Section 2

Lafily, as touching the Angelicall Stone, it is Jo (uhtill, faith tht aforefafd Author,* to it can neither be feene, felt , or weighed ; but Tafted only. The voyce ofM&n(which bears fomt (proportion to thefo fubtill properties,) comes fiort in comparifon} Nay the Abie felft is not fo penetrable, and jet (Oh myfterious bonder /) A Stone, that will lodge in theFire to Eternity without being prejudiced. It hath 4 Divine Power, Celeftiall, and Invifiblc, above the reft; and endowes the poffejforwithB'mne Gifts It affords the Apparition a/Angells, and gives a power of converfing with them , by DreamesW Reve- lations ; nor dare any Evill Spirit approach the Place where it lodg- cth. Becaufe it is a Quintenence wherein there is no corruptible Thing.-and where the Elements are not corrupt^ Dsvill can (lay or abide.
S. Dunftoh caffs it the Food of Angels, and by others it is tearmed The Heavenly Viaticum ; The Tree of Life; and is un- doubtedly (next under QOD) the true AIchochodon,w> Giver of Years ; for by it Mans Body is preferred from Corruption, being thereby inabled /« live a long time without Foode: nay 'tis made a qutftion Whet her any Man can Dye that ufes it. Which I doe net fe muchadmire9 as to think why the Pofleflbrs of it (honld defire to live* that have thofe Manifeftations of Gloty andBtetmty^efented unto their _FleftiIy Eyes • but rather defire to be Biflblved^ to enjoy the full Fruition,/^* live when they muft be content with the bar ^Spe- culation, jftir.
Prolegomena*
After Heftne« had once obtained the Knbwledge of this Stone, he gave over the ufe of all other Stones , and therein only delighted : Mofes,4»rf Solomon/fag^r With Hermes were the only threejthat) excelled in the Knowledge thereof, and who therewith brought Wonders.
That there is a Gift */ Prophefie hid in the Red-ftone, Racis will teUyou ;for thereby ( faith he) Philofophers have foretold things to come : And Petrus Bonus avers % that they did Prophefie, not on- ly Generally but Specialty ; having a Fore- knowledge of the Re- furre&ion, Incarnation •/Chrift, dzy of Judgement, and that the Vfoild/bould be confumed with Fits: and this not otherwife , then from the Infight of their Operations.
In 'Brief ey by the true and various ufe of the Philofophers Primi materia ( for there are diverficies of Gifts, but the fame fpiritj the perfetlion o/Liberall Sciences are made igown , the Whole Wif- dome o/Nature may begrafped : And ( Notwithfianding What hat been faid% I mufi further adde) There are yet hid greater things then thefe/or we have feen but few of his Workes.
Howbeit, there arc but a feW Stocks that are fitted to Inoculate the Grafts of this Science on : They are Myfteries Incommunicable U any but the Adepti , and thofe that have beene Devoted even from their Cradles to ferve and waite at this Altar: And htm rmi ij fuch have been heard of may appear by Norton: iFejfefe( faith he; cleared* 4>tte
And they perhaps were ( With J.Paul ) Caught up into Paradice^ and a* be, heard unfpeakeabic Words, fo they, wrought unoperaHe Workes\ fuch as it is not lawfull for to utter.
Of fuch as thefe therefore will I glory,yct of my felfe 1 will not glory ,but of mine Infirmities* And truly whether fuch were in the Body or out of the Body I cannot tell, GOD knoweth, doubts lejfe they were not far from the Kingdome of GOD.
But I fear el have waded too farre; and therefore now to give fame Particular Account, a/Well touching the Publication of th$ Worke, as alfo the Difpofkion thereof and the Nature of the Obfe- lete Language wherein tis Written : I /ball in theTirst place acquaint the Reader , that the kinds Acceptance my former Endeavours re- ceived at the Hands of Candid hxtifejn pub lifting fome Chemicall CoJleftions % very earnefilj invited me tofindeout * Second Piece
5 s where*
Prolegomena.^
wherewith to prefent thofetGnte ful I Perfons* whereupon I inten- ded to rally up fome ofmj own Conceptions in this Science, and ex- pofe them alfo to f/tf-Teft ; But {to thuend, reviewing the Philofo- phers) I found that many (a faming that Name) Wrote what their Fancies, not their Hands had 'wrought , and farther then in Appre- hension hadnotfe'ene Projection ; fometime One , ** appear es by his Ingenious Retractation, hereafter mentioned : ) and being truly fenfible of the great Injury fnch Workes have done young Students ( at the fir ft not able to diftin- gui(h» who have written upon their undeceveablc Experience, who not ; and confequentty , not which to follow , or Mich t@ avoyde ) i* withdrew my Thoughts ^having never asyetfet myfelfe Effectu- ally upon the Manuall Pri&ife ) left Ifhould adde to the many In- juries the World has already^ Juffered, by delivering th bare Med? ley of my Dubious Apprehenfions , Without the confident Attefta- tion o/Pra&ife : and bejuftly efte emed as indifcreete as thofe whom. Ripley mentions; that prate
m fRobini^otJeana of fctef H&oSd,
Tet ftill cafting about what to make choyce of, at length (by the.
incouragement of fomethat are Indubious after pubfique benefit )
Centred my Thoughts, and fix 'd them on this defigne of Collecting
' AU (or as many as I could meeteWith) ofourownEngkfhHetmc*
tique Philofophers, and to make them publique.
JXor did I change ^# Rtrfolution With my Clothes tnoiwithftavd- ing the Difficulties I faw3 ready to encounter and obflrutl the Un- dertaking .• For, befides the Paines and Care that was thereunto re* qui fit e , the Ytlttofnot meeting with,, or obtaining r^Onginall Manufcripts, or Auchentique Copies "of this Nature, (which I knew ta, be in fome Mens htnds, yet wanting them myfelfe?) fbreWdly be- fet , though nothing difiouragd me : yet was I therewith freely and plentifully fupplyed by fome worthy *»i intimate Friends , Whom I would gladly here mention , but that I Well k^W they delight not to fee their Names in Print. Thefe had, My Care Was next t& difpofe them infuch a Seiies as might be anfwerable to ^Refpeclive Times, Wherein each Author Flourifhed yandwithall to the befi Advantage of the laborious Student : the which I have managd with fojufi au Adt quadon^ (/hope) Will neither detraft from the due Honour of the Qtitymryet difiurbi $r darken the diretl path of the Other,
*Bnt
Prolegomena.
"But whilfl I was doktg this, I made a Queftion ( in regard feme Philofophers had writ in Verfe, others in Profe ) Which ofthefe fhouldtake Precedency ; and after fome Consideration adjudged it to the Poetique part : And that, not only becaufe its Originall may probably Anticipate the time of Orpheus, ( although he be noted by MaierusjPrimus Antiftcs,Sacerdos,Theologus,^r£tS,J& Doctor totius Graccorum nationis ) becaufe that Linus is [aid to be the moft Perite of any Lyrick Poet, and Jo Ancient that fome fuppofe him Mafler to Orpheus , Who writ that admirable Allegory of the Gol « den Fleece, and Was the firfl of \ all ^Grecians that brought the Chemck Learning ( with other Sciences) out 0/iEgipt, as the other the firfl. th&t brought the Phoenician Learning to the Grecians : I fay not only for that it is the Ancienteft,W Profe but a/Latter ufe with other Nations: but becaufe Poetry hath bin moft Anciently ufed with m}and(as if from a Grant ofH\\x\xt)heldunqueftionable.
AgainJhe Excellent Melody thereof is fo Naturall and Univer- (dW.asthatitfeemes to be botnzWtth all the Nations of the World, as an Hereditary Eloquence proper to all Mankinde : Nor was this all f or Iconf dired that it Chimes a Generall fuccefllon, and Re- ception, in All Nations, ##Ages, Who were never Without a Ho- mer, a Virgil, or an Ovid ; No not thisfmaU Segment of the World [England] Without a Rails Ceftrenfis and an Hortulanus j Tor the Firft ofthefe, Hi* Liber Luminum,^^ Lumen de Luminum, are the Ancienteft now extant in Latine Verfe : In the latter of Which, I cannot omk this Title of his, [Refponfio Rails Ceftrenfis Filio fuo Merlino ; 3 Whtrtby it appeareshe was Merlin's Contemporary^ leaft) if not his Mifter> this Abftrufe Myftery. ThefeWotkes of his are both Tublified by Hermannus, but very Imperfectly , as I found by Comparing themWith aMnnufctipt, as ancient as King John's Time. And for the Second Rq was the firfl ChriftianPhilo- fopher aft ers)Aotknx)iSfa>ho(tr4ve ling abroad, and returning hither in the Raigne of William the Conqutrour:)becaufe he was the firfl that Tranfplanted the Chemical! hiofesfrom remotefl Parts into his own Country s*Vr4/WGariand,ab Coronam Hermeticam & Poeticanv But, to returne to our Matter,
If neither its Antiquity, wr /^Natural! RarficationjGenerall SucceflioOjW Reception thereof were enough to allow it the Rigfr- hand of Fellowfhip , yet I fuppofe t he ErTe&s thereof, ( which fo afett and delight the Eare , repjee the Heart , fatisfie the Judge-
ment?J
/\ Prolegomena.
ment, and indulge the Hearers ) juflly may : In regard Poefy has a Life, a Pulff, and fuch afecret Energy, as leaves in the Mlnde,* far deeper Impreflion,^* n What runs in the flow and evehleffe Numbers o/Profe: whereby itwonfo much upon the World, That in Rude Times, and even amongst Barbarous Nations, Vehen other forts of Learning flood excluded, there was nothing more in Elrimation.yW for that we call Rythme; the Cuftome of divers of 'our Saxoa and Norman Poets, fhewes the Opinion they had thereof; whilfl the Latine ( notwithstanding its Excellency; could not fufficiently delight tklrEues, unlejfe their Verfes ( in that Language,; were form d with an Hirmonicall Cadence, and brought into Rythme: Nor did the Ancients wrap up their Chiefeft Myfteries, any Where el fet then in the Parobolical cMllufivc/wr* */Paetry,a*fJk mottSuxcd, and Venerable in their Efteeme^ the fecur eft from Prophane and Vulgar Wits. For fuch was the goodneffe of o*r Fathers/ to they Would not willingly haz,ard(much leffe throW) their Childrens Bread among Dogs • And therefore their Wifdome and Policy was, Firftt to finde out a way to Teach , and then an Art ( which was this) t$ Conceale. In a word, to prefer Profe before Poetry, is no other y or better, then to let a Rough. hewen-Clowne, take the Wall of a Richciad-Lady ©/Honour : or to Hang 4 Prefence Chamber With Tarpalin, inftead of Tapeftry.
And for thefe Reafons, and out ofthefe Rcfpefts, the Poetically / conceived) deferved the Precedency,
HoWbeit probably fome ofthefe Pieces ( now brought to publiqus Light ) hadwelnigh period in afilentRixm ; WDeftruftion^tf a compleate Vitlory over them , but that my Diligence and Labori- ous Inquifition refined them from the Jawes thereof : being almojjt quite (brouded in the Duft e/Antiquity,W/»z/fl/^i«^obfcurity of forgotten things, with their Leaves halfe Worme-eaten. And* wonder it is, that ( like the Crcitures in Noahs Arke) they were hitherto fofafdy prefirved from that Univerfall Deluge, Which ( at the Dilution of Abbies ) overflowed our greatest Libraries.
asfnd in doing thusy I prefume it no Arrogance to challenge the Reputation of performing a Worke, next that of a Mans own : and fomethlng more, in that {at if having the Elixir it felfe ) I have made Old Age become Young and Lively, by refioring each of the Ancient Wi iters not only to tfa Spring of 'their feverttll Beauties, but u f^a Summer of their Strength and Perfection.
Prolegomena.
As for the whole Worke it felfe , it is fheav'd up from a few gleanings in part of our Englifh Fields; where though I have beftow- ed my Indoftry to pick^ up here and there, what Icouldfinde in my way, jet I believe there are many other Pieces of this Nature in private Hinds, which if any are pleas' d ( out of the fame Ingenious fcotcthatIhavepnb\i(hcdtheje,) to Communicate to me : I /halt fet thereon a value futable to the worth of their Favours, and let the World how its Obligation to them be fides,
The Style and Language thereof may, I confeffe (to feme ) fee me lrkfome and Uncouth, andfo it it indeed to thofe that are Grangers thereunto; butwithaU very Significant.- Old words have flrong Emphafis • others may look upon them as Rubbifh or Trifles, but they *re grofiy Miftaken .- for what pome light Braines may efteem as Foolith Toys • deeper Judgements can and wiH value as found ana* ferious Matter.
fVe Englijh have often varied ourFa[biom(fuch is the levity of our Fancies) and therefore if you meet with SpeWingsJiferent from thofe inufe; or uncouth Words asfirangely ridiculous \as a Maunch,Hood, Cod-piece, or Trunke bofe , know* as they "to ere the fapsionable Attyres, fo thefe the ufuallDhk&s of thofe Times : And Pofterity Will pay ui in our own Coyne , Jhould we deride the behaviour and drefle of our Anceftors. For We mufl confer that Languages which are daily ufed in our Difcourfe, are in as continual! Mutation : what Cuftome brings into habit,*j befl UlCdfor the Vrdentjvhether it be to revive What is loft, or introduce fomething new • or to piece up the prefent , with the retained Jhreds of What preceded 5 'But learned Ton%\xt%(which are contain d inBooks)injoya more immutable Fate, hcaufenot fubje&f* be Wafbt aWay with the daily tyde and current efTimcs.They are lily the fafliion and Drapery wrought on Marble Statues^K^ mufl ever be retained without alteration.
And therefore that the Truth and Worth of their Workes might receive no Diminution by my Tranfcription J purpefily retain'd the old Words and manner of their Spelling, as I found them in the QtW ginalls (except only fame palpable Miftakcs and Blemiftes of former Tranfcribers3w?foVA I took upon me to cor reel; and purge as title more then Litterall Imperfections:)/*/ not to Heave ^Reader mfatisfied, have added a Compendious Table, for the Interpretation o/Old, unufuall^obfolete Words, W thereby 'fmocth'd (as Ifuppofe) the Paflage for fueh as have not hitherto bin Converfant in thefe An- cient Rough- hew»d Expreffions. where-
Prolegomena.
WhereforeyoH that love to corner fe with the Dead, *r confult with their Monuments, draw near : perhaps yon may find mere benefit in them then the Lmn&Thereyou may meet with the Genii metique Philofophers , league the Language in Which they wood and courted Dame Nature , and enjoy them more freely, and at Greater Command,^ fatisfie yourT)ou\>t$)tbm when they Were in the Flefhj Tor, they have Written more then they would Speake \ and left their Lines/* Rich, as if they had difolved Gold in their Inke, and clad their Words with the Soveraign Moyfture.
My Annotations are limited Within the ~Bounds of what is Hifto- ricall , or whit occafionally muft needs intrench on the Confines of other Arts, and all Glofles upon the Philofophicall Worke purpofely omit tedy for the fame Reafons that I chofe to fend forth other Mens Children into theWot\d>rather then my oWn, And what prefumptu- ousMiftaks, or Errors, the Candid Reader [hall meet with >witl(l hope)be Cenfured With no leffe Favour and Charity,*^ that where- by they are wont to Judge ^Faults ofthefe they efteem their Friends and Well-wKhers.
And noW to Conclude ; May the QOD ofNATVRE begratU oufly pleafed(out of the Immenfe Treafury of his Goodnefs)to vouch* faff all fuch{whofe good Angel Is direel them to}or have alreadly Rett- gioujly Engaged them in this Myfterious knowledge)theFull and En- tire Accomplishments of a True and Pious Philofopher, LTo wit% Learning, Humility, Judgement, Courage, Hope,Patience,Difcre- tion,Charity & Secrecki]That fo they may enjoy the Fruits of their Labours, which otherwife Will be but vain,Wunpleafant:dW can fe- lt (ly render the Divine Science andStcttt *>/
Farewell (Indaftrious Students J and let your Goodnefte ftill in- vite me to accomplifh the End I have prepofed ; In doingWhich, (/ prefume) you may one Day efleeme me, better defervingyour Patro- nage ; At leaft-Wife, your charitahle Cenfure : which u aH the Re- compence Expected or Merited, by him, Who is
Yours Really Devoted,
26 fan, 165 z.
E.
THE
ORDINALL
ALCHIMY.
Written by THO MAS NJ)%TO ^
OF
BR.ISTOLL.
Liber ifie Clericis monjlrat fcientiam y Liber fed Laicis auget infcitiam : Liber, honor es juvans per cop Am z JSt Liber pauper um fugans inopiam: Liber jiducis, efttfr veritatis .* Regibus confilium, doftrina Prdatis : £t Liber utilis virti beat is Yivere qui cupiunt abffa pucatis. Liber fecretum, Liber doni Dei, JEleclkfemitdy vires bona [pel, Valens c onflantib its firm* fdei 1 Ve non credentibus verbis oris meu Qu&runt Alchimiam^falfi quoqne reffi i Falfi fine numero,[ed hi funt.re\ecJi, Bt cuplditatibm {ben ) tot f tint infeffi, Quod inter millemillia,vix funt tres elec7i, Jfiamad fcientiam multi funt vocati Nobiles^ pauperes,infcii, literati*, Qui notlunt labores , neque tempus pari ; Jdco non pttficient ^quiafunt ingrati. Liber,Arti$ flios docet ifie fat is, Qui bus h&cpercipere dem dedit gratis, Verftcuhs propheticis quatuor his credatis,. Omnia dat gratis divina fons pietatis*. B&c nobilts fcientia ejl t ant urn ill is data, Qui diligunt \uflitiam, mente cum be at a • Bob ds, & rapt oribits Jed eft dcnegata, Propter peccata tardantur miner a grata*
THis Booke the gr#ne ft Clear key may teach, YfUtjhorteneth the Vulgar- Reach : A Booke that gets l by WealthJ Renowne, And Boggles at a thredbare-Gowne : Atrufly-Booke o£ faith full-Things • Inftru&ing Priefts, Advifing Kings: A Booke that's fitted for the fence Of Man, who lives without offence ; A Booke oifecrets given by God . To men Elect , a Beaten- Trod : Availing fuch as conftant be In Faith 5and H operand trufling Me. Good Men and Bad even Numbcrleffe, /The latter, but without fuccefle) Dcfire the^frt: Bur ftilH Alas I) They are fo given to Avarice^ Thar of a Million^ hardly three Were ere Ordaind forAlcbimy. Yet many called every Houre^ Learn dand Unlearned^ Rich^ and Poore • Who'll neither Tendyt\ov take the Paines 5 And therefore7>W£* without the Gaines. On whom God doth this Art beftow, Her Sons may herein fully know : By thefe *foure-lines you may believe 1^^