the

e 0 mp0unD
ot

Hh g F e m v
6.3i p l ty
P R OD U C E D B Y :

&AMg

TH E

c0ltP0uND

0F
OR

ALCHEIUY

ftre Aneient Hldden Art of Alchenie , ContainLng the right and perfect neans To nake the Philosophers Stone Aurum Potablle, wlth other Drcellent Drperinents,

Divided

lnto

lVelve

Gates

First

written

by the learned

and rare

Ptrilosopher

of our Nation GEORGE RIPIEY, sometimes Chanon of Bridlington in Yorkeshire and Dedicated to K. Edward the 4th, whereunto is adjoined his Elistle to the King, his Vision, his llheel, and other his works never before published:

Set forth by Raph Rabbardsr gentleman, Studious and expert in Alehenical Arts Rrlchnrn Imprinted pro Patria pati.

by Ihomas 0nvin. LONDON L59L.

1.

CONTH{TS .

2.

To the Rlght Honourable, worshipfll, and l{orthy Gentlemen of Drgland, 4'd other r,earned and rndustrlous students ln the see_ rets of Philosophy.

Having reserved the copy hereof (Right Honourable and gentle Readers) these forty years for nany secret usesr corrcted by the most learned of our tine, a'd feeling myself, now through age de_ cliningr and otherwise hindered with troublesone suites in law, which constrained me to discontinue these and sueh other conmendable practises, for the benefit and defenceof my prince and co,ntry, f have thought good to publish the same, the rather for that there are but a few copies Left r E[ld those for the most part cory_ upted by negligencer oP mistaking of ignorant writers thereof; being partly ineouraged hereunto by the learned philosopher sENEcA, w h o a ce o mp l e th i t a n A ct Mer itor ious to pr eser ve or r evive s c i enc e from the cinders, Brd to eternize vertuous aets with perpetual memory. Finding it strange, that so excellent a Monument as this most rare and learned work of GEORGE RfplEyr should so long lie triaaen in obseurityr Ertd pass from hand to hand a hundred and fifty years without utter defaeingl seeing that many notable works pub_ lished have, in far shorter tine perished. He lived in the time of King Edward the 4th., and Richard the Usurper, in great fame and estimatiom, for his rare knowledge in these secretsr And to utter his f\rrther conmendation in a word, if this his work be pursued with the eye of judgement, rnd pract_ ised by those that are experienced, f sha1l not need to fear the 10ss of rny rabour, when sone of ny countrymen which eannot attain into the highest hidden nysteries, shall yet find many things both pleasant and profitable, divers ways serviceable to kingdoms, states, and eommon wealesl And if one anong ten thous_ and can hit the mark, (whereas the whole world hath aimed) we sharl

3.

not hereafter need to seek out the Sands of the Ganges, for that which lieth hid ln the secrets of Ripreyr which r offer here to the view of the learnedr Brrd have presumed the publishing hereof, ehiefly for the benefit of my eountrlnnens and especially to satthe often and inportunate request of nany my learned good f r i e n d s, D o t d o u b ti n g but that the skillf\r l will yield ne m y due, howsoever the ignorant shall esteem thereof3 which if r shall thereby be f\rrther encouraged to irapart sone other rare experinents of Distillations and Fire-works of 6rreat service, not hitherto eommitted in writing or put in practiee by any of our nation, although of late some near toys have been highry adnired, and extraordinarily rewarded; The charge whereof will be found utterly lost, when perfect trial shall be mad.eof their slender use and force. To conclude, if this ny good intent shall be answerable to your expectations, f have obtained the f\rlness of my desires. isfy

Y o u rs i n the futher ance

of Seienee,

Raph Rabbards.

4.

A Frefeee

by George Rlp].ey,

Chanon of Bridlington,

yorkeshj-re,

This small volume ls presented to the sincere student, in hopes that it wrLl. inspire his studl-es and Lead hln to the true' goaJ. that he seeks. with the btessJ-ng of Alrnighty God. all students who undertake the Great, Wonk must beware of naysayers, unnorthy

5.

consorts'

leaguers,

and adherentsr

o? other

thelr

Ministers,

spread-

ers and maintainers of liesl under the shelter and covert of which flourishing Palne, alL trle christians have been, and (I hope) Iong shall be (by the Continuance of your Majestles nost bountiful and gracious especial favour) protected and shrowded, from the heat of the sharp persecutions of all malicous Enemies the which God of hls great nercle Grant. Pondering f say (most high and raighty Prlncess) the nanifold imminent dangers, 1rour sacred Itlajesty by the Omnlpotenee wonderfirl providence of Almighty God, with nore than human Virtue, and feminine patience sustainedr and in the end (contrarie to all expectatburning thereof ion) escapeing the rage, furie, and seeret TrXrannical attenpts, praetices of your Highnesses' nortal Eremies (utter prodevilish fessed unreconcileable Whereof adversaries) to the eternal tnrthl myself was an eye witnessr BDd so far privie of some of the most endeavours mischievous intended conspiraeiesr BS for ny faithfirll of such rare secret servi-ces as were by ne effected to prevent the same; f tasted (arnongst the rest of sueh as then honoured, reverenced, and by bounded duty loved your Majesties rare Virtues) So great extremitie of irnprisonnent, and other hard usage many (by tinely and happy alteration waysr 8s escaping with life, of the State) f felt long after the pains of those toruents, whereby ny health in 20 years after was extremely 5.mparedr But when I eonsider on the other side withall, the strange and niraculous Heroical Actions both martial and politick whieh have been (since in the tine past of your Highness nost prosperous reign) beyond all expectations performed with singular government and incomparabl-e nagnaminite, far surpassing all human Wisdom and mans force (whereof posteritie shall want no due records of worthy Registers) f cannot but forget all sorrow, and exceedingly rejoiee, assuring and perswading myself God hath ordained your l/lajestie to acconplish yet far greater matters for his Glory and your own eternal memory, than time hath yet revealed. For the better accomplishment whereof, every dutiful

6,

prepare of tranqullltle and firrnish themselves aceordlng to their several gtfts, abllities, and different faeultlesl and set forth a work so great to f\rther as is likely to falI out by all consequence by reason of this your Majesties most happy reignr Yiz. the Nobilitie with learning' ought ln tlne Judgement, and experience, for council and adviee, as well for warli.ke discipline as for evll Governanentr For that the one cannot Iong contlnue without the other and Gentlenen with ingeneous devices and stratagS.es of war both for sea, and land, and the whole o f a l l so rts such activities, and the pr actise of s uc h s o l d i eri e sorts of weapons as they shall addict thenselves unto, or be found whereby every man of what degree or quality fit to serve wittrall, soever professing the wars, hBV ln time of cessation of Arms, sone in one sortr sone in another, enable themselves for the defence of their Country, against they shall be employed; for without appointment and. calIing, ro raan ought to intrude or offer himself, in sueh sort as is now too conmonly used; which is the cause that so many andatious insufficient blind bastards are set a works attendWhilst the nodest, skillf\rll, and ercperienced live retired, ing their vocation.

subJeet and good Patriots

Note. Here this Preface ends; whether it is complete or not, I I presune it is by George Ripley' but have no way of lmowing. and peragain this is not eertain, at best it is not important' tains not to the lVelve Gates. D. H.

7,

The Vislon of Sir George Rlpley. Ctranonof Bridlington.

When bUsie at my book upon a certain night, ttli***tt****t**** lttls Vislon here exprest appeared unto ny dimed sight,t**r+*t A Toad fir[ nrdde I saw did drlnk the Juice of gpapes so fast* overcharged with broath, his bowels all to brast,ntt**tl1* Till And after that from poisened bulke, he cast his venone fellr** For grief and pain whereof his members all began to swell '*ltr+'* With drops of poisoned sweat approaching thus his secret dedr* And from which in space a golden humour did ensuer**t*{+l+{t{r*{1*t Whose falling drops from high did stain the soil with ruddy hue And when his eorps, the force of vital breath began to laek,** Ittis dying toad becarue forth with like coal for colour black;* lttus drowned in his proper veins Of poisoned floodrr+{l{+r$*****l$* For term of eightie days and four he rotting stoodr{+tl$*tt*trtl.*** By tryal then this venome to expell I did desire,r+l+{t{t'{tltt*n.}rT+l$ For which I did connit his carkase to a gentle fireintlt*l+{t't$**{t Vfnicn done, a wond.er to the sight, but more to be rehearstr*** Ihe Toad with colours rare through every side was pearced;*+*f And white appeared when all the sundry hues were pastr*l1t*r*ltr Which after being tincted, rudde for evermore did last.***{tll** when of the venone handled thus a medicine I did rnake,nt****n* Vfhieh venom kills, and saveth sueh as venome chance to take,r+* Glory be to him the gfanter of such secret ways************t*lt Dominion, and Honour, both with worship and with praise.*lrrlt*t

AMEN.

8.

the Pr efBC. 0 High, incomprehensible and glorious majesty, Whose luminous beams obtaineth our speculation 0 t n i n eh o o d i n p e rso n sr 0 Oeehood in diety, gratutant glorification Of Hierarchical Jubilists 0 Petious Rrifier of Souls and pure perpetuation, O deniant from danger, 0 drawer most debonaire, O our D<alter. I)rom this troublesome vale of vanity, 0 P o w er, O Wi sd o m, 0 Goodness inexplicable, Support me, teach ne, and be my Governor, to thee be displicable' llrat never my living But that I acquit me to thee as true professor. At this beginning Good Lord hear ny prayer, Be niglr with grace for to inforce my will, G?ant wit that I may mine intent firlfill. e o fe r a n d c opious of all tr easur es, firou art he from whom all goodness doth descend, To man and also to every creature firine handy-work therefore vouchsafe to defend, Itrat we no time in living here misspend, With troth here grant us our living so to win, we rin. ltrat into no danger of sinftrllness M o s t cu ri o u s And forasmuch as we have for thy sake the world and fleshly Renounced our wills' As thine own professors us to thee take' Sith in thee only dependeth all our tr:ust, We can no ftrrther, to thee incline we must; I h y s e cre t tre a su re vo u chsafe unto us, Show us thy secrets and to us be bounteous.

lust'

9.

And amongst others which be profest to thee I me present as one with hunble submission, thy servant beseeching that I may be a e cor ding to ny pr ofession, Chanon Regular of Bridlington Beseeching thee lord thou wilt rne spare To thy tnre servants thy secrets to declare. In the beginning when thou nadrst all of naught, A globous matter and dark under confusion, By him the beginning marvelously was wrought, containing naturally all things without divisionr Of which in six days he nade clear distinction As G e n e si s a p e rtl y d o th r eeor d Then Heaven and Earth were perfeet by his word. So t h r o u g h h i s w i l l a n d power , out of one m ass, C o n f u s e d ; w a s ma d e e a e h thing, that being is, B u t a f ore i n Gl o ry a s maker he was, N o w i s a n d sh a l l b e w i th out end I wis, And purified souls up to his bliss Shall come a prineiple this nay be one, For declaring of our precious Stone. For as of one mass was made all thing, R i g h t so i n o u r p ra cti ce m ust it be, All our secrets of one Image must spring, As i n P h i l o so p h e rs b o o ks who list to see, o r r s t on e i s ca l l e d th e lesser wor ld, one and thr ee, Magnesia also of sulphur and mercurie, Proportionate .by nature most perfectly. An d t r u e In order i n l i vi n g

10.

But nany one marveleth and marvel nay, And museth such a marvelous thing, l{hat is our stonel sith philosophers say T o s u ch a s e ve r b e i t i n seeking Fouls and fishes to us doth it bring EVery man it hath r arrd it is in every place, fn thee in ne, Brld in each thirlg, time and space. To this I answer that mercury it is I wls But not the common called quicksilver by n?mr But Mercury without which nothing being is, A11 philosophers record and truly saine the same, But simple searchers putteth then in blane, Saying they hid it but they be blarne worthy, Whieh be no clearks and meddle with philosophy. But though it mercury be, ]rt wisely understand, W h e r e i n i t i s, a n d w h er e thou shalt it seech, Else I counsel thee take not this work in hand, B u t l i ste n to me , fo r tr uly I wir l thee teach, Vfniefr is this mercury most profitable, B e i n g to th e e n o th i n g d eeeiveable. is more near in some things than in some; t h e r e f o re ta ke h e e d w h at f to thee wr ite, F o r i f kn o w l e d g e to th e e never com e, T h e r e f ore ye t sh a l t th o u m e not twite, truly now thee excite To understand well Mereuries three, T h e k e ys w h i ch o f th i s science be. For I will It

11.

Ralrmondhis menstrues doth then eall, W i t h o u t w h i ch tml y n o tm th is donel But two of them be superfieial, fire third essential of Sun and Moon, I ? r e i r p ro p e rti e s f w i l l declar e r ight soon, And Mercury of metals essentiaL, fs the prinelpal of our stone materi.al. In Sun and Moon our nenstrue is not seen, It appeareth not by effect to sight T h a t i s th e sto n e o f w h ich we m ean, Who so our writings convieveth aright, I t i s a S o u l , a su b sta n c e br ight, 0f Sun and Moon a subtile influence, Whereby the earth revieveth resplendence. For what is Sun and Moon saith Avicin, Bu t e arth w h i e h i s p u re white and r ed; Take from it the said clearness, and then stand but a little stead; .That earth will Ihe whole eompound is called our Lead; The quality of clearness from Sun and Moon doth come, These are our nenstnres both all and some. Bodys with the first we ealcine naturally Perfect, but none which been unelean D<cept one whieh is usually Naned by philosophers the Lyon Green; He is the meane Sun and lUloonbetween 0f winning tineture with perfeetness As Geber thereunto beareth witness.

L2.

With the second which is an huntdtty Vegetable, reviving that eabst was dead, Bo t h p r i n ci p l e s ma te rl a l s nust loosed be steadl And for"malls, else stand they little These menstrues therefore know I thee read Without the which neither tn.e calcination Done may be, nor true dissolution. With the third humiditie most pernanent Incombustible and unctious in his nature, H e r m e s T re e i n to a sh e s i s bur nt, It is our natural fire most sure, Orr mercuflr our sulphur, our tincturer PUrr Orr soul, our stone born up with the wind fn earth engendered, bear this in mind. s to n e a l so te Il th ee I dar e, I s t h e va p o u r o f me ta l s potential' H o w t h ou sh a l t g e t i t, thou m ust bewar e, For invisible truly is this menstrual 'ny of elements it may appear s"paration How be it with the second water philosophieal Itris To Sight, in form of water clear.

Of this menstrrr by labour exuberate With it may be nade sulphur of nature, If it be well and kindly acuate pur e, i n to a sp i r it A n d c i r cu l a te T h e n t o d i sso l ve th o u must be sur e, fhy base with it in divers wise As thou shalt lorow by thy practise.

l).

That point I will

therefore

ln his due place

o th er m oe, grant me grace and space, If God will A n d m e p re se rve i n l i fe fr om woe, A s I t h e e te a ch l o o k th ou do soi ground prlncipal, And for first d e cl a re w l th Understand thy waters nenstrual. And when thou hast made tnre calcination, El c r e a si n g n o t w a sti n g moistur e r adical, U n t i l th y b a se b y o ft subtilation, Will lightly flow as wax upon netal Then loose it with thy vegetable nenstrtral, TiIl thou have oil thereof in colour bright T h e n i s th a t me n stru vi s ible to sight. is drawn out in colour of gold, th e re to o u t o f our fine r ed lead, Which Raymond said when he was o1d, .M,r"hmore than gold would stand him in stead c For when he was for age nigh dead, He made thereof Aurum Potabile, Whieh him revived as men nipftt see. For so together may they be circulate, Ttrat is to say oil and the vegetable menstrual, So that it be by labour exuberate, A n d n a d e b y cra ft a sto ne celestial, 0f nature so fiery that we it eaIl Our Bazeliske or our Cockatrice, Our Great Elixir most of price. And oil 0r like

r4.

l { h i c h a s th e si g h t

o f Baseliske his

object

Kllleth, eo slayeth it erude ltlercury, W h e n th e re u p o n h e i s p roJect, In twinckle of an eye most suddenly Ihat Mercury then teineth perrnanently A11 bodies to Sun and Moon perfect. Thus guide thy base both red and white. Aurtrm Potabile thus i.s made, 0f gold not eommonly calcj.nate, But of our tineture that will not fade, Ort of our base drawn with the menstrue circulate must algate But natural caleination Be n a de , e re th y g o l d dissolved m ay be, first Ttrat principle therefore I will teach thee. B u t i n to ch a p te rs th i s tr eatise I will divide, In number twelve with due recapitulation, S u p e r fl u o u s re h e a rsa l s Ir 11 lay aside, .Intending only to give tme infornation; ltrat by my writing whoso 6ruided will be 0 f h i s i n te n t p e rfe e tl y speed shall he. The first The Ttre chapter shall be of natural calcination, s e co n d o f d i sso l u ti o n secr et and philosophieal third of our elemental seperation, fourth of conjunction matrirnonial, fifth of putrifaction follow shall, albifieate be the sixth, the seventh shall follow next. shall

Ihe Ihe 0f congealation

Then of cibation

]-5.

llhe Eecret of subllnatlon tlre elght shall ghoY, ltre Nlneth shall be of fernentatlonr The ten-th of our exaltatlon I trows ltre eleventh of our narvellous ruttltLplicationt then recapltulatlonl ltre twelveth of projection, And so thls treatLse sha1l take end. By the help of God as I lntend.

Flnis.

16.

0f Itre

Calcination First Gate.

Calcination

is

the hrrgation

of our stone,

Restoring also of his natural heat, 0 f r a d i ca l h u mi d i ty i t looseth none, Inducing soluti-on into our stone most meet After Philosophie I you behight Do, but not after the commonguise With Sulphures and salts prepare in divers wise.

N e i t h e r w i th co rro si ve s nor with fir e alone, Neither with vinegar nor with water ardent, Nor with vapour of lead our stone I s c a l c i n e d a e co rd i n g to our intent: Al t t h o se to e a l ci n i n g which be so bent, fbom this hard science withdraw their hand, Ti11 they OURcaleining better understand. For by such ealcination their bodies be spent, Which minisheth the moisture of our stone, T h e r e f ore w h e n b o d i e s to powder be br ent, Dry as ashes of tree or bone, 0 f s u ch ca l xe s th e n w i l L we none, For moisture we multiplie radicall fnealcining minishing none at aIl. And for a sure ground of our trtre calcination, Work wittely only kind with kindt For kind unto kind hath appetitive inelination, Who loroweth not this in lmowledge is blind,

I? .

He may forth Wotting

wander as nist in the wlnd, where to Ilght, never wlth profit

B e c a u se h e co n ce i ve s n o t our wor ds ar lght. J o i n ki n d to ki n d th e re for e as r eason is,

For every burgeon answers his own seed, llan getteth man, a beast a beast I wis, tr\rther to treat of this it is no needl But understand this point of thou wilt speed, Each thing is first calcined in his own kind, I?ris well conceived fruit shalt thou find. And we make calx unctuous both white and red, 0f three degrees or our base be perfect, FluxibLe as wa(, else stand they no sted. B y r i g ht l o n g p ro ce ss a s Philosopher s do wr ite, A year we take or more to our respite; F o r i n l e ss sp a e e o u r calxes will not be m ade, Ab l e t o te l me w i th co l o ur that wiII not fade. And for thy proportion thou must beware, For therein maj-st thou be beguiled, Therefore thy work that thou not mare, L e t t h y b o d i e b e su b ti l l y filled With mercury as mrch then so subtilled One of the Sun, t*uo of the Moon T i l I a l to g e th e r l i ke p a p be done. Then make mercury four to the Sun, lWo to the moon as it should be, And thus thy work mrst be begun, In figure of the triniff, T h r e e o f th e b o d i e a n d of the spir it

thr ee,

18.

And for the unity of the substance spirltual Ore more than of the substance colporal.
By Raymonds reportory this is true. P r o p o r ti o n th e re w h o l i st to look, Ihe sane my Doctor to me did show But three of the spirit Bacon took, To one of the bodie for which I awoke, Many a night ere I it wist, And both be true take which you list. the water also be equal in proportion To the earth, with heat in due neasure, 0f them shall spring a new burgeon, Both white and red in pure tincture, tthieh in the fire shall ever endure, Kill thou the Quick the dead revi.ve, Make trinity unite without any stri-fe. Ttris is the surest and best proportion, For there is least of the part spiritual T h e b e tte r th e re fo re sh all be solution, Than if thou did with water swall, Thine earth over glutting which loseth all, T a k e h ee d th e re fo re to potter s loam , And nake thou never to neshe thy womb. fire loam behold how it tempered is, f h e m e a n a l so h o w i t i s caleined, And ever in mind look thou bear this; That never thine earth with water be suffocate, Dry up thy moisture with heat most tenperate, H e l p d i sso l u ti o n w i th n oistur e of the M oon, And Congealation with the Sun, then hast thou done. If

19.

so shalt thou turn, Which ls a Nature nost perfect and tenperate, But hard it ls wlth thy bare foot to spurn Against a bar of ironr or steel new acuate, For many do so which be infatuate, When they such hlgh things take in hand, l{hich they ln no wlee do understand. I n e g g s, i n vi tri o l r o r in blood, Tlhat rlches wend they there to find, If they Philosophy understood Ihey would not in working be so blind, Gold and Silver to seek out of kind. is, For like as fire of burning the principle gold I wis. o f gilding, So i s th e p ri n ci p l e thou intend therefore to make, GoId, and Silver by craft of our philosophie Thereto neither eggs nor blood thou take But Gold and Silver which naturally bal-eined wisely and not manually, A new generation will forth bring, Drcreasing their kind as doth everything. ff

Four natures

lnto

the flfth

And if it tme were that profit might be, fn things whieh be not netalline, I n w h i ch b e co l o u rs p l e asant to see, As i n b l o o d r e g g s, h a i rr ur iner or wine, 0r in mean minerals digged out of the mine, Yet nust their elements be putrified and separate And with elements of perfect bodies be dispousate.

20.

of these elements make thou rotation, But first And lnto water thine earth turn first of all, firen of thy water make air by levigation And air make fire, 0f all our secrets I call thee then master will great and snallr fite wheel of elements then canst thou turn about, Truly conceiv5.ng our writings without doubt. Ihis

done, Bo bacls.tards turning the wheel again, And into thy water turn thy fire anon, Air into earth, else laboureth thou in vain For so to temperrnent is brought our stone, four are made one' And natures contrari-wise After they have three times been circulate' And also thy base perfectly consumate. Itrus under thy moisture of the Moon, And under the temperate heat of the Sun, I t r i n e e l e me n ts sh a l l i n cener ate soon. And then thou hast the maistrie woni Ilrank God thy work was then so begun, For there thou hast one token true Which first in blackness to thee will show. the head of the crow that token call we, And some men call it the crows bill, S o m e c a l l i t th e a sh e s of Her mes tr ee, And thus they name it after their willl Orr toad of the earth which eateth his filI, S o m e n a n e i t b y w h i ch i t is m or tificate, Ihe spirit of the earth with venom intoxicate.

2I.

But lt

hath names I say to thee lnfinlte For after each thlng that black is to sight, Named it is till it waxeth white. then hath it names of more delight,

After

all things that been nrll white, And the red llkewise after the same, 0f all things red doth take the name. gate now art thou in, At the first 0f our philosophers castle where they dwell, Proceed wisely that thou may win, In at nore gates of that castle Which castle ls round as any bell, And gates it hath eleven yet more, One is conquered, now to the seeond go.

End of the First

Gate.

22,

0f Dlssolution
Ihe Second Gate .

0f Dissolution now will I speak a word or two Which sheweth out what erst was hid from sight, And maketh intenuate things that were which also, By virtue of our first menstnre clear and brlght, I n w h i ch o u r b o d i e s e cl i psed been of light, And of their hard and dry compaction subtilate, Into their own first matter kindly retrogradate. One in gender they be, and in number two, Whose Father is the Sun, the Moon the Mother, The Mover is Mercury, these and no nore Be our magnesia, our Adropp, and none other Itrings there be, but only sister and brother, That is to mean agent and patient, Sulphur and Mereury coessential to our intent.

Betwixt these two equalitic contrarious Ingendred is a mean most narvelously Which is our Mercury and menstrue unctuous Orr secret sulphur working invisibly. More fiercely than fire burning the bodi.e, Dissolving the bodie into water mineral, t{hich night for darkness in the North we do call. But yet f trow thou understandest not utterly The very seeret of the Philosophers Dissolution, Therefore conceive me I counsel thee wittely, For the truth I will tell thee without delusion;

23.

Orr solutlon

eause of our congelatlon' on the one side corporal For dissolutlon Causeth eongelatlon on the other side spirltual. ls

And we dissolve into water which wetteth no hand' incinerate, For when the earth is lntegrately Ihen is the water congealed3 this understand For the elements be so together concatenate' form alterate Ttrat when the bodie ls fron his first A new forn is induced lurnediately' For nothing being without all form is utterly. A n d h e re a se cre t to thee I wiLl dieelose' Which is the grornd unto our secrets all' And it not lnrown thou shalt but loose ' Ttry labour and eost both great and small' in error that thou not fall Take heed therefore The more thine earth, and the less thy water be' fire rather and better solution shalt thou see.

'Behold how ice to water doth relent' And so it nust for water it was before' Right so again to water our earth is went And water thereby congealed for evermore' For after aII philosophers that ever were bore' Each metal was once water mineralt Therefore with water they turn to water all. In whieh water of kind occasionate, Of qualities been repugnant and diversitie' Ttrings i.nto things must therefore be rotate ' be brought to perfect unitiel Until diversitie For scripture reeordeth when the earth shall be

24.

Troubled, and lnto the deep sea shal1 be cast llountalns and bodies likewlse at the last.
Orr bodies be likened conveniently To mountai.ns, whieh after high planets we na"ne, Into the deepness therefore of Mercury firrn thenr Brld keep thee out of bla.me, For then shalt thou see a noble gen, How all sha[ becone powder as soft as silk, So doth our rennet kindly kurd up our milk. There hath the bodies their first forn lost, And others been induced lnnediately! Ihen hast thou well bestowed thy costs Whereas others uncunnlngly must go bV, Not heowing the secrets of our philosophy. Yet one point more I must tell thee, How each bodie hath dimensions three. Al t i t u d e , L a ti tu d e , a n d also Pr oflnditie, By which all gates turn we must our wheel, I(nowing that thine entrance in the West shall be, Ihy passages forth to the North if thou do well, And there thy lights lose their lights eaeh deelel For there thou nust abide by ninetie nights In darkress of purgatorie withouten lights. Then take thy eourse up to the East anon, By colours passing variable in nanifold wise And then be winter and vere nigh overgone, To the East therefore thine aseending devise, For there the Sun with daylight doth uprise, In Summer, and there disport thee with deligfrt, For there thy work shall becone perfeet white.

25.

Forth from the East into

the South aseend,

Ancl set thee down there ln the chair of flre, For there is harvestl that ls to say an end 0f all this work after thine own desire There shineth the Sun up in his henisphere, Af t e r th e e cl i p se s, i n redness with glor y As king to reign upon all netals and nercury. And in one glass must be done all this thing Like to an egg in shape and closed well, Then must thou know the measure of fireing, Ihe which unknown thy work is lost each deele: Let never thy glass be hotter than thou naist feel, in thy bare hand to ho1d, And suffer still For fear of loosing, as philosophers have told. Yet my doctrine further attend Beware thy glass thou never open nor move Fron the beginnS.ng till thou have nade an endl If thou do contrarie thy work may never cheve (acheave) Thus in this chapter which is but brief, f have taught thee thy tnre solutions Now to the third gate go, for this is won.

B1d of the Seeond Gate .

26.

0f Separation . Ttre Third Gate .

doth each part fron other divide, Ihe subtile from the gross, the thick from the thin. But separation manual look thou set asl.de, F o r t h at p e rta i n s to fo o ls that little good doth win, But in our separation Nature doth not blind M a k i n g d i vi si o n o f Qu a l i ties elemental, Into fifth degree till they be turned all. Separation Earth is turned into water under black and blue, And water after into air under very white, T h e n a i r i n to fi re , e l e ments ther e be no mor e, 0f these is made our stone of great delight. B u t o f th i s S e p a ra ti o n i s called by Philosopher s t h e sa i d fo u r e l e me n ts tetr ative disper sion. .Of 0f this separation I find a like figure, Ttrus spoken, by the prophet in the Psalmodie, God brought out of a stone a flood of water pure, And out of the hardest rock oil abundantly, S o o u t o f o u r sto n e p re cious if thou be witty, 0i1 i-ncombustable, and water thou shalt draw, And there abouts at the eoal thou needst not to b1ow. heat easie and nourishing, First with noist fire and after with dry, The flegm with patience outdrawing, And after that the other natures wittely. Dry up thine earth until it be thirsty, Do this with

definition

2?.

By calcination else labourest thou in vain, Ar,rdthen nake it dry up the moisture again.
thus must thou oftentimes make, Ihy waters dividing into parts two, So that the subtile from the gross thou take Till the earth remain beneath in colours blue firat earth is fixed to abide all woe, the other part is spiritual and flying, But thou must turn them all into one thing. and water with water shalt distill And through her help receive noving Keep well these two that thou not spill Thy work for lack of due closing And make thy stopple of glass, melting T h e t o p o f th y ve sse l together with it, T h e n P h i l o so p h e r-l i ke i t is up shut. The water wherewith thou mayst revive the stone, L o o k t h o u g h d i sti l l b e for e thou wor k with it, O f t e n ti me s b y i tse l f a lone, And by this sight thou shalt wit, F b o n fe cu l e n t fe ce s w h en it is quit; For some men can with saturn it multiplie An d o t h e r su b sta n ce w h i ch we defie. Distill i t th e re fo re ti l l it be elean, And thin like water as it should be, As heaven in colour bright and sheen, Keeping both figure and ponderositee T h e r e wi th d i d H e rrn e s moisten his tr ee; Within his glass he made it grow upright W i t h f l o w e rs d i sco l o u re d beautiful to sight. Then oil Separation

28.

Itris water is

like

to the venomous tire,

Wherewith the mighty triacte is wrought F o r i t i s P o i so n mo st str ong of ir e, A s t r o n g e r p o i so n ca n n ot be thought, A t P o th e ca ri e s Bu t n o ma n b y i t F "r o mt h e ti me i t o fte n is sought, sh a l l be intoxicate, i s i n to medicine elixer ate. th er efor e it

For then as is the Triacle True, I t i s o f p o i so n n o st e xpulsive, And in his working doth marvels shew Preserving nany from death to life, B u t t h a t th o u n e d d l e i t with no cor r osive, But choose it pure and Quiek running If thou thereby wilt have winning. i s a ma rve l l o u s th i n g in kind, And without it nothing can be done, T h e r e f o re H e rme s ca l l e d it his wind, For it is upflying from Sun and Moon, i{nd maketh our stone fly with it soon, Reviving the dead. and giving life, To Sun and Moon, husband and wife. Which if they were not by craft made quick, And their fatness with water drawn out, And so the thin diservered from the thick, Ttrou shouldst never bring this work about, If thou wilt therefore speed without doubt Raise up the birds out of their nest And after again bring them to rest. ft

29.

V{ a t e r w i th w a te r a cco rd w111, and ascend, with spirlt, And Spirit for they be of one kind, Which after they be exalted nake to deseend So s h a l t th o u d i vi d e th at, which Natur e er st did bind, Mercury essential turning into wind, Without which natural and subtile separation, generation. May never be complete profitable N o w t o h e l p th e e a t th i s gate, I t r e l a st se cre t I w i l l declar e to thee ' Thy water must be seven ti.mes sublimate, E I s e s h a l l n o ki n d l y D i s solution be, Nor putrifying sha11i thou none seef pitch, nor eolours appearing Like liquid For lack of fire within the glass working.

Four fires there be which thou must understand Natural, unnatural, against Nature also, And elemental whieh doth burn the brand; I h e s e fo u r fi re s u se w e no mor e, 'Fire against nature must do thy bodie woe, Ttris is our Dragon as I thee tell, Fiercely burning as the fire of HeIl. of nature is the third menstrnral, Ttrat fire is natural in each thing; But fire oceasionate we call unnatural, As heat of ashes, and blanes for putrifying, Fire Without these fires thou maist nought bring for to be separate To Putrifaction, Thy matters together proportionate.

30.

llherefore make flre thy glass wlthin, l{hlch burneth the bodie nuch Dore than fire Elenental, if thou wilt win Orr secrets according to thy deslrel then shall thy seeds both rot and spire By help of flre oecasionate, I?rat kindly after nay be separate. Of Separation the Gate must thus be won, Towards the Gate of secret eonjunction, ltrat furthernore yet thou maist proceed Into the Castle which will thee irmerlead. Do after ny councel if thou wllt speed, With two strong locks this Gate is shut, As consequently thou shalt well wit.

Srd of the Third

Gate.

3L.

the Fourth Gate. 0f Conjunction .

the chapter of natural Separation, By w h i ch th e e l e me n ts of our stone disever ed, be, Ihe chapter here followeth of secret conjunction, Which natures repugnant joineth to perfect unitie, And so them knitteth that none from others nay fly When they be fire shall be examinate, They be together And therefore so surely eonjungate.

After

gave this difinition, Saying this conjunction is nothing else B u t o f p ri n ci p l e s a co -equation as other s tells; But some rnen with mereury that Pothecaries sel-ls M e d l eth b o d i e s, w h i ch cannot divide, T h e i r n a tte r, a n d th e refor e they slip aside. Philosophers 'For until the time the soul be separate And cleansed from his original sin With the water, and throughly spirituaLizate Ttre true conjunction maist thou never begin; Therefore the soul first from the bodie tvryne part and of the spiritual Then of the eorporall Ttre soul shall cause eonjunction perpetual. Of two Conjunctions Philosophers mention make, Grosse when the body with nercury is reincnrdate, B u t I e t th i s p a ss, a n d so the second heed take. Which as I said is after Seperation celebrate I n w hi ch th e p a rti e s b e left with least to colligate,

32,

And so promoted into nost perfect temperance, Ihat never after anongst them may be repugnance.
fitus causeth Separation true eonjunction to be had, 0f water and air, with earth and fire, But that each element into other may be led, And so abide forever to thy desire, Do as do dawbers with clay or nire, Tenper then thick and make then not to thin, So do updrying, thou shalt the rather win.

But manners there be of our conjunction three, is called by Philosophers diptative, Ihe first Ore which betwixt the agent and patient must be, Male and female, mereury, and sulphur vive Matter and form, thin and thiek to thrive, I?tis lesson will help thee without any doubt, And our eonjunction truly to bring about. The second maruler is caIled Triptative, .Which is conjunetion, made of things three, 0 f b o d y, so u l , a n d sp i ri t, that they may not str ive, Which trinitie thou must bring to unite, For as the soul to the spirit the bond must be, Right so the bodie the soul to hin mrst knit, Out of thy mind let not this lesson flit. nanner and also the last of aII' Four elements together whieh join to abid.e' Tetraptative Philosophers do it caIl, certainly And specially Guido de Montanio whose same goeth wide, The third And therefore in most laudable manner this tide, In our conjunction four elements must aggregate In due proportion, which first asunder were separate.

33.

Therefore like as the woman hath veins fifteen, And the rnan but five to the act of their secunditle, R e o u i r e d i n o u r co n j u n ction flr st I m ean, So must the man our Sun have of his water three An d n i ne h i s w i fe , w h i ch thr ee to him m ust bet joy have for to dwell, Itren like with like will M o r e o f co n j u n cti o n w e needeth not to te1l. This chapter I will conclude right soon therefore, Gross conjunction eharging thee to nake but one, For seldom have strumpets children of them bore, And so thou shalt never come out by our stone, Without thou let the woman lie alone' Ihat after the once have conveived of the man, Her matrix be shut up from all other than. For such as add ever more crude to crude their m atter s keele @e n i n g th e i r ve sse l l e tting The sperme conceived they nourish not but delude T h e m s e l ve s, a n d sp i l l th eir wor k each dee1e, f f t h o u th e re fo re h a ve l ist to do well Close up thy matrix and nourish the seed With heat eontinual and temperate if thou wilt speed. And when thy vessel hath stood by nonths five', A n d c l ou d s a n d e cl i p se s be passed each or r r fite fight appearing, inerease thy heat then below, Until maist thou open thy glass anone, An d s e e d th y ch i l d w h i e h is now bor b, With milk and meat aye more and more.

34.

For now both moist and dry ls so contenperate, lhat of the water earth hath reeeived lmpression Whieh never (after that) asunder rnay be seperate And right so water to earth hath given ingression Itrat both together to dwell have made profession And water of earth hath purchased a retentive, ltrey four make one never more to strive.
Itrus ln two things all our intent doth hing, I n d r y a n d mo i st, w h i e h be contr ar ies two, I n d r y, th a t i t th e mo i st to fixing br ing, I n m o i st, th a t i t g i ve liguefaction to the ear th also, Ihen of them thus a temperment may forth go A t e m p e rme n t n o t so th i ck as the body is, N e i t h e r so th i n a s w a te r withour en miss. two T,oosing and knitting thereof be principles 0 f t h i s h a rd sci .e n ce , a nd poles most pr incipal, be many more, Howbeit that other principles As shining fanes, which show I shall; ?roceed therefore unto another wall 0 f t h i s stro n g ca stl e o f our wisdom' Itrat in at the fourth Gate thou maist come.

EYrd of the Fourth

Gate .

35.

0f Putrefaction. The Fifth Gate.

Now we begin the chapter of hrtrefaction, l{ithout which pole no seed may nultiply; Which nust be done only by continual action 0 f h e at i n th e b o d i e , moist not manuallyg For bodies else may not be altered naturally, Sith Ctrrist doth witness, without the grain of wheat D i e i n th e g ro u n d , e n crease maist thou none get. An d i n l i ke w i se w i th o u t the matter putr ifie, f t m a y i n n o w i se tru l y alter ate, Neither thy elenents may be divlded kindly N o r t h e co n j u n cti o n o f them per fectly celebr ate; Ihat thy labour therefore be not frustrate, The privitie of our putrifying well understand 0r ever thou take this work in hand. And Putrifaction nay thus defined be, After philosophers sayings, to be of bodies the slaying; And in our compound a division of things three fire killed bodies into corruption forth leading, And after into regeneration them abling, For things being in the earth, wi.thout doubt Be engendered of rotation of the heavens about. And therefore like as I have said before Thine elements commixt and wisely cocguate Ttrou keep in temperate heat eschewing evernore, T h a t t h e y b y vi o l e n t h e at be not ineiner ate,

36.

To powder dr.y improfitably nrblficate, But into powder black as a crows bi1l, With heat of balne or else of our dunghill.
the time that nights be passed ninety, I n m oi st h e a t ke e p th e m for anything, Soon after by blackness thou shalt espie Itrat they draw fast to putrifying, Which thou shalt after many colours bring T o p e rfe ct w h i te n e ss b y patience easily, And so thy seed in his nature shall rmrltiplie. Make each the other then to halse and kiss, And like as children to play thern up and down, An d w h e n th e i r sh i rts ar e filled with piss, Then let the wonan to wash be bowne, W h i c h o ft fo r fa i n tn e ss will in a swoon, A n d d ie a t th e l a st w i th her childr en all, And go to purgatorie to purge their filth original. W h e n t h e y b e th e re , b y 1itt1e and little iner ease fireir pains, by heat r ?1re nore and more, the fire from thern Let never increase, And so that thy f\rrnaee be surely apt therefore, W h i c h w i se me n ca l l a n Athenor e, C o n s e rvi n g h e a t re q u i re d nost temper atelie, By which thy matter doth kindly putrifie. 0 f t h i s p ri n ci p l e sp e a k eth Sapient Guido, And saith by rotting dyeth the eompound corporal And then after Mori-en and other more, Upriseth again regenerate simple and spiritual, And were not heat and moisture eontinual, Until

37.

the womb might have nore abiding And so there should no fnrit thereof upspring. at the beginning And bury each one in other Iherefore our stone thou take, within their grave.

Sperm in

then equally betwixt then a narriage nake To ligge toghether six weeks let thern have, seed coneeived, kindly to nouri-sh and save, Fron the ground of their grave not rising that while, Yfhieh secret point doth many a one beguile. Ittis time of conception with easy heat abide, Ttte blackness shewing shall teII thee when they dye, F o r t h e y to g e th e r l i ke l iguid pitch that tide, Shall swell and burble, settle and putrifie, Shining colours therein thou shalt espie, Like to the rainbow marveilous to sight, fite water then beginneth to dry upright. For noist bodies heat Ingendreth blackness, Of kindly conjunction And of tnre putrifyirg; For then perfeetly to working temperate, first of all which is the token assignate. remember this alter Iheir

thou canst not niss For thus be the gate thou must come in Ttre light of Paradi.se in whiteness if thou wilt win.

For first the Sun in his uprising obscurate Shall be, and pass the waters of Noahrs flood On earth which was an hundred days continuate And fifty away ere all these waters yood; Right so our waters (as wise men understood) Shall pass, that thou with David may say Albierunt in sicco fluminat bear this away.

38.

Soon after

that

Which royally

Noah planted his vineyard, fLourished, and brought forth

grapes anon

After whlch space thou shalt not be afeared, For in likewise shall follow the frourishing of our stone, And soon after that days be gone Thou shalt have giapes ripe as Rubie red t{hich is our Adrop, our Vcifer (Lucifer?), and our red lead. as Souls after pains transitorie Be brought to Paradise where ever is joyf\rll life, So shall our stone (after his darkness in Purgatorie) Be purged, and joined in Elements without strife, R e j o i c e th e w h i te n e ss and beauti.e of his wife, And pass from darkness of Pr.rgatorie to light 0f Parad^ise, in whiteness Elixer of great might. For like

And that thou maist the rather to Putrefaction win, Ttris example thou take to thee for a true conclusion, F o r a ll th e se cre t o f Putr ifaction r esteth ther einl The heart of Oak that hath of water continual infusion . W i 1 t no t so o n p u tri fi e , I tell thee without delusionl For though it in water 1ay 100 years and more, Yet shouldst thou find it sound as ere it was before. But and thou keep it sometime wet and sometine dry As thou maist see in tirnber by usual experinent By process of time that oak shall putrifiei And so even likewise according to our intent, must with the sun be brent, Sonetimes our tree And then with water we nust it keele, ltrat by this means of rotting we nay bring it weele.

39.

For now in wet, And now in heatr

Bnd now again in dry

T o b e , sh a l l And so shalt thou bring rotting thy go1d3 f n t r e a t th y b o d l e s a s f have thee told, And in thy putrifying, with heat be not too swift, least in the Ashes thou seek after thy thrift. firerefore thy water out of the earth thou draw, And make the soul therewith for to ascend, llhen down again into the earth it throw, That they oft tines so ascend and descend, From violent heat and sudden cold defend Thy glass, and make thy fire so tenperate That by the sides the natter be not vitrificate. And be thou wise i-n choosing of the matter, Meddle with no salts, sulphurs, nor mean mineral-s; For whatsoever any worker to thee doth clatter, Orr Sulphur and our Mercury been only in metals Which oils and waters Fowls and birds, with Because that fools some men them cal1s, other nemes many one

BDd now again ln cold ca u se i t soon to putr ifl.e,

should never know our stone.

For of this world our stone is caIled the ferment Which moved by eraft as nature doth require fn his increase shall be fu1l opulent, And mul-tiply his kind after thine own desj.re Therefore if God vouchsafe thee to inspire, and fancies to eschew To know the truth, Like unto thee in riches shall be but few.

40.

But many men be moved to work after their fantasie In many subjects in which be tinetures gayr Both white and red divided manually To sight, but in the fire they f1y aways Such break pots and glasses day by d.y, Ehpoisoning themselves and loosing their sights W i t h o d o u rs, smo ke s, a nd watching up by nights. Iheir elothes be baudy and worn thread bare, Men nay them sme1l for multipliers where they go To fill their fingers with corrosives they do not spare Their eyes be bleared, their cheeks lean and blow And thus for had f wist they suffer loss and woes And such when they have lost that was in their purse, T h e n d o th e y ch i d e , a n d Philosopher s sor e do cur se. h o u se s i t is a noble spor t, What furnaces, what glasses there be of divers shapes W h a t sa l ts, w h a t p o w d er s, what oils, water sor t. How eloguently de materia prima their tongues do clap And yet to find the truth they have no haps 0f our mercury they neddle and of our sulphur Where they dote, and more and more untrue. vive T o s e e th e i r

For all the while they have Philosophers been, Yet could they never know what was our stone. S o m e so u g h t i t i n d u n g , in ur ine' som e in wine, S o m e i n sta r sl i me (fo r thing it is but one) , was gone, I n b l oo d , i n e g g s; so m e till their thr ift Dividing elements, and breaking many a pot, but yet they hit it not. Sheards multiplying,

41.

of the Red man and his whlte wife, That is a special thlng and of the Elixirs two, 0 f t h e q u i n te sse n e e , E n d of the Elixir of life, 0 f h o n e y, ce l i d o n i e , a n d of secondines also, T h e s e th e y d i vi d e i n to elements, with other s m or e,

they talk

N o m u lti p l i e rs, b u t p h i l osopher s called will they be, Which natural philosophers did never read nor see. Ttris fellowship lmoweth our stone right well Ihey think them rieher than is the King, They will him help, he shall not fail Fbance for to win a wondrous thing, Itry holy Cross home they will bring, And if the King were prisoner I take, Right soon his ransom would they make. A mervaile it is that Westninster Kerke, To the whieh these Philosophers do rmrch haunt, Since they can so much riches werke As they make boast of an avaunt, 'Drinking dayly the wine a due taunt, f s n o t ma d e u p p e rfe e tl y at once, For truly it lacketh yet nany stones. F o o l s d o fo l l o w th e n a t the tail, Pronoted to riehes weening to be; But will you hear, what worship and avail they win in London that noble city? W i t h s i l ve r ma ce s (a s you nay see) Sergeants awaiteth on them each hourly, So been they nen of great honour.

42.

se e k th e m from str eet to str eet, Merchants and goldsmiths lay after them watch, That well is him that with them nay meet, advantage that they do cateh, They hunt about as doth a bratch, Weening to win so great treasure That ever in riehes they shall endure! Some would eatch their goods again, And some more good would adventure, Some for to have would be ful1 fain Of ten pounds one, I you ensure. Some which have lent without measure T h e i r g o o d s, a n d b e w i th pover tie clad, To eatch a noble, would be firlI g1ad. For great

S e r g e a n ts

But when seargents do then arrest, Their partners be stuffed with Paris ba1ls, 0 r w i th si g n e ts o f S a i n t M ar tins at the least; B u t a s fo r mo n e y i t i s pist against the walls; 'Ttren be they led (as well then befalls ) To Newgate or ludgate as I you tell, Beeause they shall in safeguard dwell. W h e r e i s my mo n e y b e co me, saith one? And where is mine saith he and he. But will you hear how subtile they be anon In answering, that they be exeused be? Saying, of our Elixers robbed be we, Else might we have paid you all your go1d, Ttrough it had been nore by ten fold.

43.

A n d t h e n th e i r cre d i to rs they flatter Promising to work for them again space the Elixirs two. Doting the merchants that they be fain T o l e t th e m g o , b u t e ve r in vain; T h e y w o rk so l o n g , ti II They be again in prison ff at the last cast. In right short

so,

any of them ask, why they be not rich? They say they ean make fine gold of tin B u t h e, (sa y th e y) ma y sur ely swim the ditch Tthich is upholden by the chinr We have no stock, therefore may we not win W h i c h i f w e h a d , w e w o uld soon wor k Erough to finish up Westminster Kerk. And some of then be so devout, T h e y wi l l n o t sw e 1 I o u t of that place; For there they may withouten doubt D o w h a t th e m l i st to th eir solace, T h e Arch d e a co n i s so fu l l of gr ace, Ihat if they bless him with their cross H e f o r c e th l i ttl e o f o ther m ens loss. And when they then sit at the wine, These monks they say have many a pound, W o u l d Go d (sa i th o n e ) that som e wer e m ine, Yet care away, let the cup fo round; Drink on saith another, the mean is found, I am a master of that Art I warrant us we shall have part.

l+I+ .

Su c h c a u se th Mo n ks e vi l to doone, To waste their wages through their Some bringeth Itreir

dotage,

a mazet, sotne a spoon. P h i l o so p h e rs g i ve th them such comage,

Behighting them winning with domage A pound for a pennie at the least again; And so fair promises make fools faine. A royal medicine one upon twelve, Ihey promise them thereof to have Which they could never for themselves Ye t b r i n g a b o u t, so Go d me savei Beware such philosophers no nan deprave W h i c h he l p th e se mo n ks to r iches so In thread bare coats that they rmlst go. fire Abbot ought well to eherish this eompanie, F o r t h ey ca n te a ch h i s m onks to live in pover tie, A n d t o g o cl o a th e d i n moneyed r eligioustie, A s d i d S a i n t B e n n e tr e schuing super fluities, ' E a s i n g th e m a l so o f th e ponder soitie 0f their purses, with pounds so aggravate Which by philosophie be now alleviate.

Lo who so medleth with this rich companj-e, Great boast of their winning they may make; For they shall reap as rmeh by their philosophy of an Bpe, can take; As they of the tail Beware therefore for Jesus sake A m e d d l e w i th n o th i n g of gr eat cost F o r i f th o u d o , i t i s b ust lost.

45.

(o f whlch I spake befor e) Medd1e and blunder with many a thing, Running in errors ever more and more For lack of tme understandingt But like must like always forth bring So hath God ordained in every kind, I h e s e P h i l o so p h e rs Would Jesus they would bear this in mind.

W e e n e th e y o f a n e ttl e to have a r ose, 0r of an elder to have m apple sweet; A1 s a , th a t w i se me n th e i r goods should loose, Trusting sueh laurels when they then meet Which say our stone is trodden under feet, And maketh them vile things to distill, TiI1 all their gouses with stench they fill. S o m e o f th e m n e ve r l e a rned a wor d at schools, Should such by reason understand Philosophers? Be t h e y P h i l o so p h e rs? N ay, they be fools; For their works prove them unwittie, M e d d l e n o t w i th th e m, i f thou be happie, Least with their flatterie they do thee till Ihat thou agree unto their will. Spend not thy money away G i v e n o t to e ve ry sp i ri t But first examine, grope And as thou proovestr so i-n waste, cr edence, and taste; put thy confidence,

But ever beware of great expence; And if the philosopher do live vertuously, The better thou maist trust his philosophy.

46,

Prove him first, Brrd him appose 0f all the secrets of our stonel Tfhich if he know not, thou need not to lose, Meddle thou no f\rrther, btrt let hin gone, Makehe never so perious a movet For then the Fox can fag and fain, Whenhe would to his prey attain.
If he can answer as a clark, How be it he hath nor proved indeed, And thou then help him to his work; I f h e b e vi rtu o u s I h o l d it need, F o r h e w i l l th e e q u i t i f ever he speed And thou shalt know by a tittle anon, If he have knowledge of our stone. one glass, one furnace, and no more. B e h o l d th i s p ri n e i p l e i f he do take, An d i f h e d o n o t th e n l et him go, One thing, For he shall thee no rich man make ' T i m e l y i t i s b e tte r th o u him for sake Than after with loss and variance And other manner of displeasance. But if God fortune thee to have T h i s sci e n ce b y d o ctri n e which I have told, D i s c o ve r i t n o t w h o so e ver it cr ave or gold, F o r f a vo u r, fe a r, si l ve rr B e n o o p p re sso r, l e ch e r nor boaster bold; Serve thy God, and help the poor anorlgr I f t h ou th i s l i fe l i st to continue 1ong.

47.

Unto thyself

thy secrets ever keep From sinners, which have not God in dread B u t w i l l th e e ca st i n p rison deep,

T i l l th o u th e m te a e h to do it indeed, Then slander on thee shall spring and spread, fhat thou doest coin then will they saV, And so undo thee for ever and aye. And lf thou teach then this cunning, Itren sinftrll loving for to maintai.n, In Hel-l therefore shall be thy wooning, For God of thee and them will take disdaine, As thou nought couLdst therefore thee faine, That bodie and soul thou maist both save, And here in peace thy living to have. Now in this chapter I have thee taught, How thou thy bodies must putrifie, And so to guide thee that thou be not caught And put to durance loss or villaine, 'Iv[r doctrine therefore remember wittely, And pass forth towards the sixth Gate, For this the fifth is triumphate.

ltre Brd of the Fifth

Gate.

ll8.

0f Congelation. The Sixth Gate .

0 f c o n g e l a ti o n f n e e d n ot nuch to wr ite, B u t w h a t i t i s, I w i l l to thee declar ei It is of soft things induration of colour white, And confixatj-on of spirits whieh flying arei H o w t o co n g e a l , h e n e e d th not m uch to car e, For Elements will knit together soon So that Putrifaction be kindly done. But Congelations be made in divers wise 0 f s p i r i ts a n d b o d i e s d issolved into water elear 0 f s a l ts a l so d i sso l ve d twice or thr ice And then congealed into a fluxible mattert 0 f s u ch co n g e a l i n g fo o l s fast do clatter l And some dissolveth dividing manually powder dr ie. . E l e m en ts, th e n a fte r e o ngealing to s u ch co n g e a l i n g i s not to our desir e, unto ours it is eontrarious. eongelation dreadeth not the fire; i t mu st e ve r sta n d in it unctuous, i t i s a l so a ti n ctu re so bounteous, Which in the air congealed will not relent To water, for then our work were spent. Bu t For Orr For An d Moreover congeale not into ao hard a stone which melteth by fusion As glass or crystal, But so that it like wax will melt alone W i t h o u te n b l a st; a n d b e war e of delusion,

49.

F o r s u e h co n g e a l i n g a cc or deth not to our conclusion As will not flow, but run to water again l i k e sa l t e o n g e a l e d ., then labour eth thou in vain. W h i e h co n g e l a ti o n a va i l eth us not a deale, I t l o n g e th to mu l ti p l i e rsi congealing r nr lgar ly, I f t h o u th e re fo re l i st to do well ( S i t h th e rn e d i ci n e sh a 1l never flow kindly, N e i t h er e o n g e a l , w i th o u t thou fir st it putr ifie) purge, First and then fix the elements of our stone TiIl they together congeale and flow anon. F o r w h e n th y ma tte r i s m ade per fectly white, T h e n w i l l th e sp i ri t w i th the bodie congealed be: But of that time thou mai_st have long respite O r i t e o n g e a l e l i ke p e a r ls in sight of thee, S u c h co n g e a l a ti o n b e th ou glad to see A n d a fte r l i ke g ra i n s red as blood, R i c h e r th a n a n y w o rl d l y good. I h e e arth l y g ro ssn e ss ther efor e fir st r nor tified, f n m o istu re b l a ckn e ss i ngender ed is; T t r i s pri n ci p l e ma y n o t be denied, F o r n a tu ra l P h i l o so p h e rs so salme the wis, W h i c h h a d , o f w h i te n e ss thou m aist not m i.ss An d i n to w h i te n e ss i f thou congeale at once, T h e n ha st th o u a sto n e most pr ecious of aLl stones. An d b y th e d ry l i ke a s the m oist did putr ifie, W h i c h ca u se d i n co l o u r blackness to appear , Right so the rnoist congealed by the dry, whiteness shinning by night fitll cIear, A n d d r in e ss p ro ce e d e th as whiteth the matter , Ingendreth

50.

Like as ln blackness moisture doth him show By colours variant always new and new. I h e c au se o f a l l th i s i s heat most tem per ate, Working and moving the matter continually, A n d t he re b y a l so th e matter is alter ate, Both inward and outward substancially, N o t a s d o fo o l s to fi g h t sophisticallyg But in every part all fire to i.ndure F l u x i b 1 e , fi xt, sta b l e in tinctur e. A s p h ysi ck d e te rn i n e th of each digestion, First done in the stomach in which is d.riness, C a u s i ng w h i te n e ss w i th o ut question, L i k e as th e se e o n d d i g e s tion eauseth r edness C o m p l e te i n th e l i ve r by heat in tem per ateness, Right so our stone by driness and by heat D i g e s te d i s to w h i te a nd r ed compleate. But here thou must another secret know, TIow the Philosophers child in the air is borne, Bu s i e th e e n o t to o fa st at the coal to b1ow, And take this neither for mock nor scorn' else is all thy work for lorn, But tnrst ne truly, Without thine earth with water reunited be Our tnre A soul it congealing is betwixt shalt thou never see.

heaven and earth being, Arising from earth as air with water pure, in every lively thing And causing life nature Incessable running upon our fourfold En f o r ci n g to b e tte r h i m with all his eur e, W h i c h a i r i s th e fi re of our Philosophie; N a m e d n o w o i I, n o w w a ter mysticallie.

51.

which oil or water we carl Or fire, our ointrnent, our spirit r Brd our stone, rn whieh one thing we ground our wisedomes all, G o e t h n e i th e r i n n o r o ut alone, N o r t he fi re b u t th e w ater alone; F i r s t i t o u t l e a d e th , a nd after it br ingeth it in, As water with water whieh will not lightly twin. And so nay water only our water meene, Whieh moving causeth both death and life And water to water doth kindly cleeve Without repugnance or any strife, W h i c h w a te r to fo o l s i s nothing r ife, Being of the kind withouten doubt 0 f t h e sp i ri tr e a l l e d w ater and leader out. And water is the seeret and life of every thing, Ihat is of substance in this world I found, For of water eaeh thing hath his beginning, As showeth in women when they shall be unbound By water, which passeth before it all be found Called Alvien, first from them nrnning, With greivous throwes before their childing. And tnrly that is the cause most principal Why Philosophers charge us to be patient, T i l I t i me th e w a te r b e dr ied to powder all W i t h n o u ri sh j .n g h e a t, e onti- nual, not violent; For qualities be contratious of every element, TilI after black in white be made an union 0f them for ever, congealed without division.

And this

means air

52.

And f\rrthermore,

the preparation

of this

conversions

rbom thing to thing, fron one state I s d on e o n l y b y ki n d l y and discr eet

to anottrer, oper ation

0 f n a tu re , a s i s o f sp er m within the m other F o r s p e rm a n d h e a tr B p as sister and br other , which be converted in themselves as nature can, B y a cti o n a n d p a ssi o n at last to per fect man. For as the bodily part by nature was combined f n t o ma n , i s su ch a s th e beginner wBS, which though it thus fro thing to thing was alterate N o t o u t o f ki n d to mi x with other kind did pass And so our natter spermatical within our g1ass, Within it self must turn from thing to thing, By heat most temperate only it nourj-shing.

Another example natural I may tell thee, How the substance of an egg by nature is wrought I n t o a ch i cke n n o t p a ss ing out of the shell, A plainer example could I not have thought, 'And their conversions be made ti1I forth be brought F r o m s ta te to sta te , th e like by like in kind, With nourishing heat only bear this in mind. Another example here also thou naist read 0 f v e g e ta b l e th i n g s, ta k ing consider ation, How everything groweth of his own seed. Through heat and moisture, by natural operation, And therefore minerals be nourished by ministration O f m o i stu re ra d i ca l , w h ich ther e beginning was, N o t p assi n g th e i r ki n d within one glass.

53.

Ihere we then turn from thing to thing again, f n t o th e i r mo th e r th e water when they go3 Which prineiple unknown, thou labourest in vain, Then all is sperm; and things there be no more But kind with kind in number two, l{ale and female, agent and patient, Within the matrix of the Earth most orient. And these be turned by heat from thing to thing W i t h i n o n e g l a ss, a n d so fr om state to state, Until the time that nature doth them bring I n t o on e su b sta n ce o f the water r egener ateg A n d s o th e sp e rm w i th h is kind is alter ate, A b l e l n l i ke n e ss h i s ki nd to m ultiply, As doth in kind all other things naturally. I n t h e ti me o f th i s sa i d pr ocess natur al, W h i l e th a t th e sp e rm co neeived is gr owing, T h e s u b sta n ce i s n o u ri shed with his own menstr uale, Which water only but out of the earth did spring, W h o s e co l o u r i s g re e n i n the fir st showing; And from that time the sun hideth his Iight, Taking his course throughout the North by night. T t r e s a i d me n stru a l l i s ( I say to thee in councel) ltre blood of our Green Lyon and not of vitriol, Dame Venus ean the truth of this thee tel1 A t t h e b e g i n n i n g , to co uncel if thou her call' T t r i s se cre t i s h i d b y P hilosopher s gr eat and small' Which blood drawn out of the Green Lyon, F o r l a ck o f h e a t h a d n o t per fect digestion,

*.

Bu t t h i s

b l o o d ca l l e d

o ur secr et menstr aull,

Wherewith our sperm is nourished temperately When it is turned into the feces corporal, A n d s o b e co n e w h i te p e rfectly and ver y dr y, C o n g e al e d a n d fi xe d i n to his or vn bodie, T h e n d e co ct b l o o d to si g ht it m ay well seem , 0f this work named the milk white Dlrademe. Understand now that our firie water thus acuate, I s c a l le d o u r me n stru a l l water , wher ein, O u r e a rth i s l o o se d a n d natur allly calcinate, By Congelation that they may never twinne, But yet to congeal more water thou may not linne; Into three parts of the acuate water sayed afore With the fourth part of the earth congealed no more. su b sta n ce th e refor e congelate, The fourth part put of water ehristalline, And make them then together to be dispousate, By Congelation into a miner metalline, W h i c h li ke a sw o rd n e w s lipped will shine, will shew, After the blacloness which first The fourth part then give it of water new. Imbibitions many it must yet have, G i v e i t th e se co n d , a n d after the thir d also, T h e s a i d p ro p o rti o n ke e ping in thy witt, Then to another the fourth time look thou go, The fifth tine and the sixth pass not therefore, But put two parts at each time of them three, And at the seventh time five parts must there be. Unto that

55.

When thou hast made seven times Imbibition, Again then must thou turn about thy wheel, And putrifie all that matter without addition. First blaclaness abiding if thou wilt do wel1, Then into whiteness congeal it up each d.eele, And after by redness into Then hast thou brought the South ascend, thy base unto an end.

Thus is thy water then divided into parts two, With the first part the bodies be putrificate, And to thine Imbibitions the second part must go, l{ith which thy matter is afterward. demigrate And soon upon easi-e decoction albificate, Then is it named by Philosophers our starry stone, Bring that to redness then is the sixth gate worl.

E n d of Sixth Gate.

56.

0 f Cibation. The Seventh Gate .

N o w o f C i b a ti o n I tu rn my pen to wr ite, Si t h i t mu st h e re th e S eventh place occupie, B u t i n fe w w o rd s i t w i l l be expedite, T a k e h e e d th e re fo re , a n d under stand ne wittelie, C i b a t i on i s ca l l e d a fe e ding of our m atter dr ie, W i t h mi l k a n d me a t, w h i ch moder ately thou do, Until it be brought the third order wrto. But give it never so much, that thou it gIut, Be w a r e o f d ri p si e , a n d also of Noahs flood: By 1ittIe and little therefore thou to it put O f m e at a n d d ri n k, a s seems to do it good, That watery humours not overgrow the b1ood, T o d r i n k th e re fo re l e t i t be measur ed so, That kindly appetite thou never quench it fro. For if it drink too much, then must it have A v o m i t o r e l se i t w i l l be sick too long, From the dropsie therefore thy womb thou save ' And from the f1ux, or else it will be wrong, for drink among' But rather let it thirst Than thou shouldst give it over much at once' W h i c h mu st i n yo u th b e dieted for the nonce. A n d i f th o u d i e t i t (a s natur e doth r equir e) M o d e r ate l y, ti l l ti me th at it be gr own to dB, F r o m c o l d i t ke e p i n g , a nd nour ishing with moist fir e, Then shall it grow, and wax full of courage,

57.

And do to thee both pleasure and advantage; For he shall make dark bodies whole and bright, Cleansing their leprosy through his might.

Three tines must thou turn about thy wheel, ke e p i n g th e ru l e o f the said Cibation, Still And then as soon as it the fire doth feel, Lj-ke wax it will be readie r.rnto liquation; F o r I h a ve to l d th e e th e dietor ie m ost convenient, After thine Elements be made equipolent. And also how to whiteness thou shalt bring thy goId, Most like in figure to leaves of hawthorne tree Called Magnesia, afore as I have told' And our white sulphur without combustibilitie' Which from the fire away will never flie' And thus the seventh Gate (as you desired) In the uprising of the Stm is conquered.

$nd of Seventh Gate .

58.

0 f Sublim ation. T h e Eighth Gate.

Here of our Sublimation a word of two I h a v e to sp e a k, w h i ch the eighth gate is, F o o l s d o su b l i me , b u t s ublim e thou not sor F o r w e su b l i me n o t a s they do y wis. T o s u bl i me tru l y th e re for e thou shalt not miss, I f t h ou ca n st ma ke th y bodies fir st spir itual, A n d t he n th y sp i ri ts (a s r have taught thee) cor por all. from vitriol and salt sublime, fro m scales of ir on and steel, I b o m e g g -sh e l l s ca l ci n e d, and fr om quick Iim e. And in their manner yet sublime they right weLl; B u t s uch su b l i mi n g a cco rdeth never a deele T o o u r i n te n ts, fo r w e sublime not sor T o t r u e su b l i mi n g th e re for e, now wiLl I go. In Sublination first beware of one thing, T h a t t h o u su b l i me to th e top of the vessel not; For without violence thou shalt it not down bring Again, but there it will abide and dwell. S o i t re j o i ce th w i th re fr iger ation f thee tel1, Keep it therefore with temperature heat down IUI1 forty days, till it wax black and brown. For then the soul beginneth to come out Ibom his own velmess, for all that subtil_ is W i l l wi th th e sp i ri t a scend withouten doubt, Bear in thy mind therefore, and think on this, Some do mercurie A n d o th e r sp i ri ts

59.

H o w h ere e cl i p se d

b e e n thy bodies, more and more up above.

As thou do putrifie subliming I n t o w a te r, u n ti l th e y be all

And thus their venome when they have spued out l n t o t he w a te r th e n b l a ck it doeth appear , Be c o m i n g sp i ri tu a l e a ch deale without doubt, Subliming easily in our manner, I n t o t h e w a te r, w h i ch d oth him bear ; For in the air our child must thus be bore 0 f t h e w a te r a g a i n , a .s I have said befor e. But when these two by sublimation continual Be l a b o u re d so w i th h e a t both m oist and tem per ate ' That all is white and purely made spiritual' Then heaven upon earth must be reiterate t Until the soul with the bodie be incorporate That earth become all that before was heaven W h i c h w i l l b e d o n e i n sublim ations seven. An d S u b l i ma ti o n s w e ma k e for causes thr ee, ca u se i s, to make the bodie spir itual; T h e f i rst T h e s eco n d i s, th a t th e spir it may cor opr al b, A n d b e co me fi xt w i th i t, and consubstantial; The third cause is, that from his filthy original H e m a y b e cl e a n se d , a n d his saltness sulphur ious M a y b e rn i n g l e d i n h i m, which is infectious. T h e n w h e n th e y th u s to g ether depur ed be, They will sublime up whiter than snow. T h a t si g h t w i L l g re a tl y com for t thee; For then anon perfectly thou shalt larow T h e s pi ri ts sh a l l so a d owne y thr owe, T h a t t hi s e i g h th g a te shall be to thee unlocked Out of the whieh many be shut and mocked. End of Eighth Gate . 60.

0 f Fer mentation. The Ninth Gate .

few workers understand, T h a t s ecre t th e re fo re I will expound to thee, I travelled through truly many a 1and, Ere ever I might find any that would tel1 it me, Y e t a s Go d w o u l d , e ve rmor e blessed be he, At the last I came to the lmowledge thereof , T a k e h e e d th e re fo re w h a t I ther eof do wr ite. Fermentation in divers manners be done By which our medicine must be perpetuate I n t o c le a r w a te r; S o me l ooseth Sun and Moon, A n d w i th th e i r me d i ci n e s m ake them to be congelate, Which in the fire when they be examinate M a y n o t a b i d e , n o r a l te r with complement; such Fermenting is not to our intent. :o" B u t y e t mo re ki n d l y so me other m en doone, Fermenting their medi.ci-nes in this wise, In mercurie dissolving both Sun and Moon, T i I l t ime w i th sp i ri t th ey will ar ise, Su b l i m i n g th e m to g e th e r twice or thr ice, Then Fermentation therewith That is away, but yet we it they make, forsake.

True Fermentation

Some other there be which have more h.p, To touch the truth in part of fermenting, They amalgame their bodies with mercurie like T h e n t he re u p o n th e i r me dicines r elenting

pap,

51.

T h e s e o f o u r se cre ts h a v e som e hinting. Bu t n o t th e tru th w i th per fect com pliment, Be c a u se th e y n e i th e r p u tr ifie, nor alter their fer ment.

T h a t p o i n t th e re fo re I will disclose unto thee, l o o k h o w th o u d i d st w i th thine imper fect bodie, D o s o wi th th y p e rfe ct bodies in each degr ee, T h a t i s to sa y, fi rst thou them putr ifie, T h e i r fo rme r q u a l i ti e s destr oying utter ly, F o r t h is i s w h o l l y to o ur intent, That first thou alter before ferment. To thy compound make ferment the fourth part Which ferments being only of Sun and Moon; I f t h o u th e re fo re b e ma ster of this Ar t, T h y F erme n ta ti o n l e t th us be done, F i x w a te r a n d e a rth to g ether soon, A n d w h e n th y me d i ci n e a s wax doth f1ow, Then upon malgames fook thou it throwe.

A n d w he n a l l th a t to g e th er is mi- xed, Ab o v e th e g l a ss w e l l cl osed make thy fir e An d s o co n ti n u e i t ti l l all be fixed An d w el l fe rme n te d to thy desir e, T h e n ma ke p ro j e cti o n a fter thy pleasur e, F o r t h a t i s me d i ci n e e a c h deale per fite, Thus must thou ferment both red and white. F o r l i ke a s fl o u r o f w h eat m ade into paste Requireth ferment, which leaven we call 0f bread, that it may have the kindly taste And become food to man and woman cordial Right so thy medicine ferment thou shall That it may taste of the ferment pure At a l l a ssa ys fo r e ve r to endur e.

52.

And understand that there be ferments three, T w o b e o f b o d i e s o f n a tu re clean, W h i c h m u st b e a l te re d a s f have told thee; T h e t h ird mo st se cre t o f which I m ean, I s t h e fi rst e a rth o f h i s water Gr een; A n d t h ere fo re w h e n th e Lion doth thir st, M a k e h i m d ri n k ti II h i s be1ly bur st. 0 f t h i s a q u e sti o n i f I should mouve, And ask of workers, what is this thing? Anon thereby I should them prove, If they had lmowledge of our fermenting; For many a man speaketh with wondering, 0 f R o bi n h o o d a n d o f h i s bow, W h i c h n e ve r sh o t th e re i n I tr owe. F o r f e rme n ta ti o n tru e a s I thee teII, I s o f th e so u l w i th b o d i es incor por ation, R e s t o r in g to i t th e ki n d ly sm ell, W i t h t aste a n d co l o u r b y natur al conspissation, 0 f t h i n g s d i sse ve re d , a due r eintegr ation, W h e r e by th e b o d y o f th e spir it taketh impr ession, That either the other may help to have ingression. F o r l i k e a s b o d i e s i n th eir compaction cor por all, effectually' M a y n o t sh o w o u t th e i r qualities U n t i l th e ti me th a t th e y becom e spir itual, a b i d e with bodies stedfastly, N o m o r e ma y sp i ri ts T1II they with them be confixate proportionally F o r t h en th e b o d y te a ch eth the spir it to suffer fir e, th e b o d y to enter to thy desir e. An d t h e sp i ri t

63.

T h e r e f ore th y g o l d w i th gold thou m ust fer ment, W i t h h i s o w n w a te r th y ear th cleansed I mean, N o u g h t e l se to sa y b u t element with wlem ent, T h e s p i ri t o f l i fe o n l y going between, For like as an adamant as thou hast seen Draweth iron to himr so doth our earth by kind Draw down to him his soul born up with wind. W i t h w i n d th e re fo re th e soul lead out and in, M i n g l e g o l d w i th g o 1 d , that is for to saV, Make element with element together rin Tilt time all fire they suffer ilBlr For earth is ferment, withouten nay, T o w a te r, a n d w a te r th e ear th unto, O u r F erme n ta ti o n i n th i s wise must be do. Ea r t h i s g o 1 d , a n d so i s the soul also N o t c ommo n , b u t o u rs th us Elementate' An d y et th e re to th e su n must go, T h a t b y o u r w h e e l i t ma y be alter ate; F o r s o to fe rme n t i t mu st be pr epar ate, That it profoundly may joined be, W i t h oth e r n a tu re s a s I said to thee. An d w h a tso e ve r I h a ve h er e said of gold' I will thou understand, The same of silver and alter ( as I have told) T h a t t ho u th e m p u tri fi e Ere thou thy medicine to ferment take in hand; Forsooth I could never find him in England W h i c h i n th i s w i se to fer m ent could we teach W i t h o u t e rro r, b V p ra cti ce only speech.

64.

N o w o f th i s ch a p te r n e e deth to tr eat S i t h I i n te n d p ro l i xi ti e to eschew; Remember w e l l - my w o rd s ther efor e,

no mor e,

W h i e h th o u sh a l t p ro ve by pr actice tr ue, And sun and moon look thou renew, That they may hold of the first nature, Then shall their tincture evermore endure. A n d y e t a w a y th e re i s most excellent, Belonging unto another working, A w a t e r w e ma ke mo st re dolent, All- bodies to oil wherewith we bring, With which our medicine we make flowing, A q u i n te sse n ce th i s w a ter we calI, I n m a n w h i ch h e a l e th d i seases all. Bu t w i th th y b a se , a fte r m y doctr ine pr epar e, W h i c h is o u r ca l x th i s must be done, F o r w h e n o u r b o d i e s d e so calcinate, T h a t wa te r w i l l to o i 1 dissolve them soon, 'Make thou therefore oil both of sun and moon, Which is ferment An d s o th e n i n th most fragrant for to snell Ga te i s conquer ed of this castle.

D:d of Nin t h

Gate.

6j.

0 f Exaltation. The Tenth Gate .

Pr o c e e d w e n o w to th e chapter of Exaltation, 0f which truly thou must have larowledge pure, B u t l i t tl e fr om Sublimation, i t i s d i ffe re n t I f t h o u e o n ce i ve i t ri g h t I you ensur e, H e r e t o a cco rd e th th e h o l y Scr iptur e, C h r i s t sa yi n g th u s, i t I exalted be, Then sha1l I draw all things unto me. O u r m e d i ci n e i f w e e xa l t r ight so r I t s h a l l th e re b y n o b i l i ta te, That must be done in manners two, F r o m t ime th e p a rti e s b e dispousate, W h i c h mu st b e cru ci fi e d and exam inate, And then contumulate both man and wife, An d a f te r re u n i te d b y th e spir it of life.

T h e n u p to h e a ve n th e y must exalted be, ( glor ificate) T h e r e to b e i n b o d i e a n d soul glor ified For thou must bring them to such subtiltie' T h a t t h e a sce n d to g e th e r to be intr onizate, f n c l o u d s o f cl e a rn e ss to Angels consociate, Then sha1l they draw as thou shalt see, A1 1 o t he r b o d i e s to th e i r own dignitee. f f t h o u th e re fo re th e b odies wilt exalt, F i r s t w i th th e sp i ri t o f life thou them augm ent, T i l l t ime th e e a rth b e well subtilizate, of every element, By natural rectifying

66.

into the firmament, T h e n mu ch mo re p re ci o u s sha1I they be than go1d, Be c a u se o f th e q u i n te sse nce which they do ho1d. F o r w h e n th e co l d h a th over come the heat, Then into water the air shall turned be, A n d s o tw o co n tra ri e s together sha11 m eet T i l - I ei th e r w i th o th e r right well agr ee, So i n t o a i r th e w a te r a s I tell thee, W h e n h e a t, o f co l d h a th got dom ination, Sh a l l b e co n ve rte d ca st of our cir culation. And of the air then fire have thou shaII By l o o si n g , p u tre fyi n g and sublim ing, And fire thou hast of the earth material, T h i n e e l e me n ts th u s b y c r aft dissever ir g, M o s t esp e ci a l l y th i n e e ar th well calcining. And when they be each one made pure T h e n d o th e y h o l d a l l o f the fir st natur e. O n t h i s w i se th e re fo re make then be cir culate, Each into other exalting by and by, An d a l l i n th i s o n e g l a ss sur ely sigillate, N o t w i th th i n e h a n d s, b ut as I teach thee natur ally, Fire into water then turn first hardly, F o r f i r e i s i n a i r, w h i c h is in water existent A n d t h i s co n ve rsi o n a ccor deth to our intent. Then further more turn on thy whee1, T h a t i n to e a rth th e a i r conver ted be, Which will be done also right wellFor air is in water being in earth trust me, T h e w a te r i n to fi re co n tr ar ious in her qualitie,

Them up exalting

6?.

thou nayst for water in earth is, W h i c h i s i n fi re , co n ve r sion tr ue is this. The wheel is now near turned about Into air turn earth which is the proper nest, 0f other elements there is no doubt, F o r e a rth i s fi re i s, w hich in air taketh r est, T h i s ci rcu l a ti o n b e g i n thou in the W est, Then into the fourth, till they exalted be, Proceed duelyr 4s in thy figure I have taught thee. In which process clearly thou mayst see Ibom one extreme how to another thou mayst not go contr ar ious B u t b y a me a n , si n ce th ey in qualities A n d r e a so n w i l l fo rso o th , that it be sor A s h e a t i n to co l -d , w i th other contr ar ies m o, Without their means as moi.st to heat and cold Examples sufficient before this I have toId. Thus have I taught thee how to make O f a l l th i n e e l e me n ts a per fect cir eulation, And at thy figure example to take, How thou shalt make this foresaid Exaltation' And of thy medieine in the Elements true grad.uation T i 1 1 i t b e b ro u g h t to a guener ltie tem per ate' And then thou hast conquered the tenth Gate.

Soon turn

be,

The Drd of the Tenth Gate .

69.

T h e Eleventh Gate. Of Multiplication .

M u l t i p l i ca ti o n n o w to d eclar e I pr oeeed W h i c h i s b y P h i l o so p h e rs in this wise defined Au g m e n ta ti o n i t i s o f the Elixer indeed, I n g o od n e ss a n d q u a n ti ti e both for white and r ed, M u l t i p l i ca ti o n i s th e re for e as they do wr ite, That thing that doth augment medicines in each degree, I n c o lo u r,i n o d o u r, i n vir tue and also in quantitie. And why thou mayst this medicine multiplie I n f i n e te l y fo rso o th th e cause is this, F o r i t i s fi re , w h i ch kindled will never die, D r e l l i n g w i th th e e r E S fir e doth in houses, 0 f w h i ch o n e sp a rk ma y make m or e fir e I wis, As musk in pigments and other spices mo a nd our medicine r ight so. I n v i r tu e mu l ti p l i e d , So h e i s ri ch w h i ch fi re hath less or mor e, Because he may so hugely it multip1V, And right so rich is he which any part hath in store, Of our ELixers which be augmentable infinitely, One way if thou dj-ssolve our powders dry, And make often time of them congelation, There of in goodness then makest thou augmentation. The second way both in goodness and quantitie Fermentatj-on, by iterate It multiplyeth A s i n th a t ch a p te r I sh owed plainly to thee, By divers manners of natural operation,

69.

An d a l so i n th e ch a p te r of our Cibation, W h e r e th o u ma yst kn o w h ow thou shalt m ultiplie, T h y m e d i ci n e w i th me rcu rie infinetely. b o th l o o se and eke fer m ent, B o t h m o re i n q u a n ti ti e and better will it be, An d i n su ch w i se th o u mayst it soon augment, T h a t i n th y g l a ss i t w i l l gr ow like a tr ee, T h e t r e e o f H e rme s n a med seem ly to see 0 f w h ich o n e p i p p i n a thousand will multiplie, I f t h o u ca n st ma ke th y pr ojection wittely, And like as saffron when it is pulverized By l i t t I e a n d l i ttIe i f it with liquor be T e m p ere d , a n d th e n w i th much mor e liquor di- late, T e y n e th mu ch mo re o f l i q uor in quantitie, T h i s be i n g w h o l e i n h i s gr osse natur e; so shalt thou see T h a t ou r E l i xi r, th e mo r e it is made thinne The further in tincture it fastly wil-l- rinne. Keep in thy fire therefore both even and morrow From house to house that thou had not to rinne Among thy neighbours thy fire to seek or borrow T h e m ore th o u ke e p e st, the mor e shalt thou win Multiplying it always more and more thy glass within, By f e e di n g w i th me rcu ri e unto thy lives end, So s h a l t th o u h a ve mo re than thou needest to spend. T h i s ma tte r i s p l a i n I will no m or e W r i t e th e re o f, l e t re a son thee guide, Be n e v e r th e b o l d e r to sin ther efor e, Bu t s e rve th y g o o d th e better in each tide; A n d w hi l e th a t th o u sh a lt in this life abide, Bu t t h ou w i l t

?0.

Eear thi-s in nind, forget not I thee pray As thou shalt appear before God at doornsday' His oum great gifts therefore and his treaeure, DisBose thou virtuously, helBing the poor at nee,d, lhat in this worLd thou naXrst to thee procure' IVlerey' and. Graee with heavenllr bli.ss to to meede, And pray to God devoutly that he thee 1ead, In at the tweLfth Gater &s he oan best' $oon after then thou shalt end thy eonque:st.

Rrd of the Eleventh- Gate.

?T.

0 f Pr ojection The Twelfth

Gate .

I n p r o j e cti o n i t sh a l l be pr oved if our pr actice be pr ofitable, 0 f w h i c h i t b e h o ve th me the secr ets her e to m ove, T h e r e f o re i f th y ti n ctu re be sur e and not var iable, B y a l ittl e o f th y me d i cine thus mayst thou pr ove, W i t h me ttl e r o r w i th Me rcur y as pitch it will cleave, A n d t e l me i -n p ro j e cti o n all fir es to abide, As s o on i t w i l l e n te r a nd spr ead him full wide. But many by ignoranee do marr that they make, W h e n o n me ta l s u n cl e a n sed Pr ojection they m ake, For because of corruption their tinctures must fade ' from the body take' Which they would not away first W h i c h a fte r p ro j e cti o n be br ittle blue and b1ack, may ever more 1ast, That thy tincture F i r s t up o n fe rme n t th y medicine see thou cast. a s g l a ss w i ll thy fer m ent be, T h e n b ri ttl e U p o n b o d i e s cl e a n se d a n d made pur e, C a s t t ha t b ri ttl e su b stance and soon shalt thou see T h a t t h e y sh a l l - b e cu ri o usly colour ed with tinctur e, With all assayes for ever shal-l endure p ro j e cti o n per fectly to m ake, B u t p r ofi ta b l e A t t h e P sa l ms o f th e P salter exam ple thou take. this psalm-Nunc dimitis, 0n Fundamenta cast first Upon Verba Mea, then east l\rndamenta beline, T h e n Ve rb a u p o n d i l i g a m, conceive m e with thy wits' A n d d i li g a m u p o n a tte n d i te, if thou list to thr ive, T h u s ma ke th o u p ro j e cti o ns, thr ee, four and five,

?2.

t he ti n ctu re o f th y medicine begin to decr ease, A n d t h e n i t i s ti me o f Pr ojection to cease. f mean nothing else Bu t t h at th o u mu st ca st fir st the less on the mor e, Encreasing aye the number as wise men thee tells A n d k e e p th o u th i s se cret unto thy self in stor e, Be c o v e to u s o f cu n n i n g it i- s no bur den sor e, F o r h e th a t j o yn e th n o t the Elixer with bodies m ade clean H e w o tte th n o t su re l y w hat pr ojection doth mean. T e n i f th o u mu l ti p l y fi rst into ten, One hundred that number make si-ckerly, If one hundred into an hundred be multiplied then, Ten thousand is that number if thou count it wittely, T h e n i nto a s mu ch mo re ten thousand to m ultiplie, I t i s a th o u sa n d th o u sa nd, which multiplied Y wis, I n t o as mu ch mo re a h u n dr eth m illions is. T h a t h u n d re th mi l l i o n s being m ultiplied likew5- se, I n t o t en th o u sa n d mi 1 1 i ons, as I to thee do s?y, M a k e t h so g re a t a n u mb er I wot not what it is, Thy number in projection thus multiply a1way. N o w C h i l d o f th y co u rte sie for m e that thou pr ay, Si t h I h a ve to l d th e e o ur secr ets all and some, T o t h e w h i ch f b e se e ch God by gr ace thou mayst m e. N o w h a st th o u co n q u e re d these Gates twelve, A n d a l l th e ca stl e th o u hol- dest at thy will; K e e p t h y se cre ts i n sto re to thyself, And the commandmentsof God l,ook thou fu1filI, I n f i r e se e th o u co n ti n u e thy glass still And multiply thy medicines aye more and more, F o r w i se me n d o sa y th a t stor e is no sor e.
End of the Twe1ve Gates . '

Ti1]

By t h i s

mi sti e

ta l ki n g

73.

R i ca p i tu l a ti o

Totius Oper is pr oedicti

F o r t o b ri n g th i s tre a ti se to a final end, An d b r i e fl y h e re to co n c lude these secr ets all, D i l i g e n tl y l o o k th o u , a nd to thy figur e attend, W h i c h d o th i n i t co n ta i n these secr ets gr eat and small- , An d i f th o u i t co n ce i ve , both theor itical and pr actical, B y f i g u re s a n d co L o u rs, bV scr iptur e p1ain, I t w i t ti l y co n ce i ve d , thou m ayr st not wor k in vain. th e l a ti tude of this pr ecious stone, B e g i n ni n g i n th e fi rst s ide noted in the W est, Where the red man and the white womarrbe made one, Sp o u s e d w i th th e sp i ri t of life to Ii- ve in r est, E a r t h a n d w a te r e q u a l l y pr opor tionate, that is best, thr ee, An d o n e o f th e e a rth i s good, and of the spir it W h i c h tw e l ve to fo u r a l so of the ear th may be. T h r e e o f th e w i fe , a n d one of the man thou take, An d t he l e ss o f th e sp i rit in this dispousation, The rather thy Calcination for certain shalt thou make, Then forth into the North proceed by obscuration 0 f t h e re d ma n a n d h i s white wife, called Eclipsation, T,oosing them and altering them betwixt wi-nter and vere, Into water turning earth, dark and nothing clear. From thence by colours many one into the East ascend, Then sha1l the Moon be full appearing by day-Iight, T h e n i s sh e p a sse d p u rg ator ie, and her cour se at an end, There is the uprising of the Sun appearing bright, There is summer after vere, and day after night; T h e n ea rth a n d w a te r w h ich wer e black, b tur ned to air , A n d c l o u d s o f d a rkn e ss over blown, and all appear eth fair . C o n s i d e r fi rst

74,

An d a s i n th e w e st w a s the beginning of thy pr actice, And the North the perfect mean of profound. alterati_on; s o i n th e E a st a fte r th em the beginning of speculation is; But of this course up in the South the Sun maketh consumati-on, T h e i r b i n th e e l e me n ts tur ned into fir e by cir culation; T h e n to w i n to th y d e si re thou needst not be in d.oubt, F o r t h e w h e e l o f o u r p h ilosophie thou hast tur ned. about. But yet about agai-n two times turn thy wheel, r n w h i ch b i n co mp re h e n dedar l_ the secr ets of our philosophy r n c h ap te rs !2 , ma d e p l ain to thee, if thou conceive them wel l _, And all the secrets by and by of our lower Astronomy H o w t h o u sh a l t e a l ci n e bodies, dissolve d.ivide and putr ify, w i t h pe rfe ct l o ro w l e d g e of all the poles which in our Heaven been, s h i n i n g w i th co l o u rs i n explicable, never wer e gayer seen. An d t h u s o u r se cre t co n c lusion r ceowwithouten fai1s, O u r r e d ma n te i n e th n o t, nor his wife, till they teined. be, T h e r e f o re i f th o u l i st thy self by this cr aft to avaiL, T h e a l ti tu d e o f th e b o d ies hide, and show out their pr ofund. i ti e ' r n e v e ry o f th y ma te ri a l s destr oying the fir st qualitie, And secondary qualities more glorious in them repair anon, And in one gIass, and without rule, four natures turn to one. Pa l e a n d b l a ck w i th fa l se citr ine, im per fect white and. r ed, T h e Pe a co cks fe a th e rs i n colour s gay, the Rainbow which shal l ov er go, T h e s po tte d p a n th e r, th e r ,ion Gr een, the cr ows bill blue as l ead., These shalI appear before thee perfect white and many other more, A n d a f te r th e p e rfe ct w hiter gr av, false citr ine a1so, An d a f te r th e se , th e n shall appear the body r ed invar iable, T h e n h a st th o u a me d i ci n e of the thir d or der of his own kind m u l t i p l ica b l -e .

75.

th y w h ite Elixir into par ts two, B e f o r e th o u ru b i fi e , a n d into glasses two r et them be done, ff thou have for Sun and Moon thy elixir both do so; And into Mercury then multiply to great quantity soon, And if thou had not at the beginning to fill a spoon, Yet maist thou them so multiply both white and red T h a t if th o u l i ve a 1 0 0 0 year s, they shall stand thee in ste ad. H a v e t h o u re co u rse to thy wheel ther efor e I counsel thee, And studie him well to lnrow in each chapter truly, M e d d l e w i th n o p h a n ta sti cal multiplier s, but let them be, Which will thee flatter feinning cunning in philosophy, D o a s I b i d th e e , th e n dissolve these for esaid bases wittilie, And turn them into perfect oils with our true water ardent, By circuLation that must be done according to our intent. These oils will fix crude Mercury and convert bodies all I n t o p e rfe ct S u n a n d Moon, when thou shalt make pr ojection; That oilie substance pure and fixt RalrmondlulIy did call H i s Ba si l i ske , o f w h i ch he never made so plain detection; P r a y f o r me to Go d , th a t I nay be one of his election, An d t h a t h e w i l l fo r o n e of his, dt doomsdaym e ken, And grant me his bliss to reign with him for ever.

T h o u mu st d i vi d e

Amen .

Finis

R ecapitulationis

76.

The Epistle

to King Edward the Fourth. By the same Author.

1 . 0 Ho n o u ra b l e L o rd , and m ost victor i- ous l{ night, With grace and virtue abundantly endued, The safeguard of Erngland, and naintainer of right; T h a t Go d yo u l o ve th , i n d eed he hath well sheweds Wherefore I trust this land shall be renewed W i t h j oy a n d ri ch e s, w i th char itie and peace, So t h a t o 1 d ra n cko rs n e w under str ewed, T e m p e stu o u s tro u b l e s, a nd wr etchedness shall cease. 2 . An d th e re fo re si th I see by tokens r ight evident, T h a t Go d yo u g u i d e th , a nd how that you be ver tuous, H a t i n g si n , a n d a Il - su ch as be insolent, H o w t h a t a l so ma n sl a u g h ter to you is odious, U p o n t he i n d g e me n t a l so that you be piteous; Me seemeth ruth it were but that you should Live long; For of your great fortune you are not presumptuous, Nor vengeable of spirit to revenge you of each wrong. 3 . T h e se co n si d e re d w i th other s in your most noble state, like as God loroweth, and people do witrress bear, S o e n t ire l y me mo o ve th , that f must algate R e c o r d th e sa me , a n d th er ein be no flatter er ; And not that onIy, but also to write here Unto your Highness, humbly to present G r e a t Se cre ts, w h i ch i n far countr ies I did lear n, And which by grace to me most unworthy are lent.

??.

4.

O nce to yo u r L o rd sh i p such things I did pr omise, W h a t t i me yo u d i d co mmandto send unto m e,

An d s i t h th a t I w ro te i t in secr et wise, U n t o y o u r Gra ce fro m th e Univer sitie, 0 f L o u ai n e , w h e n Go d fo rtuned me by gr ace to see G r e a t e r se cre ts a n d mu ch mor e per fect, W h i c h on l y to yo u I w i l -I disclosed to be, That is the Great Elixir both red and white.

5. For like it you to trust that truly I have found, T h e m ost p e rfe ct w a y a n d most secr et Alchym ie, Which I will never truly for narke nor for pound Make commonbut to you, and that conditionally. T h a t t o yo u rse l f yo u sh all keep it full secr etly, A n d u s e i t a s ma y b e to Gods pleasur e, Else in time coming to God f should obey F o r m y d i sco u rsi n g o f h i s secr et tr easur e. 6 . T h e re fo re b e yo u w e l l advised and with good deliber ation, F o r o f th i s se cre t sh a l } know no other er eatur e ' protestation, But only you as I make faithfull I shall endure, For aLl the time that here in life Whereto I wi}l your lordship me ensure' To my desire in this my oath for to agree ' l e a s t I to me th e w ra th of God pr ocur e, F o r s u ch re ve a L i n g o f h i s gr eat gift and pr ivitie. yo u by me to win this tr easur e' with more lawde and thanking' Praying his Godhead, in life that you may so endure, H i s G i fts o f g ra ce , a n d for tune to use to his pleasing' 7 . I f Go d fo rtu n e Serve him devoutly M o s t e sp e ci a l l y i n te n d i n g over all thing, To your power and cunning his precepts ten So to observe , that into no danger yourself you bri.ng ' Amen. But that you in glory may see him hereafter,

78,

An d ye t mo re o ve r f wil1 your lor dship to par don m e, F o r o p e n l y w i th p e n I w ill it never it wr ite, Bu t w he n so e ve r yo u l i st by pr actice you sha1l see, By m o uth a l so th i s p re cious secr et, most of delight, H o w m ay b e ma d e p e rfe ct Elixir s both r ed and white, Pl-ain unto your Lordship it shal_l_declared be, A n d i f i t p l e a se V o u r w ith easie expences and r espite, f w i l l th e m w o rk b y g ra ce of the Tr initie. 9 . Bu t n o tw i th sta n d i n g for per il that may befall, If I dare not here plainly the lcnot unbind, Y e t i n my w ri ti n g I w i l l not be so m istical, But that to studie the true lcnowledge you may find, H o w e ach th i n g i s mu l ti p lied in its kind, A n d h ow th e l i ke n e ss o f bodies m etalline be tr ansm utable I w i l - l d e cl a re , th a t i f you feel m e in your mind My writing you shalI find true and no fained fable. 1 0 . A s p h i l o so p h e rs i n metheor s do wr ite, T h e l i ke n e ss o f b o d i e s metalline be not tr ansm utable, ' Bu t a f te r b e a d d e d th e se wor ds of mor e delight, W i t h o ut th e y b e re d u ce d to their beginning m ater iable, W h e r e fo re su ch b o d i e s w ithin natur e be liquiable, M i n e r a l a n d me ta l L i n e may be mer cur izate, C o n c e i ve yo u ma y th i s science is not opinionable, But very true, bV Raymond and others determinate. 1 1 . I n th e sa i d b o o k the philosopher s speak also, T h e r e i n i f i t p l e a se yo u Highness for to r ead, 0 f d i v e rs su l p h u rs, a n d especially of two, An d o f tw o me rcu ri e s j o i ned to them indeed, Whereby he doth true understanders lead T o k n ow L e d g e o f th e p ri n ciple which is only tr ue, Bo t h r ed , mo st p u re , a n d whiter a' s I have espied, W h i c h b e n e ve rth e l e ss found but of ver y few.

B.

79.

I2. An d th e se tw o th i n g s be best, b ad.ded anon, For him that work the Alchyrnie to take O u r G o l -d a n d o u r S i l ve r ther ewith to make all one, Wherefore I say who wi1l our pearl and Ruby make, T h e s a i d p ri n ci p l e s l o o k he not for sake; F o r a t th e b e g i n n i n g , i f his pr inciples be tr ue, A n d i f so b e b y cra ft h e can them also bake, I n t h r e n d tru l y h i s w o r k he shall not r ue. 1 3 . Bu t o n e g re a t se cret r ight needfull to be lcr own, T h a t t ho u g h th e P h i L o so pher s speak plur alIy, A11 is but one thing you may me well trowe, I n k i n d w h i ch i s o u r b a s e pr incipally, W h e r e o f d o th sp ri n g b o th white and r ed natur allIy, A n d y e t th e w h i te mu st c ome fir st out of the r ed Which thing is not wrought manua11y, But naturally, craft helping out of our lead. 1 4 . F o r a l l th e p a rts of our m ost pr ecious stone, As I c a rr p ro ve , b e co -e ssential and concr ete, M o r e o ve r th e re i s n o tru e pr inciple but one, I \ r L l l o n g i t w a s e re f ther ewith could meet, W h o c a n re d u ce h i m a n d k noweth his heat, And only kind with kind can well redress T i l l f il -th i e o ri g i n a l h e cleansed fr om his seat, H e l i k e 1y i s to fi n d o u r secr ets m or e and Iess. L5. Therefore work kind only with his own kind, A n d s o yo u r e l e me n ts j o i n that they not str ive. This point also for any bear in mind, That passive natures you turn into active 0 f w a t e r, fi re , a n d w i n d of ear th m ake bline* ( * quickly And of the quadrangl-e make a figure round, T h e n h a ve th o u th e h o n e y of thy bee- hive, One ounce weLl- worth one thousand pound. 80.

or gl adl y )

T h e p ri n ci p a l se cre t of secr ets all, I s t r u e p ro p o rti o n w h i ch may not be behind, W h e r e i n I co u n se l th e e be not super ficial, T h e t r u e co n cl u si o n i f thou thick to find, Turn earth into water and water into wind, T h e r e o f ma ke fi re a n d b ewar e of the flood 0f Noah, wherein many men are so bl_ind T h a t b y th i s sci e n ce th e y get 1itt1e good. I co u n se l yo u e a t a nd dr ink temper ately, A n d b e wa re w e l l th a t fp o sar cha come not in p1ace, Neshe not your womb by drinking i_mmoderately, l , e s t y ou q u e n ch n a tu ra l heat in little space, T h e c o l o u r w i l l te l l a p p ear ing in your face, D r i n k n o mo re th e re fo re then you m ay eat, W a I k u p a n d d o w n a fte r a n easie pace, C a u s e no t yo u r b o d i e to o sor e to sweat. 1 8 . W i th e a si e fi re a fter movi- ngwhen you sweat, Warm your bodie and make it dry again, By rivers and fountains walk after meat, At m o r n i n g ti me vi si t th e high m ountain, T h a t Ph i si ck so b o d d e n f r each cer tain, S o h i g h th e mo u n ta i n s ye t do you not ascend But that you may downwards your way have plain And with your mantle from gold ye you defend. J-9. Such labour is wholsome yor sweat for dry W i t h n a p ki n , a n d a fte r i t see you take no cold, For gross humours be purged by sweat kindly. U s e D i a ca me ro n th e n co n fect with per fect gold H e r m i d ocl e s fo r w a te ry h umour s good I ho1d, U s e f p e ri co n p e rfo ra t w i th m il- k of tinctur al, A n d Sp erma ce te w i th re d wine, when you wax oId A n d g o ats mi l k so d w i th wine nour isheth moistur e r adical. 81. 17.

16.

B u t a g o o d p h ysi ca n who so intend.eth to be, Our lower Astronomie needth well_ to lcrow A n d a f te r i t n e e d to l -e ar n well ur ine in a glass to see, An d i f i t n e e d to b e h a nsed the fir e for to b]ow, Then wittely it by divers ways for to throw Af t e r th e ca u se to ma ke a medicine bLive ( quickly) T r u l y te l l i n g th e i n fi rmi ties al1 on a r ow, W h o t h is e a n d o b y h i s Phisick is like to thr ive. 20. We h a ve o u r h e a ve n incor r uptible of the quintessence, O r n a t e w i th si g n s, e l e ments, and star s br ight, W h i c h m o i ste n th o u r e a rth by subtile influence; A n d o f i t a se cre t su l p h ur hid fr om sight. I t f e t c h e th b y vi rtu e o f his active m ight, l i k e a b e e fe tch e th h o n ey out of the flower s, W h i c h th i n g co u l d d o n o other wor ldly wight. T h e r e f o re to Go d b e a l l glor y and nonour . 2 2 . An d l i ke a s i ce to water doth r elent, W h e n i . t w a s co n g e a l e d b y violence of coId, W h e n Ph o e b u s ye t sh i n e th with his heat influent, E v e n s o to w a te r mi n e ra l r educed is our go1d, A s w i t ne sse th p l a i n l y, Alber t, Ralr mond,and Ar nold, By h e a t a n d mo i stu re a n d by cr aft occasionate, W h c i h e o n g e l a ti o n o f th e spir its, loe now I have told, H o w o u r ma te ri a l s to g e th er must be pr opor tionate. A t th e d ye rs cra ft you m ay lear n this science, Be h o l d i n g w i th w i th w a ter how decoction they make U p o n a w o d e o r ma d d e r e asily and with patience, T i 1 l t i nctu re s d o a p p e a r which when the cloth doth take, Therein so fixed that they will never forsake T h e c l o th , fo r w a sh i n g a fter they joined be, with water of our 1ake, Erren so our tinctures W e d r a w b y b o i l i n g w i th the Ashes of Her mes tr ee. 23. 2I.

82.

Wh i ch ti n ctu re s w h en they by er aft ar e m ade per fect, So d y e th me ta l -s w i th co l our s aye per manent, Af t e r th e q u a l i ti e s o f n edicine, r ed or white, That never away by any fire will be brent: T o t h i s e xa mp l e i f yo u take good tent, Unto your purpose the rather you shal-l wi-n, And let your f ire be easi-e , and not too fervent ' Where nature did l-eave off what time look you begin' 2 5 . F i rst ca l ci n e , a n d after that putr ifie, D i s s o l ve , d i sti l l , su b l i me, discend, and fix, With Aqua vitae oftentimes both wash and dry, betwixt' And make a marriage the body and spirit if you car t mix, W h i c h th u s to g e th e r n a tu rellie I n l o o si n g o f th e b o d i e the water congealed sha1l be ' of the flixe T h e n s h a l l th e b o d i e d i e utter ly ' Bl e e d i ng a n d ch a n g i n g h i s colour s' as you shall see. T h e th i rd d a y a g a i n to life he shall ar ise, A n d d e vo u r b i rd s, a n d b easts of the wilder ness' ' C r o w s , p o p i n j a i e s, p i e s r pBCocks I and m avies of fearfulness The phoenix, with the eagle, artd the griffon T h e g r ee n l i o n w i th th e r ed dr agon, he shal1 distr ess' W i t h t h e w h i te d ra g o n , and the antelope, unicor n and panther ' With other beasts and birds both more and less T h e B a si l i ske a Iso , w h i ch almost each one doth fear . 26. 2?. In bus and. nubibus he shaIl arise artd descend, Up to the moon, and sith up to the sun T h r o u g h th e Oce a n S e a , which r ound is withouten end' glass tunne, 0n1y shippen within a little W h e n h e i s th e re co me , then is the m aster ie won' Ab o u t wh i ch j o u rn e y, g re at goods you shall not spend'

24.

R?

And yet you shall be glad that ever it was begun, Pa t i e n tl y i f yo u l i st to your wor k attend. Fo r th e n b o th b o d i e and spir it, also both oil and water S o u 1 , a n d ti n ctu re r o n thing both white and r ed, Af t e r co l o u rs va ri a b l -e i t containeth, whatsoever men clatter , W h i c h a l so i s ca l l e d a fter he hath once been dead., An d i s re vi ve d , o u r ma rkasite, our magnet and our lead, O u r S u l p h u rr o u p a rse n i ck, and our tr ue calx vive, Our sun our moonr our ferment and our bread, Our toadr our Basiliske our unlceown bodie our man our wife, Our bodie thus naturally by craft when he is renovate 0 f t h e fi rst o rd e r, i s medicine called in our philosophy W h i c h o fte n ti me s a g a i n must be Spir itualizate; The round wheel turning of our Astronomie; An d s o to th e E l i xi r o f spir its you m ust com e; for why T i l I t h e so n o f th e fi xe d by the son of the fixer be over gone, El - i x i r o f b o d i e s , n e me d it is only, An d t h is so u n d se cre t p oint, deceaveth m any an one. 3 0 . Th i s n a tu ra l p ro ce s s by help of cr aft thus consumm ate, D i s s o l ve th E l i xi r sp i ri tual in our unctious humiditie, Then in Ba1neo Mari-ae together 1et them be circulate per fectly they be thickened, L i k e n e w h o n e y o r o i l , till T h e n w i l l th a t me d i ci n e heal al- I infir m itie, And turn all metals to sun and moon perfectly Thus you sha1l make the great Elixir and Aurum Potabile, By t h e Gra ce a n d Wi l l o f God, to whom be all honour and Glory . Amen Quod George Ripley Finis . . 29. 28.

84.