namely what matâ—â— you ought to take to the Kings Balneum whereby the â—ng is destroyed and its external form broken and its â—â—defiled Soul may come forth to this purpose will serve â—â—e Dragon and the Eagle which is Niter and Sal armonick â—â—th which after their union are made into a Aquafort as â—â—u shall be further informed of in my Manuals where I â—â—all treat in particular of Gold of other Metals and Mineâ—â—ls into which Balneum the King is thrown being first 〈◊〉 in the quoted place you shall hear brought into an Amalâ—me of Mercury and of Sulphur which presently seizeth on â—im corrodeth all his members and is dissolved and is â—resently mortified of this Salt water into a most splendent â—ransparent Oyl You must note that this dissolution is â—ot sufficient and the King is not minded as yet to let go â—is Soul out of his fixed body which you can see when you â—eparate the water from the dissolved body of the King where you shall finde fixed powder of Gold out of which you will hardly get his Soul that is therein Therefore follow my counsel and bear the yoake which I bore before â—ye and learn to know exactly in pains taking further thus as I shall inform you Having dissolved your Gold wholly in the said water and brought it into a pleasant yellow Oyl then let it stand well luted for a day and night in a very gentle Balneum Mariae the feces which are setled must be separated from it then take this pure dissolution put it into a well coated body or Retort apply a Helmet to it with a receiver in the best manner luted to it set it into a sand Capel drive the Gold with the water over the Helmet iterate this a third time then abstract the water in Balneum Mariae you will finde a fair Gold-powder keep this in a glasse for an hour in fire let the remaining humidity be drawn from it The third Key THen take of good spirit of Sal-niter one part and of dâ—â—phlegmed spirit of ordinary Salt three parts pour theâ— spirits together warm'd a little into a body on the forâ— written Gold-powder lute a Helmet and Receiver to iâ— drive the Gold over as formerly in sand several times wiâ—â— an iterated distillation the oftner the better let the Goâ—â— come to be volatile more and more and at last let all coâ—â— over By this repeated driving over its fixed body is divided all its Members are torn asunder and opened anâ— leaveth willingly its Soul to a special Judge of which mâ— third Key will give sufficient information Note further that after this work those salt spirits muâ—â— be abstracted from the Gold which was driven over very gently in Balneo Mariae let nothing of the tincture of the Gold come over that the body suffer not any diminution then take that Gold or rather these Chrystals of Gold from which you have separated the water put it in a reverberating pan set it under a Muffle let its first fire be gentle for an hour let all its corrosivenesse be taken away then your powder will be of a fair scarlet colour as subtile as ever was seen put it in a clean viol pour on it fresh spirit of ordinary Salt first brought to a sweetnesse let it stand in a gentle digestion let that spirit be deeply ting'd and transparent red like a Ruby cant if off pour on fresh extract again iterate the work of canting off and pouring on till no more tincture of it appeareth put all these extractions together separate them in Balneo gently from the Sulphur of Sol then that powder is subtile and tender of great worth this matter is such which in a short processe transmuteth Lune in its tincture to the highest perfection according to the direction of my XII Keyes He that hath some knowledge herein may make this quere whither this extracted dry Soul and Sulphur of the â—â—g be just that Soul of which Philosophers have this â—ng the Philosophick work for the preparation of the â—â—t precious stone requireth three things viz. a wet volaâ— Mercury or a Mercurial spirit a wet volatile sulphurous â—â—l and a dry astral Salt which after its dissolution togeâ—â— with the two first must be apparent and known in a â—erish form which way comes that about because in 〈◊〉 processe nothing is spoken of any Mercurial spirit and â—atile Soul but the Soul of the King appeared in a subâ—â— form of powder The answer hereunto I delay so long 〈◊〉 the Querist learns better to understand the distinction in â—s book and I will perform my promise and set his â—xious and intangled minde at liberty which is so much â—ubled about this doubt and will deal with him as a â—od father may deal with his son in and with this scope â—herein our Mastery lieth have been fooled most of the â—its leading them captive in their erroneous wayes being â—â—d about in a desart of mislead wayes because in their â—â—pposed deep wits they had not conceived so much of the â—anner how all things of the world are generated and that â—very spirit must have a Soul and every Soul a fit spirit and â—hat both spirit and Soul are spirits and spiritual which must â—ave a body in which they may have a dwelling Gold and Silver but chiefly Gold is brought to the highest fixednesse by such degrees as nature did afford insomuch â—ts nature is found very hot and fiery freed from all phlegmatick humidity of which Lune is not so wholly freed though she hath obtained a sulphur-fixed degree and stayeth for the King to warm her cold body with his hot seed which concerns the particulars and belongs unto them which in that place shall be plainly demonstrated In Gold there is no waterish humidity at all unlesse it were reduced again into Vitriol which would be but an uselesse and unprofitable work and would require huge expences in case the Philosophers stone should be of Vitriol of Gold of which there must be had great store indeed in that Vitriol there would be found a convenient spirit which natuâ—â— would desire of a white quality as also a Soul and Salt of glorious essence But what Countreys Goods Lands have been dilapiâ—ted this way I wave to discourse of onely this warning 〈◊〉 give to my Disciples nature having left a nearer way 〈◊〉 keep and to imitate that that they also might take heed 〈◊〉 fall into such extream and inexâ—ricable poverties The solar Mercury Sol being never brought so far undestruction neither did the ancient Philosophers ever makâ— use of that way as being a thing clean contrary unto nature containeth indeed an humidity but it is a meer Elemental waterish humidity after its dissolution and good foâ— nothing water and other principles do not stand in the Elements but the Elements rest in the principles and seeds oâ— Metals of the which I have spoken formerly Therefore let none be so over witty as to make our
Venus as also in Vitriol and both Venus aâ—â— â—â—ars can be reduced into a most effectual Vitriol in which Metalline Vitriol afterward all the three principles as Merâ—ury Sulphur and Salt are found under one heaven and with â—â—tle pains and short time each can be taken out of it apart â—s you shall hear when I shall make further relation of the Mineral Vitriol which is digged in Hungary of a high graâ—ation Now if you have wit and understanding art inâ—lined and heartily desireth to conceive of the true meanâ—ng of my Keyes and of my other writings thereby to unâ—oâ—k the locks of Metals for our store then you should have â—aken notice and observed that in all these I have written â—ot onely of the Metal of Sol of its Sulphur and Salt but I â—ave interlined and mingled also and made uniformal other â—ed Metals from whence may be had the mystical Masterie â—herefore men ought to iterate often the reading of Philosophick books then a true sense and meaning may be drawn â—rom them which without divine illumination cannot be â—either c. But hoping that those who are fully and really resolved â—o incline their hearts unto wisdom will give more attenâ—ion thereunto than the other madd worldlings for whom â—hese my writings were not intended for I spoke as plainly â—s ever possibly I could and this kindled light shall further â—e purified so that true and sincere Novices may have a â—ull light without an eclipse from their beginning to their â—nding To which end I took these pains to disclose that which all the World was silent in and concealed it to their â—ast end and buried it in silence to their very graves The scope I aimed at in so doing was not to hunt after any â—ain glory but rather that Gods gracious provident goodnesse might be held forth unto posterity that the future â—â—ges might become seeing and some of the posterities eyes might be kept open and be helpfull unto their needy fellow Artist and make them partakers of Gods graces and gifts Though my minde be mightily perplexed when I think â—â—on what I have done because I write so plainly not knowâ—ng into whose hands after my departure these my writings may come However I hope let them be what they will that they will remember and lay to heart my faithfull warnings inserted in my former and these present writings thaâ— they deal with this book and use it so that they may givâ— good accompt for it to Almighty God Touching further the Vitriol I should make mention oâ— it in my Manuals where I treat and write generally of Minerals But it being such a singular Mineral whose felioâ— whole nature doth not produce besides Vitriol before aâ—â— others is of great affinity unto Metals and is next kiâ— unto them for out of all Metals there can be made a Vitriol or Chrystal Chrystal and Vitriol is taken for one therefore I would not bereave it of its own praise and put itâ— commendation too far off but rather preferre it as therâ— is just cause before other Minerals and the first place nexâ— to Metals should be given unto it for setting aside all Metals and Minerals this is sufficient to make the Philosopherâ— stone of it which no other in the World can do the like though some particulariter are a help to further that work and Antimony alone is a sufficient Master hereunto as iâ— its due place more shall be spoken of However none iâ— thus much dignified in its worthinesse that the said Philosophick stone could be made of it as this Vitriol is Therefore ancient Philosophers have concealed this Mineral aâ— much as ever they could and would not reveal the same tâ— their own Children that they should not divulge it in the World but be kept secret though they published thaâ— such preparation is made out of one thing and out of onâ— body which hath the nature of Sol and Lune and containeth also the Mercury wherein they said true enough because it is so But here I must admonish you that you maâ— turn this argument and settle your thoughts wholly upoâ— Metalline Vitriols because I intrusted you that out of Venus and Mars there can be made an excellent Vitriol where in are found the three principles for the generation of oâ—â— stone but you must further note also that neverthelessâ— these three Metals as Spiritus anima corpus are buried anâ— â—â—d in a Mineral Vitriol as in a Mineral it self Understand â—is according to the distinct natures of Vitriol For the â—est which according to my experience shewed it self most â—ffectual herein is that which is broken and digged in â—ungarie of a very deep degree of tincture not very unlike â—â—to a fair blue Saphir having very little of humidities and â—ther additionals or strange Oars the oftner it is dissolved â—â—d coagulated the more is it exalted in its deep tinging â—olour and is beheld with great admiration This high graduated Vitriol is found crude in those places â—here Gold Copper Iron is broken and digg'd and is â—bundantly transported from thence into forraign parts inâ— much that sometimes there is great scantnesse of it in those â—â—rts and elsewhere Though the vulgar people can afford no better name to 〈◊〉 calling it onely a Copper-water however ancient Philoâ—â—ers by reason of its unspeakable vertue and dignity exâ—ll'd it and call'd it Vitriolum for that reason because its â—iritual Oyl containeth all the three principles of all the â—iumphing qualities If you get such deep graduated and well prepared Mineâ—â— called Vitriol then pray to God for understanding and â—â—sdom for your intention and after you have calcined it â—t it into a well coated Retort drive it gently at first then â—â—rease the fire there comes in the form of a white spirit of â—â—riol in the manner of a horrid fume or winde cometh â—o the Receiver as long as it hath any such material in it â—d note that in this winde are invisibly hid all the three â—â—ciples and come together out of that dwelling therefore â—s not necessary to seek and search alwayes in precious â—â—ngs because by this means there is a nearer way open â—â—o nature's mysteries and is held forth to all such which 〈◊〉 able to conceive of Art and wisdom Now if you separate and free this expell'd spirit well and â—ely per modum distillation is from its earthly humidity â—n in the bottom of the glasse you will finde the treasure 〈◊〉 fundamentals of all the Philosophers and yet known to none which is a red Oyl as ponderous in weight as eveâ— any Lead or Gold may be as thick as bloud of a burning fiery quality which is that true fluid Gold of Philosophers which nature drove together from the three principles wherein is found a spirit soul and body and is that philosophick Gold saving one which is its dissolution during thâ— fire and not subject to any corruptiblenesse else it flieâ—â— away with body and Soul
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
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
and Steward and hast graciously afforded that I should enjoy the noble sweet fruits which were gathered in thy Almonarie to my last instant end which now O Lord lieth in thy power I beseech thee for the dear merits of Jesus Christ come now whe thou pleasest inclose my heart receive my Soul into thy heavenly Throne of grace let her be recommended unto thee graciously O thou faithfull God who hast redeemed her on the holy Crosse with the most precious Tincture of the true bloud of thy holy bodie then is my life well ended on this earth grant to the bodie a quiet rest till at the last day bodie and soul joyn again and are of a heavenly composition for now my onely desire is to be dissolved and to be with my Lord Christ The which thou Almighty Holy and Heavenly Trinitie grant to me and all good Christian believers Amen That I may come to the work intended and make a beginning of the work in hand if God be pleased to let this book come to thy hands before all things uncessantly you return heartie and unfeigned thanks for it in the next place I beseech him to bestow on thee also grace and blessing a healthfull bodie succesfully to accomplish all the points set down here which tend to the well-fare and benefit of thy Neighbour and to prepare them according to the Manuals which to that end I set down and prescribe them that you may happily and succesfully begin the work that the middle and end be correspondent thereunto Then be not flap-tong'd and resolve absolutely in thy heâ—â—t not to entrust with these mysteries any malicious ungratefull and false men much lesse shouldst thou make them partakers thereof for if Almightie God would bestow it on others he could do it immediately and grant the same by other means and wayes without thee Therefore look to it tempt not the Lord thy God for he will not be mock'd Be silent and reserving be meditating on Gods punishment which no your is able to out-run keep a good intention let not man greedie minde run on how you may get abundance of Gold and Silver riches and vanitie but before all things which are written herein let that be your chi fest aim how you may appear helpfull in word and deed to promote the health of thy Neighbour Christian Then have you given and brought an offering of thanks and God will bestow more upon thee and with such Revelations will come to thee more than ever you would have believed Therefore instead of a perfect Physick book I have annexed at the end those precious Medicines with which even to this hour I have cured succesfully many d fficult Symptomes and diseases held by others to be incurable which I recommend unto thee with the rest of the things contained in these writings to thy conscience to be warie and not to abuse any of them as much as thy life and Soul is near and dear unto thee If thou receivest this faithfull admonition and waâ—ning which I give unto thee here and there at the beginning middle and end and in other places also and doest accordingly then thou canst not be too thankfull for these things which through Gods permission shall be intimated and made known to thee out of this book But in case thou wilt strive against my faithfull warning and fatherly admonition these mysteries which were hid from the learned and thou sufferst to come into strange hands look to thy self blame not me think not that there is any reconciliation for thee being cut off from all those which live and die in Christ. Thus I let it rest committing execution to the Highest which dwelleth in Heaven who punisheth and avengeth all manner of sins vices iniquities and covenant-breakings Whereas I thought it necessarie thus to describe this my Declaration before my other Writings and to prove the same with examples that every one whom God shall judge to be worthie of may conceive understand and fathom the true beginning the true middle and the true end of all created things Thereupon I purposed to make a beginning of it with a necessary relation of the Original beginning and existencie of Minerals and Metals from which ariseth this most noble and precious Medicine whereby is procured a healthfull long life and abundance of riches are obtained Namely from whence Minerals and Metals have their original how they be brought to light that searchers into Natural things may know the whole Nature in her circumference before ever they lay hand to the work and acquaint themselves well therewith then still the one will stream and run forth the other one Art will produce the other at last all what is sought for will be overtaken in joy and that which hath been long'd for will happily be enjoyed This my book I divide into five parts each of them is subdivided into certain Chapters and Parts Aâ— for the stile used here it ought not to be expected to be any other than is meet for a Miner after the condition of Mine-works waving all Rhetorick and Poeticalâ— manne of eloquent expressions I. In the first part of my intended work I will describe chiefly the manner nature and properties of Myne-works in which grow Minerals and Metals of the first sperm nativitie qualitie and propertie as also of the exhalation and inhalation II. The second part shall be a kinde of recapitulation of the first part where shall be contained also a relation of the condition and occasion of Mines Oars Stones passages and Clefts with their coherent liquors powers and operations as of Gold Silver Copper Iron Tin Lead Mercurie and the rest of Minerals III. In the third part is declared in manifest and literal expressions without any defect and obscuritie the Universal of this whole world how all Philosophers before me with me and after me have made that most ancient great stone whereby health and riches were obtained of the possibility how and of what it may be done together with a perfect Declaration of my XII Keyes with the names of our matter IV. In the fourth part I describe all the particulars of Metals which the one is endued with before the other out of which may be had perfect health and an advantage unto the getting of great riches with all the Manuals in general and particular belonging thereunto this fourth part I have intituled the Manuals of Basilius Valentinus wherein is shewed how all Metals and Minerals fitting thereunto may be brought to their highest preparation V. In the fifth part I have annexed the transcendent most dear wonderfull Medicine of all Metals and Minerals and of other things which God Almighty had ordained and graciously granted for men who in the Valley of miserie are subject to sicknesses and povertie that they may have a remedie to help themselves against both God the Father of mercie and salvation who liveth from eternitie to eternitie being above all the Creatures grant grace and blessing
stone onely of dry and fully digested Gold because its phlegmatick humidity is entred into a dry fixednesse and fixed coagulation which is not found so in other Metals though they also are subject to a hard coagulation and passed through the fire yet are not wholly digested nor brought to a full maturity from the natural original root which ought to be taken notice of and be not offended at my former writings if they seem to run contrary against this Though I have shewed that the spirit Soul and body come all from one Metalline essence and must be prepared thus among which I held the Gold to be the best however I dealt herein as it seemed fit for a Philosopher the like the ancient Philosophers have done before me but I hope you took notice of my protestation that I gave special cause thereby to your speculation to take the better notice of nature and her principle and to consider the original because it was not meet for me to inform all men how the doors are bolted within and especially at that time when I never intended to write thus plainly of these things which are hid even from the best of men but when my heavenly Prince commanded at the changing of my minde not to bury the â—â—rted talent but to do the like to those whom God â—ks worthy to leave it to them One rule more I must 〈◊〉 to thy remembrance of such points which formerly I â—e set down of which I spoke now that you may the â—e blame me as if I did refuse these things now which I â—merly wrote of Peruse all such which since the beginning of the world â—â—e written of Metals you will finde that they were all 〈◊〉 one minde and that I make use of their sayings that the â—â—t and the last Metal is a Metal because the first Metal â—â—h already obtained and gotten the forth-going seed of â—etals in a Metalline quality which doth nothing else but â—â—t it goeth on uncessantly in the Metalline generation as â—poke of in the first and second part of Minerals and Meâ—â—s and in this part also I have spoken of it in several â—aces Many have called Gold Lead and Lead they called Gold â—ecause it was found not onely of the same ponderousnesse â—ut because three deep glittering stones have solely gotten â—â—om this Planet their transcendent perfection and many â—ther causes besides which to relate here would fall too â—ong and needlesse And this is it which asketh wisdom â—o distinguish in this and in other things and exactly to â—earch into Gods mysteries and natures laid before us But man through Adams fall being brought to a deep blindnesse therefore mens understanding are so eclipsed that they can hardly conceive of this and of other mystical matters in nature The obduration being so great among the covetous that for the most part they search and dive into such mysteries out of meer covetousnesse pride and ambition made the ancient Philosophers upon command and inspiration of the highest aim at that as to put a certain stay to their hands and to write of such mysteries in such a manner that unworthy men should not understand it and but worthy men onely in their illumination might perceive it and writing often one thing have mingled other among understaâ—ing still the one and the same In several places tâ—â— shewed that the Philosophers stone is and comes from 〈◊〉 animal others from a vegetable seed and a third sort saiâ— it comes from a Mineral seed others write that stone made of an animal vegetable and Mineral seed togethâ—â— All this is onely understood of the Mineral and Metalliâ— seed and consisteth not in any plurality of seeds Hence tâ—â— Art grew eclipsed insomuch that scarce one among maâ— thousands hardly attaineth unto the knowledge thereoâ— and for that reason is it held for an Art because not eveâ— Booby should bring it into his Beetle-head and why shouâ—â— it For if this Art were as common as brewing of Beer aâ—â— baking of Bread then any one may judge what good couâ—â— be look'd for would not all manner of vices be practiseâ— publickly without any controlling Therefore such men which in their lofty minde aâ—â— meerly for Pomp and Pride must be clipp'd in their wingâ— and these things ought not to be put into their mouthâ— things are clear enough for these on whom God intendâ— the bestowing of them I return now to the thing I intented which is to teacâ— a desirous Scholler how to proceed further with the extracted Soul of Gold Truly it is much to discover such mysteries I warn every one to make good use of them and note that if you have the purple Cloak of the King aâ— the sulphur of Sol then be thankfull unto God for it beaâ— no evil minde against thy neighbour unlock your goldeâ— seed according to the Tenor of the Key turn it to water for in our Art there must be body Soul and Spirit which run together in the innermost root the one layeth hold on the other meliorateth the same throughout in its whole quality insomuch that there is a new created world and earth which afterward is illuminated by the Soul and is exalted into a transcendent efficacie Therefore it is requisite that you know how to infuse your golden seed into the new body and to bring it to a fluid substance look about thee and see where you may â—e it if you finde none despair not but be of good â—fort think upon means and ask counsel of god Saturn â—ill not let thee go without a resolve he will put into hand a deep glittering Minera for an offering which in Myne is grown of the first matter of all Metals if this â—era after its preparation which he will shew unto thee 〈◊〉 into a strong sublimation mixed with three parts of â—e or tyle meal then riseth to the righest mount a noble â—imate like little feathers or alumen plumosum which due time dissolveth into strong and effectual water â—â—ch bringeth thy seed in a little putrefaction very suddenâ—â—nto the first volatility if so be there be added to it a 〈◊〉 quantity of water that it may be dissolved therein there 〈◊〉 twig with the bulk doth unite that they are able to â—end above the highest mountain and stay inseparably â—â—ether a Soul and Spirit or a Spirit and Soul It is requisite that you be stored with water for the body 〈◊〉 Salt to dissolve the same also and coagulate the same inâ— a new clarified body which will never part asunder neiâ—â—r in love nor woe because they are of one nature natiâ—y and original and have been so from the beginning â—â—r they all have their beginning and birth from the power 〈◊〉 this volatile bird But remember well that these Mineral â—irits are in other Metals also and are found effectual in â—â—e Mineral from whence with more ease and lesse charges 〈◊〉 may be had the businesse is onely herein that you learn to
â—ow what this Mercurial spirit Mercurial Soul astral Salt 〈◊〉 that the one may not be taken in stead of the other which â—ould cause a huge errour You will finde that the nature â—f the golden sulphur consisteth onely in all Metals which â—â—e comprehended among the red and have a fellow domiâ—ion with other Minerals by reason of the fiery tinging â—pirits but the magnetick power and its quality resteth in â—s white Mercurial spirit which bindeth the Soul and disâ—olveth the body therefore the Astrum of Sol is found not â—nely in Gold that with the addition of the spirit of Mercurie and the Solar Salt onely the Philosophers stone câ—â— be made but may in like manner be prepared artificiâ—â— out of Copper and Steel two immature Metals both wâ—â— as male and female have red tinging qualities as welâ— Gold it self whither the same be taken out of one alâ—â— or out of both being first entred into an Union Besiâ—â— this Mineral in our Mothers tongue is a Mineral called â—â—per water and of broken or digged Verdigreece or Copâ—â— there can be made a Vitriol in all which is found gloriâ—â—ly a Soul of the best Gold and come well to passe very pâ—fitably many wayes no Countrey clown can believeâ— Therefore note here what you ought to observe intâ— thy thoughts and give not over unlesse you be comeâ— far that you know natures mystical conjunction and her 〈◊〉 solution then you will finde what is requisite for you 〈◊〉 know and return thanks unto thy Creator make use ofâ— for his glorie and be beneficial to the needy This white spirit is the true Mercury of Philosopheâ— which hath been before me and will be after me withâ—â— which the Philosophers stone and the great mystery can 〈◊〉 made neither universally nor particularly much lesse a paâ—â—cular transmutation And this spirit is the Key to the opeâ—ing of all Metals and their locking in again This spirit is 〈◊〉 sociable unto all Metals because they have their desceâ— from his sanguinity as you heard often For he is that trâ— primum mobile sought of many thousands and found 〈◊〉 none and yet all the World is greedy of it is sought 〈◊〉 far off and found near at hand he is and moveth befoâ— the eyes of all men for if this spirit be fed with a Metalliâ—â— sulphur and Salt of these three there will be one mattâ— made not much unlike to the Philosophers great stonâ— however duely must be proceeded in and a true procesâ— from the beginning to the end must be observed for thâ—â— corporal Salt must be dissolved into this spirit dissolveâ— turn'd and brought into its prima materia as the spirit hiâ— self is then both these of one equal descent and birth bâ— means of fire with coagulating of the spirit may be genâ—rated a third time to a firm fixation and to a pure transâ—rent white clarified body theÌ„ after this accomplished alâ—o the Soul which is dissolved must seek for her rest again â—netrate such a pure body unite with the same and rise 〈◊〉 dwelling therein that these three be permanent and â—iding constantly in one body eternally clarified And that you may be informed how in this manner both â—ur dissolved seeds as the spirit of Mercury and the Soul the Gold be made again fix and corporeal note that it is â—ne onely by the proper Salt of Sol which in this Art is â—â—led a body Now observe here that you take no heteroâ—neal thing in stead of it What manner of processe is here â—ed read my fourth Key where the truth of it is held â—â—th with singular examples and proves but you are â—â—cially to observe in case you do not understand that â—y this plain and true information look upon the body 〈◊〉 Gold not as if no other benefit could be reaped of it â—t onely his Soul not so impute no such weaknesse unto â—â—t body but after you have drawn forth its Sulphur there yet in it the Salt of glory and of the triumphant victrix â—thout which your spermatick seed cannot be brought unâ— any coagulation And even this Salt now of which I â—ade so long a discourse how you ought to bring it our of 〈◊〉 corporeal form through means of the spirit of Mercury â—to it s prima materia is afterward turn'd again into a deeply â—â—rified and exalted body Therefore take your Solar earth out of which you drew â—ur seedr or the true Lions bloud and reduce it by reverâ—â—rating to a fix'd powder and subtile impalpable ashes â—â—tract from thence a very subtile Salt as bright as Ivory 〈◊〉 hereafter I will teach you in the Manuals how the body 〈◊〉 Sol is anatomized by the particulars and to bring it into Sulphur Salt and Mercury Then proceed unto the praâ—â—ck and conjunction and have a care that you be proâ—dent therein that at their conjunction you do not too â—â—ch to the one and too little to the other take notice 〈◊〉 the quantity and observe exactly the division of the seeds hereunto minister a certain measure and mark 〈◊〉 sixth Key then proceed in the begun processe accordinâ— to the order of the seventh eighth ninth and tenth Kâ—â— as formerly I had informed you about it go on with it 〈◊〉 the appearance of the Kings honour and glory to 〈◊〉 highest purple garment and pure golden piece who is câ—â—led the Triumphing Lord and Conquerour over all his suâ—jects from the East to the West which if you have attainâ— unto them return thanks to God be fervent in praying 〈◊〉 mindfull of the poor be a student unto sobriery tempâ—rance abstinence and above all unto taciturnity for it the greatest and most hainous sin to let unworthy mâ—â— know of it The augmentation of this heavenly stone as also the fâ—â—mentation is needlesse to be spoken of in that place as bâ—ing described in my two last Keyes and held forth to the fuâ— not doubting if God grants so much blessing and imparteâ— this stone the sense of these two Keyes will be more coâ—ceived of for no heterogeneal things must be brougâ—â— to our Metalline substance neither at the beginning miâ—dle or end but the Mercurial spirit and the digested Meâ—â—cine spoken of in my eleventh Key To be further as good as I promised concerning othâ— things quoted in my Keyes know ye that no Philosopher tied wholly unto the Metal of Gold of which I spoâ—â— largely hitherto and disclosed the true fundamentals theâ—of and as you heard afore the whole mystery lieth hereâ—â— viz. in the tinging of red fiery spirits of Metalline Souâ— and all what is tinged red and is known to have a fiercâ— sulphur all such are kinde to the Solar Astrum and whâ—â— the Mercurial spirit is joyned with then the proceed 〈◊〉 may go on universaliter and Particulariter that a tincture obtained from them whereby Metals and vulgar Mercâ—â— can be exalted and be ordered according to the tenor the processe Such Souls and goldish Sulphurs are found most effectâ— in Mars and
for neither water nor earth caâ—â— do it any hurt because it received its first birth and beginning from a heavenly water which in due time is pouâ—â— down upon the earth In these together driven goldish waters lieth hid that trâ—â— bird and Eagle the King with his heavenly Splendor together with its clarified Salt which three you finde shut up iâ— this one thing and golden property and from thence yoâ— will get all that which you have need of for your inteâ—â—tion Therefore set that golden body you have obtained whicâ— in dignity and vertue is exalted beyond all other Gold inâ—â— its due and lawfull dissolution its due time then the Aâ—gel of the highest will appear unto thee and tell thee thâ—â— it is the Resolver of all the mysteries in the World receivâ—â— it with joy and keep it safe for its quality is more heavenly than earthly therefore doth it heartily incline to strivâ— after that which is above from whence it had its Original If you have separated this Prophet from his matter whicâ— remained then you need not to undertake any further processe you were taught parabolically in my XII Keyes Foâ— even in his remaining formal substance you may finde anâ— expect from thence a pure immortal Soul together viâ—â— the glory of the Salt both which are obtained by means 〈◊〉 the spirit and must be had from thence and no impure oâ— contrary thing must be added thereunto And it is doâ— in the same manner as I told you in my Keyes with the Sâ—â— and Salt of the Gold by the saturnal water in whose plaâ—â— this spiritual Mercurial spirit might be used with better aâ—vantage Observe onely this difference that the Salt must be drawn forth from the Mercurial body as it hapned unto the Soul with the spirit of Mercury whereas on the other side the Salt of Gold must not be drawn forth with the saturnal water because it is too weak for the body of Gold but with a water which hath been expressed in the description of particulars This distinction must be exactly observ'd being of great concernment because the Salt of Vitriol is not so strongly guarded and is not in so fix'd a body as the Gold is but is still an open body which saw no coagulation as yet nor passed it through any melting fire therefore that body never came as yet to any compactnesse there is room left for its own spirit to enter into can embrace and unite with its like and a snow white extraction of Salt may be had whereas on the other side a sharper matter must penetrate Gold as you shall hear when I shall speak more of it in its due place Behold now my friend whatsoever thou art what minde I bare towards thee and how I am affected unto thee in my heart the like I never durst look for from thee Consider it well how sincerely and faithfully I disclose unto thee all the locks and bonds whereby the whole Philosophick wisdom is shut up which hitherto never entred any more â—houghts much lesse that ever it was practised or discovered and nothing caused me to do it but onely Gods infinite mercy my good will and love toward my Neighbour which my Predecessors have not done so compleatly and was put off unto me to do it Having thus separated your three Mineral bodies and ordered them into certain divisions and put away the dregs wherein they lye hid then look to it that you neglect none of it by the diminishing of the quantity which would prove a great fault to your work and keep each in its own and due quantity otherwise in your work you cannot come to a happy end This is the thrift which so many have missed and have written great volumes about it for all what cometh from our Philosophick Gold and hath divided it self into three parts the same must be brought into one without any losse and diminution which is to enter into a new form again and become a meliorated substance nothing of it must be done away but onely the feces terrae in which the glorious Salt had its dwelling Therefore do that I told you of joyn the spirit with the body bring the body also into a spirit dissolve exalt it into the highest spiritual power iâ— that dissolutioÌ„ the body turns to a spirit the spirit with the body uniteth and joyneth into one substance that after the exchanging of all manner of colours there cometh a white body like snow transcending all whitenesses This is the greatest mystery of this world about which among the learned and supposed wits such disputings in the world have been that a palpable thing and a visible one could be reduced into its prima materia and out of that may be made again a new clarified and better substance by the bountifull nature leading the way thereunto Thus you have made and brought into the world the Queen of Honour and the first born daughter of Philosophers which after her due perfection is called the white Elixir of which great volumes are extant Having brought your work thus far then you have deserved to be received into the Turba of Philosophers and you get more Art wisdom and understanding than all Sophisters which prate much of these mystical things and yet know not the least thing of it Therefore it is just that you should be preferred before them and let them sit below thee in shame and disgrace and in their darknesse of mis-understanding so long till nature doth enlighten them also That you may bring and lead that new Philosophiâ—â— Creature by the means nature afforded unto the highest perfection after which your heart with all her endeavours doth strive then remember that neither man nor beasâ— without a living Soul can neither stir nor move and as maâ— here in this life through temporal death loseth his Soul offering the same again unto the Almighty God from whom 〈◊〉 had it first into his mercy and merits of Jesus Christ â—here after the departure of the Soul the dwelling as the â—â—dy of it is left quite dead which is buried in the ground â—here it rotteth and must return unto dust and ashes being 〈◊〉 duly stipend which the fall of our first parents in Paradise â—we deserved and from them as by an inheritance is fall'n â—pon us after which putrefaction there are raised again on â—â—e great day new and clarified bodies and the departed â—â—ul taketh her dwelling up again in that new body after â—at there is no more parting of body nor spirit nor soul â—â—t because the Soul finding a clarified body then with the â—â—me she maketh an everlasting Union which neither Deâ—â—l nor death can destroy and disjoyn any more nor bring it â—to any corruption but from henceforth into all eternity â—e are and shall be like unto the best Creatures of God â—hich before our mortality and departure of the spirit of â—â—e soul and the body could never be God help and grant
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
they are much distinct aâ—â—der though they dwell in one body possessing one loâ—â— it matters not for the will of the Creator was so to hâ—â— that mystery from unworthy men observe and consideâ— well if so be you intend to be a true follower of Phâ—â—sophers In this knowledge lyeth hid an irrecovâ—able errour worldly wits cannot conceive of it 〈◊〉 the spirit of Vitriol and the remaining Oyl should be of great distinction in the vertue Touching their properâ—â— the spirit being well dissolved and brought into its thâ—â— principles Gold and Silver onely can be made by it and 〈◊〉 of its Oyl onely Copper which will be apparent in a prâ—made The condition of the spirit of Vitriol and its maining Oyl is this that where there is Copper and Iron 〈◊〉 Solar seed commonly is not far from it and again whâ—â— there is seed of Gold at hand Copper and Iron is not 〈◊〉 from it by reason of its attractive Magnetick quality 〈◊〉 love which they as tinging spirits in a visible manner câ—â—tinually bear one to another Therefore Venus and Mâ—â— are penetrated ringed with the superabounding tinctâ— of Gold and in them there is found much more the 〈◊〉 of the red tincture than in Gold it self as I made further â—lation of it in my other backs unto which there belong 〈◊〉 also the Mineral of Vitriol which goeth beyond these many degrees because its spirit is meer Gold and rubedâ— crude indigested tincture and in very truth as God hâ—â—self is is indeed not found otherwise But this spirit as you heard must be divided into â—â—tain distinct parts as into a spirit soul and body the spâ—â— is the Philosophick water which though visibly parted sunder yet can never be separated radically because their unavoidable affinity they bear and have one to 〈◊〉 other as it appeareth plainly when afterward they 〈◊〉 ioyned the one in their mixture embraceth the other even 〈◊〉 Magnet draweth Iron but in a meliorated essence betâ—â— than they had before their dissolution This is the â—ift beginning middle and end of the total Philosophick â—â—sdom affording riches and health and a long life it may â—her be said and really proved that this spirit is the esâ—ce of Vitriol because this Spirit and Oyl do differ so â—â—ch and were never united radically because the Oyl â—â—meth after the spirit each can be received apart This â—â—y spirit may rather and more fitly be called an essence â—â—phur and substance of Gold and it is so though he lyeth â—king in Vitriol as a spirit This golden water or spirit drawn from Vitriol contains â—in a sulphur and Magnet its sulphur is the anima an inâ—â—bustible fire the Magnet is its own Salt which in the â—â—junction attracteth its Sulphur and Mercury uniteth â—â—h the same and are inseparable Companions First in â—entle heat is dissolved the undigested Mercurial spirit 〈◊〉 this is further extracted after a Magnetick quality the â—â—phurous anima in that earth sticketh the Salt which is tracted also in a Magnetick way by the Mercurial spirit still the one is a Magnet unto the other bearing a Magâ—â—ick love one to another as such things where the last â—â—ether with the medium is drawn forth by the first and 〈◊〉 thereby generated and thus take their beginning In â—s separation and dissolution the spirit or Mercury is the â—st Magnet shewing its Magnetick vertue toward the sulâ—â— and Soul which he quasi Magnes attracteth this spirit â—â—modum distillationis being absolved and freed sheweth aâ—â— its Magnetick power toward the salt which he attractâ—â— from the dead earth after the spirit is separated from it 〈◊〉 the Salt appeareth in its purity if that processe be ther followed anâ— after a true order and measure the â—â—unction be undertaken and the Spirit and Salt be set â—â—ther into the Philosophick furnace then it appears 〈◊〉 how the heavenly spirit striveth in a Magnetick way â—â—tract its own Salt it dissolveth the same within XL. dayes bringeth it to an uniform water with it sâ—lf even the Salt hath been before its coagulation In that destâ—â—ction and dissolution appeareth the hugest blacknesse aâ—â— Eclipse and darknesse of the earth that ever wâ—â— seen But in the exchange thereof a bright glitteriâ—â— whiâ—enesse appearing then the case is altered and 〈◊〉 dissolved fluid waterish Salt turns into a Magnet for that dissolution it layeth hold on its own spirit which is tâ—â— spirit of Mercury attracteth the same powerfully like Magnet hiding it under a form of a dry clear body brinâ—ing the same by way of uniting into a deep coagulation aâ— firm fixednesse by means of a continued fire and the certâ—â— degrees thereof The King with the white Crown being thus generateâ— and by exiceation of all humidities being brought to a fixâ— state then is it nothing else but earth and water thouâ— the other Elements be hid therein insensibly howevâ—â— both these keep the predominance though the spirit 〈◊〉 to earth and can never be seen in a watery form and tâ—â— double new born body abideth still in its Magnetick quaâ—ty for as soon as his departed Soul is restored after white fixation then like a Magnet he attracteth the sâ—â—â— again uniteth with it then are they exalted to their highâ—â— tincture and rubedo with a bright transparentnesse aâ—â— clarity Thus in brief you have a short relation of Vitrioâ— Sulphur and Magnet Pray to God for grace that you mâ—â— conceive aright of it put it then to good use and be minâ—full of the poor and needy At the closing I annect this briefly to hold forth uâ— to you a natural proof that you presently fling and throâ— down the Sophister and take his Scepter from him Noâ— that from all Metals especially from Mars and Venus whiâ—â— are very hard and almost fixed Metals of each apart can made a Vâ—triol this is the reduction of a Metal into a Miâ—â—ral for Minerals grow to Metals and Metals were at fiâ— Minerals and so Minerals are proxima materia of Metals bâ— not prima from these vitriol may be made other reduc◠〈◊〉 namely a spirit is drawn from them by the vertue of 〈◊〉 This spirit being driven over then there is again a reâ—ion of a Mineral into its spiritual essence and each â—it in its reduction keepeth a Metalline property but spirit is not the prima materia Who is now so grosse absurd that should not be able to conceive further believe that by these reductions from one to the other â—â—re be a way to prima materia and at last to the seed it 〈◊〉 both of Metals and Minerals though there be no neâ—â—ry to destroy Metals because their seed in the Minerals â—â—und openly fixed O good God what do these ignorant men think is not 〈◊〉 a very easie and Childrens like labour the one begets other and the one cometh from the other is there not â—ad bak'd of Corn upon distinct works But the World â—linde and will be so to the end of it Thus much at
dwelling in a body but it is not consequent haâ— he must abide there constantly though the body and â—hat spirit be at rest and that body with that spirit doth not contest about any controversie because both do want the strongest part which upholdeth and bindeth together sâ—ul and body protecteth and keepeth them from dangers namely the tender noble and fixed Soul for where the Soul is quite gone and lost there is never any redemption hoped for for a thing which hath no Soul is not perfect which is one of the highest mysteries which seekers ought to know and upon conscience I am commanded not to conceal this mystery but to make it known to those which seriously love fundamentals of truth And take carefully notice of what I say Spirits hidden in Metals are not alike some are more volatile and others more fix their souls and bodies are not alike neither that Metâ—l which containeth the three fixednesses that is blessed with a power to hold in the fire and so overcome all its enemies which onely is found in Sol. Lune containeth a fixed Mercury and is the reason why she doth not fly so soon in the fire as other imperfect Metals do but stands out her examens in the fire and sheweth the same victoriously because the devouring Saturn can rob nothing from her That arch-wench Venus is clad and possessed with an abounding tincture the most part of her body is a meer tincture like unto such a tincture which dwelleth also in the best Metal and by reason of the superfluity thereof is â—ing'd upon red and because her body being leprous that fixed tincture cannot have any abiding place in her unfix'd body but must vanish together with her body for the body being consumed by destruction or death that body cannot subsist neither but must give way and flie because the habitation is destroyed and consumed with fire so that her place is not known nor may any other dwell there from henceforth But in a fixed body she willingly dwelleth constanâ—ly Fixed Salt hath bestowed on valorous Mars a hard sturdy and grosse body whereby the gallantry of his minde is pâ—oved and is not so easily gotten from this warlike Prince because his body is hard and is not easily master'd or conquer'd But if his valour with Lune's fixation and with Venus her beauty in a mixture doth harmonize spiritually then a curious and melodious Musick may be made whereby some Keyes may be advanced and the needy labourer may get a piece of living Particulariter if he got up to the uppermost step of that ladder for the phlegmatick quality or moist Nature of Lune must be exsiccated through the hot bloud of Venus and her great pains must be allayed by the outward Salt There is no necessity to seek for seed in the Elements because our seed is not put so far back but there is a nearer place in which our seed hath its sure and certain habitation if you onely rectifie and regulate the Philosophick Mercury Sulphur and Salt so that of their soul spirit and body there be made an inseparable union which may never be separated again then the Band of love is perfectly made and the dwelling is well prepared for the Crown And note that this is onely a liquid Key like unto a heavenly property and a dry water addicted to an earthly substance all which is but one thing proceeding and growwing from three two and one if you can hit it then you have overcome the mastery and make a copulation betwixt Bride and Bridegroom let them feed and cherish one another with their own flesh and bloud let them increase and multiply infinitely by their own seed I could willingly communicate and disclose more unto you but the Creator hath forbidden it and is not meet for me to speak any further of it for fear the gifts of the highest should be misused and I should be the cause of committing of great sins and load Gods wrath upon me and fall with the rest into eternal punishment My friend if these expressions give thee no content to conceive of the thing and I lead thee unto the practick part of mine own how I have attained by Gods assistance unto the Philosophers stone I pray consider the same well peruse diligently my XII Kâ—yes iterate their reading frequently then proceed according to my instruction which I set down fundamentally by way of a parable Take a piece of the finest Gold anatomize the same by such means as Nature hath afforded unto Artists even as a Physician anatomizeth mans body whereby he is inquisitive into the condition of mans internal parts reduce thy Gold unto that what it hath been at first then you will finde the seed the beginning middle and end out of which our Gold and its wife is made namely of a penetrating subtile spirit of a pure tender and undefiled Soul and of an Astral Salt and Balsam which after their uniting is nothing else but a Mercurial liquor the same water was brought to School to its own God Mercury who examined the water having sound it without deceit and falshood he made friendship with it and took the water into a Matrimonial state and both became an incombustible Oyl For Mercury grew so proud upon it that he knew himself no more he flung away his Eagles wings himself swallowed the smooth tâ—yl of the Dragon and offered a battel unto Mars Mars gathered his Champions together and gave command that Mercurie should be taken Prisoner and be kept closely imprisoned Vulcan was commanded to be Jaylor so long till a Female kinde came in to his deliverance This rumour being noised abroad the other Planets had a meeting where they consulted what further was to be done in that businesse the proceedings might wisely be prosecuted Then Saturn made a speech in this manner I Saturn the highest Planet in the firmament protest before this honourable Assembly of my Lords that I am the meanest and most contemptible among you all of a weak corruptible body of a black colour subject to many infirmities in this miserable World and yet am an examiner of you all for I have no abiding place and take along with me such thaâ— are like unto me I cannot lay the fault of this my misery to none but Mercury who by his carelesnesse hath pu this evil upon me Therefore my Lords I beseech you to be pleased to revenge my quarrel on him aâ—â—â—eiâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—st already into prison there to take his life awâ—y 〈◊〉 sâ—â—m â—ot there that not one drop of his blâ—â—d Saturn having ended his speech Jupiter rose up made a â—tch upon his knees bowing his Scepter began to comâ—â—nd Saturns proposals commanding all those to be puâ—shed which should neglect to put in execution that â—hich Saturn would have done unto Mercurie After him â—ose Mars with his naked sword which was full of strange â—â—d admirable colours glittering like a fire-glasse casting â—â—ange rayes put the
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
do generate a corporeal matter according to that matter 's quality Thus the Astrals together with the Elements may raise a new seed which was never before any which seed by a further putrefaction may be encreased But unto 〈◊〉 is not so much granted as to stir up a new kinde of seed because the operation of the Elements and the â—â—stral substance he hath not at command to fashion what 〈◊〉 pleâ—â—â—â— thâ—â— several sorts of Herbs are generated meerly by putrefaction And whereas the Countrey people holding it a meer custom do not take it into a further consideration nor imagine they any cause for it therefore among the vulgar is it become meerly a customary businesse Buâ— you which ought to know more than ordinary people must consider further of it and learn to know the causâ— and ground thereof how and from what these living Creatures are generated by putrefaction not to know iâ— because it is usual but rather to know it is a mystery iâ— Nature because every life cometh from puâ—â—efaction Every Element per se hath its corruption and generation Let the Artist be inform'd and learn the sufficient ground why in every Element the other three are hid for airâ— containeth fire water and earth which though it seemetâ— incredible yet is it a truth and fire containeth aire water and earth and earth containeth water aire and fire elsâ— they would not generate water also containeth aire earth and fire though every Element is per se yet arâ— they mix'd all which is found true at distillings wherâ— these Elements are thus separated To make this appear to the ignorant which may crâ— out that I speak meerly lies if you intend to learn thâ— Anatomy of natural things and to separate the Elements I tell thee for a truth that at the distilling of earth therâ— cometh first the Element aire being the highest then a a certain progresse there comes the Element water thâ— fire lieth hid in the aire because both are of a spirituaâ— substance love and embrace one another intirely the eartâ— remaineth in the bottom in which lieth hid the gloriouâ— Salt When you distil any water aire and fire cometh oveâ— at first then the water the body of the earth abideth iâ— the bottom The Elâ—ment fire if it be driven into a visible substance by extraction each may be received apart In like manneâ— in the aire the other three Elements do dwell For nonâ— of these can be without aire earth can produce nothinâ— without aiâ—e fire doth not burn nor hath it any life witâ—out aire neither can water produce any fruit without aire Neither can aire consume any thing nor exsiccate any moisture unlesse it be done by a natural heat which is â—n the aire being heat and warmth is found in the aire â—herefore needs must the Element of fire be in the aire For all hot and dry things are proper for the fiery substance â—f things he that denieth this truth understandeth noâ—hing in Natures mysteries neither doth he know any â—round of their properties You must conceive if any thing shall be generated by â—utrefaction it must be in this manner Earth is brought â—y a secret moisture into a corruption which is the beginâ—ing of putrefaction for without moisture which is the Element water no true putrefaction can happen Now if â—ny breed shall come from thence it must come from a â—arm quality as the Element fire must kindle and spread 〈◊〉 self for without a natural heat nothing can be geneâ—ated and if that breed shall have a living breath and moâ—ion the same cannot be without aire for if aire should â—ot be cooperative then the first composition out of which â—he breed should come would be choaked and perish by â—eason of want of aire Thus you see plainly that perfect Creatures cannot be without any of the four Elements the â—ne shewing its operation in the other which they proâ—nce in and at putrefaction for from henceforth nothing â—an be brought to life without the same To make this â—ppear to be true that to a perfect birth and generation â—â—re are requisite all four Elements Then note that as Adam the first man being created by â—he Creator of a Limus terrae there appeared not as yet ane â—â—sible life before God had breathed on him then a lify â—ppeared in that clod of earth in that earth was the Salt â—â—at is the body the inbreathed aire was Mercury the spiâ—â— by this inbreathing the aire presently afforded a due â—â—d convenient calidiry which was Sulphur that is fire â—â—en it stirr'd Adam shâ—wed by this stirring that there was â—â—â—sed into him a living Soul For fire cannot be without aire the water was corporated in the earth because this must be together of necessity else no life and must stand in an equal proportion Thus Adam was first builded and begotten out of earth water aire and fire of a soul body and spirit raised of Mercury Sulphur and Salt So Eveâ— the first woman the Mother of us all was of the same composed being taken from Adam thus Adam and Eve were builded which you must note very well To come now again unto putrefaction the seeker in Philosophy is to know that in like manner no Metalline seed can work nor be augmented unlesse that Metalline seed be first in and of it self without any strange addition or mixture may be brought into a full putrefaction no more than the seeds of Animals and Vegetables can bring their increase without putrefaction The same Metals also must reach unto their perfect operation by the help of the Elements not that the Elements are the seed but the Metalline seed which had its descent from a heavenly astraâ—â— Elemental substance and is come to a corporality and mâ—â—â— by the Elements be further brought into such corruptioâ— and putrefaction Note this also wine containeth a volatile spirit aâ— whose distilling its spirit cometh first and its phlegme at last but wine being by a continued heat turn'd into Vinegar then its spirit is no more so volatile as before and at the distilling of Vinegar its phlegme and aquosity cometh first and its spirit at last though the same matter be in the Vessel yet its condition is altered being no more a wine but by putrefaction is transmuted into Vinegar and that which is extracted from wine is of another nature and operation than that which is drawn from Vinegar For iâ— Vitrum Antimony be extracted with Wine or spirit oâ— Wine it causeth many stools by purging and vomits also because its venom is not yet quite broken nor destroyed but if Antimonial glasse be extracted with distilled Vinegar that extraction is of a deep colour this Vinegar being abstracted in Balâ—eâ— Mariâ— and the yellow remaiâ—â—â— powder being well dulcified with distilled water to get off all its accrosity then you have a sweet powder which causeth no more any stools but is a rare Medicine of admirable efficacies may well be held for miraculum Medicinae
take one part of the best and finest Gold caâ—â— through Antimony laminate it very thinly as possibly 〈◊〉 may be beaten put these together in a Vessel or meltinâ— For at first let your fire be gentle for xij hours then let 〈◊〉 continually be in the melting for three dayes and nightâ— then the purged Gold and Stone is turned into a meer Medicine of a subtile spiritual penetrating qualitie for without the ferment of Gold the Medicine or Stone cannot welâ— make the tincture being too subtile and too penetrative 〈◊〉 but being fermented with its like then the made tincturâ— hath gotten an ingresse to work into the other Then take one part of the prepared ferment to thousand parts oâ— melted Metal which you intend to tinge I tell you for 〈◊〉 certain truth all will be transmuted into perfect fix'd Goldâ— for the one body willingly embraceth the o her though it be not of the like yet joyneth with it by force and must be like unto it and like must be gotten of like He that maketh use of this means to him are revealed all fixations the porches at the ends have their issues no Creature comparable unto this subtility it is ALL in ALL according to its Natural descent containeth and possesseth all what may be found under the Sun O! beginning of the first beginning consider the end 〈◊〉 O! end of the last ends consider the beginning forget not to â—emember the middle in all fidelity God the Father 〈◊〉 and holy Ghost grant unto you things needfull for â—â—r Spirit Soul and Body Of the first matter of the Philosophers Stone THere is found a stone which is not deer Out of it is drawn a flying fire Of which the stone it self is made Of whiâ—e and red togeth'r joyn'd It is a stone and not a stone In it Nature work'th alone Out of it springs a Fountain clearly Which drowns its fix'd Father fully His life and body is both devoured At last his Soul to him is restored To whom his flying Mother is become Like in his own Kingdom Himself also in quality and might Hath gotten a greater strength The Son in old age doth excel The Mother which is made volatil By Vulcans Art but first however By the Spirit must be born the Father Body Soul Spirit consist in two The whole businesse goeth too and fro Comes onely from one which is meerly A thing that fixâ— to flying matters sully They â—â—e two and three and yee but one Conâ— ive of it right else you hit none Set Adam into a water Bath In which Venus her fellow hath Which the old Dragon hath prepared Wher'of his strength could not be ' stored Is nothing else saith one Philosophus But a duplicate Mercurius I say no more you heard its name Blest is he to whom it is well known Search into it spare no pains In the end you will finde the gain's FINIS A short way and â—EPETITION Of former Writings of BASILIUS VALENTINUS With an Elucidation thereof touching the Philosophers Stone Wherein is plainly demonstrated the true light unto Philosophie Whereunto are annexed real informations of the qualities and preparations of Mercury Antimony Vitriol-water common Sulphur unflak't Lime Arsenic Sal-peter Tartar Vinegar and Wine LONDON Printed Anno Domini MDCLVI be sure to finde the true way unto the sheep-fold I havâ— written no more then I shall bear record unto and own aâ— the day of Resurrection This short way is faithfully shewed in the following instruction in a plain dealing expression waving an elâ—quenâ— stile I have told you formerly that all things are composed oâ— three viz. of Mercury Sulphur and Salt and it is so as 〈◊〉 told But note also that the Stone is made of one two three four and fiâ—e by the word five I mean the Quint-essence by the word four are understood the Elements by three are meant the principles by two is meant the double mercurial substance by one is meant the first principle of aâ— things which proceedeth from the word at the first Creation Fiat Let there be Some may hold these expressions to be very intricate as if there were no sense nor ground for it what hath beeâ— said for the clearing these doubts I will speak briefly oâ— Mercurie secondly of Sulphur thirdly of Salt for these aâ—â— the principles of the matter of our Stone In the first place you must note that common Mercuâ—â— doth not avail here but our Mercurie is made of the beâ—â— of Metals by the spagyrick Art as pure subtile clear aâ— any Well-water of a Crystalline transparence without anâ— impurity make of it a water or incombustible Oyl foâ— Mercuries first beginning was a water as all Philosopher bear record unto my saying in this Mercurial Oyl must be dissolved it 's own Mercury out of which that water waâ— made this Mercury must be precipitated with it's own Oylâ— then you have a double Mercurial essence Note I hold in my second Key that Gold after it is puâ—â—fied according to the Tenor of the second Key must be reduced into a special water and then reduced into a subtill Calx of which the fourth Key doth speak this Calx must bâ— driven over through the Helmet by a spirit of Salt and precipitated again and by reverberating must be brought to powder then it s own Sulphur may enter the better into its own being â—nd essence will be friend with it for these love extreamly one another thus you have two substances in one which is called the Philosophers Mercurie and is but one substance This is the first ferment Now followeth Sulphur to be spoken of FOr this Sulphur you must look in the like Metal that Metal must be purified destroyed in a reverberating fiâ—e extracted from its body not leaving any corrosivenesse in it of which I gave a hint in the third Key this Sulphur must afterwards be dissolv'd in its own bloud from which it self had a fixednesse intimated in the sixth Key after a due quantity which being done then you dissolved and fed the true Lion with the bloud of the green Lion For the fixed bloud of the red Lion is made of the unfixed bloud of the green Lion these are of one Nature the unfixed bloud maketh the fixed one to be volatile and the fixed one maketh the volatile to be fixed even as it was before its dissolution let it stand together in a gentle heat that all the Sulphur be dissolved then you have the second ferment feeding fixed Sulphur with an unfixed one all Philosophers agree with my saying the same is driven over with spirit of wine and is as red as bloud being called aurum potabile where no reduction to any body can be expected any more Now I declare also what the Philosophers Salt meaneth SAlt causeth fixation and volatility according 〈…〉 â—â—lered and prepared For the spiriâ— ou of Salt â—â—d â—artar if the same be drawn forth without additionals by means of dissolution and putrefaction maketh all
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
of a deep yellow liquor Note that some Metals in this manner may be proceeded withall first a Vitriol may be gotten out of the Metal then a spirit is for her driven from it and joyned in this manner with the Soul dissolved and further digested with spirit of Wine all must enter together into a Medicine as I told of formerly which have their special efficacie The second way to prepare this half aurum potabile which though it be but half an aurum potabile yet in vertue and efficacy is far preferred before the other now spoken of and is done as followeth Take the extracted Solar Soul spoken of above put it into a Viol pour on it the extracted Philosophick Sulphur which is the second principle which is drawn with spirit of Mercury from the Philosophick earth and Mercury or the spirit of Mercury unto an Oleity which now is Sulphur again and must be abstracted gently per modum distillationis Of this Philosophick Sulphur pour on it as much that the Solar Soul may be dissolved let it stand in a gentle Bath let the dissolution be made then pour more of the best spirit of Wine to it digest gently draw these over let nothing stay behinde in the bottom then you have a Medicine which doth not want above two Grains of the right and true â—urum potabile These are the chiefest wayes to make the corporeal aurum potabile this I close and proceed further with a short but true processe how the Silver which is the next to Gold concerning perfection is made potable also this processe must be done in the following manner Take the sky coloured Sulphur or spirit of Lune whicâ— was extracted with distilled Vinegar as I informed you iâ— the Particular of Lune edulcorate it rectifie it with spirit oâ— Wine exsiccate it put it in a Viol pour to it three timeâ— as much of spirit of Mercury which is prepared from thâ— white spirit of Vitriol as I faithfully taught you in thaâ— place lute the glasse firmly set it in putrefaction in the vaporous Bath let all be dissolved and nothing more seen iâ— the bottom then put to it an equal quantity of the besâ— spirit of Wine set it in digestion for half a moneth drivâ—â— all over let nothing stay behinde then you have the true potable Lune which in its efficacie is admirable and dotâ— wonders when it is used A description of the fiery Tartar DIstill of good Wine a spirit of Wine rectifie it with white calcined Tartar let all come over put that which is distilled over into a Viol put four ounces of well sublimed Salarmoniac to one quart of spirit of Wine set a Helmet upon set a great receiver into cold water drive the volatile spirits into gently in Balneo Mariae leave but a little quantity of it behinde Note the Alembic must alwayes be cooled with wet cloaths then the spirits will be dissolved and turn into a liquor Thus is prepared this hot spirit of Wine Of the Salt of Tartar FIrst you must note that the Philosophers Tartar is not the vulgar Tartar wherewith the Lock is opened but it is a Salt which cometh from the root and is the onely mâ—stâ—cal Key for all Metals and is prepared thus make a sharp lixivium of the ashes of Sarments or twigs of the Vine boyl away all its moisture there stayeth behinde a ruddy â—â—tter which must be reverberated for three hours in a flaâ—ing fire stirring it still let it come to a whitenesse which â—â—hite matter must be dissolved in distill'd Rain water let â—â—e feces of it settle filter and coagulate them in a glasse â—â—at the matter in it be dry which dry matter is the Salt of â—artar from which the true spirit is driven Note as I told now of the vertue and qualities of preciâ—â—s stones so there are found also many despicable and â—â—oble stones which are of great vertues and experimenâ—â—lly are known to be of rare qualities which ignorant and â—â—expert men will hardly give credit unto neither can they â—â—nceive of it in their dull reason and understanding the â—ame I will demonstrate with the example of Calx vive â—hich in mens judgement is held of no great value and lieth contemptibly in obscurity however there is a mighty vertue and efficacie in it which appeareth if application be made of it to the most heaviest diseases seing its triumphant and â—â—anscendent efficacie is almost unknown for the generality therefore for the good of such which are inquisitive into natural and supernatural mysteries and to whom I disclose these mysteries in this my book I will for a fare-well discover also this mystery concerning the Calx vive and will shew in the first place how its spirit is driven from it which work indeed requireth an expert Artist who is well inform'd aforehand of its preparation Take uâ—sluk'd Lyme as much as you will beat and grind it on a well-dried stone to an impalpable powder put on it so much of spirit of Wine as the pulverised Calx is able to drink there must not stand any of that spirit upon it apply a Helmet to it lute it well and put a receiver before it abstract the spirit gently from it in Balneo this abstracting must be iterated eight or ten times this spirit of Wine strengthneth the spirit of Calx mightily and is made more fiery hot Take the remaining Calx out of the body grinde it very small put to it a tenth part of Salt of Tartar which is pure not containing any feces As much as this matter weigheth together add as mâ—â— of the additional of Salt of Tartar thereunto namely 〈◊〉 remaining matter from which was extracted the Salt 〈◊〉 Tartar and it must be well exiccated all this must be miâ—â—led together and put in a well coated Retort three pâ—â— of the Retort must be empty take a great receiver or bâ—â— to it very strongly Note the body into which the Râ—â—torts nose is put must have a pipe of a fingers breadâ—h uâ—to which may be applied another body and a quantity 〈◊〉 spirit of Wine in it then give a gentle fire to it at fiâ—â— there comes some of the phlegme which falls into the fâ—â— applied body the phlegme being all come over then iâ—crease the fire there cometh a white spirit to the upper paâ—â— of the body like unto the white spirit of Vitriol whicâ— doth not fall among the phlegme but slideth through thâ— pipe into the other body draweth it self into the spirit 〈◊〉 Wine embracing the same as one fire doth joyn with thâ—â— other Note if the spirit of Calx be not prepared first by the spiâ—it of Wine and drawn off and on as I told then he dotâ—â—ot so but falleth among the phlegme where he is quench'd â—oseth all its efficacie Thus difficult a matter is it toâ—â—â—arch nature throughly reserving many things unto herself â—his spirit being fully entred into the spirit of Wine then â—â—ke off the
body put away the phlegme but keep careâ—â—lly the spirit of Wine and spirit of Calx and note both â—â—ese spirits are hardly separated because they embrace â—osely one another and being distilled they come over â—yâ—ntly Therefore take these mix'd and united spirits put them â—o a Jar-glasse kindle it the spirit of Wine burneth away 〈◊〉 spirit of Calx stayeth in the glasse keep it carefully â—â—is is a great arcanum few of other spirits go beyond its â—â—cacy if you know how to make good use of it It s qualiâ—â— may hardly be set down in any way of abridgement This spirit dissolveth Oculi Cancrorum the hardest Cryâ—â— these three being driven over together and often iterated in that distilling three drops of that liquor being miâ—â—ed in warm Wine break and dissolve any Gravel and â—â—e in mans body expelling their very roots not putâ—â—g the patients to any pain This spirit of Calx at the beginning looks bluish being â—â—tly rectified looks white transparent and clâ—â—r leaving 〈◊〉 feces behinde This spirit dissolveth the most fixed â—â—wels and precious stones On the other side he fixeth all â—â—tiâ—â— spirits with his transcendent heat This spirit conquereth all manner of Podagrical Sympâ—â—s be they never so nodose and tarâ—â—rous dissolveth and â—â—â—els them radically To the omnipotent Trine God Father Son and Holy â—â—ost be returned hearty thanks for all his benefits which 〈◊〉 hath bestowed on man and discovered those secrets I â—â—ought on in his name To him be eternal praises â—men All that hath breath praise the Lord. Allelujah End of the fifth part BASILIUS VALENTINUS HIS TREATISE CONCERNING MICROCOSME OR The little World which is Mans body What it doth contain and of what it is composed what it doth comprehend and its end and issue A thing most necessarie and meet for the knowledge of such that love and embrace wisdom LONDON Printed Anno Domini MDCLVI BASILIUS VALENTINUS HIS TREATISE CONCERNING MICROCOSME THose that sâ—ek Art and have a desire to attain to wisdom are to note that the Highest upon my continued prayers hath granted unto me a Clergy-man to make known the many and great mysteries of nature among which mans body is one to be considered how that is govern'd in imitation unto Microcosme For it is â—â—et that the lesser should imitate the greater and the smallest and meanest ought to be governed by the greatest and most potent Microcosme or the great World containeth three things as the most principal the rest which come from these are meerly accidentals In the first place is to be considered the matter and form of this World which matter is made form 〈◊〉 out of a non-shape or a nothing and the great Creator presently prescribed an order for this matter what government it should keep as soon as it came to a life or motion This matter and form is water and earth For at the Creation by a separation of the water from the earth there was finished the matter and form as two things belonging one to another from these all Animals and Vegetables have their beginning and other two things as aire and fire which belong one to another have wrought life therein The matter and form is earth the Salt in that earth the body even so is with mans body which is Microcosme The matter was nâ— perfect without the form these joyning into one by God ordinance the form being become quick came then to perfection the matter and form got life by motion aire wâ— the first causer of that motion and perfect maturity was caâ—sed by a convenient heat moveably inclosed in the aiâ—e thuâ— the earth was brought to a fertility by the aire it was opened and became porous by motion for generation Thâ— earth being impregnated made her seed apparent by he aquosity then aire and heat in the neather and upper Regiâ—on of the Astrals caused that a Birth was brought forth thâ— blossoms were produced and the appointed fruit was ripened by concoction of heat Calcidity is a Sulphureous hot spirit wâ—ich like a Medicament exiccateth the superfluous grosse aquosity phlegmatick matter which in the generation at the beginning abounds too much in the earth before the aire could have a fellow dominion at the joyning with it carrying the same along in the superfluity of her birth The second principal part of Microcosme is inobility for the matter in it self was without life which by heaâ— was stirr'd up then the vital spirit became to be sensible which is in man a Sulphurous spirit kindling the body by a heat exiccateth the superfluity of the earth by the subtility of its substance and governeth the body in a constant motion For after the heat is gone then coldnesse gets the dominion the spirit of life being gone no sensiblenesse felt in the pulse and arteries and a dead body is found instead of life at the departing of the warm spirit of Sulphur rational men ought to take this mystery into consideration The two first Elements the matter and form being apparent and having gotten a mobility by the two last Elements by light Microcosme was not yet perfect the Creator allotted further an increase to the seed of the earth as well as he did to Vegetables and Animals God allowed unto earth an imagination for all sorts of seeds and to bring them forth after their several kindes Then the earth was impregnated by imagination which God allotted and the â—aith brought these seeds forth in Mans presence and the â—eat digested them to a maturity even till hi herto Matter and form of Microcosme being extant consisting of earth and water then the Creator caused a life into them â—y an inbreathed warm aire heating the cold earthly subâ—tance giving a heat uâ— o life and moâ—ion which was the â—oul which is the true Sulphur of Man spiritual in compreâ—ensible sensibly felt by its own operation All this being â—â—nish'd â—â—en God allowed an imagination unto good in the â—erfect understanding of Man that by his imagination he â—uld judge of all the beasts and impose on each a proper â—ame and by that imagination he learned to know his â—ife also that she had flâ—sh and bones of his body Then â—in appeaâ—ed perfect and that matter was made into a â—hape of a sensible body This form being made alive by â—he Soul had allowed further a subâ—ile â—pirit unto imagi â—â—ion and knowledge which is an invisible and inâ—â—â—preâ—ensible form like a work master who frameth 〈◊〉 things â—n the minde which hath its habitation in the upper Reâ—ion of Microcosme according to his volatility and deserâ—eth the name of Mercurie of the invisible spirit of mans â—ody Form and matter is earthly the life sticketh in the â—otion and the knowledge of every understanding unto â—ood and bad standeth in the sharp speculation of Microâ—â—sme the overplus found besides these three nature caâ—eth off as a Cadaver and is as a Monster which by theâ—â—â—hree is found to be a separation and a Cantit mort
by Urine as you heard already I repeat it here again for that end because the most noble spirit which doth preserve man doth copulate and maketh friendship with the Vital spirit and its nutriment which is Sulphur and so they make the body perfect and if any informity be incident either from the operation or defective quality of the Stars or from a disorderly life in eating and drinking and many other inconveniences and any corruption be present then nature is not in her perfect condition Here the knowing Physician must enquire into the cause from which of these three the Symptome doth arise and cure the same with convenient remedies and not with any contrary Medicines as heat must be cured with heat cold with cold pricking with pricking for one heat draweth the other one cold draweth another even as Iron is drawn by a Magnet and so pricking simples may cure stiching diseases and poysonous Minerals can heal and bring to right poysonous Symptomes if they be duely and well prepared And although sometimes externally a cooler be supplied however I speak as a Philosopher and one that is experienced in nature that like must be cured and expelled fundamentally with the like otherwise true Medicaments are not applied and the Physicians deal not really in their profession He that is not fundamentally learned herein or doth nor observe these things he is not a true Physician neither can he really say that he hath learned any truth in Physick because he is not able to discern cold and heat drie and wet for knowledge and experience and a fundamental inquiry into natures mysteries make a good Physician next the knowledge of the Creator from whom all and every wisdom doth descend and is the Author of the beginning middle and end thereof Next the invocation of the Creator there follow natâ—ral means and Medicaments as they are found in themselves in their highest degree I make no further meâ—tion here of other Animals Metals and Minerals folloâ— next for in Gold Silver and other Metals even to tâ— seventh and last Planet are hid excellent things Mercuâ— being predominant in all in some more than in other and Minerals also are not without their vertuous Medâ—cines and the former seven Planets were in their beginninâ— onely Minerals The Tincture of Sol together with the potable Golâ— and Silver are of great efficacy Mercury ruleth Microcosme that which is found in the best Metals and moâ— precious stones may be drawn also if need be from Minerals For perfect Metals are grown or have their deâ—scent from Minerals as from Vitriol Antimony and thâ— like Vitriol is Sulphur Antimony is Mercury the Saâ— which is the copula or binder is found in both if thesâ— are made fix are like unto the best Metals for they aâ— generated by them Minerals come from the three principles as well as Metals the three principles come from their prima materia called primum Ens which is nothing else but a watery substance found dry is not likened to any matter which is grown and is preserved by the fouâ— Elements and these are cherished or nourish't by Astrals The Creator hath ordained all these out of 〈◊〉 nought because man should not gaze onely upon earthly matters but consider heavenly ones also and ought to know things supernatural that faith may over top the rest and have the prerogative in things seen and felt and be preserved therein If Physicians do not understand these things they ought not to be held for Physicians for the knowledge of God and of nature make a Physician as I told of it formerly and not great prating without true knowledge Good writings of expert men may conduce somewhat hereunto In brief humane reason in Physicians is not able to comprâ—â—end sufficiently mucâ— lesse are they able to decide fathom and fully learn what manner Medicaments there may be made of Microcosme for he containeth a perfect Medicine for all diseases like with like must be expelled and cured Mercurie of Microcosme is a living incomprehensible and volatile spirit as I have told Mans Balsam drieth up a Dropsie and the clarified Salt of it cuâ—eth Consumptions in Epileptick fits it doth excellent well and being prepared into a fragrant spirit all corrosivenesse being taken from it is nothing inferiour unto aurum potabile to preserve mans health it is very excellent for curing Leprosie Passing by such diseases which are of a lower nature and degree it breaketh the stone in the bladder and cureth all Salt Rheums if the Arâ—ist prepareth it well and knoweth how to make use of it afterward Thus I close with Microcosme contained in few lines much more could be spoken of this matter or form mobility and imagination how they were brought unto perfection For if these stand together in a true middle will make up a sweet Harmony for without the matter or form of the body without the moving of the powers and defect of perfect thoughts Ortheus will not please the Dolphin with any harmonious melody as it is with man so it is with Metals Mercury is the mobile in Gold if the body be anatomâ—zed Sulphur is hot being driven from a Mineral and fixed drieth the phlegmatick Lune warmeth her maketh her Soul equal unto himself In the matter and form there lieth a Salt which affords the coagulation of the body the remainder in the Gold put away for separation will afford a further revelation Vegetables also shew the form of their three principles the visible matter containeth the Vegetable Salt which is its conseâ—vative the fragrancy of the Vegetable is the Balsam which ministers a nourishment unto its perfect growth the odour or smell of any Herb is of a volatile quality and spiritual and the spirit for the most part sheweth it self in the frangrancy and penetrateth the Balsam and its odour be it pleasant or not is the essence whereby men in their senses learn the condition and properties of Vegetables For other things I have written I praise the Lord which dwelleth on high Thus closing I wish to every one the grace and blessing of God the Creator of all Creatures that they may be blessâ—d wise and rich both in this temporal and corruptible World and in the other World attain to an eternal blisse Amen Of the Mysterie of Microcosme its Medicinal parts belonging unto Man written by BASILIUS VALENTINUS TO make use of the heavenly Revelation about two Luminaries and of the mysteries of the whole Medicine which lieth in that marvellous instrument of Microcosme within and wâ—thout that is in the body and without as ordinary wounds Sores Ulcers that have their cause from within have their descent from one root however must be severally prepared and dress't For that within is not like to that which is without in respect of their operation but in respect of their form and matter they are under one judgement And that I may rightly inform my fellow Christian I must needs acknowledge and confesse
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