lead oâ—ers are very brittle having little of slate and Talk and these are discerned by their firmnesse there are other stones in which appear Copper and the flowers of Zwitter there are others also which have flat floats and slate-stone in which is wrought Copper oar hence it may be gathered that by reason of these several formes are produced several fruits and in Mines toward the South better oars are found then there are some toward the West called after-oars between which there is alwayes ordered or placed a center of perfection CHAP. II. Of general operations of several metals ALmighty God for his eternal honour and glory hath held forth to mankinde innumerable wondrous works which he as the sole Mediator and Creator hath set forth iâ— natural things the same he hath shewed also in his omnipotency under ground in metals and minerals of them wâ— may learn as the twelve Sybils prophesied of the bright true and onely Son of Righteousnesse and Truth in whicâ— do rest after the twelve ports and gates of Heaven and after the twelve moneths moveable and unmoveable visiblâ— and invisible bodies the seven Arch Angels standing beforâ— the Throne of God after these the seven Planets Sun Moon Mars Jupiter Venus Mercury Saturn and the reâ— of the stars and the seven metalline oars in their propeâ—ties as gold silver copper iron tin lead Mercury the Vitriol Antimony Sulphur Wismuth Kobolt or brasâ— oar allom salt and other mineral growths That the true center may be comprehended and conceâ—ved of God hath made the first separation according to hâ— word The Spirit of the Lord moved upon the water thâ— whole elemental body of the earth hath been water bâ— the Spirit of the Lord Zebaoth hath divided it fashionâ— the earth from the muddinesse of the water and therein all metalline fruits that ever were created and generated under ground all these were first water and may bee reduced againe unto water all other creatures be they animalls vegetables mineralls all these are produced from the first water the several kinds of beasts fishes and sea-monsters after the Lords spirit and after the first eternal breathing Essence which brought forth and shaped things tinged and untinged soft and hard small and great creatures after the twelve stones in the brest-plate of Aaron He created man after his own image the holy Spirit was infused into Adam who had a fulnesse of eternal wisdome and that according to the order of Melchizedeck Almighty God who is the first and last the first principle and end of all things hath set his gifts into times hours dayes years which according to his eternal Decree have their revolutions he hath blest in his most holy means Abraham Isaac Jacob Aaron Melchizedeck and others he hath infinitely blessed according to his good will and pleasure from eternity putteth several periods unto them and in his unsearâ—hable decree and will he hath laid the foundations also for Minerals and Metals a help for the supporting men in their â—eccessities in this miserable life thus hath he meliorated â—nd exalted the earth in her goodnesse men have reason â—o return hearty thanks unto the Creator for it God in his gracious providence next unto the knowledg â—f himself and of his holy word can bestow no better gift to man than to indue him with the true knowledge of Metals and Minerals Jews thought themselves wise men â—erein but as little some Miners know Minerals and Meâ—als as little knew the Jews their Messias and Gods word 〈◊〉 its true sence Therefore from that blessed and promised Countrey the knowledge of pretious stones minerals and metals are come to us as by an inheritance as being the â—st and are become the first and they the last but 〈◊〉 the end Heavens gate will be opened unto them again â—ternal and external gifts and means will be bestowed on them and the true use of metals will be none of the meanest Where there are fertile stones be they rocks flints peebles marbles in their central points is found what they are in their operations The several gums and rasoms the one excelling the other in beauty transparency hardnesse or liquidnesse are known and discerned by their fragrancie and tast Miners ought to endeavour incessantly and in simplicity how the neerest way may be chosen to find out the Mineral-passages and veins into which God and nature hath laid direct courses CHAP. III. Of the stones rocks and flints of Gold its operation condition and striking courses GOld is wrought in its proper rocks and marbles and in the purest matrix of the firmest earth of a most perfect salt Sulphur and Mercury purged from all feces and impure spirits with the conjunction of a natural highly clarified Heaven of white yellow and red sulphureous earth after the fiery nature of Sol in a deep fixation insomuch that none of all other metals hath an higher compacter and more ponderous body of a goldish matter in which there is no humidity all the elements are equally in it bound up which in their unity have wrought such a fixed body tinged the same throughout with an everlasting citrin colour with the deepest tie and uniting of its pure earth Sulphur and Mercury and with its Vitriol essence it doth all what the Sun among the Stars doth operate Naturally all is gold what cleaveth thereunto in and at all sides and it is found in the best and closest stones and passages and the power of Sol worketh meerly upon that oar and in its quality is comparable unto Sol. This noble gold stone and oar is sometimes mixed and on its outside â—here sticketh some obscure and dark matter having annexed to it some slats and other spermatick matter which deâ—racts from the goodnesse of its own nature and though â—he Creator hath indued it with great Vertues yet doth it â—umble it self and suffers it self to be found in despicable Mineral-stones where it loseth much of its tincture as is apparent by the Touch-stone where the mixture of Copper Silver Tin and others is seen all these mixed impurities can be separated from it with artificial Manuals and with little ado it may be brought into a perfect state Gold oars naturally are wrought thus that the gold stands in it close compact firm and good which is found sometimes in the crosse passages It s fixednesse is found in the deepnesse under ground where it hath its greatest power and it is found also sometimes in a speckled jaspis full of eyes and mixed with flints in its passages where many times Vitriol flint is found abundantly which Vitriol is the best among all other sorts of Vitriols The Hungarian Vitriol hath the precedence before all the rest which is sufficiently known in their proves and exemines as may be demonstrated to the eye In its passages are found sometimes fluxes of several colours which are interlined with gold and must be forced with fire To that purpose it is requisite that it be dealt
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
for our work For their Leproâ—â— is no help for furtherance of our work good things 〈◊〉 hindred in wayes that are unclean Wares out of Mynes 〈◊〉 worth their money but if sophisticated they are maâ—â— unfit being adulterated in their former and original opâ—â—â—â—â—n As Physicians cleanse and purge by means of Physick the â—â—ard parts of the body expelling all impurities from â—â—nce thus these bodies also must be purified from their â—urities that perfection may be operative in our birth 〈◊〉 masters require a pure undefiled body which must not 〈◊〉 mixed with any spot or strange matter For strange â—â—itionals are a Leprosie to our Metals The Kings Crown â—â—st be of pure Gold a chaste Bride must be married unto 〈◊〉 Therefore if you will work through or upon our boâ—â— then take the greedy gray Wolf which by reason of â—ame stands in subjection unto valorous Mars but â—â—hing his descent he is a Childe of old Saturn found Valleys and Hills of the World is very hungry cast beâ—â— him the Kings body let him feed upon it when he 〈◊〉 devoured the King then make a great fire cast the â—lfe into let him be quite burn'd then the King will be at liberty again This being done thrice then the Wolfe â—onquered by the Lyon finding no more on him to 〈◊〉 upon then is our body perfect for the beginning of 〈◊〉 work â—ote that this is the onely true way convenient to â—ge our bodies for the Lion is cleansed by the Wolves â—â—d and the tincture of that bloud rejoyceth mightily â—he Lion's tincture because they are near kin one to â—ther When the Lion is satisfied then his spirit is and eyes cast proud rayes like the lustrous Sun his internal â—â—nce is of great ability and good for all such things you â—â—d to apply him unto and being brought into its due â—â—ration then the sons of men are beholding unto him â—ch were loaden with the falling sicknesse and other disâ—s the ten Lepers run after him and desire to drink of bloud of his Soul and all such that are diseased rejoyce â—â—â—ly in his spirit For he that drinketh of this golden â—â—â—ain feeleth himself throughly renewed in his Naâ—â— all evil things are taken away the bloud is strength 〈◊〉 the heart receiveth strength and all the Members are 〈◊〉 full vigour it openeth all Pores and Nerves expelling their malignities that goodnesse may come into thâ— places My friend you must have good care that the Founâ—â— of life be kept from muddinesse no strange water must 〈◊〉 mingled with our Fountain else a miscreant will be brougâ— forth and a wholesom fish will be turn'd into a Serpeâ—â— if by a Medium a Corrosity be joyned whereby our boâ—â— is broken then let that corrositivenesse be wash'd awaâ— because Corrosives are not to be used for internal diseaseâ— because acidities are rather destructive engendring diseasâ—â— our Fountain must be without poison however poyson â—â—pelleth poyson A Tree that bringeth no good fruit is cut off at tâ—â— bulk better twigs are propp'd into which proppings uâ—â—ted with the Tree then its Root bulk and twigs briâ—â— forth better fruits which are more â—holesome The King in the heavenly firmamâ—nt walketh through 〈◊〉 places but in the seventh he keeps his seat for there 〈◊〉 kingly Throne is hang'd with Golden pieces If you conceive aright what I do speak then with tâ—â— Key you have opened the first Lock and you have drivâ—â— back the bolt but if you cannot finde any light in theâ— then no glasse eyes will help thee nor any natural eyes wâ—â— enable thee to finde out the last which you wanted at fiâ—â— Further I will not speak of this Key as Lucius Papiâ—â— taught and bid me The second Key IN Courts of great Potentates several sorts of drinks 〈◊〉 found and none like the other in smell taste and â—â—lour because they are of several preparations however 〈◊〉 of them are drinkable because they are fitted for seveâ—â— places and are necessary for the keeping of the Coâ—â— When the Sun ejaculateth her rayes spreading thâ—â— â—â—der the Clouds then the vulgar speech is the Sun drawâ—â—h water and it will rain which being done often that â—â—at proves fertil To raise to an altitude a magnifick Palace several Artiâ—â—ers and work-men must be imployed before that struâ—â—ure and the rooms thereof can be finished For where â—ones must be used there wood is of no use The dayly ebbing and flowing of the Sea out of an inâ—â—â—ed love which it receiveth from above out of the starry â—â—aven is to that end that Countreys are enriched thereâ—â— at every return it bringeth great good unto Manâ—â—de A Virgin which is to be espoused is set out gloriously 〈◊〉 several Garments dress't in the best manner that she â—â—y please her Bridegroom And the band of love may 〈◊〉 the deeper root by a hearty looking one upon the â—â—â—her and the Bride joyning with the Bridegroom after 〈◊〉 usual manner these Garments are put off and the â—â—de keeps onely that which at her Nativity she had reâ—â—ed of the Creator Even so when our Bridegroom Apollo with his Bride 〈◊〉 is to be married several Garments must first be made 〈◊〉 them their heads and bodies must be well wash'd with â—â—er which waters must be learn'd to be made by several â—â—â—â—llings For these waters do differ very much some 〈◊〉 high some are poor according to the several uses they 〈◊〉 imployed unto which I intimated when I spoke of 〈◊〉 several sorts of drinks used in Princes Courts And 〈◊〉 when the humidity from the earth ascendeth and 〈◊〉 sâ—â—ne is drawn up they conglomerate on high their â—â—â—derousnesse maketh them fall down thereby unto the â—â—th is restored her lost humidity which refresheth the â—â—ath giveth unto her a nourishment whereby the vegeâ—â—â—les do spring up Therefore some waters in their preâ—â—ation must be often distilled the abstracts must be ofâ—â— restored to the earth must be drawn off again Even as Euripus doth often disgorge it self to a cerâ—â— period The Kingly Palace being by several Artificers a woâ—kmen raised and adorned and tâ—e glassy Sea hath â—â—nished its course and the Palace is furnish'd with gooâ— then the King may safely enter into and keep there residence My friend noâ—e this very well that the Bridegroom wâ— his Bride must be naked espoused and therefore the Oâ—â— menâ—s prepared for their cloathing and necessary attires their heaâ—s and faces must be taken from them again 〈◊〉 must possesse the grave in the nakednesse as naked thâ— were born that their seed might not be destroyed by 〈◊〉 strange mixture At the closing of this I tell thee in good truth that the mâ— precious water of which the Bridegrooms Bath must be mâ—â— must be of two contrary Fencers or contrary materials pâ—â—pared very carefully and wisely For one Fencer must 〈◊〉 the other must be fitted for the fight the one must coâ—qâ—â— the other For what availeth it unto the Eagle that she keâ—â— her
nest alone in the Alpes where her Chickens by reaâ— of the snow are destroyed by frost which is on the tops these Mountains But if you add unto the Eagle the cold Dragon whâ— had his dwelling a long time in stone clifts and Subteâ—â—nean caves where he crept in and out both these beâ— placed on that Hellish stool then Pluto will so stronâ— breath upon expelling a fiery volatile spirit out of 〈◊〉 cold Dragon whose great heat will burn the Eagles feath prepâ—ring a sweating-bank that the snow on the higâ—â— tops of the Mountains do dissolve and turn into water tâ—â— the mineral baâ—h be rightly prepared and riches and heaâ— be bestowed on the King The third Key WAter destroyeth fire quencheth it quite if abundance of water be poured into little fire then fire must yield unto water giving way for the victory unto it Thus our fiery Sulphur must with water be prepared by Art must be conquered if so be that after the separating of the water the fiery life of our Sulphureous fume shall get the triumphing victorie But here no victory can be obtained unlesse the King have bestowed strength and vertue unto his water and have delivered unto it the Key of his Court colour that be be destroyed thereby and be made invisible however at this time his visible form must appear again but with great diminution of his simple essence and great melioration of his condition Limmers carry yellow on white red upon yellow or a purple colour though all these colours are at hand yet the last is predominant being the uppermost in its degree The same order must be observed also in our Magisterium which being done then you have before you the light of wisdom which shineth in darknesse and yet burneth not For our Sulphur doth not burn yet giveth a light afar off neither doth it tinge unlesse it be prepared and tinged freely with its own tincture to give a further tincture unto weak imperfect bodies of Metals This Sulphur hath not a tinging quality unlesse the tincture be given to it in a fixation for a weak one cannot victorise the stronger keepeth down the weaker and weak things must yield unto strong ones The conclusion herein is this a weak and mean thing cannot help another which is in the same frailty neither can it import any furtherance to the operation of it can one combustible protect another which is of the fame condition A Protector must have a greater power than he whâ—m â—e intendâ— to protect so thing combustible must â—e defended by â—uâ—h which in their fixation are incombustible He that will prepare our incombustible Sulphur of Philosophers mâ—st be circumspect tâ— seek our Sulphur in a subjâ—ct wherein it lieth incombustible which cannot be unlesse the Salt-Sea have first swallowed the body and cast it up again freely then â—xalt it to â—â—s degree that it excel with its â—ustre all other Stars in Hâ—aven and be in its substance as rich of bloud as the Pellican is aâ— the opening of her breast nourishing many of her Chiekâ—ns without the weakning of her own body This is the Rose of our Masters of a Scarlet colour and the red blouâ— of the Dragon of which so many have written and is thâ—â— Purple mantle of the highest Commander in our Arâ— wherewith the Queen of salvation is clad and covered and thereby all needy Metals may be waâ—â—'d Keep this honourable Mantle with the Astral Salt very carâ—fully which followeth after this heavenly Sulphur let not any mischance befall it impart to it the birds volatile quality as much as there is needfull then the Cock will dâ—vour the Fox which is drown'd in water or reviveth by fire and is devoured again by the Fox where like is requited with the like or like is reconciled unto unlike The fourth Key ALl flesh begotten of earth must be destroyed and reurn to earth again which it was at first then that terrestrial Salt affordeth a new birth by heavenly resuscitation for if there be nor first an earth there cannot ensue any resurrection in our work For earth containeth that natural Balsam and is the Salt of those which sought for it by a knowledge of all things or universal knowledge the final judgement of the world will be by fire which the great Creator at first made of a nothing must by fire he turn'd to ashes again out of these ashes the Phoenix bringâ—â— forth again her Chickens For these ashes contain realâ—â— the true Tartar which must be dissolved after its disâ—â—lution the firm and strong lock of the royal room is â—â—ened New heaven and new earth are made after that great â—ombustion or burning and the new man will appear more â—â—loriously than he was in the first world because in the â—â—ther he is clarified If ashes and sand be well ripened and digested by fire â—â—en the Artist turneth it into glasse which afterward â—oldeth in the fire in its colâ—ur it is like unto a transparent â—â—one anâ— looks no more like any ashes this is a huge mystery unto ignorant men but not so to knowing men for they found it to be so by their dayly experience and Manuals Men burn Lyme of stones to make use of them for a Cement in buildings before the fire prepareth it thereunto it is a stone and cannot be used for a Cement as long as it is a hard stone fire bringeth stones unto a maturity and receiveth from the fire a very hot degree whereby it is strengthned and groweth so potent that there is almost nothing comparable unto it the fiery spirit of Lyme Every thing being reduced into ashes affords by Art a Salt if you at the anatomizing of it are able to keep apart its Sulphur and Mercury and make restitution thereby unto the Salt according to Aâ—â— â—hen fire will bring it to that again which it was before its Anatomy and destruction worldly wise men call this a folly counting it meer lies call it a new Creature which to do man hath no grant of God themselves understand it not that this Creature hath been formerly so and the Artist sheweth its increase onely by the seed of Nature That Artist which wanteth ashes cannot make any Salt for our Art because our work cannot be made lively without Salt for the coagulation of things worketh meerly the Salt As Salt preserveth things from putrefaction even so the Salt of Philosophers protecteth Metals that they cannoâ— be reduced to a nothing unlesse their Balsom die and the natural Salt spirit be gone then their body would be deaâ— and nothing further could be effected with it because thâ— Metalline spirits are gone and at their natural departinâ— left a dead dwelling into which no more life can bâ— brought again Note further you that intends to learn this Art that thâ— Salt out of ashes is of great effâ—â—cie many vertues are hiâ— therein Yet the Salt availeth nothing unlesse his innermost be turn'd to the out-side For the spirit alone
â—eans of Mars is turn'd into quick Mercury This Antiâ—â—onial Mercury hath been sought of many but few have â—â—otten it which is the reason why its praise is not divulg'd â—uch lesse is it's operative quantity known if you know â—â—w to precipitate it well then your Arrow will hit the â—ark to perform strange matters it's qualities ought not 〈◊〉 be made common It is needlesse to describe it's combustible Sulphur how that is made of Antimony it is easie and known but that which is fix'd is a secret and hidden from many If an Oyl be made of it in which it 's own Sulphur is dissolv'd and these be fix'd together then you have a Medicine of rare qualities in vertue operation and ability far beyond Vegetables Quick silver being imbibed with quick Sulphur melted with Antimony for some hours in a Wind-oven the Salt of the remainder being extracted with distill'd Vinegar then you have the Philosophers Salt which cureth all manner of Agues There is an acetum made of Antimony of an acidity as other acetums are if it 's own Salt be dissolv'd in this acetum and distill'd over then this acetum is sharpned which is an excellent cooler in hot swellings and other inflamed Symptoms about wounds especially if there be made an Unguent of it together with anima of Saturn The Quintessence of Antimony is the highest Medicinâ— the noblest and subtilest found in it and is the fourth pâ—â— of an Universal Medicine Let the preparation of it 〈◊〉 still a mystery its quantity or Dose is three Grains the 〈◊〉 belong four instruments to the making of it the Furnace the fifth in which Vulcan dwelleth the Manuals and thâ— government of fire afford the ordering of it You Physicians if you be wise seek out this Medicine iâ— that subject where it lieth in and may be found best anâ— most effectual I forbear to speak further of Antimony lâ— Justinian judge of the rest Of Copper-water IF I could prevail with Apollo to be mercifull and to givâ— liberty to his Muse to be my assistance in the describing of Art and wisdom then would I bring in an offering unto Minerva whereby the Gods of wisdom might take notice of a gratefull minde for their gifts they had bestowed and I would write of a mineral whose Salt is set forth in the highest manner whose great and good qualities are of that transcendency that reason is not able to comprehend or to conceive of them It went generally by the name of Copper-water to make the meaning and sense of it plain let men know and be thus informed of it that Vitriol containeth two spirits a white and a red one the white spirit is the white Sulphur upon white the red spirit is the red Sulphur upon red He that hath ears let him hear Observe it diligently and remember every word for they are of a large extent every word is as ponderous as a Centner stone The white spirit is sowr causeth an appetite and a good digestion in a mans stomach The red spirit is yet sowrer and is more ponderous than the white in its distilling a longer fire must be continued because it is fixer in its degree Of the white by distilling of Sulphur of Lune is made argentum potabile In the like manner the â—ld being destroyed in the spirit of common Salt and â—de spiritual by distilling and its Sulphur taken from it â—â—d joyned with a red spirit in a due Dose that it may be â—â—ssolved and then for a time putrified in spirit of wine to 〈◊〉 further digested and often abstracted that nothing â—main in the bottom then you have made an aurum poâ—bile of which great volumes have been written but very â—w of their processes were right Note that the red spirit â—ust be rectified from its acidity and be brought into a â—eetnesse subtilly penetrating of a pleasant taste and sweet â—agrancy I have told you now great matters which slipp'd from â—e against my intention the sweet spirit is made of Sulâ—hur of Vitriol which is combustible like other Sulphur â—efore it is destroyed for the Sulphur of Philosophers â—â—ote it well is not combustible its preparation needs â—ot to be set down being easie requireth no great pains or great expences to get a combustible Sulphur out of â—itriol This sweet Oyl is the essence of Vitriol and is sucâ— a â—edicine which is worthy the name of the third pillar of â—he universal Medicine The Salt is drawn from Colchotar â—nd is dissolved in the red or white Oyl or in both and is â—istill'd again if it be fermented with Venus it performâ—â— its office very well for it affords such a Medicine â—hich at the melting tingeth pure Iron into pure Copper Colchotar of Sulphur affords true fundamentals unto â—ealing of perish'd wounds which otherwise are hardly â—â—ought to any healing and such sores which by reason of 〈◊〉 long continued white rednesse will admit of no healing â—olchotar affords an ingresse thereunto setting a new founâ—ation that quality and vertue is not in the Colchotar but â—he spirit together with the Salt are the Masters which â—well therein There is made of Copper and Vâ—rdigreece a Vitriol of a â—igh degree and is far spread in its tincture There is a Vitriol made of Iron also which is of a strange quality Iron and Copper are very nigh kind one to another belâ— together as man and wife this mystery should have bâ— concealed but being it is of great concernment I could forbear but to speak of it Vitriol corroded with Salmiac in it's sublimation thâ— ariseth a combustible Sulphur together with it's Mercuâ—â— of which there is but little because it hath most of Sâ—phur If the same Sulphur be set at liberty again by 〈◊〉 Eagle with spirit of wine there can be made a Medicine it as I told you formerly of it Though there be a neaâ— way to make a combustible Sulphur out of Vitriol as of precipitation upon a precedent dissolution by the Salt liquor of Tartar as also by a common lixivium made Beech-ashes yet this is the best reason because the bâ—â— of Vitriol is better more opened with the Key of the Eagâ—â— There are other mysteries hidden in Vitriol which in yâ— operative quality are excellent and are known apparent as Venus and Mars bear real record in their spirits the saâ—dâ—th knowledge Sol and Lune but I do not intend at tâ— time to write a perfect book of Chirurgerie and to maâ—â— relaâ—â—oâ—â— of particulars in commendation of Vitriol I haâ— already written too much of it you are to learn and searâ— also you will finde that Vitriol needs no Proctor to speâ— for it and it will sufficiently inform you of an absoluâ— Chirurgick book contained in its nature as a third part 〈◊〉 the universal against all manner of diseases In the closing hereof I tell you thus much that there not found in its nature neither cold nor moist quality bâ— is of a hot and dry substantial
conscience to deprive their fellow Christians of their monies by cheating all they look for is to be talk'd of and live in reputation they stick full of diabolical pride and vanity up to the ears these in the end in great woe and miserie have their poor Souls drowned most lamentably woe woe to you Children of Sathan Here I intend not to use any prolixity of words nor to bring in any such matters which are heterogeneal to my purpose at the closing of my book I will be more large in my expressions as far as the heavenly Prince shall enable me to do where as for a final Corollarie to all my writings I shall annex things with that proviso and intreaty that all those which intend to be real and conscionable in their Medicaments may aide cure their oppressed fellow Christians and to search and inquire into such things which God for such purposes hath ordained and implanted them into nature This present book of mine deserves to be called A light unto darknesse for other things which in my former writings I have discoursed of by way of parables which stile I made use of the rather because it is proper to Philosophers are declared in this my last information where I deal in plain and clear words describing and naming the matter openly shewing the preparations from the beginning to the middle and end demonstrating and setting before the eyes of men the matter in general and particular confirming and justifying the truth thereof and making a distinction betwixt the ground and no ground in so plain terms that the very Children may understand and feel it with their hands And because this book affordeth another knowledge differing from others of my writing wherein I have not written so obscurely nor made I use of such subtilties as the ancients did who lived before me and ended their dayes happily therefore doth it require another place also to be laid up in and kept secret from the perversenesse of men in the world I do not desire it should be buried with me to be a prey and food for Worms but it shall be left above ground and kept secret from wicked men and my purpose is that it shall be laid into a secret place where none shall come near it but he for whom God hath ordained it other writings of mine shall sooner see the publick light But know thou whoever thou art into whose hand this my last Testament comes which contains the Revelation of heavenly and earthly mysteries it will happen to thee by a divine providence to whose custody at my devotion then perform'd I committed it depositing the same into that secret place together with other things not inforced upon any grounds of necessities or straightnesses to leave it there onely for him whom Gods goodnesse shall appoint to finde it For it is not good for me to let God's Creatures and mysterie which are too abstruse already and stept from the light into darknesse by reason of the malicious perversenesse of the wicked world to die with me as envious men are with to do with gifts they are entrusted withall but even leave a glimpse of truth and of the clear heaven thinking befitting to discharge my conscience in putting forth the talent to usury let the will of the Lord be done in him whom he deemeth to be worthy of it into whose care and diligence I commit it from henceforth and for ever For I a Cloyster-man and an unworthy Servant of the Divine infinite Trinitie confesse and ackowledge that I should never have come so far in my knowledge of these endlesse mysteries in the Analogie of natural things in the melioration changing their qualities for a sure and strong upholding of this profound knowledge of the true Medicine according to this Ordinance whereby I am ready to do good to all and every one which desireth my help herein which as I have done hitherto so my desire is that God would enable me to do the same to the last of my breathing I say I should never have attained unto it if by God special goodnesse grace and mercie several books had not come into my hands written of ancient Masters which departed this life a long time before me causing great joy to me stirring up in me a return of hearty thanks to God who so graciously was pleased in his providence to bestow them on me in the Cloyster before any of my Fellows I do speak it without any vain-glorie I have done so much good thereby to my fellow-Christians as ever was possible for me to do which next to God returned thanks for it even to the end of my dayes Now whereas I can be Steward no longer I have done according as my abilities would give leave let others also be industrious and not defective in their Stewardship I return mine into the faithfull hands of God Almighty and deliver up to his Divine power and glorie instead of the Keyes for the house all the allotted mysteries set down here in my writing leaving them to his disposing to bestow them after my death unto him whom his Divine will shall chuse thereunto to be for the knowledge of his praise-worthy name the good and help of such that stand in want of necessaries and health for the avoiding and shunning of all worldly pompe pride wantonnesse luxurie rashnesse pleasure covetousnesse and spightfulnesse or contempt of others O Lord God Almighty mercifull Gracious Father of thine onely begotten Son Jesus Christ who art onely the Lord of Sabaoth the principle of all things that are made by thy Word and definite end of all Creatures above and below I poor miserable Man and Earth-worm return thanks with my babling tongue from the innermost Center of my heart who hast been pleased to enlighten me with the great light of thy heavenly and earthly wisdom and the greatest mysteries of the created secrecies and treasures of this World together with thy Divine saving word by which I learn to know thine Almighty power and wonders To thee belongs eternal praise honour and glorâ—e from eternity unto eternity that thou hast bestowed on me health and lively hood strength and ability to be helpfull to my fellow Christians in their necessities and inflicted infirmities with those mystical healing Medicines together with such spiritual comforts to raise the drooping spirits Lord to thee alone belongs power might and glorie to thee is the praise honour and gratefulnesse for all the mercies and graces thou hast bestowed on me and hast preserved me therein till to this my great age and lowest weaknesse O! thou God of all graces and father of all comforts be not angrie with me that I deliver up to thee mine eternal Creator the Keyes of my Stewardship wrapt up in this Pergamene according to the dutie my calling and conscience calls for with these thou suffer'st me to keep house the most of my time till now thou hast called and foreseen me to be thy servant
fruits serve for mans good both for his body and spiâ—â— for nothing is hid from my transparent power my splenâ—â— and lustre over-shadoweth all these and are held to â—ir growing unto maturity let no creatures marvel at â—â—se several distinctions from whence they all should â—ne for all have their principle from me froÌ„ my spirit â—ich is hidden in me which none can dive into save the 〈◊〉 creator of all things from whom it proceeded as out â—his Divine mouth Thus I close up my speech and my 〈◊〉 startle at so great a mystery and attest in truth for a â—ewell that I am not onely the Gold and present Sol but â—e also strength and power to all the inferies terrene spiâ—â— for Aristeus and Onizon is in subjection unto me for I 〈◊〉 α and God be praised for ever Thus I conclude the second part of my Mineral book â—erein I have shewed faithfully as much as I know and â—â—ld in my industry apprehend let others do their enâ—avours also let them produce their knowledge also that 〈◊〉 light of the noble nature may still be supply'd in her â—â—nitude and may not go out whereby cause would be â—â—en to the enemy and envious men to be outragious â—â—inst such truths Let God still and uncessantly be imâ—â—tuned with prayers and thanks-giving For these ends â—ave written these my two Treatises and annexed the â—nuals at the beginning which otherwise needed not to 〈◊〉 done that by earnest prayer and thanksgiving and conâ—â—ued earnest worshipping of God every one might careâ—â—ly exercise himself therein and be convinced in his â—â—ason how gloriously almighty God hath created orâ—â—ined and held forth nature to perform her operations under ground and to produce unto the day light formâ—â— their Nativities and fruits that we may reap thereby 〈◊〉 onely our sustenance but may acknowledge Gods infinâ— mercy and goodnesse for which none can return sufficieâ— thanks However let every one do his duty and as moâ— as he is able to perform with his heart and tongue pray God is sincerity for his grace blessing and wisdom tâ— conceive by his spirit of truth and righteousnesse of his great and wonderfull Creature that the honour of God maybe exalted above the Heaven and be proclaimed with infinite praise throughout all the World End of the second Part. THE THIRD PART OF BASILIUS VALENTINUS His last TESTAMENT Treating of the Universal work in the whole World with a perfect Declaration of the XII Keyes wherein is significantly expressed the name of the great matter There is an Elucidation also of all his former writings published for the good of the posteritie and such that are lovers of wisdom LONDON Printed Anno Domini MDCLVI THE THIRD PART IS A Declaration of the XII Keyes HEre followeth the third part of my intended writings wherein is truely shewed the original and prime matter of our Philosophick stone which is a perfect instruction to the practick part which sheweth the direct way to the inexhaustible founâ— of health and of the abundance of riches to provide mans necessaries and this is a Declaration of my former â—itings which is left for a love-token to all those that lovers of Philosophy My friend you must note that by this intended work â—ching the Minerals I had reason to prefix the two parts Minerals and Metals and their Oars holding it a necesâ—y to hold forth a light unto the ignorant how that one 〈◊〉 it from above frameth all such Oars Metals and Mineâ—s taking their original under ground for to generate â—ereby For earth is alwayes ready and covetous to atâ—ct and to retain that spirit which proceedeth from Heaâ—ns powers which it presenteth in processe of time in a â—mality and perfection The manner of it hath been spoâ—en of sufficiently in my former writings which is the reaâ—n why I give onely hints of them in this place Note that all things proceed from a heavenly influencâ— elementall operation earthly substance from this mixâ—â—â— arise the 4. Elements water aire earth which engender hâ—â— the help of fire hid therein in a warm digestion produciâ—â— a Soul Spirit and Body These are the three prime priâ—ciples which in a coagulation come to a Mercury Sulphâ— and Salt these three being in conjunction according to thâ— nature of the seed produce a perfect bodie be it in thâ— Kingdom either of Minerals Animals or Vegetables Aâ— things in the world that are visible and palpable are dâ—â—vided into these three Kingdoms the Animal which coâ—tains such that have a lively breath composed of flesh anâ— bloud as men beasts worms fishes fowls The Vegetables which contains trees herbs seeds roots fruits anâ— all such things that are of a growing quality the Mineraâ— contains all manner of Oars Metals Minerals Marcasâ—â— Calxes Zincks Lobol's all sorts of flints peebles wismuthâ— stones precious ones and others Animals have their special seed a spermatick substance which after a copulation generate flesh and blood whicâ— iced is their prima materia from a heavenly influence created of God of the 4. Elements wrought by nature whicâ— formerly were quoted in my writings Vegetables also have their proper seed which God bestowed on them according to their several qualities anâ— forms by a heavenly and sideral influence and receive theâ— elemental fruitfull growing from the earth with an ordeâ— thereby to generate and augment Minerals and Metals also have their original seed froâ— God by the heavens influence in a liquid aereall substance by a Mineral spirit sulphureous Soul and earthâ— Salt in one body joyned of these I have spoken in my sâ—mer writings Note further if any of these Metalliâ— and Mineral kindâ— shall be brought to a farther propagation and augmentatâ—on it must first be reduced to its first seed and prima mâ—teria If you will transmute Metals augment them bring â—em into a tincture or Philosophick stone you must first â—derstand how you may destroy by a spagyrick Art the â—etalline and Mineral form and separate it into a Mercury â—â—lphur and Salt these three must be purely separated and ought to their first principles This separation is done in and by a Mercurial spirit sulâ—ureous Soul and a white Salt These three in a due orâ—ring of a true manual must be joyned again that they â—ay be brought to the highest and most perfect purity In which conjunction must exactly be observed the â—â—antity after this conjunction the whole substance is â—eerly a liquid substance and philosophick water in which â—l the Elements first the heavenly then the elemental and â—â—sly the earthly qualities are shut up and lye hid therein For the Mercurial spirit is cold and moist the sulphureous â—oul is warm and dry and this liquor is the true prima maâ—ria and first seed of Metals and Minerals which by Vulâ—â—ns Art is brought to a plusquam perfection into a transcenâ—ent fix'd Medicine out of which is generated the true â—hilosophick stone and must be produced in that way Therefore observe and
take notice that all Metals and Minerals have onely one root from which generally thâ—â—r â—â—escent is he that knoweth that rightly needs not to deâ—â—roy Metals to extract the spirit from one the Sulphur â—â—om a second and the Salt from a third For there is a â—â—earer place yet in which these three Spirit Soul and Boâ—y lye hid in one thing well known and may with great â—raise be gotten it shall be nominated afterward in several â—erms He that learneth to know exactly this golden seed or â—his Magnet and searcheth throughly into its properties â—â—e hath then the true root of life and may attain unto that â—â—is heart longeth for In my former writings as also in the XII Keyes from the first to the last I ordered thus my stile 〈◊〉 writing wherein I held forth unto posterity the â—ractick how the great stone of Philosophers or the best purified gold may be made out of Sulphur and Salt with 〈◊〉 help of the spirit of Mercury which must be drawn from crude unmelted Minera according to the Tenor of my fiâ—â— Key set down in a parabolical manner Why I laid the work of the Philosophick stone upon tâ—â— Gold Metal this is the reason that the simple Laboratoâ—â— to whom is unknown the other body or subjectum whicâ— containeth all the three principles though it be a thiâ— well known yet is it stranger to their brains may leâ—â— hereby more wit and knowledge Many of the ancieâ—â— Philosophers which lived long before me have in the saâ—â— manner with me obtained the true universal stone of a mysteries and health as their books which are extant giâ—â— evidence thereof The first time I took great pains aâ—â— made great expences and consumed much time about thâ— purified Gold alledged in the first Key this heavenly stoâ—â— I prepared in the Cloister I lived in and happily obtaineâ— it The highest in heaven bestowed his further grace 〈◊〉 blessing upon me that I took into further consideration thâ— tinging 2 animated 1 spirits placed and planted into their several bodies Let no man be ashamed to learn to â—dd more 〈◊〉 his learning and to dive further into that which was hiâ— from him notwithstanding his knowing wayes Natuâ—â— reserveth many things in her secrecie which mens dull understanding and shortnesse of life cannot reach unto Whereas God in his great goodnesse hath bestowed thâ—â— great gift upon me for an improvement of that talent I havâ— imparted the same to my fellow Christians in the said XII Keyes Those that are endued with deeper wits and knowledge and in their hearty and carefull endeavours strive further to dive in the Art will meet in the same place with a more easie and more known matter which almost wâ—â— named and set down of an effectual quality out of which in like manner as the ancients before me in their exacâ—â— speculation and practick have in the end better known the onely scope and drift which hath been practised several â—â—s by me also in a shorter time and lesse pains taking 〈◊〉 they and I have obtained health and riches in this â—wn and despicable matter and Mineral substance is â—â—d a sulphur and tincture more effectual and more worâ—â— than the best Gold can afford which is fluid and open â—â—its Mercurial spirit also and its mystical Salt is free and â—â—n whose vertues may with lesse pains in a visible manâ—â— be drawn from it â—e that hath considered exactly my XII Keyes freâ—â—ntly perusing the same must needs conceive and that â—rein is held forth the whole preparation of our stone 〈◊〉 the beginning to the end without any defect yet so â—t it onely should be prepared of Gold fitted for it But 〈◊〉 according to Gods ordinance in nature have pointed at â—old which is much better and requireth to be taken inâ—â— deep consideration which being unknown and strange Novices for some reasons I forbear to give them any diâ—â—tion thereunto with a resolution to write and to point at â—â—h matters as themselves are inclined to seek for their â—â—d in them At the beginning of my XII Keyes according to the â—â—nner of Philosophers in a parabolical way I made relaâ—â—n of the property and work of our stone and balsam how was made by Artists which as by an inheritance is come 〈◊〉 me also wherein I spoke as much as was meet of the â—vernment of the fire chargeable appearance and of the â—â—iefest planetical colours and the final end thereof After â—â—e accomplishment of these peruse well the XII Keyes for â—â—ch containeth a particular work The first Key informeth you that if you seek for the â—â—ed in a Metalline body as in the Gold then before all â—â—ings it must most exactly be purged from all its impure â—eprosie and that nothing must be mix'd with our Founâ—ain but such which is of a pure spermatick quality This â—urifying is perform'd with Antimony which stands in a â—ear relation and affinity unto Gold which is the reason why antimonial sulphur purgeth the Soul of Gold graduâ—ting the same to a very high degree On the other-side 〈◊〉 Gold can meliorate in a short time the Soul of Antimoâ— and can bring it to a firm fixation exalting Antimony 〈◊〉 Gold to an equal dignity and vertue and can be brougâ—â— not onely unto a white Metal of Lune but also to a traâ—scendent Medicine for mans health of which you shâ—â— have a further direction hereafter when I shall treat in pâ—â—ticular of Antimony Alâ—hough Antimony hath promise unto Saturn a sociable brother-hood because Antimony qualification doth rest in some sort on the quality of Saturâ— in an equal concordance yet after the fixation of the exalted Sulphur of Antimony his next friend Saturn cannoâ— get any prey from him because the King received him intâ— his golden Palace and make him partaker of his triumphing Kingdom This is the reason why he can endurâ— now heat and frost and overcomes it and standeth with the King a Conquerour in great and transcendent glory The purifying of the Gold is perform'd thus Laminateâ— the Gold-thinly after a due manner cast it thrice through Antimony afterward the Regulus which is set at the through casting must be melted before the blast in a strong fire and driven off with Saturn then you will finde the purest fairest most lustrous Gold pleasant to behold as much as the lustre of Sol is This Gold is now fitted to surrender its innermost being first brought from its fixednesse into a destructive form and passe through the Salt-Sea of its corruptiblenesse is drowned therein escaped again and appeared visibly The second Key MY Friend note and take that into a serious consideration because the chiefest point lyeth herein cause a Balneum be made let nothing come into it which should nor be there that the noble seed of the Gold fall not into â—estructive and irrecoverable opposition after its destruâ—on and take an exact and carefull view of such things â—â—ich my second Key informeth thee of
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
things that iâ— unworthy and to fall with the blinde into the pit maâ—â— for them Those that are real in their desire for to attaâ—â—â— unto art and wisdom and intend to propagate the saâ—â— without sophistication and desire in reality to glorie iâ— that honourable truth you may shew a real proof of it iâ— this manner 〈◊〉 tell thee really for the highest truth that you may disâ—e our Gold naturally driven together in a short way to â—ng it to its prima materia and is done thus take the â—wn Mineral Spirit in which our Mercury Sulphur and 〈◊〉 is shut up containing that Philosophick mystical Gold â—â—r that guttatim upon white calcined tartar these two â—â—trary qualified matters will be tissing let them stay togeâ—r till their contention and strife be ended and our Gold â—e it self invisible in the vegetable Salt acre or in the belâ— of tartar lute a Helmet to it distil it at first gently in â—neo then increase your fire then Hermes his volatile 〈◊〉 will fly away from our Gold in that sublimation and sit 〈◊〉 the highest pinnacles of the Temple looking about â—ich way to betake himself but soon is catch'd in the â—ceiver which must be pure and very dry when you see â—t his flight is but slow then take the glasse out of the â—â—ny set it in ashes increase your fire then will she fly â—re nimbly keep that fire so long till all is come over â—d her brother the Red Dragon hiding his rednesse under a 〈◊〉 colour in a whitish fume will begin to follow after his â—ing brother Then cease with the fire the drops being fall'n from the Helmet take it off that which you â—de in the Receiver you are to keep as a treasure of myâ—ries In this manner you have gotten wisdom underâ—â—nding and skill the fundamentals also and desires of Phiâ—â—ophers by this short witty proof you learn and get that â—owledge how this water may be sought after found and â—â—ted on and is not to be esteemed a common water but is â—at real infallible heavenly water of which at the beginâ—â—g I have written and repeated the same the oftner â—hich in a spiritual manner from the heavens power is â—ured down upon earth beginneth and accomplisheth â—e generation of all Metals for that reason the ancient Phiâ—â—ophers call'd this water Mercury but I call it the Spirit of â—ercury Now if you proceed right in this work and you know â—hat food and what drink â—o give to this bird viz. Sulphur and Salt of Metal then you may attain unto the end of 〈◊〉 great work which is almost like unto the Philosophâ—â— great work and you may get profit infinitely partituâ—aâ—â— many wayes you must note that this is not the true Phiâ—â—sophick dissolution but onely one which particulaâ—â— performeth strange matters aâ—d is a speculum in which 〈◊〉 Mercury our Sol and our Lune is seen bleaking which iâ— present confuting of unbelieving Thomasses discoverâ—â— the blindnesse of ignorantment The dissolution of tâ— three principles I have described unto you formerly whiâ—â— is of a slower pace requiring time and patience and 〈◊〉 exact attention to make or bring three into one which wâ— is done in it self per se without mixing of any heterogeneâ— matter onely that which lyeth hid in it must do it Fâ— the Fountain of salvation is the illumination of the Soâ—â— and the Salt of the clarified body are all in that one thinâ— existent from one two or three which must be brought aâ—â— reduced to one which is the golden vertue of all Metals â—alted above all powers together with the Eagle and whiâ— body which are no where together but onely in this one found and in that which is next kin unto it which knoâ—ing Philosophers alwayes held in great esteem but ignoraâ—â— and blinde men despised and disgraced the same But thoâ—â— whose eyes are once opened love to stick unto truth coâ—â— to hide the matter from wicked men and study day aâ—â— night how the ignorant might be kept from it Thus I cloâ— this third part And before I begin the fourth part concerning Particâ—laria I must needs speak something of the Philosophers Vâ—triol Sulphur and Magnet My friend you must note that this description I maâ—â— now of the essence of Vitriol resteth onely upon tryâ—â— made the victorious triumph of the highest wisdom câ—â— by inheritance from the most ancient Philosophers unâ— me and comes now unto thee wherein experimentaâ— it 's found that there is a subterranean Mineral Salt callâ— Vitriol which for dying of Cloaths and many other us◠〈◊〉 cannot well possibly be without it for it carrieth â—nd eateth through by reason of its sharpnesse â—â—h is distinct from other Salts in respect of their quaâ—â— for the Mineral of this Salt is strange of a very â—nd fiery quality as apparent in its spirit and conâ—â—th a twofold spirit which is miraculum naturae â—is not found the like in other Salts and this Salt is a â—â—aphâ—odit among other Salts it is white and red even â—â—u will have it it hath an extraordinary medicinal quaâ—â— performing things in an incredible manner This Salt â—â—ineth a combustible Sulphur which is not in other 〈◊〉 Therefore in Metalline affairs touching their transâ—â—tion it performeth more than others because it help-â—ot onely to open some but helpeth the generation of â—â—rs by reason of its innate heat When Vitriol is sepaâ—â— by means of fire then its spirit at first comes in a â—â—e form after that there comes from its earth a spirit of 〈◊〉 condition staying in the earth the Salt being united 〈◊〉 its expell'd Mercury and Sulphur can sharpen them â—emainder that stayeth behinde is a dead earth of no â—â—acie Let this suffice for your learning and consider 〈◊〉 what the Creator holds forth unto thee in nature by â—ow kindled ternarie for as you finde in Vitriols body 〈◊〉 distinct things as Spâ—rit Oyl and Salt even so you expect from its own spirit again which without the â—â—ling of its Oyl is driven from its matter three distinct â—â—gs even as you did formerly from the body of Vitriol â—â—h deserveth very well the name of Speculum sapientiae â—â—ae held forth purposely to man to view himself For 〈◊〉 can separate this spirit of Vitriol as it ought then that â—ds again unto you three principles out of which onely out any other addition since the beginning of the â—d the Philosophers stone hath been made from that have to expect again a spirit of a white form an Oyl of â—uality after these two a Christalline Salt these three â—â—g duely joyned in their perfection generate no lesse 〈◊〉 the Philosophers great stone for that white spirit is meerly the Philosophers Mercury the red Oyl is the Sâ—â— and the Salt is that true Magnetick body as I told you 〈◊〉 merly As from the spirit of Vitriol is brought to light â—red and white tincture so from its Oyl there is made Vâ—â— her tincture and in the Center
fundamental Theorie affords the practick part from â—nce flow infinite springs all from one head If you go â—â—erwise to work than I entreated you to do by the Creaâ—â— of heaven and earth then all your actions will be retroâ—â—de unto a temporal disaster I should annex here the efficacies of other Minerals â—â—ich are next unto Metals but seeing they are of no abiâ—ty unto transmutation of Metals but are onely Medicinal and are qualified to do their work to the admiration of those that make use of them I leave them at this time The Almighty hath put wonderfull vertues into Metalline Salts which have been found approved several wayes End of the fourth Part. BASILIUS VALENTINUS HIS XII KEYES Which is A Treatise about the great stone of Philosophers In which many thousands since the beginning of the World have wrought LONDON Printed Anno Domini MDCLVI THE PREFACE HVman fear coming upon me I fell to consider out of natures frailty the miserablenesse of this World lamented within me the sin which our first Parents had committed and how little of repentance â—â—e was for it men still growing worse an eternal â—â—ishment being set upon all impenitents it made 〈◊〉 to make haste to out-run evil bid farewell to the â—â—rld vowing my self to become Gods servant onely â—â—ving spent some time in my Order after I had done 〈◊〉 appointed devotions to draw my self from idlensse 〈◊〉 sinfull thoughts I took in hand for to imploy my â—â—cessive hours to some purpose to anatomize naâ—â—al things to dive into Natures mysteries a thing â—â—t the spiritual ones I found most comfortable and â—reshing Having found many books in our Moâ—stery which Philosophers had written a long time â—â—ore me which had dived very deeply into Naâ—re's secrets it encouraged me the more to learn â—â—t which they knew though in the beginning all 〈◊〉 very difficult however upon my earnest prayer to God the Lord blessed me in my undertaâ—â—â—gs In our Monastery there was one of my Fellâ—â— who was mightily tormented with the stone was â—â—ten bed-rid sought after many Physicians but 〈◊〉 was able to cure him was left hopelesse taking refuge to Gods omnipotencie Then I began to aâ—tomize Vegetables extracted their Salt and quâ—tessences but none of all these would or could 〈◊〉 my sick fellow made tryals of many of them but 〈◊〉 were too weak to dissolve the stone I took his case iâ— further consideration and intended to know funâ—â—mentally what efficacie the great Creatour had 〈◊〉 into Minerals and Metals the more I sought iâ— them the more I found still one secret issuing foâ— from the other God blessed me herein opened mâ— eyes that I saw marvellous vertues in the Natâ—â— of Minerals and Metals the great Creatour had iâ— planted into them insomuch that it is a hard matâ—â— to believe it Among these I hapned to get one Mineral compâ—sed of many colours which had many and rare veâ—tues in Medicine I drew its spiritual essence frâ—â— it whereby in few dayes I cured my diseased Colâ—â—giate For this Mineral spirit was very strong aâ—â— strengthned the weak spirit of my brother and livâ— a long time after that cure He prayed dayly aâ—â— hourly for me as long as he lived even to his dyiâ—â— moment his and other mens prayers availed so mâ—â—â— with the great Creatour that by his blessing and miâ—â— endeavours were revealed many great matters uâ—to me which he did not reveal unto worldly 〈◊〉 men This Philosophick stone for mans health and suâ—itation of him in this valley of misery I reveal â—o posterity as much as is meet for me to do folâ—â—ing herein the steps of my predecessors these Phiâ—â—phick informations are aenigmatick and short â—â—t are a rock on which Truth may firmly be builded 〈◊〉 wish good successe and blessings from above to the â—â—dertakers herein Amen The Contents of this Book are I. OF the great stone of Ancient Philosophers II. The XII Keyes whereby the doors 〈◊〉 the Philosophers stone are opened and the deep Fountain of health anâ— wealth floweth from thence III. A short repetition of his writings about thâ— Philosophick stone wherein is plainly held forth the true Philosophick light whereunto is annexed an information of Quick-silver Antimony Vitriol-water commoâ— Sulphur Calx vive Arsenic Salpeter Salmiac Tartar Vinegar and Wine IV. Of Microcosme or Mans body what it containeth of what it is composed the whole contents thereof and of its issue and end V. Of the great mystery of the World and its Medicinals belonging to man VI. Of the Magisterium of the VII Planets their essence properties vertues operation and revolution and their admirable hidden mystical qualities Of the great Stone of the Ancient Philosophers written by BASILIUS VALENTINUS DEar friend and well wisher unto Art in my Preface I promised to such which are desirous to learn and to dive into Natures condition to shew and to speak of that corner stone as much as I am permitted from above to do out of what the Ancient Philosophers have prepared their stone whereby they prolonged their lives in a continued health and whereby they got their riches also to live comfortably in this miserable world For the performing of my promise not leading you into any tedious sophistick labyrinths but disclosing the very head-spring of all goodnesse you are to note and to take into serious consideration my following expressions if so be your intent is to learn any thing concerning this Art I do not purpose to use any prolixity in words for that were to no purpose I do love few words which are full of pith Note it is given but to few men to attain unto the mastery of this Art though many strive and endeavour to work upon that structure yet the true knowledge and the attaining thereunto the great Creator hath made common but bestoweth it onely on such which hate lies and loveâ— truth and intend seriously and groaningly to get this Artâ— and chiefly such men are fit for it which love God unfainedly and pray earnestly unto him for such a knowledge Therefore I tell you for a meer truth that in case you intend to go about the making of this stone you be a follower of that I inform you of and before all things pray 〈◊〉 the great Creator to bestow his blessing upon you herein and if you have sinned confesse unto him with a full resolution never to do evil again but lead a godly life and that your heart may be enlightned in all good things and remember when ever you are preferred to any honour to be helpfull to the poor and needy to deliver them out of their misery making them glad with thy helping â—anâ— that the Lord may bestow the greater blessings upon you and you may thereby be confirm'd in faith that there is a Throne in Heaven prepared for such a one hereafter to live in eternal blisse My friend despise not to read good and real writings of such men which had the Philosophick stone before
is it which affordeth power and vertue the naked body is ablâ— to do nothing here if you know to get that then you have the Philosophers Salt and their incombustible Oyl oâ— which many have written before me great Volumes And if of these Artists were ne're so many Whose aime at me is directed onely Yet few of them in their successe were blest To fathom all vertues that lie in my breast The fifth Key THe life of earth maketh spring up Vegetables and he that saith that the earth is dead tells an untruth for a dead thing cannot impart any livelynesse to another and the increase is at a stay in dead things because the spirit of life is fled The spirit is the life and soul of the earth which dwelleth in her receiveth its efficacy upon earthly things from heavenly Astrals for all Vegetables Metals and Minerals receive their power increase and nourishment from the spirit of the earth For the spirit is the life which is fed by Astrals which further imparts a nourishment unto growing things as the Childe lieth hid in the Mothers Womb and is fed there by the Mother so the earth feedeth Minerals also which lie hid in her belly by a spirit which she receiveth from above the earth doth afford no power per se but the living spirit which dwelleth in her doth it and if she should want her spirit then she were dead and could afford no nourishment because from her Sulphur or fatnesse the spirit is taken away which preserveth living powers and driveth forth Vegetables and other growing things by a nutriment Two contrary spirits may dwell together in one subject but are still at variance as in Gun-powder which being lighted these two spirits fly asunder making a great noise fly in the aire are no more discerned no body can tell whither they are gone or what they had been if it were not known experimentally what manner of spirits they were and in what subject they dwelled From hence you may learn that life is a meer spirit and all these things which the ignorant world counteth to be dead must be brought into an incomprehensible visible spiritual life and must be preserved therein if so be that life shall work with life and the spirits which are fed and nourished by a heavenly dew are born of one elemental heavenly and earthly substance which is called materia informis And as there belongeth unto Iron a Magnet which by reason of its own wonderfull invisible love is of an attractive quality so our Gold hath a Magnet also which Magnet is the prima materia of our great stone If you conceive aright of this expression then you may be blessed with riches in this world One Declaration more I must hold forth unto you in this Chapter Man that looketh into a glasse seeth a reflexion of his image but is not palpable save the glasse the party looked into so from this matter must be expell'd a visible spirit which is incomprehensible the same spirit I say is the root of the life of our body and the Mercury of Philosophers out of which the liquid water in our Art is prepared which in its composition you must make again material and must prepare it by certain means from the lowest to the highest degree into a transcendent Medicine For our beginning is an up-shut comprehensible body its middle is a volatile spirit and in the goldish water there is no corrosivenesse at all whereby our Philosophers prolong'd their lives but the end thereof is a superfix'd Medicine for humane and metalline bodies this knowledge indeed fitteth Angels better than man True men attain unto that knowledge also obtaining the same of God by their earnest prayers who are thankfull unto him for it and beneficial to the needy At the closing I tell thee for a certain truth that one work must beget the other for our matter at the beginning of our work must in the best manner be purified then opened broken and destroyed and reduced to dust and ashes All this being done then make of it a volatile spirit as white as snow and another volatile spirit as red as bloud these two spirits contain a third and yet are but one spirit these are the three spirits which preserve and encrease life joyn these together minister to them their natural necessary meat and drink keep them warm in the bed of wedlock to their perfect birth then you will see and finde what the Creator and Nature hath allowed for you to know And know that I never made so plain a revelation God hath incorporated more operation and wonders into Nature than thousands may give credit thereunto There is a Seal and Lock set before me to say no more that others also may write of marvellous things which naturally are permitted by the Creator which ignorant men count to be supernatural For natural things have their first beginning from supernatural ones yet both together are found to be meerly natural The sixth Key MAn without a woman is but half a body and so the woman without the man is but half a body neither â—or each apart can preduce no fruit but living together in a matrimonial way then is their body perfect and by their seed they may expect an increase If too much seed be cast on a ground that that Acre iâ— over-burthened no firm fruit can be expected and if there be too little of the seed then is the fruit thin also the weeds grow then abundantly from thence also no great goodnesse can be expected He that will not burthen his conscience with any sins in selling of wares then let him be just in his dealing having just measures and just weights then he avoideth mens curses and gets the prayers of the poor In deep waters men are easily drown'd and shallow waters are soon dried up by the heat of the Sun and are good for nothing For the obtaining of a wish'd aim and scope care must be had that a certain measure or quantity be taken in the conjunction of the Philosophick liquid substance that the greater quantity do not over-lay the lesser part and be suppress't thereby and the increase and growing of it be obstructed Let the lesser be not too weak for the bigger let there be an equal domination Too much rain spoyleth the fruit and too great drought hindreth true maturity Therefore if Neptune hath prepared a perfect water-Bath then take a just quantity of your aqua permanens have a great care you do neither too much nor too little A double fiery man must be fed with a white Swan these must kill each other and both must revive again and the aâ—â—â— of the four corners of the World must possesse three parts of the up-shut dwelling of the fiery man that the Swans song may be heard when she harmoniously sings her farewell then the roasted Swan will be a food for the King and the fiery King will be in great love with the
quality and is the reason wâ— by its super-abounding calidity it heateth other thingâ— digesteth them and at last it bringeth them to a full mâ—turity the fire being continued for a certain time The things I wâ—ite of Vitriol I have not begg'd nor boâ—rowed from other mens writings but found them so in 〈◊〉 long continued practick whereby nature enabled me become a Sooth-sayer by permission of the Highest Creatâ—â— that that nobly inplanted quality might be avouched bâ— a â—â—thfull and true evidence of one of her devoted Disciâ—es And I speak thus much for a memorandum that if Paris â—n keep safely Helena without troubles that thâ— noble Ciâ— of Troja in Greece be no more ruined and d stroyed and â—riamus together with Menelaus be no more afflicted and diâ—racted thereby then Hector and Achilles will agree well â—ough to obtain that royaâ— Race without going to war â—t it and be Possessâ—rs of â—haâ— Monarchy in their Chilâ—â—ens Children and their off-â—pring and posterity for the â—â—nlarging of their Dominions by increasing their riches â—finitely against which no enemy dareth stir Of common Sulphur THe usual common Sulphur is not so perfectly exalted in it's degree and brought unto maturity as it is found in Antimony and Vitriol There is made of it â—â—er se an Oyl against putrid stinking wounds destroying â—nd killing such worms which grow in them especially if â—at little Salt in it be dissolved from its Sulphur There is made of it a Balsam with Sallet Oyl or Oyl of â—â—uniper in like manner with the white spirit of Terpenâ—â—ne and is of a red colour is made thus take flowers of â—ulphur made with the Colchotar of Vitriol digest them â—r a time in hors-dung or any other way this Balsam may â—afely be used for such that are in a Consumption of the â—ungs especially if rectified several times with spirit of â—â—ne drawn-over and separated that it be bloud red This Balsam is a preservative against corruption and rotteâ—esse The Quint-essence of Sulphur is in a Mineral where a â—ulphureous flint is generated this beaten peebles being â—â—t in a glasse and on it be powred a strong Aquafort made of Vitriol and Salpeter and let dissolve what may 〈◊〉 dissolved abstract that water the remainder must be wâ—â— dulcified and reverberated to a rednesse pour on thâ—â— spirit of wine extract its tincture afterward circulate 〈◊〉 a time in the Pellican let all the essence of Sulphur be â—â—parated it stayeth below the spirit of wine like far Sallâ— Oyl by reason of its ponderousnesse its Dose of six Graiâ— is found to work sufficiently If yâ—u digâ—st in this essenâ—â— of Sulphur Myrrhe Aloes and other Spices it extracâ— their vertues and makes it into a Balsam which suffers 〈◊〉 flesh or other parts that are subject unto putrefaction 〈◊〉 fall into rottennesse for which cause the Ancients have pâ— this name to it Balsamus mortuorum Thus I close to speak any further of combustible Sulphuâ— There may be made an Oyl of it which is found very usâ—full the Sulphur must be sublimed in a high instrumâ—â— with a good heat which sublimation in a long timâ— changeth into a Liquor or Oyl standing in a humid placeâ— but being I do not intend to use any prolixity of words 〈◊〉 let it rest so There may be cocted a Liver out of commoâ— Sulphur which is turn'd unto milk and it may also 〈◊〉 changed into a red Oyl with Lin-seed Oyl many other Mâ—dicinals may be made out of Sulphur Its flowers essencâ— and Oyl are preferred before the rest together with thâ— white and red fixed Cinober which are made of it becauâ—â— in them is found a mighty vertue Of Calx vive THe secrets of Quick-lyme is known to few men anâ— few there are which attained to a perfect knowledgâ— of its qualities but I tell to you a real truth that thougâ— Lyme is contemptible yet there lieth great matters therein and requireth an understanding Master to take out of 〈◊〉 what lieth buried in it I mean to expel its pure spiriâ— which collaterally stands in affiâ—ity wiâ—h Minerals is able to binde and help to make fix the volatile spirits of Minerals for it is of a fiery essence heateth concocteth and bringâ—th unto maturity in short time when in many years they could not be brought to it the gâ—osse earthly body of â—t doth not do the fear but its spirit dâ—th it which is drawn out of iâ— this spirit is of that abâ—liâ—y that he bindeth and fixeth other volatile spirits For note the spirit dissolveth Oculi Canâ—rorum dissolveth Crystals into a lâ—quorâ— these two being duely brought into an â—â—â—ite per monum distillaâ—â—onis I will say nothing 〈◊〉 this time of Diamonds and such â—â—ke stones that waâ—er dissolveth and breaketh the stone 〈◊〉 the bladder and the Gouâ—y Tâ—â—tâ—r settled into the â—oynâ—s of hands and feet suff rs not any Gout to â—ake roo◠〈◊〉 those parts this rare sâ—â—r t l taught one of my faithfull Diâ—ciples and the great Chancellor of the invinciâ—le Caesar â—s still thankfull unto me for it and many great persons â—esides Quick-lyme is strengthned and made more fiery and hot â—y a pure and unsophâ—stâ—cated spirit of wine which is often â—oured on it and abstracted again then the white Salt of â—artar must be grinded wi h iâ—â—ogether with its additioâ—â—ls which must be dead and coâ—tain nothing thâ—â— you â—â—ll draw a very hellish spiri iâ— which great mysteries lye 〈◊〉 How this spirit is gotten I told it observe it keep it â—â—ke it for a fare-well Of Arsenick ARsenick is in the kindred of Mercury Antimony as a Bastard in a Family may be its whole substance is â—bysonous and volatile even as the former two in its exâ—â—rnal colour to the eye it is white yellow and red but â—â—wardly it is adorned with all manner of colours like to 〈◊〉 Metals which it was fain to forsake being forced thereunto by fire It is sublimed per se without addition and also in its subliming there are added several other matters as occasion requireth If it be sublimed with Salt and Mars then it looks like a transparent Crystal but its poyson stayeth still with it unfit to be joyned or added to Metals hath very little efficacie to transmute any Metal The Subterranean Serpent bindeth it in the Union of fire but cannot quite force it that it might serve for a Medicine for man and beast if it be further mix'd with the Salt of a Vegetable stone which is with Tartar and is made like unto an Oyl it is of great efficacie in wounds which are of a hard healing it can make a Coat for deceitfull Venus to trim her handsomly that the inconstancie of her false heart may be disclosed by her wavering servants without gain with her prejudice and damage When Antimony and Mars are made my companions and am exalted by them to the top of Olympus then I afford a Ruby in transparence and colour to that which cometh from
Orient and am not to be esteemed lesse than it if I am proved by affliction then I fall off like a flower which is cut off and withers therefore nothing can be made 〈◊〉 me to fix any Metal or tinge it to any profit because 〈◊〉 forsook my body totally and distributed my Coat to play and lot to be cast for it therefore let no man neither praisâ— or dispraise me unlesse he have for very hunger taken 〈◊〉 pound of me into the body though if he gets an Antidotâ— to save his life however he shall get nothing out of Metals by it in other things he may have a Treasure in it unto which few are comparable to it I Arsenâ—c say of my self at the closing hereof that it is 〈◊〉 very difficult thing to finde my right and due preparationâ— my operation is felt exceedingly if made tryal of and it iâ— a great danger if ignorant men make use of me he thaâ— can be without me let him go to my kindred and if yoâ— can equalize me with them that I may share with them iâ— the inheritance then all the world shall acknowledge thâ—â— my descent is from their bloud but it is a very hard taâ—â— for any man to set a shepheard into a royal seat to make him King But Patriarchs being descended from shepheards and were preferr'd to royal dignities I will therefore prescribe no limits nor pâ—sse any judgement For wrong and right may be found in this leaf However take you notice that I am a poysonous volatile bird have forsaken my dearest and most confiding friend and separated my self as a Leper which must live aloof off from other men Cure me first of my infirmity then I shall be able to heal those which have need of me that my praise may be confirmed by poyson and my name for an everlasting remembrance to the honour of my Counâ—rey is nothing inferior unto Marcus Curtius and it will be found in the end in what manner Hannibal and Scipio were reconciled Of Salpeter TWo Elements are predominant in me as fire and aire the lesser quantity is water and earth I am fiery burning and volatile There is in me a subtile spirit I am altogether like unto Mercury hot in the in-side and cold in the out side am slippery very nimble at the expelling of mine enemies My greatest enemy is common Sulphur and yet is my best friend also for being purged by him and clarified in the fire then am I able to allay all heats of the body within and without and am one of the best Medicaments to expell and to keep off the poysenous plague I am a greater cooler outwardly than Saturn but my spirit is more hot than any I cool and burn according as men will make use of me and according as I am prepared When Metals are to be broken I must be a help else no victory can be obtained be the undertakings great or small Before I am destroyed I am a meer Ice but when I am anatomized then am I a meer hellish fire If Pluto caâ— master Cerberus to make him â—ake his dwelling again in thâ— Isle of Thule then he may snatch a piece of love from Venus then Mars must submit and mâ—y live richly with Luâ—â— which may equally be exalted to the Crown of the honourable King and be placed with him in equal honouâ— and dignity If I shall happily enjoy my end then my Soul must bâ— driven out cunningly then I do all what lieth in my power of my self alone I am able to effect nothing But my love 〈◊〉 a jolly woman if I am married unto her and our copulâ—â—lation be kept in Hell that we both do swear well the that which is subtile flings away all filthinesse then wâ— leave beinde us rich Children and in our dead bodies 〈◊〉 found the best Treasure which we bequeathed in our laâ— Will and Testament Of Salarmoniac SAlarmoniac is none of the meanest Keyes to open Mâ—tals thereby therefore the Ancients have compared with a volatile Bird it must be prepared else you can do 〈◊〉 seats with it for if it be not prepared it doth more huâ— than good unto Metals carrieth them away out at 〈◊〉 Chimney-hole it can elevate and sublime with it's fâ—â— wings the tincture of Minerals and of some Metals to tâ—â— very Mountains where store of snow is fâ—und usually evâ— at the greatest heat of the Summer if it be sublimed wiâ— common Salt then it purgeth and cleareth and may used safely He that supposeth to transmute Metals with this Saâ— which is so volatile surely he doth not hit the nail on tâ— head for it hath no such power but to destroy Metaâ— and make them fit for transmutation in that respect it haâ— sufficient power for no Metal can be transmuted unleâ— it be first prepared thereunto My greater strength which lieth in me may be drawn from mâ— by subliming and cementing The greatest secret in mâ— you will finde when I am united with Hydra which is to devour and swallow me that I also may turn with hâ—r to be a water Serpent then have I prepared a Bath for the Nympha and have gotten power to make ready a Crown for the King that the same may be adorned with Jewels and may with honour and glory be set on his head Of Tartar THis Salt is not set down in the book of Minerals but is generated of a vegetable seed but its Creator hath put such vertue into it that it heareth a wonderfuâ—l love â—nd friendship unto Metals making them malleable it purgeth Lune unto a whitenesse and incorporateth into her such additionals which are convenient for her being digested for a time with Minerals or Metals and then subâ—imed and vilified they all come unto a quick Mercury which to do there is not any vegetable Salt beside it is â—ot this a wonderfull thing That Oratour is yet to be born which shall be of that ability and eloquence as to expresse â—ufficiently all the mysteries hid in it But to make out of â—t the Philosophers stone is no such matter being it is a â—egetable and that power is not given to any of the vâ—geâ—ables It is in Medicina a very good remedy to be used â—â—wardly and outwardly its Salt being made spirituaâ—l and â—weet it dissolveth and breaketh the stone in the bladder â—nd dissolveth the coagulated Tartar of the Gouâ— sâ—tled â—nto the joynts or any where besides It 's ordinary spiâ—it which is used for opening of Metals being used and applied â—utwardly also layeth a foundation for healing of such Ulâ—ers which admit hardly any healing as there are â—â—sâ—â—â—'s â—ancers Wolves and such like I know nothing niâ—â—â—o write of Tartar for having separated it self and left it's noblâ—st part in the wine Of Vinegar IN Alchimy and Medicina nothing almost can be prepared but Vinegar must set a helping hand to it Therefore I thought it convenient to let it have it 's due praise and commendation especially
to insert it here in thâ—s treatise In Alchimy it is used to set Metals and Minerals into putrefaction It is used also for to extract their essences 〈◊〉 tinctures being fiâ—st prepared thereunto even as the spirit of wine is usual to extract the tinctures from vegetables In Pâ—ysick it deserveth its praise also for it taketh the pure from impure and is a separator and taketh from the Minerâ—l Mâ—dicaments their sharpnesse and corrosivenesse fixeth â—hat which is volaâ—ile and is a great defendant against poyson as I told you when I spoke of the Antimonial glasse Vinegar is used inwardly also and both men and beast are benefited thereby outwardly it is applied to hot inflammations and swellings for a cooler Spirit of wine and Vâ—negar are of great use both in Alchimy and Physick both have their descent from the Urine are of one substance buâ— differ in the quality by reason of putrefaction the Vinegar got there of the which I told you formerly I must acquaint you with one thing which is this thaâ— this is not the Philosophers V negar our Vinegar or acetum is another liquor namely a matter it self for the stone oâ— Philosophers is made out of Azot of Philosophers which must be prepared with ordinary distâ—ll'd Azot with spirit oâ— wine aâ—d with other waters besides and must be reduced uâ—â—â— a certain order Nâ—â—e this for a memorandum if distill'd pure Vinegaâ— be poured upon destroyed Saturn and is kept warm iâ— Marie's-Bath it loseth it's acidity altogether is as sweet as any Suggar then abstract two or three parts of that Vinegar set it in a Cellar then you will finde white transparent stones like unto Crystals these are an excellent cooler and healer of all adust and inflamed Symptoms If these Crystals are reduced into a red Oyl and poured upon Mercury precipitated by Venus and proceeded in further as it ought if that be hit rightly then neither Sol nor Lune will hinder thee from getting riches Of Wine THe true vegetable stone is found in Wine which is the noblest of all vegetables it containeth three sorts of of Salt three sorts of Mercury and three sorts of Sulphur The first Salt sticketh in the wood of the Vine which if burnt to ashes and a lixivium made of it to have it's salt drawn forth which must be coagulated This is the first Salt The second Salt is found in Tartar if that be incinerated then draw its Salt forth dissolve and coagulate it several times and let it be sufficiently clarified The third Salt is this when the wine is distill'd it leaveth feces behinde which are made to powder it 's Salt can be drawn out with warm water each of these Salts hath a special property in their Center they stand in a harmony because they descend from one root It hath three sorts of Mercury aâ—d three sorts of Sulphur The first Oyl is made of the stem the second Oyl is made out of crude Tartar the third is the Oyl of Wine There is a strange property in the spirit of Wine for without it there cannot be extracted any trâ—e tincture of Sol nor can there be made without it any true aurum potabile but few men know how a true spirit of Wine is made much lesse can it's property be found out wholly Several wayes have been tried to draw and to get the spirit of Wine without sophistication as by several instruments and distillings with metalline Serpents and otheâ— strange inventions of Sponges Papers and the like Some caused a rectified aqua vitae be frozen in the greatesâ— frost expecting the phlegme thereof should turn to Ice the spirit thereof to keep liquid but nothing was done to any purpose The true way for the getting of it I told you of aâ— the end of my Manuals for it must be subtile penetrating without any phlegme pure aerial and volatile so that aire in a magnetick quality may attract it therefore it had need to be kept close in it is oâ— a penetrating and effectualâ— operation and its use is several There are three which are the noblest Creatures in the world these three bear a wonderfull affection one to another Among Animals it is man our of whose Mume is made an Animal stone in which Microcosme is contained Among Minerals Gold is the noblest whose fixednesse is a sufficient testimony ol it 's noble off spring and kinâ—red Among Vegetables there lieth hid a Vegetable stone Man loveth Gold and Wine above all other Creatures which may be beheld with eyes Gold loveth man and Wine because it lets go its noblest part if spirit of Wine be put to it being made potable which giveth strength to man and prolongeth his life in health Wine beareth affection to man also and to Gold because it easily uniteth with the tincture of Sol expelleth melancholly and sadnesse refresheth and rejoyceth mans heart He that hath these three stones may boldly say that he hath the stones of the Universal much of it is talk'd and written but what eye hath seen it not one amongst many hundred of Millions These stones renew men and beasts cure Leprous Metals cause barrennesse to become fertile with a new birth humane reason is not able to comprehend it noâ— conceive of it If a rectified Aqua vitae be lighted then Mercury and â—â—e Vegetable Sulphur separateth that Sulphur burns â—ight being a meeâ— fire the tender Mercury betakes him-â—mself to his wings and flieth to his Chaos He that can shut up and catch this fiery spirit he may â—oast that he hath gotâ—â—â— a gâ—eat victory in the Chymical â—â—â—le for this Vegetable fiery Sulphur is the onely Key to â—â—aw the Sulphur from mineral and metalline bodies Thus I close my book the things contained therein are â—ot grounded on opinions as most Physicians rely on the â—uthors that such and such Herbs are cold and moist dry â—â—d warm in the first second and third degree because â—hey heard their Authors affirm it themselves neither â—aw 〈◊〉 nor made tryal of it making meer collections from other â—ens writings patching up volumes The things I wrote â—f I know by a long experimental knowledge to be true â—his my experience I hope will take place and get the viâ—tory as the Amazons did in their prudence The eternal heavenly spirit refresh our Souls that we may â—â—lk in heavenly streets forsaking all false and erroneous by-wayes Amen FINIS â—ONCLUSIONS AND EXPERIMENTS OF BASILIUS VALENTINUS PREFACE I Basilius Valentinus write a short clause upon my former writings and this treatise is instead of a declaration thereof But my Son and Disciple you are to remember that you lift up your eyes to â—he Mountain of God and of the Philosophers from â—hence you expect a help namely Sulphur Vitriol â—nd Magnet of Philosophers must be a great help unâ—o you For Philosophers Sulphur Vitriol Magnet â—s coelestial from whence cometh â—hat Universal and Philosophick Lapis vulgar and ordinary Sulphur Vitriol and Magnet afford meerly
Metals Philosophically The Philosophers Merâ—â—ry and not the vulgar being reduced unto water disâ—lveth the Philosophick Salt together with the purple â—antle by putrefaction and distillation for it is Mercurius â—plicatus Chap. VI. Of Sulphur of Lune 1. THis Lune is made spiritual by means of a water expressed in our second Key and may easily be made into potable silver where by many diseases are cured 2. If you take one part of this spiritual Lune and you feed it with three parts of Virgins Milk and bring it unto fixation then you have an augment of Lune which breedeth monethly young ones these are taken forth and their places are supplied with Mercury vive c. This powder is reduced with Boras then you have an augmentum perpetuum Chap. VII Of Antimonial Vitriol 1. THere is made out of Vitriol of Antimony with distill'd Vinegar a sweet extraction its acetum is separated from it on the remainder is poured spirit of wine must be extracted and the pure from impure separated This sweet extraction is drawn over the spirit of wine by cohobation is often drawn from it and that powder is reduced to a glorious Oyl of Antimony This Oyl cureth all manner of diseases being ministred in a convenient Vehicle This Medicinal Oyl is a great arcanum 2. Further take one part of this Oyl and two parts of the Mâ—rcurial water in which is dissolved a fourth part of Sol purple Mantle then joyn them lute Hermetically coagulate and fix This Tincture tingeth Lune and Mercurie into Sol. This is that pure Sulphur of Antimony the Vitriol of Antimony must be made per se without any addition of Salpeter Salt and Borras Chap. VIII Of Sulphur of Vitriol 1. THere is made of Viâ—riol a lixivium with ashes of Beech-wood and a Sulphur is drawn from this Vitriol and is precipitated with Salt of Tartar Further the Oyl of Sulphur is exâ—racted with Juniper Oyl tâ—us you have a red Oyl putrifie the same with spirit of wine abstract the spirit of wine from it This glorious Oyl of Sulphur is good against maâ—y diseases it is to be used against Consumption Dropsiâ— Plague Gravel and Scabbinesse 2. Vitriol is sublimed with Salmiâ—c also but better is it if done with a lixivium whereby the body of Vâ—t iol is better opened and dissolved This sublimate is dissolved into an Oyl whereby câ—ude Mercury can be coagulaâ—ed and fix'd of the which I shall write more anon when I treat of Vitriol Chap. IX Of common Sulphur 1. THere is a Liver made of yellow Sulphur with Linseed Oyl boyled in Lye with Sol 〈◊〉 puâ—rified and then distill'd pour this water on Tyleâ— wâ—ich newly came out of the Oven imbibe them theâ—ewith distil it per retortam you have a yellow water of it like an aquafort which tingeth Lune Take one part of iâ—â—s water and one part of Lunaâ— calx let it sta d 〈◊〉 dâ—yâ—â— and nights in warm Sand the fouâ—th part of it tuâ—â—e 〈◊〉 unto Gold being reduced separated purged with Saturn and driven 2. Further Sulphur with the anima of Saturn being often driven over and fixed may then safely be used inwardly for a Medicine but projected on Lune in the flux â—t afford good Gold in the Quaâ—t 3. Of the Gray powder and Calx vive equal parts one pound a fourth part of Salmiac grinded among and driven over per retortam affords a glorious red Oyl which is of 〈◊〉 fixing and graduating quality 4. Lastly I tell you take of this Oyl of Sulphur of Venus and of Mars add thereunto the Oyl of Antimonie's Sulphur binde these together with the Oyl or Mercurial water fix it then you have a Medicine for men and Metals viz. to ringe Mercury and Lune into Sol. The second Section Of Vitriols Chap. I. Of Vitriol of Sol and of Lune IN the first place you must have our water of the cold Earth salt and of the Eagle whereby Gold and Silver is made spiritual let it shoot into Crystals this is that Metalline Vitriol out of which is distilled together with spirit of wine and Oyl of Sulphur to be used after the manner of Metals Chap. II. Of Vitriol of Saturn and of Jupiter CAlcine Saturn or Jup ter exâ—ract its anima with distill'd Viâ—egar lâ—t it puâ—rifie 14. dayes and nights let â—he Vitriol shoot This must be driveâ— over with spirit of wine it affords a sweet Oyl and it is the Suâ—phur of Saturn and Jupiter This Oyl coagulateth Mercury and being first precipitated with Oyl of Vitriol it fixeth him Chap. III. Of Vitriol of Mars TAke the filings of Mars and of Sulphur equal parts calcine them in a Brick-kill to a purple colour pour on it distill'd water or Vinegar it extracteth a green colour abstract the third part of that water let it shoot thus you have an artifiical Vitriol distil from it a red spirit or Oyl Take half an Ounce of it add to it Mercurial water in which is dissolv'd Sol take of this Oyl but a fourth part of an Ounce fix this Tincture then you have an excellent Medicine to project upon Lead Silver and Tin which are transmuted thereby into pure Gold O! thou Christian heart return thanks to the Creator of Minerals Metals and other Creatures Chap. IV. Of Vitriol of Venus I Have told you already of the transparent Vitriol to be extracted out of Venus and to distil of it a red Oyl This Oyl dissolveth Mars turneth him into a Vitriol beiâ—â— once more distill'd per retortam forcibly then you have aâ— excellent Tinging-oyl called Salt of Mars This is thâ— Kings excise man which bringeth in his Rents and enricheth the King This Oyl dissolveth the spiritual purple maâ—tle and draweth it over the Helmet Now you have seâ—mented the Celar Sulphur with iâ—s own Sulphur which Philosophers before me have not done they took onely calcined Sol or Sâ—lar Calx set the same to the duplicated Mercury instead of the fermenâ— and attaiâ—ed unto the enâ— they wish'd for as well as I. But according as men do work so is the operation of their Tincture transmuting more or lesse according to the efficacie of the Tincture 2. Out of the Oyl of this Martiaâ— Salt is Mercury of Antimony precipitated is added to the sweet Oyl of Vitriol fix'd this Medicine next unto the Philosophers stone is the best and highest Univâ—rsal upon mans body and tingeth Lune Saturn and Jupiter into good Sol holding in the exameâ— very well 3. There is made also a masse out of Honey Salt and Vinegar and lamins of Venus which are stratified and calcined This calcinate of its own accord turns to a Verdigreece which must be extracted crystallized and distilled to a red Oyl which is used as you heard above Chap. V. Of Vitriol of Mercury VItriol of Mercury is easily made distill'd in aquafort made of Salpeter and Allome being dissolved therein Crystals do shoot which are very like unto a Vitriol these being wash'd with
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
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