by aenigmatical and figurative words as Aristotle sayes in lib. Secret O Alexander I shall ais-close to you the greatest of Secrets which it becomes you by divine Assistance to keep secret and perfect the thing prâ—posed Take then then the Stone which is no Stone which is in every man and in every place and in all times and it shall be called the Philosophers Egge and the Terminus Ovi And thus we find multitudes of things obscured in the Writings and Sciences of men which no man without his Teacher can uâ—vail Thirdly They have obscured their Secrets by their manner of Writing â—s by Consonants without Vowels none knowing how to read them unlesse he know the signification of those words Thus the Hebrewes Caldees Arabians nay the major part of men do most an end write their Secrets which causeth a great obscurity amongst them especially amongst the Hebrewes For as Aristotle sayes in his fore recited Book God gave them all manner of wisdome long before they were Philosophers And all Nations had their Originals of Philosophy from the Hebrewes as Albumazar in lib. Introductorii Majoris and other Philosophers with Iosephus lib 1. lib. 8. Antiquit. makes it evident Fourthly This obscuring is occasioned by the mixture of several sorts of Letterâ— for so the Ethâ—ick Astronomer hid his knowledge writing it in Hâ—bâ—ew Greek and Latine Leâ—ters altogether Fifâ—hly This obscuring was by their inventing other letters thâ—n those which were in use in their own or any other Nation being framed meerly by the pattern of thâ—â—r own 〈◊〉 which surely is the greaâ—eâ—t impâ—dâ—menâ— yet this was the prâ—ctice of Artefiuâ— in lib. de Secretis Naturae Sixthly They used not the Characters of Letters but other Geometrical Characters which have the power of Letters according to the several Position of Points and Markes And these he likewise made use of Seventhly There is a greater Art of obscuring which is called Ars Notoria which is the Art of Noting and Writing with what brevity and in what manner we desire This way the Latines have delivered many things I held it necessary to touch at these obscurings because it may fall out I shall thorow the magnitude of our Secrets discourse this way that so I may help you so farre as I may CHAP. IX In aliis Adverg Of the Manner to make the Philosophers Egge NOw I shall methodically handle those things I promised above the dissolving the Philosophers Egge and finding out the parts thereof a work which will give beginning to other enterprises Make a diligent purification of the Calx with the waters of Alkali and other acute waters grind it by several contrition with the salts and * burn it with many assations that the earth may be perfectly separated from other elements which I hold worthy the * longitude of my stature Understand it if you can For without doubt there will be a composition of Elements and so it will be part of that Stone which is no Stone which is in every man and in every pâ—â—ce of man and you may find this in all the seasons of the year in its place Then take oyl after the form of a Saffron-cheese and so viscouous first as not to be smitten asunder by a stroak divide the whole fiâ—ry virtue and separate it by dissolution and let it be dissolved in acuâ—e water of a temperate acutenesse with a slight fire and let it be boyled till his †fatnesse as the fatnesse of flesh be separated by distillation that nothing of the unctiousnesse may issue forth and let this fiery virtue be distilled in the water of Urine Afterwards boil it in Vinegar untill the least part which is the cause of adustion be dried up and the fiery virtue may be had but if theere be no regard of it †again let it be made Mind and search what I say for the speech is dâ—fficult The Oyl is dissolved in acute waters or in common Oil which works more exâ—resly †or in acute Oyl of Almonds upon the fire so as the Oyl be separated and the spirit remain occult in the pâ—rts of living creatures Sulphur and Arâ—â—ick For the stones in which the Oyl of humidity overflows have their terminus in the union of its parts for there is no vehement union but one may be dissolved from another by the nature of water which is the subject of liquefaction in the spirit which is the Medium betwixt the dry parts and the Oyl The dissolution being made there will remain in the spirit a pure humidity vehemently mixed with dry parts which are moved in it when the fire resolves it which is sometimes called of the Philosophers Sulphur fusibile sometimes Oyl other while an â—ery humour sometime a conjuâ—ctive substance which the fire separates not sometimes Camphore and if you please this is the Philosophers Egge or rathâ—r the Terminus and end of the Egge and it came â—o us from these Oyls and may be esteemed amongst the subtilties when it is purged and separated from the water and oyl in which it is Further the Oyl is corrupted by grinding it with desiceaâ—ing things as with salt or Atrimentum and by aâ—â—ation because there is a passion arising from the contrary and afterwards it is to be sublimated untill it be deprived of †its oâ—eagmeity and because its aâ— Sulphur or Arsnick amongst Minerals it may be prepared even as it Yet it 's better to boil it in waters that are temperate in acuity untill it be purged and whitened Which wholsom exaltation is made either in hot or moist fire The distillation must be re-iterated that it may sufficientlâ— receive itâ— goodnesse untill it be rectified the signs of its last rectification are candor and crystalline seâ—enity And when other things grow black by fire this grows white is cleansed shines with clearnâ—sse and admirable splendour From this water and its earth comes Argentum vivum in Minerals and when the matter hath waxed white this way it is congealed the Stone of Aristotle which is no Stone it 's set in a Pyramid a hot place or if you please in the belly of an Horse or Ox and it imitateth an acute Feavor For from seven to fourteen and from that it sometimes proceeds to one and twenty that the Fecis of the Elements may be dissolved in its water before it be separate The dissolution and distillation is to be iterated untill it be rectified And here is the end of this intention Yet know that when you have consummated your work you are then to begin Another Secret I shall shew you you must prepare Argentum vivum by mortifying it with the vapour of â—in for Pearls and with the vapour of Lead for the â—â—one Iberus then let it be ground with desiccating things and Atâ—ramentis and the like as is said and let there be an asâ—ation Then let there be a sublimation
* if for Pearles twelve times if for rednesse one and twenty times untill the humidity within it be totally corrupted Nor is it possible that its humidity be separated by vapour as the fore-said oyl because it s vehemently mixed with its â—ry parts nor doth it constitute as in the foreâ—said metals In this Chapter you may be deceived unlesse you distinguish of the signâ—â—ication of the words It 's now high time I involve the third Chapter that you acquire the Calx the * Calx of the body which you intend the body is calcined when it is appodiated i. e. that the humour in it may be corrupted by salt and with salt Armoniack and vinegar and sometimes with burning things and with Sulphur and Arsnick and sometimes bodies are fed with Argentum vivum and sublimated from them untill they remain * putred The Claves of the Art are congelation resolution inceration proportion and another way purification distillation seperation calcination and fixation and then you may acquiesce CHAP. X. FORTE 620. Of the same Subject another way IN the 602. Arabian year you intreated me for some Secrets Take then the Stone and calcine it with a light assation and strong contrition or with acute things But in the end mingle it a little with sweet water and compound a Laxative Medicine of seven things if you will or of six or of five or as many as you please but my mind rests in two things whose proportion is better than the other sixt proportion or thereabouts as experience will teach you Resolve notwithstanding the gold at the fire and tried it better but if you will credit me take one thing that is the Secret of Secrets of Nature able to do Miracles Let it be mixed from two or more or a Phoenix which is a singular creature †at the fire and incorporate by a strong motion to which if hot liquor four or five times be applied you have the composition Yet afterwards the coelestial nature is debilitated if you iâ—â—use hot water three or four times Divide therefore the weak from the strong in several vessels if you believe me Let that which is good be evacuated Again use the pouder and the water which remains carefully expresse For of a certain it will produce the parts of the pouder not incorporated therefore take the water by it self because the pouder exiccated from it hath power to be incorporated into the Laxative Medicine Work therefore as formerly untill you distinguish the strong from the weak and apply the pouder three four five times or oftener and work alwayes the way And if you cannot work with hot waters do it with water of Alkali and by such acute things you make the violence of the Medicineâ— But if by reason of the acuâ—ty and softnesse of the Medicine it be broâ—â—â— the pouder being applied apply vâ—â—y carâ—fully more of the hard and soft But if it be by reason of the abundance of the pouder apply more of the Medicine if it be by reason of the strength of the water water it with pistils and congregate the matter as you can and separate the water by little and little and it will return to its â—â—ate which water you must exiccate for it contains both pouder and water of the Medicine which are to be incorporated as the principle pouder Here you may not sleep because here is contained a very great and profitable Secret If you rightly order in a right series of things the parts of the Shrub or Willow they will keep natural union and do not deliver this to oblivion for it is profitable for many things You must mingle Pearls with the made union as I think there will arise something like the Stone Iberus and without doubt it mortifies that which is to be mortified by the vapour of Lead You shall find Lead if you expresse the living from the dead and the dead you must bury in Olibanum and Sarcocolla Keep this Secret for it is of some profit and so must you do with the vapour of Pearls and the Stone Tagus and you must as I have said bury the dead CHAP. XI FORTE 603. Of the same Subject another way TO your desire in the Arabian year 630. I return this Answer You must have the Medicine which may be dissolved in the thing liquified and steeped in it and penetrate its interior parts and may be mingled with it and it may not be a fugitive servant but transmute it Let it be mingled by reason of the spirit and let it be fixed by the Calx of the metal it is to be thought that fixion is prepared when the body and spirit are set in its place and the spirit is made a body Take then of the bones of Adam and of the Calx the same weight let there be six to the Stone Tagi and five to the stone of Pearl let them be ground with Aqua vitae whose property â—t is to dissolve all other things so as in it they are dissolved and assated untill it be incerated i. e. let the parts be united as the parts in wax The sign of inceration is that the Medicine liquifies upon iron very hot Then let it be put in the same water in some hot and moist place or let it hang in the vapour of waters made very hot after that dissolve and congeal them against the Sunne Afterwards take Saltpeter and argentum vivum shall be converted into lead And again wash the lead with it and mundifie it that it may be the next to silver and then work as a pious man and also the whole weight must be 30. But yet of Saltpeter LVRVVOPO Vir Can Vtriet Sulphuris and so you may make Thunder and Lightning if you understand the Artifice but you must observe whether I speak aenigmatically or according to the truth Some men have supposed otherwise For it is told me that you must resolve all into its first matter of which you have Aristotlâ— speaking in vulgar and known places which makes me silent herein When yoâ— have this you have pure simple and equal Elements And this you may do by contrary thing and various operations which formerly I have called the Claves of the Art And Aristotle sayes That the equality of potencies excludes action and passion and corruption And these things Averâ—ho'sâ—ffirms reproving Galen And this Medicine is esteemed the more pure and simple which may be found which is prevalent against Feavers passions of the mind and body Fareweâ—l Whoever unlocks these hath a key which opens and no man shuts and when he hath shut no man opens In this Translation I followed Dr Deos Edition Printed at Hamburg 1618. FINIS Courteous Reader These Books following are printed for Simon Miller and Sold by him at the Starre in St. Paul's Church-yard Small Folio DOctor Lightfoot his Harmony on the New Testament which will shortly be reprinted with large Additioâ—s The
things For every first Cause hath more influence on the Effect than any second Cause as he speaks in the first proposition of Causes CHAP. IV. Of admirable Artificial Instruments THat I may the better demonstrate the inferiority and indignity of Magical power to that of Nature or Art I shall a while discourse on such admirable operations of Art and Nature as have not the least Magick in them afterwards assign them their Causes and Frames And first of such Engines as are purely artificial It 's possible to make Engines to sail withall as that either fresh or salt water vessels may be guided by the help of one man and made sail with a greater swiftness than others will which are full of men to help them It 's possible to make a Chariot move with an inestimable swiftnesse such as the Currus falcati were wherein our fore fathers of old fought and this motion to be without the help of any living creature It 's possible to make Engines for flying a man sitting in the midst whereof by turning onely about an Instrument which moves artificiall Wings made to beat the Aire much after the fashion of a Birds flight It 's possible to invent an Engine of a little bulk yet of great efficacy either to the depressing or elevation of the very greatest weight which would be of much consequence in several Accidents For hereby a man may either ascend or descend any walls delivering himself or comrads from prison and this Engine is only three fingers high and four broad A man may easily make an Instrument whereby one man may in despight of all opposition draw a thousand men to himself or any other thing which is tractable A man may make an Engine whereby without any corporal danger he may walk in the bottome of the Sea or other water These Alexander as the Heathen Astronomer assures us used to see the secrets of the deeps Such Engines as these were of old and are made even in our dayes These all of them excepting only that instrument of flying which I never saw or know any who hath seen it though I am exceedingly acquainted with a very prudent man who hath invented the whole Artifice with infinite such like inventions Engines and devices are feasable as making of Bridges over Rivers without pillars or supporters CHAP. V. Of Perspective Artificial Experiences THe physical figuration of rayes are found out to be very admirable Glasses and Perspectives may be framed to make one thing appear many one man an Army the Sun and Moon to be as many as we please As Pliny in the 2d Book Nat. Hist. chap. 30 saith That Nature so disposeth of vapours as two Sunnes and two Moons yea sometimes three Sunnes shine together in the Air And by the same Reason one thing may in appearance be multiplied to an infinity in regard that after any creature hath exceeded his own virtue as Aristotle cap. de vacuo no certain bounds is to be assigned it This designe may seem advantagious to strike terrours into an Enemies Camp or Garison there being a multiplication of appearances of Srarres or men assembled purposely to destroy them Especially if the following designe be conjoyned to the former viz. Glasses so cast that things at hand may appear at distance and things at distance as hard at hand yea so farre may the designe be driven as the least letters may be read and things reckoned at an incredible distance yea starres shine in what place you please A way as is verily believed Iulius Caesar took by great Glasses from the Coasts of France to view the site and disposition of stoth the Castles and Sea-Towns in great Britain By the framing of Glasses bodies of the largest bulk may in appearance be contracted to a minute volumne things little in themselves show great while others tall and lofty appear low and creeping things creeping and low high and mighty things private and hidden to be clear and manifest For as Socrates did discover a Dragon whose pestiferous breathings and influences corrupted both City and Countrey thereabouts to have his residence in the Caverns of the Mountains So may any other thing done in an Enemies Camp or Garison be discovered Glasses may be framed to send forth Species and poisonous infectious influences whither a man pleaseth And this invention Aristotle shewed Alexander by which he erecting the poison of a Basilisk upon the Wall of a City which held out against his Army conveyed the very poison into the City it self Glasses may be so framed and placed as that any man coming into a room shall undoubtedly imagine he sees heaps of gold silver prceious stones or what you please though upon his approach to the place he shall perceive his mistake It 's then folly to seek the effecting that by Magical Illusions which the power of Philosophy can demonstrate To speak of the more sublimate powers of Figurations leading and congregating rayes by several Fractions and reflexions to what distance we please so as any object may prove combustible It 's evident by Perspectives they burn backward and forward which Authours have treated on in their Books That which is the most strange of Figurations and Mouldings is the description of Celestial Bodies both according to their Longitude and Latitude in such Corporeal Figures as they naturally move by their diurnal motion An Invention of more satisfaction to a discreet head than a Kings Crown But this will suffice as to Figurations though we might produce infinite prodigies of the like Nature CHAP. VI Concerning strange Experiments TO our former discourse we may adjoyn such works as are effected without Figurations We may have an artificial composition of Saltpeter and other ingredients or of the oil of Red Petrolei and other things or with Maltha Naphtha with such like which will burn at what distance we please with which Pliny reports Lib. 2. Chap. 104. that he kept a City against the whole Roman Army For by casting down Maltha he could burn a Souldier though he had on his Armour In the next place to these we may place the Grecian fire and other combustibles To proceed Lamps may be made to burn and waters to keep hot perpetually For I know many things which are not consumed in the fire as the Salamanders skin Talk with others which by some adjunct both are inflamed and shine yet are not consumed but rather purified Besides these we may speak of divers admirable peeces of * Nature As the making Thunder and Lightning in the Air yea with a greater advantage of horrour then those which are onely produced by Nature For a very competent quantity of matter rightly prepared the bignesse of ones thumb will make a most hideous noise and corruscation this may be done several wayes by which a City or Army may be overcome much after the fashion as Gideon overcame that vast Army of the Midianites with three hundred men by the breaking of