afflictions and false accusations I never saw him angry nor did he ever Arrest or imprison any man or woman in all his life yet no clyent of his was ever damnifyed in his suit He was falsly accused but lately of writing a Seditious Book and imprisoned in a Messengers Custody But his Noble friend the Duke of Buckingham finding him innocent and alwaies for the King he was then discharged and indeed this glorious Duke is a very good and just Judge and although some speak slightly of him he studies the way to preserve his King and Countrey in peace plenty and prosperity it is pitty the King hath no more such brave men as he a thousand such wise Dukes as this like Marshal'd Thunder back'd with flames of fire would make all the enemies of the King and Christendome Quake and the Turke flie before such great Generals in all submission we humbly pray for this Great Prince and leave him to his pleasure return to our subject John Heydon is not of that vain and presumptuous Nature as the Taylors that despise all Artists even Agrippa Appolonius More Vaughan and Tritemius And yet they cannot read these and many other Learned Authors they so impudently abuse Rob of their Learning and convert other mens parts to their own profit He lent one Ten pound in Gold he in requital or return speaks ill of him and pretends to know many admirable Rules of Geomancy and impertinently addes them to Nativities and applyes them to all manner of Questions in Astromancy but his Books being written so long since viz. near twenty years by himself their greediness of great maters is discovered and we now know them to be neither Scholers nor Gentlemen these hang up clouts with here are Nativities Calculated Questions resolved and all the parts of Astrology taught by us For three pence four pence six pence or higher if you please thus are young Apprentices old women and wenches abused and that they may be found for money they tell us the 12 Houses of heaven in the sign of a Coat of Arms are to be let when they might indeed set bills upon their brazen foreheads engraven thus Here are Rooms to be let unfurnished but our Author regards not these men all their scandals forgeries villanous devices they contrive against him he slights and scorns hath purposely forsaken Spittle-Fields his lodgings there to live a private Life free from the concourse of multitudes of people that daily followed after him but if any desire to be advised let them by way of letter leave their business at his Book-sellers and they shall have answer Counsel without reward for he is neither envious nor enemie to any man what I write is upon my own knowledge He writes now from Hermeupolis a place I was never at It seems by the word to be the City of Mercury and truly he hath been in many strang places among the Rosie Crucians And at their Castles Holy-houses Temples Sepulchres Sacrifices all the world knows this Gentleman studys honourable honest things and faithfully comunicates them to others yet if any traduce him hereafter they must not expect his Vindication he hath refered his quarel to the God of Nature it is involved in the concernments of his Truths and he is satisfied with the peace of a good conscience he hath been misinterpreted in his writing with studied Calumnies they disparage his person whom they never saw nor perhaps will see he is resolved for the future to suffer for he says God condemns no man for his patience the world indeed may think the truth overthrown because she is attended with his peace for in the Judgement of most men where there is no noise there is no victory this he looks upon as no dissadvantage the estimate of such censures will but lighten the scales and I dare suppose them very weak brains who conceives the truth sinks because it outweighs them as for tempestious out-crys when they want their Motives they discover an irreligious spirit one that hath more of the Hurry-eano then of Christ Jesus God was not in the wind that rent the rocks in peices nor in the Earth-quake and fire at Horeb. He was in Aura tenui in the stil smal voice his enemies are forc'd to praise his vertue and his friends are sorry he hath not 10000 pounds a year he doth not resent the common spleen who writes the truth of God hath the same Patron with the truth it self and when the world shall submit to the general Tribunal he will find his Advocate where they shall find their Judge there is Mutual Testimony between God and his Servants or nature and her Secretary If the Baptist did bear witness of Christ Christ did also as much for the Baptist He was a burning and a shining light when I writ this Gentlemans life God can bear me witness it was unknown to him and for no private ends but I was forc'd to it by a strong Admiration of the Mistery and Majesty of Nature written by this Servant of God and Secretary of Nature I began his Life some years since and do set it down as I do finde it if any man oppose this I shall answer if you are for peace peace be with you if you are for War I have been so too Mr. Heydon doth resolve never to draw Sword again in England except the King command him Now let not him that puts on the Armour boast like him that puts it off Gaudet patientia duris is his Motto and thus I present my self a friend to All Artists and enemy to no man Frederick Talbot Esq March 3 1662 3 To the Most Excellently Accomplished the truly honourable learned wise vertuous c Bevis Lloyd Esq Eternal Health be wished I Would have you know that I love and honor you beyond expression and shall serve you in Art and Nature to my power I have presumed to make you one in the number of my Noble Patrons because I hear the wickedness of some Pulpit Polititians incessantly rageing against my person which they never saw nor perhaps will see these sophistical Sicophants contend against me continually with bitter hatred envy and Malice without any provocation on my part one very proudly with a full mouth and loud voice aspersed me with Atheisme in St. Pauls Church in his morning Sermon the eight of May before the Lord Mayor and others Amonst a promiscuous people Railing against the Rosie Crucians who Art and Nature united Others in Coffee discourse and stinking smoak of Tobacco did fill the ears of the Ignorant with my infamy others in publique and private assemblies I hear do instigate the Dukes Princes and Peers of England c against me But my Religion being published I would have you know my Philosoply is to know God himself the worker of all things io pass into him by a whole Image of likeness as by an Essential Contract and bond whereby we may be
Vera et Viva Effigies JohanÌ„is Heydon Equitis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nat 1629 Die ♃ Sept 10.9 45 PM Gaudet patientia duris Otia Imperialia The Idea of the Law of Policy Government Warr Regio Lucis The Harmony of the World The Temple of Wisdom The Holy Guide Lilly The Wise-Mans Crown OR THE GLORY Of the Rosie-Cross SHEWING The Wonderful Power of Nature with the full discovery of the true Coelum Terrae or first Matter of Metals and their Preparations into incredible Medicines or Elixirs that cure all Diseases in Young or Old With the Regio Lucis and holy Houshold of Rosie Crucian Philosophers Communicated to the World By JOHN HEYDON Gent. A Servant of GOD and Secretary to Nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. He that looketh upon my Books let him learn to be religious LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be sold by Samuel Speed at the Rainbow in Fleetstreet 1664. THE LIFE OF John Heydon The Son of FRANCIS and MARY HEYDON Now of Sidmouth in Devonshire IOhn Heydon is not basely but Nobly descended The Antiquaries derive them from Julius Heydon the King of Hungary and Westphalia that were descended from that noble family of Caesar Heydon in Rome and since in this Royal Race the line run down to the Honorable Sr. Christopher Heydon of Heydon near Northwich Sr. John Heydon late Lord Lieutenant of the Kings Tower of London and the noble Chandlers in Worcester-shire of the Mothers side which line spread by Marriage into Devonshire among the Collin's Ducks Drues and Bears he had one Sister named Anne Heydon who dyed two years since his Father and Mother being yet living He was born at his Fathers House in Green-Arbour London and Baptized at St. Sepulchres and so was his Sister and both in the fifth and seventh years of the Reign of King Charles the First he was educated in Warwick-shire among his mothers friends and so careful were they to keep him and his sister from danger and to their Books that they had one continually to wait upon them both to the School and at home He was Commended by Mr. John Dennis his Tutor in Tardebick to Mr. George Linacre Priest of Coughton where he learned the Latine and Greek tongues the War at this time began to molest the Universities of this Nation He was then Articled to Mr. Mic. Petley an Atturney of Cliffords Inne with eighty pound that at five years end he should be sworn before Chief Justice Roll now being very young he applyed his minde to Learning and by his happy wit obtained great knowledge in all Arts and Sciences afterwards also he followed the Armies of the King and for his valour Commanded in the Troops when he was by these means famous for Learning and Arms he Travelled into Spain Italy Arabia Aegypt and Persia and gave his minde to writing and Composed about 20 years since The Harmony of the World in two Books The Temple of Wisdome in three Book The Holy Guide in six Books Elhavareuna in one Book Hampaneah Hammeguleh in one Book Ocia Imperialia in one Book The Idea of the Law The Idea of Government The Idea of Tyranny in three parts The Fundamental Elements of Morral Phylosophy Policy Government and War c. These Books were written near 20 years since and preserved by the good hand of God in the Custody of Mr. Thomas Heydon Sr. John Hanmer Sr. Ralph Freman and Sr. Richard Temple during the Tyrants time first one had the Books then another c. And at last at the Command of these Honourable Learned and valiant Knights they were Printed He wrote many excellent things and performed many rare experiments in the Arts of Astromancy and Geomancy c. but especially eighty one the first upon the Kings Death Predicted in Arabia by him to his Friends The second upon the losses of the King at Worcester Predicted at Thauris in Persia the third Predicted the Death of â—liver Cromwell in Lambeth house to many Persons of Honour mentioned in his Books the fourth he wrote of the overthrow of Lambert and of the Duke of Albymarle his bringing again of the King to his happy Countries and gave it to Major Christopher Berkenhead a Goldsmith at the Anchor by Fetter-lane end in Holborn the fifth precaution or Prediction he gave to his Highness the Duke of Buckingham two Moneths before the evil was practised And his Enemy Abraham Goodman lies now in the Tower for attempting the death of that Noble Prince The sixth for Count Gramont when he was banished into England by the King of France and he predicted by the Art of Astromancy and Geomancy the Kings receiving of him again into favor and of his marriage to the Lady Hamelton The seventh for Duke Minulaus a Peer of Germany that the Emperour sent to him when the Turk had an Army against him and of the death of the Pope the rest are in his Books And therefore by these Monuments the name of Heydon for his variety of Learning was famous not onely in England but also in many other Nations into which his Books are Translated And it seems something difficult to determine whether the sophistication of truth or the fucus of errors hath of late years been the more Epidemical cheat in Print it being sufficiently notorious how this generation of Taylors Almanacks the under-wits go a whoring after the Press and what a noysome spawn of Brats are generated of the froth of illegitemate Brains not less numerous then spurious that neither their male content Parents nor Religion Law Reason nor Charity are able to maintain And although Mr. John Heydon's works be of a more generous extraction yet they are very far from Complementing themselves with the least vâ—â—n hopes of exemption from those censures which are common to all men It is worth an Asterisk to observe how infeazable it hath been in all ages for the most innocent to escape this Correction Divine Plato that Prince of Phylosophers is accused for being too confused and immethodical Virgil by some is counted but a shallow and weak witted Poet and by others charged as if he were wholy be holding to Homer for his works and Homer himself is derided by Horace as if he were too drowsie a Poet Demosthenes could not please Marcus Tullius in all things Trogas Pompeius doth accuse Titus Livius his Orations of fictions and falsities Seneca was Nic-named and called Lime without Sand Pliny is compared to a turbulent River that taste of many things but digests few Hermes is called by some the dark King some affirme Zoroaster had no depth of Judgement An Astrologicall Taylor accuses Cornelius Agrippa Kt. John Heydon Appolonius and Tritemius of inventing new and strange principles in Phylosophy D. Brown is reproved for inconstancy and instability of Judgement And Mr. Moor and Eugenius Philalethes for their too much subtilty in some things Mr. Hobs is thought too full of Reason in his Religion and the
except that where before we took the blood of the red Lyon and the Glue of the Eagle when they were both destroyed we now joyn them sound and not hurt together that they living may mortifie and dissolve themselves which I have fitly called Corporeal Matrimony or the Union for in this wedlock they dye together that they may be vivified in the Celestial Matrimony therefore it is not to be wondred if this Table differ from the other for this pertaineth to the handling of spirits the other way teacheth the manner of making the Elixir of bodies therefore we now come to demonstrate the foregoing Table Therefore that I may plainly reveal all things unto you take Antimony well ground half a pound and as much Mercury sublimate likewise ground and grind them both togeth upon a marble till you cannot know them one from another then set them in a cold place that the matter dissolving may drop into a Glass set underneath for when the matters are well mixed together then say that they will both shortly be dissolved when the water is perfectly dissolved it will be of a greenish colour and lothsome smell Put this water with the thick part with it into a Glass and let it stand the space of three days in a fixatory under the fire and in short time you shall see your dissolvedness of a brownish black colour and after that is to say in the foresaid time it will be red something higher then red Lead Dissolve this calcined matter in Raymunds calcinative water and when you have dissolved it all into a red liquor or deep yelow then is your matter brought well into its Chaos Put this liquor into a fit body with an Alimbeck and receiver and by distallation separate the red oyl or the red Mercury from the white body which remaineth in the earth and if any matter ascend into the head of the Alimbeck despise it not but trie if it be fixed and if it be not fixed enough sublime it till it be fixed Whereunto joyn equal weight of its soul for the Celestial Matrimony and always leave out the earth in the bottom if you have any sublimate fixed if not take the white earth remaining in the bottom with which proceed as before is said and joyn the white body with the soul when they are thus joyned or married set them to impregnate and revivifie in Bulneo till it pass through all colours and at last be converted into red which then is the stone The manner of Fermentation Augmentation both in quantity and quality and projection is spoken of before in other works And thus Sons Brethren and Reader I have delivered and opened and also have amended many things all the secrets of the Ancient Philosophers whose writings were rather published to conceal the Art then to make it manifest or teach it although it pleased Hermes Trismegistus the first writer of this Art both to say and protest that he had never revealed taught nor prophesied any thing of this Art to any exept fearing the day of Judgement or the damnation of his Soul for shuning the danger thereof even as he received the gift of Faith from the Author of Faith so he left it to the faithful yet when you read his writings either in his Smaragdine Table or in his Apocalips or his twelve Golden Gates and shall find nothing plain or manifest what will you think of such an Author Believe me all the Ancients have concealed the secret of their preparations in the gross work although they writ most famously of the Philosophical operation therefore I have used my endeavour to trye for out of their writings I found that the Elixir might be made of the Planets or Mettals and also of mean Minerals which came more neer to a metallick nature then reading more I found a certain method amongst them all as it were with one consent or voice on this wise First and principally that bodies should be made incorporeal that is to say discorporated or discompounded which then is called the Hyle or Chaos Secondly That out of this Chaodical substance which is one thing three Elements should be separated and purified Thirdly That the separated and purified elements should be joyned the man and the woman the body and the soul heaven and earth with infinite other names so called that the ignorant might think they were diverse which onely were nothing else but water and Salt or the body and spirit or soul that is to say white Mercury and red which they joyned together that a new and pure body might be created in putrefaction that a Microcosmical infant might be created in imitation of the Creation that is to say Sulphur of Nature Fourthly That it should be fed with Milk that is to say with its own proper Tincture and after nourished by Fermentation that it may grow to its perfect strength Having learned these I begun to practice and in the practice of every body and spirit I found diverse errors but reading more and trying more at last I found the manner and true way of dissolving all bodies separating and conjoyning them finding the composition of their secret of secrets that is to say Lac virginis or Acetum acerrimum and Raymunds calcining water wherewith I dissolved all bodies at pleasure and perfected the gross work wherefore I purposed contrary to the custome of the Philosophers to reveal the whole work lest I being envious should be the Author of error like them therefore I have added their works to my own experiments and inventions which are plainly and truely writ that the Artist need to read no books but mine for herein is almost all things contained which are found plainly writ by the Philosophers and also those things which are found true by my own experience Now you have all things methodically in this Art without error with which by the help of God you may attain to the end Alchymy revealeth and openeth unto us four other secrets The first is the composition of Pearls far greater and fairer then natural ones which cannot be perfectly done without the help of the Elixir The second is the manner of making precious Stones of ignoble ones by the same Art which we taught before in malleable Glass The third is the manner of making artificial Carbunckles in imitation of natural ones which few or none have spoken of The fourth is the manner of making Mineral Amber of which Paracelsus hath onely writ in his book of vexations of Philosophers and in the last Edition of his works in the six of his Archidoxes but because they cannot be made without the help of the Elixirs therefore they deserve a place amongst the Elixirs of the fourth that is to say of the vertue or rather the vice of making Amber I shall handle it coldly I have reserved the explanation of this Aenigma till the last place wherefore it is said that the Elixir is perfected in the Decimal number CHAP. VI.
Lord Verulam is taxed for the length of Learning Paracelsus is envyed for hard words Sir Kenelm Digby is censured by Tho. Vaughan Dr. Barlovv for his tedious distinctions Des Cartes for the perplexity of his Method and in a word these very learned and most excellent Philosophers Phisitions and Divines that by the profoundness of their Judgement and splendor of their Eloquence have so illustrated the three Kingdomes as that they have left the world Just cause of their Admiration no hopes of Imitations even these have not escaped the like Misreprehensions for in the late years invectives have been written against these men yet who more learned then Sir Kenelme Digby more eloquent then Dr Barlow who more witty then Mr. More and Eugenius Philalethes who more acute then Mr. Hobs who more free and flued then Lord Verulam who more delightful and satisfactory then Gregory and Gafferell who more profound in Philosophy then Henry Agrippa Knight who more Candid and ingenious then Roger L'Estrange who more clear and transparent then Paracelsus who more distinct then Vincent Wing and succinct then Dr. Wallis yet all these in their respective and incomperable works have met with the said undue reprehensions If his works therefore shall chance to meet with some waspish humours let him consider the Climate Nor is it more then wants a president or less then needs a Charitable Construction which is the worst revenge can possibly be executed by such as chuse rather to suffer then offend Mr. JOHN HEYDON For the Taylors amongst the Almanack Makers carp at all the rest and envie all amongst Philosophers Democretus laugheth at all things Heraclitus weepeth at all things Pyrhias is ignorant of all things and Plato knoweth all things Diogenes contemnes all things This John Heydon fears none contemneth none is ignorant of none rejoyceth in none grieves at none laughes at none is angry with none but being himself a Philosopher he hath taught the way to happiness the way to long life the way to health the way to wane young being old and the way to resolve all manner of Questions Present and to Come by the Rules of Astromancy and Geomancy and how to raise the dead He is a man of Midle stature tending to tallness a handsome streight body an Ovall ruddy face mixed with a clear white his hair of a dark flaxen brown colour soft and curling in rings gently at the ends of the Locks his hands fingers long and slender his leggs and feet well proportioned so that to look upon he is a very compleat Gentleman But he never yet cast affection on a woman nor do I find him inclined to marry He is very often in great Ladies chambers and I believe his modest behaviour ther makes them the more delighted in his company The Princes and Peers not only of England but of Spain Italy France and Germany send dayly to him And upon every occasion he sheweth strong parts and a vigorous brain his wishes and aimes and what he pointeth at speak him owner of a noble and generous heart this Gentlemans Excellent Books are admired by the world of Lettered men as the prodigie of these later times indeed his works before mentioned if I am able to Judge any thing are full of the profoundest learning I ever met withall And I believe who hath well read and digested them will perswade himself there is no truth so abstruse nor hitherto conceived out of our reach But mans wit may raise Engines to scale and conquer I assure my self he is owner of a solid head and of a strong generous heart And if any should question my Judgement they may read the Comendations of both the Universities Oxford and Cambridge besides the learned Thomas White and Thomas Revell Esq both famous in Rome and other parts beyond Sea that have highly honoured this Gentleman in their Books yet he hath suffered many Misfortunes his Father was sequestered Imprisoned and lost two thousand pounds by Cromwell this Oliver imprisoned this son also two year half or thereabout in Lambeth-House For he and his Fathers Family were always for the King And endeavoured to the utmost his restoration And indeed the Tyrant was cruel to him but John Thurloe his Secretary was kind to him and pittied his curious youth And Joshua Leadbeater the Messenger kept him At his request and Mr. John Bradley's at his own house And gave him often leave to go abroad but being yet zealous and active for the King he was again taken and clapt up in Lambeth-House in these misfortunes it cost him 1000 l. and upwards after this some envious villains forged Actions of debt against him and put him in prison It seems at the begining of these misfortunes a certain Harlot would have him to marry her but denying her suit or that he ever promised any such thing and that he never spake to her in his life good or evil She devised with her confederates abundance of mischief against him see him she did in some Gentlemens company Many courted him to Marry but he denyed now there was left amongst a few old Almanacks and scraps of other mens wit Collected and bequeathed unto the world by Nic. Culpe as his own admired experience Alice Culpeper his widdow she hearing of this Gentleman that he was an Heir to a great fortune Courts him by letters of Love to no purpose the next Saint in order was she that calls her self the German Princess But he flies high and scorns such fowl great beasts the first of these two blessed birds in her life time caused one Heath to Arrest him another after him laid Actions against him that he never knew nor heard of In this perplexity was he imprisoned two years for they did desire nothing but to get money or destroy him for fear if ever he got his liberty he might then punish them He being of a Noble Nature forgave them all their malice and devices against him and scorns to revenge himself upon such pittiful things God indeed hath done him the justice for this Heath Consumes to worse then nothing and indeed if I can Judge or predict any thing his Baudy-houses will be Pawned and he will dye a miserable diseased beggar His Mistris when he was very young and a Clerke desired him to lye withher but he like Joseph refusing she hated him all her life God preserved him from their malice although one of these 3 lewd women swore this Gentleman practised the Art Magick she told Oliver Cromwell she saw familiar Spirits come and go to him in the shape of Conies and her maid swore she had often seen them in his Chamber when he was abroad and sometimes walking upon the house top in a Moon shine night and sometimes to vanish away into a wall or Aire and yet she never saw him in her life nor could she tell what manner of man he was But these stories were not Credited and for all these and many more
great it may controul More worlds then one And all your wit can rule March 26 die ♄ â— h 40 P. M 1664. Thomas Tilliâ—n a Philosopher by fire to the Duke of Buckingham To his Loving Ingenious friend Mr. John Heydon upon his Harmony of the World Temple of VVisdome and Holy Guide c. Mr Careless Phrase and words that lye Neglected This vertue have that they 'l not be suspected Others may over praise your Book for vve The best things often over-rated see So what I write will aequidistant lye From polisht wit and servile Flattery Bees from a bruised Ox says Maro breed But you draw honey from a * an envious Almanack Makers his deceitful enimy ♂ in ♉ Tatter'd weed Who borrow'd of you Gold yet doth complain Much of poverty whose empty Brain Measures the slow-part Planets by the glass And when th' Nativity's done its poor alas But now theventricles of your pregnant brain Give birth to a brave man issues without pain Seeing your wit 's so pure your phrase so clean Your sence so weighty that each lines a chain Of Gold 'twixt Jupiter Hismael and the Gods Mercury and Mars that are now at odds Your Book like a young true born Eagle may Behold the sun in publick at noon day Colton May 13 8 h. 30. A. M. Die ♀ Frederick Talbot Esq To his honour'd Friend Mr. John Heydon on his most excellent principles of Philosophy in The Harmony of the World The Temple of Wisdom The Holy Guid Hameguleh Hampaaneah Elhavareuna Ocia Imperialia and the Idea of the Lavv all written near 17 years since and by Gods Providence now printed WOuld you those Pillars see those Reliques have Ruins of time and knowledge Seth did save From the impetuous Sea when waves were all And all were waves within these Pages small You 'l find them in their antient Lustre shine Not counterfeit but rich and masculine Or what Fgyptian Sages sometime set In their Papyrus books Rowls vastly great VVhilst Arts and Letters were no common things But Preists and Poets Princes were and Kings E're Learning a Ludibrium became To the audacious Rout oh hapeless shame E're Sacred Page vulgar Thumbs could soil Thence feeding black Seditions lamp with oile Books Monuments of banish'd winds do live And if from pure Minerva's born survive VVhen titles tryumphs Arches Name become Silent i th' ruins of a ruin'd tombe VVhen Scipio's Pompey's Caesar's Lawrels may By long success of wasting years decay Good Books eternal products of the brain Not onely live but may grow fresh again March 26 1664. â— h 30 A. M. W. Smith Master of Arts of Clare Hall in Cambridge A Catalogue of those things contained in these Bookes First Book 1 The white Elixir of Quicksilver 2 The white Ferment 3 The red Elixir of Mercury alone 4 The red Ferment 5 The Accurtation of the red Elixir 6 The Phisicall and Alchimicall Tincture of thered Lion and the glue of the Eagle Second Book 1 The Elixir of Copper 2 Of Augmentation and projection 3 Of the Blessed stone or Elixir of Life and of its vertues and also of Malleable glass Third Book 1 The Elixir of Saturne white and red and also of Jupiter 2 The Abreviation of the work of Saturn 3 The Elixir of Mars 4 A short work of the Phisicall and Alchimicall Tinsture 5 The Magistry of Pearles 6 The Composition of Carbunkles 7 Of Minerall Electrum 8 The Explanation of the Philosophers words when they speak of the tenth number wherein the stone is perfected and also the wonderfull Secrets of the animiall stone with two other of his works The Rosie Crucian CROWN Set with Angels Planets and Mettals c. The First Book CHAP. I. 1 Of the Gold Mercury or Argent vive 2 Purification 3 Sublimation 4 Calcination 5 Exuberation 6 Solution 7 Separation 8 Conjunction 9 Putrefaction into Sulphur 10 Fermentation 11 Multiplication in vertue 12 Multiplication in quantity HE that can make the Stone of Argent vive or ☿ alone is the greatest searcher out of Art and Nature because there is all that in ☿ which wise men do seek for Quick-silver is the mother and sperm of all Metals and their nearest matter and it is not onely a spirit but a body it is also a middle Nature and also a sulphur it is a lingring ☿ it dieth and riseth again and is fixed with its own proper Elements wherefore it is first necessary that it be purged from its impurities The purgation or purification is on this wise grind it upon a Marble with a muller or a wodden Pestill in a wodden Morter with common salt and a little vinegar springled thereupon till the salt be black then wash it well with vineger and dry it easily at the fire or at the Sun then strain it through a double cloath or a new skin of a sheep till it be dry and the vineger clear taken away and be of a white colour and clear Grind it upon a Marble with a little ☿ sublimate and let it mortifie and in corporate with it then grind it with its equall weight of salt-Peter and green Coperas till it be like a paste Then put all into a subliming glass and in Ashes sublime all the ☿ that it be white and clear as snow in the head of the Limbeck sublime it again three times or oftener and iâ— will be pure ☿ and sublimate Put one pound of this ☿ sublimate into two pound of common Aqua fortis by little and little at once as by two at a time till all bâ— dissolved like sugar in wine then shut the glaâ— and set it in Balneo to dissolve the space of 1â— days then distil away the Aqua fortis in a lentheâ— in Balneo and the ☿ will remain in the bottom like butter of a white colour And calcined bâ— corrosive water Put this calcined ☿ into an Earthen bodâ— with a Limbeck and in ashes sublime the whole dissolved substance three times which will then be very white and then it is called Mercury Exuberate VVhen you have three or four pound of this receive the third part and fix it by often sublimation till it remain in a hard mass and ascend no more but remain fixed VVhich is called the Glue of the Eagle or the prepared body permanent and the volatile made fixed which is to be reserved for the earth of the stone Dissolve the other two parts in Balneo or in a cold Cellar or put it in a blader and hang it over suming hot water till it be all come to water Take this water thus made and digest it in a Circulatory well closed the space of nine days then put it in a body with a head and receiver well luted and in ashes or Balneo distill the water of a white coulour or milkie and is called Lac Virginis dissolving all mettalls and so you have seperated the spirit of the stone which is also called the lingring spirit and the white Tincture of
would be better and more penetrating if it were tinctured with the foresaid oyl In like manner is the white medicine to be projected after the purification of the silver in a corrosive water as is before declared And so the melted silver will be converted into a brittle powder and white masse which likewise is to be dissolved and turned into oyâ— and thus the white Elixir of life is made anâ— potable silver curing and healing so far as iâ— is able humane diseases for it cannot be supposed that the Elixir of Luna hath so great vertuâ— as the Elixir of Sol hath Whence the Author of the book call'd correctâ—â— falnerum and Richard Anglicus in his correctâ—ry say whereas among the vulgar and Phâ—losophers God hath this report that being in his first disposition that it cureth the Leprâ—sy and many other vertues this is not exceâ—â— by its compleat disgestion because the excellencâ— of the fire acting in it consumeth all evil hâ—mours that are in sick bodies as well in hot 〈◊〉 cold causes But silver can not do this because hath not so much superfluity of fire and is 〈◊〉 so much disgested and decocted with natural maturity yet notwithstanding this it hath a fieriness occultly and vertually in it but not so fully because the fire causeth not such Elemental quallities as in gold And therefore silâ—er being in his first disposition doth not cure â—he Leprosy so potently unless it be first disâ—ested by Art untill it have the cheif degrees of â—old in all maturity Wherefore other sick â—etallick bodies more weakly cure infirmities according as they differ more from them in â—erfection and maturity some differ more some â—â—ss which is by reason of the sulphur infectâ—â— feid and burning of which they were made 〈◊〉 the beginning in their generation and coaguâ—â—tion and therefore they cure not whereas the â—â—e in them is burning and so infected with â—â—e Elementall feces with the mixture of other â—â—ementall quallities Seeing therefore that gold is of such vigor â—â—ongst the vulgar and that being in his first â—â—sposcion what wonder is it if it being brought â—o medicine as is experienced by Art and 〈◊〉 vertue be subtiliated by disgestion of decoctiâ—â— and purgation of the quallities but it may â—â—en cure more nay infinite or all diseases It makes an old man young and revive it â—â—â—serveth health strengtheneth nature and exâ—â—leth all sicknesses of the body it driveth poyâ—â—â— away from the heart it moysteneth the â—â—teries and breifly preserveth the whole â—â—dy sound In the Ludas purorum it is thus written of the use of this medicine the manner of useing it according to all the Philosophers is thus if you will use to eat of this medicine then take the weight of two florence Duccats of our Elixir and one pound of any confection and eat of that confection the quantity of one dram in winter And if you do thus it driveth away all bodily infirmities from what cause soever they proceed whether hot or cold and conserveâ—â— health and youth in a man and maketh aâ— old man young and maketh gray hairs to fall it also presently cureth the Leprosy and dissolveth Flegm mundifieth the bloud it sharpeâ—eth the sight and all the senses after a moâ—â— wonderful manner above all the medicines 〈◊〉 the Philosophers To which purpose we thus find in the Râ—sary of the Philosophers In this that is to 〈◊〉 in the Elixir is compleated the pretious giâ—â— of God which is the Arcanum of all tâ—â— Sciences in the world and the incomperable treasure of treasures for as Plato saith he thâ—â— hath this guift of God hath the dominion 〈◊〉 the world that is to say of the Microcosm 〈◊〉 because he attaineth to the end of Riches 〈◊〉 hath broke the bonds of nature not onely 〈◊〉 that he hath power to convert all imperfâ—â— mettalls into pure gold and silver but rathâ—â— because he can convert and preserve bâ—â— man and every Animall in perfect health To this purpose speaketh Geber Hermes Arnoldus Raymundus Lullius Ripley Penotus Augurellus Aegidius Valescus Roger Bacon Scotus Laurentius Ventura and diverse uncertain Authors Lastly I now come to the generall consent of all the Philosophers and repeat what is found in their writings in the Book de Aurora consurgeat and in Clangor Buccinae It is to be noted that the Antient Philosophers have found 4 principal effects or vertues in the glorious repository of this treasure 1. First it is said to cure mans body of all infirmities 2. Secondly to cure imperfect mettalls 3. Thirdly to transmute base stones into pretious gemmes 4. Fourthly to make Glass malleable Of the first All Philosophers have consented that when the Elixir is perfectly rubified it doth not onely work miracles in solid bodies but also in mans body of which there is no doubt for being taken inwardly it cureth all infirmities it cureth outwardly by unction The Philosophers also say if it be given to any in water or wine first warmed it cureth them of the Phrensy Dropsie and Leprosy and all kind of Fevers are cured by this Tincture and taketh away whatsoever is in a weak stomack it bindeth and consumeth the Flux of peccant humours being taken fasting it driveth away malencholly and sadness of the mind it cureth the infermities of the eyes and dryeth up their moisteness and blearedness it helpeth the purblind red or bloodshot eyes it mollifieth the primy or web the Inflamation of the eyes and all other incident diseases are easily cured by this Philosophical medicine It comforteth the heart and spiritual parts by taking inwardly it mittigateth the pain of the head by anointing the temples therewith maketh the deaf to hear and succoreth all pains of the ears it rectifieth the contracted Nerves by unction it restoreth rotten teeth by washing also all kind of imposthumes are cured with it by oyntments or emplaytors or injecting the dry powder therein It cureth Ulcers wounds Cancers Fistulas noli me tangere and such like diseases and generateth new flesh if it be mixed with corrupt and sower wine it restores it it expelleth poyson being taken inwardly it also killeth wormes if it be given in powder it taketh away wrinkles and spots in the face by anointing therewith and maketh the face seem young it helpeth women in travail being taken inwardly and bringeth out the dead child by emplaister it provketh Vrine and helpeth generation it preventeth drunkenness helpeth the memory and Augmenteth the radical moisture it strengtheneth nature and also Administreth many other good things to mans body 2. Of the second it is written that it transmuteth all imperfect mettals in colour substance lasting weight ductibility melting hardness and softness 3. Of the third that is to say of transmuting base and ignoble stones into pretious gems I will not speak of in this place because I have reserved it for another place that is to say the third Book Of the fourth it is writ that it maketh glasse malleable by mixture that is
true Ripley will tell you what you shall do with it in these words When by the violence of the fire in the distillation of the Gum of the Sericon a certain white matter shall ascend sticking to the head of the Limbeck like Ice keep this matter which hath the property of Sulphur not burning and is a fit matter for receiving form you shall give it form after this manner by rubifying it in ashes and when it is red Sulphur give it of its soul until it pierce and flow then ferment it Here I have delivered unto you all the ways and manners of Saturne which are found in any of the Philosophers Books to the end therefore that the work may be compleated with a demonstration of this word Plumbum Philosophorum at appears in the Practical Compendium of Ripley we say that the Philosophers Lead is not taken for Antimony but for Adrop being converted into the Gum of Sericon It remaineth now that we in order treat of the third termination of this Book therefore after we have done with Saturne it is necessary to speak of Jupiter viz. Tin but because there are many other ways of handling Saturne besides those we mentioned therefore we refer the Reader thither seeing he followeth his footsteps for he is the off-spring of Saturne and naturally born from him CHAP. IV. The third Table of the Elixir of Iron IT is not necessary to prefix a peculiar Table to this metal alone because it is set down before this book nevertheless I will here reckon up its parts and operations as followeth 1. Calcination 2. Solution 3. Seperation 4. Conjunction 5. Putrefaction 6. Sulphur 7. Fermentation 8. Elixir Exaltation or augmentation and projection is spoken of sufficiently in the former Books Mars being most earthly of all the Planets or bodies it is not to be doubted but that it may easily be reduced into a body with little labor and therefore most easily converted into Salt which is done by Calcination therefore we will first shew his conversion into Salt Understand therefore that hence ariseth a twofold consideration that is to say that it be calcined one way into its body or Salt the other way that the body be prepared for solution by calcination The practice differeth but a little for whether you calcine Iron for its Salt or its Menstruum one onely manner of preparation sufficeth That is to say that you take filings of Iron or Steel as much as you please and mix therewith equal weight of Sulphur in an earthen body with a Limbeck will luted thereto then set it in ashes to sublime till all the Sulphur be sublimed from it then dissolve the filings which remain in the bottom in Aqua Regia and it will be converted into Salt which will be cleansed from the said water if you put thereon distilled Vinegar and distill it away do thus three times with new Vinegar and you shall have a yellowish red Salt in the bottom which then is a body to be joyned to the soul which keep in warm ashes till you use it Now for the practice of Iron for dissolution take filings of Iron or Steel so much as you please and put it in an Iron dish filled with Vinegar and set it in the flaming fire the space 〈◊〉 three hours then take it out and let it cool reiterate this work four or five times the calcine it with Sulphur as you did before When it is thus calcined set it to dissolve in a corrosive water by adding equal weight of our acetum acerrimum and let it stand till it have dissolved so much as it can in the cold then set it in hot ashes and let it stand there the space of four or five days pour off the water and dry which is not dissolved and again calcine it and dissolve it and when it is dissolved so as the water be coloured red pour it out into a body and keep it till you have dissolved as much calcined Iron as you please Then take all your dissolutions and with an Alimbeck distill away the water in Balneo and put distilled Vinegar upon the matter remaining in the bottom and let it stand upon it in Balneo the space of seven days then take out your Glass and filter the dissolution and then again in Balneo distill off the Vinegar and in the bottom will remain a thick Oyl of the Iron or Steel but if it be not dissolved to your mind reiterate your solution in Raymunds calcinative water but it would be better if it were edulcorated with Aqua vitae drawing it away again in Balneo and so you have your Iron dissolved into a liquor Therefore proceed to distillation that there may be a separation and distill it in an earthen Vessel in a strong fire encreasing the fire as much as you can and receive the oyl or soul or red tincture of Mars separated from the remaining feces by the nose of the Limbeck which oyl is the most permanent tincture for colouring Sulphures for the red work or for exaltation of all Elixirs in colour for it makes it tinge and colour higher When you have thus prepared the tincture then proceed to conjunction and work with the Salt before reserved taking three or four ounces of the Salt and equal weight of the soul Then seal it up and set it to putrifie in Balneo and keep it there till it pass through all colours and be white and then it is Sulphur of Nature Then take out your Glass and set it in ashes in a greater degree of heat till it be red then dissolve the red Sulphur with its own soul and again dissolve and fix it dissolving it in Balneo and fixing it under the fire and so it is prepared for fermentation The fermentation is as hath often been spoken of before with the resolved oyl of the Sulphur of Gold in a fourfold proportion to the Medicine that by the addition of the ferment it may be made Elixir transmuting all bodies And note that this Elixir of Iron excelleth all other Elixirs for it rubifieth more and tingeth higher and is better for mans body for it prevaileth against the spleen constringeth the belly and cureth wounds it knitteth broken bones together and stoppeth the superfluous Flux of the Courses CHAP. V. The fourth Table of the Physical and Alchymical Tincture out of the red Lyon and Glue of the Eagle drawn out from the Authors experience IT is chiefly to be remembred how we first taught you to dissolve Antimony with out acetum acerrimum which may be also well done if you dissolve it in our calcinative water and after that Antimony is calcined which we spoke of in the end of the second book it is also to be remembred that in the end of the book I spoke of the Glue of the Eagle in the sixth Table of the first book these being remembred it is to be understood that we attribute no other beginning to this accurtation