“THOATRUM CHEMICUM BRITANNICUM-: co N TA INNING Severall Poeticall Pieces of our Famous Englifh Philofophers, who have writen the Hermetiqne Myfferies in their owne Ancient Languace. Faithfally Caliked inte one Volume, with Annotations thereon, By Evrtas Asumoce, Big. Qu) eft Mercuriophilus Anglicue. ; Tue First Parr. LoNnwDo Printed by 7. Grifaond for Na tT nt BROO x 8, atthe 2 Angelin Combi. cM DOLIASiewosharseorsreess ooee CECOTUEE ECE COTE SEE Bde TO All Ingenioufly Elaborate Students , Tn the moft Divine Myfteries of Flermenque Learning. Bt He Subjek of this enfuing Worke, t a Philofo- AD phicall acconnt of that Eminent Secret rreafur'd upinthe bofome of Natuce; which bath beex fought for of Many, but found by a Few, motel aidiye ‘Experienc'd Antiquity hath afforded faithfull PaaS (shoegh wor Frequent) Difcoveties thereof. Paft Ages have like Rivers conucied dome to ws,\ (upon the floate,) the mare light, axd Sophilticall pieces of Learning; der what were Profound and Milterions, rhe weight and folidity thereof, fanke to the Bottome ; Whence every exe Who attempts to dive, cannst eafily fetch thems up: So, that what our Saviour faid to hee Dilciples, may (J hope without offence) be [paken to the Elefted Sons of Art ; Unto you itis given to knowthe Myfteries of the Kingdome of God; but to others in Parables, chat feeing they might nor fee, and hea- fing they might not under{tand, Ov Englith Philofophers Geierally, (like Prophets )-have re- ceived little honour (wn/rffe what hath beene privately: paid them) in their owne Countrey ; nor have they done any mighty Workes amonglt us,excepe in covertly adnsinifiring their Medicine ra a few Sick, anhealing them. (For greater Experiments then What it per- formes in Phyfick,they never publikely neade Phere of.) Thus did 1.0; ~ (one ofthe fir[? foure Fellowes of the Fratces RR. C.) ix curing the Joung Barle of Norfolke, of he Leprofiec 5 and Dottor B, in carry- sg off she virulency of the Small. pox, eWvice, froma Queen Elizabeths infornuch that they never appeared. But in Parts abroad they have fotccmitt nable Reception, aud the world greedy of obteyning their orkes 5 nay,(rather shen want the fight thereof) contented to view s Ar them:Prolegomena. them shrougha Tranflation, theggh newer foci fell. PPitnelfe phat soe us, Hermannus, Co Li Sara atc many others have done; the. fut of Which cume ome of Gerernnieyste tive ix England ;prrpofely that be might /o.nnderftand or Englila Tongue, acto Tranflace Norton's Ordinall into Latin vexfe, which moff ju- dicioufly.and leatardly he did: Tat{ro our foanze be it Spoken) hie Entertainement Ws tea toa courfe for fo deferving « Scholler. -; How great a blennifh ts ie then to ut, that vefafe to reade fo Famous Aixhors i ovr Natural Language sebilff Strangers are neceffitated, to Reade then: ia Outs, to tnderfiand them in their Own, Yet think, the dignity of the Subje&, much mare deferving, then their Baines. Af this Wa da beat ingenion(ly Confider, Wefhall pudge it more oftccafon thar We locke back upon, then neglett fick pieces oF Learning, at are Natives. of, oun owae Countrey, and by. shes Inquifition, fade x0 Nation bath Viritten mora, or batter, although at. prefent (as well thrortgh,oser owne Supincnefle, as the Decrees of Fate,) few of their Workes cen be found. John Leland tooke very winch paines, even at the yeilding sp of the Gholl, of owr Bnglith Leamning, to preferve its latelt( Our weakclt, cafe almaff (pent) Breath; and from bir John Bale,with John Pitts(sho indeed ss but Bale’s Plagiary) hath left as aCatalogue of the Writers of thes Nation, and that's neere all. Yet Polterity for this is deeply obliged, What punillament then did their poftilent Malice deferve, Who rob'd ws of their whole Workes > A jeditions Author jpeaking of che Diffolution of oxr Monalte- ries, faith thes: Many Manuicripts, guilty of no-other fuperitit’ on then Red letters in the Front,were condemned to the Fire ; and here a principal Key of Antiquity was lolttothe great pre- judice of Polterity. fndeed (lich Was Learnings misfortune, at that great Devajtation of cur Englith Libraries, that) where a Red lete tetor «Mathematical Diagram appeared, they Were fifficient to éntle the Booke roe Papith or Diabolicall. Oar Englth Nation hath ever bene happy for Learning sand Learned men, ard so.ituflrate rhe, I bope it soil! not prove diftaft. fall. Z As finft; the Denyta (the famous and myfferions Druyda) that were Pricits, D.vinersaud Wile men = and 100k sheir Original and Name fram Denys Sarronyus the Fourth King of the Celts, (eyled Sapicatum & Augusim Doktor.) who dyed Aro Adwndiv2069. - Next*-Prolegomena. “© Newe-the Bardi, wip celebrated the Illaftrions Deeds of Famous Men; sebich they ingenionply disfos'd ix Heroique ee ane fang them to the feere Melody of the Harpe : Amongit orber Teftimo- nite bereofrece've Chaucer's ; be old yentle Weittond in ber Daves DHedipersabentives maden Layee, Rigmed fick inher Mocher Congue, whyerh Lapes, swith her Gniruments they forge. Thefe Philofophers tad eheir Nanse from Bardus Druydas (the 5 King of the Gelts,) who was she firj? Inventor of Verles, as Berofius tells 8 + and dyed An. Mundi 2138. Weither of the/e Sets ef Philo~ fophers wféd ay writing ( éndeed if Woes rot larefull ; for,) (ach Yoox «the Policy and Curiofity of Eldet Ages (to defend their Learning and Malkeries frons the Injary of Tgnorant Interpretations) #hae they delivered thent to Polterity, by Tradition en/y. Crlar teftifies, (and tis a noble TAtiniony ) That the Learning of the Diuydi, Was ir/t invented i Britsine, and thence traneferrd +jyte Brance ; and that, ix all bis time , thefe of France came over hither to be Inftraled. Agricola ( in Tacitus)preferrs the Britaines before the Students of France (norwithffanding that they Were ofa docible Wit, and apt te Leatne) in that they sere coeriovs in attain ing the Bloqaence of the Latin Tongue. ‘As for Magick, Pliny tells us, Ie flouriford in Britaine, and thar the People there were fo devoted to it (yea, with all Complements of Ceremony) arma wonld think that even the Petfian Jearned bis Max gick thence. ef Germate Poet, fayesshat when the World wat troubled with PannonickIavalions Enginad flserilted ix theknowledte of all good Arts; and was able to fend of her Learned Men into other Contries, to prepogate Leathing ; and inffances Winiftid (alias Boniface the Devonthire A4an)and Wilkebroad(the Northecne Jas hat were int into Getmany. Nay more, England sas twice Schoole-Miltris re France ( for fo faith Pecer Ramus} viz: Pirft by rhe Denyda ( who raphe thers their Difcipline).and afterwards by Alcudius,s# Charles the Great's eae sohefe perfronfions the Emperour founded the Univerlicy of Paris. ‘ \ For the Sawonssit ts wor v0 be demied bt that many of then, after A theirProlegomena, their converfion to Cheittianicy, were exceedinnly Learned ,.andbe- Sore that, winch a ldiéted to South{aying, Auzury, Divieations by thy Neig! of Horles, Gz. dal tis worth the Ezguiry ( there bevap wove in it then we ordinarily apprehen !)ihy hey #4 General worfbip- ed Hertyus Ci.e, Daye Earth ) for a Goddefle, and honoured Mercury above af the Gods of the Giemanes, Whom they.caled BWooren, (hence Clodsntoay yo onr ttednetoay?) For, 8 be» ieved that this Dame Wathos Intermedsated in Humane Affaires and Relieved the Poore; whofe Image was made Armed. franding among Blowers having in irs cight hind 4 Scafte,aad tr it ¢ Banner, wherein was painted « Rofe s Ja the other Hand 4 Ballance, and #pon the Head therrofa Cock.; onthe Brelt a carved Bzate, and before the Midle,afixed Scutchion ; in Chiefe whereof ex aljo a Ballance in Face, a Lyon ; and in Point, a Role..42d for their God Yoooben they eftcemed bina as their God of Bactaile, reprefenting him by an Armed Man, Jnfomuch that wee to this very day retaine the Word (ood among ws, to Signifie Fierce, Faricns, Kagwug, [, a4 When one isina great Rage, we wfwally fay he s YOoow : | So the Mercury of the Pailofophets ss Joaddomed sender the fierce asd terrible Names of Lyon,Dragon,Poylon,cic, Bat thes v2 not All, alsbeugh ic be Some- thing. ted now tocomse yet neerer to oir Selves +e rassfl meeds fay that of Later Times (ince she Conquelt), oar Nation bath produced uch Famous and eminently learned Mén,as have equall'd(sf ot fourpaft), - the greatef? Schollers of otber Nations, and bappy were We os we could but partake of thofe Legacies they left, and which Envy and, Tgnoranice bes defranded ws.cf: ( Honfeever the fosall remainder which ts left, we have good veafon to prize, Fo; ont of olne. F telbs a8 Men fapthe, Cometh alls this new C orne fro peare to peace; Ano ont of ode Bokesin goodfapthe Comethalle this Depencesthar Den leare.) That England hath keene facceffively enrich'd witht fuch Men, one Country ee Leland: (and I never beard be was Partial) absndantly Telifies-: wha avers, That Generally wee have bad a great nnmber of excelent Wits and Weiters,learned with the beft as, Fimes ferved, whebefides rheir knowledge tn the foure Tere whithProlegomena. , aahith part of then exeelled , there yas no Libcrall Science or any Feate concernirg Lea 1 in which they have nat foe Wed cortainte ‘Arguiments gfgreat Felicity and WitAnd thw much for the Gene. rality of Learning. ~* Neiw for a Particular accent of the Hermetique Science, veck- Jefe Cingenious Reader) to accept the enfying Collections, yet nar fo, as if therein were contained alt the Workes of our Engl {h Her- imetique Philofophers, ( for more ave defign'din a Second Patt to fallow and compleate this a fl Theatram ; she Waick GOD alfos- “ig me further Time and Trat.quility to rn through it, i Ihave already this, Lintend foortly to m. ke realy for the Prefle,) Wherehy et more to manifelt what Men we have had, xo lelfe furious for thes Tide of Philofophy; ‘then for all other Consmendible Arts and Sciences. To adde any thing to the praife thereof, werd but te bold a Candle Before the Sanne ; ér fhould I here deliver a full Ascount of the Mar. véllotis Operations avd Effects thereof, it romld be as far beyond the limits of a Preface, as remote fren the Beliefe of the generalicy of the World, Aor doe J eccpell rhat all my Readers fhowid conse with an Engagement, to delieve what I here write , or that there wat ever any fuch thing in rerum natora as what we call A Philofophers Stone,ror sll I per{Wade thew te st, (hen h I rneft tell thems Thave ‘ot the vanity to putli[h ihefe Sacted and Serious Myleries avd ‘Ateana, a Bomances) ts exwagh that I kre Inctedulity is given tothe world asa punifhment. Yet Ife tel! theaw what ont of our Ancient Potticall Philofophers fayes, AE polm snp! ipfien to my Lay, Something cherebp. poto mair finde, Mhat map content pour minde s 7% Swill not (iueare to take pos gibe crepence, Sopa Pbilofopber tuill Hinde, here in E bidence DE the Erevth sand to Wen that be Lay, ~ ata stor greatly tobat thep fay. Taint profelfe 1 kaon enosigh to hold my Tongue, but net enctigh roSpeake 5 fis def Reall then Miracalous Fruits Z have found in my diligent enquiry ixto thefe Arcana, lead me on to fitch degrees of Admitation, shey comurad Silence, and force mee to loféProlegomena, way Tongue. Tet, as one greatly affelting omy Native Countrey, ana "he [ieapatlion of al logcrtons ite, he pail (Ge ther safe) thefe enfuing Collected Antiquitics; avd foaltere fay foms~ thing more then they [peak of. He who foall have she happine(fe to nicet wich S. Dankans works De Occalta Philofophis, (@ Baoke which E.G.A.1 made ach ufe © ofand whieh fall chiefly back, what bere I am abont ta fay) may therein reade ich Stories as will make bins amazd to think what ftupendious aud Immenfe shings are ta bee performed by uertve of the Philofophers Mercury, of which a Valte onely and 10 mare. ednd fir, of the Mineral Stone, the Which ze wroughe up tothe degree ouely that bath the pawer of Tranftauting “ Imperic& Earthy Matter into its wtenoft degree of Perfettion 5 that is, tocop- vert the bafe(t of Metalls inte perfect Gold avd Silver ; Flints into all manuer of Precious Scones ; [as Rubies, Saphirs, Emeralds,aud Diamonds, ec] and many more Experiments of the ithe nator. But ag this is bat apart, fo it ts the leajt fare. of that. Blefling which may be acquired by the Philofophers Materiayfthefull yerose thereof Were knoivne. Gold Iconfaffe ix a delicious Objett, a.gooddy Light, which we admire andgax? spon ut Puri in Junonis. avem.; but,, ata make Gold ( /aith as twcoraparable Authoitr) isthe chat efLintent of the, Alchimilts, fo was ig fearce any intent of che ancient Philofophers, nd the Javeft wfe the Adeptt made. of tha Materia, : For they being lovers of Wifdome mare then Worldly Wealch, drove at higher and more Excellent Operations: And certainly He to Wwhors the Whale Coucfe of Nature dyer apem, rejajceth not fo much that hecan make Gold ad Silver, or the Divellsito: Become Sabject ta hins.as that he fees the Heavens open, the Angelis'of God Afeend- ing and Defending, and tbat lis oten Names faitely veritten in the Book of life. Next, to come tothe Vegitable, Magicall,andiAngelioall Stones; the which have in thent no part of tbe Minerall Stone ( Quatenus 4 Stone,Fermented with Metallitic aid Earthy Natute ) far ebey'are marclossfly: Sudtile , and cathe of shes difforinein Operation, ard Nature, decan/e Fitted ead Fermented far feveralh Bikes: amd Purpoles, Doabpleffe Adams ( swints she, Bachors: beforesthe aProlegomena. and ons eis Mofes, azdSolomon , wrought many Won= ders by rherm, get the sstmoftof their Vertues they never filly wider. fi indeed any but GOD the Maker of All things im Heaven and Earth,bleffed for evermore. Fors by she Vegitable may be perfettly kuowa the Nature of Man, Bealts, Foules, Fiflaes, together with all kinds of Trees, Plants, Flowers,crc.and how to produce and msake thers Grow,Flourifh & beare Fruit ; hom to encreale thers in Colour aad Smell , ad Wher andwhere we pleafe, and all this xot onely at an inftant,Experimenti gratia, Amt Daily, Monethly, Yearly,at any Time, at any Seafon; gea,in the depth of Winter. And therefore n0t unlike, but the Wall. nut-Tree which anctently. grew in Glaftenbury Church-yard, and Ponies farth Leaves before $.Barnabies Day , yet then war fully loaded With them, ac alfo the Hawthorne there, [o greatly fam'd for Soooting forth Leaves and Blowers at Chriftmias, together with the ‘Oake # New-Forrelt. 4x Hamplhire that bore greene Leaves at the fanse Seafon ; way be fome Experiments made of the Vegitable Stone. Befiaes tha Malculine part xe Which ds wrought up toa Solar Quality, andshroughits exceeding Heat witlburne xp and deftroy any Creature,Plantjg-c.7 hat Yhich & Lunar Feminine (if iome- diately applyed ) will wsitigate it with its extreme Cold: and intike manser the Lanar Quality benwms and congeals any Animal, Ge snleffeit be prefently helped and refelved 5 that of the Sun ; For thongh they both are made out of one Natural Subftance;yet is tork- oe have contrary Qualitiesineverthele(fe there % fucka natural ance between thens, that what.the one cavnot dor, the other bork can, and will perform, ‘Mer ‘are their inward Vertues more then their outward Beauties; ‘for the Solat part # of fa re(plendent, cranfparent Loftre , shat the EyevofMan is/earce able toindure it 5 and if the Lunar part be exe” por'd abroad in a dark Night, Birds will repaire ta( and circulate about.) ites aFly rowed a Candle, and fsbmnit themfelues ta the Captivity ofthe Hand : And this invites mee to beliewe, that the Stone which the ancient iene teins he 140 Years old) tooke out of the Wall in hts Cell, and foered rnelins Gallus, Ans, 1602. wasof the Nature of this Vegitable Stone : For,(wpor the opexing bis Golden Box Whertin st Was inclofed ) it dilated iss Beames at ? 5 ourProlegomena, over theRoome, and that with/e great Splendor , that it overcame tine Light shat Wankindled therein 5 Befides she Hermet refufed to project it upon Metall (2s being unworthy of t)bus made his Experts ment #pox Veronica and Roe. By the Magicall or Profpective Stone it is poffible te difeover any Perlon sn sbat part of che World foewer; alibough never fo fecretly eonctaledor bid ; in Chambers, Clofets, or Cavernes of the Barth: For there it makes a firi Inquilition, Ina wWerd,ie fairely prefunes to your wie even the whole World, sherein to behold, heare, or fee your Delicc, May more, Ie enables Adan tounderttandizhe Lane gveage of the Creatures, as tbe Chirping of Birds, Lowing of Bealts, G«. To Convey a Spirit inte an Image, which by obferving the Infinence ef Heavenly Bodies,ai! become a true Oracle ; And yee: this as E. A. affares you, #4 net any wayes Nectomanticall,or Devi+ lith éne eafy ,wonderous eafy, Nacucall and Honeft, » _ Lafily, es touching the Angelicall Stone, st is febubtill, faith rhe aforefaid Author, that it can neither be feene, felt, or weighed ; xt Talted only. The voyce of Man( Which bears fame Proportion to thefa JSwbrill properties.) comes foort in comparifon s Nay the Air it felfe i wot fo penstrable, andyet (Ob wyfterious Wonder 4) A Stone, that willdadge in the Fice co Eternity without being prejadicad, It'baibia- Divine Power, Celeltiall, and lovilible, abous there/} s iad endowes the po[fe(for With Divine Gifts. Ie affords the Apparition of Angells, gives a power of converfing With hens , by parcel at lations : nar dare axy Evill Spicituapproachthe Place where it lodges. eth. Becanfe ir a Quintéfence :wherein there isno corruptible aueme Where the Blements are not corruptno Devill can ftay or abide. . 5. Dunfton cat i¢ the Food’ of Angels , wind by others it iz tearmed. The Heavenly Viaticura; The Tree of Life pand ts sans donbtedly (next ander G OD ) xbe trwe Aichochodon,e Giver of. Mears 5for by it Mans Bodys preferved from Cormption, being thereby tabled te live a leg tine without Boodes way “tis wade a got fiion Whether any Man can Dye thar wfes ot. Whit Tide wet fo wench aduive, as to think Why the Pofleflors of it Pood defire sollive, what have thofe ManifeRtations of Glory cared Erernity,préfented vinte their Elethly Byes ; bat rather defivezte be ‘Dilfolved and ro enjoy the Full Exvition, chon dive where they mult be content with the bare Spe- culation, AfterProlegomena. After Hermes had ence obtained the Knowledge of this Stone, be gave over the wf of all other Scones, and therein’ only delighted : *Mofes,aud Solomon,(together WithHermes were the only three that) * excelled in the Knowledge thereof, and who therewith Wronght Wonders. eT That there ia Gift es Peophelic hid ix the Red-fone, Racis wil tell yor ; for thereby (Asith he) Philofophers fave foretold things tocome: Ad Petrus Bonus avers, thai they did Prophelie, not ons ty Generally bag Specially; beving a Fore-knowledge of rhe Re- farcection, Incarnation ef Chri, day of Judgement, and thar the World frostd be conformsed with Fire : and this wat otkerwife y thew from the Tofight of their Operations, Tn Britfe, by the trae and various wle of the Philofophers Prima materia ( forthere are divecfities of Gifts, buc the fame {pirit} the perfettion of Liberall Sciences ave made kyown , the Whale Wil dome of Nature way be grafbed: And (NotwichPanding What has been faid, Inaw[t further adde) There are yet hid greater things then thele,for we have feen but few of his Workes. Howheit, there are but a fete Stocks rbat are fitted to Ineculare the Grafts of rhs Science o7 > They are Mylteries Incommunicable ta any but the Adepti, and thole that have bene Devoted even from theér Ceadles to ferve and waite at this Altar: And how rare- 4 fuch have been beard of, may appear by Norton: Hopkesw (faith he ) on fcarcely One ‘Gu F tftecne Singhomes havour Wed Stone: And ips wire ( With $.Paul ) Caught up into Paradice, Sects Words, Sailer wrosight wnoperable Workes; fuch as it is not lawfull for to utter. Of fach te he/é therefore will Tglory.yet of my felfe] will not plone Of mine Infirmities, 4zd sraly whether fach were inthe dy or ont of the'Body I cannot tell, GOD knoweth, doube- deffechey were noc far from the Kingdome of GOD, But Ifeare I have waded too farre; and therefore now to five Some Particular Account, afivel! touching the Publication of thé Worke, asalfo the Difpofition therrofiaad the Nature of tke Obie. leteTianguage wherein tis Written’: J fhallin theFir# place acaieint she Reader , thatthe kinde Acceptance my'former Eadeavours re~ ceived at the Hands of Candid Artifts,io potblifoing fore Chemical Collections ; very carneftiy mee ‘0 finde ont a Second Piece wheres: Prolegometia.” inherewish to prefenl W]e Geatefull Pextbouse “irPbereapemd tuten= dedio rally upJorse of maf obey COnceptidns as thes Sciencesand exe pola.shemn aljo-t0 the Tel Bat’ (20 thivends reviewing the Philofas* phers) J found that many (alfisnsing thar Nanse) Wrote what pheis. Fancies,, or their Hands budswrolught, ad fiartherithenvin\ Apres, henfion had.not [eene Projection ; (amongit-swhons ovr Ripley wae: fometinne Ont te by his Ingenious Retrdttacion, hercafter, mentioned ;) and being truly Jenfible of the great Injury. fuch, Workes have done young Students ( at the ficft notable to.diffin- grill wha have erittan pan their undeceveable Experience, : whe not 3 and consequently , nor which t0 follow, or Which to avogde ), E writhdrese may Thotights (having never as yer fer ney felfe Effottn. ally spon the Manuall Practife } left Ifoould adde to the many In- jories the World bas eee Laffer by delivering the bare Med- ley of my Dubious Apprehentions, Without the confident Actelta- tion of PraQife + and bejuftly ofteemed as indilerecte es thofe hone Ripley mentions, that prate OE Geolatouveand of his 1Bow, @Abich never thor chercin FZ tov. | Yer fillcaffing abort what to make choyce of, at length (by the dncomragement of Jome that are Yaduttcious after publi benefit .) Centred: my Thoughts, ‘and fiz ‘dthem.onthis defigne of ColleGting All (or as many as Icould mecte with). of oxy own Enplifh Herme- tique Philofophers, and to make thens publique. F Nov did Tchangs this Refolution with my Clothes noswithfand- dng the Difficulties # fam, ready to.encounter and obftratl tha Ud~ dectaking : For, Sefides the Paines and: Care that was therewnte re« guifite, the Feare of not meeting with, or obtaining the Ociginall Manntcripts, ‘ev Authentique Copies of his Nature, (which I knee to be is fomse Menshands, yet wanting themmy [elfe,), fir fat, though noching difcouvag'dme s yet was I therewith ‘plesntsfully fuppiyed by fome worthy and intimate Frien mould eladly here mention , but thar J Well kyo shey de fis their Names in Print. Tihefe had, Ay Care Wasnext te diff them in, fich a Series 4s might be anfwerabls corbeRe(pective Times, Wherein each. Author Floucifhed ; asd mithall to she bef? Advantage _ of rhe laborionr Student. she sbich J have manag'd vish fa juft an Adcquationyas (Ibope) Will neither detrail frona eae Honour ef she Qne,ner. yee difterbs or darker she direft path of rhe Ochor. . ButeProlegomena. Boe whilft Das doing this, T made aueltion (in regard fome Philofophers bad writ s Verle, others in Profe ) which of thefe Pronld taky Precedency and after fome Confideration adjudged it t0 the Poetique part ‘Acd that, vot only becaufe its Orginall may ably Ancicipate the tine of Orpheus, ( alrbongh he be noted by Macerts,PLimus ‘Antites,Sacerdos, Theologus,/.AT E 5,8¢ Dottor torins Gracorum nationis ) Becanfe that Linus is faid to be the moft Perite of any Lyrick Poet, and fo Ancient thar fome fappofe him taper to Orpheus, whe wrir that admirable Allegory of the Gol+ den Fleece, and was the (fieft of all the Grecians that brought the Chemick Learning (with other Sciences) ent of Agipt, as ibe other the firff shat brought the Phanician Letcong: torbe Grecians :/ fay not only for that if isthe Ancientelt,axd Profe but of Latter fe with osber Nations: 6st becanfe Poetry hath bin moft Ancicntly #fed with ns,and (as if from a Grant of Nature) held. wnguefiionable. Againgthe Hzcellent Melody thereof # (6 ‘Natural and Uaiver- fali,as thar itfeemses to be borne with all the Nations of the World, as an Hereditary Eloquence proper to all Mankinde : Nor was this all,for T confidered that ix Claimes a Generall facceffion, and Re+ ception, # Ail Nations, ail Ages, Who were never wWithont a Ho- mer, a Virgil, or an Ovid » No wat this (reall Segment of the World [Englandy withenr « Ras Céftrenfis aidan Hortulanus ; For the Bictt of she/e, His Liber Luminum, and his Lumen de Luminum, are the Ancientelt now extant i Latine Verfe : In the Larter of which, I ‘cannot omit this Title of bis, C Refponfio Baalis Celtrenfis Filio fao Merlino 5 J Whireby it appeares he was Merlin’s Contemporary (at deaft) ifrnot his Malter,in this ‘Abitrufe Myftery. Thee Workes of hisare both Publifoed 2 Hermannns, dat very Imperfettly , as F the found by Cemmparing them with @ Manuteript, a: ancient as King John's Time, And for the Second He was thefir( Chriftian Philos “Fophet aferMoricnus, who (sravelling abroad and retierning bither in she Raigne ef William te Conquerour)becanfe he was the firff that ‘Tranfplanted rhe Chemicall Mates fram venactef? Barts into his own Conntiy;irealed Gacland,sb Goronam Hermeticam & Poeticam. “Bue, to rebwerne’to ovr Matter. neither its Antiquity, #or the Nactirall Ratification,Generall Succeffion,and Reception thereof, were enon; hs teallow it the Righ"= hand of Fellowhhip, yer J fuppofe the Bees thereof, ( which fo afftth and delight she Bare, reayce the Heart, fatisfie the Jadge- ’ ment,Prolegomena. ment, and indulge the Hearers ).jeeftly soap on vagard Poely har a Life, a Palle, and fucla fecret Energy, as leavesin the Mindeya far deeper Uinpreffion,thrn Whit rans in the flomand evenlee Numbers of Prole : whereby it son fo’ mach upon the World, That in Rude ‘Times, avd even amongst Babatous Nations, When other forts of Learning fodd excluded, there tas wothing mere in Bltimation, And for that we call Rythme 5 the Catome of divers of oxr Saxon and Norman Poets, (ewes the Opinion rhey had thereof’ sehilft she Latinte (nossmithytanding its Excellency ) cond nos fficcently delight theis Bares, waleffe their Vertes ( in chat Language, ) sere forma'd with aa Hermonicall Cadence , asd brought into Rythme: Nor did the Ancients wrap np their Chiefelt Mylteries, any Where elfeg then in the Parobolical &Allufive part of Poetry yes the wok#Sacted, and Venerable ix their Eltceme,and the fecure(? from Prophane and Vulgar Wits. For fuck was the: serail of our Fathers,that they would wot willingly baxard(nauch dleffe vbrow their Childrens Bread amsong Dogs ; And therefore their Wifdome and Policy wat, Firft, 10 finde ont away ro Teach , and thesan Axt ( shich was this) ta, Conceale, Z#a word, 10 prefer Profe before Poetry, is no ether, or better, then ro’ lee a Rough. hewen-Clowne, rake the Wall ofa Rich clad-Lady of Honour : or ro Hang a Prefence Chamber with ‘Tarpalin, inffead of Tapeltry, And for theft Reafons, and ont of thefe Relpects, the Poeticall(as Teokceiv'd) deferved the Precedency. 3 Howbtie probably fone of vhefe Pitces ( new breught to publique Light ) tial we/nigh perifly’d in ayilem Rune; and Deftruction gee weompleate Viblory over thim , but that my Diligence and Labori- ous Inquifition re/ewed hems from the Jawes thereof’: being alnsoft quite poronded in the Dult of Adtiquity,and involo'd inthe obfcurity of Forgotten things, with vheir Leaves huife Wosme-eaten, Anda wonder inésytbut (like the Creatures ix Noahs Arke) they were bstherto fo fufely preferved. a thar Univerlall Deluge, which ( ae the Diffolution of Abbies ) overflowed our greates? Libraries, exfid in doing thus, oT iprefunse it no Actopance ta challenge the Reputacion of performing a Worke, nexpthat of a Mans.ome sand J{omerbiak. more; ts that -(arif having the Tlixin tr felfes) dchave write Old: Age: becouse Young wna Lively, by reftoring cachiofehe Ancient Writers noe only to the Spring of their feverall Beattties, but to the Sommer of their Strength and PecfeCtion, eds. Prolegomena. & Aiforthewhole Worke it falfe jit is Theav'd up froma few gleanings mee of owe Boglih Bields; where though I have, beffave- ed my lodoltry v0 pick wp here and there, what I could finde im my way, yet Believe there are raaiy other Pieces of rhis Natuteis private Hands, whieh if any are pleas’d (oipt of the farge Iogenions foore that Fhave pnblithed the/e,) 2o Communicate to me: J fball fetthercos avalue futable ta the worth of their Favours, and tet the World dvow ft: Obligation to thems besides. The Style and Language thereaf, may, I confelfe (to forme) feense Uekfome asi] Uncouth, and fo it ts indeed 10 tho/a that are ftrengers therenuta; bist withall very Signifiernt : Ofd words bave firong Emphafis, oshers aay lock upon them as Rubbith or Trifles, but shey are grofly Miftaken = for what forme light Braines may effeems as Boolith Toys; deeper. Judgements camand will value as found asd ferious Matter. \ We Exglifo havecftes varied onrFapions (ich isthe levity. of cite Bancies) uaid therefore if yon mice? with! Spellings different from thofe 428 efi; or nacouth Words as Prangely ridiculonsycea Maunch,Hood, Codpiece , or Tinnke-hofe\; fo jas they were the fafbionable Attyres, fo the/e the ufiall Dialects of tho/e Times :. And Polterity Will pay ta inour on Coyne, Prottld wwe deride. the behaviour and drefie ofomr Anceltots.: Por Wwe nity héon|ider thet Languages rabich arecdaily afediig ox! Dileourle) are in ancintinvall Maracion z3rhih Caftome brings ina habit yr belt Liked for the Prefentwherber dee to vevive What is lolty or intreduece fonsething mew. {ot t9. preceupehe Plelent y\s2ith the retained fareds of white precetled s Buelearned Tonguss (which ane contain'd ivBooks)injayia moredtormurable Fate, becanife dor MabjeR eo be Waphe avvay wink che daily tyde aud current of Times. Thy are like she fathion and Drapery wrought ox Marble Stawutsymhiohnen|} ever be retained without alterations ‘ ~ Anibtleerefore that the Truth aad Worth of their Workes right veceive no Diminution by my Tranfcription yf purpofely retainjd the old Words and manner of their Spelling, as IZ foxd them in the Orin Binalls excoeptionly fome paipible Miltakes asd Blemifhes of former Trankeribers,sbich Fcok wpon me to correct and purge as litle more shen Litterall ImperfeGtions:) yee not ro Mave theReader wnfatisfied, have added aCompendions Table, for the Interpretation of O'd, unufall,and obfolete Words,and thereby fmoorh'd (as J ‘Sappofe) the Paffige for fuch as have nov hitherto bin Convertant in the/e Ane sient Rough: hew'd Expreffions, ¢ WherteProlegomena. -peherefore you that love to converse with the Dead, or confalesrith their Monuments, draw near : perhaps you may find more Benefit in them then the Living There you may meet with the Genii of env Her- metique Philofophets , /earwe rhe Languages which they woa'diand courted Dame Nature, and enjoy them more Freely, and at Greater Command, (re fatisfie yor Doubts )riene when they Were in she Blefhy; ‘Fer they have Written more thes they wonld Speake ; and left their Lines fo Rich, as sf they bed diffolued Gold in sheir Take, and clad their Words with the Soveraign Moyfture. My Annotations are limited Within the Bounds of what is Hilkoz ricall, or wae occafionally muff needs sntrench on the Confines-of other Arts, and all Glofles upon the Philofophicall Worke parpofely omitted, for the fame Reafons that Ichofe to fend forth other Mens Children into theWorld,rather then my on. And what prefumptu- ous Miftaks, or Brrors, the Candid Reader fall meee with sill I ‘Bops) be Cenfuced with no Jéffe Favour and Charity,then that where= by shey are wont to Judge shéFaults of shel they effeens their Eciands and Well-withers. And ww 00 Conclude : Aday the GOD of NATURE be grati« anfly pleafed(out of the Insmenfe Treafisry of bis Goodnels)tovonch: ‘fafe all fuch(wrka/e good Angells direét them to,or bava alreadly Reli- \gioufly Engaged thems in thas Myltetious huowledge)the Fall and En- tire Accomplifbments of a Zrwe and Pions Philofopher, £ Zo wit, Learning, Humility, Judgement, Courage,Hope,Patience,Difere- tion,Charity.cSecrecie:] That fo they may enjay the Fruits of these Labours, which otherwifé Will be but vain,and unpleafantsand caisfee defy render the Divine Science and Secret it felfe,Contemptible. Farewell (Indoftrious Students) and lee yourGoodnelle fill ia- svite nse to accompli(h the End Ihave prepofed : In doing which, (Z prefimse) you may one Day effeerme me, Setter deferving your Patro= age ; 47 Iraj?-Wife, your charitable Cenfure : which + all the Re. compence Expected ox Merited, by bins, Whe a < pieiies Yours Really Devoted, 26 fan, 165 E, cA fbmoles.THE ORDINALL ALCHIMY. WVritten by THO MAS ce RTOKNM BRISTOL L,Liber fed Laicis anger infcitiam : ‘Liber, honores juvans per copiam = Et Liber pauperum fugans inopiam + Liber fiducia eft & veritatis : Regibus confilinm, dottrina Prelatis Et Liber utilis viris beatis Vivere quicupinpt abfq, peccatis. Liber fecrernm, Liber doni Dei, Eleétis femita, vires bona pei, Falens conftantibus firma fidet : ~ ¥e noncredemibus verbs oris mei. Quarunt Alchimiam, falfi quoque rec#i ¢ Falfi fine numero, fed bi funs rejedti, Excupiditatibus (hen) tot fwatinfecti, Quod inter mille millia,vix fant tres elect, Iftam ad fetentiam multi fant vocati Nobiles cy pauperes infcil, literati, Qui noplunt labores, neque tempus pati ; Ideo aon perficient,quia funt ingrati. Liber Artis filtos docet iffe fates, Quibus bac percipere deus dedit gratis, Verficulis propheticis quatuor bis credatis, Omnia dat gratis divine fons pictatis.. Hac nobilis fcientia off tanium illis data, Qui diligunt jaftitiam, mente cum beata, Dolofis, & raptoribus (ed eft denegata, Propter peccata tardantur munera grata. : Iber ifte Clericts monfirat feientiam , BIER RE OS ELAS SapeBELABRIE BESS BERD ABR R LES His Booke the greare ft Clearkes mayteach, | Buc fhortencth the Vulgar-Reach: A Booke thar gets ‘by Wealth) Renowne, And Beggles at athred-bare-Gowne : Atrujly-Booke of faithfull-Things Inftructing Priefts, Advifing Kings: A Booke that’s fitted for the fence Of Man, who lives without offence : A Booke of fecrets given by Gad; Tomen Elect, 4 Beaten- Trod + Availing fuch as conftant be In Faith,and Hope,and truffing Me. Good Men and Bad ,even Numberlefle, (The latter, but without fucceffe) Defire the 4rt : Bur ftill Alas !) They arefogiven to dvarice, That of a Million, hardly three Were ere Ordaind for Alchimy, Yet many calledevery Hoare, Learw'dand Unlearned, Rich, and Poore ; Who'll neither Terd,nor take the Paizes; And thereforeTradge without the Gaines. On whom God doth this Art beftow, Her Sons may herein fully know: * Thete fous Bythefe * fowre-lines you may believe Py epheriek i Freayen doth all oe gratis give. Hee aad This 47t in finch you only finde : anol Brid- As Fujtice love, with (potles-Minde : nb de But tis deny’d to gwilefull Mea, Tene, "6. For fin protratts the gifts of Heaven. Ca ThefeSape Reges Anglie decoralfet hac res, Firma fi in domino funiffet eornrs (pes ; Iie fed qui capiet per banc rem honores, Antiquos mores mutabit in meliores.. Iffecumaue vencrit, reguum reformabit, Virtutibus & moribus, & exemplar dabit Sempiternum Regibys, plebs tunc jubilabit, Et mutuo fe diligens laudes Deo dabit: O Rex, hac facturus !-Deum Regen ora, Etejus anxilium pro re hae implore Tune regi juste fulgenti mente decora Grataflupervenient qué on fperabitur bora.Thele had adorn’d the Eaglifh- Throne, Tf they had trufted Ged alone: For hethat hereby Honor winns, Shall change the old for better things. And when he comes to vale the Land, Reformeit witha vertnons hand: i Leaving examples of good deedes To every King that him fucceedes = Then fhall the People Fubilixe In mutual love, and facrifife Praifesto God. © King that shall Thefe Workes !implore the God of all For timely helpe,in this geod thing : Soro afajf, and Glorious King, “AA oft goodly Graces fhall defcend, ‘When leat look’d for : To Crosmue his End. C3Sire Sr Gnd SrSrdt Sete te teste Sacer tinte | LESTE SEEECEE CEE CECSTRS | Tue PRroweme. ©] () the honot of Ged,One in Perfons three, 5| This Boke is made,that Lay:men fhuldeit e And Clerks alfoe, after my deceale, ({ee, 2 Whereby all Lay-men which putreth | - (them in preafe, ss Tofeech by. 4lkin great tyches to winn-. “ May finde goodCounfell er they i warke begin; And greate deceipts they may hereby efchewe, And by this doétrine know falf men from trewe. NarhlesClerks greate feacreats hecre may leare, Butall Lay men thall finde here caufe to feare, And to beware of falfillafions, Which Multiplyers worke with their Conclufions : But forthat I defire not worldly fame, But your good prayers, unknowne fhall be my name. That no man fhulde therafter fearch, ne looke, Bur‘yifely Confider the flowers of this booke : Ofevery eftate tharis within Mankind Ifyee make fearch much people ye may finde, Which to alkimy their Corage doe addres Only for appetite of Lucre and Riches. As Popes with Cardiaails of Dignity, Archbyfhopes with Byfbopes of high degrees With Abbois and Priors of Religion, With Friars, deremites, and Press manic one, And Kings with Princes and Lords axeat of blood, For every eftate defirerh after good , 2 : AndThe Proheme, si And Merchaunts alfo which dwell in the fiere Of brenning Coverife, have thereto defire ; And Common. morkemen will not be out-lafte, For as well as Lords they love this noble Crafte ; As Gouldfmithes whome we shulde left repreve For fights in their Crafe meveth them to beleeve: But wonder it is that Wevers deale with fuch warks, Free Mafons and Tanners with poore Parifh Clerks ; Tailors andGlafters woll not thereof ceafe, Andeke fely Tivkers will pucthem in'the preafe With greate prefum ption;but yet fome collour there was, For all fuch Men as give Tinétureto Glaffe: But many -Artificers have byn over-fwifte With hafty Credence to fume away theirthrifte: And albeit thatloffes made them to finarte, Yet everin hope continued their hearte; Trufting fometyme to fpeederight well, Of many fach truly 1 ,can tell, Which in fuch hope continued all their lyfe, Whereby they were pore and made to unthrife: Ithad byne good for thein to have left off Tn feafon, for noughte they founde but a fcoffe, For trewly he that is not a greate Clerke Is nice and lewde to medle with this warke; Ye may cruft me wellit is nofmall inginn To know all fecreats pertaining to the Myne; Foritis moft profound Philefephie, The fubtill {cience of holy Alkemy , Of which Science here I intend to write, Howbeit I nay not cutioully indite. For he thar fhuldeall a common people teache, He muft forthem ufe: plaine and common fpeache , Thoughthat writin plaine, and hoemely wife Nogood Man then fhuldefuch writenge difpite. All“The Probewme, All cataiters that svrite of this Soleme werke’ They made their Bokes 1o many Men full derke, In Poyfes, Parables,and in Metaphors alloc, Which to Shollers caufeth peine and woe: For in theirpractife whan they would it aflay, They leefe-theit Cofts, a5men fee aldaye. Hermes, Rafts, Geber, and Avicen, Merlin, Hortolan, Demecrit, and Morice, Bacon, and Raimond, with others many moe ‘Wrote under covert, and _4riftotle alfoe. For what hereof they wrotewith theinpenn, Their Cloudy Claufes duiled many Men: Fro Lay.men, FroClearks, and fo fro every Man They hid this 4rethaeno Man finde it cann. By their bokesdo they thew. Reafons faire, Whereby much’people are brought into difpaire. Yet Anaxagoras wrore plaineft of them all In his boke of Conwerfions natwrall ; Of the old Farbersthac ever 1 founde He mott difelofed of this Science the grownde Whereof Arifterle had greate envy, And him rebuked nnrightfully _ Tn many places, as Tcan well report, Intending that men to him thuldenot refort: ~ For he was large of his cunning and love, God have his foulein bliffe with him above : And fuche as fowed envious feede, God forgive them their mifdeede. Asthe Mounke which a Boke did\write Of athoufand receipts in mallice for defpight; Which be coppied in many a, place Whereby hath beene made pale many a Faces And many Gownds have byne made bare of hewe, And men made fals which before tyme wercittewe, WhereforeThe Probeme. Wherefore my Pitty doch me conftreyne To thew the trewth in fewe words sad laine i Soe that you may fro falfe doétrine flee, If ye give Credence to this boke and mce 5 Avoide your Bokes written of Receipts, For all fuch Receipts are full of Deceipts ; Truftnot fuch Receipts, and lerne well this Claufe, Nothing i wranghe but by bes proper Canfe : Wherefore that Practife falleth farr behinde Wher Knowledge of the caufeis not in minde: Therefore remember ever more wilely, (whie. That you woorke nothing but you knowe howe and Alfoc he that would in this Arte proceede , To efchewe falihood he hath greate need = For trewth is good which this rte muft guide, Whiereforeto falfhood ye may neverflides But ftedfaftly your minde mutt be fer, Fals Colloured Metall never to Counterfett As thei that fecke Blanchers or Citrinacions, Which woll not abide all Examinacions, ‘Wherewith fals Plate they make as they cann Or Money to beguile fome good trew Mann: But God hath made chat of this bleffed- Arte, Allehat be fals (hall have thereof noe parte; He muft have Grace that would for this Arte fue, Therefore of right him needeth to be trew Alfo he may not be trobled in his Minde With outward charges, which chis.4rte would finde: And he that would have his intenc, - He muft have Riches fufficient. ‘In maty wayes he maie not looke But only purfuc che order of this Boke; Named of UAlkiny the ordiaall, The Crede mihi, the Standard perpetual : D1 The Probéme: ~ For like as the ordinall to Preefts ferteth out The fervice of the dayes.as they goe aboute : ‘Soe of allthe Bokes unordered in _alkiney’ ‘The effect is here fer out Orderly: Therefore this Boke to an Alchimister wile, Isa Boke of incomparable price ; Whole.crowth hall never be défiled, Though it appeare in homely ‘wife compiled: And as I had this Arte by Grace from Heaven, Igive you the fame here in Chapters feaven : As largely as by my fealty I may, By licence of the dread full Judge at domes daye. The fir( Chapter {hall all Men teache ~ What manner People may this Science reache, And whie the trew Science of slbiniy, Is of old Fathers called Bleffed and Holy, Inthe fecond Chaprer maie befayne, The nice Joyes thereof, with the greate paine, The third Chapter for the love of One, Shall trewly difclofe the Matters of our Stones Which the Arabies doon- Elixir call, Whereof iis, there underftonde you fhall. The fowerth Chapter teachcth the grofle Werke, A foule laboure not kindly fora Clerke, ~ Tn which is found full greate rravaile, With many perills, and many a faile. The fift Chapter is Of the (ubtill Werk, Which God ordeyned only for a Clerke: Full few Clerks can it comprehend, ‘Therefore to few Men is the Sefewee fend, The fixe Chapter is of Concord and love, Between low #atares, and heavenly fpheares above + Whercoftrew knowledge advanceth greatly Clerks,” And caufeth furtherance in our wonderfull qwerks. TheThe Prokeme, ae . The feaventh Chapter wewly teach you fhall, ‘The donbrfull Regiments of your Fires all. ‘Ow Soveraigne Lord God me guide and {peede, Forto my Matters as now I will proceede, Praying all men which this Boke fhall finde, With devoute Prayers to have ay foulein minde > And that noe Man for better ne for worfe, Chaunge my writing for diede of Gods curfe : For where quick fentence fhall'feame notto be Ther may wile men finde felcouthe previtye; © And chaunging of fome onc fillable May make this Boke unprofitable. Therefore truft not to one Reading or twaine, But twenty tymes it would be over fayne, For it conteynetli full ponderous fentence, Albeit that it faute forme of Eloquence , But| the beft thing thacyedoe fhall, Is to reade many Bokes, and than this withall.Nortons Ordinall. CHar. 1 =| ADB cryefull merveylous and Archimaftrye @l Is che tingture of holi Alkinsy: A wonderfullscience, {ecrete Philofophie, A fingular grace & gifte of th’almightie: eA SS) Which never was founde by labour of But it by Teaching, or Revelacion begann. (Mann, Te was never for Mony fold neboughr, Byany Man which for it hath fought = Bur given to an able Man by grace, (fpace. ‘Wrought with greate Coft, with long layfirand Ichelpetha Man when he hathneede, Tevoydeth vaine Glory, Hope, and alfo dreade : Itvoydeth Ambitiouinefle, Extorcion,and Excefle, Infenceth Adverficy that fhe doe not opprefic. He that thereof hath his full intent, Forfakech Extremities, with Meafure is content. Some people would not have it cauled Holy, And inthis wifethei doe replye , Thei fay how Painims maie ths Arte have, Suchas our Lord Ged woll never fave: For their wilfull fals infidelitic, The caule of goodnes, poffeffours cannotbe. Alfoeit maketh none other thin; Bait Gold or Silver, for Mony, Cupp, or Ring. ‘Whiche of wife men is proved and well founde. Leaft yerteous thing that is upon the Ground. ‘Wherefore concluding all men of that fect, Say, how this Science n’is holy in effect. Tothis we fay and wittnes as we cann. How that this Science was a toughtto Mam; 314, Chap. 1 Noortons But he were proved perfettly with fpace, Whether he were able to receyvethis Grace : For his Trewth, Vertue, and.tor his table Witt, Which if he faulte he thal never have ic; Alfono man coulde yet this Science reach, But if@ed fend a Ma/ter him to teach: For itis foe wonderfull and foc felcouth, That it moft needes be tought from mouthto mouth: Alfo he muft (be he never foe loath) - Fs , Receive it witha moft facred dreadfull Oath, That as we refule greate dignitie and fame, Soc he mut needly refute the fame. And alfo that he hall norbe fo wilde Toteach this feacret to hisowne childe 5 Fornighnes of Blood ne Confanguinity May notaccepted beto thisdignity: = 9 9 ¢* Soe blood as blood, may have hereof noe part, But only vertue winnech this holy artes <0" Therefore ftraightly you fhall {earch and fee, All manners and vertues with th’abilitie Of the perfon which fhall this Seyence leere, And in likewife make him ftraightliefweré : Soe that noe man fhall leave this 47te behinde, But he an able and approved Man can finde When Age thall greeve him to rideor goc, One he may teach, butthen never no moe : For this Science mult ever feeret be, ‘The Caule wheredfis this as ye may fee ; Tf one evill man had hhereofall his will All Chriftian Peafehe might haftilie {pil}, And with his Pride he might pulldowne -=* Rightfull Xrags and Princes of renowhe: Wherefore the fentence of peiifl and jeopardy , Upon the Teacher velteth dreadfully. SoeOrpivarn So than for doubt of fiuch pride and wreach, He muftbe warcthat will this Sefence teach’: No Man therefore maie reach this greate prefent, Burke that hath vertues excellent. Soe though Men weene Poffeffours not to aide, To hallow this Science as betore is {aid , Neither feeme not bleffed effectually , Yer in her Oxder'this Sciemce'is holy, And forafmuch as noe Man maie her finde But only by grace, the is holy of her kinde. Alfo it isa worke and Cure divine, Foule Copper to make Gold or Silver fine: No man maie finde fuch chaunge by his thought, Of divers kinds which Gods hands have wrought. For Geds Conjunctions Man maienot undoe, But if his Grace fully confent thereto, By helpeof this sience, which our Lord above Hath given to fuch Men as hedoth love; Wherefore old Fathers conveniently Called this Science Holy Alkimy. Therefore noe Man fhulde be too fwifte, To caft away our Lords blefled guift: Confideringe how that Almighty God From great Doétours hath this Science forbod, And graunted icto few Men ofhis mercy, Suchias be faithfull trew and lowly. And as there be but Planets {caven Amongethe multitude of ftarrs in Heaven : Soe among millions of millions of Mankinde, Scarflie feaven men maie this Science finde. . Wherefore Lay-men ye may lere and fee How many Doéfars of grcat authoritie, ‘With many fearchers hath this Science fought, Yet all their Jabours hay turned into nonghr;Chap.3. Noortons If thei did coft, yet found theinoneavaile, For of their purpofe every tyme thei faile, And in defpaire thei reafon and departe, And then thei faid how there isnoe fuch arte ; But fained Fables chei name it where thei goe, A fals fond thing thei fay it is alfoe: Such Men prefume too much upon their minde, They weene their witts fiiflicient this rte to finde. Bur of their flaunder and words of outrage, Wetake thereof trewlie little Charge: For fuch be not invited to-our feaft, Which weeneth themfelves wife and can doc leafte. Albeit fuch Men lift not lenger to perfuc, Yer is chis Science of 4/kimy fall trew = And albeit fome poe Clerks fay nay Yer every wife Clarke well confider may, How he whiche hereof might no trewth fee Maie not hereof lawfull witenes be, For it were a wondcrous thing and queinte, A man that never had fight to peinte. How fhoulde a borne blinde Man be fure To write or make good Portrature. To build Poules fteeple might be greate doubr, For fuch proude Clerks to bring aboute 5 Such might well happ to breake their crowne, Ere they coude wifely take it downe. . ‘Whereforeall fuch are full farr behinde. To ferch out the {ecreateft pointe of kinde, Therefore all Men take theire fortune and chaunce, Remit fuch Clerks to their Ignorance. N& ye that will this Science purfue, Learne ye to know fals Men from trew.. - All trew {earchers of this Science of Alkimy, Muftbe full Learned in their firft Philofophie: ElfeOrDINALL. 17. Elf all their laboure thall chem let and greive, Chap. 1. Ashethat feccheth Water in a Sive ; The trew men (earch and feeke all alone In hopeto finde our delectable ftone, And for that thei would that no Man fhulde have loffe, They prove and feeke all at their owne Cofte ; Soe their owne Purfes they will not (pare, They make their Coffers thereby full bate, With greate Patience thei doe proceede, ‘Trufting only in God to be their {peede. als fals man walketh from Towne to Towne, For the moft parte ina threed-bare-Gowne; Bver fearching with diligent awaite To win his paye with fomefals deceit OF fwearing and leafing ; fuch will not ceafe, To fay how they can Silver plateincreafe. . « And ever they rayle with perjury, Saying how they can Multiplie Gold and Silver,and in fuch wife With promife thei pleafe the Covetife, ‘And Caufeth his minde to be on him fete, Then Falfehood and Covetife be well mett. Butaherwards within a little while The Multiplier doth him beguile With his faire promile, and with his fals othes, The Covetife is brought to threed-bare clothes : But if he can haftily be well aware, Ofthe Multiplier and of his Chaffare Of whofe deceipts much I can reporte, But I dare not leaft 1 give comforte To furch as he difpofed to Treachery 5 For fo much hurte mought come thereby ‘Wherefore adyife you and be wife, Ofthem which proffer fuch fervife. ENortons Chap. 1. fthey had Cunning have ye no doubt, They woll beloath to thew it out: ‘When fuch men promife co Multiplie, They compaffe to doe fome Villony , Some trew mans goods to beare awaye ; Of fuch fellowes what fhulde I faye ? All fach falfe men where ever thei goe, They thulde be punifhed, thei be not fo.. Upon Nature thei falfely ie For Mettalls doe not Multiplie ; Of this Sentence all men be fure, Evermore Arte muftferve Nature. Nothing ape as Auttors faycs, But by one of theis two wayes, Onc by rotting, called Putrefadtion, That other as Beafts, by Propagation s Propagation. in Mettalls maie notbe, Burin our Stone much ike thing ye may fee, Putrefacion mutt deftroy and Wake. Burit be don injts proper place. Umtettalls of kinde grow lowe under ground, * For above erthruft in chem. is found 3 Soe above erth appeareth corruption, Of mettalls, and in long tyme deftruGtion,, Whiereof noe Caufe is found in this Cafe, But that above Erth thei be not ih their place.. Contrarie places. to nate cau fech frit, ; As Fihes out of water lofen rheir Lyfe: And Man, with Beafts, and Birds livein ayer, But Stone and Mineralls under Erth tepaier.. Phyficians.and Appoticaries faut appetite and will To feech water flowers ona dry hill: : Eor Ged hath ordeyned of his wifdome and grace, Allthings to grow in their narurall place. ‘ “AgainftORDINALL. Againft this doétrine fome Men replie, And fay that Mettalls doe Mulciplie : For of Silver, Lead, Finn, and al fo Braffe, Some veyneis more, and fome is laffe, Orwhich diverfitie Nature fhulde ceale, If Metralls did not multiplie and increafe, Wherefore they fay that reafon fheweth nowe, How thatunder Erththey multiple and growe 5 Why not then above Erth in ve ells clofe and faire, Such as (hulde preferve them from FireWater and Aier? Hereto we fay this reafon is but rude, For this isnoe perfect fimilitude ; For caule efficient of Metralls finde ye shall Only to be the vertue Mineral, Which in everie Erth is not found, Bur in certaine places of eligible ground , Into which places the Heavenly Spheare, Sendeth his beames direétly everie yeare. ‘And asthe matters there difpofed be Such Mettalls thereof formed fhall you fee. Few grownds beaptto fuch generation + How fhoulde then above ground be Multiplication Alfo all men perceyven ie be wife, How Water conjealed with Cold is yfe 5 And before tyme it harded was Some lay in more places and fome in laffe, ‘As water in fofles of the Carte-wheele, ‘Were veynes imale whan they began to keele, But water in ditches made veynes more, > For plenty of water that was therein froare. Herenpon to fay it were noe good advice, "Thae therefore of yfe fhould multiply more yle. Soe though there be of Metralls veynes more and !affe, It proveth not rbat they increafe more then it was , Ex AlfocNortons Alfoe ye may truft without any doubt, If Multiplying (hould be brought about : All thengredience muft draw to fimplcity, And breake Compofirion as yearly ye may fee: | For Multiplying of Hearbes how Watwre hath provided, That all things joyned in the (eede be divided: Elfe ftalke and leaves which vertually thetein be, May nor come forth a@tually that cye:mought them {ée.. But Mettall holdcth his holle Comp oficion, When corrafive waters have made: diffolucion : Therefore fyth yfois nerrer to fimplicity, Then is Mctrall, and maic not increafed be; Trewly ye maie truft as T (aid before, : How of one ounce of Silver, maic Silverbenoemoie. ™ Alfonothing multiplyed fhall ye finde, ‘ But it be of Vegetative or of Senfitive kinde: Where Mettalls be only Elamentative, Having noe feede, nether feeling of life ; Wherefore concluding all Multipliers muft ceafe; For Metralls once Mertalis hall noe more increale ;. Nathleffe one Mettall. tranfmured we finde, Unto a Mertall of another kinde, For propinguity of matter thatin'them was; As it is knowne betwixt Irez and Brafe. But to make trew Silver or Goldis noe ingin, Except only the Philofophets’ medicine. Wherefore fuch leafings as Multipliers ufe, Clerks reprove and utterly refule; Such art of Multiplying is to be reproved, But holy z/kimy of rightis to be loved, Which treateth’of'a precious Medicine, Suehastrewly maketh Geld and Silver fine? Whereof example for Teftimonie, Isin.a Citty. of Cas/lony. WhichOrDINALL. Which Raymond Lully, Knight; men fappofe, Made in feaven Images the erewth to difclofe ; Three were good Silver, in fhape like Ladies bright; Everie each of Foure were Geld and dida Knight : In borders of their Clothing Lettersdilldappeare, Signifying in Sentence as it eweth here, 7. Of old Horfhoes (faid ane) I was yre, ow Iam good Silver as good as ye defire. >. Lwas (aid another) Zrov fet from the Mine, But now Lam Gould pure perfect and fine. 3. Whilome was Copper of an old red pann, Now am [good Silver, faid the third womans. 4. The fourth {aide, Iwas Copper growne in the filehy Now am I perfect Gould made by Geds grace. (place, 5. The Sift faid, I was Silver perfeét chrough fine, Now am Iperfeé Govlde,excellent,beter thenthe prime. . 6. L was a Pipe of Leade well nigh two hundred yeare, ‘And now to all men good Silver Lappeare. - € 9. The feventh faid,T Leade am Gould made fora Maiftrie, - But trewlie my fellowes arencrer theretothen I. ‘This Science beateth her name of a King, Called Alchimus, without leafing + A glorious Prince of moft noble minde, His noble vertues holpe hiny this arteto finde ; He fearched Natare, he was.nobil Clerke, He left Extorcion, than fought and found this werke: King Hermes alfoe he did the fame, Being a Clerke of Excellent fame; Inhis Quadripartice made of 4, rolagie, OF Phyfique and of this Arte o! Alkimy, And alfo of Magique natural, ‘As of four Sciences in nature paffing all. And there he faid that bleffed is hee That knoweth things truly as thei bee. E 3Chap. x. Nortons And bleffed is he that maketh due proofe, For that is roote of cunning and roofe 5 Forby opinion is manya Man Deceived, which hercof litle cann. Anold Prova, Ina Bufbell of weeninge, Is not found one handfull of Cauninge : With due proofe and with difcreet aflaye, Wife men may learenew things every day. By Cunninge,Men know them(elves and every thinge ; Man is but a Beaft and worfe without Cunninge : Bur litle favour hath every Man To Science whereof he litle can; And litle Cunning maketh men proud and wilde, Sufficient Cunning maketh men full milde, Nobil men now in manner have defpighte Of them that have to Cunning appetite + But noble Kings in auncient dayes, Ordained (as olde Auctors faies, ) That the feven Scrences to learne andican, Shulde none but only a Noble man; Andat the leaft he fhulde be fo free, That he mought Studie with libertie; Wherefore old Sages did them call The [eaves Sciences liberal « For he that would leare them perfectly and well, Incleere liberty he muft dwell. From worldly warkes he muft withdrawye, That would lerne but Mans Lawe: Much more the Worlde he muft forfake, Which many Sciences woulde overtake. And for that caufe Men may well fee, Why Cunninge men difpifed be. Yet nobil Memory shall never ceafe, Ofhim which Cunninge doth increafe, HeeORDINALL, Hee which loveth Cunning, Juftice, and Grace Js (et afide in many a place 5 But whoe to Courte bringeth in with guile, Profit, or prefent, he is the Man that while. ‘Wherefore this Science and many Graces moc, Be loft and be departed all ye fro. And furthermore remember what I fay, Sinn caleth faft for his ending day : Covetifeand Cunninge have difcorde by kinde ; Who lucre coveteth this Sefence fhall not finde; But he that loveth Science for her owne kinde, He may purchafe both for his bleffed minde. Of he Chapter more I need not teach, For here appeareth what men may it seach : ‘That is to remember only the trewe, ~ And he that isconftant in minde to purfue, ‘And is not Ambitious, to borrow hath no neede, And can be Patient,not hafty for to {peede; And that in Ged he fet fully fis truft, And that in Ctinning be fixed all mpi And withall this he leadea rightfulllyfe, Falthoode fubduinge, fupport no finfull ftrife : Such Men be - this Science to attaine. ‘The Chapter following, is of Joy and paine. eee Crar. If. eS OR prandy nurithed a Mowke of late, >| which deceived Men of every ftate. #i But before that done he in his fantazie; A Weened he had canght this Art fully. Such rejoycing thereof he had, Thathe began to dote and to be madde. OFChap. ee Of whofe Hayes (albeit they were fmalley For anen{ample I write this Tale. This Mowke had walked about in Fravace, ° Raunging Apoftata in his plefaunce. And after-he came into this lond, Willing Men should undetftonde; How that of dlkimy he had the grounde, By a Boke of Receipts which he had founde. In furety thereof he fer all his minde, Some nobil Adté'ta leave behinde; Whereby his name fhould be immortal, And his greate Famein laude perpetual. And ofte he mufed where to beginne, To fpend the riches that he fhuldewinn. And ever he though loethis I cann, Where monght I finde fome trufty Man,” Which would accorde now with my will, And help my purpofetofulfAll. A Then would I make upon the plaine OF Salisbury glorigus to be faine, Fifteen ies ina little while, Onc Abbie in the end of every mile. Hereupon this Menke to me reforted, Of truft (he faid) which men of me reported, His forefaid mind he did tome tell, And prayd meto keep his great Councell. T faid before an Image of Saint Fame, ‘That I would never difclofe his name ; Yee I may write without all vice, Of his defires that were fo nice; When he had difcovered his great Cunning, He faid that he faughted nothing, Buta good meane for his folace, z] To labour to the Kiags good grace,Orprnacr. To get lycence of his eftare, And of his Lords mediate, To purchafe tond for the Abbies aforefaid, For which all cofte thould be well paied:; But yet he had great doubrand feate, How to purchafe,of whom,and where. When Thad heard of this preate werke, I fearched (to wie) what manner of Clerke He was, and what he knew of Schoole, And therein he was buta Foole. Yet I fufiered, and held me ftill, More to lerne of his lewd Will. Then faid I, ic were.a lewd thinge, Such matter to fhew unto the Kinges Burif the proofe were reafonable, He would thinke it a foolith Fable. The Mowke faide how that he had in fire, Athing which fhulde fulfill his defire, Whereof the trewch within forty.dayes, Tthulde well know by trew affaies. Then I faid, 1 would no more that tyde, But forty dayes I faid I would abide. When forty dayes were gone and paft, The Monkes Cratte was cleane overcatt. Then all his Abbies andall his thought, Was turned to a thing of nought, Andas he came,he went full lewde, Departing in a minde full shrewd: For foone after within alittle while, Many trewe men he did beguile; And afterwards went into Franace. Loe ! this wasa pittifull chance, That fifteene 4ébies of Rel igion, Shulde in this wife fall to confufion. F GreateNortons Chap. 2s. Great wonder was what thing he meant;, And why he fet ail his intent Abbies to build, then was it wonder, Why nould he live Obedient under, : But be Apoftata, and range about, This blefled Science to finde out: ‘But as I wrote above in this Boke, Letno Deceiver after this Seiemce looke..’ A* other Enfample isgood to tell, Of one that trufted ro doc as well As Raymond Lally, or Bacon the Frier, Wherefore he named him(felfe fasnce peeve; He was Parfon of a little Town, Not farr from the Citry of Leadon , Which was taken for halfea Leach, But little cunning had he to Preach ; He weened him fure this .drteto finde ; His Name he would have ever'in minde By meanesofa Bridge, imagined in dorage;. To be made over Thames for light paflage : - Whereof fhulde growa Common cafe, All the Countrey thereabonrto pleafe. Yet though he might that warke fulfill, . . Tt might inno wife faffice his will , qe Wherefore he would fet npin hight, H f That Bridge fora wonderfull fighr , With Pinacles guilt shining asgoulde; _ A glorious thing for men to-beholde: Then he remembred of the newe,, How greater Jame fhuldehim purfue, Ifhe mought make that Bridge fo bright, ‘That it mought shine alfoby Nighte. And fo continue and not breake; Thanall the Londe of him would fpeake.OrRDINALL Burt in his minde ran many a doubt, How he meets that warkeabout 5 He crowed that Lampes with lights of fire, Shulde well performe his nice defire ‘Wherefore Lampes for that intent, He would ordaine fufficient + But then he fell in full greac dreade, How after the time that he were deade That lightto find Men would refule, And chaunge the Rent to fome other ule. Thea foe he well is him that witte, Inwhom be mought fet albhis eruft ; Atthe lafte he thought to make the light, For that Bridge ro fhine by nighte, With Carbancle Stones, to Make men wonder, With duble reflexion above and under: “Therinew thoughts troubled his Minde, ° Carbuncle Stones how hemought.find; And where to find wife men andtrewe, ‘Which would for his intent pucfue , In feeking all the Worlde about, Plenty of Garbuncles to find out; For this he tooke foe micle thought, Thar his fatt fiefh wafted nigh to nought : And where he trufted without delpaire, Of this Science to have been heire, ‘When the yeare was fully come and goe, His Crafte was loft, and thrift alfo; For when that he rooke up his Glaffe, There was no matter for Geld ne Braffe = Then he was angry and well neere wood, For he had wafted away his good : In this wife ended all his difporte, What thould’I more of him report. F2