conscience to deprive their fellow Christians of their monies by cheating all they look for is to be talk'd of and live in reputation they stick full of diabolical pride and vanity up to the ears these in the end in great woe and miserie have their poor Souls drowned most lamentably woe woe to you Children of Sathan Here I intend not to use any prolixity of words nor to bring in any such matters which are heterogeneal to my purpose at the closing of my book I will be more large in my expressions as far as the heavenly Prince shall enable me to do where as for a final Corollarie to all my writings I shall annex things with that proviso and intreaty that all those which intend to be real and conscionable in their Medicaments may aide cure their oppressed fellow Christians and to search and inquire into such things which God for such purposes hath ordained and implanted them into nature This present book of mine deserves to be called A light unto darknesse for other things which in my former writings I have discoursed of by way of parables which stile I made use of the rather because it is proper to Philosophers are declared in this my last information where I deal in plain and clear words describing and naming the matter openly shewing the preparations from the beginning to the middle and end demonstrating and setting before the eyes of men the matter in general and particular confirming and justifying the truth thereof and making a distinction betwixt the ground and no ground in so plain terms that the very Children may understand and feel it with their hands And because this book affordeth another knowledge differing from others of my writing wherein I have not written so obscurely nor made I use of such subtilties as the ancients did who lived before me and ended their dayes happily therefore doth it require another place also to be laid up in and kept secret from the perversenesse of men in the world I do not desire it should be buried with me to be a prey and food for Worms but it shall be left above ground and kept secret from wicked men and my purpose is that it shall be laid into a secret place where none shall come near it but he for whom God hath ordained it other writings of mine shall sooner see the publick light But know thou whoever thou art into whose hand this my last Testament comes which contains the Revelation of heavenly and earthly mysteries it will happen to thee by a divine providence to whose custody at my devotion then perform'd I committed it depositing the same into that secret place together with other things not inforced upon any grounds of necessities or straightnesses to leave it there onely for him whom Gods goodnesse shall appoint to finde it For it is not good for me to let God's Creatures and mysterie which are too abstruse already and stept from the light into darknesse by reason of the malicious perversenesse of the wicked world to die with me as envious men are with to do with gifts they are entrusted withall but even leave a glimpse of truth and of the clear heaven thinking befitting to discharge my conscience in putting forth the talent to usury let the will of the Lord be done in him whom he deemeth to be worthy of it into whose care and diligence I commit it from henceforth and for ever For I a Cloyster-man and an unworthy Servant of the Divine infinite Trinitie confesse and ackowledge that I should never have come so far in my knowledge of these endlesse mysteries in the Analogie of natural things in the melioration changing their qualities for a sure and strong upholding of this profound knowledge of the true Medicine according to this Ordinance whereby I am ready to do good to all and every one which desireth my help herein which as I have done hitherto so my desire is that God would enable me to do the same to the last of my breathing I say I should never have attained unto it if by God special goodnesse grace and mercie several books had not come into my hands written of ancient Masters which departed this life a long time before me causing great joy to me stirring up in me a return of hearty thanks to God who so graciously was pleased in his providence to bestow them on me in the Cloyster before any of my Fellows I do speak it without any vain-glorie I have done so much good thereby to my fellow-Christians as ever was possible for me to do which next to God returned thanks for it even to the end of my dayes Now whereas I can be Steward no longer I have done according as my abilities would give leave let others also be industrious and not defective in their Stewardship I return mine into the faithfull hands of God Almighty and deliver up to his Divine power and glorie instead of the Keyes for the house all the allotted mysteries set down here in my writing leaving them to his disposing to bestow them after my death unto him whom his Divine will shall chuse thereunto to be for the knowledge of his praise-worthy name the good and help of such that stand in want of necessaries and health for the avoiding and shunning of all worldly pompe pride wantonnesse luxurie rashnesse pleasure covetousnesse and spightfulnesse or contempt of others O Lord God Almighty mercifull Gracious Father of thine onely begotten Son Jesus Christ who art onely the Lord of Sabaoth the principle of all things that are made by thy Word and definite end of all Creatures above and below I poor miserable Man and Earth-worm return thanks with my babling tongue from the innermost Center of my heart who hast been pleased to enlighten me with the great light of thy heavenly and earthly wisdom and the greatest mysteries of the created secrecies and treasures of this World together with thy Divine saving word by which I learn to know thine Almighty power and wonders To thee belongs eternal praise honour and glorâ—e from eternity unto eternity that thou hast bestowed on me health and lively hood strength and ability to be helpfull to my fellow Christians in their necessities and inflicted infirmities with those mystical healing Medicines together with such spiritual comforts to raise the drooping spirits Lord to thee alone belongs power might and glorie to thee is the praise honour and gratefulnesse for all the mercies and graces thou hast bestowed on me and hast preserved me therein till to this my great age and lowest weaknesse O! thou God of all graces and father of all comforts be not angrie with me that I deliver up to thee mine eternal Creator the Keyes of my Stewardship wrapt up in this Pergamene according to the dutie my calling and conscience calls for with these thou suffer'st me to keep house the most of my time till now thou hast called and foreseen me to be thy servant
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-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
take notice that all Metals and Minerals have onely one root from which generally thâ—â—r â—â—escent is he that knoweth that rightly needs not to deâ—â—roy Metals to extract the spirit from one the Sulphur â—â—om a second and the Salt from a third For there is a â—â—earer place yet in which these three Spirit Soul and Boâ—y lye hid in one thing well known and may with great â—raise be gotten it shall be nominated afterward in several â—erms He that learneth to know exactly this golden seed or â—his Magnet and searcheth throughly into its properties â—â—e hath then the true root of life and may attain unto that â—â—is heart longeth for In my former writings as also in the XII Keyes from the first to the last I ordered thus my stile 〈◊〉 writing wherein I held forth unto posterity the â—ractick how the great stone of Philosophers or the best purified gold may be made out of Sulphur and Salt with 〈◊〉 help of the spirit of Mercury which must be drawn from crude unmelted Minera according to the Tenor of my fiâ—â— Key set down in a parabolical manner Why I laid the work of the Philosophick stone upon tâ—â— Gold Metal this is the reason that the simple Laboratoâ—â— to whom is unknown the other body or subjectum whicâ— containeth all the three principles though it be a thiâ— well known yet is it stranger to their brains may leâ—â— hereby more wit and knowledge Many of the ancieâ—â— Philosophers which lived long before me have in the saâ—â— manner with me obtained the true universal stone of a mysteries and health as their books which are extant giâ—â— evidence thereof The first time I took great pains aâ—â— made great expences and consumed much time about thâ— purified Gold alledged in the first Key this heavenly stoâ—â— I prepared in the Cloister I lived in and happily obtaineâ— it The highest in heaven bestowed his further grace 〈◊〉 blessing upon me that I took into further consideration thâ— tinging 2 animated 1 spirits placed and planted into their several bodies Let no man be ashamed to learn to â—dd more 〈◊〉 his learning and to dive further into that which was hiâ— from him notwithstanding his knowing wayes Natuâ—â— reserveth many things in her secrecie which mens dull understanding and shortnesse of life cannot reach unto Whereas God in his great goodnesse hath bestowed thâ—â— great gift upon me for an improvement of that talent I havâ— imparted the same to my fellow Christians in the said XII Keyes Those that are endued with deeper wits and knowledge and in their hearty and carefull endeavours strive further to dive in the Art will meet in the same place with a more easie and more known matter which almost wâ—â— named and set down of an effectual quality out of which in like manner as the ancients before me in their exacâ—â— speculation and practick have in the end better known the onely scope and drift which hath been practised several â—â—s by me also in a shorter time and lesse pains taking 〈◊〉 they and I have obtained health and riches in this â—wn and despicable matter and Mineral substance is â—â—d a sulphur and tincture more effectual and more worâ—â— than the best Gold can afford which is fluid and open â—â—its Mercurial spirit also and its mystical Salt is free and â—â—n whose vertues may with lesse pains in a visible manâ—â— be drawn from it â—e that hath considered exactly my XII Keyes freâ—â—ntly perusing the same must needs conceive and that â—rein is held forth the whole preparation of our stone 〈◊〉 the beginning to the end without any defect yet so â—t it onely should be prepared of Gold fitted for it But 〈◊〉 according to Gods ordinance in nature have pointed at â—old which is much better and requireth to be taken inâ—â— deep consideration which being unknown and strange Novices for some reasons I forbear to give them any diâ—â—tion thereunto with a resolution to write and to point at â—â—h matters as themselves are inclined to seek for their â—â—d in them At the beginning of my XII Keyes according to the â—â—nner of Philosophers in a parabolical way I made relaâ—â—n of the property and work of our stone and balsam how was made by Artists which as by an inheritance is come 〈◊〉 me also wherein I spoke as much as was meet of the â—vernment of the fire chargeable appearance and of the â—â—iefest planetical colours and the final end thereof After â—â—e accomplishment of these peruse well the XII Keyes for â—â—ch containeth a particular work The first Key informeth you that if you seek for the â—â—ed in a Metalline body as in the Gold then before all â—â—ings it must most exactly be purged from all its impure â—eprosie and that nothing must be mix'd with our Founâ—ain but such which is of a pure spermatick quality This â—urifying is perform'd with Antimony which stands in a â—ear relation and affinity unto Gold which is the reason why antimonial sulphur purgeth the Soul of Gold graduâ—ting the same to a very high degree On the other-side 〈◊〉 Gold can meliorate in a short time the Soul of Antimoâ— and can bring it to a firm fixation exalting Antimony 〈◊〉 Gold to an equal dignity and vertue and can be brougâ—â— not onely unto a white Metal of Lune but also to a traâ—scendent Medicine for mans health of which you shâ—â— have a further direction hereafter when I shall treat in pâ—â—ticular of Antimony Alâ—hough Antimony hath promise unto Saturn a sociable brother-hood because Antimony qualification doth rest in some sort on the quality of Saturâ— in an equal concordance yet after the fixation of the exalted Sulphur of Antimony his next friend Saturn cannoâ— get any prey from him because the King received him intâ— his golden Palace and make him partaker of his triumphing Kingdom This is the reason why he can endurâ— now heat and frost and overcomes it and standeth with the King a Conquerour in great and transcendent glory The purifying of the Gold is perform'd thus Laminateâ— the Gold-thinly after a due manner cast it thrice through Antimony afterward the Regulus which is set at the through casting must be melted before the blast in a strong fire and driven off with Saturn then you will finde the purest fairest most lustrous Gold pleasant to behold as much as the lustre of Sol is This Gold is now fitted to surrender its innermost being first brought from its fixednesse into a destructive form and passe through the Salt-Sea of its corruptiblenesse is drowned therein escaped again and appeared visibly The second Key MY Friend note and take that into a serious consideration because the chiefest point lyeth herein cause a Balneum be made let nothing come into it which should nor be there that the noble seed of the Gold fall not into â—estructive and irrecoverable opposition after its destruâ—on and take an exact and carefull view of such things â—â—ich my second Key informeth thee of
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
â—nto us all a blessed resurrection Amen This high and mighty example having its foundation â—ot in humane thoughts wit or pride or in an ungrounded â—ating but in the great Creatour's true word which he â—ath revealed unto us through his servant and holy Prophet Moses doth inform you what you ought to do further with our new begotten Creature that you may get a perfect â—â—rth without any defect to the praise of the Highest the â—ather of lights and mercy from whom we receive all perâ—ect gifts which he graciously bestoweth on his Children â—or which we are not able to return sufficient thanks unto â—im Now if you will proceed well in your work then joyn â—he new body with his Soul which you formerly drew â—â—om that the compound in its vertue be compleat and â—here be apparent in the end a plusquam perfection of it â—hen is begotten the Red King of all glorie in a fiery subâ—tance and highly clarified body exalted above all powers â—pon earth from thence ariseth the golden fountain he that thinketh of it is renewed in all his Members and there is rised wholly a new life for the which God be praised for ever more The augmentation of this huge treasure together with the fermentation thereof for the transmutation of Metalls doubtlesse you have taken notice of exactly afore where I wrote of Gold how it must be handled and what direction I have given you thereunto the same you must observe for here is all one processe from the middle to the end the beginning onely asketh alteration by reason of the two distinct matters for the which God be praised whom we beseech to give us his grace and blessing that we may make good use of this treasure and after this life we may enter into the heavenly Kingdom The love to my Neighbour hath moved me to write of these things which in my long experience I found to be true following the steps of bountifull nature which made me a Sooth-sayer in natural things and I am assured that if these my writings are made publick after my death and my other books sharing in the same fortune that they must undergo many censures For some will extreamly condemâ— me delivering me unto Satan because I have written so plainly Others there will be which will quite overthrow my writings crying out to be Lies Superstition and Diabolical works the like censure other illuminated men before me have undergone which they feel to this day for men are so incredulous in these points that so mighty an operation should be found against all manner of infirmities besides the transmutation of Metals in so despicable a matâ—er over which the Iron Man with his espoused Wife Venus â—ogether with the deep glittering Sol is and must have the â—redominancie and with incredible profit it should by â—rt â—e brought to such perfection The Art being great and â—he matter so contemptible it procureth the more doubt â—nd unbelief these unbelieving men I let understand oneâ—y this notable example whereby the eyes of those that â—re going unto Emaus shall be opened and thereby shall â—â—owledge that I have written no untruth but disclosed 〈◊〉 a truth very plainly And note that the ancient Phiâ—â—phers endeavoured to describe the preparation of the â—â—e under a notion of distilling of wine and the spirit â—â—eof which in their work are almost like one to anâ—er For I they taught out of the best wine to make a â—it without any strange phlegme which to this day â—â—ng vulgar Artists must be and is called the right and â—e mystical spirit of wine whereas it may soon be proved â—r this supposed spirit of wine containeth much invisible â—midity or phlegme in an insensible manner which is â—hing else but its vegetable Mercury for the fiery spirit wine is the true fire and soul of the wine Every Sulphur â—â—taineth secretly its original and principal Mercury Veâ—ables in their kinde the Animals in their kinde and 〈◊〉 Minerals also after their kinde 2. They taught how â—s spirit of wine must be separated in two distinct parts â—mely this spirit of wine be poured upon white calcined â—â—ar and be drawn over in a gentle distillation In this â—â—illation is separated the secret and true spirit of wine â—m his Vegetable Mercury as I faithfully informed you 〈◊〉 my Manuals From the remainng earth they taught a â—t be drawn to be added to the rectified spirit whereby 〈◊〉 is fortified and strengthned in his substance and at last â—e Philosopher stone should be generated It is mightily â—ainst Gods ordinance that a Vegetable should produce 〈◊〉 Animal or an Animal produce a Mineral By way of â—parable the practice part is held forth under the notion 〈◊〉 this preparation Now as they taught of the wine so in â—â—e manner also through a short way our Gold can be preâ—red not the usual and common Gold and may be disâ—lved divided separated and brought into its first prinâ—ple But you must note that this dissolution and separation â—as never described plainly by any of the ancient Philosoâ—hers which lived before me and knew the Magisterium â—hy I do it the love to my Neighbour hath moved me thereunto which I bear from the Center of my heart to those which overcome this mystery without falshood 〈◊〉 mingling vices with a faithfull heart in a sincere knâ—â—ledge and real piety In the first place be inform'd 〈◊〉 our Gold so much spoken of hitherto must never be â—â—ken for such Gold by any of our Disciples which hath bâ— melted and fully digested by nature for herein such â—rour is committed that men dilapidate all what they hâ—â— and loose both the beginning and end of all their woâ—â—â— Although not onely from Gold but from other Metals 〈◊〉 this Clenodium and Jewel may be had in the preparaâ—â—â—â— of it particulariter much profit and advantage may be â—â—ten in that which concerneth mans health as hath be formerly told however without the spirit of Mercury 〈◊〉 Universal of the World to be gotten meerly from the bâ—â— of Sol is impossible and will be impossible unlesse Creatour of all things produce another ordinance to chaâ—â— and alter his Creature after his own will But as that impossible so it is impossible also to deal against Gâ—â— Creature in that kinde as to finde out that wholesom pâ—â—fit which to your longing desire you expect You mâ—â— believe it for a truth as Christ himself is that the Philoâ—â—pher's stone would not be so strange rare and unknoâ—â— a thing it would be common to Kings and Potentates 〈◊〉 God would permit to be made of Gold alone and the thâ—â— Jewels of infinite fixed vertues hid therein could be 〈◊〉 out of it My intent is not in this present Treatise to use any pâ—â—lixity in writing those that are not quite blinde and haâ—â— their eyes open have enough already to attain unto 〈◊〉 knowledge and command both his minde and hands â—o to passe by the weightiest and esteem high
â—eans of Mars is turn'd into quick Mercury This Antiâ—â—onial Mercury hath been sought of many but few have â—â—otten it which is the reason why its praise is not divulg'd â—uch lesse is it's operative quantity known if you know â—â—w to precipitate it well then your Arrow will hit the â—ark to perform strange matters it's qualities ought not 〈◊〉 be made common It is needlesse to describe it's combustible Sulphur how that is made of Antimony it is easie and known but that which is fix'd is a secret and hidden from many If an Oyl be made of it in which it 's own Sulphur is dissolv'd and these be fix'd together then you have a Medicine of rare qualities in vertue operation and ability far beyond Vegetables Quick silver being imbibed with quick Sulphur melted with Antimony for some hours in a Wind-oven the Salt of the remainder being extracted with distill'd Vinegar then you have the Philosophers Salt which cureth all manner of Agues There is an acetum made of Antimony of an acidity as other acetums are if it 's own Salt be dissolv'd in this acetum and distill'd over then this acetum is sharpned which is an excellent cooler in hot swellings and other inflamed Symptoms about wounds especially if there be made an Unguent of it together with anima of Saturn The Quintessence of Antimony is the highest Medicinâ— the noblest and subtilest found in it and is the fourth pâ—â— of an Universal Medicine Let the preparation of it 〈◊〉 still a mystery its quantity or Dose is three Grains the 〈◊〉 belong four instruments to the making of it the Furnace the fifth in which Vulcan dwelleth the Manuals and thâ— government of fire afford the ordering of it You Physicians if you be wise seek out this Medicine iâ— that subject where it lieth in and may be found best anâ— most effectual I forbear to speak further of Antimony lâ— Justinian judge of the rest Of Copper-water IF I could prevail with Apollo to be mercifull and to givâ— liberty to his Muse to be my assistance in the describing of Art and wisdom then would I bring in an offering unto Minerva whereby the Gods of wisdom might take notice of a gratefull minde for their gifts they had bestowed and I would write of a mineral whose Salt is set forth in the highest manner whose great and good qualities are of that transcendency that reason is not able to comprehend or to conceive of them It went generally by the name of Copper-water to make the meaning and sense of it plain let men know and be thus informed of it that Vitriol containeth two spirits a white and a red one the white spirit is the white Sulphur upon white the red spirit is the red Sulphur upon red He that hath ears let him hear Observe it diligently and remember every word for they are of a large extent every word is as ponderous as a Centner stone The white spirit is sowr causeth an appetite and a good digestion in a mans stomach The red spirit is yet sowrer and is more ponderous than the white in its distilling a longer fire must be continued because it is fixer in its degree Of the white by distilling of Sulphur of Lune is made argentum potabile In the like manner the â—ld being destroyed in the spirit of common Salt and â—de spiritual by distilling and its Sulphur taken from it â—â—d joyned with a red spirit in a due Dose that it may be â—â—ssolved and then for a time putrified in spirit of wine to 〈◊〉 further digested and often abstracted that nothing â—main in the bottom then you have made an aurum poâ—bile of which great volumes have been written but very â—w of their processes were right Note that the red spirit â—ust be rectified from its acidity and be brought into a â—eetnesse subtilly penetrating of a pleasant taste and sweet â—agrancy I have told you now great matters which slipp'd from â—e against my intention the sweet spirit is made of Sulâ—hur of Vitriol which is combustible like other Sulphur â—efore it is destroyed for the Sulphur of Philosophers â—â—ote it well is not combustible its preparation needs â—ot to be set down being easie requireth no great pains or great expences to get a combustible Sulphur out of â—itriol This sweet Oyl is the essence of Vitriol and is sucâ— a â—edicine which is worthy the name of the third pillar of â—he universal Medicine The Salt is drawn from Colchotar â—nd is dissolved in the red or white Oyl or in both and is â—istill'd again if it be fermented with Venus it performâ—â— its office very well for it affords such a Medicine â—hich at the melting tingeth pure Iron into pure Copper Colchotar of Sulphur affords true fundamentals unto â—ealing of perish'd wounds which otherwise are hardly â—â—ought to any healing and such sores which by reason of 〈◊〉 long continued white rednesse will admit of no healing â—olchotar affords an ingresse thereunto setting a new founâ—ation that quality and vertue is not in the Colchotar but â—he spirit together with the Salt are the Masters which â—well therein There is made of Copper and Vâ—rdigreece a Vitriol of a â—igh degree and is far spread in its tincture There is a Vitriol made of Iron also which is of a strange quality Iron and Copper are very nigh kind one to another belâ— together as man and wife this mystery should have bâ— concealed but being it is of great concernment I could forbear but to speak of it Vitriol corroded with Salmiac in it's sublimation thâ— ariseth a combustible Sulphur together with it's Mercuâ—â— of which there is but little because it hath most of Sâ—phur If the same Sulphur be set at liberty again by 〈◊〉 Eagle with spirit of wine there can be made a Medicine it as I told you formerly of it Though there be a neaâ— way to make a combustible Sulphur out of Vitriol as of precipitation upon a precedent dissolution by the Salt liquor of Tartar as also by a common lixivium made Beech-ashes yet this is the best reason because the bâ—â— of Vitriol is better more opened with the Key of the Eagâ—â— There are other mysteries hidden in Vitriol which in yâ— operative quality are excellent and are known apparent as Venus and Mars bear real record in their spirits the saâ—dâ—th knowledge Sol and Lune but I do not intend at tâ— time to write a perfect book of Chirurgerie and to maâ—â— relaâ—â—oâ—â— of particulars in commendation of Vitriol I haâ— already written too much of it you are to learn and searâ— also you will finde that Vitriol needs no Proctor to speâ— for it and it will sufficiently inform you of an absoluâ— Chirurgick book contained in its nature as a third part 〈◊〉 the universal against all manner of diseases In the closing hereof I tell you thus much that there not found in its nature neither cold nor moist quality bâ— is of a hot and dry substantial
Ruby this abstracted white spirit â—ouâ—ed on the earth again extracted further its Sulphur â—â—d put it to the former After this that Corpus terra look'd 〈◊〉 a paler colour which I calcined for some hours under â—uffle put it into a body on it I poured my white spirit â—â—racted its pure white fixed Salt the remaining earth â—â—s very porous good for nothing which I flung away â—as these three principles were fully and perfectly sepaâ—â—ed After all this I took my astral clarified Salt which weigh'd â—â—lf an ounce after the weight at Strasburg and of the â—â—ite spirit which weigh'd four ounces of Mercury one â—â—nce and a quarter of an ounce these I divided into two â—â—ts whose quantity was half an ounce and one dram I â—â—t this Salt to one part of the water in a Viol and nippd it 〈◊〉 it in digestion there I saw perfectly how the Salt disâ—â—ved it self again in this spirit therefore I poured to it the â—â—her part which was half an ounce and one dram no sooner â—â—is was put to it then presently the body together with â—â—e spirit turned as black as a Coal ascended to the end of 〈◊〉 glasse and having no room to go any further it moved 〈◊〉 and fro sometimes it setled to the bottom by and by it â—â—e to the middle then it rose higher thus it moved from â—â—e fourth of July to the seventh of August namely 34. â—â—ayes which wonderfull work I beheld with admiration 〈◊〉 last these being united and turned to a black powder â—â—ying on the bottom and was dry seing that it was so I â—â—creased my fire in one degree took it out of the we and 〈◊〉 in ashes after ten dayes the matter on the bottom beâ—â—n to look somewhat white at which I rejoyced heartily â—â—s degree of fire I continued till the matter above and â—low became as white as the glittering Snow But it was noâ— yet fix making â—ryal of 〈◊〉 set it in again encreased 〈◊〉 fire one degree higher then the matter began to ascend a descend moved on high stayed in the middle of the gâ—â—â— not touching the bottom of it this lasted 38 dayes aâ— nights I beheld then as well as formerly at the 30 dayeâ— variety of colours which I am noâ— able to expresse 〈◊〉 last thâ—s powder fell to the bottom became fix made pâ—jection wi h it putting one Graiâ— of it to one and a quâ—â—â— of an ounce of Mercury transmuting the same into very gâ—â— Lune Now it was time to restore unto this white tinctâ—â— her true anima and imbibe it to bring it from its whâ—â—nesse unto rednesse and to its perfect vertue Thereupon I took the third principle namely the animâ— which hitherto I had reserved in quantity it was one ouâ—â— a quarter of an ounce and one dram poured to it my râ—served spirit of Mercury whose quantity was one cuâ—â— and a quarter of an ounce drew it over several times 〈◊〉 alembicum so that they in the end united together thâ—se divided into seven equal parts one part I poured on mâ— clarified earth or tincture which greedily embraced 〈◊〉 anima together with its spirit and turned to a ruddinesâ—â— in twelve dayes and nights but had no tinging quality 〈◊〉 yet saving Mercury vive and Saturn it transmuted inâ—â— Lune which Lune at the separating yielded three Graiâ—◠〈◊〉 Gold I proceeded further with my imbibition and carrieâ— all the seven parts of anima into at the fourth imbibiâ—â—oâ— one part of my work ting'd ten parts of Copper into Gold at the fifth imbibition one part tinged hundred parts at thâ— sixth it tinged thousand parts at the seventh it tinged teâ— thousand parts Thus God be praised my work ended succesfully with great joy of my heart at this time I got oâ— the true Medicine four ounces half an ounce and one dram The two last in the ponderosity were almost equaâ— unto the first out of this my work I paid for Land and Ground to that Noble Gentleman O. V. D. 48000 Gilders Actumâ— 1607. These things I set down for a memorandum thaâ— I should not forget any of the manuals and of other thingâ— necessary for the work God be praised for evermore Amen An exact work how Mercury vive is coagulated and brought unto a Lunar fixation which Lune holds Sol also in the trial TAke of Mercury vive two ounces of pulverised common Sulphur six ounces grinde these in a wooden dish with a wooden Pestil set it on a Coal-fire in a melting pot stirring it about continually ler all the Sulphur evaporate then take forth the Mercury grinde an equal quantity of Sulphur with it proceed with its heating as formerly iterate this work five times then sublime this Mercury per gradus ignis take out â—his sublimate break it in pieces of the bigâ—esse of a small Nut or bean imbibe them in the white of Eggs then take a comenting pot put ashes into it in the midst of it set an Iron box stratifie into it this sublimate with refined silver fill up the box then lute an Iron lid to it put ashes on the lid lute an earthen lid upon that set this pot into a sand Capel let your first fire be gentle for twelve hours then encrease your fire for twelve hours more at last make a forcible fire for 24 hours then break open the Pot you will finde a black gray matter carry it on Lead of four ounces you will get three ounces of fix silver separate this fine silver in aquaefort you will finde a good deal of black Gold Calx reserve the silver Calx apart you may stratifie with it another time Thus far I went in my experience The fifth and last part Of the last TESTAMENT Of FRIAR BASILIUS VALENTINUS Treating of the transcendent and most precious and wonderfull Medicine which the great Creator hath put into Metalline and Mineral Salts for the benefit of man to keep him in perfect health continually LONDON Printed Anno Domini MDCLVI The fifth and last part Of the last TESTAMENT Of FRIAR BASILIUS VALENTINUS BEfore I begin to speak of the Salts of Metals and Minerals and declare their volumes and other precious and noble growth under ground in the first place I will prefix the preparation of aurum potabile because therein lieth the Corona of Medicinals Universaliter and meriteth the first place because Salts of other Metals and Minerals in their innate vertues are for particulars onely and are ordained for to preserve man in health and there is just cause to begin with the making of auâ—um potabile without sophistication and will speak of the distinction of it that it may be judged infallibly to be the true one This being my last part and my intention is to make a perfect relation of aurum potabile for the benefit of good and understanding men whom God after my death will rejoyce with this my book which upon tedious and laborious experience I wrote wherein I speak not by