a uri fontina

8/13/2019 A Uri Fontina

1/97

A U R I F O N T I N A C H Y M I C A :

OR, A


2/97

COLLECTION

Of Fourteen Small

TREATISES Concerning the

Firt Matter

OF

P h i l o s o p h e r s ,

For the !ico"er# of their$hitherto o much conceale!%

M E R C U R Y

&hich man# ha"e tu!ioul#en!ea"oure! to Hi!e' (ut thee to ma)e Manifet' for the (enefit of

Man)in! in general*

LON+ON'

,rinte! for &illiam Coo-er' at the ,elican in Little./ritain' 0123*


3/97

TA/LE OF CONTENTS

H#!ro-#rogra-hum Hermeticum************************************************************************************0

The ,ri"# Seal of Secret********************************************************************************************04

A Letter***********************************************************************************************************************05

A Treatie of Mercur# an! the ,hiloo-her Stone******************************************************66

Colour to (e O(er"e! in the O-eration of the 7reat &or)****************************************68

Theauru Si"e Me!icina Aurea**********************************************************************************93

Tractatu !e La-i!e*****************************************************************************************************99

Summar# of ,hiloo-h#**********************************************************************************************44

Cla"icula' or Little e# of Ra#mon! Lullie Ma;oricane**************************************************48

Secret +iclo

A ,hiloo-hical Ri!!le*************************************************************************************************=1

The An>er of /ernar!u Tr"ianu to the E-itle of Thoma of /ononia** =5

The ,refator# E-itle of /ernar!' Earl of Trene to Thoma of /ononia*** *26

A /rief Rehearal of the ,re-aration of the ,hiloo-her Stone***********************************29

I.


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H Y + R O , Y R O 7 R A , H U M

H E R M E T I C U M


5/97

H Y D R O P Y R O G R A P H U M H E R M E T I C U M

+ear Son' to -oint out unto thee uccinctl# a Memorandum' a it >ere

concerning the un!ertan!ing of the true an! genuine Stone of the ,hiloo-her'

an! the manner of -rocee!ing in it -re-aration' I gi"e thee thi information' that the

ai! Stone0i com-oun!e! an! engen!ere! of t>o thing' "i?* /o!# an! S-irit' or of

Maculine an! Feminine See!' that i' of the Water of Mercury, and of the Body of

Sol@ >hereof >e fin! ufficient -roof an! attetation in all true &riting of the

,hiloo-her' an! therefore I count it nee!le to enlarge m# elf (# uoting of

them* The u-hot of all therefore i' that firt of all Mercury be dissolvedan!

reduced into a spiritual Water' 6 >hich i terme! (# the ,hiloo-her' the first Matter

of Metals' the ;uice of Lune, Aqua Vite' Buinteence' a fier# ar!ent &ater or

/ran!#@ (# >hich &ater or -rime Matter' 9Metal are unloc)e

(ecaue (efore it coagulation it hath (een &ater* Alo telling u' that(# the "er# ame -rinci-le' from >hich each thing hath it rie' it ma# (e re!uce! or

(rought (ac) to >hat it >a in the (eginning* An! thence the# inferr' that it i

im-oi(le to tranmute Metal into 7ol! or Sil"er' >ithout re!ucing them firt into

theirprima materia* = Concerning therefore the (ringing a(out thi Regeneration of

Metals' thou mut !iligentl# hee! an! o(er"e' m# (elo"e! Son' that the ame i to

(e -erforme! onl# (# the mean of the -rime Matter of Metal' that i' the Water of

Mercury' 1an! (# nothing (ei!e in the >hole &orl!* For thi &ater i net of in

unto the Metallic) nature' in o much that after their mutual an! uniform commiture'

the# can ne"er (e an# more -arte! aun!er* Thi the ,hiloo-her in the urbaan!

other /oo) ignifie unto u' a#ing' Nature re;o#ceth in it Nature@ Nature

utaineth Nature@ it amen!eth Nature@ it re!uceth Nature@ Nature o"ercometh

Nature* Coneuentl# it i necear# to )no> thi (lee! &ater' an! it

-re-aration' >hich &ater i a hot' fier#'5-iercing S-irit' the ,hiloo-hical &ater' an!

the hi!!en e# of thi Art* For >ithout thi all the la(our an! >or) of Alch#m# i

fruitle an! frutraneou* O(er"e therefore'

!Lapis e" duobus, corpore # spiritus$%Mercurius resolvedus in aquam$&'um aqua Mercurii metalla resolvenda in primam materiam$()ualibet res redigitur in primam materiam per principia unde erta fiat$*Redicetio Metallerua in primam materiam guomode fiat$+Aqua Mercurii metall is amica$Aqua Mercurii est vapor igneus$

.0.


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m# on' an! mar)' that all the ground-.or/ of the 0hilosophers Stone' l coniteth in

thi' that (# mean of the -rima materia metallerum' that i >ith the Water of

Mercury' >e re!uce an! (ring (ac) theperfect body of Sol to a ne. birth' that it (e

(orn again (# &ater an! S-irit' accor!ing to our Sa"iour 7ol! an! Sil"er' that (# the mean of Nature the# ma# (ring Fruit*

Coneuentl#' m# Son' thou oughtet to choose no other Body(

for thy Wor/ but4old' (ecaue that all other /o!ie are ran) an! im-erfect* An! therefore alo the

,hiloo-her ma!e the choice of 7ol! (efore all other /o!ie' (ecaue it i of all

thing in the &orl! the mot -erfect' illuminating all other /o!ie' an! infuing life

into them@ an! (ecaue it i of a fiate! incom(uti(le nature' of a contant or

a(i!ing root' an! Fire -roof@ alo' (ecaue $a Roger Baconaith% the cor-oral

7ol!' a to it no(ilit# an! -erfection' cannot (e change!' an! i the utmot (oun!

an! term of all Natural generation' an! there i no -erfecter thing in the >hole

&orl!* The li)e teacheth alo the ,hiloo-her 6saacus 7ollandus' a#ing' Our

Stone cannot (e etracte! from an# other (ut a

!8undamentum Lapidis$%'orpus per aquam Mercurii sit astrale$&Regenerationem metallorum ignorantes abstineant a 'hemia$('orpus Soiil eligendum ad 'hemiam$

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-erfect /o!#' #ea the mot -erfect in the &orl!* An! if it >ere not a -erfect /o!#'

>hat Stone coul! (e etracte! thence0 in regar! that it mut ha"e -o>er to

uic)en all !ea! /o!ie' to -urifie the unclean' to mollifie thoe that are har!' an!

har!en thoe that are oft: An! in truth' it >oul! (e im-oi(le to etract o

-o>erful a Stone out of an im-erfect an! craie /o!#' for a goo! -erfect thing i

not to (e got from that >hich i im-erfect an! unclean: an! although man# !o

fanc#' that uch an etraction ma# (e (rought to -a' #et the# erre grol#' an! are

"er# un>ie* Therefore' m# Son' o(er"e' that the re! ,hiloo-hical Sulphuri in

the 7ol!'6a Richar!u tetifieth' an! ing 'alidaith: Our Sul-hur i no common

Sul-hur' (ut i of a Mercurial nature' fiate! an! not fl#ing from the Fire* The

ame all other ,hiloo-her alo !o >itne' that their re! Sul-hur i 7ol!*

It i true' m# Son' that the ,hiloo-her !o a# in their /oo) that the

common 7ol! or Sil"er i none of their 7ol! or Sil"er' in regar! that their 7ol! an!

Sil"er i uic) or li"ing'9(ut the common are !ea! an! therefore not ca-a(le to

(ring im-erfect /o!ie to -erfection' nor to communicate unto them the leat of

their -erfection* For if the# houl! (eto> ome of their -erfection u-on other'

the# themel"e >oul! (e then im-erfect' in regar! the# ha"e no more -erfection'

than >hat i nee!ful for themel"e* Thee >or! of the ,hiloo-her' m# Son'

are true' an! -o)en u-on "er# goo! groun!@ for it i im-oi(le for common 7ol!

an! Sil"er' to -erfect other /o!ie that are im-erfect' unle a (efore taught' that

the /o!# of Solan! Lune(e (orn ane>' or regenerate! (# the &ater an! S-irit of

theprima materia' an! there(# a gloriou' -iritual' clarifie!' eternal' fiate!'

u(tle' -enetrant /o!# !o gro> forth' >hich after>ar! hath -o>er to -erfect other

/o!ie >hich are im-erfect* An! therefore the ,hiloo-her alo ai! -reentl#after' that thoe la(our are to thi en! un!erta)en a(out their Stone' that it

tincture ma# (e a!"ance! an! ealte!@4for it i reuiite' that the Stone (e

!igete! an! carrie! on to a far greater !egree of u(tlet# an! ecellenc#' than the

common 7ol! an! Sil"er -oeeth* To thi -ur-oe the ,hiloo-her Bernhard

-ea)eth in hi /oo)' in the >or! follo>ing: Though >e ta)e thi /o!# ;ut a

Nature hath -ro!uce! it@ for all that it i necear#' that (# Art' >hich in thi -oint

mut imitate Nature' the ame (e highl# ealte! in it -erfection' to the en! that (#

the mean of that u-erlati"e accom-lihment' an! it u-er.a(un!ant ra#' it ma#

(e a(le to -erfect an! com-leat the im-erfect /o!ie'

!A corpore perfecto res perfecta e"trabitur$%Sulphur tubeum est in auro$&Aurum vulgi non est aurum 0hi losopherum, # quomodo hoc intell igendum$(Auri tinctura mult iplicatur per aeuam Mercurii $

.9.


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a to >eight' colour' u(tance' #ea a to their Mineral root an! -rinci-le* /ut if it

houl! ha"e remaine! in that !egree' >herein Nature left it' "i?* in it im-le

-erfection' an! not ren!re! more -erfect or ealte!' >hat houl! the time of nine

month an! a half >e -en! a(out it er"e for Arnoldusin hi E-itle -ea)eth

home' a#ing' 4old and Silver is in our Stone potentially and virtually' after a

-o>erful' in"ii(le an! natural >a#@ 0 for if it >ere not o' no 7ol! nor Sil"er coul!

come of it: (ut the 7ol! an! Sil"er eiting in our Stone' i (etter than the common'(ecaue it i living, but the common is dead* an! for thi "er# reaon the

,hiloo-her calle! it their 7ol! an! their Sil"er' (ecaue it i -o>erful in their

Stone' acti"e in it eence (ut not "ii(le common 7ol! an! Sil"er@ >hich i alo

confirme! (# 2uclidesin the great Roar#' a#ing' Nothing cometh of a -erfect

thing' in regar! it i alrea!# -erfect an! com-leat' (eing o ma!e (# Nature*

&hereof >e ha"e an eam-le in /rea!@ >hich (eing fermente! an! (a)e!' i

-erfect in it !egree or (eing' ha"ing attaine! to it inten!e! en!' o that it can (e

(rought to no further fermentation' to ma)e other /rea! of it* The cae i the ame

>ith the 7ol!' >hich through length of time hath (een !e!uce! (# Nature to a

fiate! an! -erfect con!ition: 6an! o coneuentl# it i im-oi(le (# the mean of

the im-le 7ol! to -erfect other /o!ie' unle the -erfect /o!# (e firt !iol"e!

an! re!uce! to it firt Matter: >hich !one' it i intro"erte! (# our la(our an! Art'

an! re!uce! into a true ferment an! tincture* Moreo"er the -hiloo-her !o a#'

that there i no coming to a goo! en!' until 7ol! an! Sil"er (e ;o#ne! together in

one /o!#* Here' m# Son' thou mut un!ertan! Lunemeta-horicall#' 9an! not

accor!ing to the letter' (ecaue the ,hiloo-her a# in their &riting' that Lunei

of a col! an! moit nature' >hich !ecri-tion the# attri(ute alo unto Mercury: an!therefore (# Lune is understood Mercury' or the -rime Matter' >hich i the

,hiloo-her Lune' or ;uice of Lune' a i ma!e -lain (# the ecellent an! !ee-l#.

fathoming -iece' the 'langor(uccina*

An! thu' m# Son' thou art intructe! (riefl#' that no -rofit i to (e got (#

thi Art' unle theperfect Bodies by means of the 0hilosophers 8ire, or Water of

Mercury, be reduced into their-rimum En' >hich i a Sul-hureou &ater' an! not

Mercury vive' a the So-hiter u--oe* For the firt matter 4 of Metal i not

Mercury vive' (ut a clamm# Sul-hureou Da-our' an! a "icou &ater' >herein thethree -rinci-le' "i?* Salt' Sul-hur' an! Mercur#' are

lAurum 0hilosophorum potentiale # nirtuale$%2" corpore Solis perfecto nihil sit, nisi reducatur ad primam materiam$&Luna metaphorica$(0rima materia quid9

.4.


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coeitent* Coneuentl# it i necear# to )no> the true (lee! &ater of Mercur#'

or the Hea"enl# u-ernatural Fire' >here(# the /o!ie are !iol"e! an! melte! li)e

Ice* For the )no>le!ge of thi i the greatet ecret of all' 0 an! i >holl# an! onl# in

the -o>er of 7o!' an! i not to (e o(taine! other>ie' (ut (# fer"ent -ra#er unto

him* Concerning thi the ,hiloo-her Rogeriusaith@ 7o! hath create! Man' an!

-lace! him o"er Nature an! all creature' though himelf (e natural' an! nothing

ele (ut Nature' ece-t the /reath >hich 7o! (reathe! into him: The "er# ame i

to (e the ;u!ge of the &or)' an! their nature* Thi !i"ine S-irit re-reenteth unto

the ene an! thought' in a true Diion a it >ere' the firt -rinci-le of Nature'

e-eciall# ince the natural in(re! S-irit !ico"ereth ome uch groun!' >hereu-on

he ma# urel# rel#e' an! in thi &or) an! earnetne of the S-irit' >hich i of the

natural Creation' 6the !i"ineAdamre-reenteth in u the !iolution of the >hole

&orl!* An! St* 0eter(# the )in!le! an! (urning fier# S-irit of the in(reathe! /reath

of 7o!' !eclareth the ame "er# clearl#' a#ing: That the Element hall melt >ith

fer"ent heat@ the Earth alo' an! the &or) that are therein' hall (e (urnt u- an!

that there >ill (e a ne> &orl!' "er# gloriou' ecellent an! goo!' a in Apocalypsii!ecri(e!* An! hereu-on the ,hiloo-her conclu!eth' accor!ing to >hat hath (een

alle!ge! out of St* 0eter' that there hall ha--en a !etruction of the Elementar#

&orl! (# Fire* O(er"e in thi Art' that the Fire mut -erform the li)e in it t#-e in

Nature* Therefore' m# Son' et th# thought u-on thi &ater' >here>ith the /o!# of

Sol9$>hich a Rogerius>itneeth' i a -erfect create! &orl!% i (urnt u-' an!

!etro#e! an! !iol"e!' that it i not a common Fire' in regar! that common i not

a(le to (urn or !etro# the 7ol!: (ut it i a u-ernatural incom(uti(le Fire' the

tronget of all Fire' #ea a Hellih Fire' >hich onl# hath -o>er to (urn the 7ol!' an!

to et the ame free from it tiff an! har! (on!* Thi u-ernatural Fire' >hich hath

uch a -o>er o"er the 7ol! an! other Metallic) /o!ie' i nothing ele (ut the

Spiritual, sulphureous fiery Water of Mercury' >herein the /o!# of Soli !iol"e!

an! (urnt u-' an! of thi !iol"e! an! !etro#e! /o!#' a ne> &orl! li)e>ie i

create! an! (orn' an! the Hea"enl# erualem' that i an eternal' clarifie!' u(tle'

-enetrant' fiate! /o!#' >hich i a(le to -enetrate an! -erfect all other /o!ie*

Hence Rogeriusaith' A that i to (e a u-ernatural Fire' >hich i to (rea) an! melt

into one another the Element of the >hole &orl!@ an! a out of the (ro)en

corru-ti(le &or) of the !iol"e! Element' a ne> &or) >ill (e (orn' >hich >ill (ean e"erlating &or)@ e"en o

!'ognitio aqua Mercurii summum est secretum$%Vt macrocosmus corrumptur per ignem, ita etiam microcosmus 0hilosophicus$&'orpus Solis corrumpendum per aquam Mercurii$

.=.


10/97

the Hol# Trinit# hath he>e! an! ignifie! unto u li)e>ie' a u-ernatural Fire in the

Hea"enl# Stone* Thi u-ernatural Fire' m# Son' the ,hiloo-her ha"e hi!!en in the

/oo) in -ara(olical e-reion' naming the ame (# innumera(le name' an!

e-eciall# the# term it Balneum Mariae' a moit Hore.!ung' Mentruum Urine' Mil)'

/lou!'Aqua vitae ' 0an! the li)e* Fire' aith Bernhardus'6ma)e a "a-orou Fire'

continual !igeting' not "iolent' u(tle' air#' clear' cloe' incom(uti(le' -enetrant an!

"ital: an! thereu-on he -ea)eth further' Trul#' I ha"e tol! thee all the manner an!circumtance of the Fire' >hich onl# -erformeth all' an! therefore he (i! the Rea!er

coni!er >ell an! often the >or! he ai! concerning the Fire* Coneuentl#' he that

>ie >ill eail# -ercei"e thence' that thoe >or! are not to (e un!ertoo! of a commo

(ut of a u-ernatural Fire@ >hich alo Marythe ,ro-hete !oth hint' a#ing' that the

Element of &ater !oth !iol"e the /o!ie' an! ma)e them >hite* An! concerning thi

Fire $>hich he calleth Mentruum% an! it -re-aration' 9Raymund Lullie-ea)eth in hi

estamentum novissimum, in 'odice, in Anima Metallorum, Luce Mercuriorum, Libra

Mercuriorum, de secretis :aturae, de )uinta 2ssentia, # in 2lucidario estamenti, c$

a#ing' that it i not Humane (ut Angelical to re"eal thi Celetial Fire' an! that it i the

greatet ecret of all' ho> to attain to the )no>le!ge of it* An! moreo"er he aith in

figurati"e e-reion' that thi Fire i com-oe! of Hore.!ung an! 'al" vive* /ut

>hat i -refigure! (# 'al" vive' I >ill e-oun! in another -lace* An! >hat i ignifie!

Hore.!ung' I mentione! (efore' Di?* that (# Hore.!ung i meant the &ater of the pri

materia' 4for it i >arm an! moit li)e Hore.!ung@ (ut it i no common Hore.!ung' a

man# ignorant -eron !o u--oe an! un!ertan!* Hence aith the ,hiloo-her

Alanus' the ,hiloo-her calle! the moit Fire Hore.!ung' in >hich moiture i )e-t t

occult heat' (ecaue it i the -ro-ert# of the fire eiting in the Hore (ell#' not to !et

7ol!' (ut (# reaon of it moiture to increae it* To the li)e -ur-oe -ea)eth

Alchidonius: Our Me!icine mut (e hi!!en in moit Hore.!ung' >hich i the

,hiloo-her Fire* An!Alanus: +ear Son' (e careful in the >or) of ,utrefaction or

+etruction' >hich i to (e -erforme! in gentle heat' that i' in moit Hore.!ung*

Arnoldus de Vilia nova ' in the 8th cha-* aith' that the heat of Hore.!ung i their Fire*

So li)e>ieAlphidius: it i !igete! an! (urie! in the heat of Hore.!ung* An! Aristo

the Earth or /o!# >ill en;o# no "irtue' unle it (e u(lime! (# the mean of

!:omina aqua Mercurii$%6gnis Bernhard$&Loci Lullii de aqua Mercurii$(Venter equinus 0hilosophorum est aqua Mercurii.

.1.


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Hore.!ung* An! therefore' aith 7ermes' roat an! coo) it in the heat of Hore.

!ung* An! Morienus: if thou !o not fin! in Hore.!ung >hat thou loo)et for' thou

ha!t (et to a"e th# charge* &ith thee agreeth Arnoldus' a#ing: Let none

ee) for an# other Fire (ei!e thi' for it i the Fire of the &ie' 0the melting

8urnace of the Wise' an! their Furnace for calcining' u(liming' re"er(erating'

!iol"ing' an! -erforming of Coagulation an! Fiation@ for thi &ater !iol"eth all

Metal' an! calcineth them' an! melteth it elf together >ith them' (oth into re! an!

>hite* In li)e manner alo the urbaan! SeniorS-ea)eth: Our &ater i a Fire'

an! our Water is stronger than any 8ire ' for it re!uceth the /o!# of 7ol! into a

meer S-irit' >hich the natural Fire i not a(le to !o' though the natural Fire mut

li)e>ie (e ha!* For then our &ater enter into the natural /o!ie' an! changeth it

elf into the -rimogeniel &ater' an! after>ar! into Earth or ,o>!er' >hich !oth

more forci(l# (urn the 7ol! than the natural Fire@ an! accor!ingl# 'alidaith' It i

trul# a Fire' >hich (urneth an! grin!eth all thing*

/ut the manner of -re-aring thi ,hiloo-hic) &ater or Fire' that i' theAqua Mercuri i' 6the ,hiloo-her ha"e conceale!@ ho>e"er Raymond Lullieof all

hath >ritten (et of it' though in !ar) e-reion* Accor!ingl#' firt of all it >ill (e

reuiite'to purge Mercury from its e"traneous humidity and terrene terrestriety,

yet so, as not by means of corruptible things @ for (# uch it no(le' fruitful'

"iri!ecent an! generating Nature >oul! (e marre!* Avicen, Arnoldus, 4eber,

Raymundus, in 'odicillo,an! other ,hiloo-her (ei!e' a#' that Mercur# i (et

cleane! (# u(liming it from common Salt' >hich !one' the u(limate to (e thro>n

into >arm &ater' >hich >ill !iol"e an! e"er the S-irit of Salt from it@ after>ar!the u(limate (eing !r#e! an! mie! >ith Salt of artar' an! force! through a

Retort' it >ill re"i"e again' an! thi to (e !one !i"ere time' an! (# thi -rocee!ing

Mercury>ill (e free! ome>hat from it etraneou moiture an! feculenc#@ an!

Bernhardus to>ar! the en! of hi E-itle aith' that thi -urgation !oth not hurt

Mercur#' in regar! that the hot &ater an! Salt !o not -enetrate into it u(tance*

/ut it i to (e note! here' m# Son' that in regar! that Mercuryi of an uniform

in!i"ii(le u(tance'9it cannot (e trul# an! -erfectl# cleane! (# uch an

etraneou mean' e-eciall# (ecaueits terrestrial impurity lies hid in its inmost

center' >hich (# no Su(limation i to (e e"ere! thence' a man# ignorant men'

though in "ain' attem-t* An! therefore other mean mut (e

!Aqua Mercurii est 6gnis 0hilosophorum$%Aqua Mercurii quomodo preparanda$&0reparatio aqua Mercurii difficilis$

.5.


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ue! tofree Mercury vivefrom thoe (on!' >here>ith Nature hath t#e! him uniforml

in the (o>el of the Earth' and to reduce him into its primum ens * >hich i a

Sul-hureou -iritual &ater' >hich must be done .ithout addition of any

hetrogeneous thing'0a Rogerius Baconun!er the title of Mercurytetifieth' an!

Raymundusin the heoricaof hi Tetament aith' that if it (e not -utrefie! an!

o-ene! after the foreai! manner' the Menstruum>ill not (e >orth a Fig* /ut .hen

the quic/ Mercury .ithout any e"traneous thing 6i et free from it (on!' and

dissolved into the primogeneal Water, then an! (ut then >e are ca-a(le to cleanse

his inside' an! (#distillationto e"er the S-irit from the &ater' an! terrene

terretriet#@ concerning >hich Se-aration the ,hiloo-her ha"e >rit in an occult tile'

uch a no conceite! -eron >ill eail# a--rehen!' (ut e-eciall# the# !ecri(e! it

figurati"el# in the !itillation of &ine* For in the !itillation of &ine a--eareth

e"i!entl#'9that the S-irit of &ine i mie! >ith a great !eal of &ater' an! terrene

terretriet#: (ut (# mean of an artificial !itillation' the !r# S-irit of &ine ma# (e

e"ere! from all the -hlegmatic) humi!it# an! terrene terretriet#' in o much that all

the S-irit i e"ere! from the &ater eitent in &ine' an! the &ater from the Earth'

an! then remain the Lee' out of >hich a >hite Salt i etracte!' an! ;o#ne! again

>ith the S-irit' an! then the S-irit i !itille! an! coho(ate! !i"ere time' until all the

alt (e gone o"er >ith it' >here(# the S-irit i hugel# fortifie! an! acuate!* An! in

truth' thi i a nota(le t#-ical !icri-tion re-reente! unto u (# the ,hiloo-her'

>hich in the -re-aration of the &ater of Mercur# >e ought to imitate: forafter its

dissolution>e ought in li)e manner $a hath (een taught of the &ine% (# u(limation

sever the Water or 0hlegm from the Spirit, and the Spirit from the 2arth, and to

rectifie the 2arth, and ;oyn and distill it together .ith the Spirit, until all together comeover the 7elm* Of >hich -re-aration of thi &ater' none of all the ,hiloo-her hath

>ritten more clearl# nor (etter than Raymund Lullie' 4"i?* in estamento novissimo'

a alo in the firt Tetament' in libro Mercuriorum, libro )$ 2ssentiae, # c$ >here he

!oth -lainl# enough !eclare' that after the ,utrefaction' Se-aration' +itillation of

,hiloo-hical S-irit of &ine' the S-iritual &ater i to (e mie! again an! !itille! >ith

it o>n Earth' that it come o"er >ith it@ he !eclareth alo' ho> thi ,hiloo-hical &ine

or Mentruum i fortifie! an! acuate! >ith it o>n Salt* An! further it i to (e note!'

that this Water, Menstruum' =or ,hiloo-hical S-irit of &ine' (eing thus prepared'

!oth

!Mercurius in aquam Sulphuream reducondus absque heterogeneis$%Mercurius Solutus potest purgari$&2"emplum de vini distillatione$(Lullius peritissimus est in preparatione aqua Mercurii$*Mercurius Solutus solvit suam corpus .

.2.


13/97

dissolve or open its o.n Body, orMercur# "i"e'into the-rimum En'or-rimogenial

&ater' .hereby it is multiplied .ithout end, by means of 0utrefaction and

hat i ai! of the Etraction of thi &ater' i confirme! (#

Arnoldus de Villa nova ' a#ing: It i a u(tance full of Da-our' >hich containeth in

it elf a fat humi!it#' >hereof the Artit e"ereth the ,hiloo-her humi!it#' uch a

i fit for the &or)' an! i a clear a the tear of e#e@ >herein !>elleth the

Buinteence in a Metallic) Nature' "er# -ro-er for the Metal' an! therein i theTincture to (ring forth an intire Metal: for it containeth the nature (oth of Argent

vive' an! alo of Sulphur$ Rosarius 0hilosophorum aith concerning the !itillation

of the Menstruum0or &ater that great in!utr# an! care mut (e ha!' an! that the

Deel to (e ue! for the cleaning of thi S-irit' mut (e of 7la' an! eactl#

cloe!' to the en! that the S-irit ma# fin! no "ent nor -lace to fl# through' it (eing

"er# for>ar! to ma)e it >a# through an# hole it fin!eth: An! if the re! S-irit houl!

(e gone' the Artit >ill loe hi la(our: the ,hiloo-her call the re! S-irit Bloud'

an! Menstruum@ therefore (e "er# careful to ha"e goo! Deel' an! to ha"e the

;oynts .ell luted, that you may get the dry Spirit .ith its Bloud into the Receiver by it

self' >ithout e"a-oration of it Dirtue' an! )ee- it' until thou ha"e occaion to >or)

>ith it* /ut concerning thi !itillation' the ocular in-ection goeth (e#on! >riting'

an! none can (e a Mater' (efore he ha"e (een a Scholar or A--rentice* /e

-ro"i!ent therefore an! !icrete in th# &or)' 6la# on a Recei"er' an! firt !itill (# a

gentle Fire the Element of &ater' >hich (eing o"er' -ut it ai!e' an! la# on another

Recei"er' an! cloe the ;o#nt eactl#' that the S-irit ma# not "a-our a>a#'

increaing the Fire a little' an! there >ill rie in the Helm a !r# #ello> S-irit:

Continue the ame !egree of Fire' o long a the S-irit cometh #ello>* /ut >henthe Alem(ic) (eginneth to (e re!' then increae the Fire "er# gentl#' an! )ee- it

going on thu' until the re! S-irit an! /lou! (e uite come o"er' >hich in it'

acen!ing an! going through the Helm >ill a--ear in the form of Clou! in the Air*

An! o oon a the re! S-irit i !itille! o"er' the Helm >ill (e >hite' an! then ceae

uic)l#@ an! thu #ou ha"e in the Recei"er the t>o Element of Air an! Fire' ha"ing

etracte! the true !r# S-irit' an! e"ere! the -ure from the im-ure* Loe no> #ou

ha"e theprima materia Metallorum' >herein the /o!ie are re!uce!* For all the

Metal ha"e their rie from &ater' 9>hich i a root of all Metal* An! therefore the#

are re!uce! into &ater' li)e a the fro?en Ice (# heat i re!uce! into &ater'

(ecaue it hath (een &ater (efore*

lVasa bone claudenda inpraparatione aqua Mercurii$%0rocessus in distillatione aqua$&=mnia metalla e" aqua$

.8.


14/97

+o not mar"el at it' for all thing u-on Earth ha"e their root an! rie from &ater* O

ho> man# there are that >or) an! ne"er thin) u-on the root' >hich i the e# to the

>hole &or): it !iol"eth the /o!ie rea!il#@ lit i Father an! Mother@ it o-eneth an!

hutteth' an! re!uceth Metal into >hat the# ha"e (een in the (eginning* It !iol"et

the /o!ie' an! coagulateth it elf together >ith them@ the S-irit i carrie! u-on the

&ater' that i' the ,o>er of the S-irit i een there o-erating' >hich i !one >hen the

/o!# i -ut into the &ater* &hereu-on the ,hiloo-her aith: Loo) u-onthat

despicable thing' >here(# our Secret i o-ene!* For it i a thing >hich all )no> >ell'

an! he that )no>eth it not' >ill har!l# or ne"er fin! it: the .ise man /eepeth it, and

the fool thro.es it a.ay' an! the re!uction i eaie to him that )no> it* /ut m# Son'

it i the greatet ecret to free thi Stone' 6or Mercury vive' from it natural (on!'

>here>ith he i t#e! (# Nature' that i' to !iol"e an! re!uce it into it -rimogenial

&ater@ for >ithout thi (e !one' all >ill -ro"e (ut la(our lot: for ele >e houl! not (e

a(le to e"er an! etract the true S-irit or &ater# u(tance' >hich !iol"eth the

/o!ie* An! thi Solution hath (een conceale! (# all the ,hiloo-her' 9>ho left it

unto 7o! Almight#ie* 4 /ut' m# Son' thou art

to ta)e notice' that the solution ofMercur# "i"e .ill hardly be performed .ithout a

means' (ut none uch are to (e ue! a are So-hitical' a man# ru!e' un>ie an!

ignorant fool ue to !o' >ho (# trange etra"agant >a# re!uce Mercuryinto &ate

u--oing that to (e the right &ater* The# u(lime Mercury>ith Corroi"e'=>ith al

ort of Salt an! Ditriol' from >hich the u(lime! Mercur# attracteth the Salt# S-iritan! then after>ar! the# !iol"e the u(limate into &ater in Balneo' or in the Cellar

or !i"ere other >a#* 6tem' the# re!uce it into &ater (# Salt.Armoniac)' (# Her('

So-e' Auafort' (# mean of trange )in! of Deel' an! man# the li)e So-hitical

-rocee!ing' all of >hich are (ut gro fancie' foolih an! frutraneou la(our:

Some alo concei"e to e"er thoe thing after>ar! from the &ater of Mercury' an!

that then it hall (e the true &ater' >hich the ,hiloo-her !o !eire* The reaon of

their Error i' 1that the# coni!er not the >or! of the ,hiloo-her'

!2ffectus aqua$%Resolutio Mercurii ma"imum Secretum$&=mnes 0hilosophi occultarunt confectionem aque$(Resolutio Mercurii non fit absque medico$*Modi falsa resolutionis Mercurii$+'ausa errorum in confectione aqua$

.03.


15/97

>ho -lainl# !o a#' that it ought not to (e mie! >ith an# heterogeneou thing in the

>hole &orl!* An!Bernhardusaith in hi E-itle' that o oon a Mercuryi !r#e!

u- (# the Salt' Auafort' an! other thing' that thencefor>ar! it i unfit for the

,hiloo-hic) >or)@ for (eing !r#e! u- (# the Salt' Allum' Auafort' it i not a(le

to !iol"e* /ut' m# !ear Son' o(er"e >hat no> I tell thee' an! >hat information

concerning thi -oint the ,hiloo-her left (ehin! them in their /oo)@ 0vi>$ that the

Water is not to be prepared by any heterogeneous means .hatever in the .hole

World, but only by :ature, .ith :ature, and out of :ature * Thee >or! are all -lain

to the un!ertan!ing' >hich I >ill not no> o-enl# unfol!' (ut reer"e the ame for a

-eculiar Treatie@ ho>e"er for a Memorandum' I >ill et !o>n thee follo>ing

Rhime*

a/e fresh, pure, quic/, .hite and

'lear,

ye him hands and heels so near, With

a most puissant cord and yo/e, hat he

may be mortified and

choa/t$ Reduce him by his li/e

homogeneous

:ature, o his first being, or

primogeneous

feature, Within the close

'hamber or 7ouse

of putrefaction,

According to here>ith he ma# o-en the fat

Loc) of all Metallic) Chet'6out of >hich 7ol!' Sil"er' 7em' Honour' ,o>er' an!

Health are to (e ha!* Thi (lee! &ater i (# the ,hiloo-her

l7ac optime notania$

%Aqua clavis artis$

.00.


16/97

calle!' the hen 7a(riciu

la# >ith her' he !#e!' an! Be;aout of ecei"e lo"e >allo>e! an! conume! him'

aArisleusin urba 0hilosophorum-ea)eth of it* An! Bernhardin hi0ractica*

aith: the Fountain i a a Mother unto the ing' for he !oth attract him' an!

caueth him to !#e' (ut the ing (# her mean rieth again' an! uniteth himelf o

firml# unto her' that no man can hurt him* An! therefore the ,hiloo-her a#'

although 7a(riciu (e cotlier' !earer' an! more eteeme! (# the &orl! than Be;a'

#et he alone can (ring no Fruit* Thi Dirgin an! (lee! &ater the ,hiloo-her

name! in their /oo) >ith man# thouan! name@ 0the# call it Hea"en' Celetial

&ater' Celetial Rain' the !e> of Hea"en' May-de.' &ater of ,ara!ice' -arting

&ater' Aua Regi' a corroi"e Auafort' har- Dinegar' /ran!#' Buinteence of

&ine' gro>thful green uice' a gro>ing Mercur#' a "iri!ecent &ater' an! Leo Diri!i'Buic) Sil"er' Menstruum' /lou!' Urine' Hore.-i' Mil)' an! Dirgin Mil)' >hite

Arnic)' Sil"er'Lune' an! ;uice of Lune' a &oman' Feminine See!' a ul-hureou

"a-ouring &ater an! moa)' a fier# (urning S-irit' a !ea!l# -iercing -o#on' an!

/aili) that )illeth all' a "enomou &orm' a "enomou Ser-ent' a +ragon' a

Scor-ion !e"ouring hi Chil!ren' a hellih fire of Hore.!ung' a har- Salt' an! Salt.

Armoniac)' a common Salt' har- Soa-' L#e' a "icou O#l' Otrichhich

!oth !e"our an! concoct all' an Eagle' Dulture' /ir! of 7ermes' a Deel an! Seal of

7ermes' a melting an! calcining Furnace' an! innumera(le other name of /eat'

/ir!' Her(' &ater' uice' Mil)' /lou!' Etc* An! the# >rit figurati"el# in their

/oo) of thi &ater' to (e ma!e of uch thing' >herea all the un>ie >hich ought

it in uch li)e thing' ha"e not foun! the true !eire! &ater* no> therefore' m#

!ear Son' that it is only made of Mercury vive, %and no other heterogeneous thing in

the World@ an! that the ,hiloo-her therefore ga"e it o man# Name' that it might

not (e )no>n to the un>ie* An! >ith thi 6tem I >ill conclu!e thi Treatie' >here(#

thou ma#t un!ertan! an! learn' that >ithout thi Fire all the la(our of the >hole

&orl! i meerl# lot' all Ch#mical -rocee fale' l#ing an! uele* The great

Rosaryaith' there i no more (ut one Recei-t' an! >ith thi one Loc) all the

,hiloo-her /oo) (oth -articularl# an! uni"erall# are loc)

an! fence! a it >ere >ith a

!Varia appellationes aqua Mercurii$

%Aqua Mercurii unassiat$

.06.


17/97

trong &all@ an! he that )no> not the e#' nor hath it in -oeion' i not a(le to

o-en the Loc)' nor to o(tain Fruit* For thi &ater i the onl# e# for to o-en the

Metallic) &all an! 7ar!en* An! thi &ater i the trong Auafort' of >hich Iaacu

in hi -articular &or) i to (e un!ertoo!' >here>ithall he !iol"eth an!

-irituali?eth the /o!ie* An! therefore it i "er# !iligentl# to (e note!' that >ithout

thi &ater nothing can (e effecte! in'hemica'0an! >ithout it all are (ut falitie an!

l#e' (oth in Metal an! Mineral' a alo in Degeta(le an! Animal* &hether the#

!iol"e' u(lime' !itill' calcine' etract* mi or com-oun! >ith an# other thing

>hatoe"er@ >hether the# !iol"e per deliquium in Balneo ' in Hore.!ung' in

Auafort' an! all ort of trong Liuor' >hich eem to -romie ome -ro(a(ilit#' an

accor!ing a the -reten!e! -rocee of Alch#mit !o teach or ma# (e in"ente!:

>hether there (e ma!e O#l' &ater' Cal' ,o>!er' (lac)' >hite' #ello> an! re!@

>hether it (e (urnt' melte!' or !one an# thing a(out it' >hich the Alch#mit Recei-t

!o teach an! "ent for true' >here(# to ma)e 7ol! an! Sil"er' all -ro"eth (ut fale an

a cheat in the e"ent* For m# elf >ith m# o>n han! ha"e e-erimente! all uchthing to m# !amage an! lo' not (elie"ing them to (e fale (efore I tr#e! them*

Therefore (e ehorte!' m# Son' to hun uch So-hiter' 6Cheat an! Im-oter' a

much a the gran! Im-oter the +e"il' an! a"oi! them a carefull# a a terri(le

(urning Fire' an! ,o#on@ for (# uch So-hitr#' an! >eetl# ininuating fale

Alch#m#' a man run the ha?ar! of /o!# an! Soul' Re-utation an! &ealth' #ea thi

Im-oture i >ore than the +e"il himelf* For though a man houl! -en! a >hole

,ro"ince or ing!om u-on uch !eceitful -rocee' #et all >oul! (e conume! in

"ain' an! no firm truth there(# (e o(taine!* &herefore o-en th# e#e' o>n an!

ac)no>le!ge the onl# e#' an! flee from all falit#@ for it i im-oi(le ele to -ee!'

or !o an# goo!*

!Absque aqua nihil fi t in 'hemia$%Sophista in 'hemia vitandi$

FINIS*

.09.


18/97

T H E

, R I D Y S E A L

OF

S E C R E T S '

& H I C H

U-on -ain of +ammnation

i not una!"ie!l# to (e

(ro)en u-' nor Re"eale! to

an# (ut >ith great Care' an!

man# Caution*


19/97

T H E , R I D Y S E A L O F S E C R E T S

To omit circumtance' the firt Matter out of >hich the ,hiloo-her Stone

i to (e ha! an! ta)en' i a u(;ect common an! -oor in out>ar! a--earance' an!

therefore it i calle! a little thing' an! it i in e"er# Mine' #et i nearer in ome

thing than in other' an! in a >or! in the Mineral ing!om #ou mut ha"e it' in the

mot ecellent >or) of the Mineral Hierarch#@ therefore not Animal or Degetal*

no> #e then' $although I !en# not RaymondsCannon to (e true% that the li"el#

Nature (eing contraine! >ith the trength of 7ol!' in the mot u(tle heat' the

Tincture ma# (e ma!e >ell eail#' an! in a hort time' >hich >ill con"ert all metal

into -erfect 7ol!@ (ut the >a# of the ,hiloo-her in the Uni"eral &or)' >a out of

the Mineral ing!om@ lea"ing therefore Animal an! Degetal' I >ill acuaint #ou

>ith the Uni"eral Su(;ect* no> that all ,hiloo-her affirm' that the Matter i (ut

one thing' an! a "ile thing >hich coteth nothing' cat in High.>a# an! tro!!en

u-on' >hich i the ho-e of Metal' or a thing containing all thing nee!ful for the

&or) >ithin it elf@ an! al(eit curiou &it hol! all thee to (e Aenigma?s' #et the#

are true accor!ing to the letter* /riefl#' to manifet the truth' #ou hall )no> that in

all Mine >hatoe"er there !oth l#e certain /e!' of a lutinou or cla#ih u(tance'

un!er the Earth' >hich in ome -lace i har!er than in other' the !ee-er the Mine

i' the more unctuou i the Cla#@ an! thi Cla# i the Mother of the Metal' the

fee!er' of the Mine' for in it lie hi! the S-irit' or the three ,rinci-le of Metal'

@vi> Saltthe /o!#'Sulphurthe Soul' an! Mercurythe S-irit' not common nor

running' (ut a >hite Da-our >hich reol"e it elf into a >hite &ater@ I a# in"ii(l#

in thi confue! lum- of Cla#' lie hi! the aforeai! ,rinci-le*

An! thi i the true Matter or Su(;ect of the ,hiloo-her' an! mar) ho> that

it agreeth >ith that I ai! (efore: Firt' that it i one thing' >hich #et containeth

three@ Secon!l#' that it i a "ile thing' an! #et i not o' for it i a lum- of Cla#@

Thir!l#' that it i o "ile an! common that &or)men thro> it out of their Mine' an!

trea! on it' a a thing of no "alue: I ha"e een High.>a# -a"e! >ith it in 7ungary'

an! it i no other in other Countrie* An! i not thi Chao or confue! matter i

not thi the ho-e of Metal (e #ou ;u!ge* I too) m# Matter in 7ungaryout of the

Mine of Sol' an! o I >a taught' (ecaue more !ecocte!' an! ri-er or hotterS-irit are there' than in an# other Mine* 0aracelsusout of it >rought hi 2li"ir'

(ut the ,hiloo-her generall# too) their Matter $>hich i the ame in he> an!

u(tance' (ut not o ri-e% out of the Mine of Saturn' an! that i their Saturno

often mentione!

.04.


20/97

in their /oo)@ not Ore ofSaturn' nor Mercuryof Saturn(ut the S-erm' >here the

Degeta(le S-irit are not -ecificate! to Lea!' (ut l#e hi! in the lutinou lum- of

Cla#*

No> the !ifference (et>een that >hich i ta)en out of the Mine of Sol' an!

that >hich i ha! out of the Mine ofSaturn' i thi@ in Solthe Matter i o -re-are!'

#ou hall ha"e nee! of (ut one ,utrefaction' (ut in that ta)en out of the Mine ofSaturn' #ou mut ha"e three ,utrefaction' >hich in!ee! i the great an! uni"eral

&or)* An! thu I ha"e full# an! -lainl# re"eale! the Matter' the &or) i eaie' vi>$

The Practice.

Ta)e thi lutinou Cla# out of Solor Saturn' $for the >or)ing in either the

,re-aration i ali)e% I a#' ta)e that >hich i mot clamm# or unctuou' an! >hen

#ou gather it' )ee- it from the Air' a cloe a #ou can in a gla or Earthen Deel'

for it >ill $>hich I ha"e a!mire!% in an intant in!urate an! har!en: /ut -ut it in a

7la Deel' an! in that !iget it (eing >ell to--e! in /*M* or in a /lin! Hea!

>hich i (etter@ (ut let three -art of the Deel (e em-t#' an! let the heat of #our

Balneum(e uch a #ou ma# eail# hol! #our han! in it* Some ,hiloo-her

!igete! thi a ,hiloo-hical month' >hich i i >ee)' (ut then their Matter >a

not freh@ for if it (e freh' then fifteen or t>ent# !a# i ufficient* After +igetion

alter the hea!' an! !itill' an! #ou hall ha"e the ,hiloo-her O#l@ >hich (eing

come' -our it on the Matter again' an! thi till #ou ha"e o much Dinegar a >ill

>im four finger o"er the Matter@ then let it tan! t>ent#.four hour' an! it >ill (e

tinge! #ello>@ -our that gentl# off' an! !itill a>a# #our Dinegar till it come to a

gumm# u(tance@ then -our thi Dinegar on the Matter again' an! it >ill (e tinge!

#ello>: !itill an! reiterate thi until #our Dinegar (e no more tinge! #ello>' then

hath it uc)e! out all the S-irit out of the Cla#: then from the #ello> Liuor !itill

a>a# all the Dinegar' an! #ou hall ha"e a gumm# u(tance li)e Saccarum Saturn

!iget thi t>o !a#' then !itill a>a# all the Flegm in Balneo' then let it cool' an!

-ut it in a Retort' >ith a great Recei"er >ell lute! to it a can (e@ -ut it into an Ah

Furnace' an! !itill it again' an! (# !egree #ou hall ha"e all #our Recei"er

(ecome a >hite a Mil)' >hich i cru!e Mercuryof ,hiloo-her' or the Dirgin Mil)

continue +itillation' an! a (lou! re! O#l hall acen!' >hich iSulphur

of,hiloo-her incom(uti(le an! unctuou: continue till no more >ill come o"er' >ith

o "iolent a heat for t>el"e hour' that #ou !o almot melt the 7la@ then let it cool'

an! ta)e off that Recei"er' an! to- it u- "er# cloe: (rea) the Retort' an! the

Fece >ill (e a (lac) a

.0=.


21/97

,itch' an! har!' >hich grin! mall on a Mar(le' then Re"er(erate it in an Earthen

Calcining.-an' cloe co"ere! for three !a#' $(ut ma)e not the Matter re!.hot% an!

la# it t>o finger thic) in the ,an: then ta)e it out' an! either >ith #our Dinegar

rectifie! from it Fece' or >ith Rain>ater !itille!' I ha"e trie! an! foun! it (eing

>ell Re"er(erate!' that it >ill ta)e u- the Salt' hel! the Dinegar the (et an! mot

-ro-er@ !iget it therefore >ith Dinegar t>ent# hour' then filter an! !itill it in /*M*

till it !r#@ !iol"e it again in that Dinegar' (ut firt rectifie it: let it ettle' -hilter an!

!itill' an! reiterate until the Salt (e Cr#talline an! >hite' then -ut it in a >hite

gla /o!#' -our thereon thi re! O#l >hich i the Sulphur' an! alo the >hite

&ater >hich i incor-orate! there>ith: lute on cloe an! >ell a /lin! Hea!' an!

!iget in Balneothree !a# an! it >ill (e all one thing or -a-: (ut then !itill a>a#

all the humi!it# that >ill arie' an! then -ut it in an Egg.gla >ith a hort nec)' ni-

it u- >ithout heating the Matter' let the Egg (e (ut a fourth -art full*

Thi i the gro Con;unction an! ,re-aration' >ithout a!!ing an# more

than Nature -ro-ortion: -ut the 7la in an Athanor' in a gentle heat' an! the

Matter hall !iol"e' -utrifie' an! -erform all the &or) (# "ertue of Count

revisan?sFire' >hich i the S-irit e"er >or)ing >ithin the 7la' (eginning "ii(l#

(efore the Matter (egin to -utrifie' for thee it continuall# acen! an! !ecen!

until Congelation* /e not too curiou' onl# -ra# to 7o!' an! he >ill !irect #our

&or)' an! (ring it to a -erio!' >hich I ;u!ge to (e iteen month' a (lou!.re!

,o>!er im-al-a(le in the concluion of the &or)' (e -atient an! #ou cannot erre*

Note' I >a ne"er taught to multi-l#' (ut (# increaing >ith hi o>n O#l an! Salt'

that i' >ith ten -art O#l an! one of Salt !e-urate!' an! o increaing the

Me!icine #ou hall (ring it a high a #ou >ill* I )no> not an# more than thi'

neither can an# more large or more -lainl#* Ser"e 7o!' an! #ou cannot erre*

no> alo' that #ou ma# >ith thi Fire.Stone' >hich i the re! O#l' an! thi

Salt -re-are! from the >hite &ater' increase 0rocipitate of Sol and Mercury'

ele"ate! together an! then mie!' or u-on a u(tle Cal ofSolalone' (ut not o

u!!enl#* The mannor i' to -our on the Cal the re! O#l' till it (e li)e -a-@ then

lute it' an! et it in Ahe to circulate in a Circulator#' that if an# Mercurial S-irit

houl! remain' it ma# till arie an! not hin!er the fiation of the Matter: continue

the Fire till it (e a !r# ,o>!er' then increae more an! more' till it (e in an O#line

u(tance fit' >hich turn Lunainto -erfectSol >ith great -rofit* An! thu #ou

ma# increae >ith the O#l of Antimony' a I ha"e he>e! #ou*

Fin*

.01.


22/97

A

L E T T E R

Communicate! (# the

mot Serene ,rince

F R E + E R I C :

+u)e of

Halatia an! Sle>ic)'

Concerning an A!e-t'

AN+

Relate thing trange

an! unhear!.of


23/97

A L E T T E R

The following Letter was communicated by the most Serene Prince

Frederick Duke of olsatia and Sleswick! and relates things strange and

unheard"of.

M# Frien!'

You ha"e !eire! of me an account of the Life an! +eath' Inheritance an!

Heir of m# Mater /** of ha--# memor#: I return #ou thi An>er' in Latine' a

#our to me >a' though I (e not eactl# )ille! in it*

He >a (# Nation a e.' (# Religion a'hristian' for he (elie"e! in 'hrist

the Sa"iour' an! o-enl# ma!e -rofeion of the ame: He >a a man of great

Honet#' an! ga"e great Alm in ecret: He li"e! chatl# a /atchelor' an! too)

me >hen I >a a(out t>ent# #ear of Age' out of the Houe >here Or-han are

maintaine! (# the ,u(lic)' an! caue! me to (e intructe! in the Latine, 8rench'

an!6talianTongue@ to >hich I after>ar! (# ue a!!e! the e.ish or 7ebre.*

He ma!e ue of me' o far a I >a ca-a(le' in hi La(orator#' for he ha! great

)ill in ,h#ic)' an! cure! mot !e-erate +ieae* &hen I >a t>ent# fi"e

#ear of Age' he calle! me into hi ,arlour' an! ma!e me >ear to him' that I

>oul! ne"er marr# >ithout hi conent an! )no>le!ge@ >hich I -romie!' an!

ha"e religioul# )e-t*

&hen I >a thirt# #ear of Age' on a morning he en! for me into hi

,arlour' an! ai! "er# lo"ingl# to me' M# Son' I -ercei"e that the /alom of m#

Life' (# reaon of etreme ol! Age coming on' $for he >a eight# eight #ear of

Age% i >ell.nigh >ate!' an! that coneuentl# m# +eath i at the !oor:

>herefore I ha"e >rit m# lat &ill an! Tetament' for the ue an! (enefit of m#

/rother Son' an! of #ou' an! ha"e lai! it u-on the Ta(le of m# Cloet' >hither

neither #ou nor an# mortal e"er entere!: for #ou !urt not o much a )noc) at

the !oor' !uring the hour et a-art for m# +e"otion* Ha"ing ai! thi' he >ent to

the !ou(le !oor of hi Cloet' an! !au(e! o"er the ;o#ning thereof >ith a certain

tran-arent an! Cr#talline Matter' >hich he >rought >ith hi finger till it (ecame

oft an! #iel!ing li)e &a' an! im-rinte! hi 7ol!en Seal u-on it@ the ai! Matter

>a imme!iatel# har!ene! (# the col! Air' o that >ithout !efacing the Seal' the!oor coul! no >a# (e o-ene!*

Then he too) the e# of the Cloet' an! hut them u- in a mall Ca(inet'

an! eale! the ame a (efore >ith the ai! Cr#talline Matter' an! !eli"ere! the

ai! Ca(inet' after he ha! eale! it' into m# han!' an! charge! me to !eli"er the

ame to none (ut hi /rother Son' Mr* esse, Abrah' an! Solomon oelha' >ho

at that time li"e! inS.it>erland' the el!et

.05.


24/97

of them (eing a /atchelor*

After thi he returne! >ith me into the ,arlour' an! in m# -reence

!ro--e! the 7ol!en Seal he ha! ma!e ue of' into a gla of clear &ater' in

>hich the ai! Seal >a imme!iatel# !iol"e!' li)e Ice in hot &ater' a >hite

,o>!er ettling to the (ottom' an! the Liuor >a tingith -ale re! of a

,ro"ence Roe* Then he cloe! the ai! 7la Dial' >ith the a(o"e.mentione!

tran-arent Matter' an! charge! me to !eli"er the ai! Dial' together >ith the

e#' to Mr* esse*

Thi (eing !one' he re-eate! u-on hi (en!e! )nee ome ofhere he >a ue! to lee-

after +inner' an! comman!e! me to (ring him a 7la of Malaga' >hich no> an!

then he -aringl# ma!e ue of: A oon a he ha! !ran) off hi &ine' he (i! me

come to him' an! leaning hi hea! u-on m# houl!er' he fell into a uiet lee-'

an! after half an hour time fetche! a "er# !ee- igh' an! o #iel!e! hi Soul to

7o!' to m# great atonihment*

U-on thi I accor!ing to m# -romie >rit into S.it>erland' to gi"e notice of

hi !eath to hi Ne-he>@ an! to m# great >on!er' the "er# !a# after m# (lee!

Mater !ie!' I recei"e! a Letter from Mr* esse' >herein he enuire! >hether m#

Mater >ere !ea! or ali"e' a if he ha! )no>n e"er# thing that ha! -ae!@ a

in!ee! he !i!' (# mean of a certain Intrument' of >hich hereafter I hall ma)e

mention*

A little after hi Ne-he> came' to >hom I ga"e an account of >hat ha!

-ae!@ all >hich Mr*essehear! >ith a mile' (ut the other /rother not >ithoutatonihment an! >on!er* I ga"e him the e#' together >ith the 7la in >hich

>a the aforeai! 7ol!en Solution@ (ut the# refue! then to me!!le >ith an#thing

that !a# (eing tire! >ith their ourne#' (ut on the morro>' after I ha! carefull#

hut all the !oor of the houe' an! none (ut the# an! I (eing -reent' Mr* esse

too) the 7la Dial' an! (ro)e it o"er a China.!ih' >hich might recei"e the

incloe! Liuor an! -ut it u-on the tran-arent Matter' >ith >hich the Ca(inet

>a eale!' an! imme!iatel# the Matter >hich (efore >a har! a chr#tal' >a

reol"e! into a thic)ih &ater@ o he o-ene! the Ca(inet' an! too) thence the

e# of the Cloet*

Then >e came to the !oor of the Cloet' >here Mr* esse ha"ing een the

Seal' he >ette! it a formerl# >ith the forementione! Liuor' >hich imme!iatel#

ga"e >a#@ an! o he o-ene! the ai! !ou(le !oor' (ut hut it again' an! falling

!o>n u-on hi )nee' -ra#e!' a >e alo !i!@ then >e entere!' an! hut the

!oor u-on u* Here I a> great Miracle*

.02.


25/97

In the mi!t of the Cloet too! a Ta(le' >hoe Frame >a of E(on#: the

Ta(le it elf >a roun!' an! of the ame &oo!' (ut co"ere! >ith ,late of (eaten

7ol!@ (efore the Ta(le >a -lace! a lo> Foottool' for to )neel u-on: in the mi!t

of the Ta(le too! an intrument of a trange an! >on!erful contri"ance' the lo>e

-art of it or ,e!etal >a of -ure 7ol!' the mi!!le -art >a of mot tran-arent

Cr#tal' in >hich >a incloe! an incom(uti(le an! -er-etuall#.hining Fire@ the

u--er -art of it >a li)e>ie of -ure 7ol!' ma!e in the form of a mall Cu-' or Dia

ut a(o"e thi Intrument hung !o>n a Chain of 7ol!' to >hich >a

fatne! an artificial Cr#tal' of an O"al form' fille! >ith the aforeai! -er-etual

Fire*

On the right i!e of the Ta(le >e too) notice of a 7ol!en /o' an! u-on th

ame a little S-oon: thi /o containe! a /alom of a Scarlet colour*

On the left i!e >e a> a little +e) of Maie 7ol!' u-on >hich >a lai! a

/oo) containing t>el"e lea"e of -ure (eaten 7ol!' (eing tracta(le an! flei(le a,a-er@ in the mi!t of the lea"e >ere e"eral Character engra"e!' a li)e>ie in

the Corner of the ai! lea"e' (ut in the -ace (et>een the Center an! corner o

the lea"e' >ere fille! >ith Hol# ,ra#er*

Un!er the +e) >e foun! the lat &ill of m# !eceae! Mater@ >hilt >e

>ere in the Cloet' Mr*esseneele! !o>n' leaning u-on the +e)' an! >ith mo

hum(le !e"otion re-eate! ome of the forementione! ,ra#er' an! then >ith the

little -oon too) u- a mall uantit# of the aforeai! /alom an! -ut it into the to-

of the Intrument >hich >a in the mi!t of the Ta(le' an! intantl# a mot gratefuFume acen!ing >hich >ith it mot -leaing o!our !i! mot eni(l# refreh u:

(ut that >hich to me eema' that the ai! Fume acen!ing' cau

the -er-etual Fire encloe! in the hanging Cr#tal' to flah an! (la?e terri(l#' li)e

ome great tar or Lightning*

After thi' Mr* esserea! the &ill' >herein he (eueathe! to Mr* esseall

hi Intrument an! /oo) of &i!om' an! the ret of hi 7oo! to (e euall#

!i"i!e! (et>een him an! hi /rother@ (ei!e he left me a Legac# of 1333 7ol!en

+ucatoon' a an ac)no>le!gment of m# fi!elit#*

An! accor!ingl# firt enuir# >a ma!e for the Intrument an! /oo) of

&i!om@ of thoe that >ere on an! a(out the Ta(le' I ha"e -o)en alrea!#: in the

right i!e of the Cloet too! a Chet of E(on#' >hoe ini!e >a all co"ere! >ith

,late of (eaten 7ol!' an! containe! t>el"e Character engra"en u-on them*

.08.


26/97

From thence >e >ent to "ie> a large Chet' containing t>el"e loo)ing.

glae not ma!e of 7la' (ut of a certain >on!erful un)no>n Matter@ the

Center of the ai! Loo)ing.glae >ere fille! >ith >on!erful Character' the

/rim of them >ere incloe! in -ure 7ol!' an! (et>een the ai! /rim an!

center the# >ere -olihe!' loo)ing.glae recei"ing all o--oite Image*

After thi >e o-ene! a "er# large Chet or Cae' in >hich >e foun! a mot

ca-aciou loo)ing.gla' >hich Mr* essetol! u >a SolomonsLoo)ing.gla'

an! the Miracle of the >hole &orl!@ in >hich the Characterim of the >hole

Uni"ere >ere unite!*

&e a> alo in a /o of E(on#' a 7lo(e ma!e of a >on!erful Matter@ Mr*

essetol! u' that in the ai! 7lo(e >a hut u- the Fire an! Soul of the &orl!'

an! that therefore the ai! 7lo(e of it elf -erforme! all it motion' in an eact

Harmon# an! Agreement >ith thoe of the Uni"ere*

U-on thi /o forementione! too! another' >hich containe! an

Intrument0reem(ling a Cloc).+ial' (ut intea! of the Figure of the 06 hour'

the Letter of the Al-ha(et >ere -lace! aroun! thi' >ith a Han! or In!e turning

an! -ointing at them* Mr* essetol! u' that thi Intrument >oul! mo"e of it

elf' u-on the motion of a Corre-on!ing an! S#m-athetic) Intrument' >hich he

ha! at home' an! that (# mean of thi Intrument' m# ha--# Mater ha!

ignifie! to him hi a--roaching !eath@ an! that after thi ignification' fin!ing

that thi Intrument remaine! >ithout motion' he conclu!e! m# Mater >a !ea!*

Lat of all >e came to the /oo) of &i!om' >hich he o-ene! not@ near

the ai! /oo) >a -lace! a /o of 7ol!' full of a mot -on!erou ,o>!er of a

!ee- Scarlet colour' >hich Mr* essemiling too) an! -ut u-*

Near to the Cloet >here >e >ere' >a another Cloet a!;o#ning' >hich

>e entere! into' an! there foun! four large Chet full of mall Ingot of mot

-ure 7ol!' out of >hich the# ga"e me m# Legac# of 1333 7ol!en +ucatoon in a

!ou(le -ro-ortion* /ut Mr* esserefue! to ta)e for himelf an# of the ai! 7ol!@

for he ai!' that thoe thing >hich >ere afore (eueathe! to him' !i! full#

content him' for he >a )illith her a goo! ,ortion

out of the ai! 7ol!@ he em(race! the Chritian Religion' an! i #et ali"e*

0See thi Intrument !ecri(e! in a /oo) calle!Arts :otoria' ,rinte! in Latine or

Englih' -age 091*

.63.


27/97

Mr* esse-ac)e! u- all hi thing' an! carrie! them home >ith him into

S.it>erland' though ince that he hath choe himelf a uiet an! >ell.tem-ere!

-lace in the2ast-6ndies' from >hence he >rit to me lat #ear' offering me to a!o-t

m# el!et Son' >hom I ha"e accor!ingl# ent to him*

+uring the time >e >ere in the Cloet' I a> trange Miracle effecte! (#

the motion of the ai! Intrument of &i!om' >hich I neither can nor !are et

!o>n in >riting* Thu much' m# intimate Frien!' I >a >illing #ou houl! )no>'

more I cannot a!!*

Fare>ell*

FINIS*

.60.


28/97

A

T R E A T I S E

3 F

M E R C U R Y

An! the ,HILOSO,HERS STONE

/# Sir 7EOR7E RI,LEY


29/97

A T R E A T # S E $F % E R & ' R (

I >ill' m# !earet Son' intruct thee in thi /lee! Science' >hich >a hi!

from the &ie of ol!' to >hom 7o! >a -leae! to he> o much fa"our: no>

therefore' that our Matter i the chiefet of all thing in the Earth' an! of the leat

etimation an! account' a >ill hereafter more -lainl# a--ear* For if &ater

incor-orate it elf >ith Earth' the &ater >ill (e lo>et of all' an! >ill $if it (e not )e-t!o>n% >ith Fire' acen! higher@ an! thu it ma# (e een' ho> &ater >ill (e the

highet an! lo>et* Yet true it i' that it i of leat etimation' for in our Earth an!

&ater' an! in that !roie Earth' #ou ma# fin! ome "er# -ure an! clear' >hich i

our See! an! fifth Eence' an! then that foul an! !roie Earth i goo! for nothing

ele' an! of no etimation* /ut that &ater' a I ai!' i the chiefet' >ill a--ear man#

>a#: no>' Son' that >ithout &ater >e cannot ma)e /rea!' nor an# thing ele'

>hich 7o! hath create! in Nature@ an! hence #ou ma# eail# -ercei"e' that &ater i

the firt Matter of all thing >hich are (orn or generate! in the &orl!: for certainl# hich i the Matter of all thing' out of >hich all Natural thing are -ro!uce! in

their )in!* no> therefore' that firt of all Air i engen!re! of &ater@ of Air' Fire@ of

Fire' Earth* No> >ill I more familiarl# an! frien!l# !icoure >ith thee@ Iill !icoure of the

firt Matter' >hich ,hiloo-her call' the fifth 2ssence' an! man# other Name the#

ha"e for it' (# >hich the# ma# the more o(cure it* In it for certain are four

Element' -ure in their Ealtation: no> therefore' that if #ou >oul! ha"e the fifth

Eence' Man' #ou mut firt ha"e man' #ou mut ha"e nothing ele of that Matter@

an! ee that #ou o(er"e thi >ell* Thi I a# that if #ou !eire to ha"e the

,hiloo-her Stone' #ou mut of neceit# firt ha"e the fifth Eence of that ame

Stone' >hether it (e Mineral or Degetati"e@ o#n therefore Species .ith Species' an!

7em >ith 7em' an! not the one >ithout the other' nor an# thing contrar#' >hich

ma# (e other than the Species or -ro-er 7em@ (e>are therefore of all that i not

Eential: For of /one' Stone cannot (e ma!e' neither !o Crane (eget 7eee@

>hich if

.66.


30/97

#ou >ill coni!er' #ouhich i

calle! the &ater of the Sun an! Moon' hi!!en in the conca"it# of our Earth*

Concerning >hich Earth )no> that all that i generate! mut of neceit# ha"e

Male an! Female from >hich action an! -aion arie' >ithout >hich 7eneration

ne"er i* /ut #ou >ill certainl# ne"er recei"e -rofit from thing !iffering in )in!*

Not>ithtan!ing' if #ou ha"e thi &ater of the Sun an! Moon' it >ill !ra> other

/o!ie an! Humour to it o>n )in!' (# the hel- of the "irtue an! heat of the Sun

an! Moon' an! >ill ma)e them -erfect* A an Infant in the >om( of it Mother'

!ecoction of tem-erate heat hel-ing it' turneth the Flo>er into it nature an!

)in!' that i' into Fleh' /lou!' /one' an! Life' >ith the other -ro-ertie of a

li"ing /o!#' of >hich ith thing of it

o>n )in!: For firt it >ill congeal it elf into a u(tance li)e O#l@ then it >ill

change that O#l' (# the mean of tem-erate heat' into 7um@ an! latl#' (# thehel- of the -erfect heat of the Sun' into a Stone* No> therefore )no>' that out of

one thing #ou ha"e three' that i' O#l' 7um' an! a Stone* no> alo' that >hen

the &ater i turne! into O#l' then #ou ha"e a -erfect S-irit@ >hen the O#l i turne!

into har! 7um' then #ou ha"e a -erfect S-irit an! Soul@ an! >hen the S-irit an!

Soul are turne! into a Stone' then #ou ha"e a -erfect /o!#' Soul an! S-irit

together: >hich a it i calle! the 0hilosophers Stonean! 2li"ir' an! a -erfect

Me!icine of man /o!#@ o alo that >hich i lea"ene! >ith it genus' an! the

fifth 2ssence* no>' Son' that fifth 2ssencesare !i"ere' one >hereof i to

Humane /o!ie' another to 2li"ir' an! to the im-erfect /o!ie of Metal: For #ou

mut coni!er' that the generation an! gro>th of Metal' i not a the gro>th of

man /o!#@ for agenusagree >ith it genus' an! a species>ith it species*

Moreo"er' )no> that the firt Matter of man' >hich (egetteth the Fleh' /lou!'

/one an! Life' i a S-ermatic) Humour' >hich caueth generation' through a

"ital S-irit inclu!e! therein: An! >hen the Matter i generate! an! congeale! into

a /o!#' etract thence thefifth 2ssenceof that /o!#' >here>ith #ou ma# nourih

the /o!#* Yet' Son' >ill I tell thee moreo"er' that &ater' or Matter' or See!

>hereof Man i (egot' i not the augmenter of the /o!#* no>' Son' that if the/o!# (e fe! >ith it natural foo!' then it firt Matter >ill (e increae!' an! alo

the /o!#' $"i?*% the firt Matter in ualit#' an! the /o!# in uantit#@ the firt Matter

i that >hich i calle! the fifth 2ssence* Yet )no>' Son' that thefifth 2ssencei

one thing' an! the Matter of Augmentation i another:

.69.


31/97

an!' a I ai! (efore' the increae of Metal' i not li)e the increae of man /o!#*

Although thefifth 2ssence' >hich caueth the augmentation of Metal' ma# (e a fit

Me!icine for Humane /o!ie@ a alo the fifth 2ssence' >hich caueth the

augmentation of man /o!#' ma# (e a fit Me!icine for the /o!ie of Metal: an!

therefore' a (efore i ai!' the fifth 2ssencei one thing' an! augmentation

another* You ee therefore for >hat reaon our &ater i calle!' the first Matter

and Seed of Metals, vi>$(ecaue of it all Metal are generate!* Therefore #ou >ill

ha"e nee! of it in the (eginning' mi!!le' an! en!' for a much a it i the caue of

all generation' (ecaue (# it Congelation it i turne! into all ort of Metal' to

>it' into the firt Matter of the ort* Thence it i calle!' the Seed of Metals' an!

the !Metallic/ Water of Life: (ecaue it affor! Life an! /lou! to ic) an! !ea!

Metal' G ;o#neth in Matrimon# the Re! man >ith the &hite >oman' that i' the

Sun an! the Moon* It i calle! alo Virgins Mil/@ for a long a it i not ;o#ne! >ith

the Sun an! the Moon' nor >ith an# thing ele' ece-t onl# thoe >hich are of it

o>n )in!' o long it ma# (e calle! a Dirgin* /ut >hen it i ;o#ne! >ith a Male an!Female' an! marrieth >ith them' then i it no longer a Dirgin' (ecaue it a!hereth

to them' an! (ecome one >ith them to >hom it i ;o#ne!' that i' >ith the Sun

an! Moon' >hom it ;o#n an! i ;o#ne! >ith to generation* /ut a long a it

remain a Dirgin' it i calle! Virgins Mil/' theBlessed Water' an! the Water of Life'

an! (# man# other Name*

An! no>' m# Son' that I ma# a# omething of the ,hiloo-her Mercury'

)no> that >hen thou hat -ut th# Water of Lifeto the Re! man' >ho i our

Magnesia' an! to the &hite >oman@ >hoe name i Albifica' an! the# hall all

ha"e (een gathere! together into one' then #ou ha"e the true ,hiloo-her

Mercury* For after that in thi manner all i ;o#ne! >ith a Male an! Female' then it

i calle! the0hilosophers Mercury' the 0hilosophers Water of Life' the Bloud of

Man, his red 8lesh, his Body and Bones * no> therefore' that there are man#

ort of Mil)' $Di?*% Dirgin Mil)' &oman Mil)' an! alo Man Mil): For >hen firt

the# are ;o#ne! in one' an! he i (ig' ha"ing concei"e!' then the Infant mut (e

nourihe! >ith Mil): /ut then #ou ma# )no> that thi Mil) i not Dirgin Mil)' (ut

rather the man an! the >oman Mil)' >here>ith it i al>a# to (e nourihe!' till it

i gro>n to that trength' that it ma# (e (rought u- >ith tronger an! fuller foo!*

That foo! >hich I mean i the lea"ening of it' >hich gi"e it form' that it ma#

-erform Dirile >or): For until the Infant' that i' thi our Stone' (e forme! an!

lea"ene! >ith it li)e'

0So it i in the Latine' though -erha- the >or! houl! (e Dita Metallica' that i'

the &ater of Metallic) Life' that i' of the Life of Metal*

.64.


32/97

the /lou! of the green +ragon' an! the re! /lou! of the re! +ragon' >hether it (e

the >hite Stone or the re!' it >ill ne"er !o a -erfect >or)* no> therefore' Son' that

the firt &ater i that &ater Re(ar' >hich 7o! ma!e of Nature' an! it i the caue of

7eneration' a I ai! (efore@ (ut >hen after the con;unction >hich arieth from the

Marriage' it (eget the &ater of Life' an! the ,hiloo-her Mil)' >ith one of >hich' or

(oth' #ou mut augment an! fee! #our Stone -er-etuall#*

Much more coul! I a# to thee' Son' concerning thi firt Matter' (ut let thi

uffice' that etting ai!e im-ertinence of >or!' >e ma# no>' +i"ine 7race

fa"ouring u' -rocee! to the -ractice it elf of the ,hiloo-hic) Stone* See therefore'

m# Son' that thou !iligentl# -uttet all thee Matter $>hich though the# are three

thing' #et are the# (ut one onl#% in a 7la Deel' an! lettet them uietl# -utrefie:

then -ut an Alem(ic) u-on #our Deel' an! (# !itillation !ra> out all the &ater'

>hich ma# (e thence !itille!* Tr# thi firt in Maries/ath* Then -lace the Deel in

Ahe' an! ma)e a gentle Fire for 06 hour: then ta)e the Matter out of the Deel'

grin! it >ell (# it elf' >ithout the foreai! &ater' then -ut it again into the Deel >ith

&ater' an! to- the Deel cloe* ,ut it in the /ath for three !a#' an! then !itill the

&ater a (efore in the /ath' an! the Matter >ill (e more (lac) than (efore* +o thu

three time o"er' an! then grin! it no more@ (ut after>ar! a often a #ou !itill it' o

oft -our &ater on the to-: (ut (et>een each !itillation gi"e it o much Fire for i

hour or more till it (ecome in!ifferent !r#@ then -our &ater on the to- again' an!

!iol"e it again in the /ath un!er a (lin! Alem(ic)* Alo in e"er# !itillation

e-arate the Flegm' (# cating a>a# i or e"en !roof &ater in the (eginning of

each !itillation* An! o(er"ing thi or!er' caue it to !rin) it -ro-er &ater' till ithath !ran) of it e"en time it >eight >hich it ha! at the firt* /ut then it >ill (e of a

>hite colour' an! o much the >hiter' (# ho> much of the more of it o>n &ater it

hath !ran)* Thi i &hite 2li"ir*

Moreo"er' thi our &ater i calle! 7omogeneal' an! (# man# other name*

/ei!e' )no> that thi &ater an! Matter generate a >ell the Re! Stone' a the

&hite: no> alo' >hen thi firt Matter i (rought to it com-leat >hitene' then

the en! of one' i the (eginning of the other@ that i' of the Re! Stone' >hich i our

Re! Magnesia,an! Dirgin /ra' a >e ai! at firt: Son' ee thou >ell un!ertan!thee >or!* Our Dirgin /ra' i our 7ol!@ Yet I !o not a#' that all /ra i 7ol!:

alo our /ra' i our li"e /rimtone@ (ut all li"e /rimtone' i not our li"e /rimtone:

alo Buic)il"er' iMercury@

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(ut I !o not a#' that common Buic)il"er' i our Sil"er: a I ai! (efore' that &ater

of Life >hich i our See! an! firt Matter' i our Mercuryan! our S-irit of Life' >hich

i etracte! out of the (le Lan! of Aethiopia ' >hich i calle! Magnesia' an! (#

man# other name* /ei!e' m# Son' )no> that there i no -erfect generation'

>ithout corru-tion@ for corru-tion caueth cleanline' an! cleanline corru-tion*

Coni!er therefore' Son' our !#ing -oion' >hich !#eth an! i !#e! -er-etuall#@ an!

thi i our /o!#' our Soul' an! our S-irit' >hen the# are ;o#ne! together in one' an!(ecome one thing' >hich >ith it -art arieth alo out of one thing' (ei!e >hich

there i not an# other' neither e"er hall (e* &herefore' m# Son' great foll# it i for

an# one to (elie"e' that an# other Me!icine can (e turne! into 7ol! or Sil"er@ >hich

Me!icine >ill little -rofit thee of it elf' ece-t it (e mingle! >ith a /o!#' for then hall

it -erfect it >or) accor!ing to it form to >hich it i (orn: For it i ne"er (orn that it

of it elf (ecome a /o!#* Moreo"er' )no> that there i a much !ifference (et>een

the firt Matter' >hich i calle! the Seed of Metals' an! the Me!icine' a (et>een the

Me!icine an! 7ol!: For the See! >ill ne"er (e the Me!icine >ithout a /o!#' neither

>ill the Me!icine e"er (e a Metal >ithout a /o!#* Much !ifference alo there i

(et>een Eliir an! the Me!icine' a (et>een Maculine an! Feminine See!' an!

alo an Infant >hich i generate! of thoe in the Matrice* No> #ou ma# ee' that the

See! i one thing' an! the Infant another@ though the# (e one an! the ame in )in!'

one thing' one o-eration' the Deel finall# one' though it (e calle! (# !i"ere

name: For of a Man an! &oman' i an Infant (orn' >hen a #et the Man i one

thing' an! the &oman another' though the# (e one an! the ame in )in!: >hich #ou

ought to un!ertan! in our Stone* /ut >hat I ai! (efore' that corru-tion i the

caue of generation' an! of cleanline' i true: For' #ou mut )no>' that e"er#

thing in it firt Matter i corru-t an! (itter' >hich corru-tion an! (itterne i calle!

dying poison@ >hich i the caue of Life in all thing' a >ill (e ufficientl# manifet' if

#ou >ith right reaon !o >eigh the Nature of thing* Coni!er >ell' O Son' that

>hen Luciferthe Angel of ,ri!e' firt re(elle! againt 7o!' an! -re"aricate! the

Comman! of the mot High' (e aure! that thi >a ma!e corru-t' (itter' an! harh

to him: No le >a the fall an! -re"arication of our firt ,arent Adaman! 2ve'

>hom !eath an! con!emnation follo>e!' ma!e to them corru-tion an! (itterne'

an! li)e>ie to u in >hom the ame corru-tion i -ro-agate!* Man# more li)eeam-le I coul! recite' if nee! >ere: /ut etting ai!e thee' to come to >hat i

-ro-er to our !icoure@ coni!er >ell' that of all -reciou Fruit >hich gro> out of

the Earth' their firt Matter i (itter an! harh' a till retaining ome footte- of the

former corru-tion an! -utrefaction@

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>hich (itterne' (# the mean of continual action of natural heat' i >ith great "irtue

turne! into >eetne* No> therefore' Son' if thou >ilt (e ingeniou' thi little >ill

uffice >here(# to fin! out much more' an! to -ercei"e m# meaning: Coni!er

therefore >ell' Son' that accor!ing to the ol! ,ro"er(*

7e s.eet deserves not, .ho no bitter tasts$

/ut no> to -ea) omething more of our /ra@ )no>' that /ra ignifiecontinuance' or continuing &ater: /ut >hat i farther to (e coni!ere! in the nature

of the name of /ra' #ou ma# eail# gather from it Englih Tetragrammate name'

that i' it name coniting of four letter' to >it' B$ R$ A$ S$ Firt therefore' (# B$i

ignifie! the /o!# of our &or)' >hich i >eet an! (itter' our Oli"e an! our /ra

continuing in it form: (# R$i ignifie! the Root of our &or)' an! the S-ring of

continuing Ra!ical Humour' >hich i our Re! Tincture' an! Re! Roe >hich -urifieth

all in it )in!: A* ignifie our FatherAdam' >ho >a the firt man' out of >hom >a

(orn the firt >oman 2ve@ >hence #ou ma# un!ertan!' that therein i Male an!

Female* no> therefore' that our /ra i the (eginning of our &or)' our 7ol! an!

Oli"e' for it i the firt Matter of Metal' a Man i the firt of Man an! &oman* S$

ignifie the Soul of our Life' an! S-irit of Life' >hich 7o! (reathe! into Adam' an! a

the Creature@ >hich S-irit i calle! the fifth 2ssence* Moreo"er' Son' (# thee four

Letter' >e ma# un!ertan! the four Element' >ithout >hich nothing i generate! in

Nature* The# alo ignifie Solan! Lune' >hich are the caue of all Life' 7eneration

an! augmentation of all thing (orn in the &orl!* In thi name therefore of four

Letter' coniteth our >hole &or): For our /ra i Male an! Female' of >hich

arieth he >ho i calle! (egot* Therefore' Son' ta)e goo! notice >hat i ignifie! (#our >eet /ra' >hat i calle! our Sandiver' or the Salt of our :itre' or:itre@ >hat

alo (# the /lou! of the +ragon' >hat Solan! Lune' our Mercury' an! our &ater of

Life' an! man# other thing' concerning >hich ,hiloo-her ha"e -o)en !ar)l#' an!

in Ri!!le* no> therefore' Son' that our firt Matter i neither 7ol!' nor common

Sil"er' nor i it of corroi"e' or uch out>ar! thing' >hich .a.!a# !o ue* Ta)e hee! therefore' Son' that (# no mean #ou a!mit an#

thing contrar# in )in!@ for (e aure!' that >hat a man hall ha"e o>e!' the ame

hall he rea-* Moreo"er' )no> that >hen our Stone i com-leate! in it -ro-er )in!'

then it >ill (e a har! Stone' >hich >ill not eail# (e !iol"e!@ #et if #ou a!! hi &ife

to him' he >ill (e !iol"e! into O#l' >hich i calle! the ,hiloo-her O#l'

incom(uti(le O#l' an! (# man# other name* no> therefore' Son' that there are

!i"er lea"ening'

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a >ell Cor-oral a S-iritual' $"i?*% Cor-oral in uantit#' an! S-iritual in ualit#:

Cor-oral lea"ening increaeth the >eight an! uantit# of the Me!icine' #et i not of

o great -o>er a the Me!icine it elf' a i S-iritual lea"ening@ for it onl# encreaeth

the Me!icine in uantit#' not in "irtue: (ut S-iritual lea"ening increaeth it in (oth@

an! >here the Cor-oral ruleth a(o"e an hun!re!' the S-iritual a(o"e a thouan!*

Moreo"er' a long a the Me!icine i lea"ene! (# S-iritual ualitie' o long it icalle! the Me!icine@ (ut >hen it i lea"ene! >ith the Cor-oral u(tance' it i calle!

2li"ir* There i therefore a !i"er manner of lea"ening' an! a !ifference (et>een the

Me!icine' an! the 2li"ir@ for the S-iritual i one thing' the Cor-oral another* no>

alo' that a long a it i S-iritual lea"ening' it i liui! O#l an! 7um' >hich cannot

con"enientl# (e carrie! a(out from one -lace to another@ (ut >hen it i Cor-oral' then

it >ill (e a Stone >hich #ou ma# carr# a(out in #our -oc)et* No> therefore #ou ee

>hat i the !ifference (et>een the Me!icine' an! the 2li"ir@ nor i the !ifference le

(et>een 2li"ir' an! 7ol! an! Sil"er' for 7ol! an! Sil"er are !ifficult to melt' (ut 2li"ir

not o' for it eail# !iol"e at the flame of a Can!le: thence #ou ma# eail#

-ercei"e' ho> "ariou the !ifference of our com-oition an! tem-erament are*

Latl#' that >e ma# a# omething concerning their foo! an! !rin)' )no> that their

foo! i of air# Stone' an! their !rin) i !ra>n out of t>o -erfect /o!ie' namel#' out

of the Sun an! Moon@ the !rin) that i !ra>n out of the Suni calle! liui! 7ol!' $or

,ota(le' that i' that ma# (e !ran)@% (ut that out of the Moon' i calle! Dirgin Mil)'

No>' Son' >e ha"e !icoure! -lainl# enough >ith thee' if +i"ine 7race (e not

>anting to thee@ for that !rin) that i !ra>n out of the Sun' i re!' (ut that out of the

Moon' i >hite@ an! therefore one i calle! liui! 7ol!' (ut the other Dirgin Mil)@ onei Maculine' the other Feminine' though (oth arie out of one Image' an! one )in!*

Son' -on!er m# >or!' other>ie if thou >an!eret in the !ar)' that e"il (efall thee

from !efect of light: See therefore that thou (eet !iligent in turning the ,hiloo-hic)

&heel' that thou ma#t ma)e &ater out of Earth' Air out of &ater' Fire out of Air' an!

Earth out of Fire' an! all thi out of one Image an! Root' that i out of it o>n -ro-er

)in!' an! natural foo! >here>ith it Life ma# (e cherihe! >ithout en!* He >ho hath

un!ertan!ing' let him un!ertan!*

4lory to 4od =mnipotent$

FINIS*

.62.


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&olours to be obser)ed in the

$*eration of the +reat ,ork

You mut e-ect to ha"e it ecee!ing /lac)' >ithin 43 !a# after #ou ha"e

-ut #our Com-oition into the 7la o"er the Fire@ if it (e not (lac)' -rocee! no

further' for it i unreco"era(le: it mut (e a (lac) a the Ra"en Hea!' an! mut

continue a long time' an! not utterl# to loe it !uring fi"e month*

If it (e Orange colour' or half Re!' >ithin ome mall time after #ou ha"e

(egun #our &or)' >ithout !ou(t #our Fire i too hot@ for thee are to)en that #ou

ha"e (urnt the Ra!ical humour an! "i"acit# of the Stone*

no> #e not' that #ou ma# ha"e /lac) of an# thing mie! or com-oun!e!

together >ith moiture: /ut #ou mut ha"e /lac) >hich mut come an! -rocee! of

-erfect Metaline /o!ie' (# a real ,utrefaction' an! to continue a long time*

A for the colour of /le> an! Yello>' the# ignifie that the Solution an!

,utrefaction i not #et -erfectl# finihe!' an! that the colour of our Mercur# are

not #et >ell mingle! >ith the ret*

The /lac) aforeai! i an e"i!ent ign' that in the (eginning the Matter an!

Com-oition !oth (egin to -urge it elf' an! to !iol"e into mall ,o>!er' le than

the Mote in the Sun@ or a glutinou &ater' >hich feeling the heat' >ill acen! an!

!ecen! in the 7la: at length it >ill thic)en an! congeal' an! (ecome li)e ,itch'

ecee!ing /lac)@ in the en! it >ill (ecome a /o!#' an! Earth >hich ome call erra

Saetida@ for then (# reaon of the -erfect ,utrefaction' it >ill ha"e a cent or tin)

li)e unto 7ra"e ne> o-ene!' >herein the /o!ie are not thoro>l# conume!*

7ermes!oth call it erra Soliis' (ut the -ro-er name iLeton' >hich mut (e

(lanche! an! ma!e >hite*

Thi (lac)ne !oth manifet a Con;unction of the Male an! Female' or

rather of the four Element*

Orange colour then !oth he> that the /o!# hath not #et ha! ufficient

!igetion' an! that the humi!it# $>hereof the colour of /lac)' /le>' an! A?ure !o

come% i (ut half o"ercome (# the !r#ne*

&hen !r#ne !oth -re!ominate' then all >ill (e >hite ,o>!er: It firt

(eginneth to >hiten roun! a(out the out>ar! i!e of the 7la@ the Ludus

0hilosophorum!oth a#' that the firt ign of -erfect >hitene' i the a--earing of a

little hoar# circle -aing u-on the Hea! he>ing it elf roun! a(out the Matter on

the out>ar! i!e of the 7la' in a )in! of Citrine colour*

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T H E S A U R U S ,

Sive

Medicina Aurea:

A -lain an! true

DESCRIPTION

OF THE

Treaure of Treaure'

OR THE

Golden Medicine


38/97

T H E S A U R U S '

Si"e Me!icina

Aurea*

Man# an! great are the Secret of Nature' an! concerning them an! the >a

to attain them' the >ie ,hiloo-her ha"e >rit much' (ut in a "er# !ar) an!

Aenigmatical tile' o that "er# fe> are thoe that attain to an# thing of their !eire

them@ (ut on the contrar#' after much time' la(our' an! cot in "ain e-en!e! in the

earch of them' are force! to gi"e o"er at lat' an! urceae their further inuir#' an!

intea! of the !eire! atifaction' conclu!e from their lot la(our' that the /oo) o

the ,hiloo-her are onl# fa(ulou' an! >rit to !ecei"e the un>ar#' an! thoe that

thirt after o great a Treaure* /ut I "o> unto thee (# Almight# 7o!' that >hat the#

ha"e >rote i a real Truth' though !eli"ere! in o !ar) an! !u(iou a >a#' that fe> a

a(le to un!ertan! an! recei"e (enefit from them* I !o therefore attet the truth of

their Me!icine' a >ell for the tranmutation of the (aer an! im-erfect Metal into

7ol! an! Sil"er' a for the (enefit of Humane /o!ie' an! healing all /o!il# +ieaetill 7o! call the Soul@ an! thi a(o"e all the Me!icine of 4alenan!7ippocrates*

/ut (ecaue man# great lo"er of no>le!ge' an! thi Science' ha"e o often faile!

o(taining the en! of their !eire in thee M#terie of Nature' an! not onl# faile! a

to the Accom-lihment of their !eire in full' (ut alo come hort of )no>ing the

-rinci-al u(;ect' an! groun! of ,hiloo-hical Secret: I ha"e therefore thought fit to

hel- them (# thi mall Scri-t' a much a I ma#' an! a"e them the trou(le of that

earch@ an! (# telling them in -lain term an! >or! the true Matter' enlighten an!

encourage their !u(iou min! to the farther earch after >hat the# !eire: for let the

aure themel"e' it i no mall a!"antage to (e aure! of the true Matter an!

groun!>or)' or /ai of o great Arcana?san! hereon great an! innumera(le

(leing !o !e-en!* I !o therefore mot faithfull# aure thee' that the true Su(;ec

of thi Art i )uic/-silver' in a !ou(le manner' "i?* either )uic/-silverNatural' or

)uic/-silverof /o!ie' "i?* the /o!ie' ofSolor Luna' re!uce! to Mercury vive@ for

man# an! trange thing ma# (e -erforme! (# either' ingl# of themel"e' or ele

con;o#ne!* The con;unction of the Mercuryof 7ol! or Sil"er' >ith the common

Mercury@ or the /o!ie' or the O#l of 7ol! an! Sil"er' !iol"e! in the Aqua Mercurii

!oth much haten the o-eration of Me!icine for Metal: /ut >e nee! not $a

a(olutel# necear#% an# more than the common Mercuryor )uic/-silver' !iol"e!

lightl#' either for Eliir or -reciou Stone@ onl# mall Natural Stone mut (e

!iol"e! in the Mercurial &ater' o hall #ou ha"e uch Stone again a #ou

!iol"e' an!

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thoe of >hat (igne #ou -leae' far ecee!ing Natural one*

The net great Secret of ,hiloo-her' i the -re-aration of common )uic/-

silveror Mercury@ for common Mercury' a Nature -ro!uceth it' i not fit for uch

o-eration' nor can the# an# >a# (e -erforme! (# it: for our Mercury i not the

common Mercuryor )uic/-silver' (ut i ma!e of it' (# a true ,hiloo-hical )ill@ it i

not the >hite Mercuryor )uic/-silver' (ut it u(tle' -iritual' airie an! fier# -art' the

earth# an! >ater# (eing -ru!entl# e-arate!* For the manifetation of our Mercury'the true Mercuryof ,hiloo-her' firt -re-are the common Mercury(# a !ue

,hiloo-hical -re-aration' until thou hat e-arate! an! -urge! him from hi t>o

etreme or ecrement' Earth an! &ater: !iol"e it then' after it -urification' into

a Mil)ie' Cr#talline' an! Sil"er Liuor or &ater' >hich in three or four month i to

(e !one: (eing once !iol"e!' thou ma#t e"er after !iol"e more an! more

Mercuryin full# fourt# !a#' for Mercuryonce !iol"e!' !iol"eth it elf e"er after

infinitel#* An! ha"ing !iol"e! it' !itill it -erfectl#' until it ha"e no Faece in the

'ornuae@ after +itillation' (ring it again to ,utrefaction' an! >hen it i (lac)ih'

!itill it again: o halt thou ha"e t>o O#l' a >hite Sil"er O#l' an! thic)ih' an! at

lat a "er# re! or /lou!.li)e O#l' >hich i the Element of Fire* The >hite O#l er"eth

for Multi-lication' or multi-l#ing the >hite Eliir' an! for the ma)ing of all -reciou

Stone' (# !iol"ing of mall -reciou Stone in it' for it >ill -reentl# !iol"e them

then in a gentle heat of Ahe congeal them again' an! the# far ecee! an# Natural

one' (oth in lutre' an! "irtue' an! har!ne* The re! O#l i for the multi-l#ing the

re!2li"ir' e"en to an infinite height in -ro;ection@ >hich >hen it i (# often multi-l#ing

or multi-lication' (rought to a fie! O#l' then thou ma#t !o e"eral Magical' #et

Natural an! trange O-eration (# it*

To ma)e the 2li"irsthou mut -rocee! thu: &hen thou hat !iol"e!

rightl# the common Mercury' >hich cannot (e !one (efore it (e !ul# -re-are! for

uch a ,hiloo-hical !iolution' >hen it i !iol"e! into a Mil)ie' Sil"er' Cr#talline

Liuor' it >ill in the !itillation lea"e ome Faece' in >hich remain it more fit -art

or Salt' >hich thou mut >aril# an! >iel#' after a gentle an! ,hiloo-hical

Calcination' etract an! -urifie to the highet ,urification' (# >hich mean it >ill (e

"er# >hite an! clean: then ta)e e"en ounce of the >hite Mercurial O#l' an!

!iol"e in it a much of thi Salt a it >ill !iol"e' until it >ill !iol"e no more:

ha"ing o !one' -ut th# Liuor into a ,hiloo-hical Egg' ealing it Hermeticall#' an!

(# !ue !egree of Fire congeal an! fi it: (eing fie!' it i the >hite Me!icine' >hich

fermente! >ith Sil"er' ma# (e cat u-on -urge! Venus' >hich it >ill tranmute into

mot fine Sil"er: multi-l#

.90.


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it >ith the >hite O#l' Gc* If thou >oul!t ha"e it (e a re! 2li"ir' -ut to it ome of

the re! O#l' an! (# reuiite !egree of heat congeal an! fi it a (efore:

ferment it >ith 7ol!@ multi-l# it (# the re! O#l' an! the aforeai! >hite Salt

!iol"e in it: !iol"e it' congeal an! fi it often' until it >ill congeal no more'

o >ill it remain an o#l' >hich in it -ro;ection i almot infinite' En!ea"our not

to multi-l# it an# farther' for fear thou loet it@ it i then o fier#' that it >ill"anih out through the 7la re!!ih' or Ru(ie.li)e* Ma)e -ro;ection >ith it on

>hat Metal thou >ilt an! thou halt ha"e mot fine 7ol!' (etter than the Natural

7ol!* Laus


41/97

T R A C T A T U S

+ E L A , I + E '

Manna /ene!icto' Gc*


42/97

Tractatus de La*ide! %anna

benedicto! -c.

In thi /oo) thou hat a mot faithful an! -lain Manu!uction to the greatet

an! mot no(le Secret of Nature: En;o# them in ilence

a uri fontina

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