oo) of the ,hiloo-her it a--ear' that ome of them' $na# more than that% man# of them ha"e )illant of the )no>le!ge of the ue of it* Ne"er !ou(t therefore' (ut thou halt o(tain >hat thou >ilt of him that hath it' (# !emontrating the truth of >hat I here >rite@ therefore again an! again I charge thee not to -art >ith it' nor to tell an# man of it' although none can ma)e ue of it' (ut he that hath the Stone in the highet !egree of -erfection* An! I >ill no> he> thee the e"eral ue of it: The firt' for Health' an! the manner of ho> to ue it@ the econ! i for multi-lication' >hich cannot (e !one >ithout a Mater@ Thir!l#' the ma)ing of all manner of -reciou Stone artificall#' (etter than the Natural@ Four
thl# to
turn all Metal into running Buic).il"er@ Fifthl#' e"eral Magical O-eration of e"eral )in!' >hich are -at (elief' till thou eet them' an! >hich in!ee! are a(o"e all the ret* An! here I -romie' that I >ill in uch -lain >or! et !o>n >hat I ha"e inten!e!' that thou cant not in !oing err' or !o ami' -ro"i!e! thou ha"e the Stone (oth re! an! >hite' although there (e more >or) out of it than I !are et !o>n@ an! In!ee! Angelical >i!om i attaine! (# it* /ut I -rocee!* For ealth! the use of it thus.
In the ue of thi Me!icine' man# great ,hiloo-her themel"e' after the# o(taine! thi >on!erful (leing' !eiring to ha"e -erfect Health' ha"e (een o (ol! a to ta)e a certain uantit# of it' ome no more than a uarter of a grain' ome le' ome more' (ut all that !i! o >ith it' intea! of Health' too) +eath it elf@ for there i no mall )ill to it for Me!icine' though e"er# fool thin) if he ha! it' he coul! cure all !ieae' an! himelf too' an! et the Element at unit#' >hich fe> men ha"e )no>n' neither i there (ut one >a# to it >ith afet#@ if thi (e not )no>n' more hurt than goo! ma# (e recei"e! (# it* For the metho! of Health' it i thu: Ta)e the uantit# of four grain' I !o not mean the grain of &heat' or /arle# grain or corn' (ut four grain of 7ol! >eight' an! !iol"e them in a -int of &hite or
Rhenih &ine' (ut in no hot &ine'
a Sac)' Gc* -ut it into a great clean 7la' an! intantl# it >ill colour all the &ine almot a re! a it elf >a' >hich i the highe t re! in the &orl!: let it tan! o' cloe co"ere! from !ut' four !a#' for in re-ect it i an O#lie u(tance' it >ill not -reentl# !iol"e in &ine@ then a!! to thi a -int more (# .95.
!egree' until it (e not o re!' tirring it >ith a clean tic) of &oo!' not of Metal' nor 7la' an! o continue the -ouring on of freh &ine' until it (e ;ut of the colour of 7ol!' >hich i a hining #ello> * /e>are ther e (e no re!ne in it @ for o long a ther e i an# re!ne in it' it i not ufficientl# !ilate!' (ut >ill fire the /o!#' an! ehaut the S-irit: neither i it ufficientl# (r ought to #ello>' until the &ine ha" e roun! a(out the i!e a ring li)e Hair' of a >hitih film' >hich >ill he> it elf -lain >hen >ell !iol"e!' if it tan! (ut four ho ur uiet* A oon a #ou ee that >hitih f ilm' then let it run through a clean linen Cloth' or ,a-er' o the >hite film >ill ta# (ehin! an! loo) li)e a -earl on the -a-er: an! all the ret >ill (e #ello> li)e 7ol!* Thi i the to)en of truth' that #ou cannot >rong #our elf (# thi Liuor@ an! >ithout thi to)en' it >ill (e either too >ea)' or o trong that it >ill fire the /o!#* no> thi to (e a rare Secret* Of thi 7ol!en &ater' let the -art# $of >hat !ieae oe"er he (e ic) of% ta)e each morning a goo! large -oonful' an! it hall e-el the !ieae >hatoe"er it (e' (# a gentle >eat@ for it -urgeth not' nor "omiteth' nor >eateth o much a to ma)e faint' (ut to corro(orate: I a#' it trengthen the -art#@ an! if the !ieae (e of man# #ear continuance' or a Chronical !ieae' it >ill then (e -erha- t>el"e !a#' other>ie (ut t>ent# four hour' or t>o or three !a# at mot* Thu it mut (e ue! for all !ieae internal: /ut for all eternal !ieae' a Ulcer' Sca(' /otche' Score' Fitual<' :oli me tangere?s #c * the -lace mut (e anointe! >ith the O#l of
the Stone it elf' not !ilate!
in &ine@ an! after thi manner it mut (e !one nine or ten !a#' an! (e it >hatoe"er it >ill' it >ill cure all out>ar! an! in>ar! !ieae*
An! more than thi' >hooe"er
carrie thi Stone a(out him' no e"il S-irit can or >ill ta# in the -lace@ na# (ringing or gi"ing it to a -art# -oee!' it !ri"e a>a# an! e-el the e"il S-irit: for it i a Buinteence' an! there i no corru-ti(le thing in it@ an! >here the Element are not corru-t' no +e"il can ta# or a(i!e' for he i the corru-tion of the Element* Thi Me!icine ta)en nine !a# a aforeai!' an! the Tem-le of the Hea! anointe! >ith the O#l of the Stone each !a# in the morning' it
>ill ma)e a man a light a if he coul! flie'
an! hi /o!# o aireal it i not to (e cre!ite!' (ut (# him that hath e-erience! it* Thee mot a!mira(le ualiti e it hath' -erfect health it gi"eth' till 7o! call for
the Soul@
an! -erfect )no>le!ge it gi"eth' $if the ue (e )no>n:% (ut e"en thi -art hath (een )no>n (ut to a fe> that ha"e ma!e it' for it i a +i"ine' an! a it >ere an Angelical Me!icine* The >hite i not to (e ue! for an# !ieae (ut Ma!ne' in the ame -ro-ortion' an! >a# or -re-aration that the re! Stone >a: An! o I -rocee! to the econ! >hich i Multi-lication* .92.
The way to %ulti*ly
Man# ha"e ma!e the Stone (oth >hite an! re!' that ne"er )ne> ho> to multi-l# it' for the >hite Stone >ill (e re!'
(# continuing it in the eternal natural Fire@
(ut ne"er ma)e -ro;ection higher than one u-on ten' neither >hite' nor the re!: fe> ha"e )no>n thi' for if the# (e not arme! rightl#' it >ill )ill them@ (ut !o thu' an! thou halt multi-l# it infinitel#' that it hall n ot congeal to ,o>!er an# more* &hen thou hat ma!e the Mercury of the ,hiloo-her' $>hich in 43 !a# i to (e !one% a &ater it i' an! no &ater' clear a the Hea"en' then a thou !i!t ma)e it' re!uce it (ac) again into ,utrefaction' E*F* >hich it >ill uic)l# !o in a /o!# >ith a (lin! hea!' an! ne"er -ut into it a(o"e t>el"e ounce' an! lute it >ith uch lute a I >ill !irect here.un!er' for in a 7la ni-t u- it >ill not >or)* &hen it i li)e ,itch' ta)e out th# 7la' an! remo"e it to a common fire of Ahe in a Furnace' an! >hen th# 7la hath too! col! 64 hour' arm th# elf thu: Ma)e thee a Cae for th# hea! an! face >ith Hog.)in' line! >ith Cotton' an! (efore th# face ha"e S-ectacle of 7la' an! from th# mouth let go a large Tunnel of 7la' co"ere! >ith Leather' an! let it (e t#e! un!er th# 7ir!le an! touch th# Ancle@ let the (ore of the 7la (e a (ig a a &alnut' an! t#e the H#!e of Hog.)in fat a(out th# Nec) un!er th# Chin' (ut o a thou (e ure no Air come in there' to >hich -ur-oe la- it o"er >ith more Hog.)in' (ate! >ith Laten: an! thu art thou >ell arme!' for other>ie it >oul! )ill thee* Thu arme!' ta)e off th# /lin! Hea!' an! -ut on a !itilling Hea!' an! a Recei"er long an! large: lute the Recei"er an! ;o#nt of the Hea! >ith thi lute' $"i?% to one ounce of ,o>!er of Egg.hel' calcine! 64 hour' an! groun! li)e Meal' ta)e t>o ounce of Enamel' uch a the 7ol!mith ue@ grin! that >ith the Egghel' an! a!! the >hite of an Egg to ma)e it into -ate' (ut the >hite mut (e >ell (eaten firt: then mear thi u-on /la!!er ma!e u--le' an! here>ith anoint the ;o#nt of the Recei"er three time !ou(le@ let it !r# 64 hour* ,ut th# 7la in Ahe (ut i finger a(o"e the Matter thu -utrifie!' an! let the hea! of the 7la (e "er# col!' an! >ith a gentle heat #ou hall ee a >hite fume arie' an! ma)e all the hea! of the Recei"er li)e Mil)@ increae eail# that Fire' till no more >ill come' then let all an! thee >hite fume ettle to a >hite &ater thic)ih@ thi i that >hite
cool'
Mercury to
multi-l# the >hite Stone: then -ut a ne> Recei"er' lute! a (efore@ -ut in a man# Coal a the Furnace >ill hol! or (ear' till the ,ot (e re! hot' then hall #ou ee the #ello>ih fume arie' an! intantl# >ill it increae re!!er an! re!!er* Continue the Fire until an O#l come re!!er than /lou! into the Recei"er' an! it >ill (e alo thic)ih@ thi i the re! Mercury ' >here>it h the re! S tone mut (e multi-lie!: each of thee mut (e ne> rectifie!' in a ne> /o!# .98.
an! Hea!' till the# let no Faece' >hich >ill (e in e"en time' an! then to- them cloe >ith the ame lute till #ou ue them@ an! >hen the# are col!' the# are >hite an! re! O#l flo>ing in the (ottom' >hich >ill melt >ith an eaie Fire' an! (eing col!' (e a a Salt: thee are the three -rinci-le of Salt, Sulphur ' an! Mercury ' a -lain Eluci!ation of the (lee! Trinit#* No> >hen the >hite Stone i ma!e' it >ill not melt' (ut i li)e >hite San!' (ut im-al-a(le' an! >ill tinge no /o!# (ut Denu into Luna* To three -art of the >hite Stone' ta)e one -art of >hite Mercury rectifie!' (ut firt !iol"e in that >hite Mercury one thir! -art of >hite Salt@ then im(i(e the >hite Stone' >hich >ill -reentl# ta)e it' an! (e li)e ,a-@ then cloe #our Egg $for o i #our 7la Multi-lier% >ith the aforeai! lute' an! et it in #our firt Fire' H* E* I* E* F* an! it >ill in 43 !a# -utrifie' an! -a all the colour' an! (e >hite fie!' an! -ro;ect one -art u-on an hun!re!: re-eat that >ith more >hite Mercury ' a (efore' )ee-ing the ame -ro-ortion an! the ame Fire' an! it >ill multi-l# each time ten' at the thir! time it >ill (e a thouan!' then ten thouan!' then a hun!re! thouan!' o #ou ma# (ring it to a >hite O#l' li)e the Moon -ale in the !ar)@ then it >ill multi-l# no more' neither >ill an# 7la hol! it* If #ou ma)e -ro;ection >ith the >hite Stone' then melt fine Sil"er a tenth -art' then cat in the Stone@ )ee- it 64 hour melting' an! thi i Fermentation* The firt time the >hite goeth onl# u-on Venus ' the econ! time u-on all /o!ie' the thir! time u-on common Mercury ' an! then it i Eliir of S-irit* A #ou !i! >ith the >hite' o !o >ith the re! eactl#@ (ut ta)e the re! Mercury ' an! >hite Salt' an! o that goeth one u-on ten on Luna the firt time' the econ! u-on an hun!re!' an! o to an infinit#@ an! o it >ill (e re! O#l li)e a Car(uncle' an! >ill hine in the !ar)et night >ith a!mira(le -len!or' an! from it >ill flie all e"il S-irit* An! thi the# mut ha"e' (efore the# cure all !ieae' an! gi"e that ealtation to man' to ma)e uch Magical >or! a I hall et !o>n* To %ake Stones
Ha"ing ma!e Mercury of the ,hiloo-her' an! out of it the
t>o Mercuries >hite
an! re!' if thou >ilt of mall ,earl ma)e great an! Oriental one' !o thu: Ta)e >hite See! ,earl' an! !iol"e them in the >hite &ater' >hich >ill intantl# of it elf !iol"e them: >hen it i li)e ,a-' that thou ma#t >or) them >ith th# han!' ma)e it into -earl@ an! ha"e a roun! mol! of -ure Sil"er' -ut th# ,a- into thi moul!' (ut firt anoint th# moul! >ith the >hite Stone' >hich i an O#l: >hen the# ha"e la#n three or four !a#' o-en it' an! la# the ,earl in the Sun' (ut not too hot' an! the# >ill gro> har!' an! more orient than an# Natural One* .43.
To make Diamonds.
Ta)e the >hitet Flint Stone #ou can get' (eat off the outi!e' an! !iol"e the ret' a much a thou >ilt' in the >hite &ater: >hen it i !iol"e! to clear &ater' not to ,a-' -ut it into a little Dial' to- it cloe' an! et it in >arm Ahe' an! in t>el"e !a# it >ill congeal to a har! gra# Stone: then increae the Fire' that the 7la ma# (e re! hot' then let it cool@ ta)e it out' an! it >ill (e li)e a flint@ (ut -olih it' an! thou ne"er a>t uch a -ar)ling +iamon!' nor o har!: (ut it >ill (e (etter if thou !iol"e little +iamon!* All Stone that #ou !iol"e in the >hite &ater' the ame colour the# >ere of' the ame >ill the# (e of@ (ut for Ru(ie an! Car(uncle' an! all re! Stone' the# are ma!e of the re!
Mercury ' an! of Cr#tal@ an! for a
Car(uncle' #ou mut a!! to ten -art of Cr#tal' !iol"e! in the >hite
Mercury ' one
-art of the re! Stone (rought to the highet' an! o a (efore congeal it >ith Fire' an! (eing -olihe! it hineth in the !ar) (e#on! all >hate"er* To turn %etals into uick"Sil)er.
+o thu in the o-eration of the Stone >hite an! re!: >hen the >hite Stone firt i ma!e' ne"er after thou halt -ercei"e l#e un!er the glitering ,o>!er' (ut thou cant not -ercei"e it' till thou ta)<t out the 7la@ a
gra#ih light u(tle ,o>! er'
an! the -ro-ortion i a(out 003 of the Matter -ut in* ,ut an# Metal >hat thou >ilt into a Sil"er /aon' $ece-t 7ol! or Sil"er% an! ma)e a ,late a thic) a #ou >ill' an! in the mi!!le a hole li)e a /arle# corn' an! in that hole -ut the ,o>!er@ to each -oun! of the Metal' i grain of the ,o>!er' an! no more@ an! a oon a it i hot' the ,o>!er >ill eat into the Metal' an! turn it all into Buic).il"er: then -our it into &ater' an! the cruff >ill remain (ehin!* For 7ol! an! Sil"er' hol! them o ue! o"er the Fire' till the# turn to Buic).il"er' then hol! them o"er a >oo!en !ih@ thi ,o>!er i the erra damnata of the Stone* No> I >ill he> thee that >hich i a(o"e all' certain Magical o-eration >it h the Stone' uch a thou >ilt >on!er at' an! (le th# Creator' >hen thou halt ee them: &on!er a(o"e >on!er' nor >ilt thou (elie"e till thou hat !one it* The &reation.
Ta)e Or!inar# Rain .>ater a goo! uantit#' ten gallon at the leat' to- it ucloe in 7lae fourt# !a# at leat' an! it >ill tin)' an! et a Faece
0
at the
(ottom@ -our off the clear' an! et it in a Deel of &oo!' ma!e roun! li)e a /all' cut off in the mi!t' an! fill the Deel one thir! -art full of it' an! et it in the Sun at Noon.!a#' in a -ri"ate -lace: that !one' ta)e one 70
ur*
.40.
!ro- of the re! (lee! Stone'
0
an! let it fall into the mi!t of the &ater' an!
-reentl# thou halt ee a mit an! thic) !ar)ne u-on the face of the &ater' a it >a in the firt Creation: then -ut into it t>o !ro- more' an! thou halt See the econ! light come out of the firt !ar)ne' or rather light come out ofJ !ar)ne@ an! then (# !egree each half uarter of an hour -ut in three' four' fi"e' i !ro- an! then no more' an! thou halt ee a--ear (efore th# face on the urface of the &ater' (# !egree one thing after another' all thing that 7o! !i! create in i !a#' an! the manner of it' an! Secret not to (e -o)en of or re"eale!@ >hich to re"eal I ha"e no -o>er' nor trength' nor !are et !o>n* /e on th# )nee from the (eginning of thi o-eratio n' let thine e#e (e ;u !ge' for thu >a the &orl! crea te!: You cannot (ut trem(le >hen #ou hall ee it: let all
alone' it >ill "anih a>a# in half an hour after
it (egin* /# thi #ou hall )no> an! ee -lainl# thoe M#terie of +i"init#' >hich no> #ou are ignorant of a a Chil!' although #ou thought #our elf a >ie man' an! that #ou !i! un!ertan! Moses hi &riting of the Creation@ (ut I a# no more* You >ill no> ee >hat /o!# Adam an! 2ve ha! (efore their Fall' an! >hat after their Fall@ >hat the Ser-ent >a' >hat the Tree >a' an! >hat Fruit the# !i! eat@ >here an! >hat ,ara!ice i' an! >hat it >a' #ou >ill )no>: &hat /o!ie the ut hall rie in' not thee >e recei"e! from Adam ' (ut that fleh an! (lou! >hich i (orn an! (egotten in u (# the Hol# 7hot an! &ater' uch a our (lee! Lor! (rought from Hea"en* /ut I ha"e !one* The ea)ens.
You hall ta)e e"en -iece of Metal' of each of the Metal name! after the ,lanet' an! on e"er# one of them #ou hall tam- the ign or character of the ,lanet@ in the Houe of the ,lanet' an! let each -iece (e a (ig a a Roeno(le' onl# let Mercury (e of a uarter of an ounce' an! no im-reion on it: Then -ut them $a the# tan! in or!er in the Firmament% into a
Cruci(le' an! cloe all the >in!o> in
the Cham(er' an! let it (e !ar)' an! in the mi!t of the Cham(er@ then melt them all together' an! !ro- in e"en !ro- of the (lee! Stone' an! -reentl# $out of the Cruci(le >ill come a fier# flame' an! -rea! it elf roun! a(out the >hole Cham(er@ fear it not' it >ill not hurt #ou% the >hole Cham(er >ill hine (righter than the Sun an! Moon' an! #ou hall ee o"er #our hea! the >hole Firmament' a it i a(o"e the Starrie S)ie@ an! the Sun' Moon an! ,lanet >ill go all roun! in their coure' ;ut a
it
i in the Hea"e n* Let it ceae of it elf@ in a uarter of an hou r it i gone to it -ro- er -lace* 0
In the tranlation (# ung Kre! (lee! toneK i ren!ere! Kconecrate! >ineK*
.46.
Fellowshi*.
More than thi' if thou ta)e the Stone each Full Moon' >hen it i o"er the Hori?on >here thou art' an! go a-art in a 7ar!en' an! ta)e ome of the clear Rain. >ater' a thou !i!t in the firt o-eration' an! !ro- of th# >hite Stone a thou !i!t of th# re!' an! there hall -reentl# e"en to the Or( of
the Moon acen! Ehalation
in a trange manner@ an! if thou o(er"e thi e"er# month at the !ue time' there i no ,hiloo-her in the Hori?on >here thou li"et' that hath the )no>le!ge of the Stone' >ith the ue of it' (ut at the ame time goeth out an! loo)eth Eat an! &et' North an! South' an! fin!ing uch an A--arition' $a he oon eeth it% he )no>eth it i !one (# ome Artit or other' that !eireth acuaintance >ith thoe that ha"e the ame Art' an! >ill -reentl# in the ame manner an>er thee' >hen thine i !one: thu halt thou )no> all that ha"e the ue of the Stone* To meet >ith th# fello> ,hiloo-her' !o thu anoint th# tem-le >ith the >hite Stone that night' an! earnetl# -ra # to )no> >hat th at -art# i: la# un!er th# h ea! three /a# .lea"e ne> l# gathere!' an! fi th# Imagination u-on th# !eire to )no> him' o re-oe th# elf to lee-@ an! >hen thou !ot a>a)e' thou >ilt -reentl# remem(er th# Diion' a the ,eron' hi Na me' an! the -lac e of hi a(o!e: if thou go not to him' he >ill come to thee' for -erha- he thin) thou !ot not )no> thi Secret* The reaon >h# thi houl! (e thu' i thi@ the uni"eral S-irit of the Air' >hich i incloe! in the Stone' caueth it* Thu ma#t thou accom-an# th# elf >ith all the >ie men in the &orl!' >ho hall a--ear unto thee rather /eggar' than Rich men' an! -erha- can teach thee more than I can' or ha"e !one (# thi@ for in!ee! all thing that are Natural are !one (# it' a Dolume >oul! har!l# contain them: A to comman! an! con"ere >ith S-irit' >hich I for(ear to et !o>n' I mean goo! S-irit' i not thi Angelical >i!om to )no> thee thing Atronom#' Atrolog#' an! all the Art of the Mathematic)' are eail# )no>n in their -erfection' thi (eing !one that I ha"e tol! thee@ nor i Scholarhi- reuire!' it i the gift of 7o!* You mut )no>' (efore #ou !o thee thing' #ou mut ta)e the Stone nine !a#' a I -recri(e! firt' an! it >ill ma)e thee ha"e an Angelical un!ertan!ing@ thou >ilt !e-ie the &orl!' an! all in it@ then thou >ilt )no> ho> to er"e 7o!' an! un!ertan! the Scri-ture* I ha"e >ritten that >hich >a ne"er >rit (efore@ thin) >hether the# (e not Secret an! Arcana< an! >hether thou ought<t to he> thi or not to an# man' (ut to him that hath the Stone* I ha"e no> !one' charging thee to ha"e a care of thi &riting' comman!ing thee to er"e 7o!@ for >ithout thou !o that' thou >ilt ne"er ha"e goo! of thi Art: Ser"e him in S-irit an! Truth' an! o to 7o! I lea"e thee' to !irect thee in hi >a#* Glory to God in the Highest. Amen.
.49.
Nicola Flammell<
S'%%AR( OF
Pilo!o"#$
Nichola Flammell< Summar# of ,hiloo-h#* He that !eireth to )no> ho> Metal are tranmute!' he mut )no> from >hat Matter the# are' an! ho> the# (e forme! in their Mineral@ an! let herein >e err' >e mut ee an! o(er"e the tranmutation a in the Dein of the Earth* Mineral out of the Earth ma# (e change!' if the# (e (efore -irituali?e!' that the# ma# come into their Sulphur an! Argent vive Nature@ thee are the t>o S-erm' the one Maculine' the other
Feminine com-leion' an! thee are com-oe! of the Element: the Male Sulphur ' i nothing (ut Fire an! Air@ an! true Sulphur i a a Fire' (ut not the Dulgar' >hich i of no Argent vive ' i nothing (ut Earth an! Metallic) u(tance@ the Feminine S-erm' calle! &ater* Thee t>o S-erm' ol! >ie men calle! t.o
>inge!' the other not@ Sulphur not fl#ing the Fire' i >ithout >ing@ the >inge! Ser-ent' i Argnet vive (orn u- (# the &in!' therefore in her certain hour he flieth from the Fire' (eing uncontant in it@ (ut if thee t>o S-erm' e-arate! from themel"e' (e unite! again (# trium-hing Nature in the /oo) of Mercury ' >hich i the Fire Metalline' then unite! it i calle! of ,hiloo-her the flying hile he flieth' (# little an! little -rea!eth hi Fire
an! -oionou Da-our into the
Air: the ame thing !oth Mercury ' >hich -lace! u-on an eteriour Fire' (eing in hi -lace in a Deel' etteth on fire hi ini!e' >hich i hi!!en in hi -rofun!it#@ an! then ma# an# one ee ho> the eternal Fire !oth inflame the natural of
Mercury an! hall ee
a -oionou Da-our to (rea) out into the Air' >hich hall (e of uch a tin)ing an! -erniciou -oio n >hich i nothing ele (ut the Hea! of the
+ragon' >hich -ee! il# >ent
out of /a(#lon* /ut other ,hiloo-her ha"ing com-are! thi Mercury >ith the flying Lyon ' (ecaue a L#on !e"oureth man# Creature' an! recreate himelf >ith hi
"oracit#' thee thing ece-te! that reit hi "iolent fur#@ o alo !oth
Mercury ' >hich
hath in himelf uch an o-eration' that it -oileth a Metal of hi form' an! !e"oureth it: Mercury too much inflame!' !e"oureth an! hi!eth Metal in hi (ell#@ (ut >hich of them
oe"er it (e' it< certain it i not conume! in hi (ell#' for in their Nature the# are -erfect' an! more than he in!urate: (ut Mercury hath in him a u(tance of -erfecting Sol an! Lune, an! all im-erfect Metal come from Mercury ' therefore the Ancient calle!
it the Mother of Metals @ thence it follo>eth' >here he i forme! to an# thing' he hath in him a !ou(le Metallic) u(tance* An! firt the u(tance of the interiour' then of the Sun' >hich i not li)e the other Metal@ of thee t>o u(t ance Mercury i forme!' >hich in hi /o!# i -irituall# nourihe!: o oon therefore a Nature hath forme! Mercury .44.
of the t>o mentione! S-irit' then it la(oureth to ma)e them -erfect an! cor-oreal@ (ut >hen the S-irit are of gro>th' an! the t>o S-erm a>a)ene!' then the# !eire to aume their o>n /o!ie >hich !one' Mercury the Mother mut !#e' >hich (eing thu naturall# mortifie!' cannot uic)en it elf again a (efore* Some arrogant Ch#mit en!ea"our in o(cure >or! to affirm that >e ought to tranmute -erfect an! im-erfect /o!ie into running Mercury @ (ut a Ser-ent lieth in the Her(: it true' that Mercury ma# tranmute an im-erfect /o!#' a Lea!' or Tin' an! ma# >ithout la(our multi-l# in a uantit#' (ut there(# it loeth it o>n -erfection' an! ma# no more for thi reaon (e Mercury @ (ut if (# Art it might (e m ortifie!' tha t it might no mo re "i"ifie it elf' then it >oul! (e change! into an# thing' a in Cina(ar or Su(limate i !one@ for >hen it i (# Art coagulate!' >hether ooner or later it (e !one' then hi t>o /o!ie aume not a fie! /o!#' neither are li)e to coner"e it' a >e ma#
ee in the -ore of
the Earth* /ut let an# one houl! err' there are in the Dein of Lea! ome fie! grain of Sol or Lune ' in u(tance o r nourihment : the firt coagul ation of Mercury ' i the Mine of Lea!' an! mot fit an! commo!iou it i to (ring him unto -erfection an! fiation@ for the Mine of Lea! i not >ithout a fie! grain of 7ol!' an! >hich grain Nature !i! im-art: o in it elf it ma# (e multi-lie!' >here(# it ma# come to -erfection an! -lenar# "irtue' a I ha"e trie! an! ma# affirm* Alo o long a it i not e-arate! from hi Mine' that i' from hi Mercury ' (ut >ell )e-t' for e"er# Metal that i in
hi Mine' the ame i a
Mercury ' then ma# it multi-l# it
elf' o it ma# ha"e u(tance from hi Mercur#@ then >ill it (e li)e ome green immature Fruit' on a Tree' >hich the /loom (eing -at' i ma!e into Fruit an! then the A--le: (ut if an# houl! cro- a>a# the immature Fruit' then hi firt forming >oul! (e corru-te!' (ecaue man )no> not ho> to gi"e u(tance or maturit#' a internal Nature' >hile the Fruit #et hang on the Tree' an! ma# ha"e u(tance an! nourihment from Nature@ for o long a maturit# i e-ecte!' o long the Fruit !ra> a- or liuor' an! that (# augmentation an! nourihment' till it come to -erfect maturit#*
So i it >ith Sol' for if (#
Nature a grain (e ma!e' an! it i re!uce! to hi Mercury ' then alo (# the ame it i !ail# after an unceant manner utaine! an! re!uce! into hi -lace'
Mercury a he i in
himelf@ an! then mut #ou e-ect till he hall o(tain ome u(tance from hi
Mercury '
a it ha--en in Fruit of Tree: for a the Mercury of (oth -erfect an! im-erfect /o!ie i a Tree' o the# can ha"e no more nourihment' other>ie than from their o>n If therefore thou >oul!t gather from Mercury Fruit' >hich i hining Sol an! .4=.
Mercury :
Lune' if it (e that the# (e not far !i;o#ne!' o that it (e >ithout long !ela#' then thin) not #ou a Nature !i! in the (eginning' #ou >ill again con;o#n an! multi-l#' an! ma# >ithout change augment them* For if Metal (e e-arate! from their Mine' then the# $li)e the Fruit of Tree too oon gathere!% ne"er come to their -erfection@ a Nature an! E-erience ma)e it a--ear' that if a ,ear or A--le (e once -luc)e! from the Tree' it >oul! then (e a great foll#' if an# houl! again faten it to the Tree' an! thence e-ect maturit#@ for E-erience >itneeth' the more it i han!le!' the more it >ithereth* An! o it i >ith Metal' for if an# >oul! ta)e Dulgar Sol an! Lune ' an! en!ea"our to re!uce them into Mercury ' he >oul! altogether -la# the Fool' for no u(tle Art i there to (e foun!'
>here(# he might not !ecei"e him@ although man# >ater an! Cement' or infinite thing of that )in! he houl! ue' he >oul! !ail# err' an! that >oul! ha--en to him' that !oth them >ho >oul ! t#e unri-e Fruit to their Tree* ha"e ai! >ell an! trul#' if
Although ome ,h iloo-her
Sol an! Lune (# a right Mercury (e rightl# con;o#ne!' that
then the# >ill ma)e all im-erfect Metal -erfect@ #et in thi mot men ha"e faile!' >ho ha"ing thee three' Degeta(le' Animal an! Mineral' >hich in one thing are con;o#ne!@ for the# regar! not' that ,hiloo-her -ea) not of Dulgar
Sol ' Lune ' an!
Mercury ' >hich are all !ea!' an! recei"e no more u(tance from Nature' (ut remain in
their o>n Eenc e' an! can hel- none other into -erfe ction: the# are Fruit -luc) e! off from their Tree (efore their time' an! are therefore of no account' the# ha"ing nothing more than >hat the# >ant* Therefore ee) the Fruit in the Tree that lea!eth #ou traight unto them' >hoe Fruit i !ail# ma!e greater >ith increae' o long a the Tree hol!eth it forth@ an! thi >or) een' i great ;o#@ (# thi mean an# ma# tran-lant thi Tree' >ithout gathering hi Fruit' an! then tran-ort him into moiter' (etter' an! more fruitful -lace' >hich in one !a# ma# gi"e more nourihment to the Fruit' than it recei"e! other>ie in an hun!re! #ear* In thi therefore it i un!ertoo!' that Mercury the much commen!e! Tree mut (e ta)en' >ho hath in hi -o>er in!iol"a(l#
Sol an! Lune ' an! then tran-lant
him into another So#l nearer the Sun ' that thence he ma# gain amica(le utilit#' in >hich thing +e> !oth a(un!antl# uffice@ for >here he >a -lace! (efore' he >a o >ea)ene! (# >in! an! col!' that little Fruit >a e-ecte! from him' >here he long too! an! (rought forth no Fruit at all* For in!ee! the ,hiloo-her ha"e a 7ar!en' >here the Sun a >ell morning a e"ening remaineth >ith a mot >eet +e> >ithout ceain g' >ith >hich it i -rin)le! an! moitne!@ >hoe Earth (ringeth forth Tree an! Fruit' >hich .41.
from thence are -lante!@ >ho alo recei"e !ecent an! nourihment from the -leaant Mea!* An! thi i !one !ail#' an! there the# (e (oth corro(orate! an! uic)ene!' an! !o not fa!e@ an! thi more in one #ear' than in a thouan! >here the col! infect them* Ta)e them therefore' an! night an! !a# cherih them in a Stillator# u-on the Fire@ (ut not >ith a &oo! Fire' or Coal Fire' (ut in a clear tran-arent Fire' not unli)e the Sun' >hich i ne"er hotter than i reuiite' (ut houl! (e al>a# ali)e@ for a Da-our i the +e> an! the See! of Metal' >hich ought not to (e altere!* &e ee Fruit if the# (e too hot >ith no +e>' the# a(i!e on the (ough >ithout -erfection' (ut if heat an! mo!erate moiture utain them on their Tree' then the# -ro"e ele gant an! fruitful: for heat an! moiture are the Eleme nt of all Earthl# thing' Animal' Degeta(le an! Mineral* Therefore Coal Fire an! &oo! Fire hel- not Metal@ thoe are "iolent Fire' that nourih not a the heat of the Sun !oth' >hich alo coner"eth all cor-oral thing' (ecaue it i natural >hich the# follo>* /ut a ,hiloo-her !oth not >hat Nature !oth' for Nature hath create! all Degeta(le' Animal an! Mineral in their o>n !egree' >here Nature reigneth: I >ill not a# that men' after the ame ort' (# Art ma)e Natural thing@ >hen Nature hath finihe! thee thing' then (# H umane Art the# are ma!e more -erfect* After thi ort ol! ,hiloo-her' for our information' la(oure! >ith
Lune ' an! Mercury her true
Mother' of >hich the# ma!e the Mercury of the 0hilosophers ' >hich in hi o-eration i much more trong than Natural Mercury @ for thi i er"icea(le onl# to the im-le' -erfect' im-erfect' col! an! hot Metal@ (ut the ,hiloo-her Stone i ueful to the more than -erfect an! im-erfect Metal* Alo that the Sun ma# -erfect an! refreh them' >ithout !iminution' a!!ition or immutation' a the# >ere create! of Nature' o he lea"eth them@ neither !oth h e neglect an# thing* I >ill not no> a# the ,hiloo-he r con;o#n the Tree' for the (etter -erfecting of their un)ilful of thing an! unlearne! Ch#mit !o' >ho ta)e common
Mercury ' a ome Sol an! Lune an!
Mercury ' an! o ill.fa"our< !l# han!le them' till the# -a a>a# into Smoa): an! the#
en!ea"our to ma)e the ,hiloo-her Mercury @ (ut the# ne"er attaine! to that@ that i' the firt Matter of the Stone' an! the firt Minera of the Stone* If the# >ill come thither' an! fin! an# goo!' then to the Hill of the e"en' >here there i no ,lain' the# >oul! (eta)e themel"e' an! from the highet the# ha"e nee! to loo) !o>n>ar! to the it' >hich the# hall ee afar off* .45.
In the height of thi Mountain' the# hall fin! a Ro#al Her( trium-hing' >hich ome ha"e calle! Mineral' ome Degeta(le an! Saturnal@ (ut let the /one (e left' an! let a -ure clean /roth (e ta)en from' an! thu the (etter -art of th# >or) i !one*
An! thi i the right an! u(tle Mercury of the 0hilosophers ' an! i to (e
ta)en of thee' an! firt the >hite >or) h e >ill ma)e' an! after the re!: if thou ha"e >ell un!ertoo! me' (oth of them are nothing ele' a the# call them' (ut the ,ractic)' >hich i o light an! o im-le' that a &oman itting (# her +itaff ma# -erfect it@ a if he >oul! in &inter -ut her Egg un!er a Hen an! not >ah them' (ecaue Egg are -ut un!er a Hen to it u-on >ithout >ahing them' an! no more la(our i reuire! a(out them' than that the# houl! (e e"er# !a# turne!' that the Chic)en ma# (e the (etter an! ooner' hatche!@ to the >hich enough an! more than enough i ai!* /ut that I ma# follo> the eam-le' firt >ah not the Mercury ' (ut ta)e it an! >ith it li)e $>hich i Fire% -lace him in the ahe' >hich i Stra>' an! in one 7la' >hich i the Net' >ithout an# other thing' in a con"enient Alim(ec)' >hich i the Houe' an! then thence >ill come forth a Chic)en' >hich >ith hi /lou! hall free thee from all +ieae' an! >ith hi Fleh hall nourih thee' an! >ith hi Feather hall cloath thee' an! )ee- thee >arm from col!* Therefore ha"e I >ritten unto #ou thi -reent Treatie' that #ou ma# earch >ith the greater !eire' an! >al) in the right >a#@ an! I ha"e com-rehen!e! thi mall &or) in a Summar#' that #ou might the (etter com-rehen! the a#ing of the ,hiloo-her' >hich I -er>a!e m# elf #ou >ill (etter un!ertan! hereafter* FINIS*
.42.
&LA/#&' LA! OR, A little Key of Raymond Lullie Majoricane;
&hich i alo calle!
APERTORIUM, (the Opener)
In which all that is required in the Work of ALCHYMY
Is lainly declared
&LA/#&'LA! OR' A little e# of Ra#mon! Lullie Ma;oricane$ &e ha"e calle! thi our &or) 'lavicula ' or the Little e#' for >ithout thi &or) none i a(le to un!ertan! >hat >e ha"e >rote in our other /oo)' in >hich >e ha"e full# !eclare! the >hole Art' although >ith o(cure >or!' (# reaon of the Ignorant* I ha"e >ritten man# an! large /oo)' un!er !i"ere Section an! o(cure term' a a--eareth in our estament ' >here >e ha"e han!le! of the Natrual ,rinci-le' >here all thing are et !o>n that (elong to thi Art' #et un!er the Hammer in the -ro-er -hrae of ,hiloo-her* Item' in our Cha-ter in the 0hilosophers Argent vive ' an! in the econ! -art of the estament of the 2"uberation of 0hysical Mines ' an! in our /oo) of the 8irst 2ssence ' of the )uintessence of 4old and Silver @ after>ar! in other /oo) alo ma!e (# me' >here the >hole Art i com-leatl# et !o>n' (ut >e ha"e hi!!en the Secret a much a >e coul!* /ut eeing that no man >ithout thi Secret can enter the Mine of the ,hiloo-her' nor ma)e an# thing that can -rofit him@ therefore (# the hel- of the Almight#' >hom it hath -leae! to re"eal unto me thi ecret ' I >ill !eclare thi >h ole Art >ithout a n# fiction: An! theref ore ee that #ou !o not re"eal thi Secret unto the >ic)e!' (ut unto #our entire Frien!@ though #ou ought not to gi"e it to men' (eing it i the gift of 7o!' >ho >ill gi"e it to >hom he -leaeth' an! >hooe"er hall ha"e it' hall ha"e an e"erlating Treaure* Although Luna recei"eth her clearne from Sol' of thee t>o the >hole Mater# !e-en!eth@ (ut eeing Metal cannot (e tranmute! $a Avicen >itneeth% in the Mineral' unle the# (e re!uce! into their firt Matter' >hich i true' "i?* that unle #ou re!uce them into Argent vive @ not Dulgar' that i' not "olatile' (ut fit' for
the Dulgar i
"olatile' an! full of flegmatic) col!ne' an! therefore it nee!eth to (e re!uce! (# Argent vive fie!' more hot an! !r#' in ualitie contrar# to Argent vive Dulgar:
Therefore I counel #ou' O m# Frien!' that #ou !o not >or) (ut a(out
Sol an! Luna '
re!ucing them into the firt Matter' our Sulphur an! Argent vive : therefore' Son' #ou are to ue thi "enera(le Matter@ an! I >ear unto #ou an! -romie' that unle #ou ta)e the Argent "i"e of thee t>o' #ou go on to the ,ractic) a (lin! men >ithout e#e an! ence@ therefore' Son' I (eeech #ou >al) in the light' >ith o-en e#e' an! fall not into the !itch of ,er!ition a (lin! men*
.48.
&APTER $0E $f the difference between Argent )i)e /ulgar! and Argent )i)e 0atural.
&e a#' that Argent vive Dulgar cannot (e the Argent vive of the ,hiloo-her' >hate"er Art it (e -re-are! >ith for the Dulgar cannot (e !etaine! in the Fire' (ut (# another Argent vive cor-oreal >hich i hot an! !r#' an! more !igete! there: I a#' that our Nature i of a more fit an! hotter Nature* than the Dulgar' an! that therefore (ecaue our Argent vive cor-oreal i turne! into Argent vive current' not te#ning the finger@ an! >hen it i mie! >ith the Dulgar the# are ;o#ne!' an! em(race one another >ith the (on! of Lo"e' o that the# ne"er -art from one another' a &ater mit >ith &ater' for THUS it -leaeth Nature: /ut our Argent vive !oth enter an! mi it elf actuall# >ith the other Dulgar' !r#ing u- it flegmatic humi!it#' an! ta)ing a>a# the col!ne from the /o!#' ma)ing it (lac) a a Coal' >hich after>ar! it turneth into ,o>!er* Note therefore' that Argent vive cannot he> forth uch O-eration' a our ,h#ical or Natural' >hich in all it ualitie hath the heat of Nature' an! of true tem-erature' an! therefore it turneth the Dulgar into it tem-erate Nature@ na# it !oth moreo"er ome>hat ele' for after it tranmutation' it turneth it into -ure Metal' that i' into Sol or Lune ' accor!ing a it i eten!e!@ or from Sol an! Lune ' a i he>e! in the econ! Cha-ter or ,art of our ,ractic): /ei!e thi' it hath ome>hat greater' for it changeth an! con"erteth Dulgar Mercury into Me!icine' >hich Me!icine can tranmute the im-erfect Metal into -erfect: (ei!e it turneth the Dulgar into true Sol an! Lune ' (etter than thoe of the Mine* Mar) again' that one ounce of our Dulgar Argent vive ' o Natural Mercury ' can ma)e an hun!re! Mar)' an! o until infinit#' >ith that the Mine hall ne"er fail* /ei!e thi' I >ill ha"e #ou )no> another thing' that
Dulgar Mercury i not rightl# nor -erfectl# mie! >ith the /o!ie@ for the S-irit cannot (e mie! >ith the /o!ie -erfectl#' unle the# (e re!uce! into the )in! of Nature: An! therefore >hen thou >ilt mingle Lune an! Sol in Mercury Dulgar' then thee /o!ie mut (e re!uce! into the )in! of Nature' >hich i calle!
Argent vive Dulgar'
through the (on! of natural Lo"e' an! then the Male i ;o#ne! >ith the female@ for our Argent vive i hot an! !r# actuall#' Argent vive Dulgar i col! an! moit -ai"el#' a a
Female >hich i )e-t in her houe >ith tem-erate heat until the Ecli-i' an! then are ma!e (lac) a Coal' >hich i the Secret of our true +iolution: after the# are at lat trul# )nit together one >ith another' o that the# ne"er -art from one another' an! the# (ecome a mot
>hite ,o>!er' >hich are the Male an! Female engen!ere! (# true
(on! of Lo"e@ (ut the Chil!ren >ill multi-l# their )in! to infinit#' for one ounce of thi ,o>!er' thou .=3.
halt ma)e infinite Sol' an! re!uce to Lune' (etter than an# Metal of the Mine* &APTER T,$ The E1traction of %ercury out of the Perfect 2ody.
Ta)e one ounce of Cal of Luna ' let it (e calcine! in that manner a i ai! in
the
en! of the &or) of our Mater#@ >hich Cal or Slime mut (e groun! into u(tile ,o>!er u-on a 0orphyr ' >hich ,o>!er #e hall im(i(e t>ice' thrice' or four time in a !a# >ith the (et =yl of arter ' ma!e in that manner a hall (e ai! in the en! of our Mater#' !r#ing it in the Sun until the ai! Cal hall !rin) u- of the ai! O#l' four or fi"e -art more than the Cal it elf >a' grin!ing it al>a# u-on the
0orphyrie ' a i
ai!: An! in the en!' let the Cal (e !rie! u- >ell' that it ma# >ell (e re!uce! into ,o>!er@ an! >hen it i >ell -ul"eri?e!' let it (e -ut into a /oult.hea! >ith a long nec): -ut of our tin)ing Mentrual ma!e of t>o -art of Re! Ditriol' an! one -art of Salt.-eter' an! let the ai! Menstruum firt (e !itille! e"en time' an! let it (e >ell rectifie!' (# e-arating the Earthl# Faece' in o much that the ai! Mintrual (e altogether Eential* After>ar! let the /oult.hea! (e >ell lute!' an! -ut to the Fire of Ahe' >ith a little Fire of Coal' until #ou ee the ai! Matter (o#l an! (e !iol"e!: after>ar! !itill it u-on Ahe' until it loeth the Menstruum ' an! the Matter (e altogether col!@ an! >hen it i col!' let the Deel (e o-ene!' an! the Matter >hich i col! (e -ut into another Deel that i "er# clean' >ith it Ca- or Hea! on' >ell lute! to a Furnace u-on Ahe@ an! >hen the lute i >ell !rie!' let the Fire (e ma!e (# !egree in the (eginning' until #ou get all it &ater: after>ar! augment the Fire until the Matter (e !rie!' an! the tin)ing S-irit ealte! to the Caor Hea!' an! in the Recei"er: an! >hen #ou hall ee uch a ign' let the Deel (e coole! (# !imin ihing the Fire: An! after the D eel i coole !' let the Matter (e ta )en out an! ma!e into u(til ,o>!er u-on the 0orphyrie ' o that the ,o>!er ma# (e im-al-a(le' >hich mut (e et in an Earthen Deel >ell lute! an! >ell gla?e!: after>ar! -ut u-on thi ai! ,o>!er common &ater (o#ling' tirring al>a# the Matter >ith a clean Stic)' until the Matter (ecome thic) a Mutar!@ an! tir the ai! Saltih Matter >ith a Stic)' until #ou ee a--ear grain of
Mercury from the /o!#' an!
that a great uantit# of the ai! uic) Mercury a--ear' accor!ing a #ou ha"e -ut in of the -erfect /o!#' that i of Luna @ an! until #ou hall ha"e a great uantit#' -our u-on it (o#ling &ater' an! at length tirring it until all the
Matter (e reol"e! into a
Matter li)e unto Argent vive Dulgar: let the terretriet# (e ta)en a>a# >ith col! &ater' an! !rie! u- (# a cloth@ after>ar! let it gi"e through a Leather' an! #ou hall ee >on!er*
.=0.
&APTER TREE $f the %ulti*lication of our Argent )i)e. 6n the :ame of 4od, Amen$
Of -ure Sil"er three grote' ma!e into thin ,late' an! ma)e
Amalgama >ith four
grote of Argent vive Dulgar' >ell >ahe!@ an! >hen the Amalgama i ma!e' then let it (e -ut into a little /oult.hea!' >ith a nec) of one foot an! a half long* After>ar! three grote of our Argent vive ' formerl# etracte! an! reer"e! from the Lunary /o!#' an! let it (e -ut u-on the Amalgama' ma!e of the (o!# an! of Argent vive Dulgar: let the Deel (e lute! "er# >ell >ith the (et lute' an! let it (e !rie!' >hen thi i !one' tirring the Deel ecee!ing >ell' that the Amalgama ma# (e >ell mingle!@ an! thu the Argent vive ma# (e >ell mie! >ith the /o!#* After>ar! -ut the Deel in >hich the Matter i' in a little Furnace' to a little Fire of Coal' an! let thi not ecee! the heat of the Sun' &hen Sol i in the Sign of Leo ' for another heat ecee!ing that >oul! !etro# the Matter' an! the one >oul! fl# from the other: an! let uch a Fire (e continue!' until the Matter (ecome (lac) a coal an! thic) a -ul-i@ an! let the fire continue in thi !egree until the Matter (e change! into a gra# (ro>n colour: an! >hen the gra# a--eareth' incre ae the Fire in one -oint or !egree' an! let thi econ! !egree continue until the Matter (egin to (ecome >hite' to the mot -uret >hitene@ after>ar! augment the Fire to the thir! !egree' continuing it until the matter (ecome >hiter than Sno>' an! (e con"erte! into -ure ,o>!er' >hiter than Ahe: an! then #ou ha"e 'al" vive ' or the uic) Slime of the ,hiloo-he r' an! it Sul-hur# Mine' >hich the ,hiloo-her ha"e o much hi!!en* &APTER F$'R The Pro*erty of the said &al1! or Slime.
The ai! Cal con"erteth Mercury Dulgar into mot >hite ,o>!er infinitel#' >hich can (e re!uce! into true Sil"er' >ith ome of the /o!ie of
Luna *
&APTER F#/E %ulti*lication of the &al1.
The Deel >ith the Matter' >herein -ut t>o ounce of
Argent vive Dulgar'
>ell >ahe! an! !rie!@ after>ar! lute the Deel >ell' an! -ut it >here it >a (efore' go"erning an! a!minitering to it the Fire of the firt' econ!' an! thir! !egree' a (efore' until the Matter (e re!uce! into a mot >hite ,o>!er' an! o #ou ma# multi-l# to infinit#* .=6.
&APTER S#3 The Reduction of this &al1 )i)a! into Luna. 'al" viva ' or of our Mine'
&hen thou thu hat gotten a great uantit# of our ta)e a Cruci(le not co"ere!' in >hich -ut one ounce of -ure
Lune ' an! >hen it i
melte!' -ut thereu-on four ounce of th# ,o>!er in mall ,ill' let th# ,ill (e the >eight of the fourth -art of an ounce: let them (e -ut u-on the mi!!le Luna (# !egree' al>a# con tinuing the Fire trong' until all the ,ill (e -ro;ecte! an! melte!' together >ith the Lune' an! in the en! ma)e a trong Fire' until it (e incor-orate!: after>ar! -ro;ect it in an Ingot' an! thou halt ha"e fi"e ounce of Sil"er more -ure than the Natural: an! thu thou ma#t multi-l# th# ,h iloo-hical Mine a thou -leaet* &APTER SE/E0 $f our great ,ork to the ,hite! and to the Red.
Re!uce the 'al" viva ' a i ai! (efore of Luna ' into Argent vive ' >hich i our Secret* Ta)e therefore four ounce of our 'al" ' an! re!uce them into Argent vive ' a thou !i!t >ith Luna ' of >hich Argent vive thou ma#t ha"e at leat three ounce: -ut thi in a little /oult.hea! >ith a long nec)' a thou !i!t (efore@ after>ar! ma)e Amal gama >ith one ounce of true Sol ' >ith three ounce of Argent vive Dulgar' an!
-ut u-on it Argent vive of Lune ' mo"ing it trongl# >ith th# han!' that all ma#
(e
mingle! together: after>ar! -ut the Deel' >ell lute! a (efore' in the Furnace' ma)ing the Fire of the firt' econ!' an! thir! ! egree: in the firt !egree th# Matter >ill (ecome (lac)' li)e to a Coal' >hich then i calle! the
2clipsis of Luna an! Sol '
an! there >ill (e a true commition' >here(# i (egotten the
Sun an! Sulphur ' >hich
i full of tem-erate (lou!@ after the a--earing of hi colour' continue the Fire of the econ! !egree until the Matter (ecome gra#' then continue the thir! !egree until the Matter a--ear mot >hite@ after>ar! augment the Fire to the fourth !egree' continuing o that the Matter ma# a--ear re! a Cinna(ar' an! the Ahe (ecome re!: thi Cal #ou ma# re!uce into the finet Sol ' a i ai! (efore of Lune * 86:6S$
.=9.
SECRETS
+ISC
LOS<
One Frien! to another@ a /loomfiel! u--oe' The ,hiloo-her Stone the Secret !oth !icloe*
+
SE
&R
ET S D#S& L$ S4 D. $ne Friend to another5 as 2loomfield su**ose! The Philoso*hers Stone the Secrets doth disclose.
I hall tell it to #ou o-e nl#: Our Me!icine i a S tone' that i no St one@ an! it i one thing in )in !' an! not !i"ere t hing' of >hom a ll Metal (e ma!e@ an! o it i no Salt' nor &ater' nor O#l com(uti(le' nor man Hair' nor man /lou!' nor Iron' nor 7oat.horn' nor Her(' nor none uch thing that !icor! from Metal' a man# Fool !e"ie: /ut he i t>o thing' for he i &ater an! Earth@ not &ater of Clou!' nor of Corroi"e' nor &ater of Salt' (ut &ater of the Sun an! the Moon' that (urn our Earth more than an# Fire' An! it i three thing' that i' /o!#' S -irit' an! Soul@ an! it i four thing' Earth an! &ater' an! Air' an! Fire@ an! therefore he i foun! in e"er# -lace ' an! in e"er# time* An! he i alo unta(le in colour' a a hame.fac he i -ale' no> green' no> re!: o our Stone i turne! to all colour' for he i (lac)' an! >hite' an! -ale' an! (le>' an! green' an! re!@ of thi Matter our Me!icine i ma!e that >e call 6"ir ' an! 2li"ir ' that i' the 0hilosophers Stone * Ta)e thi Stone' an! -ut him in a >ell.cloe! clear Deel' that thou ma#t ee hi >or)ing@ an! >hen thou hat &ater of Air' an! Air of Fire' an! Fire of Earth' then it i !one' for the S-irit i !e-arte! from the /o!#' an! lea"eth the /o!# !ea! an! (lac): /ut if the Se-ulchre (e >ell cloe!' he >ill come in again to the /o!# an! ma)e him rie again to life* an! then the /o!# an! the Soul hall e"er (e together* An! therefore ta)e a Re! man' an! a &hite >oman' an! >e! them together' an! let them go to Cham(er (oth' an! loo) that the !oor an! the >in!o> (e fat -arrill (e gone a>a# from her Hu(an!: An! if he l#e >ith him right >arm on /e!' the (e>are that he go no >here out' for if he !o' he hall ne"er o"erta)e her' if he >ere a >ift a a Faulcon@ for if
he ma# no >here out' he
>ill come to him again' an! l#e >ith him on /e!@ an! then he hall concei"e an! (ear a Son' that hall >orhi- all hi in' an! then >ill he ne"er after go a>a# from her Hu(an!* For thi Man an! th i &oman getteth o ur Stone: /ut the Man mut ( e fell an! uaint to ma)e her to a(i!e >ith him >ith mee)ne' an! not >ith tur!ine@ for if he (e (oiterou to her in the (eginning' he >ill flee a>a# from him' an! if he (e eaie >ith her in the (eginning' he >ill (e hi Mater a goo! >hile* Thi i a har! marriage' ne"erthele one comfort thi i' after .=4.
that he hath (orn a Chil!' an! )no>n ome>hat of !ieae' he >ill (e the more o(er' an! n e"er lea"e him aft er* /ut hortl#' all ou r >or)ing i no mo re (ut ta)e our Stone' an! ma)e him rotten in Hore!ung' an! then eeth him in hi o>n &ater' an! after>ar! fr# him in hi o>n 7reae' an! then roat him till hi 7reae an! hi &ater (e all !rie! u-' an! then (urn him all to ,o>!er' an! then (a)e him on an O"en till he >ill melt a &a' an! then thou hat an en!* An! then than) 7o! that thi &or) i o eaie' for th# Stone i (ut one thing' an! all one Deel' an! all one >or)ing' from the (eginning to the en!ing: (ut loo) that th# Fire (e eaie an! oft in the ,utrefaction ' an! in the Solution' an! the +itillation ' till it (e (lac)@ (ut then trengthen al>a# till in the +eication an! the Im(i(ition' an! in the Su(limation' an! in the Coagulation' an! the Congelation' an! fiing of the S-irit' an! in the Calcination' an! in the Incineration@ (ut in the citrination' an! Ru(ification' an! Inceration' an! Liuefaction' i all their trength* /ut if thou un!ertan! not thi' Frien!' me!!le thou not of thi Art' until thou ha"e gone (etter to School@ an! hol! thi in Counel for m# lo"e' a I hall trut to #ou hereafter* Fare>ell*
.==.
A ,hiloo-hical Ri!!le*
A Strife late rose in 7eaven, Cet undecided, And the chief
.=1.
THE A NS& ER
OF
Bernardus Trevisanus,
TO THE
E,ISTLE OF Thoma of /ononia' ,h#ician to * CHARLES the 2th*
The Answer of Bernardus Trevisanus, to the Epistle of Thomas of Bononia, Physician to King harles the Eighth. Reverend
&ith the ten!er of all -oi(le Re-ect an! Ser"ice (e -leae! to un!ertan!' that I ha"e recei"e! #our "er# large an! co-iou Letter (# Mr*
A.dry '
together >ith the Stone of #our mot ecret &or)@ >hich trul# i a remar)a(le argument of #our Frien!hi-' (# >hich the confi!ence #ou -ut in me a--ear manifet an! "er# great' an! >ith ho> great an! -iercing a &it alo #ou are illutrate!* No> then I hall "er# >illingl# An>er unto #our E-itle: Some thing I hall a--ro"e' >hich #ou ha"e >ritten learne!l# an! ingenioul#' other thing I hall (riefl# touch' an! refute trictl# an! ,hiloo-hicall#' (ut not arrogantl#' an! throughl# !icu them >ith u(miion a n! re-ect unto #our Honour' an! reuet:
For in
thi acre! an! ecret Art' a in other' the truth of the Theor# ought to (e confirme! (# ,ractical e-erience* No> therefore' Re"eren! +octor' let u "iit one another >ith uch Return an! Treatie' ince >e ma# not (e (o!il# unite!* /ut it i #our >i!om $a #ou "er# >ell )no>% to )no> an! in-ect thing (# their Caue' for E-erience i !eceitful >hen not gui!e! (# a -re"iou un!ertan!ing* There i necear# to the Stu!ent in ,hiloo-h#' a trong an! !icret me!itation' that the &or) the# un!erta)e ma# (e con"enientl# (rought on to it utmot -erfection: For contingent error ha--en unto them >ho >ill fall to >or)' omitting or neglecting the ;u!gment of a mental -ractice' >hich the Theor# frameth in the min! (efore the o-eration -rocee! to the com-oure of an# &or): For &or) mut atten! Nature' an! not Nature follo> &or)* He then that >oul! effect an# thing' mut -re-are hi min! >ith the )no>le!ge of the Nature an! e"entual Acci!ent of thing' an! after>ar! he ma# afel# -ut hi han! to the &or)* An! in!ee! I clearl# -ercei"e #our min! to (e highl# intructe! in thee thing' (# #our E-eriment et !o>n full# in #our E-itle: For a &ater >hich i col! an! moit' if it (e >ell mit >ith Degeta(le' aume another ualit#' an! in !ecoction ta)e to it an! -ut on it the ualit# of the thing >here>ith it i throughl# mit@ o
alo )uic/-silver aume !ifferent nature
an! ualitie in thing familiar u nto it' an! throug hl# mit >ith it: a if it (e ;o#ne! t o the Sun ' the ualitie of the Sun @ if to the Moon ' thoe of the Moon @ if to Venus ' of Venus : an! o in other )in! of Metal* Their )in! therefore ought to (e !ecocter
therein' an! Mercur# i their &ater' in >hich (# a mutual alteration it aume in a con"erti( le manner their mut ation* An! thi &ater co ntract unto it e lf from them a Nature in a reem(lance to Degeta(le' !ococte! in im-le &ater: though thee )in! are not altere! in their colour out>ar!l#' .=5.
un!er the form of flui!it#' in re-ect of the thic)ne of the Matter an! Earth immere! in' an! unite! -ro-ortiona(l# to the &ater of
Mercury @ (ut >e fin! it
other>ie in ot her !ia-han ou humi!itie : For thi altere! ' Nature i alter e!' an! it colour out>ar!l# i hi! un!er the a--earance of Mercury ' an! i not manif et to the ight* An! thi #ou at large !icu an! ho>' ho> im-le Ri"er &ater i the firt Matter an! nourihment of Degeta(le' an! coneuentl# of all li"ing an! eniti"e Creature : therefore if an# o f them all (e !ecoc te! in it' it aume a n! -ut on it elf the "irtue an! -ro-riet# of their Nature: >herefore (eing in it elf col! in the highet !egree' #et (# mean of thing !ecocte! in it' it >or) in u the effect of a thing hot in the firt !egree' that I ma# ue #our >or!* Moreo"er' there i nothing that nouriheth more than the /roth or !ecoction of goo! fleh@ an! if the &ater in >hich fleh an! Her( are (o#le!' or the thing (o#le! in &ater' (e eaten moit' or the im-le &ater after (o#ling (e ta)en or !ran)' it hurt not at
all' #ea it >ill -rofit
an! hel- much' although (efore in it im-licit# an! nature it >oul! ha"e (een hurtful* No > thi come to -a ( ecaue tha t &ater i no t uch a it >a (efor e* In li)e manner )uic/-silver i the Matter of all Metal' an! i a it >ere &ater' $in the Analog# (et>it it' an! Degeta(le or Animal% an! recei"e into it the "irtue of thoe thing >hich in !ecoction a!her e to it' an! are throughl# mingle! >ith it@ >hich (eing mot col!' ma# #et in a hort time (e ma!e mot hot: an! in the ame manner >ith tem-erate thing ma# (e ma!e tem-erate' (# a mot u(tle artificial in"ention* An! no Metal a! here (etter to it th an 7ol!' a #ou a#' an! therefo re a ome thin) 7ol! i nothing (ut )uic/-silver ' coagulate! (# the -o>er of Sulphur, #c * An! thence #ou >oul! conclu!e' a I thin)' an! >ell' that if 7ol! (e !ecocte!
an! !iol"e! rightl# in the natural >a# of Art'
)uic/-silver it elf >ill o(tain the
natural -ro-ertie of that 7ol!* /ut the >a# of thi !ecoction an! olution of Metal' i )no>n to "er# fe>' an! it manifetl# a--ear: for the caue of thi Solution i the moitne of Mercury ' retraine! (# the com-actne of an Homogeneal Earth@ an! contrar#>ie' the col!ne of the Earth' retraine! (# a &ater Homogeneal to it elf' the Homogeneoune of ualitie remaining: o that there i in it a ingle !r#ne' an! !ou(le col!ne' a im-le moitne' (ut un!er a !i-ro-ortion of immaturit# to the anatical -ro-ortion of the ri-e !igete! Sun* The !iol"er therefore !iffer from the !iol"en! in -ro-ortion an! !igetion' an! not in matter: (ecaue Nature might ma)e thi of that' >ithout an# a!!itional miture' a Nature !oth >on!erfull# an! im-l# -ro!uce 7ol! of )uic/-silver ' a #ou ha"e learne!l# !icoure! in # our E-itle* For in Deget a(le' the moitu re of im-le &ater i ta )en for an intrinic) !iolution' that thing congeale! (# Art' might !iffue into their effect@ an! the !iolution of thing come a(out >ith the coagulation .=2.
of &ater >ith the !iolution of thing' an! contrar#>ie:
an! o it i li)e>ie in the
Mineral &ater' an! thing of it )in!* He therefore that )no> the Art an! Secret of +iolution' hath attaine! the ecret -oint of Art' >hich i to mingle throughl# the )in!' an! out of Nature to etract Nature' >hich are effectuall# hi! in them* hath he then foun! the truth' >ho !etro# the moit nature of
Ho>
)uic/-silver a
thoe Fool >ho !eform it )in! from it Metallic) !i-oition or !iolution' an! (# !iol"ing it ra!ical moiture' corru-t it' an! !i-ro-ortion
)uic/-silver from it firt
Mineral ualit#' >hich nee! nothing (ut -urit# an! im-le !ecoction* For eam-le' the# >ho !efile it >ith Salt' Ditriol' an! aluminou thing' !etro# it' an! into ome other thing' than i the nature of
change it
)uic/-silver : For that See! >hich Nature
(# it agacit# an! clemenc# com-oe!' the# en!ea"our to -erfect (# "iolating an! !etro#ing it' >hich un!ou(te!l# i !etructi"e to it' a far a concern the effect of our &or)* For the See! in humane an! eniti"e thing' i forme! (# Nature' an! not (# Art' an! >ell mie!@ (ut nothing i to (e ta)en from it' nor a!!e! to it' if the ame -ecie mut (e reno"ate! (# the -rocreation of it o>n )in!: o the ame Matter mut a(i!e an! continue' that the ame Form ma# follo>' >hich it !oth not other>ie* &herefore' ecellent +octor' fale an! "ain i all their !octrine' >hich altereth Mercury ' >hich i the See!' (efore the Metallic) -ecie (e ;o#ne! >ith it: For if it (e !r#e! u-' it !iol"e not* &hat then can it !o in the olution of thing of it o>n -ecie For if it (e heate! (e#on! it natural !igetion' it >ill not caue nor generate in the Metalline -ecie a Fe"erih heat a it >ere' an! >ill im-ertinentl# turn col! into hot' an! -ai"e into acti"e@ an! the errour from thence >ill (e incorrigi(le ' an! la(our lot* For eam-le' Fool !ra> corroi"e &ater out of inferiour Mineral' into >hich the# cat the species of Metal' an! corro!e them: For the# thin) that the# are therefore !iol"e! >ith a natural Solution' >hich Solution trul# reuire a -ermanenc# of the !iol"er an! !iol"e! together' that a ne> species might reult from (oth the Maculine an! Feminine See!: I tell #ou
aure!l#' that no &ater !iol"e an# Metallic) -ecie (# a natural Solution' a"e that >hich a(i!e >ith them in matter an! form' an! >hich the Metal themel"e (eing !iol"e!' can recongeal: >hich thing ha--en not in Aquafortis ' (ut rather i a !efilement of the C om-oun!' that i' of the /o!# to (e !iol"e!' Neither i that &ater -ro-er for Solution of /o!ie' >hich a(i!e not >ith them in their Coagulation@ an! finall# Mercury i of thi ort' an! not Aquafortis ' nor that >hich Fool imagine to (e' a l#m-i! an! !ia-hanou Mercurial &ater:
For if the# !i"i!e or
o(truct the homogencit# of Mercury ' ho> can the firt -ro-ortion of the Feminine See! conit an! (e -reer"e!
/ecaue Mercury cannot recei"e Congelation >ith
the !iol"e! .=8.
/o!#' neither >ill the true )in! (e reno"ate! after>ar! in the a!minitration of the Art' na# (ut ome other filth# an! un-rofita(le thing* Yet thu the# thin) the# !iol"e' mita)ing Nature' (ut !iol"e not: For the Aquafortis (eing a(tracte!' the /o!# (ecometh melta(le a (efore' an! that &ater a(i!e not >ith' nor u(it in the /o!#' a it ra!ical moiture* The /o!ie in!ee! are corro!e!' (ut not !iol"e!@ an! (# ho> much more the# are corro!e!' the# are o much more etrange! from a Metallic) )in!* Thee olution therefore are not the foun!ation of the Art of Tranmutat ion' (ut the im-oture rather of So-hitical Alch#mit ' >ho thin) that thi Sacre! Art i hi! in them* The# a# in!ee!' that the# ma)e Solution' (ut the# cannot ma)e -erfect Metallic) -ecie' (ecaue the# !o not naturall# remain un!er the firt -ro-ortion or )in!' >hich Mercury the &ater allo> in Metallic) species * For Mercury i corru-te! >ith Metal (# >a# of alteration' not !ii-ation: (ecaue /o!ie !iol"e! therein are ne"er e-arate! from it' a in
Aquafortis an! other corroi"e'
(ut one )in! -ut on an! hi!e another' retaining it ecretl# an! -erfectl#:
o Sol an!
Lune !iol"e!' are ecretl# retaine! in it* For their nature i hi! in Mercury ' e"en
unto it con!enation' of >hich the# l#ing hi! are the caue' in a much a the# are latent in it: an! a Mercury !iol"e them' an! hi!e them in it (ell#' o the# alo congeal it' an! >hat >a har! i ma!e oft' >hat >a oft' har!@ an! #et the )in!' that i' Metal an! )uic/-silver ' a(i!e till* He therefore >ho thu !iol"e' congeal rather' an! the corru-te! -ecie con;o#ne!' recei"e their ol! form (# an artificial !ecoction:
Not>ithtan!i ng thi !iolution ma)e e"eral colour a--ear' (ecaue
the -ecie remain a it >ere !ea!' #et their intrinical -ro-ortion i -ermanent an! entire* So the Lor! in the 7o-el -ea) (# > a# of imilitu!e of Degeta(le' 5nless a grain of corn fallen on the earth do dye, it abides aloneD but if it dye, it brings forth much fruit : Therefore thi alterati"e corru-tion hi!e form' -erfect nature' )ee-
-ro-ortion' an! change colour from the (eginning to the en!: For >hen the &ater (egin to co"er the Earth' the (lac) colour (egin to (e hi! un!er the >hite@ >hen the Air co"er the &ater an! the Earth' the citrine colour a--ear@ >hich i turne! to re!' >hen the Fire co"er the Air' or the other three Element* An! thee lat colour a(i!e hi!!enl# an! intrinicall#' an! a--ear un!er the he> of a >hite S-irit in liui! Mercury ' until it (e recon!ene! in the ,o>!er > hich i in the /o!ie: (ecaue the
Soul lie hi! in the S-irit' a in the con!enation the S-irit an! the Soul lie hi! in the ,o>!er or /o!#' For there i a corru-tion in the thing to (e altere!' (ut no !ii-ation of -art' unle ome u-erfluou -art (e to (e re;ecte! a un-rofita(le for the generation' >hereu-on the Artificer -urifie hi &or)' that !igetion ma# uccee! (etter* Thi i manifet (# eam-le in 7rain' for .13.
of t>o grain of &heat' if the one (e cat into goo! groun!' there it -utrifie' !ie' an! loe it eternal form' (ut nothing thereof i !ii-ate!' #ea in it time it encreae into a multi-licit# of Fruit' an! there i in!ee! ma!e a corru-tion onl# of the form' not an# !i i-ation of the matter:
an!
/ut if the o ther grain (e cat into the Fire' t hen (oth
matter an! form are corru-te!' an! the >hole i !ii-ate!' an! that corru-tion i un-rofita(le for generation* &herefore &ater !iol"e not /o!ie' (ut thoe onl# of it o>n )in!' an! (# >hich it ma# (e con!ene!: nor can /o!ie (e at all nourihe! to generation' (ut (# their li)e' >hich can -reer"e the -ecie !etro#e! (# that tranmuting /o!#' through the artifice of the &or): though Degeta(le are nourihe! (# thing of !ifferent )in!' #et (efore the# nourih them' the# are aimilate! $the !iolution of them (eing firt ma!e% accor!ing to the -ro-ortion of the thing >hich uc) an! !ra> them to them* It mut (e note! therefore' that the Solution of Metal ma# (e ma!e (# !if ferent >a#: one' >hich F ool )no>' a i a( o"eai!' >it h Foreign thing' >hich a(i!e not >ith the !iol"e! Metal' >hich i rather to (e calle! a corroi"e !etruction an! !efilement of the com-oun!* The econ! Solution i ma!e (# the -o>er an! force of Fire' >hich i no true Solution' (ut a melting rather of the colligate! Elementar# -art: for the out>ar! heat of the Fire' in !iol"ing the Com-oun!' fin! out it intrinical' natural or nati"e Fire >ithin' >hich internal an! -ro-ortion al Fire !>ell in the Air' therefor e it !iol"e the Air it elf*
/ut that
!iol"e! Air rei!e an! !>ell in the &ater' an! the &ater in the Earth' an! the &ater it elf !iol"e the Earth' o that it melt (oth the acti"e an! -ai"e@ (ut thi melting i no Solution' #ea it i a !ii-ation' (ecaue the Element there (eing homogene ou to one another' an! -ro-ortiona( l# fie!' (# !igetion are mit' an! one of them e!uce! out of the -o>er of another generall#: An! therefore thi fall out e"en in -ure /o!ie' in >hich the Elemental nature are fie! &herefore in them the flame of Fire caueth melting' an! !iol"e that >hole /o!# to flui!it#' an! not to a e-aration@ (ecaue Fire cannot flo>' unle the Air conu(tantial to it flo>@ neither !oth the Air flo>' unle the &ater (e !iol"e!@ nor !oth the &ater flo>' unle the Earth flo>: an! contrari>ie' a the Earth i !iol"e! (# the &ater' o on the contrar# i!e the &ater retaineth the Air' an! congealeth it: an! in the ame manner acen!ing u->ar!' the Air retaineth the Fire in Congelation' (ecaue the more fit an! fiing Element caue fiation' (# acting together on one another@ a Earth an! &ater' an! in a contrar# manner Fire an! Air' act together each on other unto Solution* /ut thi Solution i calle! a melting of the Com-oun!' an! not -ro-erl# a Solution of it' (ecaue the -art e-ara(le from one another in the generation of the Com-oun!' are not !iol"e!' a i !one in the thir! an! trul# ,hiloo-hic) Solution' >hen the Com-oun! i .10.
!iol"e! in the manner aforeai!' an! #et the -art a(i!e une-arate!' though e-ara(le@ o that the "irtue of the mot !igete! Element ma# (e etracte! from thing to (e !iol"e! (# the !iol"er' that i'
)uic/-silver ' an! the groer -art in
uch a !iolution acuire ome latitu!e of u(tilt#' (ecaue the /o!# i turne! into S-irit' an! contrari>ie the S-irit into /o!#@ fie! thing are turne! into "olatile' an! "olatile to fie!* For thi Solution i -oi(le an! natural' that i' (# Art of Nature u(er"ing thereto@ an! thi i ole an! necear# Solution in the &or) of the ,hiloo-her >hich can (e !one (# no other thing than
)uic/-silver onl#' >ith a
-ru!ent -ro-ortion: o a a goo! Artificer )no>ing from >ithin the nature an! -ro-ortion' ought to ma)e the -ro-ortion from hi firt entrance u-on the &or)* For thee t>o' Sir' are ufficient for thi &or)' an! nothing ele enter it' nor generate an! multi-lie a >e ha"e ai!* /ei!e' #o u a# that 7ol! ' a mot thin)' i not hing ele than )uic/-silver coagulate! naturall# (# the force of Sulphur @ #et o' that nothing of the Sulphur >hich generate! the 7ol!' !oth remain in the u(tance of the 7ol!: a in an human 2mbryo ' >hen it i concei"e! in the &om(' there remain nothing of the Father< See!' accor!ing to Aristotle?s o-inion' (ut the See! of the Man !oth onl# coagualte the mentrual (loo! of the &oman: in the ame manner #ou a#' that after )uic/-silver i o coagulate !' the form of 7ol! i -erfecte! in it' (# "irtue of the Hea"enl# /o!ie' an! e-eciall# of the Sun* /ut (# #our goo! lea"e' an! >ith re-ect I mut tell #ou' >e mut not thin) o: For (eing >e are ,hiloo-hicall# -er>a!e!' that 7ol! i nothing (ut
Mercury anati?e!' that i euall#
!igete! in the (o>el of a Mineral Earth@ an! the ,hiloo-her ha"e ignifie!' that thi "er# thing i !one (# the contact of Sulphur coagulating the Mercury ' an! (# reaon of it o-eration' that i' from Mercury (eing !igete! an! thic)ne! (# a -ro-ortionate heat* &herefore >e mut )no>' that 7ol! i Sulphur an! Mercury together' that i' the coagulant an! the coagulate! in one: an! nothing a!!e! from >ithout thereto' (ut onl# a -ure !igetion or maturation' >hich multi-lie ualitie' an! ecite one Element from another out of their -ure -oi(ilit# into act' no other thing >hatoe"er (eing u-era!!e!*
/ut thi !igetion or maturation i -ro!uce!
acti"el#' from the u-eriour Element' that i' the
Fire an! Air' >hich are not actuall#
(ut -otentiall# in Mercury @ #et (eing ecite! an! aite! (# an eternal heat an! (# the -ro-er an! natural !igeting heat' the -ai"e Element in
Mercury are (# them
u(tili?e!' (eing not onl# -otentiall# eitent' (ut actuall#' to>ar! &ater it elf' an! the &ater i u(tili?e! to>ar! Air' an! Air follo> to Fire@ an! in thi -ro-ortiona(le action of Nature' an! !igetion of Mercury ' the Male an! Female a(i!e together in cloe! Nature@ the Female trul# a it >ere Earth an! &ater' the Male a Air an! Fire: >hich Earth an! &ater the ,hiloo-her .16.
!o mingle in 7ol!' (ut calle! the Air an! Fire a Sulphur a it >ere therein: neither i there an# other Foreign a!!ition in the (o>el of the Earth* An! therefore in Art a(o"e groun! neither i there foun! an# Foreign a!!ition' to !iget or con!ene Mercury into the nature of 7ol!' or other -ecie of Metal* Therefore the
,hiloo-her ha"e ai!' that Sulphur an! Mercury ma)e Sol ' that i' it cor-oreit# an! -ermanenc#: An! therefore it i not hence conclu!e!' that the eternal artificial heat' tirring u- an! aiting the -ro-ortional intrinic) heat' to !iget an! ri-en the other t>o le !igete! an! immature Element in Mercury ' namel# it &ater an! Earth' i of the u(tance of the Com-oun!* For the eternal heat i not -ermanent >ithin' >ith the uantit# an! > eight of the Matter' n or a!! an# thin g thereto: /ut the intrinic) -ro-ortionate natural an! im-le heat i -ermanent' >ith the uantit# an! >eight of the Mercury !igete! (# it@ (ecaue that heat i an intrinic) an! eential -art of Mercury it elf' to >it' the t>o more acti"e Element in it' namel# Air an!
Fire*
Therefore Fool !o ill an! a(ur!l# un!ertan! that a#ing of the ,hiloo-her' that Sulphur an! Mercury (eget Sol @ (ecaue' a i ufficientl# )no>n' a neither Air nor
Fire in the firt Mercurial com-oitio n' nor after>ar! in the natural Metallic) !igetion' !e-art nor are e"ere! from &ater an! Earth' o neither !oth $>hich i no other than Air an! Fire% !e-art nor i
Sulphur
e-arate! from Mercury ' >hich i
the ame >ith &ater an! Earth* An! he i not a natural ,hiloo-her >ho imagine or aert the contrar#: for the !igetion of 7ol! ha--en an! i ma!e of the firt Mercurial -ro-ortion' >ithout an# a!!ition ma!e thereto (# Nature un!er' or Art a(o"e groun !' a i ai!* Neither i tha t re-ugnant to > hat >e ha"e ai! ' that a -ure Sol an! clear Mercury mut in thi Art (e con;o#ne!' (ecuae thi i not !one to that
intent to affirm' that there i one Sulphur in Sol, an! another in Mercury ' or that there i one Mercury in Sol ' an! another in Mercury ' (ut (ecaue the !igetion i more mature an! -erfect in Sol' than Mercury * An! alo in the Sun the Sulphur i more mature an! !igete!' an! therefore more acti"e than in
Mercury1 >hence the
,hiloo-her ha"e affirme! Sol to (e nothing ele (ut )uic/-silver mature!: For in Mercury there are onl# t>o actual Element' to >it' &ater an! Earth' >hich are
-ai"e@ (ut the Acti"e Element' Air an! Fire' are onl# -otentiall# therein* /ut $a it i )no>n% >hen thoe Air an! Fire in a -ure Mercury ' are !e!uce! from -oi(ilit# into act' that i' to a !ue !igetion an! -ro-ortion a(le concoction' then it (ecome 7ol!* &herefore in 7ol! there are four Element con;o#ne! in eual an! anatical -ro-ortion' in >hich therefore there i actuall# a more ri-e an! acti"e
Sulphur ' that i'
Air an! Fire' than in Mercury : &herefore 7ol! i (# Art !iol"e! >ith Mercury ' that the unri-e ma# (e hol-en (# the ri-e' an! o Art !ecocting' an! Nature .19.
-erfecting the Com-oition i ri-ene! (# the fa"our of Chrit* &hence the caue ma# (e !eri"e!' >h# (# the hel- of the ,hiloo-hic) Art' more -erfect' no(le' an! (# man# !egree more ele"ate! 7ol! i ma!e' ooner an! in le time' than (# the >or) of Nature* /ecaue Nature !oth act an! >or) thi (# (o#ling an! !igeting Mercury alone in the (o>el of the Earth' >ithout an# aitant: >hich cannot (e (rought on to the !ue -ro-o rtion of 7ol!' or a n# other Metal' in a litt le time* /ut our Art hel- the >or) of Nature' (# mingling >ith Mercury ri-e 7ol!' in >hich i a Sulphur ecellentl# !igete!' an! therefore maturing an! uic)l# !igeting
Mercury it elf' to the anatic)
-ro-ortion of 7ol!' (# u(tili?ing it Element: >hereu-on there follo> (# Art a >on!erful a((re"iation of thi natural &or)* &herefore' m# +octor' I return to the former -oint@ >e mut not imagine' accor!ing to their mita)e' >ho a#' that the Male Agent himelf a--roache the Female in the coagulation' an! !e-art after>ar!@ (ecaue' a i )no>n in e"er# generation' the conce-tion i acti"e an! -ai"e: /oth the acti"e an! -ai"e' that i' all the four Element' mut al>a# a(i!e together' other>ie there >oul! (e no miture' an! the ho-e of generating an off.-ring >oul! (e etinguihe!* For in e"er# man' the Maculine See! to the en! of hi life i calle! in him the Agent' >hen it i firt mingle! >ith the Feminine@ an! >hether it (e he! out' or conume! in him' Nature for it a)e !oth "egetate' an! i >on!erfull# increae! an! nouri he!' an! ma)e to it elf in the ame man loin the li)e -ecific) See!* The li)e i to (e ;u!ge! of the Feminine See! in the &oman@ >herefore (oth thee See! a(i!e al>a#' an! are to (e eteeme! for srcinal Agent' an! firt ,atient* Yet there i a "ariou or !ifferent nati"it# or generation of Mit an! Degeta(le: For the# are calle! Sim-le Mit' >hich gro> un!er groun!' out of our ight or a(out the urface thereof' (# the commiture of the Element alone com-oun!e! one >ith another: or from their firt Solution@ (ecaue: the# gro> not a Degeta(le' (ut ho> much oe"er of matter >a com-act an! mit in them' o much of their firt >eight i reer"e! in the ame Com-oun!* For eam-le a)e: ho> much oe"er at firt a ma of ome Mercurial u(tance !oth >eigh in it Mineral !i-oition in the (o>el of the Earth' o much >eight of 7ol! >ill a(i!e !igete! therefrom: an! the Scoriae an! 8aeces re;ecte! from it' >ill rather (e !iminihe! than multi-lie!' (ecaue the# recei"e no nourihment* /ut there are manifol! !egree of thi firt an! im-le natural miture: The firt i' the na)e! concretion an! com-oition of the four Element' an! that imme!iate' in >hich there i not #et an# change ma!e' or ealtation of one Element into another:
(ut a im-le union of a
#m(oli?ing com-oition of them' -ree"ering an! a(i!ing@ of >hich ort Stone are* The econ! !egree follo> u-on the firt' (ecaue from the aforeai! Stone' Mineral $a(out >hich >e !icoure% are generate!' an! the more .14.
no(le u(terraneou -ecie emerge an! arie from hence: (ecaue in thee (egin the action of Element' an! their mutual tranmutation' though their action i not in o great "i"acit# an! "irtue a in Degeta(le an! Seniti"e' (ecaue the# ha"e neither gro>th nor ene' a >e ha"e ai! (efore* The thir! !egree i that >hich com-rehen! -reciou Stone an! 7em' (ecaue in them i foun! a -erfect an! com-leat action' from the "irtue of the Element com-acte! an! acting mutuall#' a I ha"e !eclare! more largel# in m# 0hilosophy : >here I ha"e -er-icuoul# manifete! thi thir! !egree' together >ith the econ!' to (e a mean (et>it the firt an! econ! com-oition of Natural thing* Then another nati"it# or generation i that >hich i not accounte! to (e of Sim-le Mit' (ut Com-oun! Degeta(le:
>hich are
trul# !i"ii(le into four )in!' or Clae' a I ha"e !icoure! more largel# in m# other /oo) >hich I ent #ou* For there are Degeta(le' (ut Seniti"e more e-eciall#' >hich for the mot -art (eget their li)e' (# the See! of the Male an! Female for the mot -art concurring an! commit (# co-ulation@ >hich >or) of Nature the ,h iloo-hic) Ar t imitate in the gen eration of 7ol! * No man can artific iall# -erfect an# human See!' (ut >e can (# Art !i-oe a man to
a -ro!ucti"e generatio n
of hi li)e: For the "ital See! are onl# !igete! in a "egeta(le manner (# Nature' in the loin of (oth ,arent@ (ut >e can (# coition mi the ,arent See! in natural Deel' >hich co-ulation i a it >ere an Art !i-oing an! mingling thoe natural See!' to the (egetting of Man* For eam-le a)e@ the See! of the Man' a more ri-e' -erfect an! acti"e' i (# thi artifice ;o#ne! >ith the See! of the &oman' more immature an! in a ort -ai"e@ >hich See! of the Man' (ecaue it actuall# contain in it the >or)ing Element' to >it' the Air an! Fire' i therefore more ri-e an! acti"e for !igetion* /ut the Female See! !oth more actuall# contain the un!igete! an! -ai"e Element' an! >hich therefore are to (e !igete!' a the Earth an! &ater' >hich (eing he! out an! mingle! together in the natural Deel of the Female' no Foreign thing (eing a!!e! thereto' $(ut the eternal heat of the &oman eciting an! hel-ing the -ro-ortiona(le in>ar! heat of the Man See!% the acti"e Element of the Man See!' !iget an! ri-en the Feminine See!' an! thence a Man i generate! com-leat an! -erfect accor!ing to hi Nature* So it i in our ,hiloo-hic) Art' >hich i li)e the -rocreation of Man@ for a in Mercury $of >hich 7ol! i (# Nature generate! in Mineral Deel% a natural con;unction i ma!e of (oth the See!' Male an! Female' o (# our artifice' an artificial an! li)e con;unction i ma!e of Agent an! ,atient* For the acti"e Element >hich o(tain the name of the Maculine See!' are naturall# con;o#n e! >ith the -ai"e Element' >hich are a it >ere the Feminine See!@ (ut herein the !ue natural -ro-ortion i al>a# to (e o(er"e!* No> thi firt Mercurial !igetion i calle! Con;unction' in >hich the act rieth out of the
.1=.
-oi(ilit#' that i the Maculine from the Feminine' namel# the Air an! Fire' from the Earth an! &ater' (# mean of a -ure !igetion an! u(tili?ation of them* /ut the ,hiloo-her an! ingeniou Artificer imitating Nature' (ei!e thi natural !igetion of the See! in Mercury ' ha"e (# a mot u(tle in"ention ma!e another con;unction an! !igetion' >hence the# ha"e not generate! im-le 7ol! onl#' (ut ome other far more no(le an! -erfect thing* For the# comman!e! 7ol! $in >hich the Element are more acti"e% a the Male See!' to (e ;o#ne! >ith
Mercury ' $in >hich the -ai"e
Element are eitent% that it might (e !ul# !iol"e!' eclu!ing all Foreign thing' a"e that the# ue! an out>ar! heat' >hich (# hel-ing !oth ecite the internal natura
l
heat of 7ol!' to !iget acti"el# an! ri-en Mercury * An! o a a Man i generate (# Nature' o 7ol! (# Art: Although not>ithtan!ing their S-erm an! See! cannot (e generate! (# Art' (ecaue Art )no> not -ro-ortion of the miture necear# to -rocreate See!@ an! in Man it )no> neither com-oition' nor mition or firt -ro-ortion' not the caue of u(terraneou thing' >hich flo> out from the Earth' >here i the -ro-er an! natural -lace of their generation*
/ut thoe See! -ro!uce!
(# Nature are artificiall# con;o#ne!' that out of them in a >a# of com-oition' that >hich i to (e generate! ma# (e -ro!uce!' in >hich (oth the See! a(i!e together >ell mingle!' although Aristotle ' a #ou >rite' eem to thin) other>ie* &herefore the Maculine See! of Mercury ' or our Sulphur ' goe not a>a# after coagulation' a ome fall# affirm@ an! that thi fall out in Mercury ' (# the force of the Sun e-eciall#' an! that (# it heat chiefl# the form of 7ol! i -erfecte!' a ome thin) in u(terraneou -lace: Yea rather (# the force of the motion of it 7lo(e' or of it Or(' an! of the >hole Hea"en uni"erall#' (ecaue the Solar Ra# !o onl# heat the urface of the Earth' an! not in>ar!l# thoe it !ee- -lace' in >hich the generation of e"eral )in! of Metal i (rought a(out@ an! neither !o the influence of Hea"en' (rought !o>n (# the Ra#' reach into thoe lo>ermot -art' although the u(terraneou motion of the Element -rocee! firt from the motion of the Hea"en' an! not from it Ra# of light' nor
from their heat' nor other influence a"e motion:
(ut ho> thi come a(out' an! >hat i the caue of thi motion of u(terraneou thing' I (elie"e #our Re"erence i not ignorant' an! therefore I for(ear it at -reent* Therefore the Sun i not the -rinci-al caue of 7ol!' or of it form' though there (e a reem(lanc e in name (et>it them@ (ecaue a the Sun i hotter than the
ret of the
,lanet' o 7ol! i hotter than an# of the Metal' >hich the li)e !ifference of -ro-rietie* The ret of the ,lanet alo ha"e o(taine! li)e name' > hence thi errour of Fool !oth arie: For the# (elie"e that e"er# one of the e"en ,lanet' generall# an! -eciall# (# it influence !oth (eget one -ecial )in! of Metal' >hereunto (# a certain -ro-riet# it agree' an! i in it nature .11.
reem(le!* /ut it ha--en other>ie in u(terraneou thing' than in Degeta(le' in >hich Hea"en or the Sun i the caue of their generation or augmentation' not onl# (# it motion' (ut al o (# reaon of the h eat of it Ra#: For the Sun hea t the Degeta( le themel"e' an! the u-erfice of the Earth' the Element (eing "er# trongl# reflecte! (# it Ra# to the urface of the Earth' (ecaue that it Ra# can -rocee! o far* To intance: for that from the t>elfth Hea"en >hich o(tain the utmot !egree of height' -rocee!ing to !ecen! lo>er' there follo> al>a# thic)er or le u(tle Or(' till #ou come to the conca"e of the Or( of the Moon >here altera(le thing ha"e their -lace' or the mit Element (egin' an! are terminate! un!er the Hemi-her of thing genera(le an! corru-ti(le* An! therefore the more u(tle an! im-le Fire i there foun!' though not altogether -ure: (ecaue the im-le -ure Fire cannot (e foun! a-art amongt the altera(le ort of thing' nor an# one of the other Element' al(eit in e"er# Com-oun! thing im-le Fire ma# (e foun!' mie! >ith other im-le Element' ele there
>oul! not
(e man# element' (ut one onl#* Therefore the Ra# of the Star of Hea"en' of the Sun e-eciall#' -a through the foreai! Region unrefracte!' until the# !ecen!ing farther !o>n>ar!' are reflecte! in the Fire (# reaon of it thic)ne@ after>ar! !ecen!ing farther through the S-here of the Fire' the# (# mo"ing it reflect the Fire it elf into the Air >hich i thic)er* An! in li)e manner the Ra# -rocee!ing -er-en!icularl# to lo>er thing' through the S-here of Air' into the &ater thic)er than the Air' from >hich the# are reflecte! (ac) into the Air* An! o after it manner the# are reflecte! (ac) (# the &ater mo"e! (# them' >hich alo i much (etter -ercei"e! in the Earth' >ith it thic)ne a(o"e other Element* /# thi !ecoction an! reflection the Element are mo"e! in"ii(l#' though not un-ercei"a(l #: (ecaue >e -ercei"e heat (# the motion of the Hea"en'an! it i al>a# reflecte! from the u-eriour an! u(tler Element' into the inferiour an! thic)er' unto the urface of the Earth' (# mean of the Ra# of the Star !ecen!ing -er-en!icularl# from aloft to the lo>et thing@ an! thing thu reflecte! (eing mo"e!' an! (# the Ra# of the Sun reflecte!' acci!ental heat i -ro!uce! in the medium ' though ometime (# the Ra# of other Star' other ualitie are -ro!uce!
here (elo>' a !r#ne an! col!ne' a i manifet in Atronom#@ not that the Ra# are in themel"e hot' (ut that the# are the caue of heat in uch manner a >e ha"e ai!* No> that thee thing are true' i manifetl# )no>n from Atronom# an! ,er-ecti"e' >hence it i un!ertoo! ho> generation ha--en in Degetati"e an! Seniti"e' thu much therefore ma# uffice* /ut "ain Atrologer ha"e other conceit' an! thin) that the influence of Hea"en are from the "irtue of it acti"it#' an! not from the "irtue of it motion: >hich i fale' (ecaue the Ra# of Hea"en -ro!uce or effect nothing in the u-eriour Or(* For uch Ra# cannot (e reflecte! on the .15.
aforeai! Or(' nor (e mie! >ith them' a the# are reflecte! in the Element an! mingle! >ith them' not (# com-oition' (ut (# a mo"ing reflection an! miture of the ame Element' a hath (een ai!: (ut in the u-erceletial there i no ca-acit# to recei"e ne> ualitie' or Foreign im-reion' although the Ra# themel"e -ro!uce >on!erful ualitie in the Element' mo"e! (# their reflection* &herefore' m# +octor' the Sun in -articular i not the caue of the generation of 7ol!' nor #et i it (# mean of it heat the caue of Degeta(le either a(o"e the Earth' or of Mit a(out it u-erfice' >hich namel# >e )no> to (e heate! (# the Ra# of the Sun' a >e ha"e ai!' >hich i alo agreea(le to Atronom#* /ut the )no>le!ge of thee thing' nee! not an# longer !i-utation' >herefore I -a on to >hat remain@ for if #ou a--l# #our min! to thoe thing >hich >e ha"e ai!' #ou >ill un!ertan! an! #ou >ill fin! it true' that (# the acti"it# of Sulphur !igeting an! coagulating Mercury ' it form from 7ol! i -eciall# -erfecte!: (ut #et #ou mut not thin) that from an# other Metal' or an# Star' thi ma# (e !one' a #ou ha"e >ritten in #our E-itle* That >hich >e ha"e ai!' i alo to (e un!ertoo! of other Metal' in their )in! an! manner@ (ut >ith !ifference' (ecaue in ot her Metal there i a !ou(le Sul-h ur: One >hich i u -erfluou' a n! ma# (e e-arate!' the form of the Metal till remaining: Another Sulphur i an eential -art of the Metal' (ut unite! to it
)uic/-silver ' an! not e-ara(le' o that the form of
the Metal continue: #et that im-erfect an! Sul-hureou Metal ma# (e -erfecte! (# a Me!icine corru-ting the form of that Metal' an! intro!ucing another* /ut >hat >e are to thin) of the !u-licit# of thi
Sulphur ' >hich #ou aert in thi ,hiloo-hic) Art' I -ra#
#ou' m# reno>ne! +octor' >ithout "iolating the La> of our Frien!hi-' or #our Authorit#' that #ou >oul! (e -leae! to coni!er* Thi !u-licit# of Sulphur i not o !itinct in Mercury coagulate! into !i"er Metal' that one of them houl! intrinicall# an! eentiall# a--ertain to the generation of the Metal'
an! (e eteeme! an eential
-art thereof' an! the other acri(e! to corru-tion* /ut there i in e"er# Metallic) -ecie' euall# a in 7ol! an! Sil"er' a im-le an! ingle
SulphurD >hich i terme!
)uic/-silver ' from the firt Mercurial com-oition' a hath (een !eclare! in the
generation of 7ol!: /ecuae Sulphur an! )uic/-silver are nothing ele (ut the four Element in Mercury it elf' o or o -ro-ortionall# !i-o e!' a thi or that Metallic) -ecie reuireth* /ut that >hich i re-ute! a econ! Sulphur ' an! to (e re;ecte!' i a certain Scoria an! faeculent -art in the Metal' contracte! in the coagulation of the Mercury @ or a certain u-erfluit#' >hich (eing unclean an! im-ure' >oul! not in the
!igetion of the Mercur#' en!ure a congelation to the form of a Metal: (ecaue it >a not of an homogeneal an! -ro-ortiona(le Nature of Mercur#' a-t to (e congeale! an! !igete! into a Metal* /ut ome ,hiloo-her ha"e calle! thi Scoria ' a com(uti(le Sulphur '
.12.
(ecaue it cannot u(it' (ut "aniheth in the teting of Metal' or i e-arate! from them into Faece* An! here I ma# (ring thi eam-le: the (lou! in Seniti"e' an! a- in Degeta(le' in their coagulation ha"e e"eral an! !ifferent office@ (ecaue ome -art of the (lou! ha"e a conformit# unto Fleh' an! therefore ma# (e coagulate! an! turne! into Fleh' an! retain the uniform nature of Fleh' an! o(tain the name of Fle h* /ut ome -art t hereof rei! ing in the -ore' ar e of a u-erfluou humour' >hich can in no >ie (e con"erte! into oli! Fleh' an! therefore are e;ecte! (# S>eat an! Me!icine' an! e-arate! from the true Fleh* /ut in Sanguine com-leion there are man# fe>er u-erfluitie' than in other: So >e ma# conclu!e (# >a# of reem(lance' that it i in 7ol! an! other )in! of Metal@ that the -urer or im-urer Mercury ' in it firt coagulation' containe! or contracte! more or le u-erfluitie ' or natural im-uritie* &herefore the !iffe rence i ma!e in the coagulation of Mercury ' >hich -ecifie an! caue !i"er Metal@ an! >hate"er Mercury there i in an# ort of Metal' i terme! incom(uti(le' an! ine-ara(l#
-ermanent' though in fie! /o!ie it i ma!e "olatile (# Art' #et (# Nature it remain ine-ara(le in an Elemental -ro-ortion* /ut >hat !ro oe"er >a contracte! in the Mercury ' an! mie! >ith it fro m the (eginning ' $that i' in the con gelation of Mercury
in it firt com-oition' (# heat !igeting it to a
Metallic) )in!@ an! therefore it i (#
the ret ta)en a>a# from the Mercury ' that i the homogeneou Mercurial nature' an! e-arate! from the Metallic) )in! a re;ectaneou an! heterogeneal% thi i not -ro-erl# calle! a Sulphur ' (ut a !ro an! certain u-erfluit#: (ecaue Sulphur i nothing ele (ut a -ure act of Air an! Fire' >arming an! !igeting' or !ecocting the Earth an! &ater in Mercury ' -ro-ortiona(le an! homogeneou unto it* /ut the !ro i that >hich in the firt com-oition >a not -ertinent unto the nature of
Mercury ' nor
ha! a -ro-ortion to an# Metallic) )in! in the com-oition an! !igetion of the firt Element in Mercury * From thee thing it i )no>n' that there are not in other ort of Metal an# !itinct or more Sulphurs ' than are in 7ol! an! Sil"er' (ut one onl# an! im-le Sul-hur@ though there are in them more an! greater u-erfluitie' than are in 7ol!* From hence the truth of #our a#ing i )no>n that 7ol!' of all Metal clea"e mot unto Mercury * No> thi come to -a (# reaon of the -urit# of (oth' (ecaue in them i le !ro' !reg' or u-erfluit#' than in other: For e"er# thing !oth naturall# !eire' (# a through miture an! union' to (e ;o#ne! to a thing of li)e nature to it' an! -ro-ortiona(le in homogeneit#' rather than >ith a thing uneual an! unli)e to it' a >e )no>@ li)e a &ater "er# eail# an! >ithout contra!ict
ion i uic)l# ;o#ne!
to another &at er' >ith an i!ent ati"e an! uniting miture* No> in 7ol! th ere i nothing (ut Mercury ' therefore (eing there i in it little nature' a >e ha"e he>e!% there i .18.
!ro' $>hich i not of a
Mercurial
therein no great reitance' (ut that a -ure Mercury ma# more eail# a!here to 7ol! an! Sil"er' than to other Metal' in >hich man# u-erfluitie an! !ro !o
for(i! an!
hin!er other Metal' or their congeale! Mercury ' an# contact' or through mingling >ith cru!e Mercur#* For thoe u-erfluitie' a >e ha"e alrea!# ai!' are not of the firt com-oition of Mercury ' nor of the ame natural or -ro-ortional homogeneit#: an! if ha--il# the# (e of it com-oition' #et the# are not of it -ro-ortion@ for >hate"er i of an# thing -ro-ortion' i not u-erfluou* &herefore the# cannot (e ine-ara(le throughl# mingle!' neither >ith Mercury to (e coagulate! (# Art' nor >ith Mercury coagulate!' >hich in the nature of it Mineralne i ;o#ne! >ith them in the
ame )in! of Metal@ (eing uch !ro i com(uti(le (# Fire' an! therefore e-ara(le* &hat >on!er i it then if in thoe Metal to >hich the# are acci!entall# u-era!!e!' the# hin!er their natural commition' an! -ermanent union >hich coagulate! Mercury ' or other cru!e Mercury For thi "er# caue 7ol! it elf' though ne"er o -ure' can far more !ifficultl# a(i!e >ith' (e ;o#ne! an! a!here to an unclean an! !roie Mercury ' coagulate! or not coagulate!' than >ith a -ure an! clean one* /ecaue a im-le Nature !oth re;o#ce in the ociet# of' an! i -erfecte! (# a im-le Nature' that i li)e to it' an! ame
>ith it in it firt homogeneit# an! Eleme ntal
-ro-ortion: (ut 7ol!' a hath (een ai!' i nothing ele (ut Mercury thic)ne! (# it -ro-er !igetion' an! E lemental action: therefore al(eit in the Earth there (e a !ifference (et>it 7ol! an! Mercury in ri-ene' $(ecaue 7ol! i more ri-e than Mercury % #et there i no !i"erit# in their Matter* Therefore >hatoe"er 7ol! hath
acuire! (# the !igetion it hath unto maturit#' Mercury ma# acuire the ame >ithout an# etraneou thing* /ut Art to (re"iate an! contract the &or)' ;o#n 7ol! >ith Mercury ' a i ai!' an! out of t>o S-erm it ma)e an! generate artificiall# that ame thing' >hich Nature !oth create in the Mine of one actual See!' the i!entit# of the Matter (eing al>a# e"er#>here o(er"e!' (ut not the ame acti"e -o>er* An! therefore a nothing etraneou to it Nature' !oth enter thi &or) in it firt com-oition' o neither !oth an# thing multi-l# it' >hich i not of the firt tem-erament thereof* &herefore ome men thin) fall#' that the ,hiloo-her Stone ma# (e com-oe! of !i"er thing' or of all thing' an! (e nourihe! (# them' intea! of the aforeai! S-erm' not>ithtan!ing !i"er name ha"e (een im-oe! on them* Neither !oth thi ,hiloo-hic) &or) eat an# thing' or con"ert it into it o>n Nature' >hich i etraneou' (ecaue it !oth not "egetate* &herefore though there (e in the ai! ,hiloo-hic) Stone' a /o!# an! a Soul' or a S-irit' it i not therefore "egeta(l# animate! a Tree an! ,lant: For thi Stone' a all Mineral' i of the aforeai! firt' an! not of the econ!' or an# u-eriour intention or im-oition* /ut Tree an! ,lant are of the econ! im-oition' a Degeta(le .53.
are of the thir!' fourth' fifth' or lat
im-oition' for mit thing in thoe four lat
im-oitio n' !o "egetate* For in them the Element (# man# tranmutatio n' an! (# (eing oftner alterate!' are more u(tle@ >herefore the# are more acti"e an! -erfect' though the# are not more !ura(le an! -ermanent in their -ermition' (ecaue the Element in them are not of a fit' (ut !iol"a(le com-oition@ >herefore the# ta)e in their nourihment "egeta(l#* /ut our Stone' a alo all the Mineral' i of the firt im-oition@ (ecaue it "egetate not' nor i "egeta(l# nourihe!' (ut nourihment (efall it rather (# a--oition of a nourihment of a li)e nature to it'
an! not (#
"egetation* For eam-le a)e: (ecaue' a i manifet (# e-erience' out of a Feminine See!' to >it out of Mercury -ut to it uniti"el#' ineni(l# an! (# >a# of com-oition thi ,hiloo-her Stone i nourihe!' (# mean of a !igeti"e heat* For it ta)e an! aimilate it li)e unto it elf' to (e multi-lie! (# >a# of a--oition' an! not "egeta(l#@ >herefore it (ecome >eightier in uantit#' an! more acti"e an!
-erfect
in ualit#: neither !oth Fire or heat multi-l# thi our Stone' a it !ue nourihment' (ecaue it i not of it firt com-oition' (ut heat it (# an etrinical acci!ent: For ho> can Flame or Fire multi-l# the Stone itelf' or ma)e it of it elf more >eight#' >hen it cannot (e fie!l# an! -ermanentl# mingle! >ith it' nor i not of it firt com-oition or form Nothing therefore nourihe an! multi-lie the ai! Stone' to the generation of the ame form' ece-t the Feminine See!' >hich nouriheth it (# mean of heat' an! nourihe it not "egeta(l#' (ut (# >a# of a--oition an! commition * He therefore >ho thu multi-lie an! nouriheth it' hall not erre' (ecaue thi multi-lier an! nouriher i turne! into the ame )in!* A man ma# in!ee! increae the Stone an! it >eight (# etraneou thing@ (ut thi mut (e !one out of it natural )in!' not con"erti(le into it: For that >eight >oul! (e ma!e (ei!e Nature' that i' not into the ame
species ' nor into the unit# of one species ' #ea it >oul! (e an
aggregation of !i"er )in!' an! an acci!ental com-oition' >hich might (e e-arate! (# the Tet* /ut >hen the ,hiloo-her ai!' that the Stone might (e ma!e of e"er# thing' trul# the# un!ertoo! it not' $a ome -er"erl# inter-ret them% that the Stone might (e ma!e of !i"er thing' unli)e unto it (oth in more a(ur!' that it might (e multi-lie! (# a
)in! an! nature@ or' >hich i
Flame minitre! to it from >ithout: for thi
reaon e-eciall# ' (ecaue Fire an! it Flame ma# (# a
certain -ro!uction ari e out of
e"er# thing: No> the refutation of thi o-inion i manifet from >hat h ath (een ai! (efore* /ut >hen the ,hiloo-her a#' that the Stone i ma!e of e"er# thing' the# mean' that it i ma!e of the four Element -ro-ortionall# euali?e! to one another (# a !ue an! natural !igetion: out of >hich four Element e"er# thing that i genera(le an! corru-ti(le i ma!e* Therefore (# thi imilitu!e the ,hiloo-her a# our Stone i ma!e out of e"er# thing' .50.
that i' out of e"er# Element@ (ecaue if an# one of them >ere mortifie! or !etro#e!' the >hole -ro-ortion of the 7ol!en Nature >oul! -erih' an! it )in!: an! e"er# thing in >hatoe"er latitu!e an! ort of altera(le' i generate! out of the four Element either actuall#' or -otentiall# mit:
#et it cannot (e -ro-erl# ai! of e"er# -ro!uci(le
thing' (ut of our 7ol!en Stone' an! other thing euall# mit' that the# are ma!e out of e"er# thing:
for thi reaon e-eciall#' (ecaue in thoe thing >hich are not
-ro!uce! (# an eual' (ut (# an a!euate -ro-ortion of the Element' all the Element are not actuall# eitent@ (ut in their a!euate acti"it# an! -aion: for ome of the Element are therein either in an acti"e or -ai"e -o>er' an! the ret are therein actuall#* /ut in the ,hiloo-her Stone' >hich i 7ol!' (eing it i an uniform &or) of Nature' all the four Element acti"e an! -ai"e are actuall# therein' an! -ermanent in an eual -ro-ortion* For the Eence or Nature of 7ol!' i nothing ele (ut the four Element euall# mi!@ not that their form an! matter ma# (e ai!
to
(e therein eual' (ut their -ai"e an! acti"e -o>er@ that i' the# are each ali)e an! eual not in uantit#' (ut in ualit#: (ecaue that the acti"e !oth not ecee! the -ai"e in it acting@ nor on the other i!e' the -ai"e !oth not ecee! the acti"e (# uffering mo re: (ecaue the re i an eual -ro- ortion a to mea ure in our 7ol!' or in our Me!icine' !ou(le hot' !ou(le moit' !ou(le col!' !ou(le !r#' an! all thee are actuall# therein' (# actual action an! -aion@ that i' Fire' Air' &ater' an! Earth' a >e ha"e ai! (efore* An! all thee are ai! to (e ali)e' an! eual in ualit#' not uantit#' (ecaue the# are eual in acti"e an! -ai"e@ an! the# are therefore !ura(l# -ermanent in 7ol!' (ecaue the -ai"e in it conit -ermanentl# in it acti"e' an! on the other -art the -ai"e rie not u- againt the acti"e* An! the# ought not to (e ali)e in uantit#@ that i' there ought not (e
o much matter of Fire' a
there i matter of Earth: (ecaue then the Fire (# reaon of it ualit#' >oul! (e e"er#>here of an uneual acti"it# >ith it -ai"e Earth' an! of a far greater* &herefore there i in 7ol!' a to it matter' (ut not
a to it ualit#' much more of the
hea"ier an! more -ai"e Eleme nt' that of the lighter an! more acti"e@ that i' more in uantit#: there i in it a greater uantit# of Earth' than &ater@ a greater uantit# of &ater' than Air@ a greater of Air' than Fire: >herefore it i the h ea"iet of all Metal* /ut in thi uneual -ro-ortion of uantit# there i an eual an! li)e -ro-ortion of ualit#' of hot' !r#' moit' an! col!' (ecaue each of thee i in 7ol!' a hath (een ai!* The caue of >hich >eight i the -ermanenc# of the oli!it# of the Earth an! &ater' an! the olution of an homogeneou >ater >ith the Earth (ecaue &ater !iol"e in Homo geneal Earth* Alo their intrinic al thoro> miture in their "er# lea t -article' i the caue of the >eight@ (ecaue the &ater a >ell in 7ol!' a silver '
.56.
)uic/-
uffer not the Earth to ha"e an# -ore in it:
>hich i other>ie in other Metal' in
>hich -ore are ineni(l# ma!e in their congelation' (ecaue of the !ro mingle! in thoe Metal all o"er' re;ecte! (# the Mercurial nature an! heterogeneou: >hereu-on their lightne reult' >hich i nothing ele (ut >ant of matter' an! -oroune of the ame' a >eight i nothing ele (ut a oli! a!!ition of matter* &herefore if there >ere in an eual commenurati"e uantit#' o much of the oli! matter of Fire@ a there i of the matter of Earth' Fire >oul! (e a >eight# a Earth* /ut the caue of the >eight of Saturn ' i it immature congelation' (ecaue it !oth not #et re;ect the !ro of it -art' >hence the -ore are ma!e in it@ (ut the -ure an! im-ure a(i!e through mit together in it e"er#>here' a in the firt cru!e in >hich the in-iation an! coagulation i >ea)' for
)uic/-silver '
that caue Saturn or Lea! retain
the >eight of it )uic/-silver ' not (ecaue of the -urit# of it oli! matter' (ut (ecaue of it immature coagulation or coction*
&herefore if in thi &or) #ou >oul! not !etro#
the Fire an! Air' #ou mut -reer"e in a !itinct an! li)e -ro-ortion the heat of the Com-oun!:
/ut if #ou >oul! not !etro# the Air an! the &ater' then in the ame
Com-oun! #ou mut cherih the humi!: o in the ame manner #ou ma# -reer"e the &ater an! Earth' or the Earth an! the Fire' in the ai! &or)' (# -reer"ing rightl#' an! (# the artifice of the ,hiloo-hic) )ill' (oth the col! a n! !r#: (ecaue if #ou !etro# an# one of them' the -ro-ortiona(le form an! )in! of 7ol! i lot* For thi caue the ,hiloo-her a#' our 7ol! i ma!e of e"er# thing' that i' of e"er# Element' e"er# Element (eing intrinica ll# -reer"e! in it' an! actuall# com-oun!ing it: >herefore all the Element are intrinicall# in act or -o>er' the -rinci-le of all com-oun!e! altera
(le
thing' an! for that caue are ai! to (e all thing* Furthermore' m# Re"eren! +octor' for #our cre!it a)e' #ou mut un!ertan! the a#ing of the ,hiloo-her accor!ing to the -oi(ilit# of Nature' an! not accor!ing to the oun! of &or!: For the# ha"e han!le! thi hol# an! hi!!en Art' an! it Secret' un!er Similitu!e' Fa(le' Ri!!le' an! o(cure >or!' an! ha"e hi! it -ur-oel#' that it might not (e e-oe! to the unlearne!' im-iou' an! un>orth#*
Furthermore' that I ma# go on to other Hea! of
#our E-itle' I un!ertan! the artifice of #our Stone to (e a com-oure from 7ol!' (ut from #our >riting I cannot a--rehen! it' (ecaue #ou et not !o>n the firt srcinal of that Com-oition* Therefore I hall not nee! to han!le it more at large' till #ou intruct me full# an! more -lainl# in it Com-oition an! O-eration: For I cannot neither (elie"e that the 2li"ir ' or 0hilosophers Stone ' can conit of the ign a--earing in it' an! of the -ro-ertie of the nutriti"e "egetation of the flaming Fire' >hich #ou attri(ute to it' a I ha"e o-enl# he>e! in >hat I ha"e ai! alrea!#* /ut >hen I recei"e! #our &or)' an! the gift of o great a Secret ent unto me' I at once un!ertoo! #our unfeigne! lo"e' an! free confi!ence in me* &herefore for #our Frien!hi.59.
a)e' I reer"e #our Stone >ith me' an! )ee- it a a mot acce-ta(le gift' an! hall >rite unto #ou more concerning it' >hen #ou hall !eclare it to me more manifetl#* /ut >herea #ou a#' that in #our Stone there are three' a /o!#' S-irit' an! Soul' $>hich i manifet to #ou (# #our e-erience an! >or)% the ,hiloo-her >hen the# ai! thoe three natural thing >ere in their artificial Stone' un!ertoo! it (# >a# of reem(lance an! e-eriment: For the# calle! the Earth' it /o!# an! /one@ (ecaue it i an atringent Com-oun!' an! retrain the flui! Element from their ra> flei(ilit#' ha"ing the Fire alo >ith it #m(olicall# (# it !rine' /ut the# calle! the &ater an! Air it S-irit@ (ecaue the# are the Element that moiten an! !iol"e the Earth* /ut the# calle! the Air an! Fire' the Soul@ (ecaue the# ri-en an! !iget the >hole Com-oun!* An! the# name! them thu' >ith reem(lance unto Humane nature' (ecaue in the >ell.contitute! Fleh there ought to (e /one to utain the /o!#' an! li)e>ie there ought to (e in the Fleh a "i"acit# of "egeta(le Acci!ent' >hich are calle! it S-irit: contrar# to the error of the ,agan ,hiloo-her' >ho thought the "ital S-irit to (e omething !itinct from the /o!# com-oun!e!' an! -art com-oun!ing it: o alo there mut (e in Humane Fleh an informing Soul' !igeting in man the (rutal act' an! to >or) in him the intellectual >or)* /ut >e mut un!ertan! it other>ie in our Stone' in >hich the Earth hath the name of the /o!#' Air an! &ater o(tain the name of S-irit' neither i in it a Soul (ut (ecaue it contain the Air an! Fire@ >hich I -ercei"e >ell' #ou !o -erfectl# un!ertan!* /ut the ,hiloo-her !i"i!e! them in thi manner: /# a cru!e S-irit' the# etracte! a !igete! S-irit out of the !iol"e! /o!#' an! the# ha! remaining a fie! ma of Ahe to (e farther !iol"e!' in >hich the# foun! an incom(uti(le an! tone# o#line an! gummine' >hich the# calle! the Soul@ >hich enli"en' unite incerate an! -ro!uce unite! Nature@ an! in the S-irit the# !i;o#ne! the Nature' o in the O#l the# re.con;o#ne! them* For our Stone hath not an informing nature' a a Degetati"e or a Seniti"e' (ut it hath onl# a forme! form' >hich form i the "er# Element themel"e' (ecaue it i homogeneou* /ut man /o!#' an! that of other Seniti"e' i heterogeneou: For /one' Fleh' /lou!' Marro>' Hair an! Nail' are !itinguihe! !ifferentl# in it@ >hich i other>ie in 7ol!' in >hich >hatoe"er there i' i foun! to (e of one )in!* &herefore' m# Re"eren! +octor' the ,hiloo-her -ea) thi (# >a# of imilitu!e' (# reaon of the a!minitrat ion of Art' an! o-eration of Nature: not (ecaue there i a Soul in the Stone' (ut meta-horicall#' $a #ou >ell )no>% nor S-irit' nor /o!#' $a an informing form% a it i foun! in Man' an! other Seniti"e* Deril# I tell #ou' that O#l >hich naturall# incerate an! unite Nature' an! naturall# in!uce the Me!icine into other /o!ie that are to (e tinge!' i not com-oun!e! of an# .54.
other etraneou thing' (ut out of the (o>el of the /o!# that i to (e !iol"e!: >hich O#l retain the colour of it S-irit al>a#' until it (e rethic)ene!' an! then firt of all it -ut on the Ro#al Enign' that i a citrinene an! Metalline form' >hich it manifet to all@ in 7ol!' a 7ol!en' in Sil"er' a Sil"er colour an! form: >hich O#l if it (e Sol ' (eing !iol"e!' i -ercei"e! to (e re! in>ar!l#' though out>ar!l# it a--ear >hite' un!er the form of liui!
)uic/-silver * No> ome thin) to com-oun! an O#l a
generou an! -o>erful a thi O#l i' namel# out of
Mercury throughl# !r#e!' or out
of the u(tance of Tin' or /o!# of the Sun' commie! >ith ingre!ient of !i"er )in!@ (ut for >hat concern our &or)' their E-eriment i fallaciou* The# can in!ee! re!uce the -ecie of Metal into a )in! of O#l' (ut the# cannot at an# han! re!uce them into a Metallic) )in!' o(er"ing an! )ee-ing the -ro-ortion of the thing to (e mie! oun! an! entire* /ut that O#l ma# (e -rofita(le for Me!icine to eniti"e Creature' (ecaue the nature of 7ol! i !iol"e! therein@ (ut #et im-ertinen tl# an! un-rofita(l# a to our ,hiloo-hic) &or)* /ei!e' m# Honoure! +octor' that I ma# lightl# touch on the remaining Hea! of #our E-itle' #ou mut !iligentl# an! >iel# o(er"e' that Fire an! A>or ' >ah Laton : /ut A>or i not ra> )uic/-silver im-l# etracte! out of the Mine' (ut it i that >hich i etracte! (# )uic/-silver it elf' out of the !iol"e! /o!ie@ >hich i foun! to (e more ri-e u-on
tr#al* &herefore if Laton (e an unclean /o!#' it i !e-urate! (# uch an A>or ' >hich #ou >rite that #ou ha"e ha! formerl#@ an! (# thi Me!icine for curing e"er# ic) -eron*
Laton -urifie! (# A>or ' >e ma)e our
In!ee! thi A>or i ma!e of the 2li"ir '
(ecaue 2li"ir i nothing ele (ut a /o!# reol"e! into a Mercurial &ater@ after >hich reolution' A>or i etracte! out of it' that i' an animate! S-irit* An! it i calle! 2li"ir ' from 2 ' >hich i out of' an! Li"is ' >hich i &ater' (ecaue all thing are ma!e
out of thi &ater: an! 2li"ir i the econ! -art of the ,hiloo-hic) &or)' a Rebis i the firt in the ame &o r)* /ut the Tinctu re contitute the thir! &or)@ for a the matter of thi Com-oition -ro!uce !i"er effect' o it o(tain !ifferent name one after another* Thence it manifetl# a--ear' that A>or i not reuiite to the Eliir' (ecaue in thi &or) the 2li"ir goe (efore A>or ' an! not the contrar#@ li)e a &ater -rece!e the O#l' an! the S-irit the Soul: For A>or i !ra>n an! etracte! our of the Eliir' a O#l out of &ater' an! not contrar i>ie@ a mention i ma!e ele> here* For eam-le a)e@ a in the Art of ,h#ic)' -ure im-le Fountain.>ater' (# (o#ling in the firt concoction' i ;o#ne! >ith the Fleh of a Chic)en' an! thence in the firt !egree of concoction >e o(tain a /roth' a goo! an! -erfect !ecoction' an! the humi!' >atr# an! air# -art of the Chic)en (eing actuall# !iol"e! in the aforeai! &ater@ though there (e other Element therein alo actuall#* /ut that it ma# (e ma!e a much more -erfect .5=.
Me!icine' an! more generou for retoring man< ic) /o!# unto health' the !ecocte! /o!# of the Chic) i (eaten into a mah' >ith the ai! &ater alrea!# altere! into a (o#le! /roth' or >ith -art of it' an! i !itille! (# a tronger !ecoction' >hence a /roth an! !ecoction >ill (e ma!e much more no(le an! generou' -arta)ing of the >hole nature of the Chic)en: /ecaue (# thi econ! !ecoction not onl# the moit -art' (ut the hot -art' that i' it aerial an! fier# -art' (eing melte! into the /roth or !ecoction' are throughl# mingle! an! !iol"e!:
an! therefore the >hole "irtue of the Chic) i in
uch a !ecoction etracte! into the aforeai! Liuor* So it fall out in the ,hiloo-hic) &or)' (ecaue the cru!e Mineral S-irit' li)e &ater' i ;o#ne! >ith it /o!#' to !iol"e it in it firt !e coction: >hence it i calle! Rebis ' (ecaue it i com-oun!e! of t>o' or a !ou(le thing' to >it' of the Maculine an! Feminine See!' that i' of the thing to (e !iol"e!' though it (e one thing an! matter: >hence the Dere' Rebis is t.o things ;oyn?d, ye t it?s but one
Sun or Moon* No> out of thee t>o thing !iol"e! together' the
2li"ir i com-oun!e!' that i' a
tinge! &ater: >hence the Dere' 0ure Bodies are of Lii Made by ArtD 7ence 4ree/s Eliir term its second part$ Out of thi 2li"ir ' m# Denera(le +octor' a out of the firt /roth or /ullion of a im-le
!ecoction' A>or i etracte!' to > it' (# a tronger an ! iterate! !iti llation: >hich A>or reem(le an! -artici-ate the nature of it /o!# from >hich it >a etracte!' >hich i hot' an! retain it "irtue in it elf' namel# an O#lie nature' >hich i hot an! moit' (ecaue it i actual Fire an! Air@ though all the Element are in it in Eence' an! (# Com-oition* Me!icine therefore to cure the /o!ie of Seniti"e' ma# (e com-oe! out of the ai! Metal (# e"eral artifice@ (ut the# are not -ertinent to the ,hiloo-hic) &or)' a the 2li"ir i to A>or : that i' the "ital S-irit a n! fugiti"e Soul are no t !ia-hanou' nor tran-arent a the clear tear from the E#e: nor e"er# !iol"ing S-irit' though the# (e each of higher Nature than another' accor!ing to their !egree' a the Soul i higher than the cru!e S-irit' (eing the# are not of one form* For a the Soul lie hi! un!er the -ecie of a !iol"e! S-irit' (efore it re.in-iation' .51.
$for the Soul (eing etracte! out of the /o!#' al>a# a--eareth li)e after it in-iiation the Soul an! /o!# lie hi! un!er the
)uic/-silver % o
species of a /o!#* Your
&orhi- hath een an E-eriment thereof' in the -o>!er ometime ent to that ing >hoe ,h#ician #ou are@ in >hich E-eriment' )uic/-silver >a foun! in the -ecie of )uic/-silver ' (ut if that >hich remaine! in the (ottom ha! (een coagulate!' it >oul! certainl# ha"e aume! the ame form of ,o>!er: /ut that ,o>!er mut (e calle! A Tincture nominall# onl#' not that it i a Me!icine for Metal' for it i not #et -erfectl# fit@ #et a a Me!ic ine for Men' it i of "er#. goo! force* /ut the fit Me!ic ine >ithout all !ou(t ecee! thi humane Me!ic ine in all "irtue' (oth a to Metal' an! to Men@ >hich cannot come to -a in a clear !ia-hanou an! tran-arent Liuor:
/ecaue if
the aforeai! 2li"ir an! A>or ' that i' S-irit an! Soul' !i! a--ear in' an! ha! a tran-arenc#' no> the Earth a to it -ro-ortion ha! left the &ater' an! ha! (een e-arate! from it' >hich ha! thic)ne! an! coagulate! it -art' cauing an o-acit# in the 2li"ir an! A>or ' an! ma)ing a congeala(le Metallic) form to conit*
For in the
con!ening of fie! Metallic) -ecie' the con!ener mut act u-on the con!ena(le' an! the coagulating u-on the coagula(le@ >hich cannot (e in the aforeai! !ia-hanou an! clear &ater* /ut it ha--en other>ie in Degeta(le' in >hich a im-le an! !ia-hanou &ater i thic)ne! (# !ecoction into the Degeta(le themel"e: >hich #et (# the Tet of the Fire !oth at length "anih an! e"a-orate' (ecaue it i not -ermanent an! fie! in it com-oition' (ecaue it ha! not >ith it an Earth Naturall# homogeneal to it in it com-oition' a )uic/-silver hath: >hich Earth in!ee! i the caue of -ermanent fiation in homogeneou thing: >herefore im-le &ater cannot (# coagulation (e o fie! >ith Degeta(le' a Mercury >ith Metal* If therefore Mercur# houl! (e re!uce! to a tran-aren c# in the &or) of the ,hiloo-her ' it >oul! (# goo! reaon remain of an uncoagula(le u(tance@ nor >oul! it (e congeale! u-on Laton to a Metallic) form' -ecie an! -ro-ortion' >hich carrie not >ith' nor in it elf
it o>n congelation' namel# &ater the Earth: >hich Earth $a >e ai!% i Mercurial ' an! the firt caue of In-iation' Coagulatio n' an! Fiation* If then thi &ater a(i!e !ititute of Metallic) -ro-ortion' ho> houl! it (e (e -ro!uce! from thi Com-oition
-oi(le that uch li)e -ecie houl!
The# alo erre >ho thin) to etract a lim-i!
tran-arent &ater out of Mercury ' an! out of it to >or) man# >on!erful thing: For (e it o that the# can -erfect uch a &ater' that &or) >oul! con!uce nothing either to Nature or -ro-ortion' nor coul! it retore or (uil! u- an# -erfect )in! of Metal: For o oon a Mercury i throughl# change! from hi firt Nature' o oon he i for(i!!en entrance into our ,hiloo-hic) &or)' (ecaue he hath lot hi S-ermatic) an! Metallic) Natur e* From thee thing it i manife t' >hat truth there i in #our o-inion' an! in >hat it i contrar# an! im-ro-er' >hen . 55.
#ou a#' there mut (e ha! $a I thin)% to -erfect the highet Eliir' a 7um in >hich are all thing necear# thereunto' an! containing the four Element' an! it i a mot clear &ater a a tear from the E#e' ma!e S-iritual' Gc* >hich ma)e 7ol! to (e a mere S-irit: For a /o!# -enetrate not a /o!#' (ut a u(tle congeale! S-iritual u(tance' >hich -enetrate an! colour a /o!#* Let it (e o a #ou a#' m# Denera(le +octor' that Nature are not ;o#ne! (ut in a 7um or O#lie u(tance' an! eual -ro-ortione!' ha"ing a S-iritual Nature' the Element (eing #et fie!l# hut u- in it@ unto >hich 7ummine the >hole ,hiloo-her Stone i at lat re!uce! (# Inceration' un!er a gentle flu' after the manner of an Inceration reem(ling all the Element' tan!ing li)e Co--er an! in the nature of Co--er' eiting alo in a u(tle S-iritual Nature -enetrating an! colouring Metallic) /o!ie*
For thi Stone in the u(limation of the
firt cru!e /o!#' hath not lot it )in!' namel# of the ame S-irit' neither #et in the -erfect an! great 7um !oth it loe it firt Nature: Therefore 7um an! O#l (elong not other>ie unto thi &or)' (ut a Element euall# -ro-ortione! hut u- together' reol"a(le' unite! in the O#lie "icoit# of the Earth' retaine!' (urne!' ine-ara(l# mit*
For thi 7um of O#l firt i etracte! out of the /o!#' !ra>n into an incinerate!
S-irit' till the u-erfluou humi!it# of the &ater' (e turne! into Air' an! one Element (e ecite! from another Element (# !igetion' an! >hat >a of an Aueou form' (ecome of an O#lie nature: an! o the >hole Stone at lat aume the name of 7um an! Sulphur * For 4eber teacheth thi' >hen he aith' a #ou ha"e >ritten in #our E-itle' if an# -eron )no> to ;o#n an! frien!l# unite our
Sulphur unto /o!ie' he hath
foun! one of the greatet Secret' an! one >a# of -erfection: a if he houl! a#' If an# man can re!uce a /o!# to thi' that it ma# (e ma!e a 7um >hich ma# (e throughl# mingle! >ith other im-erfect /o!ie' he hath foun! the greatet Secret of Nature' Gc* (ecaue thi -erfect Stone i a 7um an! a
Sulphur ' a i )no>n (# >hat
>e ha"e alrea!# ai!* /ut #ou mut )no>' that 4eber >ith highet -ru!ence an! >on!erful artifice hi!e the truth un!er a Deil' intermingling >ith it man# o(curitie an! falitie' >hich thoe >ho are ignorant at firt a--earance imagine to (e truth: #et he -ea)ing li)e a ,hiloo-her ecretl# un!er hi craft' !oth o-enl#' learne!l# an! ,hiloo-hicall# !ecri(e the truth: >herefore the une-erience! an! So-hiter' not un!ertan!ing hi min! an! >it' nor the nature of the thing' !o -er"erl# turn ai!e to the "ulgar e-oition an! oun! of the >or!* For he aith' If thou )no>et that' >e ha"e ai! omething to thee@ (ut if thou )no>et not' >e ha"e ai! nothing to thee* &herefore in rea!ing ,hiloo-hic) /oo) ' coni!er e-eciall# the -oi(ilit# of Nature@ not>ithtan!ing ome >riter of thi Art ha"e alo ometime erre!' an! ha"e ha--ene! ometime to ha"e han!le! it' a to the natural truth either ill .52.
or am(iguoul#* A it ma# (e o(er"e! that Arnoldus de Villa :ova hath ai!' in a /oo) >hich he calle! hi Roar#' that ra> Mercury ' that i' )uic/-silver ' >hich in it o>n nature i col! an! moit' (# Su(limation ma# (e ma!e hot an! !r#@ after>ar! (eing re"i"e !' it (ecome hot a n! moit li)e the co m-leion of Man* You >ill a# the n' >hat >on!er it i if it (e ;o#ne! >ith the Sun' that it li)e>ie (ecome of the nature of the Sun For Mercury i of a con"erti(le nature' a the Hea"enl# Mercury ' >hich i uch a the ,lanet i >ith >hich it i in Con;unction* For that Arnoldus ' though in other Science he >ere a Re"eren! an! Ingeniou +octor' #et in thi Art he han!le! E-eriment onl#' >ithout the learning of the Caue* firt Su(limation the cru!e S-irit i u(lime! from
No> >hen he aith' that in the
the inferiour alt Mineral' an! that
Mercury it elf' >hich in it o>n nature i col! an! moit' (ecome a ,o>!er of an hot
an! !r# nature' a he aith' thi #et con!uce nothing to our &or)* that he ma)e of Mercury uch a ,o>!er a he -ea) of' that i'
/ut let it (e o' thoroughl# !rie ! an!
hot (# u(limation from Salt@ #et thee ,urification are "ain an! im-ertinent to our &or)' #ea a to the -erfecting of our &or) the# are hurtful* For though thee inferiour Mineral communicate >ith Metal in their nature' #et not in )in! an! -ro-ortion:
For
the u-eriour an! inferiour Mineral' in their nati"it# an! u(terraneou formation' are of one an! the ame contitution uni"erall#' an! therefore of the ame nature@ (ut the# !iffer in -ro-ortion' ualit#' a n! )in! or form* &herefore if Mercury (e !itille! >ith thoe inferiour Mineral' an! throughl# !rie!' then hi internal nature i confoun! e! an! !i-ro-ortione!' an! i hin!re! an! ma!e
un-rofita l(e' a to the effect
of a Feminine See!' an! in"ali! for our Metallic) &or)* For o oon a he i turne! into the form of a ,o>!er' $ece-t from hi /o!# of
Sol or Luna % o oon he un!ergoe
a thorough !rine' un-rofita(le to the ,h iloo-hic) &or)* Yet I !en# not' (ut that a !roe an! im-ure Mercury ma# an! ought' (# a im-le Salt' (e u(lime! or -urge! once or oftner' accor!ing to a !ue ,hiloo-hic) e-erience' to ta)e from it it !ro an! out>ar! Mineral im-urit#' o that not>ithtan!ing the flui!it# an! ra!ical humi!it# of Mercury ma# al>a# remain unaltere!: For the Mercurial )in! an! form in uch a &or)' ought to remain uncorru-te!' a hath (een ai! alrea!#* Nor ought it out>ar! from to (e re!uce! into a thoroughl# !rie! ,o>!er@ (ecaue it eternal form (eing corru-te!' he> it internal nature to (e confoun!e!' unle it (e in the >a# of generation that it (e altere!' a ma# (e manifetl# een in the ign >hich a--ear in the &or) of the natural >a#* For there are Su(limation of Mercury from it o>n -ro-er /o!ie' >hich are con;o#ne! an! mingle! >ith it' (# an Amalgamation >hich it in it mot in>ar! -art' from >hich (eing oftentime raie! an! reunite!' it re;ect an! loe it u-erfluitie' an! i not confoun!e! in it nature@ an! after>ar! it i "er# .58.
agreea(le to the ,hiloo-hic) &or)' an! -o>erful to !iol"e Metallic) i not greatl# altere! intrinicall# for the
species @ #et it
,hiloo-h ic) &or)' unle it (e altere! (#
fie! /o!ie !iol"e! in it* /ut >on!erful thing ma# (e !one in Me!icine for Seniti"e from thi !rie! ,o>!e r' >hether it (e re!uce! into an O#l' or
into &ater' or
it a(i!e in a ,o>!er@ (ut it i not at all -ertinent to the ,hiloo-hic) E-eriment* therefore it mut (e uni"erall# note!' that o oon a
An!
Mercury i turne! into a
,o>!er' of >hate"er ort' contrar# to the nature of it /o!# to (e !iol"e!' o oon >ill it (e un-rofita(le to the ,hiloo-hic) &or)*
There are certain !ecei"ing
So-hiter' >ho (# ;o#ning Venus to it' or a!!ing other -ecie' ma)e a So-hitic) &or)@ that i' the# gi"e unto im-erfect Co--er a colour' (ut
not natural@ the# in!uce
in!ee! a )in! of an a--arenc#' (ut not a true nature' that i' tranmutation:
li)e a
he that -aint a !ea! Image' or com-oe a Statue of &oo!' >hich a--ear onl#' (ut i not@ an! a much a a li"ing !iffer from an Image an! ,icture' o much !iffer their &or) from the ,hiloo-hic)* Hence thi miture -ere"ere not in the Tet of the Fire' though it (e Mineral@ (ecaue Nature attract it not from a -ro-ortiona(le !igetion' nor hath Art "ehementl# !ecocte! it to an alteration of the mit nature: >herefore that Co--er a--ear to (e u-erficiall# onl#' an! not -ermanentl# an! intrinicall # tinge!* &herefore >e mut not a!here to the E-eriment of !eceitful So-hiter' (ecaue the truth of the natural Art confute thi So-hitic) &or)' an! he> it to (e fale* An! if #ou >ill intance farther' an! a#' that a the ai! Arnoldus (# Su(limation -urge! a>a# the !ro of Mercury ' an! !rie! it in it nature@
o alo $a #ou a#% he (# re"i"ing it' moitne! it again' an! ma!e the
Mercury it elf
hot an! moit' an! in it nature conforma(le to it /o!#* Thi hin!er not $m# Re"eren! +octor% nor refute the truth of the ,hiloo-hic) Art' #ea rather an errour a--ear in the Natural Art: For' a i manifet' Arnoldus !oth teach' if #ou regar! the oun! of hi >or!' that Mercury thu throughl# !rie!' i re"i"e! (# hot >ater into >hich it i cat@ an! he aith that it i ma!e hot an! moit' >hen it >a firt u(lime! hot an! !r#* /ut >hat true ,hiloo-her >oul! a#' that Mercury or an# other Metal' i change! in nature an! internal ualit# (# im-le &ater' ho>e"er hot or (o#ling' or that it coul! thence acuire it natural humi!it#' an! o (e re"i"e! Therefore Mercury in thi re"i"al acuire nothing' (ecaue common >ater neither !ecoct nor
alter it' (ecaue it neither hath entrance nor ingre into it' an! that >hich neither hath entrance nor ingre' alter not@ (ecaue e"er# thing to (e altere!' mut firt (e throughl# mingle!* For in!ee! uch a &ater ma# >i-e a>a# from it ome u-erficial !ro >imming u-on it' (ut cannot infue into it a ne> ualit#: For >hat nature oe"er Mercury re!uce! into a ,o>!er' an! mortifie! (# Su(limation' retaine!' uch nature altogether it .23.
retain re"i"e! (# &ater* No> thi I >oul! ha"e to (e -o)en in honour an! re-ect unto the ai! Arnoldus @ (ut I contem-late an! !efen! the truth of Nature an! E-erience* Furthermore' honoure! +octor' that I ma# (# thi m# An>er atifie #our E-itle' an! -ut an en! thereto' I hum(l# entreat #ou
that #ou >oul!
ta)e in goo! -art' an! fa"oura(l# (ear >hat I ha"e >ritten' not (# >a# of Confutation' (ut +i-utation: /ut if I ha"e an>ere! an# thing that offen! #ou' ta)e it #et in goo! -art an! fa"oura(l#' or ignifie it to me in >riting' an! I >ill atifie #ou to m# -o>er a the mot
true +octor our Lor! eu Chrit' the Son of
7o!' (lee! for e"er an! e"er' hall gi"e an! teach me*
han/s be to 'hrist$
.20.
The Prefatory E*istle of 2ernard Earl of Tresne! to the noble Doctor and most learned Philoso*her Thomas of 2ononia. My 8riend,
If I ha! an# thing more no(le' imagine #ou >ith >hat goo! >ill I houl! !e!icate it to thee' for ha"ing coni!ere! the >on!erful "irtue of thi Science in it height' >hich #ou are not ignorant of' therefore >a I >illing to !e!icate thi m# La(our unto thee' intreating thee to acce-t it >ith a goo! a >ill a I gi"e it unto thee' an! conclu!e that >hilt I gi"e thee thi m# La(our' that I ha"e gi"en a greater Treaure than >a e"er or!aine! (# the goo! -leaure of the omni-otent 7o!' accor!ing to the coure of Nature* There i a >a# trul# of arri"ing to an Uni"eral no>le!ge' >hich >e commonl# call the 0hilosophers Stone ' an! thou halt fin! it in thi m# little /oo)
0
$little' I a#' in >or!' (ut great an! high in u(tance% alo it containeth entirel# e"er# Science' that i to a#' the (eginning an! en!ing* Thou halt fin! thi m# /oo) !i"i!e! into four -art' an! thou ma#t ;u!ge thereof after thou hat >ell un!ertoo! it* Fare>ell* From Trene' Ma# 06* 04=9* 0 /ern* Tre"ianu !e Tranmutatione Metallorum' 4 li(ri' G in-reu et cum o* Fr* ,ici o-ere !e Auro' Urelli 0=82* 23*
FINIS* his 2pistle 6 have caused to be printed, not for the signification there-of either as to quality or quantity, but only to prevent the mista/ing the one 2pistle for the otherD and could 6 have found more 2pistles bet.een these t.o most e"cellent Authors, 6 should not have hesitated their publication, but conclude that they .ould have been as .elcom to our 2nglish 0hilosophers, as any either Ancient or Modern Writers$ Vale$ W$'$ Bibl$
.26.
A brief Rehearsal of the Pre*aration of the Philoso*hers Stone. R2cipe E, an! u(lime him from hi Earthl# u(tance' an! then !iol"e him
into hi former u(tance: then if it (e to the Re! &or) ta)e Sol ' if it (e to the &hite &or) ta)e Luna ' an! !iol"e it in the ai! Mercury ' until the# (e (oth one Mercury ' >hich >ill not (e >ithout ,utrefaction@ then e-arate the Element' an! !ecoct them accor!ing to their !ue -ro-ortion* Note' thi Sul-hur ,hiloo-horum i the Earth of the Element calcine!' u(lime! an! fie!@ then it i coloure! >ith either
Sol or Luna '
accor!ing a th# &or) i' the >hich Sol or Luna i a!!e! to freh or other Mercury after the or!er of Amalgama @ then fiing the Sul-hur an! the Element' an! that ne> Sol >hich i calle! the Earth' accor!ing to their !ue -ro-ortion@ the >hich Name of >eight hall not (e ma!e mention of here' for the lo"e of
him that taught it me' an! let
too common it houl! (e@ for if it >oul! (e name! in t>o /oo)' then all the &orl! >oul! !eca# in Hu(an!r# an! In!utr#' if not in Honet#' >hich I -ra# 7o! -re"ent* Amen$
FINIS*
.29.
