Section 8

SCMeUing maie helpe forth your intente, To know your reigning Elemente? And be with Colour a Teftimony, To know your principall Agent thereby* And ye 'which would by fmelling lcrne
Of
Qr DIN ALL. tfp
Of your principall Agent trewly to difcerne* chap. j#
As White, and Black, be Colours in extremitie ,
Soe of Odors, foote and ftinking be :
But like as Fifties know not fey fight
Noe mcane Coloute, becaufe their Eyne bright
Have none Eyelidds for their fight clofinge,
Soe meane Odors {hall not by fmellinge
Be knowne of you, this is the caufc whie, -
For Noftrills be open as the fifhes Eye :
Therefore meane Odors be not in certaine
Smelled by the Noie, as meane Colours be feene*
Heavie Smell is not as Clerks thinke
The midlc Odor, but only the lefTe Stinke.
Old Fathers wrote by their Do&rine,
Of their Experience which is maturine,
That if ye medle fwecte Savour and redolente
Equally with ftinking to prove your intent 5
The foote Ihall be fmelled, the ftinking not foe r
The caufe ye may lerne now ere ye goc;
All fweetc fmelling things have more puritie,
And are more fpirituall than ftinking maie be : ,
Wherefore it is in Aier more penetrative,
And is more extendible, and is alfoe to life
More acceptable, as friend to Nature,
And therefore rather received be ye fure.
ODfir is a ftaokifli vapour refolved with heate * Out of fubftance, by an invifible fwcate5 Which in the Aier hath free entringe, And chaungeth the Aier and your Smellinge-, As Sapor of Meates chaungeth your Taftinge, And as Sounds chaungeth your Hearinge , And as Colour chaungeth your Sight, Soe Odor chaungeth Smelling by might ;
L 3 4 The
70 O^ortoris *
chaf.$. The caufe of Odours to know if you delight, Foure things thereto be reqmfite; Firft that futtill matter be Obedient To the working of Hcaftc, for to prefent By a fume the liknes of the fame tninge, From whome that fume had his beginningc 5 Alfoto bearc forth that pure fume andfairc, There is required a cleere thinn Aier : For thick Aietwoll not beare it farr, But it woll reteyne it much fafter ; And foe thick matter Obedience hath none, To the working of Heate, as it fheweth in Stone : Heate maketh Odours, Cold flirinketh, by reafon Dunghills in Summer ftink more than in Winter feafpnj Pleafant Odours ingendered be fhall Of cleane and Purefubftancc and fumigak, As it appeareth in Amber,Narde, and Mirrhe, Good for a Woman, fuch things pleafeth her 5 But of Pure fubftance with a Meane heate, Be temperate Odours, as in the Violet $ Of a Meane heate with fubftance Impure, Is Odours mifliking , as Aloes and Sulphure: But when Naturall heate beginneth to fpill, Then thereof arifeth heavie fmcll 5 As Fifh fmelleth that is kept too longe, Naturall heate rotteth, foe the fmell is ftrongc 5
STinch is a Vapour, a refolded fumofitie Of things which of Evill Complexions be. And when Humor onlie is in Corruption , Soe that the Subftance be not in Definition, Thereof fhall onlie heavie finely arife, But not verie Stinch come in that wife. Of everie Stinch the caufc of that Chaunce
Is
Or D I N ALL. yi
Is only corruption of the felfe fubftance-, Cbap.f,
And when Evill fubftancc fhall putrifie>
Horrible Odour is gendrcd thereby :^
As of Dragons and Men that long dead be,
TKeir ftench male caufe greate Mortalitie.
It is not wholfome to fmell to fome Cole,
For quenching of fome Snuffe a Mare woll caft her Foale.
When the Qualities of a thing according is
To your Nature, good Odour will not miffe :
But when the fubftance is contrary to your kinde.
The Odours thereof odious you (hall finde.
Fifties love Soote fmell, alfo it is trewe,
Thei love not old Kydlcs as thei doe the new.
All things that are of good Odour,
Have naturall Heate for their fuccour5
Though Camphire, Rofes, and things colde,
Have- (bote Odours, yet Au&ors tould,
How Heate virtually inclofed is the skcl!,
With Purcnes of fubftance, whie they fo fmell :
This oldc opinion you maie teach your Brother,
How noe good Odour is contrary to another 5
But it is not foe of {linking fmells.
For flinch of Garlick voydeth flinch of Dunghills.
Of Odours this Dodlrine is fufficientc,
As in Alkimj to ferve your intentc ,
Your Warks to underflonde thereby,
When things begin to purrifie -,
Alfoe by Odours this you maie lerne,
Suttilncs and grofnes of Matters to difcerne:
Alfoe of Mcanc fubftance knowledge ye may get, '
With knowledge of Corruption of Naturall heate 5
And knowledge of Diverfitic by good attendance,
When Humour corruptcth and when the Subftance.
But our Subftance was made fo pure and clcane,
And
3\(ortons
And is confcrvcd by vertue of the meane, That ye no ftinke thereof fhall finde, Albeit that it putrifie fro his owne kinde.
'TTHe third figne and the third Teftimony A To understand your principall Agent by ;■ Is Sapor called, of Mouth the Tafte, Which evermore is caufe of waftc Of the fubftancc of the fame thinge Whereof ye make proofe by Taftinge Sapor fliulde be much better Judge Then Colour or Odour, and more refuge. Were not Tafte a pcrillous thinge, While our Stone is in workinge 5 For it is hurting to health and life, It is fo greatly penetrative 5 Above all fubtill things it hath Vi&ory, And pcirceth folid things haftily, Wherefore it is peril! and not good, Much or oft to Taft of that foode : It Gomfortcth Mettalls as we well finde, But it is Perillous for all Mankinde, Till pcrfeft Red thereof be made, Such as in Fier woll never fade. A lewde Man late that fcrved this Arte, Tafted of our white Stone a parte, Trufting thereby to find releefe Of all licknes and of all grecfe, Whereby the Wretch was fodenly, Smitt with a ftrong Paralific^ Whom my Mafter with great Engine, Cured with Be^oars of the Mine. Therefore though Taft by Common reafon, Shulde be beft judge at every feafon,
f You
O R D 1 N A L L.
n
Yet for that Taft is abominable Ghap,*9*
Sapor is hecrc not profitable.
Yet of Tome parts feperable,
A Taft maie well be Conv^nable
Before Conjunctions to make affay,
Whether they be well wrought or nay 5
Howbcit a Wifcman hath helpe fufficient.
By Colour and Odour to have his intent 1
For manie Men can chufc good Wine,
By Colour and Odour when^ it is fine 5
But for new Wine not fined in generall ,
The trew Taft is moft fuertie of all 5
For Smelling hath Organalls but one,
Nothing difcerning but fumous things alone 5
But Taft hath fix Organalls without doabt,
To feele qualitic of things within and without.
Which Nature ordain'd againft perill and ftrife,
For more fuertie of things haveing life .*
An Ape chufeth her Meate by Smelling,
Men and Popinjayes truftcn to Tafting:
For manie things be of good Smell,
Which to Taft be found full ill:
For they maie be abhominable fower,
Over-fharpe, too bitter* or of grcate norrour,
Or Venamous, (linking, or ovcr-ftronge,
The Taft is judge and voideth fuch wronge.
Old men wrote in antient time,
How that of Sapors there be fully Nync-
Which ye maie lerne in halfe an hower,
As Sharpe taft* Un&uous, and Sower,
Which three doe futtUl matter fignifie 5
And other three doe meane matter teftifie,
As Bitinge taft, Saltifti and Wecrifh alfo,
Other three come thicke fubftances fro,
M * A^
3\(ortori
s
As Bitter taft, under Sower, and Douce5 Thes Nyne be found in manie a Noble Houfe5 Five of thefe Nyne be ingendrcd by Heat, Un&uons, Sharpe, Salt., Bitter, and Doulcet* But of the Nyne the remnant all fewer. Be made with cold, as is the Sapor Sower, And fo is Sowerifli taft called Sapor Pontick, And lefle Sower allfo called Sapor • Stiptick, Alfo is Weerifh taft called Unfavoury, With Cold ingendered effc&ually. Sapor of two things hath his Conception, Of divers Subftance and of divers Completion/
OF Hot and Moyft in the Second degree, With a Thick fubftance, Doulcct Taft will be 5 The fame degrees of the fame Complexion, To a Meane fubftance knit by connexion, Unftuous Sapor ingender ever lhall 5 But where it is Hott and Dry withal]. With a Meane fubftance in the Second degree, The Taft thereof muft needs Saltiih be 5 When a thing in the Third degree Hot and Dry is. With a fubftance Thick/there is Bitternes-, But in the Fowerth degree matter Hot and Dry, With a Suttill fubftance, Sharpe Taft is thereby 5 So five Tafts, as I faid before, Be ingendered with Heat, and not one more. Qf Cold and Dry in the Second degree by kinde, With a Suttill fubftance, full Sower ye fhall it findci As by Faces of People ye maie Deeme, When thei taft Crabs while thei be greene : The fame Complexion in the fame degree, In a thing which of Meane fubftance ftall be3 Of that is ingendred ye maie well fuppofe,
A-
O R DIN ALL. 7^
A Bitinge Taft as is of the Roafe, Chap^.
But Sower,. and Sowrifh, and leaft Sower, all three
Be of Cold and Dry in High and Low degree :
And Cold and Moyft in th$ Firft degree of all,
A Wcerifli Taft ingender ever fhall,
As of an Egg it fhoweth in the glacre,
And in pale Women over White and Fayer:
For fuch be Cold, and of Humiditye
Thei have trewly greate fuperfluity,
Therefore to Men thei have lefTe delight ;
Cold rebateth luxurious appetite,
Ifaac faid there be but Taftcs feaven,
For Sower and leffe Sower was one bat uneven.
But in Complexion thei were of one foundation,
For Unfavoury was but of Taft privation $
Compound Tafts be found alfo,
As DoulceEger and others manie mo 5
So by Taft men maie Craftily know
Divers complexions and degrees high &nd low 5
And when ye doubt by Taft to make report,
Than to your other teftimonies rcfort.
As in Phificke truft not to Urine
Onely, but alfo take witnes and Do&rine
Of your Pulfes, and wifely confidering
Six things not naturall the Body concerning ,
Having refpeft alio therewithal!,
Unto thefe Seaven things naturall 5
And rake heed if ye woll be fure,
Of Three things contrary to nature :
Compleat theis Sixreene wifely to your ground,
A lewd Pbifition leaft that yc be found:
For fo of [had I mft) ye maie beware,
And helpe the Sick man from his care:
So fo this Scitnct if ye woll advaunce,
M2 d You
Your works, take heed of cverie Circumftance^ Wifely Confidering your teftimonyes fower, Three be now parted, the fowerth is Liquor.
Liquor is the Comfort of this Werke- Liquor giveth evidence to a Gierke
Thereby to Tarter* his Elements,
And alio to loofe them for fomc intents $
Liquor conjoyneth Male with Female Wife,,
And caufeth dead things to refort to Life 5
Liquors clenfeth with theire ablution,
Liquors to our Stone be Cheefe nutrition 5
Without Liquor no Meate is good;
Liquors conveieth all Aliment and Food
To every part of Mans Body,
And fo thci doe with us in Alkimy^
Ye muft confider the puritie
Of all your Liquors and quantities
And how thick thei be or thinn, Or elfc thereof lhall ye litle winn $ But not as Thifitions maketh mention, Vox Elixir is a thing of a fecond intention* Wherefore ye fliall more Wondrous natures find- In his working, than in all other kind -^ Thifitiom fay 'the thicker Urine be,- The more it fignificth Humidity, Where thick Liquor with us hath ficcity; And futtill Liquor betokneth Humidity .:.
M Attic Liquors be requifit To our Swte for his appetite. In the Booke of TurU AnBms depofed, How Ayre in Water was fecreatly inclofed, Which bare up Erth with his Aierly might.
Pithagom
Or din all. 77
Pithagoras faid that was fpoke with right. Cbap^.
Ariftotle Craftilve his words fct he,
Saying, cum havueris aquam ai Aere*
Plata wrote full fapiently, %
And named it ftilla roris madidi :
Which was kindly fpoken for Alkimy.
But common Students in firft Philofophie,
Say Ayre condenfed is turned into Raine,
And Water ratified becomes Ayre againe.
Some faid how Mayvjzs firft feafon and fairc
To take fuch Water as is made of Ayre.
Some faid fuch Waters come heaven fro,
When the Sunn entereth into Scorpio.
Some faid all Liquors fhulde be refufed,
Which Froft infe&ed fhulde not be ufeds
The caufe whie as telleth Autors old,
Is that theire- accuity is duld with cokh
Some Philofophers faid that ye fhulde take
Milke for the Liquor Elixir to make:
And other fort faid after their intent",
No Liquor fo good for the Complement,
As Water of Litharge which would not mi(fc,
With Water of A^ot to make lac virgink:
But Democrh faid beft Liquor to prefent
Elixir withall was Water permanent:
Whofe naturall vertue and propcrtie,
Was fier to abide and never to flyer
Rupifcijfa faid that chcefe Liquor
Was Aqua-vit a Elixir tofuccour;
For (he was (piritualh and would revive
Dead things fro death to live,
Shce was £uinte(fenceythc fift thing,
Whereof Ariftotle by his writing
In his Boke of Secrets faith foe,
M*j How
3S(ortons
How that all perfection was m qmnartp.
Ruptfcifa called k beft Liquor of ail,
Foi it maketh grx\(fe matter fpirituall :
But of Pithagoras ye raaie fjmde,
Our Aqua-viM of another kinde $
He faith it was Mvificans in his fentence,
Tac fugknsfxum &fxum fngiens,
For in fuch wife with ftrong €oa&ion,
Fixt matters .were nmde of light liquefa&ion.
Another fort. (aid no Liquor was above
The Liquor which Congers moft defier and love:
Therefore Rich Liquors are beft found3
Nigh to Iflands^and to fuch ground
Which the Ocean Sea hath compafled about,
For there fudh Liquors be fooneft fct out.
Of another Liquor wife men tell,
Which is freflier than Water of the Well %
Freftier Liquor there- is none in taft,
Yet it woll never con fume ne wafte5
Though it be occupied evermore.
It will never be lefle in ftore*
Which Btmocm named for his intent,
Lax umbra wens, Warier moft Orient;
Hermes faid **o Liquor fo neceffarie.
As was Water of crude Mercury :
■For he fhall ftand faid that Noble Clerke,
For the Water withih our werke.
Now lerne y e which lor this Scimcehwe fought,
By all thefe Liquors our Stow m uft be wrought.
T Iquor is a thing movpable, .•' -*-' Of fleeting fubftance and Knftable. AH fuch things follow the Mmn^ More then {landing Jcindtfsrdoonev
And
O RD IN ALL. yp
And thatappeareth to a Gierke, Chap,*.
In working of the white Werke 5
Liquors wafhen and tnaken cleane
Both Extremities and the lMfane 5
God made Liquors for Mans ufe,
To clenfe foule things in everie howfe;
Liquor bringeth without doubt, Hi
Hidden things in Bodyes out ,
As Landres witnes evidently,
When of Afhes thei make their Lye;
Liquor comfortcth the roots of Graffc,
And of Trees £uchr as drye was 5
For Liquors of Nature woll reftore
Humors that were loft before.
Liquors departeth Qualities afundcr,
Subftance refolving in Attomcs with wonder 3
Liquors alfo bringeth into one
Many things to be one Stone.
Liquors helpeth to flux and to flowe
Manie things, and lerne ye maie now
How Liquor is in manie manners found
Out of things that be on the ground,
Some by cutting, as Turpentine;
Some with Prcfling, as Sider and Wine 5
Some with grinding, as Oyle is had 5
Some with ftilling, as Waters be made ;
Some with Brenning, as Colophonie 5
And fome with Water, as Women make Lye;
Some be otherwife brought about,
And by naturall working fet out,
AsUrin, Sweat, Milk, and alfo Blood,
And Renniet which for Cheefe is good :
By as manie manners and moe by one,
We feek Liquors for our Stone.
Every
S\(ortoris
Every of the forenamed woll cleave
To thac thei touch, and fome dcale leave:
But Quickfilver albeit it is fleeting,
Yet he woll never cleave to any thingc,
But to aMettall of onekinde or other,
For there he findeth Sifter or Brother.
Medling with futtill Erth doth him let,
To cleave to things fuch as he meet:
Ail the faid Liquors which rehcarfed be,
Conteyne fower Elements as well as he 5
As Milke conteyneth Whey, Butter, and Chcefe,
So done trewly every-each of all thefe :
Which fower maie be departed a twinn,
And after conjoynd to makeycwinn.
But much more craftily they be hcere fought,
Then Cheefe , and Butter, and Whey be wrought •.
And drawe neerer to fimplicitie,
Then Cheefe, Butter, or Whey maie be.
Of all Liquors which be in our St we,
None is called fimple but Water alone.
Of every Liquor which to our Stone fliallgoe,
Ye muft know complexion and degree allfo,
And than with Liquor ye maie abate
The principall Agent from his Eftate,
If he permanent and abiding be,
In any point of fuperfluitye :
As if the reigning qualitie beDrinefs,
Ye maie amend it with humour of Moiftnes.
Now more, now lefiTe, as ye fee need,
And fo in all qualities proceede :
And in fuch wife order at your will,
The principall Agent, your purpofe to fulfill :
With knowledge of diverfity, contrarietie, and accord,
Ye male chufe which quality fhalibe Lord.
Your
.iV.
O RD IN ALL. Si
Your Liquors be ordained to add and fubtray, Chap.
To make equalitie by wifdomc of affay$
But truft not that any thing maie be
Hot and Moift both in one ©egree :
For all that truft two qualities to be foe*
Shall be deceived where ever thci goc.