BASILIUS VALENTINUS,

A

BENEDICTINE MONK,

OF

NATURAL & SUPERNATURAL

THINGS.

ALSO,

Of the first Tincture, Root, and Spirit of METALS and MINERALS, how the same are Conceived, Generated, Brought forth, Changed, and Augmented.

Whereunto is added, Frier Roger Bacon, of the Medicine or Tincture of Antimony; Mr. John Isaac Holland, his Work of Saturn, and ALEX. VAN SUCHTEN, of the Secrets of Antimony.

Translated out of High Dutch by DANIEL CABLE.

LONDON,

Printed, and are to be Sold by Moses Pitt at the White Hart in Little Britain, 1671.



BASILIUS VALENTINUS,

A

BENEDICTINE MONK,

OF

NATURAL & SUPERNATURAL

THINGS.

ALSO,

Of the first Tincture, Root, and Spirit of METALS and MINERALS, how the same are Conceived, Generated, Brought forth, Changed, and Augmented.

Translated out of High Dutch by DANIEL CABLE.

Whereunto is added

ALEX. Van SUCHTEN

OF THE

SECRETS of ANTIMONY.

Translated out of High Dutch by D. C. a Person of great Skill in Chymistry.

LONDON,

Printed, and are to be sold by Moses Pitt at the White Hart in Little Britain, 1670.



Basilius Valentinus,

OF

Natural and Supernatural Things.



CHAP. I.

Because I have at this present undertaken to write of the of the first Tincture, the Root of Metals and Minerals, and to inform you of the Spiritual Essence, how the Metals and Minerals are at first spiritually conceived and born corporally; it will be necessary first of all to utter, and to acquaint you by a speech, that all things consist of two parts, that is, Natural and Supernatural; what is visible, tangible, and hath form or shape, that is natural; but what is intactible, without form, and spiritual, that is supernatural, and must be apprehended and conceived by Faith; such is the Creation, and especially the Eternity of God without end, immensible and incomprehensible; for Nature cannot conceive nor apprehend it by its humane reason: This is supernatural, what Reason cannot apprehend, but must be conceived by Faith, this is a Divine matter, and belongs to Theology, which judgeth Souls. Moreover, there appertains to supernatural things, the Angels of the Lord, having clarified Bodies, doing that by the permission of their Creator, which is impossible for any other Creature to do, their Works being concealed from the Eyes of the World, and so likewise are the Works of the Infernal Spirits and Devils unknown, which they do by the permission of the most High God. But above all the great Works of God are found and acknowledged to be supernatural, not to be scann'd and comprehended by Humane Imaginations; such is in especial the great Grace and Mercy of God which he bestows upon Mankind out of his great Love, which indeed no man can apprehend or know, and other great and wonderful works which he hath manifested divers manner of wayes by Christ our Saviour and Redeemer, for the confirmation of his Omnipotence and Glory: As when he raised Lazarus from the dead, Jairus his Daughter, the Ruler of the Synagogue, and the Widows Son of Naim. He made the Dumb to speak, the Deaf to hear, and the Blind to see, all which are supernatural, and Magnalia Dei; so also was his Conception, Resurrection, Descension, and Ascension into Heaven, too deep and mysterious for Nature; all which is only to be obtained by Faith.

There belongs likewise to supernatural things, the taking of Enoch and Elias into Heaven, the divine rapture of St. Paul in the Spirit into the third Heaven. Moreover, many supernatural things are done by Imagination, Dreams, and Visions; many wonders are done by the Imagination, witness the speckled Sheep by the speckled Rods laid in their watring places. God warned the wise men of the East by an especial Dream not to return again to Herod; likewise their three Persons, their three Gifts, Presents, or Offerings, and the supernatural Star, have all their peculiar and mystical meaning.

Nor was that Dream which hapned to Pilates Wife natural, who unjustly adjudged our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to death. The Vision of the Angels which appeared to the Shepherds at the Birth of Christ, and to the Women at his Sepulchre, who sought his Body where they had laid it, cannot be accounted Natural.

There are many other supernatural things done at several times by the Prophets & Saints; so was the voice of the Ass speaking to Balaam, contrary to the common course of Nature; as also Joseph's Interpretation of Dreams. And so God by his Angels preserves us oftentimes from infinite Evils, and delivers us out of manifold Dangers, impossible for Nature to do.

All this & many others belong to Theology, and to Heaven, whereunto the Soul is to have regard. Now follows the supernatural things of the visible Works of God, as we see them in the Firmament; to wit, the Planets, Stars, and Elements, which are above our Reason, only their Course and Motion is observed by speculation and reckoning, which belongs to Astronomy; it is a visible but incomprehensible Being, performing its operation in a Magnetick way, out of which likewise divers admirable things are found and observed, which are altogether supernatural; understand it thus, that the Heaven operates in the Earth, and the Earth affords a correspondence with the Heavenly. For the Earth hath also its seven Planets, which are operated and bred by the seven Celestial, only by a spiritual Impression or Infusion, even as the Stars operate all Minerals. This is done incomprehensibly and spiritually, and therefore it is to be accounted supernatural, even as two Lovers, their persons are visible, but their Love one to the other is invisible: Humane Bodies are tangible and natural, but Love is invisible, spiritual, intangible and supernatural, comparable to a Magnetick Attraction only; for the invisible Love which is attracted unto it spiritually by the Imagination is, accomplish'd by the desires and fruition. In like manner when the Heaven hath a love to the Earth, and the Earth hath a Love, Inclination, and Affection towards Man, as the great World to the lesser, for the lesser World is taken out of the greater, and when the Earth by the desires of its invisible Imagination doth attract unto itself such a Love of the Heaven, there is thereby an Union of the Superiour and Inferiour, as Man and Wife are accounted one Body together, and after this Union the Earth is impregnated by the Infusion of the Heaven, and begins to conceive and bring forth a Birth sutable to the Infusion, and this Birth after its Conception is digested by the Elements, and brought to a perfect Ripeness and this is reckoned among the supernatural things; how the supernatural Essence performs its operation in the natural.

Among the supernatural things are likewise reckoned all Magical and Cabalistical Matters which depend thereon, arising out of the Light of true knowledge, not those which proceed from Superstition, Conjuration, or unlawful Exorcisme, such as the Sorcerers use; but I mean in this place such a Magick as the Wise men had that came out of the East, who by Revelation from God, and by true allowable Art judged rightly; or such an one, as those of old had before us, usual among the Egyptians and Arabians, before Writing was found, they noted, observed, and reserved by Signs, Characters and Hieroglyphicks. Such Blessings may be used, which Christ the Son of God used, as the Scripture saith; He took little Children, laid his hands upon them, and blessed them. But whatsoever is contrary to God and his Word, ought justly to be rejected, and not to be tollerated, because they are not Godly, but Diabolical. But those Supernatural things which oppose not God and his Holy Word, belong unto Magick, and do the Soul no prejudice.

As concerning Visions which Holy Men of God have often seen, it is reason they should be reckoned among those things which are not Natural; for whatsoever man speculates and comprehends by the Mind, is Supernatural; on the contrary, whatsoever he can take, see, and hold is Natural.

Let us consider the third part of Natural & Supernatural things in Physick, the Virtues and Powers of each; this Medicine of every thing must first be driven out of a visible, tangible, natural Body, and be brought into a spiritual, meliorated, supernatural operation, that the Spirit which at the first was infused and given to the Body to live, might be released, that it should operate and penetrate as a Spiritual Essence, and Fire, having its Vent-holes left that it might burn and have no opposition, which might suffocate, suppress, or hinder the burning Life; whereas otherwise, if the separation of the Soul and Spirit from the Body should not first be done, there could not succeed any operation either effectual, profitable, or necessary; for whatsoever is visible, to be felt, and inseparably in a Body, that is Natural and Corporal; but so soon as there is a separation, the living departs from the dead, gaining its perfect operation, and the natural Body being separated, the spiritual Essence is free to penetrate, becoming a spiritual and supernatural Medicine. In brief, all things (none excepted) which we can touch and handle, are natural, but they must be made supernatural, if you would prepare them for Physick; for the supernatural only hath a living power in it to operate, the natural hath only a dead tangible Form. For when Adam was made, he was dead, having no life of any virtue, but so soon as the operative quickning Spirit came to him, then he manifested his living virtue and power by supernatural admiration, so that in every thing there is the natural and supernatural united in one, and bound together in their habitation, that every thing might be perfect; for all created things in the world are some supernatural, only what concerns the Soul and spiritual matters, and some are natural and supernatural, with what concerns the Elements and Firmament, as likewise the Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals, which is known and found, when they are separated one from the other, that the Soul departs out of the Body, and the Spirit forsakes its Soul, leaving the Body an empty habitation.

Moreover, you must understand and consider, that the great and little World are made and formed of one first Matter, by an unsearchable Almighty Essence, at that time in the beginning, when the Spirit of God moved upon the Water, who was from Eternity without beginning. The great World, as Heaven and Earth, was first, then was Man, the Little World, taken out of the greater; the Water was separated from the Earth, the Water was the Matter whereon the everlasting Spirit of God moved; the Little World was formed of the noblest Earth, as its Quintessence, by the Aquosity which yet was in the Earth, and all was only Natural; but after the breathing in of the Divine heating Breath, immediately the Supernatural was added; so then the Natural and Supernatural were knit and united. The great World is perishable, yet there will be a New Earth or World; the Little World is Eternal, the Great, Created, Dissoluble world will again be brought to nothing, but the little world will be clarified by the Spirit of God, because he possesses it, making a Celestial clarified water out of the aforesaid Earthly water; then it will follow, that the first matter will be turned into the last, and the last matter will become the first. Now the reason why the great world is perishable, is this, that the Spirit of God hath not his dwelling or habitation in the great world, but in the little world; for Man is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, if he do not wilfully defile himself, adhering to the Hellish Fire, which makes a breach and difference. For he remaines in the little world, which he formed after his own similitude, and made him a consecrated Temple; otherwise there is every thing in the little world which is to be found in the great, as Heaven and Earth with the Elements, and what depends thereon, or appertains thereunto.

We find also that in the first Creation, which was performed of nothing, three things arose; to wit, a Soulish, Spiritual, Invisible Essence, which represented a Mercurial Water, a Sulphurous Vapour, and a Terrene Salt; these three gave a compleat and perfect, a tangible and formal Body to all things wherein especially all the four Elements are contained, as I have already mentioned in my Writing where I treat of the Microcosme.

But that I may yet give a little more information of Natural and Supernatural things, as well spiritual as corporal: We find that the Canaanitish Woman was cured of her Flux of Blood which held her twelve years, only by a bare touch, when she touched the Garment of the Son of God, her Disease being natural, but the Medicine or Cure was Supernatural, because by her Faith she gained help from the Lord Christ.

Likewise we have an excellent, high and supernatural Miracle in the three Children, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were cast into the fiery Furnace, by the Command of King Nebuchadnezzar, yet by God wonderfully delivered, and not consumed, Dan. 3.

So also the Confusion of Tongues, and Infusion of divers Speeches at the foolish structure of the Tower of Babel, which should have reached up to Heaven, is esteemed for a Supernatural Miracle. And so was that a Supernatural Sign, when the Children of Israel did lap water as Dogs do, when a small Number at Gods Command, fought against the Midianites, Judg. 7. 6. So the sending of the Dove by Noah out of the Ark, when she brought an Olive Branch in her Bill, a Sign of Mercy, and a Divine Supernatural Message.

When the Holy man of God Moses struck the Rock with his Rod, that the hard Rock yielded Water, is beyond humane Reason; so was the turning of the salt water into sweet and drinkable, supernatural. As also the dry passage of the Children of Israel through the Red Sea; and the Budding of Aarons Rod, are all supernatural. In brief, the Resurrection of Christ the Eternal Son of God out of the grave, for all the Tomb-stone, his appearing to the two men going to Emas, his revealing himself to his Disciples when the Door was lock'd, are all Divine and Supernatural. Divers Examples more might be recited out of Divine Writ, which for Brevities sake I omit.

Among Supernatural things are accounted all Mineral Signs, as the Appearance of Spirits, Representations, Pigmies appearing diversly and numerously, giving notice of good or bad Luck, Ruine or Riches; so also those Figures, Shapes, or other works found in the Ores of Metals, as of Men, Fishes, and other Creatures, so formed and represented by the imagination of the three first Principles, then ripened and fully digested by the Earth, and other Elements. Hereunto appertain the Monsters of the Earth, and such things as are found within the Earth at certain times of a wonderful form and shape, but not at all to be found when that time is past, yet appear again and are to be found at some other time.

Hereunto also belong all Visions and Appearances performed by Water, Glasses, Cristal, or other means, as also those done by Sigils and Characters, which yet are so various, some being only Natural, yet affording Supernatural appearances or sights; but the others which are performed by Conjurations, are neither Natural nor Supernatural, but Diabolical, belonging unto Sorcery, and are prohibited all good Christians; so likewise all those Means which oppose Holy Writ, Gods Word and Commandments, are to be rejected and refuted by true Natural Cabalists; I say this, because a certain distinction and sure order ought to be found of the Natural, Supernatural, Unnatural things.

In like manner there appertains unto Supernatural things, all the Water-Spirits, as the Syrens, Succubi, & other Water-Nymphs, with their Relations, as likewise the Terrestrial Spirits, and those which inhabit the Air, who sometimes are heard, seen, or perceived, sometimes foretelling Death or other Disasters, sometimes they discover by their Apparition Riches and good Fortune in certain places, and the Fiery Spirits appertain here also, which appear in a fiery shape, or like a burning Light; all these are Spirits having untangible Bodies, yet are they not such Spirits as the right Hellish Spirits, who hunt after mens Souls as an Eternal Jewel, even as the Infernal Lucifer, the Devil and his Dependents do, who were ejected with him; but these are such Spirits which are above Nature, set before Men for admiration, and are only maintained by the Elements, whereby they are nourished and fed; but when this Earthly world shall cease, they also shall decay and vanish with it, because they have no Souls to be saved. I will say no more hereof at present, but refer the opening of such Circumstances more at large to another opportunity, where I shall particularly treat of Visions and Spiritual Appearances, which are esteemed Unnatural by most part of the World, yet truly are Natural, but they are found to be Supernatural in their Operations and wonderful Qualities.

That I may further confirm my Assertion, I say likewise, that there are many things to be found in Physick, which yield and manifest their workings supernaturally in a Magnetical way, operating only by an attractive spiritual power which is attracted to it by the Air; for the Air is the Medium between the Physick and the Hurt or Distemper, even as the Magnet ever doth direct and turn it self towards its Polestar, though the star be many thousand Miles distant from it, yet the spiritual operation and sympathy between them is so prevalent, that it is attracted together at so vast a distance by the Medium or middle Band of the Air; but because this attractive power is only known unto people in general, or as a thing common, it is therefore become customary, and is so esteemed, there being no notice taken of any further Secret whence this operative Faculty hath its Source or Original: In like manner Hurts and Distempers may be healed and cured, though the Patient and Physitian be very far distant one from the other; not by Charmes, Exorcismes, or other unlawful prohibited means, which are opposite to God and Nature, but by such means wherein the attractive Magnetick Virtue lies to accomplish it. As when a wounded person goes a Journey, leaving the Weapon wherewith he was wounded, or else of his Bloud which issued out of the wound with his Physician, wherewith he proceeds rightly and by orderly means, as is usual in dressing a wound, without all doubt he shall be absolutely cured, this is no Witchcraft, but the cure is performed only by the attractive power of the Medicine, which is carried to the Sore by the means of the Air, wherewith it is mundified, that it may perform the Spiritual Operation.

Some will think these hard sayings, and impossible in Nature, and many will say it is contrary to Nature, whereby many will be excited to dispute it, and raise Arguments one opposite to the other, whether it be Natural or no, whether it be possible or no, or whether it be Sorcery: I will thus resolve them, that this Cure is natural, but as it operates it is supernatural & spiritual, because it is performed meerly by an attractive incomprehensible means, and that this manner of Cure is no Sorcery: I affirm it hereby, that it is not mixt or accompanied with any Sorcery, nor with any other unnatural Means, contrary to God the Creator, or his holy and saving Word. But it is only Natural, out of its supernatural, invisible, incomprehensible, spiritual, and attractive power, which received its Original from the Sydereal, and performs its Operation by the Elements.

Lastly, I likewise approve this Cure to be no Sorcery, because the Devil rather delights in all Mischief to Mankind, than to assist any manner of way for their benefit, which yet is impossible for him to do without Gods permission. Much more might be written of this Magnetick Form, but I chuse rather to be silent; referring it till I come to treat of the Natural Miracles of the World.

The grosser sort of foolish Wits, who imagine themselves to be wise Philosophers, and all others who are not in their perfect senses, know no difference in this case, but the wise and truly discreet well know how to distinguish betwixt that which is natural and that which is supernatural.

For do but observe this comparison, to be proved by a gross Example, how many Creatures are there which dye absolutely in the water, so that no life is left therein, but so soon as the pleasant Summer appears, the natural heat gives a new life, & the Body quite restored in the same substance as it was before in its living Motion; even as an Herb, which dies in the Winter, but in the Spring it manifests it self anew. The death of these things is to be esteemed natural, but the return of a new life in its knowledge is supernatural; but because we are accustomed to all these things, the least part of us consider what is worthy of further Meditation in this case, letting both natural and supernatural go away together.

Most people overpass, that natural custom which yet is supernatural, as also monstrous Births, and those that bring signs and marks with them into the world; which may all be natural, but manifest themselves supernaturally, by the imagination which caused them: These supernatural forms and customs, the Mother of the Child caused by intervening thoughts, which unexpectedly happened to her, as it were by accident: Even as we often see and find, that many Men naturally are born with some gestures, which he can never leave, though he endevour with all his might to do it. The natural gestures of these Men are natural, but the conception in the Womb which caused the imagination of these things is supernatural, and subject to what the Heaven imprints.

To conclude: I say, that none can defend the supernatural not to be true by good grounds and reasons, except he have learn'd to know the natural, which hath its original, and gained its shape from the supernatural; after he hath learned this, he may evidence it by sure proofs, that he will be conquerour over those, who will not believe what is supernatural; and he will convince the opinions of those who dispute of natural things, and yet know not the grounds, saving only a bare pretence, much talk, tedious and unprofitable Debates.



CHAP. II.

Of the first Tincture and Roots of Metals.

But now to come to my intent, and by Gods permission to accomplish the same. I undertake to certifie of the first Tincture, Root, and Generation of Metals and Minerals: Know that the first Tincture and Root of all Metals, is likewise a supernatural, flying, fiery Spirit; which preserves it self in the Air, seeking its habitation naturally in the Earth and Water, wherein it can rest and operate: This Spirit is found in all Metals, more abundant in other Metals than in Gold, because Gold, by reason of its well digested, ripened, and fixt body, is tight, close, and compact, and therefore no more can enter into its body than is just requisite; but the other Metals have not such fixt bodies, for their pores are open, and far extenuated, therefore the Tincture Spirit can the more abundantly pass thorough and possess them. But because the bodies of the other Metals are inconstant, the Tincture cannot remain with those inconstant bodies, but must depart. And whereas the Tincture of Gold is found in none more plentiful than in Mars and Venus, as Man and Wife, their bodies therefore are destroyed, and the tinging Spirit taken out of them, which makes Gold sanguin, being first opened and prepared, and by their food and drink it becomes volatile, wherefore this volatile Gold being satisfied with its food and drink, assumes its own bloud to it self, dries it up by its own internal heat, by the help and assistance of the vaporous fire, and there is a Conquest again, which is quite fix'd, makes the highest Constancy, that the Gold becomes an over-fix'd Medicine, by reason of abundance of Bloud it yields no Body, except another superfluous Body be again put to it, wherein the abounding fix'd bloud may disperse itself, this additional Metallick Body, by reason of the great heat of the fix'd Lions bloud, is penetrated as by fire, and purged from all impurity, and forthwith throughly digested to a perfect ripeness and fixedness: That first of all the Servant brings the Matter unto Riches, because the Master before could not spare any of his Cloaths to give away, seeing that Nature had lent and endowed him with one Noble Suit only; on the other side, the King, when he hath received his Aides and Contributions from his Subjects, can then distribute possessions, and permanent Liveries, that the Lord and Servant may remain both together; and do not think it strange, that the King needs to borrow of his Subjects, because their Bodies are unfix'd and inconstant, for they receive much, and yet can keep but little Credit: But if the King can participate thereof, he will the better overcome heat and Frost, than the Leprous Metals can; and henceforth by this Receipt he becomes particularly a Dominator and Conquerour of all other, with a great Victory and triumph of Riches and of Health to long Life. I hope you have from the beginning sufficiently understood concerning this Natural and Supernatural Advice, and the first tinging Root of Metals and Minerals, whereon the Corner-stone is placed, and where the true Rock is grounded in its kind, wherein Nature hath placed and buried her secret & deeply concealed Gifts; to wit, in the fiery tinged Spirits, which Colours they gained out of the starry Heaven by the operation of the Elements; and they can moreover tinge and fix that which before was not tinged and unfix'd, seeing that Luna wants the Robe of the Golden Crown, together with the fixedness, as likewise Saturn, Jupiter, and Mercury do; and although Mars and Venus need not this Rayment, but can communicate it to the other five, yet I say, that they can perform nothing to attain any thing with wealth without the Lion, because they are not sufficiently accomodated with a fixedness of their Mercury, and a gentleness of their Salt, except it be that the Lion overcome them, that they have triumphed on both parts, and gained a remarkable Melioration altogether; this Melioration lies concealed in their Signate star, or Magnet, out of which all Metals have themselves received their Gifts.

Now I will proceed, and particularly step to the Birth and Generation, how the or Archaeus manifests its power; pouring it forth, and daily reveales it, whereby all Metallick and Mineral Forms are visibly proposed, and made formal, tangible, and corporal by the Mineral, intangible, flying, fiery Spirits: Understand therefore further, and observe with diligence and care, that by forgetfulness you let not that which is weighty pass away, nor yet neglect or overlook that which is most profitable, and on the contrary observe the bare words at length, passing over the Truth; for what I write herein, is undoubtedly held and esteemed that the highest is undoubtedly by many esteemed for the lowest, and the lowest for the highest Mystery, and is so to be reputed.

Now you must first know, that all Metals and Minerals of the Earth have one only Matter and Mother, whereby in general they all received Conception, gaining a compleat and corporal Birth. This Matter which comes out of the Center, first of all divides it self into three parts, to procure one corporal or certain form of each Metal. These three parts are only fed in the Earth by the Elements, out of their Bodies, and nourish'd till they be perfect. But the Matter which comes out of the Center is imagined by the Stars, operated by the Elements, and formed by the Earth: It is a Matter to be known, and the true Mother of Metals and Minerals: It is such a Matter and Mother, whereof Man himself is conceived, born, nourish'd, and made corporal: It may be compared to the middle World, for what is in the great World is in the little World, and what is in the little World is also in the greater; and what is jointly in the great and little World is likewise found in the middle World, which unites and conjoins the great and little world; it is a Soul which unites and copulates the Spirit with the Body. This Soul is compared unto water, and it is a right true water, but not so that it wets as other water doth, but it is a Celestial water, dry, found in a Metallick Liquorish substance; it is a Soulish water, which loves all Spirits, and unites them with their Bodies, conducting them to a compleat Life; therefore it is reasonably found out, and evidently proved, that Water is the Mocker of all Metals, which are heated by the warm aerial Fire, or Spirit of Sulphur, which by its digestion makes the Earthly Body lively, wherein the Salt is evidently found, which preserves from putrefaction so that nothing might be consumed by Corruption. At the beginning and birth Quick-silver is first operated, which stands yet open with a subtile coagulation, because little Salt is imparted to it, whereby he manifests a more spiritual than corporal Body; but all the other Metals which follow out of its Essence, and have more Salt, whereby they become corporal, do all follow this; so that I now begin first with the Spirit of Mercury.



CHAP. III.

Of the Spirit of Mercury.

Though I have a peculiar Stile in writing, which will seem strange unto many, causing strange Thoughts and Fancies in their Brains, yet there is reason enough for my so doing; I say enough, that I may remain by my own experience, not esteeming much of others prating, because it is concealed in my knowledge, Seeing having alwaies the preheminence before Hearing, and Reason hath the praise before Folly; Wherefore I now say, that all visible, tangible things are made of the Spirit of Mercury, which excels all earthly things of the whole world, all things being made out of it, having their Off-spring only from it; for all is found therein which can perform all whatsoever the Artist desires to find; It is the beginning to operate Metals, when it is become a spiritual Essence, which is meer Air flying to and fro without wings; it is a moving wind, which after it is expelled its dwelling by Vulcan, it is driven into its Chaos, where it again enters, and resolves it self into the Elements, where it is elevated and attracted by the Sydereal Stars after a Magnetical manner unto themselves, out of love, whence he proceeded before, and was operated, because it affects its like again, and attracts it to it. But if this Spirit of Mercury can be caught, and made corporal, it resolves into a Body, and becomes a pure, clear, transparent water, which is the true spiritual water, and the first Mercurial Root of the Minerals and Metals, spiritual, intangible, incombustible, without any mixture of earthly Aquosity; it is that Celestial water, whereof very much hath been written; for by this Spirit of Mercury all Metals, may if need require, be broken, opened, and resolved into their first Matter, without Corrosive; it renews the age of Man or Beast, even as the Eagles; it consumes all evil, and conducts a long Age to long Life. This Spirit of Mercury is the Master-Key of my Second Key, whereof I wrote in the beginning; wherefore I will call; Come ye Blessed of the Lord, be anointed, and refreshed with water, and embalm your Bodies, that they may not putrefie or stink; for this Celestial Water is the beginning, the Oyl, and the means, seeing it burns not, because it is made of a spiritual Sulphur, the Salt Balsam is corporal, which is united with the Water by the Oyl, whereof I will afterwards treat more at large, when I shall write of them, and mention them.

And that I may further declare what is the Essence, Matter and Form of the Spirit of Mercury, I say, that its Essence is blessed, its Matter spiritual and its form earthly, which yet must be understood by an incomprehensible way; these are indeed harsh Expressions, many will think, thy Proposals are all vain, strange Effusions, raising wonderful Imaginations, and true it is that they are strange, and require strange people to understand these Sayings; it is not written for Peasants, how they should grease Cart-wheels, nor is it written unto those who have no knowledge of the Art, though they be never so learned, or think themselves so; for I only account them Learned, who next unto Gods Word, learn to know Earthly things, which must be pondered and judged by the Understanding, founded upon a true Knowledge, to distinguish Light from Darkness, who chuse that which is good, and reject the evil.

It is needless for you to know what the beginning of this Spirit of Mercury requires, because it can in no wise help nor advantage you, only take notice of this, that its beginning is supernatural, out of the Celestial, Sydereal and Elementary, bestowed on it from the beginning of the first Creation, that it may enter further into an Earthly Substance. But because this is necessary which hath been declared to you, leave the Celestial to the Soul, apprehend it by Faith, and let the Sydereal likewise alone, because these Sydereal Impressions are invisible and intangible, the Elements have already brought forth the Spirit perfect into the world by the Nutriment, therefore let that alone likewise; for man cannot make the Elements, but only the Creator, and remain by thy made Spirit which is already formal and unformal, tangible and intangible, and yet is presented visibly. So have you enough of the first Matter, out of which all Metals and Minerals grow, and is one only thing, and such a matter which unites it self with the Sulphur in the following Chapter, and enters into a Coagulation with the Salt of the fifth Chapter, that it may be one Body, and a perfect Medicine of all Metals, not only to bring forth in the Earth at the beginning, as in the great World, but also by help of the vaporous Body to transmute and change, together with the augmentation in the lesser World: Let not this seem strange to you, seeing the Most High hath permitted, and Nature undertaken it.

Many will not believe this, esteeming it impossible, despise and vilifie these Mysteries, which they understand not in the least, they may remain Fools and Idiots till an illumination follows, which cannot be without Gods Will; but remains till the time predestinate. But wise and discreet, men who have truly shed the sweat of their Brows, will be my sufficient witnesses, and confirm the Truth, and indeed believe and hold for a truth all that which I write in this case, as true as Heaven and Hell are preordained, and proposed as Rewards of good and evil to the Elect and Reprobate. Now I write not only with my hands, but my Mind, Will and heart constrain me to it: Those who are highly conceited, illuminated, and world-wise, hate, envy, scandalize, defame and persecute this Mystery to the utmost Rind, or innermost Kernel, which hath its beginning out of the Center; but I know assuredly, there will come a time, when my Marrow is wasted, and my Bones dried up, that some will take my part heartily, after I am in the Pit; and if God would permit it, they would willingly raise me from the dead; but that cannot be; wherefore I have left them my Writings, that their Faith and Hope may have a Seal of Certainty and Truth, to testifie of me what my last Will and Testament was, which I ordained for the poor, and all the Lovers of Mysteries, though it did not behove me to have wrote so much, yet I could not refrain without prejudice to my Soul, but to drive a Light or Flash through a Cloud, that the Day might be observed, and the dark Night, thick and gloomy, rainy Weather expelled.

Now how the Archaeus operates further by the Spirit of Mercury in the Earth, or Veins of the Earth, take this Advice, that after the spiritual Seed is formed by the impression of the Stars from above, and fed by the Elements, it is a Seed, and turns it self into a Mercurial Water, as first of all the great World was made of nothing, for when the Spirit moved upon the Water, the Celestial Heat must needs raise a Life in the cold watrish and earthly Creatures; in the great World it was Gods Power, and the Operation of the Celestial Lights; in the little World it is likewise Gods Power, and the Operation to work into the Earth by his Divine and Holy Breath. Moreover the Almighty gave and Ordained means to accomplish it, that one Creature had obtained power to operate in the other, and the one to help and assist the other, to perform and fulfil all the Works of the Lord; and so an influence was permitted the Earth to bring forth by the Lights of Heaven, as also an internal Heat, to warm and digest that which was too cold for the Earth, by reason of its humidity, as unto every Creature a peculiar fashion according to its kind; so that a subtile sulphurous Vapour, is stired up by the Starry Heaven, not the common, but another more clarified and pure Vapour, distinct from others, which unites it self with the Mercurial Substance; by whose warm property, in process of time, the superfluous Moisture is dryed up, and then when the foulish property comes to it, which gives a preservation to the Body and Balsam, operating first into the Earth by a spiritual and sydereal influence, then are Metals generated of it, as it pleaseth the Mixture of the three Principles, the Body being formed according as it assumes unto it the greatest part of those three. But if the Spirit of Mercury be intended and qualified from above upon Animals, it becomes an Animal Substance; if it goes upon Vegetables by order, it becomes a Vegetable Work; but if, by reason of its infused nature, it fall on Minerals, it becomes Minerals and Metals, yet each one hath its distinction as they are wrought, the Animals for themselves, the Vegetables, on another manner and form by themselves, and so likewise the Minerals, each one a several way, whereof to write particularly would be too tedious, and yield large and various Narrations.

Many one may here demand and not without cause, how such a Spirit of Mercury may be procured, how to be made, and after what manner it is to be prepared to expel Diseases, and change all the kinds of the meaner and baser Metals, as if they were born in a little world, by transmutation and augmentation of their Seed; many expect this with impatience. I answer without concealing any thing, but will truly discover as much as is permitted me by Gods Command, in manner and form following.

In the Name of the Lord, Take a Red Quick-silver Ore which is like unto Sinople (or Vermilion) and the best Gold Ore you can get; grind of each a like quantity both together, before they partake of any fire, poure an Oyl of Mercury, upon it made per se, of common, purified and sublimed Quicksilver, set it a month to digest, you have an Extract rather Celestial than Terrestrial; distil this Extract gently, as in Balneum Mariae, the Flegme ascends over, the Oyl remaining at bottom, being heavy, which in a moment receives all Metals into it poure thrice as much Spirit of Wine to it, circulate it in a Pellican, till it be as red as Bloud, and become so sweet that nothing may compare with it; decant the Spirit of Wine to a Liquidness, poure fresh Spirit of Wine upon it, this reiterate so often, till the Matter be exceeding sweet, and transparent red as a a Ruby, then put all together, poure that which ascended over upon white calcined Tartar, and distil it strongly in Ashes, the Spirit of Wine remains behind with the Tartar, but the Spirit of Mercury ascends over. If this Spirit of Mercury be mixt with the Spirit of Sulphur, together with its Salt, and so brought over jointly together, that they can never be separated, you have such a work which if it come over, and it get its ferment with Gold by solution according to a just measure and time appointed, and be brought to a perfect ripeness, unto the Plusquam perfection, nothing may compare therewith, for prevention of Diseases, and poverty, and to a rich excessive recreation of the Body and Goods. This is the way to obtain the Spirit of Mercury, which I have revealed as far as it is permitted me to do, by the Supremest Emperour; the Manual Operations are found in the Work which I have revealed; you must wisely observe, that you may not endure a Bath in Hell for me, by my true admonition to thee, forasmuch as a true opening of the Door which leads to the Royal Palace, is performed but with one Key, which cures all Diseases, be it Dropsie, Consumption, Gout, Stone, Falling Sickness, Apoplexy, Leprosie, or howsoever called in general: This Medicine likewise cures all kinds of the French Pox, and all old Sores of long standing, be it Wolf, Noli me tangere, Tetter, Ring-worm, Cancer, Fistula, and corroding hollow Sores; all which I have declared, and concealed nothing. Last of all, observe, that you do not discover too much, or no more, because all Art hath its Original or Source out of the Spirit of Mercury, which is refreshed and raised to Life by the spiritual Sulphur, that it becomes Celestial, & with and by the Salt they are made corporal and formal; but the beginning of the Soul, of the Spirit, and of the Body, let it be and remain a Magnet, even as it is, and can be acknowledged to be nothing else. This is the summe in brief, that without the Spirit of Mercury, which is the only true Key, you can never make Corporal Gold potable, nor the Philosophers Stone. Let it remain by this Conclusion, be silent; for I my self will at present say no more, because Silence is enjoyned thee and me by the orderly Judge, recommending the Execution and further Search thereof to another, who hath not as yet reduced the Matter into a right Order.



CHAP. IV.

Of the Spirit of Copper.

The Star of Venus is very difficult, and not well to be calculated, as all Mathematicians and Astronomers will bear me witness; for its course is found to be otherwise than that of the other six Planets, and therefore its Birth is otherwise; for the Birth of Venus possesses the First Table, after Mercury, as for what concerns the Generation of Metals. Mercury makes active, but Venus provokes, giving Lust and Desire, together with the Beauty which gave occasion thereunto; though I am accounted no Astronomer, nor do I give my self out for one, who knows to calculate the Course of the Heavens; for I should spend my time in my Cell in Prayer, but that the spare hours after my Devotion is ended, may not be spent in vain, I have ordered and proposed it as my aim and intent to exercise my self, and to spend those hours in the knowledge of Natural things. So likewise it is not well to be reckoned what arises, grows or proceeds from Venus or whence she arose, grew, or proceeded; for she is superfluously cloathed more than she needs, and yet must want that which she needs most of all in her Constancy.

But you must be advertised, that Venus is cloathed with a Celestial sulphur which far surpasses the brightness of the Sun; for there is more and more abundant Sulphur in her than in Gold; but it requires a knowledge what the Matter of that Gold Sulphur may be, which is, and rules so plentifully in Copper, and whereof I make so great a Cry: know then that it is likewise a flying very hot Spirit, which can pass through and penetrate, as also ripen and digest all things, as the imperfect Metals into perfect, which the inexpert will not believe. And here a Question presents it self at hand; How the Spirit of Copper can make other imperfect Metals perfect, and make them ripe, whereas in its own Body it is imperfect and inconstant? For Answer, I say as I have often said, that this Spirit cannot possess or inhabit a permanent Body in Copper; for when the habitation is burnt by Fire, the Spirit goes away with it, and must with impatience leave its Lodging, for it dwells therein as a Sojourner; but it hath protection in the permanent fix'd Body of Gold, whence no man can expel it, without the Warrant of an especial Judge; for it is put into the inheritance as an Heir, and taken Root by her permanent Body, that she cannot easily be expelled. The Tincture which Venus hath obtained, is in like manner found in Mars, more powerful, high and Noble; for Mars is the Man, and Venus the Woman, which I speak more of, seeing I write of them. This Tincture is delivered in Verdigreece, and likewise it is found in Vitriol, as in a Mineral whereof a peculiar Book might be wrote. In all these things a combustible Sulphur is found, and yet a Sulphur which is incombustible, this is a strange thing, one is a white Sulphur, the other is red in the operative generation; but the true Sulphur is incombustible, for it is a pure true Spirit, whereof an incombustible Oil is prepared, and it is the same Sulphur which is made out of one Root from the Gold-Sulphur.

I open many Mysteries, which ought not to be; but what should I do? to conceal all is not answerable, but a measure is good in all things, as you may observe in my last Advice of protestation; forget not my desire therein.

This Sulphur may well be called the Sulphur of the Wise; for all Wisdom is found therein, unto the Mercurial Spirit; which excels it, which together with the Salt of Mars must be put together by a spiritual Conjunction, that three may come into one understanding, and be advanced to equal operations. This spiritual Sulphur proceeds in the same manner and form out of the upper Region, as doth the Spirit of Mercury, but in another manner and kind, whereby the Stars manifest a separation in fix'd and unfix'd, in colour'd and uncolour'd things.

The Tincture consists only in the Spirit of Copper, and most of all in that of his Bed-fellow; it is a meer Vapour, stinking and ill-sented in its beginning; this Mist must be dissolved in the manner of a Liquor, that the stinking, incombustible Oil may be prepared thereof; but yet it must have and take its beginning out of Mars; this Oil unites freely with the Spirit of Mercury, assuming all Metallick Bodies speedily unto them, if they be first prepared in all points as I have advised in my Keys.

I observe not the Order of the Planets, and not without just grounds; for I observe the order of their Birth, by which I am directed; for because Venus hath much Sulphur, she is sooner digested and ripened together with Mars, before other Metals; but because unconstant Mercury shewed them both too little assistance, therefore no room is left him to work harder, by reason of the superfluous Sulphur, so that they could obtain no melioration of their unfixt Bodies. Now I will reveal a Secret unto thee, that Gold, Copper, and Iron have one Sulphur, one Tincture, and one Matter of their Colour; this Matter of the Tincture is a Spirit, a Mist and Fume; as aforesaid, which can penetrate and pass through all Bodies, if you can take it, and acuate it by the Spirit which is in the Salt of Mars, and then conjoin the Spirit of Mercury therewith in a just weight, purging them from all impurity, that they be pleasant and well sented, without all Corrosives, you have then such a Medicine, whereunto none in the world may compare, being fermented with the bright shining Sun, you have made an entrance penetrating to work, and to transmute all Metals.

O Eternal Wisdom from the beginning! how shall we thank thee for such great Mysteries, which the Children of Men do no wayes regard, but are despised by the greater number, to know what thou hast concealed in Nature, which they see before their Eyes, and know it not; they have it in their Hands, and comprehend it not; they deal with it, and know not what they have, nor what they do, because the Internal is concealed. I will yet reveal this unto thee in truth, and by the Love of God, that the root of the Philosophical Sulphur, which is a Celestial Spirit, is found with the root of the spiritual supernatural Mercury, as also the beginning of the spiritual Salt, are in one, and found in one Matter, out of which the Stone is made, which was before me, and not in many things, though all Philosophers speak as if the Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt were each one a part by themselves and distinct, that the Mercury is found in one, the Sulphur in another, and the Salt in a third; yet I tell you, this is only to be understood of their superfluity, which is found to abound most in each, and may be used and prepared divers ways particularly with profit, both for Physick and transmutation of Metals; but the Universal, which is the supreamest Treasure of Earthly Wisdom, and of all the three Principles, is one only thing, and is founded and extracted out of one only thing, which can make all Metals into one, it is the true Spirit of Mercury, and Soul of Sulphur, together with the spiritual Salt, united together, inclosed under one Heaven, and dwelling in one Body, it is the Dragon and the Eagle, the King and the Lion, the Spirit and the Body, which must tinge the Body of Gold to a Medicine, that it may gain power plentifully to tinge his other Companions.

O thou blessed Medicine given by God thy Creator! O thou Celestial Magnet of great attractive Love! O thou valid substance of Metals, how great is thy power, how uninventive is thy virtue, how durable is thy constancy? happy is that man on Earth who knows thy Light in truth, which all the world takes no notice of; he shall not see poverty, no Disease shall touch him, nor no sickness hurt him, till the appointed time of death, and till the last hour predestinated for him by his Heavenly King. It is impossible for all the tongues of Men to utter the Wisdom which is laid in this Treasure of the Fountain, all Orators must be silent and ashamed at it, yea terrified and not able to speak a word, when they shall behold and discern this supernatural Glory, and I my self am afraid when I consider that I have discovered too much. But I hope to prevail with God by Prayer, that he will not charge it on me as a deadly Sin, because I began the Work in his Fear, obtained it by his Grace, and revealed it for his Glory.

O thou holy everlasting Trinity! I praise, honour, and magnifie thee with Heart and Mouth, that thou hast revealed unto me the great wisdom of this earthly World, next unto thy Divine Word, whereby I have known thy Almighty Power, and supernatural Wonders, which Man will not discern; I heartily beseech thee to give me more understanding and wisdom, that I may bestow the use and profit thereof with a continual Sacrifice of Praise before thee, unto the Christian-like Love of my Neighbour, and to my own welfare both spiritual and corporal, in power and virtue, that thy Name may be made glorious, honoured, and praised, for all thy works in Heaven and Earth; and that my Enemies may know, that thou art the Lord full of eternal Wonders, that they may repent and be converted, and not be drowned in the falshood of Darkness. God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost help me, and all of us, from his heavenly Throne, exalted above all Glory, Might, and Majesty, whose Wisdom hath neither beginning nor end, and before whom all Celestial, Earthly, and Hellish Creatures must tremble with fear, to him be Glory forever, Amen.

O Seraphin! O Cherubin! how great are thy Wonders and Actions, look graciously upon thy servant, and be entreated to be pacified that he hath manifested this.

The Reader must moreover know concerning the Generation of Copper, and observe, that it is generated of much Sulphur, but its Mercury and Salt are in an equality, for there is found to be no more or less of the one than of the other, seeing then that the Sulphur in quantity excels the Mercury and the Salt, thence arises a great coloured redness, which possesses the Metal, that the Mercury cannot perform its fixation, that a fixt Body should be generated thereof. Observe and understand it so of Copper, that the form of Venus Body is so stated as that of a Tree, which abounds in Rosen, as the Larch Tree, the Firr, the Pine, Deal Tree, and other sorts of Trees more, the Rosen of the Tree is its Sulphur, which it evacuates at sometimes by reason of its superfluity, for it cannot bear it all; such a Tree which is tinged with abundance of fatness, by the digestion of Nature and the Elements, burns quickly and freely, and is not ponderous, nor so durable as is the Oak, or other hard wood which is close and compact, whose Pores are not so open, as those sorts of light wood, and wherein the Sulphur doth not so predominate, but the Oak hath therefore the more Mercury, and a better Salt than the Pine, Firr, and Deal trees have, and such wood doth not float so well above the water, as the Deal, being bound & closed up compactly, so that the Air is easily prevented in bearing it up. So is it to be observed of Metals, and especially of Gold, which by reason of its abundant, fixt, digested and ripe Mercury, hath a very close, fast and compact, fixt and invincible Body, which neither Fire nor Water, Air, nor any Corruption of the Earth can prejudice, that the consuming power of the Elements can do them no harm; this fixedness & close compacted Conjunction gives evidence of its natural ponderosity, which cannot be evidenced in other Metals, which is to be observed, not only by weighing it in the scales, but likewise you will find it thus: if you lay but a scruple of pure Gold upon a hundred weight of Quicksilver, it immediately sinks to the bottom, whereas all other Metals being laid upon Quicksilver in like manner, float on the top of it, and sink not to the bottom, because they are more open, that the Air or Wind can penetrate them and bear them up.

Now what further concerns the Spirit of Venus or Copper in Physick, you must last of all take notice and observe, that it is throughout in its virtue and power discerned to be very wholsom and beneficial, not only that Spirit which lies in the first Ens, but also that very Spirit which is found in the last Matter, its virtue, power and operation is, that it is preferred before all other Medicines in the Rising of the Matrix: It's like is not yet found particularly against the Falling Sickness. This Spirit hath also received an especial gift to dry the Dropsie up; it preserves the Bloud from putrefaction, digests all which is adverse to the Stomach, breaks the Stone, of what kind soever it be. Externally in Wounds, this Spirit lays a ground to heal: Noli me tangere and all other Sores cannot defend themselves, nor their ill Qualities, but this Spirit doth assault them, and prepares a good ground for their Cure; externally it mundifies and searches out that whereby the Medicine may operate, fasten, and make a beginning of the Cure. Internally this Spirit penetrates through & through, searching out all that is evil in the Body; even as doth the noblest Vulnerary potion; No Imposthume can withstand this Spirit, but is reformed by it. I say briefly, observe the Spirit of Venus very well, it will manifest it self to admiration both internally and externally, that many will esteem it to be incredible & supernatural. Last of all, you must understand that this Spirit of Copper is a fiery Spirit, penetrating, searching and consuming all evil Humours, and superfluous Flegme in Man and Metals, and may in reason be accounted the Crown of Medicines; it is very fiery and sharp, incombustible, but spiritual and unformal, and therefore as a Spirit it can particularly help to make unformal things fiery, digest and ripen them; and if you are a true Naturalist, I recommend this Spirit unto thee; it will not fail thee in the least, in any necessity of Health or Wealth, in case you observe it rightly, and execute according to Justice. I hope my Call and Request will at last take place, and have a hearing with those who regard Nature, and have an earnest and longing desire to search out, and learn, whereby they may whet their Wits, open their Eyes, and let their Ears hear, and learn such a thing out of my Advice, which was never taken notice of, or learn'd before, and is to be found in this Spirit of Copper, internal and external. He that doth not observe, or truly understand my Writings, will not fathom many Secrets, nor search out to purpose and in truth, nor learn to advantage without me, therefore no Man can direct me, as concerning the Spirit of Copper, except he hath beforehand inverted and turned the Copper inside outwards, and truly learned all the Mysteries of its internal Virtues, as I have done, if he can find out any thing better, which I know not, I earnestly desire him not to conceal any thing, so shall his instruction be well rewarded, with a thousand-fold advantage, and recommend you herewith to the Highest Creator.

Vain Reason cannot alwayes apprehend Each matter which Venus can bring to an end: No man can find it presently in sence, Vain Reason banns it far away from thence; Such a Spirit only can all things speed, So that Mercury be joyn'd with it indeed.



CHAP. V.

Of the Spirit and Tincture of Mars.

Mars and Venus have a Spirit and Tincture as well as Gold and other Metals, be that Spirit which is in each Metal never so mean and little. It is undeniable and known to all, that many men have many minds, though all men originally are of one first Matter, born and produced from one Seed; yet have they divers different Minds, because the Stars have so operated them, and not without cause; for the influences of the great World operates the next to it in the little World; for all Opinions, Natures and Thoughts, together with the whole complection of Man proceed alone from one Influence of the Stars, manifesting themselves according to the Course of the Planets and Stars, so that nothing can prevent, nor can such Influences hinder it, when the Birth hath attained to the end of its perfection.

As a man is naturally inclined to study; one delights in Divinity, another in the study of the Laws, a third in Physick, a fourth will be a Philosopher; moreover there are many Wits who are naturally inclined to the Mechanicks; as the one is a Painter, another a Goldsmith; the one a Shoomaker, the other a Taylor, a Carver, and so forth, divers and innumerable; all this happens by the Stars influence, whereby the Imagination is supernaturally founded & fortified, and whereupon it is resolved to rest; as it is found, that what a man hath once conceived in his Mind, and framed a foundation thereof, none can divert him from a constant resolution and relying thereon, except Death, which at last concludes all. So is it to be understood of Alchymists, who are set upon the search of Natures Secrets, they intend not to cease, till they have discover'd Nature, absolved it quite, and brought all to an end, which cannot well be done.

Even so is it to be understood of Metals, according as the Influence and Imagination is from above, so is the Form; and although the Metals be called Metals in general, and are such, yet you have understood by the various minds of men, which yet proceed from one Matter, that there may be manifold and divers Metals, one hot and dry, another cold and moist, a third assuming a mixt Nature and Complection to it self. Therefore the Metal of Mars being ordained in its degree by a gross Salt before others in the greatest quantity, is found to have the hardest, ungentle, strongest, and grossest Body, which Nature appropriated and granted to it, it hath the least portion of Mercury, but more of Sulphur, and most of Salt, hence, and from such a mixture or composition is its corporal essence descended, and born into the world by help of the Elements. Its Spirit is like to the other Spirits in operation, but if you can know the right and true Spirit of Mars, I tell you truly, and in true Wisdom, that one grain of its Spirit or Quintessence drunk with the Spirit of Wine, strengthens the Heart, Courage, and Senses, so that you shall fear no Foes; it raises up in him the Courage of a Lion, and provokes a desire to hunt and fight at Venus sports. When the Conjunction of Mars and Venus are rightly placed in a certain Constellation, they bring Fortune and Victory in Love and Affection, in Battel and joy, remaining in unity though the whole World should be against them: But because I am an Ecclesiastick under Church Government, and dedicated my Soul to God, without provocation of humane desires, and lusts of the Flesh, for they lead a direct way to Hell without leave; but Gods Commands, Fear, and a rejection of Mans Will, which are tollerated by his Commands, prepare a way to Heaven, if they continue in the true calling upon, and in the true and right Faith of the only Throne of Grace, Mediator and Patron Jesus Christ our Saviour. All Martial Diseases are expell'd, cured, and healed in an admirable manner by this Spirit; such as are the Bloody Flux, the Disease or Menstruous Fluxes of Women, both white and red, and all other Fluxes of the Belly, and open Sores in the Legs, or any part of the Body, together with all those Diseases, both internal and external, howsoever they are called, which bloody Mars hath caused, which I omit to nominate particularly, being well known unto the discreet Physician what Diseases are subject to the jurisdiction of Mars. If the Spirit of Iron be truly known, it hath a secret affinity with the Spirit of Venus, so that both may be conjoined in one, both becoming one only matter, of a like operation, form, substance and being, healing and expelling the self-same Diseases, as also to bring the particulars of the Metals into a change with profit, praise, and excess. But properly Mars must be observed thus with its virtues, that in his Corporal form he only hath an earthly Body, which may be used in many things, for to stanch Bloud, externally in Wounds, to graduate Luna, internally to stop or bind the Body, which yet is not good at all times, and may be used both internally & externally in mans Body, as likewise in Metallick affairs; because without the true known means, which Nature hath in her secret Closet, much profit cannot be gotten per se.

One thing more I must at present propose, that the Magnet and true Iron perform almost a like benefit in Corporal Distempers, having almost one kind of Nature in and with them, as it is with it in the Celestial, spiritual, and Elementary Intellect, between the Body, Soul, and the Chaos, out of which the Soul and Spirit went, the Body at last was found out of the Composition.

How shall we now do? the gross dull-witted Lads will not apprehend it, the middle sort of Wits will take no notice of what I write, and the supernatural wits will descant too much upon it; I must find out a remedy, and would willingly preserve all these over-wise-people to be my Friends still. I will now teach, instruct, and presently inform you, seeing that the Argument it self declares and pronounces its definitive sentence, therefore the resolution lies open, and can be declared and resolved, reserved nor directed to any other sentence of the understanding, further than for it self.

Last of all, reserve this hereupon in this Chapter, that there can be no House kept to stand in unity between the Married Couple, if the one of them turn his Coach and drive to the East, and the other towards the West, for they are not equal, so that they cannot draw the Coach together in an equal weight, whereby there arises a great dissention and hinderance, in obtaining that which was intended: but if true Married People will carry on their House-keeping with a right subsistance, they must be of one spirit, mind, judgment and virtue, to accomplish all whatsoever is in their heart and mind, and that the one operate into the other, if their Love and Truth shall be permanent; for want of one of these things, the three principles cannot be truly together; for the Mercury is banisht, and too little by reason of the firmness and constancy; the Sulphur is too little, it cannot warm the Body of Love, because it is very much extinct; the Salt likewise hath not its right, convenient, natural kind, but is too hard and too much, seeing it makes a hard coagulation, is sharp and biting, because it doth not manifest it self in truth and constancy. Even so it goes now in the World, which goes astray, and is pregnant with such Vices, for the constancy is but small, the Love little, and Truth as little.

I hope you will take this Philosophical Example in good part, because Syrach doth both praise and dispraise the goodness, truth, and wickedness of a false Woman, and both after a different manner; and herewith I bid Mars Farewell, saying, that no man knows how to distinguish the Sentence of one, much less of all things, but he who hath in this point taken notice of them, learned and experimented their Nature and Properties, and truly known and discovered them. God our Heavenly Father, the Everlasting Power, proceeding from all beginning, separate us so in the Form, that the terrestrial corruptible Body may again attain unto, contain, and receive the Celestial, Spiritual and Incorruptible Revelation. Amen.

Maist thou not know me alone indeed, And procure a pure help for me in need; Resolve then, and hear what I do speak or say, So shalt thou find what I can do for aye.



CHAP. VI.

Of the Spirit of Gold.

The Clearness of Heaven hath now commanded me to govern my Pen, to reveal a matter of valour and of permanency; for the Sun is a burning and consuming Fire, hot and dry, wherein is concealed the right and true virtue of all Natural things; this virtue of the Sun worketh Understanding, Riches, and Health. My Mind is very much grieved, and my Spirit is terrified within it self to discover it publickly, which was not publish'd in common before, and to make it vocal, which was concealed in the deep with great secresie. But if I consider in my self, and enter into my Conscience, I could find no alteration, nor catch at any thing to disturb my mind, or bring it to another resolution, which might cause many Obstructions: Yet will I speak with discretion, and write understanding, that no evil with may follow, but rather that I may gain a grateful profit, which I have pourtrayed after the manner and occasion, as the Philosophers before me have done.

Mark now, give your Mind perfect Thoughts, refrain all strange matters, which are not serviceable to your speculation of Philosophy, but rather cause a ruine of that benefit, which you pursued with so much diligence; and know if you have a hearty desire and strong affection to gain the Golden Magnet, that in the first place your prayer be truly directed to God, in true Knowledge, Sorrow, Repentance, and true Humility, to know and learn the three distinct Worlds which are subject to Humane Reason; as, there is the Super-celestial World, wherein the right immortal Soul hath its seat and residence, together with its first coming, and is according to Gods Creation the first moveable Sense, or the first moving sensible Soul, which hath operated the Natural Life from a Supernatural Essence; this Soul and Spirit is at first the Root and Fountain, the first Creature which arose to a Life, and the first Mover, whereof there hath been so much Disputing among the Learned.

Now take notice of the second Celestial World, and observe it diligently, for therein the Planets rule, and all the Stars of Heaven have their course, virtue and power in this Heaven, performing that Service therein whereunto they are by God ordained, and in this service they operate the Minerals and Metals by their Spirit.

Go now out of these 2 distinct Worlds into the third, wherein is contained and found what the other two have wrought, to wit, the Super-celestial and the Celestial worlds; out of the Super-celestial arises the Fountain of Life, and of the Soul; out of the other Celestial world the light of the Spirit; and out of the third or Elementary world, the invincible Celestial Fire, which yet may be felt, out of which, that which is tangible is digested; these three Matters and Substances produce and generate the Form of Metals, among all which Gold hath the pre-eminence, because the Sidereal & Elementary Operation hath digested and ripened the Mercury in this Metal the more perfectly to a sufficient ripeness.

And even as the Male-Seed is injected into the Womb, and touches the Menstruum, which is its Earth, but the Seed which goes out of the Male into the Female, is operated in both by the Sydereal and Elementary, that they be united, and nourished by the Earth unto the Birth.

Even so understand it likewise, that the Soul of Metals which is formed and conceived out of the Chaos by an intangible, invisible, incomprehensible, concealed, and supernatural, Celestial Composition of Water and Air; afterwards it is further concocted by the Celestial Elementary Light and Fire of the Sun; whereby the Stars move the Powers, when its heat is perceived in the inward parts of the Earth, as in the Womb, for the Earth is opened by the warm operating property of the upper Stars, that their infused Spirit yield a nourishment unto the Earth, that it may bring forth somewhat, as Metals, Herbs, Trees and Animals; where each one in particular brings its Seed with it for its farther augmentation and encrease: And as hath been mentioned, even as Man is begotten spiritually and heavenly, Soul and Spirit, and by the nourishment of the Earth in the Body of the Mother is formally brought up to perfection; even so, and in like manner, is to be observed and understood of the Metals and Minerals in all points.

But this is the true mystery of Gold, which I will make good to you by an Example and Parable to certifie you, whereby the possibility of Nature, and its Mystery is to be found after this manner.

It is evident, that the Celestial Light of the Sun is of a fiery Quality and Essence, given unto it by a Celestial, fixt and permanent sulphurous Spirit, by the most High God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, to preserve its substance, form, and body; which Creature, by its swift motion and course, is enflamed and kindled by the Air through that swiftness in a continued manifestation of it; this inflammation can never be extinct, nor decay in any of its power, so long as its Course last, or this whole Created visible World shall remain and continue, because there is no combustible matter at hand which is given unto it, by whose consumption this great Light of Heaven should fall to decay.

Even so Gold is so digested, ripened, and made into such a fixt invincible Nature by the Superiours in its Essence, that nothing can hurt it in the least, because the superiour Stars have past through the inferiour, that the inferiour fix'd Stars by the influence and donation of the superiour, cannot in the least give place to its like, for the inferiour have obtained such a fixedness and permanency from the superiour; this you may well retain, observe, and take notice of as concerning the first Matter of Gold.

I must yet produce one comparison according to the Philosophical custom, of the great Light of Heaven, and of that little terrestrial fire here daily kindled, and made to burn before our Eyes; because that great Light hath a magnetick simulation and an attractive living power with the small fire here on earth, but yet it is unformal and incomprehensible, only it is found to be spiritual, invisible, insensible and intangible.

It is to be observed and remembred, as experience manifests, and is proved, that the great Light of heaven bears an especial sympathy, affection and inclination to the little earthly fire, by means of the spiritual Air, whereby they are both promoted and preserved from Mortality; for behold, when the Air receives into it a Coruption, by too great humidity attracted up by it, that Clouds are generated by Mists, and farther coagulations, which hinder the Sun-beams that they cannot have a reflection, nor get a right penetrating power. So likewise the small terrestrial fire doth not burn so lively in dusky, dark, rainy weather, nor manifests it self with joy in its operation, as it doth when there is a fair, pure, serene, unfalsified heavenly Air; the reason is, because the sympathy is bound and hindered by the obstruction of those Accidents and the waterish Air, so that the attractive power is grieved, that it cannot accomplish its compleat Love and Operation as it should, for this hinderance brings the aquosity to the contrary Element.

Now even as the Sun, the great Light of Heaven, hath a peculiar community and sympathy with the small terrestrial fire to attract unto it, after a Magnetical manner; So also the Sun and Gold have a peculiar understanding, and an attractive power and sympathy together; for the Sun hath wrought the Gold by the three Principles, which have their Magnets, being nearest related to the Sun, and hath gained the next degree to it, for that the three Principles are found to be most mighty and powerful therein, Gold immediately succeeds it in its corporal Form, being composed of the three principles, and hath its beginning and off-spring from the Celestial and Golden Magnet.

This is the supremest Wisdom of this world, a wisdom above all wisdom, yea a wisdom above all Natural Reason and Understanding; for by this wisdom is comprehended first of all Gods Creation, the heavenly Essence, the Firmamentary Workings, the spiritual Imagination, and the corporal Essence, it contains all qualities, and properties, and all whatsoever sustaines and preserves Mankind. In this Golden Magnet sticks and lies buried the resolution and opening of all Metals and Minerals, their domination, as also the first Matter of their generation, their power over health; and again, the coagulation and fixation of Metals, together with the operation of expelling all Diseases: Take notice of this Key, for it is Celestial, Sydereal and Elementary, out of which the terrestrial is generated, it is both Supernatural and Natural, and is generated Celestially of the Spirit of Mercury, Spiritually of the Spirit of Sulphur, and Corporally of the Spirit of Salt; this is all the way, the whole Essence, the beginning and end; for the Spirit and the Body are bound up together in one by the Soul, that they can never be separated, but produce a very perfect, durable Body, which nothing can hurt. Out of this spiritual Essence, and out of this spiritual Matter, out of which first of all Gold was made into a Body, and became corporal, out of it is made a more true and compleat Aurum potabile than out of Gold it self, which must first of all be made spiritual, before a potable Gold can be prepared out of it.

This Spirit cures and heales the Leprosie and the French Pox, as being an over-fix'd Mercurial Essence, dries up and consumes the Dropsie, and all running and open Sores, which have raged a long season, it strengthens the Heart and Brain, makes a good Memory, generates good Blood, brings Lust, Delight and Desires in humane incitation unto Natural Affections. If the Quintessence of Pearl be mixt with the Tincture of Coral, and be administred with an addition of an equal quantity of this Spiritual Essence of Gold, the Dose of two grains taken at once in a just observation, you may be bold & confident of the truth, that no disaster of any Natural Distemper can harm you, or happen to you, to the prejudice of your health, because the nature resides only in the Spirit of Gold, to alter, remove and amend all weaknesses, so that the Body shall be adjudged perfect and free from any Disease. The Quintessence of Pearl corroborates the Heart, and make a perfect Memory, of the five senses. The Tincture of Coral expels all poison, and evil Spirits which fly from the good. So can the Soul of Gold in a Water turn the spiritual Essence of the Pearl, and the Sulphur of the Coral united in one, perform such a thing which otherwise Nature could not be intrusted with, but seeing that Experience hath manifested it, and confirmed the undeniable Truth, therefore this Cordial in this temporal Life is, and ought in reason to precede all other Cordials with admiration and admirable Effects, be they called by what name soever. I am an Ecclesiastical person, obedient to the Ecclesiastical degree, related to the Benedictine Order by a Spiritual and Divine Oath, by which Order with my internal Prayer, I obtain comfort and promises of Gods Word, a refreshment to my Soul, but in a corporal temptation of my weaknesses, and for my Brethren I have not found and used a better corroboration by Gods Blessing, than these three Compounds united: God give, bless, and increase this Virtue and Power unto the End of this temporal World, which Man must change together with Death. O thou golden power of thy Soul! O thou golden intellect of thy Spirit! O thou golden operation of thy Body! God the Creator keep thee, and grant unto all earthly Creatures, who love and honour him, the true understanding of all Gifts, that thy Will may be done in Heaven and on Earth: This is enough revealed at present concerning the Spirit of Gold, until the coming again of Elias.

Hereunto I add a short process:

Take a Spirit of Salt, therewith extract the Sulphur of Gold, separate the Oil of Salt from it, rectifie the Sulphur of Gold with Spirit of Wine, that it be pleasant without Corrosive; then take the true Oil of Vitriol, made of the Vitriol of Verdigreece, therein dissolve Mars, thereof make a Vitriol again, and again dissolve it into an Oil or Spirit, which rectifie in like manner as before with Spirit of Wine, conjoin them, and abstract the Spirit of Wine from it, resolve the Matter which remaines dry in Spirit of Mercury, according to a just weight, circulate and coagulate it when it is fix'd and permanent without Ascention, you have then a Medicine to tinge Man and Metals, if it be fermented with prepared Gold.



CHAP. VII.

Of the Spirit of Silver.

[Transcriber's note: Original heading had Gold with a handwritten correction to Silver.]

The Tincture and spirit of Silver manifests its Colour of a Watchet or Sky-colour, otherwise it is a waterish Spirit, cold and moist, not so hot in its degree as that which is found in Gold, Mars, and Venus; for Luna is more phlegmatick than fiery, though it be brought by the Fire out of its waterish Substance into a coagulation; and even as the Metals gain their tinging Spirits and Coagulation, in like manner do stones get their fixedness, and colour, as out of one Influence. A fix'd coagulated Mercury is found in the Diamond, therefore it is fixeder and harder than the other stones, and cannot be so broken; so the tincture of Mars, or the Sulphur of Iron is found in the Ruby, the Sulphur of Venus in the Emerald, the Soul of Saturn in the Granate; in Tin the tincture which is found in the Topaz; and Crystal is appropriated to common Mercury; in the Saphire is found the Sulphur and Tincture of Luna, but each one according to a peculiar understanding, and according to its kind, and in Metals according to their form and gender; for when the blew Colour is taken and extracted out of the Saphire, its Rayment is gone, and its other Body is white as a Diamond, wanting only the hardness that is in a Diamond; even so when Gold hath lost its Soul, it yields a fix'd white Gold Body, which by searching Students and young Artists is called fix'd Luna.

Wherefore you must now understand and observe, that even as I have declared unto you concerning the Saphire, for your apprehension, even so on the other side, you must learn to what purpose my Speech is intended, for your Instruction concerning Metals.

For this blew Spirit is the Sulphur and the Soul, whence the Silver receiveth its Life, both in and above the Earth, by Art, and the white Tincture of the Silver upon white stands in the Magnetick form of an everlasting thing, or Creature, wherein is likewise found the first Ens of Gold.

O ye high qualified Orators! where is your voice in this case to explain this Mystery? And you conceited Naturalists, where is your Writings and Advice of Reason? And you Physicians, Whither is your Opinion flown, to fetch somewhat afar off over the Seas for to cure the Dropsie, and all Lunary Distempers? You will say, that this my speech is too dark for you; is it so? then kindle the terrestrial Light, seek, and be not ashamed to make acquaintance with Vulcan; and let nothing be irksome unto you, so will you find by the assistance of the Eternal God, that the Spirit of Silver contains in it to cure and expel the Dropsie quite alone, as the Spirit of Gold, and as that of Mercury can expel the Consumption radically, or in the root, even so that the Center of those Diseases cannot be found any more. But that Luna in the veins of the Earth is not furnished with such a hot substance or quality in its degree, but is subjected to a Waterish Nature; this fault lies upon that great Light of Heaven, which by reason of its Waterish influence, hath implanted such qualities in the other Creatures, and Planets of the Earth, than it hath in Silver. And albeit that Silver contains a fix'd Mercury, which is generated in it, yet it wants a hot, fix'd Sulphur, truly to dry up and consume its Phlegme, whereby it hath not obtained a compact Body, unless it be done afterwards by the art of the Little World. And seeing that its Body is not compact by reason of the abounding watery substance, its Pores therefore are not rightly defended, nor closed to undergo the weight and endure a Battel with the Enemies; all which Virtues are to be found in Gold, if it shall overcome all Enemies, and endure all trials without defect.

All things are difficult in the beginning, but when they are brought to an end they are easie to be understood and apprehended. If you do truly observe the Spirit and the Soul of Luna, and learn to know it truly, you may quickly compass the midst of the Work, how it shall afford the end with profit; wherefore I will now propose to you an Example, and instruct you by a Countrey-Rule, that you may apprehend it, and consider of it, as Childrens Play, in a high and weighty Matter, that you may search it out with advantage; as followeth:

A common Peasant casts forth (or sows) his Seed in a Field well dunged and prepared, this Seed after putrefaction, sprouts forth of the Earth by the operation and furtherance of the Elements, and sets before our Eyes the Matter of Flax together with its Seed which it brings with it augmented; this Flax is pluck'd up, and separated from its Seed; but this Flax cannot be used and prepared for any work profitably, except it be first putrefied and rotted in water, whereby the Body is opened, and gains an ingress of its doing good; after this putrefaction and opening, it is again dried in the Air and Sun, and by this coagulation it is again brought into a Formal Being, that it may do future service. This prepared Flax is afterwards buck'd, beaten, broken, peel'd, and last of all dress'd, that the pure may be separated from the impure, the clean from the filth, and the fine from the course; which otherwise could not be done at all, or brought to pass without the preceding preparation; this done, they spin Yarn of it, which they boil in water over the Fire, or else with Ashes set in a warm place, whereby it is purified afresh, whereby the filth and superfluities are fully separated from it, and after a due washing the Yarn is dried again, delivered to the Workmen, and Cloth weaved of it; this Cloth is purified or whitened by a frequent casting of water upon it, cut in pieces by Taylors, and other people, so converted to future services in houshold affairs, and when this Linnen is quite worn out, and torn, the old Rags are gathered together, and sent to the Paper-Mills, whereof they make Paper, which is put unto divers uses.

If you lay Paper upon a Metal or Glass, kindle and burn it, the vegetable Mercury comes forth and flies away into the Air, the Salt remaines in the ashes and the combustible Sulphur which is not so quickly consumed in the burning, dissolves to an Oil, which is a good Medicine for dim and defective Eyes. This Oil hath in it a great fatness, which is the Matter of the Paper, contained originally in the Seed of the Flax; so that the last Matter of the Flax which is Paper, must again be dissolved into the first Matter, which is the fat Sulphurous Oyliness of the Flax-seed, together with the separation of its Mercury and Salt, that so the first may be made of the last, and the ground-work revealed, so the Virtues and Operations known by the first.

And though this Discourse be gross and not subtil, yet you may learn thereby to know what is subtile and secret; for that which is subtile must be infused into the ignorant by course Examples, that thereby they may be taught to reject the gross, and to embrace that which is subtile.

In like manner understand, that the first Matter of Metals must be observed, known, and found out by the revelation of their last Matter, which last Matter, as there are the perfect Metals, must be separated and divided asunder, that it may plainly appear singly before the Eyes of men. Out of which separation may be judged and learnt what the first Matter was at the beginning, out of which the last was made. Accept of this Advice concerning Luna at present. I could have said more, but I must desist at this time until another opportunity; and intreat you heartily, admonishing you by your Conscience, that you observe all that which I have revealed unto you, of all those Letters which are contained in the middle between Alpha & Omega, & that you keep all the Speeches & Writings, that you may not undergo a denial of pardon for your Sins, & a continued perpetual Vengeance for Eternity; which I at last reveal unto you thus:

Take the Sky-coloured Sulphur extracted out of Silver, rectified with Spirit of Wine, dissolve it according to its Quantity in the White Spirit of Vitriol, and in the sweet-sented Spirit of Mercury, coagulate them together by the fixation of the Fire, you have the White Tincture in your Hands with all its Medicines; but if you can get all their primum Mobile's, it is then needless, because you can perfect the Work at once.



CHAP. VIII.

Of the Soul or Tincture of Tin.

Good Jupiter possesses almost the mean or middle place between Metals, it being not too hot, nor too cold, not too warm, nor too moist, it hath no excess of Mercury, nor of Salt, and it hath the least of Sulphur in it; it is found to be white in Colour, yet one exceeds the other in the three Principles, as it is evidently found in its dissection, the right and true discovery of Nature. It is generated of such a composition and mixture of the three first Principles, being operated, coagulated into a Metal, and brought to the ripeness of perfection. Jupiter is a God of Peace, a Lord of Goodness, a Ruler and Possessor of the middle Region; as concerning its State, Essence, Function, Virtue, Form and Substance; for it holds the mean; no special Disease can happen, that Jupiter should cause any remarkable damage, if its Medicine be used a little at once, not too much in quantity; it is likewise thought needless, where its Medicines are not required, that they should be administred in strange cases with a just Call, but we should rather abide by those, where the Body and its Disease have an equal temper with the superiour Stars and their assistance, in vertue, power, and operation, and so accord together in their juncture, that there is not found the least contrariety in the Operation, nor in the Operative Nature.

Jupiters Spirit is found not to be wanting in the least, in the generation of Metals, as likewise no one Spirit of all the Metals can be set backwards, because of necessity they accord together from the lowest to the highest degree, and must agree together, as a Metal is perfect in the great Earth, so should the transmutation & augmentation succeed in the little world; understand it after this manner, that all the degrees from the meanest to the highest Metal must be passed through in all perfection, even as the Metals must finish their course, from Saturn unto Gold, as concerning the permanency of Colour and Body, notwithstanding that Saturn possesses the highest place in the highest Region, wherein the stars reign and perform their Course.

The generation of Tin in and above the Earth, is brought to light even as Man is and other Animals, which are originally nourished and fed by the Mothers Milk; there is no Diet to be found on Earth more fit for the nourishment of all men than Milk; for its best part is chiefly an Animal Sulphur, which yields the Nourishment. Even in like manner Tin is nourished by its Metallick Sulphur, which likewise feeds it with the greatest acceptation, it assumes in and to it more heat than Saturn, therefore is Jupiter more digested & broiled, whereby its Body likewise is more fixt and permanent in the degree of Salt.

He causes in his Dominion and Reign, that good Rule be observed, and Justice done to all men in his Court. The Spirit of Tin is a Preserver from all Distempers & Accidents whereby the Liver is consumed or put into malady; its Spirit is naturally to be compared unto Honey in Taste, its Mercury being made volatile, gains a venomous quality; for it purges violently, and penetrates through by force, therefore it is not alwayes to be advised, that its opened Mercury should be used alone and simply, but if a Correction precede, there may an excellent benefit succeed, being used in those distempers and diseases, which are immediately subject to its Influence, that is, when its venomous volatility is taken away, and set in a better and fixeder state, which resists the poison.

The Vulgar Physician cannot understand this Description; for this Art and knowledge proceeds not from the bare Talking, but from Experience; the common Physician hath the foundation and egress in speaking, but our Preparation hath its Rise from speaking, and then its foundation first of all out of a certain trial, which manifests it by Experience, and this is firmed upon hard Rocks by manual Operations, but the other stands upon moving Reeds & Sand; wherefore in reason that which is strong and immoveable, made by Natures hand, ought to be prefer'd before bare Speeches, which proceed only from an inconstant phantastical speculation, because the Work alwayes will praise the Master.

At present I do not indeed speak according to my own Poetical manner, nor after such a way as I directed my stile, when I treated of the wonderful generation of the seven Planets in my occult Philosophy, nor after a Magical or Cabalistical manner and custom; much less do I observe the method which teaches, and diligently marks the Mystical, Secret and Supernatural Arts, to wit, of Hydromancy, AEromancy, Geomancy, Pyromancy, Nigromancy, and the like: But my present purpose and intent is directed to reveal Natures Secrets, that all the Lovers of Art, and the Children which seek and desire wisdom, may by Gods Grace, Blessing, and Permission, easily understand, observe, mark, and likewise after diligent observation learn, & retain something that is beneficial; this concerns the generation of Metals in two parts, in the great and in the little World, as likewise what is the true Medicine contained in the inward part of those Metallick and Mineral Forms, which must be apprehended and made moveable by their dissection that their first beginning may be made notoriously visible in three distinct things; Then is Nature stript, and her secret parts discovered by laying off her temporal Cloathing, and all the secret Virtues, Powers, and, Operations revealed for Mans Health. My Persecutors, and, indiscreet Physicians will now tell me, thou talkest much of Geese, and knowest not a Duck; who knows whether all what thou writest be true? I will stick where I am, and remain by what I have tried, and bears the sway among all my Associates and Physitians; so shall I not be deceived, and am assured that I shall not need to take paines to learn any new Matter. He that is of such a resolution, may remain with the Ducks; for he is not worthy of a roasted Goose, nor to learn what is concealed in Nature.

But this in truth I acknowledge, and confess it before the Supreme Trinity, speaking it to the hazzard of that most Noble Ecclesiastical Jewel, that all what I have wrote, and yet shall write in this point, is all true, and shall be found to be no otherwise in truth: But that every ignorant, or vulgar person, which are haters and persecutors of this Mystery, do not well, fully, and clearly understand my Writings at first; alas! that cannot I help; pray unto God for his Grace, and ye Persecutors for pardon, labour without repining, read with understanding, then will no Mystery be withheld from you, but will be very easie for you to find out. I moreover admonish, that the finder of this gift of God, above all things give thanks unto God day and night without ceasing, with all reverence and due obedience, from the bottom of his heart; because no Creature can yield sufficient praise which may recompense so great a benefit; but Diligence is known by a right and true industry according to our capacity. I have done my part, which I hope to justifie before God and the World; for what my Eyes have seen, my Hands felt, and apprehended by an undeceived Judgment, that shall no man take from me in this Life; only Death, which is the determiner of all things.

This my Speech hath indeed had no force to poure forth from it what is written by me herein; but what I have done is not out of curiosity, nor out of a desire of vain and transitory Glory; but I have been induced thereunto by the Command of Christ the Lord, that his Glory and Goodness in eternal and temporal Matters, should not be concealed from any man, but to the praise, honour, and glory of his holy everlasting Name, that it might be exalted, acknowledged, and revealed in his Majesty by reason of his Highness and Almightiness, through the confirmation of his wonderful Deeds! And secondly, I have been led thereunto by Love and Charity towards my Neighbour, for his good as for my own, and to heap burning Coals on my Enemies heads. And last of all, that all Opposers may know, what erroneous waies others have gone against me, and whether I am most of all to be condemned, or they adjudged most just in what hath been written most truly of the concealments of Nature; & likewise that the supremest Mystery may not quite be suffocated in darkness, nor be drowned in overflowing waters, but be delivered out of the deep and filthy mire of the Ideotish Crew by the right appearance of the true Light, and obtain many witnesses by the spreading abroad of a sure, true, and right Confession, who may follow me in the Writings of Truth. In my Nativity of the twelve Signes in the Zodiack, Sagitary and Pisces were allotted unto me; I was born under Pisces, for I was in Waterishness before my Life, but Sagitary set an Arrow to my Heart, whereby I lost my Waterishness, and by the heat I became worthy of the dry Earth; and although at the first the Earth was turned by the Water into a soft substance, yet you must understand that the Water was consumed by the heat of the drying Air, so that all the soft Matter of the Earth went away, and by this drying up was dignified with a Hardness; whereby thou Learner, and much Understander should carefully observe and take good notice, that Tin is subject to all the four Elements, as also to the other principal Planets; which Elements received their Center from above, and are generated as others.