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
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
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
lead oâ—ers are very brittle having little of slate and Talk and these are discerned by their firmnesse there are other stones in which appear Copper and the flowers of Zwitter there are others also which have flat floats and slate-stone in which is wrought Copper oar hence it may be gathered that by reason of these several formes are produced several fruits and in Mines toward the South better oars are found then there are some toward the West called after-oars between which there is alwayes ordered or placed a center of perfection CHAP. II. Of general operations of several metals ALmighty God for his eternal honour and glory hath held forth to mankinde innumerable wondrous works which he as the sole Mediator and Creator hath set forth iâ— natural things the same he hath shewed also in his omnipotency under ground in metals and minerals of them wâ— may learn as the twelve Sybils prophesied of the bright true and onely Son of Righteousnesse and Truth in whicâ— do rest after the twelve ports and gates of Heaven and after the twelve moneths moveable and unmoveable visiblâ— and invisible bodies the seven Arch Angels standing beforâ— the Throne of God after these the seven Planets Sun Moon Mars Jupiter Venus Mercury Saturn and the reâ— of the stars and the seven metalline oars in their propeâ—ties as gold silver copper iron tin lead Mercury the Vitriol Antimony Sulphur Wismuth Kobolt or brasâ— oar allom salt and other mineral growths That the true center may be comprehended and conceâ—ved of God hath made the first separation according to hâ— word The Spirit of the Lord moved upon the water thâ— whole elemental body of the earth hath been water bâ— the Spirit of the Lord Zebaoth hath divided it fashionâ— the earth from the muddinesse of the water and therein all metalline fruits that ever were created and generated under ground all these were first water and may bee reduced againe unto water all other creatures be they animalls vegetables mineralls all these are produced from the first water the several kinds of beasts fishes and sea-monsters after the Lords spirit and after the first eternal breathing Essence which brought forth and shaped things tinged and untinged soft and hard small and great creatures after the twelve stones in the brest-plate of Aaron He created man after his own image the holy Spirit was infused into Adam who had a fulnesse of eternal wisdome and that according to the order of Melchizedeck Almighty God who is the first and last the first principle and end of all things hath set his gifts into times hours dayes years which according to his eternal Decree have their revolutions he hath blest in his most holy means Abraham Isaac Jacob Aaron Melchizedeck and others he hath infinitely blessed according to his good will and pleasure from eternity putteth several periods unto them and in his unsearâ—hable decree and will he hath laid the foundations also for Minerals and Metals a help for the supporting men in their â—eccessities in this miserable life thus hath he meliorated â—nd exalted the earth in her goodnesse men have reason â—o return hearty thanks unto the Creator for it God in his gracious providence next unto the knowledg â—f himself and of his holy word can bestow no better gift to man than to indue him with the true knowledge of Metals and Minerals Jews thought themselves wise men â—erein but as little some Miners know Minerals and Meâ—als as little knew the Jews their Messias and Gods word 〈◊〉 its true sence Therefore from that blessed and promised Countrey the knowledge of pretious stones minerals and metals are come to us as by an inheritance as being the â—st and are become the first and they the last but 〈◊〉 the end Heavens gate will be opened unto them again â—ternal and external gifts and means will be bestowed on them and the true use of metals will be none of the meanest Where there are fertile stones be they rocks flints peebles marbles in their central points is found what they are in their operations The several gums and rasoms the one excelling the other in beauty transparency hardnesse or liquidnesse are known and discerned by their fragrancie and tast Miners ought to endeavour incessantly and in simplicity how the neerest way may be chosen to find out the Mineral-passages and veins into which God and nature hath laid direct courses CHAP. III. Of the stones rocks and flints of Gold its operation condition and striking courses GOld is wrought in its proper rocks and marbles and in the purest matrix of the firmest earth of a most perfect salt Sulphur and Mercury purged from all feces and impure spirits with the conjunction of a natural highly clarified Heaven of white yellow and red sulphureous earth after the fiery nature of Sol in a deep fixation insomuch that none of all other metals hath an higher compacter and more ponderous body of a goldish matter in which there is no humidity all the elements are equally in it bound up which in their unity have wrought such a fixed body tinged the same throughout with an everlasting citrin colour with the deepest tie and uniting of its pure earth Sulphur and Mercury and with its Vitriol essence it doth all what the Sun among the Stars doth operate Naturally all is gold what cleaveth thereunto in and at all sides and it is found in the best and closest stones and passages and the power of Sol worketh meerly upon that oar and in its quality is comparable unto Sol. This noble gold stone and oar is sometimes mixed and on its outside â—here sticketh some obscure and dark matter having annexed to it some slats and other spermatick matter which deâ—racts from the goodnesse of its own nature and though â—he Creator hath indued it with great Vertues yet doth it â—umble it self and suffers it self to be found in despicable Mineral-stones where it loseth much of its tincture as is apparent by the Touch-stone where the mixture of Copper Silver Tin and others is seen all these mixed impurities can be separated from it with artificial Manuals and with little ado it may be brought into a perfect state Gold oars naturally are wrought thus that the gold stands in it close compact firm and good which is found sometimes in the crosse passages It s fixednesse is found in the deepnesse under ground where it hath its greatest power and it is found also sometimes in a speckled jaspis full of eyes and mixed with flints in its passages where many times Vitriol flint is found abundantly which Vitriol is the best among all other sorts of Vitriols The Hungarian Vitriol hath the precedence before all the rest which is sufficiently known in their proves and exemines as may be demonstrated to the eye In its passages are found sometimes fluxes of several colours which are interlined with gold and must be forced with fire To that purpose it is requisite that it be dealt
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
for neither water nor earth caâ—â— do it any hurt because it received its first birth and beginning from a heavenly water which in due time is pouâ—â— down upon the earth In these together driven goldish waters lieth hid that trâ—â— bird and Eagle the King with his heavenly Splendor together with its clarified Salt which three you finde shut up iâ— this one thing and golden property and from thence yoâ— will get all that which you have need of for your inteâ—â—tion Therefore set that golden body you have obtained whicâ— in dignity and vertue is exalted beyond all other Gold inâ—â— its due and lawfull dissolution its due time then the Aâ—gel of the highest will appear unto thee and tell thee thâ—â— it is the Resolver of all the mysteries in the World receivâ—â— it with joy and keep it safe for its quality is more heavenly than earthly therefore doth it heartily incline to strivâ— after that which is above from whence it had its Original If you have separated this Prophet from his matter whicâ— remained then you need not to undertake any further processe you were taught parabolically in my XII Keyes Foâ— even in his remaining formal substance you may finde anâ— expect from thence a pure immortal Soul together viâ—â— the glory of the Salt both which are obtained by means 〈◊〉 the spirit and must be had from thence and no impure oâ— contrary thing must be added thereunto And it is doâ— in the same manner as I told you in my Keyes with the Sâ—â— and Salt of the Gold by the saturnal water in whose plaâ—â— this spiritual Mercurial spirit might be used with better aâ—vantage Observe onely this difference that the Salt must be drawn forth from the Mercurial body as it hapned unto the Soul with the spirit of Mercury whereas on the other side the Salt of Gold must not be drawn forth with the saturnal water because it is too weak for the body of Gold but with a water which hath been expressed in the description of particulars This distinction must be exactly observ'd being of great concernment because the Salt of Vitriol is not so strongly guarded and is not in so fix'd a body as the Gold is but is still an open body which saw no coagulation as yet nor passed it through any melting fire therefore that body never came as yet to any compactnesse there is room left for its own spirit to enter into can embrace and unite with its like and a snow white extraction of Salt may be had whereas on the other side a sharper matter must penetrate Gold as you shall hear when I shall speak more of it in its due place Behold now my friend whatsoever thou art what minde I bare towards thee and how I am affected unto thee in my heart the like I never durst look for from thee Consider it well how sincerely and faithfully I disclose unto thee all the locks and bonds whereby the whole Philosophick wisdom is shut up which hitherto never entred any more â—houghts much lesse that ever it was practised or discovered and nothing caused me to do it but onely Gods infinite mercy my good will and love toward my Neighbour which my Predecessors have not done so compleatly and was put off unto me to do it Having thus separated your three Mineral bodies and ordered them into certain divisions and put away the dregs wherein they lye hid then look to it that you neglect none of it by the diminishing of the quantity which would prove a great fault to your work and keep each in its own and due quantity otherwise in your work you cannot come to a happy end This is the thrift which so many have missed and have written great volumes about it for all what cometh from our Philosophick Gold and hath divided it self into three parts the same must be brought into one without any losse and diminution which is to enter into a new form again and become a meliorated substance nothing of it must be done away but onely the feces terrae in which the glorious Salt had its dwelling Therefore do that I told you of joyn the spirit with the body bring the body also into a spirit dissolve exalt it into the highest spiritual power iâ— that dissolutioÌ„ the body turns to a spirit the spirit with the body uniteth and joyneth into one substance that after the exchanging of all manner of colours there cometh a white body like snow transcending all whitenesses This is the greatest mystery of this world about which among the learned and supposed wits such disputings in the world have been that a palpable thing and a visible one could be reduced into its prima materia and out of that may be made again a new clarified and better substance by the bountifull nature leading the way thereunto Thus you have made and brought into the world the Queen of Honour and the first born daughter of Philosophers which after her due perfection is called the white Elixir of which great volumes are extant Having brought your work thus far then you have deserved to be received into the Turba of Philosophers and you get more Art wisdom and understanding than all Sophisters which prate much of these mystical things and yet know not the least thing of it Therefore it is just that you should be preferred before them and let them sit below thee in shame and disgrace and in their darknesse of mis-understanding so long till nature doth enlighten them also That you may bring and lead that new Philosophiâ—â— Creature by the means nature afforded unto the highest perfection after which your heart with all her endeavours doth strive then remember that neither man nor beasâ— without a living Soul can neither stir nor move and as maâ— here in this life through temporal death loseth his Soul offering the same again unto the Almighty God from whom 〈◊〉 had it first into his mercy and merits of Jesus Christ â—here after the departure of the Soul the dwelling as the â—â—dy of it is left quite dead which is buried in the ground â—here it rotteth and must return unto dust and ashes being 〈◊〉 duly stipend which the fall of our first parents in Paradise â—we deserved and from them as by an inheritance is fall'n â—pon us after which putrefaction there are raised again on â—â—e great day new and clarified bodies and the departed â—â—ul taketh her dwelling up again in that new body after â—at there is no more parting of body nor spirit nor soul â—â—t because the Soul finding a clarified body then with the â—â—me she maketh an everlasting Union which neither Deâ—â—l nor death can destroy and disjoyn any more nor bring it â—to any corruption but from henceforth into all eternity â—e are and shall be like unto the best Creatures of God â—hich before our mortality and departure of the spirit of â—â—e soul and the body could never be God help and grant
things that iâ— unworthy and to fall with the blinde into the pit maâ—â— for them Those that are real in their desire for to attaâ—â—â— unto art and wisdom and intend to propagate the saâ—â— without sophistication and desire in reality to glorie iâ— that honourable truth you may shew a real proof of it iâ— this manner 〈◊〉 tell thee really for the highest truth that you may disâ—e our Gold naturally driven together in a short way to â—ng it to its prima materia and is done thus take the â—wn Mineral Spirit in which our Mercury Sulphur and 〈◊〉 is shut up containing that Philosophick mystical Gold â—â—r that guttatim upon white calcined tartar these two â—â—trary qualified matters will be tissing let them stay togeâ—r till their contention and strife be ended and our Gold â—e it self invisible in the vegetable Salt acre or in the belâ— of tartar lute a Helmet to it distil it at first gently in â—neo then increase your fire then Hermes his volatile 〈◊〉 will fly away from our Gold in that sublimation and sit 〈◊〉 the highest pinnacles of the Temple looking about â—ich way to betake himself but soon is catch'd in the â—ceiver which must be pure and very dry when you see â—t his flight is but slow then take the glasse out of the â—â—ny set it in ashes increase your fire then will she fly â—re nimbly keep that fire so long till all is come over â—d her brother the Red Dragon hiding his rednesse under a 〈◊〉 colour in a whitish fume will begin to follow after his â—ing brother Then cease with the fire the drops being fall'n from the Helmet take it off that which you â—de in the Receiver you are to keep as a treasure of myâ—ries In this manner you have gotten wisdom underâ—â—nding and skill the fundamentals also and desires of Phiâ—â—ophers by this short witty proof you learn and get that â—owledge how this water may be sought after found and â—â—ted on and is not to be esteemed a common water but is â—at real infallible heavenly water of which at the beginâ—â—g I have written and repeated the same the oftner â—hich in a spiritual manner from the heavens power is â—ured down upon earth beginneth and accomplisheth â—e generation of all Metals for that reason the ancient Phiâ—â—ophers call'd this water Mercury but I call it the Spirit of â—ercury Now if you proceed right in this work and you know â—hat food and what drink â—o give to this bird viz. Sulphur and Salt of Metal then you may attain unto the end of 〈◊〉 great work which is almost like unto the Philosophâ—â— great work and you may get profit infinitely partituâ—aâ—â— many wayes you must note that this is not the true Phiâ—â—sophick dissolution but onely one which particulaâ—â— performeth strange matters aâ—d is a speculum in which 〈◊〉 Mercury our Sol and our Lune is seen bleaking which iâ— present confuting of unbelieving Thomasses discoverâ—â— the blindnesse of ignorantment The dissolution of tâ— three principles I have described unto you formerly whiâ—â— is of a slower pace requiring time and patience and 〈◊〉 exact attention to make or bring three into one which wâ— is done in it self per se without mixing of any heterogeneâ— matter onely that which lyeth hid in it must do it Fâ— the Fountain of salvation is the illumination of the Soâ—â— and the Salt of the clarified body are all in that one thinâ— existent from one two or three which must be brought aâ—â— reduced to one which is the golden vertue of all Metals â—alted above all powers together with the Eagle and whiâ— body which are no where together but onely in this one found and in that which is next kin unto it which knoâ—ing Philosophers alwayes held in great esteem but ignoraâ—â— and blinde men despised and disgraced the same But thoâ—â— whose eyes are once opened love to stick unto truth coâ—â— to hide the matter from wicked men and study day aâ—â— night how the ignorant might be kept from it Thus I cloâ— this third part And before I begin the fourth part concerning Particâ—laria I must needs speak something of the Philosophers Vâ—triol Sulphur and Magnet My friend you must note that this description I maâ—â— now of the essence of Vitriol resteth onely upon tryâ—â— made the victorious triumph of the highest wisdom câ—â— by inheritance from the most ancient Philosophers unâ— me and comes now unto thee wherein experimentaâ— it 's found that there is a subterranean Mineral Salt callâ— Vitriol which for dying of Cloaths and many other us◠〈◊〉 cannot well possibly be without it for it carrieth â—nd eateth through by reason of its sharpnesse â—â—h is distinct from other Salts in respect of their quaâ—â— for the Mineral of this Salt is strange of a very â—nd fiery quality as apparent in its spirit and conâ—â—th a twofold spirit which is miraculum naturae â—is not found the like in other Salts and this Salt is a â—â—aphâ—odit among other Salts it is white and red even â—â—u will have it it hath an extraordinary medicinal quaâ—â— performing things in an incredible manner This Salt â—â—ineth a combustible Sulphur which is not in other 〈◊〉 Therefore in Metalline affairs touching their transâ—â—tion it performeth more than others because it help-â—ot onely to open some but helpeth the generation of â—â—rs by reason of its innate heat When Vitriol is sepaâ—â— by means of fire then its spirit at first comes in a â—â—e form after that there comes from its earth a spirit of 〈◊〉 condition staying in the earth the Salt being united 〈◊〉 its expell'd Mercury and Sulphur can sharpen them â—emainder that stayeth behinde is a dead earth of no â—â—acie Let this suffice for your learning and consider 〈◊〉 what the Creator holds forth unto thee in nature by â—ow kindled ternarie for as you finde in Vitriols body 〈◊〉 distinct things as Spâ—rit Oyl and Salt even so you expect from its own spirit again which without the â—â—ling of its Oyl is driven from its matter three distinct â—â—gs even as you did formerly from the body of Vitriol â—â—h deserveth very well the name of Speculum sapientiae â—â—ae held forth purposely to man to view himself For 〈◊〉 can separate this spirit of Vitriol as it ought then that â—ds again unto you three principles out of which onely out any other addition since the beginning of the â—d the Philosophers stone hath been made from that have to expect again a spirit of a white form an Oyl of â—uality after these two a Christalline Salt these three â—â—g duely joyned in their perfection generate no lesse 〈◊〉 the Philosophers great stone for that white spirit is meerly the Philosophers Mercury the red Oyl is the Sâ—â— and the Salt is that true Magnetick body as I told you 〈◊〉 merly As from the spirit of Vitriol is brought to light â—red and white tincture so from its Oyl there is made Vâ—â— her tincture and in the Center
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
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
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
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-earth-water or saturnal-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
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
thy self exactly to it and be careful in observing their names not regarding the Miners expressions and terms for the names they give to oars are false for those which build and dig after clefts and passages have their names of their bodily matters after the sorts of the minerals and are distinct therein But you must call them after the sorts of the seven bodies and learn to prepare them this work is of greater utility Men are at great expences to get corrosive waters to get asunder these metals they do it also by way of melting and casting but such waters add great poison to the work it is a better way to do it with Lixiviums or sharp waters which are not so poisonous learn their preparation There is another kind of impure oar of which I made mention here and there which contain Myne-slacks you may read of in the Chapter of the Cinders but there is a difference betwixt the cinder and the slack for slack are more corny yet that also turns at last to cinders These slacks are the cause of the cold fire 〈◊〉 cenders cause the warm fire or the uredines metallorum â—se cold slacks are hardly got â—â— off â—rom the metal beâ—se they come from the cold flux fiâ—e of mercuries altiâ—e for as the cinder comes from bodies so are these â—cks of mercury it is seen when you will have slacks of â—er matters then usually they belong thereunto then the â—rcury of bodies is rouzed which by the work is noâ—ing else but a closure and stream for if you can conveâ—ntly get away the slacks then you may perform and acâ—mplish something else with the fire of mercurie and it is either usual not artificial to deal much in cold fire some â—iners call it Mispuckel Nodus aeris that Latine name they â—t upon it is true it is very hard knit together it is difâ—ult to dig it and to make its oar to good and Antimony so is hardly gotten from other metals except from Sol â—ithout damage however with advantage it may be done â—riously onely you must be expert in Antimonie's qualiâ—es For they belong together and are joyned as tin and â—ad Wismuth or Magnesia among or betwixt iron and copâ—er This is a good direction and is sufficient for such â—ho know what belongs to melting CHAP. XII Of perfect metal WHo could tell what gold and silver were if they were not known in their perfection for when they are perâ—ect it appeareth when they have their colour their weight â—heir malleablenesse their flux and hardnesse and this perfect metal nature hath produced compactly and purely 〈◊〉 â—uch perfect pure and compact gold is found in Hungary â—n the white marble which presently may be broken as â—lso silver copper the difference betwixt the perfect and pure is because metals are not pure before they are pâ—fect and so there may be a perfect oar which is not puâ— which defect is found in many of our metals which coâ— to their perfection assoon as in any other Foreign parts bâ— in their perfect purity they are defective sometimes Thâ— is to be noted by this metal a body must first be perfeâ— or brought to its perfection before it can be sixt and is of great concernment to know rightly what fixedneâ— meaneth A body which hath its due tincture weight and gradâ—ation yet it hath mixed other obstructive impurities heâ— comes the work and nature begins to copulate these two tincture and gradation brings the metal into a purifying this purifying is fixation for pure is as much as fix Anâ— note that the ground of the first is the body which is 〈◊〉 secret into that I must bring the tincture and gradation aâ— well as I can and take the tincture from Sol which is 〈◊〉 thing feasable then is it an Electrum which is a water for in water it abideth then I take its ponderosity foâ— it and bring it into an Oleum or into a Sulphur the body remaineth still for in the ascension Mercury lyeth the foundation of the body as an Embrion to it comes ponderosity which maketh it formal then comes Lubricum after that comes the Volatile with the tincture and perfecteth all the rest it hath need of to its perfection Why doth reason play the fool in despising the wayes of nature not observing her course For behold how wonderfully she bringeth rednesse into copper turning it into brasse but is not fixt because it was not her intent it is a meer colour which all other oares easily imbrace but is not fixt which colour is easily driven away with wood and coal-fire Therefore is it a thing of great concernment to learn rightly to know the bodies for at dissolutions the property of a pure metal is known what its tincture body salt and ponderosity is especially if exactly be considered the anatomy of all bodies after the Chymick way how curiously and properly are they anatomized we call the immature spirit a spirit of mercury the perfect tincture we call an â—na or Sulphur the ponderosity is called the salt or boâ— for the after-work confirmeth the same that that fixaâ— doth not onely hold in the fire and all corrosive waâ— especially that of Saturn which is a precious one â—e then other aqua forts but better in the malleablenesse â—hout the Quart it holdeth also in the cement because â—omes out of it Therefore it is to be admired why 〈◊〉 talk so strangely of it when they know nothing of it â—m whence it is or what the cause of it is But it is so 〈◊〉 one hearkeneth to the tale of the other and know no â—re then they have from hear-saying for they know not â—at to say nor how to help what the work aileth if out tune and disordered and if any fix and lasting mediâ—e is to be made then that metal is best even as a vegetaâ— which is come to its maturity This processe must be served else all labour is in vain For how can ye destroy â—e body of a thing that hath no body much lesse can you â—e the tincture of it before it comes into the body a â—cture may be gotten from it but not all the colours of â—at tincture here exactnesse must be used because it is â—e greatest skill to do so One thing more I must needs â—eak of those that aime meerly with a great and deep â—ging at riches should view Gods mysteries every where they compare the Scripture rightly will finde an instruâ—ion that a spiritualty is held forth in an earthly thing if a â—etal be brought out of the earth and out of its Officina â—ke a man that is set into another life it abideth and liveth â—ithout food is not dead but is alive though it doth not â—t yet it resteth and may soon be awakened thus we â—ope also that in the other eternal life where there is Sabâ—athum Sabbotho things will be done in a more glorious â—ay God maketh use of us here for his praise to make
the matter after their way indiscreetly and inconsiderately as the greedy Alchymists suppose that when men speak of the mercury of bodies to be the mercury of metals or the salts of bodies to be a â—alt like other common salt Ashes of Saturn are seen here â—eetly before they come or goe any higher and before â—hey do turn unto silver for soon do they imbrace Antimoâ—y the same the congealed water or coagulated Saturn hath likewise and is a pure proof to all metals and groweth deep Then there is a pure Wismuth which is gross containeth a congealed water of Saturn which is found also with great gain about metals when they are reduced to their first matter then it ascendeth into a glass metalline work and the ash-work ceaseth Chymists in old times and now also made themselves very busie with their salt to make all bodies potable thereby having reduced them first into salts but here is an album out of ashes which ashes afford salts which is but in vain for ashes are garments intimating â—nd pointing at the thing which is clad and the oar cloatheth it self with it when it is coming neer the day The condition of Potabilia is otherwise they must be brought into potablenesse and is done in a clean contrary way than they goe to work with But these are served well enough that hoe for nothing but for gold Nature giveth to such these garments it giveth the slip before men are aware of I mean the body therefore look well unto bodies CHAP. XX. Of Scobes and metalline water of the Schlich and lie Lixivium NAture in her work must still have an increase and decrease some things are coming and others are going and as above ground at the melting and at the hammer metals do lose somewhat so it is under ground But how these subterranean decreases are discerned which like crums of bread should be preserved Nature being provident keeps them together also bringing them unto the day light that they might be brought to good and that metal is known also to be under that ground by the Scobs or alkali which it excerneth namely the rocks stones flints which sucked nature drie in her work these are the offals if empty of metals and if some good oar be in it then that may well be called Schlich or sliding because it slideth away from the work it stealeth away where such sliding is take notice of it for it breaks off from the matter in the officina wherein metals are in their work and perform their office and that Schlich or sliding is a sure signe that metals are in that place So the Lixivium also or metalline water is a sure fore-runner of metals and it dissolveth still in the work and looseneth somewhat from the metals in which there is a Schnede and vertue for as I have said when I made mention of minerals where there are fossilia mineralia there is sure a Mine-work And where such minerals are they soon dissolve into a water or lixivium and this is the difference betwixt the water and the lixivium water affords only the mineral and the metals allow the flowers thereunto out of these comes a lixivium the effect of this water and lixivium is well known for they carry in a hidden way flowers or tinctures of oars The cement or lixivium at Schwelnitz in Hungary corrodeth iron into a Schlich or sliding and if that iron sliding is taken again out of the Dray and is cast then is it good mercury There are more of such lixiviums but men regard them not that water also is a sign of a very pure mineral for let us consider the water at Goslar doth it not yield pure white and red vitriol and in several other places there is found good copper silver and lead out of these waters may be had again minerals as you please or intend to have them without any great pains-taking For if a mineral is exsiccated then it hath no more the strength to run forth but groweth tough and is dried up sinking into the ground There are waters in Hungary savouring of sulphur and allom which afford store of gold and copper alluminous water in Misnia afford silver and copper the waters in Bohemia which taste of saliter or iron afford several sorts of metal except gold The Mines in Styria have their special metalline waters and lixiviums besides other excellent Mine-works insomuch that the whole Mines are of meer steel copper gold silver quicksilver and other things mens hearts may wish for The salt waters at Franckenhouse do they not signifie that there are curious Mine-works there which if the inhabitants took more notice of and were more known what gains could they not make of them The more these waters are running the better they serve for many uses if they are standing it is a sign that there are evill and bad minerals at hand and that there are cide maters and minerals that were gone and left behinde in abundance of sediments and fumes Take heed of these CHAP. XXI Of Scoria and Exuvium of the seed hull of the seed THe utmost and last decrease and diminution of metals is cinder which is very good and harmlesse I mean that cinder which metals put off by their Uredines or soapes For the exuvium or husk which the corruscation or by-breathing leaveth behind and is like unto a cinder is another sort of cinder like unto that which comes from the forges of Smiths and Melters for besides that they weigh their bodies they cleanse them also though the lie doth purge the Minerals and colours yet themselves also do purge as is seen by the cenders which every metal leaveth behinde in the fire which however are not like unto this By this cender it is seen also that there are metals at hand for the cenders of Minerals which the corruscation causeth are palpable known and visible Understanding Miners know the same There is a metalline cender among the slacks but not known which is the reason why slacks are so brittle else they would be malleable or else they could be cast compact some have undertaken that work but they could not get off these cenders Touching the Schwaden or husks these do fairly intimate the departing of the seed and of the work of all bodies for when the hull ceaseth to work and hath no more food neither of the minerals nor of the bodies and now the Folium is gone into Spolium then it is at separating and breaketh the band of the leaf and seed which is called the Swaden or husk it is an extream poison it destroyeth all that liveth especially breathing things for it is its intent to return thither again therefore to what place soever it cometh finding things that move and stir the same it destroyeth and it self also and at last it returneth to the â—ficina of the seed helps to glue on and imbibe and turns 〈◊〉 be a band again Where such poison is be sure that â—ere
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-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
of them and the grosser their mixture is the more store â—ere is found of them which is apparent in Garnats who â—th hitherto searched into the quick spirits of such noble â—eatures the Lord hath created for mans benefit Pygmees or Homunculi which in former times lived in â—llow oars of Mynes these could not want skill in â—th wayes having traversed and travelled up and down 〈◊〉 these slippery corners and wayes The places and â—uation of such Jewels lying somewhat nearer unto â—â—aven in the Eastern Countreys bordering on Paraâ—ce so there must needs be abounding in Gold and Jewels and such pretious vegetables which our thoughts hardâ— may reach unto God requireth no more of man whom 〈◊〉 intrusteth with these things but to be faithful and just anâ— is an argument for us to think that for the same cause picâ—â— Kings and Princes and the old wise Partiarchs were giftâ— from above to bear a love to search into Mine-works aâ—â— did it with an uprightnesse and judgement Let honâ—â— godly Christian Miners chuse the better part and learn 〈◊〉 know the pearl the spirit of the Lord proceeding out 〈◊〉 Gods own mouth and let them consider well their eternaâ— fixation to return their love again to him that hath love them first bringing all things to their subjection he impaâ—â—eth all unto them abundantly in grace and mercy by thâ— innocence and merit of his only son bestoweth on theâ— temporal and eternal blessings and puts more glorious oâ—naments on them and better than ever gold silver jeweâ— and pearls were adorned withall CHAP. XIII Of the essence of Gold which is abundantly found not only in the metal but Mineral also whose energâ— is shewed most rarely and a short closing of my first and second Part of Minerals and metals 〈◊〉 annexed THis Chapter is a breviary of all mineral colours formâ— how they after an heavenly operation are daily clad iâ— the metalline prime matrix and set forth in their severâ—â— works whereas there shineth forth unto us the eternal ligâ—â— of the lustrous Sun the deity of the day of joyes and 〈◊〉 the eternal most fixed and fairest Sol as also of a most yeâ—low pure red and fixed citrin colour of heavens eternâ—â— lightning and the most glorious paradise of all the Staâ—â— a natural created light for all creatures besides the beaâ—â— and Aurora of Mineral Earths and of their subtilest comâ—t and best binding inclosed speaking to all other white â—inged Metals I Sol of an essential being am Lord of â—rds in power might and perfection I overcome all and â—vercome and bring them into subjection and none of â—m can master me but I do conquer them all they are â—ject to me and to my Beiâ—g for my Kingdome is estaâ—hed with infinite and invincible Power and Dignity by 〈◊〉 all metals minerals animals vegetables are strengthâ—ed and rectified for I give to every one that knoweth 〈◊〉 in my green blue and red Nature all what I have 〈◊〉 all what he desireth I cause to drop down after the â—r cardinal streams of Pison Gihon the noblest substance 〈◊〉 Mercury in the form of a most pure transparent crystalâ—e water and the most noble substance of Sulphur of Hiâ—el and Phrath the clearest fairest Astral salt from a Vitriâ— salt which through all Mines flew upward very fruitâ—ly and penetrates all the mineral stones I alone graduâ—e and exalt the silver unto Lune I give light and lustre in 〈◊〉 righteousnesse of my vertue do spe k all Magi Natuâ—ists and Scribes all the world over from the East to the â—est I am the Lord over the heavenly clarified garments â—d colours I adorn the firmament the weather I cloath â—e Rainbow after Gods will I exalt all jewels all such â—owths and creatures and what I cannot inwardly walk â—rough and reach unto in my course I leave it to be perâ—cted with my friend and lover the Lune she receiveth the â—â—st part of me and of the subtilest an abundance the Inâ—â—s Hungarie Carinthia testifieth the same for all what is 〈◊〉 live and is to receive a life rejoyceth in me and next â—od in none else for to him honour and glory belongs â—ely after him I finde no higher Lord and Commanderâ—â— for my part I do not rest neither do I desire any rest do â—y office readily into which my Creatour hath placed me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my plyablenesse be found gloriously like a vvax in â—ones which have by reason of hardnesse fire enough if â—ed I am hid from unwise men and am ready to be discernâ— by men of understanding I am predominant abundantâ— in a well known Mineral as also in Mars and Venus whicâ— are of low degrees in them I lye hid also all these have 〈◊〉 double spirit well known unto Lune pleasant to her anâ— next unto her Hence God suffered Moses to erect a brasâ— Serpent in the desert after my colour in hearkning unâ—â— the people at the mount Sinai My best and fairest câ—lour appeareth in transparent juyces as vitriol which afâ—â—â— my condition in due time penetrateth Oars whereby theâ— grew rich in lust are train'd up in a pleasant form conâ—ded into a greennesse like sealing wax green like Gooâ— dung blew like Saphir and so forth sometimes of thâ— colour of a water flint my red and whiâ—e colour is the best which are heartily wish'd for I love to be kindled iâ— vitriol and further is after descension in its green food unto a deep red spirit after whose laxative purging cometh that expected aqua Saturni the true aâ—ide-Well froâ— whence I my self and all other Metals animals and vegetables have my off-spring and life For Metals and Minerals rise onely from thence have their beginning and original from it for it is that quickning water which ordinary Myners do not know of is known onely to Philosophers It worketh Minerals and Metals in several wayes in form of taps which did skept pure white compact found like purified Suggar in a blue slate-work An extraordinary pleasant Mineral for all colours Salt Oars are at a farther distance which by my attractive changing are found in floats blocks and passages which in many places bring the water unto the day-light so that it often is found a pure and dry Salt above ground of glassie light flames oâ— in a great frost like unto flocks of snow there shooteth a brittle glassie light stone wrought in great pieces in the same order are all other Jewels according to mine inlightned heavenly stone distributed among their operations worths and vertues and clarified in a most fix'd transparency and indewed with an everlasting spirit distinct iâ— sâ—â—â—ral colours as Diamond Smaragds Carbuncles Saphirs â—â—ies Chrystals Chalcedonian Jaspis Berill Chrysolith â—â—x Carmel Turkois Lazur-stone Margarits Coralls â—ra Lemnia Terpentine-stones and Garnats of deeper 〈◊〉 colours each in its heavenly colours order is transpaâ—â— and naturally is created and preserved in its own ofâ—a Hence it may be argued that all these together with â—â—d
Saturn is not to be thus slighted by reason of iâ— external despicable form if he be wrought in a due processe after the Philosophers way he is able to requite aâ—â— the pains the Art-seeking Laborers bestow on him and wilâ— acknowledge him rather to be the Lord and not the servant a Lords honour is due unto him not onely in respect of mans health but in respect also of meliorating oâ— Metals the preparation of it is thus Take â—ed Minium or Ceruse these are of several worths the one is better before the other according to their several examinations those that are sold in shops are seldoâ— pure without their due additionals my advise is that every Artist undertake himself the destruction of Saturn thâ—â— processe of it is several of the best I give this hint Take pure Lead which yields to the hammer as much as you please laminate it thinly the thinner the better â—ng these lamins or a large glasse filled with strong Vineâ—â— in which is dissolved a like quantity of the best Salmonie sublimed thrice with common Salt stop the glasâ—â— mouth very closely that nothing evaporate set the glasse 〈◊〉 ashes of a gentle heat otherwise the spirits of the Vineâ—r and Salarmonick ascend and touch the Saturnal lamins 〈◊〉 the tenth or twelfth day you will spie a subtile Ceruse â—â—iging on these lamins brush them off with a Hares foot 〈◊〉 on get enough of this Ceruse provided you buy good â—ates if sophisticated you labour in vain Take a quanâ—â—y of it if you please put it in a body pour strong Vineâ—â—r on it which several times hath been rectified and was â—â—tified at the last rectification with a sixtienth part of â—â—irit of vulgar Salt dephlegmed and drawn over stop â—â—e body well or which is better lute a blende head to 〈◊〉 set the body in ashes to be digested swing it often â—â—out in few dayes the Vinegar begins to look yellow â—â—d sweet as the first iterate it a third time it is sufficient â—he remnant of the Ceruse stayeth in the bodies bottom 〈◊〉 shapely filter the ting'd Vinegar clearly that is of a â—ansparent yellownesse put all the ting'd Vinegar togeâ—â—er abstract two parts of it in Balneo Mariae let the third â—â—rt stay behinde this third part is of a reasonable Rubedo 〈◊〉 the glasse in a very cold water then the Chrystalls will â—oot the sooner being shot take them out with a woodden â—oon lay them on a paper for to dry these are as sweet as â—â—gar and are of great energy against inflamed symptomes â—â—stract the Vinegar further in Balneo in which the Chryâ—â—als did shoot set that distillation aside for the shooâ—ing 〈◊〉 more Chrystals and proceed with these as you did forâ—erly Now take all these Chrystals together they in their apâ—earance are like unto clarified Sugar or Salpeter beat â—â—em in a Morter of glasse or iron or grinde them on a 〈◊〉 Marble unto an uâ—palpablenesse reverberate it in a â—entle heat to a bloud-like rednesse Provided they do not turn to a blacknesse Having them in a Scarlet colour Put them in a glasse pour on a good spirit of Juniper abstracted from its Oyl and rectified several times into 〈◊〉 fair white bright manner lute the glasse above set it in 〈◊〉 gentle heat let the spirit of Juniper be ring'd with a transparent rednesse like bloud then cant it off neatly froâ— the feces into a pure glasse with that proviso that no impuâ—â— thing run along on the feces pour other spirit of Juniper extract still as long as any spirit taketh the tincture keeâ—â— these feces they contain the Salt Take all these ting'd spirits together filter them abstracâ— them gently in Balneo there remaineth in the bottom 〈◊〉 near Carnation powder which is the animae of Saturn poâ—â— on it Rain water often distill'd distil it strongly severaâ— times to get off that which staid with the spirit of Juniper and so this subtile powder will be edulcorated delicately keep it in a strong boyling cant it off then let iâ— go off neatly let it dry gently for safeties sake reverberate it again gently for its better exiccation let all impurity evaporate let it grow cold put it in a Viol put twicâ— as much of spirit of Mercury to it which I told you of iâ— the third part of the Universal entrusted you upon youâ— conscience with it seal it Hermeticè set it in a vapor oâ—â— Bath which I prescribed at the preparation of the spiriâ— of Mercury called the Philosophers fimus equinus let iâ— stand in the Mystical Furnace for a moneth then the animaâ— of Saturn closeth dayly with the spirit of Mercury anâ— both become inseparable making up a fair transparenâ— deeply ting'd red Oyl look to the government of the fire be not too high with it else you put the spirit of Mercurâ— as a volatile spirit to betake himself to his wings foreinâ— him to the breaking of the glasse but if these be well united then no such fear look for for one nature embraceth and upholdeth the other Then take this Oyl or dissolved anima of Saturn out oâ— the Viol it is of a gallant fragrancie put it into a body apply a Helmet to it lute it well drive it over then souâ— â—d spirit is united together and fit to transmute Mercury â—rcipitated into Sol. The precipitation of Mercury is done thus take one 〈◊〉 of the spirit of Salt of Niter and three parts of Oyl of â—â—riol put these together cast into it half a part of quick â—rcury being very well purged set it in Sand put a reaâ—â—able strong fire to it so that the spirits may not fly â—ay let it stand a whole day and night then abstract all â—e spirits then you finde in the bottom a precipitated â—â—tency some what red pour the spirits on it again let it â—nd day and night abstract it again then your precipiâ—â—e will be more red than at the first pour it a third time â—â—n it then abstract strongly then your precipitate is at 〈◊〉 highest rubedo dulcifie it with distill'd water let it â—â—ongly be exiccated Then take two parts of this preciâ—tated Mercury one part of the dissolved Saturnal Oyl 〈◊〉 thâ—e together set it in the ashes let all be fixed not â—e drop must stick any where to the glasse Then it â—ust be melted with due additionals of lead they close â—â—gether afford Gold which afterward at the casting â—ough Antimony can be exalted I have informed you hereof where I treated of Mercury â—ut But note that Mercury must not be precipitated â—lesse with pure Oyl of Vitriol or Oyl of Venus with 〈◊〉 addition of the spirit of Salt of Niter Albeit such â—ercurie cannot be brought to its highest fixation by way â—f precipitating but its fix'd coagulation is found in Saâ—â—n as you heard Be it the abovesaid Mercury small grinde it on a stone put 〈◊〉 in a Viol pour on it the dissolved Saturnal Oyl it entreth â—â—nstantly if so
fundamental Theorie affords the practick part from â—nce flow infinite springs all from one head If you go â—â—erwise to work than I entreated you to do by the Creaâ—â— of heaven and earth then all your actions will be retroâ—â—de unto a temporal disaster I should annex here the efficacies of other Minerals â—â—ich are next unto Metals but seeing they are of no abiâ—ty unto transmutation of Metals but are onely Medicinal and are qualified to do their work to the admiration of those that make use of them I leave them at this time The Almighty hath put wonderfull vertues into Metalline Salts which have been found approved several wayes End of the fourth Part. BASILIUS VALENTINUS HIS XII KEYES Which is A Treatise about the great stone of Philosophers In which many thousands since the beginning of the World have wrought LONDON Printed Anno Domini MDCLVI THE PREFACE HVman fear coming upon me I fell to consider out of natures frailty the miserablenesse of this World lamented within me the sin which our first Parents had committed and how little of repentance â—â—e was for it men still growing worse an eternal â—â—ishment being set upon all impenitents it made 〈◊〉 to make haste to out-run evil bid farewell to the â—â—rld vowing my self to become Gods servant onely â—â—ving spent some time in my Order after I had done 〈◊〉 appointed devotions to draw my self from idlensse 〈◊〉 sinfull thoughts I took in hand for to imploy my â—â—cessive hours to some purpose to anatomize naâ—â—al things to dive into Natures mysteries a thing â—â—t the spiritual ones I found most comfortable and â—reshing Having found many books in our Moâ—stery which Philosophers had written a long time â—â—ore me which had dived very deeply into Naâ—re's secrets it encouraged me the more to learn â—â—t which they knew though in the beginning all 〈◊〉 very difficult however upon my earnest prayer to God the Lord blessed me in my undertaâ—â—â—gs In our Monastery there was one of my Fellâ—â— who was mightily tormented with the stone was â—â—ten bed-rid sought after many Physicians but 〈◊〉 was able to cure him was left hopelesse taking refuge to Gods omnipotencie Then I began to aâ—tomize Vegetables extracted their Salt and quâ—tessences but none of all these would or could 〈◊〉 my sick fellow made tryals of many of them but 〈◊〉 were too weak to dissolve the stone I took his case iâ— further consideration and intended to know funâ—â—mentally what efficacie the great Creatour had 〈◊〉 into Minerals and Metals the more I sought iâ— them the more I found still one secret issuing foâ— from the other God blessed me herein opened mâ— eyes that I saw marvellous vertues in the Natâ—â— of Minerals and Metals the great Creatour had iâ— planted into them insomuch that it is a hard matâ—â— to believe it Among these I hapned to get one Mineral compâ—sed of many colours which had many and rare veâ—tues in Medicine I drew its spiritual essence frâ—â— it whereby in few dayes I cured my diseased Colâ—â—giate For this Mineral spirit was very strong aâ—â— strengthned the weak spirit of my brother and livâ— a long time after that cure He prayed dayly aâ—â— hourly for me as long as he lived even to his dyiâ—â— moment his and other mens prayers availed so mâ—â—â— with the great Creatour that by his blessing and miâ—â— endeavours were revealed many great matters uâ—to me which he did not reveal unto worldly 〈◊〉 men This Philosophick stone for mans health and suâ—itation of him in this valley of misery I reveal â—o posterity as much as is meet for me to do folâ—â—ing herein the steps of my predecessors these Phiâ—â—phick informations are aenigmatick and short â—â—t are a rock on which Truth may firmly be builded 〈◊〉 wish good successe and blessings from above to the â—â—dertakers herein Amen The Contents of this Book are I. OF the great stone of Ancient Philosophers II. The XII Keyes whereby the doors 〈◊〉 the Philosophers stone are opened and the deep Fountain of health anâ— wealth floweth from thence III. A short repetition of his writings about thâ— Philosophick stone wherein is plainly held forth the true Philosophick light whereunto is annexed an information of Quick-silver Antimony vitriol-Vitriol-water commoâ— Sulphur Calx vive Arsenic Salpeter Salmiac Tartar Vinegar and Wine IV. Of Microcosme or Mans body what it containeth of what it is composed the whole contents thereof and of its issue and end V. Of the great mystery of the World and its Medicinals belonging to man VI. Of the Magisterium of the VII Planets their essence properties vertues operation and revolution and their admirable hidden mystical qualities Of the great Stone of the Ancient Philosophers written by BASILIUS VALENTINUS DEar friend and well wisher unto Art in my Preface I promised to such which are desirous to learn and to dive into Natures condition to shew and to speak of that corner stone as much as I am permitted from above to do out of what the Ancient Philosophers have prepared their stone whereby they prolonged their lives in a continued health and whereby they got their riches also to live comfortably in this miserable world For the performing of my promise not leading you into any tedious sophistick labyrinths but disclosing the very head-spring of all goodnesse you are to note and to take into serious consideration my following expressions if so be your intent is to learn any thing concerning this Art I do not purpose to use any prolixity in words for that were to no purpose I do love few words which are full of pith Note it is given but to few men to attain unto the mastery of this Art though many strive and endeavour to work upon that structure yet the true knowledge and the attaining thereunto the great Creator hath made common but bestoweth it onely on such which hate lies and loveâ— truth and intend seriously and groaningly to get this Artâ— and chiefly such men are fit for it which love God unfainedly and pray earnestly unto him for such a knowledge Therefore I tell you for a meer truth that in case you intend to go about the making of this stone you be a follower of that I inform you of and before all things pray 〈◊〉 the great Creator to bestow his blessing upon you herein and if you have sinned confesse unto him with a full resolution never to do evil again but lead a godly life and that your heart may be enlightned in all good things and remember when ever you are preferred to any honour to be helpfull to the poor and needy to deliver them out of their misery making them glad with thy helping â—anâ— that the Lord may bestow the greater blessings upon you and you may thereby be confirm'd in faith that there is a Throne in Heaven prepared for such a one hereafter to live in eternal blisse My friend despise not to read good and real writings of such men which had the Philosophick stone before
for our work For their Leproâ—â— is no help for furtherance of our work good things 〈◊〉 hindred in wayes that are unclean Wares out of Mynes 〈◊〉 worth their money but if sophisticated they are maâ—â— unfit being adulterated in their former and original opâ—â—â—â—â—n As Physicians cleanse and purge by means of Physick the â—â—ard parts of the body expelling all impurities from â—â—nce thus these bodies also must be purified from their â—urities that perfection may be operative in our birth 〈◊〉 masters require a pure undefiled body which must not 〈◊〉 mixed with any spot or strange matter For strange â—â—itionals are a Leprosie to our Metals The Kings Crown â—â—st be of pure Gold a chaste Bride must be married unto 〈◊〉 Therefore if you will work through or upon our boâ—â— then take the greedy gray Wolf which by reason of â—ame stands in subjection unto valorous Mars but â—â—hing his descent he is a Childe of old Saturn found Valleys and Hills of the World is very hungry cast beâ—â— him the Kings body let him feed upon it when he 〈◊〉 devoured the King then make a great fire cast the â—lfe into let him be quite burn'd then the King will be at liberty again This being done thrice then the Wolfe â—onquered by the Lyon finding no more on him to 〈◊〉 upon then is our body perfect for the beginning of 〈◊〉 work â—ote that this is the onely true way convenient to â—ge our bodies for the Lion is cleansed by the Wolves â—â—d and the tincture of that bloud rejoyceth mightily â—he Lion's tincture because they are near kin one to â—ther When the Lion is satisfied then his spirit is and eyes cast proud rayes like the lustrous Sun his internal â—â—nce is of great ability and good for all such things you â—â—d to apply him unto and being brought into its due â—â—ration then the sons of men are beholding unto him â—ch were loaden with the falling sicknesse and other disâ—s the ten Lepers run after him and desire to drink of bloud of his Soul and all such that are diseased rejoyce â—â—â—ly in his spirit For he that drinketh of this golden â—â—â—ain feeleth himself throughly renewed in his Naâ—â— all evil things are taken away the bloud is strength 〈◊〉 the heart receiveth strength and all the Members are 〈◊〉 full vigour it openeth all Pores and Nerves expelling their malignities that goodnesse may come into thâ— places My friend you must have good care that the Founâ—â— of life be kept from muddinesse no strange water must 〈◊〉 mingled with our Fountain else a miscreant will be brougâ— forth and a wholesom fish will be turn'd into a Serpeâ—â— if by a Medium a Corrosity be joyned whereby our boâ—â— is broken then let that corrositivenesse be wash'd awaâ— because Corrosives are not to be used for internal diseaseâ— because acidities are rather destructive engendring diseasâ—â— our Fountain must be without poison however poyson â—â—pelleth poyson A Tree that bringeth no good fruit is cut off at tâ—â— bulk better twigs are propp'd into which proppings uâ—â—ted with the Tree then its Root bulk and twigs briâ—â— forth better fruits which are more â—holesome The King in the heavenly firmamâ—nt walketh through 〈◊〉 places but in the seventh he keeps his seat for there 〈◊〉 kingly Throne is hang'd with Golden pieces If you conceive aright what I do speak then with tâ—â— Key you have opened the first Lock and you have drivâ—â— back the bolt but if you cannot finde any light in theâ— then no glasse eyes will help thee nor any natural eyes wâ—â— enable thee to finde out the last which you wanted at fiâ—â— Further I will not speak of this Key as Lucius Papiâ—â— taught and bid me The second Key IN Courts of great Potentates several sorts of drinks 〈◊〉 found and none like the other in smell taste and â—â—lour because they are of several preparations however 〈◊〉 of them are drinkable because they are fitted for seveâ—â— places and are necessary for the keeping of the Coâ—â— When the Sun ejaculateth her rayes spreading thâ—â— â—â—der the Clouds then the vulgar speech is the Sun drawâ—â—h water and it will rain which being done often that â—â—at proves fertil To raise to an altitude a magnifick Palace several Artiâ—â—ers and work-men must be imployed before that struâ—â—ure and the rooms thereof can be finished For where â—ones must be used there wood is of no use The dayly ebbing and flowing of the Sea out of an inâ—â—â—ed love which it receiveth from above out of the starry â—â—aven is to that end that Countreys are enriched thereâ—â— at every return it bringeth great good unto Manâ—â—de A Virgin which is to be espoused is set out gloriously 〈◊〉 several Garments dress't in the best manner that she â—â—y please her Bridegroom And the band of love may 〈◊〉 the deeper root by a hearty looking one upon the â—â—â—her and the Bride joyning with the Bridegroom after 〈◊〉 usual manner these Garments are put off and the â—â—de keeps onely that which at her Nativity she had reâ—â—ed of the Creator Even so when our Bridegroom Apollo with his Bride 〈◊〉 is to be married several Garments must first be made 〈◊〉 them their heads and bodies must be well wash'd with â—â—er which waters must be learn'd to be made by several â—â—â—â—llings For these waters do differ very much some 〈◊〉 high some are poor according to the several uses they 〈◊〉 imployed unto which I intimated when I spoke of 〈◊〉 several sorts of drinks used in Princes Courts And 〈◊〉 when the humidity from the earth ascendeth and 〈◊〉 sâ—â—ne is drawn up they conglomerate on high their â—â—â—derousnesse maketh them fall down thereby unto the â—â—th is restored her lost humidity which refresheth the â—â—ath giveth unto her a nourishment whereby the vegeâ—â—â—les do spring up Therefore some waters in their preâ—â—ation must be often distilled the abstracts must be ofâ—â— restored to the earth must be drawn off again Even as Euripus doth often disgorge it self to a cerâ—â— period The Kingly Palace being by several Artificers a woâ—kmen raised and adorned and tâ—e glassy Sea hath â—â—nished its course and the Palace is furnish'd with gooâ— then the King may safely enter into and keep there residence My friend noâ—e this very well that the Bridegroom wâ— his Bride must be naked espoused and therefore the Oâ—â— menâ—s prepared for their cloathing and necessary attires their heaâ—s and faces must be taken from them again 〈◊〉 must possesse the grave in the nakednesse as naked thâ— were born that their seed might not be destroyed by 〈◊〉 strange mixture At the closing of this I tell thee in good truth that the mâ— precious water of which the Bridegrooms Bath must be mâ—â— must be of two contrary Fencers or contrary materials pâ—â—pared very carefully and wisely For one Fencer must 〈◊〉 the other must be fitted for the fight the one must coâ—qâ—â— the other For what availeth it unto the Eagle that she keâ—â— her
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
is it which affordeth power and vertue the naked body is ablâ— to do nothing here if you know to get that then you have the Philosophers Salt and their incombustible Oyl oâ— which many have written before me great Volumes And if of these Artists were ne're so many Whose aime at me is directed onely Yet few of them in their successe were blest To fathom all vertues that lie in my breast The fifth Key THe life of earth maketh spring up Vegetables and he that saith that the earth is dead tells an untruth for a dead thing cannot impart any livelynesse to another and the increase is at a stay in dead things because the spirit of life is fled The spirit is the life and soul of the earth which dwelleth in her receiveth its efficacy upon earthly things from heavenly Astrals for all Vegetables Metals and Minerals receive their power increase and nourishment from the spirit of the earth For the spirit is the life which is fed by Astrals which further imparts a nourishment unto growing things as the Childe lieth hid in the Mothers Womb and is fed there by the Mother so the earth feedeth Minerals also which lie hid in her belly by a spirit which she receiveth from above the earth doth afford no power per se but the living spirit which dwelleth in her doth it and if she should want her spirit then she were dead and could afford no nourishment because from her Sulphur or fatnesse the spirit is taken away which preserveth living powers and driveth forth Vegetables and other growing things by a nutriment Two contrary spirits may dwell together in one subject but are still at variance as in Gun-powder which being lighted these two spirits fly asunder making a great noise fly in the aire are no more discerned no body can tell whither they are gone or what they had been if it were not known experimentally what manner of spirits they were and in what subject they dwelled From hence you may learn that life is a meer spirit and all these things which the ignorant world counteth to be dead must be brought into an incomprehensible visible spiritual life and must be preserved therein if so be that life shall work with life and the spirits which are fed and nourished by a heavenly dew are born of one elemental heavenly and earthly substance which is called materia informis And as there belongeth unto Iron a Magnet which by reason of its own wonderfull invisible love is of an attractive quality so our Gold hath a Magnet also which Magnet is the prima materia of our great stone If you conceive aright of this expression then you may be blessed with riches in this world One Declaration more I must hold forth unto you in this Chapter Man that looketh into a glasse seeth a reflexion of his image but is not palpable save the glasse the party looked into so from this matter must be expell'd a visible spirit which is incomprehensible the same spirit I say is the root of the life of our body and the Mercury of Philosophers out of which the liquid water in our Art is prepared which in its composition you must make again material and must prepare it by certain means from the lowest to the highest degree into a transcendent Medicine For our beginning is an up-shut comprehensible body its middle is a volatile spirit and in the goldish water there is no corrosivenesse at all whereby our Philosophers prolong'd their lives but the end thereof is a superfix'd Medicine for humane and metalline bodies this knowledge indeed fitteth Angels better than man True men attain unto that knowledge also obtaining the same of God by their earnest prayers who are thankfull unto him for it and beneficial to the needy At the closing I tell thee for a certain truth that one work must beget the other for our matter at the beginning of our work must in the best manner be purified then opened broken and destroyed and reduced to dust and ashes All this being done then make of it a volatile spirit as white as snow and another volatile spirit as red as bloud these two spirits contain a third and yet are but one spirit these are the three spirits which preserve and encrease life joyn these together minister to them their natural necessary meat and drink keep them warm in the bed of wedlock to their perfect birth then you will see and finde what the Creator and Nature hath allowed for you to know And know that I never made so plain a revelation God hath incorporated more operation and wonders into Nature than thousands may give credit thereunto There is a Seal and Lock set before me to say no more that others also may write of marvellous things which naturally are permitted by the Creator which ignorant men count to be supernatural For natural things have their first beginning from supernatural ones yet both together are found to be meerly natural The sixth Key MAn without a woman is but half a body and so the woman without the man is but half a body neither â—or each apart can preduce no fruit but living together in a matrimonial way then is their body perfect and by their seed they may expect an increase If too much seed be cast on a ground that that Acre iâ— over-burthened no firm fruit can be expected and if there be too little of the seed then is the fruit thin also the weeds grow then abundantly from thence also no great goodnesse can be expected He that will not burthen his conscience with any sins in selling of wares then let him be just in his dealing having just measures and just weights then he avoideth mens curses and gets the prayers of the poor In deep waters men are easily drown'd and shallow waters are soon dried up by the heat of the Sun and are good for nothing For the obtaining of a wish'd aim and scope care must be had that a certain measure or quantity be taken in the conjunction of the Philosophick liquid substance that the greater quantity do not over-lay the lesser part and be suppress't thereby and the increase and growing of it be obstructed Let the lesser be not too weak for the bigger let there be an equal domination Too much rain spoyleth the fruit and too great drought hindreth true maturity Therefore if Neptune hath prepared a perfect water-Bath then take a just quantity of your aqua permanens have a great care you do neither too much nor too little A double fiery man must be fed with a white Swan these must kill each other and both must revive again and the aâ—â—â— of the four corners of the World must possesse three parts of the up-shut dwelling of the fiery man that the Swans song may be heard when she harmoniously sings her farewell then the roasted Swan will be a food for the King and the fiery King will be in great love with the
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
of vertues therein in Mercury lieth hid the highest arcanum for mans health but is not to be used crude but must first be prepared into its essence He is sublimed with Copper-water and is further reduced into an Oyl There is an Oyl made of it per se without any corrosivenesse which is pleasant and fragrant several â—orts of Oyls with additionals can be made of it good for many things It is prepared also with Gold being first made into an amalgame there is made a precipitate of it in wâ—ter wherein it dissolveth green like unto a smarag'd Chrysolith the volatile Mercury serveth for outward uâ— if a separation is made by some means and is brought iâ— to subtile clear liquor then to a red brown powder aâ— its received corrosivenesse is separated then it may dowâ— for other uses The mixed Mercury serveth for inward use Mercury being purg'd is precipitated with the bloud Venus is well digested with distill'd Vineger and thus 〈◊〉 corroding quality is taken off Have a care what quantiâ—â— you minister if it being given in a true dose then it doth 〈◊〉 part veâ—y well but for its operation it is not equally suâ—limed unto the fixed its coagulation is sound in Satuâ—â— his malleablenesse is apparent when he is robb'd of hâ— life he containeth his own Tincture upon white and reâ— being brought in his fix'd coagulation unto a white bodâ— is iug'd again by Vitriol-water and being reduced unâ—â— Gold is graduated by Anâ—imony Though that blouâ—â—-thiâ—sty â—â—on Captain with his Spear assaulteth Mercuriâ— veâ—â— much yet he alone cannot conquer him unlesse coâ—â— Saturn come in to hide him and Jupiter command tâ—â— peace with his Scepter Such processe being finish'd theâ— the Angel Gabriel the strength of the Lord and Uâ—iel thâ— light of God hath shew'd mercy unâ—o humble Michael theâ— Raphael can make right use of the highest Medicine nothing can prevail against the Medicine Thus much be spoken of Mercurie now I winge my self from hence and fâ—â— to a place where frost and heat can better be tolerated anâ— endured Of Antimony IT falleth very difficult to Mechanicks to have done learning with their compasses because that great Architecâ— JEHOVAH hath reserved many things for his owâ— power In the same condition we finde Antimony it is â—ery difficult to finde out all the mysteries that are hid â—â—erein its vertue is miraculous its power is great its â—olour hidden therein is various its crude body is poysoâ—ous yet its essence is an antidote against poyson is like â—nto Quick-silver which ignorant Physicians can neither â—omprehend nor finde but the knowing Physician belieâ—eth it to be true as having made many experiments with it This Mineral containeth much of Mercury much of Sulphur and little of Salt which is the cause why it is so â—rittle and applyable for there is no malleablenesse in it by reason of the small quantity of Salt the most amity it beareth unto Saturn is by reason of Mercurie for Philosophers Lead is made out of it and is affected unto Gold by reason of its Sulphur for it puâ—geth Gold leaving no impurity in it there is an equal operation in it with Gold if well prepared and ministred to man Medicinally it flieth out of the fire and keeps firmly in the fire if it be prepared accordingly It s volatile spirit is poysonous purgeth grievously not without damage unto the body its remaining fixednesse purgeth also but not in that manner as the former did provâ—keth not to stool but seeketh meerly the disease where ever it is penetrateth all the body and the Members thereof suffers no evil to abide there expels it and brings the body to a better condition In brief Antimonie is the Lord in Medicinals there is made of it a Regulus our of Tartar and Salt if at the melting of Antimony some Iron-filings be added by a Manual used there cometh forth a wonderfull Star which Philosophers before me called the Signat-star this Star being several times melted with cold Earth-salt it groweth then yellowâ—sh is of a fiery quality and of a wonderfull efficacie this Salt afterward affords a liquor which further is brought to a fix incombustible Oyl which serveth for several uses Besides there are made of common Regulus of Antimony curious flowers either red yellow or white according 〈◊〉 the fire hath been govern'd These flowers being exâ—â—â—ed and the extract without any addition per se being drâ—ven into an Oyl have an admirable efficacy This extraction may be made also with Vinegar of crude Antimony or of its Regulus but it requireth a longer time neithâ—â— is it so good as the former preparation And being reduced into a Philistaea there is a glassâ— made of it per se of which I made mention in my eigâ—â— Key which is extracted also then abstracted there remaineth a powder of incredible operation which may safely be used after it hath been edulcorated This powder being dissolv'd healeth wounds sores c. causing nâ— pains this powder being extracted once more with spiriâ— oâ— wine or driven through the Helmet with some other matter affords a sweet Oyl to speak further of it is needlesse Antimony is melted also with cold Earth-salt dissolv'd and digested for a time in spirit of wine it affords a whitâ—â— fix'd powder is effâ—ctuaâ— against morbus Gallicus breaks inward Impostums it hath severâ—l vertues besides You must learn to prepare Antimony your self lay hands on dive into it's inward qualities you will meet with wonderfull matters â—for my conscience will not suffer me to discover all it's qualities I desire not 〈◊〉 loâ—â— the Physicians curses upon me which were at great expences and toyled much in burning of Coals about its preparation if I should rob them of their lively-hood Therefore learn thou also as thy predecessoâ—â— did seek as I have done then you will finde also what others have told of There is made an Oyl also of Antimony the flyiâ— Dragon being added thereunto which being rectified â—â—â—ice then it is prepared tâ—â—ugh a Cancer were neveâ— so bâ—d â—nd the Wolf never so bitâ—â—g yet these with all their fellowâ— be they Fistula's or olâ— Ulcers must fly and be gâ—ne â—â—e little powder of the flyiâ—g Dragon prepared with the Lâ—ons bloudâ— must be ministred also three or four Grains for a Dose according to the parties age and complexion A further processe may be made with this Oyl with the â—â—dition of a water made of stone Serpents and other neâ—â—ssary spices not those which are transported from the Inâ—â—s this powder is of that efficacie that it radically cureth â—ny Chronical diseases There is made a red Oyl of Antimony Calx vive Sal arâ—oniac and common Sulphur which hath done great cuâ—es 〈◊〉 old Ulcers with stone Salt or with common Salt there 〈◊〉 forced from Antimony a red Oyl which is admirable good 〈◊〉 outward Symptoms There is made a sublimate of Antimony with spirit of â—â—tar and Salmiac being digested for a time which by
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
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
rectified spirit of Wine with Salt of Tartar then putrified and reduced into a sweet Oyl this is an excellent Medicine against the French disease old Ulcers Chollick windy ruptures Gouâ—â— expelling many other diseases out of mans body 2. This Oyl is joyned also with Martial Tinctures For â—erâ—ury is the bond of other Metals and may be well used â—ticulariter The chiefest colour of Mercury is red as â—â—u finde in my other writings Chap. VI. Of common Vitriol â— TAke good Hungarish Vitriol dissolve it in distilled water coagulate it again let it shoot into Crystalâ— â—erate it five times then is it well purged and the Salts Allums and Niter are separated from it Distil this purged â—itriol with spirit of wine unto a red Oyl ferment it with â—piritual Sol add to it a due Dose of quick Mercury of Antimony coagulate and fix then you have a Tincture for men and it tingeth Lune also into Sol. Visitando Interiora Terrae Rectificandoque In venietis occultum Lapidem Veram Medicinam 2. VItriol is calcined also to a red colour in a close Vessel on which is poured distilled Vinegar and is set in putrefaction for three moneths there is sound in a strong distillation a quick Mercury which you are to keep safe Wonders may be effected therewith upon Particulars and Universals Take three pâ—â—ts of this Mercury and one part of Sol joyn these being fixed it affords a Solar augmentum Make your supplies with its Mercury Laus Deo 3. This calcined red Vitriol is sublimed also with Salmiac thâ— sublimate is dissolved into an Oyl This Oyl fixeth Câ—â—obar whereof may be had Lune and Sol. 4. There is made a fix't water also Salmiac and Alloâ— being added thereunto This water being poured upon Suâ—phur of Jupiter which before was precipitated inâ—o a reâ— powder imbibed and coagulated and an ingresse be maâ—â— with Sol then you have a Tincture whereby câ—ude Antimâ—ny is transmuted into good Lune which may be transmuteâ—â— into Sol. 5. Lastly I tell thee if you extract the Salt out of Vitriol and rectifie it well then you have a work which iâ— short and tingeth Lune into Sol this metalline Salt coagulateth vulgar Mercurie and being transmuted into Lunâ— iâ— may be graduated higher through and with Antimony Thus you have my operations and experiments which may he very profitable unto you Make a good Christian use of it help the poor cure the diseased then God will blesse you Amen Sulphur is Vitriol Antimony is Mercary The third Section Of vulgar Magnet 1. MAgnet contains that which common Mars hath Common Iron may easily be wrought needs not to make many words of it Magnet hath an attractive quality to draw Iron 2. There is made an Oyl of Magnet and Mars which is very effectual in deep wounds 3. With Magnet and Antimony is made Lune fix which with the Oyl of Mars and Venus is graduated and made to Gold it may be performed also with Antimony and Mars Thus I finish'd my course and found many things in my working My fellow brethren turn'd Alchymists all had the Philosophers stone I was the beginner took great â—â—us before I attained to any thing if you read my wriâ—â—gs diligently you will finde the XII Keyes the prima â—â—teria or Philosophers Mercury together with the Philoâ—phick Salt the Philosophick Sulphur I delineated exâ—â—sly Now I close committing you to God and accept in hoâ—â—sty of that you are informed Medium Tenuere Beati FINIS Jod V. R. A Processe upon the Philosophick work of Vitriol HAving gotten this Processe in the foresaid year and and afterward as you shall hear with mine own hands elaborated and wrought the same no man â—ver-looking me I was heartily rejoyced even as if I had â—een new born and returned hearty thanks to Godâ— its â—ractick at the first I have not plainly described because I â—ad erred in the composing of it and was fain to begin the work anew I having miss'd in my work I begun in the â—ear 1605. because the matter of the Earth and the spirit â—f Mercury was not sufficiently purged therefore the earth â—ould not perfectly be united at the composition with the water I let that quite alone and began a new Processe at â—he end of the year 1605. in the Citie of Strasburg used â—ore diligence and exactnesse then my work God be praiâ—â—d prospered better for the which I am still thankfull to God for it In the name of the Hâ—ly Trinity the 1â— October Anno 1605. I took ten pouâ—d of Vitriol dissâ—â— it in distilled Rain-water being warm'd let it stand 〈◊〉 day and a night at that time many feces were setled Iâ—trated the matter evaporated it gently ad cuticulam usâ—â— I set it on a cool place to crystallize this on shot Vitriâ—â— exiccated dissolved it again in distilled Rain-water lâ—â— shoot again which work I iterated so long tiâ—l the Viâ—â— goâ— a coelestial gâ—een colour having no more any feces aâ—â—â— and lost all its corrosivenesse and was of a very pleaâ—â— taste This highly putrified Vitriol thus crude and not â—â—cined I put into a coated Retort distilled it in open fâ— drove it over in 12 hours space by an exact government fiâ—e in a white fume when no more of these fumes caâ—â— and the red corrosive Oyl began to come then I lâ—t the 〈◊〉 go out the next morning all being cold I took off the â—â—ceiver poured the gift in the receiver into a body aâ— some of the lâ—â—e being fall'n into I filter'd it and had a 〈◊〉 menstrual water which had some phlegme because I tâ— that Vitriol uncalcined which I abstracted in a Balmy 〈◊〉 leaving one drop of water in it I found my Chaos in the bottom of a dark rednesse vâ— ponderous which I poured into a Viol sealed it Hermeâ—â— set it on a three-foot into a woodden globe into a vâ—porous hath made of water where I left it so long till 〈◊〉 was dissolved after some weeks it separated into two parâ— into a bright transparent water and into an earâ—â— which setled to the bottom of the glasse in form of a thiâ— black corrosive like pitch I separated the white spiâ—â— from it and the fluid black matter I set in again to be dâ—â—solved the white spirit which was dissolv'd of it I separatâ— again this work I iterated leaving nothing in the bottoâ— save a dry red earth After that I purged my white spiâ—â— per distillationem very exactly it was as pure as the tear thâ—â— falls from the eye the remaining earth I exiccated under Muffle it was as porous and as dry as dust on this I pourâ—â— again my white spirit set it in a digestion this spirit exâ—â—â—ct the Sulphur or Philosophick Gold and was ting'd of a 〈◊〉 yellow I caâ—â—ed it off from the matter and in a body â—bstracted the spirit from the Sulphur that Sulphur stayed â—â—inde in form of an Oyl very fiery nothing like unto its â—â—t as red as a
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
Venus as also in Vitriol and both Venus aâ—â— â—â—ars can be reduced into a most effectual Vitriol in which Metalline Vitriol afterward all the three principles as Merâ—ury Sulphur and Salt are found under one heaven and with â—â—tle pains and short time each can be taken out of it apart â—s you shall hear when I shall make further relation of the Mineral Vitriol which is digged in Hungary of a high graâ—ation Now if you have wit and understanding art inâ—lined and heartily desireth to conceive of the true meanâ—ng of my Keyes and of my other writings thereby to unâ—oâ—k the locks of Metals for our store then you should have â—aken notice and observed that in all these I have written â—ot onely of the Metal of Sol of its Sulphur and Salt but I â—ave interlined and mingled also and made uniformal other â—ed Metals from whence may be had the mystical Masterie â—herefore men ought to iterate often the reading of Philosophick books then a true sense and meaning may be drawn â—rom them which without divine illumination cannot be â—either c. But hoping that those who are fully and really resolved â—o incline their hearts unto wisdom will give more attenâ—ion thereunto than the other madd worldlings for whom â—hese my writings were not intended for I spoke as plainly â—s ever possibly I could and this kindled light shall further â—e purified so that true and sincere Novices may have a â—ull light without an eclipse from their beginning to their â—nding To which end I took these pains to disclose that which all the World was silent in and concealed it to their â—ast end and buried it in silence to their very graves The scope I aimed at in so doing was not to hunt after any â—ain glory but rather that Gods gracious provident goodnesse might be held forth unto posterity that the future â—â—ges might become seeing and some of the posterities eyes might be kept open and be helpfull unto their needy fellow Artist and make them partakers of Gods graces and gifts Though my minde be mightily perplexed when I think â—â—on what I have done because I write so plainly not knowâ—ng into whose hands after my departure these my writings may come However I hope let them be what they will that they will remember and lay to heart my faithfull warnings inserted in my former and these present writings thaâ— they deal with this book and use it so that they may givâ— good accompt for it to Almighty God Touching further the Vitriol I should make mention oâ— it in my Manuals where I treat and write generally of Minerals But it being such a singular Mineral whose felioâ— whole nature doth not produce besides Vitriol before aâ—â— others is of great affinity unto Metals and is next kiâ— unto them for out of all Metals there can be made a Vitriol or Chrystal Chrystal and Vitriol is taken for one therefore I would not bereave it of its own praise and put itâ— commendation too far off but rather preferre it as therâ— is just cause before other Minerals and the first place nexâ— to Metals should be given unto it for setting aside all Metals and Minerals this is sufficient to make the Philosopherâ— stone of it which no other in the World can do the like though some particulariter are a help to further that work and Antimony alone is a sufficient Master hereunto as iâ— its due place more shall be spoken of However none iâ— thus much dignified in its worthinesse that the said Philosophick stone could be made of it as this Vitriol is Therefore ancient Philosophers have concealed this Mineral aâ— much as ever they could and would not reveal the same tâ— their own Children that they should not divulge it in the World but be kept secret though they published thaâ— such preparation is made out of one thing and out of onâ— body which hath the nature of Sol and Lune and containeth also the Mercury wherein they said true enough because it is so But here I must admonish you that you maâ— turn this argument and settle your thoughts wholly upoâ— Metalline Vitriols because I intrusted you that out of Venus and Mars there can be made an excellent Vitriol where in are found the three principles for the generation of oâ—â— stone but you must further note also that neverthelessâ— these three Metals as Spiritus anima corpus are buried anâ— â—â—d in a Mineral Vitriol as in a Mineral it self Understand â—is according to the distinct natures of Vitriol For the â—est which according to my experience shewed it self most â—ffectual herein is that which is broken and digged in â—ungarie of a very deep degree of tincture not very unlike â—â—to a fair blue Saphir having very little of humidities and â—ther additionals or strange Oars the oftner it is dissolved â—â—d coagulated the more is it exalted in its deep tinging â—olour and is beheld with great admiration This high graduated Vitriol is found crude in those places â—here Gold Copper Iron is broken and digg'd and is â—bundantly transported from thence into forraign parts inâ— much that sometimes there is great scantnesse of it in those â—â—rts and elsewhere Though the vulgar people can afford no better name to 〈◊〉 calling it onely a Copper-water however ancient Philoâ—â—ers by reason of its unspeakable vertue and dignity exâ—ll'd it and call'd it Vitriolum for that reason because its â—iritual Oyl containeth all the three principles of all the â—iumphing qualities If you get such deep graduated and well prepared Mineâ—â— called Vitriol then pray to God for understanding and â—â—sdom for your intention and after you have calcined it â—t it into a well coated Retort drive it gently at first then â—â—rease the fire there comes in the form of a white spirit of â—â—riol in the manner of a horrid fume or winde cometh â—o the Receiver as long as it hath any such material in it â—d note that in this winde are invisibly hid all the three â—â—ciples and come together out of that dwelling therefore â—s not necessary to seek and search alwayes in precious â—â—ngs because by this means there is a nearer way open â—â—o nature's mysteries and is held forth to all such which 〈◊〉 able to conceive of Art and wisdom Now if you separate and free this expell'd spirit well and â—ely per modum distillation is from its earthly humidity â—n in the bottom of the glasse you will finde the treasure 〈◊〉 fundamentals of all the Philosophers and yet known to none which is a red Oyl as ponderous in weight as eveâ— any Lead or Gold may be as thick as bloud of a burning fiery quality which is that true fluid Gold of Philosophers which nature drove together from the three principles wherein is found a spirit soul and body and is that philosophick Gold saving one which is its dissolution during thâ— fire and not subject to any corruptiblenesse else it flieâ—â— away with body and Soul