Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Josephine Paolucci and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
_BASILIUS VALENTINUS_,
A
BENEDICTINE MONK,
OF
_NATURAL & SUPERNATURAL_
THINGS.
ALSO,
Of the first _Tincture_, _Root_, and _Spirit_ of METALS and MINERALS,
how the same are _Conceived_, _Generated_, _Brought forth_, _Changed,_
and _Augmented_.
Whereunto is added, Frier _Roger Bacon_, of the _Medicine_ or _Tincture_
of _Antimony_; Mr. _John Isaac Holland_, his Work of _Saturn_, and ALEX.
VAN SUCHTEN, of the _Secrets_ of _Antimony_.
Translated out of _High Dutch_ by DANIEL CABLE.
_LONDON_,
Printed, and are to be Sold by _Moses Pitt_ at the _White Hart_ in
_Little Britain_, 1671.
_BASILIUS VALENTINUS_,
A
BENEDICTINE MONK,
OF
_NATURAL & SUPERNATURAL_
THINGS.
ALSO,
Of the first _Tincture_, _Root_, and _Spirit_ of METALS and MINERALS,
how the same are _Conceived_, _Generated_, _Brought forth_, _Changed_,
and _Augmented_.
Translated out of _High Dutch_ by DANIEL CABLE.
Whereunto is added
ALEX. Van SUCHTEN
OF THE
SECRETS of _ANTIMONY_.
Translated out of _High Dutch_ by _D. C._ a Person of great Skill in
_Chymistry_.
_LONDON_,
Printed, and are to be sold by _Moses Pitt_ at the _White Hart_ in
_Little Britain_, 1670.
_Basilius Valentinus_,
OF
_Natural and Supernatural Things_.
CHAP. I.
Because I have at this present undertaken to write of the of the first
Tincture, the Root of Metals and Minerals, and to inform you of the
Spiritual Essence, how the Metals and Minerals are at first spiritually
conceived and born corporally; it will be necessary first of all to
utter, and to acquaint you by a speech, that all things consist of two
parts, that is, Natural and Supernatural; what is visible, tangible, and
hath form or shape, that is natural; but what is intactible, without
form, and spiritual, that is supernatural, and must be apprehended and
conceived by Faith; such is the Creation, and especially the Eternity of
God without end, immensible and incomprehensible; for Nature cannot
conceive nor apprehend it by its humane reason: This is supernatural,
what Reason cannot apprehend, but must be conceived by Faith, this is a
Divine matter, and belongs to Theology, which judgeth Souls. Moreover,
there appertains to supernatural things, the Angels of the Lord, having
clarified Bodies, doing that by the permission of their Creator, which
is impossible for any other Creature to do, their Works being concealed
from the Eyes of the World, and so likewise are the Works of the
Infernal Spirits and Devils unknown, which they do by the permission of
the most High God. But above all the great Works of God are found and
acknowledged to be supernatural, not to be scann'd and comprehended by
Humane Imaginations; such is in especial the great Grace and Mercy of
God which he bestows upon Mankind out of his great Love, which indeed no
man can apprehend or know, and other great and wonderful works which he
hath manifested divers manner of wayes by Christ our Saviour and
Redeemer, for the confirmation of his Omnipotence and Glory: As when he
raised _Lazarus_ from the dead, _Jairus_ his Daughter, the Ruler of the
Synagogue, and the Widows Son of _Naim_. He made the Dumb to speak, the
Deaf to hear, and the Blind to see, all which are supernatural, and
_Magnalia Dei_; so also was his Conception, Resurrection, Descension,
and Ascension into Heaven, too deep and mysterious for Nature; all which
is only to be obtained by Faith.
There belongs likewise to supernatural things, the taking of _Enoch_ and
_Elias_ into Heaven, the divine rapture of St. _Paul_ in the Spirit into
the third Heaven. Moreover, many supernatural things are done by
Imagination, Dreams, and Visions; many wonders are done by the
Imagination, witness the speckled Sheep by the speckled Rods laid in
their watring places. God warned the wise men of the East by an especial
Dream not to return again to _Herod_; likewise their three Persons,
their three Gifts, Presents, or Offerings, and the supernatural Star,
have all their peculiar and mystical meaning.
Nor was that Dream which hapned to _Pilates_ Wife natural, who unjustly
adjudged our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to death. The Vision of the
Angels which appeared to the Shepherds at the Birth of Christ, and to
the Women at his Sepulchre, who sought his Body where they had laid it,
cannot be accounted Natural.
There are many other supernatural things done at several times by the
Prophets & Saints; so was the voice of the Ass speaking to _Balaam_,
contrary to the common course of Nature; as also _Joseph_'s
Interpretation of Dreams. And so God by his Angels preserves us
oftentimes from infinite Evils, and delivers us out of manifold Dangers,
impossible for Nature to do.
All this & many others belong to Theology, and to Heaven, whereunto the
Soul is to have regard. Now follows the supernatural things of the
visible Works of God, as we see them in the Firmament; to wit, the
Planets, Stars, and Elements, which are above our Reason, only their
Course and Motion is observed by speculation and reckoning, which
belongs to Astronomy; it is a visible but incomprehensible Being,
performing its operation in a Magnetick way, out of which likewise
divers admirable things are found and observed, which are altogether
supernatural; understand it thus, that the Heaven operates in the Earth,
and the Earth affords a correspondence with the Heavenly. For the Earth
hath also its seven Planets, which are operated and bred by the seven
Celestial, only by a spiritual Impression or Infusion, even as the Stars
operate all Minerals. This is done incomprehensibly and spiritually, and
therefore it is to be accounted supernatural, even as two Lovers, their
persons are visible, but their Love one to the other is invisible:
Humane Bodies are tangible and natural, but Love is invisible,
spiritual, intangible and supernatural, comparable to a Magnetick
Attraction only; for the invisible Love which is attracted unto it
spiritually by the Imagination is, accomplish'd by the desires and
fruition. In like manner when the Heaven hath a love to the Earth, and
the Earth hath a Love, Inclination, and Affection towards Man, as the
great World to the lesser, for the lesser World is taken out of the
greater, and when the Earth by the desires of its invisible Imagination
doth attract unto itself such a Love of the Heaven, there is thereby an
Union of the Superiour and Inferiour, as Man and Wife are accounted one
Body together, and after this Union the Earth is impregnated by the
Infusion of the Heaven, and begins to conceive and bring forth a Birth
sutable to the Infusion, and this Birth after its Conception is digested
by the Elements, and brought to a perfect Ripeness and this is reckoned
among the supernatural things; how the supernatural Essence performs its
operation in the natural.
Among the supernatural things are likewise reckoned all Magical and
Cabalistical Matters which depend thereon, arising out of the Light of
true knowledge, not those which proceed from Superstition, Conjuration,
or unlawful Exorcisme, such as the Sorcerers use; but I mean in this
place such a Magick as the Wise men had that came out of the _East_, who
by Revelation from God, and by true allowable Art judged rightly; or
such an one, as those of old had before us, usual among the _Egyptians_
and _Arabians_, before Writing was found, they noted, observed, and
reserved by Signs, Characters and Hieroglyphicks. Such Blessings may be
used, which Christ the Son of God used, as the Scripture saith; He took
little Children, laid his hands upon them, and blessed them. But
whatsoever is contrary to God and his Word, ought justly to be rejected,
and not to be tollerated, because they are not Godly, but Diabolical.
But those Supernatural things which oppose not God and his Holy Word,
belong unto Magick, and do the Soul no prejudice.
As concerning Visions which Holy Men of God have often seen, it is
reason they should be reckoned among those things which are not Natural;
for whatsoever man speculates and comprehends by the Mind, is
Supernatural; on the contrary, whatsoever he can take, see, and hold is
Natural.
Let us consider the third part of Natural & Supernatural things in
Physick, the Virtues and Powers of each; this Medicine of every thing
must first be driven out of a visible, tangible, natural Body, and be
brought into a spiritual, meliorated, supernatural operation, that the
Spirit which at the first was infused and given to the Body to live,
might be released, that it should operate and penetrate as a Spiritual
Essence, and Fire, having its Vent-holes left that it might burn and
have no opposition, which might suffocate, suppress, or hinder the
burning Life; whereas otherwise, if the separation of the Soul and
Spirit from the Body should not first be done, there could not succeed
any operation either effectual, profitable, or necessary; for whatsoever
is visible, to be felt, and inseparably in a Body, that is Natural and
Corporal; but so soon as there is a separation, the living departs from
the dead, gaining its perfect operation, and the natural Body being
separated, the spiritual Essence is free to penetrate, becoming a
spiritual and supernatural Medicine. In brief, all things (none
excepted) which we can touch and handle, are natural, but they must be
made supernatural, if you would prepare them for Physick; for the
supernatural only hath a living power in it to operate, the natural hath
only a dead tangible Form. For when _Adam_ was made, he was dead, having
no life of any virtue, but so soon as the operative quickning Spirit
came to him, then he manifested his living virtue and power by
supernatural admiration, so that in every thing there is the natural
and supernatural united in one, and bound together in their habitation,
that every thing might be perfect; for all created things in the world
are some supernatural, only what concerns the Soul and spiritual
matters, and some are natural and supernatural, with what concerns the
Elements and Firmament, as likewise the Minerals, Vegetables, and
Animals, which is known and found, when they are separated one from the
other, that the Soul departs out of the Body, and the Spirit forsakes
its Soul, leaving the Body an empty habitation.
Moreover, you must understand and consider, that the great and little
World are made and formed of one first Matter, by an unsearchable
Almighty Essence, at that time in the beginning, when the Spirit of God
moved upon the Water, who was from Eternity without beginning. The great
World, as Heaven and Earth, was first, then was Man, the Little World,
taken out of the greater; the Water was separated from the Earth, the
Water was the Matter whereon the everlasting Spirit of God moved; the
Little World was formed of the noblest Earth, as its Quintessence, by
the Aquosity which yet was in the Earth, and all was only Natural; but
after the breathing in of the Divine heating Breath, immediately the
Supernatural was added; so then the Natural and Supernatural were knit
and united. The great World is perishable, yet there will be a New Earth
or World; the Little World is Eternal, the Great, Created, Dissoluble
world will again be brought to nothing, but the little world will be
clarified by the Spirit of God, because he possesses it, making a
Celestial clarified water out of the aforesaid Earthly water; then it
will follow, that the first matter will be turned into the last, and the
last matter will become the first. Now the reason why the great world is
perishable, is this, that the Spirit of God hath not his dwelling or
habitation in the great world, but in the little world; for Man is the
Temple of the Holy Ghost, if he do not wilfully defile himself, adhering
to the Hellish Fire, which makes a breach and difference. For he
remaines in the little world, which he formed after his own similitude,
and made him a consecrated Temple; otherwise there is every thing in
the little world which is to be found in the great, as Heaven and Earth
with the Elements, and what depends thereon, or appertains thereunto.
We find also that in the first Creation, which was performed of nothing,
three things arose; to wit, a Soulish, Spiritual, Invisible Essence,
which represented a Mercurial Water, a Sulphurous Vapour, and a Terrene
Salt; these three gave a compleat and perfect, a tangible and formal
Body to all things wherein especially all the four Elements are
contained, as I have already mentioned in my Writing where I treat of
the Microcosme.
But that I may yet give a little more information of Natural and
Supernatural things, as well spiritual as corporal: We find that the
_Canaanitish_ Woman was cured of her Flux of Blood which held her
twelve years, only by a bare touch, when she touched the Garment of the
Son of God, her Disease being natural, but the Medicine or Cure was
Supernatural, because by her Faith she gained help from the Lord Christ.
Likewise we have an excellent, high and supernatural Miracle in the
three Children, _Shadrach_, _Meshach_, and _Abednego_, who were cast
into the fiery Furnace, by the Command of King _Nebuchadnezzar_, yet by
God wonderfully delivered, and not consumed, _Dan. 3_.
So also the Confusion of Tongues, and Infusion of divers Speeches at the
foolish structure of the Tower of _Babel_, which should have reached up
to Heaven, is esteemed for a Supernatural Miracle. And so was that a
Supernatural Sign, when the Children of _Israel_ did lap water as Dogs
do, when a small Number at Gods Command, fought against the
_Midianites_, Judg. 7. 6. So the sending of the Dove by _Noah_ out of
the Ark, when she brought an Olive Branch in her Bill, a Sign of Mercy,
and a Divine Supernatural Message.
When the Holy man of God _Moses_ struck the Rock with his Rod, that the
hard Rock yielded Water, is beyond humane Reason; so was the turning of
the salt water into sweet and drinkable, supernatural. As also the dry
passage of the Children of _Israel_ through the Red Sea; and the Budding
of _Aarons_ Rod, are all supernatural. In brief, the Resurrection of
Christ the Eternal Son of God out of the grave, for all the Tomb-stone,
his appearing to the two men going to _Emas_, his revealing himself to
his Disciples when the Door was lock'd, are all Divine and Supernatural.
Divers Examples more might be recited out of Divine Writ, which for
Brevities sake I omit.
Among Supernatural things are accounted all Mineral Signs, as the
Appearance of Spirits, Representations, Pigmies appearing diversly and
numerously, giving notice of good or bad Luck, Ruine or Riches; so also
those Figures, Shapes, or other works found in the Ores of Metals, as of
Men, Fishes, and other Creatures, so formed and represented by the
imagination of the three first Principles, then ripened and fully
digested by the Earth, and other Elements. Hereunto appertain the
Monsters of the Earth, and such things as are found within the Earth at
certain times of a wonderful form and shape, but not at all to be found
when that time is past, yet appear again and are to be found at some
other time.
Hereunto also belong all Visions and Appearances performed by Water,
Glasses, Cristal, or other means, as also those done by Sigils and
Characters, which yet are so various, some being only Natural, yet
affording Supernatural appearances or sights; but the others which are
performed by Conjurations, are neither Natural nor Supernatural, but
Diabolical, belonging unto Sorcery, and are prohibited all good
Christians; so likewise all those Means which oppose Holy Writ, Gods
Word and Commandments, are to be rejected and refuted by true Natural
Cabalists; I say this, because a certain distinction and sure order
ought to be found of the Natural, Supernatural, Unnatural things.
In like manner there appertains unto Supernatural things, all the
Water-Spirits, as the _Syrens_, _Succubi_, & other Water-Nymphs, with
their Relations, as likewise the Terrestrial Spirits, and those which
inhabit the Air, who sometimes are heard, seen, or perceived, sometimes
foretelling Death or other Disasters, sometimes they discover by their
Apparition Riches and good Fortune in certain places, and the Fiery
Spirits appertain here also, which appear in a fiery shape, or like a
burning Light; all these are Spirits having untangible Bodies, yet are
they not such Spirits as the right Hellish Spirits, who hunt after mens
Souls as an Eternal Jewel, even as the Infernal _Lucifer_, the Devil and
his Dependents do, who were ejected with him; but these are such Spirits
which are above Nature, set before Men for admiration, and are only
maintained by the Elements, whereby they are nourished and fed; but when
this Earthly world shall cease, they also shall decay and vanish with
it, because they have no Souls to be saved. I will say no more hereof at
present, but refer the opening of such Circumstances more at large to
another opportunity, where I shall particularly treat of Visions and
Spiritual Appearances, which are esteemed Unnatural by most part of the
World, yet truly are Natural, but they are found to be Supernatural in
their Operations and wonderful Qualities.
That I may further confirm my Assertion, I say likewise, that there are
many things to be found in Physick, which yield and manifest their
workings supernaturally in a Magnetical way, operating only by an
attractive spiritual power which is attracted to it by the Air; for the
Air is the _Medium_ between the Physick and the Hurt or Distemper, even
as the _Magnet_ ever doth direct and turn it self towards its Polestar,
though the star be many thousand Miles distant from it, yet the
spiritual operation and sympathy between them is so prevalent, that it
is attracted together at so vast a distance by the _Medium_ or middle
Band of the Air; but because this attractive power is only known unto
people in general, or as a thing common, it is therefore become
customary, and is so esteemed, there being no notice taken of any
further Secret whence this operative Faculty hath its Source or
Original: In like manner Hurts and Distempers may be healed and cured,
though the Patient and Physitian be very far distant one from the other;
not by Charmes, Exorcismes, or other unlawful prohibited means, which
are opposite to God and Nature, but by such means wherein the attractive
Magnetick Virtue lies to accomplish it. As when a wounded person goes a
Journey, leaving the Weapon wherewith he was wounded, or else of his
Bloud which issued out of the wound with his Physician, wherewith he
proceeds rightly and by orderly means, as is usual in dressing a wound,
without all doubt he shall be absolutely cured, this is no Witchcraft,
but the cure is performed only by the attractive power of the Medicine,
which is carried to the Sore by the means of the Air, wherewith it is
mundified, that it may perform the Spiritual Operation.
Some will think these hard sayings, and impossible in Nature, and many
will say it is contrary to Nature, whereby many will be excited to
dispute it, and raise Arguments one opposite to the other, whether it be
Natural or no, whether it be possible or no, or whether it be Sorcery: I
will thus resolve them, that this Cure is natural, but as it operates it
is supernatural & spiritual, because it is performed meerly by an
attractive incomprehensible means, and that this manner of Cure is no
Sorcery: I affirm it hereby, that it is not mixt or accompanied with any
Sorcery, nor with any other unnatural Means, contrary to God the
Creator, or his holy and saving Word. But it is only Natural, out of its
supernatural, invisible, incomprehensible, spiritual, and attractive
power, which received its Original from the Sydereal, and performs its
Operation by the Elements.
Lastly, I likewise approve this Cure to be no Sorcery, because the Devil
rather delights in all Mischief to Mankind, than to assist any manner of
way for their benefit, which yet is impossible for him to do without
Gods permission. Much more might be written of this Magnetick Form, but
I chuse rather to be silent; referring it till I come to treat of the
Natural Miracles of the World.
The grosser sort of foolish Wits, who imagine themselves to be wise
Philosophers, and all others who are not in their perfect senses, know
no difference in this case, but the wise and truly discreet well know
how to distinguish betwixt that which is natural and that which is
supernatural.
For do but observe this comparison, to be proved by a gross Example, how
many Creatures are there which dye absolutely in the water, so that no
life is left therein, but so soon as the pleasant Summer appears, the
natural heat gives a new life, & the Body quite restored in the same
substance as it was before in its living Motion; even as an Herb, which
dies in the Winter, but in the Spring it manifests it self anew. The
death of these things is to be esteemed natural, but the return of a new
life in its knowledge is supernatural; but because we are accustomed to
all these things, the least part of us consider what is worthy of
further Meditation in this case, letting both natural and supernatural
go away together.
Most people overpass, that natural custom which yet is supernatural, as
also monstrous Births, and those that bring signs and marks with them
into the world; which may all be natural, but manifest themselves
supernaturally, by the imagination which caused them: These supernatural
forms and customs, the Mother of the Child caused by intervening
thoughts, which unexpectedly happened to her, as it were by accident:
Even as we often see and find, that many Men naturally are born with
some gestures, which he can never leave, though he endevour with all his
might to do it. The natural gestures of these Men are natural, but the
conception in the Womb which caused the imagination of these things is
supernatural, and subject to what the Heaven imprints.
To conclude: I say, that none can defend the supernatural not to be true
by good grounds and reasons, except he have learn'd to know the natural,
which hath its original, and gained its shape from the supernatural;
after he hath learned this, he may evidence it by sure proofs, that he
will be conquerour over those, who will not believe what is
supernatural; and he will convince the opinions of those who dispute of
natural things, and yet know not the grounds, saving only a bare
pretence, much talk, tedious and unprofitable Debates.
CHAP. II.
_Of the first Tincture and Roots of Metals._
But now to come to my intent, and by Gods permission to accomplish the
same. I undertake to certifie of the first Tincture, Root, and
Generation of Metals and Minerals: Know that the first Tincture and Root
of all Metals, is likewise a supernatural, flying, fiery Spirit; which
preserves it self in the Air, seeking its habitation naturally in the
Earth and Water, wherein it can rest and operate: This Spirit is found
in all Metals, more abundant in other Metals than in Gold, because
Gold, by reason of its well digested, ripened, and fixt body, is tight,
close, and compact, and therefore no more can enter into its body than
is just requisite; but the other Metals have not such fixt bodies, for
their pores are open, and far extenuated, therefore the Tincture Spirit
can the more abundantly pass thorough and possess them. But because the
bodies of the other Metals are inconstant, the Tincture cannot remain
with those inconstant bodies, but must depart. And whereas the Tincture
of Gold is found in none more plentiful than in _Mars_ and _Venus_, as
Man and Wife, their bodies therefore are destroyed, and the tinging
Spirit taken out of them, which makes Gold sanguin, being first opened
and prepared, and by their food and drink it becomes volatile,
wherefore this volatile Gold being satisfied with its food and drink,
assumes its own bloud to it self, dries it up by its own internal heat,
by the help and assistance of the vaporous fire, and there is a Conquest
again, which is quite fix'd, makes the highest Constancy, that the Gold
becomes an over-fix'd Medicine, by reason of abundance of Bloud it
yields no Body, except another superfluous Body be again put to it,
wherein the abounding fix'd bloud may disperse itself, this additional
Metallick Body, by reason of the great heat of the fix'd Lions bloud, is
penetrated as by fire, and purged from all impurity, and forthwith
throughly digested to a perfect ripeness and fixedness: That first of
all the Servant brings the Matter unto Riches, because the Master
before could not spare any of his Cloaths to give away, seeing that
Nature had lent and endowed him with one Noble Suit only; on the other
side, the King, when he hath received his Aides and Contributions from
his Subjects, can then distribute possessions, and permanent Liveries,
that the Lord and Servant may remain both together; and do not think it
strange, that the King needs to borrow of his Subjects, because their
Bodies are unfix'd and inconstant, for they receive much, and yet can
keep but little Credit: But if the King can participate thereof, he will
the better overcome heat and Frost, than the Leprous Metals can; and
henceforth by this Receipt he becomes particularly a Dominator and
Conquerour of all other, with a great Victory and triumph of Riches and
of Health to long Life. I hope you have from the beginning sufficiently
understood concerning this Natural and Supernatural Advice, and the
first tinging Root of Metals and Minerals, whereon the Corner-stone is
placed, and where the true Rock is grounded in its kind, wherein Nature
hath placed and buried her secret & deeply concealed Gifts; to wit, in
the fiery tinged Spirits, which Colours they gained out of the starry
Heaven by the operation of the Elements; and they can moreover tinge and
fix that which before was not tinged and unfix'd, seeing that _Luna_
wants the Robe of the Golden Crown, together with the fixedness, as
likewise _Saturn_, _Jupiter_, and _Mercury_ do; and although _Mars_ and
_Venus_ need not this Rayment, but can communicate it to the other
five, yet I say, that they can perform nothing to attain any thing with
wealth without the Lion, because they are not sufficiently accomodated
with a fixedness of their _Mercury_, and a gentleness of their Salt,
except it be that the Lion overcome them, that they have triumphed on
both parts, and gained a remarkable Melioration altogether; this
Melioration lies concealed in their Signate star, or Magnet, out of
which all Metals have themselves received their Gifts.
Now I will proceed, and particularly step to the Birth and Generation,
how the or _Archaeus_ manifests its power; pouring it forth, and daily
reveales it, whereby all Metallick and Mineral Forms are visibly
proposed, and made formal, tangible, and corporal by the Mineral,
intangible, flying, fiery Spirits: Understand therefore further, and
observe with diligence and care, that by forgetfulness you let not that
which is weighty pass away, nor yet neglect or overlook that which is
most profitable, and on the contrary observe the bare words at length,
passing over the Truth; for what I write herein, is undoubtedly held and
esteemed that the highest is undoubtedly by many esteemed for the
lowest, and the lowest for the highest Mystery, and is so to be reputed.
Now you must first know, that all Metals and Minerals of the Earth have
one only Matter and Mother, whereby in general they all received
Conception, gaining a compleat and corporal Birth. This Matter which
comes out of the Center, first of all divides it self into three parts,
to procure one corporal or certain form of each Metal. These three parts
are only fed in the Earth by the Elements, out of their Bodies, and
nourish'd till they be perfect. But the Matter which comes out of the
Center is imagined by the Stars, operated by the Elements, and formed by
the Earth: It is a Matter to be known, and the true Mother of Metals and
Minerals: It is such a Matter and Mother, whereof Man himself is
conceived, born, nourish'd, and made corporal: It may be compared to the
middle World, for what is in the great World is in the little World, and
what is in the little World is also in the greater; and what is jointly
in the great and little World is likewise found in the middle World,
which unites and conjoins the great and little world; it is a Soul which
unites and copulates the Spirit with the Body. This Soul is compared
unto water, and it is a right true water, but not so that it wets as
other water doth, but it is a Celestial water, dry, found in a Metallick
Liquorish substance; it is a Soulish water, which loves all Spirits, and
unites them with their Bodies, conducting them to a compleat Life;
therefore it is reasonably found out, and evidently proved, that Water
is the Mocker of all Metals, which are heated by the warm aerial Fire,
or Spirit of _Sulphur_, which by its digestion makes the Earthly Body
lively, wherein the Salt is evidently found, which preserves from
putrefaction so that nothing might be consumed by Corruption. At the
beginning and birth _Quick-silver_ is first operated, which stands yet
open with a subtile coagulation, because little Salt is imparted to it,
whereby he manifests a more spiritual than corporal Body; but all the
other Metals which follow out of its Essence, and have more Salt,
whereby they become corporal, do all follow this; so that I now begin
first with the Spirit of _Mercury_.
CHAP. III.
_Of the Spirit of_ Mercury.
Though I have a peculiar Stile in writing, which will seem strange unto
many, causing strange Thoughts and Fancies in their Brains, yet there is
reason enough for my so doing; I say enough, that I may remain by my own
experience, not esteeming much of others prating, because it is
concealed in my knowledge, Seeing having alwaies the preheminence before
Hearing, and Reason hath the praise before Folly; Wherefore I now say,
that all visible, tangible things are made of the Spirit of _Mercury_,
which excels all earthly things of the whole world, all things being
made out of it, having their Off-spring only from it; for all is found
therein which can perform all whatsoever the Artist desires to find; It
is the beginning to operate Metals, when it is become a spiritual
Essence, which is meer Air flying to and fro without wings; it is a
moving wind, which after it is expelled its dwelling by _Vulcan_, it is
driven into its _Chaos_, where it again enters, and resolves it self
into the Elements, where it is elevated and attracted by the Sydereal
Stars after a Magnetical manner unto themselves, out of love, whence he
proceeded before, and was operated, because it affects its like again,
and attracts it to it. But if this Spirit of _Mercury_ can be caught,
and made corporal, it resolves into a Body, and becomes a pure, clear,
transparent water, which is the true spiritual water, and the first
_Mercurial_ Root of the Minerals and Metals, spiritual, intangible,
incombustible, without any mixture of earthly Aquosity; it is that
Celestial water, whereof very much hath been written; for by this Spirit
of _Mercury_ all Metals, may if need require, be broken, opened, and
resolved into their first Matter, without Corrosive; it renews the age
of Man or Beast, even as the Eagles; it consumes all evil, and conducts
a long Age to long Life. This Spirit of _Mercury_ is the Master-Key of
my Second Key, whereof I wrote in the beginning; wherefore I will call;
_Come ye Blessed of the Lord, be anointed, and refreshed with water, and
embalm your Bodies, that they may not putrefie or stink_; for this
Celestial Water is the beginning, the Oyl, and the means, seeing it
burns not, because it is made of a spiritual Sulphur, the Salt Balsam is
corporal, which is united with the Water by the Oyl, whereof I will
afterwards treat more at large, when I shall write of them, and mention
them.
And that I may further declare what is the Essence, Matter and Form of
the Spirit of _Mercury_, I say, that its Essence is blessed, its Matter
spiritual and its form earthly, which yet must be understood by an
incomprehensible way; these are indeed harsh Expressions, many will
think, thy Proposals are all vain, strange Effusions, raising wonderful
Imaginations, and true it is that they are strange, and require strange
people to understand these Sayings; it is not written for Peasants, how
they should grease Cart-wheels, nor is it written unto those who have no
knowledge of the Art, though they be never so learned, or think
themselves so; for I only account them Learned, who next unto Gods Word,
learn to know Earthly things, which must be pondered and judged by the
Understanding, founded upon a true Knowledge, to distinguish Light from
Darkness, who chuse that which is good, and reject the evil.
It is needless for you to know what the beginning of this Spirit of
_Mercury_ requires, because it can in no wise help nor advantage you,
only take notice of this, that its beginning is supernatural, out of the
Celestial, Sydereal and Elementary, bestowed on it from the beginning
of the first Creation, that it may enter further into an Earthly
Substance. But because this is necessary which hath been declared to
you, leave the Celestial to the Soul, apprehend it by Faith, and let the
Sydereal likewise alone, because these Sydereal Impressions are
invisible and intangible, the Elements have already brought forth the
Spirit perfect into the world by the Nutriment, therefore let that alone
likewise; for man cannot make the Elements, but only the Creator, and
remain by thy made Spirit which is already formal and unformal, tangible
and intangible, and yet is presented visibly. So have you enough of the
first Matter, out of which all Metals and Minerals grow, and is one only
thing, and such a matter which unites it self with the _Sulphur_ in the
following Chapter, and enters into a Coagulation with the _Salt_ of the
fifth Chapter, that it may be one Body, and a perfect Medicine of all
Metals, not only to bring forth in the Earth at the beginning, as in the
great World, but also by help of the vaporous Body to transmute and
change, together with the augmentation in the lesser World: Let not this
seem strange to you, seeing the Most High hath permitted, and Nature
undertaken it.
Many will not believe this, esteeming it impossible, despise and vilifie
these Mysteries, which they understand not in the least, they may remain
Fools and Idiots till an illumination follows, which cannot be without
Gods Will; but remains till the time predestinate. But wise and
discreet, men who have truly shed the sweat of their Brows, will be my
sufficient witnesses, and confirm the Truth, and indeed believe and hold
for a truth all that which I write in this case, as true as Heaven and
Hell are preordained, and proposed as Rewards of good and evil to the
Elect and Reprobate. Now I write not only with my hands, but my Mind,
Will and heart constrain me to it: Those who are highly conceited,
illuminated, and world-wise, hate, envy, scandalize, defame and
persecute this Mystery to the utmost Rind, or innermost Kernel, which
hath its beginning out of the Center; but I know assuredly, there will
come a time, when my Marrow is wasted, and my Bones dried up, that some
will take my part heartily, after I am in the Pit; and if God would
permit it, they would willingly raise me from the dead; but that cannot
be; wherefore I have left them my Writings, that their Faith and Hope
may have a Seal of Certainty and Truth, to testifie of me what my last
Will and Testament was, which I ordained for the poor, and all the
Lovers of Mysteries, though it did not behove me to have wrote so much,
yet I could not refrain without prejudice to my Soul, but to drive a
Light or Flash through a Cloud, that the Day might be observed, and the
dark Night, thick and gloomy, rainy Weather expelled.
Now how the _Archaeus_ operates further by the Spirit of _Mercury_ in the
Earth, or Veins of the Earth, take this Advice, that after the
spiritual Seed is formed by the impression of the Stars from above, and
fed by the Elements, it is a Seed, and turns it self into a _Mercurial_
Water, as first of all the great World was made of nothing, for when the
Spirit moved upon the Water, the Celestial Heat must needs raise a Life
in the cold watrish and earthly Creatures; in the great World it was
Gods Power, and the Operation of the Celestial Lights; in the little
World it is likewise Gods Power, and the Operation to work into the
Earth by his Divine and Holy Breath. Moreover the Almighty gave and
Ordained means to accomplish it, that one Creature had obtained power to
operate in the other, and the one to help and assist the other, to
perform and fulfil all the Works of the Lord; and so an influence was
permitted the Earth to bring forth by the Lights of Heaven, as also an
internal Heat, to warm and digest that which was too cold for the Earth,
by reason of its humidity, as unto every Creature a peculiar fashion
according to its kind; so that a subtile sulphurous Vapour, is stired up
by the Starry Heaven, not the common, but another more clarified and
pure Vapour, distinct from others, which unites it self with the
_Mercurial_ Substance; by whose warm property, in process of time, the
superfluous Moisture is dryed up, and then when the foulish property
comes to it, which gives a preservation to the Body and Balsam,
operating first into the Earth by a spiritual and sydereal influence,
then are Metals generated of it, as it pleaseth the Mixture of the three
Principles, the Body being formed according as it assumes unto it the
greatest part of those three. But if the Spirit of _Mercury_ be intended
and qualified from above upon Animals, it becomes an Animal Substance;
if it goes upon Vegetables by order, it becomes a Vegetable Work; but
if, by reason of its infused nature, it fall on Minerals, it becomes
Minerals and Metals, yet each one hath its distinction as they are
wrought, the Animals for themselves, the Vegetables, on another manner
and form by themselves, and so likewise the Minerals, each one a several
way, whereof to write particularly would be too tedious, and yield large
and various Narrations.
Many one may here demand and not without cause, how such a Spirit of
_Mercury_ may be procured, how to be made, and after what manner it is
to be prepared to expel Diseases, and change all the kinds of the meaner
and baser Metals, as if they were born in a little world, by
transmutation and augmentation of their Seed; many expect this with
impatience. I answer without concealing any thing, but will truly
discover as much as is permitted me by Gods Command, in manner and form
following.
_In the Name of the Lord_, Take a Red Quick-silver Ore which is like
unto _Sinople_ (or _Vermilion_) and the best Gold Ore you can get; grind
of each a like quantity both together, before they partake of any fire,
poure an Oyl of _Mercury_, upon it made _per se_, of common, purified
and sublimed Quicksilver, set it a month to digest, you have an Extract
rather Celestial than Terrestrial; distil this Extract gently, as in
_Balneum Mariae_, the Flegme ascends over, the Oyl remaining at bottom,
being heavy, which in a moment receives all Metals into it poure thrice
as much Spirit of Wine to it, circulate it in a Pellican, till it be as
red as Bloud, and become so sweet that nothing may compare with it;
decant the Spirit of Wine to a Liquidness, poure fresh Spirit of Wine
upon it, this reiterate so often, till the Matter be exceeding sweet,
and transparent red as a a Ruby, then put all together, poure that which
ascended over upon white calcined _Tartar_, and distil it strongly in
Ashes, the Spirit of Wine remains behind with the _Tartar_, but the
Spirit of _Mercury_ ascends over. If this Spirit of _Mercury_ be mixt
with the Spirit of _Sulphur_, together with its Salt, and so brought
over jointly together, that they can never be separated, you have such a
work which if it come over, and it get its ferment with Gold by solution
according to a just measure and time appointed, and be brought to a
perfect ripeness, unto the _Plusquam_ perfection, nothing may compare
therewith, for prevention of Diseases, and poverty, and to a rich
excessive recreation of the Body and Goods. This is the way to obtain
the Spirit of _Mercury_, which I have revealed as far as it is permitted
me to do, by the Supremest Emperour; the Manual Operations are found in
the Work which I have revealed; you must wisely observe, that you may
not endure a Bath in Hell for me, by my true admonition to thee,
forasmuch as a true opening of the Door which leads to the Royal Palace,
is performed but with one Key, which cures all Diseases, be it
_Dropsie_, _Consumption_, _Gout_, _Stone_, _Falling Sickness_,
_Apoplexy_, _Leprosie_, or howsoever called in general: This Medicine
likewise cures all kinds of the _French Pox_, and all old Sores of long
standing, be it _Wolf_, _Noli me tangere_, _Tetter_, _Ring-worm_,
_Cancer_, _Fistula_, and corroding hollow Sores; all which I have
declared, and concealed nothing. Last of all, observe, that you do not
discover too much, or no more, because all Art hath its Original or
Source out of the Spirit of _Mercury_, which is refreshed and raised to
Life by the spiritual _Sulphur_, that it becomes Celestial, & with and
by the Salt they are made corporal and formal; but the beginning of the
Soul, of the Spirit, and of the Body, let it be and remain a Magnet,
even as it is, and can be acknowledged to be nothing else. This is the
summe in brief, that without the Spirit of _Mercury_, which is the only
true Key, you can never make Corporal Gold potable, nor the Philosophers
Stone. Let it remain by this Conclusion, be silent; for I my self will
at present say no more, because Silence is enjoyned thee and me by the
orderly Judge, recommending the Execution and further Search thereof to
another, who hath not as yet reduced the Matter into a right Order.
CHAP. IV.
_Of the Spirit of_ Copper.
The Star of _Venus_ is very difficult, and not well to be calculated, as
all _Mathematicians_ and _Astronomers_ will bear me witness; for its
course is found to be otherwise than that of the other six Planets, and
therefore its Birth is otherwise; for the Birth of _Venus_ possesses the
First Table, after _Mercury_, as for what concerns the Generation of
Metals. _Mercury_ makes active, but _Venus_ provokes, giving Lust and
Desire, together with the Beauty which gave occasion thereunto; though I
am accounted no _Astronomer_, nor do I give my self out for one, who
knows to calculate the Course of the Heavens; for I should spend my time
in my Cell in Prayer, but that the spare hours after my Devotion is
ended, may not be spent in vain, I have ordered and proposed it as my
aim and intent to exercise my self, and to spend those hours in the
knowledge of Natural things. So likewise it is not well to be reckoned
what arises, grows or proceeds from _Venus_ or whence she arose, grew,
or proceeded; for she is superfluously cloathed more than she needs, and
yet must want that which she needs most of all in her Constancy.
But you must be advertised, that _Venus_ is cloathed with a Celestial
_sulphur_ which far surpasses the brightness of the Sun; for there is
more and more abundant _Sulphur_ in her than in Gold; but it requires a
knowledge what the Matter of that Gold _Sulphur_ may be, which is, and
rules so plentifully in Copper, and whereof I make so great a Cry: know
then that it is likewise a flying very hot Spirit, which can pass
through and penetrate, as also ripen and digest all things, as the
imperfect Metals into perfect, which the inexpert will not believe. And
here a Question presents it self at hand; _How the Spirit of Copper can
make other imperfect Metals perfect, and make them ripe, whereas in its
own Body it is imperfect and inconstant?_ For Answer, I say as I have
often said, that this Spirit cannot possess or inhabit a permanent Body
in Copper; for when the habitation is burnt by Fire, the Spirit goes
away with it, and must with impatience leave its Lodging, for it dwells
therein as a Sojourner; but it hath protection in the permanent fix'd
Body of Gold, whence no man can expel it, without the Warrant of an
especial Judge; for it is put into the inheritance as an Heir, and taken
Root by her permanent Body, that she cannot easily be expelled. The
Tincture which _Venus_ hath obtained, is in like manner found in _Mars_,
more powerful, high and Noble; for _Mars_ is the Man, and _Venus_ the
Woman, which I speak more of, seeing I write of them. This Tincture is
delivered in _Verdigreece_, and likewise it is found in _Vitriol_, as in
a Mineral whereof a peculiar Book might be wrote. In all these things a
combustible _Sulphur_ is found, and yet a _Sulphur_ which is
incombustible, this is a strange thing, one is a white Sulphur, the
other is red in the operative generation; but the true Sulphur is
incombustible, for it is a pure true Spirit, whereof an incombustible
Oil is prepared, and it is the same Sulphur which is made out of one
Root from the Gold-Sulphur.
I open many Mysteries, which ought not to be; but what should I do? to
conceal all is not answerable, but a measure is good in all things, as
you may observe in my last Advice of protestation; forget not my desire
therein.
This Sulphur may well be called the _Sulphur of the Wise_; for all
Wisdom is found therein, unto the _Mercurial_ Spirit; which excels it,
which together with the Salt of _Mars_ must be put together by a
spiritual Conjunction, that three may come into one understanding, and
be advanced to equal operations. This spiritual Sulphur proceeds in the
same manner and form out of the upper Region, as doth the Spirit of
_Mercury_, but in another manner and kind, whereby the Stars manifest a
separation in fix'd and unfix'd, in colour'd and uncolour'd things.
The Tincture consists only in the _Spirit of Copper_, and most of all in
that of his Bed-fellow; it is a meer Vapour, stinking and ill-sented in
its beginning; this Mist must be dissolved in the manner of a Liquor,
that the stinking, incombustible Oil may be prepared thereof; but yet it
must have and take its beginning out of _Mars_; this Oil unites freely
with the Spirit of _Mercury_, assuming all Metallick Bodies speedily
unto them, if they be first prepared in all points as I have advised in
my Keys.
I observe not the Order of the Planets, and not without just grounds;
for I observe the order of their Birth, by which I am directed; for
because _Venus_ hath much Sulphur, she is sooner digested and ripened
together with _Mars_, before other Metals; but because unconstant
_Mercury_ shewed them both too little assistance, therefore no room is
left him to work harder, by reason of the superfluous Sulphur, so that
they could obtain no melioration of their unfixt Bodies. Now I will
reveal a Secret unto thee, that Gold, Copper, and Iron have one Sulphur,
one Tincture, and one Matter of their Colour; this Matter of the
Tincture is a Spirit, a Mist and Fume; as aforesaid, which can
penetrate and pass through all Bodies, if you can take it, and acuate it
by the Spirit which is in the Salt of _Mars_, and then conjoin the
Spirit of _Mercury_ therewith in a just weight, purging them from all
impurity, that they be pleasant and well sented, without all Corrosives,
you have then such a Medicine, whereunto none in the world may compare,
being fermented with the bright shining Sun, you have made an entrance
penetrating to work, and to transmute all Metals.