Book irrecoverably drowned in his Fountain. But how hard a

work it is to dissolve bodies, they can witness who have taken
pains in this dissolution. ^ myself, who have been oft taught
this lesson by ocular testimony, can be a witness, that k is «

PhiUilethes. 167

most ingenious thing to govern the fire, even after the matter
is prepared, such a lire as may dissolve the bodies as they ought
to be dissolved, without burning their tinctures. Attend then
to my doctrine : take the body which I have shewed you, and
put it into the water of our sea, and decoct it continually with a,
due heat of fire, that both dews and clouds may ascend, and
drops may descend, both night and day, without intermission ;
and know, that in this circulation the Mercury doth arise in its
former nature, and leaves the body beneath in its former nature,
so long until after a long time the body begins to retain part of
its soul, so by degrees both begin to partake each of the other, but
because the whole water doth not ascend by sublimation, part
of it remains below in the bottom of the vessel, therefore is
the body boiled in the water that remains beneath, and by its
means it is sifted, and the drops which are continually running
down do perforate the mass marvelously, and by continual cir-
culation the water is made more subtle, and doth sweetly extract
the soul of the Sun ; so by the mediation of the soul the spirit
is reconciled with the body, and an union of both is made at
the utmost within fifty days; and this operation is called the
regimen of Mercury, because the Mercury is circulated above,
and in it the body of the Sun is boiled beneath, and the body is
in his work passive, until the colours shall appear, which will
be a little about the twentieth day in a good and continual
ebullition ; which colours are afterwards increased, multiplied
and varied, until all be at last completed in black of the blackest
most black, which the fiftieth day will give thee,

(If Fates thee call.)
7. Having run through the regimen of Mercury, which is to
strip the King of his golden robes, to assault the Lion with di-
vers conflicts, to weary him, and at length to kill him; the next
regimen that appears is that of Saturn, for it is the will of God
that the work, when once it is begun, should be carried on even
unto the end, and the law of those operations is, that the ending
of one, is the entrance of another ; the period of one, the begin-
ning of another. Nor doth the regimen of Mercury sooner pass
away, but his successor Saturn comes in, who is the next heir
in succession ; the Lion dying, the Crow is engendered. This
regimen lineal in respect of the colour, for there is but one
only colour, and that is the blackest black, but neither fumes,
nor winds, nor any symbol of life, only the compound, will
at some seasons appear dry, otherwhiles boiling like to melted
pitch. O sad sight, the image of eternal death ! But withal a
most pleasant messenger to the artist, for the blackness is not
ordinary intense, so that it shines again for blackness ; and when
thou seest thy matter swelling beneath, like unto a paste, rejoice;
for know, that within this there is shut a quickening spirit,
which in its appointed time, will restore life from the Almighty
to these carcases* Be thou, only careful of the fire, which tho-j.

16S Alchemical Treatises.

must be sure to govern with a sound judgment, and I swear unto
thee upon the faith of an honest man, that if thou urge thy
fire, so as to make ought to sublime, in the days of this regi-
men, thou wilt destroy the work irrecoverably ; be' content
then, with good Trevisan, to be detained in prison forty days
and nights, and suffer the tender nature to remain below in the
bottom, which is the nest of their conception ; knowing for
certain then, that when the period of time is expired, which
the Almighty hath appointed, the spirit will arise glorious, and
glorify its body ; it will ascend, I say, and be circulated swcetlyr
and without violence, and from the centre it shall ascend unto
the heavens, and again from the heavens it shall descend to
the centre, and it shall receive the virtue of that which is above,
and that which is beneath.

8. After black saturn, jupiteu, succeeds, who is of divers*
colours ; for after the putrefaction and corruption which is made
in the bottom of the vessel, through the command of God thou
shalt again see change of colours, and a circulating sublimation.
This regimen is not durable, for it continues not more than three
weeks space ; in which time, all colours imaginable in the world
will be to be seen, of which, no certain account can possibly be
Tendered. In these days the showers shall be multiplied con-
tinually, and at the last, after all these things most beautiful
to behold, there shall shew itself a whiteness at the sides of the
vessel, like unto rays or hairs, then rejoice, for now thou art
liappily run through the regimen of Jupiter. The greatest cau-
tion in this regimen is, lest when the chickens of the crow have
left their nest, they return to it again ; also, lest you draw out
the water too immoderately, so the earth beneath want it, and
be left dry and unprofitable in the bottom ; lastly, lest thou wa-
terest thy earth so intempcrately as to suffocate it, which
error thou shalt help by the good regimen of external
fire.

9. In the regimen of Luna. After the finishing of Jupiter's
Tegimen, about the closing of the fourth month, the sign of
the moon crescent shall appear unto thee ; and know, that the
whole regimen of Jupiter is employed about the washing of
Latton, the washing spirit is very white in its nature, but the
body which is to be washed is very black, in the passage whereof
to white, all the middle colours shall be seen ; after which, all
will become white, not in a day, but gradually it shall arise
from white to the whitest of all ; and know, that in thi*
operation, there shall be a season in which all shall appear
Eke to liquid Argent Vive, and this is called, the sealing of the
mother in the belly of her own infant which she brought forth ;
a'hd in this regimen there shall also appear some beautiful
colours, but momentary and soon vanishing, and more of kin to
white than unto black, as the colours in the regimen of Jupiter

Philuletltes. 169

contrariwise partieipated more of blackness than whiteness ;
also know, that in three weeks the regimen of Luna will be
complete,, but before its perfection the compound shall change
in a thousand forms : for when the fumes begin to cease, before
it be wholly congealed, it will melt and grow Hard again an
hundred times in a day ; sometimes it will appear like to the
eyes of a fish, sometimes like to a pure silver tree shining with
branches and leaves ; in a word, about this season the hourly
marvels that shall appear, shall overwhelm the sight, and at the
last thou shalt have most pure sparkling grains like unto atoms
of the tSun, more glorious than which human eyes never saw.
Let us give immortal thanks to our God, who hath brought the
work to this perfection ; for it is the true perfect tincture to
the white, yet only of the first order, and therefore but of small
virtue, in comparison of that admirable force which it will attain
by reiterate preparation,

10- In the regimen of Venus. Above all things this is most
wonderful, that our Stone being now wholly perfect, and able
to give a perfect tincture, should of his own accord again abase
himself, and become again volatile without any laying on of
hands. But if you take the white stone out of the vessel, the
same being put again into a new vessel, after it is once cold,
can never be brought into a new operation ; a demonstrative
reason of which, neither we nor any of the ancient philosopher.--,
are able to render, only it is done by the will of God ; at least
here be very wary of your fire, for this is the law of the stone
when it is perfect, that it must be fusible. Therefore if you give
too great a heat, the matter will be vitrified, and melting will
adhere to the sides of the vessel ; nor canst thou then go on
any farther with the work. And this is the vitrifying of the
matter so often warned of by the philosophers, which oft hap-
pens to them which are unwary both before and after the white
work is even ended, to wit, after the middle of the regimen of
Luna, until the seventh or tenth day of the rule of Venus.
Therefore let thy fire be increased but a very little, so that the
compound may not vitrify, that is, to be melted passively like
to glass ; but with a bounteous fire, it may of its' own accord
melt, and swell, and by the command of God it shall be en-
dued with a spirit, that shall fly aloft, and the stone to fly with
it. ' It shall thus give thee new colours, the green at first,
which is of Venus, which shall last a long time less or more
for the space of twenty days ; expect after this Cerule ami
Livid, and about the end of the rule of Venus pale and
obscure purple, be heedful in this work that thou do not pro-
voke the spirit too urgently, for being now more corporal thaii
formerly, if it do fly to the top of the vessel, it will
hardly return of its own accord ; which caution is also to be
observed in the rule of Luna. When once thou seest the spirits
to thicken, then handle them sweetly and without violence*

x

170 Alclicmical Treatises.

lest if thou makest them to ascend to the top, that which is ill
the bottom be either burnt or vitrified, to the destruction of the
work ; when then thou seest greenness, know that in it is the
virtue germinative contained. Beware then that this greenness
turn not into a filthy blackness with immoderate heat, but
govern thy fire prudently ; so after forty days thou shalt see this
regimen at an end.

11. After the rule of Venus is ended, whose colour was chiefly
vert or green, and a little red of an obscure purple, and some-
times livid ; in which time the philosophical tree did flourish
with boughs and with discoloured leaves and branches, next suc-
ceeds the reign of Mars, which shews a little yellow, mixed
with luteous brownness ; these are the chief colours, but tran-
sitory ones of the rain-bow and peacock's-tail, it shews most
gloriously; this is a dry state of the compound, in which the
compound will appear at times in strange figures ; the hyacinth
and high orange colour in these days will be seen frequently.
Now the mother being sealed in her infant's belly, swells and is
purified, but because of the present great purity of the com-
pound, no putridness can have place in this regimen, but some
obscure colours play their part as the chief actors in this stone,
and some middle colours do pass and come, pleasant to behold.
Now know, that this is the last tillage of our virgin eartji, that
in it the fruit of the sun might be set and maturated ; therefore
continue a good heat, aud thou shalt see lor certain, about thirty
days ofli this regimen, a citrine colour shall appear, which
shall in two weeks after its first appearing, tinge all with a true
citrine colour.

12. Now art thou drawing near to the end of thy work, and
hast almost made an end of this business ; now all the regimen
of Sol appears like to pure gold, and the virgin's milk, with
which thou imbibest this matter, is now very citrine. Now to
God, the giver of all good, you must render immortal thanks,
who hath brought this work on so far, and beg earnestly of him,
that thy counsel may hereafter be so governed, that thou rriayes't
not endeavour to hasten thy work now it is so near perfection, so
as to lose all. Consider that thou hast waited now about seven
months, and it would be a mad thing to annihilate all in one
hour; therefore be thou very wary, yea, so much the more by
how much thou art nearer to perfection. But if you do pro-
ceed warily in ihis re£imen, thou shalt meet with these notable
things, first, thoii shalt observe a certain citrine sweat to stand
upon the body, and fetter that citrine vapours, then shall thy
body below" be tinctured of a violet colour, with an obscure pur-
ple intermixt ; after fourteen or fifteen days expectation, in this
regimen of the Sun, thou shalt sec the greatest part of thy matter
humid, and although it be very ponderous, yet it will ascend hi
the belly of the wind; at length, about the twenty -sixth day of
this regimen, it will begin to dry, and then it will liquify an4

Philahthes. 171

rceongeal, and will grow liquid again an hundred times in a
day, until at the last it begin to turn into grains, and sometimes
it will seem as if it were all discontinuous in grain, and then
again it will grow into one mass again, and thus will it put on
innumerable forms in one day ; and this will continue for the
space of about two weeks ; at the last, by the will of God, a
light sh.ill be sent upon thy matter, which thou canst not ima-
gine ; then expect a sudden end, within three days thou shalt
see, that thy matter shall convert itself into grains, as fine as
the atoms of the Sun, and the colour will be the highest red
imaginable, which for its transcendant redness will shew blackish,
like unto the soundest blood when it is congealed, although thou
mnyest not believe that any such thing can be an exact parallel
of our elixir, for it is a marvellous creature, not having its
compeer in the whole universe, nor any thing exactly
like it.

13. Remember now, that thou hast got our Sulphur red and
incombustible, which can by no fire be promoted further of
itself, and be very wary, that in the regimen of the citrine sun,
before this supernatural Sol be born, which is adorned with a
true Tynan colour ; lest, I say, thou then vitrify thy matter with
too great fire, for so it would be after insoluble, and by con-
sequence cannot be coagulated into these glorious atoms, red of
the reddest. Be wary then that thou destroy not so great a
treasure, and yet do not think that thy labour here hath an
end, but proceed further, that out of this Sulphur, by
reiterate solution and coagulation, thou mayest have our elixir.
Take then of most fine Gold three parts, and of this Sulphur
one part, thou mayest take four parts of Gold, and a fifth part
of our Sulphur, but the aforesaid proportion is better ; melt the
Gold in a clean crucible, and when it is melted, put thy Sulphur
into it, but very warily, lest you lose it by the smoak of the
coals, let them flow together, then put them forth into an
ingot, and thou shalt have a mass, which may be pulverised,
of a most glorious red colour, but hardly transparent ; then
take of this mass exactly pulverised one part, of thy sophical
Mercury two parts, mix them well, put them in a glass, which
seal, and govern it as before two months, in which time thou
shalt see all the aforesaid regimens pass in their order.
This is true fermentation, which thou mayest, if thou wilt,
reiterate.

14. 1 know that many authors do take fermentation in this
work for the internal invisible agent, which they call ferment,
by whose virtue the fugitive and subtile spirit, without laying
on of hands, are of their own accord thickened : and our afore-
mentioned way of fermentation they call cibation with bread
and milk, so Ripley ; but I, not using to cite other authors,
nor yet to swear to their words in a thing, which I myself

172 Alchemical Treatises.

know as well as they, have followed my own judgment in my
writings. There is then another operation, by which our
stone is increased in weight more than virtue. Take of thy
Sulphur, white or red, and to three parts of the Sulphur add a
fourth part of the water, and after a little blackness, in six or
seven days decoction, thy water newly added shall be increased
or thickened, like unto thy Sulphur ; then add another fourth
part, not in respect of the whole compound, which is now in-
creased a fourth part by the first imbibition ; but in reference to
thy first Sulphur, as thou tookest it at first, which being dried,
add another fourth part, and let it be congealed with a conve-
nient fire, then put to it two parts of the water in reference to the
fhree parts of the Sulphur which thou tookest at first, before the
first imbibition, and in this proportion, imbibe and congeal three
other times, at last add five parts of water in the seventh imbi-
bition, still remembering to reckon the water in reference to the
Sulphur as it was taken at first ; seal thy vessel, and in a fire
like to the former make thy compound pass through all the
aforesaid regimens, which will be done in one month, and then
thou hast the true stone of the third order ; of which one part
will fall on a thousand, and tinge perfectly.

15. To the multiplication of the stone is required no labour,
save only that thou take the stone, being perfect, and join it
with three parts, or at the most with four parts of Mercury of
our first work, and govern it with a due fire, in a vessel well
closed, so shall all the regimens pass with infinite pleasure, and
thou shalt have the whole increased a thousand fold beyond what
it was before the multiplication of it; and if thou shalt reiterate
this work again, in three days thou shalt run through all the
regimens, and thy medicine shall be exalted to another millinary
•virtue of tincture; and if thou yet shalt reiterate the work, it
will be perfected in a natural day, and all the regimens and
colours shall pass, which will be done afterwards with another
reiteration in one hour, nor shalt thou at last be able to find
the extent of the virtue of thy stone, it shall be so great that it
^hall pass thy ingenuity to reckon it, if that thou proceed in the
work of reiterate multiplication. Now remember to render im-
mortal thanks to God, for thou now hast the whole treasure of
nature in thy possession.

16. The manner of projection is to take of thy stone per-
fected as is said, white or red, according to the quality of the
medicine, take of either gold or silver four parts, melt them
in a clean- crucible, then put in of thy stone, white or red, as
the metal that is melted is in quality, and being well mixed to-
gether in fusion, pour them into an ingot, and thou shalt have
a mass which is brittle ; take of this mass one part, and Mercury
well washed ten parts, heat the Mercury till it begin to crack,
$hen throw upon it this mixture, which in the twinkling of an
eye vvill pierce it; increase thy fire till it be melted, and all will

Philalethes. 173

be a medicine of inferior virtue ; take then of this, and cast
one part upon any metal, purged and melted, to wit, as much
as it can tinge, and thou shalt have most pure gold or silver,
purer than which nature cannot give. But it is better to make
projection gradually, until projection cease ; for so it will extend
farther ; for when so little is projected on so much, unless pro-
jection be made on Mercury, there is a notable loss of the me-
dicine, by reason of the scorias, which do adhere to impure me-
tals ; by how much then the metals are better purged before pro-
jection, by so much more will the matter succeed.

17. He who hath once, by the blessing of God, perfectly at-
tained this art, I know not what in the world he can wish, but
that he may be free from all snares of wicked men, so as to serve
God without distraction. But it would be a vain thing, by out- '
ward pomp to seek for vulgar applause, such trifles are not es-
teemed by those who have this art, nay rather they despise them.
He therefore whom God hath blessed with this talent, hath this
field of content, which far exceeds popular admiration ; first,
if he should live a thousand years, and every day provide for
a thousand men, he could not want, for he may increase his
stone at his pleasure, both in weight and virtue; so that, if a
man would, one man that is an adeptist, might transmute into
perfect gold and silver all the imperfect metals that are in the
whole world ; secondly, he may by this art make precious stones
and gems, such as cannot be parallelled in nature, for goodness
and greatness. Thirdly and lastly, he hath a medicine universal,
both for prolonging life, and curing of all diseases, so that
one true adeptist can easily cure all the sick people in the-world,
I mean his medicine is sufficient.

Now to the King Eternal, Immortal and sole Almighty, be
everlasting praise, for these his unspeakable gifts, and invaluable
treasures. Whosoever enjoycth this talent, let him be sure to
employ it to the glory of God, and the good of his neighbours,
lest he be found ungrateful to God his creditor, who hath blessed
him with so great a talent, and so be in the last day found guilty
of mi?proving of it, and so condemned.

The Learned Sophies Feast.
Eiren. Philalelhes, in Ripley revived.

Whoever would desire eternal fame, must learn to tame
the green lion. Before you can attain this by ait, you must
understand it by study, and not that of the schools, or the infor-
mation of every pedant. But lest you should go from this ban-
quet unsatisfied, I shall portray it to your attentive mind, if you
are a worthy guest. This horrid beast, called our lion, has so
many names, that unless God direct the searcher, it is impos-
sible to distinguish him. Though called a lion, it is not an
animal substance ; but for its transcendant force, and the raw-
ness of its origin, it is called the green lion. Now hear me,
and I shall disclose the secret, which like a rose has been guarded
by thorns, so that tew m times past could pull the flower.
There is a substance of a metalline species, which looks so
cloudy, that the unwise will have nothing to do with it; its
visible form is vile — it denies metalline bodies, and no one can
readily imagine, that the pearly drink of bright Phoebus should
spring from thence.

O strange and wonderous ! At this spring, Diana sat naked;
two dreadful beasts guard it, driving away all rash searchers, as
Diana punished Acteon for his presumptuous chase. This sub-
ject never felt the fire of metallic sulphur, but is more crucjp
than any mineral ; it deludes the unwary, and is fugitive in
the fire, particularly the purest part which is driven away bjr
that which is impure.

Its components arc, a most pure and tender mercury, a dry
incarcerate sulphur, which binds it and restrains fiuxation.
This sulphur infects the mercury with malignant qualities.
Although they have no fundamental union, yet the secret com-
munion is prevented between the virgin nymph called our lead,
&nd her dear sister, which runs down abundantly in silver
streams. Then should the beams of bright Apollo cause the
dewy of these commixt waters that fall from the high mountains,
and glide through the vallies to conceive the fire of nature,
which warms the bath for Sol to descend and wash himself
with fair Phoebe, till they renew their flesh and youth — to shine
with glory, and multiply without end. Know this subject; it is
the sure basis of all our secrets ; take off its covering, and fol-
low my advice, for the truth is one — it is not in many things ;
this is our stone appearing at first in a defiled garb, to deal

Philakthes. 175

plainly, it is the child of Saturn, of moan price and great venom;
cold, though mixed with a combustible sulphur. You must be
sure to get another sulphur of a pure metalline kind, and mix
it with the mercurial part. This sulphur is to be found in
the house of Aries. This is Alcides, whom Jason took with
him to Colchos, in search of the golden fleece. No book has
revealed this. Our subject is not malleable, though metalline.
Its colour is sable, with intermixt argent, which marked the
sable field with veins of glittering branches. You never can
separate the pure parts from the impure with fire or water, or
dig it thence with the hardest iron. Steel is conquered by it,
though it were the breastplate of Alcides. O wonderous force ;
the sages sat in council to tame this green lion, and they suffered
him to prey on the companions of Cadmus. When the fight
was over, they made him to abide under waters, tiled by the
charm of Diana, washed him, gave him wings like a dragon,
and the sharpness of this fiery spring of water, caused the harp*
strings of Apollo to sound. This is the true nymph's bath,
which on trial is found to be the mercury of the wise.

A TRUE LIGHT OF ALCHEMY,

See page 89, and Catalogue No. 536, page 107,

"We are now to unfold the operations and matters by which
we attain the tincture.

It is necessary you should weigh and deliberate on the process
of nature, before you proceed to work, else you may spend your
money in a vain search.

The stone you seek, we said and still affirm, is only gold,
brought to the highest perfection ; and the art you enquire into,
is whereby this firm compacted body is made an unfading ting-
ing body.

This stone cannot be perfected by the mere progress of nature ;
for gold has no propensity to move itself so far; but rather
choses to remain in its constantly abiding body. He that would
attain the essence, must turn gold to dust by art, and then re-
lented to mineral water, then circulated in due fire, until the
moisture is drank up, and it be fixed. It is then to be im-
bibed often and recongealed ; the infant must be sealed in its

176 Alchemical Treatises.

mother's womb, and fed so long till it becomes strong, and abl^
to overthrow its opposcrs : which then being fermented, must
abide the doom of iterated blackness, encreasing until the na-
tures rot and die, and then thou art to revivify it. Sublime
exalt, and make it return to the earth, where it is to remain
in heat, until mourning be turned into mirth, and the King
is placet! upon his royal throne. Shining like sparkling flame,
this is the hidden stone, which we call our sulphur. Multiply
this so lona; till you come to the elixir, which like the Judt-e of
All at the last day, is a judge of spirits condemning all
earthliness.

It adheres to the perfection which it finds in imperfect metals,
and changes them. But if our subject is gold, then we must
find an agent to unlock it. If you know how to seek it in its
own kind, it will not cost you much to prepare it, for it is a vile
matter, defiled by a filthy external.

Few authors speak of this, and those who do, obscure it as
much as they can. But I shall be more candid.

Attend first to the mystery that lies in our fiery agent.
Believe me it is not attained by a dull lazy artist.

But if you are tractable, ingenious, and laborious, hear-
ken to me.

The substance that we first jtake in hand is mineral — akin to
mercury, baked in the earth by a crude sulphur. It is of
great inward virtue, though vile to the sight. It is Saturn's
child, do you need more ; conceive it aright, for it is our first
entrance. It is sable coloured, with argent veins appearing
intermixed in the body. The sulphur which is born with it,
stains its sparkling hue. It is wholly volatile; nothing of fixity ;
yet taken in its native crudity, it purges the superfluity of sol.
It is of a venemoufi nature, and abused by many in a medicinal
way. When its elements are unloosed by art, the inside. appears
resplendent, and flows in the fire like metal, and grows more
brittle than any metallic body. This is our dragon, which is
assailed by the stout god of war, in armour of well-tempered
steel.' But ail in vain, for the appearance of a new star shews
that. Cadmus could not abide such might, which divides his soid
from his body. When the sages beheld this mighty force,
they called it their green lion, which with charms they spelled,
and hoped in time to tame his fury. They let him prey on the
companions of Cadmus, and found that he devoured them.
After the fray was over, behold a morning star was seen to
appear out of the earth. Then the carcases were brought to a
running spring which was near at hand, whereat the beast was
to drink ; but when the beast drew near to it, behold the waters
as if afraid retire, nor docs the help of Vulcan avail. Then
appeared Diana's dov-\sin shining attire, their pure silver wings
calmed the air, in which the infolded dragon lost hss sting.
The vater then straight returns with clouds, and swallows up

Philalethcs. 177

the beast, in which lie drinks until his belly burst; his colour
changes to black, and a foul smell fills the fountain, which arises,
troin the dead putrifvuig dragon, who finds a grave in the
waters ; but he revived through Vulcan's aid, and receives a soul
from heaven ; and now these which strove together are recon-
ciled, and their united souls leave their bodies. This is the true
nymph's bath, our green lion.

Not to hold you longer iij suspense, I shall unfold these alley
gorics, which may perplex the reader — therefore

Know our son of saturu must be united to a metalline form ;
Argent vive alone is the Agent requisite to our work ; but
common Argent vive avails not to our stone. It js dead ; but
yet desires to be acuated by the salt of nature and true sulphur,
which is its only mate.

The salt is found in satum's offspring ; it is pure underneath,
and can penetrate to the metal's centre; it abounds with qualities
fitting it to enter the body of sol, and divide it into elements^
and abide with it after it is dissolved.

Seek the sulphur in the house of Aries; this is the magic fire
of the wise, to heat the king's bath ; thou canst prepare it in a
week. This fire lies straight closed : you are to unlock it, which
jnaybe done in an hour, and afterwards wash it in a shower of
silver. It is strange to see a stout and fixed metal that stands a
great fire unmelted; nor will mix in flux with any metal, yet
is its course by our art made to retrograde, such power this
piercing mineral hath.

The Almighty seals this Jfingly work, to teach the prudent
that the royal infant is born here; where after diligent search,
they are brought near by the guidance of a star.

Fools search out our secrets in sordid things, out of kind with
what they seek, and therefore find disappointment and ruin.
This substance is stellate and incjjned to fly from fire ;
it is wholly spiritual ; if you ask why, this may satisfy you —
the soul of each is a magnet to the other.

We call it the child of saturn — our steel, our true herma-
phrodite—our moon famed for its brightness — our unripe gold ;
for it is a brittle body in appearance and to the touch, and tamed
by Vulcan.
* If you can mix the soul of it with mercury (philos.) no secret
can lie hid from thee. I need not cite authors, for with my
own hands I have wrought this mystery. I have often taken
council with nature, and reduced the solid body to softness,
and out of a gross body, have made a tinging fixed earth un-
fadable. I am not alone the discoverer of this, many avow it,
Artephius names it, but he conceals the other secret, saying, it
is to be sought of God or a master.

This is the riddle which has so much perplexed the students
of this art : upon reading some authors who declare the stone
is vile, and so vile, it is cast out in the open way on dunghills

Y

178 Alcheniica\ Treatises.

and filthy places, which same we must take for the true
ground of our art. No one can live without it; it is applied
to sordid uses, &c. &c. All these descriptions denote Mars
only, which we know perfectly applies to it, either as the nails
of houses or ships, plough irons, sickles, knifes, pots ; tht
examples are unlimited, and being broke or worn out, the
fragments often lay cast away en dunghills.

Mars shoeth horses — old stub-nails lie about scarce worth
picking up — is there any thing more vile !

Aries is the house of Mars, wherein all artists direct you to
begin your work — is any thing plainer.

Belus in the turba of philosophers commands you to join
the Fighter with him who does not chose to fight — the God
of War is Mars ; assign to him Saturn in union, who delights
in peace, whose kingdom is golden ceguominate.

Then see the second figure -which is placed in the philosopher's
true Rosary; (Cabala SajneniumJ the King and Queen robed
hold between them our true binary, bearing eight flowers, and
without a root ; between them both a bird, undern; ath is the
Sun and Moon. The King holds, one flower, the Queen the
other, and a third is held in the bird's beak — a stas i formed
on the bird's tail, which speaks our secret. The wyiged bird
denotes Mercury, joined with the starry earth till both are
volatile.

The ancient sages instruct the eye by figures, rather than the
ear by piain words; some of these are so plain, that any fool
may gather the meaning couched in them it is so clear.

Which I have done elsewhere as plain as the light, and refer
the studious reader to it, and shall proceed here to teach our
water, which few are able to obtain, for drawing out" the secret
seed of sol; therefore learn the manner, of this water with all
diligence, for it is the ground of our quintessence. Know then
that metals have ail one matter, which is no other than mercury.
On this foundation is built the first entrance and possibility of
transmutation., Hence we conclude that our secret water has
the same matter with vulgar 'mercury.' And if our mercury,
which we call our living water, be but -unripe gold, then what-
ever may be converted into gold by art, must hold such a nature
as can be made by art into our argent vive ; and the way to do
xiils is the contrivance of our art.

If lead, or tin, or copper was resolved to a real Mercury,
art might cause those waters to appear so changed in their
form, that really any or each of all the waters named, might be
framed to our sophic mercury.

But wherefore these pains, when nature has produced a water
ready to the artist's hand — on which a form may be induced
h\ skill, to command pll our secrets.

Attend, therefore, to what Mercury wants of our secret

Phil a! et lies. 179

menstruum. We grant the weight and colour of both are si-
milar ; both are fluid, both metalline, each is volatile in fire;
but we have in our mercury a sulphur, which is wanting to the
mercury of the mine : this sulphur purifies and makes the matter
fiery — yet leaves it still a water.

Water is the womb, but if it has not heat, is unapt for true
generation. Our body will not be reduced to sweat and to send
forth seed, but in a circulating fire, commixt by art with mercury,
partaking of sulphur. This sulphur must be of magnetic force,
and therefore must be substantial gold, though unripe, yet
holding of one source, both to the 'matter and- form. It must be
volatile, as the other is fixt, the one Untying the other. There
is no body in the earth but one so nearly allied to mercury, as
to prepare it for our secret stone, hiding the solid body in its
womb.

This I have said is saturn's offspring, the secret of the magi,
and repealed by me.

For ail the metals, though some may mix with argent vivo,
yet they do not enter more than to sight, but are driven from
each other by heat, and you may perceive that their centre ne-
ver was penetrated, nor either of them altered by the other—
the cause is this; that the sulphur of perfect metals is sealed
up, and the sulphur of imperfect metals partakes of terrene fceces
and crudities abhorred by mercury, nor will it unite with them,
though it may be mixt to appearance. And if you first separate
these fceces, you shall obtain a fluid mercury, and a crude sul-
phur which hardened the humidity by congelation ; you will also
find an aluminous sa.lt ; but all these are too remote from the
nature of gold.

It is our inestimable mineral that after the separation of its
crude dregs, contains a pure mercury which can restore Ike to
bodies that are dead, enabling them to propagate their own
kind, like to all things which generate after their own
likeness

But it contains no sulphur in itself, save only it is congealed
by a burning sulphur, brittle, black, with shining veins, the sul-
phur by no means metallic, yet if separated right, is little dif-
ferent from the outward hue of common sulphui*. When the
dregs arc removed, you have a nut like a metal, but by tri-
turation may be powdered to dust, in which a tender soul is shut,
that rises like a vapour in a small fire, like quicksilver slightly
congealed, and sublimed by the fire. This imparts a penetrating
quality to our water, and makes its body to enter to their root,
reducing them to their true first matter, wholly inverting their
hidden centre. It wants true sulphur to be joined to it, and we
find it in the house of Aries; Mars only is made by this mi-
neral, and the artist's skill to go retrograde, and change from a
metal to a mineral.

ISO Alchemical Trtatiues.

Here is our Venus, the spouse of lame Vulcan, bel overt by
Mars. First, then, cause Mars to embrace this mineral, till
both cast aside their earthiness. The metalline substance pro-
duced, will in a short time shine like heaven) and as a sign of
your success, you will find impressed on it a starry seal. The
Almighty marks it with this royal stamp, fitting its strange qua-
lities; for this is a heavenly fire, a spark of which, once kindled,
causes a change in bodies from black to brightness, sparkling as
a gem, or the diadem that crowns a King. To tlm add Yenu*
in due proportion, Mars admires her beauty, and she is known
to have great love for him. She is soon inclined, being allied
to Gold, and Mars, ami Diana, arid she conciliates their love.
Vulcan now grows jealous, and spread his net to catch the
lovers ; and grieved to find himself horned, shews the pair en-
trapped within his net. This is not a mere fable. First observe
how Cadmns is devoured by oor fierce beast, after he had
stoutly pierced him, and with overpowering might, transfixed
this terror of men with his spear against an oak.

Observe the star, or sun that declares the union of Gold wrtJt
the child of Saturn ; his fceces purged out, all that is perfect
precipitates to the bottom. And being poured out after fusion,
a star appears as it cools similar to Mars. Venus, though she
is contemptible of herself, gives a metalline substance when
united with Mars, as if a net enfolded them. This fine junction
the ancient mystic poets have declared in plain terms to the wise.
We conclude the soul of Saturn and of Mars are closely mixed
by our art, and the help of Vukan — both are volatile alike*
nor are their parts divisible till the soid of Mars shall be fixed •
then it leaves Saturn, and yields most perfect gold in the trial,
©f a true and sound tincture. But this mwst be attained by the
help of Venus, else they cannot be severed, no though you re-
solved them to dust, they will continue joined.

Yet Diana makes a separation of thera by the help of Venus.
Some use Diana's doves to prepare the water, which is a tedious
labour, and may be missed twice out of three times even by a
good artist. The other most secret way we commend. Let the
most subtle vaponr of the water, be circulated so long and oft
till the souls of each, leaving the grosser matter, unite and
ascend together. You are only to avoid doing this to an excess
that would cause them to coagulate. Two parts of Saturn's son ;
one of Cadmus. Purify these so long by Vulcan's aid, till the
metalline part be purified of its feces. This shall be done in four
reiterations; and you will then see the star if yon have worked
aright.

Make Eneas equal to her lover, purge them craftily till the
net of Vulcan enclose them ; then take them and see they be
well wet with the water, and penetrated with heat and moisture,
till the souls of both at length be glorified. This is the. heavenly
dew that must be fed so long and often as nature requires, three

Philatelhes. iSl

times at least or till seven ; let it be led through waves and flames^
us reason shall direct, guarding against the sublimation or burn-
ing of the tender nature, this is to guide your fire— also know
that Mercury, which ought to begin the work, must be liquid
and white; do not with excess or" fire dry the moisture to a red
powder, for so the female sperm is corrupted, and will not carry
on the work. Do not endeavour to turn argent vive into a clear
transparent gum, or oil or unguent, for you lose the proportion,
and miss the true dissolution, which will oblige you to put
aside your forlorn attempt, having departed from the line of
reason.

Endeavour only to augment a spirit which is wanted in argent
vive, and then sublime the gross to the skies, and separate
the dregs, and when full seven times have passed, then espouse
it unto Gold, till each holds the other ; thus by art, and na-
ture's help, is the true maiden prepared, which being severed
from the feces, becomes a heavenly offspring, that makes the
solid body of Sol grow soft, and dissevers it to black atoms, rots
and putrifies it, and again revives and ascends.

Should I reveal all the secrets contained in the composition of
this our water, I would be condemned by all true artists.

For God alone communicates it; all who are not taught by
him, must wander in mists and errors ; but he that labours in
study and prayer to find this truth, not for covetousness, but
in candour for wisdom's sake — such a person shall sure attaio
this wisdom, which never was before so plainly declared.

Alexander Sethox.

Vh Ho soph iced Enigm ,i .

1. It fell out upon a time, ivlicn I had sailed almost all my
life from the Artie Pole, to the Antartic, that by the singular
providence of God I was cast upon the shore of a certain -great
eea, and although I well knew and understood the passages and
properties of the sea of that coast, yet I knew not whether in
those coasts was bred that little fish, called Remora, which so
many men of great and small fortunes have hitherto so studiously
sought after. But whilst I was beholding the sweet singing
mermaids swimming up and down with the nymphs, and being
•weary with my foregoing labours, and oppressed with divers
thoughts, I was with the noise of waters overtaken with sleep ;
and whilst I was in a sweet sleep, there appeared to me a won-
derful vision, which is this.

2. I saw Neptune, a man of an honorable old age, going forth
out of our sea with his three-toothed instrument, called Tridcns,
who after a friendly salute, led me into a most pleasant Island.
This goodly Island was situated towards the south, being re-
plenished with all things respecting the necessity and delight of
man. Virgil's Elisian Field might scarce compare with it. All
the banks were round about beset with green myrtles, cypress
trees and rosemary. The green meadows were covered all over
with flowers of all sorts, both fair and sweet. The hills were
set forth widi vines, olive trees, and cedar trees in a most won-
derful manner. The woods were filled with orange and lemon
trees. The high ways were planted on both sides with bay-
trees and pomegranate-trees, woven most artificially one within
the other, and affording a most pleasant shadow to tra-
vellers. And to be short, whatsoever is in the whole world was
seen there.

3. As I was walking, there was shewed to me by the aforesaid
Neptune, two mines of that island lying under a certain rock,
the one was of gold, the other of chalybs, or steel. Not far
from thence I was brought to a meadow, in which was a peculiar
orchard with divers sorts of trees, most goodly to behold, and
amongst the rest, being very many, he shewed to me seven trees
marked out by special names ; and among-:t these I observed
two a,$ chiefestj more emii)eut than the rest, one of which did

Setiuw. IS3

Liar fruit like the sun most bright, and shining, and the leaves
thereof were like gold. The other brought forth fruit that was
most white, yea, whiter than the lillies, and the leaves thereof
were as fine silver. Now . these trees were called by
Neptune, the one the tree of the Sun, the other the tree of
the Moon.

4. In this Island, all things were at one's pleasure and com-
mand, but one thing which was wanting ; there was no water
to be had, but with great difficulty. There were indeed many
that endeavoured to bring it thither by pipes, and partly drew
it out of divers things; but their endeavours were in vain; be-
cause in those places it could not be had by means or medium ;
and if it were at any time had, yet it was unprofitable and poison-
ous, unless they fetched it, as few could do, from the beams
of the Sun and Moon ; and he which was fortunate in so doing,
could never get above ten parts ; and that water was most won-
derful ; and believe me, for I saw it with mine eyes, and felt it.
that that water was as white as the snow : and whilst I vas con-
templating upon the water, I was in a great wonder.

5. Wherefore Neptune, being in the meanwhile wearied,
vanished away from before mine eyes, and there appeared to me
a great man, upon whose forehead was written the name of Sa-
turn. This man taking the vessel drew ten parts of water, and
took presently of the tree of the Sun, and put it in; and I saw
the fruit of the tree consumed, and dissolved like ice in warm
water. I demanded of him;. Sir, I see a wonderful thing, water
to be as it were of nothing ; I see the fruit of the tree consumed
in it with a most sweet and kindly heat, and wherefore is all
this ? But he answered me most lovingly. My son, it is true
this is a thing to be wondered at ; but do not thou wonder at it,
for so it must be.

6. For this water is the water of life, having power to better
the fruit of this tree, so that afterward neither by planting or
grafting, but only by its own odour it may convert the other six
frees into its own likeness. Moreover this water is to this fruit
as it were a woman, the fruit of this tree can be putrified in no-
thing but in this water, and although the fruit of it be of itself
most wonderful, and a thing of great price ; yet if it be pu-
trified in this water, it begets by this putrefaction a salamander
abiding in the fire, whose blood is more precious than any kind
of treasure or riches in the world, being able to make those six
trees, which here thou seest, fruitful, and to bring forth their
fruit sweeter than the honey.

7. But I asked, Sir, how is that done ? I told thee, saith he,
that the fruit of that tree is living, and sweet ; and one is
now sufficed with it, but when it is boiled in this water, a
thousand may then be satisfied with it. I demanded moreover ;
"Sir, is it boiled with a strong fire, and how long is it in boiling ?

IS'4- Alchemical Treatises.

Said he> that water hath an iistrui&ical fire, and if it be helped
•with a continual heat, it burns three parts of its body with this
body of the fruit, and there will remain but a very small part,
which is scarce imaginable, but of wonderful virtue; it is boiled
by the skilful wit of the artificer, first seven months, then ten,
but in the mean time there appeared divers things, and always
in the fiftieth day, or thereabouts.

8. I demanded again. Sir, cannot this fruit be boiled in
other waters, or something be put to it? Pie answered, there
is but this one water that is useful in this country, or island ;
and there is no other water can penetrate the pores of Jthis appje,
but this : and know also that the tree of the sun hath its ori-
ginal from this water, which is extracted out of the beams of
the sun and moon by a magnetic virtue. Besides they have a
great correspondency betwixt themselves, but if any strange
thing be added to it, it cannot perform that which it can do of
itself, It must therefore be left by itself, and nothing added to
it but this apple. This fruit after boiling, comes to be
immortal, having life and blood, which blood makes all
the trees bring forth fruit of the same nature with the
apple.

9. I asked him farther, Sir, is thi$ water drawn any other
way, or to be had every where ? And he said, it is in every
place, and no man can live without it; it is drawn divers ways,
but that |s the best which is extracted by virtue of our chalybs,
which is found in the belly of Aries. I said, to what use is it?
He answered, before its due boiling it is the greatest poison, but
after a convenient boiling it is the greatest medicine, and yields
nine and twenty grains of blood, and every grain will yield to
tliec the fruit of the tree of the sun 864 fold. I asked, can it
not be made yet better ? The philosophical scripture being
witness, snith he, it may be exalted first to ten, then to a hun-
dred, then to a thousand, and ten thousand.

10. I required again of him, Sir, do many know that water,
and hath it any proper name ? lie cried out, saying, few know
it, but all have seen it, and do see if, and love it ; it hath many
and various names, but its proper name is the water of our sea,
the water of life not wetting the hands. ' I asked yet farther,
do any use it to any other things ? Every creature, saith he,
doth use it, but invisibly. Then I asked, dotli any thing grow
in it ? but he said, of it are made all things in the world, and in
it they live, but in it nothing properly is, but it is that thing
which mixeth itself to every thing. I asked again, is it useful
tor any thing without the fruit of this tree? 'To this he said,
not in "this work, because it is not bettered, but in the fruit of
the tree of the sun alone. l I began to intreat him, Sir, I pray
name it to me by such a manifest name, that I may have no fur-
ther doubt about it. But he cried with a loud voice, so as that

Scthon. J 8$

he awakened me from sleep. Therefore I couid ask him no
further, neither would he tell me any more, neither can I teli
any more. Be satisfied with these, and believe me, that it is not
possible to speak more clearly. For if thou dost not understand
these things, thou v$t never be able to comprehend the books
of other philosophers.

11. After Saturn's unexpected and sudden departure, a new-
sleep came upon me, and then appeared to me Neptune in a
visible shape. He congratulated my present happiness in the
gardens of the Hesperides, shewing to me a looking-glass, in
which 1 saw all nature discovered. After the changing of divers
words betwixt us, I gave him thanks for his courtesies shewed
to me ; because I not only entered into this garden, but also
came into Saturn's most desired discourse. But because by rea-
son of Saturn's unexpected departure, some difficulties did yet
remain to be enquired alter, and searched into, I earnestly be-
sought him, that by means of this happy opportunity, he would
resolve me my doubts. Now 1 importuned him with these word::,
Sir, I have read the books of philosophers, and they say, that
all generation is done by male and female, yet I saw in my dream
Saturn ] ut the fruit alone of the tree of the Sun into our Mercury.
I believe also thee as the master of this sea, that thou knowest
these things ; answer my question, I pray thee. But he said,
it is true, my son, all generation is done in male and female,
but by reason of the distinguishing of the three kingdoms
of nature, a four-footed animal is brought forth one way,
and a worm another. Although worms have eyes, sight,
hearing, and other senses, yet they are brought forth by pu-
trefaction, and their place, or earth, in which they are pu-
trified, is the female. So in this philosophical work the mother
of this thing is that water of thine so often repeated, and
whatsoever is produced of that, is produced as worms by pu-
trefaction. Theretore the philosophers have created a phoenix
or salamander. For if it were done by the conception of
two bodies, it would be a thing subject to death ; but
because it revives itself alone, the former body being de-
stroyed, it riseth up another body -incorruptible. Seeing
the death of things is nothing else but the separation of the one*
from the other And so it is in this phoenix, because the
life separates itself by itself from a corruptible body. More-
over, I asked him, Sir, are there divers things, or is there
a composition of things in this work ? But he said, there
is only one thing, with which there is mixed nothing else
but the philosophical water shewed to thee oftentimes in.
thy sleep, of which there must be ten parts to one of the
body. And strongly and undoubtedly believe, my son, that
those things which are by me and Saturn shewed thee by
way of dreams^ according to the custom in this Island,

z

J 86 Alchemical Treatises.

are not dreams, but the very truth, which experience the
only mistress of things will by the assistance of God disco-
ver to thee. I yet further demanded some things of him,
but he without any answer, after he had took his leave of
me, departing set me, being raised from sleep, into
my desired region of Europe. And so. friendly Reader,
let this suffice thee, which hath by me thus far been fully
declared.

To God alone be praise and glory.

The Green Lion of Paracelsus.

Take distilled vinegar, (of the philosophers) wherein dissolve
the green lion, putrify and filter the solution, draw off the li-
quor in balneo to an oiliness; this oil or residue put in a retort,
distil away the moisture in sand with a gentle fire; then increase
the fire, and the green lion, being compelled by the strength,
of the fire will yield his glue, or air. To the caput mortuum,
pour its^ phlegm (the moisture drawn off) putrify in dung or
balneo, and distil, as before, and again will ascend the spirits ;
force it strongly, and there will come a tenacious oil of a ci-
trine colour. Upon the caput mortuum pour again the first dis-
tilled water, putrify, filter, and distil as before ; lastly with
a most strong open fire, and there will come over a bloody oil,
which is otherwise called fire. The remaining earth reverberate
into whiteness, &c. — Aurei Velleris^ p. 41.

Annotations by John Segerns Wciclenfeld.

1. From the receipt we observe— that the menstruums of this
kind, being made of the very matter of philosophical wine, or
philosophical grapes, are the first of all other menstruums, either
mineral or vegetable.

2. That the milky liquor or spirit, virgin's milk, white
mercury, the white wine of Lully, and the glue of the green
lion, called by Paracelsus the glue of the eagle, are terms sy-
nonymous ; and that the red liquor, blood oi the green lion,
red mercury, the philosophers sulphur, and the red wine ot Lully,
otherwise by Paracelsus, the blood of the red lion, are likewise
synonyma's.

3. That the acid mineral menstruums, are by digestion or
further elaboration, transmuted either into a simple vege-
table menstruum, or into the heaven or spirit of philosophical
wine.

4. That these acid menstruums are to be distilled with very
great caution, by reason of the excessive effervescence of the azo-
quean vitriol, or rather spirit of philosophical wine, which .is in
this vitriol caused bv the acids.

!S8 Alchemical Treatises,

5. That mineral menstruums are the heaven, or essence of
philosophical wine dissolved in an acid, so that having ac-
quired this spirit, you may make them ex tempore by simple
dissolution.

6. That the menstruums even now prepared, are presently to
be used, lest they perish.

7. That menstruums are by dissolving bodies coagulated.

8. That metallic bodies are by these menstruums reduced into
running mercury.

9. That these are called stinking menstruums, because of their
stinking smell. By the smell alone wc easily distinguish these from
those fragrant menstruums called vegetable. Thus the unsavoury
ismell of the menstruum itself proves that Moric-nus used the stink-
ing menstruum What is the smell of it, saith King Kalid, by
way of question, before and after the making of it? Morienus-
answered], before it is made, the scent of it is strong and unsa-
voury ; but after the preparation of it, it has a good scent, ac-
cording to that which the wise man saith: this water resem-
bles the unpleasant smell of a body dead, and void of life ; for
the smell of it is ill, and not unlike to the smell of graves. He
that can whiten the soul, and cause it to ascend again, and keep
the body well, and take away all obscurity from it, and ex-
tract the ill savour out of it, will be able to infuse it into the
body, and in the hour of conjunction exceeding miracles will
appear, Morien. de Trans. Metal, p. 33. Geber also atknowledg-
eth himself to have operated with a mineral menstruum, cap. 25.
Summce perfect. The first natural principles, saith he, out of which
metals are procreated, are the stinking spirit, that is, sulphur,
and water vive, which also we allow to be called dry water. And
in another place, at the end of his Book de Investigat. he goes
on ; we do by plain and open proof conclude our stone to be no-
thing else but a stinking spirit, and living water, which we
also call dry water, being cleansed by natural decoction and
true proportion with such an union, that nothing can be added
or taken from it, to which a third thing ought to be added for
the abbreviation of the work, that is, a perfect body at-
tenuated.

10. That adrop, the name of the matter of these menstruums*
signifies the philosophers saturn, or lead. The first matter of
this leprous body, saith Ripley, is a viscous water inspissated
m the bowels of the earth. The great elixir for the red and for
the white, saith Vincentius, is made of this body, whose name
is adrop, otherwise calied philosophical lead* page 132. MeduL
Phil. Chym.

Our stone, saith Arnold, ra Speculo Alchym is called adrop,
which is in Latin saturnus, in English lead, and according to
the 1 rojans dragon or topum, that is, poison, Septima Dispos,
Spcndi, page 596. Vol. 4. Theatr. Chym. I have shewed that the
philosophers gave it divers names, because of tlie diversity of

Wcidcnfdd on Paracelsus. 189

colours ; but as to their intention, they had one peculiar name,
that is, Roman gold, or adrop, or stone above ail the stones of
this world, quarto dispositio Speculi, page 5fM-, of the same vo-
lume. Laton and Azoth are t gether, and never asunder, hut
remain always joined together, but because of the diversity of
colours, the philosophers called them by many names ; and
as the colours are varied and changed, they imposed so many
names ; because Azoth among the Indians is gold ; among the
JHcrmians silver; among the Alexandrians and Macedonians
iron ; with the Greeks mercury ; with the Hebrews tin ; with
the Tartars brass ; with the Arabians saturn ; and among the
Latins, and especially among the Romans ognividon, (by an
anagram L^vno G vim\ G signifying philosophical mercury,
or sulphur aqueum.) But that none may err, I say it hath one
proper name, and is commonly called by men ; and every one
knows the stone, Terlia dispos. Sjiecul. page 593, of the same
volume.

Some of the adepts write not adrop, but atrop ; by which
name they have been pleased to signify the matter of these men-
struums to be as it were the gate of all the most secret Chymy ;
for atrop, by the inversion of the letters is read porta, a gate :
thus Robcrtus Valensis in Gloria Mundi, page 30.5. That
you may attain, saith he, to the true foundation, I will once
again repeat it to you, and call it the first hyle, that is, the
beginning of all things ; it is also called the only holy ; appre-
hend what elements are in it by those which are repugnant ;— -
the stone of the philosophers, of the sun, of metals, the fugi-
tive servant, the airy stone, the Thernian stone, magnesia, or
the corporal stone, marcasite, the stone of Sal Gemma, the
stone of children, the golden stone, the original of worldly
things, xelis, also by inversion silex, a flint, xidar, by the
same inversion radix, atrop, by inversion, porta, a gate ;
and it hath also as many other names, yet is but one only
thing.

To Robertus, Lully seems to incline, who has been pleased to
call every alteration of the azoquean vitriol, or matter of the men-
struums of this kind, the first porta or gate of the work ; thus he
called the dissolution of the matter the first gate. In our whole
magistery, saith he, there are three principal spirits necessary,
which cannot without the consummation of their resolution be
manifested, and they are otherwise called, three argent vives.
And because resolution is so often used for the first gate of our
magistery which we will declare ; the said resolution is divided
into three principal parts. The first is corporal, and is called
in the Latin tongue, recfage, that is, anagrammatically facere G ;
but by G, he means sulphur aqueum, cap. 5. The. Test. p. 115.
vol. 4. Theat. Chym. or our mercury, cap. "20. Pract. Test, page
170, of the same volume, The second is spiritual, and called

100 Alchemical Treatises.

agazoph. The third is spiritual and corporal, and called
Ubridrugat, &c.

When the matter in the resolution of it appears black, this
blackness, for which some have called it lead, he would have to
be a sign of the first gate. In the first resolution, saith he, lies
all the danger, and therefore I give you notice, that you must
have the sulphurs of simple argent vives destroyed by heat, in
such manner and form, as that their active property may not
be expelled by extraneous heat, and that it may not be sepa-
rated from its moist subject, which appears wholly black, full
of a noble spirit. That blackness demonstrates the sign of the
first gate leading into our magistery, and without it can no-
thing be done, because it is the fire of nature, which is to
create the stone, and which cannot be manifested without the
corruption of its body, cap. 28. Theoi\ Test, page 51. vol. 4.
Til, Chym.

Lastly, he calls the distillation of this matter the first gate
also. The way of preparing the stony, and fermentable spi-
rit is, to take the juice of binary, and extract the sweat of it
with a small and gentle fire, and you will have in your power
one of our argent vives in liquor, in the form of a white
water, which is the ablution and purgation of our stone, and
its whole nature. And that is one of the most principal se-
crets, and is the first gate, as j^ou may understand by the
reasons aforesaid, &c. cap. 9. Theor. Test, page 21, of the
same volume.

Being persuaded, by these and the like quotations, I may affirm,
that atrop is to be written rather than adrop, because besides the
blackness or philosophical lead, atrop signifies the beginning or
first gate of the work.

1 1 . That in the adeptical chymy are many green lions, to be
necessarily distinguished one from another.

' By the first the adepts meant the ccelestial sun, governing the
whole world.

The second is argent vive, more common to us than common
argent vive.

The third is called argent vive, dissolved into a green
colour.

The fourth is adrop, azoquean vitriol, philosophers lead, &c.

A filth is the stinking menstruum, otherwise called the blood of
the green lion.

A sixth is the green lion of fools, Roman vitriol, verdi-
groase, &c.

The seventh is extraordinary, namely, common mercury sub-
limed.

J '2. That there arc also many saturns.

The first is common lead, the impurest of metals, and conse-
quently the most remote of all in our art; which to prove by the

Weidenfeld on Paracelsus. 191

sentiments of the adepts is a thing superfluous, finding almost
every where amongst the adepts a solemn caution for us to beware
of this devourer of metals and minerals, saturn. Have a care,
saith Ripley, to bring one witness for all, of operating with s;l-
turn, because it is commonly said, eat not of the son, whose mo-
ther is defiled, ami believe me, many men err in saturn. Hear
what Avicenna saifh, saturn will be always saturn, yea operate;
not with the earth of philosophical saturn, which the spirit of it
has despised, and left for the worst sulphur, &c. cap. 2. Pbjlorcii.
page 188.

The second is adrop, or azoquean vitriol, whereof before.
A third is the first colour or blackness of the first work ; of
which lower.

The fourth is copper, the first of metals; of which Arnold in
Spcculo Alchym. disp. 8. page 605. vol. 4. Theat. C'hym. thus :
There were, saith he, philosophers that placed our science in the
.seven planets ; and our first planet is called Venus, the second
Saturn, the third Mercury, the fourth Mars, the fifth Jupiter, the
sixth Luna, the seventh Sol. The generation of copper hath
the first place after the universal Mercury? saith Basilius, Libro
de rebus nat. & supernat. cap. 4. Of all those things, saith Para-
celsus, which proceed from salts, there is none more nearly allied
to the mineral virtue, than vitriol ; the reason is, because salts are
minerals, and all minerals lie in one mass and ares. Now
vitriol in the separation of minerals, is the last thing, to
which is immediately subsequent the generation of metals,
whereof Venus is the first, Lib. i. Philos. de Element Aqua"*, page
'279. And a little after he saith, the Marcasites and Cachymys
being thus separated from the first matter of metals, then fol-
lows the first generation, which is of Venus, &c. Besides, by
the separation, whereby the nature of the marcasites and cachy-
mys are expelled, the generations of copper do immediately con-
cur, imprint themselves, and are coagulated together, because it
is the first metal after the separation of the marcasites and cachy-
mys; in the same book, page 281.

The vitriol of Venus being the first of all things added or joined
to the vegetable mercury in the making of adrop, is called by
Lully the first male. This fire, saith he, is that property of the
mercury, which you must endeavour to preserve from burning,
being the tincture of vitriol, with which the vegetable mer-
cury ought to be sublimed, because it is the first male of it, and
is the augmentation of our tincture, which is a great addition,
in virtue and power, when it is joined with the tincture of
Sol; — for if you know how to extract the property of mercury
from vitriol and salt, and make them friendly by conjunction,
which is done by gentle sublimations, you will know one of the
greatest secrets of nature, and the true principal perfect ioi .
Codicil, cap. 9% page 202. So us many places of his The-

192 Alchemical Treatises.

©riae Testamcnti majoris, he means vitriol by his male ; in these
especially : The fire of our male, page 50. The virtue of the
male, page 91. '1 he virtue of the sperm of the mule, page 108.
The heat of the male, page 7 I. The female Venus is in this
case the male, and is not so hot as the true second male, gold,
page 73. vol. 4. Theat. Chym. This male also Espanietus men-
tioneth in the making of his menstruum. Take, saith he, the
winged virgin completely washed and cleansed, impregnated
with the spiritual seed of the first male, &c. Sect. 58. Arcani
Hermet. Phil.

Paracelsus, the better to express the masculine nature of ve-
nus, calls it metallus, a noun of the masculine gender, ,as me-
tallic primus. Take, saith he, the coralline liquor I mean
that which is very diaphanous, to which add a fifth part of the
vitnol of venus, digest them in balneo for a month ; for by
this means the wine of the first metal separates itself aloft,
but the feculent part of this wine, the vitriol of venus re-
tains; he means the residue kit in the extraction of vitriol, and
so that first metal, m t a this primus, is made a perspicuous, di-
aphanous, and truly red wine, &c. cap. \ . Lib. 3. De Vita
Ion j a. page 65 As the adepts called venus the first metal, me-
tallus prunus in the mascH line gender, so also they changed Sa-
turn us, saturn, a noun of the masculine gender, into saturna,
a noun of the feminine gender, to signify not common lead, but
venus, being a feminine noun, of copper. I have, saith Ripley,
a dear and beloved daughter, named saturna, from which
daughter are both the white and red elixirs assuredly procreated;
if therefore you desire this science, you must extract a clear water
from her, &c

Sometimes to describe by saturn, not only venus, but also the
philosophical preparation of copper, that is to be performed by a
vegetable menstruum, they made it a vegetable or herb, that so
they might distinguish that which was, from that which was not
prepared ; thus Flame! in his Summary : Some unskilful men,
and unlearned chymists take common gold, silver, and mer-
cury, and handle them so ill, till they vanish away by fume, and
thereby endeavour to make the philosophers mercury ; but
they do not attain to that, which is the first matter and true
mine of the stone. But if they would attain to that, and reap
any good, they must betake themselves to the seventh mounr
tain, where there is no plain, and from the top downward be-
hold the other six, which they will see at great distance. At
the top of this mountain, you will find a triumphant royal
herb, which some philosophers call a mineral, some a vege-
table, and it' pure and clean broth be made thereof, the better
part of the work will be hereby accomplished, and this right
and subtile philosophical mercury must you take. This place is
thus read in Chortalassaeus, page 313. vol. 6. Theat. Chym.

Weidenfcld on Paracelsus. 193

Ascend therefore tlvs mountain, that you may sec the vegetable,
saturnine, plumbeous and royal, likewise a!*o mineral root,
or herb.; take oniy the juice of it, and throw away the
husks.

It is moreover also called green, because that matter is as yet
sharp and unripe* that is, not yet fixed or perfected by naturt,
as common gold. The philosophers green lion therefore is green
gold, gold vive, which is not as yetfixul, but left imperfect by
natures and for this reason hath it the virtue of rednekig all
bodies into their first matter, and making those bodies which arc
fixed spiritual and volatile. Tract, tic Adrop, page .-31-7. —
It may also be called lion, because as all other animals give$ lace
to a lion, so all bodies yield to the power of gold vive, which is
our mercury. Tract. Adrop. page 548. This noble infant is
called green lion, because when it is dissolved, it is clothed
with a green garment. Yet out of the green lion of fools (vitriol)
is with a violent fire extracted that which we call aqua
tbrtis, in which the said lion ought to be elixirated. Medulla
Piths, page 139.

These things spoken of the green lion, arc also to be understood
of adrop, being a synonymous term of the same matter. Take,
saith Ripley, adrop, that is, the green lion. Now as to adrop
he declared as followcth : adrop, saith he, is gold and silver in
power but not in sight, as Rhasis saith, and our gold and silver,
according to the philosophers, is not common gold and silver,
for our gojd and silver are airy, which in order to be well fer-
mented, ought to be joined with the beloved common gold.
Forasmuch as the philosopher saith, that adrop in its profun-
dity is airy gold, and adrop itself is called leprous gold. And
to these sayings seems to assent Guido, the Greek philosopher,
speaking of the mercurial or menstrual spirit, the spirit or blood
of the green lion, which is extracted out of the natural adrop
by art, where he writes : And that spirit is sol, extracted out
of the philosophers solary water, arsenic, and luna. And in
the same place presently adds ; the body is the ferment of the
spirit, and the spirit the ferment of the bod}', and the earth,
wherein lies the fire, dries, imbibes, and fixeth the water ; and
the air, wherein lies the water, (the air which lies in the water,
it ought to be read according to the doctrine of separating the ele-
ments,) washeth, tingeth, and pcrfectcth the ear.th ami tire ; and
so Guido's saying, that they tinge and perfect, ought to be un-
derstood, that the stone, the menstruum drawn from adrop, or
the green lion, is sufficient for the completing of itself into an
elixir, and that no exotick or heterogeneous matter, as he
affirms, is or ought to be introduced to it, but all the parts of it
are co-essential and concrete, because the philosophers meai ing
was to complete that work in a short space above the earth,
which nature scarce perfecteth in a thousand years under t^e

a a

194 Alchemical Treatises*

earth. Unskilfully therefore according to the opinion of the
philosophers, as Guido saith, do they proceed, thai seek to obtain
a ferment from common silver and gold lor oar select body. —
For that matter, in which is argent vive clean and pure, not
(most, is ill read,) thoroughly brought to perfection by nature, is,
as Guido affirms, after complete purification, a thotisai I times
better than the bodies of sol and luna vulgarly deeott »y the
natural heat of the sun. Concord. Lidhj $ Guidon, pag - 23.
A certain philosopher saith, he goes on discoursing ci tti ne

adrop ; a fume, (white) is drawn from its own mines, v. ' if

rightly gathered, and again sprinkled upon its own mines, \ill
there make a fixation, and so the true elixir will in a &\x#t
space of time be produced from it. And certainly without those
liquors or spirits, that is, the water and fail of merourv, (men-
struum,) this alchymical body which is neutral or adrop, is not
purged ; and that is the alchymical body, which is called le-
prous body, that is, black, at the beginning of the work in which,
as saith Vmeentius in his Spcailum Natvralc, arc gold and silver
in power, and not in aspect ; which in the bowels of it is also
airy gold, to which no man can attain, except the unclean body
be first cleansed, which is without doubt after its complete
dealbation, and then it is a thousand times better than are the
bodies of common gold and silver decocted by natural heat.
The first matter of this leprotls body is a viscous water inspissat-
ed in the bowels of the earth. Of this body, according to the
judgment of Vincentius, is made the great elixir for the red
and white, the name whereof is adrop, otherwise called the
philosophers black lead, out of which Rayrnund commands us to
extract an oil of a golden colour, or such like: R.iymund adds,
but this oil is not necessary in the vegetable work, namely, for
the inceration of the vegetable stone, because solutions and co-
agulations are there soon made ; and if you can separate it from
its phlegm, and after that ingeniously find out the secrets of it,
you will in thirty days be able to perfect the philosophers stone.
.Fortius oil makes medicines, (tinctures) penetrable, sociable, and
amicable to all bodies, and in the world there is not a greater
secret. Med id. Phil. Chxpn. page 131.

Ripley hath here recited various synonima's of this adrop. We
for a time will follow the green lion by the way of philosophical
lead, as we are directed by Ripley in these very words: First, un-
derstand, when Avicenna saith, that gold and silver are in lead
by power, and not by sight, and they are left by nature crude
and half coctcd, and therefore that ought to be perfectly supplied
by art, which is left imperfect by nature, and by way of a fer-
ment digesting and cocting that which is left crude ; for a fer-
ment therefore take perfect gold, for a little, pendulum, notpaula
tbn, of their fixed substance, those fixed bodies will draw and
convert much of bodies not fixed to the perfection of gold and

Weidenfdd on Paracehus. 195

silver. Am! thus will art help nature, that in a little space of
time that may be done above the earth, which is not in a thou-
sand years done under the earth. And by this means you will
understand, how lead contains in it the greatest secrets of this
art : for it hath in h argent vive, clean, pure, odoriferous, not
brought by nature to perfection. And this argent vive is the
basis and ground-work of our precious medicine, as well for
metallic as human bodies, so as to be the elixir of life, curing
all infirmities ; which the philosopher meant, saying, there is
in mercury whatsoever wise men seek. From this are the
soul, body, spirit, and tincture drawn ; moreover also in this
mercury is the philosophers fire, always burning equally within
the vessel, and not without. It hath also a great attractive
virtue and power in dissolving sol and luna, and reducing the
same into their first matter. With this mercury are to be dis-
solved the calxes of the perfect bodies in congealing the afore-
said mercurial spirit, See. Pupilla, page 295. But have a care that
you operate not with common saturn, because commonly it is
said, eat not of the son, whose mother is corrupted, and believe,
that many men err in saturn. Hear what Avicenn saith,
saturn will be always saturn ; yea operate not with the earth
of philosophical saturn, which the spirit of it has despised, and re-
linquished for the worst sulphur. Operate only with the fume
of it to congeal mercury, yet not as fools, but as the philoso-
phers do, and you will have a very good work. Phil. cap. 2-
page 188. The whole composition we call our lead ; the qua-
lity of the splendor proceeds from sol and luna, and in short,
these are our menstruums wherewith we calcine perfect bodies
naturally, but no unclean body is an ingredient, one excepted,
which is by the philosophers commonly called green lion,
which is the means of joining the tinctures between sol and
luna with perfection, as Geber himself attesteth, Libro. 42. por-
tar, page 12. To manifest this thing to you, you must know,
that it is one of those, which are of the seven days planets, and
the meanest of the same, out of whose body is artificially ex-
tracted blood, and a vaporous humor, which is called the blood
of the green lion, from which is produced a water, called
white of an egg, and aqua vitas, may-dew, and by many other
names, which to avoid prolixity, we now omit. Phil. cap. 3.
page 190.

Green lion, adrop, philosophical lead, mineral antimony.,
airy gold, mercury, &c. arc synonima's of one and the same
matter. This matter being dissolved in distilled vinegar,
and again inspissated into a gum, in taste like alum, is by
Ripley in the Description of the antecedent menstruum in Nwnb.
62. polled Lully's Vitriol of Azoth, or Vitriolum Azoqueum :
Lully in practica Testamcuti, cap. 9. page 159. vol.4. Th. Chym.
jliakes a menstruum of B. C. D. By B. he meant the said green

19(5 Alchemical Treatises.

lion, or common argent vivc, which ao he says elsewhere, it more
common to men, than vulgar argent vivc. 13. saith he, page
153. of the sakl practica, signifies argent vive, which is a com-
mon substance consisting in every corruptible body, as appears;
by the property of it, &c. By C. he intended common nitre. C.
saith he, signifies salt peter, which hath a common acid nature,
and like argent vive by the property of its strong acid nature,
page 154. 4 vol. aforesaid. By D. he understood gum adrop,
blade of the green lion. 1). saith he, signifies azoquean
vitriol, which corrupts and confounds all that is of the nature
and being of common argent vive. In the same place, both