CHAP. XXVI. Of the Projection which he and his Wife made upon Mercury, and the Hospitals, Chappels, and Churches, which they built, with other Deeds of Charity which they did.

I. HAving attained this, I come now to pro∣jection; and the first time I made projection was up∣on Mercury, a pound and half whereof, or there a∣bouts, I turned into pure Silver, better than that of the Mine, as I proved by assaying of it my self, and Page  533 also causing others to assay it for me many times.

II. This was done in the Year of Our Lord 1382. January 17. about Noon, be∣ing Monday, in my own House, Perrenelle only being present.

III. Again, following ex∣actly the directions in my Book, litterally, and word by word, I made projection of the Red stone, on the like quantity of Mercury, Perre∣nelle only being present, and in the same house; which was done in the same Year of Our Lord, viz. 1382. April 25. at five in the Af∣ternoon.

IV. This Mercury I truly transmuted into almost as much Gold, much better indeed than common Gold, more soft also, and more pliable.

V. I speak it in all Truth, I have made it three times with the help of Perrenelle, who understood it as well as my self, because she assi∣sted me in my Operations: And without doubt, if the would have indeed done it alone, she would have brought the work to the same, or full as great perfe∣ction as I had done.

VI. I had truly enough when I had once done it; but I found exceeding great pleasure and delight in see∣ing and contemplating the Admirable Works of Nature within the Vessels.

VII. And to shew to you that I had then done it three times, I caused to be depi∣cted under the same 〈◊〉, three Fornaces, like to those which serve for the opera∣tions of this work.

VIII. I was much con∣cern'd for a long time, lest that Perrenelle (by reason of extream joy) should not hide her foelicity, which I measured by my own, and lest she should let fall some words among her Relati∣ons, concerning the great Treasure which we posses∣sed.

Page  534 IX. For an extremity of Joy takes away the Under∣standing, as well as an ex∣tremity of Grief and Sor∣row: but the goodness of the most great God, had not only given and fill'd me with this Blessing, to give me a Sober and Chaste Wife, but she was also a Wise and Prudent Woman, not only capable of Rea∣son, but also to do what was reasonable, and was more discreet and secret than or∣dinarily other Women are.

X. Above all she was ex∣ceedingly Religious and de∣vout: And therefore seeing her self without hope of Children, and now well stricken in years, she made it her business as I did, to think of God, and to give our selves to the Works of Charity and Mercy.

XI. Before the time wherein I wrote this Di∣scourse, which was at the latter end of the Year of Our Lord 1413. (after the Death of my Faithful Com∣panion, whose loss I can∣not but lament all the days of my life:) She and I had already founded, and en∣dowed with Revenues, 14 Hospitals, 3 Chappels, and 7 Churches, in the City of Paris, all which we had new built from the Ground, and enriched with Great Gifts and Revenues, with many Reparations in their Church-yards.

XII. We also have done at Boloigne about as much as we have done at Paris: not to speak of the Charitable Acts which we both did to particular poor people, principally to poor Wid∣dows and Orphans:

XIII. Whose Names should I divulge, with the largeness of the Charity, and the way and manner of doing it, as my reward would then be only in this World, so neither could it be pleasing to the persons to whom we did it.

XIV. Building therefore these Hospitals, Chappels, Churches, and Church∣yards in this City, I caused Page  535 to be depicted under the said fourth Arch, the most∣true and essential Marks or Signs of this Art, yet under Vails, Types, and Hiero∣glyphick Covertures, in i∣mitation of those things which are contained in the Gilded Book of Abraham the Jew.

XV. This representation may signifie two things, according to the capacity and understanding of those who may view them. First, The Mysterie of the Re∣surrection and day of Judg∣ment, wherein Christ Jesus our Lord, (whom I pray and beseech to have mercy upon us) shall come to judge the World.

XVI. Secondly, It might signifie to such as have lear∣ned Natural Philosophy, all the principal and necessary Operations of the Magiste∣ry; or the true and whole Process of the Grand Elixir.

XVII. These Hieroglyphick Figures serve also as a dou∣ble way, leading to the Heavenly Life. The first demonstrating the Sacred Mysteries of our Salvation, as shall be hereafter shewed. The other demonstrating to the Wise, and Men of Un∣derstanding, the direct and perfect way of Operation, and lineary work of the Philosophers Stone.

XVIII. Which being per∣fected by any one, takes away from him the root of all sin and evil, which is Covetousness, changing his evil into good, and making him Liberal, Courteous, Religious, Devout, and fear∣ing God, how wicked soe∣ver he was before.

XIX. For from thence forward, he is continually ravished with the goodness of God, and with his Grace and Mercy, which he has obtained from the fountain of Eternal Goodness; with the profoundness of his Divine and adorable po∣wer, and with the Consi∣deration of his Admirable Works.

Page  536 XX. These are the Rea∣sons which moved me to set these Figures and Re∣presentations in this man∣ner, and in this place; viz. to the end, that if any Man obtain this inestimable Good, or becomes Master of this Rich and Golden Fleece,

XXI. He may consider with himself (as I did) not to hide this Tallent which God has bestowed upon him in the Earth, buying Houses, Lands, and Pos∣sessions, which are the Va∣nity and Follies of this World:

XXII. But rather, to persue his Work, and to bestow the product with all Love and Charity, among the Poor and Needy; re∣membring that he learned this Secret among them that possessed nothing, to wit, among the Bones of the Dead, in which number he himself shall shortly be found.

XXIII. And that after this Life he must render an Account, before a most just and mighty Judge, who will judge every one ac∣cording to his Works, and to whom he must render an account for every vain and idle word.

XXIV. Having therefore well weighed my words, and well understood those my Figures, having also the knowledge of the prima ma∣teria, or first Agents, persue thou the Work to the per∣fection of this Magistery of Hermes, for the Glory of God, and the good of Ne∣cessitous and Distressed hu∣man kind;

XXV. But more especi∣ally to those who are of the houshold of Faith, to such as are truly poor and just people, Aged persons and Widdows, Orphans and forlorn, the despised, and forsaken, whom the world is not worthy of, dispersing bounteously of this your hidden Treasure, with an open and Liberal, but Secret hand.