.r '■5> . / ^' <»♦* X th THE LAST vVI LL AND TESTAMENT OF Bafif Valentine, Monke of the Order of St. B E N N E T, which being alone, He- bid under a Tab^c of Marble, behifid the Hi^h-AItar of the Cathtdral Ghurch, in the Im- perial Gity of Erford: leaving it thereto be found by liiai, whom Gods Providence fhould make worthy of it. To which is added The Firfl declaring his Manual Operations* ■ The. Second (hewing things Natural and SttJcrna^ "tural. Neve? before Publiihed in EngUfi» LONVCfN, " Printed hyS.G.nnd B,gAot Edirard Brer^fleri and ate to be fold cU the fign of the Cra/zc ' To the Readen IF wc TcRcdt on former Agcs,and confider hoV few there were of fucli that employed them* CcWcs in the fcruciny of the fccret Arcamtms > of Nature^ and how deftitute the Philuro* phers of thofe times were of thofe hcipes and ad-^ Vintages that conduce to the right undcrftanding of fnch Mi fieri es which we enjoy. ThiiHermcs the Prince of Philofophers Icemed to be alone,and the only Invciitoiir of this moil excellent Art. Crvmerui tht Abbot, and our Country-man, after thirty years lludy, and cxpenlive pradife and la- bour, was compelled to feek in Italy far a Mailer^ Flamell the Lnmian did partake of the fame hard Fortune, togctlier with many other of the Anci- ents. Our Author B.ifilm confelTeth that he (hould never have attained unto the knowledge of this Art, if by Gods fpecial grace Ibme Books of the Ancient Maftcrs had not come into his hands; Have we not then caufc to blels God that we are in fuch an Age, and in fuch a Nation al fo wherein we nnay convcrfe with many, both Ancient and Modern Philoibph.rs, fuch vvhote works do fpeak them to be Servants to the Molt High, beloved of him, and acquainted with the moltoctult and fe- tret Myjicrkf atid Arcanumsdi Nutur'e^ that hav- ing toiled and fpent much ot their precious time in frturlefs labours, to prevent the like in their (iicceflb'.ir^s \u\x diicovued, and i$ it- wcxq chalk- A 2 «* To the Readerl cd out the'way ( fo far as was lawful for them tc ^o ) how the Ingenious may attain to the tru under ftanding of this Noble Art : Such is our B t/z/i;rf, who from his infancy was dedicated to the fervice of God ? .and did fo well improve thofe fpi ritual aiid natural Talents he was entruii- ed withal, that there was not any thing he at^ tempted the knowledge of, that was concealed f;om him. Of fo charitable and liberal a fpirit was he of, that he became ufeful and helpful ^ liis Brethren, not cnly in curing their Maladies, but intruding them in the knowleigeof Natures fecrets ; Alfo he could not go to his eternal reft in peace, unlcfs he imparted unto polkrity the means and wayes how he attained unto lo great Mifteries. Wllich Mifierics, and the feveral pro- ceftes and ways of Operation you will hnd in this llibfcquent Trcatife, being the moft principal, ex- cellent, and plain of all his works ^ and I may juftly fay, of all the Books that are extant on this ILbje^. It is one of the grcateii unhappinclles that doth accompany Mankind, that there isfuch zBaheil ot Languages, that every Language is not undcrliood in every place, this alone prevents the difcovery and growth of many profound Mi'- rteries,'how ignorant were our predecelfors of the work* of Bafillui^ becaufe they were wr^pt up for the moft part in the German Language, very little thereof being in Latiuc^ until ot late years this part was^one into Englijh-, as it is prefumed i by one that uiflerftood not the terms of the^rf, by the many grofsmiliakes committed, as the ren- dring Vitrum Antimonii-, the Vitr^sl of Antimony^ andmany other, fothat out of the Love I heart the Author, .;.n4 to the piopagaung io ingeniou 1 4) the RcadcrJ 5!*7Qn(l true an Art and Science, I have Correded , ^ great part ot' the fbrmerTranllation, and d^ novo Tranilatcd the reft, that was fo impcrfedly done that it would not admit of amendment, more is alfu added unto it, that was not in the tormcr, the meannelTe and plainnefsof theftile, pleadeth for it felt, that the fubjedl is Left undcrllood in that drefs, and that the Author did aftcd it, be- ing pleantifully endowed with that grace of hu- mility, aftedrlng things more than words, as ap- pears throughout his writings. Read him dili- , gently and often, for the ofner you read him, the plainer doth his works appear, it being ufual with the beft of Authors in this Art, to difcover the ie- cret Arcanum f moli plainly, yet £o dirperfcdly,and . in fo confufed a Method, that the envious and un- ' worthy (hall never be able to reduce them into their due order> therefore often reiterate the read- ing of this Book, and compare his iayings with tlie fayiilgs of other Philofophers, and if thou art adcptcd unto this ficrcd Science^ thou wilt moii . ealily apprehend the Manual Operation there- of, I need fay no more concerning oiir Author^ if you read his works, they will fufficiently tclti/ie his worth. I heartily wilh every one of you, if adepted thereunto, as much contentment and plea- ' fure in the reading and operating the fcveral . works herein mentioned and difcovcr^d by our Author^ as himfclf had in the vyriiing and expe- rimenting them. And that your labours and ex- pences may be crowned with equal fuccefs, fo that you as devoutly and hunibly undertake the flnter- prlfe, as he did, and make fo good an vife of what Divine Providence (hall permit you to partake'©!, ■• as ci^ Author did. Which that your number To the Rcaaer. may incrcsrfc to the improvement of tnic K.no^«. ledge and Philofophy, to the advancement ot the Medicinal Science, for the health of Mankind,and to the multiplying of riches in your hand, or in the hands of fuch that may be helpful to the poor and needy, is the daily prayer cf, J.W. TRI; THE P R E F ^A IC E AND; E N T R A N q.„£ U N TO B A S 1 L I U S VaLENTINUS) ? Hiskft" TESTAKiEHt* W HcftJS thu time U , cSie^that by the go^d ^ pleafure df' Alrnighty Gb'd my Creator^ and his dearly beloved Son Jefus Chriii , m^ Labnratfjryin ibis Qorrupihle JVortd draiveth to ^an ind-t and am to' approach from this earthly hahora- toty u?tt3 the heavenly^ and atn creeping daily and hourly nearer to the end^ and am to cl)/e accords ing to the appjvited time of my dear Sjviojtr^ aiming it the true Manna , or heavenly fud (f Etcrnat '^lifit fighing c mtinnally after the enjoying of fitch icbc^ 5 which bjve\i fnlmfs o^ x^^rlajiing fys i ThePrcfcKc. I th liigU tt wy duty in corifcicHce^ to he reconciled if^ ( ^jiiChtijirmwiyHo my fiUovp Mcmhe>'Sihjt arc aliv^ I a t thd "_ frcferit , andnith thofc^ whlcy ^re in fUcccedm | finitn agcs^-fothat my Soul may he at rc% patiently naiting for the Lords call-^ And to become anlinhahi" , taut of that heavenly taradife^ and to be matricu- tl^cd info the book^ of lifc^ and ftand in re^dinefs day 'tthd nightto look^fir my Lords comings At the conr- fideratim hereof I call to miud my rsrritings^ rchich I fct dorian to paper-, as otha' ancient Fhilofiphers have dnnehefaremi^ pnhlif^nngall fuch myli cries of na-' ii&e-t rvh^rcby jrtlflsy, and fuch thft bear an affe- m^n and^ love unto frich mylHcal truths may be bene- fited^ arid the fame I lovingly and readily leave to them^ as much as the highfji Spagyrick^-) arid heaven^ ly Fhyfician hath granted and revealed unto me > hlytonfcience fitrthtrhiith pycffedmt^intbe purfu- an c of a ChrijiJan live^ and performance cf my pro- piife^di^ated by nature^ to mike a larger relation^ be- ceaufe it is a thing mett and necejjary to fct forth the l^anu.ilf which arebtloivzin^ hexe^XQito^ aud ought to he 'idefcribcd eifcntjlantially^ to 'inform the judge- • vteiit of fuch men addi&ed hereunto to the full-, nanic- iyhi}r:> natures bolts ^ rvhichfhe feieral i^ays thrujied juTiifard^ to losk^ ftrongly her fecrets^are to he thrujhd hac\ i ; ^^^^^ ^^-'^ ^^o>'J" of worldly "freifurcs might be Hnl'CK^-i thai the k^ioivlcdge of tranfctndent myficries rj.zyte attained unto & upon ferious continued pray- pi^^mto the Creat.r^mens' judgement and under jiand- in^jn'c'hi ib ' more he eg^d on* . I .;r> i^?Kp-Hi upon either by foroe or indigency^, nor ■ / 3 .; "-:in^^.!x:y^r felf-^nd t'>jet djtvn any letter^ and {^ ji'.ft'c./f tj ;■ [ikrity \ onty a meer confideration of 4^CJ>W-i^ty -^*^d cf the iiiifrablcne^ of tlU ivsrld^vi^hcre i^cXihildren of darknejl ure alrmfi .n', hfthrmfedmetddAfi'' I amn^i able to exprc'fi hich intend to he reaJydnd confcionable in their Me-- dieamentSy 'may aid and cure their opprejfcd fcllotp Chrifiians-^ and to fcarch and inquire into fuch things^ which God for fuch purpofes hath ordained-^ and iru'^ flantedthem into nature. 'this prefcnt buok^ of mine dcfcrves to be called [A bght unto djr\ncfs\ fir other things^ which in my former n>ritings I have difimrfcd of by tray of para^ hlesy Ti?hich ftile I made ufe of the rather ^ becaufe it if f roper to Philifophers^ are declared in this my laji in" formation-i where Ideal in plain and clear jvordsy dffcribingy and naming tU matter openly^ Jhemng ithe preparations from the beginning-^to the middle and ind-i demon\irating-,and fating befire the eyes of men the matter in general and particular, C';^^w/z>^, and.. jufiifying the truth thereof ^ and making a dlfiin&ion hetv^ixt tbegrmnd and no ground^ in fo plain termSy\ that the very Children miy undcrfiand-^ and feci i^ wpith their hands^And becaufe this beok^ajfii^dctk ano-t The Preface. fher h^owlcdge-i diffmtjg from others of my nnriiwf^ trhcrein I have not vpritUn fi ohfcurcly^ normtde I ^fi (^ffttchfuhtihies^ai the a>icmtts did^rrho lived he- fore mc and ended their djys happily^ therefore dnth it require another place aJJi to be laid up in^ and kept fecret from the perverfnefs of men in the xrorld* J do not defire it fhould be buried with wc, to be a prcy^ and food for JVorms^ but it (hall be left above grottttfi, dnd }rept ferret from wicked tnen^ and my purpnfe y^ that it Jhall be laid into afecret place^ where nnne JJiallcome near it^ but hcyforrrhom God hath ordain-* ed another voritings of mine jhall fooner fee thepublick^ light* But k^otp thou^wb^evet thru art^ into, whofe hand this my la(i tejlament eomes^wJtich contains the 'Ee^ V elation of heavenly and earthly wy1eries^itrt?ill hap- pen to thee hy a divine providence-, to n>hofc cuflod^ of. my devotion then perfrm^dy I committed it^ dep'ftting ., the Jame into that fccret place together vrith other things -i not inf creed upon any grounds of necejfitiesy or jiraightnefjes^ to leave it there^ only for him.,Tvhom God^s goodnefs Jl^all appoint to find it. For it is not good forme to lit God^s creatures andmytlcry^ wlnck . 4fe too ahftrufe already^ and ftept from the light intd dtrk^efs.^ by reafon of the malicious perverfencfs of the mcksd world to dye with me^ as-enviou/s men art ■ wont to do with gifts., they are entriifiedrvithal j but tven leave a gUmpfe of truth and of the clear heaven^ thinking befitting to dtfcharge my confciencc inputting forth the talent to ufary^ let the will of the Lord be done in him., whom he dcemeth to he worthy ofit<, ifH» fphofe care and diligence I commit it from henceforth sndfor everf For I 4 Cloyjhr-man^ and an unworthy Servant of the Divine infinite trinity confcfs^ attd ' ^^k^oTphdge., that I fljculd never have cm t Jo far in my The Preface. ^^y k^flrvkd^e of thefe endkfs niy!lcrksy in the Am'* h^y of jf.ttfi^al thim/-,in the nidinrathn^& cban'Ang their qu tVitkr , f>r ^ ft^e <^nd ftrongi Hphnld'in-7 of this profound k^nnvkd-fT^e, of the true McdiH/ie-y according to tMff Ordinance (r^hirchy I am ready to do good to ^U ■ and every nne^rvhich d(fireth my help herein) Tvbich af Thttve dme hithertn^ fo my dcfire k that God would enable me todrt the fame to the laji of 'my breathings I fay I fhould never have attained unto it^if hyGodf fiecial good/uf^^ g/^-^^ ^^i mercy^ fever at hooks had mi come into my hands-, r^ritten (f ancient Majkrs > vphicb departed thif. life a long time before me^ cauftng great jny ti me, ftirring up in me a return of he-^rty thanks tri Cody who fo gracioufly rv/K pleifed in his providence to hcitow them on me. in the Chyjicr kfore any of my FcdorpSf fidi Jpeak^ it rvithout any vain-glory^ I hawe done fomuch good thereby to my fellnm^'Chrifiians^ as ever rpof pojnhle pr me to do^ which next to God , re-* turned thanks for it , even to the end of my days* . ' ' ■ Norv ri>hereM I can be Sten^ard no longsf , I have d/ne acording a^ my abilities rpouldgive leave : Jet others alf) be indkfiriom^ and mt defective in their SteivardfJjip^ I return mine into the faithful bands of God Almighty y and dcln leaving them to hU difpfng^ to beJioj» them after my death unto him^ vchom hk Divine rvill fh^ll chufe thereunto^ to be for the k^torpledge of hit f raiJc-1^ or: byname y the good and help of fuch, that jtand in want of fteccjfaries and'heahhy for the a- tf)iding and punning of all worldly pmipe^ prides jpantonnefs -i luxury^ rajhmfs^ pleajun^ ca-?^ yitOH^nefSj^ . The Pfef^GC. ^ctoHfucfiy ' and ^ightfulnefr^ or cOnUmp of or Lcrrd God Almighty^ nmciful Gracious Fa^htt rf thine only begotten Son Jciiis Chrili , who art only the Lord of Sabaoth, the frinci^le of all things that are m.idc by thyWoxdy and definite eyid ^f all Creatures above and bdorv V I fm\m'if&abk Map^ and Earth-rporm , retHrn th^nkj with my bahling tongue from the inncrmfi Center of my hurt-y »/jj? bs{iheen pkjjcd to enlighten me with the great light ^ of thy heavenly and earthly nrifdome^ and the greatest mylhries of the created fecrecies and treajures of thU IForld^ together with thy Divine fai'ing word ^ by Tchich I learn to knovp thine Ahriighty pntr and wonders* 'to thee belongs eternal fraife-i kmour^and . gl(^y , from eternity unto eternity , that thou haji ■ kefiowed on we health and lively hood^ flreyigth^ and abilityi ta kehelfftl to myfillovt^ Chrhlians in their nccejjjties and infliiled infnnities with thofe my- fiical healing Medkines^ together with fuch f^iritual comforts^ ti raifi the drooping Jpirits^ Lord-, tothet alone belongs fower^ might ^ and glory., to thee ^ the praifcy honour-, and gratcfulncH, fur all the mtt-^ cies and graces thou haji bejiowed on\we^ andhajl frcferved me therein till to tlm my gr&at age-, an4 lowefi weaJ^efi* 0\ th ni God of all graces., and far^ fher of aUcomfortjybe not au^yi^i^hme-, that I 4^" liver up tc thee-, mine eternal Creator y the Keys % ftty Sttwardjhip-, wrapt np in this Fcrgamene-, aca^ding to the duty my calling andconfcience calls for'; ^ii" thefe thou fnffer'^jh me to kecp-houfe the moji of my time^til'l now-,thou haft calUdyand forcfen me to be thy fervant and Steward-, and haft gracietffly afforded^ that I Jhould enjoy the n.ble fweet frnits-^which were gathered in thy Almmary to my loft injiant end^ j^hich' The Preface. l^hlch « 7»?„0 Lord^Ikth in thy power ^ I hjfeech thei for the dear merits of Jcfus Chrift, come nojVy whefi thou fleafeji^ inclofe my hearty receive my Soul infi fhy heavenly 'throne of gracc^ let her he recommend-^ ed unto thee gracioujly^ thou faithful God^ vphd haji redeemed her on the holy Crop with the moji pre^ ciom linUnre of the true bloudofthy holy body : therk y my life well ended on^hi4 earthy grant to the body aquietrcfiy tiH at the liji djy^ body and foul joyti ^gain^ and are of a heavenly co^ipojluon : fir now my onlydcftre is th he dijfolvcd^ and to be with my Lord Chriily Ihe which thou Almiqjny-, Uoly^ and fie-avenly trinity grant to me-y andaU goodChrifiUiri hilievers. Amen. "that I may come to the work^ intendedy and mal^ ■ ji beginning (f tht wirk^in handy if God be pkafed t'h Utthu book^ come tfi thy hands y before dU things un'^ ijpfjsntly you return he arty^and unfeigned thank/ for p:v in the next place I bcfeech him to beftow on thee dlfi grace and blcjjingy a healthful bodyy fucccfi. fultyto accompli (h all the points fet dott?n herey which itnd t) the well-fare and bene ft of thy Neighbour y 'and to prepare them according to the Manualsy whicB p t^at endl fetdowHy and prcfribe themy that you ^ly hjppily and fuccesfuVy begin the wor)i^y that the middle and end be correjpondent thereunto^ 'then be ntft flap-tongu' d^ and re five abflutely in thy hearty no\ to ehtruji with thofe myjicrics any maliciouSy un- grjttful y and falfe fncny much lefs fhoUldfi thou make them p^rtak^rs thereof: for if Almighty God jvjtild bejioiv it on other Sy he [cmldd^ it immediately^ Mnd grant the fame by other means and ways with- i>ut thee* therefore look^ to ity tempt not the Lord thy Gidy fur he will mk be moclCd. Be fiknt andre^ fttyingM meditmngon Gods punijhmnti jffhich m mm the tf cface. ntanii able to out-runsk^ef a gved inUntim i kt no^ your gnedy mindrftn ott-^ hon^ycu may get ahundand of Gold and Silvtr riches^ and vanity^ hut before aU things^ which are mitten herein^ let that be your cheifejl aim^ horn y>n may appear helpful in rpord and deed to promote the health of thy Neighbonr Chri" jiiaH : 'then have you "given-tdnd hronghf an offering jof thanks-} and God n>ill hefion> more upon thee-, and ppith fuch'Kevelations will come to ihee^ more than ever you roould have believed* • ' therefore inftead of a pcrfeii Phyficli^ book^^ I have annexed at the endthofc precioui Medicines v with Tpinch even to this hour J: have cured fuccesfuty many difficult Symptnmes.i and difeafes^ held by others to ht incurable: which I recommend linto thee with the refl of the things contained in thefe writings.^ to thy confcicnce to he wary^ and not to abufe any of them^ as much or thy life and Smlis near and dear unto thee* ' If thou receive^ thUr faithful admonition and warnings which I give- unto thee here and there ai. the beginnings middle^and end, and in other placed alfoj and djcfi accordingly -i then thou canji not bet o» thankful for thefe things^ which through Gods per^ miffian fhall be intimated and made known to thee out if this book; Butincaji thru ifpiltftrive againfl my faithful wparmng and fatherly admonition^ thefe myfieriesi n?hich were hid from the Icarned^and thou fufferji tg €ome into ftrange hands I look^ to thy fclf blame not me^ think, ntt that there is any reconMation for thee-, being out off ffom all thofe^ which liu: and dit inChriji. *thHS I let it refl , committing execution to the tiighefl-y which dwelktb in Heaven-, who punifheth fnd 0vptg^^ ^ mnner of fin ^ vices^ iniq^ties, md The I^eface. ccjfjry thuT to defcnhe thif niy Declaration before my othir lyrltings ^ and to prove ihe fame vp'tth examr' fks^ that every one^ wh^m God Jh all judge to he rpor" thy of may conceive^ underliartd^ and ftthom thttrtic begimuHgy the true middle-^ and the true end of all created things • 'thereupon I furpfed to ma\e a he- ' ginning cf it with a ncceffary relation of the Origi- naly beginnings and exijiency of Minerals andMe- talsj fr-m which ar'iftth this mijl noble and -precious Medicine ^ [rvbcreby is procured a healthful long Ufe^ and abundance of riches are obtained: Name* ly from ivhencc Minerals dnd Mctals have thcir ori" . ginal^ how they be brought to light-, that fcdrcherj into Natural things mayk^ow the whole NHnrt m her circumference^ before ever they lay hand to the ^ork^.y and acquaint thcmfclves weiltheremih : then, fiillthconeivlll flnam and ruH forth the other'iont Art will produce the other \.at I aft ^l I what is fought for^ will be overtaken in joy^ and that which batkbetn Imfdfor^ -will happily be enpycd* y I'his my baok^I divide int^ five parts-iekkofthem is Jubdkiidcd i^to certain Chapters and Farts. As for the ft He lifedherc^ it ought not to bej:xpe&ed tj be* any other than is met for a Miner^ after the conditio^ vf Mine-werks^wavth^ all Rhetor ick,i- andfrnical mamcr of eloquent expreftons, h ^ It the firft part of my intended work^I willdefhri!?e chiefly the manner-, nature, a?id properties ef Mi'ne^ mirks, in which gr^of Minerals and MetalSyofthe firft Jperm, nativity, quality, and propertyy asalfi cf $k exhalation attd inhalations It ♦ The Preface* II. *ih:feeond fart fh all be a kjndof recspltalathnof the fkii part J n^herefljdl be contained alfoarcUthn of the condition and ocsafion of Mims^ Oars^ Stones^ pajfages andCkfts^mth their coherent liquors-^porpers and efcrations^ ^ ofGold^ Silver^ Copper^ Iron^ Ttn^ LeadyMercury-, and the refi of Minerals » III. In the third part is declared in manifeft^and literal exprejjims voithout any defe^ and obfcurity-ithe Uni- verfal of this vphole xporld^ hevp allfhilofophersht^ fore me^ with me^ and after me^ have made that moft ancient great fione^ whereby health and riches were obtained^ ofthepoffibility,^ hoW',andofryhatitmaybe done-itogetber with a perfi^ Declaration oj my XIL Keys^ with the names of our matter, IV. In the fonrth part I defcribe all the particulars of Metals^ which the one is endued with^ before the o- ther^ out of which may be had perfe^ healthy and an advantage unto the getting of great riches ^with all the Manuals in general and particular^ belonging there\ tfntp : this fourth part I have intituled^ the Manuals c/Bafilius Valcntinus, wherein isftpewedhorv all ^£e- tals and Minerals^ fitting tberamto^ may be brought t6 their high d} prep a 'a-ion^ Ti The Preface. V. ' Ih the pftb pjrt 1 have annexed the tranfcendcnt^ moji dear wonderful Medicine of all Metals and Mi- nerals^ and of other things^ which God Almighty had ordainedy and gracioufly granted for men^ n?ho in the Valley of mifery are fubje^ to fick^ejfes and po- verty-, that they tjry have a remedy to help tkmfclves againft hoih' God the Father of mercy and falvatinn^ who liv- eth from eternity to eternity^ being ahove all the Creatures^ grant ^ace and hlcffing to this my fur- ^ofe-i that I may write fo^ that every one may under- fiand^and Gods infinite mercyy& that it together with bis graciom goodnefs^redcmption mayfeem k^own-^ac' k^owledged^and continually meditated upon-^and every one may call en the Great Crcatour day and night ■> ^mixing t'> them fervc nt hearts fo to dire^ all their thoughts^ that they may make no otherwife of this no-, hie Creature of God and tranfcendent great myftery of Natxre^ together with the Anatomy thereof but only to the great honour of God^ and the good of all good Children* 'the fame grant this Father Son and Holy Gbofi in his mercy^ PiXncn . Ti TABLE. the Cdtttents of the firfl fart of the hool^ THe firft Chapter treatethof the acthtnal liquor o^ Metals..^ p2g«i' The 2. Chap.trcateth of the fe€d of Me- tals P^^«4* 3-. Of Metalline nutriment 7 4. Of the (hop, or officine of Metals i o 5. Oftheegrelficnandingrellion of Metals 13 6. Ofthediffolution and redudionofxMetals 16 y. Of the afcenfion and dcfcenhon of Metals 19 8. Of the refpiriwg Metal, or quick Oar 2 x 9, Of the expiring, or dying Metal 24 I c . Of pure and fine Metal 2 7 1 1 . Of the impure Metal 3 b i2.0f thcperfedMetal .33 i^.Of theimperfd(^Mctal ^6 1 4^ Of the Soap Metal 3 9 : <; » Of the inhalation, of inbreatliirg 41 £. Of the exhalation and out breatliings ^3 7. Of<:orurcation, adhalation, or glittering 45 Si O^ folium and jf>o/z«w,(him*mcr and glowet 47 9, Of the ful i ginous, vapours a-nd aihes 4 8 0. Of the Metalline water, or lie ' 50 1 . Of the (ctd^ and o f the hull of th^ feed 5 7 2. Of the dikiing, or hrc rod 5^ b 2 Chip. 2 3. Of A T A B L E. ^hap. 23. Of the glowing rod P^g«5^ 24. Ofthe leaping rod 5S (i<, Oi the fuYcilla^ orftriking rod 59 2 6 . Of the trembling rod 6 2 2 7. Of the falling, or nether rod 6 3 28. Ofthe fuperior rod 6$ 2 9. Of rcfting vapours, or fedimcnts 6S 3 c. Ofthe weather fait C^ 3 1. Of the ft one fait 70 3 2 • Ofthe Subterranean Pools 7 1 3 3. Of the Metalline Gold, or of the Metalline bed 72 34. of Metalfine ftreams 7^ 3 5« Of Chalk, or ftone Meal 74 35.0iLtheblaft 75 3 7. Of the brittle fluff 77 38. Of the blank fire 78 3^. Of the Mine glue 80 ^o. Of corroding Huff to eat ftoncs thorow 8 1 \ 41. Of having nnaterials ufcd for a flcdd , or dray 82 42. Ofthe frofl: in the Mine-works 84. 43. Of the flaming fire 85 44. Of the roafting fire S5-- 45. Ofthe corroding fire 86 46. Ofthe glowing hrc 87 47. Of the Lamp hrc SS 48.^0fthe cold fire 89 ' 4 9 7t) f the w arm fire ^ ® . 7hc Contents of the fecJJtd fart. ;. Chap. /^F Mines sndCrius, what the middle \^ works oi Oars are F^^'93 r. Ofthe eencral operations of fcveral Metals 9 A TABLE, 3 . Of ftoncs, rocks, flints of Gold', and their ftrik- ingcourfes . pag.97 4. Of the oar of filvcr, and its running, or ftriking palTages 9^ 5. Of Copper oar, its fronc, and ftriki'ng pa'& fage . lox 5, Of Iron oar, its ftocks,floats, fallings and llrik- ing pafTages 1 06 7, Of Lead oar, its mine, and ftriking paflagc no S. Of Tin oar, its itocks, floats, fallings and Itrik- ing paflages ' 1 14 p. Of Mercurial oar, and its pafTages 117 ic. Of Wifmuth, Antimony, Sulphur, Salt, Salpc- ter and Talk i iS 1 1« Of a comparifon between Gods Word and the Minerals 1 20 12. How Jewels are wrought, th« blcffingsGod befiows on Miners 124 1 3 . Of the eiTence of Gold 1 26 the Contents of the third party Jfeing a Vcclaratioii of the XIL Keys. The firft is declared pag.j 5 5 The fccond Key declared 1^2 The third Key declared i ^^ The reft are declared according to the c?our& going on in that part 1 4 g "^he Contents (fthefcnnb part concermng the parti" euhrs made of the y» Metals^ hors> they may be prepared with profits FIrft of the Sulphur ©f Sol, whereby Lune ^'^ ting'd-int©Gd4 , inf A TABLE. The particular of Lune, of the extr46tion of i^ Sulphur and Salt pag. 188 Of the particular of Mars, how its Sulphur and Salt is extradcd ig yiot in the former 'irayfjlation* 'thcn^ follovp the conclufion and ekperiments* "npHe firft Sedfion treats of Sulphur, and the fer- J ment of Philofophcrs pag. 343 2. Sedion. Of the Philofopher. Vitriol 344 3 . Sedion. Of the Philofophers Magnet 345 Allegorical exprellions betwixt the holy Trinity, and the Philofophers Stone 3 47 Of Sulphur of Saturn ' 349 Of Sulphur of Jupi ter 350. Of the Sulphur of Mars and Venus 351 Of the Sulphur of Sol 352 Of the Sulphur of Mercury 3 ti 5 as ifio) are vsu sis&m .iV: Ic ii iccn by all the works that ar^ undert:ikci;. about metals, that there is nothing io volatile as :p.etal is, and To nothing Itlrs and inoveth more ^ubtilly thaxiir v^j>ut.thh l^irin^ :^nd movhis; I A. '^UeofOnyt»ieaItH^ilcsy>likut.thh Srin^^ vcA moving; I 2 Bafilm Valentine his lafl will call here the Ferch of metals, by rcafoii of its continual proceeding, and uncelTant moving ; and becaufe the fame is not vifible in metals, and doth It m a twofold way, therefore I will let the old word ftand, and call its itirring a Luhricum^ and its Fcrch a Volatile s for with the vertue xvA po-y- crof boththete^it performeth all that, what it needs for the perfcdion, purity, and fizatiod ot its work. Seeing Fcrch is a perpetual living and forthgo- ing thing, one might admire and fay, of what condition is metal then, which we behold with our eyes, and feel with our hands •, which being thus hard and coagulated, whether the (ame be alive or dead , and whether the life or Ferch in metals may be deftroyed, (which is impofsiblej what is the condition of it, or how comes it to pa{s > I anfwer, that a metal may be alive when it reikth, as well as when it groweth, or ftirreth ■■> and here a diftinclion muft be made again betwixt the death of metals, and their reft and quietness. For death toucheth only the bodies, when they perifh ^ but the life it (elf, or Fcrch cannot perilh or ceaie : therefore if a metalline body be extant, then is it at hand vifibly two manner ot ways. The one is w I'uiitld^^ and is difcerned in its mo- ving too and fro, and if it be forced by a itrange dangerous heat i then it turns to a volatility, and flyeth away. The other way is-, vvhcn it is at hand in coagul.ito^ wherein it relteth io long, till It be reduced into its liqmd:i-}i^ and that is done in a twofold way, and laireth \^o long as the body Lfte.h, but as loon as the body is deikoyed or ^on., and is come or entred into a more, either i.oblc or ignoble body, then its Fcrch or life is gone lV/7/ and Tell amnt. 3 gone alfo : therefore if you will referve and keep a body, then ta~ke good notice of its Fcrch or life •> for if you once ftir it, and hunt'it indifcreetly, you do it with the lofs or diminution of the bo- dy, wherein it is, f6r that hfe never goeth away •mpty,' but liill carrieth along one lite or Fcrch after the other, carrying it away fo long, that.at the lalt it leaveth none. But what the condition is of the moving and quittncfs of that life, and how Nature bringeth it to a relt, mufr be exadlly confidcred. For an accurate knowledge demon- ftrateth, that there is a difference "betwixt the life cf the feed and of the body •, for deal with the feed which way you will, you cannot bring it to z volatility^ becaufe it is againft its kind i andfo the body alfo is of the iame condition h but the Fcrch alone may be braught to it. For if you provide food for thcFcrch^ then you ftrengthen its whole work, even as a mother doth h'tr child^ which (lie fecdcth and chcrifheth well, and bring- eth the fame the better to its reft \ fo is it alio with the Fcrch* Therefore all fuch wliich ga2e and view only the feed and body, and know not the fundamentals about the Fcrch^ lofe the body, becaufe they dbierve not Natures progrefs and proceedings, putting the cart before the horfe, or the formolt they put hmdmofr. This reirand fieep of the Fcrch fervcth tor that ufe, becaufe it prefer veth the body from deih-udion, or con- (umption being once come into its peiiecirion. For as long as it awakneth, fo long it confumech, but when it is at relt, then it ihndeth clofe in a laitingnefs, and when jt hath nothing to feed up- Dn, then it corrodeth and fcizeth on its own body, :onfuming it quite, at laft it llirreth and moveth B 2 to 4 Bafiliui Fakntims his hft to another place. Hence is it that treafures, or pagement, which are buried, awaken at laft, con- fume their own bodies, reducing them to dull, fo that nothing of them remains but either a mear ftone or flux, as in many places is to be feen. . CHAP. II. Of the feed of Metals. A LI thofe Authors which have written about the mctaline feed, agree in that, when they fay Sulphur is the maiculine feed of metals,. and Js^iercury is the foeminine feed v which faying muft be taken in its genuine (enfc ^ for conimcn Sul- phur and common Mercury are riot meant there- by. For the villble Mercury of metals is a bo- dy it felf out of bodies, and fo it cannot be a kcdi : and being cold, its coldnefs fcr fe can- not be a feed ', and the Sulphur of metals being a 'food, how can it be a feed? Yea, a feed con- fumeth Sulphur, how can one feed deftroy the other !* if io, what body fhuold it produce ^ It is tlierefcre an tiror, if thjt fhould be taken in the common lenfe ; if the Mercury of bodies is in a work, and hath taken food, then all the fex Mercuries protrude one body, as tlie ci>e of the" lex is in its predominancy, fo the body riieth. Seeing tlure are leven of thefe Mercuries, it happeneth, that when the feed of Mars and Ve^ 711(6 hath the predominancy, they produce a maf. culine body of Sol^ but if the feed ot Saturn and j///pi/cr doth piecominate:, then is produced a will and Teflame'/it. 5 a foemlne body, which is called Lnde *> Mercwry is an afsiftant on both fides. The fiiTie happeneth unto other bodies : but theie arc always and in every and each work to- gether ^ for they are indivifible, as it is meet alfo, what iTianner of oody could be produced elfe ? For Nature hath perfedl bodies, though in them- lelves they muft be diflolvcd again, yet arc they perfed for, and in their time. For what nianner of feed could that be, if it (hould be defective in any of its branches ? Therefore every body hath its perfeft feed, hence the trafmutation hath its ground in the afcenun and defctntion of metals, which other- wife could not be, if they were not homogeneal in their feed. For if any man faith, that iilver is \\^:>i gO'd, clowns believe that alfo, becaufe they have not fundamental knowledge of the feed, ho w it is to go out ot one body into the other, or elfe it wants its fertility, neither can it be na- turally without a body, wherein it refteth. There belong (even diftindt parts to an unformal body of metals,to bring it by noarifhment into a form, VIZ' I. An earth. 2. A ftone. :^. An earthafti. ^, Earthly Itreams. 5. Glafs or fubterraneal me- ta!. 6" Tnc fubterranean tincture. 7. The (ubter- ranean fnligo or feed, (fume.) All thefe are the materials of the body •, and as earth is mans matter , out of which God mide him , unto which he mull return again : fo all other bodies alfo at laft return to earth, that Miner which is judicious and knowing herein, him I judge to de- (erve the name of a Miner. For there are but few of them which are rightly infornied herein, or huh an/ faafxm?atil knowledge ot it, though B 3 they they arc daily imployed about it : though fome might fay, they could not but be knowing it their profefsion, yet it is not fo really^ if ib, what right uk can ^ey make of thenn ? They put wrong names upon them, are ignorant of their iitility,and this is the reafon why they many times run them wafle upon heaps, where after fome time they turn to goodnefs, and the longer they lye there, tl\e better they are : this inltrudtion de- ferves no hatred, but ratha a grateful acknow- ledgment. why (hould Philofophers be believed to know any thing,? But where is it written, that, men (hould feek and find mercury of the body in a fubterranean fumj , ftone , glalle , but in their hooks? \vhere are learned artihcial finings infu- liginations , incinerations, nutritions , but from them r* The (led of 'metals as it is perfed, fo is its Ferch^ or life invifible. Where do thofe men flay, which will work according to nature, and know none of thefe, neither do they know where to get it : yet fall upon Artift?, exclaiming upon them to be falie, and all iUch as are imployed in their ways : but ,we lee and hear how ignorance runs on. It is impoisible to get a body without feed, it were as- much as to fay, a feed is without ferti- lity. Therefore perufe it exadly in its dilToluti- on, the redudion of it will aiibrd its body : work cheerfully. , ■ But it is none of the meanefl work, as fome of the moit antient Philofophers have faid, which called it a double work: for thus they fay, the metal mull firif pals through the Melters hand, afterward it mufl come into the hands of the Al- chymifl, if To be the feed fliall be known in the artihciil IVilI and'TefiamenU J artihcial work : they mean or intimate by this faying thus much, that there is a twofold dilTo- lution, the one is, when the expert Melter brings the frangible body e^^ naturali condurtione into a malleabjenefs, whereby its impurity is gotten off. Then comes the Alchymlft, reduceth the body in- to cind!ers, calxes, glaires, colours, fumes, fubter- ranean, in which the feed of metals relteth, and the Yerch or life is found fertile in the body, and is reducible into a fpiritual water or ^rirna mate- ria^ according as the quality and property of the mettal is,and is divided artificially into its natural principles, according to the proceis of the Chy- rnick art, of which more in another place (hall be fpoken, when I (hall treat of the Minerals. CHAP. III. Of the Metalinc Nutriment'^ ALthough it belongeth not to this place, how miner alia fojJtUa are made under ground, however I will give a hint of it, how nature makeththem out of (ubterranean moift liquors and Myne crefcencies, which afterward ferve to be a food to metals ^ not fuch liquors which are decoded above ground *, therefore if you fhould adde here above ground, decoded ones to metals, undilTolved in their corporeal form, your work would be in vain : and where there are fuch mi' tier alia fojjili^i there are Myne-works alfo if not with it, yet are they not far off, as isfeenin many Mynes. As in Hungary are digged the fair- eft and bell: fulphur-alloms and Mmeral or Myne B 4 Vidriol 8 Bajilm ^^"^nlentinus hU lajl Vicftriol. And about Harcynia are digged fait VidrioL About GoJIar, Mansfield^ Zellerfield^^nd at Efhland in Helvetia is digged Minc-falt, and at Hall there is great ftore of it,where there is found alfo very curious Sulphur. But you muft note, that thefc minerals are not ulcd thus grolTely, but are prepared firft, which is a curious work to bring a mineral thu'; high by fubliming into flores ^ which are half metalline, efpecially it made with metal, the metal being reduced into a mineral, from that the flowers are made : thus you fee natures forwardnefs, and how (he is re- ducible to her }irft water, Sulphur and Salt. Many make thefe flowers without metal, which are not fo good though, as the former way. For an oleum made of Vitriol or Copper,and is diflilled,is more effedual, yea a thoufand times more pretious in its operation, than that is,which is made of com- mon Vitriol, whom nature hath not yet exalted. Its true, the Hungarian Vitroil, in its efficacy and vertue is found wonderful and fufficient enough, becaufe Nature hath graduated it to a greater iic- city, and brought it to a ripcnefs more than o- thers were, and is more excellent than the reft- By tfiis preparation they can make ufe of the mi- nerals,ftrengthen and encreafc their pleafure there- by. If any thing is to be made meet for metals, then it muft be done out of metals, with metals, and through or by metals, which is the real and only manual whereby may be hit the hardncis of the mineral flowers, always take from them, and adde nothing to them ^ this is the Art, which askcth great wondering, and deep meditation. Thus you muft learn to go to work, for thefe flowers are found often clalely compared, which Miners WiU and TeBmenU 9 Miners very feldome know, elpecially in Himgary and Jfallachia^ thay are as fair as ever any red glowing oar may be, they are of a cr^Trallne tranf- parent redncfs, are good gold and illver accord- ing as they are ting'd, this is a rare knowlcdge,aii art worthy the bed coniideration, which is to make glafs of a hardnefs, from thence it is, that the fubterranean glaffes make up the metal, there- by they come to their form. The preparation of thcfe flowers have their great utihty in phyfical ways, if their excrements be taken from them, and their ordours: thelc excrements are the feces of minerals, are nought for metals, ftirring up evil fedimcnts, which bring damage unto m.etals , a twofold evil comes from the miftaking of minerals : for decoded ones are a dangerous poifon, and corrofive unto me- tals, as we fee above ground, when aquafcrtis is mad^ of them, which corrcdeth,teareth,divideth, and parteth metals, and the other w^hich are fair to look on, flicking unto metals, and their worft poifon, for as (bon as thefe approach, they kindle and caufe the dangerous fediments, all availeth nothing unto them, though they have and keep their form. As an infeded man hath ftill the form and face of a man, though he be infedred-. and infcdeth others alio, and in cafe it turn all to one metal, yet it is biit an empty one, and no- thing in it. This is a very necelTary obfervation for Miners and Laborators 5 for if they regard it not, they obftrudf not only their work, but endanger themfelves alfo *, becaufe the metal is" not onely turned into a volatility , if any fe- ces or excrements be added thereunto, and that alfo which iftayeth , comes to be unmalleable^ and I o Bafilwus ^a lentim h is fafl and fufFers continually diminution, as long as it is ■iinder the hammer. Thofe that work them, have caufe to look to it, if they fall on them with any tire, their reward ("urely is fome mine difeaie, which experimentally is known how. their poifon 49th ftick and hang on the top of the furnace and in their chefts, turning to arf:nick and inch poi- (bnous fumes and feeds, and do hurt .every way, as woful experience evidenceth. CHAP. IV. Of the metaline Jhof^ Officina.mctallorum, ALl natural w^orks have their fpecial conveni- ent places in which they work \ where there is any fuch place or (hop, in which fome glorious and precious thing is made v and' fometimes. though the inftrument be veryhoi:rid and mon- ftrous, and its matter unknown, yet- they are ex- tant in that officine. Firft, touching the glory and praife of this of- bcine^it is likned to a Church, in whicli the feed and the Ferch axe married to the body, therein they eat, reft, and work, thither they carry all fair and pleafant materials under ground wherewith rhey are clad, and they have another kind of f^re^ v/ater, air, and earth, for the things that are ac- compliihed and perfeded therein, thelamecan hardly be parted again, no not with the help of the neather- air, if (0 be, that it mujft be parted afunder, then lee and make trial of it on the m.er- cu ry of metals. Again, the things made fo hard and fixt cannot be ' WtR and TeBam^nt. 1 1 jbe parted, as may be feen i)y gold, how firm and fixt is it in the fire ? the caufe whereof is the fub- terranean heat and cold which it imparteth unto metals, and makes them firm thereby, for it is a ftony firmament o( the earth, and giving to me- tals their llony power, it groweth hollow and fpongy. full of pores, which at lafi; are fill'd up with metals, even as Bees do fill their hives with hony, and in the end it parts, and is carried av/ay in the flick or (Scohes^) For the Earth-fbnc is not confumed under ground, becaufe it is a fediment, not fuffering any thing to cijme in or out. Hence, is that diiference betwixt the Earth-ftone and the jterrellial-firmamental-ftone, which is one of the mineral-works. Let no man gainfay, that a ttone fhould have together both heat and cold at once> to afford the one now,and then to hide the other, for when it worketh upon inferior metals, theii it hideth its celdnefs, and To it helpeth every way, this is its trad and inftrument, heat and cold of the fubtcrranean fire-ftone. , The modern Chimifts which are ignorant, not knowing Nature aright, and - do n ot take notice of her ways, ufe (Irange inftruments, and then they make or caufe to be made all manner of vef- fels, according as every one of them hath a fan- cy to, but in natures ways they know little, (he re- gardeth not the variety of torms, and inllead of thefe, (he takes a fit and lafting inftrument, which holdeth in the work, and every form follows or accompanies the feeds precedency. The folly and ignorance of workmen is aggravated in that ^becaufe they defpife the knowledge of minerals. The inftrument fhe ufeth hereunto I (liould m ake m-rntion of it here, but wave it at this timc^ ( , and ^ 2 Bafilinut Valentm hu fall and will do it in another place^ where you may kekfor, and take nc>tice of it. Thofe which think theniCilves to be the wifefi: do fay, that it is a vanity to obferve mathematically the Hits a- bove, and to order any work after feafonable days and hours, it is fomething faid, but not fo well grounded. But this is moll certain, that if yon work according to common courfe , otherwife than we do, tbliowing only your own fancies, ^hen is your labour in vain. There is a difference to be made betwixt the upper ibrs, and the me- talline ilars, which (hine and have their influence into the bodies. Touching the ftars above, they in their light and motion have a fingular influ- ence > and the fcars^ below have their influence alfo upon their metals, ^tkis.each -Ilea ven hath its peculiar courfe and inftrument, where the liirs iituation may be apprehended. An op.tcmn cr- pis jtcilatiim compaCir aftrall body, dil^ers in its candrtion from a.cjr/?/^ //^cir////^, if you inter^d to Beam here fomething, then you muft be indutlri* ous and grudge no pains, it would require a huge volume, if I (Kould defcribe ptrtlcul.irly the whole circumference of fubtrrranean Mine- works : it ^vould not (ufHce to* nominate the things only, but mud: demonflrate alfo, that all that, which I attribute to them, to be true, I fay it would ask a great deal oF writing, to difpoic the brains of milconceited men to a belief: what fnould I fay of fuch materials, on whom I could not impofe htting names, though I knew them, for who is that man which hath done learning in our School ? Hire I muft needs ipeak as belong- ing properly to this place, thit no volume in tai.s world can b: writtcn-in vv'iieh could be fet dovva all WilUndTejlment. 15 all and every f articular mannaU ^s Laborators Ibinetlmes might ask s therefore an Artilt having given him fome hints of things, mull endeavour to order his work, and manage the fame judici- oufly, muft put his hands to the work, and get knowledge by his own practice. I dired: ilich men in their work to Natures proccfs under ground, let them fearch there, and take an hontft Miner a- long to Ihcw him her inftruments,and mattersffor prating, lying, and ignorance availeth here no- thing. ) Every one wifneth to get riches, but the means for the getting of them are not refpondent: if I were the beft limner, and cculd fet forth in co- lours the form of any inftrumtnt,then m.en would underfland it^ it w^ould help in this cafe, they would fee it, and feel it with their hands, and un- dertake the work, if all were fet down. 1 know what,and how much ought to be put in a book, l- put things fitting in.and did it faithfully. CHAP. V. Of Egrcfjon and IngnjjtGn of Mctahi THe work of metals evidenceth a perpetual going in, and coming out , for hereby the Egrefsion is underilood not only the Egreision ci the whole work, that in fon^e place a whole me- taline tradf comes into decay, when it wants food to be nourifhed any further, and hath devoured all its bodies, but alio a partial egrefsion •-> for liill the one (eeketh the other,and follows at the heel.This we fee by the m.ercury of metals, being poiired forth.it is fcattertd into thoulands of little quick corns 1 4 BaftUus J^alerjtwus h s lifi corns, all of them return to their body •, in the fame condition is vol.itik. & Luhricum *, and the Fcrch alfb goeth torth in (iiiall bits, at lafl: it joyn- eth in a body {bmewhere,even as Bees meet toge- ther : it recciveth nu more than it hath need, the overplus fwarineth to another Myne-officine, which parting and diltributing, affords many and feveral Mine-works, according to the difpoiition of the officine and nourifhmcnt, and according as it is infringed in its work in the egrefsion ^ the Fcrch and the feed go on in their volitUtty^ and if they had wings, that Vohtile is fo thin, that it can hardly be di learned, yet is it foliated like a heap of atoms h thus ILibtilly it flyeth away, and the Fcrch. mvl\ ftill have its fced^ the feed its h:dy^ and that its thin atoms. My meaning is not, that its egrefsion is from or out of the earth into the air, to fly about there, and then to come into ground again ; which is not fb, nor can it be, becaufe its natural work -iS not in the air, unkfs men bring it forth parpofely, then is it of another conditions of that egrefsion I do not fpeak here, becaufe it is done by day ^ but this gocth through the earth* which funds m the furnace, not appreheniivc or vilible to us,and runs through clefts and palTagcsi For if the earth giveth way to the ingrelsipn and egrefsion, even as the water doth to fi(hes, and Va(^ air to birds, as Ion?, as metals come to their lione-hrmament , which ftone-hrmament dilfers from the earth-firmament, when it meets w^ith that, it goeth about, looking out for another paf- fagci, like as water that flowcth about a Itone, and not through it, yet it Itayeth in its own flone, and recciveth itrength of it, and turns there to a bo- dy ; and as it jjccth in its e greision from one me- talme will and Tejlament. i S taline firmament, ftone-firmamcnt to another, it thorow eaten (oaked, be it at what uiftancc ic \^ill, attadeth the Liihricum^ even as a bird draws its feet up to its body in its flight •, for if they touch any where, then they loofe fomew^hat ot the body, and the Luhrlcum in its ingrefsion fuf- fcrs ic to come again to a ilrength of operation v for when both are joyned, then the metal increaf- eth, and attradeth its food in a wonderful way, and nourifheth it felf', and it is to be admired^ that in this ingrefsion, when that L^drlami comes more and more to its officine, how it increafeth and ftrengtheneth it (elf fo long, that atjaft the work is made iirm in the officine. This ftrcngth- tiing can not be learned to-be anyoth^.r, than the metaline mercury doth make it, for in the Hift place it turns it there into a !iqmdiwi,\\hf::rc after- ward it receiveth all, doth coagulate and congelc, according as the bodies are either mafcidme or fa- mininc^ at lafi it is brought to a folid hxed body of SiL This ingrefsion makes that fubterranean place noble and traitful, and is iingular, when it hath an afcending oar in work, that air is very w^holfome, and if the air above with melting be, not infcded with arfenick fumes, then it aftord? la faluber air to dwell in. This is a manududion unto the whole ^ft^f- work,how the iame ought to be proceeded in^that ore may ftand and not awaken, but turn to its jitream, and fcill abide in its bodies company, it is loath to make an egrelsion, if once it made a true ingrefsion, and fetled it felf to the work y for it reiteth not in its place, neither doth it relt in its whole trad, but wcrketh continually, and is well feen, what its iixiua or tiiH,ht is, and where: ir 7 6 Bafjlm Valfntims his lafl itfcttethto a fluid body, or earth-falt, which it ftirrs and rouleth (b long, yea, it pantethand movcth in it fo long, till it gets a liquid body, then turns it to a terrene body, and is flill brought on to a further height and hardnefs : and that is the right coagulating, congealing, liquidating,and fixing of mercury b which if done accordingly, then it aifords fomething. CHAP- VI. Of the diffolution and rcdnCnon of metals* IT IS apparent, that natural heat is the caufe of the fluidne(s of metals dilfolution, bccaufe the ^c^d. of merals in it ielf is very hot, and the iluid matter of metals is hot alfo, as being oliginous, and its heat increafcth, when it comes to its offi- cine, or fhop, becaufc that alfo being hot encreaf- eth the hear the n:iore, hence it is why it is hot in the work, and hath need of it, for at hrlt it would bring no more into its body, unlefs it were ioluble and fott, it bringcth nothing into it, un- Icis it be palTed through tiiefc three heats, and hx- c'd by them : then examine it,, and adde another fluid thing to it, which did not pafs through the three heatis: fee whether tie metal will receive it, or no ? Secondly, they mufl: be diffolved, that they may be cleanfed \ the condition of liquid things is to produce to the outiide things htting the work it hath in hand. This lolution is diitiudt from other artiHeial diirolutions,where the body is onlym.elted,asbytheMeltcr when he feparatetii the excrements from it ', for nature doth noc melt the earch will and T ell ament, }J farth as men do, but as corn groweth abSVc ground, (b fiie lea vcth corn and husks together s here is a great difference betwixt ourmelthig md the dilTclving of Nature y if we could ob- serve that diflindion in our dilTolutions andmelt^ ngSjWe (hould not be at fo great loifes Scdamages ■s we are : I muft needs mention about aurump^ abiky how men' do bufie themfelves about it, as nany heads jas many ways they chu(e to the mak- n2^ of it. Some take that which is not yet (cpa- ated from the metal containing yet the cinders of xcrements, or wo^-fe things. They take corro- [ive waters, acetum dqnaviUy and the like : pray ell me,what doth Nature takeSjWhen flie is about he dilTolving of a congealed water > She takes '.one of theie things, only maketh ufe of a heat, ''ou mufl do the like, if you will take a metalline ody, which Nature hath perfected, and through lelcing and fining is come to us, if you v/ill dif- 3lve and reduce it to its hfft matter, then roulc le Ferch , thus you may make any mettalline ody potable, being made pure, and fuperhne, len its excrements are gone, made not with ad- itionals of corrolive things : the fluxing of fuch . latters rather make the metals harder : if a bo- y (hall be fixed, w^e fix it from without, which Jature doth not, for (lie fixcth the feed, then the our fetteth and turns to fuch a fixation, that the i/Tolving above ground cannot mafrer it. A ^ater, which congealeth,hath at firil: a little cruft, oing on in it till it be quite congealcd,but here it ^ngealeth from within to the olithde, hence you lay gueife^ at that glorious foundation of pro- d:ion,on Mercury of tiie body,m'akinga natural", ''atum ftt^er jkmtmi thus are. the metals joyned G accord^ 1% Bafiliui Valentims hit lajl according to which the artificial work is ordered: wc have a hint given how mercury of metals is dipt and allayed, and its luhicrum is catched. Conceive not of this hxation, to be as when iron is hardened to fteel, and then reduced to a foft- nefs asTin is oft this is called only a clofe hardnefsr, which keeps the body in a malleablenefs, and keeps it fo clofe together, that the fire above ground cannot hurt it, all hardnefs above ground may be mollified in fire, but not the other ■•> be- caufe it holdeth all fiery tryals : therefore as the hardnefs made above ground hardneth bodies in the water, fo on the other fide, the water, which is in metalline bodies muft be taken out, then it congealeth. The fubterranean air hardneth the earth, earth remaineth earth, and turns not to ftone, and the fame keeps the water from running together, or congealing : keeping it from turn- ing to pearls and pretious ftones, and fuch may be made of that water. To get the internal fire out of metals, though it be molt high skill, how- ever it is feafeable, and found in its place, where \ write of the like, in a more ample manner. I give, a hint of it in this places, as Miners ought to do, of whofe exprefsions I borrow now : The reft which wholly extradeth this fire, which lyeth be- twixt the fry]c&^ leaving nothing behind, that is, where the Lui^rkuni and VoLttik is together, leav- eth it, produccth ic, and exccrncth it. The Mans- feldian-Jlatc^ nukes it appear, that its Vohtik is gone, and its Lubricum alfo, where its impurity is yet betwixt the /'ro/cc75and is not a fair pure work, but a compound one. CHAP. will and Te^ament. 1^ CHAP. VII. Of the afcenfion and dcjcenfion of nietals* 1*His new kind or manner of fpeaking and writing of metals is caufed by experience, Ifor the firft perpetual ingrefsion of the Ferch en- creafeth and ftrengtheneth a^t rirli: mthcofficina and Matrix^ the Mercury of bodies^ bringing it on to its perfedt and full ftrcngth > being made whol- ly eifedual and potent, then it begins by degrees to cloth it (elf with a body, at firft he attradtcth and receiveth the meancfl, which he puts off a- gain in the iirl^ place, which is done the cafier V tor no body amongft them all is (boner put off.For the body of Saturn is fo thin, that it appeareth to the eye like as a fair body doth through Lawn or TifFeny ^ its fpirituality appeareth through its bo- dy » its fpiritual body is the metal of Mercury, or as I fhould rather call it, its proper, near, and tpecial body, which work giveth a manududtion unto many other fair works ^ for it makcth a garment for SMurn out of the fubtilefi: earth, af- ter he rifeth higher, puts a harder and better gar- ment on him, which is not fo eafily put od' ^*- that of Saturn-, or at leaft not with fo fmall t work, which is caufed by the work of the Mcr- zury of bodies. For the Mercury of bodies by reafon of its fluidnefs is the hotteft, as he maketh it appear in Saturns afceniion, putting a cinereal body on him out of earth, hence i^ it why Saturn is fo full of cinders inclining to a brittleneis of afhes, and begins to found by reafon of the me- talj though it be not yerv firm, however yet it if. C 2 at at the next place for incorporation : its found i more deaf, is further off from iron, and neare unto mercury by rcafon of heat. Obferve no\^ at the afcending of this metal, it lyeth near th alhes, cleanfed by the Saturnal water, but abov( ground it turns not to be glaffe out of the a(hes '•out of fait or earth-water, or Saturnal-water, o: out of fapd or Hone. But what is that pure fub- terrenean Earth-glalle , which if it foundct^ breaketh not : it is a matter which Nature thruil- cth upon a heap together, which if yon touch, ii Ibiuidetb, and is very clear, of a great compad- nefle, and very firm, in this work it doth mingk with allies and (alt water, and turns to a glaffe ol earth, or to a dark glaffey 6rm iron. Nay, tell me, if a metal or Earth-colour,yea, a good found metal be- dilfolved to a colour, and is brought in- to a glalfe, doth it hot look of a copper-colour ? yes truly. Therefore iron may foon be turned into another thmg,which is done naturally, where -fiich metalline iroii colours is reduced in Hunga- ria into a Lixivium^ and is turned into a very good copper, however it retaineth the glatsinelTe, though the colour hath exicated it fbmewhat through the mercury <^f bodies : for the liquid- neile it hath flil), and is nobilitated further to a malleablenefle and hxation, therefore take notice, of this tiiiduring matter, which you find prepa- red by this body in this Oj^ciwj, it reduceth the iron to copper with abundance of proht. \ Put thcie colours away and behold how the mercury of bodies is paffed through many white bodies, and hath liill a fair white fuligo^ and that very fixed, how finely is it clad in it, and maketh a fair and pure body oiLuna^ into which hej Will and Te^amenU 2 1 he clads himfelf fo ftrongly that it cannot be taken from thence by burning, becaufe it pafTed ieveri times thorough the greateft fubterranean heat, which deftroyeth corruptable bodies, un- .kfs they be clofely and compa becaufe copper is in it : if that be gotten out in that artihcial manner, as it ought, tfiat iron proves fo hard, that no lieel is compara- ble to it ^ Out of that iron are made Turkifh fwords (fabeisj mails, w^hich no weapon or Bullet can enter or break , thefe mails alio are not very heavy. Note, the lubncnm at the defcending of Mer- cury, muil hive r(^Ti, from flippery things eafily iomewhat may be gotten fooner than from hard things : ilippery things leave always fomewhat behind j the fame they do v^^ith their tinging bo- dies, putting them off ftill fo, that in the afcend- ing in their [Volatile they alTume the body, and elevate it. Note^jf you have any material in hand, and ia yonr After-work you would know whither you muli keep to the Lubricum or Vulitlle (thefe two muft be thy help.) Then your Ituif muft be pre- pared, either the flippery or volatile way : if you will have a body either aicend or defcend, take notice of the flux in the metal : jhppery ones are more open th^in the hard ones. When tindrures begin to depart, which are a ftrengthner to, then the ftuif groweth more fluid, comes clofer toge- ther than in the quick metal. CHAP Will and Te^ar/:enU tj CHAP. X. Of ptre or fine Met ah WHen a Metal, be it iii the afcenfiou or de- fcenfion, is in its feven Syflem's or confti- tutidn, then it refteth or endureth, till it comes into another body. If you meet with fuch oar, it yields the pureit metal, that may be had in the world : our Melters call this Super- j|ae. But our Super-fining, which hitherto was iriUfc, is an im- pure work in regard of this : for in the clarify- ing, if it milTeth but the leaft grain, then is it not yet right. Such metals, as may ealily be conceiv- ed, is pure good and malleable, lofeth nothing in any work whatfoever : though all metals may be made fuper iine, yet none can be made finer than gold is, which no element is able to touch, to take any thing from it, or to turn it to a Glimmer' (Splium) or cats-filver, of a glittering quality. Silver at Marychurch at Lorraync is more iinC than others. Super-Hne is called that, when a me- tal is pure, and rid of its excrements or drofs, which may eafily be taken off, and hindereth it not in its fining. In filver Myne-works there are often found fuch natural proofs of pure and fine oar, that it might fpeedily be digged and broken, though it mult be melted again by reafon of its Spolium^ or by reafon of Itrange colours and flowers it hath robbed, yet it eafily may be performed, which ferveth afterward for an in- llrudion, how Mineral-colours muft be obtained^ as Azur^ CbryfocoUey though they ftand in the Mi- iieral-glaife : fuch colours love to be in fiich pure cai t9 ' Ealllit^l^aJentinuihi!;Ufi ' oare, but are not fo foon inoculated, unkfTe it be in the Sude or codtion, in which the metal is very pure^and yields more naturally the mercury of the body, be it in the afccniioa or deicenllon, alfumeth then another body. Hence is it apparent, hovv the fame ought to be proceeded within the artiJi- cial After-work, out of one body into another, bow the body, in which it is, and from which it mufl: be had, oCight to be prepared, namely, it ra'uft be made pure and Super-tine. It appeareth m the fu/ij^i gold, cfpecially in that of. IFuUa- cina^ in whSft it is moft pure : how that mercury of metals puts oif his body, and the mercury of the body come from the mercury of the metal, puts the gold together into a clofe body and rega- ins, and it is feen in the gilding, how tirmly and clofely it fticketh, wanteth but a fmill matter of an augmenting quality, its Spolinm is only ob- ftrudfive thereunto : it is of a tranfmuting and elevating quality, if the other body be awakened zKo : for a body which is between awaking and lleeping eifedeth nothing, it muft be awakned wholly: if at the on boiling of a metal, asoT that Italhn gold, bz biit the ieaft impurity, that is, a heterogeneal part, it could not be brought to a compadtneiTe, which is feen at gilding. There- fore you mull: give an exad attention to learn to underftand what the prima materia of metalline bodies is, and how their 'Elevation is either ob- ftruded or augmented !> hovv homogeneal things are brought to a body. It is apparent in the mer- cury of metals, how qjofe and compad it ftands together in the flux, which flux cannot be takea from it : purity is the reaiba or caufe of that coDipa(Saeire, being there is no other metal mix- will and Tellamerf. ^9 cd*with it : alToOn as any metalline body joyneth with it, then is it disjoyned, be it what metal or body it will. Hence it doth appear, how mctaU are brought to reft from their labour, namely, it they be tirft pure v for into pure matter may b- brought what is intended for it i which appcai- eth in the mercury of metals, its purity is the caufe why it doth not appear to the eye, but only in Its flux or hardnelTe. The mercury of metals is the flux of the mercury of bodies, that is, when wat:r comc-s to it, or the mercury of me- •tally bodies is come into the water inftead of ^ the air, which otherwif; is in the water : take it into confide rj-t ion, what manner of skill is required to get wind or air out of the water, and to bring another mercury into that place, if you get the air, which is in the earth , out of that earth, and in its lieu you get in the mercury of metalline bodits, then you have a Mercury in CoaguLuo v endeavour now how you may coagulate it, but not in the ordinary , common , and vulgarly known way. Bring ftill another mercury ot bo- dies inftead of the Marin-watcr into that water, then you have a fair pearl, take that fame mercu- ry of bodies, reduce it to an earth,' which muft be pure, inftead of the air then you have a pure jewel as pure as may be had from that,earth is in its co« lour, or you may put one to it, which you pleafe, it is a thing feafable. Thefe and the like pieces are afforded by parity, all which the work ot na- ture is a leader unto. ( Men that cart fb many foul aiperfions upon Philofophers are unworthy and not to be regarded^ nor credited, what they can foam againit their rare and glorious inventiojis •about the three principles, from whence all thcfc things 3 o I'W// and TeftamenK things have their Original. Make trials oTit> you will affirni to be true, what I have laid. CHAP. XL Of impure Metal* THere is found ll:or& of metalline oars, hut few of them are pure, and few there are that- break or grow one by the other •, therefore thefe muil be leparated and fpoken of apart : The great work and expences which their clean- ing requifeth from their grofleneiTe let Melters {peak of; (eparating hath been ifivented,at which iome good things of the oars do ftay, the reft flieth away, and their fining is ufeful, efpecially when oars or metals are in their afcenhon^though it be chargeable. But to find EleBnms ^ and bring them to good by fcparating, differs from the former hning, and require th a fingular way of melting. Cunning and iubtile Artills may pretend to get filver out of iron, (I believe they may, if there be any in it) as they do in Srveed- land* Ofemund^lwdLys containeth lilver, which is only oif driven,, and calcine away the iron, and thus they cheat people : can they do the like with the iron which breaks in 67)^.-? .^ no fuch matter. Therefore take heed of "fuch cheaters, and take notice that nature loveth to keep her own ways orderly, and keeps together two and ibmetimes three forts of oarS in their afcenfion and defcenfion, whereby Ihe intimateth a way imto the After-work , but men in their fancy think upon other .lueaKS, though to nopurpofe. View Bafjlius Valenttnus his hjl 3 r View all the Mines which are in Europe^ you will find no other cars but impure ones, that is, a mixture of them, for their nature maketh them, as much as I ever could learn : if you can fhew me the contrary, I will afTent unto thee, And this is the fccoud Argument, that metals are in their afcenfion and dcfcenfion unto perfedneflTe : if each had its peculiar work and initrument, then men needed not to take To much panis in melting to feparate them. For it is a difficult work to joyn weeds and ftanes, becaufe thefe are heterogeneal,and are of ditferingmatters : but the other joyning Toon together,require fpecial work- ing to be fcparated •> therefore view exadly the bodies two manner of ways, which is no fmall inftru(fi:ion. Firfr, m what manner you feparate the afhes from the fumes or food, this minifters already a twofold (eparatmg of metal, the earth from the tindure, there you h?.ve a twofold fepa- rating, and fo forth. Secondly, take notice of the Flux, to drive the cold fire with the warm, and the warm ^ith the cold, then you will be able to feparate the bodies from Mercuries^ then you have already feparated the metals without lofTe and damage, ufe thy lelf exad ly to it, and be carefvJ in obferving their names, not regarding the Miners exprefsions and terms, for the names they give to oars are falfe : for thole,which- build and dig after clefts and palTages, have their names of their bodily matters after the forts of the mi- nerals, and are diftindf therein. But youmufr call them after the forts of the feven bodies, and learn to prepare them h this work is of greater utility. Men are at great expences to get corro- five waters, to get afunder thefe metals, they do 3 i Bafjl'm yalentmus his hjl it alfo by way of melting and cafting -, but fucli waters add great poifon to the work : it is a bet- ter way to do it with Lixivmms or (harp waters, wliich are not fb poifonous, learn their prepara- tion. There is another kind of inipiire oar, of which I made mention here and there, which contain Myne-llacks , you may read of in the Chapter of the Cinders, but there is a difference betwixt the cinder and the llack, for Hack are more corny, yet that alfo turns at lalt to cinders, Thefe flacks are the caufe of the cold fire, and cinders caufe the w^vm jntc^ or the Vrcdincs me- tallomm : thefe cold flacks are hardly gotten Qff ^ from the metal, becaufe they come from the cold flux hre of" mercuries altitude : for as the cinder comes from bodies j fc are thefe flacks of mer- cury i it is fecn, when you will have flacks of other matters than ufualiy they belong thereunto, then the mercury of bodies is rou2ed, which by the work is nothing elfe but a clofure and ftreani , tor \i you can conveniently get away the flacks, then you may perform and accomplifli Ibmething clfe with the Are of mercury, and it is neither ufual nor artihcial to deal much in cold tire :f6me Miners call it MijpucVsl-.Ndils £ns^ that Latlne name they put upon : it is true, it is vejyhard knit together, it is ditHcult to dig it , and to make its oiir to. good, and Antimony alfo is hard- ly gotten from other metals ("except from Sol) without damage : however, with advantage ic may be done curioufly, only you muil be expert in A^tJmwies qualities, i: or they belong toge- ther and are joyned , as Tin and Lead , Ji^if- mtith or MjiinefiJ' among or ^betwixt Iron and Copper. This IS a good diredionj and is (ufHci- \^ ' ' ent WiOandTeflament. J 3 ent for fuch, who know what belongs to. meiN ing. '•■■'■ —rrw. —— M,/;::- CHAP. XII. Of pcrfecimetah T I If 7 Ho could tell what gold and filver were, V. V it they were not known hi their- perfe^ jftion, for when they are perfed:, it appeareth, when they have their colour, their weight, their malleablenels, their flux and hafdtiefs i and this perfed metal Nature hath produced compadly and purely ^ for (iich perfect, pure, and compad: ,old is iound in Hungary^ in the white.marble^ which prefently may be broken, as alfo filver, copper: the difference betwixt the pcrfedtand Dure is,becaufe metals are not pure before they zvq Derfcdt --i and fo there may b^ a pcrted oar^ which s not pure : which defed is found in manyof our nctals, which come to their pertedion alToon as n any other Forreign. pajrts, but in their perfed: Durity they are defedlive fometimes. This is to be loted by this metaUa body murt hril: be •perked, or Drought to its perfedion, before it can be fixtiand t is of great conccrnment.to know rightly what ixednels meaneth. A body which hath its due tindure, weight, md graduation, yet it hath mixed other obltru- '^ive impurities, here comes the work, and nature )egins to copulate theie two, tindure and gra- lation brings the metal into a purifying *, this pu- ifynig is hxation : for pure is as much as tix.And :iote, that the ground of the flrft is the body, D whidi 34 Bafiliui Vahntinn^ hU lajl which is a fccret, into that I muft bring the tin dlure and gradation as well as lean, and take thejni tind:ure from Sol^ which is a thing feafable : then is it an E/£^r«w, which is a water , for in water f it abideth, then I take its ponderohty for it, and jj! bring it into an Okum^ or into a Sulphur^ the bo dy remaineth ftill, for in the afcenfion mercury }e lyeth the foundation of the body, as an Embrion^ to it comes ponderofity, which maketh itformal^ then comes Luhrkum^ after that comes the Vola- tile with the tincture, and perfedteth all the reft ic hath need ot to its perfedion. Why doth rea- fon play the fool in defpiiing the ways of nature, llpt obfcrving her courle ? For behold how won- derfully ihe bringeth rednefle into copper, turn- ing it into bralTe, but is not fixt, becauieitwas not her intent , it is a mcer colour which all other oars ealily imbrace, but is not iixt, which colour is eafily driven away with wood and coal- fire. Therefore it is a thing of great concern- ment to iearn rightly to know the bodies \ for at dilToiutions the property of a pure metal is known, what its tincti re, body, fait, and ponde- rofity is, efpecially if exadly be coniidered the anatomy ot all bodies after the Chymick way, how curioufly and properly are they anatomized ; w^e call the immature Ibirit, a fpirit of mercury > the perfed tindlure we call an knima^ or Sulphur, the ponderofity is called the fait or body, for the After-work conlirmeth the fame, that that fixati- on doth not only hold ni the fire, and all corro- five waters, efpecially that of Saturn-^ which is a precious one, more than other Aqua-fortis, but better in the malleableiieiTe without the §l^ari \ it holdeth alfo in the cement, becaufe it comes out will and Teilament. 3 5 mt of it. Therefore it is to be admired, why nen talk (b Itrangly of it, when they know no- hing of it, from whence it is, or what thecaufe tf it is ! But it is fo, the one hearkneth to the 'ale of the other, and know no more than they ave from hear-faying s for they know not what fay, nor how to help what the work aileth, 1 out of tune and difordered •, and if any fix nd lafting medicine is to be made, then that letal is beft, even as a vegetable which is come 3 its maturity. This procelTe muft be obfcrved, Ifc all labour is in^ vain. For how can ye de- ri;y the body of a tiling that hath no body, Tjch lelTe can you have the tindure of it, before comes into the body : a tinware may b^ gotten om it, but not all the colours of that tindlure : er- exac^neiTe mufr be ufed, becau(e it is the rcateil: skill to do fo. On^ thing more I mufl .eds fpeak of, thofe that aim meerly with a reat and deep longing at riches (hould view ■ods myllerics every where , if they compare le Scripture rightly, will hnd an inftrucSion, lat a (piritualty is held forth in an earthly thing: a metal be brought out of tb.e earth, and out -. its Officina^ like a man that is fet into another X. it abideth and liveth without food, is not .ad, but is alive '■> though it doth not ad, yet it it:th, and may foon be awakened : thus we 3pe alio, that in the other eternal life, where lere is Sahbathiim & Sahhnthi^ things will hz Dne in a more glorious way. God maketh uie f us here for his prai(e, to make ufe of metals in lat kind : it will not be for our mifule and dii- :ace,but rather put greater honour upon us,more lau ever we put upon metals. D 2 CHAP. 3 6 Bafilius Vahnun^s his'Iajl CHAP. XIII. Of hnfofcci.nutaU 1* He imperfedi: metal \% the wildeit among, all the reft v becauie tt'containcth all impurities with a confafed mixture. Ufually there is iet in a work of many pieces, which no man yet know eth ^hat they are, ' in which you rind matters joyiied, which are prepared and. unprepared of many bodies. Now if you will reduce that mat ter and cleaafe its metal, then the unprepared matter muft hril be wafhed away, and regard not the matter fb much as :the metal, which is yet tender and young in it, you muft not calcine it> but another lire belongeth to it. This perfedrion coniifts in nine fevaal pieces, which muil be well conlidered;, each muft be handled as it ought , if io be, the;' metal (hall not Dalfcr any wrong and damage. Firlt^ conrid^r.WLll, .whetlier tlie oar bs in afceniion or dcfceniiou, then you may help its co- lour and whole body : for that metal, which is in its alcenfion muft be aided in its /j/i/^w, but the> metal, which is in its dicfcenrion mull be helped with S:f}liiim^ cKc it clyetli away, becaufe it is not pcifecled in its due place and (?j^>i>2j •, and that iU(ital is in a form accordingly. Thus maKc your proof, and be in your After-work the mere incou raged. . Seconclly, you muft take nohce of the nourifii-l ment or tood, which as I may fay, is notfullyj digefied , further the lame in its concoclion, elfe the excrements cannot well be gotten, 0!fJ will and Tejlament, 3 7 off, v/hich would be the caufe of unmalleable' tiefs. Thirdly, yci muft take notice of the Alix, that which is fluid muft be fried : for if both fluxes {hould be opened, they v/ould hardly be con- gealed again. For to diiTolve a new running Mercury of bodies, which per fe are running,- would prove a mecr duft andatome. Fourthly, remember the hardness or fixation of it, in what degree of afcenlion or defcenfion it is, that you niay add thereunto, an equal iirc- of its body : for cinders requireth one fort of tire, and ////igi,j/(?x,requixeth another kind of fire, and calcination mult have a due .fire : then your proceedings will be right, if you know the pro- per condition of fuch bodies, elfe'Jyou wrong them, by making it brittle, and flyeth off at a fe- cond calling. Fifthly,make a true diftindion betwixt the two imperfedions : from thence this metal hath its name i the one is of the body, the other is of, the inftrument : firft, take in hand the inftrument, and endeavour to help the body in the .preparati- on, and ftay its flux or running into another, and you drive the Sebwaden^ or the cuticle of the feed^ then goeth the cuticle of the feed, and the Fetch .or lite. Sixthly, confider that fire, which nature hath, -that you do not incroach or intrench too far upon the bodies : direcT: and order all your work upon the Vredines or foap, joyn it with your fire to the inftrument of the body. •v Seventhly,you ought to be inftruded well about \ \}at tindure of tjie Elecirums^ that you put not oif SjI mftead of Luna yhcc^uCc you.^re .^lot D ::» ex- 58 BafiJm'^^alentinmhU h^ experienced enough in the fleeping tin(ftare or co- lourj which you are to awaken in the defcenfion, or when in the alcenfion you are to llrengthen and to keep them. Painters have a term in their profefsion which they call elevating and fhadow- ing) the fame you muil apply here to bodies, when they are in their perfedlion : therefore anatomize the bodies. Eighthly, we (ee Limners to mingle their co- lours with water and oil, and fo carry them on, you mufr learn a due preparation of the water, to imbibe the colour, which is a metalline wa- ter, whereby you corrode with not deftroying the colours, w^ ich you intend to have, it" you make aie of any other water btfides this, then all your labour is in vain \ cool with oil, then it re- maineth pure, and thus you have mucli ftrength- ened the Foiium* Laflly, take notice that the metal be ftraight- eitcd (b , that it look for no more food. All fuch things belonging thereunto you Hnd enough by this inibument, or not far off from if, or elie you may bring it caiily thereunto : all will be but impertedf, therefore put your help to it,you have natures halt work for advantage, with great pity it hath often been beheld, how fuch noble and pretious initruments Iiave been confumed in fire , which could have been for feveral good ufes, the workmen in their carelefsnefs not re- garding them. All other metals belong unto < this : for very (eldome is found a whole perted: metal, which fhould not want one help or other. He that is acquainted with thefe .will per- form thefe works with greatet advantage and more utility. F»r there murt be extant a per- fedrnefs. Will and TejiamenU 3 p ^cdncfs, if any thing (hall be purged, €0 that ano- ther pure or fix thing be brought in, be it the cO' lour or pondcroiity. CHAP. XIV. Of the Soap-metal^ or Metallum Urcdinuna. 1' F our upper Eleinents could not make a metal i to be nianifeft and apparent to us, who would have undertaken to work any metal. The great heat and cold which is under the ground i$ the caule of the body of metal, according to the predominancy of that heat and cold which is in the body. Tiie deeper the heat or cold is in that body, the fairer is its tin(^ure > this is a true fay- ing, But what this heat or cold is above, and what is attributed to the Plai:>et above, under- {landing men muft know it. At tirrt when the Ferch goeth forth, and goeth along through the earth with the fced in its fir- mamental officina^ then it comes forth fometimes, as far as its breathing may reach before it be in- fringed and allayed j it ftiil carrieth fome of the purert metal, and the fuperiour elements atford their virtue for their joyning : for where the ele- ments are in a conjundion, there they make a bo- dy, and force fomething from the F^rc^, then it rifeth and falleth, as it falls, fo it lieth (till, this is the reafon why the corns are fo Itrangely falhion- ed, they are either round or oval, and fo come to the metal accordingly, and is found : fometimes it falleth into the water, where it was catcht and overtaken^ but molt of all it loveth to be in the D 4 Vcdinu 40 Bafilmydentinu^hh h^ Vredbies >or: foap, hence got- that name. Soaps- are mineral lprings,whcre the metal loveth to lye, thefe fpring from below,and thefe are foundfome- times wholly gilded over, and they caft upward taps of fuch colour.In thisCountry fuch fprings are near Rivers, at the toot of Mountains, but in the Almen they are on the top of the (bap as it were uplide down, on thefe iticketh the Ferch which paiTeth by it, or the air which forceth it from it. The whole bufinefs lyeth in the metalline waters as they are dillblved in their falts, thus they eafily imbrace the Fernh^ or the metal of that Fcrch and feed which it carrieth forth, and that goeth tor the beft Tin which is on the foap, being of an iron (hot, which iron is of feveral djifcrent de- grees, but here in this place it^is not energetical, as being obftruded by two parties. Firft, the water is an obllrudion unto it, for oar mull give way to water, it is carried away : fuch foap oar is fedome found by the Vndines^ or in the foap. Secondly, this Scohes powder or duft is not in its right officina^ becaufe it is not in this fubterra- nean air and element, where the lingular officina of metal is, and in this manner of condition are almoft all the (oap-metals in Europe^ but in other •Countries where there are none, or very few of •the(e nether mcta!s, if there be found any of ■ them in the Dam earth of the highell or upper- moft metal, then is^it another matter, needs not • to be related here, becaufe it fcrv^eth not for our ' work. Such metals are the bell, becaufe thty ' lye dcepell at the metal 5. and if you intrench too. Inigh unto them with the. fire, then they £ye away twitk' thec'f £rc/:?5 by reafbn of their tranlcendent ' V •' .Av ,; lupcr- JVill and Te^amen t. 4 c ^uperfineneis: therefore when this ponderous Ycrcb and feed is, grown very hot in both heats of his work,c(peciallyin the dcfcenlion^then is it mighti- ly firengthened , in the confuming it groweth more hcmogeneal to the upper Mercuries of the earth and its inftrument, therefore it doth afTo- date thereunto, and obtaineth a going again, and this is the ground of alcending and going up- ward, befides or without of the nffichtjt as much as is known. CHAP. XV. Of inhjlatlon or inhrejthir.g. IT is a curious work to build after-clefts and pafTages, for it feemcth a thingjto be credited, that in them the breathings have more their going in and out than through the whole earth belides, but it is not advifable to take fuch fetches about, becaufe there is a nearer way unto it, namely, unto the metals, as if one would go to the well, and goeth all the ftreams down, through and by all the fp^ings, whereas there is a nearer way to go the foot-path, the fame condition it hath with the halations and breathings, becaufe the fumes and vapours lye therein,and are obltruclive rather to the breathing, than helpful. Therefore look not (o much upon clefts and palTages, but rather upon the halations or breatiiings, which keep their ftroak throughout the earth, becaufe the ! fame doth not hinder its courfe,as men may deem. For we mufc know that the oars do breath only I under groui]d, and (hJe breathings are orderly diUin- \i 4^ l^^filiusl^aJentirmhis hft ' ciiiliiigulflied. This is a remarkable thing, that oars breath from below where they are, and this is the difference betwixt the halation, vapour, fume, or breath, which goeth oblique, the crofs way, lateral way, or afar oif. Th,ret"ore here is • to be fpoken of that inhalation, when li goeth in its own ilrcngth, what it fheweth and figniheth, t:.': fume is lent unto the metal from the fuperiour fiiir layes, from thence (lie may have what fhc v/ill, and what (he hath need of for her fuftcn- J.:t;on, that brin^^eth the nourifhment, and driv- C-?. all downvvarsi co the metal and the lower pi .'.nets, but no farther than upon the earth, but though the Dam earth pr amm tcrr^^ there the oar or metal receiveth the inhalation, which arif-eth from the work, mar^eth uIL of it : for it is manifeft that the elements cannot reach deep into the ground. Seeing the halations are invi- lible, whofe being cannot be ieen iiiThem, a mans breath can fooner be difcerned and feen^ than the halation may •? which may be known byaiv;t- ten^ when a metal worketh, then it breatheth, which breath i.t draweth again, and fo forth : then the Sun muil: come in to help, for if the Sy- Jleme is at the inhalation, which muft be known artificially, there is the purell: earth, from whence man is taken,as fome ancient writers do conceive, which earth containeth many hidden virtue^ in the after work of Metals. This inhalation fcrveth chiefly for thit purpofe as you heard, to draw, f wallow, and take down the food into the body^ For you muft not think, that fne lets it lye in the body, after fhe hath brought it in, but it is a Vii retentive to keep that faft, which it drunk in, and to that end (he prepareth in that whole journey from • TVill and TeBament. 43 from that place where (he recciveth or borroweth gf the Sun, which drivcth down all pondcroi:. things, as we fee by all fuch juyes and (aps wh' are driven downward \ in this drawing down . . hath this quality, what Taps or juyces it taketh, the Tame fink down deeper more and mere, and fublimcth them the more highly into its flores* But this I call flores^ when it cannot fuhlime any further, and brings it at lafl: to a garment cr body otf a metal. He that knoweth thefe flowers rightly, he hath learned fomething of nature, and he that know- eth of what they are made, h^ is come yet fur- ther \ but fiich flowers are made naturally of mean ftuif, which worketh . by a threefold fire, among which the inhalations fire is not the mean- eft, but the chiefeft, becaufe it is the next unto perfection. But this breatfiing is more a fiery aerial heat, than it hath of any hre, becaufe it : flameth without any kindling , otherwifc it would combure the nutriment in the officina^ (he concealeth rather, kcepeth things together, and flrengtheneth them, itexpelleth humidities and vapours-, and confequently it cauleth thofe evil vapours, fumes, and breaths, which poifon the whole earth below, and are the caufe of many dangerous difeafes, as it hath been known. CHAP. XVL • Of exhalations or out-hnathings* CEeing, ftirring, and moving, muft be continu- ally at the metalline work as long as the me- tal 44 I^afilm Va. leh th.iv. his laft tal attradu^th, and efpccially the in moving or • taking into, Iience the next inhalation of the liv- ing oar mull be jftronger, therefore Nature affords iOy that becaufe the halations can come no fur- ther in the metal , becaufe metal is the end ot the work under ground, that t;hen the exha- lations mull: draw on, and mult turn into the metal, the return of that metals breathing from below into a true natural breathing of metals growethloftnmg, t'lat it kjndleth, yet without a light or Hamc, but gloweth without a flame or light, and purgeth that which is to be purged in the work, not oAly in the work in the officina^ but in the whole matter, till fte heaveth and protrud- cch the pure atomes of the earth, which the Sua gloriouily dilTolvcth again into juyces ^ for the atomes are the flowers of the terrene-ialt , (he cannot indure them, neither are they ufeful in the earth, but muft be difTjlved again in the uppex airi but this exhalation, though it be always about the metal, yet is it apparent in its liotten ox Kubed'j^ what the oar doth, then the breathing feizeth on the Rotten or Kiibcdh and kindleth them, then is the metal in its decay or decreaie, and is a dead, metal, and molt of the lire goeth forth, which kindleth this Ked^ and the cold iiiy- eth by the nether metal, which groweth predomi- nant, hence w^e fee what Vredines are able to do, when they are predominant , in metals, then the cold gets the upper hand, and difgraceth the oar, bringing it as low as lead ^ but if heat get the upper hand, then the metal groweth higher and higher, and more lively. This is the difference betwixt the heat of hres,which is called Vredines^ the vehicle.of that heat is the inlfrument or anat- ter will and Trjidment. 45 'ter which aflfbrdeth the place oVit.Yo'^Vredbics are 'the caufeoffome thing, but fire deitroyeth it,oi the Vredlnes maybe without the hre,& above the fire. TheiTioft ancient Philolbphers call it ccflcjhs&i/t' fernaics vires h for it is apparent in gold, that fire cannot prevail againli it, but only againfl the tlux of it, and canrot confume it, and the Mercury cannot hurt neither, only he bringeth hardncis unto it, which is good, -but to vvhat purpoie ^ for he is not turned to any filver i both thete ■breathings, upper and nether, in and out-breath- ing comes all to one, and is not only its quality to fhew and make known the metal and oar, but pafTeth through the earth alfo, to keep them from turning into ftoncs, to tlay aiid keep them porous one upon another, and to make them pure : for itpurgeth the earth, as the fcl.rr breathing above doth the air,&asthcfame breathing above bring- eth and caufeth wind, mifr, rain, hoar froft,fnow, even fothe fnbterranean breathingcaufeth vapors, fumes,breaths,faps, minerals, foaps,d^c. and bring- '.eth forth gold out of their ieed. He that under- ftandeth thefe nether, upper, and other metors, he may make all manner of quick After-works i For Art treadeth into the foot-lreps of Nature. ^ CHAP. XV \h Of corrufcation-i or of adhahtlon-, or to breathing or glittering. Miners feeing this breathing afcend by night; like a dame, they count that only a breath- ing,andnone eKK which ^fr/e is not a true breath- ings 4^ BafiUus Valentinm his lafi ing, but only a corrufcdtion^ for it burneth away the excrements, not wholly, only fuch things that are naught and poifonoiis, purgeth the air from the fame (link ■-, for where (hould the cuti- cle of the feed get out, if *it fhould not be carri- ed forth, partly by this flame of fire, and partly by the water ? For this ftink weakeneth the oar mightily, efpecially it (poils its colour, whereas it may eafily be burned or wafhed away, before it groweth to fuch a ftink, be it in fofih or li- quours. This breathing or gliftering ftrength- eneth the cinders, it toucheth them not in a way of heat, but in a way of fire, and is not an up- boiling, but a burning unto. Seeing this ftuff which this corrufcation feiz- ethon, is found often in a place where no metals are, therefore is it very deceitful, however com- monly and for the moii part of a metalline breath* For note the metal never aflfords or caft- eth any flame,neither doth it confume in burnmg, but flyeth away and vanifheth, you cannot know which way if is gone s therefore thefe exuvis f^ermatU-, or husks of the feed, is a greater infedi- on, and plainer evidence, that there is an oar at hands becaufe ir maketh many glorious things apparent, which the fire fcizeth on, it mufr not quite be melted from , its outgoing is a fign that it doth no good by the m.tals, neither can it ihy with it, unlefs it fiick tioie# Here you may obferve again,that fire doth not good to me- tals, but a warmth which doth not come from fire, as a natural heat is in man without fire i for where are the coals which nature ufeth for oars, yet is it hot ? where is there any better blail to make things congeal ? A cold without a trolt is ano- will and Te^ament'. 4? another matter, as it appeareth in Pearls. I call it Vrcdlncs^ as a warmth without an heat, yea> this heat and froll cauieth a food unto hre, it can- not indure it any where about it , therefore if you bring a metal into its heat and cold, then you have already a ground for the After work '-> you have litilc learning or skill, if you do not know io much CHAP. XVIII. 0/Folium Qc Spoil um •, or of the Schimmer ajid Glimmer. •T He fecond or other thing which apparently i (hews and diitinguilheth metals, is the co- [our. The condition of colour is this, that they are not fo difcernabie, by reafon of their dark- iic(s, in which they naturally are, they are eleva^ red and brought to a Folium , or are exalted through a Folium^ as an obfcure and untranfpa- fcnt folium doth the fame in a lucidum & tranflu-- v.idum corpus -i the fame mufi a tranlparent /y/i///^» lo in a thick body, as m^ctals are an opacum corpm-i Lining like the moon with a borrowed light into he body, and the folium giveth it forth out^ of ■hat body. Such a folium or glitter may be made artiiicial- y, but nature fheweth that it may be had from a Volatile '■> though it be true, that that Volatile may lot be bad, unlefs in its feed and body : yet it is bon extant with the body , for he that knoweth dot the condition of the folium^ he canneithei" rthe flux nor congelation bring any oar or me- tal 4 ^ BajiUus Valentims his lafl tal into its true tindrure ;, the condition of this Folium is, that it is as thin as' any leaf in the world can be, of thcfe leaves is compofed a me^ tilline body. Countcrteit Chymifis bufie themfdves ' very iimch with their StraUims , SupcrflratHms^ but here it is naturally thinner than beaten^old, and this is called opaca. fcr^icuita^^ an in brought leaf, i\ox. gilded in, or lilvered. Here li eth a carious skill for tinging, with this leaf, jf brought into the Glimmer h one knowledge is the caufe of ano ther, and as it is (een in a glowing and glittering iplendour, that there is no cxhvi£ .Jpermat'j^ or hull of the feed at hand, neither may it be known in any fdhim or jpoliiim , by its jf'Ccuhtm^s or night lights , to prepare that leaf and jp: Imm^ which foon doth louicn and free it felf, and this is ihe chicieft thing, tor it goeth off with the worii pollen, and comes on alfo, and mult fettle and reft. . ': \v.\^.:. CHAP, XIX. L )f fi^Uginous vapours and .ajhcs* Touching the white foot of me.tals, which is a precious garment to iilver, it" only brought into Mercuries,\ wonderful to behold, .tllat, iix corruption of metals and of the hdi bodies fl\oiiid attbrd the higheli: and the uppermoil turu ii) be the lowermpit, where thefe foots are found iurely there is metal at hand alfo i. Luitkirand more natural is hardly feen, then there is in Siy^ ria where they .make good iteel ot- it.: ; Jn iFaUa-. chi^ Will and Tell dment. *4^ chh it breaketh or is found near lilver, and this is the fureft thing in the metalline work,as well in the Natural, as in the After-work, which feemeth moil incredible unto the people ^ and again, that which is moft uncertain proveth to be moil cer- tains the reafon of it is, becaule they know and underhand it not better. Miners have in their clefts and palTages things hanging and lying, in which great matters might be had and found, but require great toil, and is a dangerous work by reafon of their poifon. Though the Halation and breathing goeth along^ yet it carrieth many thing with it, which hardly may be gotten from it, neither doth it quit the pain andexpences. Miners call the matter after their way indifcreet- ly and inconiiderately, as the greedy Alchymifts fiippofe, that when men (peak of the Mercury of bodies, to be the Mercury of metals \ or the ialt? of bodies, to be a fait like other common fait h Afhes of Saturn are feen here neatly, before they come or go any higher, and before they do turn unto filver, for foon do they imbrace Antimony v the fame the congealed water or coagulated Sa- turn hath likewKe, and is a pure proof to all me- tals, and groweth deep. Then there is a pure Wifmuth, which is grois, containeth a congealed water of Saturne-, which is found alfo with great gain about metals, when they are reduced to their hrft matter, then it jfcendcth into a glais metalline work,and the a(h- work ceafeth.Chymifisin old times,and now al fb made themfelves very buiie with their fait, to Tiake all bodies potable thereby, having reduced hem hrft into (alts ; but here is an alhurh out of *r(hes , which afhes afford fahs , which is but E in 5 o Baflius f^alentinus his lajl m vain h for aihes are garments, intimating and pointing at the thing which is clad, and the oar cloathcth It felf wich it, when it is coming near the day. The condition of Potabilia is other- wife, they muft be brought into potablenefs, and is done in a clean contrary way than they go to work with. But thefe are lerved well enough, that goc for nothmg but for gold , Nature giveth to (uch thefe garments ', it giveth the llip before men are aware of, I mean the body, therefore look well unto bodies. CHAP. XX. Of Scobes and metalline n>jtci\ of the Schlich am lye (Lixivium.) ^l Ature in her work mult frill have an increafe ^ and decreafe, fome things are coming, and oth-.rs are going v and as above ground at the mt^iting, and at the hammer metals do lofe fume- what, io it is under ground. But how thefe (ub- ' terranean decreaf^s are difcerned , which like crums of bre^d (hould be prcferved. Nature be-^ ing provident keeps them together alfb, bringing them unto the day liglit, that they might be brought to good, and that metal is known aifo to he under that ground by the Scobs or A%/i which it excerneth, namely, the rocks, ftones, [ flints, which fucked nature dry in her work, thcic are tlie otfals, if empty of metals, and if fome good oar be in it, then that may well be |j called Sehlicb or fiiding, becaufe it fudeth away from tne work, ic frealcth away, where fuch |j Aiding will and Te^ament. ^i Aiding is, take notice of it/or it breaks offtiom the matter in the officlna^ wherein metals are in their work, and perform their office,and that Schlich oic Hiding is a fure fign that metils are in that place- So the Lixzx/f//w alfo, or metalline water is a fure forerunner of metals, and it difTolveth ftill in the work, and loofeneth fomewhat from the ;metals, in which there is a Scbnede and vertue : for as I have faid, when I made mention of mi- nerals, where there are fojfilia m'lneralia^ there is fure a Mine-work. And where ilich minerals are, they foon diiTolve into a water of Lixivium : and this is the difference betwixt the water and the Lixivium '■> water affords only the mineral, and the metals allow the flowers thereunto, oat of thefe comes a Lixivium : the effed of this Water and Lixivium is well known, for they car- ry in a hidden way flowers or tind:ures of oars. The Cement or Lixivium ^tSchjvelnitz in Hunga- ^y corrodcth iron into a Schlich or iTiding :, and that iron Aiding is taken again out of the Dray, and is cafr, then is it good' Mercury. There ire more of fuch Lixiviums , but men regard rhem not, that water alio Is a fign of a very pure oiineral , for let us conhder the water at G^flzry ioth it not yield pure white and red Vitriol ^ and n feveral other places there is found good cop- per, filver, and lead : out of thefe waters may >e had again minerals, as you pleafe or intend to lave them, without any great pains-taking. For fa mineral is exficcated, then'it hath no more fie ftrength to run forth, but groweth tough, and iS dried up finking into the ground. " There ire waters in Hungary^ favouring of Sulphur and' ^llom, which afford ll:ore of gold and copper v E 2 aliumi- 51 Bafiiius VdeniinttS hh la^ alluminous water in Mifnia. afford filver and cop per > the waters in Bohemia which tafte of faHtcx Or iron, afford feveral forts of roetal,except gold. The Mints in ^fjrzV have their fpecial metalline waters and lixivutms , befides other excellent Mine-works, infomuch that the whole Mines are of meer lieel, copper, gold, filvcr, quickfilver, and other things-mens hearts may wifh for. The fait waters at fV<:?;/ci^e;^/7o//y^, do they not llgniiie that there are curious Mnie-works there ? which if the inhabitant took more notice of, and were more known, what gains could they not make of them ? The more thele waters are running, the better they ferve for many ufes \ if they are ftanding, itis a fign that there are evil andi bad minerals at hand } and that there are cide, ma- ters, and minerals that were gone and left behind in abundance, of (ediments and fumes. Take heed of thefe. CHAP. XXL Of Scoria ^/^^i Exuvium, of the feed andh^fU of the feed* THe utmoft, and laft decreaife, and diminution of metals is cinder, which is very good and harmlefs. I mean that cinder which metals put off by their Vredincs or foaps. For the cxuvium or husk which the corrufcation or by-breathing leaveth behind," and is like unto a cinder, is ano- ther (brt of cinder, like unto that which comes from the forges of Smiths and Melters j for be- fides tliat they weigh their bodies, they clcanfc them will and Tefiament. 5 J them alfo, tho igb the lye doth purge the Maie- rals and colours, yet themfelves alfo do purge, aS iUecn by the cinders which every metal leavcth behind in the Hre, which however are not Ifke unto this. By this cmdcr it is £cQn alfo, that there are metals at hand > for the cinders of Mi- nerals, which the corrufcation caufeth, are pal- pable, known, and vifible : Underftanding Mi- ners know the fame h There is a metalline cinder among the llacks, but not known, which is the reafon why llacks are fo brittle,elfe they would be malleable, or elfe they could be caft ^ompaCt^fome have undertaken that work, but they could not get off thefe cinders. Touching the Schrvadenox Husks, thefe do fairly intimate the departing of the feed, and of the work of all bodies : for when the ball ceaG' cth to work, and hath no more food, neither of the minerals, nor of the bodies, and now the Fa- Imm is gone into SpolmnZ:, then it is at feparating, and breaketh the band of the leaf 'and feed,which is called the Schwaden or Husk^ it is anextream poifon, it deftroyeth all that liveth, efpccially breathing things •, for it is its intent to return thi- ther againi therefore to what place foever it com- €th, finding things tliat move and ftir, the fame it deitroyeth, and it felf alfo s and af laft, it return* eth to the officina of the feed, helps to glue on and imbibe, and turns to be a band again. Where fuch poifon is, be fure that there was (ilver and metal there, but never in that place, where it went forth, and is turned into another thing » for after the decay of each body, and of its leaf, and after the oli-plucking a lingular husk, the lafr it raaketh is the tiercelt '•> for there it lyech E 2 like 54 Bafilml'^dentinmhU U^ like a Sfecuhm upon the water, and eafily tum- eth into nouriftiments, which is thercafonwhy it turneth (b fooii to the metals, and Co the nou- rifhments are iiiieded contrary to their quality,: that it wandereth (6 up and down is the reafon, becaufe it containeth (bme of the feed and of the life, and is the untowardnefs : for the feed mull have fomething in which it may lye, which if it be not one of the bodies of the feven metals, then • 19 it fiich a poifon or husk, this is the skin wherein it containeth irfclfi fo long till the cor- rufcatibn forceth it away, which then is death unto it 4-- . ' 'j -A I'il ,cl:&\ -. . — "^^ """ ' >bii^ ,b.r CHAP. XXII. Of'thejhimng rod^ or of the fire rod* HE- that intehds-to meddle with rods, muft • rriotifollow after his own fancy, nor bring ilovdttiesi^tnto Mine-works out of his fuppofiti- ®iiW - fpor nature indureth not to be curb'd in her ordei-y -but max mui\ be regulated according to NatLirc. Concerning the rod, good notice muft be taken of the Breathing, and this Lucens vir* g^^/j-^-or iire-rod is ordered upon the operative and attrad:ive breathing •, for if it were ftrong, though it doth not kindle, yet it doth its office, through and by a heat appropriated to its quali- ty. A great heat in a furnace puts out a (mall heat, light , or fire , the fame effed hath this breathing upon this Rod, which being kindled and ftuck in, is put out, no upper air or wind can hurt it 5 for our upper fire cannot Kve or burn runed will and TefiamnH. 5>T Lindcr ground, for ';if a light or candle be hiC cgainft a (lone or earth, it is put out, Ixcaufe it cannot fall in. It atttadeth the nutriment, which maketh this Rod burn, and fucks it dry. This is remarkable in the matter of this Rod, that it hath an unduoiity which doth not burn, • as the feeds husk is, who(e poifon put out lights under ground in an extraordinary manner- And the breathing above ground doth the fame in a peculiar manner. Few Miners know this fire, and is the only means whereby the inhalation is known. This hre-work, thus extraded, is of fpeclalufe in Mines, and then in the After-work is of feveral ufe for m.etals^ of the which -more in its due place : to defcry fire by fire is no mean skill,and the fabterranean fire can in no other way be maftered. Ancient Philofophers have written much of it : how fuperiour elements liiake their jundture with the nether, intimating alio that by the means of the middle, £lements mixik. be learn- ed the emergy of the fuperiour aud (ubterranean. For they are fpirits which joyn the fouls above the groiler bodies below, elfe nothing could have any luccefs within the earth, and tor their ops- ration there mufl be a med'mm^ a gluten : to tyd' and bind fire with fire, is a firange maxime, but is a true one : hence cometh a refer ve of fire, which never burneth -, all three mufi be together : for the upper is the light fire^ and the metal is the flame-fire, and the nether is the burning fire. This we (hall know at the great day in the other life, v/hereGod will feparatc the burning from the flame, when it flametli \ then will the burn- ing confume Hell, and Hell will foon be burned away , neither will there be any clcarnels, but E 4 dark- darknefs, becaufc God beftoweth the light upon his chofcii ones, which is neither a flame nor a burning 5 here thefe mult fland together. Be ac- quainted with its friendhnels and friend{hip,make it thy advantage, which is abitrufely hid, and go- eth invilibly. CHAP. XXIII. Of the glor/mg Rod. BEcaiifi the fiirring of the Rod is fallen into abufe among many people 5 however it is a fundamental way to know and to bring forth the metals, if duly and naturally ufcd. It is an un- deniable truth, as I made mention of it afore, that metals do breath, and the fame breathing is invifible > the bell means to learn it is the Rod, this is the rcafon why I call this rod the glowing rod, becaufc it revealeth and (hewcth the exhala- tion of metals, which exhalation is of a fiery heat, though it calteth neither flame nor {parks, yet it is of fuch an heat, that it gloweth in its «nanner , and brmgs the rod into a glowing, which is an mfallible lign that there is a living metal at hand. This rod, if it fnould be more glowing without a flame, there mufl: be ufed fpe- cial matter, which rcceiveth that Are, elfe it can- not be done with any utility. Concerning that - rod •, it is a itick or Itaif, of the length of half an ell, of hard wood, as of oak, unto jt is fafren- ed the matter, even as a torch or link is made oj pitch or wax : this matter mult be of an undfu- cus matter, either ot an animal, vegetable, or fbnic- JVill andTeflamnt. 57 fomewhat elfe, whicli is upon or above groand •, it muft not be too ftrong, otherwife it fetsthe breathing on fire v no talk, wax, pitch, or refcin is fit to be uled, nor any mineral, othervvife that breath, mineral, or metal would i-wt its food on fire, and confume it ^ it muft be ^ calx of earth, which catcheth that heat (iiddenly, and fmothers in a heat as calx doth above ground, b:ing moift- iied, it falls thus hot off from the rod. This lime, burnt above by breathing, is good for fevc- ral ufes. But this breathing doth not feize on the undtuofity or Mine-wax *, elfc how could the nou- rifhment of minerals profper ? Miners call it a Spath^ a true calx of the earth. It is not corroded and feized on under ground, .becaufe it hath too much of humidity. Some call it a Mine Mer- mel or fubterranean Mermel^ but is no fuch mat- ter, becaufe he doth not indure the weather above ground, cxliccateth, and by breathing is kindled at laft. The huge Mountains in Norrpay^ the oars in Srpedeland^ feize on it and corrode it, they are full of Spath or calx, in their glowing they grow hol- low ^ for if they were in a flame, that land hid been confumed long ago. For as foon as that Earth-water comes torth from this Spath^ and the exliccating earth cometh forth alfb, then the hid- den fire ialls into their places. CHAP. * ^ Bafilius raJenthitti his M CHAP. -XXIV. Of the I u ping Kod^ \7 \I Hi1ft metal is in its pnriiication, that it ^ neither rjfeth nor movetli, then it hath its breathing the fame as it is of a lingular condi- tion, muft be di (covered and let forth by a lingu-- hr Rod -, which Rod is of two ilicks held toge^ ther with both hands : vvhere there is fuch a breathing, it lyeth clofe on that Rod, no man is able to hold theie ilicks together, if that breathe ethon them: and if it were a foigle liick, it would break in two, the innea^Uide where this Rod is laid together muft be ai^oirited with Mar- cafite, that breathing draweth it do7/nward,evin as the Magnet is of an attradf ive Ofitaiity, to draw ironv fo draweth the breathing of'fhis oar, the Marcaiite h becauie the condition and property of theMarcafite is to. ft'rengeh.n the "breathing of the purification. There is not a better way -of Rchnlng, as to u(e to each metal its peculiar M$r* cafitej there is a twofold Matciiltc,- out above of the Vredhtos^orupptr elemental- heat', and the other of the nether, of this Ma-rcafite Sr/^j/ic/? or fmali duft is put to the point of the Rod the me- tals breathing caufetH the Rod-to-leapa(under. At melting of oars and metals there mult be added a double llack, an upper and a nether, that thiC metal may bleak the better h the like mufi be ob- ftrved here at this purifying and rr.tining. The Marcafites, becauie fefpecially thole above, not thofe under ground) carry foap -metal, and are pure, help the purityng very much j pure fer- ment iWtR andTeflamenU 5 a mcnt put to dowj fenpenteth the iame quickly > the fame condition is In oars, a fmall addition will further their Rehning. There is a general complaint, that Marcafite requircth a great deal of labour, before it can be brought to any good, -what is 'the reafon ? the true manual is unknown. I call that a manual, when Nature can be afsifted with advantage and ^ Manual^ skill. Add to any metal or oar ^ ^ ^^*^' calcined, which you intend to refine, that is fit to be added, you will quickly fce the eflfed:. I could ipeak of the feveral Marcafites, of the feveral oars and metals, but it is needlefe for the after-works , I would not willingly have perverfe men be ac- quainted with fhefe fecretSy they have it often in their hands, but they do not know what they have j for what . ^*^. ^f'^ffi^^ ^f ' ^i. \A r. £■' ^ ' '^ ^ nmH the Magnet IS the Marcalite or iron ? is it not q^ Load-hone, the Magnet } and what is it of ^e J^arcafite of gold > is it not Laiul ? and fo I*^^ if ^he Lapis torth of the reft. Go down in- ^^^"^* to the Mine, take this r.]le along with thee, then you will come out of it more wife than you went { down, and be thankful for it. CHAP. XXV. Of Furcilla, or of the ftrikjng Rod. AS mans natural breath gpeth in and out, fo is the halation aKb, and it carrieth all the reft. Mans breath when he drinketh wine, fmells not little of it, or after any other hard fented food, this carrieth this breath in and out all other fent- ing ^ o Bafillus f^alentl>m his lafl hig breaths out of mans body r even To do I com- pare this hilation alfo, with a natural quick breath, which carrieth all the rell, that come in the Fercb and feed. So there is no other brick- ing rod for it, but what is of a years growth, which othervvi(e is called a Sommer-hth, this the Miners cut o.f after the ufaal way, and fo iu the Name of God they go.': it it ftrikes in, then is it good s if not, then his unlucky hand and mif- fortnne is blamed, which is hllen upon him, and thinks that his handy-works are not blelTed ^ thus out of a filfe conceit men fuppofe their own apt- neft and difpolition, either hinder or further them therein, not coniidering Gods gifts and blefsing > and the moft of them do not know after what, and^t what, thofe rods do rtrike,they wear it un- der their girdle, or on their hat-band, keep it in a devotion, as their fuperftition leadeth them unto, to get their bread according to their necefsity ; God hath beftowed enough on them, if they knew how to manage their things judicioufly. There is one thing -to be noted alfo, that the feveral airs or breathings have their feveral ope- ra.tions, cfpecially upon aerial things. For Aftro- i:omers appropriate fomc trees and fruits to the air; The upper air hath the upper part of the trees and their fruits, the nether air polTelleth the toot, milketh and attradcth the juyce they yeild, becaufe it is their allotted part, as vvell as the up- per part is allotted for the upper air, where it ef- tedeth the juyce, leaves, fruits, as it is feen, that the blefsing cometh from above at Hrft, which is palpably (cen in propt twigs, they make the twig .and the fruit twiilingly hrm, and this fap fmketa in due time, which is drawn up by degrees by a hot will and Te^ment. 6i j hot air from below, which is the'r food, their work, matter, and all aerial things. Therefore if you take fuch a rod, cfpecially of a Hazel, or of a Kray tree, whofe fap is full, and beareth a pleafant and fweet fruit, it drawcth the fame downward, that the rod muft link and ftrick, it will fuck out the juyce when the rod ftands right on its palTage, this holdeth from above unto this rtation, where the rod ftandeth ftill, that place they call the oars itation, frandint; as firaight as a line. This rod draweth the halation naturally after the fap fo Ibongly, that the rod do:h bow to the halation, and to that earth, unlefs it w^ere fo firongely pinned that it could not bow. It doth not draw obliquely, and ftricketh neither at the upper nor thelower,but at the middle part, which is called the wind, and is good neither for the one, nor for the other, neither doth it breath, thralling together the beams, making their outer rind, according as it is eitler good or bad, fo it hurteth or furt lereth the upper and lower breath- ing. This diltindicn mufi be well obfcrved , the llreams and oars run that way alfo. Hereunto are ufed the tops of Almond-treeS; and of (uch fruit-trees as do conlift of a mear kernel, and an hard fhell j for fuch (bells, and the afhes of fiuch trees, and all that they have, are much aerial and iiery, which ferve belt for the metalline work, and the beft kindling coals are made of them5and are very light. CHAP. 4t BaJiUus ydentinus his laji CHAP. XXVI. , Of Virgula tripidans *, or of the heaving cr trembling Rod* THe breathings driving the fumes together above and below, you muft conceive, that it requireth great skill to difccrnoth.r. breathings troni this s the breathings of the upper Element are jovial, and the nether breathings are jovial alfo, the fame is apparent in their worK. The wind alfo is jiipter^ he fumeth thefe together, and that breathing can hardly be difcerned by the rod : this skill is of an high ftrain : This heaving rod doth (hew the way, it muil: be made of a me- talline lamine, as of lieel, which muft be thrulicd below the dam earth, at the end of that earth thefe breathings and halations come together,and the rod ftirreth, quaketh, which it doth not, un- lefe at fuch a time. The raycs of the infer! our and fuperiour bodies may not be ftayed, but only^ at the work they d.Q (land ^ for at their breathing they have their afceniion and defcenfion, are not held in their life's going, unlcfs by the matter of this rod, there is a knot on that fiick, and it is hollow like a Cane •, this matter of the rod is made of an Elccirttm^ drawn from the beft thin lamins of Luna and S^;/, put into a glafs-head, w^hich hindereth not the breathing, bccaufe it will not be hindered, as a veflcl may, made above ground s therefore look how you thrive, if you drive it in too deep, if you take not matter out of ^he inferiour earth matter, as hath been mention- ed before. The will and Te^amentl 6^ The flrength you perceived oF the Ibriking rod, if there be an aerial halation at hand, you fee how that rod quaketh , for the infcriour afccndeth and toucheth, and the fupcriour de- Icendcth and toucheth likcwKe, which rouzeth as it were the Ferck^ or life and feed of the metal. The liKe appeareth in the clouds, how they move to and fro, before any fnow or other weather comes, and before the vapours be digelied, which [afccndeth : the fame procefs have the halations iubterranean, before they can m.ingle with the fu- pcriour halations, they mufi be pluck'd olf, emalg- :d : it any of them afccnd yet higher, they dii^ folve either into rain, or congeal into fnow jdew, jand hoar- froil:, before they part afunder. CHAP. XXVII, Of the falling llodj or of the nether Kod^ THat there is a peculiar and vehem.ent movini^ quality and power in the breathing and hala- tion upward and downward, which may not be frayed by any oppofition, the famie is apparent in all the vegetables of the world. Rain and great :hick m-ifrs may keep from us the folar fhine, but nothing can ftay this breathing, becaufe it fbfikes diredly thorow, but if it proveth weak in iti tertiiity, it is the fault of the mild air > a (hot out of a gun, if it is to go a great way through the air, is cooled. This is the reafon why the folar beams have not that operation under ground, as they have above it, and hence al(b it is that the xetalline matter is not fo tertile, however they do #4 Bafilius Valentinm hh lafi do what they can, defcend to the metal, where theyroLize a hre and preic.rvcthe fame. Thus the Sun-beams mult eliedl all in a magnificent and glorious manner, not only above to prefer ve with its luflre the lights oi all the rtars,but by day alfo to impart unto the world and men the day- light. By thefe beams it cafts into the earth a difperfed fire, which is advantageous to the pre- fervation of {iibterranean things i they thrult to- gether homogeneal things, and bring metals to a compadnels, that they may be had pure above ground, they relye and lean on them '-y from hence hath the rod its original. For at fome cer-. tain time you fee the Sun draw water (as the vul- gar fpeech isj fo the beams have that quality, they comfort metals by ftricking downward. There Is ufed a flricking rod, above at its twift is left a, part of the fiicK cf three thumbs length, at the off-cutting take out the pith,put fupcrfine Sol into the halation whichgoeth in,pulls the rod in, where the oar is. Thereafonof it is, becaufe the ne- ther breathing of the air is there, and goeth a- gainfr, draweth this breathing, carrieth it down, and the metal within the rod is pulPd down- ward, as it would joyn the (ame with the rell of that body. Thus the breathings and halations are copiilated > the beam muft conceive on the earth, in which it is to operate, it bnngeth no rain to the earth, but the vapours of the earth which rife,the lame make or caufe the rain,Ihovv, and hoar-frcft, bring the fame to the earth, ini^ Libing the lame therewith i the lame operatiort it hath on the fubtcrranean vapours, caufed by the breathing of the metals within '-, in their aiccnllon it makes them heavy, fo that they are able Will and 7>.UweJt^t. 65 able to fall unto Sol, helping the fame in its fertile work. Having accomphfhed its fertility of tht work, then fuch metalline rain fallalfoon the metal, maketh it ponderous, moveth its Ferch in the Liihrimm^ and drawcth the rod down alfo more vehemently than it doth to the ftrJking rod which toucheth not the mctah butmeerljr the breathing, which is not- yet nobilitated through or by halation. This breathing might very well be called a fruitful rain, which thus comfoxtcbly rcfrefheth them i it is notaruning rain, but only a breathing which by the deep glit- tering 5'^?/ is made noble. It knot fiifficiefitly expreired, when- ignorant fimple Miners ufuaiiy fay, that the Sun in her influences worketh gold not telling the manner ot it (as I mademenclon ot but now) themfelves may go yet to fchooi and learn their lelTon better. '- ~:.- luz'.. ^ ~~^ CHAP. XXVIII, Of the Suferkr Kod. AS thePlanets have not their fixed and certain ' Evolution in the lirmament , for ths which hey are called erratick tors, thelelFer remain in heir hxed ftacions : the metalline bodies are of- he ametjuahty ; for they do not ftick clofe unt6 ■odies, butiUeand fall: for that realon I com- pare them to tne various motions of the (tars', bove, their body is rolling and voluble, Icd^ nd tinged by the Fc-ch and Seed, which is K t!ie mol part of the Suns condition. Pla- nts with the Sim are of a (pcciai agreement 't6 BiifiVm f^alentinHS his hH in motu &.lumim , and their body may be faid to bt Luhricum & volatile* ...This Rod is appropriated unto planets which hang their bodies to the feeds as Jong as th^ great breathing of 5^/ holds ftill, and fuiiers hiinftlfto {)£ obfcuri^d, andhemuft fuffer in giving his lu- ftre to the Earth by rain, mill:, and ihow, fc long till he breaks thorow them. So the Bodies alio are corruptible in this upper fire, more than the lower in their work. Therefore fuch a rod muft be applied which I call an upper rod, that the op- pofite breathing of the refleding mettalline beams i^hich were received of the Sun, and ftrengthen- ed again may be returned from the bottome to thcSyflerii-, be it as high as it will, i . . This Firrco or Rod, ' is a twifted tender branch ofa Hazel, which from that twii] on the bulk is hollow three hngers length, for its pith mult be out of it, and the mercury of metals muA be put in, tlie weight of three barley corns or grains : this Rod fiirreth the halation iwm below up- w^ard, this is the condition of this Rod, whereby is known that that metal is of an intirm bodyL wanting the influence of upper planets, being de- ,r, tectiveof theSolax licat, and not of that beJQW, and is the caufe why Merc uric s^luhricum in tlie iK)d is ftirred, making it rebound i mtimating^j^ that it is unht for his work, and that another, bo^ ^j^ dy is fitter. The planets with their intluenco work more on impcrftdt metals, than on per-i tcd'.Qne' • For the Sun doth not put a garment on n|,4]tCLuy ofthebody, bat a certain confiellation doth it, the refi )oyning in the work, and are found next to it, except Sol and Lma^ thefe m.ed- oile not with this Rod. Though thefe alfo arc planets jr( W til am Teftamej2t. 6y planets,and belong to a perfect: breathing, and have their particular rod, as ethers ^ave theirs, which prefs toward their feveral work, they are fitted for not aiming at the works matter, which mak- cth its principle as the mercury of metals. There muli be had a fnfficicnt infirudion for to know it. It is thus , a metal is known before it caiis any cruft, and how deep the oar lieth, and how it may be wrought upon. If I would knovy^ vvhether there be a f iafficiency in that oar , the famellearn by the leap of this Rod i if it be «t Saturnal oar, the Rod leapcth the Jiiore , more than the condition of the body^ of Saturn is. For this Rod doth not (lir the body,but that which is the moftin that body, namely, the mercury of the body '-, for it yields good iWe of it, and may 3Ut on caiily another garment, and be a^mercury Df metals, and fo forth. If in that place be Tin and Wifmuth, the rod ipplied leapeth not fo quick, but more ilowly han it doth where Saturn is i, where a Copper or ronoar is, there that rod moveth more ilowly 'et : But this mull: be obferved, that there is no wreathing about metals , unlcfs they be under ;round •, for vvhcn they ai'e there, then are they .1 their works, whether they be increafing or de- reaiing, they cannot be without breathing then.' hus much of thefc rods. CHAP. ^8 V^^llius Falentinus his la':i CHAP. XX1X-. Of rifling vapours J or of their ft dirmnts. Mine-works meet with many natural obftru- dions, as all other worldly things are fub- jecft unto. For aJJ things fublunary are in fub- jedlionunto corruptiblenefs , the fame happtneth alfo unto metals ^ they llif^er by their cold and hot fires, that they quite evaporate and expire. A5 when their vapours and fumes grow ponde- rous , cannot vapour away upward : where fuch vapours are , Miners cannot brook under ground. In a cellar, where new wine , or new beai is on working, thaf vapour (liffers no' candle tc burn, by realon of the ponderous it/? •, or fume which cannot fo foon enter the ground , unlei: theie fumes be extenuated in their ponderofity ' This fain matter lieth on clo{e,is like warm meal," callic Caries^ which diliersfrom ^inOftiocolhtm^^o that is in the rocks naturally, and dilfolves at lai into a tiie. This doth not fo, and keeps ftill dry powder , and is heavier then mine-aflics which are light, and dilTolve into (alts, which th metal doth not, but abideth a ccnftant fedlmLm which is like an unwholcfome fiinking vapour choakin^thc oars,turning them intoarottennei b-iingobitrudtcd in their driving above and b Io^v. TuLfc fumes are cauf.d , v»-hcn there are hai rocks to V, hich tire mult be applyed, which ca^ ii^thill fumes, which being we^r^ened in its riiin f^i owraiaa placs, grow ponderous, and i; crcaf will and T^flamfnt. 69 creaCes for evil andpoifonous things will foon gather to an heap. It is fecn in gold,, being dif- iblved into water, let it Itand a while, and the im- pure minerals feparate from the elTence of gold , and fettle to the bottomc. Excrements ot metal are foon brought to that pofture •, for being brought to a glowing by a (inall heat, they calt . fuch a malignant fun le, which choak men imme- diately. CHAP. XXX, Of IVeathcr-falt^ halitus mclufus. THe malignant breathing , as it is generally fo • called, is a peftilent fait, which mdangereth not onely the Miners, but hurts the oars alfo : for it allayeth or maketh the breathings fall , which are in the oar, being thereby -obffrudcd in their natural working. Tlie manner of the fettling of thefe breathings are^vvorthy tol)e noted. It may be compared unto an Eclipfe, though the beams wliich afccndcth keepeth its cQurfe,yet the breath- ing ft^yeth it, and will not let it go about that place 5 being in that ftay and condition , its Ferch and feed parteth j at laft , through its fides or walls It fulFcrs iluid oars to come in*, thence is the original of fuch fluid oars, of which there are fevcral forts. But this is to be noted *, That wea- ther is calbd a weather, becaufe it is not of (uch clear air, as it is above ground with us, iiill car- rieth fomething with it, which is grolTcr and hurtful unto man more than the air above with us : for rnen arc not comiaiandcd to dwdl aud live r.n.icr 7o Bafilhi Vdentin'U his lall iiiidcr-grounds but if any ones imployment lieth that way, he muft be contented to do (b, commit his condition to God Almighty '■> becaufe he muft indurc, and fuck in ill fumes, and get Mine dif- cafes. • Thisfubtcrranean air growing ponderous, by Teafon of the fume and water-ttone, which ftop arid corrupt the crofTe parage, then it is called a Weather-lalt : this is apparent when a burning «andlc is brought in, thefc ponderous fumes do quench it like water, at laft, they choak the men alfo. Therefore when that is feen and felt, let Miners come out again, for they can do no good there. CHAP- XXXI. Of Cos mctallicuSj orftonc-fak* THe air, being of one piece of pure earth, at laii turncth to a flone. There are Several forts of Stones, as there are fcvcral bodies in the earth, though all of them are but an earth. The longer the matter lieth, the harder and fatter it will be. Such ftones cannot be ftirr'd er heav'd unlcfs by fire, which fcizeth on the earth , tnd confumcs it, and turns it to a terrene firmament, as fcales are in filhcs, and bones in beafts. Thefe tlfo the Lord will have in his good time with fere. This moved the Ancients to confume their ctr- cafes with fire j though flefh foon comes to rot- tennefs under ground, yet the bones do not con- fume fo foon, the fire confumcs them being turned to sarth-afhej. This Will and Teftament: T-^ ^•: Tills fait is hurtful unto metals, takkig from them their working, without it they cannot con- tinue in their hfe, but muft expire and die , b'e- ■ca»fc nothing can penetrate it. The difference betwixt thcftone-filtand the ftone-meal is this: thefalthcavethitfelf, when the frone growethtp ahardncfs, which formerly hath been a precious ftonc, and the air could penetrate ic. but now it begins to turn into an horn-ftonc, when this me4l comes to the height of its as^e, it turneth to a duit. Here is it rtquifite to relate the difference be- twixt the nether and upper ftone, which partly is obftrudivc, and partly a furtherance to the Mine- work •, thev may increafc under ground, but in the after-work no fronfi is good, becaufc they have no nutriment, aud therefore rau 11: per i(h and be fa- milhcd for want of food. V' c--^ ■ ^ . .:Ul.:Jr. " ; CHAP. XXXII. Of the Subterranean Fools* THerc is a moft heavy cafe which befalls clefts, paflagcs, and ftrudurcs, called watcr.pools under-ground. For it is a truth undeniable, that clefts and paffagcs under ground have their wa- ters, both the day-wat€r and the night water, if once opened, then are they made paflablc, which prove the utter ruin of Mine -works. Therefore my counfci is, not to make paffages navigable to •Gome to the oars. ]t is jull: as if one would dig a mans heart out of his body, and he would begin to dig at the pulfe,and fo a long all the way to the t 4 heart. 72 Bafilius J^'^altntinm his lajl hcart,WGuld it not be an horrid butchery *, There is a nearer path to the wcI', what ueeds to make far fetches about. There is a twofold water un- der ground j the day-water , and the ground- water, the day-warer is not hurtful unto the ftrudturcs, but rather helpful, foaking away ma- ny things, and takes away many times from the fbges the ground-water. Let the ground- water be kept out as much as polfible may be, for it doth hurt, if it cannot palTe away, neither let it fpring from below out of its CatharaSs^ Keep out the fire alfo , for both are hurtful to metals, and to all things in the world , it they play the mafters. CHAP. XXXIII. Of Aurum metallicum i of the metalltne gold^ or of the metalline bed- ^ • Here is another fathefs under ground, wher« f. m^'tial? grow, neither is it the hull of the iced, rjor theftone Oleum Petroleum ox Naphta^ but it is like unto zxiVredo or Mine-foap. Itdilfers much from foap \ foap doth not burn, becaufe it containeth a hidden fulphur, not a combuiiible one, but an incombu/tible en i this is the reafon why it doth not burn in a flame , neither doth it feize on any other thing, but only on the pure me- tal, if that fhould not continue with it, the metal could not come neither into afceniion nor defcenr lion, it coufumcth hrlt of all in the metal, even as greafe doth in the Animals. This fatn/'f^ is not fir from the ear h when it is predominant it con- fume th Will and Te^amenin 7 ? iluTieth the metal quite, and evaporatetli. Oi! is uf that vertue ifpu/on the top of a drink, be it what it will, it keeps in its firength and coolnefs -> this fatnefs (huts up the oars body that no breathing; can pafs. Fatnefs hath a great affinity with iron, and is one of its next kindj of the which great volumes could be writ- ten. In the County of Schrpartzhurg^ at Wackers^ ^(?r^, there is ftore of fuch fatnefs , looks like quick-filver and fwimeth and tind:ureth red, like Bole, fhis colour it took hold on, and it may be extracted from it,fome call it a mercurial body or aTin-glafs,lead-glafs, Wifmuth, or Antimony » it fcizeth on all thofe, and when this fatnefs doth not turn to a fatnefs of fuch metals, where the feed is predominant , then it turns to a volatility, and to a great Robber. This fatnefs is a greafic earth, glittering like afalves of b red and brown glowing, as if it were Quick-filver or beaten 7j//^, orglafs ftrowed into. In the Rocks of Bohtmie and 'tranfylvimia. there is great ftorc of it at Goflar^ and at Scalkenn^ard^ even as quick- filvcr or lead-oars are > many qf them arc found here and there. CHAP. XXXIV. Of Mttalllnc fir earns. \J\] Hpn Ytrch and Seed muft part from their V V work by reafon of the fediments,be they what they will, and expire not naturaJlv, then the pars turn to floneS; w-hich Mincis c^WY luxes tboigh 74 Bafilius VaUntinm hh la^ though they know not from whence they comf, nothing can be raade out of them, they are fufi- ble or fluid, when melted in fire, but nothing can be brought into them, becaufe they are not porous, or no air can get into, which maketh them more noble. It is Grange in Nature if any good thing be driven out of the body, it will not re- turn thither ^ for if life be gone from man, the body receiveth it no more j but thefe are things poflible to God alone. My intent is not here to write of miraculous things, but onely of things natural , 1 wave the former. It is to b? admi-- red that the body of dead metals is fo fair, where- as other bodies which are dead confumc away to nothing : metals aUb come into a corruption, buti in a long time their death is like any glaf, keeps its colour,e (pecially if it was oPa Marcafite^ hence are learned the colours of Marcafites , for green , blue^ white fluxes are found therein, as metalhn^ flowers have been, which are generated of three bodies* GHAP. XXXV. 0/ Greta, Chalk^or Stone-meal. WE fee in this our air, that no fume or wind afcendeth in vain, it dilTolveth a- gaia mto one thing or other, thither refort many meteors , the like meteors hath the earth under ground : For the fume which afcendeth from the fire halation of the oar, or of the metal, and-af- fords the ftone-meal (Cre/^J wherever it falls or lighteth, it grindeth more, and incrcaferh abun- dantly will and Tejlament. 7 5 lantly having a dangerous fait, whereby it hurts hofe places where metals are , Gfpccially when hey are in their afceniion , hindering their co- our. It is apparent in the flat at Mansfield ^ -vhere it lieth betwixt the fpoaks of the oars, and ;an hardly be got from thence, it robbcth and lonCumcth Folium ^nd Spolium : Theftone-meal tiaktth a Kujf with ftonc-marrow , turning it to I kind of marble, called the Fetfione^ or DohUt^ a iouble ftonc, and is dark and very iirm, it ftriketh ire, being for the moft part of fire. Hither belongs the 7W/i;/,but intending to make mention of them in another place, I wave them lere : however they alfo are fuch a meal, and iiifer from others herein , becaufe it inclineth nore to a cold hre, wherein it meltcth like fnow^ as the others do, and dilTolveth fooner into water ;han into meal, and this turns fooner to meal than into water 5 if it be of Icfs matter than it hath of the ftonc marrow, than it afforils a fair ice or :ryftal, called VttrHm Akxandrinnm^ or Mary's [ce, which cannot be maftere«l in bot Hres, but it meltcth in cold fires, is very hurtful unto metals '-, infomuch, that by reafon of it Mine-works fall tp ruin, as it happened at Stolherg. CHAP. XXXVI. P OfSpiro, oroftkehl4. 1'Hc Sf>iro^ orBlafl is an Infirument which bringeth to right the weather or ohihuded aire, otherwife all would turn to ilone.where it is, and would be at a frand there , if tliC lower iirc 7 6 Bafilm P^alenti^us his laft (hoLild enter inftcad of the air, and cxiccateth, though it doth not kindle, if a piece be beaten oif of it, then it appeareth fo, and thb piece which- flieththus afide giveth to underftand.how it mak- ctb the ftone, and how nature frameth the oar and metal : but jewels and precious itones are from another oft-fpring out of fvveet waters* In this inftrument their dwell together fire and air, which take their power and matter from the malignant weather, where they confame all pon- derous matters through fire, inhghtcning the re- maining matter it hath. Make that Spiro or Blal^ into a ball of copper, and an heads bigncfs, foder it bright and light, let no air get into it, leaveafmallhole, where a needle may enter, at- trading the water, which purpofely muft be made and fet for it : there muft be had a pan of coals at hand,which muft be kindled, and the ball laid in- to it, turning the little hole toward the coal-fire, and it will blow the fire forcibly ^ which being done, it groweth hot, and maketh the water boil m the ball, which fumeth and carrieth it forth with a great fierceneis, blowing on the coals {irongly,and thus it maintaineth the fire by breath ing ftrongly in the manner of a pair of bello wes , driven from without : hereby feveral good things are efleded, and, the condition of this ball is,that it (hcweth what may be done above ground with the like, no ufc can be made of it behind that place, becaufc nature her felf hath fuch a bhi\ tor her fire . CHAP. will and Te^amtnt. 77 CHAP. XXXVIL O/Pulfa, nr of the Breakjbtff-, or brittle matter^ THis fait is ingcndrcd ufually by malignan fume, which the mine-fire ihould have s Anc when the ftones be very hard, then there muft U made a Hre of wood^ where the fume draweth to the lione-fire, and groweth thkk, and if the fumts of SHccinim^znd of other things are joyn- ed, it tiirneth then to (Uch poifon, that the oar muft be aided^elfe it perifheth, for that fume lieth on the oar fuliginous Kcholt which corrode and confume the oar y there a ball muft be applied, which is round and hollow, having a hole at a bignels at which a q iJ may enter, it muft be Co clofe, that mo air may either enter or get out,this ball muft be filled with gun-powder, cover the fame v/ith cot ten-wool boiled in falt-pcter, then dip it in melted pitch, which i^ mixed with fome Sulphur, kindle that ball, let it go down in a box, or tiing it on a Stolln or Chamber, when the ball flieth a funder, it expelleth that fume, not only by that fmoke, but with the blow or report the gun- powder makes, Such a ball may be applied alfo to water, and be funk in an inftrument under wa- ter, in vvhich noifome hfties are feared , its crack will kill the fifties that arc there j there is a pafts which giveth no rcport,but onely burneth,and de- ftroyeth , and heaveth this fait i but have a care what pafte you make ufe of, and have a refpecl to the upper-Scaffolds, whether they be old or new, that they be not imbeiled, and your pafte rr.uA be ipixcd, fo that it may do no hurt. CH^P 7 5 Balilius ralentmus his laji CHAP. XXXVIII. Of Clathrum, oToftheBlank:fire> THis fire needs nothing for its food, (hmeth in darkncfs, is a fpecial fire for Mine works, quittcth the charges^ if applyed , more than the expenccs do , beiiowed upon Talk or Bromith work -i For oil in fome places may be had cheap enough, calls no fmoak, deliroyeth fumes : it is put into a glals ball, which is put into a basket, to keep it fafe from water a-nd fand, which affords a light to the work-men. Miners ought to know how to enter their ground for the hight or me- talline Specuhm^ which is a fmgular manual , for the metalline breathings, and atter-halations joyn and come together, require fpecial inftruments whereby they may be known 5 for where theie •lojoyn, and the diurnal breathing is^ predomi- m^it, then it exhaleth by day, (hineth outofthe tarth ^ Miners call this a Metalline breathing : true it is fo, but they leave out fomething, foitis hut half a breathing •-> if the after-breathing is predominant, thenitappearethby thdit Sfecnlum and light wherein it maketh it felt known. She is in work with fomething, and there is at hand Tuch a metal , metals do ihine, though it doth Mot appear fo to our eyes , like as rotten wood c^oth : by day they arc not quiet, as long they arc working , but there muft be reflexion of their work, ^\hich is this light. It calkth no beams as the day-light or rotten-wood doth, by night it rccciveth one from fuch a dark or duskilh ihadow- cd li^lu. Will and Tejiament^ 79 Fair and carioiis breathings are (een therein, ■^nd that light of darknefs is a light you may fe by it, he that is diftant from it five or fix yards -feethitnot, norcanrtthou neither, foritisfuch a light, as is in the eyes of Cats, Dogs, and Wolves, which can fpie thee, though thou canfi: not fee them, for there is a light at night as wdl as by day, which is apparent in thcfe bodies , which re- ceive their light from this Nodurnal night, for if that power were in themfe Ives they would eja- culate beams, which they do not, and experience evincethit, that there is a fubterranean ignis jdif" pet/J^;, a fcattered Hre. This light is twofold, the firli lighteth, being thus prepared in a ball of fome fithes or worms > ofjuiceso£ herbs, and faps of wood, being di- ililled, and the d-iftilled vvater behig put into it. Take a pure Cryftallmc glafs, it calls a curious light under gruond, if mercurial water be put in- to itv -it graduateth the waters made of worms and of woods very highly in this darknefs, which is called the light, it may be done and ufed alfo by day, but much better in fubterranean darknefs , in which th e hre lyeth hid, and muft be routed an4aw4kcned by fuch material and inftrumental iires. The fecond light is Speculum^ which jcceiveth that light, and giveth an intimation of fuch hot or cold iires, which not every Clown or Miner i-mderftands : for as it (hineth in the SpcHlum-^ fo kindltth this hre, and is the oar. In mans body they are difcerned well enough, from whence the difeafes have their feveral names, but are not fearchedinto. The difference' bstwixt the ball and the Spcculvm istheiame with that which L 5^ o eafUius Kalenttnus fjislajt above ground, I can view all the members of my body, but not my face, I can behold the light, but what the Sun of this light is, which miniftreth the luftre unto it, the fame I cannot behold or dif^ ceru. CHAP. XX XIX. of the Gluten or Mine-glue* THe bed: help a»d remedy, which may be ap- plied to fubterranean pools, are wells : tor where thcfe break forth, they carry that water away : a betterand nearer is not than the Gluten, to dam up or keep out the day water , that they do not run any farther i» this damning hath great utility h it maKeth the water not only llimy and rough, but drivcth it backward, that it be fer- Ycd for fomc other ilTue, and be rid of it in that place, where it is naught , and mcerly obftrur (flive. If the day- water be thus flopped by a Gluten , that it cannot run and gather at the link, then that giound-water may foon be drawn away at the Unk , the deeper the links are cleanftd, the morethefe ground-waters or {prings arc divert- ed , and at lafl are turned alfo to day-waters , or may be damned up, and made run another way where they may not be obllru(^ive to the fcatloldr,^ and where drivings of mils are ntt had at the lume places, the Gluten may be ufcd , tl:ien the Scaffolds and Strudurcs in tlT<^ paifages, clefts, and Mines may be fecn, the dams an] Gluten are the belt helps hereunto. CHAP. WiUanclTe^amnt. Sr CHAP. XL. Of T R U T A, or of a Pajl for to corrode the ftom through J or through eating* 1'Here is almofl nothing which is a greater hinderance unto Mine-wotks, than waucr is, and where the Gluten is not fufficient to Keep it out, and in places where it is (liut in, and muii be drawn away with lower buildings, as with Stoln-, or beams and pipes: it is an huge and dangerous workjtomake thefe thorow-breathings good and holding : it cofteth many mens lives, and great expences mull be made, therefore ways and means muft be thought upon to make ways through with burning, to make f iich a hre v/hich corrodeth the rock, and grinds the ftone, eating it Itnall and- thin, that the water may get thorow-, and run away, that the Miners may not lofe their lives in that water, as uDaliy it betalls them, .at fuch works. This fire corrodeth great ftones in run- ning waters or rivLi? !> it is a corroding fire, a Gjute-H being made, which is lined or covered with combulcibles, poured or caft down through a channel or pipe, guard'ed from water, that Glu- ten may be eftectual, though it be und^r water .iiany fathoms deep, it Hill corrodeth further, ga- rhering ftrength by that, it cateth upon and burn- nh, and prei'ieth itiil lower, it doth not i!iioak,be- ing a running corrofive fire. There are fome laps and gums, which if boil- ed to a hardneis, and mingled with unilaked lime, iindle and burn (o ftrongly, that they corrode the rock, make an hole into^ as big and as deep as G you 8i BajUtus Falenttnus hu lA\i yoQ will have it, To that the water muft fink a- way, there mull: be fct a pipe of wood or of other materials, as deep as the water rofe, and mult be fet and funk to the very bottome , and of this Gluten, Palt or ftuff muft be put into, let the hole of the Pipe be clofcd with pitch, to keep out. the water, make fmall bullets of this Paft, kindle them, it eatcth down even out at the StoU^ or beams erd, the bignefs of the hole mufl be accord- ing to the Pipes mouth below, which muft be equally wide with that above, when the Pipe is cleared, and way made for the water to run out at the hole, then all that water-pool under -ground will fink away, and clear the chambers below. This is a curious skill for to break through rocks, , if well contrived and well ordered with exa(^ manuals. CHAP, XLT. Of f/^eTraha, or heaving materials pffcdin^e^d of a dray or flead* IT is known, that breathing, and halation, and the weather uphold all both artificial and natu- ral things : it is apparent in great Edihccs, that the things cxpofcd to weather cannot hold, if nei- ther water nor wind tied , the great reparations in fuch llrudlarcs fignihe fo much. There is a place in Zips cr Scpufatm^ called the T^ohcfchar::^ where firm iteel afcendeth by day, and in that place there is no Mine of fieel, no inftru- m.nt can get any fcale from it, but lying in the weather one winter and fum.mer, it gets a fcale of two fingers thick. Thus it is apparent, that the weather . weather heaveth alfo a ftoU:, or the great beam or metalline bodyjwhy (hould it not lift and heave a ftonc. This appeareth further at the falling down of great fnow-balls from Mountains about Saltzhurg^ and in Styria^ where great pieces of rocks fall down with fuch fnow-balls, as big as an houfe is, which heat and cold hath thus corroded and loofened. Hmnihal making the Alps pafla- ble for his army, poured warmed vinegar on the Rocks, whereby he made them fo brittle, that they foon could b^ wrought thorow s oil doth the like, if well prepared. Acetunt's made of vegetables cf wine, beer, fruits, are pretious for fuch purpofe. Cilhrn waters may be turned into Acetunis^ if coded with honey, being made warm firlt 5 this dri veth the hre back, which is in Itones, for there arc commonlyHor;^-/^^//^/ and Fire-jiones^ which are made brittle by fuch means. There is made a Petroleum alfo, i"o that you need no fallet- oil,nor any other •, no, nor Naphta neither, drawn from Ofieinmarl^^ or calcined flints, fuch water- aceturri's being poured upon, and other frighing waters, whereby the hardeit flints are terrified and made brittle. It ftands upon'/natural reafon, that fuch ftones muil: be dealt withal in this manner ,' For behold the GlHten and Aquafort, of what ef- hcacy thefe are ? Doth it not corrode the Pumice- Hone like Bees-wax, and the Tcp-ftone like a mare ble of divers colours. Confider well the whit- marble, and the Aiding fand, in which the Pumice, is, you will had what manner of Lixivium's may be boiled from them. G 2 CHAR d4 tsAjuim f^aiemmtts ms laji CHAP, XLII. Of the froji in Minc-rvork^. THe greatefl: troubles that Miners are put unto is to pull and draw up the filths and ftones that are naught,out of the Mine-works, that a way be made to come deeper in. Above ground they call it an help of rubbifli. It cofteth no great matter to cleanie, difTolve^and void thefe rubbifhes with corrofivc watery it cofteth little, if rightly mianaged and handled, to diifolve firft the lighteli things, thcfe being made riddance of, the reft may cafily be voided. That earth under ground muft not be lock'd upon, as that is above with us,adorn- ed with grafs, for under ground thereisleaftof the earth, there is a mixture of all manner of things, as falts, juyces, minerals, ftones, the leaft part is earth, and yet that part is the nobleft, for but of it are made all manner ct metalline bo- dies : There are (harper things, all of which mult not be ufed at once i and muft be cifedfed with thefe, when that which is above cannot be ap- plied to that which is beneath : juyces alio are calie in their ufcs tor to corrode and make brittle. Sulphur alone pcrformeth the work, which is a poifon unto juyces andfaps. Miners and fuch that are imployed about luch works huiIl have knowledge of fuch things,and exercife thcmlelves herein by way of practice : for all particulars be- longing to thele manuals cannot be fet down up- on white and black : experimental knowledge muft be joyned hereunto, not only a depending trem things written. CHAR c IVdl ni^d Tejtament. c 5 CHAP. XLIII. Of the flaming fire* WHereas there is occafioii for great and imall tires in Mine-works, v/hichmuft be learned and applied according to the feveral forts of metals, and not after the manner of their (tveral meltings and finings, and the con- dition of fach nccelTary tires mult be known alfo. To iht down thefe in their particulars would re- quire great pains, and the writing thereof would rife to a great volume : it is the duty of under- ftanding Melters and Finers to order and regulate themfelves in their fires, according as each metal- line condition rcqulreth, to further and not to hin- der their work j and fo I commit thefe to their further and ferious thoughts, and to take thefe things into a fuller conlideration. CHAP, XLIV. Of Ignis torrens, or of the roafting fire. I^Hings inclining to afhes, and foot, and ex- crements of metals, and the exuvmms or mils of bodies Melters fuppofe may be taken and gotten off fafely in a roafting or calcining hre,they nakea great tire of wood under thcm,roaft,or :alcinc the metal, that as they fuppofe they retain lothing thereof, or of fuch oftals you lieard of low, they yield their exuviim^ and copper yields :inders and llacks j but if frightened, then it I G 3 rub- S6 Eajilm yalentinus hh h^ rubbethand confumeth iron ? therefore nealing is more commendable, as they do at Mansfield^ a great heap of oar is laid together, which they kindle, let it ftand in a gentle glowing heat, and burn away that which fhould come oif m that glowing. Metals in Srpcdland are healed thus at the heat of the Sun in Summer, there it runs iinely together, and purgeth it felf fo neatly, infomuch that it would be refined, if it ftaid its time in that heat. This nealing I do better approve of than of the calcining in a fire flame. There is a two- fold glowing fire, and metals require a twofold glowing or nealing : one fort of it is ufed at Mansfield^ they kindle with bundles of frraw the heaps of flats, let them glow of their own accord, •and they do it like an heap of coals, and the o:tr is nealed, which is put in for that purpofe. Se- condly, nealing is good alfo for bodies of ftones, reducing them into calxcs , but thofe that made metalline calxes in an iticlofing heat, or glowing fire, they got only the calxes of the hodksexH- v'mms. Therefore neither themfelves, nor others have any caufe to marvel, if they do no good in that way. CHAP. XLV. Of the corroding fire* THis fire ought to be kt among the coal fires, being of a confuming nature, and their cor- rofivencfs is m the cold fire, and it hath the fame qualities which the burning fire hath i it fliineth. and buineth , its burning is corroding, ;in that it is Will and Tejiament. 87 is better than the other, becau/e k doth not burn it to afhes, but brings the bodies to a duft or land, which would be toilfome, if by filings it fhould be brought to ftars : the next neighbour to this lire is the glowing fire, of the which I will give only an hint. CHAP. XLVI, Of Ignis candens, or of the glomng fire* THis fire is purpofely ordered upon metalline bodies, it condimeth them, being their mat-, ter is naturally inclined thereunto : This ^re is of great concernment, making their bodies very malleable, their exuvium's (by on the Float, and is the beft quality they have, that they put off in that glowing the thing which will be gone, and the good thereof remains. Things now allays are flighted , the world fuppofeth to have skill enough it wants no further knowledge, $l^ot ca- fita tot fcnfm h every one> thinks hisjwic beft, though fome have fcarce begun to know any of thefe things i which is the reafon why men are ihll kept to their rudeneis. Men may fuppofe, I mean by this corrofive water an Aquafort i it is no fuch matter : how many tuns of precious Aquafort is ufed in Vain at Gnjlar on the Hartz-, which would ferve for better ule, and the expences laid out tor wood mi^ht have been faved. CHA^' 88 EaJiUui^^alenU?mm$ hjl CHAP- XLVII. Of Ignis incubans, or of the Lamp-^re- "T His fire ferveth when metals are wrought ■ 1 openly, and not luted in, than the metal doth not flie away in a dull, nor doth its bcft run away? for you heard that a flaming fire is hurtful, for to work metals withal. Lamp-difhes are common- ly of glafs, fet in an earthen pan, filled with afhes or (and, kept in a fweating, in that fweat many fuppofc the metal receiveth its body, or the one changethinto the other : I leave this tranfmuta- tion jn its worth , and cannot approve of it. Touching this warmth, I cannot difprove nor find fault with it, and all metals indeed fhould bedeak witnal in this manner. Thefetwo fires of oars and the Lamp-fire, if rtliey'were made idc ot in medicinal ways, woiald do better than tlie calcining or flaming fire can do, where'^hcfe are of no ule, and the long fire mull orderly be kept in ah equal heat, if any good (hall be doheV '^'' Some ^ kept the Lamp-fire in a Stove- furriace^; wber- all things were (poiled in the workings it was either too hot or too cold : it was. of ix:) equal heat, which the work in the end did (hew, .bc^aufe it was not well governed. CHAP- will A?7dT eft :me/t, ^9 CHAP. XLVin. Cft'hc cold f,r£' THis is a ftrange h're, little can be faid ot it to thofe which cannot conceive of it , whether it was not taken notice of, or whether ihcy did defpair of it I know not : this is it which elfe- whereis called coagulating', it cannot condime the other rire , it can melt the work, but to con- fume it is impofsible 5 it works in the air as well as in the Mre, where it (hewcth its efficacy, and is the fole proof of its fufiblenefs ;, metalline mer- cury is of a cold fuiion, all other fafions are hot \ if you believe it not, f.el it \ the hxation of the warm flux is called coagulation, there the one op- pofeth the other h the one congealeth, the other keeps in a liquidnefs : this difference mufr be known by thofe which are imployed about melt- ing of metals, and their fluxes. It is of concernment, to govern this Are well, Dr how ftones are to be weighed, and things that ire excefsively cold are a death to a t-^mpcred ho- ly :what animals do live either in too cold or too lot a hre, and to {peak precifely of life, it is im- )ofsiblc to do that, as tofpeak really of God.- herefore gaze not upon dehnitions, what humane eafon is able to conceive of: Philofophy is ftrang- y conditioned, and it appeareth by this fire alio, thing which is very cold,may contain a life how- ever. when it is in its higheft degree of afcenflon, hen it comes down again,it turnf to riivcr,then to ropper s 0O Eafiliut ^alentinm his Uft copper -y if the nether hot hre doth it not, then, furely the cold fire muft do it, for itdiiTolvech; again into its mercury, which is the flux of the cold fire, if it layeth hold on it, then it muft run to all bodies, in itsrunnilii^ it putsoff not only the netheriiToll but the uppermoltbody alio > take this? into further confideration. CHAP. XL IX. Of the warm fire* OF this I have fpoken' already > it can be made and governed leveral ways, coals, wood, pitch, oil, and other combuflible things are fit for it. There I would only fpeak of an heat, which is good for the flux of metals, whereby they are purged, as you heard above : needlefs to be repeat* ed here. . Thus much of this firfi: Part ^ where I infirm- ed about the nether work, or fore-work, govern- ed and obferved by nature, whereby (he holds forth unto us metals and minerals in their forms. 9e thatconceiveth aright of this work and confi- dcrs it, worketh with advantage and utility, and is a great help to proceed fuccefstully in Alchymie, which imitateth and treateth into her fteps.I wi(I)i hearty fucceis to all fuch, which bear anafteator hath indued it with great Vertues, yet loch it humble it felf, and iuffers it Iclf to be H found ^8 BafUlurVahnt'tnus hU U^ found in defpicab'^Mineral-itones, where it lof- eth much ot" its tindure, as is apparent by the Touch-ftone, where the mixture of Copper, Sil- ver, Tin, and others is feen s all thefe mixed im- purities can be feparated from it with artiiicial Manuals, and with little ado .it may be brought into a perfed: ftate. Gold oars naturally arc wrought thus, that the gold ftands in it clcfe, compad, firm, and good, which is found fome- timcs in the crofs paiTagcs. Its iixedncfs is found in the deepncfs under-ground, where it hath its greatefl power, and it is found alfo fometimes m a fpeckled jaipis, full of ey^s, and mixed with flints in its palTages, where many times Vitriol flint is found abundantly^ which Vitriol is the beil among all other forts of Vitriols. The H;/;/- ^^r/^./ Vitriol hath the precedence before all the reA, vAiizh is fLilEciently known in their proves and exemines, as may be dcmonftrated to the eye. In its paf(a.gcs are found fometimes fluxes of (e- veral colours, which are interclined with gold, and mull: be forced with fire. To that purpofc, it is rcquiiite that it be dealt withal with iiich iire, as you heard in the hrft part, comimonly Ztvittcrs and Zirn ftones are fiich, which mult be lumped and beaten, and drawn to a narrownefs, and hncd. Gold is wrought alfo in franding.pafTagcs, and on level ground, tlic oats and luch paliages are yellow ifn, rocky, and of an iron fhot-find in clifts is it oh-grown compactly, and generally it is found near Flint-v/orx4s, fometimes it is found in a flint, or in a liver-coloured jafpis, fometimes in white pc.bles, that gold which is in it is of a white colour, like filver, or in white-copper oari where WiSandTellament. ^p where it fiicketh lioary and rugged : it is found alfb in brittle Limc-fiones, where it ftands curPd witli black {peeks unfprinkled, is granulated, like drops found in the fubtileft firm ftoncs, fpotted with iron moals or fpots, and are protruded in fair yellow flowers, and are a black exhalation thruil: out. It is found alfo in fireaked flat-works in pure paflagcfs, mixed with .a blew Horn-ftone and flat , in flinty glittering pallages it is found hoary and compad wrought. There are found alfo flat marble floats, wherein in all your clifts is wrought inherent gold, mixed with green grit, and iron fpots \ iometimes it is found alio in fquare iron fliots, or porous marble Marcafites , but for the moft part in grits> fonietlmes gold oar is found alfo compadl and firm in black paG- fages : fome gold oars and gold palTages are found alio to be of Minerals and of Vitriol, and Miners ^ in Htt'rigary efpecially can difcourfe of it, .becaufe gold oar is found in that manner in thole parts. CHAP. IV. Of fiher oar^ of its Minc^ operation^ cortdition-i arid ftriking f^Jfagcs* Cllvcr oar -is wrought in its own fione, of a perfect: nature and moil noble earth,- and of a fix clear Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury, which with fa mixture doth joyn in a fix and firm uniting, and appeareth of a degree lowtr than the gold is, and is the beft metal next to gold, and in the fin- ing of it it loofcth very little, and is feparatcd fer fe^ or with other metals joyncd in the fire, it^ H z natural loo Bajiliut Vmnlinu^ his U\t natural fitted ftone caufeth the filver oar, follow- ing its heavenly influence, and the nodrurnal in- fluences of the Moon. In Northern parts the moft filver pafTages are found ■•, for as Luna bor- rowcth her light trom 5^', even fo the Silver paf- fages and filver fioncs, have at their right fide Gold pafTages, and with that noble Qljeen L«- rarla is compared a root, whereby the Gold paf- fages acquire ftrength, and get the more power in that mixture, and get their oars from their roots. Ancient Philofophers wrote firangcly of Vertues, to be a fertile y oak-fellow of Sol^ which may be applied to the upper and nether metalline work, becaufe nothing is fo fix, next gold, than filver is in its parfedtion, and is the reafon why lilver-pafTages are accompanied with white fluxes and mineral veins, next thereunto are fiich paf- fages, in w^hich arc generated red Mineral-fulphur, and red yellow juices of the noble gold. Silver metalline oar is wrought many times in a red goldiflmeis, and cometh forth better than the other , a proof whereof may be had, if well ordered. White glod oar-is naturally thus ting- ed of white copper gkiis, which caufe fuchoars and palTages, by reafon of the food of their per- fedf Minerals, and with the glais oar black fumes arc exhaled, and feed upon Wifinuth, Lead, and Tin oar, whetein -Minerals that frrike near upon the Lunar palTages, are greedily refrefhed , thus growcth the finriLtt and compadelt filver oar of itspurc, proper, and unmixed Itone, meliorating the bad places and inltruments which filver oar hath many remariiable vertues next unto gold, from the heavenly influences, changing levcral Ibrts of lilver lloncs, difceding from the originals of their highefi iiuifiicd unity. They I will and Teftament. I o i Tliey ^arry and produce alfo, not only mixeci chambers ^nd Mine chiils, but alfo feveral hard and fturdy mixed oars in whole Hint-works, and other copper-flowers, yellow and black oar, and are found different in their nature, form, and tin- cture, fo that the one is more hard, fturdy, llatty, broader, narrower, whiter, blewer, in its coleur thus qualihed and natural in its end, middle, and beginning. This is the reafon why thefe filver fruits and oars are found differing in their colours and forms, the one being more compad:, fairer, and of a better glafs, than the other. Sometimes there is found in fuch a vein or palTage firm and compad: gold, filver, and copper, fo it is found fometimes at Krenacb. There are found and feen alfo in a certain vein and pafiage in mixed Lime-ilones, lead, iron, and copper oar union and jundture. And in one Mine is found copper oar, in another is found filver oar, and in another Mine there is found an iron Hone ■-, why (liould not fuch remarkable diftindi- .ohs be taken notice of, which Nature from Gods imagination hath held forth fo glorioully unto Miners, and fet thefe before them to be difcern- ed by them. Some filver pailages are found alio in their natural Zachjioncs^ which either are in the hanging or lying ones. Silver palfages (hew themfqves alfo with blue gritty flowers, hollow- ed fluxes, in fprinkled Marbles, and carry flint- works of feveral colours, and thefe palfages and clifts are full of pleaiant filver colours, of yellow and green, of a colour of Gollings, the more they are mingled with fuch colours, the more they have wrought. There are fomc filver pafTages and veins, which H 3 carry 102 BafilmV'dentlnmhU hjl carry three diftind colours after the manner of a rain-bow, where the one colour worketh in na- ture either more clofely, or more mildly than the other, in a curious order, and the one may be difcerned before the other in their pafeing ftroaks and (hootings, together with their Chamber-co- lours and floats, as they fell feverally and apart in each Mine-oar. CHAP. V- Of Copfer oar^ of its jJone-y operation:, and jinking p-^ages* Copper oar is wrought in its own and proper ftone, of good pure fait and over-hot burn- ing Sulphur, through an heavenly imprefsion iiito all its parts, tinged red throughout, not quite freed from a fuperfluous humidity, in an af- finity with iron, becaufe copper and iron are nigh kin one to another, becaufe their dwellings and houlesarefet one by another, and is the reafbn why the one may eallly be tranfiiiuted into the other, Th*s metalline oar is much wrought in flat float-worKs, which are green flinty ', many times it app:areth in a red or brown form, and is (een aJfo like lime ftoue in black and yellow flat- works like unto coals in green flinty pafTages, in a twofold manner, either current, or in a manner cF a float : fometim.es it is red and brown, mixed with a green colour, foirie are of a lazure colour, /orne ot a copper glafs, llinty and iron flrot,or of a white food.Tne copper mi in itspaiTageis lome- times will and TejUment. i 05 times rich ol: gold, and of filvcr, as it is accom- panied with curious Z.?c/? itones , and inclofed with pafTable ftones, if fp be that other metals and minerals do not intrench upon them, which corrode and confume them. And copper-oar is a ilat-work alfo, mixed with foliated earth, and the mercuric.] c'^pper is hardly brcuglit out of it at or in an ojcdiniiy melting, affords fiore oi iron, and unripe. copper-food, 'which rub very much the copper in roifting, aiici make it unmalleable : the richcit copper-oars are found in Hungary^ Bo- hem'u-> Sihfu^l'l.mnngia^ HaJJja^ and VoigtUndia '-> the like is fotind alfb about Trj///-Dz^//, where it breaketh every where in a manner of a float, mixed with fand oar, and where it breaketh ve- hemently in the flat work, they call that ilatof clifts, they are poor in filvcr, and fuch muftbe roafted or calcined, in fome places it breaks in a fair blue and brown colour, or it looks ruddy, of ' a copper gbfs, and like unto green oaker, and fo metimes- it is white goldifh , whicli is called white copper oar: it groweth white at an effe- dtual mixture, becaufe at its uniting it aflumeth or takcth in much of (ilver and of lead : it breaks alfo of a yellowifli and lazure-like colour, green Hinted vppn floats and moving palTages, in lime and fpoiigeous ftones. It breaks alfo of a blue colour blew oaker, is copper, glaiTy, and flin- ty, iu great and huge rocky and marble paiTages, being m>ixed with a white marble : they are rich infilver, in green Hat ftones which arc clear and brittle , it lieth dry and green in clifts , open caves, and pafTages, like green frogs infprinkled one in another, in a firange manner, dlftind: or parted with Itrange pleafmt colours, wlijchgri- H X d-L:-t-d 10 4. EafiJiti^.^^ale'rithms'nh h^ duated works are lofcrs in 'half their worth •, in thefe rocks arc ftrange clitts of Marble, andot white veins, yellow flint is infprinkled and mix- ed with copper paffagcs, which yield much fil- ver, have few flowers, are of a ponderous form, break very flinty, of a red glafs, of a green co- lour mixed with yellow flowers, thefe flints are joyned with white gold marble, of a green colour, belides the rocky pafTage. Tlxcrc is found alfo copper oar which is rich of lilvcr, flinty, and not white goldifli, is oi a white Ihining glafs, mighty in dry hollow flat- mines, fome whereof are mixed with iron, or forts of Wifmuth or tire-fl:ones. At the one hanging of fome pailages is wrought the Chryf)- coUa and copper oar j on the other hanging of the Mine is wrought pure flint, all according to the quality and condition of the oar. And it is to be oblervcd, feeing that copper oars are ufually mixed with Sulphur, eaiily unite with the nether metal, and joyn with their Hones, therefore green flinty copper oar which cany in the dry lead, flat- ty palTages, a black Molbcn are Mineralli(h,and are not rich in lilver, nor rich- in Jpccics^ encompalled with immature iron and parted: copper oar, and ibme are tree ot it, if far ieparated afunder, tromi dry mineral flats, arc richer in gold and lilvcr, according as the Itones take, in a good na- tured oar, they uiually intrench upon gold and lesd rocks, or antimoiiial oar, as alio upon iron and filvcr ftones. There are found alio flinty paf- iagrs, that have their Mineral juices of Vitriol, and Sulphur •, fome whereof partake of allom, & rJiiven flu no fan. T->.ic ci mmonly have the befl: and mofl cop- per will and Tejlamnt. 105 per pafTages, which are leait mingled with ether metals, as lime, and tartareous l1:ones, in which black floats and llats do break, are inclofed with green, and are of mild quality ^ at Eijlcben and Mansfield himcrs put their (evcral proper names to it very exadly , according unto their nature. Miners in Mifhh know kalt how to diftinguifli thefe, the upper part of clay-earth they call Ph- tredo^ in which the true earth is alio, and when they come to theilones, they call it the Vay-ivor}^^ becaufe they cover all the reit, and turn quite to {tone. The third place they come unto they call Night'work^^ becaufe it is eaiily lifted and heaved one after another, and is pure, then they come to the Cave- or Hok-r^or]^^ which muft be hollow- ed and fet, here are the flones which muft be broken, then they come unto the llat, and below that llat they come unto the fand oar, though fometimes it be cn-grow^n at the Lochiverg^ or hole-work above the llat, then they turn unto t'le dead earth again. Slat and richeit copper oar at the filver breai hing licth alfo on the rocky, lorn-ftony combuftible oars , which have their >old and iilver palTages of your (pecial kind, a- nong which there are found feveral formes how ?ach of them is difcernable. In Hungary and Zarinthia the pafTagcs yield copper oars, w^iich opper is very malleable, and is at a dearer rate han any is in all Europe-, as their Minerals alfo, nd elpecially the Vitriol there is held to be the eft : as alfo their Antimony in counted the beiU Tnat Virriol hath the bcii: and rareti vertucs, /iiich is known to true Naturaliils, and txpcri- [Kc hath proved the fame to be true. I ipcak DiTiething liov/ , which if Kcafcn and Undcr- lo6 Bafilius yakntinus his lajl (landing were anfwcrabic, many expences, hard work , and good time could be laved , and it comes only from hence, bccaufe Gold breaks fo near to it, and at the (ame oars is found, where that earth is impregnated with goldiili Qcd^ and makeuieof the fame food in many fubtile unit- ings. Minerals in their generating qualities are better fupported among perfect metals, where they are higher and moreerfedual, and are beif ufed for both fuch perfed metals, in cafe Nature be rightly imitated, the ancient Philofophers have had experience of, and made 'trials of it. There is a remarkable ditference found among Minerals, and partly from copper oars j they are Minerals andMetals, each their particular nature and be- ing, among which ibme oars look green, and bleach at the day, and grow near other metals '■> but their ftones are molt like unto lead-ftones, fome whereof are groffer, fotter and harder than others, and fome are more obfcure, dark, mud- dy, and fome more green, and fo forth. CHAP. VI. Of Ifon-oar-i its Mine jOperatw!^ flockj-i float f^ and ^ajfjgcs* IRon-ftong and iron-oar is wrought in its Mine- ftone, according to the heavenly influence of Mirs ■-, For he is triniis magnus^ the great Lord ot war, and an initrument whereby others are for- ced and compelled^ of an hard, cdrthly , im- pure fulphur of putriried fait and grofs Mercury, w^hich three principal pieces in thdr jundure mix miici> will and Te^ament. 107 much cf earthlinefs, therefore is it a difficult la- bour to mollihe iron with or in the fire, carrying much of impurity by reafon of itsfulphur, and above other metals it hath a deep red quick ipirit, which if it be taken from Af^r/, then is the iron gone alio, leaveth again a putrid earthhneis. Iron s not eafily mixed or joyncd ^with other metals, 3r united in the cafting. Iron hath a threefold partition, and feveral parts in its earthly oar, namely, a Magnet, a quick metalline oar, which lath its quality from quick Mercury, and muft aold communion affinity with iron,muft be quick- ned and renewed with iron filings, in which he ieth like an Hedge -hog, and isindued by the Sun f Nature with glorious gifts and Adamantine 'crtues \ at one place and lide it attradeth, and t the other fide itrepelleth, which vertues may e augmented and increafed in it i it plainly ty- ifieth or demonftrateth (like unto the Sun in the eavens) the true hour in the body of the Com- afs, by water and by land. Secondly, fleel,the hardeli: and purefl mofl mal- able iron, of its proper light draining place, 'herein it licth clofe, tied and knit together, in 1 its parts moft compadedly, which in all iron- orks is ufually put to the edge and point. Thirdly, there comes the common iron-oar^ • •dered together by its earthly Sulphur, which ree miniftrcd good thoughts to the firii: expert laturalifts , that Maiier of Mine- works Itthal lin^ who made his three principles in all things, d made his dimenfions in the Mines in tliree (Unci: parts, in which fuch metalline oar, he und at Hrft the iron-llone wrought in feveral lys, namely, upon Itandiug pafTagcs and tioats, ni^s keif fallings and proper pieces tiiig'd, after the four Elements and colours of the Rain- bow. Then •he confidered exadly its flowers, according to the condition of each fione-work, how and out ot what the iron (rone may moft conveniently be melted, and what manner of .inllr.rments may be ulcd thereunto, where it may beii and mod firmly be wrought ^ for its oar affords a thne- fold (bciety and wildntG, which are ufcful, as namely GLfs-hcads^ which are like a flnrp bloodr flone, breaKing in the manner oF a skull, are fcaly, and brown ji^iffui^ fome whereof are w^hite thorns, like the wood upon which Abraham pur« pofed to ofler his fon Ifjzc. Secondly, the Brown iione, out of which is made glafs and iron co- lour. Thirdly-, granulate iron-tilings in the ioat-work, which is fo hard, that it can f arcely be forced to be gotten off, or be brought to right, and when the iron-ftone is come to its perfed:- iiefs, then it breaketh off by piece- meal through the Itone and rock, that there .arc found whole Mines of iron-ftone, Cuch is the iron oar in Sty- ''^■' ria* The beii: iron-ltone is black, or red brown, fometimes it inclineth to a yellownefsyibme is ot a cherry-brown in the floats and frocks, fome are black and fmall jf>ijjtc , fome yellowilli , which glittereth among the reft, like a copper ftone.ot a brown black marble, and of a fair glafs, fome looks like feparated float-work, throughout, the ^•■• whole Mine, fome is cloddy and hoary in clayifli j- fields, which only is called the Driving, is as the '"* fand-ltonc, molt hurtful unto gold, becaufe it at- fordcth moltot the ftacks, and very little of iron. Some fricks in the gray clay, which affords mo ft malleable iron, but is ct a browu-iili colour. Ther e breaks CO !f: WillA/>dTe[tdment, . 1 09 breaks alfogood iron ftone in tartareous and limy Mines, and the mort running is on the (landing paflages, in crifty Tandy Valk^fhnef* The grois clift Itones break Ibme in their flats. It uiually- breaks alio in the fore and after Mine-works, where fome of it lieth off-wafhcd among the Roafts, like a brown ardn and on the day there is no oar fo common as the iron-flone, becaufe it aflluiieth and taketh in other oars, and fctteth it thorow, thus often it change th its colour and na- ture, after it there infues GUfs-heads^ Emafitefy brown (lone, Ofcmu^dy Bolus-, together with the redoaker and iron (hell, all thofeaiTume the Na- ture of iron,and the iron-ftone receiveth the high- cii metals, Gold, Silver,Copper,Tin,Lead, where- by it groweth untoward, but gold and (ilver are not hurtful unto it, they make it malleable \ that which is mixed with copper, or with other poor metal ea(ily falls afunder, is brittle, of the fame condition is iron-flint, producing out of many Daflages an huge iiint, partly porous, like unto a Dlack flat, which befides the iron-ftone yield&th another grofTer or fubtiler iron. By this exchang- ing T^ttbal Cain-fiiQ great and tirft Mine-mailer did perceive, that the Itones have their adivity, he booking about, and finding that the Li me-(lones, which contain iron oar, are of (uch mixtures, which may be burned to lime or calx, to raife walls with them > and know oth^r forts of T'^/jf- hnts^ as alfo calx (lones are ht for to be burnt, uid found them to Le helpful for his melting. Thus the iron-ftone is aifociable unto other frones,- )e they metalline, or mineral. At Mnshacb here is copper (hot iron, which hath a lead oyning thereunto j Founders muft bs expert to- 1 1 o . BafiUus Falentlnus hi; laft to deal wifh fuch oars in their melting, and Ma- giftrates do wifely that train up their fubjeds in fuch ways, for the good of the publick. Thus is the iron the firfl: and laft Minework, a chief metal which many creatures cannot want it, being of a moft necelTary ufe, whereby things v/ithin and above the earth can be forced, no man is able to remember all the ufes it may be imployed unto, for every day things fall out, to which thereis need of the u(e of iron : iron eafily receiveth a analleablenefs in a tranfmuting way, of which ibme of the ancient Philofophcrs have fpoken •, our iron is drawn from the Magnet, performeth many ufcful works in the affinity with copper, which it is near kin unto, as alfo unto the gold and lead, for thereby are made the moft glorious AkaJt^ which appear helpful in many things unto other creatures, as Posts write of, and attribute many ftrange qualities by way of parable unto iron i and if in writing all the vertues thereof ihould be comprehended, it would rife to a great Volume i its ftones have in many Countries dc- crealed, all other metalline ftones are upon their decay, only gold fiivcr, copper, aud leadke^:^ their multiplying condition all the world over. CHAP. VII. Of Lead'Oar^ hsMine^ condithn-, and fining pajfages. THe lead oar is wrought under that heavenly imprefsion of the black and cold Saturn^ by nn uiidigcikd vvaterilli Sulphurj imprte metal and (alt. Wi II And Teftameftt. Ill fait* Firll:, generally tliere is wrought a brittle glittering lead-colour in that oar which is called GlaJJc^ breaking in many rocks, containeth gold and filver, yield grofs and lafiing Mine-works. Some lead llones are very broad, becaufe glaffy oars are mixed with it, with flints or miarcaiites, partly theyare glaffy, red goldifli, white goldifh, 111 very , copper glalTy , and of copper. Some lead oar turn to a blue colour , mixed with a white tranfparency, like unto a (hot Bolus h fome is like unto the ftone-falt and allom s fome are of a dark green, like unto green floats, which lye gritty in a yellow or glue-coloured clay, fome are of a brown black, fome are yellow red, like Mi-^ ffhtmy fome is pure and'compad, fome is infprink- led and moving, fome is mixed with iron, fome with filver and lead, fome are mixed with marbles and flowers ^ fomx breaks alfo upon (landing and level moving pallages, and fome is wrought in pieces here and there in flate-mines, where black lead lieth along through the whole Mine ', fome is glaffy in Lime-ftones, and fome is very rich of filver in huge marble pafTages. There is a two- Fold Marble i, the filver palfages have a fubtilc light, and glaffy brittle Marble, which" looks like whe glafs upon gold Mine-works, is of a curious white glittering quality. Lcad-oar is wrought feveral ways, and the co- our of it changeth after the manner of the oars, :fpecially in the forts of glafs oars. For if Sa- urn licth below, or is in fubjedlion unto others. :hen the glafs hath no power to bring Saturn. into S:itjmu an imperfect mineral, which either s too hard, or elle untoward, and the Nodus of ^cnm is a mijpuk^L or a mixture of lead and fil- 1 1 a Bajjlius Valentirjus hii lafl ver, which is knitted very hard, but if foft, then it is water lead-glafs, of the which are found in gold juyces and tin-oars a kind of iron glafs or iron mole, but is heavier and more brittle than iron-glafs, by reafon of its terrellrity or earth- linefs, which keepc in the metal, and is neither too foft nor too hard, and is glalTy, white goldifh, red goldifh, and falls into rhe beft metalline oars. True lead-glalTes and oars afford half or the third part of lead, mixed with fonie other metal, and if one of the other metals be found in the glafs, which keeps the predominancy, then lead-paffa- ges are iimply good, and lead is united with gold, and thele are mixed ftones , for the ftones of Mine-oars are more wonderful in their fingular accidents. Thus is here the lead alfo in its fall, and bleak, after the heavenly imprcfsion which the Hightit hath fo indued, that it is fubjedl to other metals, and is thefupream Finer in the eifential Fruits of others. It caiily mingleth naturally with other metals, and the qualities of other oars, together with the leaves, bulk and roots into other Hones of earth ; And Saturn in his degree and power is the Higheft, in a fingular divifion of all his works, in which he flievveth himfclf in a clarified tranfparcnt foul, runneth into Antimony with its fweetnefs, which fliould meerly imbrace the gold 5 this 15 done ih^ not without a caufe •, for in its ponderoiicy it yieldeth the lightefl remedy to all melancholy and heavy blood. As heaven- ly afirals are feveral, the clouds under them are of all forts of colours i, fo the one lead is purrr and more malleable than others, as that in Englrnd and at Viiljicb it is km in the lead-fiones alio. For Will and Tellament. 1 1 ^ For lead-oars which are mixed with othc» ftones, efpccially with Tuch as contain lilver, iron, copper, yield much of lightftones, and lead- work, which are pkkt out for (eparating, and the ra- ther if they are rich of gold. Such worthy me- tak there are in Hmgary^ Icfs pains are taken a- bout them in their hning. Mineral flints with their unripe juyces in the weak joyningsof Lead oar unite the Satumal glais h if without any mix-* ture affords to Potters a green glazure, if all be not melted into lead 'i but if youget a brittle mixed Rint , there the glafs is half upon iron, and fuch. that are moft pliable aiford melting glafs for hning for iuch ftardy wild oar, which will not melt. Artifts may. "prepare fuch Satur- nal glafs,mingling with it a fmall quantity of me- tal line flower, which will look, as fair as if it were a natural one. There may be extra ded from lead an eifedtual medicine for mans health. If ilate oars are found with another mixture, there are generated moft lix and tirm copper. Vitriol and calamy alfo, as they are at Gojlar in HarlynUn The beft lead is in England and at ViUach. Man Dannot well be without any of his mem- bers > metals, according to Gods ordinance are of the fame quality, if man knew to make good ule of them, for nature hath provided richly for him in that way : if men work thefe ignorantly, what utility can they have of them ? Of the me- talline foul is made a chain, which linkcth toge- ther the jundluresof gold and iilver : thele are indued with a ipecial fpirit, which is diftilled in- ^o a water through a transparent head j Nature congealeth under ground, in the paflages -fuch i watex 114 Bafiltut Vahntinui his laji water urto ice, for a fign, that there is at hand a vein of lead, and filver, or of pnre lead, and if there be a mixture of other metal about it, it is the better. The beft lead paflages are fuch waters, blew, fcaly, T^/^y, llate-ltones, and fluid ftricked mar- bles at length, or carled infprinkled ones, and not wrapt or wound about, with moving paflages, jglmoft unlike^ unto filver oars. Some lead oars are of a whlte,rcaly, Talk-flatc, full of wide gar- riats, in which lead oar doth appear, which is rich of iilvcr. CHAP, VIII. Of fin:, T-^^ oary operation^ mifl^ flocJ^'i floats^ fallings^ and ftr ihjng p'^jf'^g^^* Tin oar is wrought in a fand-ftone, having its influence from Jupiter above, wrought of a dark brown, purple coloured, grayiih, black ihjning mercurial fait, and fome fulphur mixed with it, interlined with an unkind grofs (lilphu- reous fume, all thcfe incoiporate together, mak- ing up the body of Tin : this unkind fume is the caufd of the brittlenels of Tin, and makcth all other metals that are melted with it unkind and brittle. This Tin or §^imr groweth or break- cth in a threefold manner, viz. it llideth, it is full of fumes, and it groweth in pieces : It hath a threefold wildneis alfo, as Shoel^ flint, and iron- mould which caufeth lead-work i their colours arc black llate, brown, and yellow. Thefe fand *nd fitter oars arc invironedj or inclofed in mighty vviu ana i ejiamem. 1 1 j iTMgtity broad ihnding paflages, which appear to the day with §n>incrs\ Tome contain alfo rich paint work y lome of thefe flints muft be calci- ned, (bme are mixed with (lore of Tj/^ and Cat- filver^ wliich is a food unto S^itter^ and loveth to ftay there, fome there are which grovveth in a Glimmer or Cat-filvcr^ and is iron-mouPd, others alfo do ftrikc in a iirc ftone or flint, fo that Hrc mufl: be applied thereunto, others are in a foft ftone, and as it were fwimmeth along. Some rre richer than others. That which groweth pure, and in black fmall {ioiits^ and heapeth to- gether that natuiil work, that giveth the greatefi gain. And becauie Jupiter is the potent Lord of It, therefore it hath a mighty throne and feat, that is, a mighty huge Mine- oar, out of which Tin is made by heaps, and is of that nature and property that it prelleth outward, and bloifom- eth to a day, thrufteth off Soap-work, whence come the wafh work of Tin-foap : For ^j?iiter doth not grow in the fand of earth, befidcs in its body it is removed further from the (cit of its throne to the foot-ftool , maketh tor it felf a twofold dominion , in one it bordereth and reacheth to llates and other flones that lie about it, infomuch that his dominion increafeth, in which is not a little, but much, on the blueftones, fallings, floats, paflages, /S'/^j.-'// and clifts,whidi incline one upon another, and do joyn , many times a mighty Tin-flone is wrought y which finketh down among its own ci.ider andflate, and at its fmking purgeth it felf, and there come other fumes like clouds, which at all iides (hoof into, and then breaketh again as good as ever it did before > and it is of that good condition, that I ^. * it itdefpifeth no lodging, nor palTcth by any, but as poor and as delpicablc the ftonc is in that phce, be it ted, bro>vn, frtfl-i, or ftale, broad or fniall, it will prefs into, and mingle it ielt" with it, arid will not be forced out of it, making it felf great, little, groG, mild, tame, fubtile and pliable, even as the reft will have it, and all this in a natural way \ it loveth to border upon filvet: and iron-ftone, that Tin and* Iron be united in a mighty lix filver and copper oar , all which arc found at their feveral marxs. Tin oar is in this place better and malleable, if found afar off (rem tlint-pafTagcs , and are kfs mingled with iron mould, efpecially if copper ftones, which in cal- cining can hardly be feparated,proves Lead- work, without any fair glafs. Some of it is fo mild and foft , that w^hea they are cleared and calcined, ftill lofe (omething, for tlints and fulphureous matters, which are vo- latile, and cannot indurc any great heat, cctrode fbmewhat of the metalline Tin, which appear- eth by the vvhite thick fume at the calcining ; they are calcined thus hard by reafon of Bak§' iron-, elfe they might yield as much again \ for they lofe extreamly in calcining. It is itrange to fome,why they (brink together to fo fma'l a quan- tity,being they get a greateir quantity of lead with good ^'i'tcr^ at iirft brought out of the Mine. CHAP IViU and T'e^umer.t. 1 1 7 CHAP. IX. Of Mercurial oar and its ^ajfagcs^ MErcurial oar is wrought in its proper Mine- ftones, by the quality of its fait earth, and its nimble volatile earth, in amoift, grealic,llimy, waterilh oletity^ which is mixed with a niofl fub- tile, red, (ulphureon.s digefted earth, with a mofi; weak ilow binding, like an unripe plcafing fruit of all particular metals. Mercury fheweth its vertue in many things ad- mirably, and w^orktth eifed ually upon Minerals and Metalline fulphur, and upon fuch which bor- der upon Antimonial ftoncs or oars -, it loveth to be in fuch places where the Tin-oars Jie higher than filver palTagcs. It requireth many iterating elfediial operations unto other oars, and is mul- tiplied upon other Irrange Itones, and is draw^n through the juycesbf Minerals and Metals, which are in affinity one to another, and produce many Ibange mifcreants , this is the reaion why it is (o plea(ant unto metals, Goldfmiths amalgame and gild with it. It is ufed alfo for metaljiye colours, and is prepared to an oil and water, for mans health,and is fublimed for to corrode ths worit of poifons, and is a true Robber, taketh along what ever cofts have been beftow^ed on him 5 but if he can be catched in his nature, then is he in fubjedioii and obedience unto quick and dead. He is very etfedual in Medicine^ cfpecially for outward foresi he is naught to naught, and good to good, and is not every bodies fiiend , though he is willing 1 3 Il8 BafiVw^^iile/iti/Wshh U^x to do what you put him upon. His metalh'ne flones are of the faiue nature with pure white flate earth, inclined to a water-blew, in frefli in- termingled white marbles, in a glalTy grayifh and porous Glimmer or [ cat-filver] which lie beneath betwixt the llates, in a float way , which are mingled in their metalline pafTages withon-fled Marcjfites^ and with the fubtileft fmall ftreaked white Talk, and are*-* thorough grown with two' forts, ftanding and float-ftriking pallages,in which is wrought a curious red fl^iining quick-filvcr oar, iiot unlike unto red Mine-fulphur , and fomc- times floweth purely out of the clifts and caves of the palTages, (lands in a fink or puddle toge- ther like water, which its natural quick fubfiance fufficiently evidenceth. CHAP. X. Of JFifmuth^ Antimony^ Sulphur^ Salh Salt- ^cnr and 1a\ ' X7\7Ifmuth is wrought in its own Mine- V V ftone, not quiteireed from a protrud- ign filver , or Tin-ftone, cf an imperfed pure quick-lilvcr withTin-filt, and fluid filver-fuU phur of a brittle immifciblc earth, partly of a crude fluid fulphur, partly ^f a mixed much ex- iccated fulphur, according as k hath gotten 2.mx- irix^ after it was conceived : then it turneth a ba- fiard of a brittle nature, eafily uniteth with Mer- cury, and is wrought naturally in a two-fold form,, the one is fluid and metalline, is m.elted with dry wcod, being mixed with clay, yieldeth •much ot white Ai-fcmck. . The other is fmall fireak- Will and Tejtament. i ig fireaked, or j^iJ/Ff, remaineth an unripe fubftance, yields a hx fulphur inftead of Arfenick ; both thefe are filver Tf^ifmuth. Antimony comes from perfedt Mercury, wrought of little fait and a waterifli fluid fulphur, though it (hineth black naturally, and its out-fide is of an antimonial form, yet it gratuateth and purifieth the noble nature of Gold , and doth much good unto man; being artificially prepared in its feveral ways --, notwithftandlng its colour, it keepeth its high and mighty, praife and vir- tue : For meeting with a Malkr, which can cla- rifie it, and gets its natural Gold out of it, and extra Heathens and Chriftians received that Manna, together with Mines and Kingdoms, they are fct and fliot at jlie.heapof rubbiih, where they ilill worfhlp the Cilf ^ of this I have fpokon more in that book where I treated of Fojjtiu* CHAP. XII. Hon? preciom Stones and Jcrvels arc xpr ought ^ and hort'' Cnd hath hjlowcd bkjfuigs upon thofe that PMf\ the Mines* JEwels are wrought out of the fubftance of the- ; moll perfed:, tranfpa rent, end nobleft earthli- neis, with a mixuirc of the nobleil Mercury, Sulphur Will and Te^ment. 125 Sulphur and Salt, without any fume, or moift matter : are of a dry coagulation, and commonly are cngendred in a round form in their dwellings, lodgings, Hocks, and pafTages, fixedly bcund to- gether s fome are of a tranlparcnt lullre, others are more darki and they have their fcveral co- lours. Not many oars are found, in which thefe no- ble generated bodies are brought to any perfedl- nefs, neither are their ftrikings afong in a way ot palTage, here and there they have their Centers, unto which are joyned tender and miraculous ac- crcfcencics, where they are guitatim lapidated, falling into the hardeft, purelt ftoncs concavities, growing in feveral cuticles, as we fee the animal Hones do grow. The more precious the Jewels are, the fewer there are of tl em i and the grofler their mixture is, the more liore there is found of them, which is apparent in Gjirnats'-i who hath hith( rto (earched into the quick fpirits of fuch ncl^lc Creatures, the Lord hath created tor mans ibeneht ? Pygmces or HomnnculU which in former times lived in hollow oars of Mines, thefe could not want skill in fuch ways, having traverfcdand travelled up and down all thefe llippery corners and ways- The places and fituation of fuch Je- wels lying fdmewhat ^nearer unto Heaven, in the Eafteni Countries, bordering on Paradice, fo here muH needs be abounding in Gold and Jew- Is, and ilich precious vegetables , which our hougfits hardly may reach unto. God requir- ::th no more of man, whom he intfuileth with :hefe things, but to be faithful and juft, and is m argmiient tor us to think that for the fame caufc 12^ Bafilius Valenttnus^his lafl caufe pious Kings and Princes, and the old wife patriarchs were gifted from above to bear a love tt) fearch into Mine-works, and did it with an uprightnefs and judgement. Let honeft godly Chriiiian Miners chuie the better part, and learn to know the pearl, the fpirit of the Lord pro^ ceediiag out of Gods own mouth, and let them confider well their eternal fixation , to return their love again to him that hath loved them tirft, bringing all things to their fubjcdion, he imparteth all unto them abundantly in grace and mercy, and by the innocence and merit of his only fon, bcftoweth on them temporal and eter- nal blcfsings, and puts more glorious ornaments on them, and better than ever gold, filver, jewds, and pearls were adorned withal. CHAP. XIII. Of the ejfencc of ,GoId^>n-'hich ys ahuniantly foitnd^ not only in the metal^ but Miner d alfo^ n>bfe energy is (herded mofl rarely^ and a Jhjrt clnfing of my firji and ficond Part of Minerals and Me- tals is annexed* THis Chapter is a breviary of all mineral co- ti lours and torms, how they after an heaven- . tf ]y operation are daily clad in the metalline prime [[ matrix -, and (it forth in their fevcral words, [\ whereas there (hii-j.eth forth unto u& the eternal light of the luftrous Sun, the deity of the day of joys, and ot the eternal molt jixed and faireft Sol^ as alfo of a moft, yellow , pure, red, and fixed ^itria colour of heavens eternal lightning, and Will and Te^ament. I27 and the moft glorious paradife of all the Stars, a natural created light for all creatures , befides the beautiful Aurora, of Mineral Earths, and of their fubtileft, compad, and befl: binding incloied, fpeaking to all other white untinged Metals > I, Sol^ of an eflt^ntial being, am Lord of Lords in power, might, and perfection, I overcome all, and I overcome and bring them into fubjedlrion, 1: and none of them can mailer me, but I do con- quer them all, they are fubjed to me, and to my Being, for my Kingdoms is cAablifhed with in- finite and invincible Power and Dignity s by me all metals, minerals, animals and vegetables are ftrengthened and redihed ^ for I give to every one that knoweth me in my green, blue, and red Nature, all what I have, and what he defireth, I caufe to drop down after the four cardinal flreams of Tifon^ Gihon^ the nobleft fublhnce of Viercury, in the form of a mofi: pure tranfparent cryftalline water, and the moft noble fubftance of Sulphur , of Hidckel and Fhratb the cleareft ■aireft Aftral fait from a Vitriol fait, which through all Mines flew upward very fruitfully, and penetrates all the mineral ftones. I alone graduate and exalt the filvcr, unto Luae^ I give ight and luftre in all righteoufnefs, of my ver- tue do fpeak all Magi^ Naturalilts,' and Scribes all he world over, from the Eaft to the Weft, I am ;he Lord over the heavenly clarified garments md colours, I adorn rhc hrniamcnt, the weather, '.cloath the Rain-bow after Gods will, I exalt all twelS) all fuch growths and creatures^ and what [Cannot inwardly walk through and reach unto la my courfe, I leave it to be perfected with my riend and lover the Lnne^ (lie re^seiveth the belt part 1 i 8 BafiUus rdentinm his hfl J5art of me, and of the fubtileft an abundance^ the Indies^ Hungary^ Carinthia teftifieth the rame> for all what is to h've, and is to receive a lite> rejoyceth in me, and next God, in none elfe, for to him honour and glory belongs folely aft^r huB, I find no higher Lord and Commander. Bnt for my part I do not reit, neither do I delire any reft, do my office readily into which my Creatour hath placed me, I let my plyablcnefs be found glori- oufiy, like a wax in Hones, which have by reafon of hardncfs fire enough, if need. I am hid from unwife men, and am ready to be dilcern'd by men of underlbnding. 1 am predominant abundantly in a well known Mi- neral, as alfo in M^irs and Venm which are of low degrees : in them I lie hid alfo , all xhSz have a double fpirit, well known unto Lunc^ pleafant to her, and next unto her. Hence God fuffered Mofes to ercCt a brafen Serpent, in the defert after my colour , in harkning unto the people, at the mount Stna'u My bcft and faireft colour appeareth in tranfparcnt juyces, as vitriol, which after my condition 'n\ due time pcnetra- teth Oars, whereby they grew rich in luft, a id are train'd up in a pleafant form corroded into a greennefs, like fealing wax, green like Goofe- dung, blew like Saphir, and lb torth, fometimcs of the colour of a water flint : my red and white colour is the. bell, which are heartily : wifh'd for. I love to be kindled in vitriol, and further it after defcenliou in its green food, unto a deep red fpirit, after whole laxative purging cometh that expeded aquj. Sauirni , the true ) acide-JVcU : from whence I my fclf and all other " Metals, Animals and Vegetables have my oflf- fpring wiu and Tejtamem. 12^ (pring and life. For Metals and Minerals ri^ only from thence, have their beginniug and ori^ ginal from it, for it is that quickening water, which ordinary Miners do not know of, is known only to Philofophers. It worketh Minerals and Metals in (everal ways, in form of taps which did skept,piire, white, compa6t, found like purified Sugar, in a blue flate-work. An extraordinary pleafant Mineral for all colours. Salt Oars are at a farther diftance , which by my attadive changing, are found in floats, blocks and pafTages, which in many places, bring the water unto the day-light, fo that it often is found a pure and dry Salt above ground, of glafsie light flames, or in a great frofl like unto flocks of (now, there Ihooteth a brittle, glafsie light (lone, wrought in great pieces : in the fame order are all other Jew- els according to mine inlightned heavenly ftone, difiributed among their operations, worths, and vertues, and clarified in a mcft fix'd tranrparcn- cy, and indewed with an everlafting fpiric, di- fiind: in feveral colours, as Diamond, Smaragds, Carbuncles, Saphirs, Rubies , Cnryftals, Chalce- donian, Jafpis, Berill, ChryfolithjOnix, Carmel> Turkois, Lazur-iione, Margarits, Coralls, lerra Lemnia-, Terpentine-flones, and Garnats, of deep- ,f r low colours, each in its heavenly colours order is tranlparent, and naturally is created, andpre- fcrved in its own officina : Hence it may be ar- gued, that all thefe together with good fruits lerve for mans good, both for his body and fpirit ^ for nothing is hid from my tranfparent pow- er,, my fplendor and luftre ovcr-ihadoweth aU thee, and are held to their growing i^nto ma- turity: let no^ creatures marvel a.tthcic (everal K diftin- 1 so Bajmus VAlenUnus hts laft diftindions from whence they all (hould come^foi' ^11 Save their principle from me, and from my ipirit, which is hidden in me, which none can dive into, fave the fole Creator of. all things, from whom it proceeded as out of his Divine mouth. Thus I clofe up rry (peech, and my fclf ftartle at fo great a myftery, and atteft in truth for a farewel, that I am not only the Gold and f)refent Sol^ but give alfo flrength and power to all the inferies terrene (pirits : for Arijicm and Onizon is in fubjedtion unto me, for I am «& and », God be prailcd for ever. Thus I conclude the (econd part of my Mi- neral book, wherein I have (hewed iuithtully as much as I know, and could in my indultry ap- prehend : let others do their endeavours alfo, let them produce their knowledge alio, that the light of the nobly nature may Itill be fupply'd in her plenitude, and may npt go out , whereby caufe would be given to the enemy and envious men, to be outragious againll (uch truths. Let God ftill and unceflantly be importuned with prayers and thankfgiving. For thefe ends I have written thefe my two Treatifes , and annexed the manuals at the beginning (which otherwife needed not to be done) that by carneft prayer and thaukfgiving , and continued earneit wor- . Ihipping of God, every one might caretully exer- eife himfelf therein, and be convinced in his rea- son, how gloriouily almighty God hath created, ordained, and held foith nature, to perform her operations under ground, and to produce unto the day light tormally their Nativities and fruits, that we may reap thereby not only our fulle- nance, but may aciinowkdge Gods infinite mer- WiU and Teltament. 1 ^ X cy and goodnefe, for which none can return fuf- ficient thanks. However let every one do hi» duty, and as much as he is able to perform with his heart and tongue, pray to God in fincerity fo« his grace, blefiing and wildoni, to conceive by hisipiritof truth and righteouihcfs of his great and wonderful Creature, that the honour of God may be exalted above the Heaven, and be pro- claimed with infinite praise throughout ail the World. End of the fecond Part. THE 2i/l ob oiio Y'ioyj ij[ *iev. • fhiwrmofcq o5 ^J6c^l^ 161 V'iiiuonit fit boOx-)3 -{]/< Y^J ovrjjrr >:: oj frnob'iiv; ' 1-,r. THE TH I R D P A^RT O F Basilius Valentimus His laft TESTAMENT. Treating of the Univerfal work in the whoIe^World, with a perfedl Decla- ration of the XII. Keys •' where- in is fignificantly exprcffed the name of the great matter. There u an Elucidation alfo of all his foY^ met writing : puilijhcd for the good of the pojienty^ and fuchy that are lovers of wifdom. LONDON, Printed by 5". G. & B. G. for Edipard Brew-' {i^r 3 at the Crar^e in Saint Pauls Church'jard^ i tf 70. j ? W M I 7 ■J I . Dm V zioro (135) THE THIRD PART I s A Declaration of the XII. Keyes^ HEre followeth the third part of my in- tended writings, wherein is truly (hewed the original and prime matter of our Philofophick Itone, which is a perfedt inftrudion to the pradlick part, which {heweth the dired way to the inexhaultible foun- tain of health, and of the abundance of riches to provide tor mans neceflaries: and this is a Declaration of my former writings, which is left for a love-token to all thofe that are lovers of Philofophy. My triend you muft note, that by this intend- ed work touching the Minerals, I had reafbn ta prcrix the two parts of Minerals , and Metals, and their Oars , holding it a necefsiry to hold K jL forth 1^6 \AnEluctdaUono^theXIl,Ke)S. forth a light unto the ignorant, how that one' ipirit from above frameth all fach Oars, Metals, and Minerals, taking their original under ground for to generate thereby. For earth is always ready and covetous to attrad and to retain that ipirit, which proceedeth from Heavens powers, which it perfenteth in procefs of time in a for- mality and perfedtion. The manner of it hath been fpoken of fufficiently in my former writings, which is the reafon why I give only hints of them in this place. Note, that all things proceed from a heavenly influence, elemental operation, earthly fubftance, from this mixture arife the four ElementSy wa- ter, air, earth, which engender by the help of fire hid therein, in a warm digdHon, producing a Soul, Spirit, and Body. Thele arc the three prime principles, which in a coagulationcome to a Mer- cury, Sulphur,- and Salt, the(e three being in con- jundion, according to the nature of the ieed pro- duce a perfedbody s be it in the Kingdom, either of Minerals, Animals, or Vegetables. All things in the world, that are viable and palpable- are di- vided into thefe three Kingdoms: the Animal which contains fuch that have a lively breath, compoied of iicfh and bloud , as men , beaf[S, worms , hfhes , fowls. The vegetables which contains trees, herbs, feeds, roots, fruits, and all fnch things that are of a growing quality, the Minerals contains all manner of Oars, Metals, Minerals, Marcalits, Calves, Zinks^ LoboVs^ all •foris ot fiints, pecbles, wifmuths, Itones, precious ones ana. others. Animds liave their fpecial kt^-. a fpermatick /libitance, wh'ich after a copulation generate flclli and Ail Elucidation of the XI T, Ke)U 1 3 7 and bloud, which feed is their prima matcriafiom a heavenly influence, created by God of the four Elements, wrought by nature, which formerly were quoted in my writings. Vemahles alfo have their proper feed which God befiowcd on them, according to their feveral qualities and form by a heavenly and fyderial in- fluence, and receive their elemenal fruitful grow- ing from the earth, with an order, thereby to ge- nerate and augment, Mirerals and Metals alfo have their original feed from God, by the heavens influence in a liquid aereal fubiiance, by a Mineral fpirit, ful- phureous Soul and enrthly Salt in one body joyn- ed:of thefe I have fpoken m my former v/ritings. Note further, if any of thefe Metalline and Mineral kinds (hall be brought to a farther propa- gation and augmentation, it muft be reduced to its firlf feed and prima materia* If you will tranfmute Metals, augment them, bring them into a tindure, or Philofophick ftone, you mull: firft underftand, how you may deflroy by a fpagyrick Art, the Metalline and Mineral form and feparate it into a Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt, thefe three muft be purely feparated, and brought to their lirft principles. . This feparation is done in, and by a Mercurial fpirit, fulphureous Soul and a white Salt. Thefe three in a due ordering of a true manual muft be ; joyned again, that they maybe brought to the I higheft and moft perfeCl purity. In which conjunction muftexadrly be obferved the quantity : after this conjundion the whole. f ubftance is meerly a liquid fubftance and philofo- phick water, in which all the Elemei:its, hrftthc licaveu- 1 5 8 An ElucUatio'^ cf ttjp XI f, K^ju heavenly, than the elemental, and laftly the earth- i !y qualities are (hut up and lie hid therein. For the Mercurial (pirit is cold and moid:, the fulphureous Soul is warm and dry, and this liquor is the true prints materia^ and hrit (ted of Metals and Minerals, which by Vnlcans Art is brought to a plufqutm terfe&hn-^nto a tranfcendent fix'd Me- dicine, out of which is generated the true Philo- fophick ftone , and mL'il be produced in that way. Therefore ob(erve and take notice, that all Metals and Mmerals have only one O't^ from which generally their defcent is, he that know- eth that rightly, needs not to deftroy Metals, to cxtradt the Spirit from one, the Sulphur from a fecond, and the Salt from a third. For there is a nearer place yet, in which thefe three,- Spirit, Soul , and Body lye hid in one thing *, well known > and may with great praife be gotten, it (hall be nominated afterward in (everal terms. He that Icarneth to know exadly this golden feed, or this Magftct^ and fcarcheth througaly in- to its properties, he hath then the true root of life, and may attain unto that, his heart longeth for. In my former writings, as alio in the XII. Keys, from the hri] to the laft, I ordered thus my ftile in writing, wherein I held forth unto poftc- rity the praiiick^^ how the great (ione of Philo- fcphers, or the bed purihed gold may be made ^xit of Sulphur and Salt, w^itli the help of the 5pirit of Mercury, which muftbj drawn from a crude unmdted Minera^ accordi.ig to the Tenor of my hfth Key fet dowa in a parabolical man^ ncr. why 1 4td th: V. ork of t le R i!o(';p)iK:k ftonc upon ^n Elucidation! of the ri I. Ke\s. 13^ apon the Geld Metal, this is the reafon that the fiiTiple Laborators , to whom \s unknown the 0- ther body , or fuhje^fum , which containcth all the three principles : though it be a thhig well known, yet is it a ftrangcr to their brains, may learn hereby more wit and knowledge. Many of the ancient Philofophers , which lived long before me, have in the fame manner with me ob- tained the true univerfal ftonc of all myfteries and health, as their books, which are extant, give evi- dence thereof. The firft time I took great pains and was at great expences, and confumed much time about the purilicd Gold , a^lledged in the firli Key , this heavenly fton£ I prepared in the Cloifter I lived in, and happily obtained it. The higheft in heaven belicwtd his further grace and blefsing upon me, that I took into further conil- o * deration the tinging animated fpirits placed and planted into their ieveral bodies. Let no man be a(hamed to learn, to add more to his learning, and to dive further into that , which was hid from him, notwithftanding his knowing ways* Nature relerveth many things in her iecrecy, j which mens dull undcrltanding and (liortnefs of j lifee cannot reach unto. Whereas God in his great goodnefs hath bc- ilowed this great gift upon me, for an improve- ment of that talent, I have imparted the lame to nay fellow Ghrilbans in the faid XII. Keys. Thofe that are endued with deeper wits and knowledge, and in their hearty and careful en- deavours Ikive further to dive in the Art, wil} Imeet in the fame place with a more ealie and more known matter, which almoft was namedand I^o An Elucidation cftheXU, ^cp* fet down, of an effedriial quhlity, out'of which in like manner, as the ancieiits before rac,"in their exadt fpecalati jn and pradrick have, in the cud better known the only Icopeahd drift, wmch hath been pradifed fevercl times by me alfo^in a fhdrter time, and lefs pains taking, both they and I have obtained health and riches : in this known and defpicable matter and Mineral fubftance is fojnd a iulphur and tindure more effedual^ and more worthy, than the beft Gold can afford, whTch is* fluid and open, and its Mercurial fpirit aKb, and its mylVicul • Salt is free and open, whofe vertues may with lefs^ains in a vilible manner be drawn fiomit. '_■■'.-;■'.' He that hath coufidcred exadily itiy -i^I. Keys, frequently perufing^tlie' fame, muil: iieeds* con- ceive, and that therein is held forth the. whole preparation of our it one, from the beginnii^g to the end, without any delect, yet fo that; jt only ihould be prepared of Gold fitted, for it. But we, according to Gods ordinance in natarc,^have pointed at a Gold, which is much bettcr,.an4 re- quireth to be taken into a deep confideration , which being unknown and ftrange to Novices, for Tome reaions I forbear to give them . any dire- clion thereunto, with a rcfolution to write and to point at flich matters, as themfelvcs are inclin- ed to feck for their feed in them. ;- .j " At the beginning of my. XII. Key% according to the manner of PnilofopherSj in a parabohca way I made relation of the property and wor of our iXoiiQ and balfam, how it was made by Ar tifts, which as by an inheritance is come to me al- io, wh-rein I (poke as much as was meet ot t^e government of the fire, chargeable appearance, and An BlucidaVou of the XIL ICeji. 1 41 and of the chiefeft planetical colours, and the fi- nal end thereof. After the accomphfnment of thefe'perufe well the XII. Keys, for each contaiii- eth a particular work. The hrlt Key infcrmeth you, that if you feek for the feed in a Metalline Body, as in the Gold, then before all things it niuft moft exadly be purged from all its impure kprofie, and that no- thing muii: be mix'd with our Fountain, but fuch, which is cf a pure (permatick quality. This pu- lifymg is perform'd with Antimony, which ftands in a near relation, and affinity unto Gold^ which is the reafon , why antimcnial fulphur purgeth the Soul of Gold, graduating the fame to a very high degree. On the other-fide, the Gold can meliorate in a (hort time the Soul of An- timony, and can bring it to a firm fixation, exalt- ing Antimony and Gold to an equal dignity and vertue, and can be brought not only unto a white Metal of Lune^ but alfo to a transcendent Medi-. cine for mans health, of which you fnall have a further diredion hereafter, when I (hall treat in particular of Antimony. Although Antimony hath promifed unto Saturn a fociable brother- tiood, becaufe Antimony's quahfication doth reft in fome fort on the quality of Saturn in an equal concordance, yet after the fixation of the exalted Sulphur of Antimony , his next friend Sjmrn cannotget any prey from him, becaufe the King received him into his golden Palace- and make him partaker of his triumphing Kingdom. This Is the reafon, why he can endure now heat and* Ifroft, and overcomes it, and frandeth with the [iingaConquerorin great and tranfcendcnt glory, I The purifying of the Gold is perform'd thus ; I . • Lami' 145 An Elucidation of thf XII. Keji. Laminate the Gold thinly, after a due mannen calt it thrice through Antimony, afterward the Kcgiilus which is fet at the through cafting mult be melted before the blaft in a llrong tire, and driven off with Saturn^ then you wjU find thepurefj, faireft, ihioH: luftrous Gold , plcafant to behold, as much as the luftre of Sol is. This Gold is now fitted to furrender its innermoft, being iirft brought from its fixednc(s into a de- frrucStive form, ^nd pafs through the Salt-fea of its corruptiblencfs, is drowned therein, efcapcd i^ gain, and appcareth vifibly. l^he fecondKey* ^ 4 y Friend, note, and take that into a feriousi Ivl coniidcntibn, becaufe the chiefeft point lyeth herein '-, cau(e a Balneum be made, let no- thing come into it, which Ihould not be there, that the noble iced of the Geld fall not into a de- iirud:ive and irrecoverable oppofition after its de- Itrudion, ^nd take an exad and careful view of llich things , which my fccond Key informeth thee of, namely what matter you ought to take to the Kings Balneum^ wturcby the King is de- l»'royed, and its external torm broken, and its ttiidttikd Soul may come forth, to this purpoic will ftrve the Draron and the Eagle^ which is Niter and Sdl Qrmoniack^^ both which after their Lnion arc nude into diAquifrt^ as you (ball be further informed of in my Manuals , where I fhall treat m particular of Gold, of other Metal?- and Minerals, into which Bjlmum the Ring is thrown , being iirft, as in the quoted place you (half An rhridjt'OH of the XII. Kfjs. I45 (hall hear- bioi^ht into :in Jmalgama of Mercu- ry and ot Sulpf ur, which prefently fei2tth on him, corra'etaah his member,, and is difTolved, and is prt(eiitly mortihed of this Salt-water into a moit iplenacnt tranfparent Oyl. You muft note, that this diflolution is not fufficient, and the Ring is not minded as yet to let go Iiis Soul out of his iixcd body, which you can fee when you feparate the water from the diflTolved body of the King, where you (hall find fixed powder of Gold, out of which you will hardly get his Soul that is therein. Therefore follow my coun- fti and bear the yoak, which I bore before you, and learn to know exadily in pains taking, fur- ther rhus, as I (hall inform you. Having dif- I {blved your Gold wholly in the faid water, and brought it into a pleafant yellow Oyl, then let it liand well luted for a day and night in a very gentle Balneum Maria^ the feces which are fetled, mull: Le feparated from it, then take this pure diffolution, put it into a well coated body, or IPvetort, apply a Helmet to it, with a Receiver, in the beft manner luted to it, fet it into a (and Capel, drive the Gold with the w^ater over the Helmet, iterate this a third time, then abftradt the water in Balneum MarU^ you will find a fair Gold-powder, keep this in a glafs for an hour In iire, let the remaining huiinidity be drawn from it. 1 Tk 144 ^^ ElmdMion of the XII. Ke)S. * Ibe third Key* '^'Heii take of good fpirit of Salt-niter one A part, and of dephlcgmed fpirit of ordinary Salt, three parts, pour thefe fpirits together warm'd a little, into a body on the fore-written Gold powder, lute a Helmet and Receiver to it, drive the Gold over as formerly in fand fcveral times with an iterated diitillation, the oftner the better, let the Gold come to be volatile more and more, and at laft let all come over. By this re- peated driving ov€"r, its fixed body is divided, all its Members are torn afunder and opened, and leaveth willingly its Soul to a fpecial Jiidge, of which my third Key will give fuiEcient infor- mation. Note further, that after this work thofe fait fpirits muft be abfini^ed from the Gold, which was driven over, very gently in Bdmo MarU^ let nothing of the tincture of the Gold come over, that the body (uUcr net any diminution ; then »take thatjSold, cr rather theicCj^i-yibls of Gold, from wh& you have^ ieparated the water, put it in a Rt\^cM.ratiDg jp^n, ietit.under a Viuftie, let its lirfi iirc^ gentle-tor an hour, kt all its corio- fivenels bcr^5^kcn away, then your pow^der will be ,of a fair iwarlc^ cdlour , as iubtile as ever was leen, put it lai a clean viol, pour on it frefh ipirit of ordinary vSalt, iirH brougtit to a fweetn(:fs,1et it ftand iiv a- gentle digeliion, let that fpirit be 'deeply tin^'danO tranfparent, red like a Ruby, .'cant It orl, pou.ron treik, extrad again,\iterate jthe wori\ uf canting ^ and pouring ~oni:tiil no '^ ■' ■■ ' ^' more \ An Elucidation of the Xll. Ke^^u 145 more tincture of it appeareth, put all the(e ex- tradions together, ieparate them in Balnco gently from the Sulphur of Sol^ then that powder is fub- tile and tender , of great worth •, this matter is f-ich, which in a fhort procefle rranfmuteth Lune in its tindlure to the higheft perfedion. acording to the diredion of my XII. Keys. He that hath fbme knowledge herein, may j make this quere ; whither this extradied dry Soul and Sulphur of the King be juii that Soul, of which Philofophers have this faying : the Philo- fophick work for the preparation of the moft precious ftone requireth three things, viz- a wet volatile Mercury, or a Mercurial fpirit, a wet vo- latile fulphurous Soul , and a dry aftrai Salt, which after its diffblution together with the two iirft raufi be apparent and knownina waterifli form i which w^ay comes that about, becaufe in this procelTe nothing is fpoken of any Merculrial fpirit and volatile Soul, but the Soul of the King appeared in a fubtile form of powder } The an- fwer hereunto I delay fo long till the Querift learns better to underftand the diftindlion in this book, and I will perform my promife, and fet his anxious and intangled mind at liberty, which is fo much troubled about this doubt, and will deal with him as a good father may deal with his fon ■-> in and with this fcope, wherein our Maftery lieth, have been fooled moit of the Wits, leading them captive in their erroneous ways, beuig led about in a dcfart of miilead ways, becaule in their fup- pofed deep wits, they had not conceived fo much of the manner, how all things of theworld arc generated, and that every fpirit muithave aSoul and every Soul a tit fpint, and that both fpirit and' I j\6 ^n Elucic^ation of the XlU ^n^ Soul are fpirits and fpiritual, which muft have a body, in which they may have a dwelling. Gold and Silver, but chiefly Gold is brought to the hii^heft Hxednefs, by fuch degrees as natqre did afford, infomuch its nature is found very hot and fiery, freed from all phkgmatick humidity, of which hum is not fo wholly treed, though fne hath obtained a fulphur-fixed degree, and iiaycth for the" King, to warm her cold body with his hot feed, which concerns the particulars, and belongs unto them, which in that place flnll be plainly demonftrated. In Gold there is no waterifli hu- midity at all, unlefs it were reduced again into Vitriol, which woidd be but an ufelcfs and un- profitable work, and would require huge cxpen- ces, in cafe the Philcfophers ftone fhould be of Vi- triol of Gold, of which there mull be, had great flore •, indeed in that Vitriol there would be found a convenient fpirit, which nature would defire, of a wliite quality, as al(o a Soul and Salt of a, gl or i ous e;Srence. Biit what Countries, Goods, Lands, have hc^n dilapidated this way, I wave to difcourie of only, this warning I give to my Difciples, nature hav- ing left a nearer way to keep and to imitate that, ^ that they alio might take heed to fall into fuch ex- tream and inextricable poverties. The fblar Mercury Sol^ being never brought fo far unto dellrudion, neither did the ancient Phi- lolophers ever make ufe of that way, as being a thing clean contrary un'-o nature, cpntaineth in- I deed an humidity, but it is a meer Elemental wa- terilh humidity after its dilTolutlon , and good f for nothing, water and other principles do not liand in the tkments, but the Elements reft in tha Ah Elucidation of the XU. Ke^.. 147 I the principles and feeds of- Metals, ot" the which I have fpokcn formerly. Therefore let none be foover witty, as to make our ftone only ot dry and fully digeired Gold : btcaufe its phlegmatick humidity is entred into a dry hxedncfs and hxed coagulation,which is not found (b in other Me- tals, though they alfo are fiibjed: to a hard coagu- lation and pafled through the hre, yet are not wholly digelted, nor brought to a full maturity from the natural original root , which ought to be taken notice of 5 and be not olfended at my former writings if they feem to run contrary 1 againil this. | Though I have (hewed, that the Spirit, Soul, ] and Body come all from one Metalline eflence, and mufl be prepared thus, among which I held the Gold to be the beft,- however I dealt herein as | it flamed ht for aPhilofopher. the hke the ancient Phiiofophers have done before me , but I hope \ you took notice of my proteftation, that I gave f Ipecial caufe thereby to your Ipeculation, to take, the better notice of nature and her principle, and! to coniider the original^bccaule it was not meet tor me to inform all men, how the doors are bolted within, and efpecially at thit time, when I nevcrl intended to write thus plainly of thele things, which are hid even from the beii of men, but j when my heavenly Prince commanded, at the! changing of my mind, not to bury the imparted talent, but to do the IIkc to thole, whom God 1 -thirki worthy, to leave it to tiiem. One rule i more I muft put to thy remembrance , of fuch points, which formerly Ihavefet down, of which ] I fpoke now, that you may the lels blaiBC me, as if I did refitfe thclc things now, which 1 former- ly wroteof. L 2 P^riife 148 ^fi Elucidation oftheXll.Ke)$, Petufe all fuch which fincc the beginning of the world have written of Metals, you will find , that they were all of one mind, and that I make ufe of their iayings": that the iirfl: and the laft Metal is a Metal, becaufe the hrft Metal hath al- V ready obtained, and gotten the forth-going feed I of Metals in a Metalline quality, which doth no- thing elfe, but that it goeth on unceiTantly in the Metalline generation, as I ipoke of m the hrft \ and fecond part of Minerals and Metals , and in this part alfo I have fpoken of it in fevcral places. J ' Many have called Gold Lead, and Lead they called Gold, becaufe it was found not only of the fame ponderoufneis,but becaufe three deep gliter- ing ftones have foleiy gotten from this Planet ' their tranfcendent perfe^ion , and many other cauies befides, which to relate here, would fall too I long and needleis. And this is it which asketh wildom to di/linguifli in this and in other things, and exadlly to fearch into Gods myfteries, and natures laid before us. But man through Adams fall being brought to a deep blindnefs, therefore mens under/landing are fo eclipfed, that they can hardly conceive of this, and of ot:her myiHcal matters in nature. The obduration being fo great among the co- 1 vetous, that for the moil part they fearch and dive into fuch myfkries out of nicer covetoufnefs , I pride, and ambition, made the ancient Philofo- ' pliers upon command tk inlpiratlon of the highefl aim at that, as to put a certain Ihy to their hands, ^and to write of fuch myfteries in fuch a manner, that unworthy men ihould not underftand it, and / but worthy men only in their illumination might perceive An Elucidatioa of the XII. KeyK 1 4^ perceive it : and writing often o^c thing, have mingled other among, under/landing ftill the one and the fame. In feveral places they {hewed,that the Philo(bphers ilone is, and comes from an ani- mal, others from a vegetable feed, and a third fort faith, it comes from a Mineral feed : others write that ftone is made of an animal, vegetable, / and Mineral feed together. All this is only un- V derfiood of the Mineral and Metalline feed, and confifteth not in any plurality of feeds. Hence { this Art grew eclipfed, infomuch that fcarce one among many thoiifands hardly attaineth unto * the knowledge thereof : and for that reafon is it held for an Art, becaufe not every Dunce (bould ( bring it into his Beetle-head, and why (hould it ? i For li this Art were as common as Brewing of Beer, and Baking of Bread, then any one may judge what good could be look'd for i. would not ^ all manner of victs be pradifed publickly without ■ any controlling ? i Tiieretore f uch men, which in their lofty mind are meerly for Pomp and Pride, muft be clipped 4 in their wings, and theie things ought not to be put into their mouths, tilings are clear enough I for thefe, on whom God intends the bellowing of them. • / I return now to the thing I intended, which is to teach a defirous Schollar, how to proceed fur- ther with the extraded Soul of Gold : Truly it is much to difcover fach myfleries > I warn every one to make good ufe of them \ and note, that if you have the purple mantle of SoU as the fulphur of Sol^ then b^ thankful unto God for it, bear no evil mind againll thy neighbour, unlock your •golden fced .according to the Tenor of the L3 Key, T 5 3 ^nT. held at 10 n o\ t'.^e X U .I^rj. Key.tuxn it to water ', for in our Art there muft be Body, Soul, and Spirit, which run together in the innermoft root, the one layeth hold on the other meliorateth the lame throughout in its whole quality , infomuch that there is a new created world and earth, which afterward is illuminated by the Soul, and is exalted into a tranfcendent efficacy. Therefore it is requifite that you know, how to infufe your golden feed into the new body, and to brhig it to a fluid fubftance : look about thee, and fee where you may find it : if you iind none, defpair not, but be ot good comfort, think upon means, and ask counfcl of god Saturn-) ho will not let thee go without a refolve, he will put into thy hand a deep glittering Miner a tor an ofrcring, which in his Mine is grown of the lirft matter of all Metals, if this Mincra after its preparation, which he will (hew unto thee, is fct into a frrong fublimation, mixed with three parts of bole, or tyle mealy then rifeth to the highell mount a no- ble fublimate, like little feathers, or alumcn plu- mofmn^ which m due time dilTolveth into a flrong and efl-eclual water, which bringeth thy (izlA m a little putrefadion very fuddenly into the hrft vo- latility, if fo be there be added to it a due quanti- ty of water, that it may be difTolved therein, there th^ twig with the bulk doth unite, that .phey are able toafcend above the higheli moun- tain, and (by inl^parably together a Soul and Spi- rit, or a Spirit and Soul. It is requihte,that you be (lored with water for the body or Salt to dilTolve the fame alio, and coagulate the fame into a new clarihed body^ which Vv'iil never part afundcr, neither in love ncv An Elnciditi<:a of theXfl, Kejf. 1 5 1 nor woe, kcaufc they are vi one nature, nativi' ty, and original, and have been fo from the be" ginnmg. For they all have their beginning and birth from the power of this volatile bird. But remember well that thefe Mineral fpirits are in other Metals alfo, and are found elfcdrual in one Mineral, trom whence with more eafe and lefs charges it may be had,: the bufii^efs is only here- in, that you learn to know, what this Mercurial Spirit, Mercurial Soul, and Afiral Salt is, that the one may not be taken in ftead of the other,which would caufe a huge crrour. You will iinde, that the nature of the golden fulphur confifteth only in all^ Metals, which are comprehended among the red,^ and have a fellow dominion with other Minerals, by reafon of the fiery tinging fpirits, but themagnetick power and its quality relleth in its: white Mercurial fpirit, which bindeth the Soul , and diffolveth the body , therefore the Ajirum of Sol is found not only in Gold, that with the addition of the fpirit of Mercery Siiid the SoUr Salt only the Philofbphers ftone could be made, but may in like manner be prepared artiticially out of Copper and Steel, two imma- ture Metals, both which as male and female have red tinging qualities, aswdlasGold'it felf, whi- ther the fame be taken out of one alone, or cut of both, being tirll entred into an Union. Befides, this Mineral in our Mothers tongue is a Mineral, called Copper water, and of broken, or digged Verdigreece, or Copper, there can be made a Vi- triol, in all which is found glorioul'iy a Soul of the beft Gold, and come well to pais very proht- ably many ways,no Country clow^n can believe it. Therefore note here, what you ought to obferve, L 4 intend T 5 2 An Elucidation of the XII, Ke)%. intend thy thoughts, and give not over,unlefs you be come fo iar, that you know natures myftical conjundrion and her dilTolution, then you will find, what is requifise* for you to know, and re- turn thanks unto thy Creator, make ufe of it for fiis glory, and be beneflcial to the needy. This white fpirit is the true Mercury of Philo- fophers, which bath been before me, and will be ^iter me, without which the Philofophers ftone, and the great mylliery cannot be made, neither umvcrfally nor particularly^ much Icis a f articular tranfmutation. And this (pirit is the Key to the opening of all Metals, and their locking in again. This fpirit is afTociable urito all Metals, becaufe;, they have their defcent from its fanguinity, as you heard often. Fos it i:; that true prinmmmobUe^ fought of many thoufands, and found by few, and yet all the World is greedy of it, is fought afar off, and found near at hand, it is and moveth before the eyes of all men, for if this fpirit be fed with a Metalline Sulphur and Salt, of thefe three there will be one matter made, not much unlike to the Philofopliers great ftone, however duly muft it be , proceeded in, and a true procels from the beginning to the end muft be oblerved : for this corporal Salt miift be dilTolved into this fpirit, diffoived, tarn'd, and brought into its pri- ma materia^ as the fpirit himielf is : then both th^fc of one equal dclcent and birth by means of fire with coagulating of the fpirit may be gene- rated a third time to a firm fixation, and to a pure tranfparent Vv^hite clarified body, thenaiucr" tills acconiplifhed aH^edo the Soul, which is dif- foived, muii: feek for her reli: again, penetrate iuch a pure body, unite with the fame, and rife her AnEhcidatton of tht XlL Ke)U . I 5 3 heif dwelling therein, that thefe three be perma- nent, and ibiding conftjntly in one body eternal- I ly clariHed. And that you may be informed, how in this manne?: both your dilTblved feeds, as the fpirit ot Mercury, and the Soul cf the Gold be made again iix and corporeal, note th^ it is done only by tha proper Salt of Sul^ which in this Art is called a body. Now obferve here, that you take no he- i terogeneal thing in ftead of it. what manner of procefs is here nfed, read my fourth Key^ where the truth of it is held forth with fmgular exam- ples, and proofs j but you are fpecially to obferve (in cafe you do not underlrand that Key) this : plain and true information, look upon the body of Gold, not as if no other benefit could be reap- ed of it, but only his Soul ^ not fo : im^pute no fuch weaknefs unto that body, but after you have drawn forth itsSulplmr^ there Is yet in it the Salt of glory, and the triumphant vidrix, without which your fpermatick feed cannot be brought unto any coagvlacion. And even this Salt now, iof which I made Co long a difcourfe, how you ought to bring it out of its corporeal form through means of the fpir'it of Mercury into its prima materia, is afterward turn'd again into a deeply purified and exalted body. Therefore take your 5^/^r earth, out of which you drew your feeds, or the true Lio?ts bloud, and reduce it by reverberating to a hx'd powder, and ' btile impalpable afnes, extrad: from thence a i^e^ry fubtile Salt, as bright as Ivory is, hereafter. I- ♦V]I1 teach you in the Manuals, how the body of Sol is anatomized by the particulars^ and to bring t into a Snlpbur^SiU and Mercury, Then proceed unto unto the pradlck and conjun<5lion5 and have a care, that you be provident therein, that at their -conjundlion you do not too much to tlie one, nor .too little to the other, take notice of the quanti- ty, and obferve exadly the divifion of the feeds, hereunto minifter a certain meafure, and mark my fixth Kcy^ then pfoceed in the begun pro- eels, according to the order of the leventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth Kcfs^ as formerly I had informed you about it , go on with it to the appe'arance of the Kings honour and i^lory, to his higheit purple garment, and pure god:n piece, is called the triumphing Lord and Conque- rour over all his fubjeds, tram the Eali to the Weft h which if you have attained unto them re- turn thanks to God, be fervent in praying, be mindful of the poor, be a ftudent unto Ibbriety, temperance; abftinence, and above all unto taci- turnity ; for it is the greatell and raolr hainous fin, to let unworthy men l^now of it. The augmentation of this heavenly l^one, as alfothe fermentation is needlefs to be fpoken of in that place,'as being deicdbed in my two kft Kcys^ Scheld forth to the fall,not doubting if God grants fo much b]e{sing,and imparteth thisitone,thc fenfe of thefe two Keys will be more conceived ot : for no heterogencal things muft be brought to our Metalline iubrtance,neither at the bcginning,mid- dle, or end, but the Mercurial ipirit, and the di- gelied Medicine, fpoken of in my eleventh Key* To be further as good as I promled, concern- ing other things, quoted in my Keys^ know ye, that no Philofopher is tied wholly unto the Me- tal of Gold, of which I (poke largely hitherto, and difcribed the true fundamentals thereof, and as An L lucid.itic^ of the XIL Ke^S. 1 5 5 syou heard afore, the whole myftery lit th here' n, viz» in the tinging of red iiery (pirits of Me" alline Souls, and all what is tinged red, and i^ [nown to have a fierced fulpiiur, all fuch are kind the Solar Aiimm^ and when the Mercurial pirit is joyned with, then the proceedings may ^0 on Vniverfalitcr and Farticulariter^ that a tin- ^ure be obtaned from them , whereby Metals .nd vulgar Mercury can be exalted, and be order- d according to the tenor of the procefs. Such Souls and goldifh Sulphurs are found noft elfedual in Mars and Fer'us-i as alfb in Vity'i- /, and both Venus and Mars can be reduced into moft etfedual Vitriol^ in which Metalline Vitri- 1 afterward all the three principles^ as Mercury^ Uilphur^ and Salt are found under one heaven, nd with little pains and (hort time each can be aken out of it apart, as you (hall hear, when I hall make further relation of the Mineral Vitriol^ vhich is digged in Hungary-, of a high gradation, slow if you have wit and underftanding, and art nclined and heartily defireth to conceive of the rue meaning of my iC^yx, --and of my other writ- ig?, thereby to unlock ithe locks of Metalstor our :ore, then you (hould have taken notice and ob- srved, that in all thefe I have written not only " the Metal of Sol-, of its Sulphur and Salp^ but have interlined and mingled alfo, and made 'nifrrmal other red Metals, from whence may ba^the myftical.Ma'lery : therefore men ought itarate often the reading of Philofophick ooks, . then a true fenfe and meaning may be rawn from them, which without divine illumi- ation cannot be neither, &c. : But hoping that thofc;, who are fully and reaU 1 5 5 u4ri Elucidation cf the XU , Ke^jU ly rclolvcd to incline thtir hearts unto vvifclom will give more attention thereunto, than th other mad worldlings, tor whom thefe my writ ings were not intended : for I (poke as plainly a ever polsibly I could, and this kindled light fhal further be purihcd, (o that true and imcere Novi CCS may have a full light withent an cclipfe fron: th^ir beginning to their ending. To which enc 1 took thefe pains to difclofe that, which all th( World was filent in, and concealed it to thci; laft end, and buried ii m iiknce to their ver^ graves. The fcope I aimed ai; in fo doing, was not tc bunt after any vani glory, but rather, that God gracious-provident goodncfs might be held torth unto pofterJty, that the future ages might become feeing, and (bme of the poikrities ey^s might be kept open, and be helpful unto their needy fellow Artiil, and make them partakers of Gods graces and gifts. Though my mi*nd be mightily per- plexed, when I think on what I have done, be- cauie I write (o plainly, not knowing into whofe hands after my departure thefe my writings may come : However, I hope, let them be what they will, that they will remember, and lay to heart my faithful writings inlerted in my former and thefe pre'fent writings, that they deal with this book, and ufe itfo, tnat they may 'give g.ox)d ac compt for it to Almighty God. Touching further the Vitno}^ I fi-iould make mention ot it in my Manuals, where I treat and write generally of Minerals \ But it being fuch a; tiugular Mineral, whofe f.dlovv whole nature doth norproduce, befides, Vitjriol beTore all others is of -rcat afiinitv unto Metals; and is next kin unto them. An Blucidatkn of the Xli. Ky. I 57 them, for out of all Metals there can be made a Vieriol, or Chryftal (Chryftal and Vitriol is taken for one) therefore I would not bereave it of its own praile, and put its commendation too far bff, but rather preferr it, as there is juil caufe, bc- '!" fore other Miner als^ and the iirft place, next to 'Metals (hould be given unto it , for f fetting "^ afide all Metals and Mincralsj this' is fufiident to '^ make thePhilolophcrs fione of it, which no other "l* in the World can do the like, though feme '' panicularitcr are a help to firther that worki, and •^ Antimony alone is a iufficient Mailer hereunto, as in its due place more (hall be fpoken of. However 5 none is thus much dignitied in'its worthine{s,that "' the faid Philolophick Hone could be made of it as ''' this Vitriol is. Therefore ancient Philofbphcrs ^^ nave concealed this Mineral as much as ever they ^ :ould, and would not reveal the fame to their '^' Dwn Children,that they (hould not divulge it in he World, but be kept fecret, though they pub-i (lied, that fuch preparation is made out of one hing, and out of one body, which hath the na- ure of Sol and Lji^e^ and containeth alfo the Mercury, vf herein they faid true enough, becaufe t-is Co. But here I mull admonifh you, that you '-^ nay turn this argument, and fettle your thoughts vholly upon Metalline Vitriols, becaufe I intruft- d you, that out cf Venus and Mars there can be lade an excellent Vitriol , wherein are found le three principles for the generation .of our one , but you mull further note alio, that cverthelefs thefe three Metals, as 5pirir/^,. ^;ii- :j, Corpus are buried and hid in a Mineral itriol, as in a Mineral it.fclf. - Uudcriland '^^ lis according to the diftin(5t mtures of Vitriol. For. ul :ici 15'^ ^n Elucidation of the XII, Kejs. For the beft, which accoirding to my experien fliewed it (elf moll: efFedual , herein is tha which is broken, and digged in Hungary^ oi very deep degree of tindare, not very unlike ui to a fair blue Saphivj having very little of hum ditics, and other additional, or ftrange Oar^ the oftner it is dilTolved and coagulated, the mo. is it exalted in its deep tinging colour, and is b held with great admiration. This high graduated Vitriol is found crude i thofe places, where Gold, Copper, Iron, is broke and digg'd, and is abundantly trajifported froi thence into forraign parts, infomneh that fom( times there is great fcantnefs of it in thofe part and elfewhere. Though the vulgar people can afford no bettt name to it, calling it only d. Copper-iv ater^ how ever, ancient Philophers by reafon of its ur fpeakable vertue and dignity cxtolPd it, an call'd it Vitriolmn^ for that reafon, bccaufe its fp; ritual Oyl containeth all the three principles ot a the triumphing qualities. If you get fuch .deep graduated and well pre pared Mineral, called Vitriol^ then pray to Go tor underftanding and wifdom for yo^r intentioi and after you have calcined it, put it into a we^ coated Retort, drjvc it gently at hril, then in creafe the hrc, there comes in the fei-m of a whit fpirit of vitriol in the manner of a horrid fum( or v/ind, and cometh into the Receiver as long a it hath any fuch material in it. And note, tha in this wind are invilibly hid all the tbne princi Jflesy and ^le together out of that dwellmg therefore i^H^^^ necclTary, tofeek and fearch al way ^le An EIuctdatiGu of the XII. Ky. 1 59 ways in precious things, becaufe by this means there is a nearer way open unto nature's myfte- ries, and is held forth to all Tuch,' which are able to conceive of Art and VVifdom. ' Now it you feparate and free this expeli'd fpirit well and purely per modum dijiillatioriyf', from its* earthly humidity, then in the bottom of ij the glafs you .will find the treafure, and funda- mentals of all the Philofophers, and yet known to few, which is a red Oyl ^ as ponderous in -f— weight, as ever any Lead, or Gold may be, as thick as bloud, oi a burning fiery quality, which is that true fluid Gold of Philofophers, which nature drove together from-the three principles, wherein is found a fpirit, foul, and body, and is that pbilof)phick^ Gold^ (aving one, which is its dilTolution, during the fire, and not iubjed to any corruptiblenefs, elfc it flieth away with Body and Soul, for neither water nor earth can do it any hurt, becaufe it receiveth its firll birth and begin- i'P' ning from a heavenly water, which in due time is cii poured down upon the earth. In thefe. together driven goldifh waters lieth hid that true bird and Eagle^ the King with his heavenly Splendor together with its clarified Salty .tia which three you find (hut up in this one thing and golden property, and from thence you will get all that, which you have need of for your in- tention, Therefore Tet that golden body you have ob- tained, which in dignity and vertue is exalted be- yond all other Gold, into its due and lawful difTc* lution, Its due time, then the Angel of the high- cit will appear unto thee, and tell thee that it is the Sefoiier of all the myfteries in the World, re- i\V£ » ^ ceive 1^0 An Elucidation of the Xll, ICejs. ccive it with joy and keep it fafe, for ic quality is niore heavenly than carth'y, therefore doth it Jieaftily indine'to ftrive after that, which is above, from whence it had its Original. If you have feparated 'this Prophet from his matter which remained, then you neec^not to undertake any further procef^;, you were taught faraholicaliy in my XII. Keys. For even in his remaining formal fiibllance you may hnd, and ex- pet^ from thence a pure immortal Soul, together wath the glory of the Salt, both which are ob- tained by means of the fpirit, and muft be had from thence, and no impure, or contrary thing mull: be added thereunto. And it is done in the fame manner as I told you in my itCcj'/, with the Soul and Mt of the Gold by the faturnal water, in whofe^lace this fpiritual Mercurial fpirit might be ufed with better advantage. Obferve only this di/ierence, that the Salt muft be drawn forth from the Mercurial body, as it hapncd unto the Soul, with the fpirit of. Mercu- ry > whereas on the other fide the Salt of Gold muft not be drawn forth with the faturnal-water, becaufe it is too weak for the body of Gold, but with a water, which hath been exprelTed in the defcription of partimlars* This diltindtion muft be exacflly obfervM, be- ing of great concernment , becaufe .the Salt ot Vitriol is not fj itrongly guarded, and is not in fo ^ix'd a body, as the Gold is, but is ftill an open body, which faw no coagulation as yet, nor pal- led it through any melting tire, therefore that bo- dy never came as yet to any compadnels, ti-cre is room left for its ovvn fpirit to enter inco^ ^ -i embrace, and unit; with its liKe^ and a iuu.^^ Wia:j. An Elmidation of th^ X fl. KeyU 1 6 1 white cxtradion of Salt may be had, whereas en the other fide a fliarper matter mult penetrate Gold, as you (liall hear, when I fnall fpeak iiiore of it in its due place. Behold now, my friend, whatfoever thou art, what mind I bear towards thee, and how I am aifeded unto thee in my heart, the like I never durft look for from thee. Confider it vvell, how fnicerely and faithfully I difclo(e unto thee all thy locks and bonds, whereby the whole Philolbphick wifdome is (hut up, which hitherto never entrcd into any mans thoughts, much lels that ever it was pradifed, or difcovered i and* nothing caufed me to dolt, but only Gods infinite mercy, my good will and love toward my Neighbour, which my PredecefTors have not done io compleatly, and was put off unto me to do it. Having thus feparated your three Mineral bo- dies, and ordered them into certaui divilions, and put away the dreg?, wherein they lie hid, then look to it, that you negled none of it, by the di- minifhing of the quantity, which would prove a great fault to your vv^ork,and l^eep each in its own ' and due quantity, otherwife in your work you cannot come to a happy end. This is the thrift which ib many have mified, md, have writen great volumes about it: for all ^hat cometh from our Philoiophick Gold, and iiath divided it (elf into three parts, the fame null be brought into one, without any lois and liminutiun, which is to enter into a new form igain, and become a meliorated iubftance, and lothing of it muft be done away, but only the eccj terr£ in which the glorious Salt had its Iwelling, Therefore do that I told you of, an 1 M joy a t6t Jn Eluclaation of the XfU Knf, joyn the fpirit with the body, bring the body alfo ■ into a fpirit, dilTolve and exalt it into the highelt fpi ritual power, in that diflblution the body turns to a fpirit, and the Ipirit with the body . uniteth and joyneth into one fubftance, that after the exchanging of all manner of colours, there ' cometh a white body like fnow, tranfcending all whitenelTcs. This is the greatcft myilery ot this world, about which amoiig the learned and fup- ' poied wits, fuch dii'putings in the world have been, that a palpable thing , and a vifible one could be reduced into its prim^t materia^ and out of that may be tnade again a new clarified and better fubftance, by the bountiful nature leading the way thereunto. Thus you have made aud brought into the world the ^^en of Honour^ and the hrif bcm daughter .ot Pmlofophers , which after her due pertedion is called the white Elixir^ of which great volumes are extant. Having brought your work thus far, then you have defervcd to be re-1 ceivcd nito the lurha of Philofophers, and you get more Art, Wifdom, and Underfuanding than all Sophilters , which prate much -of thele my- (hcal things, and yet know not the leaft thing of it. Therefore it is juft that you fhould be pre- - fcrred before them, and let them fit below thee in fhame and difgrace, and in their darkncfs of* mifunderfianding, io fong till nature doth en-^ • lighten them alio. That you may bring and lead that new Philcn. fophick Creature by the means nature afforded, unto the highetl perfedion , after which youJ heart with all her endeavours doth llrivc, then remcmbei tliit neither man nor bealt without a living ^n Elucidation of the XU, ^e^s. 1 6 j living Soul can neither (iir nor move : and as man here in this life, through temporal death loTeth his Soul, offering the fame again unto the Almighty God, from whom he had it hril, into his mercy and merits of Jcfm Chriji^ where after the departure of the Soul the dwelling, as the body of it, is left quite dead, which is buried in the ground, V;here it rotteth, and mull leturii unto duft aixl afhes, being a due reward, which the fall of our hrft parents in Paradife have de- ferved, and from them, as by an inheritance is falPd upon us : after which putretadion there are raifcd again on the^rcat day new and clarih- ed bodies, and the departed Soul taketh her dwel- ling up again in that new body \ after tliat, there is no more parting of body nor fpirit, nor foul : but Ixcaufc the Soul hading a clariried body, then with the (amc flie maketh an cverlailing Union, which neither DtvW nor Death can deftroy, nor disjoyn any more, nor briug it into any corrupti- on, but from henceforth info all eternity we are and ihall be like unto the bcli Creatures of God, which before our mortality and departure of the (pirit, of the foul and body could never be, God help and grant unto us all a blefftd refurrcdtion. Amen* This high and mighty example having its foundation , not in humane thoughts, v/it, or pride, nor in an ungrounded prating but in the great Creamtr's true word, whi^h he hath re- vealed unto us through his lervant and holy Pro- phet Mofesj doth inform you, what you ought to do further with your new begotten Creature, that you may get a perfedt birth without any defedr, to the praile of the Highell:, the Father of lights M 2 and I (J4 ^n Elucidation of the XIUK ys, and mercy, from whom we receive all perfect gitts whicn he gracioully befloweth on his Chil- dren, for which we are not able to return fuffici- cnt thanks unto him. Now if you will proceed well in your work, then joyn the new body with his Soul, which you formeilydrc-w frqm, that the compound in its vertue be compleat , and there be apparent in the end a flMfu'im prfeBion o^ it : then is begot- ten the Kid Kirig of glory in a iiery fubilancc, and higliiy c arlhcd body, exalted above all pow- ers upon earth, from thbice (pringeth the golden fountain, he that thinketh of it is renewed in all his Members, and .there rifn wholly a new life : for the which God be praifed for ever more. The augmentation of this huge treafure toge- ther with the fermentation thereof, for the trani- mutation of Metals doubtkfs you have taken no- tice of exadly afore , where I wrote of Gold how it mull be handled, and what direction I have given you, thei^unto, the fame you mull: ob- fer-, for here is all one procefs from the middle to the end, the beginning only asketh alteration, by reafon of the two dillind matters : fcr the which God be praifcd whom we beleech, to give ushisgrace and blcfsing, that we may make good life of this treafure, and after this life we may enter into the heavenly Kmgdome.. The love to my Neighbour hath moved me to write of thefe things, whicfi in my long experi- ence I found to be true, following the ftepsof^ bountiful nature, which made me a £ooth-iayer in natural tnings, and I am ailured, that if thelc my w^ritings are made publick after my death, and my other books fliaringin the fame fortune, theyl An Eludditi:a of theXlI, 7hlegme,. which to this day among vulgar Ar- tiils muft be, and is called the right and true my- ftlcal fpirit of wine , wticreas it may foon be proved, that this Cippoled fpirit of wine con- taincth much inyifi jle humidity, or phlegme, in an inf-nfible mann.r, which is nociiing cKe, M 3 but 1 <5 ^^Elucidation of the XII, Krf. but its vegetable Mercury : for the fiery fpirit of wine is the true fire and foul cf the wiiie. Every Sulphur containcth fccrctly its original and prin- cipal Mercury : Vegetables in their kind , the An-mils in their kind, and the Minerals alfo after their Kind. 2. They taught how this fpirit of wine mull be fcparated in two dilrindt parts, namely, that this fpirit of wine be poured upon ' white calcined tartar, and be drawn over in a gentle diftillatlon. In this diftillation is fepara- ted the fecret and true fpirit of wine from its Vegetable Mercury, as I faithfully infonr^ed you inj my Manuals. From the remaining earth they taught a Salt be drawn, to be added to the xc(fljhed fpirit, whereby it is fortified and ftrengthned in its fubftance, and at laft the Philo- fophers ftone (hould be generated. It is mighti- ly againft Gods ordlnance^that a Vegetable (hould produce an Animal, or an Animal produce a Mi- neral. By way of a parable, the pradick part is held forth under the notion of this preparation. Now as they taught of the wine, fo in like man- ner alfo by a (hort way m.ay our Gold be prepa- red, Tnot the ufual and common Gold) and may be diffolved, divided, feparatcd, and brought into its firfl principle. But you mull note, that this dilfolution and fe- paration was never defcribed plainly by any of the ancient Philoiophers which lived before me, and knew the hUzijienum^ why I do it, the love to my Neighbour hath moved me thereunto, which I bear trom the Center of iTiy heart to all thofe, which overcome this myiiery without faldiood, and fnunning vices with a taithful heart, in a finc.re knawlcdge and real piety. In the An Elticidatioa of theXlJ. Ke)t. 1 6y the firfi: place be inform'd^that our Gold ffomuch fpoken of hitherto) mult never be taken tor fuch Gold by any of our Difciples, which hath been melted, and fully digefted by nature, for herein ftich errour is committed , that men dilapidate all what they have^ and loofe.both the beginning and end of all their works. Although not only from Gold, but from other Metals alfo this C/e- nodium^ and Jewel may be had, in the preparati- on ot it, particMhripcr much protit and advan* tage may be gotten in that, which concernetU mans health, as hath been formerly told > how- ever, without the fpirit of Mercury the Vnivev'^ fd of the World to be gotten meerly from the body of Sok is impolsible, and will be impoGi- ble, unlels the Creatour of all things produce another ordinance, to change aj;id alter his Crea- ture after his own will. But as that is impolsi- . ble, fo it is impofsible alfo, to deal againft Gods Creature in.rhat kind, as to find out that whole- • feme prolit, which to your longing defire you expe6b. You may believe it for a truth,as Chritt himfelf is , that the Philolbpher's (lone would not be fo ftrange, rare, and unknown a thing, it would be common to Kings and Potentates, if God would permit it to be made of Gold alone> and the three Jewels of intinite fixed vertues hid therein, could be had oUt of it ! My intent is not in this prelent Treatife to u(c any prolixity in writing i, thofe that are not quite blinde, and have their eyes open, have enougn al- ready to attain unto real knowledge, and com- mand both his mind and hands, not to pats by the weightieit, and eileem high things tiiac arc utworcay, and to tali wich the blind iiuo the pit, M ^ made. I<8 Jnrluc''daUfino\th(XJLKe\i, made for them. To uhofe that are real in their detirc tor to attain unto art and vvifdom, and in- tend to proii,ate the fame without fophiftication, and dcfire in reality to glory in that honourable ■ truth, you may fhcw a real proof of it in this manner. I tell thee really for the higheft truth, that you miy difTolve onr GjU^ naturally driven together, inafliort way, to bring it to its primufiMcria^ and is done thus : take the known Mineral Spi- rit, hi which our Mercury^ Su'pbur^ and Sxt is (hut up , containing that Philofophick myiVical Gold, pour that gtitt^u-?: upon white calcined tartar, ti\de two contrary quaiiried nutters will be tiising, let them ft^j together till their con- tention and ftrite be ended, and our Gold hide it felt invifibly in t^e vegetable 5j/^iZ6T£, or in the belly (i tartar : lute a Helmet to it, diitil it at iirit gently in Bili.i , then increafe your lire, then He,m:s his volatile bird will tly away trom our Gold in ti^jat fnAi nation^ and lit on thehigheft pinnacles of the Temple, looking about Avhich way to betake himfelf, but foon is catch'd in the Hecciur. which niult be pure and very dry : when yo 1 fee ihhis flight is but llovv, then take'the glais out ot the B .7;f)', fet it in alhes, increaie your hre, then will (he tiy more nimbly, keep that lire fo long till all is come over, and her brother the Hed Vragoji:,' hiding his rednefs under a red co- lour in a whiti(h fum.e, will begin to fellow after his i'!y lag brother. Then ceafe with the hre, the drops bJng .11 talln from the Helmet, t^ke it orf^ that 'Abich you hnd in the Kecciicr^ you a*c to ke. p LvS a treaft re of myikri'es. In this manner you iuvc gotten wifdomc, underibnding, »nu ^nLlucidation of xh XlJXe)U ^ ^^ skill, the fLmdamentals alfo and defires of Philo- sophers : by this {hart witty proof you learn and get that knowledge, how tliis water may be (ought after, found, and lighted on, and is not tO be efteemed a common water, but is that real in- fallible k'ji't;i/y n^^fcr, of which at the beginning I have written, and repeated the lame theoftner> which in a Spiritual manner from the heavens fjTVCr is poured dovvn upon earth, beginneth and accompliflieth the generation, of all Mctajs, for that reafon the ancient Philofophers call'd this water Mercury^ but 1 call it the Sfirit of Mer^ €ury. Now if you proceed right in this work, and you know what food and what drink to give to this bird, viz* Sulphur and Salt of Metal, then you may attain unto tlje end of the great work, ' which is almoft like unto the Philofophers great work, and you may get profit infinitely ^jrticn- lariter many ways •, you muft note, that this is not the true Philofophick diiTolution, but only one, which parliculariter performeth firange matters, and is a jpccnlum^ in which our Mercury, our 5^/, and our Lurte is (eenhleaking, which is a prefent coriuting of unbelie^vmg "Ibomzfes^ diicovering the blinduLls of ignorant nien. The diiTolution of the three principles I have dtfcribed unto you formerly, which is of a flower pace, requiring time and -patience, and an exad: attention to make, or hx'm^'thne into .9;/e, which work is done in itfelf per je^ without mixing of anyheterogc-' neal matter, only that which lycth hid in it, muft do it . For the t ountain oi (alvation is the illumi- nation of the Soul, and the Silt of the clarified body, are all in that one thing, exiifeut from one^ tyo jin Elucidation cf the XI f, Ke^U iwn^ or thrce-y which mail be brought and redu^ ccd to one-, which is the golden vcrtue of all Me- tals, exalted above all pc^wcrs, together with the £j2;/eand white body, which are no where toge^ ther, but only in this one are found, and in that which is next kin unto it, which knowing Phi- lofophers always held in great efteem, but igno- rant and blind men deipilid and difgraced the fame. But thoie, whofe eyes are once opened, love to flick unto much, covet to hide the matter froiTi wicked men, and ftudy day and nifhthow the ignorant might be kept from it. Thys I clofc this third part. And before I begin the fourth part*, concerning Tarticidaria^ I mufl: needs fpeak fomething of the Philofophers Vitriol^ Sulphur^ and Magnet. My friend, you mull npte, that this defcription I make now of the ciTence of Vitriol rcileth on- ly upon t jials made, the vidf orious triumph o f the higheil wifdome came by inheritance trom the mod ancient Philofophers unto me, and comes now unto thee, wherein experimentally it's found, that there is a fubterranean Miner d Sah^cdWcd Vitriol, which, for dying of Cloaths, and many other ufes, men cannot well pofsibly be without it, for it carrieth on and eateth through, by reafon of its (harpnefs, which is diftindl from other Salts, in refped of their qualities : fcr the Mineral oi^ this Salt is ftrangc, of a Very hot and iiery quality, as apparent in its' fpirit, and con- taineth a twcfold fpirit, whith is miraculum na- iur£^ and is not found the like in other Salts \ and this Salt is an Hermjpbrodlte among other Salts, it , - is white jnd red, even as you will have it, it hath aa extraordinary mwdicinal quality, pertorming thin^^5 AnrJucid&tionof theXlLKfy. 171 :hings in an incredible manner. This Saltc on- :uineth a cOmbulliblc Sulphur^ which is not m }ther Salts. Therefore in Metalline aifairs touch- ng their tranfmutation, it performeth more thafi Dthers, becaufe it hjpeth not onely to open fomc, )uc helpcth the generation of othei;?, by rcafon :)f its innate heat. When Vitriol is feparated by neans of Hre, then its fpirit at iirft comes in a tvhite form, after that there com.cs from its ;arth a spirit of a red condition, fraying in the ^arth, the Salt being united with its expell'd Mer- :ury and Sulphur, can (harpen them : the remxain- der that fiayeth behind, is a dead earth, of no efficacy. Let this fufficc for* your learning, and :oniidLr well what the Creator holds forth unto thee, ni nature by this now Kindled ternarie : for iS you find in Vitriols body three diftind things, as Spirit, Oyl, and Salt, even fo you may expe^ah alfo the Miner a of l^itriol^ which |i goeth beyond thcfe ni many degrees, becaufe its ipiritis m:er Go'. i and rupcd')^ a crude indigeited undure, and in verv^ truth (as Goi him-|i :L An Elucid ^t'cn of the XIL Kejs. 173 fclf is*) is indeed not found otherwilc- But this (pirit, as you heard, muft be divided into certain dil)ind: parts, as into a fpirit, foul, and body, the (pirit is. the Philoibphick water, which though vihbly parted afunder, yet can ne- ver be fcparated radio aly^ (btcaufe of their un- avoidable affinity they bear, and have one to anor therj as it appeareth plainly, when afterward they are joyned, the one in their mixture cm- biaceth the other, even as a Magnet draweth Iron, but in a meliorated elTence , better than they had before their difToImtion. This is the thrift, beginning, middle, and end of the total l?hilofophick vvifdome, aMording riches and health, and a long lite ^ it may rather be fii, md really proved, tint this fpiiit is the ellence Df Vitriol^ bvcaufe this Spirit and Oyl do diiier fo rnuch, and were never united radically, becaufe :he Oyl cometh after the the fpiiit. eacii can be received apart : This fiery fpirit may rather and Tiore fitly be called an eilence, iuiphur, and fub- llane-e of Gold, and it is (b, though it lyeth lurk- ; I ng in Virriol as a fpirit. This golden water, or fpirit drawn from Vitri- )1, contains again a fulphur anclMagnct, its liil- hur is the aninti^ an incombiiftible hre, the Mag- let is its own Salt, which in the conjundlion at- radreth its Sulpluir and Mercury, uniteth with he fame, and are infeparable Compjinions. Firit in a gentle heat is dilfolved the undigefted Mer- urialipirit, by this is further cxcractcd, after a vlagnetick quality , the jklpbuiConf ai:hnj , in iat"earth Itickcth the Salt, waicii is extradted :lfo in a Magnetick way by ihc Mercuriai fpirit, fo ill the one is a Ma2,ncc unto the otnei, h^^aring a 174 -^^ Elucidation of the XI T. Ke)S, Magnetick love one to another, as fuchthlngsf where the lali together \\'ith the mtdiuyn is drawn forth by the ^irfr, and arc thereby generated, and thus take their beginning. In this feparation and dilTokition the Spirit, or Mercury is the firft Magnet, (hewing its Magnetick Vertiie toward the Sulphur and Soul, which it quafi Magnes at- tradteth, this fpirit per modum diftiilatimis being abfolvcd and freed, flieweth again its Magnetick power toward the fait, which it attradleth from the dead earth •> after tliQ Cpint is Separated from it, then the Salt appeareth in its purity ^ i^ that procefs be ftirther followed, and after a true or- der and meafure the conjunction be undertaken, and the Spirit and Salt be fet together into the Philofophick furnace, then it appears again,how the heavenly fpirit flriveth in a Magnetick way to attradits own Salt, it di/folveth the famej within XL. days, bringeth it to an uniform wa-^ ter with it felf, even as the Salt hath been before its coagulation. In that defrruction anddiiTo- Iution appeareth the hugefc blacknefs and Eclipfe^i and darKnefs of the earth, that ever was feen. But in the exchange thereof a bright glittering whitenefs appearing, then the cafe is altered, and j the diffolved Ruid waterifh Salt turns into a Mag- net > tor in that dilTolution it laycth hold on \tr p^ own fpirit, which is the fpirit of Mercury, at- tradfeth the fame powerfully like a Magnet, hid- ing it under a form ot a dry clear body, bru^g-' ing the lame by way of uniting intp a deep coarj guiation and hrmlixednels by means of aconti-f nuedhre, and the certain dcgra:s' thereof. ■ TiiC King with the white Crown being thur generated, and by exiccation of all humidities being, fH: An Elucidation of the XII. j^^js. 175 "being brought to a fixed frate, then is it nothing clfe, but earth and water, though the other Ele- ■ments be hid therein inicnlibly •, ihowever, both thefc keep the predoniinance, though the fpirit turn to earth, and can never be feen in a watcr^f form, and this double new bom bodyabideth ftill in its Magnetick quah'ty , for ss Toon as itsde* parted Soul is rcftcred after its white luxation, then like a Magnet it attradeth the fame again, uniteth with it, then are they exalted to their highcft tincture and rithedo-, with a bright trant- parcntnefs and clarity. Thus in brief you have a (hort relation of Vitriols, Sulphur, and Magnef. Pray to God for grace, that you nnay conceive iright of it, put it then to good u(e, and be mind- tul cf the poor and needy. At the doling I anncd this briefly, to hold ' forth unto you a natural proof, that you preient* ]y fling and throw down the Sophifier^ and take his Scepter from him. . Note, that from all Me* itals, elpeeially from Mars and Fenuf-^ which arc i very hard and almofl: fixed Metals, of each apar^ can be made a Vitriol > this is the redudion of a Metal into a Mineral : for Minerals grow to Me^ tals, and Metals were at firfi Minerals, and fo Minerals are froxima materia of Metals, but no5 ■frima : from thefe vitriols may be made, other redudions, namely a fpirit is drawn from them by the vertuc of fire. This fpirit being driven over, then there is again a redudlion of a Mineral into its ipintual dfence, and each fpirit in it^ reduction keepetha Metalline property : but this fpirit is not the fri- ma materia* Who is now fo grofs and abfurd, diat (liould not be able to conceive further and belie VL% iy6 An Elucidation of the Xfl, Kf^s. believe, that by thfcle redudtions from one to the - other there be a way to prima mnerh^ and at lall to the feed it felf, both of Metals and Mine- rals : though there be no nccefslty to dcltroy Me- tals, becaule their feed in the Minerals is found openly Hxed. O good Gqd, what do thefe ignorant men thinkji is not this a very eafie, and Childrens like labour ? the one begets the ether, and the one cometh from the ether, is there not bread bak'd of Corn, upon diftind: wor^s ^ B.it the World is blind, and will be fo to the end of it ', Thus much at this time, and commit thee to the protedion oftheHigheft. End of the third Part THE THE FOVRTHPART O F Basilius Valentinus Hislaft TESTAMENT, The Manuals vehernn be treateth, how Me^ tah and fome Minerals may Particu- lariter he hrought to their highejl preparation^ LONDON, 'rintcd by S. G. & B. G. for Edmard Brez^.-. ji^r > ac the Crane in Saint Pad> Church'jardy 1^79. (^79) THE FOVRTH PART O F ^articuLirs frcm the fe-ven Metah^ hovp thej WA) bg ^r (fared u^t:h profic. . Firft of the Sulphur of So!^ whereby Lune is tinged into good Gold. TAke of pure Gold, which is three times- cafi through Antimmy , and of well purged Mercury viye, being prefl through leather, fix parts, ma^e of ic 1 Jmalgama^ to the quantity of this Amalgime rind twice as murh of common Sulphur, kt it 'aporate on a broad pan in a gentle heat under a lutHe, Itirring it ftill will with an Iron-hook, let fe fire be moderate, that the matter do not melt gether, this Gold calxmuilbebrought to the I'lour of a Mary-gold flower, then is it right ^ en take one part of Saltpeter, one part or Sa- riiionic, half a part of grinded peeblcs, draw a N 2 water, a M Igo Of Sulphur of So], water from it. Note, this water miift be dravvnl , warily and exaftly s To draw it after the com- mon way will not do it : he that is ufed to Chy- mick preparations, knows wh^t he hath to dt) i And note, you muft have a ibong Ibne Retort, which muft be coated, to hold the fpirits clofcly : its upper part mull: have a pipe, upward of half s fpans length, its wide'cfs muft bear two tingerj breadth, it muft be iet firft in a dilhlling furnace which niuft be open above, that the upper pipe may (land out diredly^, apply a large receiver, late it well ; l':t your firit lire be gentle, then increafe ii that the Retort look glowing hot : put a (pconfu of this ground matter in at the pipe,clofe the pipe fuddenly with a wet clout, the Ipirits come ruft^' ingly into the receiver : thcfe (pirlts being fetled then carry in another fpoonful: in this manner yoi proceed till you havediftilled all.Atlaft givetinK to the fpirits to be fetled, to turn into water : th water is a helli(h dilTolving flrcng one, which dii folveth inftantly prepared Gold culx, and laming ted Gold, into a thick iolution, of which I mad mention above in the third part. ^This is tha water, which I mention in my fecond Key which diffolveth not only Gold, but bringeth to a volatillity, carrying it over the helmet whofe anima may afterward be drawn from it torn body. Note, the fpirit of common Salt effcdeth th fame, if drawn in that manner, which I fhalN (peak of afterward. It tliree parts of this Salt J^" fpirit be taken, and one part ot Jpiritus nitri^ it i J'' ftronger than Salarinonick water :' and is bettei ^'''^^ becauie it is not fo ccrrohve, dilTolveth Gold th H fooner, cariietii it over the helmet, maketh it vc ^ him mi it ii ii Of Sulphur of Sol i8l latile and fit to part with its foul i you have your choice to ufe which you think bell, and may eafier be prepared thus : Take one part of the prepa- ' red Gold calx, and three parts of the water^which you make choice of, put it into a body, lute a hel- met to it, fct it in warm afhes, let it dilfolve, that . which is not dilTolved, pour three times as much water upon, that all dilfolve : let it cool, feparate the feccs^ pvX the folution mto a body, lute a hel- met to it, let it ftand in a gentle heat day and night in Balncn MarU^ if more feces be (etled, fe- parate them, digcll them apain in the Balneo nine days and nights, then abftradlthe water gently to ; a jfiffitnde.Vikc unto an Oyl in the bottome '-> this i. abftradcd water muli be poured on that fiijji' \ tudc : this mnft be iterated often, that it grow weary and weak : remember to lute well at all times. To the oleity on the bottome pour frefh water, which was not yet u(ed, digeft day and night firmly clofed, then (et it in a fand Capel, diitill the water from it to a thicknefs : make the abftracJed water warm, put it into a body, lute it, abfrrad it, iterate this work, and make ail the Gold come over the helmet. Note, at the next drawing always the fire raufi have one degree more : the Gold being conie over into the water, abttracl the water gently from it in theBalny to the oleity, fet tlie glafs into a cold place, there will ihpot tranfparent Cryftals, thefc are the vitdol of Gold, pour tlie water from it, dliiiil it again unto an oleity , fet it by tor (hooting/ more Chryllals will fhoot, iterate it as long as any do Ihoot. DiiTolve thefe CryAalls in di:ti!Ied wat-.r, put to it of purg::!dMcicury triiee times as much, iliake i^ abo. t, many co- j.'*rs N z will lix of Sulphur of So]. wiil appear, an Ar/iakam.i falls to the grouncf, the water ckarcth up, evaporate the Amjlgamj. «:eiicly under a mu^c^ ftirring ititill, with a wyar, at laft you get a pp.rple coloared powder, fcarlet like, it diliolveth in Vmegar into a bloud-redncls. Extract its anlmx with prepared fpirit of wine, mixeci witii the fpirit of common Salt, entred together into a fweetneis s Ti is tindtnre of Sol is like a traniparcnt Ixuhu^ leavintr a white body behind. Note, that without inf:)rmation you cannot attain unto the fpirit of Sale, if it be not iwtet, it hith no extradive power i, to the attaining hereof, obiervc thefe following manuals : i^kc good fpirit of Slit, dephlegir.ed exadly, driven tortn, in that manner, as you fhall hear anon. TaKe one part of it, adde half a part to it of the befi^i^ir't of wine, which iuuft not have any phlegme.,b t muft be a meer Sulphur of v/ine,and mult be prepared in that manner, as I fnall tell you anon : lute a helmet to it, dra'^/ ij over firongly, leave nothing behind s to the abiiradrcd ^put more ipirit of wine, draw it over, loi^t- what ilroVig':! than you did. the iirilituTie, weigh it, piit^ a third time more to it, draw it over ag^dn, well luted, putrifie this for half a month, Oi fo long as tt U, f .vect, and it is done in B-ilny very gently : thus the ipirit of Wine and Salt is prcpaicd, h li: its conoiity, and is ht [or extract- ing. Take the Ri-'by- red. prepared Go\<\ powderput ot" this prepared ipirit Qi Salt and Wine, io much that ]t Ihnd two lingers breadth (.>vcr \t, f:.t il in a gentle heat, the Ipirit will be rcdting'cl, \.\\\% red Ipiric m.ai: b., canted oil, pour a new ipirit on '■hat. Of Sulphur of Sol 183 that, which remained on the bottomc, fet It luted into^ gentle heat, let it be tinged deeply, then cantitolf, this work muft be iterated, that the body of Sol remain on the bottome like calx vivey which keep, for therein llicketh yet more of the Silt of Gold, which is eifedual in ways of Me- dicine, as fhall be (liewed anon. Thofe ting'd fpirits put together, abftracS: them gently in Balmo^ there will be left a red fubtile powder in the bottome, which is the true tindure a^iimated^ or Sulphur of Gold, dulcifie it with diftilPd rain water, it will be very fubtill, tender, and fair. Take this extracted Sulphur of Sol^ as you were taught, and as much of Sul- phur c>{ Mars^ as you (liall hear anon,when I treat of Mars : grinde them together, put it in a pure glafs, pour on it fo much of fpirit of Mercury^kt i: itand over it two fingers breadth, that the mat- ter in it may be difTolved, fee to it that all diffolvc into a Riiby-like Gold-water, joyntly drive it over, then is it one, and were at hxd of oneftem, keep it well, that nothing of it evaporate, put it to leparated fiher calx^ being precipitated with pure Salt, and afterward well edulcorated, and dried, fix it together in a fiery fixation, that it fublime no more : then take it forth and melt it in a wind-oven, let it ftream well, then you have nnited Bride and Bridegroom, and brought them nnto Gold of a high degree ; Be thankful to God ior it as long as you live. T (hould give further dircdrion, how this ex- traded Soul of Sol ihould be further proceeded in, aud to make it potable, which miniltreth great ikength, and continued health unto man. But it belonging unto Mcdicinals, I delay it to that N 4 place, 184 Qf Sulphur of So!. place, where further mention (hall be made ot At thisprcfent T will fpeak only how the white Sclar body (hall fiirthcr be anatomized, and that by Art its Mercury vrve^ and its Salt may be ob- tained. The procefs of it is thus : TaKethe white body of Sol^ from which you have drawn its anima^ reverberate it gently for half an hour, let it become corporeal, then pour on it well reditied.hony-water, which is corro- iive, extradt its Salt in a gentle heat, it is done in ten days fpace, the Salt being all extradeid, ab- ilradt the waterjfrom it in Balncoy edulcorate the Salt with iterated difdllings, with common di- flilled water, clarifie it with fpirit of wme, then you have Sol auri^ of which you (hall hear more in its due place, of the good qualities it liath by way of Medicine upon man. On the remaining matter pour fpirit of Tartar^ of which in ano- ther place, becaufe it belongeth unto Medicinals: diged: thefe for a months time, drive it through a glafs, Retort into cold water, then you have qii'ck Mercury of 5o/, many iirive to get it, but in /lin. There is one myflery more in Nature, that the white Solar body having once loll its anima^ may - be ting'd agaiij, and brought to be pure Gold, which myitery is revealed to very few : I (hall give a hint of it, that you may not grumble arffie to have concealed any point m the work. I hope you have confidered and taken to heart, what I have cntrufted you withal libout the uni- verfal ftoiie of Philofophers in my third part, namely how it redeth mecrly upon the white fp rit of Vitriol, and how that all three princi- pLs are found only in this rpixit,aiid how you are to Of Sulphur of Sol 185 ro proceed in, and to brini^ each into its certain ftatc and order. Take thePhilofopbick Sulphtfr^ which in order is the feccnd principle, and is extradled w th the fpirit of Mercury^ pour it on the white body of the King^ digeft it for a month in a gentle Balny^ then iix it in a(hes, and at lafi: in fand, that the brown powder may appear, then melt it with a fluxing powder made of Saturn^ then will it be malleable and fair Gold, as it was formerly, in colour and vertue nothing defcdive. But note, the Salt muft not be taken from'thc Solar body, of which I made mention formerly, ia a repition of the XII. Key^ where you may read of it. There may be prepared yet in another manner a tranfparent Vitriol, from Gold in the following manner. Take ^ood Aqua Regis made with Sal armomac' one pound, ii £/?, diifolve four ounces of Salmiac ' in Aquafnrty then you have a Ihong Aqtta Kegi^^ dilHU and redihe it often over the helmet, let no feces flay behind,let all that afcends be tranfparent. Then take thinly beaten Gold rolls, call: tormerly through Ant'im my-, put them into a body, pour on h Aqua Regif^ let it dilTolve as mnch as it will, or as you can diffolve in it : having difTolved all the Gold, pour into fome Oyl of fartar^ or Salt of T'artar diiTolved in fountain water, till it be- gins to hifs, having done hifsing, then pour in a- gain of the Oyl,do it fo long that all the dilTolved Gold be fall'n to the bottome, and nothing more of it precipitate, and thtAqjialiegys cLarup.This being done, then cant off thQ Aqjta Rcgii from the Gold calx, edulcorate it with ccmmon wa- ter j eight, ten, or twelve tim^s : the Gold calx t%6 Of Sulphur of Sol teing well fctlcd, cant off that water, and dry the Gold calx in the air, where the Sun doth not (bine, doit not over a fire,, for as foon as it feel- «h the leafr heat it kindleth, and great damage isdone, for it wo'Jd fly away forcibly, that no man could ftay it. This powder being ready jilfo, then take ilrong Vinegar- pour it on, boil it continually over the fire in a good quantity of Vinegar, Itill ftirring it, that it may not Itick un- to the'bottome, for xxiv. hours together, then the fulminating quality is taken from it : be care- ful you do not eiidangcr your fell- ; cant off that Vinegar, dulcine the powder, and dry it. This powder may be driven per ale^nhicum without tny corrotive, bloud-re3, tranfparent and fair, which is llrange, and uniteth willingly with the fpirit of wine , and by means of coagulation mayhehrcja^bt to a Smar body. Do not fpeak much of it to the vulgar : if you ireceive any benefit by and from my plain and open iliformat ion, be thus minded, to keep thefe myfteries (ecret ftill to thy dying day, and make no {hew of it, elfe thou art naked and lyeft open to the Devils temptations in all thy ways : there- fore pray give attention to what 1 fhall tell thee, for 1 will impart unto thee thisjrca.tum alfo,and Cntruft thee upt n thy con!'vience with it. TaKc good fpirit of wine b/iSalt. ' Akeof c.dxvive^ and common,Sak ay:a^ neal _ them together in a VVind-oven, then extrad Hk Salt purely from the calx with warm water, coigulat^: it again, pi;t to it an equal quantity of new calx, ne.il ix, extratf the Salt trom it, it^r.-.te I three times, then is th: Sa't prepared. Then T Of the Particular of Lune. 1 8 ? Then take the prepared Lunar calx-, jhatlfie '.he calx "With prepared Salt in a glais Viol, pour Itrong-water on it, made of equal quantities of Vitrhl and Saltpeter^ abfirad: the ar^uafir t iiom it^iterated a third tinne, at lait drive itlkongly,Iet the matter well melt in the glars,then take it forth, your Lz/;^^ is tranfparent and blewifh, like unto an ultra mamie* Having brought Lune thus tar, then pour on it ftrong diltilled Vinegar, fet it in a warm place, the Vniegar is ting'd vv'ith a tranfpa- lent blue, like a Sapfnr^ and attradeth the tin- dciixe of Ltmc, being feparated from the Salt, all which comes from Lmte goeth again into the Vi- negar, Vv'hich muft be done hy cdulcoration^ihtn you will hnd the Sulphur of hum hir and clear. Take one part of this Sulphur of Lune^ one half part of the extraded Sulphur of Sol, llx parts of the fpirit of Mercury y joyn»all thefe in a body, lute it well, let it in a gentle heat, in digeftion, that liquor will turn to a red brown colour > having all driven over the helmet, and nothing fland in the bottome, then pour it on the matter remaining of the filver you drew the Sulphur from, lute it well, fct it in afhes for to coagulate, and to lix it xi. days and nights, or when you fee the L«/f^r body be quite dry, brown and nothing of it doth any moie rife, or fume, then melt it quickly with a fudden flux fire b Jore the blaii:, calt it forth , then you tranfmitted the whole fubltance of Silver into the belt m.oft malleable. Gold. Of this particular o^ Silver, I have made mention in another place, namely in the repetiti- on of my 1 2. /iLfy/,where I wrote that the ipirit of Salt alfo can dettroy LunSj (q that a fotaflc tune can 1 90 Of the PdYttcuUr of Lunc. Can ht made of it : Of which potable Lune in the lad part mention (liall be made of. You muft note, that further miifl: be proceeded with L«;/c, f nd a more exad anatomy muft be made upon Lune^ thus : when you perceive that the Sulphur of Lune is wholly extraded/ and the Vinegar takes no more tindure from her, nor the Vinegar doth tgft any more of Salt, then dry the remaining calx of iilver, put it into a glafs, pour on it corrc" five Hony water, as you did to the Gold, yet it muft be clear, and without any /ece/, fct it in a warmth,forfour5orhve days, extract L/^//e's -S'^.V, %vhich you may perceive, when the water grow- cth white. The Salt being all out of it, then jRbirrad the Honey water, edulcorate the corrofivc- nefs by diftilling, and clarifie the Salt with fpirit •t wine, the remaining matter muft be ednko- r^^'ci and dried, pcur upon it (pirit of T^artar^ fligcft it for halt a month, then proceed as you i'ld with the Gold, then you have Mercury o'i Lune, The (aid Salt of Lune hath excellent ycrt(ips upon mans body, of which I fhall fpeak in anorhcr place. The efficacy of its Salt and Sulphur may be learned by this foUowi ng pro- ccls. Take of the sky-coloured Sulphur, which you cxtradcd from Lune^ and is redified \v ih fpirit .of wine, put it in a glafs, pour onit twice as much of fpirit of Mercury^ which is made of the white fpirit of Vitriol^ as you have heard in the fame place. In like manner take of the extraCf- ed and clariiied Salt of Silver, put to it three times as much of fpirit of Mercury , lute well lioth glafles, fet them into a gentie Balny^ for eight Of lb'' VuTttcuUr cf Mars. t n eight days and nights, look to it that the Sulphar and Salt loofc nothing, but keep their quantity asthey were driven out ot the Siher. Having flood thele eight days and nights, then put them together into a glafs, feal it Hermitkey fet it in gentle alhes, let all be diilolved, and let it be brought again into a clear and white coagulatioHy at lalt tix them by the degrees ci hre, then the matter will be as white as Snow, thus you have the white tindture, whieh with the volatile dif- folved j?/iw^ of ^./youmayanimatc^ hx, bring to the deepcft rednels, and at lart fcrmem-,2x\d augment the (an\e in infinitum^ the ipirit of Mer^ cury being added thereunto.' And note, that up- on Gold a pro eels isto be ordered, with its Sul-- fhttr and Salt. If you underftood how their prhnum mobile is to be known, then is it needlcfs in this manner, and to that purpoi'c to deftrcy Metals, but you may prepare every thing from, or ot" their hxit elience, aid bring th.m to their full perfection. Of the Farticnlar of Mars, together with the extra- Ciion of its Anirna and Salt. T Ake of red Vitriol Oyl, or Oyl of Sulphur _ one part- and two parts of ordinary Well- water, put thofe together, dilTolve therein hlings of fteel , this diflolution muft be hltred being vvarmM, let it gently evaporate a third part of it, then let the glafs in a cool puce, there will fhoot Cryftals as Iwcet as Si.g;r, wl:ich is the true Ki- triol of Mursy cant ott tnat water, let it evapo- rate more, let it agahi in « coid place, more Cry- Itak l9^ Of tiff Particular of Venus. ftals will (hoot, neal them gently under a muffle,!^ ftlrring ftill with an Iron-wyar,then you get a fair purple coloured powder , on this powder caft di- Ihll'd Vinegar, extrad the animaoiMars in a gen tic Balny, abltrad: again the Vinegar,and^/^/c(;rj^e the anhna. This is the anima of Mars^ which being added to the fpirit of Mercury^ and united with the anima of Sel^ tmgtthLunc intoSol^ as yoii heard about the Gold. Of the ? articular of Venus, tphat myfteries therr arc hid therein-, and of the Extra^ion of its Sulphur and Salt. TAke as much of Venus as you will, and make Vitriol of it, after the ufual and common practife : or take good Verdigreece, fold in (hops, it effedfeth the fame, grind it fniall, pour on it good diftilPd Vinegat, fet in in a warmth, the Vi- negar will be tranlparent green, cant it oif, pour on the remaining matter on the bottome new Vi- negar, iterate this work as long as the Vinegar taketh out any tindure, and the matter of the Verdigreece on the bottome lieth very black : put the ting'd Vinegar together, diftill the Vinegar from it to a dryners,eire a black Vitriol will flioot, thus you get a purihed Verdigreece , grind it fmall, pour on it the juice of immature Grapes, letitftandin a gentle heat, this j^.yce maketh a tranfparent tiudture. as green as a Smirag'd^ and attradteth the red tindture of Venus^ which affords an excellent colour for Painters, Limmers, and others for their feveral ufes. When^the juycc cxcradts no more of the tin- dtare. Of the ?a.rticuhr $f Venus. i P3 ^ijre, then put all the extradion together, ab- ftrad the moyety cf this juycc gently, i'l^t it into a cool place, there fhootetha very fair Vitriol, if you have enough of that, then you have matter enough, to reduce the fame, and to make of it the Philofephcrs itone, in caie you (hould make a doubt to perform this great myftcry by any o- ther Vitriol. Of this preparation I have ipoken already Parabolice in the book of the Keys^ in the Chapter o£ the Wine- vinegar, where I laid, that the common Jzoth is not the matter of our Itonc, but our Azotl.\ or materia prima is extradt- ed with the common Azoth^znA with the Wine, which is the out-preif juyce of unripe Grapes, and with other waters alfo miifl: be prepared, thefe are the waters wherewith the body of Ve- nus muft be broken, and be made into Vitriol, which you muft obferve very well , then you may free your felves from many troubles and per- plexities. But efpecially note, that the way of the Vni- vcrfal wkh this Vtriol is-underftood in the fame manner, and is thus conditioned, as I told you in the third part of the Vniverfaly and pointed at the common Hungarian Vitriol^ and even as well out of A/^rj, put Farticulariter to be dealt upon with Ve nils* Therefore know, that it may be ' done with great proht, it you drive forth the red Oyl.of Vi-riol^znddiiijlvc Mzrsid i . And Cry- ftailiie the fokuion,as you vVere told, when I treat- ed of A/irx. For in this diil^lution and coagulati- on Venus and M^rj- are united, this Fitriol muft be Kalcd under a mifjie unto a pure red powder, and nuft b.^ extracted mrther withdiftill'd Vinegar,as ong as there is any rednefsinit, thjn you get the O artimt 1^4 Of tht' Particular Of Sat'tn. anim^ of Mars^ and of Vc^u< doubled, of this doubled versie afrer the add tijn of the ajri- ma of Sol-i which you made in the betore qi ortd quantity take twice as much of Silver calx-, uiid fix it, as you heard when I fpoke ot the Tanicular of Mars and oi SoU But note, that there mufl be twice as much of the fpirit of Mercury y then there was allowtd in that place, but in the reit the proctls is ali.'ve.The Salt of Venus rciuk be extradrcd when the JL^yce taketh no more of the green tiiidure, then taKc the remaining matter, dry it, pou.f Honey water upon it, tht n that Salt goetli in that licat tor live> or fix days, and clarihe it with fp'rit or Wine, then is the Salt ready for your Medicine. Of the Tanicitlar cf SdXurn^ together with the ex- tra&ion of its Soul and Salt* MOft men hold and count Saturn an unwor- thy and mean Metal, and is abuled molt bafcly in ievcral expeditions, whereas, if Known in its internals, more laudable exploits would be performed with it, and many excellent Meaic'ties be prepared of it. Being it is my intention to put an Elucidation to my former writings^ to leave it after me for a Legacy unto poltcrity, that fimple men ot ordinary capacity might Know and conceive alfo of the things I tormerly wrote of, which after the refurredion ot n:y Hclh my ielf ihali bear record unto, that I have written more than was meet, which others before me have purpofely concealed : it b^ing my purpoie to declare fundament^tlly all CuchF articular s^ which Of the Part'cuLr of Sa tumJ 1 P} ivhich formerly at large I difcourfed of in a Phi' lofophick manner, thus , that this my Dcclariti' on made in my decr^pitc age be noted confciona" bly by thofe into whofe hands it comts, that thi^ iny Revelation, which in Gods providence wil^ be dilpofed of, to be a lamp of truth unto all tnQ world, may not be imparted unto men unworthy of Gods myfteries, which aclknowkdge not the Creatour of them in a pure humble and penitent heart, perfevering con verfa ti on , and a fervent purpofe to incline unto and towards him. Tiiis prefent writing I leave as a precious ba'^gewith an carneft proviib, that men would look and ob* (erve caretuUy every lettet contained in this, and other of my writings, which in all hdclity I hold forth unto them ; And begin now with Saturn'^ v/ho in all probability after Aftronomick rules is the highcft and chicfcft Lord in the coeleft-*al fpheres, by whofe influence the ftthterranean Sa'- turn hath its lite and coagulation, putting that black colour on it, the reft fiom the beft to the worft follow after, whole {plcr.dour erlightneth that whole firmament, and is incorruptible. I fhould fpeak fomcthing oif Sjitarns Nativity^ from whence he taketh his oif-fpring, but in' this place I do not hold it rcquilice (being there hath been mention made of it in fcveral places in my other booksj becaufe it is to no purpofe for No^ ifim^ and to repeat all, would increafc the vo- lume, which I do not intend, purpoiing only to elucidate (uch things, which formerly have been dllivered in obicure terms. Note, Saturn is ntit to be thus flighted by rea- fon of its external dcipicable form, if he be wrought ill a due proccfc after the Fhilofophers If 6 Of thf PdrUcuhr of Saturn.^ way, he is able to requite all the pains the Art- feeking Laborers beftow on him, and will ac- knowledge him rather to be the Lord, and not the fervant : a Lords honour is due unto him, not only in rcfpedt of mans health, but in re- (pec^ alfo of meliorating of Metals : the prepa- ration of it is thus : Take red Minium, or Cerufe, thefe are of fevc- ra]|worths, the cne is better before the other, ac- cording to their feveral examinations, thofe that are fold in (hops are feldome pure,, without their due additionalstmy advife is, that every Ar- tllt undertake himielt the deil:rud:ion of Saturn^ the procefe of it is feveral, of the (beft I give this hint : Take pure Lead, which yields to the hammer, as m cl> as you pleafe, laminate it thinly,the thin- ner the better, hang thefe lamins, in a large glafs filled with ftiong Vinegar, in which is dillblved a like quantity of the belt Salarmoniac, (Liblimed thrice with common Salt, Itop the glafTes mouth vciy clofely, that nothing evaporate, i^tt the glafs in alhcsot a gentle hear, othcrv^ifc the ipirits of tlie Vinegar and Salarmonick afcend, and touch the Satnrnal lamins , at the tenth, cr.tweltth day you will fpic a fubtile Cerufe hanging on thefe . lamins^ brulh them o^ with a Hares foot, go on, get enough of this Ccrule, provided, you buy good Wurcs, it iophiiticatcd, you labour in vain. Take a quantity of it, if you pleaie, put it in a body, pour ftrong Vinegar on it, which "ieveral • times hath been redtiiied, and was fbrtiiied ft the lalt red:ihcation with a lixteenth part ot fpi- nt of vulgar Salt, dephlegmed , and drawn over ; liop the body well, or which is' better, lute Of the Particular of Saturn^ ^97 lute a blind-head to it, kt the body in afhes to be digefted, (wing k otten about, in few days the Vniegar begins to look yellow and fweet, atthe tirft, iterate it a third time, it is fufficicnt. The remnant of the Cerufe ftayeth in the bodies bot- tome Linfhapely, filter the ting'd Vinegar ckarly, that is of atranfparcnt yellownefs : put all the ting'd Vinegar together, ablirad: two parts of it in Balneo MarU let the third part ftay beliind, this third part is of a reafonablc Kuhedo^ (et the glais in a very cold water then the Cryftrals will (hoot the fooner, being (hot, take them, cut with a woodden fpoon, lay them on a paper for to dry^ thcfe are as fweet as Sugar, and are of great ener- gy againit inflamed (ymptomes : abftrad the Vi- i^iegar further in B lineo^ in which the Chryf^als did (hoot, fct that diifillation afide, for the (hoot- ing of more Cryfrals, and proceed withthefeas you did formerly. Now take all thefe Chryftals together, they in their appearance are like unto clariiied Sugar, or Saltpeter, beat them in a Morter ef glafs, or iron, or grind them on a Marble unto an unpalpable- ncfs, reverberate it in a gentle heat, to a bloud- like rednt(s : Provided, they do not turn to a blacknefs. Having them in a Scarlet colour, put them in a gla(s, pour on a good fpirit oi juni-. per, abllraded from its Oyl, and rcdliiied feveral times into a fair, white, bright manner, lute the glafs above, fet it in a gentle heat, let the fpirit of . Juniper be ting'd with a tranfparent rednefs like bloud, then cant it off" neatly from xh^ feces into a pure glafsiwith that provifo,that no impure thing run therewith, on the feces pour other fpirit of Ju- •niper^extradtfliil^ as long as any fpirit takcth th$ O 3 tin* 1^8 Of the Particular Saturn. tincfturc : keep thcfe fcces^ they ccntaln the* Salt. ' Tike all thele ting'd fpirits together, filter them, abftradt them gently in Bairns, 'there re- iria'ncthin the bottome a neatCarnatiori po'vJcr, whicn is the anim^ of Stturn^ pour on it Rain^ water, often diftill'd, diftill it ibongly (cveral times, to get off that, which liaid with the (pi- rit ot Juniper, and fo this fubtile powder will be edulcorated delicately : keep it in a ftrong boyl- ing, cant it oif, then let it go off neatly, let it dry gently , for fafeties. fake , reverberate it again gently for its better exiccation, let all impurity evaporate, let it grow cold, put it in a Viol, put twice as much of fpirit of Mercury to it, which I told you of in the third part ot xh^VniurfiK entruited you upon your confcience with it, ieai it HermSice^ fet it in a vaporous Batlr, which I prefcribed at the preparation of the fpirit of Mer- cury, called the Philofophers fimus equidus^ let it ftand in the Myflical furnace for a month, then the ani na of Samrn clofeth daily with the fpirit ot Mercury, and both become infeparable, mak- ing up a fair tranfparent deeply ting'd red Oyl : look to the government of the fire, be not too high with it, elfe you put the fpirit of Mercury as a volatile fjpirit to betake himfelf to his wings, forcing him to the breaking of the glafs : but if thcfe be w(.ll united, then no fuch tear look for, for ci.e nature cmbruCwcn and upholdeth thd otner. Tncn take this Oyl, or diflblved anima of Sa^ iurn out of the Viol, ic is of a gallant fragrancy,. pl.t it into a boc'j, apply a Helmet to it, lute it ' Well, drive it oveij then foul and fpirit is uni- ted Of thf Part:ctilar of Siturn J 19^ ted together, and fit to tranfmutc Mercury preci-^ pitated into Sou r le precipitation of Mercury is done thus ; take one part of the (p:rit of Salt of Niter, and thrccp-irt- cf Oyl of Vitriol, put tkfe together, Call inco it halt a part of quick Mercury, being very well p^r^ecl, i ,t it in Saxi^., put a reafonable f rnn^ nre to it, fo that the ipirits may not fly a Aay, let 't itand a whole day and night, then ab- ftr.t.:t Al tlie (phits, then you find in the bcttomc n j:r:cip!t.itea Merciry, lomc what red, pour the lr.viL< Oil ic a^iin, let it (hnd day and night, ab- Li cx :t ag.ia, then yTur precipitate will be more r.d ciun at the firlr, pour it a third time upon it, thcii a jirrail lirongly, then your precipitate is at the highcit mhcdo^ dulcihe it with diftilPd water, let ic ftrongV ^^ exiccated. Then take two parts of this prccipated Mercury, one part ofthe diffoIvcd^^/V/r/^^/Oyl, put thcfe together, fet it in alhcs, kt all be lixed, not one drop muft flick any v^hcre to the glals. Taen it mult be melted with due additional of lead j they clofe together, al!ord Gold, which afterward at the calling through Antinony may be exalted. I iiave informed you hereof where I treated of Mercury vive- But note, that Mercury muft not be precipitated, unlels with pure Qyl of Vi- tri /, or Oyl of Fenus^ with the addition of the fpirit of Salt Niter : Albeit fuck Mercury cannot be brought to its higheit fixation, by way of pre- cipitating, but its iix'd coagulation is found in Saturn:, as you heard. Beat the abovefaid Mercury fmali, grind it on a flone, put it in a Viol, pour c^n jt the diifolved Sa-" thrnal Oyl, ix entreth inilantly, if £b be you pro- ,0 4 ceeded 20 Of the Particular of Saturn, ceedcd right in the precipitation, feal the Viol* Hermetice^ fix it in alhes, at lad in fand, to its highell fixation, then you have bound Mercury with a true knot, and brought him into a fix co- agulation, which brought its form and fubftance into a melioration, with an abundance of riches, if you carry it on a white precipitate, then you get only fiiver, which holds but little of Gold. One thing more Imuft tell thee about this proceis, that there is yet a better way to deal upen SAtiirn^ with more profit, that you may not have any caufe to complain againlt my not declaring it, take it thus : take two parts ot the abovefaid dilTolved Oyl , or oi the S.juirnal Soul, one part of Ajintm SjIU^ and oi Antimn^ jtial Sulphur J whofe preparation followeth after- wards, two parrs, half as much of Salt ct Mars^ asallthefcare, weigh them together, put all in- to a glafs Vial, let the third part of it be empty, ict it in together to be fixed, then the Sak of A/j/v openeth m this compound, is fermented by it, and the matter begins to incline to a blackrefs, for ten, or tvvelve^days it is (ftlipfed, then the Salt returns to ics coagulation, laying hold in its operation on the whole compound, coagulate it iVrit m^l deep brown Mais, let it Hand thus un- f(i»-rcd in a continued heat, it turncth to a bloud- redfedy, encreafe the fire, that you may ice the Jlirum Soils to be predominant, which appear- eth in a grceniOi colour, like unto a Rain-bow ; keep this hre continually, let all thele colours va- nilh, it turneth to a ^ranfparent red fione very ponderous, needleis to be projeded on Mercury, hut fingeth after its pertcCtion, and fixation all • white Metals into the purelt Gold. Then take of Of the P^rtUuIar of Jupiter. 2 of of the prepared fixed red ftone, or of the pow- der one part, and four parts of any of the white Metal, firft let the Metal melt half an hour, and let it be well clarified, then projed the powder upon it let it drive well, and fee that it beentred into the Metal, and the Metal begin to congeal, then is it tranfmiited into Gold, beat the pot- in pieces, take it out, if it hath any Slacks, drive them with Saturn, then is it pure and malleable. It you carry it on L//??e, then put more of the powder to it than you do upon Jupter and Sa- turn-i as half an ounce of the powder tingeth five ounces of Lttne into SoU let this be a miracle, fool not thy Soul with imparting this myftery unto others, that are unworthy of it. Proceed with Salt of SatHr/i.,dLS you were informed about Mars and Fema, only diililred Vinegar performeth that, which Honey water did by the other, and clarific it with (pirit of Wine. Of the Particular of ]t\pktT^ together with the ex^ traction of its anima and Salt. TAkc Pumice-(^ones, fold in (hops, neal thefn, quench them in old good Wine, neal them again, and quench them as you drd formerly, let this neaHng be iterated a third time, the ftronger the Wine is you quench withal, the better it is, after that dry them gently, thus ar^ they prepa- red for that purpcie. Pulverile thefe Pumice- llones iubtilly, then take good Tin, laminate it, ftra title it in a cementing way in a reverberating Furnace, reverberate this matter for live days and nights 2 o 2 Of the Particular of Mfrcury vivc. nights in a flaming firc^ it draweth the tindturc ot the Metal, then gr«nd it fmall, iirlt fcrapiHg the Tin-lamms, p.t it ill a ^Lls body, poi^r on it good diftillcd Vinegar, ilt it in digdtion, the Vinegar dra^vcththe tincture, which is rLd-ycl- low, abflrad this Vinegar in Balmo^ edulcorate the ani,?ij oif Jufmr with ciitiJled water, exic- categontly, proceed in the reil: as you did with the anlma ot Saturti^ viz. dilFoIve rauically in, or with the fpirit of M:rcii,y^ drive them over.po r that upon two parts cf red Mercuyy precipit t- i, .being precipitated with this Vcnerean fang' i.:e quality, then coagulate and fix : if done fucccls- iuUy, you may acknowledge Jitfiur\ bounty^ that gave leave to tranfmute this fncipitate into Gold which will be apparent at their melting. It performcth this alfo, it tranfmuteth ten parts of Ltme into Gold^ if other Sulpb/irs be added thereunto : force no more upon Juriter^ it's all he is able to do, being of a peaceabLdifpolition, he told all^what he could do. The procefs about this Salt, is, to extrad it with diililled Rain-wa- ter, clarified with fpirit or Wine. Of the F articular of Mercury vive, and of its Sulphur and Salt. TAke of quick Mercury^ fublimed feven times, lib. fenm, %nnd it very fmall, pour un it a good quantity of fliarp Vinegar, boil it on the fire tor an hour, or upward, itirring the m it- ter with a woodden fpatule, take it from the firj, let it be cold, the Mcr cury ktlah. to the botcoaie, and the Vinegar cleareth up : it it be ilo a' in tfc clear ai^ Of the Partifuhr of Mercury vivo. 2 05 clearing, let fome drops of fpirit of Vitriol fall in the Vinegar, it doth precipitate the other, for Vi- ^r-a/ ptecipitateth Mercury vive ^ Salt of I'artar precipitateth 5 7, I'em-if and c^mmen Salty doth precipitate Lun:^ and Mars doth the like to Venm^ a lixivium of Bcech-afhcs doth it to Vitriol^ and Vinegar is for common Sii fhnr^ and M^^s for 'Xar^ tar^ and Salipctcr for Antimony, Cant oif the VintH,ar from the precipitate^ you will find the Mercury \h\Q a pure waili'd Sand, pour on it Vine- gar, iterate this work a third time, then edulco- rate the matter, let it dry gently. Take two ounces of ay^ima of MarSj one ounce of anima of Saturn^ one ounce of anima of Ju" piter^ diiTolve thefe in lix ounces of Mercurial fpi- rit, let all be difTolved, then drive it over, leave nothing behind, it will be a Golden water, like a traniparcntdiffolution of ,9.;/, your prepared and edulcorated Mercury muft be warm'd in a ftrrng Viol, pour this warm'd water gently on it, a til- fing will l^'e, ftop the Viol, then the tTsing is gone > then fcal it Hermetice^ fet it in a gentle Bainy, in thi days the Mcrcw^y is diilolvcd into a gra(s green Qy I, fet the Viol in afhes for a d.y and night, rule your tire gently , this grecii colour turneth into a yellow Oyl, in this colour in hid the Kubedo^ keep it in this lire, and let the mat- ter turn to a yellov/ powder, like unto Orpi- menti when no mere e^mes over, then let the glals in Sand for a day, and a night, give a ftrong fire to it, let the faii^ft Kuby-ruhedo appear, melt it to a hxedncls with a fluxing powder made of Saturn^ it comes now to a malleablenefs, one .pound of it concaincth two ounces of good I Gold, as deep, as ever Nature produced any. Re- member 2o4 Of the of Mercurial Oil. member the poor, do not precipitate thy felf into an infernal abyfle, by forgetting thy felf in not doing the duties you ought to perform in regard of the blefsing. An Oyl made^of Mercury, and its Salt. 1*Ake quick N4ercury, being often fublimed, and redificd with Calx (tivc^ put it in a bo- dy, diflolve it in a heat, in ftrong Nitrous water, abftrad the watee from it, the ccirofivenels which ftayeth there, mull be txtriv^cd with good Vinegar, well boy led in it : at lal^ abfiradt this Vinegar, the remainder of it mull be dulcihtd with difiiird water, and then exiccated. After- ward on each pound mull be poured /i/?. i. of the beft fpirit of Wmc, let it Hand luted in pu- trefaction, then drive over what may be driven, firft gently, then more ftrougely, from that which is come over, abrtrad the Ipirit of Wine fer Bat- ntum^ there ftayeth behind a.fragrant Oyl, which is Jftmm Mcnurii^ an excellent remedy againft Venereal difeafes. Seeing the Salt and Jilrum of Mercury is of the fame Medicinal operation, I hold it needlels to write of each in pirticular,and will joyn their^ operation into one, and declare of it in the lalt part about the Salt of Mercury, becaufe they are of one effed in Medicinal operations. Take the made Oyl, or Ajirum Mcrcuriiy which by reafon of its great heat keeps its own body in a perpe- tual running, calling it on the next Handing earth, from which you formerly drew the Oil. ^^ Set it in a heat, the Oyl drawcth its own Salt > that of the Particula of Antimony. a o 5 that being done, put to it a reafbnable quantity of fpirk of Wine, abftrad it again, the Salt ftayeth behind, difTolved in the frefh fpirit of Wine, be- ing dulcified by cohobation : Then is the Mercurial Salt ready, and prepared fcr the Medicine, as (hall be mentioned in the laft part. Mercury is able to do no n^iore, neither Farticulariter^ nor Vniverfa- liter^ becaufe he is far off from Fbilofiphirs Mer^ cury^ although many are deceived in their fancies to the contrary. Of . the Particular of Antimony, together with the cxtraciioH. of its Sulphur andSdu 1* Ake good Hungarian Antimony, pulverife it fubtilly to a meal, calcine it over a gentle heat, ftirring it ftill v^ith an Iron wyar, and let it be albified^ and that at lalt it may be able to hold out in a ftrong iire. Then put it into a melting pot, melt it, call it forth, turn it to a tranfpa- rent glafs, beat that glafs, grind it fubtilly, put it in a glafs body of a broad flat bottom, pour on it diltilled Vinegar, let it ftand luted in a gentle heat for a good while, thaVhiegar extradleth the Antimonial tindlurc, which is of a deep rednefs, abftract the Vinegar , there rcmaineth a fweet yellow fubtile powder, which muft be edulco- rated with diftilled water, all acidity muft be tak- en oif, exiccate it ', pour on it the beft gradua- ted f pi rit of Wine, (et it in a gentle 'heat, you bave a new extr-'dion, which is fair and yel- low, cant it off, pjur on ether fpirit , let it ixtt^d as long a^ it jan, then ablirad the fpi- rit of Vv^ine, exiccate, you find a tender deep yellow 2 o6 Of the Particula of Antimony, yellow fubtilc powder of an admirable Medici- nal operation, is nothing infaiour unto ^cuhie Take two parts of tkis powder, one part of Solar S^dp-mry^rmd thdc (rrull, then rikc three parts of Sulphur of Mars^ pour on it lix parts of Spifit of Mrc-ry, fct it in digelrion well J-.fed, hi the Sulphur ot iViar/be diilblved totally, then carry in a fourth paiti^of the ground^iiattcr of the Sulphur of Jiitirv^ry, and of Sol, lute and digcll, let all be difTolved, then carry in more of your ground Sulphurs, proceed as fornicriy, itera- j ting it (b long till all be diifolved, thi.n the mat- ter becomes a thick brown Cyl, drive all over jcyntly into one, leave nothing behind in the bot- tome, then pour it oa a purely fepara ted L«>i^r calx:, hx it by degrees of hre, then melt it into a body, feparate it with an Aquafort^ iix times as much of Sol is precipitated then, above the pon- derohty the compcMid did weigh, the remainder of Ltine fervcth for fiich works you pleaie to put it unto. The Anttmmial tirMitre being extracted total- ly from its Vitmm^ and no Vinegar takes more hold ot any tindfure, then exiccate the remain- ing powder, which is ot a black colour, put it into a melting pet, lute it, let it iknd in a realf li- able heat, let ail the fulphureous part burn away, grind the remaining matter, pour on it new di- itiiled Vniegar, cxtracr its Salt, abilrad: the Vine- gar, edulcorate the acidity by cohobaiion^ clarihc io longXo that the water be whitt and clear. If you "have proceeded well in your manuals, then tie leller time will be required ro extrad the Au" Umonial Salt^ as ycu (liail hear of it, \\ hereby you Sulphur and Salt cf ^ntimonm. 207 you may obferve, that the Antimonid Sulphur is^ cxtradcd in the follawing manner, and is ot" the fame Medicinal operation, but is of a quick- er and fpeedier work, which is a matter ot con-* fcquence, and worthy to be taken notice of.' A jhort nfsy to ntaJ^e Antimomal Sulj-hitf and Salt* TAke good Vitriol, common Salt, and un- llaked Lime, of each one pound, four ounces of Salt-armoniac, beat them fmall, put them in a glais body , pour on it three pcnnd of com- mon Vinegar, let it ftand in dig(illion Itopp'd tot a day, put it afterward into a Retort, apply a re- ceiver to it, diltill it, as ufually an aquafrt is diftill'd. Take of the off drawn liquor, and of comimon Salt, one pound of each, redfifie them once more, let no muddineis come over with it, all mult come clear : then take one pound of pulverifed antimonial glafs, pour this fpirit on it, lute it well, digefl, and let all be dilTolved ', then abftratt the water in Balneo MarU^ there remains in the bottome a black, thick, fluid matter, but fomewhat dry, lay it on a glafs Table, fet it m a Cellar, a red Oyl floweth from it, leaving (bmc feces behind, coagulate this red Oyl gently upon a(hes, let it be cxiccated there > th( n pour the belt fpirit of Wine on it, it exrraftcth a ilndture which is bloud red, cant off that which it ting d, pour other ipirit of Wine on the rtmaincler, let all rednels be extradted, thus you have the tinciure or Antimonial Sulfhur^ which is of a wondertul Medicinal efficacy, and is ^qmv^knt unto potable Gold, 2o8 Sttlphur and Salt of: ^ntifhonjl Gold, as you heard in the former proceG. And it^ preparation ferveth now to proceed with it Farticulariter^ as I (hewed In the former. This black matter, which Hayed behind after the ex- tradtron of Sulphur^ muft be well cxiccated, ex- trad its fnow-white Salt with diftill'd Vinegar, edulcorate it, claritie it with fpirit of Wine, ob- fcrve its vertues in Medicina , of the which in the laft part. Thus I conclude my fourth part alfo. Other myiieries in Nature, and fome augmentations might be here annexed, but I wave them, men- tioning only the chiefcft of rhcm, and are fuch, which may be wrought eafily , and in a (hort time, and whereby good ftore of riches may be gotten. The reit , which are not of that im- portance, and may eaiily draw Novices into er- rours, bringing no protit for the prefoit, may in good time by careful pradife be found out and obtained. If you only know thcfe, whereby health and wealth is obtained, then the(e metalline Sulphurs in their compounds may bring great proht unto you, to. write of all thcie circumilantially, is im- poisibJe to one man, it is of an infinite labour Call upon God for grace and mercy : A tunda- mental Theory alfords the pradfick part, from thence flow infinite fprings, all from one head. If you go otherwife to work, than I entreated you to do by the Creatour of heaven and earth, then all youradions will be retrograde unto a temporal diiafter. I (hould annex here the efficacies of .other Mi- nerals, which are nevt unto Metals : but feeing they arc of no ability unto tranfiautation of Me- tals; SulfhuT and Salt of Antmori% %6~^ lals : but feeing they are uf no ability unto tranf- .inutation of Metals, but are only Mcdicina],un THE PREFACE O F T H 1 author; BBir^^ pofjefjed mth humane fedr^ t $ei gan to confider , out of the fimplicit^ of Nature^ the mtferies of this World^ ind exceeding}) lamented with my fdf the #/- ^ehces committed bj our F^r^ Par^ntSy and h$w ^■ittle rtf^nt^ncf there vpm throughout the w$rld^ %nd that men grew daily worfe and werfe^ am ner/ial pumjhment withjut redemption hanging^ "iver the heads of fuch impenitenti : Therefore 9gade/ha(i torfithdratp m) [elf from fin ^ and iid farewell to the Worlds and addiB my felf •0 the Lord M his o.-ilj Servant, Having lived feme time tn my Order^ Then ^ 3 alfi. :: 14 The Preface, of the Author. difoj after I had dor/e mj appointed devotms, meddling not vptth frivol ii6 things ^ leaft mj 'vain thoughts thio^^gh tdlemfs fbjuld yttid caufe^ of greater evils ; / took upon wif diVt-. ge'/ftlj to fearch ii^to Nature^ and thrcughh t9 Anatmize the Arcanaes thereof ^ nhich T found to he the greate^ pleafure next to Et r^ nal things^ Having found in our Mor.afery TTianj looks written hjPhilofopkrs of ancient] timey nho had truly foUovped Nature in their Studs Wd Search y thpf gave a greater encou- ragemht^ to my mindy to learn thvje things thej knevp j andjhough tt proved difficult to me in the beginnings jet at lajl it proved more eafie. The Lord [a granted (to whom I dajlj prajei)Mat I [houldjee thofe things that others hefcre me had feen» . In our MonaHrjy one of mj Fellows jt^ much tormented with the S tone ^ that he often- times la) hedrid^ had fought to man^ PhjfitianSy AKddif paired of anj Ulp from ihfm^ rcftgr.ed up his life to Gody having I ay d afide allhu* m(inrh'elp, 1 hen began J to ^n atomize vegetables^ and difiilled them-, I extracted their Salts and Quiiitffjence : Gut amongfl all theffy couldl rnot pnd an) thing , that would free -m) fid Broihrr from his di'ftempery although / trjed viar^'i things y for the) were not fo efjeRual in their degree to cure that diferfe^ fo that far fix The Preface to the Author. '57y" fix years fpaco there was hardly any vegeta-- ble 5 that I had not m fome way or other wrought upo/7. Then I hent my thoughts to r.nfider further of thi^s matter^ and to addiB my felf to a fun-^ dame-fit A knowledge ^and fear ch after thofe ^id- d^n uertues which the Creator had placed in Mettals and Adineralu ^he more I fought into them^ the mare I found:, one fecret ftill flowing from another ; God profpered my irt" deaz;ours^ that I tryed many things^ and my Eyes alfo faw thofe ^vertues^ which Nhture had tnfufed into Mettals and Minerals ^ yea^ f z'ariom-i that the) are not eafily underfiood hi the ignorant and (lothfuL Amofigfi all thofe I happened on d certain Miner aU c cmpofed of many colours^ and of ue^ rj or ^at power in Arty I (XtraBedits Spiritu^ al Efjence^ and therehj in a few days ^ reftored my lick Br other to his former health : For this Spirit w^ fo ftrong, that it did much reviue or fortijie the fpirit of my Brother^who as long as he lived daily prayed for me for he lived long after y ay.d then hid me farewell. His and mj pra)ers did fo much prevail , that the Creator^ di f cover edy and hj reafon of my dili" gence did demon\lrate unto me^ even thaty which yet remai'neth hid to the wife men^oS . the) call themf elves. So therefore in this Treatife will I declare^ P ^ and aiS The Preface of the Author^ iir^d f^ far as if lawful for me to doy ffveaU The Stone of the Ancients granted unto lU for the health and comfort of man in this VaEe) of mtfer)^ M the chief e^ of aH Earthly Treafure. Writing th'fe things not for mj own b»t the he^ refit oj foflefitjy following therein the method i find in the writings of many verj learned mens fo that tj mj writings ^ the diSates of Phi* hfophy which are very fhort and t/Enigmati- cafy thon main attain that Rock on which Truth f/f/.^,;^Vj tfith a temporal reward and eternal h ejjl/ios^ Atnea^ ## (^17) O F T M E GREAT STONE o r T H E Ancient Philofophers. DEar Friend and lover of Art, In my Pre- face Ipromifed to (hew unco thee, and to fuch others who arc very deiirous to learn the Properties of Nature, and di- ligent fcarchers into Art, That Corner Stone, tnd that Rock, fo far as I am permitted from above, as our Anceftors the Ancients prepared their Stone, which they attained from the Moil High, for the prcftrvation of their health, and for their beneht in this prefent world. That t may therefore perform my promife, and not lead thee into Labrinths by Sophiftick errours, I will reveal unto thee the Fountain of all good things •, therefore obferve my following words^ and diligently weigh them, if thou haft a defirc to learn this Art : I (hall not ufe much Elo- quence, that is not my intent, very little will be learned from that, I delight in brevity, whiclt ChaW cQutaiii the foundation of the matter- Kaow,. 2:S Ofth- Great Stone. Kno;v, that very £:W jnve attained unto t'lC poTcisionof this M-igificry, alchoii^ii many iiavC laboured and wrought i;i our Stone, but the true knowledge and obtaining thereof, the Creator hath not made common, but will grant the fame to fuch as are avcrfe to lies, and love the truth, and which with humble hearts mofr diligently feek the faid Art, cfpecially to fuch who love God. unfeignediy, and pray luito him thc^refore. wherefore I tell xhcc for '^a trifth ; if ^thou wo'-i.ldfr make our great and ancient Ston", fol- low my Dodrine, and above all things pray to the Maker of every Creature,' that he may beiiow on thee his grace and blelsing tojliat end s and if you have tinned, confefs and deal ri^teoully, and reioive upon it, that you fin no more, but live holily, that your heart may be hlled with tvery good things and remember wdien ye are prvterred to honours, *to be helpful to the poor and indigent, that you deliver them from their miuri.s, and retrcfti them with yoyr -bountiful hand,, that you may obtain the greater blelsing from the Lord, and through the Contirmation ^^of Faith receive your Throne in Heaven prepared tor you. , My friend defpiie not, ncr contemn the real ^ writings ot fuch men, wtio had the Stone before iisv ior next unto FevcTation of Goal obtain- ■ ed it from them, and Icf the reading ot them be many times and very often reiterated, leaft yoa forget the foundation,and the truth be cxcinguiilit as a Lamp. Then be not unmindful of your dilig:nt labour always feekihg in the writings of Aiithors j and be not of an uniuble mind, b,it rely on that hxt RocK, of the Philof.phrrs ^^9 Rock, Vv herein all wife men do unanmioully concurr, for a wavering man is foon led into a v\ roug way, and precipitateth himfclf into many crrours j and men ot wavering minds fcldome build firm hoafes. Seeing our moft ancient Stone arifcth nor from combudjbie things, becaufe it is free from all danger of the tire, therefore feek not for it^, in fuch things, wherein Nature will not have JC to be found or to be, as if one (liould tell thee ic is a vegetable work, it is not^ although a vegeta- •tive nature be in it. For note, if itlhould be with our Stone, as it is with an herb it would eafily be confumed in the fire, and nothing would remain but its Salt, and although thofe before me, have written many things of the vegetable Stone, yet know, my friend, that it will be difficult for thee to under- fland it, for becaufe our Stone, doth vegetate, and multiply its felf, therefore have they called it vegetable. Know further, that brute Annimals have no incrcafe but in their like nature 5 therefore need you not (earch after, nor prefume to make the true Stone, but of its own proper feed, whereot our Stone hath been made from the beginning : Alfo, my friend, take notice and imderftand, that you take not any Animal foul for tliis work, ior tlefh and bloud, as they are granted and be- llowed by the Creator upon Animials, do proper- ly belong unto Animals wherewith God hath framed them, lo that an Animal is made there- of : But our Stone which trom the Ancieiats came to me as an Inheritance, proceedeth and ariieth from tv/o and from one thn:g, which con- taineth 2 20 Of the Or eat Stone. taur-th a third concealed, this is the pure truth and rightly (poken '-, for male and temale by the Auciearswere taken for one body, not by reafon of the outward appearance to the eye , but in rcfpcd of that love inaplanted, and from the be* guinln^ infufcd into them, by the operation of Niture, that they may be known to be one, and as the tvvd do propagite and increale their Seed, f) alfo the iced of the Matter, whereof oar Stoiic: is made, may be propagated and iug- nun ted. It you arc a true lover of our Art, you will zuAch cibem and wifely condder this faying, lealt you fall and flip with other blind Sopliifkrs into tbe pit prepared by the enemy. My Friend, that you may underhand from whence this feed cometh, enquire of thy fclf to what end thou wouldil prepare the Stone, then Will it b: mmiFed unto thee, that it proceedeth from no other matter, than .from a certain me- tj.iick root, from whence alfo, the metals them- ielves, by the Creator, are ordained to proceed, whicli how it is done. Note, Tnat m the beginning, when the Spirit moved :.!pon the Waters, and all things were covered withdarknefs, then the omnipotent and eternal God, v*hofe beginning and whofe wifdome with-^ i>.;t cndy was from eternity, by his unlearchable Cojnlel, dri create the^ Heaven and the Earth, ^lid all things vifible and invihble in them con- uiucd, Oi.t oi' noting, by what nam.s f:)ever they iie called, for God nude all thing; cf nothing. il.u how this raoft glorious Creatio.i vvai done, I ihillnot now treat, let the Scriptures and Faich judge tncre o:". 0f th^ PhUofophnu 2!LI The Creator hi the Creation, gave to cvtry Creature a peculiar feed, that there (hould be an cncrcafe (kaft they (hould tend to a coiicluficn or dctriri.ent) whereby Men, Animak, Vegetables, and Metals might be preferved, neither is it law- ful to Man, to produce a new feed at his pleafurc, but is a^ainft God's Ordinance, for to him is granted propagation and increafe '^ for the Crea- tour hath reierved to himfelf the power to crcute Seed, elfc were it pofsible for Man to ad as Crea- tor alfo, which muft not be, but is proper to the liigheft power. Then conceive thus of the feed proceeding from Metals, that the Celcfiial inftiience, accord- ing to Gods good pleafure and ordinance, de- fcendeth from above, and mixeth it (elf with th^e Aftral properties , for when fuch ccnvindion happens, then thefe two beget an Earthly lub- Ci:ancc, as a third thing, which is the beginning of our feed, its firft original, whereby may be de- tnonftratcd the antiquity of its generation, from which three the elemenesdo arife and proceed, as water, agree and Earth, which work further by afubterranean tire, until it bring forthaper- ' fed thing, which Htrmes^ and all others before HiC, have called the three hrft Principles, becaufe we could find no more from the beginning of the Magiftery, and they are found to be an intrinfick Soui,an impalpable £piiit,and a corporeal and vi- fible Efllnce. Now whe n thefe three do dwell together , they do proceed by copulation, by fuccefs of time , by Vulcans help into a palpable iub- ftance, viz* into Mercury, Sulphur ^ and Salt, ^iiich three if by commixtion, they are brought 2 22 Of the Grea' Stone to induration and coagulation, as Nature doth many ways operate, then is there made a perfcdt body, as Nature would have it, and its Ic-d is chofen and ordained by the Creator. Whofbcver thou art that prefumcfl to dive into the fountain of our work, and hopeit to ob- tain, by thy ambitious enterpriie, the rewardof Art, I tell t hee by the eternal Creator, for a truth of all truths, that if there be a Metalick Soul, a Metalick Spirit, and Metalick form of Body,' that there mull alfo be a Metalick Mercury, a Me- talick Sulphur, and a Metalick Salt, which of ne- cefsity can produce no other than a perfedt Meta- line Body. If you do not underftand this that you ought to nnderftand you are not adepted for Philofophy, or God concealeth it trom thee. Therefore in briet thus, It v*'ill not be pofsible for thee to attain this end with proht in a Meta- lick way, unleis you conjoyn the laid three Prin- :ipks into one , without errour. Underltand further, that Animals arecompoled of Flefliand Blood, even as Man is, and have a living Spirit, find breath iiifufcd in them, which they enjoy as Man doth \ but they are without a rational Soul, wherewith Man is endued above all Animals : Therefore when they dye they are at an end, nei- •;her is there any hope of them torcver. But Man, 1^ he olTer up his life by a tcmiporai death to his Creator, his Soul furviveth, and . after his piirihcation, his Soul returning to his purihed Bo- dy (hall again dwell therein^ fo that Body and Spirit are again uaiited, and will clearly manitelt their Ccleitial clarihcatioa, which can. nevier be fe- parated co all eternity, &c. There- of '.he Phiicfoijhers. 225 Therefore Man by reafon of his Soul is eftcem- ed a fixed Creature (although he eye a tcr ; oral deathj yet (hall he live forever i, for Man's -L^th is only a clarihcatioii, that by certain dcg/ces or- deined of God »hc might be freed trciii 1 is i^rie- vous Sins, and tranfplanted into a better Uate, which happtneth not to other Animals, there- fore are they not clkemed iixcd Creatures, for lifter their death .they enjoy no Refurrcdtion, for they want a rational Soul, tor which the only and true Mediator the Son of God hath Ihcd his blood. A Spirit may abide in fbme certain Body, hut it doth not therefore follow, that it is there to bs fixed, although thaf Body agree with the Spirit, ^nd the Spirit be not angry with the Body, for they both want that itrong part which ovcr- cometh and confirmeth the Body and Spirit, and pr: Lrveth and detendeth it from all dangers, viZ' the nioft precious, noble, and hxt Soul : ii»>T where the Soul is wanting there remains no hope of Redemption > for any thing without a Soul is imperfect, which is one of the highelt Myfteiics wiiich ought to be known to the wife and dili- gent (eeker of our Work : And my confciencc 'Will not luftcr me 10 pafs over this in lilence, but to reveal it to thofe, who loye the foundation of wiidome. Th^re my beloved iriend, be thou attentive to what J ihall tell thee, that the Spirits hid in Metals are not alike, the one bcing.mt?3j|r' volatile, or more fixt than the other. So alfo^re their Souls and Bodies unequal > whatfoever Kle- tal conraineth in it felf ail the three parts of feiity, tnat Metal hath obtained that power to ^pide in the tire, and overcome all its enemies, which 2 24 OftheCrea^ St^ine which L> only found in Sot : Luna containcth W itfclf a fixed Mercury, therefore (he flyeth not fo foon in the fire, as do th'other iniperted mt* tals, but abideth her cxamen in the hre, and ma- nifcfteth it very nobly by her vidory, j,that greedy Saturn cannot pr6y upon her. Amorous Venus cloathed and pofTefled with an abundant tin^nse, for her body is alnnoft all a mcer tindture, like in colour to that which is in the beft metal, and by rcafon of its abundance of tincture appcareth to be red, but by reafon her body is leprous,that firm permanent tinfture can- not >abide in an imperfeft body, but is found to fly with the body \ for when the body is confum- cd, the foul cannot ftay, but is forced to be gone and fly, bccaufe Its habitation is confumcd and deltroyed by the fire, fo that it can find no place nor kfioweth where to tarry, but in a fixed body (he willingly and conftantly inhabiteth. Fixed Salt hath given and lett with warlike Mars a hard, conftant, and grofs body, whereby is manifdted the, gencrofity of his mind, from which warlike Captain can hardly any thing be gotten, for his body is lo hard that it can hardly be penetrated > but if his fierce valour be ipiri- tually united with the fixity ot Lunay and the beauty of Ve^m by a right mixture a curious har- mony may be made, by which fome Keys may bf. fo advanced, that the necay it he get up th* higheit itcp ot the Ladder, may get a living Far- - ticft aritcr i for the PhiegmacicK quality, or m^ift natLU*c of Lmj ought to be dryea up by the ar- dent bioud ot VenM-, and its great biaci^ntfi cor- reded by the Silt ot M.2r/. There is no uiccGity toi you t j ftck yo. r ^ccd ia in theE!ements,for our (bed i=; not put (b far baek^ butthcrc i.v a nearer plj^c, whtrc. o".i i'ccd hath its certain habitiuion and lodging, ibtliat it you only piJirie the Mercury, Sulphu:r, and Salt, (ot the Philofophers; (b that of their Soul, Spirit, and Body be made an inicpiirabk conji;ndlion, which may never be (cparated the one from the o.hcr, nor can be divided, then is made the perfcd: bond of Love, and aiiabitation is fufticieatly and ex- cellently prepared for the Crown. Know alio, that this ijj only a liquid Key, like unto the Celelbal property and dry water, addict- ed to an Eairthly fiiblrance, which are all bn.t one < thing, proceeding ani growing from three, two,.' and one, if yon can apprehend this, then have* you obtained the maftery, thenconj'cyn the Bride with the Bri^Jegroom, that they may feed nnd' nourilheach other with thcirown flcdiand blood, and increafe infinitely from their own feed. Although I could willingly out of love reveal' more unto you, yet the Creator hath prohibitccti me ^ wherefore it becometh rnc not to ipeak vwoici clearly of thcfe things , lefi thegifcs of the Molt. High be abufed, and that I Oiould be the cauC of mittingof many fins, fothat I (hould pulldowii- Divine Vengeance lipon me, and with otlkrrs be"' caft in to eternal puniiliments. My friend, if theie things be uot clear enough' I unto thee, then wijl I lead thcc to that my pva- : dick part, v/ho I accomplifhed, the Stone of the i Ancients by the aihftance of the Almighty, conti-' der it well, and with diligent and frequent rcitc* ration throughly read my XII Keys, and fb pro* ceed, as i fhall here teacli and infcrLiCf you^ funda- mentally by way of Parable. %i6 Of the GreAt Stone Take a piece of the bcft fine.GoId, and fcparatc the fame iii parts, by Tach means as Nature hath granted unto the Lovers of Art, even as an Ana- tomic divideth the dead body of man, and thereby (earchcth into the inward parts of the hnuiane body, and make thy Gold to be reduced to what it was at the Hrlt, then will you find the Seed, the beginning, middle, and end, whereof our Gold and its Wife were made, viz* out of a penetrating fubtil Spirit, and of a pure chaft and immaculate Soul, and of an Aftral Silt andBal- fam , which after their conjundlion are nothing cKe but a Mercurial Liquor, which fame water was brought to School to its own God Mcrcuryy who examined that water, and having found it to be legitimate and without deceit, he joyned in fjiendlhip with it, and joyned with it in Ma- trimony, and fo of both them was made an in- combullible Oyi, then Mercury grew {'o proud that he {c:ixzc knew iiimfclf ^ he caii: off his Ea- gles wings, and himfclf (wallowed up the llip- pcry tail of the Dragon , and oiiercd battel to Then Mzr/ gathered his Champions together, and gave command that Mercury fliould be in:i- prif( •ned,to whom Vulcjn was appointed Gaolor, until he (ho.ild be freed by fomc of the feminine kind. After the(c things were rumored abroad,the o- ther Planets met together, and held a counfcl, ihcy conlidered what was ht to be done that they might wifely proceed. Then Saturn the hril in Order with a fierce Speech began to fpeak after this manner. I S^tnni^ the hi^hcft Blanet in tl^ firmament, protelt tf the PhiUfophers. 2tj protcft before you all my Lords, that I am the moft unprofitable and contemptible of you all, of ♦n infirm and corruptible body, of a black colour, obnoxious to the injuries of many afflidions in this miferable world, yet am the examiner oS you all. For I have no abiding place, and I take with me whatfoever is like unto me : the caufc of this my mi(ery is to be imputed to none but in- conftant Mereury^ who by his carelcisnefs and neg- ligence hath brought this evil upon me : There- forc,my Lords, I pray you,rcvcnge my quarrel o» him, and feeing that he is already in Prifon, kill him, and let him putrefie there, until not one drop of his bloud be any more found. Saturn having ended his Speech, brown Jufi-' ter came on , and began his Speech , with hil bended knees, and with the reverential honour of his Scepter, commending the requcils of his fel- low Saturn-^ commanded all fuch to be puniflicd that (hould not put thofe things in exccution,and fo he made an end. Then came Mars with his naked Sword vari- oufly coloured, like a fiery glafs, ihining with di- Yers and ftrange rays, he brought this Sword to Vulcan the Gaolor, to put therewith in executioa all thofe things commanded by the Lords, which when he had killed Mercury^ he burnt his bones in the fire, wherein Vulcan the Gaolor was very obedient. In the mean time, whilft the Executioner was performing his office, comes in a beautiful and white (binning Woman, in a long Robe of a lit- ver colour, woven with fcveral water-colours^ which when (he was received, (he appeared to bs lAina^ S$ls wife •, (he fell on her face, aad with^ 0^2 iaany 12? Of the Gvnt Stone Riany (ears, and on her knees bclought them, that her husband Sol might be let ijt liberty out of the Prifon, into which A/crcwr^ by force and deceit had call hirti in, where to this day he hath been detained by the Command of ch' other Planets \ but Vulcan denied her, for he was fo commanded to do, and perfifted in hrs purpofc in executing the Sentence. Then came Dame VcnUs in a gar- ment, of pure red, interwoven with green, of a moft Beautiful countenance, a moft graceful and pleafant fpeech, and molt aniiable gefiure, bearing iiibft fragrant flowers in her hand, which by the variety of the colours did wonderfully refrefh and delight the eyes of thole that looked rn her ', (lie made interceliion. in the Chaldean Language uiito Vulcan as Judge fot liberty, and put him in remembrance, that Redemption muft come frcm z womian kind ^but his cars were ftopt. In the mean tiitie while thefe two thus con- ferred together, the heaven opened tt felf, and thence came a great Animal with many thoufands of young ones, drivi;ig away and expelling the Executioner. He opened his ]aws wide , de- voured the precious Lady Tf^w the huerceder, crying with a loud vOife, my defcent is of \Vc;- men, and Women have plentitully fpread abroad my Iced, and have hlkcl the Earthwith it •, heV Sou] is kind to mc, therefore will rt-edindilotii rifh my fcif with her blood- : When thi^ Aniiilul liad thus loudly fpok;:n, he with'dr'ew himU'lt into" a certain Conclave,' And flr.^t the door after him'y and a}] his young ones follovved him in or- der, where they wanted mAich irlcrefood thl^S before, and they drank of^ the former ificbmbb- itibl^/O)!, and theydid 'eafily dig^lUh^r meat ■ -^^ smd of the philosophers. 21 f and their drink, and they had many more youn^ o les than before, and this happened often^, unUt they had replenilhed the whole world. ' j when all theie things had fo- happened^ man]^ skillful men of every Co an try, learned in all l^ind of Studies, met together, who endeavoure^i to find out the interpretation of all thofe things md fpceches, that they migiit for the moll part ;ht:tter underitand thofe things, but none of X&eni JcoLild attain unto it, for they were not all of one ipind, until at laft came forth a certain Old Man, his Beard and Hair as white as Snow, with aPur^ pie garment from the Head to the Foot, he had.a Crown on his Head, whereon there Ihined a moft precious C-irhuncle, he was girt about with the Girdle of Life , he went on his bare Feet, he (pake from a lingular Spirit that was hid in him, his Speech penetrated through the innermoft parts (of the body, fo that the Soul heartily received i|g This mm afccnded the Chair^ and exhorted the Aifembly there met to be filent, and to hearken diligently to what he fhould tell them, for he tvas fent trom above to interpret unto them the atbre- faid wi Icings, and to reveal it by Philofophick ex- .j)relfions. ri-:.When: they were all quiet, he began after this manijer. .iii: v.. A A^ake, O Man,and contemplate on the Lightj Icii the Darknef& (educe you : The Gods of For- tune, and the Gods of the greater Nations, have revealed unto mc in a deep ileep. O how happy rsi-±u Minv That acknowledgeth the Gods, how great and wonderful things they work, and hap^ ©y is he whofe eyes are opened, that he may lee t:he light, which before was biddcti. ^\ 3 Two 136 Of the Gr est S tone Two Stirs have the Gods gran ted unto Man, to lead them to great wifdom,J which ftcdfaftly behold, O Man, and follow their fplendor, foi wifdom is found in them. The Phoenix of the South hath fnatcht awa) the heart out of the breaft of the huge beaft ei the Eaft, make wings for the bcaft of the Eaft, a; hath the bird of the South, that they may be c- qual •, for the beaft of the Eaft mult be bereaved of his Lions skin, and his wings muft vanifn,and then muft they both enter the Sat Ocean, and re- turn again '^with beauty. Sink your di(quietcd Spirits into a deep fountain, that never wants water, that they may be like their Mother, that lyeth hid therein, and from three came into the world. Hungary firft begot me, the Heaven and the Stars preferve me, and I am married to the Earth s and although I am forced to dye, and to be buried, yet Vulcan reviveth me the fecond time, therefore Hungana is my Native Country, tnd my Mother containeth the whole world. when thefc things were heard by the AfTem- bly then prefent, he further fpake thus. Make that which is above to be beneath, and that which is vifible tobe invifible,and that which is palpable to be impalpable : And again, make that which is above be made of that which is be- neath, and the viftble of the invifible, and the palpable of the impalpable thing > this is the whole Art abfolutely perfed: without any dck^ or diminution, wherein dwellcth Death and Life, Death and Refurrcdion, it is a round Sphcar, wlicrein the GodJefs of Fortune driveth her Cha- fict, and coir. mu ska teth the jjift of Wifclcm to th# «/ the P hthfophers. t J I the Men of God. Its proper name i$ according to our temporal undtrltanding, All'm Ally ; Jlic Highell he is Judge over things eternal. Whofocver dclirtth to know what the AU m AH is, let him make very great Wings for the Earth, and force her Co much, that (he lift her fclf up, and raiic her fclf on high, laying through the A'lf into the Supream Region ot the highclt Heaven. Then burn her wings with a very ftrong Fire, that the Earth may tail headlong into the Red Sea, aiyi be drowned therein, and with Fire and Air dry up the Water, that thercct^ Earth may be made again h Then I (ay have you the AH in All. But it you cannot apprehend this, inquire into thy (elf, and fcek about in all things that are to be found throughout the world : Then will you jind the AH in All-, which is the Actradive Power • of all Metallick and Mineral things, proceeding from Sah and S idphnr^ ^nd twice begotten of Mercury : More (I tell you) is not meet tor me to (peak of that, which is the All in All^ bccaufe AH is comprehended in AH* This Speech being made, he faid further, O my Friends, thus by the hearing of my voice have ye learned wiidom , from what and by what means ye ought to prepare the Great Stone of the Ancient Philofophers, which healeth all leprous and imperfect Metals, and openeth unto them a new Birth5and preferveth men in health, and pro- longeth their lives, and hath hitherto prcfcrved me by its Celeftial power and operation, that 1 zn\ very willing to dye, bemg weary of this life. Praifed be God for ever for his grace and wi(^ dom , which of his mercy he hath^a long time ntjpyflK^d by itiand when h^ hath utvoijijrjL^.infe iKin^friake a great Fire,,intO;>>:hich ciit tht'fiVVpJfi, that he be quite burned^ f hen will th^' ivingbv at. liberty again : When you i^tve done, tiiis t!KJv»ia:irii<'=|]i.hath the Lion overcome the ,VVojf, conff n^v:cl c^hi; tind any more on iiim to tixd upon^ paur- i 4 S|idig.i|50ur body-prepared tor the bci^hining of ] r/Jxvi'^ o.:r wori^. ij&P^^-nl^U'>,tb^U: t:hi;i.;i^, the right and true way tfip^iV^:r!vj-ir.;o.KSv,turi:hc Lion puuneth himieif by i:i)x. L^iuod ca l^c VVol^ ai when the Lion is fatisHed his fpirit is made fironger than it was before, and his Eyes (bine with great fplendor like the Sun, and his inward Elfencc is ot great efficacy, and is pro-, titablc tor any thing you apply it unto : And when it is To prepared, the fons of men return it thanks, who are troubled with grievous difeafes, falling licknefs, and other diitempers : The ten Lepers follow him, and delire to drink of the blood of his foul, and all fuch that are alBidted with difcafcs, exceedingly rejoyce in his fpirit. For whoibevcr drinketh of this golden foun- tain, foon fecleth a renewing of his nature, th^ taking away of evil, the comtorting oUhe blood, the itrengtfiening of the heart, and tlK pertcA healing ot all the members throughout the bo- dy, cither exterior or ulterior ^ it openeth all the nerves and pores, expelling the evil, that good may come in its place. But, my Friend, you mud take very diligent pare, that the Fountain of Life be pure and clear, t-hat 110 Grange waters be mixed with ouif Foun- tain, lelt it prove a mlfcreant, and of a wholc- (ome Filb a Serpent be prod^upfi : If al(o by a medium a corrofivc (hould brfoyned, by which our body might be dillolvcd, fee that all the cor- 'rdfiVc be walhed away v for no corrofives arc to be Lifed again ft inward difeafes (liarp things pe- netrate and deftroy, and beget more difeales y our Fountain muft be without any poilbn, although poiicn expclleth poilbn. ..^ When a Tree bringeth forth unwholefomc and ungrateful fruit, it ii cut ©ft" at the ftcm, and fome fomc othci kind oF fruit is graftcJ in, then the graft luiitcth it (elf with the fttm, io that of the ttem, roat^ and graft, a good Tree is picduccd. which according to the worknr.ans dtiirc briii^- cth forth whoWfome and plcafing fruit. The Kii;g walke h through iix places in the Celeftial tiimai-nciit, but in the (eventh he keeps hisleat', tor the Kiugs Palace is adorned with golden Tapeftry : It now you underfiand what I iay, then have you opened the hrftLock with this Key, and removed the bolt that hindred, but jf you cani.otfnd any light herein, then will not your glafs Spedacles proht you any thing, nor your natural Eyes help you to find out that. at hi\ which you would at the beginning. I (hall (ay no more of this Key, as luciM Faprm taught met Ihi 255 rht' XII K^)r. the 1 1. Key, IN the Court of great Potentates various kinds of drink are found, yet fcarce any of them alike in fnfiell, colour, and tali, for their prepara- tion is different i yet all they all drink, becaufc they are all made and neceiTary for their particular ufes in the family. when the Sun fcadeth forth his bcaiTis,irradia^ :i^g them fhrough t»".e Clouds it \l ^ommonlv :aid, that the Sim attradtth Watef, and that i^ will rain *, and that if it attcn happen, the; year proves fruitful. For the building of a Princely Palace, various and divers Workmen- and Mcchanicks muft be (et on v^ork,bcfore it be called a bcautifulSc perfe But if you adde to the Ea2,le the o\d Dragon, which hath a long time had his habitatioi^ among i)tones, and creepcth out of the Caves, and put them both in the Internal Pit, then will P/«/#j breath: ' The XII. Ke)U 2 J f breath upon them, and will enforce a fiery vola- tile fpirit out of the cold Vra^un^ which by its ({jn)^ great heat burneth the EagltT feathers, and mak- p. ^ ^ x cth a fweating Bath, that the Snow on the highc ft 2. f ^a ^ Mountanis melteth, and turncth into water. ^ whereby the MincraLBath is well prepared, which bringeth riches and health to tlie King. Tk 1 1 1. itCf V. 2/1 o TheXllKe)S. BY water hrc may ^>e wnollyex^i .p'-iiH^rk '*• much water be caft into littic fire,then rnc tire gives way to the water, and yieldeth up the vi- ctory unto it : So mull our Hery Sulphur be con- quered, and overcome by water prepared accord- ing to Art. If after the feparation of the water, the tiery life of our Sulphureous Vapour can but again triumph and obtain the vidlory •, but no conqueft can be herein obtained, unlefs the King adde torce and power to his Water, and hath given it the Key of his own proper colour, that he may be thereby deftroyed and made invillble \ yet at this time his vifible form ought to return, yet with a diminution of his fimple EfTence, and meliorati- on of his Condition. The Limner can paint yellow upon white, and red upon yellow, and then a purple col our i, and although all the colours appear, yet the lall highly excels in its degree : The like ought to be cb- ferved in our Magiftery^ which being done, then have you before your eyes the light of all wlf- ^om, that (hineth in darknefs, but burneth not. For our Sulphur burneth nut, yet it fliineth far and near , neither doth it tinge any thing, urlefs it be prepared and tinged with its own tindure, whereby it may afterwards tin^e weak' and im- perfed Metals : For it is not in the power ot this Sulphur to tinge, unkfs the tindure be given it in the fixation : For the weakercannot overcome, but the ftronger may obtain the vidory over the weaker, and the weak muft yield tothelirong. Therefore obfcrve for this.difcourfe the following, •onclufion. That which is weak cannot fuccQiir the weak, nor nor adniinifter any help in the operation, and one combiiftible thing cannot defend another com- biiftible thing, kit it alfo be burned > therefore if ?. defender muft be, that mud aiiifl the combulH- ble and defend it : Then that defendor muft have a greater power than he that needcth his defence protection 5 and principally in its fublbnce ought to be mcombuftible. So he that would prepare our incombufiiblc Sulphur of the Phil ofophers, let him firfl coniidcr with himfelf, that he feek our Sulphur in that, wherein it is incombuftible, which cannot be, un- Jefs the Salt Sea have (wallowed up the body, and cai: it np again : Then exalt it in its dt grce, that it far exceefi in brightnefs all the other Scars in the flcaven. ^ And in its owa Effencc is fo full of blood, as Is the Pellican, when (he woundeth her own brealf, and without prejudice to her body , nourilheth and feedeth,many young ones with her oWn blood. This is the Rofe of our MaftcrD, of ^ purple colour, and the Red Blood of the Dragon, whereof fo many have written •, it :s that purple Mantle , richly leaved , in our Art, wherewith the Queen r>t Health is covered , and where- with . all Metals wanting heat may be re- vived. Keep fafcly this honourable Mantle, to- gether with the Aftral Salt , which follow- crh this Coelcitial Sulphur, Icir iome evil befal • it , and give unto it of the volatility of the Bird,, as much as will tuifice' ^ then will the Cock devour the Fox , airi will aftcr- R v/.rds ^2 Of.TfJfOreat Stone wards be drowned in the water, ^d bjingrc" vived by the fire, will be again devoured by th^ Fox, that like may be reftored to its like. Ihc IV. Key. wae^SvSaiasQQPi ALL Flcd^ that came from the Earth, muft be corrupted and jretiirn to Earth again, as it was Earth at the firft, then that Earthly Salt be- gettcth a new generation, by a Cceleftial revivifi- cation, for if it v^xre not firil Earth, there could be no revivification in our work h for in the Earth i^ ofthePbilofcfheru 247 IS the Ballbm of Nature, and is their Salt who fought after ft he knowledg of al! things. At tKe Diy of Judgment' the World Hull be judged by Fire, that which was made by the Creator of nothing , mufr by Fire be burnt to Afhcs, out of which Aflies t!ie Phoenix prdduceth her young : For in thofe Afhes lye the true and genuine Tartar whicft mfift bediilolved^anJ-whcn thatisdiirolved,theiirongdt Lock of the Kings Palace nny b:^ opened. After that burning, a nevvHeavew, and a new Earth (I1.1II be farnied,and the new Man (lull more g^oriouily (hinc forth, than ever he lived in the old \V orld, tor he (nail be purititd. when Allies and Sand are well "saturated and concofled in the iire, then the A:rti(l turneth it in- roGlafs, which afterward will endure hi the. tire, and in colour like a traiilpatent Stone, ai^id is not any more like AfoeS^ and this- to the ignorant is a great Miltery, but not fo in any wi(e to the ex-, perieiiwed Artifr, bLcauie they miderfiand the rea- (on thereof, by their uiidcrfianding, and daily ex- perience. Workmen prepare L'me of Stones, by b.iiiiirig them, that it may be ht for their i-.ie vtor betore its preparation in thr hrj, rx is a' Stone, and can- not be Died in wcrk as Lime : Tiie Stone js m. -. turated in the hve, and rteei^^etlf'from thefire a V. ry high degree of heat, and is made fo fltong, that there is fcarce any thing comparable to the fiery Spirit di Cm: £/z:t, it it be brouglit to i:^^ perfedfjon. Every thing being burnt to AHxs by At: \\'\\ y'.eli a Salt, if in the Anatomizing therLO': yt.u .axe able to i^^.^ a; art if? Sulpftu-r and Met jury, ■ '• " ^ R 2 and- ^44 ThfyillKjf. ^ and again reftow theni to their Salt, according to the pure method of Art i, then may you apain by the means of Fire, make thereof again, what it was before its deftn.dion or anatomy ■, which the wife Men of the World call fooli(hnefs, and efteem thcfc things as trilles, and fay, this is a new Creation, which God grants not to finful man , but they do not underftand that this was created before , and that the Artili doth only fhew its increafe and Magiikry by the Seed of Nature. If th- Artiii want Afhes^ he cannot m.ake Salt for our Art, tor without Salt our work cannot be made into a body, for Salt only coagulatcth all things. For as Salt doth fuftain all things, and prc- .{erveth them from putrifadioni even fo the Salt of our Mafkrs prclcrveth Metals, left thty be re- duced to nothint*, and be corrupted, which can in no Wife happen, unlefs their Balfcm perifh, and the iiKorporated Saline Spirit ceafe to be \ then would their body be altogether dead, and nothing could be thereof made to any advan- tage, b.caufe the Spirits cf the Metal are de- cayed, and at their departure left a naked and void habitation, into which no life can be again reftored. You that are Students in this Art, know; fur- then^ that Salt out of Aihes is of very great uie, much virtue is contained in them 5 yet is that SaJt unproiitable, unltis its iuiide be turned out- wards, and Its outi^de iiiwcrds, for it is the Spi- rit only thargiveih power and life, (for the nak- ed body avo'dcth nothing. J • ^f yoLiknov/ how to cbiLiin that. tk:n havt vcuthe Salt of the Phi- Jofbphcrs, and the true incombufiible Oyl, where- of they have written mai:y things before me: Although th^t many vpife^ Have foucfht for me vptth care » let fcv^ confidcr jphzty ' My hidden tfeifure are* HheW.Key, 2 4^ 7/;^XII A'/^r. THE vivifying' power of the Earth, pro- ductth all things that prccecd there from : And he that faith that the Earth is without lite, is in an errour. For that uiiich is dead cannot adde to that which hath 111 e,, uid the off-fpring of the dead ceafe, becauie the Spirit of Life is wanting, therercfor-c the Spirit is the Life and Soul of tlic Earth , ""tliat dwelleth in it, and opcrateth on Earthly things, from the Coeleltial and Syderial. For all Herbs, Trees, and Roots, and all Metals and Minerals, receive thdr powers, increafe, and nouridnrient from the Spirit of the Earth : For the Spirit is the Life, which is nourifiied by the Stars, and adminiilereth of its nourifhmcnt to all Vegetables.^ And as the Mother preferveth the T^etii^ in the Womb, and feedeth it there h Co alfo doch the Earth nourifli in its Bofbm the Minerals, by its Spirit received from above. wherefore the Earrh afibrdeth not tnofe vir- tues of its ic\i\ but the living Spirit which is in it •, and if the Earth fhould be nithout that Spi- rit, it were dead, and coul^ not yield any more nourifnmcnt, becaufe tiie Spirit would want^ that Sulphur or Fa tncfsvv'hich preferveth the vivify- ing power, and produce tii all growing things by its Nutriment. Two contrary Spirits may dwell together, yhut not ealily agree. R'jr w^hen Gunpowder is kiud- led,t^ole two'Spirits whereof it is madetly the one 4or th^otiier with great noife and violence,' and .vaniih into fume, that none knoweth whi- tiicr they aregonc^, or wriat' they were,.unk(s tky knew by experience what Spirits they were, and iu what (ubf^Cc they had had thur being. whence efthe Philofop-jrrs, 247 whence you may know, thou Teacher into Art, t-hitLife is onfy a m^er Spirit, fo that every thing that the ignorant World repute for Dead, may be igain reduced- into an imperceptible, vifible, ar.d fpiritual Life, and may be prcferved therein, if Life only can operate wi^h Life, which Spirits feed and noiirilh thcmlLlvcS by a Coekftial fub- ftance, and are procreated from a Coeleftial, Ele- mentary, and Terrell ial fubftance, which is called thz M'teniihtformis* A"'d as Iron hath its Magnet, which by its wonderful' and invilible love attrac^eth it ■■) fo alfo hath our Gold a Magtiet, which Magnet is the Frim-i Materia of the Great Stone. If you un- derfrand thcfe my expreflions,you are blelTed with riches above all the world. I will reveal one thing more unto you in this Chapter. When a Man looketh in aGlafs, there is the rciledrion cf his Image, which if you go to touch with your hands, you hnd nothing tangible but the Glafs wherein the perfon looked : So alfo trom this matter rriuii be drawn a vilible Spirit, which neverthelefs is impalpable. That very lame Spirit, • fay, is the Pvadix of the Life of our Bo- dies, and the Mercury of the Philofophers, from whence our liquid Water is prepared in our Art> which you muft make again Material with its own Compoiition, and by fome certain means reduce it from the loweft tothe iiighell degree in- to amofrperfcd: M-aifcine. ^ For our beginning Is^a fe:rct and palpable body, -the middle, is a fu- gitive Spirit, and a-goldenw^ater without any currofive, by ^^h\ch our Mafters prolonged their Vivci V and cnccKJ is a molt hxfKie.Iicmc lor hu- m..ut ^ind NL-f aiiine bodies, which to know ^s ra- H .4- thcr M8 7lje\llKf)<. ther granted to Angels than Men, although fomc men are adopted to the fame knowledge, who by their earneft prayers obtained the lame of God, and are thankful to him therefore, and helpful to the needy. For a Cocliifion of thefe things, I tell you for a trath. that one work proceedeth from another > for our matter muft be very well and highly pu- rihed in the beginning of our work, then diflfolv- ed and defif^.yed, and throughly broken and re- duced into duft and alhes : When this is all done, then make thereof a volatile Spirit white as Snow, and another volatile Spirit red as Blood , which two Spirits contain in them a third, and yet are but one Spirit. Thefe are the three Spirits, that prefcrve and prolong Life, joyn them together, give them their natural meat and drink, as much as they need, and keep them in a warm bed, until the pertld ti-me of their Nativity r, then (hall you fee and underftand what the ';;:reatcr and Na- ture harh difcovered unto you •, and know that my lips never yet fo plainly revealed any thing. Fi/rGod hath placed more efticacy and v/ondcr- fulneis in Nature, than many thouiands of Men can believe h but I am fealed upon alfb that othLrs alter me may write of thofe wonderful natural things which are granted by the Creator, be- by l*cois are counted for fupernatural > for that which is- natural luth its firlt original from th^t which is fupernatural, and yet arc they found together to be only Natural. :3f Thcy.MKi'^^. Tm VI. Key, ■ ^irTjTJsr- ?.-;gT^riaa.-^i.^^-.yr..-^' . MAn without a Woman' is elleenied but as half a body , and a Woman wichout a Mun liktwife obtaincth the name but of half a body, for either of. them by themfclvcscan pro- duce no fruit ^ but when they live together in a Conjugal. State, the body is perfed, and by ihdr Seed an incrcafe {lieccedeth. 250 TheYSlKey, when too much Iced is ci([ on the ground, tliat the land is overburdened, mature ii;uit cannot be txpeded i, andii there be too little leed then the fruit Cometh up thiii, and inftead thereof ^row- tares, whence liO pro/it can bcexpcdled. It' any will not burden his Goniciesce with ini . in felling of Wares,]et him give his Neighbour juit meaJ5are,and lethlmuie )ui\ weights and meafures, . then h'eavoideth curies, and gaineth the bleliings of, the poor. In great waters it is ealie to be drowned, and fhallow waters are eafily exhaulkd by the heat of the Siln, that they are of no ufe. Therefore to obtain your deiired end, a certain meafure muft be obferved in the commixtion of the Philofophick Liquid Subftance, that the ~ greater part do not over-power and over-prefs thelelTcr, whereby the Ejfed will lje hindered, and leli the lelfer be too wc^k tor the greater, but let there be made an equal dominion : lor great rains arc unprofitable to Fruits, and overmuch drought hindreth true Maturity, wherefore it Neptune hath rightly prepared his Water-bath, then take a Juft quantity of the jlqua FermnneitSy and have a great care that you take not too mi.K;h , nor too liti;le. A double hery man mult be fed with a white Swan w^hich will kill each other, and will again revive. And the Air of the four parts ot the W'orld mufr poilefs three parts of the included fiery Man, that the fong ot' the Sw^an may be heard^ when- lliC harmouioully tings her farewell, Then the rofted S-van will be food for rhe.Knig, a)id the hery Kiug •will exceedingly love t.ie p'cauiit pleafant voice oT the Qiiccn, and out of his great love enibraceth her, and (atiateth himtUf with hcr^ until .both vanifli. and become one body. It is commcn]y'faid,that two men can over- come and conquer one, cfpecially if there be fpace enough to excrcife their fury > Avhcrefore knov/ from a true ground^ that adorable wind miift come ^ called r////;/n/«i,3cthen-a fmgle wind caIIedN'/7//i-:S thcle v/ili fiercely blow from the Eaftand South, but when they ceafe, fo that of the Air is, made Water, then be confident that aCorpojfeal thing may be made of a Spiritual, and that thcnumbti* wiil bearrulc through the four parts of the -year, in the fourth Hea^ven, after the (even Planets have exercifed their domJnion , and will rinilh their courle in the lowermoll habitation of the Palace, and are ready for the highcft Examen, fo thcfc two that were fent have overcome and condimed the third. The Knowledge of our Magiftcry is herein ve- ry neceifary for divilion, and conjundion muit he rightly make, if Art is to produce riches, and the Scales muft not be faliifyed by unequal weights. This'is the Rock we propoled, that you be iure to finifh this Work by an artiiicial Heaven, by Air, and by Earth, with true Water and preceptibie Fire, in giving of a lawful weight without any dcfed, as I have rightly informed you. i^ ihe XII A'of- ♦ N' Atural heat preferveth the Life of Man, for if that be gone, Life ceafet.'-i. Natural lire, if it be moderately ufed, deferi'^' cth againft cold, but too much is deflru^bive. It is not of neceifity that the Sun do corporally tou-li the Earth, it is luilicient that the Si '.n doth manifelt its power at a diftince by its Rayes, which by refl.dion agaiiilt the Earth, arc much ftrengthncd , for by that means it hath power •nout^h to. perform its ofee, and to maturate all by cottcodion \ for by the clifrcn' the Sun-bcain5 are tempera ted , fo nicans of the Air the fire operat- means of the Fire the Air opcrat- The Earth -withe ut the Water can produce nothing, and again, the Water withc.ut the Earth exciteth rothing*:* as the Earth and the Water need each others alliAance in the produdli- on of Fruits, fb m no wife can the Fire withcirt the Air, nor the Air without the fire^ for the Fire without the Air hath no Life, and the Air without the Fire canuot maniteit its heat and drynefs. ■ The Vine hath more need of th.c heat and beams of the Sun at the lattLi time ot its inata- ration, than it, had in ^ the bc.s^inuing of the Sparing : And if the Sun doth firongly operate in the Autumn, the Vine doth Vcild -a better and ftronger ]uice, than if the heat of theSun-bcan.ti be weak or dchcient. In the Wii tei the common people .coi,nt all things dead, bccaulL- the cold bindua the Earth that nothing can grow \ but as (bon as the Spring appeareth) that ciie cold kiTcnLth by the afcenc of the Sun, all things revive. Trees und Herbs grow, and Int-dfs which hid rhemfelvcs trom the cold Winter creep forth otit' -tt' their holcs and caves in .the Earth \ ail Vegetables yeild -i new favour, and their ExceliCiicy is ditcovcrcd by their fair, amiable , ai:d varicut> coIqlis \;£ their Blollomes -, z\\\' then the SL'.mmer continu- cth the operation, and : r n^^tii . t<.;r[h Fu^iis from thefj ievural ki^.d^ ol: Flo.vers<1 - 1 or vhiJi thanks be i^iveii to th.: Cre..u.'i-r ^ v', !u. 3 54 TheXllKejs. by his OrJlii-iiice hath (et bouHas unto thefc th!ih3,s by Nitare. ..; . So yeir followcth^ afrep year, until the World be a^ain cle(troyed by its Nlaker, and they that In- habit j therein be exalted by the glory of God, tjlien (hall all Earthly Nature ceafe to worii, and iC terntl Cotleirial one Hull be in its (read. '^' when the S m dcclineth from us in the Winter, k cannot dilTolvethe Snowy Mountains,but when' , ,it approachcth nearer in the Summer,the Airis • hott-.'', and more powerful to diiTolve the Snow, rhat it turneth it into water^and deftrcyeth it : Fpr- the weak, miiii yeild to the ftron^^er , and the irroni^er over-rukth the weak. 'Ihusalfo in our Mai^illcry the government of thcFire mutx be dblerved, that the moiil Liquor be not too faddenly dryed up, and the Pnilofp phick Earth too fuddcnly melted and dilfolved > ^lle but of whokfome Fiflies in yo'ur Water yoii Vill generate Scorpions. But if you defire to b; a true Mailer of your Wi rk ^ then take your" Spiritual Water, \vl>;;rcon the Spirit moved atthe beginning, and fhut the door of defence upon ic i for from that time (hall the Heavenly City be bellcgcd by Earthly Enemies, and your Heaven ~ liiuli: be Iirongly defended with three fences and V. alls, that there be no entrance but one, and let I 'iat be very well guarded. Wlien all thefe things arc done. Kindle your Philofophick Lamp, ai-d ieek what you have loil, give lo mucU light as m..y . iurl?ee : For Know.^ that Lili:(fts and Worius Uye n the cold and moifl Earth, for it is tueir N-;turv- •> but mans h.ib:tauon*i$ ordained i6 be upon the Earth in a tc^xlpv:rate aiid even coaditu n : b.it the -dngelical Spirits tliat have not iin E^nhlv , but "'^ ' -an 7hey.\\ Key. 255 an Angelical body, andare*iiot obnoxious to the pollutions of finful Flcfh -> as man is, they are placed in a higher degree, that they can bear without aiiy prejudice both heat and cold^ both in the higher and lower Region ; And when Man fliall be puriiied,he fhall be like thefe G^eleftial Spi- rits i for God ruleth both Heaven and Earth, and worketh all things in all. If we rightly behold our own fouls, then (hall we be made Sons and Heirs of God, to effedt that which feemeth now impoffible to us : But this cannot be done, unlefs the Waters be dryed up, and Heaven and Earth with all Men be judged by Fire. -The 5 '-2 Th" XII STfis. The VIII. Key rii^^a^m Q fj iHili -i^' ('■//=?/•; X-'iE A LLFlL^ be It Mins orBeafisydidethnoin- cixait cr propagation, ntilcis it be hritputri- iicd, alio the Seed -hen it h Sown, and all that is under (.1- belonging; to Vegetables cannot m- ^Micbi.tby puirit.6ioi:. Mc^nv neXllKqi. 257 Many infers and worms receive life, fo th^^ by mccr putrifadion they attain a vivifying power and motion •, which ought \o be de' fervcdiy cfteemed, as a wonder above all won^ ders : This Nature hath granted, for the fame vivifying increafe and infpiration of life is very much found in the Earth, and by the fame rea- fon is excited in its ipiritual Seed by the other Elements. This is demonftrableby examples v The Coun- try-wife knoweth it very well , for they cannct produce a Hen for their u{e,but by the putrefaction of the Egg,out of which the Chicken is generated. If bread fall into honey. Ants are bred there, which alfo is a lingular myftery in Nature above others : The Country-m.an alfo unlerftandeth, that worms proceed out of putrid tleih of Men, Horfc5,and other Beafts^ and alfo Spiders, worms, ^c. in Nuts, Apples, Pears, &c. None are able to enumerate the various kinds and fpecies of Worms,,which proceed frompatrefadion. The (kmc is aUb obferved in Vegetables, th:t divers kinds of Herbs, as Nettles and many others grow in thofe places where fuch never grew, now their feed tell, only came by putrtfa9:( on, the caufe is, that the earth in thofe places is di{^ pofed, and as it were impregnated for thofe pro- ^dudtions, which hath been infufed from above by the fyderial property, that the Seed hath (piri- tually been formed into them s which Seed pu- trifyeth its felf in the Earth, and by the ope* ration and co-afiillance of the Elements . doth generate a corporeal matter, according to its nitural (pecies , fo that the Star» with the E-ments can excile a new Seed which was S njt 2 c, 8 The\\lJCe)S. «ot before > and afterwards by fuececding putre- faftion may be incrcafed i> But it is nSt granted to Man to excite a new Seed '-, for the Oper^ttion of the Elements, and the EfTence of the Stars are not in hispower tofornu Thus divers forts of Vegetables grow only by patrefad:icn , brt the Country-man looks upon itasufual, and confidereth not, neither can he imagine or underfland any rcafon for it, for by them its elreemed only as cuflomary : But you, v/hcm it becometh to know more than the vul- gar, may learn the caufes and fundamentals by ob- fcrving thefemy large demonftrations and expref- ilons, ziz* from whence this living power of rc- fufcitation and generation (liould proceed, not elleeming It as cuftomary, but of a diligent fearch- cr into Natures Myfteries > becaufc in truth all life procecdeth from and is caufed by putrefa- ^ion. Every Element hath in its (clf its corruptio* and its viciiiitude of generation : L^t the defiros of Art be fare of this, and know it from a right foundation , that in every Element the other three are hid : For the Air, containeth the Fire, Water, and Earth in it:, felf, which fcemetn to be incredible, yjt it is true > fo alfo the Fire contain- eth Air, Water, and Earth i, and Earth contain- eth WatCT, Air, and tire,- cKc they could HOt gc-^ n:rate. And the water hath part of the Earth, Air, and Fire, otherwife no generation could follow, yet not vvithfran ding every Element is diithid:, al- though they are all mixed •, which is evidently f jimd by dilhllation in the reparation ef the Ele- m.nts. ».it But I will more clearly demcMiurate this unto you, left you being ignorant, judge that what T have laid are mear words and not truths, I tell you, who earneftly intend the reparation of Na- ture, and to underftand the divifion of the Ele- ments, that in the diftillation of the Eitth, firft the Air cometh very eafily, then after feme certain time cometh the Element of Water, the Fire was included in the Air, becaufe both are of afpiri- rial EiTencc, and do both wonderfully love each other. Tne Earth remaineth in tae bottome, wherein is the molt precious Salt . In the diftillation 'of the Water, the Air and Fire tirft come over, then the Water and the body of Earth remain in the bottom. The Element of Fire, if it be extraded by Fire into a vihble fiib- iiance, the Water and the. Earth may be taken apart, fo then the Air remaineth in the other three Elements, for none of them can want Air : The Earth is nothing, neither can it produce any thing without Air s the Fire burnetii not, nor hath any Ufe without Air •, the Water cannot bring forth any fruit without Air, neither can the Air con- fume any thing, nor dry up any moifture, but by natural heat, becaufefevour and heat is found in the Air, therefore the Element of Fire niuft needs )e in the Air •, for whatfiever is hoc and dry is of :he fubftance of Fire h wherefore one Element ;annotwant the other, but the commixtion of :he four Elements is always found m the generati-' 3n of all things : And he that denieth this doth \ot underftand the Miftcries of Nature, neltl C!C lathhe fearched into their properties. For you ought to know,^ if any thfn^ proceed )y p\Urefadtion it muit of iiecedity b- after tin? 26o • The XIl Ke^s. manner : The Earth by its fccret and hidden moifhare is reduced into corruption, or a certain dcftriidion, which is the beginning of putrefa- dllom for witliOLit moifture, as is the Element of water, there can be no true putrefaction: For if any getleration do proceed from putrefadion, it ' muft needs he kindled and produced by the pro* perty of heat or Element of fire ^ for without natural beat no produdion can be made, and if that produdion do alTume a Irving breath and motion, that cannot be v/ithout Air *, for if the Air did not co-operate therewith, and lend its aid, ; then the iirli compolure and fubltance from whence the generatic^n proceeded, would of it lelf be fuflocated arid dye for want of Air i wherefore < it is clearly (eenjaiid fundamentally dtmonlirated, '' that no perfed creature can be gei:erated without the miniflration of the four Elements, and that al- ways one Elr.ment fnewcth its operation and life rn anocher, which ismanifelkd by putrefadirion. For without that (i, e, Jir) nothing could be brought to light, from this time and tor ever, and that all rhe tour Elements are neceffary for a per- fed: generation, and refufcitation. Know that whcnAdam the hrft Man was fornied by the great Creator out of a lump of Earth, there did not as yet appear any preceptible moti6ir of life, until God breathed a Spirit into him^ then was that lump or Earth endowed with'^ower. In the Earth was the Salt ;. e. the body, the infpired Air was the Mercury., the Spirit. The Air by this in- jfpiraticn did g)ve a genuine and temperate heat,j whkh was Sulphur, /. c. Fire, then it moved it fcif, arid Adam manifefted by this motion, that a iivir-^ foul was inipired into him? tor Fire can- not not be withoiTt Air, an4 fo no Air 'without Fire : The Water was incorporated with thp Earth , for of neceffity they muft be^ogetWr in an equal commixture if you ^xpe<3: life to follow. So Adam was firft brought forth, generated - and compounded of Earth, Water, Air; and Firci of Soul, Spirits and body > and cf Mercury, Sul- phur, and Salt. After the fame manner Eve the firfl Womaij and Mother of us all, pcrtook of the fame com- pofition, being taken i'lom' Adam'-> fo Eve was produced and buiided from Adam : which note well. And that I may again return to putrefaction, let the feeker of our Magiftery, and inquirer into Philofophy know, that for the fame reafon no Metalline Seed can operate, or augment it felf,. unlefs this Metalline Seed, by it felt only, with- out any ilrange addition or mixture, be brought to a perfed putrefadicn : As no Seeds of Vege- tables or Animals can produce any increaft with- out putrefadion, as is already declared v fo alfb underftand of Metals, which putrefaftion muft attain its perfed operation by the bcneiic of the Elements h not that the Eemcnts w the Seed, as before is fuilicicntly manifeficd, biM that Metal- line Seed, which is begotten by a Coeleliial, Sy- derial, and Elementary EiTence, and is brought into a Corporiety, mult be further reduced, by the 'Elements into fuch a putrifadion and corruption. Note thi§alfo, that Wine containeth a volatile Spirit, for in its diftilktion the Spirit hril: com- eth oven and tl^n the Fiegme : Bat if it be S 3 firll 2^2 _, TheXWKe^^. tivil: by continual heai» turned into Vinegajf, its (pi- it i:> not To volatile as before \ for in tTie diftilia- • ion of the Vinegar, its Water ot Fkgm co#ieth x{\, and the Spirit laft \ and although it be the ame matter that v/as before in the veffel, yet hath \X. by far another-property., being no more Wine, but by the putrcfadion of continual heat is tranf- muted and made Vinegar : And every thing that is extradcd and circulated with Wine, or its Spi- "'rit, hath a fjr diffr-rent propriety and operation, than that which is extradfcd with Vinegar. For if the Vitriumof Antimony \i^ extradfcd with Wine, or Spirit of Wine, it provoketh many Stools and Vomits \ bccauie its poifon and venom is not yet deiu-oyed orextind*, but if the Vitri- umof Antimony be extraded with gooddiltill- cd Vinegar, it givtthafair extradionof a high colour : Then extrad the Vinegar ^tr M B and the yellow remaining powder being well edulco- rated by often wafhings with comnion VVater> that alLicctolity be done av/ay, then is itaiweet ; powder which doth not" excite any more Stook, but is a very excellent Medvcine for ufe, which ex- cels even to admiration, and may be dcfervcdly called the Wonder of Medicine. This wonderful powder in a moift place rcfolv- cth into a Liquor, which is of excellent vXc in Ciirurgeiy, curing without any p^:"* Whereot" enough. And Li"ii> is principally to be noted tor aeon- cluuon.cii" this^ifcourfe, that there isaCaleilial Crf:;ture generated, whofe life is preferved by the Stars, anci tvd by the four Elements, wdiich ought robe killed, and then patrihed^ which^ionc, t}"ke ScLis by means of the Elements will again infufe life life into thofe putride bodies, that it may again be Hiade that heavenly fubftance, which had its ha- bitation in thfrhigheft Region of the Firmament, if that be done, you (hall perceive that the Terrc- ftial is taken from the Coelcftial, with body and life, and that the Terreftitl Body is reduced into a Caleftial Subflance, SAturn the highefl of the Cceleftial p]anets,hat/| themeanet authority in ourMagitoy, yet 15 he the chcifeit Key in the vv^hoie Art , but placed ^ 4 in 16 ^ TheyiWKeju ^n the lowert degree, and is of very little cftima- tion in our Art, although by his fwift flight he hatft-clevared himfllf into the highcft pitch above all the Luminaries, yet at the clipping of his wings, he muft be reduced to the loweft light of all, and by corruption niuft be brought to a meli- oration, whereby the black muft be changed into white, and the white into red s and the other Pla- nets mull pafs through all the colours in the world , until they come to the proper fupera- bounding tlndure of the triumphant King. And To I tell you, that although Saturn be eftecmcd the mcaneft in the whole vvorld,yct hath he in him that power and eflicacy,that if his pure Eflence, which is beyond mcafure infenfibly cold^ be added to a current fiery Metalline body, its running quality may be *taken away, and may be made a maleable body,a^ Saturn it (elf i5,bat of far greater hxity, which Tranlmutation hath its ori- ginal beginning and end from Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt. This feems difficult to be underi^ood bym.any, as indeed it is*, but becaufc the matter is vijc, therefore muft the intclle(f^ be acute and hi^h.for tht'rc miuft be unequal fratcs in thjs w^orld to cijfcem Maiiers from Servants. t roiTi 5^///; /f proceed many colours, that arc made by preparation and Art, as black, a{h-€oIour, white, yellow, and red, md bciidcs thefe in their mixturts oiiie other colours, fothat the matter of t.iC Piiilolophers muft pafs through many colours, bcfcrc that great Stone^can be exalted to its^ cer- tain degree of pcrtcdlion : For as ofteh"Ts a aew pjfid^'e 'is opened ro the Fire, lo citcn isanew lon.i and iptcies ot its vcuiiiCnts given it tor a rc- Wui J, uni J the poor Ariiii gets licheSjand nccdeth not to boiiow of anoti:tr. When The%\lKe)S. 2^5 when the Lady Venw pofielTeth the Kingdom^ and doth rigbdly deftrlbiite the Offices according to theCuftomcs of the Kings Court, (heappeareth inMagnifick fplendor, 2ind Mufica beareth before her a iTpecious Enfign of a red colour, whereon is painted Charity^Vi^xy beautiful in her ^recn Robes', and in her Court Saturn is the Mafter Prefidcnt, who iV'hen he performs his office, Afironomy car- ries a black Enfign before him, whereon fides is beheld painted in a yellov/ and red garment \ Ju- fittr with his Scepter takes, upon him the Office of a MarfhaN, and before him goes FJjctork.z with an Enfign of ^n afh-colour, whercn Spis is moil beautifully painted with fplendid co- lours. Mars ishardned in warlike affairs, and beareth rule in the fitry heat, and Gcomctria draweth be- fore him a Curtain of a bloody colour, whereon Fortitude is decerned, cloathed with a^ red gar- ment : Mercury takes his place as Chancellor, and before him Arithmetka beareth an Enfign of all colours, whereon Temperance is painted in glo- rious colours. 5(?/ he is Vice-Roy of the Kingdom, and--€^r^- matica beareth a yellow Enfign before him,wherc- on Jullice is painted in a golden Robe : which Vice-Roy, although he hath the greater .power in his Kingdom, yet Queen Venus hath blinded and conquered him,with her tranfcewdent fplcndour. ThtnLuna alfo appears, and Viak^tica carries before her a filver coloured & (hiningVail,\vhcr e'- en Prudence is painted of an a7ure colour : And bccaufe Luna's Husband dyed (he gained the Of- . fice her felf, left Queen Vcuis fiic uld get into the government againjfor (he called her to an account ■ #f 166 rt^XII/C^f. ©f her ofHcc, then the Chancellour aflillcth her, that a new Government may be eftablifhed, and both them rule above the Queen : UndcrftaHd, that one Planet muft drive out arid difpoirefs ano- ther of his government, office, pofTelfion, and power, until the befl: of all attain the highcft power, and with the beft and moft fixt colour given them by their lirfl Mother, out of an in- nate conftancy, love, and amity they obtain the victory : For the old w^orld palTcth away, and the new is come in its place, and one Planet de- ftroyeth another fpiritually, that h(>that is ilrong- eft continues till the laft by feeding upon the other , two or three being overcome by only •one. For a final conclafion yoi\ may underftand hereby that you mufr take the Coeleftial, Lihra. Ancs^ ^aHTU5^ C.inm\ Scrrplo^ and Capricorn^ and at the other end of the ballance put Gemini^ Sa- gittary^ Aquarics^ Pifces^ and i^irgo > then caufc that the golden Llw^ leap into the lap of Virgo^ To 'will that part of tl^ Scale be the weighted, -and weigh down the others then let the twelve Signs ci the Heaven come in oppofition to the Vlciadcs. And fo after the hnitliing of all the colours of the world, there will at lalt be a con- iundion and union, that the greateft cometh to be the Icait, and the leal; to be the greatcft, If that tbc nature of the n>holen^or!d remained^ Only in one jiate^ form-^ or quality-, And other forms cctdd not by Art be gained^ I'hc vpmdcrs of the ivorld would ceafc to he* And Natures tnyjicrics would not he raifcdy F'orivhofe dlfioveries let God be ;^raifed* ih the X Key. 267 m /J # s rt .,.^^ti IN oar Scene uaadcbymc, and others loiigbe- . tore mc, are all the Elements, and a]! the im- neral and inetallne fornr;S, yea, aiidali the quali- ties and propcrt'es of the whole world contain- ed i, for therein is fonnd the greatelUnd ftrongeif heat : For bv its sreat intcrm^l hre the cold body at 5^8 rheWlKe^f. of Sitit^n iS warmed, and by that heating^ challg^d into th j beiijgold ; In it alfo is found tbe grcatcitcold, for by its con jundi on the hot Na- ture of Ff^^/^r is teiTip^rated, and quick that as a Spirit pcnctiateth humane and m.ctalline bodies, and is the univerlal Medicine, without dcfcvi, for it expel' cth the evil and prefer veth the gco4, it is a'Ko a meliorati- on, to corred: the evil with the ^ood.; Ics colour dcclineth a7o TheXllKej^. «^eclineth from a (hining; rednefs to a purple, from a Ruby to a Gravate colour, and in weight it is exceeding and very great. Whofbever {hall be adopted to this Scone, let him return thanks to the Creatour of every crea- ture, for that Coelcftial BalCime s and let him pray that for hinifclf and his neighbour he may uk it for the fuitentation of this temporal life, and that he may enjoy eternal happinefs in this vaHcy of miferles, and in the other world to cqme. Let God be highly praifed for this his unex- preiTUc gift and grace forever, Amen* ike The XII Key. 'the XI Kiy 271 THE eleventh .Key of the multiplication of our Great Stone I will difcover and revca? mto you by way of Parable after this manner. In the Eaft ther^ dwelt a Knight, called (7/- i'J»£/zx, wh€) mightily sboundcd inweaUh, i:nd 6^4 2 72 T(f- Xll Ke\!;. did excel 1 in all good things : He choft arid took for his Wife his own Siller Euridice '> but when hg could have no iifue by her, h * imputed it to his fins in chufing his own Sifter for his wife: With his daily prayers hebefought and bcg'd the moft high God, that he would communicate to him his Grace, and give way to his requell . Being fometime overcome with deep fleep , there con\e to him a man flying, named Ph^bus^ he toucht his feet, which were very hot, and faid, Moft Noble Hero , you have travelled through maiiy Kingdoms and Provinces5and many Towns and Regions, and have undergone many dangers in the vaft Ocean, and Iiave fuftained fo much of the war, that you liave acquired that Noble Or- der, ana have merited that dignity before any other, having broken many weapons in Duels and Tourneaments, and have often obtained honour by the Venerable Matrons : Therefore my Father in Heaven commanded me, that I fliould declare luito you, that your fupplicarions were heard j therefore you are to cake the blood of your right iide, and the blood out of your Wifes left fide, and the blood which was concealed in the heart of your Father and ^/iother, they are naturally two, and yet but one blood i, conjoyn thefe toge- ther, and caufe again thit they enter the Globe of the feven W.ie Makers, nakculy encioiedi then is that migmy generation nourilhed with ^iis own flefh, ana is renevved with iiis o/zn no'io.ir^- ble blood > if you have done this rigntly you th .il leave a numerous generation, and uiue/xgoi: ten of your ownbody : But Know, that the iv.it L d ia the eiguth Revolution of time, will hii'ih i^- cour-lc, as the firil iced out of whicti at firit ic . inadc : If you do this often, and always bcgin- cfl anew, you (hall fee your Childrcns Children : That the great World fliall be throughly reple- ni(hcd by the generation of the Icfler, t^iif-may- abundantly polfeis the Coeleftial Kingdorh^of the Creator. . *-"'-". \ This being cndeds Thjdhus fled away agaitii and the Knight awakened out of his flcep, an|Jaro{c from his bed, and having done all things as he was commanded, he not only found good fuc- ceis in his undertakings, but God alfo gave to him and his Wife many ChiIdren,who by their Fathers Teflament did poflefs a memorable name, and the Honour of that Noble dignity did forever endure in that family with great riches. Now, Son of Art, if you have underftanding, you need no other interpretation;, but li you have no underftanding impute it uot unto mc, but to your own ignorance. tor I am prohibited to open this Lock any more, and Imuft obey, and obierve its method 5 but to whom the Omnipotent gives to know, to him U is evident enough, and dearly written j yea, and more clearly than can be believed. I have dcfcribed the wholeprocefs hguratively,and after the Philofophick manmr, and as my predecclTors have done^ yea, and more phinlyAhan them, for I have concealed ncthiur^ : If you remove the veil from your Eyes, you ihalftiad that which many have Ibught, and tew hnd , for the Matter is abfo- lutely exprefTcd by its Nami-, the bcgimring^mia- fllle, and end is alio demoultrated. Iht 2 74 the XII. Key. A Fencer who knowcth not how to ufe hiswca- pon, it canbc oi no advantage to him, bc- catife Ik heith not rightly learned tJhe uie thereof ^ anc^rhi.r that better undcriiands it than himfcIF, %htii,i^ with h'nij the- i.nskliiful mufi needs be beAteji TheXllKeyu a "5 : beaten by him i, He that hath well attained the Maflcrjr Qf rfic Fencing School wins the Prize* So h^that hath by the Grace ot the Oamipo- tcnt God obtained the Tindture, and knowcth not how to Life it^ (b it happeneth unto him as was faid ot" the Fencer, that knew not the ufe of his weapon : But (eeing this twelfth and Ii&.Kcy is for the iinifhing of my Book, I will not detain thee any longer in parabolical or figurative ex- . preffions, but without anyobfcurity I willdif- cover this Key of the Tindf are in a moli perfcd: and true proceis , Therefore obferve my docffrine as it follows. When the Medicine and Stone of the Philofo- phcrs is made, and pcrfedly prepared out of the ' true Virgins Milk, take thereof one part, of the bcft and purelc Gold, melted and pureed by Anti- mony, three parts , and reduce it into as rhiu plates as polhbly you can, put thcfc together into aCrufible, whcrchi youuie to melt Metals, firit give a gentle Fire for twelve hours, then let it Itand three days and nights continually in a melt- ing Fire, then are the pure Gold and the Stone nade a mecr Medicine, of a fiabtile, fpiritual,and penetrating quality : For without the terment of 2old the Stone cannot operate, or exercife its' :inging quality, being too fubtile andpenctra- :ive : but being fermented and united with its ike ferment, the prepared tindure obt lineth an ngrefs in operating upon other bodies.Then take )f the prepared ferment one part, toathoufand )arts of mq^d Metal, if you would tinge it.thcii :now for f very certain truth, that it iliall be ranfmuted'ii^p^ood and hxt Gold : For the ore \ ody crubraccth the other although ^they be not T 2 alii* 2 7<^ ^heXllKf^S. alike, yet by the force and power added to/.t, ^ is made like unto it •> like having its original fr like. He that ufeth this means, to him is revealed all truth. The Porches of the Pallacehave their go- ings forth at the end, and this Policy is not to be compaj^d to any Creature : For it poflelTeth ^// in Jll^ as naturally and originally in this world can poiiibly be done under the Sun. Beginning of the firfi Beginnings confider the entk End of the laji End^ fee to the Beginning. And let the Middle be faithfully remembred by you, then will God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, give unto you, whatfoever you require for Spirit, Soul, and Body. ^r TheXllKe)!. 277 OF T HE FIRST MATTER O F TH E Philosophers Stone. fik Stone ff fouftd ivhich h cflecmidvik^ From vphich vs drawn a iire volatile* Whenofour noble Stone its felf H made-, Compofed ofrvhite and red that ne're will fadi. Its called a Stone^ and yet vs no Stone i Andin that Stone Dame Nature rvorkj' alone* *ihe Fountain that from thence did fometime ftorVj Hvi fixed Father drorpned hath alfo. Hk life and body are both devoured., Vutil at lali h'ps Soul to him refiored : And hy volatile Mother \5 made one., And alike with him in his own Kingdime* Himfelf alfo virtue and power hath gained. And far greater jhength than before attained* In old age alfo doth the Son excell^ His own Mother.) who is m.ide volatile.^ By Vulcan's Art-, but firft its thus indeedy *the Father from the Spirit mujl proceed* Body., Soul^ Spirit., are in two containe d^ ihs total Art may well from them be gained* Tt comes from one^ and if oM only things I'hc V datile andjixt^ together bring. It if five and three^ and yet only one. If thh ymdonot con'cive^ yon get mm. Adam in a Balnco rcfideth If here Venus like himjclf ahidcth JVlnch wM prcp.ircd at the old Dragods cofl^ IFhre he his greatcfi ihength and ponfer loft. Its nothing cljc faith one Philofophus, But a Mcrcurius Duplicatus, Iifvlll fay no morc^ its name I have (horpn^ "fhricQ happy if the man to whom its k^ojvn. Seeh^fir it there^ and jfare not cofi and pains j 'Ike end rpill crown the tpork^ vcith health and (gains. A Btid A B 1^ lEF APPENDIX And plain Repetition or Reiteration, O F Basilius Valentinus The Monkc of the Order of St. Bemeu to his Book of the Great Stone of the Ancients. 2 8o r^^XIIiTnf. TTK-jfJiuf Vakntinus^ Monck of the Order of Saint Bennct^ have written a fmall T.ea- tife, and as the Ancients, have revealed in a Philofbphick njanncr, how that moft excellent Treafuie may he attained, by which the true Pbilorophers did exceedingly prolong their live^ And although, as my CGnfcicncc bcarctli me witncfs before the Highcfi: in the Heavens , to whom all iccrets arc manifefr, I have written no untruths, but have made the Truih it felf i'o plain that uuderRanding men need no m^ore light, (tor my Thicc>iy written for them, which was con- Firmed end made plain by the pradick of the twelve Keys, is fufficitnt.) Neverthclcis the un- quietnefs of my mind fo wrought with m-:_,^ tiiiough my various cogitations, that I undertook- to add tins fmall Trad , to demonftrate by (liorter way, and as it were by this means to pu- rine that j^nrning light, whereby every lover of ti'ic wifdome, may have his del*re the more full- hlled by that fplcndor and clearncfs. And al- thoudi many cfrcem it clear enough already, and fo heap upon me the burden of many evils, yet kt every one know, that to thoic that arc dull of undr:rfhnd:ug,they will find that which they (eck to be iiihcuk enough, but ^ to the adcpted plain aiid caii" •, therefore my fcarcher of truth attend Li my laiirudions, and you Oiall li*^ the trut V. :.y to Art. i-r 1 ira ye written nothing but 'what I (halV ;.;r;r \\ :rnciG unt^"! after my c!citth,'S.Bd at tkc K< i- rrc^i'cn oi my body. You (hall faithfully and truly find the (hortcc way, in the follcwing difcourfc •> for my fay- ings ;,rc founded in iimplicity, and not in Sophi- ftic^l Expreiiions. I have mentioned and demon ftrated, that all things are made and compounded of three EiTen- ces, z/iz.ot Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt h and it is true that I have faid. But know this, that the Stone is made of one, two, three,* four, and {i\e: : Of five, that is, th« quiuteffence of its Matter ^ Of four, are under- ftood the four Elements h Of three, they arc the three principles of all tnings h Of two, for that is the double Mercurial fubRance h Of one, that is the Ens primum of all things, which flowed f r««ri the Fiat of the firA Creation. Many well miaded Artifts may be doubtful by all thefe fayings, to attain the foundation and v.n- deritanding of the following difco verier, there- fore I {hall firft very briefly fpeak, of Mercury , fccondly, of Sulphurs thirdly, of Salti for thcfc are EflTences of our Matter of the Stone. Firft know, that no common Argent vive if kt for our ufe h but our Argent vive is made of the beft Metal by the Spagirick Art, pure, fubtile, clear , fplendcKt , as a Fountain, tranfparent as Chriilial, without any impurity i of this . make a Water or incombuflible Oil : for Mercury was at the firft Water-as all Philoibphcrs agree to this my faying and dodlrine. In thisMercuriaK)il3diiroIve its proper Mercury, out of which the Water was made, and prccijMtate that Mercury v;ith its proper Oil, then have you a double Mercurial lubftance j and know that your Gold muft be iirft diflblved in a certain Water, cxprc^wi 282 Th^XllKfy: cxprefTcd in my fecond Key, after its purification, as in tht firft Key, and muft be rednced into a fub- tile Calx, as is mentioned in the tou.rth Key h and then the faid Calx muft be Tub limed by Spirit of Salt, and precipitated again, and by reverberation reduced i.nto a fubtile Powder j then its own pro- per Sulphur will the more eafily enter into its own fubftance, and be in amity wiih it, for they wonderfully love each other. So haye you two 'fubftances in ojie, and is called the Mercury of the Philofophers, and yet is but oncfubltance, that is, the firil ferm.ent. Nojv follorvctb rphat is to he faid ?/ Sulphur. YOur vSuIphur you muft feck in the like Metal, then you muft know how to extradt it out of the body of the Metal by purification, and de- ilrudion of its form and reverberation, without any corn^five, whereof I gave yo.i a hint, and minded you of it- alio in the third Key : Then •lif?blve this Sulphur in its own proper Wood, whereof it was made before its fixation, accord- ing to its due weight fhcwn in the lixt Key \ then have you nouriflied and dilTolved the true Lion, with the blood of the green Lion ; for the fixt blood of the red Lion, is made out of the volatile blood of the green Lion-, therefore are they of ©nc nature. And the volatile blood maketh the ^xed blood volatile, and the fixed likewife mak- •th the volatile blood fixt, as it was before its fo- lution. Then (et them together in a gentle heat, until the whol. Sulphur be dilTolved s then have you the fecond ferment, nouriftiiHg the fix«d SuU TheX\lKe)S. 2 S3 pliur with the volatile, as all Philofophcrs agree with me herein : this afterwards is driven over with Spirit of Wine, red as blood, and is called AuTHmFotahle^ whereof there is no reducftion t# a body. Imllalfo give you my ofinionof th^S^\t of the PhilofopherS' CAlt maketh fixt and volatile, according as is its degree it is ordered and prepared: For the Spirit of Salt of Tartar, ii it be drawn fcr /^,and wichout addition, maketh all Metals vo- latile by refolution and putrifadtion-, and xefolveth them into a true Vive, or current Mercuty, as n^y pratick do(^rine holdeth forth. Salt of Tartar per fe fixeth moft hrmly, efpc- cially if the heat of Calx Five be incorporated with it, for both thcle have a lingular degree of fixing. Soalfo the. vegetable Salt of Wine both fixeth and maketh volatile according to the divers pre- paration thereof, as its ufe rcquireth, which cer- tainly is a great myiiery of Nature, and a won- der of the Philolbphick Art. If a man drink Wine, and out of his Urine z •Icar Salt be made, that is volatile, and maketh Other fixed things volatile, and carrieth it over ihe helm with it, but itfixeth not 5 and although the Man drink nothing but Wine, out of whoic I Urine the Salt was made, yet it hath another pro- ;perty, than the Salt ot Tartar, or of the Feci* ot ; Wine : For there is made a tranfmutation in the I body of Mjiii, lo that out of a Vegetable, that i«, out ©ut of a Spirit of Wine, an animal Spirit ©f S^\t is made, Horfes by t\iQ corroboration of their na- tural vertue,dotranrmute,Oats,Hay,3nd fuch I-ke, tnd f on vert it into fat and flefli i fo doth the Bee make Honey out of the beft of Flowers and Herbs. So andeaif ind of other things : This Key and and Caufe confifitth only in putrifadion , from whence fach a reparation and tranfmutation tak- eth its original. The fpirit of con:in:ion Salt, which is drawn- after a peculiar manner, maketh Gold and Silver volatile, if a fmall quantity of the fpirit of ^hc Dragon be added to it, it dilfol veth it, and carrieth it over with it per Akmhicmn^ as alfo doth the E^g/e with the Dragms fpirit, which d welleth in tony places ■> but if any thing bemelifid with Salt, before the Spirit be feparated from its body, it hX" fih much more than it volatizeth. 1 his : farther tell you, if the fpirit of common ^ Sik be united with fpirt of Wine, and both be three times diliilled over together, then it waxeth 1 Wcet, and loofeth its acrimony : Thi^ prepared fpirit doth not corporally dillolve Gold, but if it ht p*)urcd on a pr pared Calx of Gold, it extract- cth its higheft tincture and rednefs f, which if it be rightly done, it reduccthpure and white Lmtit into the fame colour whereof its body was, be- fore it was extraded : Alfo the old body, wijl again attain its colour by the Love of enticing ^euHf, being def:ended trom the fame origincU, ftate, and biood, whereof tliis is no:^ a place to fpcak any ttirthcr. -Know, alio the fpirit of Salt deftroyeth L«- ua , and reduccth it into a iplrituaj Ei^tCncc, according to my infircidlon, from wiiencc i;itcr- TheXll Ke)U 28$ ifterwards Luna fotahik may be prepared which fpirit of Luna is apptopriatcd to the fpirit of Sol^ as Man and Wife, by the copu- lation and conjunction of the fpirit of Mer<:U' ry, or its Oil. The fpirit liethin Mercury, feekthc tindurc in Sulphur, and the coagulation in Salt , then have you three Matters, which may again pro- duce ibme perfed thing, that is, the fpirit in Gold fermented with its own proper Oyl. Sulphur is plentituUy found in the propriety of moil precious Vmus^vi\i\c\\ iniiameth the iixcd blood gotten of her: The fpirit of the Philofbphick Salt gives- vidory to coagulation, although the fpirit of Tartar,and fpirit of Urine, together with the ttuc Acelum may do much ^ tor the fpirit of Vinegar is cold, and the fpirit of Calx vivc is very hot, therefore are they elkemed and found to be oi contrary natures : Now I fpeak not according to the Philofophick cuftome : But it doth not be- come me to difcover more plainly, how the inner d«ors are locked. This I faithfully tell you for a farewell: Seek your Matter ni a Metalline fubftance, make there- of Mercury j which Ferment, with Mercury: then a Sulphur, which Ferment with its proper Sulphur, and with Salt reduce it into Order, diltill them togc-thet, conjoyn them all according to their due proportion, then will it become that one thing, which before came trora one > coagulate and hx it by a continual heat i then multiply and ferment it three times, according tbthedodrint of my two laft Keygj then fhail you attain and hnd the end and corclulion of your dclire : "jiieuic of thf tmdure, the twelvetb Key> hath abfolute'y 28 6 rh^XllKfy. the certain proccfs, without and doubtful expref- fions. Thanl\s he umo God. FOr t Conclufion of this Appendix, I muft needs tell you that out of black Sattitn and frindly Jove^z Spirit may be extraded, which is tfterwards reduced into a fwect Oyl, as its n6bli:ft part^ which Medicine, farticuLrmr doth molt abfolurcly take away the nimble running quality from common Mercury ^zndi bringeth him to a me- lioration, as I taught you before. A N ADDITION. HAving thus attained the Matter, nothing re- mains but that you look well to the Fire, that you obfervc its Regiment, tor herein is the highcil concernment, and the end of the work : For our Fire is a common Fire, and our Furnace is a common Furnace , although they that were be* tore me have written, that our Fire is not a com- mon Fire, yet I tell you in truth, that they did »fter their manner conceal all Milkrics , bccaule the Matter is vile, and the Work but little,, which Sy the Regiment of the Fire only is furthered and manifelLd. Ihe TheXll Kns. ^87 TheFirC'Of the Lan^p with Spitit of Wine i* unprofitable, the expence thereof would be in- credible : fimusErmm fpoilcth it, fot it cannot perfcd the work by the right degrees ot t !«. Many and various Furnaces are not conveni- [cnt, tor in ourthrcerold Furnace only the'degrce« ;of Fire are proporuonably obkrved ^ therttbrc Set no pratling Sophifter lead you into errours. i^vith many lurnaces : And as our Furnace is* common, io is our Fire common , and as our Matter is common, io is our Giafs likened to the is well digefied withdiftilPd Vi- negar, and thus his corroding qualitjjy is tak^n off: Have a care what quantity you mJuiiiQi^ , if it being, giyai in a fri^c dofps part very- well : kit.fbr>its opt qually (ublimed i-^ito 'the^^ixy found in Saturn, his mallettblcnefs is^^ppsreitt, when he is robb'd of his life : he containeth his own Tjndtiire upon white and red, being brought in his h^d coagulation uutO a white body, is .li.ij^'d agajji by.yitriol water, and being reduced unt® unto Gold, is graduated by iintiniony. Though that blood-thirfty Iron Captain with his Spear af- (aultcth Mercury very much, yet he alone cannot conquer him, uiilcfs cold Saturn, come in to hide him, and Jupiter command the peace with his Scepter. Such procefs being fiMifli'd, then the An- gel Gahriel^tht flrcngth of the Lord,and Vriel the light of God hath fliew'd mercy unto humble Michael^ then Raphael can make right ufe of the highcft Medicine, nothing can prevail againft th e 'Medicine. Thus much be fpoken ol Mercury: now I fwingc my fclf from hence, and ily to a place where froft and heat can better be tolerated, and endured. Of Aniimony- rTfallcth very difficult to Mechanicks, to have done learning with their compafTcs : be- caufe that great ArchiteU J EHOVA H hath refcrved many things for his own power. In the fame condition we iind Antimony, it is very diffi- cult to find out ail the mylkries that are hid theire- iu.-, its vertue is miraculous, its power is gfeit, its colour hidden therein. Is various, its crude bo- dy is poifonouSjyet its eiTence is an antidote againft goifon, is like unto Quick-lilver, which ignorant Phyficians can neither comprehend, nor Iind > but the knowing Phyfician, belie veth it to be true, as having made many experiments with it. This Mineral containeth much ot" Mercury, much of Sulphur, and little of Salt, v/hich is the cauie why it is To brittle and appliable : for there is DO malleaibleiiefs in it, by teafon of the (hiajl V 2 quantity quantity of Salt, the moft amity it bcarcth unto Saturn is by reafon of Mercury : for Phifolc- phers Lead is made out of it, and is affcdcd un- to Gold, by reafon of its Sulphur : for it purgeth Gold, leaving no impurity in it *, there is an equal operation in it with Gold, if well prepared, and miniftred to man Medicinally ; it flicth out of the fire, and keeps tirmly in the tire, if it be prepared accordingly. Its volatile fpirit is poy {bnous, purg- eth grievouily not without damage unto the body, its remaining tixedncfs purgeth alio, but not in that manner, as the former did, provokethnot to Ilool, but feeketh mcerly the difeafc , where ever it is , penetrateth all the body and the members thereof, fuffcrs no evil to abide there, expels it, and brings the body to a better con- dition. In brief, Antimony is the Lord in Medicinals, there is made of it a Regtefus out of Tartar and Salt, if at the melting ot Antimony fome Iron- filings be added, by a Manual ufed, there com- eth torth a wonderful Star, which Philtbphers before me, called the Signat-fiar : this Star be- ing icveral times melted with cold Eanb-falt^ it groweth then ycllowifh , is of a fiery qua- lity, and of a wonderful efficacy : this Salt after- ward aiibrds a liquor-, which further is brought to a hx incombuftiblc Oyl, which fervcth for leveral ufes. Befides, there arc made of common Fegulus ot Antimony curious flowers, either red, yellow, or white , according as the fire hath been go- veru'd. Thcie flowers being exrraded, and the excrad, without any addition ter fc being driven iuio an Oyl, have an admirable efficacy. This c^tra- A Ihort wii and Repetitlon^^c. 2p^ cxtraftion may be made alfo with Vinegar o^ crude Antim ony, or of its Kegulus i but it regui" retha longer time, neither is it fo good as the for- mer preparation. And being reduced into a P/^i/i/?, of which I made men- tion in my eight Key^ which is extracted alfo i then abftrad^ there remaineth a powder of in- credible operation , which may iafely be ufed, after it hath been edulcorated. This powder, being difTolv'd, healeth wounds, fores, &c^ cau- fing no pains : this powder, being e:xtra<^ed once more with fpirit of Winc> or driven through the Helmet, with fomc other matter, affords a fwect Oyl \ to fpeak further of it is needleis. Antimony is melted alfo with cold Earth-falt^ difToIv'd, and digefted for a time in fpirit of wine, it affords a white lix'd powder, is effedual againft morbus GalUciis , breaks inward Impofkims v it hath fcvcral vertues befidcs. You muft learn to prepare Antimony your felf, lay hands on, dive into its inward qualities , you will meet with wonderful matters : for my confcience will not differ me to difcover all its qualities : I deflrc not to load the Phyficians curfes upon me, which were at great expences, and toyled much in burning of Coals about its preparation, if I (hould rcb them of their lively-hood. Therefore learn thou alfo, as thy predeceffors did •, fcek as I have donei then you will find alfo, what others have told of. There is made and Oyl alfo of Antimony, the flying Dragon being added thereunto,which being rediticd thrice, then it is prepared : thougha Can- cer were never fobadjand the JFolfn^xa fo biting, V.3 ye; 2C4 'ffl^ort n-aj and Repftition^icc, yet thefe with alJ their feIIows,bc thty fiflHU\oi old Ulcers, nuift fly and be gone : the little pow- der of the flying Dragon prepared with the Li- not thofe which are tranfported from the Indies : this pow- der is of that efficacy, that it radically curcth ma- ny Chronical difeafes. ' There is made a red Oyl of Antimony, Calx Vive, Sal-ariTiOuiac, and common Sulphur, which hath done great cures in old Ulcers : with (lone Salt, or with common Salt, there is forced from Antimony a red Oyl, which is admirable good for outward Symptoms. There is made a fublimate of Antimony, with fpirit of Tartar and Salmiac, being digefted for a time, which, by means of Mars^ is turn'd into ■quick Mercury. This Anti menial Mcicury hath been ibught of many, but few have gotten it : which is the reafon why its praife is not divulg'd^ much leis is its operative quantiy known : if you know how to precipitate it well, then your Ar- row will hit the mark, to perform grange mat- ters-, its quulities ought" hot to be made com- mon. , ' V It is needle(s to 3efc'ribe its combuiliblc Sul- phur, how that is made of Antimony, i^ is eafic and known : but that which is fix'd, is a fecret, -.nd hi4dcn from many. If an Oyl be made of ic, in which its own Sulphur is difTolv'djand the(c be fixM together, then you have a Medicine oi 3faic rare qualities, in vertue, operation, and atjility^far beyond Vegetables. Quick-filver being imbibed with quick Sul- phur, melted with Antimony for Ibme hours in a Wind-oven, the Salt of the remainder being ex- traded with dillilFd Vinegar, then you have the FhilofofhiTs Salt , which cureth all manner of Agues, There is an acetum made of Antimony, of an acidity, as other acetums are s if its own Salt be dilTolv'd in this acetum^ and dilhlPd over, then this acetum is fi"\arpned , which is aii excellent cooler in hot fwellings, and othet inflamed Sym- ptoms about wounds, efpecially if there be rnadc an Unguent of it together with anima of Saturn* The QuintelTence ot Antimony is the higheft Medicine, the nobleft and fubtilell found in it, and is the fourth part of an Vniverfal Nkdicine. Let tile preparation of it be ilill a mylkry, its quantity, or Dofe is three Grains, there belong four inttruments to the making of it, the Fur- naec is the fifth, in which Vulcayi dwelleth, the ' Manuals, and the government of fire afford the ordering of it. You Phyficians, if you be wife, {eek out this Medicine in that fubjed, where it lieth in, and may be found beft, and moft effedtual. I forbear to ipeak further of Antimony, let Jufiinian judge of theyeft* i V4 Of 7gi Ajhort vaj mci Repftitionyicc. Of Copper-jratcu IF I could prevail wich Ap4h to be merciful, and to give liberty to hisMttfe to be myaffi- fnnce in the defcribing of Art and Wifdom, then would I bring in an oflTering unto Minerva^ where- by the Gods of wifdom might take notice of z grateful mind for their gifts thty had beftowcd > and I would wiitc of a mincraU whofc Salt is (ct forth in the higheft manner,whofe great and good qualities are of that tranfcendenq', that reafon is notable to comprel end, or to conceive of them. It went generally by the name of Copper-rpater^ to make the meaning and fcnfe of it plain *, let men know, and be thus informed of it, that Vnriol containeth two (pints, a white, and a red one : the white fpi.rit is the white Sulphur upon whit<^ the red fpirir is the red Sulphur upon red > He that hath cars let him hear ! Obferve it diligently,2nd remember every word, for they arc of a large extent, every word is as ponderous as a Centner /ione. The white (pirit is fowr, caufeth an appetite, and a good digcftion in a mans iiomach. The red fpirit is yet (fowrer, and is nriore ponderous than the white, in ifs di- ftilling a longc r fire mu/t be continucil, becanfe it is fixer in its degree. Of the white by diftilling of Sulphur oi Lune is made argentum potabile. In the like manner the Gold, being deflroycd in the fpirir of common Salt, and made (piritual by ciftiliing, and its -Sulphur takeu from it, and joyricd with a red fpirit in a due Dofe, that it may }k diffolved, and then for a time putrified in (pi- licof WinCj to be further digeftcd, and often ab- ftradtcd, traded, that nothing remain in the bottom, then you have made an aurum prtabile^ of which great volumes have been WTitten, but very few of their procefies were right. Note, that the red fpirit muft be redtihed from its acidity, and be broiij^ht into a fweetnefs, ilibtilly penetrating of a pkafant talk and fweet fragrancy. I have told you now great matters, which ilip- pM from me againft my intention, the fweet fpirit is made of Sulphur of Vitriol, which is combufti- ble, like other Sulphur, before it is deftroyed : for the Sulphur of Philofophers,(note it welljisnot combuftible j its preparation needs not to be fet down, being eafic, rcquireth no great pains nor great expencts, to get a com.buftible Sulphur out of Vitriol. This fweet Oyl is the clTence of Vitriol, and is " fuch a Medicine, which is worthy the name of the third Pillar of the univcrfal Medicine. The Salt is drawn from Cokhntar^ and is diiTolved in the red, or white Oyl, or in both, and is diftilPd again, if it be fermented w^th Vcnus^ it performeth its office very well : for it affords fuch a Medicine, which at the melting tingeth pure Iron into pure Copper. Colcbotar of Sulphur affords true fundamentals unto healing of peri(h'd wounds, which other- wife are hardly brought to any healing : and dich fores, which by reafon of a long continued white rednefs will admit of no healing, Co /cit^r^r affords an ingrefs thereunto , fctting a new foundation ; that quality and vertuc is not in ihcColchotar:> but the fpirit together with the Salt are the Malkrs, which dwell therein. s There 7.pS ^ fljort 1^ cij a?7a Repetitioi7^ &C. There is made of Copper and Vcrdigrcece ^ Vltrjol of a high GCi^ree, and isfarfpread in i^s tinclnirc : There is a Vitriol made of Iron alio 5 which is of a ftrange qualityifor Iron and Copper are very nigh kind one to another, belong toge- ther, as man and wife , this myftery fhould have been concealed, but being it is ot great concern- ment, I could not forbear but to fpeak of it. Vitriol corrovied with Sal-arrwoniac, in its fub- limation there arifeth a combuftible Sulphur, to^ gccher with its Mercury, of which there is but little, brcaufi:^ it hath mort of Sulphur. If the fame Sulphur be fet at liberty again by the Eaglc^ with fpirit of Wnie, there can be made a Medi- cine of it, as I told you formerly of it. Though ?here be a ncan-r way to make a combuftible Sul- ' phur o«t of Vitriol, as of its precipitation upon a precedent diifdution , by the Salt, or liquor of Tartar, as alio by a common lixiv'mm made of Becch-afhcs \ yet this is the bcft reafon, becauft the body of Vitriol is better^ and more opened \vii:\ the Key ot the Eagle. There are other my- freries hidden i]i Vitriol, which in your operative quality are excellent, and .are known apparently, as Venus and Mirs bear real record in their fpirits, the fame doth knowledge Sol and hitne : but I •do not intend at this time to write a perfed book of Chiruriiry : and to make relations of parti- culars, in conmiendation of Vitriol : I have al- ready written too much of it, you are to learn and feorchalfov you will find that Vitriol needs no Prodlor to ipeak for it, and it will iufHcicntly inform you of an ablblute Chirurgick book^ con- tained in its nature as a third part of the univer- ftl^ againfrall manner of difeafcs. lu ^ jl:ort v: ay a?:£i Repetition? jSic, 2gp In the doling hereof I tell you thus much, that there is not found in its nature, neither cold nor moift quality, but is of a hot and dry fubfrantial quah'ty, and is the reafon, wiiy by its tiper-a- bounding calidity it heateth other things, digeft- cth them, and at ]a/t it bringeth them to a fi-ll maturity, the fire being continued for a certain time. The things I write of Vitriol , I have not begg'd nor borrowed from other mens writings, but found them fo in my long contmued pradick, whereby nature enabled me to become a Swth- fayer^hy permiilion of the Hi gheil Creator, t^hat that nobly implanted quality might be avouched by a faithful and true evidence ot one of her de- voted Difciplcs. And I fpeak thus miuch for 21 nienv.randiun^ that if Taris can keep fafely Helena without troubles, that the noble City of Troja in Greece be no m.ore ruined ^d dcfiroyed, and Friamm together with Menelaus be no more afflided and diiiraded thereby, then He&or and Achilles will agree well enough, to obtain that royal Race, without going t© war for it, and be PofTelTors of that Monarchy in their Childrens Children, and their ofr-fpiing and pofterity for the enlarging of their Domini- ons, by increafuig their riches infinitely, againit which no enemy dareth ftir. Of common SuJ^lmr. 9 THc ufual common Sulphur is not fo pcrfed'tly exalted in its degree, and brought unto ma- turity, as ittis found in Antimony and Vitriol. Th^rc :j o o ^ \loort way dnd Rfpftitlon^ &C. There is made of k.pcr fcj an Oyl againft putrid ftiiiking woimds , dciiroying and killing fuch worms, which grow in themv efpecially if that little Salt in it be diffolved from its Sulphur. There is made of it a Balfam with Sallet Oyl^or * Oyl of Jimipcr, in like manner with the white fpi- ' rit of Terpentine, and is of a red colour, is made tiius : take flowers of Sulphur, made with the Cnlclynar of Vitriol, digel? them for a time in Horfe-dung, or any other way , this Balfam may fafely be uled for fuch, that are in a Confumption of the Lungs, eipecially if redified fcveral times with (pirit of Win'^ , drawn-over, and fepara- ted , that it be bleed red. This Balfam is a prcftrvative agiinft corrnptio^i and rotten- nef«. The Qnintcffencc of Sulphur is in a Mineral^ where a Sulphi.!rcoii>' flint in generated : this beat- en pecbles bi:ingput in a glafs, and on it bepow- redadrong Aq.jafort, made of Vitriol and Salt- peter, artd let d'iTolve what may be diffolved, ab- HrafL tha*- Wata, tlv^ remainder muft be well iiuigfled, and reverberated toarednefs, pour on that ipirit of Wine, extradi its tindure,afterward C!rc!alite for a timein thePcllican, let all the ef- fence of Sulphur be feparated, it ftayeth below thefpiritof Wine, like fat Sallet Oyl, by reafon ok its pondcronfntfs : its Dofe of fix Grains is found ta work fifHciently. If you digcfl: in this elTeneeof Sulphur, Myrrhe, Aloes^imd other Spi- ifcs^ it extracfls their vertues, and makes it into a a B-ilfam, which (uifers no flcfi),or other parts that are fubjedrunto putrefaction, to tall into rotten- ncis, for which caufc the Ancients have put this name to it : Baljamitf mortuorum^ Thus ^ Jhortvpaj and Repetition^&cc. ^oi Thus I clofc to fpeak any further of combufti- blc Sulphur. There may be niadt an Oyl of it^ which is found very uftful, the Sulptiur muli be fublimed in a high inftrument with a good heat, which fubhmation in a long time changeth into a Liquor or Oyl, ihnding in a humid place s but being I do n©t intend to ufe any prolixity of words, I let it reft (o. That may be coded a Liver out of conamon Sulphur, which is tura'd unto miilk : and it may alio be changed into a red Oyl, with Lin-Iced Oyl ••> Jnany other Medi- cinals may be made out of Sulphur : Its flowers, cifence, and Oyl, are preferred before the rcli, to- gether v/ith the white and red hxcd Cinober, which are made of it, becaufe in them is found a mighty vert ue. Of Calx vlve- "THe fecrets of Qnick-lim.e is known to few men, and few there arc, which attained to a perfedf knowledge of its qualities : but I tell to you a real truth, that though LiiBc is contempci* ble, yet there hcth great mcttcrs therein, and re- quireth an undemanding Mealier, to take cut of it what lieth buried in it ^ I mean to expcll its pure ipirit, which collaterally Ihnds in affinity with Minerals, is able to bind, and help to maRc fix the volatile (pirits of Minerals : for it is of- a fiery efTence, heateth, concodeth, and bringeth unto maturity in (hort time^, when in many years they could not be brought to it : the groi» earthly body of it doth not do the teat, but its Ipi- rit dorh it, which is drawn cut of it : tbistpirit Is 3c2 A fijort waj and Repetitioni^c^ h of that ability, that he bindeth and iixeth other volatile fpirits. For note, the fpirit difTolveth Ocult Cancromm^ di/Tolveth Cryftals into a liquor : thefe two being duly brought into an unittpcr modum diiiilhtionis (I will fay nothing at this time of Diamonds and fuch like fioncs) that wa- ter dilTolvtth and brcaketh the Ibne in the blad- der, and the Gouty Tartar fctled into the joynts ot hands and feet, fafFcrs not any Gout to take, root ill thok parts, this rare fecert I taught one of my faithful Diicipks-, and the great Chancclloun ot the invincible C^yl?r, is liill thankful unto me ■ tor it, and many great perlons belides. Qnick-lime is ftrengthncd , and made more heiy,, and hot, by a pure and unfbpliiliicatcdipi- rit of Wine, which is ofcen poured on it, and ab- ftradfcd again, then the white oak of Tartar muft be grinded with it, together with its additional, which mull be dead, and contain nothing, then you will draw a very helliih fpirit , in which great myikries lye hid. How this fpirit is gotten, I told it, oblsjrve it, keep it, take it tor a tare-well. Of Arfcdick^ A,Rknick is in the kindred of Mercury and An* ■■ timony,-asaBaftavd ina Family may be: its whole ilibtcance is pcyionous and volatile, even as the tormcr two, in its external colour to the eye, it is white, yellow, and red, but inwardly it is adorned with all manner of colours, like t© its Metals, which it was fani toioiiake, being forced thereunto by hre. It is fublimed per fc-, with- <«ut ad.diti;^)n, and alio in its fubliming there arc -Jded A \hort TPay and Repetition^icc. ;o j added feveral other matters, as occafion requireth- If it be fublimed with Salt and Mars, then it looks like a tranfparent Cryftal, but its poyfon ftayeth ftill with it, unfit to be joyned, or add-jd to Metals \ hath very little efficacy to tranHnute any Metal. The Subterranean Serpent bindeth it in the Union of fire, but cannot quite force it, that it might ferve for a Medicine for man and beali, it it he further mix'd, v/ith the ^alt of a Vegetable ftone, which is with Tartar, a»d is made like urr- to an Oyl, it is of great efficacy in vvoi.nds, whfch are of a hard healing : it can make a Coat for deceitful Venns to trim her haiidfomly, ■ th-it the inconllancy of her falle heart may be diicloicd. by her" wavering fervants, without gain, wjth hci pr c j udice and dama ge. when Antimony and Mars are made my com- panions, and am exalted by them to the top of Olympis^ then I aiTord a Ruby in tranfparcncc and colour to that, which cosneth from Om^u^ and am not to be eikemed lefs than it : if I an). proved by affiidion, then I fall Oif like a iiovver, which is cut off and withers : rherrforc nothing can be made of me, to hx any Metal, or tinge it to any profit, becanie I toriook my body totally^ and dillributcd my Coat, to play, and lot lobc caft for it : therefore let no m.an ncicher prail'e or difpraife me, urJefshe have for very hungvr taken a pound of mc into the body ; thoiigh it he ger> an Antidote to iave his life -, however, be i^^ get nothing out of Metals by it : in other things he may havea Treafiire in it, ^ unl o which te;v aic comparable to it, I Arfeny fay of my f Jf at the cloiing hereof 3 04 A fio/t wds and Repetition^Zcc. that it is a very difficult thing, to find my right and due preparation, my operation is felt exceed- ly, if made tryal of, and it is a great danger, if ignorant men make ufc of me : he that can be withont me, let him go to my kindred : and if you can equalize mc with them, that I may (hare with them in the inheritance, then all the world Ihall acknowledge, that my dcfcent is from their i>lood : but it is a v^ry hard task for any nun, to fee a (l^ephcrd into a royal Icat to make him King. But Patriarchs being dclccndcd from (hcpheards, and were prcferr'd to royal dignities, I will there- fore' prtfcrbc no limits, nor pafs any judgement : For wrong and right may be found in this leaf. However, take you notice, that I amapoy- fonoiis volatile bird, have torfaKcn my dcarell, and moll coijhding friend, and feparated my (elf as a Leper, which muil live aloo£ orf trom other men. C^re me iirit of my inhrmity^ then I ihail be able to heal thole, which have need of me, t:iat my praite may he conhrmed by poyfon, and my name for an cvcrlauing remembrance, to the honour of my Co uitry, is nothing interior unto M.z/T«rC;;r/i//f, and it will be tound in the end, in what manner Hinnihal and Sclpio were re- conciled. OfSMtpcur. Two Elements are predomiinant in me, as fire .and air, the l.iier quantity is water and earth : I am hciy, buuning, and volatile. There is in me a fiibtile fpiric, I am altogether like unto Mercury, hot in the in-iide, and cold in thcout- fidc. fide, am flippery and very nimble at the exptlling of my enemies. My grcateft enemy i? common Sulphur, and yet is my beft friend alfo, for being purged by him, and clarified in the fire, then am I able to allay all heats of the body, within and without, and am one of the bcft Medicaments, to expell,and to keep off the poyfcnous plague. I am a greater cooler outwardly than Saturn^ but my fpirit is more hot than any, I c^ol, ^ud burn, according as men will make uie of me, and according as I am prepared* when Metals arc to be broken, I muft be a help, clfc no vi(flory can be obtained : be the under- flandings great or fmall. Before I am dcftroyed I am a meer Ice, but when I am anatomized, then am I a hellifh fire. If fluto can mafter Cerberus^ to make him take his dwelling again in the Ille of Iftw/e, then he may fnatch a piece of love from VettHS^then Mars muft fubmit, and may live rich- xly with Lune^ which may equally be exalted to the Crown of the honourable King, and -be pla- ced with him in equal henour and dignity. If I fhall happily enjoy my end, then my Soul muft be driven out cunningly, then I do all what Keth in my power, of my felf alone I ara able to cffe<5l: nothiag. But my love is to a jolly woman, if I am married unto her, and our copulation be kept in Hell, that we both doXweat well, then that which is fubtile, flings away all hlthinc(s,then we leave behind us rich Children, and in our dead bodies is found the beft Treafure, w^hich we be- queathed in our laft Will and Teftament. X Of :o6 A jhort way md RepetltmyScc. Of Sal-armoniac^ C Al-armoniac is none of the meaneft Keys, t# c.^ open Metals thereby : therefore the Ancient^ have compared it with a volatile Bird, it muft ht pivpavea^clfe you can do no feats with it *, for if it b rot prepared^it doth more hurt than good unto ^ Metals, carrieth them away out at the Chimney- • \licle ', it can elevate and fublimc with its fwift win^s the tiftdure of Minerals,. and of fbme Me- tals, to the very Mountains, where flore of fnow ' isfoind, ufually even at the greateft heat of the Summer, if it be fiiblimed with common Salt, i then it purgeth and clearcth, and may be ufed I laf;ly._ ^ ^ He that fuppofeth to tranfmute Metals with this Salt, which is io volatile, furcly he doth not hit the nail on the head.for ic hath nofuch power; but to dclircy Metals,and make them fit for tranf- mutation, in, that rcfpedt it hath fufficicnt power : for no Metal can be tranfmuted, unlefs it be firft pr^p.rcd thereunto. My greater Ikcngth which lic^h in me, may be drawn from me by liiblimlng raid cementing. The greateft fccret in me you . v^ill tind, when I am united with Hydra^ which is to devour and fwallow m'e, that I alfo may iL-rn with her to be a water Serpent, then ha'^c I prepared a Bath for the Nymfba^ and have got- ten power to malic ready a Crown for the King, tiiaUiiC fame may be adorned with Jewels, and may with honour and glory be fet on his head. ^/ Of Tartar. THis Salt is not kx down in the book of Mi- nerals, but is generatccj of a vegetable feed, but its Creator hath put fuch vertue into it, that it beareth a wondeful love and friendfliip unto Metals, making them malleable : itpurgeth htine Unto a whitenefs, and incorporateth into her fuch additional, which are convenient for her, being digefted for a time with Minerals, or Metals, and then fublimed and vilified, they all come unto c^ quick Mercury, which to do,- there is not any ve- I gctabk Salt befide it : is not this a v.^onderful 1 thing ? That Oratour is yet to be born, which ihall be of that ability and eloquence as to exprefs fufficiently all the myfteries hid in it. But to make out of it the Philofophcrs fione, is no fuch matter : being it is a vegetable, and that power I is not given to any of the vegetables. It is m Mcdicina a very good remedy, to be ufed inward- ly and outwardly i its Silt being made fpiritual and fweet, it difTolveth and breaketh the lione in the bladder, and dilfolveth the coagulated Tar- tar of the Gout, fetled into the joynts, or any where befides- Its ordinary fpirit, which is ufed for opening of Metals being uted and applied out- wardly, alio layeth a foundation Ux healing of fuch Ulcers, which admit hardly any healing, as there arc Fiflula's, Cancers , Wolves, and inch like. I know nothing more to write of Tartar, for having (eparated it felf,and left its nobleil part in the Wine. X 2 Of ; cS ^jhort waj am Repetition ^%lc. Of Vinerar. \N Jlchimv ai]cl Mcdicini^ nothing almoftcan be prtpaied, but Vinegar muft ftt a helping liand to it. Therefore I thought it convenient to let it have its due praife and commendation, cfpecially to infcrt it here in this treatife. In Al- chimy it is ufed to Tet Metals and Minerals into pu- trifadlion.lt is ufedalfofor to extrad their effences and tindures, being hr/i: prepared thereunto, even as the foirit of Wine is ufual to extract the tin- ctures from vegetables. In Phyilck.it deferveth its praife alfo, for it taketh the pure from impure, and is a feparator^ and taketh from the Mineral Medicaments their iharpnils and corrofiveneis, h'xeth that, which is vojatilc-and is a great defendant agaiull: poyfon,as I told you,when I fpoke of tb.e Antimonial glais. Vinegar is uLd inwardly alfo, and both men andbcnftarc benefited thereby: outwardly it is applied to hotint^iammation-s and fwellings, for a cooler. Spirit ot Wine and Vinegar are of great uie, both m Ak\kmy and Phylick, both have their liefcent from thcuUine, arc of one fubflance i but differ in the quality, by reafon of putrifadtion, the Vinegar got there, of the which I told you torm.crly. I muit acquaint you with one thilig, which is this, that this is not the Philofophers Vinegar-, oij- Vinegar, or acctum is another liquor, namely a matter it (elf: for the (tone of Philofophers is made out oi Azot of Philofophers, which mult be pier, red wjch ordinary diftilj'd ^x^r, with fpirit ^pf V> :ne, and with other waters bcfides, and muii be red L Qtd unto a certain order. Note I 4 fhort vpay andRepetitiony &c. 309 Note this for a memQtandunh if cKftilM pu*^ Vinegar be poured upon dcftroyed Saturn^ aad is kept warm in Marie' s-bath^ it lofeth its acidity al- together, is as fweet as«any Sugar, then abftraft two, or three parts of that Vinegar, fct it in a Cellar, then you will find white tranlparent ftones, like unto Cryftals, thefearc an excellent cooler and healer of all adufi: and inflamed Sym- ptoms. If thefe Cryftals arc reduced into a red Oyl, and poured upon Mercury, precipitated hf Venus-, and proceeded in further as it ought V if that.be hisrightly, then neither SdnotZune will hinder thee from getting riches. Of mne. THe true vegetable ftone is found in Wine, which is thcnobleft of all vegetables : itcon- taineth three (brts of Salt, three forts of Mercur>-. and three forts of Sulphur. The firft Salt fticketh in the wood of the Wine, which if burnt to aflies, and a lixivium made ©t it to have its fait drawn forth, which mufi: be co- agulated. This is the firft Salt. The fccond Salt is found in Tartar, if that be incinerated, then draw its Salt forth, dilToIve and coagulate it feveral times, and let it be fufficiently clarified. The third Salt is this,when the Wine is diflill'd it leaveth feces behind, which are made to pow- der, its Salt can be drawn out with warm Water, each of thefe Salts hath a fpecial property : hh their Center they ftand in a harmony,becaufe they defcend from one root. It 3 1 o A^ort vpaj and Repetition ^Sic. It hith three forts of Mercury, and three forts of Sulphur. The ftrft Oyl is made of the ftem, the (econd Oyl is made out of crude Tar- -tar, the third is the Oyl of Wine. There is a flrange property in the fpirit of Wine : for with- out it there cannot be extraded any true tindurc of S>1^ nor can there be made without it any true aurum potjbile : but few men know how a true fpirit c^ Wine is made, much lefs can its property be found out wholly. Several ways have been tried to draw, and to get the fpirit of Wine without fophiftication, as by (cveral inftruments and diftilliugs with metal- line Serpents, and other ftrange inventions, of Sponges, Papers, and the like. Some caufed a rediiied aqicaviu be frozen in the greateft froft, expeding the phlegm thereof (hould turn to Ice, the fpirit thereof to keep liquid, but nothing was - done to any purpofe. The true way for the getting qf it, I told yoa of at the end of my Manuals ; for it muft be fubtile, penetrating, without any phlegm, pure, aerial, and volatile, fo that air in a magnetick qua- lity may attrad: it, therefore it had need to be kept clofc m : it is of a penetrating and effectual ope- ration, and its ufe is feveral. There are three, which are the nobleft Crea? tures in the world, thcfe three bear a wonderfu} afifedtionone toanother* Among Minerals it is Hian, out of whofe Mumz is made an Animal i ftone, in which Microcofme is contained. Among • Minerals Gold is the nobleil, whofe iixednefs is a -' iliiiicient teilimony of its noble olf-lpriug and kindred. Among Vegetables there lieth hid a Veojetable ftone. Man loveth Gold and Wine above t "^i ] A jhort vpaj and Repetition^ ^c. 3 ^ I above all other Creatures, which may be beheld with eyes. Gold loveth Man and >Vine, becau(e lit lets go its nobleft part, if fpirit of Wine be :put to it , be ing made 'po^^^^e ■> which giveth Iftrcjigth to man, and prolongeth his life m health. Wine bcareth affection to man alfo, and to [Gold, becaufe it cafily uniteth with the tincture of Sol , expelleth naelancholly and faduefs, re- frcfheth and rejoyceth mans heart. He that hath thefe three ftones may boldly fay, that he hath the {tones of the Vniverjal, much of it is talk'd and written: but what eye hath fecn it! not one a- mongft many hundred of millions. Thefe flones, renew men and beafts, cure Le- prous Metals, caufe barrennefs to become fertile, with a new birth, humane reafon is not able to comprehend it, nor conceive of it. If a redified Jlqua vit£ be lighted, then Mer- cury and the vegetable Sulphur feparateth, that Sulphur burns bright, beingameer hre, the ten- der Mercury betakes himfelf to his wings and fir- cth to his Chxos* He that can (hut up and catch this fiery fpirit, he may boaft, that he hath gotten a great victory in the Chymical battle : for this Vegetable iicry iulphur is the only Key to draw the Sulphur from' mineral and metalline bodies. Thus I clofe my book, the tbings cont ained therein are not grounded on opinions,as moft Pby- flcians rely on the Authors, that (uch and fuch ' Herbs are cold and moill, dry, and warm, in the tirft, fecond, and third degree : becaufe they heard their Authors affirm it, themfelves neither iaw it, nor made tryal of it : making mcer colledions from 3 1 2 A fbort waj and Repetition^ &c. f from other mens writings, patching up volumes* t The things I wr©te of, I know by a long experi- mental knowledge, to be true : this my experi- fflice I hope will take place, and get the victory as die Amazons did in theit prude nee. The eternal heavenly ipirit refreih our Souls, that wc may walk in heavenly ftrcets, forfaking all felfe aad erroiaeous by-ways. Amen. FINIS. TH £ <343) THE FIRST TREATISE O F T H E Sulphur, Vitriol, and Magnet of the Philofophers* s E c T. I. Of the Sulphur and Ferment of the Philofiphers. I» Have written for thee Seeker of that mod: noble and blelTed Art of Chymiftry, a imall , Treat ife of thePhilofophers Stone, divided into XII. Keys, and haveexpreflely nomina- ed the Matter of the Philofophcrs Sulphur in the irft Key, and taught you in the fecond Key how ou ought to diitili our water of the Eagle and old DragoHy who had his dwcllidg a long time 1 Rocky Clifts, and crept iiV and out in Subter- anean Concaves and Hollow places i pour this A a Spirit 344 ^f^^^ 'Ph.hfcfhrs ntrt J. Spirit upon purged and fined Gold, let it difiblvc and putrifie tourtecn days in Ba nc M^ru diiiAl it, and pour the Water again en the Gold Ca'x, andcohobate this until the Gold pcfsovcr with the Watcr.ja this again to di;?Jl,aLiu. 6vi\ iW a- ttr gently, leave a third part ot it in the bottome, then kt It into u Cellar, let it Coagtlate and Ciy- fiilli/e, wjO\ thcl^, Cryiials with ail'ihd Water, amaig ma them with Mtrcuiy vive, evaporate the Mercury gcnt'y^ then you have a li bti'c pow- dtr, pat it in a glafs, lite it, rtverhaatt it for three days and nights, do it gently, thus is the Fhiloicpiicrs Su'phur well prepared tor your work, and this is the Purple Mantle, or Philofo- phick Gold, keep it liitely in a glals for your con- jundion. S E C T. II. Of the FhiLfofhcrsVitrhU IHave told you plainly how Philcfophcrs Sul- phur is niade, which loco m.-fculU is to make the King, or Man , now you muft have the te- niale, or wife, which is the Mercury of Philofo- phers, or the materia prima lafidvi^ whKh muft be made artificially : for our Azoth is not con.mon Vinegar , but is extraded with the con anon Azothy and there is a Salt made of materia pri^ tna , or Mercury of the Philcfophcrs , which is coagulated in the belly of the earth. When this matter is brought to light, it is not dear, and is toiled every wht re, Chiaclren play with it: it is pondcrons, and tiuh a lent oi a dead body, toi ^w» Of the fhilofophftl yitriel. 345. €wo Gilders you may buy this matter for the work: Thcrdore take this matter, diftilJ , cal- cine, fublime, reduce it to aflies 5 for if an Ar- tift want afhes, how can he make a Salt, and he that hath not a Metalline Salt, how can he make thePhilofophers Mercury ? Thtrctore , if you have calcined the matter, then extract its Salt, rcdihc it well, kt it fhoot hito the Vitriol, which muft be fwect, without any corrofivencis, or ihirpnefs of Salt. Thus you get the Philofophcrs Vitriol, or Pnilolophick Oyl, make further ot it a Mercurial water, thus you have perform'd an artiikial work : this is called the Philofophcrs Azoth^v^^hich purgeth La-' ton^ but is not yet wafh'd. For Az. th wafhtth Laton-, as the Ancient Philo(bphers have totd two or three thouiand years ago. For the Philofophick Salt, or Laton muli: with its own humidity, or its own Mercurial water be purg'd,diirolv'd,dilliiPd, attract its M^gnet-^^wdi itay with it. And this is the Philofophers Mercury. or Mercwriwf duplicstm^ and are two fpirits, or a Ipirit and water of the Salt of Metals. Then this water beareth the name of fuccus Lunaridi^ aqua cjelcjiis^ acctum I'hilfopho-' Tum'^ aqua Sulfhurii^ aqua fcrmanens^ ac.ua bene- di^a. Take eight, or ten pans of this water, and one part of your Ferment^ or Solphur of S l^ fet it into the Philofophcrs E^g, lute it well, put it in the Aihanar^ into that vaf orous, and yet dry tire, govern it, to the appearance of a black, white, and red colour, then you get the Fhiiofophers flone, and you enjoy this noble, dear, and blefied Medicine andTiuCture, and you may worii mira- des with it, A a 2 SECT, 34 * ^/ ^^^ Fhitoj others Magn t. SECT. IIL Of the Fhihfpkrs Magnet* HErmes the father of Phi^ofc| htv^ had tMs Arty and was the hril that wrote ct it. crx pr^pa- led the fioneout ct Mcrcury.Sol^ui n Lun .vi ihe Philofophcrs : vvhtm m.ry thoul.r.a b he u tors have imitated, n.y itU alio cid the '^--i. ; ^^^^\ fpeak really, that the ruiIcUphi.^i^ j .re ^^ ^ivn^ pofed of two bodies, the be^innir^ ;■: ^ ^ of it mult be with PhiloiopMciv ^ cj . ■ And this is novv frimA mite.i ..-li : materia ^ri;wd belongs on)} to C^oc:, auu ;.>,>.agu- lated in theentrulsof the E^rih, fidr ii to Mer- cury, then into Lead, then into Tin ai.. C- ppcr, then into Iron, &c» Thus the ccgulited Mercu- f y muft by Art be turn'd into its trima mnerii^ or water, that is, Mercurial water. This is a Itone and no Itone, ot which is made a volatile fire, in form cf a water, which rlrowneth and difv^veth its fix't father, and its vohtile mother. Mct.iLine Sih is an imperfw^ft body , which tumeth tcP.iUofcphickMercy,thatis,ii.to2 per- manent, or Dlefiea wetter : and is the I hilcfophtrs Mjgnct^ which Juvt ih it;, Pmiofophick Mirj,lrick- cth unto him, and abiduth v^itli him. Thus our S4 hath a M^../;e/^alio, wiiich M:;g,net is the hrrt root and mattei- Oi our ftone : Ii J" ou conceive of and under 'hnd ii,y Lyii^y^h^u yc^. are the licheft man in the world. Hermes fJtii, ri.iLc thir.^; . it r^q- Tcd for the work J niit a vol-Uic, or ivier^.-aul Wiccr, a(j7(a cftlejfisy c.e/c'f jjr, then Leo viridU^ which is the Philofophick I iixt the Holy'Irlnity and ihc Fhibfofhers fione* DEar Chr'ftian Lover, and well wilher to the blelicd Arr : how gracioully and miracu- loully hath tlic Holy Trinity created the Philofo- phers iioue. f or God the Father is a ijpirit, and yetmakcrh himlclf known under the notion of a man, as he Ipeaketh? Genef 1 . Chap, let us mak^ man, an image like unto us. I em, this exprclfi- Oil in his worK (peak of his mouth, eyes, hands, and teet '» i'o PhilofopherS vMercury is held a (pi- xitual body, as Pnilolbphercs call him. God the Fattier begctteth his onely Son J E S U S C H il i S T, which is God and Man , and is witnout tin, neither needed he to die : but he laid dowiv his lite freely, and xok again, for Aa 3 his 3 4 8 ^U^onricA txpreffion betnixt^ &c. his brethren and fiftcrs Hike, that they might live V^ith him eternally without fin. So is Sol^ oi Gold without dwfeiS) and isfixt holds out glori- ouily aH'hery examcns, but byreafon of its im- pcrftd and lick brethren and fillers^ it dieth, and .ri(:'th glorioully , rcdeemeth and tingeth them unto ttcrnil Hfe, making them perfcd unto good 'Gold. The third pcrfon in the Trinity is God the ' Holy Giiuft, a comforter fent by our Lord Chrijl Jeftis unto his believing Chriliians, who ftren^th- neth and comforteth them in Faith, unto eternal litej even fb is the fpirit of material Sol^ or of the body of Mercury, when they come together, then is he called the dnuhte Mercury^ thefe are two fpirits, God the Father, and God the Holy Ghoft ; i3vt G>.>i the Son, a gloriricd Man, is even as our -gloriheJ. and hxed Sol^ or Philofophers ftonc h iincc'L^/H is called "trinus^ namely, out of two waters, or ipivits of Mineral, and of Vegetable, and of the Animal of Sulphur of Sol : Thcfe aru chj Two and Tiirce, and yet but one : if you Vncl'critand it not, tiien you are not like to hit ,aj^,y. ;T.U!S hy way of a iimiiitude I delineated unto'jhce futJijiently the VniverfaU Pray to .'God for a b!eiiing. for without him you are noc lirie to proJpvi at all. I THE (34*) THE SECOND TREATISE OF VULGAR Sulphur, Vitriol, and Magnet S E C T. I, OfSul^hurSf CHAP. L Of SulftJttr of Situm. J, wy| {i- % Here is extra iSed from calcined Sa- turn with diilill'd Vintgar a Cry- ftallineSalt, which is diltiird with Spirit of Wine unto a red Oyl. Tui* Oyl cureth Melancholly, hcry Pox, old Ulctrs^jiai many other inhrmitics betides. 2. T.iis Oyl coiguUtech and fixcth Mercury, bein^ lirli: precipitated wicli O/lot" Vicrioi, tor all Powders and Mcdicamcucs , which are to Aa 4 nuiis T 3 JO Of Sulphur of ]ixnipcv. make ^ol and L««e, muft be madc^fix, holding in all fiery tryals. 3. Out of this Oyl is made a glorious Tindure, if you take three parts of Mercury of Mars, and one part of this red Oyl of Saturn, joyning, coa- gulating, and fixing them : this work may be ac- complished in a months time^or fome what longer. This Tin(9:ure may be augmented with Mercury ci Mars^ufque in infimtumh projeding one part of it upon three parts of ISol^ to make thereby an in- greffe for the Tindure h one part of this Tincture ; tranimuteth thirty parts (if fo be it be well prepa- red) of Mercury and oiLune into good SoU Re- member thy Creator ,^nd be mindful of the poor,: then the the Lord will be mindful of theealfo. C H A ?^ II. Of Sul^f nf Jupiter. 1** Here is made of 7»f i>er,a Salt like that which is made of' Saturn, from thenee iscxtrai^ed^ ^and diltilPd a red fweet Oyl: this Oyl tingeth SatL!rn,*b^ing firii calcined with Sal. armoniack into SoL S. 2^. The Limature of Jupiter being calcined with Ca:x vive for a day, ^and the Calx being wa(h'd firom it, then you have a foCd powder, if you CJ.U reduce it again into a fluidnels,and' fcpa- r.:r. it with Sat>ini,'thcn you may get enough of ^ Gold and Silver. -> r icrc is a calcination made of Tin and * ' L. td .vi :h common Salt, but better is it, if made \vii.h::>wiitjqf the cipup mon of Vitriol and Peter, ''•'• ■ " -the Of Sulphurs of Mars and of Venus. 3 5 1 the Oyl of Vitriol being added unto Calx of Ju- fiter and Saturyi^ and made one ma(s of it, lute it well, let it Itand for eight days and nights in warm Sand, and then drive it ; one Centuer of Lead affords in this manner fix Mark and a half of fine Lune : pne Mark of fuch Lune yields two drachmcsof SoL This hath been my firft piece to make Lune ^ndSol withal. Note, thefe fix Mark and a half of Lune afford thirteen drachmes of Sol^ this Sol and Lune amounts to 2 cS.CildorS, or 20. pound and 1^. (hillings. CHAP. IIL Of Sulphurs of Mzrs andVtnus* I, Tp'Ake fome pounds of Verdigrecce, extrad J. its Tindare with diflilPd Vinegar, let it fhoot, then you have a glorious Vitriol, out of which you may diftill per retrort a red Oyh This Oyl dilibiveth Mars turning into a Vitriol, which is reduced in a long time in a great fire unto a red Oyl, then you have together Sulphur of Mars and V^enu^'i add fomdwhat of Sulphur o^ Sol^ coa- gulate and fix itjthen you have a Medicine, wnich meliorateth Men and Metals. 2- Luftc is graduated with the Oyljand a good part of the Kings Crown is gotten. 3 . Two equal parts of laminated Sol , and Lhhb melted together, putrificd in this Oyl for a day and a • night, turneth them into good Gold. In this Oyl you will find many ilrange affeds ^ and vertues. Lmis Vci}. ' • CHAP, 5S2 Of Sulphur §[ Sol CHAP. IV. Of Sulphur of Sol. V T Have formerly told how Gold is made fpi- X ritual unto the Purple Mantle. New ii you are about to make atiru-n potabilc^ then you may dilT'^lve with the Oyl of Vitriol that ip-rstiial Gold, extrad, and draw it over with Spirit of Wine : this js a Medicine, which cureth many difficult difeafes, and is wonderful in efficacy. 2. This S Jar Sulpfmr tingeth prepared Calx of Lune into good Geld, but. you heard in my former expreiEons, that the King hath only an honourable Garment ^ and muU raife-his Rents and Subfidies iiom his Si bj.ds, w.Ux be bathed in his flouri(h\ng bloud and Iwcat, muft be deitroy- ed and glorioufly renc w'dv.hen is he able to mai\e his poor brethren and {liters to be Kings alio, and legitimate their baiiards. Antimony is a baltard of Saturn, bow much of Keguluf it hath, fo miuch is turned into 5y/ ? its ^ue Dofe of Tladurc bein^ hiit added thereunto. Miircafte a baiiaid ot Jupiter^ is turird to Sal al- To by means of ar Tincture. Vitriol . nath in it a Mi.ta!line Mercury, a balhrd of fcfm-, as much as it hath of it, {o much is ting'd into S ;/. ::. If you add the Solar Sulphur unto Sulphui of Vitriol, Vcn'US and Mars^iud tucU hx them ar- tificially, then you have alii cturc tor Men and Kktals, expelling all mc'.nn..r ot then the red O/ior Suipour is cxtraded with J'/if^i.^frOyi;paC*iii^ the lam^' with \ fpiriC Of fCTyfr-or^SuifiuT. 355 fpirit of Wire, elf rrd thcfpjrit of W'lrcficm it. This ^loricvs Oyl cf Sulpbrr is gccd sgair.ft irary dileaks, it is to be ufcd aga.'rjfi Ccrd n pti- oi:i,DropikJ%gue5$cabbiiieis,2rd ii ch like^ 2. Vitriol is (iiblincd withSalaiircniacalfo, and better than if done with a ii^ivit ni^ becatfe the body of Vitriol is better cpeiud ai:d c'iTolv- ed. This fubbniate is dilTolvcd into ^n Cyl , .whereby crude Mercuiy can be ccagiJattd ^ r.d fix'd, of the which I (hall write more aronj wlien I treat of Vitriol. ■T CHAP. IX. Of common Sulphur. Here is a Liver rcade of^ yellow Sulphur ^ with Linfecd Gyl, then deccdt and putri- fie it in a liximum n.ude ct Sal Alcaly, and then diftili it, pour this water rn ly'es, whicbirecn colour, abllrad two|>9rtS'.of chat water, let it (hoot : thus you have ^^ble Vii- triol, difiiil from it, a red oyl, take an buiiee of it> add to it Mercurial water, in which is difloly'd Soi^ hx this Tindure, Lead, Silver,aiid Tinj arc tranfmuted thereby into pure Gold. ■ Return thanks to God the Creator of Mine* ralSj Metals,, arid all other Creatures ! CHAP. IV. Of Vitriol of y^xiMS. I Have tanght you already to extraft the tranf- parent Vitriol out of Vermy and to diftiil its red Oyl. T his Oyl diflblvcth Mars, into Vitriol> ana being once more d iiiiir d />cr rc^onj'^ forci- bly, th^iyou have an excellent Tinging ^Y^ or Salt ..ot Mars* This is the Kings Exci^n^n, which Lringcth in his Rents, and enrichctn^im* This Oyl diffolvcth the Spiritual purple *Gold» and 3 5 S Of Vuriol of Mercury and draweth it over the Helmet. Now yoa have fermented the Solar Sulphur with its own Sulphur, which Philofophers before me have not done, but fermented calcined Gold, or the Galx of Gold in Mercnrm Duplicates^ and attained un- to the end they wifh'd for, as well as I. But ac- cording as men do work, fo is the operation of their Tindare, tranfmuting more,or lefs, accord- \.ieg to the efficacy of the Tindare. 2. Out of the Oyl of this Martial Salt, is ' Mercury of Antimony precipitated, and' added to the fwect Oyl of Vitriol, is hx'd > this Medi- cine next unto the Philofophers Itone is the bett, and.higheft Vrtiverjal upon mans body, and ting- cth Lune , Saturn , and Jupiter into good Soly holding in the examen very well. :^ . -There is made alfo a malfe out of Honey, ^ Salt, and Viiicgar, and lamins oH l/'enus^ which , are firatified and calcined. This calcinate of its own accord, turns to a Verdigreece, which muft beextradted, cryftalKzed, and dirtilled to a red Oyl i which is ufed as you h:rard wibove. CHAP. V. Of Vitriol of Mercury. I. T Tltricl of Mercury is cafily made, v/ith V acHjfort made of Saltpir und Ailomc bs^- ing diffolved therein : Cryilals d..> Ihoot like un- to Vitriol; thcfe being wa(h'd dhciil them intp a f>\'eet Oyl, with fpiric of W'in^, tirtt ftrtincd with Silt of Tartar, this is an excdknt Mdr^ cine a£ain{^ thcFrcn.h difeafe, old Ulcers, (Jiitjfe iiCiu. uf Lfmmo/2 wimoi. ?5y lick-, windy- ruptures, Gouts, expelling maiiy other dilcafes oi t of mans body. '■"'( r''""'' ' "^^'*^ 2. ThisOy] is joyned alfo with MarttalTm- dures. For Mercury is ^he bond of other Me- tals, and maybe well ufed ? art iadant'er. ' The chicfelt colour of Mercury is red, that is after it ' is precipitated as you find in my other writings* CHAP. VI. OfCommm'VitnoL • I. T*Ake good HmganaHVitno]^di{io\vc it I indiftilled water, coagulate it, let it ihooc into Cryftals : iterate it five times, then is it well purged, and the Salts, Allums, and Niter are fc-- pa rated from it. Dirtill this purged Vitriol with (pirit of Wine unto a red Oyl, ferment with fpi- ritual Sol, add to it a due Dofe of quick Mercu- ■ ryof Antimony, coagulate, and fix, then you have a Tindture for men, and it tmgeth Lrffff aKbinto SvL Vifitando htterhfj, T'errjty In'jcniet'vs oQCultttm Lafickrrt^ Veram Mcdicbiarfi* 2* t Htriol is calcined alfo to a red colour in a V cloie Velic'o on which pour dillilled Vine- gar^ and fct it in pur refaction tor duxe months, tnr.re is found in a firong dilHUafion^a quick Mct- ;cury,which you are to keep fate. Wonders m:.y be c&dcd therewith^ in FartiutUrs and V'lmrfdf. B b T^kc Take three parts of this Mercury, and one part of Sol^ joyn thefe,which being fixed affords 2L Solar augmentum. Make your fupplies with its Mercury. Law Vco* ' 5. This calcined red Vitriol is fublimedalib with SalarmonicLc^ this fublimatc is dilToIved into ■>an Oy\. This Oyl iixeth Cincbar, whereof may be had Lune and SoU 4. There is made a fix't water .alThad the Philofophers ftone. I was the beginner, took great pains,. before I at- tained to any thing, if you read my writings di- ligently, you will find in the Parable of the XII. Keys, the prima materia-, or Philfophers Mercu- ry, together with the Philofophick Salt : thePhi- lofophick Sulphur, or Ferment, I delineated ex- prelly. Now I clofe, and commit you to God, and delire you to remember me. Medium 'temtcre Bean* FINIS, Bb 2 Jod* 3 ^ J A Prorep upors the Phihfophick ]od. V, K. , A Procifi upon th' Phi'ofophirk vpork of Vitricl. HAvIng gotten this Procefs in tbeforeraid year,- and afterward, as you fhail hear, with mine own hands elaborated snd wronght^tht fame, no man over-looking mc, I was heartily rejoyced, even as if I had been new born, and returned hcart^,,thanks to. God : its- pradtick at the.hrlt I have aioi plainly dcfcribed, becauie Ihad erred in the com^oiing of it, and was fain to begin the \york anew^ I having miisM in my woru, I be- gun in the y.ar 1 6-^5. bccaufc the matter of tlie Earth, and the fpirit of Mercury was not fuffici- uitly purged, thcrctore the earth could not per- fectly h'c r.nitalat the compolition with the wa- .tcr, I let that quite alone, and began a new Pro- ceis at the end ot the year 1605. in the City c'l Sir jj burg ^ ukd more. diligence and cxadneis, tiicn mfi^^erk ( God be priiied; profpercd better^ ioi the whictj I am llill thanhtul to God for it. In t^ie nj^nic ot^thc Holy Trinity, the ip. of Otfo^ /?.T, Auii. io'O). 1 tooli ten pound of Vitriol, diflblv'd iz in diiiill-d Kain-wat.r, being warm'd, ki it fraud U)r a-dayand a n'glir, at that time nauy fi.:if were ietlcd, I nitrated the matter, c vjpoii ted it .gently, adxHtic^iiim ?ii(;nc^ I iet it on a-ceH^l place rotrylialli/e, tiiisonlhct Vitriol I e^i-icc^ted; diiUlved it again in diiciikd Rain-wa- C.r- kcic fnoot again, which work I iteraied lb lung, lili tuc Vjctlol got a caleiuul gr.en colour, . • haVing no /• o; ritrioL 3"^^ having no more any feces about it, and loft all its corroiivcntfs^and was of a very pleafant talk. This highly putrificd Vitriol, thus crude,' and not calcined, I put into a coated Retort, diililled it in open fire, drove it over in twelve hours (pace by an cxad government of lire in a while fume, when no more of thdc fumes came, and the red corroiiveOyl began tocome, then I kt the lire go out, the next morning, all bekig cold, I took ort^ the receiver, poured the gift in the receiver into a body, and iome of the lure being falPn into, I filterd it, and had a fair menfirual water, which had romeph!egme,beca»fe-ttook that Vitriol un- calcined, which I abltradcd in ^Balnzo^ not leav- ing one drop of water in it. I found m^^ Chaos in the bottome of a dark redncfs, very ponderous, which I poured into a Viol, fealcd it Hcrmetice, (et it on a three-foot in- to a wooden globe into a vaporous bach made of water, where I left it fo long, till all was di(- (blved, after Ibme weeks it (eparated into two ' parts, into a bright tranfparent vvater,and intaaji earth, which fetled to the bottome of thcglafs,in form of a thick black corrofivc, like pitch. 1 ie- parat^d the white fpirit from it, and the fluid blacK matter I fet in again to be dilfolved, the white fpirit which was dilfolv'd of it,I tparated agiin, this work I reiterated leaving notning in the Dottome, fave a dry red earth. After that, I purged my white ipirit per difiiUationem Very ex- actly, ii was as pure as tne tear that Talis troni the cye.theremainingcarth lexiccated under a Muffle ijt was as porous,and as diy as duiijOn this I pour- ed ag^iii my wi:it'j Ipirit, let it in a digclMon, tliif? IpuiL txcracted ti.e bulpi}i;r>or-hji!o(uphick gold, ^64 APijfffs uponrhf Philofcphick and was ting'd of a red yellow, I canted it olf from the fnatter, and in a body I abftradied the fpirit from the Sulphur, that Sulphur ilayed be- hind in form of an Oy!, very fiery, nothing like unto its heat, as red as a Ruby : this abftrac^ed , white fpirit I poured on the earth again, cxtrad:- \ ■ed further in Sulpher, and put it to the former. After this that Cor fits terra lookM of a paler co- „ lour, which I calcined for fome hours under a j Muffle, put it into a body, on it I poured my white ipirit, extradted its pure whiDi fixed Salt:, the remaining earth was very porous, gdod-fbr nothing, which I flung away, thus thc(c three principles were fully and- perfedly feparatcd. After all this I took iVy aftral clariiied Salt, which weighed half an o^ince, after the weight at Strasburg , and of thd white (pirit , which weigh 'd four ounces, of Klercury one ouncc,and a quarter of an ounce, t\\c^c I divided into two parts, whofe quantity Wjis half an ounce and one draffi, I put this Salt to one part of the water in a VW^ and nipped it, fet it in digeftion, there I faw perfccftly how the Salt diflblve^ it felf again in thislpirit, tiierefore I.poiircd to it the other part, which was half an ounce and one dram, no iooner this was put to it, then prefently the bo- dy iogethet with the fpirit turned as black as a Coal, a{cendcd to the end of the glafs : !ind having iiO room to go any further, it moved to alid iro, fomctimes it fetled to the bottome, by and by it roiir to tlie middle, then it ro(e higher, thus u iiiovcu trum tnc rourth of July^ to the . ftvench oi /Aumji , namely thirty four days, which wundcrtul w r^ ^ beheld with admirati* on y at ait iL black powder, ftaying on the bottome, and waS dry, (eeing that it was fo, I cncreafed my fire in oncdegree, took it out of the wet, and iet it in afties, after ten days the matter on the bottome began to look fomewhat white, at which I re-^ joyced heartily, this degree of fire I continued, till the matter above and below, became as white as the glittering Snow. But it was not yet fix^ making tryal of it, fet it in again, encrealed my fire one degree higher, then the matter began to afcend and defcend, moved on high, ftaycd in the middle of the glafs, not touching the bottome of it,this lafkd thirty eight days and nights,! be* held then as well, asformerly at the thirty days a variety of colours, which I am not able to ex* prefs; At lall this powder fell to the bottome, became fix, made projcdion with it, putting one grain of it to one,* and a quarter of an ounce of Mercury, trrnfmuting the fame into very good Lune* Now it was time to rertore unto this white tinAure her true anima^ and imbibe it, to bring it from its whitcnefs unto rednefs, and to its perfect vertue. Thereupon I took the third principle, namely the anima^ which hitherto I had referved, in quantity it was one ounce, a quarter of an ounce, and one dram, poured to it my referved fpirit of Mercury, whole quantity was one ounce and a quarter of an ounce, drew it over fcveral times fer akmhicum^ fo that they in the end united to- gcther-,thofc I divided into feven equal parts .-•one part I poured on my clarified earth, or tincture, which greedily embraced its animn together with its (pint, and turned to a ruddinels ni twelve days and nights, but had no tinging quality as ^ , Bb 4 . ycc ^66 A Pr^icf^ upG/htfie Philofophick yet, faying Mercury vive and Saturn, it tranfmu- ted into Lunc , which Lune at the fepa rating yielded three Grains of Gold. I proceeded fur-* ther with my in:ihibition, and carried all the (c- ven parts of an'wu into : at the fourth imhibi- " tion one part of my work ting'd ten p,-rts of Copper into Gold, at the fiith imhibition one part tinged an hundred parts, at the iixfh it ting- ed a thoufand parts, at the fcventh it tinged ten thoufand parts : Thus, God be praifcd, my work ended facceisfully, with great joy of my heart : at this time I got of the true Medichte tour oun- ces half an ounce, and ore dram. The twolaft in the. ponderofity were almott equal unto the firft, out of this my work I paid tor Land and' Ground, to that Noble Gentleman 0. V. P. 48000. Gilders. Allam 1^07. Thcfe things I fet down for a memorafidi^r^.^ that I (hculd not forget any of the manuals, and of other things necellary for the work. God be praifcd for ever- more. Amcju An exa^ work^^ hotv Mercury vive rt coagulated and brought unto a Lunar fixatlo^^ rphich Lune bi/lds Sol alfo in the trial* TAke of Mercury vive two ouiices, of pulve- riled common Sulphur fix ounces, grinde thcfe in a wooden di(]:i with a wooden PeltiiJ, fet it on a Coal-fire in a melting pot, ftirring it about •continually, let all the Sulphur evaporate : then take forth the Mercury.'grinde an equal quantity oi Sulphur with it, proceed with its heating a? lormerly ; iterate this worJ^ hve times \ then V * ^ ' fubiJme rori- c/ Vitriol. 3^7 fublime this Mercury per gradus igm : take out this jubllmate^ break it in pieces of the bigne(s of a ftnall Nunt, or Bean, imbibe them in the white of Eg^s, then take a cementing pot, put aflies into it, in tha midft of it fct an Iron box,ftratltie into it this fublimate with rchncd illvcr, fill up the box, then lute an Iron lid to it, put a(hes on the lid, lute an earthen lid upon that, fet this pot into a fand Capel, let your fird: fire be gentle for twel\''e hours, then encreafe your fire for twelve hours more, at laif make a forcible fire for twen- ty four hours, then break open the Pot, you will find a black gray matter, carry it on Lead, of four ounces you will get three ounces of fix filver : le- parate this fine iilver in aquaforf^ you will find a good deal of black Gold Calx, rclerve the filver Calx apart, ;you may ftratifie , with it another time. Thus tar 1 went in my experience* , The The fifth and lad part Gf the hfi; [TESTAMENT F FRIAR Basilius Valentinus- 'resting uf the tranfeendent^ and mofl precf oia And wonderful Medicine y which the great Creator hath put tnto Metalline and Mineral SaltS-^ f$r the henrpt of man j to kefp him in perfeB ' health continuxlly L N V iV, finted by S. G. &cB. G. {ox ndwardBrevp- ficr 5 at die Crane in Sainc ^au!s ^ church ^a^ard j I (5 7 o. , The fifth and laft part Of the M TESTAMEMT Of Friar' Basilius Valentin us. BEfor.; I begin to fpcak of the Salts of Me- tals and Minerals, and declare their vo- lumes, and other precious and noble growth under ground, in the nrfl: place ^Aillprvtix the preparation oi aur urn f t .bile ^ )ccau(;: therein lieth the Corona of Mediciuals, y?tii>irialitLr^ and mcriteth the Hrft place, be- aufc Salts of other Metals and Minerals in their nnate vertues are for anicuUrs only, and arc >rdained for to prcferve man in health ■-, and there s juft caufe tobigin with the making ot aurum ■-'tJuilc without iophiitication, and will (peak of he dillindtion of it, that it may be judged in- aiiioiy to be the truconc. . Tiiis being my lall part, and my intention is o make a p.rfeci relation of aitrnm votaLilc^tox the tk 371 Of the fuppr natural the benefit of good and underflanding men, io whom God after my death will be/tow this my book, which upon tedious and laborious expe- •tience I wrote, wherein I fpeak not by hcar-fay, but the things 1 do write otj, I know experimen- tally to be true Tncrefore if God doth Llefs thee with a true knowledge hereof, that you would keep this fe- cntum in lilence and privacy, leaft you turn Gods bleiiing into a curfc : becaufe the preparation of this, and of the ftonc Is one, both have their ori- ginal , -and iirft generation and birth from the trwe feed, and Aitrologick ^imitm mobile^ called the (pirit of Mercury, of which formerly I have written more largely. For I fpeak the higfi^ft truth unto the.e, that neither the Vnivcrfal nor larfiadar T^tnUnfc^ ^either autum potubile^ nor oxhcx ^niverfai Miiichfc^ without this heavenly and fpiritual effence , which hath its original from the ftarry heaven, taketh and receiveth the fame, from thence may be had and prepared, therefore beliient till death,it your departing lay down again your talent, as I have done ^ for it I had not intormed you faithfully, you would know but little of that mylkry, and continue ttill with the vulgar in folly, blindnefs, and mad- 1 neis, and you would have lent a Recipe into t-he greafie and falvy (hops of Apothecaries, but whither would thy Soul have gone after thy de- parture ? .into GdoPs lap, to the utmoltdeptii ot dariinels, wnere the Devils have their dwel- h'iJg places, even tit.ithcr, both thy loul and body would have heen fen.-, in cale thou ["houldlt have divnlgxd any of the(e fecrcts. To turn to itiy intended buiinefs, I will i|i ana mnjt dear Mfdicine. 373 the firfl place inform you, what is that true and ligheft aurum potabile^ dud Vnivtrfal Medicim^ after this in crder there fclloweth another aurum botahik made of the lixed red Suljhur^ or Soul of the corporeal Gold, moft highly purged, and is prepared with the conjunction ot the Vniver- ^al S fir it of Mercury, After this there folio wetb mother ? articular Medicine , wWch is half an %urum potahiki (hewing its efficacy and power in nnanytryals. Then I will add thereunto a d^- fcription of aurum pot abile, becaufe it traceth the (leps of Gold, and it fhcweth wonderfully its . ^cit energy and vertues. The higheft and chiefeft aurum potahik^whkh bhe Lord God hath laid into nature, is the ex- coined , prepared , and fixed fubftancc of our (lone, before it 1$ fermented. A higher, greater, md more excellent Vniverfal Medicine-^ and <««- 'um potabile cannot be tound, nor had in the cir- ;umterence of the whole World ^ for it is a hea- k'cnly Balfame, becaufe its firll principles, and original cometh from jieaven, made formal in parth, or under ground, and is afterwards, being ^xadly prepard , brought into a plufquam per- ^e^ion^ of which firft principle and Nativity of his heavenly (libftance I have already written ufficiently, and count it ncedlefs to be repeated lere. Now as this exco;^at lal^ exiccate it,put it in a fpacious Viol, or body of Gbls, pour on ic red Oyl of Vitriol, which was dephicgmcd^ and ircdihed per rctorcam^ thit h be traniparcnt.,clear> and white, and you may fee, that it feiieth on.thc Gold and dilfolveth it,and is tinged deeply red. Put fo much of this Oyl to it, that in it may b? diiTolvcd Sulphur, cr tlie Soul of Gold, let it pu- irihe in Bjlnc? MarU, put a reafonable tire to it, tiut you may fee that the Soul of Gold is quite dif^ folvcd in the Oyl ot Vitriol:the/?ce/,v/hica it hath icdcd^mml be leparated from it. then put twice as mr;.ii ot the beCi rcditicd Spirit of Wmc to it, Ci. which which rectification you (hall be informed of in this part, feal the glals, Itt noipirits of the Wine evaporate, (et it again in putrcfadirion in the Bahieo, let it be there for a month, then the fharpncfs of Vitriol is mitigated by the fpirit of wine, and lofeth its acidity and fharpnefs, both together make an excellent MeJicinv:, drive both over , let nothing ftay behind m the bottonie, then you get mor^ than half an aiirum pnt.ibUc^ in form and colour Of a deep yellow liquor. Note, that fome Metals in this manner Uiay be proceeded withal, hrlt a Vitriol may be gotten out of the Metal, then afpirit is further driven from it, and joyned in this mianmr witii tlie Soul, diflblved, and further digei'ted with fpirit of Wine, all mull enter togetR-r into a Medi- cine, as I told of formerly, wnich have their fpeci- al I fficacy. The fecond way to prepare this half aurmn p:tfbilc^ which though it be but half an anrutn potabik ^ yet in vertuc and ctfijacy is tar prettr- rcd bcrore the other now fpoKen of, and is done asloiloweth: TaKc the extradfed Sx^lar Soul fpoken of above- P'Jt it into aViol, pcu;r on it the extradcd Phi- lolophick Sulphur, whicn is the fecond principle^ v>'h:eh is drawn witli l[jirit of Mercury trom the the Piljlof n hi h tartn, and Mercury, or the (pi- rjt of Mercury, unto an OLity, which nov/ is. Siilphur again, ard muil be aburacled gently per ni) bi.ndiii Uith^ik* Ot this Fni'oiophick Sulphur pour on it as nuicn, that the S.'Ur Soul uuy be diffo.ved, let ic i-.LinJi ii) a genrlc Bath, let the difiolution be made, then •). cr.r more ot the belt ipirit ot VVine to it, diaeil Of pot at le Lune. ^77 geft gently, draw thefe over , let nothing fray hind in the bottome, then you have a Mtdicine, hich doth not want above two Grains of the ,ht and true aurum potjbile» Thefe are the chiefeft ways to make the cor- ureal aurum pjtabile-, thisi clofe, and proceed rther with a (hort, but trne procefs, how the ilver, which is the next to Gold, concerning rt'cdion, is made potable alfo : this procefs mult 2 done in the following manner. Take the sky-coloured Sulphur, or fpirit cf Ime^ which was extraded with dillilled Vine- ar, as I informed you in the Farticnhr ot Lurte^ iulcorateit, reditic it with (pirit of Wine, ex- ccate it, put it in a Viol,-pour to it three times |; much of fpirit of Mercury, which is prepared om the white fpirit of Vitriol, as I faithfully lught you ill that place, lute the glafs hrmly, fee in putrefadfion in the vaporous Bath, let all be ilTolved, and nothing more ktn in the bottome, len put to it in an equal quantity of theft fpi- t of Wine, fet it in digeltion for half a month, rive all over, let nothing Hay behind,'., then you ave the true potable L«//e, which in its efficacy is imirable, and doth wonders when it is ulld. A defcripionof the fiery 'tartar. 3Iftill of good Wine a fpirit of Wine, redf iric it with white calcined Tartar, let all come ver, put that which is dii^illed ovct into a Viol, ut four ounces of well fublimed Salarmoniac :) one quart of fpirit ot Wine, fet a Helmet up- n, fet a great Receiver into cold Water, drive Cc 2 tiie ;78 Ofth^SAlto-r'Arrar. the volatile fpirlts into, • i^cndy in B.tlrfcn M'xrUr leave but a little quantity of it behind. Note the Alembcck imiit alway; be cooled W\th wc deaths, then the fpirits will be dilToIved, and turn into a liquor. Thus is prepared this hot ipirit of Wine. Of uc Sjln-fT^rtar. Flrft you mufl note, that the Philofophers Tar- tar is not the vulgar Tartar, wherewith the Lock is opened, but it is a Salt, which comcth from the root, and is the only myltical Key for all Metals, and is prepared thus : make a (liarp Hxi' vinm oi theafhcsof SArmcnts^ or twigs of the Vine, boil a\\ ay all its moillure, there Itayeth he- hind a ruddy matter, which muft be reverbera- ted tor three hours in a flaming hra, liirring it ftilljlet it come to a whitencfs, which white mat- ter muli be diflblvcd in diltill d Rain-water, let the feces of it letilc, hltcr, iuid coagulate them in a glaiSjthat the nutter in it be dry, which dry matter is the Salt ot Tartar, from Wiiich tlie tn.c fpirlt is driven. Note, as I told now of the vertue aiid qualities of precious Itones, (o there are found alio many deipicablt, and ignoble Itones, v/hich are of great veTtU(.s, and experimentally are known to be of icirc qualities, which ignorant, and uncxpert men will liardlygive credit unto, neither can they conceiyw ot it in their dull rea(ou and undei- ftanding: the fame I will demonlirate w^ith the txampic ot Calx vive^ which in melis judgement is held ofno great vaiucjandiieth contemptibly m cLieuritY, Of Potahh Lune. 57^. obfcurity, however there is a mighty verttic and fticacy in it, which appearcth, it application be made of it to the moil: hea^ii-fi djfealcs,(ltingits trium.phant and tranlcend^nt efficacy is almofi unknown for the generality, therefore for the gf od of fLich, which are inquilitive into natural and fupernatura] mylkrics, and to whomldif- ciofe thef: mylterics in this my b'ook, I will tor a tircwcll difcover alfo this myfcery concerning the Cdx vive^ and will (hew in the rirft place, how its fuirit is driven- from it, which work indeed rc^ q i.irLth an exp.rt Artift, who is well informed a- torehand of its preparation. ■ Tdkc unllakM I^imc as much as you will, beat, and grind it on a weil-driwd-uone, to an impal- pable powder, put on it fo much of fpiritof Win'e, as the pulverifcd Olx is able to drink, there mull not Hand any of that fpirit upon It, ap- ply a Helmet to it, lute it well, and p-it a receiver betore it,abttra61: the fpirit gently trom it mBal- neo^ this ablirading muli be iterated eight, or ten times : this fpirit of Wine ftrengthereth the fpi- rit of Calx mightily, and is made more tiery hot. Take the remaining Calx out of the body, grind it vtry {huil,put to it a tenth part of Salt of Tartar, which is pure, not containing any/ccc/. As march as this matter wcigheth together, add as much of the additional of Salt of Tartar there- unto, namely the remaining matter, trom which was extradted the Salt of Tartar, and it muit be w^ll exiccated, all this mufi be mingled together^ and put in a well coated Ret ort,three parts ot the Retort m/ult be empty, take a great Receiver, or body to it, very Itrongly. Note, the body into which the Retorts ^ok is put, muft have a Pipe Cc :: oi A 3?0 of Calx 'vi've. of a fingers breadth, unto which may be appl another body, and a quantity of fpirit of Wine in it : then give a gentle fire to it, at firft ihcie conies fome of the phlegme, which falls into the firft applied body : the phlegme being all come over, then increafe the fire, there cometh a white fpirit to the upper part of the body, like unto the white fpirit of Vitriol,which doth not fall among the phlegme, but ladcth through the pipe into the other body, draweth it felt into the fpirit of Wine, embracing the fame, as one lire doth joya with the other. Note, if the fpirit of Calx be not prepared firli by the fpirit of Wine, and drawn oif and. on, as I told, then he doth not fo, but falleth a- mong the phlegme where he is cjuench'd, lofeth all its tfHcacy. Thus difficult a matter is it, to fearch uatufc throughly, refer ving many things unto her fclf. This fpirit being fully entred in- to the fpirit of Wine, then take oif the body, put away the phlegme, but keep carctully the fpirit of Wiiie^ and fpirit of Calx: and note, both thcfe lp?rits are hardly fcparated, bccaufe they embrace cloftly one another : and being diitilled, they ConiL over joyntly. Tberetore take thefe mix'd and united fpirits, put thcmintoajar-glafs, kindle it, the fpirit of Wine oi.rnethaway, the fpirit of Calx flayeth in the gUfs, keep it carefully. This is a great ^r- c^-.//./7,'fevv of cth'ir fpirits go beyond its efHca- ry, it you know how to make good ufe of it. I.-'qLialicies may hardly be fet down in any way of :!.^ '^emcnt. ■piiit 6:{\c]vcl\\ Oculi Can)rorpfm^ the yua'Is: .ti.eic chree being driven over tof^cthcr. Of Calx vive. 3^^ I together, and often iterated in that diih'IJinir, three drops of that h'qi or being miniftred in warm Wine, break, and diiTolvc any Gravel and Stone in mans body, expelling their very roots, not putting the patients to any pain. This (pirit of Calx at the beginning looks bluilh, being gently redified, looks white, trans- parent, and clear, leaving few feces behind. This fpirit diflblveth the molt hxed Jewels, and preci- ous Hones. On the other fide he iixeth all vola- tile fpiritJ with his tranfcendent heat. • This (pirit conquereth all manner of Podagri- cal Symptoms, be they never (o nodofe and tarta- rous, dilTolveth and expels them radically. To the omnipotent Trine God, Father, Son, and Ho^y Gholl, be returned hearty thanks for all his benefits, which he hath belbwed on man, and difcovered thofe fecrets, I wrought on in his name. To him be eternal praHes. Amen* All that hath breathy praife the Lord* Allelujah ! End ofthe fifth part RACK Basilius Valentinus, H 1 S TREATISE Conceniing tha^ MICROCOSME, OR The little World, which is Mans body. .What it doth contain^ and of what it Is compofed, what it doth comprehend^ • and its end and iiluc. A thir/s P^ofl necrfjary^ and meet for the howledgf of fucrj^thjt hve^ ^^i^^d embrace wifdome. m^i&Wim^<^ LONDON, •rinted by S. G. ScB. G. iot Edward Brr^i^ fier , at the Crane in Sainc ^auIs ji Church-jard ) 1 670, (385) Basiiius Valentinus HIS TREATISE Concerning the MICROCOSME. THofe that feek Art, and have a clefirc to attain to wifdon^e, are to note, that the Higheft, upon my continued prayers hath granted unto me a Clergy-man, to make known the many and great rayileries of na- ture ; among which mans body is one to be con- fidered, how that is govern'd in imitation unto Microcofme* For it is meet that the leflTer fhould imitate the greater, and the fmalleft and meancft ought to be governed by the areateft and moft potent. Microcofm: ^ or tlie gre:;t World containeth three thin^^s, as the moft principal, the rell, which come from thelcj are mcerly accidental. In the tirii ^^6 OftheM:crorofmer ^rft place is to be confidered the matter and foriift of this World, which matter is made formal out of a nen-fhapc, or a nothing, and the gre^t Crea- tor prefentlyprefcribed an order for this matter, what government it (hould keep, as ft on as it came to a lire, or motion. This matter and f^')r:n is water tmd earth. For at the Creation, by a fe- paraton of the water from the earth, there was ^niflied the matter and form, as two things be- longing one to another, from thefe all Animals and Vegetables have their begiiining, and other two things, as air and fire, which belong one to another, have wrought life therein. The mat- ter and form is earth, the Salt in that earth, the 'body aijiren fo is it with mans body, which is Mi^ erocofmhThc matter was not perfcdt without the form, thcfe joyning into one, by Gods ordinance, the torra being become quick, came then to a per- fccftion : the matter and form got lite by motion, air was the f\i'i\ caufer of that motion, and pcrfedl maturity Wis caufcd by a convenient heat, move- ably inclofcJ in the air5thus the earth was brought to a fcrtiliry by the air, it was opcned,and became porous by mibtion for generation. The earth being impregnatcd,m.tdc her iced apparent by heraquc- fity, then air and hear in the ncather and upper Region of the Alirals caufed that a Birth was brought forth, the bloflbm.s were produced, and the appointed fru.it wasjc-ipened by concodlion of heat. Calcidity is a Sulphureous hot fpirit.wh ich like a Medicament cxiccJteth the (upcrHuous grofs a- quofity and pnlegmatick matter, which in the ge- ntl-ation at the beginning aboynds too much in the earthjbctoic the air could have a fellow domi- U!0<5 Vf the Mlcrm(mei t S 7 nion at the joyn-ng with it, carrying tl'ic fame along in the fl.peifluiry of htr birth. The (ccond principal part of the Microcofme is ict.thility-.ioi the matter in it ielf was \s«thout life> which by heat was Ihrr'd up, then the vital fpiric becanric to be fcniible,which is in man a Sulphurous (pirit, kindling, the body by a heat, exiccateth the {upcrfiuity ot the e^rth by the (ubtility ot its Tub- ftance, and ^overneth the body in a conftant mo- tion. For atter the heat is gone,then coldncfs get*; the dominion, the (pirit ot lite being gonc,no ien- libleneis tclt in the pulie and atterits, and a dead body is f( und ftiftead of life, at the departing of the warm fpirit of Sulphur 5 rational men ought to take this myftcry into con (ideration. The two firil Elements, the matter and forrn^ being apparent, and having gotten a mobility by the two hii Elements by light, the Micrccfme was not yet pcrted, the Creator allotted further an incrcaie ro the feed of the earth, as wtII as he did to Vegetables and Animals. God allowed unto earth an imagination tor all (crts of Tceds, and to bring them forth after their ieveral kinds- Then the earth was impregnated by imagination which God allotted, and the earth brought'thcfc feeds forth in Mans prefencc, the heat ciigeiled them to a maturity even till hitherto. Matter and foimof the Microcofme beiig, ex- tant, conliiting of earth and water ,then ti:e Crea- tor caulcd a Wtc into them by an inbreathed warn^ air,hfatingthc coid earthlyiubiiancc,givnig a htu unto life and motion, which was the Soul, which is the true Sulphur ot Man, fpiritusl, in com.prc- hcnlible : icnlibly fck by it^ own operation. Ah thisi^cin^hniih'dj then God allowed an iras^i- na'ioa Jo 5 Of the Ml crocofmf. nation unto good, in the perfed underjflanding of Man, that by his imagination he could judge cf all the beafts, and impofe on each a proper name, and by thap imagination he learned to know his wife alfo, that (he had flefh and bones of his body. Then raan appeared perfed:, and that matter was made into a (hape, of a fenfible body. This form being made alive by the Soul, had allowed fur- ther a fiabtile fpirit unto imagination and know- ledge, wliich is an invifible, and incomprehenfi- ble form, like a work maftcr, who frameth all things in the mind, 'which hath its habitation in the upper Region of the Microcofine^ according to his volatility, anddeferveth the name of Mer- eitry^ or the invifible fpirit of mans body. Form and matter is earthly, the life fticketh in the mo- tion, and the knowledge of every underfianding unto good and bad ftandeth in the (harp {pecula- tion of the Microcofme-i the overplus found befi- des thefe three, nature cafteth off as a Cadaiey and is as a Monger, which by thefe three is found to be a fcparation, and a Caput mort* ' If glorified Elm were prefent, and the Jftrah could Ipeak, and filent nature had a tongue to ex- prefs hereot, then I needed not to bring in any further evidence to perfwade the incredulous, ^ who confidercd not judicioully this my (aying : for a man poiTelTed with blindneft cannot pals any judgement upon my writings: but under- fianding judgeth impatience, and vvifdom: kpa- ratcth herfdf from folly by her own experience. This vital fpirit nounlheth, Ledeth, and pre- iervcth himfelf by the Oleityot mans Sulphur, wnich is predominant in the bio d af.d with, or throueh it doth work in the vvii^^ic body, tnac ^ the "~^ «y/ ine micfOCo\me. Joy the fLbfrance may be pLrftdt. This Vital fpirit is Mercury, which is found in man, \ nd is prdcrv- ed by an Olcity of its likenels \ bcfides thefe two Mercury and Sulphur, there is a third thine in man, namely Salt, which lieth in the fi^lh, body, and bents. The Salt minfireth its nobleft fpirit for a nou- ri(hii)ent unto the bloud, which faltnefs is fomd thtiLin by the tafre,and difpcrfeth it felf through- out the body, preferveth mans body like a Bal- iome from putrcfadlion, and is as the band and copulation, whereby Mercury, cr the Vital fpirit continueth the longer with the Balfume in the fltfh, and dwtlleth together in one. For in the Salt there lieth a fpirit, which mufr prott<^ all other Balfomes in their worth and dignity. The remainder tound in. the fiefh, if thc(e three be taken from it, is a dead thir.g, as I told formerly^ and is good tor nothing, nor can it be uied for any thing. As this Union, Dominion, and Governments in Man, the like are in Metais, Minerals, and Ve- getables, which make up their pertedt t^ody, do live, keep, and are preferved in the like manner, as man is. As the en,- followeth upon the other io M^n, according to order in the like condition arc •other Animals atter their kind and property. As a Cow is an Animal, her food, as grais, is Vegeta- ble, this Vegetable by the heat ot the Cews body is putrihed, m that p..trtfa<5tionis made afepara- tion, which is the Key of all dilTolutions and fe- parations, fcparation being made, then j^oeth the lubnlc fpirit, the fubti)e Sulphur, and the fub« tile Salt of the Vegetable's lubitance of the graft into all Members of the whole body of the Cow, ♦ * the 390 ■ Of the Adicroccfme. • the fpirit ruleth the b:aft, the S«Iphur nourifhcth it, and the Silt p refer veth it. This being done, then Niture dilrributeth her gifts further, making a new ieparation i a^ of the ibperfluoufneis, which the Cow doth not alTumc by way of ailimilation, and niuft part with it, and diliributeth the fame farther, and that is Milk, this Milk is an Animal fubdance, tranfmu- tcd from the Vegetable. In this Milk is made another feparation by lire, which mail be kept gently, tor the fabti leu fpirit of the Milk to- gether, with the Sulphur fablimeth, is taKen olf^ and turned to a coagulated tatn^fs, which is But- ter. The relt is fcparated by other means, and precipitated, and thereby is made another icpa- ration, this is a fecond coagulation, oat of which men make their food : ot the overplus, is made another feparation by tire, not fo fat as the for- mer two: :a lall there remiincth an aquolity, and is of no great ufeiuhicls, becaufc tlie fpirit and its nutriment is taken from it by tat ievcral feparations. After this nature maketh to a further putrefa- dion another and grols excretion ot a Sulphure- ous and Salt fubllince^whicii ^ncrateth atrefn a living (pfrit, which is the excrement, this (ervcth for the -earth to be manured witiiall, niakmg the earth fertill by its Sulphur and Salt, as Ixmg of a grols and fat ii^bfunce, whereby new truics arc prodnced, here is another nutriture from an Ani- mal nito ti Vegetable. Ti)is maketh wheat, and other Fruits, and Grains lo grovv, producing a* fain a nutriment from the Vegetables unto Ani- mals. Thus one nature uoth foli^-^w atter the #thcr, by vulgar p:op':e aoc fo much compre- >:e!icied €f the Microcofme. 5 9 ^ comprehended, or fearch'd into, not caring *t^ learn Natures qualities fo mich, vvhi:h makcth f uch natural things feem to be incredible. To return again to thcftrudurcot Man,the no' . blefi rpirit of" life hath its dominion and feat for the mort part, and moft ftrongly in the heart of rn^ns body, as in the nobleft part : and the Sul- phur of man giveth unto that fpirit a nutriment, and fpiritual a ccc(s for its prefcryation by theair. For if air be taken away from man, then fpirit of life is choak'd up, departeth invifibly, and death is at hand; The noble Salt fpirit is a confervcr of both, its nobleft fpirit penetratcth throughout, the grolTeli matter of its Salt is call: into the blad- der, and that hath a fpirit of" a fpecial operation. That which goeth from the Salt through the bladder, is wrought upon by a heat, miniltreth a new accefs, or increafe, fo that this increafe of Salt in man is inexhauftiblc, unlefs it dye quite, and tht body be burned to a(hes, and the remain- der be extraded. As for an example j Take the Salts from Minerals, let thcfe grow again, coagu- late, and extra(^ the Salt again by water, the like is feen in nitrous earths alfo, and other common Salts, and there needs not to quote any further examples. The fpirit of life hath its procefs into other Members, from the heart, into bones, arms, and the reit of the body that are Itirring v In difealcs andfymptomes he is weak, and man by reafon of fuch fymptomes, cannot perforwi his bahneis in that full Ibength as at other times, when he is in health, feedcth and cheriflieth his body- w'rtii Vegetable (pirits, which come from feeding bread, meats, and drinkini^ of wines D a thcr; 3^2 of the Mtcrocofme^ hen his body growcth ftrowger, and his Vitol fpi- rit growcth potent by fach nutriments, in hisfu- per fluity difperfeth himrelf into all Members, and {heweth his operation. If the heart groweth flint, then is it a ilgn tkat the Vital fpirit is not nouri(hed, upon which there enfae fpeedily dead- ly difeafes , becai^fe that fire is not at liberty, and falls into an excindion, or choaking. The fire in the heart, and the natural heat is preferved, and fupported by the air, of that air the Lungs ftand mofl in need of: the Liver alfo muft have air, elfe it cannot laugh : the Spleen mufi have air, elfe it W\\\ be opprefs't,with ditch- ings and great pains : the true feat for the moft part of the air is necelTary for the Lung^, if thefe fall into any w^aknefs, the caufe thereof is, be- caufe the Salt doth not (hew its true, and meet help,and mafi go into rottcnncr;,cafting up blood and matter : then thr:re is at hand a corruption of the air, from whicli the Vital fpirit cannot find any true nourlduTienC , but mulf be ftar- v:d , becaufe the Sale clot!-i not cHlci: its con- (erving quality , the Sulphur , and the in- creife of the nonriiliment is obftrudted, and is not perfcd, whereby are caiifed Confumptions, withtrings of the body, confaming of the flefh, and exicc^ation d the blood, and of the marrow- The fabftance of Salt, or the Salt fpirit, which preferveth the body, hath its feat for the moll: part in the bladder, where all humidities have their iiTuc, the remaining grols Salt is feparated, and excerned by Urine, as you heard already. I repeat it here again for that end, becaufe the mofi noble fpirit, which doth prcferve man,doth copu- Lt:,and maketh fricnilhip with the Vital fpirit and Of the Microcofme. ^91 and its nutriment, which is Sulphur, and To they make the body perfcd, and if any informity be incident, either from the operation, or defedive quality of the Stars, or from a diforderly life in eating and drinking, and many other inconveni- ences, and any corruption be prefent, then nature is not in her perfect condition. Here the know* ing Phyiician muft enquire into the caufe, from which of thefe three the Symtome doth arifc, and cure the fame with convenient remedies, and not with any contrary Medicines : as heat muft be cured with heat, cold with cold, pricking with pricking : for one heat draweth the other, one cold draweth another, even as Iron is drawn by a Magnet V and fo pricking limples may cure ftitching difeafes, and poifonous Minerals can heal, and bring to right poyfonous Symptomes, if they be duly and well prepared. And although fometimes externally a cooler be fupplied, how- ever I {peak as a Philofopher, and one that is ex- perienced in nature, that like muft be cured and expelled fundamentally with the like, other wife true Medicaments are not applied, and the Phy- licians deal not really in their profeiiion. He that is not fundamentally learned herein, or doth hot obferve theie things, he is not a truePhyfici- an, neither can he really fay that he hath learned ■ any truth in Phyfick, becanie he is not able to dif- cern cold and heat, dry and wet , for knowledge and experience, and a fundamental inquiry into natures myfteries make a good Phyiician next the -knowledge of the Creator, from whom all, and every wiidom doth defcend, and i^ the Author of the beginning, middle, and end thereof. ISext the invocation of the Creator, there fol- D d 2 low T ^ 4- ^/ ^^^ Mtcrocofme. low natural means and Medic?imcnts, as they arc found in thenafelves in their higheft degrees! make no further mention here of other AnimalsiMetafs and Minerals follow next; for in Gold, Silver, and ether Metals, even tu the feventh and laft Planet^ arc hid excellent things , Mercury being predo- minant in all, in Tome more than in others, and Minerals alfo are not without their vertuous Me- dicines, and the former fcven Planets were in th^ir beginning only Minerals. The Tindure of Sol together with the pota- ble Gold and Silver are of great efficacy, Mer- cury ruleth Microcofme : that, which is found in the bcft Metals, and molt precious ftones may be drawn alfo, if need be from Minerals. For per- Udi Metals are grown, or have their defcent from Minerals, as from Vitriol ,, Antimony, and the like. Vitriol is Sulphur, Antimony is Mercury, t'le Salt which is the copula, or binder, is found ni both, if thele are maderix, are like unto the belt M:tals, for they are generated by them : Mine- rals come from icyKt three principles, as well as Me- rals : the three principles come from their fnmj. materia^ called frimum Ens , which is nothing clfe bu: a watery iubifance found dry, is not like- ned to any matter which is grown, and is pre- fcrved by the four Elements,and theie are cherifh- ed, or nouridrt by Ailrals. The Creator hath ordained all thefcout of a nought, becaufe man fliould not gaie only upon earthly matters, but eonfider heavenly ones alio, and ought to know things iupernatural, that faith may over- top the rdf, and have the prerogative in things feen and \^\x. and be preiervcd therein. If //; Med'icimlparUi &c. 3P x If Phyficians do not underftand thefc things they ought not to be held ior Phyiician?, irr the knowledge of God and ot Nature make a Phy- fician, as I told of it formcily , and not great prating without ttue knowledge ^ Good wait- ings pf expert men may conduce Ibmew^hat here- unto. In britf, humane reafon in Phyficians is not able to comprehend Sufficiently , much Ie(s are they able to decide, tathom, and fully learn, what manner of Medicaments there may be made of the Microcofme^ for he containeth aperfed Medi- cine for all difeafes, like yjith like mull be expel- led and cured. Mercury of -the Micmcojjne is a living, ineomprchcnfible, ai]d volatile fpirit, as I have told. Mans Balfam drieth up a Dropfie, end the cla- riiied Salt of it cureth Confumptions •» in Epilep- tick fits it doth excellent well, and being prepa- red into a fragrant fpirit, all corrofivenefs being taken from it, is nothing inferior unto aunim po- tabile-, to preferve mans health s it is very excel- lent for curing Leprotic : Palling by fuch difeafes, which are of a lower nature and degree,it breakith the Itone in the bladder ,8c cureth all Salt Rheums, if the Artiftpreparetii it well, and knowcth how to make ufc of it afterward. Thus I clofe with the MicvKofmc^ contained iii few lines, much more could be fpoken of this matter, or form, mobility and imagination, how they were brought unto perfcdion. For if thefe ftand together in a true middle, will make up a r^eet Harmony '-> for without the matter, or torm ot the body, without the moving of the powers, and defed of perfed thoughts Orpheus Dd 3 will 5^6 Of thf P!)fler) of the Microcofme, will not pleafe die T>olfhin with any harmoneous melody : as it is with man, fo it is with Metals : Mercury is th^ mobile in Gold, if the body be ana- tomized : Sulphur is hot, being driven from a Mineral and fixed, drieththephlegmatickLw/?^, warmeth her^maketh her Soul equal unto himfclf. In the matter and form there lieth a Salt, which affords the coagulation of the body : the remain- der in the Gold put away, for reparation will af- ford a further revelation. Vegetables alfo fhew the form of their three principles, the vifible matter containcth the Vege- table Salt, which is its confervative, the fragrancy of the Vegetable is the Balfam, which minifters a nourifliment unto its pcrfedt growth, the odour, or fmell of any Herb is of a volatile quality, and fpiritual, and the fpirit for the moft part (heweth it felf in the frangrancy, and penetrateth the Bal- fam, and its odour, be it pleafant, or not, is the cifence, whereby men in their fenfes learn the con- dition and properties of Vegetables. For other things I have written, I praiTe the Lord, which dwellcth on high. Thus clofing I wifh to every one the ^race and bleliing of God the Creator of afl Creatures, that they may be blelled, wife, and richjboth in this temporal and corruptiblcWorld, ana \\\ the other World attain to an eternal hJiiTe. Amen* if its Medicinal parts > &c, 397 Of the Myftery of the Microcofme, iu Medicinal -^arts belonging unto Man-, nrittcn by BASILIUS VALENTIN us. TO make ufe of the heavenly Revelation, a- bout two Luminaries, and of the myft-ries of the whole Medicine, which licth in that mar- vellous inftrument of the Microcofmc^ within and without, that is, in the body, and without, as or- dinary Wounds, Sores, Ulcers, that have their caufe from within, have their defcent from one root, however, mull be ftvcrally prepared and drcfs't. For that within is not like to that which is without, in refped of their operation , but in refped of their form and matter they are under one judgement. And that I may rightly inform my fellow Chrifiian, I mufl needs acknowledge and confefs, that there are two Medicines, which heal all difeafes and fymptomes, be they whatfo- ever, and are made of one, the one is called PHA- L ALA, and is for inward ufe, the other is called ASA, is for external cures -, both may be called to be only OnCvthey differ only in their preparations how both muftbe brought to their operative qua- lity, the way unto it is (hewed in my M^ymuls* For they muft firll be rightly known, and their nature muli be fearched into. Their matter is One, which by that expreilion I purpofely hold it forth, leall it (hould be made to© common, 1 atter the manner of Ancient Phllofop hers before me, hiding fecrets under dark fentences,hoping by the prayers of others to haVe theiy Souls laved, and Dd 4. received 5 ?8 Of the m^^eYj of the MicYoco^rKe^ received into that Garden, in wli^f h our firft Pa- rents were created. Note, both Medicines are made of one matter, as I have already informed you. If ufed inward- ly, it tikes away all manner of inhrmities : the matter is putriiicd, (eparated, and in a (pagyrick way pnrgcd in the bell manner, and brought to a Medicine of the highcft degree, by hxing its own nature, which mutt be brought to pafs in the tire. Its former poyfonous volatile quality mull: be re- Ctifted, by being prepared to an everlafting fixed- iicfs, which expells, purges, and re Balfams, Oyls, Plaifteis, may heal therc,eithcr outwardly,or inwardly ^Powders and Potions m:iy be prepared. Symptomes in wounds, having their caufcs from within, muil be cured by fc^Tchm? into them, and the means for their cure jTiufl be prepared of that Itrength, that they m: y reach home. As in this matter, tilings muft be united, and be takai from the generation of ABIHAIL, being joyned in their prmciples of the firft eifence, by nature's means, its brought to the highefr perfedli on, whereby fuch SoFes,Ulcers,d-c. ere findamcntally cured. For ordinary wounds there h no need of it, if no Symptomes are at hand, and the party endangered, a Balfim only will perform the deed, mollifymg theilefli, and nature will furthcr> and promote the cure. Be thankful next God to me, that hath taught you inward and outward Medicines, and arc inch, which others bJore me have concealed, they can cure fundamaually any Symptomes, be they with- its Medicinal parts ^ &c. 40I I' in, or without on the body, fuch vcrtues are not found in Out-landiih woods, drugs, or herbs: Forraigners have their proper cJjnutcs, under which they have convenient Phyfical Vegetables: I ,our climate affords i.nto us proper Medicinal Ve- i getables, Animals, and Minerals for ourconllitu- tion h only Dodlors are not expert to make their Med cinal preparation out of them, I hold with my Phyfick PHALAIA and ASA of one name In - their defcent, whereby nature hatFi made me to be a Pbyfician ', it kecpeth good t o the lair, pre- ; ferveth man in health and lirength a.li the time'th^ Creator hath appointed for him : vertiie it li:ith (liew. d triLunphantly in n a ly par des, obtain:! v vidory.gainll all its enemies, and it was app,,. rent to the world,th3t thcfe two Medicines i'HA- LAIA and ASA of one kind, and of one ir.attcr made and prepared: and it is found daily, that in the generality they can let ^dl into a perfcxfr degree, as being defcended fro'iii the Center, c.n preferve the Center as the Root, and can bring things to right within and without, rending to that end, for which it is prepared. Thus I wifh the Reader, to whom I faithtully intimated the Manuals of it, profperity and fuc- cefs in the preparation of it, that it may be unto his health i the work will praife the Maitcf, upon my Oath I further inform you thus, that four things ar<: required to make a perfed Philofcpl er, and true Phylkian. ^ Firfr, he mufl: be importunate and fervent in his devotion to God, as the highcft heavenly Pby- fician, to ask of him grace, wifdom, underitand- jng, and his bleffing upon his undertakings, that It may appear unto the world, that God grants 40 i Of the 9^)jl(^y of the Microcofme^ things for the good of men , that he may be prdikd and magniiied for (iich benefits : and is to fiievv himfclf i» his life and converfation godly andhoiielL Secondly, a Phyfician ought to know the di- feafts, and to diflinguifti the one from the other, and what proper remedies he is to ufe againft thcfe difcafes : for without the knowledge of di- (cafes a Phyhcian is not perfed : mans complexi- on mart be difcerncd , the caiife of the difeaic fearch'd into, and the means well confidered, that no, contraries be applied, whereby further troubles are caufed : proper remedies fitting the difeafc mull be appliedjthat reftitution be made unto for- mer health. Thirdly, it is rcquifite, that he read frequent- iV the writings ot ancient Philofophers, and read ti.ein over and over, and take notice in what they do concurr and agree, and where they aim all at one mark, then he that hath undcrilanding will difcern the good from the bad, Sophilhy from truth : the ancients knew many good things, for mine own part I muil: conte,(s, that I borrowed the fundation of my knowledge from them, which made me to lay it to heart, and am theieby moved to leave for others alfo a corner-ftone, that truth may further be confirm- ed, and the grounds of it made cafier, clearer, plaincr,and more manjfeli by a further knowledge of my writing. Fourthly, a Philofophcrmuft learn to Anato- mize things in Nature, to know what they con- tain within and without, to feparate the poyfon from the Medicinal quality. Hereunto belong ieveral Manuals, how to diilolvc, feparate, exalt ^ and its Midicinal parts^ &c. 4^3 and prepare fuIJy Metals, Minerals, Vcgetabl'.^s, and Animals. He that hath learned all theft, he may difco^rfe wifely of things , conhrm their grounds in truth ^ but others, which arc alham- ed to work herein, cannot glory m any truth ; bccaufe by the receipts found in other mens writ- ings, are thefe men led, and made a trade of other mens writings, not endeavouring to learn more in their own experience : I am not alham- cd to learn daily, becaufc-Nature is round and endlefs, cannot be comprehended fully, by rca- fon of the (liortnefs of mans life, and none can fay that there is nothing left more for him. to learn. No fuch matter. Thus you fee, that Gods blelling mud be obtained by fervent and frequent praying unto God , the caules of di- feafcs muft be known , tiieir cure mult be or- dered according to the diredfion of Pnilof-^phick writings, adjoyning an c-Jtpv.irinncntal knowledge thereunto. He that doth, and kuoweth thefe four things may glory in his ways, couhrming things in deeds, and not to exercife a trade upon other mens receipts. My Medicaments, if well prepared and duely ufcd, will by Gods help make known, that they received their lirength from God, the maruellous Creatour to perform theic things, which ignorants, and men of little faith cannot comprehend ; by daily experience iaith getteth frrength, that man may praile the high- leit, who hath put fuch vercues into natural things, for the which mortals are not able to return fufli- cient thanks. As m^uch as lieth in my power I will praife the Lord day and night, and is not polfiblc to require him in any other way. At. the cloi-'ng oblerve thus much , m Sd^ool long 0!!.! -tp -1- O/' th'' m , Hrrj of the Mtcrocofme^ c^fcourfcs are made of the three principles of ail tilings, of the matter of heaven, what it is nude of, and on what the earth doth reft, how the Elements were made , and of the begin- ning of the Firmament, and of (everal opinions they are about the original caufes ot Metals, Mi- nvra]s,Vegctabks,of their qualities and properties, of the or'ginal of man, and of otfi^r Animals, fearcliing m their conceits into their lives, vertues, d'^'c.B.it my Son hearken unto me, and take notice ofwhatlfiy: all their pret nded fayings are a mecr nothing, they fpeak ignorantly without any ecrtaintyibecaule theyhave no experimental know- ledge, having laid no foundation, nor have they learned any true decifion in their demonftration : Thoughts p-iy no Ciftom, or Toll, they fly into heaven, di icend to the neathermoft parts of the eirth, if experience and their thought c[o not concLirr, then th^ir thoi^ghts are tound a meer Ooinion, then th:y niidt conRfs,! did not think ic could be f) ! Man.*^ chor.i^'.hts are Htly compared vyitii a dr-jam, becaufe norliing follovvs upon an imagi,LL.ti()ii •-, N-iturcs fccrcts mull: be ftudied ex- peri ivicntally. If Artilb, or Mechanicks would imjj^itiO to work fuch , or -U'ch things, be it Watches, or ocher curious Metalline works, but doth not invent iic inftrumcnts, whereby to make that work they hive in their fancy, what can they produce by that imagination > An empty opinion, and no Art. So in the knowledge cJ Natural things, their fecrets require a greater ex- adncis to be learchcd into, which to lazy unex- pert men item lirange and impollible. 1 1 -11 you th'jrc is rcqtdred an exad: diligence to hud that, which lieth hid m them, it muit be done by (upi^ • zts Medictnd parts ^ &C. 4^5 iation. Nature muft be anatomiied, good and bad in it muft be difccrned, what is contained in each in its Center, for the general, and what cometh from it in particular. Th erefore the Macrocofme and Microcnfmc^ yea, the things which grow and are found therein," are compared to a round Circle, in who(e middle there is a Center, let the Circle be turned which way it will, it keepeth round every way, and its Center ftayeth unremovcd. A Philofopher alfo muft know rightly the Center of each matter, which muft ftand unremoved in every fubftance, but the fubftance may be turned any way he plcaf- eth, and make of it feveral forms, according as it received its power from above. I fpeak no'A to be taken notice of thus : I take in hand any na- tural thing, diffolve, or open it by a Key, which is the means of the unfolding, and fcarch therein by a fire's proof, which is the maftjr of all proofs, what may be made of it : Here I find as many w^onders and qualities, which I never thought of, much le(s had I experience of. Of natural things are made Po^'dcrs, Ovk, Water, Salt, Volatile Spirits, and fumes : In theic preparations are beheld woadcrs upon won- der?, witnefs the diftillations, digefiions, and pu- trefac^ions- There are found and feen n a ly (pi- ritual and corporeal colours, which appear black, gray, white, blew, green, yellow, red, »a7ure co- lour, with a reflexion of all manner of infpvinck- led colours, which cannot well be defcribed, and unexpert men hardly believe it. Froin thcfe pre- parations are fevered qualities felt, the one is cor- rofive and (harp, the other is plea fan t and mild^ the cne is fovvre, the other is fwcct, accordinj^; a«» • thcv^ 4 "- ^ Of the mjiler) of the Microcofme^ they are prepared, fo they yield good and hdi^.^ poyfon or Phyfick : tor a good thing can be made the vvorlt poyfon, and the vvorlt poyfon can be turned into the beft Medicine : which is not fo great a marvel, bccaule all lieth in the preparari- on of things : though every one cannot conceive of It, yet it is fo, and will he a truth for ever, be- caufc nature hath manifeftcd her felf thus by ex- perience. A blind man cannot tell how the inward part5 of mans body arc conditioned , but the feeing Phyfician, who anatomi7cth the body , he can judge of the /ituation of rhe Heart, Brain, Liver, I Aings,Reins, Bladder, of the Entrals, and of all the Veins, and knoweth in whit form and condition they are. But before he hath made this anatomy, all thefe were hid from him, a Miner which leek- eth tor Oars, he doth not kiiow what riches he may expedf from Morals, unlcfs he open the Oar, and fo hue it ; what he tindeth in it by tire, then he may know really in his calculation, what rich- es he may exped: from it. So other things muft be proceeded in, which true Naturalilh will en- deavour to do , and not prate of things only withour experimental knowledge, difputingof colo-.rs with the blind man ^ learn to know the ground with your own eyes and hands, which Nature hidcth v/ithin her, then you may ipeak wifely of them vvith gocd reafon, and you may build upon an invincible Rock, if you ^o not fo, then you are but a Phantaftick pratei", whole diicourfe is grounded on land "without experi- ence, and \% toon ilukeu by every wind, and ru- ined in the end. Tae groLuid ot this knowledge rnuii^ be learned as you heard, by anatomizing . and its Medicinal fdrtSy?)i.c. 4^7 I 'and feparatingof things, which by difllllation ^^ ^-^ade known : where every Element is(eparat:d apart, there it will be made known what iscolJi I or moift, warm, or dry. There you learn to ' know the three principles, how the fpirit is fcpa- \ rated from the body, and how thcOylis fepa- rated from the water, and how the Silt is drawn from the Caput mort of each matter, and is re- duced again into a fpirit, aud how thefe three arc afterward joyn'd again, and by hre are brought into onel)ody. Further is here learn'd, howcach after its feparation, and afterward in a conjua- dtion may profitably and fafely be ufed for their feveral ufes they are prepared for : all which murt be done by a meditm* At the tirft Creation man is earthly and grofs, but his Soul, Spirit, and Bo- dy, being feparated'by death, putrifieth under ground, and when the Higheft cometh to judge- ment, he is raifed again, his Body, Soul, and Spi- rit cometh together ,according to Faith and Scrip- ti^re y that body is no more earthly, as it was JFor- fnerly, but is found heavenly and clari^ed, glit- tering as the Stars in the Eaft, and like the Sun is fecn, when all the Clouds are paft. So it is here^ when earthineis is broken, divided, and feparated, then the three jirinciples of the dead fubftance are made apparent, the dead one is forfaken, the liv- ing power comes to her perfedion, bscaufeher obftrudion is laid afide> that the vertue in the operation maybe manifeft^jd j In this Reparation and manifeftation is then known what thefc three principleFire, which are fo much difcourfed of, namely Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt, according to the condition of the fubjed. He that doth not think it to be true, let him go to the end of the Ec World, 4oS Of the w)fierj of the Ajicnafme, World, where he (hall Rcl jill.what in his dumb capacity he could. not coaiprchcnd : It" anyone {hould intend to teach iv.z any other with a pro- lixity of words, he may nil me with words, but he muft prove it really alfo, for without that I am not bound to belJeve his words, but dcfire fome fign, cis7boma< one of the Tv.xlve, who look'd for an Ocular deniorillration : I mi^'.ht have left out 'Tb-mj^^ biit being there is a Chdj be- tween a fpiritual and wt.rldly unbeliever, I -gave liberty to my mind tc fpcak it, for there is a j^reat, difference in heavenly and worldly matters, touching faith and things comprehenfible, and there is that difference iound al(b in fidertal and earthly things : for fidvrrcal things arc contjpre- "hended by fnarp imiagination, and Arithnictick rules, but to the Hnding out of earthly things there belongethfpeculationand feparation : vfith fpcculation muft be joyncd an intention, and an apprehenfion is annexed to fpeculation, the for- mer is done (piritually, becaufc the fpirit of man doth not reft, dcfireth to apprehend more ({uali-? ties of the fpirit in things natural ; every fpirit ilill draweth its like : the refl is earthy : i'ox an earthy body fep4rateth by manuals the earthly bo- dy from the fpiritual part,, and fo" the one may be difcerned before and from the other. W'herea,s the foul in both fhew^eth her lc1f really, there- fore is fhe in all really, for (he tieth the" heavenly' and earthy togeUier. like a bond,' but when fhe heavenly is feparatcd from, the earthy, that die foul alio muft' forfake her body, then you have feparated and received the three as apart, which afrer a true knowIec!gc and conjunction can afford i'uch a triuniphing and claritied body which is ■ found ioitw>^ in a better de^re^ f£ many thoufaiid time lecaufe the grofleft is'laid afide frotn the earthy. tor when heaven and earth come ^ be ic' ine'l by the great Crcatrur, then tke'greateil p2rs will b; coukimed by hre, and by^that purg- ing it will he exalted to the iamedegtee with^the leavcnly, 'ud ki: into the Time line, for each all Is creat':d L y on-^s each all is ordained by one, and fnoiigh through iin by one man all was corrupted ;.nto death, yet all is by one brought to a better ^tate ot" lite: and the onlyCreatour intends to iudgc all by tire, and all mult again become one, ivhich will be that heavenly effence, to which the rarthly gave way by means cf "the Hretthc eternal .^'lory leavhig a room to^ devil and death, from whwicc they Ihall look On the eled, admiring the ^•reat Majeily and glory of God, which in a di- vine eifcncc cf three diitinCl perfons is all in all: and hath created all. Thus the three peiions in the deity have held forth in us three inviiible eifence , giving thereby"' :o underAand by an infearchable wifdom, v/haC :hcir creature and order is : we men are too weak :0 come higher ^ God is and v^'ill be God, and ^c men mart be content with liich gifts afforded mto us : hereafter fnall be accomplifhed that pvhich IS propheiicd of by Prophets and Apofdes^ md now are conceived of only by way ot taith, .hgrefore we ought now to be contented, what by >^ature is intimated in a viilble vray : other things ncomprehenllble unto us, and matters of faith, ViJl appear better to be underiloodat the end of he world,God grant unto us alia true knowledge )f temporal goods and of the eternal. At the doling of this I fay, that this is th'? Ec 2 wh©Is 41 o Of the m)^erj of the Mlcrocafmt-i whole Att and whole foundation of alf'thePhrl lofbphick fpcech in which is that fought, which many defire , taking ^reat pains, and making great expences, nainely to get wifdom and judg- ment, a long life, health and riches of this vvoild comprehended in few words '•> a> for example. Firft you mull know, that I will fhew unto you fuch an example of the Animals, which in the appearance is a mean and poor one, hut of a mignty confequtnce, if rightly conhdered. The Heii layeth an cgg,the Ome egg is by heat brought toa hardiicfs or coaguiation i by a further heat it is brought to a putrefadion, where it is corrup- ted : in this putrefadtion the egg recciveth a new Gcy^us^ wherein is raifed a new life, and a Chicken is hatch \I, This Chicken being ptrfcdf , the fhc]] opencth making way for the Chicken to creep forth, this Chicken comir.g to a further riptnefs and agc\ increafeth farther m hcr..kind. Thus Nature turthertth her own kind, ■ and aug- menteth VJcj^e ad infinitum^ True, the egg is not prima m.itcria of the Cock or Hen \ but the prima mncria of their flefh is the hrrt feed, out of which. the egg is gone into a form, which by the equal nature of the nxition oi both is driven together and united, from fl.ence by a further heat it went to a putre faction, trom thence into a new birth, which new birth ftill propagateth and increafeth. So it is with man,- tor one man alone cannpt produce a new birth, unlcls both feeds of male and female be united, for after this conjunction thjough Nutriment of the body, and continued natural heat of thefe two feeds , which in the . Center are known for one Nature, get a new lifc> and more men are begotten, which propagate fur- ther.- its Medicinal f}a'Hs^'&zc. 4 H ther by their feed, by this gieans the whole world is hlPd with ^neii. This Iced of man is the no* bkft fubtikft blood of a white quality, in which dwelleth the vital Spirit, which is driven toge- ther by motion. If thefe feed? of both kinds by their defire of lull are together united, and their Natures be not corrupted, or elfc are contrary one to another, then there is preferved a life by a heat, alid brought t@ peifcdion in the mothers womb, and another man is brought forth, Thus much be fpoken of the feed of Animals. The vegetable iled is made palpable and vifibic which from each kind of herb is fcparated and propagated in the «arth for an increafe, which ■ feed muit hrft putrifie in the earth, and then muft be nourilhcd by a temperate moifture, at lafl this feed by a convenient warm air is brought to a per- fection , thus Vegetable- arc incrcaicd , and in their kind preferved : but the firll beginning of a vtrgctable iced is a fpiritual ellcnce or aftral in- fluence, whereby in the earth was gotten an im- agination, and became impregnated with a mat- ter, out of which by the help of the Elements it came to be fomethmg : what form of feed the earth was deiirous ot after the heavenly imprelli- . on, that form it received iirft, and brought it to a kind, which bringeth a further increaie by its pal- pable feed in the generation, hereby man may try his further skill : but he is not able to create a new feed , as Nature doth by an influence from a- bovc only he is able to increafe a formed feed. Of Metals and Minerals I inform you this,that there is one only Almighty Being, which is from . eternity, and abide h ufito eternity, which is the Creator of heaven and earth, nan^cK' the eternal IX'tv 4 ^^ Of the mjfitrji of the Mlcroccfmey Deity in three diflindl.perfoiiN which three in the Deity are a perfed .divine Being : and thomjh Iconfefsand acknowledge tliefe three perfons, yet Iconfefs only one God in one Being. This I do riow fpeak as-a Type of the hrft {:tcd of the three principles, that the firft beginning, to beget Me- talline feeds is wrought in the earth by a liderial imprelfion, which quality prefTcfh trom above into the neather a5 in the belly of the earth, and worketh continuaHy a heat therein, witli tl'ie help ot the Elements , for both muft be together : the earthy aifords an imagination, that the earth is fitted for conception and is impregnated, the Ele- ments nourifh and feed this fruit, brin? it on by a continued hot quality unto perfchich yet our miofjpber hath nn in this Boo\ of to the R eader. f bis, 1 hay e li\in>ije provided )r you a gentle , ytt excellent ^urge, made out of the abate/aid /lagiftcrium Antimonio-vO' ire, ofivbicb 1 am Jme^ and yon nil find it by experience, that it urgetb the body very gently of U noxious humors, of what qua- ty foc^er they mayhe^ fo that it lay rightly he called a'PurgAUS Inivtrfak. And thus Ihofethefe nee Medicines will ferve you, ~not ahfolntely fir all difiempr s, t for the greateft fart oftbem, well in Chyrurgia as Medici- r,andyou mil not he necejfitated foUoup and to ma\e ufe of a 'eat many uncertain Remedies ndKeceits. (4J3) THE MANUAL OPERATIOMS OF . Basil Valentine, \Xhc rcby he he huh prepared his Medicines* 1" N the Name of the Eternal Trmity, God the Father , God the Son , and God the Holy Gholr, I B^fil Valtntine do here fet down thofc Manual Operations, whereby I have prepared my toilowing Medicines , which by. God's aihflance have made me a ihccelstulanci Tcarce ever taiiing Phyfician. But bctore I let forth thoi^ Medicines, I mult l^iere remember, as many Authors have done be- fore me, which I well approve of : That the An- cient Searchers of Nature, who have lived long- ago much before me, have written of a Bird, named by them fhanix^ and is fUll at this very, time called fo. Not that fuch a Bird is really ex- feintj or to be found in the Wodd^ that tiyeth G y, irons 4"4 ^^^^ Manual Oferdthu^ from one place to another, looking after her me at and breedeth her young i for indeed there is no fuch thing. But the F/m-^i:-: is aficftitiouS' Bird, which is never confuted in the fire, but renew- eth her age vhercin, and her kind is raifed by the fire, fo that (he laltcth to the end of the world. Thus likewife it is to be undcrllood of Medi- cines, which mud cu«^ and by rooting out con- fume i^xcd uileafcs, that they muitbe prepared fo as to be&x'd.^ before they can difp;!! hxed things- Fcr nothing that is lligbt, or tccbl^and weak, can-refift that which is firong, but the ftrong muft be c:,(1: o >t byalironger. Therefore the Ancients have invented, this Bird, and compared her with o.ir True Stone , being the Univerfal Medicine of the World. Bcfides this UniverGl Medicine, there are prepared many other Medi- cines, which indeed do not conHime difeafes uni- verfally, as our Stone doth, bat do work particu- larly every one curing certain diieafes, whereto they are ordained by the Moil High from the be- ginning at the Creation for the good of Man- kind, which are to be further prepared and per- fedfed by the Piiyfician. for l-ot diltempers re- quire their own phyiick '•> coll dilrempers, having their original from cold , do likevvife require a proper remedy. The like do mixed diftempers, which ar?: of a middle Nature. All this muft the skillful Phyfician know and underuand, it fo be he intends to gain credit by his Art : on the contrary, withor:t iltci: knowledge, he Vv'ill not in all his lite time gain any cilecm, but loofe his cre- dit and repiUaticn. For every Phyfician muft conlider, that there is a great dirTerv-nce betv»ixt tliole diieafcsj whica liave fully poilclTcd , and clearly c; Bjfil Valentine: 4-5 clearly overfpread the whole body, as the Lepro- fie, and fudi like^ and tkofe dirtempers which have bur taken up their Lodging in a Mans Body, as a Traveller doth his at an Inn h fuch are the ie-" I veral iorts oF Feavtrs, and other the like'mala- , dits. Therefore every iin^jle medicine muft be directed and applied to the^.difeafe, to which it is proper and deputed. In like manner External: Diiiempers han^e th^.ir pjcu'^iar Natur's , and- a certain difference muft be made betwixt them* For in old, lafting,and fpreading Ulcers and Sores, which arife from within, another way if Cure muft be ufed^then in healing of fimple, common,' green wounds, outwardly, made upon the fiefh, which may be well cured onely by outward application of certain Ointments, Plailkrs.Salves, Herbs, Balfams, and Giles : and ( except fomc lingular accidents by the influence of the Stars of Heaven, fKould require the preparation of fomc healing Drinks to be inwardly takenj thofe afore- faid Medicines m.ay b^ fufficient alone to cure' any green wounds, without furtlxr addition of any other inward means. Bat this cannot be ia old Ulcers, which have tlieir original from with- in. For their original b^ing internal, there muil: bi internal Phyiick likewife adminifiired , whereby thofe humors, v/hich keep them open,- may bi dryed up, and their iffuingfor th ftoppcd. . But may J'bme Phyficians fay v how can we rcmem- bei^ all this ? this would coil too mudi labour, and much time vv^iil be fpent in i^ndin^it ait^ and our life is too ftort, death will prevent its 'herein. APhyiician ought indeed to; kno'vV it, if fo be he will be pcrfedt-. md difcharge his of- fice and calling, b'.ijje God and the World cpn- Gg 2 fdeiiti^' 42(5 The MAnualOferatioui fcientioufly, that the account of his ftewardfliip may not (end him to Hell- For it is not enough, that a fearcher of the iecrcts of Nature faith : The Earth is adorned with many fweet and deli- cate Flowers of all manner of colours, and that the Birds of the Air are beautilied with feveral colours and pleafant feathers. This is not enough to make oneaPhilofopher, or fearcher of Natur's Arcana '-, bccaufe every Clown may behold the variety of colours in Flowers, blue, and all forts of mixtures. But when the ignorant Fellow by further enquiry is required to give an account of the original of all fuch colours, how thofe co- lours-ari(e, and how they are driven out by Na- ture > he is then as learned a Malfer as Doctor Coxcombe^ vvho was to talk fome broth, whe- ther it was faked fufficlently. Therefore fome- thing more is required to learn to know every thing, and to feareh into the hidden fecrets. For a fearciicr of Nature mull know more than a filly Country-n:a:i, -who only beholds the colours, which every one may do, luice they are expofed to every ones view , but lie mult look back, and by ferious (peculations fcarch and enquire, how thofe many colo^irs viiibly fhinning in Animals and Vegetables, arc likewiie let forth and do ap- pear in Metals. If he hnds and difccrns this, he is then a true fearciier of Nature indeed ; but without it, he is no more fuch a one, than other mi-expericnced Country-men. I will fpeak no more of this, but hereafter I miuli tell you,that all Natural dileaies, External and Internal arc caufed by two things, to wit, either by an earth- ly and groilcr Fxiedium, as by inordinate or fuper-, fiuous e?At>ing and diiiikicg, or by too much care> fear. o/ Bafil Valentine. ^ 4J7 fear, ^¥atching, taking cold, and the like i or clfc by more fpiritual and heavenly influences, as when Elemenets become infcd:ed, polluted and poifon- cd, whereby they produce many and manifold diftempers in the Iciter world. The firlt is more j corporeal, the other fpiritual, for it is produced '. after a kind of fpiritual manner. The bodily diftempers have their feat in the blood and lio- Hiack , from whence they work into the other parts, and caufe pain : Sach diitempers may be cured well enough by more earthly and gro(s ways, as by purging aild letting of blood. But as concerning fpiritual difeafes, wrought by the malignant influences of the Stars, they arc not removed by corporeal and bodily remedies, for they are much too weak: But it is to btr obfer- ved, that if fuch a fpiritual diftemper have taken deep root, fpiritual Medicine? are to be applied, which arc of that nature, that though they do look like corporeaHjpes, yet are they fo prepared, that like a Volatile Sjrit they penetrate the whole body, to fweep away all morbihc matter, which no Medicine is able to perform, vv'hich not being feparated from, lyeth as yet hidden in its grols body, what other difl:empers foever there be> that do not derive their original from thdc two natural caufes above faid, they are not Accidents cf Nature, neichcr ca« they be accounted natu- ral, but muu be judged to have been wrought bv Witchcraft 5 which cannot be cured as othLV diftempers, and with fuch remedies : but if any dcfireth to be freed of them, a Magical cure muft be ufed , neverthelefs fuch Magick muft be fol- lowed, as is not againfl Nature, but rather doth a^rce with it, and which doth not difhonour our G g 3 Saviour, 4^3 X T^e Manual Of erAUom ■Saviour, not endaiigcr our Souls, but worketh 3n a way futirg to Nature. There iiiight be much faicl, and much written of theic things, but I hold it needlefs tor ibme pregnant rcafon, which I do keep to my felf. For herein neither the Wit of Athens can aifiit me, nor the Power of the Ko^ mans \ neither can the Pvichts of Crcefm or Aba- fit ms pay me for what X keep back in ehofc pokts of Magick, which I hope is prudently done of jne. Bat if Vranius the Father of Saturn were yei. alive, he would perhaps keep his refidence in /r<9>f »2i;7(?j-, that fo, befides the H^^z-z/jJeA^jlike a Cunnina,-m.an he might give an account, w^he- ^h^r Haluetiis the Sca-c^gtc is gone, and] where Alcar.'vejj^m the little Sifran-rvorm makes iiis- Crimfoni' ^- ' ■ Ti'iviTiay'fufrice for a Preamble to my Manual OpCKttrons, wherein I have given you thi^ ac- count, wi.ichwill be rightly midcrf bod, when thofe .Manual Operations ot^jPline are induftri- ouilyiand'vii^Oroaiiy pradf ife^ and his defire ac- com.pl idled, and then the Eyes will be opened to behold, what now the Ears let-ftijiriz. where Virtue lyeth buried, and Truth overcometh falfe- hood. The Creatoiir of Heaven and Earth, the Son of God our Redeemer, the Holy Ghoft our Comfor- ter, wh.o hath (andllied us, be pleafed to allift me, that I may fuccefsrully finiih and put a pe- riod to th.is defign of mine, to the. glory of God^ ito tU comfort and protit of my Neighboui', and to the promoting ot the Salvation of my own Soij. "■ ; I wiii now firfi:. and in the beginning write of ■erne rv:parations of Minerals^ and difcover, how I have ; of BafiJ Valcnrinc. 42^ I have prepared them in the fear and Jby the a/Jj' fiance of God , and found them heipfiil in th- greateft dilicmpers.. The univerQI (hali follow herereaftcr. Of Vitriol and its Preparatio/t^ as alfi of its Fom^er and Virtue* TAke good H/^Hgnrlan Vitriol^ calcine it, till it be of a yellowilh colour, and no higher. Grind this calcined Vkrio] fniall, put it into a di- ililling VeiTel of Glafs, with a Jong Neck, well Luted, Into fzpienti^' Put thereto a large Re- ceiver, and begin to diflillday and night with a Very gentle fire, that gives not a ftronger heat, than the Sun doth in a hot day. Afterwards in« creafe the hre by degrees, forcing at laft the Spirits with the flronged hre, till red vihbc drops do come over , which work hath taken up three days and nights. This being done, take thac which is left in the diitilng VcfTel, commonly called Ca.pit mjrtimm^ and grind it fmall 5 pour on it clear Rain-water hrit diftilied , and boil therein the Cholcotar, and the Salt of the Vitriol will igo into the Water. The Water being fet- tled and clear, Fiitre it, that the Feces may be (c- parated. Let the Wat er v: p. ur away g^ n;Iy m lomeGlais VeiTeJ, tijj the Salt be d.y > dilfolve the Salt again in Rain-water hril ^iftiil. d and 1^^ it vapour away again to drynefs. . Repeat thia operation the third time, andthcSaltof Vi^ripl will be very fair, clean, and clear. Put this dry- Salt into a Cucurbit of Glafs, and pour on it th<^ Sibovc made Spirit of Vituol, Lute the Glais ht/- Gs 4 fa^ienti^i^ 4:50 The M^r^ualOperatfOKS JapientU^ ^aiid fet it in digeftion for (bmc dayc This being done, open the Glals, and put the ma- terials together into a Retort of Glafs, and diltill them lirft gently, and when it ceafeth to drop, increaiir the fire, and force it over, till nothing vijl come more. Let it become cold, and then i take the Spirit out of the Receiver, which mufl ,■ be fcmewhat large and ftrong. Put the Spirit in- j to a Glafs-body, and rediiie it by diiiillation, till it be freed from the fici^mc, and the matter in the Glafs-body appear to be of a red deep brown co- lour. Then take the Ghis-body, and let it with the faid Matter in a Cellar, and there will (hoot from it very tair, white, clear, tranfparent Chry- llals. Put thefj tranfparent Chryftals into a large Phioi, witha very large and long Neck, and pour on them tne hrft white Spirit of Turpentine, and it will boll up and foam, therefore you mufl be careful, and not over-hafry in doing this. The Chryilals v.ill diffolve, and the Spirit of Turpen- tine will grow traniparent, as red as blood. This being doi.e, pour on it three times the weight of common Spirit ot' Wine, fiecd fully from its Megme, fo that it ftand two fingers high above it. Then p^it a little Head of Glais upon the Neck of the Phiol, Luting it well, joyn to it a Receiver, und diliili very gently the Spirit of Wine in Bj/- rCQ Man£^ aiid the Piiidturc of Vitriol comes over very plcafavit with the Spirit ot Wine, and that whicli is cbrrofive reiiiams behind with the cily parts of the Spirit of Turpentine, ' The Spi- rit ot Wine being come with the Tindture, put it together into another Phiol, and pour en it fome irefli Spirit of Wine, and difrill it again gently in ' fialrico Marixj as you did befoic j il iuiy corrolive be c/Bafil Valentine. 43- . be come over "with the'fire, it will now ftay be- hind. Repeat this Operation the third time, and the work is done and perted. Put this fair, rcd^ tranfparent Spirit of Vitiiol into a Pelican, add to it at once half an once of well pulverifed Uni- corns-horn, and let it (land in Circulation in » gentle heat a whole month. Then pour it off very clear from the Faxs, and the Tindure of Vitriol is prepared for the Medicine, of a very pleafant talk, and is to be ufcd after this manner following, to wit, Let him that is troubled with the Faliing-fickneis, take half a dram of it in a ipoonful of Lillium convallium Water, when the - lit is coming upon him, thus let him ufe it three times, and this Medicine will cure him by the help of God. He that is mad and dilkaded^ ftiould take it likewife in Wine for the fpace of eight days, and he will have reafon to give God, |hanks tor it. Moreover, if it be taken in Wine^ it doth refolve any hardnefs fettled in the nerves > and if it be conikntly ufed for fome time, even the Gout it (elf is con(umed and cured ihereby. ■ . Likewife it maketh thofe who are melancholy f nd troubled with fadnefs, if it be ufed as before, very cheerful and lighthearted, difpelleth all (ad- nets, and breed eth good and pure blood. It hath been found very excellent in iwimmings and gid- dinefs in the head, it comforteth the brain, and prefcrueth the memory. If it be adminif^red in Confumptions of the Lungs, and any other Coughs, ift the manner aforelaid, it will cure thofe diflempcrs , and is very ufeful fQr mtny other ■", things. An ^ 3 z The Mgmal Oporationt An AMltloH* TAke Sal-armoniac, c^iiTolve a confidcratlc quantity of it iirtheftrongef^ Vinegar, and add to it filings of Copper, let it putrihcinheat, till the filings are all- grown friable, fo that they may be grinded into powder, and you will have a yellow powder, which Edulcorate v/ell. Having done fo, dry the pov/der, and pour on it the red Aquavit £ vitriolic which hath been di- fiilltd over with its proper Salt, (b that it cover it all over h fet it thusdn heat, and the powder of the Copper will be dilfolved in the Oyl, but there miift foiRe fair Water beiriixed v;ith it^then draw It off in Sand to drynefs, and the flegme comes over : The remainder force out of a Hetort in an open fire, and you will find an oUum '/cncris^ graroj tranlparent. like an Emierald, Put again into this vlcmn (biiie of the powder of Copper, and it will be prcfently diilolved in it. Then coagulate it to drynefs, and you have a powder •, hatf^n ounce whcreot will tranfmute a whole pound of Iron being in flux , into very good- Copper. Of th: fipcet Effcncc of Vitrbh THe fweet ElTence oif Vitriol, whereby niany wonderful cures maybe wrought, is Only prepared cut of its Sulphar, which burnerh like JDther Erimfione. To obtain this, proceed after this manner. Take of the belt Vitriol youcan o/rafilVaent'ine^ 43 J get •> difTolve it in fair Foimtaiii-wafcr •, after this take Pct-a(hes, fuch as Dyers ule for their Dying, thofe dilTolve likewife in fair F^oun tain- water, let jc fettJe wcl], and then pour off the dear from the dress, and add it to the Solution of Vitriol, and one will infiame the other, and caufe a feparation. For the Sulphur of Vitriol doth ftparate it felf by precipitation. Make a confi- derablc guar.tity of ir, and Edulcorate it from all rmpurity. Afterwards, dry the fame Sulphur , which will hum like other Sulphur, being cafr up- on glowing coals. Take row this Sulphur, and (liblime it by it felf, without any addition, and there will remain^ fome Feces, which fepirate and put away. Theit take the Sulphur, and grind together with it half its weight of common Salt of Tartar, and di- frill tiicm together through a Retort, and thcre^. will come overa reddifn oyl. Pour to this oyl^. fome diftilled Vinegar, and there will precipitate a brown powder, and the Spirit of Tartar re- maineth in the Water. Edulcorate the fame pow- der very well, for therein is the treafure to hz looked after. This work being done pour fome Spirit of wine on the faid powder, and let it circulate in heat for eight days. Thus the excel- lent fweet Elfence of the Sulphur of Vitriol go- eth mto the Spirit of Wine, and fwim.eth upon the t^p in forma olci^ like oyle of Cinnamon. TheiTi l^parate the Ellence trom the Spirit of Wine, by means of a feparating Glafs, and keep it very carefully for uie^ it being a great treafure. Ihe 434 Thf Manual OporathnS 7)a' Vp of tins Medicine- THisEirencc of Sulphur, four grains of it be- ing taken in Balm- water, drycth up the bad humors of the blood, itrengthens and incites Men and Women to Copulation, cleanfeth the Womb,, hindreth the Rifmg of the Mother, and breedeth good Seed for the Procreation of Children. Tiie iame quantity being taken m Parfley-wa- ter, and continued for a fortnight, doth confumc all flegmatick humors of the whole bodyi, cures the Dropiie radically , drives out the putritied Blood, openeth Impofthumes, yea, you will find it really and in truth to do wonderful cures, if ycu will be induftriousand careful in the preparation thereof, but you muft never whil'il you live, for- get God your Creator, to call upon him for a Blef- (ing,and to render to him thanks for all his father- lybenehts he hath bellowed upon you. Njtc^ This fweet EfTcncc of Vtriol hath that Eminent Phyfician Dodor Hdi'tman taken out of this Book, and inferted in his Praxif Chy^niatrica^ Jub titulj lepra J where he doth explain tomething this Procefs. IthePnparation of the Stone Ignis* I^TOvv will I teach you tlie^chkfcfl preparation J-^ of Antimony, and the ufe of it in Medi- cine. In this Antimony are hidden, and found To many w^onderful myikries, that there is none too old to ham, aiid to learch to find them out. There- Of Bafil Vaki^.tinc, 455 Therefore 1 will inftrudi you here to make onlF feme preparations 5 which alfo arc required to ether things. Take pure Mineral Antimony,which is brought from Hungary^ grind it {mall, and wafii it very clean, that the earth may be feparared from it. Take then a pound ot it^mij^with it as much of fluxing powder made of Tartar and Nitre, cover it with common Salt, and melt it down in a Cru- cible with a Itrong iire , when it is well melted like Water, kt it cool •> put again to it the like quantity of new fluxing powdcr,and melt it once again, and thai the liegulus will be clear and pure. Add to this i^e^K/^j-its weight of Nitre; and melt it down. Pour it out together, and beat oif the Scoria 5 and put again to the Ty.egH^ ////its weight of Nitre, and melt it. Repeat this till all the Regulus is gone into ScorU-, which you muft carefully keep : Thcv will burn upon the tongue like fire. This being done, take the mat- ter to gathered grind it imall, and edulcorate the Salt-peter from it, and there rcmainetha brown- yellow powder, which dry and keep, it looketh like grinded glais. Take now a common 2i.t'gi/- lus of Antimony, made with Salt- peter and Tar* tir, grind it fmall, and put it into a round Glais, which niult not be too hi ;h, and fallen a Head too it. Sublimit youv Kcguluf in Sandbyitfelf without any addition, fwcep the Sublimate with a Feather again into the Glais, and Sublime it again i Repeat this fo long, till nothing do rife, but remain red and fixed in the bottome. The« take this fixed Antimony, and put it upon a Ston« in a Cellar, and in time it will be diliolvcd into Water, which diUill in B^l^oa Msri^, until the feck 4?<^- The ManudOferdtion^ i|xth part cnly of the Water do. remain in the Goal's. . Set this in a cold place, and there will (hoot reddifh Chryfbls, which difiblve in Ra^u- water, Filtrc it, and draw oif the Flegme to a thicknefs •, fet it by as betore^ and the Chryftals will (hoot whiteaiid very pure,, like unto Salr-pc- ter : this is the Saj| of Antimony. Take tiiefc Chrylials, and pour upon them pure difiilkd Vi- riegar,and they willdifToivc in the Vinegar. Then diltiilthe Vinegar, the Glafs being very clofe Lu- ted, forcing at laft the Spirits into the Vinegar, and then the Vinegar is prepared. Take this Vi- negar, and pour it on the prepared brown-yellow - fowder, aixi fet it in Ibme warm place, and the Vinegar will («raw out the 1 indure of- Antimo- ny altogether red within half a quarter of an hour* Pour off this Extrasfrion together, asid let it todigell for eight and twenty days in 'E>dmo Marl£, A^fcerwards diiriil from it the Vinegar tnrough an Alembick in Sand, forcing in the end ti\t Gyle into another Glals, which comes over with manyfirange ai:d wonderful Veins. Re- <^iiie this Oylc in Allies, and the reft of the Vine- gar, if any be kft, will come oif, and the Oyle remaineta very Iweet, and of a pleatant red co- lour like a Ruby. Thus have you joyned the Sulphur With the Salt of Antimony, and brought It over like an Ao.n^ vit^^ which Keep vcrv care- fiilly, . Furthermore, take again a common Kcguhtso^ Antimony, made with Salt-peter and Tarts r, and beat it to,povyder. Then take of ,lfr-Q% diiiiiled Vincga-r tbi :e ineafurcs, [<;»//<«•, one meiiure] id §fi^ four Quarts and a half, l-ut ini-o it of Sal-ar- nioniaQy v>f Salt of lartar Cwhctewich I will t^ach- Of Bafil Valentine. 4^7 teichyou hereafter at the end of my dlredlonsi L.re I intei:d to write of the Philofophers .;:e, to prepare Spirit of Wine jlikewife eight Durces. P'geft this to the Evaporation of the Vinejtxar, and irun^Ic with the Salts three parts of yerAceT'npoiy^induimlithi: Spirit, which is ot a fing:Tla^ nature anckeroperty. Poirr this Spirit on the pi'lverifed ■Rcrjdtis of ARtimony^ and having the Glafs v/ell Luted, kt it fbnd in d/gefrion iix- tecn days ^ then dii^ill the Spirit from the Matter to a dryncfs, and grind four times the weigh*" of Filings of Strel with the fame, put it into a Re- tort, and putting thereto a large Receiver full of Wat'jr, diilili it, torcing at lali with a ftrong hre, and the Mercury comes over in Fumes, and i5 qiiicKned in the Water, which is the true Mercu- ry of Antimony. Take common Spirit of Vitriol, add a little common W^atcr to it, and put your Filings ot Steel into it, let it Hand till the Filings are dif- folved, then pour it off clean, and put away the Feces. Afterwards diftill the Spirit in Aflies to a thicknefs, and fct the GLfs in a cold place, and there will ihoot good Vitriol of Iron, '^hich take, and having tirft vapoured away the Flegm,mingle with it thrte parts of the powder made ot burned potfhards of broken Pots : put it into a Retort, draw off the Flegmdhrlt, then force the Spirit with a flrong tiTf nito a proper gbfs, which re- ffifieto the height,^nd there will remain anOyl hrthebottome. .Pour this Oyle upon theMer-^ eury.^made before^ and" draw off the Flcgmeirt' hot'Afhcs, and the Tindure of the Acata vit£ remahis beliind, and doth Precipitite the Mer-^ ;urylnto aiair hi^h coloured powder "of very* great 4j8 The AianudOperatiom great virtues in curing old Running Sores* 'the ConjuntlidH of the three Frincipks^ Sul^hnvy' Salt-) and Mercury of Antimony » TAkc then of this Precipitate well Edulcorated with common Spirit of wine, one part •, and pour oh it of the above mentioned fweet Oyle, three parts, in a Phiol, fo that the Phiol be not above half full. Then Seal it Hermetically, and place it in a Phyioibphical Furnace, and the Precipitate w^ill be dilfolved in that continual heat. Open then the Gla{s, and continue a ftrong Fire, till tlie Matter become a h-KtA Powder, and do fix, and then the Scone ignis is prepared, of which I have written. This Scone is a particular Tincture in Mens bodies as well as in thofe of Metal. This may be ufed in many hard and dani^crous diftempers, as I have let it down in the dircdions for, the adminiftrati-. en and ufe of the fame in the Triumphant Gha-. riot of Antimony. . ; An Addition'' *]Jf Akc of this Stone, or particular Tindure., half an ounce,call: it upon twelve ounces and a halt cf pure Silver^or upon as much Pewter or Lead, let it flow very well for four and twenty hours v then drive it off clean, and Quart it, as Jryers andReiiners do, and you will find in the Silver two o'jnces and a half of very good Gold, and in Ihe Pewter or Lead one ounce, upon ;hc Cuppel. Anoibst 1/ fiifil Valentine. 45? Another Medkite mjidc out of AnthrD-iy and hkc- cury^ and of its Fffccls in oHtw:ird SorcU YAke- Hun^ar'ijn Antimony, and Sublrmed Mcr- cnry, and grind them well together, and di-^ ftill them through an Eartlicn Retort, torciuij'' them at laft with rheftrongell: hre imagin:ible, and you wil] obtain an ( )yle, which feparatc and keep apart. Put away the quick Mercury, it fobe there be any, and the Cinnibre you will find in the Neck' of the Retort. B'lt as for the Capa ' mortiium-, grind it fmall, and put it into a new Re- I tort, and having poured on it 'the Oylc, hr(i: made warm, diflill it again trom it. Repeat this fo often, till the Ci/>/irw,Tf//7//?z rcmani behind like Allies, and then your Oyle is prepared. Atter this take (bmuchfrelh Antimony, as iirft of al the Ciip.it mortuam did weigh, giind it fman, and pour on it the Oyle hriVwarnicd, and fo many times diftilled as before, till the Oyle be come over as red as a Ruby, and the Ctpa t j?i^rtmmi likewile remain like Afhes in thebotLome of the GIafs,and then the Oyle is prepar>u. 7he 'jre^aratiju of the Suhhute for this rFork>- HTAke one pound and a half of H/rigzrl.m\'[- triol.-onc pound of common Sale, tour oun- ces of Sak-pcccr; grind this tOiierher , and put one pound of Qaici; hivLT into cne bottome of ct Ghls-budy , puce it in Sind, ib that the Sa.id do not come above the Matrcr in thcGlalsb put a "Head thereupon, and give it a ccnvenicnc hre, • * Hh audr and the Sublimate will (lick to the iides of the Glafs, which is to be ufed to your work. Take the above prepared Aqu^ vit£^ and add to eight ounces of it, three ounces of Salt-peter- water, and diitill it out of a Coated glals Retort, and you will have an ounce of" the Aqua vit£ re- main behind fix'd* Then put again to the Aqu^ vit£^ one ounce of fre(h Salt-peter-watet into a Retort, and diftill as before, and there will ftay more behind. This addition of frcfh Salt-pcter- watcr to the Aqua vit£^ a^ diliillation out of a Coated Retort, as hath been laid before, repeajt fo often, till all remain hxed in the Retort. 'Xbc S^lt'petcr-ivater is made thus* *J*Ake unburnt Potfhards grinded fmall, and with three parts of the iame, grind one part of purified Salt-peter •, put into the Receiver half a pounds of Water to one povuid of Salt-peter, and f^rce the Spirits over into it. That which is fixed with this Water, put into a Glals body, and pour upon it the comnion Aqua vit£ vitriolic fo that it be fOur fingers high upon it. Then dilhll it till the Matter become dry. Take out this Matter, and dry it yet more, that the reil of thofe corrofrv^e Spirits may evaporate •, then edulcorate it well with Spirit of Wine, anil the Medicine is :Dreparcdv -ikt utit together into a iji^hOicurbic, and Sublime Hh 2 ' i- 44 ^ "^"^ Mmual O^^er attorn it in^^md, till nothing will S'-iblime more. Take then thcie Flowers, put thcni into a Glafs, and ' pout^ on "them a commqji Aqtia vit£ 'iart^ri^ which hath been diifolved in a Cellar, To that rt fwimm on the top of it a hands breadth. Phce it in a convenient heat, r.fid the Sulphur will open it felf in few hours, and become tranfpa- rent red like a Ruby. This being done, peur off the extradion into another Glafs, andpiv. toit very good dliVilled Vinegar, and the Sulphur falls to the bottonie with a great ftink. Pour off the Aaua liu-y and edulcorate well tht^ Sulphur, and dry it gently. Put this Sulphur again into ano- ther irit of Wine frc^rit, and there rcnlain- eththcTindurcof Corals behi-nd in the bottome like a red fat oyle of Olivt^J. 'I'he Vfe if the Midkinc. CIx drops of this Tind^ure gi^cn in a Spoonfu] of Wine to thufe that are bereaved of their Senfes , rcHQreth thtnn again. ' This Tindure comforteth likewiic the Brain , and firengtlicns the Memory, difpelleth (idnels and melancholy, makes iighthearted , breedeth g;ood blood, gnd ftrengthneth the heart. It is fuch a noble Medi- cine, for which vye are bound iadee4 to blcfs AU nii^hty Godo 444 '^^^ Ma',iU(dOfaM hns Of the true Solution of Pearls. 'J'Ake very good Verdigreafc, grind it Imall, and dilTolve it in dillilkd Vinegar, pour oft the ekar, and throw away the Feces. Then diftill off the Vinegar out of a Glafs body to a thickncis, and put it into a cold place, and there will (hoot from it a iair Vitriol : put this Vitriol into ano- ther Glafs, and pour on *t a high rcdiiied Spirit of Wine, and dillblve therein the Vitriol very well V feparate the Feces from it, afterwards diAill off like wife the Spirit of Wine to a thickncT, and fet it again intoacold place, and the Vitriol fhoot- cth again. Put then the Vitriol into a Glais bo- dy, and draw ( If by deftillation the Flegme in Bahieo Mari£^ till the Matter becoire dry •-, take it out, put it into a Glals Retort, and diliill oikc more with a Wronger tire in Sand, and you will -obtain a pleafant Vinegar. Dilfolve in this Vine- gar as many Pearls as it will difiblve, for this Vi- negar worketh very well upon them, dilTolveth the (ubftance, but not the (hells. - The Pearls being dilTolvcd,draw off the Vine- gar in Bilmj hLr'i£-i till the 1 carls be very dry : Then take them out, and Edulcorate them with Ilofe-watcr. Put thcfe Pearls thus prepared into a Gla(s body, and pour fome Spirit ot Wine up* on them, and digefi them in gcntk heat iour and twenty hours, and there rifeth a p]ea(antJi4Uor from thePcarlcs^ which doth mount and Iwim- cth i^on the. Spirit ot W ine J ike an ^(^«j i'ir< made of Cinnamon. Pour it off together wirh the Spirit of W iiie, and keep it. 1k^ €f BafiJ A^aJcntine, 445 1 he Vfe of this Medicine* *pAke of this Spirit of Wine half a fpoonful, fo that four or five drops of the Oylc may go with it : It- comforteth the Heart, gives ftrength to the very Marrow and Bones , cureth Swim- ings in the Eyes, and whatfoever may be hurtful to the Eyes. Difpellcth Rheums in the Head, and the Noife in the Ears, openeth the palTage to Hearing, and is moreover a mofi precious trea* fure in majiy diftcmpers. NoiCy This Preparation of Pearls hath been borrowed of our Philofopher, by that IlluftriouS Reformer of G^/f»ic^/ Medicines Dodor Zrvolffer in his Appendix. • ' — ■ . j^ certain Cure of the StonC' R Of common Salt-pcter wdl purified one pound, and as much of the comm.on white Spi- rit of Vitriol. Pour the Spirit of Vitriol upon the Salt-peter, and the Salt-peter will be difTolv- cd altogether. This being done, diftill from thence the Spirit of Vitriol in Allies, to a thick- •ne(s, and fet it into fomc cold place, and the Salt-peter will fhoot again from it. Take two ounces of this Salt-peter, and the like quantity of the Salt of Wormwood > pour on thicm a lit- tle of the Oylc of Sulphur made per Campanam^ fo that the Salts may be like a Pultife : Mix with it -likewife one dram of Anuileed-oyle, and as nuichof Oyleof white Ambre, adding tlitretoa Jih 4- pound ^.i.-<5 The MdhurdOi^sYA*:ip-i< I pound ot Canary Sa^'ar, and mix all the fc ingre- \ dients vciy wdl together. Let hini that is tor- i men ei with theStopc, take of this Powder every dry live or iix times ever v time as much as will lye upon a point of a knife, twice repeated, and this Medieiiie w^ill work upon the Stpne , and breaK it, and throw it out radically. I have dene great cures- with this Medicine, for many have been cured by it. Yea, in the beginning ot my.praclifc, I have cured one of my Brethren of bis- diftanpcr with the faid Mcdic'nc, when all , the Herbs he i:fed Would do him no go(5d. He prayed f.rvuirly for me to his dying day, and gave God thanks daily for hib Crcatuies, ieemg he had putfo great virtue intothtm. iV /c, With this Medicine very gieat cures have been pcrfoimcd, as concerning the Scone of the JKidney.s, Ly divers excellent Phyticians in C:r- Of tl e Scnl^ or of the Sulplmr of Lime-, or the Thi IffUrs SUvcr. ' . 'J Ake comm.on Salt and quick or unllackt Lime-, reverberate them together in a Wind-turnace ^vnh the Itrongclt hrc,e^trad again the Salt-peter yvmi warm Pxain-watcr, and coagulate it to dry- ncfs, min^W again with it new quick Lime, te- verberatc it, and extradl again, ;Lpeat tjiis the third tiinc. Tins'- being done, take "Calx of Sil- ver, being after the diflblution in A(;ua frrt pre- c pita ted, and mix it with the prepared Salt : put ix into a glafs Piiiol. pour nn it a coinaion Aqua o/Bafil Valentine, 4^7 firrt^ fuch as the Goldfmiths life, rfiade of Salt- peter anil Vitriol, and draw it otf by diftillatiou in hot Sand, pour on it {bme (xc9[\A(jui firh ^^^d having dilHlled it likevvife, repeat it the third time, giving at laft very ftrong tire, that the Mat- ter in the Glafs may how very wdl. Let it cool of itfelf in the Furnace, and the Silver will be- come tranfparent blew in one piece. Extrad: this with Vinegar, tiJl you can txtrad: no more. JE.dulcorate that which is extra fted with Water, that the Salt may be feparated from it. Cohobate Vinegar upon the dry Sulphur, till it comes over like a Saphire. Reduce the fame Silver intofmall hhygs, and add to it its weight of Sal-arn oniac, and Sublinie it in a Glafs body, and the Sal-aimo- niac carrieth with it the Sulphur of Lune, of a very pleafant Sky colour, Put this Sublimate in- to a Dith of Glals, Edulcorate it well with Rain- water tiril: diftillcd, and the Sil-armpiiiac will hz feparated. Then dry the Sulphur of Lune, put it into a little body, and pour on it good re6tit-cd Spirit of Wine, and fet it four and twenty hour? hi heat, and the Spirit of Wine doth Iiiibibc the Sulphur of Lune tine traniparent blew like a v^a- phire, or Vitra mjrin^ and leavctii fome tew KCv-S t>chind, which fcparate from it. the Vfe, FJve or fix drops of this Tindurc bei«g takc^ in VV'ine, do difpell lad and mtluiicholy thoughts.' it preventeth unquiet deep i curctli ^ ttiofe as ufe to rife and w^andcr up and down in- the night, and likewifc thc/e thaf -jiit Lunaticks. 44 8 The Manual Opor axiom Giveth reft to all fuch as are reftlefs in the nighty and is an excellent Medicine for all thofe that are Lunaticks. Tih^ fecrct of ^ick^ crV}fJI:icktLime. TAke good pure Chalk, burn it in a potters Furnace with a very ftrong lire, to bring it to an exad maturity. Then grind it fmall upon a warm Stone, and pour on it in a Glals body Spi- rit of wine, made with Philofophical Tartar, as I fliall teach in my way of making the Potable Gold, that the Chalk become like a thin Pultice. This being done, dillill from thence the Flegm, to the drynefs of the Chalk, pour frefh Spirit of Wine on it, and diftill it off again* Repeat this fix times *, then grind the Matter fmall, and lay it on a Ston::; in a Cellar to dilTolve, and there wil flow in few days from it a Liquor, which when ydu have gathered, put it into a Retort of Glafs, and dn'tillitin Sand i, and the Flegm comes over firft, v/hich keep a partr After this there cometb A fpiritual liquor, which is likewife to be kept by it fclf. Moreover take ChryCtal-ftones, Pulverile fhem, and grind their weight of Live or Mine- ral Sulphur with them. Put then this Matter upon a broad earthen Platter, ftirring it continu- ally, and burn away the Sulphur from it. Then Reverberate it in an open flaming Fire for three hours. Thi.9 being done likewile, put the Matter into a Glals, and pour the liquor upon it- Take like wile Crab> Fyes, put them into another Glafs, and p6ux on ihem of the fame liquor-, let it ftand -*retty hoi tor tourteen days and nights, and there o/Bafil Valentine. 449 will rife from both a moifture, which pour off together very clean into a little body of Glafs, land rcftifie it in Balneo Maria^ and the Liquor re- maineth behind. Three grains of which being I taken in Wine, hath wrought very great and ad- mirable elFcdts. This Medicine cureth likewife radically the Stone of tiacJBladder and Kidnq^s both in Men aiKl Women. AnAddhijH* •yAke this burned Chalk", pour upon it , and then draw from it again fevcral times an Aqua fort made of Vitriol and Salt-peter. DiiToIve it' afterwards in a Cellar. Dirtill that which is dif- folved into an Oyl with a ftrong lire. Di geif with this Oyl a Calx of Lune opened with Aqna fort for a Month. Reduce this Calx by mekingi it down with Salt-peter, and Sal-armoniac, and refine it with Saturn, then fcparate it, and- you will have a white fixed Lune, which lay for a day and night in an Aqua fort^ and you havc^ood Gold which endureth all tryals. L* P. the Freparation of the Great Zhilfo^hkh^Stonc. LAftly, to clofe up all, I will now inflrud yow from the love'l bear to God, how I have made my Univerfal Medicine, or the Philoibpher Stone, which many Maficr-buildershavc wrought upon, and will difcover faithfully and truly all iny Manual Operations. You mufi know, that owr 450 I'he Manual OporatlohS 1 our Stone is made out of its own proper EfTencci for it tranfmuteth other MctaJs into real and true Gold, which Gold muir be prepared, and become a better Stone. Asd though nothing of another Nature niuft be ufed in the preparation of our Stone, which might obfirud its Majcltick Ex- cellency, yet the preparation of it in the begin- ning cannot be made without means. But pb* fcrvc, that, as you will hear afterwards, all Cor- roiivcs mull be walhed away again from it and ilparated, fo that our Stone may be (evered trom "all poifon, and be prepared tabc the great- ci^ Medicine. pL 't I bcleech you for Gods fake, that you vf ill keep your Tongue, and put aieal'toyour Lips, that you nidy n )t difcovcr what you learn out of ihhy iitch an incredible worldly excel lency^ to the itTipenitent and unworthy-, that you may not par- ticipate of other Mens iins where there is no need, and thereby prepare for your fclf th<^ way loH'vll and everblling Damnation, which God Almighty gracioully keep and preferve you from. Wl-erefore ubfcrve my v;ords, and lay to heart ray frying? , do not dillike it, that I limply relate thefc things, ^or many wQxds avail, little here. Neither let it trouble you, that the work may kcm llii^ht unto you, but confider the end th'at xvil! follow. For ingonlidcrabte is both the b^r ginning of the work, and the work it fclf : but the op is high and tKccllent , all which know- Jedg- '«ud experience will dilcover aud bring to Iii>!itc ■ N'^ 0/ Bafil Valentine. 45- 'Now do I proceed in the Name of the Lord to th Work ii fclf. TAke of the very bed Gold you can have oni part, of good Hungarian Antimony lix parts, melt this together upon a tire, and pour it out intofuch a pot as the Goldfmiths ufe -> when yoa have poured it out it bccometh a Kegul'M. This fame KeguUts muii be melted again, that the Anti* niony may be feparatcd trom it. Tjiis being done, add to itMerairy, and melt k again, and cleanfe it again* Repeat this the third time 5 and the Gold ispurged and purihed enough for the beginning of the Work. Then beat the Gold very thin, as Goldfmiths do, when they gild, and make an Amalgam.i with common Quick- filvcr, Jwhich muft be fquecfed through a Leather ^ Jet the Quick-filver, tume away by lit- tle and little upon a gentle fire, that nothing of it may remain with the Gold, and flir it about continually with a fmall Iron, and the Gold js be^ come fubtile,fo that its water may the better work upon it, and open it. T'he Preparation of the J^atcr* TAke one part of Salt-peter well puriHed, and grind with It the like quantity of Sal-armo- niac, and half as much of Pebbles very well cleanied and waflied. Mingle all thcle ingredi- ents together, and put them into an Earthen Re- tort, that the Spirits may not come through V.puc the fame into a Drilling Furnace ;. Tl)e Retgrc 45 ^ The ManudOper^itiorit mud have a Pipe behind, and put as large a Re- ceiver as you can get to the Retort. The Refeiver mull lye ia a VeiTel full of cold Water, and a wet Linnen-cloth mull be put round about it, which you muft wet continually with another wetClothi then put again fo much Matter into the Retojft, till all is gone into it, and then your Water 15 prepared. Take then of the prepared Calx of Gold one part, put it into a Glals body, and pour three parts of the above nnade Water upon it , and place it in warm A(hes, and the Gold will diflblve in it i but if it (hould not altogether be diffblved^ pour more fre(h Water upon it, and it will dif- folveall. This being done, pour it out into ano- ther Glafs, and \a it ftand till it become cold, and it will let fall fome Feces, which feparate by pouring the Water from them into another Glais, fct thisGlafs in B^l}ictim MarlcCy and put a Head upon k^ kt it fland in heat day and night, and more Feces will fettle, which feparate from it as before. Clofc up your Glais very well after you have put on the Head, and Lute another Glafs to the Head, and let it ftand for fourteen days in a gentle heat, that the Body may be well opened. This being done increafe the hre, and diltill off theFlegm to a thlcknefs, that it remain in the hot- tome line an Aqna vii^e' That which hath been ■ diliillcd, pour again into the body, having iirfl made it warm, and Lute again the Head to it, and let it ihnd to digcd a day and night. Then draw oM^ the Water again by diilillation , and pour it again warm upon it. Repeat this fo long till the Gold is come over altogether into a low fcody witha ilac boctonie. Put this fpirituali?.ed Solutiort O/ Bafil Valentine^ 45 5 olution of Gold again into a Glafs, and pour o^ : a confiderable quantity of Rain-water, putting lereto three parts of live Mercury to one 0^ rold : but you muft fqueeze firft the Mercury nrough a Leather, and ftir it very well together, nd you will fee many wonderful colours j and it ou do Repeat this, iHrring feveral times, thctc /ill fall an Amalgama to the bottome, and the Vater will become clear. This being done, decant the Water, and dry ;cntly the Amalgama^ which having Edulccra- ed very well,put it upon a broad (hallow Earthen Matter, under a Cover, iiirr it about continually vith an Iron Wyar, till all the Quick-filvcr he umed away, and there will remain upon the Larthen Platter a very fair Powder ©f a purple olour. ificrvpards ytu mnft prepare ynir Spirit of IVint rs>ith the Philofiphical Tartar , in the manner follorving* FIrft of all you are to know, that the Tartar of the Philofophers, whereby the Lock Is uu- o^ed, is not like unto common .Tartar, as many lo think --i but it is another Salt, and fpringcth rom one root \ and this is the orily Key to operr .nd to diflblve Metals, and is prepared as follow- ^.Takc AQies of a Vine, which hath born GrapcSf hat have yeilded good Wincbmake cf them with varm Water as iTrong aLee, as poiFbly can be nade. when you have a coniiderable quantity ot his Lee, boil it away, and coagulate it to a diy- lefs, ^i^A there remaineth a reddilh Mattcr^ Fur 4$ 4 ^^<^ AfdnualOperaiio}7 Lute a Head to the Phiol,and put there- to another Glafs, let it Ibnd in a gentle heat, th eil diftill gently oit the tkgme, and the Spirit of Tartar is opened by the Spirit of Wine, and by reafon of their reciprocal wonderful love, it comes over with the Spirit of Wine, and Is uni- ted with it. The remaining Feces , and fome Flegme ftaying behind with tlicm,* arc to be put away. This is now the right Spirit of Wine, where- with you may open that which the Lover of Art dcfiftth to know, for it is become penetrant by preparation. ■ Take now the powder of Gold of a purple co- lour, and having put it into another Phiol, pour on it your Spirit of Winei) put it very clofe Lu- ted in a gentle heat, and it will extrad: the Sul- phur of Gold within »four and twenty hours, of ^ high red colour like blo^d. Having done fo, that^it felothnot yeild sny Tind:ure more, pour off ^/ Ba/?! Valentine. 45 5 off the Extradion very clear into a little GhCs- bbdy. The remainder is a white Calx, pour up- on this Calx the aforefaid Spirit of Wine, and let it (land in putrcfadion, having the Glafs well- ftopped for fourteen days and nights s and the Spi^ tit ot Wine will become of a white colour like milk, which pour off clear, and pour upon it frefh Spirit of Wine, let it ftand a day and night long*- er, and it will be coloured again, but not much '■> add this to the firfl:, and what remaineth da not dry, but leave it in the Glafs. Put the white Ex- tradion into a little body, and diftill the Flegme from it, till it be reduced to a (inall quantity. This being done, put the Glafs in a Cellar, and there will (hoot from it ^air :rii tranfparent Chry^. ftals, which having taken out, put the remainder again in a Cellar, and you will have more Chry-^ fta!s, whicli put together into a body cf Glafs, for it is the Sale of the PhiIo((>phers, and pour half the Extradion of the Sulphur of Gold upon them, and they v.ill dilTolve immediately, and melt like Butter in hot Water r And then diilill it together out of a Glafs-body in hot kitics-, and it will come over .together in u tbnii of a red Qyl, which tails to the hot tome, and the Spiri't cf Wiu^ fwimmeth upon the Cop whichfeparate trom ic This'isthe/rue Potable Gold, not reducible m" 'to a body, and my ?h.ih]:i^ whereby I have carcc innumerable People, adminiltring bat three grain. of it in Wine. The ot^er half cf the Extracl:ion mufi ]Sz di fiillcd gently in B.%lnei) M,;r/> to a d rynefs, tlla the Spirit of Wine may bi: (epn-atcu. Pour 6i Tt this Oylof Gold, or Potable Go!d, and it cak eth up the powder in a momcn:, and bccom .s c Fi a miict 45 6 The Manual Opeyatto/:s a much higher colour than ic was before h and this will diUblve in common Spirit of Wine, and o- ther Wine, as red as a Ruby v which conihntjy and wonderfully curcth all luch diftempers cf the body^ as have their original from within. Then take that ether part of Mercury of pure Gold, which you have kept, and pour all tnis, being its own Oyl, upon it : and dilMlby an A- lembick, but not too flrongly, and there comes over Tome Flegme, and the Oyl doth precipitate its ^vvn Mercury, and becomes white again, the greennefs being loll and gone. This work being done likewife, getaPhilofo- phical Igg , which the Philofbphers calJ their Heaven, and you will lind two parts of the Oyl in weight to one part ot the precipitated Mercu- ry. Put then the Mercury into a Glafs, and add the Oyl of Gold to it, Co that one part of ihe Glafs may be filled, and three parts remain empty* Seal it well, as Hermes teacheth, and put it into the threefold Furnace, Co that it ftand n(jt hotter than an Egg, which- is under a Hen to be Hatched h and the Matter will begin to putrihc within a month, and become very black > which when it doth ap- pear, it is then certain that the Matter is open by the putrefadiou, and you may be glad of that happy beginning. Increafe now the hrc to the fv.coiid degree, and the blaCiknefs will vanifh away in time, and change into many admirable colours. Thefe colours being gone likewife, increafe the tire to the third degree, and youi Glais will look like Silver, and the Rayes will become ponde- rous. Then increailng tlie fire to the fourth de- gree, the Fumes vv ill wcafe by little and JittJe, and' ^our GluG will flnncas it were beict within with Cloth of Bafil Valentine. 45 7 Cloth of Gold. Continue this fire, and the Rayes will difappear likewife^and there will be no more Ray's be iecn to rife, but you will fee your Mat- ter lye beneath like a brown Oyl, which at length, being become dry, doth appear like unto a Gn- nat, which is both fixed and liquid like Wax, pe- netrant like Oyl, and mighty ponderous. He that hath obtained this, may render thanks to God hisCreatour, for poverty hath forfaken him : Dileafts will fly from him, and wildome hath taken pcfleifion of him. For this noble Medicine is fuch a Stone, to ^hich nothing in the ' world may be compared for virtue, riches, power, honour and mighty but it is to be preferred be- fore all earthly things, which the whole Univerfe doth comprehend. Having thus prepared yonr Medicine, it you intend to multiply it, you mutt proceed as tol- loweth. Take ot the prepared powder of Gold, of a purple colour, as you have done before, three parts. Add to it of the prepared Tindlurs one part, in a new Heaven, or Phil^bphers Egg •, feal it again Hermetically, and fct it into the Fur- nace, as before, and the Matter will unite it felt and dilTolvc, and be brought to pcrfcdion within thirty one days, which is a month, which other- wise will take up ten months. Thus you may multiply your Medicine in infiititmn^ io that you may perform things, which the world will account !ncr:)dible. Th^ mofi High God and Crratour be blefTcd and praifed for evermore tor his unexprdiible be- nefits, and jil.ewife for all his "gifts and wildom he hath been pleaicd to bellow. li 3 Liftly 4^>S rh^ A^dnual OperAtions Lartly, you nuift know, that this Medicine is a very fpititual and piercing one, which cureth any dilletnpers of this world, in all Creatures whar- ioever they be. One only grain of it being tak- en, ft penetrateth the whole body liSe a fume, chafeth out of the body all that is bad, and brings eth that that ys good in the room of it *, renew- eth the man, and maketh of him as it were a new man, which it prcfcrveth without any accidents to his Age, and the term prehxed by the mod: High. Contra tn jrtcm tnhn remed'mm non eft* This Medicine befng firit fermented with other pure Gold, doth likewife tinge many thoufand pirtsof all other Metals into very good Gold, as the the lad Key of mine, which is the twelfth, teachcth by a certain way and procefs,. whereby fuch Gold likewife bccometh fach a penetrant Medicine , that one part cf it doth tinge and tranfmute a thoufand parts of oher Metals, and much more beyond belief, into pcrtedt Gold* God be bleiled and praiicd both now and for ever- more. Amcif. AN C459) AN ADDITION OF Basil Val ei^tine, which he himf^lf hath annexed to his MANVAL OPERATIONS, tor a fuller declaration of the fame. Jo make a true Spirit of JFlne* TAke Vinjim Adufium , 2v.d put it into u ftrong VelTd, which will ciidure the iir^i light it with a Match ot Brimrtone, and put quickly a Head of Iron or Copper upon it ^ and the true fiery Spirit will he reiolvcd into , a Water in the Receiver, which mufi be large. This is the true aereal fiery Spirit of Wine. li 3 • ^fi'^k 4^o ' The Ma':ualOperations Spirit .of Mercery hy its fdf^ or Mcr- curialJf^ater^ Put running Mercury into a Retort, and put to it a Receiver, which mull: ftand in a Glafs with Water in it. Dillill then, and the Spirit will precipitate it felf, and is rcfolved into a Water Pour out this Water, and put the Mercury, which incketh to the Neck of the Retort, back again m- to the Retort. Diftill and redific, till you have brought and reduced it to a Water. This Spirit of Mercury cureth alnnofr all diftempcrs , and doth extrad: the EfTcnce out of Minerals and Metals. A tin&ure both upon Men andMet(ils»i TAke the l|)iritiul Gold of a purple colpur? extract its Sulphur with diftilied Vinegar, fe- parate the Vinegar a>^ain from it, that it become a Powder. This Powder being dillblvcd in Spi- rit of red Mercury^ that is, Gold, put thereto Salt of Gold, and fix it. Thi^ is an Univcrfil Medicine for fick and difeafed bodies of Men, and likcwife to exalt Mttz\% to the highcft At- §ree# A Tin of Bafil Valentine, 451 A 'tin^nre upsn JVhite> CAlcine Silver with Salt and Quick-lime, and extract its blew Sulphur, which elevate and' redlifie with Spirit of Wine, that it remain a Li- quor. DJlTolvc this in the white Spirit of Vitriol, md in the Spirit of Mineral Mercury. I do not underftand here the red Mercury, but the common white Mineral Mercury, cr rather that is extraded out of Vitriol. Fixit then, and you have an Univerfal Medicine againft all diitempcrs ^ and a Tinclure, which doth tip^e Lead, Pewter^ Mercury, and Copper into Silver. 'to make an Ounce of Gold out of half an Ounce* TAke Spirit of Salt, redifie it with Spirit of Wine, that it become iweetiflir Pour this upen the Spiritual Gold of a purple colour, and it will extradt only the Soul or Sulphur of the Gold , but doth not touch the Body of Gold. The Sulphur of Gold doth graduate Silver into Gold yet no greater quantity of it, than there hath been ot Gold . The Body of Gold muif be as white as Silver- Reduce it upon a Cupel with Saturn, and a little Copper, and the white Body of Gold doth recover again its colour and pro- perty, and becometh good Gold. li 4^2 The Manual Operations \ ♦ I 7o maks the Mcrcttry of'GoU^ or the Fhilof^ phical Mercury. TAke the Gold of ^ purple colour , out which the Sulphur is already extra(2:ed, d\ gcft it with the following Water for a month then revive it ag^n by driving it through a Re- tort, \\\ the Neck whereof are to belaid thin Iron- plates, drive it into a Receiver with fomeWatei in it, and it runneth together, and becomethj quick Mercury of Gold. ihe Water is made as follon^cth* nj'^Akc Salt of Urine of Young Man, thai ■* drinkcth nothing but Wine > and likewifc Salt of Tartar , and Sal-armoniac, ana. Let all this diflblve into a Xac^wox^ which red^ifie with Spirit of Wine, that it become very fweet. This is the Arcanum, wherewith the body ol Gold is reduced into a running Mercury. I'o maks ^he Salt of Gold. POur Gold three times through Antimony, beat it into thinPlates, and difTolve them in j4{jiia Ecgif. Diflblve likewife Salt of Tartar in Spirit of Wine, and dr^^vv off theFlegme, that it leirain like an Oyh With this Oyl precipitate your Gold, and {cparate again the Salt of Tartar from it by ablutions. Then reverberate it four- teen days. Pour upon this Calx of Gold^diftil- led of Bafil Valentine. 4^5 ^ei Vinegar, let it boil gently a day and night, and the Vinegar doth diflblve the Salt of the Rever- berated Gold. W^hat remaineth in the bottome undiffolved , mult be reverberated again eight days. Then boil it again in new Vinegar, put this afterwards to the hrfl folution. If any thing remaineth yet behind, it muft be reverberated eight days more, till the body is gone into the Vinegar. Then draw^ off the Viiaegar in Baheo Mari£^ and you have the Salt of Gold in a yel- lov^ifh powder, which cureth all diftempers- THE i THE SECOND TREATISE of things Natural & Supernatural* AS ALSO Of the Firft Tinaurc, Root, and Spirit of Metals and Minerals ^ how they are Conceivcd^RipenedjBrought- forth. Changed, and Augmented. FAITHFULLT Difcoveredby L afil v dentine Fryer of the Order of the SenediBs. LONDON, Printed by 5. G. ScB, G. for Edward Br err. i?/r 3 at the Crane in Saint Pauh Church-jiard , i 6y o. 0/ Bafil Valentine- 4^7 C H A p. T. Of th Ings N.z tura I and SHfemitmaU BEcaufe i purpofe to wHte of the Firft Tin drare, and Root of Metals and Minerals, and to give an account of their fpirituaf ElTence, how the Metals and Minerals ere in the beginning fpiritually conceived, and orporally brought forth : It is therefore necella- y to pfemifc foniething, and to inform you \\i ew words, tbat all things art divided into Natir-i al and SupernaturaU ■ and whatibever is Vifibe, "omprehenfible, and Formal, ^the fame is Natu- 'al : But that which islncomprehcnlibie and Spi- itual, the fame is Supernatural, and muft be ap° )rchended and judged of by Faith •, as there .is he Creation, and lirit of all the Eternity of God; vhich is Infinite, Hnfearchable, and Unmeafura^ [)le, which Nature is not capable of, neither caif humane reafon cemprdiend it. Tiiis now is Su- jernatural, which tranfcendeth rea(bn, and is ap". !)rehended by Faith, which therefore isaDiviiie' hing, and belongcthtcTDivhiity, which j.udgeth )f Mens fouls. Secondly, and moreover there belong to Sa-' )ernatural things the Angels of God, which have larified bodies, and do perform fuch thnig$liy )ermiiiion of their Greatour, which othe-ryi^ifc loCrcafure is able to da, becaufe their vvorks art? •bidden 4^<^ The ManudOpe'^aiions hidden from the eyes of all the World s as like- wife the works of the hellifh Spirits and Divels arc abftrafe, which they work by the Providence of the mofi high God. But above all the great works of God are found and difcovered to be Supernatural, becaufe they cannot be com- prehended , nor judged of by the thoughts of Men •, as there is cfpecially the mercy of God, and his great benefits, which out of his tender Love hellieweth unto, and bcibweth upon Mankind, which indeed no Man is capable to difcem and know comprchenfi vely : And likevvife other great Miracles wrought at liindry times by Chrili our .Saviour and Redeemer, to the confirmation of his Omnipotcncy and Majcfty : As where he had raifed Ljlz^ths from the dead^ and hkewife the Daughter of Jaims Ruler of the Synagogue, iind then the 5on of the Widow of Nain* He hath made the Dumb and Spcechlefs to Speakj the Deaf to Hear, the Blind to See » which iur deed are uU Supernatural things, and wonderful works of God: As alfo his Concepnon,Rcfurre- dion, Defcenfion to Hell, and A fcenfion to Hea- ven > which are too high and abllrufe for Nature, and are to be attained unto^only by Faith. Amonglt Snpernatural thiugs are likewife to hz counted E/i/^yand E/iffc/Z/Arcenlicn into Hea- ven, the Rapture of Saint VauU who was takcB up into the third Heaven in the Spirit. Furtlier-- more, tlure are many Supernatural things p^r formed by Lnagiintiou, Dreams, and Viiions,as very often many Miracles are wrought by Imagi nation, as the fpeckled and fpotted Sheep were conceived by t!\\Q, fpcdiled Sticks laid in the Water 'I'iie wile Men from the Ea ft were warned by God ill Of Balii Valentine. 4^? in a Dream, not to return again to Herod* Their three Perfons hkewKe , and their three Gifts and Prefents, have a peculiar and myftical fence i as alfothe Supernatural Star. And indeed the Dream of Piht's Wife, who falfly Conde mned Jefus Chrift our Lord and Saviour, hath not been Natural. Neither can the Vifion of the Holy An- gels , vi'ho appeared to the Shepheards at the Nativity of Chrift , and to the Women , who came to the Sepulcher of Chrii^, to fee where his Body was laid, be accounted Natural. Moreover ,there have been often wrought many Supernatural things by the Prophefies of the Saints and Prophets. Thus was the voice of the Afs that fpoke to Bllcam^ not agreeable to com- mon Nature-, and interpretation of Dreams by Jofefb was likewife Supernatural God preferv- eth us many times by his holy Angels, from great and (ad accidents, and delivereth us from peril? and dangers, which otherwife naturally would be impolliblc. All this, and what elfe there may be, doth be- long to Divinity and Heavenly things, and are to be regarded by the foul. There are befides thefc other Supernatural things of the vifible Creatures of God, as we do find, fee, and difcern iu the Firmament, Planets, and Stars, together with the Elements, which indeed are beyond our reafon, their courfe only being obferved by the fpeculati- on of Arithmetick. This now belongeth to A- flronomy, and is a vifible , neverthelefs incom- prehenfible being, performing its operation mag- i netically , wherein likewife many miracles are difcovered and found, which are altogether Su- pernatural. For you are to underiland, that Hea- 4^o The Manual Operauons ven worketh upon the .Earth , and the Eart^ keepeth correfpondency with Heaven : for the Earth hath likewife feven Planets in it, which are brought forth and wrought upon by the (even Heavenly Planets, only by a fpiritnal impreifion and infufion 5 and in this manner all the Mine- rals are wrought by tlie Stars. This now is done fpiritually beyond our apprcheufion, and there- fore to be accounted not Natural, in the manner t)t two, that are enamoured. The Men are vifi- ble, the Love is invilible, which they bear one to another. The Body of Man is Spiritual and Na- tural j but the Love is Invilible, Spiritual, Incom- prehenfible, and Supernatural, comparable to no- thing elfe then to a Magnetical attradion. For the invifible Love, which out ot alfedion is ipi- ritually attradcd by imagination, is perfeded by confummation. In like manner, when Heaven bearcth love to the Earth, and the Earth hath love, inclination, and atfedion tor Manias the great World for the little one, becaufe the little World is taken out of the great, and vvh_n the Earth through the de- fire of an inviiible imagination doth attrad: fuch Love of the Heavens, then is there a conjundion made of the Supcriour with the Inferiour, like unto a Husband and his Wife, which ate account- ed one body : And after fuch a conjundion the Earth becometh impregnated by ihch infulion of t\\Q fuperiour H:aven, and beginneth to bear a birth,, according t^ the infulion, which birth is ripened, after ics conception, by the Elements, and is digeitcd to a perfed maturity. This is iikcwife numb] e.l and accounted amougll: Supcr- mtural things, viz* ho v i\\Q 5upernauiral . Ef- fence of BMVakntm^. ^7i fence doth, perform its operation upon the Na- tural. Thete arc furthermore numbred amongft Su- pernatural things, all Magical and Cabaliftical things, beini^ ilibjedt thereunto, which do fpring from the hght of true knowledge ■-, not fuch as have their original from 5uperltition, or unlaw- ful conjuration ufed bythoie that Conjure the Devil. This Magick is here not underliood by Me •, but f.ich as was prac^ifed by thofe wi(c Men or Magi, which came from the Eaft, who gave their judgment of things by the infpiration of God, according to the true and unforbidden Art, which likewife was ufed by the Ancients, the Egyptians and Arahians^ who before Writing was invented, did note, obferve," and remember their things by Signs and Characters. Neither is the ufe of fuch Blcffings forbidden, which Chrifi th^ Son of God himlclf did make uie oi\ as the Scripture doth tell us . And he took the Children, laid his hands upon them , and bieJfed them. But thofe that are aj^ainft God, and hisWord, are juitly to be rejeded, and not £0 be permitted, for they are not Divine, but Di- vellifl-i ■-> but fuch Supernatural things, Vvhich arc not contrary to God, nor his holy Word, they belong to Magick, which is no: way -hurtful to the^Soul. , : : ^ :-;:{ ^ ! : Concerning Viiions, Apparitions, and the like, for they have oftentimes happened unto Hoiy Men, they are likewife defei-vedjy counted a- mongil: not Natural things.Fcr vvhatfocvcr aMau may apprehend by fpcculation and rcaibning, that is Supernatural , on the contrary,^ whatfocvcr lie may handle, fse, and feel, that is Natural. Kk T'- '■•■ A^% The Manual OperatioKS Thirdly , The third part of things Natural and Supernatural, doth condit in the Medicine or Phyfick, arifing out of every ones hidden power and virtue > which Medicine made, of any thing, inuii tirft be expelled out of a Vifible, Palpable, and Natural Body , and be reduced unto a Spiri- tual,Exaltcd,and Supernatural Operation : that (b the Spirit, which in the beginning was infufed into, and granted to that body for its life, may beunlockt, and rendred penetrant to work, as a fpiritual Erfence and Fire, to which there are left its Vent-holes to burn, and fo findeth no Obfta- cle that might choak, fuppreis, or hinder the burning life : Otherwifc where the reparation of the Soul and Spirit from the Body doth not go' before, there can no operation of any efficacy or advantage follow, according as necellity requi- reth : For whatlbcver is vifible, palpable, and un- feparajed bodily, is natural and corporeal » but as foon as the fcparation is made , that which is quick leaveth the dead, recovereth its perfect ope- ration, and, becauij; the natural body is leparated the fpiritual Eflcnee is loofened and freed to pc^ netrat, and is become a fpiritual Supernatural Me_ d'cine. Tofumm up all, all things, nothing excepted, that may be handled and telt arc Natural, but they mufi be made Supernatural, in cafe a Medi- cine be prepared out of them. For the Superna- tural alone hath in it a lively and quick virtue to work, but the Natural hath but a dead palpable form. For when Adam v/as Created, he was dead, and had uo lite of any virtue i but as foon as Li.e operating, quickuing fpirit cntred into huu-, h. fi^.ewcd his lively virtue a»d power by Su- pernatu- ( of Bahl Vaientinc. 4^3 per natural admiration. In every thing there- fore, both 'Natural and Supernatural are copula- ted as one, and joyned together in their habitati- on, that every thing may be perfcd. For of all things created in the whole World, fomc are Su- pernatural, as concerning only things Spiritual and of the Soul: but fome are Natural and Su- pernatural together, as concerning the Elements and the Firmament \ and fuch are the Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals ; Which is difcerned and found fo to be, when thele are feparated one fromithe other, that the Soul goeth out of the body V , and the Spirit forfaketh its foul, and leav-' cth'the body an empty habitation. You are furthermore to underltand andtoob- ferve, that both the great and the little World arc made, formed, and created out of one and the {amefirlt Matter, by an iniinite and omnipotent EiTence, in the beginning at that time, when the Spirit of God moved upon the Water, who had been from all eternity without beginning. The great World, that /s, Heaven and Earth, was made firlt \ and then the little World, which is . Man, was made and foapicd out of the great, and 4he Water feparated from the Earth. Th.^ Wa- .tcr was the Matter, upon which tiie evcrlalting Spirit of God moved ; out of the nobleit Earth, asitsquintelfence, was formed the litt'e World, through the aquofity, which as yet was with the Earth, and all this was only Natural : But after the infpiration of the warm Divine breath, there eame prefentiy the Supernatural to it, that lb Natural and Supernatural were united and copu- lated. The great World is traniitory, though there (hall be anew Earth or World v but the iic- Kk 2 x\c ^74 Th^ A'fannal Opfrations t Ic World is. everlafling. The great tranlTtory created World will be reduced into nothing, as it hath been made out of nothing : But the little World will bcclarified by the Spirit cf God, be- caufe he hath the poireiiion pt iu,and will make out of the firiV terreftrial Water, an heavenly claiiticd Water. Then will folloWjthat t^e firft Matter hath been changed into the lail, and the lalt Matter is made the hrft again. The rcafon why the great World istranfitory, is, becaule the Spirit of God doth not keep his (eat and habitation in the great, but in the little World : For the-Man is the Tem- ple of the Holy Gholi, except he maliciouily do dehle himfelf to Hell-fire > that fo there might be a diiferencc, and that Spirit remain in the licile World , which he hath tormed after his own Image, and made it a holy Temple. Befides this, there are all things in the little \VorJd,which are found in the great, viZ' Heaven and Earth, together with the Eknieiits, and what bclongeth to them of the Firmament. We do find likewife, that in the firii Creation, which was out of nothing^ there did ariic three Things*, an Eiknee like to the Soul, and a ;6'piri- tual, and a Vilible one, which did preient a Mer- , curial Wa^er,' a fulphureous iieam of Brimitone, ] and a ttrreftvia! S^k* Thefe three ^^ve a com- ' pleate and ' perfed:,' palpablu'and tormal body to all things, wherein efpecially are found all the fourEleiiiencs pertcdt. But of this 1 have alrea- dy made mention in my Writings, but more par ^ ticularly in a Book of mine 'de'MicrocoJhw* •• ' But ro fpeak (cracthingmore of Natural an ^upernatutdj things, botn Spiritual and Corpb r aij ws dat^d. that the Woman of CJnaan wa cure. c/B.ifil Valentine.; 4-5 cui'cd of her Bloody Hux, which .had lafied, twelve years, by a touching only, having only, touched the Garment of the .9oii of God * which diftemper of hers was Natural, but the Medicine was 5'upernatural, becaufc fne had obtained this remedy of Chrilt the Lord by her taith. In like manner do we fee an excellent, high fupernatural Miracle in thoie three Men, Sudrach^ Meficb^ and . Ahcdnego^ who being caft into the iiery Furnace, by the commandemeiit of King Mchucbadnczary where miraculouily without any hurt delivered by Gods mighty power, I)^n*^> Thus liKcwifc the confufion of Tongues, and infusion of ieveral Languages, which happened at the foolifh Building of the Towqr ot B-jbel:, which fliould reach to Heaven, hath been reputed a Supernatural Wonder and Miracle. Further- more it was a Supernatural Sign, that thofe If- raclms^ which fhould hght agaiiit the Army of the Midiariitcs , according to Gods command, mult lap of the Water with their. Tongues as a Dog lapp-th. And the fending abroad of the Dove out of the Ark of Njah^ which brought with her a green Olivc-leaf, as a token of mercy, was a Divine and Supernatural MefTage. That the holy Man of God Mojh did llrike with his Staff tne hard Rock, "and the Waters gufhed out of it at this liroak dorh tranfcend humane reaibn. And it is no lefs Supernatural, that the S'llt-wate muft become a fweet Water fit to be drunk. An^| like wife the dry pailagc of tbcIpacUtcs tbrougi^ the Red-{eaj and that Aarons 5caff did bloiTom.e' are all Supernatural things. To Rimm up all, that Chriii the Eternal Son o God did riile himlelf out of the Sepuicher K k 3 ihroi-g: 47^ '^^^ Manual Ofer At torn through the fealed Stone : That he appeared to the two Difciples that went to Emaus : And tliat he manifefted himfelf to his Difciples, the Doors being fafi; and fhut, thefe are things Divine and 5'upernatural. I could alledge more Exan-pleS out of the Holy ^'cripture, hut I fhall pafs them over for brevity's fake. Amongft Supernatural things are likewife numbred allfuch figns as happen in Mines, of bo- dily Apparitions of Spirits, Images, Fairies, and Dwarts, which in feveral kinds vifibly do ap- pear, and do prognofticate either good or bad fuccefs, ruin or riches : As alfo all the Figures of Metals, and other (hapes which are found in the Earthy of Men, Fifhes, and other Beafts, framed and formed through the imagination of the three ) Principles, but digeftcd and ripened by the Earth and other Elements, Whereunto do belong like- ■ wife the Mon/ters of the Earth, and fuch things ■ as are found in the Earth at fomc certain times, of a wondertul form and (hape, after the exfpi- ration of which times they are not to be iound, and yet on another time they do appear again. To thefe we may refer all fuch (hapes as are (een by means of Water, Looking-glaffes, Chryftals, and the like > as alfo by Sigils and Chara^ers, which yet are of a dirferent nature. For fome ire Natural only , and yet yeild Supernatural fhapcs : But other fome'are produced by Conju- ration, which are neither Natural nor Superna- tiirai, but divellifh j and therefore they belong to Witchcraft, and pious Chriftians are prohibited to pradife them : As likewife all fuch means, as art contrary to the Holy Scripture, Gods Word and Compandements, arc juftly rejeded and re-: fuicd. ir*^ c/BafiJ Valentine. 47; futed by the true natural Cabalifts. I dp (peak rhis,^ that you may make a due difference, and a certain order of Natural, Supernatural, and not Natural things. Of the number of Supernatural things are like- wife all water Spirits, as Syrens^ Sucmhi^zvid other water Nymphs, and what belongs to them. As alfo the Spirits that are inhabitants of the Earth, andthofeof theFire, which are heard, feen, and perceived > which bring fometime^ tidings of death, or fome other miichance i and fometimes do fhew, in certain places, riches and treafare, by, their Apparition. To which you may add^j^ Spirits of Fire, which do appear in the (hape of I Fire, or form of a burning. Candle i which in- J deed are all Spir'ts, and have impalpable bodies : but they are not fuch Spirits as thofe Spirits of Hell, which do hunt after Mens fouls, as the mofc precious jewel » as hellifh Lucifer, the Devil and his complices do, which have been call out with him : But they are fuch Spirits, which above Na- ture are the objedts of Mens admiration, and live only by the Elements, and are fuftained and fed by them, and with the diifolution of this Terreftrial World, will be annihilated and vanifh away, be- caufe there is no redeened foul in them. I (hall not infift longer upon this, but leave a further de- claration of thefe circumftances for anothei>occa- fion, when I fliall give you a fmgular account uf Vifions, and Shapes, and Spiritual Apparitions, which by the greater part of the W©rld are ac- counted to be not Natural, and yet are truly Na- tural, but they are found Supernatural in thqir pperation and wonderful quality. > For the further contjrmation of my purpofe, 1 Kk 4 ^» 47^ The Manual Operations do fay, that there are many things to be f6un(^ m Medicine , which do fliew forth and perform their operation Supernaturally, after a magnetical manner, working only by an attradive fpiritiial power^ which is attracted through the Air v be- caufe the Air is the medium betwixt the Medicine, and the difeafe or diftemper. Like as the Load- ftone always longeth for, and turneth it ^t\i to its Star, though this Star be sr^anythoufandmi^es diltant from it, yet is the fpiritiial operation and aifedion (b powerfnl betwixt thefc two, that they are drawn together by that mcdiuvh the Air, at fo great and vart a difiance. But becaufe this attra- ctive Power is generally acknowledged by all Men, it is grown a meer Cuftomc, and (6 it is held, and nothing more of abftrufenefs obferv- ed, what the original is of this operating pow- er. In like manner may diftempcrs and fores be cured ard healed,though the Patient and the Pl^y- llcian be far enough diliant one from the other, not by Benfdidions or Conjurations, and other unlawful prohibited means, which are contrary to God and Nature 5 but by fuch means, wherein there is a magnetical attractive power to perform fuch tilings. As when a Patient goeth away, and Icaveth the Weapon wherewith he hath been wounded, or fome of the blood which ilTued forth from the wound, with the Phyfician \ if he do proceed orderly uling the right means , as one ufcth in binding up and dreiiing of a wound, he will certainly recover his former health. This isno Witchcraif, but this healing is performed by tb,c attractive power of the Medicine, which by means^ of the Air is coilvtyed to the wound, a;ii of Bafil Valentine. 479 and thereby cleanfed, for tfee performing of this Ipiritual operation. ThefeExprellions will fecm hard to many, and impoilible to Nature, and m^any will fay this Re- lation is againft Nature, whereby they will be moved ro difpute and to argue this queftion5whe- ther it be Natural, or no ? whether it be Poiiible, or no ? or whether this Cure be not Witch- craft ? I (hall compofe this difference thus ; That this Cure is Natural, but the operation of the Cure is Supernatural and Spiritual, becaufe it is perform- ed only in an attradive incomprehenfible manner. And that this manner of curing or healing is no Vv itchcratt, I do demonflrate thus, becaufe it is not mixed with any Witchcraft, nor any other mxans, which are either unnatural, or contrary to God the Creatour, and his holy alone (aving Word-, but only Natural, out of their Superna- tural, invifible, incomprehenfible, fpiritual, and attractive power, which hath its original from the Stars, and performeth its operation through the Elements. Laftly, That this Cure is no Witchcraft, I do prove thus h becaufe the Devil takes rather a de- light and pleafure in the fad mifchances of man- kind, than that he (hould adminifter any help for the wcllfare of Men : which befides he cannot pollibly perform without Gods providence and gracious pcrmiilion. Much more might be written of this magrjc- ticalforiE, but to prevent divtrs errors, I will let it alone, till I come to (peak fomething dc Mira- culis Naturdlbus , or Natural Miracles of the World. ^^ o The Mayiual Oporations . ' Thofe grofs and filly Head-pieces, which nc- vathekfs de account themfelves to be very wife Mafters of Philofophy, and all fuch as have not the perfed ufe of their fences, cannot find any dif- ference in thefc things. But he that is wife apd iinderftanding, knoweth to diftinguifh the Natu- ral from the Supernatural. For do but obferve snd confider this finnilitude, to dcmonftfate the truth of this thing by a rude example, that there are found many bealis, which die m the Winter, and lie dead, fo that there is no life to bedifcern- ed in them : But as foon as the warm Summer doth draw nigh, the natural heat giveth them a new life, that theroputed Carcafe is fully revived in the fame fublbnce, it hath had in its living mo-^ tion. Like an Herb, which dieth in Winter, and doth appear new and fre(h again in the Spring. Now the dying of fuch things is to be counted Natural, but the relbring them to a new life is in its knowledge Supernatural. But becaufe Men are uicd to theie things, therefore the leall: part of thtra doth regard that which deferveth a fur- ther enquiry, and give over the thoughts ofthings both Natural and Supernatural. Moreover , the grtateft part of Men do pafs by inbred and natural difpofitions, which are likewife' Supernatural s as alio abortions, and fuch as bring lome tokens with them into the World, which indeed are Natural, but through the occafioned nnagniation (hew themfelves Supernatural, which ilipernatural form, and fupernatural impreilions have been produced by the Iv^ other of the Cnild through thoughts ariiing, which unawares, and as it were by accident have happened unto her. As we do tee and had many a time, than many Mqi cf Bafil Valentine. 481 Men have naturally in:ibred geftures, which they are never able to leave, though they endeavour it ' never fo much. This imbred thing is Natural, but the conception in the Mothers womb, cai'fcd by the imagination of luch a thing, is Srpcrnatu- raL and fubjec^ to that which is made by the im- preliion of Hcuven. Finally, if you will fay that it 'if not true, that any one can defend that which is Supernatural, with certain grounds and reafons, except he hath learned the Natural, which hath its original and form from the Supernatural 5 yet he will (after he hath ftudied it; by a certain invented experi- ment be capable to demonftrate that he is a con- querour of thofe that w^ill not believe that which is Supernatural, and confute thofe that do pre- fume to difpute of Natural things, and becaufe they are ignorant of the foundation, do nothing but talk^idlely, and quarrel unproffitafely. CHAP. IL Of the firft tinclurc^ the Root .•/ MetaL 1*0 return to my purpofe and undertaking, which is to difcourfe by Gods permilfion, and to give an account of the hrft Tindure, the Pvoot and Birth of Metals and Minerals ^ it is to be ob- ferved, that the Tindure, whiv.h is the Root of all Metals, is likewife a Supernatural flying hery Spirit, having its fuftcnance in the and looking naturally for its habitation in the Earth and Water, where it m.ay reft and work. " And this Spirit is found in all Metals, and more abundant in other Metals than Gold : For the Geld is very clofe'^ 4.8 2 7 'he Manual Operations clofe, folic!, and conipad, by reafon of its well digeftcd, ripened, and fixed body '■, therefore it can no more enter into the body, than the body doth need. But other Metals have not fuch a fixed body, but their pores are open and difper- fed, therefore can the tinging Spirit abundantly more penetrate and pofTefs them , but becaufe the bodies of other Metals are unhxed, the Tindure likewife cannot Oay withthefe unfixed bodies^but muft go out of them. And being the Tindtuie of Gold doth in no other Metal abound tnorc than in Iron and CoppLr, as Husband and Wite, their bodies are deftroyed, and the tinging Spirit from thence expelled , which breedeth much blood in the opened prepared Gold, and by its feeding doth make it volatile* Therefore when the volatile Gold is filled by its meat and drink, it taketh up its own blood, doth dry it up througli its own internal fire, with help and addition of a moift l?re, and is again a conqueft, which doth fix, nay, prod uceth the higheftfixednefs, Co that the Gold becometh a high fixed Medicine, and cannot make a body again, by the reafon of the fiiperabundant blood, except there be added to it a iuperfluous body, into which the abundant fix- ed blood doth difperfe it felf, which joyned me- tallick body is penetrated by the exceeding great • heat of the fixed blood of the Lion , like fire cleansed from all impurity, and immediately ri- pened to a perfect maturity and fixednefs : That thus the Servant enricheth firit his Lord and Ma-* , iter, becaufe the Lord cannot fparc of his clotii to give away, by reafon that Nature hath granted him but one only Salt of Honour > and the K/ ,^^.; can diftribute again the luheritaiiwC, ani Coui" ^ cloti^; Of Bafil Valentine. 4^3 oths of his Kingdome to his Servants, after he ath hrft taken and gathered the Tribute ct" his ubjcdi 5 that (6 the MaltLr and Servant may fky d continue together. Nor need you to wcn- r at this, that the King mi 'it borrow of his Ser- ants, becaufe their bodies are not fixed and per- manent, for they take up much, and can keep but mall credit. But if the King can participate of !t, hecan better overcome heat and frolt, xhzw e leprous Metals. And thus he becometh by this participation a Regent and Conquerour, particu- larly of all others5with great vidtory and triumph )f riches and health to a long life. I fhope you have underftood and learned e^ lough for the beginning of this difcourfe of Natu- ral and Supernatural things.and the hrft Tindure, he Root of Metals and Minerals, whereupon the Corner-ftone is placed, and the true Rock in general is founded, wherein Nature hath placed, and concealed, or buried her abitrufe and deep hidden gift, :;iz. in the fiery and tinged Spirits, which Tindfure they got from the ftarry Heaven, by the operation of the Elements, and are Fnade able further to tinge and to fix, that which had no tindture, and was unfixed before : becaufe thatL?/«e w^anteth the fuit of the golden Crown> together with the fixednefs, as alfo Sdturn^ 1^2'^' terj^ndMermry. And though Af<;?rx and l^enm do not want this clothing, but may communicate the fame to the other five > yet do I fay, that they can do nothmg for the gaining of riches w^ith- out the Lion, becaufe they are not for their need, provided with the fixednefs of their Mercury, and the flexiblenefs of their Salt y except the ; Lion bath oyercom.e them in the fight, and they arc are notably mended and bettered which meliora' tion lyeth hidden in the fignate Star, or their; Loid-llone, from which all the Metals have re- ceived their gifts. ^ I do proceed, and in Specie pafs to the birth; and to the generation, how the Arch^m doth (hew and pour forth its power, and difplayeth! it, by which all theJMetallick and Mineral forms ' are expofed to the vievv^ and are made forma), palpable, and corporeal, through the Mineral,, incompreheniible flying, fiery Spirits* Further- \ more, you are to know, and with all diligence to ' obterve, not to pafs by with oblivion that which i is of great concernment, nor to look over that ' which is moft advantagious, and on the contrary to note all along the meer writing, not regarding the drift and fcope : For of that I do write here,! the highclt will be undoabtedly accounted and e- itemed by many the loweii:, and the llighefl the highell myilery. Firii: of all yen are to know, that all the Me- tals and Minerals of the Earth have one only Matter, and one only Mother, by which they in general alrogether have received their conception, and perfeci: bodily birth. And this Matter,' whicn c )meth from the Center, doth divide it k[\. in the k^giuning into three parts, to'produce (unx; corporeal thing, and a certain form of eve- ry Metal. Thele three parts are i conlumeth \n hat- focver is bad, and pvoduceth a great Age to a long life. This Spirit of Mercury is the chiet Key of all my other Key's, of which 1 liave written in the beginning. Therefore will I call, Come ye^ bleifcd of the Lord, be ye anointed with Oil, and refreOied with Watef : Embalme your bodies, that th'^y miy not • patriae, get a bad fent and iftink: For the heavenly Water is the beginning, I and the Oil a medium, which doth not burn, be- caufe it is made out of a fpiritual Sulphur s and the balibme of Salt is oorporcal, which is united with the Water by means of the Oil : whereof I fhall give you here:ifter a more ample account, where I do iiittnd tpfpeak and to write, fonic- thmg inore conceniiiig theie things. - And to declare furrner the Eflence, Matter and Form of this Spirit of Mercury *, I mult tell you, 'thtt its E-icncei? foul like, its Matter fpiritual," afnd its form tcrreilrral, which yer mufr be under- i}o6d-by lome incomprehenfible thing. Thtit ->: indeed hard words and expreilions, and there t many that will think, that thefe are vain and ■e repetitions,'.and ftrange iayings, which do oducc nothing elfe b.:t i^nnge .thoughts. It is ^_.ie, I confefs, they art Itrange, and do require Irrange peopk that will underihnd the meaning of them. It IS not a thing written foi: Country- LI men- meu,how they muftgreafe their Wagons: Kox - is it a {"pcech tor thole, which have not got the. knowledge of this Art, though they imagine; thcmfelves to be never fo wife. But this man alone 1 do repute, to be learned, which befidesthe Word of God , doth make enquiry by a true knowledge into Terreftrial things, which come under the judgement of reafon, and learneth to know the darkncfs out of light, and to chufe the feeming bad bcfoie the good. Touching the beginning of this Spirit of Mer- (Hiry, this is needlets to know, becaufe it is of no bentht, nor can it do you any good. But ob- ferve, that its beginning is fupernaturall y from Heaven, the Stars, and Elements, granted in the beginning of the hrft Creation, to enter further into a Terrellrial being. And becaufe this is needlefs, as I have told you, leave that which is Heavenly to the Soul, and apprehend it by Faith*, that which is of the Stars, let likewife alone ? be- caule luch imprcihons of the Stars are invitiblc ane incompreheniible , the Elements have alrea- dy brought torth tiiis Spirit pcrfed into the World, through the nourifhment of it, therefore do not medd.e with them neither i for no man can make any Element but the Creatour alone > andinlilt upon thy Spirit already produced, which is both formal and not formal, comprehenfible and incomprehenfible, and yet doth appear villWy, and you have the lirll Matter, out of which are grown all Metals and Minerals, and is one only thing, and fuch a Matter, which doth unite it (clf with the Sulphur of the next following Chapter, and is c'oagulated with the Salt of the iifth Chapter, fo that it be.cometh one body and a per- «/ Bafil Valentine. ^9 a perfed Medicine of all Metals, not only to ge- nerate in the beginning in the Earth, as in the great World, but alfo, with help of a moiil iire, to change and tranfinute together with the augmen- tation in the little World. Let this not Teem frrange to you, becaufc the moft High hath thus permitted it, and Nature hath wrought it. There are many in the World which will^ not believe this, and do think it impollible, that vilihe and defpife thefe niyfteries, which they in no wife underftand. Thofe may continue in their folJy like AiTes and BlockheadSjtill they are illuminarcd- which doth not happen without the will ot God, but Cometh by his Providence. But vv^ife and ex- perienced Men, which have wrought in thelweat of their Brows, will bear me vvitnefs, and con- firm the truth j and likcwile avouch, that they really believe and think, that whatfocvcr I do write here, is nothing but truth, as true as Hea- ven and Hell is made and ordained for the eled: and damned, for a reward of good and evil. ^ I do not write with my Hands only, but my Heart and Souf doth compeil and urge me to do it, be- :aufe that many conceited, illuminated, reputed ikiilful worldlings do hate, envyv difparage, rail it, and perfecute this myftcry to the outmoll skin, :>r to the inmoit kernel, which harh its original Vom the centre. ^ But I am fure, that time will :ome, when my marrow is vaniihed, and thcfe )ones of mine is dried up, that foire people will incercly take my part, though I am in my Grave, nd would be willing to fetch me from the dead, f God would permit it, but that will be a thing iiif ollible. Therefore I have left them in writ- ing, whereby their faith and coniidcnce will havt L 1 2- ■ a ical 4^0 The Md'mal Operations aiealof ccrta'mty and truth, to bear witncfs of iY:e, what hath been my lafi Will and Tdhrnent, which I have left to thu^ poot, and to all the ad- niirevs oi myikrius. Though it did not become me to write io many things, yet could I not, without doibghurt to my foul do otherwife, then to drive 3 i^hnee and brightwefs through the tiouds, that tUc day-may appear, and the obf cure night, together svlih the cloudy and dark tempeils may bediipcr{(fd. > Hivt how the Archdsm worketh further by the Spirit of Mlrcmy in the Earth, or in the veins of the Earth, you are to underflard, that after the Spiricual feed h framed trom above by the im- prdiion ^f the Stars, and ted and nouiifhed througb'the Elements, this feed is changed into, and >5 become a Mercurial water : as in the begin- ning the ^^reat WorW likewiie was m.ade of no- thing •■) tor the Spirit moved upon the Water,and thus was this cold, watLrilh, and terrcfirjal Crea- ture revived to lite by an heavenly warmjth. It- was in the great World the power of God, and the operation of th.e light o^ -Heaven •, in the little WorJd liKcwiie the power of God, and the ope- ration by his divine and holy breath to work in the 'Earth. Furtheimore, the Almighty did grant aud ordain means, ter the performing of the fame, that the Creature might get power to wcrR upon another creature, and one might help ?/ad promote the otiier, for the performing and pcr^^ectingof all the works of the Lord. Thus was granted to the Earth an iiillutnce to generate by tne LumJnanes of Fleaveu, and likewiie an interual heat to warm 6c to ripen that which v/as tooccldfor the e^rth, by rcaiun of irsacuoiity, and c/E-iiii Vakil tine. 49- 4fld thus to every Creature a peculiar Genius ac" cord ing to its kind •, that fo therejsraifcd a (ub*- tile {lilphineous lieam by the Harry Heaven > no^ a common, but another clarified, clean, and pure llcam, feparated from others, which doth unite it iclf with the Mercurial iubfiances by which warm property in a long time the humidity is dryed up by little' and little, and then the foul like-/ prop-jrty bein^ joyned with it, which givtth tioQ. body and ballome or maintenance, and worke th before too upon the earth by a fpiritual and flarry influence. Tnus happcneth then a gcncratioii pf Metals, according to the comroi^^^ipn,, ©f '|he, three Principles, and according ^as theytakf in; more or lefs oi thele tljrec, (o the body is formed. ilflb.be the .Spirit of Mercury is dircded ai^d; fprijicd from above upv^n Animals, then is there produced an Animal Being , bur if it ieizcth up- on yLgetabies, a VegeiaDle work is brought.fQrtl), r And it it talls.iipon Minerals, by reaibn of itsjn-: fufed nature, there v;ill ipring thence Miiierali>' and Metals. Ncverthekfs, every oiie.js diiferently iwroi)^iit : The Animals by another torm by thcmic4vcs, the Vegetables after a manner proper-, to themielves, and the Minerals liiiewjfe on %^^l chcrHfafnion , cvay one after a iiygular way v^ kyhcitof in f pecie much more might be wjitten, , lud a more "full and exad idatlon mi^ht be oiade. _ ^ ^ Here may be jufdy demanded. r:OW this Spirit ^/ Mercury may be had and oixained, orhowic*; '3 to be made, and wh'ch way, and after what Banner it may be prepared, that it may cure di^^ iciTjpers, and change and alter all Metals of the, rioi?Ier kind, :.s they are venerated in the little, '■ tl 3 Wc>rld, ^j 9 2 The Manual Operat tons World, by a tranfmutatian and augmentation of } their feed? Many will expedl an anfwer to this < qaeftion, which I {hall no: keep back from them, but faithfully difcover, as much as I have leayc by Gods command and judgement, in the manner as 1 folio we th. Take in the Name cf the L( rd red Mineral quickfilver, which lookcth Hke Cinnaber, and the beft mineral Gold that can be gotten '■> take an e- qual quantity of them both, and grind them to- gether, before they have been in any fire i pour upon them an Oil of Mercury made by it fclf, out ot the coixmon putrified and fublimed Quick- filverj digcil them for a month, and you will have an Extraction, which is more heavenly thaut^rrlftria]. Diftill gently this Extradion in BdncoMari£^ and the Flegmc comcth over, and the ponderous Oil rcmaineth in the bottome, which taketh up into it k\^ al] Metals in a mo- ment. Add to this three times the quantity of Spirit of Wine, circulate it in a Pelican till it be- cometh b!ood-red, and hath recovered an incom-- parable fweetnels. Pour off the Spirit of Wine, and e.dd to it frcdi Spirit of Wmc. Repeat this fo long, till the whole matter be dilTolved into z\\ c-xcceding fwcct and luby colour tranfparcnt li- quor, which mingle afterwards together. Pour it upon white Calcined Tartar, and diilill it with a itrcng frc in Afhcs, and the Spirit of Wine re- Jiiaineth behind with the Tartar, but the Spirit of Mercury ^-ometh over. This Spirit of Mercury being mixtd wich the Spirit ot Su'phnr Solis, to- gether with its Sslt, whofoevtr frail bring them over thus joyned and united together, that they may not be feparated in infimmm^ he will have iuch of Bafi] Valentine^ 493 fuch a work (if fo be it doth receive its Ferment in a due mearureand prefixed term, with Gold by a Sohition, and is brought in its perte(^ maturity to a plufquam perfection) to which nothin:; may be compared, for the preventing of difeafes and poverty, and for a rich and faperfluous recreation of the body as well as of goods. This is the way to obtain the Spirit of Mercu- ry, which I have difcovered fo far, as the Highefl Emperour hath given me leave to do. I hope you will ufe wifely and difcreetly my Manual Ope- rations required to this work, and laid open by me, that you naay not fuffcr in Hell fire for my faithful warnings-, becauie the door which (givtth entrance to the Kings Court, is unlock'd' and odened by one Key alone, v/hieh cureth all diitempers, as the Dropfie , Confuraption , the Gout, the Stone, the Falling-ficknefs, Apoplexy, Leprofie, and of what name (oever they be in ge> ncral. This is likewife a remedy for ail forts ot French-pox, and all other old hihng Sores, as the Wolfe, Tettars, Worm, Fifr Jcs, Cancer, Spread- iing'and fjetting Ulcers and Holes, as I have dilco- i;ered to, and hidden n'othmg from you. Final iy,obferve this, that you will make known 3nly this, and no more, that, bccaufe any Art lath its beginning and original from the Spirit )f Mercury, which is quickned and revived by ,he fpiritual Sulphur, that an heavenly tiling dotii ife trom them together, and with, and Ly the Salt hey become corporeal and formd 5 bur ihe prin- iple of the Soulv the Spirit, andthcBudy, you /ill let it be and continue a Load-iionc, as really : iSj and cannot be acca iuted to be any other jiing. But the final fum-m is thiS; that withoi t LI 4. the , 49a The ManudOpefAtions the Spirit of Mercury, which is the only Kc7 to make the corporeal Gold Potable,the Philofopher- ftone can never be made nor prepared. Do not objcd a^ainir, nor contradidt this fentence, but keep iilencc h. for I will give over (peaking, be- caufclilencc is impofed upon you and me by the competent Judge, and begin the Execution your, idt:> lc?aving. further enquiry to. another which, hath fiot jas y^t pleaded his caufe. CHAP. IV. Of the Splnt ofC)pp:y» THE Star rMmtdy^oim is hard and very, diffi- cult to be reckoned, as all the Mathemiatici- ans and Aftroiiomers mufr bur me vvitnels i for her courfe doth much ditfer from the other fix Planets, 'theretore her Nativity is likewiieot ano- ther natures becaufe the birth of Venus doth pof- kijs the hit table after Mercury, - As concerning the generation of Metals, Mcra^ry maketh efle- ctual, but F>/?.vi doth incite, and givcth lull: and deiirc, together with bL-autitulnefs, which doth occal]on it. Though I do not ^lieem n^y iclf, nor take upon me to be an Ailronomer, to wi.om the account of the heavenly m'^tion is kiiown^he-^ caule I ought to fpend m^j time in prayers in the d l.cuse'of God: Neverthelefs, that the rcmainder| of the time, after Diviue Service is performed,! may not pafs idlely away, I have relolvc^tt^ fpend tlic reif ot my time in enquiiing into.; natural r hiu^s. Thus it is a ha,rd matter to hiid out v^'batj is produced i^.nd biougiu^ forth by Kf^W,^ of Bafil Valentine. 49 S whence Vems hath taken her beginning and ori- ginal, becaufe (he is clothed to excefs,with that (he hath no need cf v and, on the other fide muft want, that (he (tandcth in need of^ as touching herfixedncfs. But you are to know^thzt Venus is clothed with an heavenly .Sulphur, which doth far exceed the fplendour of the Sun, becaufe there is found much more Sulphur in her, then in Gold. But that you may learn, v.^hat the matter is of the faid Sul- .phur oi Gold, which dwelleth and reigneth a^ bundantly in Fe;////, and of which I have fpoke f j much, know then, that it is likewife a flying and very hot fpirit, which can (earch and penetrat all, as alfodigeit, ripen, and bring to maturity, viz* theimpertedMetale into perfed, which the un- experienced doth not believe., If you ask, how the Spirit of Copper can ripen^and bring to per- fedion other imperfed Metals, it being it (elf, in its body imperfedt, and npt fixed ? I anfwer, as I have told you already, that this Spirit cannot have or hold in Cgpper a fixed body tor an habitation v therefore the habitatioa being burn'dbyfire, the gueil goeth out of it likevvKe^ a,nd muft leave his habitation with impatience, for hedwelleth there- in like an ^ hireling. But in the lixed body of Gold he hath a protedlion, that nothing can drive, him out without the Sentence of a peculiar jikI^jc, becaufe he hath taken poileflion of his habiratipn like an heir, and hath takea root in that fixed bo- . 4y^ that cannot be caft out lo eaiily. The Tin- dure, which Venus hath obtained, is likewile lo be found in M^^r/, yea, much more powerful, higher, and mojipe excellent ; For Mars is the Hus- b(^nd, FenH( the Wife i whereof I havefpokcii u:orc 4^6 The Mdmdl Operations more at large in thofe Writings of mine concern- ing them. This Tindure is likewife found in Verdigreafc and Vitriol^ as in a Mineral, of which ^a whole Volume might be written : And in all thefe things there is found a Sulphur, which doth burn, and yet another Sulphur, which doth not burn, which is a wonderful work. The one is white, the other red in the operating birth : but the right and true Sulphur is incombullible , for it is a meer and true Spirit, out of which is prepa- red an incombuftible Oil, and is indeed the Sul- phur out of which the Sulphur of Gold, out of one and the fame root, is made and prepared- I do difcover many Secrets, which ought not to be done > but I do not know how to help it. To «:;^ceal:all, is likewife a thing unanfwerable h yet it is good not t« do overmuch y as I have dcfired m that Proteltation of mine, not to forget my tt^ qiidl. -^ This Sulphur may be very well called and chriikned the Sulphur of the wife, becaufe in it is found all wifdome, if you except the Mercurial Spirit, which is to be preferred, and with it, to* gcther with the Salt of Mars- mnll be united through a fpirirua] copulation, that three maybe brought to a c^rrelpondency, and be exalted into one opcrattion. " - This ipiritual Sulphur deth likewife and in the fame manner derive its original from the upper Region, as the Spirit of Mercury doth, but with another form and fafhion, vviiereby the Stars do i;icw.a (tparation in fixed and-unhxed, in tinged and not tinged things. • The Tiuclure deth con- Ui: only in the Spirn ot Copper, and chiefly of its- :oi.ibrt, and is a meer {team, itinkiiag ard of a- vejy of Bafil Valentine. 497 very ill fent in the beginning : And ih\^ nvixtviud be rcfoIveJ in a liquid manner, that the fiinking incoiiibulTible Oil may be prepared out of it, which yet muft have its original from M^rs- This Oil is eafily joyned with the Spirit of Mercury, and do foon take up all metallick boclies,bciiig hrft prepared according to the account given by me in my Keys . I do not keep here any order of the Planets^ and that julily, not without feme realon i for I do follow their generation, that is^ the order and rank which J do follow 5 bccaufe Vema hath much Sulphur, (he hith been together with M rs^ di* gefted and ripened fooner than any other Metals > but becaule they have had but little help from the inconfianr Mercury, being he had no room left him to work harder, by reafcn of the fuperabun- dant Sulphur, they could not receive cr obtain a melioration of their unhxed bodies Now will I difcovcr a myftery to yo^, tkat GoU^ Vcmis^ and Mars., have in them .one and the lame Sulphur^oncf Tindturc, and the fame Matter of thjr Tindure, which Matter of the Tindtnrc is a Spirit, a Mill, and Fume, as hath been faid before, v/hich hath- penetrated, and doth penetrate all bodies : It you can bring it into captivity, ar.d^doacuate it with the Spirit, which is foiaul in the Salt of Mirs^ and then do joyn wiJV the fame the Spirit of Mercury, according to ti-cir weight, and do fe- paratc them from all impurity, that they become fweet, ?nd fv^cet-fmtlljng,. without any coiro- five, you h.ivG then , a Mi.di.ine, to which no- thing in the VVorM nwy be compared/, if you terment tliisMt'dicine with tlx? iliining Sun, you have made aningrcfs, which is pcnc-trai.t tc work and to tranlmutc all JvU tals. 4 9^ Thf Manual Operations. Eternal WiCdom, what thanks muft be ren- dred unto thee, for thefe great myilerie?, which yet the children of Men do not regard at all, and do fcorn to enquire, and to learn what thou halt hidden in Nature. They fee it with their eyes, and do not know it s they hold it in their hands, and do not comprehend it^ they touch and han- dle it, and do not know what they have, or what they make, becaufe the inward part is concealed from them. . . • 1 will ialtly really, out of love to God, difco- ver yet this unto you, that the root of the Philo- fophieal Sulphur, which isan:heavenly fpirit, to- g;:ther with the root of the ipiritual lupcrnatural Mercury,and the principle of the fupernatural Salt is in one,and is found in one Matter, out of whi>h the Stone, which hath been before me,is made, and not in man}' thin^Sjal though theMercury be drawn by it felt by all the Philoiophcrs, and the Sulphur by it felf,befidcs the Salt a part. ,..That To Mercu- ry is tound in one, and the SulpKur in one. and the Salt in one. Notwithftanding all this, I do tell you, that this is to be undcrftood oi their fuper- fluity, which is found moil in every one, and particularly in many v/ays m.7 be ufed prohtably, and prepared to a Medicine and tranfmutation of Metals. But the univerfal, as the ^reatelr trea- iureof tcrrerrrial knowledge and wifdcme,; and . ot' all the three principles, is o*ie only thing, and | is found in one only thing, and drawn out of it, jj u^iiich can r;.dL:ce all Metals into one only thing, r and is the true Spirit of Mercury, and the foul of Su'phiir joynal together v/1 1 h the fpiritual Salc^ inciolccl I'.nd.r one hci^vcii, and d'^'<-lliug m oiv^ bo. y -, uud i:; i[\^ pra^ou /^iid tiie Eagle, it is the, G/ Bafil Valentine. 49? \ing and the Lion, it is the Spirit and the body, vhich muft tinge the body ot" Gold to be a Medi- ;ine, whereby it getteth abundant power to tinge Dthers its conforts. O bleifed Medicine, granted by God thy Crea^ :our ! O heavenly Loadltone of t'^at great attrii- ^ive love ! .() bountiful fubflance of Metals, ho^ great is thy power, how unfcarchable is thy vir-- tue, how ("tout is thy coitftailcy > He is bleifed up^ ion earth, that hath gou real knowledge of thy light, which the Worid'taketh no notice ot. He (hall not iurfer poverty, no diikrripcr fliall touch him, no difeafe fliall do him any hurt, till to the prefixed time of death, and to his laft hour, which the King of Heaven hath fct and prefixed. ilt is impolfible tor all the tongues of Men to ex* prels and '^o declare the wifdome, which is laid in tlie trcafure of this fountain. All the Oratoirrs muft become dumb, and be brought to confulion, nay be allonifhed and made uncapable ot fptak- ing any thing, if they fliould behold and know this fupcrnatural Majefly. And I am amazed my felf, when 1 do tliink and coniider, that I have re- vealed (o m.any things s but I hope with my pray- ers to prevail with God, ihat he may not lay this to my charge as a- mortal fin, becaule I have be- gun this work in his fear, have obtained it by his mercy , and have revealed it to his glory and praife. O moil Holy and cverlafiing Trinity,! do give unto thee both with my heart and^mouth, praile, hpnour, and glory, for that thou hail: revealed to me the great wildcme of this terrefirial World, befides thy Divine Word^ whereby 1 have got the knowledge of- thy Almighty pov\\r, and li-perna- tVXj\ 5oo 'J Ije Manual Operation tural miracles, which men will not acknowledge- I do moll humbly befeech thee to grant unto me further prudence and knowledge, tO make ufe of their power and virtue with perpetual thankf^ \ giving to thee, to the benefit of my neighbour^ ' and to Kiy own wellfare as well fpiritual as corpo- • ral. That fe thy Name may be praifed, magnified ! and glorified, tor all thy creatures both in Heaven ' and on Earth, and my enemies may acknowledge • that tho.i art a Lord tull of infinite wonders, that they like wife once may repent and be converted, and not perilli in the darkncls of falQiood. So help me and us all God the Father, GodtheSoji, and God the Koly Ghort, exalted above all in his Throne, Glory, Power, and Majeily \ whofc wif- donic hith neither beginning nor end, and before whom all the Creatures, heavenly;, terrelh'ial and helhin, with fear do ll^ake and tremble, bklT.d and praifed tor evermore, Am^n. O Seraphin , O Cherubin, how great are thy wonders and works, looii ill ■mercy upon tiiy Servant, and turn thine augLr trom liim, becaufe he hath revealed theie . thiag han the Pine or Fir-tree. And fuch wood is ne- 'er fo much apt to fwim i>poH the Water, as the Ir-trce is, becaufeit isclofe, folid, and coirpad, hat the Air in it cannot bear it up. The fameisi o be underftood of Metals, but efpecially of jold, wliich, by reafon of its much fixed and veil ripened quick- til ver, hath a moft folid, com- )adt, clofc, Hxed, and invincible body, to which leither Fire nor Water, neither Air, nor any pu- refadion of the Earth can do any hurt, bccaufe ts pores areclofed u^, and the corrupting power 3f the Elements cannot injure it. which fixed- lefs, and folid, and compadt conjundion do dc- nonftratc its natural ponderofity, which is not to yt tound or proved in other Metals, which may 5e dilcerned not only by weighing it in a pair of 5calcs, but you will find it iiKewife, if yon put 3ut aScrupel of pure gold upon a huiidred pound lecighc of Quick-fiivcr, it will fall preftntiy to gi:e 5 o i ] he Manual Oper attorn i the bottomc, whereas all other ponderous Metals, laid upon Quick-filver fwitn upon it, and do not fink to the bottome, becaufe their pores are more largely extended, that the Air or Wind may pafl through them to bear them up, ' Furthermore, concerning the Spirit of Venus or Copper in Phyfick, you are in iine toob(erve, t\m it is found very necelTary and wholefomc m'lU virtue and efficacy, not only that Spirit which li- eth in Primo Ente^ but that Spirit likewTe which is found in the laft Matter: Its virtue, power, and operation is fuch, that in Rifing of the Mo- ther it is to be preferred before any Medicine! whatfoever •, as liivcwife againft the Falling Sick- nefs particularly th^ re is nothing comparable td it. This Spirit hath moreover received a (ingu- ral gift to dry up the Dropiie. It prcferveth the blood trom putretadion, and doth digeft everj thing, that might be againft, or be hurttul to tht ftomack. It brcaketh the Stone, of whofeNatui"! it F. Outwardly, it layeth the foundation if Wounds for the cure of them. The Sore called long ago iVo/i tne tangerc^ and any old Ulcers, U they never fb deep rooted^t layeth hold upon theiil malignity, and uihereth in a ground for the heal^ ing of them. Outwardly it doth purihe, and fearchcth for the certain kernel, where the Cure and the working Medicine may falten, and have its beginning. Burin wardly it fearcheth and pc- netrateth throughly, and tindeth out any malig- nity ]n the body ot Man. It is like to the noble(t \yound-drink > there is no Impoilhume, but it is cured by it. To fumm up all, I do fiy, if you have a fpecial*- care cf this Spirit of Copper, it will woik fuclf . . \AO;ldcrS of Bifil Valentine. 50^ wonders borh inwardly and outwardly, as will be accounted of all incredible and fupernatural. And thus much of the Spirit of Copper. Lalily, and to conclude all, you are to know, that the Spiiit of Copper is a hot Spirit, pene- trant and fcarching, conijuning all the bad hu- mors and flegmc, both in Men and Metals, and may be jiifily accounted the Crown of Phyflck. tt is Very fiery and piercing, incombustible, yet fpiritual and without form v and therefore is ca- pable lii\e a Spirit to further m particular the ig- nition, digefiion, and ripening of things without a form. And if you are a true enquirer Into Natures Arcana^ let this Spirit be recommended unto you, it will never forfakc you in any necclfities, or wants either of health or riches, if you do exact- ly obfcrve , and juftly adminilrer it. I am in hopes iny requells and defires will once find place with, and be heard of many which make enquiry into Nature, and are very dehrous to iearch after, and to learn its kcrets- Therefore they will whet their (ences, open their eyes, and give leave to their cars to hear^chat (uch things may be learn- ed out of this relation ot mine, that never were obfervcd, nor fightjy undtrfiood bctore, which are found in this Spirit ot Copper both inwardly and outwardly. He that will not give heed to, nor oblerve and underit.uid theic writings of I mine, hath not found o;ir many myiteries, nor enquired with conirancy and truth without me, neither learned or gotany proritableknovvledge. Therefore no man can pal?> his verdidt upon mj, as touching the Spirit of ^^c/////, except he hath I turned the Copper^ ani exactly ttudied all the ie- Ni m cret? 5 01 The Afanual Oi^eratmt *^rcts of its inward virtue, as I have done. If I can get the knowkdt^c of any thing that is better, whicli I am as yet ignorant of, I do moft earneft- ly beilech you, not to conceal any thin§, and his- elcdrinc (lull be very well rewarded in a thou- fand ways. And thus^ recommend you to tl>c moil High Creator. Realon cannot always ap- prehend, that wich Venns cm reach unto. No thoughts can quickly hnd it out, and humane wit thi'ulkth it far trom it felf. Its Spirit alone •will judgcall, and tliC xNieiciiry will tlun co-ope- rate widi it. CHAP. V, Of th Gcncrjtiut //Mars, its Sflrlt andlirKlurc. My^rj-and Vcntfshivc one and the fame Spirit and Tindi;re, as ciie Gvid and (>ther Me- tals hive, though this Sp.rit be found in ever^ Metal, in (bme a greater, in otii;.rfome in (inallei quantity, It is undeniable, and confeffcd of all J tnat there are divers men, and divers opinions j although men in the beginning are niadc out of one tirlt Matter, and generated and born out of one Seed, yet is there a manifold diticrence of their opinions , becaufc the operation of the Stais hath occafioned this, and not without a caule; for the intluence of the great World vrork' eth the other, fnamely the dirTercncc of opinions) atter It ielt in the little World j bccaule all the Opniions, Nature, and 1 houghts together^ with the whole complexion of Man, do derive .their original of BafilViJcfirine. 5^ J original only from the influence of the Sfars of Heaven, and do fhtw themfclvcs according to the Planets and Stars, where nothing can wif h- itarfd, nor oblirud: luch an influence, beo^ufe tiiC gcricrat'on of their pcrftdion is already perform- ed and brought to a period or hnidied. For ex- ample, a man is naturally inclined to Study, one hath a mind f.r Divinity, another f^r the Study of the Law, the third torPhyfick, the fourth will be a Philofophcr. Besides all this, there are many wits, that h.ive a natural inclination for Mccha- nick Arts i as one turncth a Limner, another a- Goldfmith i, this min a Shoomaker, that man a Tailor, another a Carver, and fb foith, manifold and innimunble All this happenech hy the in- fluence ot the Stars^ whereby the imagination Is ftrtngthned and rounded lup^rnaturally, whercia it rclolvcth to continue. As we do hnd, if a mail hath once taken -up a refolution in iiismind, and laid a toun lation upon k^ that no man is able ta bring or keep him from it, that he fliould not io obltinatcly itand upon it, death only exceptedy which at lait clofccii up all. The fame is to be underfiooi of Chymiiis and Alchyjuills^ which having got (^,ncc into the fecrets of Nnure, do not intend to give tbtm ov^r fo ealily,exGept they have more exactly (earched Nature, and whol- ly abfolval and hnifhed the lludy thereof, whicli yet is no eaiic matter. Thus you are likewit^ to undcrlUndof Metals, that according as the infu- iionand imaginaciun happeneth from above, ia happeneth tae torm liKcwile \ although Metals are altogether called Metals, and are indeed Me- tals, yet as you have underibod by the divers opi- nions of men^ 'which arc altogether men out of M m 2^ ©fts 50^ The M amalOperMtons one matter, there may be manifold and diver s Metals, of which one hath got an hot and dry^, another a cold and moift, anotlicr a mixed com- plexion and nature. Tf lerefore, bccaiile the Me- tal of Mars hath before others been ordered by a grofs Salt in the greateft quantitySn its degree, its body is the hardeit, moli inflexible, ftrongeil, and courleli, which Nature hath thus -granted and appropriated to it. It containeth the lealt part of Mercury, a little more it hath of Sulphur, but the greateft part of Salt : and trom this mixture is fprung its corporeal being, and is thus born in- to the World, with fhe hdp of the Elements. Its Spirit is in operation equal to other Spirits : but if the true and right Spirit of Iron can be dif- cerned, I do really, and not uwwifely tell you, that one grain of its Spirit or quintelTence, taken •and adminiftred in Spirit of Wine, comforteth and frrengthneth a mans heart, mind,and courage, fo that no tear of any ot his enemies may be per- ceived : It fiirreth up a Lion Jike heart within him, and doth inflame to begin and confummatc a fight with Venus* If the Conjundion of Marf and Venus doth rightly happen in a certain con ilellation, they have fuccefs, victory, and conqudl, both in love and forrow,in hghts and peace, and will continue ot one mind, though tiie whole W'Orld (liould bear a ipleen and enmity againlt them. But becauie I am an Eccleliaftical man, I have fubjeded my (^c\^ to fpirituality, and have recommended my foul to God, without enticing of humane concupifceiice, and allurements of the Ivift of the tieih, which being unpermitted, pre- pare away to Hell v but Gods command, tear, and permiliion of the will of men, licenced by his c/ jKaiiJ Vaiennnc. 507 lis command, make the way ready for Heaven, ( they do perfcvere in the true worQiip o£> and :he true and lively faith in the Throne of Grace, the Mediator and InterceirorJefusChrill oar Sa- viour. This Spirit cureth, difpelleth and heal- ?th wonderfully all Martial diftempers, as the Dy- Qnteryor Bloody-flux, the Courfes of Women, white and red, any loofneft and open fores in the Legs, Bones, and the whole Body, together with all (uch diftcmpers both inward and outward, by what name focvcr they may be called,Masare oc- caiioned by bloody M?ri, ihe names whereof I (hall forbear to recite, becaufe thcic dlftempeis and difcafes, which are (iibjed to Mars-^ and under his jurisdiction, are conieiTed by and known to experienced and skillful Phyiicians. This Spirit of Iron being rightly difcerned and known, hath a fecret affinity with the Spirit of Copper, that they may be fo joyned together, that there rifeth one only matter from them, of one and the fame operation, form, fubRance, and 3eing, which will cure and relieve the fame di- ftempers , and tranfmute the particularities of. iMetals with proht and honour. But Iron toge- Ither with its virtue ought properly to be coniide- red. in ithe manner tollowing, that it hath a terre- tlrial body only in its corporeal form, which bo- dy may be ufed to a great many thing^s, to alter the blood, to outward wounds, to a graduation of Silvef ■> and invtardly to the conltipation of the body > which yet is not always benehcial to ule, neither in a Mans body inwardly and out- wardly, nor yet as concerning Metals. Becaufe theic is no great advantage to be made^er /e. Mm 2 with- 5o8 Th MarualOperaUon< •without riie known right nitans^ which do belong to Natures; fecrct knowledge. I inuft lemcinbcr one thhig more, that the Loaliftoue aflci the true Iron arcalmolr ot one and the funeufe in bodily dihcnipcrs, and arc ahiioli of oiieand thcTame Nature, even as it is accord- . ing to a Divine, Spiritml^ and Elemental icncc, betwixt the Body, its Soul, and the Chaos, out ot" ■which the Soul and Spirit are gone, tl-c Body is framed laR of all out of that cciv.pc'ruion. Wnat fi-kall we do ii©w, the ignorant and rude will not apprehend it, thole as undedbnd f'^^mething will take no notice of my writings, and thofe Nature , (iirpaiiing Wits will Hnd fault. Here I do want j (bme adyiec, for I would fain hnd OLit a way, that all theie mighty wife men might contuiuc my friends; Which I iliall dLclare to you thus, that, btcaule the Argument it (elf doth declare and pronounce the lentence and concluiion, there the feiblutioii remains th open, and cannot come flir- tht.r L nder any judgment of the mind, but aiuf; bedeclared, rtiblved, retained, and lignitied by it j felt. I " Finally, obfervc this in this Oiapter, that no ' Jioufe-Heeping caa be rightly and conitantly per- formed betwixt a married couple, where one party will tuni and di ive the Charict towards the ^alt,rhe other towards the W eft: For they pollibly cannot draw after this tafliion, the faid Chariot in an equal poife, whence there arilcth a greatdif- {(.niion and hinderaixe to obtain that which they imagined. But it: (uch Married Perions do in- tend to govern their Houle well, tliey muft be of one ipirit, one opinion, one mind, and vjitue to perform and adt ail, that is in their hearts and mind^ linds to work one with the other, 'if Co be the'' )ve and f^itiituhicfs is pert'cd. For want of on^ i thefc parts, the three Principles arc not rig':it- ^ together. Fcr Mercury is t'lill of cow:;rcliij5 f. fcid too little, as concerning conflancy and fixed" cfs. Sulphur is too little, it cannot heat the Lo" iy of love, it being too much quenched. And he Salt hath not its due, fit, and natural kind nci- her, but is too hard, and too much, and there- ore is the caufeof a hard coagiilatign, is (harp md fretting, and dotli not (hew it ielf by tideliry md conftancy. This is tjie courfe of this World, and the World is bi-g of this vice, for there is but little confrancy.^fmall love, and leis tidelity. This Philofophical exampk, I hope, will not be mif- conltrued, becaule 5)'r^c/7 extollcth and difpiaif- eth the faithfulntfs and malice (^ a falfe woman, and both in a dirfi rent manner. With this I bid Mars farewell, becaule no man knoweth to diftin- guilh things of one and the fame nature, much Kfs fuch as arc of a dirferent, but he which hith thus obierved them, and hath made a llridj: en- quiry into their nature and properties,and by fuch acurate enquiries hath found them out and learned them. ' God the Father ot Heaven, and the ever- lafling power, which yet was from the beginning, fcpirateus in fuch a manner, that this tcrreiiriai and corruptible body may attain unto, receive and comprehend the heavenly, (piritual, and incof rii-. ptible clarification. If you cannot difcern and know Iron by it felf, give it a help meet for it. Judge then, and you \yill difcover its pgwcr. ■ M m ^ CHAP. 5 1 o Th ^'funual Opffd' ions CHAP. VL Of the Spirit f Gold. THe hrightnefs of Heaven hath now com- manded me tochange myPcn,todircoveri thing of Fortitttde and ot Conftancy, bccaufe th €in\ is a burning confuning hrt^ hot and dry wherein there is a true power of all natura^ things, which power of the Slui worketh wif dome, riches, and health. My heart is feizecf upon by forrow, andmyipirit within it fclf be cometh allonilhcd, to manifeft and to bring tc light iiach things, as have not been difcovered and commonly laid open before me, and to reveaU that which hath been buried in the deprli witH^ very great ilcrecy. Notwithflanding, if I do go into my felf, and examine my co'nfcicnce, I could not hnd any other alteration to turii my mind, and to bring it upon fome other delign, which might obftrud my former rcfolution, But I (hall fpeak with difcretion, and write with prudence, that no evil may be occafioned by it, but rathef fcme gratcRil good obtained, which I have deli^ vered m the lame manner, as other Philorophers have done before me- Obierve well, and having hx'd your thoughts^ putalide dU thefe Urarige things,: which are not lerviceabic to you'r fpcculation ot Philoiophy,butj rather do de Itroy that advantage, which you havd (o-carntft!y f^jught for. Kjiow then, that "if. yoii| do e:.rnd:;y Jong for, and heartily dcfire to "get thjs^golden Load-ftone, your prayers hrft of all miili be lightly made to God, in true knowledi:c. '5 contri' of Bafil Valentine. 5^^ Contrition, forrow^and true humility, for to know and to learn the three different Worlds, which are fubjedl to hunaane reafon •, as there is the fu- percelelVial world , wherein the immortal foul keepeth its feat and refidence, belldcs its firft ori- giiial, and is by Gods crcatioH the iirH: moviag (cnfibility, or the lirft moving fenfible (bul, which of a fupernatural being hath wrought a natural life s and this fuul, and this fpirit, is the root, and the tirft fountain, and the firfi Creature exifting ' in the life of any thing, and the primum mobiky which ha^h been controverted fo much by learned and very wife men. Furthermore, obferve Jike- wife the fecond CelefHal World, and take very good notice of it, for therein do reign the I la- nets, and all the heavenly Stars have their courfe, virtue, and power in this heaven, and do perform therein their fervice, -for which God hath placed them there, and do work in this their fervice by their Spirit, both Minerals and Metals. Out of thefe two Worlds arifeth another dif- ferent World, wherein is found and comprehend- ed, what the other two Worlds have wrought and produced, out of the Hrft fuperceleftial World is derived the fountain of life, and of the foul*: Irom the fecond Celeftial World doth fpring the light of the Spirit : And from the third, the Ele- mental World, Cometh the invincible, heavenly, yet fentible fire, by which is digefted and xipened that which is comprehenfible. Thefe three mat- ters and fublbnces do generate and bring forth the form of Metals , amcngft which 'Gold hath the pre-eminency, becaufe the Sydereal and Elc- jiiental Operation hath mellowed and ripened the .Mercury in this Metal the more lublhntially, to a illiicieiu 5 1 » The MaouaL Operations fufficient and pcrfedl maturity^ And as the Scc^ of a Man doth tall into the Womb, and toucheth the McnjlrHum^ which is its earth > but tlie Sccd:> which g,octh out of the Man nito the Woman, is wrought in both by the Stars and El-mcnts^ that it may be united and nourifhcd by the Earth to a generation : So you are likevvifc to undcrftand, that the loul of Metals, which is conccjved by an unptrceivcable, invifible , inconiprcheiiiible, ab- ftrule, and fupeinatural Celcftial compolition, as put of Water and Air, whicti are formed out of t!ie Chaos, and then t'luther digefted and ripened by that heavcuiy "Ekmcntal light and hrc of the Sun, whereby the Stars do move the Powers, when its heat in the inward parts of the Earth, as in the Womb is perceived : For by the warm- ing property of the Stars above, the Earth is un- Jocftt and opened, that the infiifed fpirit of the ifame may yield tood and nourifliment, and be enibled to generate fonreching, as Metals, Herbs, Trees, and Beath, where every one particularly bringtth with it its Seed for a further multiplica- lion and augmentation. And as the conception pf a M-in JS Ipiritual and heavenly, whole foul and fpirit by nourifl-iment of the Earth in the Mothers Womb, are formally brought up to a perfection : So likewiie it is tp be obierved an d understood in every particular of Metals and Mi- nerals. But this is the true (ecret of Gold, z^i;^:, to ir.liruct and teach you by an c/iample andlimi- iitudt', whereby the poilibility of Nature, and its iPA'ftery is to be found in the manner following. It is probably true, thatthe heavenly light of the iSun is od a riery prcprrty, and of a hery being, which the mo'r high God, as Creufpr of Heavci> an4 cf Bafil Valentine. 5T3 and Earth hath granted to it, through an heaven- ly, con Iran t, and hxtd fulphureou# fpirit, for the prcfervation of its fubflance, forn), and body y which creature by reafon of its fwift motion and courfe, through its iWiftncfs is inflamed, and fet on fire by the Air •, which inflamation will neves beextinguifhed, as long as the motion doth laft, and the whole created vifiblc World doth conti* nuc and endure, nor in the leaftdiminiihed in its power: becaule there is no combultibje matte^f exfiant, which might be given to it, whofc coiit fumpcion might caufe the decay of that great light of Heaven. So is Gold by the Super iour of it^ EiTence thus digefted and ripened, and is become of iucli a hxed invincible aature, that nothing at all can hurt it i becaufe the upper lixed Stars have penetrated the lower, that the lower hxedStays^ by reafon ot the infufion and grant of the upper^ iiced not to - ive place to their equal i becaule the lower hath received and obtained fuch a conftant tixednefs from the upper. This now is very well to be noted and obierved, as concerning the iirit inatterof Goldw I mult alkdge yet another finiilitude according to the manner of Philofophers, of the great light of' Heaven,- and of that iinall Fire, which bring terreftrial is here kindled every day, and is mado to burn before our eyes. Becaufe that great light hath a magneticai likcnefs, and an attradiva loving power with that Imall hre here upon earth, which yet is without form and impalpable, and found only fpiritual, invifible, inienlible, and in-^ comprehenfible. It is remarkable, as it is proved and demonltrated by experience, that that great light of heaven hatji a great love fcr, and bear^ 514 Tht Mdh ual Operatio'r. s cth an afTcdlion and inclination to the Jittle fire, which is terreikial, by rcafon of the fpiritual Air, whereby both are agitated, and preserved from their utter ruin and deflrudtion. For do butj^con- fider, as foonas the Ait, through great moifture or huniidity, which it hath attradted and taken in^ conceiveth any corruption, that fo through milis^ and further coagulation and conjundtion, clouds are generated, the beams of the Sun are hindrtd and (jbltruded, that the Sun cannot obtain its re* flexion, nor have itsjdue penetrating and fcarchr ing power : So likcwife this little terreftial hre doth never burn fo clear in' dark, cloudy, and rainy vv^eather, neither doth it (hew it felt with that gladnefs in its opera tio», as when the air is fair, pure, clear, nnmixed, and heavLnly* The caufe is this, for through the oblhcle of the moift air, the love is hindred and obllruc5ted, that the attractive power growing (ad, cannot exercife its perfeA love and operation, as it ought to do > for the contrary element, the aquolity, caufeth this obftru(9:ion. As now the Sun, that heavenly great light, hath a fpecial communioa and love with thefinall terreih'ial fire, to attrad: after a magie- tical manner : So like wife hath;theSun and Gold- a fpecial correfpondency, and a. peculiar attra^iMO power and love together, becaufe the Sun haib wrought the Gold through the three principleSy have their Loaddone, which is neareit of all rer! lated to the Sun, and hath attained to the hi.ghefti ilegrec,fo that the three Principles are found niQib mighty and powerful in the (ame. Next to it is: Gold in its corporeal form, btcjuie it is framti. out.ol' the three jprinciples, but' hath its original: tnd.ibe^iiiniii'g ftQOi the heavenly an.l gulden Loa't- 0/ Bafil VakiuiriC. 5^5 Loadftones. This is now the greateft wifdom, )f this World, a wilclon^.c bcyoiid all wifdomc lay, a wiidomc beyond all hi.manc reafon arxi uii- icrlianding. For by this vvifdom is Hrft of all ipprehtndcd the Creation, the heavenly EiTer.ce,. the operation of the \ irmament, the ^Miitual inm- gination- and corporal being, and doth compre- hend all the qualities and properties, and what- foever 5oih maintain and prckrve a man. In- this golden Loidirone is and iycth buried the dii- foliuion and opening of all the Minerals and Me- tals, their government, as alio their matter of the hi\ generation, and their power, as touching health. Moreover the, coagulation and fixation of Metals, together with the operation to cure all difeafes. Take a fpecial care of this Key, for it is heavenly, (yderal,and elemental, orrt of which the terreftrial is generated. ..It is Supernatural and Natural together, andisborn out of the (pi- rit of Mercury, heavenly •, out of the fpirit of Sulphur, fpiritual •, but out of the fpirit of Salt^ corporeal. This i^he whole way, and the whole fubftance, the beginning, and the end. For the Spirit and Body arc fo knit together in one by the Soul, that they can never be fepa rated, but do ge- nerate a moli: perfed and hxcd body, which cai: recc'.venohurt, Qut.of this fpiritual Eflence, and out of this fpiritual Matter, out of which the G jultly, by reafon of its wonderful cfFeds, preferred before all the Cardials, by what names foever they may be called. I am a Spiri- tual Man, iltbjcdt to the Eecleliaftjcal State, and engaged by a Spiritual- and Divine Oath to the Order of t le Benedicts , whereby through my devout prayers I do receive great and precious promifcs of the Word of God, to the comfort of my I 0/ Bafil Vafcntine- 517 my foul : Bnt in corporal afHidions of my infir- mity, as well as of my Brethren, I have not found nor uCed a greater Cordial by Gods blelling, than this compofition of the three things aforefaid. God grant, blefs, and increafe this power and vir- tue to the end of this temporal World, which men muft exchange for death. O thou golden power of that foul of thine ! O thou golden underltanding of thy ("pirit I O thou golden operation of thy body ! God the Creator preferve thee, and grant to all tcrreltrial Creatures which love and honour him, the true knowledge of all his gifts, that his will may be done in Hea- ven, and on Earth. And thus much may futlkei for tlie preicnt for thediicovery ot the Spirit of Gold, till the coming again of Elijf . To th's I will add yet this fhort Proceft. Take Spirit of Salt, and with itextrad: the Sul- phur of Gold. Separate the Oil of Salt from it, and redihe the Sulphur of Gold with Spirit of Wine, that it may become pleafant, without any corrofiveneis. Tiien take the true Oil of Vitriol, made out of the Vitriol of Verdlgreaie, diflblvc in it Iron : make again a Vitriol out of it, and dif- iclv^: it again into an Oil or Spirit, wliich re- dtifie likewile, as bcfore,with Spirit of wine. Put them together, and draw oJf the Spirit of Wine from thence. Diliolve. the matter, which rc- maineth d.y behind, in Spirit of Mercury, in :^ due proportion or Vv eight. Circulate and coagu- late it. When it becometh conftant and Hxed without riling any more, you have then, if ycui Fernient it with prepared Gold, a Medicine t« *■ tiiHge boch Men audMe tali* , CtlA?- 5l3 The AfAnualOveratioht CHAP. VIL Of the Impure of Stiver* I^He Tindure and Spirit of Silver is of a Sky-colour, otherwife it is a watcrifli Spirit, cold and moift, and not fo hot in its degree, as the Spirit which is found in Gold, Iron, or Coppery therefore is Silver more flegmatick than fiery, al- though it hath been reduced by lire out of its wa- terifh fubftance unto a coagulation. In what man- ner Metals do obtain their tinging Spirits and co- agulation '-) in the fame manner have the Stones likewife received their hardneis, fixednels, and Tindure, as by one and the fam^e influence. In a Diamond is found a fixed and coagulated Mercu- ry, therefore this Stone is harder and more fixed 'than other Stones, and is not to be broken as they are. ' In a Ruby is found the Tind:ure of Iron,or tH^ Sulphur of Iron. In an Efmerauld the Tm- drure of Copper, in a Granate theibul cf Lead. In Pev/ter the Tindfure which is found in the ftone called Topallus. Chryllal is attributed to common Mercury. And in a Saphir is found the Tindure and Sulphur of Silver , yet every thing in particular, according to its nature and kind > and in Metals likewife according to their ■form and kind. And when the blue colour is fepa rated and taken away from the Saphir, then is its garment gone, and its body is white like a Diamond. Thus when Gold hath loft its foul, it ^ yieldeth then a white body, and a fixed white body of Gold, which is called Lnna fixa by the (earch- \ cf Bafil Valentine. JlP fcarching Students and Novkcs in this Art. What hath been faid as concerning the Stone eaHcd Saphir, foi- your inllradion, you may ap- ply to the better knowledge of the Nature of Metals. For this blue Spirit is the Sulphur and Soul, out of which Silver hath its life, as well in the Earth, as above the Earth, by Art, and the white Tindure of Silver, upon white always, in a magnetical form of that one thing and Crea- ture, whxrcm the Trimttm Ens Anri likewife is found. You moft Eminent Orators, where is here your Rhetorick to declare this Myftery ? And you re- puted Enquirers. into Natures fecrets, what is become of your writings and knowledge ? you Phylicians likewife, where is your opinion and judgment gone } perhaps beyond Seas, to fetch fomething trom far remote places, wherewith you may cure xh^d Dropfie, and other lunarydi- Ikmpers. You will fay, my fpeech is too dark for you> if -fo, kindle then that Terrellrial lire, and fearch and be not afhamcd to make friendfhip with Vulcan \ let no pains taking difcourage you, and you will rind by the permilfion of the Eter- nal God, that the Spirit of Silver all alone con- taineththat, which will perftdlrly cure and difpclj thcDropfic: Even as the Spirit of Gold, and of Mercury, can radically cure the Confumptlon, To that even the center it (elf of the faid diftcmpcr may not be found. But that Silver is not fo provided in its degree ' with a hot fubitance and quality, in the veins of the earth, but is fubjedcd to a wateriih kind ^ this fault is to be laid upon the great light of hea- ven, which by reafbu of it? wateriih influence N n hath 5 * o J f)e Ai anuM uperAitons bath planted this quality into thefecond Cfcaturc' and into the fecond Planet of the Earth, as into Sjlvcr. And though Silver doth carry wirh it a fixed Mercury, or fixed Quick-filver, which h born in it : neverthelefs it wanteth the hot fixeci Sulphur, which might have exadly dryed up and confumed the Flegme, which is the caufe it hath not obtained a compad body, Except it be done after v/ards by Art of the lefTer World. And be- cau{e the body is not folid and compad, by reafon of its waterifli fubftance, hence are its pores not well flopped up, nor confolidated, that it might ^ave a due ponderofity, and endure a fight v;ith ts enemies. Which vertues ought altogether to be found in Gold, if fo be it muft conquer all its foes, and endure all the tryals without fault. All things are hard and difficult in the beginning, but when they are brought to a period, they areeafie to be undtriiood and cemprehended. It you do rightly obferve and learn to know the fpirit and 'ioul of Silver, you will eafily ap- prehend the main work, how they muft yeild the end of their ufefulneis. Therefore I will pro- pofe unto you an example, and inftrudf you by a Country rule, what you are to apprehend and to confidcr horn child rens play, to things of great concernmentjthat you may ad vantagioully enquire into, and meditate upon them, viz* A common Countryman foweth Linfeed upon a well dunged, and v7ell tilled ground, which Linfecd comes forth out .of the earth after its putrefadion,by the ope- ration and furtherance of the Ekments, and lay- €th bjfore our eyes a matter of Fia-x together with its Seed, which it bringeth iucrcafed with it r which Flax is pluckt oli" and feparatcd from of B^tfil Valentine. 5 '^ i its Seed. This Flax cannot be lifcd, nor prepa- red with any profit tor any work, except it be Jirlt ot all putrihcd through Water, by which pu- trtfadicn the body unlockcth it felf, andgaineth ;jn ingreis of its ulctliliuis. After this putretadion and unlocking is performed^the Flax is dryed again by the Air and the Sun, and through this coagu- lation reduced and brought again to a tormal be- ing, that it may further (ervc for work. This prepared Flax is waflied, beaten, broken , and fwinged, laii of all heckled, that the pmtm ah impHTj^ the clean from the unclean, the gvols.from that which is (ubtill may be {eparated, which utherwife is impoifible to be done and performed, except tlie aforefaid preparation go before. After- wards they Spin this Flax, and it becometb Yarn* This Yarn is boiled in Water upon the hre, or laid into Lees and placed by the hre, whereby a new purification happcneth, that (o the imparity and luperfluous uncleannels may be further fevered and ieparated. After the Yarn is rightly wafhed and cleanfed, it is "dryed, and carried to a Weaver> and Cloth made out of it •, whicn Cloth by often wetting with Water is clariHed and whited,cut in pieces by Taylors, and other people, and ufed ac- cording to every Houfe-keepers'neceility. And after (uch Linnen Cloth is torn cfcid worn to pie- ces, aud as it were reduced to nothing, then arc the old raggs pickt, and gathered, and carried to a Paper-miil, where the Maitcr inaketh Paper out of them, which may likewiie be ufed for feveral things. This Paper being laid upon fome Metal or Glafs, and tJ^^eu lighted and burnt, the Vegeta- ble Mercury goeth then out of the Paper into the Air, and flycch away. Toe Salt remaineth in the " ' N.a 2 Aihcs> $21 The Manual Over at torn Alhes, and the burning Sulphur, that which is not (b quickly confumed in the burning, is refolvcd into an Oil, which i<^ an excellent Medicine for dark and bad Eyes. ' Tins reiblved Oil hath in it tn cxtraordniary fatnefs, which the matter oi'thc Paper hath carried with it from the beginning of its hril: Seed of Hax : And thus the laft matter of tlax, as Paper, is again refblved into the hrft mat- ter, as into the pingued fulphureous oleofity of the Linefeed, together with a Reparation, ot its Mercuiy and Salt ^ that fb out of the lall,thehrlt as the foundation, is made manifelt, and out of the iirfl: the virtue and operation is kaown and learned. Though this Argument be rude and grofs, yet will you learn by It things fecret and fubtil. For that which is fubt:], muft be infufcd under grofs examples inXo ignorant people ■-> for they are to learn, to put oli" tliat which is grofs, and to take in that which is fubtil. Thus you arc like wife to undcrftand, that the iirff matter of Metals muft be obferved, irudicd, and found oiit, through the dit- coucry of their laft matter, which lafl matter, as there are the abf olute and per^c^ Metals, muft be divided and feparated, that it may appear alroge- ther naked to a mans IJycs; and then there ifiay be, learned o: known by fuch a divilion,what the iirll matter hath been in the beginning, out of which the lafl: is made. I'hus much ' concerning Silver. 1 had Icveral things yec tomention,butIvvilIleave them for another time : mo/i heartily bcfecching you , and exhorting you upon your confcience, that you will obferve all thefc things which I have diicovcrcd unto you, and- all thefe letters which arc c( mprchended betwixt Alfha and Onuiga^ and carefulir carefully keep all my fayings* and writings, that you may not crave pardon For your lins, and Uilfcr evcrlali:- ing vengeance to eternity. Lailly, I do impart this yet unto you. Take the sky-coloured Sulphur of Silver, which hath been extraded out of Silver, and rediried by Spirit of Wirlt. Diffolve it according to its weighl in the white fpirit of Vitriol, and in thefweet fentcd fpirit of Mcrcury,and -coagulate them together through afrixation of fire, and you will get the pollellion of the white Tindure, and its Medicine. But if you know the Frimnm Mobile^ it is then needicfs, becaufe you may bring the work to pcrfedion out of one. ■ C H A P.~ V flT ^ Of the Soul orTinaure of f ei^vtcr. T He benign Jtfplter is almoft of a middle nature a- mongfi all the Metals. He is neitjier too hot, nc)r yet too cold, not too warm, nor toomoift. He hath not too much of Mercury, nor yet of Salt, and of Sul- phur there is kaftof all in him. Pewter is found white in its colour j yet of thefe three Principles one doth ex- ceed the other, as it hath been clearly difcoverci in its divilion, accordrng^to the true enquiry into natures fe- crets. Out of this compolition and mixture of the three principles, is generated, and wrought, and coa- gulated into a Metal, and brought to a maturity of per- tedion, Jupiter a God of peace, a- bountiful Governor, and a Lord and Prince of the middle Region, as con- cerning his elkte, eiTence, profeffion, virtue, form, and fubftance i for he keeptth the;imean, and there can hard- ly happen any difiemper, where jupitcr may de any extraordinary hurt, if his Medicine be iobcriy ufed in Hot too great a quantity. It is likt. wife reputed need- . Icfs, where his Medicine is not required, toad miniiicr ic, not being called tor, to Itrange mlngs: but is juiUy Nn . .- r... ..; rcfervedfor thcfe, where the body and- di/lempcr have a fimilitudeor likenels with the upper ihrs,and their help in virtuc^power^and operat!On,and Co agree togaher in their conjnn6lion,that there may not be found anycon- trarjety,ncitherinthe operation,nor in the operatingna* ture.The fpiril oi Jupiter is found fiiclT^that it mayin no wife be fpared in the generation of Metals , as like wife no fpirit of any Metals may be put by, becauie they muft needs concord and agree from the lowelt to the higheft degree, if there fhall follow a perftdf metal in the Earth, andlikewiie in the little World by tranimu- tation and augmentation. Thk is now to be under- flood thus, that all degrees, from the lowclt Metal to the highcft inperfedion, miuil: be gone through , as like- wife the Metals muil perform their courfe from the ve- ry Lead toGold^by reafon of the hxednefsof theTin- diure and Body, notwithflanding that Saturn keepetH the chiefefr place in the highelf Region, wherein the Afiri do rci^n, and the Stars do perform their morion. The generation of Pewter in and above the Earth, is brought to light after the follovving manner. Asa Man, and other Beafisare tirii brought up and fed with the milk of their Mother, and there is no meat to be found upon the face of tlie Earth, more convenient and ht for the bringing up of Men than milk^for their meli- oration is for the mofc part by an animal Sulphur, which ycildeth the nouriH-jment. T^us likcwnfe is Pewter fed and brought up by its metaliick Sulphur, which is nioft agreeable to it, and (ucketh in more warmth and heat than Saturn, and therefore is Jupiter the more digefted and rOited, whereby alio his body becomcth more con- ftant and fixed in the degree of Salt. Jupiter ordcreth that }iis Lurdfnip and Dominions ma> be well governed, and juftice be rightly admini- :J to everyone in his Court of judicature. The Spirjf Spirit of Jupiter doth prot.d and preferye from all diftempersand difeafes incident and hurtful to the Li- ver. Its Spirit is naturally, as for its tafle like unto honey. Its Mercury being nnade volatile, doth^get a venomous quality, for it purgeth vehemently, and pe- netrateth with violence. Therefore it is .not always good, that its unlockt Quick-filver (hould be thus tim- plynfedbyitlclf •, biit it a corredion goerh before, it may be very well ufed with exceeding groit uftiulnels in thofe diitcmpcrs and difeafes, which are immeaiate- ly fubjed: to his influence sithat is to fay, when you have taken away from Cedekjel'its venc^nous volatility, and it is placed into a better and more tixed eftate, which doth refift poKon. •- r This defcription will tranfcend the capacity ot a common Phyfictan, becaufbthis Art and Science doth not coniiit in bare words, but cometh by experience: in words hath a common Phyfician his end and foun- dation s but the preparation of our Medlcme dotn be- gin with words, but its foundation is in a certain tryal to be made by experience, which foundation is laid up- on a hard Rock by manual operation. But the other upon a leaking Reed, and mcer Sands therefore that which is hrm and unmoveable, made by the hands ot Nature, is iufdy preferred before bare words, which do flow from an incoiiftant fantaitick fpeculation, becaufe the workmanfhip commends always its Maikr. I do not fpeak now after my Poetical manner, nor do I write in that ftile, which I have ufed in the difco- very of that miraculous nativity of the ieven Planets in my Occults Fhiloffhh;n6tha do I make ufe of a ma- gical or cabaHftical manner. !> much Icis do I obferve tfc Method oi thoie, which have induikloally uudied and Icarn-d the ies-rct, h'dden, and (dpernatural Arts, as th re are R^Jromxriia-, ■Mrommtu^ Geomantia, Tyr - >^ 11 ^ mmiWi 5 56 The MariUrJOpera^ion^ mantia^ Nig^'om.nitia^ aiui the like : but my purpole and intention for the prtfcnt is to difcover thelccrecsof Nature, that the Lovers of Art, and Children of this (earching and defired wifdom, may, by the blelfing, mercy, and permiifion of God, apprehend, obferve, and ftudy them, and after a diligent obfervation may learn and keep feme ufcful things, as well concerning the generation of Metals in two parts, in the greater and lefler world, as alfo the true medicine, which theie Metallick and Mineral forms do contain in their in- ward parts, which are apprehended and demonftrated by dividing, that their fni\ beginning is notorioully manifefied in three feveral things. Then is Nature un covered, and the fecret parts are laid open by putting otf the temporal cloths, and all i^s fecret virtue, pow- er, and operation difcovered for the good and health of Mankind. My pcrfccutors and unskillful Phylicians will fay, you fpeak much of Geefe, and I do not know the Ducks yet ^ who knowcth whether every thing be true, which you have Cct down for truth in your writings. I will (lick to the things I have experience of, and which are pradifed by my fellow Phylicians v thus fliall I continue undeceived, and I do alTuredly know, that I need not take any pains for to learn no- velties. He that is of fucli a reiolution, will certainly abide with his Ducks, and never defcrve rofted Gecfc, tolearMthefecrets of Nature. Eut I do finccrely confefs, and call the mpft High Trinity to witneis, under the lofs of the nobleft fpiri- tual jewei, thaj whatfoever I have vvritten, and fhall yet write here, is truth,and will- be found to be nothing cKt but truth. But that every under/landing, and every common Man, but efpecially thofethat arehateisand pcilecutors of theic fecrets, do not undcrliand my Vv^rit- ^? io well and,tb clcariy, this;llay, I cannot help. Piav of BafiJ Valentine. 527 Pray you t(^ God for His grace, and you perfecutors ask him forgivenefs, work chcarfully, and ufe your reafon when you read, and there will be no (ecret to abftrufe for you, but you will by enquiry find it out. More- over, I do exhort you, that whofoever findeth out this gift of God, may without intermiliion, day and night, oifer moft hearty thanks with all humility, and reve- rence, and due obedience to God the Creatour chiefly : becaufe no Creature is capable to render fufficient thanks, which might equalife this benefit : therefore diligence is to be known by a true and real induftry, ac- cording to ones power. I have done my due, for which I intend to. anfwer to God and the World j> for what thefe eyes of mine have feen, my hands have felt, and my felf with reafon infallibly comprehended, (hall no body take away from me in this life, death excepted, which doth feparate all things. I have not indeed been forced to write theft thin;»s, but whatfoever I have done, I have neither done out of ralhnefs, nor yet out of a defire to get to my felf a temporal lafting Name '•» but I have been put upon it by the command of Chrift the Lord, that his Majefly and Mercy, in Eternal and Temporal things, may not be hid from any man, but may be manifejfted to the praife, hoi^our, and glory of his holy and evcrlafling Name, that it may be, by reafon of its omnipotency, confirmed by the performing of great miracles, magni- fied, acknowledged, and injits Majefty e^calted. The feDond thingjthat moved me to write this, was Chriftian charity to my Neighbour, ti) do him as much good as to my ielf, and thereby to heap fiery coals up- on the heads of mine enemies. . And laftly, that all my adverfarics likewife might ac- knowledge, what errors or by paths others had been in, in comparifoa to me, and who had moft td it h fully djfcovcicd 5^8 The Manual Operations difcovcred Nittircs Arcana^ whether I vMto be con- demned, or they to be iuftlHcdr And then laft of all, that the higheft miltcry might not be altogether choak- ed in darknefs, nor overwhehned by the (welling wa- ters, but being freed from the miry and filthy ditches of a fimple and ignorant crue, might get many witnefleS| by fpreading abroad of a true, certain, and due ac - klpwledgment, to follow my footftcps in difcovcring the- truth.' *'^^They attribute to me in my Lordfhip, of the 12. "3t§i^s of the Stars of- heaven, the Archer and Fifhef, ^c^bf rhefelam born, bccauic I was in an aquofity ^before I began to live", but the Archer hath fixed his Arrow into my heart, tliat I having loii this jaqtiofity ioT'mine, was made worthy of the dry earth : And tliough the earth wis brought into a foft {ubfiance by the Water, yet are you to know, that the Water was .confumed through the dry and warm Air, and fo all the foft matter of the Earth being vanillied, I was made worthy to receive that hardnels by the aforefaid exfic- cation. By^this, as well the Scholar as the wife man, are to take good notice and diligently to obferve, that Jufiter, as well as other the chiefett Planets,is fubjp|t to the tour Elements, which Elements have received tneir Centrum from above, and are born as others are. To conclude all, I will let you know, tliat if you do cxtrad out of the benigne Jupiter his Salt and Sulphur, and make Saturn flow very well together with them, Saturn doth get a fixed body, is purified, and becometh clear by them, and is a total change, and real tranlmu- tation of Lead into good Pewter, as you will find it up- on a rnort accurate trial. And though this may fcem to you not to be true,yet areyoutoundcribnd,tha* by rea- lon that the Salt ot Jn^mr is made more corporeal only by cf BLifil Valentine. 5^9 by its Sulphur, it likewifc hath received an efficacy and a power to penetrate Sstnm^ as the vilefi: and moft vo- latile Metal, and to bring it to its own Tubftancc by making it better, as you will really iind it to"be fo. CHAP, ix! ^ Of the Spirit cf Saturn cr 'iinUun sf Lead* SAtuT/i to generate his Metal, which is Lead, is pla- . ced in the upper Heaven above all the Stars. But in the lower parts of the Earth he'doth keep the low- ell degree. As the uppermoii light of Sautrn^is nnount- ed to the higheft altitude of all the lights of Heaven i fo like wife in imitation of the fame, hath Nature giv- en leave and permitted, that his Children of the lowei:^ Region have retired themfelves by Vulcan to thoit. ot their quality, according as Saturn hath been moved. For the upper Light is thecaufe of it, and hath gene- rated an unfixed body of Lead, through v^hich g© and arc drawn open pores, that the Air can have its palBge through this Saturnine body, and bear it up. But tb nre eafily worketh upon and confumeth it, bcc the body is not folid and compadt by reafon cf it hxednels. This is well to be obferved by a fer?^ quirer into all things •, becaufe there is a vaft ■ ' betwixt fixed and unfixed bodies, and thenjthu . ,, i«r'^, is of a (ingular ponderofity before other Metals > yet will you obierve, that when they are poured out toge- ther, after their conjundion in the melting of them, the other Metals will always fall to the bottome,as'iIlie- wife it happeneth with ether Metals, by pouring them through Antimony. Whereby it doth appear, thar o- ther Metals have a more folid and (^mpad: body, than SaXiirn(:d.i\ raife \ becaufe it mult^ive place to other Metals, make room for them,andyeild the vidory :for it ■ If 3 o I'he Manud Opr/at/.o^;s / vanifheth away, and IsconiiimcJ together with thefe iinconllant and unhxed Metals. For there are the three groffcft qualities of the three principles in Satum^ ^and by rcafon tliat its Salt is altogether fluid in conaparifon toWncr Metals and Planets, therefore is like wife its bo- dy mort^uid, inconftant, unfixed, and more volatile^ than any Mctallick body. How Saturn doth proceed towards his regeneration, you arc to know, that as common Water through na- tural cold, by the alteration of the, upper Heaven is congealed,ro that it become ^h a coagulated Ice : (b liAc- wife it is demonftrated, that Lead is coagulated and made corporeal by rcaton of the great cold, which is found in its Salt before any other Salt. The congealed Ice is refolved through warmth, and fo is the coagula* ted Lead made fluid by fire. It hath moil Mercury ia it, yet inconflant and volatile : But le(s of Sulphur,and therefore according to the fmall quantity of the fame, its cold body cannot be heated i and left of all of- Salt, but fluid : otherwife the Iron would be more liquid andmalleable.than5'^t«r//,if the Salt alone could im- part both the malleablenefs and fluidity, bccaufe Iron doth carry with it more Salt than any other Mctal.And being there is a difference to be found in thefe things, you muft carefully obfcrve how Metals are to be diflin- guifhed. All the Phiiofophers indeed, beiides my felf, have written, that the Salt caufeththe coagulation, and the body of every Metal : And this is true, but I (halJ let you fee by an example, how this is to be underftood. jilumeH flumafum is vc^utcd and probably accounted t© be a meer Salt, and herein may be compared to Iron, which Salt of the aforefaid Alumcn flmiojltmis never- thelefs found to be as a mitter, and not liquid like Iron. On the contrary. Vitriol doth fi-iew it ieif like Salt hi t fmall quantity, yet liquid and open > and therefore its Sale Of Bafil Valentine. 5 3 . Salt cannot caufe Co hard a coagulation in its appropri- ated Metal, as that other Salt doth. Although all the Saks of Metals are grown out ot one root, and cn^ feed, yet is there a difference of their three principles to be obfcrved : As one herb diliers from the other ,anelan^ choly : Therefore if its fpirit be ufed, one melancholy fpirit doth attradt the other, whereby a mans body is freed and releafed from its iufufed melancholy. Out- wardly is the foul of Sainrn very wholefome in all fores and wounds, whether they be old or green, whether they happen by thrufting or cuting, or naturally by means incident, fo that hardly any other Metal will do the like. It is a cooling thing in all hot aiid fwcHcd Members > but to eat aw^ay, and to lay a foundation for healing in all corrupt and putrified fores, which have their iifuini forth from within, there the noLk 32 The 2\4anualO'0eratiois Venus hath the pre-eminency > becaufe Copper is hot in i EiTence to exllccate and dry up,but Lead on the cdn- ytfary is found to be cold in its EHeace. ^ That heavenly Light of the Sun is much hotter than V the Light of the Moon, becaufe the Moon is much Icfs- cr than the Sun, which doth comprehend the eight part of magnitude in the circle of meafuring and dividing. And if the Moon fliould exceed the Sun in this magni- tude of the eight part, as the Sun doth exceed the Moon ', then 'all the fiuit, and whatfoever groweth up- on the earth would be fpoiled, and there would be a continual Winter, and no Summer would be tound* Butthe eternal Creatour hath herein wifely prefcribed a certain order and law to his Creatures, that the Sun fhould give light by day, and the Moon by night, and thus be lerviceable to all Creatures. Tliofe Children which are addidred to the influence oi Saturn^ are melancholy, far! y, always murmuring, like old covetous mifers, which do not good to their own bodies, and are never fatisiied 5^;^hey ufe their bo- dies to hard labour, vex and fret themielves with trou- blefome ihouglits, and are very feldome fo cheerful as to recreate themfclves w^ith other people, neitiier do they care much for natural lo^^e of handlome and beau- tiful women, To Aim up all, I do tell you, that Saturn is generated out of little Sulphur, little Salt, and much immature and grols Mercury •, which Mercury is to be accounted . like skum or froth, which fwimeth upon the v/ater, in . comparilbn to that Mercury which is found in Gold, being of a much hotter degree. Hence it is, that the Mercury of Saturn hath not fo frcfh and fo running a life, as that which is niade out ot Gold, becaule more heat is found in this, to which the running life oweth its original, Therefore it is like wife to be obferved in the : inferiour world ot/the little Vulcan^m the augmcn- ion and tranfmutation ot Metals, what defcripticn ;ave given you of thefe three principles of Satur:^ nceniing their original, quality, and complexion, d every one is to know, that no tranfmutation cf y Metal can arife frotn Saturn^ by reafon ot its great Id, except the coagulation of Mercury : btcaufe the Id Sulphur of Lead can quench and takt awayjthe hot nning fpirit of Quick-iilver, if the Procefs be right- pertormed , therefore it is rightly to be obferved, It the Method bLtib kept, that the Theory may agree ith the pra^ice, and concurr in a certain meafure and ncord. Wherefore you mult not altogether rejed: iturn^ nor vilify and difparage it ^ for its nature aud rtue is not as yet known but to. a few ■. For the Stone the Philofophers hath the hrft beginin^ of its hea- nly refplcndent Tindure only from mm Metal, and infufion of this Planet^ is the Key orfixedncfs deli- red to it through putrefadfion \ becaufe that out of c yellow there cannot come any red thing, except ere be firil: made out of the beginning of the black a bite one. There are yet many things to be treated of, as of any miracles of natural and fupernatural things v but :caufe fome other bulmefs hath hindered me from akirtg a more ample and fuller relation of them, I all here conclude this Treatife of rrane > and the ref^ ncerning the hidden fecrcts of Minerals, you (hall ^ve in other writings, viz* in a peculiar book of An- Tiony, Vitriol, Sulphur, Loadftone, and which more, pecially before others are endowed, and do adhere to em, from which Gold and Siiver derive their crigi- .1, middle, and end i, together with the true tranfmu- tion in particular i, which their virtues, powers, and icacies they have received out ef one thing, • wherein I. ^ -, «. ^'- Trjt jvi anuai uverattcr^s theic, together with the reft of Metals invifibly Co hz generated, are hidden, which matter is clear aad plaii. enough before any mans eyes i but becaufe its virtue power, and efficacy, lyeth buried very deep, and is un- known to the greater part, therefore is this matter like- wife accounted and efteemed, abjed, vile, and unlit, foi want of true knowledge of it', till the D'fciples oi Chrift travelling toward Ew^/;«f,have their eyes open- ed, that theydifcern by the Breaking of Bread, what wonderful Vniracles the rich Creatour hath planted and put into a contemptable Creature : Its Name is Hermes in its Armes there is a flying Serpent, which is its Wife, and is QdXhA AfhroditiZ^ that can fearch all mens hearts ■ and yet it is all one, and one only thing, and one on) Being, which is common every where, and known ii all places ; |M;y one doth touch and handle it, and doth ufe it tPftiings bafe and vile. Man doth highly cfteem that which is of fmall value, and rzy.^s that which is High. It is nothing elfe but Fire and Water, out of which the Earth with alhftance of the Air is generated, and by which it is as yet prefcrved. I do give molt hearty thanks to the moll High for his gitts. And thus having difcovered enough, according to the Tcfolution I had taken in this Treatifc of mine, I take my leave. All will be found in the fcparation. F I N I :>.