Johan Isaac HOLLANDUS
T he H and of the P hiloso hi losop pher her s With Its Secret Signs
Translated from the German by Leone Muller. Produ Produce ced d by Re storers sto rers of Alche Alche mical Manu M anuss cripts cripts Society Socie ty (RAMS), (RAM S), 1986.
This is the Hand of the Philoso This Philosoph phee rs with their dea d earr secret sec ret signs, signs, with with which which the old sages uni united with with each ea ch other and took secret oaths. Nobod No body y can understand understand this this hand with with its secret signs, signs, unless unless he beco be com mes first first a juror of the phil philosophe oso phers, rs, (one who swore loyalty loyalty to a phil philosopher), osopher), and has loyal loyally ly served served them them in the the Art Al Alchemi chemia. a. Consequen Consequently tly,, those those who who have not this this Hand and do not understand its secret sec ret signs, signs, nor have taken take n the the oath of loyalty, are bastards bastards in thi this Art. Art. They They do not possess the the ph p hilosophers’ treasu treasure. re. That That is why why I advi advise all all those those who do not not possess the secrets se crets of the Hand not to start working working in the alchemi alchemica call Art, nor nor to beli believe eve books or writi writings ngs,, since since they they wil will all all only only be cheated cheated in the the secrets of the the Hand. Hand. Therefore, Therefore, everybody had better be careful. careful.
In this this Hand is loc locke ked d the secret secre t of the philoso philosoph phers, ers, that is, is, of o f the seed see d and the earth, as wil willl be told later. Now then then,, I wi will teach my my chi child and and describe describe the the secret, hidden hidden matter atter of the the wise wise phi philosophers osophers and masters masters of the true Art Al Alchemia. chemia. Nobod No body y can use use it unl unless ess he take the the oath o ath and and swear not to divulge divulge the Art and secrets secre ts and hidd hidden en sig s igns ns of the sages, except exce pt he fin finds ds that it it would would be a good placem placement ent.. In that that case, he shoul should also also request request the the oath that that that that man shou shoulld not use use the the Art except excep t for the salvatio salvatio n of his his soul. O nly nly then can ca n he be given given the secret sec ret signs signs of the phil philosophers osophers or sages, sages, with with thei theirr hidden hidden sig signs and mean meaniings. 1. The Thumb
First look at a t the thumb thumb on whi which stands the crown cro wn next to the moo moon, n, one quarter ol o ld. By this this is meant saltpetre. saltpetre . For Fo r just as the thum thumb vigorous vigorously ly fini finiss hes he s off the hand, saltpeter sa ltpeter does do es in in the the Art Alchemia, for he is the King ing and Lord of all salts. He is is the mill mill through through which everythin e verything g must be grou ground. nd. His His nature ature is elsewh elsewhere ere suf sufficiently ficiently described. described. 2. Index
The second seco nd sign sign and secret of the philoso philosop p hers is the Star Sta r with six poin po ints, ts, standing above abo ve the foremost finger finger next to the thum thumb. It is compared compa red to Roman Vitrio Vitrio lo, because be cause no work that is is to be perfect perfect can be compl completed eted with without out vitri vitriol; ol; for it is the greatest reatest and and strong strongest est salt salt after after saltpet saltpeter. er. Its nature is described. 3. The Middle Finger
The third sig s ign n of the the philoso philosopher pher’s ’s Hand is the Sun, standing standing above ab ove the the third third finger. finger. By it, Sal Sa l Ammoniac Ammoniacum um is desig de signated nated,, for apart ap art from saltpeter saltpete r and vi vitriol, no thing thing more powerfu powe rfull is found found than *. * . That is why why it it is the third third secret. sec ret. 4. The Ring Finger
The fourth fourth sign sign of o f the philosop philosophers hers is the Lantern, standing sta nding above ab ove the the fourth finger finger of the Hand, whereby whereb y Alum Alum Roche Ro che is indicated; ndicated ; for without without alum, alum, no perfect pe rfect work can be accompl acco mpliished, she d, because because it is required required for the Red and the White. White. It has an astoni astonishing natu nature re and and the the most subtl subtle Spiritus. Spiritus. It is described described elsewhere. elsewhere. 5. The Little Finger
The fif fifth th secret sec ret and sign sign is the Key Ke y of the philoso philosop p hers, standing above ab ove the little little finger. finger. Simulta Simultaneo neousl usly, y, it is is the loc lock k of the hand. That is why why the key ke y is is standing on it. it. By it, it, comm c ommon on salt is is desig de signated nated,, for salt is is the Key K ey in this this Art. 6. The Middle of the Hand
The sixth sixth sec s ecret ret sign sign is the Fish. It stands in the the midd middle le of the Hand and signifies signifies Mercury, Merc ury, for without without Mercury, Merc ury, or o r the fish fish,, nothing nothing can ca n be done. do ne. He is the begi be ginning, nning, the mi middl dd le and the the end, and he is the priest who must marry everything. And he is is the male male and the seed; seed ; he is is the water wat er out of which which all meta metalls have originat originated; ed; and he is is the the principal principa l (factor) of all Arts, and the greatest of all secrets. 7. The Palm
The seventh sign sign of the philoso philosop p hers is Fire. By this this Sul S ulphur phur is indicated. ndicated . It is the earth and begi beginning nning of all all metals. etals. It is is the the femal femalee who who bring bringss forth the the frui ruit. For no no seed can grow grow unless nless it be fi first thrown thrown into fertil ertile soil soil. Then Then beau b eauti tiful ful frui ruit wil will come come from it. Thus Thus it also also happens happens tat when a pure Mercury is joined to a pure Sulphur, Sulphur, it brings brings forth pure frui fruit. t. Thus, they are man man and woman, woman, father and mother, mother, fire fire and water, seed se ed and earth. This This is suffi sufficc ient ie nt about ab out the seven secret sec ret signs signs of o f the philoso philosophe phers. rs. He who who understa understands nds well this this Hand and its its sign, sign, and can work with with it, wil will deriv de rivee joy from it. it. Now N ow foll follows the Prepa Pre paration. ration.
The Pre Pre paration of Saltpetre
Take liv living ing chalk (qui (q uick cklime) lime),, accord acc ordiing to the quantity quantity of the substance. substa nce. Pour Po ur on it a good amount of urine. urine. Let the lim limee slake in in it; after it is is slak slaked, ed, let it settle, and pour it it off above. ab ove. If there are a re 6 lb of saltpeter, saltpete r, take tak e 12 lb lb or o r pints of o f pure urine, even a little little more, but not less. less. Put it all together into a clean kettle. k ettle. Boil itit and skim it it with with an iron spoon. spo on. Put the latte latterr occa o ccasionally sionally into the Liquor Liquor and squirt it into into the fire. fire. If itit burns, or the coal becomes bec omes ignited ignited by it, it, it is is enough: Take it off and let let it cool coo l somewhat. Now No w pour po ur it into into a large linen linen sack, sac k, lilike a clare clarett sack. Thi This sack has has to hang hang above a bove a barrel, 5 feet feet above. a bove. Soon So on there there sprout s prout cones co nes in the the water, one above the other, as a s if it were crystal. crystal. Take these out - -- itit is is the the puri p urifi fied ed saltpeter. Now No w take the other saltpeter saltpete r which which did not not sprout sp rout into into cones. cones. Fish it out and put it it into into the urine. urine. Let itit boil bo il
again as before be fore and pour po ur it also also through the sack. sac k. It will will immediate immediate l y crystallize into long streak stre aks, s, like the first. first. What stays behi be hind nd is good for not nothi hing; ng; it is is only salt salt which can c an be coagul co agulate ated, d, and then it is comm co mmon on saltpeter. saltpete r.
This Th is is the Manual Work Done D one with with the Crown Crown or Saltpeter Saltpete r
Take 4 lb of the the Crown, prepare p repared d egg chalk, chalk, Sal Alcali Alcali made of quicklime, quicklime, weedashes, weeda shes, potash of of Sal Sa l Vitri of o f afterwine afterwine (tartar (tarta r lees) or shoots shoo ts of vine, vine, cal ca lcined Tartarum, in equal eq ual amounts. amounts. These things things must must be b e prepa pre pared red with with the hand, as you well well know. When W hen they they are a re prepa pre pared red,, dissolve dissolve them in distilled distilled vinegar. vinegar. Hang them in in the the baln ba lneum eum to dissolve there for 21 days da ys and nights. nights. Then coagul co agulate ate them in in the Alembic Alembicum, um, and keep the the matter cl c lean, ea n, so tha tha t no dust or impurity impurity can ca n get at it. it. After After this, this, put them into into a round, earthenware e arthenware vessel vesse l, as illu illuss trated tra ted here. Put itit in in Tripode Tripode or in the Athanor till till the Ki K ing is fix fixed ed.. Regulate Regulate the fire fire so that you can bare b arelly keep k eep your hand hand in it - - - for the first first 8 days. da ys. After After this, this, let the vessel glow glow for another 8 days; days; but before you yo u do this, this, divide divide it as if you wished wished to burn separa sep arati ting ng water; wate r; drive drive everything over that will will come co me over, for it is of no use use to the the work, since the volatile volatile spirits spirits spoil spo il all all works, work s, so that they cannot ca nnot reac re ach h the state of fixation. fixation. Therefore, before be fore putting it in Tripode Tripode to calcine, get rid of the volatile volatile spirits, spirits, otherwise your work wo rk would not get fi fixed. When it has has been be en standi stand ing in Tripo Tripode de for 14 days, take tak e itit out. Take 2 lb lb of o f the Lo Lo ng Fi F inger, which which must must have been be en subli sublimated mate d 3 times times through salt. sa lt. Pulverize Pulverize it with with the powder powd er you you took out of the Tripo Tripode de,, and subli sublimate mate them together till till the Long Finger Finger beco b ecomes mes fix fixed ed.. Now dissol dissolve ve thi this fixed powder 7 tim times in good, disti distill lled ed vineg vinegar. ar. Let it settl settlee each tim time, and each eac h time time separa sep arate te the the Faec Fa eces, es, and congeal it again in the Alembic. Alembic. Then glow glow the K ing in in the fire, fire, but take tak e care ca re that that he does not melt. melt. Do this this 7 times, times, by dissolvin dissolving, g, congealing, co ngealing, and glowing glowing as before. Then the saltpeter is well prepared for the work. Keep it in a closed box of Cyprian earth, ear th, glazed glazed with with glass, glass, and you you will will have an infinite infinite treasure, trea sure, greater greate r than you might might believe, with with which which you can accom acco mplis plis h wonderful wonde rful things. things. I wil will describe des cribe to you only only one o ne part pa rt of its effect, effect, should should you need the Art: By it you can turn all seven metals into their first first nature, that is, is, into Mercury. To this this end you must must take a good amount of distilled distilled vinegar vinegar and , and 8 of raw *; add ad d to it whatever metal eta l you wish, wish, provi pro vided ded it is calcined, calcined, then qui q uick cklly seal sea l the jar and put itit in in Balneum Balneum or in horse hors e manure manure for 21 days. After After that, put p ut itit on fire fire with the Alembic, Alembic, and distill. distill. First there will will be b e vinegar vinegar and *, afterwards afterward s the essence esse nce of the metal, metal, that is, is, Mercury. With that you you ca n do astoni asto nishin shing g things. things. But there is a great deal d eal of cheating in this; this; that is why why we do not not wish to describe it. When you have used the King and he has done his work, let the faeces drop, pour off the pure, and coagul coagulate as before. Then he wil will be better than before, because beca use hi his power has grown tenfold by having having been be en dissolved and purifi purified ed with Acetum Ace tum and [??], as also also next to the *, and by having having been be en water and then congealed. One performs miracle miracless with with this this Kin K ing; g; that is is why he carries the crown.
Also, Also, he make makess all red metals metals white, white, and all soft metals metals hard, and all hard meta metalls soft, and I write more than have have been b een commanded commanded to. Also, Also, make an Aqua Fort of ni nitre, O, vi vitrio trio l and * ; and to a quarter lb of this this AF, add ij *; dissolv disso lvee in itit ijij lb lb mercury; draw draw off the AF per Balneum, Balneu m, and you will will thus kill merc mercury. ury. Then take tak e 4 lb of common salt to every 2 lb of this this Mercury. Merc ury. Mix and pound p ound it well together to gether in a mortar; then sublimate sublimate it; then take tak e it out and pound it again with with salt sa lt as before, and subli sub limate mate it. Repeat Repe at this this 7 times. times. After this, take tak e 1 lb salt, 1/2 lb *, mix mix them well with the sublimate sublimated d mercury, erc ury, and sublima sublima te again. When it it is is sublima sublima ted, ted , take tak e it out, and a nd mix mix it again with with fresh sal sa lt alone; sublim s ublimate ate again, and do this this 3 or 4 times. times. Now No w pound po und it fi fine and put it into into a glass glass vessel and set it to calcinate calcinate in the phil philosophers oso phers ’ stove for for 30 days and nig nights. hts. Then remove it, and dissolve it in balneo or on a stone in the the cell ce llar. ar. When everything everythin g has been dissolved, put it it to distill distill 7 times times in Balneo, Balneo, till till everything e verything has beco be come me hard hard.. Then Then take ta ke itit out, pulver pulverize ize it smal smalll, and and imbibe bibe it with with water water of sil silver ver made thus: thus: Take Tak e fine fine cupel cupel silver; silver; cement ce ment it till till it comes co mes out white white from from the salt; dissolve disso lve it in in AF; AF; then dra draw w it off per Balneum; Balneum; take tak e itit out, add to itit as much much * as there is silver, silver, pulver pulverize ize them together, together , and dry it. Then calci ca lcinate nate it for for 30 days in the philosop philosopher hers’ s’ furnace furnace.. After this, this, dissolve it in in Balneo or on a stone. Imbibe Imbibe this this water into into your powd p owder, er, and put it into into a glass glass to distill per Alembicu Alembicum, m, so as to draw dra w off off the the humidit humidity. y. When it is is dry, take tak e it out and im imbibe it again again with with silver silver water. Do this this till till all the water wate r of silver silver has been imbi imbibe bed d into it. Finally, Finally, let itit stand on o n the fire fire til tilll all your matt matter er is fix fixed ed.. Then make your matter fusible till till it melts melts like like butter. butter. Also, Also, when you have drawn dr awn out the Red from from the foremost fore most finger, finger, or from the fire, fire, or from several severa l other things, things, take tak e 1 lb of the dry powd p owder er and 1 lb of the sun. But the sun must must first first have been 3 tim times subl subliimated mated throu through gh the the key til till it is trans transparen parent. t. Then Then take 1 part of the the Red, 1/2 part of the the sun, sun, powder them them togeth together er and subl subliimate them them.. Then Then the the sun wil will subl sublim imaa te up, and the Red wil will stay at the bottom botto m of the the vessel. Take the sun out above abo ve and mi mix it again again with with the Red that stayed at the bottom botto m of the the vessel. vessel. Sublimate Sublimate it again as before, before, at least 10 or 12 tim times. Now take the the same sun sun and and the the same same Red, powder them them impalpably, palpably, and and put them them into into the the phil philosophers’ osophers’ furn urnace to quickl quickly y calci calcine ne for 30 days. days. Then Then take it it out and and dissol dissolve ve it in Balneo. When everything is dissolved, you have have a brillian brilliantt water with with which which gold would would not want to be com co mpared pa red.. Imbibe Imbibe your elixir elixir with with this this red re d water as you you know.
Pre Pre paration of Vitriol
Take 3 or 4 lb Vitriolum Vitriolum Romanum, dissolve it in in Balneo, Balneo, clarify it of its its own impurit impurity, y, and calcine calcine it till till it begi be gins ns getting getting grey. Then d issol sso lve it again, again, and let let everything become be come pure again. again. Then calcine calcine it unti untill it beco be comes mes yell yellow. ow. Now No w take tak e the Tincture Tincture of Auripig Auripigmen mentt and grad gradually ually imbibe imbibe it onto it. Dry it carefully, ca refully, imbibe imbibe it and dry it again again until until everyth everything ing has been be en imbibe imbibed d into it. Then Then it is is ready to sublimat sublimatee Mercury Merc ury through it, so long that he no longer longer desires de sires
anything. Then his his stomach s tomach is ful full, l, and add each eac h time time fresh Species. Sp ecies. Then it turns turns into a precious pre cious Mercury Merc ury and a salt more splendid splendid than gold. gold.
An Art of Arts How to Extract Quintam Quintam Ess e ntiam from Vitriol Vitriol or the Philos Philosophers ophers’’ Stone from from the Hand.
Take 6 lb of glori glorified fied vitriol, vitriol, as you well know how ho w to mak make. e. Dry out all its its humidit humidity. y. Then 3 or 4 lb of the Fish Fish and 1 lb of the prepared prepa red key. ke y. Mix them them together to gether and put them them to sublime. sublime. The Tincture Tincture will will rise with with the Fish in a secre secrett and invi inviss ible ible way. If you wish wish to sublim sublimate ate the Fish once again with with fresh vitriol vitriol and fresh Key, Ke y, you may may do so. Then you have the fish fish full full of Tincture, Tincture, but if you wished wished to separa sep arate te the latte latter, r, make a water of the hand, hand, or a bad ba d water with salt, salt, or made with with some some of the long (Midd ( Middle) le) finger. finger. Put the sublimated Fish, which is full full of of the Tincture Tincture of the the Star, into into the Balneum, Balneum, and itit wil will dissolve into into water. wate r. Now take 6, 8, or 10 lb lb of the the key, key, whi which has been prepared to subl subliima te throu through gh it. Put the the Key into a Syburg jar and pour into into it, upon the Key, K ey, what has been be en dissolved, dissolved, so that it turns turns into a dry Materia. O therwise the water would not putrify or go up up in in smoke. smoke . Put P ut the jar in Bal Ba lneum, add ad d a helm, helm, and distill distill the AF over in a boi bo iling ling Balneu Balneum, m, till till nothing com co mes over. ove r. Foll F ollowin owing g this, this, set the jar into into sand, and a nd more spirits spirits of the AF will will go over whi which did not rise rise out o ut of the balneu balneum m. When all the Spi Sp iritus ritus have gone over, increa increase se your fi fire and you you will will see se e the the Quinta Quinta Essentia, or Tincture Tincture of the Fish and a nd the the said Star, Star , sublimate sublimate as if if itit were a crystal stone. Remove it carefully ca refully from the Alembic Alembic and dissolve dissolve it again in fresh fresh AF. Repeat Repe at thi this 4 times, times, and the tinctures tinctures of QE of the Fish wil will beco be come me so subtle that it is is unbeli unbeliee vable vab le to write abo a bout ut it. it. The reaso re ason n for itit is that it was fi first dissolved and afterwards sublim sublima ted, ted , and that itit is is kill killed and rises rises into into a spiritua spirituall Corpus. Co rpus. In my estimat estimation, ion, it should should be distilled distilled and afterwa afterwards rds sublimated sublimated so often that it wil will obtain obtain such great power po wer that that it would would be worth a kingdom. Now No w you have the QE Vitrioli Vitrioli and Mercurii together. If you you wish to make an a n Elixi Elixirr of it, you must must calcine c alcine it in Tripo Tripode de;; then the n dissolve it in Balneo with the water of the Hand; di d istill and sublimate sublimate it, and add the the soul so ul to it, it, and a nd congeal it, as I have taught of other stones. sto nes. But if you wish wish to separa sep arate te the the tincture tincture of the Star Sta r from the Fish, Fish, take tak e good * and distilled distilled vinegar. vinegar. Pulverize Pulverize the QE and put itit into into the vinegar. vinegar. Set Se t it into the Balneu Balneum. m. The Mercury Merc ury will will sink sink to the bottom, botto m, and a nd the the QE of the vitrio vitrio l wil will go into into the vi vinegar. Pour Po ur off the tinged tinged vinegar, vinegar, and pour po ur fresh upon it. Put it back ba ck into the Balneu Balneum, m, and repeat repe at thi this till till the vinegar vinegar no longer tinges. tinges. Now No w put all the the tinged tinged vinegar vinegar together and take other vinegar. vinegar. In it, sl s lake ak e iron or steel stee l 10 or 12 tim times. N ow pour po ur that to the tinged tinged acetum, ac etum, put p ut itit into into a large glass glass and distill distill all the the vin vinegar egar per Alembicu Alembicum m and in in the Balneum. Balneum. What remains, remains, will will be b e the most beautiful redness red ness of the world, because bec ause the tincture tincture of the the Fish Fish stayed with with the tincture of the Star. Sta r. That is why why the Fish is no longer longer of any use when when the tincture tincture of the Star is is drawn dr awn off, because because they they both have have the the same same nature. ature.
With thi this tincture, you can ca n work mi miracles, rac les, beca be cause use itit is is indestr indestructib uctible le just as heaven is incombust ncombus t ib le; it changes everything into into its nature and a nd col co lor, and a nd thus itit does doe s to all all stones and pearls. pearls.
The Preparation of the Sun or, Sal Amm Ammoniaci
Ammoniac Ammoniac is of differe different nt kinds, that is, natural natural and a nd artifi artific ial. ia l. Natural Na tural ammoniac ammoniac is found found in the earth, and it is is again twofold, twofold, white white and red. Both Both are extracted from hard clean ores. o res. It is swe et of taste; taste ; its its nature is hot hot and dry; and itit is is good for washing washing and purifyin purifying. g. Further, there is also an artifi artificc ial ia l *, and that is better for this this work than the natural; it is is also nobl nob ler than salt, and changes Mercury Merc ury into into water. water . When itit has been be en prepa red with it, it, grind grind it and put it into into a humid humid spot spo t to dissolve. With it, it, one accom acco mplis plis hes the solutio solutio n of iron and a nd lead into into living iving silver; silver; and itit is gold which which the dryness of the fire fire has congealed. It is is hot and hum humiid and is is a subtle spiri s piritt for the Eli Elixir, for without without it, itit coul co uld d not be done. How to sublimate sublimate it, I will will yet teach you, although through through it the Corpora are not not transmuted transmuted white white or red into another a nother substance, except by b y means of other spirits, it nevertheless gives gives to the the spirits spirits their entranc e ntrancee and a nd exit; itit purges and cleans the Corpo Co rpora ra of their black blackness, ness, leaving leaving the spirits spirits mingles mingles with with the bodies, bo dies, whil while itself itself going going away.
Sal Amm Ammonicum, onic um, or the Philos Philosophers ophers’’ S Sun un
Ammon Ammoniac iac is the sun of the philos philosop ophers hers,, which shines through through all a ll things things and is the noblest Secre Se crett of the hand, for by b y it I will will teach tea ch you how to make make the whole w hole secre se crett of the Tin Tincture ctures, s, and in this this way you can, if if you wish, wish, extract extrac t all other tinctures tinctures and use them for the great phil philosophers’ osophers’ stone. stone. For the the Lapis Lapis Min Minor you extract extract the the thi things from the the mine minerals rals,, for the the Lapis Lapis Majori Majo ri from the herbs and a nd Species Spec ies that are not human; human; for like like makes mak es its like, like, a horse begets a horse, etc. e tc. Therefore, prepa pre pare re lilike to its its lilike; ke ; otherwise o therwise you foll follow ow wrong ways in this this Art. First I will will teach tea ch you you how to extract extrac t the tincture tincture from gold, and how to make ak e spiri sp iritt and oil. oil. Change the gold to a subtle calx through through calcinat calcinatiio ns. Then take tak e a broad bro ad glass glass slab or a glass glass vessel. Put the the calx c alx into into it and pour po ur on itit good distilled distilled wine wine vinegar. vinegar. Into a Nossel, No ssel, put p ut 3j of the midd middlle finger’s finger’s Sun, and pour itit on the gold cal ca lx in in the vesse vessel, l, reac r eachi hing ng two fin finge gers’ rs’ bread bre adth th above ab ove it. it. Set S et itit into into the Balneum or in a hot reflectio reflection n of the sun. sun. Then there will will arise a small small yellow yellow skin on top, top , as if itit were oil. oil. Remove this this with a sil silver gil gilt spoon, spo on, or with with a feather. Do this this several severa l times times a day, till till nothing nothing else arises to the top. top . Put what you have have skimm skimmed off into into the Balneum Balneum and let let the humidit humidity y evapora evap orate. te. Then an oil will will remai r emain, n, or the QE, which which is so wonderful wonde rful,, it is is beyond beyo nd your bel be lief. ief. One can do just as well with pure, ol o ld urine, urine, as with with vinegar. Then there still still remains remains earth ea rth in in that which which stays in the vesse vessell and out of which which you have drawn d rawn the QE. Put that also into the Balneu Balneum. m. Let the vinegar, vinegar, or old urine, urine, evapora evap orate, te, and the the earth of the Sun will will stay st ay behind. behind. And when the earth ear th has been be en prepare prep ared, d, bring it back ba ck to its its QE Q E as it should be. be . Now No w you have an elixi elixirr
and a glorifi glorified ed Corpus Co rpus and an earthly earthly treasure far greater than can ca n be beli believed. For that, that, thank thank God Almighty.
Pre Pre paration of Alum, Alum, or, Wate Waterr of the Lantern Lante rn
Take a new earthenware ea rthenware pot po t with with a fitting fitting cover. co ver. In it, it, pul p ulverize verize as much much Alum de Roc Roche he to half fill fill the pot. Lute it well well so that no air can escape. esca pe. Put it over a small small fire fire and li listen to the pot. po t. When it it is no no longer longer boi bo iling, ling, decre de crease ase your fire, fire, and fin finall ally, y, let the pot po t sit sit in in the glow glow for about ab out one hour, or there thereab abouts, outs, after this, this, remove the pot po t and you can all allow it to then coo c ooll off. off. The alum has been bee n calcined calcined enough to make water wate r from from it. Disso Dissollve this this calx c alx in in distilled distilled vinegar vinegar that has been well rectified rectified.. Then rem re move it from from the ashes a shes and congeal co ngeal it in in a gl glass. Now No w put it over a blue stone st one and congeal c ongeal it in in a glass. glass. Now No w put itit over a blue stone so s o as to dissolve it, and keep kee p the water, water , for for by b y it one can dissolve dissolve mercury into into clear water. wa ter. This This is the right right alum water wate r with which which to im imbibe all Corpora Corp ora that that one wishes wishes to mak makee Alba Alba or o r white. white. Like Likewi wise, se, put pu t some of this this water into an iron spoon spo on or pan, pour merc mercury ury into it, let it boi bo il till till it gets cl c lear. ea r. Then pour po ur it into into a small small vessel and a nd set it in the sun. It wil will congeal co ngeal and beco b ecome me so hard that itit cannot ca nnot be b e broke bro ken n with the fingers.
Additional Additional M anual Work with with Alum, Alum, or the Lantern Lante rn of the the Philos Philosophers ophers
Take 10 1 0 lb of alum alum, and purify purify it by dissolving it. Then take tak e 2 lb of white white vitriol, vitriol, 3 lb of tartar, tartar , and 3 lb of Sal Alcali, Alcali, and these t hese must must be purifi purified ed ; also 2 lb lb of Sal Vitri, Vitri, 12 lb lb of o f Sal Sa l Gemmae Gemmae,, taken tak en from the apothec ap othecary; ary; further, further, 4 lb of the Key K ey and egg calx 4 lb. All All these ha ve to be puri purified. fied. Now take the the white white of 100 hardboi hardboilled and and pulver pulveriz ized ed eggs eggs,, put int into o disti distill lled ed vineg vinegar ar in additi addition to 1 lb of o f *, also also tartar, ta rtar, Alcali, Alcali, of each eac h 1 lb; common common salt, 4 lb. lb. Put P ut everything into into a jar, luted, and set into into the Balneu Balneum m, or in horse horse manure, manure, for 6 weeks. week s. Let itit dissolve into water; then remove it and distill. distill. First, the * will will come, c ome, then the acetum; and the the blesse blessed d white white water wate r that stays in the retort, reto rt, prese p reserve rve it till till you yo u nee need d more more of it, beca b ecause use it is also also good goo d for for other o ther works. work s. Now take the the vinegar, egar, the the *, and the the egg water, water, and im imbibe bibe with with that that your powder. Dry it it in Alembicu Alembicum, m, so that it it may may stay pure. Do this this till till al a ll the water has been be en imbi imbibed bed into the powder po wder.. Set Se t the water wate r to calcine in Tripode Tripod e for 14 days or longer, longer, and regula regula te your fire in such a way that you can just just keep ke ep your hand in it it through the hole. After this, take tak e itit out. Take 2 lb lb of *, and sublimate sublimate it through through this this powder po wder till till it is is fix fixed ed.. Then dissolve the powder powd er 7 times times in distilled distilled vinegar, vinegar, and again again congeal co ngeal it it in the Alembic, Alembic, so that itit may stay pure. After it has been be en dissolved as often and a nd has has fi finally na lly been be en congealed, co ngealed, put it it in the Balneu Balneum m to dissolve, or in a cellar, cellar, or in in horse horse manure. Then the Lantern is prepa pre pared red,, and you have an earthl ea rthly y treasure, trea sure, the white whitest st water one o ne can ca n see with with one’s one’ s eyes, and itit transforms all things things into into the White, no matter matter what one cook co okss in it, be b e it metal metal or rock. roc k. With it one can make make
mercury fixed fixed in many many differe different nt ways, and you, neverthe neverthelless, es s, keep ke ep almost almost all of your lantern, lantern, and almost almost your previous weight. weight. Anything Anything you wish wish to get pure and white, white, such as pearls, pe arls, put them into this water wate r and you you wil will see wonders. wonde rs. It transforms transforms all meta metalls into mercury, if they are cooked cook ed in it in in Baln Ba lneo eo.. I must must not write write more. Now take the the water of the the hand hand and 1 lb lb of the im impalpab palpable le powder of the the K ey. ey. Subli Sublimate them them,, well mixed mixed together beforehand, before hand, 7, 8, or 10 times, times, each ea ch time time with with fresh key. ke y. After this, this, pulver pulverize ize it impa impallpab pa b ly on a glass glass slab with 1 lb lb of the the midd middlle Finger, Finger, 2 lb of the the Fire, 2 lb of salt. salt. Sublimate Sublimate 7 times, times, each eac h time time with fresh salt; finally finally pound po und itit and set it in Tripo Tripode de to calcine calcine for 30 days, da ys, hea heati ting ng gently gently the fi first 8 days, da ys, then gradually grad ually stronger. The last last 8 days, da ys, let itit become bec ome so hot that you would would hardly hold your hand in Tripode Tripod e for one Ave Ave Maria. Ma ria. Then take tak e itit out, powder it it on a stone, stone, then then dissol dissolve ve it into nto water water in Balneo. Balneo. Occasional Occasionally ly,, it does not easil easily dissolve. That is due to the fact fact that it it has not been be en suffi sufficc iently ie ntly cook co oked ed during during calci c alcinat natio ions, ns, since since one has to stir stir it once every day, da y, what what is at the bottom has to be turned uppermost; uppe rmost; and if if something has been be en sublimat sublimated ed up, put it down do wn again and a nd continue continue cal ca lcining. When itit is is dissolved, preserve pre serve it at once in in a glass, glass, well stoppe stop pered red with with something. Now take gold. gold. Puri Purify it by dissol dissolving ving and cement cementing ing,, as you you know how to do. Then Then dissol dissolve ve the the water of the hand and keep it well stoppered in a glass. When you have all three of these waters, you have have an earthl ear thly y treasure. trea sure. If you wish wish to conjoin them, take tak e a glass glass Recipient, big acco ac cording rding to the quantity of your your waters, waters , narrow narro w above abo ve and wide wide below. Into this, put p ut your three waters, wa ters, seal sea l as you know how to do; set itit in Balneo, Balneo, and let let it rise and a nd descend desc end till till you see no more spirits spirits rise rise except a watery watery dew. Now take it it out, powder powde r itit im impalpably, palpab ly, put it into into a round round glass glass with with a long neck, neck , put itit sideways on ashes, in a stove. Then you will will see an evide evident nt miracle, that is, all the colors God has created in the world, before the perfect White comes; and then the redness red ness from an increa increase se in the fi fire. At first, first, one has has to heat mil mild d ly, and grad gradually ually stronger. But when the white color appears, you must increase your fire somewhat till the glass becomes glowing. glowing. Should something rise, turn the glass glass over, and continue continue with with the fire fire til t illl you see the perfect perfect redness redness whi which surpass surpasses es all all the the redness redness in the the world. world. Than Thank k God! I have done do ne it, it, but b ut I never reached rea ched the end of the Perfection. Pe rfection. But with with it, you can well mak makee Projec Pro jecti tion on into into all metals, beca be cause use you have the QE of the the Sulfur Sulfur of the the philoso philosophe phers, rs, and you you have subtilized, subtilized, dissolved, and spiritua spirituall ized the Gold. Gold. Then its its color is is increased ncrea sed a thousand times. times. Also, Mercury Merc ury has in hi himself the red color or Tincture Tincture in such an abundance, ab undance, that itit cannot be described. described. Theref Therefore ore you mu must yoursel yourselff experi experim ment as to what what wonderf wonderful ul Projecti Projection on it makes. I am telling telling you in in true charity charity that I and my my journeym jo urneymee n never reached reached the goal of projec pro jecti tion. on. That is why why you must throw thro w it on tin and no other metal eta l. You may also a lso disso dissollve your Medici Med icine ne into a Massa, Mass a, and carry car ry it it about ab out with with you, so that you can take the powder po wder out of the glass, glass, stir itit into wax; and you can throw it upo upon n whatever you wish, wish, and close your mouth, by the the damnatio damnatio n of your soul. Amen.
Pre Pre paration of Common Common Salt, or the the Key
Take seasea - salt, pulverize pulverize it in a mortar, orta r, dissolve it in in distill distilled ed vinegar vinegar made ad e from whi white wine, wine, filter filter and congeal it unti untill a small small skin forms on o n top. top . Remove this this and keep kee p it, because bec ause it is is the the Spiri S piritus tus of the key. Dissolve Dissolve and congeal it again until the skins form on top. top . Remove Remove this this again a gain and the Spi Sp iritus ritus is thus separate sepa rated d from from the Corpus. Co rpus. To 10 lb of this this Spi Sp iritus ritus add ad d 1 lb of * ; dissolve dissolve in distilled distilled rain water, wate r, and a nd coagulate coagulate it again, per Alembicu Alembicum, m, with with a recipi rec ipient, ent, until until it is coagulated coagulated.. Then take tak e itit out and pound it on a stone. Put your powder powd er into into a gl glass; dissolve and coagul co agulate ate it again till till it is is fixed fixed and no longer longer rises. With this this Spiri S piritus tus one does do es wonders wonde rs and miraculo miraculous us things things in metals, espe e special cially ly with with Mercury, Mercury, tin and lead. ea d. But this this Spiri Sp iritus tus must must first first be prepa pre pared red,, as I wil will yet teach. teac h.
Additional Additional M anual Work Work with the Salt or Ke Key y of the Hand
Here I wish wish to disclose to you all the secrets sec rets of the salt. salt. It is the greatest greate st secret sec ret of o f all Arts Art s of Alchymie, Alchymie, in which occ o ccur ur most of the the errors made by peopl peop le who are engaged engaged in the Art, since most of the Secreta Sec reta concern conce rn salts. Therefore, understand well what I am going going to teach, tea ch, for as you separate sepa rate the Spiritus Spiritus from the body bo dy of the com co mmon salt, s alt, thus is also separa sep arated ted the Spiritus Spiritus from the Corpo Co rpora ra of all other things. things. Yet they are not not all prepared prepa red in the same way but each accordin acco rding g to its its work, work , and accordin acco rding g to how they are needed and how one wishes wishes to work work with with them. There are many kinds kinds of prepa pre paration ration of the Sal Sa lts, for in the power of the salts and their Prepa Pre paration ration lies lies the whole whole Art of Alchymie Alchymie.. One cannot work with with any salt unless unless the Spi Sp iritus ritus has first been bee n separated sepa rated from the Corpus. Co rpus. After After this, this, the Spiritus Spiritus must be prepared accord ac cordiing to the work in which which it is is needed need ed.. In addi add ition, the Corpus Co rpus must also be prepared prepa red in other works, wo rks, because because the the Spi S piri ritu tuss and and the the Corpus each have have its its parti particul cular power and and cause cause contrary contrary eff effects, as they are in fact Contrai Co ntrair, r, and, when when they are separated, separa ted, effect effect contrary contra ry Operationes, O perationes, each in its own area. area . But those those who try to operate ope rate with with non-sep non- separa arated ted salts s alts will will work in vain, vain, in spite of all their labo labors. rs. They cheat themselves and all those who believe believe them. Nei Ne ither will will they achieve any kind kind of o f Perfection, Pe rfection, for the whole Art consists in the the separati separa tion on of the salt and the preparat prep aratiion of Sulphur. Sulphur. There are many kinds kinds of o f prepa pre paration, ration, the same with with Sulphur, Sulphur, acco ac cording rding to what works are being being done. d one. The The simpleton simpletons, s, who read read in our our books bo oks about Sulphur, Sulphur, believe believe that we are speak spe akiing of the sulphur sulphur which which is dug up out of the earth; ea rth; but we all all have another Sulphur in mind. There do not exist exist so many ki k inds of salt that there should not be as many many ki k inds of Sulphurs Sulphurs and their their preparation prep aration.. The Sulphur Sulphur must be made made artif artific ia lly, just as * is made artif artific ially. ia lly. Now No w we will will agai a gain n return to our matter. Fi F irst I taught you yo u how how to separa sep arate te the Spi Sp iritus ritus from the Corpus. Corp us. Now I shal shalll instruc structt you how to prepare the the Spi S piri ritu tus, s, and to make it it fixed, and also also what what you should should do with with it. After you have removed the littl littlee skin, which is the Spiritus Spiritus of the salt, and you have gathere gathered d as many of them as possibl po ssible, e, dissolve them again in distilled distilled rain water, the same in in whi which you had had dissolved your sal sa lt, Then congeal c ongeal it again in in a glass, glass, or a glass glass vessel, ve ssel, over a gentle gentle fire. fire. Pulverize Pulverize it in in a stone mortar; add ad d powder po wdered ed *, mix mix them well. well. Put itit into into a glass glass with with a long long neck, neck , lute lute well, well, put itit to dissolve dissolve in horse manure manure or in in the balneum. balneum. The glass glass must must be well well
closed abo a bove, ve, or put a helm on with a recipi rec ipient, ent, everything well luted. luted. Should any moisture moisture com co me over, it wil will coagul co agulate ate more easily easily if there there is also also an a n Alembic Alembicum um attached atta ched to itit than than if it were only only badly badly stoppered. stoppered. This This solut solutiio n and coagul coagulation ation in Balneo Balneo must ust be repeated repeated 10 or 12 tim times, or more, till till it is is fix fixed ed.. Each time time it has has to be coagulated coagulated over gentle gentle heat. When it is is fixed, fixed, the salt salt is clear and a nd transparent, transpare nt, like like crystal and hard. If itit is put on fire fire or o r on a glowing glowing Lamel, Lamel, it does not smoke or o r melt melt away, a way, and penetrate pene trate like like lard through leather; and that is is its proof proo f that it it is is fixed. fixed. Now No w the Spi Sp iritus ritus Sal Sa lis is prepa pre pared red,, and it has also mad madee the * fixed fixed together with with itself; and they they married and a nd will will never again be b e separa sep arated ted,, but stay together and effect effect wonderful wo nderful things things together. Put 1 lb of this this salt into a Crucible and 4 lb of merc mercury ury purified purified with with vinegar. vinegar. Add also the salt below, below, but most most of itit above; set for for 6 hours hours in the fire, and it it wil will coagul coagulate into true true sil silver; your your salt wil will neither neither be decreased decrease d nor worsened. It does doe s not burn, neither neither does doe s it fly fly away. Now N ow put your sil silver upon the Cupel Cupe l, as above. ab ove. If now you wish wish to bring bring tin tin to perfection, pe rfection, purify purify it fi first of its blackness. black ness. Use Amalgama Amalgamatt ion io n or calcinat calcinatiio n, and purify purify each eac h time time with vinegar vinegar and salt, til till there is no no more more black ness in it. After After that, drive the mercury from it, it, per pe r Descendum, Desc endum, into another a nother vessel. ves sel. Now N ow take tak e the powde po wderr Jovis and Sal Fixum, Fixum, put them into into a crucible, as before, before , and let them drive for 6 hours; or pour the salt into it beforehand and let let it drive. Afterward After wardss add ad d the powde po wderr Jovis, or o r both bo th together. It is the same; I tried tried both. both. When it cool coo ls down, you yo u fi find Jovem amid amid the salt. He is is nobl nob le and a nd a King. Sweeten the salt thereof and preserve it, because it is just as good. Now fi finish your tin tin on the the test furnace urnace or cupel cupel with with lead and and drive drive it off off, and and you wil will find good silver silver in all tests. Aside Aside from this, this, know that the Corpus Co rpus of the the common common slat of o f which which the Spi Sp iritus ritus has been be en separate sepa rated, d, is is fixed fixed in itself itself.. It is prepa pre pared red in in the foll follow owii ng way with Sal Sa l Alcali, Alcali, Oleo Tartari, Alum Alumen en de Roche and Marcasita, Marca sita, that is: Of thi this salt, take tak e 4 lb; of Sal Sa l Alcali Alcali,, Alum Alum de Roche ana, 1 lb; lb; Marc M arcasita, asita, 1 lb. Pul P ulverize verize them fine, fine, then pound them together on a stone with Oleum Tartari, Tarta ri, and make of them them a thick thick paste. pa ste. Put itit into into a glass glass vessel or o r a Syburg jar; lute lute it tightly tightly and put itit under the coo c ooksto kstove, ve, where you keep ke ep a fire fire going going every day. da y. Let it dry; when itit is dry, remove it and pound it once more more on a stone with Ol O leum Tartari Tartar i. Put it back into into the jar, close close it tightl tightly, y, and put it again in the fi firepl rep lace to dry, as a s before. be fore. Repeat Rep eat this this till till the powd p owder er has has imbi imbibe bed d the Oleum Tartari Ta rtari and a nd you have a dry Massa. Mass a. Powder Po wder this this massa to a fi fine dust in in a morta mortar, r, put p ut it it into into a Syburg jar, lute lute it tightly tightly all around, 3 or 4 thum thumbs bs br eadth. eadth. Put it 3 or 4 times into a potter’s stove; break the jar open, and you will will find find it white. Take it out and turn it into into a fine fine powder po wder in a mortar; let it dissolve in the cellar cellar on a marble slate s late with with a glass glass beneath bene ath it into into which which it can drip. Wit W it this this water, water , one o ne can do many many wonderful wonde rful things things in the the Art. Wit Wit itit one can ca n disso dissollve mercury erc ury into a beautiful be autiful transparent transpa rent water; water ; when merc mercury ury is dissolv disso lved ed with it or in it, it, one o ne can ca n dissolv disso lvee all 7 metals Into pure pure water with it or in it. it. And this this is the right right p repara rep aration tion of the comm co mmon on slat, and a nd itit is the Key Ke y on the little little finger, finger, because be cause the littl littlee finger finger is the Key Ke y to the Hand.
How to Tu Turn rn All Metals Me tals into Water
Now we wil will teach you you how to turn turn all metal metalss into water, water, sin since all all of them must must previ previously ously have been water water before before they they can be broug brought to Perfecti Perfection on.. Puri Purify the the Mercury Mercury of its its b lackness, ackness, and and puri purify it well well with withou outt vinega negar. r. Afterw Afterwards, ards, dissol dissolve ve it agai again n in the the aforem aforemen enti tio o ned ned water, water, and you can disso dissollve in it any metal metal you wish. wish. When it it is is dissolved, take tak e sweet, fresh fresh cheese chees e curds. curd s. Boi Bo il them and skim the thick thick Materi Mate ri off; off; let itit settle. se ttle. Sepa Se parate rate from it what what stays pure. p ure. Pour Po ur some of it into that which you yo u have have dissolved, and itit will will Prec P reciipitate into a Massa. Sepa Se parate rate the water from from the Massa. Massa . After this this you must must cleanse it of its blackness black ness with with salt and vinegar, vinegar, and continue continue to work according acc ording to what what purpose you wish to have the metals, metals, to the the Red or to the White, White, as differe different nt works work s indicate indicate.. But all all meta metalls must must be b e water and a nd purifi purified of their their blackness black ness if one is is to bring bring them them to Perfecti Perfection, on, or the the great Eli Elixir xir must ust do it: it: It has has the power and nothi nothing ng else. else. Now I wi will teach you how to add the the Spiri Spiritu tuss to the the Corpus that that you have have prepared, that that is, in what way you you must must Conjoin C onjoin them the m. When now the Spiritus Spiritus and the the Corpus Corp us come together and are united united after their their prepa pre paration, ration, one can do wonderful wo nderful things things with them, since since they have then then a hundre hundred d times times more power powe r than they had had previously; for after after the Conjun Co njunctio ctio of the soul and the body there there exists exists a Glori Glorifi fied ed Corpus Corpus and and a great great Eli Elixir. xir. With With it one perform performss great great miracles. racles. First one cleanse Mercury Merc ury of its blackness. black ness. After this, this, one must must also dissolve in thi this water, wa ter, Luna, which which comes co mes dry from the test furnace. furnace. Now No w take tak e Marcasita Marca sita Lunae; turn itit into into an a n impalpa impalpab b le powder and and pound pound it well well with with salt salt and and vinegar negar,, washi washing ng it til till no more blackn blackness ess comes comes off. off. Now dry the the powder at the the sun, sun, and and afterw afterwards ards grind rind it with with good Aqua Aqua Vitae. Vitae. Take * water. water. Then draw dra w the water off o ff per pe r Alembic Alembicum, um, and imm immed ed iate l y dissolve the powder powd er again again in the same water. water . Now N ow take tak e the water in in which which these three di d issolv sso lved ed,, a nd as much much fixed fixed Spiri Sp iritus tus as the weight weight of the water in which which the metal eta ls have been bee n dissolved. Imbibe Imbibe these spirits into this water, pound pound them them,, dry them them,, and and imbibe bibe them them agai again n; coagul coagulate them them agai again n in the the air, air, for it is the cold cold air that that must coagul co agulate ate them and the hot air must must dissolve them. Listen Listen well to these discourses, disco urses, how they are meant; meant; it would take tak e too long long to elaborate elabora te further. further. Neith Neither er is it necessar necessary y for this this work. work. When When all all thi this water water has been im imbibed, bibed, you have have a precious precious Stone with with great power po wer to act upon upon Mercury and Mars. It can also also be prepared for the Red, Red, but b ut that is is not necessary; neces sary; for when they prepa pre pare re the aforementio ned finger, finger, they are making making a great elixir. elixir. Should one o ne work it it to the Red, Red , itit would would increase ncrea se in power a thousandfol thousandfo ld through the preparati preparation. on. And And this this is one of the the secret secret sign signs, s, and and it is the littl ttle finger nger of the hand, hand, whi which is the the key of the Hand.
The Natur Na turee and a nd Powe Powe r of M e rcur rcury, y, the Fish of the Hand, and Sulfur the Fire Fire
This This is man and woman, this this is sister and brother, brother , this is earth and seed, see d, this this is origin origin and begi beginning nning of all all metals; etals; and with without out these these two two no work can be accompli accomplished, for with without out seed no fruit fruit can be born, bo rn, and with without out seed see d no fruit fruit can be b e born, bo rn, and with without out soil no seed can grow. grow. Accordingly, Acco rdingly, there has to be man and woman, wate waterr and earth, fire fire and seed, seed , if any frui fruitt is to be obtained. ob tained. Thus Thus these two are the origi origin n of all all meta metalls, and without without them no work work can be brough bro ughtt to Completion. Now I wi will furth urther er instru nstruct ct my chi child and describe describe the the nature ature of Mercury Mercury and and his his infi nfirmiti rm ities, es, and in what way wa y he is to be made healthy. healthy. Therefore, understand well what what I say, sa y, for for by b y means ea ns of o f this this work I will will teach teac h you all other Ope O pera, ra, for for all a ll metals. metals. Mercury Merc ury is a spirit spirit and also also a Corpus, Co rpus, but the spirit spirit is evident and the Corpus Co rpus hidd hidden en and a nd intangible. ntangible . This This is due to the Spi Sp iritus ritus with with which which the body bo dy is covered, covered , for the the spirit sp irit is more more powerf powerful than than the body. That That is why why the the Spi S piri ritu tuss takes the the Corpu C orpuss along along when when it gets gets into nto the the fire. Mercury Merc ury is cold and hum humiid, cold co ld in in the the manifeste manifested d and cold in in his his humi humid ity; it y; but in his his innermos innermostt and in in his hidd hidden en nature he is is red, red , which which is hot and and dry. That is why the the old o ld masters called called him him an egg, egg, beca b ecause use an egg is whi white, cold and a nd hum humid id outside, and within within it is hot hot and dry; and when when an egg is is put p ut in the fi fire, it will will evapora evap orate te and burst. That is due to its humi humid ity it y and cold. This This is the reason why they they call him him the the philosop philosopher hers’ s’ egg, which which peop pe ople le do not unde understand rstand.. Because Beca use of the coldness that he has in in himself, himself, he avoids fire; fire; for two unl unliike things things of a contrary co ntrary nature cannot stand each eac h other; one or the the other must must go. Because Beca use his Spiritus Spiritus is stronger than his his Corpus, Co rpus, the Spiritus Spiritus leads ea ds the Corpus Corp us away from the fi fire. N ow I imm immed ia tely te ly also show the virtues virtues of Mercury. Merc ury. Mercury Merc ury is a slim slimy water in the earth, a subtle subtle substance, substa nce, an earth spirit. spirit. He is the the same sa me subtlety which which the earth ea rth has in itself tse lf.. That is why why it is is call ca lled ed Arsenicum of the earth. ea rth. Therefore it has the the power to produce produce frui ruit with without out the the hel help of the the earth; earth; that that is, he can perform perform works works with without out any any other thing, thing, beca be cause use the the spi sp irit of the earth ea rth and the the spirit spirit of a thing thing have the power po wer to do a great deal de al without without the help help of the Corpus. Co rpus. But the the Corp C orpus us has no no power powe r to do anything without without the
help of the spiri sp irit. t. By this unde understa rstand nd well what I have in mind mind conce co ncerning rning mercury, though Mercury Merc ury may well be changed into gold or silver silver without without the help help of the meta metalls. That is is why the the old folks folks cal ca lled him him the Serpent Serp ent that begets itself and a nd gives gives birth without without the help help of some metals. Yet people do not not understand understand this this saying saying about abo ut the the snake, because b ecause they do not not know Mercury. I have said s aid that Mercury Merc ury is a slimy slimy water, of a white white color, soft, natural, joined from within within hot dryness and from from without without with with col co ld hum humidit idity, y, more than with with inner inner hot dryness; that is is why he does do es not not like like the fi fire! Mercury is the Ferment, the yeast, or the the sourdoug so urdough, h, for yeast causes the bread bre ad or beverage to rise and to go go over, and itit gives gives them their taste. tas te. Therefore There fore mercury must must be in in al a ll works work s lilike yeast, for without without Mercury Merc ury no work can be accompli acc ompliss hed. Mercury Merc ury is is the begi be ginning, nning, the mi middl dd le, and the the end. He is the Copulator, Co pulator, the priest who brings brings all thi things together and marries marries them; because because no fru fruiit can come come from like thi things; ngs; but unl unliike thi things, gs, of two unl unlike natures, atures, must be united united.. It is, however, not easy ea sy to uni unite te unli unlike things. things. Thus, Thus, Mercury Merc ury must must gather all unl unliike things things and marr marry y them, if they are a re to bring forth fruit; for Mercury Mercury is in them as the univers universaa l Spi Sp irit, for he is is the humidity humidity of all thi things, also of the the earth; ea rth; just as blood is the Spiritus, Spiritus, humi humid ity it y and lif lifee of men, men, Merc Mercury ury is the lif lifee of the earth. ea rth. Therefore, all thi things that have got their their nature from the earth are subject subjec t to him; him; also all that that which which the earth ea rth brings brings forth or o r has brought forth. That is why why it is is said that merc mercury ury is the Spi Sp iritus ritus of all thin things. gs. Because Beca use of o f this this the ol o ld phil philosophe oso phers rs say that in in Merc M ercury ury there are four kinds of o f saline saline juices juices,, for all salts are mad madee of four things, things, each eac h contrary to the other. That is is why all salts are poi po isonous, sono us, but one more so than than another. The old masters call c alled ed Mercury M ercury ‘Virgin’s ‘Virgin’s Milk’, Milk’, beca be cause use Mercury Merc ury is nourishme nourishment, nt, food, ood , and the dwelling place of o f all metals, metals, since since he enters and a nd passes passes through all meta metalls, just as mother’s mil milk passes throu throug gh all all members embers of the chil child and nouri nourishes shes them them.. Mercury Mercury is the the Nutri Nutrim ment and mother of o f all metals; metals; Mercury Merc ury mak makes es all hot Corpo Co rpora ra cold, and all all dry bodies bo dies moist; moist; he also makes al a ll hot Corpora Corp ora cold, co ld, and all dry bodies bod ies moist; moist; he also makes all cold bodies bo dies hot, and all hum humid Corpora Co rpora dry. dry. However, Mercury Me rcury has to be transmuted transmuted into another another degree, accordin acco rding g to what the work is, is, that one wishes wishes to accompli acc ompliss h with with him. him. For Fo r Mercury Merc ury has a wonderful wonde rful nature. Wherever he is is adde a dded d or used, he is is the best or the the worst, wo rst, dependi dep ending ng on how how the company is. Thus Thus one o ne may use Mercury Merc ury for whatever whatever work one wishes wishes to perform. If he he is is congeal congea led, ed , he contin co ntinues ues to congeal; co ngeal; if he is dissolv disso lved ed,, he dissolv disso lves es further; if he is fixed fixed,, he fixes fixes further; if he is mul multi tip p lied, lied , he lilikewi ke wise se conti co ntinues nues to multip ultiply; ly; if he is made poi po isonous, he poi po isons everything. e verything. Thus Thus have I taught taught and shown you what d derives erives from mercury and what he is. is. I have informed informed you of part pa rt of his his infirmit infirmities ies as well as a s of part of his his wonderful wond erful nature. N ow I will will teach teac h you part of hi his virtue virtue and power and a nd of o f the works he can ca n do, from from degree to degree, to hi his utmost, utmost, accord acc ordiing to the the understand understa nding ing which which Almight Almighty y God has granted to me through his his botto b ottoml mless ess charity. Althoug Although h one could not write write all hi his degrees de grees and a nd powers in in a book bo ok as big as the Bible, Bible, I will will now here here teach tea ch my my knowled knowledge ge obtained ob tained through the charity of o f Gold Almighty, Almighty, and what what I know, have lear learned ned and a nd experienced expe rienced in this this matter.
First, what he can ca n do when when he comes raw ra w from the min mines. es. Subseq Subs equently, uently, what he can accom acco mplis plis h when he is a grea greatt Sublimate Sublimate;; and then, then, what his his capab cap abil ilit ity y is when he is congealed congea led and dissolved, and, in additi ad dition, on, how to understand understa nd this. this. Finally, Finally, I shall mak makee you acquainted ac quainted with his his sister and a nd brother; bro ther; and a nd also how to make the the Sulfur, Sulfur, by which which Mercury Merc ury must must be b e brough bro ughtt into into a state of health. First I will will say what what mercury can do d o inside nside and outside outside the earth, ea rth, when whe n he is is stil still raw. I said said that Mercury Merc ury is the Spiri Sp iritus tus of the earth; ear th; likewise likewise he is is the Sperma Sper ma of the earth, ea rth, and the seed see d of all metals. Of thi this seed, see d, when when planted in the earth, that t hat is the the Sulfu Sulfurr - - - be it pure or impure, impure, red or white white -- - one of the the seven metals metals is generated generated.. Consequently, Co nsequently, Mercury Merc ury is is the the begi be ginning nning and the foundatio foundation n of all seven meta metalls. His His intentio intention n is always to generate gold or o r silver, silver, but he is im impede pe ded d by the the lazy lazy and impure impure earth ear th or Sulfur, Sulfur, so that he cannot achieve a chieve his his purpose, purpo se, while while it is is also true that the stench of the earth ear th hinders hinders him him often to do so. For as a child child in the womb womb is made impure impure by the the Materi Ma teri which which it attracts - - - as the child child may get a disease diseas e on account acc ount of the uncleanl uncleanlines inesss and Corruption Corr uption of o f the place where it lies, which which causes cause s itit to get such a disease; diseas e; irrespective irrespe ctive of the fact fact that the Sperma and seed were pure pure and and clean clean,, the the chi child is neverth neverthel eless ess aff afflicted with with an uncl uncleanlin eanliness; it is due to the the lazy azy mother and the Corruption Cor ruption befalling it -- - - so it is with with the metals which which are likewise corrupted co rrupted by the impure Sulphur. After this, I wil will say and teach teac h whether God has has crea c reated ted all things things of one or of two natures, and how, and what. God has put together and uni united ted all thin things gs of four contrary co ntrary elements. He has has put them together with their their oppo op posites; sites; but these these natures are a re perfectly perfectly united in all things, things, regardl regard less if they are perfect or o r impe imperfect. rfect. Thus Thus we fin find d that either the manifes manifestt part pa rt in a thing thing is perfect, pe rfect, or or the concea co ncealled part. pa rt. But while while they are a re cold co ld itit is the contrary. c ontrary. That is why why it is is easy to change the Corpora Co rpora into into their their prime prime root in a short time, time, so that that the concealed part can be made made manif anifest, es t, and the manif manifes estt pert pe rt in in nature can c an be hidd hidden en in the metals. For Fo r what iron lacks in its its manifes manifestt form, form, is replaced rep laced by b y something in its hidd hidden en form during during its transforma transforma t ion into gold or o r silver. silver. Its hidd hidden en part pa rt is merc mercury, ury, which replaces rep laces iron iron during its transforma transformatio tion. n. If, there therefore, fore, iron is changed into Merc M ercury, ury, its hidd hidden en part pa rt will will bec b ecome ome hot and dry, and its visible visible part, pa rt, col co ld and moist. moist. Bring Bring its hidd hidden en part pa rt into into manifes manifestat tatio ion, n, therefore, and make its visible visible part pa rt hidd hidden. en. Then its hi hidden dd en part pa rt will will be cold co ld and dry, and its its manifest manifest part, pa rt, hot and moist; now it is perfect perfec t and a nd will will last in all eternity. eternity. There were some so me who said that it was the hidd hidden en Saturn Sa turn and Jupiter; Jupiter; others said Luna; Luna; and in in this this they spok sp okee the truth. truth. I am saying saying all this this to show how all Corpora Corp ora must must be transformed transformed;; for in in all bodies bodies two two manif anifest natu natures must ust be hi hidden, and and two two hidden natures atures must ust b e made made mani anifest. What is manifest, is impe imperfect rfect and full full of sickness sickness;; and what is is hidd hidden en in the metals is fixed fixed,, good, good , and perfect pe rfect by nature. That is is why you must must make its hi hidden dd en part pa rt manifest, manifest, and its its manifest manifest hidd hidden. en. Then you have have a pure, perfect, perfec t, and fixed fixed Corpus, Co rpus, lasting lasting in all all eternity. eternity. It is a great secret secre t to have have the understanding of this, this, and to know the Secreta as also the inf infirmit irmities ies of the metals, and a nd in in what way the metals metals came by b y them; apart ap art from from this, (it is is also also a grea greatt secret) sec ret) to well know their their natures, within within and without, without, hot and dry, cold and hum humid, id, over and again again back ba ck.. It is the fire fire that I have in min mind. d.
You can make them healthy healthy again again with natural natura l medicine and with Sulfur, Sulfur, which I will will tea teach ch you you later ate r how to make ake from green herbs, herb s, oils, oils, gums, gums, and water. Conce C oncerni rning ng this, this, you must must well understand my view, view, since in this this chapte c hapterr you are being acquainted ac quainted with with all the the inf infiir m iti it ie s of the metals, and you wil willl be taught to recognize rec ognize all herb herbs, s, to prepa pre pare re all all Sulphura, Sulphura, and to know all medicines. You will will learn lear n what they require re quire in their bodies, bo dies, so that that you will will learn lear n how to make manifest manifest one of the hidd hidden en elements, and how how to mak makee its contrary contrar y hidd hidden. en. Understand Understa nd well that I indicate all this, this, so that you should should know nature. For Fo r lead ea d is is cold co ld and dry, d ry, its manif manifee st nature is quite soft, s oft, and its hidd hidden en part pa rt is is hot hot and a nd hum humid. id. In all things things that God the Lord has created crea ted,, the hidd hidden en part pa rt is is always contrary c ontrary to the manifest manifest part, part, in softne softness ss as wel welll as in in hardn hardness; ess; for the the soft is the Contrari Contrarium um of the hard hard , that that is, when its nature is reversed, reverse d, its hidd hidden en part pa rt beco be comes mes manifes manifest, t, and its manifest manifest beco be com mes concealed; conce aled; that is, is, the soft has to become hard, and the hard, soft. This is meant for the Corpora lead, tin and iron. They are also also compos c omposed ed of o f four natures, natures , since since the manif manifes estt of lead is cold, humi humid, d, and soft, while while its hidd hidden en part pa rt is hot, hot, dry, d ry, and hard. Likewise with with iron. When W hen they made him like like lead, lead , they called called him him lead; lead ; but its its hidd hidden en part p art is is iron, and a nd the former former is manif manifes est. t. And when you reverse the hidd hidden en Saturn Sa turn and mak makee it manif manifee st, it is is Mars. Mars. Such is easy to do with with Sulfur, Sulfur, and then itit is Luna, lasting lasting in all eternity. ete rnity. The body bod y of iron is composed compose d of four natures whose exterior e xterior is hot, dry d ry and hard, while while the hidd hidden en part pa rt in its nature is cold, hum humid, and soft, like like lead in its its root. roo t. In no Corpus Co rpus is is there as as great a hardness hardnes s as in the manifest manifest Mars, Mars , and in its hidd hidden en part par t there is an equal eq ually ly great softn so ftness. ess. One becom beco mes easil ea sily y aware of its its softness when it is is prepare prep ared d and reversed. reverse d. After this operat op eratiio n it is Mercury. The hidd hidden en part p art of Mercury Merc ury is Mars; Mars ; its its manifest manifest part pa rt is a col co ld dry water called called Mercury. Merc ury. That is is why his his manifest manifest part pa rt must must be hidd hidden en and a nd his his hidden hidde n part pa rt made manifest. manifest. Thus Thus he can be converted co nverted into fine fine gold; or, if you wish, wish, increase increas e his color, co lor, and his his coldness c oldness will will appear app ear and become become sil silver; ver; or incr increase ease his his heat heat and and hum humidity, and and it wil will become become gold. old. Underst Understan and d well well what what I say, what I intend intend to convey. Reflect Reflect on what what I have taught taught you and how how I have compared co mpared Mercury Merc ury to an egg, egg, which is white white outside and red re d inside nside.. Thus Thus is Mercury in the center of o f his his nature. Therefore, Therefore , understand understa nd these teachi teac hings ngs well. well. Enough of this. this. Sol So l is hot and humi humid d in its manifest manifest part; pa rt; dry, melancho melancholl y and lilike lead ea d in in its hidd hidden en part. pa rt. Therefore, reverse all a ll Corp Co rpora ora into into this nature, for this this nature is temperate. tempera te. If you wish to cook co ok Mercury Merc ury till till he beco be comes mes silver, silver, and till till he becomes beco mes gold, prepare prep are your your yell yellow ow-- co lored ore d Sulphura Sulphura that can tinct, tinct, and decrease decre ase his his humidity humidity till till he becomes beco mes hot hot and dry. Then his his humidit humidity y will will be be saturated and decreased, decrea sed, which which means, to reverse his his hidde hidden n part and root, whi which is gold, and his his col co lor, which is solar, into into Sol. S ol. Take my my discourses discourse s to heart, listen listen and pay careful attention to them. Venus is hot and dry, and is a brother bro ther of Mars, for his root roo t is is hot and humid humid like gold, and he is is differe differe nt from him him in dryness dryness of his Minera Minera,, which has has beco be come me impure impure.. Take Tak e of him him his his dryness, dryness , and prepare prep are itit with with contrary co ntrary Sulphura Sulphura that are good and healthy healthy for him. him. Then he will will again get back int into o his his natu nature and wil will turn turn into gold. gold. Underst Understan and d my discourses discourses well well, and and pay careful careful attention to what I intend intend to teach tea ch you. It is is of great impo importance rtance and secrecy secre cy what I am telling telling
you; itit is also also a great great secret se cret and deep wisdom. wisdom. Therefore Therefore do take my my di d iscourses scour ses carefully carefully to heart. Mercury Merc ury is cold and hum humiid in his his manifest manifest part, pa rt, driving driving and soft as water; water ; and in in his his hidd hidden en part pa rt he is is he hot, hot, dry, and hard without without any doubt; doubt ; for his his manifes anifestt part pa rt is is Mercury, and his his hidd hidden en part Mars and and the the contra contrary ry.. Now then then,, if we wish wish to reverse reverse mercury ercury into nto his his first water, water, the way to do it is first first to turn him into into silver silver through Sulphur which helps he lps him, him, that is, his his bro b rother ther and is is sister. Understand Unde rstand my discourses: discourse s: You must must hide hide his hum humidity idit y and reveal revea l hi his dryness dryness through Sulphur. Sulphur. Then it it will will bec b ecome ome good sil silver. Such is is the fi first way. Understand Understa nd my teachings well, well, and if if you wish wish to perfect pe rfect the work, work , reverse silver silver so slowly slowly till till its manifest manifest part pa rt becomes bec omes hidd hidden en and its hidd hidden en part, pa rt, on the contrary, manifest. Understand Understa nd w ell, ell, these are a re two ways, acti act ive and passi pass ive. Then its hidden hidden part pa rt will will be b e hot and hum humid, that is is gold; gold; and its its manifest manifest part, part, cold and dry, that that is Saturnus. Do take care car e to understand understa nd my teachings teachings well. well. I am addre ad dressin ssing g you in in bad German, without without veiled veiled word. wo rd. Know Kno w that silver silver is the root of gold. Therefore, if you wish wish to change it into into gold, conceal conceal its coldness. coldness . Then its heat heat will will manifest. manifest. After this, this, cover co ver up the dryness, and its its humi humid d ity it y will will manifest manifest;; and itit wil will be good gold, everlasting. Thus Thus I have inform informed ed you of and mad madee known to you the the nature of metals and their their infirm nfirmities ities;; and how how one is is to reverse those and a nd prepa pre pare re them them with each ea ch metal’s Sulphur; Sulphur; that is, is, acco ac cording rding to what is is the infir nfir mity mit y of a metal eta l, prepar pre paree your your Sulphur, Sulphur, as I will will teach tea ch you. yo u. Item, when Merc M ercury ury comes co mes out of the mines, mines, it is is liliving vin g water, water , with with which which we must must wash all our Sulphura, Sulphura, metals, and Corpora Corp ora;; and mak makee all our Corpo Co rpora ra humi humid. This This means that that all their Corpo Co rpora ra must must be amalgama amalgamated ted and dissolved with with merc mercury, ury, and a nd Mercury must turn all all hard hard Corpo Co rpora ra into into water wate r or softness. Then one can pound po und and wash wash all metals metals with with sea se a salt salt or distilled distilled vinegar. vinegar. This This is to be done in in a marbl arb le or stone mortar, and itit has to be made so clean clean that no mudd muddiiness is left. left. When W hen the Corpo Co rpora ra are quite clean, c lean, driv d rivee the Mercury off o ff per pe r Distillatio Distillatio nem. ne m. Now you you can prepare prepare the powder with with the the Sulphu Sulphur, r, whi which I wil will hereaf hereafter ter teach you how to prepare. prepare. Now I wi will furth urther er teach you how it it is that that Mercury Mercury becomes becomes so poison poisonous ous duri durin ng subl sublim imation. ation. The reason rea son is that that it is is his his nature to attract attra ct to himself himself all the poison he can ca n get at. If he meets meets good metals, he wants wants to be the the best; if he meets bad ba d metals, the worst, etc. e tc. This This is the reason reaso n why Mercury attrac a ttracts ts to himself himself all poi po ison when he is is sublimate sublimated d through hot natures; for all hot herbs, sal sa lts, and a nd all all other thing thingss created create d by God that that are a re hot to the 4th degree, are a re poisonous. poisonous. I would like like to infor nform m you of the reasons, rea sons, but b ut this this work does not requi req uire re my doin do ing g so. There Therefore, fore, if he were to be sublimate sublimated d through hot salts and a nd hot Species, Sp ecies, he would would become bec ome poisonous; for all salts are poi po isonous, sono us, one more more than another; a nother; therefore, ther efore, the more he is sublimated sublimated through them, the more more poisonous he becomes. beco mes. One could sublim sublima te so often through Vitriolu Vitriolum m Romanum, or Vitriol Vitriolum um Album, Album, or alum, alum, Sal Sa l Gemmae, Gemmae, Sal Sa ltpetre, tpe tre, etc. that he would become bec ome so poison poisonous ous that, that, shoul should d he be put on a saddle saddle upon whi which a man were were ridi riding ng,, that that man woul would immed mmed iate ly die as soon soo n as his his bottom bottom got warm on it. it. But the salts must previ pre viously ously be dissolved 9 times times in distilled distilled wine wine vinegar, vinegar, and again again congealed. c ongealed. And if Mercury Merc ury were then sublimate sublimated d 30 times times through it, he has the power po wer to accompli acc ompliss h such fea feats, ts, and he would would stand the test.
It is not necessary, neces sary, however, to bring bring Merc M ercury ury thus to Perfection, s ince it is dangerous da ngerous to do it on accoun acco untt of the the poi po ison, for if the pot got cracked, cracke d, it would would be dangerous dangerous for those who who do not not know him; him; since since one must must heat hea t so strongly that the salts come co me in in flux flux before be fore Mercury Me rcury will will evapora evap orate te from from them. Afterwards he does do es not completely rise but stays below in in the vessel to cook co ok with with the salts. Yet to do this this one has to sublim sublimate ate him him 40 tim times. I have done do ne itit myself myself with with my own hands, and afterwards afterward s drove dro ve off off 20 lb lb in a test, and I did not not lose one pound of o f it. I do not, not, however, advi ad vise se you to do this this because be cause of the worries one has with with it, since since the last last times times one has to give give such s uch strong heat as I indicated. ndicated . Also, Also, there are many many ways that are easier eas ier to bring bring Mercury Mercury to Perfecti Perfection on with with Sulph Sulphur ur;; I onl only wish wish to show show you his his power po wers, s, for when he is is thus sublimate sublimated, d, one can perform pe rform mirac miraculo ulous us things things with with him him. It would be b e a pity if if some people peo ple knew about ab out it and understood understo od it, as they would then perform p erform mirac miraclle s with with him. him. That is is why I cannot write to you you about ab out all his his powers po wers which I know and a nd which which I have tried, but I wil will relate part of what what he can do when when he is subl sublim imated. ated. It is is known that in the the Art of Alchymia Alchymia there is much much fraud, and many many imitat mitation ionss of gold and silver silver are made ad e which which are suppose supp osed d to stand three or four four tests; tests ; and a nd yet they are fin finall ally y false. false. If you should have any doubts concerning co ncerning this, this, take tak e some powder po wder of the sublimat sublimated ed Mercury; Merc ury; put some of the the gold or silv silver er about ab out which which you have your doubts doubt s into into a crucible, and melt melt it; throw your powder powd er on it, and a nd itit will will immed immediate iate ly reveal revea l its nature; nature; if it is is false, false, it will will get back ba ck to its first first nature as soon soo n as it it melts. melts. But if if it is is good, goo d, it will will stay good. Throw the same powd p owder er on a stone; if itit is is false, false, it will will immed immediiate l y break bre ak into into a hundre hundred d pieces, piece s, like like salt. Disso Dissollve tin and silver silver together ana; put itit in in a test with with Saturnus S aturnus and throw this powder po wder on it. It will will drive as a s if there there were no tin tin in it, it, and a nd itit will will be of grea greatt benefi be nefit, t, as I have have tested te sted myself. myself. If you have sil silver that is is not not mallea malleab b le, throw this this powder po wder on o n it, and it will will become bec ome mall malleab eab le like like fine fine silver; silver; throw it on iron or steel, stee l, and it it wil will become bec ome malleab malleable le and soft lilike lead; ead ; and one can test tes t all things things with it. Now then then,, all all Subli Sublimati at io nes Mercuri Mercuriii are benefi beneficial cial to hi his recoveri recovering ng his his health ealth,, provi provid ed he is sublimate sublimated d through hot, dry things. things. Like Likewi wise, se, all Congel Co ngelatio ationes nes are goo good d for him, him, beca b ecause use all all things things that congeal co ngeal mercury, merc ury, be it green herbs her bs or salts, salts, or o r tin, tin, or lead, ead , or gums, gums, or smoke, or sulphur, sulphur, etc., etc. , are absolutely ab solutely curative or healthy for him him,, and one should should congeal congea l him him so long that he can stand in the fire. fire. There may well be more more direct ways with with sulphur sulphur ; but when Mercury Mer cury is congealed, he has powers powers and effects effects whi which he does not have have when when he is is subl subliimated. It is is not necessar necessary, y, however, owever, to relate them in in connection with with this this work. wo rk. When Mercury is dissolved, he does do es other wonderful wond erful works, work s, and one does do es with with him him what one o ne wishes; wishes; for when he is dissolved, dissolved, he dissolves the seven metals. And, what what is more, he disso dissollves all thi things grown out o ut of the the earth ea rth and everything everythin g the earth ear th has gi given birth to, not everything everythin g in the same period of o f time time but b ut one in in more more time time than another. a nother. Yet in in time time mercury dissolves all thin things, gs, also with with the help of other Spe S pecies cies that are adde ad ded d to him. Thus Thus Mercury Merc ury is the the Lord and Spiri Sp iritus tus of all things, things, for he shuns shuns nobody nobo dy and nothing nothing in the world created crea ted by b y God Almighty, Almighty, except exce pt fi fire. But with the the help of the precious pre cious Sul S ulphura, phura, which which
the sages have invented invented and mad madee by the Grace Grac e of God, God , and after they have well considere c onsidered d all powers and and deg d egrees rees of Mercury Mercury,, as well well as hi his infi nfirmiti rm ities es and the the causes causes thereof thereof,, and and what what he is, is, the maste masters rs have prep p repare ared d a medicine medicine for him; him; that is, a precious pre cious Sul S ulphur phur made ad e of many hot herbs and a nd other Spe S pecies cies which which they used for it; and a nd they have cook co oked ed and an d fried fried him so long long that he could get into into the fire fire and stand it. I will will teach teach you yet how to mak makee it. Take small small pearls, pearls, dissolve them with with mercury - - - all of them them have to turn into into water. wa ter. Now No w pour po ur on them them fresh cheese chees e curds, c urds, as I have taught you in in the Key. K ey. The Materi Mate ri of the the pearls pea rls will will precipi precipitat tatee to the the bottom. bottom. Wash itit clean clean til till all all the the Aqua Aqua Fort is is off, off, and and you have have a viscou viscouss oil oil. Of that you can mak makee pear p earlls as a s big or o r small small as you you wish. Have the form form made of silver, silver, gilt gilt inside. inside. Put itit into into the bloo bloo d of o f a buck, buck , mix mixed ed with with nightshade nightshade water, water , in which which they will will beco be come me as hard as they were we re before; and a nd they will will get such a pure luster that is is more more marvelous than that of all other pearls; pea rls; for during during the solution solution they become be come so clean of all spots, spo ts, so purely oriental o riental,, that no no unclea uncleanl nlines inesss whatsoever whatsoe ver stays sta ys in in them. The same same happens happ ens to all other precious prec ious stones di d issolv sso lved ed in thi this oil o il.. Item, in in the second sec ond instance instance you may may take ta ke crystal and dissolve dissolve it. Then Then take tak e the the tincture tincture which which I have taught taught you to prepa pre pare re from from Vitriol Vitriol Romanum, in the foremost finger finger of the the hand, hand, upon up on which which stands the star. sta r. Disso Dissollve it in water together with the crystal, and conjoin them in the same way as you did with with the pearls. Form Fo rm them big or o r small small accor ac cording ding to your your wishes, wishes, make them hard like like pea p earls, rls, poli p olish sh them with with Oi O il of Birchwoo Birchwood d made ad e per pe r Descensum Desc ensum.. With that oil all man man-made stones have to be polished, polished, and whenever whenever they are polished, polished, the oil has to be spread on lead. ea d. After bein be ing g pol po lished, the stone is like a beautiful be autiful,, precious pre cious ruby, looking as if itit were worth 100 crowns. Nobod No body y can disti distingu nguiis h it from a ruby, unless unless it were subjected to the the high highes estt test; but ther theree are not man many y people people who who know how to do that, that, yes, yes, hardly hardly one in in a region region.. Thus Thus you can ca n counterf co unterfee it all kinds kinds of stones from crystal and give give them the coloring coloring you wish wish the stone to have, have, but b ut the tincture tincturess and colors must must be dissolved with with the crystal crysta l in in the manner manner I have taught you concerni conce rning ng the ruby. All All kin k inds ds of glass glass ca n be dissolved in thi this way, wa y, like like crystal, c rystal, red, red , blu blue, yell ellow, green green;; glass glass of all all sorts. sorts. I hav havee seen wonders wonders made of it, it, wonderf wonderful ul thi things ngs made of of glass glass and crystal, which which great Lords possessed posse ssed and considered more highly highly than fine fine gold. They were formed formed with foreign anima anima ls and wonderful wonde rful.. They were consi co nside dered red prec p reciious stones and were set on feet; also on o n exquisite exquisite bowls, on treasure chests; c hests; and nobody nobod y knew what what they were, except those who know how to make the supreme test of everything. One can also also take ta ke lilittle pieces of o f rubies, rubies, or sand, or other stones, (no matter matter which), which), dissolve dissolve them in in the the aforementioned aforementio ned manner, form and hard harden en them as said above. above. They will will beco b ecome me as hard as before, be fore, but b ut much much purer and more more beauti bea utiful. ful. for nothing nothing impure impure remains remains in them. And An d in this this there is no fraud, because be cause they can ca n stand the highest highest test; and one doe d oess indee indeed d find find enough e nough little ittle pieces piece s of precious pre cious stone, sto ne, and there therefore fore it is not necessary necess ary to accep acc eptt or make make imperfect imperfect tones. But thi this is enough now of o f rocks. roc ks. One O ne does do es indee indeed d make many wonderful wond erful things things from Mercury after it is is di d issol sso lved, so that it would be a pity if many many a man knew k new about abo ut it. it.
Item, all metals that one wishes wishes to bring to Perfection must must be b e dissolved in Mercury, otherwise it is sheer fraud. fraud. Then they must be cooke cook e d with Sul S ulphur; phur; but you you have to prepare prep are the Sulphur Sulphur accord acc ordiing to whether the metals are a re hea heallthy. Understand Underst and me well! well! I wil will teach teac h you the the Sulphur with which which you must must make Mercury Merc ury healthy hea lthy,, and in connect co nnection ion with this Sulphur I will will tea teach ch you you how to prepare all other Sulphura. Mercury Merc ury is cold and hum humiid in his his outward nature, and in in his innermost innermost he is hot hot and dry. Reverse him, him, therefore, there fore, and he will will beco be come me healthy. healthy. Consequently, Co nsequently, one should should remove from him him his his cold co ld humi humid ity. it y. This This must must be done do ne with with hot herbs her bs or oils oils of which which you must must make the Sulphur. Take Alum Alum de d e Roche, calcine calcine it as is customary. Now No w take tak e the peel pee ls of bitter oranges. ora nges. Put them them into into a glas glasss vessel, vess el, pour pour good goo d distilled distilled wine vinegar vinegar upon upo n them, boil boil them till till all the vinegar vinegar is boil boiled away and the powder is is quite quite dry. dry. Add thi this powder to the said said powder of alum alum,, togeth together er with with three oak o ak appl app les that are poin po inted ted;; pul p ulver verize ize them. Then take tak e sloe sloe herb, pound p ound it it quite quite fine, fine, and for force ce it through a cloth with good goo d distille distilled d vinegar vinegar;; pound po und itit again til tilll all of o f it all of it has gone through the cloth cloth together with with the vinegar. vinegar. Now No w dry itit in a bowl bo wl and let let it dry in in the sun. You will will now have a fine fine powder po wder which which you should should add ad d to the other. Now take cin cinquefoil quefoil and treat treat it li like you did did the the celidoni celidonia. a. Add itit to the the other powder p owder,, and and the the more hot herbs you gather, the better you can get Mercury to die. Now take all these powders pounded pounded finely nely togeth together; er; put them them on a gri grinding stone, stone, imbibe bibe them them with with pig’ pig’ss gal gall --- that’s the best ---- - let let it it dry til till you can pulveri pulverize ze it again again. Add to this this dried human human blood, blood , the the blood bloo d of roosters roo sters or o r hens; imbibe imbibe them together with with animal animal gall as before, and let let them dry together to gether on a glass glass slab. Do this this 8 or 9 times, times, the more more the better; be tter; and fin finall ally y let it become bec ome quite hard har d and dry, so that itit can ca n be turned turned into into a fine fine powder po wder.. Add to this this dried human human blood, blood , the the blood bloo d of roosters roo sters or o r hens; imbibe imbibe them together with with animal animal gall as before, and let let them dry together to gether on a glass glass slab. Do this this 8 or 9 times, times, the more more the better; be tter; and fin finall ally y let it become bec ome quite hard har d and dry, so that it can be turned turned into a fine fine powde po wder. r. Now take Roman Roman,, red-calci red-calcin ned vitr vitriiol, and and as much much cin cinnabar as the vitri vitrio o l weigh weighs. s. Pulve Pulveriz rizee them quite quite finely finely together, put them into into a glass, glass, pour po ur goo good d Aqua Vitae Vitae thereon; thereo n; then t hen distill distill the Aqua Vitae off per Alembic Alembicum. um. Repeat Repeat the drawing off o ff and pouri po uring ng 3 or 4 times. times. After this, this, take tak e the the poured off o ff Aqua Vitae of o f these two matte matters. rs. Imbibe Imbibe the powder powd er there therein in on a grinding grinding stone to the consistenc consistency y of a pulp. Let itit dry again again on the glass glass as a s above. Do this this 12 or 16 times, times, the more more the better. be tter. The last time, time, let itit dry hard, so that you can ca n powde po wderr itit in a mortar and pound it on a stone. Now take Mercuri Mercuriu us Subli Sublimatus, or calci calcin nated Mercury Mercury,, 1 lb; lb; of the the prepared, pulver pulveriz ized ed Sulphur, 1/2 lb. Mix M ix them together and put them into into a Syburg jar, well stoppe stop pered red.. Put them them where you heat every day, da y, and let them get heated heate d as much much as you can, because beca use Mercury Merc ury will will not fly fly away awa y whil whilee he is lying lying with his his bro b rother ther and sister, arm in in arm, arm, mouth mouth t o mouth; mouth; and they will will surely keep ke ep hi him there, so that he can c an stand the fi fire; for his his brother bro ther is hot and his his sister is dry. d ry. And And they are a re the hot, dry Speci Spec ies of o f whi which ch the Sulphur Sulphur is made. This This is the Sulphur Sulphur of the
phil philosophers. osophers. Thi This is the the same same of whi which the phil philosophers wri write, but the ig ignoran norantt imagin aginee that that they mea mean n Sulphur. This This Sul S ulphur phur I have often o ften mad made. e. Item, Item, one can also make make Sulphur Sulphur of hot, hot, dry oil oils; or hot, hot, dry gums, gums, or hot, dry seeds seed s of herbs, but you must must always add ad d cal ca lcined alum. alum. Someti So metimes mes you must must add a dd hot and humi humid, sometimes sometimes col co ld and dry; occasionally occ asionally cold co ld and humid; humid; at times times dry; d ry; sometim sometimes es hot, sometimes sometimes cold, co ld, sometimes sometimes humi humid, acco ac cording rding to the inf infir irmit mitiie s of the meta metalls that you wish wish to reverse outsi o utside de,, inside nside.. Som So metimes etimes only one nature must be reversed reve rsed in a metal; in another instance instance,, two. That is is why the Sulphur Sulphur must must often o ften be made in differe different nt ways, because be cause there are a re many kinds of infi infirr m iti it ies in the metals. You can also transmute transmute the meta metalls into another a nother nature and you you can do this this with Sulphur. Sulphur. One can also change gold into into silver silver with Sulphur Sulphur made ad e for for that purpose. purpos e. Nevertheless, N evertheless, that is is contrary contrary to nature, since since nature is always aiming aiming at the the best. Nevertheless, Ne vertheless, it is possibl po ssiblee to do it, that is, is, to transfer one thin thing g into another a nother nature by b y means of the Sulphur Sulphur made ad e through the Art. Therefore, whoever can transmute gold into into the t he nature of o f silver, silver, can also translate Luna Luna and a nd all other metals into into Sol; So l; for itit is is much much bette b etterr to do that that than to change change gold into silver, silver, because bec ause nature always desires d esires what is better. This This is also the reason rea son why why one must must prep p repare are the Sulphur Sulphur accord acc ordiing to the works work s whi which one wishes wishes to do with with the metals or to Effect Effect upon them. But whatever Sulphur Sulphur you wish wish to make, be itit hot or col co ld, dry or moist, moist, you must must always have calcined alum. alum. It must must be b e in the the heat, heat, coldness, co ldness, dryness, and hum humidit idity y of the Sulphura, Sulphura, for alum is the Lantern in the seven metals. Let us us now deal de al further further with with Mercury, Merc ury, who lies lies shut in in the stove with the Sulphura. Sulphura. You must must give give fire fire day da y and night, night, that is to say, on the the jar; ja r; and keep it always hot. Every 14 days you must must go over to it, it, take tak e out two or o r four ounces, o unces, put it with with lead ea d on o n the cupel and let let it dri dr ive. And lo! If it drives on the the test, test, you can take itit out, pour po ur clean water wa ter into a bowl, and pour Mercury Mercu ry with the Sulphur Sulphur into into it and stir stir well. well. Now No w mercury wil will settle down d own at the the bottom, botto m, then you must must pour po ur off the water with with the Sulphur Sulphur above, ab ove, into into another bowl, bo wl, 5 or 6 times, times, till till the water runs off pure and becomes becomes sweet. sweet. When all all the the Sul S ulphu phurr has has been washed washed off off it, it, dry Mercu Mercury ry over over the fire, and driv drivee it off on the test, as on silver, silver, and you will will find fine fine silver silver in all trials. Let the water containing co ntaining your Sulphur Sulphur evapora evap orate te on fire, fire, and you you have your your Sul S ulphur phur back ba ck;; but itit has been bee n somewhat somewhat decreased decre ased because be cause of o f the washing washing.. This This is the first first secret sec ret sign of the the seven secre se crets. ts. It is called called the Fish, which which is compared co mpared to mercury, and itit is is the most most secre se crett sign sign among all seven secret se crets, s, and it is the the begi be ginning, nning, midd middlle, and all perfect works, work s, as I taught you before. be fore. I am therefore aski ask ing you not to let let this get into into the hands of the ignorant and sinners. sinners.
Sublim Sub limatio atio M e rcu rcurii rii,, When One Wants Wants to Diss Dis s olve It
If you you wish to sublima sublima te Mercury Merc ury in order ord er to dissolve it, let salt s alt melt melt in hot water, and a nd let let the water stand over it for for three hours to dissolve it. Now No w pour po ur the water off and congeal it. Through this, this, sublimate sublimate Mercury Merc ury as often as you wish, wish, each eac h time time with fresh Cement; Ce ment; and do not take tak e what what is not dissolved in 3 hors, as it is is not good for this this work. work . This This salt is is good, goo d, although you have not much much * with it. it. It will will pro p roba bably bly dissolv disso lvee when it is is calci ca lcined ned as it should be. b e. When this this mercury merc ury no longer longer shines, shines, it is is suffi sufficc iently ie ntly sublima sublima ted and pure; and the test is when he no longer longer blacken blackens, s, alth although ough he is putref putrefiied. Item thi this test: te st: Put gold gold on a glass glass slab, and a nd if everything together dissolves so that no no Faeces Faec es remain, remain, it may well be putrefied putrefied;; but itit must must first first be congealed before it is is put on the slab and putref putrefiied. If any any Faeces remai remain, n, put itit back int into o Putref Putrefacti actio o n and feed feed it, and and see if if it does not not requi req uire re more; and you will will feel that when the little little pieces stay inside inside whole and no longer longer dissolve. Then congeal co ngeal your Materi, Ma teri, which is now good and ready rea dy to work with. with.
A Wate Waterr with with Wh Which ich to Congea Congeall Me M e rcu rcuri rius us and Make M ake Him Perfect
Take Vitriolu Vitriolum m Romanum, cinnab cinnabar, ar, Sulphur Sulphur and Alum Alum de Roche, Roche , white white lead, ead , lithar litharge, ge, Magnesia, Magnesia, Marcasita Ana, 1 lb, lb, poun po und d them on a stone to a subtle subtle powder; powd er; take tak e 1 lb tin tin and stir stir it to ashes, ashes , as Minium Minium is mad made. e. Pound Po und this this powder po wder with sal sa lt and Aqua Vitae and dry it again in the sun or over a small small fire. fire. Then mix mix this this powde po wderr and pound it on a stone whil while moisten moistenin ing g it; dry itit again again as above. abo ve. Now take Sal Comm Commune une and and Vitri Vitriol ol Ana, Ana, powder po wdered ed and and well well dried dried over a fire. fire. Make an AF of them. Pour P our this this AF, on o n Mercury Merc ury in a glass; glass; put itit in in warm wa rm sand till till Mercury Merc ury congeals; congea ls; after this, this, Abstract the AF per Alembi Alembicc um, and you wil will get you AF back and better for the same type of of work. Further, take Mercury coagul c oagulatum atum and melt melt them together; together; pour about 2 lb other dissolved dissolved lead, and let them stand for one hour together over fire in order to dissolve. Afterwards, have at hand a pot po t with a long long neck nec k and a nd a fitting fitting lid. lid. Into it pour pitch, pitch, resin and Sulphur Sulphur Ana, 1 lb. Let Le t them melt melt together; then pour the merc mercury ury and a nd the lead lead together into the pot, close close it well well with with the the lid so that that it does not not burn burn toward toward the the outsi outside; de; after afterwar wards ds let it cool down; do wn; then drive the Materi Mate ri off on a test, as one Refines. Refines. You will will find find good silver silver in all assays, and you will will lose little little of the weight of mercury, e xcept xcept that which is impure, impure, as I myse myself lf have have done more than a hundred times.
Another Coagulation Coag ulation of o f M e rcur rcurius ius
Rx. -- - Alumen Alumen Roche Ro che 1 lb, Vitrioli Vitrioli ij lb, lb, verdigris iiij, iij, hammer hammer scal sca le, tin ashes, Sulphur Sulphur litharge litharge ana 1 lb, common prepa pre pared red slat, child’s child’s urine, urine, ana 1 lb, add to it finely finely choppe chop ped d pig’s pig’s hair. O f this distill an AF, AF, and put itit in in the Recipient four pig p ig’s ’s gall ga lls. s. This This AF, is to be put on mercury, in a glazed glazed pot, pot, on warm sand or ashes, till till Mercury Me rcury is congealed. co ngealed. Put thi this congealed co ngealed Mercury Merc ury in a glass; glass; put it on half half a pound of lead, ea d, melt them together; then have have at hand 2 lb molten molten Saturnu Sa turnuss in another crucible. Pour Po ur that that to the lea lead d and mercury, and let let them stand sta nd molten molten in the fire. fire. Now No w take tak e a pot po t with with a long neck, or a Syburg jar, well luted luted,, and a cork co rk that closes close s its mouth mouth tightly. tightly. Put in it pitch, resin and Sulphur, Sulphur, human human hair, horn, cow’s co w’s claws cut up, pig’s pig’s muck muck ana a na 1 lb, spikenard spikenar d oil and linsee inseed d oil ana ii iiij. Melt everything together in that jar, and when it it is is melted melted,, put it it into into a crucible. crucible. Then pour po ur t he molten molten Saturnu Sa turnuss and Mercury in it, it, and stopper stopp er itit imm immed ed iate l y so that the fl flame should not come out. Let itit stand sta nd in the heat for 24 hours. When it is is cold, c old, take tak e it it out, driv d rivee it off on the the test, and you will will have fine fine gold in in all assa assays. ys.
The Philosophers’ Pot
This This is the pot of the philosop philosopher herss or sages, of which which they spea sp eak k so discretely in their the ir boo b ooks ks and parables, parables, so that nobody can underst understan and d it except except those those who who are fami amiliar liar with with and and have have sworn sworn to the Philoso Philosoph phiic hand. That is why why I advi ad vise se all who wish wish to roast, boil b oil,, or cook coo k the Egg Egg of the sages, that they should should take care ca re lest the shell bursts bur sts or crack cra ckss in in the fi fire; for if if the Egg Egg were to burst, burst, all all the the poison poison described described in the pot woul would d get out, out, and and woul would kil kill and destroy destroy all all persons persons near it. Nor coul co uld d they be helpe helped d with medici ed icine, ne, for in in it there is the most evil evil poison poison that can be found found in the whole whole world. That is why I wish wish to advise all of you who are not familiar familiar with this this Art, nor have sworn by it, it, that you do not dare cook, co ok, boil, boil, or roast the the Egg, Egg, for you fare badly b adly and would get all the troubles contained in this pot. This This is the fruit fruit bro b rought ught forth forth by by the seed see d thrown thrown into into the earth; ea rth; this this is the fruit fruit of the phil philosophers; osophers; thi this is the the faith aithful ful Stone Stone of Alche Alchemi mia; a; thi this is the the earthl earthly y treasu treasure re and and earth earthly God, in whose whose hands lies the spiritua spirituall and tempo temporal ral laws. He holds the whole whole world wo rld in his his hand and a nd gives gives people peo ple to underst understand and that they are likewis likewisee to posses po ssesss all thi things in thi this world. wo rld. Whoever wishes wishes to cook co ok,, boil bo il,, or fry this this egg, let him him most most dil d ilige igentl ntly y examine examine the Hand of the Phil Philosophers, osop hers, so as to probe itit with with his his intellige intelligence; nce; thereafter he may may cook coo k it.
Two Jars
In these two jars is is the distilled distilled Aqua Fort F ort of the philoso philosop p hers. Into this this water one o ne should should put the the earth earth and throw the seed, see d, then then put itit into into a glass glass with with a lo ng neck, neck , cl c lose it tightly tightly so that no air a ir can escape. escap e. Now N ow put itit in horse manure manure for 6 week weekss and the the seed wil will grow.
An Amalgamate
Prepa Pre pare re a water with alum alum,, potash, po tash, white white calci c alcined ned tartar, tarta r, quick quicklime lime and cow’s co w’s galls, galls, for whi which no water must be taken tak en but Acetum. Take the same amount of o f all matter matters; s; then put Mercury into a thick thick bowl bo wl with with ashes, ashe s, pour po ur thi this water wa ter on it, and grind grind Mercury Merc ury with with a pestle pestle around which which a woolen woo len cloth is wrappe wrap ped. d. Do this this for one hour, hour, and pound it it with with this this water wa ter without without ceasing ce asing,, but beware beware of air. air. Then Then,, pour the water water off off, and agai again n put fresh fresh water water on it, it, and conti continu nuee doin doing thi this as long as blackness black ness comes co mes off. off. After this take ta ke Mercury Merc ury out and dry hi him with a cloth. cloth. Now put put your your gold gold and and sil silver into nto a Cemen Cement, t, puri purify it and and Amal Amalgam gamate ate it with with Mercury Mercury.. Put this this into a glass, glass, set itit on a furnace furnace;; give give fire fire for 6 more weeks, wee ks, somewhat hotter than before. be fore. After this, this, take tak e itit out and purify purify it as before till till no ore blackness blackne ss comes co mes off. off. Then press itit through a chamois-leat chamois-leather, her, as strongl strongly as you can, because be cause the the spi sp irit rit would would be too too strong strong for the body, bod y, so that it would never get fixed. Now put put the the amalg amalga mate into nto anoth another er glass, seal it, it, set it it in ashes, ashes, and giv give it a gen gentl tlee fire for 8 days, da ys, and more more every 8 days, da ys, til till the glass glass stands in a glow. glow. Then you will will see all all colors co lors of the world. Afterwards, Afterward s, a black color c olor wil will come; now increa increase se your fire fire a little, ittle, and itit will will turn into a white color; co lor; if itit is silver, silver, it will will stay sta y white; but if itit is gold, leave it in in the heat till you see a yell yellow, red, bril brillia lia nt color. Now N ow break the the glass glass open, ope n, make the powder powde r subtl subtle, e, and make Projection with it.
Another Work
Rx. -- - - Cinnabar Cinnabar 1 lb, lb, of the the Sun of the the hand, half a pound. Mi M ix then togeth to gether er into a powder and sublimate sublimate it 7 times times through the Key. Ke y. Make Mak e this this into an a n intangib intangib le powde po wder, r, and then calcine it, as
you well know how to do, do , for 21 days and nights, nights, in the furnace furnace of the philoso philosop p hers. Then take tak e itit out of the fire fire and dissolv dissolvee it, as you well know know how to do. do . When it is is dissolv disso lved ed,, distill it till till it gets hard; powde po wderr it as before. before . Afterwards Afterward s dissolve it again, and imbi imbibe be your Elixir Elixir into it, as you well know k now how how to do. Take 1 or 2 lbs lbs of tartar, tartar, and pure transparent tra nsparent Alcali Alcali,, ana; then take for each 4 lbs lbs of this this matter 2 lbs of the lantern; lantern; dissolve them, put them together, and boil them together. Now No w pour po ur the the pure off above; abo ve; you wil will thus draw dra w off its its phlegma. phlegma. Then congeal co ngeal the pure til till it gets gets hard. hard . Now take ta ke salt 2 lbs, dissolve it in in pure p ure warm water, fil filter and congeal it again. again. In additi ad dition, on, take tak e of the long finger finger 1 lb. It must must also have been b een subli sublimated mated through salt. Mix itit with with the aforesaid aforesa id Spec S pecies, ies, put them together together to to sublimate. sublimate. You must must subli sublimat matee * with them till till it is fixed fixed.. After this, set s et it to calcine calcine for 21 days, da ys, as you know; when itit is is dissolved, clean it of its Faece Fa eces. s. Then coagul co agulate ate it and mak makee it fusi fusible. ble. Then work with it.
Tincture from Saturn
Stir lead to ashes and make Mi M inium nium of it; take 1 lb lb of it. it. Take Ta ke 3 lbs lbs of the the Key K ey prepare prep ared d for sublimat sublimatii ng; of the Fish, Fish, 1 lb. Mix them them to an intangib intangib le powde po wderr and sublim sublimaa te them together. Then the Fish will will brin bring g up with itit the QE or Tinctur Tincturee of Saturn, Sa turn, which is bette be tterr than gold gold in in all all works. You can c an Separate Separa te it it in the the same way as was taugh taughtt above abo ve in in regard to the Star. But now the Fish is is no longer longer of any use, excep e xceptt to throw throw it away. But now the Fish is no no longer longer of any use, except excep t to throw it it away. The Q E or Tincture Tincture is that which which immed mmed iate ly coagul co agulates ates the Fish to redness and causes it to be easily easily fixed. fixed.
Tincture from Venus
If you you wish wish to extract Q E Veneris, calcine calcine it with with the Key, Ke y, with with the Star, S tar, and with with Sul S ulphur, phur, and prepare an Aes Ustum Ustum as fol folllows: Take pure urine urine of men, men, or good di d istill stilled ed vinegar, vinegar, or old, pure, sour beer; put the the powder p owder on itit and boil it it till till the Li Liquor is colored. colored . Then pour po ur itit off and add other Liquor. Liquor. Procee Pro ceed d as before be fore till till no more Tincture Tincture is extracted. extracte d. Now N ow put all the the tincture tincture together into into a retort reto rt with with an alem ale mbic, and distill the humi humid d ity it y off it per pe r Balneum. Balneum. Then the most beautiful be autiful redness red ness will will remain, which is better better than than gold. gold. Sublim Sublimate ate the the long Fin Finger 4 or 5 tim times throu through gh it, and dissol dissolve ve it in in the the cellar cellar on a marbl arb le slab. After After this, this, coagul co agulate ate it again in Bal Ba lneo per pe r Alembico Alembico.. With this this you yo u can now coagul co agulate ate the soul of mercury to the the most most beautiful be autiful redness red ness of gold, gold, and a nd it can also also easil ea sily y be fixed fixed I this way. The other way wa y is the follow following ing:: Take 1 lb lb of o f the powde po wder, r, 1 lb of the K ey, mix mix and sublimate sublimate them. Proce Pro ceed ed with with this this as a s has been bee n taught conce c oncerni rning ng Saturnu Sa turnus, s, and you you will will have the QE Veneris better than gold.
Another Way
Rx. -- - - Coppe Co pperr 3 lbs, lbs, Fi F ish 9 lbs. lbs. prepare prep are an Amalg Amalgaa ma ; dissolve dissolve it in water of the the hand, set it for for 6 weeks week s into into Putrefaction Putrefactio n in Balneo. Balneo. Then distill distill it in in a boi bo iling ling Balneu Balneum m per pe r Alembicu Alembicum; m; s et itit in in sand, and distill distill yet more spiri s pirits ts of the Amalgama Amalgama.. When they have gone over, o ver, increa increase se your fi fire and the Fish wil will sublimate sublimate and the QE be contain co ntained ed in it. it. Take Tak e the sublim sublimaa te out and put the Fish with with the Tin Tincture, cture, pounded po unded to an impalpab impalpablle powde po wder, r, into into the Balneu Balneum m with with good distilled distilled vinegar. vinegar. Now No w the QE will will rise into the vinegar vinegar and the the Fish wil will settle at the bottom. botto m. Pour Po ur the colored vinegar vinegar off, off, add ad d other vi vinegar, and procee pro ceed d as before till till your vinegar is no longer tinged. tinged. Now No w Abstract Abstra ct all the tinged tinged vinegar vinegar per pe r Alembicu Alembicum, m, and the most most beautif be autiful ul redness red ness will will remai re main, n, with with which which no gold can be com co mpared pa red.. You can dissolve this this tincture in water of the Hand; that is better bette r to the the Red. Congeal C ongeal it again. You may may do this this so often, till till you have achieved such great subtleness that itit would would well be worth a kingdo kingdom. m. Then you have have the QE Veneris, of the Star, Sta r, of the Fire -- - - which which is Sulphur Sulphur - - - and of the Fish, all together.
Still Another
Take coppe cop perr filings, filings, boil bo il them in in good distilled distilled wine wine vinegar. vinegar. To every pound p ound of vinegar vinegar add ad d 1 *. * wil will sublimate sublimate with with the copper; copp er; a grit grit will will stay at the bottom bo ttom like like a salt. Calci C alcine ne it without without any addition addition till till the matter matter turns red. red . Now No w take tak e itit out and pour po ur distilled distilled vinegar vinegar over it. Extract the tincture tincture as before, and you have have the QE Q E Veneris by itself itself.. With itit you can Cement Ce ment whatever you wish. wish. In addi add ition, it is is good to Rubify Rubify in other works, work s, etc.
Tinctura Martis
Take iron iron fil filings ing s and put them into into distilled vinegar. vinegar. To every pound po und of vinegar vinegar add ad d *. Set Se t it for six weeks week s in in the Balneu Balneum m or in in horse dung d ung.. Then take tak e it out, pour po ur the vin vinegar egar off, off, and add other vinegar vinegar together with the addi add ition of *, as before. Put it in in the Balneum Balneum for 6 weeks, week s, and pour all all your your tin tinged vineg vinegar ar togeth together. er. Disti Distill ll it all all togeth together er in all all togeth together er in the the Balneum Balneum per Alembicu Alembicum. m. A red tincture tincture will will stay sta y at the bottom, bo ttom, like like blood. blood . Tak Takee that that out, sublimate sublimate it 10 or 12 times times with with *; * ; then then dissolve it in the cell ce llar ar on a stone; coa c oagul gulate ate it again per pe r Alembicu Alembicum m in Balneo Balneo;; or you may may previously p reviously dissolve it in water of the Hand, and extract the Aqua Fort F ort in in Balneo Balneo and from from the sand, but then you must must not sublim sublimate ate.. You will will be b e left with a redness more beauti beautifful than than gold. gold. Thi This is call called Crocus Crocus Marti Martis. With With it you can do wonderf wonderful ul thi things, so that that it is much much better be tter than a landscape; landscap e; since since by dissolving it in AF, and again congealing co ngealing it, you can make it so subtle that it reaches reac hes very great powe p ower; r; for with with that one can congeal co ngeal mercury merc ury to a beauti beautifful redness; redness; in additi addition, on, one can Rubif Rubify with with it everyt everything hing that that is whi white.
Tincture of Sulphur
The art of extracting extrac ting the QE of Sulphur, Sulphur, Auripig Auripigm me nt, Calci Ca lcined ned O chra, Atrament, Atrament, red Arsenicum, Arsenicum, etc., is all one procedure, proced ure, one art, one work, as foll follows ows:: If you you happen happ en to have some stuff stuff and wish wish to extract extrac t the tincture tincture from it, it, powde po wderr it impa impallpab pa b ly; pour on itit old old pure pure urin urine; let it boil boil til till the the uri urine is colored. colored. Then Then pour itit off off, and and agai again n pour fresh fresh urine urine on it till till all tincture tincture is out. After this, this, evapora evap orate te all the the tinged tinged urine. urine. Pour Po ur vinegar vinegar on that which which stays at the bottom. bo ttom. Extract again al a ll the tincture. tincture. What then stays at the bottom bo ttom is of no use, because be cause it is the saltiness saltiness of the urin urine. e. Draw the colored colore d vinegar vinegar off per Balneum, and the most most beautif be autiful ul redness red ness wil will stay at the bottom bottom.. It shi shines more than than gold, old, and and it seems seems to be a heaven heavenly ly color. color. Dissol Dissolv ve thi this tinct tinctu ure in the water of the Hand; distill distill same, like like the previ pre vious ous tincture, tincture, by dissolving, distilli distilling, ng, congealing, co ngealing, and prepa pre parin ring g it to its highest highest degree de gree and power. powe r. Or you may subli sublimate through * as often as a s you wish, wish, dissolve in the cellar cellar on a marble slab, slab , and bring to its great greatest est power. po wer. This This was the first first manner of the philoso philosophe phers, rs, and itit was a long way. wa y. With these tinctures tinctures you can Rubify Rubify all things, things, yes, all metal eta ls, also all stones, stones , crystals, glass, glass, and other thin things, gs, which which I do not reveal for certain reasons.
Tincture from Antimonium
Take Antim Antimo nium niu m from the the mines, mines, pulverize pulverize it impa impalpab lpably; ly; pour po ur on it distilled distilled vinegar vinegar in a glass glass or a stone jar. Put P ut it for for 6 weeks week s in in horse hor se dung or in the the Bal Ba lneum - - - but the the horse dung d ung must must be renewed renewe d every week, week , the the longer longer the better. bette r. Subsequently, Subseq uently, put it it into into a retort with an Alem Alembic, bic, draw dra w the vinegar vinegar over the boili boiling water; water ; then drive drive it in in the sand, and a nd itit wil will sublim sublima te into the blessed blessed QE and and come come down from the the spout spout of the the helm helm like red drops dro ps of blood. blood. Coll Collect those those a part and and mix them them with with the the Key, whi which must ust be prepared so dry that that it is is like dust. dust. Now disti distill ll per Bal Baln neum over over a gentl gentlee fire, so that that you can easil easily suf suffer your your hand hand to be in it. it. Let it stand thus, disti d istillin lling g for 21 days, or til till there is no more more moistness. moistness. Congeal Co ngeal the QE Venerii and, in addi add ition, all moist moist spirits, so that you can sublimate sublimate them. After thi t his, s, take tak e itit out of the Balneu Balneum m and set itit in in sand, in in orde or derr to sublimate sublimate the red QE Venerii. Venerii. When there comes co mes a heavenly, inco incombustib mbustib le redness, red ness, though not fixed, fixed, that is how itit should should be. be . Now take it it out caref careful ully ly,, put put it in in the the Balne Balneum um to putref putrefy y for 18 days, days, after after which which mix it with with the the dry key, ke y, dry like like dust, d ust, as you have been taught before. b efore. Thus you can ca n dissolve and congeal conge al to reach such great virtues virtues and powers as are worth a kingdom. kingdom. When you have have done it, it, add a great deal de al of gold, as I taught you to mak makee before; dissolve them together in water of o f the Hand, distill them in in the the Balneu Balneum m and afterwar afterwards ds in ashes, as hes, as I have instructed you before. Then the QE Venerii is conjoin co njoined ed to the gold gold and can never again be separated separa ted,, either either now or in in eternity. eternity. Deo Gratias.
A Philosophers’ Stone
Rx. - - - Fine Lunae Lunae j, dissolve itit in comm co mmon on AF. Then take tak e Mercury Merc ury Sublim Sublimat atus us iiij; iij; put p ut him him in a glas glasss pot, po t, set set it on warm warm sand sand and and let let him get get warm. Now N ow imbibe imbibe him with the AF in in which which silver silver is dissolved, dissolved, till till he has imbi imbibed bed all the the AF. Then Then let it cool down. Pound this Mercury Merc ury quite fine on a hard stone; stone; let him dissolv disso lvee on it of his his own. o wn. After this, this, coagulate co agulate him him again again on a small small fire fire in a glass; glass; and pound him him again a gain as before; before; and dissolve him him as a s before, be fore, seven se ven times. times. Of this this Elixir Elixir pour p our alloys.
j on
xxxj xxxj prepa pre pared red,, well flowin flowing g cop c oppe per, r, and you will will get get fine fine silver silver in all
How to Make Venus Fixed
Take Tak e soap soap and dry it till till it no longer smokes smokes.. Then give a hot fire fire till till it turns into calx. c alx. When W hen you calcine calcine it, stoppe stop perr itit above ab ove with with a stone. Add to itit as much much verdigris and close it in a crucible; lute lute it well, set se t it in in the fire fire for 2 hours and melt melt it. Then you yo u have fix fixed ed and supple supp le Venus. Ve nus.
M e rcur rcury y Change Changess All Me M e tallic Corpora Corpora into i nto Silve r with Arse nicum, nicum, and Into Into Gold with Sulphur
Take a thick thick cloth, bin b ind d Mercury Merc ury into into it, hang him him over o ver a pot po t contain co ntaining ing sulphur; sulphur; then close close it and heat below it. It wil will congeal c ongeal red. red . But But if if this this Mercury Merc ury is pounded with Sal S al Alca Alcalli and Cerussa, Ce russa, he turns white. white. Instead, Instead , if he is is pounded with water of Crocus Croc us Martis, * and Atrament, he neverthel neverthe less stays red, red , and one can also congeal congea l him in in a closed vessel with Jupiter. J upiter. With Saturn Sa turn Mercury Me rcury is congealed co ngealed in white white works. work s. He has to be close closed d in a tube or another vessel, luted luted with with Lutum Lutum Sap S apiientiae. This This has to be thrown on melted Saturnu Sa turnuss and also also kept ke pt in in the fire; fire; thus Saturnus S aturnus will will be congealed co ngealed by the smoke.
How to Chew the Corpora Corpora to an Amalga Amalgam ma with M e rcur rcury, y, That is, is , to Give to M e rcur rcury y All Corpor Corpora a to Eat, Eat, Except Exce pt Mars
Take any a ny Corpus Corpus that you wish to melt. melt. Add to itit half half as much much Mercury Merc ury and and pour it. It will will become become brittl brittle. e. Pulve Pulveriz rizee and wash wash it it with with vinegar egar and and salt salt as long long as blackn blackness ess goes off off it. Afterwards, dry itit in the sun. Then it is is to be cleansed with a water whose ta ste is is between be tween sour so ur and bitter, with with a gentle gentle fire fire or the heat of the the sun, sun, for a whole day. d ay. After this, this, dissolve it; when it is disso dissollved, Incerate Incera te it; finall finally, y, cleanse it with with Arsenicum that you you have have whitened whitened,; ,; then dissolve it again; after this, congeal co ngeal it. This This Mater Materia ia will will tinge tinge the bodies bodies of all men in in a wonderful wond erful way.
The Philos Philosophic ophic Furnace Furnace,, Called Calle d Athanor, or the Warm Warm Stupha Stupha of the Philos Philosophers ophers
First build build a litt littlle wall at the bottom bo ttom with good glue, glue, or with with soil prepare prep ared d for for this this purpose purpo se - - - one foot long and high. high. Upon Upo n it put a narrow iron grill, grill, so that the ashes of o f the wood woo d or the coal co al can fall fall through. through. But unde underr the grill grill there must be b e a litt little le door, do or, which which can be shut as one wishes, wishes, so as to remove the t he ashes. Then, above ab ove the the grit grit of o f the furnace furnace build build somewhat higher, higher, a litt little le wall, wall, one foot long and wide, wide, with with a small small door, do or, and air air holes at the four corners. co rners. Above, Abo ve, mak makee a while while floo floorr of o f bake ba ked d soil soil, without without holes, so s o that the furnace furnace is well covered, covere d, as this this ill illustra tion tio n shows. On this this floo floorr raise the wall; wall; but first first put on the floo floor, r, four iron supports suppo rts like like a tripod. O n top there has to be a vessel. These supports supp orts together with with the vessel must not touch to uch the wall wall of the furnace furnace.. In additi ad dition, on, there has to be another tripod inside inside the vessel or o r test, as also a small small vessel ves sel upon which which one could put p ut a glass glass or other bowl bo wl.. This This smal s malll vessel must be made ad e of wood. woo d. If then then one wishes wishes to dissolve the Spiritus Spiritus or other things, things, water has to be put into into the lower and upper uppe r vesse vessels. ls. The glass glass has to be left left ope o pen, n, to allow allow the humi humid, subtle air a ir to get inside. inside. Now No w put a gentle gentle little fire fire under the furnac furnace, e, because be cause it must must not be warmer than itit is is usually usually in a warm room. roo m. Thus Thus the matte matterr will will be dissolved by the the steam of o f the water. water .
But if if you wish wish to congeal, co ngeal, calci c alcine ne or fix, fix, you must must put p ut no water into into the vesse vessells but keep your work quite dry d ry with with the aforementio afore mentioned ned heat. That is why the furnace furnace must must have a lid or o r cover cove r above, ab ove, which which must must be so wide that you can take tak e itit off if necessary. nece ssary. In additi add ition, on, there should be a little ittle door do or in in the cover, so that that you can ca n put your your hand inside inside and test the warmth, warmth, just as a s with with the same heat all humi humid d spirits are fixed. fixed. Will Will you please have a good look at the the ilillustrat lustra t ion. io n. Aside from from this, there is still still another furnace furnace in which which many kinds of o f things things can simu simulta ltaneo neousl usly y be cooked or done, as in in ashes ashes or in sand, sand, in Baln Balneo, or in Ventre Ventre Equi Equino. Thi This means, eans, that that if someone would like like to putrefy something something which which would otherwi other wise se have to be put in in horse horse’s ’s dung d ung,, one would would put hay or dung dung into the cupel cupe l and water it somewhat. Then it is just as goo good d as if itit were standing standing in horse’s horse’ s dung.
It Now Follows How One is to Make or Use the Furnace
First, the lower part p art has to be mad made, e, so as to get the ashes. ashes . Then follows follows the grill grill which which must must be just just in the the center center,, a good bit bit narrower arrower than than the the furn furnace. ace. The The furnac urnacee has has to be made made high higher er yet, yet, but not not narrower narrower than than it is below. below. On one side side there there has to be a smal smalll door, so as to all allow the the hanging lamp, lamp, and below, the coal coa l to pass through. through. Afterwards the furnace furnace must must be made ad e hig higher her again and wide wider, r, with a thin thin wall. wall. A few few air holes must be b e made on one side, side , which which can be be opened op ened and closed at a t will will.. After this, this, it must must be closed and a nd vaulted vaulted,, wellwell- fitting, fitti ng, with with four round air holes holes with with a lid lid on o n each ea ch of them. They must must be separated separ ated by b y four equal eq ual little little walls. walls. After this, the furnace furnace must must be mad madee higher higher on the the sides; sides ; itit must must have four doors doo rs on the four four sides that that close tightly tightly so that, of o f one wishes wishes to remove the lid lid from a hole, one can put one’s hand through it. When all this this has been bee n done, do ne, take four four coppe cop perr kettles, ke ttles, or o r other vessel vesse ls burnt b urnt of clay, or o r something else. They must must be walled walled in on o n the four parts pa rts of the furnace furnace,, one on each eac h side. side. Next to each cupel c upel,, there must be b e an airhol airholee with with a well-fittin well-fitting g stopper stoppe r in in order to regulate regulate the heat. In the first first cupel cupe l or kettle ke ttle there must must be sand to mak makee fix fixat atiio n in it. In the the second seco nd there must must be dung dung or o r moist moist hay, to putrefy in it. it. In the third, third, one can can keep ashes, to distill distill on them. them. In the fourth, fourth, should should be the water bath ba th Balneu Balneum m Mariae, also to distill distill and a nd putrefy. When all this this is ready, read y, one can ca n put coal on the grill grill,, or a hanging hanging lamp. The four lids lids have to all be taken off off; or, if if one one wish wishes es one to be hott hotter er than than the other, other, one shoul should d remove remove that that one one lid and and shut the lilittle door do or tightly. tightly. O ne must must also have have poi po inted and high high lids, lids, burnt of o f clay, on o n the glasse glassess in which which one wishes wishes to putrefy and a nd fi fix. They must must cover co ver the glasse glassess all around and a nd close close them tightly, tightly, and one must must be b e able ab le to take tak e them off, off, as may be seen by the illu illuss trat tra t io n.
Operatio Tartari, or the Work Work of Tartar
This This is the way wa y to prepa pre pare re Tartarum. It is is very good goo d and has the four four elements elements in it, it, but b ut not lilike other thing things, s, Species Spe cies and herbs. In all the the things things that God Alm Almighty ight y has created cre ated out of the four four elem e lements, ents, the elements elements are befoul befouled ed and and impure, pure, and and they they cann cannot be puri purified otherw otherwiise than than by b y disti distilling lling,, subl sublim imating, ating, calcining, calcining, cementi cementing, etc. In that way the the elements elements can be cleansed cleansed wit wit hard work. work . One cannot find find anything in the world that is lilike tartar, tarta r, beca b ecause use God has has not left left any a ny impurity impurity in it, it, since it separa sep arates tes from wine of o f its own, like like water wate r from from fire; fire; and tartar doe d oess not not take on any im impurity purit y from wine, wine, just as water does doe s not not from from fire; fire; but if if there is any impurit impurity y in the water, water , it will will leave it in the fire, fire, so that the fire fire may burn and destroy destr oy it. For fire fire consum co nsumes es every impur impurity, ity, and all a ll impur impuritie itiess of the elements must must be b e purified b fire. fire. Nevertheles evertheless, s, fire fire is in itself frail frail in that itit is is not fixed; fixed; for when God Go d corrupted corrupte d the four elements, it also corrupted co rrupted the fire. fire. That is why why the fire is not fixed. Tartarum, however, is a fire fire without without air and without a flame, flame, fixed fixed and pure. That is why why no one can separa sep arate te the element from Tarta Tartarum rum,, since since it is a glorified glorified Corpus. Co rpus. Nothin N othing g can c an destroy des troy Tartarum, nor can fire fire burn it. Tartar Tarta r is the fixed fixed fire fire of which which we often write in our books. boo ks. Fire has the power powe r to purify purify all corrupted elements and to burn and consume consume all impurit impuritiie s, also to make all other elements fixed. fixed. What will will this this one o ne not do when itit gets into into the impure impure elements,
since since it is more more than tha n superior supe rior to fire? fire? Verily, Verily, I am telling telling you that Tartarum, Tartarum, when it is is prepa pre pared red,, has the the power po wer to make all unfix unfixed ed things things fixed, fixed, and in in it are hidd hidden en all thi things which which it woul wo uld d take tak e too long to describe. de scribe. Yet one cannot accompli ac compliss h any perfect work in the Art without without Tartarum Tartar um;; thus the hand cannot be prepa pre pared red without without Tartarum; for if if there were no Tartarum, the Art would be fal false. se. Consequen Consequentl tly, y, Tartar Tartarum um is the the master master of Al Alchymi chymia. a. That That is why the the masters masters consi consider it their fix fixed ed fire fire which burns everything everyth ing that is is not fix fixed ed.. Take good goo d white white tartar tarta r of good Rhine Rhine wine. wine. Wash Was h the powde po wderr clean clean till till the water runs off it. it. This This has to be done do ne with with pure p ure sprin sp ring g water. water . Then dry it in in the sun, s un, pound po und it it small small on a stone with with good distilled distilled wine wine vinegar, and dry it in in the sun. sun. Then moisten it on a stone with fresh vinegar vinegar to a thick thick pap. pap . Now No w dry it again. Repeat Rep eat this at a t least 10 times times or o r more more.. Put P ut this this Tartarum thus im imbibed into a strong suita ble ble vessel vessel and close close it firmly, rmly, a good good hand’s hand’s breadth. breadth. Now take anothe another, r, stil still larger arger after this, this, fill fill the large large vessel vesse l the center ce nter like like an egg yolk in in and let let everything e verything gently gently dry
vessel vessel,, fill it with with living chal chalk. Into Into it put put the vessel with with the the tartar; tartar; completely with with livin living g chalk; al a lso around ar ound the tartar, so that it lies lies in an a n egg. Lute tightly tightly as much much as a s you can, a large large hand’s brea b readth’s, dth’s, of itself. itself.
Make Make a big hole hole in your your hearth hea rth in which which you have a fire fire everyda everyday; y; fill fill it with with living living chalk, chalk, put the vessel vess el in it, it, and fil filll it all around around with living living chalk; chalk; but lea leave ve the bilge bilge of the vessel vessel free. free. On On this your fire fire must must burn for 8 weeks; week s; keep itit hot day d ay and nig night, ht, afterwards afterward s in a glow. glow. The more more it is is calcined calcined,, the better. bette r. After After this, this, remove the small vessel from the the chalk, break bre ak itit open, op en, and pour the Tartarum into a large quantity of distilled distilled vinegar, vinegar, let it drop dro p or beco be come me pure during during three days. da ys. Pour Po ur the the pure off from above abo ve and into into another a nother vessel. ves sel. Pour P our other vinegar vinegar on the faeces, faece s, boi bo il it and let let it become beco me clear as before; be fore; pour po ur itit to the other vinegar. vinegar. Repeat Repe at thi this till till nothing nothing comes co mes off any more more.. Throw the faec faeces es away awa y and Evaporate Evapor ate your vin vinegar egar;; congeal co ngeal all a ll the salt till till dry; d ry; again again dissolve it in a large quanti q uantity ty of vinegar, vinegar, as before. be fore. Let itit boi bo il once mor more; e; let itit settle again, and pour the the pure pure off above the fecibus ecibus;; add other other vin vinegar, egar, and and repeat thi this til till no more more faeces remai remain. n. Now put put it int into o an open crucibl crucible, e, let it glow glow for 24 hours hours in a fur furn nace; then then dissol dissolve ve it agai again n, and let it stand thus dissolved for 3 hours in in orde o rderr to see if there are a re any more more faeces. faece s. Shoul S hould d it have faeces, faece s, they must again a gain be clarified off, off, till till no more faeces faece s occur; oc cur; then congeal c ongeal it till till it is is dry. After this, imbibe mbibe Tartarum on a glass glass with Aqua Aq ua Vitae, Vitae, to a thin thin pap. pa p. Dry itit in the sun or on hot hot ashes in a glass; glass; imbibe mbibe and dry it it again. Do this this 100 10 0 times times or more; the more the better, bette r, and a nd the the more it gets purged. Thereafter dry itit in in a glass glass which which can stand the fire; fire; lute it tightly tightly bel be low, put p ut it uncovered on a furnace furnace and let let it melt. melt. When it it is molten, molten, break bre ak the glass glass open. op en. It will will congeal co ngeal in the air as clear as a s glass, glass, and melt melt near nea r the fire fire like like butter. This This is the fire fire of the wise phil philosophers. osophers. It is is their their fixed fire, of whi which they they wri write in a vei veilled way whi which the the sim simpletons pletons d o not understand. When itit is is now thus thus prep p repared ared,, itit is is a precious pre cious treasure, tre asure, for with it all all volatile volatile matters atte rs can ca n be fixed. fixed. Yes, put Mercury into into a crucible with with a little little of this this Tartarum upon it, put itit in the fire fire and let it go, and itit will will turn into fixed fixed Mercury. Merc ury. In various small small works work s one has has to prepare prep are it in in this this way; because bec ause whoever whoe ver works work s with with it when when it is is not prepared prepa red,, wil will not reach any Perfection, although he may accompli acc ompliss h a semblance of sil silver and gold. gold. Also, Also, those who thus thus work wo rk in in unprepared unprepa red Sal Sa les cheat themselve themselvess and all those who beli be lieve eve them.
Sol and Mercury
Here begins a most glorious glorious work of Sol So l and Mercury; how to conjoin and uni unite them; also a lso how to fix fix them together into into the very best b est solid solid gold. First you must must make an Aquan Merc M ercuri urialem. alem. I will will,, however, advi ad vise se all people peop le against against this this Art, if they do not know know how to deal wi with mercury, nor can prepare prepa re the water described d escribed hereafter. hereafter. Let them keep their hands off Mercury, for they would fare badly. This water is of two kinds, one to the the Red and the the other o ther to to the Whi White. Take 4 Cologne Cologne quarts of good good wine wine vinegar vinegar;; potash, 1 lb, quick quicklime, lime, weed ashes, tartar tarta r well well calcined calcined in a potter’s po tter’s furnace furnace and afterwards afterward s pulverized pulverized,, each eac h 2 lbs. First F irst pour the wine wine vinegar vinegar on the lim lime, e, let it it stand sta nd on o n it, it, and a nd stir stir it with with a stick 7 or 8 times times a day. da y. After After this, this, fil filter the vin vinega egarr and pour p our itit on the the weedweed - ashes in a glazed glazed pot. po t. Let itit boi bo il for a quarter quarte r of an hour, then cool co ol down. Fil F ilter ter it again again and pour itit on the the Tartarum Tarta rum;; boil bo il and filter filter as before. be fore. Now take 6 lbs lbs of green, reen, comm common celan celandin dine; e; chop chop it finely, nely, put itit into 2 quarts quarts of sharp sharp wine wine vinegar, vinegar, boil bo il it down do wn to half half,, then fi filter it and mix mix it with the other aforemention afore mentioned ed water. Then take 1 lb lb Aqua Vitae; coarse coa rse salt that that has not boil b oiled ed away, 1 lb. lb. Let them boil up together, but be careful car eful not to put your matte matterr in vesse vessels ls c oated oa ted with with lead. Into this this water thus boil bo iled ed,, put 8 or 10 ox gall galls, s, or galls galls of other ani a nimals. mals. Mix them, and a nd put this this matter atte r into into a glass glass pot; po t; put itit for 6 weeks in horse dung, and it is ready. The older it becomes, the better it is. With this water one accompli acc ompliss hes wonders. wonde rs. It is is called called Sucus Mercurii Mer curii,, and it is a very good goo d piece piece in thi this Art. Ar t. Take, Take , there therefore, fore, good Mercury Merc ury from from the mi mines, not made from lea lead, d, tin or other metals. Take as much much as you wish, wish, grind grind it well with salt sa lt and vinegar vinegar in a stone sto ne morta r. Do it 12 times times,, till till no more impur impurity ity com co mes off o ff it; it; make a Corpus Co rpus of it, put it into into a phial and a nd add as much beautif be autiful, ul, white white salt. Mix well, well, put it on the the furnace in sand for 3 weeks week s with with a gentle gentle fire; fire; then put it into into a stone mortar, pour po ur the the afore aforem mentio ent ioned ned water on it, grin grind d it with with it till till no more im impurity pur ity com co mes off o ff it; put it back again again into ashes or o r sand, pour your your prepared prep ared water 3 fi finger ngers’ s’ breadth bread th above it, it, stopper stop per the phial, phial, and give give it a good fire fire for 6 days da ys and nights. nights. Then put itit back ba ck into into the mortar and grind grind it again with the same water, wate r, as a s before; be fore; put itit again into into a phial, phial, and again pour water wa ter on it, and give give fire fire for 6 days da ys and ni nights, somewhat stronger than before. b efore. Repeat Repe at this this 6 times, times, and you must must increase your fi fire each eac h time time every 6 days. da ys. After this, calcine 4 or 5 lbs of Vitriol; Vitriol; also cal ca lcine an equal amount of ochre oc hre to each eac h pound po und add ad d
x bloodstone blood stone haematite to calcine with with the other. Through Through this sublim sublimaa te mercury 5 times; times;
then he he is prepared. prepa red. Now take Sol which which has been cast throug through h Venus Venus j; prepared prepa red Mercury viii viii,, amalgamat amalga matee it, put it into into a well luted phial, put itit on its side side in sand, and at first first give give a gentle gentle fire. fire. Increase Increa se your fire fire dai da ily, ly, till till Mercury Me rcury no longer longer rises; and turn the the phial over every ever y day da y 4 or 5 times, times, the more the better. better . At the end, when Merc M ercury ury is quite dead d ead,, you wil will find find a brown powder. Now your your work is is accompl accompliished. Now remove remove thi this powder from from the the phial phial for the the praise praise and and than thanks ks to God Alm Almighty. Put 1 part on 4 of fi fine sil silver, ver, let them them well well incorporate corporate
together. This This work is certain cer tain and a nd without without troubles. That is is why you must must use it in in the the name of god.
How to Make Sal Urinae
Take several large, stone crocks, cro cks, 10 1 0 or 12 quarts capacit capa city, y, fill them with with old, pure urine, urine, 5 or 6 weeks week s old. old. Put an alembic alembic with with two spouts spo uts on, and to each spout, a large large Recipient; distill on the fire fire whatever you can distill distill over. Then a great grea t deal dea l of blackness black ness wil will stay in the jar. Take that out and calci ca lcine ne it for for 2 or 3 hours. After this, this, remove it from from the t he fire fire and dissolve it in in common common distilled distilled water; let the faece faecess drop, d rop, and pour po ur off the the faecibus faecibus above. abo ve. Put P ut this this pure water back bac k on the fire fire and boi bo il it til till there forms forms a skin abo a bove. ve. Then put p ut itit into into a cool co ol cellar, cellar, and a clear salt will will crystallize. Take that out and boi bo il the water down again till till a skin forms. forms. Now take all all the the crysta crystalllized lized salt salt and and dry it in an earthen earthenwar waree pan til till it powders. Now heat heat it it moderately modera tely without without melting melting it in in a low vessel, and a nd dissolve dissolve it again again in com co mmon disti d istilled lled water. Let it boil for a quarter of an hour, remove it from the fire, let the faeces settle down, pour the pure pure off off above above when when it is stil still warm warm. Then Then dry all all the the crystal crystalli lized zed matter atter in an earth earthenware enware pan as before, before, til till it dusts dusts.. Keep thi this til till I teach you you how to use use it. Now take all all the the disti distill lled ed uri urine and, and, if there there is stil still some some impurity purity in it of oil oil or yel yelllow greasiness, skim itit off above ab ove with a spoo sp oon n and afterwards afterward s with a feather. Make Mak e itit pure and clean in this this way; then put it into into the stone jar ja r with with a helm helm on it; it; set itit in sand sa nd or ashes, and disti d istill ll all that can be distilled distilled.. Let it nice nicelly glow glow for a whil while and afterwar afterwards ds cool co ol down. Remove Remove the faeces fae ces and throw them away, for they are goo good d for nothing. nothing. Repeat Repe at this this di d istillatio n till till everything goes over pure, without without leaving leaving any faec faeces es at the bottom bo ttom of the jar or retort. reto rt. Take that which which you have thus thus distilled distilled out of the fire, fire, put it it in in the Balneum Balneum to distill distill.. Some So me impur impurity ity will will stay stay at the bottom; bottom; throw throw it away. awa y. Grind Grind this Distilla Distillattion ion in the Balneum Balneum til tilll no more faeces faece s stay at the bottom bot tom of the jar. When everything everythin g has cleanly cleanly gone over, it is is done. Now take the the salt whi which I told told you to keep above. Put itit into a larg largee Recipi Recipien ent, t, and and pour on itit the the pure pure liquor quor whi which you have have disti distill lled ed in the the Balne Balneum um.. When When you have have poured poured the the water water on it, it, stopper stop per the Reci Rec ipient with with a cork, co rk, and put it on the furnace furnace in a vessel with ashes. as hes. Now N ow light ight a fire fire in the furnace furnace,, so that the ashes will will beco be come me hot. Kee K eep p the Recipient standing there for 4 or 5 days, da ys, or till till all the the salt has been bee n dissolved into pure water wate r without without Faec Fa eces es at the bottom. bo ttom. Then it is ready rea dy and done. done. Then it is is urine urine as it was before, be fore, but b ut now it is is dep rived rived of its its coarse co arseness ness and has beco be com me subtle, yes, yes , much much subtler than one could could beli be lieve. eve. I am telling telling you in in unadultera unadultera ted Charity of god that that one can accompli acc ompliss h wonders wonde rs in in our Art with thi this urine urine this prepa pre pared red,, yes, yes, more than one might might beli be lieve. eve. Add to itit 6 quarts of sharp, sharp, distilled distilled vinegar, vinegar, and 6 Mass of Aqua Aqua Vitae, Vitae, and 1 lb of prepared com co mmon salt; also, a lso, 1 lb of o f calcined calcined white white tartar, tarta r, and a nd 1 - 1/2 lb of *. Mix all these these things things together, and dissolv dissolvee the matter matter into a pure, clear water, without without any faece faecess a t the the bottom. I swear to you by God who who has created created and and made me, that that no greater greater secret has ever ever come come into nto the the world. world. For
this this water wa ter thus prepa pre pared red,, turns turns all Calxes and Corpo Cor pora ra into into their their first first nature, that is, is, into into Mercury. M ercury. With this this water one o ne can draw the QE from calcined calcined Antimon Antimony, y, which which is much much better better than all the the treasures trea sures of the earth. In additi ad dition, on, you can extract extrac t with with it the QE Solis Solis and a nd Lunae Lunae,, and, further furtherm more, ore , of all all min minera era l things, things, and of everything everythin g there is in the world. One does do es so many wonderful wonde rful things things with with this this water that itit is is unbe unbeli liee vabl vab le ; nor is it permissib permissible le to disclose it on acco ac count unt of the evil evil which might might ensue. ensue. Understand, Understa nd, however, this this book bo okllet well at bottom, bo ttom, and you you wil will know what wonderful things things one can perform with with this water. wate r. And even if I did did my my very best, be st, I coul co uld d not express one o ne thousand thousandtt h of its secret. sec ret. Know Kno w also that one can ca n use the the water wate r like like earth, ear th, for for it does doe s not dimi diminish nis h although although it were used 10 or 12 tim times. For Fo r you you may purify purify and rectif re ctify y it again, again, and itit will will be just just as good go od.. Now I wi will teach you how to extract extract the the tinc tinctu tures res requi required for this this work, Red Red as well well as Whi White; for the extraction extrac tion of White White and red is all all one and is is due to one mastery. Take, Take , therefore, Sulphur, Sulphur, Auripig Auripigmen ment, t, Atrament, O chre, Cerussa, Cerussa , Minum Minum,, or the like, out of which which you wish wish to extract extrac t the the tincture. tincture. Powde Po wderr it impa impalpab lpably, ly, and grind grind it lilike soap soa p on a stonewith good, good , distilled distilled vinegar, vinegar, each ea ch time time addi add ing j of rectified rectified salt. Put itit into into a big Recipient, set it into ashes a shes or sand, pour on it some of the clarified clarified urine urine which which you have prepa pre pared red,, 1 part, par t, and 1 part pa rt of wine wine vinegar, vinegar, so that the Recipient beco be comes mes half half full full.. Stopp Sto pper er itit above abo ve with a cork, co rk, and shake itwell, itwell, so that the moisture moisture gets well mi mixed with with the powde po wder. r. Put the glass glass back bac k into into the furnace furnace,, and when it it is is warm, remove the cork c ork or stopper stopp er and give give it some air; otherwi other wise se the glass glass would burst. Toss the Recepta Rece ptacle cle betwee b etween n your hands 10 1 0 or 12 times times a day, da y, and let let it stand in in the warmth till till the Liquor Liquor is nicely nicely colored. Then let the glass glass cool coo l down and the Faeces Faec es drop; drop ; take tak e another large Recipient Recipient that is clean. In it pour the colored Liquor off from the Faecibus, and take good care not to take any Faeces Faec es over. Stopper Stopp er the the Recipient and put it aside. Then take ta ke again fresh fresh urine with Ana distilled distilled vinegar, vinegar, pour po ur it upon the F aeces ae ces in in the the receiver, rec eiver, as before, before , half ful full. Shake Shak e itit with with your hands as you did then; then; and when the Liquor is well mi mixed with with the sediment, sediment, put the glass glass again a gain on the the furnace furnace in ashes or o r sand. Heat as a s before, and when when the Li Liquor has again again been bee n colored, let the glass glass again cool coo l down, do wn, pouri po uring ng off and proce pro ceed ediing as a s before. be fore. Repeat Rep eat this till till the Liquor Liquor is no longer colored by the the Faeces, Faec es, and then you have got all all the Tinctu Tincture re or QE. The The Faeces Fa eces can be thrown away, a way, but b ut they they still still contain contain the element of earth. ear th. You may may extract e xtract and use that as you wish. Now take the the glass glass contai containing ning the the colored colored moistu oisture, re, set itit in ashes ashes or sand, sand, and and disti distill ll the the moisture moisture off till till a skin appears appe ars on top. Now N ow remove the helm helm,, pour po ur it it into into a large glass glass pot po t which which must must be wide wide above. ab ove. Lute a helm helm on o n top of o f it, put this this pot po t on the same furnace furnace,, and draw dra w all all humi humid ity it y over. Thus the QE or Tincture Tincture of the thing thing you took too k to make it will will stay in Fundo Fundo,, be b e it Red or White. If it is a white Subje Subjectum, ctum, you will will find find a white tincture, whiter than snow; snow ; but b ut if it is red, red , it will will shine shine like gold, just as the sun sun shines shines above ab ove Venus. Ve nus. And in this this way you you can ca n extract, sublimate sublimate,, the tincture tincture of Mercury Merc ury Sublimat Sublimatus us to the the Red Red or White. White. In the same manner manner you can extract extrac t the tincture tincture of Q E from iron iron or o r copp co pper er filings, filings, verdigris or burnt copp co pper, er, cinnaba cinnabar, r, Cerussa Ce russa or Minium, Minium, or from calcined calcined tin, tin, also from Calx Solis Solis or o r Lunae, Lunae, item from Antimon Antimony. y. In additi ad dition, on, you can add the tincture, tincture, which which you have have thus extracted extrac ted from sublimatio sublimatio n to the Red or the White, White, to gold or silver, silver, when they are dissolved, and put them in in Putrefacti Putrefac tio o nem. ne m. Thus Thus they can be joined to the said Medici Med icine, ne, and the color co lor wil will become bec ome all the the more more beautiful b eautiful during during Projection.
Know, Kno w, however, that tha t whenever you wish wish to extract extrac t something something you must each ea ch time time add j to the urine urine and distilled distilled vinegar, vinegar, which which must must be b e recti rec tifi fied ed of its its Terrestriality Terrestrialit y by dissolving and again congealing co ngealing before be fore you pour po ur it on the ground ground Mater M ateriia in the Recipients. Know, Kno w, in additi ad dition, on, that there is a great deal de al of secrecy secre cy in in the the extracti extrac tion on of this this tincture, more than one could believe. believe. For Fo r with with these tinctures tinctures you can mak makee Cements, Ce ments, in whatever Cement Ce ment you with with to t o Cement, Ce ment, or accompli acc ompliss h other wonderful wonde rful things things by Cementi Ce menting. ng. Item, you you can make Aquas Fortes Fo rtes with with these tinctures, tinctures, which which are red as blood and shine shine lik lik e a ruby. With these AFs you can do wonderful wonde rful things things during during Solu So lution, tion, to disclose disclose which which I have not got permission. permission.
Now No w Follow Some Annotatio Annotations ns Concern Conce rning ing Various Termini Termini Use Us e d in the Pre Pre parations
Liquefactio means making soft, soft, and it is is the root roo t of all things. things. Exaltio Ex altio of the spirit s pirit is Liquefactio is Liquefactio of of the bodies. The Salts of the bodies bo dies are mad madee in many many differe different nt ways. Solutio means melting, or also stamping. stamping. Calcinatio Calcinatio means means making chalk or o r calx. calx. It is is done d one in in sand, with with strong fire, fire, so as to draw dra w the the foul Sulphur Sulphur from a thing; thing; then, when such is is consumed, the Corpus Co rpus remains remains pure in in the cal ca lx. Therupon comes Inceratio comes Inceratio.. Inceratio means making the chalks subtle or o r fine, fine, so that the humidit humidity y may pass pa ss all the the better be tter through the Corpo Co rpora. ra. Ince Inceratio ratio is nothing nothing but grin grindin ding g and imbib imbibing ing till till the material turns into into wax, and a nd such such may easil ea sily y be disso dissollved or melted melted with a small small or gentle gentle fire. fire. Dissol Dissolutio utio means means delivery, delivery, release. release . It is done in in the bodi bod ies that are ar e calcined, calcined, and in in the the follow following ing manner: manner: Put the matte matterr that you wish wish to dissolve into a glass, glass, and stopp sto pper er itit well. well. Cover Co ver itit with with moist moist earth, ear th, and put on itit horse dung well sprinkled sprinkled with with water. wa ter. Let itit stand thus for 7 days. da ys. On On the 8th day da y it wil will be dissolved, and this this is Dissolutio by heat. But Disso Dissollutio of cold co ld humi humid d i ty consi co nsists sts in making making an edge ed ge and standing a glazed glazed vessel on o n it. Complete thi t hiss with a littl littlee water on the bottom. Let the glass hang above the water, but in such a way that it does not touch the water. water . Cover C over the gl glass vessel with a lilid, but put wax on the glass, glass, and sand on the the wax. wa x. Let itit stand thus for for one o ne day and one night, night, and itit will will dissolve. Coagulatio means making hard, and it is done in in this way: Take the aforementio ned glass glass with with the matte matterr that is is dissolved, and put it into into a test with with strained ashes, and lilight a fire fire under the test for 10 hours, hours, or till till the humidi humiditty has gone gone out. out. Then it will will look like minium; but it is white, like like a very white camphor. Rubifactio Rubifactio Salts Ammonici: Ammonici: Take *, Croc Cr ocus us Mars Ana, well pulverized pulverized together. Put this this into a glass glass and pour on it good distilled distilled wine wine vinegar, vinegar, three fingers fingers bread bre adth th above it. it. Let itit stand thus one day and one night, night, always stirring stirring well. well. Then alow it to dry gently gently over a mil mild d fire. fire. After
this, this, put the Crocus Cro cus Mars and the * into into a Sublim Sublima toriu tor ium m, and sublimate sublimate them. It will will desc d escend, end, red like like blood, blood , even if the the vin vinegar egar is not distilled. distilled. This This actuall ac tually y is of no consequence, consequenc e, it is is just as good. Rubifactio Rubifactio Vitrioli Vitrioli Romani: Romani: Graduate Grad uate it, and calcine calcine it in in a strong fire; fire; it will will become be come red re d like like blood. blood.
