Section 33

Man, and Woman Clothed under one hatter,
In and of them is conceived a Child
Lovely of beauty, mceke and mild5
Out of the Earth with droppsftrong,
Kourifli the Child in his Mothers wombc ;
Till he be come to full age 5
And then make thou a Mariage,
Betwecne the Daughter, and the Sonne ,
And then thou haft the Mattery wonn.
The beginning of this Worke, if thou wilt crave.
In hoHy Writ thou &alt it have :
Both in Maffe Booke and in Pfalter
Yea wrightcn before the Preeft at the Alter :
And what is Antimony that thou flialtworkc,
I have written to thee if thou be a Clcrke 5
Looke about before if thou canft finde
Plainely written, which maketh men blind:
O ur Werke is bringing againe our Mercury,
And that Philofofbers call Solucion 5
And if thou loofc not the uncleanetody,
Thou werkeft without difcretion*
The Inhibition of Water, isnotthcloofing*
But bringing the Body into water againe turning :
That is to fay into fuch water.
That is turning the Body into his firfl: Matter:
The fecond Werke is to bring,
Earth and Water to Congealing 5
The cleanfing of the Third is another
Unto Whitenes ; my ownc Brother $
Fffz With
%$4 J/bortlVorfa&c.
With this Water of his ownc,
That is full marvalous tobcknownc :
The fourth werke is diftilling
Of Water, and Earth upfweating.
And thus haft thou by one affent,
Earth, Ayre, Water, and Fire 5 the foure Elements
The Allies that are in the bottome of the Yeffell,
Lookc thou difpife 'them not though left,
For I tell thee right well,
There is the Diadem of our Craft.
^Mi$^f^M^
eu
Fl*(r$.
191
JOHN LYDG ATE
MONKE OF
^.EDMUNDS BURY,
In his Tranflation of the fecond 'Epiftle
that iQng Alexander fent to his
Majler Aristotle,
Han Aljfaundre as is Reherfyd hccr This Pbjlofophre for vertucs manyfoold; Sent unto hym a fecrct Meflengeer , _ Without cxskus to come to hys houfoold^ But he agey n for he was feeble and old , And impotent on the tother fyde, And unweldy for to goon or ryde.
But chiefe caufe why Aljfaundre fente, A purpoos take and a fantafy e, To declare pleynly what it mente 5 He wyft in (both that in Fhilofopbye, Wyth other fecrcts of ^Jironomye :
He was experce and moofte cowdc underftoirde, Thys was in cheefe Caufe of the Kynges fonde.
Ef f 3 Powder i
39S Lydgate out ofsAriftotles
Powder of Planctys and mevyng of all Sterrys, And of every heavenly Intelligence 5 Dyfpoficion of Pees and ek of Werrys , And of ech othyr ftraungc hyd Scyence, As the fevene Goddys by theyr Influence a Dyfpofe the Orders of Incantacions, Or of fevene Metallys the Tranfmutacions.
With othir Craftys which that be fecre,
Calculacion and Geomancye,
DyfformacionsofCVVrwand
Lokynge of Facys and Pyromancye,
On Lond, and Watir, Craft of Geomctrye. Heyghte and Dcpneffe with all Expcryence, Therefore the Kinge defires his prcfence*
But for all this within himfelfe a thing There was a Secre he kept not to difclofe 5 Nortopublifheopynly to the Ky»ge, Takeyng Example by two things in a Roofe, Firft how the Flower greet fwectneffe doth difpoofe : Yet in the Thorne menfinde great iharpnefle, And thus in Konnyng there may been a ly keneffe.
In Herbe and Flour, in Writeing, Word andStoon, Ech hath his vertue of God and of Nature But the knowyng is hyd froo many oon : And not dcclaryd to every Creature, Wherefor he eaft twen Reafon and Mcafure : To fhape awcye both the Kyng to plefe. Somewhat to unclofe and fet his herte at efe.
There
Secreta Secretorum. %pp
There is of ryght a grccte difference, Tween a Princes royallDignite, And a twen Commons rude In telligencc, To whom nat longeth to meddle in no degrc, Of Konnynges that fhould be kept feerc,
For to a Kynges famous magnificence,
And to Clerkys whiche have Experience.
Itt cordcth well to fearch out Scripture, My fteries hid of Fowlys, Beetle, and Tree, And of Angellys mooft fotyl of Nature 5 Of Myneralls, and Fysfhes in the See, And of Stonys fpecially of Three.
Oon Mineral another VegtMyff^
Partyd on Foure to lengthe a Mannys lyflfe* [
Off whych I radde oonys among othir Stonys, There was oon calyd Anyrnd* Foure Elements wrought out for the noonys : Erthc, Watir,and Ayre, and in cfpecyall, Joyned with Fyre proporcyon maad egal.
I dar feynbreefly and not taryc,
Is noon fwych Staone found in the Lapidaryc.
trad Oonys of a Phylofephre, Ageyn ech fyckeneflc of valew doth mooft cure, All the Trefure and Gould in Crtfus Coffre 5 Nor all the Stoonys that grow by Nature, Wrought by Craft or forgyd by Pi&urc.
Lapis & non Lapis^ Stoon of greeteft fame,
Artfiotiks gaff it the fome name.
And:
^oo Lydgate out of JrijtotfeA
And for I have but little rad ©r fey ne, To write or medle of fo high mateerys, Por prefumcion fomc would have difdeyn 5 To be fo bold or clymbe in my defires: To fcale the Laddere above the ny ne Speerys,
Or medle of Rubycs that yeve fo cleere a light,
On hooly fhrincs in the dirk night.
I was ncvir noon expert Jowelcerc, In fuych mateerys to put my fylfe in prees, With Fhilofophres myn Eyen wer nat cleer, Nowthir with Plato nor with Socratees : Except the VtynccAriftotilees.
Of Philofophres to t^ilifaundre Kyng, Wrott of this Stone the mervaylle in all werking.
In prevy wyfe lych to hys Entcntys,
Secretys hyd cloos in Phylojophye^
Fyrft departyng of the foure Elementys ;
And aftyrward as he doth fpeceffye,
Every ech of hem for to recteffye. And after thys lyk hys Oppynyon, Of thys foure to make a Conjunccyon.
In fuych wyfe performe up thys Stoon, Seene in the joynynge there be noonc outrage But the fals erryng hath founyd many one * And brought hem aftyr in full greete rerage, By Expenfys and outragyous Coftage. For lak of brayn they wern maad foe wood, Thyng to begynne whych they not undcrftood.
For
Secreta Secretorum* 4or
For he that lyft puttc in Experience, Forboode fecrees I hold hym but a foole, Lyke hym that temptyth of vvylfull neglygence* To ftonde up ryght on a three foote ftoole. Or fparyth a ftewc, or fyslheth a bareyn poole* Whan all is doon3 he get noon othir grace, Men wyl skornc hym and mokkehysfoltifhface,
Itt is no Craffc poore men t'affaylc, It caufeth Coffers and Cheftysto be bare^ Marry th wytts, and braynes doth affray % Yit by wry ting this booke doth declare. And be Refons lyft not for to fpare,
Wyth Golden Refouns in taaft mooft lykerous,
Thyngper Ignotum prcvyd per Ignocius.
Title of this Booke Labor Philojophorum,
Namy d al foe De Regimine principum ^
Of Philofophres Secreta Secretorum,
Trefour compyled omnium VirtutHm 5
Rewle directory fet up in a fom,
As Complexions in helthc and fekeneffe, Dyfpofe them fylf to mornyng or to gladneffc.
The whych booke dired to the Kyng
Alyfaundn both in the werre and pees,
Lyke hys requeft and roy all commanding,
Full accomplifhed by Arifiotlles^
Feble for Age and impotent doubtles, Hoolc of corage and trew in his entents T'obeye his byddyng this booke he to hym fent.
Ggg HOW
4-oz Lydgate out of
Jioyp Ariftotle dectareth to !\ing Alyfaundre of the Stony s.
TOwching the Stone ofPhllofophres OeUt Of which they make mooft Sovereyn meneyon • But there is oon as Ariftotle eoold , Which alle excelleth in Comparifon, Stoon of Stoonys mooft Sovereyn of renoune 5 Towching the vertue of this rych thyng, Thus he wrote to the moft fovereyn King.
O Alyfaundre gretteft of dignite, Of al this World Monark and Regent, And of al Nacyons haft the Sovereynte ; Echoon to obeye and been obedyent, And to conclude the fyn of our entent,
All worldly Trefure breefly fhet in oon, Is declaryd in vertue of this Stoon.
Thou muft firft conceiven in fubftance, By a mineer uncouth dyvyfion ; Watir from Eyr by a diffeverance .• And fyr from Eyr by a departicion, Echoon prefervyd from all Corruption.' As Pbihfophres a forme have fpeceffyed^ Which by Reafon may not be denyed.
Watir from Eyr departyd prudently, Eyr from Fyr and Fyr from Erthe don> The Craft concey ved devyded truly , WithoutenErrour or Decepcyon, Pure every Element in his Complexion.1 As it perteyneth pleynly to his parte, As is remembryd perfyghtly in this Arte.
ThU
Secret a Secretorum. ^03
This Stone of Colour js fometyme Citrynade, Lyke the Sonne ftremyd in his kynd, Gold treflyd maketh hertes full glade • With more Trefour then hath the Kyng of Init\ Of pretyous Stoonys wrought in their kynde.
The Cetryn Colour for the Sonne bryght,
Whyte for the Morne that fhyneth all the nyght.
This Philofophre brought forth in Paris, Which of this Stoonys wroot fully the nature. All the Dyvyfion fet by grett advys j And thereuppon did his befy cure, That the perfection long fhould endure,
Lyke the entent ofAriftotles fondey
Which none but he cowd well bryng on honde.
For though the mateer opynly nat toold, Of this Stoonys what Ptylofiphrts mente, \
Ariftotihs that was experte and Oold % And he of Tarts that forth this prefent fent, And in all hys beheite feythfull true of Entent : With Circumftances ofAraby Inde & Ptrce, Towching the Stoonys that Clerkys can rcherfe.
Hermogenes hadde hymfelfe alloone, With the feyd The lip that with him was fecre, Knewh the vertue of every prevy Stone ; As they were difpoofyd of Degree, From him was hyd noon uncouth prevy te. This Hermogenes and he knewh every thing, Of alle fuych vertues as long to a Kyng,
Ggg* SHE
404* Anonymi.
THE
FIRST QHA9TE%^
;N the name of the holy Trinitie,
I will write of this Workebreiflie* l And promife the truth to advance : I will not write Figuratively, But declare the Matter plainely, And how things muft be made to accord, By Natures true workc and the hclpe of our Lord : The World is but one inclofed with heavens round, Though divers matters and formes be therein found: The Earth this worlds Center borne up by the Aire, In kinde hath noe more but being baire, And neerefl to not being, Philofephers have told,. In kindc of Complexion is full dry and cold 5 And-now for my Figure of rotundity, I will (hew how Elements accord and difagree r And though the Elements be fo contrary, Yctt by heavtns Influence they are brought to unite, And when once togeather a body they binde, Nought may them loofen without wrecketothekinde* Firft Fire in Nature is hott and dry, Aire differs from Fire in moifture only : Earth only for eoldneffe from Fire difag*ees, This Concord and difcord every man fees: Aire hot and moift of complexion and kindc, Water differs from Aire but in heatewefinde:
Soe:
Anonymi. 4.05
Soe that in moyfture we finde them both one;
Naturall heate in Water we finde none 5
Water cold and moifte of Complexion is,
Earth differs from Water in drynes I wis :
Earth agrees with Fire in drynes noc doubte,
Thus one in another the Wheele turnes about.
From this round Circle proceeds a quadrant,
Each line unto another an equall diftant:
And as the round Figure concludes all in One,
Soe the Quadrant of foure things makes diftin&ion.
From this Quadrant a Fire muft proceed,
Which is Animall, Vcgiubk and MineraU we recde :
And with the Fire I will begin;
Pray God I be not too bold therein.
The whole Compofition of this world is fram'd,
Of the Three things which before I have nam'd:
Now to make things of Excellence,
We muft take things necreft Nobilitie ;
And as this greate Maffe conteincs things Three,
Soe Blood, Flefh and Bone in the leaft World we fee 5
Yctt leffe World and greate World is all but One5
Thus ftill we keepe an Unyon:
Whatfoever itt is that is alive,
Without Blood they may not thrive.
Sperme is Generacion of each thing,
Of what kindc focvcr itt bene ^
Blood is Sperme be itt White or Redd,
For without Blood each thing is dead:
Blood contcineth the three things I have told,
And in his Tin&ure hath Nature of Gold: .
WithoutGold noe Mettle may fhine bright.
Without Blood noe Body hath bene fitt of light r
Thus doth the greate and leffe World ftill,
Hold the Union according to Gods will :
G g g 3 Now
^o6 Anonyml.
Now of all things Blood Nobleft is,
For nothing in the World may itt miffe,
Blood hath true proporcion of the Elements foure,
And of the three fpecics I fpoke of before:
The Blood muft be the principall matter of each thing,
Which hath any manner of increafing :
Mercury in Mcttalls is the Blood ccrteine,
Sperme in Animalls getts the like againe 5
Vegetable moyfture from heaven fogood,
Yctt all thefc three are but Blood :
Then Blood in procreation is neereft of kinde.
This Sccrett good Brother keepc clofc in thy mynde :
And uppon that Condition,
Which Blood thou fhalt take I will make repetition %
The true Blood of Mettalls is hard to have.
And long tyme of gettting itt doth crave :
Blood of Vegetables hath moyfture greate ftorc,
And therefore to have itt requireth much labour %
The true Blood to finde without labour and coft,
Thou knowft where to have it ere thy witts be loft.
Seekc out the nobleft as I faid before,
For now of the. Matter I dare fay noe more.
This Secrer t was never revcal'd till this tyme,
By any Mans writings that ere I could finde,
But I which by practice have found itt true,
Knew how things caufed things to renew :
God grant noe AlchymiBs meete with my Bookc,
For they would have £//*/> by hookc or by crookej
And he would fpend what his Freinds wan,
And be as neere at the laft as when he began.
And would promife to give men Gold greate ftore,
Buc beware thou of Expence, as I faid before.
CHAP-
Anonymi^ aqj
Chap.IL
Of the manner of the Workg.
NOW after the Matter the Manner compute, How to bring this our Worke aboute: Firft take the Matter crude as itt is, Which will coft you little or nought I wis : Scarce it foe cleane as it may be, Untill from filth itt is all free, Which wilbee done in hourcs three or foure, Then will it be cleare from his ill humour: Then take the Faces which you (hall findc, In the fame which the Matter left behind : Purge him alfo with thenobleft Element, Untill that he to Earth be brent : Then have you a Stone of wonderfull might, With fmall Coft a fecret right. Take ye this Stone and ufe Millers Craft, Till it be fine powder and made very foft : Then give him the moifture which from him ye. tooke, Then ufe him as ye {hall findc in this booke. But give him noe other Drinke but of his owne kinde, For elec you doc not after my mynde. Let him drinke noe more then will fuffice. Beware of Floods I you advife: Then fearch him twice againe as you did before, , And ftill put uppon his owne liquor : Thus their firft Order to paffe is brought, And yout fouleft Worke fully wrought.
CHAP.
ao8 ^Anonymt.
C H A P. I I I.
Ofthefecond Order.
NOW the fecond Manner I will fhew plaine, How you (hall workc it with little paine : When your three fearfings be done after my lore, Then brcake the Stone as you did before: Then muft you have one Vefchell, Which muft be made like an Eggfhell, Into the which VefTell the Matter you muft putt? Then fee that itt be well clofed upp: The VefTells divided in parts three, Whereof two ftill voyde muft bee; This VefTell muft be fet in a kinde heate, That the Matter may kindly fweate; The Spiritts*muft not be oppreft with Fire, For then thou flialt never have thy defire5 Neither muft thy VefTell have cold, For then itt will fpoile as Fhthfofhers have toldj But keepeltt in a temperate heate alwayes, For the fpace of fortie dayes: Then BlackefTe will appeare to fight, That BlacknefTe thou muft bring to be White, akeout t heGlafTeatthe forty dayes end5 And fe that from cold thou doe itt defend^ And fct itt in a Furnace with dry fire, Till itt be White after thy defirc, Which wilbe done in Weekes three, And dryed from his moyfture utterly :
Then

Then with the firft Water thou firft didft imbibe
Againe thou maift feede it att this ty de,
But give itt noe more, nor you doe thinke
May fuffice at once for itt to drinke,
This done putrefy as you did before,
Even in the very felfe fame maner,
Andinthefaid tyme which itftoode before,
Itt will becom of blacke Colour,
And in the fame Order if it congeale White,
Then is your Worke both perfect and right 5
Nowyoumuftgoe lerne the Baker£XKCupacion,
How he Leavens Bread by Fcrmentkionj
And truly to Ferment take noe plate of Gold,
But parte of that the plates doc hold.
You know that if Sol fhew not a faire Tin&ure,
Itt will be had but in little honour,
Then Tin&ure of Gold is a moft noble thing,
With a grace to noble men of our workeing,
For that true proverbe doth well accord,
Bafe things bepttnot 4 noble Lord.
Now have I told you what Ferment is, \
To teach you to Ferment I will not miflej
This Chapter is now brought to an end,
And now the third Order to fhew I intend.
Chap. IV. Of the third Order of this Worfy.