Section 4

Upon Nature thei falfely lye
For Mettalls doe not Multlplie •
Of this Sentence all men befure,
Evermore Arte muft ferve Nature.
Nothing multiplieth as Au&ors fayes*
But by one of theis two wayes,
One by rotting, called Putrcfa&ion,
That other as Beafts, by Propagation 5
Propagation in Mettalls maie not be,
But in our Stone much like thing ye may fee, Putrefa&ion muft deftroy and deface a But it be don in its proper place.
CMettalls of kinde grow lowe under ground^ lor above crth ruft in them is found 5 Soc above erth appeareth corruption, OfmettaHs,andin longtyme deftru&ion. Whereof noe Caufe is found in this Cafe, But that above Erth thei be not in their place. Gontrarie places to nature caufeth ftrifc, As Filhes out of water lofen their Lyfe : And Man, with Beads, and Birds live in ayer, But Stone and Mineralls under Erth repaier, Phyficians and Appoticaries faut appetite and will, To feech water flowers on a dry hill: For God hath ordeyned of his wifdome and grace, All tilings to grow in their naturall place,
Againffc
Or din a ll. ip
Againft this do
And fay that Mcttalls doe Multiplie :
For of Silver, Lead,Tinn, andalfo BrafTe,
Some vcyne is more, and fome is lade,
Or which diverfitie Nature (hulde ceafe,
IfMettallsdidnot multiplie and increafe5
Wherefore they fay thatreafon fhewethnowe,
How that under Erth they multiplie and growe y
Why not then above Erth in veffells clofe and faire,
Such as {bulde prefervc them from Fire Water and Aier?
Hereto we fay this reafon is but rude,
For this is noe perfed fimilitude *
For caufc efficient of Mettalls finde ye fhall
Only to be rhe vertuc Mineral!,
Which in everieErth is not found,
But in certaine places of eligible ground 5
Imo which places the Heavenly Spheare,
Scndeth his beames dire&ly everie yeare.
And as the matters there difpofed be
Such Mettalls thereof formed fhall you fee.
Few gro wnds be apt to fuch generation :
How (houlde then above ground be Multiplication?
Alfo all men percey ven that be wife,
How Water con jealed with Cold is yfe •,
And before tymc it harded was
Some lay in more places and fome in lafle,
As water in foffes of the Carte- wheele,
Were veyncs (male whan they began to keele,
But water in ditches made veynes more,
For plenty of water that was therein froare.
Hereupon to fay it were noe good advice,
That therefore of yfe fliould multiply more yfe.
Soe though there be of Mettalls veynes more and laflTe,
It proveth nougat they increafe more then it was,
E 2 • Alfoe
2o S\(ortons
Ch&]>* r. Alfoe ye may truft without any doubt,
If Multiplying fhould be brought about :
All th'engredience muft draw to fimplcity,
Andbreake Compofition X, yearly ye may fee:
For Multiplying of Hearbes how Nature hath provided.
That all things joyncd in the feede be divided :
Elfe ftalke and leaves which vertually therein be,
May not come forth actually that eye mought them fee.
But Mettall holdeth his holle Compoficion,
When corrafive waters have made diffolucion :
Therefore fy th y fc is nerrer to fimplicity,
Then is Mettall, and maie not increafed be,
Trewly ye maie truft as I faid before,
.How of one ounce of Silver, maie Silver be noe more*
Alfo nothing muhiplyed fhallyefinde,
But it be of Vegetative or of Senfitive kinder
Where Mettalls be only Elamentative,
Having noe feede, nether feeling of life 5
Wherefore concluding all Multipliers muft ceafe,
For Mettalls once Mettalls fhall noe more increafe 5
NathlefTe one Mettall tranfmuted we finde3
Unto a Mettall of another kinder
For propinquity of matter that in them was,-
As it is knowne betwixt Iron and Brafie.
Buttomaketrew.S,//'Wor GoUis noeinguv
Except only the Philofophers medicine*
Wherefore fuch leafings as Multipliers ufe,
Clerks reprove and utterly refufe5
Such art of Multiplying is to be reproved.
But holy K^ilkim) of right is to-beloved,
Which treateth of a precious Medicine,
Such as trewly maketh Gold and Silver fine 1
Whereof example for Teftiraonic,
Is in a Citty of: Catilonj .
Which
O R D I N A L L. 21
Which Raymond Lully,Knighth men fuppofe, chap, i .
Made in feaven Images the trewth to difclofe • Three were good Silver, in fliape like Ladies bright, Everie each of Foure were (jj$ld and did a Knight : In borders of their Clothing Letters like appeare, Signifying in Sentence as it fheweth here.
i. Of old Horfhoes (faid one) I was yre, Now I am good Silver as goof as ye defire. . 2. I was (faid another) Iron fet from the Mine3 But now I am Gould pure perfe& and fine. * y. Whilomc was I Copper of an old red pann. Now am I good Silver, faid the third woman*.- s
4. The fourthTaide, I was Copper growne in the filthy Mow am I perfeft Gould -made by Gods grace. (place,
5. The fift faid, I was -Silver pcxfcA through fine, Now am I perfect G^/^,excellent3better then the prime. 6. 1 was a Pipe ofLeade well nigh two hundred yeare, And now to all men good Silver I appears
7. The feventh faid J Leade am Gould made for a Maiilrie, Buttrevvlic my fellowes are nerer thereto then L
This Science beareth her name of a King5 Called Alchimw, without leafing : A glorious Prince of raoft noble minde, His noble vertucs holpc him this arte to finde 5 He fearched Nature, he was nobil Clerke, He left Extorcion, than fought and found this wcrke; King Hermes alfoe he did the fame. Being a Clerke of Excellent fame 5 In his Quadripartite made oiAprologie, OfPbyfique and of this Arte of Alkimy, . And alfo of Magique natural!, As of four Sciences in nature pafling all. And there he faid that bleffed is hee That knoweth things truly as thei bee,
S 3 And
11
3\ortons
Chap, i # And bleflcd is he that maketh due proofe,
For that is roote of cunning and roofe 5
For by opinion is many a Man
Deceived, which hereof litle cann.
An old Proverbe, In a BujheUefweeninge,
Is not found one h&ndfull ofCunninge :
With due proofe and with difcrcet aflfaye,
Wife men may leare netv things every day.
By Cunninge^Men know themfelves and every thingei
Man is but a Beaft and worfe without Cunninge :
But litle favou r hath every Man
To Science whereof he litle can5
And litle Cunning maketh men proud and wilde,
Sufficient Cunning maketh men full milde.
Nobil men now in manner have defpightc
Of them that have to Cunning appetite :
But noble Kings in auncient dayes,
Ordained (as olde Au&ors faics , )
That the feven Sciences to learnc and can,
Shuldc none but only a Noble mm 5
And at the leaft he fhulde be fo free,
That he mought Studic with libertie5
Wherefore old Sages did them call
Ihefeaven Sciences liber dl :
For he that would leare them perfe
In cleere liberty he rauft dwell.
From worldly warkes he muft withdrawe,
That would lernc but Mans La we :
Much more the Worlde he muft forfake,
Which many Sciences woulde overtake.
And for that caufe Men may well fee,
Why Cunninge men difpifed be.
Yet nobil Memory fhall never ceafe,
Of him which Cunninge doth increafe.
Hee
o
RDINALL,
Hce which lovcth Cunning, Juft ice, and Grace Is fet afide in many a place 5 But whoe to Courte bringeth in with guile. Profit, orprefent, he is the fylm that while. Wherefore this Science and many Graces moe, Be loft and be departed all ye fro. And furthermore remember what I fay, Sinn caleth faft for his ending day : Covetife and Cunninge have difcorde by kinde 9 Who lucre coveteth this Science {hall notfindcj But he that loveth Science for her owne kinde. He may purchafe both for his blefled mindc.
Of this chapter more I need not teach, For here appeareth what men may it reach : That is to remember only the trewe, And he that is conftant in minde to purfue, And is not Ambitious, to borrow hath no neede5 And can be Patienc3not hafty for to fpecde5 And that mGodhz fet fully his truft, And that in Cunning be fixed all his luft 5 And with all this heleade a rightfulllyfe, Falfhoode fubduinge, fupport no finfull ftrife ? Such Men be apt this Science to atraine. The Chapter following, is of Joy and painc.
23
Chap. 2
C H A P. I I.
QJt\mandj nuriflied a Monke of late, Which deceived Men of every ftate. But before that done he in his fantazie, Weened he had caught this Art fully. Such rejoycing thereof he had,
That he began to dote and to be madde.
Of
Zk(ortGM
Of whofe tfoyts (albeit they were fmallc) For an enfample I write this Tale. This Monke had walked about in Fraunce, Raunging Apoftata in his plofaunce. And after he came into this lond, W Jling Men fhould underftonde; How that ofJlkimy he had the grounde, By a Boke of Receipts which he had founde. In furety thereof he fet all his minde, Some nobil A#e to leave bchindc^ Whereby his name fhould be immortall, And his greate Fame in laude perpetualL And ofte he mufed where to beginne, To fpend the riches that he fhulde winn. And ever he thought loe this I cann, Where mought I finde fome trufty Man,"
Which would accorde now with my will,
And help my purpofe to fulfill.
Then would I make upon the plainc
Of Salisbury glorious tobefaine,
Fifteen Abbies in a little while,
One Abbie in the end of every mile.
Hereupon this Monke to me reforted,
Of truft (he faid) which men of me reported,
His forefaid mind he did to me tell.
And prayd me to keep his great Councell.
1 faid^efore an Image of Saint -fame,
That I would never difclofe his name 5
Yet I may write without all vice,
Of his defires that were fo nice.
When he had difcovered his great Cunning,
He faid that he faughted nothing,
But a good meane for his folace,
To labour to the -Kings good grace,
To
OrdINALL. 2f
Togetlycenceof hiseftate, C%,*,
And of his Lords mediate,
To purchafe lotid for the Abbies aforefaid,
For which all cofte fhould b^ well paied 5
But yet he had great doubt and feare,
How to purchafe3of whonijand where.
When I had heard of this greatc werke,
I fearched (to wit; what manner ofclerke
He was, and what he knew of Schoolc,
And therein he was but a Foole.
Yet I fuffercd, and held me ftill,
More to lerne of his lewd Will.
Then faid I, it were a lewd thinge,
Such matter to (hew unto the King* 5
But if the proofc were reafonable,
He would thinke it a foolifh Fable.
The Mmke {aide how that he had in fire,
A thing which fhulde fulfill his defire,
Whereof the trewth within forty dayes,
I fhulde well know by trew aflaies.
Then I faid, I would no more that tyde,
But forty dayes I faid I would abide.
When forty dayes were gone and paft,
The Monkes Craf te was cleane overcaft.
Then all his Abbies and all his thought,
Was turned to a thing of nought 5
And as he came,he went full lewde,
Departing in a minde full fhrewd:
For foone after within a little while,
Many trewe men he cfid beguile-,
And afterwards went into Fraume.
Loe ! this was a pittifull chance,
That fifteene Abbies of Religion,
Shulde in this wife fall to confufion.
F » Greate
^(ortons
Great wonder was what thing he mcank And why he fet all his intent
Abbies to build-, then was it wonder, Why nould he live Obedient under, But be Apoftata, and range about, This bleffed Science to finde our. But as I wrote above in this Bokc, Let no Deceiver after this ScienctlookcL
AN other Enfample is good to tell, Of one that trufted to doe as well As Raymond Lttlly^ or Bacon the Frier, Wherefore he named him&tfcfamce peere ^ He was Farfon of a little Town, Not farr from the Citty of London ,. Which was taken for halfe a Leach, But little cunning had he to Preach 5 He weened him fure this Arte to finde 5 His Name he would have ever in minde By meanes of a Bridge^ imagined in dotage. To be made over Thames for light paflage d Whereof fhulde grow a Common eafe, All the Countrey thereabout to pleafc. Yet though he might that warke fulfill,. It might in no wife fuffiee his will 5 Wherefore he would fet up in flight, That Bridge for a wonderfull fight , With Prnacles guilt fhi^iag as goulde^ A glorious thing for men tobeholde. Then he remembred of the newe, * How greater fame fhulde him purfue 5 If he mought make that Bridge (o bright, 5 That it mought ihine alfoby Nighte. And fo continue and not breakc, Than all the Londcof he* would fpeake*
But
O R D I N A h U %J
But in hfs minde ran many a doubt, Chap 2i
How he might bring that warfcc about 5
He trowed that Lampes with lights of fire,
Shulde well perfonne his nice defire 5
Wherefore Lampes for that intent,
He would ordaine fufficicnt :
But then he fell in full great dreade,
How after the time that he were dcade$
That light to find Men would refufe-,
And chaunge the Rent to fotnc other ufe.
Then thoughte he well is him that wifte,
In whom he mought fet all his truft 5.
At the laftc he thought to make the light,
For that Bridge to ihine by nighte ,
With Carbuncle Stones, to Make men wonder.
With duble reflexion above and under :
Then new thoughts troubled his Mincfc,
Carbuncle Stones how he mought find ;
And where to find wife men andtrewc.
Which would for his intent purfue >
In feeking all the Worlde about,
Plenty of Carbuncles to find out 5
For this he tooke foe micle thought,
That his fattflcfh wafted nigh to nought ii}\ ii
And where he trufted without defpaire,^,
Ofthisto/>/w to have been heire, ; ^
When the yeare was fully come and gdc* j :
His Crafte was loft, and thrift alfo 5
For when that he tooke up his GlafTe,
There was no matter for Gold ne Brajfe :
Then he was angry and well neere wood,
For he had wafted away his good :
In this wife ended all his difporte,
What ihould I more of him report.
- F 2 0 But
Js(ortons
But that Lay-men and Clerks in Schoolcs,
Maie know the dotage of thcis two foolcs,
Remember this example where ye goe,
For in fuch Mindes be tf ewl^e many moc :
Theie lewdly beleeve every Conclufion,
Be it never fo falfe an elufion :
If it in boke written they may finde,
Thei wcene it trewe, thei be fo lewde of minde.
Such lewde and hafty confidence,
Caufeth poveity and lewde expewce.
Of truft of this Arte rifeth Joyes nice,
For lewde hofe isfooles Paradice.
The trcwe tought Children made this confeffion,
Zwa? without thee all is digreflion ;
For as thouartc of our Science beginingc,
Soc without thee may be noe good cndingCi
A S of the $oye$ of this Arte ye have fecne, Soe (hall ye now hearc fome deale of the Paine :■ Albeit contrary to the appetite Of them that hath to this Science delight.
;■■ The
Ordinall. 25?
The firft Paine is to re member in minde, Ckap.i.
How many feeken3 and how few doe finde, And yet noe Man may this Science wynn, But it be tought him before jhat he beginn 5 He is well lerned, and of full cleere witc, Which by teaching can furely learnc it : Of many diverfities he muft be fure, Which fecreats woulde know of working Nature : Yet teaching maie not furely availe, But that fometimc fliall happ a man to faile 5 As all that be now dead and gone Failed before theie found our Stone : One tyme or other, firft tyrae or lafte, All Men failed till trew Pra&ife were pafte 5 No Man fooner faileth in hcate and colde, Then doth the Majler which hafty is and boulde: For noe Man fooner maie our Worke fpill, Then he that is prefuminge his purpofe to fulfill: But he that ihall trewlie doe the dcede He muft ufe providence and ever worke with drcade -T For of all paines the moft grcvious paine^ Is for one faile to beginn all againe.
Every man fliall greate Paine have When he fliall firft this Arte covet and crave, He fliall oft tymes Chaunge his defire, With new tydings which he fliall hearc 5 His Councell fliall oftentimes him beguile, For that feafon he dreadeth noe fubtile wile: And oftentymes his minde to and fro, With new Oppinions he fliall chaunge in woe : And foe long tyme continue in Phantafic, A greate adventure for him to come thereby : Soe of this Artebc ye never fo faine , Yet he muft tafte of manie a bitter painc.
P3 Of
^{ortons
OF Paine s yet I muft fhcwe more, Againft your appetite though it be full fore:
Itisgreate Paine, as all wife-men gefle,
To witt where a trewe Mafter is •
And if ye finde him, it will fee Paine,
Of his trewe love to be certeyne.
Forafmuch as noe Man maie teach but one,
Of the making of our delicious ftone 5
And albeit yce finde him that will ye teach,
Yet much trouble and paincs may ye reach 5
For if your mindebe vcrteoufly fct,
Then the Devil will labour you to lett 5