The wise-mans crown, or, The glory of the rosie-cross shewing the wonderful power of nature, with the full discovery of the true cœlum terræ, or first matter of metals, and their preparations into incredible medicines or elixirs that cure all diseases in young or old : with the regio lucis, and holy houshold of rosie crucian philosophers / communicated to the world by John Heydon, Gent. ...

The third Book. Of Saturne or Lead the first Direction.

CHAP. I.

Of the Elixar, Putrefaction into Sulphur, the Oyl of the Sulphur, of the Conjunction of the Salt and Oyl of the Spirit, or Salt of Saturne, which containeth the Oyl or soul of the Men∣struum of white Mercury and red water of Pa∣radice, Resolution, Solution, distillation, Hyl, Purgation, resolution of Sericon, of the Gum of Sericon, of the solution of the Minium or Adrop, of Calcination of Minium into Adrop and red Lead, of Calcination of Lead with Aqua Fortis.

VEry many have writ of Saturne or Lead, but none that I know of have writ ful∣ly thereof in any particular Treatise; therefore I do not here onely set down ••••at I have gathered from them most briefly and ••••ely, but also those things which I have found 〈◊〉〈◊〉 proved by my own experience, which I have ••••exed to them, that the work may be absolute 〈◊〉〈◊〉 compleat.

Of which, as they say, Mary the Prophetess, and the Sister of Moses in her Books of the work of Saturne is thus said to write, Make your water running like the water of the two Zaibeth and fix it upon the heart of Saturne: And in ano∣ther place, Marry the Gum with the true Matri∣monial Gum, and you shall make it like running water. Of which process of Mary, George Rip∣ley our Country man hath these verses.

Maria mira sonat Quae nobis talia donat Gummis cum binis Fugitivum fugit inimis Horis in trinis Tria vinclat fortia finis Fila Plutonis Consortia jungit Amoris.

Or thus,

Maria mira sonat, breviter qui talia donat Gummi cum binis fugitivum fug it in imis Horis in trinis tria vinclat fortia finis. Maria lux roris ligam ligat in tribus horis Filia Pluton is consortia jungit Amoris Gaudet inassala sola per tria sociata.

The heart of Saturne, saith Ripley, is his whi•••• and clear body, out of whose doctrine the wo•••• doth briefly thus proceed, that is to say, that water he made out of the body of Saturne, lik•• the water Zaibeth, and that water fixed upon th•• heart of Saturne, but because the practice 〈◊〉〈◊〉

drawing out this water of Zaibeth, doth not ap∣pear out of this, nor the way of making the heart ••f Saturne, therefore the foregoing direction in ••••e Holy Guide will shew them both.

Therefore I have joyned two Tables, in one ••f which the shorter is the demonstration of the deduction of the body of Saturne into his heart or ••alt, the other longer and greater, is the extra∣ction of the water Zabieth, and the consummati∣on of the work of Saturne.

Having thus described this work, I now come ••o the explanation, and say, that the Calcination ••f the Body is twofold; for the Calcination thereof in the shorter work, for extracting the heart of Saturne, is done on this wise by Aqua Fortis.

Take 8 or 10 Ounces of Lead in Filings, and dissolve it in Aqua Fortis in double proportion, and fortified with Salt Armoniack in an Earthen Vessel with a narrow neck, and set in ashes till it be totally dissolved; and there will remain a white matter in the bottom like Grains of white Salt, which is a figure of perfect solution; then pour your matter that is dissolved in the water into a body, and set thereon a Limbeck, and in Balneo draw away the corrosive water, till there remain a dry substance in the bottom; and so you have the body converted white by Calcina∣tion with corrosive water, out of which the heart of Saturne is to be drawn.

The way to wash away and purge the corro∣sive water from the body, pour warm water upon the substance in a Limbeck, and pour it often off till it have no sharpness at all upon the

tongue, and then your body is prepared for draw∣ing out the Salt.

When your matter is well dried, dissolve it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it again in distilled Vinegar, and distill the Vine∣gar twice or thrice from it, and in the bottom you shall have a lucid clear and white shining Salt, which is then called the heart of Sa∣turne.

Now I come to the practice of the other greater work, that the verity of the stone may be found, of which many have made mention i•• their Books, as Raymundus, who calleth it the Vegetable Mineral, and Animal Stone; Geb•••• saith there groweth a Saturnian Herb on the top of a Hill or Mountain, whose blood if it be ex∣tracted, cureth all infirmities.

Ripley writ a whole Book, called his Practical Compendium, of the practice of the Vegetable Stone, teaching the manner and form of opera∣tion; but because he neither set down the solu∣tion plainly nor perfectly, he hath been the cause of much error, and hath not onely deceived me but all those that followed him, untill after a long time I found a way to dissolve Saturne, so that it could never after by distallation be turned into Lead again, which is the chiefest and greatest se∣cret of the Vegetable Stone.

But let us hear the words of Mary the Pro∣phetess, and Ripley taken from her: The Radix of our matter is a clear and white body which pu∣trifieth not, but congealeth Mercury or Quick∣silver, with its odor makes its water like the run∣ning water of the two Zabieth (alis Zubech) and fix it upon the fixed heart of Saturne: which

words do most aptly agree with the properties of Lead; for if any one be smit or wounded with a Bullet, and the Bullet remain in the body, it will never putrifie.

And also if Quick-silver be hanged in a Pot over the fume of molten Lead, so as the fume of the Lead touch the Quick-silver, it will con∣geal it.

Thus far of the preparation of Lead, we now come to its denomination, They bid us fix the water Zaibeth upon the fixed body of the heart of Saturne; now for the exposition of the body, for the name of Saturne, Ripley calleth it Adrop, of which that is made which the Masters call Se∣ricon; the water of Sericon they call their Men∣struum, the two Zabieths joyned together in one water, are the two Mercuries, that is to say white and red contained in one Menstruum, that is to say of the water and Oyle of the fixed body or heart of Saturne: Follow what I have written concerning the imbibition of the earth, our ope∣ration is no otherwise then in the Practical Com∣pendium of Ripley.

Isaacus also writ a Treatise of Lead, he wor∣keth chiefly according to the doctrine of Mary the Prophetess, and laboreth much to fix the earth of Saturne, and after to dissolve the body in distilled Vinegar; that by the addition of cor∣roding and sharp things, his red Oyl may be di∣stilled, which he calleth the water of Paradice, that he may imbibe his fixed earth therewith: which way is much shorter then Ripleys, but the rubification and fixation of the earth is long and uncertain; wherefore I have both forsaken

Isaacus and Ripley in making the earth, in stead of which I have given the fixed heart of Sa∣turne, as you may read in the Holy Guide.

But that the body may be prepared according to this Table, and after my intention and the desire of Ripley, we both will that the Oyl or Water of Paradice be drawn out of the Gum of Sericon (whose father is Adrop) Sericon is made of Red-lead; therefore it is first necessary to shew the way of making Minium of Lead, which Thomas Juc an Englishman hath described, toge∣ther with the Composition of the Gum of Seri∣con, which Author I purpose to follow, as being the best.

Take ten or twelve pound of Lead, and melt it in a great Iron vessel, as Plumbers use to do, and when it is molten, stir it still with an Iron Spatula till the Lead be turned to powder, which powder will be of a green colour; when you see it thus, take it from the fire and let it cool, and grind that powder upon a Marble till it be impalpable, moistening the powder with a little common Vinegar, till it be like thick honey, which put in∣to a broad Earthen Vessel, and set it on a Tre∣vet over a lent fire, to vapor away the Vinegar and drie the powder, and it will be of a yellow colour; grind it again and do as before, till the powder be so Red as Red-lead, which is called Adrop: And thus is Saturne calcined into Red∣lead or Minium.

Take a pound of this Read-lead and dissolve it in a Gallon of Vinegar, and stir it with a stick three or four times in a day, and so let it stand in a cold place the space of three days: then take

your Earthen Vessel and set it in Balneo twenty four hours, then let it cool and filter the liquor three times; and when it is clear, put it in a bo∣dy with a Limbeck thereupon, and distill the Vinegar so long as it will ascend, and in the bot∣tom the Gum of the Sericon will remain like thick honey, which set apart, and dissolve more new Lead as before for more Gum, till you have ten or twelve pound thereof.

Now give careful attention, for we now come to the point and period of Ripleys error, for if you put four pound of this Sericon to distill in a Limbeck, and from thence would draw a Men∣struum, as Ripley teacheth, perhaps you would have scarce one ounce of this Oyl, and some part of a black earth will remain in the bottom, and most part of the Gum melted again into Lead, by which you may know that the Sericon is not well dissolved, nor as yet sufficiently pre∣pared, that a Chaos may be made thereof fit for distillation, because it is not yet well dissolved; therefore in Isaacus there is found a way of re∣solving this Gum with distilled Vinegar, acuated with calcined Tartar and Salt-armoniack; Where∣fore, saith he, if thou be wise, resolve thy Gum; but I like not this acuation of the Vinegar, as I may call it, I rather choose to resolve the Seri∣con in Raymund's calcinative water, which is a compounded water of the Vegetable Mercury or fire natural, with the fire against nature, as Rip∣ley testifieth, and it is more verified by Raymund in his Book of Mercuriis, where he teacheth how to dissolve bodies with his calcinative water.

I will reveal unto you this water, which is al∣most

unknown: Note therefore, that the Vege∣table Mercury is the spirit of Wine (instead of which we may sometimes use distilled Vinegar) and that the fire against Nature is a corrosive water made of Vitriol and Salt-Peter.

Therefore take which you will, either spirit of Wine rectified (or Aqua Vitae) or distilled Vinegar four pound, and two pound of corro∣sive water, and mix them together.

In this watet thus compounded, resolve half a pound of Gum of Sericon in a circulatory, and set it in Balneo four or five days, and the Gum will be totally dissolved into the form of water or Oyl of a duskish red colour.

Then distill away the water in Balneo, and there will remain an Oyl in the bottom, which is then the Chaos, out of which you may draw a Menstruum containing two elements; and this is the true resolution of the Gum of Sericon, in this water you may resolve so much Gum as you please by reiteration.

Take two pound of this Chahodical substance, and prepare it for distillation in naked fire or sand, and lift up the clear red Oyl, wherein both the spirit and soul doth secretly lie hid, which Isaacus calleth the water of Paradise, which when you have you may rejoyce, for you have gone through all the gross work, and come to the Phi∣losophical work.

Therefore now proceed to conjunction, and joyn the white heart of Saturne with the red Oyl, as it is found in the Rosary.

Candida succincto jacet uxor nupta marito, That is to say, the red Mercury to the Salt, if you proceed to the red work.

Therefore take four ounces of the Salt or heart of Saturne, and as much of the red Oyl or wa∣ter of Paradice, and seal them up in a Philoso∣phers Egg, and so soon as they shall feel the heat of the Balneum, the Salt will dissolve and be made all one with the Oyl, so as you shall not know which was the Salt, which was the Oyl.

Set your glass in Balneo, and there let it stand in an equal degree of fire, till all your matter be turned white and stick to the sides of the glass, and shine like fishes eyes, and then it is white Sulphure of Nature; but if you proceed to the red work, then divide your white Sulphure into equal parts, reserving one part for the white work, and go on with the other part, and in a new glass well sealed up, set it in Ashes till it be turn∣ed into a red colour.

When your Sulphure is thus converted, imbibe it again with equal weight of its soul, dissolving and congealing till it remain in an Oyl, and it will congeal no more, but remain fixed and flow∣ing.

This then is to be fermented with the fourth part of the Oyl of Gold, as is often mentioned before.

We have set down already before of the aug∣mentation in quantity and quality, therefore it is not necessary to repeat it here.

We will now return to the white Sulphure before reserved, that we may set down the man∣ner of the white work.

When you have your red Oyl or Soul, if you desire to make the white Elixir, set part of the said Oyle in a glass in Balneo to digest, then take

it out and put it into a body, and in a lent fire distill away the spirit or white Mercury, which you must try, that you may know whether it arise pure without water or not, as you do when you try the spirit of Wine, for if it burn all up, it is well; if it do not, rectifie it so often, till it be without any wateriness at all; then have you rectified your spirit, wherewith dissolve your white Sulphure, till it remain fixed, and flowing, as you did before in the red work, then ferment it and augment it with the fourth part of the Oyl of the white Luminary or Luna, as you did the red, and it will be the white Elixir, converting imperfect bodies into perfect Silver.

A Corollary.

Ripley divided the scope of this work into four operations, whereof the first is the dissolution of the body, the second, the extraction of the Men∣struum and the separation of the Elements; the third is not necessary in our work, because we cast away the earth after every distillation, in∣stead of which we use our Salt or heart of Sa∣turne; the fourth is, that there be a conjunction of our Salt as is before described.

Hereafter followeth the Accurtation of the work of Saturn.

The way of extracting Quick-silver out of Saturne is found in Isaacus, of which I know how to make a special accurtation with his water of Paradice, which I gathered partly from the

foresaid Author and others; Ripley made his ac∣curtation with Quick-silver precipitated with Gold, and the imbibition with Corrosive water, which I like not, because the Elixir so made will be the greatest poison, as himself confesseth, that it were better for a man to eat the eyes of a Basilisk, then taste that Elixir.

But because I desire to set down this accurtati∣on of Lead alone and his Elements, that no strange body may be added to our Elixir, and al∣so that it may be made a Medicine for all uses, I have found out the way of making alone with the Mercury of Saturne and his own proper Tincture; for I make a body of one thing which is a spirit, and make that Medicine with its own proper spirit. Read all the Philosophers, and you shall never find a word of this process, nor none of the Ancients will teach thee how to make the Mercury of Saturne, which that it may be briefly done, this following work will shew at large in our Holy Guide.

CHAP. II.

The Medicine, Elixir, Fermentation, Imbi∣bition Precipitation, Quick-Silver, Saturne, Lead, The Toad.

MY great Grandfather Christopher Heydon, saith in a certain Manuscript of his, Levi enim Arte norunt Alchimistae Mercurium currentem conficere explumbo, that is to say, the Alchimists

knew how by an easie Art to make current Mer∣cury out of Lead; but what Art that was, nei∣ther he nor any of the ancients have shewed un∣to us, Quaerite, quaerite, saith the first Alchimist (so Paracelsus was pleased to say in imitation of him) & invenietis, pulsate & operietur vobis, that is to say, Seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you; which may rather seem to be the words of an envious Master, then the precepts of a Teacher. But having learned this, I learned to seek, that is to say to read; I read, I knocked, that is, I tried many experiments, al∣though they were repugnant to doctrine and Philosophy, therefore although I almost de∣spaired of that Art, yet because nothing is diffi∣cult to the industrious, by often knocking, at last I found it apart, by what means I attained to the Art of such a facility, that is to say, of making Quick-silver of Lead; and when the process is read to the operator, it will be rather rejected then believed: but to the end this Art may be revealed as a great secret, I thought it neces∣sary to speak first of the Instruments necessary in this work, before I come to declare the doctrine, which are three in number, that is to say, a Fur∣nace, a Crucible and a pair of Tongs, as appear∣eth in the Holy Guide.

CHAP. III.

The Crucible, the Furnace, the Hole in the Top of the Furnaee, the Tongues, the Coals.

LEt the Furnace be D, the place filled with Coles E, whereunto put fire and when the Coals are well burnt, so that they give a clear flame and fire, take your Crucible A, well anailed that it break not with the suddain heat, and put therein three ounces of filed Lead, having twelve ounces of Mercury sublimate well ground, and Salt Armoniack six ounces mixed together, which put upon the filings of Lead into the Crucible A; and when the fire is strong and glowing hot, ••ake your Tongs C, and presently take up your Crucible, and put it in B, the hole in the top of the Furnace till you hear a great noise and buz∣••ing, then so soon as you can (least the Quick∣silver flie away with the spirits) take away the Crucible with the matter therein, and set it in an earthen dish filled with ashes to cool, and when it is cold strike the lower part of the Crucible, so that the matter of the Lead may fall into an earthen dish, and you shall find your Lead con∣••erted into Quick-silver.

This Crucible and Furnace is at large characte∣••ed in the Holy Guide.

This work is to be reiterated with new spirits ••ill you have a sufficient quantity of Quick-sil∣••er, with which proceed as followeth to precipi∣tate

this Quick-silver, that from a spirit it may be converted into a fixed body by fixation.

Take of this Quick-silver so much as you please, and put it to precipitate in a round glass well luted, and set it in ashes to the top of the glass: yet let us stay here a while, that your un∣standing may be the more enlightened.

Therefore understand that the intention of this work is to fix the spirit, which may sooner be done with the spirit of a fixed body, which be∣fore was Homogeneal with the body, and which of its own nature desireth to joyn again with its body.

Therfore nature requireth that she may be hel∣ped by Art in this work, to which the Artist con∣senting, he adminstreth thereto the pure and de∣sired metal, which it delighteth to adhere unto▪ which metal is Gold, which is thus prepared, tha•• it be sooner parted by the Quick-silver and stic•• thereunto.

Take as much pure Gold as you please, and dissolve it in aqua regis mixed with equal part o•• acetum acerrimum, or Lac virginis, then set 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to digest the space of a day, then put your dis∣solution into an Alimbeck, and set it Balneo, t•• distill away the water as dry as you can, and d•• thus three times, and the third time distill it i•• ashes, that the Salt Armoniack may sublime. The•• put distilled Vinegar upon the matter remaining and after it hath stood three days in Balneo, disti•••• the Vinegar away in ashes, that all the substanc•• of the Salt Armoniack may sublime: and do th•••• three times, always putting in new Vinegar, u••¦till the Oyl of the dissolved Gold remain in th••

bottom; then take of your Quick-silver three times so much as your Gold, and pour it upon the solution of the Gold, that they may mix together and be united: then put your quick-silver with the solution in a round Glass stopped onely with a peece of Cotton, and with a stick put it down every day as it doth ascend, and keep your Glass ••n ashes the space of a moneth, till your quick-silver be turned into a red precipitate, then again dissolve it in new distilled Vinegar, till the whole substance of the quick-silver be dissolved, and the Vinegar be coloured in a golden colour, then di∣••••ill away the Vinegar in ashes, and again pre∣••ipitate the quick-silver, which is in the bottom ••f a Gold colour, into a red and fixed body; and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 have you the Mercury precipitate of Sa∣••••rne.

It remaineth now that the body be imbibed ••ith its soul, that this being from a spirit redu∣••••d into a body, may again imbibe its soul, that it ••ay be dissolved therewith; therefore put it into 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Glass, and add thereto equal proportion of its ••ul or water of Paradice, and shut your Glass ••ell the space of five days, till the body be dis∣••••ved with the soul.

Then dry it in ashes till it penetrate and flow; ••••d when it is dried, try it upon a hot Iron plate it be fixed and melt, if not, imbibe it again with ••f the weight of its water, and do so till you ••••ke it fusible and piercing by imbibing and ••••ying it, and when it will melt in the fire, and penetrate, it is then the stone, and fit for fermen∣••ion.

We have said enough of the manner of fer∣mentation in the second Book, and therefore it is not necessary to repeat it here: and so after fer∣mentation it will be the Elixir.

Then it is to be augmented and projected, as is before declared; and thus the work of Saturne is accurtated, of which George Ripley saith,

Adrop is the father of the stone, Sericon his brother, Lympha his fister, the earth its mo∣ther.

But if you desire to know all the secret of Sa∣turne or Lead, I will set you down one process out of Paracelsus: when you have well prepared the heart of Saturne, saith he, take two or three ounces of that heart and grind it small with double weight of Salt-peter, and put it in a sub∣liming Glass, with a head well luted to sublime, encreasing the fire by little and little as long as any thing will ascend or sublime; thus far Para∣celsus: now if you find this true, Ripley will tell you what you shall do with it, in these words.

When by the violence of the fire in the distil∣lation of the Gum of the Sericon, a certain white matter shall ascend sticking to the head of the Limbeck, like Ice, keep this matter which hath the property of Sulphur not burning, and is a fit matter for receiving form, you shall give it form after this manner by rubifying it in ashes, and when it is red Sulphur, give it of its soul, until it pierce and flow, then ferment it.

Here I have delivered unto you all the ways and manners of Saturne, which are found in any of the Philosophers Books: to the end therefore that the work may be compleated with a demon∣stration

of this word Plumbum Philosophorum, at appears in the Practical Compendium of Ripley, we say that the Philosophers Lead is not taken for Antimony but for Adrop, being converted into the Gum of Sericon.

It remaineth now that we in order treat of the third termination of this Book: therefore after we have done with Saturne, it is necessary to speak of Jupiter, viz. Tin: but because there are many other ways of handling Saturne besides those we mentioned, therefore we refer the Reader thither, seeing he followeth his footsteps: for he is the off-spring of Saturne and naturally born from him.

CHAP. IV.

The third Table of the Elixir of Iron.

IT is not necessary to prefix a peculiar Table to this metal alone, because it is set down before this book, nevertheless I will here reckon up its parts and operations as followeth.

• 1. Calcination.
• 2. Solution.
• 3. Seperation.
• 4. Conjunction,
• 5. Putrefaction.
• 6. Sulphur.
• 7. Fermentation.
• 8. Elixir.

Exaltation or augmentation and projection is spoken of sufficiently in the former Books.

Mars being most earthly of all the Planets or bodies, it is not to be doubted but that it may easily be reduced into a body with little labor; and therefore most easily converted into Salt, which is done by Calcination: therefore we will first shew his conversion into Salt.

Understand therefore, that hence ariseth a twofold consideration, that is to say, that it be calcined one way into its body or Salt, the other way that the body be prepared for solution by calcination.

The practice differeth but a little, for whether you calcine Iron for its Salt or its Menstruum, one onely manner of preparation sufficeth.

That is to say, that you take filings of Iron or Steel, as much as you please, and mix therewith equal weight of Sulphur in an earthen body with a Limbeck will luted thereto, then set it in ashes to sublime till all the Sulphur be sublimed from it, then dissolve the filings which remain in the bottom in Aqua Regia, and it will be converted into Salt, which will be cleansed from the said water, if you put thereon distilled Vinegar and distill it away; do thus three times with new Vinegar, and you shall have a yellowish red Salt in the bottom, which then is a body to be joyned to the soul, which keep in warm ashes till you use it.

Now for the practice of Iron for dissolution take filings of Iron or Steel, so much as you please, and put it in an Iron dish filled with Vi∣negar, and set it in the flaming fire the space 〈◊〉〈◊〉 three hours, then take it out and let it cool reiterate this work four or five times, the

calcine it with Sulphur as you did before.

When it is thus calcined, set it to dissolve in a corrosive water, by adding equal weight of our acetum acerrimum, and let it stand till it have dissolved so much as it can in the cold, then set it in hot ashes, and let it stand there the space of four or five days, pour off the water and dry which is not dissolved, and again calcine it and dissolve it, and when it is dissolved, so as the wa∣ter be coloured red, pour it out into a body, and keep it till you have dissolved as much calcined Iron as you please.

Then take all your dissolutions, and with an Alimbeck distill away the water in Balneo, and put distilled Vinegar upon the matter remaining in the bottom, and let it stand upon it in Balneo the space of seven days; then take out your Glass and filter the dissolution, and then again in Balneo distill off the Vinegar, and in the bot∣tom will remain a thick Oyl of the Iron or Steel; but if it be not dissolved to your mind, reiterate your solution in Raymunds calcinative water, but it would be better if it were edulcorated with Aqua vitae, drawing it away again in Balneo, and so you have your Iron dissolved into a li∣quor.

Therefore proceed to distillation, that there may be a separation, and distill it in an earthen Vessel in a strong fire, encreasing the fire as much as you can, and receive the oyl, or soul, or red tincture of Mars separated from the remaining feces by the nose of the Limbeck, which oyl is the most permanent tincture for colouring Sul∣phures for the red work, or for exaltation of all

Elixirs in colour, for it makes it tinge and colour higher.

When you have thus prepared the tincture, then proceed to conjunction, and work with the Salt before reserved, taking three or four ounces of the Salt, and equal weight of the soul.

Then seal it up and set it to putrifie in Balneo, and keep it there till it pass through all colours and be white, and then it is Sulphur of Na∣ture.

Then take out your Glass and set it in ashes in a greater degree of heat till it be red, then dissolve the red Sulphur with its own soul, and a∣gain dissolve and fix it; dissolving it in Balneo, and fixing it under the fire, and so it is prepared for fermentation.

The fermentation is, as hath often been spoken of before, with the resolved oyl of the Sulphur of Gold in a fourfold proportion to the Medicine, that by the addition of the ferment, it may be made Elixir transmuting all bodies.

And note that this Elixir of Iron excelleth all other Elixirs, for it rubifieth more, and tingeth higher, and is better for mans body, for it pre∣vaileth against the spleen, constringeth the belly and cureth wounds, it knitteth broken bones together, and stoppeth the superfluous Flux of the Courses.

CHAP. V.

The fourth Table of the Physical and Alchymical Tincture out of the red Lyon and Glue of the Eagle, drawn out from the Authors expe∣rience.

IT is chiefly to be remembred how we first taught you to dissolve Antimony with out acetum acerrimum, which may be also well done if you dissolve it in our calcinative water, and af∣ter that Antimony is calcined which we spoke of in the end of the second book; it is also to be remembred that in the end of the book I spoke of the Glue of the Eagle in the sixth Table of the first book; these being remembred, it is to be understood that we attribute no other beginning to this accurtation, except that where before we took the blood of the red Lyon and the Glue of the Eagle when they were both destroyed; we now joyn them sound and not hurt together, that they living may mortifie and dissolve themselves, which I have fitly called Corporeal Matrimony, or the Union, for in this wedlock they dye toge∣ther, that they may be vivified in the Celestial Matrimony; therefore it is not to be wondred if this Table differ from the other, for this pertain∣eth to the handling of spirits, the other way teacheth the manner of making the Elixir of bodies; therefore we now come to demonstrate the foregoing Table.

Therefore that I may plainly reveal all things

unto you, take Antimony well ground, half a pound, and as much Mercury sublimate, likewise ground, and grind them both togeth upon a mar∣ble, till you cannot know them one from another; then set them in a cold place, that the matter dissolving may drop into a Glass set underneath, for when the matters are well mixed together, then say, that they will both shortly be dissolved when the water is perfectly dissolved, it will be of a greenish colour and lothsome smell.

Put this water with the thick part with it into a Glass, and let it stand the space of three days in a fixatory under the fire, and in short time you shall see your dissolvedness of a brownish black colour, and after, that is to say, in the fore∣said time it will be red, something higher then red Lead.

Dissolve this calcined matter in Raymunds cal∣cinative water, and when you have dissolved it all into a red liquor or deep yelow, then is your mat∣ter brought well into its Chaos.

Put this liquor into a fit body with an Alim∣beck and receiver, and by distallation separate the red oyl or the red Mercury from the white body which remaineth in the earth; and if any matter ascend into the head of the Alimbeck, de∣spise it not, but trie if it be fixed; and if it be not fixed enough, sublime it till it be fixed.

Whereunto joyn equal weight of its soul, for the Celestial Matrimony, and always leave out the earth in the bottom if you have any sublimate fixed, if not, take the white earth remaining in the bottom, with which proceed as before is said, and joyn the white body with the soul; when

they are thus joyned or married, set them to im∣pregnate and revivifie in Bulneo, till it pass through all colours, and at last be converted into red, which then is the stone.

The manner of Fermentation, Augmentation, both in quantity and quality, and projection, is spoken of before in other works.

And thus Sons, Brethren and Reader, I have delivered and opened (and also have amended many things) all the secrets of the Ancient Phi∣losophers, whose writings were rather published to conceal the Art, then to make it manifest or teach it; although it pleased Hermes Trismegi∣stus, the first writer of this Art, both to say and protest that he had never revealed, taught, nor prophesied any thing of this Art to any, exept fearing the day of Judgement or the damnation of his Soul, for shuning the danger thereof, even as he received the gift of Faith from the Author of Faith, so he left it to the faithful; yet when you read his writings, either in his Smaragdine Table, or in his Apocalips, or his twelve Golden Gates, and shall find nothing plain or manifest, what will you think of such an Author? Believe me all the Ancients have concealed the secret of their preparations in the gross work, although they writ most famously of the Philosophical o∣peration; therefore I have used my endeavour to trye, for out of their writings I found that the Elixir might be made of the Planets or Mettals, and also of mean Minerals, which came more neer to a metallick nature, then reading more, I found a certain method amongst them all, as it were with one consent or voice on this wise.

First and principally, that bodies should be made incorporeal, that is to say, discorporated, or discompounded, which then is called the Hyle or Chaos.

Secondly, That out of this Chaodical sub∣stance, which is one thing, three Elements, should be separated and purified.

Thirdly, That the separated and purified ele∣ments should be joyned, the man and the wo∣man, the body and the soul, heaven and earth, with infinite other names so called, that the igno∣rant might think they were diverse, which one∣ly were nothing else but water and Salt, or the body and spirit or soul, that is to say, white Mercury and red, which they joyned together that a new and pure body might be created in putrefaction, that a Microcosmical infant might be created in imitation of the Creation, that is to say, Sulphur of Nature.

Fourthly, That it should be fed with Milk, that is to say, with its own proper Tincture, and after nourished by Fermentation, that it may grow to its perfect strength.

Having learned these, I begun to practice, and in the practice of every body and spirit, I found diverse errors; but reading more and trying more, at last I found the manner and true way of dissolving all bodies, separating and conjoyn∣ing them; finding the composition of their se∣cret of secrets, that is to say, Lac virginis, or Acetum acerrimum, and Raymunds calcining wa∣ter, wherewith I dissolved all bodies at pleasure, and perfected the gross work; wherefore I pur∣posed, contrary to the custome of the Philoso∣phers,

to reveal the whole work, lest I being en∣vious, should be the Author of error like them; therefore I have added their works to my own experiments and inventions, which are plainly and truely writ, that the Artist need to read no books but mine, for herein is almost all things contained, which are found plainly writ by the Philosophers; and also those things which are found true by my own experience.

Now you have all things methodically in this Art without error, with which by the help of God, you may attain to the end.

Alchymy revealeth and openeth unto us four o∣ther secrets.

The first is, the composition of Pearls, far greater and fairer then natural ones, which can∣not be perfectly done without the help of the Elixir.

The second is the manner of making precious Stones of ignoble ones, by the same Art which we taught before in malleable Glass.

The third is the manner of making artificial Carbunckles in imitation of natural ones, which few or none have spoken of.

The fourth is the manner of making Mineral Amber, of which Paracelsus hath onely writ in his book of vexations of Philosophers, and in the last Edition of his works in the six of his Archi∣doxes: but because they cannot be made without the help of the Elixirs, therefore they deserve a place amongst the Elixirs; of the fourth, that is to say, of the vertue or rather the vice of ma∣king Amber, I shall handle it coldly: I have re∣served the explanation of this Aenigma, till the last

place, wherefore it is said, that the Elixir is per∣fected in the Decimal number.

CHAP. VI.

The fifth Table, of making of Pearls.

THis Table of making Pearls, consisteth of these parts, that is to say,

• Lac Virginis.
• Dissolved Pearls,
• Quick-silver, And
• The White Elixir.

Take Lac Virginis, or Acetum Acerrimum, so much as you think sufficient for dissolving the Pearls, as in double proportion to the Pearls; as if there be three ounces of the Pearls, let there be six ounces of Lac Virginis, wherein dissolve the Pearls, and set the Glass in Balneo to disgest the space of a day, then pour out the solution, and distill it in Balneo, and in the bot∣tom of the Glass you shall find the thick Oyl of the Pearls, whereunto add so much of your white corporeal Elixir as sufficieth to make the matter like paste, and put thereto equal weight of the Pearls of Quick-silver; if the matter be too thin, put more powder of the Elixir, if it be too thick, add more Lac Virginis or Quick-silver, till it be like Liver; grind this mass upon a stone till it be brought to a fit thickness.

Then make it up in what form you please, therefore it is necessary that you have a pair of Brass or Iron Moulds in readiness (but it would be better they were of Silver) of what form you will, and fill them with this matter while it is soft; then peirce them through with a needle, or such like thing, and put as many of these in a Glass as you will (but first hang them upon a thred) and close well the Glass, and bury it with the Pearls therein two foot under the earth, and let it stand there the space of six months till they be congealed with the cold into a shining and clear substance like natural Margarites. These Pearls made and compounded in this manner, are no less then natural ones, but much greater and more excellent by reason of the white E∣lixir.

CHAP. VII.

The sixth Table of the Magistery of Car∣bunckles.

WE now come to speak of Carbunckles, which have their birth or original in the pits, and Golden Mines of the earth, of the spirit of Gold and Mineral Salt indurated and corporeal, being ••ecocted and disgested into the hardness of stone ••y the Archeus of Nature, as well by the heat ••f the Climate, as by the great heat of the Sun; ••or they arise from the spirit of the Minere of Sol

or Gold under the earth, by whose influence they shine, as also from the hard Mineral Salt, by the mixture of which they are hardned into the na∣ture of stone; whence the Philosopher intend∣eth and endeavoureth as near as he can to imitate nature by Art, and to make and compound arti∣ficial Carbunckles above the earth, with the same materials which Nature formeth them of under the earth; therefore he useth the same principles, operating with the spirit and soul of Sol undivided, and the most hard Salt of the earth, whereof Venice Glass is made, which two are the material Organs for Manuals: three things are required, that is to say, a Glass-maker, Fur∣nace, a flaming fire, and a Crucible.

We now come to the materials, which are two, and are to be joyned together; the first gi∣veth the form, the other receiveth it: that which giveth the form is the spirit and soul of Sol or Gold joyned together in the red Elixir, and is the agent, as it were the man; that which re∣ceiveth the form, is the hardest Salt of the earth contained in Glass, and is the patient, as it were the woman; the agent is the power of heaven impregnating the earth, the patient is the power of the earth, retaining the impression of the hea∣ven.

Having thus demonstrated the Theory, w•• now lay the foundation of the practice, which are two, whereof the first is the preparation o•• the Elixir, the other of the Glass.

Therefore your red corporeal Elixir is to b•• dissolved with the oyl or tincture of Mars o•• Iron, because it hath the greatest vertue above

all other bodies, by whose Coelestial power the Earth, that is to say the glasse, is brought to the hardnesse of stone, and converted into a stone: And so the Elixir is prepared for projection up∣on glasse; but for the preparation of glasse there is no more required but that it be made of the same matter that Venice-glasse is made of; the composition of which if you know not, Take as much Venice-glasse as you please, and weigh it exactly, upon which project your Elixir: when you have so done, put your glasse in the Crucible to melt; and when it is well molten, then take your Corporeal red Elixir dissolved as before (or if you will, undissolved) as much as sufficeth to ••inge the molten glasse, and put it tied up in a pa∣per into the Crucible upon the molten glasse, stirring it a little with a rod; and there let it stand the space of one hour: then take out the Cruci∣ble, and pour the matter into an ingot, and it will be malleable, but as hard as glasse, and stonelike ••o the sight: and you may either cut it like a ••••one, or work it with a hammer. This Car∣bunckle-stone or metal hath the property of a Carbunckle in shining and glistring above all na∣tural Carbuncles; and if it touch a Toad or Spi∣••er, they presently die, because it taketh virtue ••rom the Elixir against all poyson: And if the ••••ck carrie this Carbunckle about him, so that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doth touch the region of his heart, it takes a∣way the Cardiack passions, and diminisheth the ••••rength of the disease.

CHAP. VIII.

The seventh Table denoting the composition of Minerall Electrum or Amber, as well na∣turall as Artificiall; and also speaketh of a Bell made of Amber used by Tritemius.

HAving finished these two Secrets, we now come to the Electrum: but whether it is to be reckoned amongst stones, or amongst bo∣dies, it may be doubted, because in the West-In∣dies it is found writ in the Spanish Decads of the vertue thereof; it is affirmed to be the greatest Antidote against all poyson, and far more noble then Gold: but if it be a metal, it must necessa∣rily be the chief and supreme of all metals; for other metals have their original from Sulphure and Mercury, but this metal consisteth of seven metals, and is the best of all those which grow in the Archaeas of the Earth. For where Gold is taken for the most noble of all metals by reason of its perfect digestion and colour, this hath a greater degree of digestion and colour, having a higher colour, that is to say, clear red, approach∣ing neerer to the true colour of the Sun. For a•• Gold is the Sun of other metals, so this Electrum is to Gold as the Heaven to the Sun, wherein Na∣ture as it were in Heaven hath created certain stars shining with clear beams of a Silverish co∣lour, shewing plain to the eye that it consiste•••• of red and white metals mixt in the highest degree of digestion.

On the Contrary it may be objected,

Ob. 1. That there are onely six metallick bo∣••ies, amongst which this is found to be none; therefore it is rather a Spirit then a body.

Also thus.

Ob. 2. The minere of every body or metal is ••onverted into metal by fusion, but the minere ••f Electrum in melting always remaineth; there∣fore it is no metal.

Otherwise thus:

Ob. 3. There is nothing generated in the ••••rth but stones, spirits, metals, or mean mine∣••••ls: but Electrum is none of these; therefore it ••ems to be no mineral.

1. To the first objection it is thus answered. We say, that it is not apparent out of the books 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any of the antient Philosophers, that they e∣••••r dreamed of this natural and mineral Electrum. ••••t more to the purpose: those are called Spi∣••••••s, which flie from the fire; but the Electrum ••••eth not from the fire: therefore it is no Spirit, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Quicksilver and the rest, and also mean mine∣••••••s.

2. We now come to the next. We grant ••••t the minere of every metal is converted in∣•••• metal by the fire, which consists of Mercury ••••d Sulphure. This Axiome is evident in those ••••tals which are imperfect, and flie from the fire ••••her in their minere or in themselves, after they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 reduced into metall; and also the Gold mi∣••••••e, although before melting it flie from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, before the Gold be molten and converted

into metal; yet because Gold never flieth after it be molten, but is found fixed in all probation, therefore it is accounted the worthiest of all me∣tals which consist of Sulphur and Mercury.

3. Now to the third, I say, that I think it ra∣ther is of a stony and metallick nature joyned to∣gether; by which mixture it differs from a stone, and also from metal: but because it consisteth of Mercury, Earthly Salt and Sulphur mixed, there∣fore it gets unto it a mixt nature of them; so that it is half stone, half metal.

Wherefore it is to be judged that it consisteth of three natures mixed together; that is to say mineral, metallick, and stony; and is the best o•• all those which grow in the Archeas of the Earth for it exceeds mean minerals in fixation and con∣stancy, because they passe away in fume by long melting, and vanish to nothing; or else they me•••• easily in moysture, as salts, &c. But this Electrum or Amber remaineth fixed and constant as well i•• the fire as water.

It exceeds metals in digestion, colour and dig∣nity. In digestion, because it is endewed with the signe of greater and more perfect digestion•• for as Gold is more yellow by reason of his grea∣ter heat and more perfect digestion; So this E∣lectrum, because it hath a higher colour then Go•• hath, therefore it is more digested in colour; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as Gold exceeds other metals in colour, so Ele∣ctrum exceeds Gold; for Gold is yellow, but E∣lectrum red, which is a higher colour then yellow. And as Silver is the Luna of white metals, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gold is the Sol of red metals: So Electrum is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gold, as the heaven is to Sol in dignity or val••••

for by how much Gold is more noble then Silver, so much this Electrum is more noble then Gold.

Lastly, it excels stones in shining, and vertue. In shining, because they shine by reason of their hardnesse; so this Electrum sheweth many sparkes, not by reason of its hardness, but by rea∣son of his compleatnesse. And as the heaven is a∣••orned with Stars, so this Electrum with spark∣ing, because it hath the clearness and brightnesse of all metals. And as the Heaven containeth all ••he Stars and Planets, so this Electrum, which is ••he Heaven of metals, containeth the Sun and Moon, and the rest of the Planets in it self; Gold ••nd Silver as it were the greater Luminaries, the other bodies or metals as the rest of the Planets, ••ean minerals as Stars in vertue. For although ••any stones have singular properties and vertues, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that some help the sight, others the Spleen, some the Heart; some stop blood, some hinder ••••ortivenesse, some hasten childbirth, some resist ••oyson: yet there is no one found which takes ••way all infirmities, as Electrum doth, more then ••••l mean minerals, metals or stones, according to ••••••s threefold conjunction, that is to say, Mineral, ••etallick, and Lapidifick.

Therefore whatsoever others please to think of ••••is Natural Electrum, this seemeth most probable 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me, that it is not simply a metal, but of a na∣ture exceeding metal: for whereas stones, mean ••••nerals and metals are generated of Salt, Sul∣phur and Mercury, this Electrum takes his origi∣nal from Stones, Minerals and Metals: from ••••nes it takes Salt, from Minerals Mercury, ••••m Metals Sulphur. These three being brought

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into one by the Archeas of natute, are its Ele∣ments, from a greater vertue and power of nature; which Elements have formed a higher degree of perfection then in any other stone, mineral or me∣tal, as it were by the Commandment of God Nature should ascribe a Crown of vertue and dignity above all minerals.

But however it be, it is taken two manner of ways amongst the later Magitians and Alchymists, that is to say, that which is made naturally, and artificially; naturally is that which groweth in the natural Archeas of the Earth; the Artificial i•• that which is made by Art above the Earth i•• imitation of Nature.

Whence Paracelsus a worthy Master in M••∣gick seeing fully the nature of it, and the utility of Alchymy, commanding to make the Elixir thereof when as its natural body cannot be ha•• in his booke of the Vexations of Philosophers, and the sixth of his Magical Archidoxes, teacheth t•• compound an Artificial Electrum, that the E∣lixir must be made thereof, as appears more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 large in the said Bookes; which I like not at all He teacheth how to make the Elixir out of E∣lectrum; I contrarily, the Electrum out of the Elixir: he would make the Elixir of the vertue of the Electrum; and I the Electrum of the vertue of the Elixir. I leave his way to his own fo••∣lowers, but I desire mine not to weary and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 themselves in such a weak, but a more stron•• principle.

I make two kindes of Electrum one way; t•• first whereof is Spiritual, the other Corpore•• First of the former: after you have made your 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Corporeal Elixir by projection, in the same Crucible melt one ounce of Lead, and likewise another of Tyn; and when they are hot, take the Crucible from the fire, and pour therein one ounce of Silver melted in another Crucible; and when these three white metals begin to be cold, take two ounces of Mercury well purged, and put those two ounces of Quicksilver upon the molten metall by drops: then increase the fire gently, that too much of the Mercury do not fume away: then in three other several Crucibles melt Iron, Copper, and Gold, of each one ounce, which you must have in readiness molten. And first, put your molten Gold into the Crucible, where your four white metals stand molten, and pour it upon them; then your Copper, and last of all your Iron, stirring the whole masse with a stick, that it may mix together; and let it stand in a melting heat the space of an hour: then take all out that is melted in the Crucible, and consider well the weight of it; and according to the good∣nesse of your Elixir, make projection for medi∣cine. And thus you have created and compoun∣ded spiritual Electrum of the weight of seven ounces, consisting of seven metals; which me∣tals so converted into medicine, will be the E∣lixir of Electrum, and an Universal medicine, for you need not after regard upon what body (or metall) you project it. It is also the chiefest medicine for mans body: for although three or four of all the Diseases of the Microcosm were united together, yet they may be cured with this one medicine. If you dissolve part of this in Spi∣rit of VVine, and distill away the same spirit in

Balneo, and the Oyl of the medicine or Elixir remain in the bottome, as is taught in the second book, you shall have the chiefest medicine of life, and most Noble Aurum potabile.

Note that if your Iron melt not well, then dissolve your Electrum in the Oyl or Tincture of Mars, dissolving and congeling until it have imbibed a sufficient quantity.

But if you desire to make corporeal Electrum, when your medicine beginneth to fail to convert metals any more into medicine, then in like manner project your medicine upon your melted metals or bodies, and they will be converted in∣to corporeal Electrum metallick and malleable; of the vertue of which as I do endeavour to write nothing; so also of its vice, or rather of the vici∣ousnesse of those that abuse it, I will touch a lit∣tle sparingly.

Paracelsus writeth, that Virgill Hispanus and Trithemius made a Diabolical Bell of this Ar∣tificiall Electrum, upon which when they would invocate Spirits (which they called by a more de∣cent name of Intelligences) they writ the Character of what Spirit they desired; and at the third ring of the bell the Spirits obeyed their desires so long as they desired to talk with them; and when they would talk no more, they hid the Character, and by the reverse ringing of the bell the Spirits departed. He that will forsake God, and require knowledge, aid and assistance from the Devil, let him share with Arbucell, and with him de∣scend to the Infernal Lake. But we that are true Magicians, or rather Philosophers, confiding in God the Father, and the holy Trinity, approving

of Natural and lawful Magick or true Philoso∣phy, but accounting the supernatural altoge∣ther infamous and unlawful. And we require the doctrine and wisdome of divine goodnesse, and the holy Spirit, to whom be honour and glory for evermore. Amen.

CHAP. IX.

The eighth Table, which explaineth the meaning of the Philosophers when they speak of the tenth Number wherein the Elixir is finish∣ed: And also sheweth the wonderfull secret of the Animal stone, out of George Riply, with two other of his workes.

WE now come to the Last Chapter of this Book, wherein is declared what the Philo∣sophers mean when they bid us finish the worke in the tenth number: it is to be understood that as out of the Hyle or Chaos four are divided; so out of the Hyle or Chaos of metals. Because metals or bodies when they are dissolved into li∣quor, then they are contained in the first or one number, which is the solution of the body, of which by distillation is made two, (That is to say, Heaven and Earth, the Menstruum and Salt) that which remaineth in the bottome is the Earth or Salt, that which is distilled over is the Menstru∣um and Heaven. And so you have One, two.

When the Menstruum is separated, it is divided into Three, that is to say, into Water, Air, and

Fire: Yet it is to be noted, that the Air, which is the first part of the water containing an aery disposition, although it be in the form of water, yet it is reputed aer, by reason of the consimili∣tude of the quality; and after its perfect rectifi∣cation, it is a tinging Mercury, and the white Spirit of metals. In like manner is to be consi∣dered of the Oyl, which although it is not in the form of fire, but a liquor; yet by reason of its Ardent heat, it is called fire, and the Soul or red tinging Mercury. And so there is One, Two, Three.

When there is a Conjunction of these three, that is to say, the air and water with its Salt or Earth, in putrefaction, these three are united in∣to one quintessence, and are made a new body; in which three are united in one Sulphur, which Sulphur is the true Philosophers Mercury: and in making this white Sulphur, you have once turned the Philosophers wheel.

But that the work may be perfected in the tenth Number, if you adde the fire which is the fourth Element, to these three concluded in the foresaid unity, and rubified; then if these four in a new Conjunction be putrified in a lent fire of ashes, then it is the stone: for in this work it changeth colours again, and is converted into a red stone: and by this means you have joyned four into one, that is to say, 1.2.3.4. make ten: And so the stone is finished in the tenth number, because you have turned the Philoso∣phers wheel twice, as Ripley witnesseth thus.

But yet again two times turn about the wheel.

The stone is to be dissolved again with the fire, or Soul, or Tincture, and dried again until it pierce and flow; then it is to be fermented into Elixir with the Oyl of the Luminary; and so you have turned the Philosophers wheel again, which is then called the medicine of the third or∣der. Of the solution of this, Ripley hath writ these verses, teaching the resolution of the white and red stone before it be transmuting Elixir, calling them his Bases, saying,

Do as I bid thee, then dissolve these foresaid Bases witty, And turn them into perfect Oyls with our true water Ardent: By Circulation that must be done, according to our Intent. These Oyls will fix crude Mercury, and convert bodies all Into perfect Sol and Luna when thou shalt make projection: That Oylie Substance pure and fixt Raymond Lully did call His Basilisk, of which he never made so plain detection.

By which verses it plainly appeareth, his Bases were onely two Sulphurs, or two stones, which in another place he called his Mineres: and these mineres ought to be dissolved by his Ardent wa∣ter, by circulation of the Oyl or soul upon the Sulphur, until it become a stone: for in this place he takes both the spirit and the soul for the Ar∣dent water, willing that the spirit and soul be

administred according to their tinging natures, for the resolution of the proper Basis. And thus have you the words of this Aenigma explained of the tenth number; which seeing it is the end of the Art, I have reserved it till the end.

It now remaineth that we reveal one secret of Ripley, which was never spoken of by any Phi∣losopher; that is to say, the manner of making the Sulphur of Nature out of the Minere of the Microcosm, which is mans blood, of which he writ the whole practice in his book of the twelve gates, but most chiefly in his Medulla, where he teacheth its preparation and work more plainly. And because I have proved it to be true, therefore I tell it more confidently, because I desire to write nothing of my own fancy, but that which I have first proved. Hearken almost the last verses which he writ in his Twelve gates:

1. I never saw true work truly but one, Of which in this Treatise the truth I have told: Study onely therefore how to make our stone, For thereby mayst thou win both Silver and Gold. Ʋpon my writing therefore to ground thee be bold. So shalt thou loose nought, if God be thy guide: Trust to my doctrine, and thereby abide.

2. Remember that man is most noble Creature Of Earthly composition that ever God wrought, In whom is the four elements proportioned by nature, A natural Mercuriality which costeth right nought, Out of his minere by Art it is brought: For our metalls be nought else but our mineres two, Of Sun and Moon, wisely Raymund said so.

The clearness of the Moon and of the Sun so bright, In these two mineres descendeth secretly; Howbeit the clearnesse is hid from thy sight, By craft thou shalt make it appear openly. This hid stone, this one thing therefore putrifie, Wash him in his own broth till white he become, Then ferment him wittily. Lo here is all and sum.

Out of these onely words there are two points observed, whereunto the Author steereth: The first is, that mans blood be put to putrefaction, that Sulphur may be made thereof. The second is, that it be fermented wittily; As if he should say, the Artist shóuld prepare it, that it may be fit for fermentation. Thus far of the Theory; Now we come to declare the practice out of Ri∣pley's medulla.

Take Mans blood drawn out of the Veine in March, and of a Martial man the Author meaneth (as I think) of a Cholerick complexion; and when the blood is drawn out of the vein, let it cool, that the Green water may be drawn from it, which is saltish: for as long as that saltish water remaineth with the blood, it will not let it pu∣trifie, because the water preserveth the blood from putrifaction while it is in a mans body.

When it is thus prepared, put it in an Egge∣glasse well closed, and set it in Balneo to putrifie, in forty days or lesse it will be black; and so go on till it be white. When you have your white Sul∣phur, divide it into two parts, and keep one for the white stone, and rubifie the other for the red work. And so you have two mineres, of which it is said,

For our metals be nought else but our mineres two Of Sun and Moon, wisely Raymond said so.

And so to the end of the verses, as before. Yet here it is to be understood, that the Philo∣sophers Sulphur is not mineral or metallick Sul∣phur, from which metalls grow under the Earth: but it is a purified Sulphur drawn out of metalls made by Art above the Earth: out of which and the Mercury of the body the stone ariseth. For believe me, I had never writ any thing of this Art, except I had seen the Sulphur of the Microcosm, and the perfect solution of other bodies and Sul∣phurs.

Now have you prepared your Sulphur out of the minere of the Microcosm: If you be a Philo∣sopher, proceed to the end, and conclude your work in the tenth number: If not, you are not born to our Philosophy; therefore give the Sul∣phur Mercury, that the work may be compleat.

I believe there lieth not any Secret in the Chymicall Art, which thou hast not truly decla∣red and playnly taught. But to the end that these things which we have spoken may be more sure∣ly committed to memory, we will repeat the ge∣neral process of the parts as it is described in the beginning of this third book. And because there is not one, but diverse handling of the bodies, therefore the Table is divided into three parts; the middle whereof discribeth the process of im∣perfect bodies to the stone; the other two teach the preparation of perfect metals for fermen∣tation of the stone of imperfect bodies.

The manner of preparing imperfect bodies.

CAlcination of the body. Solution of the body into Hyle. Separation by Distillation. Conjunction of the separated. Putrefaction of the conjoyned. Sulphur by putrefaction to the Stone. Fermentation of the Stone to the Elixir. Augmentation of the Elixir. Projection of the Elixir.

Some make twelve parts, as Ripley and others, who call them twelve gates: but because three other degrees are contained in these, it would be ridiculous to repeat them: and because the way of both ferments, whether white or red, is the same.

The Table of Fermentation.

• CAlcination.
• Solution.
• Putrefaction.
• Sulphur.
• Solution of the Sulphur.
• Red ferment. Aurum Potabile.
• Quintessence. Elixir vitae.

So likewise it is said of Silver when it is prepared.

• White Ferment. Argentum Potabile.
• Quintessence. White Elixir of Life.

Now the Radiant Sun of the Philosophers ari∣seth, which will drive away the dark Chimera's, and disperse the black clouds. Here the Aenig∣ma's are opened, thistles and thorns are cut up and burned. Now Reader mayest thou safely walke in the Philosophers gardens, and gather most wholesome fruit. Here grow most fragrant roses both white and red. Here grow Vines bea∣ring full grapes, of which is made the wholesome Nectar. Here are found trees of health and wealth, Trees of the Sun and of the Moon. Here spring two cool fountaines of Sciences and Know∣ledge sliding artificially through the garden upon the most pretious gems, and Silver and Golden Sands. Thou hast one field of Paradice given thee from God, that during the Life of his elect they may be kept in health, free from all sickness. Here the corrupt Nature puts on an incorrupt Na∣ture. Here impure things are turned into pure things. Here are all diseases lost, and health en∣creaseth. Here the perfect unity and harmony of body dwell, and here is also all the most excel∣lent treasures. Therefore let us always praise God for his gifts: let us worship him, obey him, love him, and beseech him to establish his grace upon us; and conduct us to eternity through all his ways of goodnesse, knowledge and faith, to Life eternal. Amen.

FINIS.