noqer Bacon

Intcgra JVatura
""ulunr{nitltrc Imago.

af

Xhe

LatLn

Lnto

englLsh

and claused.bgs

}lILLIAI,I SALJ4ON
professor of physick

A LstT&4\

Wggt pRoDucTroN

, Rogcr llacon rhc l.lnglishnr:rn.

CHA PTER

X XX VII

OFTHE ORIGINAL OFIIETALS, AND PRINCIPLES OFTHE MINERAL l^lORK.

I. T he B odies of from of all the N a t u ra l Original T h in g s of b e in g a s we ll p e rf e c t

as imperfect a q u aternity Water, II. In are

timer

and compounded of A ir, E a rt h,

E lemen t s

o r Na t u re s ,

v iz . , F ire , in a perfect of

conjoyned four

by God Almighty is h id the

Unity. P h ilo s o p h e r s : The Fire be

these

E leme n t s give

S e c re t

The Earth an d Air, seen or IIf. exist, dent,

and Water the S pirit but four

Corporeity

and Visibility: P o we r, wh ic h

an d f n v is ib le in the other

cannot

touched

two. and made to is evi-

When these in that one, all being

Elements

are conjoyned, thingi

they

become another in Nature

whence it the

things altered

are composed of

said

Elements,
IV.

and changed.
Generation of the and IVatural Trans-

So Saith in

Rhasis, the

SimpTe

fotmation

Ooeration

El-ements.

V. But an d not Action lr jstotle, aq r e eing

it

is

necessary to wit,

that

the

Elements

be of

one kind, n e it h e r So Saith t h in g s

divers, nor

S imp le :

F o r o t h e rwis e them: but of

Passion Thete is

could

happen between G e n e ra t io n , t h in g s

no t ru e So that Natu re s .

in to

lvature. their

be not

ma d e b u t

acco rding

-r-

vr -

The E rdar

or

oak T re e s wirr T h o rn s , but o n ly

not

b rin g

f o rt h of

p e a rs ;

nor

ca n you gather th in gs bring

Grapes o f forth,

o r F ig s t h e ir

T h is t le s , o r wh a t

not

lik e r

ag r ees with
6

them in

Na t u re ,

e a c h T re e it s

o wn F ru it .

F F
t F c.
ii

vrr' those

our

secret in

therefore which o! into it is.

is

to be drawn onry you cannot extract

out it

of out s a lt of

&:

things

c E r
9:
t I

Sto n es or

saltr

oth e r

He t e ro g e n e

B o d ie s :

Ne it h e r

n o r A lum enters sa ith,

F
E

o u r my s t e ry :

But as

rh e o p h ra s t u s a n d A I L : rt rrs ,

The P hiJ-osophers d is g u is e the E i,eme n t s .

wit h s a i, t s

th e P -Iaces of
t Al
F F

t:

*
f I f-

F F t

VfIf.

ff

you prudently it from t}te

d e s ire

t o ma k e o u r Ro o t : of

E lix ir,

you

must extract

a Mineral pe t f e c t io n

F o r a s G e b e t s a it h ,

!
I F tq

Yo u must obtain
S eeds th e te o f -

IX.

Sulphur

and Mercury

are

the MineraL her

Roots, s e lf

and acts and are

N atur al works viscous Po r e s, in

principles, the water, V eins,

upon wh ic h Na t u re of the

Mi-nes and caverns and subtir spirit

Earth,

which

running

through

the

and B owe1 s o f

t h e Mo u n t a in s .

x'

of

them is

produced

a vapour Meta's

or

croud,

which

is an.

the re_

substance verberating even till

and body of upon its

united, Earth,

ascendirg,

own proper

(As Geber sheweth) the space of a

by a temperate

digestion

through

- 2-

Thousand Years, M in eral S tone,

the of

matter

is

fixed,

and converted

into

whic h

me t a ls

a re ma d e .

XI.

In the same manner of Sol which is our Sulphur, l,lercury by l'lercury, and mixt with which is the Viscous its proper Earth, ariseth

being

reduced into

Water made thick,

by a

temperate d,ecoction and digestion, Cloud, agreeing in nature

the Vapour or that in the

and substance with

Bowe1s of the Earth.

XII. w hich sha1l

This is

afterward,s the

is SouI,

turned S p irit ,

into

most subtil

water, a s we

called

a n d T in c t u re ,

hereafter

shew.

XIII. which it

When this

Water

is

returned

into

the

Earth,

(out or is

of

was drawn) it, as its

and every proper by Art than

way spreads Womb, it in

through

mixed with

becomes fixed.. time, of which

Thus Nature

the Wise man does that cannot Yea r s. perform in less

a short Revolution

the

a Thousand

XIv. but

Yet notwithstandirg, Nature her into self that

it

is

not

We that

make the metal, can vre change changes them.

does it. but it is

Nor do or Nature in the that work.

one thing We are

another;

no more than

meer Servants

- 3-

XV. Sto n e

Therefore naturaTTg

lJedus i n contains the

ru t b a jn

P h it o s o p h o ru ra r it . t h e

s a it h ,

our It is yet

h t h o le -T ia c t ' llre . the power

perfectly of it self

made in (without

l"lountains it

and Body of or

Earth;

art)

has no life

whereby

to move the

Elements.

XVI.

Chuse then Aristotle, Bodies

the

natural add Art:

lr1inerals,

to

which, generates

by the

ad.vice of Metaline phur

For Nature Cloudsr the

of

the to

Vapours, all

oE Fturnes of

Sul-

and, FlercuEy, the or

which

Philosophers Art For the

agree. works, to wit,

Know therefore the not the Principles these Work. things

Principles beginnings

upon which of lietals: attain to

he that perfection

knows of

shall

never

XVII. o-f the fection

Geber

saith,

fie

who has js

not far

in f rom of

hinself attaiDjng the

the

knotrzTedge rXhe petRoot upon

J{atura.l, of the

Principles, Art I being

lgnorant

ltlineral

which

he should

work.

XVIII.

Geber also

far t h e r

s a it h t T h a t o u r a rt t h ro u g h that the is , t ru e wit h

is

o n lg

to

b e understood kn o wledqe ing into of the

and Learn e d

wis d o m a n d a wis d o m s e a rc h of ttre matter.

lvaturaJ, t h d -n g s : Roots and Natural

principles

-4 -

xfx. th o u fol]ow

Y et

saith the in

he,

my S o n , I

shew thee a Secret, yet ther ein

through

knowest Nature to

P rincip le s , all t h in g s . Nature

thou canst not in

Her ein some have er r ed, in all her properties

Essaying

following

and

differences.

Thc Ultimare Go.l

-5-

CHAP T ER

X XX VIII

OFTHE IIIERCURY, SECOND THE PRINCIPLE OFTHE l.lORK,

I. The second Principle of call said, lvature js our Stone (as ?his it js is is a ca1led simple Stone, Mercuts, of it self) Stone,

which

some Philosophers One of without into them which t ot uD.

a Stone. and that

and no ang

nevet

petfotms up bf othet

tbingi and

which also

enters swaTTows

swaTTowed

Bodies,

them

rI.

T h i s i s si mp l y A nggr uf VIVE, which contains Power, which Explicates Stone. the Tincture

the of our

Essential Elixir

o r P h i l o so p h e rs

III. it it

Therefore which is the

saith the

Rhasis, htghesx

Such a thing petfection with the

nag of

be made of For is the

exceedeth Root of

Nature. and

t'letaIs, and

Harmonises conjoyns

them, Tinctures.

!4edium that

explicates

fV.

For

it

swallows but

up that rejects

which what is

is

of

its

own Nature and Heteroit s p a rt s .

and production; ge n e : being of

Forreign in a ll

an Uniform

substance

V.

I{herefore

our

Stone

is for

called it is all

Natural, Generated Metals,

or Mineral,. in the I'tines,

Vegetable, and is co ve r ts the

and Animal, Mother

or Womb of it

and by projection a V e g e t a b le :

into

Metals:

S p rin g s

o r G ro ws lik e

-6 -

and abounds with Ti ncture, all like

Life S pirit

Iik e

a n A n ima l, e v e ry

b y p e irc in g where,

wit h

it s

a n d L if e ,

and through

particles.

VI.

trtorien

saith,

This

.9tone

is

no Stone rt js is hidden

that cast

can out

Genetate upon the

a living DunghiTJ ot

Cteature. as a vile

Another thing, of

saith, and jt

from

the

Eges

understandings

f gnotant

Iten.

VII.

A Iso

Ln tibro

S pe c u li

A lc h g mia e , but found b e in g over in

it

is

s a id ,

Our (i. e .

Ston e is in in is

a thing

rejected , ot four

Du n g h ils

putrefaction, it self the to

the Ma t t e r E1ements,

p u t re f ie d ) it

c o n t a in in g and

which

Triumphs,

certainly

be perfected

by humane ind.ustry.

VI I I .
six ot

S o me ma ke Me n C UnyOF LSRO, Thus: Rx Lead, r ,elr it

.Seven times, of which and quench iij jt Sal in Sa-lt Armoniac lb j. djsBorax

solvedt
?r

taJce lb.

Vitrioli,

L b .5

r,ixt

and Digest

Fottg no t a t

d a g s in a ll

I g n e P h ilo s o p h o ru m: f ro m Min e ra l t h e J V a t u ra L r is . ff

So have gou MerculY , Bu t that is not fit

d if f e rin g ES the Caution

for

o u r wo rk , this

you have any understanding, i nstr uct you.

may sufficiently

CHAPTER

XXXIX

OFTHE PIETALS AND I'IERCURY OUR THE PURIFICATION FOR l,lORK. OF

I. This to that is a great an d c e rt a in from the t ru t h , Unclean, pure that for t h e C1 e a n nothj_ng can is of

ought give

be separated which it

has not: void of

For the a ll

substance

on e simple which is not is

E ssence,

He t e ro g e n e S . t y : of of

But that parts,

irnpure. and unclean, but

consists wit

Heterogene pure

simple., to

compounded (to and corrupt.

and impure)

and apt

putrifie

II. which

Therefore is Alien nothing not

let or

nothing Foreign goes to

enter to the

into

your

Composition, Impurity Stone, whole. that

the matter, Composition in part

(as all of nor our in

is; ) for proceedeth

from

it,

neither

III. is

If

any strange

or

f o re i. g n

t h in g

b e mix e d wit h Corruption

it ,

it

immedj.ately

corrupted,

and by that

your

Work becomes frustrate.

IV.

T h e C i tri n e

B o d i es ( as Sol, et,c.) you m ust pur ge by and it is then purged or

Calcinatlon p u r i fi e d if

or Cementation; it b e fi n e

and flor id.

V.

The metal or

being

well

cleansed,, Leaf

beat

it

into

thin them

Pl ates for

Leaves

(as is

G o I d , ) a n d re s e rv e

use.

-8-

VI.

The White

Liquor

(as Mercury)

contains

trrro Superfluities, v iz . lE s f o e t id

wh ich must necessarily Ear thiness, w hich causes which its

be re mo v e d f ro m it , it s F u s io n :

hinders flying.

a n d it s

Hu mid it g ,

VlI. ot dtg tiII

The Earthiness Wooden mottat, sal,t, and

is with

thus its

removed. equal

put

ir of

into pure

a fine the

uatble and Pestle, Sal,t

weight Grind

a LittLe of tlle

Vinegat: mattez

aJ-I with but ttre

noxhing vetg ti77 and

appears,

whole wixh

becomes watet, decant, Vinegar, watez, cleat

black. the put Sal,t to jt so

ftrash thjs js

whoLe matter this as

pure wat,er Sal,t fair and

dissolved, Mercurg before, tepeat l,tetcutg again and

f iTthg

the as

much mote it with

grinding which work and

washing the

often the

tiTI

waXet pure

comes bright

f tom

it, Tike

thaq

remains

and ci,ear CoTour. tjmes

a Venice jt oz dtg.

Looking through three a

Gl,ass, Linen (into

and of CToth

a Coelestjal, three oE four

Then doubTed, ti71

strain trto it be

tjmes

a clean

Gf,ass

I/esse-1, )

VIII. are 25. is

The proporation 24 Hours ( T o W it, in the

of

the

p a rt s

is

as 24 to

1 . T h e re and it t h is , whole is

a Natural Rising of

Day, to which the S u n ).

add one,

T o u n d e rs t a n d through the

Wisdom, as Geber saith. to over-power the

Ind,eavour in

Work,

/{ercurg

Corunixtion.

-9 -

IX. i on , That

Rhasis which the

saith, contain

Those B o d ie s most A rg e n t hid of

c o me n e a re s t V iv e : but

to

p e rf e c t s a it h ,

He f a rt h e r Weight

Philosophers the P roportions

nothing the

and Measure, wh ic h is c le a r,

to w i t, for that

I n g re d ie n t s ,

none of

them all error.

agree one with

another

therein:

wh ich

causeth

great

X.

Though the the

matters

be well or the th e

prepared of

and well the

mixed, be

without just,,

Proportions to or

Quantities reason end, of

things

and according the not truth, indeed

the Work, a ll

you will L a b o u r;

m iss of you will

a n d lo s t to

your

bring

any thing

perfection.

Xf . is

And this

is

evident of it the

in

the

Examination: that the

lrlhen there Body is or Test, accordor ju s t

a Transmutation then it let

Bodyr or into

changed, and then in g

be put

the

Cineritium

will

be consumed,

or otherwise le s s

remain; ju s t ;

a s the

proportions to be.

a re mo re o r

than

as they

ought

XfI. of

If thatr

they

be right

a n d ju s t ,

a c c o rd in g

to

the

Re a s o n firm,

!orJ, Body will any loss, in this

be incorruptible a ll

and remain

w i th o u t

through

E s s a y s a n d T ry a ls : the true matter,

you can of of this sub-

do nothing thing, stance,

work without is

knowledge purity

whose Foundation and right

Natural

Reason or

proportion.

-1 0 -

CHA PT E R

XL

OFTHE CONJUNCTION OFTHE PRINCIPLES, IN ORDER TOTHIS GREAT I{ORK.

r. Eucrid the Philosopher, and a man of great understanding,

advises to work in nothing joyned together phers stoner

but in soI and Mercury; which and admirabre phj-loso-

make the wonderful

&s Rhasis saith:

white and Red, both proceed

from one Root; no other

Bodies coming between them.

rr.

B ut yet

the

Gord, to

wa n t in g po$rer.

Me rc u rg ,

is

h in d . e re d know that but this

f ro m no our

working stone, Stone,

according nor

his other

Therefore thing,

Pearr t ot to this

Forreign

belongs

work.

rrr.

Y ou must therefore B ody, sai.th, first to

Labour about it in t o c o ld , it s

the

Dis s o ru t io n ma t t e r:

of for

th e ci trine a s R hasis i nto j ts

red u c e

f irs t it

I{ disso lv e lratute ot

that thar

ma g b e re d . u c e d . lb lE RCURy ,

ma t t e r ,

js , in t o

rv.

For being broken and made one, they have in themboth of the make a Marriage Agenr and patLent. (that is a Con-

serves the whole Tincture Wherefore saith junction) Rhasis,

between rhe R f ! uan and his have the whole Secret.

|t{ H I T E r{ife,

and. you shall

-1 1 -

V. to

The Same saith the Red l"lan, they

rrert ini will

If

you l,larry

the

White

Woman one are

be Conjoyned

and Imbrace

another, Dissolved,

and become impregnated. and by themselves whereby, the they

By themselves bring forth

they

rvhat they one Body.

have conceived,

two are made but

VI.

And truly

our

Dissolution, form, Saltness

is

only

the the

reducing Nature of

the

hard Body into Argent Vive,

a liquid that the

and into of the

Sulphur

nay be

diminished.

VIf.

Without

our

Brass

then till it

be Broken, will

Ground,

and Gently from its you

and Prudently hard labour

managed,

be reduced

and Dense Body, in Vain.

into

a thin

and. subtil

Spirit,

VIII. the is,

A nd therefore first i nto work is the

in

the

S p e c u lu m A le h g n ia e the Body into

it

is

s a id , that Dis -

reducing

l{ater, c a lle d Art.

b{ercury. which is

A nd t h is the

t h e P h ilo s o p h e rs of the

solutj-on,

Foundation

whole

IX.

This

Dissolution and absolute

makes the Body of Subtilty:

an Evident is done by a or

Liquid.ity, gentle

and this

Gri-nding,

and a soft

and continued

Assation

D i ge stion.

-L2-

X. is,

Wherefore th at

saith

Rhasis, be p u t

the work in t o it s

of making p ro p e r

our

Stone and a s it

the matter Decocted or

V e s s e l,

co n ti nu ally wh o lly

and Dig e s t e d , to the

u n t il top

s u c h t ime t h e re o f .

A scends,

S ublime s

XI.

This

is

declared Stone is

in

S p e . c u J u m p h ilo s o p h o ru m. from a vi-Ie thing, cast

The into in t o a the

Philosophers p r e ti ou s Matrix in of

converted the

S ubstance: Mercury, of time

for

S E ME NS g L A RE , is or

by Copulation they

Conjunction,

whereby

process

be made one.

XII.

Also,

that

when it it

is

Compounded with be the Springing may then

the

like,

and

Mercurizated, .soul,, the of

then

shall

Bud.

For the

Spizit

and the help of

Tinctuze

be drawn out

them by the

a gentle

Fire.

XIII.

Therefore

saith

Aris t o t le ,

the

true

matters or

or changed

pr in ci- p les (by the i nto

are not

possib le in

t o b e transformed except they

most Learned first

Alchymie)

be reduced

their

matter.

XIV. fo r

And Geber saith, w hen sot then is reduced

all to

ought it s

to be made of O rig in a l

Mercury o r Ma t t e r,

only: by

f irs t Nature.

Mercury,

Nature

embraceth

-1 3 -

)ry.

And then

it

will

be easie ther e o f : Mines,

to

draw out

the

Subtil s a it h ,

and take them,

Sp ir itual the things

S ubstance from their

o f wh ic h and Exact or

A lk jn d u s or

Subtilize matter,

and reduce

them to

their

Rootsr

first

which

is

Lumen Luminum.

)fff . with glory to

And therefore, the of

except

you cast never Rhasis

out

the

Redness e x a lt e d knows how &una into soJ,.

Whit,enesst you will the Redness. For

c o me t o saith,

the

H that convert

convert

Sol into

Lunat knows how to

) fi /II. he that h is

Therefore prud,ently

saith

p a n d o p h il. u s in Virtue or

T u t b a P h iT o s o p h o ru m Power from SoI, and

d.raws the obtain

Shadow, shall

a g re a t

S e c re t .

)fvffI. Tinging

Again Virtue

it or

is

said,

without

Sol,

and his

Shadow, no

Power is

generated.

XIX. Tinging

And whosoever or Colouring means,

it

is

that

shall

endeavour these

to make a things, and by to

Tincture,

wj.thout

any other his

he Errs,

and goes astray

from Truth,

own hurt,

Ioss

and detriment.

-1 4-

CHA PTER

XLI

PHILOSOPHICK OFTHE TII{ES AND CLOSING, LUTE, VESSEL, OFTHE l,l0RK,

I. The V esse1 for or Elixir our is S ton e is but one, in wh ic h t h e wh o le this is a

Magistery C ucu r b it,

performed is ro u n d

and perfected; lik e an Eggr or

whose B ottom that with it

a n Urin a l,

smooth within, easily, and not Eg g . covered very

may Ascend and Descend the more a Limbeck round and smooth everlmhere, is round also like an

high,

and whose Bottom

II. matter strong

Its

largeness fill Glass, all in flie

ought

to

be such;

that of

t h e l4 e d ic in e it; made of

or

may not double it, work;

above a fourth clear the

part

and transparent, appertaining Spirit moving

that to,

you may and appear-

see through ing in the

Colours the

which away .

continually,

ca n n o t

pass or

III. of the get i t,

Let

it

also

be so c lo s e d , can ent e r rvjth it

that

a s n o t h in g as

can go out Lute mag

so nothing

j-n t o it ;

L u c a s s a it h ,

Tessef 7 stronglg jn or go out of

L UT UM S A P I E NT I A E , t h a t

n o t h in g

fV. out,

For or

if

the

Flowers, Air

or matter or matter

subliming, enter in,

should your

breath

any strange and lost.

work will

b e spo iled

-1 5 -

V.

And though is is to

the

Philosophers into for the the c lo s e

oftentines

sdy,

that

the

m atte r yet said it

be put

V e s s e l, Operator, it up,

a n d c lo s e d once to and so to of

up fast, put the

sufficient, in, very

matter the

once to

k e e p it ,

even to rf these

perfection be often

and finishing repeated,

the work.

things

the work wiLl- be spoiled.

vr . close, of

Therefore

saith

Rhas is ,

keep your

vessel

c o n t j. n u a lly what kind none of

encompassed with to that

Dew, (which demonstrates Luted that

Heat you are or

use, ) and so well which sublimes,

the Flowers, in Vapor or

Rdy get

out t oE vanish

Fume.

VII.

And in stone

Speculum Alchymiae remain it shut within

it

is

said,

Let

the

philounti-l it

sophers

the Vessel Humidity; it

strongry, and. Iet

such time, be nourished

that with

has drunk a continual

up the

Heat till

becomes l{hite.

vr r r .

A lso are

another three

P hilos o p h e r things Yolkr to in

in h is

B re v e lo q u iu m E g g , v iz . the three the

s a it h , S h e ll,

a s th e r e the White, things Vessel,

a n a t u ra l

and the

so likewise the

there

are

corresponding the White

philosophers

stone, Bod.y.

Glass

Liquor,

and the Citrine

IX. Bir d fo r th

And as of is or made,

the (the

Y oIk S hell of the

a n d Wh it e , b e in g

wit h

a lit t le the in

He a t , c o min g

wh o 1 e , u n t il s o is it

Hatching

Ch ic k e n : )

t h e wo rk o f

-1 5 -

the

Phirosophers with or

stone.

of or

the

c it rin e

Body,

a n d wh it e

Liquor, Il er m e tis,

a temperate P hilosophers

gentle

Heat is

made the Avie

B ird .

x.

T h e ve sse l b e i n g w e rl and per fectly

closed,

and never

so much as once opened till work: so that the Spirit

the perfection

or end of the that

you see the vessel

is to be kept close,

may not get out and evanish.

xr. tures

Therefore close

saith

Rhasis, for the thy

Keep thy

vessel of

and its the

junc-

and firm, saith,

conservation vesser well, it

spirit.

And another not to

close

and as you are s o n e it h e r great a

cease from the make too

work ,

(o r le t

cooL,)

are you to heatr

much haste, of

(neither it,. )

by too

Dor too

soon opening

XII. is will will the

You must take spirit) gets

special not out

care of

that

the

Humidity for then

(which you

the

Vessel;

have nothing come to

but

a Dead Body remaining,

and the work

nothing.

xr r r . till not it

S 0crares

saith,

Gr in d

it

wit h

mo s t s h a rp v in e g a r, the vinegar be

grows thick into

and be carefur and perish.

that

turned

fume,

CHAPTER

XLII

OF THE PHILOSOPHERS FIRE,THE KINDS AND COVERNIV1ENT THEREOF.

r. fold The Philosophers Fire, a moist have described and a d ry . in their Books a two

rr-

The moist

Fire

they as the

c a lle d

t h e wa rm E o rs e B e rrg i remains, the

in

the whi.ch, retained,;

so long but the

Humidity being

Heat is Heat

Humidity which but

Consumed., the small

vanj-shes and ceases, above five by casting or six

Heat being it

seldom lasts and renewed,

days:

may be conserved urine mixt with

upon it

many times

salt.

r r f.

of

this of it

Fire the fire

speaks of the the

p h iia re s

the

p h ilo s o p h e r: is , not with

The to desits

p r o p e r ty troy with

Ho rs e B e lly , but

dryness

oyI, fire

augments it to

hunidity,

whereas

other

would be apt

consrxne it.

IV.

senjor

the

phi.losophe r

s a it h ,

Dig a Sepulcbre or Husband in such time

and Horseas they

bury the l,l 0 H fi frfwirh her I{ A N,

dung (or Balneo of the srme heat) or united.. be intimately conjoyned

until

vyour

Attudonus t'ledicine

the in for

P hilosoph e r

s a it h

rik e wis e , is the fire

y o u mu s t b id , e of the

Horse Dung, which this Du n g is hot,

Ph ilo so p hers,

mo is t ,

a n d d , a rk , h a v in g

-1 8 -

a humidity
NCSS

in

it

se1f,

an d a n excellent

light,

( or W hite-

VI.

There is only

no other the

fire

comparable heat of

to

ir or

in

t h e Wo rld ,

excepting

natural

a Ma n ,

Womans Body. )

VII.

This

is of

a S ecret. l4an, and the

The Vapour of Blood of the

the

Sea not our

b u rn e d , Re d F ire.

the Blood

G ra p e is

VIII. and the

The

Dtg

Fite,

is

the of

F ire

of thing

the

B o d ie s

t h e ms e lv e s ; Now

Inflammability of these

every is

able

to be burned:

the government

Fires

thus:

IX. moist

The Medicine fire, in until the

of the

the

White

ought

to

be put

into

the shall

Complement of For a gentle

the Whiteness fire is the

appear tion of

Vessel.

conserva-

the

Humidity.

X. The refore the Body is they

saith to

pandolp h u s ,

Y o u a re the

to

u n d e rs t a n d with

that

be dissolved

with

Spirit,;

which so that

are mixed by an easie

and gentle b y it .

decoctionr

the Body may be spiritualize d

XI.

As canius

also great

saith: a heat

A g e n t le will not

f ire

g iv e s or

h e a lt h , unite the

but the humid-

too much or Elements, ity,

conserve them,

but

on the the

contrary whole

divide

waste

and destroy

work.

- 19-

XII. in the

Therefore sublimation not the

saith

R h a s is ,

B v e ry of

d ilig e n t the

a n d c a re f u l that may you

and liquefaction fire too part it

matter,

increase ascend to a place the

your

much, whereby of the Vessel: will will stick not

the water For fast

highest

then wanting there, whereby

of

Refrigeratj.on, of the

Sulphur

Elements

be perfected,.

XIIf .

For

j-ndeed in elevated

this

work,

it

is

necessary

that

they again.

be many times

t oE sublimed,,

and depressed

xTV.

And the

gentle

or

temperat,e Fire makes thick,

is

that

only

which

compleats

the mixture,

and perfects

the work.

) ff.

Therefore fire

saith of the

B ot u lp h u s ,

T h a t g e n t le is the

f ire , greatest

wh ic h and

is

the White

Philosophers, of the

most principal

matter

Operation

of.the

Elenents.

)fff .

Rhasis

also of

saith,

Burn our Brass the hatching

with of

a Gent1e Fire, Eggs, until the

such as is

that

a Hen for

Body be broken,

and the

Tincture

extracted.

)<VII. and the

For with humidity is

an easie which avoided.

decoction,

the water drawn out;

is

congealed, drying,

corrupteth,

and in

the burning

lffIII. in the

The happy prosecution exact temperament Iest of

of the

the fire:

whole work, Therefore b e f o re

consists beware of the t ime ,

to o much heat,

you c o me t o

s o iu t io n

- 20-

( viz.

before of

the matter attaining

is the

rip e : ) end of

For

that

will

b rin g

you

to d e spair

your

hopes.

XIX. it

Wherefore

saith

he, the

B e wa re o f time,

t o o mu c h f ire , will

for

if

be kindled it

before

the matter

be Red, beit be-

fore

comes to

ripeness or

and perfection, the unripe Fruit

(whereby of

comes like whereas it Fr u its it of

an Abortr ought a Tree, its to

the Womb: as the

be first is )

Whj-te, then f irs t Wh it e ,

Red, like then

a Cherry

Re d , wh e n

comes to

perfection.

XX. we r e ) Body,

And that of

he might

ind.igitate

a certaj-n

time,

(as it of the

Decoction,

he s a it h , or

That the of

d is s o lu t io n the Spirit, fire,

and Coagulation

Congelation decoction the in

ought and a

to be done, moist fo r ty

by an easie for

a gentle

Putrefactj-on, Days.

space of

one hundred

and

XXI. of

To which

otsoLen

assents

s a y in g ,

In the Elements wit h

b e g in n in g (being a g e n t le sj.ncf ire )

the mixture,

you ought clean,

to mix the a n d re c t if ie d

er e and made pure,

by a slow and natural fire, ti1I

digestion, are

and to

beware of

too much

you know they

conjoyned.

XXIf. heat

B oneTTus also continued,

sa it h ,

T h a t b y a T e mp e ra t e a n d G e n t le pure and perfect, Body.

you must make the

-2]--

CHAPTER

XLII

OFTHE AENIGMA'S OFPHILOSOPHERS, THEIR DECEPTIONS, AND

PRECAUTIONS CONCERNING THE SAME.

I. in You ought attempting to put on Courage, great work, Resolution lest you Err, and Constancy, and be deand then

this

ceived., another.

sometimes

following

or doing

one thing,

II.

For

the

knowledge t et great

of

this

Art

consisteth but

not in

in

the Our O n e:

multiplicity Sto n e is but

number of ma t t e r is

things,

Unity; is The

One, the is

One, and the Vessel is One. in

The Government whole Art and in

One, and the disposition is

and Work thereof is

One, and begins

One manner,

One manner it

finished.

III. ered

Notr,rithstanding themselves,

the

Philosophers their

have subtj.ly with the

deliv-

and clouded

instructions to

Anigmatical that but their also

and Typical Art might not

Phrases only

and Words,

end

be hidden

and so continued,

be had in

the

greater

Veneration.

IV. to

Thus they Sublime, to to

advise B ake,

to to

Decoct, G rin d ,

to Commix, and to Conjoyn; and to Co n g e a l; t o ma k e all is

Equal, which all

Putrefie, the

to make White, orden, only to

and to rnake Red; of working

things,

management and way of Decoct.

one,

wtr-ich is

- 22-

V. no t

And therefore to be weary, (that is,

to saith

Grin d

is

to

De c o c t ,

of

wh ic h y o u a re but n ot

Rh a s is : wit h in

Dig e s t

c o n t in u a lly , a F ire ; ) follow

i n haste

not

t o o g re a t your work, your

cease not, not to the Artithe

or make no intermission fi ce of S ophisters, bu t

p u rs u e

O p e ra t io n ,

Complement and perfection

thereof.

VI.

A Iso

in Iest it

the

Rosar g it

is

a d v is e d . , dead or

to

b e c a u t io u s

and

watchful, co n tinue Vessel,

your

work prove

imperfect, u p we ll

and to thy

with

a lon g to

De c o c t io n . end.

Clo s e

and pursue

the

VII. faction, motion,

For there

is

no G e n e ra t io n out, the Air,

of

t h in g s ,

but

b y P u t re internal

by keeping with

and a continual Heat,.

an equal

and gentle

VIII.

Remember when you are which arise in

in

your

work,

all for

the

Signs are

and

Appearances necessary fe cti ng to

every

Decoction, in order

they

be known and understood

to

the per-

the matter.

IX.

You must be sure with

to

be incessant Fire, cannot to the

and. continual appearing of

in the

your

Operati.on, pe r fect an d let

a gentle whic h

W hiteness, out the

b e if

y o u o p e n t h e V e s s e l,

S pirit.

X.

From whence it ilL, or your

is

Evident, be too

that

if

you manage your it ought to be

mat,ter

Fire

great,

- 23-

extingui.shed: incessantly, expectations, you lost

Therefore

saith

Rhasis, pursue your business of mind, and too great pursuit, lest

beware of instability

by a too hasty and precipitate

your End.

XI.

But as another

philosopher

saith,

Digestr

dnd Digest

again, Artistr

and be not rdeary: The most exquisite c,.' never attain to perfecti.on

and industrious

by too much haste,

but only by a long and continual (for so Nature works, Nature. )

Decoction and Digestion, some measure

and Art must in

i.mitate

- 24-

CHAPTER

XLIV

OFTHE VARIOUS APPEARING SIGNS IN EVERY OPERATION.

I. This then is the thing, that the Vesse1 with that the Medi-

cine be put into one half

a moist Fire;

to wit,

the mid.dle or ( or Balneo, of half out of the

o f th e V e sse l be in a moist Fir e Horse-Dun9, ) and the other look into it.

equal Heat with Fire, th a t

yo u ma y d a i l y

II.

And in part

about of

the the

space of I'tedicine S ig n ,

Forty will

Days, appear

t,he superf icies black as melted

or upper Pit,ch : truly

and this converted

is into

the

that

the

Cit rin e

B o d y is

Mercury.

III. of the

Therefore Water to

saith appear,

B o n e llu s ,

wh e n y o u s e e t h e that the

b la c k n e s s Body

be assured s a it h

(Citrine) the is ,

i s m ade Liquid: iti on be put tilI

The same t h in g of our

Rh a s is ; O n e , wh ic h Decocted

Dis p o s that it

or Operation i.nto its

S t o n e is

Vesse1 and carefully as the whole

and Digested, and Ascended.

such time

Body be Dissolved

IV.

And in or into

another

place

he saith, so long till

continue it

it

upon a temDis-

perate solved Tincture Sig n of

gentle Water,

Balneor

be perfected and that which

and rnade impalpable, into the blackness,

the whole is the

be extracted its dissolution.

-2 5 -

V.

L uca s a l so a ssu re th us, that when \re see the blackness th i n gs to appear , that
then the Bodv is

o f t h e w a te r i n a l l d i s s o l ve d ,

o r ma d e L i q u i d.

VI.

Th i s b l a ckn e ss th e Philosopher s called for

the fir st

Con-

junctj.on; and it

then the I'Iale and Female are joyned together, mixtion.

is the Sign of perfect

VIf . out t1 e ,

Yet notwithstandirg, together; until but it

the wholei Tincture every of t ime , day, it

j-s not

drawn

goes out len g t h

by 1itt,Ie is p e rf e c t ly

and lit-

by a great

extracted,

and made compleat.

VIII.

And that Rises

part to

of the yet

the Top, at

Body which above all Bottom.

is the

dissolved, other

ever

Ascends or

undissolved

It'{atter which

remains

IX.

Therefore

saith up to

Avicen, the

That which

j.s spiritual and that

in

the

Vesse1 Ascends is yet gross

Top of remains

the Matter, in the

which

and thick,

Bottom of

the Vessel.

X.

This to

blackness wit, rhe our the

j-s called Fires , the

Elmong the Sou7,

Philosophers

by many

Names, Eeadra the

a Cloud, the

f,he Ravensof Redness, i and

Coal,

ogT r Aqua Su4 Black

vLtae, Brass

Tinctute of

Shadow of other

, Watet

Sulphux

by many

Names.

XI. w i th

And this the S pirit.

Blackness

is

that

which

conjoyneth

the Body

- 26-

XII.

Then saj.th for the

Rhasis, space o f

The Government of F o rt y Da y s , b o t h

the

Fire

being the

o b se rved llhite fixt (if

(t o wit

Liquor, W ater, rightly

and the covered ordered)

Citrine wit h

Body)

are made a permanent or wh ic h b la c k n e s s in Forty Days

ove r

bLackness; its

cometh to

perfection

sPa ce.

xr r r . obscure and this For if

of

which

another

p h ilo s o p h e r rhe

s a it h ;

s o lo n g

as the Dominion; stone:

brackness is it the

appeareth first first

hl 0 fyl I or

fl rratrr the of our

conception Btack, it

strength never

be not Red.

s h a rr

b e e it h e r

White at

xr v.

A vicen Body; leseth

saith, then its

Th a t the

He a t c a u s e t h being

b la c k n e s s consumed,

f irs t , it

in

a moist o ff or

humidity

putteth

brack n e s s ; so it

and as the

He a t e n c re a s e t h

( or is

continued)

g ro ws wh i_ t e .

) ff.

Last]y, ds the

by a more in wa rd P hilosophe rs

He a t ,

it

is

Ca lc in ' d

in t o

Ash e sr

teach.

) ffr .

rn the

first

Dec o c t io n B1ack,

(wh ic h t o wit , and in

is

c a lle d

p u t re f a c t io n ) E a rt h , by the the

Ou r S tone is drawing out is

made all of its

a B la c k that

Humidity;

Blackness,

Wh iteness

hidden.

xvrr. again,

And when the

Humidity soft

is

reverted and gentle

upon the Digestion

Blackness is made

and by a continued

- 27-

f ixed

with

its

Earth,

then

it

becomes Whi-te.

) ffIII. it of is the

In

this

W hitene s s , and Digested Earth is

the

Re d n e s s is

h id d e n ;

a n d wh e n

Decocted Fire,

by augmentation changed into

(and continuance) as we shall

that

Redness,

hereafter

teach.

The Seed

- 28-

CH A PT E R

XL V

I^IHITENESS OUT OF OFTHE THE EDUCATIOI.| BI-ACKNESS OF THE

OR BLACK MATTER.
I. (not th is tiII wh ite Now let us revolve to t h e B la c k but) ma t t e r in it s V e s s e l, Let

so much as once ope n e d , V essel I sdy, stand

c o n t in u a lly in

c lo s e d : f ire , to a

c o n t in u a lly Colour

t h e mo is t like

such time moist

as the

White

appears,

S alt.

II.

The Colour

is

called

b y t h e P h ilo s o p h e rs c a ll the it , wo rk .

A rs e n ic k ,

a nd

5 a - 1 A tmoniack; wh ich no profit

and some o t h e rs js to be h a d in

T h e t h in g

wit h o u t

fII. the r e in this

But

inward

whiteness Conjunc t io n ,

appearing

j-n the

Work, of

then

is

a perfect S tone, of is is

a n d Co p u la t io n ,

t h e B o d ie s is f u lf ille d is is as as matter.

which

is

in d is s o lu b le : wh ic h which the

and then is is

tha t that that

saying which which

E etmes, T h e t h in g beneath; above, to and that perform

above, beneath, of

Mystery

this

IV.

Phares

saith,

Seeing

the Whiteness that it in

appearing

above in the

the Vessel, Re d n ess lies find

you may be certain, hid; but to be f o re appear.

the Whiteness, y o u will

b e c o me s Wh it e ,

many Colours

V.

Therefore

saith Vapour

Diomedes, Decoct together, until

the l'lale and the as they shaLl-

(Female or)

such time

-2 9 -

become one dry var io u s Colours

Body; wiIl

for not

except a p p e a r.

they

be dry,

the

divers

or

VI.

For it

will

ever be black,

whilst that

that

humid.ity or

moisture it

has the dominion; Colours,

but if

be once wasted, then ways.

emits divers

after

many and several

VII. Colour,

And many times tiII

it

shall as it

be changed from Colour comes to the fixed

to

such tirne

Whj-teness.

VIII.

S gnon saith, it

A 77 t h e

Co T o u rs o f h u mid it g

the

Wo rld wi7 7 up.

a p p e a r in

when the Bla c k

be dtged

IX. true

But value Tincturer

none of

these

Colours, it

for

they

be not

the

yea many times it will is dryed,

becomes Citrine

and, Redish; agaj-n, before

and many times the Whiteness

and becomes liquid

appear.

X. with

llow all the

this

while nor will

the it

Spirit

is

not or

perfectly fixed but

joyned in the Red

Body,

be joyned

White appear

Colour: all

estanu.s saith, even to

Between t'he White the utmost

and the

Colours,

imagination.

XI.

For

the

varieties

of

which

the

Philosophers some for

have given obscuring

various it,

Names, and almost

innumerable;

and some for

envy sake.

-3 0 -

XII. in the

T he cause of Operation of for

the

ap p e a ra n c e Medicine,

of is

s u c h v a rie t y from the

o f Co lo u rs of

your

extention be

the blacknessi the extream

as mu c h a s B la c k n e s s all the other

a n d Wh it e n e s s are but

Colours,

Colours

means

between

them.

XIII.

Therefore

as often so often

a s a n y d e g re e another

o r p o rt io n Colour

of

B la c k -

ness descendsr u n ti l it

and another

appears,

comes to Whitenes s .

XIV.

Now concerning

the

Ascend,ing and Descending It ascends from the Earth

of into

the

Medicine,

Hermes saith,

Heaven, and again by it may receive

descends both the

from Heaven to superiour

the

Earth, and the

where-

strength

i nfer io ur.

XV.

Moreover

this

you are Whiteness,

to

observe, there to

that

if

between the the Red

Blackness or Citrine i t, fo r it

and the Colour, is not

should look

appear or

you are not fixt bu t will

upon it a wa y .

esteem

v a n is h

XVI. without

There it

cannot be first the

indeed [{hite: first to

be any perfect Wherefore the third, saith but

and fixt Rhasis, by the

Redness, no Man second.

can come from

XVIf.

From whence it lookt

is

evident,

that the

Whiteness

must al-

ways be first

for , (after

Blackness,

and before

- 31-

the Redness, ) for whole Work.

as much as it

is

the

Complement

of

the

)ffIII.

Then after into

th i s

Whiteness appear s, it or stable Colour,

shall

not the

be changed Red:

any true

but into it

Thus have we taught now that

you to make the White; the Red.

remains

we elucidate

- 32-

ivlAtoRlslcilicTt-cffiIcA
/\TqvE TE C b| ' N LC A

t, t IysIcA -i 4

.Lrrrsa fccurtdumCOSMI diffcrcntianr In .luoVolurnrna

HISTO RI A

,r
'\f'I'

\!

tt
eoooer b.aavl\o, otrJ,'{r e^rJtul^l ,rro <r) r)clvdLU(

iraintt

'l f ,

.#r

;rT

Thc Rctsicrrrciarr Cot'tcsJxtntlcn<'c lrclwccn iVf:rcrocosm ;tttrl Micr<xrrvn' Ett'r' R rr|rctt !l urkl 's illtrstl l tc.l l )) tl ri s ctrgtl rctl ti tl t:1rrg.'of r r ir !' a r r d ' fim c. p r in cip a l wo t\. r k' llty. l {i 17.

-3 3 -

CHAPTER

XLVI

l.lAY OFTHE AND IIANNER HOl.l TOEDUCE THE RED TINCTURE OUT

l.lHITE. OFTHE
I. The matters dj.ffer then not in of the White to and Red, among themthe Essence: B u t t h e Re d

selves, El i xi r

re s p e c t

needs more subt iliz a t io n , fire the in the course

a n d lo n g e r of the

d ig e s t io n , than the

and a hotter White, of the

Operation, is the

because

end of

the White which is

work, compleat

beginning one, is

Red work;

and that the other.

j-n the

to be begun in

ff.

Therefore matter

without

you make the White, is indeed

White

Elixir

first, come to

make the the

become fj-rst that which

you can never the true

Red Elixir, is to

Red,: which

how it

be performed

we shall

briefly

shew.

IIf. moist

The lvledici-ne for fire, until out with full, making and that the the

the White

Red ought Colour

to

be put

into

our afterinto

aforesaj.d fire,

appear, it

wards take another about thereof, fir e , pot half

Vessel

from the

and put with

sifted in

Ashes made moist let it, stand pot

water,to the middle dry

which the

up to

under

Earthen

a temperate

continua lly .

IV. the

But least,

the

heat

of it

this

dry

fire

ought o! than

to

be double heat of

at

to what

was before,

the

- 34-

th e m oist ci ne

fire,

by the the

help

of

t h is

heat, of

the the

white

Medi-

r eceiveth

admirable

Tincture

Re d n e s s .

V.

You cannot

err with

if

you continue
fire, tirne

the dr y fir e:

Ther efor e
decoct

Rh a sis saith, th e dtg Iike to

a drg
such

and a dtq as jt

CaTcinatjon in

mat,tet,

ti77 or

becomes

Colout,

V ermiTTion

Cinabat.

VI. pleat thing.

To the it)

which

you shall Water t ot

not Oyl,

afterwards or Vinegar,

put or

(to

com-

either

any other

VfI. is,

Decoct

the

Red Matter, it is;

or Medicine;

the

more red it, is,

it

the more worth it j.s:

and the more decocted that which is

the more red is

Therefore

more decocted,

the more pretious

and valuable.

VIII. fire,

Therefore until

you must burn as it is

it

without with

fear

in

a dry

such time

clothed

a most Glorious

Red, or

a pure

Vermilion

Colour.

fX.

For which

cause

E pis t u s

the

P h j. lo s o p h e r u n t j. l

s a it h , jt

De c o c t be the

th e r n hite in cJ.othe d with

a Red hot a purple

F u rn a c e , G7 o rg .

s u c h t ime cease,

Do n o t it

though

Redness be somewhat long,

before

appears.

-3 5 -

X.

For as I have said, of Whiteness, first fixt. will

the

fire

being

augmented, Red.: Also Co lo u rs ,

the

first

Colour C i tr in e Colour

change into

when the yt that

shall is not

appe a r,

a mo n g t h o s e

XI.

But not whlch

long

after

it, to

the the

Red Colour height, your

shall

begin

to

appear, indeed

ascendj-ng

Work will

be compleat.

XII.

As Hermes saj.th Redness, changes

in

Turba, o n ly to

Between the a p p e a rs , the more.

Whiteness Cit rin e ,

a n d the but it

one Col o u r the less

t o wit ,

from

XIII then the

Ftatia fo,7Lows

also xhe

saith, false it

when gou and self. Cjtrine This

have

the

true and Glory

white, at last the

colouti is the

Perfect of

Redness the whole

and

beauty

World.

- 36-

CHAPTER

XLVII

OF OR AUGI4ENTATION OFOUR IHEMULTIPLICATION, f'4EDICINE,

BYDISSOLUTION.
I. fo ld Our t4edicine, manner, viz.

o r E li x ir,

is

mu lt ip ly e d 2.

after

a t wo -

1 . B y Dis s o lu t io n .

B y F e rme n t a t io n .

II. Fir st,

By Dissolution, by a greater the heat of

it

is

augrmented two manner of heat; S e c o n d ly ,

ways, by

or mo re in t e n s e 6 B a ln e u m Ro rjs -

D ew, or

fII.

The Dissolution put f ire into for into

of

heat

is ,

that

you t,ake the or decoct it in

M ed icine our moist

a glas e n

V e s s e lr

o F b o il until

seven days or more, water, which wilr

the lvledj.cine much Trouble.

be dissolved

be without

IV.

The dissolution the

by De wr o r B a ln e u m Ro rj. s , with the Medicine a narrow in

is , it,

that and hang in which

you take it in

G1ass Vessel or

a Brazen

Coper Pot, boyling,

with

Mouth, the

there

must be water the

the lvtouth of that

Vessel Vapours

bei-ng in of the

mean Season shut, water

the Ascending the Medicj.ne.

boyling

may, dissolve

V.

But Note,

that

the which

boyling c o n t a in s

water the

ought

not

to

touch or

th e G lass V essel, four Inches, three

Me d ic in e ,

b y t h re e

and this d,ays.

Dissolution

possibly

may be done in

two or

-37 -

VI. Fir e ,

A fter

the Medicine it cool, or

is to

d is s o lv e d , b e f ix e d , and so let it is it

take

it

f ro m t h e and many

and let

t o b e c o n g e a le d , it be dissolved

to be made hard times; for

dryed,

so much the and the

oftner

dissolved, shall be.

so much the

nore strong,

more perfect

VIf.

Therefore burned,

B onellus and this than the

s a it h , burning

Wh e n t h e

f f f g , a ra s s

r or

Laten is it is

many times

reiterated, is the of

made better of

it, was:

and this and the

Solution Sublimation

Subtilization the Virtues

Medicine,

thereof.

VIII.

So that

the

oftner it

it

is shall

sublimed receive;

and made subtil, and the more

so much the penetrative ful shalI in

more Virtue shall the

Tincture

be made, and more plentiit is, the more it

quantity; transmute.

and the

more perfect

IX.

In

the

Fourth

Distilla t io n that of than

then,

it

s h a ll shal1

re c e iv e be able Metal into

such a Virtue to fine in transmute Gold or the l'Iines.

and Tincture a thousand Silver,

one part the that

parts

cleansed which is

better

Generated

X.

Th erefore

saith

Rhasis , hereof

the goodness or

e x c e lle n c y Reiteration Me d ic in e .

of

the Multiplication of th e dissolution

depend.s only of the

on the p e rf e c t

and fix a t io n

- 38-

XI.

For

so much the

oftner it

the work will be,

j.s Reiterated,

so

much the more fruitful augmented.

and so much the more

xII.

So much the it:

oftner for

you sublime time it is

it,

so much the more Virtue,

you increase and Power, thousand; time

every

augmented. in be cast upon a at time

and Tincture, at

one more to upon ten

a second time

thousand; fourth

the

third

upon one hundred And thus Reiterations,

thousand;at

the its

upon a nurnber

Million: o f th e

you may increase tilI it is

Power by the in f in it e .

a lmo s t

XIII.
certainr

Therefore
that r the

saj.th

M e t e d e s t h e P h ilo s o p h e r,
the Nattet ot Stone js

know for
dissolved the

oftenez more

and congeafed Spirit and

the are

absoLutelg

and petfectLg,

SouT

conjogned

and retajned.

XfV.

And for

this

cause,

every

time

the

Tincture

j.s

Multiplied, manner.

after

a most ad.rnirable and unconceiveable

-3 9 -

CHA PTER

XLVIII

OF THE AUGIV1ENTATION OR I'IULTIPLICATION OFOUR IulEDICINE BY FERII1ENTATION.

I. Our Medicine for pure the fine is l4ultiplied is pure by Fermentation; Luna, the Ferment and the for the

Ferment Re d , is

[thite

S oJ,.

II.

Now cast Ferment, P ut

one part and aI1 it on the go in

of

the Medicine

upon twenty Elixir

parts r ot

of the

shall F ire

become Medicine, in a G la s s V e s s e l, d j. s s o lv e for

Ti ncture: it so that

and seal it , the

no A ir

or out,

a n d s u b t iliz e making of

as oft f irst

as you please, I'tedicine.

even as you did

IIT.

And one part

of

this

second Medicine, of the

shall former.

have as

much Virtue

and Power,

as Ten parts

fV.

Therefore

saith which is

Rha s is , hot

No w h a v e we a c c o mp lis h e d and it is become put to

our

Work by that equally shall

and moist, is

temperate: become of the

and whatsoever

added or and Virtue

it, it.

same temperament

with

V. like;

You must then yet

Conjoyn

it, it

that with

it

may Generate any other with that that

its it sane

you must not it to the

joyn

might kin d ,

convert of whole

same, but it wa s in

only the

very

substance

b e g in n in g .

-4 0 -

Vf.

Por in

S pecuTo Terrae is figured in

S p irit u a L is , Body,

it

is

writ t e n ,

that

the Elixir in the

the

from whence it

was taken

beginning,

when it

was to be dissolved.

VII.

T h a t i s to sd f r to d.ispose, Mar r y or Conjoyn that and in its SouL purified by commixtion of

Earth revived, its first

Body, from whence it

took beginning.

VffI.

A lso

in

Libzo

Gemma e S a J , u t a rjs , Ferment; also: which

it

is

s a id , is

that made

the

White work White, is

needs a White White of Ferment Redness.

when it is

and when it

made Red, is

the Ferment

IX.

And so the is it is

White

Earth with

is

Ferment or shall

of

Ferment:

for

when it cine,

Conjoyned to cast to

Luna;

be made a llediimperfect

upon l"Iercury, into

and every Luna.

Metaline

Body,

be converted

X.

And to

the

Red, ought or

SoI to be joyned; to project

and it

will ot

become a Medicine upon Luna.

Tincture,

upon l'lercury,

xI. Vive, tha t

Rhasis White it flies

also

saj.th,

You must now mix their kindt

it

htith

Argent

and Red, after not away.

and be so chained

-4r-

XIf. Argent

Wherefore Vive,

we command Argent one clear water

Vive

to

be mixed with two Argent

until

made of

Viver s Compounded together.

XIII. of in

But you must not or

make the mixture be dissolved put First a little

of into of

them,

till

each and

them apart the

separately of Body, time themr viz. a fine

water: the matter and it

Conjunction the

upon much of become in be White

upon four;

shall shal1

a short or Red.

Pouder,

whose Tincture

XfV.

This

Pouder and the

is

the

true or

and perfect is

Elixir truly

or a simple

Tincture, Pouder.

Elixir

Tincture,

XV.

E gidius

also put

saith,

to

S o lu t io n vLz.

put

S o lu t io n , dry,

a n d in aII

dissolution together to

desiccation, fire.

make it

putting

the

XVI. nothing

Keep entire thereof the less

the flie

fr:ne out

or vapour, it:

and take

heed that

from how it

larry

by the Vessel from Colour tiIl to

and behold Colour, as it in

wonders,

changes

space than the Signs

an hours

tj-me, or

such time

comes to

of Whiteness

Redness.

lffII. the Air.

For

it

melts

quickly fume or

in

the

Fire,

and congeals the force of

in the

When the

vapor

feels

- 42-

fire, Sp i r i t

t h e fi re will

will

p e n etr ate

into

the

Body,

and the becoming Red.

b e co me fi xe d , and clear

and the matter

and either

made dry, White or

a Body fixt

or pure,

)ffrrr. Tincture; and let

This Pouder is the compleat and perf ect Elixir now you may separate or take, it, cool.

or

Lf from the fire,

xr x.

And first,

part Body,

of

it

p ro je c t e d it into

u p o n lo o o fine is for

p a rt s

of Silver, the

any Metalline accordj-ng White.

transmutes or

Gold or the

as your

Erixir

Tincture

Red or

xx. that

From what has been said, if you do not the fire, never congeal

it

is

manifest

and Evid.ent, it to bear pure sil-

Argent

vive,

making it with

or endure ver,

and then attain

conjoyni.ng to

you shall

the Whiteness.

xxr-

And if

you make not Argent vive fire,

Red., and so as it hrith

may endure the greatest Pure fine Gordr lou

and then conjoyn it

sharl

never attain

to the Red,ness-

XXII.

And by dissolution, El-ixirr or

viz.

by Fermentati.on, rdy be multiplied

your infin-

Medicine, i te 1 y.

Tincturer

xxrrf.

Now you must understand that ri ke

the Elixir

or Tincture,

g i v e s f u si o n

w a x: fo r which cause saith

Rhasis, our

-4 3 -

Itledicine ought of necessity and most pure, cleaving

to be of a subtle

substance, and

to Mercury, of its l i quifaction,

Nature,

o f m o s t e a si e a n d th i n after

fusionr

or melting,

the manner of water.

XXIV. is said,

A lso

in

the

B ook, Elixir it

c a lle d is well

o mn e d a t d m o p t imu m, prepared, it ought

it to be

when the that ot

made liguid, Fir e - Ho tr

may melt

as Wax upon a P1ate

Red-

upon Coals.

XXV.

Now observe the that

what for

you do in the work is

the is in

White, all the one:

the

same you

must do in Operation

Red, is in

The same ds well in

the

one,

otherr

m u lti pti cation

as projection .

-4 4 -

CHA P T ER

XL IX

OFTHE DIFFERENCES OFTHE MEDICINI AND PROPORTIONS USTD IN PROJECTION.

I. in Geber, l i b. 5. the cap. Arabian 21. Prince, Alchymist, is and philosopher, t h re e o rd e rs of

saith, Or d e r,

T h a t t h e re is of

M ed icin es. being cast

The First

s u c h Me d ic in e s , takes not

wh ic h

upon imperfect or Imperfection, flies

Bodies, but

a!,ray their

Corruption which in

only

give

Tincture,

Examination,

away and vanishes.

fI. cast with

The S econd Order, upon Imperfect a true Tincture,

is

of

s u c h Me d . ic in e s , tinge them (in

wh ic h

b e in g

Bodies, but

examination) their

take

not

away wholly

Corruption.

III. cast but

T he Third

Order,

is

of

s u c h Me d ic in e s , not only perfectly

wh ic h tinge

b e in g them,

upon Imperfect also take

Bodies, their

away all

Corruption of

and Impurities, the to first two kinds,

making

them incorrupt of Medicines the

and perfect:

or Orders come to

r w have nothing third.

say here,. we now

speak of

IV.

Let

therefore

this

your

p e rf e c t

Me d ic in e r according sublimed,

o E E lix ir, to the

be cast

upon a thousand times it

or more part,s,

number of

has been dissolved,

and made

-45-

subtil:

If

you put

on too the

little, Vj-rtue

you must mend it thereof will

by

adding more; a perfect

otherwise

accompli-sh

Transmutation.

V.

The Philosophers manner of

therefore but the

made three best

Proportions, is this:

divers Let

ways,

proportion parts of will

one part

be cast its

upon an hundred Impurities; and this is

lllercury, all become

cleansed Mediciner

from aII or Elixir;

and it the parts,

second Med,icine: converts it all

which projected into good Sol,

upon a thousand or Luna.

VI.

Cast

one part

of

this

second Medicine and it will or all

upon an hunbecome t"ledicine, of the parts third of

dred of and this degree, another

Mercury is the

prepared, Third

l4ed.icine,

E1ixir

which Body,

will

project

upon ten it wholly

thousand into

and transmute

fine

So1 or Luna.

VII.

Again,

every

part of

of

this

Third

Ivledicine it

being will all

cast

upon an hundred become Medicine mute ten other hundred into

parts of the

prepared

MercuEY, and it

fourth

degree, its

will

transof an-

Thousand fine

times

own quantity according

t'tetal

SoI or

Luna,

as your

fermentation

was made.

VIII.

Now these

second,

third,

and fourth

Medicines

may t ill

be so often they the receive

dissolved, far greater

s u b lime d , virtues

a n d s u b t iliz a t e d , and powers,

and may after

same manner be multiplyed

infini.tely.

IX.

According

to

Rhasis, multiply

the

p ro p o rt io n

is

thus

to be is

com p u ted. a n H un dred:

First, A gain

Ten by Ten, and the will

a n d it s p ro d u c t

p ro d u c t is 1000;

100 b y I 0 ,

an d a 100 by I0,

and the

p ro d u c t

be 10000.

X.

An d th i s

1 0 0 0 0 b e i n g multiplyed

by I0,

pr oduces an ti1l

1 0 0 0 0 0; a n d th u s b y co n s equence you m ay augr m entit, it comes to a number almost infinite.

xI.

That

is

to

sdy,

P ut

I uPon 10, a n d it

and that s h a ll in the

10 uPon an mu lt ip ly sarne to,

10 0 , and that or produce pr o p o r tion.

100 upon a 1 0 0 0 ,

an 100000;

and so forward,

( ii) \' :r se ,r I I l c r tl r t''r r ttr tl '\tl t:tttttr ' \ r cpr cx' nlr tiou il," fr r ttuc" rlrc santc. ,,J l l tt' * eal c .l v r '* s .'l ,,I l l c r tl te* r n'l lrr(rrll tr * e.l i tr tl r c ( i r eet \\ .'r k .

-4 7 -

Cl{ AP T ER
OFPROJECTION, AND HOl,l IT IS TOBEPERFORMED UPON THE I'IETALS.
I. Now the projection or Metal the Elixir is is after t h is fire ma n n e r t o in be done: and

Put the cast it

Bodyr

upon the

a Crucible,

thereon

as aforesaid, melted, the Spirit,

moving,

oE stirring and mixed from the fire,

well; the

and when it Bodyr of, with

become liquid, remove it Silver,

with

and you shall your Elixir

have fine was prepared

Gold or from.

according

to what

II.

But here

is

to

be noted, the easier

That by how much the more to be melted, to enter by so much into, and

the Metaline the more shall it.

Bod^y is the

Medicine

have power

transmute

III.

Therefore Body, being fine

by so much as Mercury by so much the more, cast upon it, to wit,

is the

more liquid Medicine to has

than

any other power in it in to

l'lercury,

transmute

S o1 or Luna.

IV.

And a greater give

quantity to,

of it

shall

your I'Iedicine than of any

transmute,

tincture

and make perfect,

other Mineral

Body.

V.

The like

is

to

be understood, lr{ineral

to

be performed according

in

the

same manner upon other are easie or hard to

Bodies, or melted.

as they

be fused -4 8 -

CHA PTER

LI

OF THE COI'IPLEATI'1ENT, OR PERFECTION OFTHE },IHOLE l^lORK.

I. And because prolixity and clouds the is not pleasant, but induceth now use whole work,

errour,

understand.ing,

we shall the

much brevity, the premlses

and shew the bei-ng well

Complement of

conceived.

II.

It

appears,

that that

our Work is is, in

hidden

in

the

Body of wh ic h which

the M agnesia's, is is Sulphur Mercury of of

the Body of the

S u lp h u r;

Sulphur; Mercury.

and in

Body of lvlercury,

III.

Therefore and it

our is

S tone

is

f ro m o n e t h in g by one Act

o n ly r

d s is

aforesaid, decoction: th e to

performed

or Work, with which is

and by one Disposition, of it first to B la c k ,

or Operation, then t o Wh it e , the whole

changing

t h ird ly , Act

Red: and by one Projection, finished.

by which

and Work is

IV.

From henceforth, cease from

let the ir

all

Pseudo-Chymists, v a in Dis t illa t io n s , Dis s o lu t io n s r

and their S u b lima Co n -

Fo llo wers, tio n s, tr iti on s,

Conjunctions,

Calc in a t io n s , lik e

and such other

V a n it ie s .

V.

Let

them cease to

from

their Gold,

deceiving, than our

prating, Goldi or

and any

pretending

any other

-4 9 -

Sulphurr Ablution

oE any other or washing

Argent than

Vive

than

ours;

or

any other

what we have taught.

VI.

Which washing is made by means of the black Colour, and not a washing made

and is the cause of the White, w i t h ha n d s.

VII. than

Let

them not other

sdy,

That

there

is

any other that which Egg than

Dissolution is per-

ours t ot

Congelation fire: or

than

formed with which

an easie

any other

that an Egg.

we have spoken of

by similitude,

and so called

VIII. matter Be a stsr this short

Or that

there

is

any production or

of

the or

Philosophick

from Vegetables, oE Harers lest B lood,

from Mankindr

from Brute to

a n d s u c h lik e , you be deceived,

wh ic h ma y s e rv e and err,

Work, of

thereby

and fall

the

end.

Ix.

But hear

now what

Rhasis of

saith,

Look not

upon the and of

multitude, obscure, Colours

or diversity they are chiefly in the

Names, which given to the

are dark diversi.ty

appearj.ng

Work.

X. yet

Therefore conceive

whatever the matter

the or

Names be, thing to

and how many soever, be but one', and the

work to

be but

one on1y.

- 50-

xr-

Lu ca s sa i th ,

co n si der not the m ultitude

of the simpr es for

c o m p osi n g i t, the verity a n d L i fe

w h i ch th e philosopher s

have dictated,

is but one only, so u g h t a fte r.

in the which is the Spirit

xrr-

And with

thi.s it

is

that

we tinge

and colour

every

Body, bringing to their

them from their

beginnings

and smalness,

compleat growth,

and full

perfection.

xr r r . an d yet a n d ye t Bl oo d , to hide

eiermenides the no stonerit no Gold: Man's Hair, the Mystery. It is is etc.

philo s o p h e r s u rp h u r, a n d a ls o

s a it h ,

rt

is

a stone, rt is G o rd ,

n o s u rp h u r,

a He n rs E g g , a T o a d , , Ma n rs is c a lle d o n ly

b y wh ic h Na n e s it

xrv. not ou:

Then oti:er SuJphur

he adds, the Tike Our

o thou troubJ.e MetcuEg.

most thee,

happg, for bg

ret thea

not

these

words,

understand

and

xvstand

rf

you that words y8,

are

searchers

into

this

science,

und,erlou what

these

and things happy:

which we have writtenr If you understood the thing not

are happy,

thrice

we have said,

God himself

has hidden

from you.

xvr. for if

Therefore a just

blame not the philosophers

but your selves;

and faithful reveal

mind possessed your souls, the verity to you.

God would doubtless

-5 1 -

XVII. this purif

And know, knowledge, ied in soul,

it

is

impossible

for

you to

attain

to

unless

you become sanctified to

in mind,, and

so as to be united with him.

C,od, and to be-

come one Spirit

XVIII. shall

When you shall

appear thus before

the Lord, the like

he of

open to you the Gates of his Treasure, the Earth.

which is not to be found in all

XfX. the

Behold., love of to

shew unto

you the

fear

of

the

Lord,

and shall the p ra is e , be

him hrith them that of his

unfeigned fear

obedience:

Nothing

wanting

God, who are

cloathed

with a ll

Exce llency Honour,

Holine s s , to the

t o wh o m b e re n d re d Amen.

and Glory

Ages of Ages,

-)z-

CHAPTER

LI I

PREFACE OR THE ENTERANCE INTO THISl^lORK, AND THE DEFINITION OFTHE ART.
I. After many ways and in have through and in divers all manners, writings they the Ancient delivered have wholly Science,

Philosophers themselves;

their

Aenigrmaes or us, of

Riddles, the

Clouded, and left and as it

shadowed to a Veil

most Noble

were under

Desperation, and that

have wholly not without cause.

denyed Us the

knowledge

thereof,

fI.

For which

Reason sake, Establish

I here

signJ-fie

(that the

you may followin of any

the more firmly ing Chapters writings)

your

mind)

I have in than is

declared the

(more plainly whole Art of the

taught

other M etals. IfI.

Transformation

And if

you often obtain end of

rev o lv e the the

these

in s t ru c t io n s of the

in

your the

minds, middle, subtility

you will and the of

knowledge Work;

beginning,

and you will

see such a which

Wisdom, and, your S oul,

such a Purity a n d f ill

of matter

a m p ly repleat

y o u wit h

S a t is f a c t io n s .

IV. are

Now in

the

ancient the

Codes, many definitions meaning of which t h is jo g n in g

and to i ts

of

this

Art con-

to be found,

it

behoves us to jt is ' the

sid e r ,

Hetmes S aith

conce rn in g

A rt ,

sectet

Scie n ce of
t he t he

compounded B o d ie s ,
of th e m a tx et one

togethet
effects and Qr

(t h ro u q h
Operaxi ons) a N aturaL

k now T e d g e m ot e

p te ti o u s

Xh i n g s

another,

bg

-)J-

Commission, kind.

to

convett

ot

transnute

the

same

into

a bettex

V.

Another

Defines

it

thus,Alchgmie of metals,

is

a Scjence one into in

teaching anothet,

how to and the thjs

ttansmute

a77 kinds

bg a ptopet

Medicine,

ds appears

many Books

of

Philosophers.

VI.

Wherefore, make ot the

ALchgnie genetate ELIXIR, Bod,ies, the

js a and

the cettain which

Art

or kind

Science, of

teaehing which

how to js ot

lttedicine,

caLLed imperfect

being

projected

upon itfetal.s them, mo'

b9

thoroughlg degtee

Tinging ' even

and fixing in the vetg

perfects ment of

them in Ptojecxion.

highest

Athanor, from tlu bk ot'the Holy Trinfu.v.

Al.mbic uith rcbtt.

-54-

CHAPTER

LIV

OFTHE NEAREST I4ATTER, OUT OF}.IHICH THE ELIXIRIS DRAWN

OR MDE.
I. In what we have already of the the declared.r w have spoken now we apply which are our

sufficiently selves to

generation

of l1etals; of

choice

and perfecting

those

imperfect.

II.

Out of vive,

what has been said, and sulphur, impurities a ll

it

appears, a re

that

from and

Atge n t how with

t h e Me t a ls

g e n e ra t e d ; are

their

and uncleanness whatsoever no t of it s it matter p rima is to

they

corrupted: to not cast

And therefore which its is

does adhere or does and

an y Metal, belong ar,fay. to

Ma x e ria ,

compositj-on,

be rejected

Iff. of the

For

that

no Foreign

matter,

which v iz .

is

not

composed

aforesaid

two princ ip le s , perfec t

Azgent

v irre a n d

Su lp h u r, mutation

can either thereof.

a Me t a lr

o r ma k e a n y n e w t ra n s -

IV.

This

is

also

to

be wondred at, lay the

that

even some wise or whole matter whj,ch may

prud.ent of are find the

Persons r should E1ixir, in the

Foundatj-on

Animal from akin

or Vegetable the to thing,

Kingdoms, whj-Ist they

so infinj.tely Mineral

remote

much nearer

the Work and Design.

-5 5 -

V.

ft

i s n o t i n d e e d to be at all

believed,

that, any of secr et in such or

t ' h e P h i l o so p h e rs, remote things, similitude

sh o u rd pr ace the Ar tr or is not the least

where there

congruity

o f N a tu re s.

vr' vive,

B u t o u t o ff and sulphur)

th e tw o afor esaid

things,

( v!2.

Ar gent does

arr Metals are mad.e: and nothing

adhere to them, nor is conjoyned with mute them, except P r i n c i p l es. that which arises

them, nor can trans-

from the same Root or

vrrin of

And therefore truth, our to take not

we say, Argent A rgent

that

it

behoves you indeed for a lo n e ; the nor can divers

and

vive, V iv e ,

and surphur, b y it of seLf

matter SuI_

Stone, self

phur by it generate Metals

alone; but

for from

neither

them alone of both,

Metals:

a commixtion as also

are variousry

generated,,

many Minerars.

vrrr. matter

Therefore of the

from

a corunixtion

of

them bothr which

our is most,

stone

remains hidden:

to be chosen,

excellent that which

and deeply is yet

from whi.ch Mineral

matter, is to and to the

nearer very

and more aki.n thereto thing it serfr we attain search

be madeknowledge e n q u ir y.

And this of,

by a diligent

and accurate

q6-

rx. out

Take then

this

our Matter, and from

chosen as you may think first But make Argent Nature has vive

of vegetabres,

thence,

and Sulphur, given those of

by a long Vive

decoction:

since

us Argent things,

and Sulphurr too tedious said

we are

excused

from out

and their you produce

operation: prima

nor yet

them could

the

Materia.

x.

And if Hair,

you should Urine,

seek for

it

in Animals, or

as in

humane

Blood,

Dung, Hens Eggs, from these

any other

things make but

proceeding Argent in all vive

from Animals; and, sulphur, things, in

you shourd long the

arso

by such a like of

decoction; Materia,

these

you would miss Vegetables.

prima

as you did

before

XI.

If

also

you should all the

make choise of

of

the middle

Minerals,

such as are Tuti as, like phur, in

kinds

Ma g n e s ia ' s S a lt ,

} 4 a rc h a s it ie s , a n d ma n y o t h e rs Vive would also, of

V itriols,

A lums, from

B o ra x , these

Rank,

you must

make Argent whichr lou things

and SuIproceed you

by long

Boyling,

without

Vainr

yet, in

Operating

upon these

would, Err.

XII.

If

also

you should by it of selfr

make choice ds aLone of Vive ot

of

some one of Vive, the i. e .

the or of

seven Spirits Sulphur p h u r s, Citrinua, do nothing.

Argent

alone t ot or of or

Argent viver

and. one of

two SulA rs e n ie u m you would

sulphur of the

A u rip ig rme n t , its

Red alone t ot

compeer,

- ) l-

XI I I .

B e ca u se N a tu re d o es nothing, mixtion

except ther e be a just nor can we

or proportional (for

of the two principles;

the sane Reason) from the aforesaid BS they are in their own Nature,

Argent Vive and d.oes any thing.

Sulphurr

XIV.

Lastly, what

if they

we should will

chuse even the

things

themselves, to igtill

be they the just

r w ought

to mj-x them accord,ing humane ingeny them together, is

and true of,

proportj-on, to into decoct

which

norant they

and then coagulated

or boyl mass.

are

a solid

XV.

And therefore Vive,

we forbid

the

taking are,

of t h o s e or lie ot the
in

t wo , their

v iz . own

Argent proper portion

and Sulphurr and being for the

ds they also mixtion.

Natures, of Parts

ignorant

just

pro-

XVI.

So that the

we must aforesaid coagulated, require:

find,

out

those

Bodies

in

which

we

may find

things

or prJ-nciples together is very

justly in

Prods be

portionated, their kep t. Natures

and joyned which Secret

one, to

warily

-58-

CHAPTER

LV

OFTHE NEAREST IVIATTER OFOUR STONE, YET I4ORE PLAINLY.

I. Gold is a Bod.y perfect, or d,iminution, it by a sole for the and Masculine, and if the without any

superfluity commixed with it, it is in

imperfect

Bodj-es by

Liquefaction, Elixir for the

be perfected Red.

order

fI. which

Silver if it

also

is

a Body almost

perfect,

and Feminine, soIely by it it

be cornrnixed \,,rith imperf ect it the shal1 Elixir

bodys,

a vulgar is is in

fusion, for

make them nearly for the White, E lix irs

perfect, which yet

Order nor

no tr

can be,

because t h e

o n ly

a re p e rf e c t .

III. with

Because if imperfect

that Bodiesr the

perfection let would

was perfectly not the but

commiscible Body be

imperfect rather their

compleated, with perfection the said would

perfect

Bodies,

be dj.minished Bodies.

and destroyed

by means of

Imperfect

IV.

But

if

those

which

shall

be more than o! Iarger

perfect, of

in

Doub1e, Quadruple, fectiotr, indeed

Centupler the

proportion Bodies, they

per-

be mixed with perfect them.

irnperfect

will

- 59-

V.

And because

Nature in these nor the for

always things by this

Operates is Art,

after

a simple

manner,

t,he perfection

simple, are

and inseparable, the to imperfect be joyned then be rethings

and incommiscible; themselves with the (for Stone their

shortening the Fermentr State, highest

the work)

roE may they when their fixity.

duced into Volatility

pristine the

exceed,ing

exceeds

VI. vi ve, not for

And because

GoId is

a body perfect, s u c h a lik e the

made of S u J p h u r, of

Atgent we d . o Stone so

Red, and clear, chose it, for

and o f for that

therefore the

near matter it is

the

Red lixir' without Digested, so easily

by reason

simply

perfect, strongly cannot

any artificial and Decocted Operate Fire. upon i.t

purification, by a Natural (nor

and so Heatr w with

upon Silver)

o u r Ar ti ficial

VII.

And altho yt it

Nature

may do something

in

Order to

to

per-

fectionr and is works

does not how to

know how throughly and perfect, it

cleanse, it

ignorant after

Purifie

because hath.

a sj-mple manner upon what

VIII. matter find

Wherefore, of out our a Fire

Lf we chuse Gold or w shall will scarcely,

Silver

for

the difficulty

Stoner which

ot with

work upon them.

n-

And though to the

we know theFire, and inward firm

yt

we may not of ot their

be able bodies, of take

to

attain

intimate their

opening

be-

cause of Natural for the

compactednessr therefore latter for

density to

body and the first

,
a

composition: Red, or the

ttre refuse the Whit,e.

X.

When we shall of Nature brought

find

some thing

or

bod.y extracted and Argent some small by the vive,

from

PUre matter, that which or

a more pure has a little forth;

Sulphur or in

above

l,leasure help of which

wrought our Fire,

then

possibly, in this

and manifold,

experiences Operation

our Art, matter,

an Ingenious through

and continued

upon the

a congruous

Decoction,

Purification, the

Coloration, thing sought

and Fixatj.onr afte r .

w may attain

and perfect

XI.

Therefore

that viver

matter c1ear,

is

to

be chosen, a n d a ls o

in

which

is yet

a Pu r e A zgent brought equally l i ke to i:s

Wh it e , or as it

Re d , n o t but with

compleatment

perfection, requires,

commixed such a

and proportionally clean, W hite

p u r e,

and Re d s u lp h u r.

XII.

Which Matter Ingenuity Firer

is

to

be Coagulated by the to

into help

a solid of our its the

I'tass;

and, with Artificial intimate

and Prudence, w may be able mundification,

accomplish, and attain

and perfect

Purity

-5 1 -

of

thingsi

and to (after

perform

such a work or make such a body, of the Operation) and perfect be a than

as sha1l Million the

the

compleatment

of

times bod,ies

strong:er, thenselves,

and more pure Decocted

simple

and made by a

Natural

heat.

XIII.

Be therefore

wise: plainly

for

in

this matter

my subtle of to our

Discourse Stone Ingenious. above

I have demonstrated sought after,

the

by manifest of that

probation, which is

the

truely

Here you may taste all whatsoever the

most delectable, you.

Philosophers

have told

- 62-

CHA PTER

LV I

OF THE MANNER OFI,{ORKING, AND OF THE I1ODERATION AND

CONTINUING OF FIRE. THE
I. (if Now it is profitable that to you may find study out this Mystery,

you will off

bend yourself your I Folly

and labour)

and wholly through true t h e Wis e , by

casting

and Ignorance, to the the

become wise of that

the words which m atte r of the the

speakr

attainment B le s s e d

P hilosophers, Operations to

Stone of

upon which which thereby

of Alchymia the than

are excercisedr Bodies and

we endeavor

perfect

imperfect the perfect.

to make them better

II.

And forasmuch only with

as Nature the perfect,

has handed down to it is our in the business these help

us Imperfect to take the and to

Bodies

known matter, by much Pains make i.t

which

we have declared through

Chapters, of our Art,

and fndustry,

even more than

perfect.

III.

If

you be ignorant the Cause? Truly (which

of

the manner of

doing

or working, after frewhat

What is

because thay perfects

you see not the Metals)

manner Nature

sometimes

quently t oE commonly operates.

IV.

See you not, is in those

that

in

the

mines,

by the the

continual waters,

heat are

which

Mineral

Mountains,

gross

d e co cted , l en g th of

and so much insp is s a t e d , time) to be made A t g e n t

a s t h e re f o re v iv e ?

(t h ro u g h

-o

J-

v.

And from is

the

fat

of

the

Earth,

by the

same decoction same heat aforesaid t h e ir

and prethings,

heat, served ( vi z..

generated

sulphur:

and that

by the the to

and continued Atgent vive all

upon the

same, from a c c o rd in g

and ^surp h u t ) the Metals

p u rit ie s

and fmpurities,

are generated,?

VI.

And that to

Nature perfection or

by a sole the

or only

decoction, a s we ll

does make a s a ll the

o r br in g Imperfect

p e rf e c t

B o d ie s ,

Bodies

ltetals?

vrr.

o great madness! These things to pass and perfect,

which r thus quarry by fantastick

about,

wourd you bring and imperfect

, strangie

methods?

vr r r .

Now a certain
to

wise

m a n s a it h z

y o u mu s t n e c e s s a rirg
pezf ect the lletaJ-s, of

e rl,
gErt

who endeavout more tion, than

outdo them, gour

lvature; bg new duII

and to

perfecx in

and foreign

methods floddl,es.

opera-

invented

and insensjble

rx-

And

that wd?,

God has which

bestowed is bg

upon

lvature

a tight

method,, the in-

a direct sipid and

continuar their

decoction,

which and

Fools,

through

ignorance,

despise

scorn

to imitate.

X. perf

Also , ects

Fire aTL

and Azoth thingis r ot and be not

ate aI7

suffj the

cient Met,als.

far

the.

Again ,

Heat de-

Moreover, fite

decoct, and with

coct, soft. '

decoct, which

weatg. and

Make gour endure for

gentle

mag aTwags

burn

mang dags

-64-

,
i

constant wi77

equaT; the

but Loss

-l e t of

it

not

go out

ot

decaq,

fot

then

gou

suffer

aJ7.

XI.

In

another Beat, know to js ot

place grind

r continue the matter

thrl

work

with tjnes. wit, one

patience. Then

And

again,

seyen , to

again, bg whole

You must one wd!t

that

with bg

one

rnatter

t,he Stone, Tessef the

with,

decocting; and

and rn

Magisterg

performed

perfected.

XII. Also

And rThis

in

another js

place, much Like

The matter r ot

is

ground,

wixh to the

tire.

wotk of

mag be compated

CEeation

Itankind.

XIII. easily

For ,

like

as an Infant oE Milk; But

at for

f irs t the

is

n o u ris h e d

wit h of

food the At of

digestedr

strengthening this

Bones wj-th stronger first which you must feed Decoction,

Food or it with

l'leat:

So also Fire, is

Magistery. force

a gentle you desire

by the to

whatsoever

be done.

XIV.

And although

we always ahrays

speak of to

a gentle it

fire; in the this

not sense,

withstanding that it is according

you are to the ot

undertsand

Regimen, littIe

or method of

Operatj.on,

by degrees, even unto

by little degree.

augmented and in-

creased,

t,he highest

-6 5 -

CHAPTER

LV I I I

OFTHE OUALITY OFTHE VESSELS AND FORNACES.

r. The limits, methodr it wdy and manner of that we treat and with workingr next of w have even the vessel it ouqht

now determinedr and Forancei to be made.

follows

after

what manner,

what matter

rr.

when Nature, it

with is

a natural it

heat

in this

the

metallick

Mines without in dethat end.

does decoct, any Vessel: coctingr yet

true,

performs to

decoction Nature Vessel

Now though we cannot

we propound do it without

follow a fit

for

fII.

Th erefore

let are in

us see f irs t , generated. ft is

wh a t k in d evidently

of

p la c e

that that

is , they heat

where Metals are produced is in the

manifest the it

Mineral of the

places,

and that where is

generating is to

bottoms equal,

Mountains,

perdurable, ascend; where it in the which passes, Bowels

and always in

and whose nature desiccates or gross

always

ascend.ing

continually the spissed of

everywhere

and coagulates or Ve in s of the

hrater hidden a rg e n t

E arth

Mo u n t a in

in t o

v iv e .

IV. like

And if Earth, of

a mj-neraI it shall Earth,

fat

is

in

the

same place,

from together

such a in it the be-

be warmed, and gathered and it run through the

Veins

the

Mountains,

comes Sup1hur.

V.And that

as

you

may see generated

in

the (as

said is

veins of

of the

the fat

said of

place, the Earth

Sulphur

said)

d o th ve in s

meet also of the of

with

the

A rg e n t it

v iv e

(a s a f o re s a id ) a t h ic k e n in g r

in

the or

sa i d in -

E arthr that

so ars o l,linera l

p ro d u c e s

sp issa ting

Wa t e r.

vr.

ALso there, equal, there nature is

by the

said

heat

in

the

bottoms

of

the Mounspace of according

tains, time, to th e

and perdurable, generated of the

through

a very

long Metars,

d.ivers or it s

and, severar d , iv e rs it y .

plac e

VII.

This

also are

you must know, there is

that always

in

the

places

where heat..

l'linerars

found,

found

a d.urable

VIII.

From these Mountain stoney: would

things, is

then,

w o u g h t close heat

a lwa y s to itself

to

note,

that

a lvlineral and arso no Metals

everyrrhere if the

, externally; get out

because

shourd

possibry

be generated.

rx.

so also,

i-f we i-ntend

to

imitate

Naturer

r{ must nec-

essarily like n e ss its

trave such a Fornace, of a Mountain, heat; not

as may have some semblance or as to the it s ma g n it u d e , but as to ascends

continued find

so that

imposed fire, the it s e lf heat

when it

may not

a eray forth; vessel, of the

but

that in

may reverberate c lo s e d up)

ba ck on the the matter

contain in g Stone.

(f irmly

x. of of

which

vessel

ought

to

be round, E a rt h ,

with lik e to in

a Iittle n a t u re

neck, or

made

G l ass r oE some certain body to Glass:

c lo s e n e s s or crosed or

whose Mouth ought other rike

be stopped

up with otherwise

Bitumen t or Hermetically

Hnplasti.ck up,

substance, reast

sealed

so as the

vapour

may not

come forth.

XI.

And like

as in of

the the

Mines,

the

heat

does not Vive,

immediately because

touch the

the matter of the

Sulphur is

and Argent

Earth

Mountain

everlnrhere

between:

XII. to u ch sa id

So in the of

like V essel

manner,

the

fire in

ought it s e lf ,

not

immediately

to

containing B ut in

t h e ma t t e rs V e s s e 1 in heat

a f o re lik e may

our

S tone: is to

another that

c lo s e d the

manner that better,

be put;so

temperate both

and more conveniently the matter of of

touch our

el.ove and below. (a d o u b le B o iT e r f jrs t

an d everprhere, u sin g
r z es s el

stone.

earth
? hwn )

jnstead

wa t e r

a n d t o t a ll. g

s u rro u n d in g

XfII. the and or

Upon which Light that of the is

account ' is

Aristotle to

saith, in

That a

Metcurg, old pure

jn Zessel,.' G1ass, of

Lights Vessel better, kind

be decocted the most in

threef and the

be made of of is Earth our

firm itself

which

having Tate

nature

Glass . (of btought, to

which

China

and Porcelain other places hwn)

ware, of the

us oux .

of

Persia, ot

China,

and

East-Indies)

(Pgtex

Cotning-ware

seens

.best.

CHAPTER

LVIII

OFTHE COLOURS, ACCIDENTAL AND ESSENTIAL, APPEARING IN THE },{ORK,

r. we have now taught and also what order the the you what the true exquisite working; the stone matter of the

Stone is, and with formed, in th e

manner of of

by what method is to be per_ corours

d,ecoction arises

whence oftentimes P hilosophick matter.

divers

and various

rr.

c o nce rn i n g w h i ch co rour s,
to t n o mi n a ; so mang

a cer tan wise Man saith 2 euot

coLots as it has, so mang i vanes..

c oLor es ,

According ati on , the

to

the

diversity

of

corours it

appearing s e v e ra r

in

the

oper_

phil0sophers

ha v e g iv e n

Na me s .

Iff.

For which it is

Reason,

in

the

f irs t

o p e ra t io n and our

of

t h is is

our

Sto n e , b la ck: e st

cal1ed

putref a c t io u s a it h in

Stone ,

ma d e f in d _ is f ro m

F or which bLack;

reason know that

a p h il0 s o p h e r that b r. a c k n e s s , e x t ra c t

wh e n t h o a wh it e n e s s wh it e n e s s

tha t

h id d e n ; its

and now it

behoves u s t o

that

m o st subtil

blackness.

IV.

Now after

the

putrefaction

(or

blackness)

it

grows

red,

but not with

s ait h, 7ow; It and it

the true
g to w s

redness:
te d ,,

of which one of the philosophers

often grow s true grow s l i gui d, hrhi teness C i tti ne and jt ot js to ye1_ of_

o fte n

and, j t ot

o fte n tj m e s

me J,ts r b e fo te

t ent im es pet f ec t ion.

c o a g u ra te d ,

the

appears

v . AI s o i t

d i sso l ve s

i tse l f,

coagulates itself,
-44-

putr efies

itself, vi vi fie s

tinges itself,

itseLfr

or

c o lo u rs

it s e lf ,

mo rt if ie s it s e lf , the

it s e lf ,

denigrate s

o r b la c k e n s itself in

d e a lb a t e s the white.

or whitens

itself,

and adorns

red, with

VI.

ft

is it

also tiTL

made green: gou see the

for birth

which of

reason the js

another

saith: oz til,l

Decoct the

Greenness, the in SouL the

greenness

J.s brought that the

fotth, SouI

which does

theteof.

And anOther:Know

rul,e

Greenness.

VfI.

AIso

the for

colour which are appear jn

of

the

Peacock saith ot

appears

before

the alL the

llhiteness; CoTours thought Whiteness

cause, xhe

one: are

Know that possible and then

which of,

WotLd, the

Xo be the true

before

Whiteness

f olJ-ows.

VIII.
pur e ( as it

Of which
Stone w e te ) fro n js

a certaj-n
d e c o c te d t

P h j-lo s o p h e r
so Tong ti 77

s a it h :
the eve or be

B u t wh e n t i: e
of good the mag Fi sh be

g to w s i t;

v e rg and

b ri ght; th en our

a profi t S tone wilL

ex pec t ed int o it s

congeal ed

ro u n d n e s s .

IX.

Another

also in

saith: the is

when gou shal,7 be cetXain then it

find thaX

the jn

whiteness, that Tlhiteto

Supereminent ness, extract the it.

Tessel,; hidden;

Redness

and

behoves

thee

x.

Notvrithstanding, forth

decoct

until

the whole

Redness be

brought

and perfected.

-7 0 -

XI. th a t after th e

For

it

is

between

the

true

Whit,eness and the of wh ic h err,

True Redness

a certain the fi r e

A sh CoTour a p p e a rs , appears the

we h a v e s p o k e n : for by augmenting

lrhjteness you come to

you cannot

a s h Co lo u r.

XII. Ashes; Last bg

Of which fox the

another

saithz return

SLight them to with

or thee hjs

undervalue Tiquid: red

not and

the at

God wi77

then

King

sha-Z,7 be of

crowned God.

diadem,

NUTU DgI,

the

grood pJ,easure

Creator Blesscsthc Globe

CHA PTER

LIX

OFPROJECTION UPON OF THE |VIANNER ANY OF THE IMPERFECT IYIETALS.

I. viz. I have perfectly of our great compleated Magistery, a's well the for end of the promised the l^Iork,

the

making of It

most exthat comp-

celle n t

E 1ixir,

Re d a s Wh it e :

n o w re ma in s , which is the

we shew the leatrnent cau se of of

method, the

or way of the long

Projection, expected

work,

and much desired

rejoycing.

II.

Now the

True to

Red Elixir, of

tinges p a rt s ,

a pure

and deep Citrine a ll

or Ye llow, Iv1etals into

infinity fine

a n d it

t ra n s mu t e s

most

GoId.

III. and it

T he true

White

E lixir

a ls o ,

wh it e n s

to

I n f in it y

lik e wis e ; Whiteness:

makes or

tinges that

every

l"leta1 into of

a perfect

But you must know, moter or far distant

one kind

Meta1 is than said

much more rearei than

from

perfection to the

some others perfection

and that o the r s.

some are much nearer

IV. the

And although Elixir; yet

every those

lvtetal may be brought which are nearer to to that that

to

perfection are or

by

perfection, perfection,

easier,

sooner

and better Bodies

reduced than

trans-

muted into

perfect

those

are more remote.

V. And when we have found kin or nearer to perfectionr

a Metal,

which

is

as it in

were,

w are excused upon those

some measure wh ic h a re

o f m a king use of,

or proje c t in g

Me t a ls ,

more remote

therefrom.

vr.

Now what t'letaIs are yet

are

remote

from,

and near

to,

perfection, to the perif

and what fect

more near,

and as it in these

were a kin Chaptersl in

Bodiesr

w have taught wise

which

you be indeed what they are.

you may plainly

see,

and trury

determine

vrr.

And without of

doubt, this

he who is our Artr

lawfulry

initiated through

into his o$rn

the Mysteries rngenuity

may be able this true well in matter

and rndustry out

by studying

my specul-um Arof the Body, stone: the

chgmiae Eo find And he will l'led.icine or

and know the

know and understand Magistery ought

upon what for

to be projected

perfection.

VIII.

For

the the

Masters prima

of

this

Art,

who have invented

or they have, the

fou n d out I say, direct to u s,

Matez ia ,

a n d t h e wh o le My s t e ry and as it were,

plainly way of

demonstrated., working, say:

indigitated

and made all

things

naked and plain

when they

IX. ture

lVature

contains

JVature.. does

|Ia tute rejogce, in that of

exceeds and another the js

]Vature , and transmuted place I vet! between

l{aoE Tike

ovetcoming into

Nature

changed doth things of which

another in jts to be

wature.And Tike; the for cause have

tejogce is said

J,jJceness ot

Sgnpathg

Friendship: things.

many Phj.losophers

written

notable

X.

Know then

that

the

soJ

doth

soon

enter

into:.ts

own Bodg

- 15-

but ot it jn

with llnited. with vain.

Forreign In another

or

Strange Place z If Hetrogene of

Bodg,

it

can

never

be jogned to jogn Labour makes

gou shal. I Bodg t the lou

endeavot

a Forteign Also,

or

shaJ,7 wholTg to perfectjon

The nearness the mote

Bodq

a Transmutation

GTorious.

XI.

For the is

Coporeal,

by t h e

power of

the

Operation the the

of Incorporeal

N atur e , is

made Incorporea l; and in fixed. the

and contrariwise compleatment,

made Corporeal; made wholly

spiritual

Body is

XIf.

And because

it

is

ev id e n t ly

ma n if e s t

that

the

E J . jx ir

is

Spiritual, as w ell it is for

and so very the white,

much exalted E rs f o r

beyond its is

own Nature, n o wo n d e r, that

t h e Re d : I t

not

to

be mixed with

B o d ie s .

XIII.

T he Method t oE way o f the that Metal the to

P ro je c t io n

then

is ,

that

the

Body of and then melted

be transmuted, or Elixir,

be liquified be projected

or melted; upon the

Medicine

I'leta1.

XIV.

M oreoverr strong

tou

must No t e , and of

that

t h is Force,

our for

E lix ir, one part

is

of

mighty

Power,

great

being and

projected more, it, of

upon a Million the prepared itself

parts r ot Body, it

Ten Thousand Parts,

does incontinently the whole

penetrate it.

transfuse

through

and transmute

XV. t'[ix

Wherefore one part

I of

deliver thisr

to our

you Elixir,

a great with

and

hidden

Secret. parts of

a thousand

-' 74 -

a body neaer closing first it with

perfection;

put

all put

into it, into

a Proper

Vessel, of

inFixation fire

firmly; a gentle for three is

and then fire, days;

a Furnace

and then so will three

always they

augrmenting the

gradually joyned.

be inseparably

con-

This

a work of

d.ays.

XVI.

Ehen again, it to

and lastly,

take

one part of

of

this

mixture,

and project (the nearer

upon a Thousand parts perfection the Body, bettr),

another so the to the

Body or Metal, be

whole will kind, white and or

a most fine according for the to Red.

and perfect your

according whether

intended

Work,

for

the

)ffIf. but of

And all an hourr

this ot

is of

but

the

work of

one day,

or

rather, work,

a moment: for rendered to

whj-ch wonderful the Lord our

Praises Ever

be perpetually

God for

and Ever.

-7 5 -

CHA PT E R

LX

A SHORT RECAPITUI-ATION OFTHE l^lHOLE I./ORK

r.
of

our Tincture
the wise, Acetum with

then,
is

is onry generated out of the Mercury

called the Lac ptima virginis, r4atezia, Aqua permcotAlien

whj.ch

anens , poraTis, is

PhiTosophotum, which such as nothing are

Mercutius Foreign or

extraneous, Alums

commixed,

Salts,

and Vitriols.

rr. of

Because from this our

this

Mercury is

alone,

the

virtue

and power

Magistery

generated,: that it

and it

so resolves

every pIi ed .

(Metalline)

Body,

may be augrmented or multi-

rrr. Tree,

This

our

aforesaid

lvtercury is

both

the

Root and the Branches spring

from whence many and almost

rnfj-nite

a n d in crease.

r v.

The first

work is

for

the

ma k in g o f e rs e , but it

t h is the is

E lix ir,

is

subof

l i m ati on, the matter its

which of

nothin g Stone,

s u b t iliz a t io n cleansed

our

by which

from all

superf luj-ties.

V. The fixed another, till they but

and volatile they remain

parts United,

are

not

separated fixed together

one from

and are fusion

together, in the fire.

both

may have an easie

but ot it jn

with United. with vain.

a Forreign In another

or

Strange place i If

Bodg, gou

it

can

never

be jogned to jogn Labour makes

shal. L endeavor

a Forreign Also,

or

Hetrogene of

Bodg, the

gou shaJ,7 wholrg petfection

The nearness the

Bod.g to

a Ttansmutation

moEe GTorious.

XI.

Fo r the is

Coporeal,

by t h e

povrer of

the

Operation the the

of fncorporeal

Nature, is

made Incorporeal; and in fixed. the

and contrariwise compleatment,

made Corporeal; made wholly

spiritual

Body is

xr r .

And because

it

is

ev id e n t ly

ma n if e s t

that

the

a t jx ir

is

Spiritual, as w ell it for

and so very the white, be mixed

much exalted rs f o r with

beyond its is

own Nature, n o wo n d e r, that

t h e Re d . . I t

i-s not

to

Bodies.

XIII.

T he Methodr the that Metal the

ot to

way o f

P ro je c t io n

then

is ,

that

the

Body of and then melted

be transmuted, or Elixir,

be liquified be projected

or melted; upon the

Medicine

l4etal.

XIV.

M oreoverr strong

fou

must No t e , and of

that

t h is Force,

our for

E li. x ir, one part

is

of

mighty

Power,

great

being and

projected more, it, of

upon a Million the prepared itself

parts t ot Body, it

Ten Thousand Parts,

does incontinently the whole

penetrate it.

transfuse

through

and transmute

XV. Wherefore Mix one part

f deliver of thisr

to our

you a great Elixj.r, with

and hidden a thousand

Secret. parts of

-7 4 -