do generate a corporeal matter according to that matter 's quality Thus the Astrals together with the Elements may raise a new seed which was never before any which seed by a further putrefaction may be encreased But unto 〈◊〉 is not so much granted as to stir up a new kinde of seed because the operation of the Elements and the â—â—stral substance he hath not at command to fashion what 〈◊〉 pleâ—â—â—â— thâ—â— several sorts of Herbs are generated meerly by putrefaction And whereas the Countrey people holding it a meer custom do not take it into a further consideration nor imagine they any cause for it therefore among the vulgar is it become meerly a customary businesse Buâ— you which ought to know more than ordinary people must consider further of it and learn to know the causâ— and ground thereof how and from what these living Creatures are generated by putrefaction not to know iâ— because it is usual but rather to know it is a mystery iâ— Nature because every life cometh from puâ—â—efaction Every Element per se hath its corruption and generation Let the Artist be inform'd and learn the sufficient ground why in every Element the other three are hid for airâ— containeth fire water and earth which though it seemetâ— incredible yet is it a truth and fire containeth aire water and earth and earth containeth water aire and fire elsâ— they would not generate water also containeth aire earth and fire though every Element is per se yet arâ— they mix'd all which is found true at distillings wherâ— these Elements are thus separated To make this appear to the ignorant which may crâ— out that I speak meerly lies if you intend to learn thâ— Anatomy of natural things and to separate the Elements I tell thee for a truth that at the distilling of earth therâ— cometh first the Element aire being the highest then a a certain progresse there comes the Element water thâ— fire lieth hid in the aire because both are of a spirituaâ— substance love and embrace one another intirely the eartâ— remaineth in the bottom in which lieth hid the gloriouâ— Salt When you distil any water aire and fire cometh oveâ— at first then the water the body of the earth abideth iâ— the bottom The Elâ—ment fire if it be driven into a visible substance by extraction each may be received apart In like manneâ— in the aire the other three Elements do dwell For nonâ— of these can be without aire earth can produce nothinâ— without aiâ—e fire doth not burn nor hath it any life witâ—out aire neither can water produce any fruit without aire Neither can aire consume any thing nor exsiccate any moisture unlesse it be done by a natural heat which is â—n the aire being heat and warmth is found in the aire â—herefore needs must the Element of fire be in the aire For all hot and dry things are proper for the fiery substance â—f things he that denieth this truth understandeth noâ—hing in Natures mysteries neither doth he know any â—round of their properties You must conceive if any thing shall be generated by â—utrefaction it must be in this manner Earth is brought â—y a secret moisture into a corruption which is the beginâ—ing of putrefaction for without moisture which is the Element water no true putrefaction can happen Now if â—ny breed shall come from thence it must come from a â—arm quality as the Element fire must kindle and spread 〈◊〉 self for without a natural heat nothing can be geneâ—ated and if that breed shall have a living breath and moâ—ion the same cannot be without aire for if aire should â—ot be cooperative then the first composition out of which â—he breed should come would be choaked and perish by â—eason of want of aire Thus you see plainly that perfect Creatures cannot be without any of the four Elements the â—ne shewing its operation in the other which they proâ—nce in and at putrefaction for from henceforth nothing â—an be brought to life without the same To make this â—ppear to be true that to a perfect birth and generation â—â—re are requisite all four Elements Then note that as Adam the first man being created by â—he Creator of a Limus terrae there appeared not as yet ane â—â—sible life before God had breathed on him then a lify â—ppeared in that clod of earth in that earth was the Salt â—â—at is the body the inbreathed aire was Mercury the spiâ—â— by this inbreathing the aire presently afforded a due â—â—d convenient calidiry which was Sulphur that is fire â—â—en it stirr'd Adam shâ—wed by this stirring that there was â—â—â—sed into him a living Soul For fire cannot be without aire the water was corporated in the earth because this must be together of necessity else no life and must stand in an equal proportion Thus Adam was first builded and begotten out of earth water aire and fire of a soul body and spirit raised of Mercury Sulphur and Salt So Eveâ— the first woman the Mother of us all was of the same composed being taken from Adam thus Adam and Eve were builded which you must note very well To come now again unto putrefaction the seeker in Philosophy is to know that in like manner no Metalline seed can work nor be augmented unlesse that Metalline seed be first in and of it self without any strange addition or mixture may be brought into a full putrefaction no more than the seeds of Animals and Vegetables can bring their increase without putrefaction The same Metals also must reach unto their perfect operation by the help of the Elements not that the Elements are the seed but the Metalline seed which had its descent from a heavenly astraâ—â— Elemental substance and is come to a corporality and mâ—â—â— by the Elements be further brought into such corruptioâ— and putrefaction Note this also wine containeth a volatile spirit aâ— whose distilling its spirit cometh first and its phlegme at last but wine being by a continued heat turn'd into Vinegar then its spirit is no more so volatile as before and at the distilling of Vinegar its phlegme and aquosity cometh first and its spirit at last though the same matter be in the Vessel yet its condition is altered being no more a wine but by putrefaction is transmuted into Vinegar and that which is extracted from wine is of another nature and operation than that which is drawn from Vinegar For iâ— Vitrum Antimony be extracted with Wine or spirit oâ— Wine it causeth many stools by purging and vomits also because its venom is not yet quite broken nor destroyed but if Antimonial glasse be extracted with distilled Vinegar that extraction is of a deep colour this Vinegar being abstracted in Balâ—eâ— Mariâ— and the yellow remaiâ—â—â— powder being well dulcified with distilled water to get off all its accrosity then you have a sweet powder which causeth no more any stools but is a rare Medicine of admirable efficacies may well be held for miraculum Medicinae
Orient and am not to be esteemed lesse than it if I am proved by affliction then I fall off like a flower which is cut off and withers therefore nothing can be made 〈◊〉 me to fix any Metal or tinge it to any profit because 〈◊〉 forsook my body totally and distributed my Coat to play and lot to be cast for it therefore let no man neither praisâ— or dispraise me unlesse he have for very hunger taken 〈◊〉 pound of me into the body though if he gets an Antidotâ— to save his life however he shall get nothing out of Metals by it in other things he may have a Treasure in it unto which few are comparable to it I Arsenâ—c say of my self at the closing hereof that it is 〈◊〉 very difficult thing to finde my right and due preparationâ— my operation is felt exceedingly if made tryal of and it iâ— a great danger if ignorant men make use of me he thaâ— can be without me let him go to my kindred and if yoâ— can equalize me with them that I may share with them iâ— the inheritance then all the world shall acknowledge thâ—â— my descent is from their bloud but it is a very hard taâ—â— for any man to set a shepheard into a royal seat to make him King But Patriarchs being descended from shepheards and were preferr'd to royal dignities I will therefore prescribe no limits nor pâ—sse any judgement For wrong and right may be found in this leaf However take you notice that I am a poysonous volatile bird have forsaken my dearest and most confiding friend and separated my self as a Leper which must live aloof off from other men Cure me first of my infirmity then I shall be able to heal those which have need of me that my praise may be confirmed by poyson and my name for an everlasting remembrance to the honour of my Counâ—rey is nothing inferior unto Marcus Curtius and it will be found in the end in what manner Hannibal and Scipio were reconciled Of Salpeter TWo Elements are predominant in me as fire and aire the lesser quantity is water and earth I am fiery burning and volatile There is in me a subtile spirit I am altogether like unto Mercury hot in the in-side and cold in the out side am slippery very nimble at the expelling of mine enemies My greatest enemy is common Sulphur and yet is my best friend also for being purged by him and clarified in the fire then am I able to allay all heats of the body within and without and am one of the best Medicaments to expell and to keep off the poysenous plague I am a greater cooler outwardly than Saturn but my spirit is more hot than any I cool and burn according as men will make use of me and according as I am prepared When Metals are to be broken I must be a help else no victory can be obtained be the undertakings great or small Before I am destroyed I am a meer Ice but when I am anatomized then am I a meer hellish fire If Pluto caâ— master Cerberus to make him â—ake his dwelling again in thâ— Isle of Thule then he may snatch a piece of love from Venus then Mars must submit and mâ—y live richly with Luâ—â— which may equally be exalted to the Crown of the honourable King and be placed with him in equal honouâ— and dignity If I shall happily enjoy my end then my Soul must bâ— driven out cunningly then I do all what lieth in my power of my self alone I am able to effect nothing But my love 〈◊〉 a jolly woman if I am married unto her and our copulâ—â—lation be kept in Hell that we both do swear well the that which is subtile flings away all filthinesse then wâ— leave beinde us rich Children and in our dead bodies 〈◊〉 found the best Treasure which we bequeathed in our laâ— Will and Testament Of Salarmoniac SAlarmoniac is none of the meanest Keyes to open Mâ—tals thereby therefore the Ancients have compared with a volatile Bird it must be prepared else you can do 〈◊〉 seats with it for if it be not prepared it doth more huâ— than good unto Metals carrieth them away out at 〈◊〉 Chimney-hole it can elevate and sublime with it's fâ—â— wings the tincture of Minerals and of some Metals to tâ—â— very Mountains where store of snow is fâ—und usually evâ— at the greatest heat of the Summer if it be sublimed wiâ— common Salt then it purgeth and cleareth and may used safely He that supposeth to transmute Metals with this Saâ— which is so volatile surely he doth not hit the nail on tâ— head for it hath no such power but to destroy Metaâ— and make them fit for transmutation in that respect it haâ— sufficient power for no Metal can be transmuted unleâ— it be first prepared thereunto My greater strength which lieth in me may be drawn from mâ— by subliming and cementing The greatest secret in mâ— you will finde when I am united with Hydra which is to devour and swallow me that I also may turn with hâ—r to be a water Serpent then have I prepared a Bath for the Nympha and have gotten power to make ready a Crown for the King that the same may be adorned with Jewels and may with honour and glory be set on his head Of Tartar THis Salt is not set down in the book of Minerals but is generated of a vegetable seed but its Creator hath put such vertue into it that it heareth a wonderfuâ—l love â—nd friendship unto Metals making them malleable it purgeth Lune unto a whitenesse and incorporateth into her such additionals which are convenient for her being digested for a time with Minerals or Metals and then subâ—imed and vilified they all come unto a quick Mercury which to do there is not any vegetable Salt beside it is â—ot this a wonderfull thing That Oratour is yet to be born which shall be of that ability and eloquence as to expresse â—ufficiently all the mysteries hid in it But to make out of â—t the Philosophers stone is no such matter being it is a â—egetable and that power is not given to any of the vâ—geâ—ables It is in Medicina a very good remedy to be used â—â—wardly and outwardly its Salt being made spirituaâ—l and â—weet it dissolveth and breaketh the stone in the bladder â—nd dissolveth the coagulated Tartar of the Gouâ— sâ—tled â—nto the joynts or any where besides It 's ordinary spiâ—it which is used for opening of Metals being used and applied â—utwardly also layeth a foundation for healing of such Ulâ—ers which admit hardly any healing as there are â—â—sâ—â—â—'s â—ancers Wolves and such like I know nothing niâ—â—â—o write of Tartar for having separated it self and left it's noblâ—st part in the wine Of Vinegar IN Alchimy and Medicina nothing almost can be prepared but Vinegar must set a helping hand to it Therefore I thought it convenient to let it have it 's due praise and commendation especially
Rod if it be a Saturnal oar the Rod leapeth the more more than the condition of the body of Saturn is For this Rod doth not stirre the body but that which is the most in that body namely the mercury of the body for it yields good store of it and may put on easily another garment and be a mercury of metals and so forth If in that place be Tin and Wismuth the rod applied leapeth not so quick but more slowly than it doth where Saturn is where a copper or iron oar is there that rod moveth more slowly yet But this must be observed that there is no breathing about metals unlesse they be under ground for when they are there then are they in their works whither they be increasing or decreasing they cannot be without breathing then Thus much of these Rods. CHAP. XXIX Of resting vapours or of their sediments MIne-works meet with many natural obstructions as all other worldly things are subject unto For all â—hings sublunary are in subjection unto corruptiblenesse â—he same happeneth also unto metals they suffer by their â—old and hot fires that they quite evaporate and expire â—s when their vapours and fumes grow ponderous cannot â—apour away upward where such vapours are Miners â—annot brook under ground In a Cellar where new wine or new beer is on workâ—g that vapour suffers no candle to burn by reason of the â—onderous Kho or fume which cannot so soon enter the ground unlesse these fumes be extenuated in their pondeâ—osity This faln matter lieth on close is like warm meal I call it Caries which differs from an Ostiocollum for that â—s in the Rocks naturally and dissolves at last into a fire This doth not so and keeps still a dry powder and is heaâ—ier than Mine-ashes which are light and dissolve into â—alts which this meal doth not but abideth a constant â—ediment which is like an unwholsome stinking vapour choaking the oars turning them to a rottennesse being obâ—tructed in their driving above and below These fumes are caused when there are hard rocks to which fire must be applied which causeth ill fumes which being weakened in its rising lie down in a place grow ponderous and increase for evil and poisonous things will soon gather to an heap It is seen in gold being dissolved in water let it stand a while and the impure minerals separate from the essence of gold and settle to the bottome Excrements of metal are soon brought to that posture for being brought to a glowing by a small heat they cast such a malignant fume which choak men immediately CHAP. XXX Of weather salt halitus Melusus THe Malignant breathing as it is generally so called is a pestilent salt which indangereth not only the Miners but hurts the oars also for it allayeth or maketh the breathings fall which are in the oar being thereby obstructed in their natural working The manner of the setling of these breathings are worthy to be noted It may be compared unto an Eclipse though the beams which ascendeth keepeth its course yet the breathing stayeth it and will not let it goe about that place being in that stay and condition its Ferch and seed parteth at last through its sides or walls it suffers fluid oars to come in thence is the original of such fluid oars of which there are severall sorts But this is to be noted That weather is called a weather because it is not of such clear air as it is above ground with us still carrieth something with it which is grosser hurtful unto man more than the air above with us for men are not commanded to dwell and live under ground but if any ones imployment lieth that way he must be contented to do so commit his condition to God almighty because he must indure and suck in ill fumes and get Mine-diseases This subterranean air growing ponderous by reason of the fume and water-stone which stop and corrupt the cross passage then is it called a Weather-salt this is apparenâ— when a burning candle is brought in these ponderous fumes do quench it like water at last they choak the men also Therefore when that is seen and felt let Miners come out again for they can do no good there CHAP. XXXI Of Cos metallicus or stone-salt THe air being of one piece of pure earth at last turneth to a stone There are severall sorts of stones as â—ere are several bodies in the earth though all of them are â—ut an earth The longer the matter lieth the harder and â—tter it will be Such stones cannot be stirr'd or heav'd â—lesse by fire which seizeth on the earth and consumes 〈◊〉 and turns it to a terrene firmament as scales are in fishâ—s and bones in beasts These also the Lord will have in â—is good time with fire This moved the Ancients to â—onsume their carcases with fire though flesh soon comes â—o rottennesse under ground yet the bones do not conâ—ume so soon the fire consumes them being turned to earth-â—shes This salt is hurtful unto metals taking from them their working without it they cannot continue in their life but â—ust expire and die because nothing can penetrate it The difference betwixt the stone-salt and the stone-meal is this â—he salt heaveth it self when the stone groweth to a hardnesse which formerly hath been a pretious stone and the air could penetrate it but now it begins to turn into a horn-stone when this meal comes to the highth of its age it turneth to a dust Here is it requisite to relate the difference betwixt the nether and upper stone which partly is obstructive and partly a furtherance to the Mine-work they may increase under ground but in the Afterwork no stone is good because they have no nutriment and therefore must perish and be famished for want of food CHAP. XXXII Of the subterranean pooles THere is a most heavy case which befalls clefts passages and structures called water-pools under ground For it is a truth undeniable that clefts passages under ground have their waters both the day-water and the night-water if once opened then are they made passable which prove the utter ruine of Mine-works Therefore my counsell is not to make passages navigable to come to the oars It is just as if one would dig a mans heart out of his body and he would begin to dig at the pulse and so along all the way to the heart would it not be an horrid butchery There is a neerer path to the well what needs to make far fetches about There is a twofold water under ground the day-water and the ground-water the day-water is not hurtful unto the structures but rather helpful soaking away many things and takes away many times from the stages the ground-ground-water Let the ground-ground-water be kept out as much as possible may be for it doth hurt if it cannot passe away neither let it spring from below out of its Catharacts Keepe out the fire also for both are hurtful to metals
and to all things in the world if they play the masters CHAP. XXXIII â—f Aurum metallicum of the metalline gold or of the Metalline-bed THere is another fatnesse under ground where metals 〈◊〉 grow neither is it the hull of the seed nor the stone â—um Petroleum or Naphta but is like unto an Uredo or â—ne-soap It differs much from soap soap doth not â—n because it containeth a hidden Sulphur not a comâ—stible one but an incombustible one this is the reason â—y it doth not burn in a flame neither doth it seize on aâ— other thing but onely on the pure metal if that should â—t continue with it the metal could not come neither inâ— ascension nor descension it consumeth first of all in the â—etal even as grease doth in the animals This fatnesse is â—t far from the oar when it is predominant it consumeth â—e metal quite and evaporateth Oil is of that vertue put on the top of a drink be it what it will it keeps in 〈◊〉 strength and coolnesse this fatnesse shuts up the oars â—dy that no breathing can passe Fatnesse hath a great â—finity with iron and is one of its next kinde of the â—hich great volumes could be written In the County of Schwartzburg at Wackersberg there is â—ore of such fatnesse looks like quick silver and swimeth â—nd tinctureth red like Bole this colour it took hold on â—nd it may be extracted from it some call it a Mercurial â—ody or a Tin-glasse Lead-glasse Wismuth or Antimony 〈◊〉 seizeth on all those and when this fatnesse doth â—ot turn to a fatnesse of such metals where the seed â—s predominant then it turnes to a volatility and to a great Robber This fatnesse is a greasie earth glitâ—ering like a salve of a red and browne glowing as if it were Quick-silver or beaten Talk or glasse strow into In the Rocks of Bohemia and Transsylvania there great store of it at Goslar and at Slackenwald even as quiâ— silver or lead oars are many of them are found here aâ— there CHAP. XXXIV Of Metalline streames VVHen Ferch and seed must part from their work 〈◊〉 reason of the sediments be they what they wiâ— and expire not naturally then the oars turn to stones whiâ— Miners call Fluxes though they know not from whenâ— they come nothing can be made out of them they are fâ—sible or fluid when melted in fire but nothing can 〈◊〉 brought into them because they are not porous or no 〈◊〉 can get into which maketh them more noble It is strangâ— in Nature if any good thing be driven out of the body will not return thither for if life be gone from man thâ— body receiveth it no more but these are things possible 〈◊〉 God alone My intent is not here to write of miraculoâ— things but onely of things natural I wave the former 〈◊〉 is to be admired that the body of dead metals is so faiâ— whereas other bodies which are dead consume away 〈◊〉 nothing metals also come into a corruption but in a lonâ— time their death is like any glass keeps its colour especiallâ— if it was of a Marcasite hence are learned the colours oâ— Marcasites for green blue white fluxes are found therein as metalline flowers have been which are generated 〈◊〉 three bodies CHAP. XXXV Of Creta Chalk or stone meal VVEE see in this our air that no fume or wind ascendeth in vain it dissolveth again into one thing â—â—other thither resort many meteors the like meteors â—h the earth under ground For the fume which ascendâ— from the fire-halation of the oar or of the metal and â—ords the stone meal Creta wherever it falls or lighteth grindeth more and increaseth abundantly having a danâ—rous salt whereby it hurts those places where metals 〈◊〉 especially when they are in their ascension hindering â—eir colour It is apparent in the slat at Mansfield where â—ieth betwixt the spoaks of the ores and can hardly be â—tten from thence it robbeth and consumeth Folium and â—olium The stone-meal maketh a Kuff with stone-marâ—w turning it to a kind of marble called the Potstone or â—â—lit a double stone and is dark and very firm it striketh â—e being for the most part of fire Hither belong the â—alks but intending to make mention them in another place I wave them here however they so are such a meal and differ from others herein because inclineth more to a cold fire wherein it melteth like â—ow as the others do and dissolveth sooner into water â—an into meal and this turnes sooner to meal than to waâ—r if it be of lesse matter than it hath of the stone-â—arrow then it affords a fair ice or crystal called Vitrum â—lexandrinum or Mary's Ice which cannot be mastred in â—ot fires but it melteth in cold fires is very hurtful unto â—etals insomuch that by reason of it Mine-works fall to â—ine as it happened at Stolberg CHAP. XXXVI Of Spiro or of the Blast THe Spiro or blast in an instrument which bringeth 〈◊〉 right the weather or obstructed air otherwise all wouâ— turn to stone where it is and would be at a stand there the lower fire should enter instead of the air and exicâ—teth though it doth not kindle if a piece be beaten off 〈◊〉 it then it appeareth so and this piece which flieth thus 〈◊〉 side giveth to understand how it maketh the stone hoâ— Nature frameth the oar and metal but jewels and precioâ— stones are from another off-spring out of sweet waters In this instrument there dwell together fire air whicâ— take their power and matter from the malignant weatheâ— where they consume all ponderous matters through firâ— inlightening the remaining matter it hath Make that Spiro or blast into a ball of copper of an heads bignesse sâ—der it bright and light let no air get into it leave a smaâ— hole where a needle may enter attracting the water whicâ— purposely must be made and set for it there must be had pan of coals at hand which must be kindled and the baâ— laid into it turning the little hole toward the coal-fire anâ— it will blow the fire forcibly which being done it groweth hot and maketh the water boil in the ball which fumeth and carrieth it forth with a great fiercenesse blowinâ— on the coals strongly and thus it maintaineth the fire by breathing strongly in the manner of a pair of bellowes driven from without hereby several good things are effected and the condition of this ball is that it sheweth what may be done above ground with the like no use can be madâ— of it behinde that place because Nature herself hath sucâ— a blast for her fire CHAP. XXXVII Of Pulfa or of the Break-stuff or brittle matter THis salt is ingendred usually by a malignant fume which the Mine-fire should have And when the â—nes be very hard then there must be made a fire of wood â—here the fume draweth to the stone-fire and groweth â—ick and if the fumes of Succinum and of other things are
pleasant voice of the Queen and embrace her friendly out of a great love and take his fill of her both will vanish and enter into one body They say two men can master a third especially if they have elbow room to vent their malice Hereupon you are to know from a true ground that a double winde must come called Vulturnus then a single winde called Notus these come rushing from the East and South and will keep a stir being robb'd and their blowing or motion allayed and the aire is turn'd into water then you may confide that a spiritual one will become a bodily one and that the number by the four seasons of the year in the fourth heaven will predominate after the seven Planets have finish'd their ruling and will finish its course in the neathermost dwelling of the Palace and will hold in the highest fiery examen then the two which went forth suppressed the third and consumed him Here in our mastery is requisite an exact knowledge for the division and conjunction must be rightly hit if so be you intend to get riches by your Art and the Scales must not be falsified by unequal weights This is the Rock spoken of in this Chapter that you must finish it without any defect by the artificial heaven with air and earth with the true water and sensible fire setting in equal weights whereof I inform you really The seventh Key NAtural calidity preserveth mans life for when natural heat is gone then the life is at an end Natural fire being moderately used is a defence against cold but an immoderate heat is destructive There is no necessity that â—â—e Sun should touch the earth corporally with her whole substance it is sufficient that the earth be strengthned by 〈◊〉 rayes which she ejaculateth unto the earth and doth â—hat way her duty for in that way she is of a sufficient â—â—cacy to perform her office bringing things unto matuâ—â—â— by her digestion for the distance of the aire bringeth 〈◊〉 solar rayes into a temperature so by means of the aire 〈◊〉 fire doth work and the aire worketh by the help of 〈◊〉 Earth produceth nothing without water and water â—â—thout earth can rise nothing neither now as these two â—â—nnot be one without another in the generating of â—its neither can fire be without aire nor aire without â—e fire is livelesse without aire and without fire the aire â—â—nnot shew its due calidity and drynesse The Vine at its last ripening hath need of a greater solar â—â—at than it hath at the beginning of the Spring and if â—e Sun hath a good operation in the Harvest then the Vine â—elds a better and stronger sap which it doth not if the â—â—ns heat be defective The vulgar counteth all things â—â—ad in Winter because frost hath locked up the earth â—â—at nothing can spring up but when the Spring-season apâ—â—oacheth and the Sun in her ascending breaketh the frost 〈◊〉 things turn to life again Trees and Herbs appear in the â—â—elinesse and the Animals which hid themselves from â—â—e frost creep forth again out of their caves and holes â—egetables afford their new fragrancy their operation is â—pparent in their pleasant blossoms of several colours â—hen the Summer worketh further brings these blossoms 〈◊〉 further ripenesse into fruits upon which ensueth a rich â—â—rvest for the which thanks are due to the Creator which â—et these periods unto Nature Thus one year worketh after the other so long till â—he Architect thereof pulls them down and the Inhabitants â—f the earth be exalted by the glory of God then all earthâ—y Nature will be at an end in her working and in its place â—â—ere will be an infinite eternal one When the Sun in Winâ—â—r goeth further off from us she doth not dissolve so well the great snow but approaching nearer to us th n 〈◊〉 aire groweth warmer and the snow is easily melted aâ— being turn'd to water it is gone for the weakeâ— must gâ—â— way unto the stronger The same order must be observed the government of the fire that the moist liquor mâ—y 〈◊〉 be exiccated too suddenly and the Philosophick earth 〈◊〉 not to soon mel ed and dissolved else your wholesâ—m fisâ—â— would turn into Scorpions and if you intend to be a riâ—â— minister in your office then â—ake first your spiritual waâ—â— on which the spirit moved at the beginning shut the doâ— of the strong hold upon him because this heavenly plâ—â— will be besieged by earthly enemies your heaven must 〈◊〉 guarded with three Bull-warks onely one entrance mâ—â— be strongly guarded with a watch All this being finish'â— then kindle the light of wisdom and look for your penâ—â— you lost let the light be of that bignesse as you see theâ— is occasion for For you must know thaâ— creeping bâ—â—â— and worms have their dwelling in a cold and moist eâ—â—â— their condition and no are leads them thereunto hâ—mans habitation is upon earth according as his tempâ—â—â— and mixed condition â—â—quireth but Angelical spirits â—â—ving not an earthly but an Angelical body not being iâ— subjection unto a sinfull flesh as man is are placed into higher station are able to endure both heat and cold in tâ—â— upper and neather Region without any molestation anâ— when man is clarified then will he be able to do like theâ—â— heavenly spirits God ruleth heaven and earth and worketâ— all in all If we prove good governours of our Souls then we shaâ—â— be Gods Children and Heirs to accomplish that which iâ— impossible for us to do now which cannot be done unlessâ— all the water be exsiccated and heaven and earth togetheâ— with the men be judged by fire The eighth Key NO flesh be it of mans or of beasts can bring any further increase or propagation unlesse it come first into putrefaction So all Vegetables unlesse their seeds be brought into putrefaction cannot be augmented Many beasts and worms are generated by putrefaction this mystery in Nature deserves admiration Nature permitteth this because this living increase is for the most part found in the earth which with other Elements are so raised by spiritual seeds To prove this with examples women in Villages know to give instances in that particular for these cannot hatch any Chickens unlesse they put the Eggs into putrefaction If bread be put into honey then the Ants are bred which is one of Natures mysteries It is seen ordinarily that Maggots do breed in flesh in men and horses and such like Carcases in Apples Pears c. and who is able to relate all the kindes of worms which are generated by putrefaction Some Vegetables also grow in certain places where never such grew formerly nor were they sowed in those places onely by putrefaction they were produced the reason of it is that the earth in such places it inclined thereunto and is impregnated thereby which the syderial qualities have infused and wrought a seed into especially which seeds putrifie in the earth and by the elemental operation
to this my purpose that I may write so that every one may understand and Gods infinite mercie and that it together with his gracious goodness redemption may seem known acknowledged and continually meditated upon and every one may call on the Great Creator day and night granting to them fervent hearts so to direct all their thoughts that they may make no otherwise of this noble Creature of God and transcendent great mystery of Nature together with the Automie thereof but onely to the great honour of God and the good of all good Children The same grant this Father Son and Holy Ghost in his mercy Amen TABLE The Contents of the first part of the book THe first Chapter treateth of the aetherial liquor of Metals pag. 1. The 2. Chap. treateth of the seed of Metals pag. 4 The 3. Chap. Of Metalline nutriment pag. 6 4. Of the shop or officine of Metals pag. 9 5. Of the egression and ingression of Metals pag. 11 6. Of the dissolution and reduction of Metals pag. 14 7. Of the ascension and descension of Metals pag. 16 8. Of the respiring Metal or quick Oar pag. 18 9. Of the expiring or dying Metal pag. 21 10. Of pure and fine Metal pag. 22 11. Of the impure Metal pag. 25 12. Of the perfect Metal pag. 27 13. Of the imperfect Metal pag. 30 14. Of the Soap Metal pag. 32 15. Of the inhalation or inbreathing pag. 34 16. Of the exhalation and outbreathings pag. 36 17 Of coruscation adhalation or glittering pag. 38 18. Of folium and spolium shimmer and glower pag. 39 19. Of the fuliginous vapours and ashes pag. 40 20. Of the Metalline water or lie pag. 42 21. Of the seed and of the hull of the seed pag. 44 22. Of the shining or fire rod pag. 45 23. Of the glowing rod. pag. 47 24. Of the leaping rod pag. 48 25. Of the furcilla or striking rod pag. 50 26. Of the trembling rod pag. 52 27. Of the falling or neather rod pag. 53 28. Of the superior rod pag. 55 29. Of resting vapours or sediments pag. 57 30. Of the weather salt pag. 58 31. Of the stone salt pag. 59 32. Of the Subterranean Pools pag. 60 33. Of the Metalline Gold or of the Metalline bed pag. 61 Chap. 34. Of Metalline streams pag. 62 35. Of Chalk or stone Meal pag. 63 36. Of the blast pag. 64 37. Of the brittle stuff pag. 65 38. Of the blank fire pag. 66 39. Of the Mine glue pag. 67 40. Of corroding stuff to eat stones thorow pag. 68 41. Of having materials used for a sledd or dray pag. 70 42. Of the frost in the Mine-works pag. 71 43. Of the flaming fire pag. 72 44. Of the roasting fire pag. 72 45. Of the corroding fire pag. 73 46. Of the glowing fire pag. 74 47. Of the Lamp fire pag. 74 48. Of the cold fire pag. 75 49. Of the warm fire pag. 76 The Contents of the second part 1. Chap. OF Mines and Clifts what the middle works of Oars are pag. 81 2. Of the general operations of several Metals pag. 82 3. Of stones rocks flints of Gold their striking courses pag. 84 4. Of the oar of silver and its running or striking passages pag. 86 5. Of Copper oar its stone and striking passage pag. 88 6. Of Iron oar its stoks floats fallings and striking passages pag. 92 7. Of Lead oar it s Mine and striking passage pag. 95 8. Of Tin oar its stoks floats fallings striking passage pag. 98 9. Of Mercurial oar and its passages pag. 100 10. Of Wismuth Antimony Sulphur Salt Salpeter and Talk pag. 101 11. Of a comparison between Gods word the Minerals pag. 102 12. How Jewels are wrought the blessings God bestows on Miners pag. 107 13. Of the essence of Gold pag. 108 The Contents of the third part being a Declaration of the XII Keyes The first is declared pag. 119 The second Key declared pag. 120 The third Key declared pag. 122 The rest are declared according to the course going on in that part pag. 125 The Contents of the fourth part concerning the particulars made of the 7. Metals how they may be prepared with profit First of the Sulphur of Sol whereby Lune is ting'd into Gold pag. 151 The particular of Lune of the extraction of its Sulphur and Salt pag. 158 Of the particular of Mars how its Sulphur and Salt is extracted pag. 161 Of the particular of Venus how its Sulphur and Salt is extracted pag. 161 Of the particular of Saturn how its Sulphur and Salt is extracted pag. 163 Of the particular of Jupiter how its Sulphur and Salt is extracted pag. 169 Of the particular of Mercury of its Sulphur and Salt pag. 170 Of the Oyl made of Mercury and its Salt pag. 171 Of the particular of Antimony its Sulphur and Salt pag. 172 A short way to make Antimonial Sulphur and Salt pag. 173 The XII Keyes follow next The Contents of that book are inserted at the beginning of it Next to this is the repetition of the former writings with an Elucidation of them touching the Philosophers stone and a true information annexed concerning the preparations of Mercurie Antimonie Vitriol water common Sulphur unslak'd Lime Arsenic Salpeter Tartar Vinegar and Wine The next are the conclusion and experiments THe first Section treats of Sulphur and the ferment of Philosophers pag. 1. 2. Section Of the Philosophers Vitriol pag. 2 3. Section Of the Philosophers Magnet pag. 3 An allegorical expression betwixt the holy Trinity and the Philosophers stone pag. 5 A treatise of Sulphur pag. 6 Of Sulphur of Jupiter pag. 7 Of the Sulphur of Mars and Venus pag. 8 Of the Sulphur of Sol pag. 8 Of the Sulphur of Mercury pag. 9 Of the Sulphur of Lune pag. 10 Of Antimonial Vitriol pag. 10 Of the Sulphur of Vitriol pag. 11 Of common Sulphur pag. 11 Of Vitriols first of the Vitriol of Sol and Lune pag. 12 Of Vitriol of Saturn and Jupiter pag. 13 Of Vitriol of Mars pag. 13 Of Vitriol of Venus pag. 13 Of Vitriol of Mercury pag. 14 Of common Vitriol pag. 15 Of the vulgar Magnet pag. 16 A Philosophick work upon Vitriol pag. 17 To bring quick Mercury to a Lunar fixation pag. 21 The contents of the fifth and last part TReateth of the great Medicinal vertue of the Metalline and Mineral Salt pag. 1. A description of the fine Tartar pag. 6. Of the Salt of Tartar pag. 7. THE FIRST BOOK Wherein are shewed MINE-WORKS from whence they have their Existence Natures and Properties divided into the ensuing Chapters CHAP. I. â—f the Aetherial liquor of Metals or of the metal Ferch GOd hath created things under ground as well as the things above ground By the things under ground I understand Metalls Minerals and into whom there is implanted also a fertiltie to their seed without which the seed could neither grow nor inâ—ase Seed which is barren hath not that fertiltie by â—ich
the ayre to fly about there and then to come into ground again which is not so nor can it be because its natural work is not in the ayre unlesse men bring it forth purposely then is it of another condition of that egression I do not speak here because it is done by day but this goeth through the earth Which stands in the furnace not apprehensive or visible to us and runs through clefts and passages For if the earth giveth way to the ingression and egression even as the water doth to fishes and the ayre to birds as long as metals come to their stone-firmament which stone firmamet differs from the earth-firmament when it meets with that it goeth about looking out for another passage like as water that floweth about a stone and not through it yet it stayeth in its own stone and receiveth strength of it turnes there to a body and as it goeth in its egression from one metaline firmament or stone-firmament to another if thorow eaten or soaked be it at what distance it will and atracteth the Lubicrum even as a bird draws its feet up to its body in its flight for if they touch any where then they loose somewhat of the body and the Lubricum in its ingression suffers it to come again to a strength of operation for when both are joyned then the metal increaseth and attracteth its food in a wonderfull way and nourisheth it selfe and it is to be admired that in this ingression when that Lubricum comes more and more to its officine how it increaseth and strengtheneth it selfe so long that at last the work is made firme in the officine This strengthening can not be learned to be any other than the metaline mercurie doth make it for in the first place it turns it there into a liquidum where afterward it receiveth all doth coagulate and congele according as the bodyes are either masculine or foeminine at last it is brought to a solid fixed body of Sol. This ingression makes that subterranean place â—oble and fruitfull and is singular when it hath an ascending oar in work that ayre is very wholsome and if the ayre above with melting be not infected with arsenick fumes then it affords a saluber ayre to dwell in This is a manuduction unto the whole after-work how the same ought to be proceeded in that the ore may stand and not awaken but turne to its streame and still abide in its bodies companie it is loath to make an egression if once it made a true ingression and setled it selfe to the work for it resteth not in its place neither doth it rest in its whole â—ract but worketh continually and is well seen what its fixing or flight is and where it setteth to a fluid body or earth-salt which it stirres and rouleth so long yea it panteth and moveth in it so longe till it gets a liquid body then turns it to a terrene body is still brought on to a further height and hardnesse and that is the right coagulating congealing liquidating and fixing of mercurie which if â—one accordingly then it affords something CHAP. VI. Of the dissolution and reduction of metals It is apparent that natural heat is the cause of the fluidness of metals dissolution because the seed of metals in it selfe is very hot and the fluide matter of metals is hoâ— also as being oliginous and its heat increaseth when iâ— comes to its officine or shop because that also being hoâ— encreaseth the heat the more hence it is why it is hot iâ— the work and hath need of it for at first it would bring no more into its body unlesse it were soluble and soft iâ— bringeth nothing into it unlesse it be passed through these three heats and fixed by them then examine it and adde another fluid thing to it which did not passe through the three heats see whether the metal will receive it or noâ— Secondly they must be dissolved that they may be cleansed the condition of liquid things is to produce to the outside things fitting the work it hath in hand This solution iâ— distinct from other artificial dissolutions where the body is only melted as by the Melter when he seperateth the excrements from it for nâ—aure doth not melt the earth as men do buâ— as corne groweth above ground so she leaveth corne and husks together there is a great difference betwixt our melting and the dissolving of Nature if we could observe that distinction in our dissolutions and meltings we should not be at so great losses and dammages as we are I must needs mention about aurum potabile how men do busie themselves about it as many heads as many wayes they chuse to the making of it Some take that whâ—ch is not yet separated from the metal containing yet the cinders oâ— excrements or worse things They take corrosive waters acetum aquavitae and the like pray tell me what doth Nature take when she is about the dissolving of a congealed water She takes none of these things only maketh use of â—heat You must do â—he â—â—kâ— if you will take a metalline â—ody which Nature hath perfected and through melting â—nd fining is come to us if you will dissolve and reduce it 〈◊〉 its first matter then rouâ—e the Ferch thus you may make â—y metalline body potable being made pure and superâ—e then its excrements are gone made not with additiâ—nals of corrosive things the fluxing of such matters rather â—ake the metals harder if a body shall be fixed we fix 〈◊〉 from whithout which Nature doth not for she fixeth the â—ed then the flour setteth and turns to such a fixation â—hat the dissolving above ground cannot master it A waâ—er which congealeth hath at first a little crust going on 〈◊〉 it till it be quite congealed but here it congealeth from â—ithin to the outside hence you may guesse at that gloriâ—us foundation of projection on mercurie of the body maâ—ing a natural stratum super stratum thus are the metals â—yned according to which the artificial work is ordered â—e have a hint given how mercurie of metalls is clipt and â—layed and its lubicrum is catched Conceive not of this â—xation to be as when iron is hardened to steele and then â—duced to a softnesse as Tin is of this is called only a â—ose hardnesse which keeps the body in a malleablenesse â—â—d keeps it so close together that the fire above ground â—nnot hurt it all hardnesse above ground may be mollified 〈◊〉 fire but not the other because it holdeth all fiery tryals â—herefore as the hardnesse made above ground hardneth â—odies in the water so on the other side the water which 〈◊〉 in metalline bodyes must be taken out then it congeaâ—th The subterranean ayre hardneth the earth earth â—emaineth earth and turns not to stone and the same â—eeps the water from running together or congealing â—eeping it from turning to pearls and pretious stones and â—ch may be made of that water To
is able to touch to take any thing from 〈◊〉 or to turn it to a Glimmer Spolium or cats silver of 〈◊〉 glittering quality Silver at Marychurch in Lorrayne is more fine then others â—uper-fine is called that when a metal is pure and rid of â—s excrements or dross which may easily be taken off and â—indereth it not in its fining In silver Myne-works there â—re often found such natural proofs of pure and fine oar â—hat it might speedily be digged and broken though it â—ust be melted again by reason of its Spolium or by reason â—f strange colours and flowers it hath robbed yet it easily â—ay be performed which serveth afterward for an instructiâ—n how Mineral-colours must be obtained as Azur â—hrysocolle though they stand in the Mineral-glass such coâ—ours love to be in such pure oar buâ— are not so soon inocuâ—ted unless it be in the Sude or coction in which the metal 〈◊〉 very pure and yields more naturally the mercury of the â—ody be it in the ascension or descension assumeth then â—nother body Hence is it apparent how the same ought â—o be proceeded within the artificial After-work out of â—ne body into another how the body in which it is and â—om which it must be had ought to be prepared namely â—t must be made pure and Super-fine It appeareth in the â—talian Gold especially in that of Wallachia in which it is â—ost pure how that mercury of metals puts off his body the mercury of the body come from the mercury of the â—etal puts the gold together into a close body and reguâ—s and it is seen in the gilding how firmly and closely 〈◊〉 stickâ—th wanteth but a small matter of an augmenting â—uality its Spolium is onely obstructive thereunto it is of a transmuting and elevating quality if the other body bâ— awakened also for a body which is between awaking anâ— sleeping effecteth nothing it must be awakened wâ—olly if at the on boiling of a metal as of that Italian gold bâ— but the least impurity that is a heterogeneal pâ—â—â— it coulâ— not be brought to a compactnesse which is seen at giâ—ding Therefore you must give an exact attention to learn to understand what the prima materia of metalline bodies is anâ— how their Elevation is either obstructed or augmented how homogeneal things are brought to a body It is apparent in the mercury of metals how close and compact iâ— stands together in the flux which flux cannot be takeâ— from it purity is the reason or cause of that compactnesse being there is no other metal mixed with it assoon as any metalline body joyneth with it then is it disjoyned be iâ— what metal or body it will Hence it doth appear how metals are brought to rest from their labour namely if theâ— be first pure for into pure matter may be brought what iâ— intended for it which appeareth in the mercury of metals its purity is the cause why it doth not appear to thâ— eye but onely in its flux or hardnesse The mercury oâ— metals is the flux of the mercurie of bodies that is wheâ— water comes to it or the mercury of metally bodies is comâ— into the water instead of the air which otherwise is in thâ— water take it into consideration what manner of skill iâ— required to get winde or air out of the water and to brinâ— another mercury into that place if you get the air which iâ— in the earth out of that earth and in its lieu you get in thâ— mercury of metalline bodies then you have a Mercury iâ— Coagulato endeavour now how you may coagulate it buâ— not in the ordinary common and vulgarly known way Bring still another mercury of bodies instead of the Marinâ— water into that water then you have a fair pearl take thaâ— same mercury of bodies reduce it to an earth which muâ— be pure instead of the air then you have a pure jewel aâ— pure as may be had from that earth is in its colour or yoâ— may put one to it which you please it is a thing feasablâ— These and the like pieces are afforded by purity all which â—e work of nature is a leader unto Men that cast so maâ—y foul aspersions upon Philosophers are unworthy and not 〈◊〉 be regarded nor credited what they can foame against â—eir rare and glorious inventions about the three princiâ—es from whence all these things have their Original â—ake trials of it you will affirm to be true what I have â—id CHAP. XI Of impure Metal THere is found store of metalline ores but few of them are pure and few there are that break or grow one by the other therefore these must be separated and spoken of apart The great work expences which their cleansiâ—g requireth from their grossenesse let Melters speak of â—eparating hath been invented at which some good things of the oars do stay the rest flieth away and their fining is useful especially when oars or metals are in their ascension though it be chargeable But to find Electrums and bring them to good by seperating differs from the former fining and requireth a singular way of melting Cunning and subtile Artists may pretend to get silver out of iron I believe they may if there be any in it as they do in Sweedland Osemund alwayes containeth silver which is onely off driven and calcine away the iron and thus they cheat people can they do the like with the iron which breaks in Styria no such matter Therefore take heed of such cheaters and take notice that nature loveth to keep her own wayes orderly and keeps together two and sometimes three sorts of oars in their ascension and descension whereby she intimateth a way unto the After-work but men in their fancy think upon other means though to no purpose View all the Mines which are in Europe you will finde no other oars but impure ones that is a mixture of them for their nature maketh them as much as I ever could learn if you can shew me the contrary I will assent unto thee And this is the second Argument that metals are in their ascension and descension unto perfectnesse if each had its peculiar work and instrument then men needed not to take so much pains in melting to separate them For it is a difficult work to joyn weeds and stones because these are heterogeneal and are of differing maâ—ters but the other joyning soon together require special wâ—rking to be separated therefore view exactly the bodies two manner of wayes which is no small instruction First in what manner you separate the ashes from the fumes or food this ministers already a twofold separating of metal the earth from the tincture there you have a twofold separating and so forth Secondly take notice of the Flux to drive the cold fire with the warm and the warm with the cold theâ— you will be able to separate the bodies from Mercuries then you have already separated the metals without losse and damage use
use â—f metals in that kinde it will not be for our misuse and â—isgrace but rather put greater honour upon us more then â—ver we put upon metals CHAP. XIII Of imperfect metal THe imperfect metal is the wildest among all the reâ— because it containeth all impuriâ—ies with a confusâ— mixture Usually there is set in a work of many piecâ— which no man yet knoweth what they are in which yâ— finde matters joyned which are prepared and unpreparâ— of many bodies Now if you will reduce that matter aâ— cleanse its metal then the unprepared matter must first 〈◊〉 washed away and regard not the matter so much as the mâ—tal which is yet tender and young in it you must not câ—cine it but another fire belongeth to it This perfectiâ— consists in nine several pieces which must be well conâ—dered each must be handled as it ought if so be the mâ—tal shall not suffer any wâ—ong and damage First consider well whether the oaâ— be in ascension 〈◊〉 descension then you may help its colour and whole bodâ— for that metal which is in its ascension must be aided in iâ— folium but the metal which is in its descension must bâ— helped with Spolium else it â—iâ—th away because it is nâ— perfected in its due place and Officina and that metal is iâ— a form accordingly Thus make your proof and be in yoâ— After-work the more incouraged Secondly you must take notice of the nourishment 〈◊〉 food which as I may say is not fully digested further thâ— same in its concoction else the excrements cannot well bâ— gotten off which would be the cause of unmalleablenesse Thirdly you must take notice of the flux that which iâ— fluid must be fried for if both fluxes should be opened they would hardly be congealed again For to dissolvâ— â—ew running Mercury of bodies which per se are runâ—g would prove a meer dust and atome Fourthly remember the hardnesse or fixation of it in â—at degree of ascension or descension it is that you may â—de thereunto an equal fire of its body for cinders reâ—reth onâ— sort of fire and fuligines requireth another kind 〈◊〉 fire and calcination must have a due fire then your â—oceedings will be right if you know the proper condiâ—n of such bodies else you wrong them by making it â—ttle and flyeth off at a second casting Fifthly make a true distinction betwixt the two imperâ—ctions from thence this metal hath its name the one is 〈◊〉 the body the other is of the instrument first take in â—nd the instrument and endeavour to help the body in â—e preparation and stay its flux or running into another â—d you drive the â—chwaden or the cuticle of the seed â—en goeth the cuticle of the seed and the Ferch or â—e Sixthly consider that fire which nature hath that you 〈◊〉 not incroach or intrench too far upon the bodies direct â—d order all youâ— work upon the Uredines or soap joyn it â—ith your fire to the instrument of the body Seventhly you ought to be instructed well about the â—ncture of the Electrums that you put not off Sol instead â—f Luna because you are not experienced enough in the â—eeping tincture or colouâ— which you are to awaken in the â—escension or when in the ascension you are to strengthen â—nd to keep them Painters have a term in their profession â—hich they call elevating and shadowing the same you â—ust apply here to bodies when they are in their perfection â—herefore anatomize the bodies Eighthly we â—ee Limners to mingle their colours with water and oil and so carry them on you must â—earn a due preparation of the water to imbibe the colour which is a metalline water whereby you corrode with not â—estroying the colours which you intend to have if you make use of any other water besides this then all your labour is in vain cool with oil then it remaineth pure aâ— thus you have much strengthened the Folium Lastly take notice that the metal be straightened so thâ— it look for no more food All such things belongiâ— thereunto you finde enough by this instrument or not 〈◊〉 off from it or else you may bring it easily thereunto 〈◊〉 will be but imperfect therefore put your help to it yâ— have natures half work for advantage with great pity hath often been beheld how such noble and pretious iâ—struments have been consumed in fire which could haâ— been for several good uses the workmen in their careleâ—ness not regarding them All other metals belong unâ— this for very seldome is found a whole perfect metaâ— which should not want one help or other He that is aâ—quainted with these will perform these works with greaâ— advantage and more utili y. For there must be extant perfectness if any thing shall be purged so that anotheâ— pure or fix thing be brought in be it the colour or pondâ—rosity CHAP. XIV Of the Soap-metal or Metallum Uredinum IF our upper Elements could not make a metal to be manifest and apparent to us who would have undertakeâ— to work any metal The great heat and cold which is under the ground is the cause of the body of metal according to the prâ—dominancy of that heat and cold which is in the body The deeper the heat or cold is in that body the fairer is its tincture this is a true saying But what this heat or cold is above and what is attributed to the Planet above understanding men must know it At first when the Ferch goeth forth and goeth along through the earth with the seed in its firmamental officina â—en it comes forth sometimes as far as its breathing may â—ach before it be infringed and allayed it still carrieth â—me of the purest metal and the superiour elements afâ—rd their vertue for their joyning for where the elements â—e in a conjunction there they make a body and force â—mething from the Ferch then it riseth and falleth as it â—lls so it lieth still this is the reason why the corns are so â—rangely fashioned they are either round or oval and so â—me to the metal accordingly and is found sometimes falleth into the water where it was catcht and overtaken â—t most of all it loveth to be in the Uredines or soap hence â—t that name Soaps are mineral springs where the metal â—eth to lie these spring from below and these are found â—metimes wholly gilded over and they cast upward taps of â—ch colour In this Countrey such springs are neer Rivers the foot of Mountains but in the Almen they are on the â—p of the soap as it were upside down on these sticketh â—e Ferch which passeth by it or the air which forceth it â—m it The whole businesse lieth in the metalline waters they are dissolved in their salts thus they easily imbrace â—e Ferch or the metal of that Ferch and seed which it caâ—â—th forth and that goeth for the best Tin which is on the â—p being of an iron shot which iron is of several different
â—ut if heat get the upper hand then the metal groweth â—igher and higher and more lively This is the difference â—etwixt the heat of fires which is called Vredines the â—ehicle of that heat is the instrument or matter which afâ—ordeth the place of it For Uredines are the cause of someâ—hing but fire destroyeth it and the uredines may be withâ—ut the fire and above the fire The most ancient Philosoâ—hers call it coelestes infernales vires for it is apparent in â—old that fire cannot prevail against it but onely against â—he flux of it and cannot consume it and the Mercury canâ—ot hurt neither only he bringeth hardnesse unto it which 〈◊〉 good but to what purpose for he is not turned to any â—lver both these breathings upper and nether in and â—ut breathing comes all to one and is not onely its quality â—o shew and make known the metal and oar but passeth â—hrough the earth also to keep them from turning into â—ones to stay and keep them porous one upon another â—nd to make them pure for it purgeth the earth as the soâ—r breathing above doth the air and as the same breathing â—bove bringeth and causeth winde mist rain hoar frost â—ow even so the subterranean breathing causeth vapours â—mes breaths saps minerals soaps c. and bringeth forth â—old out of their seed He that understandeth these neâ—her upper and other meteors he may make all manner of â—uick After-works For Art treadeth into the foot-steps â—f Nature CHAP. XVII Of corruscation or of adhalation or to breathing or glittering MIners seeing this breathing ascend by night like 〈◊〉 flame they count that only a breathing and none else which per se is not a true breathing but only a corruscatioâ— for it burneth away the excrements not wholly only sucâ— things that are naught and poisonous purgeth the air from the same stink for where should the cuticle of the seed get out if it should not be carried forth partly by this flame of fire and partly by the water For this stink weakeneth the oar mightily especially it spoils its colour whereas iâ— may easily be burned or washed away before it groweth to such a stink be it in fossils or liquours This breathing oâ— glistering strengtheneth the cenders it toucheth them noâ— in a way of heat but in a way of fire and is not an upboiling but a burning unto Seeing this stuff which this corruscation seizeth on is found often in a place where no metals are therefore is iâ— very deceitful however commonly and for the most part oâ— a metalline breath For note the metal never affords or casteth any flame neither doth it consume in burning buâ— flieth away and vanisheth you cannot know which way iâ— is gone therefore these exuviae spermatis or husks of the seed is a greater infection and plainer evidence that there is an oar at hand because it maketh many glorious thingâ— apparant which the fire seizeth on it must not quite be melted from its outgoing is a signe that it doth no good by the metals neither can it stay with it unless it stick close Here you may observe again that fire doth not good to metals but a warmth which doth not come from fire as a natural heat is in man without fire for where are the coals which nature useth for oars yet is it hot where is there any better blast to make things congeal A cold without a frost is another matter as it appeareth in Pearls I call it Vredines as a warmth without an heat yea this heat and frost causeth a food unto fire it cannot indure it any where about it therefore if you bring a metal into its heat and cold then you have already a ground for the Afterwork you have little learning or skill if you do not know so much CHAP. XVIII Of Folium Spolium or of the Schimmer and Glimmer THe second or other thing which apparently shews and distinguisheth metals is the colour The condition of colour is this that they are not so discernable by reason of their darknesse in which they naturally are they are elevated and brought to a Folium or are exalted through a Folium as an obscure and untransparent folium doth the same in a lucidum translucidum corpus the same must a transparent folium do in a thick body as metals are an opacum corpus shining like the moon with a borrowed light into the body and the folium giveth it forth out of that body Such a folium or glitter may be made artificially but nature sheweth that it may be had from a Volatile though it be true that that Volatile may not be had unlesse in its seed and bodie yet it is soon extant with the body for he that knoweth not the condition of the folium he can neither in the flux nor congelation bring any oar or metal into its true tincture the condition of this Folium is that it is as thin as any leaf in the world can be of these leaves is composed a metalline body Counterfeit Chymists busie themselves very much with their Stratums Superstratums but here is it naturally thinner than beaten gold and this is called opaca perspicuita an in brought leaf not gilded in or silvered Here lieth a curious skill for tinging with this leaf if brought into the Glimmer one knowledge is the cause of another and as it is seen in a glowing and glittering splendour that there is no exuviae spermatis or hull of the seed at hand neither may it be known in any folium or spolium by its speculum's or night lights to prepare that leaf and spolium which soon doth losen and free it self and this is the chiefest thing for it goeth off with the worst poison and comes on also and must settle and rest CHAP. XIX Of fuliginous vapours and ashes TOuching the white soot of metals which is a precious garment to silver if onely brought into Mercuries wonderful to behold that the corruption of metals and of the first bodies should afford the highest and the uppermost turn to be the lowermost where these soots are found surely there is metal at hand also but fair and more natural is hardly seen than there is in Styria where they make good steel of it In Wallachia it breaketh or is found neer silver and this is the surest thing in the metalline work as well in the Natural as in the Afterwork which seemeth most incredible unto the people and again that which is most uncertain proveth to be most certain the reason of it is because they know and understand it not better Miners have in their clefts and passages things hanging and lying in which great matters might be had and found but require great toil and is a dangerous work by reason of â—heir poison Though the Halation and breathing goeth â—long yet it carrieth many things with it which hardly â—ay be gotten from it neither doth it quit the pain and expences Miners call
was silver and metal there but never in that place where it went forth and is turned into another thing for â—fter the decay of each body and of its leaf and after the â—ff plucking a singular husk the last it maketh is the fierest for there it lieth like a Speculum upon the water and â—asily turneth into nourishments which is the reason why 〈◊〉 turneth so soon to the metals and so the nourishments â—re infected contrary to their quality that it wandereth so up and down is the reason because it containeth some of â—he seed and of the life and is the untowardness for the â—eed must have something in which it may lie which if it be not one of the bodies of the seven metals then is it such poison or husk this is the skin wherein it containeth it self â—o long till the corruscation forceth it away which then â—s death unto it CHAP. XXII Of the shining rod or of the fire rod. HE that intends to meddle with rods must not follow after his own fancie nor bring novelties unto Mine-works out of his suppositions For nature indureth not to be curb'd in her order but men must be regulated according to nature Concerning the rod good notice must be taken of the Breathing this Lucens virgula or fire-rod is ordered upon the operative attractive breathing for if it were strong though it doth not kindle yet it doth its office through by a heat appropriated to its quality A great heat in a furnace puts out a small heat light or fire the same effect hath this breathing upon this Rod which being kindled stuck in is put out no upper air or wind can hurt it for our upper fire cannot live or burn under ground for if a light or candle be hit against a stone or earth it is put out because it cannot fall in It attracteth the nutriment which maketh this Rod burn and sucks it dry This is remarkable in the matter of this Rod that it hath an unctuosity which doth not burn as the seeds husk is whose poyson put out lights under ground in an extraordinary manner And the breathing above ground doth the same in a peculiar manner Few miners know this fire and is the onely means whereby the inhalation is known This fire-work thus extracted is of special use in Mines and then in the After-work is of severall use for metals of the which more in its due place to descry fire by fire is no mean skill and the subterranean fire can in no other way be mastered Ancient Philosophers have written much of it how superiour elements make their juncture with the nether intimating also that by the means of the middle Elements must be learned the emergy of the superiour and subterranean For they are spirits which joyn the souls above with the grosser bodies below else nothing could have any successe witâ—in the earth and for their operation there must be a medium a gluten to tie and bind fire with fire is a strange maxime but is a true one hence cometh a reserve of fire which never burneth all three must be together for the upper is the light fire and the metal is the flame-fire and the nether is the burning fire This we shall know at the great day in the other life where God will separate the burning from the flame when it flameth then will the burning consume Hell and Hell will soon be burned away neither will there be any clearnesse but darkness because God bestoweth the light upon his chosen ones which is neither a flame nor a burning here these must stand together Be acquainted with its friendlinesse and friendship make it thy advantage which is abstrusely hid and goeth invisibly CHAP. XXIII Of the glowing Rod. BEcause the stirring of the Rod is fallen into abuse among many people however it is a fundamental way know and to bring forth the metals if duely and natuâ—ly used It is an undeniable truth as I made mention of â—fore that metals do breath and the same breathing is inâ—ible the best means to learn it is the Rod this is the â—ason why I call this Rod the glowing Rod because it reâ—aleth and sheweth the exhalation of metals which exâ—lation is of a fiery heat though it casteth neither flame â—r sparks yet it is of such an heat that it gloweth in its â—anner and brings the Rod into a glowing which is an â—fallible sign that there is a living metal at hand This â—od if it should be more glowing without a flame there â—ust be used special matter which receiveth that fire else cannot be done with any utility Concerning that Rod is a stick or staff of the length of half an ell of hard â—ood as of oak unto it is fastened the matter even as a â—rch or link is made of pitch or wax this matter must be â—f an unctuous matter either of an animal vegetable or â—mewhat else which is upon or above ground it must â—ot be too strong otherwise it sets the breathing on fire â—o talk wax pitch or resein is fit to be used nor any miâ—eral otherwise that breath mineral or metal would set its â—od on fire and consume it it must be a calx of earth which catcheth that heat suddenly and smothers in a heat â—s calx doth above ground being moistened it falls thus â—ot off from the rod. This lime burnt above by breathâ—ng is good for several uses But this breathing doth not â—eize on the unctuosity or Mine-wax else how could the â—ourishment of minerals prosper Miners call it a Spath a true calx of the earth It is not corroded and seized oâ— under ground because it hath too much of humidity Some call it a Mine Mermel or subterranean Mermel buâ— is no such matter because he doth not indure the weatheâ— above ground exsiccateth and by breathing is kindled aâ— last The huge Mountains in Norway the ores in Swedland seize on it and corrode it they are full of Spath or calx iâ— their glowing they grow hollow if they were in a flame that land had been consumed long ago For as soon as thaâ— earth-Earth-water comes forth from this Spath and the exsiccating earth cometh forth also then the hidden fire falls into their places CHAP. XXIV Of the leaping Rod. WHilst metal is in its purification that it neither riseth nor moveth then it hath its breathing the same as it is of a singular condition must be discovered and led forth by a singular Rod which Rod is of two sticks held together with both hands where there is such a breathing it lieth close on that Rod no man is able to hold these sticks together if that breatheth on them and if it were a single stick it would break in two the inner side where this Rod is laid together must be anointed with Marcasite that breathing draweth it downward even as the Magnet is of an attractive quality to draw iron so draweth the breathing of this
â—yned it turneth then to such poison that the oar must be â—ed else it perisheth for that fume lieth on the oar fuliâ—ous Kobolt which corrode and consume the oar there a â—ll must be applied which is round and hollow having â—ole at a bignesse at which a quill may enter it must be so â—se that no air may either enter or get out this ball must 〈◊〉 filled with gun-powder cover the same with cottenâ—ol boiled in Salpeter then dip it in melted pitch which mixed with some Sulphur kindle that ball let it go down a box or fling it on a Stolln or chamber when the ball â—eth asunder it expelleth that fume not onely by that â—oak but with the blow or report the gunpowder makes â—ch a ball may be applied also to water and be sunk in an â—strument under water in which noisome fishes are feared 〈◊〉 crack will kill the fishes that are there there is a past â—hich giveth no report but onely burneth and destroyeth â—d heaveth this salt but have a care what past you make â—e of and have a respect to the upper Scaffolds whither â—ey be old or new that they be not imbezled and your â—st must be mixed so that it may do no hurt CHAP. XXXVIII Of Clathrum or of the blank fire THis fire needs nothing for its food shineth in darknesse is a special fire for Mine-works quitteth the charges iâ— applied more than the expences do bestowed upon Taâ— or Bromith work For oil in some places may be had cheâ— enough casts no smoak destroyeth fumes it is put into glasse ball which is put into a basket to keep it safe from water and sand which affords a light to the workmen Miners ought to know how to enter their ground for thâ— hight or metalline Speculum which is a singular manuall for the metalline breathings and after-halations joyn anâ— come together require special instruments whereby they may be known for where these do joyn and the diurnaâ— breathing is predominant then it exhaleth by day shinetâ— out of the earth Miners call this a metalline breathing true it is so but they leave out something so it is but half breathing if the after-breathing is predominant then iâ— appeareth by that Speculum and light wherein it maketh it self known She is in work with something and there is at hand such a metal metals do shine though it doth noâ— appear so to our eyes like as rotten wood doth by day they are not quiet as long they are working but there musâ— be a reflexion of their work which is this light It casteth no beams as the day-light or rotten wood doth by night it receiveth one from such a dark or duskish shadowes light Fair and curious breathings are seen therein and thaâ— light of darknesse is a light you may see by it he that is distant from it five or six yards seeth it not nor canst thoâ— neither for it is such a light as is in the eyes of Cats dogs and wolves which can spie thee though thou câ—nst not seâ— â—m for there is a light at night as well as by day which â—pparent in these bodies which receive their light from Nocturnal light for if that power were in themselves 〈◊〉 would ejaculate beams which they do not and exâ—ence evidenceth it that there is a subterranean ignis disâ—s a scattered fire â—his light is twofold the first lighteth being thus preâ—d in a ball of some fishes or worms of juyces of herbs â—saps of wood being distilled and the distilled water beâ— put into it Take a pure Crystalline glasse it casts a cuâ—s light under ground if mercurial water be put into it â—aduateth the waters made of worms and of woods veâ—ighly in this darknesse which is called the Light ir be done and used also by day but much better in subâ—nean darknesse in which the fire lieth hid and must be â—ed and awakened by such material and instrumental 〈◊〉 â—he second light is Speculum which receiveth that light giveth an intimation of such hot or cold fires which every Clown or Miner understands for as it shineth in Speculum so kindleth this fire and is the oar In â—s body they are discerned well enough from whence diseases have their several names but are not searched 〈◊〉 The difference betwixt the ball and the Speculum is same with that which is above ground I can view all members of my body but not my face I can behold â—ight but what the Sun of this light is which miniâ—h the lustre unto it the same I cannot behold or discern CHAP. XXXIX Of the Gluten or Mine-glue â—He best help and remedy which may be applied to subterranean pools are wells for where these break forth they carry that water away a better and neerer is not thaâ— the Gluten to dam up or keep out the day water that theâ— do not run any farther this damning hath great utility it maketh the water not onely slimy and tough but it drâ—veth it backward that it be served for some other issue aâ— be rid of it in that place where it is naught and meerâ— obstructive If the day-water be thus stopped by a Gluten that cannot run and gather at the sink then that ground-waâ— may soon be drawn away at the sink the deeper the sinâ— are cleansed the more these ground-waters or springs aâ— diverted and at last are turned also to day-waters or mâ— be dammed up and made run another way where thâ— may not be obstructive to the Scaffolds and where Dâ—vings of mils are not had at the same places the Glutâ— may be used then the Scaffolds and Structures in the passâ—ges clefts and Mines may be seen the dams and the Glâ—ten are the best helps hereunto CHAP. XL. Of TRUTA or of a Past for to corrode the stâ—â—â— through or through eating THere is almost nothing which is a greater hinderanâ— unto Mine-works than water is and where the Gluâ— is not sufficient to keep it out and in places where it is 〈◊〉 in and must be drawn away with lower buildings as wiâ— Stoln or beams and pipes it is an huge and dangeroâ— work to make these thorow-breathings good and holdiâ— it costeth many mens lives and great expences must made therefore wayes and means must be thought upon make wayes through with burning to make such a fâ— which corrodeth the rock and grinds the stone eaâ—ing small and thin that the water may get thorow and run aâ—ay that the Miners may not lose their lives in that water 〈◊〉 usually it befalls them at such works This fire corroâ—eth great stones in running waters or rivers it is a corroâ—ing fire a Gluten being made which is lined or covered â—ith combustibles poured or cast down through a channel â—r pipe guarded from water that Gluten may be effectual â—ough it be under water many fathoms deep it still corâ—deth further gathering strength by that it eateth upon â—d burneth and presseth still lower it doth not smoak â—eing a running
corrosive fire There are some saps and gums which if boiled to a hardâ—esse and mingled with unslaked lime kindle and burn 〈◊〉 strongly that they corrode the rock make an hole into 〈◊〉 big and as deep as you will have it so that the water â—ust sink away there must be set a pipe of wood or of â—ther materials as deep as the water rose and must be â—t and sunk to the very bottome and of this Gluten â—ast or stuff must be put into let the hole of the â—ipe be closed with pitch to keep out the water make â—all bullets of this Past kindle them it cateth down â—en out at the Stoll or beams end the bignesse of the hole â—ust be according to the Pipes mouth below which must â—e equally wide with that above when the Pipe is clearâ—d and way made for the water to runne out at the â—ole then all that water-pool under ground will sink aâ—ay and clear the chambers below This is a cuâ—ous skill for to break through rocks if well conâ—ived and well ordered with exact manuals CHAP. XLI Of the Traha or heaving materials used instead of a dray or slead IT is known that breathing and halation and the weather uphold all both artificial and natural things it is apparent in great Edifices that the things exposed to weather cannot hold if neither water nor winde tied the great reparations in such structures signifie so much There is a place in Zips or Sepusium called the Tohâ—schaw where firm steel ascendeth by day and in that place there is no Mine of steel no instrument can get any scale from it but lying in the weather one winter and sommer it gets a scale of two fingers thick Thus it is apparent that the weather heaveth also a stoll or the great beam or metalline body why should it not lift and heave a stone This appeareth further at the falling down of great snow-bals from Mountains about Saltzbuâ—g and in Styria where great pieces of rocks fall down with such snow bals as big as an house is which heat and cold hath thus corroded and loosened Hannibal making the Alos passable for his army poured warmed vinegar on the Rocks whereby he made them so brittle that they soon could be wrought thorow oil doth the like if well prepared Acetum's made of vegetables of wine beer fruits are pretious for such purposes cistern-Cistern-waters may be turned into Acetum's if cocted with honey being made warm first this driveth the fire back which is in stones for there are commonly Horn-stones Fire-stones which are made brittle by such means There is made a Petroleum also â—o that you need no falâ—er-oil nor any other no not Naphta neither drawn from Osteinmark or calcined flints such water acetum's being poured upon other frighting waters whereby the hardest â—ints are terrified and made brittle It stands upon natuâ—al reason that such stones must be dealt withall in this manner For behold the Gluten and Aquafort of what efâ—icacie these are Doth it not corrode the Pumice-stone like Bees-wax and the Top-stone like a marble of divers coâ—ours Consider well the white marble and the sliding â—and in which the Pumice is you will finde what manner of lixivium's may be boiled from them CHAP. XLII Of the frost in Mine-works THe greatest troubles that Miners are put unto is to pull and draw up all the filths stones that are naught out of the Mine-works that a way be made to come deeper in Above ground they call it an heap of rubbish It costeth â—o great matter to cleanse dissolve and void these rubâ—ishes with corrosive wares it costeth little if rightly maâ—aged and handled to dissolve first the lightest things these being made riddance of the rest may easily be voided That earth under ground must not be look'd upon as that is above with us adorned with grasse for under ground there is least of the earth there is a mixture of all manner of things as salts juyces minerals stones the least part is earth and yet that part is the noblest for our of it are made all manner of metalline bodies There are sharper things all of which must not be used at once and must be effected with these when that which is above cannot be applied to that which is beneath juyces also are easie in their uses for to corrode and make brittle Sulphur alone performeth the work which is a poison unto juyces and saps Miners and such that are imployed about such works must have knowledge of such things and exercise themselves herein by way of practice for all particulars belonging to these manuals cannot be set down upon white and black experimental knowledge must be joyned hereunto not only a depending from things written CHAP. XLIII Of the flaming fire WHereas there is occasion for great and small fires in Mine-works which must be learned and applied according to the several sorts of metals and not after the manner of their several meltings and finings and the condition of such necessary fires must be known also To set down these in their particulars would require great pains and the writing thereof would rise to a great volume it is the duty of understanding Melters and Finers to order and regulate themselves in their fires according as each metalline condition requireth to further and not to hinder their work and so I commit these to their further and serious thoughts and to take these things into a fuller consideration CHAP. XLIV Of Ignis torrens or of the roasting fire THings inclining to ashes and soot and excrements of metals and the exuviums or hulls of bodies melters suppose may be taken and gotten off safely in a roasting or calcining fire they make a great fire of wood under them roast or calcine the metal that as they suppose they retain nothing thereof or of such offals you heard of now they â—eld their exuvium and copper yields cinders and slacks â—ut if frightened then it rubbeth and consumeth iron â—erefore nealing is more commendable as they do at â—ansfield a great heap of oar is laid together which they â—dle let it stand in a gentle glowing heat and burn aâ—ay that which should come off in that glowing Metals 〈◊〉 Swedland are healed thus at the heat of the Sun in Somâ—er there it runs finely together and purgeth it self so â—atly insomuch that it would be refined if it staid its me in that heat This nealing I do better approve of â—an of the calcining in a fire-flame There is a twofold â—owing fire and metals require a twofold glowing or neaâ—ng one sort of it is used at Mansfield they kindle with â—undles of straw the heaps of slats let them glow of their â—wn accord and they do it like an heap of coals and the â—r is nealed which is put in for that purpose Secondly â—ealing is good also for bodies of stones reducing them inâ—o calxes but those that made metalline calxes in an inâ—osing heat or glowing fire they
got onely the calxes of â—e bodies exuviums Therefore neither themselves nor â—thers have any cause to marvel if they do no good 〈◊〉 that way CHAP. XLV Of the corroding fire THis fire ought to be set among the coal fires being of a consuming nature and their corrosivenesse 〈◊〉 in the cold fire and it hath the same qualities which â—he burning fire hath it shineth and burneth its burnâ—g is corroding in that it is better than the other â—ecause it doth not burn it to ashes but brings the bodies to dust or sand which would be toilsome if by filings it should be brought to stars the next neighbour to this fiâ— is the glowing fire of the which I will give onely 〈◊〉 hint CHAP. XLVI Of Ignis candens or of the glowing fire THis fire is purposely ordered upon metalline bodies 〈◊〉 consumeth them being their matter is naturally inclined thereunto This fire is of great concernment making their bodies very malleable their exuvium's stay on the Float and is the best quality they have that they put off iâ— that glowing the thing which will be gone and the good thereof remains Things now adayes are slighted the world supposeth to have skill enough it wants no further knowledge Quot capita tot sensus every one thinks his wit best though some have scarce begun to know any of these things which is the reason why men are stiâ— kept to their rudenesse Men may suppose I mean by this corrosive water an Aquafort it is no such matter how many runs of precious Aquasort is used in vain at Goslar on the Hartz which would serve for better use and the expences laid out for wood might have been saved CHAP. XLVII Of Ignis incubans or of the lamp-Lamp-fire THis fire serveth when metals are wrought openly and not luted in then the metal doth not flie away in a dust nor doth its best run away for you heard that a flaming fire is hurtful for to work metals withall Lamp-diâ—es are commonly of glasse set in an earthen pan filled â—ith ashes or sand kept in a sweating in that sweat many â—ppose the metal receiveth its body or the one changeth â—o the other I leave this transmutation in its worth and â—not approve of it Touching this warmth I cannot â—prove nor find fault with it and all metals indeed should 〈◊〉 dealt withall in this manner These two fires of oars and the Lamp-fire if they were â—de use of in medicinal wayes would do better than the â—cining or flaming fire can do where these are of no use â—d the long fire must orderly be kept in an equal heat if â—y good shall be done Some kept the lamp fire in a Stove-â—rnace where all things were spoiled in the working it â—s either too hot or too cold it was of no equall heat â—hich the work in the end did shew because it was not â—ell governed CHAP. XLVIII Of the cold fire THis is a strange fire little can be said of it to those which cannot conceive of it whether it was not â—ken notice of or whether they did despair of it I know â—ot this is it which elsewhere is called coagulating it â—nnot consume the other fire it can melt the work but 〈◊〉 consume it is impossible it works in the air as well as in â—e fire where it sheweth its efficacy and is the sole proof â—f its fusiblenesse metalline mercury is of a cold fusion â—l other fusions are hot if you believe it not feel it â—e fixation of the warm flux is called coagulation there â—e one opposeth the other the one congealeth the oâ—er keeps in a liquidnesse this difference must be known by those which are imployed about melting of metals anâ— their fluxes It is of concernment to govern this fire well or hoâ— stones are to be weighed and things that are excessively cold are a death to a tempered body what animals do liâ— either in too cold or too hot a fire and to speak precisely of life it is impossible to do that as to speak really oâ— God therefore gaze not upon definitions what humanâ— reason is able to conceive of Philosophy is strangely conditioned and it appeareth by this fire also a thing which iâ— very cold may contein a life however When it is in its highest degree of ascension then it come down again it turnes to silver then to copper if the nether hot fire doth it not then surely the cold fire must do it for it dissolveth again into its mercury which is the flux of the cold fire if it layeth hold on it then it must ruâ— to all bodies in its running it puts off not onely the nethermost but the uppermost body also take this into further consideration CHAP. XLIX Of the warm fire OF this I have spoken already it can be made and governed several wayes coals wood pitch oil and other combustible things are fit for it There I would onely speak of an heat which is good for the flux of metals whereby they are purged as you heard above needlesse to be repeated here Thus much of this first Part where I infirmed about the nether work or fore-work governed and observed by nature whereby she holds forth unto us metals and minerals in their formes He that conceiveth aright of this work â—d considers it worketh with advantage and utility and is great help to proceed successfully in Alchymie which â—itateth and treadeth into her steps I wish hearty sucâ—sse to all such which bear an affection and love thereunâ— â—raise Honour and Glory be unto the Supream Master of Mines by whose word and will all things are made ordained and brought to their forms Amen End of the first Part. THE â—ECOND PART Of the Last TESTAMENT OF BASILIUS VALENTINUS Friar of the Order of St. Benedictus Wherein are repeated briefly some principle Heads of the first Part what course Nature observeth under ground and how metals are generated and produced to light as Gold Silver Copper Iron Tin Lead Quicksilver and Minerals 〈◊〉 like manner of precious Stones and of tinctures of Metals how they are discerned and what relation they have to the Holy Scriptures LONDON Printed Anno Domini MDCLVI THE SECOND PART OF BASILIUS VALENTINUS CHAP. I. Of Mines and Clifts and what manner of middle works and second in oars are IN the first place there lieth a necessity upon every Miner to know how to search and dive into metalline passages how they strike along and they must be well acquainted with all their occasions and conditions and if at any place he intends to fall to work 〈◊〉 must know how to use the Magnet of the Compasse â—here East South West and North lieth and learn the â—ayes of this and that oar and where their issue is and 〈◊〉 wâ—ll informed of the long and short stroaks of metalline â—ssâ—ges and where they dâ—aw together to a metalline â—m The forms of metalline oar are several some carâ— Talk slats an oar which containeth silver and
fountain of life of mercie and righteousnesse which the Lord God made apparent on the Tree of the holy Crosse where out of the side of his dearest Son did run bloud and water to which the Lord in the Revelation of St. John addeth fire smoak and fumes this union according to the Divine Word is grown at the beginning in all creatures and what ever God the Holy Trinity hath ever created consisteth in a Trinity even as the Deity is in an eternal Trinity As the Deity is indivisible in the Humanity α ω in the water and blood for an eternal remembrance that is the fiâ—st and the last letter as in the Heavenly even so in the earthly the perfect Alphabet must not be cut asunder all must stand from the beginning to the end and Christ Jesus purgeth his dear friends still unto eternal life through water and blood saying to their hearts all thy sins are forgiven thee thy faith doth save thee No man is saved unlesse he be fiâ—st born again that is through water blood which throughly purgeth not only men and the sons of men but also the whole Limbus upon earth for it is not the metalline blood and water neither is it Mercery and Sulphur that doth it neither in the body under ground is any goldish silver wrought to any blood red oar the blood out of Christ side shed for the good of man is that great evidence for thus all Mineral stones that are in the plain element of earth and the spirit of all oars and marbles and stones come from the divine essence as also the heavenly spirits for the throne of God with the heavenly Angels and Spâ—rits are furnished for rhe praise of God thus the earth also is created is her stones oars veâ—ns passages for the honour of God and the welfare of man which imitateth Gods wisdome filled with infiâ—ite and uncessant forth-bringing of fruits Whence should be the decay of metals surely even as the eyes of the holy Apostles and Disciples were held that they could not know the Lord in his clarified spiritual body and essence no more can men see these things in metals Why doth Saint John in his Revelation speak of smoak and of fume Surely he did not mean the fire smoak and fume of Bakers ovens or Kitchin-chimneys but there was revealed unto him the heavenly fire the mist vapour and fume which is exhaled from the moisture of earth and â—â—ated to the clouds so in the subterranean works the â—â—e and spoil or outside of the oar are sublimed and the 〈◊〉 of the frost which rouzeth the effectual powers vaâ—rs and spirits maketh them come to a perfect unity in â—â—alline bodies Now if there were not a fire vaporous â—â—e in the earth how could they produce their fruits â—ich are the minerals and metals under ground As the fiery element is covered with the airie and the â—ven with clouds and the earth is filled by them and â—ether with the fire was inclosed as one element with 〈◊〉 other two In like manner at the first Creation the â—erranean passages and veins were laden with oars as â—s were with fruit which the Lord God in Paradise 〈◊〉 implanted into them This effectual fire vapour and â—e is likened unto Mercury Sulphur Salt and Sea-waâ— wherein earth lieth inclosed and hidden even as the â—eamest throne of God is encompassed by other thrones 〈◊〉 heavenly habitations â—s the four Evangelists are witnesses of the New Testaâ—â—t and Covenant so they are a type and sure testimony â—he four elements that the earth is created after the hoâ—â—eaven thus are we taught in the Lords prayer as it is â—eaven so in the earth in which and beneath and under 〈◊〉 is every where This is in action still King David â—d confesse that he could not hide himself from the 〈◊〉 any where â—eeing the holy and blessed God hath laid the creatures â—â—e earth with the four elementall qualities therefore â—ational Miners open their eyes and learn judicially to â—w the passages and clifts of oars metals and minerals 〈◊〉 they will get a lasting name with great praise and will â—ke the noble gold which in a glory and beauty appeaâ—â— when it comes from the Quart and can be then reduâ—â— into an oil which preserveth man in a lasting health â—nd any balsom and is become a vegetable which is â—ble It is feaseable that of gold may be prepared a singulâ—â— Medicine for the good of man-kinde because man is creâ—ted of God from Limus terrae and the whole earth is 〈◊〉 Limus such another Medicine all the Doctors are not ablâ— produce which is of a curious sweet fragrancy standiâ—â— distinct in two lights and must needs be in rerum naturâ— because it was brought on God his Altar for an offering bâ— mans art prepared and suffer'd it to be extinguished None knoweth what it is neither we literated Doctoâ— know the preparation of it who when their Confectioâ— Syrups Herbs and Potions will do no good and are in dâ—spair then they might willingly run to Metals which fâ—â—merly they made conscience to make use of them in the Oyntmenis and Plaisters of this I make mention in a râ—verend remembrance for true rational myners Out of goâ—â— and silver are joyned not onely gold and silver monies aâ— other plates for mans use but they serve for mans use in mâ—ny other things and after the first metals vertue there coâ—â— others also more and more very effectual even to the lâ—â— of metals Such vertues there are in minerals also as in vitriol aâ—timony allom salt and the like All these are a nourisâ—ment unto metals even as Manna was to the Israelites 〈◊〉 the desart As they are easily withdrawn and taken froâ— metals so it hapned to them also Heathens and Christiaâ— received that Manna together with Mines and Kingdomâ— they are set and shot at the heap of rubbish where theâ— still worship the Calf of this I have spoken more in thâ—â— book where I treated of Fossilia CHAP. XII How precious Stones and Jewels are wrought and how God hath bestowed blessings upon those that work the Mynes â—Ewels are wrought out of the substance of the most perfect transparent and noblest earthlinesse with mixture of the noblest Mercury Sulphur and Salt â—â—thout any fume or moist matter are of a dry coagulaâ—â—n and commonly are engendred in a round form in â—eir dwellings lodgings stocks and passages fixedly â—und together some are of a transparent lustre oâ—ers are more dark and they have their several coâ—â—rs Not many oars are found in which these noble generaâ—â—d bodies are brought to any perfectnesse neither are 〈◊〉 it strikings along in a way of passage here and there â—ey have their Centers unto which are joyned tender and â—â—aculous accrescencies where they are guttatim lapidaâ—d falling into the hardest purest stones concavities â—â—wing in several cuticles as we see the animal stones do â—ow The more precious the Jewels are the fewer there â—e
fruits serve for mans good both for his body and spiâ—â— for nothing is hid from my transparent power my splenâ—â— and lustre over-shadoweth all these and are held to â—ir growing unto maturity let no creatures marvel at â—â—se several distinctions from whence they all should â—ne for all have their principle from me froÌ„ my spirit â—ich is hidden in me which none can dive into save the 〈◊〉 creator of all things from whom it proceeded as out â—his Divine mouth Thus I close up my speech and my 〈◊〉 startle at so great a mystery and attest in truth for a â—ewell that I am not onely the Gold and present Sol but â—e also strength and power to all the inferies terrene spiâ—â— for Aristeus and Onizon is in subjection unto me for I 〈◊〉 α and God be praised for ever Thus I conclude the second part of my Mineral book â—erein I have shewed faithfully as much as I know and â—â—ld in my industry apprehend let others do their enâ—avours also let them produce their knowledge also that 〈◊〉 light of the noble nature may still be supply'd in her â—â—nitude and may not go out whereby cause would be â—â—en to the enemy and envious men to be outragious â—â—inst such truths Let God still and uncessantly be imâ—â—tuned with prayers and thanks-giving For these ends â—ave written these my two Treatises and annexed the â—nuals at the beginning which otherwise needed not to 〈◊〉 done that by earnest prayer and thanksgiving and conâ—â—ued earnest worshipping of God every one might careâ—â—ly exercise himself therein and be convinced in his â—â—ason how gloriously almighty God hath created orâ—â—ined and held forth nature to perform her operations under ground and to produce unto the day light formâ—â— their Nativities and fruits that we may reap thereby 〈◊〉 onely our sustenance but may acknowledge Gods infinâ— mercy and goodnesse for which none can return sufficieâ— thanks However let every one do his duty and as moâ— as he is able to perform with his heart and tongue pray God is sincerity for his grace blessing and wisdom tâ— conceive by his spirit of truth and righteousnesse of his great and wonderfull Creature that the honour of God maybe exalted above the Heaven and be proclaimed with infinite praise throughout all the World End of the second Part. THE THIRD PART OF BASILIUS VALENTINUS His last TESTAMENT Treating of the Universal work in the whole World with a perfect Declaration of the XII Keyes wherein is significantly expressed the name of the great matter There is an Elucidation also of all his former writings published for the good of the posteritie and such that are lovers of wisdom LONDON Printed Anno Domini MDCLVI THE THIRD PART IS A Declaration of the XII Keyes HEre followeth the third part of my intended writings wherein is truely shewed the original and prime matter of our Philosophick stone which is a perfect instruction to the practick part which sheweth the direct way to the inexhaustible founâ— of health and of the abundance of riches to provide mans necessaries and this is a Declaration of my former â—itings which is left for a love-token to all those that lovers of Philosophy My friend you must note that by this intended work â—ching the Minerals I had reason to prefix the two parts Minerals and Metals and their Oars holding it a necesâ—y to hold forth a light unto the ignorant how that one 〈◊〉 it from above frameth all such Oars Metals and Mineâ—s taking their original under ground for to generate â—ereby For earth is alwayes ready and covetous to atâ—ct and to retain that spirit which proceedeth from Heaâ—ns powers which it presenteth in processe of time in a â—mality and perfection The manner of it hath been spoâ—en of sufficiently in my former writings which is the reaâ—n why I give onely hints of them in this place Note that all things proceed from a heavenly influencâ— elementall operation earthly substance from this mixâ—â—â— arise the 4. Elements water aire earth which engender hâ—â— the help of fire hid therein in a warm digestion produciâ—â— a Soul Spirit and Body These are the three prime priâ—ciples which in a coagulation come to a Mercury Sulphâ— and Salt these three being in conjunction according to thâ— nature of the seed produce a perfect bodie be it in thâ— Kingdom either of Minerals Animals or Vegetables Aâ— things in the world that are visible and palpable are dâ—â—vided into these three Kingdoms the Animal which coâ—tains such that have a lively breath composed of flesh anâ— bloud as men beasts worms fishes fowls The Vegetables which contains trees herbs seeds roots fruits anâ— all such things that are of a growing quality the Mineraâ— contains all manner of Oars Metals Minerals Marcasâ—â— Calxes Zincks Lobol's all sorts of flints peebles wismuthâ— stones precious ones and others Animals have their special seed a spermatick substance which after a copulation generate flesh and blood whicâ— iced is their prima materia from a heavenly influence created of God of the 4. Elements wrought by nature whicâ— formerly were quoted in my writings Vegetables also have their proper seed which God bestowed on them according to their several qualities anâ— forms by a heavenly and sideral influence and receive theâ— elemental fruitfull growing from the earth with an ordeâ— thereby to generate and augment Minerals and Metals also have their original seed froâ— God by the heavens influence in a liquid aereall substance by a Mineral spirit sulphureous Soul and earthâ— Salt in one body joyned of these I have spoken in my sâ—mer writings Note further if any of these Metalliâ— and Mineral kindâ— shall be brought to a farther propagation and augmentatâ—on it must first be reduced to its first seed and prima mâ—teria If you will transmute Metals augment them bring â—em into a tincture or Philosophick stone you must first â—derstand how you may destroy by a spagyrick Art the â—etalline and Mineral form and separate it into a Mercury â—â—lphur and Salt these three must be purely separated and ought to their first principles This separation is done in and by a Mercurial spirit sulâ—ureous Soul and a white Salt These three in a due orâ—ring of a true manual must be joyned again that they â—ay be brought to the highest and most perfect purity In which conjunction must exactly be observed the â—â—antity after this conjunction the whole substance is â—eerly a liquid substance and philosophick water in which â—l the Elements first the heavenly then the elemental and â—â—sly the earthly qualities are shut up and lye hid therein For the Mercurial spirit is cold and moist the sulphureous â—oul is warm and dry and this liquor is the true prima maâ—ria and first seed of Metals and Minerals which by Vulâ—â—ns Art is brought to a plusquam perfection into a transcenâ—ent fix'd Medicine out of which is generated the true â—hilosophick stone and must be produced in that way Therefore observe and
namely what matâ—â— you ought to take to the Kings Balneum whereby the â—ng is destroyed and its external form broken and its â—â—defiled Soul may come forth to this purpose will serve â—â—e Dragon and the Eagle which is Niter and Sal armonick â—â—th which after their union are made into a Aquafort as â—â—u shall be further informed of in my Manuals where I â—â—all treat in particular of Gold of other Metals and Mineâ—â—ls into which Balneum the King is thrown being first 〈◊〉 in the quoted place you shall hear brought into an Amalâ—me of Mercury and of Sulphur which presently seizeth on â—im corrodeth all his members and is dissolved and is â—resently mortified of this Salt water into a most splendent â—ransparent Oyl You must note that this dissolution is â—ot sufficient and the King is not minded as yet to let go â—is Soul out of his fixed body which you can see when you â—eparate the water from the dissolved body of the King where you shall finde fixed powder of Gold out of which you will hardly get his Soul that is therein Therefore follow my counsel and bear the yoake which I bore before â—ye and learn to know exactly in pains taking further thus as I shall inform you Having dissolved your Gold wholly in the said water and brought it into a pleasant yellow Oyl then let it stand well luted for a day and night in a very gentle Balneum Mariae the feces which are setled must be separated from it then take this pure dissolution put it into a well coated body or Retort apply a Helmet to it with a receiver in the best manner luted to it set it into a sand Capel drive the Gold with the water over the Helmet iterate this a third time then abstract the water in Balneum Mariae you will finde a fair Gold-powder keep this in a glasse for an hour in fire let the remaining humidity be drawn from it The third Key THen take of good spirit of Sal-niter one part and of dâ—â—phlegmed spirit of ordinary Salt three parts pour theâ— spirits together warm'd a little into a body on the forâ— written Gold-powder lute a Helmet and Receiver to iâ— drive the Gold over as formerly in sand several times wiâ—â— an iterated distillation the oftner the better let the Goâ—â— come to be volatile more and more and at last let all coâ—â— over By this repeated driving over its fixed body is divided all its Members are torn asunder and opened anâ— leaveth willingly its Soul to a special Judge of which mâ— third Key will give sufficient information Note further that after this work those salt spirits muâ—â— be abstracted from the Gold which was driven over very gently in Balneo Mariae let nothing of the tincture of the Gold come over that the body suffer not any diminution then take that Gold or rather these Chrystals of Gold from which you have separated the water put it in a reverberating pan set it under a Muffle let its first fire be gentle for an hour let all its corrosivenesse be taken away then your powder will be of a fair scarlet colour as subtile as ever was seen put it in a clean viol pour on it fresh spirit of ordinary Salt first brought to a sweetnesse let it stand in a gentle digestion let that spirit be deeply ting'd and transparent red like a Ruby cant if off pour on fresh extract again iterate the work of canting off and pouring on till no more tincture of it appeareth put all these extractions together separate them in Balneo gently from the Sulphur of Sol then that powder is subtile and tender of great worth this matter is such which in a short processe transmuteth Lune in its tincture to the highest perfection according to the direction of my XII Keyes He that hath some knowledge herein may make this quere whither this extracted dry Soul and Sulphur of the â—â—g be just that Soul of which Philosophers have this â—ng the Philosophick work for the preparation of the â—â—t precious stone requireth three things viz. a wet volaâ— Mercury or a Mercurial spirit a wet volatile sulphurous â—â—l and a dry astral Salt which after its dissolution togeâ—â— with the two first must be apparent and known in a â—erish form which way comes that about because in 〈◊〉 processe nothing is spoken of any Mercurial spirit and â—atile Soul but the Soul of the King appeared in a subâ—â— form of powder The answer hereunto I delay so long 〈◊〉 the Querist learns better to understand the distinction in â—s book and I will perform my promise and set his â—xious and intangled minde at liberty which is so much â—ubled about this doubt and will deal with him as a â—od father may deal with his son in and with this scope â—herein our Mastery lieth have been fooled most of the â—its leading them captive in their erroneous wayes being â—â—d about in a desart of mislead wayes because in their â—â—pposed deep wits they had not conceived so much of the â—anner how all things of the world are generated and that â—very spirit must have a Soul and every Soul a fit spirit and â—hat both spirit and Soul are spirits and spiritual which must â—ave a body in which they may have a dwelling Gold and Silver but chiefly Gold is brought to the highest fixednesse by such degrees as nature did afford insomuch â—ts nature is found very hot and fiery freed from all phlegmatick humidity of which Lune is not so wholly freed though she hath obtained a sulphur-fixed degree and stayeth for the King to warm her cold body with his hot seed which concerns the particulars and belongs unto them which in that place shall be plainly demonstrated In Gold there is no waterish humidity at all unlesse it were reduced again into Vitriol which would be but an uselesse and unprofitable work and would require huge expences in case the Philosophers stone should be of Vitriol of Gold of which there must be had great store indeed in that Vitriol there would be found a convenient spirit which natuâ—â— would desire of a white quality as also a Soul and Salt of glorious essence But what Countreys Goods Lands have been dilapiâ—ted this way I wave to discourse of onely this warning 〈◊〉 give to my Disciples nature having left a nearer way 〈◊〉 keep and to imitate that that they also might take heed 〈◊〉 fall into such extream and inexâ—ricable poverties The solar Mercury Sol being never brought so far undestruction neither did the ancient Philosophers ever makâ— use of that way as being a thing clean contrary unto nature containeth indeed an humidity but it is a meer Elemental waterish humidity after its dissolution and good foâ— nothing water and other principles do not stand in the Elements but the Elements rest in the principles and seeds oâ— Metals of the which I have spoken formerly Therefore let none be so over witty as to make our
they are much distinct aâ—â—der though they dwell in one body possessing one loâ—â— it matters not for the will of the Creator was so to hâ—â— that mystery from unworthy men observe and consideâ— well if so be you intend to be a true follower of Phâ—â—sophers In this knowledge lyeth hid an irrecovâ—able errour worldly wits cannot conceive of it 〈◊〉 the spirit of Vitriol and the remaining Oyl should be of great distinction in the vertue Touching their properâ—â— the spirit being well dissolved and brought into its thâ—â— principles Gold and Silver onely can be made by it and 〈◊〉 of its Oyl onely Copper which will be apparent in a prâ—made The condition of the spirit of Vitriol and its maining Oyl is this that where there is Copper and Iron 〈◊〉 Solar seed commonly is not far from it and again whâ—â— there is seed of Gold at hand Copper and Iron is not 〈◊〉 from it by reason of its attractive Magnetick quality 〈◊〉 love which they as tinging spirits in a visible manner câ—â—tinually bear one to another Therefore Venus and Mâ—â— are penetrated ringed with the superabounding tinctâ— of Gold and in them there is found much more the 〈◊〉 of the red tincture than in Gold it self as I made further â—lation of it in my other backs unto which there belong 〈◊〉 also the Mineral of Vitriol which goeth beyond these many degrees because its spirit is meer Gold and rubedâ— crude indigested tincture and in very truth as God hâ—â—self is is indeed not found otherwise But this spirit as you heard must be divided into â—â—tain distinct parts as into a spirit soul and body the spâ—â— is the Philosophick water which though visibly parted sunder yet can never be separated radically because their unavoidable affinity they bear and have one to 〈◊〉 other as it appeareth plainly when afterward they 〈◊〉 ioyned the one in their mixture embraceth the other even 〈◊〉 Magnet draweth Iron but in a meliorated essence betâ—â— than they had before their dissolution This is the â—ift beginning middle and end of the total Philosophick â—â—sdom affording riches and health and a long life it may â—her be said and really proved that this spirit is the esâ—ce of Vitriol because this Spirit and Oyl do differ so â—â—ch and were never united radically because the Oyl â—â—meth after the spirit each can be received apart This â—â—y spirit may rather and more fitly be called an essence â—â—phur and substance of Gold and it is so though he lyeth â—king in Vitriol as a spirit This golden water or spirit drawn from Vitriol contains â—in a sulphur and Magnet its sulphur is the anima an inâ—â—bustible fire the Magnet is its own Salt which in the â—â—junction attracteth its Sulphur and Mercury uniteth â—â—h the same and are inseparable Companions First in â—entle heat is dissolved the undigested Mercurial spirit 〈◊〉 this is further extracted after a Magnetick quality the â—â—phurous anima in that earth sticketh the Salt which is tracted also in a Magnetick way by the Mercurial spirit still the one is a Magnet unto the other bearing a Magâ—â—ick love one to another as such things where the last â—â—ether with the medium is drawn forth by the first and 〈◊〉 thereby generated and thus take their beginning In â—s separation and dissolution the spirit or Mercury is the â—st Magnet shewing its Magnetick vertue toward the sulâ—â— and Soul which he quasi Magnes attracteth this spirit â—â—modum distillationis being absolved and freed sheweth aâ—â— its Magnetick power toward the salt which he attractâ—â— from the dead earth after the spirit is separated from it 〈◊〉 the Salt appeareth in its purity if that processe be ther followed anâ— after a true order and measure the â—â—unction be undertaken and the Spirit and Salt be set â—â—ther into the Philosophick furnace then it appears 〈◊〉 how the heavenly spirit striveth in a Magnetick way â—â—tract its own Salt it dissolveth the same within XL. dayes bringeth it to an uniform water with it sâ—lf even the Salt hath been before its coagulation In that destâ—â—ction and dissolution appeareth the hugest blacknesse aâ—â— Eclipse and darknesse of the earth that ever wâ—â— seen But in the exchange thereof a bright glitteriâ—â— whiâ—enesse appearing then the case is altered and 〈◊〉 dissolved fluid waterish Salt turns into a Magnet for that dissolution it layeth hold on its own spirit which is tâ—â— spirit of Mercury attracteth the same powerfully like Magnet hiding it under a form of a dry clear body brinâ—ing the same by way of uniting into a deep coagulation aâ— firm fixednesse by means of a continued fire and the certâ—â— degrees thereof The King with the white Crown being thus generateâ— and by exiceation of all humidities being brought to a fixâ— state then is it nothing else but earth and water thouâ— the other Elements be hid therein insensibly howevâ—â— both these keep the predominance though the spirit 〈◊〉 to earth and can never be seen in a watery form and tâ—â— double new born body abideth still in its Magnetick quaâ—ty for as soon as his departed Soul is restored after white fixation then like a Magnet he attracteth the sâ—â—â— again uniteth with it then are they exalted to their highâ—â— tincture and rubedo with a bright transparentnesse aâ—â— clarity Thus in brief you have a short relation of Vitrioâ— Sulphur and Magnet Pray to God for grace that you mâ—â— conceive aright of it put it then to good use and be minâ—full of the poor and needy At the closing I annect this briefly to hold forth uâ— to you a natural proof that you presently fling and throâ— down the Sophister and take his Scepter from him Noâ— that from all Metals especially from Mars and Venus whiâ—â— are very hard and almost fixed Metals of each apart can made a Vâ—triol this is the reduction of a Metal into a Miâ—â—ral for Minerals grow to Metals and Metals were at fiâ— Minerals and so Minerals are proxima materia of Metals bâ— not prima from these vitriol may be made other reduc◠〈◊〉 namely a spirit is drawn from them by the vertue of 〈◊〉 This spirit being driven over then there is again a reâ—ion of a Mineral into its spiritual essence and each â—it in its reduction keepeth a Metalline property but spirit is not the prima materia Who is now so grosse absurd that should not be able to conceive further believe that by these reductions from one to the other â—â—re be a way to prima materia and at last to the seed it 〈◊〉 both of Metals and Minerals though there be no neâ—â—ry to destroy Metals because their seed in the Minerals â—â—und openly fixed O good God what do these ignorant men think is not 〈◊〉 a very easie and Childrens like labour the one begets other and the one cometh from the other is there not â—ad bak'd of Corn upon distinct works But the World â—linde and will be so to the end of it Thus much at
this â—e and commit thee to the protection of the Highest End of the third Part. THE â—OURTH PART OF BASILIUS VALENTINUS His last TESTAMENT â—he Manuals wherein he treateth how Metals and fitting Minerals may Particulariter be brought to their highest preparation LONDON Printed Anno Domini MDCLVI THE FOURTH PART Of â—articulars from the seven Metals how they may be prepared with profit First of the Sulphur of Sol whereby Lune is tinged into good Gold TAke of pure Gold which is three times cast through Antimony and of well purged Mercury vive being prest through leather six parts make of it an Amalgame to the quantity of this Amalgame grinde twice as much of common Sulphur let it evaporate â—n a broad pan in a gentle heat under a Muffle stirring it â—ll with an Iron hook let the fire be moderate that the matâ—er do not melt together this Gold calx must be brought to â—e colour of a Mary-gold flower then is it right then take â—e part of Salpeter one part of Salarmonie half a part of â—â—inded peebles draw a water from it Note this water â—ust be drawn warily and exactly To draw it after the â—ommon way will not do it he that is used to Chymick preâ—rations knows what he hath to do And note you must â—ave a strong stone Retort which must be coated to hold â—he spirits closely it s upper part must have a pipe upward â—f half a spans length its widenesse must bear two fingers â—readth it must be set first in a distilling furnace which must be open above that the upper pipe may stand out diâ—ectly apply a large receiver lute it well let your first fire â—e gentle then increase it that the Retort look glowing hot put a spoonfull of this ground matter in at the pipe close thâ— pipe suddenly with a wet clout the spirits come rushingâ—â— into the receiver these spirits being setled then carry iâ— another spoon-full in this manner you proceed till yoâ— have distilled all At last give time to the spirits to be seâ—led to turn into water this water is a hellish dissolvinâ— strong one which dissolveth instantly prepared Gold calâ—â— and laminated Gold into a thick solution of which I madâ— mention above in the third part This is that water which mentioned in my second Key which dissolveth not onely Gold but bringeth it to a volatility carrying it over thâ— helmet whose anima may afterward be drawn from its toâ—â— body Note the spirit of common Salt effecteth the same iâ— drawn in that manner which I shall speak of afterward 〈◊〉 three parts of this Salt-spirit be taken and one part of spiritus nitri it is stronger than Salarmonick water and is better because it is not so corrosive dissolveth Gold the sooner carrieth it over the helmet maketh it volatile and fit to paâ—â— with its soul you have your choice to use which you thinkâ— best and may easier be prepared thus Take one part oâ—â— the prepared Gold calx and three parts of the water which you make choice of put it into a body lute a helmet to it set it in warm ashes let it dissolve that which is not dissolved pour three times as much water upon that all dissolve let it cool separate the feces put the solution into a body lute a helmet to it let it stand in a gentle heat day and night to Balneo Mariae if more feces be setled separate them digest them again in the Balmy nine dayes and nights then abstract the water gently to a spissitude like unto an Oyl in the bottom this abstracted water must be poured on that spissitude this must be iterated often that it grow weary and weak remember you lute well at all times To the oleity on the bottom pour fresh water which was not yet used digest day and night firmly closed then set it in a sand Capel distil the water from it to a thicknesse make the abstracted water warm put it into a body lute it â—â—stract it iterate this work and make all the Gold come â—er the helmet Note at the next drawing always the fire must have one â—gree more the Gold being come over into the water â—stract the water gently from it in the Balmy to the oleity 〈◊〉 the glasse into a cold place there will shoot transparent â—ystals these are the vitriol of Gold pour the water â—om it distil it again unto an oleiâ—y set it by for shooting â—ore Chrystals will shoot iterate it as long as any do shoot â—issolve these Crystals in distilled water put to it of purged â—ercury three times as much shake it about many colours â—ill appear an Amalgame falls to the ground the water â—eareth up evaporate the Amalgame gently under a muffle â—irring it still with a wyar at last you get a purple coâ—â—ured powder scarlet like it dissolveth in Vinegar into a â—loud-rednesse Extract its anima with prepared spirit of â—ine mixed with the spirit of common Salt entred togeâ—her into a sweetnesse This tincture of Sol is like a transpaâ—ent Rubie leaving a white body behinde Note without information you cannot attain unto the â—pirit of Salt if it be not sweet it hath no extractive power to the attaining hereof observe these following manuals â—ake good spirit of Salt dephlegmed exactly driven forth in that manner as you shall hear anon Take one part of it add half a part to it of the best spirit of wine which must not have any phlegme but must be a meer Sulphur of wine and must be prepared in that manner as I shall tell you anon lute a helmet to it draw it over strongly leave nothing behinde to the abstracted put more spirit of wine draw it over somewhat stronger than you did the first time weigh it put a third time more to it draw it over again well luted putrifie this for half a moneth or so long as it be sweet and it is done in Balmy very gently thus the spirit of Wine and Salt is prepared lost its corrosity and is fit for extracting Take the Ruby-â—ed prepared Gold powder put of this prepared spirit of Salt and Wine so much that it stand two fingers breadth over it set it in a gentle heat the spirit wâ—â— be red ting'd this red spirit must be canted off pour 〈◊〉 new spirit on that which remained on the bottom set â—â—luted into a gentle heat let it be tinged deeply then cant 〈◊〉 off this work must be iterated that the body of Sol remain on the bottom like calx vive which keep for thereiâ— sticketh yet more of the Salt of Gold which is effectual iâ— wayes of Medicine as shall be showed anon Those ring'd spirits put together abstract them gently iâ— Balneo there will be left a red subtile powder in the bottom which is the true tinctur animated or Sulphur of Gold dulcifie it with distill'd rain water it will be very subtil tender and fair Take this extracted Sulphur of Sol as you were taught and
as much of Sulphur of Mars as you shall hear anon when I treat of Mars grinde them together put it in a pure glasse pour on it so much of spirit of Mercury let it stand over it two fingers breadth that the matter in it may be dissolved see to it that all dissolve into a Ruby-like Gold water joyntly drive it over then is it one and were at first of one stem keep it well that nothing of it evaporate put it to separated silver calx being precipitated with pure Salt and afterward well edulcorated and dried fix it together in a fiery fixation that it sublime no more then take it forth and melt it in a wind-oven let it stream well then you have united Bride and Bridegroom and you brought them unto Gold of a high degree Be thankfull to God for it as long as you live I should give further direction how this extracted Soul of Sol should be further proceeded in and to make it potable which ministreth great strength and continued health unto man But it belonging unto Medicinals I delay it to that place where further mention shall be made of At this present I will speak onely how the white Solar body shall further be anatomized and that by Art its Mercurie current and its Salt may be obtained The processe of it is thus Take the white body of Sol from which you have drawn â—nima reverberate it gently for half an hour let it beâ—e corporeal then pour on it well rectified hony-water â—â—h is corrosive extract its Salt in a gentle heat it is â—e in ten dayes space the Salt being all extracted abâ—ct the water from it in Balneo edulcorate the Salt with â—â—ted distillings with common distilled water clarifie it â—n spirit of wine then you have Sal auri of which you shall â—r more in its due place of the good qualities it hath by â—y of Medicine upon man On the remaining matter â—â—r spirit of Tartar of which in another place because it â—ongeth unto Medicinals digest these for a moneths â—â—e drive it through a glasse Retort into cold water then â—n have quick Mercury of Sol many strive to get it but 〈◊〉 vain There is one mystery more in Nature that the white â—lar body having once lost its anima may be ting'd again â—nd brought to be pure Gold which mystery is revealed to â—â—ry few I shall give a hint of it that you may not grumâ—â—e at me to have concealed any point in the work I hope you have considered and taken to heart what I â—ave entrusted you withall about the universal stone of Philosophers in my third part namely how it resteth meerâ—y upon the white spirit of Vitriol and how that all three principles are found onely in this spirit and how you are â—o proceed in and to bring each into its certain stare and â—order Take the Philosophick Sulphur which in order is the second principle and is extracted with the spirit of Mercuâ—ry pour it in the white body of the King digest it for a moneth in a gentle Balmy then fix it in ashes and at last in sand that the brown powder may appear then melt it wth a fluxing powder made of Saturn then will it be malleable and fair Gold as it was formerly in colour and vertue nothing defective But note the Salt must not be taken from the Solar body of which I made mention formerly in a repetition of the xii Key where you may read of There may be pâ—pared yet in another manner a transparent Vitriol 〈◊〉 Gold in the following manner Take good Aqua Regis made with Sal armoniac 1. poâ—â— id est dissolve four ounces of Salmiac in Aquafort then yâ— have a strong Aqua Regis distil and rectifie it often oâ— the helmet let no feces stay behinde let all lascends 〈◊〉 transparent Then take thinly beaten Gold rolls cast fâ—merly through Antimonie put them into a body pour oâ—â— Aqua Regis let it dissolve as much as it will or as you 〈◊〉 dissolve in it having dissolved all the Gold pour into soâ—â— Oyl of Tartar or Salt of Tartar dissolved in fountain waâ—â— it begins to tisse having done tissing then pour in again 〈◊〉 the Oyl do it so long that all the dissolved Gold be fall'n 〈◊〉 the bottom and nothing more of it precipitate the Aqâ—â— Regis clear up This being done then cant off the Aqâ—â— Regis from the Gold calx edulcorate it with common water eight ten or twelve times the Gold calx being weâ— setled cant off that water and dry the Gold calx in thâ— aire where the Sun doth not shine do it not over a fire for as soon as it feeleth the least heat it kindleth and greaâ— damage is done for it would fly away forcibly that no man could stay it This powder being ready also then takâ— strong Vinegar pour it upon boyl it continually over the fire in a good quantity of Vinegar still stirring it that it may not stick unto the bottom for xxiv hours together then the fulminating quality is taken from it be carefull you do not endanger your self cant off that Vinegar dulcifie the powder and dry it This powder may be driven per alembicum without any corrosive bloud-red transparent and fair which is strange and uniteth willingly with the spirit of wine and by means of coagulation may be brought to a Solar body Do not speak much of it to the vulgar if you receive any benefit by and from my plain and open information be thus minded to keep these mysteries secret still to thy dying day and make no shew of it else thou art naked and lyest open to the Devils temptations in all thy wayes â—efore pray give attention to what I shall tell thee for I impart unto thee this Arcanum also and entrust thee 〈◊〉 thy conscience with it Take good spirit of wine being brought to the highest â—â—ee let fall into it some drops of spirit of Tartar then 〈◊〉 thy Gold powder put to it three times as much of the 〈◊〉 and subtilest common flowers of sulphur grinde these â—ether set it on a flat pan under a muffle give to it a â—tle fire let the Gold powder be in a glowing heat put â—hus glowing into the spirit of wine cant off the spirit of â—â—e dry the powder against a heat it will be porous â—ng dried then add to it again three parts of flores sulâ—â—ris let them evaporate under a muffle neal the remainâ— powder in a strong heat and put it in spirit of wine â—â—ate this work six times at last this Gold powder will be â—oft and porous as firm butter dry it gently because it â—lteth easily Then take a coated body which in its â—â—der part hath a pipe lute a helmet to it apply a reâ—â—ver set it freely in a strong sand Capel let your first fire 〈◊〉 gentle then increase it let the body be almost in a â—â—wing heat then put in the softned
be you proceeded right in the precipitation 〈◊〉 the Viol Hermeticè fix it in ashes at last in sand to its â—ighest fixation then you have bound Mercury with a true â—â—ot and brought him into a fix coagulation which â—rought its form and substance into a meliora ion with an â—bundance of superfluous riches if you carry it on a white â—recipitate then you get onely silver which holds but little â—f Gold One thing more I must tell thee about this processe that there is yet a better way to deal upon Saturn wiâ—â— more profit you seeker that you may not have any causâ— to complain against my not declaring take it thus takâ— two parts of the abovesaid dissolved Oyl or of the Saturnal Soul one part of Astrum Solis and of Antimonial Sulphur whose preparation followeth afterwards two parts half as much of Sal of Mars as all these are weigh theâ— together put all into a glasse Vial let the third part of iâ— be empty set it in together to be fixed then the Salt oâ— Mars openeth in this compound is fermented by it anâ— the matter begins to incline to a blacknesse for ten oâ— twelve dayes it is eclipsed then the Salt returns to its coagulation laying hold in its operation on the whole compound coagulate it first into a deep brown Masse 〈◊〉 it stand thus unstirred in a continued heat it turneth to 〈◊〉 bloud-red body encrease the fire that you may see Astrâ—â— Solis be predomiâ—ant which appeareth in a greenish colour like unto a Rain-bow keep this fire continually leâ— all these colours vanish it turneth to a transparent reâ— stone veâ—y ponderous needlesse to be projected on Mercury but ringeth after its perfection and fixation all white Metals into the purest Gold Then take of the prepared fixed red stone or of the powder one part and foâ—â— parts of any of the white Metal first let the Metal melt half aâ—â— houâ— and let it be well clarified then project the powdeâ—â— upon it let it drive well and see that it be entred into the Metal the Metal begin to congeal then is it transmuteâ— into Gold beat the pot in pieces take it out if it hath any Slacks â—rive them with Saturn then is it pure and maileable If you carry it on Lune then put more of the powder to it than you do upon Jupiter and Saturn as half an ouncâ— of he powder tingeth five ounces of Lune into Sol let tâ—â— be a miracle â—oâ—l not thy Soul with imparting this mystery unto others that are unworthy of it Proceed with Sâ—lt oâ— Saturn as you were informed about Mars and Venus onely distilled Vinegar pâ—â—formeth that which Hony waâ—â—er did by the other and clarifie it with spirit of â—â—e â—f the Particular of Jupiter together with the extraction of its Anima and Salt TAke Pumice-stones sold in shops neal them quench them in old good Wine neal them again and quench â—â—m as you did formerly let this nealing be iterated a third â—â—e the stronger the Wine is you quench withall the â—tter it is after that dry them gently thus are they preâ—â—ed for that purpose Pulverise these Pumice-stones subâ—â—y then take good Tin laminate it stratifie in a cementâ—â—g way in a reverberating Furnace reverberate this matter â—r five dayes and nights in a flaming fire it draweth the â—â—cture of the Metal then grinde it small first scraping the â—in lamins put it in a glasse body pour on it good distilâ—â—d Vinegar set it in digestion the Vinegar draweth the â—â—ncture which is red-yellow abstract this Vinegar in Balâ—â—â— edulcorate the Anima of Jupiter with distilled water â—â—xiccate gently proceed in the rest as you did with the â—nima of Saturn viz. dissolve radically in or with the spiâ—â—t of Mercury drive them over pour that upon two parts of red Mercury precipitated being precipitated with this Venerean sanguine quality then coagulate and fix if done â—uccesfully you may acknowledge Jupiter's bounty that gave leave to transmute this precipitate into Gold which will be apparent at their melting It performeth this also it transmuteth ten parts of Lune into Gold if other Sulphurs be added thereunto force no more upon Jupiter it 's all â—he is able to do being of a peaceable disposition he told all what he could do The processe about this Salt is to extract it with distilled rain-Rain-water clarified with spirit of Wine Of the Particular of Mercury vive and of its Sulphur and Salt TAke of quick Mercury sublimed seven times lib. a baâ— grinde it very small pour on it a good quantity of shaâ—â— Vinegar boyl it on the fire for an hour or upward stirriâ—â— the matter with a woodden spatule take it from the firâ— let it be cold the Mercury setleth to the bottom and thâ— Vinegar cleareth up if it be slow in the clearing let somâ— drops of spirit of Vitriol fall in the Vinegar it doth precipiâ—tate the other for Vitriol precipitateth Mercury vive Saâ— of Tartar precipitateth Sol Venus and common Salt dotâ— precipitate Lune and Mars doth the like to Venus a lixivium of Beech-ashes doth it to Vitriol and Vinegar is foâ— common Sulphur in that way and Mars for Tartar and Salâ— peter for Antimony Cant off the Vinegar from the precipâ—taete you will finde the Mercury like a pure wash'd Sand pour on it Vinegar iterate this work a third time then edulcorate the matter let it dry gently Take two ounces of Anima of Mars one ounce of Anima of Saturn one ounce of Anima of Jupiter dissolve these in 〈◊〉 ounces of Mercurial spirit let all be dissolved then drive it over leave nothing behinde it will be a Golden water like a transparent dissolution of Sol your prepared and edulcarated Mercury must be warm'd in a strong Viol pour this warm'd water gently on it a tissing will be stop the Viol then the tissing is gone than seal it Hermetice set it in a gentle Balmy in ten dayes the Mercury is dissolved into a grasse green Oyl set the Viol in ashes for a day and night rule your fire gently this green colour turneth into a yellow Oyl in this colour is hid the Rubedo keep it in this fire and let the matter turn to a yellow powder like unto Orpiment when no more comes over then set the glasse in Sand for a day and a night give a strong fire to it 〈◊〉 fairest Ruby-rubedo appear melt it to a fixednesse 〈◊〉 a fluxing powder made of Saturn it comes now to a â—ablenesse one pound of it containeth two ounces of 〈◊〉 Gold as deep as ever Nature produced any Beâ—ber the poor do not precipitate thy self into an inferâ—abysse by forgetting thy self in not doing the duties ought to perform in regard of the blessing An Oyl made of Mercury and its Salt TAke quick Mercury being often sublimed and rectified with Calx vive put it in a body dissolve it in a heat in strong Nitrous water abstract the water from the corrosivenesse
us for from them I had it next unto Gods revelation the reading of their books must be frequently iterated then the fundamentals thereof will the better stick to the memory and truth like a burning Candle be not extinguisht Be industrious in your carefull working search into Scriptures continually be not prepossessed with opinions follow after the unanimous concurrence of Philosophers a wavering man is easily brought into wrong wayes and such men which have wavering mindes seldom build firm houses Seeing the stone of the most ancient Philosophers doth not come or spring from things which are combustible because this stone is freed from all dangers fire may put him unto therefore trouble not thy self to seek for it in such things where Nature would not have thee to seek for As for example if one should tell thee this stone is a vegetable work because a growing quality is in it but it is not For if our stone were of a condition as other vegetaâ—â—es are it would easily be consumed in fire nothing â—ould stay but onely its Salt Though there were men â—ho have written great volumes of the vegetable stone yet â—â—y friend you must note that it will be very difficult for â—â—e to conceive of it for they call our stone a vegetable â—â—e because a growing and augmenting belongeth thereâ—nto Note further irrational beasts have their increase of â—heir own kinde so you strive nor to seek for or to make â—his stone but onely of his own seed from whence it hath 〈◊〉 beginning and being Neither ought you to look out â—or any Animal soul for the making thereof flesh and â—loud which the great Creator hath bestowed upon Aniâ—als belongeth properly unto animals God composed â—hem of flesh and bloud whereby an Animal is made but â—â—r stone which from the ancient Philosophers came as by â—n inheritance upon me is made of one and of two things which contain a third this is the naked truth and it is rightly spoken for the ancients understood by man and wife one body not in respect of the outward appearance but by reason of their innate love which they got at the first working of their Natures in that respect it is acknowledged that they are one and as both propagate and increase their seed even so the seed of that matter of which our stone is made can be propagated and augmented If you be a true lover of our Art you will take this expression into consideration to keep thy self out of the pit into which erroneous Sophisters usually fall which their enemy digged for them My friend that you may know further from whence this seed cometh then enquire first of thy self to what end you intend to seek after this stone Reason then will dictate unto thee that it must needs spring from a Metalline root which the Creator hath ordained for Metals to generate thereby if you will know the matter of it then note First when the spirit moved â—pon the water and the Universe was encompassed with darknesse then the omnipotent and eternal God who iâ— without a beginning and end whose wisdom was from eternity by his insearchable Decree created heaven and earth and the things contained therein be they visible or invisible by what name soever they may be called But of â—he manner of this glorious Creation my intent is not now to Philosophâ—ze much upon let Scripture and Faith be impartial judges herein The great Creator hath given in the Creation to every Creature a seed whereby it should generate and encrease whereby Animals Vegetables and Minerals might continually be preserved Man hath no power bestowed on him to make or bring forth a new kinde of seed according to his fancy against Gods ordinance there is granted unto him a propagation and increase God reserved for his sole power to make seed else man could play the Creator also which doth not beseem him and belongs meerly to the highest Creator Conceive thus of the seed which worketh Metals there is a heavenly influence according to Gods good pleasure and ordinance from above it falls and mingleth with sydereal qualities When such conjunctions happen then these two beget an earthly substance as a third thing whicâ— is the beginning of our seed its first original whereby its first descent is proved from these three the Elements have their off spring as water aire and earth which work further by an Aeâ—nick fire to the bringing forth of a perfect thing which Hermes and all those before me for I could finde no more have called the three principles and were found to be an internal Soul an incomprehensible spirit and a visible body These three being together in one dwelling in processe of time yet by Vulcans help to be a comprehensible being as a Me cury Sulphur and Salt these three by an uniting beâ—â—â—â—rought into a coagulation according to Natures miraculoâ—s operation there is brought forth a perfect body as Nature would have it and the Creator had ordained the seed for it He that purposeth to seek after the fountain of our work and hopeth to get the viâ—tory in this warfar to hâ—m I tell this for a truth that where there is a Metalline Soul a Metalline spirit and a Metalline form of body that there must needs be there also a Metalline Mercury a Metalline Sulphur and a Metalline Salt these must needs produce a perfect Metalline body If you do not conceive of it now then surely you are not adapted for Philosophy and in brief it is thus it will not be possible for thee to reap the benefit of any Metalline body unlesse you have joyned compleatly the forenamed three principles Note further Animals are composed of flesh and bloud there is in them also a living spirit and breath which dwelleth in them but they are destitute of a rational Soul which before them man is endued withall This is the reason that when Animals lost their lives they are gone no more hopes of them for ever But man who offering his body to his Creator in time of death hath a Soul who at the day of â—esurrection is to receive a glorified body to his Soul and are to dwell together and so Soul Body and Spiâ—i come together again iâ— an heavenly clarification which in all eternity will never be separated again c. Therefore man by reason of his Soul is acknowledged to be a fixed Creature because he is to live for ever after this life â—hough in his body he is subject to a temporal death For death is unto man onely a clarification according to Gods ordinance by certain degrees is delivered from a sinfulnesse and transplanted into a better condition which doth not beâ—â—ll other Animals therefore are they esteemed to be unfixed Creatures for these being once gone by death cannot expect nor look for any resuscitation because they want a rational Soul for which the sole Mediator Jesus Christ hath suffered and shed his innocent bloud A spirit â—â—â—y have a
nest alone in the Alpes where her Chickens by reaâ— of the snow are destroyed by frost which is on the tops these Mountains But if you add unto the Eagle the cold Dragon whâ— had his dwelling a long time in stone clifts and Subteâ—â—nean caves where he crept in and out both these beâ— placed on that Hellish stool then Pluto will so stronâ— breath upon expelling a fiery volatile spirit out of 〈◊〉 cold Dragon whose great heat will burn the Eagles feath prepâ—ring a sweating-bank that the snow on the higâ—â— tops of the Mountains do dissolve and turn into water tâ—â— the mineral baâ—h be rightly prepared and riches and heaâ— be bestowed on the King The third Key WAter destroyeth fire quencheth it quite if abundance of water be poured into little fire then fire must yield unto water giving way for the victory unto it Thus our fiery Sulphur must with water be prepared by Art must be conquered if so be that after the separating of the water the fiery life of our Sulphureous fume shall get the triumphing victorie But here no victory can be obtained unlesse the King have bestowed strength and vertue unto his water and have delivered unto it the Key of his Court colour that be be destroyed thereby and be made invisible however at this time his visible form must appear again but with great diminution of his simple essence and great melioration of his condition Limmers carry yellow on white red upon yellow or a purple colour though all these colours are at hand yet the last is predominant being the uppermost in its degree The same order must be observed also in our Magisterium which being done then you have before you the light of wisdom which shineth in darknesse and yet burneth not For our Sulphur doth not burn yet giveth a light afar off neither doth it tinge unlesse it be prepared and tinged freely with its own tincture to give a further tincture unto weak imperfect bodies of Metals This Sulphur hath not a tinging quality unlesse the tincture be given to it in a fixation for a weak one cannot victorise the stronger keepeth down the weaker and weak things must yield unto strong ones The conclusion herein is this a weak and mean thing cannot help another which is in the same frailty neither can it import any furtherance to the operation of it can one combustible protect another which is of the fame condition A Protector must have a greater power than he whâ—m â—e intendâ— to protect so thing combustible must â—e defended by â—uâ—h which in their fixation are incombustible He that will prepare our incombustible Sulphur of Philosophers mâ—st be circumspect tâ— seek our Sulphur in a subjâ—ct wherein it lieth incombustible which cannot be unlesse the Salt-Sea have first swallowed the body and cast it up again freely then â—xalt it to â—â—s degree that it excel with its â—ustre all other Stars in Hâ—aven and be in its substance as rich of bloud as the Pellican is aâ— the opening of her breast nourishing many of her Chiekâ—ns without the weakning of her own body This is the Rose of our Masters of a Scarlet colour and the red blouâ— of the Dragon of which so many have written and is thâ—â— Purple mantle of the highest Commander in our Arâ— wherewith the Queen of salvation is clad and covered and thereby all needy Metals may be waâ—â—'d Keep this honourable Mantle with the Astral Salt very carâ—fully which followeth after this heavenly Sulphur let not any mischance befall it impart to it the birds volatile quality as much as there is needfull then the Cock will dâ—vour the Fox which is drown'd in water or reviveth by fire and is devoured again by the Fox where like is requited with the like or like is reconciled unto unlike The fourth Key ALl flesh begotten of earth must be destroyed and reurn to earth again which it was at first then that terrestrial Salt affordeth a new birth by heavenly resuscitation for if there be nor first an earth there cannot ensue any resurrection in our work For earth containeth that natural Balsam and is the Salt of those which sought for it by a knowledge of all things or universal knowledge the final judgement of the world will be by fire which the great Creator at first made of a nothing must by fire he turn'd to ashes again out of these ashes the Phoenix bringâ—â— forth again her Chickens For these ashes contain realâ—â— the true Tartar which must be dissolved after its disâ—â—lution the firm and strong lock of the royal room is â—â—ened New heaven and new earth are made after that great â—ombustion or burning and the new man will appear more â—â—loriously than he was in the first world because in the â—â—ther he is clarified If ashes and sand be well ripened and digested by fire â—â—en the Artist turneth it into glasse which afterward â—oldeth in the fire in its colâ—ur it is like unto a transparent â—â—one anâ— looks no more like any ashes this is a huge mystery unto ignorant men but not so to knowing men for they found it to be so by their dayly experience and Manuals Men burn Lyme of stones to make use of them for a Cement in buildings before the fire prepareth it thereunto it is a stone and cannot be used for a Cement as long as it is a hard stone fire bringeth stones unto a maturity and receiveth from the fire a very hot degree whereby it is strengthned and groweth so potent that there is almost nothing comparable unto it the fiery spirit of Lyme Every thing being reduced into ashes affords by Art a Salt if you at the anatomizing of it are able to keep apart its Sulphur and Mercury and make restitution thereby unto the Salt according to Aâ—â— â—hen fire will bring it to that again which it was before its Anatomy and destruction worldly wise men call this a folly counting it meer lies call it a new Creature which to do man hath no grant of God themselves understand it not that this Creature hath been formerly so and the Artist sheweth its increase onely by the seed of Nature That Artist which wanteth ashes cannot make any Salt for our Art because our work cannot be made lively without Salt for the coagulation of things worketh meerly the Salt As Salt preserveth things from putrefaction even so the Salt of Philosophers protecteth Metals that they cannoâ— be reduced to a nothing unlesse their Balsom die and the natural Salt spirit be gone then their body would be deaâ— and nothing further could be effected with it because thâ— Metalline spirits are gone and at their natural departinâ— left a dead dwelling into which no more life can bâ— brought again Note further you that intends to learn this Art that thâ— Salt out of ashes is of great effâ—â—cie many vertues are hiâ— therein Yet the Salt availeth nothing unlesse his innermost be turn'd to the out-side For the spirit alone
allowed a due time it must not be shortned in its welfare no false thing must be imposed upon else an aspersion of unworthinesse will be cast upon it For if blossoms be pluckt off we are sure that no fruits will grow on such Trees Therefore making haste in our Magisterium is not good a hastning man seldom doth any good work in our Art because by making haste good things are spoyled Let no seeker be deceived by greedinesse either to take out or to pluck off things before their time that the Apple â—â—p â—â—t out of his hand and the steel of it stay in his hand for 〈◊〉 good troth if our stone be not sufficiently ripened then â—hat matters can it produce to any ripenesse In water the matter is dissolved and is united by putreâ—â—ction in the ashes it getteth blossoms in sand its superâ—â—ous humidity is exsiceated a constant fire produceth a â—â—ed ripenesse it doth not follow from hence that Balneum â—ariae hors-dung ashes and sands must needs be used but â—â—ely the degrees and regiment of fire must in such a manâ—er be observed For the stone is made in an empty Furâ—â—ce of a threefold guard firmly closed and lockt up and â—â—ested by a continued fire so that all vapours and fumes â—o vanish and the Garment of honour appear in a rare â—â—lendour abide in a place in the neathermost part of heaâ—â—n and its running come to a stand And when the King 〈◊〉 lift up his arms not any longer then the glory of the â—orld is conquered the King is come now to an everlastâ—â—g fixednesse nothing can endanger him any more beâ—â—â—se he is become invincible unto which I say thus your â—â—th being dissolved in its own water must be exficcaâ—ed 〈◊〉 a meer heat then the aire will in breath a new life into 〈◊〉 that being made lively then you have a matter which â—â—st needs go by no other name than by the great stone of â—â—e world which penetrateth humane and metalline boâ—â— like a spirit is an Universal Medicine without any â—eâ—â—t it expelleth evil things keeping and preserving the â—â—od â—ones it is also a transmutation of bad things unto â—oodnesse its colour draweth from a transparent rednesse â—â—to a dark brown from a ruby-red to a garnate and it 〈◊〉 of an exceeding ponderousnesse and over-weighty He that getteth this stone let him return thanks unto the Creator of all Creatures for such a heavenly Balsaâ— let him 〈◊〉 the good use of both toward himself and toward others so â—hat his needs being served here withall may fare well also 〈◊〉 the other world God be praised for his unexpressible â—enefits for ever more Amen The eleventh Key THis Key intimateth our great stone's augmentation which I hold forth unto thee by way of comparison There dwelt in the Orient an excellent Champion called Orpheus which was mighty rich and had great Dominions he took in marriage his own sister by name Eurydice madâ— use of her as his wife Because he could not get any issuâ—â— by her the cause whereof he thought to be the sin he committed in choosing his own sister to be his wife he besoughâ— the Highest constantly in great earnestnesse wrestling with him for a blessing in that kinde Being one time taken with a deep sleep in his dream there came a flying man unto him by name Phoebus he toucht his feet which were very warm and said to him Thou noble Champion thou hast travelled over many Kingdoms and Countreys many Cities and potent Dominions and hast undergone great hardnesse at Sea and hazardedst many battles in War which made thee to attain unto that gallant state and wert chosen before others to be dignified with honour and gottest many applaudings by reason of thy valiantnesse thou shewedst in those warlike actions therefore the father in heaven hath commanded me to shew unto thee that thy prayers were heard and hast obtained this grant thou art to take the bloud out of thy right side and the bloud of thy wife 's left side and the bloud which did stick in the hearts of thy Father and Mother these are but two by natures right and are but one sort of bloud unite these together and let it enter again into the globe of the seven wise Masters closed nakedly then is the mighty one fed with his own flesh and drencht with his own bloud of honour If thou proceedest well herein then hast thou a great inheritance and begettest an infinite multitude descending from thine own body Yet know that the last seed in the eighth revolution of the â—â—me the first seed out of which thou art made in the beginâ—ing will bring its course to an end if thou dost this oftner â—nd beginnest alwayes de novo then thou shalt see thy Chilâ—rens Children A Macrocosme gâ—nerated by Microcosme is â—lentifully filled and the Kingdom of the great Creator is â—â—lly possessed This being ended Phoebus fled away the Champion aâ—akened who arose from his bed and having done all as â—â—e was commanded the Champion in all his undertakings â—ad not onely good successe and prosperity but God blesâ—â—d him also in his wife with many Children these also by â—heir fathers Testament grew great and famous and that â—obility remained in that generation and they were blesâ—ed with great riches for ever Seeker of this Art if you have understanding and wit â—ou need not any further interpretation of it if you want â—hat wit blame not me but thine own ignorance for I am â—orbid to open the lock any further I must and will obey â—t is set down plain enough for such whom God intends to â—lesse in it And it is so plain that men will hardly believe â—t The whole processe I have set down figuratively after that manner which my Predecessors have observed before â—â—e and I have done it more plainly then they did because 〈◊〉 concealed nothing if you have pull'd away the veil from â—our eyes you will finde that which many sought for and was found of very few For the matter is named altogeâ—her the beginning middle and end of the processe is shewed also The twelfth Key A Fencer who knoweth not well how to use his Weapons must needs be beaten by him that knoweth better how to use them he that learned in the Fencing School perfectly how to use all manner of Weapons 〈◊〉 will get the Garland in that School In like manner he who hath obtained by Gods blessâ—â— a tincture but knoweth not how to use it be is in the â—aâ—â— condition with the Fencer which is unskilfull in the use 〈◊〉 his Weapons This being the twelfth and last Key tending to the â—â—nishing of this my book I will not lead thee any longeâ— by Philosophick allegorical expressions but will reveâ—â— unto thee the Tinctur's Key in a full real processe Therefore follow this my ensuing Doctrine which is thus The Medicine and well prepared Philosophers stone being made of the true Virgins milk which was fully pâ—â—pared then
Particulars and Medicaments In the Treatise of the Philosophers stone I have set â—own expresly in a parable the Philosophers Sulphur â—n the XII Keyes but the Philosophers Mercury or â—he true Philosophick Magnet I gave a hint of in few words however I treated of the same in the XIâ— Keyes of the prima materia I spoke in my Rythmâ— or Verses I leave a light for a farewell unto the seeking Diâ—ciples whereby they may see the clear day in a daâ—â— night and do describe the vertue and operation of thâ— vulgar Sulphur Vitriol and Magnet the rest yoâ— may finde in the Treatise which followeth next thâ— XII Keyes which if you finde the true way of working you may get sufficiently of health and wealth iâ— this world Make use of in the name of God and unto his glorie and do good unto the poor and be helpfull untâ— them otherwise thy earthly Paradise may be turn'd iâ— the end into a damnable Hell from which O Lord deliver all good people Amen The First TREATISE Of Philosophers Sulphur Vitriol and Magnet First Section Of Sulphur and ferment of Philosophers LOving seeker of Chymical mysteries I have written a Treaâ—ise about the Philosophers stone and have set down expresly the materia of the Philosopherâ— Sulphur in the first Key and taught you in the second Key how you ought to distil our water of the Eagle and cold Dragon who had his dwelling a long time in Rocky Clifts and crept in and out in Subterranean concave and hollow places pour this spirit or aqua upon purged and fined Gold lute it well and set it into a dissolution in fimo for 14. nights to putrifie it then draw it over the Helmet pour the water upon Gold Calx whole make all the Gold come through the Helmet set this again under a Helmet abstract the water gently leave a third part of it in the bottom then set it into a Cellar let it coagulate and Crystallize wash these Crystals with distill'd water precipitate them with Mercury vive evaâ—â—rate the Mercury gently then you have a subâ—ile powâ—â— put it in a glasse lute it reverberate it for three dayes aâ— nights do it gently thus is the Philosophers Sulphur wâ— prepared for your work and this is the purple mantle 〈◊〉 Philosophick Gold keep it safely in a glasse for your coâ—junction The second Section Of the Philosophers Vitriol I Have told you plainly how Philosophers Sulphur 〈◊〉 made which loco masculi is to make the King or maâ— now you must have the female or wife which is the Mâ—â—curie of Philosophers or the materia prima lapidis whiâ—â— must be made artificially for our Azoth is not commâ—â— Vinegar but is extracted with common Vinegar and theâ— is a Salt made of materia prima this Salt is called the Pâ—losophers Mercurie which is coagulated in the belly of tâ—â— earth When â—his matter is brought to light it is not deâ—â— and is found every where Children play with it it is poâ—â—derous and hath a sent of dead mens bones for two Gâ—â—ders you may buy this matter for the work Therefore taâ—â— this matter distil calcine sublime reduce it to ashes for an Artist want ashes how can he make a Salt and he thâ—â— hath not a Metalline Salt how can he make the Philosâ—phers Mercurie Therefore if you have calcined the matter then extraâ—â— its Salt rectifie it well let it shoot into the Vitriol whicâ— must be sweet without any corrosivenesse or sharpnesse oâ— Salt Thus you geâ— the Philosophers Vitriol or Philosoâ—phick Oyl make further of it a Mercurial water thus yoâ— have perform'd an artificial work this is called the Philâ—sophers Azoth which purgeth Laton but is not yet wash'd Foâ— Azoth washeth Laton as the Ancient Philosophers have 〈◊〉 two or three thousand years ago For the Philosophick 〈◊〉 or Laton must with its own humidity or its own Merâ—â—al water be purg'd dissolv'd distill'd attract its Magnet 〈◊〉 stay with it And this is the Philosophers Mercury or â—â—curius duplicatus and are two spirits or a spirit and â—â—r of the Salt of Metals Thâ—n â—his water beareth the me of succus Lunariae aqua caelestâ— acetum Philosophorum â—â—a Sulphuris aqua permanens aqua benedicta Take â—â—t or ten parts of this water and one part of your â—menâ— or Sulphur of Sol set it into the Philosophers Egg â—â—e it well put it in the Athanar into that vaporous and â—t dry siâ—e govern it to the appearance of a black white â—d râ—â— colour then you get the Philosophers stone and â—u enjoy this noble dear and blessed Medicine and Tinâ—â—re and you may work miracles with it The third Section Of the Philosophers Magnet HErmes the father of Philosophers had this Art and was the first that wrote of it and prepared the stone our 〈◊〉 Mercurie Sol and Lune of the Philosophers whom maâ—y thousand laboraâ—ors have imitated my self also did the â—ke and I speak râ—ally that the Philosophers stone may be â—â—mposed of two bodies the beginning and ending of it â—ust be with Philosophick Mercury And this is now prima materia alias praeda materia priâ—a belongs onely to God and is coagulated in the entraâ—s â—f the earth first it turneth to Mercury then to Lead then 〈◊〉 Tin and Copper then to Iron c. Thus the coagulated Mercury must by Art be turn'd into its prima materia or water that it Mercurial water This is a stone and no â—â—ne of which is made a volatile fire in form of a water which drowneth and dissolveth its fix'd father and its voâ—tile mother Metalline Salt is an imperfect body which turneth Philosophick Mercury that is into a permanent or blessâ— water and is the Philosophers Magnet which loveth Philosophick Mars sticketh unto him and abideth with hiâ— Thus our Sol hath a Magnet also which Magnet is the fiâ—â— root and matter of our stone If you conceive of and uâ—derstand my saying then you are the richest man in tâ—â— world Hermes saith you must have three speciesies for the worâ—â— first a volatile or Mercurial water aqua coelestis then virâ—dis Leo green Lion which is the Philosophick Lune thirdâ—â— aes Hermetis or Sol or ferment Lastly note Philosophers had two wayes a wet onâ— which I made use of and a dry one herein you must proceed Philosophically you must purge well â—he Philosophers Mercury and make Mercury with Mercury addinâ— the Philosophick Salt ferment or Sulphur of Philosophers and proceed therein as you heard formerly then you havâ— the Philosophers Magnet that is the Philosophers Mercury Secondly the Metalline Salt or Philosophick Salt Thirdly aes Hermetis or Philosophick Sulphur Thus I have deliâ—eated the whole Art if you do not uâ—derstand it then you will get nothing nor art thou predestinated thereunto Allegorical expressions betwixt the Holy Trinity and the Philosophers stone DEar Christian Lover and well wisher to the blessed Art how graciously and miraculously hath the Holy Trinity created the
body put away the phlegme but keep careâ—â—lly the spirit of Wine and spirit of Calx and note both â—â—ese spirits are hardly separated because they embrace â—osely one another and being distilled they come over â—yâ—ntly Therefore take these mix'd and united spirits put them â—o a Jar-glasse kindle it the spirit of Wine burneth away 〈◊〉 spirit of Calx stayeth in the glasse keep it carefully â—â—is is a great arcanum few of other spirits go beyond its â—â—cacy if you know how to make good use of it It s qualiâ—â— may hardly be set down in any way of abridgement This spirit dissolveth Oculi Cancrorum the hardest Cryâ—â— these three being driven over together and often iterated in that distilling three drops of that liquor being miâ—â—ed in warm Wine break and dissolve any Gravel and â—â—e in mans body expelling their very roots not putâ—â—g the patients to any pain This spirit of Calx at the beginning looks bluish being â—â—tly rectified looks white transparent and clâ—â—r leaving 〈◊〉 feces behinde This spirit dissolveth the most fixed â—â—wels and precious stones On the other side he fixeth all â—â—tiâ—â— spirits with his transcendent heat This spirit conquereth all manner of Podagrical Sympâ—â—s be they never so nodose and tarâ—â—rous dissolveth and â—â—â—els them radically To the omnipotent Trine God Father Son and Holy â—â—ost be returned hearty thanks for all his benefits which 〈◊〉 hath bestowed on man and discovered those secrets I â—â—ought on in his name To him be eternal praises â—men All that hath breath praise the Lord. Allelujah End of the fifth part BASILIUS VALENTINUS HIS TREATISE CONCERNING MICROCOSME OR The little World which is Mans body What it doth contain and of what it is composed what it doth comprehend and its end and issue A thing most necessarie and meet for the knowledge of such that love and embrace wisdom LONDON Printed Anno Domini MDCLVI BASILIUS VALENTINUS HIS TREATISE CONCERNING MICROCOSME THose that sâ—ek Art and have a desire to attain to wisdom are to note that the Highest upon my continued prayers hath granted unto me a Clergy-man to make known the many and great mysteries of nature among which mans body is one to be considered how that is govern'd in imitation unto Microcosme For it is â—â—et that the lesser should imitate the greater and the smallest and meanest ought to be governed by the greatest and most potent Microcosme or the great World containeth three things as the most principal the rest which come from these are meerly accidentals In the first place is to be considered the matter and form of this World which matter is made form 〈◊〉 out of a non-shape or a nothing and the great Creator presently prescribed an order for this matter what government it should keep as soon as it came to a life or motion This matter and form is water and earth For at the Creation by a separation of the water from the earth there was finished the matter and form as two things belonging one to another from these all Animals and Vegetables have their beginning and other two things as aire and fire which belong one to another have wrought life therein The matter and form is earth the Salt in that earth the body even so is with mans body which is Microcosme The matter was nâ— perfect without the form these joyning into one by God ordinance the form being become quick came then to perfection the matter and form got life by motion aire wâ— the first causer of that motion and perfect maturity was caâ—sed by a convenient heat moveably inclosed in the aiâ—e thuâ— the earth was brought to a fertility by the aire it was opened and became porous by motion for generation Thâ— earth being impregnated made her seed apparent by he aquosity then aire and heat in the neather and upper Regiâ—on of the Astrals caused that a Birth was brought forth thâ— blossoms were produced and the appointed fruit was ripened by concoction of heat Calcidity is a Sulphureous hot spirit wâ—ich like a Medicament exiccateth the superfluous grosse aquosity phlegmatick matter which in the generation at the beginning abounds too much in the earth before the aire could have a fellow dominion at the joyning with it carrying the same along in the superfluity of her birth The second principal part of Microcosme is inobility for the matter in it self was without life which by heaâ— was stirr'd up then the vital spirit became to be sensible which is in man a Sulphurous spirit kindling the body by a heat exiccateth the superfluity of the earth by the subtility of its substance and governeth the body in a constant motion For after the heat is gone then coldnesse gets the dominion the spirit of life being gone no sensiblenesse felt in the pulse and arteries and a dead body is found instead of life at the departing of the warm spirit of Sulphur rational men ought to take this mystery into consideration The two first Elements the matter and form being apparent and having gotten a mobility by the two last Elements by light Microcosme was not yet perfect the Creator allotted further an increase to the seed of the earth as well as he did to Vegetables and Animals God allowed unto earth an imagination for all sorts of seeds and to bring them forth after their several kindes Then the earth was impregnated by imagination which God allotted and the â—aith brought these seeds forth in Mans presence and the â—eat digested them to a maturity even till hi herto Matter and form of Microcosme being extant consisting of earth and water then the Creator caused a life into them â—y an inbreathed warm aire heating the cold earthly subâ—tance giving a heat uâ— o life and moâ—ion which was the â—oul which is the true Sulphur of Man spiritual in compreâ—ensible sensibly felt by its own operation All this being â—â—nish'd â—â—en God allowed an imagination unto good in the â—erfect understanding of Man that by his imagination he â—uld judge of all the beasts and impose on each a proper â—ame and by that imagination he learned to know his â—ife also that she had flâ—sh and bones of his body Then â—in appeaâ—ed perfect and that matter was made into a â—hape of a sensible body This form being made alive by â—he Soul had allowed further a subâ—ile â—pirit unto imagi â—â—ion and knowledge which is an invisible and inâ—â—â—preâ—ensible form like a work master who frameth 〈◊〉 things â—n the minde which hath its habitation in the upper Reâ—ion of Microcosme according to his volatility and deserâ—eth the name of Mercurie of the invisible spirit of mans â—ody Form and matter is earthly the life sticketh in the â—otion and the knowledge of every understanding unto â—ood and bad standeth in the sharp speculation of Microâ—â—sme the overplus found besides these three nature caâ—eth off as a Cadaver and is as a Monster which by theâ—â—â—hree is found to be a separation and a Cantit mort
judge of the situation of the â—eart Brain Liver Lungs Reins Bladder of the Entrals â—â—d of all the Veins and knoweth in what form and condiâ—on they are But before he hath made this anatomy all â—ese were hid from him a Myner which seeketh so Oars 〈◊〉 doth not know what riches he may expect from Metals â—â—lesse he open the Oar and so fine it what he findeth in 〈◊〉 by fire then he may know really in his calculation what â—â—hes he may expect from it So other things must be proâ—â—ded in which true Naturalists will endeavour to do and not prate of things onely without experimental knowledge disputing of colours with the blinde man learn to know the ground with your own eyes and hands which Nature hideth within her then you may speak wisely of them with good reason and you may build upon an invincible Rock If you do not so then you are but a Phantastick prater whose discourse is grounded on sand without experience and is soon shaken by every winde and ruined in the end The ground of this knowledge must be learned as you heard by anatomizing and separating of things which by distillation is made known where every Element is separated apart there it will be made known what is cold or moist warm or dry There you learn to know the three principles how the spirit is separated from the body and how the Oyl is separated from the water and how the Sale is drawn from the Caput mort of each matter and is reduced again into a spirit and how these three are afterward joyn'd again and by fire are brought into one body Further is here learn'd how each after its separation and afterward in a conjunction may profitably and safely be used for their several uses they are prepared for all which must be done by a medium At the first Creation man is earthy grosse but his Soul Spirit and Body being separated by death putrifieth under ground and when the Highest cometh to judgement he is raised again his Body Soul and spirit cometh together according to Faith and Scripture that body is no more earthy as it was formerly but is found heavenly and clarified glittering as the Stars in the East and like the Sun is seen when all the Clouds are past So it is here when earthinesse is broken divided and separated then the three principles of the dead substance are made apparent the dead one is forsaken the living power comes to her perfection because her obstruction is laid aside that the vertue in the operation may be manifested In this separation and manifestation is then known what these three principles are which are so much discoursed of namely Mercury Sulphur and Salt according to the condition of the subject He that doth not think it to be true let him go to the end of the World where he shall feel all what in his dumb capacity he could not comprehend if any one should intend to teach me any other with a prolixity of words he may fill me with words but he must prove it really also for without that I am not bound to believe his words but desire some sign as Thomas one of the Twelve who look'd for an Ocular demonstration I might have left out Thomas but being there is a clift between a spiritual and worldly unbeliever I gave liberty to my minde to speak it for there is a great difference in heavenly and worldly matters touching faith and things comprehensible and there is that difference found also in fidereal earthly things for fidereal things are comprehended by sharp imagination and Arithmatick rules but to the finding out of earthly things there belongeth speculation and separation with speculation must be joyned an intention and an apprehension is annexed to speculation the former is done spiritually because the spirit of man doth not rest desireth to apprehend more qualities of the spirit in things natural every spirit stil draweth its like the rest is earthy for an earthy body separateth by manuals the earthly body from the spiritual part and so the one may be discerned before and from the other Whereas the soul in both sheweth her self really therefore is she in all really for she tieth the heavenly and earthy together like a bond but when the heavenly is â—â—â—arated from 〈◊〉 â—â—â—rthy that the soul also must forsake her body then you 〈◊〉 â—â—â—arated and received the three each apaâ—t which aâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 true knowledge and conjunction can afford such a triumâ—â—ing and clarifyed body which is found in a better degree of many thousand times because the grossest is laid aside from the earthy For when heaven and earth come to be refined by the great Creator then the greatest part will be consumed by fire and by that purging it will be exalted to the same degree with the heavenly and set into the same line for each all is created by one each all is ordained by one and though through sin by one man all was corrupted unto death yet all is by one brought to a better State of life and the onely Creator intends to judge all by fire and all must again become one which will be that heavenly essence to which the earthl gave way by means of the fire the eternall glory leaving a room for devil and death from whence they shall look on the elect admiring the great Majesty and glory of God which in a divine essence of three distinct persons is all in all and hath created all Thus the three persons in the deity have held forth in us their invisible essence giving thereby to understand by an insearchable wisdom what their creature order is we men are too weak to come higher God is and will be God and we men must be content with such gifts affâ—â—ded unto us hereafter shall be accomplished that which is prophesied of by Prophets and Apostles and now are conceived of onely by way of faith therefore we ought now to be contented what by Nature is intimated in a visible way other things incomprehensible unto us matters of faith wil appear better to be understood at the end of the world God grant unto us all a true knowledge of â—â—mporal goods and of the eternall At the closing of this I say that this is the whole Art and whole foundation of all the Philosophick speech in which is that sought which many desire taking great pains and making great expences namely to get wisdom and judgement a long life health riches of this world comprehended in few words as for example First you must know that I wiâ—â— shew unto you such an example of thâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—nals which in the appearance is a mean and poor on◠〈◊〉 â—f a mihgty consequence if rightly considered The 〈◊〉 â—ayeth an egg the same egg is by heat brought to a hard 〈◊〉 or coagulation by a further heat it is brought to a putrefaction where it it corrupted in this putrefaction the egg receiveth
get the internal fire â—ut of metals though it be most high skill however it is â—aseable and found in its place where I write of the like 〈◊〉 a more ample manner I give a hint of it in this places as Myners ought to do of whose expressions I borrow now The rest which wholly extracteth this fire whicâ— lyeth betwixt the project leaving nothing behind that iâ— where the Lubricum and Volatile is together leaveth it produceth it and excerneth it The Mansfieldian slatâ— makes it appeare that its Volatile is gone and its Lubricum also where its impurity is yet betwixt the project anâ— is not a faire pure work but a compound one CHAP. VII Of the ascension and descension of metals THis new kind or manner of speaking and writing of metals is caused by experience for the first perpetuaâ— ingression of the Ferch encreaseth and strengtheneth at firsâ— in the officina and Matrix the Mercurie of bodies bringinâ— it on to its perfect and full strength being made wholly effectual and potent then it begins by degrees to cloth iâ— selfe with a body at first he attracteth and receiveth thâ— meanest which he puts off again in the first place which iâ— done the easier for no body amongst them all is sooneâ— put off For the body of Saturne is so thin that it appeareth to the eye like as a faire body doth through lawnâ— or tiffenie its spirituality appeareth through its body itâ— spiritual body is the metal of Mercurie or as I should rather call it its proper near and special bodye which work giveth a manuduction unto many other faire works for iâ— maketh a garment for Saturne out of the subtilest earth after he riseth higher puts a harder and better garment oâ— him which is not so easily put off as that of Saturne or aâ— least not with so small a work which is caused by the work of the Mercurie of bodies For the Mercurie of bodies by reason of its fluidnesse is the hottest as he maketh it appeaâ— in Saturns ascension putting a cinereal body on him ouâ— of earth hence is it why Saturn is so full of cinders incliâ—ing to a britleness of ashes and begins to sound by reason â—f the metal though it be not very firm however yet it 〈◊〉 at the next place for incorporation its sound is more â—eaf is further off from iron and nearer unto mercury by â—eason of heat Observe now at the ascending of this metal 〈◊〉 lyeth near the ashes cleansed by the Saturnal water but â—bove ground it turns not to be glass out of the ashes out â—f salt or earth-water or Saturnal-water or out of sand â—r stone But what is that pure subterranean Earth-glass â—hich if it soundeth breaketh not it is a matter which Naâ—ure thrusteth upon a heap together which if you touch 〈◊〉 soundeth and is very clear of a great compactness â—d very firm in this work it doth mingle with ashes and â—lt water and turns to a glass of earth or to a dark glassey â—rm iron Nay tell me if a metal or Earth-colour yea a â—ood sound metal be dissolved to a colour and is brought â—to a glass doth it not look of a copper-colour yes truly â—herefore iron may soon be turned into another thing â—hich is done naturally where such metalline iron colour reduced in Hungaria into a Lixivium and is turned into very good copper however it retaineth the glassiness â—ough the colour hath exicated it somewhat through the â—ercurie of bodies for the liquidness it hath still and is obilitated further to a malleablenesse and fixation thereâ—re take notice of this tincturing matter which you finde â—epared by this body in this afficina it reduceth the iron 〈◊〉 copper with abundance of lucre Put these colours away and behold how the mercury of â—odies is passed through many white bodies and hath still fair white fuligo and that very fixed how finely is it clad it and maketh a fair and pure body of Luna into which 〈◊〉 clads himself so strongly that it can not be taken from â—ence by burning because it passed seven times thorough â—e greatest subterranean heat which destroyeth corruptiâ—e bodies unless they be closely and compactedly incorâ—rated to the mercury of bodies nothing goeth beyond that fire neither of the upper neâ—her or middle-fires Therefore behold how neatly Nature workeâ—h and riseth calcining the whole body of Luna which â—alx is no hinâ— else but the body of Sol its tinctuâ—e and tinging quality iâ— taketh from the perfection and depth which is in the fire and can afford it that colour must keep so long till iâ— descendeth again there is nothing which can master â—â—iâ— fire the descending may soon be perceived by this ascâ—nding and the difference of it is this at the ascending iâ— geteth the tincture first before it gets the body but here iâ— looseth it sooner and this is the reason why descending oares are more perfâ—ct then the ascending ones CHAP VIII Of respiring Metall or of Quick oar BEcause with and by Myne-works an obstruction 〈◊〉 made upon Nature which is the cause that several mâ—tals are gotten and distinctions put on them that damage and losses might be the better avoided in the working 〈◊〉 them For as each received a particular name and properâ— in or at the work so in the digging of them several manâ—als are invented for the finding of them and hereunto 〈◊〉 was made of the Rod. To distinguish metals by colours a curious skill as Red gold glass Myne green black oaâ— however their working is not so exactly known that waâ— That I may loose nothing in or at their melting I use tâ— means first I must certainly know the property of tâ— oar before it be beaten our whilst it is yet under grouâ— in its breathing for oars and metals breath onely undâ— ground though they breath in some sort above yâ— the same breathing is very weak not going far hoâ— the body and the rod also sticks onely upon the uppâ— metals which is the greatest advantage we have for 〈◊〉 causeth metals to breath into a flame and the fire-crates and pit-diggers cause onely a volatility and closing compactness where a threefold damage ensueth First there flieth away not only much of the metal but that also wâ—â—ch â—taieth turns to be volatile and in the several meltings of it â—lwayes something goeth amiss Secondly the remainder of it groweth unmalleable which hardly can be helped Thirdly elevated minerals are burnt to a compactness which if not done would prove very advantagioâ—s in the After-work and chiefly they would be very useful in Meâ—icina being naturally prepared thereunto which is the reaâ—on why many in their After-workings labour in vain taking â—ther improper minerals thereunto For that fossile Vitriâ—lum at Goslar where neither silver nor lâ—ad groweth in â—hat Mineral where it is prepared highly copper may be made of it without any other addition that Vitriol afforâ—eth an oyle also which perfectly cureth the Gout if all â—hese