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I. HERMES. Now there are seven Bodies, of which, the first is Gold, the most perfect, the King and the Head of them: which the Wa∣ter cannot alter, nor the Earth Corrupt, nor Fire Devastate; because its Complexion is Tem∣perate, or in a mean; and its Nature direct, in respect of
Heat, Cold, Moisture, or Dry∣ness; nor is any thing that is in it Superfluous.
Salmon. The seven Bo∣dies are the seven Metals, the first of which is Gold, and the most perfect of them: Now tho' it be all that can be, or is requisite to be in a Body truly perfect; yet something more than perfect is designed by our Tincture: For Sol of him self cannot tinge nor melio rate any other Body, nor bring it to his own perfe∣ction, therefore he is to be made more than perfect by Virtue of this Philosophick Tincture, which opening his Body, shall exalt it a thousand fold beyond the degree of its perfection, making him able to trans∣mute other Bodies into his own form, fixity, and like∣ness. The other six Bodies are Silver, Tin, Copper, Iron, Lead, and Quick Silver, which last is also among the number of Spirits. Now there is a difference between the Common and Vulgar Gold, and our Gold, say the Philosophers. Ours 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the AEs, or Electrum Mi∣nerale, whose Composition, comprehends in it self all the Metals, according to this saying, Omne Aurum est AEs, sed non omne AEs est Aurum. This AEs or Aurum is rightly compared to Sol, who by the Testimony of Hermes next after God, go∣verns the World, and Illu∣minates all things, both Ani∣mate and Inanimate, of whom well Sung Palingenius,
And as the Stars and all the other Planets receive their Light and Virtues from the Sun so also do all the other six Metals and Minerals re∣ceive theirs from Our Gold, almost in like manner by the Emission of its Rays or Beams, which is indeed its tinging Sulphur, and mul∣tiplying and fixing Spirit. All that is perfect 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sol is its Viridity, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eternally generates 〈◊〉〈◊〉 multiplying 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Ferment of 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉— O Sol, qui tempora mutas, Et cum temporibus, quicquid generatur in Orbe.
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This is the Elixir saith the Rosary, the compleat Medi∣cine, the most depurated and digested Substance, more than perfect, and per∣fecting all other bodies whe∣ther perfect or imperfect, making those that are per∣fect, much more than per∣fect. This is the true Phi∣losophick Gold (i. e. Gold in a mean, or Gold after a manner) more worthy, more Noble, and more Pre∣tious than Vulgar Silver or Gold, or any Gem, or Pre∣tious Stone. Many have sought this AEris Viriditatem in Vitriol; and Copper or Vulgar Brass, but they erred, and were deceived, follow∣ing the literal Discourse of the Philosophers, and not their Sense: For they ought not to have contemplated the Metals as they are Bo∣dies, but as they are redu-Ced into a most Subtil, Spi∣rituous, and Celestial Sub∣stance.
II. Hermes. Therefore the Philosophers bear up, and mag∣nifie themselves in it, saying, that such Gold in Bodies is like the Sun among the Stars, most Light and Splendid. And as by the Power of God, every Vegetable, and all the Fruits of the Earth are perfected; so by the same Power, the Gold, and [the Seed thereof] which contains all these seven Bodies, makes them to spring to be ripen∣ed, and brought to perfection, and without which this Work can in no wise be performed.
Salmon, As Sol is among the Stars and other Planets, and Vulgar Gold among the other Vulgar Metals and Minerals; so also is our Gold (which is the true Phi∣losophick Tincture) among the other Metals or Bodys re∣duced to a Spirituality and pure Tincture: And as Sol in the Heavens is the Medium that perfects all Sublunary or Inferior things by his Beams, Light, and Heat: So also Our Sol, (the true Seed of Gold, and the Seminal Pow∣er of the Aurifick Principle) is also the Medium which makes all the other seven Bodies not only perfect, but more than perfect; that they thereby may perfect other quantities of their own kind, yet lying in imperfection,
viz. wanting Purity, Tin∣cture and Fixation: All which is done by Virtue of its sub∣tle Spirit, Tincture, and Fire. Therefore say the Philosophers, Our Gold is not Corporeal, but a depu∣rated substance in the high∣est degree, and brought to an Astral, or Heavenly Na∣ture: This is the Ixir, Elixir, or Fermentum, the true Tin∣cture and Spirit, tinging and fixing all other Bodies, and without which they cannot be perfected.
III. Hermes. And like as Paste or Dough is impossible to be Fermented, or Levened without Leven; so is it in this case, without the proper Fer∣ment, you can do nothing: When you sublime the Bodies, and Purifie them separating the filthiness and uncleanness from them, or from the Foeces, you must conjoyn and mix them to gether, and put in the Ferment, making up the Earth with the Water.
Salmon. Our Hermes, a little before has made men∣tion of Ferment, which he has in plain, open and ma∣nifest Words, declared to be Gold: He now comes to demonstrate the necessity of Fermentation, setting some of its Operations in Order. The other Imperfect Bodies are the Meal or Dough, and unless they be Fermented with their proper Leven, which is Gold, they cannot be brought into the proper∣ty of the Leven or Gold: but this Gold must be made spiritual and living, and the Bodies must be Dissolved, Sublimed, and Putrefied, before they can be mixed with the Ferment; this be∣ing done, viz. being made clean, subtil, and spiritual, the Ferment or prepared Gold is to be mixed therewith, making up the Earth with the Water, that is the Body with the Spirit. Now to bring the Bodies into this State, to be fit to be joyned with the Ferment, you must sublime them, purifie them, make a separation of the Foeces, then conjoyn and mix; all which are necessary in Or∣der to this Fermentation. The Ferment to the prepared Body, is as the Soul to the Body, or as Leven to Paste,
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without which the Mass could not be levened.
IV. Hermes. And you must Decoct and Digest till Ixir, the Ferment, makes the alteration or change, like as Leven does in Paste. Medi∣tate upon this, and see whether the Ferment to this Composi∣tum, does make or change it from its former Nature to ano∣ther thing. Consider also that there is no Leven or Ferment but from the Paste it self.
Salmon. Now he teaches us the Art of Levening; which is to Decoct or Di∣gest, till the Ferment makes an alteration or change, like as Leven does in Paste. This is a high point of Art, and ought to be seriously consi∣dered, even what the end of the intention is, which is to produce or generate Gold; and therefore (as I said above) Gold must be your Ferment. As Leaven is to Paste, so is this Gold or Ferment to Our Mercury, which is the prepared Body: And as Leven is made out of the same matter, out of which the Paste is made: so this Gold or Ferment is made out of the same prin ciples, viz. Mercury and Su l phur, which our prepared Bodies come from; there∣fore Hermes bids you consi∣der it, and tells you plainly, that there is no Leven, or Ferment, but from the Paste it self; and therefore Our Philosophick Gold, which is Ixir, the Ferment must be prepared from the Philoso∣phick Mercury and Sulphur in a fit proportion; that when it Works, it may purge out the Old Leven with all its effects, which are uncleanness, want of Tincture, and want of fixity, and so bring forth a regenerate matter, even a new substance or body, not according to the Old Leven, but according to the Nature of the New, which is wholly purity in the height of Tin∣cture and the strongest fixity. Now this Fermentum is said sometimestobe two fold, viz. Fermentum Lapidis Aurifici, which is from Gold, and Fer∣mentum Lapidis Argentifici, which is from Silver. This is a weighty thing, and wor∣thy to be seriously conside∣red of, and therefore advi∣ses us to meditate upon it: ex∣cept the Paste does receive the Virtues and Properties
of the Leven into it self, it cannot be Levened: If it does, it becomes, by a suffi∣cient Digestion, absolutely the same thing with the Leven, both in its substance and properties, and all other respects.
V. Hermes. It is also to be noted, that the Ferment does Whiten the Confection or Compositum; and forbids or hinders the Burning: It con∣tains, holds, or fixes the Tin∣cture, so that it cannot fly away, and rejoyces the Bodies, and makes them mutually to joyn, and to enter one into another.
Salmon. He says here, that the Ferment does Whi∣ten the Confection, con∣cerning which Ferment a great doubt does arise, but it is easily solved Philoso∣phically thus. It is not Gold, except it be first Silver. Our Gold is the Tincture, or Soul, or Nourisher of the Work, without which it can never be done: nor is it made Silver, unless it be first Mercury: so that our Sol seems to appear with 3 Faces; first Black, which is the Putrefaction of the Mer∣cury. 2. White, which is the change or transmutation of the black Mercury into a White body, or Silver. 3. Red, which is also the transmutation of the White body, or Silver into a Red Tincture or Gold: so that you may see that this Fer∣mentum not only Whitens the Confection, but also keeps it from Burning, and so fixes the Tincture that it cannot change, vanish, or fly away. By rejoycing the Bodies, he means a repleni∣shing them with a fixed Tin∣cture, and a fixed substance, to wit, the Ingression of the Ferment into them by Proje∣ction: but because the Fer∣ment is not able to enter in∣to Dead Bodies, therefore they must be removed, and made Alive by help of the Aqua Medians, or Mediating Water, which is the Aqua Philosophica, which dissolves, subtilizes and spiritualizes, them, which makes also a Marriage or Conjunction between the said Ferment, and the White Earth: And in every Fermentation you ought to take notice of the Weight of every thing. If therefore you would Fer∣ment the White Foliated
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Earth, to the White Elixir, that it may be projected up∣on bodies diminished from perfection, you must take of the White or Foliated Earth three parts: Of the reserved Aqua Vitae two parts: Of the Ferment half part: Now if you work for the White, your Ferment must be so prepa∣red, that it may be made a White Calx, fixt and subtil: but if for the Red a most pure Yellow or Citrine Calx of Gold.
VI. Hermes. And this is the Key of the Philosophers, and the end of all their Works. And by this Science the Bodies are meliorated, and restored: and the Work of them (Deo annuente) is performed and perfected.
Salmon. This Art of Le∣vening or Fermentation is that which he calls the Key of the Philosophers, i. e. the Key which opens the Door into the Secrets and Mysteries of this whole Work: Of so great Virtue and Power is this Work of Fermenting, that he is bold to call it even the Key of the Philosophers: that is the beginning, mid∣dle and end of the Work, both for the White and the Red; so that by the Pow∣er and Efficacy thereof, the Bodies may be Renovated, and Exalted into a higher State of Perfection, than what they are by Nature.