To the Courteous and studious READER.

Courteous Reader,

What moved me to pat to the public view these hidden curiosities of Nature, I shall inform thee briefly, and in it shall give thee an account partly of the Author and partly of myself: For the Author he was an eye-witness of the great Secret, as he doth testify of himself; nor that only, bat had by gift a portion of that precious Jewel so sought for by many bat found of few; Which portion although he did for the most part lose it in hopes of multiplication of it (which he could not attain, being of the White, not the Red powder) yet by diligent search and Industry he attained the preparation of the philosopher's Mercury, and by it to the preparation of the Elixir of the first order, which is indeed but of small virtue compared to what it may be advanced to: This although it be but small profit; yet it is a infinite satisfaction to a Son of Art, to see a medicine which will tinge ? or any imperfect metal into ? although not exceeding the proportion of one upon an hundred: For my own part, I am one who have for many years been one of Geber's Cookcs, rosting my thrift in vain until it was my good fortune to be acquainted with this Author, who demonstratively convinced me of my former errors, and set me in a right path. I found I say the errors I had been in relying upon the Books of those who wrote their bare thoughts without experience, or else were envious and wrote knottily on purpose to entangle the unwary.

He shewed me several Tractates written by him who gave him the powder, hitherto never published; Of which the names were, Ars metallorum Metamorphoseos, introitus apertus ad occlusum Regis palatium, Brevis manuductus ad Rubinum Coelegien, Fons Chemicae Philosophiae, Opus BElixeris Aurificiae, Argentifici, Brevis via ad vitam longan, with a large Comment upon Ripley his twelve Gates, and the Epistle to king Edward; Also a Commentary on Arnolds Ultimum Testamentum, and lastly his Cabala Sapientum, or An Exposition of the Hieroglyphicks of the Magi: These Books I confess of all that ever I read or had seen wore the fullest,, plainest and most perspicuous; With much adoe I obtained copies of them, but no commission shew them to anybody: I asked this my Friend why he did not cast in his Calculus into the Treasury of philosophers, especially seeing he had been so successful, he told me the indeed till he had accomplished the perfection of the Red, which he hitherto had not, he was unwilling to write: I told him of the Author of the Rosary who wrote that excellent book and yet saith, Hac ego vidi in diebus nostris usque ad Leone Desscripsi autem ad complementum licet non viderim, at last he was perswaded by me to write this Treatise, which he performed In seven Books, and another in Latine, entitled Breve manuducterium ad Campum Sophiae, which concerns chiefly, Paracelsus liquor Aldiahest, in which he clearly, plainly, and fully shews the difference between it and the Mercury of the Philosophers: And lastly, a Treatise called Eleuchus errorum in Arte Chemica deviantium, which indeed is so plain, so full, and so convincing a Book that more cannot be desired: By these and the fore-mentioned. Books, I soon attained the Mystery of the Mercury, and by it the first Whiteness, and hope ere long to see the Redness, in which the Author would not instruct me, being by Solemn Vow obliged to the contrary, neither to effect it himself, nor teach others for such a number of years, on which Condition he received that from a Master, which (having the Mercury) he might else have received from God by industry; At last I had liberty of him to communicate these Manuscripts with some friends, whom I heartily pitied, to see In what a state they were through the misleading of divers Sophisticall Authors and Receipts, who coveting the copies, did so wearily entreat me, that from the time I first began to communicate then, I could never keep them at home; whereupon partly, and partly by the earnest perswasion of such who wanted, Ariadnes Thread In the Labyrinth of Alchemy, but chiefly aiming at the glory of God in it, I did by much entreaty at last prevail with my Friend, from whom I bad them (if I would) to make them publick, that others (whom God hath elected to so great a mercy) may reap the fruit by them that I cannot but with much thankfulness to God acknowledge myself to have received, who have at last seen an occular demonstration of the truth in my own work (although I have not yet perfected the Mastery) which will recompence my pains, travel, and charge in search, as the first doth satisfy my mind and judgment; For verily my work did not exceed the virtue of one upon 36, which advising with my Friend I had a satisfactory Reason, namely, that the White being not the utmost period., the work in the fire will move beyond it, and it is not easy to discern (but by long and oft experience when it is come to just the height of the whiteness, for before it comes to that pass it will look very glorious, that a Man would say, this is the highest white, and yet is not; so that if taken a little too soon, or let stand little too long, it doth not tinge what it would do if taken just in time. It would require a large Treatise to tell: what scruples have caused me to stumble between the White and the Red now twice, which I hope in not many trials to amend; but in a word, it is my error in Imbibilion, Cibation and Fermentation, in which my Friend will not help me, but hath rather put me out, which I confide he doth, not for envy, but in scruple of his Vow, for my success should be equal to his if he should effect it himself, yet he tells that he doth truly instruct me (per ambages) which ambages I not understanding have twice concluded, wrong to the non-plus my skill and ruins of my work, I might here make a large discourse of the Adepti and their Eilas, but shall refer the Reader to the Treatises afore mentioned, being unwilling myself to fly to writing before my wings be fledged, with my experience.

These Treatises, Reader, thou shalt have in order, I began with this first, of which I would only send out the first Part at present, that Artists may Ex Ungue Leonem. The second part is wholly practical, which I keep by me till I see how the first will be accepted; if it be as courteously accepted as it was candidly penned., express the others shortly. And I am soliciting for an Elendus utorum potisimorum in Arte Chemica, with a Clavis Chemica to open their Cabinets, so that students nay have a censure of the true and more perspicuous Authors from a Son of Art, and so need not read in their Tyrociny such Labyrinth; Authors who either through gross ignorance or pore envy might lead the unwary, Farewel, and if thou get good by these lines, let him have thy well-wishes in his Operations, who so studious to serve thee in thine,

Anonynus philochemicus,

Anagrammatlzomenos,

Georgius Sterchi, Egregius Christo

Invent, accepti, purgavi, pondere justo Composus, inclusi foetum, debitoque oalore Fovi, Expectavi, signa haecqae in tempore vidi. Mox anplexa virum mulier, sua membra repenti lctu disjunxit, sic sunt facta omnia. pulvis, Obscuro tinctus sua membra dirempta calore Turgidus Exudat, votitatque per Aëra fumas. Qui Condensatus generat nigredine oorvum. Saepe fluit liquidus, nec non durescit, & omnes Induit in toto quot qaot sunt orbe colores Hanc putrem aspersi Lymphato rore, lavando, Dum color albescens visus magis Euse coruscans. Canduit ad vices septem, lapis hic Paradysi, In lunam lingens impurius omne Metalaborum: Invictus pergo, debitum retinendo calorem Sanguinens quoadusque color, cum Sole metalla Infina sex aequans; vera haec tinctura Sophorom.

Soli Deo Gloria,

THE MARROW OF ALCHIMY.

The First Part containing Four Books. Illustrating the Theory.

Alchemy is an Art so exceeding mysterious a sublime, that to attempt a proper description thereof I am constrained to invoke the aid of Pallas to guide my Rust. Quill; Assist me jointly Phoebus with thy raies to illumime, as in the days of Hermes; and thou also gentle Miners who hast thy seat in the Three Kingdoms of mature (who by a hidden central heat and long Decoction baketh Mineral Bodies in the Earth) disdain not now to enable me to explain thy secret Operations.

There is an Honogeneal Substance which lies open to the view of the Vulgar, from whence all Mineral Bodies are produced, it being their only true matter; which by a long digestion is changed into various kinds of different perfection.

There is likewise an Art, which most admire, but few believe, and he is very rare that knoweth it; whereby all imperfect and fugitive Metals are made so fixed as to endure the greatest; force of Fire, which the Ancient Sage have called the Art of Transmutation, of five to silver and six to perfect Gold, And wonderful it is, that of the base Metals, as Copper, Tin, Lead, or iron, there should made by virtue of this our Stone (in less than half an hour time) most perfect Silver and Gold, that will never change.

This rare Art, whose virtue is so wonderfull, many no doubt would gladly know, which yet every one of its admireres may not attain, and be enabled thereby to change imperfect Mettals from a state of Corruption to perfection since all have not a right thereto, but only such whom God doth chuse as Heirs thereof, the rest for want of knowledge, groping as it were in the dark, may spend all their Time and Substance, as many have done to no purpose; Whence it is that the most Learned severely deride both this Art and the searchers thereof, yet notwithstanding, know that this Art is most certainly true, whose Principle are founded on nature; yea though its revilers are many, and but few are found that dare defend it, yet shall this Science remain immoveable against all its opposers.

And although some Varlets do boast of the knowledge thereof, wherein they know no more than an Ape, do by their Oaths and Lies allure such as gape after Wealth, to expend their Money upon their pretended skill, from whom having got all they can, after many vain and fruitless Experiments, in the end their Art proves all a cheat, whereby their greedy Creditors are ashamed and curse their pretended Art; for which both are blameable, the one for pretending to what they know not, and so deceiving the Credulous, and the other in being so ready to believe them, and spending their Substance upon fabulous pretences. Yet for all this it would be very unreasonable to conclude, because of false Pretenders, that therefore the Art is not: for although Lawyers do often delude their Clients, by perverting the intent of the Law, yet is the Law free from blame; So in this Science, the of renders ought to bear the blame, and not the Art, which is real and blameless. For surely it must be thought highly unreasonable for any person to condemn that which they know nothing off shall a blind Man censure Colours? Or a Man that never learned pretend to judge of Learning? Hence it ever was and ever will be found a constant Truth, that Art hath no Foes but Fools.

Wherefore I shall now make it plainly appear both by Reason and Examples, against all opposers, that this Art Is founded upon the principles of nature. And first it is no small Evidenoe thereof, that there are so many Witnesses of good Credit to be found, who from their own Experience have affirmed the truth thereof, which if it were otherwise they must all be accused of falshood; and then by this rule there is not anything could gain credit but what we know ourselves, which would by consequence bring all the World into confusion; And no doubt but even those who are so hard of belief would think it ill usage to be thus dealt with by others. For methinks if I should read or hear a Thing affirmed from one against whose veracity there lieth no just exception, it were shameful in me to tax the truth thereof, especially of an Art I understand not; for if I expect to find credit, why should not I trust others in the like case, and do as I would be done by, which is both just and reasonable.

Besides we have not only two or three Witnesses of credible and blameless Men who have attested the truth of this Art, but the same hath been affirmed by the pens of many hundreds in all Ages and Countries, who were Men of undoubted worth both for Learning Skill and Honesty, so that their bare Word might seem sufficient to convince any reasonable person, and which also many of them have with most solemn Vows asserted when going to their Graves. So that it must seem strange if the Words and Oaths of honest Men, and those of Noble Birth and Renown whilst living, and even afterwards when just going to the Earth, that their dying protestations should not be believed? For can we suppose such persons as these, should with most sacred Protestations affirm the truth of an Art if it were false, and thereby after death stain their Characters with an everlasting Odium of being reputed lying and deceitful Men, in thus deluding honest Students with their Writings.

To enumerate the names of some that were esteemed Masters of this Art, the first is Noble Hermes, who was a Royal prince of deserved Fame, la whose age his equal was not to be found; whose several Writings have done great Honour to Alchemy, all which he briefly comprised in his Smaragdine Table; Likewise Geber, Holy, and Kalid were all ancient Kings; with Bernard Marquesse of Tresne, a modern writer of great Skill; together with the Noble Black Author of the New Light of Alchemy, Flamel and Espagnet: All these with a great many more, have from their own experience attested the truth of this Art, who out of meer goodwill have left us their writings, as well to detect Sophisters, as also to guide the diligent and worthy searchers thereof into the right path.

But besides such as were deen'd Masters of this Art there were many others, who although they did not pretend to the Knowledge thereof, yet having been conversant with those Artists and their writings, and some of them seen Experiments made before them, have thereby been convinced of the reality of the same, and have done much to defend it from the aspersions of the ignorant and malicious; of whom by Name is learned Holland in whose writings relating the difficulties and disappointments he met with, disswadeth others from pursuing It, and adviseth them rather to apply themselves to profess'd Trades; yet nevertheless did not think it meet to discredit the same. Also the Testimony of brave Helmont is of no small weight, to whom was presented a small portion of the Red powder, which was of such power and virtue to Transmute Nineteen thousand times its own quantity of unconstant Mercury into the most perfect fixt Gold, able to endure all Trials. Likewise old Anselm although an utter Enemy to this Art, yet was convinced of the truth thereof by an Experiment made by himself of a small (quantity of) powder found in an old Book, which tinged Argent vive into most fine and fixt Gold; whereat being amazed he related the same to a Goldsmith his true friend, to whom after he had told his fate, he did freely spend the remainder in Experiments on purpose to confirm him in the truth thereof, where a double witness was obtained.

But such whom the Testimonies of these Authors will not suffice to convince, altho' not the tenth of what we could produce, it would be in vain to enumerate more to such Cavillers, who hereby shew themselves more scrupulous than wise; For methinks Reason should induce a Wise Man rather to suspend his judgement, than rashly to cas aspersions upoun an Art which he understands not: For althº. I can see no ground for the possibility of a Thing, yet it were folly in me to assert the impossibility thereof, since there may be many Things of real existence whereof I have no knowledge, which nevertheless those skill'd in the Art may be able to, produce sufficient Testimonies of.

Wherefore leaving such Cavillers to their own wilful erroneous Opinions, I shall endeavour to do all I can to serve the ingenious and deserving, and prove to then by firm Reasons the possibility of the Art; And although many diligent seekers thereof have met with disappointments therein, yet that is to be imputed to their not pursueing a right way, and not to the Impossibility of the Art.

First then for a Ground of this Art, it is necessary that you understand the qualities of that which you would find, otherwise you are unfit to undertake it; therefore consider that Kind produceth its own Kind; This God hath established as a Law to Nature, that each Thing should draw its Form from its like, and gave command that Birds, Beasts Fishes, and Trees and all Things should encrease and multiply in their own proper Kind, by a never ceasing propagation. To whioh end he hath blessed each Thing with a seminal virtue, which Herbs and Trees produce into the Air, which in the Animal Kingdom lieth hid in the Reins: But some have questioned whether God hath endowed. Minerals with a seed to multiply and encrease their Kind likce other Things; which if once resolved there remaineth no doubt, but that the Seminal Virtue which bringeth other Things to light, may multiply itself in Metals also.

Wherefore to enlighten the Ingenious seekers herein, I shall now relate the Generation of Metals, the which are engendered by an Unctuous Sulphur, that coagulateth and fixeth a fluent Mineral moisture, which the philosophers have called Mercury, being a dry humidity that floweth, yet wetteth not the hand; And herein lieth a mighty force, its parts being so firmly .knit together, as to stand all attempts of Artists to separate by Fire.

This is known to be the progeny of Water, which yet In weight it doth far exceed, and therefore we mast needs own a hidden virtue therein, from whence such a condensation should proceed; And this Virtue is the Seed which God alone hath plac'd in Nature, which have never yet been defaced. For not anyone can be so stupid as to think that Water of its own accord should cause within itself so great a change, and link Sulphor and Mercury so firmly together, as to penetrate its own dinentions so manifold as to create a Metal. No there must be granted an inward Agent, otherwise the Thing would still remain unchanged; This Agent is the Form that Water wanted while it retained its proper nature; And this Form is Light, the Sourse of Central heat, which being cloathed with Matter begetteth a Seed: Which seed is no sooner produced, but it assayeth to bring the Matter to a change, whereon having stampt its Character the Matter becomes living, and wonderfully co-operateth with the Form, to attain the End, to which the implanted Seed tendeth.

Nor will this seem fabulous to the Wise, for all Things live according to their Kinds, whose Life is Light which lieth hid in them, and is only to be descern'd by the eyes of superior Minds, unto whom is discover'd the true Map of Nature, by which is nothing produced by chance: For nature possesseth her secret Agent, which is universally one, altho distinct in numerous Species, according to their Seeds, produced by God in the Beginning, and given as a first Law to her Operations, and found out by the Wise. This seed is the mean which uniteth the 7orm unto its Matter, and raiseth an appetite in the patient, inviting the active Virtue to its Work, by which it is directed to its own proper End; which being once attained, this Life lieth hid and strongly confin'd in a Corporal Body, which it preserveth, but yet ceaseth any further Operations until it be revived by a new Ferment.

It is therefore a very great 3rror to think that because the principles of Metals being so firmly oombin'd together, whereby the Seat wherein the Seed resides is not discernable to the Eye, that therefore it is not therein; which is a Conclusion may reasonably be supposed no Learned Man could make; For it is plain that all Things in the Three Kingdoms of Nature contain in them a hidden Spirit which aboundeth with Celestial qualities, the visible Body hiding an invisible Spirit.

In all the Three Kingdoms .are Concretes, whereof the Animal and vegetable are inclos'd in suoh frail and tender Shells (or covers) as are unable to defend them from change, and therefore we see them daily changing from State to State whereby new Forms arise from the old. But in the Mineral Kingdom there are Bodies of such a perfect composition as that the wasting Flames are unable to destroy, nor can all consuming Time change their Condition: for they being homogenial in Matter and Form, they will for ever remain unchanged, if not resolved by a powerful Agent into their component principles, which lieth so exceeding closely combin'd, that many Artists who have endeavoured to untie them have lost their labour.

For although the meanest Metal Lead, be sublimed to Vapour, and this Work often repeated, or if turned to Litharge, or calcin'd to Ceruse, Sugar or Glass; yet shall his labour be in vain who thinks thereby to untie it; for it still remains Lead, and may be an easy Art soon be brought to reassume its former State. If therefore Lead be so firm and constant, we nay reasonably conclude that the more perfect Metals are much more permanent, and by consequence so much the more disappoint the attempts of foolish Artists.

We therefore conclude upon certain grounds, that Metals do possess a Metalline Seed, otherwise they could not be engender'd, nor continued in this their body; which Seed although it be so closely retired from sight, yet may it be found out by such as pursue the right Way.

Wherefore It may now be of use to let you know the place of the Seed's secret abodes; whose Seat, as in all other Concretes, is a homogeneal Water of its own kind, wherein It liveth while the Water lives, and. therein sheweth its active force, being the vital Spirit thereof; which Water being destroyed, by an over-powering might of Congelation, it lieth dormant therein in a passive State. Yet although it be thus suppressed, its life is not extinct, but may by Art be quickened again, and stirr'd up to a new motion, by being joined with a new Substance whereof a very small parcels may contain such virtue as may greatly transcend its Mineral Concrete. Because the Life where ever it is freed from imprisonment, seeketh to encrease Itself, much like to Fire, which being kindled, never ceaseth to multiply itself, nor will there be found an end of its encreasing power, if fed with new Fuell; since it is the offspring of Light, from whence all Forms floweth, and from whence seed taketh its beginning, whose nature is still more and more to grow, nor will there be any end of its encreasing, so long as it is supplied with new Matter, which being withheld this Life straightway conceals itself.

By why Is it so rare a thing to see this wonderful power or Virtue in Metalline Bodies, wherein it most certainly Is, although most secretly concealled, which is apparent to Sight all Vegetables and Animals do possess. The Reason is, because the Vegetable and Animal Kinds are composed of disimillar parts and unlike principles, which are all inclined. to fade and change, and do frequently quit their old forms for new, wherein also they never continue long. But all Metals and Metalline Bodies are engendered from a most stable Root, which is Mercury, whose bulk though small la wonderous weighty, wherein there appears no distinction of parts, but being linkt with Sulphur appears as one entire Substance: Which Sulphur is not Vulgar, but is essential unto the Mercury, each whereof doth retain, and need the mutual help and virtue of the other, which are uniformly conjoin'd that no force by the Art of Man can sever them.

Therefore because the least Atom of Gold is Gold, and hath the entire Form thereof, which doth so firmly bind all its Elements and parts together, that the Seed is therefore by no Art to be seperated from its Body. And in truth the Seed of Gold is nothing else but its own Water, which lies so closely chain'd within its center, that it is not apparent to the eyes or mind of any but a Mental Man, who kmoweth the key that can open this lok.

In speaking farther of this Seed, I shall now declare its heavenly Virtue, from whence every thing on Earth deriveth its existence, and from which all Concretes are engendered: This Natures Darling, the progeny of Heaven, created by God to multiply all Things, it inhabiteth all Bodies, yet is incorporeal, it worketh visibly, and yet is invisible, it acts freely, yet all its Operations are constraint to this strict Law of nature, that nothing may engender out of Kind. For God and Nature never vary.

Now although I said that Mercury is the Water and Seed of Gold, yet you must not construe my meaning literally, which would be an error, but on the other hand know that this Mercury is nam'd the Seed, because it is therein next of all contain'd. So then the Body is the nest or habitation of the Water, wherein it resides, as likewise the Water is the habitation of the Spirit, wherein this heavenly offspring resteth; which so many seek, yet find not, because they misconceive our Work, and therefore deceive themselves.

Behold a Man, who In his Reins contains the true Masculine matter of mankind, which mixt in a proper Matrix, in due Time attains the Form and likeness of the Parents, which by a Divine Soul is compleated into a perfect Man, able in due Time to propogate his own likeness: But this seed or Sperm which appeareth visible to the outward Eye, is not the vital Fire, that being a Spirit, and only to be descerned by a mental Man inspir'd by nature's Light; for sense teacheth that the Substance may soon loose this Life which disposeth it to motion.

Behold an Egg, which when the Sun returns in the Spring, the Hen layeth, how by heat, being put into a constant motion, it changeth from State to State until In doe time it becometh a Chicken; but if you should shake this Egg until you hear the latter jog within, it will never be hatched.

Observe a Seed, which growing Things do bear, and which in the Earth receiveth a Life, whereby they spring and grow, spreading their Blanches, adorned with pleasant Leaves, far and near; yet if this Seed should be heated, in an Oven, its vegetative virtue would be destroyed, and for ever be made unfit for vegitation.

Hence it appears by these Examples, that the Substance or the Sperm is not the Seed, which is indeed a Life of Light of such a Nature, which the Heavens only feed and acts in bodies according to their disposition, which Fools understand not. For as an Egg on which a Hen hath sat some days, if then it be suffered to wax cold, becomes incapable to generate a Chicken, but putrifies and corrupteth; from whence it is certain that the Seed partaketh neither of Matter nor Weight, nor are either diminished by its death: Or rather, if you please, it may be called the Seminal virtue of Concrete things, which in each Kingdom being duly dispos'd in a proper Matter, it therewith causeth daily motions in the Compound, which are all directed by the proper Laws of Nature, to its due end.

Therefore a Matter being duly prepared, and then properly dispos'd according to Nature, and rightly governed, doth in its secret Den stirr up a central Fire, which being loosed, never ceaseth incessantly to operate Nature's Task, unless perverted by some Error.

And thus I hope I have made it appear that Alchemy is not a feign'd Art, but a real science, whose Grounds are firmly fixt on Nature; whereof hitherto I have disclosed bat in part, and those in general Termes; which hereafter I shall in due place shew other Reasons to confirm the same.

The End of the First Book.

The Noble Art of secret Alchemy we have undertaken to vindicate, and have produced sufficient arguments to prove the possibility thereof, which we defy its greatest enemies with any true Reason to confute: Its Witnesses are almost innumerable of such as were Artists themselves, and not a few who although never able to attain the Skill, have yet by the Eyes been convinced of the truth thereof. But since such Arguments doth most convince, whose proofs are brought from Experience, I shall by the same means evince the truth thereof, and not as from my bare thought or imagination, but what my Eyes engage me to witness.

A certain Artist I once knew very well, with whom I had frequent and long conversation, who did excel many in this Skill; of whom from my own knowledge I can declare, he had so much both of the White and Red Elixir, as would far exceed all credit; He freely gave me of the White medicine Two Ounces weight and more, which was of such virtue as truly to convert into pure Silver full One hundred and twenty thousand times its own quantity of imperfect Metal, finer than any melted from the oar.

And having disclosed this much, I shall, that others may avoid danger, here shew how through covetousness I foolishly spent most of this great Quantity; by rashly attempting to work Things I understood not: For so the Giver did his Gifts bestow, that self might Self intrap. However, I do protest that divers hundred ounces have by my hands been Tinged into pure Silver, equal to the best in goodness; by only projecting of this small Substance upon Mercury, which it Tinged wholly. For do not think that it only severs that which is perfect from that which is crude, but it Tingeth and Fixeth it all, so as it shall never fly the Fire, neither doth it exclude ought from partaking the Type of perfection, but what is Heterogeneous.

Of Mercury a pound weight will be changed into pure Silver within a Scruple's loss, Lead will waste a little more but it is wonderful to observe that Tin, although the Fire, by burning doth seperate a dross therefrom, yet will it therein be encreased in weight; The reason is because in Tin there is visibly contained an Air, as Theophrastos and Helmont will observe, which being very much rarified, makes the Substance whereunto it is joined lighter than Itself when condensed; so ice when brought back to Water loseth part of its own weight.

I also assayed my Medicine on Copper, iron, Brass & Pewter, likewise on Spelter, Solder, Tin-glass and Regulus of Antimony, and may with truth affirm it conquers all Metalline Things, and with Mercury brings all to perfection. I found nothing of kin thereto, but it would Tinge the same into pure Silver, yea it enter'd into perfect Gold in the Fire, and turn'd it into a white Glass, enduring all Trialls, which may serve as an example for other base Metals: but then this Luna, which had the appearance of Luna would like Gold abide the tryal of Aquafortis, or of Antimony, yea it equal'd Sol in weight; so that according to report, it proved by the assay to be white Gold; the reason was because the white Tincture was fermented with the Red Earth, and therefore either of the Luminaries doth shew its virtue in projection, in producing Gold of a Lunar colour; or Luna which equal'd Sol in perfection, except the colour thereof. Had I Known this Effect when I had more of my Medicine I might have greatly enriched myself: For this Luna is indeed Gold, and may be sold as such for more than half the Rate of that Sol which hath been fully Tinged; and will upon examination in all tryals be so allowed: But this I knew not, until I had sold Eighty ounces thereof at the rate of Luna.

But if with pure Silver, you melt your Medicine, you shall have a most pure Glass, shining as bright as a new slip'd sword, in which you may behold your Face, yet Is its Virtue not a whit either increased or decreased, but only father spread.

This Man who bestowed this Gift on me possessed both Red and White, whose Name I shall not disclose; He I hope is still living, and long may he be blest with happy Days, for his Life I esteem as my own, having been to me a sure Friend, and whom I doubt not will so continue to the end: His present abiding place I know not, being now upon Travel to several Parts of the world (of which he is a citizen) to visit Artists, and in quest of Antiquities, which when he hath fulfilled his intention will Return: He is by Nation an Englishman, his Family of good Note in the place where he was born, of a good Fortune, and rare Learning, and his coat of Arms of great Antiquity, whose Age is now scarce Thirty Three Years, which is all the description I shall give of him.

My acquaintance with him came very strangely, his love to me was cordial, far beyond my expectation, or desert, which I must and ever shall acknowledge, and hope nothing hereafter shall ever divert the same. L knew long that he was a faster in this Art, and oft had seen it by Experiment, e're he would so far vouchsafe as to give me any Portion of it, ever hoping his intent was at last so to bless me, which yet I durst not over boldly press for. And what if by proof he shall find me worthy so to continue? I assure myself he will further bestow his Favours on me, which shall move me to be so faithful to him, that nothing shall allure me to do anything to his prejudice in any wise.

When then he aid freely confer on me the aforesaid Blessing, he did also add a portion of his Meroury, and assured me, that I had a matchless Treasure, if God would please to open my Eyes, otherwise blindly gropeing in the dark I might spend the same to no purpose.

This Mercury was that with which he did exceedingly multiply his Red Stone, this was the Menstruum so cunningly hid by all the Masters of this Mystery, nor had I this barely of faith from him, but had seen him make Experiment thereof. I saw him put his Red Stone by weight into that same Mercury,, which being digested therein, dissolved it, and also made it straightway to change Colour, which from that time never rested day nor night, till having pass'd both Black and White it was in three days time turn'd into a perfect Red. I foolishly thought that if the Red and White were both multiplicable, that then one linear progress should lead to either, which was a false ground, by which Error I quite destroyed Ten parts out of Twelve of my quantity, and yet so unwise that so many Losses could not suffice to convince me.

Then I mixt those Two parts remaining, with other ten times its weight of pure Luna, and falling to work again, I hoped that sure once right might renew the loss of nineteen Errors: But when my Fire was almost out, I began to think upon the reason of the Thing I sought, and considering well the sayings of Authors, which I oft revolv'd in my mind, and juding my Operations by the Laws of Nature, at length by Meditation I concluded, that each Thing should be order'd according to its own proper disposition.

I found my medicine which for the White is Atonier either, as the Artist finds it, after that Nature hath fixt it, when bright is of the black created; he then who intends to encrease it in virtue or quantity must order his working accordingly. For if he intend to encrease its pondus, he must then imbibe it, not being cold, with Milk made warm, the Glass being then (close) shut, let him be sure to attend his Fire, and take care not to give it Milk so largely as to glut it, nor forget to put thereto its proper quantity of Meat. But if his Glass have once been cooled, he must then ferment his white work warily, observing its due proportion, for when a Man ferments, he may make his Compound either too moist or too dry, which then requires a Cure, of which a stranger, will almost be sure to miss.

I knew at last, that the Red was like to the Fire, but the White more like the Air; the first being mixed with Water in the first work doth require the same heat, and afterwards produceth its proper Signs, although the word succeedeth in a shorter time: But the White Stone, which is less of Fire, and more of Air. If it have such a quantity of Milk, would be crowned, nor will the dryness bear sufficient force to reduce it to powder as soft as Silk, to re-congeal more than a fourth of Water, whereunto must be added afterwards another fourth part, which thus by turns must be imbibed until it be brought unto a sufficient strength, which then must be close sealed up, and will require a somewhat stronger Fire, wherein it will continue in blackness Forty days, and then will shine for the White splendent raies of Phoebus.

When this I had well weighed, I held my hand, resolving to keep what l had left of my White medicine, nor would by Gods assistance be compel'd of so great a Secret to be wholly bereft, but to keep it for his sake v/ho gave it. So that a few Grains excepted, I thus did waste all that I had bestowed on me, ever hoping at length to hit upon the right way, and so intent was my thoughts thereon, that thus foolishly pursuing a Labyrinth of error, I robbed myself of a twofold Treasure, the loss whereof I may repent at leisure. And now my Fire being nigh out, I was forced to spend some of what did remain to serve Expences, until l found if I did thus go on I should soon see an end of all, and thence did conclude with solemn Vow to keep the rest unspent, unseen, until I slept the sleep of Death.

I therefore having reserved some few Grains (very few) but not of the force as it was at first given me, yet to preserve ray Life upon urgent need, I deem'd I might make use of without remorse, and since that necessity hath inforce me to use some little of a little, so that now having reduced my Store to one Grain, which might soon be lost, I was compel to mix it with Ten Grains more of fine Luna. Thus have I have given you a true relation of my practice, not told from hear say, out what myself have experienced which is a thing that very few have seen, and this I aver on the Credit of my own Name, and know no Reason why another should disbelieve.

Now for the Mercury which did remain, I tryed many Experiments therewith on Gold, which by this Mercury destroyed, corrupted and therein looseth its Form, so great is the love between him and his Sister, that thus his Soul returns glorified; whereby she staineth her garments with Colours like the orient Pearl, until at length, both the Sun and Moon in the Firmament are eclipsed black, and appear without the least Light; the Earth becoming Water, and the Water is thickened into Earth: After which appeareth Colours like the Rainbow or Peacooks-Tayl, and when they fail, the Crescent Moon appears very clear, until at length the Earth shone like Heaven, or like a Caelestial Throne.

But this was ill suited to the Season of the year, and the latter Fire, and because I was affraid after Perfection to spill or loose it, my intention was to try If I might bring the Work onto the Moon, though I could not attain to the Sun. This then I did project on Mercury, being first allay'd with Luna, and it Tinge'd Fifty parts entirely; and then thinking without doubt to have attained the Red, endeavoured to imbibe it, but found the assay was in vain, because I had suffered it to cool, which as a proof shewed me I was unskill'd therein; although Nature disdain'd. not to bring me to the Black, which being past there appeared may gay Colours and afterwards an admirable White, but yet far short of what I most desired. Thus by many trials I had now brought my mercury to very little or nothing, when I considered how foolishly I had wasted that which might have enabled me to perform many great and charitable Actions, and that now all my Menstruum with my Art was at an end. Although the skill I have since gained I have reason to boast of: Then I praised God with a most thankful Mind, that he I had shewed me the Truth by a most infallible Demonstration, such as none can be so stupid as to disbelieve; and what I have seen and here explained, will remain to me a consolation under all my Losses.

At last, it was my good Fate once more to meet with my good Friend, to whom I related what had happened to me, in the Experiments I had made, praying him to forget my folly, and hopeing he would again supply me, but herein I was much deceived: For when he understood what I had try'd, and what God had prospered me to see, he saw that if he supplied me anew I then could go to the Hesperian Tree, and pluck the Apples at my pleasure; which might enable me, if I listen, to do much mischief to honest Men. Thus therefore he said to me, Friend, if that God hath chose you to the Art, he will in due time bestow the sane on you, but if he in his wisdom know you are unfit, or that you would do mischief therewith, accursed shall that Man be who shall Arm a mad Man, to do others harm. When you were ignorant I gave you a great Gift, but such it was as might itself destroy if Heaven so ordain'd; nor is it meet I see, that you at present should enjoy it; What. therefore Heaven hath deny'd I may not grant, otherwise I should be guilty of the ill you night do.

This Lesson of so much Divinity, at the sane time I heartily confess did nothing please me, for as my hopes on him did chiefly rely, which by this his Answer did me much distress For said he, the Fates have granted, to you the knowledge thereof, but yet the Thing must now by you be wanted.

Then strait I gave him for to understand how that God had taught me the knowledge of the Water, by which I said I may in time command what you deny, and therefore am resolved, to try; Nay then, quoth he, attend to what I shall say, which will be of good to you, and for which you may bless this Day.

Know then that we are severely bound by the strongest Vows, never to supply any Man by our Art, who if he had it at will, might thereby confound the World, and whatsoever ill he acted upon that account, would all be charged upon him who so prostituted the same. Now then consider what a prize you had, both of the Stone and the Mercury, would not anyone thought that Man mad, that should loose so much, without any Reason why? but Indeed had true Reason been your guide, you might e're now, with what I gave you have had enough. For had you taken Gold most perfectly pure, and added to it but one Grain of this our Stone in fusion, they would surely have united, then night you with that Mercury have gone about the Work, with which this Gold would have mixed spedily. And hereby your Work had been very much shortened, which you might then have easily governed to the Red, whereto being arrived, you saw how I with such Sulphur and Mercury weded new Gold, you saw the Pondus, the time, and heat, what more could you have wished for to have gained the Art?

But now seeing also that you know the Art how to prepare this fiery Mercury, you might therefore have been so stored, that few should have had more, wherefore do you not perceive how cod is averse to your Work, to cause you thus to waste the same? Perhaps he sees that you would lewdly break his holy Laws, or do some ill deed, and therefore altho he hath imparted to you the knowledge thereof, yet by his providence, I plainly see that he will have you for some years to want the enjoyment of that which you would so misuse.

Now know that if in this Art you make assay without a Ferment, then beware you do not thereby oftens err, by thus straying from the right path, which by all your care cannot be avoided, nor perhaps shall you ever attain this treasure, which is the Gift of God alone. For should you take the most direct Course, yet shall a year be spent before you find the perfect period, but if you pursue wrong ways, you shall oftentimes be put a year behind, and must then again renew your Charge and Pains; in which Time if your Mind be not free from incumbring or distracting Cares, you shall surely meet with a thousand perils and Losses; which you can ill support; Therefore attend carefully to my Council, and I shall now conditionally shew you the Secret.

You here before the Almighty God shall swear, that for a Time you shall keep from attempting that which I shall now declare unto you, nor shall you in that Time, (although Death should Intervene) reveal some points which on this condition l shall disclose: I sware, and so he freely opened his Mind, and did declare all those secrets to me, and to assure me that he did not deceive me, I beheld ay 3yes those Lights most rare. Thereof I shall now full honestly treat, nor shall I hide anything but what is not meet to be disclosed. For my oath I shall inviolably preserve, as I ought; Notwithstanding, there is no Son of Art, but by what I discover may find out the Reserve, if he seeks with an upright heart and a sound Judgment, for want of which rash Searchers are frequently confounded.

I shall not need to bring more Examples, the Art l affirm is true and sure, though hard to find, which is not to be purchased with the Riches of a King, nor yet is it debarred from a vulgar Mind; if therefore Fates the call, then follow me into a Royal palace whither few do go.

The End of the Second Book.

To rehearse the Adventures for the Golden Fleece is a Noble Subject, fit to employ the Quill of the most sublime Wits that Greece ever produced; and therefore I have need to crave the Muse aid to express myself in such fluent Speech as may be proper to adorn so sob lime a Subject. The Indies therewith may not be compared, being a Gift of all temporal Things most to be prized; he that hath a snare in this most secret Art, shall admire in the Creatures the Creators excellence, who hath preheminence above all. This is the Sythe that with one stroak cuts down all Covetousness, the root of all evil: which who so possesseth feareth not any frowns of fortune, but casts Monentary Things at his feet, whose chief Employment is only to behold his God, accounting of Gold, silver, and Gems as Rubbish thereto. This is the Tree of Life which preserveth the Human Body from Sickness, reneweth Youth, and suffereth not Nature to swerve, but Keepeth it intire; By this rare Art accrues, Riches, with length of Days, and freedom from Sickness; only the Destiny of Death, which all are subject to, cannot be avoided: But yet to live in health, and therewithal to have whatever this Life hath need off, that he never need fear want, must needs be a great Bliss to him that enjoys it. And besides the enjoyment of ones self to have power of doing what good he lists, in relieving the poor, and bestowing on other pious uses whatever the Mind may suggest, how happy a State must it be, and what more blest?

Then brake my Muse into a joyful Strain, Sing out aloud, and raise thy Spirits to celebrate this Art, Let all thy Notes be carried in a lofty Vein, no praise can be too great, oh happy are they who know it, whose Secrets these few Lines do fully shew. Let Croesus hide his head, and Midas Treasure no more be remembered, for why 'tis sure that their vast Wealth was bounded, nor could their Wealth their faiding Bodies cure, or preserve; But lo here is a Spring of Wealth, a Tree of Life; no Wealth so great, nor can any Sickness here abide. Here as in a Map, thou seest all the Creatures abridged, and reduced to their perfection, here thou beholdest in a small Subject a full protection from the Miseries of this World, therefore rejoyce, and give God alone the Glory; And now we proceed to the intended subject.

First, Gold sits as prince supreme, and head of all the Bodies contained, in the Mineral Kingdom, whose Body no force can destroy, having virtue and constancy sufficient to endure the fiersest Fire, wherein it is purified by seperating therefrom it foulness, and this named the Terrestial Sun.

Luna is the next thereto in dignity placed, being a pure Body, but wanting some part of the perfection of Sol, yet endued with permanency sufficient to abide the Fire, wherein other Metals are destroy'd.

The other Four, viz: Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn, contain so much of crudity, that they are esteemed vile, yet I shall be bold to averr that he who can descry the inward Virtue of the said planets, shall find them to be all fram'd of the true Matter of Sol.

Mars is the stout and valiant God of War, whose Body is vile, and little esteem'd, out is of courage fierce, conquering far and near, all its sturdy opposites, and by its rough outside it may be deem'd to inclose a hidden Spirit whose full Virtue no Man knows.

Venus is a fair planet, the God of Love, whose Beauty allures Mars the stout God of War, and who so hath Wit to obtain her Central Salt shall find a Key which assures the Owner thereof to find all Secrets therewith; of which I shall say no more for this hath not before been disclos'd by any.

Jupiter is a propitious bright Planet, and so benign, that of all the Gods there is none more glorious, if so thy Sight can behold our true Jove, betwixt whom and the Vulgar is a very great difference, for what we call ours derives his source from old Saturn.

Saturn, is a Melancholly God, who having devour'd a Stone, thought that he had eaten Jove, but finding himself deceived, he was surly and would not be comforted, for straightway when this Stone Abadir came into his bowels, it changed, the Eater into another frame. Old Aberipe, who used to eat his Childen, had of this Stone begot a Son, who proved such uncouth Meal in his Sire's stomac, that forthwith he grew melancholly and from this Son, as I have heard it said was engendered most noble Abrettane.

Besides these Six names Planets, there is one remaining of a wonderful Nature, is name is Mercury, for he alone is the Messenger of the Gods, but is dull until he receive a new Life, till which he never will deceive foolish Artists.

And thus the Gods in order I have named, and shall now shew the Pedegree of each, their Lineage, Habbit, and how in Manners fram'd, also I shall rehearse their whole Dignity, for this makes such to our purpose, therefor Reader be attentive.

The first Matter of Metals is Mercury, being a moisture that floweth, yet weeteth not the hands, and therefore it is called a dry Water, the vulgar is at everyones command, the which is not for our purpose, for in our Water is our Secret Fire. This Matter while it did retain its Life, was apt to procreate all Metals, but this Life being gone it remaineth as dead, until a new Soul shall re-animate it. This Matter is of kind of all Metals, all of which do hide Mercury within them. But it is nearest ally'd to Gold, next to Luna, then to Jupiter, and after to Saturn, as hath been experienced by many who have sought this Art: but it is off less affinity to red Venus, and least of all to Mars, wherewith it will not be united. That it hath most affinity to Gold may hence appear, first by their equal weight, and next by their components constancy, for neither it nor Gold, by any devise will suffer any division of their Principles, Which cannot be separated; except by one only Humidity, which divides in a Way of Generation, sweetly untying their Elements, and after combining then, thereby enables then for propagation: And also by one strange Liquor which dissolveth all Concretes into their first Matter, dividing their principles assunder, and changeth them from their Nature. These two excepted, there is no other way that hath been attempted could destroy then: Therefore it is no wonder that old Artists by a most firm Rules have decreed, the difficulty of unloosing this Secret Seed.

He then who knows the Parts of Mercury, and can separate its superfluities, and then vivifie it with a true Sulphur, (for although it be flowing it is still dead) he may with ease unlock Gold, and after re-congeal both into an Essence, with which all griefs are healed.

O! Mercury, thou wonder of the world, how strange is thy nature, how compact a Body dost thou possess, wherein is infolded a Spirit inexpressible, wherewith to Act our Mysteries: This is our water, our secret Fire, which we desire and seek. For Argent-vive is Gold essential, only it is unripe, which if thou canst by Art prepare, it gives thee our secret Menstruum the Mother of Our Stone, so rare, this we name our Oyl, our Ungent, our Marchasite, and our bright Fountain.

O Christal Fountain which from a fourfold Spring distilling its pearl'd drops runs down the valleys wherewith our Noble King is washed, and again carried to the top of the Mountains, where he receives the virtue of the Heaven's, which when fixed never after leaves him.

This is our Maydew, which moveth our Earth to bring forth Fruit, which Fruit is perfect Gold; this is our Eve whom Adam so much doth love, that in her Arms (strange as it may seem) she doth his Soul receive, who before was seen as dead, which being quickened, at first it appears of a Green Colour.

Next unto Mercury in the first degres of Mettaline digestion is found old Saturn, who although he appeareth vile and base yet he is the Ground of all our Secret. Thus then in Essence Mercury is Gold, in form it is Saturnine, Earthy, moist and cold; l mean that Mercury which at first presenteth itself to each Artists Eye, and is called vulgar; which to our purpose is quite unserviceable; the reason whereof if you desire to know; take this for an Answer, that no dead thing can make dead thing living, nor can that which in its Substance is foal and filthy cause a transcender purity in another, nor yet can that which wanteth a Soul cause a fixed Body to become volatile, and therefore there must be a near affinity, or else in vain shall all your endeavours prove.

Hence it may be asked what is then to be understood? Even thus, that in Saturn there is hid an immortal Soul which lies in close Prison, which hindereth its appearance to sight, untie its Fetters, and then shall arise a vapour shining like to Orient Pearl, which is our Moon and sparkling Firmament.

To Saturn, Mars is tied with bonds of love who is by him devoured. the mighty force of whose Spirit doth Saturn's Body divide, and then both combining yeildeth a secret Source from whence floweth a wondrous bright Water in which the Sun doth set and loose his light.

Dame Venus appeareth a most shining Star, who is to Mars expoused, and by him embraced; Their influences must be united, for She alone is the only Mean betwixt the Sun and our true Argent Vive so to unite them, that they may for ever remain in concord.

If I should here declare the Generation of all the Metals, it would require a large Volume, and therefore at present I shall omit these and many other things less necessary to the knowledge of our Art, which night only prove a hinderance and confound a Learner in his Search thereof, and shall now proceed to answer the desires of an Artist by shewing a certain Ground whereon with hope he may rely, wherein I intend to avoid all dark and ambiguous words, and handle that chiefly which is most to our purpose.

And first, I shall lay down the Definition of that rare Substance we so highly prize, which causeth Metals to change their Condition from imperfect Bodies to perfect, as by tryal of the Test, touch and sight hath been proved. It is a Metalline Substance, otherwise it with Metals could not agree, and is of the essence of Sol, or else it could not tinge crude Mercury, Saturn, and all other Metals, as it doth, to the dignity of Gold, whereunto it addeth both Fixation and Pondus: But yet it doth far exceed the simple Virtue of Gold, or else it could not in the least communicate of its own Tincture, without debasing itself, since nothing can graduate an unripe Matter to its own degree, unless it transcend in ripeness. It is also of a Spiritual Nature otherwise it could never penetrate Bodies, and divide the pure from the impure, which to that end requires them to be fully perfected. And yet besides its penetrative power, it must also contain a very great Fixity, since that which is Volatile cannot be retained but by a fixed Agent, whose Spirit and Body are intimately united; for nothing can give what it hath not.

So then in brief, to recollect all the properties, Our Stone is no other but the pure essence of Gold, which that it might be able to effect what we seek, its Spirit doth firmly hold, the Body, and both together make a new substance, being a real Spirit, and yet a true Body: It is a fine powder like the Adorns of the Sun, white for the White, and red for the Red projection. The Metals Tincted thereby exceeding those of the Mine in purity, such is its perfection, that he who hath it may in an hours time or less perform his desire.

At first, indeed, it is but of small Virtue compar'd with the Powder it doth attain by reiterate Dissolution and Congelation, and he who shall thus increase its Virtue, will obtain a Medicine able to Transmute innumerable parts of any base Metal to the State of Sol. 'Tis very ponderous and yet is divided into small Grains or Powder, appearing as soft as Silk: On Metals in flux like wax it penetrateth to the very Center, even as the sour Rennet penetrateth and curdleth milk in a minute, or as boyling Oyl peirceth instantly through loose paper; So doth our Stone enter the softer Metals without smoak, when by force of Fire they are made to flow, and those harder Metals, (not so easily to be fluxed) when only they are brought to a glowing heat, or if you intend to cast your essence on Argent-vive, then first let it stand so long on Fire until it be ready to fly, which then you must suddenly countermand or stay by throwing thereon One Grain or more of your Essence, whereby that fugitive Metal becometh intirely fixed.

But the best Way is to project this Medicine on a portion of that pure Metal for which the powder is prepared to produce; viz; the Red on Gold, and the White on Silver, throwing One part of your Stone upon Four or Five of the Metal: then will the mass be brittle like Glass, appearing of a bright shining Colour, glittering like to a fair Rubie, yet not transparent; thus you will fine its Virtue proportionably lessened, which then with care you must cast upon Ten parts of Argent-vive, and in this proportion continue this projection so often until you perceive the Tincture decreased so much that the mass hath attained the Consistence and properties of a Metal: which being done, you shall with pleasure receive from the Fire most perfect Sol, or Luna.

But if thou desirest to augment thy Essence in Virtue, or weight, thou mayest so work, that thy Stock with use shall never be spent, for so great a power lieth hid in this Stone, that like Fire it is apt to multiply itself both in weight, and Virtue. I once saw a portion of the Red Medicine of such great Virtue, as by proof, did farr exceed any Mans belief; which for the sake of those that are seeking this science I shall now fully declare, whereby it will appear that it is not a groundless or useless Art, as many have thought; For some, though they deney not the reallty thereof as having been convinced by Reason and the plain witness of such whom it would be unjust to vilifie; Yet because they mistaking our true Operations, and following those whom we have warn'd them to eschew, and thereby meeting with continual disappointments therein, cease not to complain of us and our Art: For they thinking that we extract the Soul of Gold from a large Mass, and obtaining but a small Substance therefrom, which though it doth certainly Tinge, yet that scarce so much Gold will from thence proceed, to abide the tryal of the Fire and test, as was first used for obtaining that Tinging Seed. So that if this Labour thus redound to their Loss, whatever pleasure might appear in the Work, yet it must of coarse increase their wants and therefore they think such Skill purchased too dear.

This is the objection so often cast into the artists dish; But I who have often beheld these Secrets, and with curiosity observ'd their progress, and the reason thereof, an compel'd to stand up in defence of its truth and dignity; nor shall the cavils of the ignorant or envious cause me for to condemn the most Noble Laws of Nature.

I saw then, as I said, a Powder so encreased in Vertue (as is scarce credible) whereof so small a quantity as scarce shewed a Grain in bulk, nor indeed weighed much more, which yet was of power to transmute into most perfect Gold, so great a quantity as no Man by Art could well Number: For that Grain was projected upon one ounce, which was thereby all made essence, one Grain of which was again cast upon ten times as much, that is One ounce on ten, and these likewise on Ten times more, which yet was all made into Medicine, and one of these again cast upon Ten times more did not suffice to reduce it to a Metal, nor was it so allay'd with these former projections, but that one part thereof at last Tinged Ninety Thousand and more.

Onceforth rash Censorrors cease to reproach this Noble Art, so just and useful, whereof Sophisters know nothing, and by consequence are unable to teach it to others; their chief aim being to maintain their Lusts and Ambition, by whom the world is much abused, whose Errors this Treatise doth fully expose. And therefore thou who art a lover of Truth, be advised, and beware lest thou also be seduced by then, who thro' Envy were induced to treat of this Art; in many of whose Books scarce a tittle of Truth is to be found.

For know that this Art, although she hath many Lovers who do her fondly sue, yet remaineth a pure Virgin; for she scorns a Sophister, and disdains to inhabit an untrue breast; notwithstanding which, many press eagerly to win the Golden Fleece, which is the masterpiece of their aims. But a true Son of Art prizeth Wisdon above all Earthly good, whereunto his desires are chiefly bent, and not foolishly endeavouring by Riches to aspire to Ambition; his study being wholly inclined to knowledge, and prizing the Riches of the Mind. To such alone l intend these Labours, to there write, but all others exclude, advising them rather to forsake their foolish fancies, by which they delude themselves and bring their Works and themselves to ruin.

Our Art therefore, which we so much esteem, is not as many Men conceive, of so great Labour and charge, but that it may with Nature's leave, be perfected unto the Red in less space than a Year. And who wou'd grudge. that time, when he recollecteth that the Musbandman waiteth no less space e're he expects to find his Crop: whose Seed though at first is sowed in Autumn, yet e're it be Reap'd and Thrasht, and fit to eat, a Year or more is spent; and yet his patience is not weary, but waiteth until Autumn and Winter be both past, and obtained the early rains of the Spring, with parching Heat of Summer, and the later rains, without impatience waiteth his expected Harvest. And yet after all his hard Labour and Charges, and the innumerable hazards that may befal the same (in which none can promise success) his profit is scarcely Six for One, yet the sweet expected all the sour allays.

The Charge, in this Art, if anyone desire to know, I shall herein give the Wisemens resolution, by which he that would proceed herein may try his Skill, and may believe without doubt, that if his Charge exceed the price of five pieces (or Guineas} he may be sure that he is unlike to speed; his Heat indeed requireth a constant expense, but yet with one Heat he effects so many Works, as thereby to save the Charge in others, and likewise, by this means make the time seem less tedious, of which I shall further discourse by and by.

But if he shall employ only one Glass, and one furnace, yet may ten pounds be sufficient for the total Charge, and yet shall have Store enough while he liveth, although he should expend as much as any Monarch in the world, so much may thy Substance be increased both in Vertue and Quantity.

But he who prizeth Natural knowledge, cannot be so barren of true science, as not to know how to perform some other Secrets besides, wherewithal to employ his Fire, whom curiosity may invite to try many pleasant Experiments in Chymistry. Such therefore may have their Furnace so contrived, that with one Fire, they may both Putrefie. Digest, Ferment, and Distil, and so save the toyl and charge of many Furnaces, and thus nay many heats be obtain'd, which yet may no whit hinder the Operation of thy Secret Work.

But what if the Work should cost Twenty pieces? of which half may serve, if order'd right, and though also sometimes the work, thro' Error, may happen to be lost, yet can the loss be no ways great, nor may the hazard be once compared to the expected profit; although very few attain it. For though One thing, one Glass, one furnace, one fire, and one government, compleateth the whole Work; yet may many classes with one fire, with ease be brought to perfection, since the Seat or Nest which containeth one Egg, may by Art be made to impart heat to more. It sufficeth therefore to put into one Glass so much of the Composition as may cost the price of half an ounce of Gold, which being shut close with the Seal of Hermes, there will be no fear of its being lost, except some error be committed, which how to avoid I shall faithfully teach.

The Matter which we take in hand for this our secret work is Gold and Mercury, which we digest so long until neither of them will part from the other, they still keeping their principles and form, until the fire by putrefaction changeth them into a more noble State: which whensoever God doth so farr favour to see, he cannot by uncouth hap destroy his Work e're it hath run its race, since there scarce seemth any room left for error, at least to a Wise Operator, who will not carelessly loose so great a prize? But if his Work, by some mischance, should not proceed in due course to its desired period, yet will he only loose his time and Fire, which will be no great loss, since his Gold and Mercury still remain she same they were before; and therefore he may soon renew his Work at pleasure.

Having; brought you thus farr on your way, I shall yet further friendly lead you on therein, and truly shew you how to attain your desired End: Therefore mark well what I say, and desire of God he would so guide both you and me therein, that neither of us may go astray.

The End of the Third Book.

Of the praise of Alchemy we have already spoken much and that worthily, being a Subject so Noble, and of such matchless worth, that many have rightly esteem'd it a divine Art: But now the only thing to be explained, is how, and by what Means to attain the same. For many who having sought it with great pains, and vast expense of money and time have obtained, nothing but beggery, which having proved so fatal to many a one, is therefore by most Men deem'd a feign'd Art. For who hath not heard of the sad complaints of many who by the Search thereof have been reduced to want, and to live in misery? And on the other hand who hath ever heard of any that by this skill did encrease his wealth? And from hence therefore, some thing they may justly infer that the thing is a meer Fable, which those artists are unable to demonstrate.

I shall not undertake the task of handling all the Schemes of erroneous processes, because from thence the Reader would reap cut small profit, who no doubt would much rather be directed in the true Study of nature's Laws, than undergo the trouble of reviewing the Sophistries of the erroneous Crew: Yet here and there I shall detect the errors of those Artists who deviate from the true Way, who would Nature like a lump of Vax to their own Chimeras, but which upon proof they find that they have labour'd out of Kind.

The Matter, which we first take in hand, for our Work, is only Gold and Mercury, which we decoct until neither of the will forsake the other, in which operation by putrefaction they both rot and die, and afterwards are again regenerated in Glory. And although, in words, all do confess this Truth, because all the Magi have decreed this to be their only Matter yet Fools do so strangely expound our words, that for Gold they suppose we mean I know not what vile Substances, and so to save Charges, content themselves with Dross or Turds; not recollecting that what they in this Art call Gold, no Man in payment would take for Silver.

For so stupidly ignorant have some been, as to make use of Humane dung, as the Matter wherewith to obtain our secret Stone; And in support of this wild Notion quoteth Morian where he speaketh thus, that our Stone is found upon a Dunghil, which, say they, what can it denote but human Ordure since also he saith to Kalid, that if he desired to see the true Mine of our Secret Stone, he should look within himself, and need not to seek in anywhere else. Another taketh urine, and this saith he is the Mercury which the Wise men hide, and for want whereof, so many miss the mark, this he mixeth with the Essence of the purest Wine, and therewith thinketh to catch our divine Stone. Some seek their Matter in Herbs, some in simple water cought from the clouds, some in Dew, some do choose the juyce of Toads prepar'd with arsnick, some seek it in the flame of fire, some in the Sun-beames, others endeavour to catch the influence or the moon with a Glass, some to fix the influx of the Sky in some certain Matter, others judge Saltpetre to be the true matter, and hunt for it amongst dead men Bones, and mouldred Carkases, from which with great pains and drudgery they hope to obtain the true Matter, and others confidently affirm it is to be found in Marle.

So obstinately conceited are they in these erroneous notions, that if you reason with them about their work, they will tell you of a monstrous uncouth Sperm called Panspermion, this, without contradiction, they say, must be the Chaos of which every thing that is found in the Earth is made, and out of which all things are brought forth; It having, as they say, a being, yet no proper form, and being a now specificated Subject, is therefore apt to procreate all things. Such is their faith, that is wrapt in a Vision, they fancy they see the true Matter therein, which alass they know not where to find. And this they call their living Gold, their Mercury, this is their Limbus, and their secret fire; yet gross Sotts have not sence enough to see the folly of their Conceits.

For it is certain, that whatever Matter equals not Gold in weight, will never in flux enter into it, how then should Nature so forget her strict Laws thus to please the sordid fancies of those dotards: For the meanes Metallurgist very well knows that nothing but Metalline Subjects can be united with Metals. This is the reason that the Faeces in crude or unripe Metals are not united to their central part, and none are so ignorant in Alchemy, but knows that if these may be severed, that they are distinct from the pure Substance.

Therefore consider, that although there be a Sperm from whence Animals and vegetables are engendered, yet could not that produce us any minerals; the Reason is plain; because that then it must penetrate itself Ten times in weight to create a Metal. Likewise Gold doth exceed water in weight Sixteen times, and water is the only food that encreaseth the Vegetable and Animal seed; And although wood and flesh are not much different in weight, yet will not one sperm ever produce either. And although in the general, ther doth appear in Matter a more remote Affinity; whence a dead Carkese may cause a Tree, if dunged therewith, to bear its fruit more abundantly, as likewise Corn and fruit doth encrease the growth of living Creatures, which no doubt doth proceed from some proper affinity: But Gold, Gems, and Stones, or suchlike things, are apparently so farr different from the nature of Man or Beast, that they can never by any Art be made proper food to nourish then withal, or asswage their hunger. For betwixt things that are assimilated by Transmutation, there must intercede preceedent likeness, or else no amortal endeavours can cause an union: Thus Metals are fed of their own proper moisture, and not by that of a different Kind.

'Tis true, Nature knows how of water to make a Metalline Body, when once the seed of Metals inhabiting therein beginneth to operate; yet still it is decreed that Nature herself, throughout her whole Race, shall be confin'd to her own proper place: Thus Human Seed resides in Man, and like of Beasts, and all other Species of living creatures; Moreover there is a certain Spirit, which lieth hid in every gross Body, which guides each thing according to its own proper kind, so exactly, that nothing may vary from its destin'd Course.

Why then do those blind fools seek from our Secret Stone of Gold in Subjects so farr remote? or how could they imagine that such a noble vertue lieth hid in Nitre, Urine, Dew, or Clay, etc, as to be able to change crude Metals into the weight and fixity of the pure? which is utterly impossible.

We therefore conclude, that since we seek Gold, Gold alone must be the true Subject of our Art, which every Artist doth aver, and also Reason itself doth confirm the same, and therefore this is the certain foundation of all our Secrets.

And now to unfold the riddles of the wise, who of this Subject have written very Mystically, which therefore I need not do; since many who have promised to unfold the same, have yet through envy hid it as much as possible, while others, who knew nothing of the Art, have been too forward in writing what they understood not.

Morien, a Noble Son of Art, I confess hath darkly expressed the truth, yet not with deceit or feigned delusions, but hath in a hidden dress so disposed his discourse to Kalid, as not intending that all things should therein be disclosed. For whereas he warned the King to dscend into himself for to find the Matter of this our Stone, thereby intending only to point out, how kind begetteth kind, that like as himself did beget his own likeness, so Gold must beget Gold, according to the fixt Law of Nature, yet Gold of itself alone is only perfect, bat that perfection can spare no part to others, without being thereby embased, for whatever is mixed therewith can never partake thereof, nor advance its imperfections above its former Nature: One reason whereof I have given before, and another is because of its Corporality, by reason whereof the same infusion can only mix in a confused manner, while both do still retain their own proper qualities distinct, although to sight they appear conjoin'd. Therefore he wisely adds, that unless we find our secret Stone in a Dunghill; what is, Gold must be brought to Putrefaction, which is then compared to a Dunghill; otherwise there is none that can by any work perfect their intention of fixing Metals to abide the fire.

The Magi have used allegories of things that are well known to explain their hidden secret, whose meaning he doth much mistake who interprets their words literally; for who but a fool would by a goat, and hope to have a horse? (as they call it) and seek to make it rot and putrefie, yet can they not be purswade to think in the Vulgar Gold, which they reject with disdain ; Because, say they, all true authors with one Voice profess that their Gold differs very much from the Common, and that theirs doth possess a vital Spirit and living, but that the other is dead; and therefore conclude that he who useth Vulgar Gold proceedeth in an erroneous way.

But he who considers well the Law of Nature shall find that Gold is only one, nor is there any other Substance that may be compared therewith; this is our Stone, which we digest into a pure essence, that may both tinge other metals, and make them able to endure the fire: for what is Gold, but of all Metals the purest, the most fixed, and of greatest weight; There being no Metals or Mineral that can by any human Art be brought to shew the properties of Gold, but that then all Learned Me would confess it to be real Gold.

Wherefore, Gold is then the Noble Seed of this our Art, which as yet is streightly lockt up, seeming as it were dead, and he that shall work upon it in this State, shall surely be deceived; therefore it hath need of our Art to unloose the same, and make it to relent into a mineral Water, before it can shew its active Vertue.

For Example, observe a Grain of wheat, in which lieth hid an active and multiplicative power, yet must it be sown in the Earth and there a die and rotting; pass through Corruption, before any encrease can be expected, which before could not truly be called Seed, but Corn, whereon both Man and Beast may feed, But should a Musbandman be so foolish as to commit this grain to the Fire, and hope from thence to reap a Crop, would any wonder if his fond expectation should prove fruitless; in opposition to which folly, is may be truly said the Grain is utterly destroyed and for ever made incapable of multiplication: for each thing hath naturally a fitt disposition to attain a certain effect, which by various Operations are changed into different Conditions; which the Artist should duly observe; Thus wheat ground to flower is not Seed, but the Matter whereof bread is made, whose Vital power is dead. If it be Malted, thereof may be made Beer; and it is then unfit for bread; If it be prepared for Starch it is then unfit for either of the former purposes; and if it be calcined by the fire, it will then differ from all the aforenamed Operations, and yield a fixed salt: And thus of One entire Substance, may a thousand things be formed: whence it plainly appears, that he who misseth the right disposition although he work on the true Subject, yet will he never attain the end he propounds, because he proceeds inconsistently with its proper disposition.

Now to apply these Example to our purpose, suppose a Man take Gold and vulgar Mercury, and thereof made an Amalgama, which although it be fit for those Artists who Guild superficially, yet it is not the true Matter of our Art, and this procedure we reject; or, suppose this mixture be set to digest in a circulating Heat, I well admit it will yeild precipitate, when all the moisture of Mercury is evaporated, but yet this differs much from our secret Stone, whereto this work is erroneous. But when Gold is tempered with its own proper Humidity, and inclosed in a fit Glass, and then digested with due heat, by and by it begins to Act, for being thus disposed 'tis like to good Seed cast into good Ground, which will augment itself in proper Kind.

That needs more to be said? since it is most evident from Reason, as also the Testimony of others, that our Matter is Gold, which hast be mixed with our true Matter, which many seek but few find; this then must be put into a proper vessel and securely closed up, and placed in its proper nest, then applying a due fire, it will stir it up to Motion, which take care to keep continued in a proper degree, neither too great nor too small; And then I bind my Faith, and the credit of my name thy Work shall have Success.

Gold then in whatever Form it appears, is still Gold, if it be stampt it is called Coin, or it may be formed into a Ring, or a thousand other things; but if it be corroded with a Mater called Chrysulca, which every vulgar Chemist sells, and then with a Lye of tartar made to fall to the botton, it gives a Powder called Selopetant Gold, which with a touch fires with a most fearful thundering Crack, rending downwards with so powerful force as is scarce to be believed; which is a curiosity hath been found out by many, with divers other changes.

So then as Gold is used it becomes the Matter for one or another purpose, but as yet it is not ours untill by a retrograde motion it be resolved into a fluid Substance, which is then our Sun and our Marchasite join'd with our Moon, und our bright Chystal Fontain.

As then every Earth is not fit for each seed, so neither is every Metalline Water for our Art; they who hit upon our true Mater have obtain'd the hidden part of our rare Stone, which if they can espouse to the Sun, by digesting both in a proper vessel with a due fire; I may be bold to say they may go to the Hesperian tree and pluck its apples; And such may advance Corporal Gold to such a degree of perfection, as will enable it to enter, tinge and fix all imperfect Metals into most fine Gold.

If you desire to learn the secret of this Mercury, attend carefully to what l shall further say: For that Matter is a Water, and yet it is a Fire, which conquers bodies, and changeth then from a fixed, to a pore Spiritual flying Substance, which afterwards becometh so fix'd as to endure all Fire.

This Water floweth from a four-fold Spring, which yet is but Three, which but two, which but One; This is the only bath wherein to bathe oar King; this is our May-dew, our flying Stone, and our Bird of Hermes, flying in the Mountains, and always crying yet without Voice. It is Saturn's offspring who keepeth a Well, wherein you must cause Mars to be drown'd then let Saturn in this well behold his face, which will then see fresh, young and tender, and when the souls of both are thus mixed together, they will be much amended by each other; Then lo, a starr shall fall into this Well whose lustrous raies will cause the Earth to shine. Let Venus also add her influence for she is the Nurse of this our Divine Stone, and the bond of all Crystalline Mercury.

This is the Spring in which our Sun must die, this is our Lunar Juice, our Moo and the Hesperian Garden, and happy are they who know how to prepare it, for they may soon climb to the tops of the Mountain where perpetual Day banisheth all Darkness and obscurity, of which Art you shall hear by and by.

Take thou that substance, which is called Saturn's Child, and is that Serpent which thou shall see devour Cadmus and his Companions; this Substance although it be much defil'd yet thou shall with a gentle Shower wash off its Blackness until the noon appeareth most shining bright, and then know that the day is near; when thou shall then see a carkase anatomized, whioh is our venemous Toad, by us so highly prized; then cause this to loose its' venome, which may be attain'd by bleeding, the blood preserve carefully, and here l have disclosed all I dare.

Let seven Eagles carry this aloft, for Air with Air will easily ascend, and let it as oft descend to the Earth, because the Earth must thereinto lend its influence; then with a gentle fire remove the faeces, and you will have the substance we much esteem.

This is a Water, shining very bright, which must be mixed with Sol in our proportion, nest learn the due Heat proper to be administer'd, and thy sight shall teach the rest whence the Lion being enraged shall make a bloody fight with the Eagles, and all shall end in most dismal darkness.

But oh: beware, in this Work, that impatience do not cause the to transgress the Laws of nature; for no Man sooner errs through heat or cold, than he who hath not patience to wait is proper Time. Move not nor open thy Glass, neither increase thy Fire rashly, for one Hour wrong may cost the dear, there being nothing in the whole Operation thou needest so much to fear, as too much Fire, therefore govern thy Fire carefully and diligently, and with patience wait the desired End.

If this Part be accepted, and find such a welcome as It deserveth, I shall out of Love, and a desire to serve the Studious shortly publish the practice part in Three Books: At present take this, read and accept if for the sake of the Giver.

Sic Explicit pars prima Theorica.