I "^'V: ^'' Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Research Library, The Getty Research Institute http://www.archive.org/details/fivetreatisesofpOOpinn FIVE TF-Mjoohl^. » TREATISES OP THE Philofophers Stone^ Two of dAlphonfoKmgo^ Tortugall^ as it was wrirrcn with his own hand, and taken cut of his CIojGTct: Tranflatcd out of the Por- tugucz into Englifh. One of John Samre a ^onkcy tranflatcd into Englirti. Another written by Florianui Rauelorff, a German Phi- Jofopher, and tranflatcd out of the fame Language, into Engrifli. Alfo aTreatife of the names of the Philofophers Stone, by mlliam Gratacol/e^ tranflatcd into Englifh. T o which is added the Smaragdine Table. By the Paines and Care of H. T. L O N D Q "K^ Printed by Thomas Harper , and arc to be fold by John CoUins^m Little BrittamynQat'thQ Church door, 1652. To the %ight Honaurable^ the Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery, Right Honourable :- Hough in thefc laft ages Vice hath bccne efteem>sd above Ver- tue, and men have made it their bufinefle to advance their for- tunes by wicked means 3 yet if we looke backe to former ages, and the timto^ Hermes Trif me- gijlu4 3 who is faid to be MofeSy and fo called from his being hid amongft the Reeds in the waters^ and as he was called Hermes TrifmegifiuSy he ftiles himfelfe the thrice great Interpreter , as ha- ving three parts of the Philofophy of the whole world ( as may appeare in his Smaragdinc Table fol- lowing • out of vvhich all modernc Philofophers grounded their difcourfes , andbookes:) thushee might ftile himfelfcj being allowed familiarity with his Creator. From him likewife we had our firft Re- cord for the Creation of the world > and all things- A 2 there- ' The S '^-^^^^ liC^'iBYj. therein : we jfhall findc, and oe fatisfied in judgemcnr, that true honour proceeded , and was at firil derived frona Vertuc ^ and what man yet evlr livcd^ who was accounted or eftcemed fo Virtuous, Wife, Good, and Rich, as thofc who had the true knowledge of Natu- rall Philofophy , and her fecrct operations , which from age to age, for many ages, was by wordoi mouth delivered by one toanochc:r,wherby many Shcpheards, Heardfmen, Husbandmen , and others of like quality (by Gods efpeciall favour) became great Princes, Go- vernours, and Rulers over the people upon Earth, be- ing thereby enabled to advance themfdvcs to what Riches and treaiiire they pleafed, Cas will appears by the enfuing Treaiifc'S J witliout robbing or taxing the people of their Countries under their Government m any lort^ who alfo by their Phyficall Medicine con- tinued length of dayes, yourh, and ftrcngth ; by which means thole old men mentioned in the Old Tefta- ment, with manyoth^r Philofophers , were not only fo'long preferved from the Grave, but alfo thereby wrought many miracles, to the wonder of the world : as well they might , having the power and difpofe of the greateft Treafure, andhigheft Secret that ever Almighty God revealed to mortall man. And being fully fatisfied of your Honours moft Noble and Inge- nous inclination and love to the ftudy of this moft Divine and Myftc rious Art, which can proceed from HO other then a right Noble and Vertuous difpofttion, and by a Divine inftinft : Nor is a man of any other temper fit for the ftudy or knowledge thereof. And conhdering of a pcrfon of Honour , fit for the prefen- tation of thcfc Treatifes, well weighing your Honours inclination^ The Eptfile Dedicatory. inclination, vcrtuous Difpv^fuion, and mature Judge- ment 5 holding my felfe obliged to be fervic^able to my power, to all faithful! ftudents in this moft facred Arc, have fixed upon your Honour, as moft worthy of the prtfentation not only of thefemy prefcnt enaea- voursjbuca fooffuchothers as I (hall crc long pro- duce concerning either thi^ or any other fubjeft ^ not defiring Pacronage, as is ufuall, ( confidering the Pcr- fons by whom tbefii Trcatifes were firft written ) but f)nly Your Honours Noble acceptance effomeanea prefent , from the hand of him that heartily wiflieth Your Honour all felicity, both corporall and fpirituall, tcmporall and perpetuall 5 and in that wifh, I reft, (My Lord) Tour Honours mofifaithfullfer^ant^ H, R A3 To To the Reader. '^^ Ermcs, the Father of Phflofophers/mefi plain* ji| hrf' ^^y ^^^^ ^'^^^ vprit ) dijcoruered thf ^'^ matter of the Pbilofophers Stone^ tut not the manner of compleatment thereof-^ and as hefauhy he came to the knowledge thereof iy the mercy an^ favour of the great Creator of Heaven and Earthy mthout the dire^ion^ inftruBion^ or in- formation of any mortaU man ^ andwrit thereof t o poflerity^ fearing damnation if he fhould not have done the fame 3 [mce which time many hundred Philofophers have written of the fame Science^ ( irhichis the higheft andgreatejl fecret that e- ver Mwighty God revealed ta mortaUman ^ ) but jo ohfcurely^ that it is imp60le for any man to attain to this high dnd myfteriou6 Art^ except he be Pioujly and Religiou/ly inclined^ and'refolvedto Itve aferiom and private Itfe^ free from all o- ther employment or hufinejfe in the world: and fuch a man nithout ciduht^ hy the mercy and favour of jilmighty God^and mth the help of the fe following Authours^with lome others of the teft ofthefe latter times ^and the Hieroglyphicks now cut- ting and comming forth in Print by the Printer hereof^ living /» Little- Brittaine, London, never heretofore publifJied ^ which make a full and clear demonflration to thejons of wife- dome of the whole worke of the Philofophers Stone^fvom the be- ginning to the endings and giveth a clearer light to theun- derfianding of the Reader^ than all tke books in the world ; fo that by the help ofthefe^' and fuch like Books^ with the Hiero- glyphicks , thts Art doubtlefjemay be attained unto with ten times more eafe^ and leffe difficulty than other wife. Thefe only To the Rcaden only I have give/ithe a Ufieof^ untill the others comefmh^ nphich mllfpeedily ke ejjeBei/. And note this^ that fcarce one of the ancient Philofophers ever vpr it fully of this mile Science^ hut matfoever one leaves out^ may he found in another (if you read many of the left Authours.) I have been a Student jn this Art many y ear s^ and heingfatisfiedofthe truth thereof^ (having ft udied many of the Left Aut hours) ^ thought ft for the good and benefit of the faithfuU Students of this Art ^ to caufe thefe to be publifhed , being by fome of7ny beft friends thereunto very much urged ; and becaufe the Students of this Art fhould not be deceived by falfe Phikfophers^ andvcorkeas they do uponfalfe matters ; its Salts^ Alomes^ ritriels^ Met- tals ^ Minerals^ and the like: let them confider the vpords of Geo: Ripleyj an Englifh Monke^ n^bo faith : yet the mat- ter of this worke^ 4ccordingto all the ancient Philvfophers^ is one only thing , containing in it felfe all necefjartes to the accompUfhtng of its own perfeBion. And Henricus Cornelius Agrippa in thefecond Bcok ofhts Occult Philofophy^in the 4, Chap.faith^there u one things by God created^ thefubjeB of all mnderfulnefje^ Mch is in earthy and in heaven ; it is aBually^ amwall^ vegetal le^ and miner all^ jonnd every ^here^ known byjewy ly none expreffed in 'hts proper name^ but covered in numbers^ ftg^Yes^ and rid- dles ^ without which neither Alchymy^ nor naiurali Maf/iek can attaine their perfeB end. And in the Kofa^y oj^he PhilofopherSy it is written : but I advife that no man intrude hirrfelfimo this Science to fearch^ except he know ihe beginning of true nature^andher ooverrir meut^ nhich being knoii/i^ he needeth not many thinqs^ but One thing ; nor ddth it requtre .^e at charge s^ bccaufe.tbe Sione is mey the Medtci''^.e one^ thep^efjeli.one^ the Govern* meat oney and the d/fpcfttion one^ &c. And let tits fufficey fromyour faubjull unknowjfefnendy H. P. The Smaragdine Table o{ Hermes Trifmegitkw^ ofAlchyray. The mrdyoftbe Secrets 0/ Hermes, vphich mre written in a SmAYiigdine Tahle^ and found hetweene hu hands tn an otfcure Vault ^wherein hu tody lay buried, IT is true without leafing , ccrtaine and moft true, that which is beneath is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is be- neath • to worke the Miracles of one thing, and as all things have proceededfrom one, by the mediation of one ; fo all things have fprung from this one thing by adaptation. His Father is the Sun ," hisJMother is the Moone, the Winde boie it in her belly, the Earth is his Nurfe, the Father of all theTelefmc Qf this world is heere- his force and power is perfe(Si:, if it be turned into Earth. Thou (halt feperate the Earth from the Fire , the thia from the thick, and that gently with great difcretion : It afcendethfrom Earth into Heaven, and againe it defcendeth into the Earth,and receiveth the power of the Superiours and Inferiours: So fhalt thou have the Glory of the whole World , all obfcu- rity therefore Ihall fly away from thee. This is the mighty power of all power, for it fball overcome eve- ry fubtle thing, and pierce through every foUid thing, fo was the VVorld created. Hcere fhall be marvellous adaptations, whereof this is the mcane. • therefore am I called Hermes Trifme^i^uiyOr the thrice great Inter- preter 'y having three parts of the Pnilofophy of the whole World: that which I have fpokcn of the opera- tion of the Sun is finiihed. Here endeth the lahle o/Hermcs. A Treatife written hy Alphonfo King of PortugaSy concerning the Philofophers Stone. Ame brought to tuy know- ledge 3 that in the Land of Agypt , there lived a Learned man that fore- told things to come; hee judged by the Stars, and the motions of the Hea- vens^ thofe things which Time was to bring forth which were by him before underftood. A defire of knowledge carried my affeftion, my pen, my tongue ; with greathumility Lpro- ftrated the height of my Majeilyj'fuch power hath paffion upon man ; With intreaty and my fpeciail Letters unto him, I fent for him by my MefTengers^promifinghim with a found affefti- on^ great reward both in goods and money/ The wife man anfwered mee with much curtcfie : I know you are a great King, and that neither prefcnts, nor the Law of filver nor gold, nor any thing of great value, but mecrly out of afteaion I will fcrve you : for,! doe not feek that which is too much for mee, and thtrforc I feekc not after yours, but you. I fent the beft of my Ships, which being, ar- B rived z A Treatife of Alphonfo K. of Fortugal^ rived at the port of Alexandria ^ the Doftor A- ftrologer came aboard, and was brought to mee, curteous with love, for having knownc his great worth by underftanding the motions of the Sphears, I alwayes held him in that cftceme and love which is due to a Learned man. The Scone which is called the Philofophers he could make, he taught it mee, and wee made it together : And afterwards I made it alone, by which meanes my Riches increafed much ^ and feeing that I was ablero doe fuch a thing, and- tliat divers wayes , which alwayes produced the fame thing, I will propound unto you the moft eafic, and therefore the moft excellent and prin- cipal!. I had a Library of Books of the Workes of Men of many Nations, but I in this bufineffe did cftecme neither the Caldeans, neither the Ara- bians,(though a diligent people) nor the iEgypti- ans, Affyrians, but thofc of the Eaft, which mha- bitc the Indies , and the Saracens did my worke, and fo well ; that they have honoured our We- fterne parts. TJie prcfent time makes mee to know a found and true judgement : bccaufc thou fhouWft give credit or belicfc to it, doe not conceive that 1 have lied in any point. That which 1 look after, is not to bury in oblivion the great worth that was in him my Mafter r but I will not give fuch an Empire to 'any man but to him that is Lcar- n?d. Now to unriddle this myftery and to propole truths eonctfning ih PbiUfojhm StdMil truthes in ciphers 5 though they are obfcure * yet by them you may karne, ^nd (hall find they are no vaine things 5 and if thou commeft to underftand this great Myftery, have it not in thy ordinary converfation, but leave it in the fame cipher of this impreffion , if tkou undcrftandeft how to explaine it. This Matter by wife men is called by divers names : and this matter which to the unwife feemesr to bee fomething, to them is nothing, and its nature being e- qually moift and dry that it will aot give one without another; which is a fingular thing to have two fuch different natures meet together in one^ The drie is there in a fjprcame degree , the moift likcwife calls for a fupream Authority : the hot and cold fight there together , and are conrayned there likcwife in a fu- .prcame degree ; and from thai equality, comes the name of each of thefc feveraUy according to the qua- lity : «nd though the moift be joyned with the dry^yec each of them retaincs its owae name. Our Hermes tells us that it is Heaven and Earth, but others call it Man and Wife, and out of their ma- nage they make other Riddles, which fervc for a light to the infirme Globe, and from thence are called by feme. Water or Earthpthers the cold which is inclo- fcd in heat, fo much the wife may underftand. The ancient Chaos, according to my judgement, was knit together by the fovvre Elements : This com- pofition is the like , when the divifion comes to bee made, the Heaven and the Eartii comes to bee a ftft Eflfence of all, for this matter is of that kinde, that it compofeth all things.. In this matter arc found united the four Elements inequall parts,fo that if one walk B 2 or 4 ' A Tre/itife of Alphonfo K. ofPortuojd^ or movCj the others dpe the like, for by one the others aFC conduiled^ (o much arc they eqaall in their duties one to another, and where can you hope to find a bet- ter thing amongft all Animals, then that which is fo. much approved by all wife men ? Take the Learned Philofophers Mercury, and kt it bee purged from it^ malignancy^and foule quality, for it cannot be too cleane 3 and fee that the weight be equall with twelve ounces of the fayd compofition, and then put it into a glaffc bottle, for no mettall c!fe is fit for it. And the fonlip of the glafle muft be of the forme of the Sphere, with a long neck, and no thick- crthen can bee grafped with a large hand , and the length of the necke not above a fpan , and no wider, then the ^Egyptian fealc may cover its mouth. This you muft put into an earthen pot, furrounded about with hot aflies , and bee fure with a carefull hand to* flop up the bottle. And then you muft have an ^rtifi- ciall Furnace made of Clay, fo broad and round as that you aiay fadome at the tliickeft place. You muft' not put the pot in the bottome of the Furnace, but hang it or fet it in the middle, upon two irons, which muft lie Diameter wife, or acroile , and the earthen pot muft {land upon the very centre and crofTe of the two irons , that the fire may come alike to it in all parts, and then with coalcs make a foft fire , but let not your patience bee troubled to keepe it alwayes a- like. The fire muft not come within a foot of the pot, and the furnace luted up clofe about the pot, that fo the foft fire may keepe it alwayes working , and bee not troubled to keepe the fire ftill alike , for if it bee the fame at laft as at firft, thou haft done the worke of an able man, . Two concerningthe Phil.ofophers Stone, 5 Two changes the Mooncmuft pafle by thofc Ani- mals, which maketh amonthj or the Sun that degree which is called Sextile, without raiae, for the workc requires drought : and then you fhall fee a patcrne of- the worke 3^ of which you muft bee very carefullfor unmarrying of it from his firft matter which is all one. That which time works helped by the Sun and other influences, when taking leave of the Earth, and ha- ving drawne out the moiftnes that runnes in its veins, it is fo pleafcd with it, that it converts into fulphur that part which was moyft before 5 fo that all is feene as mother Nature placed it. This is the part of the Earth , Sulphur , Woman, hot and dry 5 for when it makes its firft change or trucke, that part is wanting which encompaffed the humidity ^ as Penelope made warrein the abfenceof Uhjjes in Italy, fo this Widow fo pale and wan, hopes . for the rcturne of her banillicd Husband. Byequall weights , as firft with Art mixt with Mercury, very pure, with this mixture you may worke fecurety in a ^ glaffe made by the hands of a good Workman,fbr the firft and the laft muft be one or like ; but if poffibly thou canft, the firft venter is the trueft, . Doc the following Worke in fuch maner, that you keepe the fame fire that you did beibre, which- will be futficient, and be fijre your fire gives no flame, an j be fare alfo to watch it nights and dayes ; and ifyou take that paine, you fhall bee fure to finde an excellent re- ward. TJiou i'halt fee the worke in its blackneffe, and that being changed, as it was firft borne, whkh is not yet the thing that mother Namrc gave in her firft de- gree, but (hall turneto bee fo. liquid and pure that it B ^ • ihair 6 A Treatlfe 0/ Alphonfo J^. of poriugd^ iliall be like to Inke, fodiftinft fhall bee the forme of this creature from its firft being. Halt thou not feen the Prifon which the Silkworm makes for it felfe, where it dies ? and out of that car- cafe dead in the Net ic felfe made, in which no corr-ii- ption can come, but rifeth againein a forme diftirkJt from its firft being, then i$ brought fonh and paints it felfe, with wingB in a more ugly (hape : So our work begins to live with a new fpirit, and new fubftance, from whence muft bee continued the pcrfcverance of the body, that fo bloud may bee gotten in it. Doe not you then think of making a greater fire, for by that meanes the bloud and body will bee dcftroycd. Then fhall you fee the moft excellent point of this Divine worke ; open the bottle and it will feeme to bee rui- neda for there will come from it a very ftinking fmell. In this degree is certainly the greateft labour oi this work : for if it bee continued with the fame heat, it wil certainly come to the higheft degree of perfedion. After this colour is paft, you fhall lee many more dif- ferent in their likenelTe and appearance : the Argos, and the Iris in their fplendor, that the following of the liquid humour will caufe to bee of divers colours, untill it comes at laft to t certaine whitericfle , then augment a little the heat. Friend, bee not weary of your wotke, and let it not trouble your patience, tor this is the firft point of get- ting your inheritance. When the Stone is come to the whitencffe, it is then fixt, and can never bedifunitcd, though it jfhould burnc 100. yeares, (ot the union is perfect. Keepc, as I have told you, the fire in one de- gree, that it may come to fuch a whiteneffe, as to bee like concerning the Philofophff s Sto/i\ 7 like the pureft fnow, which is called the filver Elixir. But in regard that Gold is more pietious in clteemc^ let it alone in tbc bottle with the fame firCj untill the Stone is come from its white into a Citron colour: then increafethc fire another degree , and thou fhalt attaine to a pure red. All being rayfed up will (hew your worke tobe fecure : the body of this being taken up, will be hard andlighfj and in it you may take no- tice of the body oi Dia^ham^ and the colour of a Ru- bie, as in my owne hands my fdfe bath feene it ; for which the great God is by me prayfed. Then put this into an earthen veffell ^. covered with a cover of the fame^ likeadifli, and this fo well joined or luted to- gether, of the bigneffe to hold thr^tbegada^^ accord- ing to the bigneffe of the Stone ^ and put it on a hot fire of flaming wood there to boile. Hcerc the Stone will calcine in 10. dayesof theSun, or Sundayes, &:c. and being taken- out of that pot, it will be an impal- pable and Divine powder. The firfi fubftance which doth good to all, from whence it hath no quality in his Quinteffence, but is applied to all, and hath power to do all,and vcrybeing ot the thing that is applied to. l^nte^ from the beginning crfNaturall caufes : it is nei- ther Gold, nor Silver, nor other Mincrall, nor fubjeft to the forme of any Vegetable, but hath a difpofition to doe good to all. If it be applied to Gold, from it, it takes firmneirc,as to convert other things into that Mettall. Forif toman, by famous workes, it gites him health, what can bee efleemed more pretious? Under this impalpable Gold, it happens that there is found a bright Earth, but very blacke and gliftcring, which is not the befl however, for that which is very red, -8 A Treatifc of Alphonfo JC.of Portugal^ rcJ, is tiKC and ftablc, though it be mixc with all cotn- potitionsj and fo nriakes no iitgreflion ^ but his vertucs arc very admirable. But with cquall weight thou muft unite it with its firftprincipallmatter, very pure, and joyne or mixc them together very carefully ^ if you would have it be brought to live : and then, as I told you before, let it come to the moderate heat as at the hrft, and in the like glaffe as I prcfcribed before, very clofe (Tiut : and as t^ou didft with the fire at the firft, lb muft xhou doe it nowj and in very (hort time thou fhalt fee it become blacke^ and of the other colours fpbken of before, untill it comes to bee red, and will prelently turne into a ftone. Tiiis have I feenc done m a fhort time ; and hce that knowes it not , let him kr ow that he walks blindfold. 1 have told you the work in plaine words, and how I did it, and faw it wrought, fo I did it, and had the reward : and it is no fallacy , feeing that I am a wit- neffe to it, for which I prayfe and blcfle God , which gave me iiitficient of knowledge, fcience, riches, ho- nour, and ftate, which let me never forget. If thou wouldft have a divifion of this into' loo. parts , and fo .ad infimtum^ it muft bee done before it hath firmentacion or hardneire,and then your workc .will be ccrtaine. Take an earthen veffell covered,and in It put your quickfilver, and when it begins to runne over, drop in your Elixir, othcrwife you cannot keep it for running over. Of Gold one part being purged by Aquafortis with foure of quicklilver wafht , and foure of what is fpoken of before, joyned with great Art, with one of your Elixir , and put it apart in a crooked gkflb or retort, and let it feele a fire of coals ten concerning the philofophrrs Stcne. p ten dayes together^ until! they be all mixed together. And it you will make a further progreflion^ put into an earthen pot loo. graines of quick hlver, and put it over a flaming fire ^ and when the quickfilvcr begins to fmoake and flie away in fume ^ caft in one part of your Elixir, and then cover ir. Then let it coole , and it (liall prove a very foveraignc medicine : loc.parts of quickfilvcr, according to the fineneffe of it, this lliall convert into Gold. But if youdefireto make experi- ence and fee the operation upon lead, you faajl there find it as well : neither doth it ftay there, for its^ingref- fion retains thatfaculty to turne all mettais into Gold: to every thing ic is to be applied, and it converts eve- ry thing into a Well compicdioned nature , lialfc a graine of this taken into the mouth makes the party ftrong • the weak and feeble, it makes fo lufty, that no man was ever more healthy, and time which is pretious to all, brings thofe that take it, found to their Graves. The ieji ofBejis invites from hi^fupreame dn^ellinapUce^ the mofl unfortunate ofall^ joynin^^ together tivo extreameSy after which mjloall fee him in hfSgreateft dignity and M.-t- jefly^ ivhich now is mofl diflant from it : fay nothing till iJjou feefl the wat^r produce th/tt which if afterward twined into fire 'j but if thou feefl that play , then hide not what elfe thou knowefl^ for it is worth full eight hundred yeeres ; for hein'f come to that paffe^ then thoufljaU know the worth of it. then fhall he accomplifht the fata/ltimetofee my ire^ifure and my felfe^ and my [elfe rnclofed or containe my fife :I fjali not Ic ohfcured^ and thou fJjaU remaine with my gifl thatjnthi.S' darknes thou fhalt fee fuch a light nkere a jvorld fhalliee re- prefented, c The to rhet. freitife of Alphcmfo K. of Portugaly The fecond Treatise of Alphonfo King ©/ Portugal^ cQHcermng the mkfefhers Stone. He paft worke of the moft pure {lone 5 is fo infinice in multiply- ing 5 that it is never weary to give J and to give more , fuch a likencfle hath it to its workman- fhip. But if you would know a- nother way to feperate the foure ElementSjknow that this follow- ing Treatifc underftood, will teach you to do it with more brevity and fecurity. Two ounces of gold well refined with one ©f filver, very fine and pure , melted in clay^ and this mixture being filed very fmall , and with purged Mercury ground untill it be well incorporated one into another. Then put fuch a quantity of common fait fo well mix- ed, as that the body may be well conglutinatcd. Take a glaffe bottle, fubtill^ to mix thefe, fo that no unclean thing may come to it (though never fo lit- tle) and then upn a fmall fire fo workc it, as that tho Mercury may confume or vanifti in its own fume. Then you may prefumc the Gold will r emaine being it body that will endure the fervency of the fire, Wafh the matter of this mixture in pufc fountainc water , fo that after many wafhings , the wat^^WM remainemany times clean, and rctaine itsfwectncile o concerning the philofofhers Stone,* 1 1 oftaftc: then weigh the matter that remain?^ and if vou find it heavier than it was at firft, grind it againc with Salt enough ^ and put it to the fire againe as be- fore. Thus I tell youj you muft doe your workc, and in a very foft fire : and when it conies to bee of its firft weighty that which then remaincs ^ will bee a matter fpungeous and fubtle, and fo well difpofed and prepa- red^ that you may ufc it in any Phyficke. And now you muft make a preparation with fub- limed Mercury, Copperas, and Salt well wafht : for our Phyfick and reall conjun£tion gives it afterwards his life, grinding it with Salt very fmall. Then in a glaffe Bottle which hath his receiver, put it to make his diftillation. But know that within the receiving glafle you muft pHt water, and place the bottle in a ftrong furnace,and make a fire of coales under it , and letting it feeth or boyle Ibftly, and it will turn quick, or living, and be muchfubjed to corruption, and with this, workefe- curely and be nat weary. Nine of thefe with three of the firft compofition^ joyned and well mixed, and ground together : and all thefe and the other put into a round glaffe, that hath a neck ol a fpan or palme long, and then ftop the mouth very clofc, for which purpofe the mouth muft not be made wide but narrow. Thus I tell you the glaffe muft be, and of a bigneffc to hold the quantity of three hegadcU^ and according to the roundnelfe of it, (o have a place fitted to put it in the fire, that thejce the matter may be well joyned ot maflht together^ then will the tinfture be made. C 2- Forty 1 1 The 5 .Tfyatife of Alphonfo K.of Portugal:, Forty hegadaS:, then fbalt thou fee the Eaft adorned with the beamcs of the funnc, when this worke fhall be accomplillied according to defire , to change the prcfcnt glade into another, which ferves for the recei- ver of a Stillj which being clofc luted with lutum fapi- entU^ en hot water, which it muft not touch. . The Fire muft no*t bee of any great heat but mode- rate, that it may worke its effcd, diftilling its water in a pcrfea manner, and then doe the fame worke o- veratraine ^ joinc the matter with great wifcdome, with'this his diftilled Water, joine Mercury, of an e- quall weight with the firft matter. Note my words which I will tell thee , that now thou {halt come to putrifie it, and after forty dayes put it into the Still, keeping the fame order as before, for the glaffe and the fire , take this diftilled water, and. in the place where it falls , put in an equall weight of the firft matter as aforcfayd. Doe this worke as at the firft, for it muft be thrice reiterated from time to time, receiving the water that the fire will give to the very laft. Think not the time light, and though you paffe the forty dayes and more, yetftill keep: the water in a glaflfe bottle. Change It from the receiving iglaffe into another, and put it upon hot afhes , and theti thou fhalt have, or draw out a lighter element in weight, called Ayre, which you muft fubtily put into a bottle, and ftop the mouth of it very clofe with Hermes his feale , and its necke alfo ^ be carefull that you let not forth the aire. Put in or to the glaflfe another receiver after , ( ha- ving ftrongly luted it) and make fuch a fire as that by hisgre^t heat the pot may diftill j this Element keep with concerning the Fhilofophers Stone, i j with carcfulncffe , for it is the Element of Firc^ and then, thankes be to God, in this worke thou haftfepa- rated the foure Elements. After the divifion of this Chaos , thou muft now thinkeof joyning them together againe : for if thou meaneft to joyne and make that .world which was difunited, the only matter which is in the bottome of the glaffe muft bee retayned or kept and foftned by grinciing, and then thecompofition putintoa glaffe. Let this glaffe bee round bodied, and long neckt ; "which glaffe or bottle you muft fortifie by luting, and fet it upon thecoales, that it may have the force of the fire, in fuch a mancr that it may rife ten degrees Ti- tans Wife of the beloved Bed ; and in this maner it wilbe converted into a hard fubftance. In another like glaffe put this with a quarter of its weiglit of the referved water, and then flop the mouth of it well, and put it in a braffe furnace or veffell, and put it upon hot aflics, and keepe fuch a frre to itjas the matter may become dry as it was before. This being done, and the congealing and drying being paft, aslhavefaid, do the like again, with its fourth 0r quarter part of that Royall water. The in- fufion muft be reitterated, and the fourth rime ended of doing the fame work, know that thou haft fatisfied the drougth, or drouth, or thirft that this fubftance had after that water. Haft thou not feen the earth when it wants raine, how barren it fhews > no fruit to be feen, but all looks like a fallow ground , and every thing like to perifh. But if the rain falls to refrelTi it , it makes it fruitfull for generation, or increafe, and every feed that is fown C 3, in 14 Thf 2.7y'eatife of Alphonfo R\ ofFortugal^ in its proper time brings forth its trLU^ And continuing difpcrlech its watery power into all plants and trees, and makes the iruit appeare on every bough : even fo goes this matter preparing • the Ayre which you kept in the bottle , you muft give drink to five feverall times, the tenth part of its quan- tity at a time, fo that in all it muft. have halfe its own weight, and al wayes at every time be dryed up. Then on a Copper plate in a flaming fire try this matter, ifit will confumein fmoake • for you muft preiume it to be of the nature of the Ganimedes to fiie up to Heaven, but if it flies not upwards, then it is not yet well done , but you muft give it more water , and trye again whether or no it hath his true fpirit.^ Caufe it to drink a quarter part of its weight that firftit wasof,which will be the tenth part of the Aire, and as you did it before, fo do it again : then prove it upon the Copper Plate , to trye if *it will evaporate and fmoake : then turne againe to what you did be- fore. Then put the matter in fublimation, and when you fhall fee it all rife up : that which rifeth not, but rc- maineth in the bottome, give it drink again according as is afotcfayd ; prove it again upon the plate, and fo continually trye it till it rifeth ^ and then you fhall be fure that in the bottome will remain a black earth like a dead body in the glaffe. As the Ganimedes went up to Heaven, fo thou fhalt fee this matter exalted. It (hall be demanded from the God of the earth, by JoX/f, from whom it was ftolen, it having been left with Demogorfjoa , and (hall be rcftored, and if thou fublimate it , oitentimes grinding ccnceming th^ "Phi/ofophers Stone. 1 5 grinding it untill it come at laft to be firme, it will all remain m the boccome of the glafle. To this matter there wants ingreffion, becaufc there wants the fourth Element , therefore make this ope- ration in a fire neither great nor little, but when thou putteft it in its inflammation take the pot, and be furc that not one drop or tittle of any foule thing comes to it before thou fccft infufion. If then thou feeft it become like wax that it will rope, then thou haft a vaft great Treafure, that thyeftate fhall be advanced to more than the riches oi Midas. 1 00. parts of Mercury put on the fire, and when it begins to fumeaway, then temper it with one of this matter , and prcfumc thou haft brought it to thcperfed medicine. And if another time thou doft the fame worke,one part of this applycd to 100 will turn likcwife to the fccond medicine, and ont part of this is a great reward, being applied to loo parts of Mercury hot , or any o- thcr mcttal being mclted,making it becom Gold moft high and fublime : For which the Lord be praifcd. FINIS. 17 TheBookeof John Sawtre a Monke^c^neermngthc Philofophers Scone^ XL things confifting of Naturall bodies , afwell perfea as unper- fcd, in the beginning of Creati- on were compounded and made of foure natures, andthofefoure natures bee the foure Elements, viz. Fire, Aire, Water^and Eartl^ the which God omnipotent did congelate, mingle, and married together in his mafic of Poyfe : for in thefe foure Elements is the Privity hid of Philofophcrs ; and when their namresbecom- mingand reduced together into one, then they bee made another thing : whereupon it appeareth that all things univerfall and variable bee of the foure Ele- ments , ingendred naturally and changed together : whereupon Rafis fayth , Simple generation and natu- rall permutation is the operation of the Elcments,but it is neceffary that Elements be of one kindc and not divers : for othcrwife they have not adionand paffion together : for as ^r/^or/^ fayth, There is no true ge- neration, but of fuch as be convenient and agreeing a- mongft themfelves. Therefore doe not fearch that thing of nature, that is not. of nature, or things not ac- cording to their lature y for the Elder tree doeth not bring forth Peares, nor the Thorne tree Pomegranats, ^ D for i8 The Bo6ke of John Savvtre ^ Monh^ for wc doe never gather grapes of Thorncs, or figgcs of Thiftles; for they offer'no things but fuchas are like thcmfelves ^ nor doe they bring forth other fruit then their owne. Therefore it is neceffary that our medi- dne bee taken chiefly of fuch things as it confilVeth in ^ but there bee .many men bulyiiig themfclvcs and medling greatly and diverfly therein, that ndw a daies- goe about to get the fame medicine of dry ftoncsjaiid divers kinds of falts , as of S4 alkali j sM.gem. vn.iolj SAl-arntoniack^SindizWomt^ cicory, tutty, attramentum, faffron, burnt brade, vitriol! Romane, verdegris, ful- phur, auripigmentum^arfnick, and fuch other untruit- full matters, whereas neither falts nor alloms^doe goc into, or be compounded in our worke • but the Piiilo- fophers named it falts and allomes in fteadof the Ele- ments as rheophrafifisisLith. Butifthoudcfire to make the Elixir wilely and perfeftly , then learne to know the Minerall Roots, and make of them thy worke : for as Geter fayth , thou fhalt not findc the terme or end of the thing in the vcines of the earth ^ for fulphur and mercury which be the roots minerall , andnatu- rall principles, that Nature doth make the foundati- on of her operations once , as in the mineralls and chambers of the Earth, be water, vifcous, and a ftin- king fpirit running by the Tcines and bowells of the Earth, and of them doth fpring a fume, which is the mother of allmettalls, joyned by a moid temperate heat,aicending and verbera ting againc upon his upper Earth, untill that by tem.pcrate d'ecodlion in the term of looo. years is made a ccrcainc naturall fixation, as more plainly it doth #ppeare , andfo is made mettall^ as appeareth in the bookes o^Geber : Evenfo of Sol, (which (tncerning th< Thilofophfri Stone. 19 f which is our Sulphiir reduced into Nlercury,by Mcr- Siv IS made abater, thicke, an^l mixed^AVuh Ins or?fir Ea&,by' temperate dccoaton, and from it ri- FeXfnSSeveinsof this proper Earth,^«. of himfelfc, which afterward is changed into a water, moftfubtle, which is called Jinima, S'^muit, &Tm- 3^ ,chat5,Se Soule,the Spirit, andTindure: and when the fame water isreduccd upon the Earth from wSce it came, and fprinkled upon his owjie vanes, kcommcthintoa certaine fixation, and ismadcthe FuScompleat : and fo Art doth worke inaihort S the whof man, more then Nature doth work in Tooo. yeares. But yet wee doe not make metta 1, but Nature doth make it : we doe not change mettals, but Nature doth change themvbut we be Natures hel- pe s or Miniftcrs. wWupon Me^mTuriaPh^ UarumM^K That although our ^tone being perfc- ftWeatcd in the Earth, doth naturally contayne m hSc tinaure,yet by himfelfe, he hath no motion o movKo be Elixir, unkflb thereto hee bee moved hv Art Therefore let us choofc the namrall and next SineralMccording to the words of ^nM..for Na- Te hath procreatelaUmeulique bodies of a fume s.,1nhur and Mercury : wherein thou {halt findcno IhSofopSr LgreVing 5 therfore it behoveth thee To know tSc principles of'this Art. and the princ.pall RoSereof s for hee that doth not know the ri^h bSnnUl-haU neverfinde the right end thereof : Tor SS in the beginning of bis Booke Hce^that knowcth nor our besinningfn himfelte, is t arrc from SttaynTng or ulderftanding of this Science : for £c S n!t the true Root orgrgind wherc^n^e to The Booke tf John Sawtrc d Monk, fhould rayfe this Art, or Sci^cc, or W orke : alfo in another place he fayth 5 It behoveth that our Art be found out by a naturall wit, and a fubtile foule, fear- ching forth the naturall principles and true foundati- on?. But although that a man may know his princi- ples, yet neverthelclfe he cannot in this follow Nature in al things, as Gel?er teRifieth. Sonne, of this Art of Alchymy, we doe open to thee a great fecrct ^ Many Artincert in this Art doe greatly errc, which do think to toUow Nature in all properties and differences. ■. Therefore thefe things thus (hortlypaffed over, as is aforcfayd, let us come to that part of the worke ar- tificial! J many men doc write of the Stone, named the Philofophcrs Stone, but how, or of what it is made, no Philofopher did plainly and openly name , for in thefe points divers men taught divers things : whereas the truth doth confift in one thing onely ; but without doubt and without all errour, we fay that this Stone (which is the root of our Art and privity , or hidden fecret of God : and whereof many wife men did treat, who did of it make, and did knit many knots, and fo deceived many men in making them thereby fooles) is none other thine but man and woman^ Sol & hum, hot and cold. Sulphur and Mercury : and heere fticke dowr e your fbke , flaying only and leaving: to fcarch further for any other ftone, or foolifhly to confumc thy money, and to bring to thy foule heavy though ts^ ©r fadneffe : for what thdu foweft thou fhalt reape. And forafmuch as this Stone is divided into two parts, we will fpeake a little of thefirft part Sol 5 and note, that without k, our worke cannot be done, as I well .proveby authority of learned Philofophcrs. For Ari- ' fiotle concerning the Thilofopheri St$ne. 2 1 ^otle fayth ^of all things in this world, 5^/ is moft • and It is thefirment of white and red^ without which it is' not done. Alfo 7ifyw^5 fayth. There is no true tinfture' but of our Braffe, that fs to fay sd : for all Sol is brafs, but all braflcis not 5o/;foall Sol is Sulphur, but con- trary, for in it is nothing of the corruption of Sulphur, but when it is made wfiite in the worke, then it wor- keth the operation of white Sulphur, congealing and converting Mercury into Sol, of the colour named O ^//©^inLatine, therefore u(e alwayes the nobler member, thatisto jfay Sol 5 for it is the kinde of kipdes 5 and forme 6f formes ; fcjr'' it is thefirft and laft inmettals, and it isamongft them in their natures, as the Sun isamongft the Stars-, but it dothconcerne thee to underftand well how to choofe in what noble member waterUm vel rem homgeniarn amhorum rhiindi iMmintim : that is a thing df that kiridte which isaWn- dred to both the lights in the world, that is to fay Sol: for Sol is hom'ogeneam ^ and the (pirit hid and covered in that iioble member, without which the work is not dpne. Vy^ercfore Rafis fayth. Doe not colourit iintill his hid fpirit be drawne out, and made all fpirituall ; and therefore worke thou nothing but that which is very light, and of the moft pure 50/5 which doth illu- minate and lighten all lights, and cafteth away all darkneflfe of the night by his^povvcr, viz. the fuperflu- ity of Mercury and other imperfeft bodies, when that it is caftupon them; wherefore G^^^r faith in the Chapter of the Quintcffence and Projedion of the Stoiie ; thisSulpher, lightning and eafting forth his beames, and (hinrng abfbad of his moft cleare fub- ftance, doth irradiate and giveth light not only intfee D 3 day •2 2 The Piooke ^/ J ohn S tv/ttca Mo?ike^ day, butalfo Ib the darkneffe whcrnpon Pandulfhmin turhii philofoi^wrf^iyi^h^n-iy Brethren know yc that there is no body more precious or purer thsin Sol : for as the Rubie hath m it felfe tlie effed of all precious ftones, fo Sol hath in it felfe the vcrtue of all uoncs and Met- tals du^tibl^ y for it containeth in it fclfc all mettals, and cgjoure^h and quickeneth them , when he is moil noble of them and of allbodies, and the head and the beft of them ; and confider this one poynt more, that Sol is equall in the qualities and parts of it , and it is of a complcac nature ot the fourc Elements, with- out, any exccffe ordcfc^ftj.for by nature it hath part of hcac, and part of coldneflb; part of dryneUe, and p^rt of humidity i for it is not corrupted ^ nor corrupt tible, by the Ayre, nor by ^he Water, nor by the infc- i^ion of the Earth , or by the force or violence of the Fire.j yet it moyikcnetH, redifieth, and adorncth it, beqaufc his coniplexion is, temperate, and his nature dirG(ft)and equall : therefore that Stone is befl of all ftoncs, that is moft concpftand neareft , or moft akin to the fire. The fccond part of our Stone is called Mercury, the which is himfelfe, and of the Philofophers is called a Stone 5 and yet is no Stone : Whereupon a certainc wife man, whereas he fpeaketh of it^ faith , this is a Stone, and yet no Stone, without which, nature doth never worke any thing, which both doth, and drink- cch up the worke, and'^of it doth appeare every colour, whole name is Mercury or Argent vive. Whereupon Rac« faith of it, a worke may be created fo , that the fame worke may overcome all Natures j it is friend- ly to all Mcttlcsjand thcmeanc to joync tin6hires,for in €omrHmg the "Thilof&phers Stene^ ^5 in it felfe it teccivcth that which is of its nature, and doth vomit forth agalne that which is ftrangc, or enc- my to its natiirc, f o^ it is-an antfortne fubftance in all his part. Th^-M^e-tlii^ Stone is naiHed of the Philo- fophers Mim^raUi%gto1>kYaHd Animallj andalfoar- tinciaHjit iscalkJ-Mineral),btcaufcit is mgendredin the Mine, and is nfiother ot ail Mettks, or elfe it is cal- led mineral! 5 becaofe that vvht-n there is projcdion made upon it, it is t-irncd intoMettfo^^and it is called Vegitablc, for of the Juice of thre-e Hearbs mixed toge- ther in equall proportions , that they ftand in a moift fire forty dayes, there will be growne forth thereof a Stone of the fame colour and vejtue of th^ mineral!, for the Hearbs be Mercury, PUr>eelane, called Portuldca ^armay which yecldeth Milke, and Celendine, it is alfo called animall or vitall, becaufe of himfelfe, with- out any other thing put into it, his Elements beingfe- peratednd'nitoiogetheit4n equall' weight, and thcji fct in a'ftrdngglalfeHVithahttleholetotakeayreat intheaforefayd hre, wifhin three moncths there will engender horrible Wormes , whereof every one will flay one another, untill that one onely will rcmaine, which if the Maftei: feed 'Wifely, it will grow and waoc to the bi|neffe of a Toad, whofe forme is terrible, and this Bcaft isbyhihi felfe Elixir upon Saturne and Ju- piter^ or it is called animall, becaufe it is made of a thing that hath life, that is to fay man: For in old Hedges' it is-found of the putrifaftion of mans dunr3 and ordinately heated wift a fubtife Vcffcll of Glaffe, and therefore the Philofophers fayd our Stor^ is found in every man, and that of the vi'left thing, and of a moft vile price :' Wherefore p^V^^^or.^^ faith ^ this Stone 24 The Bdoke of John Sawcre a Mpnlt-Cy Stone is animalljbecaiife it is ap* to bring forth Child- ren ; alfo he faith it is caft in Dunghils, and therefore it is vile and nejededin the eyes ot the ignorant man. Alfo in the BOok^ whiich is called Speculum AlchymUy it is fayd, this Stone is caft away in the ftreet , and i^ found in dunghill^ thq which cQptaineth in it feife^U thefoure Elements , and ruleth them : and this Stone is artificiallj for by mans wit^ it is knit together ^ for ccrtaine men make {ylerciaryoif Lead in this maner : they melt Saturncfixojf feven times ^ and every time they draw it with. Sal armoniacke diffolved-^ after- wards they take ot that Saturne three pounds, and of ,Vitriol one pound, aodl^f Borax halfe a pound , and then they do.minglealtpge.ther, and put it underneath the Philofophers fire , by forty naturali dayes> and then it is made Mercury, ^nd there is no difference be- twceneit and naturali Mercury , but that it doth not goe into our wprjiC, as naturali Mercury doth. Know thou the clean froqi the;unclcan,for nothing givcth that which it hath not j br the clean is of one dfcnce voyd ot alterations : the unclean thing is divers, and of contrary parts, and of a light or eafie corrupti- on, therefore put in thy workc no ftrange thing, nor let any thing goe into our Stone ( cyic^pt fuch as is fprung from it ) neyther in part nor yet in the whole 5 for if any ftrange thing be put into it, it will by and by corrupt, nor will that be made thereof which is expc- Aed. Therefore purge the yellow body by theadufti- onof the fire, and then thou fhalt findc it purged ^ and after that thou haft it well purged,beat it moft ftrong- iy, and utterly, and make it into thin plates, and after beat thcrainto leaves, the thiimeft that cao bee poffi- ^^ ble, concerning thi philofo^hers Stone^ 25 ble, as Gold-beaters doc, and then fo keep them t but the white liquor hath more fupcrfluities, which muft of neceflity be removed^ for they bee faiculenxifZ of the Earth, which is the impediment of melting , and hu- midity fugitive 5 which is the impediment of fixa- tion. The earthineile feculentinc is taken away thus; put ic into a nuortar of marble or wood, and adde to it as much common cleane dry fait, and a little vineger, and ftirre them ftrongly about, and rub it very ftrong- ly with a peftle of wood wifely, that there doe appear nothing of the liquor, and that all the fait be all black, then wafhall the matter with cleane hot vvater,untill the fait bee refolved into water , and then powre the fame foule water away, and then put it to the liquor of fait and vineger, as thou didft before j and doe this oftentimes \ untiil the liquor bee made as cleane and fhining as glafle, or of the colour of Heaven. And laft. of all put ic into a thickelinnen cloth, twice or thrice doubled, and then ftrainc it forth twice or thrice into a thi.kc veflell of glafle, untiil it bee dry; the propor- tion of the parts is fuch , for there bee twenty foure houres in a naturall day, to which adde one, and then there be twenty five, this is wifedome : for 6^f ^er faith in his fourth Booke, and fixth Chapter, Study in thy worke to overcome. the quickfilvrr in thy commixti- on. Alfo >Rj.75 fayth, Bodies be of a great perRftion ; wherefore more quickfilver is neceflary : and he faith, that vvife men hide nothing but the weight and quan- tities, and this we may know becaufe none doe agree with other in weight, Ihercfore there is a great er- ror ; for although'the medicine be well prcparare and E well a 6 ^he BoBke of John Sawtre a Monke^ well mingled together, unleffe that there bceqilianti- ties^ thou haft dellroyed all, as to the verity and finall complement, and that (lialt thou fee in the triall , for when that the body tranfmuted, bee put into cincrari- on, there it will be conlumed late or ibone, according as little or much it is changed into cquahty of the proportions by right, according to rcafon it will ne- ver be corrupted : therefore no man canpaffe through it , unleffe that hee bee a wife man , th^t doeth all things according toreafon,and trucfubtilety, and na- tural wit. Euclides being a wife man , counfclled us that we ftiould worke but in Sol and Mercury, which joy»ed rogecher doth make the Philofophers Stone 5 where- upon Rafis faith , white and red do proceed of one Roote, no body of any other kinde comming between or meddling of the kind of Sol • yet it being matter and forme abfcnt , all the effect is deprived, quoniam ex TKAterta df forma fit gtneratio vera.:^ that is to fay, very true generation is made of forme and matter, therefore it behooveth thee to know , that no Stone, or precious ftonc , nor any other thing befides this Stone is convenient, nor yet doth agree to this worke ; but thou hadft need to labor about thefolution of the yellow body , reducing it to his firft matter : where- fore Rafn faith,we truly do diffolvc Gold, that it may be reduced into his firjft natur-e, that is to fay, Mercu- ry : and when that they be brufed afunder, then they ha^e in themfelves tin(Surc abiding : wherefore Kaf^s in the flowers of SocYAUs^dX\h ^ make the marriage, between the Red husband and the White wife , and thou (halt have the maftery. Alfo ^fr/^v^ faith ia his Booke: C^n- cbncefning the ^hilbfophers Stene, % 7- Candida fi rabe9 mulierjic mixta mart to Mi)X ampleBuntur comfkBaj^ concipiuntur *TeY [e jolvu/iturj per [e quoj^ conficiumur^ Etduo quif'ueranty unum (^uafixorporefiunt. And truly our difiblution is no other thing ^ bur that the body be turned againe into nioiftnciTc , and his quickfilver into his osvne nature be removed a- gaine. Therefore unleflo our braflc be broken and crufhed afunder 3 and ruled by himfclfe untill it be drawn from his thicknes^ and that it be turned into a thinTpirit , this labour is in vaine; whereupon it is fayd in the Booke called Speculum Alchymi Philofophorum faith , he that hath wifely brought forth the venome out of Sol and his fhaddow, without which no colouring venome is ingcndred,and he that gocth about by any manner of \vayes to make colouring venome without this , he lofeth his labour ^ and enjoyeth nothing but for- row for all his hopes. The VeffcU ot our Stone is one wherein all the xnaftery is fulfilled, and it is a Cucurbit or Gourd with a Limbeck round above and beneath , plaine, without any fcapolis, not too high, whofc bottomc be round after thcfailiion ofanEgge , or of an urinal), with plaine fides , that it being made thin it may af- cend and defcend moft freely and eafilyj and let the Veffeil be of fuch quantity, that the fourth part there- of may containe all the matter : and note that it is not of any other mettle but Glaife, ckane, which is a bo- dy concerning the ThiUfophers Stone, zp dy full of light and fhining every thing through it^and lacking poorcs, iTiewing alfo the colours in tlie worke appearing, whereby the ff)iritspafling may fuccclTive- ly yanifh away; it muft alibbe made right convenitnt and meet, wifely , that nothing may enter in by it ; whereupon L»c^ faith, let the Veflell be fliut ftro'ngly with Lutum fapienti^ , that nothing may pafTe forth, nor enter into it , for if his dew fhould palfe forth, or fome other ftrange humour fhould enter in , all the worke fhould thereby lofe his effcft : and although it is fayd by the Philofophcrs very often , put it into his Veffell and iTiut it ftrongly , yet fufficeth but once to put it in and {hut it, and in that thou haft fulfilled all the maftery for that, that is morejis doncofcvill: Whereupon Rafis faith , kcepe it continually, wifely, fhut and fet it about with dew, ever taking heed that this dew doe not paffe forth into a Fume : alfo in Spe- culum Alchy mi ce^\ii% fayd,the Philofophers Stone muft remaineclofeiliut inhisVcflelluntill it hath drunke up his humidity ^ and that it be nourished perfedly with the heate of the fire, till it be made white : Alfo it is fayd in the Booke called Beneloquiuwy even as there be in a oaturall Eg|e three things {viz.) the Shell, the White , the Yolke ; even fo there be in the Philofo- phers Stone three things; f'u/^i.J the Veflell,theGla(fe, for the Egge fhell , the white liquor for the White of the Egge, and the yellow body for the Yolke of the Egge J aad there becomes a Bird of the yellow and white of the Egge, by a little heate of the Mother, the Egge-fhell ftiU remaining whole untill the Chicken doc come forth ^ even fo by every manner of wife in the Philofophers Stone , is made of the yellow body, E 3 ' and JO 7he Booke of John isLWttQ a Modr^ and white Liquor by mediation of a temperate heat of the mother the earthly fubftance Hrrmes bird , the tcffell ft ill remaining whole, and never opened untill his full perfedion 5 keep therefore the veflell diligent- ly ^nd wifely clofed with LutumfapieKtiee Thitofopho- rurr?^ that the ipirit do not pafle forth. Alfo RajiS faith, keep the veffels with his tiolh and clofures, that thou mayeft be able and ftrong in the keeping of his fpint : alfo in another place, fhut thy vcflUl diligently I and doe not in any fort make haft , nor ceafc from thy worke ^ alfo take heed that the humiditic do not pal's out of the vcffell, and thy worke thereby perifii ; for Socrates faith, bruife them in moft ftrong vinegerj and feeth it vntill that it be thick , and take heed that thy vineger do not turne into a fume and perifli or vanifh. of the Fires. THe Philofophers in their Books have chiefly put two fires , a dry, and amoyft^ for the dry fire, they call it the common fire, of any manner of thing combnftible that will burnc : but the moift fire they call the hot, venter Equinm-, which may beEngliflied, the Horfe belly ^ but rather it isHorle dung, wherein remainir^moyftnefsjthcre doth remainc hcat,and the moyftnefle once confumed, it ceafeth to be hot , and this heat doth remain but in a little quantity , or but five or fix dayes , but this heat may be kept a longer cime^by fprinkling him with urine and fait oftentimes^ for of this fire ?ithagor^%s faith , the fire of the belly of a Horfe hath property not to deftroy Oyle , but to augment it, by ceafoa of his humidity, whereas other fires fomerning the Phihfophers Stcne, ? i fires doc deftroy it for their heat, Alfo Seniw faith, dig up a grave and lay the Wife with her husband in the paunch or belly of a Horfe , or rather inHorfe dungj ufitill they be freely with their good wills mar- ried and conjoyned together. AKo ^Iphidanus fsiith:, hide thy medicine in a moyfthorfe dung, which is the wife mans fire, for the fire of this dung is hot and moyft, and obfcure, having within it hum Sity , and a holy light, and therefore there is none like to this in all the world, but only the natiu-all fire of a hot mans body 5 that is in health, and this is the fecret caufe of thettrifeofthe Sea, and not fully combuft bloudof man , and the bloud of the red wine is curfire^ the Kegimcnt of our fires isfuch, that the medicine to white muft beput into the moyft fire , untill the full compliment of whitcneffe, and that the heat muft be lent and continuall from the beginning , untill the colour of whitcneffe appearing in the veffcll , for the lent fire is the confervation of humidity ^ whereupon Pandolphw faith. Brethren, know that the body is dif- folved with the fpirit whereunto it is mixed,by a moft lent decoaion,andfo the body is thereby made fpiri- tu^l with the fpirit : Alfo Aftdvu)(akh,' the lent fire doth fend forth the fpints of life, the exceffive fire doth not make equall the Elements , but rather it waftcch tbc humidity and deflroyech all things: therefore Rafis faith in his high worke, take heed in thy fublimation and liquefaaion , left chat when you fet your fire on fire , tbc water alfo do afcend to the top ofthe veflfell, for if it be fo , then it being cold it Will ftick there, and fo thou canft not make thy Sul- phur, nor open thy Elements , becaufe it is ncceffary tha: 3 2 The Booke tf John Sawtrc a Monk^ that every one of them in their fphericall, or fpirituail motion be very often thruft dovvnc and lift up/or on- ly the temperate fire is infpicive and perfeflive of mic- tion: Therefore ^o/-^//;/:;;/? faith J a lent fire which is called a clearc fire, is the greattft caufe of true opera- tion in the Elements. Alio Rafis faith , it is our light firCj as m an Egge that is nourifhcd, imtill the body be derived, and the tindure drawne forth, for by light dccOvilion the fire congealcth the water , and draweth forth the humidity of the corruptive part, and the corn- buftion ofdrineflcis prevented, . Alfo all the benefit of this worke is in the tcmperacenefTe of the fire ; therefore alvvayes take heed of a greater fire, that thou come not before thy time to (blution , for that bringeth to defperation : wherforc Rafis faith , take heed of the intention of the fire , for if it be fet on fire before the time, then it is made Red before the due time, which doth not profit , and that he may fhew thee the time of decOiSbion, He. faith, the folution of the body, and the congelation of the fpirit muft needs be made with light decoSion of the fire ^ and with moyft putrifaftion in forty daies. Alfo heare Hortula/ins fayingjknow ye that in mingling them together, it bc- hooveth you to mingle the crude, quick, finccre, and right Elements together upon a loft fire , and to take heed of the intention of the fire , untill the Elements be joyncd together. Bonellui iaith alfo, by a temperate heat the body is made fweet and convenient. Be of a coni\ant minde in thy work, and do not la- bour in or upon divers matters or things, proving fometimes this matter , and fometimcs another ^ tor ixi the multitudeor divcrfity of things thy Art confiils nor,. concermng the philofophers Stone, 33 not, nor is finiihcd^ for there is but one fubjed.or me- dicine, one veflcll, one regiment , and one difpofition thereof, for all the mattery doth begin in one man- ner of faihion, and endcth in one manner of mantion; yet the Philofophers did put many works and crafts thereof for the honour and hiding, and prolonging of this Art : as to fceth, to mingle together, toroft, tofublime, to grind, to break, orbeat affunder, to congeale, to adiquate, or make even in quality, to pu- trific, to make white, to make red ; of which things yet there is but one Regiment, which is but to decodt onely. Therefore cruili it a{lundcr,and feeth ilill that thou be not weary : alfo R.ifis faith, feeth without in- termiffion. Do not haft or ceafe at any time from thy- worke, nor go about to pra£i:ife or ufe the fophifticall bounds of thy works , but onely intend to the com- pliment of this workc : alfo Rafis faith, it is moft furc for ihee to apply thy workc diligently , nor do thou leave off thy worke, being as it were a tree cut downe from the bowes , be thou therefore ftedfaft , and of a longcontinuallminde and will in the Regiment. Shut moil clofe thy veffell, and ceafe at no tmie, for there is no generation of things but by a continuall motion, excluiion of ayre , and heat temperate. Study and marke alfo, when that you are in your worke, all the fignes that fhall appeare in every decoftion , and re- member them, for they be neceffary for the workman, to the compliment and fulfilling oi this workc,for it is necejTary to continue the worke, and moderate the fire J therefore all thefe things dlfpofed asaforefaid, put the veffell with the medicine in the moyft fire fo, that halfe the velleil be in the fire and the other halfe F without. j4 Sf^fc^ Bo&ke of John S awt re a Monhy withour, to this went, tb^t every xia^y it may be loo- ked upon 5 and within forty daycs the ovcrparc ^ of outfidc ot the mcdianCjfhalla} pcarb"a:k like Tarr, and that is a figne, that the yellow body is truly turhcd into Mercury : therefore ^d/^fftf< faith, where thatyoii do fee blacknefs appeare to that water, know ye that now the body is liquefied : aod that truly is the fame that Rafis faith , the difpofition of our Stone is one, that it be put in his veffell , and that it be throughly fodden , umill all do rile and af^end dilTolved. Alfo in another place, continue upon him a temperate lear, untill that it be diffolved into water impalpable , and that all the tindure do go forth into blacknefs, which is a figne of folution. Alfo Lucjs fayth , When thou feeft blackncs inure to that water in all things, then know that the body is liquefied ^ for the Philolbphers doe call this blacknes the firft mariage , for that the man is joyned to the wojnan, and it is a figneof a pcrfe£t medicine and mixtion, but all the tin^ure is not drawnc forth all at once, but it gocth forth by little ai d little every day untill that in a long time it be compleat and finillied ; and that, that is dilfolved doth ever goe up to the top- ward,aJthough that which is remayning beneath bee the more: whereupon Avicen fayth, that which is fpirituall doth afcend up into the Veffell, and that which is thicke and grofle , rcmayneth in the Veffell beneath : but this blacknes is named by the Philofo- phers with many and fundry names -, as the fire, the foule, the clouds, the erowes head, oy]e,tinaurc,red- neffe,or ihadow, Sol, braffe, blacklead, black water, iiilphur , and by many other names : and that the blacknes concerning the ^hikfofhers Stone. j j blacknes doth conjoyne together the fpirit to the bo-^ dy: wherefore ^oJm«j faycH, by the continuance of the fire in the Regiment to the number of forty dayes, both fhallbe made a water pcrmaiicnt, the blacknefle being covered ^ which fayd blacknefll^, it ic beegover- ned as it ought to be^ it doth not ftay away above for- ty dayes of the colour of blackncrti\ Alio Py hugorai faythjas lon^ as the ocfcurc blacknefle doth appcarc, the woman doth rule, which is the fir 11 ftrcngth of our ftonc ^ for unlefTe that it be blacky it cannot be white nor red. Ah'b A'S'cen in the Chapter of Humors faith, heat ic moiftneffe doth firft make bla.knelfe, and his moiftnefic enduretii untill the fuperHuity thereof bee removedjard then it becommcth white. Alfo in pur works, firft they be made black e, fecondly vvhite, and thirdly by a greater intention andcompofitionof fire, it behovcth to be made yellow: whereupon iris writ- ten in the Booke called Mulufarj , in the fixth Chap- ter in the firft detedion, which is called putrifadion ivhen our Stone is made black , that is^to fay black earthy by the drawing forth of his moifthefle, wherein the whitcnefle is hid , and when the fame whiteneflc is revcrfed upon his blacknefle , andis fixed with his canh by eafie tofting , then is made the white ^ in which whif enefle the rednefle is hid ■} ^nd when it i$ well fodden , by augrAerttation of the fire the fame earth is thenturned into rednefle, as after it fhali be taught. Nowagainelet usreturnetoourblack Ston0, be- ing ftrongly clo(pd in his Veflell, let- it ftand therefore "continually in the raoiftfire untill that the whitc^ co- lour doe appearelike unto the manner of moft white F ^ Salt, 3 6 The Booke of John S a wtre a Monke^ Saltj and this colour according to the Philofophers, is called Sal Armoniack^ >vithouc which nothing can be made^oris profitable in our work: And lb the intcnfivc whitencsappcaringjthcpcrfcd): mariage & copulation indiffoluble of the Stone is madcrchen is that oi Hermes fully fulfilled, faying. That which is above, is as that which is beneath is. That which is above is to obtainc Miracles of one thing : But VithagorM faith^ when that you do fee whitencs comming above, then be you furc that redncffe is hid in that whitenefle ;but before that the white doe appeare^ many colours fhall appeare. Therefore Diademes faith,fe€th the man and vapour together, untill that both of them be congelate into dryneffc^ for unleffe that itbemadc dry, divers co- lours will not appeare , for it is ever black, as leng as moyftncffe doth rule, and then it fendeth forth divers colours • for in divers manners 5 and at divers times, it will be moved from colour to colour , untill it come to a firme whitene0e : Alfo Zenon faith, all kinde of colours will flppearein it untill the black humidity be dryed up; but of fuch colours take you no great care for they be no true colours^ for it fhall very often times be citrine, and very often times redneffe will ap- pease, and often times it will be dry , and alfo liquid .. before whitenefle , but the Spirit will never be fixed with the body, but with white colour, ^fiavui fayth, betwecne the blackneffc and the white , there fhall appeare all colours, even as many as can be named or tnought of : from diverfity of which colours, divers men gave it divers names, and almoft innumerable names : forfomedid it on purpofc to* onceale and ob- jure the Art, and iome did it of envie : but in the Cliaptcr conurning the Thilofophers Stone. • 3 7 Chapter of the appearing of divers coloiws in the me- dicine^ there is a defioition of his blacknes : for wher- as the blacknes and the wliitc be extreme colours, and all other colours be meanc colour^^ therefore as often foevcr as any thing of the blacknes doth defccnd 5 fo often another colour and another doth appeare, untill it be an cxtreame whiteneffe : But for delcending,and afcending Hermes faith, it afcends from the Earth up CO Heaven , and defcends againe from the Heaven to the Earth and receiveth the Uiperiour ftrtngth^and the inferiour ftrength. And note, that if there appeare between the black and the white any yellow colour, care not for them^ for they do not continue , nor are permanent , but they are flippery and paffing away ; lor there can be no permanent nor perfed Red, except that go before it. Rofarm faith, no man can come from the firlt to the third, but by the fecond ; for it appea- reth that the white is to be looked for in the fecond, when thai it is the compliment of all the worke , for afterwards it will never be varied into any other true permanent colour but Red. Now we have the white, therefore now it behoo- veth thee to make Red , for the white medicine and the red do not differ between themfelves in any effence, butonely inthispoynt, that the red medicine hath need of a greater fubtiliation, a longer digeftion , and a hotter hrc in his Regiment: And thcref ore foraf- muchastheendof the operation of the white is the beginning of the operation of the Red : andforafmuch as that which is the compliment of the one, is the beginning of the other : therefore unlefs that thou do firft make vvhitc the medicine, thou canft never make F 3 true ^^8 The Bookeof]ohn Sslv/ztq a Monke^ true red. But now how it fhall be made Red , we will tell thee fhorcly. Firft the medicine to the Red muft be put into our moyftfire, untill the white co- lour appearc^asis aforcfaid : afterwards, kc the veflell be drawn out of the fire and put it in a pot of fifred afhes, and warme water haUe full y and let ycnr vcf- fell ofglaflTe with the medicine in the afhes unto the midft 3 and under the earthen pot makr a dry tem- perate fire and continual!, but the heat of this dry fire muft be greater by double at the leaft^ than was the heat of the moyft fire , and by thebc.icfit of this fire the white medicine fhall receive Rc\i tindturej ttuly thou canft not errc if thou wilt continue the drye fire : whereupon Ro{arm faith , with a dry fire, and a dry calcination roft the dry untill that icbe made like Cy- naber. VVhereto from thenceforth put nothing, nei- ther Oykj or vineger, or ary thing whatfoever it be, untill it be rofted to a conipUment of Rcdncs ; and of a truth 5 the mere Redder that the medicine is made, the more ftronger it is, and of more power , and that is more rofted will be more Redder , and that which is moft rofted is moft precious, therefore with a dry fire,burne it without fcare, untill that it be ck fed moft redly : whereupon a Philofopher faith , in continu- ing the Red, feeth the whiteuntill that it be cloathed in purple, and beauty ; but fome have it ; continue the Red and the white untill it be cloathed in purple clcathing : do not ceafe, although the Red do a little flack to appeare, for the fire being augmented , as I fayd before, after white of the firft colours appeareth a n>ean Red when among thcfe colours fhall appeare a yellow, but his colour is not continuing, for after that concerntngtbf Fkilojophers Ston\ ^q that it bcpcrfohorum , be- tween white colour ar J Red, there appeareth only but one colour, ^7^. Citrine, which is vellow , but it variethmoreorleire: alio Maria (siith.^ when thou haft true white, thou then afterwards flialt have a falfe yellow, and afterwards a perfcd Red : And then thou iliait have the glory of the clearenejle of all the World. The fir ft manner of Multiplication of otrr Medicine, ELixir is multiplyed by two manner of wayes -that IS to fay, by lolution of heat , and by folution of drying: by lolution of heat is thus. Take the medi- cine and put it into the veffell of glaffe , and bury it in our moyft fire fevcn dayes or more , untill that the Medicine be diffolved into water without any trou- bloufncfle appearing in it. But the folution of dryino- is that that lliall take the vcflell ofglafTe with the me^ didne, and iiang it inabrafspot ( having a ftraight moucik) m boyling, and let the mouth be clofe, that by the vapour of the Doyling vapour afcending, the medi- cine may be diffolved. And note , that the fame boy^ ling water muft ri€t touch the veffcU of glafle with the medicine,. by the Ipace of three fingers : and this folution is made flrongly in one day, or two, or thrce^ ' After that tiit^ mediv^ine is made and diflfolved , t^ke it from the fire to coole, to fix, to congeale, to harden or dry, and fo let it bee very often diffolved, for the oTtner 40 The Booh of John Sawtrc a Monk^ ofcner it be rcfolvcd y fo much the more pcrfcd it is y whereupon B^neHm faith ^ when that our brafle is tur- ned, aud very of centimes reitterate 3 it is made better then it was before, and fuch a folution is a fubtiliation of the medicine^and his vcrcuous fublimation ; where- upon the oftner it is fublimate or fubtiliatcd, fo much ohner it getteth a greater Virtue, and a greater tin- dture, and coloureth more abundantly , and the more it fhail make perfe6t and convert, and tume the more; whereupon in the fourth folution it fhall get fo much virtue and tindure , that one part fliall be able upon 1000. of Mercury cleanfed, that it fhall convert it in- to Gold or Silver, better then that which is taken out of the Mines of the Earth : Whereupon Rajh fairh, the multiplication of thisgoodneffedependeth whole- ly on the often reitteration of the fublimations. and fixation of the perfeft medicine , for the oftner that the order of this compliment be reitterated, fo much more doth incrcafe the nourifhment thereof, and the vcrtue andftrength thereot is augmented : for the oftner then was wont that thou fhaltfublmiate anddiflolve the perfed medicine, fo much the more oftner thou flialt win and gaine at every time to caft one upon looo, asifat firft itfallupon looo. chcfe- cond time it will convert loooo.the third time it will be caft upon,and convert loocoo.and the fourth time upon loooooo. the fift time upon an infinite : For Merodtu faith, know ye for certainty, that how much the more and oftner our Stone is diffolved , fo much the more is the fpirit and body conjoyncd together, and of this for every time the tindure is multiplyed. The fecond way of multiplication is aoother way ; the . eoHcerning the ^Ththfopheri Stbnel ^| the medicine is multiplyed by fermentation , for the ferment to white is pure Silver, and the firment to red is pure Gold; therefore caft one -part of the medi- cine upon ten parts, or twenty of the firment, and all fuch (hall be medicine ^ and put it upon the fire in a Veffell of GlaflTe, and fhut it well, fo that no ayre may enter nor paffe forth , and let itbediffolvedor fubli- mated fo often as thou wilt; and as thou doeft the firft medicine , and one part of the fecond medicine fhall receive as much as one part of the firft medi- cine. Whereupon Rajis faith , now have we fully made our medicine, hot and cold, dry and moift , e- cjually temperate, whereof whatfocver we doe put to it (hall be of the fame complexion that it is put to ; theretore conjoyne or marry him that he may brincr, forth fruit like unto himfelfe : But yet doenotcon- joyne or marry it w^thany other thing to convert it, but with it that it was in the beginning; whereupon it is written in Speci^luw, this fpirituall earth which is the Elixir,muft be firfVin hisowne body, from whence it was taken at the beginning of his folution, that is to marry his earth, and it being fo redified and purified by hisfoule to conjoyne it by conjunction of his body, from whence it had its beginning; alfo it is fayd in the Bookc called Gemma fdutaru J the white Worke hath need of a white firmentation ; whereby when he is white with his white firmentation,and when he is made red in his red firment , for then that white eahh is firment of firment, for when it is joyned to Luna , all is firment to calt upon Mercury,. and upon every body being unperfed mettleto make it Luna : And with the red thereof muft be joyned Sol ; and G that 4? The Bcde of John Sawtre a Monke^ that is medicine upon Mercury v^ and Luna to make it Sol. Alfo Raps faith, it bchooverh that he be mingled with wite and red quick filvcr of his kindc, and tliat it be contained and krpt that it fly not away • where- fore we bid that quukfilver be mingled with quick- filver 5 untili that one cleare water be made of two quicklilvtrs, a-^d not to make three mixtures untili e* very one of them be diffolved into water j but in their conjun>flion put a little of the Vv orke upon much of the body, as upon foure, and in a certainc time it will be made in the nature of powder , which is of red or whue cUi^ur^and this powder is Elixir compltate. And truely the Elixir mult be ot a limple powder; zXo Egidim (iiih 1025 Stones of folurion, put lolution, ji d LO folution deficcationj and put all to the fire, and kccpe the fume, and take heed that nothing flye from it 5 tarry and dwell nigh the Veffell , and behold atid obferve^the marvellous working, how it (hall be re- moved from colour to colour in lefle then an houre of a day, uncill that it commeth to the markc or prick, or butt of whitcncjOTcor redncflfcjtor it will fooncmelc in the fire, and come all into the Ayrc • for when the fume doth fill the fire, it will enter into the body, and the fpirit will then be pulled together , and the body will then be fixed, cleare white or red : Then divide the fire, fuffering it tocoole, and be cold : For and if oncof'thefe doc tall upon 1000, or Mercury, or any o- ther body, it turaeth itintothebcft Gold or Silver, according as his firment is prepared ; wherefore it doth appcare, that he whodothnotcongealequick- filver that will fuffer the fire , and joyne it to pure Sil- ver, hedtfircth no right way to the vvhite worke ^and j Florianus Raudorfr, CHAP. i^. fvhat is Bijjolution I IS the turning of a dry thing into a wet oite; and yott -* muft know, that dilloiudon bclongcth oncly unto bo- dies, as to 4^6/ and Luna^ which fcrvc for our Art : for a fpirit needs not to^be dilfolvcd, being a liquid thing of it felfe , but mettails are groffe and dry , and of a grofTe nature • therefore they mufl be made more fub- tile 5 the reafons why they muft be fubtillized, CHAT. 15. THc firft isj our medicine muft needs be fubtile, and mettails cannot bee made lubtilc unlefle through diffolution, being reduced into a water , and afccnd through the Alimbeck , to be turned to water and fpirit, as you (hall heare. When it is come to that, that all is afcended, and nothing ftayd behind : and the feces are referved for a further ufe,as you fhal hear hereafter, C H A P. 16. T' He fecond reafon : the body and fpirit muft be ^ made indivitible, and be one • for no grofle thing mingleth with the fpirit, unlcfll^ the groffe matter bee reduced to a fubtilicy , as into Argent vive ; then the one cmbraceth the other infeparaoly. Vor if Argent vive pcrceivcth a thing like to ic fclfe,rhen it rejoyceth, and tlie diffolved body «^ mbraceth the fpirir, and fuffoors him not to fly away , and makcth it durable for the fire, and the fpirit rejoyceth, bc.aufe he hath found his fellow : therefore the cme muft be like the other, and are of one nature^ € U A P. con^rmng the fhihfophers Stanel jj CHAP. 17. OfD/Jjolutionj hojp t$ inaL :t, •^ 7"ir TE E take leave of ^JanJ/.^;?/?, thinly %/ \/ beaten, very pure, which vvc put into a ▼ ▼ good deale ot Mercury, which is made pure alfo: then wc put one ai'tcr the other into Mer- cury, in a pot, ia a heat not too hot, that the Mercury fume not 5 when wee fee that no groffe tjiing is in ir, and is tuelted or ftreameth together,thenyou wrought well : but if there dc any feces, or fettlement, then you muft adv^e more Mercury to it, and doe as you did for- merly : and this is the firft figne of diflblution, that all bee ftieamy. C H ji P. 18. The Prefecution of this Matter, IT ^yr T'E E take all the matter thus difTolved, \/ \/ andfet in Bal/ieoMma j continue the ▼ ▼ fire for a fennight , then let it coole : take the matter, prcflc it through a cloth, or skin ; if all goeth through, then it is well 5 if not, begin againe in the veflcil with mere Mercury , fo long till ic bee diffolved : the dilf iiucion in Summer is better then in Winter , yet it niartcrs not much, C H A P. 1^. CEparation, is a diviuing of a thing into its mem- **^bers, and a fcparacionof the pure from the impure ; we take our dilloivcd ida ttcr, and put it into the fmal- H3 Icr 5^4 tA Treat/fe o/FIorianus Raudorff, ler veffcll^ which ftands in the cucurbite, fcttheA- limbccke upon, well luted , a^nd fet it in a(hes ^ wee make a continued fire for a fennight, one part of the fpirit fublimeth , which wee call the fpirit or water, and is the fubtilert part 5 the other part which is not yet fiibcile, fticketh about the cucurbite, andfome of it is fallen to the bottome, which we call the ayre^and this part we take warme and moyft, and the third part rcmayning in the inner vellcU 5 is yet a grofler matter, which ilayeth in the bottome ^ each ot thefe parts we put .into a vcfTcll apart , but the third matter wee put more Mercury to , and proceed as formerly, and alwayeseach re fervcd apart, and thus you muft proceed : in the inner vcffell nothing rcmayneth but a black powder, which we call the black earth^which is the dregs of the mettalls, which arc anobftrudlion, why mettalls cannot bee united with the fpirit ^ this powder is of no ufe. S H ^ P. 20. Allegation ^ or proofe. Y O U may, whereas you have feparated the fowrc ^ Elements, from the mettalls, or divided them,and what is the fire then , which is one of the fowre Ele- ments alio ? C H j4 P. 21. A Nfwcr: Vv'efay, that fire and ayre is of one na- ^^ture, which are come open together, and mixed together J and the one is turned to the other : but it were hard to beundcrftood^ if you fhould not bee in- flru(fted. coKctrningthe Philofopkrs Sione. 21 ftruaed that the dividing of the Elements is brought fo"hat7that they have their naturall operation, as in ,he whole, fo in the p^rts.^^ ... ^ )i 7E E call that ayrc , which reniayned in the VVbigger veffell,becaufe it is more hot then moift, u or dS the fame you muft underftand alfo of the '1 ' Flcmms if they be not fought in particular, ^li^^^^nTor^operly b'ee underftood , but are U-it '^ Hence p/.fo faith,we turned the raoyft into a ficcjty, anSdrythingwemademoyft, and turned thebo- dyintowaterandairc.^^_^^_ ir T V 7 E E fay, that fublimation is arifing from be- V Vl3wupward,as wee fee the vapors which fall on the g ound^and in the water , are exhaled againe Z the ieat of the fun, and the groffe matter liethftiU he ow as wee have fayd at the changing of the Ele- ven I- tSe matter muft be fubtiliated, which iv Sbtle enough , all which muft bee doae through reatantmScs,'namcly chrough fire and water. C U AV. 24- pnfecuuofi of the m^iW' KNOW that we muft take. the thing, which remai- ?Tn -he greater veffcU, and put the fame to other ftemSr^^^^^^^^^ Sm ttnwc fe t ir^Bdneum M.rU for three dais, ^formeri -Lwemeationnotth. quantity of 1^^^^^ fS A Treatffe of Floriaiius Raudorff, citry, only vvc leave it to your difcretion , as much as you have need, that you may make it iuntU ^ and it be cleare like a fpirir : and note, that you take not too ni^ch ot the Mercury, that it be not a lea : then we fee itagaine mtofubliming, as you did formerly , dot it fo often, till you have brought it all through the A- limbccke, then it is very fubriie, and one thing, cleare, pure, and fufible : then we put it againe into the inner veflTcll, and let it goeoncc more through the Alim- beck, and fee whether any ihing be left behind, to the fame more Mercury mulf be added, till it become all one thing, and yeelds no more fedimcnt, and be fepa- rated from all its impurity and luperfluity^. CHAP. 25. Declaration. I Tell yoU; that we have tnade out of two, viz, of bo- dy and fpirit, oneonely thing, as a fpirit , which is light, and the body is heavy, the fpirit quickly and eafily flyeth upwards -y but our worke is, that the bo- dy, which was fixed is now become volatile, and rifeth upward, the which is againft his nature: Thus wee have made a fpirit out of the body , and a body out of the fpirit, one onely thing. C H A r. 'i'6. Offixationy a»dCengedation. HAving made a fpirit out of the body , which is a tkune voiadle : now is it rcquifite to be made fix, holding comeYning the Philofophers Stonf. 5.^ * holding in the fire : for wc turned the fpirie into a body5^7■;^;. we turned the dry into a moyftnefs, and the moyftnefs. into a drynefs : now we muft make it a thing fix'd : and againe to turne the fpirit into a body, and that which formerly rofe up, to ftay below : and thus have we done according to the fayings of Philofo^ phers, reducing each Element into its contrary , then you will finde what you feek after : namely,make the liquid thing dry, and the dry thing to be liquid, out of a hx a volatile", and the volatile to bee fix : and this can be done only through Congelation • therefore we will turne the fpirit into a body. i CHAP. 27. Coagulation^ and Fixation. HOw is it done? we take a little of the ferment, which is madeof our mcdicince, be it either Luna 'or ^0/; and take but alittlc: as if you have ibo ib, of the medicine, take but 10 It. of the ferment, which muft be foliated 5 and this ferment weamaigamizc with the matter which you had before prepared, the fame we put intoa glaflc VioU with a long neck , and fct it in a pot of afhes : all which being^ fee in the fit place : then to the above faid ferment 2 or 3 fi«gcrSj of the fpirit, which is gone through the Alimbeck, then wee put a goodfire to it for three dayes, then the diffolved body'findeth its like, then they embrace one another, each keepcth to its like : then the groffr ferment hol- dechwith the fubtile ferment 5 actradtcth the fame, will not let it ^oe , and the diffolved bodv ^ which is i now 5* A Tr^tfff (?/Florianus R audorff, now lubtile, kecpcth tlie.fpirit 5. fqr.tbey ate of an e- quall lubtilty 5^ like qnc to anot;her ^ are become one •thing^and the fire never may fep^iratc them- thcrfore is it requiiite through this nicans to make the one like the other, and thus the firmenc , a biding place of the lubtilebody, and the iubtile body a ftaying place for the fpirit, chat it naay not flye away : then^we make fire for a lennight, more or lef), yet fo long till we fct: that our matter is congealed. iHe time of this conge- lation is eiiher prolonged orihortened , according to the ve [felis or Ovens condition, and of the fires cither continuance, or difcontinuing. CHAP. 28. A further freceeding in this matter. ^MT TT V" y Hen you fee that this matter is coagu- %/ \/ Jated , . then put of the abovefayd mat- T ▼ ter fo much to it^tiiat it be two or three fingers high over ir, as you know how it muft bcdone, and put the fire to it as ycu did formerly, till it bee congealed alfo , and proceed fo long in'it till all the matter be congealed. And know that Philofophers for the generallity have concealed the Congelation in their bookstand none of them (as far as we can findcj have difcloledit,onlyLtfr/W/x, who hath compofed it into many Chapters, and produced it in the German tongue, without any alteration , which he revealed, uato me without any rcfcrvation or deceit, Chaf.. cmceming the Thihfoj^hers Skne^, 5^ CHA?. 19. Calcination. rjl Aving treated of Congealationjand Fixation, now ■*^ vvc come to the Calcination. We rake the known matter, ana puc it inco an Urinall, and fet a head upon it, luting it well , fet it in the Ovenof afhcs, make a continued great fire for a fennighr, then that which is not fix rift th into che Alimbcck , which wee call Humes his bird , and that which remaincs in the hot- tome of che glalTe^ is like afhes,or fifted earth, called the Philofophers Earth , out of which they make their foundation , and out of it they make their increafe or augmentation , through heat and moyft- nefs: this earth is compofcd of foure Elements , but arc not contrary one to another, for their contrariety is changed or reduced to an agreement unto an uni- forme nature : then we take the moyft part , rcfervc it apart to a further ufc, which afterward muft be put to k^ as you {hall heare. We take this earth or afhes, which is a very fixed thing, and put it into a ftrong earthen pot,unto which wc lute its lidjand fet it in a calcining Oven, that the fire may beat on it above and below, and that fire wc continue for three daycs, (9 that the pot is al waves red hot, we make of a iVonc a white calx, and the things which are of water and carth-nature,are of fire's nature^ for every calx is of a fires nature, which is hot and dry. I^ Chap. S^ A Treatifc ef Florianus RaudorflF, CHAP. Q^o. Suhtiliation of the four e Element Shinto the fifth efjence. ^ "^"^ "T^EE have fpoken of Calcination ^ in, \/ \/ which we have brought things to the ▼ T highcftfubtility, namely, to hre's na- ture : now we muft further fubtiliate the foure Ele- ments : we take a little quantity of this Calx^X//^. if we have loo pounds, we keep no more than the fourrh part, the other we fet into diflblution , with a good deale of frefh mercury, even as we had done formerly, and fo follow from Chapter to Chapter- from time to time, as formerly hath been proceeded in, C H A F II. changing Fire i/ft$ water. I^Ow my deareft, that you may change the fix into •**^a volatile thing, that is Fire into Water • know that that which was of fire's nature , is now become the nature of water, and that which was fix is now become volatile, and being made very fubtile ^ then we take i. p. of this water , and put it to the referved Calx, and we addeasmuch of the water unto, that it go over It two or three fingers breadth over the Calx, then we put fire under for three daycs long , thus it congealech fooner than at firft • for Calx is hot and dry, and fucks in the humidity greedily ; this Conge- lation muft be continued till it be quite congealed : afterward concerning the Thilofophers Stone. 6^ afterward wc calcine it as formerly j being quite cal- cined 3 it is called the quinteCTence ^ bccaufe it is of a more fubtile nature than Fire^and becaufe of the tranf- muration formerly made.- CHAT. 12. The "Thilofophers ExAmfles, Ah L this being done^ then our medicine is finifh'd, and nothifig but the ingreffion is wanting , that the matter may have an ingreffe into imperfed met- talis. Tlate^ and many other Philofophers , begun this workeagaine with dilfolving^fubliming , orTubtilia- tingj congealing5calcining5as at firft, and that medicine which wc call a ferment, tranfmutes Mercury into its nature, in which it is diffplvcd and fublimed ; Philo- phers fay , our medicine tranfmutes infinitely imper- kSt raettals ^ and fay that he which attainetn once to theperfeftionofit, hath no more need of it , to make any more; but they fpeakeit myftically in their ex- preflions, a HAT. 33. How our medicine tranfmuteth ntettatis into. 5ol and Luna. TZ" Nowing that our medicine converteth imperfeft^ ^•^mettalls into Sol and Luna^ according to the nature and forme of the matter , out of which it is made 5 I 3 therefore 6a e/^ Treatffe o/Florianus RMdortf, therefore know, that wee now ac fecondtime fay^ that this oijr medicine is of chat nature , tliat it tranf- mutcth, converts, dividethai'u'idci like ^re, and is of a more fubtilc nature than fire, for it is of a na urc of the quinteflences, as we (ayd before , therefore it converts Mercury into its nature ,, feeing our mcuicinc is of a converting nature, as our body converts M'. rcury into its nature, whicli is an impcrfcd body or m^ itail, and the groffenelle of mettall it turneth into afhes or pow- der; therefore our medicine is of a dividing 5 fep^a- ting nature, as you fee firc^ doth not turn aU the world into its nature, but only that which is ot its nature,and the reft it turneth to afhes. C H ui P, 34. Reafon vphy a Spine is made $fa Sody^ T )\ 7E E fliewed by reall reafon , how a body is ^ ^ turned ince a fpirit , and againe a fpirit is tur- ned into a body, liz. out ofa fixed this is made a vo- latile, and of a volatile a fixed thing ^ the earth is tur- ned to water and aire, and the aire into fire , and the fire to an earth, the earth into a fire, and the fire is tur- ned to aire, and the aire is turned into water , and the water is become an earth. Now the earth which was of fire's nature, is brought to the nature of quinteflfence. Thus we have fpokcn of all the waycs of tranfmuting, performed through heat and moyftneffe, and have made out ot dry, a moyft thing , and out of the moyft a dry one ; otherwifc natures , which are ot fevcrall motionsjand of feverall manfions,could not be brought to concerning the fliilofophers Stone, i^ X.0 one unifcrmc thing, if one ihouldbee turned in th# others narure. CHAT. 35. Accomplishment of Thllofofhers fayings^ WE E having brought the matter to the above- fayd points, then have we done, and wrought according to the Philofophers layings, when they lay in their Books : Riling fro n the Earth into Heaven, and comming downe from Heaven into the Earth ; to that fenfe, to make the body which is of earth, into a fpirit, which is a ikbcile thing in his nature,and then to reduce the fpirit into a boJy , which is a groflfe low thing , changing one Element into another, as earth into water, wacer into ay re, ayrcmto fire; cncn fire is turned into water, and water into fire, and thag into a more fubtile nature and quintcffcnce. Having thus done, then are you come to the glory of the world ; be dutifuU to God, remember the poorc. CHAP. 16, lugreffien. TAkequicke Sulphur, melcitin an earthen veflTdl, well glazed,being melted, powr it forth into a Lie made of CaU vive, and willow afhes : let all ttiefe boyle in a kettle genciy, an oylefwimmeth on the top, which take and keepe, having enough of it, we min- gle it with land y ditlili it through ttie Alimjeck, fo long till it become incombuilible : with this oylc wee imbioe our meuiciiie, which will bee like foap , then wec^ diilill by the Aumjeck , and receive the fumes which 46 A Treatffe of Florianus Raudorff, which come over, and put it on againe three or four^ times , if it hath not enough , then put more of this Oylc to it 5 being thus imbibed , then put fire under, that the humors maycomeaway, and the medicine be firme and fufible on the body of the glaile. Then vvc take Avis Hermetis , which we rcferv'd formerly, and put it to it by degrees, till all be made fix. CHAP. 37. LamDfo. A Ccording to Avicen^ it is impolTible to convert -^ mettals, unlefTe they be reduced to their firft mat- ter. But by Arts help they are converted into other mettall : we know, that Artifts do like Phyfitians, purging firft the corrupted matter, which is obftruftivc to mans health, then Cordials are miniftred , which reftore health : fo good Artifts muft proceed in like manner by converting of mettals : firft Mercury and Sulphur in metals are purged,whereby they ftrengthen the heavenly elem^'ntall parts in them , according to their dcfircd preparation of metals : then nature vvor- keth further and not Art, but inftruraentally helpeth, and then is feen that ilie really maketh Sol and Lu/ia. For as the heavenly elementall vermes workein nam- rall veirels,evcn fo do the Artificial), being made uni- forme, and as nature worketh through the heat of fire and ftars, the fame Art effedeth by fire, if tempe- rate and not exccflive , for themoving yertue in the matter ; for the heavenly vertue in it, mingled at firft, inchnable to this or that, is furthered by' Art j hea- venly emetrning the Fhilefophers StmK > 6 s vcnly vermes ar^'ieommunkativet©- their fubjeAs 3 as is feen in naturall created things, chiefly in things ge- nerated by putrcfaftion, where the allrall influences are apparent, according to the matters , capacity, Ar- tifts do imitate herein , dcft^ying one forme to beget another 5 and his proceedings are bcft^'when they arc according unto nature : as by purging the Sulphur by digefting, fubliming, and purging Mercury vive, by an cxaft mixture with-the aiettals ftiatter, ^nd thus out of their vettues every mettak forme is t)roduced^ . ThevertueoFthe converting Element muiVfce pre- dominant, and the parts of it muft appeare in the EIc- nient converted : and being thus mingled with the Eh lemcntated thing , then that Element will:have thif Hi^tte'r; which £^e hanElenicm:, andhath^thciv^r- nt^^olF'th^ otiiet vert Elcmcftt.^ Thi^ is ihat gr^j^t myftery in this Art. • 7. L. :...>:>> ^ virj..':> -^r --n cv- I iAn,'^:ii6\il:i;'l :; , ril^e^names of the^philofofhers Stone ^ CeUeBediy n ^ Old, Sol, Sun,Braffe of PhrIofophers,the body of MaghejSa, a pure body, clean, ferment^of EHxir, MafcAiline, Argcaat vive 'fixt. Sulphur i^omb^ffible, iul- JP*^"^ red, fixed, ;th€ riibine ftone, ky- iT ir V''^^ ^^'^^ ^'man,^rt'cn€ vitriol], burnt braifle, red'cirth: the water that is diftilledfrom K thefc thtfc^>ingS3! is Mmcd <2^ th^ Ph^le^^^r^fjfie x^xk. of the Dcagon, a |>uj;e wiii4 ^^yf% )U^j %h^^^^^ the houiis, the afternoone ligh^ virgins mil kc , fal armo- nukk, fal nitct?3,fh^ wind ot.ilie^ftliya whitef^mejred water of fulfthuf^ t^tm> fft^p}^j,,Yva;rcr^ jiic whitq compoundyftttikingrwflkry^ith^JilfW t^c dead bloud, Argcnc vive, a -Gucurbitc with his Alimbeck, tl'iev£(iyi<)fi;cbt PhiloCopMecs J a high man with a ' S^Ucr^ thcbdl^iofAman inihc^midft ^ hvs ii;,^if ,c:nd it is caUcd.ti^ fobt^rQrtte^ 0f >Qi} tl>^ yvd^Idi Tecr, or earth is calcined^ Toftedj. conge^lcd^ diftillcd> or made ftill and quiet : the {haddow of the Sun, a dead tody, a:ctowniG Qvierconming a .doud, t;he bark jof the SeayMiagnefia, ;Hiick :,' aPragon .which eatpth iiisrayit,;ithc dregsio&the belly ^^^jjjrth fo^iidon the diinghiH putirified , or in hotfejujig, or info^'firc^ Sulphur, Mercury, fcc©ndly injiujrnber, and one in elfencc, name,in name, a ftonc, body,fpiTit,and foule ; it is called earth , fire , aire, all things , becaufe he containes in him foui;p.Rlcm^nt5 5 it is called a manor beaft, that hath foule, life, body, and fpirit , and yet fome Philofophers do not thinke the matter to have a foule^ : . But as it is,a fton^^, iris dOalledtbe ^yarer of Sulphur, thcwaterof the world, thcfpittleofLunc, thcfhad- dow of the Sun^adcune^ Sol,Ekph3^> white Jayrc^ eyes of filhes^ Beyi^, Sulphur^ vine (harpe , water, .milkt5yinegjcrjQ£'Jiff>:,|eacr$,JpymngAvatc light of lights, aimnrfrelous Father, Father of Minc- r2s,a fruitfuUitrecv^livingipirit , a fugitive fervanr, certore of the earth J venopic >. roofl ftrong vinegrr, wfaicegumme^cjv^tlafting water, a woman, a fcmi- nuie T' conrerTnngtheThilofophers Stom. 4j iinr, a thing of vile price, Azot, menftruous, firazilj, in nature Azor, wa ter, the firft tnatter, the beginning of the world ; and mark this 5: that Argent vive^ Mer- cury, Azor, the full moone^ Hypoftafis, white lead, or red^ do all of them fignifie but one thing , our ftone, our braflfe, our water. Iron, Silver^ Lime, whiteneffc^ Jupiter, Vermilion white, after divert times and de- grees of opera tion. And note , that the Philoibpbers waftiing is to bring againe the whole foule into his body, wherefore you ihay not'undefftand thereby , the common white waftiing is convenient to be done with fineger ^ and ' fait, and fuch like* . , . VI' :' . Alfo note;^ that when blacknefs doth appeare, tfieri it rj called difpenfation of the n^in and; woman be- tween them , ind that the body hath gotten a fpirir^ which i^ the tears of the vcrtMCs of the foulc upon'the body, and the body doth revive the adion of thcfoulc and fpirit, and is made an Eagie and the meane ofna- itures. ■'"' t'^^^^^ --Xirhirr ,v^/^rr^ ^ .. ■' - And nbte, that white earth, white Sulphur , white fiime, Auripigmentum Magnefia, acdEthell^ do fig- nifie ail one thing. ^ Alfo the ftone is called Chaos, a Dragon,a Serpent, a Toad^ the green Lion, the jquinteffence ^^ -our fton^ Lunarc, Camelion , molt vild black >Jblacker tba-a black , Virgins milke, radicall humidity j undiuons moyfturc, liquor, feminall,Salarmoniack , our Sul- phur, Naptha,afoule,aBarrfisk, Adder, SecunJine, Bloud, Spearne, Mctteline, haire, urine, poyfon, wa- ter of wifettien, ntincrall Watcr,^^ Anthnpny^ (linking menftrues, Leadof Philofophcrs, Sal, Mercury , our K % Gold, I it A Treatife 'cf Florianus Raudprff, Gold, Lune; a fcird, our ghoft y dm ^alt ^ Alome, of Spaine, attramc^ntjdew.ot hcfivcnlyig^race, the,fHn)^ing fpirit, Boraix, Mercury corpordll, wine, dry watcr,^ wa- ter mctelline, an Egge,old water, perminent. Hemes bird, the leffc world, Campher, wateroflife, Auri- pigment, abodytynaper, andalmoft with other infi- nite names^^f pleafure*: * The Secret of Secrets^ And Stone of Philofophen. F thou d^efireft ' to bee lb lucky , 4^ that^hou maycfl obtaine the ^ bleflSng offPhilolc^hers, as God doth live for ever, fo let this verity live >yith thee. The Philofophersdo very properly fay, ittarrieth in the (hell,and containeth in himfclf e both white and red, the one k called maiculiney the pther feminine, Animall, Vegetable, and Minerall; there is no fucti o- ther thing found in this world , that hath both power aftive, and paflivc in it , and alfo hath within him a fubftance, dead, and quick, fpirit and foule, which tp the ignorant^ the Philofophers do call it the moft vile thing, it holdcth in him the foure Elements y contai- ned m his skirts where he is found, and commonly of all men, it may be bought for a fmall price, it doth aP trend by it felfe, he waxeth black , he dcfcendeth'an4 yaxeth white^ increafeth and dccreafeth by hiipfelfe^ It is a matter* which the earth bringeth forth ^ and defcends from heaven, waxeth pale and red, is born, is dead,rifeth againe, and after liy^th for ever : by ma- ny wayes it tomes to his end, but his proper d(pcoftion is npori a fire, foft, meane, ftrong, it is augmented un- ull they be fure it rcfteth quietly with y cd in the fire j this ioncerning the ^hitof@pher$ Stone^ e^ this is according to the vow of all gpod Philofophcrs^. (called the Philofophcrs Stone) read and read agaioe^ and every thing more cleaire thou fhalt never find, and.* if hereby thou underftandelt not the roattcr, tnoa (halt never othcrwifc know it, ©r learnc this Art, Hermes faith, the Dragon is not dead , but with his Brother, and his fifler, not by one, but by both toge- ther : note thefe things, three heads and one body, one nature, and one Minerall • and this is fufficient for them which have any aptneffe of underflanding in this Science : the Dragon is not mortified nor'made flxcd^ but with 5^(?/and Luna^ and by none ether, as faith Hor- tuUrm by mountaines in bodies, in the plaine of Mer- cury, and in thefe looke for it^ and this water is crea- ted, and by concourfe of thefe two^ is c^c^d water per- manent of Philofophcrs. .. ./ V. . / '• ' • Our fublimationis to fecth the bodies with golden water, todiffolvc, to liquefie, and to fublime them j, Our calcination is toputrifie and digcftby foure days,, and to do no other wayes, wherefore many be decei- ved in fublimation. Thou mayeflknow that braflc which is the Philo- fophcrs Gold, is their Gold, and that is true, but thou haft fearched forgreenneffe , thinking that braffe is a Leprous body , which he hath for his greenncffe,, wherefore I fay unto thee, that all that Is perfeftin bralfe, is that greenneffe only that is in him, becaufe that thatgreennelGfe (by ourmaftry) is turned Shortly into gold, and of this thing we have experience, andif thou wilt prove it we will.givc thee a rule. Take therefore burnt braffe, and perfew^ly rubifiedj^ And breaks and imboyle him with drinke feavea K 3 times, ^o tA Treiitife /Florianus Raudorff, times, as much as he is able to drinkc in all the waye$, ©f rubifying and roafting him againe,aftcTward make him to' diicend , and his grecne colour will be made red, as clcare graynes ^ and thou mayft know thatfo much fednefs vvil dcfcend with himythac it wil cinckt,i Argent Vive in (bnie p^rc with tha vcty colour of gold, and all this we approvcd,fojr it doth workc very grea^ operations ; yet thou canft not prepare the Stone by any meancs with any drinkc grecne and moift, which isfeenc to be borne Ih ottr Miiicrals^ O blcffcd grcat^ ncflb ! which doth irtgender all things^ whereby thou mayft be informed that no vegetable or fruit in bud- ding will appeare ^ except there be a greene colour ^ wherefore Philofophe'ts call it their bud, and likcwifc^ they call it the water of purifying or putrifaftlOn^ ahd, they fay the truth heerin 5 for with hi^ water he is pu- rified &waihed from his blackncfs, and made white, and afterwards he is lo made red, whereby thou mayft learne to know that no true tindure is made, but ot our braffe ; feeth him therefore with his foule j till the fpirit be joyncd with his body, and be made one, and thou fhalt have thy defire. Wife men have fpoken of this in many names, but know thou right well, that it is DUt one matter which doth fticke unto Argent vivc, and to bodies,and thou (halt have the true fignes •, yet left thou ftiouldeft be deceived hcerebv thou mayft know what Argent vive is to ftick unto : Argent vive doth ftick to the bodies, which is falfc 5 for they think chat they do underftand that Chapter of (>£^4r, of Ar- gent vive, wherein he faith^ when in fearching in o- tner things, he doth not find by our invention any mat- ter to be more agreeable unto nature then Argent vive of €Q»cemingthc Philofophers Sto^^\ 71 of the bbdks 5 for th.i$ place i$ CObje uri4crftood of Hr^nt vive Pi^ilofophicallj for that Argci^t vivc only ftickech and tarriech in , and with the bodies : and the old Philofophers could find no other matter , nor can thofc which be Philofophers now invent any other matter which will abide with the bodies, but Argent vivc of the Philofophers • for common Argent vive doth not ftick to the bodies, but the bodies do ftick to that Argent vive, and this is ccrtainc by experience; For if the Argent vive common bejoyned with any bo- dies, th« Argent vive abides in his proper nature , or flies away , and doth not turhc the body into his pro- per nature, and therefore he doth not cleave unto the bodiesjand for this caufe many be deceived in working in common Argeot vive, fof our Stone, that is to fay. Argent vivc accidemaU which doth advance hi«U"elfe far above Gold, and ^oth overcome it , a ijd he ihtk kiil,andhe doth quicken 5 for thou muft know that Argent vivc, father of all marvellous things of this our mallcry is congealed, and is both fpirit and body ; and this is that Argent vive which Gfhrdid fpcake of^ the confideration of a very matter which doch make per- fed^ is the confideration of a chofen pure fubftance of Argent vive, but chiefly out of whom the fubftance of Argent vive may be drawne out is to be inquired of : and we making anfwcr do fay, that in them in whom itib,out of c hem it miy be drawne^ therctorc Sonne, confidcr w:l!, and f^e tforp -Ajhejicc that fubftance is, and take that and i^onc other : if thou defire to come to know!c Jge I fay unto thee , for love of Chrifl that- by no other means wc canitfindc ; now the Philofo- phers never might findeany othermattcr that would continue: 7i A Treattfe 0/ Floriatius Raudotffi continue in the fire, but that only whiqh is unftuous^ perfed, and ineotnbuftible, and that naatter , when, it is orcpaf ed as it Gught , will turiie all bodes Miner all wnich it touchcth tightly unco mc^ pcrfcd Sol com- pleat and above all bodies Lune. Seeth firft with wind, and afterwards without Winde , until! thou haft drawne out of thy fubjeft pr matter the venomc (which is called the foulc j ) that 16 it which thou fcekcft , called the everlafting aquor vita for alldifeafes , the whole maftery ijs in the ya-, ipou jdvicev. Let the body be put in a fire kindled for forty dayes by elenaentall neat j then in that decoftion of forty dayes, the body will rejoycc with the foulc , and the foulc will rejoyce with tne body and fpirit, and the (pirit will rejoyce with the body and foule , and thfey arc made immortall and pcrpctuaU ^without fepara- tion. F I N I S. ^^/'^7^