980ggs g,9996g

MEDULLA ALCHYMIE
THE MARROW OF ALCHEMY
Written in Latin by George Ripley, Canon of Bridlington, which he sent oul of Italy anno L476. To th e A rc h -B is h o p o f y o rk .

Transiated

into

EngJ.ish

and now

revised

and

claused,

bu:

l{ILLIAIISALIVION
proffessor of physick

CH AP T ER

L XI

THE PREFACE TOTHE ARCH-BISHOP OF YORK,

I. plain T S hall to endeavour the S ir, to e x p lic a t e , open, wh ic h a n d ma k e

you, to,

S e c re t s

o f A L c h g mie , t h ro u g h the

I have

attained Countries i ng Forth,

by my T ra v e ls

ItaTg;

and other d.raw-

and Kingdoms for and S elec t in g of

space of Ro o t , from

-Nine years,

the

t ru e

a n d Ma rro w o f its most inward

Nature

(by a series and secret

Experiences)

R ecesses,

Ha b it a t io n s .

II.

The which

am moved and compelled e n t ire times A f f e c t io n s , past,

to and

from

the L o v e,

singular which un to

Good-wil1,

S in c e re

as wel-I as in you:

I now at f a it h f u lly

present (t h o r plainly it

bear b rie f ly ) and open-

A nd therefo re Secrets of

s h a ll this

declare L y, not

the

Art

to

you; d s if

Darkly

and Ae n ig ma t ic a lly ,

wa s d o n e u n de r

a Shadow or V ai1.

fff. the of of

S uch indeed same) that Defence, his

is

your

L if e

(y o u r

Wo rk s wit n e s s in g Balm, a Refuge of G o d . , a p illa r a m o b lig e d to

you are

as a healing to the

and S helt e r tor

Ch u rc h o f Re a s o n s , I

Holy Temple, these hidden Paths

wh ic h

reveal the

Mysteries, of Nature,

and make known to you not to rejoyce your

abscondite

o u tward l ea ping

Man only,

by a d d in g

He a lt h

a n d lo n g

L if e ,

up Treasures,

a n d e x t e rn a l

Ho n o u rs a n d A p p 1 a u s e ,

in to

the

World,

but

to that

excite

in

you the

highest

Devotion all lvlen,

God Almighty, to the

you might

become good. to to the

p r o fitable

Churc h ,

a Father

F a t h e rle s s ,

an d a S anctuary

to

th e Ne e d y a n d Dis t re s s e d .

IV. is

A nd in found

these

thin g s ,

I a m c o n f id e n t a n d T re a s u re of

of

you,

in wh o m P ru d e n c e ,

such a P ortion

V e rt u e , for

Piety,

and true

Wisdom, but

most chiefly,

that before

I your

know you to Eyes.

be such a one,

who has God always

V.

A nd therefore the reality Truth

I to

sp e a k t ru ly you, wit h I

a n d f e rv e n t ly , a ll f a it h f u ln e s s Elucidate rs with out,

a n d I will a c c o rd in g the undoubted

de clare to the

of my Soul;

shall

Verity, C ar e,

and declare and Diligence of; which

such thingsr I have sought

much Labour, a n d o b t a in e d the

knowledge h a n dled And in scure, seem to

I have seen with

my Eyes,

and have has done: nor obs h o u ld

with this lest

my Hands , matter that

a n d wh ic h my o wn s e lf n e it h e r b e t e d io u s to you,

I will love

wh ic h or

I p ro f e s s

be deficient

imperfect.

VI.

Whatever

I write,

s h a ll

open the t h e ma t t e r unto you;

s a me b rie f ly wh e re o f and that I

and sha1l if you

p la inly entreatr shall th e

beseeching

Go d , t h a t

rllay become profitable to put the

please faithful

same into t h e re o f ,

practice and not

you may find b e d e c e iv e d , that ox of all

experience time in vain:

spend your

For we know certainly,

- 2-

tr ansitory

things,

Ti me is

t ru ly

t h e mo s t p re t io u s .

VII.

Wherefore Friend)

I write

unto

you o n ly your

(honourable

and dearly

b e loved

such t h in g s unto

a s ma y b e p ro f it a b le ; Excellency, which I that the

making this Revealed this little

humbl-e suit

Secrets

and Experiments

send you in o r b e s t o we d

B ook, Ray n o t Men, who are

b e p ro s t it u t e d , naugrhty t ot

upon unworthy Pr i der

swoln t h e ir

up with Co v e t o u s n e s s .

or whose S ouls

a re b o u n d u p in

VIII. Summ of writing, it;

I requj-re Gold or for

not Silveri

of

you for nor

t h is

S e c re t , this

a g re a t in

d.o I put

Secret

you to for

bestow much Cost desire

and Expences upon these things

nor do I

my self

any reward, V e rit y ,

a g r ee not th a t sa ith, G old. is its

with

the

P hilo s o p h ic k c h a rg e a b le

wh ic h

p ro f e s s e s , I , I o rie n us of

W orks are not beware that A nd Dastine,

a n d E x p e n s iv e . in V a lu e t h is of

yo u s p e n d n o t h in g s a it h wit h the

Ma g is t e ry o n e No b le

the whole

Magistery

performed.

IX,

S ince

then Is it

it

is not

sor

in wh a t t h in g wh ic h H t h a t

is is will

o u r G o ld t o c a lle d Q u ic k or Q u ic k

be found? l i vi ng

in Me rc u ry ,

Gold? thin

Rasmand u s s a it h , water,

re d u c e

Gold into by its has in

must make it, he,

doe it, or

and Work it G o ld ,

contrary. its se1f,

For s a it h four

Q u ic k

liv in g

Natures, s a it h

and four he, if it s

humours or it s

E1 ements. C old with

A nd therefo re its Hot, and it s

y o u p u t re f ie Mo is t ,

Dry wit h

y o u s h a ll

-3 -

no t

only

have the

Humid it y wh ic h will of will

of

a ll

B o d ie s ,

but

you sha1l V iv e for ev e r .

ha ve a Menstruum, For the least part

d is s o lv e b e in g

A rg e n t

Me rc u ry

o n c e d is s o lv e d , Me rc u ry

the

d.issolved

Mercury

a lwa y s d is s o lv e

a d rn f in it un r .

X.

(Mercury for

may as we ll it contai n s

b e c a lle d them both, t h e re t o

O u ic k -G o 1 d , If A ir will

a . s e u ic k ma k e t h i s t h in g s , as

Si lver,

Separation,

we must p u t in it

d iv e rs But this

c o n t ra ry

Roger Bacon saith no t be done, that till Milk

speculo. is

putrefaction

can-

d j-s s o lv e d

in Wa t e r wh it e s e p a ra t e that

a s Milk, it s

pu trifie El ement, again fo r in

15 d a y s in it s E a rt h , then is

B . M. t h e n and after the Elixir is it it ,

and cleanse equal weight,

jo y n

it

mad,e compleate Cru d e , is f mp e rf e c t , a it any in to matter. )

S aturn

and Jupiter. in every there

Q u ic k -G o ld and yet in

a n d unfixt Bo dy, altho'

d e g re e ,

accounted

be n o f ix a t io n brought that to its

a n d t h e re f o re matter, of than

may be much sooner o ther them, of for the B odies, must

first

h a v e a n y p a rt

f ix a t io n time fixt

they them,

have much Labour

and long their

separate

and bring

them back into

xr .

For

saith

Lu7rg,

T h e E le me n t s

of

Me rc u ry

ma y b e d is -

solved,

and being

so dissolved, think of our

they Resoluble

may be separated.. seed t ot ma d e o n ly dissolved b y it

There be some that M ensttumt self, is

the wate r

A rg e n t

v iv e ,

because j-t does d is s o lv e p e a rls ;

both

Me t a ls , is .

a n d p re t io u s No w h o w t h is

Sto nes which we call

a n d s o it

-4 -

dissolving sh ew, but

},Ienstrun

is

made, not lik e put

only

Raymund seems to h is S p e c u lu m is mo s t it s

Roger B acon in

ma n n e r in the

ATc hgmia, where he sa it h , we ighty, into a Distilla t o ry ,

B o d y wh ic h

a n d d ra w f o rt h Win d ,

t h e re o f , (f o r

Sweet Ros, or Dew, wit h betwixt w ere of w hich well i ssue Tr u nk, every drop of

a lit t le

o r B re a t h : a Breath, A rg e n t wh ic h if

Waterr is the c a ll hand,

comes forth substance of

ds it and be and

a Man, which P hilosophers before

v iv e , it

the

o u r Me rc u ry ; wj-1I then we re Wild -

putrefied out

yield F ire

the more, out of a

forciblyr

Ers if when t h e

it

especially

Re d F u me c o me s , )

Thus have

yo u one of

our A rgent

V iv e s .

Xff. saith, ou r s; th e

To the then

same thing have you that is

Raymundus assents, Argent one of Vive, our in

where he is v iv e i called a lt h o t

which A rg e n t L ib ro another

and so it intent of

ind e e d

the

same P h ilo s o p h e r cap. 2 wa s t o u c h in g

A n ima e A rt is mo re n o b le be Our by the

Tr a nsmutatoriae, and more excellent Bu r ning-W ater, vi r tue Water, ( no t of which

Water

(supposed by some, to of the Gum of V it rio l, )

drawn o u t

most No b le a n d E x c e lle n t , only with often the d is s o lv e a f o re s a id the

a t t ra c t iv e Body of v iv e Sol c o m-

he did. not it

as he doth

A rg e n t

m o n ly dissolved) of that attractive

but

a ls o

the is

s a me s o la r d is p o s e d in

B o d y , b y f o rc e a mo re n o b le only of in the d s h e re -

V ir t u e ,

manneri M etalline afte r

as I my self E lixir, but

have seen d.one, not a ls o in the E 1 ix ir

L if e ,

sha1l

be declared ,

Ch a p . 7 L ,

72.Sect.

-5 -

xr r rMercury ments,

rt

is

fancied speak, to Life

b y a n E x p e rie n c e d and said, r am the

p h ilo s o p h e r, Father to (i. e . the of

that

did

Enchant-

Brother of

the

Sun, and Sister o f win e ,

Moon, I am the

th e water

dra wn o u t I ki ll that

out of

Wi ne of uercurg) alive that which

wh ic h wa s a liv e ,

a n d ma k e

was dead; the

r make Black, ,so-z of that like sun,

and T make white, and thereand zac h im by

and r carry fore he that

in my Belly can joyn clear

philosophers;

me after

r am d.issorved, water, called

made the vir ginis with

pure 1 with

and silver the

my B rot h e r not only but

h e s h a 1 1 t in g e he was before

my Soul,

muih more than if

an hundred L u na'

foId,

also

he be joyned. with f a ir wa t e r a n d b rig h t .

my sister (t h is )

he sharl is

make a 1 l

t h in g s

L a c virginis

a silve r-lik e

s o me wh a t t h ic k .

-6 -

CHAPTER

LXII

A FARTHER DISCOURSE OFTHE PHILOSOPHERS I'IERCURY.

I. its Of this Elements Mercury, are speaks another P h ilo s o p h e r joyned thus, wh e n

separated, weight,

and again then is it

and mixed

together El i xir

by equal upon saturn until

made a compleat it s is E le me n t s d is s o lv e d : cannot and

and J u p it e ri s u c h t ime Water, ought

but a s it the

b e separated, of this

Metalline

Artist

to draw the

T inc tu te .

ff.

(The E lements

of

Me rc u ry

b e in g

s e p a ra t e d . ,

a n d a g a in Elixir the we ig h S e c re t s p u t t in g wh ic h d o n e ,

commixed by equal compleat Sp irit, in g Salt, the with

weight

or proportion,

make the of

often

d is s o lv in g

a n d c o n g e a lin g

which must be d o n e u p o n a Ma rb le B ody, and then t a k in g it s v e ry we ig h t s u b t il,

Stone, of the

grinding

them tog e t h e r that

then

the m into take it

B alneo, out,

t h e y ma y b e d is s o lv e d ; congelation a dry

and make your and then, etc.)

Fire,

do so

ofte ntimes,

fII.

A nd therefore

to is

c o n f irm

t h is , of

Ra g mu n d . u s s a it h , one Vile another wit h it is thing, t h in g

O and

my Son, Our Tincture is is decked, finished, for

drawn out

a n d e n d e d wit h we d o F e rme n t beca u s e h e s a it h it

wh ic h G o ld :

more Noble; it

v u lg a r

He calls

V ile,

s o me t ime s f o u n d

-7 -

in V ile because fi l thy th ing, or fixt

P lacesr

E rs in

O ld d ra u g h t s : it but is

a ls o found

it not

is

V ile , in a

(as Raymundus saith) form, of and ugly shape, (s a it h

only is in

b e c a u s e it is

e v e ry

the which

A lb e rt u s )

ma d e a p e rme n e n t

W ater.

IV.

(Here is

to

be Noted, of

that the

Raymundus commands this Body of venus, c a lx wh ic h of c o mm o n

Tin cture Tin cture or Vulgar

to be drawn o u t

he does Ferm e n t wit h Gold. )

the

p re p a re d

V.

A nd therefore quantity thereby the least of the sixty

sait h our

A v ic e n , Gold,

it

behoves you to our Silver, to

have a the to end, have

great that at

and of

humours may be drawn forth pou n d s we ig h t , for your in wh o le s k in s , wh ic h lif e . will

z viz.

be a sufs a it h , the

ficient b e st

quantity is

He a ls o

Mercurg

brough t

f ro m rq o u n t p a s u lla n e . in a ll to your con-

O f this

Mercurg,

Gebe r s a it h , Metcurg

y o u mu s t la b o u r read it,

work t<r separate vin ce for

or as others in

or over-come cannot cannot

l4e rc u rg , de s t ro y repair

c o mmix in g

a n d c o n jo y n in g ; in it s

he that

rie rc u rg r or restore t i1 1 it is

o r u n d o e it it:

composure, with it

nor may you work

as Raymund sait h ,

d is s o lv e d .

VI.

A nd therefore with that is

it which

is is

s a id ,

jo y n

not for

that of

wh ic h

is wit h a ll it is

C r ude, th e

De c o c t e d ; E lix ir,

that

o n ly

Ferment,

made t h e Vive.

wh ic h

does congeal

manner of Argent

Wherefore

as Rayniund saith,

-8 -

n e ver

congealed. withou t

a c o n g e a lin g s e c re t :

s u T p h u r; for in the

a n d b e in g d is s o lv e d ,

congealed,

you have a g re a t is a g re a t

De eocted Mercurg,

a n d h id d e n

My s t e ry .

VIT . certain p r oper the

A nother subtil V eins, thin

P hilosop h e r Fume, which dispersin g Fume if it

a ls o

s a it h ,

that forth it s

t h e re from s e lf

is its

does spring

a n d s p re a d . in g be wi-sely proper f ixation t ru e E lix ir) Body.

a b ro a d .

which

gathered Veins

together or Matri-x, thin it Fume,

again, will in the

and spri-nkIed make not

upon its

onJ-y a certain mad e t h e or

(of which but a ls o

short

space is

c le a n s e s

Impure Metals

A lc h g mic k

VIfI. rather dr e w it w hich not

(as to

the

Tinc t u re works

me n t io n e d of the

at

Sect.

4 above,

it he

seems by other out of

said

Raymundus, that v ile Sect. to t h in g , 6. by b e u n d e rof

Quick-S iL v e rr made .

dnd no other me a n t a t De c o c t e d , f s to the

lulercurg is the

Wh a t is the

joyning of not

Crude wit h

stood

joyning to put

Crude ltercurg to is is

Decocted

Bodies

o r Metals, M ercurg. cu r g being C r ude' its will hot it

but

t h e m De c o c t e d . , i. e , h id d e n an hot s a t u rn . its a g re a t s e c re t ,

d is s o lv e d for Me r-

A nd herein dissolved, is cold

a n d mo is t So that cold

S p e rm; b u t if y o u p u t rif ie Earth, Cru d e , you but is by a

and d ry

and moist

Sperm with

and dry is not

have Quick-S ilver Mercury.

d is s o lv e d , in

wh ic h

Decocted hidden

So that

Crude l4ercury it is

dissolved dissolved

a great

Mystery.

And however

-9 -

Fir e

not

natural fixed.

or a g a in s t )

Na t u re ,

yet

it

mu s t b e mix e d,

co njoyned,

IX.

This

A lchymick are in its

B o d y is in

c a 1 le d

L e p ro u s

G o I d , wh e re in but it not is in f igh t

Go rd and silver, or or appearance; S piritual

E s s e n c e a n d p o we r, o r De p t h ,

P ro f u n d it y

A iro u s the same Body are

Go1d, wh ic h made clean is

n o n e c a n o b t a in , and pure. a thousand

u n le s s

Body be first after the h e at.

The which times better

impure than

mundification, Bod.ies of

coInmon soL and. Luna,

Decocted

by natural

X.

(This

Leprous

Go ld t h e the

P h ilo s o p h e rs

c a ll , A c lro p , o r Lead. T h is the A lc h y le s s e r

Adrup,

which

Gold is his

P h ilo s o p h e rs h e c a lls

m i c k B ody (in w ork' Body, th e both for

Con c o rd )

v e n u s in is

Gold a n d s ilv e r, easie to

b e c a u s e it either:

a Ne u t ra l and by this

and very

be changed to

sense of

sect.

4 a n d g . a f o re g o in g the uncleansed

ma y b e mo re e a s ily Body, is to be

understood. p u trified with its

The Earth, with its

ow n wa t e r, wh ic h

a n d a f t e rwa rd s is c a lle d the

n o u ris h e d S u lp h u r of

tttothers Milk,

Na ture. )

Xf .

The f j-rst water,

Matter which

of

this

unclean in

Alchymical

Body 5_s the

a viseous Ear th.

i-s t h ic k e n e d of t h is

t h e B o we ls o f

A nd therefore

I mp u re B o d y (a s v in c e n t

- 10-

saith) n a me is

is

made the or

great A dru p ,

Elixir vLz.

of the

the

Red and White, .Lead. from

whose F ro m the

A drop,

P h ilo s o p h e rs

the which L e ad of d.rawn of (wherein i ts the

Raymundus commands an Oy1 to P hilosophers (s a it h f re ) I e t

be drawn: t h e re

the

be an oyl this OyI from o ut

a Golden Colour i if is

you can separate and Fire of

Our second Tincture which thereof, is it

Nature)

Flegm, Secret

wa t ris h n e s s , the

a n d wis e ly space of Stone.

s e a rc h

you may in the

thirty

days

p e r form

the Work of

P h ilo s o p h e rs

XfI. trable,

This

Oyl does not amicable but it

only

make the

Medicine to all or

peneBodies Secret of or fire

being

and conjoynable is also the

Corporeal of Nature;

things, which

hidden

does so augiment the so joyned, of

Excellencies that it

those

Bodies

to whom j-t is infinite

makes them

to exceed in

p ro p o rt io n s to

g o o d n e s s a n d p u rit y . A L c h g mia e , wh ic h

So much as does appert a in is only for the if E lixir

t h e Wo rk o f is

o f Me t a ls

n o w s u f f ic ie n t ly y o u will f in d of this

o p e ned, which that no great

you rig h t ly is required

u n d e rs t a n d , to the

cost

performance

Ph ilosophick

Operation .

XIII. Wa ter, fie r cely

( The fnnatural sharp, than peircing, E lemental which

F ire

is

Our Aqua Foetens r or a ll B o d ie s the mo re

Sea-

a n d b u rn in g F ire ,

ma k in g o f

Body of so7 , has not

a meer Spirit, po wer to do. )

cofirmon Elemental

Fire

-1 1 -

XIV . to

B ut this

E lixir the E l-ix ir

of

Me t a ls of L if e

is is a ll

not that the

a ll

that

in t e n d

shew you;

wh ic h Ric h e s of all f

I c h ie f ly of the shall t h is Earthly 1. Shew

d e signed, World, things in

infinitely

e x c e e d in g

and to which cannot

the most excellent

be compared.. Kingd.om, the 2.

And therefore, Elixir

the MineraL divers both

of Metals,

and that

after Elixir

manners . of Metals, E lixir of

fn the Vegetable L if e . 3. a lb e it

Kingd.om, the

and of L if e

f n t h e A n ima l the s a me E lix ir o f Me t a l1 s .

Kin gdom, the of Life is

o n ly ; for the

most excelle n t

t ra n s mu t a t io n

XV.

There

are not
of

three to

things

necessary vLz.

to

this

Art,

of which

you ought
( f he fi re

ignorant,

1. The Fire
E l ementaT,

wherewith:
and w hi ch is

N a tu re ,

InnaturaT,

ag ainst, is

Nature,

destroy in g

the

s p e c ia l

f o rm o f wh e re b y :

aIl

that the

dissolved

therein.)

2 . T h e Wa t e r t h in g

(a s in

C ompound watet. ) congeaTed E arthr pr o per order.

g. A n d t h e ds wh it e

wh e re o f : or a ll

(j s ma d e t h e wh ic h in their

a s s n o w* )

* ( c ompare with

Golden Ch a in o f

Ho me r-HWN)

- 12-

CHAPTER

LX I I I

. OFTHE STONE, AND PH I CKFI RES IV1I NERAL I LOSOPH

I. On a time as I have learned, where the working but at it , tuatter of there the was an Assembly of S e c re t stone, and spoke and

Philosophers, the their ttlanner of Opinions,

wa s p ro p o u n d e d . one younger L e a rn in g , that

S e v e ra l in Years,

length, in

( a s was thought) thougrhts saith he,

Inferio u r

d e c la re d Secret. When they

h is I know had t h e ir

and knowled.ge concerning the Regiments sdy, of the

Fires. a ll

he a rd what he could p e a ce for a while.

they

a s a ma z e d h e ld

II.

At

length, which

one of thou with hast

the

Co mp a n y ma d e a n s we rr thou art Master of

If

t h is

be true

said,

us all' Right the t h e F ire .

and thereupon Hand of Se cret

one consent,

they

gave him the gathered, c h ie f ly that in

Fellowship. of this

Whereupon they T in c t u re

wonderfu l

la y

IIf.

B ut the Fire another another

diff e rs innatu ra l against Inf lu e n c e sun, the but

after

s e v e ra l

ma n n e rs ;

one

N atural. Elemental,

o r p re t e rn a t u ra l, Nature. of

another Fire

The Natural

do e s come from the Asterisms, Ingendred, or the not only

SoJ, and Luna, and the t h e wh ic h a re

irf o o n a n d S t a rs , o f burning a ls o Waters, the Na t u ra l

and potential V irt u e s of

Va p ours of Minerals, livin g things.

-1?-

IV.

The Innatural

or P re t e rn a t u ra l

F ire ,

is

a t h in g and

a ccidental, ca lIed Water, ature which Sect.

as Heat in

a n A g u e , b e in g a mo is t

ma d e A rt if ic a lly , O u r g e n e ra t in g the temper-

by the the of its fire

P hilosop h e rs of the first

F ire ,

Degree; a Bath,

and for a S t e w, of it

Heat is is the

c a lle d

a Du n g h il, Stone.

in See

Dunghil 13 of

made the former

putrefaction where

our is

Chapter,

more amply

d e fined.

V.

The E lemental and is

fire ,

is

that

wh ic h

d o e s F ix , things.

Ca lc in e

and Burn,

nourished

by Combustible

Vf,

The fire

against

Na t u re the is that

(wh ic h

is

a v io le n t that

s t ro n g , which is

Corrosive, d issolved Fr e ts, for m of of the

destroying therein,)

special wh ic h the

form of in

P o we r Dis s o lv e s , P o we r o f the

Infects, the

and d e s t ro y s it the

g e n e ra t iv e the

S tone: with

d o e s Dis s o lv e lo s s of it s

S t o n e in t o

Wa t e r

Cloud,

Na t u ra l, a g a in s t for

A t t ra c t iv e , Na t u t e wh ic h and (a s

an d special

Form,

and is from it s

c a lle d

F ire

R aymundus saith) N ature b r in gs put to

o p e ra t io n : a g a in s t t h e re

that

does make, this to it. Corruption,

f ire u n le s s

Na t u re b e f ire

d . e s t ro y s of Na t u re

VfI. (as in

Here the

as

Raymundus

saith, for

Iies as of

contrary xhe the fire fixed to

Operations, against Body; into the a

Compoanded Dissolve is

Water) the

.lvature, Volatj-le

does Spirit

Spirit

thereby

constrained

retire

-L 4 -

fixed,

Earth,

(a Congealed

Earth

as

White

as

Snow.'1

v r r r. spirit
Body of

F o r th e fi re of the fixed
the is Volatile here again

of Natur e does congeal the Dissor ved Body into

being by

a glorious
by of the

Earth:
same

and the
fire against into

fixed, the fire

Nature,

Nature

resolved

the water cloud: again

of

Philosophers,

but

not

into is

the water returned

of

the

and so by this into its

means the of is

fixed Flying,

back is

wonted Nature ponderous

and the moist

made d=y,

and the

made light.

fX. is

B ut yet not

he saith,

t h is

f ire

wh ic h but it

is

a g a in s t is fhe

Na t u re f ire

the Work of pureTg

Ou r Ma g is t e ry , T h is

w hieh is

Natura T . the

h e S a it h ,

b e c a u s e h e wo u ld Mineral these Erixir, three v iz . the Work

shew us thereby and the se veral ' Mi-neral, d ivers

difference

between the For s e v e ra l that

Vegetable, E lixirs

and the Animal. t h re e

are ma d e o f

wa t e rs , for

Vegetable,

and Animal,

which

serve

ways.

X. of

A nd First the other Water,

we will in order. (vLz.

f re a t

of

t h e Min e ra l

E lix ir, Nature is

then a

The Fj_re against the

Mineral of

Humour or Tincture in it s to Min e ra l the

drawn out S p irit ) v e ry Elixir,

B ody of

V enus Disso lv e d serving

strong

and l'lortal.

only

Mineral

XT.

This

lt{ineral fire

Wate r,

o y F ire

a g a in s t

Na t u re , stinking four

is Men-

drawn with str uumr

Elemental,

from a certain a n d is ma d e o f

as Raymundas s a it h ,

t h in g s .

-1 5 -

It

is

the

strongest

Water

in

t h e Wo rld , in c re a s e

wh o s e o n ly

S p irit , the

( saith Tin cture with

he) does wonderf u lly of the Ferme n t : Spirit, for

a n d mu lt ip ly G o ld is Spirit

h e re

So1 or

T in g e d is the

the Mineral of

the which

Ivlineral

strength ne ss.

the most simple

suTphur without

much Earthi-

XIf. Ad r up, natural i ts

(Thin Mineral V enus, which Roman Vitriol, Tincture,

Wa t e r is is the

the

d ro p p in g T in c t u re for the

of

A d ro p o r the

n o b le

c a lle d

and which is c a lle d

abundance of

noble

Ro ma n G o id . )

XIII. others Er r ,

This

some do c a ll of the

the

S p irit

of

the

G re e n L g o n , a lmo s t a ll

the blood

G re e n L q o n . . wh e re in for t h e G re e n L g o n o f

and are deceived: Ls that tifted

t h e p h i-J a ll and and

oso phers, things are

Lgo n t b y wh o s e V irt u e up from the Bowels of

a t t ra c L iv e , the Earth,

the Winter-like fl ou rish:

Caverns,

making a ll

them to Wax green the E lix irs

whose Child is to

(f o r

a re t o b e

ha d from it)

us mo s t a c c e p t a b le

a n d s u f f ic ie n t .

XfV.

(The Child of

of

Ph ilo s o p h e rs Child is

is

g e n e ra t e d strength of

of of

t h e ir SuIare

Green Lyon, phur, the both

which

had the

White

and Red; Our two Sulphurs of the P h ilo s o p h e rs ,

Nature

GoId and S ilver Treasure. )

a n d t h e ir

hidden

-1 6 -

xv. is

of

this

child

of

the of

Green r,yon of Sulphur which White the

the

philosophers not

drawn the

strength

and Red, but two best

Burning

as Avicen

saith,

are

things of: the

the Alchymist and this knowledge I

I I

can take sufficient the

to make his to be said., which

Gold and silver for is the attaining

is of

Green Lyon: dissolved. (i. e .

so called,

because,

that with is
M ilk , c alT e d

when he is

he is

streight

ways adorned of Na t u re

a green vesture. dissol-ved

it th e is

wh e n o u r s u lp h u r is
I and

in

its

own Me n s t ru u m, wh ic h
w i th ) thrs gl reenness

t h e v irg in s
theref ore

c T o t,h e d Gre e n

Lyon.

xvr from which, stone' it

B ut of with the

the'Green a strong,

Lgon of fire is

F o o rs , drawn

t h is

we s d y , in

that the

Aquafortis,

aforesaid

Philosophers

Lyon of

the Mineral Name. eat, the

ought

to be Elixirated, it were better tha n that

and assumes its r or G o ld , safer, wh ic h to is

Ralrmundus sai-th, Eye s of the Fire

a B asaLisk, against

ma d e wit h

Nature.

xvrr-

And r say aIso, is

that

the

things

from whence the a n d A z o x h : i. e . d ro p p in g s of

sa m e A quafortis Vi tr iol C op per, the the Natural,

drawn is

g re e n v it rio l vIz. the

not

A rt if ic ia l, Ro ma n v it rio T , the

ca77ed. also

Ro ma n G o ld , b y ma n y o f its noble Tincture,

Philosophers, whi-ch Tincture

from

abundance of with

must be Fermented

conrmon Gold-

at

XVIII. str ength, in the

How great the Fire

and Secret ag a in s t of the

a Virtue, is , the the

then,

and of, what a p p e a rs Spirit, Snowy whitehis Abridgwith is

Na t u re Body of in the

e v j-d e n t ly Volatile form of of

construction by its vulgarly

being ness.

sublimed the end of Vive SpJ-rit

Raymundus in

Epistle this

ment saith, the

feed Argent the

with of

Oy1, vj-z. Quintessence

Oy1, wherewith etc.

the

thickened,

XTX . na tural

For want of P rinciple, S alts, is of to

suc h , not

Na t u ra l A rt if ic ia l,

V irt io l,

the

t ru e

and

(a s v in c e n t cut

s a it h ) and gnaw work you to into

m ade of Metals, you fail Calcine a Calx Mercury fixed, Sulphur,

S ulphurs , be chosen, desire .

a n d . A 1 u ms , wh ic h lest in the

end of

your will

your

(T h e P h ilo s o p h e rs tiIl it

So1 with

Ivlercury Crude,

be brought

Red as Bl-ood: Here comes in together, but whether brought it is into to

the work of

SoI and

a dry

Red Pouder and Mercury or

be done with is d o u b t f u l. )

the W ater of

h im,

-' l R -

CHAPTER

LXIV

THE I\ANNER OFELIXIRATION l^lITH FIREAGAINST NATURE, THE

I. vi zTake the first S o1 , Ca lc in e d S p irit , in the v e ry wit h c le a n , the f irs t Wa t e r, in t o le s s e r be

the Mercurial of B lood, to

a n d b ro u g h t (in

the Color time it is

space of This be,

20 days,

not

be done. ) wo u ld

Calcination

cannot

so profitable, cur ializ'd gether to into that

ds it

u n le s s a s it

S o 1 b e f irs t ma y c le a v e in

Me rto-

such a t h i. n n e s s , to which as 1 . it to

must be joyned 24.) s t ra in e d

a 24 fold a of

pr o portion, cl ean th e Linnen

(vLz.

t h ro u g h

C1oth,

wit h o u t

a n y re ma in in g

substance

Gold.

II. it

I my self may certainly, side,

have seen it in

so ordered B o lt -

and done;

and then on

a s t ro n g

He a d . , we ll in

Luted

e ve ry fo r

except

on t h e

T o p r b o y lin g b e p re c ip it a t e d

a s t ro n g in t o

F ire

the

space of like

20 da y s ,

a Re d )

Pouder,

Cinnaber, of this

(a11 which

I have seen performed. s o f ix , it s as that s h a ll

Every particle if not it be put fume or

P o u d e r y o u s h a ll I ro n P la t e ,

upon a Re d -Ho t fly away.

S p irit

TIf. N ature; ag a inst

This

P ouder Diss o lv e Dissolved , from it,

wit h , a b s t ra c t

or

in

our

F ire

a g a in s t the F ire of the as wit h

being Nature

t h e Wa t e r o f t ill the

s o lo n g

substance

Po u der so Dissolved, an Oyl; which Oyl,

do re ma in first , wit h

in

t ' h e V e s s e l, f ire ,

d s t h ic k and after

a soft

a stronger,

fix

into

d ry

P o u d e r.

IV. l i ttl e it in

(This

W ork is

not at

to

b e d o n e a ll t il1 it

at

once,

but

by wit h in t o Dis the

and little the Color of

a t ime ,

g o e s t h ro u g h it p re c ip it a t e S e ric o n : S a l A n a t ro n , in a lo n g

B lo o d ;

t h e n will

a Red. P ouder, solve it with

called

by the

P h ilo s o p h e rs

as much o f then it

O u r V e g e t a b le it in b a ln e o ,

spa ce of Re ceptory, it

an hour, till

set

be c le a n ly

d is s o lv e d , the v e ry so will

a n d b e c o me s a s softest heat,

were a fine to

W ine,

wh ic h wit h

make it pure

Evaporate, and of

and Congeal, p a rt s .

you have a

S tone,

su b t il

V.

A1so if

you dissolve Spirit of

this

same Red Pouder of prepared

Mercury

in Water or and Al-bertus Go 1d, which with carry not a solar always the

Common Sa1t, you shall

as Bachon Salt of

have taught,

have an Oyl or will me lt T h is

no Fj-re ca n d e s t ro y , Color with of upo n a P la t e you, this

wh ic h of

a n d t in g e T re a s u re

Venus. you go: in

wheresoever p re p a re d

Who knows Wo rk s ,

S ecret of

S a lt

O u r le s s e r

kno ws Iittle

the

hid d e n

t h i-n g s o f A lc h y mie . )

VT.

Try this

fixt

P ou d e r st ill

(a t

Sect.

3. above) the

for

the

fixa tion, against will th ick

reiterate Nature

t h e Wo rk wit h

s a me F ire and it in a B o d ies wo rk s

upon the

same Pouder Ten times, Pouder, A rg e n t but V iv e ,

be dryed Oyl,

up no more into will t u rn

remain

the which

a n d a ll a ll

j - nto pure A lchymick

Go 1 d , s u f f ic ie n t ly

good for

- 20-

of

the

GoLdsmixh,

but

not

for

l"ledicine

for

I"Ian's

Body.

VII. i r ated th e Fi r e

A Second wdy, by the said

Gold is Fire

much more wonderfully E a t u re ,

EIix-

a g a in s t t h is

c o mp o u n d e d wit h Let v it rio l of or in a the

Fire of

NaturaT, Nature, of

after

ma n n e r.

made o f

t h e mo s t s h a rp jo y n e d V it rio l

Hu mid it y r together (c a 7 L e d

m oisture

Grapes, the

a n d . S e ric o n , Min e ra l A z o t h r)

M ass, with o f Adropt Sal Nitre,

Natural

the Gum a n d wit h

ot

vixrioT

ma d e s o me wh a t d t y ,

be dissolved .

VfII. cast White

First away. like

A scends a F a ir, Then a White Milk, which tiII

We a k , F le g ma t ic k the

Wa t e r,

wh ich

Fume, making

Vessel in t o

appear the b e c o me s F u me

F u me mu s t b e g a t h e re d i-t c e a s e s , T h is and the of

r eceiverr cle a r, is the of

so long its

Vessel

own Colo r. Menstr u u m, This

wa t e r is if

t h e Wh it e

stinking Nature. Nature

wh ic h

c a lle d the

O u r Dra g o n Dragon Natural, p la c e . of

against against

Menstruum, would s p e a k in

said Fire

was absent, hereafter

be our it s

w hich we shall

p ro p e r

IX. L.fhe 3.

(Ralzmundus saith, Composition Vive, bodg. of which 4.

this SaI is

water

is 2.

mad.e of

four

things2

Amarum.

Menstruum in

Foetens. everg

Argent

a common substance Vitriol.

combustibLe

Mineral

X.

This

compounded Water Mineral, together,

and Water Vegetable, as aforesaid,

being

mixed

and made one Water

-2 L -

do th

work contrary

op e ra t io n , it

wh ic h

is

wo n d e rf u l, a n d d ry , a n d jo y n s it

it p u t ri-

D i s solves fie s

and congeal s , it

ma k e s mo is t asunder k it ls

and purifies;

d iv id e s it it it

t o g e t h e r; it it

i - t destroys

and restor e s ; agai n ;

a n d ma k e s a liv e ; a n d h a rd e n s ;

w ounds and heals makes thin

ma k e s s o f t

and thick; rt

resolves

compounds,

and com-

pounds again: the same.

begins

the work and makes an end of

xr.

These two Minerar

waters

compounded together and striving of s a t a iia z to gather

in

one, one

are the ag a inst White other. but or

two Dragons Fighting the other in the

F lo o d

v rz .

The the

Fume and the And here or

Red; and one of solutory wit h

them shal1 ought to

devour

the

Vessels

be Luted Ma s t ic k ,

gently,

closed

L in n e n

c lo t h r o r wit h

common Wax, or

Cerecloth.

XfI. Vessel

These two Dragons and not Fire, and if of the without; they they Fire, your will

are Fire

and Water, if the

within feel of the

the any

and therefore rise up to

they top

exteriour Ve ssel, str ength you will

be y e t they

f o rc e d will

by the the

v io le n c e v e s s e l,

or and so

b re a k

lose

a1I

Wo rk .

xrrr-

This compounded water aforesaid,, d o e s D i sso 1ve, and lifts E a rth . it

does congeal as up into a glor ious of the

much as it c r y s ta l l i n e

T his is our secr et dissolution

s t o n e, w h i ch i s a l w a ys done with

the conger ation of its

- 22-

w ater. Na ture;

The Fire therefore

of

Nat u re

is

h e re p u t stone

to

the

F ire of

a g a in s t it s a g a in s t it s But Na t ur e '

as mu c h a s t h e of

h a s lo s t

fo r m by the N ature; for m ,

power and s t re n g t h gotten

t h e wa t e r,

o r F ire a g a in of

so much has it by the virtue against of

a n d re c o v e re d

t h e wa t e r,

o r F j-re o f Na t u re . the F ire of

the Fire ca n not

Nature ,

b Y t h e me a n s o f

be destroY ed.

- 23-

CHAPTER

LXV

THE PRACTICE WITH THE SAIDCOIV]POUNDED l.lATER, UPON THE

OF CALX THE BODY DISSOLVED,

I. Calx The Practice of the with the said Compounded Water, and prepared: O y l, ) put the to upon the

Body duly

dissolved a t h ic k

Take the it s o mu c h (i.e.

p r e pared of the

B ody (made wit h

Compounded Water Calx with

as may cover Our Vegetable T h e Wa t e r will dj-ssolving Ice 1 with

same Calx

Our prepared de pth the ing of of half

Menstruum) p re s e n t ly the the Stone, drying

by the b o il- o ve r and liftup also

an fnch. external the

caTx without it the up into said

form of

Water.

I1 . th e th e

The said form of residue shall

caTx bein g

s o d is s o lv e d

a n d s u b lime d t h is is

in t o done,

rce, of

you mu s t t a k e

a wa y ; a f t e r in

the again the

Ca lx re ma in in g be we ll said d ry e d

t h e V e s s e l, F ire ,

u n d is u p o n wh ic h be-

solved, put for e, is

by the

so much of dissolving,

Compounded Water as you did a n d d ry in g , t i1 1 the

sub limin g

Ca lx

wholly

dissolved.

fff.

The substance into

thu s

d is s o lv e d ,

s u b t ily

s e p a ra t e d

and brought shal1 Na ture r e ctified,

a Pouder,

must be put

(as thereafter of the Fire of f irs t end, we l l that

be shewed) into (which js

a good quantity the

a Qu in t e s s e n c e ) we ll

s a me b e in g to the

and the V e s s e l

stopp'd,

- 24-

the means of curing an Oyl; simplicity the the

the

heat heat will

outwardly to work,

administred it

unto

it,

prointo

inward which of

may be dissolved by reason of of

soon be done, o r s imp le

the

the Wat e r,

F ire

Na t u re .

rv.

And therefore

when you have brought and prepared (then is with

the the

said said

pouder Com-

so dissolved, pound.ed water unto sight)

sublimed, into

an oyI

our

Menstruum of

visible the de-

by putting rectified

thereto F ire

a good quantity of Na t u re , said

a foresaid clared; fr om the Temperate of the

s imp le or

a s b e f o re

then

abstract

draw away the the

Water again a mo is t , the bottom

same Oyl, heate

by Dis t illin g till there

s a me in in

so long O y l.

remains

Glass a thin

V.

This

Oyl,

the

oftne r Fire of

it

is

d j-s s o lv e d and the

wit h said

the

s a id

simple

rectified

Nature,

Water so much the

Abstracted m o r e will

or Distilled the said

by a Temperate

heatr

Oy l b e ma d e s u b t il

a n d t h in .

vrsol

with

the

said

oyl

(provided the

the

calx

be the or

calx

of of ex-

or Luna) B odies,

you may incere the said

substances f irs t the

calces

other alted, Wa ter, the

B o d ie s

b e in g with Ice

d is s o lv e d ,

sublimed,

and prepared

said

Compounded t ill Oy1 of that by

in manner and f o rm o f of the said

a f o re s a id , and thin Bodies

fnceration the said like

subtil of other

So1 and

Luna, and to

substances Wax.

be made fixed,

flow

- z5-

vr r . ge al

with A rgent

which V ive

flowin g into your

substance,

you shaIl

not

o n ly

conas

p e rf e c t

So1 and Luna, but

a c c o rd in g also

you have prepared the same fluxible

Medicine,

you shall

with and

and flowing imp e rf e c t

substance, B o d ie s ,

transmute (a s t h e y

change all

such other

we re ,

whose Calces fi r s t into

were so sublimed, or lif t in g

and from whom, &t their up, they took t h e ir b e g in n ing )

sublimating

So1 and Luna aforesaid.

VIII. its Fi r e black Action fore

A nd this proper of the

thin

a n d s u b t il firs t s e a le d b e in g

OyI, up,

b e in g to

put

in t o in

Kemia the

V essel, first

p u t rif ie

degre e , Pitch.

mo is t :

j-t b e c o me s a s have its

as liquid in the

The fire c o rru p t it ,

may then (t h e

B ody,

to

s a me B o d y a s b e -

so opened.. )

IX.

Therefore

it

grows f irs t workin g whic h the in

b la c k , t h is mo is t is

lik e

me lt e d

p it c h ,

b e cause the be g et

heat

B o d y , d . o e s f irs t the f irs t s ig n is of the

a blackness,

b la c k n e s s Corruption of

Corruption: generation is

and since of another;

of the is

one thing

therefore

Body corrupted, apt,

generated

a B ody Ne u t ra l, and applica b le to apply it

wh ic h unto to.

c e rt a in ly

d e clinable, ever

e v e ry

F e rme n t wh a t s o -

you please

X.

B ut the

Ferment mu s t b e a lt e re d and th e wh o le

together of

wit h

the

Alchgnick

B ody;

substance

our Stone or

- 26-

EL ixir

must partake it will

of be o f

t h e Na t u re no effect.

of

the

Q u in t e s c e n c e ,

otherwise

XI.

A nd between the which will

s a id

s ig n

of

b la c k n e s s s a id

a n d p e rf e c t ' r t h e re Colors

wh iteness, will appear

f o lI o w Co1or,

the

b la c k n e s s ,

a green as the

and as many variable Man is able to

afterwards

mind of

conceive.

XIr . like near

When the the

present

Wh it e

Co lo r

s h a ll

b e g in

to

appear

eyes of

fishesrthen

may you know that will

Summer is h a p p ily for Co lo r.

at hand,

after

w h ic h A u t u mn o r Ha rv e s t wh ic h the in the lo n g

fo 1 1ow with

ripe is

fruit, after

lo o k e d

Re dness: This

Pa1e, Ashy,

a n d c it rin e

XIII. Course, its

First from

the its

S un d o e s p e rf e c t ly Meridional height into

De s c e n d b y it s and G1ory,

due

through Pale, of the

gross

and natural shining

solution in the

an imperfect p a rt s

an d A shy Co1or, West, which Color: of the is

O c c id e n t a l

somewh a t o f it of

a y e llo wis h the

o r B ric k

dust parts of

from thence E arth, cloudy, being

goes to

Septentrional wa t ris h

a V a ria b le

b la c k n e s s , wa t ris h n e s s .

a d ark,

alterab le ,

p u t re f a c t io n

XIV. w i th

Then it

Ascends up to

the

Oriental

parts,

shining

a more perfect W hite: his

C ry s t a llin e ,

S u mme rlik e , F ie rg

a n d P a ra Ch a rio t , L if e ,

d isieal d ir e cting

Lastly,

h e A s c e n d s h is to h is

Course u p a g a in

Me ri-d io n a l

-2 7 -

I
I I

Perfection b r ightness, in

and Glory, splendor,

t h e re

to

Ru I e a n d S h in e , p e rf e c t io n ,

in

f ire , even

a n d t h e h ig h e s t a n d f mp e ria l

the highest,

most p u re ,

Re d n e s s .

XV. b e ing

When this in its

aforesaj-d V essel d u ly

s imp le s e a le d ,

Oyl of is

the

a lt e re d F ire thing,

Body, d . is -

by the

thus

posed, nature in the

what

is

there

more than

one simple Sulphur

which

has made to B owels of

be grenerated of E a rt h ?

and Mercurg

the

XVf. but Eeat the

Thus ,5o-Z and and parts

it

is Luna,

evident, SuTphur

that

our

Stone

is Maie

nothing and

else

arrd MercurVi (to thus is

FemaTe; when it SuLphur, Our Our the Green Fire Red, all

co7d. of plainly our

And therefore Stone I enough, Body, Our are what

be more gathered

short,) together, Our

appears

o:ur Mercurg, Our Our

Our alchemick Lgon: And what Egg,

Ferment, Fume,

uenstruum, Dragons, and

Our'white which is

two

and our ness.

in

both

the

whiteness

XVII . Burning this

As also water Art the ,

what

is

l4an's are

BLood,

Our

Aquae things,

vitae, which

Our in

and what

many other or

our

are

lvletaphorically, and unwarv.

figurativery

named. to

deceive

Foolish

XVfIf. in of the the

A fso Body, S tone.

there Soul

is

a s imilit u d e

of

a T ri-u n e , the

s h in in g , substance be

and Spirit. is the

The Body is

The S ou l

F e rme n t wh ic h

eannot

-2 8 -

had, that tio n

but

from the mos t p e rf e c t raiseth up the

Body;

and the

S p irit

is

which to

Natures

from Death and Corrup-

Life,

P erfection

a n d G 1 o ry .

XIX.

fn

S uTphur, there is

ther e

is

a n E a rt h in e s s for for in the the

for Spirit, Soul

the

Body: and in

In

Mercury, them both all which

an Aerealness Unctuosity

a Natural are

or

Ferment; parts for and

inseparably Fermental cannot

United

their Stone

least is

ever: without

From this it, it

Body the

formed,

be made.

XX. which the

ft

is

the

peculiar appertains

p ro p e rt y to the

of

so7 and Luna, it self) the to

(t h e give

property

Stone

form of it

Gold and S ilv e r. be White or

A n d t h e re f o re

E lix ir,

whether with the

Red, may be fnf initely you do cast it in t o the the

augrmented s a me u p o n wh ic h B o d ie s .

Fermental it shall

Oy 1 : if tran s mu t e

M e r cury, Elixir

E lix ir, f mp e rf e c t

must be cast

af t e rwa rd s

upon the

XXI.

l,loreover

the

said

White

Elixir

is wit h

augmented with t h e Me rc u ria l

M e r curial Oyl; cur ial se lf.

Water,

and t h e vi . z .

Re d E lix ir

the which Oyl,

two,

t h e Me rc u ria l Me rc u ry

Wa t e r a n d Me rd is s o lv e d of it

can only

be h a d o f

XXII. and

See what water fTowed

the out,

Scripture and

saith,

IIe stroke forth Ogf

the out

Sfone of the

he brought

- 29-

Flintg Elixir

Rock. in

We may Note the whole four V e rs e s f o llo win q .

composition

of

the

these

xxr rr.

He strexched

f o rt h

the

He a v e n s a s a c u rt a in . T h is the is t h e wa t e r

The wh ic h

Fl aters stood does cover the reof

above th e Mo u n t a in : and performs

Our Matter,

dissolution

, causing of

a clou d y the

A s c e n s io n . T h is

T h a t d o e s wa J -k f o rt h the

u p on the ttings sublimation of

Win d .

f ig u re s

our

Stone.

xxr v-

who makes his Fire.

A n g e T s s p irit s , is

a n d h is

a in is t e rs the re c t if iwh o iX

a fLame of cati on,

B y t h is

s h a d o we d f o rt h of the

separation,

an d d is p o s it io n u p o n it s e v e r.

E le me n t s . that

ha s founded sha 77 not the fixation

the E arth

B a s is ;

s o f ix t ,

be moved for of the

u n d e r wh ic h and the

i. s d e s c rib e d of the

Elements,

perfection

Philosophick

S tone.

- 30-

CH APTER

LXVI

ANOTHER l.lAY OFELIXIRATING GOLD BYTHE FIRTAGAINST NATURE,

r. Another way, by which the F ire of the Body of Gold is Elixirated the is t h us ,

b y t'he power of he lp of the the

a g a in s t the F jre

Na t u re , of the

t h ro u g h

operation B ody of being

Na t u re ; F jre

wh ic h

D i ss olve th e

p u re G o ld in we ll re c t if ie d .

a g a in s t

Na x u r e r

same fire

A rs e n ic k

(Me rc u rv so wit h _

sublimate) dissolved out

as the manner is; into a Citrine , or the

from which

Gold being Wa t e r,

c le a r

a n d s h in in g Iet in

any Heterogenity till

sand remaining, Body does remain OvI.

the water the bottom of

be abstracted, the Glass, like

a fixt

II. Nature repeat more

Upon this again, ti1l

Oyl, and

affuse abstract

the

said

Water, this

ox work

Fire

against

again,

and

so often no

the

Water upon the

or: f,ire Tongue

aqainst than

Nature,

have

sharpness

common well-water.

ffl. a g a inst

This

done,

draw s u c h a n o t h e r which Affuse

n e w wa x e r o r f o rme r taught: oy1,

f ire and. Affuse

Nature, in all

upon the is

a b stract u p o n this and ret oyl of it

respec t s the water in

a s b e f o re o y f ire quantity of

then

oyl

Na t u re we rl

re c t if ie d , of the said

be double

or proportion it for in t o

the stop

B ody so disso lv e d , weIl, and s e t fire of it in

and put B a ln e o

a v e s s e l, so

w hich will

seven days;

the

water ot

Na t u re b e c o me a c it rin e

c o lo r.

-Jt--

r v. tue,

This will

water

ot

fi re

of

Na t u re b y it s from the

a t t ra c t iv e fire

v ir-

draw away the

Tincture in his to

against And the

Naturer altho' Bo dies to it

ds Raymundus saith is

practl-cal Na t u re , yet of if to

Alphabet. d is s o lv e

somewhat o p p o s it e the fire a g a in s t wit h to

with

Na t u re ; the f ire

you know how and by of

comfort

the matter in or 15 days , fire

Na t u re ,

Ba lneation th e water,

d ra w it Na t u re ,

f ro m t h e

b la c k n e s s

ag a in s t in

(L h e wh ic h p e rf e c t

ma y b e d o ne , t h e wo rk ,

a s I have proved, a n d attain the

6 days) end.

you sha1l

desired

V.

Let

the with

aforesaid

Na t u ra l

Wa t e r o r

f ire

of

Na t u re ,

so

ti nged

a Y el1ow Co lo r, off from with the

b e a lwa y s wa rily dissolved that

e mp t ie d , Bodies, i.nto

and poured another stopped:

aforesaid

Vessel,

a narrow mo re o f the Oy1.

Mouth, the

may be firmty f ire , le t t h e re another

and then with B alneo, the in

s a id t ime

be made in qu a ntity of

space of

a f o re s a id ,

said

Vf. let

And so the it. be warily

same water emptied, of Nature

being

tinged off

with

Sol or Go1d, and it

and poured will

as before: no more,

when the water is a sign, that

be tinged is all

then

the

Tincture F ire

drawn forth Na t u re .

from the

d issolved

B ody by the

a g a in s t

VIf.

P ut the

Tinctures

thus

decanted o r e a s ie

off F ire

in t o

a G la s s the

Stillatory.

and with

a soft

a b s t ra c t

- 32-

Wa ter or Fire see in of the

of

Nature an Oyl; well for

f ro m t h e

s a me r s o lo n g you must put

t iI l

you

bottom again,

to which

New Fire has the

Nature in

re c t if ie d : the space of

and after 6 days,

t h e Ma t t e r then abstract

stood said

Balneo or

water

fire

of

Na t u re

b v d is t illa t io n .

VIII.

And 1et

the

work with said. Oyl, your

the after

same water the

be repeated

upon and from the ti1l

same manner so long

you have brought without

Oyt of

GoId. to be most su-btiI wh e re in Iet

an d pure, n o thing but the of

any F o e c u le n t or f ire of

g ro s s n e s s , Na t u re turned

the water of

b e le f t to Oy1.

b e h in d ,

substance

Gold only,

IX. or its

This

subtil

and pu re O y l o f a n d f irmly

GoId, s e a le d the

b e in g up,

put

in

K e mia,

proper

V essel,

ma y b e t h e E lix irr made dt ds

afor esaid it with Sect. is

Regiments be c h a n g e d in t o with the in other the

g re a t Oyl,

shewed before the

simple former

Compounded Water, 65.

practice,

8, Chapter

af o re g o in g .

X.

B ut to

proceed:

sub lime or alon e

Q u ie k -s ilv e t Salt; t ime s

wit h

Ro ma n that sub-

Vitriol lime it

and prepared by it self This sublimate a certain

Calcined t h re e

and after f ro m it s

F o e c u le n t Pouder, and put GoId'

substance. pu t this

done,

and the

same made into a f ix a t o ry your

P ou d e r in t o guantity of

V e s s e l,

thereto bu t

aforesaid cover the a soft

Oyl of

so much on1y, close the are

as ma y s c a rc e ly V esse l. and set joyned it

s u b lima t e : F ire ' t ill

fi r m ly the

in

Natures

perfectly

together.

t't

XI.

This

done, your

grind said

it

u p o n a Ma rb le ,

a n d I n c in e ra t e put the twice it

it

ag ain in to

with its

Oyl of

Go1d, and after of

a g a in De g r r e e as

Fixatory and let to

V es s e l, the the

u n d e r a f ire

f irs t

as before, it did

same Vessel fntent that

stand the

as long may be

before,

Natures

firmly XII.

Compact and United Now this Rule is

together. to b e O b s e rv e d : ought that the to

g e n e ra lly in it to

Vesse1 with be set and this Ar g ent with XIII. over

the Matter the fire

b e f ix e d , to time to stil1

a lwa y s

from time to

be augmented, upon the f ix e d

Incineration vive sublimed, Oy1 or

be continued the

u n t il

s a me is of GoId.

p e rf e c t ly

the

said

substance

The which must b e p ro v e d A nd if certainty, set grind under it it be f o u n d

upon a P1ate of 1et it

S ilv e r the O y l, days: it with

Re d Hot: gr e ater w hich then

f ix e d ,

have for the

one f n c in e ra t io n a stron g your f ire for

mo re o f the

s a id t h re e ti1I dry

space of

with

Oy1 upon the which it

same Stone,

be as thick an easie fire XfV. a soft fi r e for

as an Oyntment; and then space of then fire let

make perfectly with

fire, the

be Calcined

a strong

eight

hours. it , t il1 will a n d d ry it it a g a in wi t h in the S ilv e r

Which done, or gentle like melted

I n c in e ra t e o f t e n t ime s ,

stands t ra n s mu t e

W ax. T h is

me d ic in e in t o

su b stantially G oTd perfect Ir{edicine for

and perf e c t ly to all

f in e

a n d p u re A T c h g n ic k b r: t n o t to

the wo rk s o f

G o ld s mit f t s

Men.

-3 4 -

CHAPTER

LXVII

OF TI,IO OTHER OTHER PROCESSES IVIINERAL ELIXIRS, OR T}.lO t'lERCURY,

I. th is There be many other A rt, to or Mystery of No b le a n d P ro f it a b le o u r Min e ra l o f Me t a llin e Stone; S e c re t s v iz . good wh ic h rest, the in

El i xirs Mineral first

be mad.e out

B o d ie s i o f than

Elixirs, of which

two are more excellent we shall handle in this

the

Chapter-

( ger e

c o me s

th e

P ro c e s s Chap.

or 61 .

P racti caT S ect.

operati on 13 . af oreqoi ng

of .)

. M er c u r.tl

me n t,i o n e d

II.

The first in

of

thes e

E lix irs White the

is

o n ly

in

Me rc u ry : the White if you so a f t e r.

The

second, Elixir; ple ase,

Mercury

and the

Body for Re d t o o ,

and with being

the

s a me t o

prudently

p u rs u e d . a n d s o u g h t

IfI. th u s. wa ter, solve

The first Dissolve with

manne r t o llercur g

E lix ira t e b y it

o n ly s e lf

wit h in t o

Me rc u rg L s a Milk y

o n ly ,

the which

Me rc u t g s o d is s o lv e d ,

y o u ma y d is a s lo n g

so much more Merc u rg ,

a n d s o c o n t in u a lly ,

a s y ou please.

fV. sha ll

P ut this

into

a ge n t le

F ire Milk

to

b e Dis t ille d ,

so

you have Our V irg in s all B odies

Wh it e

a n d Cry s t a llin e , in t o t h e ir f irs t

w he rewith

ma y b e d is s o lv e d

Ivlanner, Washed and Purged.

-3 5 -

v. with

This its in

water E arthy the

is

of

a s ilv e r

c o ro u r,

wh ic h

if that

y o u f ix d is s o lv e d

Faeces c a lc in t d , of its

and after

again again

quantity

remaining

water, is

and then to be d.one of B o d ie s

Coagulated

and Congealed., have at

(rohich work length a lr the

upon a stone) Ar gent

I I
I

you will which will

Elixir

vive.,

t ra n s mu t e

rmp e rf e c t

to

a perfect

W hitenes s .

vr -

And so of or

this

]vlercurial wherewith

substance the calces

is of

made a water arl Bodies to become

permanent

fixt,

may be so depurated the most pure

and whitenedr Silver.

Ers thereby

and fine

vrrof this

And therefore work,

as f have said is

before

in then

the beginning a re of it s i_s Disit s

when Me rc u rg

d is s o lv e d , the

El ements Mercurial performed; ti1l small said sto n e'

separable; Liquor, after

an d a f t e r and that

s e p a ra t io n

a competent Liquor,

putrefaction there wirl

the

sane white

a Golden moisture quantity Elixirated with the which Bodies of the

or humour, Ferment stone, of that

to t^rhich if the Gum of the

you add a the afore-

white said

then

same white b e ma d e t h e

Go ld e n ' h u mo u r, t ra n s mu t e the finest

s h a lI

R ed stone, Metalline

shaI1 into

A rg e n t

v iv e ,

a n d a ll Gold.

and most pure

VIII. M e r curg

A gain,

Lf you ta k e in it

the

a f o re s a id of of

Re d h u mo u r o f the a f o re s a id stone, Re d and

and Dissolve being

a lit t le

Fer ment,

made as a f o re s a id

t h e wh it e

-3 6 -

then with with ted it

the self,

same Red humour of the Calc e s that of a1I

Mercurgr B o d ie s , they

so Fermented

ma y b e s o d e p u ra -

and Citrinated,

thereby

may become most

pu r e Go1d.

IX. in all with e a sie it

When also a little into

A rgent of the

v iv e

is

d is s o lv e d ,

then

d is s o lv e and so put c lo s e and four Floods shinup

a f o re s a id

Re d F e rme n t , wh ic h

K emia, or

a p ro p e r Se a l.

V e s s e l, T h e n wit h the the in

f irmly

a P hilosophick or gentle through up)

a c o n t in u a l of the (the

Fj-re, the there like to

d ra w o u t Depth of appears the

Ch a rio t Sea, until

Elements being i ng

dryed

the

Matter

a bright

substance,

Eyes of

the

F is h e s .

X. Fi r e

For by this continually

Operation, alive, the

if

you keep your F lo o d s s h a l-l d ry Earth

Temperate u p , wit h shall an

exceeding as in the the

drought, days of

and the Noah, the the

dry

Land. or

appear,

waters

hrere dryed the

up from off

Earth,

and behold up the

Face of

Ground was dry. out h is

And by lifting hand,

Ro d o f

t r4 o s e s , a n d s t re t c h in g up, and the for dry Ground

the waters in
th e th e

were dryed of
and as

a p p eared
Rebuk e d t hr oug h

the midst
Red Seat

the
it

Sea:
w as

s o s a y s Da v id ,
upi he fed them

He

drged

D e p th s

throug' h

the

W i Tderness.

XI. sha ll the

A nd then

by the

Space of

F o rt y

d a y s f o llo win g , De mo n s t ra t e ) of it

it by

be Rubified. help of

(as t h e

P h ilo s o p h e rs eis the

a Vehement Firer

Nature

requires,

continuing it melt

and remaining like

in

the

same strong it will Gold,.

Fire

tiII to

and flow all

wax, whereby pure fine

be able

transmute

Bod,ies into

XII. with ution

And thus their of

the White

and Red Medicines z viz. their only

are multiplied by the sol-

own proper the white

humidities in

Medicines and by their requires. of

own Proper again

white of the

and Red humours, samer Ers necessity with singular

Coagulation

Thus have we explicated Speech, the E lix ira t io n of

plainess

Ivlercury per

s r or Argent

vive

a10ne.

- 38-

CH APTER

LXVIII

THE SECOND OFTHE FORI'IER ELIXIRS, t^lITH |'IERCURY AND THE BODY ALCHYIVIICK,
rTo E lixirate of with Me rc u rg and the B o d y A rc h g n ic k pater Me r_ in the Take

On e part cu r ii

the most p u t e

K ib ric k

(q u o d e s t

& omnium Liquabi liu mr) the K ib ric k z Cloth;

s e a wa t e r b e in g

t we lv e

p a rt s , s t ra in

wh ich dissolve water so lved, ca lled heat C olor. of through

d is s o lv e d ,

a Linnen not it untill

and what remains put f ire r in t o

undis_

which will K emiar set the sun,

g o t h ro u g h r a g e n t le

the vessel we re t h e

over

d s it

there

appears

on the

Top a Red

rrsa id , ve r y

Then put being gentle

to

it in

a quarter a v e ry it

more of

the

sea-water set iL on a

afore_

kept fire,

c le a n

V e s s e l,

and d ry at

u p a g a in r

d s y o u d id

b e f o re ,

by l ittle

and little

a t ime .

Iff the

For Spirit,

in

this

W ork, b y s o mu c h le s s the Body; for

t h e re

j_ s put

of

and more of shall the

so much the

sooner SoIu-

and better tio n

Solution Co n g e la t io n

be made; the which of it s wa t e r.

is made by the

rvth a t wa ter

And therefore the B elly shaIl not

as the

Rosarg saithr

lou for

must. beware if it be, the

be not receive

ma d e o v e r mo is t , or a t t a in to it s

d ry n e s s .

-3 9 -

V.

This

manner of till

Imbibition

must be Observed b y s e v e ra l

and conI mb ib it io n s

tin u ed shall

so long, be dryed

t h e wh o le wa t e r a Body.

up into

Vf.

This

done,

let

the V e s s e l

b e f irmly in it s

a n d P h ilo p ro p e r F o rn a c e , f ro m

so p hically with the ti11

S ealed up,

a n d p la c e d f ire , to

a mean or gentle first hour

wh ic h mu s t n o t set the the

wa x c o ld , the

you begin

same into

Fornace,

you have made an end of

whole work.

VII.

A nd when the mat t e r Descend by little being it A rtificially

is

s u b lime d ,

then without

1et

it

be

made to the fire let

and 1itt1e ma d e o r

Violence, it ; wh ic h

set

over

d o n e,

be again

s u b lime d

a s b e f o re .

VIII. which

A nd so 1et Soul is with

the

Soul of

the

Sun of the the

t h e V u lg a r Spirit Earth not to

(t h e yet

Our unclean the Body) make it

Oyntment, Ascend from

conjolmed Heaven; Ea r th,

the the

and again til1 all

to Descend from Heaven to wh ic h b e f o re

becom e s E a rt h ,

wa s He a v e n .

fX.

To the

end there

may be made a substance, so soft as the f ix e d S p irit ;

not

so

ha r d as the B ody, ho ld ing in in the the

nor y e t

but

a mean disposit io n , fire, bottom like of a Wh it e

s t a n d in g p e ic e

a n d P e rma n e n t Wa x , f lo win g

o f me lt e d

the V e s s e l.

-4 0 -

X.

The which

White

substance,

of

a mean or middle wit h Milk

con-

si stency, ti11 the

must be fed quantity

a n d n o u ris h e d

a n d Me a t , to your

thereof

be increased

according

de sire.

XI.

This

Ivledicine

being

Fermented in

to

the of

Red, with the Sea, by

po r tion reason to the

of so-l Dissolv e d of separating it the

t h e wa t e r the

first;

form

from the form

Matter, it

end,, that

may be in first

a more noble did

than

was before, and that help the of true it

when the

qualities into

remain colour is

undivid.ed; by the made

may be brought

a purple fire:

a strong Elixir,

and continual both for

whereby

the White

and Red Work.

XTI.

Now this

E lixir,

b e it f o ld

Wh it e

o r Re d , s h a ll in V irt u e , wit h it ,

be and and that Fire a t h e re o f very of

in cr eased

an hundred its it

mo re , b o t h b e f ix e d

Go odness, if then

euint e s s e n c e be brought Oy1, the for

afterwards into

and reduced

by the

Nature

a thin V essel:

which

must be done in the le a s t d ro p the

ci r culatory does congeal greatest

t ru ly , drops

then

a thousand

of tr4ercury into

ivledicine.

-4L-

CHA PTER

LXIX

VEGETABLE OFTHE STONE,

f. The V egetable of to the treat S ton e is gotten b y V irt u e fire of the F ire of

Nature, plainly every

Composition and of

of which

we now intend it, in

the way how to work with

respect.

II. sa ith, ti on is

(fts in of

Composition his of .B ooJ<

is

of

four

things, ft

Ers Raymundus is a Co mp o s ia f ire that

Q u in t e s s e n c e s : is rg n is

S aI A marum, wh ic h without Wood or all Iike

adeptus,

gotten

Coa1, and by an easie sharpness we re t h e yet to

working, of

does work against the V isible an d therefore, M er cury is Fire,

manner of a s if it

of Action f ire of wa t e r a ll

He I l; of B o d ie s ,

altho' for

Win e b e h o t , it to is a b le

t h is

hotter:

d is s o lv e E le me n t s ,

to putrefie, neither

and also

d iv id e

the

wh ic h

conrmon Fire

nor Wine can do.

IfI.

S ome think

that

t h is

F ire to

of

Na t u re

is

e x t ra c t e d and that it s V irt u e , a ll c a ll

or it

drawn from Wine, m u st be rectified is wholly

according by of t e n wh ic h

the

common wdy, u n t il He a t , is

Dis t illa t io n s , h in d e rs it s

F le g m

abstracted, and B urning. and its

Str e ngth

B u t t h is , hi g h e s t

wh e n it

done to

a d vantages, the pute

p e rf e c t io n put to the

(wh ic h F o o ls caLx of the

spirit)

and th e n

Body

- 42-

ne ver

so well

prepared, for

yet

will

it

b e we a k a n d in e f f e c t u a l etc.

to Our purpose,

Dis s o lu t io n ,

Co n s e rv a t io n ,

IV.

(The true which the

and is

pure S p rrir our Vegetable

is

O u r S ilv e ris h and the wh ic h ,

S p irit true

of Wine, wa ter of

Mercury,

P hilosophers . Concor d . )

Co n c e rn in g

s e e in

R i pleyrs

secret

V. is

W herefore evident that for

since

the is

v u lg a r

S p irit in

o r Win e is c h o o s in g is of the

such, t h is

it

there the

a n E rro r P rin c ip le ,

Pr i nciple: is the

true

(wh ic h

b e g in n in g )

RE S oLUTiV E ME NS T RWM(wh ic h Tincture is water of a vet7

-z s t h e s o u L o r Me rc u rs r f ro m it s fouT

an d this Ear th to the

O g 7 , s e p a ra t e

and faint traditions

) wh ic h r th e

rs we k n o w, a n d a c c o rd in g is an of Our

Wis e P h ilo s o p h e rs , is the nearest Mercury.

Unctuous moisture, Vegetable

which

lt{atter

and Philosophick

VT.

The which or of

Principle,

Resolutive

Menstruum, (in Cap-

jVear 6 and than know.

Matter, Cap. Black: 8.

unctuous his Clavis)

Moisture, does thing

Raymundus call or Black, Matter I

Blacker certainly

The which

Black

VII.

B ut

since

Raymund u s s a it h ,

that

t h is

Re s o lu t iv e

Menstruum, th e r e of, u n folds

does come from Wine t oE the how is he to be u n d e rs t o o d ?

Lees t oE Tartar T ru 1 y , h e h ims e lf is o n ly : a Me t a T So that

the Mystery: generated

O u r Wa t e r o r Me n s t ru u m, of a Me t a llin e Ma t t e r

l- in e Water,

-47-

Ra lr mundus speaks, of the

eithe r

of

the

Re s o lu t iv e

lu le n s t ru u m o r

ResoLubJ-e Mens t ru u m,

v- Lr t.

('r-'nr-sl,Ienstruun s p rin g s make a d is s o lu t io n the 11.

f ro m a S ilv e r of it s

Win e , wh ic h It

d o e s Naturally is apparent in

o wn s u T p h u r. O u r Me rj-nto

Ca p . o f F a g mu n d u s , t h a t is it s not hot only

curial pe r fect that in

and Radical Meta1, the

moisture

Congealed

by V apo u r o f same Metalline a Metal, of after

a n d d ry being

s u T p h u r,

but

also the

Water, it s

so terminated in A s h e s h a s Our stone or wit h o u t

form of

Re s o lu t io n

p o wer naturally suTphur, p r e judice

a Me n s t ru u m t o d is s o lv e to it s it s V e g e t a b le

and change it or hurt to

Na t u re ,

o wn Na t u re .

fX.

(wherefore or

he says ,

that

f ro m wh a t s o e v e r that into the

a n y t h in g same it

does spring m a y again

grow by Nature, )

be resolved.

X.

If

he

(viz.

Ragmun d u s ) s p e a k s o f you are to a Me t a llin e water of

the

f irs t

wa t e r it a Men-

or is

Resolutive

Menstruum; not

understand ! { a t e r, the but

that after

( so as he speaks) certain struum. ( r gn is burns manner: is both

for

this

Resolutive

a Sulphurous

and a Mercurial of it s

Vapour it

and A zoth) with the

and b y re a s o n

S u lp h u rit y '

fire.

XI . which

(ffris is

Reso-Zutive Our Vapourous

Menstruum ItlenstTuum,

is

our

Vegetable

Mercutg, water

and every

burning

-4 4 -

of

Life,

A qua V itae

ard e n s ,

b y wh o s e a t t ra c t iv e b e in g f ix e d in t o up from

V irt u e , by the f ire of and sub-

the B ody of ag a inst

the V olatile is

S p irit ,

Nature,

dis s o lv e d

n a t u ra lly

t h e wa t e r its Salt

Philosophers, Combustible stance,

and exalted Dregs into

and lifted

a clear

Mercurial the g re a t

and Natural Oyl of E lix ir;

which

must be Fermented with is mad e t h e re o f the

SoI and wit h

Lu na, and then wh ich Mercuriai

substa n c e

we a ls o

c o u n t e rf e it

P e a rls

and

Pr e tious

S tones. )

XII. th e re of

W e see a1so, are certain to of the

tha t

in

T a rt a r

d ry e d

o n ly

in

the

Sun,

Merc u ria l Eye, but the

Q u a lit ie s kind of

s h in in g Metals is

a n d g iv in g a Comif

light

p o sition

suTphur this for

an d A rg e n t sort, then

v iv e . the

A n d t h e re f o re , Resolutive for

he means after may be taken no t A nswered.

lvlenstruurn, it is

a Metalline

water;

otherwise

XIII.

A gain,

Ragmund u s p ro v e s

c le a rly

to him;

the in

c o n t ra ry , what js the

where he answers Vegexable Mercury, he ) from

him who demanded of in G o id o t in

S iJ -v e r? f t

is , is to that

(s a it h b ro u g h t such a by they which for are

a simpTe coessentia l its own Concrete by the simple their

substance,

t h e wh ic h Veins,

parts

and proper

p a ss or point Virtue able of the

Dis s o lu t iv e

Me n s t ru u m,

and Co-essential similitudes in

substance, l"lercuries,

to multiply

have none in

themselves,

and are also

apt Ivledicines

-4 5 -

Iulens Bodies, Diseases, Youth,

and to

expel to

and put the

away from

them many t h e ir a time f o rme r as God

& to

restore

OId and Aged, so long

and preserve them to

them in Live.

Health

has designed

XfV.

(This

Coessential

substance Earths that

is

Our White

and Red are multito

Tincture p lyed in

by whom these Tincture,

are wanti"g,

whe re b y t h e y for

a re ma d e E lix irs , Ma n ' s B o d . y . )

pu r ge Metals,

and a M e d ic in e

XV.

Therefore, of Liquid is the

Our tT u e Me t a lT in e B ody d is s o lv e d to

Wa x e r is the

a n Un c t u o u s of B la c k

h u midity Pitch,

s imilit u d e

and Melted; ca1led the

and this

Unctuous

and Black And Reshere

h u mid.ity

t ru e

Re s o -Z u b 7 e Me n s t , ru u m. demonstrate in this the true

because we shall olutj-ve on ly

afterwards required

Menstruum,

Workr w will and how the

declare

from wha t p rin c ip le s , Menstruum is d . ra wn .

s a id

Re soiutive

XVT.

(Our Metalline is its

Water

is

separated

from

the

Body of in Body, the the the

L UNA RIA , which the is kind

t e rmin a t e d Wh it e

a n d Ra d ic a l S ilv e r,

h u mid it y a n d it s in

and Color

of

s h in in g

Our black Branch,

sulphurz and in to

T h e re f o re his Clavis true

s e e Ch a p . 6 3 . where you will

Lunary Radical

find

humidity

be the of it s

Menstruum wherewith B o d y is ma d e . )

sole mn dissolution

o wn b la c k

xVfI. the

Raymundus doth l-ast comfort

sdy,

that to

an Unctuous the

Humidity

is

and support

Humane Body,

which

w hat it no i-se or gr e at

is,

is

manifes t the

to

t h e p h ilo s o p h e rs ; a n d is s a it h , or Dis t irle d .

it

ma k e s a wit h a

sound in of A rt.

v e s s e l,

deal the

He a ls o Ma t t e r hot; but

that

O u r S t o n e is in Na t u re : thing And which of

m a de of

hottest wine is than

substance is

r say that is its

there

another

much hotter exceeding

win e , or

wh o s e s u b s t a n c e , spirituosity

b y re a s o n

Airyness Fore.

i-s most quickly

in fl amed

by the

XVIff. Unctuous Tr ee:

A nd the

Lees r e r T A RT A R, a n d Dre g s o f is gross, is like the Rinde or than the

t h is Bark of T a rt a r is of a

humidity,

and the

same Ta rt a r

b la c k e r for

th e black ca lIed

Grape of

Ca t a lo n ia ,

wh ic h

c a u s e it than

by Ralrmundus, a B la c k , Lees t or
Wi n e ,

mo re B la c k

B la c k .

( BC these
of our

Ta rt a r

a n d , Dre g s ,
from

-rs me a n t t h e L e e s
Lunatg B od.tl ) .

SiTver

s eparated

the

xr xfore the it

A nd because that better agrees

t h is

h u mid it y

is

unctuous,

t h e re than

r^/ith the

unctuosity for

of Metals, its

Spirit

drawn from Common Wine; virtue, in the Me t a ls Fire; d o Me lt ,

through

Liq u efactive ing and moist of

a n d a re ma d e f lo woperation truly the

the which do.

Spir it

CommonWine c a n n o t

XX.

For

the

Spirit but

of

I,rfine, how strong Flegm or water: S p irit ,

soever

it

be,

is

(comparatively) r i w i s e, in

crean

whereas t h e re ra re is in

contrano our

Our Unctuou s at all.

Dis t ille d t h in g

wa tr ishness

B u t t h is

b e in g

-4 7 -

pa r ts , another w hich

as well

as other

Co u n t rie s , which

G u id o I t o n t a n o r swims upon other

f o u n d ou t Liquors,

Unctuous

humidity,

humidity

proceed s

f ro m Win e , wh ic h but they

Ra g mu n d u s , a n d taught not how

Ar naLdus knew, with it

so me o t h e rs ,

should. be obtained.

XXf. th e

(Our Tincture Flegm and its is the its

in gros s

Dis t illin g , Foeces, Me rc u ry , t iI l

is it

s e p a ra t e d b e lik e is A ir

both

f ro m

a n O y l, a n d F ire , an a n d la s t

an d that separate

S oul of

wh ic h

from

two extreams; is t h e me a n .

and so it See the

being f irs t

U nctuous moisture, cha pter of

Raymund's Co d ic il. )

XXII.

Notwithstanding, and from t h e

Raymundus saith, Faeces of Dis t illa t io n

it

must be drawn

fr o m Death, tha t it

Win e b y re c t if ic a t io n , by hot d s P e p p e r, h e s a it h , t ime V e g e t a b le E u p h o rt h e V irt u e t o d is s o lv e

may be acuated thereunto for not without sufficient ,

in

su b stances, biu mt etc. th e r eof M e tals. is

a p p e rt a in i-n g , these t h in g s

but

b y lo n g

XXffI. I"lagick,

(Raymundus sait h that there is

in

the

end of

h is

n a t u ra l

a Salt

made of the he)

the S a lt t h e re wit h

Lees or Tartar o f A rt is t h is a n d Me rcan in

o f W iner or cu r y, without

A quae vitae, which S alt

c a lle d (s a it h h is

n o t h in g S a lt

b e done: A lso the first

he begins

P ra c t ic e of h is

and last

Chap t e r

Co d ic il. )

-4 8 -

XXIV.

Wherefore as the same Philosopher is this

affitrms,

anong of thl.'s

these things Art,

Menstruum one of the Secrets

whose Virtue

must be increased

by a wise management Menstrurrm l-n the by rotation

of the Matter:

you must circulate

this

Unctuous humidity continuaLly, Fornace.

in a Vessel of Circulation, days,

an hundred. and twenty

in the hottest

- 49-

CHA P T ER

L XX

THE REIVlAINING PROCESS OFTHE VEGETABLE STONE,

I. long Hitherto the P roc e s s but that of t h e V e g e t a b le nothing Love to Stone has been to I say the

and Obscure; of

may be doubtful your Lordship,

prejudice that with tha t all

my professed things of

these

spoken by Raymundus are T ru ly h is

covered is ,

the Mantle there

P hilo s o p h y .

in t e n t io n the

should that

be ma d e a d is s o lu t io n this S p irit

wit h

S p irit

o f W ine, with tion

but

o f Win e s h o u ld without

b e jo y n e d Resolu-

another

Menstruum resoluble, be attained..

which

can never

If. t abJ e O gi) .

(E e re

th e

tw o ot th i s

S p i ri ts W hi te

are Og7 of

j ogned Tartatl

togeX her, and out

the

V ege-

M e n s ttu u m * (i s

MetaTTi ne

aTcohoT?

HWN)

III.

And that kind: every S ulphur

Menstruum Resoluble for it is a potential

is

generated or mighty together

only

of

Iv1etalline being tr e a ms, in

Vapour, two ex-

Metalline

Bodyrjoyning V iv e .

and A t q e n t

IV.

A nd so indeed water, either

aft e r

t h is

s o rt ,

O u r wa t e r does favour b rin g s

is of

a the

M e talline Na ture tive of

which

b e c a u s e it it

extrea m, Act.

t h e re f o re

o u r Re s o 1 u -

Menstruum into

- 5 0-

v-

Now how this

Men s t ru u m,

wh ic h a g re e in g

is

unctuous, wit h the

Mo is t , Na t u re of

su lphurous, l l etals,

and Mercu ria r,

and wherewith we will

B o d ie s

mu s t b e A rt if ic a rly p ra c t ic e .

d is s o lv e d ,

m a y be had,

he re

s h e w b y c le a r

Vf. b e ing

Take the Distilled,

sharpes t

h u mid it ; r

of

G ra p e s ,

a n d in

it in t o wa t e r, a

disso lv e a chyrst a llin e

t h e B o d y , we ll c re a r

c a lc in t d

Re dness, into the which of this

a n d p o n d e ro u s is of

B ody calcin'd

in t o

Re d n e s s ,

t h e Ma s t e rs

S ci-ence called

s e ric o rt -

VII.

(now comes in of the

th e

p ra c t ie e for the

of

p u p iJ J a , of of

of

the

d is -

solution a lso Bla ck N ature,

Red Lg o n t Red Co ra L r

f ire is

n a t u re ,

c a lI e d of

Red. Lead, P epper, all

S e ric o n etc. a re of

t h e Na t u re b it in g

E uphorbi u m, thin g s

a hot

a n d . f ie ry

which

s p o k e n o n ly

b y wa y o f

Co mparison. )

vr r r "

Then of

this in

cry s t a llin * Ta s t e called a g e n t le or will

wa t e r, b e lik e

le t to

t h e re

b e ma d e

a G um, the which

A lu rt t . T h is from which a we a k wa t e r, we ll wa t e r. it never nor 1et

Gum by Raymundus is th e r e with be drawn with no more Taste water

vitrior F ire ,

azoth, f irs t

s h a rp n e s s is it n o n e jn

than

s imp le

( Fr esher

there

Taste,

g t wiI I so ofteni

C on sume ot

Waste,

tho,

be used never q u a n t it C) .

wi7 7 it, be ever

f,ess in

-5 1 -

IX.

And when the

White

Fume shaIl it

begin

to

appear, that it wa t e r, wh ic h v a p o ur , to a

ch ange your b r e ath not

Receiver, forth;

and Lute

s t ro n g rly ,

so s h a 1 l

you have our

b u rn in g (t h e

Ou r A guae vit.ae, be fore a b le d ivide to

and Re s o lu t iv e a vapour

Me n s t ru u m, p o t e n t ia l,

was Resolubre) dissolve the

a mig h t y

B odi-e s , t o

p u t rlf ie , to of e x a lt it s

and to the

p u ri-f ie , in t o

E lementsr salt,

a n d a ls o f o rc e

E a rt h

w onderful Th is is

by the of

a t t ra c t iv e

v irt u e .

our Fire

N a t u re .

x-

This

water a kind which

has a b it t e r of sti n k in g

s h a rp T a s t e Me n s t ru u m:

upon the

Tongue, is

a n d also a water w i th in u p o n its w i th out shu t; be all

a n d b e c a u s e it

is

very it

s p irit u o u s is is

a n d V o la t ile , it . o u g h t upon the the vessel

t h e re f o re to be put lt wit l

a Ivlonth af ter calx.

Dis t ille d , Affused b o il if

when it

ca1x,

any externar and it dryed will not

F ire ,

b e c lo s e ly t it l it

c e a s e t o F e rme n t the Ca lx .

o r wo rk .

up into

xr . the

Therefore Calx, but

you mu s t p u t what may just

n o g re a t e r cover it

a q u a n t it y as it

of

it

to

were and so t h e wh o le c o mCompound

p r o ceed, plement w ater,)

(when the thereof,

Forn a c e is the

d . rg e d u p ) t o of

(as in

Operation

the

and as the wor k re q u ire s .

XII. C olo r,

A nd when the then let it

E lixir

s h a ll

b e b ro u g h t wit h the

in t o

a P u rp le Veqe-

be d is s o lv e d

a f o re s a id

table fi r st the

Ivlenstruum into rectified, S pirit of or

a thin the

oyI,

the

same Menstruum being Circ u la t io n it of

and le t our water

s a me b y t h e s o will

b e f ix e d ; B o d ie s in t o

h a v e p o we r to and to He a l ten

tr an smute

change all Infirmities

p u re G o ld , in

a n d Cure all th o usand ti on s of

a n d Dis e a s e s than a ll the

Ma n ' s B o d y ,

ti-mes better

P o t io n s

a n d P re s c rip -

Galen or Hippo c ra t e s .

XIIr . other; by the wr o ught

This for it

E lixir is

is

the

t ru e

A URUMP O T A B I L E , a n d n o a n d Circ u la t e d is so

made o f whee l

G o ld E le me n t a t e d of P h ilo s o p h y ; or

spirituous with

a n d it s p irit

the A ir, self,

Gass, potency, s u b lime d only it

o f lv le rc u ry as that the

dissolved body of

by i-ts Gold by it but

a n d re c t if ie d , be curiously

may not that

and exquisitely be

El i xirated; br o u ght a p p lied to

also

ma y t h e n b y t h is

a f t e rwa rd s o u r A rt r wo rk -

such a perf e c t io n to

ds to be

profitably

t h e mo s t d e s j-ra b I e

XIV. this

Thus you may see, our desired to E lixir that days; to of

we have hid of the

nothing

concerning I is s h a l1 but a

V e g e t a b le Stone, d a y s will to the gather p ro f it

Stone: which

now proceed w or k of ended.

the Animal t h re e not

three

and in you is, of

b e c o mp le a t ly the of Leaves of the t h in g s

My advice the

Wo r ds; but fought

Fruits

Wo rk s ,

after.

- 5 3-

xv.

And know that

in this

work,

r have not so much affected of Stiler ds Lhe

the Curiosity denudating

of Langudgr or Elegancies Verity,

the Essential

and exposing

the very

Power of Truth

to your. View, whtch by reason of my haste done in few words.

I have nolr concisely

61

CHAPTER

LXXI

OFTHE ANIIVIAL STONE,

I. of of We now come to Secrets, all viz. reveal the most noble of and High Secret

the My s t e ry

o u r A n ima 1 S t o n e d e s ire d it s E lix ira t io n . ES it a re is

Mankind, Animal

and th e wa y a n d ma n n e r o f Elixir is neither

But this

from Wine, ds they

Win er Dor from E ggs, Ha ir th in gs, ought to but only from t h e out, in

o r B lo o d r E le me n t s :

such

And these of their

E le me n t s we exceeding

search

the

Excellency

Sim plicity

and Rectific a t io n ,

II. of all

The E lements things, of the the

as R o g e r B a c h o n s a it h , Mo t h e rs things only th e of e v e ry t h in g : enter

a re t h e yet into

Ro o t s

the the Work of of

Elements this tho se

said but with

do not by the

Our Elixir; E lements,

Vj-rtue of

and Commixtion

E le me n t s

S p irit s ,

a n d B o d ie s

o f Metals.

fIT. those (thor

Yet

so

indeed

as Roger B a c h o n s a it h , do so enter in as to

the

E le me n t s

of

things not to

aforesaid dwell ther)

pierce this

through

and to Accomplish

Our great

El i x ir.

IV.

Notwithstanding (as all is the

among all re s t

those

things

which

be have

Na tural,

b e , wh ic h yt,

P h ilo s o p h e rs is found

ta ke n, ) there

one thing

which

more

- 55-

p r e tious, th a n all

more excellen t , the rest, for t h is

mo re p ro p e r, o u r p u rp o s e .

a n d mo re Na t u ra l

V. a ll

The which the rest, the

one thing , the

b e c a u s e it

is

mo re e x c e lle n t for

than

P hilo s o p h e rs

have taken which in

t h e n e a re s t; to

because of the

singular or lesser

perfection World,

God has given only

ttlicrocosim of the

whom are not of the P la n e t s ,

the

fde afs

Courses a n d e f f e c t s but als o of the the

S t a rs , S p irit s ,

a n d A sterisms, an d Natural

Co mp le x io n s , E le me n t s .

h u mo u rs ,

V irtues

VI.

A nd therefore

con s id e r in

t h e mo s t n o b le b e g in s forth to

B ird f ly ;

of

He rmes ,

wh ich when the is advisedr the

S un is it

A rie s ,

a n d a s it for. not the

so let true

be brought

and. sought

Se e k out be ing

'S uf . p h u r f ro m h is for

Min e s 7 Mip e ra , lie s in

corrupted, S ulphur.

t h e wh o le p e rf e c t io n

u n corrupt

VII. his

This S ecret

is of

our

S tone , is

t h e wh ic h g e n e ra t e d into four the they unto

a s A ris t o t le in the

s a it h ,

in

S ecrets,

Du n g h il, because

Hig h saith

ways, he,

and must be divlded

parts:

each part together

has one Nature, again, are t ill

which re s is t

parts or s h a ll

must be no

j oyn ed

s t riv e

m or e; when they if Fire,

jo y n e d

it ,

it

b e Wh it e ;

Red; as you p le a s e .

-5 6 -

vr r r .

B ut understand, (but which being

that in a ll

t h is

Div is io n ,

mu s t n o t

be a let

M a n ual Division, this one thing property

p o we r a n d E f f e c t r) Me n h a v e (it s

wh e re f o re ,

o v e r-f lo win g be put into

F le g -

matick

somewhat Evacuated) wh ic h F ire

Kemia or proper l et it putrifie thickness.

V essel s , in

S e a l u p p h ilo s o p h ic a lly ; a lo n g Season, in t o a

a m o is t

b la ck

fX" u la ted

Then by the into

seeon d De g re e o f after

F ire ,

1et

it

b e Co a g it will

a dryness, shall is

ma n y B u b lin g s

wh ic h

make, wherein all (or of that which

shine fine

innumerable

Colors:

and when

a n d s u b t il,

s h a l1

A s c e n d u p wa rd s as the Eyes p a rt .

subline) Fishes,

in

the

Vessel is

mo s t Wh it e , in the

lik e f irs t

the work

c o mp le a t

X.

This

truly

is

a ma rv e lo u s of Na t u re , of ve ry

t h in g , then

mo re t o the s e lf

b e wo n d re d d t , s a me Wh it e , (or

th a n any Miracle ' has fu1ly the

for

Nature the

White

Sulphur,

not

Burning

SiTver, ) and is
V iv e.

S u lp h u r o f

Na t u re

a n d A rg e n t

XI.

Let

some quantity

of

Luna be added to it b rin g s f o rt h ,

it

in

the

m an ner of

an A malgama; t h e n of White into

b y O p e ra t io n , same thing

or generation worketh gr e a ter it into

White;

and the

Red, and is in the

made compleat

into

Red, by a

Di-gestion

F ire .

-5 7 -

XfI. phurs, Oy1 of

Thenr

rs the

PhilosoFhers and the that if the

adviser

let

the with the the

two Su1the

vJ-z, the the White

White Elixir,

Red be mingled" they may work of

more Vege*

strongly; table

upon which, shaIl the

Quintescence you shall to Heal

Stone in

be fixed, Worl-d, both the

have the

highest

Medicine Bodie's,

and Cure Humane of Metals in to the

and to

transmute Gold

Bodies

most pure

and fine

and Silver.

-5 8 -

CHAP T ER

L X XII

THE RESERVED SECRET EXPLICATED.

I. And now we are drawing hereunto S ecret, near to the end of this work,

we shall r eserved

add and. Explicate hithe rt o B u rie d in

one Secret, the

even our

A b y s s o f A e n ig ma' s

a n d deep S ilence,

II.

We say that against Water, in

the

Body of ought is of to the

t h e V o la t ile to

S p irit , in

f ix e d , the

by Fire

Nature, that

be dissolved in

Veg etable struumi

say, Cloud,

o u r V a p o ro u s Me n but in \,irater of the

not

water

Philosophers.

r II. its

In which more pure

Dissolu t io n , and sub t il

the p a rt is

B o d y j-s ma d e lig h t , lif t e d u p (o r of

for

s u b lin e d ) the of

from Salt water

and Combustible which is

Faeces,

by Virtue than

attractive:

more clear

the water

1cl:e ruargarite

r EIS I have seen,

Iv.

And of

this

substance made the

Fermented Elixir,

with for

the the

oyl

of

Luna or so-z, is tation of

great

transmu-

imperfect

Bodies.

V. its

It

must oftentimes that it

b e d is s o lv e d may work the thus

a n d Co a g u la t e d better; and with (or

wit h this

Ferment, l"lercurial

said

substance,

Elevated

sublimed)

-5 9 -

w e Counterfeit not inferior to

the mo s t p re t io u s the sight, to the

Ma rg a rit e s very best

o r P e a rls , that ever

N ature

produced.

VI. fi nish

A nd with the

these

A rt if ic a l of

p re t io u s

Stones, Stones,

w s h a ll (Min e ra l' of which' kept

discourse and Animal)

O u r p re t io u s the abscondite Sons of

Vegetable, being Se cret.

Mysteries Art

by the Wise and upright

prudently

VII.Pray reveal sha ll on e s.

the most Good. and Gracious the same, at him, to one time h is or

God., to

open and

another'

even as it a n d lit t le

please

d e s p is e d

S e rv a n t s

VIr r . I4ajesty,

O most incompre h e n s ib le who with the Charity

I ig h t , of thy

mo s t G lo rio u s Heavenly Unity, Heavenly

in

Rays dost the Host' Divine the

Darken our Dimmer Light; three, Glory the of joy

O Substantial of the

and Rejoycing

Our Redemption.

IX.

Thou most Merciful, subsistancei

the

P u rif ie r

of

S o u ls ' t h ro u g h

and the d a ily and thy

pe r petual

O mo s t G ra t j-o u s , thou suffers

Dangers and Perils through heavenly this

which

us to bring

undergo, us to

Vexatious

vail

of Vanity,

Kingdom.

- 6 0-

X. h o ld

O P ower and Wisdo m, t h o u us daily, displease ds Faithful

g o o d n e s s in e x p lic a b le , that but

upwe may obey

and b e O u r G u id e a n d Dire c t o rr thee a ll the days of of thy o u r L iv e s , Ho ly Na me .

ne ver theer

pro c e s s o rs

Xf.

E arly, Virtue

even betime s of thy

O L o rd , help to

hear

t h o u my p ra y e rs , my desires, they Holy wil1.

by the

Grace, thee

forward perform

and enable

me r beseech

Xff. thou the

O most excellent scatterest sons of of thy

F o u n t a in ,

b o u n d le s s without every

in

T re a s u re s ,

good things

measure amongst other creature to

Men, and thou makest thine espec ia l

p a r take

k in d n e s s .

XfIf. thy that of

Thou Hand and

are to

worthy defend live

O Lord, what thy

to behold Right nor

the

Works of

Hand has planted, spend the course

we may not our years in

unprofitably,

V anities .

xrv' without da n g er

Grant

therefore

we beseech thee, that L if e r

that

we may live the G re a t

falshood of a sinful S in.

and d e c e it , cours e of

a v o id in g

w ma y e s c a p e t h e

Sn a r es of

xv' Life

And as r Renounce the and the concupiscen c e s ds a true

Loves of or Lusts

the

things

of

this of

t h e re o f r

so accept who

me thy

Servantr

and Spontaneous

Votary,

wholly

depends on thy nothing

goodness,

with

al1

confidence,

p ossessing

m o re .

XVf.

We submit our selves thy right

to thee,

for

so it

is

fit;

vouchsafe

to discover

to us the rnunortal and be mer-

Treasures of Lifei ciful

shew us thy hidden things,

and good unto us.

xvrr'

Among the

rest

of with to

thy all

servants

who profess

thy And r

Name, f offer beseech thy thee

my self o Lord, to thy

humble Submission; me, if

forgive

I open and reveal Amen.

Secrets

Faithful

Servants,

CH APTER

LXXIII

RIPLEY'S PHILOSOPHICAL AXIO|vlS OUT OFTHE THEATRUM cHYfvll ctjlvl ,

I. Our S tone is called the ric ro e o s mt O n e a n d T h re e ; p ro p o rt , io n e d there are by

M agnesia and suTphut Nature her self.

a n d Me rc u rg t a ll that

Now understand being his the Key of

three

M ERCURIE S ,which Raymundus calls to be d.one in Bodies is the

t h e wh o le

S c ie n c e , nothing is the

Menstruums, A rt : but the of

without

which,

this chief

E s s e n t ia L our Stone.

Me rc u rt t o f

m a t e ria l

II. Ea r th

Our Stone

is

a Soul its

and a substance,

by which t h in g

the is

does receive than

s p le n d o r:

wh a t o t h e r

So l or Luna White? Lead,

a T e x ra Mu n d a , a p u re E a rt h , Com p o s it io n of we c a ll

Re d a n d

The whole the Quality

o u r P lu mb u m o r proceeds from .9o1.

whose splendor

an d runa.

IIf.

No impure call the

Body,

one excepted, LVon, (wh ic h

which is

the

Philosophers

vulgarly Conjoyns fe ction)

the

cree n

t h e lt le d iu m wh ic h per-

Tinctures int o

between .9o-Zand Luna with o u r Ma g is t ry .

does E nter

IV. tr ue done.

These Menstruums Calcination, But our

you ought

to

know, without

which

no be to

or n a t u ra l principal

d is s o lu t io n

c a n p o s s ib ly indeed

lvlenstruum may be said

- 6 3-

b e Invisible

or

S pirit u a l;

yet

by the

h e lp

of of

our the

A Q UA E le me n t s ,

PH ILgS gP HICA S E CUND A ,t h ro u g h in to form of appear. clear water, it is

a s e p a ra t io n b ro u g h t to

lig h t ,

a n d ma d e

V.

And by this of

Menstruum lyith by Circ u la t io n

great in your

Labour a p u re

is

made the and

Su lphur with the

Nature,

S p irit ; divers of a

same you may dissolve

Body after t h e re f ro m,

m a nners:

and an Oyl ma y b e e x t ra c t e d like

G olden Color,

as f ro m O u r Re d L e a d .

VI. ou r fi r st

1. DE CA LCINA TION E I Ca lc in a t io n S tone, restoring it to it s

is

the

P u rg a t io n Co lo r, n e it h e r

of

o wn Na t u ra l t h e re o f , but

in d u c in g wit h

a necessary nor

diss o lu t io n a lo n e ,

C'o rrosives, Bu r ning Ca lcined; for that

fire or

n o r A . F . n o w wit h Lead, is our

other Stone

watersr for they

the V a p o u r o f

by such Ca lc in a t io n s , diminish their

B o d ie s

a re d e s t ro y e d ,

humidities.

VII.

W hereas in

our Ca lc in a t io n for lik e

the

Ra d ic a l

h u mid ^ it y is lik e , he Joyn e v e ry and or

Au g mented or multiplied, which l i ke knows not with Iike, this

in c re a s e s in this

knows nothing wit h in k in d r

Art.

and k in d

E rs y o u o u g h t ; it s its o wn k in d : own kind

see d answers and rejoy c e s every Na ture. Spirit is fixed with

seed of of

a Calx

-6 4 -

vr r r-

The philosophers three melt shall

ma k e a n u n c t u o u s b e f o re wh ic h or it it ju s t

c a lx ,

both

wh it e

an d Red, of th at yo ur your ate, in shall water Earth, the

De g re e s , t i1 1

c a n b e p e rf e c t e d , , is of no use. wit h Germinendure rf

as w a x , be in a fit

a rig h t Heat, with

p ro p o rt io n will will

and in

your

Matter

white

together Fire.

the

Red, which

a perpetual

fX. is th e

Make a Trinity the most certain lesser part will with is

of

Un it y ,

wi-t h o u t proportion:

d is s e n t io n ;

t h is

and best the

and by how much b y s o mu c h t h e not

mo re s p irit u a l,

m ore easily the Earth

the

d is s o lu t io n

b e p e rf o rme d : d ro ro n lest you destroy the

too much water,

whole Work.

X. 2. not o ther in

DE DIS S OLUTIONE i it, as in

Seek not

that

in

a thing

which

is

E ggs , B lo o d , there

Win e , is

V it rio l, to

and the be had in and by or

middle

Minerals;

no profit

thj- ngs not thr ough

Metallick: Metals

I n Me t a ls ,

f ro m Me t a ls ,

Metals,

a re ma d e p e rf e c t .

Xf. fo r e ti on : tha t Ea r th,

First a1l

make a Rota t io n things, conve rt th a t this

of the

a1l E a rt h

the in t o

E le me n t s ; wa t e r

and be-

b y d is s o lu -

Then Dissolve A ir into for Fire:

Wa t e r in t o done,

A ir,

a n d t h e n ma k e a g a in in t o

re d . u c e it in v a in .

otherwise

yo u la b o u r

-6 5 -

xr r . that w hich

Here is is, are

nothing

b e s id e s

the

s is t e r

a n d t h e B ro t h e r; a n d Me rc v ry , T h e d is causeth

the A gent generated of one part of

an d t h e

P a t ie n t ,

S u lp h u r

C o -e s s e n t ia l of

substances.

solution

t h e Co rp o re a l p a rt of the

Substance, s p irit u a l.

a Congelation

anoth e r

XIII. they

E very Metal may all four

wa s o n c e a Min e ra l into Water wit h

Wa t e r, again;

wh e re f o re in which Water

be dissolved repugnan t ought

ar e the Glass

Q u a lit ie s to

d iv e rs it y . the

Tn one form of an

a1l

things

be done,

made in

Eg g, and well

closed.

XIV . your

Let

not

your

Gla s s b e h o t t e r so long

than

y o u c a n e n d u re is f irs t in disf o rm,

naked Hand uponr W hen the puts

as your

matter

so lution: it

B o d y is

a lt e re d .

f ro m it s

immediately

on a new form.

xV.

3.

DE DIS P OS ITIO NE : nor ever move it , for

B e wa re t h a t

you open not of

your

G l assr to the

f ro m t h e b e g in n in g then you will Earth till never it

t h e wo rk your

end thereof;

bring becomes

work to perfection. th ir sty Divide th e the in Calcination, into

Dry the

o t h e rwis e two parts, o r t h in bottom of

you Act that

in

v a in .

the matter

you may separate t h ic k , Color. t ill

subtil Earth

from the remains in

gro s s , the

f ro m t h e a Livid

-6 6 -

XVI. a ll till til1 Livid th is h is to

One part

is

S pirit u a l to

a n d V o la t ile ; or

but

they

ought

be converted water, be pure with

o n e ma t t e r

substance. the wit h

A n d d is stone. a B le w wit h in

the it

wh ic h

y o u wo u ld v iv if ie s h in n in g

and thin

a s wa t e r, it s F ig u re

Colour,

retaining

a n d P o n d e ro s it y : h is T re e , wh ils t

W ater Hermes mois t e n s Glass, and makes t h e

o r wa t e rs to

F lo we rs

in c re a s e

o n h ig h .

XVII.

First

divide the

th a t ,

wh ic h Na t u re Me rc u ry in t o

f irs t A ir, or

tyed

t o g e t h er ,

co n verting without

E ssenti a l natural

a V a p o u r, no future

which

and subtil

separation,

Generation

can be compleated.

XVIII. wise sha II will Fi r e

Your Water ought there can never

to be seven times

subl j-med, othermade; nor nor the

be any natural lik e

Dissolution L iq u id the P it c h ; of

you see any P utr e f a c t io n the Colors appear, in your

because of G1ass.

defect

Operating

XIX.

4. E E IGNiB US : to know; the

T h e re a re Na t u ra l,

four the

k in d s

of

F ire s that

wh ic h con-

yo u ought tr ar y to

f n n a t u ra l, wh ic h b u rn s

Nature,

and t h e

E le me n t a l,

Wo o d :

Th e se are the

fires

we use,

a n d n o o t h e rs .

XX. thir d

The Fire

of

Natur e

is

in

e v e ry F ire

t h in g , is of

a n d is

the so

Menstruum. and it is

The I n n a t u ra l the F ire

o c c a s io n a lly

ca lled, for

of Ashes, t h is

Sand, and Baths can be

putrefying:

and wit h o u t

n o P u t re f a c t io n

d o n e.

-6 7 -

XXI.

The Fire

agains t

Na t u re , is HelI.

is the

that f ie ry

wh ic h

t e a rs

B o d ie s

to pieces burning fi r e

or A toms; the in fire your

w h ic h of

Dra g o n ,

v io le n t ly that your

like

Make therefore b u rn the

within,

G la s s , than

wh ic h will

B o d ie s fire can do.

much more powerfully

the vulgar

Elemental

xxrI. to gether or the ples:

5. DE CS NJUNCT I g NE ; Co n ju n c t io n of things se p a ra t e d , or bringing and of to

is

the

jo y n in g Q u a lit ie s ;

d if f e rin g of

Adequation he which them, the true

an equality separate the

princiand not

knows not and th e n way.

how to to

Elements, e rrs ,

to divide knowing

c o n jo y n

t h e m a g a in ,

XXIfI. it is

Divide the

the

S ou I

f ro m t h e

Body,

and get

that,

for

S oul which which is is

causes the

p e rp e t u a l t h re e p a rt s ;

Co n ju n c t io n : p a rt s ; then and lik e

th e Male,

ou r h is fo r

S o 1 , re q u ire s S is t e r, e v e r. n in e

th e Female which r e joyces witn like

XXIV . str ong o ther

Certainly principles principles

Diss o lu t io n of t h is

a n d Co n ju n c t io n , S c ie n c e , thor t h e re

a re two may be many

besid e s .

xxv. is

6.

DE pUTRE FA C T I O NE ; T h e De s t ru c t io n that you are diligently v!2. in to Conserve

of

the

B o d ie s a

such,

them in for

Ba th t oy our Horse-Dun g , days Natural: Absolved, but the

a mo is t is not

heat

n in t y

Putrefaction t o wh it e n e s s ,

compleatly the Eyes of

and brought

lik e

-5 8 -

Fi shes,

in

less is

than

150 days; or

t h e b la c k n e s s that

f irs t d ra ws o n

a p p earinq, to

the

Index

S ig n ,

t h e ma t t e r

P utrefaction.

XXV I. ti m e, tho se

B eing they of

together

B la c k

lik e

L iq u id

P it c h , wit h

in

the

same lik e

swell

and c a u s e a n E b u lit io n , of a mo s t b e a u t if u l

Co lo rs

the

Rainbow,

aspect;

a n d t h en

the water

begins

to whiten

the whole Mass.

XXVII. fo r th that of

A temperate blackness,

he a t

wo rk in g

in mo is t

B o d j-e s , b rin g s is n o t h in g

which for

h a v in g in the

o b t a in e d , same wdy,

t h e re the

you need fear, our

Germination in the

S tone does follow, thirty our (or tJzifer F o rt g ) or

a n d f o rt h wit h , days,

t o wit ,

spa ce of wh ich is

You have Gas, or and our Re d L e a d .

A d ro p ,

Cin n a b a r,

XXV III. He a t,

Take heed to

defend

your

G la s s

f ro m a V io le n t F ire , up your

and a sudden Co ld ;

ma k e u s e o f

a mo d e ra t e

and beware of Vitrification. m a tter; M i nerals; phur mix it 1et not with S a lt s , p ra t e found

Beware how you bind S u lp h u rs , wh a t t h e y in Metals nor wil1 , only.

t h e mid d le O u r S UI -

S ophisters are

and our Mercury

xxIX . is the

7.

DE COA GULAT I O NE ; Co a g u la t io n or h a rd n in g of of t h in g s ,

o r Co n g e la t io n in caTote can-

induration and the

d id o,

fixing

t h e V o la t ile but the

S p irit .

T h e E le me n ts is no way t h e A ir'

are forthwith im p eded, for

converted, those thi n g s

Congelation

wh ic h

a re Co n g e a le d in

-6 9 -

melt

or

soften

not

in

the

Water; nothing.

fot

if

so,

Our work would

be destroyed,

and come to

XXX. th e will will

When the S pirit is

Compositum is United

brought

to Whiteness,

then it

a n d Co n g e a le d wit h of time before

the Body; but

be a good length appear all in the

such a Congelatj-on of Pearls. The heat' me

likeness th in g s is

or Beauty

cause of continually a1 so, your that

these working your

t h e mo s t t e mp e ra t e the Matter. except

and moving is

Believe

whole L a b o u r the Water,

lo s t , that

y o u re v iv if ie never

Earth

with

without

you shall

see a true

Congelation .

XXXI. things

This

Water

is

a S e c re t for

d ra wn f ro m t h e f ro m Wa t e r a ll

L if e

of

a ll in

existing

in Na t u re ; first

t h in g s

the World perceive nourished the E arth

have their in

beginning,

as you may easi-ly or lvlatter the is is

many things. its proper

The substance Menstruum,

with only

which Co lo r

Water and G re e n n e s s .

produc e ,

wh o s e p ro p e r

XXXII. is called

Understand the

also

that

our in

fiery wh ic h

Water thus O u r E a rt h

acuated is d is -

Menstrua l

Wa t e r, Ca lc in e d

solved,

and naturally

b y Co n g e la t io n ; then

wh e n y o u

ha ve made seven fmbibit io n s ' pu trifie in the the again first all the Ma t t e r

b y a Circ u mv o lu t io n , a d d it io n , b e h o ld in g of

wit h o u t then

place

the b la c k n e s s ,

t h e Wh it e n e s s

Conqealed Matters.

- 7 0-

xx xrrrthe is first

Thus your part, for

water

is

d iv id e d

in t o

t wo p a rt s : the

wit h

the B o d ie s fmbi b it io n s ;

a re p u rif ie d : wit h wh ic h after

s e c o n d p a rt the

reserved

a f t e rwa rd s with

Platter fir e,

i-s made black, made W hite, th e n

and presently re d u c e to

a gentle

Re d n e s s .

XX X TV .

8. DE CIB A TIO NE ; of our dry

Cib a t io n , with t ill give

is Milk it is

the

F e e d in g

or

Nourishing bo th third

Matter

and Meat, re d u c e d

being to the

administred order:

mode ra t e ly ,

you must never or if it that the

so much as to

cause a exceed b e h u rt -

suffocation, the B lood:

Aqueous humour should t o o mu c h , t h e wo rk will

drink s

xX)fi/w heel, in

Three

times

must you turn Ru le o f will feer the

about s a id

the

philosophick and then

observing time like

the it

c ib a t io n ,

a little

t h e F ire r

s o a s t o me lt

pr esently

Wax.

XXX V I. the bring b e low, obscure. l i m ed top it

9. DE S UB LIM A T I O NE ; S u b lime of the vessel, the for bottom wit h o u t again; it

not

t h e ma t t e r lo u

to

v io le n c e r

cannot heat and

down to in the

by a temperate will

space o f

40 days,

b e c o me b ra c k ret

when the

Bodies

are purified, t il1

them be subb e a ll

by d.egrees more a n d mo re , or converted into Water,

they

shaIl

elevated

x x x vrrthat the

w e u se su b l i mation

for thr ee causes.

Secondly,

Fir st,
that the

Body may be made spiritual.

7l

spirit

may be made corporeal with it .

and fixed that

with it

it,

and become

con substantiar fr om its original

T h ird ly ,

ma y b e p u rif ie d s a lt it may to

rmpu rit ie s ; with wh ic h it

a n d it s is

s u lp h u ro u s

be diminished, the

in f e c t e d . ;

s u b limin g

Topr ds White

as S n o w.

XX) ffIII. after a ted. Water;

10

F e rme n t a t io n s DE FE R ME NT A T iO NE ; manners, by which our lledicine in t o is

a re ma d e perpectuc le a r same

divers

some dissolve and with

. 9 o -z a n d t u n a of

a c e rt a in they

the Medicine

them, but

make the

to coagulate we propose

t or be coagulaLed, not.

such a Fermentation

XXX IX . Br eakr Ferment ge ther; see the

This

only or

is

our

f n t e n t io n , t h e ma t t e r your sha1l

that

f irs t

y o u mu s t b e f o re you to-

or Tearr it:

Grin d

t o a t o ms ,

Mix then

presently

Water and Earth f lo w lik e

and when the Me d ic in e above mentioned that

Wa x , t h e n forth the

Amalgamation is mixed we ll

and put

same; and when all th e ti 1l sh a l1 fect: top of the

together, c lo s e d , )

above or on ma k e a F ire , as you

Glass,

(b e in g

the whole be Fluxe d ; think fit, becaus e it

t h e n ma k e p ro je c t io n is a Me d ic in e both

wh o l1 y p e rfor the Red

Thus have you made the

Ferment

and. the White-

XL.

The true the

Fermentation Body, restoring

is

the to

Incorporation the same the

of

the

Soul with Od o ur,

Natural I n s p is s a t io n

Consistency,

and Co lo u r,

b y a Na t u ra l

- 7 2-

of it

the selfr

separated so our

things. Earth with

And as the

Magnet draws rron soul the to

to it
.:^
-I-5

by Nature

draws d.own its doubt,

se1 f,

E levated

Win d :

F o r wit h o u t

E a rt h the

th e Ferment of Water is the

the Wat e r,

a n d b y Co u rs e o r T u rn s , E a rt h .

Ferment of

the

XLI. reduce

We make the all the flow. and it this

Water most Odoriferous, into t h is Oyl, with which

with

which

we

Bodies We cal l

Oyl we make our or the Ma k e

M ed icine Powers, the r efore

Wa t e r a Q u in t e s s e n c e , h u ma n e Dis e a s e s . wh ic h is

Heals o r Cu re s a ll Oy1 of in smell.

Sol and Luna,

a F e rme n t

m ost fragrant

XLII.

11. DE E X A LTA T I g NE , if If

E x a lt a t io n

d if f e rs

a lit t le the

fr om S ublimation, Ph ilosophers. su b lime Earth

yo u u n d e rs t a n d

a rig h t

t h e wo rd s o f your 1et B o d ie s , the of all

there f o re with

y o u wo u ld E x a lt V it a e ; then

them first

S p irit u s

by subtiliated so shall

by a Natural it

rectification than they

the E lements; ca u se of the

b e mo re p re t io u s o r P o we rs wh ic h

GoId, c o n t a in .

be-

Quintessen c e

XLIII. Air is

When the converted wdy, this

Cold does overcome the into tilt water, they

Heat,

then

the are tothey

and so two contraries kindly conjoyn and rest that

made by the gether: after

manner you must work them, that they (o n e wit h in a n o t h e r)

m a y be Circulated, spe e dily this be E xalted is

ma y S e a le d , a ll

tog e t h e r to be done,

o n e G la s s we ll wit h

Operation

and not

hands.

-7 3 -

XLIV.

Convert

the the

Water oth e r in

in t o

E a rt h ,

wh ic h will for the E a rt h

q u ic k ly is in the in

be the Nest of Fir e , which

E le me n t s ;

rests

t h e A ir. it t ilI

B e g in past

t h is

Circ u la t io n

the W est, th e y

then

continue

t h e I v le rid a n ,

s o will

be exalted.

xL V. th in g

12. DE MULTIpLIC A T I O NE , which makes the

Mu lt ip lic a t io n of it is

is

the in Co lo r ,

a u g me n t a t io n for

t h e Me d ic in e a F ire , wit h

Sm e l1, V ertue, Excited, of which plica tion. never is

and Qua n t it y i dies, but

wh ic h b e in g o n e s p a rk o f Mu lt i-

a lwa y s d we I ls

you,

able

to mak e mo re F ire

b y t h e V irt u e

XLVI. th is

He is

rich

which

has but

one Particle is ff

or

Grain to be

of

our E lixir,

becau s e t h a t

G ra in

p o s s ib le

a u g mented (by one way) t o o u r dry you will in cr eases w hich w hich P ouder,

I n f in it y :

y o u d is s o lv e

t h is

and ma k e a f re q u e n t

Co a g u la t io n it,

t h e re o f ' till and Of you it

augment it, in your

and so you may Multiply in t o the f o rm o f

Glass ,

a T re e ,

Hermes calls one Grain

a T re e ,

mo s t B e a u t if u l to

in A s p e c t . if

may be Mu lt ip lie d to make your

a n h u n d re d ,

know how wj-sely

Projection.

XL VII.

Our E lixir,

the mo re f in e it

a n d s u b t le

it

is

ma d e ,

so much the more compleatly its T incture. Let you r F ire

tinges, be kept

and disperses e q u a lly c lo s e ,

Evening

and Morni.g;

so much the it

longer be;

you keep the Fire' a n d Mu lt ip ly

so much the more profita b le

will

-7 4 -

more and more in i ts th a n enclosure, you could

your

Glass,

nourishing

your

Mercury

in

whereby y o u will desire.

h a v e a g re a t e r

T re a s u re

XL VIII. and, not

13.

DE P ROJECT I O NE , I f you may prove in Met a l

your it in

T in c t u re a small c le a v e s that it

b e t ru e quantity t h e re t o is a b le to

Variable, either

the r eof, as Pitch, endure destroy M e t,al.

o r Me rc u ry : in P ro je c t io n ,

It

and so Tinges strongest work,

the

Fire:

But many through

fgnorance

their

bY making Projection

upon an impure

XLIX.

S ee that so will B rittle

you P r o je c t that

y o u r Me d ic in e

upon your as Glass: Pro-

Ferment, je ct that

Ferment be grittle

Medic in e

u p o n p u re B o d ie s r s o h a v e the s e v e re s t Test.

yo u S ilver

or Go1d, en d u rin g

L.

Give not

liberty

to

the

Re in s

le s t

y o u s in ,

but your the to

Religiously se lf great every always

Fear and serve before the

the Lord of

your

God; think

T rib u n a l

t h e mo s t h ig h /

Judge and Rewarder of Man accord,ing to his

lvlankind, who will works.

return

Lr . itude

\4. of

RE CA P ITULA T I g , our Stone, the

T a k e h e e d d ilig e n t ly in the Occident, wif e Life,

to

the

Lat-

and begin

where the

Su n sets, conjoyned m a y live

where

R e d Ma n a n d wh it e by the spirit of

a re ma d e o n e ' that they

and Married in

Love and Q u ie t n e s s .

-t)-

L II.

The E arth of

and W a t e r,

a re

jo y n e d of

in

a f it

p ro p o rt io n ; wh j" c h is three 4

o n e part to of L2. the

E arth

or B o d y t o

t h re e

S p irit ,

and is

a good proportion: one of S pirit the Male! in t h is

you must take

parts

Fematre to be of the

by how much less

there

sh a ll

Dis p e n s a t io n , the

Co n ju n c t io n , Calcination

or Marridg, be Absolved.

by so much the

sooner will

L IIf. the r ets

The Calcination Bodies, of divide,

p e rf o rme d , and Putrefie

then them;

y o u mu s t d is s o lv e and all the SecCo Heaven, and

our other

lowe r

S t a rs with

will the

h a v e a p e rf e c t Poles Colors of of our Light all the

herence and will Glory, th in gs

and understanding appear with Transcending in the World,

inexplicable in Lusture

and Beauty, t h is b e f o re

other p e rf e c t

a n d a ll

Whiteness.

L IV. Yellow,

A nd after the false

the

pe rf e c t

Wh it e n e s s , Colour: will in

y o u will the

have a Blood

Citrion for ever,

afterwards be manifest; its kind,

Red, unchangable a Medicine tinually le a st of the

so have you which in may conthe

third

Order

be Mu1tiplied. be lgnorant of,

But this that t iI l or

you must not

t h e RE D MA N d o e s n o t they Stone. t h e ms e lv e s a re

T in g e ' f irs t

no r yet Tinged

his WHITE W IFE , with our Tincture

LV. Art;

When therefore hide your

you prepare all over,

your

Matter

by this

our

Bodies

and lay

open their

- 7 6-

Pr ofundities yo u r w hich Materials, in

or

rn-side s , and t h e

d e s t ro y

the

f irs t

g u a lit y

of

al l

mo re e x c e lle n t

s e c o n d g u a lit ie s , o n e G l-a s s , a n d four Natures

these

you mu s t s e p a ra t e ;

a n d in the

by one Government and order, i nto one.

convert

L Vr . fo r e it

The Red E lixir be Rubified,

mu s t b e d iv id e d wh ic h put in t o

in t o

t wo p a rt s ,

be-

t wo G la s s e s ; sol

a n d if of

you would Lu n a,

have a double

Elixir,

one of

and another

do thus:

LVrra great quantity ge ther tion

with

Mercury if

multiply

presently f irs t

the o n ly

Medicine

into

guantity,

yo u h a v e a t

s o s ma 1 l a them tob y c irc u la to f irs t a thouin t o p e r-

as a Spoonful: into a white

then may you multiply wh ic h

and Re d Me d ic in e , into a perfect

you must convert

OyI according f ro m y o u r you live

ou r directions; small quantity

and this

Mu lt ip lic a t io n should

may be continued., These Oyl s will f ix

san d Y ears. fect

Cru d e Me rc u ry

S ol and Luna.

Lvr r r .

This

pure

and f ix e d

o re a g in o u s

substance, is s o e a s ie

Ra y mu n du s to be

ca 1 1 s his understood,

B asiTTisk,who s e that it

E x p lic a t io n

needs no more Words.

LIX.

For our Ivletals are nothing viz. those of of

e1se,

than

our

two

M in e rae, N otes;

soL and Luna, Luna, and the

d s Ra y mu n d u s wis e ly L ig h t of s h in in g soL.

The S plendor

-7 7 -

IN these may for of Art,

two ltljneraet a while be hid

the

Secret your

dweIls; Eyes,

tho' which

the

Splendor hel,p

from bring

by the

you nay easillz

t'o light.

Xt. it in

fhis its

hidden

Stone,

this

one thing' or Bl-oodr itr

purifie tillit

it' grows

wash

own Liquor. Brudently of the

Water

White;

then

Ferment whole

so have you the

Summ

and Perfection

Work.

FINIS

-7 8 -