Chapter 39
VII. Now there are seven bodies, of which, the first is gold,
the most perfect, the king and the head of them : which the
•water cannot alter, nor the earth corrupt, nor fire devastate ;
Hermes Trismegistus. 375
because its complexion is temperate, or in a mean ; and its na-
ture tlireet, in respect of heat, cold, moisture, or dryness ; nor
is any thing that is in it superfluous. Therefore the philosophers
bear up, and magnify themselves in it, saying, that such gold
in bodies is like the sun among the stars, most light and splendid.
And as by the power of God, every vegetable, and all the fruits
of the earth are perfected ; so by the same power, the gold, and
(the seed thereof) which contains all these seven bodies, makes
them to spring to be ripened, and brought to perfection, and
without which this work can in no vise be performed. And like
as paste or dough is impossible to be fermented, or levened with-
out leven ; so is it in this case, without the proper ferment, you
can do nothing: when you sublime the bodies, and purify them
separating the filthiness and uncleanness from them, or from the
iincces, you must conjoin and mix them together, and put in the
ferment, making up the enrth with the water. And you must
decoct and digest till ixir, the ferment, makes the alteration or
change, like as leven does in paste. Meditate upon this, and
see whether the ferment to this compositum, docs make or change
it from its former nature to another thing. Consider also that
there is no leven or ferment but from the paste itself. It is also
to be noted, that the ferment does whiten the confection or com-
positum ; and forbids or hinders the burning : It contains, holds,
or fixes the tincture, so that it cannot fly away, and rejoices the
bodies, and makes them mutually to join, and to enter one into
another. And this is the key of the philosophers, and the end
of all their works : and by this science the bodies are meliorated,
and restored : and the work of them (Deo annuente) is performed
and perfected.
But by negligence and an ill opinion of the matter, the ope-
rations may be spoiled and destroyed ; as in a mass of levened
paste : or milk turned with runnet for cheese ; and musk among;
aromatics. The certain colour of the golden matter for the red,
and the nature thereof is not sweetnes.,, therefore of them we
make sericum, which is ixir, (the ferment r) and of them we
make enamel, of which we have written. And with the king's
seal we have tinged the clay, and in that we have put or placed
the colour of heaven, which augments the sight of them, who
can already in some measure see. Gold therefore is the most pre-
cious stone without spots, also temperate, which neither fire, nor
air, nor water, nor earth, is able to corrupt or destroy, the uni-
versal ferment, rectifying all things, in a middle or temperate
composition, which is of a yellow, or true citrine colour. The
gold of the wise men, boiled and well digested, with a fiery
water makes ixir. For the gold of the wise men is more weighty
or heavy than lead, which in a temperate composition, is the
ferment of ixir : and contrariwise, in a distemperate composition ;
is the distemperature, or hurt of the whole work or matter. For
the work is first made from the vegetable : secondly from the
376 Alchemical Treatises.
animal, in aliens egg; in which is the greatest assistance, ant!
the constancy of the elements. And gold is our earth ; of all
which, we make sericum, which is our ferment, or ixir.
The wise say, if you conserve a third part of your camels, (viz.
of the swift or volatile matter, or that which must bear the bur-
then,) and consume the remaining two thirds, you have attained
to the thing desired ; you have perfected the work. In like man-
ner you must be careful of your argent vive ; for the black
matter does whiten the flesh, and the work is perfected by the
fire of the wise. And the work is to be performed by a spiritual
water, in which the blackness is washed away ; and by that in-
strument, in which the foundation of the work is laid, and in
that time and moment, in which the clouds appear. Now that
water, in or by which the blackness is washed away, is the sweat
or moisture of the sun, and childrcns' urine, (i. e. the virgins
water.) The thing which I tell you issuincient foryou to know. In
like manner, take the water of the water, (mercury of mercury,)
and with it cleanse and purify the wind, fume, or vapour, and
abolish the blackness. Understand what this signifies, and re-
joice therein. Also in the same manner, take the blackness and
conjoin ^t; then have respect to the white, and conjoin the red ;
so will you go through the thing desired, and come to the end
of the work. It is also to be noted, that it is the fire- stone which
governs the matter or work, by the good pleasure of God :
boil it therefore with a gentle fire, night and day, lest the water
should be separated from it ; even till it becomes of a golden
colour : understand well what I say. That also which congeals,
does dissolve; and that which docs whiten, does in like manner
make red. I have made plain to you the nearest way, that you
may be easy and satisfied : understand therefore these things,
and meditate upon them ; and you shall certainly attain to the
perfection of the work. It is also to be noted, that as sol is
among the stars ; so is gold among the other metalline bodies :
for as the light of the sun, is joined to the lights, and contains
the fruit of this operation; so in like manner gold: meditate
upon these words, and by the permission of God you may find
it out.
Hermes moreover saith, he that outwardly takes in this medi-
cine, it kills him : but he that inwardly drinks it in, it makes him.
to live and rejoice. Understand what this means. And as for
this cause sake, this water is said to be divine, so it is said to be
the greatest poison : and it is preferred before all other things,
by so much as that without it nothing of the work can be done.
It is also called divine, for that it cannot be mixed or joined
with any filth or defiled thing : and this water of our stone pu-
rifies and cleanses the natures of the metals, and washes away
their detccdations or defilements. And as sol acts upon bodies,
so also does this water upon the philosophic stone ; yea, it pene-
Hermes Trismegistus. 377
Urates and sinks through it, and is constant, fixed, and perfect.
This indeed is seen in sol; but it is to be understood that the
work may be made through all the seven planers : as first from
saturn, then from Jupiter, mars, venus, mercury, and lastly from
iuna. The first is the government of saturn ; to wit, to cause
sol to putrefy, or bring the body to putrefaction, which is done
in the space of forty days and nights. The second is the go-
vernment of jupiter, which is to grind or break the matter, and
in twelve days and nights to imbue or moisten it, which is called
the regiment of tin. The third is the government of mars,
which is to induce death or blackness, or to separate the spirit
from the body, by which it is said to be changed. The fourth
is the government of sol, which is to work away the blackness
and poison ; and is indeed to make it white. The fifth is the go-
vernment of venus, which is to join the moist to the dry, and
the hot to the cold, and to unite them together in one : this is the
dominion of brass or copper, (or the making of the matter of
a changeable yellow). The sixth is the government of mercury ;
which is to burn, and is called the dominion of argent vive.
The seventh is the government of luna, which is to decoct or
boil, and make hot, and so to perfect the matter, (with the fixed
citrine tincture) in twenty-five days : and this is the dominion of
silver. See here, I have gone with you through the whole work ;
take heed therefore lest you err.
And know that the white body is made with the whiteness;
and its ferment is that which you already know : whiten there-
fore the body, and understand what 1 say. Also in like man-
ner you are to note ; that the stone sought after, has not its like
or equal in the whole earth. It is both outwardly and inwardly
of a citrine golden colour; but when it is altered or changed,
it is made a body dark and black, like burnt coals. Now the
colour of the spirit taken from it is white, and the substance
thereof is liquid as water ; but the colour of the soul thereof is
red. But the soul and the spirit thereof is returned to it again,
and it doth live and rejoice, and its light and glory returns
again; and you shall see it overcome and triumph: and that
which was even now dead, shall have conquered death, and then
it shall live, and arise from the dead, and live as it were for ever.
Happy and blessed therefore is he in whose power the disposition
of this matter is, who kills and makes alive, and is omnipotent
over all for ever. I therefore advise you, not to do any thing
in this work, till you get an understanding thereof: for if you
be ignorant and void of true knowledge, you will err in what-
soever you do, you will wholly labour in vain, and your work
will perish. So that thus mistaking in your operation, you
blame presently your instructors (the philosophers) and think that
they have erred, or taught you wrong, when it is only your ig-
norance, and not understanding their words. This then
know and understand, that the day, is the nativity or bringing
a a a
378 . Alchemical Treatises.
forth of the light; but the night, the nativity or bringing forth
of the darkness. Sol, also is the light of the day; and lima the
light of the night; which God created to govern the world.
But luna does receive her light of the sun by combustion, and
h dilated or enlarged therewith : and !>v h;o much as she receives
of the light of the sun, or docs contain in her, of his light ; by
so much does the nature of sol bear rule over the nature of luna.
If therefore you contemplate what I say, and meditate upon my
words, you will find that I have spoken the truth; and you will
understand the signification, of all that I have said, and the de-
monstration of the whole matter. Know then, that the spirits
is enfolded or circumscribed, within its marble house or walls :
open therefore the passages that the dead spirit may go out, and
be cast forth from our bodies : then it will become beautiful,
which is only a work or undertaking of wisdom. Sow therefore
O God, thy wisdom in our hearts, and root out the corrupt
principles which lodge therein, and lead us ia the way of thy
saints, by which our spirits and souls may be purified. Thou
art omnipotent, O Lord God Almighty, and canst do whatever
thou pleasest.
There is one thing which is to be wondered at, viz. after what
manner carmine, to wit, grana nostra, doth tinge or dye silk,
which is of a contrary nature, and tinges not a dead thing : and
after what manner uzifur, to wit, our vermilion doth tinge vestem
which is of a contrary nature, and tinges not live or growing'
things. For it is not natural for any thing to tinge other sub-
stances, not agreeable to their natures: if therefore you put into
your composition, red gold, you shall find in the tincture a pure
and perfect red : and if you put into it white gold ; the most passive
red will vanish or go forth. There is nothing indeed does tinge
any thing, but what is similate to, or like itself. And I testily
to you by the living God, maker of heaven and earth, that the
stone which I have described, you have permenant or fixed,
nor are you kept from it by the earth or the sea, or any other
matter. Keep then your congealed quick-silver, many parts of
which are lost because of its subtilty. Also the mountain in
which is the tabernacle which cries out. I am the black of the
white, and the white of the black ; I speak the truth indeed,
and I lye not. Now know, that the root of the matter is, the
head of the crow flying without wings, in the dark and black of
the night, and in the appearance of the day : from the throat the
fixing spirit : from its gall the colouring or tinging matter is
taken, from its tail, the Vesication, or drying of the matter ;
from its wings the liquid water; and from its body the redness.
Understand the meaning of the words, for hereby is understood
our venerable stone, and the fume or vapour thereof which is
exalted (lifted up or sublimed) and the sea irradiated, and alight
shining. You are aL\) to note, what alums and salts are, which
flow from bodies : if you put the medicines (or matters of the
Hermes l^Hsmegistus. 379
medicine) in a just or true proportion, you shall not err; but if
you mistake the proportion, you must add or diminish, accord-
ing as you see it tends to the emendation or performing of the
work, lest a deluge should come and overflow all, drowning the
regions, and overturning (he trees by the roots. And though
the matter be unknown, vet consider these things, how, or after
what manner these two colours are distinguished, or diversified,
by their vapours: look into the sweetness of sugar, which is one
kind of sweet juice; and into the sweetness of honey, which is
yet more inten.se or inward. Except you make the bodies spi-
ritual and impalpable, von know not how to putrefy ixir, or
ptoceed on in the woik ; nor how the three volatile matters or
principles, fight one against another; and how they fad not,
each in their turns, to devour one another, till of two being left,
one, only remains. Be careful also, how you increase your lire
[though k is not to be very small when you dry up the water)
and take heed that you burn not the matter, because if the
vessel breaks, it will *be with a mii-htv impetus or force. And
unless the matters of the stone, prove inimical one to another,
or contend and fight with, and strive to destroy one another, you
shall never attain to the thing you seek after. If you mix your
calx with auripiginent, and hot in a mean or due proportion,
the splendour and glory of the operation will not succeed ; but
if you interpose a medium, the effect will immediately follow.
jtfow know, that it is our water, which extracts die hidden tinc-
ture. Behold the example and understand it; if you have once
brought the body into ashes, you have operated rightly. And
the blood (which is in the philosophic water) of the animated
body, is the earth of the wise, to wit, the permenant or enduring
perfection.
Now it is that winch is dead, which you ought to vivify or
make alive; and that which is sick, which ought to be cured:
it is the white which is to be rubified ; the black which is to be
purified ; and the cold which is to be made hot. It is God him-
self who does create, and inspire or give life, and replenishes
nature with his power, that it might follow and imitate his wis-
dom, and act as an instrument subservient to him. Iron is our
gold ; and brass or copper is our tincture; argent vive is our
glory; tin is our silver ^blackness is our whiteness; and the
whiteness is our redness. From hence it appears necessary, that
we should have a body purifying bodies ; and a water subliming
water. Our stone which is a vessel of fire, is made of fire :
and is converted into the same again. And if you would walk
in the true way, you must pursue it in the evident or visible
blackness : for (saith our stone) it is that which is hidden within,
which does make me white ; and the same thing which makes
me white, makes me also red. Conceal this thing from men,
like as a word which is yet in thy mouth, which no man under-
stands; and as the fire, light, or sight, which is in thine eye:
SSO Alchemical Treatises.
I will not tell it plainly to thee thyself, lest by thy words thou
conveyest my breath to another, to thine own damage: this is
the caution I give thee. Now know that this our work, is made
of two figures the one of which wants the white rust, and the
other the reddish rust. Our matters also are searsed through our
sieves or searses, made of pure or clean rinds, and a most blessed
wood. You are also to take notice, that the fire-stone of the
philosophers sought after, wants eXtenticn, but it has quantity.
It behoves you therefore, to support and nourish it on every
side, and to continue it as in the middle. You must also conjoin
the body with the soul, beating and grinding it in the sun, and
imbuing it with the stone; then putting it into the fire, so long
till all its stains and defilements are taken away; let it be a
cen tie fire for about seven hours space; thus will you get that
vhieh will make yon to live. I also tell you, that its habitation
or dwelling place, is posited in the bowels of the earth, for
without earth it cannot be perfected : also, its habitation is po-
sited in the bowels of the fire, nor without fire can it be per-
fected, which is the perfection of our art. Again, except you
mix with the white the red, and presently bring or reduce the
same into a perfect water, it will tinge nothing; for it never
tinges any thing red, but that which is white: and while the
work is now perfecting, add them to the light of the sun, and it
will be compleated regimine marino, as we have already declared :
and by this conjunction above, your stone will attain to its beauty
and glory. Thus have you a dry fire which does tinge : an air
or vapour, which fixes and chains the volatile matter, binding
the fugitive in fetters; and also whitens, expelling the blackness
from bodies: and a fixed earth, also receiving the tincture.
Wash your mercury with the water of the sea, till you have
taken away from it all its blackness, so will you accomplish your
work to perfection, in which rejoice. If you understand how a
resurrection is accomplished, i. e. how the living (principle or
spirit) comes forth from the dead (matter or substance) how that
is made apparent which was hidden, and how strength is drawn
forth through weakness ; you cannot be ignorant how to compleat
and perfect this work. How manifest and clear are the words
of the wise, yet so as the internal life and principal is still hid-
ilen ; you understand them not perfectly by their expressions.
Two bodies equally taken from the earth, grind, in the oil of
the decocted matter, and in the milk of the white volatile :
new mighty and wonderful arc the powers and force of these
bodies, which are freely bestowed upon you, through this whole
science, which you shall possess, and therewith a long and en-
during life. Take by force the most intense wisdom, from
whence you must draw forth the eternal (perpetual or fixed) life
of the stone, till your stone is congealed, and its dulness is va-
nished ; so will you accomplish the life thereof sought after.
Give therefore of this life sufficiently to your matter, and it will
Hermes Trimegistus* 381
mortify it (or bring it to putrefaction) but replete your earth, and
it shall make it to live (spring, bud, grow, germinate.) Plant
this tree upon your stone, that it may not be in danger of the
violence of winds, that the volatile influences or bird of heaven,
may fall upon it, and by virtue thereof, its branches may bring
forth much fruit ; from thence wisdom does arise. Take thi»
volatile bird, cut off its head with a fiery sword, then strip it
of its feathers or wings, undo its joints, and boil it upon coals,
till it is made, or becomes of one only colour. Then put the
venom, or poison to it, so much as is enough to bury or cover
it; govern it now with a gentle fire, till youl matter is mortified
or putrefied; which done, grind it with white water, and ma-
nage it rightly. For we bought two (crows) and we put
them into a paropsidem, or crucible (or cupel) which we had by
us, and eggs or silver gobbets came out, white as salt, these-
we tinged with our saffron : of them we sold publicly two hun-
dred times, with which we have been made rich, and our trea-
sures are multiplied. And whosoever you shall imbue or fill
with the powers thereof, should they be hurt with the poison of
vipers, or the malignity of brass or verdigrease, they shall be in
no danger ; for that it quickens and revives the dead, and kills
tire living: it destroys and restores again ; it casts down that
which is elevated and lift up, and elevates that which is abjected
and cast down, and gives you a dominion over the heavens of
the earth. Now^ you must note, that there are two stones of the
wise, found in the shores of the rivers, in the arms of the moun-
tains, in the bowels of the floods, and in the back parts of the
king's house, which by instruction and prudent management
may be- brought forth, male and female. By these being con-
joined and made complex (or perfectly united into one consi-
milar substance) you will be made wiser (you will see the reason
of the operation, and the end of the work.) Blessed God, how-
great and how wonderful a thing is this.
A certain philosopher dreamed, that the king's messenger
came to a certain gouty man, and the man desired that lie might
go with him ; to whom the messenger answered, since thou hast
the gout, how canst thou go with me, for thou canst not walk.
To whom the gouty man answered, thou knowest that in the
root of this mountain, there is a certain tabernacle, bear me
then thither, leave there the burthen, so shall I be presently
freed or delivered from my gout. Then said he to me, thou art
not able to touch the foot thereof: but going back, he took him
up and placed him in the tabernacle, the foot of which, the
messenger said, he was not able to touch : and waking from
his dream, he saw nothing. Behold the similitude. Another
also saw in a dream, wherein it was said, if any one truly should
sit down by the way, and should ask you, whether you would
think fit to do this thing, would you do it ? He answered, I
know not; the other said, that he should lie or generate with bit
S82 Alchemical Treatises.
mother in the middle of the earth ; then awaking, he saw no-
thing. Consider well this similitude.
But leading you to the knowledge of philosophy, and ex-
posing the demonstrations thereof, in a philosophic manner,
ye si; mid make it the derision and mockery of women, and the
piny of children. Take also the fresh bark or rind, in the same
moment; in which you shall, alter another manner, extract the
mat;: a- or thing itself, in the place where it is generated; and
put it into a cucurbit, and sublime it. And that which is or
shall be sublimed, separate it, for it is the vinegar of the philo-
sophers, and their sapience (i. e. their salt ) Then take this
vinegar, and melt or pour it forth upon another cortex, bark,
or supcriices of the sea, and put it into a glass vesica, in which
put so much of your vinegar, as may over top it the height of
four inches : this bury in warm horse dung, for thirty-one or
forty davs. This time being past, take the vessel forth, and you
will find it now dissolved, and turned into a black and stinking wa-
ter; morchJack andstinkingthanany thinginthewholeworld. Take
then this very thing itself, and very gently elevate itinitstabernacle,
till all the moisture is consumed, so as no more will ascend, this
sublimed matter keep carefully for your use. Then take the feces,
which remain in the bottom of the cucurbit, and keep them, for they
sin the crown (and rejoicing) of the heart. Dye then the same
ano grind them, and add thereto fresh or new cortex of the
sea, that is say, mercury, and grind them together, drying them
in a warm sun. And the waters from the same first sublimed,
sink down to the botf m, which diligently grind and dry, and
put tiiem in the crucible or test of Ethel, and sublime : and the
matter being sublimed purely white, as fine salt^ keep it safely,
for it k the auripigment, and sulphur and magnesia of the phi-
losophers.
Understand now, and see that you govern your work with
wisdom and prudence, and make not too much haste. Then
take the cucurbit, put half wav into lute, aud put into the same,
your dissolved black water, which you have sublimed; that is to
say, nine parts, and of this whitened auripigmentum, which you
sublimed from the ethel two parts. I say, that this opened or
decocted auripigment, is immediately dissolved in the water,
and made like to water; that nothing can be seen by mankind,
of a more intense, fixf, and perfect whiteness, nor any thing
more beautiful to the eye, which the philosophers call their sal
virginis, or virgin salt. Put this into a little vessel, called a
cucurbit, close well the joynts, which put upon a gentle fire,
making it, as it were, but with two coals at first, and then add-
ing two others: and look into it, to see how the water ascends
and descends. V\ hen you see the vapour is consumed, and
nothing more will ascend, of that which is elevated, nor de-
scend, know that the matter itself is now coagulated: make
therefore a more intense and vehement fire, for the space of
Hermes .Trismc*>istus. 383
o
three hours of the day. Then lasi.lv, take away the. fire, or let
it go out, ami the next day (all tilings being cold) open the
mouth of your cucurbit, and take forth the matter, which is of
a substance, white, sincere, and melted or dissolved. .Tins i*
your substance sought after: and now you have come through
to the end of your work; manage it according to your reason
and prudence, for (God assisting) you may make of it what yow
pi case.
THE EMERALD TABLE OF HERMES.
This is true, and far distant from a lie; whatsoever is below,
is like that which is above ; and that which is above, is like that
which is below : by this are acquired and perfected the miracles
of the one thing.
Also, as all things were made from one, by the help of one :
so all things are made from one thing by conjunction.
The father thereof is the sun, and the mother thereof is the
moon : the wind carries it in its belly, and the nurse thereof is
the earth.
This is the mother or fountain of all perfection, and its power
is perfect and entire, if it be changed -into earth.
Separate the earth from the fire, and the subtile and thin
from the gross and thick ; but prudently with long sufferance,
gentleness and patience, wisdom, and judgment.
It ascends from the earth up to heaven, and descends again
from the heaven to the earth, and receives the powers and effi-
cacy of the superiors and inferiors.
In this work, you acquire to yourself the wealth and glory of
the whole world : drive therefore from you all cloudiness or ob-
scurity, darkness and blindness.
For the work increasing or going on in strength, adds strength
to strength, forestalling and over-topping all other fortitudes and
powers ; and is able to subjugate and conquer all things, whether
they be thin and subtile, or thick and solid bodies.
In this manner was the world made ; and hence are the won-
derful conjunctions or joinings together of the matter and parts
384 Alchemical 2'reatiscs.
^hereof, and the marvellous effects, when in this way it is done*
by which these wonders are effected.
And for this cause I am called Hermes Trimegistus, for that
1 have the knowledge or understanding of the philosophy of
*h$ three principles of the universe. My doctrine or discourse,
which I have here delivered concerning this solar work, is com-
pleat and perfect, ,
INDEX TO THE CONTENTS.
Page,
Introduction to the Lives of the Adepts, 1
1 Synesius, 410, A. D. Bishop of Ptolcmais, in Lybia, 5
2 Ilhasis, 900, Physician to the Hospital, Bagdad, 7
3 Farabi, 1050, a Mahometan Doctor, 8
4 Morien, 1000, a Roman Hermit in Judea, 9
5 Avicenna, 1030, Physician at Bacara Persia, 11
6 Albert, 1230, Bishop of Ratisbon Bavaria, 12
7 St. Thomas, 1260, Aquino Castle Italy, 14.
8 Roger Bacon, 1260, a Franciscan Friar, Oxford, 16
9 Raymond Lully, 1265, Seneschal in Majorca, ,17
10 Arnold Villanova, 1291, Physician Montpellier, 23
11 John Rupecissa, 1350, a Franciscan Friar, 24
12 Pope John XXII. 1330, Avignon, 25
1 3 John Cremer, 1312, Abbot of Westminster, 25
14 Basil Valentine, 1450, a Benedictine Monk, 27
15 John Isaac, 1420, Holland, 27
16 Johnde Meun, 1360, French Poet, Paris, 28
17 Peter Bona, 1330, of Lombardy, 30
1 8 Ferarius, 1 320, an Italian Monk, 30
19 Nicholas Flamel, 1382, Scrivener, Paris, 30
20 Thomas Norton, 1477, of Bristol England, 43
21 Thomas Dalton, 1450, Priest, Gloucester-abbey, 45
22 Count Trevisan, 1481, of Padua in Italy, 46
23 John Fontaine, 1413, Poet, French Flanders, 49
24 Sir George Ripley, 1471, Canon and Carmelite, England, 49
25 Paracelsus, 1527, Dr. of Med. Univ. Basil, 50
26 John Picus, 1491, Earl of Mirandola, 53
27 Thomas Charnock, 1574, Salisbury, England, 54
28 Dennis Zachary, 1550, Guienne in France, 5$
29 Jacob Behmen, 1600, North Germany, 60
30 Alexander Sethon, 1002, North Britain, 66
31 Michael Sendivogius, 1604, Imper. Counsellor of State, 67
32 Gustenhover, 1603, Goldsmith Strasburgh, 69
33 Busardier, 1648, 70
34 Dr. John Dee, A. M. 1595, Chancellor of St. Paul's, 71
35 J. B. Heimont, M. D. 1599, Flanders,
36 Butler, , 1624, Ireland, 76
37 F. Helvetius, M. D. 1666, Holland, 81
38 Claude Berigard, 1641, Pisa in Italy, 82
39 Transmutation, 1640, testifed by A Kircher, 83
4,0 " , 1620, before Gustavus Adolphus, 84
41 , 17 iO, before the King of Prussia, 84
42 , 1715, before the King of Poland, 84
CONTENTS.
43 Joseph Balsamo, 1783, a Sicilian, 85
4-1 Delisle, 1708, of Provence, 85
15 Eirenaeus Philalethes, 1645, England, 88
Catalogue of Alchemical Books, 95
Introduction to the Alchemic Treatises, US
1 Andreas Freher, analogy of the Work, 121
2 The Secret Book of Artephius, 132
3 The ancient war of the Knights, 152
4 Eirenaeus Philalethes, secrets revealed, 160
5 The same in Ripley revived, 174
6 The same, a true light of Alchemy, 175
.7 Alexander Sethon Philosophic Enigma, 182
8 Wcidenfeld on the Green Lion of Paracelsus, 187
9 Of the heavenly Mercury, by G. Welling, 202
10 Six Keys from the Hermetic Triumph, 204
11 Sir G. Ripley, twelve Gates of Alchemy, 217
12 John Pontanus of the Sophie Fire, 229
1 3 Basil Valentine's Chariot of Antimony, 237
14 Baro Urbigerus, 100 Aphorisms, 237
15 Nicholas Flamel, Summary of Philosophy, , 252
16 The Hermetic Mercuries of Raymond Lully, 257
17 Sanguis Naturae, or congealed Liquor, 282
18 First Principles according to J. Behmen, a plain decla-
ration of the whole Science, illustrating all the other
Treatises, 293
19 Pierce the black Monk, on the Elixir, 298
20 Sir Edward Kelly's Work, from St. Bunstan, 299
21 Richard Carpenter, 300
22 Abraham Andrew's Hunting of the Green Lion, 300
23 William Bjoomfield's Blossoms, 301
24 Thomas Robinson of the Stone, 301
25 Thomas Norton, Ordinal of Alchemy, 302
26 John D'Espagnet, Hermetic Secrets, ' 303
27 Sir George Ripley, Mercury of Philosophers, 313
28 Christopher of Paris, of the same, 323
29 Arisl^eus, an Ancient Dialogue, 327
30 Roger Bacon, Radix Munu'i, 330
31 The true Eg..: of Synesias the Greek Abbot, 353
32 Kalid the Persian, Secret of Secrets, 35 4
33 Mary of Alexandria, Lialogue with Aros, 363
34 Hermes Trismegiotus, 7 chapters and tablet, 366
FINIS.
BOOKS published by Lackington, Allex.
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THE MAGUS;
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