but yet they are but one thing made of divers created Substances of one Essence that is to say 1. There is requisite in our Water first of all Fire Requisits 2. Secondly the Liquor of the Vegetable Saturnia 3. The bond of Mercury And 4. Therefore fourthly by consequence the Liquor of Mercury and that which is common so it be not Adulterated The first for my intent is the Element of Metaline Fire the second of Air the third of Earth the fourth of Water This will better appear in the 11th Chap. pag. 18. De Inventione perfecti Magisterij where he tells you That the first Inquirers into this Magistery sought only how they might exalt imperfect Metals to the nature of Gold and perceiving that all Metallick Bodies were of a Mercurial Original and that Mercury was both as to its Weight and Homogeneity most like unto Gold which is the perfectest of Metals They therefore endeavoured to digest it to the maturity of Gold that in order to this and to purify Mercury they sought for 1. and found an active Metalline Sulphur 2. in the House Aries which they gave to the Off-spring or Child of Saturn which 3. Child abounded with the most Purged Salt of Nature but had before no Metalline Sulphur in it that then they endeavoured to purge Mercury with this prepared Matter or Air but could not effect it because they would not mix therefore they contemperated this Air by the Doves of Diana and then the event was answerable to their desires 4. and that this Mercury in its Coagulation yeilded them pure Sol and Luna c. Now to make the Planets Retrograde here is Mercury the last Element united by the Doves of Diana to the Off-spring of Saturn who was purified by a Metalline Sulphur or Fire all which amounts to no more than a Composition of the four Metalline Elements Water Earth Air and Fire With this agrees the works of Prince Geber in his Medicines of the first second and third Orders Also the Intention of Basil Valentine and Sandivogius of the Arcanum or Grand Secret of Hermetical Philosophy of Norton Ripley and many others not to mention the more Ancient is the same Vera confectio Lap. Philo. pag. 121. Scopus istius Medicinae primi ordinis est manifestare occultum occultare manifestum quod fit omnia intus extra mundando The Fire saith my Master for so I Of the Fire Introit apert pag. 5. will make bold to call that most Learned and Ingenuous Author Aeyrenaeus Philalethes is of a Mineral Sulphur and yet is not properly Mineral nor Metalline but a middle betwixt a Mineral and a Metal and neither of them partaking of both a Chaos or Spirit because Chaos our Fiery Dragon who overcomes all things is notwithstanding penetrated by the Odour of the Vegitable Saturnia whose Blood concretes or grows together with the juyce of Saturnia Saturnia into one wonderful Body yet it is not a Body because it is all Volatile nor a Spirit because in the Fire it resembles a molten Metal it is therefore in very deed a Chaos which is related to all Metals as a Mother c. Here with the Fire he takes occasion ☜ to joyn the Air which two makes his Chaos viz. The Fiery Dragon and the Liquor of the Vegetable Saturnia nevertheless I know that the Fire is sometime called Earth and sometimes Water so also is that of the Air and Earth but it is not properly our Air till the two first are Conjoyn'd and Purged This Chaos is called our Arsenick our Air our Luna our Magnett our Calybs or Steel but yet in divers respects Pag. 5. because our matter undergoes various States before that the Kingly Diadem be brought or cast forth out of the Menstruum of our Harlot Note The first is called Fire because it is hot and dry it is a flying Sol and the Fire of Nature and hath the Operation of Fire which digesteth the crude Air and divideth the Mine from the Metal This is that Fire says one which the wise men have taken unspeakable pains to find out It is Donum Dei and they have called this mistery the Philosophers Stone the Blessed Holy Stone for this cause that God hath placed it in an Earthly Stony and contemptable matter it devideth the good from the bad and what is not mature it matureth and in this mistery according to the Similitude it is called Sol or the Sun and the other Principle is also called the Moon because of her Crudeness and watry Humidity but both being joyn'd together is called our Chaos or Air. The Fire by Basil is called Gold also by Sandivog it is called the same and sometimes Chalybs by Ripley it is called Sol by Norton it is called Lytharge Chalybs so Aeyrenaeus calls it in his Treatise De vera confectione Lapidis Philosophici pag. 21. And of the two first Principles calls it the Body Quod ad corpus attinet sufficiat hoc tempore solo Lithargyrij vel corporis nomine vocare Corpus autem hoc ad omnes perferendas miserias est ordinatum oportet enim transire per ignem aquam renasci aliter in requiem aeternam ingredi non poterit cujus color Pags 22. est brunus subrubeus non fulgidus Item opus ejus est dissolvi exaltari mori ad altum ascendere It is also called Leo and Servus Rubeus Corpus Rubeus c. The second Principle he also calls Water Aqua prima ignis corrodens ignis Of the Second principle contra naturam Luna magnes mater materia c. Sperma Mercurij dissolventis Mercurins Mercurius crudus Quinta essentia Stomachus Struthionis vas Philosophorum argentum vivum crudum à miner a Simpliciter extractum c. Norton calls it Titanos Magnesia Ripley calls it Venus and the Green Lyon We will consider these two the first under the name of the Fiery Dragon or Introit apert peg 6. 7. Chalybs which he says is the Minera of Gold The second he says is Saturnia or Magnet and is the true Miner a of the Chalybs Sumantur Draconis nostri ignei c. Let there be taken of our Fiery Dragon Praxis page 12. which hides the magical Chalybs in his own Belly four parts of our Magnet nine parts mix them together with a strong Fire in the form of a Mineral Water upon which there will swim a Scum which is to be cast away remove the Shell and take the Kernel Purge it the third time with Fire and Salt which will easily be done if Saturn shall behold himself in the Looking-Glass of Mars Thence is made the Chamaeleon or our Chaos in which all Arcanas lies hid virtually but not actually This Chaos is the Hermaphroditical Infant c. Hermaphrodite Introit apert pag. 6. 7. de Chalybe Magnete Our Chalybs is
and Foundation of this Art Hert. Sir I shall do it readily since you are pleased to require it This Art consists in the Metalline Kingdom only in Metals from Metals and by Metals It is built upon four Metalline Principles or Elements Fire Air Earth and Water That the two first joynd are Radix Artis and the true Key That enough of them hath been said already that we are now seeking out the third Principle of Earth the Doves of Diana which reconciles the two first to the last that therefore they must be of a Metalline Nature and make the second Work which may be called Conjunction Triptative c. Aeyren. Now see if in my Writings I have not sufficiently touched this Principle of Earth or the Doves of Diana Hert. Sir I thank you for your seasonable Advice and with your Favour I will make a further search Let me see Vera confectio Lapidis Philoso p. 133. Nunc ad medicianam secundi ordinis transeamus Medecina secundi ordinis quae habet inspirare tingere et fermentare primam compositionem Unde Calidius Philosophus nemo potest vel postea poterit tingere terram albam foliatam nisi cum Auro Seminate aurum vestrum in terra alba foliata seminate hoc est conjungite vel fermentate aurum id est animam vel virtutem tingentem in terra alba foliata hoc est in terra preparatione debita facta alba et munda in qua non sint sordes nam si it a preparata non sit non sit idonea ut possit suam formam vel animam recipere ut conjunctae fiant immortales c. Pag. 155. Atque finalis scopus istius medicinae secundi Ordinis est Reducere lapidem in terram fixam spiritualem et tingentem Pag. 142. Accipe sulphur album et ipsum fige Luper corpus suum album fixum et mundatum id est supra argentum Et sulphur rubeum supra corpus suum rubeum scil supra aurum c. Pag. 150. Praeterea ad hanc medicinam secundi Ordinis spectat illud Hermetis Scitote inquit rumorum inquisitores et sapientiae filii quod Vultur supra montem existens in Cacumine voce magna clamat inquiens protige me et ego protegam te largire mihi jus meum ut te adjuvem Sol enim meus et radii mei sunt in me Luna vero mihi propria est ac lumen meum omne lumen superat et mea bona omnibus bonis sunt sublimiora Me igitur c. Fons Chemicae Philosophiae pag. 93. Sed ut ad aquam revertamur in qua crede mihi totum secretum consistit quae aqua licet sit una non tamen est simplex sed composita nempe ex Vase et igne Philosophorum Vinculum quibus tertium additur nempe vinculum Quum igitur c. Introit Apert p. 4. Est nempe in aqua nostra requisitus primò ignis secundo liquor Saturniae vegetabilis tertiò Mercurii vinculum c. I am not to learn that sometimes and in some respects the first Principle of Fire is called Vinculum Mercurii because it tends to the fixing of it but the Water is tied to the Fire only by the third Principle Ripley Revived pag. 290. The second manner is called Triptative Which is Conjunction of things Three Of Body Soul and Spirit that they not strive Which Trinity thou must bring to Unity For as the Soul to the Spirit the Bond must be Right so the Body the Soul to him must knit Out of thy Mind let not this Lesson flit Pag. 292. Know that the Soul doth not ascend but it carries with it a fermental Odour of the Body by which it doth so effectually affect the Spirit that it begins to think of taking a new Impression and becomes daily by little and little more and more able to suffer Fire and by consequence draws to the nature of a Body observe this c. Pag. 307. The next is to know our Mercury which is not Common but Artificial drawn from three Heads by the mediation of one thing which makes the two which are dry and sulphureous to unite with one which is moist and mercurial Brevis Manuductio ad Rubin Coelestem pag. 69. Causa secunda finalis haec est ut contrarias qualitates conciliaâ—emus Non autem conciliantur qualitates contrariae nisi per medium Pag. 70. Medium Medium ergo erit utriusque Partïceps utrique accommodatum Vertendo itaque compositum in terram jam concordant in hoc tertio frigus calor ut cohabitare possint c. Postea vero in aquam dissolvendo conciliantur c. Also in Rip Rev you speak to this purpose viz. For certainly the ferment Ferment which cometh between the compound Body and the Water causeth a Death and a Regeneration c. Also in another part of it thus Now in the Composition of these three first our common Mercury and the two Common Mercury Principles of our Compound there interceeds the Ferment c. Out of which though it be a Body proceeds yet a specificated Odour c. Now Sir I thank you for your Encouragement since I have cause to rejoyce Aeyren. How come you to lay any stress upon these Words Hort. Because Sir you have expresly said it more than once or twice and a certain honest Author speaks to this purpose That after the joyning of the two first Principles the Mercury of the second may then be said to be dead and never more to be made living but by Argent vive which cannot be done without mixture but that it will not mingle it self with the common Argent vive because of the Sulphur c. therefore there must be a medium that in Medium the medium must be a Specifick seperative Power to coagulate c. for common Mercury has no Specifick therefore take c. This Sir I think agrees exactly with your own words formerly cited Aeyr It does so Name your Author therefore for certainly he is one of the plainest that ever writ concerning this Principle Hor. He is no plainer Sir in this than in the rest but his Book is of small Account and I must beg your Pardon Sir because in your Preface to Ripley Revived after you have told us what light you received from Bernard Trevisan you say next to him or rather before him in some respects is an Author whom you will not name c. So Sir I follow your Example and I know you can easily perceive the words are not of my own invention Aeyr But how then has this your Earth a relation to the Doves of Diana which are spoke in the Plural Hor. Because of the Quantity Sir which is two to one Aeyren. Have you seen any Receipt for it Hort. Yes Sir one of your own it is as follows Arcanum Arsenici Philosophici 1. Accepi Draconis ignei partem unam
otherwise is but to deceive the unwary for if every thing in the World ought to have its proper Causes there cannot be any one end which is produced from two ways of working on distinct Principles Therefore we protest and must again admonish the Reader that in our former Writings we have concealed much by reason of the two ways we have Insinuated c. Pag. 31. Let none deceive you with telling you that our Gold is not common but Philosophical for common Gold is dead which is true but as we order it there is made a quickning of it as a Grain of Corn in the Earth is quickned 34. Chuse your Gold for this work pure and clean from any mixture c. if it be not so when you buy it make it so by Purgation c. 35. Know now that whatever we say out of Envy our way is none other and we protest and will protest that neither we nor any of the Ancients knew any other way for it is impossible that our Secret can be wrought by any other Principles or any other disposition than this c. ☞ Proh dolor How inconstant are the Philosophers in many of their Sayings What is become now of that rare and easie way reserved for the Saints Is there then no other way but this with common Gold What then is the meaning of all those solemn Sayings in Introitus Apertus and particularly this Pag. 54. Sin minus c. but otherwise in Sol vulgar with a due heat and in due time thou shalt prepare it but it is a way hedged with a thousand Briars and we have made a Vow to God and Equity that we will never in naked Words declare each Regimen distinctly Well there must be something more in it Sense Reason and Nature confirming the same for if our Mercury is crude Gold and will if sufficiently accuated congeal itself which is no where denied What then must it be Surely nothing else but our Gold which is nearer related to our Water than any common Gold But let me see what more says my Master in his 19th Chap. of Introit Pag. 53. Ea propter si artem noris c. Therefore if thou knowest the Art extract our Sol out of our Mercury then thou maist perfect the Work from one thing which believe me is more perfect than all worldly Perfection according to the Philosopher if says he thou knowest how to make the Work out of Mercury alone thou shalt verily be the finder out of a most pretious Work In this Work there are no superfluities but the whole by the living God is turned into Purity because the Action is made only in one thing So this indeed is a very good Reason and now my Friends I begin to be a little comforted again and should continue so were it not for this last Book of Ripley Revived I shall therefore never be at rest till I have turned it all over Let us see further perhaps we may find something to fix the matter But first of thine Elements make thou rotation Pag. 168. And into Water thine Earth turn first of all Then of thy Water make Air by levigation And Air make Fire then Master I will thee call Of all our Secrets great and small The wheel of Elements then hast thou turn'd about Truly conceiving our Writings without doubt Take of thy clean Mercury which is animated according to what I have faithfully taught in my little Latin * Introitus Apertus Treatise and mix it with thy Body as there I told you without ambiguity put it into a Glass c. This now turns me back again to Introitus Apertus pag. 53. Atsi c. But if thou shalt proceed in the Work of Sol vulgar then both the Action and Passion is in a twofold matter and only the middle Substance of both is taken the Faeces being rejected If thou dost but well consider these things which I have absolved in few words you have a Key to open all the appearing Contradictions amongst the Philosophers Wherefore Ripley in his Chapter of Calcination teacheth to turn the Wheel round thrice where he expresly speaks of the Sol vulgar and is so to be understood In his Doctrine of Proportions he is very obscure because those three Proportions do serve to three Works One Work is most Secret and purely Natural and is made in our Mercury with our Sol to which Work belong all the signs described by the Philosophers Three ways c. Pag. 54. The other Work is in Sol purged with our Mercury c. in which the true juice of Lunaria is to be taken and the Faeces to be rejected Thirdly and Lastly There is a mixt Work when Gold vulgar is mixt with our Mercury c. ☞ Well now we find there are three ways or works but I am altogether for the way purely Natural Let us therefore go on Rip Rev. Pag. 366. Our Principal know that it is but one and that is in Metals even in those Metals which you may buy commonly to wit the perfectest of them but before you can command it out of them you must be a Master and not a Scholar namely as it is wisely said in Norton To know to destroy their whole Composition That some of their Components may help in Conclusion But trust me this is not for a Tyro nor for every one of us unless he have the Secret from his own Studies and not by Tradition from a Master or Guide Know then that this fore recited way is true but involved in a thousand Broileries But our way which is an easie way and in which no Man may err our broad way our linear way we have Vowed never to reveal it but in Metaphors I being moved with Pity will hint it to you A hint Take that which is not yet perfect nor yet wholly imperfect but in a way to Perfection and out of it make what is most Noble and most Perfect This you may conceive to be an easier Receipt than to take that which is already perfect and extract out of it what is imperfect and then make it perfect and after out of that Perfection to draw a plusquam Perfection and yet this is true and we have wrought it And because it is an immense Labour for any to undertake we describe that way but this last Discovery which I hinted in few words is it which no Man ever did so plainly lay open c. Pag. 369 The reward which this Mastery will bring to the Artist is indeed inestimable for having it he needs want no worldly Blessing for Wealth he need take no care and from all Frailties of Body he hath a most sure Antidote Pray then to God that he would be propitious unto your Studies and Labours in giving thee the true Knowledge of this Secret Mystery it is the Gift of GOD I have â—â—um â—i holpen thee what I can but venture not to practice barely
and their fond followers no otherwise than meer Foolosophers catch'd in a Mouse-trap This by way of removing the Rubbish next we proceed to lay a sure Foundation for the Ingenious to Build on This Art I say and doubt not to The Foundation of this Art make clearly appear consists in the true knowledge of a Metalline Sulphur and Mercury which are to be Compounded of four Metalline Principles or Elements viz. Metalline Fire Air Earth and Water all to be reduced into a quick running clear and splendid Mercury In which Mercury is contain'd the Grand Secret of the Philosophers viz. their Sol and Luna for then they say Est in Mercurio quicquid quaerunt Sapientes All is in Mercury that the Wise men seek Because this prepared Mercury may easily be digested into Silver and Gold and then also and not till then is this saying verified Esttamen unum c. That there is in the Metalick Kingdom one thing of a miraculous Original in which our Sol is nearer than in Common Sol and Luna if you seek it in the hour of its Nativity c. Introit apert pag. 51. Which will melt in our Mercury as will Ice in warm Water and yet it hath resemblance with Gold The same thing may be found by digestion in our Mercury for the spaee of an hundred and fifty days c. See Secrets Reveal'd pag. 75. For this Mercury so digested into Sol and Luna will again easily be dissolved in that Mercury from whence it was form'd Whereas to dissolve Common Gold by prepared Mercury is a Work of great difficulty and ought not to be attempted by any unless he be an experienced Master in this Art and yet he that so operates shall labour for the worst and not the better unless he knows how to carry on both works a part and afterwards in a due measure to Reconjoyn them This I say is the Scope and Intention of all the Philosophers and now it remains that I clear my Position The Composition of these four Principles or Elements is perfected by three Three Works Works or Operations 1. The first is the joyning of the Fire and Air. 2. The second by adding the Earth to the other two 3. The third by joyning thereto the Liquor or Element of Water Which are also by Prince Geber Called Medicines of the first second and third Order These three Conjunctions are also called 1. Conjunction Diptative 2. Conjunction Triptative 3. Conjunction Tetraptive Of which more hereafter The Philosophical Maxims are Man from Man Beast from Beast and Metal from Metal c. Dastin's Dream Theat Chem. Britt pag. 259. A Man of Nature Ingendreth but a Man And every Beast Ingendreth his Semblable And as Philosophers rehearse well can Diana and Venus in Marriage be not able A Horse with a Swine joyns not in a Stable For where is made unlikely Geniture What followeth but things Abominable Which is to say Monstrum in Nature Pearce the Black Monk upon the Elixir Theat Chem. Britt pag. 271. All Salts and Sulphers far and nere I. interdite hem alle in Fere Alle corosive Waters Blood and Hayre Pyss Hornes Wormes and Saudiver Alume Atriment also I suspende Rasalger and Arsnick I defende Calx Vive and Calx Mort hys Brother I suspend them both one and other For of all things I will no moe But Foure Elements in general I say so Sun and Moon Earth and Water Four Elements And here y's all that Men of clatter Nothing is oftener said by the Philosophers than that their Stone is made of the four Elements And Ripley in his Epistle to King Edward the IV. Theat Chem. Britt pag. 111. saith thus viz. In the said Boke the Philosopher speaketh also Therein if it Please your Highnes for to Reade Of divers Sulphurs but especially of two And of two Mercuryes joyned to them indeed Whereby he doth true understanders leade To the knowledge of the Principles which be true Both Red most pure and White as I have spede Which be nevertheless founden but of right few c. This I know also hath another Exposition of which hereafter Theat Chem. Britt 152. Numb 19 Ripleys Compound Speaks thus And be thou wise in chesing of thy Water Medyll with no Salt Sulphure nor mene Minerall For whatsoever any water to thee do clatter Our Sulphure and Mercury be only in Mettal Which Oylys and Waters som men call Fowlys and Byrds with other names many one Because that Folys should never know our Stone Sandivog pag. 5. If thou dost purpose to make a Metall out of Herbs thou shalt labour in pain as also thou shalt not bring forth wood out of a Dog or any other Beast Aeyr Phil. de Metall Metamor pag. 46. Qui vero ex Herbis istjusmodi rebus Mercurium educere tentant sunt Minervae crassissimae atque ingenij nequissimi Aeyr Phil. in his Ripley revived pag. 160. 161. c. Some will say of my Book that I have writ very Enviously and Misteriously he calls the matter Gold and Mercury but that is but Allusively but he meant Egg-shells calcined or Vitriol or Mans Blood or Dew or Rain Water or Salt Peter or Nitre or Tartar or this or that thing c. Gross Sotts thus to think that what I without any Equivocation call Gold and Mercury they should make to allude to such trifles O Fools and Blind think you to gather Grapes of Thorns or Figgs of Thisles Page 162. If Gold and Silver be your intention to produce in what would you find them in Eggs or Blood in Salts or such things what a madness is this c. But enough of these Cautions tho' much more may be said from many other Authors And if any raise an Objection or put the Question why this great Universal Medicine is only to be prepared from Metalls they shall find it answered in another place Sandivog pag. 79. If thou wilt imitate Nature let me perswade thee to abide in the Simple way of nature and thou shalt sind all good things Simplicitas veritatis sigillum The Composition of the four Elements How the Elements are Compounded or Principles Now to our purpose Aeyrenaeus Philalethes natu Anglus Cosmopolita A true Adeptist and the last and best Interpreter of all the Ancient Philosophers in his little Book called Introitus Apertus c. Shewing that this Work tends Chap. 1. pag. 2. 3. to digest Gold to the highest Purity and subtle Fixity to which by Nature and Art it may be brought says their Gold is twofold viz. Ripe Gold and Crude Gold Male and Female Sulphur and Mercury That the whole Secret consists in the Mercury without which the work of Alchimy would be in vain And in Chap. 2. Concerning the Principles of which this Mercury is Compounded he saith Sciant itaque aquam Pag. 4. nostram componi ex multis c. Let the Operators therefore know that our Water is Compounded of many things
Elixir Theat Chem Britt Bringing in Mercury extolling her self Pag. 272 273. hath these words viz. I am Mercury the Mighty Flower I am most worthy of Honour c. I am both Sun and Moone I am sche that alle thynges must done I have a Daughter hight Saturne that ys my Darlyng The wych ys Mother of all werkyng For in my Daughter there byne hydd Four thyngs commonly I kydd A Golden Seede and a Spearme rych And a Silver Seede now hym lych And a Mercury Seede full bryght And a Sulphur Seede that ys right Of my Daughter wythowten dred Byn made Flyxirs white and redd Therefor of her draw a Water cler The scyence yf thow lyst to leare Thys Water reduceth every thynge To tendernes and to fyxing It burgeneth growyth and gyveth fryght and lyght Ingression lyfe and lastyng in syght Alle ryghteous werkes sooth to say It helpeth and bryngeth in a good way Thys ys the Water that ys most worthy Aqua perfectissima flos mundi For alle werkes thys Water makyth whyte Reducyng and Schyning as Sylver bryght And of the Oyle greate marvell there ys For all thyngs yt bryngeth to rednes As Cytrine Gold he ys full High None ys so Redd nor none ys so worthy Ripley in his Works in Theat Chym. and particularly in his Preface speaking of their three Mercurys Pag. 125. says thus Bodies with the first we calime Naturally Perfyt but none which be unclene Exept one whych usually Namyd by Phylosophers the Lyon Greene He ys the mean the Soon and Moone Betwene Of joyning Tinctures with perfytness As Geber thereto beryth Wytness c. Now we are return'd back again to the Works of Geber of whose writings I say my Master Aeyrenaeus is the best Interpreter and doth give the best account of all the Names which to each of these two first Principles may properly in any manner be applyed and which are many as witnesseth his Enarratio Methodica Trium Gebri Medicinarum Yet because in his Book called Ripley Revived which he says he intends as a key to all his formmer writings he hath explained these two Principles without Pag. 2. Printed 1677. by Will Cooper at the Pellican in Little Brittain any room for Doubt or Exception we will examine them to try if they be plain and easy and answering or rather confirming what is before recited In his Exposition upon Sir George Ripleys Epistle in pag. 20. of this Book he writes thus Take then the most beloved Daughter of Saturne whose Arms are a Circle Argent on it a Sable Cross on a Black Feild which is the Signal note of the Great World Espouse her to the most Warlike God who dwells in the House of Aries and thou shalt find the Salt of Nature with this Salt Acuate thy Water as thou best knowest and thou shalt have the Lunary Bath in which the Sun will be amended And in the same Book in his Exposition upon the Praeface of Sir George Riply pag. 7. He saith of the Fire That it inhabits the Fiery Dragon and it yeilds its Soul to the true Saturnia and is Embraced by it and both become one together bearing the Stamp of the Most High even the Oriental Lucifer the Son of the Morning This Soul is Chalybs Magical Volatile and Chalybs very tender the true Minera of Sol out of which Sol Naturally proceeds which I my self know to be true and have spoken of it in my little Latin Treatise called Introitus apertus ad occlusum Regis palatium This is true Sulphur which is imbiled True Sulphur by the Mercuriallity of Saturnia and notes it with the Royal Signet c. But to put the matter clear out of doubt and beyond any cause of Objection let us view some of his Philosophical Verses which he calls The Learned Sophies Feast Vide. His Exposition upon the Preface of Sir George Ripley pag. 49. Whoso would lasting and Eternal Fame Deserve learn thou the Lyon Green to tame c. The Lyon Green This Horrid Beast which we our Lyon call Hath many other Names that noman shall The truth perceive unless that God direct And on his darkened mind a Light reflect c. But it s because of the transcendent force It hath and for the rawness of its source Why so called Of which the like is no where to be seen That it of them is named the Lyon Green c. There is a Substance of a Metallin ' Race It s Nature If you the matter view whoselowring Face A Sophister would at first sight so scare c. And yet O strange a wonder to relate Diana naked At this same Spring naked Diana sate c. Yet further for to answer your desire 51. I say this Subject never felt the Fire Of Sulphur Metalline but is more crude Wants Metalline Sulphur Than any Mineral c. And its Components are a Mercury The dry Sulphur Most pure though tender with a Sulphur dry Incarcerate which doth the Flux restrain c. And hinders the sweet Communion of Hinders mixture This Virgin Lead and her dear Sister c. Which would otherwise warm a Bath for Sol c. Know then the Subject which the sure base Pag. 52. Of all our secrets is and it un case c T is our Stone it is Saturn's Child Its Constitution is Cold it must therefore Saturns Child be mixed with another Sulphur found in the House of Aries c Our Subject it is no ways Malleable It is Metalline and its Colour Sable It s colour Sable c. With intermixed Argent which in Veins The Sable Feild with glittering Branches stains c. This is sufficient to shew the nature of the two first Principles and the necessity of their Conjunction And this differs not from what Basil Valentine Writes who teaches to Dissolve Gold by a deep glittering Mineral grown in the Mine of Saturne and is of the first matter of Metals Also in his Treatise of Natural and Supernatural things he says Mars and Venus can perform nothing to attain pag. 38. Chap. 2. any thing with wealth without the Lyon And says their Melioration lies conceal'd in their Signet Star or Magnet out of which all Metals have themselves received their Gifts Then Speaking of the first matter Pag. 40. from the Center he says t is compared to the middle World he further says 't is a true water a Soulish water the Pag. 41. Mother of all Metals is heated by the Spirits of Sulphur which by its digestion makes the Earthly Body Lively wherein the Salt is evidently found which preserves from Putrefaction c. And in the third Chapter of the Spirit of Mercury pag. 43. he says All visible Tangible things are made of this Spirit That it is a meer Air flying a Pag. 44. moving wind but if it can be caught and made Carporal it resolves into a Body and
the true Key of our Work without which the Fire of the Lamp could not be by any art Kindled It is the Minera of Gold a Spirit very pure beyond others It is an Infernal Fire Secret in its kind very Volatile the wonder of the World a System of the Superior Vertues in the Page 6. Inferiors and therefore the Omnipotent hath mark'd it with that notable Sign whose Nativity is declared in the East Cujus Nativitas per Orientem in Horizonte Hemisphiaerij sui Philosophicum annuntiatur pag. 7. Cursum dirigat per aspectum Astri Septentrionalis quod Aspect Astri faciet tibi apparere magnes noster pag. 21. Quare activum Sulphur ulterius quaerentes c. Wherefore seeking further for an active Sulphur the Magi sought most throughly and at length found it hidden in the House of Aries This Sulphur Aries is most greedily received by the Of-spring of Saturn which Metallick matter is most pure most tender and most near to the first Metallick ens void of all actual Sulphur but yet in a power to receive a Sulphur wherefore it doth draw this to it self like a Magnet and swallows it up and hides it in its own Belly and the Omnipotent that he might highly adorn this Work hath Imprinted his Royal Seal thereon Sendivog pag. 36. Recipe ergo marum vivum c. Take therefore a Living Male and a Living Female joyn these together that betwixt them there may be Conceived a Sperm for the bringing forth of Fruit after its kind Pag. 44. Propterea unum datur Metallum c. Moreover there is granted to us one Metal which hath a Power to consume the rest for it is almost as their Water and Mother yet there is one thing and that alone the radical Moisture viz. Of the Sun and Moon that withstands it and is bettered by it but that I may discover it to you it is called Chalybs Pag. 45. Est alius Chalybs c. There is also another Chalybs which is like to this created by it self of Nature Qui scit ex radiis solis c. Which knows how by a wonderful Power and Vertue to draw forth from the Beams of the Sun that which so many Men have sought after and is the beginning of our Work Here he singly names them The begining of our Work both Chalybs yet sometimes both joyned together are called Calybs as before Pag. 47. Naturalis ejusmodi est c. The natural Dissolution is this That the Pores of the body be open'd in our Water whereby the Seed that is digested may be sent sorth and put into it's Matrix but our Water is Heavenly Water not wetting the Hands not vulgar but almost Rain Water 48. The Body is Gold which yeilds Seed It is our Luna not common Silver which receives the Seed of the Gold c. This also alludes to the Great Work Pag. 55. Faâ—â—igitur c. Cause therefore that there be such an operation in our Earth that the central heat may change the Water into Air that it may go forth into the Plains of the World and may scatter the residue as I said thro' the pores of the Earth and then on the contrary the Air will be turn'd into Water far more subtil than the Water was and this is done thus If thou wil'st give our old Man Gold and Silver to swallow that he may consume pag 56. them and that he at length dying may be Burnt Let his Ashes be scattered into Water Boyl it until it be enough and thou shalt have a Medicine to cure the Leprosy Pa. 63. Res est vilis pretiosissima c. It is a thing of little account yet most pretious which being divers times described I do now again repeat Take X. parts of Air of Living Gold or Living Air. Silver I. part put all these into thy Vessel boyl this Air first until it be Water and then no Water If thou art Ignorant of this and know'st not how to Boyl Air without all doubt thou shalt Err seeing this is the matter of the ancient Philosophers for thou must take that The Water of our dew which is and is not seen until it be the Artificers pleasure It is the Water of our Due out of which is Extracted the Salt-peter of the Philosophers by which Sal petrae Philoso all things Grow and are Nourished Matrix ejus est centrum solis vel Lunae The Matrix of it is the center of the Sun or Moon as well Celestial as Terestial and that I may tell more plainly it is our Magnet which before I Our Magnet or Chalybs said was Chalybs The Air generates the Magnet and the Magnet generates or causes our Air to appear Sanctè tibi veritatem hic manifestavi c. This is the Sal Akali which the Philosophers have Sal Akali named Salt Armoniack and Vegetable hid in the Belly of Magnesia Operatio ejus Magnesia talis est The operation of it is this That thou Dissolve the Congealed Air in which thou shalt Dissolve the tenth part of Gold Seale this up and work with our Fire until the Air be turn'd into Powders and there appear the Salt of the World being had divers colours c. And a little after pag. 64. Propterea satis mihi fuit c. It therefore sufficed me to treat only of the first and second matter which is done clearly c. In his Eleventh Chapter concerning the Practice pag. 48. he say Take of our Earth through xi degrees xi grains of our Gold and not of the vulgar i. grain of our Luna and not of the vulgar ii grains but be thou well advised that thou take not common Gold and Silver for these are dead take ours which are Living then put them into our Fire and let there be made of them a dry Liquor first the Earth will be resolved into Water which is called the Mercury of Philosophers and that Water shall resolve those Bodies of Gold and Silver and shall consume them so that there shall remain but Radical moisture the tenth part with one part and this shall be the Metallick radical moisture c. And pag. 65. Perpende diligenter weigh diligently what I have said before viz. How the four Elements distil into into the center of the Earth a radical Moisture and how the central Sun of the Earth by its motion bringeth it forth and Sublimes it to the Superficies of the Earth c. The same Author in his Philosophical Riddle tells you That Neptune shew'd him two Mines the one of Gold the other of Chalybs Page 77. That Saturn drew the Water and put into it of the Tree of the Sun wherein it resolved like Ice in warm Water and this Water is Aqua Vitae That that Water is the best which is drawn by vertue of our Chalybs which is found in the Belly of Aries c. In the
the Secre of the Secres Parde Also there was a Disciple of Plato That on a tyme sayd his Master to As his Book Senior wool bere Wytnesse And this was his demaunde in Sothfastnesse Tellme the name of the privy Stone And Plato answered unto him anone Take the Stone that Tytanos Men name Of Titan Magnafia take the cler light The red Gumme that ys so bright c. Theat Chem. Britt pag. 275. Which is that quod he Magnatia is the same Said Plato ye Sir and is it thus This is ignotum per ignotius What is Magnatia good Sir I you pray It is a Water that is made I say Of Elements four quod Plato Tell me the Rock good Sir quod he tho Of that Water if it be your will Nay nay quod Plato certayne that I nyll The Philosophers were y Sworne eâ—hone That they shulde discover it unto none Ne in no Boke it write in no maneâ—e For unto Christ it is so lefe and dere That he wol not that it discovered be But where it liketh to his Deite Man to enspyre and eke for to desende Whan that him lyketh to this is his ende Thus you see how the ancient Philophers were Sworn not to discover their Rock of clear Water and that this Work is the highest piece of Philosophy in Nature This Water is made of the four Elements said Plato so is the joyning of the two first Principles said to be the mixing of the four Elements the one being Hot and Dry the other Cold and Moist This Water is also called Aqua Divina Aqua Benedicta Aqua Coelestis c. with many other Names One Author that shall be nameless speaking of the Conjunction of these two Principles saith it is a Magistery and calleth the first the Divine Instrument and the second he calls Mercury and saith that the Addition of the Instrument that is Quintessence goeth through the Mercury and remaineth with it and seeing that Quintessence belongeth to Life it changeth the Mercury so that now Mercury is nothing else but Life also and this Operation is done very quickly without any elemental Working for as every Workman adorneth his Work and giveth it his Mark by the which the Master-piece is known so also God Marketh this his Creation and giveth it the noblest Sign that is in Heaven c. So now you have his Words you may easily find out the Man He also calls this Matter being purged Luna so soon saith he as Mercury perceiveth the power of God Sol it is no longer Mercury but Luna that this Mercury is wholly changed and turn'd about so that was inward is drawn outward but no part separated from another c. But what needeth many Words you have the thing before so sufficiently described that I may say he that cannot thereby easily name it savoureth nothing at all of Ingenuity This Soul saith my Master as it is drawn from the Saturnia sollid and dry is called our Air or rather the Chamelion which is an Airy Body but indeed it hath a hundred other Names This says he is true Sulphur which is imbibed by the Mercuriality of Saturnia and Notes it with the Regal Signet and being united and revived into a Mineral Water by the mediation of Dianas Doves it is the sharp Spirit which in the Water moves the Body to putrefie c Thus is made a Medicine of the first Order by Calcination Next we will proceed to the third Principle of Earth after we have observed a few of the Names of these two Principles First as they are apart and afterwards as they are joyned besides such as you have heard before First of the Air Female or Water of dissolving Mercury Aeyrenaes in his Opus Tripartitum or Vera Confectio Lapidis Philosophici in the Division De principali proprietate Mercurii dissolventis pag. 21. amongst others sets down these Acetum Aqua aqua prima aqua artis aqua simplex balneum Coelum humiditas Ignis humidus ignis contra naturam liquor vegetabilis Crudus Luna Mater Materia Lunaria mercurius crudus mercurius dissolvens Ministerium primum Quinta Essentia Spiritus crudus Spiritus cocti Sepulchurum Sperma Mercurii Stomachus Struthionis vas Philosophorum Visitatio occultorum argentum vivum crudum à minera simpliciter extractum Pag. 48. after some alteration of it Aqua divina aqua mundi aqua venenosa aqua auri aquila Caput Corvi fimus equinus flos aeris fumus igneus humidum igneum igneum venenum ignis innaturalis Leo viridis Lutum Magisterii Magnesia nigra Nigrum nigrius nigro nummus Oleum Saturni Plumbum nigrum pulvis niger putrefactio res vilis Ros coelestis sigillum hermetis Spiritus foetens sputum Lunae terr a nigra Vapor c. In the Book called Palladium Spagyricum are hundreds of Names yet I approve not his Cunning. Secondly As to the Male or Fire Pag. 57. Adam Anima Aries anrum vivum Corpus rubeum ferrum forma frater gumma rubea Ignis Naturae Lapis rubeus Lytargyrium rubeum Lux Mane Mars Magnesia rubea Oleum Martis oleum incombustibile pater pars una Rex Rubedo Sal rubeum Sericon Sol sulphur rubeum sulphur vivum terra rubea vitriolum rubeum De predictorum duorum conjunctione pag. 22. Aqua secunda arcanum argentum Aqua nostra vivum Chaos corpus confusum Cuprum Aes nostrum Aes philosophorum fumus aquosus ignis alienus Lapis mineralis Lapis unus Lapis in Capitulis notus Laton Materia una massa consusa minera nostra Menstruum secundam Ovum philosophorum Radix una Res una res vilis c. Pag. 38. Aes album argentum vivum animatum Arsenicum Aurum aurum album corpus album Eva Fundamentum Artis Gumma alba Hermophroditus Lac virginis Lapis unus Luna plena Magnesia Materia una metallorum Mercurius occidens Plumbum album Radix artis Sal Alchali sapo sapientum soror sperma metallorum stannum sulphur album Terra fructuosa Vitrum Urina puerorum Vultur with many others and which are sometimes indifferently applied to either Of the Addition of the third Principle or Earth You observed before that it is said the former Matter being united and revived Dianas Doves into a Mineral Water by the mediation of Dianas Doves is the sharp Spirit that in the Water moves the Body to putrefie This is the same with what Aeyrenaeus writes in his Introitus Apertus in several parts thereof Pag. 5. Disce igitur c. Learn therefore who are the Companions of Cadmus and what is that Serpent who devoured them what is that hollow Oak to which Cadmus fastned the Serpent Learn what the Doves of Diana Pag. 9. are which overcome the Lion by asswaging him I say the Green Lion which indeed is the Babylonian Dragon killing all things with his Poyson At length learn to know the Caducean Rod of Mercury with which he worketh
Wonders and what the Nymphs are which he infects by Incantation if thou desirest to enjoy thy Wish In Chap. 6. Concerning their Air and why so called and that it has still an arsenical Malignity which hinders all manner of Ingress of the extracentrical Waters unto the Waters that are in the Center Hic Fur c. This Thief is Evil Pag. 10. armed with arsenical Malignity whom the winged Youngster doth abhor and fly from and although the central Water be his Bride yet the youngster dares not utter his most ardent Love towards her because of the Snares of the Thief whose Snares are almost inavoidable In this let Diana be propitious to thee who knows how to tame the wild Beasts whose two Doves shall temperate the Malignity of the Air with their Feathers then the Youth enters easily in c. And pag. 12. After he hath shew'd how to joyn and purify the two first Principles he says of them Hic est Infans Hermaphroditus c. This is the Hermaphroditical Infant which even from his Cradle hath been infected by the biting of the Corascene Mad Dog whereby he is besotted and distracted with a perpetual * Hydrophobia a disease which exceedingly fears the Water caused by the biting of a Mad Dog Hydrophoby Yea though the Water be nearer him than any natural Thing yet he abhors it and flies it O Fates But yet there are in the Wood of Diana two Doves which can asswage his Madness c. The English Book or Secrets Revealed adds pag. 16. if applied by the Art of the Nymph Venus then least he should again relapse c. And pag. 17. it runs thus speaking of these Doves supply the Feathers and the Eagle will fly away and leave the dead Doves of Diana which except they shall be dead at the first receiving they cannot be profitable c. The Latin Book or Introitus Apertus says thus pag. 13. Fulgente Luna in suo plenilunio pennas suppedita avolabit Aquila relictis pone se mortuis Dianoe calumbis quoe si primâ acceptione fuerint mortuae prodesse nequeunt There is a great difference betwixt being dead and being alive And Sendivogius pag. 110 Lat. 76 Engl. saith If in any Science or Art it doth much help or hurt to have one word lacking or added than much more in this As for Example it is written in one place Then mix these Waters together another adds Not He indeed added but a little and notwithstanding he made the whole Chapter quite contrary c. But to return to our purpose Introit Apert pag. 21. Shewing that the Off-spring of Saturn hath no actual Sulphur in it says It hath entred into League with a burning arsenical Sulphur and therefore appears not under a mercurial Form c. But after it hath swallowed the Sulphur of Aries he says the Magi tried to purge Mercury therewith but the Event did not Answer because there was yet mixed an arsenical Malignity in the Sulphur so swallowed which though now it was but little in respect of that abundance which it had in its mineral Nature yet it hindred all Ingress Wherefore they tried to contemperate this malignity of the Air by the Doves of Diana and the Event answered their Desires Tum vitam vitae commiscuerunt c. Introitus Aper Chap. 14. pag. 37 says to this purpose We have moreover shewn that the preparation of the true philosophical Mercury is difficult Tamque difficilis ut opus sit peculiari Dei gratia si quis ad exactam ejus notitiam prevenire cupierit The English Book after the word difficult adds these words pag. 52. The main knot lying in finding out Dianas Doves which are folded in the everlasting Arms of Venus which no Eyes but a true Philosopher ever saw This one Skill performs the Mastery of Theory enables a Philosopher and unfolds to the knower of it all our Secrets This is the Guordian Knot which will be a Knot for ever to a Tyro in this Art except the Finger of God direct Yea so difficult c. I know not what to say of this and several other passages in the English Book which was published by W. C. directed to the Honourable the Lord Lucas Baron of Shenfeild in Essex Anno 1669. After the Author's Preface there is this Admonition READER THE true Manuscript Copy which John Langius in his Preface doth so much thirst after is here published for thy Benefit in which thou wilt find considerable Enlargements and Explanations wherein the Latin Translation is deficient as Witnesseth Chap. 15. c. But this is plain that Aeyrenaeus refers to the Latin Introitus Apertus as appears in his Preface to Ripley Revived Printed 1678. and there he says that he had lately wrote the Introitus c. yet that by John Langius which I have was Printed Amsterdam 1667. I suppose this W. C. is the same that publish'd The Philosophical Epitaph of W. C. Esq 1673. Dedicated to the Honourable Robert Boyle Esq for there in his Preface before that part called A Brief of the Golden Calf he mentions the open Entrance to the shut Palace of the King Now let us see what he hath learned from it in his Epitaph pag. 15. he declares the preparation of Mercury in these words viz. For Mercuries preparation is thus viz. By a Mineral with Sable Silverveins which is the Dragon born in Saturns Den devouring Cadmus with his earthly Men. First then this Dragon double strength to Mars Praxis Must be yet pierc't by him being God of Wars Then both will perish and become a Star Where the young King is born who is Solar Then wash equal Venus in 's Blood and let Them joyn till Vulcan take them in a Net Which Mercury gently on his Wings must bear Till he steals their Wealth and Sols Body tare Wherein then Sol will freely shed his Seed And this is all whereof we stand in need Which ordered right you cannot choose but speed c. This is very plain if true first a Dragon pierc't by Mars then wash equal Venus in 's Blood which Mercury must gently bear on his Wings wherein then Sol c. Here we find his third Principle in the Mercury is Venus which I suppose he gathered from these words in the open Entrance viz. But yet there are in the Woods of Diana two Doves which can asswage his frantick Madness if applied by the Art of the Nymph Venus c. and from these words The main Knot lying in finding Dianas Doves which are folded in the everlasting Arms of Venus c. and from these words p. 77. If then thou work in Sol Vulgar be sure to procure the Marriage of Diana Venus in the beginning of the Espousals of thy Mercury then put them into the Nest c. The Latin thus p. 52 Quare si cum Sole vulgi fueris operatus cave ut Veneris connubia sollicitè compares deinde thoro suo impone
et 2. Corporis Magnetici partes duas praeparavi simul per ignem torridum et quinta praeparatione factae sunt Arsenici veri circiter unc viii Arcanum praeparandi Mercurium cum suo arsenico ad faeces amittendas 3. Recipiebam Arsenici optimi partem unam feci cum Dianae Virginis partibus duabus connubium incorpore uno minutim trivi et cum hoc praeparavi Mercurium meum elaborando simul omnia in calido usque dum optime incorporarentur c. Aeyren. Now I find you take Receipts according to the Letter not considering you said before that the Fire and Air joyned is called Diana or Arsnick c. and yet you make your third Principle two parts of the Virgin Diana to one of Arsnick This is idem per idem besides How do you know this is my Receipt Hort. O Sir Expede Herculem and if you are pleased to word it so I cannot help it I am sure the meaning is otherwise and I can easily perceive you have more Sols more Lunas more Dianas and more Mercuries than one Aeyren. Have you any other Authorities Hort. Yes Sir that one that 's Nameless he also directs me to take more of the Earth than of the Fire and Air and more of Water than of the other three Aeyren. And hath he told you how this second Work appears and the Temperature of it Hort Yes Sir he saith it appears a Mass Metalline of the Colour of Lead and that it is easily beat to Powder which I have also experimentally found to be true Aeyren. Have you observed any such words from me Hort. Yes Sir in the Breviary of Alchymy Rip Rev. Pag. 10. Position the third you say Three Substances make only two Natures Earth and Water Earth and Water equally proportioned that is best Here it is Evident say you That three Substances make up but two Natures of Earth and Water The Man and Wife are both Bodies or Earths the one Fixed and Ripe the other Volatile and Unripe and by mixture make a brittle Black Hermaphroditical Body or Earth called the Philosophers Lead c. So Sir I observed you have more Leads than one for you call the Green Lion your Lead and in its Preparation you speak of two Substances and here you speak of three also you have your Read-Lead elsewhere named Aeyren. Well this looks something like it indeed but you know it is spoken as to another purpose Now proceed to your Element of Water and le ts hear what you will make of them at the last The joyning of the fourth Element Hors. I shall Sir and first from your Vera confectio Lapidis Philosophici pag. 155. Medicina tertii Ordinis est illa praepaâ—atio Medicina tertii Ordinis Lapidis quae a Philosophis Maximo in pretio habetur et vocatur Iteratio sive Multiplicatio Unde Philosophus Totius operis summum arcanum est dissolutio physica in Mercurium et in primam materiam reductio 156. Deinde in aceto nostro coelestino solve et certe solvetur in aquam clarissimam et quasi fontanam Pag. 157. Item notabis quod in omni dissolutione physica debes mittere tres res Rem quae humectat quae dividit et quae lavet c. 160. Tamen soluta non bene operatur nisi prius figatur in suo fermento 161. Ut hanc Tertii Ordinis Medicinam tibi clariùs explicem sic accipe Oportet omnino quòd de corpore fiat Mercurius hoc est quòd fixum fiat volatile cum volatili hoc est cum Mercurio Mundo c. Brevis Manuduc Pag. 69. Postea vera in aquam dissolvendo conciliautur c. Next I will shew you what Mr. Norton says of the Water or Liquor and therein he doth clearly hint the third Principle also In Theat Chem. Britt Consider also the nature of the meane Pag. 81. When it is in the third Degree made cleane The purer that your meanes be The more Perfection thereof ye shall see The meanes reteyne a great part Of the Vertues of this Art For the Principle may not give influence To the final End neither the refluence Unto his principal without Succour and Aid Of meanes conteyning the extremities aforesaid c. Liquor is a thing moveable Pag. 78. Of fleeting Substance and Unstable All such things follow the Moon More then standing kindes doone And that appeareth to a Clerke In working of the white Werke Liquors washen and maken cleane Both Extremities and the Meane c. And pag. 76 77 78. Speaking of their several sorts of Liquors or Waters as Aquam ab Aere Stilla roris madidi Water of Litharge and Water of Azot to make Lac Virginis Aqua vitae Quintessence Aqua Vivificans c. Of another Liquor wise Men tell Which is fresher than Water of the Well Ibid. Fresher Liquor there is none in taste Yet it will never consume ne waste Though it be occupied ever more It will never be less in Store Which Democrit named for his intent Lux umbra carens Water most Orient Hermes said no Liquor so necessarye As was Water of Crude Mercury Water of crude Mercury For he shall stand said that noble Clerke For the Water within our Werke Now lerne ye which for this Science have sought By all these Liquors our Stone must be wrought Hermetick Secrets saith That Mercuries Leprosie infesting the Body is not of its Root and Substance but Accidental and therefore seperable from it Fons Chemicae Philoso pag. 104. Mercurius enim Vulgi est Aqua sed deest ei Spiritus et vis ignea ad urendum Supple si potes quod deest summo cum Artisicio tum non amplius erit Mercurius Vulgi sed similis nostro sed si hoc facere non possis dimitte istum Mercurium quia nihil ab ipso praeter damnum expectare possis Ecce jam deus est testis rem totam narravi quam si prudens fueris ignorare non possis c. Introit Apert pag. 19 Quare agnoverunt tandem c. Wherefore the wise Men did at length know that the watery Crudities and the earthly Faeces did hinder it from being digested which being fixed in the Roots thereof cannot otherwise than by Inversion of the whole Compound be rooted out they knew I say that Mercury if it could but put off those things it would presently become fixed c. In our Conjunction four Elements be aggregat Theat Chem. Brit. pag. 146. In dew proportion fyrst whych asonder were separat Ripley Rev. draws a Conclusion in these words Our Art therefore is to compound two Principles one in which the Salt and another in which the Sulphur of Nature doth abound which are not yet perfect nor totally imperfect and by consequence may therefore by our Art be exchanged or exalted which that which is totally perfect cannot be and then by Common Mercury common Mercury to extract not the
boast No Man above my Candour shall aspire My Zeal was kindled with Minerva 's Fire And thou who to this Art wilt now apply My Book in Natures way shall lead thee higher Than ever thou alone mayst hope to fly If only thou shalt favour'd be by destiny Peruse these lines and being read review 378. And read again and on them meditate Each reading shall fresh Mysteries and new Discover which are scattered in each Gate For they so linked are that all relate To each and we our Words have woven so That thou mayst soon err by misleading Fate Unless for to distinguish thou dost know Remember that ' mongst Briars thick sweet Roses grow The Author to the Reader ☞ And now Reader I hope I have made good my Position and described every particular Principle or Element in order even to the Great Work and that so plainly that none need hereafter be to seek in any of them I confess all might have been said in few words but I have for a reason particular chosen to make the Philosophers themselves discover the true Principles in their own Language which also may give great Satisfaction to the diligent Inquirer and yet I have not dwelt longer upon them than I thought was convenient Next we will view some short Philosopical Tracts relating to the Art which if it will not further confirm you in what is gon before may notwithstanding serve you for Diversion In the third Volume of Theatrum Chemicum the Author de Magni Lapidis compositione tells us that the principle Matter of all Metals in their Mines is a dry Water which they call Aqua viva or Argentum vivum and Spiritus faetens otherwise called Sulphur c. Agens patiens pater mater from whence is generated a certain smoaky Substance and that the Mineral Vertue coming upon that Matter congeals and unites it c. And from hence it appears that in Metals there are four Elements naturally and that they are homogeneal In pag. 5. he says That in the Operation of this Science we stand in need of more things than Nature doth and that in those we want are also four Elements and so our Principles are alike to those of Nature Pag. 8. That there are four Kinds or Species and not more or less required to compound the White Elixir viz. Argentum vivum Sulphur citrinum fugiens Sulphur viride fixum habens ventrem nigrum intellectu quamvis clarum in visu videatur Sulphur album fixum c. and that they are not of great price Pag 9. That the Argentum vivum being compounded cum sulphuro vivo citrino become one Mass which they call Terra rubea and in this respect there needs not any more than three Species or Kinds in the Art That because this Terra rubea is found to be sold ready compounded therefore he cares not to labour about its Composition c. That the other two Kinds are not compounded until they are put into the Work of this Art c. Then he proceeds to practice but very subtlely and hard to be understood Theat Chem. Britt pag. 436. Let the old Man drink Wine till he pisse The meanes to the blest Stone is And in that menstrous Water drowne The radiant brightnesse of the Moone Then cast the Sun into her lapp That both may perish at a clapp So shall you have your full desire When you revive them both by Fire I ask'd Philosophy how I should Pag. 435. Have of her the thing I would She answered me when I was able To make the Water malliable Or else the way if I could finde To measure out a yard of Winde Then shalt thou have thyne owne desire When thou canst weigh an Ounce of Fire Unlesse that thou canst do these three Content thy self thou get'st not me I am she which wise Men seek Pag. 356. Mercury which i◠〈◊〉 of might Hot and moist light and weake Of the Elements I am full right Water Earth Aire and Fire Quality and quantity you can never have your desire Without concoction perfectly Great Riches in us be Who hath Grace for us to know By vertue of her humidity In the Fire our Stone doth grow c. Of Titan Magnesia take the cler light Pag. 275. The rede Gumme that ys so bryght Of Philosofris the Sulfer vife I called Gold wythouten stryfe Of hem drawe out a Tincture And make a Matrymony pure Betweene the Husband and the Wyfe Espoused wyth the Water of lyfe And so that none dyvysion Be there in the conjunction Of the Moone and of the Sonne After the Marriage is begonne And that Mercury the Planete In loef make hem so to mete That eyder wyth oder be joyned even As a Stone engendered sent down fro Heven Of hem make Water clere rennynge As any Chrystall bryght Schynynge c. In Arsenick sublymed there ys a way streight Pag. 272. Wyth Mercury calcyned nyne tymes hys weight And grownde together with the Water of myght That bereth ingression lyfe and lyght And anon as they togyther byne Alle runnyth to Water bryght and shene Upon this Fyre they grow togethyer Tyll they be fast and flee no whyther c. A Man of Nature ingendereth but a Man Pag. 259. And every Beast ingendereth his semblable And as Philosophers rehearse well can Diana and Venus in Marriage be notable c. And to comfort hys Brethren that were full dull Pag. 265. The Sun hath chosen without Warr or strife The bright Moone when she was at the full To be his Mother first and after hys wedded Wife In tyme of Ver the Season vegetative In Aries when Titan doth appeare Inspired by Grace with the Spirit of lyfe This Marriage hallowed at midday Spheare c. I shall add but one or two more which are most to the purpose because from a true Adeptist Aeyrenaeus in his Vade Mecum Philo. pag. 208. says Tres tantum modo Species c. In his Book De vera Confectione lapidis Philosophici pag. 25. he says to this purpose that the Elixir ought to be made from one thing Hoc tamen unum quod Argentum vivum dicitur non est unum in numero sed in genere That if any err from this one in the beginning he labours in vain Pag. 34. He begins with Materia una from which the superfluities are to be removed 36. That after they are removed he says it is of a White Colour called by Hermes Album nigri Citrinum albi rubeum Citrini by Alphidius Radix artis Argentum vivum albi coloris Mercurius ille tingens c. Rosarius says Hic est Mercurius noster noblissimus Deus enim nunquam creavit rem meliorem sub Coelo praeter animam rationalem Plato calls it Secretum nostrum by Maria it is called Pag. 73. Aqua albificans Indicum Laâ—â—â—em by Hermes Argentum vivum de Corde Saturni by Solomon Unica filia
becomes a pure clear Transparent Water and the first Mercurial Root of the Minerals and Metals That it is that Celestial water whereof very Pag. 45. much hath been written for by this Spirit of Mercury all Metals may if need require be broken opened and resolved into their first matter without Corrosive That this is the Master Key of his second Key c. And pag. 59. That this Spirit of Mercury is the only true Key and that without it you can never make Corporal Gold potable nor the Philosophers Stone This also may suffice to shew that all the Philosophers are upon one and the same Foundation and do mean one and the same thing and process The Purifying and Joyning of these two first Principles is contain'd in the gross or foul work as appears by Norton in his Ordinal Chap. 4. Theat Chem. Britt pag. 45. Where he tells us of two kinds in the grounded Matter Their Names he says are before viz. Magnetia Litharge Litharge Magnesia These two Principles he also calls two Stones In Chap. 3. Pag. 41. Speaking to Tonsile he saith Many things helpeth to apt our Stone But two be materials yet our Stone is one Then he says they are as Mother and Child as Male and Femal Sister and Brother as in Pag. 43. And afterwards thus in Pag 41. One of thes kindes a Stone ye shall finde For it abideth Fire as Stones doe by kinde But it is no Stone in touching ne in sight But a subtill Earth Brown roddy and not Bright And when it is seperate and brought to his appearage Then we name it our grounde Litharge First it is Browne Roddy and after some deale White And then it is called our chosen Markasite One ounce thereof is better then fifty pounde It is not to be Sould in all Christian Grounde But he that would have it he shall be faine To doe it make or take himselfe the paine But one great grace in that labour is saine Make it once well and never more againe Old Fathers call'd it thing of Vile price For it is nought worth by way of Marchandise No Man that findeth it woll beare it awaie No more then thei would an ounce of Claye Men will not beleive that it is of High Price No Man knoweth it therefore but he be wise Here I have disclosed a greate Secret Wonder Which never was Writ by them which been Earth under Another Stone Tonsile you must have withall Pag. 42. Or else you fawte your cheefe Material Which is a Stone Gloriouse Faier and Bright In bandling a Stone and a Stone in sight Being of Wonderfull Diaphanitie The price of an ounce conveniently Is Twenty Shillings or well neere thereby Her name is Magnetia few people her knowe She is fownde in high places as well as in lowe Plato knew her Property and called her by her name And Chaucer rehearseth how Titanos is the same In the Channons Yeomans Taile saying what is thus But Quid ignotum per Magis ignotius c. Now here you may know what is Magnetia Res aeris inqua latet scientia divinaque mira These two Stones Tonsile ye must take For your Materials Elixir if you make Albeit the first tyme Materials be no more First time Yet many things helpeth as I said before This Secrete was never before this daye So trewly discovered take it for your praye I pray God that this turne not me to Charge For I dread sore my Penn goeth too large c. Here you see how cautious he is of discovering too much and yet he must be well read in this Art that can by his Words know these two Principles but he tells us he was taught by a Master and I suppose received his Secret under an Oath for in pag. 11. he hints as much in these Words and the Figure there representing the same Secreta Sc toe Alkymiae secrete servabo One says Accipe donum Dei sub sigillo secreto The other says In Pag. 47. He speaks to this effect That the foulest Work is to clarifie our means Mineral that Extremities may not well be wrought without many means wisely sought and that every Mediums mean must be made Pure that the gross Work is soul and full of Perils and that the Clerk as well as Lay-man may fail in it And as for Magnetia he says thus viz. Nemo primo fronte reperitur discretus And once I heard a wise Man say How in Catilonia at this day Magnetia with Mineral means all Be made to sale if ye for them call Whereby the hands of a cleanly Clerke Shall not be filed about so foule a Werke And here you may observe that as the first is purified by the second he calls it Litharge and as the second is purified by the first he calls it Magnesia The Conjunction of both is called Rebis resuna Aes Philosophorum Arsenicum Air Chaos Hermaphrodite with many other Names of which hereafter This Magnetia it seems was to be had ready prepared in Catalonia and truly it may be now had ready prepared in England though the Preparors make it not for this purpose and not always after the true Metalline way 't is best the Artist prepare it himself Again the preparing of it is something dangerous to the Work-man Norton speaking of the Fires to be used in this Work pag. 104. says For Magnetia is Fier of Effusion Full of Perills and full of Illusion Not onely perill which to the Warke maie fall But such alsoe which the Master hurte shall Against which once received is no boote Ordaine therefore to fetch breath from your Foote 'T is true the Scent in preparing it is not Pleasing Smelling Sulphureous and like late-made Graves newly open'd like dead Mens Bones as saith Basil Valentine yet not so dangerous as represented But to return to Chaucer who calls it Titanos in his Tale of the Chanons Teoman Theat Chim Britt page 254. he writes thus Lo thus saith Arnolde of the new Toune As his Rosayre maketh mencioune He sayth right thus withouten any lye There may no Man Mercury mortifie But if it be with his Brothers knowledging Lo how that he which firste sayd this thyng Of Phylosophers Father was Hermes He sayth how that the Dragon doutlesse Ne dyeth not but if he be stayne With his Brother And this is for to sayne By the Dragon Mercurye and none other He understood that Brimstone was his Brother That out of Sol and Luna were ydrawe And therefore say'd he take heed to my Sawe Let no Man besye him this Arte for to Seche But he that the entention and Speche Of Phylosophers understonde can And if he do he is a leud Man For this Science and this Connyng quod he * Aeyrenaeus upon Sir G. Ripley 's first Gate pag. 159. We do seriously profess to any that shall attempt this Work that he attempts the highest piece of Philosophy that is in Nature Is of