Ripley reviv'd, or, An exposition upon Sir George Ripley's hermetico-poetical works containing the plainest and most excellent discoveries of the most hidden secrets of the ancient philosophers, that were ever yet published / written by Eirenæus Philalethes ...

THE Author's Preface TO HIS EXPOSITIONS UPON Sir GEORGE RIPLEY's Compound of Alchymy, &c.

THis Canon of Brid∣lington flourished in the days of Edward the Fourth, King of England, to whom he wrote an Epistle, as in the beginning of this Book ap∣peareth: a true Artist he was, as every one who hath attained the knowledge in this Mastery can te∣stifie. He wrote, among other Wri∣tings, these Twelve Gates of Alchy∣my,

which with the Preface, Recapi∣tulation, Erroneous Experiments by him warned of, his Epistle to the King, Vision, and Wheel, I shall unfold.

For his Experience herein he was eminent, yea his Writings indeed are, in my opinion, for the fulness of them, and eminent descriptions of things, to be preferred before any that I have read or seen, yet I have seen many.

I would detract from no candid well-deserving Author, but would ingenuously give them their due; yet Ripley to me seems to carry the Garland.

For mine own part, I have cause to honour Bernard Trevisan, who is very ingenious, as in all his Writings, so especially in that Epi∣stle of his to Thomas of Bononia, in

which let me seriously profess, I receiv'd the main Light in this hidden Secret. I shall not name the place, but read the Epistle, and read it again and again, for in it is most excellent truth, and Naked truth.

Next to him, or rather before him in some respects, is an Author whom I will not name; yet truly all Chymical Writers are therein to be preferred by any man, by how far he gets good by them: one commends Raymond Lully before all, yet I remember not that ever I got good by reading of him: some in good sooth, who are not Pro∣fessors of this Secret, write more edifyingly to the informing of a Tyro, then those whom skill hath made crafty, especially in such places where they intend nothing

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less then to discover such Secrets▪ I learned the Secret of the Philo∣sophers Magnes, from one; of their Magical Chalybs, from another; the use of Diana's Doves, from a third; the Air, or rather the Camelion of the Philosophers, from another; the gross Preparation of their Men∣struum, in another; the number of Eagles, in another: but for opera∣tion on the true Matter, and signs of the true Mercury, I know none like Ripley, though Flammel be eminent. I know what I say, as knowing experimentally the truth, and what is errour.

For mine own part, I have had experience of misleading Sophisti∣cal Writers, and have made many toylsom laborious Experiments, though but young; and therefore having at length, through the un∣deserved

mercy of God, arrived at my Haven of Rest, I shall stretch out my hand to such as are behind.

I have wrote several Treatises, some in English, but especially in Latine; one English Treatise touching the Stone, very plainly written, but not perfected, unfor∣tunately slipt out of my hand, and perhaps may come abroad into the World; if it do, I should be sorry. Two Latine Tractates, one intitu∣led, Brevis manuductio ad Rubi∣num Coelestem, another, Fons Chy∣micae Philosophiae, I wrote, which for especial Reasons to me known I resolve to suppress. Two other Latine Treatises, the one intituled, Ars Metallorum Metamorphose••s, the other, Introitus apertus ad occlu∣sum Regis Palatium, I lately wrote,

which perhaps thou mayst enjoy. Two English Poems I wrote, de∣claring the whole Secret, which are lost. Also an Enchiridion of Experiments, together with a Di∣urnal of Meditations, in which were many Philosophical Receipts declaring the whole Secret, with an Aenigma annexed; which also fell into such hands, who I con∣ceive will never restore it. This last was written in English, with many other which I wrote for mine own recreation, and afterwards burned.

But now at length studying how to profit the Sons of Art to my utmost, I have rather resolved to unfold Ripley's Knots, and so thou mayst have two Witnesses in one; for by the unfolding of him thou shalt both see the depth of the

Man, and discern that both he and I were truly, and not Sophistically, intrusted with this Divine Science and Art; in which it is not notio∣nal, as many men conceive the Art to be, but real Experiments of Na∣ture, taught me by the only God and Master of Nature, that was my Guide; having seen and made the Secret Water of the Philosophers, and known the use of it by ocular experience, to the effecting of the admirable Elixir. These Writings peruse, for they are not Fancies, and so with the help of the most High, thou shalt attain thy wish.