CHAP. XV. The Enterance into the Work, beginning with Argent Vive.

I. HERMES the Wise saith, if you Con∣serve a third part of your Camels, [viz. of the swift or Volatile Matter, or that which must bear the Bur then,] and Consume the re∣maining two thirds, you have attained to the thing desired; you have perfe∣cted the Work.

II. In like manner you must be careful of your Ar∣gent Vive; for the black Matter does Whiten the Flesh, and the Work is per∣fected by the Fire of the Wise.

III. And the Work is to be performed by a Spiritual Water, in which the black∣ness is washed away; and by that Instrument, in which the Foundation of the Work is laid, and in that time and moment, in which the Clouds appear.

IV. Now that Water, in or by which the blackness is washed away, is the Sweat Page  269 or Moisture of the Sun, and Childrens Urine, [i. e. the Virgins Water.] The thing which I tell you is sufficient for you to know.

V. In like manner, take the Water of the Water, [Mercury of Mercury,] and with it cleanse and purifie the Wind, Fume, or Va∣por, and Abolish the black∣ness. Understand what this signifies, and rejoyce therein.

VI. Also in the same man∣ner, take the blackness and Conjoyn it; then have re∣spect to the White, and Con∣joyn the Red; so will you go through the thing desired, and come to the end of the Work.

VII. It is also to be no∣ted, that it is the Fire-Stone which Governs the Matter or Work, by the good plea∣sure of God: Boyl it there∣fore with a gentle Fire, Night and Day, lest the Water should be separated from it; even till it becomes of a Golden Color: Un∣derstand well what I say.

VIII. That also which Congeals, does Dissolve; and that which does Whi∣ten, does in like manner make Red.

IX. I have made plain to you the nearest way, that you may be easie and satisfi∣ed: Understand therefore these things, and Meditate upon them; and you shall certainly attain to the per∣fection of the Work.

X. It is also to be noted, that as Sol is among the Stars; so is Gold among the other Metalline Bodies: For as the Light of the Sun, is joyned to the Lights, and contains the Fruit of this Operation; so in like man∣ner Gold: Meditate upon these Words, and by the Permission of God you may find it out.

CHAP. XVI. The Nature of the Medicine, and Govern∣ment of the Metals.

I. HERMES Moreover saith, he that out∣wardly takes in this Medi∣cine, it Kills him: but he that inwardly drinks it in, it makes him to Live and rejoyce. Understand what this means.

II. And as for this cause sake, this Water is said to be Divine, so it is said to be the greatest Poyson: and it is preferred before all other things, by so much as that without it nothing of the Work can be done.

III. It is also called Di∣vine, for that it cannot be mixed or joyned with any filth or defiled thing: and this Water of our Stone puri∣fies and cleanses the Natures of the Metals, and washes away their defoedations or defilements.

IV. And as Sol Acts up∣on Bodies, so also does this Water upon the Philoso∣phick Stone: Yea, it pene∣tates and sinks through it, and is constant, fixed, and perfect.

V. This indeed is seen in Sol; but it is to be under∣stood that the Work may be made through all the se∣ven Planets: as first from Saturn, then from Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and lastly from Luna.

VI. The first is the go∣vernment of Saturn; to wit, to cause Sol to putrefie, or bring the Body to putrefa∣ction, which is done in the space of 40 days and nights. The second is the govern∣ment of Jupiter, which is to grind or break the matter, and in 12 days and nights to Imbue or moisten it, Page  271 which is called the Regiment of Tin.

VII. The third is the go∣vernment of Mars, which is to induce Death or black∣ness, or to separate the Spirit from the Body, by which it is said to be changed. The fourth is the government of Sol, which is to Work away the Blackness and Poyson; and is indeed to make it White.

VIII. The fifth is the go∣vernment of Venus, which is to joyn the moist to the dry, and the hot to the cold, and to Unite them together in one: This is the Dominion of Brass or Copper, [or the the making of the matter of a changeable Yellow.] The sixth is the government of Mercu∣ry; which is to burn, and is called the Dominion of Ar∣gent Vive.

IX. The seventh is the government of Luna, which is to Decoct or Boyl, and make Hot, and so to per∣fect the matter, [with the fixed Citrine Tincture] in 25 days: and this is the Do∣minion of Silver. See here, I have gone with you through the whole Work; take heed therefore lest you err.

CHAP. XVII. The Difference of the Ferments, and Quality of the Spirit.

I. AND know that the White Body is made with the Whiteness; and its Ferment is that which you already know: Whiten there∣fore the Body, and under∣stand what I say.

II. Also in like manner you are to note; that the Stone sought after, has not its like or equal in the whole Earth. It is both outward∣ly and inwardly of a Citrine Golden Color; but when Page  270 〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  271 〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  272 it is altered or changed, it is made a Body dark and black, like burnt Coals.

III. Now the Color of the Spirit taken from it is White, and the substance thereof is Liquid as Water; but the Color of the Soul thereof is Red.

IV. But the Soul and the Spirit thereof is returned to it again, and it doth Live and Rejoyce, and its Light and Glory returns again; and you shall see it over∣come and Triumph: And that which was even now Dead, shall have Conquered Death, and then it shall Live, and arise from the Dead, and Live as it were for ever.

V. Happy and Blessed therefore is he in whose Power the disposition of this Matter is, who Kills and makes Alive, and is Om∣nipotent over all for ever.

VI. I therefore advise you, not to do any thing in this work, till you get an understanding thereof: For if you be Ignorant and void of true Knowledge, you will err in whatsoever you do, you will wholly Labour in Vain, and your work will Perish.

VII. So that thus mista∣king in your Operation, you blame presently your in∣structors (the Philosophers) and think that they have erred, or taught you wrong, when it is only your Igno∣rance, and none under∣standing of their words.

VIII. This then know and understand, that the Day, is the Nativity or bring∣ing forth of the Light; but the Night, the Nativity or bringing forth of the Dark∣ness.

IX. Sol also is the Light of the Day; and Luna the Light of the Night; which God Created to govern the World.

X. But Luna does receive her Light of the Sun by Combustion, and is dilated or enlarged therewith: and by so much as she receives Page  273 of the Light of the Sun, or does contain in her, of his Light; by so much does the Nature of Sol bear Rule over the Nature of Luna.

XI. If therefore you con∣template what I say, and Meditate upon my Words, you will find that I have spoken the Truth; and you will understand the signifi∣cation, of all that I have said, and the demonstrati∣on of the whole Matter.

XII. Know then, that the Spirit, is enfolded or circumscribed, within (as it were) its Marble House or Walls: Open therefore the Passages that the Dead Spirit may go out, and be cast forth from our Bodies: then it will become beauti∣ful, which is only a Work or undertaking of Wisdom.

XIII. Sow therefore [O God] thy Wisdom in our Hearts, and Root out the corrupt Principles which lodge therein, and leads us in the way of thy Saints, by which our Spirits and Souls may be Purified. Thou art Omnipotent, O Lord God Almighty, and canst do whatever thou pleasest.

CHAP. XVIII. Of Argent Vive, Tincture, Order of the Ope∣ration, and of the Fire.

I. THere is one thing which is to be won∣dered at, viz. after what manner Carmine, to wit, Grana Nostra, doth tinge or Dye Silk, which is of a contrary Natue, and tinges not a Dead thing: and af∣ter what manner Uzifur, to wit, Our Vermilion doth tinge Vestem which is of a contrary Nature and tinges not Live or growing things.

II. For it is not Natural for any thing to tinge other Page  272 〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  273 〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  274 substances, not agreeable to their Natures. If therefore you put into your Composi∣tion, Red Gold, you shall find in the Tincture a pure and perfect Red: and if you put into it White Gold; the most passive Red will vanish or go forth. There is no∣thing indeed does tinge any thing, but what is Consimi∣lar to, or like it self.

III. And I testifie to you by the Living God, maker of Heaven and Earth, that the Stone which I have de∣scribed, you have perma∣nent or fixed, nor are you kept from it by the Earth or the Sea, or any other matter.

IV. Keep then your con∣gealed Quick-Silver, many parts of which are lost be∣cause of its subtilty. Also the Mountain in which is the Tabernacle which crys out; I am the Black of the White, and the White of the Black; I speak the Truth indeed, and I lye not.

V. Now know, that the Root of the Matter is, the Head of the Crow flying without Wings, in the dark and black of the Night, and in the appearance of the Day: from the Throat the fixing Spirit: from its Gall the Coloring or Tinging Matter is taken, from its Tail, the desica∣tion, or drying of the mat∣ter; from its Wings the li∣quid Water; and from its Body the Redness.

VI. Understand the mean∣ing of the words, for here∣by is understood our vene∣rable Stone, and the Fume or Vapour thereof which is exalted [lifted up or subli∣med] and the Sea eradi∣cated, and a Light shining.

VII. You are also to note, what Alums and Salts are, which flow from Bodies: if you put the Medicines [or Matters of the Medicine] in a just or true proportion, you shall not fear to err; but if you mistake the propor∣tion, you must add or di∣minish, according as you see it tends to the emenda∣tion or performing of the Work, lest a Deluge should Page  275 come and overflow all, drowning the Regions, and overturning the Trees by the Roots.

VIII. And tho the Matter be unknown, yet consider these things, how, or after what manner these two Colors are distinguished, or diversified, by their Va∣pours: look into the sweet∣ness of Sugar, which is one kind of sweet Juice; and into the sweetness of Ho∣ney, which is yet more in∣tense or inward.

IX. Except you make the Bodies spiritual and impal∣pable, you know not how to putrefie Ixir, or proceed on in the Work; nor how the three Volatile Matters or Principles, fight one against another; and how they fail not, each in their turns, to devour one another, till of two being left, one, only remains.

X. Be careful also, how you increase your Fire (tho it is not to be very small when you dry up the Wa∣ter) and take heed that you burn not the Matter, be∣cause if the Vessel breaks, it will be with a mighty impe∣tus or force.

XI. And unless the Mat∣ter of the Stone, prove ini∣mical one to another, or con∣tend and fight with, and strive to destroy one ano∣ther, you shall never attain to the thing you seek after.

XII. If you mix your Calx with Auripigment, and not in a mean or due propor∣tion, the splendor and glo∣ry of the Operation will not succeed; but if you in∣terpose a medium, the ef∣fect will immediately follow.

XIII. Now know, that it is our Water, which extracts the hidden Tincture. Be∣hold the Example and un∣derstand it; if you have once brought the Body into Ashes, you have operated rightly.

XIV. And the blood (which is in the Philosophick Wa∣ter) of the animated Body, is the Earth of the Wise, to wit, the permanent or en∣during perfection.

CHAP. XIX. That the Beginning of this Work is in the Blackness and Darkness: and of con∣joyning the Body with the Soul.

I. NOW it is that which is dead, which you ought to vivisie or make a∣live; and that which is sick, which ought to be cured: It is the White which is to be rubified; the Black which is to be purified; and the Cold which is to be made hot.

II. It is God himself who does create, and inspire or give life, and replenishes Nature with his Power, that it might follow and imitate his Wisdom, and act as an Instrument subser∣vient to him.

III. Iron is our Gold; and Brass or Copper is our Tin∣cture; Argent Vive is our Glory; Tin is our Silver; Blackness is our Whiteness; and the Whitness is our Red∣ness.

IV. From hence it ap∣pears necessary, that we should have a Body purify∣ing Bodies; and a Water subliming Water. Our Stone which is a Vessel of Fire, is made of Fire; and is converted into the same a∣gain.

V. And if you would walk in the true way, you must persue it in the evident or visible Blackness: for (saith our Stone) it is that which is hidden within, which does make me white; and the same thing which makes me White, makes me also Red.

VI. Conceal this thing from Men, like as a word which is yet in thy Mouth, which no Man understands; Page  277 and as the Fire, Light, or Sight, which is in thine Eye: I will not tell it plainly to thee thy self, left by thy words thou conveyest my Breath to another, to thine own damage: This is the caution I give thee.

VII. Now know that this our Work, is made [or compounded] of two Figures [or Substances] the one of which wants the White Rust [Ceruse] and the other the Redish Rust [Crocus] Our Matters also are searsed thro our Sieves or Searses, made of pure or clean Rinds, and a most blessed Wood.

VIII. You are also to take notice, that the Fire∣stone of the Philosophers sought after, wants Exten∣tion, but it has quantity. It behoves you therefore, to support and nourish it on every side, and to continue it as in the middle.

IX. You must also con∣oyn the Body with the Soul, 〈◊〉 beating and grinding it 〈◊〉 the Sun, and imbuing it with the Stone; then puting it into the Fire, so long till all its Stains and Defile∣ments are taken away; let it be a gentle Fire for about seven hours space; thus will you get that which will make you to live.

X. I also tell you, that its habitation or dwelling place, is posited in the Bowels of the Earth, for without Earth it cannot be perfected: Also, its habita∣tion is posited in the Bowels of the Fire, nor without Fire can it be perfected, which is the perfection of our Art.

XI. Again, Except you mix with the White the Red, and presently bring or reduce the same into a perfect Water, it will tinge nothing; for it never tinges any thing Red, but that which is White: and while the Work is now perfecting, add them to the light of the Sun, and it will be com∣pleated Regimine Marino, as we have already declared: and by this conjunction a∣bove, your Stone will attain Page  276 〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  277 〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  278 to its Beauty and Glory.

XII. Thus have you a dry Fire which does tinge: an Air or Vapour, which fixes and chains the Volatile Matter, binding the Fugi∣tive in Fetters; and also whitens, expelling the black∣ness from Bodies; and a fixed Earth, also receiving the Tincture.

CHAP. XX. The Order of the Practical part of the Ope∣ration.

I. WAsh your Mercury with the Water of the Sea, till you have taken away from it all its Black∣ness, so will you accomplish your work to perfection, in which rejoyce.

II. If you understand how a Resurrection is ac complished, i. e. how the living [Principle or Spirit] comes forth from the dead [Matter or Substance] how that is made apparent which was hidden, and how Strength is drawn forth through Weakness; you can∣not be Ignorant how to compleat and perfect this Work.

III. How Manifest and Clear are the Words of the Wise, yet so as the inter∣nal Life and Principal is still hidden; you under∣stand them not perfectly by their Expressions.

IIII. Two Bodies equally taken from the Earth, grind, in the Oyl of the Decocted Matter, and in the Milk of the White Volatile: Now mighty and wonderful are the powers and force of these Bodies, which are free∣ly bestowed upon you, through this whole Science, which you shall possess, and therewith a long and endu∣ring Life.

Page  279 V. Take by force the most Intense Wisdom, from whence you must draw forth the Eternal [perpetual or fixed] Life of the Stone, till your Stone is congealed, and its dulness is vanished; so will you accomplish the Life thereof sought after.

VI. Give therefore of this Life sufficienly to your Matter, and it will morti∣fie it [or bring it to putre∣faction] but repleat your Earth, and it shall make it to live [Spring, Bud, Grow, Germinate.]

VII. Plant this Tree up∣on your Stone, that it may not be in danger of the vio∣lence of Winds, that the Volatile Iufluences or Bird of Heaven, may fall upon it, and by virtue thereof, its Branches may bring forth much Fruit; from thence Wisdom does arise.

VIII. Take this Volatile Bird, cut off its Head with a fiery Sword, then strip it of its Feathers or Wings, undo its Joynts, and boil it upon Coals, till it is made, or becomes of one only Color.

IX. Then put the Ve∣nom, or Poyson to it, so much as is enough to bury or cover it; govern it now with a gentle Fire, till your Matter is mortified or pu∣trefied; which done, grind it with White Water, and manage it rightly.

X. For we bought two Black — [Crows] and we put them into a Paropsi∣dem, or Crucible [or Cupel] which we had by us, and Eggs or Silver Gobbets came out, White as Salt, these we tinged with our Saffron: of them we sold publickly two hundred times, with which we have been made Rich, and our Treasures are multiplied.

XI. And whosoever you shall imbue or fill with the Powers thereof, should they be hurt with the Poyson of Vipers, or the Malignity of Brass or Verdigrise, they shall be in no danger; for that it quickens and revives Page  278 〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  279 〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  280 the Dead, and kills the Liv∣ing: It destroys and restores again; it casts down that which is elevated and lift up, and elevates that which is abjected and cast down, and gives you a dominion over the Heavens of the Earth.

XII. Now you must note, that there are two Stones of the Wise, found in the Shores of the Rivers, in the Arms of the Mountains, in the Bowels of the Floods, and in the back parts of the Kings House, which by in∣struction and prudent ma∣nagement may be brought forth, Male and Female.

XIII. By these being con∣joyned and made complex [or perfectly united into one consimiliar substance] you will be made wiser [you will see the reason of the Operation, and the end of the Work] Blessed God, how great and how wonderful a thing is this.

XIV. A certain Philoso∣pher dreamed, that the Kings Messenger came to a certain Podagrick, and the Podagrick desired that he might go with him; to whom the Messenger an∣swered, since thou hast the Gout, how canst thou go with me, for thou canst not walk.

XV. To whom the Po∣dagrick answered, Thou knowest that in the Root of this Mountain, there is a certain Tabernacle, bear∣ing me then thither, leave there the burthen, so shall I be presently freed or de∣livered from my Gout.

XVI. Then said he to me, thou art not able to touch the foot thereof: but going back, he took him up and placed him in the Tabernacle, the foot of which, the Messenger said, he was not able to touch: And waking from his Dream, he saw nothing. Behold the Similitude.

XVII. Another also saw in a Dream, wherein it was said, if any one truly should sit down by the way, and should ask you, whe∣ther Page  281 you would think fit to do this thing, would you do it? He answered, I know not; the other said, thar he should lie or gene∣rate with his Mother in the middle of the Earth; then awaking, he saw nothing. Consider well this simili∣tude.

CHAP. XXI. The remaining Operations, and conclusion of this whole Work.

I. BUT leading you to the knowledge of Phy∣losophy, and exposing the Demonstrations thereof, in a Philosophick manner, we should make it the dirision and mockery of Women, and the play of Children.

II. Take also the fresh Bark or Rind, in the same moment; in which you shall after another manner, ex∣tract the matter or thing it self, in the place where it is generated; and put it in∣to a Cucurbit, and sublime it.

III. And that which is or shall be sublimed, separate it, for it is the Vinegar of the Philosophers, and their Sapience [i. e. their Salt.]

IV. Then take this Vine∣gar, and melt or pour it forth upon another Cortex, Bark, or Superfices of the Sea, and put it into a Glass Vesica, in which put so much of your Vinegar, as may over top it the heighth of Four Inches; this bury in warm Horse dung, for Thirty One [or Forty] Daies.

V. This time being past, take the Vessel forth, and you will find it now dis∣solved, and turned into a black and stinking Water; more black and stinking than any thing in the whole World.

Page  282 VI. Take then this very thing it self, and very gent¦ly elevate it in its taberna∣cle, till all the moisture is consumed, so as no more will ascend, this sublimed Matter keep carefully for your use.

VII. Then take the Foe∣ces, which remain in the bottom of the Cucurbit, and keep them, for they are the crown [and rejoycing] of the Heart: Die then the same and grind them, and add there to fresh or new Cortex of the Sea, that is say, Mercury, and grind them together, drying them in a warm Sun.

VIII. And the Waters from the same first sublimed, sink down to the bottom, which diligently grind and dry, and put them in the Crucible or Test of Ethel, and sublime: and the Mat∣ter being sublimed purely White, as fine Salt, keep it safely, for it is the Auripig∣ment, and Sulphur and Mag¦nesia of the Philosopers.

IX Understand now, and see that you govern your Work with Wisdom and Prudence, and make not too much haste.

X. Then take the Cucurbit, put half way into lute, and put into the same, your dissolved black Water, which you have sublimed; that is to say, nine parts, and of this whitned Auripigmen∣tum, which you sublimed from the Ethel two parts.

XI. I say, that this o∣pened or decocted Auripig∣ment, is immediately dis∣solved in the Water, and made like to Water; that nothing can be seen by mankind, of a more in∣tense, fixt, and perfect Whiteness, nor any thing more beautiful to the Eye, which the Philosopers call their Sal Virginis, or Virgin Salt.

XII. Put this into a little Vessel, called a Cucurbit, close well the Joynts, which put upon a gentle Fire, making it, as it were, but Page  283 with two Coals at first, and then adding two others: and look into it, to see how the Water ascends and descends.

XIII. When you see the Vapour is consumed, and nothing more will ascend, of that which is elevated, nor descend, know that the Matter it self is now co∣agulated: make therefore a more intense and vehe∣ment Fire, for the space of three hours of the day.

XIV. Then lastly, take away the Fire, or let it go out, and the next day (all things being cold) open the mouth of your 〈◊〉, and take forth the Matter, which is of a substance, white, sincere, and melted or dissolved.

XV. This is your Sub∣stance sought after; and now you have comethrough to the end of your Work; manage it according to your Reason and Prudence, for (God assisting) you may make of it what you please.