[[Fol. 10.]]
[By the grace of God I translate you this Treatise revealed to
Hermes by an angel after Noah’s flood, that the knowledge of
this book may be preserved to the end of the world.]
With þe myȝt, wisdom, & grace of þe holy trynite, I write
to ȝou a tretice in englisch breuely drawe out of þe
book of quintis e{ss}encijs in latyn, þ{a}t hermys þe p{ro}phete and
kyng of Egipt, aft{er} the flood of Noe, fadir of philosophris, 4
hadde by reuelaciou{n} of an aungil of god to him sende, þ{a}t
þe wijsdom and þe science of þis book schulde not p{er}ische,
but be kept and p{re}serued vnto þe eende of þe world, of alle
holy men from al wickid peple and tyrauntis, for greet p{er}ilis 8
þat myȝte falle þerof. For wiþi{n}ne þis breue tretis, wiþ þe
g{ra}ce of god, I wole more determine of practif[*] þan of theorik.
[[* practise, MS. Harl.]]
[God’s greatest secret for man’s need is how to restore old
feeble men to the strength of their youth, except in case of
thunder-blast, and too much fasting, and the term set for all
men.]
ȝitt ben boþe nedeful / The firste and souereyneste p{ri}uyte þat
god, maker of kynde, ordeyned for mannys nede, how þat olde 12
euangelik men, and feble in kynde, myȝte be restorid, and haue
aȝen her firste strenkþis of ȝongþe in þe same degree þat is in
al kynde, & be m{a}d hool p{ar}fiȝtly, except þe strok of þe
þundir blast, & violent brusuris, and oppressynge of to myche 16
betynge / Also p{er}ilous fallyngis of hiȝ placis, to myche abstynence,
& oþ{er}e yuel gou{er}naunce aȝens kynde, And also þe
teerme þ{a}t is sett of god, þ{a}t noman may a-schape, as Iob seiþ in
latyn / “Breues dies ho{min}is s{un}t &c.” Forsoþe philosophoris 20
[‘N{ot}a.’]
[Page 2: THE NAMES AND QUALITIES OF QUINTE ESSENCE.]
[The purest substance of corruptible things is Quinte Essence
or man’s heaven.]
clepen þe purest substau{n}ce of manye corruptible þi{n}gis elementid,
‘qui{n}ta e{ss}encia,’ þat is to seie, ‘ma{n}nys heuene,’ drawe out
by craft of mani;[1] for whi, as quinta e{ss}encia sup{er}ior, þ{a}t is,
[Footnote 1: ? MS. meant for ‘man.’]
[[* Fol. 10b.]]
heuene of oure lord god, in reward of þe .iiij elementis, is 4
yncorruptible & vnchau{n}geable /
riȝt so [*]q{ui}nta e{ss}encia sup{er}ior
[Quinte Essence is incorruptible as to the four qualities of
man’s body, but not as the heaven of God.]
inferior, þat is to seie, ma{n}nys heuene, is incorruptible,
in reward of þe .4. q{ua}litees of mannys body; and so it is
p{re}ued naturaly þat oure quinta e{ss}encia, þat is, mannes heuene, 8
in it-silf[2] is incorruptible; and so it is not hoot and drie wiþ
[Footnote 2: MS. ‘siff.’]
fier / ne coold and moist wiþ watir / ne hoot & moist w{i}t{h} eyr,
ne coold and drie wiþ erþe; but oure q{ui}nta e{ss}e{nci}a avayliþ to
þe cont{ra}rie, as heuene incorruptible / But vndirstonde þ{a}t oure 12
q{ui}[n]ta e{ss}e{nci}a is nouȝt so incorruptible as is heuene of oure
lord god; but it is incorruptible in reward of composiciou{n}
[It is called, 1. Burning Water; 2. the Soul in the spirit of
Wine; 3. Water of Life; and if you wish to conceal it, Quinte
Essence.]
maad of þe .4. elementis; & it hath .iij. names by the philosophoris,
þ{a}t is to seie / bre{n}nynge watir / þe soule in þe spirit of 16
wyn, & watir of lijf / But whanne ȝe wole concelle it, þa{n}ne
schal ȝe clepe it ‘oure q{ui}nta e{ss}e{nci}a’; for þis name, & þe
nature þ{er}of, riȝt fewe philosophoris wolde schewe / but sikurly
þei biriede þe truþe with hem. and witiþ weel that it is clepid 20
[It is neither moist and cold like water, nor hot and moist
like air, nor cold and dry like earth, nor hot and dry like
fire.]
brennynge watir; and it is no bre{n}ny{n}g watir: forwhi, it is not
moist ne coold as comou{n} watir; for it bre{n}neþ, & so doiþ not
comyn watir; ne it is nat hoot and moist as eir, for eir corru{m}piþ
a þi{n}g a-noon, as it schewiþ weel by gen{er}ac{i}ou{n} of flies, 24
& areins, and siche oþ{er}e; but sikirly þis is alwey incorruptible,
if it be kept cloos fro fliȝt / Also it is n{o}t coold and drie as erþe.
for souereynly it worchiþ & chaungiþ. And it is not hoot and
drie as fier, as it schewiþ by exp{er}ience; for hoot þingis it keliþ, 28
[It gives incorruptibility, for it prevents dead flesh from
rotting, and much more the living flesh of man.]
[[* Fol. 11.]]
& hoot sijknessis it doiþ awey / Also þ{a}t it ȝeueþ incorruptibilite,
and kepiþ a þi{n}g fro corruptibilite [*]and rotynge, it is p{re}ued
þ{us} / Forwhi. what pece of fleisch, fisch, or deed brid, be putt
þ{er}i{n}ne, it schal not corru[m]pe ne rote whilis it is þ{er}i{n}ne / 32
miche more þanne it wole kepe quyk fleisch of mannys body
[It is Man’s Heaven, preserving his body as Heaven does the
world.]
from al man{er}e corruptibilite and rotynge / This is oure q{ui}nta
e{ss}encia, þ{a}t is to seie, mannys heuene, þ{a}t god made to þe
[Page 3: THE NATURE AND WORKING OF QUINTE ESSENCE.]
conseruac{i}ou{n} of þe .4. q{ua}litees of mannys body, riȝt as he made
his heuene to þe conseruac{i}ou{n} of al þe world / And wite ȝe for
[Many know it not now for their covetousness and vice.]
certeyn þat manye philosophoris and lechis þat ben now, knowe
nouȝt þis q{ui}nta e{ss}encia, ne þe truþe þ{er}of / Forwhi; god wole 4
not þ{a}t þei knowe it; for her greet bre{n}nynge coueitise &
[But as God’s Heaven is aided by sun and stars, so our Heaven,
or Quinte Essence, is made fair by the sun mineral, or pure
gold of the mine, not of alchemy.]
vicious lyuynge /
Forsoþe q{ui}nta e{ss}encia sup{er}ior, þ{a}t is to seie,
heuene of oure lord god bi hi{m} silf / Aloone / ȝeueþ not conseruacioun
in þe world, and wondirful influence, but by þe v{er}tue 8
of þe su{n}ne, planetis, and oþ{er}e sterris; riȝt so oure q{ui}nta
e{ss}encia, þat is, mannys heuene, wole be maad fair wiþ þe su{n}ne
min{er}alle, fynyd, schynynge, incorruptibile; and euene in qualite
þat fier may not appeire, corru{m}pe, ne distroie. and þis is v{er}ry 12
[‘N{ot}a.’]
gold of þe myn, of þe erþe, or of þe floodis gaderid / for gold of
alkamy maad w{i}t{h} corosyues distroieþ kynde, as aristotle and
[Good natural gold is called _Sol_, because Sol the planet
gives gold its power, colour, &c.]
manye oþere philosophoris p{ro}uen / and þ{er}fore good gold naturel,
& of þe myn of þe erbe, is clepid of ph{ilosophor}is ‘sol’ in 16
latyn; for he is þe son{ne} of oure heuene, lich as sol þe planet is
in þe heuene aboue; for þis planete ȝeueþ to gold his influence,
[Our Quinte Essence is the colour of heaven; gold makes it
fair; and the two work in us (so far as is possible) renewal
of youth, and give health plenteously.]
[[* Fol. 11b.]]
nature, colo{ur}, & a substaunce i{n}corruptible. And oure q{ui}nta
e{ss}encia, mannys heuene, is of þe nature [*]& þe colour of heuene / 20
And oure sol, þ{a}t is, fyn gold of þe myne, schal make it fair, riȝt
as sol þe planete makiþ heuene fair / and so þese two togidere
ioyned schal ȝeue influence in us, and þe condiciou{n}s of heuene
and of heuenly so{n}ne / in as miche as it is possible in deedly 24
nature, conseruac{i}ou{n} and restorynge of nature lost, & renewynge
[As Aries, Taurus, and Gemini draw humours from the head and
breast, and not the limbs beneath, so those spices that do
draw from these limbs get their power from Capricorn, &c.]
of ȝongþe / And it schal ȝeue plenteuously heelþe: and so it
is p{re}ued by astronomy aboue, þat sterris þat haþ influence vpon
þe heed and þe necke of ma{n} / as be{n} þe sterris of aries, taurus, 28
[‘N{ot}a.’]
and gemini, ȝeue{n} influence syngulerly vpon̅ Gerapigra galieni /
And þ{er}fore it haþ a synguler strenkþe, by þe ordynau{n}ce of
god, to drawe awey þe sup{er}flue humouris fro þe heed, þe necke,
and þe brest, and not fro þe membris byneþe / And so I seie of 32
spicis þat drawiþ humouris fro þe knees, þe leggis, and þe feet,
þat resseyuen a synguler influence of þe sterris of Cap{ri}corn,
[Tell not these Divine secrets to wicked men.]
Aquarie and pisces, & riȝt so of oþ{er}e, {et} c{etera} / Comou{n}ne
ȝe not þis book of deuyne secretes to wickid me{n} and auerous; 36
[Page 4: THE 1st WAY TO MAKE QUINTE ESSENCE.]
[‘aq{u}a vite’]
[--To make Quinte Essence.--]
[Take the best wine, or any not sour; distil it, and the 4
Elements shall be left like dregs.]
but kepe ȝe it in p{ri}uytee / Take þe beste wiyn þat ȝe may
fynde, if ȝe be of power; & if ȝe be riȝt pore, þanne take
corrupt wiyn, þ{a}t is, rotyn, of a wat{er}y humour, but not egre,
þ{a}t is, sour,
for þe q{ui}nt e{ss}encia þ{er}of is naturaly incorruptible 4
þe which ȝe schal drawe out by sublymac{i}ou{n} / And þa{n}ne
schal þ{er} leue in þe grou{n}d of þe vessel þe .4. eleme{n}tis, as it
[Distil 7 times to get Burning Water; put this in a Distiller
in a furnace, and let the vapour rise, condense, and be
distilled till it is turned into Quinte Essence, and parted
from the 4 elements.]
were, rotu{n} fecis of wiyn / But firste ȝe muste distille þis wiyn
.7. tymes; & þa{n}ne haue ȝe good bre{n}nynge watir / Forsoþe, 8
[[* Fol. 12.]]
þis is þe watri mat{er} [*]fro which is drawe oure q{ui}nta e{ss}encia /
Thanne muste ȝe do make in þe furneis of aischin, a distillatorie
[‘vas’]
of glas al hool of oo. pece, wiþ an hoole a-boue in þe heed, where
þe watir schal be putt yn, and be take out / And þis is a 12
wondirful instrument
þ{a}t þ{a}t þing þ{a}t by v{er}tues of fier ascendith
and distillith wiþi{n}ne þe vessel,
p{er} canales brachiales, þ{a}t is, by
pipis lich to armys, be bore aȝen, and eftsoones ascendith, &
eft desce{n}diþ contynuely day and nyȝt, til þe bre{n}nynge wat{er} 16
heuenly be turned into
q{ui}nta{m} e{ss}encia{m} / And so bi continuell{e}
ascenciou{n}s & discenciou{n}s, þe q{ui}nta e{ss}encia is
dep{ar}tid fro þe corruptible composiciou{n} of þe .4. eleme{n}tis.
For bifore þ{a}t þing þ{a}t is twies sublymed is more glorified, and 20
is more sotil, and fer fro{m} þe corru{m}pciou{n} of þe .4. eleme{n}tis
more sep{ar}at þa{n} wha{n}ne it ascendith but oonys; and so vnto
[‘N{ot}a.’]
[Distil it 1000 times, and it shall be glorified and become a
medicine incorruptible as heaven.]
a þousand tymes, so þat by coutynuel ascendynge and descendynge,
by the which it is sublymed to so myche hiȝnes of glorificaciou{n}, 24
it schal come þ{a}t it schal be a medicyn incorruptible
almoost as heuene aboue, and of þe nature of heuene / And
þ{er}fore oure q{ui}nta e{ss}encia worþily is clepid ‘mannys heuene’ /
[After many days unstop your distiller, and if there issues
out a heaven-sweet savour, you have our Quinte Essence. If
not, distil again till you have.]
And aftir manye daies þat it hath be in þis sotil vessel of glas 28
distillid / ȝe schulen opene þe hoole of þe vessel in þe heed þat
[‘lute’]
w{a}s selid with þe seel of lute of wijsdom, maad of þe sotillest
flour, and of white of eyren, and of moist pap{er}e, ymeyngid so
þat no þing respire out / And wh{a}ne ȝe opene þe hoole. if þ{er} 32
come out a passynge heuenly swete flauour þat alle me{n} þ{a}t
[[* Fol. 12b.]]
come yn naturely [*]drawe þ{er}to. þanne ȝe haue oure q{ui}nta
e{ss}encia / and ellis sele þe vessel, and putte it to þe fier aȝen
til ȝe haue it. 36
[Page 5: THE 2nd, 3rd, AND 4th WAYS OF MAKING QUINTE ESSENCE.]
[--The second way to make Quinte Essence.--]
[Put the strongest Burning Water into an ‘amphora;’ seal it
up; bury it neck downwards in horse-dung, and the Quinte
Essence will rise into the globe and the impurities settle in
the neck.]
And anoþ{er} maner worchinge of oure q{ui}nta e{ss}encia is
þis / Take þe noblest and þe strengest bre{n}nynge watir þ{a}t ȝe
may haue distillid out of pure myȝty wiyn, and putte it into
a glas clepid ampho{ra}, w{i}t{h} a long necke / and close þe mouþ 4
strongly wiþ wex; And loke þat half or þe þridde p{ar}t be fulle;
and birie it al in hors dou{n}ge,
p{re}p{ar}ate as it is seid hereaft{er} /
so þ{a}t þe necke of þe glas be turned dou{n}ward, & þe botu{m}
be turned vpward, þ{a}t by v{er}tu of þe hors dou{n}ge þe q{ui}nta 8
e{ss}encia ascende vp to þe botu{m}. And þe grosté of þe mater
[Take the glass out of the dung; make a hole in the wax seal,
let out the impure earthy water, and when the Quinte Essence
would begin to run, turn the glass up, and keep your Quinte
Essence.]
of þe watir descende dou{n}ward to þe necke / And aftir manye
daies, whanne ȝe take it out, softly lift vp þe glas as it stondith,
and ȝe schal se in þickenes and cleernesse a difference bitwene 12
þe q{ui}nta{m} e{ss}encia{m} sublymed,
and þe grose mat{er} þ{a}t is in þe
necke / þe wondirful maistry of dep{ar}tynge of þ{a}t oon fro þ{a}t
oþ{er} is þis / Take a scharp poyntel, or a pricke of yren, &
peerse into þe wex þat hongiþ i{n} þe mouþ of þe glas aȝens þe 16
erþe / and wha{n}ne ȝe haue peersid al fully to þe watir, take out
þe poyntel or þe pricke / And þ{a}t erþely watir wole first come
out þ{a}t is in þe necke / and so til it be come out vnto þe
dep{ar}ti{n}ge bitwixe it / and þe q{ui}nte e{ss}ence, þ{a}t is, mannys 20
heuene sublymed. and wh{a}ne ȝe se þ{a}t þis q{ui}nt e{ss}ence wole
re{n}ne & melte aftir þ{a}t þis erþely watir be voydid, putte þanne
swiftly ȝoure fyngir to þe hoole, & t{ur}ne vp þe glas, and þanne
[[* Fol. 13.]]
ȝe haue þ{er}i{n}ne oure
q{ui}nte e{ss}ence, [*]and þe erþely watir wiþoute 24
aside. And þis is a passy{n}g souereyn p{ri}uytee.
[--The third way.--]
[Put your amphora into a horse’s belly instead of the dung,
and proceed as above.]
The þridde man{er} is, þ{a}t ȝe take a greet glas clepid ampho{ra},
and seele it weel, and birie it weel in þe wombe of an hors al
togidere. and þe pureté of þe q{ui}nte e{ss}encie schal be sublymed 28
aboue, & þe grosté schal abide byneþe in þe botme / take out
softli þ{a}t þ{a}t fletiþ a-boue; and þat þat leeueþ bihynde, putte it
to þe fier.
[--The fourth way.--]
[Substitute for the amphora a vessel of glass or earth, with a
tube running from the top and hanging in the air, into which
the vapour may fall and condense.]
The .iiij. maner is þis. take wh{a}t vessel of glas þ{a}t ȝe wole, 32
or of erþe strongly glasid, and þ{er}-vpon a round foot of glas
wiþ a leg. and seele þe vessel w{i}t{h} his couerto{ur}, þ{a}t þe rod
of þe foot of þe glas wiþi{n}ne þe vessel honge in þe eyr, þ{a}t þ{a}t
þi{n}g þ{at} asce{n}dith to þe couertour in þe maner of a pott boilynge 36
[Page 6: THE 5th WAY TO MAKE QUINTE ESSENCE, &C.]
[--The fifth way.--]
[Distil your Burning Water ten times.]
descende doun aȝen by þe foot of þe glas. and this instrument
may ȝe do make wiþoute greet cost / The fifþe maner is, þat þe
brennynge wat{er} be .10 tymes distillid in hors dou{n}ge contynuely
digest. 4
[--To make fire without fire, and Quinte Essence without cost
or trouble.--]
The sci{en}ce of makynge of fier wiþoute fier / wherby ȝe
may make oure q{ui}nte e{ss}ence wiþoute cost or traueile, and
[Put horse-dung into a vessel or pit lined with ashes, and
place your vessel in it up to the middle. The cold top part
will condense the vapour caused by the heat of the dung.]
w{i}t{h}oute occupac{i}ou{n} and lesynge of tyme / Take þe beste horse
dou{n}ge þat may be had þ{a}t is weel digest, and putte it wiþine 8
a uessel, or ellis a pitt maad wiþ þe erþe anoy{n}tid þoruȝout w{i}t{h}
past maad of aischin. And in þis vessel or pitt, bete weel togidere
þe dou{n}ge; And i{n} þe myddil of þis dou{n}g, sette þe vessel of
distillac{i}ou{n} v{n}to þe myddis or more / For it is nede þ{a}t al þe 12
heed of þe vessel
be in þe coold eir / þ{a}t, þ{a}t þ{in}g þ{a}t bi v{er}tu
of þe fier of þe dou{n}g þ{a}t ascendith þ{er}by be turned into watir
[[* Fol. 13b.]]
[*]by v{er}tu of cooldnes of þe eir and falle dou{n} aȝen and ascende
vp aȝen. and þus ȝe haue fier wiþoute fier, and but wiþ litil 16
traueile.
[Or, place your vessel in the sun’s rays.]
Also anoþ{er} maner of fier. sette ȝoure vessel forseid to þe
strong reuerberaciou{n} of þe su{n}ne in somer tyme, and lete it
stonde þ{er}e nyȝt and day. 20
[--How poor evangelic men may get the gracious influence of
gold.--]
Here I wole teche ȝou how pore eua{n}gelik me{n} may haue
wiþoute cost, and almoost for nouȝt, þe g{ra}cious influence of
gold, and þe maner of þe fixynge of it in oure heuene, þat is,
[Borrow a Florence florin of a rich friend, anneal [?heat]
it on a plate of iron, and throw it into some Burning Water,
taking care to quench the fire quickly to prevent the Water
wasting.]
oure q{ui}nta e{ss}encia. if ȝe be pore, ȝe schal p{re}ie a riche man 24
þat is ȝo{ur}e free{n}d to leene ȝou a good floreyn of florence / and
anele it vpon a plate of yren as yren is anelid. and haue biside
ȝou a uessel of erþe glasid, fillid ful of the beste brennynge watir
þat ȝe may fynde. & caste into þe watir þe floreyn anelid. and 28
loke þat ȝe haue a sotilte and a sleiȝþe to quenche sodeynly þe
fier, þat þe watir waaste not; and be weel war þat no{n} yren touche
[Repeat this 50 times in fresh Water, and then mix all the
Waters together.]
þe watir. but af[t]er caste into þe watir þe floreyn, and do so .l.
tymes or more, for þe oftere þe bettere it is / And if ȝe se þ{a}t þe 32
watir waaste to myche, chaunge it þanne, and take newe, & do
so ofte tymes. and whanne ȝe haue do ȝoure quenchour, putte
[The Water draws out all the properties of the gold.]
all þe wat{ri}s togidere / And ȝe schulen vndirstonde þat þe
v{er}tu of bre{n}nynge watir is sich þat naturely it drawiþ out of 36
[Page 7: HOW TO GILD BURNING WATER OR WINE.]
[Mix the gilt Burning Water with Quinte Essence.]
[[* Fol. 14.]]
gold alle þe v{er}tues & p{ro}pirtees of it, & it holdiþ
incorru{m}ptibilitee & an euene heete. [*]þanne meynge þis brennynge
watir þus giltid wiþ oure q{ui}nte e{ss}ence, and vse it. but be war
þ{a}t ȝe quenche not þe floreyn in oure q{ui}nte e{ss}ence; for þanne 4
[You may substitute for Burning Water best white wine, which
also retains the powers of gold.]
it were lost / And if it so be þat ȝe haue not þis brennynge watir
redy, þanne que{n}che ȝoure floreyn in þe beste whiȝt wiyn þat
may be had / For sikirly þe philosophore seiþ, þat wiyn hath
also þe p{ro}pirtee to restreyne in it þe influence and v{er}tues of 8
gold / And whanne ȝe haue do ȝo{ur}e werk, ȝe schal wite þat þe
floreyn is als good, & almoost of þe same weiȝte, as it was
afore / þerfore vse wiyn or bre{n}nynge watir giltid, so þ{a}t ȝe may
[This gilt Water will make you well and young again.
In it you have the Sun fixed in our Heaven.]
be hool, and wexe glad, and be ȝong. And þus ȝe haue oure 12
heuene, and þe su{n}ne in him fixid, to þe conseruac{i}ou{n} of mannys
nature and fixaciou{n} of o{ur}e heuene, þ{a}t is, oure q{ui}nte
e{ss}ence.
[‘science.’]
[--How to gild Burning Water or Wine more thoroughly.--]
The sci{enc}e how ȝe schule gilde more myȝtily by brennynge 16
watir or wiyn þan I tauȝte you tofore, wherby þe wat{er} or
þe wiyn schal take to it myȝtily þe influence & þe v{er}tues
of fyne gold.
[Heat calcined gold in a silver spoon and put it in Burning
Water or wine 50 times, as with the florin before.]
Take þe calx of fy{n} gold as it is declarid here-aftir in þis 20
book, and putte it in a siluer spone, and anele it at þe fier.
& þa{n}ne caste þe cals of the gold in þe brennynge watir
or i{n} wiyn .l. times, as I tauȝte ȝou tofore wiþ þe floreyn. and
[Your liquor will be better gilt, as the fire and Water or
wine work more powerfully on the grains of gold than on a
plate.]
ȝe schule haue ȝoure lico{ur} by an hu{n}drid p{ar}t bettir gilt þan ȝe 24
had tofore wiþ þe floreyn / Forwhi. fier worchiþ more strongly
[[* Fol. 14b.]]
and bett{er}e [*]in sotil p{ar}ties þan it doiþ in an hool plate / And
also bre{n}nynge watir or wiyn drawiþ out more myȝtily bi a
þousand p{ar}t þe p{ro}pirtees of gold fro smale p{ar}ties anelid, þan 28
[Wine retains the properties of all liquibles quenched in it.]
it doiþ fro a þicke plate / And ȝe schal vndirstonde þ{a}t wiyn
not aloonly holdiþ in it þe p{ro}pirtees of gold, but myche more
þe p{ro}pirtees of alle liquibles if þei be quenchid þ{er}i{n}ne. and þat
[If Saturn (lead) liquefied be quenched in wine, and then Mars
(iron) be quenched in it, Mars acquires the softness of Saturn.]
is a souereyn p{ri}uite: Forwhi, if ȝe quenche saturne liquified 32
in wiyn or in comou{n} watir .7. tymes, and aftirward in þat wiyn
or watir ȝe quenche mars manye tymes, þa{n}ne mars schal take
algate þe neischede and þe softnes of saturne / And þe same
schal venus do, & alle oþ{er}e liquibles / or ellis, And ȝe 36
[Page 8: TO MAKE FIRE WITH NO FIRE. TO CALCINE GOLD.]
[Again, if you quench Mars in wine and put in it Saturn
liquefied, this will be made hard.]
quenche mars in whiȝt wiyn or in comou{n} watir manye tymes,
and aftirward in þe same wiyn or watir ȝe caste saturne liq{ui}fied
ofte tymes, þanne wiþoute doute ȝe schal fynde þat þe saturne
is m{aad} riȝt hard / Therfore þe p{ro}pirtees of alle liquibles may 4
be brouȝt into wiyn or watir; but myche more myȝtily into
brennynge watir good and p{re}cious.
[--To make fire without coals, lime, light, &c.--]
The sci{enc}e to make a fier, þat is, wiþoute cole, w{i}t{h}oute
lyme, wiþoute liȝt, worchinge aȝens al maner scharpnes or 8
acc{i}ou{n} of visible fier, riȝt as worchiþ þe fier of helle / And
þis p{ri}uytee is so v{er}tuous, þ{a}t þe v{er}tu þ{er}of may not al be
declarid. And þus it is maad. Take Mercurie þ{a}t is sublymed
[Mix equal parts of sublimated Mercury, Salt, and Sal
Ammoniac, grind them small, expose them to the air, and
they’ll turn into water, a drop of which will eat thro’ your
hand, and make Venus (copper) or Jupiter (tin) like pearl.]
[[* Fol. 15]]
w{i}t{h} vit{ri}ol,
[*]& co{m}e{n} salt, & sał armoniac .7. or .10. tymes 12
sublymed / and meynge hem togidere by euene porc{i}ou{n}. and
grynde it smal, and leye it abrood vpon a marbil stoon; and by
nyȝte sette it
i{n} a soft cleer eir, or ellis in a coold seler; and þ{er}e
it wole turne into watir / And þanne gadere it togidere i{n} to 16
a strong vessel of glas, and kepe it / This wat{er} forsoþe is so
strong, þat if a litil drope þ{er}of falle vpon ȝoure hond, anoon it
wole p{er}ce it þoruȝ-out; and i{n} þe same maner it wole do, if it
falle vpon a plate of venus or Iubiter, into þis watir, it turneþ 20
[If it could be moderated it would cure the disease Hell fire,
and every corrosive sickness.]
hem into lijknes of peerl. who so coude rep{ar}ale & p{re}p{ar}ate
kyndely þis fier, wiþoute doute it wolde que{n}che anoon a brennynge
sijknes clepid þe fier of helle. And also it wolde heele
eu{er}y cor[os]if sijknesse. And manye philosophoris clepiþ þis 24
[‘sal amarus.’]
[It is also called ‘Sal Amarus.’]
þi{n}g in her bookis ‘sal amarus,’ al þouȝ þei teche not þe maistrie
þ{er}of / If it be so
þ{a}t þis firy watir breke þe glas, and re{n}ne out
into þe aischen, þanne gadere alle togidere þ{a}t ȝe fynde pastid in
þe aischen / and leye it vpon a marbil stoon as afore, and it wole 28
t{ur}ne into watir. And þis is a greet p{ri}uytee.
[‘Scie{n}ce.’]
[--To calcine gold.--]
[Cut gold into shavings; put it into a crucible with Mercury;
heat it, and it will crumble into dust like flour. Heat it
more till the mercury goes his way; or distil it, and the gold
powder will be in the crucible.]
The sci{enc}e to brynge gold into calx / Take fyn gold, and
make it into smal lymayl: take a crusible wiþ a good q{ua}ntitee
of Mercur{ie}, and sette it to a litil fier so þ{a}t it vapoure 32
not, and putte
þ{er}i{n}ne þi lymail of gold, and stire it weel togidere /
[[* Fol. 15b.]]
& aftirward [*]wiþi{n}ne a litil tyme ȝe schal se al þe gold
wiþi{n}ne þe M{er}cur{ie} turned into erþe as sotil as flour. þa{n}ne
ȝeue it a good fier,
þat þe M{er}cur{ie} arise and go his wey; or ellis, 36
[Page 9: TO GET THE QUINTE ESSENCE OUT OF GOLD.]
and ȝe wole, ȝe may distille and gadere it, puttynge þ{er}-vpon a
lembike / and in þe corusible ȝe schal fynde þe gold calcyned and
[A thin plate of gold will do instead of shavings, and Silver
may be treated like gold.]
reducid into erþe / And if ȝe wole not make lymayl of gold,
þanne make þ{er}of a sotil þi{n}ne plate, as ȝe kan, and putte wiþi{n}ne 4
þe M{er}cur{i}e al warm; and ȝe schal haue ȝoure desier / And
in þis same maner ȝe may worche wiþ siluir / Thanne take þe
calx of þese two bodies, and bere hem openly wiþ ȝou; and þ{er}
[To carry these powders about, mix them with pitch, wax, or
gum, melting the mass when you want the metal.]
schal noman knowe what þei ben / And if ȝe wole bere hem 8
more p{ri}uyly wiþoute ony knowynge, þanne meynge hem wiþ
pich melt, or wex, or ellis gu{m}me, for þanne noman schal knowe
it what it is. And whanne ȝe wole dissolue ony of þese calces
by hem silf, putte eiþir by hi{m} silf in a test, or ellis þe pich or 12
þe wex in which þei be{n} y{n}ne; and anoon schal come out verry
gold & silu{er} as þei were tofore.
[--How to separate gold from silver when mixed with it.--]
Now I wole teche ȝou þe maistrie of departynge of gold
fro siluir wha{n}ne þei be meyngid togidere / Forsoþe ȝe woot 16
weel þat þer be manye werkis in þe whiche gold and siluir
be meyngid, as in giltynge of vessel & Iewellis / þ{er}fore
[Put the mixture into a solution of vitriol and saltpetre, and
the silver will be dissolved.]
whanne ȝe wole drawe þe toon fro þat oþir, putte al þat mixture
into a strong watir maad of vitriol and of sał pet{re}. and þe 20
[[* Fol. 16.]]
[Corrosive water and sal ammoniac will dissolve the gold.]
[*]siluyr wole be dissolued, and not þe gold: þa{n}ne ȝe haue þat
oon departid fro þe toþir / And if ȝe wole dissolue þe gold to
watir, putte þa{n}ne yn þe watir corosyue, Sał ar{moni}ac; and þat
watir wiþoute doute wole dissolue gold into watir. 24
[‘science.’]
[‘N{ota}.’]
[--How to get out of gold its Quinte Essence.--]
[Put calcined gold into distilled vinegar or purified urine;
set it in a hot sun; a film will soon rise; skim it off,
collect all such in a glass vessel till no more rise.]
The sci{enc}e to drawe out of fyn gold vta e{ss}encia is þis /
First ȝe schal reduce gold into calx, as I tolde ȝou tofore /
þanne take vynegre distillid, or ellis oold vryne depurid fro þe
fecis, and putte it in a uessel glasid; and þe liquor schal be in 28
þe heiȝþe of 4. ynchis; and þ{er}i{n}ne caste þe calx of gold, &
sette it to the strong su{n}ne in somer tyme, þ{er}e to abide / and
soone aftir ȝe schal se as it were a liquor of oyle ascende vp,
fletynge aboue in man{er} of a skyn or of a reme. gadere þat awey 32
wiþ a sotil spone or ellis a feþ{er}e, and putte it into a uessel of
glas in þe which be putt watir tofore. and þus gadere it manye
tymes in þe day, into þe tyme þ{a}t þer ascende nomore / and aftir
do vapoure awey þe watir at þe fier. And þe vta e{s}sencia of þe 36
[Evaporate the water left; the residuum is the Quinte Essence
of Gold.]
[Page 10: TO GET THE QUINTE ESSENCE OUT OF ANTIMONY, &C.]
gold wole abyde byneþe. And manye philosophoris clepiþ þis
q{ui}nta e{ss}encia an oile incombustible, þ{a}t is a greet p{ri}uytee /
And if ȝe wole
fixe þis q{ui}nta e{ss}encia i{n} o{ur}e heuene, þ{a}t[1] it
[And if you fix this Quinte Essence in our heaven, it will
restore man to the strength of his youth.]
[[1 then, MS. Harl.]]
may wiþoute doute restore aȝe{n} to man þ{a}t nature þat is lost, 4
and reduce hi{m} aȝe{n} i{n}to þe v{er}tu of þe strenkþe of ȝongþe, and
also lenkþiþ his lijf into þe laste terme of lijf set of god // Now
[Now I have told this most sovereign secret, which should not
be shewed. The Quinte Essence of gold is best to heal wounds.]
[[* Fol. 16b.]]
[[N{ota}.]]
forsoþe I haue toold ȝou þe souereynest [*]pr{i}uytee and restorynge
of mannys kynde, and i{n} p{ar}t greet þing þat schulde not be 8
schewid / Forwhi. þis oyle, þat is to seie, q{ui}nta e{ss}encia of gold,
hath þe mooste swetnes and v{er}tu to a-swage and putte awei þe
ache of woundis, and for to heele woundis, oolde sooris, and
manye wondirful yuelis / Also i{n} þe same maner ȝe may drawe 12
out of siluir, q{ui}nte e{ss}encie //
[--How to get its Quinte Essence out of Antimony.--]
The science to drawe out of antymony, þat is, m{er}casite
of leed, þe v^te e{ss}encie, is a souereyn maistrie, and a p{ri}uytee
[Put powdered antimony into distilled vinegar; heat it till
the vinegar is red; take away the red vinegar, and put fresh;
take that away when red. Put the red vinegar into a distiller,
and 1000 drops of blessed wine shall come down the pipe;
collect this; it is an incomparable treasure.]
of alle p{ri}uytees / Take þe myn of antymony aforeseid, 16
and make þ{er}of al so sotil a poudre as ȝe kan / þanne
take þe beste vynegre distillid, and putte þ{er}inne þe poudre
of antymonye, and lete it stonde in a glas vpon a litil fier
into þe tyme þat þe vynegre be colourid reed. þanne take þ{a}t 20
vynegre awey, and kepe it clene, and putte aȝen þer-to of oþ{er}e
vynegre distillid, and lete it stonde vpon a soft fier til it be
colourid reed. & so do ofte tymes. and whanne ȝe haue gaderid
al ȝo{ur}e vynegre colourid, putte it þanne in a distillatorie. and 24
first þe vynegre wole ascende; þanne aft{er} ȝe schal se merueilis:
for ȝe schal se as it were a þousand dropis of blessid wiyn
discende doun in maner of reed dropis, as it were blood, by
þe pipe of þe lymbike / þe which lico{ur}, gadere togidere in a 28
rotu{m}be / and þanne ȝe haue a þing þ{a}t al þe tresour of þe world
[[No{ta}.]]
may not be in
comp{ar}isou{n} of worþines þ{er}to / aristo{t}le seiþ þ{a}t
it is his lede in þe book of secretis, al þouȝ he [*]telle not þe name
[[* Fol. 17.]]
[It cures the pain of all wounds, and when fermented it works
great secrets.]
of þe antymonye aforeseid / Forsoþe þis doiþ awey ache of alle 32
woundis, and wondirfully heeliþ. þe v{er}tu þ{er}of is incorruptible
& merueilo{u}s p{ro}fitable / it nedit to be putrified in a rotombe
and seelid i{n} fyme, and þanne it worchiþ greet p{ri}uytees / Forsoþe
þe vta e{ss}encia of þis antymony þat is reed, i{n} þe which is 36
[Page 11: TO EXTRACT THE QUINTE ESSENCE FROM MAN’S BLOOD.]
þe secreet of alle secretis, is swettere þan ony hony, or sugre, or
ony oþir þing.
[‘Science.’]
[--How to get its Quinte Essence from Man’s Blood.--]
The science in the extraccioun of þe .5[3] e{ss}encie from blood,
[Footnote 3: 5 for _fifth_, or _quinte_.]
and fleisch, & eggis / To ȝou I seie, þat in eu{er}y elementid 4
þing, þe .5. e{ss}encie remayneþ incorrupte: it schal be þanne
þe moost þi{n}g of merueyle if I teche ȝou to drawe out þat
fro mannys blood reserued of Barbouris whanne þei lete blood;
also fro fleisch of alle brute beestis, and fro alle eggis, and oþ{er}e 8
[Man’s blood is the perfectest work of nature in us, and its
Quinte Essence converts blood into flesh, and works divine
miracles of healing.]
suche þingis. for als myche as mannes blood is þe p{er}fitist werk
of kynde in us, as to þe encrees of þ{a}t þat is lost, it is certeyn
þat nature þat .5. e{ss}ence maad so p{er}fiȝt þ{a}t, wiþoute ony oþir
greet p{re}p{ar}acioun wiþoute þe veynes, it beriþ forþ þat blood 12
anoon aftir into fleisch. and þis 5 e{ss}ence is so nyȝ kynde þat
[it] is moost to haue[4] / Forwhy. in it is merueylous v{er}tu of oure
[Footnote 4: MS. Harl. reads ‘and this fifte beinge so
nighe kinde it is most to haue.’]
[Get from Barbers the blood of young sanguine men; let it
stand; pour off the serum; mix the blood with a tenth of
prepared salt; put it in an amphora; seal that up; put it in
a horse’s belly, renewing the dung weekly till all the blood
turns into water; distil that; put the outcome on the pounded
fæces, and distil over again.]
heuene sterrid, and to þe cure of nature of man worchiþ moost
deuyn myraclis, as wiþi{n}ne I schal teche ȝou / þerfore resceyue 16
of Barbouris, of ȝong sangueyn men, or colerik men, wha{n}ne þei
be late blood, þe which vse good wynes. take þat blood aftir þ{a}t
it haþ reste, and cast awey þe watir fro it, and braie it wiþ þe
.10. p{ar}t of co{men} salt
p{re}p{ar}ate to medicyns of me{n}; and putte 20
it into a uessel of glas clepid ampho{ra}, þe which, sotely seele,
[[* Fol. 17b.]]
and putte it wiþi{n}ne þe [*]wombe of an hors, p{re}p{ar}ate as tofore,
and renewe þe fyme oonys in þe wike, or more, and lete it
putrifie til al þe blood be turned into watir / and it schal be doon 24
at þe mooste in xxx. or xl dayes, or aftir, more or lasse / þanne
putte it in a lembike, and distille it at a good fier / what so euere
may ascende, putte þat watir vpon þe fecis brayed, mey{n}gynge
vpon a marbil stoon; putte it aȝen, and aftir distille it aȝen 28
manye tymes rehersynge / And whanne ȝe haue þis noble þing
[Heat the water in the distiller till it comes to a heavenly
savour. This Fifth Being works miracles hardly credible unless
seen.]
of blood, þerof þe .5. beynge d{ra}we out / putte aȝen þe watir in
þe stillatorie of circulaciou{n} til ȝe brynge it to so myche swetnes
& an heuenly sauour, as ȝe dide þe brennynge watir. and þis is 32
þe 5 beynge of blood deuyn, and miraclis more þan man mai
bileue but if he se it.
[Page 12: TO GET THE QUINTE ESSENCE OUT OF BEASTS AND THE 4 ELEMENTS.]
[--To get the Quinte Essence out of capons, beasts, eggs, &c.--]
Now wole I teche ȝou to drawe out þe .5 beynge from
capou{n}s, he{n}nes, and al man{er} fleisch of Brut beestis, and
from al maner eggis of foulis þat ben holsum and medicynable
[Grind some of them with a tenth part of prepared salt; put
’em into a horse’s belly till they become water, and distil
that till it’s heaven-sweet.]
to ete for mān kynde / Grynde summe of þese þingis 4
forseid, which þat ȝe wil, as strongly as ȝe can in a morter, wiþ
þe 10 p{ar}t of hi{m} of sal co{m}e{n} p{re}p{ar}ate to þe medicyne of
me{n}, as I seide tofore. putte it in þe wombe of an hors til it be
turned into water. distille as it is aforeseid, and in þe stillatorie 8
of circulac{i}ou{n}
þe watir þat is distillid, putte it in aȝen til it be
brouȝt to þe swete heuenly sauour and smel aforeseid /
[‘science.’]
[--To draw the Fifth Being out of each of the Four Elements,
and to separate them.--]
The science to drawe out þe 5 beynge of eu{er}ych of þe .4
elementis, and to schewe eu{er}ych of þe forseid þing bi he{m} 12
silf; & þ{a}t is riȝt merueylous / I wole not leue for a litil to
schewe a greet secreet, how ȝe may drawe out þe 5 beynge of
ech of þe 4 elementis of al þe þing rehersid afore, and p{ro}fitably
[Take any thing rotted and turned into water, as man’s blood;
put it in a glass distiller, and distil it over into an
amphora.]
[[* Fol. 18.]]
schewe hem / And þe man{er} ys [*]þis / take þ{a}t þing putrified 16
and brouȝt into watir, what so eu{er}e ȝe wole, as I tauȝte ȝou
tofore; and þat þing be mannes blood brouȝt into watir, of þe
which ȝe wole drawe out þe 4 elementis / putte þ{er}fore þat
wat{er}, or þat blood putrified, in a stillatorie of glas, and sette 20
it wiþi{n}ne a pott of watir, and ȝeue vndirneþe a fier til þe watir
of blood be distillid by þe pipe of þe lembike into a glas clepid
[When no more vapour rises, you have drawn out the water.]
ampho{ra}, riȝt clene / And whanne no þing may more by þat fier
ascende, for certeyn ȝe haue of blood drawen out al oonly þe 24
element of watir / Forwhi. fier of þat bath hath no strenkþe to
[Put the other 3 elements for 7 days into the same bath, then
into a coal fire, and the water shall rise as oil shining like
gold, the air remaining at the bottom like oil of gold. Put
these aside.]
sublyme eyr, or fier, or erþe. and so [take] þo þre elementis, and
sette in þe same bath by .vij. dayes þat þei be weel meyngid, &
so cloos þ{a}t no þing be distillid / aftir þe .vij. dayes take þe 28
stillatorie,
and putte it to þe fier of aischen, þ{a}t is strongere þa{n}
fier of bath clepid marien; and þe watir schal ascende in foorme
of oyle schynynge as gold / and aftirward þ{a}t no þing more schal
ascende, ȝe haue þanne in þe ampulle .ij. elementis, þat is to seie, 32
watir and eyr. & oon from anoþir ȝe schal dep{ar}te in þe bath,
puttynge yn aȝen wher al-oonly þe cleer watir schal ascende /
and þe eyr schal al-oonly remayne in̅ þe botu{m} of þe vessel in
lijknesse of oyle of gold. þe which oyle þat is gold, þe which oyle 36
[Page 13: HOW TO FIX OTHER THINGS IN OUR QUINTE ESSENCE.]
[To separate fire from the earth, put 4 lbs. of water on 1 lb.
of earth; place it in the Marian bath for 7 days; then in hot
flames; red water shall ascend and black earth fall.]
þat is ayr / putte it aside. þanne þ{er} leeueþ ȝitt fier wiþ erþe.
to dep{ar}te fier from erþe, putte þe element of watir, þat is to
seye .iiij ℔ of watir, vpon j ℔ of mat{er} / and putte by .vij. daies
[Put the red water into the distiller; pure water shall rise;
red water, or fire, shall remain; so you have the 4 Elements
separate.]
to encorp{er}e wel as tofore in þe bath of marien̅ / Aftirward 4
putte it to þe fier of flawme riȝt strong, and þe reed wat{er} schal
[[* Fol. 18b.]]
ascende. þe which gadere togidere as longe as ony [*]þing ascendiþ.
and to ȝou schal remayne an erþe riȝt blak in þe botum. þe which
gadere togidere aside / þanne þe redeste watir ȝe schal take. forwhy. 8
þer be .ij. eleme{n}tis, þat is to seie, þe element of watir and fier.
þa{n}ne yn þe stillatorie, to þe fier of baþ, cleer watir schal asende.
and in þe botu{m} schal remayne þe reed watir, þat is, þe element
of fier. and so ȝe haue now first oon oyle, þat is, ayer o side, and 12
watir, and fier, and erþe. and note ȝe weel þ{a}t þ{er}fore þe element
of watir is putt aȝe{n} to drawe out from erþe fier and eyr, for þei
[Distil each into its Quinte Essence, or rectify it, and thank
our glorious God for this bit of knowledge.]
wole not ascende, but þoruȝ þe help of element of watir. brynge
aȝe{n} eu{er}ych into 5 beynge wiþ þe vessel of circulacioun as tofore 16
/ or ellis rectifie, makynge oon ascende .7 tymes bi an oþir /
but first ȝe moste þe riȝt blak erþe of oon hide[5] nature, in þe
furneys of glas mon[6],
or ellis reu{er}berac{i}ou{n}, xxj. dayes calcyne /
[Footnote 5: of vnkinde natuer. Harl. 853.]
[Footnote 6: of glasse made. Harl. 853.]
And for a cause I speke to ȝou nomore of this science. but 20
ioie ȝe, and thanke oure glorio{us} lord god of þese þingis þat
ȝe haue had.
[--To fix all earthly things in our Quinte Essence.--]
The science to fixe alle erþely þingis in n{ost}ra 5ta e{ss}encia,
þat is to seie, o{ur}e heuene, þat by her influence þei may ȝeue 24
þerto þer p{ro}p{er}tees and her hid vertues / oure glorious god
[God has given it the power of drawing all the virtues out of
every thing in 3 hours.]
haþ ȝeue sich a uertu to oure q{ui}nta e{ss}ence, þat it may drawe
out of euery matier of fruyȝt / tree / rote / flour, herbe / fleisch,
seed & spice / And eu{er}y medicynable þing, alle þe v{er}tues, 28
p{ro}pirtees, and naturis, þe whiche god made in he{m}; and þat
wiþi{n}ne .iij. houris.
[Put therefore every thing necessary for any syrup into our
Quinte Essence, and in 3 hours it shall be 100 times better
than before.]
Now I haue schewid ȝou a souereyn p{ri}uytee, how þ{a}t ȝe
may wiþ oure heuene drawe out eu{er}y 5 e{ss}encia from alle 32
þingis aforeseid / þ{er}fore alle necessarie þingis to eu{er}y syrup
putte yn oure 5 e{ss}encie, & wiþi{n}ne .iij. houris þ{a}t watir schal
be sich a sirup, vndirstonde wel, bettir by an hundrid p{ar}t, by
[Page 14: OUR QUINTE ESSENCE IMPROVES EVERYTHING 100 FOLD.]
[[* Fol. 19.]]
[Whatever medicines are put into our Quinte Essence, it
increases their power a hundred fold.]
cause of oure 5 e{ss}encie, þan it [*]schulde be wiþoute it / And
so I seie of medicyns
comfortatyues, digestyues, laxatyues, rest{ri}ktyues,
and alle oþ{er}e; forwhy. if ȝe putte seedis or flouris,
fruyȝtis, leeues, spicis, coold, hoot, sweet, sour, moist, do þei 4
good or yuel,
i{n}to o{ur}e 5 e{ss}enci{e}, forsoþe sich 5 e{ss}enc{e} ȝe
schulen haue þerfore. oure 5 e{ss}encie is þe instrument of alle
v{er}tues of þi{n}g t{ra}nsmutable if þei be putt in it, encreessynge
an hu{n}drid foold her worchingis // 8
[End of Part I.]
Explicit p{ar}s p{ri}ma tractatus q{ui}nte e{ss}encie:
[Page 15: TO MAKE OLD MEN YOUNG, AND DYING ONES WELL.]