Art that it seems Enthysiastical and they that so Write do nothing else but yield an Occasion of deriding to Myso Chymicks For that if the Art has a real Foundation in Nature why should I be Solicitous whether this or that man understood it or no since we know that its Lovers and the Adepts have always concealed themselves with all their endeavour even as also it is declared to others in their Books Neither have all or at least very many been known but after their Death but whilst they were alive they lay concealed with the greatest Diligence This at least is clear that it is so farr from being a new Device that there have been men skilful of it through many Series's of Ages who being Different both in Tongue and Nation and very many of them Contemporary have writ so agreeingly of the Art that they cannot be proved by such as rightly understand them either to Corrupt or diversly to handle so much as one Operation I confess at least there may appear a great difficulty in Reading their Books to a man unskilful of the thing they write so obscurely tropically allegorically and figuratively some also do intermingle many false things to ensnare the unworthy and unwary that by this means they may distinguish Philososophers from Fools but in sum all of them do strike at one mark and lead to the lame Inn. But those things which they deliver more Obscurely they do this to no other end but that they may exclude the unworthy as they often witness in their Books Bernard Trevisan much adored by me is found most candid also Ripley an English-man Flaâ—â—â—el a French-man Sendivogius the Author of The new Light also the anonymous Author of the Hermetick Secrets yet whose name hath delivered a double Anagram as to wit spes nea est in agno in a Book whose Title is Enchiridion hysicae Restitutae and penes nos unda tagi in his Hermetick arcanum I would not pass by here the Ladder of Philosophers the great Rosary the Works of Arnoldus the Boys play the Works of Dionysius Zacharius Aejidius de vadis the Works of Moren Augurellus his Poems of making Gold also Five Treatises of the Rosary abreviated the Works of Peter Bonus of Ferrara In a word I would have all the Books included which are agreeable to these asoresaid and those which are otherwayes excluded Which being compared as is fit before the Work be begun in the first place the studious Schollar of Art may learn the Lives Kingdoms Manners and Habits of Metals and also of Minerals nor delight himself in the bare Notion but know them Seientifically that is Practically But to this end there is need of a Profound meditative Contemplation that he may Learn and Understand the Original of Natural things in the genus and of Mineral Bodies in the species As for me being only intentive to the Doctrine of Metals to wit as far forth as it seems to Explain the Art of Transmutation I willingly pass by the Original of Natural things in the genus Content to have spoken those things which may satisfie the aforesaid purpose yet I will briefly touch the rest in Order All the Common Philosophers have delivered that there are four Elements Compounding all things Originally from whence are all things to which they resolve from whose divers Coalition divers things proceed Almost all Chymical Philosophers have subscribed to this unhappy Opinion No other Cause of which I am able to conjecture then that without mature Deliberation they being prepared to their own Interest they have hastily described these first Foundations of things Which Opinion of theirs I not daring to disallow upon the account of the Honour and Reverence I have for them will handle it Philosophically otherways according to the Truth of the matter For I only acknowledge three Elements which they Contend to be four all which Experience teacheth to be cold of their own nature to wit Air Water and Earth for that the only defect being caused by the remote distance of the Califactive Sun which doth bring a coldness upon all these things and that is more remiss or Intense by how much the greater or lesser distance it is removed For I altogether reject an Elementary Fire also I deny that there is any besides our Common Fire which burns in the Kitchins whose heat is always distructive in it self Neither do I deny notwithstanding that there is heat in things flowing either from Light or motion or Life or alterative Blas no other The Pyrate Vulcan doth burn and waste Concrete things by feeding upon them it is the most Corrupt Violent motion caused from the Repugnancy which arises from two contrary active things but yet it is not an Element as being neither Substance nor Accident as farr as appeartains to the actual burning but the expression of the Activity of two Agents mutually in themselves in a Capacious Subject I would not show now what things are required in order to Fire actually burning besides the accident of Heat and substance in which this Action is made at least we assert this hear altho its heat be an Accident yet that it its self is neither an Accident nor a substance but the express Operation of the activity of two active things and acting mutually upon one another which activity I could easily demonstrate in every Combustable thing burning but that it would be foreign to this place And as I do altogether reject Elemental Fire in the mean while being content with a Ternary number of the Elements and do assert the first native quality cold neither do I attribute to them heat except accidental as is said so neither do I admit these three by their Commixtion to go into the Composition of Natural things For that the Disproportion of things to be mingled takes away the mixture fit for Generation and the possibility thereof For a Natural Generation is made by the Union of Generative Ingredients Moreover Vnion is an Ingression of things to be united per minima but if the least of one thing be tenfold or a Hundreafold more subtile then the little of another the adequate littles cannot come together for that it behoves very little things to come together which we seek to unite per minima From hence water mixed with Earth is not united with it even as neither Water with Wine or Flegme with Spirit yea they may be separated because of this disproportion amongst the littles If any one shall say in order to make this mixture one thing undergoes the subtilty of another and so by consequence are united I urge that if it be equally subtile which was first thick that it may enter liquid by uniting it self it behoves that it be altogether brought to the same Nature and what then I pray is Earth but Water for that Water will not go into Earth that it may have an umon with Earth that is to say a Body will not enter a Body
so unitively and if it be so how foolish is it to imagine this that Earth is convertible to Water that it should promote the Generation of a Conerete with Water and if this should be granted the thing would be said to be produeed of Water if so be before it was possible to be produced the Earth had gone into real Water but this is necessary or otherwise the little of this will not be able to agree with the little of the other And as yet Air is wanting whose little is much more subtile then the little of water unless all things be held to vanish into Air that also the aforesaid water may have it a Companion to it self in generating which if it should be granted it would follow that all things did consist of Air alone which Air altho it be Originally in its own Nature from it self or gathered together of Earth and Water Changed between themselves yet it will be the same thing nor diversified because of the difference of its Original for unless it be the same it cannot be united to wit that Water may have the same subtilty with Air it is obliged to have the same first Qualities with it the same also is to be Judged of the Earth that it may be adequated to the rarity of the Water and if it be so Water so subtilized will be real Air and Earth so subtilized will be real Water and now where is the composition of things generated by Elements when according to this Doctrine all things are necessary to proceed from Air and of Fire how much more subtilly a quaternity of Elements being admitted with this Doctrine of Mixture But if any one should say that it is true that the Elements are so Converted I would ask him by what Agent they were changed Moreover if Earth goes into Water water into Air that so there may be an union of Compounding Elements to make an Elementary thing I would ask again what need there is to unite another new to Earth reduced into real Water so also to mingle new Air to Water subtilized to the rarity of Air as tho one and the same Flement so convertable into another being converted could not procreate an effect of its self without the mixture of the other If it be said that Earth as aforesaid being Subtilized is equal to Water in Rarity and yet is not Water even as neither is Water 〈…〉 would ask then whether or no the on can put on the first Qualities of the other if not neither will they have Correspondence in their littles for this is impossible if so I desire to know whether if one first should put on the firsts of another first that would not be really the first whose firsts it first puts on To assert the Contrary is not Philosophical therefore it is concluded that all things Materially take their Original from one Element which cannot be neither Earth nor Air which unless I studied Brevity I could easily Demonstrate The Earth is a Soil or Bed in which all Bodies Increase and are preserved the Air into which they grow it is the means and bringer of heavenly Virtues wherewith it is filled and by which they are Communicated to all these Inferior things the Seed of all things is put into the Water by the Creator in the first Creation which some do produce into the Air as Vegitables some keep within their own Reins as Animals in some it is hid very abstruse as in Metals and there is even to the end of the World seed sufficient to produce all things of Seed whose Habitation as is said the Water is found to be This Seed other ways Idle being stirred up by its form which form is a certain particle of Ineffable Light Heavenly Virtue which is present to Endue in reference to place and a convenient Agent with its force Inferior things aptly disposed and to stirr them up to Motion so I say the Seed being stirred up with an active Virtue does Coagulate the Material Water with its fermentatious Odour which it so Changes by various Fermentations the Author of all Changes until it has produced that to produce which the Seed was propense If therefore there be a Metallick Seed there grows from thence first a dry humour slippery not wetting the hands to wit Mercury the Mother of all Metals I could here teach the Procreation of stones of every fort also note very many things worthy of observation about the First Nativity of Mercury But I purposely pass by those things making little to the purpose For Mercury has deserved to be called the true Matter of Metals because before it was Mercury that it might be destined to Metal yet it might happen by some defect that some thing different from Metal did result from thence but when once it is Mercury then indeed no longer can any thing be born from thence but Mineral or Metaline from this the different kind of Metals which are seen as for Instance Jupiter Saturn Luna Venus Mars Sol which all have one and the same Mother Mercury also some middle Minerals arise from hence some also are made of the Metals themselves eroded with acid Mineral Salts so Vitriol from a Vein of Copper eroded by such an acid Stalagma whose Generation to teach would be from the Matter therefore I purposely omit it But not any Intervening Sulphureous Fatness as some think fakly is joyned to the Mercury which it Coagulates boyling it with its heat whose Expurgation afterwards is the perfection of Metal For we know that Sulphur as it is called in Jupiter is much more impure then Sulphur in Saturn altho Mercury in Saturn be more Crude and unclean then Mercury in Jupiter and yet even Common People will witness that Jupiter is a more pure Metal than Saturn therefore we must not think with them of a Metallick Digestion by such a fatt Colostrum when in Mercury there is a proper Internal digesting Agent to wit Heat which being caused by a Coelestial influence infuseth Life and Motion to this our Matter which life and motion depend from an Adaptation of a Convenient Matrix or Place fit for Ganeration For altho all of these abovesaid things are full of this most plentiful Virtue and this is present to all to the Information of them yet it does not actually act by Informing that is by exciting to Motion except as far forth as it is helped by Extrinsicks rightly accommodted and so then this Heavenly Virtue acts incessantly which altho it be Vniform and one in the whole World yet it is varied by reason of the Seed according to which the Ferments of things are diversified to produce diverse Transmutations wherefore if Mercury born here all find a place in its self fit for Generation althoin its self without such a Place it appear Cold for that it is dead yet within the Center of its own Nativity the generative action not being yet Intermitted this force or Heavenly virtue
Virtue is not so distinguished in Metals but is inseparatly Commixt through the least of the Body containing I have added these things of the Seed because it is said above that a Metal whose profundity has been so mamfest under a Mercurial form doth all go into Seed for we name all that water the Seed of Gold because it is Exquisitely diffused through it in as much as it cannot be separated but by Reason alone This is called occult Ferment Poyson by the Ancient wise Philosophers also invisible fire the secret Agent Neither also have I alone named the whole promiscuously Seed after a manner but these also have often called their Water Fire sometimes they Taught that fire resides in their water Wherefore they distinguished this into Soul and Spirit of which the former is the means the latter the active Virtue by that means Therefore we name Water Seed Metonimically when yet in speaking properly the seminal Virtue universally inhabits and is diffused through the whole Water which indeed is Seed but is not separable from the habitation of its water If it seem a wonder to any one that I assigne water the Seat of the seminal Spirit let not this seem a wonder that the Spirit of God in the first Creation was carried upon the Waters that is the Heavenly Spirit infused through the Waters it enriched them with its Power and prolifick Virtue For in this alone all Seeds which are in the Vniverse were founded from the first beginning neither ever go out of it and yet in Vegetables they are produced into the Crude Air in Animals preserved within their Reins in Minerals they are firmly shut up in their profundity For it is impossible that Seed should go out of its Original Seat Therefore if all things are from Water as we have said Reason will teach us that the Seed even as yet doth reside in Water Things are not preserved any other way then from whence they spring for the Cause of the Original being taken away the Effect is taken away hence it comes to pass that the multiplication of all things is in humido per humido even as the Nutriment Vegetables by a watry Leffas of Earth Animals by a liquid Chile Metals by a Mercurial Liquor Hence Vegetables being Increased and produced of their own accord does separate a Seed different from their whole Body into the crude Air which will be a Coagulated Body but that it may be known that it has proceeded from Water and does retain its seminal Spirit in the water it is committed to the Earth to increase its species in which Matrix by a watry Leffas of Earth it is resolved into its next watry matter and then begins the Vegetation Moreover the Watry seminal receives this Watry Leffas by which it is manifest in the Dissolution and that Germination is for the Radical Nutritive Humor by which it receives Increase to a plant or Tree according to the specifick Ferment of the Seed Animals do keep within their Reins a Seed sprung from Imagination which by the Act of Generation being Diffused into a due Matrix forms a Faetus tender and abounding with much Humidity which afterwards is increased by the Liquid Female Menstruums and increases into a perfect Infant and coming into the world in the hour of its Nativity is Nourished by milk until he can bear stronger Aliment which then unless they are changed into a Liquid Chyle as Bones in the stomach of a Dogg don 't nourish In like manner to all these things Metals Coagulated doth shut up their Seed perfectly elaborated under thick Coverts yet being placed in Water this afterwards being Extracted by sagacious Art Increases and is Cherished in a due Matrix until by a previous Corruption it receives its glorification But this Work is very difficult because of the secret foulds of Metals in which this Seed is shut giving place to no force unless there be a subtile wit Moreover I make it known that there is a Matrix in which Gold being put from whence Seed alone is to be Sought will emitt its Sperm freely and sweetly until it be weakened and dye and by its Death shall be renewed into a most glorious King having afterwards got the power of delivering all his Brethren from the fear of Death CHAP. VI. Of the Manner and Means of Extracting its Seed THose things are always most difficult which are most excellent as the Experience of all Ages will bear ample Testimony It is not to be wondered therefore if so great a difficulty be found in a subject so noble before others For I do not well know any work in Rerum Natura encompassed with more Difficulties then this is Wherefore if any one shall enter upon this Work and yet would spare his mind from study and Labour he must return back again for he has missed his way in the very Entrance For that the Evils which are in the Work appear Terrible Chiefly upon the account of Dispondency But if the Father of Lights shall grant the Key of the Art to any one there remains to him nothing more then the Work of Women and the Play of Children As to delight his Eyes as he Labours with most beautiful appearing Signes untill he shall reap his Harvest that he may possess the most precious Treasure of all the World But without this Error and Loss Care and Vexation will be the Fruits of his vain Philosophy Therefore every wise man before he enters upon his Work shall be first and chiefly solicitous of knowing it with its marks that if by chance any Difficulties may appear in it he being Armed against them may not after his Work is begun be compelled to return with trouble and sorrow Therefore let all sons of Art know that in order to attain our Arcanum there is need to manifest the most hidden Seed of Gold which is not done but by a plenary and every way volatilization of the fixed and then the Corruption of its form Moreover so to destroy Gold is the most secret Work of the whole World For this Divine Science is not compleated in a Corrosise Deturpation of the Mtal nay all such Corrosions are false and Erroneous sinee that there is required to our Work not any Dissolution but Philosophical that is into Mercur al water made by a previous Calcination by a Mercurial Agem which is produced by a subt I le Rotation and Conversion of Elements which Calcination is a mortification of a Homogeneous Humid with a dry of its own Nature that afterwards the dry may be vivisied by the said Humid so farr that the must digested Virtue by dissolving being extracted by the Dissolvent may be the Cause of this Calcination and Dissolution Is there any thing here Common with a Corrosive Contrition of Bodies by Mireral waters Nay rather the foresaid Operations are Diametrically opposite If any one shall consider these things rightly he will easily perceive the trouble of the Work
which this our Mercury is to be found it is of a like Essence with Gold unlike in Substance by converting the Elements whereof thou shalt find what thou seekest Joyn the Heaven with the Earth upon a Fire of friendship and in the midst of the Firmament thou shalt see Hermes his bird Do not confound the Natures but divide them and joyn them again and thou shalt Reign in Honour all thy Life hear therefore this great Secret in the Southern Coast is found a very high Mountain very near to the Sun which is one of the seven and highest but one This Mountain of which we now speak is of a very hot temperature because it is not far from the Sun and in this Mountain a Vapour or Spirit is shut up which is highly necessary for our Work but it does not ascend unless it be enlivened neither is enlivened unless the Earth be digged Knee deep in the top of the Mountain but if this be done the Spirit or thin Exhalation ascends which being congealed by the Air drop by drop runs into most clear Water warm like a Bath which is presently gathered for it is the true Caduce of Mercury with which he works Wonders this is our Water our Fire our Furnate and it is our Mercury and not the Vulgars but the hot and humid Liquor of the most pure Salt which we name Mercury because comparing it with the Sun it 's immature and Frigid Verily I say unto thee except the Almighty had Created this Mercary the Transmutation of Metals were impossible because the Sun does not tinge unless it be tinged But he is not tinged but by this our Water alone O this blessed Humidity which is the Philosophical Heaven whence wise men have drawn their Inestimable Dainties O per manent Water Dissolving and amending Sol our Nitre and wonderful Salt Petre whose price is Inestimable yet it is little esteemed Therefore the thing is vile and yet very Precious whom our Sol Loves as his only Bride whose virtue if the vulgar knew they would not sell a drahm for a Thousand Ounces of Silver for it is most precious Gold Lively and penetrating therefore it turns the Body of Gold into a meer Spirit and is joined in Marriage as the Woman to the Husband whose fairness Sol admires and rejoices in her and for Love kills his own Wife and she moved with Love makes him alive and is impregnated by him Conceives and grows big also brings forth a Son a most serene King O happy they who can go to this Fountain of our Water for if they shall Drink of it and shall Eat afterwards a little piece of fat Flesh they shall reign as Princes all their Life on the Earth Therefore the whole secret of our Work consists in knowing this our Sea which who ever is Ignorant of he hath long ago Destined his Money to perdition if he does spend any about this Work For our Ocean draws its Original from one Mountain and that a very high one as I have said above But if ascending to the Top thou digg Knee Deep a Certain Exhalation or white fume will ascend which will perfect the whole Magistery but there remains another Secret which thou art obliged not to be ignorant of that thou maist obtain thy desire to wit how thou must digg in the Mountain since that the Earth in the Superfice of the Mountain is to be cut with no Blow for is his Dryness that it is Concreted by the means of Heat into a Substance harder then Flint Attend therefore to this Secret in Saturnine places is found a certain Herb called Satarnia whose branches appear dry but Juice abounds in the Root gather this Herb together with the Root and carry it with thee until thou come to the foot of the Mountain under which by the Ministry of Vulcan thou shalt digg and Bury the Herb which presently goes through the pores of the Mountain by loosing the Earth thereof then at length Climing to the Top thou shalt easily Bore Knee deep and shalt pour so much Fat and dry Water that descending to the Bottom of the Mountain it may wet the Herb there laid which presently being made moist together with the Water ascends like smoak and hurries with it the Spirit of the Mountain carrying it up with it which Spirit is a fiery Virtue mingling it self with the water and inhabiting therein and it is the Water into which thou hast cast thy Bond or the Vessel or Furnace the spirit of Saturnia is a whitening fume and the vapour of the Mountain is fire and all these are fire so thou hast Saturnia a Vegetable Royal and Mineral Herb of which with fat Flesh is made such a Broth to which no Dainties in the World may be Compared Now thou hast the whole secret of our Water described under an enigmatical Discourse yet not so abscurely but thou maist Easily if thou be diligent and Learned by Contemplations and Experiments perfect the Work For all these are the true Material Principles of our Stone besides which nothing can or ought to enter into our Work to wit the King and the Water which is the Bath of the King know that our Water is a Vessel as our King is Contained in it and a Furnace as our Fire is included in it and our Fire as the Virtue or Spirit of the Mountain Inhabits in it and the Female as it contains the Vapour of Vegetable Saturnia which is very friendly to Sol and Penetrates Whitens and Molifies him and makes him to cast out Sperm then the Fiery Virtue which is shut up in the Water begins to work upon our Body so reduced by wasting it and Mortifying by burning and Putrefying or rather exciting to these things until the innate heat of Sol is deduced from power into Act which dealbates Coagulates Fixeth and Tingeth and therefore our Stone is called the world because it contains both the Agent and Patient in it It is the moving and the moved Active and Passive Fixt and Volatile Mature and Crude one whereof succours the other and the one is amended by the other because both is Homegeneous in its self For Sulphur and Mercury are the same in Water and in a Body in Identity of the Genus and only are diversifyed by Decoction Keep this Secret Therefore we do not to that end order Crude and Volatile Mercury to be mingled with Mature and fixt Sulphur that we might affirm that Sulphur is different in one and the other and the Mercury different also For where would then the Homogeneity of Metals be which we affirm in our Stone but therefore we mix these two Species's that we by our Art might Perfect Gold a thousand Degrees more in a far shorter space than Nature has formed simple Gold in the Mines For Nature from only Crude Humid and Frigid Mercury without any Addition Generates Gold by a long Decoction under the Earth But Art to contract the work throws
if Compared with Sol but in Respect of Common Mercury Digested warm and Mature which has no qualitys like to this except alone in whiteness of Colour and of its form of Flux in which notwithstanding there is a great Difference But lastly that you may well understand what our Water is by Circumstances I tell thee and that moved with Charity that it is Living Running Clear Shining White like Snow Hot and Moist Airy Vaporous and Digesting in which Gold is melted like Ice in warm Water in this is Contained the whole Regimen of Fire and Sulphur which Exist but Predominates not This is indeed the keeper of our Gates the Bath of the King and his Queen davly Warming and that Incessantly and yet is taken elsewhere then from the Matter and is distinguished from the whitening Substance of the Water yet joyned and appearing under the same form of Flux and the same Colour This is that heat of the Lamp which if it be Temperate every day will Circumact the Matter until by Calcination the Humidity being dryed a second Fire of Ashes is produced in which the Vessel or Water is Hermetically shut and Sealed according to the Saying of the Philosopher take a Vessel strick it with a Sword take its Life this is the Closure Therefore this our Water is our Vessel and in that our Furnace dwells secretly whose Fire ought to be moderate least the whole Work be destroyed yet strong enough least the Life Dispond for want of Heat Therefore in this Water the whole Secret of our Vessel confists also the Structure of the hidden Furnace is founded in the Composition of this Water in the Knowledge whereof all our Fires all our Weights all our Regimens lye hid This Water is the Clear Bright Fountain in which our King is to be washed that he may overcome all his Enemies of this Water and its Preparation be Careful because surely without any other help except the Apposition of a perfect purged and Cleansed Body Nature will make from hence our most Secret Stone And I say to thee in Truth that this Water is Mineral pure and Clean neither can it be Extracted elsewhere but out of those things alone in which it is by Nature And the things out of which it is immediatly Drawn are most secret above all others Also the Means of Extracting it is most wonderful also its Virtues Stupendious For it doth Dissolve Sol without violence and is made friendly to it and it washeth him from all his Foulness It is White Warm and Clear therefore praised be the most High who hath Created this Mercury and given it a Nature overcoming all others For certainly the Work of Alchymy would be in vain and useless without this Water But consider thou what this Water is and Learn from the Work as I have done For having this Mercury thou hast the Key of the whole Art with which thou mayest unlock all the most secret things of Philosophers Therefore our Water is of alike Nature with Gold of an unlike Substance in the making of which there is a great Stink Consider therefore and deeply weigh the possibility of Nature and do not mix any Heterogeneous thing For Nature is only amended by its own Nature and by no other But if you do not yet understand do not blame me for I have sincerely as far as it is Lawful for a Man to speak Expounded to you the whole Matter That therefore you may understand the Conclusion of the Matter be very attentive Our Stone is made out of one thing and four Mercurial Substances whereof one is Mature the rest Crude but pure of which two are drawn out of a Mineral by the third but wonderfully joyned with a Temperate not Violent Fire and so Cocted every day until all be made one by a Natural Conjunction most secret not Manual Afterwards the Fire being changed let it be Digested with a Fire daily increasing at first more Moderate and so every day increased until these Volatiles are fixed by a Sulphur of their own kind fixt and incombustible until the whole Compound possess the same Nature Fixity and Colour For then it securely Resists the Fire and this is the most powerful Power of Power overcoming every subtil and penetrating every solid thing the virtue of which being turned into Earth appears compleat But there are that I may describe the thing particularly manifold Degrees of this our Process in Number Twelve all which I will hriesly run over the first whereof is called Calcination Of Calcination And Calcination is the first Purgation of the Stone the Exsiccation of the Humidity by the virtue of the Natural Heat of our Water stirred up by the External Heat from whence the Composition is turned into Calx or Powder of a black colour yet unctuous and retaining the Radical Humiaity The final Cause of this Calcination is that the Solution may be the better induced to the Stone which without this cannot be had For Gold is a very fixt Body neither can it be immediatly Dissolved by our Water except only in part that is be made soft Incrudated and Albificated In which Albification two Natures appear volatile and fixt which we liken to two Dragons or Serpents Wherefore that a full Dissolution may be made there is need of Contrition that the Body by Calcination may be made spongious and viscous because then at last it is fit for Dissolution The Second final Cause is this that we Reconcile contrary Qualities for whilst they fight they are unprofitable unto us For in the first Conjunction our Water distinguishes between Sulphur and Mercury volatile and fixt and these are Enemies to one another and Different things but it is our part to bring them to a Union but contrary qualities are not reconciled but by a Medium there are therfore in our first Operation four contrary qualities Heat Cold Dryness and Humidity of which two Hot and Dry are Attributed to Sulphur Cold and Humid to Mercury therefore they are opposed Diametrically the heat of Sulphur and the Cold of Mercury also the Humidity of Mercury and Siccity of Sulphur To reduce these Contraries to friendship cannot be done without a Medium but the Medium must be partaker of both also suited to both Would we therefore reconcile Cold and Heat the Medium will be by Siccity which may be joyned to both Heat and Cold by turning therefore the Composition into Earth heat and Cold agree in this third thing that they may dwell together to wit the Degree being abated But afterwards being dissolved into water also two other Enemies are Reconciled Siccity and Humidity by the Frigidity of Water so that now one is made of two by the Conjunction made after a Natural Separation But the Efficient of this Calcination is the Operation of Heat upon Moisture turning every thing that resists it into most subtile Powder but the moving Instrument is the Fire contrary to Nature which is hid in our dissolving
kind out of the Flame I pass by these understanding nothing at all in this Art Others altho they work in Metals yet desire to perfect Calcination either with Corrosive Waters Spirit of Salt Sulphur or Fire and do indeed Corrode the Bodies not Calcine them For this Calcination is not made by the Native Calidity of the Body helpt by a Friendly heat but by a Corrosive Force of Waters without any propensity of the Metal to it therefore Metals are fouled and Dissipated and so Estranged from a Metallick Nature but not Naturally Calcined Therefore every Calcination which is made elsewhere then in the perfect Body of Gold is vain and unuseful to our work Also every Calcination of Sol in which a Dissolution without laying on of Hands does not follow is false and vain Therefore this our Calcination is necessarily to be made by Mercury which being joyned to Gold a due weight and proportion both of Quantity and Quality being observed softens it and takes away the Solidity and Incrudates it and by its internal Heat joined with the outward Heat of Vulcan stirrs up that Native heat of the Gold which being stirred up acts upon the Humidity and Exsiccates it into a subtile Powder Viscous and Black And this is the true Key of the Work to Incrudate the Mature by the Conjunction of an Immature being incrudated to Calcine it being Calcined to Dissolve it Philosophically not Vulgarly The signes of this our Calcination are these first after the Body shall be satiated with Water as soon as the Keeper of the Gates shall stir up the Heat of the Bath the Water begins to be Obscured or that which was a splendid Composition before then it visibly grows Turgid and swells ascending and descending continually until the whole at last become a viscous and fatt Powder in which it appears that the Humidity is conserved in this Operation otherwise the Labour would be in vain From thence therefore it is easily resolved into Mineral Water which is the last and most certain Signe that our Calcination has been true and Philosophical For as soon as the heat begins to Operate the Frigid and Humid being Impatient thereof goes to the top from thence it melts and descends and so reduceth it as much as may be to its own Stmilitude Doing this daily untill at last the whole be resolved into Fat and as it were Glutinous Water For so our Operations are Concatinated that one is the Cause and beginning of another neither can one be had or understood without another But we that we may instruct the Sons of Art more fully and drive away the unworthy as far as may be from this Art do handle as it were divers Operations when there is but one Recipe one thing one Regimen and successive Disposition to black white and red neither are we to be understood otherwise Wherefore every one that will truly be a Philosopher should regard the Sence not the Letter of Writers in this Art But that we may come to our true Calcination these things are to be Confidered that follow Firstly that thou should get our Mercury without which nothing is done in this Art See then that thou be not deceived in that Common Mercury which is altogether unuseful to our Work for if thou Work in it to thy Dying day thou wilt find nothing in it Secondly thou must take Care that the Fire of the Furnace be not too Intense but let it be clibanically measured which that thou maist fully understand know that the Sulphur which Predominates not in the Mercury or Water digests the Matter which together with Azoth is abundantly sufficient for thee Let not therefore its Internal quality confound the external form then be not solicitous about the manner of making the Fire only have a care that it be not too Gentle for then thou wilt easily dispond for want of Heat nor yet let it be over Violent but of a Moderate degree according to the Nature of the Bodies and exclusive of Cold Take these things on the other Hand concerning the Internal and Natural Fire I call that Internal which increaseth the Work in the End Thirdly be careful of the quantity that thou dost not put so much to be drunk by Laton that he cannot afterwards Eate for if thou shalt put on too much there will be a Sea of trouble if too little it will be burnt into Smoak be not therefore Covetous or Prodigal between the Extreams keep a Mean Therefore in joining the Male with his Female remember that it behoves the Activity of Sulphur to Exsiccate the superfluous Humidity of Mercury therefore do not drownd the active with too much Crude Sperm the Woman will also desire to Rule therefore do not Choak the Humidity of thy Stone with too much Earth but with Discretion mix it sweetly and according to the Exigence of Nature lest the Virtue of the Stone be diminished make therefore an Amalgama not as the Goldsmith does with four or five Parts of Water but as the Philosophers do with a double or treble to the last but it is better to take three to four then one to two since the solution will be better because the Cal ination will be more Natural Ripley Witnesseth with me That by how much the more Earth says he and less Water thou take so much the better Solution shalt thou make In the first place therefore beware that your Land be not overwhelmed with waters because the Fire is hidden in the Earth which will not Operate if there be too much Humid Superfluity whence the Error will be Incorrigible the work vain Fourthly Be careful of the closure of the Vessel lest the Spirits should fly out and the Work be destroyed Keep therefore the Vessel and its Ligature nor look upon this to be of little moment Consider therefore Man who as he is Generated by Nature so also our Gold is Matured by Art helped by Nature Therefore consider with how great care Nature has shut the VVomb of a pregnant woman lest any thing should either get in or pass out otherwise the Foetus would parish with no less Industry be thou cautious in perfecting this Philosophical work lest thy Labour be in vain 〈◊〉 therefore the Philosopher saying Take thessel and Fire strike it with a 〈◊〉 take the Life this is the Closure Hermes also says The Vessel of the Philosophers is their water and know for certain that the vessel of Nature is only fit for us in this Art which diligently is to be shut For in forming the Embrio there are very great winds which if they should vanish we are undone for the error is Irreparable whence the Damage is most certain The Work in the Fifth place is Patience that thou don't dispond or study to make the solution too speedy but firmly believe that too much bast is the greatest Enemy to Conjunction and hinders it For the Body to be dissolved Impertinently Rubifies stirring up a Feaver that
Boyl like Liquid Pitch and will putrifie And Bernard in his Parable says The King pitting off his splendid Robes gives the Silken ones to Saturn being Cloathed in black which be retains fourty dayes All this understand of blackness in its height which is plain from the above-repeated words of Flammel but a more remiss blackness will appear sooner so the Scala Philosophorum sayes within sixteen dayes in the degree of Putrefaction an easie Fire being kept the matter will be continually Covered with blackness And this either later or sooner according to the Ingenuity of the Operator in Adapting the Matters But whether will intermedial Colours appear in a Progress from white to black as in the Progress from black to white It seems so because there is no transition from one extream to another unless by Mediums And we answer that they so appear altho indeed confusedly and some in some Works will appear in a Progress to the height of blackness which perhaps will not appear in another because they are only accidental Colours but not altogether the same betwixt the first Whiteness and Blackness which are between this and ultimate Whiteness because there is not the same Reason of Matter in the former the thick Terrestrial Matter was to be burned and purified but in this work the Matter is more Spiritual and pure therefore in a pure or Depurated Subject in a Progress from the extremity of blackness to the extremity of Whiteness the Intermedial Colours will be much more clear and admirable then those which appeared in an Earthly Subject But in both progresses they will appear in the former transition between the Extreams Obscurer fewer and fouler in the Latter more more shining and splendid witness the Philosopher After the heighth of Blackness before Whiteness in the hour of Conjunction great Miracles will appear For whatever Colours could be thought on in the whole World then will be conspicuous And Riply sayes In our work colours will appear then which never more fair appeared Also before perfect Blackness the intermedial Colours will show themselves witness the Philosopher who Painting the Colours of the Dragons saith They are black Yellow and Azure and these intermedial Colours says he denote that thy Confections are not yet perfectly putrefied In a Word the various Colours in Dying will appear more obscure but thin and few and this before black Night obnubilate the whole Horizon But in rising again very many and very Splendid ones will arise because the Body now begins to be glorified and the Light to predominate over the Darkness and this in a depurated and spiritual Subject But in what order will these foresaid Colours appear This truly cannot be determined because they are varied many ways but the better the juice of the Water of Life shall be the better the Signs shall appear The order of the four Principle Colours is described by all but no one can determine the order of the accidental ones let it suffice thee if within fourty dayes thou hast a compleat blackness don't mind other things much but it is good to attend for blackness is first Especially desirable and tho others appear unless thou seest this without doubt thou hast erred But as I said other Colours are not to be Dispised except the Venerial or imperfect Red which if it appear before blackness is to be suspected especially when the siccity of the Compound and Discontinuity of the parts accompany it I say this Precipitation is a fatal Index to the Operator of his lost time This same thing the Philosopher witnesses saying A vehement Fire hinders Conjunction and tinges white with the colour of the wild Poppy And Flammel in his Hierogliphical Figures sayes unless thou shalt behold the blackest black of black whatever other colour thou seest thou art in the way of Error But especially a reddish colour is to be suspected for if thou seest that thou hast burned or art burning the lively virtue of the Stone But I must stay no longer in these things since one Water does all this so that the Internal Compound continually be ruled with External heat neither is there any thing in the whole Work more Wonderful then this our Water which I have fully Described above to which place I send thee back Concerning Solution And the Dissolution of our Stone is the Reduction of it into its first matter the Manifestation of the Humid and the Extraction of Natures from their Profundity which is finished by bringing them into a Mineral Water This Operation is of no Light Work or Moment for how hard it is those that have toiled in it can attest FINIS THE FOUNTAIN OF Chymical Philosophy Written in Latine By EYRENAEUS PHILALETHES Printed in the Year 1694. TRACT The THIRD The Fountain of Chymical Philosophy I Will divide the whole of the Art into these parts The first shall contain things substantially and essentially Constituting the Work The second the disposition of them The things Essentially Costituting the Stone are a Body or Mature Sulphur or red Brass and Water or Immature Mercury or white Brass to which a Vessel is added a Furnace and Triple Fire The Disposition of these things Considers the Weight and the Regimen The Pondus is twofold the Regimen twofold Those things which perfect these Operations are Calcination Dissolution Separation Conjunction Putrefaction Distillation Coagulation Sublimation Fixation and Exaltation of which the two first are made especially by a Temperate Incomburent and altering Ignition of the Fire heating the Kings bath and Changing him first into a subtile viscous Earth Discontinued black and stinking then into Mineral Water diversly coloured and this is called a Fire against Nature The three Operations which follow are made from the Combining of the first and third Fire to wit of the Natural and Contra-natural which being so joyned together make an unnatural Fire by Circulating the Matter every day and separating the more subtile from the Thick till all be of the same Temperament and then Conjoyning the things separated impregnating them and so putrefying them The five last Operations are made by the Fire of Nature daily increasing and Predominating which first Circumacts the putrefied Matter daily and cleanseth it from Filth by an often ascension and descension which therefore is called Distillation Volatization Ablution Mundification Cohobation Imbibition Cibation Humectation of the Earth and this is done so long by the heat until the Siccity begins to Coagulate which is called Inspissation which by a longer Concoction or Sublimation brings a fixity whose Bound is Exaltation This is not the change of an inferior place for the Superior but of the most vile thing to make the most Noble These are all our Opperations and successive Dispositions which by some are called so many Regimens which name if any one had rather impose he may however know there is only a double fire Natural and against Nature of which the Latter Acts first because the other is not brought
to light but by this and Putrefaction must go before Regeneration and when these two fight with one another they make an Unnatural fire and from this Contention rises Putrefaction and after this is a Glorious Regeneration in which the Sulphur and Water become one thing and also receive a Congealation from no fire but a Natural Therefore our Body which is commonly Called Terra Lemnia perfects the whole work but it can in no wise be moistened but in its own Water which Water is truely Pluvial not such as the common people knows to get but ours which none ever saw but a true Philosopher believe me for I speak the truth Fools know how to Extract many Waters to wit wetting the hands but our Water is the Life of all things about which thou must take pains then neither Sol nor Luna will be wanting to supply thee with Riches But I will tell thee and that faithfully what kind of Water this is it is the Water of Salt Petre which is known as Mercury but in the heart a pure infernal Fire but have a care thou be not deceived by Quicksilver but understand that Mercury which the returning Sun cefuseth every where in the Month of March Gather thou it in the Month of October because then surely it is found ripe and the most precious Treasure in the whole World But that I may describe our Mercury to thee our Rain Water so that thou maist find it know that it is before the eyes of he whole World that yet are Ignorant thereof or at least does take the vulgar for it and deturpates it with various Tortures but neglects our true Mercury in its season therefore it never perfects our Magistery For the common Alehymists does look upon it with a blew look whence it comes to pass that they scorn it but it astonisheth the Sons of Learning with its Splendor and is greatly accounted of by them therefore it is a vile thing and yet the most precious which no one ever contemned without a great judgement of God But thou when thou seest it don't despise it because it will appear very durty and if thou therefore dispise it thou shalt be deprived of the Magistery but if thou dost greatly esteem this contemptible thing then indeed it shall seem Glorious having changed its countenance For our Water is a most clean Virgin and is loved by many but she meets all her Wooers Cloathed in sordid Garments that by this means she may distinguish Philosophers from Fools for whosoever shall behold nothing but externally will scorn him as unworthy of such a Secret since Whores shew themselves to their Wooers drest in splendid Garments but this chast and most precious Maid seems outwardly foul but is inwardly fair which indeed cheats many Fools But whatsoever Mental man can see the Spirit which lyes hid under the patent body will not esteem her little also our Virgin will look upon him as a Friend and putting off her filthiness will shine most amiable whom then none but a fool but must admire and love for she will bestow upon him infinite Riches and perfect health Therefore honour ye this Female the Sister and Wife of our King to whom if you be assistant in putting off her dreggs she will get most splendid Garments for her self and bestow infinite Riches upon thee Therefore this our Queen is clean above measure whom if you shall behold you will think you look upon a certain Heavenly Body for the is indeed the Heaven or the fifth Essence of Philosophers whose brightness you cannot imagine unless you see it believe me for I have seen her Snowy Splendor with my Eyes touched with my hands then which nothing can be thought fairer Our Water is then truly Pontick Serene Christaline pure and clean which is not so in its Nature as we make it by our Art and it s our Sea our hidden Fountain out of which our Gold naturally is Created when yet it prefers its self to Gold and conquers it and in the hour of its Nativity Gold is joyned with it and is washed in it and both increaseth together into a Stout Hero which neither Coesar nor the Pope can buy with Money Therefore with all thy strength get this Water of which an Ounce is worth above a Thousand Pound because by this alone without any other Labour except the Addition of a perfect clean pure body thou maist perfect our most Honoured Stone to which no Treasure in the World can be equaled But there is need of profound Meditation before thou canst conceive our Sea to wit its Flux and Reflux But if thou be diligent by the help of God thou shah obtain thy defire I for my part after I knew the Field in general where this our Secret Fountain did Purl yet I did not learn to get it out till after a year and a half giving my self to daily study and profound Contemplations because the Fiery Furnace of the wise men lay hid from me long but after I knew this and how it was fitted to its proper Verel after a few dayes I beheld the admirable Brightness of our Water which being seen I could not but be amazed for as in the Practice so it is in the Theory and on the contrary for he that exactly knows the Magistery of this Water no Words or Secrets of the Philosophers Sayings Writings or Enigmas will be concealed from him so whosoever hath once made up our Water nothing remains to be done but to cast in a clean Body in a just quantity shut the Vessel and so let it stand till the Complement of the Work But we have another twofold Fire which thou shalt easily know as soon as thou hast Learned this first but that we may return to the Water in which believe me the whole secret Consists which Water altho it be one yet is not simple but Compound to wit of the Vessel and Fire of Philosophers to which a third is added namely the Bond. When therefore we speak of our Vessel understand our Water when of the Fire in like manner understand Water and when we Dispute of the Furnace we would have nothing Diverse or divided from the Water Therefore the Vessel is one the Furnace one the Fire one and all these are one to wit Water Therefore the fire Digesteth the Vessel Whiteneth and Penetrates and the Furnace or Bond Encompasseth and includeth all and the Fire is Mercury the Vessel also Mercury lastly the same Furnace is Mercury and Note well there is no fire in the whole work but Mercury when notwithstanding the fire is manifold and the water manifold therefore as well fire as water is diversified by their virtue in the work as in Number so they agree in one and the same Gender to wit Mercury therefore our Fire is Living our Water Living our Vessel Living our Furnace Living and all these are one Know also dearest that there is only one thing in the whole world in the
deceived for this Conjunction is not made by manual operation but only by a Natural man not only not helping but also not well understanding its Cause therefore this is called a Divine Work Fools can confound the Body of Gold with Mercury and then they call it animated Gold but they find nothing in it For altho these two should remain together a Thousand Years nevertheless they would afterwards recede one from the other in their own proper Nature Therefore the Conjunction was not alterative but only a Confusion of two between themselves But in out Operation the spirit of Sol Infuseth its self into the spirit of Mercury so that they never depart the one from the other afterwards even as water doth not being mixt with water Therefore in this Operation the greatest nay the whole secret of the Art lyes hid Attend therefore thou Son of Learning and see warily that thou dost not err here Therefore the Body of Sol will never be joined with Mercury inwardly unless Luna mediating or an imperfect Body and Fire and this Luna is the Juice of the water of Life which lyes hid in Mercury which is sharpened by the fire and is a spirit entring a Body and altring it and Compelling it to retain its Soul Now therefore thou seest of what Mercury we have hitherto spoken not vulgar but pluvial which properly is not called Mercury but Mercurial water for the Mercury of the vulgar is water but a Spirit and fiery virtue is wanting to it supply if thou canst that which is wanting with all thy Art then it will no longer be Mercury of the vulgar but like to ours But if thou canst not do this let that Mercury alone for thou canst expect nothing but loss from it Behold now God is my witness I have told the whole matter which if thou art wise thou canst not be ignorant of For vulgar Mercury has seduced more then any thing else for the Workers herein have found nothing because they did not know our Mercury But to return to Conjunction which believe me is the whole Secret of the Art for the Earth is not united inseparably with the water but water adheres strongly to water hence it follows that this laudable Conjunction is not celebrated till after Dissolution attend thou therefore to solution Nature will joyn together and this Dissolution is made in Mercury by the help of included Luna and Fire For Luna penetrates and Albifies and the fire mortifies and Triturates but the Water includes both these Virtues according to the saying of the Philosopher The Fire which I will shew thee is water And another Vnless Bodies be subtilized by Fire and water nothing is done in the Magistery O Blessed Mercury of ours which frees us from those many Labours which Sophisters endure for they make many Operations with their hands and profit nothing because they know not the true Course of Nature But we do nothing but leave all things to be done by our Mercury which proceeds in a better Method according to its Natural Instinct then any man could invent for he is constrained by the necessity of his End wherefore he never misses the right way if he be not hindred But there are some Sophistical Operators who take Gold and put it to Mercury then shut them in a Glass and set them over the Fire expecting some notable thing from thence But since they cast fat and good Seed into barren Land they are deceived for they find not the Harvest they expected because as is abovesaid and shall be further said more plainly Gold is not the matter of our Stone in its whole Essence nor yet Mercury wherefore the bare mixture of these cannot Generate our Stone for Gold in the Work is a Male to the Work of Generation in whose most secret Reins the Seed lies hid which if it once send forth being received in a due Matrix and conjoined with the passive female Seed 't is Cherished with a due Heat and Cibated with a proper Aliment then truely we shall have from Gold abundantly to perform our Work So neither a man as he is man can neither be called the Father nor the matter of the Embrio but he has in him such a matter from which by the Conjunction of a Dissimilar spermatick matter in the same kind by an apt Disposition the Infant is formed In like manner we must understand of Gold For Gold is the most perfect of all Metals and the Father of our Stone yet it is not the matter thereof for the Sperm which Gold sends forth if it be handled by Art will be the masculine matter of our Stone and is nothing else then a most digested Virtue of Gold which is Extracted from it by sagacious Art and then is called our Living Gold and not vulgar which is dead So also in the Procreation of man a man may be said to be Dead Respect being had to to the Act of Generation until he pours out the due matter which he hath in himself into a fit Place just so t is in our Art therefore our Gold is not vulgar Gold for they differ as a Father differs from his Sperm which he hath the first is necessary to our Work and Living the other dead and unprofitable that is sends forth its Seed which is the Active Virtue of our Stone So therefore go ye on with a great deal of Caution take this Body which I have Demonstrated and sweetly Extract the Seed from it then and not till then this Gold which before was Dead Idle and useless being made Living active and fit for our Work will supply thee with the first matter of our Stone to 〈◊〉 the masculine and so is no longer called Gold by us but Brass Magnesia Lead Dung nor can it indeed properly be called Gold for Gold is a Body but this a Chaos that is a Spirit nor will Return by any Art to its Pristine Species of Gold because the Body is turned into Spirit from hence saith Menabdes I order Posterity to make Bodies incorporate Hermes also says O Son Extract the Shadow from the Radins that is Extract from the Gold which is called the Radius its Seed which is called the Shaddow both because it lies hidden and as it were in a Shade and also because it comes out under an obscure Shade of Blackness Aristotle also saith The first thing that ye ought to do is to sublime the Mercury then cast clean bodies into a clean Mercury But I would have the Reader Admonisht what sort of sublimation is here intended for there are infinite false Erroneous and Sophistical Operations one true and Natural which notwithstanding is done by Art I omitting all these Vulgar Operations follow the Intention of 〈◊〉 Philosophers and mean that Sublimation which they call the Preparation of the Thin Matter by which the Eclipse of the Earthy Interposition is taken from Luna that she may receive Light from Sol which comes to pass when
the Dark Sphere of Saturn which obnubilates the whole Horizon is vanquished then Jupiter obtaining the Empire ascends into the Air with a splendid Cloud whence sincere Beautiful and Lovely Dew drops upon the Earth which mollifies it and raiseth great Winds in its Belly or bosom which brings our Stone upward whence t is endued with Heavenly Virtue which falling down again to the Earth which is its Nurse puts on a Terrene and Corporeal Nature so it receives the Force of Inferiours and Superiours We conclude therefore that neither Gold nor Mercury can afford us the first matter of our Stone until the Tincture be Extracted from Gold the Dissolvend by Mercury the Dissolvent which Tincture is a Living active virtue not Dead as Gold was before its Dissolution This is the matter of the old Philosophers which we ought to take which as the Author of the new Light sayes is but does not appear until the Artist pleaseth in knowing which all the Perfection consists Wherefore I order you who ever would be searchers out of this Secret that you would take that which is vile and manifest to the whole world out of which by a wonderful manner ye shall Extract that which is most hidden therein that is our Menstruum and the Western Mercury is our Philosophical Field in which your Sol shall arise and ascend Join this with his Delectable Bridegroom and let them lye in the bed of Love without stirring until from this hidden Nature which is Mercury regenerated by the Philosopher there proceed a Living Virtue which may raise the Dead then comes a Royal Off-spring of which Sol is the Father and Luna the Mother and so you have a most true Explication of the new Light you must take saith the Author that which is but is not seen till the Artist please and you must use this for the true matter of the old Philosophers and so we have spoken fully and plainly of our body and of our water and of our Red Sulphur and white Brass We have said there ought to be added to these a Furnace Vessel and triple Fire Note well what and about what I speak here for the Furnace is of Lute or Brick the Vessel Glass and the Fire Elementary of which we will speak lower in the last place of this little Treatise concerning our Disposition but here we speak of things Essentially and Substantially Conducing to the work For the Furnace of Brick is not wont to be called by us our Furnace nor Elementary fire ours nor the Glass vessel ours for these commonly are common to us and Sophisters and they will excel us often in the Curiosity of these Externals But we call those things ours which they Neither have nor can have verily I say that our Fire our Furnace our Vessel are secret nor obvious but to Philosophers for they enter into the very Essence of our Work hence a certain Philosopher writing of this fire sayes Behold the fire which I will show thee is Water also another witnesseth thus of the Vessel The vessel of Philosophers is their water another also writes The Intention of all the Philosophers is this that all operations should be made in their humid fire in a secret furnace and vessel which Testimonies plainly enough declare another Fire Vessel and Furnace then are commonly known Moreover my Brother let it not be a cause of scruple to thee that I have before numbred our furnace fire and vessel amongst the things essentially Constituting our Stone for in this I follow the Intention of all Philosophers writing in this Art Concerning this Vessel Sendivogius Writing names it the Vessel of Nature also the Fire of Nature Flammel Artefius Lully and all the rest have kept the same Method it is plain therefore that they would have something hidden from the eyes of the Vulgar But I in good truth say that these three are but one for Nature is but one the Adept Sons of Art do know and will Witness this For the Fire is to the Excruciating of Bodies more then fire therefore it is called burning Wine and a most strong fire hence the Philosopher ' Burn our Brass in most strong fire which whilst Sophisters hear they are deceived thinking it to be a fire of Coals or flame which is contrary to our fire concerning this John Mechungus speak No artificial fire can infuse so great a heat as that which comes from Heaven The First Gate Concerning Philosophical Calcination Not Printed in the Dutch Edition CAlcination Purgeth our Stone Restores Natural Heat destroys nothing of the Radical Humidity brings a due Solution to the Stone The Caution is that it may be done Philosophically not vulgarly with Salts or Sulphur variously prepared c. Whoever therefore truly desires to Calcine should desist from this Work till they understand our Caleination better for that every Calcination destroys Bodies destroying the Humidity of the Stone we also do Reprobate all dry Calxes for that we Increase the Radical Humidity by Calcining but diminish none In Calcination we joyn Nature to its Nature for that like loves like if any one denies this he will not be worthy of the Name of a Philosopher nor ever will get any benefit from our Writings for he understands them not Therefore apply thou Nature to Nature as Reason requires seing all things have this from nature that Like begets its Like Man is begot by a Man a Lion by a Lion so let every thing be Calcined first in its proper nature Learn this and never doubt to be benefited by it Therefore we make Calxes unctuous both white and Red which are not perfected but by three Degrees they are fluid like Wax other ways to be rejected nor are perfected but in a year to Tinge without a Fucus But thou must take care in the first place Concerning the Weight for it is possible for thee to doubt in this Lest therefore thou shouldest loose thy Labour let the body be Calcined with Mercury made so subtile in which there is one part of the Solar quality two of the Lunar until the whole flow together like a Liquid Wax Afterwards Increase the Solar quality in Mercury that there may be four parts of him two Lunar so that thou shalt begin the work at the Figure of the Trinity Three parts of body three of spirit and to Compleat the Unity let there be one part more of the spiritual then the corporeal substance This is proved by the testimony of Raymond If any one seek the Proportion there the Doctor hath demonstrated to me the same But Bacon hath taken three parts of the spirit to one of the body I did not sleep of many nights But choose which way thou wilt FINIS
For Gold being the most solid most fixed of all Bodies and of the strongest Composition most Patient of the fire and not at all obnoxious to Corruption does not easily pass over into a Nature so Contrary to this of its own Therefore if any one shall attempt this by force he will profit Nothing Seeing there is required an Agent of an Excelling Virtue to do this which ought to be Homogeneal Amicable and Spiritual namely that it may be related to the Body and yet be able to overcome it and fundamentally penetrate it whose secret Parts since they are distended so fart and so little Gold is true Gold will not so easily puting off its form nay it will fight until it be wholly overcome it lyes down and Dyes also it follows that our Agent ought to have an enlivening virtue that it may Raise up a new pure Body from the dead Carkasses CHAP. VII Of the first Philosophical Agent or Matrix into which our Seed is to be Emitted and into which it is Ripened MOreover such an Agent remains to be sought out by us where with we may do all the aforesaid things In which it is required first of all that the Water be Homogeneal that is by a Law of Necessity For that I have Taught before That the Golden seed doth lye hid in the Water alone and doth obtain its Power But it is shut up in the Body of the Gold under most thick Foulds of which is manifest a plain Contrary one to that hidden one which we seek Therefore this Water remains to be drawn out by a subtile Artifice but it doth not enter in of its own accord therefore this is to be effected by another thing which other thing indeed ought to be of the same Nature with that which we seek to draw forth For every like begets its like that is every Agent Exercising its Generative Action upon any thing changes that upon which it acts into its own Nature as near as it can And nextly it behoves this water to be related to the Body to be dissolved and therefore pure Clean and exquisitely cleansed and purged from all filth Neither is this enough but Gold is held to be Contraried in all its qualities in which it differs from the Water we seek wherein the Seed lyes hid The former is highly fixed the other highly Volatile the former a most solid Body this a most penetrating Spirit the one thick the other subtile the one dead the other living and enlivening and all the other Conditions are required which we seek in it after dissolution but they are wanting in a dead Coagulated Body Therefore it is Concluded that Mercury alone is the true Key of the Chymical Art which is indeed that dry Water so often described by Philosophers sluent stipery and yet not wetting the hands of the Toucher or any other thing which is not of the unity of its Matter and moreover it is indued with the Virtues above described this is the Keeper of our Gates our Balsam Oyle Honey our Vrine May-dew our female Mother Egg Secret Furnace Stove Sieve Marble true Fire venomous Dragon Treacle burning Wine Green Lyon Bird of Hermes Goose of Hermogenes Double Sword in the hand of the Cherub that defends the way of the Tree of Life and is famous for Infinite other Names and it is our Vessel true hidden also it is our Philosophical Garden in which our Sun rises and sets it is our Royal Mineral and Triumphant Vegetable Saturnia also the Caduce of Mercury because it Operates wonderful things and transforms it self according to its own pleasure that it may put on Different Masks Concerning this water the Philosopher saith Let Chymists boast as they will but the Transmutation of Metals is impossible without this What shall I say what shall I Discourse that I may report its Praises It is not so in its own Nature as we render it by our Artifice it is a thing very Vile and yet the most precious Treasure of all the World O the perfection of Nature and the head of Metallick Works therefore thou Son of Learning and studious of Art attend that thou mayest attain thy desire Take that which is most unclean of its self that is our Harlot purge throughly all the Filth and draw from thence what is the purest that is our Menstruum or Regal Diadem Behold I have finished in few Words that which Enobles a Philosopher delivers from Errors and leads forthwith into a most fair field of Delights Therefore that I may conclude this Chapter I will repeat succinctly all things which hath been said before There is a Certain and true Science called Alchmy whereby every imperfect Metal is perfected into Gold or Silver by the projection of the Triumphant Arcanum upon them penetrating and tinging which Secret is no other then Gold Exalted to its supream degree of perfection and this by Sagacious Art the Handmaid of Nature For that all Imperfect Metals are of the same Material Imposition with Gold nor do differ but in the Accidents alone as also by the Manners and Degrees of incompleated Decoction And that which being Imperfect is mixed with them is plainly heterogeneous and altho it stick Externally to the pure yet it is not United Inwardly and therefore may be rejected by a prevalent Agent such is our compleat Elixir to obtain which Secret the Sperm which lyes secret in the Body of the Gold is to be drawn out which is shut up in most thick Coverts and gives place to no power but only is manifest by Sagacious Art Which when it appears being hid first it comes out under a Mercurial form from whence it is Exalted into the fifth Essence first white then Red by a Continual decocting fire And all this is done by a Homogeneous Mercurial Pontique Agent Pure Clean Christaline without Transparency Liquid without humectation which is Water truly Divine neither it is found upon the Earth know the Son of Philosophers is made by this Nature Cooperating Which we know have seen have done have and possess and study to make it plain to the Ingenious yet so that driving away the unworthy we may Exclude them altogether from the Art who being Cast off we will accompany the studious into this most beautiful Garden CHAP. VIII Of the Genealogy of the Philosophical Mercury its Rise Birth and distinguishing Signes that go before and accompany it SOme Boasting and Arrogant Sophisters after having Learned from the Reading of Books that Common Mercury is very Forraine to this Art also reading that Philosophers do call this by diverse Names being led presently with a blind Opinion they think themselves secure of the Art and do not blush to Affirm themselves Masters of this Science when in the mean time they are more blockish then the Wood it self Some will have this to be a Diaphanous menstruum and Limped others a certain Metallick Gum when they Dream it to be permissible with Metals and to no