good of men that he may be pâ—aised and magnified for such benefits and is to shew himself in his life and conversation godly and honest Secondly a Physician ought to know the diseases and to distinguish the one from the other and what proper remedies he is to use against these diseases for without the knowledge of diseases a Physician is not perfect mans complexion must be discerned the cause of the disease search'd into and the means well considered that no contraries be applied whereby further troubles are caused proper remedies fitting the disease must be applied that restitution be made unto former health Thirdly it is requisite that he read frequently the writings of ancient Philosophers and read them over and over and take notice in what they do concurre and agree and where they aim all at one mark then he that hath understanding will discern the good from the bad Sophistry from truth the ancients knew many good things for mine own part I must confesse that I borrowed the foundation of my knowledge from them which made me to lay it to heart and am thereby moved to leave for others also a corner-stone that truth may further be confirmed and the grounds of it be made easier clearer plainer and more manifest by a further knowledge of my writing Fourthly a Philosopher must learn to Anatomize things in nature to know what they contain within and without to separate the poyson from the Medicinal quality Hereunto belong several Manuals how to dissolve separate exalt and prepare fully Metals Minerals Vegetables and Animals He that haâ—h learned all these he may discourse wisely of things confirm their grounds in truth but others which are ashâ—med to work herein cannot glory in any truth because by the receipts found in other mens writings are these men led and made a trade of other mens wriâ—ings not endeavouring to learn more in theiâ— own experience I am not ashamed to learn dayly because nature is â—ound and endlesse cannot be comprehended fully by reason of the shortnesse of mans life and none can say that there is nothing left more for him to learn No such matter Thus you see that Gods blessing must be obtained by fervent and frequent praying unto God the causes of diseases must be known their cure must be ordered according to the direction of Philosophick writings â—djoyning an experimental knowledge thereunto He that doth and knoweth â—hese four things may glory in his wayes confirming things in deeds and not to exercise a trade upon other mens receipts My Medicaments if well prepared and duely used will by Gods help make known that they received their strength from God the marvellous Creator to perform these things which ignorants and men of li tle faith cannot comprehend by dayly experience faith getteth strength that man may praise the highest who hath put such veâ—â—â—â—s into natural things for the which mortals are not able to return sufficient thanks As much as lieth in my power I will praise the Lord day and night and is not possible to require him in any other way At the closing observe thus much in School long discourses are made of the three principles of all things of the matter of heaven what it is made of and on what the earth doth rest how the Elements were made and of the beginning of the Firmament and of several opinions they are about the original causes of Metals Minerals Vegetables of their qualities and properâ—ies oâ— the original of man and of other Aâ—imalâ— sâ—â—â—ching in their conceits into their lives vertues c. Buâ— my Sonne hearken unto me and take notice of what I say all their pretended sayings are a meer nothing they speak ignorantly without any certainty because they have no experimental knowledge having laid no foundation nor have they learned any true decision in their demonstrationâ— Thoughts pay no Custom or Toll they fly into heaven descend to the neathermost parts of the earth if experience their thought do not concurre then their thoughâ—s are found a meer opinion then they must confesse I dâ—d not think it could be so Mans thoughts are fiâ—ly compared with a dream because nothing follows upon an imagination Natures secrets must be studied expâ—rimentally If Artists or Mechanicks would imagine to work such or such things be it Watches or other curious Metalline works but doth not invent fit instruments whereby to make that work they have in their fancy what can they produce by that imagination An empty opinion and no Art So in the knowledge of Naâ—ural things their secrets require aâ— greater exactnesse to be searched iâ—to which to lazy unexpert men seem strange and impossible I tell you there is required an exact diligence to finde that which lieth â—iâ—â— in them it must be done by separation Nature must be anatomâ—zed good and bad in it must be discerued what is contained in each in its Center for the general and what cometh from it in particular Therefore Macrocosme and Microcosme yea the things which grow and are found therein are compared to a round Circle in whose middle there is a Center let the Circle be turned which way it will it keepeth round every way and its Center stayeth unremoved A Philosopher also must know rightly the Center of each matter which must stand unremoved in every substance but the substance may be turned any way he pleaseth and make of it several forms according as it received its power from above 〈◊〉 speak now to be taken notice of thus I take in hand any natural thing dissolve or open it by a Key which is the means of the unfolding and search therein by a fire's proof which is the master of all proofes what may be made of it Here I finde as many wonders and qualities which I never â—hought of much lesse had I experience of Of natural things are made Powders Oyls Water Salt volatile spirits and fumes In these preparations are beheld wonders upon wonders witnesse the distillations digestions and putrefactions There are found and seen many spiriâ—ual and corporeal colours which appear black gray white blew green yellow red Azure colour with a reâ—â—exion of all manner of insprinckled colours which cannot well be described and unexpert men hardly believe it â—rom these preparations are several qualities felt the one 〈◊〉 corrosive and sharp the other is pleasant and milde the â—ne is sowre the other is sweet according as they are preâ—ared so they yield good and bad poyson or physick for good thing can be made the worst poyson and the worst â—oyson can be turned into the best Medicine which is not 〈◊〉 great a marvel because all lieth in the preparation of â—â—ings though every one cannot conceive of it yet it is so â—nd will be a truth for ever because nature hath manifested â—â—r self thus by experience A blinde man cannot tell how the inward parts of mans â—â—dy are conditioned but the seeing Physician who anaâ—â—mizeth the body he can
Basilius Valentinus Monk of the Order of St. BENNET His last WILL and TESTAMENT Which being alone He hid under a Table of Marble behinde the High-Altar of the Cathedral Church in the Imperial City of Erford leaving it there to be found by him whom Gods Providence should make worthy of it WHEREIN He sufficiently declares the wayes he wrought to obtain the Philosophers Stone which he taught unto his fellow Collegians so that they all attained the said Philosophers Stone whereby not onely the leprous bodies of the impure and inferior Metals are reduced unto the pure and perfect body of Gold and Silver but also all manner of diseases whatsoever are cured in the bodies of unhealthfull men and kept thereby in perfect health unto the prolonging of their lives A Work long expected LONDON Printed by W.B. for T. Davis and are to be sold at his shop in St. Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Bible over against the little North door 1658. To the Reader gratis even such diseases which humane learning judged to be incurable and if he got any riches he supplied the wants of the needy Let not the vitious hearts and hands presume to meddle with it lest in stead of a blessing they should meet with a curse Therefore Procul hinc procul ite prophani In this book are contained these following heads 1. THe nature condition and property of Myne-works in which Minerals and Metals do grow of their first seed birth quality and property and of their exhalation and inhalation how they are supported in their growth and augmentation 2. The occasion of Oars Stones Rocks Marbles of their passages and Clefts their Liquors Juyces Energies and operations viz. of Gold Silver Copper Iron Tin Lead Quick-silver and of Minerals 3. A plain literal expression of that Universal Elixar whereby a healthfull life is prolonged all diseases expelled and abundance of riches obtained with a perfect Declaration of the XII Keyes 4. A particular Description of Metals whereby their several endowments are declared how they serve to keep man in perfect health with many Manuals for the working of them to serve man to live more comfortably in outward means and how Metals and Minerals in particular are brought to their highest preparation whereby is procured that men may live in this World without wanting things necessary 5. A transcendent most precious wonderfull Medicine of Metals and Minerals and of other things which the Creator of heaven and earth and all the things contained therein ordained for the good of man PREFACE AND ENTRANCE UPON BASILIUS VALENTINUS His last TESTAMENT WHereas the time is come that by the good pleasure of Almighty God my Creator and his dearly beloved Sonne JESUS CHRIST my Laboratorie in this corruptible World draweth to an end and am to approach from this earthly Laboratorie unto the heavenly and am creeping dayly and hourly nearer to the end and am to close according to the appointed time of my dear Saviour aiming at the true Manna or heavenly food of Eternal blisse sighing continually after the enjoying of such riches which have a fulnesse of everlasting joyes I thought it my duty in conscience to be reconciled iâ— a Christian way to my fellow Members that are alivâ— at the present and with those which are to succeed iâ— future ages so that my Soul may be at rest patient waiting for the Lords call and to become an inhabitant of that heavenly Paradise and to be matriculated into the book of life and stand in readinesse daâ— and night to look for my Lords coming At the consideration hereof I call to minde my writings which set down to paper as other ancient Philosophers havâ— done before me publishing all such mysteries of nature whereby Artists and such that bear an affection and love unto such mystical truths may be benefited and the same I lovingly and readily leave tâ— them as much as the highest Spagyrick and heavenly Physician hath granted and revealed unto me My conscience further hath pressed me in the pursuance of a Christian love and performance of my promise dictated by nature to make a larger relation because it is a thing meet and necessarie to set forth the Manuals which are belonging hereunto and ought to be described circumstantially to inform the judgement of such men addicted hereunto to the full namely how natures bolts which she several wayes thrusted forward to lock strongly her secrets are to be thrusteâ— back that the doors of worldly Treasures might be unlockt that the knowledge of transcendent mysterieâ— may be attained unto upon serious continued prayers unto the Creator mens judgement and understanding might the more be egg'd on I am not put upon either by force or indigencie nor by a vain-glorie or self-end to set down any letter and to leave it to posterity onely a meer consideration of the frailty of the miserableness of this world where the Children of darknesse are almost quite lost in their groaping wayes hath caused me to do so I am not able to expresse how much my minde is perplexed when I think on the folly of this frail world and consider the Cymmerian darknesse of its Children which think themselves of deep understanding when they have heard some fopperies of their Vniversity Chair-men discoursed of thereby supposing to be much enlightned in their understandings Where is that high and precious Medicine of the ancient Philosophers which lived before any Vniversity was talk'd or heard of who received their Revelations upon an earnest pious prayer unto God joyning thereunto their dayly searchings into natural things and laying their hands to the work Whither I say is fled their painfulnesse and industry Surely to no other place than to the horrid impure and sordid Apothecaries shops deeply precipitated and buried in the earth and sunk so deep that the ringing nor sounding of bells and beating of Morters are able to rouse it thus their praise and the glorie of the highest is at a stand and who produceth any good of it Thus much am I perswaded that if my writings shall be produced to light after my death and the judicious posteritie the Apostles and Disciples of them do rightly read meditate nnd understand them well and do out of a Christian intention seek dive and work the same onely to the glorie of God and the love and charity of their fellow brethren and Christians than by means of their actions and works that depend from such good and proper fundamentals will be discovered and laid open to the publick view all those fopperies and forgeries which these great mouth'd vain-glorious fellows and high conceited fools which proclaim themselves to be the sole Physicians and Masters of both Medicines that is of the inward and outward and arrogate to themselves great dignities and worths in the world when there is no cause for it Their intentions are set upon no other foundations but to live in great respect to haunt after vain-glorie with a sear'd
lead oâ—ers are very brittle having little of slate and Talk and these are discerned by their firmnesse there are other stones in which appear Copper and the flowers of Zwitter there are others also which have flat floats and slate-stone in which is wrought Copper oar hence it may be gathered that by reason of these several formes are produced several fruits and in Mines toward the South better oars are found then there are some toward the West called after-oars between which there is alwayes ordered or placed a center of perfection CHAP. II. Of general operations of several metals ALmighty God for his eternal honour and glory hath held forth to mankinde innumerable wondrous works which he as the sole Mediator and Creator hath set forth iâ— natural things the same he hath shewed also in his omnipotency under ground in metals and minerals of them wâ— may learn as the twelve Sybils prophesied of the bright true and onely Son of Righteousnesse and Truth in whicâ— do rest after the twelve ports and gates of Heaven and after the twelve moneths moveable and unmoveable visiblâ— and invisible bodies the seven Arch Angels standing beforâ— the Throne of God after these the seven Planets Sun Moon Mars Jupiter Venus Mercury Saturn and the reâ— of the stars and the seven metalline oars in their propeâ—ties as gold silver copper iron tin lead Mercury the Vitriol Antimony Sulphur Wismuth Kobolt or brasâ— oar allom salt and other mineral growths That the true center may be comprehended and conceâ—ved of God hath made the first separation according to hâ— word The Spirit of the Lord moved upon the water thâ— whole elemental body of the earth hath been water bâ— the Spirit of the Lord Zebaoth hath divided it fashionâ— the earth from the muddinesse of the water and therein all metalline fruits that ever were created and generated under ground all these were first water and may bee reduced againe unto water all other creatures be they animalls vegetables mineralls all these are produced from the first water the several kinds of beasts fishes and sea-monsters after the Lords spirit and after the first eternal breathing Essence which brought forth and shaped things tinged and untinged soft and hard small and great creatures after the twelve stones in the brest-plate of Aaron He created man after his own image the holy Spirit was infused into Adam who had a fulnesse of eternal wisdome and that according to the order of Melchizedeck Almighty God who is the first and last the first principle and end of all things hath set his gifts into times hours dayes years which according to his eternal Decree have their revolutions he hath blest in his most holy means Abraham Isaac Jacob Aaron Melchizedeck and others he hath infinitely blessed according to his good will and pleasure from eternity putteth several periods unto them and in his unsearâ—hable decree and will he hath laid the foundations also for Minerals and Metals a help for the supporting men in their â—eccessities in this miserable life thus hath he meliorated â—nd exalted the earth in her goodnesse men have reason â—o return hearty thanks unto the Creator for it God in his gracious providence next unto the knowledg â—f himself and of his holy word can bestow no better gift to man than to indue him with the true knowledge of Metals and Minerals Jews thought themselves wise men â—erein but as little some Miners know Minerals and Meâ—als as little knew the Jews their Messias and Gods word 〈◊〉 its true sence Therefore from that blessed and promised Countrey the knowledge of pretious stones minerals and metals are come to us as by an inheritance as being the â—st and are become the first and they the last but 〈◊〉 the end Heavens gate will be opened unto them again â—ternal and external gifts and means will be bestowed on them and the true use of metals will be none of the meanest Where there are fertile stones be they rocks flints peebles marbles in their central points is found what they are in their operations The several gums and rasoms the one excelling the other in beauty transparency hardnesse or liquidnesse are known and discerned by their fragrancie and tast Miners ought to endeavour incessantly and in simplicity how the neerest way may be chosen to find out the Mineral-passages and veins into which God and nature hath laid direct courses CHAP. III. Of the stones rocks and flints of Gold its operation condition and striking courses GOld is wrought in its proper rocks and marbles and in the purest matrix of the firmest earth of a most perfect salt Sulphur and Mercury purged from all feces and impure spirits with the conjunction of a natural highly clarified Heaven of white yellow and red sulphureous earth after the fiery nature of Sol in a deep fixation insomuch that none of all other metals hath an higher compacter and more ponderous body of a goldish matter in which there is no humidity all the elements are equally in it bound up which in their unity have wrought such a fixed body tinged the same throughout with an everlasting citrin colour with the deepest tie and uniting of its pure earth Sulphur and Mercury and with its Vitriol essence it doth all what the Sun among the Stars doth operate Naturally all is gold what cleaveth thereunto in and at all sides and it is found in the best and closest stones and passages and the power of Sol worketh meerly upon that oar and in its quality is comparable unto Sol. This noble gold stone and oar is sometimes mixed and on its outside â—here sticketh some obscure and dark matter having annexed to it some slats and other spermatick matter which deâ—racts from the goodnesse of its own nature and though â—he Creator hath indued it with great Vertues yet doth it â—umble it self and suffers it self to be found in despicable Mineral-stones where it loseth much of its tincture as is apparent by the Touch-stone where the mixture of Copper Silver Tin and others is seen all these mixed impurities can be separated from it with artificial Manuals and with little ado it may be brought into a perfect state Gold oars naturally are wrought thus that the gold stands in it close compact firm and good which is found sometimes in the crosse passages It s fixednesse is found in the deepnesse under ground where it hath its greatest power and it is found also sometimes in a speckled jaspis full of eyes and mixed with flints in its passages where many times Vitriol flint is found abundantly which Vitriol is the best among all other sorts of Vitriols The Hungarian Vitriol hath the precedence before all the rest which is sufficiently known in their proves and exemines as may be demonstrated to the eye In its passages are found sometimes fluxes of several colours which are interlined with gold and must be forced with fire To that purpose it is requisite that it be dealt
fountain of life of mercie and righteousnesse which the Lord God made apparent on the Tree of the holy Crosse where out of the side of his dearest Son did run bloud and water to which the Lord in the Revelation of St. John addeth fire smoak and fumes this union according to the Divine Word is grown at the beginning in all creatures and what ever God the Holy Trinity hath ever created consisteth in a Trinity even as the Deity is in an eternal Trinity As the Deity is indivisible in the Humanity α ω in the water and blood for an eternal remembrance that is the fiâ—st and the last letter as in the Heavenly even so in the earthly the perfect Alphabet must not be cut asunder all must stand from the beginning to the end and Christ Jesus purgeth his dear friends still unto eternal life through water and blood saying to their hearts all thy sins are forgiven thee thy faith doth save thee No man is saved unlesse he be fiâ—st born again that is through water blood which throughly purgeth not only men and the sons of men but also the whole Limbus upon earth for it is not the metalline blood and water neither is it Mercery and Sulphur that doth it neither in the body under ground is any goldish silver wrought to any blood red oar the blood out of Christ side shed for the good of man is that great evidence for thus all Mineral stones that are in the plain element of earth and the spirit of all oars and marbles and stones come from the divine essence as also the heavenly spirits for the throne of God with the heavenly Angels and Spâ—rits are furnished for rhe praise of God thus the earth also is created is her stones oars veâ—ns passages for the honour of God and the welfare of man which imitateth Gods wisdome filled with infiâ—ite and uncessant forth-bringing of fruits Whence should be the decay of metals surely even as the eyes of the holy Apostles and Disciples were held that they could not know the Lord in his clarified spiritual body and essence no more can men see these things in metals Why doth Saint John in his Revelation speak of smoak and of fume Surely he did not mean the fire smoak and fume of Bakers ovens or Kitchin-chimneys but there was revealed unto him the heavenly fire the mist vapour and fume which is exhaled from the moisture of earth and â—â—ated to the clouds so in the subterranean works the â—â—e and spoil or outside of the oar are sublimed and the 〈◊〉 of the frost which rouzeth the effectual powers vaâ—rs and spirits maketh them come to a perfect unity in â—â—alline bodies Now if there were not a fire vaporous â—â—e in the earth how could they produce their fruits â—ich are the minerals and metals under ground As the fiery element is covered with the airie and the â—ven with clouds and the earth is filled by them and â—ether with the fire was inclosed as one element with 〈◊〉 other two In like manner at the first Creation the â—erranean passages and veins were laden with oars as â—s were with fruit which the Lord God in Paradise 〈◊〉 implanted into them This effectual fire vapour and â—e is likened unto Mercury Sulphur Salt and Sea-waâ— wherein earth lieth inclosed and hidden even as the â—eamest throne of God is encompassed by other thrones 〈◊〉 heavenly habitations â—s the four Evangelists are witnesses of the New Testaâ—â—t and Covenant so they are a type and sure testimony â—he four elements that the earth is created after the hoâ—â—eaven thus are we taught in the Lords prayer as it is â—eaven so in the earth in which and beneath and under 〈◊〉 is every where This is in action still King David â—d confesse that he could not hide himself from the 〈◊〉 any where â—eeing the holy and blessed God hath laid the creatures â—â—e earth with the four elementall qualities therefore â—ational Miners open their eyes and learn judicially to â—w the passages and clifts of oars metals and minerals 〈◊〉 they will get a lasting name with great praise and will â—ke the noble gold which in a glory and beauty appeaâ—â— when it comes from the Quart and can be then reduâ—â— into an oil which preserveth man in a lasting health â—nd any balsom and is become a vegetable which is â—ble It is feaseable that of gold may be prepared a singulâ—â— Medicine for the good of man-kinde because man is creâ—ted of God from Limus terrae and the whole earth is 〈◊〉 Limus such another Medicine all the Doctors are not ablâ— produce which is of a curious sweet fragrancy standiâ—â— distinct in two lights and must needs be in rerum naturâ— because it was brought on God his Altar for an offering bâ— mans art prepared and suffer'd it to be extinguished None knoweth what it is neither we literated Doctoâ— know the preparation of it who when their Confectioâ— Syrups Herbs and Potions will do no good and are in dâ—spair then they might willingly run to Metals which fâ—â—merly they made conscience to make use of them in the Oyntmenis and Plaisters of this I make mention in a râ—verend remembrance for true rational myners Out of goâ—â— and silver are joyned not onely gold and silver monies aâ— other plates for mans use but they serve for mans use in mâ—ny other things and after the first metals vertue there coâ—â— others also more and more very effectual even to the lâ—â— of metals Such vertues there are in minerals also as in vitriol aâ—timony allom salt and the like All these are a nourisâ—ment unto metals even as Manna was to the Israelites 〈◊〉 the desart As they are easily withdrawn and taken froâ— metals so it hapned to them also Heathens and Christiaâ— received that Manna together with Mines and Kingdomâ— they are set and shot at the heap of rubbish where theâ— still worship the Calf of this I have spoken more in thâ—â— book where I treated of Fossilia CHAP. XII How precious Stones and Jewels are wrought and how God hath bestowed blessings upon those that work the Mynes â—Ewels are wrought out of the substance of the most perfect transparent and noblest earthlinesse with mixture of the noblest Mercury Sulphur and Salt â—â—thout any fume or moist matter are of a dry coagulaâ—â—n and commonly are engendred in a round form in â—eir dwellings lodgings stocks and passages fixedly â—und together some are of a transparent lustre oâ—ers are more dark and they have their several coâ—â—rs Not many oars are found in which these noble generaâ—â—d bodies are brought to any perfectnesse neither are 〈◊〉 it strikings along in a way of passage here and there â—ey have their Centers unto which are joyned tender and â—â—aculous accrescencies where they are guttatim lapidaâ—d falling into the hardest purest stones concavities â—â—wing in several cuticles as we see the animal stones do â—ow The more precious the Jewels are the fewer there â—e
of them and the grosser their mixture is the more store â—ere is found of them which is apparent in Garnats who â—th hitherto searched into the quick spirits of such noble â—eatures the Lord hath created for mans benefit Pygmees or Homunculi which in former times lived in â—llow oars of Mynes these could not want skill in â—th wayes having traversed and travelled up and down 〈◊〉 these slippery corners and wayes The places and â—uation of such Jewels lying somewhat nearer unto â—â—aven in the Eastern Countreys bordering on Paraâ—ce so there must needs be abounding in Gold and Jewels and such pretious vegetables which our thoughts hardâ— may reach unto God requireth no more of man whom 〈◊〉 intrusteth with these things but to be faithful and just anâ— is an argument for us to think that for the same cause picâ—â— Kings and Princes and the old wise Partiarchs were giftâ— from above to bear a love to search into Mine-works aâ—â— did it with an uprightnesse and judgement Let honâ—â— godly Christian Miners chuse the better part and learn 〈◊〉 know the pearl the spirit of the Lord proceeding out 〈◊〉 Gods own mouth and let them consider well their eternaâ— fixation to return their love again to him that hath love them first bringing all things to their subjection he impaâ—â—eth all unto them abundantly in grace and mercy by thâ— innocence and merit of his only son bestoweth on theâ— temporal and eternal blessings and puts more glorious oâ—naments on them and better than ever gold silver jeweâ— and pearls were adorned withall CHAP. XIII Of the essence of Gold which is abundantly found not only in the metal but Mineral also whose energâ— is shewed most rarely and a short closing of my first and second Part of Minerals and metals 〈◊〉 annexed THis Chapter is a breviary of all mineral colours formâ— how they after an heavenly operation are daily clad iâ— the metalline prime matrix and set forth in their severâ—â— works whereas there shineth forth unto us the eternal ligâ—â— of the lustrous Sun the deity of the day of joyes and 〈◊〉 the eternal most fixed and fairest Sol as also of a most yeâ—low pure red and fixed citrin colour of heavens eternâ—â— lightning and the most glorious paradise of all the Staâ—â— a natural created light for all creatures besides the beaâ—â— and Aurora of Mineral Earths and of their subtilest comâ—t and best binding inclosed speaking to all other white â—inged Metals I Sol of an essential being am Lord of â—rds in power might and perfection I overcome all and â—vercome and bring them into subjection and none of â—m can master me but I do conquer them all they are â—ject to me and to my Beiâ—g for my Kingdome is estaâ—hed with infinite and invincible Power and Dignity by 〈◊〉 all metals minerals animals vegetables are strengthâ—ed and rectified for I give to every one that knoweth 〈◊〉 in my green blue and red Nature all what I have 〈◊〉 all what he desireth I cause to drop down after the â—r cardinal streams of Pison Gihon the noblest substance 〈◊〉 Mercury in the form of a most pure transparent crystalâ—e water and the most noble substance of Sulphur of Hiâ—el and Phrath the clearest fairest Astral salt from a Vitriâ— salt which through all Mines flew upward very fruitâ—ly and penetrates all the mineral stones I alone graduâ—e and exalt the silver unto Lune I give light and lustre in 〈◊〉 righteousnesse of my vertue do spe k all Magi Natuâ—ists and Scribes all the world over from the East to the â—est I am the Lord over the heavenly clarified garments â—d colours I adorn the firmament the weather I cloath â—e Rainbow after Gods will I exalt all jewels all such â—owths and creatures and what I cannot inwardly walk â—rough and reach unto in my course I leave it to be perâ—cted with my friend and lover the Lune she receiveth the â—â—st part of me and of the subtilest an abundance the Inâ—â—s Hungarie Carinthia testifieth the same for all what is 〈◊〉 live and is to receive a life rejoyceth in me and next â—od in none else for to him honour and glory belongs â—ely after him I finde no higher Lord and Commanderâ—â— for my part I do not rest neither do I desire any rest do â—y office readily into which my Creatour hath placed me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my plyablenesse be found gloriously like a vvax in â—ones which have by reason of hardnesse fire enough if â—ed I am hid from unwise men and am ready to be discernâ— by men of understanding I am predominant abundantâ— in a well known Mineral as also in Mars and Venus whicâ— are of low degrees in them I lye hid also all these have 〈◊〉 double spirit well known unto Lune pleasant to her anâ— next unto her Hence God suffered Moses to erect a brasâ— Serpent in the desert after my colour in hearkning unâ—â— the people at the mount Sinai My best and fairest câ—lour appeareth in transparent juyces as vitriol which afâ—â—â— my condition in due time penetrateth Oars whereby theâ— grew rich in lust are train'd up in a pleasant form conâ—ded into a greennesse like sealing wax green like Gooâ— dung blew like Saphir and so forth sometimes of thâ— colour of a water flint my red and whiâ—e colour is the best which are heartily wish'd for I love to be kindled iâ— vitriol and further is after descension in its green food unto a deep red spirit after whose laxative purging cometh that expected aqua Saturni the true aâ—ide-Well froâ— whence I my self and all other Metals animals and vegetables have my off-spring and life For Metals and Minerals rise onely from thence have their beginning and original from it for it is that quickning water which ordinary Myners do not know of is known onely to Philosophers It worketh Minerals and Metals in several wayes in form of taps which did skept pure white compact found like purified Suggar in a blue slate-work An extraordinary pleasant Mineral for all colours Salt Oars are at a farther distance which by my attractive changing are found in floats blocks and passages which in many places bring the water unto the day-light so that it often is found a pure and dry Salt above ground of glassie light flames oâ— in a great frost like unto flocks of snow there shooteth a brittle glassie light stone wrought in great pieces in the same order are all other Jewels according to mine inlightned heavenly stone distributed among their operations worths and vertues and clarified in a most fix'd transparency and indewed with an everlasting spirit distinct iâ— sâ—â—â—ral colours as Diamond Smaragds Carbuncles Saphirs â—â—ies Chrystals Chalcedonian Jaspis Berill Chrysolith â—â—x Carmel Turkois Lazur-stone Margarits Coralls â—ra Lemnia Terpentine-stones and Garnats of deeper 〈◊〉 colours each in its heavenly colours order is transpaâ—â— and naturally is created and preserved in its own ofâ—a Hence it may be argued that all these together with â—â—d
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
things that iâ— unworthy and to fall with the blinde into the pit maâ—â— for them Those that are real in their desire for to attaâ—â—â— unto art and wisdom and intend to propagate the saâ—â— without sophistication and desire in reality to glorie iâ— that honourable truth you may shew a real proof of it iâ— this manner 〈◊〉 tell thee really for the highest truth that you may disâ—e our Gold naturally driven together in a short way to â—ng it to its prima materia and is done thus take the â—wn Mineral Spirit in which our Mercury Sulphur and 〈◊〉 is shut up containing that Philosophick mystical Gold â—â—r that guttatim upon white calcined tartar these two â—â—trary qualified matters will be tissing let them stay togeâ—r till their contention and strife be ended and our Gold â—e it self invisible in the vegetable Salt acre or in the belâ— of tartar lute a Helmet to it distil it at first gently in â—neo then increase your fire then Hermes his volatile 〈◊〉 will fly away from our Gold in that sublimation and sit 〈◊〉 the highest pinnacles of the Temple looking about â—ich way to betake himself but soon is catch'd in the â—ceiver which must be pure and very dry when you see â—t his flight is but slow then take the glasse out of the â—â—ny set it in ashes increase your fire then will she fly â—re nimbly keep that fire so long till all is come over â—d her brother the Red Dragon hiding his rednesse under a 〈◊〉 colour in a whitish fume will begin to follow after his â—ing brother Then cease with the fire the drops being fall'n from the Helmet take it off that which you â—de in the Receiver you are to keep as a treasure of myâ—ries In this manner you have gotten wisdom underâ—â—nding and skill the fundamentals also and desires of Phiâ—â—ophers by this short witty proof you learn and get that â—owledge how this water may be sought after found and â—â—ted on and is not to be esteemed a common water but is â—at real infallible heavenly water of which at the beginâ—â—g I have written and repeated the same the oftner â—hich in a spiritual manner from the heavens power is â—ured down upon earth beginneth and accomplisheth â—e generation of all Metals for that reason the ancient Phiâ—â—ophers call'd this water Mercury but I call it the Spirit of â—ercury Now if you proceed right in this work and you know â—hat food and what drink â—o give to this bird viz. Sulphur and Salt of Metal then you may attain unto the end of 〈◊〉 great work which is almost like unto the Philosophâ—â— great work and you may get profit infinitely partituâ—aâ—â— many wayes you must note that this is not the true Phiâ—â—sophick dissolution but onely one which particulaâ—â— performeth strange matters aâ—d is a speculum in which 〈◊〉 Mercury our Sol and our Lune is seen bleaking which iâ— present confuting of unbelieving Thomasses discoverâ—â— the blindnesse of ignorantment The dissolution of tâ— three principles I have described unto you formerly whiâ—â— is of a slower pace requiring time and patience and 〈◊〉 exact attention to make or bring three into one which wâ— is done in it self per se without mixing of any heterogeneâ— matter onely that which lyeth hid in it must do it Fâ— the Fountain of salvation is the illumination of the Soâ—â— and the Salt of the clarified body are all in that one thinâ— existent from one two or three which must be brought aâ—â— reduced to one which is the golden vertue of all Metals â—alted above all powers together with the Eagle and whiâ— body which are no where together but onely in this one found and in that which is next kin unto it which knoâ—ing Philosophers alwayes held in great esteem but ignoraâ—â— and blinde men despised and disgraced the same But thoâ—â— whose eyes are once opened love to stick unto truth coâ—â— to hide the matter from wicked men and study day aâ—â— night how the ignorant might be kept from it Thus I cloâ— this third part And before I begin the fourth part concerning Particâ—laria I must needs speak something of the Philosophers Vâ—triol Sulphur and Magnet My friend you must note that this description I maâ—â— now of the essence of Vitriol resteth onely upon tryâ—â— made the victorious triumph of the highest wisdom câ—â— by inheritance from the most ancient Philosophers unâ— me and comes now unto thee wherein experimentaâ— it 's found that there is a subterranean Mineral Salt callâ— Vitriol which for dying of Cloaths and many other us◠〈◊〉 cannot well possibly be without it for it carrieth â—nd eateth through by reason of its sharpnesse â—â—h is distinct from other Salts in respect of their quaâ—â— for the Mineral of this Salt is strange of a very â—nd fiery quality as apparent in its spirit and conâ—â—th a twofold spirit which is miraculum naturae â—is not found the like in other Salts and this Salt is a â—â—aphâ—odit among other Salts it is white and red even â—â—u will have it it hath an extraordinary medicinal quaâ—â— performing things in an incredible manner This Salt â—â—ineth a combustible Sulphur which is not in other 〈◊〉 Therefore in Metalline affairs touching their transâ—â—tion it performeth more than others because it help-â—ot onely to open some but helpeth the generation of â—â—rs by reason of its innate heat When Vitriol is sepaâ—â— by means of fire then its spirit at first comes in a â—â—e form after that there comes from its earth a spirit of 〈◊〉 condition staying in the earth the Salt being united 〈◊〉 its expell'd Mercury and Sulphur can sharpen them â—emainder that stayeth behinde is a dead earth of no â—â—acie Let this suffice for your learning and consider 〈◊〉 what the Creator holds forth unto thee in nature by â—ow kindled ternarie for as you finde in Vitriols body 〈◊〉 distinct things as Spâ—rit Oyl and Salt even so you expect from its own spirit again which without the â—â—ling of its Oyl is driven from its matter three distinct â—â—gs even as you did formerly from the body of Vitriol â—â—h deserveth very well the name of Speculum sapientiae â—â—ae held forth purposely to man to view himself For 〈◊〉 can separate this spirit of Vitriol as it ought then that â—ds again unto you three principles out of which onely out any other addition since the beginning of the â—d the Philosophers stone hath been made from that have to expect again a spirit of a white form an Oyl of â—uality after these two a Christalline Salt these three â—â—g duely joyned in their perfection generate no lesse 〈◊〉 the Philosophers great stone for that white spirit is meerly the Philosophers Mercury the red Oyl is the Sâ—â— and the Salt is that true Magnetick body as I told you 〈◊〉 merly As from the spirit of Vitriol is brought to light â—red and white tincture so from its Oyl there is made Vâ—â— her tincture and in the Center
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
us for from them I had it next unto Gods revelation the reading of their books must be frequently iterated then the fundamentals thereof will the better stick to the memory and truth like a burning Candle be not extinguisht Be industrious in your carefull working search into Scriptures continually be not prepossessed with opinions follow after the unanimous concurrence of Philosophers a wavering man is easily brought into wrong wayes and such men which have wavering mindes seldom build firm houses Seeing the stone of the most ancient Philosophers doth not come or spring from things which are combustible because this stone is freed from all dangers fire may put him unto therefore trouble not thy self to seek for it in such things where Nature would not have thee to seek for As for example if one should tell thee this stone is a vegetable work because a growing quality is in it but it is not For if our stone were of a condition as other vegetaâ—â—es are it would easily be consumed in fire nothing â—ould stay but onely its Salt Though there were men â—ho have written great volumes of the vegetable stone yet â—â—y friend you must note that it will be very difficult for â—â—e to conceive of it for they call our stone a vegetable â—â—e because a growing and augmenting belongeth thereâ—nto Note further irrational beasts have their increase of â—heir own kinde so you strive nor to seek for or to make â—his stone but onely of his own seed from whence it hath 〈◊〉 beginning and being Neither ought you to look out â—or any Animal soul for the making thereof flesh and â—loud which the great Creator hath bestowed upon Aniâ—als belongeth properly unto animals God composed â—hem of flesh and bloud whereby an Animal is made but â—â—r stone which from the ancient Philosophers came as by â—n inheritance upon me is made of one and of two things which contain a third this is the naked truth and it is rightly spoken for the ancients understood by man and wife one body not in respect of the outward appearance but by reason of their innate love which they got at the first working of their Natures in that respect it is acknowledged that they are one and as both propagate and increase their seed even so the seed of that matter of which our stone is made can be propagated and augmented If you be a true lover of our Art you will take this expression into consideration to keep thy self out of the pit into which erroneous Sophisters usually fall which their enemy digged for them My friend that you may know further from whence this seed cometh then enquire first of thy self to what end you intend to seek after this stone Reason then will dictate unto thee that it must needs spring from a Metalline root which the Creator hath ordained for Metals to generate thereby if you will know the matter of it then note First when the spirit moved â—pon the water and the Universe was encompassed with darknesse then the omnipotent and eternal God who iâ— without a beginning and end whose wisdom was from eternity by his insearchable Decree created heaven and earth and the things contained therein be they visible or invisible by what name soever they may be called But of â—he manner of this glorious Creation my intent is not now to Philosophâ—ze much upon let Scripture and Faith be impartial judges herein The great Creator hath given in the Creation to every Creature a seed whereby it should generate and encrease whereby Animals Vegetables and Minerals might continually be preserved Man hath no power bestowed on him to make or bring forth a new kinde of seed according to his fancy against Gods ordinance there is granted unto him a propagation and increase God reserved for his sole power to make seed else man could play the Creator also which doth not beseem him and belongs meerly to the highest Creator Conceive thus of the seed which worketh Metals there is a heavenly influence according to Gods good pleasure and ordinance from above it falls and mingleth with sydereal qualities When such conjunctions happen then these two beget an earthly substance as a third thing whicâ— is the beginning of our seed its first original whereby its first descent is proved from these three the Elements have their off spring as water aire and earth which work further by an Aeâ—nick fire to the bringing forth of a perfect thing which Hermes and all those before me for I could finde no more have called the three principles and were found to be an internal Soul an incomprehensible spirit and a visible body These three being together in one dwelling in processe of time yet by Vulcans help to be a comprehensible being as a Me cury Sulphur and Salt these three by an uniting beâ—â—â—â—rought into a coagulation according to Natures miraculoâ—s operation there is brought forth a perfect body as Nature would have it and the Creator had ordained the seed for it He that purposeth to seek after the fountain of our work and hopeth to get the viâ—tory in this warfar to hâ—m I tell this for a truth that where there is a Metalline Soul a Metalline spirit and a Metalline form of body that there must needs be there also a Metalline Mercury a Metalline Sulphur and a Metalline Salt these must needs produce a perfect Metalline body If you do not conceive of it now then surely you are not adapted for Philosophy and in brief it is thus it will not be possible for thee to reap the benefit of any Metalline body unlesse you have joyned compleatly the forenamed three principles Note further Animals are composed of flesh and bloud there is in them also a living spirit and breath which dwelleth in them but they are destitute of a rational Soul which before them man is endued withall This is the reason that when Animals lost their lives they are gone no more hopes of them for ever But man who offering his body to his Creator in time of death hath a Soul who at the day of â—esurrection is to receive a glorified body to his Soul and are to dwell together and so Soul Body and Spiâ—i come together again iâ— an heavenly clarification which in all eternity will never be separated again c. Therefore man by reason of his Soul is acknowledged to be a fixed Creature because he is to live for ever after this life â—hough in his body he is subject to a temporal death For death is unto man onely a clarification according to Gods ordinance by certain degrees is delivered from a sinfulnesse and transplanted into a better condition which doth not beâ—â—ll other Animals therefore are they esteemed to be unfixed Creatures for these being once gone by death cannot expect nor look for any resuscitation because they want a rational Soul for which the sole Mediator Jesus Christ hath suffered and shed his innocent bloud A spirit â—â—â—y have a
sword into Vulcans the Jaylors hand to â—â—t in execution all that which the Lords had resolved upâ—â— killed Mercurie burnt his bones with fire Vulcan did 〈◊〉 Office very carefully This Executioner having done 〈◊〉 duty there came a white shining woman in a long garb 〈◊〉 a silver piece of several water colours being well viewed â—â—hold it was Lune the wife of Sol she fell down upon her â—ce intreated heartily and weeping that her husband Sol â—ight be set at liberty out of prison Mercurie had cast him â—to by force with deceitfulnesse where both he and Merâ—â—rie upon your honours command were kept imprisoned â—â—t Vulcan gave her a flat denial because he was comâ—anded to do so and went on to do his office in executing â—â—e sentence At last the Lady Venus came in a deep red â—obe lined with green of a most beautifull countenance â—leasant speech and amiable gestures bearing fragrant â—owers in her hand which were a most refreshing pleasure 〈◊〉 the eyes to behold by reason of variety of colours she â—ade intercession in the Chaldaean language unto Vulcan â—â—tting into his remembrance that redemption must come â—â—om a womankinde but his eares were stopp'd These â—wo conferring together Heaven opened it self there came â—â—rth a huge beast with many thousands of young ones deâ—â—oyed the Executioner opening his jaws wide devoured â—he Lady Venus which made the intercession crying with a â—â—ill voice My descent is of women my seed is scattered â—â—r and near by them thereby they replenished the Earth â—heir Soul is kinde to mine therefore my desire is to feed â—â—d to drink of their bloud The beast having spoken thus â—â—oud it went into a room shut the door behinde all its young ones followed it where more food must be proâ—ded for them and they drunk the first incombustible Oâ— that meat and drink they easily digested whereof moâ— young ones were bred which was continued long so thâ— all the World was filled by them All these things thus hapning there was a meeting of â—veral learned men which endeavoured to interpret 〈◊〉 declare what hapned and what had been spoken that thâ— might the better understand these mysteries none of theâ— was able to perform that businesse for all of them had â—â—veral thoughts concerning these things at last there stoâ—â— up an ancient man as white as snow in his hairs clad 〈◊〉 purple from top to toe on his head he had a Crown in 〈◊〉 midst of it was set a precious Carbuncle he was girt wiâ—â— the girdle of life and went bare-footed spoke with a spâ—cial spirit which was hid in him his speech and sayiâ—â— went through his body and life his Soul felt it to the iâ— most This man stept on high desired the Assembly to 〈◊〉 silent and to give diligent attention unto him because 〈◊〉 was sent from above to declare unto them these writing and to make it known unto them in a Philosophick expreâ—sion The Assembly being silent he began to speak thus Awaken O man and behold the light that darknesse mâ— not mislead you the Gods of Fortune and the great God have revealed unto me in a deep sleep How happy is thaâ— man that knoweth a God in their wondrous works anâ— happy is he whose eyes are opened to behold the lighâ— which formerly was a darknesse unto him The Gods hâ—â—â— granted two Stars unto men to lead them unto great wiâ—dom O man view them exactly follow after their Iustreâ— because wisdom is found therein The swift Bird of thâ— South devoureth the heart of the huge beast of the Easâ— Make wings also unto the beast of the East as the 〈◊〉 hath of the South let them be equal one to another so this Eastern beast must be bereaved of his Lyon-skin anâ— his wings must vanish again for both must enter into thâ— great Salt-Sea and come forth again in beauty sink youâ— disciples spirits into a deep Fountain which is never withâ—â—t water that they also may be like unto their mother â—hich lieth hid therein and she came from three into the World Hungary hath fiâ—st begotten me Heaven and Sâ—aâ—s preâ—â—ve me Earth giveth suck unto me Though I must die â—nd be buried however the God Vulcan begets me a seâ—ond time therefore Hungary is my Native Countrey and â—y mother compasseâ—h the whole earth This being hearkened unto by the Assembly he spake â—â—ther thus make that which is highest to be lowest that â—hich is visible to be invisiâ—le and that which is compreâ—ensible to be incomprehensible and provide that the 〈◊〉 most become to be the uppermost mâ—ke the invisible â—â—come to be visible make the incomprehensible a pulpaâ—e thing This is the whole Art and very perfect withâ—â—t any defect but therein dwelleth death and life dying â—â—d rising it is a round Globe on which the goddesse Forâ—â—e lets her Chariot roll about and bringeth salvation of â—isdom unto men of God its true sense is ALL in ALL â—â—t the highest is Judge which judgeth things eternal He that desireth to know what ALL in ALL is let 〈◊〉 make great wings for the earth put her into a great â—â—guish let her soar upward make her flye through the â—â—e and be exalted to the highest place of the uppermost â—â—eaven then burn her wings with a forcible fire that the â—â—th may fall into the Red Sea and be drowned therein â—â—en command the Sea to stand exiccate the water by â—e and aire reduce it unto earth again then I say you â—â—e ALL in ALL if you cannot finde this then feel 〈◊〉 thine own bosom and about thee into all things that 〈◊〉 in the World then you will finde ALL in ALL 〈◊〉 is of an attractive quality of Mineral and Metalline 〈◊〉 descâ—â—â—ing from Sal and Sulphur twice begotten of 〈◊〉 More is not meet for me to speak of ALL in ALL 〈◊〉 ALL comprehended ALL. This speech being made he said further Beloved men I hope you have by hearkning unto my voyce learned wisdom how and in what you are to seek for the great stonâ— of ancient Philosophers which healeth Leprous imperfecâ— Metals revealeth unto them a new birth preserveth meâ—â— in health prolongeth their lives and by his heavenly power and operation hath kept me alive so long that I aâ— weary of life and wish for nothing but death Thanks be to God for his grace and wisdom which hâ— hath granted so graciously unto me so long a time blesseâ— be his holy name for ever Amen Thus he vanish'd awaâ— before their eyes After the finishing hereof every one returned hoâ—â— meditating seriously on these things day and night and every one wrought according to their several gifts they received from Gods bounty and goodnesse c. Hereupon follow the XII Keyes of BACILIUS VALENTINUS Whereby the Doors are opened unto the Ancient stone of Philosophers where is found that everlasting Fountain of health and of wealth The first Key MY friend you must know that impure and defilâ—â— things are not fit
nest alone in the Alpes where her Chickens by reaâ— of the snow are destroyed by frost which is on the tops these Mountains But if you add unto the Eagle the cold Dragon whâ— had his dwelling a long time in stone clifts and Subteâ—â—nean caves where he crept in and out both these beâ— placed on that Hellish stool then Pluto will so stronâ— breath upon expelling a fiery volatile spirit out of 〈◊〉 cold Dragon whose great heat will burn the Eagles feath prepâ—ring a sweating-bank that the snow on the higâ—â— tops of the Mountains do dissolve and turn into water tâ—â— the mineral baâ—h be rightly prepared and riches and heaâ— be bestowed on the King The third Key WAter destroyeth fire quencheth it quite if abundance of water be poured into little fire then fire must yield unto water giving way for the victory unto it Thus our fiery Sulphur must with water be prepared by Art must be conquered if so be that after the separating of the water the fiery life of our Sulphureous fume shall get the triumphing victorie But here no victory can be obtained unlesse the King have bestowed strength and vertue unto his water and have delivered unto it the Key of his Court colour that be be destroyed thereby and be made invisible however at this time his visible form must appear again but with great diminution of his simple essence and great melioration of his condition Limmers carry yellow on white red upon yellow or a purple colour though all these colours are at hand yet the last is predominant being the uppermost in its degree The same order must be observed also in our Magisterium which being done then you have before you the light of wisdom which shineth in darknesse and yet burneth not For our Sulphur doth not burn yet giveth a light afar off neither doth it tinge unlesse it be prepared and tinged freely with its own tincture to give a further tincture unto weak imperfect bodies of Metals This Sulphur hath not a tinging quality unlesse the tincture be given to it in a fixation for a weak one cannot victorise the stronger keepeth down the weaker and weak things must yield unto strong ones The conclusion herein is this a weak and mean thing cannot help another which is in the same frailty neither can it import any furtherance to the operation of it can one combustible protect another which is of the fame condition A Protector must have a greater power than he whâ—m â—e intendâ— to protect so thing combustible must â—e defended by â—uâ—h which in their fixation are incombustible He that will prepare our incombustible Sulphur of Philosophers mâ—st be circumspect tâ— seek our Sulphur in a subjâ—ct wherein it lieth incombustible which cannot be unlesse the Salt-Sea have first swallowed the body and cast it up again freely then â—xalt it to â—â—s degree that it excel with its â—ustre all other Stars in Hâ—aven and be in its substance as rich of bloud as the Pellican is aâ— the opening of her breast nourishing many of her Chiekâ—ns without the weakning of her own body This is the Rose of our Masters of a Scarlet colour and the red blouâ— of the Dragon of which so many have written and is thâ—â— Purple mantle of the highest Commander in our Arâ— wherewith the Queen of salvation is clad and covered and thereby all needy Metals may be waâ—â—'d Keep this honourable Mantle with the Astral Salt very carâ—fully which followeth after this heavenly Sulphur let not any mischance befall it impart to it the birds volatile quality as much as there is needfull then the Cock will dâ—vour the Fox which is drown'd in water or reviveth by fire and is devoured again by the Fox where like is requited with the like or like is reconciled unto unlike The fourth Key ALl flesh begotten of earth must be destroyed and reurn to earth again which it was at first then that terrestrial Salt affordeth a new birth by heavenly resuscitation for if there be nor first an earth there cannot ensue any resurrection in our work For earth containeth that natural Balsam and is the Salt of those which sought for it by a knowledge of all things or universal knowledge the final judgement of the world will be by fire which the great Creator at first made of a nothing must by fire he turn'd to ashes again out of these ashes the Phoenix bringâ—â— forth again her Chickens For these ashes contain realâ—â— the true Tartar which must be dissolved after its disâ—â—lution the firm and strong lock of the royal room is â—â—ened New heaven and new earth are made after that great â—ombustion or burning and the new man will appear more â—â—loriously than he was in the first world because in the â—â—ther he is clarified If ashes and sand be well ripened and digested by fire â—â—en the Artist turneth it into glasse which afterward â—oldeth in the fire in its colâ—ur it is like unto a transparent â—â—one anâ— looks no more like any ashes this is a huge mystery unto ignorant men but not so to knowing men for they found it to be so by their dayly experience and Manuals Men burn Lyme of stones to make use of them for a Cement in buildings before the fire prepareth it thereunto it is a stone and cannot be used for a Cement as long as it is a hard stone fire bringeth stones unto a maturity and receiveth from the fire a very hot degree whereby it is strengthned and groweth so potent that there is almost nothing comparable unto it the fiery spirit of Lyme Every thing being reduced into ashes affords by Art a Salt if you at the anatomizing of it are able to keep apart its Sulphur and Mercury and make restitution thereby unto the Salt according to Aâ—â— â—hen fire will bring it to that again which it was before its Anatomy and destruction worldly wise men call this a folly counting it meer lies call it a new Creature which to do man hath no grant of God themselves understand it not that this Creature hath been formerly so and the Artist sheweth its increase onely by the seed of Nature That Artist which wanteth ashes cannot make any Salt for our Art because our work cannot be made lively without Salt for the coagulation of things worketh meerly the Salt As Salt preserveth things from putrefaction even so the Salt of Philosophers protecteth Metals that they cannoâ— be reduced to a nothing unlesse their Balsom die and the natural Salt spirit be gone then their body would be deaâ— and nothing further could be effected with it because thâ— Metalline spirits are gone and at their natural departinâ— left a dead dwelling into which no more life can bâ— brought again Note further you that intends to learn this Art that thâ— Salt out of ashes is of great effâ—â—cie many vertues are hiâ— therein Yet the Salt availeth nothing unlesse his innermost be turn'd to the out-side For the spirit alone
pleasant voice of the Queen and embrace her friendly out of a great love and take his fill of her both will vanish and enter into one body They say two men can master a third especially if they have elbow room to vent their malice Hereupon you are to know from a true ground that a double winde must come called Vulturnus then a single winde called Notus these come rushing from the East and South and will keep a stir being robb'd and their blowing or motion allayed and the aire is turn'd into water then you may confide that a spiritual one will become a bodily one and that the number by the four seasons of the year in the fourth heaven will predominate after the seven Planets have finish'd their ruling and will finish its course in the neathermost dwelling of the Palace and will hold in the highest fiery examen then the two which went forth suppressed the third and consumed him Here in our mastery is requisite an exact knowledge for the division and conjunction must be rightly hit if so be you intend to get riches by your Art and the Scales must not be falsified by unequal weights This is the Rock spoken of in this Chapter that you must finish it without any defect by the artificial heaven with air and earth with the true water and sensible fire setting in equal weights whereof I inform you really The seventh Key NAtural calidity preserveth mans life for when natural heat is gone then the life is at an end Natural fire being moderately used is a defence against cold but an immoderate heat is destructive There is no necessity that â—â—e Sun should touch the earth corporally with her whole substance it is sufficient that the earth be strengthned by 〈◊〉 rayes which she ejaculateth unto the earth and doth â—hat way her duty for in that way she is of a sufficient â—â—cacy to perform her office bringing things unto matuâ—â—â— by her digestion for the distance of the aire bringeth 〈◊〉 solar rayes into a temperature so by means of the aire 〈◊〉 fire doth work and the aire worketh by the help of 〈◊〉 Earth produceth nothing without water and water â—â—thout earth can rise nothing neither now as these two â—â—nnot be one without another in the generating of â—its neither can fire be without aire nor aire without â—e fire is livelesse without aire and without fire the aire â—â—nnot shew its due calidity and drynesse The Vine at its last ripening hath need of a greater solar â—â—at than it hath at the beginning of the Spring and if â—e Sun hath a good operation in the Harvest then the Vine â—elds a better and stronger sap which it doth not if the â—â—ns heat be defective The vulgar counteth all things â—â—ad in Winter because frost hath locked up the earth â—â—at nothing can spring up but when the Spring-season apâ—â—oacheth and the Sun in her ascending breaketh the frost 〈◊〉 things turn to life again Trees and Herbs appear in the â—â—elinesse and the Animals which hid themselves from â—â—e frost creep forth again out of their caves and holes â—egetables afford their new fragrancy their operation is â—pparent in their pleasant blossoms of several colours â—hen the Summer worketh further brings these blossoms 〈◊〉 further ripenesse into fruits upon which ensueth a rich â—â—rvest for the which thanks are due to the Creator which â—et these periods unto Nature Thus one year worketh after the other so long till â—he Architect thereof pulls them down and the Inhabitants â—f the earth be exalted by the glory of God then all earthâ—y Nature will be at an end in her working and in its place â—â—ere will be an infinite eternal one When the Sun in Winâ—â—r goeth further off from us she doth not dissolve so well the great snow but approaching nearer to us th n 〈◊〉 aire groweth warmer and the snow is easily melted aâ— being turn'd to water it is gone for the weakeâ— must gâ—â— way unto the stronger The same order must be observed the government of the fire that the moist liquor mâ—y 〈◊〉 be exiccated too suddenly and the Philosophick earth 〈◊〉 not to soon mel ed and dissolved else your wholesâ—m fisâ—â— would turn into Scorpions and if you intend to be a riâ—â— minister in your office then â—ake first your spiritual waâ—â— on which the spirit moved at the beginning shut the doâ— of the strong hold upon him because this heavenly plâ—â— will be besieged by earthly enemies your heaven must 〈◊〉 guarded with three Bull-warks onely one entrance mâ—â— be strongly guarded with a watch All this being finish'â— then kindle the light of wisdom and look for your penâ—â— you lost let the light be of that bignesse as you see theâ— is occasion for For you must know thaâ— creeping bâ—â—â— and worms have their dwelling in a cold and moist eâ—â—â— their condition and no are leads them thereunto hâ—mans habitation is upon earth according as his tempâ—â—â— and mixed condition â—â—quireth but Angelical spirits â—â—ving not an earthly but an Angelical body not being iâ— subjection unto a sinfull flesh as man is are placed into higher station are able to endure both heat and cold in tâ—â— upper and neather Region without any molestation anâ— when man is clarified then will he be able to do like theâ—â— heavenly spirits God ruleth heaven and earth and worketâ— all in all If we prove good governours of our Souls then we shaâ—â— be Gods Children and Heirs to accomplish that which iâ— impossible for us to do now which cannot be done unlessâ— all the water be exsiccated and heaven and earth togetheâ— with the men be judged by fire The eighth Key NO flesh be it of mans or of beasts can bring any further increase or propagation unlesse it come first into putrefaction So all Vegetables unlesse their seeds be brought into putrefaction cannot be augmented Many beasts and worms are generated by putrefaction this mystery in Nature deserves admiration Nature permitteth this because this living increase is for the most part found in the earth which with other Elements are so raised by spiritual seeds To prove this with examples women in Villages know to give instances in that particular for these cannot hatch any Chickens unlesse they put the Eggs into putrefaction If bread be put into honey then the Ants are bred which is one of Natures mysteries It is seen ordinarily that Maggots do breed in flesh in men and horses and such like Carcases in Apples Pears c. and who is able to relate all the kindes of worms which are generated by putrefaction Some Vegetables also grow in certain places where never such grew formerly nor were they sowed in those places onely by putrefaction they were produced the reason of it is that the earth in such places it inclined thereunto and is impregnated thereby which the syderial qualities have infused and wrought a seed into especially which seeds putrifie in the earth and by the elemental operation
rectified spirit of Wine with Salt of Tartar then putrified and reduced into a sweet Oyl this is an excellent Medicine against the French disease old Ulcers Chollick windy ruptures Gouâ—â— expelling many other diseases out of mans body 2. This Oyl is joyned also with Martial Tinctures For â—erâ—ury is the bond of other Metals and may be well used â—ticulariter The chiefest colour of Mercury is red as â—â—u finde in my other writings Chap. VI. Of common Vitriol â— TAke good Hungarish Vitriol dissolve it in distilled water coagulate it again let it shoot into Crystalâ— â—erate it five times then is it well purged and the Salts Allums and Niter are separated from it Distil this purged â—itriol with spirit of wine unto a red Oyl ferment it with â—piritual Sol add to it a due Dose of quick Mercury of Antimony coagulate and fix then you have a Tincture for men and it tingeth Lune also into Sol. Visitando Interiora Terrae Rectificandoque In venietis occultum Lapidem Veram Medicinam 2. VItriol is calcined also to a red colour in a close Vessel on which is poured distilled Vinegar and is set in putrefaction for three moneths there is sound in a strong distillation a quick Mercury which you are to keep safe Wonders may be effected therewith upon Particulars and Universals Take three pâ—â—ts of this Mercury and one part of Sol joyn these being fixed it affords a Solar augmentum Make your supplies with its Mercury Laus Deo 3. This calcined red Vitriol is sublimed also with Salmiac thâ— sublimate is dissolved into an Oyl This Oyl fixeth Câ—â—obar whereof may be had Lune and Sol. 4. There is made a fix't water also Salmiac and Alloâ— being added thereunto This water being poured upon Suâ—phur of Jupiter which before was precipitated inâ—o a reâ— powder imbibed and coagulated and an ingresse be maâ—â— with Sol then you have a Tincture whereby câ—ude Antimâ—ny is transmuted into good Lune which may be transmuteâ—â— into Sol. 5. Lastly I tell thee if you extract the Salt out of Vitriol and rectifie it well then you have a work which iâ— short and tingeth Lune into Sol this metalline Salt coagulateth vulgar Mercurie and being transmuted into Lunâ— iâ— may be graduated higher through and with Antimony Thus you have my operations and experiments which may he very profitable unto you Make a good Christian use of it help the poor cure the diseased then God will blesse you Amen Sulphur is Vitriol Antimony is Mercary The third Section Of vulgar Magnet 1. MAgnet contains that which common Mars hath Common Iron may easily be wrought needs not to make many words of it Magnet hath an attractive quality to draw Iron 2. There is made an Oyl of Magnet and Mars which is very effectual in deep wounds 3. With Magnet and Antimony is made Lune fix which with the Oyl of Mars and Venus is graduated and made to Gold it may be performed also with Antimony and Mars Thus I finish'd my course and found many things in my working My fellow brethren turn'd Alchymists all had the Philosophers stone I was the beginner took great â—â—us before I attained to any thing if you read my wriâ—â—gs diligently you will finde the XII Keyes the prima â—â—teria or Philosophers Mercury together with the Philoâ—phick Salt the Philosophick Sulphur I delineated exâ—â—sly Now I close committing you to God and accept in hoâ—â—sty of that you are informed Medium Tenuere Beati FINIS Jod V. R. A Processe upon the Philosophick work of Vitriol HAving gotten this Processe in the foresaid year and and afterward as you shall hear with mine own hands elaborated and wrought the same no man â—ver-looking me I was heartily rejoyced even as if I had â—een new born and returned hearty thanks to Godâ— its â—ractick at the first I have not plainly described because I â—ad erred in the composing of it and was fain to begin the work anew I having miss'd in my work I begun in the â—ear 1605. because the matter of the Earth and the spirit â—f Mercury was not sufficiently purged therefore the earth â—ould not perfectly be united at the composition with the water I let that quite alone and began a new Processe at â—he end of the year 1605. in the Citie of Strasburg used â—ore diligence and exactnesse then my work God be praiâ—â—d prospered better for the which I am still thankfull to God for it In the name of the Hâ—ly Trinity the 1â— October Anno 1605. I took ten pouâ—d of Vitriol dissâ—â— it in distilled Rain-water being warm'd let it stand 〈◊〉 day and a night at that time many feces were setled Iâ—trated the matter evaporated it gently ad cuticulam usâ—â— I set it on a cool place to crystallize this on shot Vitriâ—â— exiccated dissolved it again in distilled Rain-water lâ—â— shoot again which work I iterated so long tiâ—l the Viâ—â— goâ— a coelestial gâ—een colour having no more any feces aâ—â—â— and lost all its corrosivenesse and was of a very pleaâ—â— taste This highly putrified Vitriol thus crude and not â—â—cined I put into a coated Retort distilled it in open fâ— drove it over in 12 hours space by an exact government fiâ—e in a white fume when no more of these fumes caâ—â— and the red corrosive Oyl began to come then I lâ—t the 〈◊〉 go out the next morning all being cold I took off the â—â—ceiver poured the gift in the receiver into a body aâ— some of the lâ—â—e being fall'n into I filter'd it and had a 〈◊〉 menstrual water which had some phlegme because I tâ— that Vitriol uncalcined which I abstracted in a Balmy 〈◊〉 leaving one drop of water in it I found my Chaos in the bottom of a dark rednesse vâ— ponderous which I poured into a Viol sealed it Hermeâ—â— set it on a three-foot into a woodden globe into a vâ—porous hath made of water where I left it so long till 〈◊〉 was dissolved after some weeks it separated into two parâ— into a bright transparent water and into an earâ—â— which setled to the bottom of the glasse in form of a thiâ— black corrosive like pitch I separated the white spiâ—â— from it and the fluid black matter I set in again to be dâ—â—solved the white spirit which was dissolv'd of it I separatâ— again this work I iterated leaving nothing in the bottoâ— save a dry red earth After that I purged my white spiâ—â— per distillationem very exactly it was as pure as the tear thâ—â— falls from the eye the remaining earth I exiccated under Muffle it was as porous and as dry as dust on this I pourâ—â— again my white spirit set it in a digestion this spirit exâ—â—â—ct the Sulphur or Philosophick Gold and was ting'd of a 〈◊〉 yellow I caâ—â—ed it off from the matter and in a body â—bstracted the spirit from the Sulphur that Sulphur stayed â—â—inde in form of an Oyl very fiery nothing like unto its â—â—t as red as a
hear-say but the things I do write of I know experimentally to be true Therefore if Gâ—d doth blâ—sse thâ—e with a true knowledge hereof that you would keep this secretum in silence and privacy least you turn Gods blessing into a curse because the prâ—paration of this and of the stone is one both have their original and first generation and birth from the true seed and Astrologick primum mobile called the spirit of Mercury of which formerly I have written more largely For I speak the highest â—ruâ—h unto thee that neither the Uâ—iversal â—or Particular Tincture neither aurum potabile nor other Universal Medicine without this heavenly and spiritual essence which hath its original from the starry heaven taketh and receiveth the same from thence may be had and prepared therefore be silent till death at your departing lay down again your talent as I have done for if I had not informed you faithfully you would know but little of that mystery and continue still with the vulgar in folly blindnesse and madnesse and you would have sent a Recipe into the greasy and salvy shops of Apothecaries but whither would thy Soul have gone after thy departure into Galen's lâ—p to â—he utmost depth of darknesse where the Dâ—vils have their dwelling places even thither both thy soul and body wâ—uld have been sent in case thou shouldst have divulged aâ—y of thâ—se secrets To â—urn to my intended businesse I will in the first place inform you what is that true and highest aurum potabile and Universal Medicine after this in order there followeth another aurum potabile made of the fixed red Sulphur or Soul of the corporeal Gold most highly purged aâ—d is prepared with the conjunction of the Universal Spirit of Mercurie After this there followeth another Particular Mediciâ—e which is half an aurum potabile shewing its efficacie aâ—d power in many tryals Then I will add thereunto a descrâ—ption of aurum potabile because it traceth the steps of Gold and it sheweth wonderfully its great energy and verâ—ues The highest and chiefest aurum potabile which the Lord God hath laid into nature is the excocted prepared and fixed substance of our stone before it is fermented A higher greater and more excellent Universal Medicine and aurum potabile cannot be found nor had in the circumference of the whole World for it is a heavenly Balsam because its first principles and original cometh from heaven made formal in earth or under ground and is afterwards being exactly prepared brought into a plus quam perfection of which first principle and Nativity of this heavenly substance I have already written sufficiently and count it needlesse to be repeated here Now as this excocted and perfect substance is the highest chiefest and greatest Universal Medicine unto man even so on the other side the same matter after its fermentation is a Tincture also and the chiefest greatest and most powerfull Universal Medicine upon all Metals whatsoever and thereby may be transmuted into their highest melioration and health namely into the purest Gold This is the first chiefest and greatest aurum potabile and Universal Medicine of the whole World of which alone great volumes could be written whose preparation was set down circumstantially in the third part needlesse to be repeated here again At this present I will speak of the true and full processe how a true aurum potabile is to be had and prepared from Gold which in the best manner is most exactly putrified Take the extracted Soul of Gold drawn forth with the sweet spirit of common Salt as I inform'd you about the Particular of Gold where the body of Gold appeared very white abstract the spirit of Salt from it edulcâ—rate the anima of Sol ten or twelve times at last let it be purely exiccated weigh it pour on it four times as much of spirit of Mercurie lute it well set it in the vaporous Baâ—h putrify it gently let the anima of Sol be quite dissolved and be turn'd into water or its prima materia both will turn into a blouâ—red liquor fair and transparent no Ruby on the earth comparable unto it But thus much you must note when the anima of Sol begins to be dissolved and brought into its prima materia that at the first on the side round the glasse where the matter lieth there be seen a green circle on it a bâ—ue theâ—â— a yellow afterward all the colours of a Rain-bow joyn and make appearance which do last but a little while The anima of Sol being wholly dissolved into the Mercurial spirit and nothing is seen in the bottom then pour to it twice as much of the best rectified spirit of wine brought to its highest degree the glasse must be luted exactly digest and putrify gentle for twelve or fifteen dayes together then abstract per alembicum that matter cometh over in a bloud-red transparent colour this abstracting must be iterated nothing must be left in the bottom which is corporeal then you have the true aurum potabile which can never be reduced into a body But note the Gold before its destruction and extraction of its Soul must be purged in the highest degree There is made another aurum potabile artificially prepared which though it cannot be said or set down in writing to be the full true potable Gold yet is it more than half an aurum potabile counted because it is transcending effectual in many diseases in which nature might have stood in great doubts This half aurum potabile is made in a twofold manner where the latter is better and more effectual than the former and asketh more pains and time than the former Take this extracted Soul of Gold drawn forth with the sweet spirit of common Salt edulcorate it most purely and exactly at last exiceate it put it in a spacious Viol or body of glasse pour on it red Oyl of Vitriol which was dephlegmed and rectified per retoâ—tam that it be transparent clear and white and you may see that it seizeth on the Gold and dissolveth it and is tinged deeply red Put so much of this Oyl to is that in it may be dissolved Sulphur or the Soul of Gold let it putrifie in Balneo Mariae put a reasonable fire to it that you may see that the Soul of Gold is quite dissolved in the Oyl of Vitriol the feces which it hath setled must be separated from it then put twice as much of the best rectified spirit of Wine to it which rectification you shall be inform'd of in this part seal the glasse â—et no spirits of the Wine evaporate set it again in putrefaâ—â—tion in the Balmy let it be there for a moneth then the â—upresse of Vitriol is mitigated by the spirit of Wine and â—oseth its acidity and sharpnesse both together make an excellent Medicine drive both over let nothing stay behinde in the bottom then you get more than half an aurum â—â—tabile in form and colour
judge of the situation of the â—eart Brain Liver Lungs Reins Bladder of the Entrals â—â—d of all the Veins and knoweth in what form and condiâ—on they are But before he hath made this anatomy all â—ese were hid from him a Myner which seeketh so Oars 〈◊〉 doth not know what riches he may expect from Metals â—â—lesse he open the Oar and so fine it what he findeth in 〈◊〉 by fire then he may know really in his calculation what â—â—hes he may expect from it So other things must be proâ—â—ded in which true Naturalists will endeavour to do and not prate of things onely without experimental knowledge disputing of colours with the blinde man learn to know the ground with your own eyes and hands which Nature hideth within her then you may speak wisely of them with good reason and you may build upon an invincible Rock If you do not so then you are but a Phantastick prater whose discourse is grounded on sand without experience and is soon shaken by every winde and ruined in the end The ground of this knowledge must be learned as you heard by anatomizing and separating of things which by distillation is made known where every Element is separated apart there it will be made known what is cold or moist warm or dry There you learn to know the three principles how the spirit is separated from the body and how the Oyl is separated from the water and how the Sale is drawn from the Caput mort of each matter and is reduced again into a spirit and how these three are afterward joyn'd again and by fire are brought into one body Further is here learn'd how each after its separation and afterward in a conjunction may profitably and safely be used for their several uses they are prepared for all which must be done by a medium At the first Creation man is earthy grosse but his Soul Spirit and Body being separated by death putrifieth under ground and when the Highest cometh to judgement he is raised again his Body Soul and spirit cometh together according to Faith and Scripture that body is no more earthy as it was formerly but is found heavenly and clarified glittering as the Stars in the East and like the Sun is seen when all the Clouds are past So it is here when earthinesse is broken divided and separated then the three principles of the dead substance are made apparent the dead one is forsaken the living power comes to her perfection because her obstruction is laid aside that the vertue in the operation may be manifested In this separation and manifestation is then known what these three principles are which are so much discoursed of namely Mercury Sulphur and Salt according to the condition of the subject He that doth not think it to be true let him go to the end of the World where he shall feel all what in his dumb capacity he could not comprehend if any one should intend to teach me any other with a prolixity of words he may fill me with words but he must prove it really also for without that I am not bound to believe his words but desire some sign as Thomas one of the Twelve who look'd for an Ocular demonstration I might have left out Thomas but being there is a clift between a spiritual and worldly unbeliever I gave liberty to my minde to speak it for there is a great difference in heavenly and worldly matters touching faith and things comprehensible and there is that difference found also in fidereal earthly things for fidereal things are comprehended by sharp imagination and Arithmatick rules but to the finding out of earthly things there belongeth speculation and separation with speculation must be joyned an intention and an apprehension is annexed to speculation the former is done spiritually because the spirit of man doth not rest desireth to apprehend more qualities of the spirit in things natural every spirit stil draweth its like the rest is earthy for an earthy body separateth by manuals the earthly body from the spiritual part and so the one may be discerned before and from the other Whereas the soul in both sheweth her self really therefore is she in all really for she tieth the heavenly and earthy together like a bond but when the heavenly is â—â—â—arated from 〈◊〉 â—â—â—rthy that the soul also must forsake her body then you 〈◊〉 â—â—â—arated and received the three each apaâ—t which aâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 true knowledge and conjunction can afford such a triumâ—â—ing and clarifyed body which is found in a better degree of many thousand times because the grossest is laid aside from the earthy For when heaven and earth come to be refined by the great Creator then the greatest part will be consumed by fire and by that purging it will be exalted to the same degree with the heavenly and set into the same line for each all is created by one each all is ordained by one and though through sin by one man all was corrupted unto death yet all is by one brought to a better State of life and the onely Creator intends to judge all by fire and all must again become one which will be that heavenly essence to which the earthl gave way by means of the fire the eternall glory leaving a room for devil and death from whence they shall look on the elect admiring the great Majesty and glory of God which in a divine essence of three distinct persons is all in all and hath created all Thus the three persons in the deity have held forth in us their invisible essence giving thereby to understand by an insearchable wisdom what their creature order is we men are too weak to come higher God is and will be God and we men must be content with such gifts affâ—â—ded unto us hereafter shall be accomplished that which is prophesied of by Prophets and Apostles and now are conceived of onely by way of faith therefore we ought now to be contented what by Nature is intimated in a visible way other things incomprehensible unto us matters of faith wil appear better to be understood at the end of the world God grant unto us all a true knowledge of â—â—mporal goods and of the eternall At the closing of this I say that this is the whole Art and whole foundation of all the Philosophick speech in which is that sought which many desire taking great pains and making great expences namely to get wisdom and judgement a long life health riches of this world comprehended in few words as for example First you must know that I wiâ—â— shew unto you such an example of thâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—nals which in the appearance is a mean and poor on◠〈◊〉 â—f a mihgty consequence if rightly considered The 〈◊〉 â—ayeth an egg the same egg is by heat brought to a hard 〈◊〉 or coagulation by a further heat it is brought to a putrefaction where it it corrupted in this putrefaction the egg receiveth
a new Genus wherein is raised a new life and a chicken is hatch'd This chicken being perfect the shell openeth making way for the chichen to creep forth this chicken coming to a further ripeness age increaseth further in her kinde Thus Nature furthereth her own kinde and augmetteth Usque ad infinitmm True the egg is not prima materia of the Cock or Hen but the prima materia of their flesh is the first seed out of which the egg is gone into a form which by the equal nature of the motion of both is driven together and united from thence by a further heat it went to a putrefaction from thence into a new birth which new birth still propagateth and increaseth So it is with man for one man alone cannot produce a new birth unless both seeds of male and female be united for after this conjunction through the Nutriment of the body and continued naturall heat of these two seeds which in the Center are known for one Nature get a new life and more men are begotten which propagate further by their seed by this means the whole world is fill'd with men This seed of man is the noblest subtilest blood of a white quality in which dwelleth the vital Spirit which is driven together by motion If these seeds of both kindes by their desire of lust are together united and their Natures be not corrupted or else are contrary one to another then there is preserved a life by a heat and brought to perfection in the mothers womb and another man is brought forth Thus much be spoken of the seed of Animals The vegetable seed is made palpable and visible which from each kinde of herb is separated and propagated in the earth for an increase which seed must first putrifie in the earth and then must be nourished by a temperate moisture at last this seed by a convenient warm air is brought to a perfection thus vegetables are increased and in their kinde preserved but the first beginning of a vegetable seed is a spirituall essence or astral influence whereby in the earth was gotten an imagination and became impregnated with a matter out of which by the help of the Elements it came to be something what form of seed the earth was desirous of after the heavenly impression that form it received first and brought it to a kinde which bringeth a further increase by its palpable seed in the generation hereby man may try his futher skill but he is not able to create a new seed as Nature doth by an influence from above onely he is able to increase a formed seed Of Metals and Minerals I inform you this that there is one onely Almighty Being which is from eternity and abideth unto eternity which is the Creator of heaven and earth namely the eternal Deity in three distinct persons which three in the Deity are a perfect divine being and though I confess and acknowledge these three persons yet I confess onely one God in one Being This I do now speak as a Type of the first seed of the three principles that the first beginning to beget Metallin seeds is wrought in the earth by a fideriall impression which quality presseth from above into the neather as in the belly of the earth and worketh continually a heat therein with the help of the Elements for both must be together the earthy affords an imagination that the earth is fitted for conception and is impregnated the Elements nourish and feed this fruit bring it on by a continued hot quality unto perfection the earthy substance affords a form thereunto thus at the beginning the Metallin and Mineral seed is effected namely by an astral imagination Elemental operation and terrestriall form the astral is heavenly the Elementary is spiritual and the earthy is corporeall these three make of their first Center the first essence of the Metallin seed which Philosophers have further searched into that out of this essence there is become a form of a Metallin matter pâ—â—pably joyned together of three of a Metalline Sulphur â—eavenly a Metalline Mercury spritual and a Metalline salt bodily which three are found at the opening of Metals for Metalls and Minerals must be broken and opened Minerals are of the same sanguinity of the same quality and nature as Metals are onely they are not sufficiently ripened unto coagulation and may be ackowledged for unripe Metals for the spirit in them is found as mighty Metalline as it is in the perfectest Metals For Metals may be destroyed and easily reduced unto Minerals and of Minerals are prepared Medicaments which ripen and transmute Metals which must be noted and it is done when Spirit Soul and Body are separated purely reunited The remaining terrestrity being put off then followeth a perfect birth and the perfect ripening by heat performs her office that Spirit Soul and Body at the beginning in their first seed have been a heavenly water which begot these three out of which three is become a Metalline Sulphur a Metalline Mercury a Metalline salt these in their conjunction made a fix visible palpable body first began a Mineral one then a Metalline by an astral imagination digested and ripened by the Elements and by an earthly substance are made formal and Material Now when these bodies of Minerals and Metals are reduced to their first beginning then the heavenly seed doth appear and is spirituall which spirituall must become an earthy one by the copulation of the Soul which is the medium and midle bond of their Union to make a Medicine out of it whereby is obtained health long life wisdom riches in this mortall life this is the true sperme of Philosophers long sought after but not known whose light was desired of many to be seen and is even the first matter which lieth open before the eyes of all the world few men know it is found visibly in all places Namely Mercury Sulphur and Salt a Mineral water or Metalline liquor as the Center separated from its form and made by these three principles The Heavenly Phisician the eternal Creator and inexhaustible fountain of Grace the Fâ—â—â—â—â—â—f all wisdom Father Son and Holy Ghost in one Deiâ—◠〈◊〉 us to know really in a due gratefulness his wond◠〈◊〉 â—orks and make us coheyres of his everlasting goods 〈◊〉 we after a temporal revelation may in a true light seek for heavenly treasures and may possess them eternally with all the elects where there is unspeakable glory without end which is attained unto by faith in our Saviour by bringing forth good fruits by loving of our neighbours and helping the needy which must be made evident with an unblameabâ—◠〈◊〉 and due obedience to God Amen FINIS