are generated, and made alive, so also you must know, that of many
hearbs, by putrefaction divers living creatures are bred, which they
that are skilled in these things know.
[Sidenote: All animals that are bred meerly of putrefaction are
poisonous.]
Here also wee must know, that all such Animalls, which are bred, and
made of putrefaction, containe some poison, and are poisonous, yet
one far more strong then another, and one after another manner then
another: as you see in Serpents, Vipers, Toads, Frogs, Scorpions,
Basiliskes, Spiders, Wood-bees, Pismires, and many sorts of Wormes,
as Cankers, Maggots, Locusts, &c. All which are bred in, and through
putrefaction. Also amongst Animalls there are bred divers Monsters;
And there are Monsters also which are not bred of putrefaction of
themselves, but are made by Art in a glasse, as hath been said; because
they oftentimes appear in a very wonderfull shape, and form, fearful
to behold, as oftentimes with many feet, many tailes, many colours,
oftentimes many heads, worms with the tailes of Fishes, or feathers,
and other unusuall forms, that the like have not been seen.
[Sidenote: What Monsters are.]
Wherefore not only all Animalls, which have not proper Parents, and are
not borne of things like to themselves are Monsters, but also those
which are bred of other things.
[Sidenote: The secret poison of the Basilisk.]
So you see it is concerning a Basiliske, which also is a Monster, and
indeed a Monster above all Monsters, and then which none is to bee
more dreaded, because hee can kill any man with his meer looks, and
sight: and because his poison is above all poisons, to which nothing in
the world is to bee compared. Hee carries his poison in a most secret
manner in his eyes, and it is a conceived poison, not much unlike a
menstruous woman, who also carrieth a secret poison in her eyes, so
that only by her looks a Looking-glasse is fouled, and tainted. So
also if shee looke upon a wound, or an ulcer, shee infects that in the
like manner, and hinders the cure thereof: so also with her breath,
as well as sight, shee infects divers things, corrupts, and weakens
them; and so also with her touch. For you see if shee medle with wine
in time of her menstrues, that it is suddainly changed and made thick;
The Vineger also that she medles withall, becomes dead, and uselesse:
so also Hot-waters lose their strength: In like manner Civet, Amber
Gryse, Musk, and such like perfumes, lose their odour by such a womans
carrying, or handling of them. So also Gold, and Coralls lose their
colour, also many Gemmes, and Looking-glasses are soiled therewith,
&c. But to return to what I proposed concerning the Basiliske, by what
reason, and in what manner hee carries poison in his looks, and eyes;
you must know that hee hath that property, and poison from menstruous
women, as is aforesaid. For the Basiliske is bred of, and proceeds from
the greatest impurity of a Woman, _viz._ her Menstrues, and from the
blood of the Sperm, if it bee put into a gourd glasse, and putrefied in
Horse-dung, in which putrefaction a Basiliske is brought forth. But who
is so couragious, and bold to make, take him out, and kill him again,
unlesse hee cover, and fortifie himselfe well first with glasses: I
should perswade none to doe it, nay, I would advise them to take heed
of it.
[Sidenote: Monsters doe not live long.]
[Sidenote: Monsters come from the Devill.]
But that I may proceed in treating of Monsters, Know that Monsters
amongst brutes, which are brought forth of other things, and not of
their like, seldome live long, especially if they shall live neer,
or amongst other brutes, because of an imbred disposition, and Gods
disposing, all Monsters are odious unto brutes that are genuinely
brought forth, and so also Monsters of men, which are generated by man,
seldome live long. And by how much the more wonderfull, and remarkable
they are, so much the sooner they dye, so that none exceed the third
day amongst men, unlesse they bee presently carryed into some secret
place, and kept apart from all men. Moreover you must know that God
abhors these kind of Monsters, and that they are displeasing to him,
and that none of them can be saved, seeing they bear not the image
of God: whence wee can conjecture nothing else, but that they are so
formed by the Devil, and are made for the Devills service, rather then
Gods, because no good work was ever done by any Monster, but rather
all manner of evill, wickednesse, and devillish deceits. For as an
Executioner marketh his sons in cutting off their ears, putting out
their eyes, burning their cheeks, fingers, hands, and cutting off their
heads: so doth the Devil mark his sons through the imagination of their
Mothers, which in their conceiving they drew from evill desires, lusts,
and cogitations.
[Sidenote: Monsters are to be shunned.]
Also all men are to be shunned, which abound with, or want any member,
or have a double member. For that is a presage of the Devills, and
a most certaine signe of some occult wickednesse, and deceit, which
follows upon it. Wherefore they seldome dye without the Executioner, or
at least from some marke made by him.
[Sidenote: The artificiall generation of Men.]
But wee must by no means forget the generation of Artificiall men. For
there is some truth in this thing, although it hath been a long time
concealed, and there have been no small Doubts, and Questions, raised
by some of the ancient Philosophers, Whether it were possible for
Nature, or Art to beget a Man out of the body of a Woman, and naturall
matrix? To this I answer, that it is no way repugnant to the Art of
Alchymie, and Nature; yea it is very possible: But to effect it, we
must proceed thus.
Let the Sperm of a man by it selfe be putrefied in a gourd glasse,
sealed up, with the highest degree of putrefaction in Horse dung, for
the space of forty days, or so long untill it begin to bee alive,
move, and stir, which may easily be seen. After this time it will bee
something like a Man, yet transparent, and without a body. Now after
this, if it bee every day warily, and prudently nourished and fed with
the _Arcanum_ of Mans blood, and bee for the space of forty weeks kept
in a constant, equall heat of Horse-dung, it will become a true, and
living infant, having all the members of an infant, which is born of
a woman, but it will bee far lesse. This wee call _Homunculus_, or
Artificiall. And this is afterwards to be brought up with as great
care, and diligence as any other infant, untill it come to riper years
of understanding. Now this is one of the greatest secrets, that God
ever made known to mortall, sinfull man. For this is a miracle, and
one of the great wonders of God, and secret above all secrets, and
deservedly it ought to bee kept amongst the secrets until the last
times, when nothing shall be hid, but all things be made manifest.
[Sidenote: Fairies, Nymphs, Gyants, &c. are made of artificiall men.]
And although hitherto it hath not been known to men, yet it hath been
known to Fairies of the Woods, Nymphs, and Gyants many ages since,
because they come from them. For of such Artificiall men, when they
come to Mans age, are made Pygmies, Gyants, and other great and
monstrous men, who are instruments of great matters, who obtaine great
victories against their Enemies, and know all secrets, and mysteries:
because by Art they receive their lives, by Art they receive their
bodies, flesh, bones, and blood: by Art they are borne; wherefore Art
is now incorporated with, and imbred in them, and they need not learn
of any, but others are constrained to learn of them, for by Art they
have their originall and present existency, as a rose, or flower in
a garden, and they are called the children of Fairies, and Nymphs,
by reason that in power, and vertue they are like not to Men, but
Spirits, &c.
[Sidenote: Of 3 principles Mercury the Spirit, sulphur is the soul,
Salt the body.]
Here it is necessary that wee speak something of the generation of
Metalls; but because we have wrote sufficiently of that in our book of
the generation of Metals, wee shall very briefly treat of it here, only
briefly adding what was omitted in that book. Know that all the seven
Metalls are brought forth after this manner, out of a threefold matter,
_viz._ Mercury, Sulphur, & Salt, yet in distinct, and peculiar colours.
For this reason _Hermes_ did not speak amisse, when he said, that of
three substances are all the seven Metalls produced, and compounded, as
also the Tinctures, and Philosophers Stone. Those 3 substances he calls
the Spirit, Soul, and Body: but hee did not shew how this is to bee
understood, or what hee did mean by this, although haply hee might know
the three Principles, but did not make mention of them. Wherefore we do
not say, that he was here in an error, but only was silent now, that
those 3 distinct substances may be rightly understood, _viz._ Spirit,
Soul, and Body, we must know, that they signifie nothing else but the
three Principles, _i.e._ Mercury, Sulphur, Salt, of which all the seven
Metalls are generated. For Mercury is the Spirit, Sulphur the Soule,
and Salt the Body, but a Metall is the Soul betwixt the Spirit, and
the Body (as _Hermes_ saith) which Soule indeed is Sulphur; and unites
these two contraries, the Body, and Spirit, and changeth them into one
essence, &c.
[Sidenote: Whether metalls can be made artificially by fire.]
Now this is not to bee understood so as that of every Mercury, every
Sulphur, or of every Salt, the seven Metalls may be generated, or
the Tincture, or the Philosophers Stone by the Art of Alchymie, or
industry, with the help of Fire; but all the seven Metalls must be
generated in the mountains by the Archeius of the Earth. For the
Alchymist shall sooner transmute Metalls, then generate, or make them.
[Sidenote: Living ☿ is the mother of metalls.]
Yet neverthelesse living Mercury is the Mother of all the seven
Metalls, and deservedly it may be called the Mother of the Metalls.
For it is an open Metall, and as it contains all colours, which it
manifests in the Fire, so also occultly it contains all Metalls in it
selfe, but without Fire it cannot shew them, &c.
[Sidenote: The regeneration of metalls into tinctures.]
But generation, and renovation of Metalls is made thus: As a man may
return into the womb of his Mother, _i.e._ into the Earth, out of which
hee was first made a man, and shall again bee raised at the last day:
so also all Metalls may returne into living ☿ againe, and become ☿, and
by Fire bee regenerated, and purified, if for the space of forty weeks,
they bee kept in a continuall heat, as an infant is in his Mothers
wombe. So that now there are brought forth not common Metalls, but
Tinging Metalls. For if Silver bee regenerated (after the manner as wee
have spoken) it will afterward tinge all other Metalls into Silver, so
will Gold into Gold, and the like is to bee understood of all the other
Metalls.
[Sidenote: The Soul is that medium wherewith the soule is united to the
body.]
Now forasmuch as _Hermes_ said, that the soule alone is that medium
which joines the spirit to the body, it was not without cause hee
said so. For seeing Sulphur is that soule, and doth like Fire ripen,
and digest all things; it can also bind the soule with the body,
incorporating, and uniting them together, so that from thence may bee
produced a most excellent body. Now the common combustible Sulphur is
not to bee taken for the soule of metalls, for the soule is another
manner of thing then a combustible, and corruptible body.
[Sidenote: What the soule of metalls is.]
Wherefore it can bee destroyed by no Fire, seeing indeed it is all
Fire it selfe: and indeed it is nothing else but the quintessence of
Sulphur, which is extracted out of reverberated Sulphur by the spirit
of wine, being of a red colour, and as transparent as a Rubie: and
which indeed is a great, and excellent _Arcanum_, for the transmuting
of white metalls, and to coagulate living ☿ into fixt, and true
Gold. Esteeme this as an enriching treasure, and thou maist bee well
contented with this, onely secret in the Transmutation of Metalls.
[Sidenote: Where is the generation of metalls and mineralls.]
Concerning the generation of mineralls, and halfe metalls nothing else
need bee known then what was at first said concerning metalls, _viz._
that they are in like manner produced of the three Principles, _viz._
Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt, although not as metalls of perfect, but of
the more imperfect, and baser Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt, and yet with
their distinct colours.
[Sidenote: Whence the generation of Gemmes.]
The generation of Gemmes is from the subtilty of the Earth, of
transparent and crystalline Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt, even according
to their distinct colours.
[Sidenote: Also of Common Stones.]
But the generation of common Stones is of the subtilty of Water, of
mucilaginous Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt. For of the mucilaginousnesse
of Water are produced all stones, as also sand, and gravell are thence
coagulated into Stones, as wee often see.
[Sidenote: An artificiall generation of Stones.]
For any stone put in the Water, doth suddenly contract a
mucilaginousnesse to itself. Now if that mucilaginous matter bee taken
from this Stone, and coagulated in a glasse, it becomes such a Stone,
as was in that Water, but it would require a long time before it would
be coagulated of it selfe.
[Illustration: *decorative divider*]
OF THE
NATVRE
Of Things.
_THE SECOND BOOK._
_Of the growth, and increase of Naturall things._
[Sidenote: Heat and Moisture the cause of the growth of things.]
It is sufficiently manifest, and knowne to every one, that all
naturall things grow, and are ripened through heat, and moisture, which
is sufficiently demonstrated by rain, and the heat of the sun. For no
man can deny that rain doth make the Earth fruitfull, and it is granted
by all, that all fruits are ripened by the sun.
[Sidenote: An artificiall ripening of things.]
[Sidenote: God hath subjected all things to man.]
[Sidenote: The artificiall generation of fruit.]
Seeing therefore this is by divine ordination naturally possible, who
can gain-say, or not beleeve that a man is able, through the wise, and
skilfull Art of Alchymie, to make that which is barren, fruitfull,
and that which is crude, to ripen, and all things to grow, and to be
increased. For the Scripture saith, that God subjected all creatures to
man, and put them into his hands as being his own, that hee might use
them for his necessity, and rule over the fish of the sea, fowles of
the aire, and all things upon the Earth, nothing excepted. Wherefore
man might well rejoice that God should so endow him with the excellency
of Nature, that all the creatures of God should be forced to obey, and
be subject to him, especially the whole Earth, and all things which
are bred, live, and move in, and upon it. Since therefore wee see with
our eyes, and are taught by daily experience, that by how much the
oftner, & more abundantly the rain doth moisten the earth, and the sun
doth again with its heat and warmth dry it, so much the sooner doe
the fruits of the Earth come forth and are ripened, yea all fruits
doe cleerly grow, and increase, what time of the yeer soever it be;
Let no man henceforth wonder, that the Alchymist also by a manifold
imbibition, and distillation should not doe the same. For what else
is rain but the imbibition of the Earth? and the heat of the Sun, but
the distillation of the Sun, which drawes up those humidities again?
Wherefore I say it is possible by such a kind of Art, even in the midle
of Winter to bring forth green Herbs, Flowers, and other fruit, through
Earth, and Water, out of the seed, and root: If then this can bee done
in all Herbs, and flowers, it may also bee done in many other like
things, as in all mineralls, whose imperfect metalls by vertue of a
minerall water may bee brought to maturity through the industry, and
Art of a skilfull Alchymist.
[Sidenote: The ripening of mineralls.]
In like manner may all _Marcasites_, _Granati_, _Zineta_, _Arsenica_,
_Talka_, _Cachymie_, _Bisemuta_, _Antimonies_, &c. (all which carry
with them crude Gold, and Silver,) bee so ripened, that they may bee
equalized to the most rich veins of Gold, and Silver, only by this Art.
So also the Elixir, and tinctures of metals are brought to maturity,
and perfected.
[Sidenote: What the growing of the beard of a dead man signifies.]
Seeing therefore, as it hath been said, moisture, and heat doe ripen
all things, and make them grow, Let none wonder, that the beard, haire,
or nailes of a malefactor hanging on a Gibbet, or Wheel do for a long
time grow, neither let it be accounted for a sign of his innocency,
as the ignorant beleeve, for this is naturall, and from naturall
causes. For whilest that any moisture remains in him, his beard, haire,
and nailes grow, even till the second year, or till hee bee wholly
putrefied, &c.
[Sidenote: The augmentation of ☉.]
Wee must also know, that there are many things that grow for ever,
and are increased in bignesse, weight, and vertue, in the Water, and
Earth, in which they continue good, and efficacious, as are Metalls,
Marcasites, Cachymie, Talka, Granuty, Antimony, Bisemuta, Gemmes,
Pearles, Corals, all Stones, and Clay. So also it may be ordered, that
Gold may grow, and bee increased in weight, and body, if only it bee
buryed in the Earth looking towards the _East_, and bee alwaies soiled
with the fresh urine of a man, and pigeons dung.
[Sidenote: How Gold may be generated in a glasse.]
It is possible also that Gold, through industry, and skill of an expert
Alchymist may bee so far exalted, that it may grow in a glasse like a
tree, with many wonderfull boughs, and leaves, which indeed is pleasant
to behold, and most wonderful.
[Sidenote: How the Philosophicall Tree is made.]
The processe is this. Let Gold bee calcined with _Aqua Regis_, till
it becomes a kind of chalke, which put into a gourd glasse, and poure
upon it good new _Aqua Regis_, so that it may cover it foure fingers
breadth, then again draw it off, with the third degree of fire, untill
no more ascend. The water that is distilled off, poure on againe, then
distill it off againe. This doe so long untill thou seest the Gold to
rise in the glasse, and grow after the manner of a tree, having many
boughes, and leaves: and so there is made of Gold a wonderful, and
pleasant shrub, which the Alchymists call their Golden hearb, and the
Philosophers Tree. In like manner you may proceed with Silver, and
other Metalls, yet so that their calcination bee made after another
manner, by another _Aqua fortis_, which I leave to thine experience. If
thou art skilled in Alchymie, thou shalt not erre in these things.
[Sidenote: To make an artificiall stone of any forme.]
Know also that any flint taken out of River water, (and put into a
gourd glasse, having River water poured upon it, that the glasse may
bee filled, which Water is againe to bee distilled off as long as a
drop will arise, and the Stone dryed, and the Glasse againe filled with
this Water, and againe distilled off, and this done so long till the
Glasse bee filled with this Stone) may in a few dayes by the Art of
Alchymie bee made very great, which the Archeius of the Waters could
scarce doe in many yeers.
If then thou breake the Glasse, thou shalt have a Flint in the forme of
the Glasse, as if it had been put into the Glasse, and although this
bee not for profit, yet it is a thing that is strange, and wonderfull.
[Illustration: *decorative divider*]
OF THE
NATVRE
Of Things.
_THE THIRD BOOK._
_Of the preservations of Naturall things._
[Sidenote: The enemies of things are to be knowne.]
[Sidenote: Death is the enemie of things.]
[Sidenote: There is a Contrariety found in all things.]
That things may bee preserved, and kept from harm, it is necessary in
the first place to know what is an enemie to them, that so they may
be preserved from that, & not be hurt, or corrupted by it either in
substance, vertue, power, or any way whatsoever. Much therefore in this
case depends upon the knowing of the Enemie of all Naturall things.
For who can take heed of danger when hee doth not know what can hurt
him? Truly no body; Wherefore it is necessary to know ones Enemie, For
there are many sorts of Enemies. Wherefore it is as necessary to know
evill things, as good things: for who can know what is good, without
the knowing of what is evill? Truly no body. So no man can know what a
blessing health is, that was never sick. Who knows what joy is, that
was never heavy, or sad? And who can rightly understand what God is,
who knew nothing of the Devil? Wherefore when God made known to us the
Enemie of our Soul, _viz._ the Devill, he also signified to us the
Enemie of our life, _viz._ Death, which is the Enemie of our body, of
our health, and the Enemie of Medicinall, and all naturall things: also
he made known to us how, and by which means it may be shunned. For as
there is no disease against which there is not created, and found some
remedy, which should cure, and expell it: so also there is alwaies one
thing ordained against another, one Water against another, one Stone
against another, one Minerall against another, one Poison against
another, one Metall against another: and so in many more things, all
which it is not requisite here to recite.
Now how, and by what means every thing is to bee preserved, and kept
from hurt, wee must know, that many things are to bee preserved in the
Earth, and especially all rootes doe for a long time remaine in the
Earth without losing their vertue, or being corrupted: in like manner
herbs, flowers, and all fruites continue in the water incorrupted, and
green: there are also many fruits, and apples that may be preserved in
water from all manner of putrefaction, untill new fruit come againe.
[Sidenote: How to preserve flesh and blood.]
So also flesh, and blood, which indeed are putrefied, and grow
unsavoury quickly, are preserved in cold fountain-water, and not only
so, but by the addition of new and fresh fountaine-water, may be turned
into a quintessence, and bee forever preserved from putrefaction, and
an ill savour, without any balsome. And this doth not only preserve
the flesh, and blood of dead things, but also of the living, wherefore
Mans body may bee preserved from all manner of putrefaction, and divers
diseases that proceed from putrefaction, better then common Mummie. Now
that blood may be preserved of it self from putrefaction, and stinking,
and not as a quintessence, & so as it may preserve the blood of the
living (as we now said) thou must follow this processe.
[Sidenote: How the Arcanum of mans blood is to be prepared.]
Let the blood bee separated from its flegm, which is separated of its
selfe, and is driven to the upper part. This water poure gently out
of the vessell, and in stead of it put as much of the water of the
salt of blood, which water wee teach to make in our Chirurgerie: That
water doth presently mixe with the blood, and preserves it so, that it
will never bee putrefied, or grow unsavory, but continue many years
as fresh, and very red as it was the first day: and this indeed is a
great wonder. But if thou dost not know how to make this water, or hast
it not in readiness, then poure upon it so much of the best, and most
excellent balsome, and this will doe the same. Now, this blood is the
balsome of balsomes, and is called the _Arcanum_ of blood, and it is
so wonderful, and of such great vertue, that it is incredible to be
spoken; wherefore thou shalt conceale it as a great secret in Physick.
[Sidenote: How metalls may be preserved.]
[Sidenote: What are the enemies of metalls.]
In preserving of Metalls, their Enemies are first to bee known, that so
much the better they may bee preserved from harme. The chiefest Enemies
of Metalls are all sharp corroding Waters, all Corrosive things, all
Salts, crude Sulphur, Antimony, and Mercury. But that you may know
particularly how they show their enmity, it is thus. Sharp Waters, and
such things as are Corrosive, and Salts shew their enmity, in that
they mortifie, dissolve, calcine, corrupt Metalls, and reduce them to
nothing.
[Sidenote: How the fume of Sulphur doth discolour metalls.]