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 ^'^i^i 
 
LZZm^m^^^"- 
 
 A 
 
 NEW LIGHT 
 
 alchVmyi 
 
 Taken out of the - j 
 
 Fountain of NATURE ! 
 
 A N D j 
 
 MANUAL. EXPERIENCE. 
 
 To which is added | 
 
 A %xm\it of ^ipDuc. I 
 
 Written by MICHEEL SAIS^irOGlVS i\^ 
 
 u €' Anagrammatically, j 
 
 D/ri LESCHI GEIsrvS AMD. \ 
 
 ^ i 
 
 Alfo Nine Boob Of the Nature ofThing:^. 
 
 Written by PAR ACELSVS,zfiz* 
 
 [• {Generations .r Reserving "^ \ 
 
 ^r , jGrovpths Q^rran{mutaUonO^ ^'^' ' 
 Of the \^ r . ><^ ^ . ytural 
 
 ) ConfervattofiS C j Separation ( cjy 
 
 ^Life^ Death -\- Signatures -J 
 
 Alfo a Chymical Didionarj- explaining hard 
 Places and Words met vvirhalin the Writings of] 
 ?aracdfusy and other obfc .re Authors. 1 
 
 \ 
 
 All wiiichare faithfully tranflated out of the Latin, 
 into the E;/g/7/^ Tongue, By j^. F. M. D. 
 
 LoftdoH^ Printed by A, Clar\ for "tho. iFilliams at the] 
 Golden Ball in ^ofier-Lane-, i6j^J^' 
 

 
 %\r 
 
 ""err //x^ -;C^^ /it^ir?-^^^::^^^ £.rv^ jL^ i^ 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The Author wifheth all health to^ ani frays 
 to God, for a Blejjing ufon all the Searchers 
 cf Alchymy , namely the true Sons of 
 Hermes. 
 
 Courteous Reader-, 
 
 WHen I confidercd wicH 
 my felf, that many a- 
 dulcerated Books and 
 falfe Receipts (as they call them) of 
 Alchymijls ^ compoled through the 
 Fraud and Covctoulnefs of Impo- 
 ftors, in which not fg much as one 
 (park of truth appears, were in re- 
 queft with the Searchers of Natural 
 and myfterious Arts, by which even 
 very many have been and ftill are 
 deceived: I thought I could do no 
 better fervice,than to communicate 
 that talent 5 committed to my truft 
 K % by 
 
The Treface. 
 
 the Father of Lights , to the Sons 
 and Heirs of Wifdom. And to this 
 end , that future Ages may take no- 
 tice, that this fingular Philorophical 
 Blefling of God hath not been deny* 
 ed to fomc men, not only in former 
 ageSjbut alio in this. It feemed good 
 to me for fome Rcafons to conceal 
 my Name , whilft I do not feek 
 praife to my fclf,but endeavour to be 
 affifting to the Lovers of Wifdom. 
 Therefore I leave that vain dellre of 
 Honour to thofe that had rather 
 feem to be, than to be indeed. What 
 here I write by way ofteftimony to 
 that undoubted Philofophical truth, 
 comprehended in few lines, have 
 been taken out of that manua,lcxpe- 
 rience, which the moft High hath 
 vouchfafed to me, that they which 
 have laid the principal and real 
 foundations in this commendable 
 An, may by this encouragement not 
 
 forfake 
 
The Treface. 
 
 forfake the pradice of the beft 
 things, and fobe fecured from chat 
 wicked fwarm of Smoke- fellers, 
 whofe delight is Co cheat. They are 
 not Dreams, as che ignorant vulga^ 
 call them ; neither arc' chey foolifii 
 inventions of idle men, as lools,and 
 men void of underftanding(who de«« 
 ride the Art) conceive chem to be. 
 It is the Philofophical cruch it felf , 
 which, as I am a lover of the Truth, 
 loughc not, nay I could not, for 
 fupporting and confirming the truth 
 of Alchymy ^ undefervedly cryed out 
 againftjkeep clofe^or bury in filence. 
 Although ic may be much afraid in 
 thefe times (when vertue and vice 
 arcefteemed alike) by reafon of the 
 unworthinefs of thisage^and ingra- 
 titude and treachery of men (to fay 
 nothing of the Curfes of Philofo- 
 phers) to come forth upon the pub- 
 lick ftage of the world. I could pro- 
 
 A I duce 
 
The Trefdce. 
 
 duce witnefies of this Chymical 
 truth, vi<. fage Authors , according 
 to the unanimous conlcnt of divers 
 honourable Ancients in fo many fc- 
 veral Nations : but thofe things 
 which aremanifeftby ocular expe- 
 rimenc.need no further proof Many 
 men both of high & low condition 
 intbefe lafl years paft, have to my 
 knowledg feen Diana unvailed. And 
 although there may be found fomc 
 idle and ill-employed fellows, who 
 cither out of envy or malice, or fear 
 ofhaving their own frauds di(cove- 
 red , cry out that the Soul may be 
 extracted out of Gold, and with the 
 fpecious and deceitful delufion of 
 oftentation, fay it may be put to a- 
 hother body ; not without iofs and 
 detriment of time, pains and cofls : 
 yet let the Sons oi Hermes know for 
 certain, that fuch a kind of extracti- 
 on of louls (as they call them) whe- 
 ther 
 
The Treface. 
 
 ther out of Gold or out of Silver (by 
 what vulgar way of Alchymy foever) 
 is but a meer fancy ; which thing 
 indeed is not believed by many, but 
 at length by experience^the only and 
 true Miftris of truth is verified, and 
 that with lofs. On the contrary^ he 
 which (in a Philolbphical way) can 
 without any fraud & colourable de- 
 ceit make it, that it fliall really tinge 
 the bafeft metal, whether with gain, 
 or without gain , with the colour of 
 Gold or Silver Cabidingallrequifice 
 tryals whatfoever) I can juftly aver 
 hath the gates of Nature opened to 
 him, for the enquiring into further 
 and higher fecrets^and with the blef- 
 fing of God to obtain them. More- 
 over, I prefeiit thefe TreatifeSjCom^ 
 pofed out of my own experience, to 
 the Sons of Art, that whilft they are 
 bufied with ^11 their thoughts and 
 intentivenefs of mind in (earching 
 A 4 into 
 
The Treface. 
 
 into the fecret operations of Nature^ 
 they may thence know, and clearly 
 pnderlland the truth of all things , 
 and Nature it felf : in which thing 
 alone the perle^ion of the whole fa- 
 cred Philofophical Art confifts, fo 
 that they go on in the common 
 high- way of Nature, which flie pre- 
 fcnbes in all her operations. There- 
 fore 1 would have the Courteous 
 JP.eader be here admonifiied, that he 
 underftand my Writings not fo 
 much from the outfiole of my words 
 as from the poffibility of Nature; 
 left afterward he bewail his time , 
 pains and cofl:s,all fpent in vain. Let 
 him conlider that this Art is for the 
 wife^not for the ignorant ; and that 
 the lenfe or meaning of Philofo- 
 phers is of another nature than to 
 beundciftood by vapouring T/;m- 
 foes, oi Letter»learned fcoffer^, or vi- 
 nous againfl their own confciences, 
 
 ( who 
 
The Preface. 
 
 ( who whilft they cannot rife by 
 their vertues attempt it by their vil- 
 lanics, and malicious detraftings 
 from honeft men) or ignorant 
 Mountebanks , who moft unwor- 
 thily defaming the moft commen- 
 dable Art of .j//cfcjw)i,have vyith their 
 Whites and Reds deceived aknoft 
 the whole world. For it is the gift 
 of God, and truly it is not to be at- 
 tained to, but by the alone favour of 
 God, enlightening the underftan- 
 ding, together with a patient and de- 
 vout humilicy (or by an ocular de- 
 monftration from fome experienced 
 Matter : ) wherefore God juftly 
 thrufts them far from his (ecrets that 
 are ftrangers to him. Finally, My 
 only rcqueft to the Sons of Art is 
 this^ that they would take in good 
 part my endeavouring to defcrve 
 well of them, and when they (hall 
 have made that which i$ occult ma« 
 
 nifeft. 
 
^ The Preface. 
 
 «irei(l.and through the good pleafure 
 
 haven of the Philofophers thattfT 
 would accordingto^hTi^^ 
 
 St'^.hd^al":r^^^ 
 
 aftmgprailesofthankfulneirmo 
 tifS'"^/°«dGod.forrorp! 
 
 ientandrdigiousjoy 
 
 TO 
 
TO THE 
 
 READER- 
 
 Judicious Keader^ 
 
 THere U Ahnniance of Kmrvledg ] 
 jet but little Truth kmvcn* The 
 generality of our Knovcledg u hut 
 its Cajlles in the Air^ or ground- 
 ffs fancies. I knojv but two vpays that are 
 rd dined for the getting of iVifdomyVll. the 
 ^cok ofCjod^ and of Nature 5 and thefe alfi, 
 '^ut as they are read vpith reafon* Many look 
 if on the former a^ a thing belovo them^ upon 
 ■he Utter as a groundof Atheifm^ and there- 
 ^ore negleB both. It is my judgment^ that as 
 to fearch the Scriptures is mofi neceffary^ fo 
 without reason it U impoffible^ Faith voithout 
 Re a [on is but implicit, if I cannot underjiand 
 by Reafon how every thing is^ yet I vnll fee 
 [owe reafon that a thing is fo^ before I believe 
 it to be fo. I will ground my believing of the 
 Scripture upon reafon^ I will improve my Rea^ 
 fon by philosophy. Howfha U we convince gain^ 
 fayers of the truth of the Scriptures ^ but by 
 principles of Reafon ? When God made Man 
 iffter hi4 own image y How was that 5 but by 
 
 making 
 
The Epiftle 
 
 fnxkwg him a rationd Creature > Mem 
 therefore that Uy ajide^ Reafon in the residing 
 of f Acre i Myfleries -^ do but tin' man them- 
 felveSj and become further involved in a La* 
 byrinth oferrours. Hence it ii that their Re- 
 ligion is degenerated into irrational Notions. 
 Now to fay that pure Philofophy is true Divi- 
 nity will haply be a paradox , yet if any \ 
 one (hould affirm it^ he would not be- hetero- 
 dox, when Job had been a long time ju- 
 ftifying himfelf again/l Cody which I conceive 
 was by reason of his ignorance of Cod and 
 himjelf-i God undertakes to convince him of 
 his err our by the principles of Nature , and 
 to bring him to the knowltdg 9f both : as 
 you may fee at large ^ job ^8. Can any deny 
 that Hermes, Plato, Ariftotle (though pure 
 'JSlaturalifls) were not mo ft deep Divines ? 
 Do not all grant that the twofirfl Chapters af 
 Gtw, are true Divinity < I dartp alfo affirm 
 that they are the mojl deep and the truefi 
 Thilofophy. Tea , they are the ground and 
 fum of all Tiivinity ani Philofophy : and if 
 rightly under ft ood^will teach thee more know- 
 kdg ofGod^ and thy jelf , than all the Books 
 in the world beftdes. New for the better 
 under ft anding of them ^ make ufe of mo ft pro- 
 /i^WSandivogius, the ^^uthor of the fir ft 
 of the enduing Treattfes^ as the beji Expofitor 
 
to the Reader. 
 
 ^fthem: in that Treafife of his thoufbdt fee 
 the myjlery of the Deity and. ISlature tm folded^ 
 even to admiration : as to fee -what that 
 Light And Fire is vphich is the Throne of 
 Cods kMajefty, How he is in the Beaven 
 mo(l glortotfly , and in the Creatures frovi- 
 dentuily. Horv he is the Life of that uni" 
 verfal Spirit which is dtffufed thorough the 
 vphole world* what that Spirit of his is that 
 moved upon the Waters. What thofe jvaters 
 are vchich are above the Firmament ^ and 
 rvhich are under the Firmament^ what that 
 Sperm and Seed vo as which God put into all 
 Creatures^ by vphich they fhould be multiplied. 
 The true manner of Mans Creation^ and'his 
 degenerating into Mortality* The true S^jr- 
 ture of the Garden of Eden, or Paradife, 
 i^lfo the reajon why Gold^ which had a, ^ccd 
 put into ityas well as other Creatures^ vchere- 
 byitfljouldbe multipited^ doth nol multiply, 
 what the Obflruciion is^ and how J may he 
 removed^ that fo it may be digefied into the 
 high efl purity-^ and become the true Elixir y or 
 Fhilofophers Stone t, the poffibility whereof 
 is fo plainly illuftrttted in this Book ^/Sandi- 
 VOgiUS 5 that let any judtcious man read it 
 ever without all partiality and prejudice j but 
 three or four times ^ and he fball nolens vo- 
 le ns ^^ convinced of the truth ofit^ and not 
 
 only 
 
The EpKUe 
 
 only ofthu j hut of many other Myfleries M 
 incredible ^s this, Sothatifany one (houlcA 
 ask me^ what one Book did mojl conduce t(\ 
 the knoxvledg of God and the Creature^ and\ 
 the Myjleries t hereof 'j I [hould [peak contra- 
 ry to my judgment , if I fhould not^ next 
 to the facred Writy fay Sandivogius. All 
 this I fpeakfor thy encouragement^ that then 
 fhouldft lay afide other frivolotis 'Books 5 
 and buy this , and read it over , and thou 
 vpilt {I que ft ion not) thank me for my adr^ 
 vice. 
 
 And as this *Book doth in generai ^ fo the 
 fecond of thefe Treatifes doth in particular 
 tllnftrate the pfftbility of T^ature , and the 
 Myfleries thereof^ ^ al\o the n at tire and 
 manner of the Generation^ Grovpth^ Confer- 
 vation^ Life^ Deaths Renewing^ Tranfmw 
 tations^ Separations , and Signatures of all 
 natural things^ in the explication of which 
 many rare experiments and excellent Myfie^ 
 ries are difcovered and found out. 
 
 To thefe is added a, Chymical Dictionary 5 
 explaining hard places and rvords met mthal 
 in obfcure Authors, But this a^d the other I 
 [peak more fparingly in the commendations of^ 
 becaufe if read they will [peak more for them- 
 felves than I can for them : only I was wil- 
 ling for the Englift) Nations Jake^ whofefpi- 
 
 rits 
 
to the Reader. 
 
 rits are much dravpn forth after Kmxv^ 
 leiig-i to trafjjlate them into th^ Englifli 
 Tongue* I did mt do it to multttly 
 Books 5 ( for there are too many Books al- 
 ready ; and the multitude of them u the 
 greatejl cauje of our Ignorance , and in 
 them U a great 'vanity ) hut to let thee 
 fee the Light of T^ture , hy vphich thoti 
 maifl judg of Truths , and the better con- 
 ceive of the God of Nature , of vphom all 
 natural things are full , and whofe goings 
 forth in the way of Nature are mo ft won- 
 derful^ even to the conviction of the greateji 
 Atheifls. 
 
 Courteous Reader , 
 
 Thou mufl excufe me for not affecting 
 Elegancies in thefe Translations ; for if I 
 were skilled in them , yet the Matter of 
 the Books would not bear them* if I have 
 fometimes ufed uncouth fVords , // was be^ 
 caufe the Senfe , to which I kept me clofe, 
 would not properly bear any other , or at 
 lea(l better came not at the prefent into 
 my Mind, if any Errata's have pajjed 
 through thejlips of my Pen , or the Prin- 
 ters mijlake , be thou candtd , and mend 
 themy If thou Jhalt not approve of what 
 
 I 
 
The Epiftle, <^c. 
 
 I have done , convince me of my err our by 
 doing better 5 for thereby thou (halt oblige 
 the Lovers of Truth , and, amongji the 
 rejl^ thy Friend 
 
 7'F. 
 
 A 
 
 2'rr'-'f 
 
( I ) 
 
 A 
 
 NEW LIGHT, 
 
 ALCHYMY. 
 
 C5e firfl Creatiff ; 
 
 of 7s[dture , vphat Jhe u , a»d rvhat her 
 Searchers ought to he. 
 
 Any wife and very lezrn&d men many 
 Ages fince , yea (Hermes ceftifylng 
 the fame) before the Flcud , wrote 
 many things concerning the ma- 
 king the Philofophers Scone j and 
 have bequeathed fo many writings unto us, that 
 nnlefs Nature fhould dayly work things cre- 
 dible to us , fcarce any one would believe ic as a 
 truth that there were any Nature at all : becaufc 
 in former Ages there were not fo many devifers of 
 things, neither did our Anceftors regard any thing 
 be/idcs Nature it felf,and the pofTibilicy of Nature. 
 And although they were contented with the plain 
 way alone of Nature, ycc thcyfouod out thofc 
 things which we now imployed about divers things 
 could not with all our wits conceive. This is be- 
 B cauft 
 
a netj Jiigljt of Wpm?; 
 
 caafe Nature and the Generation ut things in the 
 world is efteemed of us mean and plain. And 
 therefore we bend our wits net to things known, 
 and familiar, bat to fuch things, which not at all, 
 or very hardly can be done. Wherefore it hap- 
 pens that we are more dexterous in devifing curi- 
 ous fubtilcies , and fuch which the Philofophers 
 themfelves did never think of, than to attain to 
 the true procefs of Nature, and the right meaning 
 of Philofophers, And fuch is the difpofitionof 
 mens Natures, as to neglcft thofe things they 
 know, and to be always feeking after other things ^ 
 fuch alfo and. much more is thac of mens Wits , 
 and Fancies, to which their Nature is fubjeded. 
 As for example^ You fee any Artificer , when 
 he hath attained to the higheft perfedon of his 
 Arc, either fcarcheth into other Arts, or abufeth 
 the fame, which he already hath, c r elfe leaves k 
 of! quite. So alfo is generous Nature always a- 
 ^ive and doing to is very Iliad (*. e.J utmcft pe- 
 riod , and afterward ceafeth. For there is given 
 to Nature from the beginning a certain kind of 
 grant, or permifHon ftill to attain to things bet- 
 ter and better through her whole progrefs , and 
 to come to her full reft, towards which iLc iCiids 
 with all her might , and rejoyceth in her end , 
 asa Pifmire doth in her old age, at which time 
 Nature makes her Wings. Even fo our Wits have 
 proceeded fofar, efpecially in the Philofophical 
 Art, or Praxis of the Stone, ihat now we are al- 
 moft come to the Iliad it ielf. For the Art of 
 Chymiftry hath now found out fuch fabtilties, 
 that fcarce greater can be invented , and differ as 
 much from the Arc o!^ the Ancient Philofophers 
 
 as 
 
as a Clock-Smith doth frcm a plain Black Smith; 
 And although both work upon Iron, yet neither 
 underftands the others Labours, ahhough both 
 are Matters of their Art. If Unmes himfclf , 
 the Father of Philofophers, (hould now be alive, 
 and fubtil-wicted Cjeher^ together with moft pro- 
 found Raimnndw LuUiWy they woald not be ac- 
 counted by our Chymifts for Philofophers , but 
 tather for Scholars : They would be ignorant of 
 thofc fo liiany Diftillations, fo many Circulati- 
 ons, fo many Calcinations, and io many other ia- 
 humerable Operations of Artifts now adays u- 
 fed, which men of this age devifed , and found 
 out of their Writings. There is one only thing 
 wanting to us , that is , to know that which 
 they effe6led,z'i^. the Philofophers Stone, or Phy- 
 (ical Tin6lure we whilft we feek that , find ouc 
 other things t and unlefs the Procreation of Man 
 were fo ufual as it is , and Nature did in thac 
 thing ftill obferve her own Law, and Rules we 
 fhould fcarce not but err. But to return to what 
 i intended ; I prcmifed in this firft Treatife to 
 explain Nature, left every idle fancy fhould turn 
 us afide from the true and plain way. Therefore 
 I fay Nature is but one, true, plain, perfe6l and 
 entire in its own being , which God made from 
 the beginning , placing his fpirit in it : but know- 
 that the Bounds of Nature is God himfelf, who 
 aifo is the Original of Nature. For it is certain^ 
 that every thing that is begun, ends no w here buc 
 in that in which it begins, I fay it is that only 
 alone, by which God works all things : not thac 
 God canrioc work without it (for truly he him- 
 ic4f made Nat«f« , and i$ omnip(K€Gt ) but fo ic 
 K B a p\eaf?ib 
 
amtDiifii^tofiaictipmp; 
 
 pleafcth him to do. All things proceed from this 
 very Nature alone; neither is there any thin^in 
 the world without Nature. And although it 
 happens fomccimes that there be Abortives ^ this 
 is not Natures fault, butof the Artift, or place. 
 This Nature is divided into four places , in 
 which llie works all thefe things which appear 
 to us under (liadows ; for truly things may be 
 {aid rather to be fliadowed cut to us , than really 
 to appear. She is changed in Male and Female , 
 and is likened to CMtrcury^ becaufe llie joynsher 
 fclfto various places; and according to the good- 
 nefs or the badnel's of the place i>ic brings forth 
 things ; although to us there feem no bad places 
 at all in the Earth. Now for Qualities thereby 
 only four , and thcfe are in all things , but agree 
 notjfor one alway exceeds another. Moreover, Na- 
 ture is not vifiWc , although Hie ads vifibly ; for 
 it is a Volatile Spirit, which executes its Office 
 in Bodies> and is placed, and feated in the Will 
 and Mind of God. Nature in this place I'erves 
 us for no other purpofe , but to underftand her 
 Places, which are more futable, and oF nearer af- 
 finity to her ; that is, to undeiftand how to joyn 
 one thing to another., according to Nature, that 
 we mix not Wood and Man together, or an Ox 
 or any other living Creature and Metals toge- 
 ther : but \tt every thing a6l upon its own 
 like ; and then for certain Nature (liall per- 
 form her Office. The Place of Nature is no 
 other than, as I (aid before, what is in the Will 
 of God. 
 
 The Searchers of Nature ought to be fuch as 
 Nature her felf is,true,plain,pattc«r,conftanr, &9. 
 
 and 
 
and that which is chiefeft of all, religious, fearing 
 God » not injarious to their Neighbour. Then 
 let them diligently conflder , whether their par- 
 pofe be agreeible to Nature ; whether it be pofTi- 
 ble, le? them learn by dear examples, vi^c. Oac 
 of what things any thing may be made, how, 
 and in what Veflel Nature work5. For if thou 
 wilt do any thing plainly, as Nature her felf doth 
 do it , follow Nature ; but if thou wilt attcmpc 
 to do a thing better than Nature hath done 
 if, confider well in what , and by what it is bet- 
 tered, and let it always be done in its own like. 
 As -for example , if thou defireft toexalca Me- 
 tal in Vettue (which is our intention) further 
 than Nature hath done; thou mufl rake a Me- 
 talline Nature both in Male and Female , or clfe 
 ihou Oiak effe<fl nothing. For if thou doft pur* 
 pofe to make a Metal cu: of Herbs, thou Inhale 
 labour in vain, asalfo thou fhalt not btiag forth 
 Wood out of a Dog, or any other Beaft. 
 
 C^e fcfontJ Cceatiff. 
 
 Of the Operation of T^^ture in our intenti^ft^ 
 and in Sfsrme* 
 
 I Said even now that Nature was true , buc 
 one, every where feen, conftant, and is known 
 by the things which are brought forth, as Woods, 
 Herbs, and the like. I faid alfo that the Searcher 
 of Nature muft be true, iimplc hearted, patient, 
 conftant, giving hij mind bat to one thing slonc, 
 
 B 3 &c. 
 
6 s^nrtj)iLis'^tqfaic]&i?m5» 
 
 &e. Now we muft begin to treat of the a£llng. 
 of Nature. As Nature is in the Will of God « 
 and God created her , or put her upon evciy 
 imagination ; fo Nature made her felf a Seed, 
 (i,e.) her Will , and Plcafure in the Elements. 
 (he indeed is but one, and yet brings forth divers 
 things; but workes nothing without a Sperm : 
 Nature works whatfoevcr the Sperme pleafeth , 
 for it is as it were an Inftrument of fome Artifi- 
 cer. The Sperm therefore of every thing is bet- 
 ter; and more advantagious to the Artificer, than 
 Nature her felF. For by Nature without Seed , 
 you (hall do as much as a Goldfmith (hall with- 
 out Fire, Gold, orSilvcr? or a Husbandman with- 
 out Corn or Seed. If thou haft the Sperm, Na- 
 ture is prefently at hand , whether it be to bad 
 or good. She works in Sperm, as God doth in 
 the free will of man : and that is a great myftery? 
 becaufe Nature obeys the Sperm, not by compul- 
 fion, but voluntarily, even as God fuffers all things 
 which man wills, not by conftraint, but out of his 
 I own free pleafure : Therefore he gave Man free 
 will whether to bad or to good. The Sperm there- 
 fore is the Elixir of every thing, or Quintcflence 5 
 or the moft perfe6l Decodion or Digeftion of a 
 thi^g or the Balfom of Sulphur, which is the 
 fame as the Radical Moifture in Metals. There 
 i might truly be made a large Difcoarfe of this 
 Sperm ; but we (hall only keep to that which 
 makes for our purpofe in the Chymical Art. Four 
 Elements beget a Sperm through the Will and 
 Pleafure of God , and imagination of Nature i 
 for as the Sperm of Man hath its Center or Veflcl 
 of its Seed in the Kidnies j fo the four Elements by 
 
 thciff 
 
9 nrto tW of ^Ic^mv, 
 
 their never ceafing mocion (every one according to 
 its quality) cafts forth a Sperm into the Center of 
 the Earth , where ic is digefted , and by raotioa 
 fcnc abroad. Now rhe Center of the Earth is a 
 certain empty place where nothing can re(t. The ' 
 four Elements fend fcrch their Qualities into ex- 
 central parts cf the Earth, or into the circumfe* 
 rence of the Center. As a Man fends forth his 
 Seed into the entrance of the Womb of the Wo- 
 man, in which place nothing of the Seed remains, 
 hue afrer the Wcm'o hath received a due proporti- 
 on, cafts out the reft : fo alfo it comes to pafs in 
 the Center of the Earth, that the magnetick Vir- 
 tue of the part of any place draws to ic felf any 
 thing that is convenient for its felf, for the bringing 
 forth of any thing; the refidue is cafb forth into 
 ftones, and other excrements. For all things have 
 their original from rhis Fountain , neither hath 
 any thing in the world any beginning but by this 
 Fountain. As for example ; let there be fee a 
 veifel of Warer upon a fmcoth e^jcn Table, and 
 be placed in the middle thereof, and round about 
 it let there be laid divers things, and divers Co- 
 lours, alfo Salt, and every one apart : then lee the 
 Water be poured forth into the middle j and yoa 
 fhall fee that Water to run abroad here and there, 
 and when one ftrcam is come to the red Colovir , 
 4c is made red by it, if to the Salt, it takes from 
 k the Taft of the Sale, and fo of the reft. For 
 the Water doth not change the place, but thedi- 
 vcrfity of the place changeth the Water. In like 
 manner the Seed or Sperm being by the four E- 
 lements caft forth from the center into the circum- 
 ference, paffeth through divers places^ and accor- 
 B 4 <iing 
 
g amtDiList)t«ifaicti?mi?; 
 
 ding to the nature of the plac6 it makes things : 
 If ic comes to a pure place of^Earth and Water, a 
 pure thing is made. The Seed and Sperm of all 
 things is but one , and yet it produceth divers 
 things , as is evident by the following example. 
 The Seed of a Man is a noble Seed , and was crear 
 ted and ordained fgr the Generation of Man only; 
 yet neverthclefs if a man do abufe it, as is in his 
 freewill to do, there is born an Abortive. For if 
 a Man contrary to Gods moft exprefs Command 
 fhould couple with a Cow , or any other Beaft » 
 the Beaft would prefently conceive the Seed of the 
 Man, becaufe Nature is but one ; and then there 
 would not be born a Man, but a Bcaft» and an A- 
 bortive ; becaufe the Seed did not find a place fu? 
 table to it felf. By fuch an inhumane and dete- 
 fiable Copulation of Men with Beafts there 
 would be brought forth divers Beafts like unto 
 Men for fo ic is , if the Sperm goes into the Cen- 
 ter there is made that which (liould be made 
 there ; but when it is come into any other place> 
 and hath conceived, it changeth its form no more. 
 Now whilft the Sperm is yet in the Center, there 
 may as eafily be brought forth a Tree, as a Metal 
 from the Sperm, and as foon an Herb as a Stone, 
 and one more pretious than another , according 
 to the purity of the place: But how the Elements 
 beget a Sperm is in the next place to be treated of, 
 and it is done thus s The Elements are four : two 
 are heavy and two are light , two dry and two 
 moifi , but one which is moft dry and another 
 which is moft moift are Males and Females, &c^ 
 Every one of thefe of it (elf is moft apt to produce 
 fchings moft like unto it (elf in its o\yn fpherc , 
 
and (o ic plea fed God it fhould be : Thefe four 
 iKvcr are at reft, but are always zdi'in^ one upon 
 another ; and every one by it felffendeth forth his 
 own thinnefs, and fubtiky, and they all meet in 
 the Center: now in the Center is the Archeus, 
 the fervantof NKure, which mixeth thofe Sperms, 
 and fends them furch. And hew that is done is 
 to be fcen more fully in the Epilogue of the twelve 
 Treatifes. 
 
 €])t f^irt) Creatife. 
 
 Of the trne firfi Matter of Metah. 
 
 THe firft Matter of Metals is twofold , but 
 the one cannot make a Metal without the o- 
 ther. The firft and principal is the humidity of 
 the Air mixed with heat j and this the Philofo- 
 phers called tMfUury , which is governed by 
 the Beams of the Sun and Moon in the Philofo- 
 phical Sea, the fecond is the dry heat of the Earth , 
 which they called Sulphur. But becaufe all true 
 Philofophers chiefly concealed this, we will a lit- 
 tle more clearly explain it; efpecially the weight 
 or poife , which being unknown , all things arc 
 fpoiled. Thence it is, that many bring forth an 
 Abortive out of that which is good^ for there be 
 fome that take the whole Body for the Matter, or 
 Seed, or Sperm; and fome that take a piece, and 
 all thefe go belide the right way. As for exam- 
 ple* if any one (hould take the Foot of a Man , 
 »nd the Hand of a Woman, and would by mixm^ 
 
 thefe 
 
10 ^mtDiiisi&tofaici^pmi?, 
 
 thefe two together make a Man, it were not pofi^- 
 ble to be done. For there is in every Body a Cen- 
 ter, and a place or the point of the Seed or Sperm, 
 and is always the 8200th. pare, yea even in every 
 Wheat Corn ; and this cannot be otherwife. For 
 not the whole Corn or Body is turned into Seed , 
 but only a fpark, or feme certain fmall neceflary 
 part in the Body, which is preferved by its Body 
 from all exceflive heat and cold» If thou haft ears> 
 or any fenfe, mark well what is here faid, and thou 
 fjhalt be fafe, and out of the number not only of 
 thofc who arc ignorant of the p4ice of the Sperm , 
 and endeavour to convert the whole Corn into 
 Seed ; but alfo of them all, who are employed in 
 the fruitlefs Didolution of Metals , and arc desi- 
 rous to diffolve the whole of Metals, that after- 
 w^ds by their mutual Commixtion they make a 
 new Meral. But thefe men, if they confidercd the 
 procefs of Nature, (liould fee that the cafe is far 
 otherwife ; for there is no Metal fo pure, which 
 hath not its impurities, yet one more or fewer than 
 another. Bnt thou, Friendly Reader, fhalt ob- 
 ferve the fiiii point of Nature , as is abovefaid , 
 and thou haft enough : but take this caution a- 
 long vvith thee ; that thou doft not feek for this 
 Point in the Metals of the vulgar, in which it is 
 not. For thefe Metals, efpecially the Gold of the 
 vulgar, are dead, but ours are living, fall of fpirrt, 
 and thefe wholly muft betaken: for know, that 
 the Life of Metals is Fire whilft they are yet la 
 their Mines; and their Death is the Fire, viz.. of 
 Melting. Now the firft Matter of Metals is a 
 certain Humidity mixed with warm Air , and it 
 rcfembles fat Waccr, ftiding to every thmg pure 
 
 cr 
 
or impure, buc in one place more abundantly 
 than in another, by the reafon the Earth is more 
 open and porous in one place than in another, 
 having alfo an attra6live Power. Ic comes forth 
 into the light fomecimes by it felf, with Tome kind 
 of Covering, efpecially in fuch places where there 
 was nothing that it could well ftick to ; it js 
 known thus, becaufc every thing is compounded 
 of three Princi|)lcs ; but in reference to the Matter 
 of Metals is but one, wichout any conjan^lion to 
 any thing , excepting to its Covering or Shadow, 
 viz». Sulphur, &c. 
 
 ©^efourtl^frcatiCf. 
 
 Hoi9 UHetals are generated in the Boweh 
 of the Earth, 
 
 MEtals are brought forth in this manner. 
 After the four Elements have fent forth 
 their Virtues into the Center of the Eanh , the 
 Archeus by way of Diftillation fends them up un- 
 to the Superficies of the Earth, by vertueofthc 
 heat of its perpetual motion : for the Earth is po- 
 rous, and this Wind by diClilling through the 
 Pores of the Earth, is refolved into Water, out of 
 which all things are made. Therefore kc the Sons 
 of Wifdom know? that the Sperm of Metals doth 
 not differ from the Sperm of all things, vh^.tht 
 moift Vapour: therefore in vain do Artiftslook 
 afcer the reducing of Metals into their firft Matter, 
 which is only a Vapour. The Philofophers meant 
 not fuch a firfl Macter, but only the fecond Mat- 
 ter, as B^rnnrdpts Tnvifanm karcedly difcuffcth 
 
 tt 
 
ix !a neto tW of aicijgmp; 
 
 it though not foclearlyj becaufe he fpeaks of the 
 four Elements , but yet he did fay as much, buc 
 \k fpake only to the Sons of Arc. But I, that 
 I might the more clearly open the Theory, would 
 have all be admonifhcd here to take heed how 
 they give way to fo many Solutions, fo many Cir* 
 culations, fomany Calcinations, and Reiterations 
 of the fame ; for in vain is that fought for in a 
 hard thing , when as the thing is foft of it felf , 
 and every where to be had. Let not the firft , 
 but the fecond Matter only be fought after , viz,, 
 that which as foon as ic is conceived , cannot be 
 changed into another form. But if thou inqui- 
 rcft how ft Metal may be reduced into fuch a 
 Matter, in chat I keep clofe to the intention of the 
 Philofophers : This thing only above all the reft 
 Idefire , that the Sons of Art would underftand 
 the Senfe and not the Letter of Writings, and 
 where Nature doth end,z/i^. in Metallick Bodies, 
 which in our eyes fcem to be perfed , there muft 
 Art begin. But to return to my purpofe, ( for 
 my intention is not here to f peak of the Stone on- 
 ly) let us now treat of the Matter of Metals. A 
 little before I faid, that all things were made of 
 the liquid Air, or the Vapour, which the Elements 
 by a perpetual motion diftil into the Bowels of 
 the Earthy and then the Archeusof Nature takes 
 andfublimes it through the Pores, and according 
 toitsdifcretion diftributes it to every place (as we 
 have declared in the foregoing Treatifcs ) fo from 
 the variety of places proceeds the variety of things. 
 There be fome that fuppofe Satftrn to have 
 one kind of Seed , and Gold another , and fo 
 all the reft of the Metak Buc chefc arc foohfh 
 
 fancies J 
 
amtDtiglitof 9lct)?m?; 13 
 
 fancies ; there is but one only Seed , the fame 
 is found in Soiturn which is in Gold , the fame 
 in Silver which is in Iron ; but the Place of the 
 Earth is divers , if thou underftandeft me a- 
 right , although in Silver Nature fooner hath 
 done its work than in Gold, and fo of the 
 reft. For when that Vapour is (ublimed from 
 the Center of the Earth , it pafi'eth through places 
 either cold or hoc : If therefore it palTeth through 
 places that are hot and pure , where the fat* 
 nefs of Sulphur fticks to the Walls ; I fay , 
 that Vapour which the Philofophers have cal- 
 led the Mercury oi Philofophers applies it fclf 
 to, and is joyned to that Famefs which then 
 if fublimes with it (elf; and then becomes aa 
 Unif^uofity , and leaving the name of a Vapour, 
 Is called by the name of Fatnefs; which after- 
 ward coming by Sublimation unto other places 
 which the foregoing Vapour hath cleanfed , 
 where the Earth is fubtd , pure and moift , 
 fills the Pores thereof, and is joyned to it, and 
 fo K IS made Gold j but if that Fatnefs come 
 to impure and cold places, it is made Lead; 
 but if the Earth be cold and pure , and mixed 
 with Sulphur, it is made Copper, &c. For 
 by how much more a place is depurated, or dean- 
 fed, by fo much the more excellent it makes the 
 Metals : for we muft know ? that that Vapour 
 goes out continually from the Center to the Su- 
 perficies , and deanfcth thofc places through 
 which itpaffeth. Thence it comes to pafs, that 
 now there may be foand Mines in thofe places 
 where a ihoufand years ago were none ; for in its 
 p^ffage it always fubcilizeth that which is crude 
 
 and 
 
and impure, carrying it by degrees with it: 
 And this is the Reiteration , and Circuition of j| 
 Nature ; it is fo long fubUmcd in producing 
 new things ? until the place be very well purifi- 
 ed ; and by bow much the more it is purified^ 
 by fo much the nobler things it brings forth* 
 Now in the Winter when the Air is cold ^ 
 binding faft the Earth , that unduous Vapour 
 is congealed , which afterward when the Spring 
 returns is mixed together with Earth) and Wa- 
 ter, and fo becomes a Magnefia , drawing to ic 
 felt the Mercury of Air hke unto it felf, and 
 gives life to all things through the concurrence 
 of the Beams of the Sun, Mooa and Stars, and fo 
 it brings forth Grafs,Flowers,and fuch like things. 
 For Nature is not one moment of time idle. 
 Now Metals arc thus made , the Earth by long 
 Diftillation is purified , then they arc genera- 
 ted by the accefs , or coming thither of the Fat- 
 nefs : they arc brought forth no other way , as 
 is the foolifli opinion of fome that mifinterprct 
 the Writings of Philofophers. 
 
 fHE 
 
€^t fiftt) CreatiCf . 
 
 O/ the gemrfitim of all kinds of Stmef, 
 
 ^He Matter of Scones is the fame as of other 
 things ; and according to the purity of places 
 they arc made in this Manner. When the four 
 Elements diftill their vapour into the Center of the 
 Earth ; and ths Archeus of Nature fends forth 
 the fame and fublimes itj this whilftit pafletfi 
 through places, and the pores of the Earth, takes 
 along with it felf all the impurity of the Earth 
 unto the very Superficies, which afterward the 
 Air congeals (for what the pure Air makes, the 
 crude Air congeals , becaufe Air hath ingrefle in- 
 to Air, and they joyn themfelves together, for 
 Nature is delighted in Nature ) and fo are made 
 Rocks , and ftony Mountains, according to great 
 and little Pores. And by how much the greater 
 are the Pores of the Earch, by fo much the better 
 is the place purified. Since therefore by fuch a 
 breaching Place or Vent, a greater Heat, and a 
 greater quantity of Water pafTeth, therefore the 
 fooner is the Earth depurated s and fo afterward 
 in thofe places Metals are more eafily brought 
 forth. Even fo very experience tcftifies, chat Gold 
 cannot begot or found any where but in Moun- 
 tains, and feidom or never in plain and level 
 Ground': for moft commonly fuch places arc 
 moift, nor with the Vapour, but with Elementa- 
 ry Water, which duws to jc fclf that Vapour, 
 
 and 
 
■ /> 
 
 and fo they embrace one another^ as that they cart 
 hardly be fcparaced; afcerwards die Sun of the 
 Heavens digcfting them) makes that fat Clay which 
 the Potters ufe. But in places where there is grofs 
 Sand, and whither the Vapour doth not bring 
 with it that Fatnefs, or Sulpnur , it brings forth 
 Herbs and Grafs in Meadows. There be other kind 
 of Stones, which are called precious Stones,as the 
 Diamond, Rubies, Emerald, and fuch hkeGcms 
 as f hefe, all which are generated after this Manner. 
 When the Vapour cf Nature is fublimed by it 
 felf, without being joyned to the fatnsfs of Sul- 
 phur, and comes to a place of pure fait Water, 
 there are niade Diamonds ; and this is in cold 
 places, whither that Fatnefs cannot come, becaufc 
 that Fatnefs would hinder the making of thefe 
 Stones. For we muft know, that the Spirit of Wa- 
 ter is fublimed eafily, aftd that with a fmallheat ; 
 but Oyl and Fatnefs Cannot be carried up but With 
 a great heat, and thatalfd into hot places ; for 
 when it fs come from theCenter> if it meet with 
 any little cold, it is congealed, and isataftand, 
 but the vapour afcends to its due places, and in 
 pure Water is congealed into Stones by Grains. But 
 how Colours are made in Gems ^ we muft know 
 that they are made by reafon of the Sulphur in this 
 Manner : if the Fatnefs of the Sulphur be congea- 
 led, then by that perpetual motion , the Spirit of 
 the Water pafling through, itdJgeftsand purifies 
 ir by vertue of the Salt, until it be coloured with a 
 digeftcd heat, red or white, which colour tend- 
 ing toward a further perfe6^ion, is carryed up by 
 that Spirit, becaufeit is fubtilized and made thin 
 by (o many reiterated diftiliations, the Spirit aftcr- 
 
 ward 
 
a nm imt of aic^pmp: 3^ 
 
 ward hath a power ro enter into imperkd things> 
 and fo brings in a Colour to them, which after- 
 ward is joyiied to that Water, being then in 
 part concealed, and fo fills up the Pores thereof, 
 & is fixed with it with an infcparable fixation. For 
 all Water is congealed with Heat, if ir be withouc 
 Spirit, and congealed with Cold, if it hath a Spirit; 
 but he that knows how to congeal Water with 
 Hear, and to joyn a Spirit with it , lliall certainly 
 find out a thing more pretious than Gv^ld, and e- 
 vcry thing eli'e. Let him therefore caufe that the 
 Spirit be feparatcd from the Water, that it may 
 putrifie, and be like a Grain. Afterwards the 
 Feces being caft aw^y, let him reduce and bring 
 back the Spirit again from the deep into Water ^ 
 and make them be joyned together a^^ain ; for 
 that Conjunction will generate a Branch of an Uri- 
 likc (hape to its Parents, 
 
 Ctie Cftti €reatiff . 
 
 Of the fectnd C^fatter and Putrefaction 
 of things, 
 
 WE have fpoken of the fir ft Matter of things, 
 and how things are produced by Nature 
 without Seed, that is, how Nature receives Matter 
 from the Elements, out of which iht makes Seed : 
 But now we intend to treat of the Seed it fclf , 
 and things generated of Seed. Foir every thing 
 that hath Seed is miiltiplyed in it, but withouc 
 the help of Naiutc ic is not done : for the Seed is 
 
nothing el(e but the Air congealed in feme Body : 
 oritisa moift Vapour; and nnlefs this be refol- 
 ved by a warm Vapour, it is of no ufe. Let there- 
 fore the Searchers of the Arc underftand what 
 Seed is, left they feek after a thin^ that is not : 
 and let them know that is threefold, which 
 is brought forth by the four Elements. The firft 
 is Mineral, and is that which we now fpeak 
 of I the fecond is Vegetable ; the third Animal. 
 The Mineral Seed is known by Philosophers alone: 
 the Vegetable is commcn and vulgar, as we may 
 fee in Fruits : the Animal is known by imagina- 
 tion. The Vegetable doth (hew to us, how Na- 
 ture rpade it of the four Elements. For we muft 
 kno^v that the Winter s thecaufe of Putrefadlion, 
 feeing it congeals the Vi al Spirits in Trees; and 
 when thofe by the Heat of the Sun (in which there 
 is a magnetick Virtue, attra6^ive of all manner of 
 Moifture) are refolved ; then the Heat of Nature, 
 ftirred up by motion, drives or forceth the fubtil 
 Vapour of the Water to the circuraf*ence , and 
 thisVapourppeneththe Pores pf the Tree , and 
 makes Drops diftil , always feparating the pure 
 from the impure. Yet the pure fometimes goech 
 before the impure 5 the pure ftays, and is congea- 
 led into Flowers, the impure goes into Leaves, the 
 grofsand thick into the Bark ; the Bark of |;he 
 Tree remains faft and firm, the Leaves fall with 
 cold or heat, when the Pores thereof ar£ ftopt: 
 the Flowers in congealing receive their Colour ac- 
 cording to the Heat whereby the Colour is made , 
 and bring with them Fruit aud Seed ( as an Ap- 
 ple, in which there is Sperm out of which a Tree 
 IS not brought forth 5 but in the infidc of that 
 
 Spcrni 
 
jSperm is Seed or Kernel, out of wbich even wich*. 
 outthcSperm is brought forth a Tree, for Mulr 
 tiplicjitipn is not in the Sperm, but in the SeedO 
 So we fee with our eyes, that Nature creates a 
 Seed out of chc four Elements , left we iliould 
 labour in vaiii about it ; for whjat^is created al^ 
 ready need not a Creatori Let this by way o£ 
 example be luffidtnt for the Advertilement oFthe 
 Reader; but now I return to my purpofe con- 
 cerning the Minerals, Nature creates the Mineral 
 Seed, or the Seed of Metals, in the bowels ot" the 
 Earth; wherefore it is not believtd that there is 
 any (uch Seed in rerum natura , becaufcic is in- 
 vifible. But it is no wonder if ignorant men 
 doubt of it ) feeing they cannot perceive that 
 which is before their eyes, much lefs that which is 
 hid from their eyes: but it is moft true that that 
 : which is fupcriour is but as that which is inferiour, 
 and fo on the contrary. Alfo that which is 
 brought forth above is brought forth of the fame 
 Fountain , as that beneath in the Bowels of the 
 Earth. And what prerogative lliould Vegeta- 
 bles have before Metals, that God (liould put a 
 Seed into them , and without caufe withhold it 
 from thefe ? Are not Metals of as much eftcem 
 with God as Trees? Lcc this be granted for a 
 truth , that nothing grows without Seed : tor 
 where there is no Seed the thing is dead. It is 
 necellary therefore that four Elements fhould 
 make the Seed of Metals, or bring them forth 
 without a Seed j if they arc produced without 
 Seed , then they cannot be perfed , feeing every 
 thing without Seed is imperfect, by the rules o£ 
 Compoficion : hs which gives na credit to this 
 
 C a Mndoi;ibcgd 
 
undoubted truth is not worthy tO' {earch into the 
 fecrets of Nature ; for there is nothing made in 
 the world that is deftitute of vSeed. The Seed 
 of Metals is tiuly aud really put into them : and 
 the Generation of it is thus. The four Elements 
 in the fir ft Operation of Nature do by the help 
 of the Archeus of Nature diftil into the Center of 
 the Earth a ponderous or heavy Vapour of Wa- 
 ter, which is the Seed of Metals , and is called 
 Mercury by reafon of its fiuxibihty , and its con- 
 junction with every thing, not for its Effence ; 
 and for its internal Heat it is likened to Sulphur, 
 and after Congelation becomes to be the radical 
 Mojfture. And althou2;h the Body of Metals 
 be procreated of Mercury ( which ]% to be under- 
 ftood of the Mercury of Philofophers) yet they 
 are not to be hearkened to, that think the vulgar 
 Mercury is the Seed of Metals , and fo take the 
 Body inftead of the Seed , not confidering that 
 the vulgar Mercury fpoken of hath its own Seed 
 in its felf. The errours and miftakes of all thefe 
 men will be made apparent by the following 
 example. It is manifcft that men have Seed, in 
 which they are raulciplyed : the Body of Man is 
 Mercury ; but » he Seed is hid in the Body, and in 
 comparifon to the Body is buc little and light : 
 he therefore that will be^et a Man let him not 
 take Mercury, which is the Body, but the Sttdy 
 which IS the congealed Vapour of Water. So in 
 the Regcneracion of Metals, the vulgar Chymifls 
 go prepofterouily to work ; They diflolve Metal- 
 lik Bodies, whether it be Mercury, or Gold , or 
 Lead, or Silver, and corrode them with (harp 
 Waters, and other Hetrogeneous things not re- 
 
 quifitc 
 
quihre to the true Arc, and afterward joyn them 
 together again, not knowini; that a Man is not 
 generated of a Mans Body cur to pieces , becaale 
 by this means the Body is marred , and the Seed 
 beforehand is deftroyed. Everything is multi- 
 plied in Mal^ and Female , as I have already 
 mentioned in the Treatifc of the twofold Muter : 
 The Divifioffl of the Sexes caufcth or producerh 
 nothing , but a due joyning of them together 
 brings forth anew form: the Seeds therefore, or 
 Spermes, not Bodies are to be taken. Take there- 
 fore a living Male and a living Female , joyn 
 thefe together , that betwixt them there may be 
 conceived a Sperm for the bringing forth of Fruil 
 after its kind : There is no man living can believe 
 that he can make the firft Matter .• The firft Mat- 
 ter of Man is Earth , and no man can of that 
 make a Man ; only God knows how to do this ; 
 but of the fccond Matter , which is already 
 made, if it be put into its due place , may ealily 
 by the operation of Nature be generated a thing 
 of that fpccies, or kind, which the Seed was of. 
 The Artift here need do nothing, only to fcpar*te 
 the thin from the thick, and to put it into its due 
 VelTel. For this is to be conlidered , that as a 
 thing is begun foicends: Of one are made two, 
 of two one, and then you have done. There is 
 one God ; of this one God the Son is begotten : 
 One produceth two , two have produced one ho- 
 ly Spirit proceeding from both : (b the world is 
 made, and fo ihall be the end thereof, C^nfi- 
 der the four former Points m ft exa^ly : thou 
 haft in them the Father, the Father and the Son, 
 and laftly the holy Spirit : thou haft the four 
 C 5 Elements; 
 
 21 
 
Elements : thou haft four great Lights, two Ce^ 
 kftial, and two Central : This is all th^x is, hath 
 been, orfhallbe, that is made pliin by this fore* 
 namedfimihtiide. If I might lay down all the 
 myfteries that might be raifed from hence , they 
 would amount taagre^t volurfi. ; I return to my 
 purpofe, and I tell thee true, my Son I one is not 
 Hiadcpf one naturally, forthwst(!). dio is prdpcf to 
 Gcid alon€ ; kt it fuffice thee chat thou art able 
 eutof two to maicc one, whicli will be profitable 
 to thee. Know therefore that the Sperm doth 
 multiply the fecoud Matter , and' not tHe firft: 
 foj-^he firft Mafter pf .all things is not fecn, but is 
 hid either in Nature, dr in the Elemt nts ; but the 
 fecond Matter (cmetimes appears to the fons of 
 wifdom. 
 
 -— ■'! ,. ;;. I, .^V^f:r. : • "-^ 
 
 of the Fertiie of the fecond Matter. 
 
 BUt that thou raayeft the more csfily conceive 
 what this fecond Matter is, I vvilldefcribc the 
 vertues of it, by which thou maift know it. And 
 lirft of all know ,^ that Nature is divided into 
 three Kingdoms ; two of them are fuchthat either 
 of them can fubfiftof it felf , if theodier two 
 were not ; there is the Mineral, Vegetable, and 
 Animal Kingdom. The Mineral can fubfift of 
 it felf, alchough there were no Man in the World, 
 nor Tree, or Herb. The Vegetable likewife, al- 
 lihough th^re were no Metal , nor Animal, can 
 
 ftand 
 
I fland by it felf : thefe two arc of one made by 
 I one : but the third hath Ufe from the other two 
 which we have^mcntioned, without which it could 
 not fubfift, and is more ncblc and excellent then 
 thofctwo, as alio icisthelaftof the three, and 
 rules over the other : becaule always Vercuc or 
 Excellency ends in a third thing, and is mukiplied 
 in the fecond. Doft thou fee in the Vegetable 
 Kingdom ? The fiift Matter is an Herb, or a Tiee, 
 which thou knoweft not how to make , I^ature' 
 alon^ makes it : In this Kingdom the fecond Mat- 
 ter is Seed, which thou fccft, in this the Herb, or 
 the Tree is multiply ed; In the Animal Kingdofn 
 the firft Matter is a Bcaft, or a Man, which thou 
 knoweft not how to make j but the fecond Mat- 
 ter or the Sptrm, -in which they are multiplyecf, 
 thou knoweft. In the Mineral thou knoweft not 
 howao makeaMecal, and if thou braggeft that 
 thou canft, thou art a fool, and a Iyer, Nature 
 makes that, and although thou fhouldeft have the 
 firft Matter, According to the Philofophers , yet it 
 would be impoifible for thee to multiply that Cen- 
 tral fait wMthout Gold .* Now the feed ot Merals 
 is known only to the fons of Art. In Vegetables 
 the Seed appears outwardly; the Reinsof its di- 
 geftion is warm Air. In Animals the Seed ap- 
 pears inwardly , and Outwardly; the Reins of 
 its digeftiort are the R^ins of a Male. Water in 
 Mineralsisrhe Seed in the Center of their Heart ; 
 and is their Life : the Reins of its digcftion is 
 Fire. The Receptacle of the Vegetable Seed is the 
 Earth; the Receptacle of the Seed Aaimal is the 
 Womb of the Female : the Receptade ot Wa er 
 which is the Mineral Sc^d, h A ir. And ihofe are 
 C 4 " the 
 
thcRecDtaclesof Seeds, which are the Congeala*- 
 tions of their Bodies : that is their digeflion, 
 u'hich is their Solution: that is their putrefaction 
 which is their deftru^lioii. The vertue of every 
 Seed is to joyn it fclf to every thing in its own 
 Kingdom, becaufe it isfubtil, and is nothing clfc 
 but Air, which by fatncfs is congealed in Water : 
 It is known thus, becaufe it doth not mix it felf 
 naturally to any thing out of its own Kingdom : 
 it is not diflolved, but congealed, becaufe it doth 
 not need diflolution, butcongealation. Itisnc- 
 ccfTary therefore that the Pores of the Body be 
 opened, that the Sperm may be fent forth, in 
 \vhofe Center the Seed lies , which is Air: that 
 when it comes into its due Matrix, is congealed, 
 and congeals what it finds pure , or impure mixed 
 with what is pure. As long as the Seed is in the 
 Body, the Body lives, when it is all confumed 
 the Body dies; aI(o all Bodies afce^ the cmiilion 
 of Seed are weakned : experience likcwife t;eftifies 
 that Men whxh give themfelves ove^ too much tp 
 yenery become feeble, as Trees, that bear too much 
 Fruit , become afterwards barren. The Seed 
 therefore, as oftentimes hath been repeated, is a 
 thing inviGble^ but the Sperm is vifiblc , and is 
 almoft a living Sou! ; it is not found in things 
 thataredead: it js drawn forth two ways, plea- 
 fandyj and by force : 5ut becaufe we arc in this 
 pjace to treat of the vertue of it only , I lay that 
 nothing is made without Seed : all things are made 
 by vertue of Seed : and let the Sons of Art know, 
 that Sped is in vain fought for in Trees that are cat 
 oft or cut down, bccai^fc it is found \n them opr 
 5y ^hac are green 
 ' . ' " The 
 
g neto tigtit of aicit)l?ni?, 15 
 
 Clje figljtl^ Ctcatiff. 
 
 How I J ^/irt Nature worl^ in Seed* 
 
 A LI Seed is nothing worth of itfelf, if it be 
 not either by Arc^r Nature pucinro its pro- 
 per Matrix. And alchough Seed beof it felf more 
 noble then every creature , yet tj^ Matrix is the 
 life of if, and makes the Sperm,^rCointo pu- 
 trefie, and caufeth a congealation of the pure 
 point, andalfo by the heat of its body nounilie h 
 ic, and makes it grow'; and this is done in all the 
 forefaid Kingdoms of Nature ; andisdone natu- 
 rally by moneths, years, and ages. Batthatisa 
 witty Alt , that can lliorten any thing in the Mi- 
 neral, and Vegetable Kingdom, but not in the 
 Animal : in the Mineral Kingdom it perfe6^$ thar, 
 which Nature could not, by reafonof the crude 
 Air, which with its vehemency filled the Pores of 
 every Body j not onely inthe Bowels, but alfoin 
 the fnperficies of the Earth. As I have already faid 
 in the foregoing Chapters. But that this may be 
 the more eafily underftood, I wjlladdh:reu!\co, 
 that the Elements driving amongft therafelves 
 fend forth their Seed into the Center of the Earth, 
 as into their Reins, butthcCcnter by helpof mo» 
 tion fends it mto its Matrix. Now the Matrixes 
 are innumerable, as many Matrixes, as places, one 
 purer then other, and fo almoft in infinitum. 
 Know therefore, that a pure Mat lix will afford a 
 pure conception in its own hksneiis : As for exam- 
 
14 anetoiLi3t)tofaict)sm^^ 
 
 pie, in Ammals there are Matrixes of Women, 
 Cows, Mares, Bitches, and the like. So in the 
 Mineral, and Vegetable Kingdoms, there are Me- 
 tals, Stones, Salts ', for the Salts in chcfc two King- 
 doms arc to be confidercd of, as alfo their places? 
 according to more or lefs. 
 
 ili^c ninf^ Cteatife, 
 
 Of the Commxtion of Metals^ or the dravf^ 
 ing forth their Seed. . , . 
 
 WE have fpoken'of Natare, of Ait; 'of the 
 Body, of Sperm, and of Seed, now lee 
 as defcend unto Praxis, viz, how Metals ought to 
 be mixed together, and what their correfpondch- 
 cy or agreement is one with another. Know there- 
 fore that a Wonaan doth nor vary from a Man ; 
 both are bred of the fame Seed, and in one Ma- 
 trix, there was nothing beiidesdigeftion, and that 
 the Matrix had in it purer bload, and Salt : fo Sil- 
 ver is made of the fame Seed as Gold is , and in 
 the fame Matrix ; but the Matrix had more Water 
 in it then digcfted blood, according to the (eafon 
 of the Moort in the Heavens; But that thou maift 
 the more eafily imagine with thy felf how Mecals 
 couple together, that their Seed may be fenc forth, 
 and received; behold and fee the Heavens, and 
 the Spheres of the Planets : thou feeft that Saturn 
 ^ placed the uppermoft or highcfl, next to that 
 JafUery then Mars^ then Sol^ or the Sun, then Ve- 
 nwj then UHercury, and laft of all Z*i^»4, or the 
 
 MoorJ 
 
 I 
 
foon. Confider alfo that the vettiies of the PJa^ 
 ets do not afcend, but defcend: Experience 
 lacheth us much, vi^. that of VettAss or Copper 
 not made cJ^rfr/, or Iron, but of Mdrs'is fhid^ 
 ''enuiy . as being an infenour Sphere : (o aUo Jufh- 
 ?r ., or Tin is eafily changed imtO xMercury or 
 \^ckii\htt^h^aMkJu)>iter \s the fecond from the 
 'irmament , arid Mercury the fecond from the 
 iear^ll': Saturn is the firft from the Heavens, and 
 sHna the firft from thb Earth : 5'o/mixeth it felf 
 /ich all, but- ii never bettered by its inferiors. 
 lo\w know that there is a great agreement betwixt 
 'attirn, or Lead, and Lnnay or Silvtr^ in midft of 
 /hich the Sun is.placed : as alfohetwixt Jupiter 
 nd Mercury y in midft of which ^S'o/ is alfo 
 laced , andilliHcfitii liAirirletC He^^ixt UHars 
 nd Ventu.^ which alfo have S^l, placed in 
 he midft of thena. ;, Chymifts know how to 
 hange Iron into Copper without Golcf , they 
 :now alfo to make Qaick-filver oitt of Tin-; arid 
 here are fome that ni^ke Silver out of Lead : But 
 f they knew bytihefemut^tiortstdgive or mini- 
 ver to them the Nature of Gold, they would cer- 
 ainly find out a ehin^riiorc ptedous then any trea- 
 ure. Wherefore I fay we muft not be ignoranc 
 vhat Metals aretb be joyned to each other, whofe 
 ^Jature is agreeable one. to the others. Moreover 
 here is granted to ur one Metal, which hatha 
 5ower to confume the reft) for it is almoft as their 
 ^ater, and Mother, yet there is one thing, arxl 
 hat alone, the radical moifture, viz.. of the Sun, 
 md Moon that withftands it, and is bettered by 
 1 1 ; but that I may difdofe it to you> it is called 
 Chalybs or Steel. If Gold couples eleven times 
 
 with 
 
^% 9 neto UM of aiti^pmi?: 
 
 with it, it fends forci^ its Seed, and is debilitated 
 almoft unto death j the Chalybs conceives , and 
 bears a Son, more excellent then his Father: then 
 when the Seed of that which is now brought forth 
 is put into its own Matrix, ic purifies it , and 
 makes it a thoufand times more fit and apt to 
 bring forth the bcft , and moft excellent Fruits.* 
 There is another Chalybs, which is like to this, 
 created by itfelf of Nature, which knows how to 
 draw forth by vertuc of the Sun beams (through 
 a wonderful power, and vcrtue^ that which (d 
 many Men have fought after, and is the beginning 
 of our Work* 
 
 •'.ji;i7/ 
 
 Of the Sftfernattird Generation of the Son 
 ' • of the Sffa. 
 
 WEeliay^ 'treated of things, which Nature 
 makes, and which God hath made; that 
 the Searchers of Art might the more eafily under- 
 ftand the pofiRbility of Nature, But to delay no 
 longer, I will now enter upon the Manner, and 
 Art how to make the Philolophers Stone. The 
 Philofophcrs Stone or Tin6lure is nothing elfe, but 
 Gold digefted to the higheft degree : For vulgar 
 Gold is like an Herb without Seed, when ic is 
 ripe it brings forth Seed ; fo Gold when it is ripe 
 yeilds Sctd^ or Tin6lure. But, will feme ask, 
 Why doth not Gold or any other Metal bring 
 forth Seed ? the teafon given is this, becaufe ic 
 cannot be ripe , by rcafon of the crudity of the 
 Air, it hath not fufficicnt heat, and ic happens, 
 
 that 
 
that in forae places tlicre Is found pure Gold,which 
 Nature would have perfe6led, but was hindred 
 by the crude Air. As for example we fee thac 
 Orcn^e Trees in Po/oui^ do indeed^flourifli as o- 
 ther Trees in Italy y and elfewhere, where their 
 natural Soil is» they yeild, and bring forth Fruit, 
 becaufe they have fufficient heat : but in thefe cold 
 places they do ocherwife^ for when they begin to 
 ripen , they are at a ftand , becaufe they are op- 
 prefTcd with cold ; and fo in thefe places we never 
 have their Fruit naturally: but ifi«at any time 
 Nature be fweedy, and wittily helped, then Arc 
 may perfecfi that, which Nature could not. The 
 fame happens in Metals : Gold may yeild Fruit, 
 and Seed , in which it multiplyes ic felf by the 
 induftry of the skilful Artificer , who knows 
 how to exalt Nature , but if he will attempt to do 
 without Nature , he will be miftakcn. For not 
 only in this Art , but alfo in every thing elfe , we 
 can do nothing but help Nature } and this by no 
 other medium then fire , or heat. Bat feeing this 
 cannot be done, fince in a congealed Mctallick bo- 
 dy there appears no Spirits; it is neceffary that the 
 body beloofed, ordifTolvcd, and the Pores there- 
 of opened , whereby Nature may work. But 
 what that difTolution ought to be, here I would 
 have the Reader take notice , that there is a two 
 fold diflolution, alchough there be many other 
 didolutions, but to little purpofe, there is onely 
 one that is truely natural, the other is violent, un- 
 der which all the reft are comprehended. The 
 natural is this, that the Pores of the body be o- 
 pened in our Water, whereby the Seed, thac is 
 digcQcd may be fcnc forth , and puc into its pro- 
 per 
 
per Matrix : Now our Water is heavenly, nldijb 
 wetting the hands, not vulgar, but almofl Railiedin 
 water : the Body is Gold,which yields Seed ; o\l%U 
 'L^ifof Si|vei^(not comi^^on Silver) is that whic|Bo<li( 
 receives the Seed of the Gold : ?Fter wards it is gel tkni) 
 vernedbyour continual Fire for (even months I pjfn 
 and foraetimes ten, until our Water con fume threef vd 
 and leave on^^ and that in duployox a double 
 Then it is fiourifhed with the Milk of the Earth 
 or the Facnefs thereof, which is bred in the Bow 
 els of the E^th, and is governed or preferved from 
 Putrefaflioffby the Salt of Nature. And thu 
 the Infant of ;he fecond Generation is genera- 
 ted. Now lee us pafs from the Theory to the 
 Praxis. 
 
 tkit 
 
 \\\ 
 
 VQt clctentti Creatife, 
 
 Of the Praxis ^ and making of the Stmc 
 or Tin^lnre hy ^rt% 
 
 THrough all thefe foregoing Chapters, oar j 
 Difcourfe of things haih been fcatter'd by 
 way of Examples, that the Praxis might be the 
 more eaiily underftood , which muft be done by 
 imitating Nature after this manner ^—— 
 
 Take of our Earth, through eleven Degrees , 
 eleven Grains, of our Gold, and not of the vulgar, 
 one Grain, of our Lune, not the vulgar, two 
 Grains : but be thou welladvifcd , that thou ta- 
 keft not common Gold and Silver for thefe are 
 dead, cake ours which are living : then put them 
 
 into 
 
a ii5eto iigipt of ai.'brm?; 3 1 
 
 itito our fire , and Ice there be made of rhcm a 
 dry Liquor ; firft of all the Earth will berefol- 
 ved into Water, which is called the Mercury of 
 Fhilofophers ; and that Water fhall refolve thofc 
 Bodies of Gold and Silver , and {hall confumc 
 them, fo that there {hall remain but the tenth 
 part with one part; and this lliall be the radical 
 raoiftare of Metals. Then take Water of Sak- 
 nitre, which comes from our Earth , in which 
 there is a River of living Water, if thou diggeft 
 the Pic knee deep, therefore take Water out of 
 that, but take that which is clear; upon this put 
 that radical Moiftare, and fee it over the fire of 
 Putrefa6lion and Generation , not on fuch a one 
 as thou didft in the firft Operation : govern all 
 th-ngs with a great deal of Difcrecion , un- 
 til Colours appear like a Peacoks Tail; govera 
 it by digefting it, and be not weary until thefc 
 Colours be ended , and there appear throughout 
 the whole one green Colour , and fo of the reft ; 
 and when thou fhalc feeinthe bottom Allies of 
 a firy Colour, and the Water almoft red, open the 
 VefTel, dip in a Pen, and fmear (ome Iron with 
 it ; if it tinge, have in readinefs that Water which 
 afterwards I fliallfpeak of and put in fo much of 
 that Water as the cold Air was which went in , 
 boil it again with the former fire untill it tii^e a- 
 gain. So far reached my experience , I can do 
 no more , I found out no more. Now that 
 Water muft be the Menftruum of the World , 
 out of the Sphere of the Mofon , fo often rectified, 
 until it can calcine Gold : I have been wiUing 
 here to difcover to thee all things; and if thou fhalc 
 underftand my Mining (omscirnes, and not the 
 
 Letter, 
 
3» anetoLisljtofaictism^; 
 
 I etter, I have revealed all things ; efpecially in the 
 fiift and fecond work. Now ic remains that wc 
 fpeak next of the Fire. The firft Fire, or of the 
 fiift Operation is a Fire of one degree, continual, 
 w hich goes round the Matter , the fcccnd is a na- 
 tural Fire, which digefts and fixeth the Matter: I 
 tell thee truly that 1 have opened to thee the Go- 
 vernance or Rules of the Fire, if thou undeiftan- 
 , deft Nature; The Vcflel remains yet to be fpo- 
 Jcen of. Ir muft be the Veffel of Nature , and 
 two are fufficient ; the VelTel of the fiift work 
 muft be round 5 but in the fecond a Glafs a little 
 kfs, like unco a Vial, or an Egg. But in all thefc 
 know that the F.re of Naiure is but one , and if 
 iz works varioufly, it is by reafon of the difference 
 of places. Tiie VelTel therefore of Nature is 
 but one i, bur we for brevities fake ufc a couple : 
 the Matrcr is onf , but cat of tWo Subftances. If 
 therefore thou w»ili give thy mind to make things, 
 conflder fiift things char are already made; if thou 
 canft not reach , or underftand thingr. prefented 
 to thy eyes, much Icfs things that are to be made, 
 and which thou dcfircft to make. For know 
 that ihou canft create nothing, for that is pro- 
 per CO God alone, but to make things that are not 
 perceived, but lie hid in the lliadow,to appear, 
 and to take from them their vail, is granted to an 
 intelligent Philofopher by God through Nature. 
 Confidcr, I befecch thee , the (imple Water of a 
 Cloud : who would ever believe that that contains 
 ill ic felf all things in the world, hard Scones, Salts, 
 Air, Earth, Fire, when as yet of it fclf it feemsto 
 be fimplt j> What ffiall I fay of the Earth, which 
 concams in it Wactrj Fire, Salrs, Air, and of ic en 
 
a nctfl uqijt of aic^pmp; 33 
 
 felf feems co be buc meer Earth ? O wonderful 
 Nature, which knows how co produce wonder- 
 ful fruits out of Warer in the Earth , sind from 
 the Air to give them life. All thefe aredon^, 
 and the eyes of the vulvar do hot fee them; buc 
 the eyes of the underftariding and imagination 
 perceive them, and that with a true fight. The 
 eyes of the wife look upon Nature otherwife than 
 the eyes of the common men. As for example, 
 the eyes of the vulgar fee that the Sun is hot; buc 
 the eyes of Philofophers on the contrary fee ic 
 rather to be cold, but its Motion co be hot. The 
 AS.S and Effects of ic are uriderftood through 
 the diftance of places. The Fire of Nature is 
 one and the fame with ic: for as the San is the 
 Center amongfl: the Spheres of the Planets; and 
 out of this Center of the Heaven ic fcatters its 
 Hear downward by its motion | fo in the Center 
 of the Earth is the Sun of the E^rth, which by its 
 perpetual motion fends its Heat or Beams upward 
 rothe Superficies of the Earth. That iiunnfecal 
 Heat is far more efficacious than this Elementa- 
 ry Fire ; but ic is allsyed with an Earthy Wa- 
 rer , which from day to day doch penetrate the 
 Pores of the Earth , and cools ic : So the Air 
 doth temper and mitigate the heavenly Sun and 
 ts Hear, for this Air doth day after day fly round 
 he World : and unlefs this were fo , cAl thingi 
 vould be confumed by fo great a Heat, neither 
 vould any thing be brou^hc forch. For as that 
 nvihble Fire or Central Meat would ccnfumc 
 llthings,if the Water coming bet wisC did not pre* 
 ent it ; fo the Heat of the Sun would deilory 
 11 chings 5 if the Air did n^ come becwixp* 
 
 : 
 
34 91 nctu %W of aic^pm?; 
 
 But how thcfe Elemcnrs work one with another, 
 I will briefly declare. In the Center of the 
 Earth is the Central Sun, which by its own mo- 
 tion, or of its firmament, docli give a ^reat heat, 
 which extends itfelfevenco the fuperlicics of the 
 Earth. Thac Keat caufeth Air after this man- 
 ner. The Matrix of Air is Water, which bring- 
 ech forh Sons of its own nature, but unlike , and 
 far more fubtil than it (elf 5 for where the Wa- 
 ter is denyed entrance, the Air enter?^ when 
 therefore that Central Heat, which is perpetual, 
 doth a£l, it makes Water diftil and be heated , 
 and fo that Water by reafon of the heat is turned 
 into Air; upon this account it breaks forth to the 
 luperficies of the Earth > becaufe it will not (ufFer 
 it fclf to be fhut in : then when it is cold it is refol- 
 ved into Water. In the mean time it happens ' 
 alfo thac in oppofite places not only Air but Wa- 
 ter goes out ; fo you fee it is when black Clouds 
 are by violence carry cd up into the Air, for 
 which thing take this as a familiar example. Make 
 Water hot in a Ppc , and thou llialt fee that a 
 foft fire caufeth gentle Vapours, and Winds: 
 bur aftrong fire maketh thick Clouds appear. 
 Juft in the fame manner doth the Central heat 
 workj it lifts up the iuotil Water into Air, that 
 which is thick by realon of its Sale or Faaiefs it 
 difhib'ites to the Earth, liy means of which di- 
 vers things are generated , thac wiiich remains 
 becomes Scones ajid Rocks. But fome may ob- 
 ject, if it were fo, ic would be done conihuu* 
 ly , but often times there is no Wmd at all pert 
 cci'fd. ianfwer, if Water be not policed vj< 
 Iciuly nuQ a d;(lillacory VtlTel,,thcre js no Wind, 
 
 foi 
 
a ncto lis^t of aicijprp; 3 i 
 
 for little Water ftirs up but little Wind : yoa 
 fee that ThcKidcrs are not always made, although 
 there be Rain and Wind 5 hue only when by foics 
 of the Air the fwelling Water is carried to the 
 fphercof the Fire; for Fire will not endure Wa- 
 ter. Thou haft before thine eyes an example , 
 when thou poureft cold Water into a hot furnace, 
 from whence a thundering noife is raifed. Bac 
 why the Water doth not enter uniformly into 
 thole places and cavities, the reafon is, becaufe 
 thefe forts of veflels and places are many ; and 
 fometimes one cavity by blafts, or winds drives 
 away from it felf water for fome days, and months, 
 until there be a repercuflfion of the Water again : 
 as we fee in the Sea , whofe Waves are moved 
 and carried a thoufand miles, before they find 0^ 
 meet with a reperculTion to make them returii 
 back ; but to return to our purpofe. I fay that 
 Fire or Heat is the caufe of the motion of the 
 Air, and the life of all things ; and the Earth is 
 the Nuvfe of all thefe things? or their receptacle. 
 But if there were not Water to cool our Earth, 
 and Air, then the Earth would be dryed, for 
 thefe two reafons,z/i^. by reafon of the Motion 
 of the Central Sun, and Heat of the Celeftiab 
 Neverthelefs it happens fometimes in fome places, 
 when the Pores of the Earth are obllruded , 
 that the Humidity or Water cannot penetrate ^ 
 that then by reafon of the correfponciency of the 
 Celeftial and Central Sun (for they have a mag- 
 iietick virtue betwixt themfelves ) the Earth is 
 inflamed by the Sun ; fo that even fometimes 
 there are miadc great chops or furrows in the 
 Earth. Caufe therefore that there be fuch an 
 
3(5 a netD ligtjt of aicl^pm?; 
 
 operation in our Earth , that the Central Heat 
 rnay change the Water into Air, that it may go 
 forth into the Plaines cf the world , and fcarter 
 the refidue, as I faid , throuf^h the Pores of the 
 Earth; and then contrariwife the Air will be 
 turned into Water , far more fubtil than the 
 firft Water was : and this is done thus, if thou 
 givcft: our old man Gold or Silver to (wallow, 
 that hemay confume them, and then he alfo dying 
 may be burnt, and his Allies fcattcrcd into Wa* 
 tcr, and thou boil that Water until it be enough, 
 and thou flialthavea Medicine to cure th^ Lepro- 
 fie, Mark , and be fure that thou takcft not 
 €old for hot, nor hot for cold , but mix natures 
 with natures, and if there be any thing that is 
 contrary to Natue (^for Nature alone is neceflary 
 fbx thee) fcparate it , that Nature may be like 
 Nature. Do this by Fire, and not with thy 
 Hand : and know that if thou doft not follow 
 Nature all is in vatn : and here I have fpoken to 
 thee through the help of God,what a Father Hiould 
 (peak to his Son ; He which hath ears let him hear, 
 and he which hath his fcnfes , let him fee his 
 m^nd upon what 1 fay. 
 
 THE 
 
a neto Jiigtit of aiclj^mp; ^7 
 €^e tiuelftlj €rcatiff, 
 
 0/ /^f Stone^ and lis VirtHe, 
 
 IM the foregoing Treatifes ic hach been fufHcienc- 
 ly fpoken concerning the Produ6lion of Natural 
 hinj^s, concerning che Elements, the Firft Matter 
 ind Second Maccer, Bodies, Seeds, and concerning 
 he Life and Virtue of them: I wrote aifo che 
 Praxis of making ihe Philofophers Scone. Now 
 [will difcover Co much of che Virtue of ir, as 
 Macure hath gianied to me> and experience caughc 
 Tie. But to comprthend the Argument of all 
 hcfe Treatifes briefly, and in few words, that che 
 leader which fears God may undciftand my 
 nii.d and meaning, the thin^ is chis. If any 
 nan cUuoi of the cruth of (he Arc, lee him rea4 
 he voluminous Wrir-ne^s of ancient Philofophars, 
 erificd by Reafon and Experience ; whom we may 
 iefcrvcdly give credit coin their own Arc : bac if 
 ny Will nocgive crcdic co them, then we know 
 IOC how to difpute with ihem, as denying Prin- 
 ples: for deaf and dumb men cannot fpeak. 
 A^hac prerogative (liould all things in this world 
 lave before Metals ? Why ll^iould thcfe alone, by 
 laving Seed withouccaufe denycd co ihem^ beex- 
 ludcdfrom Gods univerfal Bieiring of Malcipli- 
 acion , w hich holy Wric affirms was put in, and 
 eftowedoiiall created things prefenily after the 
 World was made ? Now if chey have Seed? who 
 s fo (otcilh CO chink cha: they cannot be mulcv 
 D J pi 
 
 
plied in their Seed ? The Arc of Alchymy in ki 
 Kind is true, Nature alfo is true, but the Artificer 
 isfddom true ; there is one Nature, one Art, but 
 many Artificers. Now what things Nature makes 
 out of the Elements, fhe generates them by the 
 Will of God out cf the firft Matter , which God 
 only knows : Nature makes and multiplies thofe 
 things of the fecond Matter, which the Philofo- 
 phers know. Nothing is done in the world with- 
 out the Pleafure of God and Nature. Every Ele- 
 ment is in its own fphere ; bat one cannot be with- 
 out the other ; one hvesby vercue of the other , 
 and yet being joined together they do not agree 5 
 but Water is of more worth than all the Elements, 
 becaufs it is the Mother of all things : upon ihjs 
 fwims the Spirit of Fire. By reafon of Fire Wa^ 
 tcr IS thefiift Matter, viz,, by the ftnving toge- 
 ther of Fire and Water, and (0 are generate4 
 Winds and Vapours apt and eafie to be congealed, 
 with the Earthjby the help of the crude Air,wh ch 
 from the beginning was Separated from it. And 
 this is done without cefiation, by a perpetual mo* 
 tion; bccaufc Fire or Heat isftirrtd up no other-? 
 wife than by motion, which thing you may eahly 
 conceive by a Smith filing Iron , which through 
 vehement motion waseth hot in that manner, ai 
 Jfit were heated in the Fire. Motion therefore 
 caufeth heat, heat moves the Water, the motion of 
 the Water caufeth Air, the life of all living thingf. 
 Things therefore grow after this manner (as I {aid 
 before) viz.. out of Watery forout of the fubtil 
 Vapour of it fubtil and light things prcceed, ou|! 
 6i the oyhnefs of it things that are heavy and of 
 greater price; bucofthe falc things far more ex- 
 ^ celleni 
 
9 neto lisi^t of aictipmg, 39 
 
 cdlent than the former. Now becaufe Nature is 
 fometimcs hindred, that it cannot produce purt 
 things ; feeing the Vapour, Facnels and Salt are 
 fouled or ftained , and mix ihemfelves wich the 
 placesofcheEarch: Moreover experience teachcfh 
 us to feparate the pure from the impure. There- 
 fore if thou w]lt have Nature be bectcred or men-« 
 ded in her aflings, difiulvc what body you plcafe^j 
 and that which was added or joyned to Nature, 
 as heterogeneous, feparate,cleanfe, joyn pure things 
 with pure, ripe to ripe, crude to crude, according 
 ro the poife of Nature, and not of Matter. And 
 know that the Central falc Nitre doth not receive 
 more of the Earth than it hath need of, whether 
 it be pure or impure: but the fatnefs of the Wa- 
 ter is oiherwife, for it is never to be had pure. Arc 
 purifies ic by a twofold Heat , and ihcn conjoins 
 
 D4 
 
 THE 
 
amtoiig^tofaic|i?m?; 
 
 THE 
 EPILOGUE, or CONCLUSIOIS 
 
 OF THESE 
 
 Twelve Treatifes, 
 
 Frjendly Readek, 
 
 I Wrote che twelve foregoing TreatiTes In Jove to 
 the Sons of Art, that before ihcy fee their hand 
 to the ¥7ork they may know the operation of Na- 
 ture, viz.. how {he producech things by her work- 
 ing • Itft they fhould attempt to enter mac the 
 gate without keyes, or to draw water in a ficve : 
 for he laboureth in vain, that putteth forth his 
 hands to labour without the knowlcdg:e of Na- 
 ture, in this facred and moft true Art, he lies in 
 no<5turnal darknefs to wliom the Sun doth not 
 fhine, and he is in thick darknefs, to whom atrer 
 ic is night the Moon doth not appear. Nature 
 hath her proper hght, which is nqc obvious to our 
 eyes S t^c fliadow of Nature is a body before our 
 eyes : but if the light of Nature doth enlighten 
 eny one, prefently the cloud is taken away from 
 bei^rc Lib eyes, and without aiiy let he can behold 
 the point of our loadHone , anfwering to each 
 Center of the beams, viz,, of the Sun and Earch : 
 for fo far dcch the light of Nature penetrate ^ and 
 |]ifcoversinward thmgs ; of which thing take this 
 ■ ' ' ' icx 
 
a netu nig^t of alct)ipm^ 4* 
 
 for an example. Let a boy thac is twelve years old, 
 and a girl of thefair.e age, be clothed with gar- 
 ments of the fame falhion, and befet one by the 
 other, no body can know which is the male, or 
 which is the female; our eyes cannot penetrate io 
 far, therefore ouriight deceivcth us, and takes 
 falfe things for true : Bat when their garments 
 are taken oft, and they are naked, that (o it may 
 appear what Nature made them , they are eafily 
 diflingu idled by their fexes. Juft after the fa rne 
 manner doth cur incelle<fl make a lliadow of the 
 fliadowof Nature; for the naked body of Man 
 is the inadow of the Seed o( Nature : As there- 
 fore mans Body is covered with a Garment, (o 
 aUo mans Nature is covered with the Body, which 
 God referves to himfelf to cover, or uncover, I 
 could here difcourfe largely , and Philofophically. 
 of the dignity of Man , his Creation an Genera- 
 tion : but feemg they are impertinent to this place, 
 I will pafs them over in filence ; onely I w^U treat 
 a little concerning the life of Man. Man was 
 created of the Earth , and lives by vertue of the 
 Air ; for there is in the Air a (ecret Food of Life, 
 which in thenighc we call Dew 5 and in the day 
 ratified Water , whofe invihble congealed Spi- 
 rit is better thcnthe whole Barth. O holy, and 
 wonderful Nature , who doft not fuft'er the Sons 
 of Wifdome CO errc, asthoudofl manifeftinthe 
 life of Man daily ! Moreover in thele twelve Trea- 
 , tiles I have produced (o many natural reafons, 
 , that he which is deiirous of the Art , and fears 
 ' God, may the more eaiily underftand all things, 
 which through Gods blelfing , wich my eyes I 
 
 have 
 
4* ^ neto UqU of aictipm^; 
 
 havefecn? ^iihmine own hands have made with- 
 out any deceit of Sophiftication : for without the 
 light, and knowled^of Nature, it is impolfible 
 to attain to this Art , unlefs it come to any by 
 Gods fpecial Revelation, or fome fpecial Friend 
 doth privately Oiew it. It is a thing of hcde ac- 
 count , yet mcft precious, which being divcps 
 times defcribed , I do now again repeat. Take 
 ten parts of Air, one part of living Gold , or li- 
 ving Silver; put all thefe into thy VejOfelj boyl 
 this Air fiift until it be Wafer , and then no Wa- 
 ter. If thou art ignorant of this , and knowft 
 not how to boyl Air , without all doubt thou 
 flialt erre; feeing this is the matter of the ancient 
 Philofophers. For thou muft take that , which 
 isy and is not feen , until it be the Artificers plea- 
 sure ; it is the water of our Dew , out of which 
 is extra6^ed the Salt Petre of Philofophers, by 
 which all things grow, and are nounllied : the 
 Marrix of it is the Center of the Sun , and Moon, 
 both Ctlcftial, and Terreftrial : and to (peak more 
 plainly , it is our Load-ftone , which in the fore- 
 going Treatifes I called Chalybs, or Sceel : The 
 Air generates this Load-ftone, and the Load-flonc 
 generates , or makes our Air to appear , and come 
 forth. I have here entirely fhewed thee the truth; 
 Begg of God that he would prof per thine under- 
 takings : Andfoin this place thou (halt have the 
 true and right explication oF Hermes y when he 
 faith , that the Father of it is the Sun , and its 
 Mother the Moon , and that which the Wind 
 carry ed in its Belly , viz,. S4 Alkali > which the 
 Philofophers have called Sal Armoniacnm , and 
 vegetable , hid in the Belly of the Mt^gnefia* 
 
 The 
 
The operation of ic is chis, to dill' -Ivt the congea- 
 led Air , in which thou ("halt diflblve the tenth 
 part of Gold ; fcal this up , and work with our 
 fire , until the Air be turned into powders ; and 
 there appear (ihc Salt of the world being firft 
 had) divers colours. I ^^ ould have fee down the 
 whole prcccfs in thefe Treatifcs ; but bccaufe that, 
 together wich the mulciplic.mon , is fufficiently 
 fee down in the Books of LuUius ^ and other old 
 Philofophers ; ic therefore fufficed me to treat on- 
 ly of thefiifl, andfecond Matter; which is done 
 faithfully , neither do thou ever think that any 
 Man Irving hath done it more clcerly, then I have 
 done '\zi lince I have done it not out of many 
 Books but by the labour of my Hands , and rains 
 own experience. If therefore thoudoft not un- 
 derhand , or believe the truth, do not blame me, 
 but thy ielf ,• and perfwade thy felf that God 
 was unwilling to reveal this fecret to thee; Be 
 therefore earned with him by prayer, and with 
 fenous meditation read over ths Book oftentimes, 
 efpecially the Epilogue of thefe twelve Trcatifes : 
 always confidering the pofiTibility of Nature , and 
 the adionsof the Elements , and which of them 
 is the chiefeft in thofe actions , and efpecially in 
 the rarefaction of VVacer , or Air , for (o the 
 Heavens arc Created, as alfo the whole World. 
 ThisI was wiUing tofignifie to thee, as a Father 
 to his Son. Do not wonder chat I have wrote fo 
 many Treatifes , fori did aot make them for my 
 own fake, feeing I lack not Books, but that I 
 might advertife many , that Work in fruitlefs 
 things , that they fhould not fpend their cofts in 
 vain. All chinas indeed might have been com- 
 prehended 
 
44 aiTftoiliS^tofaictjpm^' 
 
 prehended in few lines , yea in few words : but I 
 was willing to ^uidechec to the knowledge of Na- 
 ture by Reafrns, and examrl s; that thou might- 
 eft in the fiift place know , what the thing is thou 
 feekeft after, whether thefiift, orfecond Matter, 
 alfo that thou mightcft have Nature, her light, 
 and Aiadow difcovcred to thee. Benotdifplea- 
 fed if thoumeetcft lomctimes with contradictions 
 in my Treatifes, it bcng the ciiftomcof Philofo- 
 phcrs to ufe them ; thou haft need of them , if 
 thou underftandeft them , thou fhall not find a 
 Rofe without prickles. Weigh diligently what I 
 have fa id before, 'viz.. how four Elements diftil 
 into the Center cf the Earth a radical moifture, 
 and how the Central Sun of the Earth, by its mo- 
 tion bringeth it forth,and fublimeth it to the fupei- 
 ficies of the Earth. I have faid alfo that the Ce- 
 leftial Sun hath a correfpondency with the Cential 
 Sun : for the Celcftial Sun, and the Moon have a 
 peculiar power, and vertue of diftillirig into the 
 Earth by vercue of their Beams : for heat is eafily 
 joyned to heat , and Salt to Salt. And as the 
 Central Sun hath Its Sea, and crude Water , that 
 is perceptible ; (o the Celeftial Sun hath its Sea, 
 and fubtill W^ter that is not perceptible. In the 
 fuperficies the Beams of the one are joyned to the 
 Beams of the other, and produce flowers, and 
 all things. Therefore when there is Rain made, 
 ic receives from the Air that power of life, and 
 joyns it with the Salt-nitre of die Earth ( bccaufe 
 the Salt-nitre of the Earth is like calcined Tartar, 
 drawing to it felf by reafon of its drynefs the 
 Air, whichin itis refolved into Water ; fuchar- 
 tradtive power haih the Salt- nicre of the Earth, 
 
 which 
 
wni 
 
 a ntto tm of ^\mw 45 
 
 chalfo was Air, and ]S joyned to the fatncfs 
 of the Earth) and by how much the more abun- 
 dantly the Beams of the Sun beat upon it, the 
 greater quantity of Solr-nitrc is made, and by 
 confequence the greater plenty of Corn f^rows, and 
 is increafed, and this is done daily. Thus much 
 I thought good to fignifie to the ignorant of the 
 correfpondency , or agreement of things amongft 
 themfelvcs, and the efficacy of the Sun, and Moon, 
 and Stars; for the wife need not this inftrudlion. 
 Oar Subje6l is prefented to the eyes of the whole 
 World, and it is not known. O our Heaven! 
 O our Water! O our Mercury! O our Salt-nitre 
 abiding in the Sea of the World ! -O our Vege- 
 table ! Oour Sulphur fixed, and volatil! Oour 
 ^apHt Mortffumy or dead Head, or feces of our 
 Sea ! Our Water that wets not our Hands, with- 
 out which no mortal can live, and wichouc which 
 nothing grows , cr is generated in the whole 
 World ! And thefe are the Epithitesof Hirmet 
 his Bird, which never is at reft. Ic is of very 
 fmall account, yet no body can be without it t 
 and fo thou haft a thing difcovered to thee more 
 precious then the whole World , which I plain- 
 ly tell thee is nothing elfe bur our Sea waf.er, which 
 is congealed in Silver, and Gold, and extraaed 
 out of Gold, and Silver by the help of our Cha- 
 lybs, by the Art of Philofophers in a wonderful 
 manner, by a prudent Son of Art. It was not 
 my pirpofefor fome rcafons before mentioned in 
 the Preface, topubHfhthis Bookj but a defirc to 
 deferve well of thofe that arc ftudioudy given to 
 Liberal and Philofophical Arts , prevailed with 
 me, that I might hold forth to them, that I bear 
 ' * an 
 
4/i a neto ligi^t of aictipmp; 
 
 an honeft mind ; alfo that I might declare my 
 felf to them, that underftand the Art, to be their 
 equal and fellow , and to have attained their 
 knowledge. I doubt not but many men of good 
 confciences , and aftedions do enjoy this gift of 
 God fecrv^rly ,* thefe being warned by my example, 
 and dangers are made more caurious^and wife,ha- 
 ving that commendable filence of Harpcrates^ 
 For as often as 1 would difcover my felf to great 
 Men, ic always turned to my lofs and danger. By 
 this my Writing I make my felf known to the 
 adopted Sons of Hermes^ I inftiud the Ignorant, 
 and them that are miflcd , and bring them back 
 into the right way. And let the Heirs of wifdom 
 icnow, that they lliall never have a better way; 
 then that which is here demonftratcd to them ; 
 for I have fpoken all things cleerly : Only I have 
 not fo cleerly (hewed theexcradion of our Sale 
 Armoniac, or the Mercury of Philofophersjoutof 
 our Sea water, and the ufe thereof^ becaufe I had 
 from the Mafterof Nature no leave tofpeak any 
 further, and this only God mufl: reveal, who 
 knows the hearts and mmds oi Men. He will 
 haply upon thy conftant, and earneR Prayers, and 
 the frequent reading over of this Book, open the 
 eyes of thy underftanding. ThevelTel, as Ifaid 
 before, is but one from the beginning to the end, 
 or at moft two are fufficient : the Fire is continual 
 in both operations i for the fake of which let the 
 Ignorant read the tenth and eleventh Trcatifcs. If 
 thou ihalt operate in a third Matter , thou ihalc 
 cfFe^H: nothing : they meddle with this, whoevct 
 work not in our Salt, which is Mercury, but in 
 Herbs, Animjls,StoncS}and all Minerals, except- 
 ing 
 
ing cur Gold, and Silver covered over with the 
 Sphere oi Saturn, And whofoever defires to attain 
 to his defiic:] end, lee him underftand the conver- 
 ficn of the Elements to make light thinos heavy, 
 and to make Spirits no Spirits ; then he (hall noc 
 work in a ftrange thing. The Fire is the Rule, 
 whatfoever is done, is done by Fire ; as fufHciently 
 before, fo here we have fpoken enough by way of 
 Concluiion. Farewell friendly Reader ! and long 
 maift thou enjoy thefc labours of mme, (made 
 good? or verified by mine own experience,) to the 
 Glory of God, the welfare of thine own Soul, and 
 good of thy Neighbour. 
 
 T & 
 
48 aneto3Liel)tofaict)?m?. 
 
 T O THE 
 
 SONS of TRUTH: 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 TO THE 
 Philofophical J^nigma] or <^dle. 
 
 Sons of Wisdomj 
 
 I Have new opened to you all thing!? from the 
 very firft rifin^ of the univerfal Fountain > 
 that there is no more left to be difcovered. 
 For in the foregoing Treatifes I have fuffici- 
 enrly explained Nafur€,by way of example : I have 
 Oiewed che Theory and Praxis? as plainly as it was 
 lawful. But left any (liould complain of my brief- 
 nefs, that by realon of it 1 have omitted fome- 
 thing, 1 will yet further defcribcto thee the whole 
 Artliy way of Riddle , or ^enigmatical Speech ; 
 that thou maift fee how far through Gods gui- 
 dance I am come. The Books that treat of this 
 Art are infinite ; yet thou fhalt not find in any 
 of them the truth lo much, as it \s in this of mine, 
 made known or difcovered unto thee. The reafoa 
 that encouraged m« to make it fo plain,- was rhr5. 
 
viz,. Bccauff, when I had difcourfed wicli many 
 men, that thought they undf rftood the Writings 
 of Philofophers very well , I perceived that chey 
 did explain thofe Writings far more fubtilly ihan 
 Nature, which is fimple and plain, did require^ 
 yea all my true fayings did I'eem to them , being 
 profoundly wife, or favouring of high things, to 
 be of no value and incredible. It hapned fome- 
 cimesthac I would intimate the Arc to fome from 
 word to word, but they cculd by no means undei- 
 ftand me, not believing there was any Water in 
 our Sea, and yet they would be accounted Ph.lo- 
 fophers. Since therefore they could not under- 
 ftand my words , which I delivered by word of 
 mouth, I do iioc fear (as other Philofophers ueie 
 afraid) that any one can fo eaiily underftand whac 
 1 have wrote; Ic is the gift, I fay, of God. It is 
 true indeed , if in the Study of Alchymy there 
 were required fubtilnefs and quicknelsof wit, and 
 things were of that Nature as to be perceived ly 
 the eyes of the vulgar, I faw that their fancies or 
 wits were apt enough to find out fuch things : buc 
 I fay CO you, be dm pie, or pl3in> and noc too wife 
 until you have found out the Secret, which when 
 you have, ic will of necetTicy require wifdomc- 
 nough coufe and keepic , then ic will be eafiefor 
 you to write many Books , becaufe it is ealier for 
 him that is in the Center, and fees the thing, than 
 for him that walks in the Circumference, and only 
 hears it. You havcthe fecond Matter ot ell things 
 inoft clearly defcribcd unto you : bat letmegivc 
 you this Caution, chat if you would accainio this 
 Secrcc, know chat fiift of all God is to be prayed 
 to,then your Neighbour is to be loved ; and laf^lyj 
 
 E tio 
 
so a netti ligDt of aictivm^ 
 
 do not fancy to your (elves things that are fubtil , 
 which Nature knew nothing of* but abide, I fay, 
 abide in the plain way ot Nature; becaule you 
 may fooner feel the thing in plainnefs, or fimplici* 
 ty,than fee it in fabtihy. In readnig therefore 
 my Writings do not ftick in the Letter of them, 
 but in reading of them confider Nature, and the 
 poilibility thereof. Now before you fet your felves 
 to work, confider diligently what it is you feek , 
 and what the fcope and end of your intention is : 
 for it is much better to learn by the Brain and Ima- 
 gination than with Labour and Charges. And 
 this I fay to you, chat you muft feek for tome hid- 
 den thing, out of which is made (after a wonder- 
 ful manner) fucha Moifture, or Humidity,whi;h 
 doth diffolve Gold without violence, or noife, yea 
 fo fwcetly and naturally as Ice doth melc in warm 
 Water : if you find out this, you have that thing, 
 out of which Gold is produced by Narure : and 
 although all Metals and all things have theJr ori- 
 ginal from hence, yet nothing is fo friendly to it 
 as Gold ; for to other things there fticks fafi fome 
 impurity , but to Gold none, befides it is like a 
 Mother unto it. And fo finally I conclude, if 
 you will not be wife and wary by thefe my Wri- 
 tings and Admonitions, yet cxcufe me who defirc 
 to deferve well of you : I have dealt as faithfully 
 as it was lawful for me, and as becomes a man of a 
 goodConfciencetodo. If you ask who I am,Iam 
 one that can live any where: ifyouknow mc,and 
 dcfire ro fhew your feives good and honeft men , 
 you fhall hold your tongue : if you know me 
 not, do not enquire after me > for 1 will reveal to 
 no mortal man, whilft I live, more than I have 
 
 done 
 
a neto tW of aicljpmp, ft 
 
 done in this publck Writing. Bcl.eve me, if I 
 were not t man of that rank and condition as I 
 am, nothing would be more pleafanc to me than 
 afolirarylife, orwith Diogenes to He hid under a 
 Tub ; for I fee all things that are to be but vanity, 
 and that Deceit and Covctoufnefs arc altogether in 
 ufe, where all things are to be fold, and that 
 \Kt doth excel Virtue. I fee the better things 
 of the life to come before mine eyes. I rejoyce 
 in thefe. Now I do not wonder, as before I 
 did, why Philofophers when they have attained 
 to this Medicine , have not cared to have their 
 days fhorcned ; becaafc every Philofopher ham 
 the Life to come kt fo clearly before his eyes, as 
 thy face is feen in a glafs. And if God fhall grant 
 thee thydefired end, then thou fhalt believe me^ 
 and not reveal thy fclf to the world. 
 
 E 2 THE 
 
5i anetoWs^tofWvmi?. 
 
 PARABLE, 
 
 OR 
 
 Added by way of Conclufion I 
 and Superaddicion* 
 
 IT fell cut upon a time , when I had failed 
 almoft all my life from the Artick Pole, to 
 the Antaitick, that by the fingular Provi- 
 dence of God I was caft upon the fhore of a 
 certain great Sea, and although I well knew and 
 underftood the pafTaj^es and properties of the Sea 
 of that Coaft , yet I knew not whether in thofe 
 Coafts was bread that hcclc Fiih , which was 
 called RemOrA , which {o many men of great and 
 fmall Fortunes have hitherco (o ftadioufly (ought 
 after. But whilft I was beholding the fweet fint;- 
 ing Mermaids fwimming up and down with the 
 Nymphs ? and being weary with my foregoing 
 labours, and opprcffed with divers thoughts, f 
 iwas with the noife of Waters overtaken with 
 Ueep ; and whilft I was in a fweet fleep , there 
 appeared to me in my deep a wonderful Vilion, 
 which is this. I faw Neptune a man of an hono- 
 rable 
 
9mto!Lisl)tofalc|j?mp. si 
 
 rable old age, going forth out of cur Sea with his 
 three toothed Infirumentj called T'ridsns, who af- 
 ter a friendly faluce led me into a moft pleafanc 
 Ifljnd. This goodly iriand *'as (icuated towards 
 the South, being rcplenilhed with all things refpe-. 
 cting the necefTicy and delight of man : VirgilsE- 
 li/tan Field might fcarce compare with it. All 
 the Banks were round about befet with greea 
 Mirtles, Cyprel:. Trees and Rofemary, The 
 green Medows were covered all over with 
 Flowers of all forts , both fair and fweet. The 
 Hills were fet forth with Vmcs, Olive trees, and 
 Cedar trees in a moft wonderful manner. The 
 Woods were filled with O'renge and Lemmon- 
 trees. The high ways w^ere planted on both iides 
 with Bay-trees and Pomegranate- trees , woven 
 moft artificially one within the other, and ai%r- 
 ding a moft pleafant iLadow to Travellers. And 
 to be ihort, whatfoever is in the whole world was 
 feeii there. As I was walking, there was fhewed 
 to me by the aforefaid T^ptune two Mines of that 
 Jfland 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 Medow in which 
 was a peculiar Orchard with divers (orts of Trees 
 moft goodly to behold, and amongft the reft, be- 
 ing very many, he fhewed tome feven Trees mar- 
 ked out by fpecial Names j and amongft thefel 
 obferved two as chiefeft, more eminent than the 
 reftjone of which did bear Fruit like the Sun moft 
 bright, and lliining, and the Leaves thereof were 
 like Gold. The other brought forth Fruit that 
 was moft white, yea, whiter than che Lillies, and 
 ' the Leaver thereof were as fine Silver ; Now thefe 
 E 3 Trees 
 
14 a neto tw of autipm^ 
 
 Trees were called by N^-ptune^ the one the Tree of 
 the Sun, the other the Tree of the Moon. And aU 
 though in this Ifland all things were at ones plea- 
 jfure and command, and but one wanting : there 
 was no Water to be had, but with great difficulty. 
 There were indeed many thar partly endeavoured 
 to bring it thither by Pipes, and partly drew it out 
 of divers things : but their endeavours were in 
 yain ; becaufe in thofe places it could not be had 
 by means or medium ; and if it were at anytime 
 had, yet it was unprofiiable and poifonous, unleU 
 they fetched it (as few could do) from the Beams 
 of the Sun and Moon ; and he which was fortu- 
 nate in fo doing could never get above ten parts; 
 and that Water was moft wonderful: and believe 
 me, for I faw it with mine eyes, and felt it, that 
 that Water was as white as the Snow, and whilft 
 I was contemplating upon the Water, I was in a 
 great wonder. Wherefore Neptine being in the 
 mean while wearied vanillied away from before 
 mine eyes , and there appeared to me a great man, 
 upon who fe forehead was written the name of 54- 
 turn. This man taking the Veifel drew ten parts 
 of Water, and took prefently of the Tree of the 
 Sun, and put it in ; and 1 faw the Fruit of the 
 Tree confumed , and refolved like Ice in warm 
 Water. I demanded of him ; Sir, I fee a won- 
 derful ihing, Water to be as it were of nothing ^ 
 I fee ihe Fruit of the Tree confumed in it with a 
 mofl fweet and kindly heat, and wherefore is all 
 this ? But he anfwered me moft lovingly. My 
 Son, It is true this is a thing to be wondred at j 
 but do not thou wonder at it, for fo it muft be. 
 For this Water is the Water of Life^ having pow- 
 er 
 
9 neto tigtit of 9lcti?mp, s^ 
 
 cr to better rhe Fruit ct this Tree , lo that after^ 
 ward neither by planting or grafting, but only by 
 irsown odour it may convert the other fix Trees 
 into its own likenefs. Moreover this Water is to 
 this Fruit as it were a Woman, the Fruit of this 
 Tree can be putrified in nothing but in this Wa- 
 ter, and although the Fruit of it be of it felf moft 
 wonderful, and a thing of great price ; yet if ic 
 be putrified in this Water it begets by this putrc- 
 fadion a S aUmandtr zbidms, in the Fire, whofe 
 Blood is more precious than any kind of Treafure 
 or Riches in the world , being able to make thofe 
 fix Trees, which here thou fecft, fruitful, and to 
 bring forth their fruit fweeter than the Honey. But 
 I asked , Sir, How is that done ? I told thee (fai.h 
 . he)that the Fruit of chat Tree is Iiving,and fweer 5 
 but whereas one is now fufficed with it, when it 
 isboylcd in this Water, athoufand may then be 
 facisfied with it. I demanded moreover , Sir, is 
 it boiled with a ftrong fire, and how long is it in 
 boiling ? But, faid he, that Water hath an intrin- 
 fccal Fire, and if it be helped with a continual 
 Heat, it burns three parrs of its body with thiS bo- 
 dy of the Fruit , and there will remain but a ve- 
 ry fmall part, which is fcarce imaginable , but of 
 wonderful virtue ; it is boiled by the skilful Wic 
 "of the Artificer, fiift fcven mon hs, then ten, but 
 in the mean cime there appeared divers things, and 
 always in the fiftiech day, or thereabouts* 1 de- 
 manded again, Sir, cannot this Fraic be boiled in 
 other waters, cr fomeching be puc to it? Hfi 
 anfwered, there is but this one Water that isule- 
 ful in this Country, or Ifland ^ and there is no o • 
 xhci water can peiKiiate the pores of this Apple, 
 
but this : and know slfo that the Tree of the Sun 
 h'aih its original fnm this Warer, which isextra- 
 6\ed our of the Beams of the San and Moon by a 
 mr.gnecick virtue ; Befides they have a great cor- 
 refpondency betwixt ihtmfelves, butif any firangc 
 thing be added to it, it cannot perform that which 
 ic can do of it fdf. I . muft therefore be left by it 
 fcU^rnd no;hingaddcd toitbut this Apple : This 
 Fruit after boiling becomes to be immortal, having 
 Life and Blood, which Blood makes all the Trees 
 bring forth Fruit of che fame Nature with the 
 Apple. I asked him futther, Sir> is this Water 
 drawn any other way, or to be had every where? 
 And he faid, it is in every place, and no man can 
 live without it ^ it is drawn divers ways, but chat 
 ij the beft which is cx[ra6lcd by virtue of our 
 Chalybs, which is found in the Belly of Aries. I 
 (aid, to what u'^e is it ? He anfwercd, before its 
 due boiling it is the gieaaft Pf^ifon , but after a 
 convenient boiling ic isihegreateft Medicine, and 
 yields n'ne and twenty Grainsof Blood; and eve- 
 ry Grain wiH yield ro thee the Fruit of the Tree 
 of the San in 864 fold. I a^J^cd, Can it not be 
 made yet better? The Philofophicai Scripture be- 
 ing wMtn£fs(fauhhe) it may be exalted firft to ten, 
 then to a hundred, then to a ihoufand , and ten 
 thoufand. I required again of him, Sir, Do ma- 
 ny know that Waccrj and hath it any proper 
 Name ? He cryed our, faying, Few know it but 
 - ail have fecn it, and do fee ir, and love it : it hath 
 many and various Names, but its proper Name is 
 the Water of our Sea, the Water oi Life noc 
 weiting the hands. I asked yet farther, Do any 
 life it to a!>y odicr things? Every 'Creature (faith 
 
 he) 
 
a netD tig'^t of aict)i?m?, 57 
 
 he) doth ufe it, but invifibly. Then I asked. 
 Doth any thing grow in it ? but he (aid. Of i r 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 it felf to every thing. I asked again> 
 Is it ufeful for any thins; without the Fruit of this 
 Tree ? To this he faid> Not in this work ; becaufe 
 it is not bettered, but in the Fruit of the Tree of 
 the Sun alone. I began to intreat him, Sir, I pray, 
 name it to me by fuch a manifeft Name, that I 
 may have no further doubt about it. But he cry- 
 ed with a loud voice, (o as that he awakened me 
 from fleep ; Therefore I could ask him no further, 
 neither would he tell me anymore, neither can 
 I tell any more. Be fatisfied with thefe, and be- 
 lieve me, that it is not polTible to fpeak more clear- 
 ly. Forifthcudoft not underftand thefe things, 
 thou wilt never be able to comprehend the Books 
 of other Philofophers. After Satnrns unexpeded 
 and fndden departure a new fleep came upon me, 
 and then appeared to me Neptune in a vifiblc 
 fhape : He congratulated my prefent happinefsin 
 the Gardens of the Hefperides , (hewing to me ; 
 a Looking- glafs, in which I faw all Nature difco- 
 vered. After the changing of divers words be- 
 twixt us, 1 gave hioa thanks for his courtefies (hew- 
 ed to me ; becaufe I not only entred into this Gar- 
 den? but alfo came into Satffrn^s moft dcfired 
 Difcourfc. But becaufe by reafon of Satnrns 
 unexpc6^ed departure fomc difficulties did yet re- 
 mam to be inquired after, and fearched into , I 
 carneftly befought him, that by means of this hap- 
 py opportunity he would refolve me my doubts. 
 Now I importuned him with thefe words, Sir, I 
 
 have 
 
have read the Books of Phllofophers, and they 
 fay, that all Generation is done by Male and Fe- 
 male, yet I faw in my Dream Saturn put the 
 Fruit alone of the Tree of the Sun into our Mercu" 
 ry ; I believe alfo thee as the Matter of this Sea, 
 that thou knowcft thefe things; anfwermy Qae- 
 ftion, I pray thee. Bu t he (aid, It is true, my Son, 
 all Generation is done in Male and Female, but by 
 reafon of the diftinguilliing 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 Senfes, yec 
 they are brought forth by purrefa^lion, and their 
 place, or earth, in which they are putrified , is the 
 Female. So in this Philofophieal Work the Mo- 
 ther of this thing is that Water of thine fo often 
 repeated, and whatfoever is produced of that, is 
 produced as Worms by Putrefa6^ion, Therefore 
 the Philofophcrs have created a Phenix and Sala- 
 mander. For if it were done by the Conception 
 of tvvo Bodies, it would be a thing fubjecfl to 
 death ; but becaufe it revives it felf alone, the for- 
 mer Body being deftroyed, it rifeth up another 
 Body incorruptible. Seeing the death of things is 
 nothing elfe bur the (eparation of the one from the 
 other. And fo it is in this Phenix , becaufe the 
 Life feparatesit fclf by its felf from a corruptible 
 Body, Moreover, I asked h^m, Sir, are there di- 
 vers chings, or is there a compofition of things in 
 this Work ? But he faid, there is only one thing, 
 with which there is mixed nothing elfe but the 
 Philofophical Water fhewed to thee oftentimes in 
 thy fleep, of which there muft be ten parts to one 
 of the Body. And ftrongly and undoubtedly be- 
 
 lieve. 
 
9 wto tifitit of au^mp. w 
 
 lieve. My Son, that thofe things which are by me 
 and Saturn fhewed thee by way of Dreams, accor- 
 ding CO the cuftom in this Ifland, are not Dreams, 
 but the very trnth, which Experience the only Mi- 
 ftris of things will by the afTiftance of God difco- 
 ver to thee. I yet faicher demanded fome things 
 of him, but he without any anfwer,'afterhe had 
 took his leave, of me, departing fee; me, being raifed 
 from fleep, into niy defired Region of Europe. 
 And fo 5 friendly Reader , let this fuffice thee, 
 which hath by mc thus far been fully declared. 
 
 To ^ed alone he Praife and Ghry. 
 
6o a neto listit of aic^pm^ 
 
 DIALOGUE 
 
 BETWEEN 
 
 ^^E%CU10f, tht JLCBTSHIST, 
 
 VPon a time there weia aflcmblcd divers 
 Akhymifis together, and held a coun- 
 (el how they (liould make, and pre- 
 pare the Philofophers Scone, and they 
 concluded that every one (liould declare his opi- 
 aton with a vow. And that meeting was in the 
 open Air, in a certain Meadow, on a fair deer day. 
 And many agreed that Mercury was the firft Mat- 
 ter thereof, others that Sulphur was , and others 
 other things. But the chicfeft opinion was of 
 Mercury , and that cfpecially becaufe of the fay- 
 ingsof Philofophcis, becaufethey hold, that Mer- 
 cury is the fii ft true Matter of the Scone, alfo of 
 Metals : For Philofophers cry out, and fay? OUR 
 MERCURY, &c. And fo whilft they did con- 
 tend amorgft themfclvcs for divers operations(eve- 
 ry one gladly expeding a conclufion) there arofe 
 m the mean time a very great tempeft, with ftorms> 
 fliowersof rain, and an unheard of wind, which 
 difperfcd that aflembly into divers Provinces, eve- 
 ry one apart,without a conclufion. Yet every one 
 of them fancied to himfelf what the conclufion 
 of that difpuce ihould have been. Every one 
 
 there- 
 
a netD)Ligl)tof9Ut))?mp. ^i 
 
 herefore fee upon his work as before , one in this 
 hing , another in that thing feekingthc Philofo- 
 )hers Scone, and this is done till this day without 
 my giving over. Now one of them rcmembring 
 :he difputation, that the Philofophers Stone is ne- 
 zeffarily to be fought after in Mercury , {aid co 
 bimfclf : Ahhough there was no conclufion 
 made, yec I will work in Merer ry? and will make 
 a conclufion rayfelf in making theblefled Stone 5 
 for he was a man that was alwaies wont to talk to 
 himfelf , as indeed all Alchjmifls ufually do. He 
 therefore began co read the Books of Philofophers, 
 and fell upon a Book of AUnw^ which treats of 
 Mercury j and fo that Alchymift is made aPhilo- 
 fophcr, but without any conclufion : And taking 
 Mercury he began to work *-, he put ic into a Glais, 
 and put Fire to ic, the Mercury as it is wont to 
 do, vapoured away, the poor Ally Alchymift noc 
 knowing the Nature of it, beat his Wife, faying: 
 No body could come hither befidcs thee, thou 
 tookefl the Mercury out of the Glafs.His Wife cry- 
 ing excufech her felf, and fpeaks fofcly to her Hut- 
 band : Thou wilt make a fir-revcrencc of thcfc. 
 The Alchymift took Mercury again, and put ic 
 again into his VcfTel , and left his Wife fhould 
 take it away, watched it. But the Mercury, as 
 ics Manner is, vapoured away again. The Alchy- 
 mift remembring that the firft Matter of the Phi- 
 lofophers Stone muft be volatile, 1 e joy ced excee- 
 dingly , altogether perfwading himfelf that he 
 could not now be deceived , having the firft Mat- 
 ter : He began now to work upon Mercury bold- 
 ly , he learned afterwards to fublimeit, and to 
 calcine ic divers ways, as with Sale, Sulphur, and 
 
 Me. 
 
6z anetoiifgljtof aift)?mp. 
 
 Metals, Minerals, Bloud» Hair, Corrofivc waters j 
 Herbs? Urine, Vinegar, but could find nothing 
 forhis purpofe ; he leFc nothmg unaflaycd in the 
 whole World, with which he did not work upon 
 good Mercury withal. But when he could do no 
 
 good at all with this, he fell upon this laying - 
 
 that it is found in the DunghiS, He began to 
 work upon Mercury with divers forts of Dung, 
 together, and afunder : And when he was weary, 
 and full of thoughts he fell into a flecp. And in 
 his fleep there appeared to him a vifion : there 
 came to him an old Man, who (aimed him, and 
 faid ; Friend, Why art thou fad? Heanfwered, 
 I would willingly make the Philofophers Stone. 
 Thenfaidhe, Friend, Of what wilt thou make 
 the Philofophers Stone? Alchymifia, Of Mercu-* 
 ty^Six, Senex. Of what Mercury ? Alch, There 
 is but one Mercury. Sen» It is true, there is but 
 one Mercury, but altered varioufly, according to 
 the variety of places ; one is purer then another. 
 Alch, O Sir, I know how to purifie it very well 
 with Vinegar and Salt, with Nitre and Vitri- 
 a!. Sen. I cell thee this is not the true purifying of 
 it, neither is this, thus purified , the true Mer- 
 cury : Wife men have another Mercury, and 
 another manner of purifying it , and fo he 
 vanifhed away. The Alchymift being raifed 
 from fleep thought with himfelf what vifion this 
 (hould be, as alfo what this Mercury of Philofo- 
 phers (liould be: he could bethink himfelf of no 
 other but the vulgar Mercury. But yethedefi- 
 red much that he might have had a longer dif- 
 courfe with the old Man : but yet he worked 
 continually , fomecimes in the Dung of living 
 
 Creatures, 
 
a iaeti) listit of aici)?mp» 6i 
 
 Creatures, asBoycsDong, and fomctimesinhis 
 own. And every day he went to the place) where 
 he fa^v the vifion , that he might fpeak with the 
 old Man a^ain : fometimes he counterfeited a 
 fleep, and lay with his eyes fhut cxpediing the 
 cid Man. But when he would not come he 
 though: he was afraid of hinn, and would noc 
 believe that he was afleep, he fwore therefore fay- 
 ing, my good old Matter be not afraid, for truly 
 lam afleep ; look upon my eyes, fee if I be not: 
 And the poor Alchymift after fo many labours, 
 and the fpending of all his goods , now at laft 
 fell mad , by alwaies thinking of the old Man. 
 And when he was in that ftrong imagination, 
 there appeared to him in his fleep a falfe vifion, in 
 the likenefs of the old Man, and faid to him, do 
 not defpair, my friend, thy Mercury is good, and 
 thy Matter , but if it will not obey thee , conjure 
 it, that it be not volatile; Serpents are ufedtohc 
 conjured, and then why not Mercury ? and fo 
 the old Man would leave him. But the Alchy- 
 mift asked of him, faying, Sir, expe6l> 5cc. And 
 by reafon of a noife this poor Alchym.ft was raifed 
 from fleep, yet not without great comfort. He 
 took then a vefTelfullof Mercury, and began to 
 conjure it divers ways , as his dream taught him. 
 And he remembred the words of the old Man, in 
 that he faid, Serpents are con'^nredy and Mercury 
 is painted with Serpents, he thought, fo it muft 
 be conjured as the Serpents. And taking a Vef- 
 fel with Mercury he began to fay, Vx-^ f^x, Ofta^y 
 &c. And where thenameof the Serpent Iliould 
 be put,he put the name of Mercury, faying : And 
 thou wicked bcaf^ Mercury, dec Ac which words 
 
 Mercury 
 
Mercury began to laugh, and to fpcak unto him 
 faying, what wile thou have, that thou thus trou- 
 blcftmemy Mafter Alchymift > Alch. O ho, now ^ 
 thou called me Matter, when I touch thee to the 
 quick, now 1 have found where thy bridle is, 
 wait a little, and by and by thou (lialt fing my 
 fong, and he began to (peak to him, as it vvere 
 angerly, Art thou that Mercury of Philofophers? 
 Merc (zs if he were afraid aniwered) I am Mer- 
 cury, my Mafter. A!ch» Why therefore wilt not 
 thou obey me? and why could not I fix thee? 
 Merc. O my noble Mafter, I befeech thee pardon 
 me, wretch that I am, I did not know that thou 
 waft (o great a Philofopher. Alch. Didft not thou 
 perceive this by my operations , feeing I proceeded 
 fo Philofophically with thee? Merc, So iris my 
 noble Mafter, although I would hide my felf, yet 
 I fee I cannot from fo honourable a Mafter as 
 thou art. Alch. Now therefore doft thou know a 
 Philofopher? MercYcz^ my Mafter, I fee that 
 your worfhip is a moft excellent Philofopher. 
 Alch. (being glad at his heait faith) truly now I 
 have found what I fought for (again he fpake, to 
 Mercury with a moft terrible voice:) now go to, 
 be now therefore obedient, or elfe it fhall be the 
 worfe for thee. Merc. Wilhngly, my Mafter, if I 
 am able, for now I am very weak. Alch. Why 
 doft thou now excufe thy ielf? MerC' I donoc 
 my Mafter, but I am faint and feeble. A'ch. What 
 hurts thee ? Merc. The Alchymift huj rs me. . 
 Alch. What deft thou ftiil deride me ? Merc. O 
 Mafter,no,][ fpeak of the Alchymift, but thou arc 
 a Philofopher. Alch» O well, well, that is true, 
 but what hath the Alchymift done ? Merc. O my 
 
 Mafter, 
 
9 ncto iLigtit of aictipm?; 6s 
 
 Mafter, he hach done many evil things to me, for 
 he hath mixed me, poor wretch as I anH, with 
 things contrary to me : from whence I fhall never 
 be able to recover my ftrength, and I am almoft 
 dead, for I am tormented almoft unto death. 
 ^!ch, O choa deferveft thofe things, for ihou arc 
 difobedient. Merc. I was never difobedienc- to 
 any PhiJoropher> but it is natural to me to deride 
 iFooIs. A I ch^ And whsit doft thou think of me? 
 mferc, OSir, you are a great Man, averygreac 
 Philofopher , yea, greater then Hermes himfelf. 
 Alcb. Truly fo it is, I am a learned Man, but I 
 will not commend my fclf, but my Wife alfo faid 
 to me, that I am a very learned Philofopher, (he 
 knew fo much by me. Merc, I am apt to believe 
 thee, for Philofophers muft be fo, whobyreafon 
 ! of too much wifdom, and pains fall mad. Alch^ 
 : Go to then, tell me therefore what I (hall do with 
 I thee ; how I fhall make the PhilofopherS Scone 
 ; of thee. Merc, O my Mafter Philofopher,! know- 
 not, thou art a Philofopher, I am a fervant of the 
 Philofophers, they make of me what they pleafcp 
 I obey them as much as I am able. A'cfj, Thou 
 mufttcUmehow I muftpro:eed with thee, and 
 how I may make of thee the Philofophers Stone. 
 ' MercK thou k no weft, thou ihalc make it, buc 
 i£ thou knoweft not , thou fhalt do notbing, 
 I thou fhalt know nothing by me, if thou know*- 
 ! eft not already my Mafter Philofopher. AUh; 
 i Thou fpeakeft to me as to fome fimple Man, per- 
 I haps thou doft not know that I have worked with 
 Princes, and was accounted a Philofophei' wich 
 ! them. UHerc* 1 am apt co believe thee my Mafter, 
 |foiIkuot¥aU chis very well, I am yec foul, ztid 
 
 JF uncksLQ 
 
unclean by reafon of thofe mixtures that thou haft 
 ufed. Alch.Thcuktt tell me, art thou the Mercury 
 of Philofophersp^^rf.I am Mercury, but whether 
 or no the Philofophers, that belongs to thee to 
 know. j4lch. Do bui tell me if ihou art the true 
 Mercury ,or if there be another. -^^rr. I am Mercu- 
 ry but there is anotherjsnd iohe vanifhed away. 
 The Alchym ft cries out and (peaks, but no body 
 anfwers him. And bethinking himfelf faith : fure- 
 ly I am an excellent Man, Mercury hath been 
 pleafed to talk with me, furcly he loves me ; and 
 then he began to fublime Mercury, diftil, calcine, 
 make Turbith of him, precipitate, and diflblve 
 him divers wayes, and with divers Waters, but as 
 he laboured in vain before, fo now alfohe hach 
 {pent his time and cofts to no purpofe. Wherefore 
 3tlaft he begins to cur fe Mercury, and revile Na- 
 ture becaufe {he made him. Now Nature when 
 {he heard thefe things called Mercury to her, and 
 {aid to him: What haft ihou done to thisMan? 
 Why doih he curfeand revile me for thy fake? 
 W'hy doft not thou do what thou oughteft to do ? 
 But Mercury tnodeftly cxculeth himfelf. Yet 
 Nature commands him to be obedient to the Sons 
 of Wifdom, that (eek after him. Mercury prc- 
 mifeth that he will, and faith .• Mother Nature, 
 hm who can fatisfie fools? Nature went away 
 fmiling; but Mercury being angry with the Al» 
 chymiQgofsalfo unto his own place. After a few- 
 days it cameintothe Alchymiftsmind, that he 
 emitted fomethifig in hh operations, and again he 
 hath recourfe to Mercury, and now refolves to mix 
 him With hogs-dung; but Mercury being angry 
 ihat he hadfaiily acculcd hioi before his Mother 
 
 Nature, 
 
a nrtn Jiistlt of ^ct>pmp; 6i 
 
 Nature, (aiih to the Alchymift, whac wile thou 
 have of me thou fool f Why haft thou thus ac- 
 cufcd me? Alch. Artchou he that I have longed 
 to fee ? Mtrc^ I ara, but no Man thac is blind can 
 fee me. AlchA am not blind. Merc. Thou arc 
 very blind, for thou canft not fcethy felf, how- 
 then canft thou fee mc ? Aleh, O now thou arc 
 proud, I fpeak civilly to chee, and thou contemn- 
 eft me : tbou doft not know perhaps that I have 
 worked with many Princes, and was efteemed as 
 aPhilofopheramongftthem, Merc. Fools flock 
 to Princes Courts, for there they are honoured, 
 and fare better then others. Waft thou alfo at the 
 Court ? Alch. O thou art a devil, and not a good 
 Mercury, if jchou wilt fpeak thus to Philofophers: 
 for before thou didftalfo feduce me thus. Mtrc^ 
 Doft thou know Philofophers? AlchA my felf 
 am a Philofopher. MtYC. Behold our Philofopher 
 (fmiling faid : and began to talk further with him 
 faying) My Philofopher, tell me therefore what 
 thou feekeft after, and what thou wile have, whac 
 doft thou defire to make ? Alch, The Philofo- 
 phers Stone. Mire* Ouc of what Macter therefore 
 wilt thou make it ? Alch* Of our Mercury. Merc. 
 O my Philofopher, now 1 will leave you, for I am. 
 not yours. Alch, O rhou art but a devil, and wilt 
 feduce me. Merc* Truly my Philofopher thou arc 
 adevil tome, not I to thee : for thou dofl deal 
 moft fordidly wich rae, after a devillifh Manner* 
 Alch* O what do I hear? thiscertain'y is a devil 
 indeed, for I do all things according to the w Ti- 
 lings of Philofophers, and know very well how- 
 to work, Merc.\\io\x knoweft very well, for choii- 
 doft more thea thou knoweft,orrcftdcfto£ ; for 
 F i ^ che 
 
the Phil (ophers faid , thac Nature is to be mixed 
 with Natures; and they command nothing to be 
 done without Nature ; but thou doft mix me with 
 almoft all the fordidft things that be, as Dung, 
 Alch» 1 do nothing befides Nature: but I-fow 
 Seed into its own Earth, as the Philofophers have 
 faid. ^^rr.Thou foweft me in Dung, and in 
 time of Harveft I do vanilh away, and thou art 
 wont to reap Dang. Alch. Yet fothe Philofophers 
 h we wrote, that in the dunghill their Matter is to 
 be fought for, Mer^ It is true what they have 
 written ; but thou undeiftandcft their letter, and 
 not their fcnfe, and meaning. Alch. Now happi- 
 ly I fee that thou art Mercury ; but thou wilt not 
 obey me. And he bc^an to conjufe him again, 
 faying, l^x^ Vx. But Mercury laughing anfwer- 
 cd, thou (halt do no good, my Friend. Alchi 
 They Ao not fpeak without ground, when they 
 fay thou art of a ftrange Nature, inconftant, and 
 volatile. tJM.nc. Doft thou fay, that I am incon- 
 ftant, I rcfolve thee thus, I am conftant unto a 
 conftant Artificer ; fixed to him, that is of a fixed 
 mind, but thou, and fuch as thou art, are incon- 
 ftant, running from one thing unto another, from, 
 one Matter unto another. Alch, Tell me there* 
 fore if thou art that Mercury, which the Phi- 
 lofophers wrote of, which they faid was, to- 
 gether with Sulphur , and Salt the principal of 
 all things, ormuft I feek after another? Mtrc* 
 Truly the Fruit doth not fall far from the Tree, 
 but 1 feek not mine own praife, I am the fame as 
 Iwas, but my years are differing. From the be- 
 gmning 1 was young, folcng as I was alone, but 
 ROW 1 am older, yet the fame as I was before. Ak* 
 
 Now 
 
9 neto JListit of aicti^mp; 69 
 
 Now thou pleafeft me, tcjaufe now chou arc 
 older : for I always fought afrer fuch an one chac 
 was more ripe and fixed, that I might fo much 
 [the more eafily accord with him. tMerc. Thou 
 doft in vain look after me in my old age , who 
 didft not know me in my youth. tA^ch, Did 
 not I know thee , who have worked with thee 
 divers ways., as thou thy felf haft faid > and yec 
 I will not leave off till I have raad^ the Philofo- 
 phers Stone, Merc» O what a miferable cafe am 
 :Iin ! What fhall I do ? I muft now be mixed 
 again with Dung, and be tormented. O wretch 
 chat I am ! I befeech thee, good Matter Philofo- 
 pher, do not mix me fo much with Hogs dung; 
 tor ocherwife I (liall be undone ; for by reafon of 
 this ftink I am conftrained to change my fhape. 
 And what wilt thou have me do more? Am not 
 I tormented fufficicntly by thee f Do not I obey 
 thee } Do not I mix my (elf with thofe things 
 thou wilt have me ? Ami not fublimed ? Am I 
 not precipitated ? Am I not made turbith, an A« 
 malgamt , a Paft ? Now what canft chou defire 
 more of me? My Body is fo fcourged, fo fpic 
 upon, that the very ftone would pity me : By ver- 
 tue of me thou haft Milk, Flelh, Blood, Butter, 
 Oyl, Water, and which of all the Mettals or Mi- 
 nerals can do that which I do alone ? and is there 
 no mercy to be had towards me ? O what a wretch 
 am I ! Alch, O ho, it doth not hurt thee , thou 
 arc wicked , although thou curneft chy felf infldc 
 out, yet thou doft not change thy felf , thou deft 
 but frame to thy felf a new fhape, thou deft al- 
 ways return into thy firft form again. Mere* I ^o 
 as chou Wile have me, if thou wilt have me be a 
 F 3 Body, 
 
7© anrtDtia^tofaici^m^* 
 
 Bo(!y, iam a Body; it thou wilt have me be duft^ 
 I am duft , I know not how I fhould abafe my 
 felf more than when I am Duft and a Shadow. 
 ^Ich. Tell me therefore what thou art in thy Cen- 
 ter,and I will torment thee no more. Merc, Now, 
 I am conftrained to tell from the very foundati- 
 on. If thou wile thou maiftunderftand me : thoa 
 fecft my rhape,and ef this thou needeft know fur- 
 ther. But bccaufe thou askeft me of the Center , 
 my Center is the moft fixed heart of all things , 
 immortal and penetrating ; in that my Mafter 
 rcfts, but I my (elf am the way and the padenger, 
 lamaftranger, and yet live at home, I am moft 
 faithful to all my Companions, I leave not thofe 
 that do accompany me, I abide with them, I pe- 
 jrifh with them. Jam an immortal Body : I 6{t 
 indeed when I amflain, but Irife again to Judg- ; 
 xnent before a wife Judg. Alcb. Arc thou there- i 
 fore the Philofophcts Stone ? M^rc, My Mother j 
 is fuch a one, of her IS born artificially one certain | 
 thing, but my Brother, who dwells in the Fort ^ 
 jiath in his Will what the Philofopheis deiire. 
 ^ch. Art thou old? Merc. My Mother begat 
 me , but I am older than my Mother. Alch> 
 What devil can underftand thee, when thou doft 
 not anfwer to the purpofe f thou always fpcakcft 
 Ridks. Tell me ifthou arc that Fountain ot which I 
 firn^rd hoid 7'rtvi/an writ? Mer^, I am not ; 
 the Fountain, but 1 arp the Water, the Founcain | 
 compafleih me about. , Alch, Is Gold diflolved | 
 inxhee,when thou art Water? ijl^erc. Whatfo- j 
 ever is with me I love as a Friend ; ^nd whatfo* \ 
 ?ver is brought fprth with me, to that I give nou- 
 jjtthmencj and whacfoever is naked I cover with ' 
 ,... : . ._ : my ' 
 
a mto lis^t of aic^pm?, 71 
 
 my Wings. • Akh, 1 it is to no purpofc to fpcak 
 to thee , I ask thee one thing , and thou an- 
 fwereft another thing : if thou wilt not anfwer 
 to my Qaeftion , truly I will go to work with 
 ihec again. (JMtrc, O Maftcr , I befcech thee^ 
 be good to me, now I will willingly do whac 
 I know. ^Ich. Tell me therefore if thou arc 
 afraid of the Fjre. LMtrc, I am Fire my 
 felf' tA'ch. And why then doft thou fly from 
 the Fire. LMerc, My Spirit and the Spirit of 
 the Fire love one another, and whither one goes 
 the other goes, if he can. ^Ich. And w higher doft 
 chou go , when thou sfcendeft with the Fire ? 
 Merc, Know that every Stranger bends towards 
 his own Countrey , and when he is returned 
 from whence he came, he is at reft, and al- 
 ivays returns wifer than he was when he came 
 forth. Alcb. Dofl thou come back again fome- 
 times. ij^ercur, 1 do , but in another form. 
 t/ilch, I do not underftand what this is , nor 
 any thing of ihe Fire. LMercur, If any one 
 knew the Fire of my Heart, he hath feenthat 
 Fire (a due Heat ) is my Meat : and by how- 
 much the longer the Spirit of my Heart feeds 
 upon Fire, it will be (0 much the fatter, whofe 
 D»ath is afterward the Life of all things, whac- 
 foevcr they be in this Kingdom where I am. Alch^ 
 Art thou great ? Merc. I am thus for example, of 
 a choufand Drops 1 iliall be one, out of one I give 
 many thoufand Drops : and as my Body is in thy 
 ifighr, if thou knowcft how to (port with me,thoii 
 maift divide me into as much as thou wilt, and X 
 fliall be one again : Whac then is my Spirit (my 
 Heart) incrinfecally, which always can bring forth 
 F 4 many 
 
7i t neft) listit of aUDvm^; 
 
 manythoufandsoucof thcleaft part? j4leh.And 
 how therefore muft one deal with thee that thoU 
 maift be fo ? Merc, lam Fire within, Fire is my 
 meatjbut the hfe of the Fire is Air,without Air the 
 Fire is extinguiihcd ; the Fire prevails over the Air> 
 wherefore I am not at reft, neither can the crude 
 Air conftringe or bind me: add Air to Air, thac 
 both may be one, and hold weight, join it to warm 
 Fire, and give it time. Alch» What ihall be after 
 that? Merc^ The fuperfluous fhall be taken a- 
 way, the refidue thoa (halt burn with Fire, put it 
 into Water, boil it, after it is boiled thou (halt give 
 it to the (ick by way of Phyfick. Aleh, Thou faift 
 nothing to my Qucftions. I fee that thou wilt on* 
 ly delude me with Ridles. Wife, bring hither the 
 Hogs dung, I will handle that Mercury fome new 
 tvays, until he tell me how the Philofophers Stone 
 is to be made of him. Mercury hearing this begins 
 to lament over the Alchymift , and goes unto his 
 Mother Nature: accufeth the ungrateful Operator, 
 Nature believes her Son Mercury, who tells true, 
 ind bein^ moved with anger comes to the Alchy- 
 mift, and calls him ; Ho thou, Where art thou? 
 jilch. Who is that thus calls me ? Natura, What 
 doft thou with my Son, thou Fool thou ? Why 
 doft thou thus injure him ? Why doft thou tor* 
 merit hinii, who is willing to do thee any good, if 
 thou couldft underftand fo much ? Akh. What 
 devil reprehends nie, fo great a man and Philofo- 
 pher^ Nat, O Fool full of Pride, the dung of Phi- 
 lofophers, I know all Philofophers and wife qoen^ 
 and I love them, for they love mcjand do all things 
 for me at my pleafure , and whither I cannot go 
 they help me. But you Alchymifts, of whofc Or^ 
 ' • ; ■ dcr 
 
9 neto tistit of aic^i?mi?; 7 j 
 
 dcr thou alfo arc one, vvichouc my knowlcdg and 
 confenc do all things contrary unco mc; wherefore 
 it falls out contrary to your expccftation.You chink 
 that you deal with my Sons racionally , but you 
 perfcd norhing ; and if you will confidcr rightly, 
 you do not handle them, but they handle you: for 
 you can make nothing of them, neither know you 
 how to do it, but they of you , when they plcafc 
 make Fools. Alch.lz is not true:I alfo am a Philo- 
 fopher, and know well how to work. 1 haye been 
 with more than one Prince , and was eftceraed a 
 Philofopher amongft them, my Wife alfo knows 
 the fame,and now alfo I have a Manufcript, which 
 was hid fome hundreds of years in an old Wall, 
 now I certainly know I fliall make the Philofo- 
 phers Scone, as alfo within thefe few days it was re- 
 vealed to me in a Dream. O I am wont to have 
 true Dreams ; Wife thou knowcft it I Nat, Thou 
 flialc do as che reft of thy fellows have done, who 
 in the beginning know all things , and chink they 
 ire very knowing,but in conclulion know nothing. 
 jilcb. Yet others have made it of thee (if thou arc 
 the true Nature. ) iVil^ Ic is true, but only they 
 that knew me , and they are very few. But he 
 which knows me doth not torment my Sons , nor 
 difturb me, but doth to me what he pleafeth, and 
 incrcafech my Goods, and heals the Bodies of my 
 Sons. Alcb. Even fo do I. iV^^ Thou d oft all 
 things contrary to me, and doft proceed with my 
 Sons contrary to my Will: when thou fhouldft 
 revive, thou killcft ^ when fix , thou (ublimeft ; 
 Kvhen calcine, thou diftilkft ; efpecially my moft 
 obfcrvant Son Mercury, whom thou cormenceft 
 with fo many coiiofive Watets and fo many poj» 
 
 (onous 
 
fonous things. Alch. Then I will proceed with 
 him fweetly by digeftion only. Nat. It is well if 
 thou knoweft now to do ic» bat if not, thou fhalc 
 not hurt him, but thy felf, and cxpofe thy fdf to 
 charges ; for it is all one with him as with a Gem, 
 which is mixed with Dung, that is always good , 
 and the dung doth not diminifh it, although it be 
 caftuponit; for when it is wafhcd it is the fame 
 Gem as it was before. Alch* But I would willing- 
 ly know how to make the Philofophers Stone. 
 Nat. Therefore do not handle my Son in that fa- 
 £hion : for know that I have many Sons and many 
 Paughters, and I am ready at hand to them that 
 feek mee, if they be worthy of me. Alch, Tell me 
 therefore who that Mercury is ? Nat. Know that 
 I have but one fuch Son,and he is but one of feven, 
 and he is the fii ft 5 and he is all things, who was 
 but one ; he is nothing, and his number is entire , 
 Jn him arc the four Elements, and yet himfclf is no 
 Element ; he is a Spirit, and yet hath a Body ; he 
 is a Man, and yet ads the part of a Woman ; he is 
 a Child, and yet bears the Arms of a Man ; he \s a 
 Beaft, and yet hath the Wings of a Bird ; he is 
 Poifon, yet cureth the Leprofie ; he is Life, yet 
 kills all things; he is a King, yet another pofledeth 
 his Kingdom j heflyethfrom the Fire, yet Fire is 
 ,madeofhim ; he is Water, yet wets not; he is 
 iliavth, yet he is fowed ; he is Air, yet lives in Wa- 
 ter. Alch. Now I fee that I know nothing, but I 
 dare not fay fo ; for then I fhould lofe my Repu- 
 tation, and my Ncrghbours will lay out no more 
 JMoney upon me,if they fliould know that I know 
 nothing : yet I will fay that I do certainly know, 
 or eJfe no body will give mc io much as Bread : 
 
 • for 
 
3 netD nig^t of aicljpm^; 75 
 
 formanvot'chcm hope for much good from me. 
 Nat. Although thou iLouldR pat them offa great 
 while, yet what will become of thee atlaft? and 
 cfpecially if thy Neighbours fhould demand their 
 Charges of thee again ? Alch, I will feed all of them 
 with hope as much as pofUble.Ican. Nat, And 
 then what wilt thou do at laft ? Alch, I will try 
 many ways privately : if eirher of them fucceed, 
 I will pay them ; if not; I will go mto fome other 
 far Country, and do the like there. N^t^ And 
 what will become of thee afterwai^d ? Ach, Ha, 
 ha, ha, there be many Countreys, alfo many cove- 
 ions men, to whom I will promife great ftore of 
 Gold,and that in a fhort timejand fo the time lliall 
 pafs away, till at laft either I cr they muft di^ 
 Kings or Ailes, Nut, SuchPhilofophers defervc 
 the Haher : fie upon thee,make haft and be hang- 
 ed, and put an end to- thy felf and thy Philofo- 
 phy J for by this means thou fhalc neidier deceive 
 me, thy Neighbour, or thy feJf. 
 
A 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 O F 
 
 SULPHUR: 
 
 THE 
 
 PREFACE, 
 
 Courteous Readir, 
 
 SEeing I might not write more clearly than 
 other ancient Philofophers have wrote , 
 happily thou maift not be fatisfied with 
 my Writings: cfpecially fince thou haft 
 fo many other Books of Philofophers already in 
 thy Hands: bat believe me,ncither have I any need 
 CO write Books , becaufe I feek neither Profit nor 
 Vain- glory by them ; therefore I do not publiili 
 who I am. Thofc things which I have now pub- 
 lifht for thy profit and advantage feem to me to 
 be more than enough ; I purpofe that other things 
 which remain fhall be referred to the Book of 
 
 Harmo> 
 
Harmony, where 1 have largely treated of Na- 
 tural things : yec by the perCwaficn of fomc 
 Friends I muft needs alfo write this Treatife o£ 
 Sulphur ; in which whether it be needful to add 
 any thing to what is written before, I know not. 
 Yea, neither Oiall this fatisfie thee, if the Writings 
 of fo many Philofophers cannot fatisfie thee : 
 And efpccially if the daily operation of Nature 
 be not a fufticienc example, no other examples 
 (liall do thee €:c?<]. For if thou wouldft confider 
 with a marure Judgment how Nature works, 
 thou woulrft not have need of fo msny Volumes 
 of Philofophers ; becaufe in my judgment it is 
 better to learn of Nature, the Miftris, then of her 
 Scholars. Thou haft enough in the Preface of 
 the Book of the Twelve Treatifes , as alfo in the 
 Firft Treatife it felf, bccaufs in this Art there be 
 lo many and fo great Books to be found , that 
 they rather hinder than help thofe that are ftudi* 
 ous of this Art : and fo indeed it leems to bc» 
 becaufe the Writings of Philofophers are out of 
 that little Schedule of Hermes grown up unco fo 
 great and erroneous a Labyrinth , and daily do 
 •decline into obfcurity : And this I believe is donC 
 • only by envious Philofophers , when as the igno* 
 I rant do not well know what ought to be added or 
 left out,if haply the Authors Hand cannot well be 
 read. If in any Science or Art it doth much 
 help or hurt, to have one word lacking or added, 
 then much more in this: As for example: Icis 
 written in one place : Then mix thefe Water t fo- 
 gi\h'.r , another adds Islot^ he indeed added but 
 a little, and yet by this he turned the whole 
 Chapter qmte contrary ; yec let the diligent ^Stu- 
 dent 
 
78 ^netoiistJtof ai£t)gmp; 
 
 dent know, ihac a Bee doch gather Honey out of 
 poifonous Herbs. But if he jud^erh what he reads 
 according co the pofifibihty oi Nature, he will ea- 
 iily get beyond all thtf Sophiftry of Philofophcrs : 
 yet let him not give over reading , becaufe one 
 Book explains another. And by this means I un- 
 derftood that the Books of Ge^fr the Philofopher 
 (and who could know ir, but they that read other 
 Authors?) are fo wonderfully enchanted, that 
 they cannot polTibly be underftood, unlefs they be 
 read over a thoufand times, and this alfo by a 
 witry Reader j Fools muft be utterly excluded 
 from reading of them. There be indeed many 
 that undertake to interpret him as they do other 
 Authors ; but I fee their Explication is more dif- 
 ficult than the Text, my advice is, that thou doft 
 perfift in the Text, and whatfoever thou readeft 
 apply to the poflibilicy of Nature ; and in the 
 firft place enquire diligently what Nature is. All in- 
 deed write, chat llie is a thing of (mall account,ea- 
 iie, common^ & indeed it is true,but it ihould have 
 been added, that Qie is (o unto wife men. The 
 wife man knows her to be amongft Dung , and 
 the ignorant man doth not believe her to be in 
 Gold. And all thefe men, which have made fuch 
 hard Books, if they were now ignorant of the Art, 
 but muft find it out of (uch Books (which Books 
 indeed are very true) would with more difficulty 
 find it out than men, that in thefe daysfearch into 
 the Art, do. I will not commend mine own 
 Writings, he ilnall judg of them that fhall apply 
 them to the pofiTibility and courfe of N iture : and 
 if by my Writings, Counfel, Examples, he fhall 
 not know the Operation of Nature, and hermi- 
 
 niftnng 
 
9 mna tigtit of aicti?mr; 79? 
 
 niftring vital Spirits conftringing the Air, asalfo 
 the Subjed of the Firft Matter, he will fcarce un- 
 dcrftand them by Raimttndfu Luititis. Ic is a 
 hard thing to believe that Spirits have fuch a power 
 and force in the Belly of the Wind. This Wood 
 I aUo am conftrained to go through , and alfo I 
 have helped to multiply it, yet in fuch a manner 
 as my Plants Ojall be figns, a light and guides to 
 the true Sons of Art, and Students in this facred 
 Science, that arc willing to go through this Wood ; 
 for my Plants are as ic were corporeal. Thofe times 
 are now paft , when Fidelity amongft Friend? 
 flouriilied, and this Art was communicated by 
 word of mouth; but now it is not obtained but by 
 the Infpiration of the moft high God alone. 
 Therefore let not him that fearcheth diligently 
 and fears God defpair. If he feeks after it he (liall 
 find ir. Becaafe ic is more eafily obtained from 
 God than from man; for he is a God of infinite 
 compaffion, and knows not how to forfake him 
 that puts his truft in him ; with him there is no 
 refpCift of perfons^ the contrite & humble heart he 
 will noc derpire,6c he hach taken compafTion upon 
 rac, the moft unworthy of his creatures ; v/hok 
 Power, Goodnefs, unfpeakable Corapadion which 
 he hath vouch fa f'ed to inew me, I am noc able to 
 cxprcfs : but if I am able to give no better thanks^ 
 yet I lliall noc ceafe with my Pen to fee fonh his 
 Praife for ever. Be of good courage therefore, Cour- 
 teous Reader , and he will alio noc deny this fa- 
 vour to chee,if thou pucteft thy whole truft in him, 
 woriliip him and call upon him, he will open to 
 thee the Gate of Nature ; then thou (halt fee how 
 moft plainly Nature works. Kns>w for certain 
 
 that 
 
8o 3netti)List)tofaictismi?^ 
 
 that Nature is moft plain and fimplc, and delights 
 in nothing (o much as in plainnefs ; and believe 
 tnc, whacfoever in Nature is more noble, by fo 
 much alfo the more cafie and plain k is, bccaufe 
 all truth is plain and fimple : God the moft 
 High Creator of all things put nothing that is hard 
 or difficult in Nature. If thou wilt therefore imi- 
 tate Nature, let me pcrfwade thee to abide in the 
 /imple way of Nature ,• and thou (halt find all 
 good things. But if neither my Writings nor Ad- 
 vice pleafeth thee , then go to other Authors, 
 Wherefore I write not great Volumes that thou 
 maift not lay out too much money or time upon 
 them, but maift read them over quickly, and beat 
 the morcleifiire to have recoiirfe to other Authors: 
 and ceafe not t® feek, for to him that knocketh it 
 /hall be opened. Now thofe times are coming, in 
 which many Secrers of Nature (liall be Kvealedo 
 Now that fourth Monarchy of the North is about 
 to begin ; Now the times are at hand ; the Mo- 
 ther of Sciences will come : greater things (hall be 
 difcovcrcd than hath been done in thefe three laft 
 paft Monarchies. Bccaufe this Monarchy (as the 
 Ancients have foretold) God will plant by one of 
 his Princes, being enriched with all manner of 
 Virtues, whom haply times have already brought 
 forth. For we have in this Northern part a moft 
 wife Prince, and moft warlike, whom none of the 
 Monarchs doth go beyond in Victories , or excel 
 in Humanity and Piety. In this Northern Mo- 
 narchy God the maker of all things will, without 
 doubcjbring to lighc greater Secrets in Nature than 
 in thofe times, when Pag^n and Tyrant Princes 
 Kigncde Bue the Philofophers rcdon thcic Mo^ 
 
narchies not according to the powerfulnefs of them, 
 but according to the corners of the world : the fiift 
 was Eaftcrn, the next Southern i this which they 
 now poflefs is Weftern ; the laft which they expe6l 
 in this Northern part is Northern : but of chefe 
 further in my Book oF Harmony. In this Nor- 
 thern Monarchy, where the atcradivc Pole is (as 
 the P/almifi fpeaks) Mercy and Truth are met to- 
 gether ; Peace and Juftice lliail kifs each other i 
 Truth lliallrife out of the earth, and Juftice (halt 
 look from Heaven, One Shcepfbld and one 
 Shepherd. Many Arts without Envy : AH 
 which I do earneftly cxped. Do thou alfo , 
 Courteous Reader, call upon, love, fear God^ 
 read over my Writings diligently, and then thou 
 maift foretel to thy felf good things. And if 
 thou (halt through the favour of God, and the 
 help of Nature (whom thou muft imitate) arrive 
 to the defired haven of this Monarchy 5 then thour 
 ftialc fee, and fay that all things that 1 have faid 
 to thee arc good and true. 
 
 faremli 
 
 H.G. O F 
 
%z amtDligtitotmcp^m?. 
 
 O F 
 
 SULPHUP; 
 
 THE 
 
 Second Principle, 
 
 Sulphur is not the laft amongft the PrincI* 
 pics, becaufe ic is a part of the Metal ; yea 
 and the principai part ef the Philofophers 
 Stone; and many wife men have left in 
 writing divers and very true things of Sulphur. 
 Yea Geber himfeU in his firft Book of the Highefi 
 TirfeUioriy ch, 28 faith: Through the mofl high 
 God it illpiminates every body ; heeattfc it U Light 
 from Light and Tin^ftre. But before we creac cf 
 it, ic feems e,ood ro us to firft defcribe the original 
 of the Principles ; efpecially fince of old Sul- 
 phur hath been accounted the chiefeft of the Prin- 
 ciples. Now very few have hitherto llicwed 
 whence the Principlesarife, and it is a hard thing 
 to jndg of any of the Principles, or any thing dfc, 
 whofe Original and Generation is unknown : 
 what can a blind man jiidg of a Colour f What 
 our PrcdeccfTors have omitted, that have we pur- 
 pofed in this Treatiie to fupply. 
 
 Now the Principles of things, efpecially of Me- 
 tals, according to the ancient Philofophers are two, 
 
 Sulphur 
 
Sulphur and Mercury; but according to chc lat- 
 ter Philofophcrs chree,SaI, Sulphur and Mercury, 
 Now the Original of chefc Principles are the four 
 Elements ; with the Original of which alfo we 
 will firft begin. Therefore let chem chat are Stu- 
 dents in this (acred Science know that there are 
 four Elements , and that every one of rhcfe four 
 hath in itj Center another Element, by which it is 
 clementaced : and thcfe arc the four Statues of the 
 world, feparated from the Chaos in the Creation 
 of the World by Divine Wifdom ; and thefe up- 
 hold theFabrick of the World by their contrary 
 ading in equality and proportion , and alfo by 
 the inclination of Celcftial Virtues , bring forth 
 all things that are within and upon the Earth : 
 but of thefe in their places: here we will return to 
 our purpofe; and firft of the Element chat is nea- 
 reft, zz/ft. the Earth, 
 
 Ga OF 
 
a mto iLisJjt of aictipm?, 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 ELEMENT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EARTH. 
 
 THe Earth is of great worth in m 
 QuaUty and Dignity ; in this Ele- 
 menc the other three , efpecially the 
 Fire reft. Ic is the moft excellent 
 Element to conceal and difcover thofe 
 things which are intrufted to it : it is grofs and 
 p.^rous, heavy in refpect of its fmalnefs, but 
 light in relped of its Nature ; it is alfo the 
 Cencer of the World, as alfo of the other E- 
 lemcnrs : through iis Center padeth the Axel- 
 tree of the World , and of both Poles. It is 
 porous , as we faid , as a Spunge , and brings 
 forth nothing of it fclf , but all things whatfoe- 
 yer the other three diftil and project into it , 
 it receives , keeps all things that are to be kept, 
 briflgs to hght all things that are to be brought 
 to lighr. It brings forth ( as we faid before ) 
 nothing of it fclf, but it is the Recepcccle ofo- 
 thcr things , and it is that in which every diing 
 
 that 
 
that is brought forth doch abide , and by 
 hcac of Motion is putrefied in it, and is multi- 
 plied by the fame , the pure being feparated from 
 the impure: That which is heavy in it is hid, 
 and the Heat drives that which is light unto its 
 fuperficies» It is the Nurfe and Matrix of all 
 Seed and Commixtion. It can indeed do no- 
 thing elfc than prcferve the Seed , and what is 
 made of it, till it be ripe. It is cold, dry, tem- 
 pered with Water; vifible without and fixed ; 
 but within invifible and volatile. It is a Vir- 
 gin, and tht Caput CMortuftmldc after the Cie- 
 ation of the World , which fhall hereafter ac 
 Divine Pleafure be calcined , after Extradion of 
 irsMoifture, that of it a new Chriftallne Earth 
 may be created, Alfo this Element is divided 
 into a pure part and an impure. The Wa- 
 ter makes ufe of the pure to bring forth things, 
 but the impure remains in its Globe. This Ele- 
 ment is the hiding place , and Manfion of all 
 Treafure. In its Cenrcr is the Fire of Hell, 
 preferving this Fabrick of the World in its Be- 
 iagi and this by the expreifion of Water into 
 ifie Air. That F;re is caufed and kindled by 
 the primum (^Mobile , and the influences of the 
 Stars : the Heat of the Sun, tempered with the 
 Air, meets with this Heac foUihe ripening and 
 drawing up of thofe things , which are already 
 conceived in its Center. Moreover the Earth 
 partakes of Fire, which is the intrinfecal pare of 
 If, neither is it purified but in the Fire : and 
 fo every Element is purified with its in rinfecal 
 part. Now the Intrinfecal part , or infide of 
 the Earth , or its Center is the highsft Puruy 
 G 3 ra.xcd 
 
8(5 ^neiDlifilitofaUtipii?. 
 
 mixed with Fire , where noching can refl : It 
 isasit vtere an empty place, into which all the 
 other Elements do projc6l iheir Virtues > as 
 hath been fpokcn in the Book of the Twelve 
 Treatifes. And thus much of the Element of 
 Earth , which we have called a Spange , and 
 the Receptacle of other things, which ferveth for 
 our purpofc* 
 
 OP 
 
anftDiList)tofaicfn?m^ 87 
 
 OF THE 
 
 E LE MEN T 
 
 O F 
 
 WATER. 
 
 WAter is the heavleft Element , full of 
 un6luous Flegm,and it is an Elemenc 
 more worihy in its quality than the 
 Earch, withoat volatile , but svichin 
 fixed, it is cold and moift, and tempered wirh the 
 Air: it is the Sperm of the world , in which the 
 Seed of all things IS kept : it is the keeper of the 
 Seed of every thing. Yet we muft know that the 
 Seed is one thing, and the Sperm anorher : the 
 Earth is therecepcade of the Sperm, bur Water is 
 the recepcacle of the Seed, Whatloevcrthe Air 
 doth diftil into the Wacer, by means of the Fire, 
 the fame doth the Water convey to the Eirtn. 
 Sometimes the Sperm lacks fufficieny of Seed, for 
 want of heat which ihould digeft k ; for there is 
 always plenty of Sperm, expelling Seed, which by 
 the imagination of Fire through the motion of the 
 Air ic carries Into its Matrjx : and fomecimes there 
 being lack of Seed the Sperm eaccrs, but it goech 
 G 4 forth 
 
PS ^ nrijj iLifitit of aut)pm^ 
 
 forth againwichouLhiiir: but of this more at large 
 hereafter in the third Treatifeof Principles, vi^, in 
 thar ot Sale. It happens fometimesin Nature, that 
 the Sperm enters into the Matrix with a fufficicncy 
 of Seed ; but the Matrix being indifpofed, by rea- 
 fon of being filled with offenfive, fulphureous and 
 flegmatick vapours,doth not conceive, neither doth 
 that come to pafsthat iliould. Alfo nothing is pro- 
 perly in this Element, but only as it is wont to be 
 in the Sperm. It is delighted chiefly in its own 
 motion, which is made by the Air, and it is apt to 
 mix with things by reafon of its fuperficial,volatiIc 
 body. It is, as we faid before, the receptacle of all 
 ,mannerofSecd: in itthe Earthiseafily purified 
 and refolved, and the Air is congealed in ir, and is 
 joined with it rad ically . It is the Menftruum of the 
 world,which penetrating the Air,by means of heat, 
 draws along with it felfa warm vapour, which 
 caufeth a natural Generation of thofe (hings,which 
 the Earth as a Matrix is impregnated withal , and 
 when the Matrix receives a due proportion of Secd> 
 of what kind foever,it proceeds, and Nature works 
 without intermidion to the end; but the remaining 
 moifture or Sperm falls to the fide, and by vcrtue 
 of the heat in the Earth is putrified (that which is 
 call: to the fide) and of that afterwards arc genera- 
 ted ofher things, as fmall Vermin, and Worms. 
 The Artificer of a quick Wit may indeed fee in this 
 Element, as it were out of Sperm , divers wonders 
 of Nature ; but it will be needful ro take that 
 Sperm, in which the Aftral Seed in a certain pro- 
 portion is already imagined, or conceived ; becaufe 
 Nature makes and produceth pure things by the 
 ^rft puticfad^ion, but by the fecond far more pure, 
 
 worthy, 
 
xvorthy , and noble ; as thou haft an example in 
 Wood, which is Vegetable, where in the firft 
 compofition Nature maketh Wood, but when that 
 is after maturity corrupted, it is putrified, and of 
 it worms are bred,and fuch kind of vermin as they 
 are, which have both life and fight, : for it is ma- 
 nifeft that a fenfible thing is always more worthy 
 than a vegetable : for to the Organs of fenfible 
 things much more fubtil and purer matter is requi- 
 red ; But to return to our purpofe. 
 
 This Element is the Menftruum of the world, 
 and is divided into three forts,z'/«.. pure,purer,and 
 mod pare. Of the moft pure fubftance of it? the 
 Heavens are created, the purer is rcfolved into Air, 
 but the pure, plain, and grofs remains in its fphere, 
 and by Divine appointmant, and operation of Na- 
 ture doth prefcrve and keep every thing that is fub- 
 til. It makes one Globe together with the Earth : 
 it hath alfo its Center in the heart of the Sea : it 
 hath one Axel- tree and Pole with the Earth , by 
 which all Courfes and Fountains of Water ifTue 
 forth, which afterward increafe and grow up into 
 great Rivers, By ihefe ifTuing forth of Waters the 
 Earth is preferved from burnings, and with this 
 moiftning the univerfal Seed is earned forth 
 through the Pores of the whole Earth , which 
 thing is caufed through heat and motion. Now 
 it is raanifeft that all Courfes of Waters return in- 
 to the heart of the Sea ; but whither afterward 
 they run is not known to every body. There be 
 fomc that thmk that all Rivers, Water and Springs, 
 which have their Courfc into the Sea, do proceed 
 from the Sfars,who, when they know no other rea- 
 fon why the Sea ihould nocincreafe^nd be fuller, 
 
 by 
 
90 a ntto t\Q))t of aictipmi?* 
 
 rcafcn of them, fay thatthcfe WarcrsarcconfumedlatA^ 
 in the heart of the Sea, Rut this Nature will noi:fc\t\A 
 admit of, as we have (licwed when wc fpakcof the La(\i 
 Rain. The Stars indeed caufc but do not generate \\^{" 
 Water 5 feeing nothing is generated but in its own pjtfi 
 like of the fame fpecies : Now the Stars confift of 
 Fire and Air, how then Hiould they generate Wa« |tTi 
 ters ? And if it werefo, that fame Stars (hould ge- |J( 
 iierare Waters , then ncceflarily alfo muft others 
 generate Earth , and alfo others other Elements ; 
 becaufe this fa brick of the woild is fo upheld by 
 the four Elements,that one may not exceed another 
 in the leaft particle, but they ftrivc one with the 
 other in an equal ballance ; for otherwifc if one 
 Should exceed the other, de{tru6^ion would enfue 
 Yet let every one perfevere in what opinion he 
 pleafe,itisthu$ fhcwed to us by the lightof Na- 
 ture, that this Fabrick of the World is preferved 
 by thcfe four Elements, their equality being pro- 
 portioned by the great God, and one doth not ex- 
 ceed the other in its operation. Bat the Waters 
 upon the bafls of the Earth are contained as it were 
 in fome veiTel from the motion of the Air, and to- 
 wards the Artick Pole are by ic conftringed , be- 
 caufe there is no vacuum) ot vacuity in the world : 
 for this caufe is there m the Center of the Earth the 
 Fire of Hell, which the Archeus of Nature doth 
 govern. 
 
 For in the beginning of the Creation of the 
 World the great and good God out of theconfu- 
 fed Chaos, in the firfl place exalted the quinteflence 
 of the Elements, & that is made iheutmoft bound 
 of all things : then he lifted up the moft pure fcib- 
 ftance of Fire above all things, to place his moft 
 
 Sacred 
 
anrtDLigtitofaictii^m?. 91 
 
 I'acred Majtfty in, ana Ittand eftablnhed it in its 
 
 •oiind. In the Cer t f r of che Chaos (by the good 
 
 )learure of Gods infinite Wifdcm) that Fire was 
 
 :indrd,which afterward did diftilthofcmoftpure 
 
 Vaters. But becaufe now that naoft pure Fire hath 
 
 'brained the place of the Firmamenc,togcther with 
 
 he Throne of the mofl high God, the Waters arc 
 
 ondenfed under that Fire : and that they might 
 
 )e more ftrongly fortified and fetled, the Fire thac 
 
 s groffcr than the former was then raifed (this by 
 
 means of the Central Fire) and remained in the 
 
 phere of Fire under the Waters : and (o the \Af a- 
 
 :ers are congealed, and fhut up betwixt two Fires 
 
 ,n the Heavens. But that Central Fire never cea- 
 
 eth, but diftilling more Waters, and thofe Icfs 
 
 pure did rcfolve them into Air, which alfo abides 
 
 ander the fpherc of Fire in its proper fphere,and is 
 
 :nclofed by the Element of Fire, as withaiure and 
 
 ftrong Foundation ; and as the Waters of the Hea* 
 
 venscannorgo beyond that fupeiceleftial Fire, fo 
 
 the Element of Fire cannot go beyond the Waters 
 
 of the Heavens, neither can the Air go beyond or 
 
 be cxahed above the Element of Fire. As for ths 
 
 [Water and the Earth,ihey remained in one Globe, 
 
 j becaufe they have no place in the Air, except thac 
 
 I part of the Water which the Fire doth refolve into 
 
 ! Air, for the daily fortifying of ihis Fabrick of the 
 
 EWorld. For if there had been a vacuity in the 
 
 i Air, then all the Waters had diftilled, and been 
 
 I rcfolvedinto Air : bur now the (phere of the Air 
 
 isfull, and is always filled through thediftiUing 
 
 Waters, by the continual Central Heat, fo that the 
 
 reft of the Waters are by the compreflion of the 
 
 Air rolled round the Earth, and with the Earth 
 
 make 
 
92. a neto u^t of aicljpm]?^ 
 
 make up the Center of the Worlds and this dkk 
 peration is performed daily, and To alfo this worl 
 is fortified daily, and fliall for ever be natural! 
 preferved from Corruption, unlefs ic be the goo(|h? , 
 pleafure of the raoft high Creator fwhofe Willi 
 abfolute) that it {hall be otherwife* Bccaufc thaj^li 
 Central Fire never ceafe^h to be kindled by the u 
 niverfal motion and influence of the heavenly Vir 
 Cues, and (o to warm the Waters ; neither fhall th 
 Waters ceafe to be refolved into Air : neither ihallfcn 
 the Air ceafe to comprefs and keep down the refi- ^ 
 due of the Waters with the Earth, and (o to con- 
 tain them in the Center,that they may not be mo- 
 ved out of their Center .• thus even in a natural 
 manner this world is made and continued through 
 the mighty Wifdom of God j and fo according to 
 the example of this it is neceflary that all things in 
 the world be naturally made. We are willing to 
 difcover to thee further this Creation of this Fa- 
 brick of the World , that thou maift know that 
 the four Elements have a natural fympathy with 
 the fuperiorjbecaufe they were made out of one and 
 the fame Chaos ; but they are governed by the 
 fupcrior, as the more worthy ; and from thence 
 came this obedience into this Sublunary place. But 
 know that all thofe things were naturally found 
 cut by the Philofopher, as fhall be (hewed in it^ 
 own place. Now to our purpofe concerning the 
 Courfes of Waters, and the Ebbing and Flowing 
 of the Sea, how by the Polary Axel-tree they are 
 carried from one Pole to another. There are two 
 Poles, the one is Artick, and in that part that is (u- 
 perior and Northern, but the other Antartick un- 
 der the Earth , and in the Southern part. The 
 
 Artick 
 
•*k 
 
 a JSttD iLiQljt of aut)?mp. 9s 
 
 rrick Pole hath a magnecick vircue of attracting, 
 ^^ It the Antartick Pole hath a magnetick virtue 
 '''"'expelling, or driving from .• and this Nature 
 ^'^ )lds forth to us in the example of the Loadftone. 
 :!} he Artick Pole therefore draws Waters by the 
 ^':-'' xel-cree, which after they arc entred in, break 
 '•'^Tth again by the Axel-tresof the Antartick Pole: 
 ';3 id bccaufe the Air doth not fufifer an inequality, 
 *:^ ley areconftraincd lo return to the Artick Pole, 
 ,"')^ leir Center, and fo continually toobferve this 
 !ourfe. In which Ccurfe from the Artick Pole 
 D the Antartick Pole by the middle? or Axel-cree 
 f the world, chey are difperfed through the pores 
 f the Earth , and fo according to more or lefs do 
 pringsarife, and afterward meeting together in- 
 reafe and become to be RiverSjand are again retur- 
 icd thither , from whence they came out ; and 
 is is uncefTantly done through the univerfal mo- 
 ion. Some (as I faid before) being ignorant of 
 iie univerfal motion, and the operations of the 
 Poles fay that thefe Waters are conlumed in the 
 learr of the Sea, and generated by the Stars, 
 which produce and generate no material thing, 
 imprefling only virtues and fpiritual influences , 
 swiiich cannot give any weight to things. Wa- 
 s therefore are nor generated j buc know thac 
 (they come forth from the Center of the Sea , 
 through the pores of the Earth into the whole 
 world. From thefe natural Condufions or Prin- 
 dples Philofophers have found out divers inftru- 
 ments, and conveyances of Waters, as alfo foun- 
 tains, fince it is known thac Waters cannot natu- 
 rally afcend higher than that place is , from 
 whence they come ^ and unlefs it were fo in Na- 
 ture, 
 
turc, Art could never do ir, bccaufe Art imitate 
 Nature; and that which is not in Nature canno 
 fucceed by Art ; for Water, as I faid before, doti ' 
 not afcend higher than the place from whence iP 
 
 that inftruf 
 
 Fitei 
 kit 
 
 was taken : thou haft for an example that inftruF^ 
 ment with which Wine is drained out of a Bar- ^' 
 rel. 
 
 To conclude therefore , know that Springs or 
 breakings forth of Water arc not generated of 
 Stars? but that they come from the Center of the 
 Sea, whither they return, and that thus they ob 
 ferve a continual motion. For if this were not fo, 
 nothing at all either in the Earth or upon the 
 Earth could be generated , yea the Ruin of the 
 World would of neceifity follow. But left it may 
 be obje6led, that m the Sea all Waters are falt>and 
 that the Waters of Springs are (weet : Know that 
 this is the reafonjbecaufe the Water diftils through 
 the pores of the Earth , and paffing many miles 
 through narrow places, and through Sands , the 
 faltnefs being loft,is made fweet: After the exam- 
 ple of which Cifterns are found out. There are 
 alfo in Tome places greater and larger pores and 
 pa ffages through which Talc Water breaks through, 
 where afterwards are made Salt Pits, and Foun- 
 tains, as at HalU in Germany, Alfo in fome pla- 
 ces the Waters are conftringed with heat , and 
 the Salt is left in the Sands , but the Water 
 fweats through other pores, as in Polonia^ at /^/>- 
 lieia and Bochia : So alfo when Waters pafs 
 through places that are hot, lulphureous, and con- 
 tinually burning, they are made hoc, from whence 
 Bathes arife : for there arc in the bowels of the 
 Earth places in which Nature diftills and fepa- 
 
 rates 
 
rjt, rates a fulphurcoos Mine, where, by the Central 
 ir~|Fire it is kindled. The VVacers running through 
 rhefe burning places, according to the necrnefs or 
 remotenefs are more or lei's hoc, and (o breaks forch 
 into the (uperficies of the Earth, and retains the 
 tsft cf Sulphur, as all Broth doth of the FleQi thac 
 is boiled in it; After the fanne manner it is, 
 when Water pafTmg through places where are 
 'Minerals, as Copper, Allum, doth acquire the fa- 
 vour of them. Such therefore is the Diftiller, the 
 Maker of all things, in whofe hands is this Diftii- 
 lacory, according to the cxampleof which all Di- 
 ftillations have been invented by PhiloCophers ; 
 which thing the mofl High God himfelf out of 
 pity, without doubr, hath infpired into the Sons 
 of Men : and he can, when it is his holy Will > 
 cither excinguilli the Central Fire, or break the 
 VefTel, and then there will be an end of all. But 
 fince his Goodnefs doth intend the bettering of all 
 things, he will at length exalt his moft facred Ma- 
 jefty, and raife up higher the pureft Fireofall, 
 which is higher than the Waters of the Heavens 
 which are above the Firmament, and will give it a 
 m ftrongcr degree of Heat then the Central Fire, 
 f that all the Waters may be exhaled up into the 
 Air, and the Earth be calcined, and (o the Fire , 
 all the impurity being confumed, will make the 
 Waters of the purified Earch, being circulated in 
 the Air,to be more fubcil,and wil)(if we may thus 
 {peak in a way oFPhilofophy) make a World 
 much more excellent. 
 
 Theiefore let all theSearchtrscf this Art know 
 thac the Earth and Water make one Globe, and 
 being together make all things, becaufe they aic 
 
 tangible 
 
96 ^ntxaumoxMimmY* 
 
 tangible Elemencs, in which the other two being 
 hid do work. The Fire preferves the Earth, that 
 k be not drowned, or dilTolved : the Air preferves 
 the Fire that it be not extinguiOied : the Water 
 f rcferves the Earth that it be not burnt, Ic Tee- 
 med good to us to defcribe thefe things, as conduJ 
 cing to our purpofe, that the ftudious may know 
 in what things the Foundations of the Elements 
 confift, and how Philofophers have obferved their 
 contrary ablings 5 joining Fire with Earth , and 
 Air with Water: although when they would 
 ' do any excellent thing, they have boiled Fire in 
 Water, confidering that one Blood is purer than 
 another, as a Tear is purer than Urine. Let that 
 therefore fuffice which we have fpokcn, viz,, that 
 the Element of Water is the Sperm and Men- 
 ftruum of the world, as alfo the Receptacle of the 
 Seed. 
 
 OF 
 
OF THE 
 
 E L E M E N t 
 
 OF 
 
 A I R. 
 
 THe Air is an entire Elemenr, mcft vvorihy 
 of thethree in its quality, without light, 
 andinvifibde, but within heavy, vifiblcj 
 and fixed, it is hot and moift, and tem- 
 pered with F]re, and more worthy then Earth, 
 and Water. It is volatile, but may be fixed j 
 and when it is fixed, it makes every body penetra* 
 ble. Of its mod pure fubftance the vital Spirits 
 I of living Creatures are made ; that which is lefs 
 ' pure is taken up into its proper Sphere of the Air 5 
 but therefidue, viz,, the groffer part abides in the 
 Water, atid is circulated with the Water, as Fire 
 . with Earth, becaufe they are friendly the one to 
 I the other. Iris moft worthy, as we have laid j 
 and it is the true place of the Seed of all things: 
 in it Seed is imagined, as in man, which after^ 
 ward by the circulating motion is caft into its owa 
 Sperm. This Element hath the Form of entire- 
 ; nefs to diftribute the Seed into Matrixes by the 
 Sperm, and Menftruum of the World. In it al- 
 fo is the vital Spirit of every Creature, living in all 
 M things. 
 
things, pcnenating and conflringing the Seedin 
 otiier Elements, as Males do in Females. Itnou- 
 rifheth (hem, makes them conceive, and prefer- 
 veth them ; and this daily, experience teacheth, 
 that in this Element not only Minerals, Animals, 
 or Vegetables I :ve, but alfo other Element's. For 
 we fee that all Waters become puti ified, and filthy 
 if they have not fredi Air: The Fire alfo is cxtin- 
 ^uiflied if the Air be taken from it : ( Thence 
 Chymifrs come to know how to difpofe of their 
 Fire into feveral degrees by means of the Air, and 
 to order their regifters according to the meafure 
 of the Air:) The Pores alfo of the Earth arc pre- 
 ferved by Air: In brief, the whole ftrU(5^uit ot 
 the World is preferved by Air. Alfo in Anii^als, 
 Man dies if you take Air from him, Scc. No- 
 thing would grow in the World, if there were 
 not a power of the Air penetrating, and altering^ 
 bringins^ with it felf nutriment that multiplies. 
 In this Element by vertue of the Fire is that ima- 
 gined Seed, which conftringeth the Menftruum of 
 the World by its occult power, as in Trets, and 
 Herbs, when through the Pores of- the Earth, by 
 the adding of the fpiritual hear, there goech forth 
 a Sperm with the Seed, and the vertue of the Air 
 in a proportion conftringeth, and congeals ic by 
 drops; and fo Trees by growing day after day, 
 drop after drop, are at length raifed to be greac 
 Trees ; as we have treated in the Book of the 
 Twelve Treatifes. In this Element are all things 
 entire through the imagination of Fire j and it is 
 full oi: divine Vertue: forinit isconduded the 
 Spirit of the moft high, \^hich before the Creation 
 %as carry ed upon the Waters , as faith the Scrip- 
 ture, 
 
a neto t\Q])t of aictiprnp. ' ^ 
 
 ture, -^W <//Wj?7 upon the wings of the h'ind. If 
 therefore it be fo, as indeed icis, that the Spirit of 
 the Lord is cairyed.in it, t\ hy needs thou queft'on 
 but that he liath left his divine vevtue in it ? For 
 this Monarch is wont to adorn his dwelling pla- 
 ces i he hath adorned this Element with the vitaf 
 fpiritof every Creature : for in it is the Seed of 
 all things difperfed, in which prefently after the 
 Creation was (as we (aid before) by the great 
 Maker of all things included that magnetick ver- 
 tue which if it had not, it could not attra6l any 
 nouri/hraentj but fo the Seed muft be left in a 
 fmall quantity, neither would increafe, or be 
 multiplyed; bur as the Load-ftone draws to fc 
 felf hard Iron (after the manner of the Arcick 
 pole, drawing waters to it felf, as we have (liewed 
 in the Element of water) fo the Air by a Vege- 
 table magnetick power , which is in the Seed, 
 draws to it felf the nouriiliment of the Menftru- 
 um of the world, i,e, water. All thefe things 
 are made by Air , for that is the leader of the 
 waters, and the occult vertue thereof is included 
 in all Seed for the aitrav^ing of radical moifture, 
 and this vertue is, as we faid before, alwais the 
 2 8o:h, part in all Seed^as we have ihewed thee ia 
 the third of the Twelve Treatifes. If therefore 
 any one would fuccel'sfully plant Trees, let him 
 ^i^e tarefall that he turn the attra6live point to- 
 Vv-ards the Northern part ; fohefhall never lofe 
 his labour : for as the Artick pole draws to it felf 
 the waters, fo the verticle point draws to it felf 
 Seed ; and every attra6live point doth anfwer to 
 ihcm. Thou hafl an example in all manner of 
 wood, whofe attra^ive point doth naturally tend 
 H 2 to 
 
a nrto tW of aic^pmp; 
 
 to the vcrticlc point, and is drawn by it. For let a 
 bowl of wood, if thou wilt know which is the 
 fuperioi point, be put into water, and let it fink 
 ({o that the water exceed the length of the wood) 
 thou rhalt alwaies (ee that point rifc up before the 
 oppofite part ; for Nature knows not how to crre 
 in her office : but of thefe wc fhall treat further in 
 our Book called Harmoniay where wc fhall (peak 
 more of the magnetick vcrtue (although he ftiall 
 be cafily able to underftand the Load-ftonc, to 
 whom the Nature of Metals is known) Let this 
 fuffice that we have (aid, that this Element is the 
 moft worthy of the three in which is Seed , and 
 vital Spirit, or dwelling place of the Soul of eve- 
 ry Creature. 
 
 OF 
 
O F T H E 
 
 ELEMENT 
 
 O F 
 
 FIRE 
 
 Fire is the pureft and moft worthy Element 
 of all, full of und^uouscorrofivencfs adhe- 
 ring to if, penetratinp,digefting,corroding 
 and wonderfully adhering , without vi- 
 fible, but within invifiblc , and moft fixed; ic 
 is hot, dry, and tempered with Air. Irs Sub- 
 fiance is the pureft of al', and its Edence was firft 
 of all elevated in the Creation with the Throne 
 of Divine Majefty , when the Waters of the 
 Heavens were eftablillied, as we have faidinthe 
 Element of Water ; out of the lefs pure part 
 of its fubftancethe Angels were created ; out of 
 that which was lefs pure than that , being mixed 
 with the pureft Air, were the Sun, Moon and 
 Stars created. That which is lefs pure than that is 
 raifed up to terminate, and hold up the Heavens: 
 but the impure and unduous part of ic is left , 
 and included in the Center of the Earth by the 
 wife and great Creator , for to continue the O- 
 H J peration 
 
 lOI 
 
perationof Mocion, and rhis we call Hell. All 
 tbefe Fires are indeed divided , but they have a 
 nacural fympathy one towards another. 
 
 This Element is 9£ all the moft q'lier, and hke 
 unto a Charriot', A^hcn jr -is dt'awed it runs , 
 when it is not drawed it (lands ftill. It is alfo 
 in all things undifcernibly. In it are the rcafons 
 of Life and Underftnnding , which are diftribue 
 ted in the firft infufion of Mans Life, and thefe 
 are called the rational Soul , by which alone 
 Man differs from other Creature^, and is hke un- 
 to God. This Soul is of that moft pure Elementa- 
 ry Fire , infufed by God into the vital Spirit , 
 by reafon of which Man after the Creation of 
 all things was created into a particular World , 
 or Microcofm. In thisSubjedi God the Crcat<^ 
 of all things put his Seal and Majefty, as the pu- 
 reft and quieteft Subje6>, which is goveinedby 
 the Will and infinite Wifdom of God alone. 
 Wherefore God abhors all impurity, nothing that 
 is filthy compounded or blemifhed may ccmc 
 near him , therefore no mortal man can fee God, 
 nor come to him naturally : for that Fire w hich 
 is in the circumference of the Divinity, in which 
 is carryed the Seal and Majefty of the Moft High, 
 is fo intenfe, that no eye can penetrate it : for 
 Fire will not {ufFer any thing that is compounded 
 to come near to it: for Fire is the death and fepara- 
 cionof any thing thar is compounded. We have 
 {aid that ic is the moft quiet Subjed ( for fo ic 
 iO or elfe it would follow (which fo much 
 as to think were abfurd) that, God could not 
 reft ; for it is of moft quiet fifence , more than 
 any mans mind can imagine. Thou haft an ex- 
 ample 
 
a nttu iLis^t of aictipmF. lo j 
 
 ample of this in the Flinr, in which there is Fire, 
 and yet is not perceived, ne'thcr doh appear, un- 
 til it be ftirred up by mction, and kindled in it 
 that it may appear.* fo the Fire in which is pla- 
 ced the facred Majefty of our Creacor,'is not mo- 
 ved, unlefs it beftirred up by the proper Will of 
 the Moft Hi^h, and fo is carried where his holy 
 Willis. There is made by the Will of the (u- 
 pream Maker of all things a mofl vehement and 
 terrible motion. Thou haft an Example of this, 
 when any Monarch of this world fits in his pomp? 
 what a quiernefs there is about him ? what fi- 
 lence? and although fome.one of his Court doth 
 move, the motion is only of fome one or other 
 particular man , which is not regarded. But 
 when the Lord himfelf moves , there is an uni- 
 verfal ftirand motion, then all that attend on him 
 move with him. What then ? when that fupream 
 Monarch, the King ofKin^s, and Maker of all 
 things ( after whofe example the Princes of the 
 world are eftablulied in the Earth ) doth move 
 in his own perfon of Majefty ? what a ftir ? what 
 trembling , when the whole Guard of his hea- 
 venly Army move about him ? Bat fome one may 
 ask, How do we know thefe things, fince heaven- 
 ly things are hid from Mans underftanding ? To 
 whom we aniwer, that they are manifeft to all 
 Philofophersj yea the incomprehensible Wif- 
 dom of God hath inlpired into them , that all 
 things are created after the example of Nature , 
 and that Nature hath its bounds from thofe fe- 
 cret things , and accordingly works *•> and that 
 nothing is done on the Earth , but according to 
 the example of the Heavenly Monarchy , which is 
 H 4 managed 
 
1Q4 ^ mw JLigpi or ^irppmp^ 
 
 iTianaged by ihe clivers Offices oi Angeh, So al- 
 fo there is nothing brought forth » or generated , 
 but what is done naturally. All hanaane Invent 
 tions, yea and Arts, which either are or fhall 
 be, proceed not otherwife than from Natural Prin- 
 ciples. The nioft High Creator was willing ro 
 nianifeft all Natural things unto man, where- 
 fore he (hewed to us that Celeftial things them- 
 {elves were naturally made , by which his abfolutc 
 and incomprehenfible Power and Wifdom might 
 he fo much the better known ; all which things 
 the Philofophers in the Light of Nature , as in a 
 Looking-glafs, have the clear fight of» For which 
 caufe they efteemcd highly of this Arr^ viz,, not fo 
 much out of Covetcufnefs for Gold or Silver, 
 but for Knowledg fake, not only of all Natural 
 things, but aUo of the Power of the Creator, and 
 they were willing to fpeak of thefe things fpa- 
 ringly, and only figuratively , left Divine Myftcr 
 jies by which Nature is illuftrated , fhould be 
 difcovered to the unworthy , which thou , if 
 fhou knoweft how to know thy felf , and arc 
 not of a ft.ff neck , maift cafiiy comprehend ; 
 who art created after the likcnefs of the great 
 World, yea after the Image d( God. Thou haft 
 in thy Body the Anatomy of the whole World, 
 thou haft inftead of the Firniament the Quintef- 
 (ence of the four Elements , extra(3:ed out of the 
 Chaosof Sperms into a Matrix, and into a Skin, 
 which doth compafs ic round , thou haft moft 
 pure Blood inftead of Fire , in the vital Spirit 
 whereof is placed the Seat of the Soul ( which 
 js inftead of the King 5 ) thou haft a Heart in- 
 ftead of the Earthy where the Central Fire 
 
 COI}- 
 
GOtttinually works ; and preferves the Fabrick of 
 this Mjcrocofm in its Being ; thou haft thy 
 Mouth inftead of the Artick Pole ; and thy 
 Belly inftead of the Anrartick , and all thy 
 Members anfwer to (ome Ccleftials: of which 
 in our Book of Harmony we fhall treat more 
 fully, z//^. in the Chapter of Aftronomy, where 
 we have wrote how that Aftronomy is eafie , na- 
 tural , how the Afpedis of Planets and Stars are 
 efficacious , and why Prognoftication is given of 
 Rain, and other events, which would be too te- 
 dious to reckon up here, and thefe are linked to- 
 gether, and performed in a natural manner, on- 
 ly God doth fome things extraordinary. Be- 
 caufe the Ancients omitted it, we are willing 
 to {liew it to him that is diligently ftudious of 
 this Secret, that the incomprehenfible Power of 
 the moft High God, may (o much the more 
 clearly come home to his heart , and that he may 
 love and adore him the more zealoufly; Lee 
 therefore the Searcherof this facred Science know, 
 that the Soul in a man, the le(Ier world, or Micro- 
 cofm fubftituting the place of its Center, is the 
 King, and is placed in the vital Spirit, in thepu- 
 reft Blood. That governs the Mind , and the 
 Mind the Body : when the Soul conceives any 
 thing , the Mind knows all things, and all the 
 Members underftand the Mind , and obey the 
 Mind, and arc denrous to fulfil the Will thereof. 
 For the Body knows nothing, whatfoever ftrength 
 or motion is in the Body, is caufed by the Mind ; 
 the Body is to the Mind, aslnftrumencs are to the 
 Artificer ; Now the Soul , by which Man dif- 
 fers from other Animals , operates in the Body ; 
 
 but 
 
but it hath a greater Operation out of the Body, 
 becaufe out of the Body it abfolutely reigns, 
 and by thcfe things it differs from other Ani- 
 mals, who have only the Mind , not the Soul, 
 of the Deity. So alfo God , the Maker of all 
 things,our Lord and ourGod,works in this world 
 thofe things which are neceffary for the World ; 
 and in ihe(e he is included in the world 5 whence 
 we believe that God is every where. But he 
 is excluded the Body of the World by his in- 
 finite Wifdom , by which he works out of the 
 World , and imagines much higher things than 
 the Body of the World is able to conceive, and 
 rhofe things are beyond Nature, being the Se- 
 crets of God alonf^ You have the Soul for an 
 example , which out of the Body imagines many 
 moft profund things , and in this it's like unto 
 God , who out of the World works beyond 
 Nature ; although the Soul to God be as it were 
 a Candle lighted to the light at Noonday: for 
 the Soul imagines , but executes not but in the 
 Mind ; but God doth effed all things the 
 fame moment when he imagines them ; as the 
 Soul imagines any thing to be done at Rome, 
 or elfewhere, in the twinklmg of an eye, but 
 only in the Mind ; but God doth all fuch things 
 effentially, who is omnipotent. God therefore 
 is not included in the World , but as the Soul in 
 the Body; he hath his abfolute power {cparated 
 from the World , fo alfo the Soul of any Bo- 
 dy hath its abfoluce power feparated from the 
 Body, to do other things than the Body can 
 conceive; ic hath a very great power therefore 
 upon the Body, if ic pleafech , or otherwife our 
 
 Philo- 
 
a neto mig^t of aictii^m?. 1 07 
 
 ibfophy ^vere in vain. By chefe cheretbre learn 
 
 know God, and thm flialc know in which 
 : Creator difters from the Creatarf. Thou 
 y felflLalc be able ro conceive greater diings, 
 len as now thou hsft the Gate opened by us. 
 u left thisTreatife (liould grow too big, let us 
 
 urn to our purpofe. 
 
 We faid before that the Element of Fire is the 
 oft quiet of all , and that is ftirred up by rao- 
 m , which ftirring up wife men knew. It is 
 ceffary that Philofophers know, the Genera- 
 3n and Corruption of all things , to whom 
 3C only the Creation of the Heavens is manifeft, 
 it alfo tbe Compofirion and Mixture of all 
 lings : bur although they know all things , yec 
 icy cannot do all things. We know indeed the 
 *ompofition of Man in all refpe6^s, yet we can- 
 ot infufe the Soul j becaufe this Myftery belongs 
 
 !y unto God : and he exceeds all things by thefe 
 ind of infinite Myfteries. Seein» thefe are out of 
 he courfe of Natare,they are not as yet in thedif- 
 ►ofition of Naiure : Nature doth not work before 
 here be Matter given unto her to work upon. 
 rfiefirft Marter is given to her by God, the fe- 
 :ond by the Philofopher. Now in the Opera- 
 :ion of the Philofophers Nature hatha power to 
 ftir up the Fire, which by the Creator is fecredy 
 included in the Center of every thing : This 
 ftirring up of the Fire is done by the Will of 
 Nature , fo»necimes by the Will of the skilful 
 Artificer difpoflng of Nature. For naturally all 
 impurities and pollurions of things are purged by 
 Fire ; All things that are compounded are dif- 
 folved by Fire ; as Water walheth and purgcth 
 
 all 
 

 io8 anetDiistitofaictipmi?* | s 
 
 all things imperfet^, which are not fixed ^ fo tl 
 Fire purgcth all things that are fixed, and by Fi 
 they are perfc6led r as Water doth conjoine a 
 things that are diffolved ; fo Fire feparates ar^° 
 things that arc conjoined i and what is natural- , 
 and of affinity with it, it doth very well purgc^^^ ' 
 and augment it, not in quantity buc in vertue. Th; 
 Element doth feveral ways fecretly work upon 
 ther Elements, and all things elfe : for as the Ani- 
 mal foul is of the pureft of this Element , fo th 
 Vegetable is of the Elementary part of it, which i 
 governed by Nature. This Element doth a£^ upo 
 the Center of every thing in this manner : Nacur 
 caufeth Motion, Motion ftirsup Air, the Air th 
 Fire; now Fire feparates, cleanfeth, digefleth, co 
 loureth, and maketh all Seed to ripen, and being 
 ripe expels it by the Sperm into places, and matrix-' 
 cs, into places pure or impure, more or lefshot, dry 
 or fiioift J and according to the difpofition of the 
 matrix, or places, divers things are brought forth in 
 the Earth, as in the Book of the Twelve Treatifes 
 concerning Matrixes mention hath been made, that 
 there are as many Matrixes, as places. So the 
 Builder of all things, the moft High God hath de» 
 termined, and ordamed all things, that one fliall 
 be contrary to the other, yet fo that the death of 
 the one be the life of the other : that which pro- 
 ducech one, confuraeth another, and another thing 
 from this is naturally produced, and fuch a thing 
 which is more noble then the former : and by this 
 means there is prcferved an equality of the Ele- 
 ments , and fo alfo of the compofitum. Separa- 
 tion is of all thingsj efpecially of living things the 
 natural death, wherefore man muft naturally 
 
 die 
 
aactti£iet)tofaicti?m^ 109 
 
 :.pJic becaufe he is compounded of four Elements, 
 a|e is fubje(5t to reparation, feeing every thing that 
 ,1 compounded is Separated naturally. But 
 irjrjj lis reparation of Mans compofition muft needs 
 [ir^ ave been done in the day of judgment, i. r. the 
 ri; irft judgment, when the Sentence of a natural 
 )fi> icath was pailed upon him : for in Paradife Man 
 i^; vzs immortal. Which all Divines, as alfo Sacred 
 ffij ^rit doth teftific ; but a (ufficient rcafon of this 
 ;]|;mmorcaIity no Philofopher hitherto hath fLcw- 
 :)j ^d 5 which it is convenient for the Searcher of this 
 V acred Science to know, that he may fee how all 
 hefe things arc done naturally , and be mod 
 :afily underftood. But it is moft true , that 
 i.|Svery compound thing in this World is (ubjefl 
 [. to corruption, and feparacion; which feparation 
 in the Animal Kingdom is called death : and 
 Man feeing he is Created and compounded of 
 four Elements, how can he be immortal? It is 
 hard to believe that this is done naturally ; but 
 that there is fomcthing above Nature in it. Yet 
 God hath infpired it into Philofophers that were 
 good Men many ages fince , that this is fo na* 
 rurally* Which take to be thus, Paradife was, 
 and is fuch a place , which was Created by 
 the great Maker of all things , of true Ele- 
 ments, not Elementated, but moft pure, tem- 
 perate, equally proportioned in the hi^heft 
 pe)ffe6tion ; and all things that were in Para- 
 dife were Created of the fame Elements, and incor^ 
 rupt i there alfo was Man Created and framed 
 of the fame incorrupted Elements, proportioned 
 in equality, that he could in no wife be corrupted, 
 
 there- 
 
therefore he was confccraccd to immortality 
 for without all doubt God created this Pan 
 dife for Men onely , of which and where it 
 we have largely treated in our Book of Ha 
 mony. But when afterwards Man by his fin 
 difobedience had tranrgrcfl'ed the commandmer 
 of the moft High God , ^c was driven forth 
 Beafts into the corruptible world clemchtated 
 which God created only for Beafts: who of ne 
 cedity , feeing he cannot live without nurrimen 
 muft from corrupt elementatcd Elements receiv 
 nutriment. By which nutriment thofc pure E\c 
 ments of which he was created, were infe6^ed 
 and fo by little and little declined into corrup- 
 tion , until one quality exceeded another , and 
 deftru£lion, infirmity, and laft of all reparati- 
 on, and death of the whole com pound followed, 
 So that now they are neer unto corruption anc^ 
 death, who are procreated in corrapt Elements, 
 of corrupt Seed, and not in Paradife ; for Seed 
 produced our of corrupt nutriments cannot be du- 
 rable ; and by how much the longer it is fince the 
 driving forth of Man out of Paradife, fo much 
 the necrer Men are to corruption ; andbyconfe- 
 quence their lives are fo much ihortcr, and it 
 will come to this pafs , that even generation it felf 
 by reafon of the fhortnefs of life (lya!l ceafe. Yet 
 there are feme places , where the Ait Js more fa- 
 vourable, and the Scars more propitious , and 
 there their Natures are not fo foon corrupted, be- 
 caufe aifo they live more temperately : Our 
 Countrey-men by reafon of gluttony, and inor- 
 dinate living make quick haft to corruption. This 
 experience teacheth : that they that are born of the 
 
 Seed 
 
Seed of infirm Parents do not live long. But if 
 Man had continued in Paradife, a place futable 
 CO his Nature , where all the Elements were as in- 
 corrupt and pure as a Virgin, he had been im- 
 mortal for ever. For it is certain that when pure 
 Elements are joyned together equally in their ver» 
 tues, fach a fabje6^ maft be incorrupred : and fuch 
 miift the Philofophers Stone be : To this Creation 
 of Man the ancfent Philofophers have likened 
 this Scone , but Modern Philofophers undetftand- 
 ing all things according to the letter do apply ic 
 10 the corrupt generaJon of this age. 
 
 This immortality was the chief caufe that 
 Philofophers exercifed their wits to find out this 
 Stone, for they knew that Man was Created of 
 fuch Elements which were found and pure. They 
 therefore meditated upon that Creation, which, 
 when they knew to be natural, began to fearch 
 further into it, whether fuch Uncorrupted Ele- 
 ments could be had, or if they could be joyned 
 together, and infafed into any (ubje^t ; Now to 
 thefe the moft High God , and Maker cf all 
 things revealed, that a compofition of fuch Ele- 
 ments was in Gold : For in Animals it could not 
 be had, feeing they muft prefervc their hves by 
 corrupt Elements ,• in Vegetables alfo it is nor, 
 becaufe in them is found an inequality of the Ele- 
 ments. And feeing all Created things are incli- 
 ned to multiplication, the Philofophers propoun- 
 ded to themfelvesthat they would make tryal of 
 the poHfibility of Nature in this Mineral Kingdomj 
 which being difcovered, they faw that there were 
 innumerable other fecrets in Nature , of which 
 as of Divine fecvets, they have wrote fparingly. 
 
 So 
 
m a tttto JLigtit of aiclpm?. 
 
 So now thcu feeft how corrupt Elements 
 come to be in a Subjedl , and how they arc 
 feparaced , when one exceeds the other , and 
 becaufe then Putrefaction is made by ths fir ft 
 Separation , and by Putrefaflion is made a Se- 
 paration of the pure from the impure , if then 
 there be a new Conjuni^ion of them by vcrtue 
 of Fire , it doth acquire a form much more no- 
 ble than the firft was. For in its firft ftace, cor- 
 ruption was by reafon of grofs matter mixed with 
 it, which is not purged away but by Putrefadion, 
 the Subje6l thereby being bettered ; and this 
 could not be but by the vertues of the four Ele- 
 ments , which are in every compound thing , 
 being joined tagether : for when a Comfofittim 
 muft perill), it perifheth by the Element of Wa- 
 ter; and whilft they lie thus confufedly, the 
 Fire, together with the Earth and Air, which it 
 is in potentially, agree together , and by their 
 united forces do afterward overcome the Wa- 
 ter , which they d'geft , boil, and laftly con- 
 geal; and after this manner Nature helps Na- 
 ture. For if the hidden Central Fire , which 
 is the Life of all things , overcomes and works 
 upon that which is nearer to it, and purer, 
 as it felf is moft pure , and is joined with it : 
 fo it overcomes its contrary, and feparates the 
 pure from the impure , and there is a new 
 Form generated , and if it be yet a lictlc hel- 
 ped , much more excellent than the former. 
 Sometimes by the Wit of a skilful Artificer 
 there are made things immortal, efpecially in 
 the Mineral Kingdom. So all things are done 
 by Fire alone , and the Government of Fire, and 
 
 are 
 
a neto tis^t of aictipm?; tij 
 
 are brought forth into a Bsing , if thou haft un- 
 dcrftood me. 
 
 Here now thou haft the original of the Ele- 
 ments, their Natures and Operations dcfcribcd 
 unto thee very briefly , which is fufficient for 
 our purpofr in this place. For otherwife if every 
 Element were defcribed as it is , it would re- 
 quire a great Volume not neceflary for our pur- 
 pofe. All thofe things as wc {aid before , wc 
 refer to our Book of Harmony , where, God 
 wiUing I if we live (o long , we lliall write mors 
 largely of Natural things. 
 
 OP 
 
114 9 tifto nig^t of aic^^m?, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 THREE PRINCIPLES 
 
 Of all things. 
 
 THefe faur Elements being dcfcribed, we will 
 now defcend unto the Principles of things. 
 But how they are produced of the four Ele- 
 ments, take It thus* After Nature had received 
 from the raofl high Creator of all things the privi- 
 ledge of being Princefsover this Monarchy of the 
 world, llie began to diftribute places, and Pro- 
 vinces to every thing , according to its dignity ; 
 andinthefirft place (lie made the Elements the 
 Princes of thewoild; and that the vi^ill of the 
 moft High (in whole will Nature was placed) 
 might be fulfilled, fhc ordained that one ihould 
 continually ad upon the other. The Fire there- 
 fore began to acft upon the Air, and produced 
 Sulphur, the Air alfo began to a6l upon the Wa- 
 ter, and brought forth Mercury > the Water alfo 
 "CJ^au tj aft upon the Earth, and brought forth 
 Salt. But the Earth , fince it had nothing to 
 work upon , brought forth nothing , but that 
 which was brought forth continued, and abided in 
 it: wherefore there became only three Principles, 
 zad tUcEar^h was made thcNurfe, and Mother 
 of die reft. There were as we faid, three Prm- 
 ciplcs brought fcith ,• which the ancient Philofo- 
 
 phers 
 
a neto ligtit of aictipmp. 1 1 ^ 
 
 phers did roc fo ftridly conlider, bat dcf^ribcd on- 
 ly two actings of the Elcmcncs (or if they were 
 willingly lilenc in it, who iljall cenfure them, fee- 
 ing they dedicated their writing only to the Sons 
 of An?) and named them Sulphur, and Mercu- 
 ry, which alio may fuffice us, ro be the Matter o£ 
 Mecals, as alfo c( the Philofophers Stone. 
 
 VVhofocver therefore will be a true fearchcr of 
 this facrcd Science muft of necelTicy know the Ac- 
 cidents, and an Accident it felf, that he may 
 learn to what Subject or Element he purpofcth to 
 come to , that through medicms he may apply 
 kimfelf to that, if otherwife he dchrc to fill up 
 the number of four. For as thcfe three Princi- 
 ples were produced of four, (o alfo by diminution 
 mufttheie three produce two, Male and Femalei 
 and two produce one incorruptible thing , in 
 which thofe four lliall being equally perfec^t, be 
 purified, and digeftcd to the unnoft ; and lo a 
 quadrangle lliall anfwet a quadrangle. And this 
 is that quincelTence , which is very neceflary for 
 every Artificer, being {eparated from many con- 
 -traries. And lo thou haft inthefe three Princi- 
 ples, in what natural com pofif ion (oever, a Body, 
 a Spirit, and an occult Soul ; which three, il: thou 
 Aalc joyn them together being I'eparated, und 
 well purified, as we laid before, without doubt 
 w\\\ by imitaving Nature yeild moft pure Fruir* 
 For although the Soul be taken from a moft noble 
 place, yet it cannot come vvhither it tends but by a 
 Spirit , which is the place, 2nd manlion of the 
 Soul 5 which if thou wilt reduce to its dueph ce, 
 it is neceflary that it be w aihed from all its halts ; 
 and that the place be purified, that the Soul may 
 la bs 
 
amwiifiDtotaicppm^ 
 
 be glorified in it, and never more be feparatcd 
 from ir. Now therefore thou haft rhe original of 
 the three Principles, out of which it is thy parr, 
 by imitating Nature , to produce the Mercury of 
 Philcfophers, and their fiift Matter; and to bring 
 thofe Principles of things, efpecially of Metals to 
 thy purpofe : feeing without thofe Principles it is 
 impofiTible for thee to perfed anything by Art, 
 fince alfo Nature her fclf can do nor produce no- 
 thing without them. Thefe three are in all 
 things, and widiout them there is nothing in the 
 world, or ever fhall be naturally. But becaufe 
 we faid before, that the ancient Philofophers na- 
 med only two Principles, left the Searcher of the 
 Art fliould erre, he muft know , that although 
 they did not defcribe any other but Sulphur, and 
 Mercury, yet without Salt they could never have 
 attained to this work, fince that is the key, and 
 beginning of this facred Science ; it is that which 
 cpeneth the gates of Juftice ; it is that which hath 
 the keyes to the infernal Prifons, where Sulphur 
 lies bound, as hereafter fhallbemore fully fhew- 
 cd in the Third Treatife of the Principles, of 
 Salt. 
 
 Now to our purpofe, which is that thefe three 
 Principles are altogether neceiTary, becaufe they are 
 theneer Matter. For the Matter of Metals is two- 
 fold, neer and lemote. Theneer isSulphur,and 
 Mercury. The remote arc the four Elements ; out 
 of which God alone is able to Create things. 
 Leave therefore rhe Elements, becaufe of them 
 thou dialt do nothing ; neither canft thou out of 
 ihcm produce any thing but thefe three Pcinciples, 
 feeing Nature her fclf can produce noihing elfe 
 
 out 
 
a nrtD listit of aict)]?mj. 117 
 
 out of them. If therefore thou canft out of the 
 Elements produce nothing but th:fe three Princi- 
 ples, wherefore then is that vafn labour of thine 
 to feek after, or to endeavour to make that which 
 Nature hath already made to thy hands ? Is it 
 not better to go three mile then four ? Let it fuf- 
 fice thee then to have three Piinciples, out of which 
 Nature doth produce all things in the Earth, 
 and upon the Earth ; which three we find Co be 
 entirely in every thing. By the due leparation, 
 and conjunflion of thefe, Nature produceth as 
 well Metals, as Stones, in the Mineral Kingdom ; 
 but in the Vegetable Kingdom Trees, Herbs and 
 all fuch things; alfo in the Animal Kmgdom the 
 Body, Spirir, and Soul , which efpecially doth 
 refemble the work of the Philofophers. The Bo- 
 dy is Earth, the Spirit is Water, the Soul is Fire, 
 or the Sulphur of Gold : The Spirit augmenteth 
 the quantity of the Body, but the Fire augment- 
 eth the vertue thereof. But becaufe there is more 
 of the Spirit in weight, then is of the Fire ; the 
 Spirit is raifed , and opprcfleth the Fire, and 
 draws it to it felf : and fo every one of them, en- 
 creafeth in vertue, and the Earth , which is the 
 middle betwixt them encreafeth in weight. Let 
 therefore every Searcher of this Arc conclude in 
 his mind what he feeks for out of thefe three, and 
 let him a(Iift it in the overcoming of its contrary ; 
 and then let him add to the weight of Nature his 
 weight, that the defect of Nature may be made 
 up by Art, that (he may overcome what is contra- 
 ry to her. We faid in the Element of Earth, that 
 the Earth was nothing elfe but the receptacle of 
 other Elements) i, r. the fubjedl in which thofe 
 I 3 two, 
 
two, Fire and Water, do ftrive, the Air media- 
 ting ; if the Water be predominant 5 it brings 
 forth things that arc corruptible, and continue but 
 for a time; but if the Fire overccme , it produ- 
 ceth things that are lafting, and incorruptible, 
 Confider therefore what is neceflary for thee. 
 Moreover know, that Fire, and Water are in eve- 
 ry thing, but neither Fire nor Water makes any 
 thing , becaufe they only ftrive together, and 
 contend concerning (wifrnefs , and vercue, and 
 this not of themfelves , but by the excitation of 
 the intrinfecal hear, which by the motion of the 
 heavenly vertues is kindled in the Center of the 
 Earth j without which thofe two could never do 
 any thing , but would both ftand ftill m their 
 own bound , and weight : but Nature afterward 
 joyned them two together proportionably , and 
 theriftirs them up by an intrinfecal hear, and fo 
 they begin to contend one with the other , and 
 each of them will call to its help its like, and fo 
 they afcend and encreafc, until the Earth can af- 
 ^end no higher with them; in the mean time 
 thofe two by this retaining of the Earth are fub- 
 tili2ed ; (for in that fubjeft of the Earth the Fire, 
 and Water afcend inceffantly, and ad through 
 the Pores which are refervcd, and which the Air 
 prepares) and out of their fubtiliation proceed 
 Flowers,and Fruit, in which they become friends, 
 fts you may fee in Trees ,• for by how much the 
 better they are fubtilized, and purified by afcend- 
 jng, fo much the better l:ruit do they bring forth, 
 ^fpecially if they end with their venues equally 
 joyned together. 
 
 Now 
 
a mid tw ofMtWmh » i? 
 
 Now tbea rhe things being purged, and cleanf- 
 cd 9 caufe that the Fire, and Water be made 
 friends, which will eafily be done in their own 
 earth, which did afccnd with them, and then 
 thouilialtin a iliortertime perfe6lit, then Na- 
 ture could, if thou flialt joyn them well together, 
 according to the weight of Nature, not as it was 
 before, but as Nature requires, and as is needful ; 
 Bccaufe Nature in all compofitions puts more of 
 the other Elements then of Fire: always ihe leaft 
 part is Fire , but Nature according as (he pleafeth, 
 adds an extrinfecal Fire to ftir up that intrinfecal 
 according to more cr lefs, in much or little time ; 
 and according to this if the Fire exceed, or be ex- 
 ceeded} things perfcfft, or imperfe6iare made, as 
 well in Minerals, as in Vegetables. The extrin- 
 fecal Fire indeed doth not enter into the depth of 
 the compofition elTentially, but only in vertue ; 
 for the intrinfecal material Fire is fufficient for ic 
 felf , if only it hath nouridiment , and the ex- 
 trinfecal Fire is nourilliment to it, and as it were 
 Wood in refpedl of Llementary Fire, and accor- 
 ding to fuch a nouridiment It increafeth, and is 
 multiplyed. Yet wc muft take heed, that there 
 be not too much extrinfecal Fire , for if any one 
 eats more then he is able, he is choaked : a great 
 Flame devours a I'ttle Fire; the extrinfecal Fire 
 rauft be multiplicative, nourilhing, not devour- 
 ing, fo things are pertefted. Decodion there- 
 fore in every thing is the perfection : fo Nature 
 adds vertue, and weight, and makes perfect. But 
 becaufe it is hard to add to a compound, fince it 
 requires a long labour, we advife that thou take 
 away fo much of that which is fuperfluous, as is 
 I 4 need- 
 
needful, and as Nature requires: Thefupcrflal- 
 ties being removed mix thena , then Nature will 
 fhew thee, whsit thou haft fought after. Thou 
 aUo llialr know, if Nature hath joined the Ele- 
 ments well , or ill together , feeing all Elements 
 confift in conjundlion. But many pra6litioncr$ 
 fow Straw for Wheat ; and fome both ; and ma- 
 ry caft away that , which the Philofophers love ; 
 fome begin and end , becaufe of their inconftan- 
 cy ; they feefc for a difficult Art , and an eaiic la- 
 bour 5 they caft away thcbeft things, and fow 
 the worft : but as this Art is concealed in the Pre- 
 face , fp alfo is the Matter caft away in the begin- 
 ning. Now we fay, that this Art is nothing elfci 
 but thevertuesof the Elements equally mixed : 
 it is a natural equality of hot, dry, cold, moift ; a 
 joining together of Male, and Female, which the 
 farnc Female begot, i. e. a conjundion of Fire, 
 and the radical moifture of Metalf, By confi- 
 dering that the Mercury of Philofophers hath in 
 it felf its own good Sulphur , more or lefs depura- 
 ted, and decocted by Nature, thou maift perfe6l 
 all things out of Mercury : but if thou fhalt know 
 to add thy weights to the weights of Nature, to 
 double Mercury, and triple Sulphur, it will 
 quickly be terminated in good, then in better, un- 
 till intobeft of all s although there be but one ap- 
 pearing Splphur, and two Mercuries, but of 
 one Root, not crude, nor too much boiled, 
 yet purged , and diflolvcd , if thou haft under- 
 wood me. 
 
 It is not needful to defcribe the Matter of the 
 ^ercury of Philofophers, and the Matter of their 
 Sulphur : no mortal Man ever could, or ever here- 
 
 ^ft^r 
 
afrer fhall be able to deicribe it more opfniy 
 and dearly than it harh already been defcribed, 
 and named by the ancient Philofophers , unlefs 
 he will be an Anathema of the Art. For, it i> 
 fo commonly named , that truly it is not c- 
 fteemed of , therefore do Students of this Art 
 bend their minds rather to other fubtiltics, than 
 abide ^in the firaplicity of Nature. We do 
 not yet fay , that Mercury of Philofophers is a 
 common thing, and openly named, but the Mat- 
 ter of which Philofophers do make their Sul- 
 phur, and Mercury : for the Mercury of Philo- 
 fophers is not to be had of itfelf upon the Earth, 
 but k is brought forth by Art out of Sulphur 
 and Mercury joyned together ; it doth not come 
 forth into hght , for it is naked but yet is co- 
 vered by Nature in a wonderful manner. To 
 conclude,wefay,wich repeating Sulphur and Mer- 
 cury to be the Mine of our Quick-Silver ( but 
 being jcyned together ) that Quick- Silver can 
 diffolve Metals, kill them and make them alive, 
 which power it receivech from that fharp Sul- 
 * phur , which is of irs own Nature. But that 
 thou maifl yet better conceive it , hearken to me 
 whilft I tell thee the difference which is betwixt 
 our Quicksilver and common Quic k- Silver , 
 or Mercury. Common Mercury doth not dif- 
 folve Gold or Silver , fo that it cannot be (epa- 
 rated from them 5 but our Argent vive doth dif- 
 folve Gold and Silver, and is never feparated 
 from them , but is as Water mixed with Wa- 
 ter, Common Mercury hath combuftible evil 
 Sulphur , with which it is made black : but 
 piir Argent vive hath in it incombuflible Sul- 
 phur, 
 
phur , fixed , good, white and red. Common 
 Mercury is cold and moift , our Mercury is hoc 
 and moift. Common Mercury makes Bodies 
 black, and ftains them : our Ardent vive makes 
 Bodies white as Cryftal. Common Mercury is 
 turned by Precipitation into a Citrine Powder , 
 and sn evil Sulphur; our Argent vive, by vertue 
 of heat, into moft white Sulphur, good, fixed, 
 and fluxible. Common Mercury by how much 
 the more it is deco6lcd , the more fluxible it is : 
 our Argent vive , by how much the more it is 
 deco6ied , the more it is thickned. By thefc 
 circumftanccs therefore thou maift confider how 
 the Common Mercury differs from the Mercu- 
 ry of Philofophers. If thou doft not yet un- 
 detftand , do not expert it ; for no mortal man 
 will ever fpcak more plainly and clearly than 
 we have done : but now of the Virtues of it. 
 Our Argent vive is of fuch Virtue , that it is 
 of it fclffufficientfor thee, and for itfcif, with- 
 out any addition of any extraneous thing, it is 
 diilolved and congealed by. a Natural dcco6^ion 
 only : but Philofophers, for brevities fake, add to 
 it its own Sulphur, well dfgcfted and ripened, and 
 fo they work. 
 
 We could cite the Writings of Philofophers 
 to confirm what we have faid ; but becaufe wc 
 have wrote clearer things than are in their Wri- 
 tings , they need not any confirmation , he fhall 
 underftand who looks into other mens Writings. 
 If therefore thou wilt follow our advice , we 
 advife thee, that before thou fettefl thy felf to 
 this Arc, in the firft place thou learn to hold 
 thy tongue, and that thou inquire into the Na- 
 ture 
 
rure of Mines and Mecals , as alfo ot Vegetables ; 
 for thou fhalc find our Mercury in every Subjed, 
 and from all things the Mercury of PhilofopJiers 
 rnay be extracted , although it be nearer in one 
 Subjecfl than in another. Know alfo for certain , 
 that this Art is not placed in forcune, or cafual 
 invention, but in a reSl Science, and that there 
 is but this one Matter in the World, by which, 
 and of which the Philofophers Stone is made. Ic 
 is indeed in all things, but in excra(5^ing of it a 
 mans Life would fail , and not be fufficient. Yec 
 without the Knowledg of Natural things , efpe- 
 cially in the Mineral Kingdom, thou iLalt be 
 like a blind man that walketh by ufe. Truly 
 fuch a one fceks after the Art but cafually ; and 
 although, as it oftentimes falls out > that a man 
 may by chance fall upon the Matter of our 
 Argent vive , yet then he ends the Work when 
 he (hould begin ; and fo as he found it out cafual- 
 ly , helofethit cafually, becaufe he knows not 
 upon what he fhould ground his Intention. 
 Therefore this Art is the Gift of the moft high 
 God : and unlefs God reveals it by means of a good 
 Wit, or Friend, it is hardly known : for wecan- 
 not be all as Geherj nor as Ltsllm ; And although 
 LuUitii was a man of a fubtil Wit , yet if he had 
 not received the Art from ^rnoldw , certainly 
 he had been like unto thofe which find the Art 
 with difficulty : So alfo Amoldw cenfeffeth that 
 he received it of a Friend. For it is eafie to write 
 what Nature didates : It is a Proverb, It u ea- 
 fie to add to things already fonnd out. Every Art 
 and Science is ealie to the Mafler, but to a young 
 Scholar not fo ; and to find out this Art there is 
 
rt4 anetaiistitofaictiHm^ f'^ 
 
 a long time required , many Vcflels , great Ek- 
 pcnce, and concinual Labour, with much Medi- 
 tation , although to him that knows it already 
 all things are eafie and light. To conclude there- 
 fore, we fay, that this Art is the Gift of God a- 
 lone, which being known, he muft alfo be prayed 
 tOjthat he would give his Blefllng to the Art ; for 
 without this divine Bleding it would be of no ufe, 
 and unprofitable , which we our fclves have had 
 experience of, feeing we have by reafon of this Arc 
 undergone great dangers , yea we have had more 
 mifchief and misfortune by it than advantage: 
 but there is a time wheo men are wife too 
 late. 
 
 The Judgments of the Lord arc a great depth. 
 Yet I admired at Divine Providence in thefe my 
 misfortunes : for I always had the Proteftion 
 of our great Creator at hand , that no enemy 
 could be too hard for me , or reprefs me. The 
 Angel of the Lord of this Trcafury hath al- 
 ways been my Keeper , into which Treafury the 
 moft High Creator hath fhut clofe this Trea- 
 fure only, which he will always defend and 
 ftcurc. For I have heard that my Enemies 
 have fell into that fnare which they laid for me. 
 They which would have taken away my Life 
 have loft their own ; and fome of them which 
 would have caken away my Goods have loft 
 Kingdoms : Moreover, 1 know many that would 
 have decracled from my good Name, have pe- 
 rillicd with Difgrace. So great Prefervation 
 have I always had from the great Creator of 
 all things, who prefcntly took me from my 
 Mothers Womb, put me nadcr the (hadow of his 
 
 Wings, 
 
 foir 
 
WfingSjandinfufcdthe Spirit of urdeiftandingdl 
 latural things, to whom be Praifc and Olory, for 
 Jvcr and ever. So great Bleflings have I received 
 From the moft high God our Creator, that it is 
 impofliblc not only for my Pen, bat my Mind to 
 romprehend. God fcarcc ever conferred upon any 
 mortal man greater things,yea fcarce fo great. I 
 wifhl hadfo much Affc(^ions, fo much Spirit, 
 Eloquence and Wifdom, that I might render meet 
 thanks to him; for I know we have not dcfcr- 
 ved fo great things, only this I believe my felf to 
 bc> that in him alone I have always trufted, do 
 truft and (hall truft. For I know that there is no 
 mortal man is able to help me, only this God, and 
 our Creator; for it is a vain thing to truft in Prin- 
 ces, becaufe they arc men ( as faith the Pfalmifi) 
 and that ail thefe have their Breath of Life 
 from God, and this being taken away they arc 
 Duft ^ but it is a fafe and fecure thing to truft in 
 the Lord God, from whom, as from the Fountain 
 of Goodncfs, all good things do moft abundantly 
 flow. Thou therefore that defireft to attain to this 
 Art, in the firft place put thy whole truft in God 
 thj Creator5and urge him by thy Prayers,and then 
 aflurcdly believe that he will not forfake thee : for 
 if God rhall know that thy Heart is fincere, and 
 thy whole truft is put in him,h'e will by one means 
 or another (hew thee a way , and a(Iift thee in it, 
 that thou (lialt obtain thy defire. The Fear of the 
 Lord is the be|lnning of Wifdom. Pray, but yec 
 work : God indeed gives Undcrftanding.but thou 
 muft know how and when to ufe it : for as a good 
 Llndtrftanding and a good Opportunity are the 
 Gifts of God , (o alfo is the punilljmen^ of fin, 
 
 when 
 
when a good Opporcunicy is omitted. But to re* 
 turn ro our purpofe • we fay, that Argent vive is 
 the firft Matter of that Work, and truly nothing 
 clfe ; wharfoever is added to it arifech from it. 
 We have (aid oftentimes that all things in the 
 world are made and generated of the three Prin- 
 ciples ; but we purge fome thmgs from their acci-!^ 
 dents, and being purged ^ join them together a* 
 gain ; and by adding what is to be added , wq 
 fupply what is defe^ive,and by imitating Nature, 
 we boll them to the hi^heft degree of pcrfed^ion, 
 which Nature could by reafon of accidents never 
 do, and fo ended where Art muft begin. More- 
 over, if thou defircft to imitate Nature , imitate 
 her in thofe things in which (lie works. And lee 
 it not trouble thee that our Writings feem to con- 
 tradi(ft one another in fome places 5 for fo it muft 
 be, left the Art be too plamly difcJofed : But do 
 thou make choice of thofe things which agree with 
 Nature, take the Rofes, and leave the Prickles. If 
 thou doft intend to make a Meal, let a Metal be 
 thy ground work , becaufe of a Dog is generated 
 nothing but a Dog, and of Metal nothmg but a 
 Metal : for know for certain, if thou llialt not take 
 out of Metal the radical moifture , well feparaced 
 thou llialc never do any thing ; without Grains of 
 Wheat thou fhalt till thy Ground in vain : there is 
 but one thing, but one Art, but one Operation. 
 If therefore thou wilt produce a Metal, thou fhalt 
 ferment with a Metal 5 and if thou wilt produce a 
 Treejet theSeed of theTree be thy Fermenr.There 
 is,as we faid,but one Operation^and befide it there 
 is none other that is true. All they therefore are 
 tnilbken, that fay, that any particular thing, be- 
 
 fidts 
 
a iStto Ucfyt of aict)?mr; 127 
 
 fidts this one way, and natural Matter is true ; for 
 a Bough is not to be had but froni the trunk of a 
 Tree : Ic is an impolTIble and fenflefs thing to go 
 about to produce a Bough ; it is ca/ier to make 
 the Elixir it felf than any particular thing,althouoh 
 moft fimple, that will be advantageous, and 
 abide a natural examination and tryal. Yet there 
 be many that boaft they can fix Silver? but it were 
 better fo them if they could Rx Lead or Tin, fee- 
 ing in my judgment it is all one labour, becaufe 
 they do not refift the tryal of the fire, whilft they 
 abide in their own Nature ; but Silver is in its Na» 
 ture fixed enough, and needs not any fophiftical 
 fixation. But feeing there are as many opinions as 
 men, we will leave every one to his own opinion : 
 Let him that will not follow our Counfei, and 
 imitate Nature, continue in his crrour. Indeed 
 particulars may eafily be made, if you have a Tree, 
 whofe young Twigs may be graffed into divers 
 Trees ; as if you have one Water, divers kinds of 
 Flefh may be boiled in it, and according to the di- 
 verfityof the Flefh the Broth hath its taft, and 
 this from the fame Foundation. We conclude 
 therefore that there is but one Nature, as well in 
 Metals as in other things, but her Operation is 
 various; alfo there is one univerfal Matcer accor- 
 ding to Hermes. So from thu one thing all things 
 proceed. Yetthere be many Artificers who foHow 
 every one his own fancy : They feek a nevv N2- 
 tutc,and new Matter ; and inconclufion they find 
 a new nothing,becaufe they interpret the Writings 
 of Philofophers not according to the poHfibilicy of 
 Nature, but the Letter. But all thefe are of that 
 Ailembly, of which mention haih btcn made in 
 
 the 
 
the Dialogue of Mercury with the Alchymlft ^ 
 who return home without any Conclufion ; they 
 look after the end, without any medium, or in- 
 deed beginning ; and the reafon of this is, becaafc 
 they endeavour not to attain to the Art out of the 
 Principles and Grounds of Philofophers, and rea- 
 ding of {he Books of Philofophers, but from Re- 
 ports, and Receipts of Mountebanks: C although 
 now indeed the Books of Philofophers arc perhaps 
 dcftroyed by the envious, by adding in fome pla- 
 ces, ^nd defraying in others) afterwards, when 
 things do not fucceed, they betake themfelves to 
 Sophiftications, and affay divers vain Operations, 
 by making whites, by making reds, by fixing Sil- 
 . ver, and cxtraifling out the Soul of Gold ; which 
 in the Preface of ihe Book of the Twelve Treatifcs 
 hath been fufficicntly denied. We do not deny, 
 yea, we do fay, that it is altogether neceffary, that 
 the Metallick Soul be extra(^ed, but not for any 
 Sophiftical Operation , but for the Philofophical 
 Work, which being excra^^ed and purged, muft a- 
 gain be reftored to its own Body,tnat there may be 
 a true refurred^ion of a glorified Body. This was 
 never our purpofe to be able to multiply Wheat 
 without the Seed of Wheat,but that that extra(5^ed 
 Soul be able in a fophiflical way to tinge another 
 Metal, know that it is a thing moft falie, and that 
 all thofe that boaft of doing ii are Cheaters: buc 
 of that more fully in the third Principle of Salt , 
 fince here is nol place for any further Difcourfe. 
 
 OF 
 
9 neto iLig^t of aict)?m^' it? 
 
 o F 
 
 SULPHUR; 
 
 THe Philcfophctshave noc undefcrved- 
 ly placed Sulphur in the firft place 
 amongft the three Principles, as be« 
 ing the moft worthy Principle, in tire 
 knowledge of which the whole Arc 
 confifts* Now there is a threefold Sulphur, and 
 that is to be chofen above the reft i a Sulphur ting- 
 ing, or colouring : a Sulphur congealing Mercu* 
 ry : the third is eflencial, and npening. Of which 
 we ought to treat ferioufly , but becaufe we have 
 fee forth one of the Principles byway of Dia* 
 logue, fo alio we fliall conclude the reft, left we 
 ftiould feem to be partial, and detract from either 
 of them. Sulphur is more mature then any of 
 the other Principles , and Mercury is noc coagula- 
 ted but by Sulphur : therefore our whole opera- 
 tion in this Art is no.hing elfe but to know how 
 to draw forth that Sulphur out of Metals, by 
 tvhichour Argent vive in the bowels of the Earth 
 is congealed into Gold, and Silver .• which Sul- 
 phur indeed is in this work inftead of the Male^ 
 Dut the Mercury in ftead of the Female. Of the 
 :ompofition, anda£^ing of thefetwo are generated 
 rh'; Mercuries of Philofopherfe 
 
13© a neto 3Lis¥ otaic^^irtj?; 
 
 We told you in ihc Dialogue of Mercury with 
 the Akhymift , of an Afl'embly of Alchymifts 
 that were met together to confuk out of what 
 Matter, and how the Philofophers Stone is to be 
 made, and how that by the misfortune of a tem- 
 ped they were without any conclufion difperfed al- 
 moft through the whole World. For there arofe 
 a ftrong tempefl-, and very great Wind, which 
 difperfed them all abroad, and fo blowed through 
 {otiie of their Heads , thar till this rime they can- 
 not yet recover themfelves , by means of Ivhich 
 divers fores of Worms are bred in their bfains. 
 Now there were amongft ibem Men of divers 
 opinions , and conditions , and among the reft 
 there was this Alchymift , which in thisTreatife 
 I (liall difcourfe of.* he w^as othcrwife a good 
 Man , but without a conclu(io«, or unrcfolvedj 
 alfo of the number of thofe who propound to 
 themfelves to find out the Philofophers Stone cafu- 
 ally, and be was Companion to that Philofopher 
 who difputed H'ith Mercury. Now this man 
 faid , It it had been my fortune to have fpoke 
 with Mercury , Ifhouldhave fillied him dry in 
 few words ; that other^ faith he, w^as a foolc, he 
 jknewnothcw to proceed with him. Mercury in- 
 deed never pleafed me, neither indeed do I rhink 
 th'.ie is any good m ic : but I approve of Sulphur, 
 becaufe at chat meeting we difcourfed moft excels 
 kndy of jt : if that rempcft had not difturbed us, 
 we had concluded that that had been the fit ft Mat- 
 ter, for 1 am not wont co trouble my fejf with 
 light and trivial maiteis, my Head is full of pro- 
 found Imaginatiom. And fo being full of confi- 
 dence he refolvts to work in Sulphur , he began 
 
 therefore 
 
amtoiList)tofaictipmp, iji 
 
 therefore to diftil it, to fublime, calcine, co fix ir, 
 to makeOyl fer C(impaaam of ir, fomecimcs by 
 it felf, and fomctimes with Cryftals , and Egg- 
 fliels , and he trycd divers other Operations a- 
 boutit : and when he had fpent much time and 
 cofts, and could find nothing to his purpofc , he 
 was fad,and being in a miferable perplexity pafled 
 over many nights without fleep^ alfo ofcentimes 
 he went forth out of the City, to behold things , 
 that he might the more conveniendy devife fome- 
 thing that was certain in his operation : Now it 
 fell out upon a time, as he was walking up and 
 down , he fell into an excafic wich beholding of 
 thmgj, and came unto a certain green Wood, ve^ 
 ry full of all manner of things ; in which were 
 Mines of all Minerals and Metah, and all kinds 
 of Beafts and Birds, and abundance of Trees, 
 Herbs,and Fruit : there alfo were divers Conduits 
 of Water ; for in thofe places there was no Wa- 
 ter to be had, but what was brought thither by 
 divers Inftruments and Pipes, and this by divers 
 Artificers from divers p'aces: that was the chiefcft, 
 and clearer than the reft, which was drawn by the 
 Beamsof the Moon^ and this was procured only 
 for the Nymph of the Wood. There alfo did 
 feed Bulls and Rams, and the Shepherds were two 
 young men, whom the Alchymift asking, faid> 
 Whofc Wood is this f whom they anfwered, lay- 
 ing. This is the Wood and Garden of our Nymph 
 Venw, The Alchymift walks up ^nA down in ic > 
 and the place plcafed him wcll,but yec he did ftill 
 think of his Sulphur ; and fo being weary of wal- 
 king, and in a fad condition (ate by the fide of 
 chc Channd, under a certain Tree, and began to 
 K t lament 
 
lament inoft miferably, bewailing his Time and 
 Charges which he fpent in vain with operating , 
 (hecoi'Id notelfe have deceived others , but have 
 damnified himfelf only) and (aid, What is this? 
 all men fay it is a thing common, of fmall efteem, 
 eafie, and I am a learned man,& I cannot find out 
 this wretched Stone. And fo in his lamentation 
 he began to curfe Sulphur , bccaufe he had fpcnt 
 fo much coft and labour in vain upon him: and 
 Sulphur alfo was in that Wood, bur this was un- 
 known to the Alchyraift. Whilfl: he was thus 
 lamenting he heard this Voice as it were oFfome 
 old man : Friend, Why deft thou curfe Sulphur ? 
 The Alchymift looked every way round about 
 him, and feeing no body, was afraid. Buc that 
 Voice (aid to him again, Friend , why art thou fo 
 fad ? The Alchymft taking couvage faid , Sir, 
 The hungry man is always thinking upon Bread , 
 fo do I always upon the Philofophers Stone, f^ox. 
 And why doll: ihou curfe Sulphur ? Alcb, Sir, 
 I believed that that was the firft Matter of the 
 Philofophers Stone , and therefore in working 
 upon it many years, I fpent much, and could not 
 find that Stone. P^ox, Friend, truly I know that 
 Sulphur is the true and principal Subjed of the 
 Philofophers Stone, but I know not thee, nor 
 any thing of thy labour and intention : thou doft 
 without caufe curfe Sulphur ; becaufe he is in 
 cruel prifons, and cannot beat hand to every bo- 
 dy ; lecing he is pur bound in a moft dark dun- 
 geon, and goe:) nor forth., but whither his Keepers 
 carry him. A'ck Ar.d why is he impriloned ? 
 P^oxy Bccaufe he would be cbedi>:iu to every Al- 
 chymift , and do what they would have him , 
 
 contrary 
 
9mtDiiist)tofaict)?mp: 133 
 
 contrary to his Mothers will, who forbad him to 
 obey any, but fuch as knew her, wherefore fhc 
 put him into Prifon , and commanded chat his 
 tcct fhould be bound , and fee Keepers over him, 
 that without their knowledg and pleafure he 
 Ihould go no whither. Aleh, O wretch ! for 
 this reafon he could not come to me : truly his 
 Mother doth him great wrong : and when fhall 
 he be let out of thofe Prifons ? Vox^ O friend ! 
 The Sulphur of Phibfophers cannot go forth 
 hence but in a long rime , and with a great deal 
 of labour. Alcb. Sir ! And who be his Keepers 
 that keep him ? f^ox^ Friend I His Keepers arc 
 of the fame ftock, but Tyrants. Alcb. And 
 who art thou, and how art thou called ? Fox, 
 lam Jadg and Governo'ir of the Prifons, and 
 my Name is Sntu^n. Alch. Then Sulphur is 
 kept in thy Prifons. Vox. Sulphur indeed is 
 kept in my Piilons, but he hath other Keepers. 
 ^Ich, And what doth he do in the Pnfons? 
 Vox* He doth whatfoever his Keepers wiil have 
 him. Alch, And what can he do? Vox^ He is 
 the maker of a thoufand things, and is the heart 
 of all things; he knows how ro make Metals bet- 
 ter, and correds Minerals, teacheth Animals un- 
 derftanding, knows how to make all kind of 
 Flowers in Herbs, and Trees, and is chief over 
 them, corruptsthe Air , which he amends again: 
 he is the Maker of all Odours, and Painter of all 
 Colours. Alch» Out of what Matter doth he 
 make Flowers ? Vox^ His Keepers afford Macrer^ 
 and VelTeh, but Sulphur digefts the Matter, and 
 according to the variety of his digeftion , and 
 weight, various Flowers, and Odours areprcdu- 
 K 3 ccd. 
 
ced. e/f/f^. Isheold? Foa-, Friend, Know that 
 Sulphur is the venue of all things, and is the fe- 
 cond by birth , but yet older then all things, 
 ftronger , and more worthy , yet an obedient 
 child, y^lch. Sir, How is he known ? Fox, Di- 
 vers ways, but beft by the State of the Vitals in 
 Animals , by the colour in Metals, by the odour 
 in Vegetables : without him his Mother works 
 nothing. Alch. Is he the fole Heir, or hath he 
 Brethren ? Fox^ His Mother hath but only one 
 Son like him, his other Brethren are affociated 
 wiih evil things , he hath a Sifter which he loves, 
 and is again beloved by her, for fhe is as it were a 
 Mother to him. Alch. Sir, is he every where uni^ 
 form ? Fox^ According to his Nature , but he is 
 changed in the Prifons; yet his heart is always 
 pure, but his Garments areftaincd, y4lch. Sir, 
 Was he ever at liberty ? Foxy Yea, cfpecially in 
 thofe times when there were fuch wife Men, be- 
 twixt whom, and his Mother there was great fa- 
 miliarity and frienddiip, Alch» And who were 
 they ? Fexy There were very many : There was 
 Hermest who was as it were one with his Mother : 
 after him were many Kings, and Princes, as alfo 
 many other wife men, in ages fince, as AriftotUy 
 Avicen, &:c. who fet him at liberty : Thefe knew 
 how to unloofe his bonds, Alcb. Sir, what did 
 he give them for fetting him at liberty ? Fox^ He 
 gave them three Kingdoms : for when any doth 
 unbind him, and releafehim, then he overcomes 
 his Keepers, which before did govern in his King- 
 dome, and delivers them being bound to him 
 that releafed him , for to be his Subjects, and 
 gives him their Kingdomes to polTefs : but that 
 
 v.hich 
 
simtiJiLispotgictipmi?. iss 
 
 which is more; in his Kingdom is a Looking. 
 glafs, in which is fccn the whole World. Who- 
 foever looks in this Glafs may fee, and learn in ic 
 three parts of thewifdomof the whole World, 
 and fo fliall become very wife in chefe three King- 
 doms; fach weie Ariflotky Ai^icen ^ and many 
 others, who as well as they before them, faw in 
 this Glafs how the World was made ; By this 
 they learned what were the influences of the Ce- 
 leftiai vertuesupon inferiour Bodies, and how 
 Nature by the weight of Fire compounds things ; 
 as alfo the motion of the Sun, and Moon : efpe- 
 daily that univerfal motion , by which his Mother 
 is governed : by this they knew the degrees of heat, 
 cold, moifture, drynefs) and the venues of Herbs, 
 and indeed of all things , whence they became 
 moft excellent Phyfitians. And truly, un.'els a 
 Phyfitian be fuch an one as knows, why this Htxhy 
 or that) is hot, dry, or moid in ihis degree, not out 
 of the Books of Galeny or Avicfn^ but out of the 
 original of Natuie, from whence they alfo un- 
 derftood thefe things , he cannot be a well groun- 
 ded Phyfitian. All chefs things they diligently 
 confidered , and bequeathed their Writings to 
 their SuccefTors , that men might be ftirred up to 
 Studies of ahigher Nature , and learn how to ftc 
 Sulphur at liberty, and unfoofe his bonds : but 
 Men of this age take their Writings for a fufficienc 
 ground, and authority, and feek no further, and 
 jt fufli:ech them if they know how to fay, (o faith 
 tArifldtle^ or, thus iut^iCjalen^ tA'^cb, And 
 what fay you. Sir, can an Herb be known without 
 an Herbal? V ox ^ Thofc ancient Philofophers 
 wro^e their Receipts out of the very Fountain of 
 K 4 Nature. 
 
Nature. Alcb. How Sir ? f^oxy Know that all 
 thingsin the Earth, and upon the Earth, arcgc- 
 j crated, and produced of three Principles; fomc- 
 times of two, to which the third is joined : he 
 therefore that knows thefe three Principles , and 
 the weight of them , how Nature joyns them to- 
 gether, may be eafily able by deco(5tion to un- 
 derftand the degree of Fire in the Subjeft , whe- 
 ther well, or ill) or indifferently decofVed , and 
 that according to more or lefs ; For all Vegetable 
 things are known bythofe, who know the three 
 Principles. Alch, And how is this done ? ^oa;. 
 By fighr, taft, and fmell ; in and from thefe three 
 Senfes are gathered the three Principles of things, 
 and the degrees of their digeftions. y^leh. Sir, 
 They fay that Sulphur is a Medicine, f^oxy Yea, 
 and the Phyfitian himfclf, and to them that fet 
 him free from Pri (on , byway of thankfulnefs he 
 gives his Blood for a Medicine, y^'ch. Sir, the 
 univerfal Medicine being had) how long may a 
 Man preferve himlelf from death? f^oxy Even 
 tothe term of death : but this Medicine muft Lc 
 taken cautioufly , for many wife men have been 
 deftroyed by it before their time. Alcb. And 
 what fay you Sir, Is icpoifon? f^ox, Haft not 
 thou heard that a great Fire will deftroy a little 
 one? There were many Philofophers, which re- 
 ceived the Art from other mens experience, which 
 did not fo throughly fearch into the vertueof the 
 Medicine; yea, by how much the more power- 
 full, fubciler the Medicine was, it fccmed to them 
 to be the more wholfomej andifone grainof it 
 can pafs through many thoufands of metalsj much 
 ir.orc mans Body. A!fh, Sir how then muft it be 
 '•- • ^ ■ "'' ufed? 
 
a netj tW of aic^pi^^ 137 
 
 ufcd ? f^ox , It muft be {o ufcd , thac it way 
 ftren^rhcn the Natural hear, but not overcome it. 
 Alch, Sir, I know how to niake fuch a Medicine. 
 F'oXy Thou arc happy if thou doft know. For 
 the blood of that Sulphur is that intrinfecal vcrtuc 
 andficcity that turns, and congeals Qaick-filver, 
 and all Metals into Gold, and Mens Bodies into 
 health. Alch, Sir I know how to make oyl of 
 Sulphur, which is prepared with calcined Cry- 
 ftals ; I know alfo another , which is done by a 
 Bell, y^ox, Certainly then thou art a Philofo- 
 pher of that AfTembly 5 for thou doft undcr- 
 fland, and expound my words aright , as alfo, 
 unlefs I am deceived , of all the Philofophers. 
 j4!ch. Sir, is not this oyl the blood of Sulphur? 
 F'oXi O Friend! the blood of Sulphur is not 
 given to any bat to thofe, who know how to fee 
 him free from Prifon. Alch, Sir, doth Sulphur 
 know any thing in the Metals? ^cx> I told thee, 
 that he knows all things^ and efpecially in Metals, 
 but his Keepers know that there he could be eafily 
 fet at liberty , wherefore they keep him there 
 bound faft in moft ftrong Prifons, fo that he 
 cannot breath , and they are afraid left he (liould 
 come into the Kings Palace. A!ch. Is he impri- 
 foned fo in all Metalls ? F'oXy In all ; but not 
 alike, in fome not fo ftriftly. Alcb , Sir , and 
 why in Metals in fuch a tyrannical manner ? f^ox. 
 Becaufe he would ftand in awe of them no long- 
 er , when he dial] once come to his Kingly Pa- 
 laces, for then he can be feen 5 and look freely 
 out of the windows ; becaufe there he is in his 
 proper Kingdom, although not yctashe defircs. 
 Alch. Sir, and what doth he cat ? f^pAr, His meat 
 
 i5 
 
is Wind, when he is at liberty, it is deco(3cd ; 
 but in Prifon he is conftraincd to eat it raw. Alch, 
 Sir, Can thofe enmities betwixt him and his Keep- 
 ers be reconciled ? J^ex, Yes, if any one were fa 
 wife. Akh* Why doth not he treat with them 
 concerning a pacification? VoXy That he cannot 
 do by himfelf, becaufe prcfcntly he waxeth hot 
 with anger, and rage, Alch, Let him do it by a 
 Commiffioncr. f^ex^ Certainly he would be the 
 moft happy Man in the World , and worthy of 
 eternal memory, who could tell how to make^ 
 peace betwixt them ; but this no man can do but 
 he that is very wife , and can agree with his Mo- 
 ther, and have co-intelligence with her : for if 
 they were Friends , one would not hinder thep- 
 ther, but joining their forces together would 
 make thing* immortal. Truly he that would re- 
 concile them together would be a man worthy to 
 be confecrated to eternity. Alch^ Sir, I will com- 
 pofe thofe differences betwixt them, and free him, 
 I am in other matters a man very learned , and 
 wife : Belidcs , I am very good at operations. 
 Vox^ Friend, I fee truly that thou art big enough 
 and thou haft a great Head, but I know not whe- 
 ther thou canftdo thofe things or no. Alch. Sir, 
 Perhaps thou art ignorant of what the Akhymifts 
 know , in matter of treaty they have alwayes the 
 better of it , and truly I am not the laft , fo that 
 hi^enemies will but treat with me, if they will 
 treat , affure your felf that they will have the 
 \vorft. Sir, believe me, the Alchymifts know how 
 to treat , if they only will but treat with me. 
 Sulphur fhall prefently be at liberty, Fox^ I 
 like your judgmenc well, I hear chat you are ap- 
 proved 
 
9 tietD Uqfyt of aicD^mp; i?? 
 
 proved of. j^lcL Sir, Tell me if this be the true 
 Sulphur of the Philofophers ? P^ox^ This truly is 
 Sulphur , but whether it be the Philofophcr, that 
 belongs to thee to know. I have faid enough to 
 thee concerning Sulphur. yllcL Sir , If I can 
 find his Pf ifons , fhall I be able to fet him at li- 
 berty ? Vox^ If thou knoweft well , thouflialt ^ 
 for it is eader to free him then find them. y^Ich^ 
 Sir , I befeech thee tell me but this , if I find 
 him 5 fhall I make the Philofophers ftoncof him ? 
 f^oxy O Friend/ It is not for me to judge, do 
 thou look to that, yet if thou knoweft his Mo- 
 ther , andfollowcft her, Sulphur being at liber- 
 ty , the Stone is at hand* J^lch. Sir, in whai 
 Subject is this Sulphur ? Vox^ Know for certain 
 that this Sulphur is of great vertue ; his Mine are 
 all things in the World 5 for he is in Metals , 
 Herbs , Trees , Animals , Stones , and Minerals. 
 Alch. And what Devil is able to find him out ly* 
 ing hid amongfl Jo many things, and Subje6ts ? 
 Tell me the matter out of which the Philofophers 
 take him. ^oxy Friend, thou comefl: too neer, 
 yet that I may fatisfie thee , know that Sulphur 
 is every where , but fhe hath (ome certain Pala- 
 ces , where fhe is wont to give audience to the 
 Philofophers ; but the Philofophers adore him 
 fwimming in his own fea , and playing with Vul- 
 can; when the Philofophers go to him unknown 
 in his vile garments. Alch, Sir, in the Sea, why 
 then IS he not mine , fince he ishjd here fo neer ? 
 Foxy I told thee that his Keepers put him into 
 mofl dark Prifons, lefl thou fhouldft fee him 
 for he is in one fubjeft alone, but if thou hafl 
 jipt found hirp at home , thou wilt fcarce find 
 
 him 
 
140 a neix) tW of aicliBm?; 
 
 him in Woods. But do not thou defparc in find- 
 ing of him out: I tell thee of a truth, that he is in 
 Gold, and Silver mod perfed, but in Argent 
 vive moft eafy, Alcb. Sir, I would very wil- 
 lingly make the Philofophcrs Scone, f^ox. Thou 
 defireft a good thing , Sulphur alfo would wil- 
 lingly be out of bonds. And (o Saturn departed. 
 Now a deep {leep{eafcd upon the Alchymift, be- 
 ing weary , and there appeared to him this Vi- 
 rion , He faw in that Wood a fountain full of 
 ^ Water , about which walked Sal, and Sulphur, 
 contending one with the other, until at laft they 
 began to fight ; and Sal gave Sulphur an incurable 
 wound, out of which wound, in ftead of blood, 
 there came out Water, as it were moft white milk, 
 andic became to be a great River. Then out of 
 that Wood came forth Diana a moft beautiful 
 Virgin , who began to wa(h her felf in that Ri- 
 ver : whom a certain Prince , a moft ftout man 
 (and greater then his fervants) paflfingby, and 
 feeing, began to admire at her beauty 5 and be- 
 caufe fhe was of a like Nature with him , he be- 
 came enamoured with her , which when (he per- 
 ceived, (he was inflamed with love towards him. 
 Wherefore as it were falling intoafwoun fhe be- 
 gan to be drowned : which that Prince feeing, 
 commanded his Servants to help her ; but they 
 were all afraid to go to the River; to whom 
 the Prince {aid , Why do you not help Diana 
 that Virgin ? To whom they replycd, Sir, this 
 River is indeed Uttlc, and as it were dry ed u p, but 
 moft dangerous : Once upon a time we were wil- 
 ling to go into it without thy knowledg , and we 
 hardly cfcaped the danger of eternal death; We 
 
 know 
 
know alfothac others thac were our prcdeccffors 
 perifhcd in ir» Theathe Prince himfclf laying 
 afide his thick Mantle , even as he was armed, 
 leaped into the River , and to help fair Diana he 
 ftretchedfoith his hand to her; who being \yiU 
 ling to fave her fclF , drew alfo the Prince him- 
 felf to her , and fo were both drowned. A little 
 after their Souls came out of the River , flying 
 above ihe River, and faid-. It was well done of 
 us, for elfewe could not have been freed from 
 thofe bodies which are polluted , and ftained, 
 yilch. But do you ever return into thofe Bodies 
 again? Animey Not into fuch filthy bodies , buc 
 when they be purged , and this River fhall be 
 throughly dryed up by the hear of the Sun , and 
 this Province fhall be often tried by the Air. Alch, 
 What /hall you do in ihe mean rime, ^nim, 
 Hereweiliall fly upon the River till thofe Clouds 
 and Tempcfts (hall ceafe. In the mean time the 
 Alchyraift fell into a more dcfired dream of his 
 Sulphur ; and behold there appeared to him ma- 
 ny Alchymifts coming to that place to feek afcer 
 Sulphur, and when they found the carcafe of thac 
 Sulphur which was flain by Sal, by the Fountain, 
 they divided it amongfl themfelves: which when 
 the Alchymift faw he aKo took a part with them • 
 and fo every one of them returned home, and be- 
 gan to work m that Sulphur , and till this day 
 they do not give over. Bat Saturn meets this 
 Alchymift, and faith to him, Friend, how 
 is It \vi:h thee ? Alck. OSir, I have feen ma- 
 ny wonderful things , my Wife would fcarcc 
 believe them ; now alfo I have found Sulphur, 
 I befeech you Sir help , lee us make the 
 
 Philofo- 
 
philofophers Stone. Satftrnus. With all my 
 heart, my Friend, make ready then Argent- vive, 
 and Sulphur , and give hither a Glafs. 9yflch» 
 Sir, have nothing to do with Mercury , for he is 
 naught , he hath deluded my Companion , and 
 many others. Saf, Without argent-vive, in whole 
 Kingdom Sulphur is the King, the Philofophers 
 have done nothing , neither do I know what to 
 do without it. Alcb, Sir, let us make it of Sul- 
 phur alone. Sat, Well then, my friend, but it 
 will fucceed accordingly. Then they took that 
 Sulphur, which the Alchymift found, and they 
 did what the Alchymifl: would have done, they 
 began ro work divers wayes 5 and to make experi- 
 ments of Sulphur in divers ftrangc kind of Fur- 
 naces , which the Alchymift had : but in thecoii- 
 clufion of every opcrarion there was brought 
 forth nothing but Matches, fuchasold women 
 ufually fell to light Candles withal. Then they 
 began a new work, and (ublimcd, and calcined 
 Sulphur according to the Alchymifts pleafurc; 
 but in what way foever they worked it , it fuccee- 
 ded as before, for ftill they made nothing but 
 Matches ; then faid the Alchymift to Saturn, 
 Truly Sir, I fee it will not fucceed according to 
 my fancy , I befeech thee do thou work alone, 
 what thou knoweft. Then Saturn faid, fee then, 
 and learn. He then took two Mercuries of a 
 differing fubftance , but of one original, which 
 Saturn wafhcd in his own urine , and called them 
 Sulphurs of Sulphurs , and mixed the fixed with 
 the volatile , and the comnofition being made , he 
 put it into its proper veffel, and left the Sulphur 
 lihould fly away , he (ct a keeper over him , and 
 
 then 
 
g iBrtD iw of aicti?mp; 145 
 
 then put him into a bath of a moft gentle hear, 
 according as the matter required , and he made 
 all things very well. Then they made the Phi- 
 lofophcrs Stone , bccaufe of the true matter « 
 true thing muft needs be made. The Alchymift 
 being very glad took the Stone with the Glafs, and 
 beholding the colour thereof, which was like 
 burnt Blood , he was amazed , and hy reafon of 
 too much joy he began to leap, in which leaping 
 the Glafs fell out of his hands upon the ground, 
 and was broken. And fo Saturn vanifhed away. 
 The Alchymift alfo being awaked out of his 
 dream, found nothing in his hands but Matches 
 which he made of Brimftone : but the Stone flew 
 away , and doth ftill fly ; whence it is called Vo^ 
 latile : and fo that miferable Alchymift learned 
 nothing elfe by that Vifion but how to make 
 Matches : who afterwards Uying afide the Scone, 
 became to be a Phyfitian j by fearchiog after the 
 Stone of the Philofophershegotthc Stone of the 
 Kidneys. Laft of all he led fuch a life, as fuch 
 kind of Alchymiftsare wont to do , who for the 
 moft part become Phyfitians^ or Quackfalvers, 
 which thing will happen to all, who betake 
 thcmfelves to the Art cafu'ally without any foun- 
 dation, but only by hearfay, or by means of 
 Receipts 
 
 Some of them , when things facceed not, fay : 
 We are wife men , we hear that the grafs grows, if 
 the Art were true we fliould have had it before 
 other men : And fo have brazen faces , left we 
 flioald be accounted undcferving Men (as indeed 
 they are , and alfo perveiie) contemn, and under- 
 value 
 
144 9 tieto iLig^t of aicljpm?; 
 
 value the Arc. This Science haces fuch Mcnj and 
 alwayes (hews them the beginning in the end. 
 Now we grant Uht6 the unworthy , that this Art 
 is nothing , but to the lovers of vcrtuc, and the 
 Crue Searchers, and Sons of Wifdom, wedomoft 
 highly commend it , and do affirm it not only to 
 be true , but a!toj»ccher the trucft ; which fome- 
 timeswe have really made good before men wor- 
 thy of fuch a fight , I fay before Men of high, 
 and low condition ; ( yet this Medicine was not 
 made by US) but received from a friend, and yet 
 moft true) for the fearching out of which wc 
 have fufficiently inftru6led the Searchers thereof; 
 whom if our Writings do not pleafe , let them 
 read thofe of other Authors , which are cafier^ 
 but with this Caution, that whatfocver they fhall 
 read, they fhall alwaycs compare it with the 
 poffibility of Nature , left they affay any thing 
 contrary to Nature. Neither let them believe^ al- 
 though it were written in the Books of Philofo- 
 phers, that Fire burns not , becaufc this is con- 
 trary to Nature; but if it be writ, that Fire hath 
 a drying and heating faculty, this is to be believ- 
 ed, becaufe it is according to Nature ^ for Na- 
 ture doth alwayes agree with a found judgmentt^ 
 and in Nature there is nothing difficult , all truth 
 is plain. Then alfo let them learn 5 what things 
 in Nature are of affinity with each other, which 
 we conceive may be eafier done by our Writingsj 
 then any other ^ feeing w c think we have wrote 
 fufficiently, until fome other fhall come, who fhall 
 fet down the whole receipt fo plam, as to make 
 Cheefe of Milk, which is not lawful for us to do. 
 
 But 
 
a nrtu )iist)t of aictrpmv*' i4j 
 
 But that I may not clire6\ all things I fay to the 
 new beginner only, we fhall fay fomcthing to you 
 alfo who now have pafled over thefe painfal la- 
 bours. Have you Icen thatCountrcy, where a 
 man marryed a wife, whofe nuptials were celebra- 
 ted in the houfe of Nature ? have you underftood 
 how the vulgar wich you have feen this Sulphur ? 
 If therefore you will that old women (liould 
 Pra<^ife your Philofophy , (liew the dealbacion 
 of your Sulphurs^ fay unco the vulgar, Come and 
 fe, forp,owthe water is divided, and Sulphur is 
 come out ; he will return white, and congeal the 
 Waters. Burn therefore Sulphur from incumbu- 
 ftible Sulphur, thenwalliit, make it white, and 
 red, until Sulphur become Mercury, and Mercury 
 be made Sulphur , which afterwards you fhall 
 beautifie with the foul of Gold : For if yon do 
 not fublime Sulphur from Sulphur , and Mercury 
 from Mercury, you have not yec found out the 
 Water , which out of Sulphur, and Mercury is 
 created by way of dif^illacion ; he doth not afcend 
 that doth not defcend. Whacfoever in this Art is 
 remarkable, by many is loft in the Preparation, 
 for our Mercury is quickned with Sulphur , elfe 
 it would be of no ufe. A Prince without a Peo- 
 ple is unhappy ; fo is an Alchymift without Sul- 
 phur and Mercury. If thou haft undcrftood me, 
 1 have faid enough. 
 
 h 
 
 L THE 
 
10 % ttetD ii0i|t of ai(^]?mi: 
 
 THE 
 
 CONCLUSION; 
 
 EVery Searcher of this Art muftin the 
 firft place with a mature judgment exa- 
 mine the creation, operation, and vcr- 
 tues of the four Elements together with 
 their adtings J for iF he be ignorant of the original, 
 and Nature of thefe y he fhall not come co the 
 Jcnovvlcdgof the Principles, neither (hall he know 
 the true matter rf the Stone, much lefs attain to 
 any good condufion 5 becaufc every end is termina- 
 ted upon its beginning. He that well knows what 
 he begins, {hall well know what ihall be the end. 
 For the original of the Elements is the Chaos, out 
 of which God the Maker of all things created, 
 and feparatcd the Elements, which belongs to God 
 alone .• but out of the Elements Nature produ- 
 ceth the Principles of things, and this is Natures 
 •worki through the will of God alone : Out 0/ 
 the Principles Nature afterwards produceih MLine- 
 rah, and all things : out of which the Artift alfo 
 by imitating Nature can do many wonderful 
 things. Becaufe Nature out of thefe Principles, 
 which are Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, doth pro- 
 duce Minerals, and Metals, and all kinds of things^ 
 and it doth not /imply produce Metals our of the 
 Elements, but by Principles, which are the me- 
 dium betwixt the Elements, and Metals; Thcre- 
 1 fore 
 
9mtojiisi)tofaicti?mr. 
 
 fore if Nacure doth noc make thofe things much 
 Ids iliall Arr, And noc only in this example, buc 
 alfo in every nacaral ptocefs a middle difpofition 
 is to be obfcrved. Wherefore here in this Trea- 
 tifc we have fafficiently defcribed the Elements, 
 their af^ings, and operations, as alfothe original 
 of the Principles (becaufe hitherto no Philofopher 
 hath difcovered things more decrly) that the well 
 minded fearcher might the more eafily confider in 
 what degree the Stone differs from Metals , and 
 Metals from Elements. For there is a difference 
 becwixc Gold and Water, buc lefs betwixt Water 
 and Mercury ; and leaft of all becwixc Mercury 
 and Gold. For the houfeof Gold is Mertury, 
 and the houfc of Mercury is Water : but Sulphur 
 is that which coagulates Mercury ; which Sulphur 
 indeed ismoft djfflculcly prepared , butmoredif- 
 ficuldy found our. For m the Sulphur of Philofo- 
 phers this fecrcf confifts, which alfo is contained 
 mthe inward rooms of Mercury , of whofe pre- 
 paration , wichoac which it is unprofitable , we 
 ihall difcourfe hereafter in the third Principle of 
 fair , feeing here we treat of the vertue, and ori- 
 ginal, noc Praxis, of .Sulphur. 
 * Wherefore now we have not wric this Trcatifc 
 that we svould difprove any of the ancient Philo- 
 fophers, buc rather confirm their Writings, and 
 fuppiy thofe things, which they have omitted : 
 feeing that Philofophers themfelvcs were but mer^ 
 they could noc be accurate in all things , neither is 
 one maft (ufficient for all things. Miracles alio 
 have {educed fome men from the right way of Na- 
 ture , as we read happened m Alhertm CM^gnta 
 amoft witty Philofopher; who writ, that in his 
 L 2 tunes 
 
I4S a netD liglit of aici^pm?; 
 
 times there were grains of Gold found betwixt the 
 teeth of a dead man in his grave. He could roc 
 • find out this Miracle, but judged it to b:byrea- 
 fon of the Mineral vertue in man, being confirmed 
 in his opinion by that faying of L^forien : And 
 thii Chatter y O King^ ii extraRed from thee : 
 but this is erroneous 5 ^ox Morten waspleaf'Td to 
 underftand thofe things Philofophically. For the 
 Mineral vertue is placed in its own Kingdom , as 
 the Animal is in irs Kingdom , as in the Book of 
 the Twelve Treatifes we iiave diftinguillied thofe 
 Kingdomes, and divided them into three King- 
 domes ; becaufe every one of thcfe without the 
 ingr^fsof any other thing ftandsin it felF, and is 
 mulciplyed. It is true indeed that in the Animal 
 Kingdom , Mercury is as the Matter , snd Sul- 
 phur as the venue 5 but the Animal is not Mine- 
 ral. The vertue of the Animal Sulphur if it 
 were not inman, it could not congeal the blcud 
 Mercury into fledi , and bones: fo alfo if there 
 were not a vertue of the Vegetable Sulphur in the 
 Vegetable Kingdom, it could not coagulate Wa- 
 ter , or the Vegetable Mercury into Herbs, and 
 Trees. So alfo it is to be undcrftood in the Mi- 
 neral Kingdom. Tiiefe three Mercuries do nc t 
 indeed differ in vertue, nor the three Sulphurs, 
 becaufe every Sulphur hath a power to coagulate 
 its own Mercury ; and every Mercury hach a 
 power to be coagulated by its own propcrSulphur; 
 and by no other that isa flranger to it. Now the 
 reafon why Gold was found , and generated be- 
 twixt the teeth of the dead man is this, becaufe 
 in his Ufe time Mercury was by fome Phyfnian 
 conveyed into his infirm body , either by un^ior^ 
 
 or 
 
a nttD listit of aict)?m?: h? 
 
 orbyTurbith, or fomeocher way , asthecuftom, 
 and manner was, and icvvas cheNamreof Mer- 
 cury CO go up to the mouth, and chrough the 
 fores thereof ro be evacaared wirh the Flegm. It 
 therefore in time of fuch a cure the ficlc man dy- 
 ed , that Mercury not finding anycgrefs, remaiii- 
 ed in his mouth becwixc his reech , and that car- 
 kafs became the na u al veflel of Mercury, fo be- 
 ing fhut up faft for a long time was congealed in- 
 to Gold by its own proper Sulphur , being purify- 
 ed by the natural heat of pu'refaclion , caufed 
 by the corrofive Flegm of the Mans body. But 
 if Mineral Mercury had not been brought in thi- 
 ther , there could Gold never have been produced^ 
 And this is a moft tue example , that Nature in 
 the bowels of the Earth , doch of Mercury alone 
 produce Gold, and Silver, arid other Metals, ac- 
 cording to the difpofitionof the place, ormatrix; 
 for Mcrcary hath in its fclf its own proper Sul- 
 phur , with which it is coagulated into Gold, un- 
 Icfs it be hindied by (ome accidenc , or hath no: a. 
 requifice heat, or a clofe [ lace. The vertue there- 
 fore of Animal Sulphur doth not congeal Mercu- 
 ry into Gold , but into FlelL : for if there were 
 (uch a venae in Man , it would happen to be fo in 
 all bodies j which it doth not. Many fuch Mi- 
 racles and accidents fall out , which being not well 
 confidcred by the Writers, occafion the Readers 
 to fall into errors: ycc thehonfft fearcher muf! 
 apply all things to the polTibihty of Narurc^ if 
 they do not agree with Nature, they muft be lee 
 alone, and waved. 
 
 It fufficeth the diligent Student , that he hath 
 
 here heard what is the Original of the Principles 
 
 L 3 (iince 
 
1 JO a tirto u^t of aici)?mp; 
 
 (fincc the beginning being unknown , the end is 
 alw ayes doubtful) of which wc have in this Trca- 
 tifc not jEnigmacically, but as deerly as we could, 
 and as it was lawful for us , fpoken unto the fear- 
 cher thereof: by means of which, if God fhall 
 enlighten any ones mind , he (hall know what a 
 fucceffor ows to hi? predeceffors, feeing this Art is 
 always acquired by the fame kind of wits, and 
 difpofitions. Which Art we after this kind of 
 cleer manifeftation of it , lay up into the bofom 
 of God the raoft high Creator , and our Lord* 
 and commend our felvcs together with all honeft 
 hearted Readers to his grace, and infinite mercy. 
 To whom be praife, and glory, for ever and ever* 
 
 FINIS. 
 
A TABLE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Of this BOOK. 
 
 OF NAtUTt^ vfbat jhe sr, and^h^tker 
 Scorchers ought toht. page i. 
 
 Of the operation ef Nature accor- 
 dingtoour intention in Sperm, p. $. 
 ^' Of the true firfi matter of Metals. P. y. 
 
 JIoJ9 Metals are generated in the howels of tbt 
 
 Xnrtb. P* "' 
 
 Of the feneration of all kinds of Stones, p. 14. 
 Of tbt fecond Matter, and putrefaaion oftbtngs. 
 ^ p. 17* 
 
 Of the wtue of the fesond Matter. p. 22* 
 JJ9^ly Art Nature works in Seed. p. 25* 
 
 Of thicommixtionof CMttals, or tbt drawing 
 
 forth their Seed. ^ ^ .^'/l' 
 
 Of thtfuptrMtrd generation of the Son of the 
 
 Sun. P* ^^* 
 
 Of the Praxis^ and making of the Stone^ or Tin- 
 
 aurehyArt. P- 3®* 
 
 Of the Stone and its vertue. p. 37' 
 
 The Epllomj or Contlufitnof theft Twelvt Trta* 
 
 tifts. P- -»^; 
 
 L 4 ^ 
 
The Contents.' 
 
 A Preface to the Philofophical o^nlgmA^ or Ri- 
 
 die. p. 4S. 
 
 The Par Able J or Philo[efhkA\ Riddle^ added by 
 
 wayofconelu/ton^andfuperaddUion, p. 52. 
 
 A Dialogue between Mercury , the Alchymiftt 
 
 Md Nature. p. 60. 
 
 ATrcatipof Sulphur. The Preface, p. 76. 
 
 Of Sulphury the fecend Principle. p, 82. 
 
 Of the Element of Earth. . . . . />^ 
 
 Of the Element of neater. . ^ // 
 
 Of the Element of Air. . . . --^7 
 
 Of the Element of Fin. -/^/ 
 
 Of the three Principles of ^{Jltki/tfi;s . .-///^ 
 Of Sulphur. ... _._///; 
 The Conclujiem . . v . . . . - //i^ 
 
 FINI5. 
 
OF THE 
 
 NATURE 
 
 OF 
 
 THINGS- 
 
 NINE BOOKS: 
 
 WRITTEN BY 
 
 Philipp Theophra/lus, of Hohenheim., 
 CALLED 
 
 The Titles of the Nine Books. 
 
 1 
 
 ^Generations 
 Growths 
 
 1 
 
 of thei 
 
 Confervations 
 Life 
 Death 
 Renewing 
 Tranfmutations 
 Separations 
 ^Signatures j 
 
 i> of Natural 
 things. 
 
 ■ 
 
 LONDON, Printed by ^n 
 
 Thomas mlliamsj at the G 
 
 HoJier'Lfine% I < 
 
 drew CUrJ^e ^ for 
 olden Ball ni 
 
 574. 
 
NINE BOOKS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NATURE 
 
 OF THINGS. 
 
 yVritten by PHILIPP THEOPHRA-^ 
 STUS, of Mohenheimy called PARA-i 
 CELSUS. 
 
 Jo the honeft and wifl^ man , TOHM 
 WINCKELSTEINER oiFriburge, his 
 moft intimate Friend) and dear Brother, 
 THEOPHRASTUS PARACELSUS, 
 
 wiflieth all Hcahh. 
 
 7 is moji fit that I 
 JhouldOfiofi intimate 
 Friend^ and dear 
 Brother) fatisfiejour 
 friendly y and daily 
 requefts^ expreffed in your ftequent 
 Letters to me : and feeing that in 
 your lafi Letter:^ you do carnSly^^ 
 
 and 
 
The Epiftle 
 
 and courteoujly invite me to you , if 
 it were convenient C^ cannot diffem-^ 
 lie with youj jet byreafon of many 
 hinder ances I cannot: but as for your 
 other requefty viz. thatljhouldgi-ve 
 you fome clear InJiruSlions^ I cannot 
 denyyouy but am conjirained to gra- 
 tifie you therein. I know the honefiy 
 of your mindy and that you do wil- 
 lingly hear or fee any thing that is 
 new or wonderful in this Art. I know 
 alfo that you have fpent a good part 
 of your ejiatc and life in it. Becaufe 
 therefore you have expre/fed much 
 goodwill^ and Brotherly fidelity to- 
 wards me^ I cannot forget either ^ but 
 am conftraimdto be thankful , and if 
 I never fee jou more.^ to leave a Bro- 
 therly Legacy to youj and your s^ as a 
 remembrance of me. For I will not 
 here o?dy anfwer^ and cletrly injiruil 
 you concerning thofe points only of 
 which you have asked me ; but will 
 
 alfo 
 
Dedicatory. 
 
 alfo dedicate a Book, to you^ xphich I 
 will call -, Of the Nature of Things, 
 and mil divide it into nins little 
 Books* In this Book Imllfatisfie all 
 your reguejis , and further then yuu 
 demanded : although baply you will 
 much wonder^ and perhaps doubt whe- 
 ther all theje things are true that I 
 jball write. But do not fo^ yea be-^ 
 lievc them not to be [peculations^ and 
 theories^ but praSlical and proceed- 
 ing from experience. And although 
 1 have not tryed all of them my /elf 
 yet I have them from , and have ap- 
 proved them by others^ andhjiow them 
 by that kjndof experience^ as alfo. by 
 the light of Nature. If in fome pla- 
 ces you cannot under jiand me what I 
 pall fay^ and in fome proceffes re-^ 
 quire of me further explication^ write 
 to me privately^ and I will declare the 
 matter more clearly^ and give you 
 fufficient infiruSlion^ and intelligence 
 
 Ahhouc-k 
 
Althou0^ I believe you cannot well 
 mifunm^and what IJhall write/ee^ 
 ing I kfloifjou arefo well qualified iff 
 gifted bj^od with Arts^ and a good 
 underfiariding. Moreover^ you have 
 knovi^n my mind and meaning , and 
 ^m^efort will quickly^ and eafily un- 
 der ftand me. Now Ihope^ and do not 
 doubt^ that you will refpeH this pre- 
 /entworkj, commended to you^ ande- 
 fieem of it according to its worthy and 
 not at all divulge it ^ but keep it in 
 great fecrefie for your felf and your Sy 
 as indeed it is a bid and great trea-, 
 fure^ an excellent gem^ and pretious 
 things which is not to be caji tofwine^ 
 i. e. Sophiflerf^ and contemners of 
 all good natural Arts^ and fecretSy 
 who are worthy neither to readthem^ 
 much lefs to have^ know or under ^ 
 fiandthem. And although this book 
 be very little^ confifiing of few words^ 
 yet itts full of many and great fe- 
 
 crets. 
 
_ Dedicatory* 
 
 crets. For J do not here mite out of 
 fpeculation , andthtorie^ but pra£ii^ 
 call) out of the light of Nature^ and 
 experience left I Jhould burden youy 
 andmak^you weary with many words^ 
 &c. Wherefore moji dear Friendy 
 and loving Brother , feeing I have 
 wrote this book, out of love to you cyi ^ 
 lone^ and to no body elfe , / hefeech ^ 
 you that you will keep it as a thing of 
 value J and a great fecret^ and not 
 let it go out of your bands as long as 
 you live^ and at your deaths bequeath 
 it in like manner to your children^ 
 andheirs^ that they alfo may keep this 
 bookfecretly^ which alfo \Jh all par- 
 ticularly defire of them , that they 
 will not let it go out of your family at 
 any time^ and be made publique , fa 
 as to come to the hands of Sophifters^ 
 and footer s^ who contemn all things^ 
 which are not agreeable to them^ and 
 indeed detraH from them : thefe are 
 
 pleafed 
 
Dedicatory. 
 
 f leafed only with what is their own^ as 
 indeed all fools are wont to be^ whom 
 their own toyes only pleafe , not any 
 thing which is anothers^ hating all 
 kindpf wifdom. Wherefore they ac- 
 count wifdom as folly : becaufe no- 
 thing doth them any good ^ they know 
 theufe of nothing. As one work/nan 
 cannot ufe the infiruments of another^ 
 fo a fool can ufe no weapons better 
 then his own Jiicky or boughs ; and 
 there is no found pleafanter to him 
 then the ringing of his own belL 
 Wherefore moji dear Brother be you 
 faithfully admonijhed^ as I have en- 
 treated you , and do what I have en- 
 joined you^ which Ihopeyou will^and 
 you Jh all do what is right and well. 
 Farewell with the prote^ion of God. 
 
 Dated at vilUcumy In the Year, i J J7. 
 
Lib. I, 
 
 l6i 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NATURE 
 
 OF 
 
 THINGS- 
 
 Clie firft 16m. 
 
 of the generations of Natural Things^ 
 
 He generation of all Natural 
 Things is twofold : Natural, and 
 without Art; and Artificial, z/i-t. 
 by Alchimy. Although in gene- 
 ral it may be faid that all things 
 are naturally generated of the 
 Earth by means of Putrefaction. jFor Putrefadion 
 is the chief degree, and firft ftep to generation. 
 Now Putrefaction isoccafioned by a moift heat. 
 For a d)ntinual moift heat caufeth Putrefaction, 
 and changeth all natural things from their firft 
 form and cflence, as alfo their vertucs, and effica- 
 cy into another thing. For as putrefaction in the 
 Stomach changeth, and reduceth all meats into 
 M dungi 
 
 The genera* 
 tion of na- 
 tural things 
 is twofold* 
 
 All things 
 proceed 
 from putr?- 
 faftion- 
 
 Thecaufcof 
 putrefaftio.i 
 i$a nio:ft 
 
 The powsr 
 and nature 
 of" putrrfa-* 
 6iicn. 
 
i6z m t})t mmxt of ctiittsg; Lib.*. 
 
 ycliing s ^0 alfo putrefadtion our ot the Stomach in 
 a Glais , changeth all things from one forna into 
 another, from one efiencc into another, from one 
 colour into another, from one fmell into anotheVi 
 from one vertue into another , from one power 
 into another ^ froitl one property into another, 
 and generally from one quality into another. For 
 it is evident, and proved by daily experience, that 
 many ^ood things which are wholefom, and Me- 
 dicinable, become after putrefaction naught, un- 
 wholfom, and meer poilon. So on the contrary, 
 there are many bad,unwholfome, poifonous, and 
 hurtful things , which after their putrefadtion be- 
 come good, lofe all their unwholfomnefs, and be- 
 come wonderful medicinable ; becaule putrefa6li* 
 on produceth great matters , as of this we have a 
 moft famous example in the holy Gofpel^ where 
 Chrift faith: unlefsa grain of Wheat becaftinto 
 the Eearth , and be putrified , it cannot bring 
 forth fruic m an hundred fold. Hence alfo we 
 muft know , that many things are multiplied in 
 putrefaction fo as to bring forth excellent fruic. 
 Whatputre^ Fci putrefaction is the change > and death of all 
 t»aion.s. j|^'^^^^ ^^^^ deftruaicn of the firft efTence of all 
 Natural things ; whence there arifeth a regenera- 
 tion , and new generation a thoufand times bet- 
 ter, Sec. 
 
 Seeing therefore putrefaction is the firft degree, 
 and ftep to generation ; it is very neceflary that 
 onufh/fiVft w^ ^"^^^ P"f refaction well. Now there arc ma- 
 dcgreeto ny kinds of putrcfa6^ions , and one produceth its 
 Putre'aar* generation in another manner, then doth another. 
 onismani- One aho fooncr then another. Wcfaid alfo that 
 ^^^^' moifturc and hcac were thefii ft degree, and ftep to 
 
 putrefaction, 
 
pucrefa£lioif, which produceth all things, as a 
 Hen doth her egs. Wherefore throagh, and in 
 putrefaction, all mucilaginous flegai, and mat- 
 ter is made living, whatlocver it prove to beat 
 laft. 
 
 An example of this you have in cg$, in which Anartifidai 
 there is a mucilagincm humour, which by any chUkenl '^ 
 kind of moderate continual heat is putrefied, and 
 turned into a living Chicke, not only by the heat 
 of the Hen, but any fuch kind of heat. For in 
 fuch a degree of Fire egs may be brought to ma- 
 turity in a glafs, and allies, and become living 
 birds: yea any man may ripen an egg in his arm- 
 hole, and hatch a Chicke, aswellastheHeno 
 
 And here we muft take notice of fomcthing The tiidnz 
 that is greater, and more then this; t/l** if that bijIto^Hfc 
 living Chicke be in a vcflel of glafsUkea gourd, 
 and fcalcd up, burnt to powder, orafhes in the 
 third degree of Fire, and afterward fo clofed in^ 
 be putrefied with the exa6^eft patrefa6lion of 
 Horfe-dung, intoa muci aginous flsgm, then that 
 flegm may be brought to maturity, and become 
 a renewed, and new made Chicke : to wit, if 
 that flegm be again inclofcd in its former iliell, or 
 receptacle. This is to revive the dead by regene- 
 ration, and clarificacio'n, w hich indeed is a great j 
 and profound miracle of Naeure. According co 
 this procefs may all Birds be killed, and made 
 alive again, and made new s and this is the 
 higheft, and greateft miracle , and myftery of 
 God, which he ever difcoyered to mortal mart. 
 ' We muft alfo know that after this manner Theartific?- 
 tnan may be generated without natural Father, ^aS'tnan* 
 Or Moeherj/^e. not of a Woman in a natural 
 ^*-- M 5s way 1 
 
i64 €»f ttie BUmt of Ctiingg, Lib. f, 
 
 way : but by the Art, and induftry of a skilful 
 Alchymift may a Man be born , and grow, as 
 afterwards (liall be (hewed. 
 Thegcneta- It IS poflible alfo that men may be born of 
 b °b °L"'^" beafts, according to natural caufes, but yet this 
 cannot be done without much impiety, andhc- 
 refie j to wit, if a man iLould couple with a bcaft, 
 and that beaft {hould> as a woman doth, receive 
 the Sperm of the man, with defire and luft into 
 her matrix, and conceive : then the fperm doth of 
 necedicy putrefie, and by the continual heat of 
 the body, a man, and not a bcaft is thence pro* 
 As the feed duccd. For alwaies as the feedisthat isfown, 
 fr*uit!^^ fo alfo is the fruit that is brought forth j and un- 
 lefsitfliould be fo, it would be contrary to the 
 light of Nature, and to Philofophy. Wherefore 
 as is the feed, fuch is the hearb that fprings from 
 thence. So of the Seed of an Onyon is brought 
 forth an Onyon, not a Rofe> nor a Nut, nor 
 a Lettuce. So of Corn, Corn is brought forth ; 
 of Barley, Barley ; of Oats, Oats : and fo it is 
 with all other fruits, whick have feed, and arc 
 fown, &c. 
 
 Tb f e In hkc manner alfo it ispcflTiblc, androrcon- 
 oi womciis trary to Nature, that an irrational bruit fhould 
 imagination j^g produced by a woman, and a man. Neither 
 are we to judge of, or cenfure the woman, as the 
 man, (as in the former cafe) fhe therefore is not 
 to be accounted impious, or heretical, as if fhe 
 ad^ed contrary to Nature, but it is to be imputed 
 to her imagination. For her imagination is al- 
 waies the caufe of it. And rhc imagination of a 
 breeding woman is fo powerful, that in conceiving 
 the feed into her body, ftie may change her infant 
 
 divers 
 
Lib.i. a)f tl&e ji5afuceof C^inggJ' idj 
 
 divers wayes : becaufe her inward Scais arc fo! 
 ftrongly bene upon the Infant , that they beget an 
 imprelTion, and an influence npon ir. Wherefore 
 the Infant in the Mothers Womb in its forming is 
 put into the hand, and will of irs Mother J as clay 
 in the hand of the Potcer, who thence frames, 
 and makes what his will and pleafurc is : fo the 
 Woman that is a breeding , forms the fruit in her 
 Body, according to her Imagination, and her 
 Stars. Therefore it often falls our, that of the 
 Seed of a Man, Cattle, and other horrid Monfters 
 are begot, according as the imagination of the Mo- 
 ther is ftrongly directed upon the Embryo, Sec. 
 
 Now as you have heard , that by Pucrcfadlion 
 many, and various things are generated, and made 
 alive, {o alfo you muft know, that of many 
 Herbs by putrefaction divers living Creatures 
 arc bred , which they that are skilled in chefe 
 things know. 
 
 Here alfo we muft know, that all fuch Animals, ^^ animal* 
 which are bred, and made of Putrefa6^ion, con- that are 
 tain fome poifon , and are poifonous, yet one far of"^p^trefI- 
 moreftrong then another , and one after another fVipn are 
 manner then another : as you fee in Serpents, Vi- ^* °"""^* 
 pers. Toads, Frogs, Scorpions, Bafilisks, Spiders, 
 Wood-bees, Pifraires, and many forts of Worms, 
 a^ Cankers, Maggots, Locufts, ^r. all which are 
 bred in, and through putrefaction. Alfoamongft 
 Animals there are bred divers Monfters ; And 
 there are Monfters alfo which arc not bred of pu- 
 cref3(5lion of ihemfelvcs, but are made by Arc 
 in a glafs, as hath been faid ; becaufe they ofccn- 
 times appear in a very wonderful iliape, and form, 
 fearful to behold , as oftentimes with many feet, 
 M 3 many 
 
1^6 jDfttic^atuteofCliirisp. Lib.i. 
 
 '^ many Tailes, many Colours, oftentimes many 
 Heads, Worms with the Tailes of Fj{hes, or Fea- 
 thers, and other unufual forms, that the hke have 
 not been feen. 
 
 Wherefore notcnly all Animals, which have 
 not proper Parents, and are not born of things like 
 to themfelvcs are Monfters, bixt alfo thofe which 
 are bred of other things. 
 
 So you fee it is concerning a Bafilisk, which al- 
 fo is a Monfter , and indeed a Monftcr above all 
 Monfters, and then which none is to be more 
 dreaded, becaufe he can kill any Man with his 
 meer looks, and fight: and becaufe his poifonis 
 aboveall poifons, to which nothing in the world is 
 to be compared. He carries his poifon in a moft 
 fccret manner in his eyes , and it is a conceived 
 poifon, not much unlike a menftruous Woman, 
 who alfo carrieth a fecret poifon in her eyes , fo 
 that only by her looks a Looking-glafs is fouled, 
 and tainted. So alfo if fhe look upon a wound, 
 or an ulcer, fhe infe6ls that in the like manner, 
 and hinders the cure thereof: fo alfo with her 
 breath, as well as fight, fhe infers divers things, 
 corrupts and weakens them j and fo^lfo with her 
 touch. For you fee if flie meddle with wine in 
 time of hermenftrucs, that it is fuddainly chan- 
 ged and made thick ; The Vinegar alfo that flie 
 meddles withal, becomes dead, and ufelefs: fo 
 alfo Hot-waters lofe their ftrengch : In like man- 
 ner Civet, Amber- Gryfc, Musk, and fuch like per- 
 fumes, lofe their odour by fuch a womans carrying 
 «r handhng of them , fo alfo Gold, and Corals 
 lofe their colour, alfo many Gemms and Look- 
 ip^-glajles arc foiled therewith, 0'C9 But to return 
 
 to 
 
j:.ib.i. ©ftl)eBatureofC]^inss!. 167 
 
 to what I propofed concerning the Bafilisk , by 
 what rcafon, and in what manner he carries poifon 
 in hislooks> and eyes; youmuft know that he 
 hach that property , and poifon from menftiuous 
 Womenj asisaforeCaid. For the Bafilisk is bred 
 of, and proceeds from the greateft impurity of a 
 Woman , viz,, her Menfttues , and from the 
 blood of the Sperm , if it be put into a ^ourd 
 glafs, and putrefied in Horfc-diing, in which pu- 
 trefaction a Bafilisk is brought forth. But who 
 isfocouiagious, and bold to make, take him out, 
 and kill him a^ain , unlefs he cover and foriifie 
 himfelf well fi. ft With glades: I llioiild pcrfwade 
 aone to do ic, nay, I would advife them to take 
 heed of if. 
 
 Bur that I may proceed in treating of Mon- Mor.ftersdo 
 fters. Know that Monfters amongft brures,which r°- ^"'^ 
 are brought forth of other thuigs , and not of 
 (Cheir like, feldom live long, efpecial'y if they 
 fhall live neer, or amongft ocher bru^c^, bccaufe 
 ofanimbreddifpoficion, and Godsdifpohng, all 
 Monfters areodieus unto bracts that are genuinely 
 brought forth, and fo alfo Monfters cf men, 
 which are generated by man, feldom live long. 
 And by how much the more wonderful, and 
 remarkable they are, fo much the looner they dy, 
 Jfo that non exceed the third day amongft men, 
 unlefi they be prefendy carryed into fomc fecerc 
 place, and kept apart from all men. Moreover 
 you muft know that God abhors thefe kind of 
 Monfters, and that they are difpleafing to him, 
 and that none of them can be faved, feeing they 
 bear not the image of God: whence we can 
 •onje^lure nothing ellc, but that they arc fo form- 
 
 M 4 ed 
 
6% ^ftl&cBatu«of€t)inS0« Lib;i; 
 
 Monfters 
 come from 
 the Devil. 
 
 Monfters 
 are to be 
 fliunned. 
 
 Thcarfifici- 
 al generati- 
 on of Men. 
 
 cd by the Devil, and arc made for the Devils 
 fervice, rather then Gods, bccaufe no good work 
 was ever d^ne by any Monjler, but rather all 
 manner of evil, wickedneff, and devilliih deceits. 
 For as an Executioner rnarketh his (ons in cutting 
 off their ears, putting out their eyes, burning 
 their checks, fingers, hands, and cutting off their 
 heads: fo doth the Devil mark his fons through 
 the imagination of their Mothers, which in their 
 conceiving they drew from cvildcfircs, lufts, and 
 cogitations. 
 
 Aifo all men are to be (liunned,which abound 
 with, or want any member, or have a double 
 member. For that is a prefage of the Devils? and 
 a moft certain (igne of fome occult wickednefs,and 
 deceit, which follows upon it. Wherefore they 
 feldom dy without the Executioner, or at leaft 
 from (ome mark made by him. 
 
 But we muft by no means forget the generation 
 of Artificial men. For there is fome truth in this 
 thirg, although it hath been a long time concealed, 
 and there have been no fmall Doubts, »and Que- 
 ftions, rai fed by fome of the ancient Philofophers, 
 Whether it were poffible for Nature, or Art to 
 beget a Man out of the body of a Woman, and 
 natural matrix ? To this I anfwcr, that it is no 
 way repugnant to the Art of Alchymy, and Na- 
 ture ; yea it is very poffible : But to cflfe(5t it, we 
 muft proceed thus. 
 
 Let the Sperm of a man by it felf be putrefied 
 in a gourdglafs, fealed up, with the highcft de- 
 gree of putrcfadlion in Horfc-dung, forthc fpace of 
 forty days, or fo long until it begin to be alive, 
 movC) and ftir, which may eafily be fcen. After 
 '■' this 
 
this cirac it will be fomething like a Man, yet tran- 
 f parent, and without a Body. Now after this, if 
 it be every day warily and prudcnrly nouriilied 
 and fed wich the Arcanum of Mans blood, and be 
 for the {pace of forty weeks kept in a conftanr, 
 equal heac of Horfe-dung, k will become a true, 
 and living Infant, having all the Members of an 
 Infant, which is born of a Woman , but it will 
 be far lefs. This we call fIomnncu!m^ or Artifici- 
 al. And this is afterwards to be brought up with 
 as great care, and diligence as any other Infant, 
 until it come to riper years of underftanding. 
 Now this is one of the greareft fecrets > that God 
 ever made known tdmortaKinful Man. For this 
 is a miracle , and one of the great wonders of 
 pod, and fccret above all fecrets , and defervedly 
 it ought to be kept amongft the fecrets until the 
 laft times, when nothing fhallbehid, but all things 
 be made manifeff. 
 
 And although hitherto it hath nor been known 
 to men , yet it hath been known to Fairies of the 1^}^J^%\ 
 Woods, Nymphs, and Gyants many ages fince, Gyants. &c. 
 becaufe they come from them. For of fuch Artifi- lH^^-^^ °^ 
 cialmen, when they come to Mans age, are made men. 
 Pygmies, Gyants, and other great and monftrous 
 Men, who are inftruments of great matters, who 
 obtain great victories againft their Enemies, and 
 know all fecrets, and myfteries : becaufe by Art 
 they receive their lives, by Art they receive their 
 bodies, fle{h, bones, and blood : by Art they are 
 born; wherefore Art is now incorporated with, 
 and imbred in them, and they need not learn of 
 any, but others arc conftrained to learn of them, 
 for by Art they have their original and prefencex - 
 
 ftency. 
 
110 ©ft|iei5atttreof^Wns0. Lib.i; 
 
 ftency, asarofe, or flower in a garden, and they 
 are called the children of Fairies , and Nymphs, 
 byreafonthac in power, and vertue they are like 
 not to Men, but Spirits, d'f. 
 
 Here itis neceflary that we (peak Something of 
 the generation of Metals ; but becaufe we I 
 wrote fuificiently of that in our Book of the 
 nerationof Metals, we ihallvery briefly treat oi 
 it here , only briefly adding what was omitted m 
 OF three that Book. Know that all the feven Metals are 
 MeTcor" brought forth after this manner, out of a threc- 
 fhe Spirit fold matter, -z/i^,. Mercury Sulphur, and Salt, yec 
 tbeSr in diftindl, and peculiar colours. For this rcafon 
 Salt the Bo- Hermes did not {peak amifs, ^hen he faid, that of 
 three fubftances are all the feven Metals produced, 
 and compounded, asalfotheTin(^ures, and Phi; 
 lofophers Stone. Thofe three fubflanccs he calls 
 the Spirit, Soul, and Body ; but he did not fliew 
 how this is to be undcrftood , or what he did 
 mean by this, although haply he might know the 
 three Principles , but did not make mention of 
 them. Wherefore we do not fay , that he was 
 here in anerrour, but only was filcnt now, that 
 thofe three diftinft fubftances may be rightly un- 
 derftood,^'/*. Spirit, Soul, and Body, we rauft 
 know, that they fignifie nothing elfe but the 
 three Principles, /. e. Mercury, Sulphur, Sale, of 
 which all the feven Merals are generated. For 
 Mercury is the Spirit, Sulphur the Soul, and Sale 
 the Body, but a Metal is the Soul betwixt the Spi- 
 rit, and the Body (as Hitmes faich) which 
 Soul indeed is Sulphur 5 and unites thefe two con- 
 traries, the Body, and Spirit, and changcth them 
 into one efTence, &c. 
 
 Now 
 
Lib.i. S>tiMBiitVitttf€WQS, 171 
 
 Now this is nqtto be underftood Co as chat of 
 every Mercnryj every Sulphur, or of every Salt, JJ^^^f^l^^^ 
 the feven Metals may be peneraed, or the Tin- be made ar- 
 dure, or the Philofophers Stone by the Art of Al- f^'^'^^y ^f 
 chymy, orinduftiy, with the help of Fire; but 
 'jvfcl/he fevcn Metals ir.uft be generated in the moun- 
 ~5^ flsby the Archeusof the Earth. For the Al- 
 chymift fhallfooner tranfmuce Metals, then gene- 
 rate, or make them. 
 
 Yecneverthelefs living Mercury is the Mother ^^j^J.^^l' 
 of all the feven Metals, and deifrvedly it may be Mother of 
 called the Mother of the Metals. For it is an ^^'"^'* 
 open Metal, and as it contains all colours, which 
 it manifefts in the F;re, fo alfo occultly it contains 
 all Mecals in it (elf, but without Fire it cannot 
 rhew them, &c. 
 
 But generation , and renovation of Metals is 
 made thus : As a man may return into the womb 
 of his Mother, i, e, into the Earth, out of which 
 he was firft made a man, and (hall again be raifcd 
 at the laft day : fo alfo all Metals may return into The regcnc- 
 living Mercury again, and become Mercury, and Meuhtnto 
 by Fire be regenerated , and purified , if for the Tinftutes. 
 (pace of forty weeks, they be kept in a continual 
 heat, as an Infant is in his Mothers Womb. So 
 that now there are brought for.h not common 
 Metals, but Tinging Metals. For if Silver be 
 regenerated ( after the manner as we have fpc- 
 ken J it will afterward Ting all other Me- 
 tals into Silver , fo will Gold into Gold , and the 
 like is to be underftood of all the orher Me- 
 tals. 
 
 l^ow forafmuchas Hermes faid , that the Soul 
 
 alone 
 
i7» iDft!jcJ3aturcofCt)mff)5, Lib.i. 
 
 The Soul is aloncisthacmcdiuiTi which joincs the fpirit to the 
 «m where- Body,itwas not without caufc he faid fo. For 
 withthe foul feeing Sulphur is that foul , and doth like Fire ri- 
 
 IS umted to " ,*^i. ^ -, _,, . ' . .,',•11 
 
 the body, pen , and digeft all Things ; it can alio bind the 
 Soul with the Body, incorporating and uniting 
 them together, fo that from thence may be produ- 
 ced a moft excellent body. Now the common 
 combuftible Sulphur is not to be taken for the foul 
 of metals, for the foul is another manner of thing 
 then a combuftible, and corruptible body. 
 What the Wherefore it can be dcftroyed by no Fire, feeing 
 Soul of me- indeed it is all Fire it felf; and indeed it is no- 
 "**"• thing elfe but the quinteftencc of Sulphur, which 
 is extracted out of reverberated Sulphur by the fpi- 
 rit of wine, being of a red colour, and as tranfpa- 
 rent as a Rubie : and which indeed is a great, and 
 excellent Arcanum^ for the tranfmuting of white 
 metals and to coagulate living Mercury into fixr, 
 and true Gold, Efteem this as an enriching trea- 
 fure, and thou maift be well contented with this, 
 only fecret in the Tranfmutation of metals. 
 ^ ^^ .^ Concerning the generation of minerals, and 
 the genera-' half metals, nothing elfe need be known then 
 fliTa^d mi- whatwasatfirft faid concerning metals, vix,^ that 
 aerais. thcy are in like manner produced oi: the three 
 Principles, viz,. Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt, al- 
 though not as metals of pcrfe<^ but of the more 
 imperfect, and bafer Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt, 
 and yet with their diftindl colours. 
 Whence the The generation of Gemms is from the fubtilty 
 generation of the Earth, of tranfparent and cryftalline Mer- 
 Gcmms. ^^^^^ Sulphur, and Salt, even according to their 
 diflindt colourf* 
 
 But 
 
But the generation of common Stones is of the fJ^JJ^ 
 fubfiltyof water, of mucilaginous Mercury, Sul- stones, 
 phur, and Salt. For of the mucilaginonfnefs of 
 Water arc produced all ftones, as alfo (and, and 
 gravel are thence coagulated into Stones, as wc of- 
 ten fee. 
 
 For any ftone put in the Water, dothfudden- An artificial 
 ly contraft a mucilaginoufncfs to it felf. Now if |f ^"^g®'* 
 that mucilaginous matter be taken from this Stone, 
 and coagulated in a glafs, it becomes fuch a Stone, 
 as was in that Water , but it would require a long 
 time before it would be coagulated of it felf. 
 
 OP 
 
?74 Lib.21. 
 
 OFTHE 
 
 NATURE 
 
 OF 
 
 THINGS 
 
 of the groKvth undincreaft of N^- 
 turd Tbmgs. 
 
 Heat and M T is fufficiently manifeft, and known to 
 the^caufe of I ^^^^^^ ^"^ ^^^^ ^'^ Natural Things grow, and 
 
 I 
 
 the growth I arc ripened through heat , and moifture, 
 ©f things. JUL which is fufficiently demonftrated by rain, 
 and the heat of the Sun. For no man can 
 deny that Rain doth make the Earth fruitful, 
 and it is granted by all, that all Fruits are ripened 
 by the Sun. 
 An artificial Seeing therefore this is by divine ordination na^ 
 ThiSgsf °^^ turally pofTible, who can gain-fay, or not believe 
 that a man is able, through the wile, and skilful 
 Arc of Alchymy, to make that which is barren, 
 fcuitful> and that which is crude to ripen, and all 
 
 Things 
 
tib.z. €>f ttie mtwct of €W&* >7i . 
 
 Things to grow , and to be increafed. For the 
 Scripture faith, thatGod fubjeacd all Creatures to ^g^^'^^^ 
 man, and put them into his hands as being his Things to 
 own, that he might ufethcm for his neceificy, "°*"' 
 and rule over the Filli of the Sea , Fowls of the 
 Air, and all Things upon the Earth, nothing 
 excepted. Wherefore man might well rejoycc 
 that God fhould fo endue him with the excellency 
 of Nature, that all the Creatures of God iliould 
 be forced to obey, and be l\xhjt&. to him , efpeci- 
 al!y the whole Earth, and all Things which are 
 bred, live, and move in , and upon ir. Since 
 therefore we fee with our eyes, and are taught by 
 daily experience , that by how much the ofcner, 
 and more abundantly the rain doth moiften the 
 Earth, and the Sun doth again with its heat and 
 warmth dry it , £) much the fooner doth the 
 Fruits of the Earth come forth and arc ripened, 
 yea all Fruits do cleerly grow, andincreafe, whac 
 time of the year foever it be 5 Lee no man hence- The artificf^ 
 forth wonder, that the Alchymift alfo by a ma- ^^of ^pruu^ 
 nifold imbibicion , and diftillacion (hould not do 
 the fame. For what elfe is Rain but the imbibi- 
 tion of the Earth ? and the heat of the Sun , but 
 the diftillation of the Sun , which draws up thofc 
 humidities again ? Wherefore I fay it is pofifiblc 
 by fuch a kind of Art , even in the middle of 
 Winter to bring forth green Herbs, Flowers and 
 oiher Fruit, through Earth, and Wacer, out of 
 the Seed, and Root: If then this can be done in 
 aM Herbs, and Flowers, it may alfo be done in 
 many other like things, as in all minerals, whofc 
 imperfcft mecaU by vertue of a mineral Water 
 
 may , 
 
may be brought ro maturity through the induftry, 
 and Art of a skilful Alchymift* 
 tfee ripen- Jp i^j^g manner may all LMarca/itesj GrAnatL 
 rals. Ztftitay Arjentca^ Talkay Cachymiey Btjemma^ 
 
 Antimsniis^ &c. (all which carry with them crude 
 Gold, and Silver,) be fo ripened, that they may 
 be equalized to the mod rich veins of Gold, and 
 Silver, only by this Art. So alfo the Elixir, and 
 tindures of metals are brought to maturity, and 
 perfected. 
 
 What tbt Seeing therefore , as it hath been faid , moi«» 
 fhe beafdTof ^ureand heat do ripen all things> and make them 
 a dead man grow , let nonc wonder , that the beard , hair, 
 '8™ "• and oails of a malefa6lor hanging on a Gibbet, or 
 Wheel do for a long time grow, neither let it be 
 accounted for a fign of his innoccncy, as the Ig- 
 norant believe ; for this is natural, and from natu- 
 ral caufes. For whilcft that any moiftare re- 
 mains in him, his beard, haire, and nailes growi 
 even till the fecond year, or till he be wholly pu- 
 trefied, &c. 
 
 We muft alfo know, that there are many things 
 
 that grow for ever, and arc increafed in bignefs^ 
 
 weight, and Ycrtuc, in the Water, and Earth> 
 
 in which they continue good, and efficatious, a$ 
 
 are Metalls, Marcafites, Cachymie, Talka, Gra^ 
 
 The aug- "^^^y* Antimony, Bifcmuta, Gems, Pcarles, 
 
 mentation Corals, all Stones, and Clay. So alfo it may be 
 
 •^0- ordered, that Gold may grow, and be increafed 
 
 in weight, and body, if only it b^ buried in the 
 
 Earth looking towards the Eafi , and be always 
 
 foiled with the frcih urine of a man, and Pigeons 
 
 dung. 
 
 It 
 
Ic is pofTible alio that Gold, rhiough •ildiiftyy,^ ma^^'l'^ 
 and skill of an expert Alchymift may be i^'^^i nemedfn'a 
 exalted, that ic may grow in a-'glaft Ii]cc''i'tfec. s^^^*- 
 with many wonderful boughsj and leaves,' WhUR 
 indeed is pleafanc to behold,- and moft wdrid^t^ 
 
 ful. I,' ^ ■ : . •^n 
 
 The procefs is this. Let Gold be calcined' Wkli^ PhUofoJhi. 
 u4(^Ha Regis ^ till ic becomes a kind of chalk, which cai Tree is 
 put into a gourd glafs, and pour upon ic good "^^'^^- 
 new Aqpia Regis, fo that ic may cover it four 
 fingers breadth, then again draw ic off, with the 
 third degree of fire, until no more afcend. The 
 water chat is diftilled off, poure on again, then 
 diflillitoffagain. Thus do fo long until thou 
 feeft the Gold to rife in the glafs, and grow after 
 the manner of a tree, having njany boughes, ai^d 
 leaves : and fo there is made of Gold a wonder- 
 ful, and pleafanc llirub, which the Alchimifts call 
 their Golden hearb, and the Philofophers Tree, 
 In like manner you may proceed with Silver, and 
 other MetalU, yet fo that their calcination be 
 made after another manner , by another A^ua 
 fords, which I leave to thine experience. If thou 
 art skilled in Alchymy, thou fhalt not erre in 
 thefe things. 
 
 Know alfo that any flint taken out of River Toaiake 55 
 water, (and put into a gourd glafs, having River ftoVrl^any 
 warcr poured upon it, chat the glafs may be fil- ^^^^" 
 led, which Water is again to be diflilkd ofFas long 
 as one drop will arife, and the Stone dryed, and 
 the Glafs again filled with this Water? and again 
 diftilled off, and this done fo long till the Glafs 
 be filled with this Stone) may in a few days by 
 the Arc of Alchymy be made very great, which 
 
 N the 
 
the Archcius of the waters could fcarce do in many 
 years* 
 
 If then thou break the Glafs, thou (halt have a 
 Flint in the form of the Glafs, as if it had been 
 put into the Glafs, and although this be not for 
 profit, yctitisathingthatisftrange , and won- 
 derful. 
 
 OF 
 
»79 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NATURE 
 
 OF 
 
 T H I N G S- 
 
 of the Frefervation of Natural Things. 
 
 THarthines may be nrefervcd, and kept _, 
 r 1 • • cf L r fi The enem?e« 
 
 from harm , ic isneceflary in the hrlt of things are 
 place to know what is an enemy to *° ^^ ^^o^n 
 them> thac (o they may be prefcrved , 
 from chat, and notbehurr, or corrupced by ic ei- 
 ther in'fubftance, vertue , power , or any way 
 whatfoever. Much therefore in thiscafe depends 
 upon the knowing of the Enemy of all Natural 
 Things. For who can take heed of danger when 
 he doth not know what can hurt him r Truly no 
 body i Wherefore it is neccflary to know ones 
 Enemy , for there are many lores of Enemies. 
 Wherefore ic is asnecefTary to know evilThingsas 
 N 2 good 
 
i8o. SDft^eJEiatttttotWttS0. Lib, J. 
 
 good Things: For who can know what is J^ood, 
 withoiUthe knowing of whac is evil ? Truly no 
 body. So no man can know wl^ac a blefflng health 
 is, that was never lick. Who knows whac joy is, 
 that w^as never heavy , or fad ? And \*ho can 
 rightly underHand what God is*, who knew no- 
 thing of ih.e Devil ? Wherefore when God 
 made knowM to us the Knemy of our Soul, vItl^ 
 the Devil, he; alfo fignified to lis the Enemy of our 
 Deathjsthe life^^/^^ D^gfl^^ which is the Enemy of our bo- 
 Tblnjb. dy, of our health, and the Enemy of Medi- 
 cinal, and all na.mralTliir»gs ; alio he made known 
 to us how, and by which means it may be iliun- 
 ned. For as there is no difeafe againft which there 
 is not created, and found fome remedy, which 
 There is a ^^^^uld cure, anc^ expel it : fo alfo there is always 
 Contrariety one thing ordained againft another , one Water 
 Things"'^^ againft another , one Stone againft another , one 
 Mineralagaiiift another , one Poifon againft ano- 
 ther , one Metal againft another ; and fo in many 
 more Things, all which it is not requifite here to re- 
 cite. , 
 Now how, and by what means every thing is 
 to be preferved , and kept from hurt , we muft 
 know , that many Things are to be preferved in the 
 Earth,& ef pecially all Roots do for a long time re- 
 main in the Earth without looting their vcrtue, or 
 being corrupted .• in like manner Herbs, Flowers, 
 and allFfuics continue in the water incorruptcd, 
 and green; there arealfo many Fruits and Apples 
 that may be preferved in Water from all manner 
 of puciefaftion, until new Fruit come a- 
 gain. 
 
 So alfo flslli, and blood, which indeed are pu- 
 trefied 
 
trefied, and g^row unfavc ry quickly , arc preierved ^^^ fo' 
 in cold Founrain-waccr? and not 6nly fo, but by Scihlnd 
 the addition of new and frelh Fountain-warcr, ^'^o^- 
 may be turned into a quinteffence , and be for 
 ever preferved from putrefadion, arid an ill favour, 
 without any BalCome, And this doth not only 
 preferve the fleil-j, and blood of dead Thing?, buc 
 alfo of the living, wherefore Mans body may be 
 preferved from all manner of putrefaction, and 
 divers difeafes that proceed from putrefaction, 
 better then common Mummy. Now that blood 
 may be preferved of it felf from putrefa6^ion, and 
 ft in king , and not asa quinrellence, and fo as ic 
 may preferve the blood of the hving (as we now 
 faid) thou mufi: follow this procefs. 
 
 Let the blood be feparated from its flegm, Howthe 
 wh'ch isfepararedof itsfdf, and is driven to the '^'■'^^"""^of 
 
 r ' mans blood 
 
 upper part. This water pour gently out of theistobepre- 
 vellel , and in ftead of it put as much of the wa- ^^^^'^^ 
 ter of the Salt cf Blood , which water we teach to 
 make in our Chirurgery : That water doth pre- 
 fendy mix with the blood, and prcferves it fo, that 
 k will never be putrefied , or grow unfavory , but 
 continue many years as frelli , and very red as it 
 was the fir ft day : and this indeed is a great won- 
 der. But if thou deft not know how to make 
 this water, or haft it not in leadinef^s, then pour 
 upon it fo much of the beft, and moft excelleiic 
 Balfom , and this will do the fame. Now this 
 blood is the Balfom of Balfcms , and is called the 
 Arcanum of Blood, and it is fo wonderful, and of 
 fuch great vertue, that it is incredible to be fpoken; 
 wherefore thou ftialc conceal it as a great fecret in 
 Phyfick. 
 
 N 3 In 
 
i8t ff)fti&eii3atureof€l&ins0^ Uh.f. 
 
 ^^J^^'^^^J^^Inprelcrvingof Metals, their Enemies are firft t;o 
 ferved. bc kpown , that forouch the better they maybe 
 Sne"ies prefervcd from harm. The chiefeQ Enemies of 
 ok metals. Metals arc all (liarp corroding Waters, allcorro- 
 five things, all Salts, crude Sulphur, Antimony, 
 and Mercury. But that you may know particu- 
 larly how they fliow their enmity, it is thus. Sharp 
 Waters , and fuch Things as are corrofive , and 
 Salts (hew theirenmity, in that they njortific, dif- 
 folve, calcine, corrupt Metals, and reduce them to 
 pothing. 
 
 Crude Sulphur (hews its enmity in the fume 
 thereof : for by its fume it takes away from Cop- 
 per its colour , and rcdnefs , and makes it white. 
 From white Metals, as Silver, Tin, Lead, and I- 
 fon it takes away the whitenefs , and makes them 
 red, ^nd yellowifli. From Gold ic takes away 
 that fair amiable yellownefs, and golden colour, 
 and makes it black, and (o foul, that nothing can 
 be more foul. 
 How Anti- Antimony fhews its enmity in this , in that all 
 rJSsand Metals with which it is melted, or mixed, it fpoils, 
 djfcoiours carryeth away, and preys upon, and alio not un- 
 ^^^^^** like to Sulphur , by its fume it takes away from 
 Metals their true, and natural colour, and brings 
 in another. 
 Quick-fii- Qaick-filver doth deftroy Metals upon this ac- 
 ftroyesmc- compt , in that it efitcrs into Metals, with which 
 & ^"^ ^^ ^^ joined, and di{Tolves them, fo as that it makes 
 an Amalgama of them ; Wherefore the fume 
 thereof, which we call common Mercury, makes 
 all Metals brittle, that they cannot be malleatcd, 
 and calcines them, alfo it makes all red Metals of 
 a golden colour , to be white ; but it is the great- 
 * eft 
 
 how. 
 
Lib. J, ©f i^mmtt of C^ingis* 1S3 
 
 eft enemy ot all to Iron, and Sceel j for if'cbm^ 
 mon Mercury do buc touch a barr of Iron, or 
 Sceel , or thac be but fmeared over with Mercurial 
 oyl ; that bar will afterward be broken likeglafs, 
 and be bowed ^ which indeed is a great fecrer, and 
 deferves to be kept exceeding do fe. Inlikethan- 
 ner muft the Loadftone be kept from Mercury, for 
 the hke enmity it rhewstothac as to Iron, For 
 any Loadftone that Mercury hath but touched, or 
 which hath been (meered with Mercurial oyl, or 
 only put into Mercury , will never draw Iron 
 more. Let no man wonder at this , for there is a How the 
 natural caufe for it , and it is this, vU. becaufe may be" 
 Mercury excrads the fpirit of Iron, which was ipoyied. 
 hid in the Loadftone , which fpirit draws the fpi- 
 rit of Iron to it .• and this is not only in the Load- 
 ftone , but in all natural Things elfe , fp thac al- 
 ways a ftrangc fpirit in a body which is not of the 
 fame Nature with it felf, draws to it felf a body 
 which is of the fame nature : and this we muft 
 know to be fo, not only in the Loadftone, bUc 
 alfo in all other natural things, as Minerals, Stones, 
 Hearbs, Roots, Men, and Brutes. 
 
 That Metals have an enmity, and hate bn the What Ami- 
 other naturally, as you fee in Lead, whicTiisna- F"*^y *.^^f*^ 
 rurally a very great enemy to Gold. For it breaks metair" 
 .afunder all parts of Gold, it tnakes it foul, wtak, ^cn^eires. 
 fpoiles and deftroys it even to-' death, more then 
 any other MetaL 
 
 Tin alfo hates, and is an Enemy to all Metals : 
 for it makes them bafe, immalleable, hard, unpro- 
 fitable , if it be mixed with them in the fire, or in 
 melting, 
 
 N 4 Since 
 
^m^^fe therefore «yott have.now heard of the E- 
 .ppm^s pf. Metals. -you muft next know their pre- 
 poi^U^Sy which keep them from all manner of 
 to^^,prcorruptio« , alfoftrengthen them m their 
 ^^atiirc,.and vcrtuej and exalt their colour. 
 
 ?:ltlV'yi^M'^^^^^^^^^ you muft 
 
 boysurine. Jq^oWj, that it cannot be .preferved better, and 
 
 Ser then in boy^ Urine, in which Sale Armoni- 
 . , ,B^/4jffoMvDv in warer alone of Salt Armoni- 
 '^fH'l • ^"^J^^ni Jrn ti^e the colour is fo highly cx- 
 »?6^|lHf iccan beelxalcedno higher. 
 Ho;yf^Jy^ r >^ ^Ivcr cannot be,.becf,cr preferved then if it be 
 '^^^^^^^^Jo^fydif^cormmWim, or Vinegar, in which 
 ■ K^s'i 2?;f ^FK/f^fySaltJiave, been difTolved. So any old 
 _^ilv^, that.ism^fje black, and fouled, is renew- 
 -fftcb't^ingbdjlcciinrhefe waters: The beft pre- 
 "TsJeeT ■ -r '^"^^^ ^""^ Iron.and Steel is the lard o£a Barrow- 
 may be pre-3fl?M9^i?lfed.» ;whi<;hindeed prjsferves Iron, and 
 ferved. ,3^^^ fr^m ^luft^ if.on^e every moneth rhey be 
 i?^«i?d ^over with it. Alfo if Iron be melted 
 M^ Ipit Atfenjfck;^; it will be fo renewed and fixt, 
 How Cop. rJfi^rit vfilj JiJie^Savcr ncver contrad ruft. Cop- 
 per is pre- per may be prcf^rvfd , if it be only .mixed with 
 •-•" A r^riV/sfey^f^' Mercury,. Qr.::be fmeerM ov^r with the 
 3- n •:„:.:? .gKv?^?Jtt^ and/^ irwill never any morebe grown 
 ''■'•:r{!29^'id^if^v?rd(%r^^fc, , - . 
 ffd^^Ccatf ..^jif^^ajlsafl no >^;^)^s be better preferved then in 
 Kprerervcd.;^^£aH4i,.ai?d!iiv,a^oift place , according to 
 How the the Nature thereof. The Loadfloncis preferved 
 iVprcffrv"^•^— ^^^^'^ ^fO"? and Steel, for 
 
 by this means it J$.jacver weakened , but daily 
 ^^j-^^ iO«^f npfhened. • f;r rh ri i . 
 vzLrJ" Now concerning the prefervation of Salts, and 
 Silts. all things jhar are of a Saltifh Nature , and ma y 
 :-fr-2 be 
 
Lib. ?. mti^mivitt of clings. 185 
 
 be comprehended undei the name ot Sale (of 
 Avhichrhere are more then an huhdVed forrs) you 
 muft know that they are to be preferVed in a hoc 
 dry place , and in woodden vcfTels , not in Glafs, 
 Stone or Metals : for in thofe they are dilTolved 
 and become a Wcter, and an Amalgaraa which 
 cannot be in Wood* 
 
 Moreover you muft know how fome kind of J^'j[/„"f"' 
 Warers, and Liquors prefied out of Hearbs, Roots, liquors 
 and all other Fruits, and Vegetables, which do '^''^'>^'' 
 cafily contracfl filth, and flime, as if a skin were 
 fpread over them, may be preferved. Thefe Wa- 
 ters therefore and Liquors muft be put up into 
 GlafTes that are narrow' toward 5; the top, and wide 
 below, and the GlafTes be filled to the top, then 
 add a few drops of oyl Ohve, that all the Water, 
 or Liquor may be covered : (o the Oyl will fwim 
 on the top, and preferve the Liquor, or Water a 
 longtime from filth or flime. For there is no Wa- 
 ter or Liquor if it be covered with Oy!, that will 
 be mufty, or of an ill favour. 
 
 By this means alfo may two forts of Water, of 
 Liquorsof Wine be kept apart in one veffel, that 
 they may not be mixed : and not only two forts, 
 but, three, four, five, and more, if only the Oyl 
 be put betwixt : For they are fevered by the OyU 
 asby a wall which will not fuffer them to be join- 
 ed together, and united, for oyl and Water are 
 two contraries, and neither can be mixed with the 
 other: For as theOyl willnoc fufter the Waters 
 to be united, foon the contrary, the Water will 
 not fuflfcr the Oyls to be mixed. 
 
 Now to preferve Gloath , and Garments from j^^w 
 moths, there is no better way then with Maftick, ciorksare 
 
 Caraphire, P^^^"^^'- 
 
i86 jDfttieBatuteofCliinaef* Lib.j:! 
 
 Camphire, Amber-Gryfc, and Musk, and Civet, 
 which indeed is the beft of all , which doth not 
 only preferve them from Moths, but alfo drives a- 
 way Moths , and all other vcrmine , as Fleas 
 Lice, &c. 
 
 HowaU Alfo all manner of Woods, as in Houfes, 
 
 Wood may Bridges, Ships, or wherefoever they be, may be 
 be prefer- prcfcrved fothat they will never be putrefied, ei- 
 ther in Waters, or under Waters, or out of Water 
 in the Earth, under the Earth, or above the Earth> 
 whether they be fet in the Rain> or Wind, Air, 
 Snow, or IcCj in Winter or Summer ; alfo that 
 they be not Worm-eaten, nor that any Worms 
 may breed in them whenfocver they be cur. Now 
 this prefervarive is a great Arc^nnm againft all 
 kindsof patrefa6lions , yea fo excellent a fccret 
 that none may be compared to it. And it is no- 
 Fixed oyi of ^^^^"g ^^^^ ^ut Oyl of Sulphur , the procefs whcre- 
 suiphur. of is this. Let common yellow Sulphur be pow- 
 dered , and put into a Gourd-glafs, upon which 
 let there be poured fo much of the ftrongcft Aqnn 
 fords , that may cover it three fingers breadth .• 
 then draw it off by diftillation , three or four 
 times ; and laft of all till it be dry. Let the Sul- 
 phur that remains in the bottom being of a black, 
 fad red colour> be put upon marble, or in a Glafs, 
 and it will eafily be diflblved into Oyl, which is a 
 great fecrct in preferving of Wood from putrefa- 
 ction, and worms. For this Oyl doth (o ting the 
 Wood that is nomted with it , that it can never 
 be walhed out of it again. Many more things may 
 be preferved with this Oyl of Sulphur, from pu- 
 trefadion, as ropes, cords in fhips, and mafts of 
 {hips, in carts, fiihing-necs, and gins which Fow- 
 , lets, 
 
are 
 [e 
 
 Lib.?: ©fttitEatttteofCtiinsg; 187 
 
 lers, and Hunters ufe, and fuchlikc, which are 
 ofren times ufed in Waters, cr Rain, and arc other- 
 wife cafily rotted J and broken, fo alfo linncn 
 clothes, and many other fuch Uke things. 
 
 AKoyou muft know how potable things are to ^i^.^j^ 
 be prcferved, by which we underftand Wine, Beer, potable 
 Mead, Vinegar, and Milk. Now if we would &he/"'* 
 preferve thcfe from harm, and in their full vertue, areprefer- 
 ic is very neccfTary that you know well what is an 
 Enemy to them , and that is menftruous women : WMckis an 
 for if they do handle theforefaid things , or have [hem? '** 
 any thing to do about them, or look, or breath up- 
 on them> they corrupt them. For Wine is thereby 
 changed, and become thick Beer, and Mead grows 
 fowr, Vinegar grows de^d, and loofeth its lliarp- 
 nefs : and Milk grows fowr and curded. 
 
 This therefore you muft well know, before you 
 come to preferve each of thcfe in particular. 
 
 Wine is prefervcd chiefly by Sulphur, and the ^^^^ ^.^^ 
 Oylof Sulphur, by which all Wine may be pre- ispreferved 
 fcrvcdalongtime, fo thac it be neither thick, nor by Sulphur. 
 any other way changed. 
 
 Beer is preferved with Oylof Cloves, if fome .^ 
 drops thereof be put into it, to every Gallon two prefervcd 
 or three drops, or, which is better, with the Oylof ^j^!jg°^^°^ 
 the Root of jdvens yV/hkh doth preferve Beer from 
 fowring. 
 
 Mead is preferved with Oyl of Sugar, which j^eadispre- 
 muft be ufed as the Oyl of Cloves abovefaid. fervedjjjth 
 
 Vinegar is preferved with Oyl of Ginger, which ^l^,^ 
 muft be ufed as the Oyl of Cloves abovefaid. Ho^ vine- 
 
 Milk is preferved with Oyl of Almonds made ^rved!"^*' 
 by expreifion, which muft be ufed as the Oyl of How Milk 
 
 Q\ r ■ J -'is preferved. 
 
 oyes abovefaid. 
 
 Cheefc 
 
i88 ©f t&e %tut;e of ^liingg^ Lib. j 
 
 cheefeis Checfe is preferved w'nh St, Johns wore fron 
 
 wfthsn worms, for if it doch but touch ir, no worm wil 
 
 Johm wort, breed in it : and if there be any in before , it wil 
 
 kill them, and make them fallout of the Cheefc* 
 
 Honey hath no pecuhar prefervative, only that 
 it may be kept from its Enemy. Now its chief 
 Enemy is breail : for if a little bread made of Corn 
 be bat put, or fain in ipto it , all the Honey is tur^ 
 ned into Emmots, and fpoiled. 
 
 How Honey 
 is to be pre- 
 ferved. 
 What its 
 chief Ene- 
 my is. 
 
 OF 
 
i8s> 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NATURE 
 
 OF 
 
 1^ T H IN G S- 
 
 ctie fourtti 'BOOK* 
 
 of the life of Natural Things. 
 
 NO man can deny that Air gives life to Ye'^\rb 
 all Things, bodies and (ubftances, for, as to the 
 that are produced, and generated ok' jhL^s 
 the Earth, Now ycu muft know* 
 what , and what manner of thing the life of eve- 
 ry thing in particular is j and ic is nothing elfe 
 then a (piritual eflence, a thing that is invifible, ivjiatthc 
 impalpable, a fpirir, and fpiritual. Wherefore lifeofthingi 
 there is no corporeal thing, which hath not a fpi- whattliings 
 rit lying hid in if, asalfoalife, which, as I fajd havciite. 
 before , is nothing but a fpiritual thing. For not 
 only that hath life which moves , and ft its, as 
 Men, Animal^, Vcrmine of the Earth, Birds in 
 
 the 
 
ipo oftijeBattttcofCl&msjf* Lib.4; 
 
 the Air, Fidi in the Sea, but alfo all corporeal, and 
 fubftancial thing?. For hercwemuft know that 
 God in the beginning of the Creation of all things, 
 created no body at all without its fpirit, which ic 
 fecretly contains in it. 
 ?ff 'r^etice^^ Fot whal is thc body without a fpirit ? Nothing 
 betwixt the at all. Wherefore the (pirit Contains in it fecretly 
 If' Bod "^ the vertue, and power of thc thing, and not the 
 body. For in the body there is death, and the bo-i^ 
 dy is the fubjeft of death, neither is any elfe to be 
 fought for in the body, but death. 
 The Spirit For that may feveral ways be dcftroyed , and 
 never dies, corrupted, but the fpirit cannot. Fot the living fpi- 
 rit remains for ever, and alfo is thc fub}e6^of life, 
 and preferves thc body alive $ but in the ruine of 
 the body it is feparatcd from it, and leaves behind 
 it a dead body , and returns to its place from 
 w hence it came, vU^ into the Chaos, and the Air 
 of the upper and lower Firmament. Hence it ap* 
 pears- that there are divers fpirits, as well as divers 
 bodies. 
 
 The divifion ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ fpii'its Celeftial,Infernal,Hi)m2n?, 
 oftheVpirit Metalline, Mineral, of Salts, of Gems, of Marca- 
 ?hr»arkt'° fif^SjofArfenicks, of Potable things, of Roots, of 
 of bodies. Juices, of Fieili, of Blood, of Bones, &c. Where- 
 The Spirit ^^^ ^^^^ know that the fpirit is moft truly the hk 
 is the life of and balfome of all Corporeal things. But now we 
 tiSJi^s'"^ will proceed to the fpecies, and briefly defcribe to 
 you in this place the life of every natural thing in 
 particular. 
 What the The life therefore of all men isnothi .ig elfe but 
 b.* ° ^^^ a" Aflral balfome, a Balfamick imprcfifion , and a 
 celcftial invifible Fire, an included Air, and a tin- 
 ging fpirit of Salt. I cannot name it more plain- 
 
Lib4; £)f tlje jaature of clings* ^91 
 
 ly, although it be fct out by many names. And 
 feeing we have declared the beft , and chicfeft , 
 we (hall be filcnt in thefe which are Icfs material. ^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 The life of Metals is a fecret fatnefs, which they 1,^^ ^f ^,e. 
 have received from Sulphur, which is manifeft by "is is. 
 their flowingjfor every thing that flows in the fire, 
 flows by reafon of that fecrec fatnefs that is in 
 it : unlcfs that were in it, no Metal could flow, 
 as we fee in Iron, and Steel, which have lefs Sul- 
 phur, and Fatnefs, than all the other Metals, 
 wherefore they are of a dryer Nature than all the 
 reft* 
 
 The Life of Mercury is nothing elfe but the in- what th? 
 ternal hear, and external coldnefs , /. e. ic makes ^^^^f.^^'" 
 the internal part of its Body hot , and the out- Mercury u 
 ward part cold , and therefore might well be ^^^^°J ^ 
 compared to a Garment made of Skins , which ;kins. 
 doth even as Mercury make hot and cold. For 
 if a man wears fuch a Garment it makes him 
 warm , and keeps him from the cold : but if the 
 fmooth part of thofe Skins be put upon his na- 
 ked Body , it makes him cold , and is good a- 
 gainft too much heat 5 wherefore it was a cu- 
 ftom in ancient time , and ftill is in fome places, 
 to wear Skins as well in Summer as in Winter, 
 as iagainft Cold in the one, fo againft Heac 
 in the other : in Summer they turn the fmooth 
 fide inward , and the hairy fide outward S and 
 in the Winter the hairy fide inward , and the 
 fmooth fide outward. As therefore you have 
 heard of the Garment of Skins, fo alfo it may be 
 faid of Mercury, 
 
 The life of Sulphur is a combuftible , ftinking J^^^^^ ^^J^. 
 fatnefs, for whilftit burns, and ftinks,it may be phuris. 
 faid to be alive. Now 
 
192 _ SDf f tie mtttu of ci^ingis.^ Lib^; 
 
 ^yhat the jsJq^v fl-je l;fe of all Salts is nothing elfe but the 
 is.^ ° fpirit of ^cjHdifirtis : for that warer being drawn 
 
 from rhem , that which remains m the bottom, is 
 called dead Earth, 
 rf ^^fG* The life o\ Gemms, and Corals is only their^ 
 and Corals J Colour, vvhich with fpirit of Wine may be taken' 
 's- from them. 
 
 What the The life of Pearls is nothing elfe but their fplcn- 
 
 pearuL. ^^*'' ^^hich they loofe in calcination. 
 What the The life of the Loadftone is the fpirit of Iron, 
 
 Loadftoneis ^^^'ch may be excraded, and taken away with 
 
 fpirit of Wine. 
 FUnts'what. "^^^ ^^^^^ of Flinrs is a mucilaginous Mat- 
 ter. 
 The life of Thc life of M^rcafites, Cachymia, Talcum, Co- 
 what" ''" balium, Zimri, Granata, Wifmac, and of Antimo- 
 ny is a tinging Meralline fpirir. 
 The life of The Lfc of Arfenicks, Auripigment, Opermcnt, 
 Realgar, and luch like matters; is a Mineral, and 
 coagulaced poifon. 
 
 The lif-e of Excrements, i. e of mans dung, or 
 beafts dung is their rtinking fmcll, for this being 
 loftrhey are dead. 
 Theiifeof The h'fe of Aromatical ThingS) zzc of Mask, 
 Thin*'"' Amber- Gryfe, Civet, and whatloever ycilds a 
 ftrong, good, andfweetfmelK is nothing clfebuc 
 that grateful odour : for if they loofe this they arc 
 dead and of no ufe. 
 Theiifeof The life of fweer Things, as of Sugar, Ho- 
 Things. ^^y> ^'^^'^i-a, Caffia, and fuch like is in their ting- 
 ing , and fubtile fweetnefs, for if that fweetnefs 
 be taken from them by diftilling, or fubliming 
 they are dead, unprofitable and nothing worth. 
 The life of all Rozzsns, as Amber, Turpentine, 
 
 Gumm, 
 
 Arienicks. 
 
 The life of 
 Excrements. 
 
Lib.4. mm Bature ot C^mss; 19$ 
 
 Gumnij IS che maciiginous (hining fatnefs, which The life of 
 gives ehac €XG€lieftt-¥€r»iA to thjciiLallxJ'oxAyheo 
 they will yield no more Vernifli , and lofe their 
 iLining, they are dead. • 
 
 The Life of Heibs, lAots, Apples, and other Theiifeof 
 iuc^ like Fruit, is ipthing eUc but t^ie Liqaor^f ^^*"'*- 
 di^Earth, whi(sh thly lofe ^ their ^wn accorH 9 
 iftney do but wanf Water and Eartli. - 
 
 The life of Wood is a certain Rozzcn, For any The life of 
 Wood if it wane Rozzeti can live no longer. ^"^ood. 
 
 The Life of Bones i^ the Liquor i)f ^ummie. The life of 
 ^ l^ Life olFlef^hd Blood Mthin^elfe but B-y^^f 
 the Spirit ofSalcjwhicn preferves them from Itink- Ficfli. 
 ing and putrefa^ion, and is of it (elf as^Avatcr-ife- 
 parated fromt-henjif* r, j >.. 'iXi^i' 
 
 Now condcf ntng^he-Uift'oPEIgments, you muft the life of 
 know that the Life of Water is its funning. For ^7n7. ^^^ 
 when by the coldncfs.of the Firmamept it is con- 
 gerfcSIn -oTeei Ttis <I^, and its miTcBievokfnefs 
 is taken from it,thsc no body can be drowned in it. 
 
 The Life oFPire is Air, for Air niai^ifTblirn ^^^^ ^^^ 
 with greater vehemency and heat : Al6&' there r,fe o€ , 
 Cometh forth from all Fire a kind of Air^ which ^»"*^ 
 will blow out a Candle, and drive up ajgcather, 
 as you may daily fee before your eyes. Wherefore 
 the Flame of Fire is choaked if it be fo ftopt up, 
 tharit Lean neither receive in Air, nor-let out its 
 
 The Air tives by aflddf it felf,an(^ gives life to What the 
 all other things.. lifeofAi^i, 
 
 The Earth of it felf is dead, but the Hcmenc of what the 
 It is aninvifibk and fccm life. J);' *^^"* 
 
 "ts 1 p OF 
 
m 
 
 J I 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NATURE 
 
 #i iW G s. 
 
 r444^ 
 
 J5^e fiftjtl 1500*. 
 
 >f:nr:'.: ::: 2: - --Vnu'^V^ ■ 
 
 Of thi VfAth cr JRm$h of nil Things. 
 
 .j; a' *:tv, 0:1) :,d 11^:) ybod 0: 
 r i^^^Tf^'f He Dcith iof all natural Things is no- 
 ^\^t t.'i : ' H thing but an aiccracion and dc(b:u(5li'' 
 
 IPuchif. ■ on of their Powers and Vcrtues, a 
 
 ^, JBt • Predominancy of thac which is evil > 
 i'* ' and an overcoming of whac is good, 
 ^ »n abolidiing of the former Nature , and gene- 
 ration of a new and another Nature. For you 
 muft know that there arc many things that, 
 whilft they are alive, have in them feveral vcr- 
 tues, but when they are dead retain little or no- 
 thing: of their vertue, but become unfavory, and 
 unprofitable. So on the contrary many things , 
 whilft they live, are bad, but after they are dead, 
 JUxl corrupted) manifefl; a manifold power and 
 
 vprtijc, 
 
Lib, 5; IDft^ejaafurcofCtrtnS0; 19$ 
 
 vcrtue, and arc very ufeful. We coald bring ma- 
 ny examples to confirm this, but that doth nor be • 
 long to our pur pofe. But that I may not fcem 
 to write accordfiig to mine own opinion only, but 
 out of my experience, i: will be necedary that I 
 produce one example, with which I (liall filcnce 
 thofe Sophifters, who fay, that we can receive no- 
 thing from dead things, neither muft we fceJc or 
 cxpe6^ to find any ihing in them. The reafon is, 
 becaufe they do efteem nothing of the preparations 
 of the Alchymifts, by which many fiich like great 
 Secrets are found our. For look upon Mercury , 
 crude Sulphur, and crude Antimony, as they arc 
 taken out of their Mines , /. e, whilft they arc 
 living , and fee what little vertue there is in them, 
 how floovly they put forth their vertues, yea they 
 do more hurt than ^ood, and are rather Poifon 
 than a Medicine. Bat if through the induftry of 
 a skilful Alchymlft , they be corrupted in their 
 fir ft fubftance, and wifely prepared (t/U* if Mer- Theprcpa- 
 cury be coagulated, precipitated, fublimed, diffol- !J''^ of 
 ved< and turned intoanOyl; if Sulphur bcfub- SuiphIi?Jnd 
 limed, calcined, reverberated, and turned into an ARtimony. 
 Oyl j alfo if Antimony be fublimed, calcined and 
 reverberated, and turned into Oyl ) you fhall fee 
 how ufeful they are, how much ftrength and ver- 
 tue they have, and how quickly they put forth , 
 and (hew their efficacy, which no man is able to 
 (peak enough in the commendation of, or to de- 
 fcribc. For many arc the Vertues , yea rborc 
 thatt will ever be found out by any man. Where- 
 fore let every faithful Alchymift and Phyfi- 
 dan fpend their whole li^es in fearching in« 
 to thefe three : For they will abuadancly re- 
 O 1 compenfc 
 
Peach of 
 
 Man i^. 
 
 i96 ^ft^e5!3atitreofCt)mS6. Lib.5:: 
 
 compenfe him for all his Labour, Study, and 
 Ccfts. 
 
 But to come to particulars, and to wrire parti4 
 cularly oF the death and deftrudion of every na- 
 tural thing, and what the Death of every thing 
 is> and after what manner every thing isdeftroy- 
 cd; you muft know there fore in the fiift place, 
 What the that the D:ath of M^n is without doubt nothing 
 elfe,butan endof his daily work, the taking a- 
 waycftheAir, the decaying of the natural Bal- 
 fom, the extinguiihing of the nacural Light; and 
 the great reparation of the three Subftances , viz0» 
 the Body, Soul and Spirit, and their return from 
 whence they came. Per becaufe a natural Man 
 is of the Earth , the Earth alfo is his Mother , 
 into which he muft return , and there muft lofe 
 his natural earthly Flefli , and fo be regenerated 
 at the laft day in a new celeftial and purified 
 Flelh, asChrifi faid to Niccdemm when he cam€ 
 to him by night. For thus muft thcfe words be 
 Underftood of Regeneration. 
 "^vhat the j^^ death and defttudion of Metals is the dif- 
 oiMetaisis. joining of their Bodies, andfulphureousfatnefs, 
 which may be done feveral ways, ashy calcination, 
 reverberation, diffolution, cementation, and fub- 
 limation. 
 c.ionatirn gnt the Calcination of Metals is not of one 
 roanifoW. ^^rt : fc t OMC is made with Salf,anothcr with Sul- 
 phur, another wuh ^qnafonis^ and another with 
 common fublimat^, and another with Quick- 
 
 whatCiid-. : Calcination witll Salt is that the Metal be made 
 g^j'^j^^^^^jnto. very thin plates, aixi ftrowed with Salt, and 
 cemented. *,. v .. > 
 
 Calcination 
 
Calcinarion with S.ulphur is, chat the Metal be ^^-^'^'J^'fl''" 
 made into chm Plates,and ftrowed with Sulphur, phur. 
 and reverberaced. 
 
 Calcination with ^quafo^tisy is that the Me- ^iJ^'A^ir 
 talbe made very fmall, and diffolved in j^^fiafyr' fonis, 
 /;■/, and precipitated in it. 
 
 Calcination with fublimed Mercury is this, that ,^? t'o^V^ 
 
 1 #11 i-iTM III " bubU- 
 
 the Metal be made into thin Plates » and th^at the mitc. 
 Mercury be put into an earthen vellel narrow to- 
 wards the top, and wide at the bottom : aad then 
 let It be fet into a gentle fire made with coals, 
 which muft be blowed a little until the Mercury 
 begin to fume, .and a white cloud go forth of the 
 raouih of the veilel , then let the Place of the 
 Metal be put into the top of the veflel, and fo the 
 fublimed Mercury will penetrate the Metal, and 
 make it as brittle as a ftone of coal. 
 
 Calcination with Qaick-lilverisjthat the Me- ^i^J'"*'-^^-'* 
 tal be made very fmall, and thin , and be araal- uiver. "*^'" 
 gamated with Quick- filver , and afterward the 
 Quick-filvcr be ftrained through Leacher, and 
 the Metal remain in the Leather like Chalk , or 
 Sand. 
 
 Now befidesthefe mortifications of MeraLs and oiversothei 
 def^rudions of their lives, know alio that there forts ot 
 are yet more. For ruft is the death of all Iron, on°'oP^"c". 
 and Steel, and all Vitriol, burnt Brafs is morti- tah. 
 ficd Copper : all precipitated , fubhmated , calci- 
 ned Cinnabar is mortified Mercury, aU Cerufc 
 and Minium of Lead is mortified Lead , all La- 
 zure is mortified Silver : alfo all Gold from which 
 its Tindure, Qjintellencc , Rozzen, Crocus, Vi- 
 triol, or Sulphur is extradted, is dead , becaufc 
 it hath no more the form of Gold , but is a 
 O 3 white 
 
,5,8 ®f tue mtm ofWm* Li^.j- 
 
 white Metal like fixed Silver. 
 
 But let us proceed lo ilicw how Metals may be 
 AtwofoW^ yet further mortified. Firft therefore of Iron , 
 orcrocus know that that is mortified, and reduced into 
 Mwiis. Crocus this way. Make Steel into very thin 
 Plates : Make thefe Plates red hor, and quench 
 them in the beft Wine* Vincger , do this fo of- 
 ten till the Vineger hath contracted a confi- 
 derable rednefs, then diftil off the Vineger, 
 til! there be nothing but a dry Powder re- 
 maining. This is a moft excellent Crocus Mar- 
 
 tis. 
 
 There is alfo attoiher way of making Crocus 
 Martis, which doth partly exceed the former, 
 and is made with far lefs cofts and pains, and it 
 is thif. 
 
 Strow upon the Plates of Steel, Sulphur, and 
 Tartar, being both in a like quantity } then re- 
 verberate them , and this will produce a moft ex- 
 cellent Crocus, which rauft be taken off from the 
 Plates. 
 
 Alfo you muft know, that every Plate of Iron, 
 or Steel , if it be melted with yl^fia fortis • will 
 alfo make a fair Crocus ; fo alfo it is made 
 with Oyl of Vitriol, Spirit of Salt, Allum* 
 water , the water of Salt Armonitck, and of Salt 
 Nitre ^ as alfo with fublimarcd Mercury , all 
 which mortifie Iron, and bring it into a Crocus; 
 but none of thefe latter ways is to be compared to 
 the two former , for they are only ufcd in Al- 
 chymy , and not at all in Phyfick , wherefore 
 in this, ufe only the two former, and let alone 
 the reft. 
 
 The 
 
The mortification of Copper, viz.. that it may J^^^^j.^°^^^' 
 be reduced into Vitriol , Verdcgrcafc , may be ^p^t, 
 dpnc many ways, and there arc more proceflcs . 
 
 in it, yet one far better than another, and one otcoppeVu 
 more profitable than another. Wherefore it is ^^^ two 
 moft convenient here to fee down the bcft, and ^^*^'' 
 moft profitable, and to be filent in the reft. 
 The beft therefore , the moft eafie j and cx- 
 adteft way of reducing Copper into Vitriol is 
 this. 
 
 Let Plates of Copper be dipt in Spirit of Salt* 
 or Salt- Peter, and let them be hanged in the Air 
 until they begin to be green , which indeed will 
 quickly be , wadi off this greennefs with clear 
 Fountain- water, dry the Plates with feme cloth, 
 and wet them again with the Spirit of Salt, and 
 Salt Nitre , and do again as before , fo long un- 
 ul the Water be apparendy green, or much Vi- 
 triol fwim on the top : then pcur away the 
 Water, or evaporate it, and thou haft a moft ex- 
 cellent Vitriol for Medicine. In Alchyray there 
 is not a fairer, more excellent, and better Vitriol 
 than what is made by /^^«4 fortis^ or ^<jfia Regi^^ 
 or Spirit of Salt Arnwniack. And the procels is 
 this. 
 
 Let Plates of Copper be melted with one of the 
 aforefaid Waters, and as foon as the greennefs is 
 cxtra6^ed> and the Plates dryed , let the greennefs 
 be taken oft with the foot of a Hare , or fomc o- 
 thcr way as you plcafe, as Cerufe is taken oft from 
 Plates of Lead : let them be again wetted as before, 
 until the Plates be wholly confumcd, tjicrcby is 
 made a moft glorious Vitnol, that thou canft not 
 choofe but wonder 9C it* 
 
 0^4 The 
 
1^ £)ft|fel5atiwe ofCl^lttgg^ ti%s 
 
 S^rit'^'eter '^^^ Waccfof Salt- Peter is made thus. Purifie 
 
 and Vaklr^and powder it ; afterwards diflolvc it of it felf in 
 
 ?'<?"''^ckis a Bladder, put in boiling water So thou (halt havi^ 
 
 T ,yjjn:> !o the Water of Salt-Peter J •' -'^^'- * . '^ )n 
 
 '"'^ .;';';.' The Water' of Sale Armbmafck^is made thtisf 
 
 Galcirie Sale Artnoniac, and diffolvc it in a Cella? 
 
 upon a Marble, and this is Water of Sal,t Artno^; 
 
 "iliack/' '■ '■ ' * ' .' '~' ''\ 
 
 Z''^Tc^^^^ ' ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ Verdegreafe out of Copper, there 
 
 midc two are divers ways which it is not needful here to re- 
 
 ^^•*y^' cite. Wc rfiall defcribe .only two , but with 
 
 a double preparation , z'i^'. The brie for Phyfick, 
 
 the other for'Alchymy. 'Thepi-dcefsther^fpreof 
 
 Verdegreafe to be ufed inPhyfick isthfs. ^' ''*':] 
 
 Kowyerde- Take Places of Copper , which wet over with 
 
 ffedt'pby- the "^''^l^owing matter. Take Honey and Vine^ 
 
 fickis to be ger, of each a like quantity, of Salt as mdch a$ 
 
 j>reparedo ^^jj,| ^^^^^ -^ ^^j^^ ^j^^^ ^p -^^^^ ^ ^^-^ p^^^ .^.^ 
 
 them well togethcrsthen put them into a Reverbe- 
 
 rarory, or Potters furnace,- fo long a$ the Potter is 
 
 burning his Pots, and thoU /hale fee the matter 
 
 ^hat flicks to the Plates to be very black 5 but l?t 
 
 not that troable thee. Forif thpu fetteft thofe 
 
 Plates in the Air, all the black matter will in a few 
 
 days beccm,e green , and become a moft excellent 
 
 Verdegreafe J which may be ca'led the Balfom of 
 
 ^P^^ Copper, and is commended, by all Phyficians. 
 
 o£ Copper. Bat ncverrhelefsdo not thou \yonder that this 
 
 Verdegreafe "becomes green in^he Air, and that 
 
 the Air can change the black colour into fo fair a 
 
 green.1^^ '"•' "'''"' ^ > ^"/"^^-^ • '*7' 
 
 A\r changes • Foir w^ethoumuftknpw^ that ^aily experience 
 
 ©f^Sgs" ^" Alchyn^y doth (hew, that any dead Earth, or 
 
 fejurnto Caput MortHtim^ as foon as ictdrtics biic of the Fire 
 
 into 
 
Lib. J. ©ff^BitUteM^lillSSL zoi 
 
 /nro the Air , doth cjaickly gee another colour,^ 
 and leaves its own colour which it go: in the fire. 
 For the change's of thofe colours are various. For 
 as the matter is, fo are the cobcirs rhac are made, 
 ^Ichough £or the mcft part they flow from the 
 blacknefs of the dead earth. For you that are 
 skilful in Alchymy fee that the dead earth of.^- 
 qaa forth comes black from the Fire , and by 
 how many more ingredients there be in it , by lo 
 much the more varioufly do the colours fhew 
 tliemfclves in the Air : fometimes clVey feem red, 
 as Vitriol makes them : fomeci.mes yellow, white, 
 green, blew : fometimes mixr, as in the Rain-bow 
 or Peacocks tail. All chofe colours fhew theni- 
 felves after the death, and by the death of the 
 matter. For ra the death of all natural thing)^ 
 here arc feen other colours, which are changed 
 from the firft colour into other colours, every one- 
 according to its nature and property. 
 
 Now we will fpeak of that Vcrdegreafe which The prepa- 
 iito.beuf-d in Alchymy, The pre'paration and verdegreafc 
 proqe.fsbf that is this. •'^^ai h^^** 
 
 l^ake very thin Plates of Copper, ftrow uppa *" ^ ^™^' 
 therfi Sale, Sulphur, and Tartar ground and mix- 
 ed together, of each a like quantity in a great ca|- 
 anirtg pot. Then reverberate them Twenty four, 
 hour's with a ftrong Fire , but fo that the Plates' 
 of Copper do not melt, then take them out, and 
 break the pot, and fet the Places with the matter 
 tliar flicks to them into the Air for a few days, 
 anci tiie marter upon the Plates will >e turned. 
 Into a fair Verdcgi cafe , which in all rh9rp Cor- 
 ioding Waters , Waters of Exaltation., and iiv 
 Cements , aud in colouring of Gold', doch' 
 ' ' * tinge 
 
2^ plt^ mute of Ct)t98jef« uif.^: 
 
 tinge Gold and Silver with a moft deep Co- 
 lour. 
 Howw/Ej Nq^ to turn Copper into f/£j Vfinm^ 
 crocmof which is callcd t\it Crocus of Copper, the proccfs 
 ^°P^^'^<»isthis. 
 
 Let Copper be made into thin Plates, and 
 be fraeered over with Salt made into a Paftc 
 with the bed Vinegcr, then let it be put into a 
 great Crucible , and fet in a Wind Furnace , 
 and be burnt in a ftrong Fire for a quarter of 
 an hour ; but fo that the Plates melt not : Ice 
 chefe Plates being red hot be quenched in Vi- 
 neger, in which Salt Armoniack is difTolved> 
 always half an Ounce in a Pint of Vmegcr : 
 let the Plates be made red hot again y and quen- 
 ched in Vincger as before , always icraping, or 
 {knocking off the fcales which ftick to the Plates 
 after quenching, into the Vineger. Do this fo 
 long, until the Plates of Copper be in good 
 , .., part confutned by this means: then diftil oflf 
 the Vineger , or let it vapour away m an open 
 Veflcl , and hz coagulated into a moft hard 
 Sione. So thpu haft the beft Crocus of Cop- 
 per , the ufe whereof is in Alchymy. Many 
 make Crocns of Copper by extracting of it with 
 the Spirit of Wine, or Vineger, as they do 
 Crocus LMartis : But I commend this way far 
 above it, ' 
 The fabii- Now thc mortification of Quick- filver than 
 Qu&hrer ^^ "^^y be fublimed , is made with Vitriol, and 
 Salt, with which it is mixed, and then fubli- 
 med, foit becomes as hard asCryftal,and as white 
 as Snow : but to bring it to a Precipitate, the pio- 
 cefsisthi^;' ';';;' 
 
Lib. J. ©ftiif jaatuceofCWnsiJ. »<>? 
 
 How to 
 make a 6xt 
 
 Let it firft be calcined with the bcft A^tfa ^^"f'JJI?^ 
 fortis , then diftil oft the yltjua forth , and do ^gu 
 this about five times , until the Precipitate be- 
 come to be of a fair red colour : Dulci fie this 
 Precipitate as much as thou canft : And laftly 
 pour upon it the bcft rc6^ified Spirit of Wine 
 you can ^et , dift'l it off from it eight or nine 
 times, or fo often until it be red hot in the fire,and 
 do not fly .• then thou haft a Diaphoretical preci- 
 pitated Mercury. 
 
 Moreover , you muft take notice of a great fc- 
 crc£ concerning precipitated Mercury , viz,, if af- 
 ter it is coloured, k be dulcified with Water 
 of Salt of Tartar, pouring it upon it, and di- How to 
 ftilling of it off fo often, until the Water ri- ^ve^/tpred- 
 feth no more iliarp from the Precipitate > but pitate. 
 be maniftftly fweet ; then thou haft a Precipi- ^"V.^'"^ 
 rate as fweet as Sugar, or Honey , which in all 
 Wounds , Ulcers , and Venereal Difeafe is fo 
 excellent a Secret, that no Phyfician need dcfirca 
 better. 
 
 Befides it is a great comfort to dcfpairing 
 Alchymifts. For it doth augment Gold, and 
 hath ingrefs into Gold, and with it Gold re- 
 mains fiable and good. Although there is much 
 pains and fwcat required to this Precipitate, yet 
 it will fuflicientJy recompenfe thee for thy pains 
 and cofts , and will yield thee more Gain , 
 than can be got by any Art or Trade what- 
 foever : Thou maift well therefore rejoice in this, 
 and give God and me thanks for it. 
 
 Now 
 
iL©4 jpftfef mmxt of ewngSf Lib.5!i r 
 
 fiu«^!ir' ^°^^ ^^^^^ Quick -iilver may be coagulated 
 be coaguia- I faid that that muft be done in ("harp y^^aa for- 
 **^' tis , which muft be drawn off by Diftillation i 
 
 and then the Precipitate is made. But thad 
 ^j^^^^^j^y^" Quick- filver may be brought into a Cinnabar; 
 be turned to you muft mprcifie and melt it with Sale, and 
 Cinnabar, y^jio^v Sulphur, and bring it into a white pow- '^ '" 
 der, then put it in a Gourd, and put upon it Alu- * 
 del, or Head, and fublirae it in the greateft flux 
 you can as the manner is, Co the Cinnabar will af- 
 cend into the Aludcl,and ftick as hard as the ftone 
 Hematites, 
 S^kind^f ^^^ mortification of Lead to bring it to a Cc- 
 cerufe. tufe is twofold, the one for Medicine, the other 
 l^iJ'T' ^°' Alchymy. The preparation of Cerufe for 
 them. Medicine is this. 
 
 Hang Plates of Lead in a glazed Pot over 
 ftrong Wine-Vineger, the Pot being well ftop- 
 ped that the Spirits do not exhale : Put this 
 Pot into warm Aihes, or in the Winter into 
 a Furnace > then always after ten or fourteen 
 daies, thou fhalt find very good Cerufe .flick- 
 ing to the Plates, which ftrike off with the 
 Foot of a Hare : then put the Plates over the 
 Vineger again , until thou haft enough Ce- 
 rufe. 
 
 Now the other Preparation of Cerufe for 
 Alchymy is like the former , only that in the 
 Vineger muft be diffolved a good quantity of 
 the beft and faireft Salt Armoniack , for by 
 this mcanes thou ihalt purchafc a moft fair and 
 beautiful Cerufe, for the purging of Tin and Lead, 
 and the white-- •<> -- <^/-nnrr. 
 
 But 
 
' Bug if we would make Minium of Lead, JXn'T' 
 we muft firft calcine ic with Salt into Calx , Minium out 
 and then burn it in a Glazed Veilcl , always °^ ^''^ 
 ftirring it with an Iron Rod , until it be red. 
 This is the beft and chiefeft Minium , and ic 
 I is to be ufed as well in Phyfick as Alchymy : 
 1 but the other , which Mercers fell in their 
 I Shops, is nothing worth. It is made onely 
 of the Afhes , which remain of the Lead in 
 the melting of ic , which alfo Potters ufc to 
 glaze their Veflcis , and fuch Minium is u- 
 led for Painting, but not for Phyfick , or Al- 
 I chynoy. 
 
 I , :No\y that Lead may be brought into Yel- The crooB 
 llowneis, the Preparation of ic is not unlike to °^ ^^ad. 
 the Preparation of Minium. For Lead rhuft 
 here be calcined with Sale, and brought to a 
 Calx, and afterwards be ftirred with an Iron rod 
 in a broad Bafonjfuch as Tryerscf Minerals ufe,in 
 a gentle Fire of Coals, diHgently taking heed , 
 that there be not too much heat, nor a negletfl in 
 fiirring, for elicit will Row, and become a yel- 
 low Glafs. And fo thou haft a fair, yellow Cro" 
 r«jofLead. ij j. 
 
 The mortification of Silver , that of it may be Howthe a- 
 made the Aiure colour^or fomething liki; to it, is ?'""^^Je°^- 
 
 thus: ■ filver. 
 
 Take fome Plates of Silver, and mix them 
 with Quick- lilver, and hang them \n a gla- 
 red Pot over the beft Vmeger, in which Gilt- 
 heads have been fiift boiled , and afterwards 
 Sale Armoniack , and Calcined Tartar have 
 been diflblved :, in all .the reft do as hath 
 been faid of Ceru[e,,thcn always after four- 
 teen 
 
io6 £)flDtiSatttteof«UinS0» Lib.y, 
 
 teen days ihou ihalt have a mod excellent and 
 fair Azure Colour (licking to the Plates ol 
 Silver , which muft be wiped off with a Harej 
 Foot, 
 ^, .^ The mortification of Gold that it may be 
 cation of Drought mto us Arcana , as mco a frndture , 
 Gold. QaintefTence , Refine , Crocus , Vitriol , and 
 Sulphur ^ and many other excellent Arcana^ 
 which preparations indeed are many. But be- 
 caufe for the moft part we have fufficiently trea- 
 ted of fuch Arcana in other Books , as the 
 Extra^ion of the Tin^ure of Gold , the Quin- 
 teflcnce of Gold , the Mercury of Gold , the 
 Oil of Gold , Potable Gold, the Refine of Gold, 
 the Crocus of Gold , and in the Archidoxis , 
 and elfe where, we conceive it needlefs here to re- 
 peat thcm» But what Arcana were there omit- 
 ted , we (hall here kt down ; as the Vitriol of 
 Gold ) Sulphur of Gold , which indeed are not 
 the Icaft, and ought very much to cheer up eve- 
 ry Phyfician. 
 
 But to extract Vitriol out of Gold > the pro-^ 
 cefs is this, 
 Sulphur and J^^^ of pute Gold two Or ;hree pound , 
 fhc Vitriol which beat into thin Plates, and haneins them 
 
 of Gold are d x^ ■ • j i i v> r 
 
 made. ^ver Doys Urine, mixed with the Stones ot 
 Grapes, in a large Gourd Glafs, well cbfed , 
 which bury in a hot heap of Stones of Grapes, 
 as they come from the prefs ; when it hach 
 ftood fourteen days , or three weeks , then o- 
 pen it , and thou ftialt find a moft fubtil Co- 
 lour, which is the Vitriol of Gold fticking to 
 the Plates of Gold , which take off with the 
 Foot of a Hare , as thou haft heard coiHTcrning 
 
 other 
 
i 
 
 "Other Metals; as of chc Plates of Iron, Cro- 
 cus Mards, of the Plates of Copper, the Vi- 
 triol of Copper and Vcrdegreafc , of the Plates 
 of Lead, Cerufc, of the Plates of Silver the 
 Azure Colour, &c, comprehended under one 
 -proccfs, but not with one manner of preparati- 
 on. When thou haft enough of the Vitribl 
 of Gold, boil it well in Rain-water diftillcd t 
 always ftirring it with a Spatle , then the Sul- 
 phur of the Gold is driven up to the fupcrfi- 
 cies of the Water, as Fat, which take off with 
 m Spoon : Thus alfo do with more Vitriol. 
 -How after all the Sulphur is taken off, evapo- 
 rate that Rain-water til it be all dry, and there 
 will remain the Vitriol of G6ld in the bot- 
 tom , which thou raayft eafily diffolvc of it 
 : felf upon a Marble in a moift place. Jn thefe 
 two Arcana's viz,, the Vitriol of Gold, and 
 the Sulphur of Gold , licth the Diaphorctical 
 Vcrtut. 1 (hall not here fet down their Ver- 
 mes ; for in the Book of Metallick Difeafes » 
 and alfo in other Books we hjive {ec them down 
 at large. 
 
 The Mortification of Sulphur, that the cotn- 
 buftible and (linking Fatncfs may be rakea a- 
 way, and it brought into a fixed (ubftance,is 
 thus: 
 
 Take common yellow Sulphur finely pow* The morti- 
 dered, and drawr from it by Diftillation A-f^f^^^ 
 tjna fcrtii , that is very lliarp , and this do three fuiphur. 
 limes, then the Sulphur which is in the bot- 
 tom of a black colour dulcifie with diftilled 
 Water , until the Water come from it (wcet , 
 and it rctaineth no more the ftink of Sulphur. 
 
 Then 
 
io8 ^U1^tmf4^^t^l;^^ Lib.f 
 
 Then reverberate this Sulphur in a cbfq Re- 
 vcrberatory as you do Antimony , then it will 
 fir ft be whice , then yellow, and laftly aS red 
 as Cinnabar. Apd when it is Jo,, then thou 
 may ft rejoyce : For it is the beginning of thy 
 Riches; This reverberated Sulphur tinge ch Sil- 
 ver moft deeply into moft excellent Gold, 
 and the Body of Man into moft. per fe6l health. 
 
 ^ This reverberated and fixed SulphUjii is, of more 
 vertue than it is lawful to fpeak.^ , > -^lU -i:\u.i 
 
 The mortification of all Saltsi and whatfoc- 
 vcr is falti(h , is .the taking away :and diftilling 
 off the Aq'iofity, and Oiluiefs, andof the Spi- 
 rit of them. . For if thefe be; tak^n^way, they 
 are afterwards j cajlcd the dead Mmhj ox Qapnt 
 Monmm, .r:-x^^ fi/^ns iioib ^-^i^S a tX^JOi 
 The mprtfficadon of Gents', ^rsmd Goraly^i is 
 to calcine, fublime, ^nd diflolve thetp into i Lt- 
 
 ,quor, as Qryft^l* ,; .'. ] ^ :;[,.,,) r' lijj--^ ■ ■: ••> 
 . The mprtificatipn of Pearls^i's tio cllclnc- thctti^ 
 
 ^and diffolve thcmin. (harp Ymcgerinto the form 
 
 of Milk. _ : -i^ -j:: ,„.. :i \, l:^- Hi .■•■: \ : ' 
 
 The mortification of the Load-ftone isfo anoint 
 it, with thcjOyldfJ^lcrcury, or to put it into 
 . Q^ick -filver, fpr aftjcrwayd it .will not draw Iron 
 at all loifi ; :u .: 
 
 The mortification of Flints, and Stones, is to 
 calcine them. ; ' > 
 
 The mortification of Marcafites , Chachy- 
 ma^s, Talke^ Cobal:us, Zinri, Grariuti, Zu- 
 nitter , Unifm^ut, and of Amimony is their 
 j^jjiblimaiion V i. f, that they, be fublimed with 
 *Sait and Vitriol ,. t}\tn their life, which is a Me" 
 'iallick Spirit , together with the Spirit of Salt,' 
 1 afcends* 
 
 Tbe rtjorti- 
 location of 
 Salts. 
 
 The morti 
 fication of 
 
 The mortl 
 fication of 
 the Load- 
 ftone. 
 
 The morti- 
 fication of 
 fl'iBts and 
 ftoner- 
 The morti- 
 fication of 
 Marcafites. 
 
Lib.^sDffUcBattttc of clings; zop 
 
 afcends. And lee whacfoever remains in the 
 botcom of the Subhmarory be wa("hcd, that 
 the Salt may be diffolved froni it , and then 
 thou haft a dead Earth , in which there is do 
 Vertuc. 
 
 The mortification of Arfcnickf? Aurfpigmenr, The morti- 
 Operment, Realgar, &c, is, that they flow with d"^ \^^" °^ 
 Salt Nitre, and be turned into an Oyl or Liquor 
 upon a Marblcj and be fixed. 
 
 The mortification of Excrements, is thecoagu- caJJU^oF 
 
 lation of Air. excrements. 
 
 The mortification of Aromatical things is the The moni- 
 taking away of their good fmell. fication of 
 
 _, " ^ .r> • ri I • /•If Aromatical 
 
 The mortihcation or Iweet things, is to lubhme things. 
 and diftil them with corrofive things. thL^r"^ 
 
 The mortification of Ambers, RcfincSj Turpen* 
 tine, Gum, and fuch like, is to turn them into Oil ^ ^^ '""^ 
 andVernifh. 
 
 The mortification of Herbs, Roots, and fuch of Hearbs 
 like, is to diftil oft from them their Oil and Wa- ^"^iRo^^-^- 
 tcr,and prcfs out their Liquor with a Prers,and al- 
 fo to make their Alcali. 
 
 . The mortification of Wood, i$to turn it into ^- . 
 Coals, and Allies. 
 
 The mortification of Bones, is their Calci- of Bones; 
 nation. 
 
 The mortification of Flefh and Blood, is the of Fkfh. 
 taking away of the Spirit of Sale, 
 
 The mortification of Water is by Fire, for all of Water4 
 heat dries up and conrum_es Water, 
 
 The mortification of Fire is by Water, for all ^ p. , 
 Water quencheth Fire, and takes from ic its pow- ' " 
 *t and force, 
 
 i» So' 
 
aio flDft]^fJi3atutepfCtiinss. Lib. 5." 
 
 So now you are lufficientl^ inftrufted in few 
 words how Death lies hid in all Natural things,! 
 and how they may be mortified, and be brought ! 
 into another form and nature, and what Vertucsj 
 flow from them. Whatfoevcr fhould have been 
 faid further, wc puc in the following Book, of chcji 
 Refurre6^ion of Natural things. 
 
 OF 
 
Zlj 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NATtt RE 
 
 OF 
 
 THINGS. 
 
 Ctic 0):t5 I5o0i. 
 
 of the Refnrreiiien if NAUir4 Things. 
 
 THE Rcfurre^lion and renewing of J^^^rai^^ng 
 Natural rhings is not the leaft, but Natural 
 a profound and great fecrct in ^^'"S^- 
 the Nature of things , and rather 
 Divine, and AngeUcal, than Hu- 
 tnane and Natural. 
 
 I deiire to be here underftood wich great di- 
 ,ftin(Slion, and no ocherwife than nriy opinion is, 
 ■ 'and Nature doth daily and manifeftly fhew, and 
 'experience make good, left I (liould be expofed to 
 the Lies and Slanders of Mounccb?.nks, nay ene- 
 mies (which do conffrueallxhat I do in the worft 
 fcnfc) as if I would ufurp the Divine Power, ana 
 '\ P s ' actri- 
 
21 a €)fttiei5atiireofCtiins0. Lib.c. , 
 
 attribute this to Nocure, which ("he was never abl i\ 
 to perform : Wherefore we muft cautioufly cor 
 Death is fider that there is a twofold Death, viz, violen^l in 
 iwotoid. and voluntary. The one can raife a thing again! i^ 
 the other not. Wherefore, do not believe tho| L 
 ^0*-^ Sophiftcrs that fay, that a thing that is once dear" 
 
 or mortified, can never be railed again, and tha 
 make no account of refufcitation, and reftauracio 
 of things, which error indeed of theirs is not th, 
 leaft. And indeed it is true, that whatfoevcr dyj 
 ethjor peridieth with a natural death , and wha 
 Nature mortifies by reafon of her predcftination 
 God alone can raife again, or muft of necelTity b 
 done by his command : (o \\ hatfoever Nature de 
 whatihjn?s flroy5, Man cannot rcftore again. But whatfoevc 
 ^J^jgJJ*^" Mandeftroyshc can rcftore again, and being rc< 
 ftored fpoil again ; and Man hath no furthci 
 " power of himfclf, and if he Hiould attempt co dc 
 anything more, he would arrogate the power ol 
 God to himfelf, and yet he would labour in vain^ 
 and be confounded, unlefs God did aififl him , 
 or he had fo much fauh as to remove mountains ; 
 Even to fuch a man this is poifible , and greater 
 things than this. Becaufe the Scripture faith, and 
 Chrift himfelf fpake it. If thou haft faith as a 
 grain of Muftard- feed, and faiftunto this Moun- 
 tain, Go and be removed thiihcr, and it fhall be 
 removed, and all things be polTible to thee, and no- 
 thing impoffible. 
 
 But to return to our purpofe, what diflFcrcncc 
 then there is betwixt dying, and being mortified , 
 and which of thefe may be raifed again , fo thefe 
 are to be undcrftood. Whatfoever naturally dies 
 hath its end by predcftination, and (o the Will 
 
 and 
 
and Ordination of God permits. Ye: it hap- ;^'"V'''"8' 
 pensthatthis is alio done by divers Dilcale?, and railed agaia. 
 ' various Cafualties 5 and this can never be raifed 
 again, neither is there any prefervative to be ufed 
 againft predcftination , and the natural term of ^, 
 
 life. But that which is mortified may be both '^J 
 
 ' raifed again and revived, which may be proved ^ 
 
 ' by divers arguments, which we (hall fet down in 
 the end of this Book. 
 
 Wherefore there is a great difference betwixt ,^JiJg to'jre 
 dying and being mortified , neither muft they be and anotbtr 
 I taken for one and the fame thing, under the iame morfifi^a.^ 
 ' name. For in every example they are far diflfercnc 
 * For look upon a man that dies a natural and pre- 
 f deftinated death, what further good or profit is 
 T there in him ? Nothing , he is only caft into the ^ 
 
 ' Earth to worms. For he is a ftinking carkafs, and 
 ^ due to the earth. 
 
 j But the fame is not to be underftood of a man 
 ' that is flain with a Sword, or dies by fome fuch 
 Lke violent death. For his whole Body is profi- 
 table and good, and may be prepared into a moft 
 pretious Mummie. For although the Spirit of 
 Life went out of fuch a Body , yet the Balfome* 
 in which lies the Life, remains , which indeed 
 doth as Balfomc preferve other mens Bodies. 
 I So you may fee in Metals , when a Metal is a- 
 boutto die, it begins to be overcome with ruft, 
 and as much as is thus overcome , is dead .' and 
 when all the Metal is devoured with ruft, it is all 
 dead ; and fuch a ruft can never be reduced in- 
 to true Metal again , but it becomes onlyDrofs, 
 and not Metal. For it is dead , and Death is 
 in if , neither hath it any mor: Balfome of 
 P J Life, 
 
414 fft^BStttlpeofpi«S0; Lib 
 
 •S:^ 
 
 & 
 
 w 
 
 [hjt 
 hi 
 
 Iff 
 Ion 
 k 
 
 Life, but is qaiic dLftroyed in it felf. 
 The diffe- Now the Calx of Metals, and their allies arc 
 t wixt the two things: And there is a great difference bc- 
 CaixofMc- twixt thtfe two, for one miy be revived, andy 
 jj^:^^"^,g5 brought back again into a Metal, but the other 
 
 not: the one is volatile, the other fixed) the one 
 
 died, the other mortified. Ik 
 
 What the The Allies is volatile, and cannot be brought I I 
 MeuU^is* ^^^^ *"^° ^ Metil, only into Glafs and Drofs : but I iiw 
 
 the Calx of Metals is fixed, and may be broughc | idli 
 
 what the ^^^ ^"^^ ^^^ °^^" Metal. 
 
 Calx of Me- put to undeiftand the difference,and the caafe» 
 ^*^^^^' know, that in the Allies there is le^ Fatnefs, and 
 more drynefs than in the Calx , which indeed 
 makes ic fluxil : buc the Calx is fatter and mo'x- 
 fter than the Allies, and doth ftill retain its Re- 
 fine, and Fluxiblenefs, and efpccially the Sale , 
 which naturally is fluxil, and makes Metals flow, 
 and reducedi them. Hence now it follows, that \ 
 the Sale muft be extracted out of the Allies of Me- 
 talfj that they may not be brought back into a 
 Metal, then they are pcrfe(^ly volatile^ and this 
 difteiencc and this claufe is chiefly to be taken no- 
 tice of, for much depends upon it. 
 If Mo^ntc- For amongfl Mountebanks this is no fmall error, 
 banks con- ^[^q j^ ({tzd of pocable Gold, the Quinteflence oi 
 Sold" Gold, Tin6^ureof Gold, c^ff, have given to men 
 an imptire Calx of Gold, not confidering the dif- 
 ference, and evil that follows upon it. For there 
 are two remarkable and jicceffary things to be ta-? 
 ken notice of here, vl^, 
 
 Fiift, that Gold calcined, or powdered, if it be 
 j;jven to Men, is gathered imo one heap in the fto* 
 sE^ach, or goeth forth again with the dung, and fo 
 
 ic 
 
tib.d. 0t ftieaature of Citings; ai 5 
 
 it iscaken in vain, withouc do;ng any good : or 
 that which is reduced by the great inward heac 
 iti mans Body 5 it gilds over, and makes hard jn 
 acruft jboth the Bowels and Stomach , by rea- 
 fon of which the conco6lton of the Stomach ishiii-j 
 drcd, whence many and various Sickncffes fpl-^ 
 low, and at length death itfelf. . \* 
 
 As you have heird of Gold, fo alfo muft it be when me- 
 underftood of alhhe other Metals, z'/^. that you naa^r''eto?e 
 take no: any MccalHck Arcanum, or Medicine into taken m- 
 your Body, unlcfs it be firft made volatile, and ic ^^^ ^' 
 be reduced into n^ Metal. 
 
 Wherefore the firft degree, and beginning to J^^ metals 
 prepare potable Gold \s this ; fo may fuch a vola- potable and 
 tile be after.vards diffolved in Spirit of Wine, i^^^^^^'^'^- 
 tha: both may afcend together, be made volatile , 
 infeparsble. And as you prepare Gold , fo niay 
 you al fo prepare potable > 2 cf V T? and 5. 
 
 But to retutn ro our purpofe, let us prove by J,^/;n"'f "^ 
 examples and fuffi:ient rcafons, that things mor- things is 
 tifled are not dead, and forced to abide in death, fhe^'whc.ps 
 but may be reduced, raifcd again, and revived , of a Lyon. 
 and this truly by Man , and according to the 
 courfe of Nature. You fee Lions how all of them 
 are brought forth dead> and firft of all are made 
 ahve by the roaring of their Parents, as one that is 
 afleep israifed with a noife, io alfo are Lions rai* How Lyoni 
 fed, not that they are thus afleep, (for they which J.'"'^ madei- 
 flccpa natural fleep mufl ofnccdfry rrfca^ain, ^"^ ^^'"" 
 which the Lions of themfclves do not.) For if 
 they were not raifed by this roaring, they 
 would remain dead , and Life would never 
 be perceived in them, Wherefore it is appa- 
 rent, that by this roaiing they receive their life. 
 
 P 4 So 
 
%i6 m {^t isature of Cttingiaf^ Uh.e: 
 
 vingofdcad ^^ ^^^^ y°" ^^^ ^" ^'^ Animals which are 
 Flits. not ingendered , but proceed from putrefacti- 
 on , as Flies , which if they be drowned in wa- 
 ter 5 that no Life at all is perceived in them > 
 and if they were io left , they would continue 
 dead , and never return to life of themfelves 
 any more. But if thou caft Salt upon them , 
 and put them in the warm Sun , or behind a 
 warm Furnace, they will recover their former life, 
 and this truly \s a raifin^ of them up again. For 
 , if this were not done, they would continue dead 
 for ever. 
 tion^of ma- . ^^ alfo you fee in a Serpent , if he be cut 
 ny Serpents jnto pieccs , and thefe pieces put into a gourd 
 Glafs, and be putrefied in Horle-dung , the 
 whole Serpent will become living again in the 
 Glafs, in the form cither of Worms or Spawn 
 of Fillies. And if thofe Worms be in a fitting 
 manner brought out of putrefadion , and nou- 
 rifhed , many hundred Serpents will be brought 
 out of one Serpent , whereof every one will be 
 as big as the firfl ^ which is done only by pu- 
 trefa6lion. And as it is faid of the Serpent , io 
 alfo many odier Animals may be raifed , and re- 
 , ftorcda gain. 
 Virgil en- According to this proceis ftermcs and Fr- 
 de»your to gH \^^^^ attempted (' by the aififtance of Ne- 
 rves after gromancy ) to renew, and raife themfelves af- 
 Dcaih. ter Death, and to be born again, as Infants, 
 but it fuccceded not according to their pur- 
 pofc. 
 The refufci- . But to onaic examples, and fall upon the Praxis 
 Metabls ofRefurreaion and Reftauration, it is neceffary 
 tworoid. and moft convenient CO begiawith Mecals, fora(« 
 
 much 
 
tib.6. SDf t\it iJature of €|>in80; ai/ 
 
 much as Metalline bodies do oftentimes rcfemble 
 mens bodies. 
 
 Wemuft know therefore, that the Refurrcfti- T^^^f''^;^ 
 on and Reftauration of Metals is twofold. The raU into* 
 one which doth reduce calcined Metals into their Qy'ckit^'^<'= 
 firft MecaUick body : the other which doth re- 
 duce Metals into their firft matter, ;. e. into 
 Qaick-filver. 
 
 The procefs of the latter is this ; Calcine a 
 Metal with common Quick-filver, put this Calx, 
 and as much Qiiick-filver into a Sublimatory , 
 and let them ftand fo long till both be coagula- 
 ted into an Amalgama ; then fublime the Mer- 
 cury from the Calx, then grind it again with 
 the Metallick Calx, and (ablime it as before, 
 this do (o often, till the MetaUick Calx fhall o- 
 ver a Candle melt Uke Wax, or Ice, and then ic 
 is well done. Put this Metal in digeftion for a 
 timC) and it will all be turned intoQaickfilver, 
 u e, into its firft matier , which Mercury of Me- 
 tals is indeed called the Mercury of Philofophers, 
 which many Alchymifts have fought after, but 
 fe^v have found. Now after this manner may 
 Qaick filver be prepared out of all Metals , viz,. 
 
 Now the raifing again , or reftoring of coa^u- Thertduat- 
 lattd Mercury is done by Diftillation in a Re- ^^l/tthl 
 tort : for Quick- filvcr alone afcends into cold^'g^^^^/"^" 
 Wacer, the Allies of Tj 9 or Sulphur being left ^""^ " 
 behind. 
 
 Now the raifing again, or Reftauration of Mer- 
 cury fublimed is done ia feething hot Water : 
 but it muft firft be ground very fmall, fo the hoc 
 Water will fcparate from it the Spirit of Sale 
 
 and 
 
2i8 ©f ti^ aature of ctiitts?. Lib.s. 
 
 and Vitriol, which it carries up with it, the 
 Quick- filvcr running in the bottom of the Wa- 
 ter. Now if this Qaidc-filver lliall be again 
 fublimed with Salt and Vitriol , and revived a» 
 gain in hot Water, and this done feven or eight 
 times , it can never be better purged , and re* 
 newcdr 
 
 And this may be kept for a great fecret in 
 Alchymy and Phyfick, and be much-rejoiced in. 
 For by this means all impurity, blacknefs , and 
 poifonoufnefi is taken asvay. 
 Sn of«i. .Mercury calcined can never be reftored again 
 cined and without fublimation ; for unlefs it be (ublimcd 
 MercSry?^'' after calcination, it Will nevcr be revived, where- 
 fore thou (lialt firft fublime it, and then reduce ic 
 as other Sublimate. 
 
 The Rcfufcitation of Azure Cinnabar, Aarum 
 viUy alfo of Precipitate, that they may be reduced 
 into Qiick-filver is thus : 
 
 Take cither of thefc, grind it (mail upon a 
 
 marble, make it up into a Paft with the White of 
 
 an Egg and Sope, then make Pills of the bignefs of 
 
 Filbeards, which put into a ftrong earthen gourd, 
 
 upon the mouth of ic put a plate of Iron, with 
 
 many little holes in it, and lute ic on, and diftilic 
 
 per defcenfum with a ftrong fire, fo that it may 
 
 fall into cold Water , and thou fhalc have the 
 
 Quick- filvcr again. 
 
 ^^g'oPv^od ^°w ^he Rcfufcitation, and reftoring of Wood 
 
 thitisburnt is hard and difficult, yet poHTiblc to Nature, 
 
 but without much skilfalnefs and induftry it 
 
 . can never be done : But to revive ic the procefs 
 
 is this ; 
 
 ^ : Take 
 
Take Wnod which muft firft be a Coal , then 
 Afhcs, which pac into a goatd together with the 
 Refine, Liquor and Oyl ot that Tree , of each a 
 Itke weight, mingle them, and melt them wich a 
 fofc hear, and there will be a mucilaginoas mat- 
 ter, and fo thou haft the diree Principles,ot which 
 all things are produced, and generated, vU, 
 Flc^m, Fatnefs and Allies. 
 
 The Flegm is Mercury , the Fac isSalphur, Jf^Wo/d"i» 
 the Allies is Salt. For whatfoever fumes and e- iti Mercury, 
 vaporaces in the Fire is Mercury : whatfoever suip^"r!ih? 
 flames, and is burnt, is Sulphur, and sU Allies Allies iu 
 
 r> I Silt* 
 
 Now feeing thou haft thefe three Principles to- 
 gether, put rhem in Horfe-dung, and pucrefie 
 them for a time. If afterward that matter ht. 
 put in , and buried in fac ground , thou fhalc 
 fee it live again , and a Jicde Tree (pring from 
 thence , which truly in vercue is far more ex- 
 cellent than the former. This Tree or Wood is 
 and is called Regenerate Wood , renewed and 
 rcftored, which from the beginning was Wood , 
 but mortified, deftroyed, and brought into Coals, 
 Allies, and almoft to nothing , and yec out of 
 that nothing is made and renewed. This truly 
 in the Light of Nature is a great Myftery , vU,. 
 that a thmg which had utterly loft its form, and 
 was reduced to nothing , lliould recover its form , 
 and of nothing be made fomething, which after- 
 ward becomes much more excellent in vcrtue and 
 efficacy than it was at fiift. 
 
 But tofpeak generally of the Re(urre6llon and rule for ui- 
 RcftauratioH of Natural things, you muft know, fingot thing 
 thac the chicfcft foundation here, is, that that be *^**'^* 
 
 reftorcd 
 
reftored to every thing, and made to agree with it, 
 which was taken from it in mortification, and fe^ 
 parated from it, which is hard to be here fpeci- 
 fically explained. Wherefore \ye (hall conclude 
 this Book , and fliall fpeak of thefe things more 
 at large in the next Book, Concerning the tranf-^ 
 mutations of Natural things. 
 
 OF 
 
Ill 
 
 OFTHE 
 
 NATURE 
 
 OF 
 
 THINGS 
 
 of the Tra/tffnutation of Natural Tbi^^sl 
 
 IF wc write of the Tranfmutation of all 
 Natural things, it is fie and neceffary 
 that in the firft place we (liew what Tranf- 
 mutation is. Secondly, what be the De- 
 grees to it. Thirdly, by what Mediums, and 
 how it is done. 
 
 Tranfmutation therefore is, when a thing lofeth xvhattwrf- 
 its form, and is fo altered, that it is altogether unc rrutaiiootti 
 like to its former fubftance and form, butaflumes 
 another form, another cffencej another colour, 
 another vcrtue, another nature, or property, as 
 if a Metal be made glafs, orftonc; ifaftonebc 
 made a coal : if Wood be made a Coal ; Clay 
 ^" " ' be 
 
be made a ftone, or a brick: a skin bcmad^ 
 
 giew : cloth be made paper, and many fuch lik^ 
 
 things. All thefc are Tranfmutations of Na* 
 
 tural things. 
 
 There are ^ After this, it IS vcry ncceffary alfo to know 
 
 pTi^degrees the degrees to Tranfmutation, and how many 
 
 of Trinftna- they be. And they arc no more then feven. For 
 
 although many do rccon rnore, yet there are no 
 
 more bat feven, which are principal, and the 
 
 reft may be reckoned betwixt the degrees, being 
 
 comprehended under thofe feven : And they 
 
 ate the fe. 
 
 Calcination^ Solution^ Sublima" 
 tion^ PutrefaSlion ^ Difiillatiotiy 
 Coagulation^ TinSlure. 
 
 If any one will climbe that Ladder, he (Tiall 
 come into a moft wonderful place, that he fhal! 
 fee, and have experience of many fecrets in the 
 Tranfmutacion of Natural thin.^s. 
 whatcaici- The firft degree therefore is Calcination, under 
 and?tlkinds ^^^^^ ^^^° ^^^ Comprehended Reverberation, 
 are. and Cementation. For becwixc thefe there is 
 
 but little difference as for matter of Calcina- 
 tion : Wherefore it is here the chiefeft degree. 
 For by Reverberation, and Cementation, many 
 corporeal things are cilcined, and brought into 
 Afhes, and efpecially Metals. Now what is 
 calcined is not any ^ further rcverberat-ed , or 
 cemented. 
 
 'By Calcination therefore all Metals, Mine- 
 rals, Stones, Glafs, Sec. and all corporeal thing? 
 are made a Coal, and Allies, and this i% done 
 
 by 
 
Lib.?- ©fttitisaturtofC^ittgjs* zzi 
 
 by a naked ftronf?^ Fire wich blowing, by which 
 all tenacious, foft, and fat earth is hardened 
 into a ftone, Alfo all ftones are brought into a 
 Calx , as we fee in a Potters furnace of lime, 
 and bricks* 
 
 Sublimation is the fccond degree , and one WhatSubU- 
 of the mcft principal for the Tranfmuration "j^j®""' 
 of many Natural things : under which is con- kinds, 
 tained Exaltation, Elevation, and Fixation; and 
 it is not much unlike Diftillation, For as in 
 Dift illation the water afcends from all flcgma- 
 tick, and wattery things, and is fcparated from 
 its body ^ fo in Sublimation, that which is fp'ri- 
 tualisraifed from what is corporeal, and is fub- 
 tilizcd , volatile from fixed , and that in dry 
 things, as are all Minerals, and the pure is fcpa- 
 rated from the impure. 
 
 Befides Sublimation, many good vertues, and 
 wonderful things are found out in Minerals, and 
 many things are made fixed, and become con- 
 ftanr, fo as to abide in the Fire , and that in 
 this manner. 
 
 Let that which is fublimed be ground, and 
 mixed with its feces, and be again fublimed as 
 before, which muft be done folong, till ic will 
 no longer fublime, but all will remain together in 
 the bottom, and be fixed. 
 
 So there will be afterward a ftone, and oyl 
 when and as oft as thou plca{eft> vi^. if thou 
 putteft it again into a cold place, or in the aire 
 ioa Glafs. For there it will prefently be dif- Theffxati- 
 folved into an Oyle. And if thou putteft it °" of Mine. 
 again into thr fire, ic will again be coagulated ftone?**** 
 into a Scone of wondciful , and great vcrcue. 
 
 Keep 
 
Z24 ©ftl&e mature of €t)insg?; Lib.y; 
 
 Keep this as a greac fecrec, and myftcry of Na- 
 ture, neither difcover it to Sophifters. More- 
 overj as in Sublimation many Corrofive things 
 are made fwcet in the conjunction of two matter5, 
 foonthc contrary, many fweet things are made 
 Corrofive : many fwcet things are made (owre, 
 hardi, or bitter ; and on the contrary , many 
 bitter things as fweet as Sugar. 
 Rules con- Here alfo we muft take notice that every Mc- 
 ArSack'^ tal which is brought into Sublimation by Salt Ar- 
 moniack, may afterward in the cold, or in the 
 air be brought into an oyle, and again be coagu- 
 lated into a Stone in the Fire, which indeed is 
 one of the chiefeft, and greateft Tranfmutations 
 in all natural things, viz*, to Tranfmutc Metal 
 into a Stone, 
 wbit Soiu- The third degree is Solution , under which 
 iw kinds"'* ^^^ ^° ^^ underftood Djflolution, and Refolution, 
 and this degree doth moft commonly follow 
 Sublimation, and Diftillation, ^'i^. that the 
 matter be refolved which rertiaii^s in the boc- 
 tome. 
 
 Now Solution is twofold : the one of Cold, 
 the other of Heat ; the one without Fires the 
 other in Fire. 
 
 A cold diflolution diffolves all Salts all Cor- 
 roflve things, and all calcined thing?. What- 
 foeveris of aSalf, and Corrofive quality, is by it 
 diffolved into Oyle, Liquor, or Water. And 
 this is in a moift, cold cellar, or elfc in the Aire 
 on a marble, or in a glafs^ For whatfoeveris 
 diffoUvcdin the cold, contains an Airyfpiricof 
 Salt, which oftentimes it gcts^ and adumes in 
 Sublimation, or Diftillation. And whacfocvec 
 
 is 
 
Lib.;. ©ftJ^eBaiureofCi^mssi; 2^5 
 
 isdidolvcd in the co!d, or in the Air, may again 
 by che heat of the. fire be coagulated into powder^or 
 a ftone. 
 
 Bur a hot Solurion diflolves all fat and fulpha- '^.^^^ . 
 rcous chingSo And whatfoever che heat of che fire So'uSon ^* 
 diflolves , the fame doth coldncfs congeal into ^i^^^^^es. 
 a Mafs. 
 
 And whatfoever heat coagulates is again diflolved A double 
 by cold, or in che Air. Here aifo we muft know t°z"o°Heat 
 that whatfoever Air or the Cellar doch refolve, is and ColA. 
 ofa very great drynefs, and hath a fecrec corrofive 
 Fire hid in ic : io whacfoever is diffolved in Fire^ 
 or in che heat thereof, hach a fweeciili frigidity ouc 
 of che Fire. Thus, and no othcrwifc is Solution 
 tube underftood. 
 
 Putrefa6^ion is the fourth degree, under which putrefa^ioa 
 is comprehended Digeftiori and Circulation. Tn^dUs kind«' 
 
 Now then Putrefadion is one of the principal 
 degrees, which indeed might defervediy have been 
 the iirft of all,but that it would'beagainfl: che true 
 Order and Myftery, which is here hid, and known 
 to few ; For thofe degrees muft, as hath been al- 
 ready faid, fo follow one another, as Links in A 
 Chain, or fteps Tn a Ladder. 
 
 For if one of the Links lliould be taken away^ Tfie afore- 
 the Chain is difconcinued and broken,and che Pri- oV Degree 
 foners would be aclibercy and runaway. So in a jstobe ob- 
 Ladder, if one ft^sp be taken away in the middle, making tic- 
 and be put in che upper or lower part, the Lad- *^^^^^* 
 der would be broken, and many would fall down 
 headlong by ic with the hazzard of their bodies, 
 and lives. 
 
 So you muft undcrftand the matter here^ that 
 thofe degrees follow one the cchex in a juft order, 
 
 Q 9i 
 
iLx6 SDfftieBaturcofCt)ins0« Lib,?. 
 
 or eUe the whole work of our iriyitery would be 
 mari'd, and our labour and pains would be in 
 vain, and fruitlefs. 
 'lalldJxit Now putrefa6bon is of fuch efficacy, that it a- 
 bolifheth the old Nacure^and brings in a new one. 
 All living things arekjUed in it, all dead things 
 putrefied in ir, and all dead things recover life in 
 it* 
 
 Putrefa6lion takes from all corrofive Spirits, the 
 iliarpnefs of the Sah, and makes them mild, and 
 fweet, changeth the Colours.and feparates the pure 
 from the impure, it places the pure above, and the 
 impure beneath 
 what Di; Diftillation is the fii ft degree to the Tranfmu- 
 ^'H'llf'' ' f^^^on of ^^1 Natural things, Under it are under- 
 
 and Its ci \ K ( r T I 
 
 kinds are. Itood Alcenliion, Lavarion, and Fixation. 
 
 By Diftillation all Waters, Liquors and Oyls 
 are fubtilized, out of all fat things Oyl is extra- 
 £led, out of all Liquors 5 Watery and out of all 
 Flegmatick things Water and Oyl are fepara- 
 ted. 
 
 cohcbation Bcfiides there arc many things in Diftillation 
 
 Fixation by fixed by Cohobatiori,and efpecially if the things 
 Difliiiation ^^ ^^ ^^^j ^^j^^^jj^ -^^ ^l^^j^ Water, as Vitri- 
 ol doth, which if it be fixed is called Colco* 
 thar. 
 
 Allum, if it be fixed with its piopcr Water, is 
 called the Sugar of Allum, which alfo is refolved 
 into a Liquor, which Liquor if ic be putrefi>:d a 
 month, produceth a Water of the fweecnefs of Su- 
 gar, which is of great vertue, and an excellent fea 
 crct in Phyfick, to cxtingailli any Metalline heat 
 ; in Man>as we have wrote more at large in our Book 
 of Metalline Dueafcs. 
 
 And 
 
jib.y. ©fttieBature of doings, aa? 
 
 And as you have heard of Vitrial, and Ailum,, 
 ) alfo Sale niire, and ouhcr Watery Minerals 
 lay be fixed by Cohobacion. 
 
 Now Cohobacion isy chac the dead head be whatco- 
 )fteiiciraes imbibed wich its own water, and chac 
 gain be drawn off by Diftillacion. 
 
 Moreover, in Diftillacion many bircer) harfh, oiftiUatfon 
 nd iLarp chines become as (wecc as Honey, Su- »" things w 
 ;ar, or Manna ; and on cneconcrary, many iweec muted. 
 hings, as Sugar, Honey » or Manna, may be 
 nade as harlli as Oyle of Vitrial, or Vincgcr, cr 
 s bitter as Gall, or Gentian, as Eager as a Corro- 
 ive. 
 
 Many Excrementious things lofe their great 
 link in Diftillation, which indeed goeth forth in 
 he u arer. 
 
 Many Aromatical things lofe their good fa-- 
 'Our. 
 
 And as Sublimation alters things in their 
 ^uahty, and Nature , fo alfo doch DiftiUa- • 
 ion, 
 
 Coaeulation is the fixe decree : Now there w^^tcos, 
 
 r !J r^ I • L L ^ 1J eolation i»5 
 
 s a twoiold (coagulation , the one by Cold, audits 
 he other bv Heat, i.e. one of the Aire, the ^'"'^^' 
 )cher of che Fire : and each of chefe again 
 s cwofold , io thac there are four forts of Coagu- 
 ations, cwoofCold, and cwoof Fu'e. 
 
 The Coagulations of Fire are fixed, the other 
 )f Cold are nor. 
 
 The one is done only by common Aire, or 
 «^ichou£ Fire. The ocher by the fuperiour Firraa- 
 jnenc of Winter ftars, all which coagulate VVa- 
 |:crs into fnow, and ice. 
 i 
 
 I 0^2 B'li 
 
2a8 ©fti^eiaatttwofCitiinsiEf, Lib.? 
 
 Bac the Coagalacion of Fire, which alon 
 is here to be taken noiicc of, is made by ai 
 Artificial, and Gradual Fire of the Alchymiftj 
 and it is fixed , and permanent. For what 
 focver fuch a Fire doth Coagulate , the (am; 
 abides fo. 
 
 The other Coagulation is done by the i£cne 
 an , and Mineral Fire in Mountains, whici 
 indeed the Archeius of the Earth governs, arw 
 graduates not unhke to the AlcHymifts, ani' 
 whatfocvet is Coagulated by fuch a Fire, i 
 alfo fixed , and conftant $ as you fee in Mine 
 rals, and Metals, which indeed at the begini 
 ning are mucilaginous macter , and are coagui 
 lated into Metal?, Stones, Flints, Salts, an< 
 other bodies, by the i£:ncan firein Mounrainej 
 through the Archeius of Earth, and Operator c 
 Nature. 
 
 ivhat ^^^^ ^^ ™^^ know that Fire can coagulat 
 
 things can- no water, or moifturc, but only the Liquors 
 
 Befides alio there can no flegm be coagulated 
 unlefsinthe beginning it was a corporeal matcei 
 into which by the induftry of a skilful Alchymil 
 it may return. 
 
 So alfo any mucilaginous matcer, or fperma 
 ticke flimyntCsmay by the heat of Fire be coa 
 gulated into a body and corporeal matter, bu 
 never be refolved into water again. 
 
 And as you have heard of Coagulation, fo alf 
 know concerning Solution, viz,, thatnocorporea 
 matter can be diflolved into Water, unlefsat th 
 beginning it was water : and fo it is in all Mine 
 rals. 
 
 Tindur 
 
lib. J. sDf t^e laaturt of ZWqs. ^^9 
 
 A,, Tinflureis the (evench and laft degree, which ^J^^f/^^j 
 J, )nclades the whole work of our myftery for ji> kind,, 
 \ Vanrmuration, making all imperfect things per- 
 .;■ .'6^5 and tranfmuting them into a moft excellent 
 n Tence, and into a moft perfect foundnefs, and 
 Iters them into another colour. 
 
 TinEiure t here f org is a nt'^fl excellent matter ^ 
 'herewith all mineral and hnman boiiesare tingeiy 
 ^ nd are changed into a better and more noble ef- 
 ri fncey ar^d into the highffl: f.rfeElion ani pf/ritj. 
 
 For Tmdure colours all ching.s according to its 
 wn nature and colour. 
 
 Now there are many Tinflures, and not only All things 
 or Mecalline but Humane bodies , tccaufe every bcV»nge^^ 
 hing K'hich penetrates another mactcr , or tin- m^jftbcfluid 
 ,cth it with another colour or eflencc , fo that it 
 le no more like the former , may be called a 
 rindture. 
 
 Wherefore there are many and various forts of 
 rin(5lures, viz. of Metals, Minerals, Mens bodies, 
 •Vaters, Liquors, Oyl?, Salts, all fat things,and in- 
 leed of all things which may be broughc to flux 
 )ut of the fire or in the fire. 
 
 For if a Tincture muft tinge, it is necefTary that 
 :he body or matter ^hich is to be tinged, be o- 
 xned, and continue in flux,and unlels this lliould 
 3C fo, the Tin6ture could noc operate. But it 
 would be, as if any one fhould caft faftVon , or 
 my colour upon coagulated Water, or Ice: for 
 lo it would not fo fuddenly tinge the Icq with 
 its colour , as if it were caft into other Water. 
 And although it lliould tinge , yet ic would ac 
 the fame time refolve the Ice into Water. Where- 
 fore thofe Metals that we would tinge muft firft 
 
 0.5 >e 
 
30 iiDftljeBatureofC^ings* Uh.ji 
 
 be mdted in the fire, and be freed from Coa- 
 gulation 
 
 Ardhercwe rnuft know, thatbyliow mucl^ 
 reqaifire for the melting J 
 
 III 
 
 trfi 
 
 the ftronger fire is requifite for the melting 
 
 fo n[5uch the fooner the Tin6lure runs through* 
 
 them, as Leaven penetrate;^, and infeftsthe whol^^ 
 
 mafs with fowrncfs ; and by how much better the] j^o 
 
 mafs is covered, and kept warm, fo much the ber-l ^^\ 
 
 tcr it is fermented , and makes the better Bread i j 
 
 for Ferment is the Tin6\ure of Dowe ancr |,j 
 
 ^^ Bread. Ml 
 
 aSe hVd ^^^ ^'^^ ^^^^ "^f^? t^^t all Fcccs are of a morfi^l |^ 
 
 nature thsn f^^cd (ubftancc than the Liquor of it is; alfo of al 
 
 their Flfgm. ^ , .^ / ^ 
 
 lliarper and more penetrating nature : as you iec 
 
 in the Spirit of Wine , which is made of th? 
 
 Feces of Wine, and of At^f^a P^ifa, which is 
 
 diftilled our of the Grouflds of Beer , and 
 
 burns hke Spirit of Wine , and is inflamed at 
 
 Sulphur. 
 
 The prfpa- Alfo if of the Feces of Vineger another Vinr4 
 
 ^arwe^'of g?^ he diftilled, as ccmmonly Spirit of Wine 1$ 
 
 r^iftiiicd diftilled, there will be thereby made a Vineger of 
 
 Vinecer. {q fiery and Hiarp a nature, that it confumes all 
 
 Metals, Stones, and other things, as j4qf*afo^* 
 
 As* 
 
 Twiaure^of Moreover , it is neceflary that Tin6^ures be oE 
 
 Metal; muft a fixcd , fluxil , and incombuftible Nature, fo 
 
 ^' '^'^'•" that if a little of a Plate of any Metal red hot 
 
 be caft into them, fhey wiU prefcntly flow like 
 
 Wax , without any manner of fume at all , 
 
 and they penetrate the Metals , as Oyl doth 
 
 paper, or Water a Sponge, and tinge all Me- 
 
 . tals into white 2nd red, that is> into Silver or 
 
 Gold. 
 
 Now 
 
Lib.y. mf t^t BSLtmt of €tiins0; 23 1 
 
 Now thefe aie cheTjn6>ures of Me:als, which 
 it is necedary muft be turned into an Alcool, by 
 the firft degree of Calcination, then by the fecond 
 degree of Sablim^rion muft get an ealie and 
 light Flax. And Inftly , by the degree of Pu- 
 tref.^6l»on , and Dift llation, are made a fixe and 
 incombuftiblc Tin6^ure, and of an unchangeable 
 colour. 
 
 Now the Tin<flures of Mens bodies are,th3t they 
 be tinged into the higheft perfe(flion of health, and T^^Tin- 
 sll Difeafes be expelled from thcin , that their m" n? °^ 
 loft ftrength and colour be reftored and renewed, 
 and they are thefe, viz,. Gold, Pearls, Antimony, 
 Sulphur, Vitriol and iuchlike, whofe preparation 
 we have diverfly taught in other Books, wherefore 
 it doth not feem to us necefTary here to repeat 
 them. 
 
 We (hall write no more of Tin£lure?, feeing e- ofDying 
 very cxcra£lcd colour may be called a Tin6ture, ing, 
 which doth indeed tinge things with a permanent 
 colour, which do not go into the fire, or preferve 
 colours fixed in the fire. 
 
 All thefe are in the hand and power of the Dys 
 er, and Painter, who prepares them according to 
 his pleafure. 
 
 It is very necefTary in this Book to know the de- jjo^y many 
 crees of Fire, wh ch many ways may be eradua- decrees of 
 
 A J A A A J U 1 the Alchy- 
 
 teci, and nuendea, and every degree hath- a pecu- mifts Fire 
 liar operation, and one producech the i'arae eflfecl > ^^^^^ ^^* 
 as another, as every expert Alchymift , by the 
 daily experience , and exercife of the Arc 
 knows. 
 
 For one is as living, and flaming Fire, which 
 reverberates and calcines all bodies ; Anodier is 
 
 Q^^ the 
 
% 3z f>f ttie «5atute of Ctiingjsf. Lib.7: 
 
 the Fire of a Candle, or Lamp, which fixeth all 
 volatile bodies : Another isa Fire of Coals,which 
 cements, colours, and pur^eth Metals from their 
 profs, exalts Gold and Silver to a higher puri- 
 ty, whitens Copper, and in brief renews all Me- 
 tals. 
 
 Another Fire is of an Iron plate made red hot, 
 in which the Tinflurcs of Metals are proved, which 
 aUo is profitable for other things. 
 
 The Filings of Iron heat after one faHbion, Sand 
 after another, Afhes afcer another, a Balneum 
 tMarU after another, in which manifold Di- 
 ftillacions , Sublimations , and Coagulations are 
 done. 
 
 Balneum ror« afcer another, in which there are 
 made many Solutions of corporeal things. 
 
 Horfe- dung after another, in which thechiefeft 
 pucrefaftiohs and digeft ions are made. 
 fieCeicftl- And after another fa fhion works the invifibic 
 Fire. Fire, by which we undevftand the rays of the Sun, 
 and that which is manifefted by a Glals, or Ciy- 
 ftal, and fijews irs operations and efte6ls,of which 
 Fire the Ancients wrote nothuig ac all ; and by 
 this Fire the three principles of every corporeal 
 thing may be fcparated. 
 
 This Fire is of (uch wonderful force, that by it 
 Metals may be melted , and all fat and fluxible 
 things, may upon the table without any Five be 
 together with all combuftible things, reduced into 
 Peals and Afhes. 
 
 Therefore after I have propofed, and opened 
 to you the degrees of the Arc of Alchymy , and 
 the degrees of the Alcbymifts Fire : 1 will yet 
 further (hew, and declare to you in general, vari- 
 ous 
 
Lib.y. ©ftl)eBatureoff;t)ins3; 233 
 
 PUS Tranfmuracions of natural things : of Metals 
 fiift, fecondly of Stones, and thirdly of divers 
 things in general. The Tranfmuration of Metals 
 therefore is a great fectec in Nature , and it can 
 hardly be done by reafon of many impediments 
 and repugnancies. Yet it is no: againft Na- 
 ture , qor Gods Ordination, as many falfly af- 
 firm. 
 
 But that the five Ifffer and impurerMecals,-?//;?:,, '^^^ Tranf- 
 2 V Ij cf and 5 may be tranfmuced into the grea- Merais Tnro 
 ter, parcft, and moft perfe6t Metals, t-i^i. into l'^''^ -"** 
 and ^ it cannot be done without the Tin«flare,or 
 Philofophers ftone. 
 
 Now feeing we have before fufficiencly opened 
 the fec^ets of Tin<aures in their (even degrees, and 
 defcribed them there, it is not necelTary that we 
 fpcnd any further libour in this , bnt rather bs 
 fatisfied with thofe things which we have wrote in 
 oiher Books concerning the Tranfmutations of 
 Metals. 
 
 Now there are other Tranfmutations of imper- ^^ rnnC- 
 fe6l and impure Mecals , as the Tranfmucati- mutatioa of 
 on of (f into 9 , which may be done divers coppc".'*' 
 ways. 
 
 If Plates of Iron be boiled in water of Vitriol, 
 or be cemented with calcined Vicriol , or being 
 red hot be quenched in Oyl of Vitriol. 
 
 Thefe three ways Iron may be tranfmured into 
 very good and ponderous Copper, which indeed 
 flows well, and hath its weight as well as any na- 
 tural Copper. 
 
 Plates cf Iron may be as it were reduced , and xbe Traaf- 
 tianfmuted into Lead , fo that it be as foft as na- JJ^^^j'^^'q*"^ 
 rural Lead, but doth npc fic-w fo eafjy ; and the uad.. 
 proccfcisthis. Take 
 
aj4 JOfftie Mature Of €l&ms0« uh.7. 
 
 Take Filings ot cf >3nd fo much of the powder 
 of Borax, mingle them wellcogecher, put them in 
 a crucible , and into a wind Furnace , let there 
 be made a ftrong Fire , but (o that the cf do noc 
 flow, but fland as it were in a Cement for a whole 
 hour, then encreafe the Fire, that it may be red 
 hot, and flow : then let the crucible cool of it felf^ 
 and thou flialt find the rcgulus of Lead m the 
 bottom of the crucible, foft, and malleable, as na- 
 tural Lead can be. 
 Tbc Tranf^ But to tranfmute 5 into 16 the procefs is this. 
 Copper inio Firft of ail bring Copper with 8 fublimate , 
 ^^^' and fixt Arfenick to be white, yea as white as <r , 
 then beat it fmall. Take this and the powder ojf 
 Borax, of each a like quantity, and firft cement it, 
 then let ic be melted into a regulus, and thou haft 
 atrueregulusof Lead. 
 Tie Tranf- Now on the contrary , it is eafie to tranfmute 
 Sr'rrto" Lead into Copper, neither doth it require much 
 Copper. pains, and it is done thus. 
 
 Take Plates of Lead, ftrow them over with cal- 
 cined Vitriol, or Crocus of Venus, cement them, 
 and then melt them, and thou (halt fee natural 
 Lead, tranfmuted into good ponderous and mal- 
 leable Copper. 
 A mrtaijine JsJo^ if this Coppcr, or any other Copper , be 
 Gxrfd. beaten into plates, and ftrowed over with Tntia^ 
 
 or Cafri Celaminaru^ and be cemented, and laftly 
 melfed,it will be tranfmutcd into an excellent red - 
 difli EleSlrum like to Gold. 
 I^r^^r-« I^ f^"^ ^^'ilc rtirn 1& into V make plates of "6 , 
 (^ of Lead. Itrow them with Salt Armoniack, cement, and 
 melc ihem , as abovefaid, fo will all the black- 
 nefs, and darkncfs be taken away from the 
 
 Lead , 
 
Lib.7. mt^BmxtafWn^^ ^3$ 
 
 Lead and ic will be in whicenefs like fair Englidi 
 Tin. 
 
 Now as you have in brief heard of (ome Muta- 
 tions of Metals, fo alfo know, that there are Tranf- 
 mutations of Gems, which indeed are various,and 
 in no wife like. 
 
 For you fee how great Tranfmutations of ^^fj^.^^^^^^!: 
 Gems there lies in Oyl of Sulphur. For any mutes Gcm$ 
 Cryftal may be tinged , and tranfmuted in it , 
 and in time be exalted with divers colours , as 
 to be made like to the Hyacinth , Granat , or 
 Rubie. 
 
 . Know alfo that the Load-ftone may be tranf- To tranf- 
 muted into a tenfold greater power and vertue , "^'^'^ ^^e 
 and It is done thus ; into great 
 
 Take the Load-ftone and heat ic very hot in ftrcngth. 
 Coals, but fo that it be not fired, which prefently 
 quench in the Oyl of Crocus LMartiSy made of the 
 beft Carinthian Steel, that it may imbibe as much 
 as it can. 
 
 Thou (lialf by this means make the Load-ftone 
 fo powerful, that thou maift pull out Nails out of 
 a Wall with it, and (}io fuch like wonderful things 
 with it > that the common Load-ftone can never 
 do. ^ 
 
 Moreover, in tranfmutation of Gems you muft 
 know that the world is placed in two degrees of 
 Tincture and Coagulation. 
 
 For as the white of an Egg may be tinged with ^^ j^^^f. 
 Saffron, and then be coagulated into a fair yel- mute the 
 low Amber: with the fmoke of a Pine-tree £gg"nt*J> ^° 
 into black Amber: with Verdegrcafe into green. Amber of a- 
 hkt Lafis Armenittsi with green Jaice into "^*^°°"*^' - 
 Amber like the Emrald ; and with the Azure 
 
 ftone, 
 
»3<5 OftlieBaturcofCtiingg. Lib.7: 
 
 ftone , inro blew Amber , like a Saphir : with 
 the Wood called Red Wood 5 into red , like 
 a Granat , or Rubie : with a purple colour , 
 like to an Amethyft : with Ccrufe, like to Ala- 
 blafter. 
 
 So all Liquors, efpecially Metals, and Mine- 
 rals , may be tinged with fixed colours , and 
 . afterwards be coagulated and tranfmuted into 
 Gems, 
 How coun- So alfo may Pearls be made like true Pearls in 
 pearls are ^^^^ > ^o that for fplcndor and beauty they can 
 »»a«lc. hardly be discerned from the true : And they arc 
 made thus : 
 
 Cleanl'e the White of Eg^s; through a fpunge, 
 as purely as may be, then mingle with it ^^he fai- 
 Kft white Talk, or Mother of Pearl, or Mercury 
 coagulated with Tin , and brought into an Al- 
 cool , then grind them all together on a Marble, 
 fo that they become a thick Amalgama , which 
 muft be dryed in the Sun , or behind a Fur- 
 nace lo long , until it be like Cheefe , or a Li- 
 ver. ^ - 
 
 Then of this mafs make Pearls as big as thou 
 wilt, which hang upon the briftles of a Hog, and 
 being thus boared through, dry them as Amber , 
 and then thou hafi' finillied them. 
 
 If they are not beautiful enough J inoint 
 them ever with the White of an Egg , and 
 dry them again , and they will be moft good- 
 ly Pearls , in form like the natural, but not in 
 vertue. 
 
 Ill the like manner are Corals made,with which 
 men endeavour to deceive ©ne the other as with 
 PcarJ. The procefs is : 
 
 Take 
 
Lihj: £)ftt)e Mature of C^ingg* »?7 
 
 Take Cinnabar, grind on a Marble, with f^^fV^."' 
 the White of an Egg, for the fpacc of an hour, rais maybe 
 then dry it , as Potters do their Earth , then ^^^^* 
 make it into what form thou pleafeft : After- 
 wards dry them as much as may be, and noinc 
 them over with the White of an £gg , as 
 thou didft Pearl, and dry them by themfelves 
 again. 
 
 So thou flialc have Coral like Co the natural 
 in form, but not in vertue. 
 
 Thou muft alfo know , that the White of an Agoidcnot 
 Egg may be of it {elf coagulated into moft clear nift? 
 Vernifh , in the coagulation of which Silver or 
 Gold may be ftrewed. 
 
 There are alfo many other and various 
 Tranfmutations of natural things : Whereof 
 thofe which I know , and have had experience 
 of, I will by the way fee down , and briefly de- 
 clare CO you. 
 
 And firft of all know , that any Wood , if ic j^^^^f^ 
 be put for a certain time into the Water of Salt stonc. 
 Gem , is turned with much admiracion into a 
 Scone. 
 
 Alfo Stones in the j£cnean Fire are tranf- Coais of 
 muted into Coals, which are called Stony ^°""* 
 Coals. 
 
 Alfo Glew is boiled out of Skins. fkini/ 
 
 Gf Linen Cloth is made Paper. Paper of 
 
 Of Flax boiled in lliarp Lie made of the A (lies [-(X" 
 of Wood IS Silk made. siik of Fiax, 
 
 Alio the^feathery parts pulled off from Qaills, Feathers 
 and boiled in that Lie, may be fpun and weaved '{^H^^ 
 like Cotten. 
 
 Any 
 
238 £)ftlicBatureofCtiing0, ^^h.j. 
 
 Any Oyi or Spermatick mucilage may be coa* 
 gulaced into Vernilli. 
 
 Any Liquor into Gum, &c, 
 
 Alhhefc are Tranfmutacions of Natural things, 
 of which Science we have fpoken enough, and 
 therefore we ihall here make an end. 
 
 OF 
 
aj^ 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NATU RE 
 
 OF 
 
 THINGS- 
 
 of the Separation of Natural Things. 
 
 N the Creation of the World, the fitft k^:i' Thechao* 
 
 ration bc^an from the four Elements, fee- the Matter 
 - - - - - - oftb-- 
 
 T' . 
 
 H ing the firf^ matter of the World was one wofid. 
 JL Chaos. 
 
 Of this Chaos God made the greater 
 World, being divided into four diftinft Elements, 
 vU Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. Fire is the hoc 
 part, Air the moift, Water the cold, and Earth 
 the dry part of the greater World. 
 But that you may in brief underftand the reafon „ r 
 
 c / • 1 • I 1 r» f rt "V\ tut lepa- 
 
 ot our purpole m this eighth book , you mult ration eu:l 
 know , that we do not purpofe to treat here of f^^^^kenV. 
 the Elements of all Natural things , feeing we 
 
 have 
 
i4o ©ff^cBatureofC^ingu, Lib.s. 
 
 have fafEcicntly difcoarfed of thofc Arcana in the 
 Archidoxis of che feparacion of Nacural things : 
 whereby every one of them is a part, and di- 
 ftin6ll5' fcpiiaced, and divided materially, and 
 fabflantially , viz. feeing that two, three, or 
 four, or more things are mixed into one body, 
 and yet there is feen but one matter. Where ic 
 often falls our, that the corporeal matter of that 
 thing cannot be known by any, or fignified by 
 any exprefs name , until there be a reparation 
 made. Then {ometimes two, three, four, five 
 ormore things come forth om of one matter: as 
 , is maftifeft by daily experience / in the Art of 
 
 Alchymie. 
 What Ele- As for Example, you have an EleUrumy which 
 ^'^"'""* ofitfclfis no Metal, but yet it hides all Merals 
 in one Metal. That if it be anatomized by the 
 induftry of Alchymy, and feparated : all the 
 (even Metals, viz^.Gold^ Silver^ Ccpper^ Tinne^ 
 Lead ^ Irony 2nd Qnic kfilver comt out of it, and 
 ihat pure, and pcrte6l. 
 
 But that you may underftand what Separation 
 ration is?*' is, note, that it is nothing cUe then the fevering 
 of one thing from another, whether of tv'/o, 
 three, four, or more things mixed together: I 
 fay a feparation of the three Principles , as of 
 Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt, and the extraction 
 of pure out of the impure, or che pure, excellent 
 fpirit, and quintcflewce, from a grofs, and elemen- 
 tary body j and the preparation of two,'hree,four, 
 cr more out of one: or the diflolution, and fel- 
 ting at liberty things that are bound, and compafl-^ 
 which are of a contrary nature, atfling one againft 
 the other, until they deftroy oiK the other. 
 
 Now 
 
Lib.8. a)f tlieBafure of Ctiinss; 241 
 
 Now therearc mai y kinds oi Separaciori, ma- K^""fl^'' 
 ny of which are unknown to ns ; thofe which wc paration. 
 have experienced out of elementary, dilTolublenv 
 rural thmgs, (hall in this place, according to their 
 kindsjlxdefcribcd. 
 
 The fiift Separation of which we fpeak , muft The ftpara- 
 bepin from man, becaufc he iS theMacrocofmjor MicrocofL.f 
 licik World jfor wliofe fake the Microcofm or grea- 
 ter World was made, f/^. tliathe might be the 
 feparatorofici 
 
 Now the Separation of the Microcofm begins at Thebodyof 
 his Death. For in Death the two Bodies of Man J'/^^if u"^ 
 are feparated the one from the other, -z//^. hisCe- twofold, 
 leilialand Terreftrial Body ; i,f. Sacramental and 
 Elementary: one of which afcends onhi^h like an 
 Eagle , the other falls downward to the Earth like 
 Lead. 
 
 The Elementary is putrefied, conlumed , dnd wbatth* 
 becomes a putrid (linking carkafs, which being Elementary 
 buryed in the Earth, never comes forth, or appears 
 more. 
 
 But the Sacratnental, i.e. Syderial^or Celcftial, what a Sa- 
 is never putrefied, or buried, neither doth ic pof- ^0^7^^^ 
 fefs any place. This Body appears to Men, and al- 
 fo aher death is feen. 
 
 Hence Ghofisy HponSy and fftpermtfiral Apfn- 
 rltions. 
 
 Hence by the ancient Magicians, the CahaUflicnl , 
 
 . ^ 1 1 • • c ]^- yl A- It Whence tfee 
 
 Art cook Its beginning , ot which we Ihali treat cabaiiftuai 
 more at large in the Books of Cabalie. ^"•• 
 
 After this Separation is made , then after the 
 death of the Man three fubftances, vi^:.. Body^ Seul 
 and Spirit are divided the one from the other, e- 
 very on; going to its own place, z^r^^ics own foun- 
 
 R tain^ 
 
14Z €)ft]^ei3atuwofCt)in2)5. Lib.s. 
 
 tain, from whence ic had its orioinal, viz- the bo- 
 dy to the Earth , to the fii ft matter of the Eleir.cnts : 
 the Soul into the fiift matter of ihe Sacraments, 
 and laftly, the Spirit mco the fiift matter of the 
 Airy Chaos. 
 The fcpara- What now hath been fpokcn of the Separation 
 Macrocofm. ^^ ^^^ Microcofm, the fame sLo may be under- 
 (lood in the greater world which the great 0«an 
 hflch divided into three parts, fo that the univerlal 
 Three parts World is fevered into three pares, vi^^, Esinfe^Apa 
 World. ^"^ Africa, which (eparation is a certain rcprefen- 
 tation of three Principles, which can be feparated 
 from anyTercne, or Elementary thing. Thcfe 
 three Prirciples are Mercury, Sulphur and Salt) 
 of which three the World was made and compo- 
 fed. 
 tion S^Mc' The next thing to be known is the feparation of 
 uis. Metals from their Mountains, i. f. the feparation 
 
 of Metals and Minerals. 
 
 By vertue of this feparation many things come 
 forth out of one matter, as you fee out of Minerals 
 come forth ^716^ Drefs of Mtt^lsfilafsy Sand^ Pii- 
 fitiiy Marcafite^ GranatHS^ Cobdtttm<y T^^lkfy Crf- 
 chinna^ ZinctHm, Bifemhtttm^Antimony^ LithargCy 
 Sulpbffry Vitriol-, ^trdegreafe-, ihryfhCoiUy the A' 
 z>fire Stont y Atirifigmentum^ Arfenici^y Realgar ^ 
 Cinnabar y Clay of Irony SpathnSy Gyphmy Ocrte^ 
 and many more like to tlicfc, as alfo the fV*iUrjy 
 Oylsy Rejtnes , CalxeSy LMercftry , Sulfhuvy and 
 Salt, &c. 
 ©f vcgcta- Vegetables in their feparation yield ff'aters , 
 bles. Oyls'i Juices, RefincSy GumSy Ele^uarieSy Powdtrsy 
 
 A(hesy Mercury y Sulphur and Salt. 
 or Animal?. Animals in their Separation yield fy^ter. Blood, 
 
 Flejh, 
 
Lib.8. €>ftl^Batute(>fCtrtngsp; 24^ 
 
 F!e(ht -f'^^ BoneSy Skjny Body, Hairs, Mercury, Sul- 
 fhnr and Salt. 
 
 He therefore that boafts hfmfcif to be able to what a 
 feparateal! natural things after this manner, muft ^l^^^ of^^bi 
 of necefTiry have long experience,and pcrfedt know- to be. 
 Icdg of all natural things. 
 
 Moreover, he nnuft be a skilfnl and well pra(^i- 
 fcd Alchymift, that he may know what iscombu* 
 fliblc, and what not ; what is fixt, and what not; 
 what will flow, and wiiat not ; and what things 
 arc more ponderous one than another: alfo he 
 tnuft be experienced in the natural colour, fmell, 
 acidity, harllinefs, fowrnefs, bittcrncfs, fwectnefs , 
 the degree , complexion and quality of every 
 
 Alfo he rauft know the degrees of Separation, as The degrees 
 ofDiftillation,Refolution,Putrefeaipn,Extraai. oL^'-S^"";^" 
 on , Calcination , Reverberation , Sublimation, andhowma. 
 Redu(Sion, Coagulation, Powdering and Walli- "'^ ^ "*" ^" 
 ing. 
 
 By Diftillation is fcparated Water, Oyl from what di- 
 all corporeal things. . ^^, 
 
 By Refolution are feparated Metals from Mine- what Rcfc; 
 rals, and one Metal from another, and Salt from ^""°'*- 
 the other Principles, and fat, and that which is 
 light from that which is heavy* 
 
 By PutreFaflion is feparated fat from lean, pure Putrc&ai- 
 from impure, putrid from not putrid. °"' 
 
 ByExtra^ion is feparated pure from impure, Extraaion. 
 and Spirit and QuintcfTence from Body, and thin 
 from thick. 
 
 By Calcination is feparated watery moifture, Calcination* 
 fat, natural heat, odour, and whacloevcr elfe is 
 combuftiblc. 
 
 R ^ By 
 
244 !aDfti^ej5afurcpfC|(|ng0. Lib.s. 
 
 Reverbera- By Reverberation IS fcparated col<^ar , odour, 
 what is combuftible, all humidity, squofiry, far, 
 and whatfoever is inconftant, or fluxil, in any 
 thing, (^r. . 
 
 Sublimattcn gy fublirnation is feparared the fixed from tlic 
 volatile, fpnirual from the corporeal, pure from 
 impurCiSulphor from Salt,Mercury from Ssl^jg^c. 
 
 Rcduc!tion. By Reduction is feparated what is flax I tronj 
 what is folid, a Metal from its Mineral, and one 
 Metal from another , a Metal from its Diofs, fac 
 from -wiiat is not fat. 
 
 Coaguiaticn By Coagulation IS fepsrated waterilhnefs from 
 humidity. Water from Earth. 
 
 Powdering. « gy povvdeiing are feparated Powder and Sand, 
 Allies and Calx, Mineral, Vesecable and Animal 
 one from the other, and all Powders which are of 
 unequal weight are fepsrated, ind by winnowing, 
 as Chaff from Corn. 
 
 w^fliing' By Wafhing arc feparated A (lies and Sand , a 
 
 Mineral from its Metal, thnt u hich is heavy from 
 what ishghf, a Vegetable and Animal from what 
 is Mineral, Sulphur from Mercury and Salt, Sale 
 from Mercury. 
 
 The Prtpa- ^^t palfmg by the Theory , we will no\y fall 
 
 ration ot upon diC Prad^icc, and come to particulars 
 
 You mufl: therefore note, diac the Separation of 
 Medals is-thefirft by right, and we lliall therefore 
 near of it after this method and manner. 
 
 TTidaV.O, 
 
 oi' 
 
Lib.8. ©ftijeBafuccofCl^inss; 245 
 
 'V>r- 
 
 I 
 
 of the Separation of Metals fr^m their v 
 
 Mines. ■ . ,, j^f;; -iv^uc 
 
 THe Separarion of Metals from ihcir Mines'ffg ^^^^.^ 
 done divers wavs, 'Z/i-c by boiling and mel- powa^rs. 
 ting; ivich fluxing Powders, tuch as are falc Alcal', 
 Litharge, fait flux;l, the dt ofs of Glafs, falc Gcitj > 
 Sale Pecre, &c,. Lee them be piit in a Crucible, 
 and melted in a Furnace; lo aviU the Mecal or 
 Regulus tall to the bocrom ot the CracibJe ; but the 
 other matter will fwim above, and become Drofs. 
 Thou llialf boil this Metalline regn-ut in a rever- 
 beiating Furnace Co Ion:, till all the Metal btcomff 
 pure, ?.nd iv^^A from all its- D'ofs ; by this means 
 the Metal is wtll dige^ed, and as 1 may fay rcfi*- 
 red hom all its Drofs. 
 
 Many times one Mmecon'a'ns. more than one 
 Metal, as Copper and Silver, Copper and Gold, 
 Lead and Silver, Tin and Silver, you (Tiall know* 
 it by this, if themetalLne Re2u'us in a reverbe- 
 ration in a mel-ing pot be ftifficiently after the 
 true manner diilolvcd. For in it are all imperfedl 
 Mitals leparated, as are Iron, Copper 5 Tin and 
 Lead, and (o with a double quantity of Lead CQ 
 [he Regulus being put to it , they all qo into a- 
 fume, and only line Silver or Gold are leic behind 
 in the ^^oi. 
 
 Alio t or three Metals mixed together may g. ^ 
 be feparated in Acjua foriis^ and excraded the one /c>.-i;/ 
 from the ether. U two Metals or one be rcfoh'ed, 
 the ocher will fall co the boccom like Sand, and 
 K 3 be 
 
24^ iDft1)jti5aturtofCljmg0. Lib.g; 
 
 be precipkaced: and be after this manner fepara- 
 
 led. Alfo Metals may be feparared by flowing 
 
 after this prccefs : Make metals flow, and when 
 
 they are in flux, caft into them the bcft flower of 
 
 By Salphur. Sulphur that you can get, vt^- an ounce to every 
 
 ' pound of the metal, and let it burn, and by that 
 
 means it will draw up the lighteft metal to the 
 
 top, the heavy falling to the bottom. Then lee 
 
 them ftand together till they be cold. And foin 
 
 ope Regulus two metals are found, not as before 
 
 A wonder- mutually mixed, but one feparated from the 
 
 |;]l?hur7.''^ot^^»^ ^y '^^ Sulphur, as by a partition, as 
 
 feparation. Oylc divides two watets, that they cannot be 
 
 joined together or mixed ; Sulphm: therefore is 
 
 a^ngular Arcanum worthy of great commenda- 
 
 »ons. 
 
 FiX[ metals, as Gold and Silver, becaufethey 
 ByQuickfil- cannot well beextra6led with Fire or j^^fftafortis, 
 vcr. mufl: be amalgamated with (>iickfilvcr, and fo 
 
 feparated and cxcra6led , the Qaickfilver being 
 afterwards extradled and feparated by a certain 
 degree of Diftillation from the Calx of the metals, 
 'i/iz,. Gold, and Silver. 
 
 After this manner alfo many other metals, not 
 only Gold, and.Silver, but Copper, Iron, Tin, 
 Lead, Sec, as alfo whatfoevcr are prepared out of , 
 them, as red Eledrum, the white Magnefia, Au- 
 richalcum, calcined Lead, Laton, Brais of Caul- 
 drons, and whatfoever metaU of this kind are 
 tranfmuted, be with Qaickfilver, but firft be* 
 ing powdered, ab(tia6ted, and icparated from 
 what IS hecerogeneous, For the nature, and con- 
 dition of Quickfilver is this, that it will be united 
 and amalgam a ted with mcrals, buc yet with one 
 
 iooner 
 
Lib.8. m tl^tBmtt of Ctiings. 447 
 
 fooner then with another, according as the me- 
 tal is of greater or Icfs affinity co it. 
 
 In this confideracion fine Gold is the chiefeft, 
 then fine Silver, then Lead, then Tin, then Cop- 
 per, andlaftly Iron. 
 
 So amongft tramfmuted metals , the firft is 
 part with parr, then Aih coloured Lead, then 
 Laton, then Brafs of Caldrons, then red> and 
 the neweft white. Although for the firft coiirfc 
 Mercury may take no more then one metal, with 
 which It is amalgamated: yet that Amalgama is 
 to be (trained hard through Leather, or Cotton 
 cloath. For by this means nothing but the Quick- 
 filver will pafs through the Leather, or Cloath : 
 and tl-wt metal which k did attract remains in the 
 Leather, or Cloth like Calx, which afterwards 
 thou maift wich fait Alcali, or fome other fait re- 
 duce into a merallin body by melting. 
 
 Now by this Art Qiiick-filver is much fooner 
 feparated from all manner of Metals than by Di- 
 ftillation, &c. 
 
 By this procefs with Mercury all Metals may 
 after calcination and powdering be by a skilful 
 and induftrious Akhymift excracSled and fepara- 
 ted one from the other. 
 
 In the Came manner, and that eafily, may Tin 
 and Lead be feparated from Copper , or Copper 
 vcfl'els,from Iron and Steel overlaid with Tin with- 
 out any fire or water, by the Amalgama of Quick- 
 filver alone. 
 
 A I fo beaten Gold, or Leaf-Gold, or Silver, as 
 
 alfo any other Metal beaten , or ground , being 
 
 written, or laid over with a Pencil or Quill upon 
 
 Cloth, Parchment, Paper, Leather,Wood, Stone?, 
 
 R 4 or 
 
waters. 
 
 24S £)f t]}t laature of Ctiingg. Lib.s: 
 
 or any thing elle,may be refolvui by Q^ick-filver, 
 and fo, thac the Qiick-filver may be afterward fe- 
 parated again from thofe Metals. 
 Bycorrofive Now the feparation of Metals in j^qu^i fartis^ 
 Ai^fia RegiSy and hke coirohve Waters, is aner this 
 luanncr. 
 
 Lee a Metal that is mixed and joined with ano- 
 ther be taken and beaten into thin plates > or 
 brought into powder. Put it into a fcparating ve(- 
 {el» and pour upon it common A<j!4afQrtis as much 
 as isfufficienr, let them ftand and be macerated, 
 until all the Metal be refolved into a deer water. If 
 it be Silver, and contain any Geld in it, all the Sil- 
 ver will be refolved into water, and the Gold will 
 alfo be calcined, and (etde in the bottom like black 
 Sand. And after this manner Gold and Silver are 
 feparated. If now thou wilt fcparatc the Silver 
 from the Aquafortis without Diftillation , put a 
 plate of Copjer into the water, and the Silver will 
 prefently fettle in the bottom of the water like 
 Snow, and the Copper plate will begin to be con- 
 fumed by little and little. 
 
 The reparation of Silver and Copper by common 
 Ae}tta f&rtis is done after this manner. Let theCop- 
 per wh:ch contains Silver or the Silver which con- 
 tains Copper be brought to thin plates or powder, 
 and put intoaGiafs vefTcI, upon which pour as 
 much common Aqna (oh is as is fufeient ^ and by 
 this means the Silver will be calcined, and fettle 
 to the bottom like white chalk : but the Copper 
 %vill be diffolved, and turned into a clcer water. 
 If this water, together with the diflolved Copper, 
 be by a Glafs funnel feparated from the filver Calx 
 ipco another Glafs , then the Copper that is diflol- 
 
 ve4 
 
> 
 
 Lib.8. f)ftt)ei9atureofCWn80; ^4? 
 
 vcd in the wster may be fo prccipicated wrth com* 
 mon water, or rain water, or any other water, thac 
 it will fettle to the bottom of the Gla{s like Sand. 
 
 Now the reparation of hid Gold from dny Me- 
 tal is by the degree of Exrraftion in Aqtia Regis, 
 For this kind of water will atccmrt to difToIve no 
 Metal, bat only pure, fine Gold, &c. 
 
 The fame Aqna Regis dorh feparate alfo fine 
 Gold from gilded Plate. For if that be wafhed o- 
 ver with it, the Gold will be feparated from li^&c* 
 
 Moreover alfo with Cement by the degree of By the de- 
 Reverberation two Metals mixed together may be ^""^Lfat^n' 
 feparated the one from the other, but efpccially if 
 they are not in the like degree of Fixation, aslroa 
 and Copper. For that Metal which is but little 
 {wtA^ as Tin and Lead, is all of it confumed by the 
 degree of Reverberation in Cement. For by how 
 much the more a Metal is fixed, fo much the lefs 
 is it confumed by Cement. 
 
 You muft know therefore that fine Gold is the 
 mod fixt and perfe6l Metal, which can bedef^roy- 
 ed or confumed by no Cement. Next to this is ^wt 
 Silver. If then Gold and Silver be mixed together 
 in one body, which is wont to be called part with 
 part) or if Silver contain Gold, or Gold Silver ; I 
 fay, thefe being thus mixt , if they be reverberated 
 into Cement , then the Gold remains entire, and 
 not at all injured , but the Silver is confumed by 
 the Cement, and fo is extracted from fine Gold : 
 foalfo is Copper from Silver, and Iron and Tin 
 from Copper, and Iron or Lead from Tin, and fo 
 fordi. 
 
 O F 
 
%5o C)ft!jeiBatuteof€]&in39. Lib.s. 
 
 Cf the Separation of kMinerals. 
 
 AFccr that we have explained (as hitherto we 
 have donc)ihe (eparacion of Metals from their 
 Earth and Matter, as alfo of one Metal frora ano- 
 ther, and how it is done, having pailed through it 
 with as much brevity as might be : it will in the 
 next place be necefl'ary that we treat alfo of thofe 
 things out of which Metals grow,and are generated 
 as arc the three Principles, Mercury, Sulphur and 
 Salt, as alfo all Minerals, in which the firft being 
 of Metals, /. e» the Spirit of Metals is found , as h 
 manijFeft in Marcaiites, Granats, Cachymies, red 
 Talke, the Azure ftone, and the like, in which the 
 firft being of Gold is found by the degree of Subli- 
 mation. So in white Marcaiite, white Talke, Auri- 
 pigmeiKum, ArfcnickjLlthargejC^f . the firft being 
 of Silver is found : In Cobalt us, Zinetus, &c, the 
 firft being of Iron .• In Zinetus, Vitriol, Verde- 
 grcalc, ifrc, the firft being of Copper : In Zinetus, 
 Bifcmuf us, &e. the firft being of Tin : In Anti- 
 mony, Minium, d'r. the firft being of Lead: In 
 Cinnabar the firft being of Quick- filver is found. 
 
 Concerning this firft beginning you muft know 
 that it is a volatile Spirit, as yet confiftingin vola- 
 tility, as an Infant lies in the Womb of its mother, 
 which fometimes is made like to Liquor, fome- 
 tjmes to Alcool. 
 
 Whofoever therefore dcflrcs to bufie himfclf a- 
 bout the getting of the firft being of any fuch bo- 
 dy, Or CO feparatc it, muft of ncccffity have much 
 
 experi- 
 
Lib.8. SDff^cBatuttofCl^nflij; isi 
 
 Experience and knowledg in the Aic of Alchymy. 
 
 For if he fhall not diligencly and skilfully work 
 in Alchimy, he fhall acrempc many things in vain, 
 and accomphlli nothing. 
 
 But after what manner the fii(J being is to be 
 feparatedout of any mineral, islufficiently explai- 
 ned in the Book called ArchiddXiSy and need not 
 here tcdioufly be repeated. 
 
 But as concerning the feparation ofmincralsj 
 you muft noce, that many of them ate to be fepa- 
 rated by the degree of Sublimation, as fixed from 
 thofc which are not fixed, fpiritual and volatile 
 bodies from fixt bodies, and fo accordingly of all 
 the members, as is declared concerning metals. 
 For of all minerals there is one and the like proccfs 
 through all degrees, as the Art of Alchymy teach- 
 eth, &c. 
 
 T 
 
 of the Separation of VegetAble$» 
 
 He reparation of thofe things which grow out _ 
 
 of the Earth, and are combuftible, as fruits , ,abies afc" 
 herbs, flowers, leaves, grafs, roots, woods, &c. is fcpatated' 
 made many ways. 
 
 For firft by Djftillation the Flegm is feparatcd 
 from them, then the Mercury, then the Oyl , then 
 the Refine, then the Sulphur, and laftly the Salt. 
 
 All thefe Separations being made according to 
 the Spagirical Arc , many notable and excellent 
 medicines come from thence, which arc to be ufed 
 as well within as without the body. 
 
 But now feeing idlcne(is is fo much in requeft a- 
 
 mongft 
 
mongft Phyficians, and all labour ana ftudy is tur- 
 ned only to infoiency; truly I do not wonder > 
 that all inch preparations are every where riC^lc-' 
 6led,and Coals fold at fo low a price,that if Smiths- 
 couH be rp ea{ily without Coals in forging, and 
 workingtheirMcfals, as Phyficians are in prepa- 
 ring their Medicines, certainly Colliers would long 
 fincehave been brought to excream want. 
 fionS"'^pify- ^" ^^^ mean time I will give toSpagiricalPhyfi- 
 6tians. cians cheir due praife.For they are not given to idic* 
 iiefs and floth^nor go in a proud habit, or Plulli &> 
 Velvet GarmcnrSjofien fliewing their Rings upon 
 their fingers, or wearing Swords with filver hilts 
 by their fides, or fine and gay Gloves upon their 
 handf, but diligently follow their labours, fwcac- 
 iug whole nights and days by their Furnaces. 
 '^^'^6Mi!>'n Thei'e do not fpend their time abroad for recre- 
 ct chymiftsj ation, but take delight in their Laboratory. They 
 and how ^^,^^^ Leather Garments ivich a Pouch, and Apron 
 from other whercwitci ihey w ipe their hands. They put their 
 Puyfiuans. £ngers amongft coa^, into clay and dung, not in- 
 to Gold Rings. They are footy and black like 
 Smiths, or Colliers, and do not pride theml'elves 
 with clean and beaut-ful Faces, They ate not tal- 
 kative when they come to the Sick , neither do 
 they extol their Medicines : feeing they well knovy 
 that the Artificer muft not commend his Work, 
 but the Work the Artificer^ and that the Sick can- 
 not be cared with fine words. 
 dt^grt7^oi Therefore laying afide all thefe kinds of vanities 
 Akhymy iji|ey delight to be buiied about the fire, and to 
 learn the degrees of the Science of Akhymy ; Of 
 this Order arc 7)ifiilUtiony Refoluihn, Tf^trefrHi' 
 6/t, Extraction) Calcination^ RcverherMion^ Subli- 
 
 m^tiany 
 
 i 
 
 tkre b 
 
iab.8. jDftlieBatuKofCtiingg; 253 
 
 matimy JFixmonySe^aratioriy ReduEiimy CoagHl^,- 
 tioriy TinBftrey &:<:, 
 
 But how thefe reparations may be done by the 
 help of diftin6l degrees according to the Art of 
 Alchymy, hachbeenin general fpoken of already. 
 Wherefore it is needlefs here to make repetition. 
 
 But to proceed to particulars, and briefly to ex- 
 plain the Practice, you mu ft know that ^^ffr. 
 Spirit y Liqmry Oyly ^q^s. cannot be feparated after 
 one and the fame procefs, out of Flowers, Herbs, 
 Seeds, Leaves, Roots, Trees, Fruits, Woods? 'by 
 the degree of Diftillacion. 
 . For Herbs require one procefSjFlowers another, 
 Seeds another , Leaves another , Roots another , 
 Trees another, the Stalks another, the Fruit ano- 
 ther, Woods another. 
 
 And in this degree of Diftillation, there area!- Thed^ees 
 fo four diftin6l degrees of Fire to be confidered. oiftiiiition. 
 
 The firft degree of Fire in Diftillation is Balne- 
 ttm Mari^y this Diftillation is made in Water. 
 
 Another degree of Fire is Diftillation made in 
 Afhes. 
 
 The third in Sand. 
 
 The fourth in a naked Fire : as alfo Diftillati- 
 on may be made by Aqua fcriif, and other (harp 
 Warers. 
 
 To the firft degree of F.'re belong, Herbs, Flow- with what 
 :rs,Se.^d5,andfuchhke. . ^,f^J,f 
 
 To the fecond, Leaves, Fruits, d'f. vegetable is 
 
 To the third, Roots and Boughs of Trees, &c. ud' '^'^'^' 
 
 To the fourth Wood, and iuch like. 
 
 Note, that every one of chcfe muft be beaten 
 fmall,and bruifcd before they be put into the StilL 
 
 And thus much be fpoken concerning the Di- 
 ftillation 
 
ZS4 ©ftDeBafuttofCtntig^* Lib.g. 
 
 ftillation of Waters out of the Vegetable fubftan- 
 cei. 
 
 As concerning the Separation and Diftillation 
 of Oyls, the procefs is the fame as chat of Water > 
 only fomeof them are to be dift tiled per defcenfum^ 
 and cannot afcend as Waters, the procefs of thefc 
 in this cafe is to be changed. 
 
 But Liquors are not (eparatcd in DIftillation as 
 Waters, orOyls, but are exprcffed from their cor*> 
 porcal fubftances with a Prefs. 
 
 And here we muft know, that there are fome 
 Oyls that are preffed out, and feparated after the 
 fame manner, by a Prefs as Liquors are , and that 
 for this reafon, becauCe they fhould not contradl 
 an ill odour from the Fire , as otherwifc they 
 would do. 
 
 Of this Order is the Oyl of Almonds, Nuts, 
 hard Eggs, and the like. 
 
 Alfo we muft note,that all Oyls, if they be pre- 
 pared and coagulated according to the Spagirical 
 Art, yield a kind of Vernifli, Gum, Amber, or 
 Refine, which may be alfo called Sulphur , and 
 that which remains in the bottom of the Still may 
 be calcined and brought to A (lies, and from it may' 
 be with warm water alone the Alcali cxtraded 
 and feparated from it. 
 
 The Afhes which is left behind is called the 
 Dead Earth, out of which never any elfe can be ex- 
 craded. 
 
 B 
 
Lib.8- S)f ttit Batute of Wm: ^S5 
 
 of the SefnrAti<m ofAmmdls, 
 
 IT is ncccflary that Anotonr/go before the Sepa- 
 ration of Animals, that the Blood maybe apart, 
 the F/e(li apart, the Bones apart, the Skin apart,thc 
 Bowels apart, the Tendons apart, &c, and after 
 this muft every one of rhcfe befcparated by ic^fclf 
 by the help of the Spagirical Arc. 
 
 Therefore the Separations in this place are chief- 
 ly four : 
 
 Thefirfl: draws forh a watery and flegmaticic 
 Humidity from the Blood. For from the Blood, ofSe^^ 
 beeing after this manner , according to the procefs ration of a- 
 fhewed in the Book of Confervations , prepared , ""°* ** 
 there comes forch a moft excellent Mammy, and fo Mummy, 
 excellent a Specifjcumy that any frefh Wound may ^'^* 
 be cured, and confolidated in the (pace of twenty 
 four hours, only with one binding up. 
 
 The fecond is the reparation of Fat from Fledi ; « .^ ^ 
 for that being feparated from Mans Flefh is a moft ' 
 
 excellent Balfom allaying the pains of the Gout , 
 if and Cramp, and fuch Uke pain?, if any part aflfe- 
 V (Pled be anointed with it warm. It helps alfo the 
 Tencjons of the Handi or Feet, being drawn toge- 
 ther, if they be daily anointed with it. Ic cures al- 
 fo the Scab, and all kinds of Leprofie. 
 
 Therefore it is thechiefeft Chirurgical Spccifi- 
 cum, and in all cafes, as in Wcunds and the like, 
 moft profitable, &c. 
 
 The third is the feparation of watery and flcg- 
 matick moifture, together with the Fat extracted 
 
 out 
 
45$ jpfttieiBatttwofCtiinssf, Lib.s. 
 
 out ot Bones. For if thefc two be carefully by the 
 Arc of Alchymy fcparated from mens Bones by 
 the degree of Diftillation,and the Bcncs be redu- 
 ced, or burnt into moft white Afhesby the degree 
 of Calcination ; and then thefe three be a^ain af- 
 ter a right manner joyned together, fo that they 
 refemble Butter, they become a moft wonderful 
 fpecifical Anan»mj with which thou maift found- 
 ly cure any fracture of Bones svithout any pain at 
 three bindings up, fo that thou doft handle and 
 fee the Fracture according to the rules of Chirur- 
 gery,and then apply that Specificum by way of 
 Plaifter, &c. 
 
 This alfo doth moft fpeedily cure the Wounds 
 of the Skull, and any other Contufion of Bones 
 whatfoever. 
 
 The fourth and the laft is the reparation of Re- 
 fines and Gums from the Skin , Bowels and Ten- 
 dons.For this Refine being excra^ed and feparated 
 out of them by the degree of Exrradlion, according 
 to the Spagirical Art, and coagulated by the Beams 
 of the Sun, becomes a clecr tranfparent Glew. Oat 
 of this Glew, being prepared, extraded and (epa 
 rated out of Mans body, as is prefcribed, a moft ex- 
 cellent Arcanum znA fpecifical Stiptick comes forth, 
 whcrewuh Wounds aud Ulcers may fpeedily be 
 confolidaccd, and their Lips be brought together ; 
 (even as two Boards arc glewed together with glew 
 put betwixt them) fothac you put two or three 
 drops of it being refolved into the Wound. This 
 alfo is a fingular Arcanum for Burns, Falling of 
 the Nails, Scabs, &c. if the place affected be noin- 
 ted with It. For the Skin will pxcfencly be brought 
 over the raw fle ill. < •' . 
 
 There 
 
 ( 
 
> 
 
 There raigh' many other feparatioDSotchele and 
 Other things be reckoned up. Bat feeing we have 
 mentioned them in other places, it would be but 
 loft labour here to repeat them. It will be necef- 
 farytharwefpeak of thofe things here, df which 
 ^c have made no mention elfewhere. 
 
 Andlaftlyinthecnd of all things fliall be the '^^^l^^^lf;'" 
 laft reparation, in the third generarion, the great the laft 
 day when the Son df God fhall come in majefty, ^udgmenr. 
 and glory, before whom {hall be carried not 
 fwords,\arlands, diadems, fccpters, &c: and 
 Kingly jewels, with which Princes, Kings, Cefairs, Tjie manner 
 &c. do pompoufly fet forth themfclves ; biit his j^JdVment. 
 Crofsj his crown of thorns , and nails thruft 
 through his hands, and feet, and fpear wich which 
 his fide was pierced, and the reed, and fpungein 
 which they gave him vineger to drinfe, and the 
 whips wherwich he was fcourged, and beaten. He 
 comes not accompanycd with trodpes of Horfe, artd 
 beating af Drums, biit four Trumpets iliall be 
 founded by the Angels towards thefour parts of 
 the world, kilh'ng all that are then alive with their 
 horrible noife, in one moment, and then nre- 
 fenrly raifing thefe again, together with them that 
 are dead, and buryed. 
 
 For the voice (hall be heard : e/^rifeyeedea'd^ Matth.25, 
 And com! to judgment. Then ihall the twelve Apo- 
 files fit down, their Seats being prepared in the 
 Clouds,and fhall judg the twelve Tribes of IfraeL 
 In that place the holy Angels fhall feparate tht bad 
 from the good, the curfed from the blefled , the 
 Qoats from the Sheep. Then the curfed (hall hke 
 Scones and Lead be thrown downward : but the 
 blefled fhall like Eagles fly on high.Then from the 
 
 S Tri. 
 
zjS flDftl^ei3atttrcofcm«S0. Lib,?* 
 
 Tribunal of God fhall go forth toii Voice to them 
 that ftand on his lefc hand .* Go ye Curfed into e- 
 verlaflingfire prepared for the Devil and his Angels 
 from all eternity : For 1 roas an hungry^ and ye fed 
 me not ; thirfiy^and yen gave me no drinks ; fick^^ in 
 -prifon and naked, and you vifited me not , freed me 
 noty cloathed me not, and you fhevoed no pity towards 
 me ; therefore (hall yon expeii no pity from me. On 
 the contrary, he fhall fpeak to them on his right 
 hand ; Come ye hleffedy and chofen of my Fathers 
 Kingdom which hath been prepared for ym and his 
 Angels from the foundation of the V^orld. For 1 was 
 hnngry^ and yofs gave me meat ; thirfiy^ and you 
 gave me drink^; i i^as a fir anger , and yon tool^ me 
 in ; naf^dy and you covered me ; fick^y and you vifi- 
 ted me ; in prifon, and you came unto me. There- 
 fore I will receive you into my Fathers Kingdom , 
 where are provided many manfions for the Saintsm 
 Tou took pity en me, therefore mil I take pity on you^ 
 All cncfe being finiflied and difpatcned, allE- 
 lementary things will return to the firft matter of 
 the Elements, and be tormented to eterniry , and 
 never beconfumed, &c, and on the contrary, all 
 holy things iliall return to the firft matter of Sa- 
 craments : /'. e. (hall be purified, and in eternal 
 joy glorifie God their Creator, and worfhip him 
 from age to age, from eternity to eternity, Amen. 
 
 OF 
 
 1 
 
»5? 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NATURE 
 
 OF 
 
 THINGS- 
 
 of the Sigmtnre of Natural Th'iftgsl 
 
 ^I 
 
 N this Book it is convenient for us, (peaking 
 ofthe Signature of things in the firft place, 
 to declare by whom things are figned , 
 and who the Signator is , and how many 
 things there be that be figned. You muft 
 therefore know, that things that are figned are of 
 three forts. Thefitft fort of them,Man figns: the 
 fecondjthe Archeius : the third, the Stars of fu- 
 pernatural things. Therefore upon this accoiinc 
 there are three Signators; Man, tiie Archeius and 
 StarSit 
 
 Moreover,you muft note,that impreffions figrted 
 
 by men do bring with them a perfe^^ knowledg 
 
 5 2 tincj 
 
ado f)ftt)el5afuicfof€l)ittS5, Lib.p; 
 
 and judgment of hid things,and impart the know- 
 led^ of their hid vertues and faculties. 
 
 The marks of the Scars caufe Prophecies and 
 Prefages, and declare the fupernatural vertues of 
 things, and take out the true judgments and figns 
 in Geomaney,Chiromancy, Phyfiognomy, Hydros 
 mancy. Pyromancy, Necromancy, Aftronomy,the 
 BcrilHftical Art, and other Aftral Sciences. 
 
 Bui that we may explain briefly and truly all 
 the fignsor marks, it will be necefTary in the firft 
 place, that we fpeak of thofe figns of which Man is 
 the Signer. Thofe being undcrftood, you may the 
 more rightly undcrftand the rcft,Avhether natural 
 or fupernatural. It is therefore known , that the 
 Jews carry about them, upon their Cloak, or Coat 
 a yellow fign.^ And this is nothing elfe but that 
 mark) by which they would have you, when you 
 meet them, to know that they are Je^s, So a Ser- 
 jeant is known by his divers coloured Coat, or 
 Sleeve. So every Magiftrate apparels his Servants 
 with his own Colours and Liveries. 
 
 Every Mcchanick marks his Work with a cer- 
 tain fign, that every One may know whofe Work 
 it is. 
 
 For which end Carriers wear the Livery of their 
 Mailer, or City, that it may be known whom they 
 ferve and from whence they travel, that thereby 
 they may go the fafer. 
 
 So every Souldier wears a mark, or badg) as co- 
 lours, black,white, yellow, green, blew or ttdy&c, 
 that he may be djflinguilhed from the enemy. 
 Hence it may be 'known that this is C^fars Souldi- 
 er, that the Kingfy this an Italiftn^ x.\i\%z French 
 Souldier, &c, 
 
 U iThefc 
 
 \ 
 
Lib.9. ©ftibeBattttedf Clings/ z6\ 
 
 Thcfe are (igns which belong to Order or Office, 
 ofwhich many more may be reckoned up. But 
 yec becaufe we have intended co defcribe rhe figns 
 of natural and fupcrnatural things, we iTiall noc 
 fill up this Book with other figns. 
 
 As concerning th^^.fc figns which Man makes, 
 which do not only refpedl Order, Office or Name, 
 but conduce to the knowing of his knowledg,age, 
 Dignity,Degree,c^f. Youmuft know> concerning 
 Money, that every kind thereof hath its peculiar 
 trial, and mark, by which it is known how much 
 it is valued at,who is the Maftcr of it, and in what 
 place it is ufually currant. Hence is that (jerman 
 Proverb, Money is no where more in requeft than 
 where it was coined. 
 
 The fame alfo is to be underflood of things thac 
 
 are looked uponand examined by menfworn and 
 
 appointed for that purpofe before they be figned ; 
 
 as Cloth which is marked with peculiar marks, by 
 
 which it may be known, that in examining they 
 
 were found good, and proved. Why is a Seal put 
 
 upon Letters but that there is a certain Bond,which 
 
 ^ it is lawful for no man to violatej* For a Sealisacon- 
 
 ^k firmation of Letters, whence they are of all men ac- 
 
 Hlcounted ratified. Without a Seal an Acquittance 
 
 ^S/^ void, and of no force. 
 
 ■r^' After the fame manner many things are marked 
 
 ^ with few Letters , Names or Words, as Books , 
 
 whick being writ upon theoutfidebut with one 
 
 word, do prefently fiiew what is contained within. 
 
 The lame rule alfo there is for Glafles and Boxes 
 
 in Apothecaries Shops, all which arc difcerned by 
 
 peculiar Names or Papers put upon them, Unlefs 
 
 ihac were done, who could difcern fo many Wa- 
 
 S 3 lers, 
 
nsz ©f tlje Mature of C|^ing0* Lib.p; 
 
 tcrs, Lir s %r'ipsj O , twdLiS, Seeds, Un- 
 guellr^,d•^. and all Simple . ? Afcer the fame man- 
 ner doih rhc Alchymift in his Elaboratory mark 
 with names and paper; all Wacers,Liquors,Spirits, 
 Oyls, Flegms, Crocus, Alcali, and all Species, that 
 thereby he may when there is occafion make ufc of 
 any of them,and know them : without the help of 
 which his memory could never bear them, 
 
 Soalfo may all Houfes and Buildings be mar- 
 ked with numbers or figures, that the age of every 
 one of them by the fiift fight of the number may 
 prefently be knowii. 
 
 Thefc and other things that are marked I was 
 wiUing to flievv you, that thefe being comprehen- 
 ded, I might be the better underftood by you in 
 the reft, and fo the fi;:;nification of every thing 
 might be the more plain and clear. 
 
 Of the Mmflrous Signs of Men* 
 
 
 MAny men are brought forth deformed with 
 nionftrous Marks or Signs: fo one abounds 
 or Marks. ^ ifh One Finger or Toe, another wants one» The^ 
 F i r;'' s of fome grow all together in the Mothers! 
 Womb , another hath a wry Foot, Arm or Neck, I ^ 
 &c^ and brings it with him out of the Womb. ^ 
 Another hath a bunch in his Back :. fo aUoarc 
 fc}^j?tBaphrodites born, i, e, they which are both 
 mak and female, and have the members both of 
 Man and Woman, or ell'e want both. I have ob- 
 fervcd manyofchefe monftrous Signs, as well in 
 Males as in Females, all which are to be accounted 
 
 for\ 
 
for monftrous fignes of fecrec evil aicendenrs. 
 Whence that proverb is made good ; The more w'vt mon- 
 crooked, the more wicked: Lame members, Q^^g^.^' ^'^'^^ 
 lame deeds. For thty are fignes of vces, fddom 
 fignifymg arr/ ^ood. 
 
 As the Executioner marks his fons with infa- 
 mous marxs: fo the evil Afcendentsimprefs upon 
 their young , fupernatural mifchievous marks, » 
 that they may be the better taken heed of, which 
 fhew {ome marks, in their forehead, cheeks, ears, 
 fingers, hands, eyes, tongues, &c. being (liort, 
 orcutted. Every one of thefe infamous figns de- 
 notes a peculiar vice. So a mark burnt upon the 
 face of a Woman, or the cutting oft* her ears, for 
 the raoft part iignifies theft: the cutting ofFthc 
 fingers, cheating Dicers : the cutting oft'thc hand, 
 breakers of the peace: the cutting off two of the 
 fingers perjured : the pulHng out the eye, cun- 
 ning, and fubiile villains : the cutting out of the 
 tongue, blafphemers, llanderers, &c. Soalfo 
 you may know^them that deny the Chriftian Re- 
 ligion by a crofs burnt in the foles of their kctj 
 ^ becaul'e viz,, they have denyed their Redeemer. 
 Wk But that parting by thel'e we may proceed to 
 ^Bthe monftrous hgns of Malignants afcending, you 
 Bjmuft knc-vv, that all monftrous iigns do not arife 
 ^^ from an Afcendentonly, but ofientimesaKo from 
 P the ftars of Mens minds, which con:inual!y and 
 I every moment afcend, and delcend with the fancy, 
 eftimacion, or imagination, no o:herwife then m 
 the fuperiour firmamenr. Hence either from 
 fear, ortcrrourof breeding Women, many mcn- 
 fters, or children marked with monftrous figns in 
 thewomb, are born. The primary caufe of cheie 
 
 S 4 IS 
 
2<54 ©f ttie mature of Ctiingis. Lib.?: 
 
 is fear5cerror,appetice,from which is rajfcd rhe ima- 
 gination. If a Woman with child begin to iniaginej 
 then her hcwen by its morion is carried round , 
 no otherwil^ than the fuperiour firmament every 
 moment, with Afcendencs, or Rifings, or Settings. 
 For according to the example of the greater firma- 
 riient, the Stars of the Microcofm alto are moved 
 by Imagination, until there be an aflault, where- 
 by the Stars of the Imagination convey an influ- 
 ence and impreCTion upon the Woman that is 
 breeding, juftasif any one iliould imprefs a Sealj 
 or ftamp Money. Whence chcfe figns and genial 
 marks are called Impreflions of inferiour Stars, of 
 which many Philofophers have wrote many things, 
 and men have endeavoured much to give a full and 
 rational account of, which could never yet be done. 
 Yet they do adhere, and are imptefled on the In- 
 fants, as the Stars of the Mother, whether frequent 
 or violent, do rtft upon the Infants, or the Mothers 
 longing is not fatisfied : For if the Mother long 5/ 
 i'or this or that meat, and cannot have it, the Stars 7 
 are fuftocated as it were in themfelves, and die 
 and that longing doth follow the Infant all its lij 
 time, that it can never be well fatisfied. The like 
 reafon is there of other things, of which we ihal 
 not here difcoutfe any further. 
 
 Of the Afiral Signs of ?hyfiognomj in Man* 
 
 c Origf- TPHc Signs of Phy fiognomy receive their origi- 
 
 to^J^' J- "^^ f'^"^ ^^^ fuperior Stars ^ this Arc of Phy- 
 
 fiognomy was greatly cfteemed of by our Ance- 
 
 ftors, 
 
 The 
 
 nalot" 
 
 ognorny 
 
)> 
 
 Lib.9. Dff^e mature Of Cliinss. isj 
 
 ftors, and erpecially by Heathens, Tartars, Turks, 
 &c. and other people, amongft whom k was the 
 cuftom to fell men forflaves and it is not yet al- 
 together laid afide amongft Chriftians. Yet to- 
 gether with it many errors crept in, not yet taken 
 notice of by any , whilft every blockilli ignorant 
 fellow would take upon hira without any manner 
 of Judgment to judg of any one. Where it is wor- 
 thy of admiration that thofe errors lliould never 
 be taken notice of from the works, deeds and abili- 
 ties of the men. 
 
 Now if any one Hiall in this place argue againft 
 HS, faying, that the figns of Phyliognomy are from 
 the Scars, and that the Scars have no power to com- 
 pel any one, or ftir him up ; he indeed doth not 
 fpeak amifs ; but yet there is fome difference in ic 
 which muft betaken notice of, becaufe the Stars 
 compel fome, and others they do not compel. 
 
 For here we muft know who can rule or con- 
 ftrain theScars,and u ho can be governed by them. 
 Therefore. for this you muft note, that a wife man 
 can rule the Stars, and not be fubje6l to them. 
 The Scars are fubjed to a wife man, and are for- 
 ced to obey him, and not he the Scars. But the 
 Stars compel an Animal man, that whither they 
 lead him he muft follow? juft as a Thief doth the 
 Gallows,and a High- way Robber the Wheel, the 
 Fillier the Filhes, the Fowler the Birds, the Hun- 
 ter the Wild-beafts. And what here is the caufe 
 of this, but that fuch a kind of man doth neither 
 know himfelf nor his own ftrength, never confi- 
 dcts or thinks that he is the lefTer World , and 
 that he hath the univerfal Firmament with the 
 Powers thereof in him.^ Wherefore he is called 
 
 an 
 
i66 C>fttje^atUWOfCtlittg$« Lib.?; 
 
 an Animal, an ignorant man, and a flave to any 
 ba(e fervice, and all earthly matters : yec where- 
 as he received that priviledg from God in Para- 
 dife, that he {Lould rule and reign over ail other 
 Man is the ^^'^^^ures of the UniverlCjand fliould not be obe- 
 Lordofaii dicnt to themjthereforeGod Created him iaft of all, 
 turei. ^"*' sil the reft being made before him. This privilcdg 
 man afterwards loft by his fall: but yet the Wis- 
 dom of man was not made fervile, nor did he lee 
 that liberty go out of his hands. Whence it isre- 
 quifice that the Stars fhould follow him, and o- 
 bcy him, and not he the Stars. And although he 
 indeed be the Son of Saturn , and Saturn his Af- 
 How a roan cendent \ yet he can remove himfelf from him, 
 diawTim^ ^"^ ^o overcome him that he can be the off-fpring 
 fcif from of the Sun ; and bring himfelf under any other 
 andbriifg' Planet, and make himfelf its Son. And it is the 
 di^In^h""' ^^"1^ cafe here as with a Digger, who for a time 
 ' hath fpent his pains with the Mafter of the Mines, 
 and with the ha zzard of his Lfe hath performed 
 his fervice faithfully, at length reafons and difcour- 
 feth with himfelf thus. 
 
 What will become of thee at laft, if thou fpen * 
 deft all thy life under the earth, and by thy con- 
 tinual labours doft alfo bring thy body and life in- 
 to danger? I will get a releafe from my Mafter, 
 and I will ferve another Mafter , where my hfe 
 may be made fweeter, where I may have plenty of 
 meat and drink, where I may wear better Clothes, 
 have little work and much wages, where there 
 lliall be no danger of the mountain hanging over 
 me, and ready to fall upon me, &c. After this 
 manner he would be at liberty, when as otherwife 
 he muft remain a Mercenary fcrvant and flave , 
 
 pining 
 
 \ 
 
Lib.?. iDft\9tmtlXttOfZWQfi' ^^1 
 
 pining away with much labour and low feeding> 
 
 Now you fee how a wife man commands the 
 Stars, and can'rcmove himfelf from any malignant 
 Planer, and bring himielf under another better, 
 how he can bring himfelf out of flavery into liber- 
 ty, and can free himfelf out of the prifon of an ill 
 Planet, 
 
 So alfo an Animal man, who is the Son of the 
 Sun^ of Jupiter-, Venw and Mercury, may remove 
 himfelf from a benigne Planer, and fubjec^ himfelf 
 to Saturn or M^rs : fuch a man is like to a man, 
 who runs from a religious Colledg, and being im- 
 patient of an eafie I'fe becomes a Souldier, or elfc 
 a man of no repute, who afterwards fpendsall his 
 life in forrowand mifery. 
 
 Such ^n one alfo is a rich man, who, being given 
 to levity, fpends and wafts all his goods in Dicing, 
 Feafting, Whoring, &c, which he gives himfelf 
 to (o long unri! all be fpenf,then he comes to wane, 
 and being miferably afflii^ed with infamous want, 
 becomes defervedly a laughter and fcorn to all 
 L men, yea even to the very boys in the ftreets , 
 ■^hom you may hear faying • Behold a beggarly 
 ^nan worth nothing, who when he was a Mafter 
 ^ptifdained his Mafterlliip, and had rather be a 
 Pfflive, a Beggar, a flave to fervants, feeing he can 
 P never come to his priviledg again. 
 
 And hither doth a mahgnant Star or Afcen- 
 dent drive him. Unlefs he had been a fool, and 
 dillioneft, he had not left fo certain a Dominion , 
 which he had over the Scars, but had ftrove againft 
 it: And although of himfelf he knew not how to 
 lefift the Scars j yet he might have bent his mind 
 
 to 
 
468 jDfttieisatuteofCtiinsjJ. Lib.?; 
 
 to the example of othetj* ; thinking thus with him- 
 {df: See how rich that man was, but foolishly 
 and (hamefully hath brought himfclf to poverty. 
 Alfo he lived gallantly, without much labour, 
 had fo much meat, fuch wages, that he could not 
 live better. Now he lives fparingly and ferdidly, 
 and infteadof Wine he muft drink Water, his 
 labours daily increafe,his wages decreafe. 
 
 Now how often doth fuch a kind of Man talk 
 after this manner with himfelf. What have I 
 done f Whither am I running headlong, fo bafely 
 {pending my Goods that I got r who will repair 
 my Eftate } If ever I fhall receive what hath been 
 thus fpent, I will take a far other courfe of hfc,and 
 will by my harms learn to be wife, and will make 
 amends for my evil deeds. 
 ^T"lf"hi^3 ^^^ ^^ ^^ convenient to know, that no man can 
 own harms, be wife by his own harm. For it is a foolilTi and 
 ihers^ *"°* fenfelefs thing to be wife by ones own harm. Lee 
 him that will be wife, be wife by another mans ex- 
 ample, not by his own. For he that hath once fpent 
 his Eftar e, would fpend it again if he lliculd have 
 it, and he that once perifheth, perifheth for ever. 
 He which once ha:h caft a Dice, cafts it again^ 
 He which once ftolc , and efcaped the Gallows 
 will endeavour to fteal the fecond time alfo. Pi 
 he thinks thus wixh himfelf. My cnterprizes b 
 lucceeded once, and again: and why not the thf 
 or fourth time ? If God (hould once reftore wh 
 I have loft,he would reftore it the fecond andthii 
 time, &c. If he did not forfake me in my fii 
 mifery, he will not in the fecond or third, &c. 
 
 All thefe doth an Animal man do, the fe 
 vant and flave of the Stars, who is turned evei 
 
 wher 
 
Libp; £)fttjeiSatttreof€:ljmsg; 269 
 
 where, and moved by the Stars, as a Reed in wa- 
 ter. 
 
 And this is the reafon why his life is fpent in 
 mifety, and he dies in infamy. 
 
 Who therefore will fuftain (uch fervitude, and 
 not dehver himfelf from fucha nafty prifon ? For 
 any one may by his own wifdom , together with 
 the help of his Star,dehver and free himfelf from 
 thence. Confider the matter thus : 
 
 A Fowler by his prudence , and help of his 
 Star, overcoming another Star, needs not go after 
 Birds, for they will come after him flying to unu- 
 fual places? contrary to their nature. 
 
 So a Fiiherman can by making ufe of the wif- 
 dom which God hath given him make fifhcs fwim 
 to him of their own accord , fo that he may take 
 them up with hishands. 
 
 A Hunter improving his Wifdom, doth by his 
 Star fo compel the wild Beafts, that he need not 
 follow them>but they will follow him without any 
 impulfe of nature. So alfo of the reft of living 
 Creatures. 
 
 i Now for the better underftanding of thefe 
 whings, you muft know, chat Stars are twofold, twofold^ 
 j^Rrreftrial and celeftial, thefe ot wildom, the other 
 P folly. 
 
 1^ And as there are two worlds,the greater and the 
 „ Icffcr, and :he greater governs the Icffer: fo alfo 
 the Stars of the Microcofm do rule and overcome 
 the celef^ial. 
 
 Neither did God create the Planets, and othfr The end^ 
 Stars of the Heaven, that they (bould rule over p^^he stB 
 man, but that they, as all other creatures , iliculd no °com-^' 
 obey and ferve him. And although the fupenour '"^^ ^*"' 
 
 Stars 
 
TTJO 
 
 Signs :te 
 twofold. 
 
 What are 
 Phyfiogno- 
 mical figns. 
 
 ©f ttie Baf ute of CW«S)5* Lib.?; 
 
 Stars do incline men , and f.gn them , as alfo all 
 other terreftrial bqdies , with natural /igns , 
 according to the manner of their generati- 
 on ; yet J. a: is no povier ot foveraignty, but cn# 
 ly ^ «>redeftinated Command, and Office, where- 
 by no. .i gmay remain hid or concealed, but the 
 in'A'ard force and power may be brought forth by 
 cxteriour figns. 
 
 But to return to our purpofe of the Phyfiogno- 
 m.ial (igns or Men, you mud know, that they arc 
 twofold^ in external (hape indeed alike, but in 
 power and efFe6l unlike. 
 
 Some arc from fiipernatural Stars of the Heavcn> 
 the other from the inferiour Stars, viz., of the Mi- 
 crocofm. 
 
 Whatfoever the fuperJour Star figns according 
 to generation, even to the middle age, that thing 
 figned is predcftinated, not wanting peculiar pow- 
 ers. For if doth reftifie of the nature and conditi- 
 on of Man. Whatfoever therefore the inferiour 
 Star of the Microcofm doth fign in generation hath 
 its original from the Father and the Mother,*://^, 
 as oft as the Mother by her Imagination or Appc 
 tite, Fear or Terror> hath by contaft affcifted he:^ 
 Infant in her Womb with (upernatural iignsji 
 wliich arc called the Mothers Marks,or the Worn' ^ 
 Marks 5 of which, fince we have fpoke already 
 we (hall now fave the labour of iteration j feeing 
 our purpofe is only to treat of Phyfiognomical 
 Signs, where we fhall Ipcak only of the predefti- 
 nated figns of the Stars, under which we under- 
 ftand thofe Signs of Men , which neither their 
 Father or Mother had any likenefs of in their 
 body. 
 
 Of 
 
Of this fore are black , gray , little, or great 
 fcyes, long crooked , (Tiarp Nofe, pits in their 
 
 u J ^[I'^Cheek-bone being raifed up, a flat 
 orbroidNofe, fmallor great Ears, long Neck 
 long Face, wide or little Mouth, thicker fmall' 
 many or few, black , yellow and red hS, 
 
 If one or more of thefe figns appear in Man 
 Sion "'"'' *" '^"^ ^° "°' want theirfig.* 
 
 rn^"' " " n««ff"y that you confider them ac- 
 cordmgtothe Phyfiognom.cal Art, and that you 
 have certain knowledg of the Art of Signatures! 
 
 Men .n^^ to reckon up feme of the Signs of ^r'^^'^- 
 Men, and their fignification in part 
 
 healhfurV""'' "''f; ^'^'^'^ Ey«' ''^fi'J«=« 
 heakhfulconftitunon, alfo many times fgn.fic a 
 
 conftantmind, not wavering, orfearfui,butlnftv 
 ■ hearty, true and lovin? vertue ^' 
 
 ^b&""'="^^"°'' ^^""^""'-■^^ change. w.«o.,. 
 
 JTurblind Eyes, and fiich as turn upward and n m- . 
 downward, and to both fides, fienifie a fa e ma„ '• 
 
 Und crafty, that cannot eafily be deceived, treaAe- 
 
 Sfufr^b'^n"' n-hful, getting his itvtg 
 nochjully, by Dice, Ufury, Whoring, Robe" 
 
 snine wean and feeble Eyes , and ^Imdnefs ^'?: 
 
 enfuing 
 
%'jz i)ftt)el3atureofC|)ms?; Lib.?; 
 
 cnfuing in old age, as alio ftrong men , warlike, 
 bold, deceitful, nimble, fa6lious, paricndy uii- 
 clcr^-^'ng their condition, yet the endof whofe 
 life IS for the moft part tragical, &c, 
 g Great Eyes, a covetous, ravenous man, efpecial- 
 
 ly if they hang out of the head. 
 Always Eyes that are always winking declare a weak 
 
 Winking, fight, and a man to be fearful and felicitous. 
 Rolling. Rolling Eyes rtiew an amorous affedion, and a 
 
 prudent man, and a man of quick intention. 
 Continually E^s continually dejc6ted flicw a badiful, mo- 
 d^iefted. ^eftman,(^r. 
 Red. Eyes that are red fignific a bold and ftrong 
 
 man, &c. 
 Clear. Clear Eyes, and not eafily moveable, (liew an 
 
 heroick, magnanimous,ftrong,chearful,and a man 
 formidable to his Enemies, &c. 
 Ears great. Great Ears (liew a good hearings a good Me- 
 mory, Attention, Diligence , a found Brain and 
 Head, &c. 
 
 Low Ears are an ill omen. For the moft pare 
 they fignifie a man to be malitious, fraudulent, 
 unjuft, and a bad hearing, a bad memory, a bold 
 man, and eafily cxpofing himfelf to dangers. 
 A long nofc. A long Nofe and crooked downwards is a gooj 
 fign , it fignifiesa man to be valiant , prudent 
 clofc, rigorous, and yet juft, &c. 
 Aflat Nofe. A flat Nofe fignifiesa man to bemaliciou: 
 
 luftful, given to lying, inconftanc, &c. 
 Sharp. ^ ^^^j.p Nofe, a man to be a Turn-coat, a 
 
 Mocker, &c. 
 Lon?. A long Noff,a m^nto be flow in all his anions, 
 
 and to be of a very quick fraelU 
 
 The 
 
Lib.p- ^H\)t Butmt Of €t)ittsg; 273 
 
 The Cheeks with pits in them iignifie a man Hoiiow 
 to be talkative, a Scorner, concenciuns,(^<r. c ec s. 
 
 A long Chin, with a long Face, fignifie a man a long chin, 
 to be given to anger, and flow to labour, ^c. 
 
 A divided Chin fignifies a man to be faithful , a divided 
 officious, fubtilc, and various in his words fpeak- ^^'"' 
 ing one thing and meaning another,^ angry , yet 
 forry for his anger, ingenious, and given to in- 
 ventions. 
 
 A great and large Mouch hgnifies a man to 
 ce a great devourer, lilly, fooUih, imprudent, A great 
 daring) &c, A little Mouth* hgnifies the con- 
 rary, 
 
 Lips drawn to , where the upper is greater tips drawn 
 than the lower, (ignifie a man to be angry, to. 
 V. arlike, couragious, yet for the moft pare of 
 rade and uncivil behaviour, and manners like to a 
 vine. 
 
 Lips gteat beneath, fignifie a man to be dull , ups great 
 Doliili and blockilli, &c, benertb. 
 
 Judgment by the Hairs, either of the Head or Hairfigni- 
 Bread , is not very certain, becaufe ufe teachech ^-^ n^'^'^s 
 ithat they can be divers ways var'ed, as co be made 
 HHack, or yellow,or red, or white, and hoary, or 
 ^B^led, fohor hard , as any one defires to have 
 ^Hiem. 
 
 ^V Hence it will come to pafs, 'hat many who are 
 
 IBotherwife skilful enouc^h in the Art oi: Phyliog- 
 
 y nomy, would be moft ihamefulh' deceived, whilft 
 
 they lliould raflily judg by the Hairs, imputing 
 
 that to the Scars, which lliould racher be aicnbed 
 
 to men themfelves. 
 
 Yet ic cannot be denyed, but that Hairs firm- 
 ly faftened en the Head do figniiie a sjood 
 
 T healh 
 
274 mmBtit\XUtA%mQ9. Ub,9l 
 
 health of the Head , as alfo of the whole Bo- 
 
 And this is the reafon why they that buy Hor- 
 fes pull their tails , that by this means they inay> 
 judg of their foundnefs. 
 
 So Hogs are trycd by their Brifiles, Fifli by^ 
 their Shells, and Scales, a Bird by his'Feathcrs, 
 , &c. 
 Long Necks, j^^ Neck,if it be too long,fignifies a man to be 
 
 follicitous, prudent, and attent, &c. 
 Broad ftioui. Bioad Shoulders , and Back, fignifie a man 
 Bicks'^ to be ftrong, and able for carrying or remo- 
 ving, &c, 
 Mufcuious Arms that are mufculous, fignifie a man to be 
 ftrong and able for any exercife, as beating, poun- 
 ding, rhooting, &c. 
 Hard hands. Hands that be hard fignifie a man to be labo- 
 rious, and an Hireling, &c. Soft Hands the con- 
 trary. 
 A Siort Bo- A Hiort Body and long Legs fignifie a man to 
 ^* be a good Runner, to be eafily fatisfied with meat 
 
 and drink, and for the moft part to be of a (hort 
 life. 
 
 Great and clear Veins under the middle age of 
 man fignifie a man to be full of Blood and Juice, 
 but above the middle of his age to be common] 
 fickjyet long lived. 
 Nothing As much as concerns the Manners and Geftures^ 
 
 ed"byVh" '^ of men,nothing can be fo eafily known and judged 
 
 nianntrsand ^y them. 
 
 ofmen!"'^ For experience tcacheth that thefe can every 
 moment be changed, as to deceive the Signator, 
 and make him erroneous in his Judgment : And 
 bccaufe it hath not been obferved hitherto fo ac- 
 curately 
 
lib.?. ®f ftie laature of citings; 27J 
 
 caratdy by all Aftronomcrs : Ic is therefore the 
 Sigriacors part not always to look to the Manners 
 and Adlions of men , but rather to other figns 
 of the Body, which are fixed, andean by no Arc 
 be counterfeited or changed. 
 
 For if red Hairs, moving the forehead, and eyc- 
 Kds, a chearful, raifed, and unmoveable counte- 
 nance, a frequent agitation of the Mouth, a ftout 
 mufed walking, and a light mind, (hould neccfla- 
 rily declare a man to be a gallant Souldier and 
 flout , every one could by his induftry and arc 
 make himfelf fecmto be fuch an one; that he 
 might by his looks be the better approved of, and 
 obtain greater pay. 
 
 The Jikc alfo may be judged of other kinds of 
 behaviour, which pretend to wifdom, folly, truth, 
 !ying> fortune, vidtory, &c. 
 
 T a OF 
 
274 ^ 
 
 of the K^Jlrd Signs of Chirommcy. 
 
 > 
 
 iOnccrning the Signs of Chiromancy , vve 
 
 maft hold that they do arife from the fu-; 
 
 periourftars of the feven planets; and that we 
 
 maft know and judge of them by the feven 
 
 planers. 
 
 what Chi- Now Chiromancy is an Art, which doth not 
 
 romancyise ^^^ |^^j^ -^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^f ^^^ ^ ^^^ ^^y^ 
 
 judgement by their lines and wrinkles, butalfo 
 confidcrs all hearbs, woods, hard ftones, earths^ 
 and rivers, and whatfoever hath lines, veins, or 
 wrinkles. 
 
 Neither doth this Art want its errours, which 
 thofe Aftronomers were guilty of. 
 
 For they aflfigned the fingers of both hands 
 to the planets , and chiefeft ftars , whereas 
 there *are but five fingers in one hand , and 
 in both ten , yet the planets are reckoned buti 
 feven. ^ 
 
 How then can thefe things agree amongft the 
 (elves? 
 
 Now if there were feven fingers on eachh 
 it then might be granted, that every finger mi 
 be afcribed to feveral planets. 
 Whether"! ^ut yet ic falls out many times, that feme 
 
 be^ fl'i^SS "™^" ™^y ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^" fingers on both hands, 
 tothe Pla-j ^^ *^sft being cafually cut off ; but feeing that 
 pets. they were cut off, and juft feven were not 
 
 at their birth, this matter cannot be related 
 
 hither. 
 
 And 
 
Lib.p. 2)ftt)ei2aturf ofCWngg; 277 
 
 And if it rhould be lo, that a man ihould be 
 born with feven Fingers, whether on one Hand, 
 or on both ; yet that were monftrous , and be- 
 iide the ufual order of Nature, and not fubjed^ 
 to the Stars. Therefore this alio cannot belong to 
 this place. 
 
 But if there muft be but five fingers on e^ch 
 hand, and leven Planets, and thefc mutually be 
 compared amongft themlelves, it would then be 
 convenient that the Lots of the Planets (Lould 
 be put into a Box , to know which two Planets 
 muft give place, and be left our. 
 
 Yet bccaufe this cannot be, and the Planets 
 have neither Dice nor Lots in the Firmament; ic 
 would be worth wondering at, if any one fhould 
 ufurp this power to him[elf,as to allot by the name 
 of the Planetand Sign, the thumb to Venus y the 
 fore finger to Jupiter , the middle- finger to Saturn^ 
 the ring-finger to the Stin, and the little finger to 
 Mercury y in the mean time cafting out Mays and 
 the Moon^ as ic were out of their tribe and liber- 
 
 Which things being fo ; who can wonder that 
 Mars doth ftir up his Sons with juft indignan- 
 
 »>n to kill that cafter of lots, or to bear a perpetual 
 l^tred againfthim? Who can wonder why the 
 Poon lliould enfeeble the Brain of- that player, or 
 ake away his reafon? 
 And this is their firft errour, which, as we 
 have faid , they have committed in Chiroman- 
 
 The fecond errour in it is this : 
 It ofcentimes happens that the original and na- 
 tural lines of the hands are changed by hurts and 
 
 T 3 cafu- 
 
178 "^SDftljeJaatuteofCDinssf. Lib.?; 
 
 cafuakies, or arc made greater or Icflcr, or do ap- 
 pear in other places. < 
 For as if there be a High-way obftra6lcd by any 
 thing, orbeftopcup by the fall of a mountain, or 
 be fpoiled by the overflowing of waters, men go 
 about in another way near to it ; io it happens in 
 the old lines of the hands, that fometimes after the 
 curing of Wounds or Ulcers, together with new 
 FlciL, aUo new lines do grow out, and the old arc ! 
 quite abolifhed. ^ | 
 In the fame manner alfo by rcafon of hard la- 
 bours the Lines are defaced, or they which were 
 original grow great ; as it is in Trees : For if a 
 young Tree fend forth many Branches on all fides, 
 thefe being cut off, the Tree it felf becomes bigger. 
 But that we may at length proceed to the Pra- 
 6^icc of the Art of Chiromancy 5 and briefly de- 
 clare our opinion ; I would have you know, that 
 I will indeed change nothing of what concerns the 
 hands, but acquiefce, and be fatisfied with the ob* 
 (ervations and defcripcions of the Ancients. Yet I 
 purpofein thispra^lice of Chiromancy to write of 
 thofe things, of which the Ancients have made no 
 mention, as of the Chiromancy of Herbs, Woodsy 
 Stones, and the like. ^ 
 The cHro- ^nd It muft firft be noted, that all Herbs wha 
 Herbs and arc of onc kind muft be of one and the fame Chi^ 
 Woods, romancy. 
 
 But if their Lines be unlike, and appear greater 
 
 or IcfTer in fome of them : that is , by rcafon of 
 
 Scm!"' " ^h^l^ ^ge- V^e ^0 therefore clearly profcfs, that the 
 
 Chiromancy of Herbs conduceth to nothing elfc 
 
 but to know and underftand the age of any Herb 
 
 ' or Root. 
 
 But 
 
Lib.9. m tl^tmtau of Ct)ing0. 27? 
 
 But by way of arguinc^ any may here objiS: , , 
 
 rhat there is no Herb as long as it grows is older 
 than another, four or five months at the moft, if 
 the fupputation begins from May till Autumn, at 
 which time Herbs die, and fall from their Root, ^j,^ ^^^.^ 
 
 To this I anrwer,that from God there is but one non of rhe 
 vertue in a Root, which is the firft being and (pi- ^^[['^ ""^'^'^ 
 tit of the Herb, by reafon of which the Herb grows 
 and is fupported until the predeftinared time, and 
 until it be exalted to the produiflion of Seed, And 
 this is a fign, and a mark, that the verrue returns 
 back to the Root, and 10 the Herb is dryed. As 
 long as that fpirit which is the chiefeft vertue of the 
 Herb remains in the Root, the Herb every year is 
 lenewedj unlefs it be, that that fpirit together 
 With the Herb be taken away, and decays. Then 
 the Herb is not renewed. For the Root is dead, 
 and hath no more life remaining in it. 
 
 But after what manner that fpirit together 
 with the Herb is taken from the Root, or with the 
 Root from the Earth, that the vertue thereof can- 
 not go back into the Root, or from the Root into 
 he Earth, is not to be conhdered in this place. 
 ^■For that isafublime Myftery of Nature, and nor 
 *;te be openly difcovered by reafon of ignorant Phy- 
 pcians, who do not only feoff at but contemn fuch 
 Jecrets. Therefore what here we have omitted ,' 
 wc lliall fet down in our Herbal. 
 
 Moreover, by how much the younger Herbs are, 
 (o much the more do they excel in power and vcr* 
 cue. 
 
 As by Age a Man is weakened , and fails in 
 ftrength, fo alfo do Herbs. 
 
 But to know what the Chiromancy and A^e of 
 T 4 Herbs, 
 
28o SDfti^f jpatuteofCi^ittgs. Lib.?: 
 
 Herbs, and fuch like things is, daily experience is 
 required, (eting the number of their years is not 
 written upon them, bucitmuft be divined, as I 
 have (aid, by Chiromancy only. 
 
 Now Chiromancy doth notconfider Numbers, 
 Letters or Characters , but Lines , Veins and 
 Wrinkles only, &c, according to the.Age of any 
 thing. For by how much the older a thing is, fo 
 much the greater and eafier to be feen are the Lines, 
 and the vertue and operation of the thing fo much 
 the duller. 
 
 For as a Difeafe of one month or year is more 
 
 cafily cured than that which is of two, three, four 
 
 . or five months and years : So an Herb doth foo- 
 
 rouft be ap- ncr cuic a Difeafe of one month, or year, than 
 
 DTVres^& that which is of two , three or four months, or 
 
 fo on the years. And for this caufe young Herbs muft be 
 
 contrary, applyed to old Griefs, and old Herbs or Medicines 
 
 to young or new Difeafes. For if an old Herb 
 
 fliould be applyed to an old Difeafe, the blind 
 
 would lead the blind, and both would fall into 
 
 the ditch. 
 
 This is the reafon why many Medicines do not 
 work, but are taken into the body, and pofTefs the 
 members, as dirt flicks to the fhooes, whence Dj 
 feafes are afterward doubled, &c. 
 
 Now ignorant Phyficians never confldered th 
 but by their Ignorance have deftroyed more than 
 ever they cured. 
 
 Jn the firft place therefore, you that are Phy- 
 ficians muft know , that the Medicine muft be 
 younger than the Difeafe, that it maybeftronger 
 to expel it. For if the Medicine be more powerful 
 Lhan the Difeafe, the Difeafe will be overcome, as 
 
 fire 
 
fire is quenched with water. But if the Difcafc be 
 ftronger than the Medicine, it turns the Medicine 
 into Poifon, whence Difeafes are afterward dou- 
 bled and fncreafed. 
 
 So if a Difeafc belike Iron, it niuft be cured 
 with a Chalybeat Medicine, For Steel cannot be 
 overcome by Iron. The more powerful doth al- 
 ways overcome, and the weaker is overcome. 
 
 Although therefore it was nor our purpofe in 
 the beginning to write in this place of Phy(ick,yec 
 for the fake of true and genuine Phyficians I could 
 not pafs over thefe things in (ilence. 
 
 rals diiitr. 
 
 of Mmral Signs. 
 
 Minerals alfo, and Metals before they come 
 to the fire, have their true Signs and Signi- How M^nf 
 fications, which they have received from the Ar- 
 cheius, and the fuperiour Stars, every one of them 
 refemblingfome kind of them by diftind colours, 
 and differences of the earth. For the Mineral of 
 Geld is diftincft from the Mineral of Silver ^ io 
 ^lfo is the Mineral of Silver from that of Copper • 
 !nd the Mineral of Copper from that of Iron : 
 Ho the Mineral of Iron from that of Tin and Lead, 
 and fo of the reft. 
 
 No man can deny, but that the Mineral, and all 
 Metallick bodies of Mines, which he hid in the 
 earth, may be known by art of Chiromancy by 
 their excenour hgns. That is, the Chiromancy of 
 Mines, Veins and Conduits, &c, by which not 
 only thofc things, which being hid within them , 
 
 are 
 
iSz iDftistButnxttttSMmss* Lib.? 
 
 brought forth, bnt alfo a certain depth and rich- 
 nefs of the Mine,and plenty of Metal is maniFcfted 
 And in this Chiromancy three chings are necciTa-j 
 ry to be known, vU, the age, depth and breadth ' 
 of the Veins, as hath been faid a litde before of 
 Herbs. For by how much the older the Veins are, 
 by {o much the richer and more augmented are the 
 Mines. 
 
 Concerning this we muft know thus much , 
 that all Metals which as yet lie hid in their matrix 
 do conftantly grow. 
 
 Whence alfo it is manifeft , that every thing 
 that grows, although it be placed out of its matrix 
 cannot be made lefs,but forthwith grows, (i. e.) is 
 multiplied, and according to its fubftance , mea- 
 fure and weight , grows until the predcftinatcd 
 time. Now this predeftinated time is the third 
 part of the appointed age of all minerals, vegetables 
 and Animals, which arc the three chief heads of 
 all earthly things. 
 
 Now whatfoever doth yet remain in its matrix 
 doth grow fo long until the matrix dies. For the 
 matrix hath its appointed time to live and die, e- 
 fpccially if it be fubjed to external Elements. 
 
 That which is not fubje^t to them, hath no 
 ther time or term than the Elements themfelv 
 have 5 with which it alfo (hall die and peridi i: 
 the day of Renovation (which is their tcrm.J 
 
 Hence it follows, that all things which are 
 within the earth, are not fubje^^ed to the external 
 Elements, neither are they fenfible of coldormoi- 
 fture, or drynefs, or wind, or air, by which they 
 may be deftroyed. Such kind of bodies therefore 
 cannot be putrified, or contract any filthinefs, or 
 
 ftink. 
 
Uh.9. Wff^tmiWUtAZW^* «8j 
 
 ftinic, or die, as long as they continue within the 
 earth, in their Chaos. 
 
 So much be fpoken of Metals, and as of them , 
 {o alfo ic may be faid of many men , who in the 
 caves of mountains live fome hundreds of years , 
 as if they were Giants or Pigmies, of which wc 
 have wrote a particular Book. 
 
 But to defcend to the pra6^icc of the Chiromancy 
 of Mines,which wc fhall give you to underftand in 
 few words; you muft know that theVeins by how 
 much the deeper, and broader they are, fo much 
 the older. For where the courfe of the Veins is 
 a great way extended, and at length decay, and are 
 not hidden, it is a bad fign. For as the courfes of 
 the Veins do decay , fo alfo do the Mines them- 
 felves decay, which they fignifie by their depih. 
 Although fometimes there are good Mines found, 
 yet by how much the deeper they go, they do more 
 and more decay , (o that it is not worch while to 
 work in them. But when the Veins are enlar- 
 ! ged with other additions , or oftentimes cut off, 
 it is a good fign , lliewing that the Mines arc 
 
 ^good not only in the top, but that the fame 
 alfo are increafed and multiplied in dep h and 
 Jcngth for the moft part , the Mines being made 
 Itiore rich , afford pure Gold, and fo a mof^ large 
 treafure. 
 
 It is without ground, that many Miners com- 
 mend thofe Veins only which go dire6lly down- 
 ward, and incline from the Eaft to the Weft. For 
 the nature of the Mines and experience teacheth , 
 that Veins oftentimes which bend from the VVeft 
 to the Eaft, or from the South to the Norfh,and fo 
 contrarily from the North to the South , are not 
 
 lefs 
 
lefsrich rhan other:* are. Therefore there . is no 
 Vein to be eftcemed before another. But we 
 think it convenient to difcourfc of this no Ion* 
 
 By what ^^^^ concerning the other figns of the interr 
 figns Mines nal Earth , as alfo the Colours of Minerals , we 
 are difcove- ^^jj .^^j^^^ difcourfe of them thus. 
 
 As oft as Miners fall upon a fat Earth, which 
 doth fignifie a Vein of a pure and new Metal, 
 that is a very good iign, aflaring that that Metal, 
 of which it is a Veinj is not far oft 
 
 So alfo if the Earth that is digged have no Me- 
 tal in it, but be fat, of a white colour, or black, or 
 like clay, or green, or blue, &c, then that alfo is 
 a good fign of fome good Metal that is hid under 
 if. Therefore you muft continue digging, and not 
 give over. 
 
 Miners in the firft place have refped to the ex* 
 cellent, beautiful and chiefeft Colours,as arc green 
 Earth, or Chryfocol, Verdegreale, Azure, Cinna- 
 bar, Sandarachia, Auripigmentum, Litharge of 
 Gold and Silver, &c, every one of thefe almoft 
 do for the moft part fignifie a peculiar Metal , or 
 Mineral. 
 
 So Verdegreafe, Chryfocolla, green Earth, fc it 
 moft part fignifie Copper. 
 
 So Azure , or white Arfenick, or Litharge of 
 Silver, fignifie the Metal of Copper. 
 
 So Cinnabar and Sandaracha do fometimes fig- 
 nifie Gold , fometimes Silver , and fometimes a 
 mixture of both* 
 
 So Auripigmentum, red Sulphur and Litharge 
 of Gold for the moft part fignifie Gold. 
 
 So when Chryfocol is found mixt with the A- 
 
 zure, 
 
Lib.?: ©fttjtjBaturtofC&ingis. 285, 
 
 zure, or the Azure with Chrylocol and A un pig- 
 ment, for the moft part they fignifie an cxcellenc 
 and rich Mineral. 
 
 Where Stones or Earth are found of an Iron 
 colour, they do certainly betoken an Iron Mine. 
 
 You muft note, that fomerimes it comes to pafs 
 that the Archeius of the Earth doth by fome fecrec 
 pafl'age caft up forae Metal from the more mward 
 part of the Earth. And that is a good fign. 
 
 Miners therefore muft not be difcouraged when 
 they fee fuch certain (igns, and hope of fome ex- 
 cellent Mine lying under. And if thin leaves of 
 Merals, like Talk, do adhere to Rocks or Stones, 
 that is a mofl: fure fign. wh t c 
 
 Now concerning Corufcations they muft be di- rufcations' 
 ligently and ftudioufly obferved) for they are moft ^P'^^ '^ 
 certain figns, of Metals lying hid under them , as 
 alfo of the fame extent, and fame kind. Where 
 yet we muft note , that thofe Metals are not yet 
 cgmeto perfe6lion, but are as yet in their firft be- 
 ing. And whitherfoever the Corufcarion reach- 
 eth , fo far alfo reacheth the courfe of Metals, 
 &c. 
 
 Moreover you muft know, that Corufcation is Corufcati- 
 
 a threefold colour, as Whjte, Yellow and Red, °"^^J'^ ^^ 
 Avhereby all Metals are difcovered to us. Per a lours. 
 
 ^hice Corufcation fignifies whire Metals, as Tin, 
 Lead, Silver, &c, a red Corutcacioo ilgnifies red 
 Metals) as Copper and lion, &c. a yellow Coruf- 
 cation fignifies Golden MecaU. . ,j-. ^y 
 
 Add moreover, that a thin and fubtil Corufca- 
 tion is ths beft fign. 
 
 For as you fee it is in iiees,that by how much 
 
 the fewer flowers there are, lo much the better , 
 
 : ■ ,; ^' " greater, 
 
rufcation is. 
 
 nearer, and more (avory arc the Fruit : fo alfo 
 imall and (ubtil Corufcations fignific fubtil and 
 excellent Metals, as the contrary do die contrary. 
 
 Moreover you muft know, that as long as thofe 
 Corufcations appear , whether they be great or 
 fmall , or of this or that colour , the Metals in 
 thofe Mines have not yet attained to pcrfe6tion , 
 but are yet in their firft being as the Sperm of a 
 Man in the Matrix of a Woman. 
 Wh;t:^f :„ But now what Corufcation is, we muft confi- 
 der in this place : and we muft know, that it ap- 
 pears in the Mines by night like a fparkling fire, 1 
 no other wife than Gunpowder that is laid in a | 
 long train, and being kindled at one end makes 
 a long flalhing. 
 
 After the fame manner is Corufcation carried 
 along , from the Eaft to the Weft, or from the 
 Weft to the Eaft, from the South to the North, or 
 contrarily. 
 
 All thcfe Corufcations, however they appear, 
 area certain fign of Courfes of Metals, that by 
 them they may be known , and Metals as certain j 
 Gifts of God may be brought forth out of the i 
 Earth. For what God created for Mans ufe , he. 
 put that nature into it that it lliould not be hid : tS^ 
 and although it were hid, yet he made peculiar ■% 
 external figns which conduce to the finding of ic * 
 out, by which the wonderful prcdcftination of it 
 may be known. 
 
 In the fame manner if menhideTreafurcs,they 
 mark the place with fome certain marks, and bury 
 them by feme bound, Statue or Fountain, or any 
 other thing, that when there is occafion they may 
 find and dig them Dp again. 
 
 The 
 
The ancient anldtanj and qreeUns , if in «^^,cha^- 
 times of War fearing to be driven away, or banifli- ©redans 
 cd, they would hide their Treafure, would mark ¥?eVSe!' 
 the place no otherwifc than propofe to themfelves a 
 certain dayj hour and minute of the year, and 
 did obferve in what place the Sun or Moon (hould 
 caft their (liadow, and there did bury and hide 
 their Treafure. 
 
 This Art they call Sciomancy^ i, e, the Art of mancy u. 
 Shadowing. By thcfe Shadowings many Arts have 
 had their ground, and many hid things have been 
 revealed , and all Spirits and Aftral bodies arc 
 known. 
 
 Thcfe are Cabaliftical figns , that cannot de- 
 ceive, and therefore dilig«ntly to be taken notice 
 
 of. 
 
 You muft therefore take heed, that you fuffer roI" un- 
 not your felvcs to be feduccd by the divinations of certain. 
 uncertain Arts \ for they arc vain and fruitlefs , 
 efpecially Divining Rods , which have deceived 
 many Miners. For if they fhew a thing truly 
 once, they fail ten times. 
 
 Alfo we muft not truft other fraudulent figns 
 the Devil, which are made, and appear in the 
 »ht, and at fome inconvenient times preterna- 
 [rally, fuch as are Ghofts and Vifionj, For I 
 rould have you know, chat the Devil can (hew 
 -nd caufe figns , but out of meer fraud and de- 
 ceit. 
 
 So there is no Church builr, but the Devil harh 
 his Chappcl there. There is no Chappel built, but 
 he fets up his Altar. There is no good Seed, but 
 he fows amongft it his tares. The fame is the na- 
 ture of Vi (ions > and fuDcrnacural Apparitions, in 
 
 Cryflal, 
 
z88 S)f tt)C $Mm of €|)itts^* Lib.p; 
 
 Cryftals, Berils, Looking-glafles and Waters ; as 
 they are by ceremonial Negromancers, contrary to 
 Gods Cornmand, and the power of the Light of 
 Nature, bafely abufed. 
 
 Vidons indeed are not abfolutcly to be rejected; 
 for they have their place, but then ihcy muft be 
 done after another procefs. For now wc are not 
 any longer in the fir ft Generation, bat the fe- 
 cond. Ceremonies therefore 5 and Conjurations 
 are not any longer to be ufed by us Chriftians in ' 
 the Regeneration J as the Ancients in the Old Te-^ 
 ftament> who lived in the firft Generation ufed* 
 rhem. Forthofe Prefigurations were for us who 
 were to live in the New Teftamenc. 
 
 Whatfoever things therefore the Ancients that 
 were under the Old Teftament , and in the firft 
 Generation, did do by Ceremonies,Conjurarions, 
 &c, we Chriftians of the lecond Generation, and 
 in the New Teftament muft do by Prayer, knock- 
 ing, and feeking, and procure by Faith. 
 chie?points ^" ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ poiucs confifts all the foun- 
 the founda. (Jation of the Magical and Cabaliftical Art, by 
 gick^ancT^" ^^^ch WC may obtain whatfoever we defirej fo 
 cabaiie that to US Chnftians nothing is impoifible. ' 
 
 concerning chefe and other Monuments of Cabalij 
 f poken of lutiiciently in the book of Vi[ions, I re- 
 fer you thither , that you may fee how wonder- 
 fully Chrift the Son of God works by his Angels 
 in us Chriftians, and the faithful, and how bro- 
 therly he his converfant with us. Whence we are 
 the true Angels and Members of Chnft, as he is 
 our head , as he is in us, fo we live in him, as is 
 taught in the Book of the Lords Supper. 
 
 But 
 
tibip: ^tm Bmtt of Ctiinss; aSp ^ 
 
 But to return to our purpofe concerning Mine- 
 ral fignsj and efpecially concerning the Corufca- 
 tion of Metalline Veins> we muft know, that as 
 Metals which are yet in their iirft beings fend 
 forth their Ccrufcacions, /. e. Si^ns, Co alfo the Tin- ^^^^ .^ ^^^ 
 Hfire of Philofdphers , which changeth all imper- venue of 
 fea Metals into Silver and Gold for white Me- t"^,!no(Z'' 
 
 ■' talsinto Silver, and red into Gold) puts forth its phers. 
 proper (igns like unto Corufcation, if it be aftr.ally 
 perfeded and prepared. For as foon as a fmall 
 quantity of it is caft upon a fluxil Mecal , fo that 
 they mix together in the fire ; there arifeth a na- 
 
 |, rural Corufcation and Brightnefs like to that of 
 
 !• fine Gold or Silver in a teft, which then is a fign 
 that that Gold , or Silver , is freed and purged 
 without all manner of addition of other Me- 
 talf. 
 
 But how the Tinaure of Philofophersis made ?°naure%f 
 Aftral, you muft conceive it after this manner : Phiiofo- 
 . Firft of all you muft know, that every Metal, as madeaftral, 
 
 i long as it lies hid in its firft being, hath its csrtaia 
 
 r peculiar Stars. 
 
 So Gold hath the Stars of the Sun, Silver the 
 Stars of the Moon , Copper the Scars of Venus, 
 
 I^Tron the Stars of Mars, Tin the Stars of Jupiter, 
 
 Bf^ead the Scars of Saturn, Quick-filver the Stars 
 
 l^f Mercury. 
 
 But as foon as they come to their perfcflion 5 
 
 f' and are cotgulated into a fixt Metalline body » ' 
 their Scars fall off from them, and leave them, as 2 
 dead body. - 
 
 . Hence it follows, that all fuch bodies are after- 
 wards dead, and inefficacious, and that die uncon- 
 quercd Star of Mecals doth overcome thsm alb 
 V ' " and 
 
 r 
 
 I 
 
2po ^ff^tmtwctolWnos* Lib.?; 
 
 and converrs them imo its nature , and makes them 
 allAftral. 
 SadVbylhe ^ot which caufc alfo our Gold and Silver, 
 Tinftureis which is tinged) and prepared with our Tin(5lurc, 
 narorai! ^" ^^ much more excellent , and better for the pre- 
 paration of Medicinal Secrets, than that which is 
 natural, which Nature generates in the Mines? 
 and afterwards is feparatefd rom other Metals. 
 
 So alfo the Mercury of a body is made aftrally 
 of another body, and is much more noble and 
 jfixt than common Mercury. And fo of the other 
 Metals. 
 
 I fay therefore, that every A Ichymift, which 
 hath that Star of Gold, can turn all red Metals in- 
 to Gold by tinging of them. 
 
 So by the Star of Silver all white Metals are 
 changed into Silver : by the Star of Copper into 
 Copper: by thcSrar of Quick- (ilver into Mercu- 
 ry of the body and fo of the reft. 
 
 But now how all thefe Stars are prepared accor- 
 ding to the Spagirical Art , it is not our purpofe 
 at this lime to declare : but the explication of them 
 belongs to our Books of the Tranfmutation of 
 Metals. 
 Jf\h^?ed" ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ which concerns their Signs , r 
 Tinaure. would have you know, that cur red Tind^ure^ 
 which contains the Stars of Gold to be of a raof^ 
 fixt fubftance, of moft quick penetration , and of a 
 moft intenfe rednefs, in powder refembling the 
 colour of Saffron , but in its whole body the co- 
 * lour of a Rubie ; I fay it is a Tin(5lure as fluxil 
 as Wax, as tranfparant as Cryftal, as brittle as 
 Glafs,andfor weight moft heavy. 
 
 The 
 
l-ib.?, ®f t^e Bature of Ctiings; ^^i 
 
 The white Tin6^ure which contains the Star of J^t^^^v^hhe! 
 the Moon is after the fame manner of a fixe fub- 
 ftance, of an unchangeable quantity, of wonder- 
 ful whitenef'^, as flaid as Refine, as ti anfpatenc as 
 Cryftal,as britcle as Glafs, and for weigfic like to 
 a Diamond. , ^ , 
 
 The Star of Copper Is of a wonderful citrine co- copper^*^ ^* 
 lour, like to an Emrald, as fluxilas Refine, much 
 heavier than its metal. 
 
 The Star of white Tin is as fluid as Refine, of a Jjj.^^star^ot 
 dark colour, with feme mixture of yellow. 
 
 The Star of Iron is very red, as tranfparent as a ^^^^^^^^ °^ 
 Granate, as fluxil as Refine, as brittle as Glafs, of 
 a fixt fubftance, much heavier than its metal. ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ 
 
 The Star of Lead, is like Cobaltum, black, yet LeaV " 
 tranfparent, as fluxil as Refine, as brittle as Glafs , 
 equal to Gold for weight , heavier than other 
 Lead. 
 
 TheStarof Quickfilvetisof a wonderful white, ^Ijukfiiverf 
 {par kling colour, like to fnow,in the excreameft 
 cold weather, very fubtil, of a penetrating, corro- 
 , (ive acrimony, as tranfparent asCryftal, flowing 
 fc as eafily as Refine, very cold to the taft, but very 
 tJiot within,asifK were fire, but of a very volatil 
 CWubftance in the fire. 
 
 H By this defcription the Stars of the Metals are to 
 be known and underftood. 
 
 Alfo you mrlt underftand, that for the prepa- 
 yation of both Tin(5^urcs , viz^. of the Red and 
 White,you muft not in the beginning; take of your 
 work the body of Gold or Silver, but the firft being 
 of Gold and Silver. For if in the beginning there 
 be an errour committed all your pains and labour 
 will be in vain, 
 
 V 5 So 
 
a^i flDft^eBatutcofCt)ittss. Lib.p: 
 
 So alfo yoLi muft andcrftand of Meials, that c- 
 very one of chem receives a peculiar fign in the fire, 
 by which it is known. 
 
 Of this kind arc fparks, flames, glifterings, the 
 colour, (mell, raft of five, &c. 
 
 So the true fign of Gold or Silver in the^teft is 
 gliftering. 
 
 That appearing, it is certain that Lead and o- 
 ther metals that were mixed are fumed away, and 
 that the Gold and Silver is fully purged. 
 
 The fignsof Iron being red hotjn the Furnace, 
 
 are clear tranfparent fparks flying upwards. Thofc 
 
 appearing, the Iron unlefs it be taken from the 
 
 fire is burnt like ftraw, &c, 
 
 To.know After the fan^c manner any earthly body fhews 
 
 hcvv' Metals . .. iinrr • i r lu 
 
 have more KS pcculiar, and dilt!n6t figns m the fire, whether 
 
 °hJ1hreI icl^avemore of Mercury, Sulphur, or Salt, and 
 
 principief. which of the three principles it hath moft of. For 
 
 if it fume before it flamc,it is a fign that it contains 
 
 more Mercury than Sulphur. 
 
 But if it prefently burn with a flame, and with- 
 out any fume , it is a fign that it contains much J 
 Sulphur, and little or no Mercury. ^ 
 
 This you fee in fat fubftances, as Tallow, Oyl,^^ 
 Refine and the like : but if without any flame icy^ 
 goes all into fume , it is a fign that there is in K^ 
 much Mercury, and little or no Sulphur. 
 
 Thisyou fee happens in Herbs and VlowtxSy&c* 
 and other Vegetable fubftances, and volatil bo- 
 dies, as are minerals, and metals, remaining yet 
 in their firft being , and are not mixed with any 
 fulphureous body, which fend forth a fume, and 
 no flame. 
 
 M ^S^Slk ^ Minerals 
 
Lib.?, a^ff^eiaature Of Clings, ayj 
 
 Minerals and Merais, which (end forcli nei- 
 ther fume nor flame , do (liew an equal mixti- 
 on of Mercury and Sulphur, and a perfect iix> 
 cion. 
 
 Of fome peculiar Signs of Natter d AnX Sh* 
 fernatural Things. 
 
 WE muft yet further fpeak cf fome pecuh'ar 
 Signs, of which hidierCo we have laid 
 nothing. 
 
 In which Trcacife it will be very neceflary for 
 you, chat boaft your (elves to have skill m the Arc 
 of Sjgn2ture55and defire to be called SigHators,thac 
 you rightly undct (hnd me. For we ilia: I not ni 
 this place write theoretically, but pradically, and 
 fhall declare our opinion in few words. 
 
 Andfirft know, that the Art of Tigning doth what the 
 teach ho\r true and (utable names arc to be put Arf ot c^u- 
 upon all things, all which Ad^:m truly knew. For "'" ^" 
 prefently afcer the Creation he gave to every thing 
 Ks proper Nam?, as to Animals, fo to Trees^Herbs, 
 vRoocs,Srones,MHicrals, Metals, Waters, &c. And 
 )to all the Fruits of the Haiih, Water, Air, Fire,c^r. 
 •nd what Names he pat upon them all werera- 
 ified and approved of by God. For from the 
 'true and in-riniecal Foundation he took them all, 
 not from opinion, or from predcftinated Science, 
 vIk.- the Art of Sigiiing. 
 
 Adnm therefore was the firft Signator. And it ^j^^^^ ^^^^ , 
 cannot be denyed, that alio from the He ijre 1:9 tirCz s'lgai.' 
 Tongue true and proper Names do floW) and aiG ^^^' 
 
 Y 3 P^c . -J 
 
2^4 iDf tte Mature of C&uigs; Lib.p; 
 
 pat upon every thing according to its nature and 
 
 condition. 
 Ift^he^He-^ For what Names are put upon them from the. 
 brewtonsuc Hebrew Tongue, do with the fame labour fignific 
 their Vercue, Power and Property. 
 
 So when we fay, this is aHogja Horfe, a Cow, 
 
 a Bear, a Dog, a Fox, a Shee p.. 
 
 The fignifi- The Name of a Hog fignifies tooecher with it a 
 
 HogrHorfe, filthy :iXi\ unclean Animal: fo a Horfe fignifies a 
 
 CowjBear, ftrongand patient Animal: a Cow a devouring 
 
 Sheep, in' and infatiablc bcaft ; a Bear, a ftrong, viftorious, 
 
 the Hebrew ^^^ an untamed brute: a Fox a fhifting and crafty 
 
 beafi: : a Dog an animal falfe to chofe of his own 
 
 kind : a Sheep a mild and profitable beaft , and 
 
 hurtful to none. 
 
 Hence it is that a man is called a Hog, for his 
 fordid and fwinilli life. 
 
 And a Horfe for his bearing, for which he is 
 eminent. 
 
 And a Cow, becaufc (lie is unfatiable with meat 
 and drink, and knows no meafure of her belly. 
 
 And a Bear, becaufe he is;niiliapen, and ftron- 
 ger than other men. 
 
 A Fox, becaufe he is a turn-coat, and deceitful, 
 
 accommodating himfelf to all>and ofi:ending nonei 
 
 A Dog, becaufc he is faithful to none but hi 
 
 own mouth, is falfe and inofficious to all. 
 
 And a Sheep , becaufe he hurts no body bui 
 himfelf, and is ufeful to all rather than to him- 
 ^^^^^ felf, &c. 
 jierbs there Ahcr this manner aUo many Herbs and Roots 
 is a Signa- j^j^y^ goc their Name5, 
 
 So Eye-bright is fo called, becautc it cures weak 
 and fore Eyes. ■ 
 
 So 
 
So the Root Bloudworc is fo called, becaufe ic 
 ftopsBloud better than any other. 
 
 So the Herb Pile-wort is fo called, becaufe ic 
 cures the Piles better than other Herbs. 
 
 The fame alfo may be faid of divers other Herbs? 
 of which fort I could reckon a great number , all 
 which were fo called from their vertue and facul- 
 ty as fhall more largely be declared in our Herbal. 
 Moreover, there be many Herbs and Roots, 
 which are denominated not only from their im- 
 bred vertue and faculcy, but alfo from their figure, 
 form and reprefentation : as Devils-bit, Five-lea- 
 ved Grafs, or Cinquefori,Hounds-tongue,Adders- 
 tongue, Horfe-rail, Liver-wort, Ox-tongue, Lung- 
 wort, the Herb Chameleon, Sr. Johns-wort, or 
 the Herb boared thorough, the Herb Dog-ftone, 
 Tongue- laurel, Thorow-leaf, Turn-fole,and ma- 
 ny others, which (liall not here, but in the Herbal 
 befeverally confidered. 
 
 The fame alfo holds concerning the Signs of A- n, "j^e tlfcre 
 nimals 5 for by the Blood and its circle, and the ^^ '" Ani- 
 Urine and its circle all Difeafes that He hid in man 
 •nay be known. 
 ^ By the Liver of a flain beaft the flelli is known 
 ■whether it be wholfome to be eaten or no. For 
 Hblefs die Liver be clear, and of a red colour, but 
 Blue, or yellow, or rough, or full of holes , the 
 Bcaft is difeafed, and therforehis Flelhunwhol- 
 
 1 • J I 1 r • /I ^"^ ^'^'^■^ 
 
 And it IS no wonder that the Liver can fhew % oiig-m) 
 that by natural Signs. For the original of the °^ ^*°"'^' 
 Blood is in the Liver,and hence through the Veins 
 it is difFufed into the whole body, and is coagula • 
 tedincoflclli. 
 
 V 4 There- 
 
z^6 £>!f ttie i3atute of ctiins^' i-jb;?: 
 
 Therefore from a difcafed and ill afi'e6^ed Li- 
 ver no found or freih Blood can be produced > as 
 of bad Blood no wholfom Flefli can be coagula- 
 ted. 
 
 y Alfo without infpeif^ion into the Liver, F'edi 
 and Blood may be known. For if both be found , 
 they have their true and natural colour, which is 
 red and clear^ mixed with no other ftrange colour, 
 as yellow, or blue. For thofeftrange colours do 
 fignifie Difeafesand Sicknedes. 
 
 Sk *n^the ^^^ "^^"^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^"^ worthy of admirati- 
 Maveiofthe OP, w^. when the Archeus is the Signator, and 
 Infant figai. (rons the Navel in the Infant with little knots, by 
 which icmay be conjeftured, what the Mother of 
 Tn» Bran- ^^ I"f^ant did bring forth, or lliall bring forth. 
 rhesofa The fame Signaror Hgns the Horns of a Hart , 
 
 fi^ T ^Ts" "^^^^ Branches, by which his age is known. For 
 age= '^ ^ as many Branches as the Horn hathj fo many years 
 old is the Hart. And feeing he hath every year a 
 new Hornj'the age of the Hart may be known to 
 twenty or thirty years. 
 The Circles So the Signator of a Cow marks her Horns with 
 of a'cow"^ ^'^^^" ' by which it may be known how many 
 what. Calves file hath brought forth. For every Circle^ 
 
 fignifies a Calf. - J 
 
 The Teeth The fsme Signator puts forth the firfb Teeth ofVp 
 aHorfe. \\^x{.t ^ that the firft fevcn years his age may b3I 
 known by his Teerh. For at firft a Horfe is broughjt 
 forth with fourteen Teeth, of which every year 
 he lofech two, and fo in the fpace of (even years he 
 lofech ail. So that after feven years his age can 
 hardly be known 9 unlcfs by on? that is very skil- 
 ful. ■ : , . . , , 
 
 The 
 
 or 
 
Lib.p: Of m mim of eiiinss: ^7 
 
 The fame Signator doth fign the Bills and T^| g'"* 
 Claws of Birds with peculiar Signs, that the skil- of Birds.* 
 ful Fowler may know their age by them. 
 
 The fame Signatot doth mark the Tongues of Jf^yogf"'^ 
 difeafed Hogs with little pufhes, by which their 
 impurity is knownjind as their Tongue is impure 
 fo is their whole body. 
 
 The fame Signator doth fign Clouds with di. cSdl! ""^ 
 vers colours, by which the Seafons of the Heaven 
 may be foreknown. 
 
 So alfo he figns the Circle of the Moon with Colours of 
 difl:in(^ colours, of which every one is of peculiar Jlj^ Mcwm^ 
 interpretation. So rednefs flgnifies that there will 
 be Wind ; greennefs and blacknefs, Rain , thefe 
 two mixed together Wind and Rain ; the fame 
 in the Sea is 1 fign of great ftorms and tempefts ; 
 dearncfs and a bright whitcnefs is a good {ign , 
 efpecially in the Ocean. For, for the raoft part ic 
 flgnifies a quiet, fair feafon. 
 
 Whatfoever the Moon portends by herfigns, 
 {hall come to pafs the next day. 
 
 And fo much for Natural Signs. Now for Su- 
 pernatural Signs , they are things of a particular 
 Ik^cience, as of Magical Aftronomy, &c, and the 
 Kke. Ic is therefore neceflary that you be skilled in 
 wjincm, 
 
 W^ Hence alfo many other Arts proceed, as Geo- JJ^K'".*^^?^ 
 f maricy, Pyromancy, Hydromancy, Chaomancy & ftronomy. 
 Necromancy, whereof every one hath its peculiar 
 Star?, which Stars do fo fign them after fuperna- 
 rural manner. And you muft know , that the 
 Stars of Geomancy imprefs their figns upon the 
 earthy Bodies of the whole Univerfe, and that di- 
 vers ways. For they change the Earthy and caufc 
 
 Earth- 
 
z^8 f^tteeJBatureot^mttg?, Lib^?; 
 
 quakes and Gapiiigs, they produce Hills and Val- 
 leys, and bring many new Vegetables , they pro- 
 duce alio Gamaheaus with naked Figures and I-* 
 mages > having wonderful vertues and powers, 
 which indeed they receive from the fcven Planets, 
 as the But or Mark receives the Arrow from the 
 Archer, 
 
 But how thofe Signs and Images of Gamaheaus 
 may be known apart, and what they fignifie ma- 
 gically ; there is required a great experience and 
 knowledg of the Nature of things, which can by 
 no means be here perfe£lly taughr. 
 
 Here you muft well note, that the Srone, or e- 
 vcry Gamaheaus, cannot excel in the property, and 
 vertuc but of one Star? and fo be qualified but by 
 one Planet. 
 
 And although there be two or more Planets in 
 tarthly bodies, as they are joined together in the 
 fupcriour Firmament : yet one is reprefTed by the 
 other. For as one houfe cannot bear two Mafters, 
 but the one thrufts out the other : fo aUo it is 
 here J the one rules, the other ferves: Or as one 
 that overcomes him that keeps any houfe, cafts. 
 him out by force ; and fets himfelf , as Mafter of 
 the Houfe, difpoling of all things according 
 his pleafurc, and making the other his fervant. 
 
 So alfo one Star expels another, one Planet x^ 
 nother , one Afcendant another , one influence^ 
 another, one Imprcllion another,one Element ano- 
 ther ; for as Water quenchcth the Fire,fo one Pla- 
 net deftroysthe property of another, and brings in 
 its own. 
 
 The fame is after the fame manner tai>c under- 
 ftood of their Signs, which arc manifold , and not 
 
 only 
 
nly Chara^lers, as many conceive, but all thofei 
 ?hich are found in the whole Map of che Planets f 
 . e. whatfoever are of affinity with or {ubjcft to 
 iie Planets. 
 
 But that you may the better undcrftand me by what things 
 dding an example ; I would have you knoWjthat are fubicft 
 into the Planet of the Sun are fubjeaed a Crown, *° ^^' ^*^- 
 Scepter, a Throne, and all Kingly Power, Ma- 
 yfly and Rule, and all Riches, Treafures, Orna- 
 ncnts and Furniture of this World. 
 
 Unto the Planet of the Moon are fubjefled all Moon.° 
 husbandry, Navigation, TraveUing and Travel- 
 ers, and fuch things as belong to thefe. ^j^^^^ ^^ 
 
 Unco the Planet of Mars are fubjedled all Forti- Mars. 
 ications, Armour, Coats fcr defence, Ordnance of 
 Var, Spears, and all Weapons, and whatfoever 
 )elongs to War. ^^^^ ^^ 
 
 Unto the Planer of Mercury are fubjeded all Mercury. 
 \rrifts, all Mechanick Inftruments, and whatfo- 
 :ver is required to Arts. , 
 
 Unto the Planet of Jupiter are fubjeaed all jupUer.^ 
 fudgments and Rights, the whole Levitical Or- 
 ier,all Minifters of ChurcheSjO.namentsof Tem- 
 
 is, all Jewels, and fuch like. 
 Unto the Planet of Venus are fubjeaed what- ,^J[/'^ 
 per things belong to Mufick, as Mufical Inftru- 
 6ts, Venereal exercifes. Loves, Whorings, &c, 
 Unto^Saturn are fubjeaed whofoever work in '^^^^^J* 
 3nd beneath the Earth, as Miners, Pioners, Bearers 
 of che dead. Diggers of Wells, as alfo all Inftru- 
 mcntsferving to either of thefe, &c. 
 
 Pyromancy draws forth its Signs by the Stars of what be 
 the Fire, in common fire by particular fparks, p^^Jj^Jn^^f 
 flames, or noife, dr. in the Mines by Corufcati- ^^ 
 
 ons: 
 
b 
 
 300 ©fttieJ9atuteof€t)ins0. Lib 
 
 ons : in the Firmament by Stars, CometSjFlafhir 
 and Lightning, and Noftock, and the like : im 
 ViTions by Salamandrine and fiery fpirits. f^ 
 
 What the Hydromancy gives its Signs, by the Scars of th 
 SSL^^' Water, by their Overflowings , their fcarcity, dii 
 are. colourings, commotions, new ftrcams, the waHi 
 
 ings away of earthly things : in Magick and Ne 
 croraancy by Nymphs, Vifions and fnpernatura 
 Mongers in the Waters and Sea. 
 •b?sign!of Chaomancy fliews its Signs by the Stars of the 
 Cbaomancy. Air and Wind, by the difcolouring, dcftroying oi 
 all tender and fubtil things, to which the Wind is 
 an enemy, by beating off the Flowers , Leaves , 
 Boughs and Branches. If the Scars of Chaomancy 
 are moved , Spirits fall from the fuperiour Air, 
 and Voices and Anfwers are often heard : Alfo 
 Trees are pulled up by the Roots, and Houfes arc 
 thrown down. There are feen Hobgobhns, Houf- 
 hold Gods, airy Spirits, and Woodmen, &c> al- 
 fo a heavenly Dew and Manna falls upon Trees 
 and Herbs. 
 Ttieficnsof N^cromancy draws forth its figns by the Scars 
 Necroman- of Death, which we call Ev^'ftra^ which are pro* 
 ^' phetical Spirits, figning the Body of the fick an(| 
 
 dying man with red? blue and purple fpots> whi *' 
 are certain figns of Death in the third day ofc^ 
 rifing. They flgn alfo the hands and fi"gers_ 
 men with a clay colour, which are certain iign^ 
 change, either good or bad. When therefore the 
 Stars of Necromancy are moved , then the dead 
 fhew fome wonderful fign,as Bleeding, and voices 
 arc heard out of the Graves; tumults and tremb- 
 lings arife in the places where Bones are laid, and 
 dead men appear in the form and habic cf living 
 
 men 
 
Lib.9: £)fttjfi9atureof€WttSsf; ^oi 
 
 i^cn, and are feen in Vifions, in Looking-glaffesi 
 in Bcrils, in Stones and Waters and divers fliapes. 
 
 \j£vefira<i i. e, fpirits give their figns by beating , 
 ftriking, knocking, falling, cafting, &c. where 
 
 iiithcre is a great hurly burly and noife only heard^ 
 
 eibut nothing feen, all which arc certain (igns of 
 death, prefaging it to hira, in whofc habit they 
 appear, or to fome in what place they are heard, 
 
 Be/ides thefe Signatures many more may be 
 reckoned up. But feeing they bring with therae- 
 vil, hurtful and dangerous fancies and imaginati- 
 ons, and fuperftitions , which may bean occafion 
 not only of fome misfortune, but alfo death ; I 
 (hall over pafs them in iilence. They are prohibi- 
 ted from being revealed to us, feeing they belong 
 to the School of Secrets,and Divine Power. There- 
 fore now I iLall put an end to this Book. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
* 
 
chymiCal 
 
 DitHonary : 
 
 EXPLAINING 
 
 Hard PLAGES and WORDS 
 
 Met withal in the 
 
 WRITINGS 
 
 O F 
 
 T A^IAC ELSRJS 
 
 And other Obfcure 
 
 AUTHORS. 
 
 LOND ON, 
 
 Printed by A. C. for 7. Williams , at the 
 
 Golden Ball in Hofier-'Lane. 1 6j^, 
 
m 
 
 A, 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EXPLICATIOISr 
 
 OF 
 
 HWPLACES.^;/^ WORDS 
 met withal in the Writings of 
 Paracelfus, and other hard Cbj- 
 mical Authors. 
 
 A 
 
 Cetum T>hilofcfhcrum Is a Mercurial 
 Water, or otherwifc \s called Virgins 
 Milk , wherein they fay Mecals a^c 
 diffolved. - 
 
 Acetam Radicale is Vineger di= 
 illed our of its own R^ot, and Matrix, and is 
 commonly called the DiiToIving Water. 
 -r^ii^zw/V^ is a certain kind of Tartar. 
 ty^deeb is our interiour and invilible man 5 
 \vHich reprefems the forms of all things in our. 
 i mind; which afcerward our outward man d^.t^^ 
 
3o5 a cwmicai Diaionatp, 
 
 frame and imicace with its own hands ; both of 
 th^m work according ^o their Nature. 
 
 Aerdadi are corporeal fpirits living in the Air. 
 
 e/£/ do:h not always (ignific Copper, but 
 fometime Gold, or Silver, or any other Metal 
 that is pure, and generated by it fclf, without the 
 mixtion of any other Metal,or Stone; out of fomc 
 fuch kind of Metal, they formerly made and coi- 
 ned money . 
 
 t/£thnn is called Subterranean fire , invlflble 
 and fulphureous, which burns Stones into Coals ; 
 like Jeat in the mountains, winch arc full of Re- 
 fine and Bitumen. 
 
 ^A-fl^hara is the burning of FlelL , or the 
 fubftance of the body iiuo allies. 
 
 tA:thmclsre called fiery {pirit«, or fpiritual 
 men burning in the fire, which appear in divers 
 forms and (liapes, as fiery flames3firebrands,round 
 balls of Coals, and that efpecially in Sulphur 
 mountains. 
 
 A'caii is called all manner of Salt, which is ex- 
 tradied out of Allies , or Calx oi any matter by 
 boiling in Lie. ,. 
 
 Alcf^efty or Altaefiy is (aid to be prepared Mcr- M 
 cury, feme will have it to be Tartar, but thcmij 
 of the Author is more eafily underftood by 
 defcri prion of the preparation of ir, ) 
 
 AUh)mia is the fepaiation of that which h ir; 
 pure from a purer fubf^ance. ^ 
 
 Alcol^ Alcool^oi Alcohol J is a moftfubcilpow-^ 
 dcr of any thing. 
 
 Alcoel vini is the Spirit of Wine re(5lified. 
 
 AUuhrith^ ot^lcHTy or AU^tjfir , is the fam/ 
 thac Sulphur is. 
 
 jilcofo!. 
 
 1^... 
 
Alcofoly or (as fome will have it Aicofol) is fit- 
 •hium^ or Antimony. 
 
 AUndahAl^ or Alhandd is Coloqtilntida. 
 AUmbroth is falc of Mercury, or (alt of Philofo- 
 phers. 
 
 AUmhrot purified is falc of Tartar, and the Ma- 
 ^iftcryofir. 
 
 AlmU^dir is»Verdegreafe. 
 Altey flnmhi isthefweec matter of Lead. 
 Alufar is Manna. 
 
 Amalgam4'\%i\\t making of Gold, Silver, or 
 any other metal into a Paft wich Quickfilvcn 
 
 AmUnthw is 2L ftone like to Alumen plumof urn 
 in naurc and condition ; it is not burnt in the fire, 
 wherefore it is alfo called the Salamander. 
 
 Amidum, or Amilumy is the whiteft Flower 
 made into Bread in the Sun. 
 
 ^mygdaU with Chirurgions is called the fu* 
 perfluous Flelli which grows at the Root of the 
 Tongue. 
 
 Amnia akalifatus is water pafTing through the 
 Chalk of the Earth , out of which Alc-iU is 
 aken. 
 Anachmw is an incorporeal fpirit. 
 Andena is Steel brought from the oriental Coun- 
 ^ ;es, which melts in the fire like other metal, and 
 j^aft into feveral forms. 
 
 ^; 4nAthronyOX Anachthron)\s a kind of Salt grow- 
 . ;'^upon Rocks like white and ftony Mofs , fome 
 tail it Salt nitre. The Ancients tallly thought it to 
 be the Gall of Glafs, feeing ic is rather the Gall of 
 Stones. 
 
 Anatrftm is Glafs melted into divers colours, 
 which they call fmaltttm, ox terra SriraffnU^- 
 
 }t Z An(h9t 
 
3o8 5* (C^^micai aJittionarr. 
 
 ^«f/jo/ in Vegetables figniHes Rntemary Flow 
 crs, and, in Mecalsic fignifies die Elixir or Q^nnt-j 
 eftence of Gold. 
 
 jinatomia Effata is the mother of Difeafes. 
 
 Anticar is Borax, 
 
 Anatris^ or ^ntartSy is Mercury* 
 
 Aniaday (ignifies an eternal Spring ^ a new 
 World to come, or Paradife 
 
 Aniadftm is a cdtftial Body planted in us 
 Chriftians by ihe Holy Ghoft, by the holy 
 Sacraments, or it is the (piritual man regenerated 
 inas. 
 
 Aniada are the fruits and vercues of Paradife 
 and Heaven, alfo the Sacraments of Chriftians, in 
 Natural Philosophy it fignifies the Aftral vertues, 
 and celeftial, as they conduce by their influence 
 unto long life. 
 
 Aniadta is the efficacy of things. 
 
 Animz is our Mercury. 
 
 Anodyna are Medicines procurino fleep. 
 
 Anodtis is that which is feparated from the nu- 
 triment by the Kidnies. 
 
 AnontagiHs is the Philofophcrs Stone. 
 
 Anima Satttrni is the fwectnefs of Lead. 
 
 Anntfi Piatonicm is a common month^or an z{ 
 
 Annus Aniadin is a long life. 
 
 Annora is the Allies of Eggs, or Qiiick-limeJ 
 . jimtajier 5 
 
 Aliocab S are Salt Armoniack, \^" 
 
 A!emz.idir^ ^'^ 
 
 Anterttis Mercury. 
 
 Antera is a Medicine extra6^ed out of Hya- 
 cinths, alfo that yellow which grows in the mid- 
 dle of Lilhes, and the like. 
 
 AnthonoTy 
 
a Ci^^mical Diftionarp; so? 
 
 j4nthumr^ or Athunar^ is a lurnace. 
 
 Aphurtfmiu is a general rule in Phyfick, taken 
 forgranced. 
 
 AijHaceUflis is rcdlified Winc» being in fome 
 fort made like to the heaven For fubalcy and purc- 
 
 AcfHACtUflina is mercurial Water. 
 
 Aq»<)i corrodeKS is Vineger, and all coirofive Li- 
 quor. 
 
 Ai^uafecum vini is that which is made of the 
 A/lies of the Lees cf Wine, diflolved upon amai- 
 ble like O) I of Tartar. 
 
 AijHA Ulrica' a is madeof mucilaginous things, 
 as Sugar, Julepsj and the like. 
 
 AijHa fermanens is that which is made of two 
 0ioft perfed metalline bodies by a Philofophical ' 
 {olufion. 
 
 Ai^tii SaturnU is that which retains in it felf the 
 Nature of the three Principles, as are Bath-wa- 
 ters, whith are naturally medicinable. 
 - e/^^«^/o/^e«; is diftilled Vineger* 
 
 A^Hafttris a Vifion repreCenting fomething to 
 eyes , fomecimes which truly is noc> bat only 
 pearance. 
 
 '^uiU is the Queen of Birds , and it is ufed 
 a!t Armoniack by reafon of its lightnefs in 
 .V :imation. But Paraeelftu will have it in many 
 /la'ccs to be taken for Mercury precipitated with 
 Gold. 
 
 A^Hila Philofophorttm is the Mercury of metals> 
 Le, metal reduced into its firfl: matter. 
 
 Arhr M^ris is Coral, which grows like a llirub 
 LRche Sea. 
 
 X 3 Arcanum 
 
 t. 
 
$m a €t)?mical jDiftioriar^i 
 
 Arcanum in general as it fif^mfies any thing that 
 is hid, loin Paracelfm it fignifiesany fecret in- 
 corporeal vertue in natural things, partaking of 
 a perpetual and immortal life , derived upon it 
 from Heaven , which alfo may be multiplied 
 by the Spagirical Arc above itc former ccnditi-' 
 on. 
 
 " Ar$haltes , is in Paracelftts the foundation of 
 the Earth, or a Pillar, which feems not to be up- 
 held by its fellows, but as it were by a wonderful 
 providence of God. 
 
 Arch^itu is the highefl: , exalced and inviiible 
 fpirir, which is fcparated from bodies, is exalted, 
 and afcends. the univcrfal occult Nature, Ope- 
 s'ator, and Phyfitian in all things. So Archia* 
 trus is the fuprcam Phy(ician of Nature , which' 
 diftributes to every thing and every member their 
 peculiar Aicheius occultly by Ares. Alfo Ar- 
 cheius is the firft in Nature , the moft fecret ver- 
 tue , producing all things out of lliafte , being 
 {upported by a Divine Power- Ares is the Dif- 
 penfer of Nature hid in all the three Principle* 
 whence every thing hath its being, and which dj 
 pofeth to all things in a particular form , 
 and fiibflsncej that it may put on its own pre 
 fpecifical Nature, and not anorhers. But 
 muft note the difi^rence betwixt thefe thrc^^^vi 
 nature, to fpeak after the manner of SchoolsV^ 
 Ihaftes is the fubftance of the highefl: genus? or 
 kind, confifting in the firft univerfal matter of 
 all things, which it doih firft difpofe into three 
 kinds, vU. into Sulphur, Mercury and Salt, 
 The Archeius is the firft Difpenfer of Nature, and 
 then ic producedi all things into ics next genera or 
 
 kinds. 
 
9 C^^mical Diaibttarp; 3 1 1 
 
 kinds. Then comes Ares, anodurdifpenfer of 
 Nature which producech from kinds, or genera, 
 forms and fpecies inro individuals. 
 
 Ardentia are fuch things which having recei- 
 ved no food, are by rheir own nature fubjedt to 
 burning-, 2s Amber , Turpentine, Jear, and fuch 
 hke. 
 
 Aridttra is the total confumptlon of the body y 
 and parts thereof. 
 
 Arks crtidum is drops falling in the month of 
 Jt4rf?y\\kz ^JMay dew, 
 
 Aromata are all fuch things which yield a fwee: 
 and grateful fmel!. 
 Arcfh is Mandrake, 
 -/^r/^^fri^isfublimed Arfenick. 
 ArfenicHm is the flafhing of Metals, or the Sale 
 of them, or o^ S^nttrny which in fome places is cal- 
 led Artamk^y or Artanech^ 
 
 Artetifcpu is he that wants any member. 
 ArthQtcfim is red Oyl, artificially cxtraded out 
 of the Rcots of Herbs , digefted with Bread in 
 dung. 
 m^ Afpbdttim is a Bitumen extracfled from the 
 KMud of the Earth, and Water, and is like 
 ■[Pitch. 
 
 Wl- Afcendenth figna are called either the Stars of 
 P^the Firmament of Heaven, or the fydcreal Spi- 
 f rifs. 
 
 Af-jihatHm is an Itch bred betwixt the Skin 
 and the Flelh , like Worms ; and if the Skin 
 j be crullied , long threds with black heads come 
 I forth. 
 
 AJfaU is called a Nutmeg. 
 A f alia vermis are \hik Worms which breed 
 X 4 in 
 
3ii a C'&vmical DiaionatB^ 
 
 in Wood, or becwixc cwo Boards, and ihey are 
 CjUcd I'iredBttes, 
 
 Aflhma is a Dlfeafe of the Lungs, caufing diffi- 
 culty of breach ng. 
 
 i/iflrum is in this place called the vertue and 
 power got by the preparation, of things as the Star 
 of Sulphur is its infl^min^, which is turned into 
 rncft excellent Oyl : fo the Sar of Salt is its refo- 
 Tucion into Water or Oyl, \thich thereby receives 
 more vertues than it had before. The Star of Mer- 
 cury is its fubliraation, by which it acquires a won- 
 derful power and vertuej greater and more fubdl 
 than its natural. 
 
 Afirum ex igne is a burning fire of great im- 
 prelfion. 
 
 AihanoTfOx Athan.tr^ is a Furnace in the Spa- 
 girical Art» but efpecially a reverbcrarory, fomc- 
 cimes of other uTe as the Artificer pleafeth. 
 
 Attr.imentum fignifies divers things according 
 to the Adje6live that is put to it : as that 
 which Shoemakers ufe , is Copperis, fuch as is 
 red within : that which Writers ufe, is called Ink, 
 footy, and it is called Blacking, alfo all kinds of 
 Copperis. 
 
 tyittraUiva are cslkd magnetick Medi 
 ments, which have a power to draw to th 
 (uch things as ere compounded of the like atti 
 dives. 
 
 AugHYiJla is called a kpeiftitious Artift who 
 pra6lileth his An in Looking-glaffcs, Cryftalsand 
 ijn Waters, efpecially in the finging and flying of 
 Birds, that he may prefage by them 9 he alfo ob- 
 serves ocher Rites io the fame eaufc. - 
 {.--■•■ 
 
 Amt^m 
 
a C^pmical Oiaiottarp: i 1 3 
 
 j4firum pUnatumls thac which [hey call Leaf- 
 Gold, or niallcated Gold. • 
 
 Aurum petahile is Liquor of Gold, without any 
 Corrofive, which very few know, yea of thofe who 
 daily prepare it ra[her to the deftruf^ion than 
 health of men. 
 
 Attrum vita is precipitated Gold , and rever- 
 berated inro the higheft degree of rednefs, like 
 Ground Cinnabar. That is the beft which is 
 made, and precipitated with its proper Mercu- 
 ry. 
 
 Avis Hermetic is the Mercury of Philoio- 
 phcrs, which afcends , and then defcends for 
 noujillimcnr.. 
 
 Attrum v'tvum is fometimes taken for Quick* 
 filver. 
 
 AuftromantU \s z czxi^'m kind of Superftition 
 invented concerning the obfervation of Winds) as 
 when the Stars of the Winds break forth into 
 great vehcrriency,contrary to their cuftom,whencc 
 men that are more idle than rational, pronounce 
 a prefage of fomething to come. 
 
 AxungtA de cMitmiaj or Mumia deMedullu is 
 the marrow of Bones, 
 
 Az.emafor is Minnium, or Cinnabar. 
 
 y^^3^A is Quick- filver extra ded out of any bo- 
 dy, and it is properly cilled the Mercury of the 
 body,but in Paracelftu it is the univerfal Medicine 
 of thmgs. 
 
 Balneum 
 
J 14 g ci^rmical Difioitar?; 
 
 B 
 
 BAlneum L^arU, or ^arid^ as many call ir, h 
 a Furnace for Daftjllation containing Waterj, 
 in which, being warm, Chymical veffels are puc 
 for the putrefaction of the matter which they con- 
 tain 9 as alfo for their feparation, and for the per- 
 forming the operations of that kind of moift a- 
 fcenfions. 
 
 Balnefim rorii is a Furnace, in which the vefTcIs 
 of Diftillation are pat over the vapour of the wa- 
 ter only, that the vapour do not touch the body : 
 alfc ir is called a vaporous furnace. 
 
 "Baifamam is a fubftancc of bodies preferving 
 things from pucrefadion. It is internal, and 
 external. Inreinal in man is a certain tempe- 
 rate futftance, not bitter, nor fweer, nor four, not 
 mineral Salt, but the Salt cf Liquor, which pre* 
 ferves the body ftrongly from putrefaction. Ex- 
 ternal is Turpentine, which hath never come to 
 the fire, but is digefled. 
 
 Ballamnm dc Aiumm is that which is cxtraClec 
 from fleih. 
 
 Balf, mum Ekment&rum externum is a Liquor 
 of external Mercury,!. e» the Mummie of external 
 Elements, one of the three Principles, the firma- 
 mental efTence of things, 
 
 Baul is Urine. 
 
 BAHrac is any kind of Brine. 
 
 Berillus isa Cryftalline Looking-glafs fuperfli- 
 tioufly confecrated by the Augurs. 
 
 ^eHl' 
 
Berilliflica is an Art of obferving Viflons in 
 thofe kinds of Glafc. 
 
 Bifmuttim is the lightcft , whitcft and bafeft 
 kind ot Lead. 
 
 BUtimea is a certain kind of flimy mud extra- 
 (5^ed out of water, and is like to Pitchy and is as ic 
 were the Pitch of the Earth. 
 
 Botin is Turpentine. 
 
 ^of^or are wheales, or puftles. , 
 
 BrajfadelU^ or BrajfatelU, is Adders-tongue. 
 
 Brunm is Sc. Anthony's fire. 
 
 BrfiU is an influence of a Celeftial Vertuc, 
 which by Brutes is manifefted to men, as in the 
 Sallendine by the Swallow, in Salt the ufe of a 
 Glyfter by the Stork , and many more of that 
 kind. 
 
 Butyrnm Saturni is that which above is called 
 AlUy^ and it is the fwectnefs of Lead. 
 
 CAheU, or Cahaliay is a moft fecrct fclence, 
 which is faid to be delivered by Divine In- 
 fpiration, together with the Law cf Mofes , the 
 I^ehrerv Rahhies aflerting the fame. The Perfi- 
 ans were moft diligent feekers of this Art, being 
 alfo ProfefTors cf the fame, as appears by their 
 calling cf their wife men. They call their Priefts 
 wife men, and moft skilful of all fecrets, fuch as 
 were ihofe three that came to Chrift out of the 
 Eafl to worfhip him, and not Kings, as the igno- 
 rant vulgar think them to be. It was not fet down 
 
 in 
 
ii6 <x cljpmical JDiSionarp; 
 
 jn writing , but delivered by word of mouth. 
 Nou'af.era while fupernidous men, a kind of 
 Apes, he?^an to fpatfer it with their Pen, fo 
 that at lad it is degererated into monftrous fupcr- 
 ftidoii; by which means alfo Magick, which is the 
 true Wifdom that is received by Divine Infpira- 
 tion , is accounted in thefe times Necromancy , 
 and Nigromancy , fo thar it is an offence to be a 
 V'ife man, and he that' profeffeth it openly fliall 
 caft himfcif into danger. But to teach ifhe foo- 
 liiLnefs of Infidels puLlickly is commendable, 
 and a gifr of fin^uLn Wifdom, and no man is 
 judged wife, but he thar is the greateft fool, 
 
 Caballi^ or Cahales^ are Ghofts, and A dial Stars 
 of men that died before their time. 
 
 Cdcedoiium tart^rum is an off:n/ive matter in 
 mans body, which comes by reafon of the dthiX 
 of the expuliive faculty in not expelling what is 
 feparatcd, 
 
 Cafa isChamphir. 
 
 CalcAnthnm is Vitriol. 
 
 Cakinaium mrjm is called all that which is 
 made fweec by the Spagirical Art, which of its 
 own nature was not fo, as the fweetnefs of Mercu- 
 ry, of Lead, of Salt, or the like, which alfo is cal- 
 led their Soul, and doth quickly confohdace any 
 Wound. 
 
 Calcinatftm minm is all that which is naturally 
 fweer, and is very healmg, as Sugar, Manna, fju- 
 iicy of the Wood, Noftock, and the like. 
 
 Callena is a kind of Salc-petre. 
 
 Caleruth is a fign of a dcdre to the firi^perfe- 
 tuHtn^ as when any thing defires to return into its 
 firft matter from whence ic haj its original. 
 
 CillUtU 
 
a C^pntical Di8ionar?; 517 
 
 Callutte are yellow mulliromes upon Juniper 
 crees, 
 
 CaIx MercHrii Is preci pleated Mercury. 
 
 Calx Ventrif is Verdegreafe. 
 
 Calx Saturni is Minium* 
 
 C* / V Jcf^if IS fpinc of Tin. 
 
 Calx Mortis is Crocus of Steel or Iron. 
 
 Calx So' f^ is calcined Gold. 
 
 Calx Lund'is the Azure flower of Silver. 
 
 Calx J>£r mane ns^ Qt fixa^ is an incombuftible 
 matter; 
 
 Calxpregrimrtim \s Tartar. 
 
 Calx lignoYHm is the Allies of Wood. 
 
 Calcitii is a Scone out of which Brafs is boiled. 
 
 Chaomancy is an Arcof prefagingby the Air. 
 
 (haos^ belides the conFufed and unlliaped mat- 
 ter of all things, is in ParaceJftu taken for tt^ Air; 
 it is alfo taken for IHiafte,or llliaftro. 
 
 C/^ff?«iisih! VVhiteof Egs. 
 
 Camhuca is an Apc(teme5or Ulcer in the Groin. 
 
 Ca^tit cQYvi'\% Antimony. 
 
 Cayut mortuHTH is the feces remaining after di- 
 {filiation and fublimation. 
 
 Carhonej cosli are the Stars. 
 
 CarhuncpilH4 is an Apofteme, or peftilent Ul- 
 .-cer» 
 
 (^ardoninm is a medicinablc Wine made of 
 Heibs. 
 
 C arena is the twentieth part of a drop. 
 
 Cajfatum i^ weak and dead Blood in the Veins 
 obftia6ting the motion of the ^ood Blood. 
 
 Cafeiu prepAratm is the vil'cous reiidency re- 
 maining in the bottom of the milk that runs cue 
 of the chcefe, 
 
 CatbimJA 
 
3 18 a Clbptnlcal Diatonat?; 
 
 LathimU is the Spume of Silver. 
 C atidavfilpis rtihicHndi is Minium of Lead. 
 CauteUin Spagirical Art is a certain kind of in- 
 duftiy i^otren by a habit, whereby the Profeffors 
 of the Art do morecsfily undergo their Labours, 
 and pcvfe6l their oferations. 
 
 Caut^rium is a Chirurgical Inftrument , which 
 opens the skin with burning : alio it is a medicine 
 that efi-e^s the fame, but without pain. 
 Cedtinm are dull wits. 
 
 Cenigdam , or C^ningotdm is a Chirurgical in- 
 flrumenc wherewith the Cr^niptmis opened in fits 
 of the Epilepfie. 
 
 Ceniotemittm is Mercury prepared for the Vene- 
 real difeafe. 
 
 Cinifcattim is the fame as Calcinatnm^i. e, burnt 
 to afh^s. 
 
 Cervtcftltt is the fpirit made out of the bone 
 which is in the heart of a Hart. 
 
 CharaUer veneris is love, which is in flcad of a 
 fliicld in keeping off danger. 
 ChervaisCatapfttia^ i. e, the Hearb Spurge. 
 Cheiri in Paracelftu if it be put abfolutely with- 
 out any adjedion, and if it be fpoken of Mine- 
 rails, ic fignifies Quickfilver, if of Vegetables, 
 Vegetable flowers. But when it is found with an 
 ad jcclion after this manner, flos Cheirit it figni* 
 fies the white Elixir made offilver, z% Flos Antboi 
 fignifies the red Elixir. 
 
 Ci6fr/oisthe occult accidental vertue oftheex^^ 
 ternal Elements, and not the qualities of hear, and 
 cold, and the like. 
 
 CherioniHm is that in which Nature cannot be 
 altered, as Cryftal, which xi fo hardened by na- 
 ture. 
 
tiire,that it cannoc be melted as that whichjs made 
 by Art. 
 
 Cheruhin is a celeftial vertuc, and influence, dc-, 
 minacion, and power above all dominations, and 
 powers, proceeding from God, and defcending 
 upon the earth, and upon all men, Ofchisdi» 
 vine glory Paracelfus f peaks largely in the expo/iti- 
 ons of the Plalms oi David. 
 
 Chifer MineraJe is of fome interpreted Gold, 
 but I judge it by what goes before to be the Sul- 
 phur of any Metal. 
 
 Chiromancy according to Paracelftu doth not 
 treat of chclineamencs of the hands only, but alfo 
 of the whole body, and not only of men, but all 
 natural things bcfides. 
 
 Chymia is the art of Separating pure from im- 
 pure, and of making effences. 
 
 Chyhfir, or Cibur is Sulphur. 
 
 C^r^/ofo//^ is a kind of green earth like Verdc- 
 greafe. 
 
 C^r)/o/ is Gold » 
 
 Chymtu is Feces. 
 
 Cinsritium is Ciment of Gold, or Silver, which 
 .ome call Regale, 
 \iLi CitrinHlm jS pale Cryftal. 
 1^ Citrintilum is a tranfparent iaft, made out of 
 V calaned virnal, 
 wr CitrinuU is a bliftering Hearb called Crow-foot. 
 
 C(/?, or Kifi^ is the quancuy of zwo Gallons of 
 Wine. 
 
 Clijf^fi is the occult vercue of things returning 
 from whence thty came, as the vercue of an heirb 
 into cheroocin Aufumne. 
 
 Co^gttlaiio is-chc making of a thin thing thich ' 
 
 Coslttm 
 
5«o a c^^micai £)iaiortarp; 
 
 Cc^mn Spagiricftm is the upper part of a Pliilo- 
 fophical vcfl'cU 
 
 Cwlum PhilnfopborHm is any quinteflence, or 
 univerfal medicine, cfpecially the Philofophers 
 ftonr. 
 
 Cceli flanetarum are the proper orbs, and their 
 fpheres. 
 
 CementHm is a dry Corrofion, when any Me- 
 talline body is calciiied with faltS) or fuch like 
 drying things. 
 
 Cohobatio is the ofcen drawing of a liquor from 
 its body, being ofc pile upon it. 
 
 Cohopbj or Cohop is the fame as Cohohation. 
 
 Cohos is whatfoevcr ihe skin contains in the 
 whole body, 
 
 Colcothar is calcined Vitrial, or the caput M^ r- 
 ^«««3ofoylofvitrial. 
 
 ColUtenaais an hiarb called LyonsoFoot, or a 
 certain ftipcick medicine, 
 
 ColliqHation is melting, as Mccalls are melted. 
 
 Co///V;i is Tartar rcfolved in the bowells, or a 
 fixe difeafe in the Colon gut. 
 
 CoUritium is a Liquor compounded of the cot- 
 rofive materials of Metals. 
 
 ^ozwf/^ is half a drop. 
 
 Cemplexio is the nz:mt of any part, orthequaii 
 ty of heat, and cold, and the like. 
 
 Compo/tiuw put abfolutely is a body not fepa 
 rated. 
 
 Cor.firmamentum is the body of a ftarin man, or 
 an Altral body. 
 
 ConfortativAy or Conforlantia are medicInetJ 
 which comfort the heart, aad ftrcngthcn Na- 
 ture, 
 
 ** Con' 
 
 i 
 
Congdativa are Medicines which ftop any 
 flux. 
 
 ' dnglHteri is that wh'ch by putrefaction is tur- 
 ned- into a vifcous macrer. 
 
 ConfolidativA are external Medicine? which 
 Chirurgions u(e in heahng and drying Wounds^ 
 and Ulcers. 
 
 ConftelUtio is the inmpredion of (uperiour Stars, 
 or their vertues upon inferiour bodies. 
 
 ConfiriCliva are ftiptick Medicaments which 
 Chirurgions ufe. 
 
 Contorfio is a torment of the Bowels, 
 
 ContrMio is a weaknefs of the members, and 
 drawing of them togiethcr, 
 
 ^onfervativa are Medicaments which preferve 
 Nature from putrefadich , being fuch things as 
 are full of Aftral vercue. 
 
 CodftrHfn is the middle parr of the Diaphrag- 
 ma. 
 
 Cor amongft Metals is called Gold. 
 
 Cflr^4//*«!» is Copper. 
 
 Cornii eervi is amongft the Chymifls the Njofe 
 of a Still 5 amongft <c P^acelfw a vulnerary 
 'Herb.- 
 
 CbtfHi is the fubje^l in which the vertues of 
 iiiin^s lie hid. 
 
 Corpora calffiU Sf^g)rorHm are Aftral verruey 
 
 their matter. 
 
 Corpora [npercaleflU are fuch bodies that are 
 not known by fenfe, but by t eafon. 
 
 Corpiu invijibile is the Soul, which is corpored 
 in rcfped of its fuftentatioa^ and iayilible by rea' 
 fon of its (piritualicy* 
 
 I 
 
 (jorrofvd 
 
CorrofivA are Medicines that Chirurgions ufe to 
 cat ofFfuperflnous flefhi 
 
 Cortex cJ^^^-AJ is the Vinegcr of Philofophen. 
 
 Corufius is Moufe-car. 
 
 Cotorcntum is a Liquor. 
 
 Crmrfalis is Salt feparatcd from the firft Salt 
 by fault of the fecond digeftion. 
 
 Cttcurhita is a vefTel Uke a gourd, 
 
 Cjd^i^ is Litharge, 
 
 Gydar is J Hf iter, 
 
 CyfhantHm is a diftillatory vcflcl, or the Art it 
 (elf. 
 
 D 
 
 DArdo is a fucceflive generation by propai 
 gat ion. 
 
 *D aura is Hellehor, 
 
 JDemBtinm Upfas is fudden death. 
 
 Defcenforinm is a Chymical Furnace, in whicH 
 the Liquor falls downward from the grofs mat- 
 ter. 
 
 Derfes is an occult vapour of the earth , bj 
 reafon of which all kind of Wood grows and 
 creafeth. 
 
 Deli^fiium is a cold defcenfion , when coagd* 
 latcd bodies are diffolved into a liquor in any cold 
 place. 
 
 Diaceltatejfon is a fpecial remedy againft Fea- 
 vcrs. 
 
 Diameter Spagiricfu is a temperament. 
 
 ^hfenfia is Alchmilk U, Ladies mantle. 
 
^Uphanum is that which is era nf parent. 
 
 DUfhsreticHm is a fweating Medicine. 
 
 Diftfatyrion is a Confcdion provoking luft. 
 
 DUteJfAdelton is preci pirated Mercury. 
 
 Vienez, are Spirits that dwell amongft hard 
 Stones. 
 
 Di^eflio is a Chymical Operation, alluding to 
 the digeftion of a mans ftomach, in which and by 
 which the matter is deco6led into a reparation of 
 pure from impure. 
 
 BifcM fdis is Quick-filver made oat of 
 Gold. 
 
 Divindtio Is prophecy ing, or foretelling, 
 
 Divertalinmi or Dlvertelltim , is a generation 
 made by Elements. 
 
 DracunculHi is BraffaUlU^ I e^ Adders tongue* 
 
 Dfitklech is the cavity of an Impoflcme. 
 
 DMcleckissL kind of Tartar in Mans body, or 
 tke Stone in the Bladder, or any other part which 
 is fpongious and dangerous. 
 
 Dftenech is Antimony. 
 
 Dftlcedo Satttrni is Jltey^ or Cerufe. 
 
 7)ftrda!ts arc corporeal Spirits inhabiting 
 Trees. 
 
 Diota is a circulating vcffeL 
 
 Y % fdcli 
 
314 ^ CtiHtnical jDiaionacp: 
 
 E. 
 
 EDelptw is any one that prognoftieatcs by the 
 Nature of the Elements, 
 
 Edir is Steel or Iron, 
 
 EleUrnm is fometimes taken for Amber, but 
 in Paracelfm it is a mixture of a compound me- 
 tal made by melting all the (even Planets into 
 one body. 
 
 ElementHm in Paracelftu h the corruptible and 
 cranfienc eflfencc of the world , and of all things 
 which are fubje(5l to change, 
 
 Elephat is ^cjha fortii* 
 
 Elixir is properly a ferment , the Icaft part of 
 which turns the whole mafs of any thirg into 
 its own kind: alfo it is theeflence ofanythmg. 
 
 Elevation is making a thing fubtile. 
 
 EmttnQortHm is the place of cxpulfion of any 
 excrement. 
 
 Emchiianttm is that which hath long life. 
 
 Sntali is flaked Allum , and fometimes it is 
 made Ipagirically of falc Gem. 
 
 Enur IS an occult vapour of the water,by whic 
 ftcnes are bred. 
 
 Erodinitsm is the fign of any thing to come. 
 
 Efcara , or Eftphara , is black and dead fleili ^ 
 caufed by t Cauftick , and is commonly called 
 <hc Efcar. 
 
 W^^A are Wheals. 
 
 Ejjatum (jfentiali is the cffential and power 
 that is in Vegetables ani Minerals. 
 
 \ 
 
EJfAtumvinHm is rciflified fpirit of Wine« 
 EJftntiA ijttmta, according co Paracelftu hisdc- 
 finicion, is a certain matter extra(5ied from things 
 purified from all manner of impurity and cor- 
 ruption, whereby it is made incorruptible. 
 
 £jfda is a Tmdure made by the hcae of the 
 Sun jn the face, or any other part of the body. 
 
 EJfodinftm is a certain prefage of things to come 
 by their marks. 
 
 Sfibknemtu is a moft corrupt Impofteme feed- 
 ing upon the whole member, as a Wolf. 
 
 iveftrum is a prophetical fpirit , which prcfa* 
 geth byligns, or fomething going before, 
 
 Excrementa are all fuperfluous things ejeded 
 hy Nature. 
 
 ExitHra is any Apofteme which cafts out mac- 
 Ker. 
 
 Exaltatio is the fubtili2ing of any thing. 
 Sxorcifia is a faperftitious Artift which caiUup 
 Spirits. 
 
 ExtroEinm is that which is extracted out of 
 rorporeai concretion, the groffnels being left be* 
 lind. 
 M^^ich is Salt. 
 
 
 Y } Fdl 
 
32tf a Cl^iral jDtilonatrp; 
 
 FAha is the third part of a fcruple. 
 FahhUis the flower of Beans, 
 - Fel Draconis is Qo-ick-iilverout of Tin, 
 Felvitri is the fpumeof Glafs. 
 
 Fermenfum is a fixt matter , which reduceth a 
 matter to its own nature and fixednefs. 
 " Fktu cutis is a Wart growing to the skin upon 
 Horfes legs, and it is a Medicine to help Difeafes 
 of the Matrix. 
 
 Fido is called Qaick-fllver, and fomtimes Goldo 
 
 Fida is Silver^and fometimes Gold. 
 
 Filiiu Htiius Did is the Philofophers ftone. 
 
 Filuffi arfenicale is the Philofophers ftonc. 
 
 Fiwus ecfuinus IS a digeftion made any way j^ 
 either by Horfe-dung, or warm Afhes, or Water. • 
 
 Fihratio is draining a thing thorough a woollen 
 cloth, or paper, d'f. 
 
 FUga arc fpirits which know the occult fccrej 
 of men. 
 
 Flos cheiri is the effence of Gold. 
 
 FlosfeEiarum Croe is the Flower of Nutmeg, i 
 ^sfome will, of Saffron. 
 
 Fedula is a kind of mudirom. 
 
 Fixatio is making that which flies ia the fire to 
 pndure the fire. 
 
 Folia daure are leaves of Gold. 
 
 Fons Philcfophorpim is Balneum Maris. 
 
 Forma rerum are caljed the influences of cele- 
 ^ial bodies, which initriour bodies receive from 
 
 Khem, 
 
them, or they a* c -he vertaes of any thing. 
 
 Formic£ are little impoftems like Warts. 
 
 Ffigile is an Apofteme in the Ears. 
 
 Fnligo Metallorum is {omecimes called Arfenicfc 
 and fometimes ic is taken for Mercury. 
 
 Fulmen is purified Silver. 
 
 Fttmigatio is calcining any thing with a (harp 
 corroding fume. 
 
 Ftifio is mclting» or making any thing flow ia 
 the fire. 
 
 a 
 
 (jamathti are ftones in which celeftia! vertues and 
 (upernatural conftellations are impreflcd , being 
 marked with wonderful Characters, and Images. 
 Gamahi are Images imprcfled by a fupercc- 
 leftial influence. 
 
 ^Amonynnm is that one only Anatomy of all 
 things. 
 
 ^laciei dfira is Cryflal. 
 I GUdUlis is an Art whereby, according to the 
 
 1^ courfe of the firmament oftheftars, Swords are 
 Wfo forged that Anvils cannot refift them, whence 
 ■Tic is othcrwife called incnfma, 
 ^ Gelion is a Leaf. 
 
 Geomancy is the moft known Art of the earth, 
 but in this place it is taken for the ftars of the 
 earth, manifefting themfelves to men,fo that there- 
 by they may take fome ground for prefaging, 
 Geluta is the Herb called Chameleon, 
 Gmma tartarea is called the ftonc that is genc- 
 Y 4 raced 
 
st§ a ctismical DiSionatp; 
 
 yated of diaphajioas and peripicuous Tartar/ 
 
 Genula is a Plant degenerating by rranfplanting 
 ofa Parfnip. 
 ' i^iW is a metallick Medicine. 
 
 Cigantes are men exceeding the bounds of Na- 
 ture. 
 
 Glmen is any vifcous niattcr in the body> from 
 whence proceed many obftinace Difeafes. 
 GlHtinis tenacitas is the Mineral P.efine. 
 
 ^luta is the efficacy of tenacious pitch. 
 
 Gmmi are called homunciones^ or rather corpo- 
 real fpirits, living under the earth , or elfc Pygmies 
 of a cubit lon^. 
 
 Graca iM^gia is a fuperftitious Art invented 
 by the ^r^drfw/, by which they made things ap» 
 pear, which really were not. 
 
 Gravus is the ftone Porphyritgsythc u^^e of which 
 is as of a fjiarble to diffolve things in thecold. 
 
 GrilUy or grillus , is Vitriol diffolved of its 
 own accord into water. 
 
 Gmrini are men living by the influence of Hea- 
 ven. 
 
 Gum A is Quick (ilvet* 
 
 Gt$mkula IS Valerian. 
 
 Gf4$u roftcea is a rednefs, efpecially in the face ^ 
 like that Tin6^urc, which is in ^hc beginning o||^ 
 a Lepro/ieo 
 
 liAiu 
 
aci?micalDia{ona«i?; 3u 
 
 a 
 
 HAdid is Iron. 
 Hal is Salt. 
 Harmel is the feed of wild Rue. 
 Haro is a kind of Fern. 
 Hel is Honey. 
 • HenricHs ruheus is the Colcathar of VitriofJ 
 
 Hellebria is a kind of black Hellebore bearing 
 red flowers. 
 
 Helutropinm is Paracelftts hi's balm. 
 HeUfmiddn is a balfamical Mummie. 
 Hinicula^ genicnU^ or gttmicula is Valerian. 
 Homunculuj in Paracelfus is a man made arti- 
 ficially, the procefs whereof you may fee at large 
 in the foregoing Treatife, p^ig, 8. arid fomedmcs 
 they are taken for fuperftitious Images. 
 ffcreen is the the Mercury of Gold, 
 Hfimor viU is the radical moiftarc, 
 Hydri are Juices or Fruits. 
 Hydromancy is an Art taken fromtheftarsof the 
 ^ water, when they manifeft themfelves to men, as 
 B^rom unufual inundations, and the like, 
 W^- Tlydroplpcr is Arfmart tinged with red fpecks | 
 ^ or fpocs. 
 
 j^ff 
 
^ g CjijHmical DiSionat?^ 
 
 I. 
 
 IAff'a is the Herb of the Trinity.' 
 Ifteritia ruhea is an "Erijipelas.. 
 
 Idea is a figure of a thing conceived in the ima* 
 gination as a perpetual being, or a pattern of all 
 things of that nature. 
 
 Idiou arc contemners of true Arts » although 
 they are skilful Profeffors of the falfc. 
 ' JefahAch is fupernaturah 
 
 JgnU /ff(?»/i is the Element it fclfoffire. 
 
 Jgnis PerftcHs is a hot burning Ulcer. 
 
 Ignis frtiintii adepttis is the quinteflencc of Vi- 
 triol re6li fied with Tartar. 
 
 llech frimiirf^ is the firft Principle. 
 
 lUch fupernaturale is a conjun6lion of the fu- 
 pernacural and firmamental ftars, with the infe- 
 riour ftars of terrcftrial things, and with wine. 
 
 llecb magnum is an Afcendent or a Scar of a 
 Medicine , which together is taken with it > in 
 which alfo it is hid ; and as the fuperiour ftars 
 are in the firmament, fo alfo are the inferiour i 
 man. 
 
 lUch CYHdum is a corapofition of the firft matter 
 of the three firft principles. 
 
 Ileidus is the Elemerttary Air : but in men it is 
 the fpirit which pafTeth through all his members. 
 
 lliafler, or Iliaflesy or Iliadumi is the firft mat- 
 ter of all things, confifting of Sulphur, Mercury , 
 and Salt ; and it is fourfold according to the num- 
 ber of the Elements, The firft is the Chaos of the 
 
 Earth, 
 
 a 
 
 I* 
 
Earth, the fecond is the Chaos of the Water, the 
 third is the Chaos of the Air, the fourth the Cha- 
 os of the Fire. Alfo there arc four IHa(hi of men 
 rcfpefting long life. 
 
 Ilhfier primHs is the term of life, or the lifeic 
 fcif, or the balfora df life in man. 
 
 Iliafter fecmdfts is the terra of the balfom, and 
 the life which we have by Elements, and things e- 
 lementated. 
 
 Iliafter tertim the terin of the balfom , or life 
 which we have by the quinteflence of things. 
 
 lUafttr magnuSy or ^n^tf/s h of the mind,, er 
 ibul caught up into another world, as Emchzad 
 ElUh were. 
 
 llhfler in general is called the occulc vertuc of 
 Nature, by which all things areincreafed? nourifli- 
 cd, multiplied, and flouriOi 5 of which you (hall 
 read more at large in the Book of Paracelfus con- 
 cerning the Generations of Meteors. 
 
 Imagines are MetaUick figures, or effigies, in 
 which the celeftial powers operate, 
 
 Imaginatio is a ftar in man , a celeftial and fu- 
 percelcftial body, 
 
 Imprejfimes are fruits as of ftars in inferiour 
 things. 
 
 Imfurum Alcali is fpume svhich is taken from 
 it in purging of ir, • > 'w^iJO ' 
 
 Inanimati are Pigmies. 
 
 Inclinatio is a power of Nature which is mani- 
 fefted in man as he is prone to this or that thing. 
 
 Incarnativa are Chirurgeons Medicaments bree- 
 ding fielli and skin in Wounds or Ulcers. 
 
 Inctibtts is a nodurnal fpirit deceiving Women 
 ^n their fleep, as if they coupled with them. 
 
55* a €Wm\ttil ^mtm: 
 
 Inflt$entia is the ading of fupcriour bodies upon 
 inferiours. 
 
 Jnnatttralia are fapernamral bodies. 
 
 I OS IS poifon. 
 
 JffpUer is Tm. 
 
 Inmni^Hm is Leaven, or Ferment. 
 
 K. 
 
 KAchlmia^ or Kabimia is the unripe Mine of 
 any Metal, as it is in its firft being* 
 
 KM is Vinegcr. 
 
 Kali is fope afhes, 
 
 Kamir is Ferment, 
 
 Kaprili is Sulphur. 
 
 Karena is the twentieth part of a drop. 
 
 Karlina is wild dill. 
 
 Kihrith is Sulphur. 
 
 JC'iw/^ ekvatum is white Cinnabar fuMimed. 
 
 JC//?, or Cifiy is half a gallon, or four pints. ^ 
 
 K$balh or Cohaltum^ or CohktHmy is a mecallick jj| 
 matter blacker than Lead, or Iron, without a ^'*^ 
 metallick fplcndor, yet will be melted, and malle- 
 ated. 
 
 Kymenna is a bubble. 
 
 Kyram is Snow* 
 
 LJI)W 
 
 I 
 
a $li?mfcal I>iSionari?.' in 
 
 LAbor SofhU is Paradifc, or another world. 
 Lac Virginis is Mercurial water, 
 Lupis is taken for any fixe thing. 
 Lapis PAi/i>/e/)^flr)*«»isthchigheftvcrtue of all 
 terrene things, giving tindure. 
 
 Lapfm DtrnQtinui is a fudden death, more dan- 
 geroMs than an Apoplexy. 
 
 Laterium are capital Lees which Sope-boilers 
 life, of which Chirurgions make their Cauftick 
 called Lapis inf emails, 
 
 Laio is Copper tinged with Lapis CMlaminaris 
 into a Golden colour. 
 
 Laudanum is a compound Medicine made of 
 Gold, Coral, Pearl, ^tf by Paractlfus. 
 Laudina is Angelica, 
 
 Laxa ChimoUa is Salt growing to Stones* 
 Laxativa^ are Medicines working upwards and 
 downwards. 
 
 LefA is called the predcftination of Herbs. 
 ^ Lefat is an occult boiling vapour of the Earth y 
 fci by which Herbs and Plants grow. 
 W~^ Ltphantiy or Lephantes^ is the firft kind of Tar- 
 iT tar> or Bole, holding the middle betwixt Stones 
 f and Clay. , 
 
 Lemures are fpirits of the Element of Air,which 
 Heathen think to be Ghofts of men departed. 
 
 Letbargyrium in Paracelfus is the fpume of 
 Mercury, or of Silver, or of Lead, which is fepara- 
 ied in their purifying and purging, 
 
 Lfthargtui 
 
^j4 ^ Ci^M iDfBionat^^ 
 
 LethargiHs is the fii»der of Mines. 
 Limhus In Taracelfus is the great and univerfal 
 world? the feed, and firft matter of man. 
 Liqmr AqtiileglHs is diftilled Wine. 
 Liqmr ejfentialis is that humour which is tur- 
 ned into flelli and bloud. 
 
 Llqmr UiiercHrii is the Balfom of things j in 
 which the vertue of curing or healing confifts. 
 
 Liquor LMtimia is the Fat of a Man. 
 
 Lijtior is many times taken for Oyl, when the 
 name of the thing of which it is a Liquor, is put to 
 ir. 
 
 Liqmr MumU degumml is Oyl of Gum. 
 
 Liquidtim de refoluto is that which is liquid of 
 its own nature. 
 
 Liqmr herharHm is made of Herbs pounded, 
 preffedj and digefted. 
 
 LiqHor falls is the Balfom of Nature, by which 
 the body is preferved from putrefaction. 
 
 Lochs vita is the feat of the mind or foal. 
 
 Locufta are tops of boughs of trces,as yet tender 
 and green. 
 
 Lorindt is the commotion of Waters, or a Har- 
 mony made by them. 
 
 Ludns is a Medicine that curcth the Stone by 
 diflolvingofit. j 
 
 Lnmhrici Nitri are Worms found in the Earth' 
 or mud, fo called for their flipperinefs. 
 
 Luna compaEla is Quick-filver. 
 
 Luna is Silver. 
 
 Lnftfum is the Cream of Milk. 
 
 Lmaria is the Sulphur of Nature. 
 
 ' Mach4 
 
 t 
 
 1 
 
a attii?mifai DiSiow; jg j 
 
 M. 
 
 Mj4cha is a flying Worm.' 
 UHagia M€Uj>hyltca is an Art lawful for 
 Chriftians to ufe, by which any occult fecrcts arc 
 difcovcred. 
 
 Magia in general is Wifdom, and it is twofold. 
 ' Natural, which is lawful, and is the ground of 
 all true Phyfick , and the occult Wifdom of Na- 
 ture, without which all mans reafon or knowledg 
 is ignorance. The other is diabolical, fuperftitious 
 and unlawful, and is called Necromancy, whereby 
 men attain to the knowledg of things by the af- 
 fiftance of evil fpirits. 
 
 t^M^gifterlHrn is in Paracdftts any fecrct cx- 
 trafled out of natural things without any elemen- 
 tary (eparation, with which other things are wonc 
 to be prepared i yet with the addition only of o- 
 ther things from which that which is extraded is 
 feparated. 
 
 Magmlia are peculiar Works of God . 
 k Magnefta is commonly taken for a Marcafite » 
 ■nbuc that which is artificial is melted Tin, into 
 I which is put Quick-filver , and both mixt into a 
 r brittle matter, and white mafs. 
 ^ ^Magneticus tartarns is a ftone, in a man as 
 hard as a Loadftone, and fpongious. 
 
 Magoreftm is a Magick Medicament, or fecret; 
 Maius nofler is our Dew, and the Philofophi- 
 cal Loadftone. 
 Makk^ is Salt. 
 
3J6 a C5!?«ncai aDittionatp^' 
 
 MandelU is the feed of black Hellebort 
 
 MAngonarUh an Art ufed in weights,whcreby 
 that which is made heavy is eafily made light. 
 
 Kj^andihtiUriHm li^ttoi' is Oylof Jaw bones. 
 
 Manna is not only called a dew fallen from 
 Heaven, which is a kind of Balfom or Fruit of the 
 Aii:,bucairo it is taken for any fweet matter ex- 
 tracted out of any thing. 
 
 Marcafita is an unripe matter of Metals, and it 
 is of as many kinds as there be Metals. 
 
 (JKirmorsHs tartarus is a ftone in man as Inrd 
 asamaible. 
 
 Maruth, or Martachj is Lecharge. 
 
 Mater metdlorum is Quick- filver. 
 
 Materia faphirea is an homogeneal liquor, in 
 which there is no offending matter. 
 
 ^Matrices rerttm are Elements* 
 
 tuMatHrativa are Medicines that Ghirurgeons 
 ufc to ripen any Apoftcme. 
 
 MechamfeoHca is an invention of Water- works 
 to carry Waters by pipes into high places , or the 
 like. 
 
 Melaonesj or Meloesy are Beetles that fly, and 
 are ofa Golden colour, and being rubbed make a 
 fweet fmell j they are commonly found m Mea- 
 dows in the month oitMayi 
 ^ Melibaum is Copper. 
 
 Meliffaism Alehymy taken for Manna Cxtra- 
 £led out of the beft Herbs. 
 Menps Philofephicm is the full time of Digcftion , 
 viz,, forty days. 
 
 MercHTtHs a natufa coaguUtPfs is a folid metal. 
 M^rcnrius (/ryflaUinus is that which by ofteix 
 fubUmationsis brought into a ejearn^fs like Cry- 
 flal,r Okercff' 
 
Mercuriut Corallinus^ is that which by ycIks of 
 Eggs and ocher waters, is brought into a rednefs, 
 like Coral, 
 
 Mercttrius C^ndus is chat which is not yet fe- 
 parared From its Mine. 
 
 Mtrcnrius laxm is Turbith Mineral. 
 
 MercHTius metallorum prdcipitatus is Mercury 
 extracted out of Metals, and precipicared. 
 
 Mtrcnrius mineralium is an oylinefs extra(5ied 
 out of the Mines of Gold and Silver. 
 
 Merc fir iff s regemratus is the firfl: being of Mer- 
 cury. 
 LMercurialis feva h the water of Allum, 
 
 Menfiriium is a Liquor wherein any thing li 
 difTolyed or digefted. . 
 
 Metallttm cpfrrens Is Quick -filver. 
 
 MicrocQfmus is a little world, or man. 
 
 Minifimis the Mercury, or rather Crocus of 
 Lead precipitated. 
 
 Mifad^m is Quick- filver. 
 
 ^Mitigativa are Chirurgical Medicines which 
 allay pain. 
 
 Monflra are Animals which eidier have noc 
 proper Parents, and are not born of things like to 
 L themfelves, or havefomcdefetf^, or excels in Na- 
 tgure ; but of this iee more in the firft Book of the 
 Hforegoing Trcatife. 
 pj Moths is an Apofteme like to a Mulberry. 
 
 MhU are puftles arifing from heat or cold. 
 
 MumU is noc only mans flelli fealoned with 
 Balfom, but any other flefli thus prepared. 
 . Mnmia Elementorum is thebalfome of external 
 Elements. 
 
 Mfimia irdnfmmna In Par acelffts is M^nria^ 
 
 Z Mf^mW 
 
jMnm^^ 'verJH is che liquor oi MuinmicJ 
 Mufci l.^go IS a vifcous I'quor, 
 Mftnaificattva aredtanfing Mfdicincs. 
 Mtifltis IS the white Calx in Urine. 
 MiJJ "dar is Mercury. 
 
 O^yfieritim fnagnnm is the firft matrer of alt 
 thiti^s. 
 
 Mttria is Brine* 
 
 N 
 
 NAEla is an Apofteme of the Breaft. 
 Narcotic a are Medicines caufinj; fleep. 
 
 N'fday or Nattan a bunch in the back. 
 'Hehulgea is fait of the moiflure of a Cloud fal- 
 ling upon ftones in meadows, and hardened with 
 the heat of the Sun, 
 
 Nccrcm^ncy is an unlawful Art, which did in 
 time of old work with the dead, as when ihe ftars 
 were manifcftcd with the dcac^. And he is truly 
 called a Necromancer, who c'*n make the dead ap- 
 pear, and can draw words and aniwers from them, 
 
 N crolica are Medicamenis expelling death ^ 
 and prefervmg life. 
 
 Nemfareni^ are fpirits dwelling in the air. 
 
 NcHtha^ox Neuta^ is a litrle Skin growing ^o the' 
 cars or eyes of infants, and fcmecimcs covering the 
 whole body, 
 
 N:gr m^ticy is a wicked and exec; able Art -, 
 whereby Devils and w>cked Spirits fuffcr them- 
 felves fo be commanded by man and obey them, 
 but only to their burr. 
 
 NUrum 
 
"NUrum is Salt-perre. 
 
 Nitriales are all burning things which conduca 
 CO calcination. 
 
 Neboth is an Inftrument ufed in Necromancy. 
 
 Nodi are hard tumours of the joints. 
 
 Nofloch is that which we call a falling ftar , a 
 Jcind of gelly or flime found oftentimes in the fum- 
 tner in fields and meadows. 
 
 Nuba is a kind of red Manna which falls in Ire- 
 land, 
 
 Nymfb^y or Nymphidica , are fpiritual men or 
 women, or corporeal fpirits dwelling in waters, 
 fuch an one was Afelu/tna, 
 
 Nywphidita are metaphorically fpirits of dif- 
 Solving warers in the fpagirical art. 
 
 Nyfadir is fait Armoniack. 
 
 o. 
 
 OBrl^um is pure Gold calcined by Art into a 
 light red colour. 
 Ocob is fait Armoniack. 
 f^iOdorifera are Medicines, which by their odour, 
 -lether good or bad, expel difeafes. 
 ^Oleitas rerum is the Sulphur in all things. 
 OUfim ardens is Oyl of Tartar corrcded to ^ 
 ' left degree. 
 leum F'itrioli Aurific^tum is that which is daf-' 
 
 y with Gold artificially. 
 ]^tim /ialfjtharinum is.redOyl of Vii 
 Oyl of Tartar. 
 
 ^ Oljiv>t)tcm 
 
 ^ffum dalfotharinum is.redOyl of Vitriol. 
 iUHmYqanrninHm is Oyl of Tartar 
 
j4« a Cti?mical Diatmtatp: 
 
 OlympcHs [piritHs js a Ibt i* man , Uiac makc^ 
 him to yield a ihadow of h)mfelf. 
 
 Operimethhiim is rfie fpiric or Mnerals. 
 
 0;>^i/^n'z/4 are Medicines which 11 p fl.ixes. 
 
 Oppodtltech in Paracelftts is an O nmcnc 
 
 Oprfopyroa Lrndani is Paracelfus his Medicine 
 to ft( p Feavers^ 
 
 Or</o'>««^isahttle ap(ftemelikc a Barleycorn. 
 
 Orexis is a heaccauled by carrarous mater. 
 
 Org^nopeotlca \S an Arc finding out warh^c 
 infttuments* 
 
 Oriz^on aternUatis is the fuperceleftial vertuc o 
 things. 
 
 Oriz,eum is Gold. 
 
 Oriz.e»mfoliaium is Lea {--gold. 
 
 Oriz.€ptm prAcipitAtum is Gold brought intoi 
 Crocu5, by the help ot rhe Crocus oi Mercury 
 
 Oroho isiheGlalsof Metal«, 
 
 OjfA paraleli are a univerfal Medicine in 
 G ut. 
 
 Ovum PhiJofophicum is a Glafs of the form 
 an Eg;g, which Philolophers u(e in then Opel- 
 
 tions. 
 
 Oz^o is Arfenick, 
 
 f%^ 
 
 Vfi 
 
 -indalittpim, Panerhmmy or Pjfi is an io-L^' 
 Itc-ne in the en^^s or the rin^ciSjCaljaj *^ 
 
 "Ha, 
 
 wnitt flu^v, 
 
 /^Afln,? isa naiuralfpor. 
 
 Pwr/ c«w ^^r/f is a mafs confiftiiig^ ofW'^^^^ 
 
 pai IS ol boiu and ' '^^ver '*"' 
 
 %, 
 
SL C^vmical JDiaionarp; j4i 
 
 fauUd^dum iS a liliiQ ot term figilLitA growing 
 in ItMy, 
 
 P^n ttes are fpirits of chc Element of Fue, called 
 F^miiiar.^. 
 
 *PentMCfta are fip,n^ or dclineamencs engraven 
 wich \voI^'€rtal anr. liange Ltc:er>, and images, 
 U'hich b iii^ handed anourche ntCK,are faid co be 
 prefcrva.ivesaiainft evil fpincs, and wucher.es. 
 
 Pe-cipio Htn sany Medicine chac !s approved. 
 
 Ptraei^ are Ra^es fmall and yell )w. 
 
 Pird mnm is Wme made ouc or Herbs. 
 
 /^^>-ic<^;// 'iihe term nt life. 
 
 Pfficedamttm is Engli fh Angelica. 
 
 fh .nt^fm>ttA are Spi ics of the Wood, or the 
 Deferr, which live in ai y obfcure place. 
 
 PhiaU is a Vul, or Glafs bocde. 
 
 'Pionitidej are natural enemies which perfecutc 
 One the ether co death, as the Scor k and Fi ogs,^<". 
 & PeUc^nus is a circulatory, or circalat ing vcfTcI, 
 1 Phoenix is the quinceflencc of Fire^ alfo the 
 n^*Ph.lolophers ftone. 
 
 )?ttt Pb)fii^gnomy is an Arc whereby mens natures 
 ' nd conditions are perceived by rheir faces. 
 
 Plumhum PhilofofhorHm is that whKh is excra- 
 
 id ur oi Antimony. 
 PoYofd is St. JohnC-worr, 
 \rdfagium is fome notable fign of fomething 
 1 ome. 
 ■^^x^n^'-efervAtivn are Medicines prefcrving bodies 
 ^jCJM^^coiruption. 
 
 imAles are called fallacious bodies which arc 
 ^ ftars put beFore our eyes. 
 fjt \}'^^mHm IS the fir ft kind of Tartar. 
 'Jnais Ignis Ptr/fcuj. 
 
 Z 3 Tdfcx^ia 
 
34* ^ C^smical Diftiomtf, 
 
 Pulpez^iaha fuddenaftonillimenc or change iiJ 
 
 a mans body by reafon of che ftais. 
 
 Paf^i.t is the digeftioa of ccrnipt matter* 
 TegmcA are called artificial meja, and fomctimes 
 
 fubterraneal fpitirs. 
 
 ^ PyramU is a veffel made like a Pyramis, 
 Pyromancy is an Arc prefaging by fire. 
 
 Q.. 
 
 QValitas is called a complcxionjwhether hot or 
 cold, dry or moift, according to the predo- 
 miru<ncy of any Element. 
 
 ^^artatio^ or QuaHPiraj is the highcft tryal o£ 
 Gold, and that this way, viz,, that nine parts o 
 Silver be mixed with one part of Gold in meltin 
 by the fire. Then let them both be difTolved witfl 
 Aqnafortit : All the Stiver is turned into wate 
 and the Gold fettles to the bottom like a dar 
 powder. 
 
 Q^inteffentia is called a certain fpiritual ma 
 ter excraded corporeally out of Herbs, Plants, a 
 all things that have life, and the exalting of it 
 the highcfc degree of purity, by feparacing alii 
 purities. 
 
 ilui/UPtm ejfe cHJuJlihet Ekmenti per fe fch> 
 is an animal produced our^ rh-» *^'>'^e. 
 
 h 
 
 ti 
 
 4 
 
 R^g. 
 
 
 « 
 
 '4f 
 
^ <f l)?mital wtmm: hi 
 
 Ry1g..d'<& are Apoflemes of*he priviries. 
 R ma is an Apcfteme under the tongue. 
 
 Rea'gar is 'he fume oF Minerals bein» properly 
 taken, bur being meraphoricaily icis any vinous 
 ni crer in mans body> whereof grow apoftemes, 
 ulcere, or the like. 
 
 R'his is the excrementsof the belly. 
 
 Re m ibcheldfl: matter of chmgs. 
 
 RebifoU 'S a fccrec urine agatnfl: the jaundies. 
 
 Rehena is the fame as Mummie. 
 
 RedHe IS a povvder whereby calcined Mecals and 
 Wi.jeals aremclccd* 
 
 Reg.i 'e is a Cimenc whereby Gold is purged. 
 
 Regtilm IS the pureft meraHinc parr of any Me- 
 tal, or chepureft partofaMmeral, the feces being 
 lepa rated, 
 
 R(-/^o'eym isa vcrtiiefrom the complexion, as in 
 Sc. J his-worr, chefirft vertue is in heat, and is 
 healing, the other is accidental, and occult, and is 
 ^a prefervative againft worms and corruprion, 
 
 Refina atiri is a Crocus exira^led out of Gold^ 
 
 Refina terra, is Sulphur. 
 I Rejina terra potahilii isfublimed Sul-phur brouglTfc 
 into a liqu r- balfom, or oyl. 
 
 ReperctiJJlva are Medicines which drive back 
 my flax. 
 
 Reverharatoritim Is a Furnace in which the mac- 
 \{^\^^ is calcined by a flame. 
 
 Rilltis is an mftiument which Goldfmichs ufe 
 
 Z 4 t^ 
 
344 a art)?mical 2)iaionar?' 
 
 to pour their melced Metals into long forms, and 
 it is called anlngac. 
 
 Ro(ea is the fame as ErifpeJoi. 
 
 RnleUa is a fpiricual effence cxtrading by its dif- 
 {olving power, the tindure out of bodies. 
 
 s. 
 
 SAgmi are fpirits of the four Elements. 
 SaUmandri are fpirits dwelling in the fire, 
 or fiery men. 
 
 Saldini the fame as Salamandri* 
 
 Sal alumhofum is Salt vehich is extraded out of 
 alumen plumoftiWo 
 
 Sal anaihron is Sz[icxit3i£icd out of the ftony 
 Mofs. 
 
 Salcryfiallinum is Salt made out of mans urine, 
 
 Sal Calcdtharinnm is Salt which is made out of 
 Colcothar of Vitriol. 
 
 Sal eongtUtHm is Salt which grows in Baths, 
 
 SaUnixam is Salt difiolved. 
 
 Sal Merc fir ii is the fpirit of the Wine which 
 caufeth drunkennefs. 
 
 ^al petre is t h at which grows in cold places upoi 
 ftones, congealed by the cold air. 
 
 Sal nitruw is Salt which is boiled out of the 
 earrh, efpccially fat earth, as in ftables,or any place 
 of excrements* * 
 
 Salpratiictim is a mixture mide of equal parts, 
 of Salt^perre and Salt Armoniack. 
 
 Salfcljfumy and aUmen fciffum are all cnc. 
 
 Salt^y fal^z,^ Seknipamf is Brine* 
 
 "■ •■• '^ "' ' Sal 
 
ii 
 
 Sal taberz,ft is whiteft Tartar of all. 
 
 Sahahari is Sal Alemhrot. 
 
 Sallena is a kind of Salt-petre. 
 
 Samech is Tartar. 
 
 Sandaracha is AHrlfigmentHm» 
 
 SanguU calcctHs is that which is of as quick a 
 taftjasCalx, and as white. 
 
 Saphirea matnia is a liquor in which there is no 
 impurity, or corruption, the pure being feparated 
 from the impure. 
 
 SapofaftentU is common fait prepared. 
 
 Saxifraga are all fuch things which break the 
 Stone or Gravel. 
 
 Saxifragus is pale CryftaL 
 
 ScacftrcpiU is the fpiric of a Bone in the Heart of 
 a Hart. 
 
 ScaioU are the fpiritual powers and faculties of 
 the mind, and are four , according to the number 
 of the Element). 
 
 Scirona is the Dew of Autumn. 
 
 ScHma is the fame as fqtiima. 
 
 Sedativa are Medicines that allay paliv 
 
 Semen veneris are called f^uama Aris, 
 
 Senio m^ximns is the Author of long life* 
 
 Sephirm is a hard and dry apofteme. 
 
 Seraphin is an unutterable venue j an infinite 
 power of the Heaven, and cfpecially the aflembly 
 of Angels. 
 
 Serpheta is a Medicine melting a (tone. 
 
 Sihar is Quickfilvff^ 
 
 Silo is earth. 
 
 Similitudines are called celcftial appearances. 
 Simud is Gilla. 
 
 Sinm4 is white Clew of the Joints. 
 
 SirQttu 
 
 iifaiBMMHHiiMlk 
 
34^ ^ 0W^^^^ JH^ionatg; 
 
 Sirones aie l^aiiUs oi Wheals, in cHc hands efpe^ 
 ciahy^ 
 
 ,Sirz.a is e [char 4* 
 
 S.>' ^n homine is the invlfiblc firC flowiH^ from 
 thecelcftal Sun, preferving and nouridiing chat 
 flacuialfiicinman* 
 
 Soladini are corporeal fpirits dwelling in tlie in- 
 Vifible fire. 
 
 SomnU are operations which are made in man 
 by the Scars when he is deeping. 
 
 Senalh is Anthos, 
 
 Sophia herha is the beft kind of Bone- wort. 
 
 Sophifia are fometimes taken for Mafters of any 
 Art, cr the wifeft in any Ar ; or fometimes for 
 Sophifters, i. e. Deceivers, or Mountebanks. 
 
 Sortilegiumy is a prefage by fpirits, 
 
 SpagiriUyOX fp^igiricHi is he »;hich knows to di- 
 ftiugaiCh becwixt ^ood and bad, to feparate pure 
 from impure, or a Ch^ mift, or Alchymift. 
 
 Sp^giria is commonly taken for Alchvmy, 
 
 Spar a is the Mineral vercue ouc of the RiA be- 
 jng of Metals. 
 
 Sperma a^uafurti^ is its feculency. 
 
 Spernioimn is a mucilaginous liquor of Frogs; 
 Spiritm AnimAlis is a power of the Soul whereby 
 H becomes like to the Heavenf. 
 
 Stannur is called the Mother GlrMefals,an occult 
 Fume, out of which Elements are generated. 
 
 Star^iphMX'it isa reflnging or repercu/live veituc* 
 
 Stellio .dufltis is Cinnabar. 
 
 Stibium is Antimon\ . 
 
 Stiptie^t are dying Medicinef. 
 
 Struma is Bmium, 
 
 Suhiimatio is vvh< n any dry niatterisforced up* 
 ward by the heat of fire. ShschIhs 
 
ShcchIhs h a nov5lurnal fpirit, whereby men are 
 deceived, thinking they are coupling with women, 
 
 Sulfhnr vHrioUtHm is Sulphur extracted out cf 
 Vitriol by common water fwimming on the top of 
 ir. 
 
 Sulphfirrerffm IS m^iny times taken for cheir 
 Quinteflcnce, 
 
 Sftpermonkum is i£nigmatical. 
 
 Sylo is the whole World. 
 
 Sjflphes are Pigmier# 
 
 Syhe/iresy or fylvanl^ are afery men, and aicry 
 fpirics, fometimes they are taken for Woodmen , 
 that are ftrong gigantical men. 
 
 Syphita prava is a Difeafe called S, J^itw his 
 Dancf. 
 
 Syphita flriEia is a phantaftick {piric of them 
 that walk in their fleep. 
 
 T. 
 
 TAlk% or Talcfimy is a clear {Lining matter^ 
 like to Pearls in colour, compacted with 
 thin leaves or flakes , whereof there be four kinds , 
 viz. white, yellow, red, and black, 
 Tajfns is a worm» 
 
 Tarurumis^ hard faltifh dreg that flicks to the 
 fides of Wine veflels ,• alfo it is often taken for 
 Stones or Gravel in mens bodief* 
 Telon is as ic were a dart of fire • 
 T'emperatHm is that which exceeds not in any 
 Qaalicy, 
 Tffn^dta^glfitinhismitiQiAl refine. 
 
 Teremjt" 
 
34^ a ctipmical £)iaionatg; 
 
 TerenUhin is die M ncl^ or Manna, or Wo^d- 
 honey , wh ch is found in ^(>od quantity in the 
 months of June, July^ Affgftfi. 
 
 Terra ^tiri is Lihar^e otGoId. 
 
 Terra argenti s Litharge of Silver. 
 
 Terra fidelis isS Ivcr. 
 
 Terra Hifpanica is Vi triol. 
 
 77rrf/^/i are corporeal fprits living in the earth.' 
 
 T'tfiais the skin of mans body. 
 
 Thamatica is an arc of inventing engines which 
 arc moved by air and water. 
 
 Thaphneus is a clean purified medicine. 
 
 Thifm^<i is mineral veins. 
 
 Tinkar is Borax. 
 
 TmHura is that which tingeth any body with 
 its colour. 
 
 Toru^cHla Isa drop. 
 
 Trackjat is a mctal> as yet In its Mine. 
 Trarames are a6^ions of fpirits not fccn,bnr heard. 
 Trifertes arecalLd fpirits dwelling in the fire, 
 
 Trigonum is a fourfold tiaufmutacion of the fpi- 
 rits of the ftars according to the number of the 
 four Elements, 
 
 Tronus^ or Tronoffa^ is called the celeftial Dew 
 made of the Air, or the fweeteft kmd of Manna. 
 
 Trufhat is an occuir vcrcue of Mmerals , by 
 which they ad toward that end for which they 
 were ordained. 
 
 Tnrba mgna \s an innumerable maldtude of 
 the cekftialUars,andisa prelage made by any of 
 :hem. 
 
 Turh'uh minerale is Mercury precipitated into a 
 f'^cernefs without any corrofive. 
 
 VegitH' 
 
a ^^pmical J)iaionari?; ^9 
 
 V. 
 
 VEgetahllia are things that grow by having a 
 K >oi fixe in the earch, and having Srock, 
 Branches in the air, as Herbs,Planisand Trees, G"£". 
 
 VemrugraAm is a mild and Iweec Nature. 
 
 Vertu IS a h.urth parr of a pound. 
 
 ViliYHm Philofn^hortim is an Alcmbick,buc being 
 taken aololurely is a ftr*iner. 
 
 Vinnm correUum i' the Alcool of Wine, 
 
 Vinum tfntum is Wine impregnated with the 
 yerrues of Her:')s, or any thing elfe, 
 
 Vrnditoi r^Jis is the green Oyl of Salt. 
 
 f^irgHitafof>^tim a'-e certain Rods which Mi- 
 ners uie to dr.covei Mines wuhaL 
 
 yifctu\s prcpeily pitchboiledoutof the tender 
 topsc-r T ees. 
 
 P^i(cpi« fcfinda gemrationis is bloud droping 
 from S^^lrs. 
 
 P^tCfo is a fupernarural apparition offpirits after 
 a mflniier tecr. by men. 
 
 ritrto'aium s Vitriol which is liquid, and nc- 
 vei can bt c ae^ila ed. 
 
 f^iiri uw n vum is white Vitriol. 
 
 V'cHs ajh>menttm is a cancerous A pcflemc that 
 ftcdi u^m iHC place. 
 
 Vftbragtnes are Pigmies. 
 
 V'yihrAtiUf aie aftrai bodies, 
 
 V / '<c, ( r Vrtdend) are aiery and earrhy fp'rits. 
 
 /jf/j^^c//^ are called the excrements of any an majs. 
 
3 50 a comical JDigionari?; 
 
 tinttai TriihimiiiS the i edu6^ion of the number 
 of Three into a anity by calling away the number 
 of Two, and ic is fupernatural and fpagirical. 
 
 Vniones are preti'?us Pearls, or Gems. 
 
 VoUns^ or Vnqaafis is Quickfilver. 
 
 VolaUle is in general any light matter which is 
 carried upward. 
 
 Urina vini is Vinegcr, and Comctiraes it is ufed 
 for the Urine of a man that always drinks Wine, 
 
 Vulc anil -iOty tile iinkizx^i\x<:\y as always work 
 about the fire. 
 
 Vnlcanm is Fire. 
 
 Z^«.z/(pr is Cinnabar. 
 
 w. 
 
 WArnm is the Vinegcr of Philofophers. 
 fVifmodt in Tin that is foul and immal- 
 leablc^and cannot be wrought upon. 
 
 X. 
 
 XEncBum IS any outward Medicine hanged 
 about the body as a prefervative againftthc 
 Plague. 
 
 X'cninephldei 2LXZ fpfrits which delight to difcover 
 the fecret or occult properties of Nature unto mc», 
 the power of which is granted to them, 
 
 Xifmum isVinegeiV 
 
 \ 
 
9 Clipmical £)iaionatg; 151 
 
 Y. 
 
 Y^cftih a male Gnat, who fe Blood is faid to 
 loficn Glalsand FUnrs- &c. 
 Tfifus ische Arc of Alchymy to (eparace pure 
 from impure. 
 
 Z. 
 
 '^^ ^tdar IS Mercury, 
 
 Zaidir is Copper or Verdegreafe* 
 
 Ztrus IS Gold. 
 
 Z -rfa is Til - 
 
 Zeiotum isftony Mercuryi 
 
 Z''}rabA IS Vitriol, 
 
 Zincl^ is a mccallick Marcafite , and a certain 
 natural mixture of four immature Metals, wherc-^ 
 of Copper is moft apparent. 
 
 Ziniar is Verdegreafe. 
 
 ZuitteryOi Zitter^'n^ Marcafite* 
 
 Zymar^ or Z)[ar^ is Verdegreafe* 
 
 FINIS. 
 
* 
 
i 
 
 ?• vr^